Chapter 253: Chapter 240: Grumbling

Translator: 549690339 |

There weren’t many customers up front, so Qi Changfu wasn’t busy at the moment. He sat eating a plate of peanuts, washing them down with a small pot of sorghum wine in the house.

“Chef Qi.” Feng Yongkang’s face turned sour at the sight, he walked over with his hands behind his back: “Chef Qi, you seem to be in good spirits.”

“The manager is here.” Qi Changfu got up cheerfully, flagged down Tong Fei to bring over a stool for Feng Yongkang: “Manager, come sit down. It’s been a while since we had a drink together.”

“Tong Fei, cook up a dish. I’m going to have a good drink with the manager this afternoon.”

“No rush.” Feng Yongkang held up his hand, keeping his distance: “I’m not in the mood for a drink right now.”

“Does the manager not feel like it because business at Fushun Tower hasn’t been good these few days?” Qi Changfu bowed to Feng Yongkang: “Manager, about this, I truly feel I owe you an apology.”

“I never expected that the people in this town would be so unrefined in their dining, they can’t appreciate this fine food and only recognize ordinary home cooking. My culinary skills are highly sought after in the county town, but here, people don’t seem to know quality when they see it. It’s unbelievable…”

“Well then, I feel quite upset about this too. Manager Feng, you have probably heard of me in the county town. As a head chef, I can charge a high price for my skills. The only reason I came to Fushun Tower was because I got along very well with you, Manager Feng.”

“I never thought there would be so many people who lack discernment. It makes it very difficult for me.”

“But rest assured, Manager. I’m not the kind of person who only cares about appearances and doesn’t do the real work. If the townsfolk only recognize home cooking, then I will just cook home cooking. Starting tomorrow, I will follow Fushun Tower’s original recipe. By then, all you have to do, Manager, is wait for the restaurant to be packed.”

Qi Changfu smiled.

Feng Yongkang’s expression softened significantly.

Apart from culinary skills, Qi Changfu was really clever and diplomatic, his ways of saying things were pleasing to the ear. At least he showed the right attitude, which was much better than Zhang Yongchang who was always obstinate and clueless.

Thinking of this, Feng Yongkang’s face showed a hint of a smile, he said: “I’m counting on you then, Chef Qi.”

“I get paid to work for you. Right now, you, Manager Feng are my employer. I should naturally do my best for you, it’s only right and proper. Calling it hard work is just formalities and politeness.”

Qi Changfu still showed a beaming smile, his body leaned forward when he spoke, which made Feng Yongkang feel increasingly comfortable.

“Considering Chef Qi’s talents, all this is natural, it’s just that those diners, I really don’t know where they went wrong, they only recognize Zhuang’s tofu. Even our Fushun Tower’s tofu in soy sauce, they say it’s only delicious because of Zhuang’s tofu.”

Feng Yongkang frowned and sighed, “I don’t appreciate Zhuang Qingning’s style of doing things. I don’t believe that a piece of tofu can make a dish taste good. But Ruyi Pavilion has been doing good business recently. Profits are one thing, but the taste of the dishes is also a reason. Chef Qi, do you have any ideas to further improve the taste?”

“Manager, honestly, Zhuang is not a good character. Tong Fei went to his shop to pick up some goods and got an unwelcome reception, even cursed for no reason. He even threatened to cut off the supplies to our Fushun Tower. He probably wanted to embarrass you, Manager, because of Chef Zhang.”

Qi Changfu said: “I haven’t tried Zhuang’s tofu, but I don’t believe that a person as narrow-minded as him could make good-tasting tofu.”

“Referring to taste, I do believe that ingredients can enhance a dish. As for things like tofu and tofu skin, they are common items, not rare delicacies. It’s not impossible to find good-tasting tofu and tofu skin.”

“Manager, don’t worry, in a while I will instruct Tong Fei to go to the county town to find tofu with a better taste than Zhuang’s Tofu Shop. By then, we will definitely outshine Ruyi Pavilion.”

On hearing these words, Feng Yongkang was overjoyed.

The county town is the place where Chef Qi, who had been working for many years, knew which stores had good ingredients and which ones had fine seasoning.

With produce bought from the county town, how could it be worse than in our town?

In the future, Fushun Tower would not have to rely on Zhuang’s Tofu Shop and could still make delicious tofu in soy sauce. Then we could truly put Zhang Yongchang and Zhuang Qingning to shame.

It seems that he made the right decision after all, inviting Qi Changfu back to Fushun Tower as the head chef was the right choice.

“With Chef Qi’s words, I can rest assured.” Feng Yongkang, all smiles, picked up the glass of wine Qi Changfu had poured for him earlier, and drained it in one gulp: “You go ahead and work, Chef Qi, I’ll take a walk outside.”

“Safe journey, Manager.” Qi Changfu walked a few steps with him, and only after Feng Yongkang had repeatedly refused help, did he return and sit back on the stool, talcing a sip of his wine.

His face gradually darkened, and he smacked his chopsticks on the table with a bang.

“With all his nice talk, he’s just complaining that my skills are not good, isn’t he? With so many excuses, doesn’t he feel awkward listening to himself?”

Qi Changfu began swearing: “This is a backwater place, but these people act as if they are too sophisticated to recognize good things. They only care about eating gruel and pickles, they only think about tofu in soy sauce, all country bumpkins without a clue!”

“Master, calm down.” Tong Fei quickly put down his work and came over, pouring Qi Changfu a glass of wine, “After all, this is a small town, and it really is unfair to you. I couldn’t stand to hear what Feng Yongkang said either, and it’s thanks to your good temper that you could still say a few flattering words.” “If I didn’t flatter him, how could I continue to stay here?” Qi Changfu tilted the corners of his mouth, “What kind of person is this Feng Yongkang that deserves my fawning and flattering? If it weren’t for the trouble I got into before and needing to hide and make money now, why would I be here in this backwater slogging it out?”

“Yes, Master, you’ve had a hard time.” Tong Fei continued to grin sycophantically.

“Alright, at least I have you by my side to cheer me up.” Qi Changfu took the wine and sipped it, “Later, you don’t need to be busy. Take a trip to the county town.”

“Going to the county town?” Tong Fei was surprised.

“To do what?”

“Didn’t you hear Feng Yongkang just now? He wanted us to figure something out about the food, but he didn’t want to lose face by cooperating with Zhuang’s Tofu Shop, so I had to promise him that I could find better tofu and other ingredients.”