Chef Hua
Chapter 338: Episode 193 Mistake

Chapter 338: Episode 193 Mistake

After enduring countless hardships to arrive at the county of Gu County, the very first eatery Hua Xiaomai dealt with bumped into her arch-nemesis from Fuzhe County who was stealing her business. Following that, the shopkeeper of the Wenmei Pavilion was so rude that Hua Xiaomai had been seething with anger. She had wanted to see what was so extraordinary about the so-called "Wenmei Pavilion," but was disappointed to find it mediocre at best.

Ever since Zuo Jinxiang stepped through the entrance of the Wenmei Pavilion, she hadn’t found an opportunity to chime in. Currently, hearing Hua Xiaomai blurt out her thoughts recklessly, she was somewhat startled and fearful. Stealthily, she tugged at Hua Xiaomai’s sleeve and whispered, "Xiaomai girl, have you lost your senses? Even if their cooking is lacking, you shouldn’t be shouting about it so recklessly. Are you still going to conduct your business or not?"

Hua Xiaomai turned her head to look at her with a smile and shook her head, "Sister-in-law Zuo, as you also heard just now, this shopkeeper said they only use their own sauces and never buy from outsiders. With that being the case, what’s there left for me to consider? Of course, I still want to do business, but as for the quality of the sauces produced by my Zhenwei Garden, I am well aware. I certainly do not need to beg anyone in a submissive manner."

"That’s right!" The Great Saint chimed in, pumping his fists, "This Gu County is so big, are we afraid we can’t find good buyers? Let’s go, girl. It’s better for us to try our luck elsewhere than waste our time here!"

With that, he indeed turned and led the way out.

Yet at this moment, the shopkeeper refused to let it go, hurriedly stepping forward to block their path and said with dissatisfaction, "How can I let you leave just like that? Make things clear before you go! Otherwise, as soon as you step out of the door, you will go everywhere bad-mouthing the dishes of Wenmei Pavilion, and to whom shall I complain?"

Hua Xiaomai’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as she turned back, letting out a light sigh, "You hurried me to leave just now, but now you want me to stay. I really don’t understand the rules of your Wenmei Pavilion. I believe I’ve already made my point very clear. We don’t need to waste any more words. As for the reputation of your establishment, rest assured; I’ve said it before, I come from Fuzhe County and am not a local of Gu County. Being a stranger in a foreign land, whom could I possibly gossip with?"

"That won’t do!" The shopkeeper still disagreed, jutting his chin up and retorting, "Merely verbal promises, how can I know you won’t deny your words later? Wenmei Pavilion doesn’t want to argue with anyone, but we can’t allow you to slander us out of thin air. If it causes our business to suffer, whom shall I hold accountable? Unless you give me an explanation today, don’t think about leaving through this door!"

"You..." Hua Xiaomai was so exasperated that she almost laughed. So what is it now? Cut out their tongues, or detain them here to prevent any loose talk?

As they were at a standoff, a male voice came from the left front, "Old Tian, don’t be unreasonable. A guest has come through the door; how can you show such disrespect?"

Hua Xiaomai looked up and saw a man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old emerging from the corner door, his eyes sharp as they looked her way.

The shopkeeper’s expression changed at once, turning around and bowing respectfully, "What brings you out here? Weren’t you in the kitchen..."

So this must be the owner of Wenmei Pavilion, right? Despite his young age, he was able to establish such an elegant eatery. He must possess considerable skill, yet, although his cooking wasn’t bad, it wasn’t completely satisfactory. In the end, the reputation of Wenmei Pavilion seemed more grandiose than deserved, artificially raising the establishment’s standards and making everyone flock to it.

Ignoring the shopkeeper, the man walked straight up to Hua Xiaomai, squinting his eyes and in a deep voice said, "I am the owner of Wenmei Pavilion, my surname is Tong. You just said that after only one glance, you found a problem with my dish, Wulong Tuzhu. Where is the mistake? And what qualifies you to say so?"

Hua Xiaomai mentally rolled her eyes.

Big brother, you just reprimanded the shopkeeper for being impolite, but aren’t your own words hardly courteous?

Really not wishing to stay any longer, she forced a smile at the man: "You needn’t take it so to heart. I understand that everyone in the culinary field has their own habits, and each has a different interpretation of every dish. What I said before was merely my personal opinion; you don’t have to take it seriously. You’re aware of my purpose for coming today. Since we can’t do business, I won’t impose any longer, farewell."

Before the sound of her words had faded, she pulled Zuo Jinxiang and made her way out.

To her surprise, the man named Tong hurried to catch up with them, seemingly unwilling, "So you say, you’re also a cook?"