In Cuihua Building, Chef Xu and Manager Zhang sat opposite each other with serious expressions.

Chef Xu sighed: "It seems that Wang Jianye is determined not to let our people learn his essence."

Manager Zhang frowned and said, "Then all our previous efforts have been in vain. We have to make a new plan next."

Other restaurant owners also complained. Some accused Wang Jianye of being stingy, some regretted that the people they sent were not good enough, and some were planning other ideas.

……

Wang Jianye, a nationally renowned cooking master, is famous.

The ten apprentices he had previously accepted, including Chen Xiaoyang, were all outstanding and had all become state banquet chefs.

This brilliant achievement made the owners of major hotels in Beijing red-eyed, and their hearts were filled with envy and jealousy.

In Fengze Garden, Jiang Qinfeng sat on the armchair in the lobby with a frown on his face.

The store was decorated with lights and red silk hung from the beams and pillars, and the newly made sign sparkled in the sun.

"If we can get Wang Jianye's craftsmanship, our Fengze Garden will prosper!" Jiang Qinfeng said through gritted teeth, with an eager gleam in his eyes.

Zhang Mingsheng on the side echoed: "Boss, how about we try to find a solution from his new apprentice? I heard that they are very busy at Wang's All-inclusive Restaurant recently."

Jiang Qinfeng's eyes lit up: "Well, go ask around. Let's start with our promotion. Today, all meals will be 20% off! And the newly launched 'Hongyun Dangtou' roast duck must be delicious in color, aroma and taste."

In the kitchen, the fire on the stove was burning fiercely, and the roast duck gradually became golden and crispy in the oven, exuding an enticing aroma.

"This roast duck has crispy skin, tender meat and a fragrant aroma. It will definitely attract many customers," said the chef confidently.

When the dishes were served, the guests started eating.

"It tastes good and the price is affordable." A customer nodded with satisfaction.

“But I don’t know about other restaurants. I heard that Tianfu Shifang also has new dishes,” said another guest.

In Tianfu Food House, Gao Qianjin paced back and forth in the kitchen.

The kitchen is decorated in an antique style, with blue and white porcelain tableware neatly arranged.

"Li Hui, how do you think we can learn the essence of Wang Jianye?" Gao Qianjin asked, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

Li Hui thought for a moment and said, "Master, how about we try to poach his new apprentice? I think Li Ming seems a little shaken."

Gao Qianjin slapped his thigh and said, "Okay, let's try it! Our newly launched 'Spicy Fresh Fish' must be very popular!"

The chef carefully prepares this specialty dish. The tender fish meat rolls in the fiery red peppers, and the aroma is fragrant.

After tasting it, the guests praised it highly: "This fish is spicy and tasty, so satisfying!"

"But the roast duck at Fengzeyuan is also good. It's really hard to choose." Another customer hesitated.

In Cuihua Building, Chef Xu and Manager Zhang were also plotting.

The store is elegantly decorated, and the calligraphy and painting works add a touch of cultural atmosphere.

"We can't fall behind. We have to find a way to get some information from Wang Jianye's new apprentice." Chef Xu said, waving the fan in his hand.

Manager Zhang nodded: "I understand. I'll do it right away. We put a lot of effort into our newly launched 'Emerald Ruyi Soup'."

The exquisite soup is placed in front of the guests, with green vegetables and tender tofu, like a piece of art.

"This soup looks pleasing to the eye and tastes fresh and delicious," commented the customer.

However, faced with the various temptations and tactics of major hotels, Wang Jianye's new apprentices remained unmoved.

Li Ming sat in the room, feeling very conflicted.

"The conditions offered by Fengzeyuan are too tempting. What should I do?" he asked himself.

At this time, Zhao Xiaoxuan walked in.

"Li Ming, we must not forget our master's teachings and we must not betray him for the sake of temporary interests." Zhao Xiaoxuan said firmly.

Li Ming raised his head, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "You are right, we must adhere to the teacher's ethics and professional ethics."

Chen Yu also joined in: "That's right, let's encourage each other and must not waver."

They held hands tightly, passing strength to each other.

The streets and alleys of the capital are filled with the aroma of food.

Other small restaurants also tried their best.

Some have introduced special snacks, while others have improved their services. Diners shuttle between different restaurants, comparing prices, dishes and environment.

