I've been reborn, I'm definitely going to become an internet celebrity!

Chapter 64: [Getting to the Root of the Problem]

"Do you know?"

Chen Youyin paused for a few seconds, looking at him with a very subtle gaze.

Then, he suddenly laughed, a laugh that carried the knowing wisdom of someone who had been through it all. "I hear what you're saying several times a year at industry conferences in the city."

"The leader said on stage that we should promote local cuisine and let the whole country know that Chaoshan flavor is not only about beef hot pot, but also beef balls, beef tendon balls, cuttlefish balls, radish cake, potato cake... saying that this is the responsibility of our generation of restaurateurs."

He picked up his teacup and blew away the foam.

"To put it simply, it's about promoting local food culture."

"That's true, and it's inspiring to hear." He took a sip of tea, put down his cup, and said, "But you're too late, young man. Our generation has already done most of this."

Liu Zhuohao didn't reply, but simply lifted his gaze from the rim of his teacup, quietly waiting for what was to come.

"Beef balls, tendon balls, where can't I find them now?"

Chen Youyin tapped his fingers on the edge of the table. "Even if you go to places like Chongqing, Jinan, or Chengdu, where people's tongues are thoroughly seasoned with chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, you can still find the words 'Chaoshan Beef Balls' on the menu when you walk into a hot pot restaurant, a mala tang restaurant, or even a maocai restaurant."

"It's not just meatballs." He leaned forward slightly, his face radiating genuine pride. "Even our simple beef hot pot, with its clear broth, has a place in those places that prefer heavy oil and spice, and we have quite a few shops there."

"What does this mean?" Chen Youyin leaned back in his chair and spread his hands. "It means our products have already gone out into the market. The market has accepted them, and we've paved the way."

"You are more mature than the average young man. At eighteen or nineteen, you can come to the factory to see the actual situation, you can talk about things in a very logical way, and you can ask me to come out here to talk to me. You have guts."

"but……"

He changed the subject, his tone softened, and there was a familiar look in his expression that Liu Zhuohao often saw in his father: "After all, he's still young, and his horizons haven't been broadened yet."

"I advise you, if you really want to establish yourself in this industry, don't rush into how to promote yourself. You have to go out yourself and experience what the outside world is really like. At that time, your thoughts may be different."

His words were sincere and his feelings were deep.

Liu Zhuohao repeated the sentence in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously stroking the warm teacup, muttering to himself:

"The outside world...?"

Many brands came to mind.

Those names that will transform "Chaoshan beef" from a regional label into a national catering brand in the next decade.

Some have already begun to sprout, while others are still in the blueprint stage.

"Brother Chen..."

Liu Zhuohao raised his head, his gaze calm but landing directly on Chen Youyin's face. "You're right. The reputation of our Chaoshan cuisine has long been spread far and wide. All over the country, when people mention beef hot pot or beef balls, the first place that comes to mind is ours."

Chen Youyin's face showed a natural ease, a kind of self-satisfaction with his achievements.

But Liu Zhuohao's next words left the teacup he had just picked up hanging in mid-air.

"But, Brother Chen."

Liu Zhuohao's voice was not loud, but it was so clear that it seemed to filter out all the noise in the teahouse.

"When they fish a beef ball out of the hot pot and think, 'So bouncy and fresh, so incredibly delicious,' they're thinking—"

He paused, his gaze sharp.

"—What's this dumpling's surname?"

Chen Youyin's fingers tightened imperceptibly for a moment on the warm porcelain cup.

"Won't."

Liu Zhuohao answered his own question, his tone devoid of sarcasm, calmly stating, "What they thought of was 'Chaoshan,' asking a Chaoshan friend to buy it for them, or casually picking up a few packs from an old shop while traveling."

"'Chaoshan' is a prestigious brand, but it's also a label that anyone can put on it."

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance a little, his gaze intense.

"Under this guise, there's a real mixed bag. Aren't there plenty of 'authentic Chaoshan beef balls' made with inferior meat, mixed with powder and glue? They dare to fool even locals, let alone clueless tourists from out of town?"

"The brand has become so big that it's been overused. Today someone praises it, tomorrow someone will criticize it as a rip-off. Who are they criticizing? They're criticizing our entire region!"

"One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Zhuohao picked up a soup spoon, steadily scooped up the last beef ball from the bowl of soup in front of him, which had already cooled down, and put it into his mouth.

He chewed slowly, swallowed, and then looked up and said:

"tasty."

"Brother Chen, you say..." He put down the porcelain spoon, the handle tapping against the rim of the bowl with a soft "clink," "How come such delicious food, such authentically made meatballs, with such high-quality ingredients, doesn't even have a well-known name?"

Chen Youyin looked at the empty bowl on the table, his lips moved, but no sound came out.

"From the day Old Zhao brought me into your factory..."

Liu Zhuohao clasped his hands together and gently placed them on the greasy table, his posture solemn. "I've tried every place that uses your meatballs, from the unsigned kueh teow stall on the street corner to the meat stall with long queues in the market, and now here...

"The quality is beyond question, that's it."

He gave a thumbs up. "Steady and good."

"That's why I can't understand it, and it's even more of a pity."

His voice deepened, as if carrying some weight, "If, I mean if... one day, a customer from out of town eats some particularly delicious beef balls at a restaurant, he won't need to ask someone to buy them for him, he won't need to worry about whether they're authentic or not, his first reaction will be, 'Hmm, what could it be? Your Chen family, your Chen Ji's meatballs!'"

"He can open his phone, make a call, or tap the screen a few times to buy the exact same, absolutely authentic 'Chen's Beef Balls'."

"When that day comes..."

Liu Zhuohao spoke each word clearly, his voice carrying a resolute strength, "When people eat beef balls, they think of Chaoshan, and then what? Chen Ji!"

"This title will be very prestigious. Why? Because of quality, reputation, and brand. This isn't about stealing the limelight or doing business. It's about someone with ability and responsibility who should personally polish and re-establish the 'authentic' brand, which has been overused by too many people. Brother Chen..."

"This is returning to the source, clarifying the origin!"

The last four words were spoken slowly and deliberately.

……

……

"Just letting you know, I've basically finalized the deal. We just need to meet a few more times, and it'll probably be done."

After leaving the teahouse, Liu Zhuohao sent a message to the editor at Crow's office on his phone. After all, he was going to use their platform to do something, so he had to let them know beforehand.

He recalled the hesitant look on Chen Youyin's face when she asked him what his Bilibili ID was before she left.

This is a good response.

Greed, desire.

Before Liu Zhuohao could even get on his motorcycle to go home, his phone rang. When he took out his phone to check the message, he was stunned.

"Boss Liu, the site administrator wants to add you as a friend, but you've turned off friend requests. Could you add him?"