"Ah, so comfortable."

After taking a bath and lying down on the bed, Wang Fan felt his body enveloped by a marshmallow-like mattress, making him moan comfortably.

"Lie down properly."

Obediently, Wang Fan lay down on the bed, then felt something press down on his waist—a pair of slightly cold small feet stepping on him.

Feeling the 100-pound weight on his back could only be described as sheer bliss; Wang Fan felt his day’s fatigue dissipate instantly.

"Boss, what are you planning to do tomorrow?"

While massaging Wang Fan’s back with her feet, Zhuo Qianqian asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Wang Fan retorted, "Is there something you want to eat?"

"How about trying to make saltwater duck?"

Wang Fan laughed, "Making saltwater duck in Nanjing feels like a challenge, is it really suitable?"

A bit annoyed, Zhuo Qianqian said, "I didn’t think it was suitable either until some old restaurant claimed that you only know how to innovate, and can’t make a good traditional duck."

Wang Fan was momentarily stunned before realizing, "Someone’s jealous online?"

"Of course, many people are saying the duck here is the best, and some so-called century-old brands started arguing with your fans, saying that what you make is only considered snacks and that you can’t prepare a true duck feast."

Wang Fan nodded in understanding.

When people become popular, controversy follows; some people can’t stand others being successful. After doing this for so long, it’s inevitable some antagonists would pop up; that’s just part of the plot’s development.

"No matter what they say, we just need to do our own thing well."

Wang Fan wasn’t in the habit of arguing online; he believed in proving himself through his work.

"Boss, you go to sleep first; I’m going to argue with them!"

Though he didn’t habitually argue, Zhuo Qianqian was full of fighting spirit. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Laughing, Wang Fan pulled her into his arms, "What are you arguing for? I feel like eating saltwater duck tomorrow; let’s give it a try."

Upon hearing Wang Fan’s words, Zhuo Qianqian pumped her fist, "Yes, that’s exactly the way to confront them head-on. Do they really think we’re afraid?"

Just as she was getting ready for bed, she suddenly picked up Wang Fan’s phone, "I need to tell the group so those fans don’t feel like they’re fighting alone."

Cheng Feifan was already in the battle.

A boss claiming to run a century-old saltwater duck restaurant openly accused Boss Wang of being a sensationalist, saying everything he made was junk food, unhealthy and lacking in depth.

Intolerable!

"Without experience, you have no right to speak. It just so happens that I’ve tasted the duck from your so-called century-old brand; honestly, it’s just average. I don’t think it’s any better than others, yet the price is more than double—truly paying to learn a lesson. I don’t blame you for saying that; it’s purely because you haven’t tasted Boss Wang’s duck. If you had even a bite, you wouldn’t say that."

The boss was very stubborn; even when facing group criticism, he refused to relent, "The century-old recipe isn’t something just anyone can appreciate. If you can’t taste it, it just shows your lack of taste. I put my words here: he’s just an internet celebrity who can only sell street food; he can’t handle high-end duck dishes."

Shen Teng, browsing his phone, was both amused and annoyed by the boss’s words. Immediately, he posted a picture of the Taibai Duck Wang Fan had made at Le Jules Verne, "Open your beautiful eyes and take a good look. Boss Wang’s duck has already reached France and Michelin; why don’t you try getting into Michelin too?"

The Drunken Duck Inn boss dismissed the photos disdainfully, "How can Sichuan Cuisine’s duck compare to our Nanjing duck? It’s simply that I don’t want to take our ancestral skills abroad."

Shen Teng was speechless; he thought to himself that not going to Tsinghua and Peking University was also because he didn’t want to.

"In the end, it’s just one sentence: ’If you think you can, show it.’ Stop making some low-tier street food and thinking you’re unbeatable. Your water army boasts, but it’s nothing."

Damn?

Shen Teng felt he couldn’t hold back any longer, immediately switching to the group chat and tagging Wang Fan. Once inside, he saw the messages tagging Wang Fan flooding the chat, everyone waiting for him to come out and smack the boss’s face.

"Why hasn’t Boss Wang responded yet? It’s driving me crazy."

"Isn’t it? They’re practically stepping all over him; if it were me, I couldn’t take it!"

"Could it be possible that Boss Wang really can’t make saltwater duck? It seems some dishes do have their thresholds."

"Impossible, there’s nothing Boss Wang can’t do."

"I think so too; Boss Wang can do anything!"

"I’ve decided to try making saltwater duck tomorrow. Friends nearby are welcome to come and taste it."

"Oh wow, Boss Wang has finally arrived, and he’s coming in strong."

"!!! This is like making a grand entrance, isn’t it?!"

"Haha, I’m waiting for this line; I live in Suzhou, and tomorrow I’m definitely going to check it out. Saltwater duck is my favorite; let’s see how Boss Wang’s differs."

"I just hope that stubborn boss comes tomorrow to challenge, then it’ll really be a showdown."

With the boss’s reply, the fans grew emboldened, taking screenshots and challenging the boss directly. The boss wasn’t afraid either, frankly stating he would come tomorrow with his duck, letting the tourists decide which one was better.

Wang Fan took the phone and looked at what the boss had said, easily understanding his purpose.

He’s just here to ride the hype!

He’s no different from those internet celebrities, stirring up a fuss to gain fame.

But choosing him as a soft target was clearly picking the wrong opponent, right?

Looking at the time, it was only 8 PM; there was still time to order ingredients.

This time, he ordered the same large duck thighs, but switched from white feather ducks to muscovy ducks.

While waiting for the ingredients, Wang Fan closed his eyes, searching for the saltwater duck recipe in his mind.

"Saltwater duck, belonging to Jinling cuisine, is one of the representations of Jinling dishes, also known as osmanthus duck. Its characteristics are that the skin is white, the meat is tender, it’s rich but not greasy, and it has a fragrant and delicious taste. The one made during the season of osmanthus blooms around mid-Autumn yields the best color and flavor, known as osmanthus duck.

The finished dish demands white skin, red meat, and green bones, testing the chef’s skills extensively."

After reading the introduction, Wang Fan began to simulate the preparation process in his mind.

"First, soak in clear water for 8 hours. Extracting the duck blood will make the skin white; red meat is mainly through pepper salt marination, and green bones should be achieved by controlling the heat..."

The method of making saltwater duck was like a puzzle, and he was the person piecing it together. As piece by piece came together, the steps for making the saltwater duck became clear to him.

The next step was to wait for the ingredients to arrive and bring what’s in his mind into reality.

Ha, not too difficult.

Opening his eyes, Wang Fan smiled.