Not long after, the male salesperson returned to inform Zhang Liunian, "Our director seems to have already gotten off work and isn't here. You'll have to wait until tomorrow."
Zhang Liunian knew he had arrived a bit late, but he had no choice; his time was indeed tight.
"I understand," Zhang Liunian felt a pang of disappointment but didn't want to have come in vain. After some thought, he decided to go directly to the director of the Nancheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Like Luo Wei, Zhang Liunian also knew the address of the Nancheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative director.
The reason he hadn't gone to the director's home was that he thought it was still early, and if he could catch him before he left work, he wouldn't have to go to his house to find him.
But he hadn't expected to be too late.
Since that was the case, he could only go to the director's home.
Having made up his mind, he turned to leave. Coincidentally, as he walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative, he bumped into the director, Ding Zhaoshan, who had just left.
Zhang Liunian recognized the bald, thin man before him as Ding Zhaoshan, the director of the Nancheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
"Hello, Director Ding." Since the other party had walked right into his trap, saving him the trouble of looking for him, Zhang Liunian immediately blocked his path and greeted him proactively.
Ding Zhaoshan glanced at Zhang Liunian, who had suddenly appeared, with an displeased expression. He gave him a perfunctory look, said nothing, and walked past him directly into the supply and marketing cooperative to retrieve his forgotten bag before heading home.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the cooperative, he encountered Zhang Liunian, this obstacle, again.
Ding Zhaoshan looked at the young man blocking his path repeatedly, feeling confused. They didn't know each other; why was he stopping him?
"Why are you blocking my way?" Ding Zhaoshan asked, holding his black cloth bag and looking at the other person warily.
Zhang Liunian knew he wasn't easy to approach, but having dealt with him before, he knew Ding Zhaoshan had a particular hobby. If he could cater to this hobby, he could lower his guard and achieve his goal, killing two birds with one stone.
Zhang Liunian smiled and said, "I've heard that Director Ding has tasted countless delicacies and has his own ideas about food. I've coincidentally made two rather unique dishes and would like to invite Director Ding to try them. May I have the honor?"
Despite Ding Zhaoshan's thin and small stature, he had a passion for food and trying new things.
If Zhang Liunian had mentioned anything else, Ding Zhaoshan might not have agreed to meet after work. But as soon as delicious food was mentioned, he would surely agree.
Zhang Liunian had come prepared this time, bringing his own braised pork and lobster sauce, unafraid of him refusing.
"Rather unique dishes?" Ding Zhaoshan's curiosity was piqued by Zhang Liunian's words.
However, he scrutinized Zhang Liunian several times, wondering how he knew about his fondness for food. "Do we know each other?"
"You don't know me, but your name is like thunder in my ears. Let's go; we can eat and chat." Zhang Liunian grabbed Ding Zhaoshan's arm and pulled him towards the Nancheng State-Run Restaurant.
After being seated, Zhang Liunian first ordered five good dishes, then took out his homemade braised pork and lobster sauce and pushed them toward Ding Zhaoshan. "These are the two dishes I made, one is braised pork, and the other is lobster sauce. You can taste them and see how they are."
As he spoke, Zhang Liunian personally opened the aluminum lunchbox. The moment he opened it, a rich aroma wafted out, instantly spreading through every corner of the restaurant hall.
Ding Zhaoshan, being a person who loved to eat, naturally couldn't resist the smell.
It wasn't just Ding Zhaoshan; the other diners were also enticed by the aroma of Zhang Liunian's braised pork, their mouths watering.
"It smells so good!"
"What kind of meat is that? It smells so fragrant?"
"Why does braised pork suddenly not smell as good?"
"My meat buns don't taste good anymore either."
"..."
The waiters and chefs at the Nancheng Restaurant also caught the scent and couldn't help but stop their work and look at Zhang Liunian and Ding Zhaoshan.
"Director Ding, please try the braised pork first, then the lobster sauce," Zhang Liunian said, handing Ding Zhaoshan chopsticks personally, ignoring the people craning their necks around them.
Ding Zhaoshan was already excited when he smelled the meat's fragrance. Seeing the neatly arranged, pale brown slices of meat, his saliva almost overflowed.
"Let me try." Ding Zhaoshan silently swallowed and reached out, taking the chopsticks, picking up a slice of braised pork, and putting it into his mouth.
Hmm, the flavor exploded in his mouth. The pork was neither too soft nor too tough, just right.
Ding Zhaoshan chewed the braised pork in his mouth with great enjoyment, as if he were eating delicacies, causing everyone to unconsciously swallow.
"Gulp."
"Gulp."
Suddenly, the sound of swallowing could be heard everywhere.
Zhang Liunian heard the sounds and smiled; it was worth pulling the man to the state-run restaurant.
"Delicious." Ding Zhaoshan was always honest about good food. After saying that, he ate two more pieces of braised pork and then moved on to the lobster sauce.
Compared to the braised pork, the lobster sauce was even more flavorful. With just one bite, he could discern at least ten different tastes, and a simple mouthful left him with an unforgettable aftertaste.
"Is it that good?"
"It looks really delicious. I wonder where I can buy it."
"I've never seen such fragrant food in Nancheng."
"Me neither. This smell is truly intoxicating."
"..."
Hearing the chatter from the crowd, the chefs and waiters at the Nancheng Restaurant exchanged glances. Were they being challenged?
A clever waiter relayed the matter to the lobby manager. Upon hearing that there was such a dish, the manager immediately became interested.
"Not bad, not bad, truly delicious. Both of these are very good," Ding Zhaoshan declared, having eaten everything, and patted his stomach contentedly, putting down his chopsticks and leaning back.
Just then, the waiter finally served their ordered dishes, but he couldn't eat them, nor did he want to.
The chili stir-fried pork, which he used to love, held no appeal to him now.
However, Zhang Liunian hadn't eaten yet, so he should let him eat.
"You eat! I'm full," Ding Zhaoshan said, stroking his chin a little sheepishly.
Zhang Liunian smiled and said, "I've come to see Director Ding this time to introduce my lobster sauce and to discuss a collaboration with the supply and marketing cooperative. I wonder if you have any interest."
With many people present, upon hearing Zhang Liunian's intention to sell the lobster sauce through the supply and marketing cooperative, whispers immediately broke out.
Most of them expressed their hope that Ding Zhaoshan would agree, as this would allow them to buy the lobster sauce at the supply and marketing cooperative and try it.
Ding Zhaoshan had guessed his intention and was not angry when Zhang Liunian stated it plainly.
After all, he had eaten both dishes just now, and they were both delicious. However, braised pork was difficult to sell, and only the bottled lobster sauce was best for transportation and sale.
"Alright, if you have it with you now, give me fifty bottles," Ding Zhaoshan said, his mouth still fragrant, feeling unable to refuse Zhang Liunian's offer of cooperation.
Besides, the lobster sauce was genuinely delicious, and the Q-bouncing meat inside was truly unforgettable.
Lobster sauce? Could that thing be made from lobsters?
Zhang Liunian's eyes crinkled into a smile. "I originally had seventy bottles, but there are only ten left now."