Chapter 254 Recognizing Sister

A wealthy lady in her sixties sneered: "Yesterday that person was your apprentice, who is this person today?"

Chef Dong walked forward, speaking with some emotion: "Miss Chen, we haven't seen each other for thirty years. How could you have forgotten all the old friends in Beijing? You don't even recognize the waiter of the Dong family?"

The lady looked at Chef Dong carefully and said, "Dong Yinkui? I was wondering why Xiaowu was so determined not to return to Taiwan. It turned out that you were the one who instigated him."

Another lady suddenly shouted, "Chen Jinying, who raised you, paid for your education, and taught you cooking? The Dong family never raised you for a single day. You listened to their sweet words and even disowned your biological father who raised you? Have you really given up your conscience?"

Chen Jinying wiped away her tears silently. Since she left Taipei, De Xiang Hotel has been in decline. Her father had suffered a minor stroke, and he fell ill due to mental and physical exhaustion.

The four elder sisters came back to visit their parents. The eldest and second elder sisters were born to the first wife and were married before coming to Taiwan. When they got married, the Dexiang Restaurant in Peking was doing a booming business, and Chen Dexiang married his daughter in a grand and respectable manner. Later, Chen Dexiang was invited to Taiwan, and he brought his daughter and son-in-law with him.

The biggest hardship these two sisters have experienced is the bad relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. But now, they have already gone from daughter-in-law to mother-in-law. The real sufferers are the two daughters born to the third wife. Chen Dexiang married the third wife in order to have a son, but the third wife gave birth to two daughters in a row. Together with Chen Jinying, these three daughters have been despised since childhood and have grown up relying on the protection of their unfavored mother. The experience of the third and fourth sisters is miserable. One married a man who was sixteen or seventeen years older than her as a second wife, and the other married a gambler and is now heavily in debt. This is also the main reason why Chen Jinying does not want to get married.

How could the elder and second sisters not feel distressed when they saw their father lying in bed and the once prosperous Dexiang Restaurant now closed down? They acted like filial daughters and ran to Gangcheng to force her to go back and continue to work like a slave for the Chen family.

The eldest daughter of the Chen family said with great sorrow: "Dad is lying on the bed crying non-stop. Jinlong and Yulian also know they are wrong and are looking forward to your return. The family has discussed it. If you feel that Xiaohao has grown up and it is not easy to get close to him, then the youngest Xiaojun will be adopted by you. You will raise him from childhood to adulthood and he will definitely be close to you. You don't have to worry about no one to take care of you in your old age. From now on, you will be in charge of Dexiang Hotel, and Jinlong will be the cook there. Everything will be up to you. Dad said that he will give you 30% of the shares and 70% to Jinlong. What else are you dissatisfied with?"

The second daughter of the Chen family also advised: "Dad has retreated again and again, and he has considered everything for you. He has given you everything he can. We four married daughters don't even have a penny of shares. Isn't it good enough for you? There are no parents who are not right in the world, and the most precious thing in the world is brothers. What kind of overnight hatred can you have with your own father? If you don't plan to get married, you will have to rely on your brother and your family in the future."

Chen Jinying adjusted her mood and walked out from behind Dong Yinkui. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Big sister, second sister, I'll say it again, I've paid off all these after so many years. I don't owe anyone! I don't want anything from the Chen family. In addition, I didn't elope with anyone. I took Ah Zhi to come to Hong Kong City on my own initiative. I don't want to be ruthlessly abandoned by the Chen family after being squeezed dry of my last drop of blood. Also, don't say that my biological mother is immoral. It's my father who is immoral. He had three wives and went to find the widow left by his apprentice, and then I was born."

"Do you believe everything he says? What does he have to do with you?" Miss Chen pointed at Dong Yinkui and questioned Chen Jinying. She thought Xiaowu was deceived by the second son of the Dong family.

Dong Yinkui sneered: "Jinying is not like you, all talk but no brain. Your father has brought this upon himself."

"Don't you just hate my father for not adopting you three? That's why you come here to sow discord." The second young lady of the Chen family said disdainfully.

Dong Yinkui laughed, "Fortunately, your father didn't adopt us three brothers, so we have the honor to learn from the master. Now my eldest brother is the master chef of Yufenglou. When my master retired from the State Guest House, he didn't let his own son inherit the position, but chose me as the successor. My third son is now the head chef of VIP Building. I think your father deserves what he has become today, because he forgot that he learned his skills from others. He refused to teach his apprentices seriously, his own son was incompetent, and he didn't let his daughter go in public openly. He even forced his daughter to drive away the apprentice because she taught an apprentice. Once his daughter left, the restaurant would naturally not be able to operate."

He walked up to the second young lady of the Chen family and continued, "My master told us that the sixteen or seventeen-year-old children came to you to learn a craft. If you don't want to teach, don't delay the children. My master has more than a hundred disciples, and there are countless apprentices who have been learning from him for a year or two. Now he is over seventy years old and can't rest, so he goes to the vocational school to use his spare time to teach children. My master and your father are from the same lineage, and your father is even better in terms of craftsmanship. But now that your father has fallen ill, your family's restaurant can't continue. Jinying finally got an apprentice, and you are throwing dirty water on them."

