Chef Hua
Chapter 540: Episode 290 Interrogation_2

Chapter 540: Episode 290 Interrogation_2

Hua Xiaomai furrowed her brow.

What was going on? She was eager to assert her presence right now, but not only was she being ignored, her voice was easily drowned out. How could this be acceptable?

She turned her head and had barely laid eyes on Little Mouse when the sharp lad swiftly moved a large table in front of her and chuckled mischievously, "Boss, why don’t you stand on this? I’ll hold it steady for you, guaranteed."

Hua Xiaomai silently praised him in her heart and smiled at him, indeed climbing onto the table. Chun Xi and La Mei were startled and rushed over, each grabbing tightly onto one of her arms and whispering through clenched teeth, "I think you’re really asking for trouble!"

Hua Xiaomai ignored them and slowly scanned the troublemakers below, deliberately lingering on the face of an apprentice who was hiding behind others. Seeing him initially startled with his mouth gaping wide and then quickly getting a grip, he bowed his head and squeezed into the crowd.

Thinking of running away? Try to see if you can escape first!

Hua Xiaomai glared at him, then refocused her attention on the emotionally charged troublemakers and cleared her throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am the owner of Zhenwei Garden."

She had only said this much when the murmurs from below surged up like a tide.

"So you’re the boss? Fine, tell us, how will you settle today’s incident?"

That was one of the kinder remarks. Some others weren’t so nice.

"I’ll tell you, your sauce is both stale and stinks, this is swindling! Tsk tsk, and you’re pregnant too, how can you not think to accrue some merit for your unborn child?"

The thief crying "stop the thief", not only twisting the facts but actually dragging a child into this!

Hua Xiaomai scoffed and said impassively, "Exactly! People should indeed think more about their descendants. If someone solely covets a quick profit and speaks and acts against conscience, it serves them right to suffer, and it’s truly pitiful if their actions also bring retribution upon their juniors, isn’t it?"

The man choked on her words, his face instantly fell: "What are you implying?"

I’m talking to whoever responds! Hua Xiaomai silently retorted in her heart, and ignoring his question, she turned to the crowd and said, "I’ve rather figured out today’s issue, and since everyone claims there’s something wrong with our sauce, I’m willing to take responsibility. Here’s what we’ll do, for everyone present today, each person accounted for, we are prepared to offer double the price of the sauce as compensation."

The people below exchanged glances and fell silent momentarily.

Hua Xiaomai pretended not to notice and continued, "Don’t worry, I keep my word, and soon everyone can come up one by one to collect their money. Just report the amount you bought, I won’t shortchange anyone by even one cent."

At this point, she shifted her tone, "However, I also have one condition. Although there’s a problem with this batch of sauce, we always conduct our business honestly. Right now, I have no clue what exactly went wrong. Since the sauce cannot be consumed anyway, before everyone leaves later, I’ll have my staff accompany you to retrieve the sauce from your homes to thoroughly investigate."

The troublemakers were dumbfounded.

Today, they were clearly up to no good, taking money to stir up trouble, nothing more. Most of the people hadn’t even bought sauce from Zhenwei Garden to begin with, so how could they hand it over?

Besides, even if there was sauce at home, it was perfectly fine; where was the spoilage and stench?

Double compensation was a significant temptation for them, but... it seemed like a mirage, ultimately unattainable!

With seemingly infinite patience, Hua Xiaomai waited a while and, seeing no one speak up, she theatrically stamped her foot, "Is it that... you’re not satisfied with the price? Oh dear, my fault for not considering thoroughly. Since compensation is due, it must be sincere. How about, let’s make it triple, shall we?"

Now, the crowd was genuinely confused.

They were just ordinary folk, barely making ends meet, with no extra money on hand. They had come to make a fuss today, hoping to earn a few more copper coins to help with household expenses, assuming they didn’t need to feel overly guilty as they didn’t know the owner of Sauce Garden.

But... now, just with a word from her, it was triple compensation! The sauce of Zhenwei Garden wasn’t cheap, and by rough calculation, that would be no small income!