HLM -Chapter 747 Birth Flowers in the Cuisine

Seeing the newcomer, Wang Bo couldn’t help but laugh. He put away his phone and called out, “V, you damn guy, am I blocking your way? This is my turf!”

Stepping out of the car was Oakley, the brightest rising star in the boxing world. He opened his arms and gave Wang Bo a hug, deliberately squeezing hard.

Wang Bo wasn’t one to back down in such matters. His strength truly lived up to his nickname, “Humanoid Tyrannosaurus.” Feeling Oakley’s force, he immediately took a horse stance, spreading his legs, and with arms outstretched, nearly lifted Oakley off the ground!

“OK, OK, Mayor, you’re still as strong as ever!” Oakley laughed. “Put me down, I get it now.”

Wang Bo bumped a fist against Oakley’s chest and said, “You jerk, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”

“You didn’t follow the news!” Oakley replied, feigning indignation. “Look, how many reporters already know I’m back? They even followed me all the way to Sunset Town.”

Wang Bo smiled at the gathering reporters. “Well done, boxing kid.”

Apparently, Oakley hadn’t given any interviews immediately after landing, so the reporters had chased after him.

He looked curiously at the Mercedes and asked, “Is boxing really that lucrative? You even bought a luxury car?”

Oakley laughed heartily. “No, I did make some money, but it’s still less than a million dollars. These were small-scale matches with low attention. This car is actually provided by my sponsors. Now I’m a star.”

Wang Bo said, “I’ve always had faith in you. A star? I’m confident you’ll become a super superstar, reaching the pinnacle of the boxing world!”

Oakley hugged him again. “Thanks for the praise, Mayor. You’ve given me a lot of confidence!”

Black-haired Ron was still at school. Oakley drove to the campus, and when Ron saw him, he tossed his lunch box aside, jumped onto the table, and ran straight to him.

“Brother!”

It just happened to be the weekend, and Oakley had returned, which gave Wang Bo the idea of throwing a small welcome party for Li Bo and the other eight people.

But now he changed his mind—he’d throw a big party. With so many reporters around, it could make a major news story.

Oakley’s fame in town was no exaggeration. He had an outstanding record in the U.S. boxing scene: six wins, four by knockout. All of New Zealand was reporting this, and everyone in Sunset Town knew there was a boxing champion in their own backyard.

So once Wang Bo decided on a big party, everyone got excited. People quickly posted on forums what food and drinks they would bring. Within an hour, over 500 people had signed up.

Wang Bo had underestimated the appeal of boxing.

As he busily prepared for the party, a reporter asked, “We need a venue for a press conference. Mayor, can you accommodate us?”

Wang Bo was momentarily stunned, then said, “No problem, follow me!”

The government office meeting room was suitable. He had it tidied up and put up photos of the town’s scenic landmarks on the backdrop: the Birth Flower Road, the lakes and beaches, and the famous Sunset beef and lamb.

Seeing these decorations, Bowen asked nervously, “Isn’t this inappropriate, Wang? Doesn’t this disrespect Oakley?”

Wang Bo replied, “I know, but V suggested it. He said we should promote the town properly since this is also his hometown now.”

“Good kid!”

“Indeed!”

Oakley invited Wang Bo to sit with him at the press conference. He asked, “You’re not nervous, right?”

Wang Bo smiled proudly. “You might not know, but I’ve held press conferences with the British royal family. That was a real spectacle.”

“I can tell you, I’ve been through all kinds of press conferences. Big media, small media—I’ve seen it all. CNN, BBC, CCTV, NBC—these are leagues above these small outlets! I could chat and joke with them all day!”

The conference itself was straightforward. Oakley was the star. Reporters focused on his health and achievements in the global boxing scene. Wang Bo was merely there as a guest, speaking twice: first about Oakley’s health recovery, emphasizing the town’s exceptional conditions for training and recuperation, and second about why Oakley chose Sunset Town, praising it from every angle.

He also had another task. At the end of the conference, he clapped his hands and announced, “Tonight, the town will host a large party. Everyone is welcome!”

The party was indeed grand. Townspeople brought their own food and drinks, and the officials had plenty of supplies.

Atulu and his tribe prepared a Hangi (traditional Maori feast). Domestic tourists were lucky—they could enjoy it for free.

But Wang Bo warned Chen Luoxian to manage the tourists carefully. With so many people, and with the Maori’s tempers heightened by alcohol, she needed to prevent conflicts. He entrusted Uncle Bing to Chen Luoxian; with his calm and steady nature, the tourists would be well-managed.

Besides the Maori Hangi, Kobe and his chef team also joined the preparations. Originally Kobe had only one chef, but with four more arriving, his team expanded.

Before cooking, Kobe told his team, “Everyone, perform well today. We’re not a one or two-person team—we’re a six-person squad!”

Wang Bo worried about manpower and came to help. Among the chefs was a Chinese chef named Su Cheng. Being all Chinese, communication was easy, and over a few days, they had become familiar with each other.

Seeing Wang Bo seriously preparing the beef, Su Cheng laughed, “Not bad, Mayor. You handle this better than our town’s mayor.”

Wang Bo smirked. “Can you even compare? I’m the most diligent and people-friendly mayor in New Zealand. And don’t underestimate my cooking—I might even be better than you. You’ll see my signature dish soon.”

Su Cheng said, “I also have a signature dish, but I’m not sure if I can make it here.”

Wang Bo looked at him curiously. “Why not? Some dark cuisine?”

Su Cheng laughed. “Sort of. But it’s the most exquisite dark cuisine. The main ingredient is lilies. I saw a place by the roadside in town with plenty of lilies. Can we pick some for the dish?”

Wang Bo was surprised. “Is that allowed?”

To him, lilies only served two purposes: ornamental or dried for tea.

Su Cheng skillfully chopped the ingredients. “Yes, we can fry them. They taste great and are very nutritious. Back home, lilies are called ‘fresh flower ginseng.’ They contain various carotenoids, protein, starch, sugar, phosphorus, iron, and other trace elements. They help clear heat, moisturize the lungs, calm the mind, promote urination, and even aid sleep.”