Chapter 19: The Culinary Tycoon

Misfortune

After the incident with the “resilient worms,” Yu Qingze and his companions became more alert. They had a faint feeling that it was like a signal, indicating that the person behind the thief had not given up.

Although they didn’t have concrete evidence to prove the connection between the middle-aged man and the person behind him, they also couldn’t prove that there was no association.

However, business still had to go on.

Yu Qingze reassured the Chang family, “If that person ‘values’ us so much, it means our craftsmanship is really good! It has even made them feel scared.”

The next day, they set up their stall as usual.

In the late morning, they noticed that there weren’t as many customers as before. After inquiring a bit, they received some news.

Wang’s Noodle House had introduced cold noodles!

Many customers were curious about the taste of Wang’s’s cold noodles, so they went there to try them, naturally leading to fewer customers at their stall.

Yu Qingze raised an eyebrow. Yesterday they had the incident with the “resilient worms,” and today Wang’s introduced cold noodles. Things seemed a bit different from what they had initially assumed.

Chang Le and Chang Hao looked at Yu Qingze with some concern. The cold noodles and liangpi were their exclusive business, and now someone else had introduced them, snatching away customers.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?” Yu Qingze chuckled, feeling warm inside. He reassured them, saying, “Don’t worry, I anticipated this a long time ago. What we can create, someone else will eventually be able to make too. It’s just a matter of time. It’s alright, with fewer customers, we won’t be so exhausted. Don’t worry.”

Chang Le quickly made a gesture.

Chang Hao hurriedly translated, saying, “My brother says that your craftsmanship is the best, and whatever you make is definitely the most delicious! I also think so! We both believe in you!”

“You two!” Yu Qingze’s heart was completely melted by their words. He reached out and embraced the two of them, pulling them into a hug. “Brother Le, Xiao Hao, thank you!”

He patted their backs firmly and then let go, saying, “That’s right, what we make is the best! Come on, let’s continue working. The customers are still waiting.”

Chang Le and Chang Hao blushed from the straightforward hug from Yu Qingze. They nodded heavily and went back to work.

Chang Hao was fine since he was still young, but for Chang Le, Yu Qingze had become the person he admired the most. Being embraced like that made him feel shy and excited, as if he had received a sudden surge of energy.

As for Chang Le, he was completely embarrassed. He was a grown ger, and Yu Qingze was also a man. Both were of marriageable age, so this hug was just too embarrassing.

This was the first time since he grew up that he had hugged a man. After he turned twelve, neither his father nor his grandfather would casually embrace him anymore!

Yu Qingze’s broad shoulder, his powerful arms that held him, and the masculine aura emanating from him, all made Chang Le’s heart feel flustered and unsettled.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Constantly pounding in his chest, Chang Le quickly placed his hand over his heart, feeling like it was about to burst out.

His cheeks were burning so much that Chang Le was afraid his brother and Yu Qingze would notice his unusual state, so he quickly scooped up some water and washed his face.

However, this scene was still noticed by Yu Qingze.

He blinked and a smile slowly curved on his lips. He didn’t expect that his unintentional action would bring about an unexpected result.

His mood instantly improved, and the matters with Wang’s and Liu’s noodle houses no longer seemed important at all!

In the afternoon, as they were about to close their stall, Mi Ge’er’er brought an elderly man in his fifties to see them.

The man was Uncle Fu, the old chef from the Cai family. He had been with the main household for decades, and these days he had been using the porridge recipes provided by Yu Qingze to cook porridge for the young master of the Cai family.

He had been unable to make the seafood porridge and the boat porridge well. No matter how many times he tried, he couldn’t completely eliminate the fishy smell from the seafood, resulting in a waste of ingredients.

However, based on his years of experience as a chef, he believed that if he could make them well, both types of porridge would be extremely delicious. Since he couldn’t figure it out himself, he had no choice but to come and seek advice with Mi Ge’er.

When he saw the young man in front of him as the one who provided the porridge recipes, he was extremely shocked. This was truly beyond his expectations. He had thought that someone capable of creating so many porridge recipes would be at least in their forties with years of experience as a chef.

Yu Qingze was also straightforward. Since there weren’t many customers at the moment, he handed over the business to Chang Le and went to the side to communicate with Uncle Fu about making porridge.

Mi Ge’er chatted with Chang Hao for a while and learned that Wang’s Noodle House had introduced cold noodles, affecting their business. Mi Ge’er said, “Wait here, I’ll go take a look.”

After speaking, Mi Ge’er headed towards Wang’s Noodle House.

When Mi Ge’er returned, Yu Qingze and Uncle Fu had finished their discussion.

“Boss Yu, don’t worry. I reckon your business will likely recover tomorrow,” Mi Ge’er said with a smiling face.

Yu Qingze smiled and asked, “Oh? What happened?”

Mi Ge’er waved his hand and said, “The taste of their cold noodles over there can’t compare to yours at all. And that pickled radish they serve, oh my, it’s so vinegary. Don’t worry, they only have one type of cold noodles and no liangpi. Many people who have tried it said the taste is mediocre. Rest assured, they won’t snatch away much of your business. It’s just that those who can’t stand the heat might go there instead.”

