Chef Hua
Chapter 531: Episode 286: Deceiving People

Chapter 531: Episode 286: Deceiving People

As she walked towards Zhenwei Garden, Hua Xiaomai couldn’t quite pinpoint the feeling in her heart.

Running a restaurant made it hard to avoid situations where people came to vent their anger. A while ago, she had secretly rejoiced, thinking that her small diner had been open for a year without any such trouble, and she felt delighted. Yet, it turned out she couldn’t avoid it after all!

It would have been bearable on a normal day, but to have it happen today was really too much for her.

With so many female customers in Daoxiang Garden, all from well-known families, what consequences would today’s incidents bring if word got out? Hmph, forget about building a good reputation or having a thriving business, she might as well dream! Once labeled with "unhygienic food causing sickness," turning the situation around would be nothing short of a battle for life!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She reached the entrance of Zhenwei Garden, took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself, and then stepped inside.

As expected, the couple hadn’t left yet. As soon as Hua Xiaomai turned into the doorway, she saw them.

They were indeed dressed like merchants, their attire very ordinary, and their faces just as nondescript—blending in completely with the crowd, no different from the general public.

The two of them seemed to be about thirty-seven or thirty-eight. Although the waitstaff had provided chairs, they stubbornly refused to sit, instead sprawling on the ground, covered in dust, their heads tilted back, staring fixedly at Pan Ping’an with gritted teeth, yelling as if they would devour him.

"It was you who said this eatery and the one to the east of the village were the same, and we believed you and followed you here. We’ve been waiting here for more than an hour. You have to give us an explanation!"

The man kept groaning, clutching his stomach, while the woman, her eyes wide, shouted loudly, "Where is the owner? Don’t think that by hiding, today’s issue will be resolved. I’m telling you, it’s not that easy! My husband ate the vegetables from your stall outside, and now he’s in so much pain he can’t even speak. What exactly did you serve to deceive people? Heartless! Trying to make a few extra bucks this way, you’re asking for retribution!"

Pan Ping’an was not one to be easily embarrassed. Despite being scolded harshly by the woman, he still smiled warmly, chuckling softly, "Don’t rush, it’s still the same advice—once we clarify and find it indeed is our fault, we definitely won’t shirk our responsibilities. But right now, I can’t make the decision. Please, be patient, have some tea, have some tea!"

After saying that, he actually picked up a teacup from the table and handed it to the woman.

"Drink what?", the woman forcefully waved her hand, "My husband’s in this state, and you think I’d dare touch anything from your place? It’s not like I wish to live forever! I’m telling you, call your owner right now. If it gets any later, I’ll start shouting outside!"

Hua Xiaomai stood by the door and listened for a while, then couldn’t help but glance at the man sitting on the ground.

Although his head was hanging low, the lighting in Sauce Garden was ample enough for her to clearly make out his face.

This... did not look like the face of a man who was unwell or in discomfort. There wasn’t even a bead of sweat on his forehead, his complexion more radiant and rosy than Great Saint’s—was he joking with her?

The woman was still incessantly pointing at Pan Ping’an and yelling. Hua Xiaomai could no longer stand by and listen. She quickly walked up to her, raised her eyebrows slightly, and with a crooked smile, said, "Looking for me?"

The woman, in the middle of her tirade, suddenly paused when she saw a young woman by her side, noticeably pregnant, and couldn’t help but be startled as she looked her up and down.

"Is this your boss?" she didn’t address Hua Xiaomai directly, still looking at Pan Ping’an, "Ha, don’t just bring any pregnant woman to fool me, thinking because she’s pregnant, I wouldn’t dare do anything. Or is it that you’re prepared to let her take her chances and hit me so you could turn around and accuse us instead?"

...Who’s conning whom?

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help but want to look up to the sky.

Just earlier in Daoxiang Garden, after Mrs. Meng had clearly explained the whole situation, the first thought that flashed through her mind was that today, they were very likely being conned.

Firstly, ingredients were always of paramount importance to her. She visited Daoxiang Garden daily, and the first thing she would do was to check the vegetables, fruits, and various meats being used that day to ensure they were freshly delivered before she felt completely at ease. So, there was absolutely no issue with the quality of the ingredients from the takeout stall.

Secondly, the spicy duck shreds were just a hot stir-fry dish, simple and quick to cook. For any chef, it was considered a basic dish, involving no complexity. Zhou Yunyun was an unlicensed apprentice; it wasn’t likely that she’d make no mistakes at all, but with her talent and the effort she put in every day, it was impossible for her to fail on this particular dish.