"The food here is good, and the service at that restaurant is great. I really don't know which one to choose." A diner was discussing with his friends on the street.

“Yeah, it feels like every one of them has its own characteristics,” my friend responded.

Wang Jianye stood on the rooftop of Wang's All-Inclusive Hotel, overlooking the streets of the capital with a serious expression.

He put his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes slightly.

The mentality of major hotel owners is also constantly changing during the competition process.

Jiang Qinfeng was initially full of confidence, thinking that he could attract a large number of customers with preferential activities, but as time went on, he found that the number of customers did not meet his expectations and began to become anxious.

"What's going on? Why aren't there as many guests as I imagined?" Jiang Qinfeng got angry in the lobby.

Zhang Mingsheng said cautiously: "Boss, maybe other restaurants are also very attractive."

Jiang Qinfeng glared at him: "Go find a way, you can't just wait like this!"

Gao Qianjin also became worried from being determined to win at the beginning.

"The response to this new dish is not as good as expected. What should I do?" Gao Qianjin paced back and forth in the kitchen.

Li Hui consoled him: "Master, don't worry, we will make some improvements."

Chef Xu and Manager Zhang of Cuihualou were equally anxious.

"The customer reviews aren't very good. We have to adjust our strategy quickly," said Chef Xu.

Manager Zhang frowned and said, "What should we do?"

The new apprentices have made great efforts to improve their cooking skills.

Li Ming went to the vegetable market early in the morning and carefully selected the freshest ingredients.

"Boss, please save the best vegetables for me," said Li Ming.

"Hey, Master Li, you're here so early." The stall owner responded with a smile.

Zhao Xiaoxuan sought advice from other masters and learned from their experience with an open mind.

"Master, your skills are amazing. Can you teach me?" Zhao Xiaoxuan asked sincerely.

The old master smiled and nodded: "Little girl, study hard."

Chen Yu repeatedly tried new recipes in the kitchen, failed again and again, but never gave up.

"Try again, you will definitely succeed." Chen Yu encouraged himself.

Some diners had satisfied smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the food.

"This dish is simply delicious. I'm going to take a photo and post it online." said a diner excitedly.

“Yeah, I want to share it with my friends too,” another diner echoed.

They posted photos of the food on social media, and wrote down detailed reviews and feelings, sparking heated discussions among netizens.

"I'm drooling just looking at it. I want to try it too."

"This restaurant seems good, I've saved it."

In the fierce competition, a restaurant called "Ruyilou" made a mistake in decision-making and blindly launched a large number of new dishes without considering the tastes of customers and market demand, which led to a backlog of ingredients and difficulty in capital turnover, and faced difficulties. When other restaurants heard the news, their reactions varied.

Jiang Qinfeng from Fengze Garden secretly rejoiced: "Fortunately we were not so impulsive."

Gao Qianjin from Tianfu Food House was a little worried: "The competition is too fierce. We have to be careful."

Chef Xu and Manager Zhang of Cuihualou learned a lesson from this: "Don't blindly follow the trend, you must have your own characteristics."

This competition also had a huge impact on the capital's food market and suppliers.

Suppliers are busy adjusting supplies according to the hotel's needs.

"The demands of major hotels have been changing very rapidly recently, and we have to keep up with the pace," said a supplier.

“Yes, but this also shows that business is good.” Another supplier responded with a smile.

……

Deep in the bustling street, several restaurant owners were secretly gathering in a dark room.

The interior of the house was luxurious yet depressing; the heavy curtains blocked the sunlight from the window, allowing only a few faint rays of light to come in.

A large carved wooden table was placed in the center, surrounded by carved armchairs.

There are several old calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall

"Wang Jianye's Wang's entire chain of restaurants is too powerful. We have to join forces."

An obese boss sat on a chair with a frown on his face. Beads of sweat on his forehead sparkled in the dim light. As he spoke, he kept wiping the sweat with a handkerchief.

"That's right, there are several other strong companies, and they should not be underestimated." Another thin-faced boss echoed, his eyes anxious and his hands constantly rubbing the corners of his clothes.

A boss with a face full of flesh slammed the table so hard that the teacups on the table jumped up: "We can't let them take away all our business!"

Others also nodded, whispered and talked.

In the kitchen of Wang's Quanxi Restaurant, new apprentice Zhao Xiaoxuan is concentrating on studying the long-lost dish.