The second young lady of the Chen family had a long face and wanted to argue, but Dong Yinkui did not give her a chance and continued, "It's because your family does not believe that someone would sincerely teach outsiders a craft. You think that only those who are related by blood or have an improper relationship will teach others. So you slandered Jinying for eloping with her apprentice."

"If she were an ordinary disciple, who would be willing to come here with her from afar?" Miss Chen Er questioned.

"Once a teacher, always a father. If my master asked me to go thousands of miles with him, I would follow him without hesitation. Besides, even if the two really have feelings for each other, it is this era. It is human nature for unmarried men and unmarried women to spend time together day and night and fall in love with each other over time. As a sister, shouldn't you be happy that your sister has someone who is sincere to her? How come you say it is not decent? You said my mother is not decent. My father was your father's apprentice. When he died, he left us three boys. Seeing that he could not support us, my mother knelt down and begged your father to teach us three brothers a craft and give us a meal. Your father's condition was that my mother gave birth to a son. My mother had no choice but to agree for the sake of our survival. Who is not decent? My mother had a difficult delivery when she gave birth to Jinying. Your father saw that she gave birth to a daughter. After taking the child away, he didn't even hire a doctor. When my brother went to beg, you were there, second young lady. Do you remember what you said?"

Miss Chen Er's face turned pale instantly, and she said hurriedly: "It's been so many years, how can I still remember it?"

"You said, 'You gave birth to a girl, and you still want to ask for money by treating her?' My brother could only kowtow continuously, and your father reluctantly hired a doctor to treat my mother. But it was too late, my mother is gone!" Dong Yinkui's eyes were red, and tears were rolling in his eyes. "My master has many children at home and they can't even get enough to eat, so why did he accept the three of us brothers as his apprentices? Because he couldn't stand your father's sin!"

Now, Chen Jinying finally knew the whole truth.

"What's the point of digging up these old stories?" Miss Chen's wrinkled cheeks trembled slightly. "You three brothers of the Dong family have nothing to do with Xiaowu. Xiaowu is a member of our Chen family. Is it your turn to intervene in our family affairs?"

"Without these old stories, how could your Chen family end up like this?" Dong Yinkui laughed sarcastically, "If your father had taught his apprentices well, how could his restaurant not be able to continue? Even if one or two of his apprentices are conscienceless, there are always loyal ones among so many apprentices. You said that you gave Jinying 30% of the shares of Dexiang Hotel, as if she got a great deal, but in fact, isn't the most important thing for a restaurant the chef? Is Jinying missing the shop or the tables and chairs? Besides, the child was adopted by her, and the 30% of the property will eventually be given to the child. Even if she goes back, she will continue to be squeezed dry by the Chen family, and Jinying can't handle the mess the Chen family is in now. I visited the Ningyan Central store yesterday. Xiaoyue handed the store over to Peide and gave him 20% of the shares. This 20% share is much more real than the so-called 30% of your Chen family."

Dong Yinkui turned to look at Chen Jinying and said gently, "Jinying, we really didn't support you, and we have no right to influence your decision. Just treat my words as a little advice from a colleague, okay?"

Chen Jinying has been with Lu Peide for a long time and often heard him talk about his father's junior chef Huang Binggang. She knew that Chef Huang was a senior with a broad mind. Since her second brother was chosen by Chef Huang as his successor, he must have outstanding character and skills.

She nodded gently. Dong Yinkui continued, "Even though we are in the State Guesthouse, surrounded by chefs of various cuisines, and often go to various places for guidance and exchanges, we can be considered knowledgeable. But with the reform and opening up, we gradually feel that we have limitations. That's why Peide's uncle wanted Peide to go out and try his luck. During the Spring Fair, we talked with Xiaoyue. Xiaoyue had many ideas and believed that cooking requires mutual learning. You are still young and can learn more here. Xiaoyue also said that you are educated and understand business, and you will definitely have a bright future. The Chen family's store has fallen to this point today. It is the result of problems accumulated by Chen Dexiang over decades. It is more difficult to save this store than to open a new one. It is not worth your efforts."

Ever since her two elder sisters accused her of being immoral, she no longer wanted to have anything to do with them. Now, listening to her second elder brother tearing up these past events in front of everyone, just to clear the stigma that her two elder sisters had placed on her, she couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Second elder brother, I get it."

The word "Second Brother" instantly made Dong Yinkui's eyes red. He held Chen Jinying's hand tightly and said in a choked voice: "Little sister, little sister!" As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes. Seeing the second brother crying, Chen Jinying hurriedly comforted him: "Second Brother, don't cry!"

But the more she comforted him, the more Dong Yinkui couldn't help it. Over the years, the better the three brothers lived, the more they thought of their parents who had never had a good day, and the more they missed their little sister, wondering how she was doing over the years.

Chen Jinying looked at the tall and handsome man in front of her, who was crying like a child at the moment, and advised again: "Brother, stop crying."

"Second brother, be happy! I will tell your eldest brother and third brother right away. Your eldest brother will be so happy when he knows about it." Dong Yinkui cried and laughed.

At this time, Lu Yongding sent his nephew and Shou Bo out. Hearing Dong Yinkui's voice, he pushed through the crowd and asked, "Old Dong, what's wrong with you?"

"Old Lu! My little sister recognizes me!"