Wang Defa instructed the kitchen to prepare a plate of stir-fried pork.
Not long after, the dish was served steaming hot. Lin Fan didn't hesitate—he directly took out the secret seasoning, sprinkled it on top, and mixed it evenly with his chopsticks.
"Boss Wang, it's ready."
Wang Defa raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the simplicity of Lin Fan's actions.
That's it?
His expression seemed to say, Are you kidding me? Just a sprinkle and a stir?
Out of courtesy, he didn't comment. Instead, he leaned in and took a sniff.
There was no particularly strong aroma. But that wasn't because the seasoning lacked fragrance—on the contrary, the scent had already perfectly fused with the ingredients.
If Lin Fan had let him smell the seasoning bottle beforehand, Wang Defa might not have even needed a taste test.
Still, he picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it into his mouth.
The moment he bit down, an intense, layered aroma exploded on his palate, traveling straight up to his nasal cavity.
Wang Defa knew this dish better than anyone. The stir-fried pork in his restaurant was decent, but it wasn't drastically different from others.
Yet now…
With just a dash of Lin Fan's secret seasoning, the flavor had transformed completely.
It was like the dish had evolved.
One bite made him crave the next. The more he ate, the more he wanted.
By the time he regained awareness, the small plate of pork was completely gone.
Wang Defa looked up sheepishly and laughed.
"This secret seasoning of yours… it's amazing. No joke, this is magical. I've eaten this dish thousands of times, but just with your seasoning added, the taste improved by several levels!"
His words were sincere, filled with admiration. He was a veteran in the culinary world—and this flavor shocked him.
If I can get this recipe, my business will skyrocket… Maybe even go public!
Only now did Wang Defa take a closer look at Lin Fan.
His eyes widened slightly.
Isn't that the latest Arnie Ma designer jacket?
That outfit easily cost hundreds of thousands.
This young man definitely wasn't just some average Joe.
And paired with a secret recipe of this caliber, he had to be someone with considerable background.
Still, the System had capped his maximum bid at 100 million yuan, so there must be a reason.
After a moment of thought, Wang Defa got straight to the point.
"Young brother, I won't beat around the bush. Just by your appearance, I can tell—you're no ordinary person."
"How about this? I'll offer you a flat price of 100 million yuan. What do you say?"
Lin Fan smiled and shook his head.
"Boss Wang, you're indeed straightforward. But you've already tasted it—there's no need for me to exaggerate. As someone in the F&B business, you know how valuable this is."
"This seasoning is worth far more than that."
Wang Defa let out an embarrassed laugh.
"You're right. This secret recipe of yours is truly extraordinary… But honestly, I really can't offer more."
As Lin Fan had guessed, the System's evaluation was accurate. If Wang Defa had more to offer, he probably would've offered it.
Suddenly, Wang Defa's eyes lit up.
"Young brother, how about this—I'll introduce you to someone. She's in the same business as me, and she's got real capability. Her hot pot chain is even listed publicly."
"With me vouching for you, she'll trust your seasoning. You won't have to waste time searching for other buyers."
Lin Fan glanced at the time. It was still early.
Meeting someone new wouldn't hurt—and if she was introduced by a straight-shooter like Wang Defa, she likely wouldn't be bad.
"Alright then. Go ahead and contact her, Boss Wang."
"Great! Young brother, wait here a moment."
Wang Defa waved for a waiter to bring Lin Fan a fresh cup of coffee before stepping aside to make a call.
The phone rang a few times.
"Brother Wang? What brings you to call me today?" a woman's voice answered.
"Haha, little sister, your big brother's got a business deal here I can't handle on my own."
The woman laughed in disbelief. "You? Can't handle a deal? How big is it?"
Wang Defa chuckled. "Not joking this time. A young man came to my place just now with a secret seasoning he wants to sell. I was skeptical at first, but once I tasted it…"
He lowered his voice.
"...I'm telling you, it's legendary. Transformed my favorite dish entirely—our signature stir-fried pork has never tasted this good."
There was silence on the other end.
"Old brother, you better not be pulling my leg."
"Do I sound like I'm joking? I know flavor, and this one's the real deal."
A pause.
"Alright then, I'm coming over."
Ten minutes later, a woman in a red qipao walked into the restaurant.
She was poised, mature, and radiated confidence.
Wang Defa stood up immediately.
"You're here!"
He turned toward Lin Fan with a smile.
"Young brother, this is the person I told you about—Ma Hongjuan, CEO of Yue Di Lao Hot Pot, a listed national chain."
Lin Fan's expression changed slightly.
Ma Hongjuan...? Why does that name sound familiar?
He quickly opened the System interface and clicked "navigation."
A line of text floated above her head.
> [Name: Ma Hongjuan]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 42]
[Identity: Boss of Yue Di Lao Hot Pot, listed company with national chain stores]
[Highest Bid: 220 million yuan]
[Distance: 0.5m]
Lin Fan's eyes lit up in surprise.
She's the one!
The System's top buyer… and she appeared on her own!
What a coincidence.
But it was perfect. He wouldn't need to run around again.
Wang Defa introduced them warmly.
"This young brother's a good man—straightforward and reliable. Have a proper talk with him."
Ma Hongjuan glanced at Lin Fan.
He was dressed head-to-toe in luxury brands. Young, confident, and clearly not short on money.
Then why was he selling such a valuable recipe?
She was curious—but she kept her thoughts to herself.
She needed to hear more before making any judgments.
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