When the words 'medicinal cuisine' were heard, everyone's expression was the same: incomprehension.
What is that?
Medicinal cuisine?
It was a term they had never heard before. Did he invent it himself?
Lu Ming, of course, saw the confusion on everyone's faces and chuckled, "Actually, it's very simple. It's combining medicine with food, so that while you enjoy delicious meals, your body also receives corresponding treatment to resolve certain ailments."
What?
That powerful?
The customers were all stunned, having never heard of such a thing. Not in all of history. Eating can cure illnesses?!
Hu Ziming burst into laughter, "Nonsense, keep talking. Eating to cure illness, why don't you combine kung fu with football? Have you watched too many movies! If eating a meal could cure AIDS, cancer, and uremia, then what need would there be for hospitals? Lu Ming, you should at least think before you brag!"
The customers' thoughts were very much in line with Hu Ziming's, and each of them expressed disbelief.
Although Bian Ru's cooking was good and his knife skills were superb, how could a cook possibly cure illnesses and save lives? If so, he should become a doctor, why would he be stir-frying dishes here?!
The customers shook their heads one after another, all expressing doubt about Lu Ming's claims, their faces showing expressions of disdain.
Lu Ming, of course, saw their disbelief.
He smiled and said, "Of course, serious illnesses like AIDS, cancer, and uremia cannot be cured by just eating. Mingyue Zhai doesn't have that capability. However!"
Lu Ming changed his tone, drawing everyone's attention.
He said, "While major illnesses cannot be cured, minor ones can be. Colds and fevers, headaches and minor ailments, stomach discomfort, general fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and so on and so forth, can all be treated through diet. Mingyue Zhai can customize food packages according to each person's specific condition, treating illnesses while customers enjoy their meals. It's killing two birds with one stone, truly delightful."
Upon hearing Lu Ming's description, the customers' eyes lit up. Each of them became excited as if they had seen gold.
In modern society, the vast majority of people are in a state of sub-health.
There are no major illnesses, but there are many minor ones!
Everyone has some minor ailments to varying degrees. Going to the hospital for them isn't worth it, but leaving them untreated is uncomfortable, so they just endure it.
If illnesses could be cured through diet, people would be very willing to try.
This market segment was enormous.
Looking across the country, even the globe, almost everyone has some minor ailments. If they could be resolved by eating, it would truly open a boundless path in the culinary world!
"Is that true? Can eating solve the problem of stomachaches? To be honest, I've had diarrhea for two or three years, it comes and goes. Can it really be solved by eating?"
"I tend to get anxious at night and can't sleep. Can that also be solved by eating?"
"I just feel tired all over, I sleep endlessly every day, my arms ache, and my legs are weak. I've been to the hospital many times, but it hasn't helped much. Can someone like me also rely on food to cure illnesses?"
These seemingly normal customers began to reveal their own ailments.
Indeed.
Just as Lu Ming had predicted, everyone had some minor ailments to varying degrees. Far more people suffered from minor ailments than from serious ones.
The more people with minor ailments, the larger this market segment!
A business opportunity, this is a business opportunity!
Lu Ming said with great confidence, "Rest assured, Mingyue Zhai can handle all your problems!"
Hearing Lu Ming's reply, a wave of excitement swept through the crowd.
Just as everyone was eager to try, a very discordant voice was heard, "Bullshit!"
Huh?
Who?
Everyone simultaneously turned their gaze in the direction of the voice. They saw an old man, dressed in a long gown and wearing a hat, standing at the back of the crowd.
His eyes were sharp and piercing, and he exuded an aura of imposing dignity.
Someone who recognized him exclaimed, "Oh my, isn't that Mr. Xie Yuqing?"
Xie Yuqing was a famous gastronome in Wudu.
He once hosted a food program called "The Tip of Wudu's Tongue," which specifically visited restaurants of all sizes in Wudu, tasted various delicacies, and gave them scores.
The show was immensely popular, with extremely high viewership ratings.
Xie Yuqing possessed profound cultural heritage and extremely stringent requirements for food. Listening to his critiques of cuisine was an absolute pleasure.
Watching him eat made one's own meal seem even more delicious.
However, Xie Yuqing was old and retired a couple of years ago, living a leisurely life at home. Unexpectedly, they saw him here today.
He was probably visiting the commercial street, saw the grand opening of Mingyue Zhai, found it lively, and decided to stop by.
After hearing Lu Ming's 'medicinal cuisine' concept, Xie Yuqing's direct evaluation was two words: Bullshit!
Beside him.
Hu Ziming burst into laughter and quickly went to try and curry favor.
He smiled and said, "Oh, Mr. Xie, are you back on the commercial street searching for delicacies again? Come, come, go to our Wu family's restaurant. I, Hu Ziming, will personally cook a sumptuous meal for you."
Lu Ming, however, blocked Hu Ziming.
He stared at Xie Yuqing and said, "Don't be in such a hurry to take him away. Mr. Xie, your recent evaluation of Mingyue Zhai seems a bit impolite, doesn't it?"
Heh!
Xie Yuqing sneered, "Impolite? I'd be being polite if I didn't hit you! Cooking is cooking, why mix it with curing illnesses? Is that proper? If eating can cure diseases, then what need is there for hospitals? For the sake of so-called cures, you sacrifice the color, aroma, and taste of the food, creating something utterly unpalatable, calling it 'bitter medicine that aids health.' Heh, this is an insult to cuisine, a blasphemy against the five thousand years of Chinese culinary culture! Do you have a problem with me calling it bullshit?"
It was evident that Xie Yuqing belonged to a very conservative faction regarding culinary culture.
Hu Ziming chimed in, "You're right, cooking is cooking. To combine it with all sorts of nonsensical things is simply an insult to us chefs! Mingyue Zhai, two words to describe it: Garbage!"
The two of them, singing in unison, belittled Mingyue Zhai immensely, expressing disdain for Lu Ming's 'medicinal cuisine' plan.
If they were allowed to control the situation, could Mingyue Zhai even open for business?
"Heh." Lu Ming sneered and looked at Xie Yuqing, "Mr. Xie, you haven't even tasted the dishes at Mingyue Zhai, so how can you conclude that our dishes are not delicious? How can you say we sacrifice color and taste for the sake of so-called bitter medicine? How can you assert that our dishes are just a gimmick and cannot cure illnesses? What is your basis? Do you have the right to speak?"
Direct confrontation.
No politeness just because you are an industry authority!
Hu Ziming cursed, "Lu Ming, do you know who you're talking to? What kind of attitude is that?"
"It doesn't matter." Xie Yuqing said arrogantly, "All said and done, you just want me to taste Mingyue Zhai's dishes and then give my evaluation after eating, right? Fine, I can do that. I will taste your dishes, but I will hold you to the most stringent standards! If you can't cure illnesses, or if the food isn't delicious, no matter which point has a problem, I will not show any mercy!"
He paused and continued, "Let me also tell you, any restaurant that receives a low score from me, Xie Yuqing, and is judged as 'not delicious,' I can guarantee that none of them will be able to survive in Wudu!"
Xie Yuqing, this 'stubborn old man,' had clearly set himself against Mingyue Zhai.