Chapter 245 - I'll Help You

After receiving another loud applause, Wang Ming walked off the stage and towards his girls who had big smiles on their faces. It seems like his years staying in the kitchen and only talking with chefs and reading cook books paid off. He only had a few friends like Kang Xiang even though in the past he had little time to talk with them, he still felt close to them.

Thinking about his friends, Wang Ming regretted not spending more time with them when they were younger. Now they all have their own lives, like Kang Xiang he has a family and a business to manage. The most realistic way to spend time with each other is if Wang Ming commissions him for work. That way it would not only help Kang Xiang's business, but they could spend time together and catch up.

That would have to be another time. His girls came running at him after he walked offstage. With two women and one girl in his embrace, Wang Ming carried them all into the preparation room. There he got another applause from the other competitors, who wanted to congratulate him. Even though many of them yesterday acknowledged his skills, after seeing his performance today, Wang Ming could see with their tone that they really regarded him as their peer, even though many they were all twice his age. It didn't matter.

Wang Ming was afraid that the ruckus he and his girls made would make the other chefs feel uncomfortable or irritated, but most of them just smiled at the scene of Wang Ming carrying his girls around. They were all old people, seeing them just made them think about when they were young and their children. Thinking about his age just gave them a deeper respect for Wang Ming. When they were at his age most of them had just started their careers, yet here he is competing in one of the biggest competitions in the country.

"Hubby, I got something to tell you."

"Husband, I have to tell you something."

"Uh, both of you whisper in my ears at the same time." Seeing both being so eager to talk to him, Wang Ming didn't want to play favorites. He told them both to whisper to him at the same time. This way they couldn't complain about him favoring one of them.

Funnily enough both of them told him exactly the same thing, that they both had bet on him after Meng Zhong had talked about it. They bet on that Wang Ming would not only win the competition, but be the first person to win the knowledge test. Since they bet for him to win first in the knowledge test, the odds they got were 250 to 1.

Lang Lin and Fu Ya both bet on Wang Ming, they didn't bet a big amount as they didn't have that much money on hand. They both bet 10 thousand yuan on him. Fu Ya had also bet with Wang Ming's money, she didn't have access to Wang Ming's accounts, so she couldn't do it through her phone. Though she heard from Zhang Hou that you could get at the venue too.

With Wang Ming's card in hand, she paid the man responsible for bets at the venue, but in her excitement she had bet 100 thousand yuan instead of 10 thousand yuan. She tried to get a refund from the man but he couldn't as it had already gotten processed through the system. She was afraid that Wang Ming would be angry, knowing that she might have wasted 100 thousand on a bet.

"Well then, I'll have to win this competition for the all of us. If I win that's 30 million yuan right?"

"So, you're not angry?" Fu Ya had never used 100 thousand yuan on anything in her life except for buying her house and car, especially not on a bet. She would have been livid if someone had used her money like that.

"What is it to be angry about? Even if I get angry, I can't get the money back, I'll just take it as more motivation to win the competition. But next time be careful, okay? If it had been 10 million instead of 100 thousand, I might have become bankrupt."

"I promise to look thrice next time I pay for anything over 1 thousand."

"Mhm, that's fine. Don't feel bad about it, I can earn the lost money back, though the money isn't lost yet we might win big." After getting through the last round and getting first in this round, Wang Ming realized he might not be weaker than the other competitors.

"I hope you win Hubby, I can afford to expand my shop, if I win the 2.5 million yuan." Wang Ming didn't know that Fu Ya wanted to expand her shop, if he had known earlier he could have lent her the money. "Why didn't you tell me? I could invest in your shop. Is that why you've been so busy the last while? Did you have to find another partner after Cao Hu backed out?"

"I can't take your money, Hubby. I need to work and get everything with my own two hands. I've lived most of my life as an independent woman if I get everything from you, then what's the difference between me and a pretty vase in our home? If I do nothing for the house then what stops you from getting another woman who's prettier or when I get older?"

"Fine, I won't suggest it again. But remember, my contacts are your contacts if I can't help you with money at least I can help by introducing you to the right persons. I know that Uncle Meng has his hand in a lot of different businesses. I can introduce you to him after the competition on Sunday. I've talked to him once before. He seems like a great man. I believe he will see the potential of your business."

"Thank you, Hubby!" He then released both of them from his embrace. If he kept hugging them then things could get dirty fast. "It's nothing, and don't thank me yet. Even though Uncle Meng has a friendly attitude towards me, it doesn't mean that he will agree. You need to show him what you are capable of."

"I'll show him what Wang Ming's girlfriend can do! Don't you worry."

Lang Lin smiled at hearing that Fu Ya might get help from Meng Zhong. If she became a partner with Meng Zhong, then her business would boom. She has known about Fu Ya's struggle for a while now, but there's nothing she could do to help her. She could ask her father to help, but for Fu Ya's shop to be associated with the underworld might not be a good thing.

"Congratulations, Sister Ya! If you can become a business partner with Uncle Meng, your business is going to go up like a rocket ship. Uncle Meng is not only powerful in Liaoling city, but even in the whole Hang Meng district. By then there's probably going to be a big line of business people waiting in front of your shop to become your partner."

"Thank you, little sister. I hope so, I hope so." Even with Lang Lin and Wang Ming's reassuring words, Fu Ya felt nervous, very nervous, like her heart was about to jump out of her c.h.e.s.t. Even though she wouldn't meet Uncle Meng before on Sunday, this could be a defining moment for her shop.

"Just relax, you worry, wart. Even if Uncle Meng doesn't support you, I will. Just look at your husband, I'm a celebrity now regrettable. I'll advertise your shop at my restaurants to bring more traffic to it. I'll open up 3 restaurants soon geared towards middle to high-class people, they will love your shop.

Even though Fu Ya heard what Wang Ming said, it went from one ear and out the other. She felt too stressed out, and her mind was all occupied with how to impress Uncle Meng.

Seeing Wang Ming stare at her, she realized she had completely ignored him. "I'm sorry, I just…"

"It's fine. I know let's go home. You probably need to work out the details for the shop, right? I'll take Ming Ming and Lang Lin out to eat then I'll take her home."

Fu Ya appreciated Wang Ming for being so understanding. Giving him a tight hug, she took the first cab she could find home.

Seeing how Wang Ming treated Fu Ya, Lang Lin gave him a hug as well and said. "I love how you treat us! I don't know how it's possible but I love you even more now." Kissing her delicious lips, Wang Ming then took them both to a restaurant nearby. He invited Uncle Hou, but he wanted to watch the rest of the show. As it's the first time they've changed up the rules, he wanted to know who would get through.