Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Unlucky Qin Wenyan
After the ordeal with the cooking pot, Wu Ning learned a lesson: time travel was not something to be joyful about!
Modern people, accustomed to smartphones, computers, food delivery apps, online shopping, and good cookware, would find nothing but frustration when thrust back into ancient times. Apart from a sense of superiority that made everything look unsatisfactory, all that remained was a sense of stifled exasperation.
From this, Wu Ning came to another realization:
Tang Yi!
I’ll hate you for a lifetime!
...
In short, the matter of cooking would have to wait. Fifty strings of coins for a pot—even if Wu Ning had money in his pocket now, that was no way to spend it.
Fifty strings! That’s five hundred thousand cash coins. With that much, why bother cooking at all? I’d just—
He looked up and found himself at the east market intersection in the city. On the left, a tall building with a grand sign: “Qin Family Restaurant.” On the right, ornate beams and painted eaves: “Emerald Fragrance Hall.”
Both were restaurants, the largest and finest in Fangzhou.
Wu Ning stared, thinking, “With fifty strings, I’d just hire a chef!”
Without hesitation, he strode toward the Qin Family Restaurant.
But after a couple steps, he turned back.
No, this was his future father-in-law’s business; stealing his staff wouldn’t do. Besides, if Qin Miaoniang happened to be there and saw him barging in, he might not make it out through the front door.
With that in mind, Wu Ning glanced at Emerald Fragrance Hall. “You’ll do!”
Swaggering in, he was greeted by a server, a young scholar who, seeing Wu Ning’s modest attire but confident demeanor, didn’t judge him by appearances and respectfully welcomed him.
“Sir, how many in your party? Dining or lodging?”
“Dining!”
He found a vacant table, slapped a string of coins on it, and said, “Bring me a few of your best dishes.”
The server’s eyes lit up—here was a generous customer. He didn’t take the money yet, as custom dictated settling the bill after the meal. Cheerfully, he hurried to the kitchen, and soon returned with four or five dishes, both meat and vegetable.
He didn’t bring more, since Wu Ning was alone. If they chased the money and overloaded him, he wouldn’t come back—a poor way to do business.
Wu Ning tasted the food. Yes, it was indeed superior to his own cooking. Refined and delicious—no wonder it was renowned in Fangzhou.
But however tasty, Wu Lao Jiu didn’t forget his purpose. Slamming his chopsticks on the table, he barked, “What kind of rubbish is this!? Are you feeding pigs!?”
“Bring your chef here!”
The server was startled. He knew the chef’s skills—had something gone wrong?
He glanced toward the counter; the manager was out at the Prince of Luling’s estate. Not daring to neglect the guest, he said, “Please calm yourself, sir! I’ll fetch the chef right away. If anything displeases you, the chef can remake the dishes.”
With that, he dashed into the kitchen and called out the head chef.
The head chef of Emerald Fragrance Hall was no ordinary man; the restaurant’s dominance over the Qin Family Restaurant was all thanks to his skill. He’d worked there four or five years, and no guest had ever criticized his cooking.
Hearing that a customer had slammed the table and called his food pig slop, the chef was instantly displeased—surely this was troublemaking.
Covered in grease and holding a cleaver, he came out and saluted Wu Ning. “I am Luo Li. What exactly do you find unsatisfactory, sir?”
Wu Ning burst out laughing.
“Luo Li? Why not call yourself Lady Boss?”
“You dare insult me!?” Luo Li exploded.
He thought: This kid is definitely here to cause trouble.
Raising his cleaver, he threatened, “If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll fight you right here!”
“What about this food looks like pig slop!?”
“Heh.” Wu Ning smiled again. “Why are you so worked up?”
Despite his temper, the man was burly and straightforward—something Wu Ning liked.
Luo Li...
Wu Ning chuckled inwardly. A big, dark-faced chef called Luo Li? Interesting.
He tossed the string of coins onto the table. “The dishes are good. Come with me, I have something to discuss.”
With that, he got up and went, leaving the chef a bit baffled. What was happening?
Frowning, cleaver in hand, Luo Li followed Wu Ning.
After a few steps, Wu Ning seemed to remember something and turned back to the server. “You come too.”
The server had been worrying whether he should follow—what if a fight broke out? Hearing Wu Ning’s command, he hurried after them.
...
