Divorced and Determined: The CEO's Ex-Wife Fights for Love - Chapter 44

Chapter 44 Incredible! Lu Qin Is Really Popular!

As soon as the question left his mouth, Mai Dejun regretted it. Culinary skills weren’t something they could easily share with others, especially niche pastries like the Ice Crystal Cake, which could very well be a proprietary recipe.

Old Mai, the method for making this Ice Crystal Cake is Boss Lu’s business secret. How could he possibly share it with you? Old Master Ge thought to himself, Has Mai Dejun, who’s been in the culinary world for so many years, forgotten the basic rules?

“Cough, cough… Haha… This Ice Crystal Cake is just too delicious. It’s so good, I’m losing my sense of direction!”

Mai Dejun quickly changed the subject.

Lu Qin simply smiled and didn’t mind. Actually, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t say—it was just that explaining it would be too complicated. The process of making Ice Crystal Cake was too intricate, requiring attention to countless details. It was something he could not just explain easily.

As Mai Dejun continued savoring the cake, he studied Lu Qin, filled with curiosity. Being a chef is different from other professions—anyone could have talent, but the most important thing is dedication and hard work.

Skills like cutting, stir-frying, and dough-making weren’t just a matter of talent, they required a lot of practice and time. Even with a master’s guidance, it took countless days and nights to develop a pair of skilled hands. Lu Qin was so young, not even thirty, yet he had such remarkable culinary skills. It was truly unbelievable!

Old Master Ge was eating his stir-fried noodles while observing Mai Dejun. Something seemed off about the way Mai was looking at young Lu.

It almost felt like he was sizing him up as a potential son-in-law, with admiration and fondness in his eyes. Ge remembered that Mai’s daughter was already married, though… Could it be… divorced?

Old Master Ge wasn’t feeling too happy about it.

“I brought you here to enjoy some good food, and you’re trying to ‘steal him away’? It’s a pity my own son isn’t very ambitious. Otherwise, if I had a daughter, I’d tie someone like Lu up and take him home as a son-in-law.”

Among the neighbors who came for breakfast, Wang Guifen and Liu Dama were the most concerned—and nosiest—about Lu Qin’s personal life. After buying their stir-fried noodles and Ice Crystal Cakes, they just couldn’t leave.

“Boss Lu, about that girl Aunt Wang mentioned yesterday—are you interested?”

“No need to talk about her looks. She’s very pretty, has a great figure, about 5’5″, and is hardworking. She even runs her own clothing store.”

“She’s got great qualities, but Aunt Wang hasn’t been able to find someone who matches her. Boss Lu, you’re a perfect match!”

“She tried your stir-fried noodles and Ice Crystal Cake and took quite a liking to you! As they say, the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach!”

Faced with Wang Guifen’s enthusiasm, Lu Qin could only smile wryly.

“Aunt Wang, I just got divorced. I’m not ready to think about these things yet.”

“Oh dear, that’s exactly why you need to start dating again! The best way to get over a past relationship is to start a new one. Aunt Wang understands you young folks!”

Liu Dama, not wanting to be outdone, immediately pulled out her phone and jumped into the conversation.

“Boss Lu, take a look at this one. A wealthy beauty—her family runs a big company, way better than Wang Guifen’s girl. If you’re interested, I’ll give you her number, and you can add her on WeChat…”

Seeing these two matchmakers going all out, Old Master Ge and Mai Dejun exchanged glances.

Lu Qin was really popular!

Mai Dejun glanced at the small whiteboard hanging on the food cart, which read.

[Twice-cooked pork 30 yuan/portion, limited to one portion per person] [Chicken Tofu Soup 50 yuan/portion, limited to one portion per person]

He quickly asked, “Boss Lu, do you still sell twice-cooked pork and chicken tofu soup?”

“Hey, stop interrupting us! We’re talking about serious matters with Boss Lu!” Wang Guifen and Liu Dama weren’t pleased about being interrupted. If they could successfully set Lu Qin up, it would bring them face-saving glory.

