Chapter 124 (Part 1): The Culinary Tycoon

Local Bosses

When Jia Xiaoren arrived, the round-faced boss was in the study, going over the accounts with the steward. Seeing Jia Xiaoren’s gloomy expression as he entered, the round-faced boss felt a pang in his heart and asked, “Xiaoren, why are you here at this time? Isn’t it the busiest time for the restaurant?”

Jia Xiaoren glanced at the steward, who immediately left the room.

“What’s the matter? Did something happen?” The round-faced boss picked up a teacup and took a sip to hide his nervousness, then hesitantly asked.

Jia Xiaoren walked up to the desk, looked at his uncle, and said, “Uncle, did you not make it clear to the people from the grain and oil store and the seafood stall?”

The round-faced boss asked, “What’s wrong? I did talk to them.”

“Yu’s snack shop and restaurant haven’t been affected. Seafood is still being sold, and the quality of the pastries hasn’t decreased.” Jia Xiaoren leaned on the desk, looking down at the round-faced boss.

“Huh? Seafood is still being sold?” The round-faced boss was genuinely puzzled.

He could understand that the snack shop hadn’t been affected. Last time, Yu Qingze bought eight bags of flour from them, so he might not have used them up yet.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

But how could there still be seafood?

These few times he was watching the goods being loaded at the dock, and Yu Qingze didn’t come to buy flour or seafood. The seafood vendors who received their supplies from him didn’t sell to Yu Qingze, he asked them.

Then where does the seafood come from?

When Jia Xiaoren heard his uncle’s words, he furrowed his brows and asked, “Uncle, do you know if their snack shop’s dim sum is okay?”

The round-faced boss was taken aback and said, “No, isn’t that what you said just now?”

The round-faced boss knew well that he didn’t have a clear understanding of the business and connections, which was why they had gradually stabilized in Tongshan these years because of his eldest son. Therefore, after his son’s analysis earlier, he dared not ignore his son’s advice now. Before his eldest son left, he repeatedly urged him not to interfere in Jia Xiaoren’s affairs, and he didn’t want his family to have a hard time in Tongshan in the future. So he quickly denied it.

Jia Xiaoren frowned as he scrutinized his uncle. His uncle had always been soft-hearted, which was why he sought him out in the first place, knowing that he wouldn’t dare not help him.

“Uncle, you’re not tricking me, are you?” Jia Xiaoren asked.

“Why would I trick you? We really didn’t sell any seafood to Yu Qingze,” the round-faced boss said, taking another sip of tea.

“Then where did they buy it from?”

“I don’t know about that,” the round-faced boss replied. “The most likely possibility is that they bought it from the market. Perhaps some vendors don’t know Yu Qingze?”

“But he used to go to the market often, and there are people who don’t know him…” Jia Xiaoren paused, and suddenly a flash of insight struck him. He immediately said, “I understand now, Uncle. I’ll go back first.”

After speaking, he quickly left.

The round-faced boss opened his mouth, but then closed it again. Well, it didn’t concern him anyway.

Jia Xiaoren went back and called a waiter over, instructing him with a few words to go to the vicinity of the seafood stalls in the market, inquire about the situation, and keep a watch to see if any House of Prosperity’s staff went to buy seafood. It was difficult to monitor the scattered grain and oil shops, so they had to go to the market.

The waiter had been to House of Prosperity before to buy food and had seen many of its employees. He had even had an excuse to meet the kitchen staff last time, so he was the most suitable for the task.

Jia Xiaoren also realized what was going on now. The owners of the seafood stalls in the market might know Yu Qingze, but they wouldn’t know the employees in his own shop. It was entirely possible that Yu Qingze would have his own employees make the purchases, without him having to show up personally.

The waiter nodded in understanding and went out.

At Yu Qingze’s side, they had been cautiously strategizing and battling over buying flour and seafood lately, barely keeping the snack shop operating normally, and the seafood supply in the restaurant had returned to normal. However, they still felt like a sword was hanging over their heads and couldn’t fully relax.

That evening, Zhao Yu, the young master of the Zhao family, invited several business owners with whom the Zhao family had dealings to House of Prosperity for a meal and to discuss some matters.

“Young Master Zhao, Uncle Liao, Uncle Hu, you have arrived. The Emerald Pavilion is ready, please go upstairs,” Jiabao, who was helping at the counter, greeted the familiar faces and welcomed them.

“Hey, Jiabao, aren’t you in the kitchen today?” Young Master Zhao patted Jiabao’s shoulder and asked.

Jiabao shook his head and smiled, “Today, my eldest brother and brother-in-law are in charge of the kitchen, so I took a break.”

“Hahaha, did your brother-in-law pull you out again?” Uncle Liao teased. They had once seen Brother Le dragging Jiabao out of the kitchen with one hand, not letting him in and telling him to rest.

Jiabao laughed embarrassedly, “It’s all because I don’t have enough strength. It takes me nearly half an hour to stir-fry a dish.”

In fact, Jiabao had been eating well and had grown taller over the past year, but he remained very thin. He hadn’t gained much weight, and his arm strength was not strong enough. If he spent too much time stir-frying, it wouldn’t be that effective.

“Hahaha, just keep practicing. By the way, if Boss Yu is cooking, we must order some delicious dishes to go with our drinks! Jiabao, let’s start with a jar of Zhangyuanhong, the large one. I want to have a good drink with you and Uncle Hu!” Uncle Liao said cheerfully.

Jiabao nodded and said, “Sure, you guys go upstairs and place your orders with the staff. I’ll have someone bring the drinks.”

The group headed upstairs, with Uncle Hu walking and laughing, saying, “With so many people here, how come I’m the only one caught?”

Uncle Liao laughed heartily and replied, “They can’t outdrink me, only you can have a few more drinks with me!”

“…”

Jiabao went to the kitchen and informed Yu Qingze that the group had arrived.

Yu Qingze nodded and said, “Tell them that if they want to drink Zhangyuanhong, it’s better not to order seafood. It’s not ideal to have them together. I remember Uncle Hu enjoys eating shrimp, and Young Master Zhao likes clams. Let them know.”

Jiabao nodded and said, “Okay.”

Jiabao personally carried the jar of Zhangyuanhong and went upstairs, delivering Yu Qingze’s message to the customers.

Upon hearing it, Uncle Hu immediately said, “That’s perfect! We don’t need to drink. I came here specifically for the shrimp.”

Uncle Liao immediately objected and said, “How can that be? Coming here and not drinking, what kind of image is that? We can’t let these delicious dishes go to waste! Shrimp is always available to eat, but we must drink today! We can skip the drinks next time and just focus on the food. We must drink today!”

Upon hearing this, Jiabao’s heart skipped a beat and he said, “Uncle Liao, there’s a possibility that we might not have access to seafood in our restaurant anymore. It could be withdrawn at any time.” He remembered that Uncle Hu’s family was involved in shipping, and they were the largest shipping company in Tongshan City—Huihai Shipping.

Uncle Hu frowned and asked, “What’s going on? Wasn’t it selling well? Why would it be withdrawn?”

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Thandar: Part 2 will be password protected. Pw is below.