The dishes were served shortly after, each one exquisitely prepared.
"This five-star hotel is indeed something else. Even a dish of vegetables is made to look as beautiful as a flower," praised Zhang Shuixin.
"Of course. This is a five-star hotel. A single meal here easily costs over a thousand. We're truly benefiting from classmate Gao Shuai's generosity. Otherwise, where would we ever get a chance to dine in such a high-class place?" chimed in another female classmate.
For a moment, Gao Shuai once again became the center of everyone's admiration.
"Today is Teacher Gao's birthday. Let's not say too much, but first, a toast to Teacher Gao!" Gao Shuai stood up, raising his glass.
The others also stood up with their glasses. Seeing this, Teacher Xiong also raised his glass and said, "Everyone, I'm very touched that you've all come today despite your busy schedules to attend my birthday. Please, eat well later, and let's chat about happy old times. I hope we can gather more often in the future."
Afterward, everyone's glasses clinked together.
After drinking, they all sat down again.
Gao Shuai picked up his chopsticks and pointed to a few vegetable dishes. "Everyone, these vegetables are the hotel's new specialty dishes. But don't let their appearance as ordinary, common vegetables fool you. Their taste is tens of times better than any vegetables you've eaten before, and the price is also tens of times that of ordinary restaurants. Try them and see if they're worth the price."
Upon hearing how expensive they were, everyone became curious about how delicious they could possibly be. Seeing Teacher Xiong take the first bite, they also began to eat. Indeed, the texture of the dishes was better than anything they had ever tasted.
Qiang Zi, however, was not particularly interested. After all, he ate vegetables like these almost every day. Still, he was somewhat curious if the hotel's preparation would be even more delicious.
Liu Yifeng waited until everyone else had started eating before he began. Although he ate his family's vegetables every day, he had not grown tired of them. He was only concerned that there might not be enough to go around. After all, five-star hotels focused more on exquisite presentation than on large portions, unlike Northeast Chinese cuisine.
"Not bad, not bad. These vegetables are indeed delicious. No wonder they sell for so much. But this taste truly lives up to the price."
"I grew up in the countryside and ate vegetables every day. I never knew vegetables could be so delicious. I wouldn't trade them for meat."
Everyone was so engrossed in eating that they were reluctant to stop, lest the food run out. It wasn't that they were trying to flatter Gao Shuai by pretending to like it, but it was genuinely delicious.
"Du Qing, what do you think of the taste?" Gao Shuai asked, looking at Du Qing, who was quietly eating and had not spoken.
Du Qing finally put down her chopsticks and nodded repeatedly. "It's delicious. I wonder what kind of person could grow such ordinary yet delicious vegetables."
"Yifeng, didn't you say you also grow vegetables to sell? How do they taste? Are they as good as this?" Gao Shuai changed the subject, redirecting the conversation to Liu Yifeng.
Qiang Zi, who was eating, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. This displeased Gao Shuai. "Liu Qiang, what are you laughing at? Is my question so funny?"
Qiang Zi took a napkin to wipe his mouth and then said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't laughing at you; I just suddenly thought of something amusing." If Liu Yifeng hadn't asked him not to, he would have announced to the world that the incredibly delicious vegetables they were raving about were, in fact, grown by Liu Yifeng himself.
Gao Shuai said nothing further and looked at Liu Yifeng, wanting to hear his response. However, before Liu Yifeng could speak, Zhang Shuixin's voice rang out, "Vegetables this delicious can't be grown by just anyone. I remember Liu Yifeng studied management in college, which has nothing to do with growing vegetables. In my opinion, the person who grows these vegetables must be an elite from an agricultural university, or an old farmer with decades of cultivation experience."
"Isn't that obvious? If Liu Yifeng really grew these vegetables, given how popular they are and that they're supplied to a five-star hotel, we'd be rich. We wouldn't have to borrow Liu Qiang's beat-up van!"
No one present believed that Liu Yifeng had grown these vegetables. Liu Yifeng, for his part, was too lazy to explain. After this gathering, he had no intention of attending such boring parties again. Therefore, there would be no further interactions between them. They were all insignificant people, so why waste his breath?
His silence was interpreted by Gao Shuai as an admission, and he did not press the issue further. "Since everyone thinks they're delicious, let the hotel prepare another serving of each dish for every table. We're here to eat, so let's eat happily!"
"Gao Shuai, there are enough dishes already. Don't waste more money," Teacher Xiong quickly intervened. He already felt guilty about having his birthday celebrated in such an expensive place, as no one's money grew on trees.
Gao Shuai waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. What's a little money? The most important thing is for everyone to enjoy themselves. I can't have invited you all and then let you leave still wanting more, can I?" With that, he immediately called for a waiter and asked her to order another serving of each of these vegetable dishes for every table.
Du Qing, observing his ostentatious display, casually asked, "Gao Shuai, what are you doing now? Are you married?"
Qiang Zi immediately whispered in Liu Yifeng's ear, "Looks like Du Qing has her eyes on Gao Shuai." Liu Yifeng said nothing. They were both showy and vain, a fitting match.
"I'm a project manager at my father's real estate company. I'm busy as a dog every day, so I have no time to find a girlfriend, let alone get married. Why, are you going to introduce someone to me?"
As soon as Gao Shuai finished speaking, Zhang Shuixin's voice chimed in, "What's there to introduce? Isn't campus beauty Du right here? You two were dating back in school, but you broke up because you went abroad to study. Now that you've met again, isn't it fate arranged by heaven?"
"Exactly! You two are simply a match made in heaven."
Everyone began to play matchmaker for the two. Anyone could see that Gao Shuai still had feelings for Du Qing. And Du Qing's question about whether Gao Shuai was married clearly indicated her own intentions.
Gao Shuai feigned displeasure at everyone. "Don't talk nonsense. What if she's already married? So many years have passed. It would be awkward if her husband found out."
Du Qing hurriedly explained, "I... I'm not married yet!"
Gao Shuai's eyes lit up with joy for a moment, but it quickly vanished. He wasn't foolish. Du Qing was beautiful, but she was no longer young. It was unusual for her not to be married unless there were some hidden reasons. So, he asked, "You're so beautiful, haven't you had any suitors?"
"There have been some, but my focus has been on my work, which is why I've delayed this important life event."
Qiang Zi, hearing this blatant lie, almost gagged. Indeed, a woman's mouth is a deceptive thing. If he hadn't been doing renovation work at her house, he would have believed her fabricated story.
Liu Yifeng didn't want to endure these pointless conversations. He excused himself, saying he needed to use the restroom. Little did he know, everyone assumed he had rekindled his old feelings for Du Qing but, knowing he couldn't compete with Gao Shuai, had gone out alone to lick his wounds.
As he stepped out of the private room, Liu Yifeng bumped into Wan Hui.
"Hey, Brother Liu, what are you doing here?" Wan Hui, having just personally escorted an important client to a private room, was surprised to see Liu Yifeng as he emerged.
Liu Yifeng pointed to the room he had just come from. "Today is my high school homeroom teacher's sixtieth birthday. All of our classmates have gathered for this occasion."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have made arrangements for you!" Wan Hui said, feigning displeasure.