Old Master Ge chimed in, “Don’t bother Lu while he’s doing business. Does he look like someone eager to date right now?”

He sounded serious but was actually just trying to prevent the two women from convincing Lu to go along with their matchmaking. If he couldn’t have Lu, then no one could. Lu Qin belonged to everyone, and no one should be greedy.

To escape Wang Guifen and Liu Dama, Lu quickly replied to Mai Dejun, “I don’t sell twice-cooked pork or chicken tofu soup in the morning stall, and I didn’t prepare the ingredients. I only sell them in the afternoon and evening.”

“Where are you setting up in the afternoon and evening? I have to try your twice-cooked pork and chicken tofu soup,” Mai Dejun pressed.

“How about we exchange contact information?”

Lu Qin doesn’t add customers’ contacts privately, so he pointed to the small whiteboard and said, “Sir, you can join the QQ group. I post the location of my stall every day in the group.”

“QQ group? I don’t know how to use that. Can’t you just give me your contact info?”

“It’s not very convenient,” Lu Qin replied with an apologetic smile. He knew he couldn’t set a precedent for giving out his contact information. If he did, everyone would start asking for it, or worse, his number might get leaked, which would be a huge hassle.

Mai Dejun was taken aback—he hadn’t expected to be turned down when offering to exchange contact info. Old Master Ge stood by, amused, thinking, Old Mai, who would’ve thought you’d get turned down like this?

But then, out of concern for Lu Qin, Old Master Ge spoke up, “Little Lu, Old Mai is from the culinary world too, and he’s quite influential. He’s not just any customer—you should exchange contacts with him.”

Mai Dejun wasn’t just any chef, he was a national banquet chef with apprentices all over the country. Many prominent figures couldn’t even get his contact info, so Lu Qin didn’t realize the importance of this connection. It would be a shame to miss out on such an opportunity.

Mai Dejun coughed, assuming a more imposing demeanor, without saying a word. Now he was trying to play hard to get, hoping Lu Qin would offer his contact information on his own. After all, where would his pride be if he were turned down again?

But Lu Qin remained firm, saying, “It’s better to just join the QQ group, sir. I can help you join it.”

He really didn’t want to add anyone—he wasn’t familiar with Mai Dejun, so there was no need to exchange contacts.

Mai Dejun’s eyes widened, shocked at being rejected a second time.

“Hmph! Fine, no need then.”

“Let’s go, Old Ge,” he said, hands behind his back as he walked away.

Old Master Ge glanced at Lu Qin, then at Mai Dejun, his expression somewhat strange, but he felt a bit smug inside.

“Alright, Lu, we’ll head off now. We’ll come back tomorrow to get your stir-fried noodles.”

“Okay, take care, Old Master Ge,” Lu Qin replied.

As that group of neighbors left, another wave of customers arrived, and Lu Qin continued running his stall.

“Young man, how much for the stir-fried noodles?” One customer asked.

“Plain noodles are 8 yuan per serving, with an additional 1 yuan for eggs, 2 yuan for ham, and 2 yuan for minced meat.”

“I’ll take two servings with everything added.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Lu Qin poured some oil into the wok and began stir-frying the noodles.

“Young man, you’re quite skilled!” The customer remarked.

“If you’re in this business, you have to be,” Lu Qin replied with a smile.

Chen Dahai, dressed in simple clothes and wearing a pair of old cloth shoes, had a pair of reading glasses hanging around his neck. He looked like a typical old man. Standing at Lu Qin’s stall with his hands behind his back, he watched both the cooking noodles and Lu Qin.

Not bad, Chen thought to himself.

Old Shen’s daughter had a good eye after all. This young man wasn’t bad-looking, tall, clean, and neat—quite pleasing to the eye.

Chen Dahai’s first impression of Lu Qin was much better than those rich young men he had seen before.