CHAPTER 388: 373 MEET THE YOUNG SISTER-IN-LAW

It was barely two minutes before the door opened.

Standing outside the door, Hua Zifeng froze for a second, turned his head to the side, then quickly recovered his composed demeanor.

Tian Sangsang wasn’t wearing an apron, nor had she a hint of kitchen smoke on her body. Her jet-black hair was tied neatly at the back, her skin smooth and white like jade, standing tall and elegant in front of him. A faint smile flickered in her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, "Alright, Mr. Hua. But you’ll have to wait a few more minutes for the best results."

Hua Zifeng faltered for a moment, then his attention was completely captured by the tantalizing aroma wafting out, even with the lid still on, permeating the air bit by bit as if it turned into his mouthwatering anticipation.

How could he be so impatient?!

Hua Zifeng clasped his hands behind his back, leisurely walking ahead, letting Tian Sangsang carry the food and follow behind. Yet as they walked, not once, but countless times, did he want to cover his stomach, feeling as though a mischievous craving was stirring within.

He was immensely thankful for the morning argument with his sister that had made her storm off to work upset. Ecstatic, he’d eaten a few extra bites of breakfast. Otherwise, his stomach would be growling by now.

Back in the office, Tian Sangsang placed the bowl of instant noodles on the desk. Calculating the timing had just about passed, she lifted the lid and smiled lightly, "Mr. Hua, please have a taste." With finesse, she handed over a pair of chopsticks.

Hua Zifeng accepted the chopsticks from her, his eyes catching a fleeting glimpse of her fair, slender fingers.

Of course, only for the briefest moment in front of him.

He lowered his head, gazing into the bowl. An overwhelmingly rich and indescribable aroma burst forth, compelling him to swallow down hard. Inside, the noodles glistened a golden hue, soft and tender, swollen after absorbing the hot water. The broth was a light brown, rimmed with rings of red—definitely from chili peppers. The noodles were speckled with colorful toppings: reds, greens, browns. The brown bits—those must be beef! Yes, the aroma was unmistakably beef!

With the chopsticks, Hua Zifeng stirred the noodles a little, then picked up a mouthful to eat.

Suddenly, his expression lit up.

As the noodles touched his tongue, they sent an incomparable sensory shockwave cascading through him. It surpassed the taste of any canned food he’d ever eaten. The texture was exquisite beyond belief, prompting him to twirl another generous bite, crunching down on a piece of beef in the process.

Marvelous!

Absolutely marvelous!

He was convinced this was the most delicious bowl of noodles he’d ever had in his life. How could anything taste so incredible? This left him in a dilemma—should he choose the woman or the noodles? Such an impossible choice—it made him unwilling to part with either!

The noodles kept steaming as he ate. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Observing his state, Tian Sangsang seized the opportunity to speak calmly at the side, "Mr. Hua, this is my homemade braised beef noodles—essentially, instant noodles, also known as quick noodles abroad. If you think it’s decent, I’m willing to sell you the recipe for the braised beef noodles. Right now, there’s no such instant noodle on the market. I believe with some packaging, promotion, and effort to build up hype, this product can absolutely dominate the market. Instant noodles, as the name implies, are a kind of convenient food—a leisure product characterized by its ease and swiftness."

Before he realized it, the noodles were gone. Hua Zifeng took a sip of the broth, listening as she continued, "Homemade beef noodles will always be better than instant noodles, of course. But at home, eating the same thing for a long time can get monotonous. Occasionally, people need a change—like eating outside—to mix things up. What I really want to emphasize is that instant noodles are a leisure product. During manufacturing, I hope you’ll shorten the shelf life, strictly following my recipe, without cutting corners or adding random chemicals. Those additives harm health, shorten business lifespan, and damage trust. It’s best to mark the packaging clearly. As for whether others adhere to the guidelines, that’s not for us to worry about."

Wiping his mouth, Hua Zifeng smirked cheekily, "Just like how cigarettes are harmful to health but are still produced, men still feel the need to smoke, right?"

Tian Sangsang’s eyes gleamed as she looked at him for a moment.

Hua Zifeng shrugged, "Well, I don’t smoke. These noodles are excellent, but I still need to discuss them with the other executives. After all, as you’ve guessed, I’m the new leader here." He said deliberately.

Tian Sangsang didn’t object, placing a black bag on the desk, "Here are a few more portions. Mr. Hua can let the executives taste them too. I trust they’ll support you, Mr. Hua."

Hua Zifeng replied, "I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. May I have your contact details, Miss Tian?"

Tian Sangsang shook her head, "I’ll come by in person tomorrow."

"If the partnership doesn’t work out, we can at least be friends. Miss Tian doesn’t need to be so reserved."

"The phone at home isn’t solely for my use. Misunderstandings are inevitable."

Hua Zifeng raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Your parents?"

Tian Sangsang replied flatly, "Parents-in-law. Husband. Son."

Hua Zifeng’s smile faltered, clearly taken aback. This confirmed his earlier assumption—she wasn’t a free agent, and the truth exceeded his expectations: she’d given birth. This complicated things. Yet, since she was a collaborator, he couldn’t act even if he wanted to.

After Tian Sangsang left, he sat in the office for a long time. He knew launching these instant noodles would make a massive stir. Growing up in the countryside and struggling modestly himself, he had a sense of the current social dynamics.

The general population wasn’t very wealthy. If they suddenly encountered such intensely flavorful, richly textured instant noodles—complete with bits of meat—it would definitely win their hearts. Nowadays, most people preferred strong flavors and fatty meat over bland staples they grew used to eating every day.

However, should they pursue a high-end approach or stick to a low-end strategy? That required careful deliberation.

**

Tian Sangsang understood the market potential for instant noodles and predicted Hua Zifeng wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity.

Thus, she walked out of the factory in high spirits, letting out a long breath, her mouth curved in a smile.

The gatekeeper grandpa saw her and chuckled, "Young lady, got what you wished for?"

Tian Sangsang replied, "Yes, indeed. With persistence comes reward. Opportunities favor the prepared."

The old man also grinned, "Congratulations, congratulations."

On her way back, she passed by Zhenwei House and made a point of buying two pounds of osmanthus cake. Since Ye Binyi loved it, she decided to get some. If Binyi wasn’t interested, she’d give it to her son—it was the thought that counted.

In Jiang Family’s living room, several people were seated: Jiang Father, Meng Shuyan, and Jia Wenxiu.

When Tian Sangsang saw Jia Wenxiu, her lovely eyes narrowed slightly.

The two exchanged a glance, both detecting hostility in the other’s gaze.

"Dad, we have a guest at home," Jia Wenxiu stood up naturally.

Jiang Father laughed, "What guest? You should get acquainted. This is your sister-in-law; this is Wenxiu." He introduced both sides.

Jia Wenxiu appeared enlightened, cheerfully extending her hand, "Sister-in-law, nice to meet you. I’m Wenxiu. I just got back and will be living at home for a while before heading off to school. Sorry for imposing on you. Sister-in-law wouldn’t mind, right?" The last line carried a playful tone, seemingly harmless to outsiders, yet Tian Sangsang picked up the unspoken meaning immediately.

Jiang Father worried his daughter might be like his wife, not fond of Tian Sangsang. But seeing Jia Wenxiu’s apparent friendliness, he felt reassured. Wenxiu seemed to have a bright personality, even showing fondness for her new sister-in-law. After all, relations between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were already tense. If his daughter acted up, it would spark a household drama, a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, things didn’t escalate!