“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for drawing a classic of the Sichuan cuisine—sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce!”


  The wheel slowly stopped, and the system’s voice sounded at the same time.

  “No. System, didn’t you say it is a top-tier recipe? Could this sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce be considered as a top tier recipe?” Mag cocked an eyebrow. Although he didn’t mean any disrespect for the dish, compared to ‘Buddha jumps over the wall’, this didn’t seem to be par with it?

  “Host, the cruelty level of this Sichuan cuisine classic ‘sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce’[1] is only second to ‘wife cake’[2]. It has an extremely high and unique status in Sichuan cuisine, and an authentic great ‘sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce’ is second to none……”


  “Did you use real husband and wife?” Mag asked.

  “.……” System.

  “Sliced beef and ox tongue in chili sauce,” Mag murmured softly when he opened his eyes. He wasn’t really disappointed. The restaurant didn’t have marinated dishes yet, and he could also show the chowhounds in this world the depth of Chinese cuisine.

  However, whether this dish would trigger some bad associations, that would be beyond his control.

  Mag looked up at his watch. It was still early, so he decided to do some reading upstairs. The mystery of the Great Old One still engulfed this world, so he needed to seek more inspirations from the Cthulhu Mythos.

  Ding.

  Right then, the bell at the door rang.

  “Hm? Don’t the customers know that today is an off day?” Mag raised his eyebrow. Out of courtesy, he still went to the door. He looked out through the peephole, and then opened the door in astonishment—Gloria was standing at the door. He asked, “What are you doing here, Miss Gloria?”


  Gloria presented a golden invite to Mag with both her hands and smiled. “Mr. Mag, I’ve specially come to give you the invitation. It’s the Chamber of Commerce’s year-end celebration the day after tomorrow. As one of the board members, I can invite some friends to join me. I hope you and everyone in the restaurant could come for the event.”


  Mag received the invitation. He was so busy recently that he had forgotten all about that. Gloria had said before that she would like to invite him to join her, so naturally he couldn’t reject her now. He nodded. “Sure. If there’s nothing happening on that day, we will definitely go.”


  “I look forward to your and everyone’s coming.” Gloria smiled before she bid her farewell and left.

  “Miss Gloria is a commercial genius. However, I wonder how she is doing with the Board now?” Mag mumbled as he watched Gloria go away. However, he didn’t think too much about that, because he didn’t have the extra energy to help her now.

  ***

  “Young Mistress, the Dodges should be already plotting with Marquises, and they will be standing on Cyril’s side at the year-end celebration. They will vote to remove your seat on the board of directors.” Mars was sitting across Gloria with a black notebook. He continued, “We need to go see board members Thomson and Cassis in the afternoon. Our chances would be better if they chose to stand on your side.”


  “Alright.” Gloria nodded before pondering. “However, I need to make a trip to Teacher Luna’s in the afternoon. I’ve promised to supply the second batch of winter wear, and I need to confirm the children’s garment sizes. I heard there was an increase in the number of children.”


  “We should be able to meet all of them.” Mars nodded as he looked at Gloria. The business talent and growth rate that Young Mistress had displayed had amazed him, but it was most gratifying that she didn’t lose her kindness.

  Gloria was silent for a while before she suddenly asked, “Mars, do you think we will fail?”


  “No matter from which point of view, you’re already very successful. Even if you couldn’t continue to be the Chamber of Commerce’s board member and the heir of the Moreton Family, you and the Blue Suede Fashion that you founded would still become a great company. It could even surpass the Moreton Family’s current achievements in the future.” Mars smiled.

  “Really?” Gloria looked at Mars with astonishment.

  “The premise is that you have to maintain your current passion and serious attitude towards your career.” Mars nodded.

  “I think I will.” A confident smile appeared on Gloria’s face.

  Mars also smiled at Gloria. His father had assisted Master Jeffree in the past. Now, he might be on the same path.

  ***

  In a luxurious private room, the dim light shone on the faces of men and women drinking and fooling around.

  Cyril was hugging a blonde girl as he raised his wine and gestured to everyone. “For our friendships. Cheers.”


  “Cheers!”


  Everyone raised their glasses.

  “Young Master Cyril, you will be the Moretons’ only heir after Gloria is kicked out at the year-end celebration. You will be the patriarch of the Moretons and the president of the Chamber of Commerce. We will all have to depend on you in the future,” a rotund middle-aged man said with a smile.

  Everyone else in the private area was also trying to butter him up.

  All the praises got to Cyril’s head and he nodded. “Alright, alright. As long as we succeed two days later, I, Cyril, won’t forget you all.”


  Cyril smirked in his heart as he drank his wine and hugged the woman in his arms. He seemed to have seen the scene where Gloria was deposed in the year-end celebration three days later.

  ***

  Night had fallen, and Mag was telling Amy and Anna a bedtime story. After the two little ones were asleep, he switched off the lights and snuck out of the room. He was going to catch up on his reading.

  “You have another woman’s scent on you.” A cold voice came behind Mag just as he closed the door softly.

  “Woah!” Mag got a fright. He turned around, and saw Irina sniffing all over his body. There was a hint of danger in her beautiful eyes.

  Mag was amazed with Irina’s nose’s sensitivity. He took out that invitation proactively, and explained, “Miss Gloria came by and gave me an invitation this afternoon. She was inviting me to take part in the Chamber of Commerce’s year-end celebration on the day after tomorrow.”


  “You didn’t join that Chamber of Commerce, so why is she inviting you?” Irina glanced at that invite. The woman’s scent had come from that.

  “Perhaps because I am her chief designer and business partner. As a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, she’s entitled to invite some friends along.”


  “Ha. Maybe that’s because she has no friends.” Irina chuckled.

  “Erm……” Mag actually didn’t know how to refute that. He kept the invite, and asked, “Have the Night Elves arrived at Chaos City already?”


  “No. I found a place for them to rest first. Because of the huge numbers, they will most probably arrive on the day after tomorrow.” Irina shook her head before seriously saying to Mag, “I’m starved. You, go make me some scrumptious food.”


  “Alright. What do you want to eat? Tell me.” Mag nodded smilingly and walked toward the staircase.

  “I will have a beggar’s chicken first. I saw many wild chickens on the road today,” Irina said without thinking.

  “What a poor chicken.” Mag raised his eyebrow as he observed a minute of silence for the chicken that took the wild chickens’ place.

  [1] Transliteration: husband and wife lung slice.

  [2] A traditional Cantonese pastry with a thin crust of flaky pastry, made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder.