Chapter 73: Assassinating Zhao Datou

"Dad, you're deliberately arguing with me!" He Yuzhu replied with a cheeky grin, "Who doesn't like looking at a pretty girl? I think I take after you!"

"You little brat, are you pulling your father's leg?" He Daqing made a gesture to hit him, but couldn't help laughing first.

The twenty dishes were served one after another. Not long after, A Long rushed into the back kitchen: "Master He, Lou Laoban would like you to come over for a moment."

He Daqing wiped his hands and followed A Long into the private room.

As soon as Lou Laoban saw him, he stood up with a smile: "Master He, your craftsmanship is truly superb! Where were you employed before?"

He Daqing straightened his back, his tone filled with pride: "I started as an apprentice at the Tan Jia Cai Cai Guan in Xuanwumen, then went to Dongxing Lou as a head chef. Later, after the boss of Dongxing Lou died, I ended up here."

"You know how to make Tan Family Cuisine?" Lady Lou's eyes lit up, her tone eager.

He Daqing nodded: "I know some, but these years have been chaotic with war, and many precious ingredients are hard to come by, so I haven't made it much."

"Tan Family Cuisine is official-style cuisine; Master He is no simple man!" Lou Bancheng praised.

"Master He, when you're off duty, could you come to my humble home to prepare a banquet of Tan Family Cuisine? I'll prepare the ingredients; you just need to do the cooking." Lady Lou became more and more excited as she spoke.

He Daqing was stunned for a moment, looking at her carefully: "Does the Madam also understand Tan Family Cuisine? What is your surname?"

"My surname is Tan, and I am called Tan Lingping," Lady Lou replied with a smile.

"Could it be that you are from the second branch of the Tan family?" He Daqing's eyes lit up.

Tan Lingping nodded: "Exactly."

"Oh my, this is truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple!" He Daqing slapped his thigh, "By seniority, you should call me Senior Brother!"

"Then it's settled. Next Sunday, you come to our home, and we'll have a good chat about Tan Family Cuisine."

Lou Laoban interjected at this point: "Master He, I see your skills are excellent. Are you interested in coming to the Rolling Mill? I'll keep the position of kitchen director open for you, and the salary and benefits will certainly not treat you unfairly."

He Daqing rubbed his hands, feeling somewhat tempted: "Since you put it that way, I am indeed quite moved. Allow me to ponder it; let me finish making the Tan Family Cuisine for you first."

"Good, I'll wait for your reply," Lou Laoban nodded with satisfaction.

At this moment, the young girl who had been eating quietly suddenly looked up and said crisply: "This Boiled Fish is delicious! Did you make it?"

He Daqing immediately beamed: "The young lady has a good eye! Speaking of this Boiled Fish, it's a recipe my son figured out himself!"

"Oh?" Lou Laoban said in surprise, "Then I must meet your son; he's so young and already able to innovate dishes."

He Daqing shouted outside, and He Yuzhu had no choice but to bite the bullet and enter.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw that girl staring fixedly at him, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

He Yuzhu felt guilty and winked at her.

Unexpectedly, the little girl was so startled that her chopsticks dropped to the floor with a "clatter."

Boss Chen hurriedly asked: "Xueru, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Xueru pointed at He Yuzhu, her voice trembling: "He, he is a little devil!"

Everyone at the table was stunned.

Boss Chen frowned: "Xueru, did you mistake him for someone else? This is Master He's son."

He Yuzhu feigned composure and laughed: "Boss, is there something wrong with your daughter's 'head'?" He pointed at his own head.

"Your head is the one with the problem!" Although Chen Xueru looked young, she was already fourteen years old. She was very smart and saw at a glance that He Yuzhu was trying to confuse the issue, and he was quite vicious to call her a fool. She said angrily: "I remember these eyes of yours! It's you! You are that..."

Fortunately, she didn't continue; she clearly still had some sense of propriety.

At this moment, cold sweat was breaking out on He Yuzhu.

If Chen Xueru, this little girl, told everyone about him robbing the devil's pharmacy, although it wasn't a crime, robbing at such a young age would ruin his reputation, and he would likely be a bachelor for life.

Boss Chen was also a bit embarrassed: "Child, you've been prone to getting sick every winter these past few years. Did you have a fever again and start talking nonsense?"

Tears welled up in Chen Xueru's eyes.

