Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

”Wow! Your house is huge!”

After getting an early start and catching the first flight of the day, Ni Bingyan led Peng Huan through her front door just after eleven o’clock.

As soon as they walked through the main gate, Peng Huan found there was so much to see she didn’t know where to look first.

’Exquisite. Everything is so exquisite!’

They rounded a bamboo grove and came upon a large lotus pond. The compact scenery gave way to a wide-open view, and the sudden sense of space was so exhilarating that she couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

Ni Bingyan, who was used to the scenery at home, didn’t think it was anything special.

”This area used to be very remote, and the land wasn’t worth much.”

She offered an explanation, then pointed to the withered lotuses in the pond, her eyes lighting up. ”This year’s lotus roots haven’t been dug up yet! We’re in for a treat!”

”You’re kidding! These withered lotuses create such a poetic scene, and you actually dig them up to eat the roots?!”

Peng Huan had already snapped several photos in a row. Hearing this, she was taken aback.

”It’d be strange if a chef’s family grew things and *didn’t* eat them, wouldn’t it? Haha!”

Having assimilated the original owner’s memories, Ni Bingyan felt a deep affection for her home. She had been visibly happy even before walking in the door, and now she was grinning from ear to ear.

”My dad specially selected this variety of lotus. The flowers are huge and beautiful, and the roots are tender and delicious. We enjoy the flowers in the summer, the leaves in the fall and winter, and at the end of the year, we dig up the roots to stew in a soup with pig’s trotters. It’s absolutely divine!

”Also, when we dig up the roots, we harvest the fish from the pond at the same time. Every year, the restaurant holds a grand fish feast. The exact menu depends on what we catch, and many of our regulars even join in on the fun.”

”Wow, wow, wow! Does that mean I’ve come at the perfect time?”

”I haven’t asked exactly when we’re digging up the lotus roots this year, but with you here, any time is a good time.”

Ni Bingyan lifted her chin slightly, her face full of pride.

Every time she came home, her dad was eager to make all of his signature dishes, and of course, Peng Huan would get to tag along for the feast.

Only someone so adored by her father could say something like that with such confidence.

”You’ve got a point! Speaking of which, if you came home with me, you’d get to eat a ton of delicious food too. My dad can’t cook, but he’s a real foodie with great taste, so he knows all the best places to eat!”

”Wow, in that case, I’m already looking forward to it!”

”No problem! We’ll set it up when we’re free.”

Like father, like daughter. It was no surprise they got along so well, given their shared passion for food. And it was even less surprising that both their fathers were foodies too.

As they walked on, they saw workers ahead setting up for an event in a small plaza.

The small, circular plaza resembled a short, two-tiered cake. A ring of steps connected the ground to the ten-meter-wide platform.

The steps were now lined with a semicircle of vibrant pompon chrysanthemums. A frame had been erected on the stage, holding a taut banner emblazoned with the stylishly designed words ”Ni Family Chef King Competition”. It had a dynamic, exciting feel—clearly the work of a professional designer.

In front of the frame were professional stoves and gleaming stainless steel countertops.

On the countertops, a row of cutting boards was laid out neatly, and the kitchen knives were freshly sharpened. The sight was enough to make Ni Bingyan’s mouth water.

”Are you guys holding a competition?”

Peng Huan was astonished.

’A private kitchen like this didn’t host many guests, and the staff was small. At this hour, they should all be busy over at the restaurant. On the way in, besides a few staff members tending to the gardens, we hadn’t seen anyone else. It didn’t look like they were about to have a competition, did it?

’But if the competition isn’t today, why are all the cooking stations set up? There’s no roof over the stage. If it rains, won’t the stoves and everything get ruined? And the sky was so overcast today; it looked like it could rain at any moment.’

Unable to make sense of it, Peng Huan asked Ni Bingyan.

”My family has a tradition of the master testing his apprentices’ culinary skills. Apparently, it’s been going on for many years. It used to be held at the end of the year, whenever there was a lull in business. The master would organize a competition for his apprentices. It was a way to foster camaraderie, but also to remind them of the principle: ’A lasting business is built on skillful hands.’ When I was a kid, it was the day I looked forward to most all year. I not only got to see my senior brothers get scolded, but I also got to eat tons of amazing food.”

