Chapter 342

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

The bespectacled man silently assessed the gap in strength between himself and the proprietress; if it came to a direct clash, he absolutely would not be her match.

The surrounding crowd of onlookers also showed no sign of stepping forward to intervene, and he could not count on them either.

He decisively backed down, his tone softening along with it: "Sister, can't we talk this out properly? Arguing with me now won't solve the problem; can't we be reasonable?"

"What reason is there to discuss with a profiteer like you! Refund the money!"

The proprietress clung tightly to the bespectacled man's arm, looking like she would not give up until she got her refund.

"Sister, I had someone move this machine over for you yesterday, didn't charge you a cent, right? The moving fee came out of my own pocket, and I genuinely didn't gouge you on the drinks you stocked!"

The bespectacled man spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone, appealing to emotion and reason: "Besides, it's only been a day; how do you know no one will buy in the next few days? Doing business requires patience; maybe it'll pick up in a couple of days!"

"Still a couple of days? Look for yourself — it's been this long already, has anyone come to buy?"

The proprietress angrily slapped the vending machine with a heavy hand.

The drinks inside the vending machine all shook along with it.

"A few hours' time doesn't prove anything at all!"

The bespectacled man wore an ingratiating smile, suppressing his inner anger as he continued to persuade: "My previous clients also had no buyers for the first few days, and now they're all selling just fine; don't believe me? You can go ask around. Sister, listen to a word of advice — just wait a bit longer."

"Don't give me that nonsense!"

The proprietress remained unyielding; she was in a rage right now and wouldn't listen to a single word the bespectacled man said: "I'm putting my words right here today! I'm not selling your drinks anymore! Hurry up and get someone to haul it away! Refund my money!"

"The money didn't go into my pocket; how can I refund you!"

Seeing soft words had no effect at all, the bespectacled man's tone hardened again: "You're in business yourself; profit and loss are normal. I'm only responsible for delivery; whether the drinks sell or not has nothing to do with me!"

"Heh, trying to play the rogue with me?"

The proprietress sneered, dragging the bespectacled man by the arm as she walked: "No refund? Then we're going to the police station! I don't believe there's no one who can deal with a profiteer like you!"

"Go then! As if I'm afraid of you!"

The bespectacled man was dragged off-balance but still held his neck stiffly, refusing to yield: "I do legitimate business! A straight body fears no crooked shadow!"

The two shoved each other as they walked off into the distance, still trading insults back and forth.

Only after their figures had gone far away did the crowd of onlookers slowly disperse.

…………

Not long after the onlookers dispersed, a taxi quietly pulled up at the intersection of Food Street.

The rear door opened, and Cheng Fan — previously placed on Lu Feng's blacklist — stepped out of the car.

After getting out, Cheng Fan did not rush straight toward Lu Feng's shop; instead, he quickly walked around to the other side of the taxi and very respectfully opened the door.

The door swung wide, and the first thing to emerge was a withered yet visibly powerful hand.

The knuckles of that hand were wrapped in a layer of old calluses.

Those were marks forged from years of tossing woks and gripping kitchen knives.

With utmost respect on his face, Cheng Fan carefully helped an old man with graying hair out of the car.

The old man who emerged was thin of frame but looked spirited, his whole body exuding a steady, composed aura.

He was Cheng Fan's master from his apprenticeship in the capital, State Banquet Master Qi Yunfeng.

"Master, this is the place."

Cheng Fan drew close to Qi Yunfeng, his voice lacking its usual unruly arrogance.

The taste of the Red Braised Pork he had sampled last time at the Fang family villa was still clearly imprinted in his mind.

Now, looking at the sign of the Lu Family Restaurant in the distance, his heart felt as though a heavy stone were pressing down on it.

Qi Yunfeng gave a slight nod, his pair of sharp eyes narrowing.

He was nearly seventy years old this year.

From the age of twenty when he started learning to cook in a restaurant, he had accumulated over forty years of experience in the chef profession.

In those forty-plus years as a chef, he had three times taken charge of the capital's state banquet kitchen for receiving foreign guests.

He had also sat on the judging panels of the most top-tier domestic and international chef competitions, tasting cuisines from around the world.

In his house in the capital, the awards large and small he had won over the years filled an entire room.

Although he had been retired for many years, his fame had not diminished from its peak; he remained a legend in the chef world.

Qi Yunfeng had taken many disciples, who now flourished nationwide.

His eldest disciple served as Head Chef at a Michelin Three-Star Restaurant in Mo Du, the establishment's golden signboard.

His second disciple ran a thriving chain catering business in the south.

Even his female disciple, who had become his apprentice two years before Cheng Fan, now operated a private restaurant in the capital where reservations had to be made half a month in advance.

Cheng Fan was the last disciple Qi Yunfeng took after retirement.

Originally, he had not planned to continue accepting disciples after retiring.

But the talent Cheng Fan displayed at that year's culinary competition earned his deep admiration.

He felt Cheng Fan bore quite a resemblance to his own younger self, so he made an exception and accepted him as a disciple.

Cheng Fan studied under him, and he taught him wholeheartedly for three years.

But Cheng Fan's high talent came with high pride, which was a point of dissatisfaction for him.

Ever since becoming his disciple, Cheng Fan's personality had grown increasingly arrogant.

He constantly flaunted the title 'State Banquet Chef Disciple', believing himself several levels above everyone else.

Because of this, Qi Yunfeng scolded Cheng Fan frequently while teaching him cooking skills.

Qi Yunfeng knew that Cheng Fan had decent talent in cooking, and given time, his achievements would not fall short of his own.

But his arrogant and haughty personality would become the greatest obstacle on his path to improving his cooking skills in the future.

Agreeing to let Cheng Fan follow Li Hong'an out this time was also a decision he made after deep consideration.

He wanted Cheng Fan to gain experience in society and temper his temper well.

Once Cheng Fan's personality became steadier, he would call him back and teach him more profound cooking skills.

Qi Yunfeng originally thought that Cheng Fan would stay in Jiangcheng for at least half a year this time.

Unexpectedly, after only a week, he received a call from Cheng Fan, clamoring to return to Jingcheng.

Hearing what Cheng Fan said on the phone, he met a chef in Jiangcheng whose Red Braised Pork could be called perfect; Cheng Fan lost to the other party, felt his skills were inferior, and wanted to continue returning to Jingcheng to follow him to improve his cooking skills.

Hearing these words, Qi Yunfeng was not too surprised in his heart.

He had tasted the Red Braised Pork Cheng Fan made.

Although in his eyes, it had already passed the passing line.

But compared to the top level, it was still far off.

There is always a higher heaven and greater people; meeting a chef who cooked better than him was nothing surprising.

But what Cheng Fan said next made him lose his composure.