She had a talent for remembering people's appearances, almost never forgetting them. She clearly remembered those eyes that were both righteous and evil. In that situation, she had felt she would die, and for a long time afterward, she often recalled that most terrifying memory in her dreams. But in this scene, no one would believe her words.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu deliberately said in a slouchy manner: "Bosses, you can't blame me for this. My dad passed down a face that people hate. Well, I won't disturb your meal any longer."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere eased up quite a bit.

Chen Xueru looked at He Yuzhu's back, gritting her teeth.

Boss Chen smiled to smooth things over: "My child has a somewhat withdrawn personality, don't mind her. My humble surname is Chen, and this is my daughter Xueru. In the future, I would also like to invite Master He to cater outside! Is that possible?"

"No problem, as long as you give me a heads-up in advance!" He Daqing said.

After He Yuzhu left, Lou Xiaoe took Chen Xueru to the restroom.

On the way, Lou Xiaoe asked curiously: "Sister, do you know that boy? I feel like you seem very afraid of him."

Chen Xueru said hatefully: "He is a brat; he is very cruel and not a good person!"

She didn't say the rest of her words. Firstly, Xiao E was still young and probably wouldn't believe her if she told her; secondly, the matter of robbing the little devil's pharmacy was still considered a heroic deed. There was no need to let him be smug! "Hmph," in any case, she couldn't forgive him.

Lou Xiaoe said: "Anyway, we don't know him. Sister Xueru, let's not think about him."

"Good, Xiao E is the magnanimous one," Chen Xueru said.

At this moment, He Yuzhu was making a birthday cake for Lou Bancheng's table. Knowing Lou Bancheng would definitely have benefits.

The shop already had a homemade oven and materials for baking pastries. It didn't take long to make a beautiful birthday cake. It even had the words "Happy Birthday" written on it.

He Yuzhu brought the cake into the room, and everyone was surprised.

Chen Xueru said coldly: "We didn't order this."

He Yuzhu said with a grin: "Our shop has a rule: anyone who comes for their birthday gets a free cake."

Lou Xiaoe said excitedly: "Dad, a birthday cake! I've only heard my brothers talk about it; I've never eaten one!"

He Yuzhu said: "I heard that foreigners eat this on their birthdays. Would you like me to slice it for you?"

Lou Zhenhua was very happy and said loudly: "Your He Ji Restaurant is truly great and very thoughtful. The food is delicious, and the people are good. In the future, I will definitely recommend it to my friends."

"Then thank you, Chairman Lou. Actually, everyone living in our courtyard works at your factory, even Xu Fugui lives there."

"Is that so? Then we can consider ourselves one family!" Lou Zhenhua said.

"That's right! Miss Lou is having a birthday, so I'll take a few photos for everyone. Do you think that's okay?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Great! Great!" Lou Xiaoe looked at He Yuzhu with bright eyes, feeling that this brother was truly quite good.

Chen Xueru, however, was puffed up with anger, vowing never to see this hypocrite again in her life.

He Yuzhu took a group photo for both families and also took a separate photo for Lou Xiaoe.

During the process, everyone was very cooperative, except for Chen Xueru, who kept a sullen face, looking unhappy.

Lou Laoban enjoyed this meal very much, and when leaving, he even whispered quite a bit with He Daqing. It seemed the two had already become friends.

Lou Xiaoe was also very interested in He Yuzhu, constantly asking when he could give her the photos.

He Yuzhu smiled, "I can have them developed for you in one day."

"It's a deal, I'll have the driver come find you tomorrow!" Lou Xiaoe said excitedly.

"Good! Good! Good!" He Yuzhu kept promising.

Chen Xueru was so angry that she wouldn't even pay attention to Lou Xiaoe.

In the dead of night, when all was silent, He Yuzhu snuck into a half-hidden private residence in Yanzhi Hutong like a ghost.

This place was the residence of the prostitute Xiao Hong; it was Liu Rusi who sent the intelligence today, saying that Zhao Datou had arrived here in the afternoon and had not yet left.

Although Zhao Datou was worth hundreds of millions, he had unique tastes and never sought out those girls from the Qingyin Small Class, only favoring his former lover.

He Yuzhu held a small knife and carefully opened the door.

As soon as he entered the room, an ominous feeling suddenly struck him, making the hair on his body stand on end instantly.

The system's notification sound rang in his mind, "13 people have climbed over the wall from the neighboring courtyard!"

He Yuzhu realized he had fallen into a huge trap and was heavily surrounded by enemies.

At this moment, the surrounding air became heavy, as if foreshadowing the arrival of a life-or-death struggle.