My Manor

Hey, Jiang, are you here to eat beef too? The beef here is really good!" Seeing Jiang Hai, Du Famen greeted him enthusiastically and immediately pulled him aside to talk at the entrance. The Chinese people around them simply smiled, not daring to do anything else.

Du Famen was not just a wealthy and influential Middle Eastern tycoon; he was also a member of the Dubai royal family. His presence here was not only for himself but also as a representative of Dubai. A few days ago, he had met with the current emperor, and those accompanying him did not dare to voice any complaints. As for the others nearby, seeing the people around him, they wouldn't even think of getting upset.

"Of course, the beef here is good. It's produced in my manor." Hearing Du Famen's praise, Jiang Hai felt proud. He smiled as he spoke, which left Du Famen momentarily stunned.

"Your beef?" Du Famen looked at Jiang Hai in surprise. The first meal he had upon arriving a few days ago was at the state banquet hosted by the emperor. To be honest, while the Chinese found the food exquisite, it tasted rather ordinary to him.

After that, he had asked his entourage to find a place that served truly delicious beef. That's how they discovered Qi Li's restaurant. Once he tried the food, he was hooked and had been coming back daily.

Now, learning that the beef came from Jiang Hai, he was genuinely surprised.

"I'm a cattle breeder. Didn't you know?" Jiang Hai laughed at his reaction.

"Wow, I had no idea. Can I visit your place sometime?" Du Famen asked with a smile.

"Of course," Jiang Hai replied without hesitation.

"In about a month, I'll be heading to the U.S. again. When the time comes, I'll make sure to visit your manor." Du Famen patted Jiang Hai on the shoulder and grinned.

Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly asked, "By the way, are you staying here for a while?"

"I think so," Jiang Hai replied after a moment of thought. With unresolved matters to deal with, leaving wouldn't be easy.

"Great! I'm hosting a cocktail party in three days. Make sure to come! Alright, I won't keep you from your dinner. See you later." Du Famen glanced at the six women standing behind Jiang Hai and knowingly blinked at him, giving him a playful look before leaving with a smirk.

Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Hai shook his head helplessly. "Since when did this guy become so cheeky?"

However, he didn't have time to dwell on it. Despite Du Famen's wealth, money wasn't everything. So, after a brief farewell, Jiang Hai stepped into the restaurant with Qi Li, unaware that as he greeted Du Famen, the people accompanying the Middle Eastern tycoon had been quietly observing him. Some even pulled out their phones to check something. Someone with close ties to Du Famen couldn't be taken lightly. As soon as they parted, a middle-aged man in Du Famen's group made a gesture, and a young man discreetly left the team, slipping into the restaurant.

By then, Jiang Hai had already followed Qi Li inside. She had arranged everything in advance, and as soon as they entered, a waiter led them to a private room.

While most of the restaurant had small partitions, there were also exclusive private dining rooms. In the center of the room was a large square table with a cooking station in the middle, where the chef would prepare dishes on the spot. The restaurant specialized in Western cuisine and steaks, but it also offered teppanyaki. Both styles brought out the best in the high-quality beef.

After Jiang Hai and his friends settled in, a middle-aged chef, appearing to be in his forties, stepped into the center and began his preparations.

"This is Chef Zhang Deqing, the best Western and teppanyaki chef in the country. I hired him from Japan," Qi Li explained, noticing Jiang Hai's curious expression.

Zhang Deqing gave a slight nod to Jiang Hai and immediately focused on his work, saying nothing more.

Despite cooking for seven people, the chef's skills were exceptional, and he worked quickly. Soon, he had expertly prepared and portioned the high-grade beef and seafood Qi Li had selected. Each plate was meticulously arranged.

This was Jiang Hai's first time eating his own beef prepared on a teppanyaki grill, and he was curious. He speared a piece with his fork, noting that it was already dressed with a fragrant black pepper sauce. There was no need for any additional seasoning.

The moment his teeth met the beef, an explosion of flavors filled his mouth. The meat's juices, infused with a fresh, grassy aroma, combined with the richness of the beef and a unique energy that set it apart from anything else he had tasted.

"This really is my beef!" Jiang Hai closed his eyes in satisfaction as he savored the bite, chewing quickly before swallowing. He suddenly realized he had been underappreciating his own product.

Although he had always known his beef was high-quality, he hadn't expected it to be this extraordinary.

Previously, he might have rated his beef at 90 points, deducting 10 out of humility. Now, he realized that while his own cooking yielded a 70-point dish, a professional chef could elevate it to an astonishing 120 points. The difference was clear.

"Looks like I need to consider hiring a professional chef when I get back," Jiang Hai muttered to himself.

"I know that Cindy's father is a professional French chef. You could ask him to cook for you!" Marianne eagerly suggested, raising her hand.

Jiang Hai stroked his chin in thought. If he and Cindy Clive ever became more involved, asking his future father-in-law to cook seemed like a good idea—but also a little awkward. Having his father-in-law in his house every day? That didn't sit right with him.

In today's world, not only were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships strained, but son-in-law and father-in-law dynamics could also be tense.

"Well, if you're interested, I can help you keep an eye out for a good chef," Qi Li interjected. She was clearly more concerned than Jiang Hai.

She knew exactly who Cindy Clive was. Though she had never met Cindy, they were aware of each other's existence. Qi Li hadn't shown much hostility toward Ai Xiaoxi or Feng Yunchen because she knew they could never replace her. In ancient terms, those women were mere concubines or even just maids. They weren't real threats.

But Cindy Clive was different.

If Jiang Hai got involved with her, Qi Li's position might no longer be secure.

Jiang Hai, however, didn't want to dwell on the topic. He and Cindy Clive hadn't been in close contact recently, and he felt a bit guilty. Changing the subject, he asked, "Tell me about the An family."

Qi Li's expression turned serious. "The An family is an old aristocratic family in the imperial capital. The current head is An Dexun, father of An Changwu and An Changyong. His great-grandfather was a Beiyang officer. After the regime change, their family remained in the imperial capital. An Dexun's grandfather served under General Zhang Zizhong. When the Japanese surrendered, he was among the first to enter the capital. Later, he surrendered to Emperor Taizu and withdrew from the military, shifting the family's focus to business."

Qi Li's hatred for the An family was no secret, and she had researched them thoroughly.

Although they once had imperial merit, many families did. Their ancestor had only reached the rank of colonel and held no real power. By An Changwu's grandfather's generation, the family was declining, so they entered the business world.

Compared to other noble families, the An family was not particularly powerful. They lacked political and military influence, and as time passed, their connections weakened.

As Qi Li spoke, Jiang Hai suddenly found his delicious beef a little less appetizing.

(To be continued.)