Chapter 137: Chu Lin, they are coming for you!

"Then I shall leave Wu Ying to you, President Cai," Wu Cuo said with a smile upon hearing Cai Yao’s words.

Cai Yao, formerly the general manager of the Zhizhen chain, was now successfully operating the Linyao Restaurant. Her competence in the food and beverage industry was evident to all, and Wu Cuo believed his daughter would learn much by serving as her assistant.

"You are too kind, President Wu," Cai Yao replied, getting straight to the point. "President Wu, President Chu has discovered a recipe for cooking wine that is well-suited for market promotion. He has prepared four variations and intends to have a chef cook with them to compare them against the two most famous brands on the market."

Hearing this, Wu Ying immediately volunteered, "I can do that! My culinary skills are quite good."

Wu Cuo nodded in approval, adding, "My daughter does indeed have a talent for this."

"Then I shall trouble you, Miss Wu," Cai Yao said with a nod, not bothering to refuse such a trivial matter. She summoned the floor manager, instructed him to take Wu Ying to the kitchen along with the six bottles of cooking wine, and emphasized the importance of labeling them correctly.

Eager to showcase her skills, Wu Ying headed to the kitchen, her face beaming with excitement. Once there, a chef helped her fire up the stove. She spotted the six bottles the manager had placed on the counter. She recognized Haitian and Hengshun, two of the top-selling brands on the market. The other four, she surmised, were the ones President Chu had developed. She was quite curious about their efficacy, especially since both President Chu and President Cai seemed so confident in them.

Once she began cooking, Wu Ying started with the Haitian cooking wine. The kitchen had prepared shrimp, so she made a simple stir-fry. As she added the wine, the aroma of the glaze immediately wafted through the air. Shortly after, she plated the dish and sampled it; the taste was decent, meeting her usual standard. The manager promptly carried the dish out to the dining area.

Wu Ying immediately washed the wok and began the second portion, this time using the Hengshun wine. Meanwhile, the manager had already delivered the first dish.

Outside, Chu Lin, Cai Yao, and Wu Cuo were seated at a table, bowls and chopsticks at the ready. As the manager brought the first plate of shrimp, the three of them began to taste it.

"This was cooked by Miss Wu using Haitian cooking wine," the manager announced.

After one bite, Wu Cuo knew his daughter had done a fine job. He asked proudly, "President Chu, President Cai, is my daughter’s cooking up to par?"

Chu Lin and Cai Yao both nodded. They had to admit that Wu Ying’s shrimp was of a high standard, no worse than what one might find from a professional chef. It seemed the young lady was indeed fond of cooking.

Soon, the manager returned with the second plate. "This one was prepared by Miss Wu using Hengshun cooking wine."

Chu Lin and Cai Yao tasted it again. There was no difference; as the chef was the same and the two brands of wine were similar in quality, the resulting dishes were nearly identical. Both were now more eager to taste the dishes prepared with the other four bottles.

By this time, Wu Ying had begun the third portion. As she added one of President Chu’s experimental wines to the wok, a significantly more alluring fragrance filled the air—one that clearly surpassed the previous two brands.

"This aroma is incredible," Wu Ying remarked, stunned. Just based on the scent alone, the wine developed by President Chu was superior. Once the dish was finished, she took a bite and her eyes lit up. The flavor was noticeably better than the first two, exceeding her usual level of cooking. Was the effect of President Chu’s wine truly this potent?

In the dining hall, the manager delivered the third plate. Chu Lin and Cai Yao took a bite and were immediately impressed; the lingering fragrance and the depth of flavor were far superior to the first two dishes. While it was still far from the effect of a "perfect" cooking wine, the improvement was obvious.

Wu Cuo noticed it too and felt a sense of disbelief. It was the same dish, made by his daughter, yet this version was clearly superior. It seemed as if her skills had improved, but he knew it was the merit of President Chu’s concoction. If a product could outperform the market leaders, it would undoubtedly capture a significant share of the market quickly. After all, when it came to cooking wine, quality spoke for itself; given a better option, no one would choose a lesser one. This was a viable business.

The fourth dish was brought out shortly after, also cooked with President Chu’s wine. The taste was similar, indicating that the wine’s effectiveness was consistent. Before long, all four bottles had been tested. They discovered that three of the bottles performed similarly, while one was significantly better, though all still fell short of perfection. This allowed them to categorize the products into two tiers: they could use the slightly inferior ones for the initial launch, and if they were ever reverse-engineered, they could release the superior version to maintain their competitive edge.

Wu Ying ran out of the kitchen, looking surprised. "Dad, have you tasted it? This cooking wine from President Chu is far better than anything on the market. I never imagined cooking wine could have such an effect!"

"Indeed," Wu Cuo nodded, his own tongue confirming the truth.

"President Wu, what do you think of this cooking wine?" Cai Yao asked.

"It is truly remarkable," Wu Cuo said, giving a thumbs up. "President Chu, President Cai, let’s discuss how to market this!"

Cai Yao got straight to the point. "President Wu, President Chu has already paid for the recipe. We plan to increase our capital by 5 million, which, combined with the 3 million already in the Linyao account, gives us 8 million. We can then take out a loan for another 2 million to reach 10 million, which will be used for the factory, production, and marketing."