Although Yu’s Delicious Delights had sun umbrellas, two umbrellas weren’t enough to completely shade all three tables. In this scorching weather, it was inevitable that some customers would be diverted elsewhere.

Upon hearing this, Chang Hao exclaimed happily, “I knew it! Big Brother Yu’s food is still the most delicious!”

Chang Le finally felt relieved. This was really great news.

Yu Qingze chuckled. Wang’s Noodle House only had cold noodles and no liangpi. They probably hadn’t figured out how to make liangpi yet, so they decided to introduce cold noodles first. The owner was quite clever, making some profit first.

However, this also served as a wake-up call for Yu Qingze. Summer would pass quickly, and it wouldn’t be long before others figured out how to make liangpi. It was time to consider other business opportunities.

Being prepared in advance would prevent them from being caught off guard and put in a passive position.

Due to the situation with Wang’s, they closed a bit later that day.

The day after tomorrow was the Ghost Festival, and they didn’t plan to set up their stall on that day.

There were shops selling ritual items everywhere on the streets these days. The three of them pushed the cart and bought all the necessary items from a familiar ritual supply store on West Street. They also bought some food. Afterward, they quickly walked out of the city and headed home.

At this time, the sun was gradually setting, and the number of pedestrians on the main road decreased. Most of the people who had gone to the market returned home in the afternoon, and only a few still ventured out in the late afternoon. There were hardly any people as late as they were today.

Especially during this special time around the Ghost Festival, people would return home early and wouldn’t be out and about at night.

The three of them hurried along the road, with even Chang Hao remaining silent due to exhaustion. They all just wanted to reach home before the sun completely set.

Unexpectedly, an incident occurred about five or six miles outside the city gate.

Six masked men in black clothes blocked their path, holding long sticks, with the leader holding a hatchet.

The three of them were momentarily stunned. Could it be that they had encountered highway robbers?

Chang Hao, being young, couldn’t help but feel scared seeing so many people with sticks and hatchets. He instinctively moved closer to Chang Le.

Chang Le protected his younger brother behind him. In truth, he was also very afraid. Although he was strong, being surrounded by so many men, especially ones who seemed like bandits, would be foolish not to fear.

Yu Qingze calmly stood in front of the two brothers and clasped his fists, saying, “Brothers, may I ask why you’re blocking our way?”

These people had been watching them since they appeared, without saying a word. They had no idea what their intentions were. Bandits would usually state their purpose, right?

Upon hearing this, one of the men beside the leader cleared his throat and then shouted, “I claim this mountain, I… I planted this tree. If you want to pass this road, leave behind some payment!”

The leader kicked the lackluster speaking man and then turned to the three of them, shouting, “Robbery! Hand over all your money and valuables!”

Yu Qingze assessed the men’s stature and weapons and thought about Chang Le and Chang Hao behind him. He decided it was best to spend some money to resolve the situation.

He took out his money pouch and threw it onto the ground ahead, saying, “Brothers, it’s all here. We hope you’ll let us pass.”

The leader glanced at the money pouch and then nodded at the man beside him, gesturing for him to pick it up.

The man walked over and smoothly picked up the money pouch. He handed it to the leader and asked, “Boss, what do we do now?” They weren’t actually here to rob; robbery was just an excuse.

The leader, clearly not expecting Yu Qingze to surrender the money pouch so easily, furrowed his brow. His gaze landed on Chang Le and his eyes lit up. He pointed at Chang Le and said, “Leave him behind, the rest of you can go!”

This was truly despicable.

Having one of them stay behind meant something obvious!

Yu Qingze’s pupils contracted, and his hands clenched into fists.

These bastards actually targeted Brother Le. They were scum!

Chang Le was also stunned upon hearing the order, looking somewhat lost as he gazed at Yu Qingze.

The group of men immediately closed in when they saw Yu Qingze’s lack of reaction. One of them wore a lecherous expression and said, “Leave this little guy behind, have some fun with us, and then we’ll let the rest of you go. How about that?”

Upon hearing this, Chang Hao suddenly rushed forward and stood in front of his brother, his hands spread open to protect him. He glared fiercely at the men, his small body trembling but resolutely shielding his brother behind him.

Chang Le quickly pulled him back and stood in front of him.

Yu Qingze was burning with anger, his seven orifices seemingly emitting smoke. He pulled out a pole from the cart and whispered to the two of them, “Quick, hide.”

Saying that, he brandished the pole and charged forward. Swinging the pole, he aimed at the scoundrel who had spouted vulgar words earlier, cursing loudly, “I’ll fuck your grandpa!”

Yu Qingze was lightning-fast, and the distance between them was close. The man didn’t react in time and was struck on the shoulder, immediately letting out a miserable cry, “Ouch, fuck!”

The others saw their comrade being hit and immediately rushed towards Yu Qingze.

A chaotic brawl ensued.

Some were hit by Yu Qingze, and some hit Yu Qingze. Luckily, Yu Qingze knew a bit of martial arts, and he had landed more punches than he had taken.