After briefly explaining the origin of the ”Ni Family Chef King Competition,” Ni Bingyan couldn’t help but smile. ”It’s always been held in our family’s main kitchen. They’ve moved it outside this year, so I’m guessing my dad and his apprentices are planning to livestream it.”

Her sister-in-law had told her that her dad was now running a factory and livestreaming with his apprentices, which had significantly boosted business at all their restaurants.

”Wow! Am I lucky or what? Come on, let’s go drop off our luggage, then we can come back and watch the competition!”

”No need to rush. It’s not far from here, and they haven’t even finished setting up the stage yet. We’re in no hurry.”

Since lugging their suitcases was inconvenient, they avoided the cobblestone path and stuck to the paved road instead.

After walking halfway around a small plum grove, they saw Ni Guangli leading his apprentices toward them. They were all walking with vigor, followed by a cameraman who was filming them as they walked.

The group was dressed in white chef’s uniforms with tall toque hats. Each person wore a black apron embroidered with their name, and below that, the name of their restaurant.

”Whoa! Are they really going all out like this?”

’They’re not just competing on cooking skills, they’re putting the reputations of their restaurants on the line?

’Winning would be great for business, but wouldn’t losing be terrible for it?’

Just as she was thinking this, Ni Bingyan had a realization.

’Her senior brothers weren’t always the head chefs at their own restaurants anymore, so their personal performance in the competition wouldn’t directly reflect the quality of the food at their establishments. In fact, by participating, they were just generating publicity for their restaurants.’

”I’m going to get in the shot. Sister Huanhuan, you should probably stay out of view for a second,” Ni Bingyan instructed Peng Huan, then started waving from a distance. ”Hey! Dad! Senior brothers! Where are you guys headed?”

Knowing that Ni Bingyan was seizing the chance to create some buzz for her family’s business, Peng Huan didn’t move away.

”It looks more authentic if you’re coming home with a friend,” she said. ”If you were by yourself, people might say it’s staged. Your agency might even try to charge your dad an endorsement fee.”

Ni Bingyan almost burst out laughing at her friend’s comment and waved with even more enthusiasm.

Ni Guangli and his apprentices were in the middle of filming a grand, imposing entrance when he suddenly heard his daughter’s voice. He looked up instinctively and saw her standing nearby with an unfamiliar girl.

”Well, I’ll be! You silly goose, why’d you come back without a peep? I told you to keep a car at the airport, but no, you had to say the parking was too pricey for the few times a year you’d use it. So what, you took a taxi all the way back? You unlucky kid, it’s one thing to put yourself through that, but you made your friend suffer too!”

He hadn’t seen his daughter since they filmed a show together for the National Day holiday, so it had been a while. Her sudden return made Ni Guangli so happy he was practically babbling. After chiding her affectionately in his local dialect, he switched to standard Mandarin to greet Peng Huan. ”Hello, hello! I’m Bingbing’s dad.”

Seeing his warm gesture, Peng Huan immediately shook his outstretched hand and introduced herself. ”It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’m Peng Huan, a friend of Bingbing’s. I’m a photographer—I love taking pictures.”

”Haha, a pleasure to meet you. I’m a chef.”

Ni Guangli was impressed by the girl’s poised and easy-going manner; she was just the kind of friend he’d expect his daughter to have. He found himself speaking more playfully in response.

They had barely exchanged a few words when the other men ran over, all greeting them.

For a moment, the air was filled with calls of ”Junior Sister!”

As the darling of the group, Ni Bingyan had always received the best treatment in the family. Witnessing it firsthand, Peng Huan was left speechless.

’No wonder she’s so guileless,’ Peng Huan thought. ’Anyone spoiled by a group like this from childhood would probably be a little naive about the world, wouldn’t they?

’All things considered, Bingyan was actually pretty sharp.

’At the very least, she has good taste in friends.’