Chapter 28: Chapter 028 Overturning The Table
Translator: 549690339
What on earth is going on here?
How to resolve the situation right in front of me?
Claim that the other party was in a different mood? Judging by their current attitude, they certainly wouldn’t agree.
Say that the first time the food tastes good and the second time, it is slightly worse? Isn’t that saying that the dishes at Fushun Tower don’t hold up to repeated eating, thus damaging Fushun Tower’s reputation?
Should 1 say that Chef Zhang was unwell today, and thus, the stewed tofu he made didn’t taste as good as before? However, the taste is clearly the same, and what will we explain it if it tastes the same in the future? Besides, with Chef Zhang’s temper, if you question his culinary skills, he would dare to fight you with a large iron spoon.
Maybe we could blame it on the kitchen helper’s clandestine cooking, which might be plausible. However, it would contradict the notion that all of Fushun Tower’s signature dishes are produced personally by Chef Zhang. Moreover, if the other party directly requests the chef to prepare another dish, it would be impossible to maintain the image…
After weighing different scenarios, the only option left for Feng Yongkang was to apologize with a smile on his face, and say: “I am sorry. I was just discussing the same issue. All the stewed tofu here in Fushun Tower is made by Chef Zhang, and we use the famous local Changji tofu. Logically, there should not be any difference in taste. However, the customers at the other table are also questioning why the taste varies. I haven’t been able to figure out why and I’m very perplexed…”
“Let’s do it this way. Since we are destined to meet here in Fushun Tower, let’s become friends. I’ll treat you to this meal and add our restaurant’s signature dishes on your table: braised carp and stir-fried lamb. Let your business thrive, with prosperity every year and everything to your satisfaction. How about that?”
“So you’ve talked a lot, but haven’t made any clear points? What do you mean you don’t understand the reasons? And what does it mean that you are also puzzled? Are you treating me to a meal and adding dishes? Can’t I afford this meal or this dish?” The man did not fall for Feng Yongkang’s act and kept pressing on the tofu dish issue.
“That’s not what I meant at all. 1 was just saying…” Feng Yongkang quickly tried to explain.
“No more of your no’s and but’s. All you are doing is confusing me and making me lose face. I said earlier, if you cannot give me a plausible explanation, 1 will overturn this table. Now that you’re unable to explain, I won’t waste any more time talking!”
While speaking, the man reached out, heaved a strong effort and flipped the table upside down.
All sorts of dishes along with plates, bowls, and chopsticks that were originally on the table were suddenly scattered all over the floor. The scene was a complete mess.
The movement shocked everyone in the room. They all looked on in astonishment, and some even stood up to see the commotion.
“You’re claiming that you’re not fooling us, but as I see it, this is a pure rip-off!”
The man snorted coldly and signaled his companions: “Let’s go!”
With that, he strode off.
The rest of his party followed suit with a range of expressions on their faces.
Feng Yongkang let these four men leave Fushun Tower without stopping them.
“Nothing to worry about, my apologies for the disturbance.” Feng Yongkang apologized and reassured the remaining patrons: “Everyone present today will get a 10% discount when settling the bill- consider it my apology for the confusion. I hope you will all be understanding.”
Incidentally, everyone was delighted with the unexpected discount, since the incident had not affected them. They all uttered pleasantries before happily sitting back down to enjoy their meal.
Seeing this, Feng Yongkang breathed a sigh of relief.
At least it did not affect the others.
“Hurry up and clean up this mess, someone might see it! This is totally unacceptable.” Feng Yongkang ordered.
Only then did Li Fang regain his composure. He hurriedly fetched a basin, a broom and other items to clear the plates, food, and other items on the floor.
Feng Yongkang frowned and dared not leave. He stood at the counter, staring at the scene, fearing that another similar incident might occur.
Thankfully, the diners in the hall gradually finished their meals and paid their bills one by one, without causing any more issues.
Feng Yongkang quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Manager Qin, take care.” Feng Yongkang was in a better mood as he sent off the last table’s customer, Qin Hongbao.
“Manager Feng.” Qin Hongbao hiccuped with a flushed face.
He had only drank three or four taels of alcohol, not enough to get drunk, but the hiccups were full of alcohol, and smelled quite unpleasant.
“The stewed tofu tasted entirely different the two times I had it. The stewed tofu 1 had the other day was truly delicious. No exaggeration, if the stewed tofu you serve here could always taste as good as it did that day, I dare say, Fushun Tower’s business would improve greatly!”
“Yes, Manager Qin has a point,” Feng Yongkang smiled, “I should definitely look into this matter to figure out what’s going on. If 1 could find the reason, it would be excellent!”
He didn’t try the stewed tofu that day so he could not tell how delicious it was. But as regular patrons claimed it was delectable, it should certainly not have been bad.
If he could really find the reason, and prepare such delicious stewed tofu every day…
Then he could surely rest easy.
After sending off Qin Hongbao, without a second thought, Feng Yongkang went to Chef Zhang.
Inside the main hall, Li Fang and Ma Tong were cleaning up tables, wiping their surfaces, and sweeping the floor.
Watching Feng Yongkang walk towards the backyard, Ma Tong nudged Li Fang’s elbow: “Hey, don’t you think there’s something suspicious about this matter?”
“It does sound suspicious.” Li Fang nodded, but then he impatiently said, “But no matter how suspicious, it has nothing to do with us. We just work for daily wages. This is something for the manager to worry about. Why should we bother?”
“This matter has nothing to do with me, whether it has anything to do with you or not, 1 have no clue.” Ma Tong sneered.
Li Fang paused from wiping the table and looked up in surprise, “What do you mean by that?”
“What do 1 mean?” Ma Tong leaned closer to Li Fang “Didn’t you think about it? The day that both Manager Qin and that so-called businessman praised the stewed tofu was which day?”
Which day?
Li Fang thought about it, and his heart sank.
Oh, right. Wasn’t it that day?
The day the tofu seller girl asked him to take two coins to give her tofu to the kitchen for tasting. He accepted the task, brought the tofu to the kitchen, and placed it unnoticeably. He didn’t mention it to anyone, and simply put the tofu on top of the usual Changji tofu, pretending it was also from Changji tofu shop.
Apparently, that tofu was treated like any other tofu, chopped up, cooked into a dish of stewed tofu, and by chance, was served to Manager Qin and the businessman..
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