However, dealing with six opponents was still a challenge, and he had already been struck several times. If it continued for too long, he wouldn’t be able to hold on.

The two brothers watched Yu Qingze fighting against the six men, feeling anxious and fearful as they were unable to help.

Chang Le watched the chaotic fight in front of him, and as he continued to watch, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his body couldn’t help but tremble. He held onto Chang Hao tightly as another scene appeared before his eyes, a distant and painful memory.

So many people, so many! Cries filled the air, along with flames, sticks, and *Xiao Hai crying and calling out ‘Brother.’ Everything was blood-red and painful…

*(T/N: The character Xiao Hai will be introduced later).

“Brother, Brother! What’s wrong with you? Don’t be afraid, Brother. Xiao Hao is here, Xiao Hao will protect you!” Chang Hao felt his brother trembling all over, his gaze unfocused, as if he had fallen into a daze. He shook his brother’s shoulders vigorously and slapped his face, urgently calling out.

After a while, Chang Le’s gaze gradually regained clarity.

When he saw Chang Hao in front of him and the surrounding environment, he immediately pulled Chang Hao into a tight embrace.

“Brother, what happened to you?” Chang Hao could clearly see that something was wrong with his brother. He patted his brother’s back, gently soothing his emotions.

Chang Le shook his head, still holding his brother tightly.

After a while, Chang Hao spoke, “Brother, are you okay now? Shouldn’t we go and help Big Brother Yu? He’s been hit so many times.”

Hearing his brother’s words, Chang Le finally emerged from his own emotions and looked at the ongoing brawl nearby.

Yu Qingze was struggling against six opponents, surrounded and attacked from all sides. It was evident that he was finding it difficult. Despite his martial arts skills, he had been struck by two sticks. Although the six men had taken more hits, it pained the two brothers to witness it.

Seeing the situation, Chang Le glanced at his brother, then at Yu Qingze. He clenched his teeth and pulled Chang Hao to the back of the cart. He took out a kitchen knife from a wooden barrel and handed it to Chang Hao. Using hand gestures, he instructed Chang Hao to hide well, defend himself with the knife, and that he would go help Yu Qingze. He also told Chang Hao to call for help if something went wrong, or to run away.

Chang Hao took the kitchen knife, his hands trembling, his voice quivering, but he still nodded resolutely and said, “Okay! Brother, be careful!”

Chang Le looked at the items on the cart and the handcart, then reached out and pulled out a parasol. It was the most suitable weapon available at the moment, despite being a bit cumbersome. However, Chang Le was strong, and the weight of the parasol was similar to Yu Qingze’s pole. He was still afraid, the images from earlier flashing in his mind, and his hand gripping the parasol trembled.

But it’s okay, he told himself in his heart. He had grown up, he was strong, and he would definitely protect his younger brother. The tragedy couldn’t repeat itself. He couldn’t let anything happen to Big Brother Yu again.

Chang Le took a deep breath and charged forward, wielding the parasol. He intercepted a person who was about to attack Yu Qingze from behind, forcefully pushing them back with the parasol. He was incredibly brave!

Upon hearing a scream from behind, Yu Qingze turned his head and saw a black-clothed person clutching their waist, writhing on the ground in pain. Meanwhile, Chang Le was engaging another person with the parasol, fighting in a chaotic manner. Although his strikes lacked technique, it seemed as if he had pent-up frustration, swinging the parasol vigorously. The enemy couldn’t get close to him for the time being.

“Well done!” Yu Qingze shouted, looking at the person on the ground and sympathizing deeply… with his waist. Whether it could still be used in the future remained uncertain.

With Chang Le joining the fight, the pressure on Yu Qingze was significantly reduced. He swiftly moved to Chang Le’s side, and the two stood back-to-back, facing the enemies together.

The six individuals surrounded the two of them, while the man who had injured his waist stared fiercely at Chang Le, as if he wanted to devour him.

The battle was about to erupt and quickly turned into a melee.

The leader in black clothing realized that none of them could gain an advantage, so his eyes shifted and landed on the child behind the cart.

He turned and pounced toward the cart.

Upon seeing someone coming towards him, Chang Hao, holding the kitchen knife, began running quickly with his short legs. He circled around the cart, engaging in a chase with the leader in black clothing.

After circling around for a while, the black-clothed man grew furious. He directly hurled the items from the cart, and Chang Hao managed to dodge the wooden basin and small stool. Just as he was about to run further away, a water bucket hit him and knocked him to the ground.

The black-clothed leader, satisfied with his success, smirked and pounced forward.

“You little brat, let’s see where you can run!”

Meanwhile, Chang Le saw his brother fall to the ground, and the person with the woodcutter’s knife was about to attack him. His eyes widened with anger.

“HAO–!”

A rough and hoarse voice tore through the sky, startling the birds in the forest. Holding the parasol, Chang Le knocked down the person in front of him and rushed towards his brother in a state of frantic worry.

At the sound of that voice, both Yu Qingze and Chang Hao stared at Chang Le’s figure in astonishment.

That coarse and gritty voice just now… belonged to Chang Le?!

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Thingyan: these people are like the aggregator sites *sigh