"10 million should be enough. Let’s proceed as you suggested," Wu Cuo agreed. Investing in a cooking wine factory didn't require an exorbitant amount; a few million for equipment, with the rest covering raw materials and labor.

With the agreement reached, they moved on to the details of the capital injection. Since Cai Yao held 30% and Erbai held 10%, Erbai would need to contribute 1.25 million, while Cai Yao would provide 3.75 million. Cai Yao had already taken out a loan against her property, so once the documents were signed, the funds would be available immediately. Wu Cuo left for Erbai after the business was concluded, while Wu Ying stayed behind to begin her role as Cai Yao’s assistant.

Next came the formal process of marketing the wine: product inspection, testing, industrial and commercial registration, and managing the factory, labor, and materials.

Cai Yao looked at Chu Lin with a coquettish gaze. "President Chu, there is so much to do. You can’t just stand by and watch me work myself to death, can you?"

While Chu Lin secretly wished to keep the "young mistress" busy enough to have no personal time, he couldn't resist her charm. "Fine, I’ll handle the factory. I’ll look into whether there are any ready-made factories for sale and buy one if I find a suitable one."

"At least you know how to cherish the fair sex," Cai Yao said with a satisfied smile.

They split up to handle their respective tasks. After leaving the restaurant, Chu Lin called Huang Bin. "Help me put out a request: I’m looking for a cooking wine production factory that is up for sale."

"Consider it done, I’ll handle it immediately," Huang Bin replied. He checked the company's internal resources and his team’s active listings, but found nothing. He then posted a message in the managers' group: "Looking for a cooking wine production factory for sale. I’ll forgo my commission for the right lead!"

He wanted to save Chu Lin time, and since he didn't want to waste a second, he was willing to sacrifice the commission, which was usually split evenly.

As evening approached, Chu Lin received a call from Huang Bin with good news. "Chu Lin, we’re in luck. A client is selling a cooking wine factory with six production lines for 5.5 million. They originally expanded into the snack food business, failed, and are now desperate to sell to recover capital."

"Arrange a meeting, take me to see it," Chu Lin said. A complete line including steaming, fermentation, filtration, sterilization, and packaging for 5.5 million was a bargain.

Huang Bin soon arrived at the farm, and they went to inspect the factory. The equipment was nearly new. The owner, a balding middle-aged man, was indeed desperate for cash for his snack business. After confirming everything was in order, Chu Lin reached a tentative agreement and arranged to finalize the deal at Linyao Restaurant the next day.

By the time they finished, it was dark. The factory owner, knowing how to conduct himself, had prepared a banquet with fine liquor. After a few drinks, Chu Lin felt a bit restless.

Huang Bin suggested, "Let's head to Starry Night Bar for a second round. As the boss, you should see the place. Besides, since this 5.5-million-deal is as good as done, we can easily expense a 20,000-yuan set of Hennessey XO. Plus, the bar just got a new batch of 'fresh tea'—three top-tier girls who just graduated from a dance academy. They’ve already passed their health checks. Shall we go?"

"Let's go," Chu Lin said decisively.

Huang Bin immediately made arrangements on his phone. When they arrived at the bar, the place was already bustling. Their VIP booth, featuring the expensive Hennessey XO set and the three girls in white, form-fitting dresses, drew many eyes. Everyone knew a high-roller was present.

The staff greeted them respectfully, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary owner who rarely made an appearance. When they saw Chu Lin, they were struck by how young and handsome he was—more like a model than the models themselves.

The three girls were also visibly excited, knowing the rules of the nightlife industry. A boss this wealthy and handsome was a dream. However, Chu Lin found them somewhat lackluster; their makeup was too uniform, and they lacked distinct character. After being spoiled by the likes of Li Qian, Cai Yao, and Liu Xiaowan, his standards had risen.

Huang Bin noticed Chu Lin’s disinterest. Just then, the crowd began to whistle as a girl appeared on the DJ stand. She was beautiful, and despite the sexy outfit, she exuded a sense of pure, natural charm.

"Who is she?" Chu Lin asked, intrigued.

"Interested?" Huang Bin replied. "Her name is Momo, a part-time DJ and singer. She’s a 'clean' one—doesn't drink with guests. She dreams of becoming a real singer and doesn't like the nightlife scene. But without a backer, it’s hard to make it."

"She’s waiting for a 'clean' path, but that’s just because the price hasn't been right or she hasn't seen anyone she likes. With your capital, you could try. I’ll help you."

"Tell her to come over for a drink," Chu Lin said.

Huang Bin dismissed the other girls and approached Momo. After some persuasion—highlighting Chu Lin’s wealth and connections—Momo, who was initially reluctant, felt a spark of hope. She was a fan of good looks, and Chu Lin was the most handsome boss she’d ever seen. She agreed to one drink.

She sat down next to Chu Lin, nervous but curious. They shared a drink and exchanged contact information. Just then, a manager hurried over to Huang Bin, whispering, "A guest wants to send 500,000 yuan worth of flowers to Momo!"

Chu Lin froze. 500,000 yuan? Who throws that kind of money around?

"He said he’s sending them in your name, President Chu," the manager added. "It’s clearly directed at you."

Chu Lin was completely baffled. What was going on?