Chef Hua
Chapter 518: Episode 279: Not the Right Taste_2

Chapter 518: Episode 279: Not the Right Taste_2

The sisters chatted and laughed for a while before weaving through the city streets. Given the crowd, Hua Xiaomai had to keep close to her elder sister, who led the way while they shopped for some household knick-knacks. Seeing they still had plenty of time, they decided to rest their feet at a teahouse by the street, ordering a few pastries to make do for lunch.

The teahouse wasn’t very large, yet it was famous for its silver thread rolls, which sold extremely well. As noon approached, many townsfolk made a special trip just to buy them. Sitting by the window, Hua Xiaomai and her elder sister watched a continuous stream of people pour into the shop with curiosity. After tasting the delicious rolls, they planned to buy some to take back for Old Lady Meng and Meng Yuhuai to try. Just as she was about to call the waiter, Hua Xiaomai spotted a chubby figure sauntering by outside. She lifted the corners of her lips and called out, "Lord Zhao."

The man was none other than the owner of Chunfeng Restaurant. Hearing his name called, he stopped and turned around, breaking into a smile when he saw Hua Xiaomai.

"Ah, it’s little Xiaomai!" He squinted as he looked her over and said in a cheerful tone, "What brings you to town today? Doesn’t your little restaurant need you to keep an eye on things?"

Carrying on a conversation through a window hardly seemed mannerly. Hua Xiaomai thus stood and stepped outside, her lips pursed as she responded, "We’ve hired a couple of extra chefs. With them tending the kitchen, I can afford a little break—How’s business for you lately?"

"Same old, same old," Lord Zhao shrugged, "I’ve taken on a new chef at Chunfeng Restaurant, he’s been with us for a couple of months now. To be honest, the man is reliable, down to earth, not the type to make waves, a real time saver, but his culinary skills certainly can’t match Fatty Wei’s. These days, our business just isn’t what it used to be, heh. Just scraping by I guess!"

"You’re being far too modest," Hua Xiaomai flicked a smile at him, "When it comes to Fuzhe County’s food and beverage sector, who doesn’t know the reputation of Chunfeng Restaurant? You’ve held onto this brand for so many years, and even if business isn’t what it was, it’s only just a temporary thing. In my opinion, you really shouldn’t worry."

When peers gathered, courtesy dictated that they exchanged pleasantries and bolstered one another’s spirits. Especially considering Chunfeng Restaurant, which truly stood out among the eateries of Fuzhe County.

"I’ll take your auspicious words," Lord Zhao replied somewhat nonchalantly, chuckling, "As if I could help worrying, eh? Your Daoxiang Garden has expanded so impressively, becoming considerably large. I haven’t seen it myself, but I’ve heard many talk about it. Just the other day when I visited Old Ke, he even mentioned it. That literary feast in May, you made quite the impression in front of Magistrate Tao, and now you’re moving with such force, how could I not be cautious?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiaomai’s heart skipped a beat.

This... sounded rather peevish, didn’t it?

"You must be joking!" She maintained her composure and shook her head with a laugh, "The business at Daoxiang Garden, it’s just so-so right now, and..."

"Just two days ago, I had a birthday banquet lined up for Chunfeng Restaurant, practically confirmed, yet suddenly the deal went silent. Tell me, is this business not tough?"

Before she could finish, Lord Zhao continued on, his words followed by a long sigh.

Could it be... the birthday banquet for Qiao Xiong’s father-in-law, which was initially scheduled at Chunfeng Restaurant, but in the end switched to her Daoxiang Garden?

So currently, was Lord Zhao subtly expressing his resentment toward her? He hadn’t plainly said it, but wasn’t it as good as said?

Hua Xiaomai felt a chill in her heart and was about to speak when she heard the teahouse waiter call out loudly.

"Lady, your silver thread rolls are all wrapped up!"

As she turned her head, Lord Zhao sneered and, with a "You’re busy, I see," walked away.

...

On the way back to Fire Knife Village, Hua Xiaomai continued to mull over the encounter in her mind, occasionally responding to her elder sister’s chatter in a distracted manner.

Even though Lord Zhao wasn’t one to fuss in the kitchen, his passion for the business was palpable, and he had indeed invested a great deal of thought into his Chunfeng Restaurant.

More importantly, having known him for nearly two years, she had always found him to be amiable. She had never before encountered him acting so passive-aggressive, putting emotion into every statement he made.

At first, it might seem unreasonable, but after some thought, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

In plain terms, whether it was setting up her food stall by the river or running a small diner, Lord Zhao had always seen her efforts as minor ventures, unlikely to cause a stir. Even when the right to host the literary feast fell into her hands, he probably just thought Fatty Wei had overplayed his hand, missing an opportunity and inadvertently handing her an advantage.

When Hua Xiaomai wasn’t considered a threat, Lord Zhao was happy to get along with her. Perhaps, deep down, he never took her seriously. But now, with Daoxiang Garden brazenly opening its doors, occupying three acres and brandishing such grandeur, not to mention snatching away a deal, the situation was naturally entirely different.

Direct competitors, regardless of the industry, always meant drawing real swords and spears!

If Hua Xiaomai were to speak for herself, her Daoxiang Garden was still far from being a true rival to Chunfeng Restaurant. But how could she control what others thought?

If only she’d known, she wouldn’t have taken the initiative to greet Lord Zhao, sparing herself the frustration!

Annoyed with herself, she returned home and, once Meng Yuhuai arrived in the evening, she couldn’t hold back. She confided the day’s events to him. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to continue reading.)