It was not until Manager Liang stopped outside the gate of a house that Su Qingluan was very familiar with that she was finally certain that she was not having an illusion and that she indeed recognized this family!
As if to confirm Su Qingluan's complaint, the gatekeeper smiled and stepped forward a few steps when he saw Su Qingluan. He asked with a smile, "Young Master Su, are you here to visit my old man again? Unfortunately, my old man is not at home today."
Then the servant turned to look at Shopkeeper Liang. Because he was with Su Qingluan and had brought many gifts, the gatekeeper was also very polite to him: "Excuse me, who is this gentleman...?"
Shopkeeper Liang introduced himself and then asked, "Excuse me, does Mr. Xu Yuanwei live here? I heard he wasn't feeling well, so I came to visit."
"Guests, please come in." The servant led Su Qingluan and Manager Liang to the front hall, and brought them fragrant tea and snacks. Another servant then bowed and announced, "My master will be here shortly. Please wait a while."
As for the guys who followed, they followed the servants to another side hall to rest.
The servants left, leaving only two people waiting outside the door. Only Su Qingluan and Manager Liang were left in this bright hall.
"My dear niece, you actually know Master Xu's family? In that case, why would I have gone through so much trouble to find out how to get here?" Shopkeeper Liang sighed with a smile.
Su Qingluan shook her head: "Although I know the owner of this place, I didn't know this was Master Xu's house."
"oh?"
"Come to think of it, I know that man, and Uncle Liang should know him too," Su Qingluan blinked, "and you've even bought something from that shop before."
"There are so many people with the surname Xu. There are over ten shops in this town. How can I possibly remember them all?" Shopkeeper Liang smiled and took a sip of his tea. "My dear niece, there's no need to beat around the bush."
Su Qingluan sighed inwardly upon hearing this: That's right. Hadn't she herself never connected the kitchen chef Xu Yuanwei with the refined and even somewhat sage-like old man Xu Kekuan?
After all, although they both had the surname "Xu", it wasn't a very uncommon surname after all. For example, Aunt Yang and my mother also had the same surname, didn't they? No one would think that they were relatives just because of this.
As soon as the words "Nong Mo Xuan" came out, Shopkeeper Liang understood: "So it's that old man - I passed by his shop today."
"How does the old man look?"
"I was just walking by at the time, so I didn't see it clearly, but it seemed like the old man was checking accounts with his clerk at the time."
"Huh?" Su Qingluan was a little surprised. "Grandpa Xu and Master Xu should be father and son, right?"
Shopkeeper Liang nodded. "Although I've never met Master Xu's father, I've heard him talk about him a few times, and he certainly looks like Mr. Xu Kekuan."
Su Qingluan frowned upon hearing this: "Uncle Liang, don't you find it strange? Your son is sick at home, but your father is still doing business in the shop as usual?"
If the Xu family was extremely poor and had to use the money earned from that day's work for medical expenses, then Mr. Xu Kekuan's behavior would be very natural.
However, looking at the bright hall around her and drinking the fragrant tea, Su Qingluan thought to herself that it had nothing to do with the word "extremely urgent", right?
What’s more, Uncle Liang also said that Mr. Xu was checking the accounts?
It is not the end of the month or the end of the year, and checking the accounts requires meticulousness and patience. If Master Xu is sick, will Mr. Xu have the leisure to check the accounts at this time when it is not absolutely necessary?
As if to confirm Su Qingluan's suspicions, Xu Yuanwei walked into the living room wearing a gray-brown robe with a dark pattern and a cross-collar.
His face did not have the haggard look typical of a sick person, and even the cloth on his head was not ruffled. He did not look like someone who had just gotten up from bed.
Su Qingluan was the only junior here. After Xu Yuanwei entered the hall, she quickly stood up and saluted.
Xu Yuanwei nodded, then looked at Shopkeeper Liang, sighed, clasped his fists, and said, "Thank you for taking the trouble to make this special trip."
Shopkeeper Liang could obviously see that Xu Yuanwei did not look sick - at least he looked so energetic now that he did not seem to be bedridden and unable to cook.
Although he was puzzled as to why Xu Yuanwei pretended to be sick, Manager Liang had been dealing with his own chef for many years and knew that Xu Yuanwei had a straightforward character. Although he had many minor flaws, he was generally reliable.
Such a person would never quit his job for no reason.
Shopkeeper Liang's expression became even more cautious. "Brother Xu, I've treated you well since I hired you as the head chef. But what did I do wrong today that made you unhappy?"
Xu Yuanwei's expression changed, and he finally sat down on the empty chair next to him. He asked angrily, "I don't dare. I'm about to be fired. How dare I be unhappy?"
Although he said "I dare not", his face clearly showed "I just am not happy".
Su Qingluan was amazed. Should we say this master chef has a clear mind or a simple brain? In short... he's very easy to understand.
He had some grievances against Hongfulou and Manager Liang, so he expressed them openly and without any concealment, even daring to pretend to be sick.
As for offending the shopkeeper, he is not afraid at all.
But come to think of it, although Xu Yuanwei's cooking skills are not particularly amazing, they are solid and distinctive. He has been the chef at Hongfulou for many years, so naturally he has a group of loyal diners as his fans. Besides, his family has other businesses, so naturally he doesn't have to act according to the boss's mood.
But Shopkeeper Liang did not feel offended, he just felt very wronged: "Brother, where did this word 'dismissal' come from?" How could he, as the shopkeeper, not know this?
Xu Yuanwei snorted coldly, "I know my place. I'm a blunt, uncouth fellow. My cooking skills aren't as good as Miss Su's, nor am I as skillful in dispatching the troublemakers as I was yesterday. The shopkeeper fired me and hired Miss Su, and I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. But they kept me in the dark the whole time. How unkind of them!"
Su Qingluan felt wronged. How could this have anything to do with her? And when did she become employed by Manager Liang?
Su Qingluan quickly explained, "Master Xu, you misunderstood. Uncle Liang and I are just partners at best, and I don't plan to work at Hongfu Building."
Shopkeeper Liang also nodded hurriedly: "The contract I signed with Madam Su is still at the restaurant. If you don't believe me, you can go check it out."
This time, Xu Yuanwei was stunned. He stared at Su Qingluan and Manager Liang with half-belief and half-doubt: "You didn't trick me?"
Shopkeeper Liang smiled bitterly, "Why would we try to trick you? We've been running Hong Fu Lou together for so many years, don't you know me well enough?"
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