The kitchen was filled with smoke and heat, and Zhao Xiaoxuan's hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead.

She was holding a yellowed ancient book in her hand, concentrating on studying the long-lost dish - "Emerald Duck".

This dish is extremely complicated to prepare.

First, you need to carefully select a tender duck with the right amount of fat and lean meat, and marinate it with special spices for a day and a night, so that the flavor of the spices can fully penetrate every fiber of the duck meat.

Next, blanch the duck in boiling water to remove blood and impurities, and then rinse it in cold water to tighten the duck skin.

Then, a unique sauce is prepared, which contains a variety of precious spices and secret seasonings, such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, etc. Special sauces and aged Huadiao wine are also added and stirred evenly.

Put the marinated duck into a casserole, pour in the prepared sauce, and simmer over low heat.

During the stewing process, keep pouring the soup over the duck to ensure that the duck is evenly heated and has an attractive color.

When the duck is cooked to about 70% done, take it out and let it cool.

Deep fry the duck in hot oil until the skin is golden and crispy and the inside is tender and juicy.

Finally, thicken the sauce with the carefully prepared broth and pour it over the fried duck, making the duck appear to be covered with a layer of crystal clear jade coat.

……

"How should I mix the proportions of these ingredients?" Zhao Xiaoxuan murmured to herself. She had tried countless times, but the taste was never satisfactory.

Once, she accidentally added too much of a certain seasoning, and the whole dish became bitter and inedible.

She looked at the failed work, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't give up, you will definitely succeed." She gritted her teeth and started again.

She consulted chefs everywhere and visited vegetable markets in Beijing to find the best quality ingredients.

Whenever she encountered difficulties, she would look at the ancient book and imagine the scene when the ancients made this dish.

Finally, after countless days and nights of hard work, the dish took on new life in her hands.

The business of all Wang’s restaurants is booming.

In the lobby, guests were laughing and talking happily.

A lady dressed in gorgeous clothes smiled with satisfaction: "This dish is absolutely amazing, with a unique flavor."

The gentleman beside her also nodded and praised: "Yes, Wang's All-Series Restaurant is indeed a famous restaurant in Beijing."

The waiters were bustling around, trays carrying delicious food steadily in their hands.

"This way please, be careful with the steps." A smart waiter smiled and guided the guests to their seats.

When other restaurant owners heard about Zhao Xiaoxuan's achievements, they all extended olive branches to her.

"Miss Zhao, come to us, you can name your price."

A boss came to Wang's All-Season Restaurant in person and found Zhao Xiaoxuan who was busy. He had a flattering smile on his face and his eyes were full of anticipation.

"As long as you are willing to come, I guarantee that you will gain both fame and fortune." Another boss expressed his sincerity through a letter.

Faced with these temptations, Zhao Xiaoxuan rejected them without hesitation.

Those forces became furious when they saw how determined she was.

In a hotel conference room, bosses angrily accused each other.

"It was all your bad idea. Not only did you not find the person, but you also got yourself into trouble!"

"How dare you say that to me? Didn't you agree to it at the beginning?"

They quarreled until their faces turned red and the room was in chaos.

In order to suppress all Wang’s restaurants, the combined forces resorted to various unfair means.

They sent people to spread rumors at the entrance of Wang's Quanxi Restaurant, saying that the food in the restaurant was not fresh.

They also deliberately arranged for people to cause trouble and create chaos when Wang's family was dining at the restaurant.

However, diners at all Wang's restaurants do not believe these rumors.

"It tastes so good, how could the ingredients not be fresh?" an old diner retorted.

"That's right. There must be someone who is jealous of the good business of Wang's restaurants." Another diner agreed.

These tricks have been used many times before, and ordinary people have become immune to them.

……

Zhao Xiaoxuan works closely with other chefs across all Wang's restaurants.

"Xiaoxuan, what do you think of this approach?" Wang Yijun tested her.

"I think we can add some spices to enhance the aroma." Zhao Xiaoxuan answered seriously.

They discussed together, supported each other, and jointly tackled one problem after another.

All Wang's hotels are also working hard to improve their service quality.

In a spacious room, waiters are being trained.

The trainer carefully explained service etiquette and communication skills.

“Always keep smiling and let the guests feel our enthusiasm.”

The waiters listened carefully and nodded from time to time. (End of this chapter)