Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

Chapter 39: Chapter 30: Su Ran’s Obsession

Da Vinci?

Uh... all right.

With his flip-flops, shorts, and undershirt, he did look a lot like Da Vinci from *National Treasure Agent 007* at first glance.

Uncle Zhou had made his fortune in Xiangjiang. Back then, most people there had English names, so it was perfectly normal for him to have a few.

But to think he was the Imperial Cuisine successor I’d been desperately searching for...

Stephen Chow.

I was just... surprised. Nothing more.

"Su Ran, don’t look at me with such admiration. I’m just a cook. I can’t compare to a top-tier master like you."

Uncle Zhou was incredibly impressed with Su Ran.

’This boy will definitely achieve great things.’

"Our great Huaxia is over 9.6 million square kilometers, yet you deduced the location in just a few minutes from a single photo, a tree, and a flight path. You solved the hair-loss problem that’s been troubling me for thirty years! I, Zhou Wenxi, admire you from the bottom of my heart. From now on, you’re my own grandson."

Su Ran smiled. "Uncle Zhou, you’re exaggerating. As one of the younger generation, it’s what I should do to help you."

His aunt, Zhou Hui, came over with a beaming smile, swaying her full hips. She affectionately pinched Su Ran’s cheek. "Su Ran, you’re so thoughtful. Auntie just adores you."

Zhou Bailin deliberately put on a slighted expression. "Mom, so love does fade away, right?"

His aunt shot Zhou Bailin a "disgusted" look and started nagging, "Look at your cousin, then look at you. He’s smart, thoughtful, and polite. And you? All you do is ask for money and hang around with those girls. If you were half as sensible as your cousin, I’d die a happy woman."

Su Ran was the classic "other people’s kid" that parents always talk about.

Zhou Bailin laughed and gave Su Ran a friendly punch. "You’re something else, kid. The moment you show up, I become the family’s public enemy. But you really helped my grandpa out of a jam, and as your cousin, I really admire you for that. Especially that incredible deduction of yours. It was brilliant."

Su Ran scratched his head and smiled. "Cousin, don’t praise me so much. I just got lucky. If even one piece of information had been missing from the photo, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to find the place."

Zhou Bailin said, "Bullshit, I don’t believe you. Even if two more things were missing, you still would’ve found it."

Before meeting the Zhou’s, Su Ran had thought they would be difficult to get along with. But after interacting with them, he found them very approachable. They weren’t the type of prideful Shanghainese who looked down on their poor relatives from out of town.

Nearby, Zhang Guohua had a gratified expression, his eyes slightly red. After all, his own son was fortunate, while his nephew’s life had been tragic. Seeing how smart the boy was now, he felt relieved on behalf of his sister in the afterlife.

When Su Ran’s parents passed away, he had been a freshman in high school, attending class. He never got to see them one last time, which became a lifelong regret.

After arranging the funeral, Zhang Guohua had planned to have Su Ran come live with him in Shanghai, so he could look after him.

But the strong-willed Su Ran refused, choosing to stay in Linxi Village. Zhang Guohua’s attempts to persuade him failed, so he had to give up. Later, he often tried to send Su Ran money, but it was always returned, leaving Zhang Guohua fuming. He could only vent his frustration to Su Ran’s aunt.

Zhang Guohua patted Su Ran’s shoulder. "Good kid, good kid. Come on, let’s go in and eat."

They walked into the dining room and took their seats.

Uncle Zhou’s booming voice filled the room. "I knew today was a good day! Su Ran, you’ve come to Shanghai, and the whole family is gathered together. As it happens, my apprentice sent me a bunch of dried goods yesterday—deer tendons, shark fins, dried scallops, and more. I’ve specially prepared a whole table full of delicious dishes, so dig in!"

Looking at the sumptuous feast spread across the table, Su Ran gave Uncle Zhou a thumbs-up. "It looks, smells, and tastes amazing. You truly are the Food God."

Zhou Bailin leaned in and sniffed the sleeping Buddha carved from tofu on a plate. "Hey now... Grandpa, the tofu’s gone bad."

’This kid is always ruining the mood,’ Uncle Zhou thought. "AHEM... That was carved this morning. Of course it’s a bit smelly. It’s fine, we’ll just toss it. Su Ran, come, come, have a seat. Try this deer tendon. See if it’s tender and chewy."

Uncle Zhou picked up a piece of deer tendon and placed it in Su Ran’s bowl. Su Ran took a bite and nodded repeatedly. "Mmm, it’s springy yet tender, with distinct layers of texture. It’s delicious. Uncle Zhou, what’s this dish called?"

Uncle Zhou chuckled. "This dish? It’s called Braised Deer Tendons in Prince Yong’s Mansion."

"HSSS—COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

Su Ran was so shocked he choked on the piece of deer tendon. His aunt quickly patted his back. It took him a moment to recover before he asked in amazement, "Don’t tell me this whole meal tonight is one of the ten authentic Imperial Cuisines?"