Wu Ning left Emerald Fragrance Hall, turned a corner, and entered a nearby alley.
Seeing no one around, he faced Luo Li and the server.
“Let’s be frank. I’m here to poach talent.”
Both were puzzled. What did “poach talent” mean?
Clearly, they didn’t understand.
Wu Ning changed tactics and asked Luo Li, “Are you a bonded servant or a free man?”
Luo Li bristled. “Who are you calling a slave? I’m a free citizen!”
Wu Ning frowned. “Too bad.”
He’d hoped Luo Li was a bonded servant; then, a little connection with his fourth uncle and a modest sum would have sufficed to buy him out.
“How much does Emerald Fragrance Hall pay you monthly?”
Luo Li glared. “Why do you care? First explain why you’re slandering my reputation!”
He looked ready to draw his blade at the slightest provocation.
Wu Ning regretted engaging—was this guy incapable of thinking?
He turned to the server. “And you? What’s your name? Bonded or free?”
The server was much more astute than Luo Li, and immediately realized Wu Ning was offering a job.
He saluted joyfully. “Sir, my name is Li Wenbo, I live in Yongxin Alley in the city.”
“Ah, you have a home—so you’re free.”
“How much does Emerald Fragrance Hall pay you monthly?”
“Sir,” Li Wenbo replied, gesturing at Luo Li, “Head Chef Luo’s skills are top-notch in Fangzhou, so the manager pays him well: two strings per month.”
He continued, “As for me, I’m just an apprentice, learning the ropes in the kitchen and hoping to secure a living. I don’t get paid yet.”
Wu Ning pondered silently.
So Chef Luo gets two strings a month, Li Wenbo gets nothing...
As for being an apprentice, Wu Ning ignored that—if he were truly being trained for the accounts, he wouldn’t be waiting tables.
He looked at Luo Li. “I’ll pay you five strings a month. Work for me!”
“Five strings!?”
Luo Li’s eyes nearly popped out, and he now realized why Wu Ning had come.
But after thinking it over, he shook his head. “No. Changing employers out of the blue isn’t loyal to the manager.”
Five strings wasn’t enough, apparently. Wu Ning couldn’t fathom what went on in Luo Li’s head.
He didn’t bother arguing and turned to Li Wenbo. “He’s yours to handle. I’ll pay you one string a month. Come help me run my shop, and I’ll teach you accounting.”
“Tomorrow, report to Seeking Jade Residence at the foot of the southern hill.”
“But—” Wu Ning’s tone shifted. “Let’s be clear, though.”
He pointed at Luo Li. “If he doesn’t come, you don’t need to either.”
Li Wenbo was delighted—a string a month and the chance to learn accounting. Generous indeed!
“Don’t worry, sir. Leave it to me!”
“Good!” Wu Ning replied.
Five strings was a bit steep, but Seeking Jade Residence was actually three inns, and would soon grow. Split among them, it was acceptable.
Without another glance at Chef Luo, Wu Ning left the alley and went home.
...
The next day, Emerald Fragrance Hall closed and hung out a sign: “Closed for a day.”
Word had it, the chef had been poached.
Qin Wenyuan stood in front of Qin Family Restaurant, gazing at the tightly shut doors of Emerald Fragrance Hall, his heart overflowing with joy!
Which immortal had done such a fine deed, stealing away the pillar of Emerald Fragrance Hall?
Without Chef Luo, how could Emerald Fragrance Hall compete with Qin Family Restaurant?
He was so pleased, he drank a few cups in the morning and again at night.
But the next morning, still hungover, Qin Fu began wailing outside his room.
“Master! Disaster! Terrible news! Something big has happened!”
Qin Wenyuan, annoyed, dressed and went out. “What’s all this racket? What happened?”
“Master, the chef has run away!”
“What!?” Qin Wenyuan nearly collapsed.
He’d just laughed at Emerald Fragrance Hall yesterday—how had it become his turn so soon? Retribution!
“Where did he go?”
“He went to Emerald Fragrance Hall...”
Damn!
Qin Wenyuan was furious. Someone had poached Emerald Fragrance Hall’s chef, and then Emerald Fragrance Hall poached his own.
What kind of world was this? Was there any honor left?
He cursed loudly:
“Which bastard stole Emerald Fragrance Hall’s chef!?”
Now he too was suffering.
...