Uncle Zhou nodded calmly. "That’s right. My master was a successor of Imperial Cuisine. He taught me how to make all of this. I cook it for your aunt and the others every New Year and on holidays. Is there a problem?"

’Having a successor of Imperial Cuisine in the family is that much of a blessing?’

’Getting to eat Empress Dowager Cixi’s Imperial Cuisine on holidays?’

As a foodie who loved good food, Su Ran was incredibly envious.

"Then isn’t this meal incredibly expensive?"

"Not at all, not at all. I already told you, the deer tendons and shark fins were sent over by my apprentice. The rest, like the poultry, I just bought at the market. It’s not like back in the Old Buddha’s day, where if you wanted to eat the tip of a chicken’s tongue, you’d have to kill over a hundred chickens just to get their tongues. Nowadays, you can just buy them wholesale at the market, as many as you want."

"Besides, we have pressure cookers now. There’s no need to simmer things for forty-eight hours or whatever. It’s much more convenient. So-called ’authenticity’ is really just the old way of eating. Times have changed, people’s tastes have changed, so the food naturally has to change a bit with the times. If you blindly follow ancient ways of eating, modern people might not even find it tasty."

"It’s like how people now often say that food doesn’t taste as good as it used to, that Goubuli buns don’t have that old flavor, or that Beijing roast duck isn’t as good as before. The truth is, the flavor is still the same. It’s just that people’s living standards have improved. They’ve eaten all sorts of delicacies, so of course a simple bun or a duck doesn’t seem as amazing anymore."

Su Ran nodded. That made sense. Whether a dish was authentic or not came down to whether it was delicious. If it wasn’t good, being authentic was pointless. You have to move with the times and continuously cater to the tastes of modern diners.

People used to like greasy food because they rarely ate meat.

Now they like lighter food because they eat too much meat.

Uncle Zhou said proudly, "But this meal of mine... if this were back in the day in Xiangjiang, I would absolutely charge the Gambling King 800,000 Hong Kong dollars for it!"

Su Ran asked curiously, "Uncle Zhou, did you really make a 5,000-dollar bowl of egg fried rice for the Gambling King?"

"Of course! Why would I lie to you? I think it was the Gambling King and his second or third wife who came to eat. I don’t really know for sure. Anyway, he had a lot of wives."

The moment he heard "women," Zhou Bailin perked up. "So many wives... that’s the ultimate dream for any man."

Uncle Zhou said, "Times are different. Back then, that place still followed Qing law, which allowed polygamy. It was abolished later. Who would dare marry several women now?"

Zhou Bailin said, "The super-rich guys nowadays still have plenty of ’wives,’ don’t they? Right, Su Ran?"

Su Ran shook his head. "How would I know about that kind of harem stuff? It’s not like I have one."

Zhou Bailin chuckled. "You’re a pretty handsome kid. I bet you’ll have lots of wives in the future."

Su Ran: ???

Zhou Hui hit Zhou Bailin. "What nonsense are you spouting? Look, you’ve got your dad staring wide-eyed."

Zhang Guohua said, "I was not."

Zhou Hui said, "Tch. Men and their lies. I bet that’s exactly what you were thinking."

Uncle Zhou said, "Come, come, eat up. Su Ran, don’t be shy, have some more."

Su Ran’s Tongue Combat Power had already recorded all the methods and recipes for the Imperial Cuisine. And Uncle Zhou held nothing back, explaining how to make everything.

Night fell. In a lane house in Shanghai, the family gathered together, eating and chatting in a scene of joyful harmony.

Zhou Bailin clapped Su Ran on the shoulder and said, "Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Su Ran’s coming to watch my race later. Are you guys coming to see me win the championship?"

Uncle Zhou shook his head. "An old man like me will pass."

Zhou Hui said, "Son, you should stop getting involved in such pointless things. Street racing is so dangerous."

Zhou Bailin said, "Don’t worry, it’s fine. So, are you coming or not?"

Zhou Hui said, "No. You and Su Ran can go. Your dad and I aren’t interested."

After the banquet ended, Zhou Bailin took Su Ran to watch his race.

Sitting in the 718, Su Ran entered his system to check his mission rewards.

’DING! Mission "Taste the Ten Authentic Imperial Cuisines" complete. Congratulations on receiving one wish for your most desired dream. Options include: ten billion in wealth, God-Tier Singing Mastery, a Perfect Male God buff... and so on. Whatever you dream of, the system will do its best to help you achieve it.’

The system was being uncharacteristically generous.

If Su Ran chose the ten billion in wealth, the system funds would be transferred immediately. From then on, he would be financially free and reach the pinnacle of life.

And then, eighteen-year-old Su Ran fell silent.

A moment later, he asked the system a question.

"Can it be something else?"

"If it’s possible... I’d like to have a dream. I want to see my mom and dad again. Can I do that?"