"I heard someone actually blatantly stole the Ding family's recipe. Do they really think we old gourmets are dead?"
At this time, another group of people came.
These people included both young and old people, all of them were dressed in luxurious clothes and had extraordinary status.
These are all gourmets in Hedong County.
Literati make friends through poetry, gourmets make friends through food, and they each have their own circles.
These gourmets, the older ones, had all tasted the cooking skills of the deceased old man of the Ding family and could never forget it. Unfortunately, the old man later became bedridden and could no longer pick up a knife or spatula, so the food world lost a master.
Because of these relationships, they highly praised Ding's cuisine and were very protective and respectful of the Ding family.
After learning that the Ding family's recipe had been stolen, they felt very disgusted with the person who had stolen it.
What I never expected was that a restaurant would actually use this person who stole the recipe and openly sell Ding's dishes! This is too much!
"County Magistrate, you must give us justice in this matter."
"Right! I think we should bring this thief and the shopkeeper to court together and get to the bottom of it!"
A group of people forced the county magistrate to give justice.
County Magistrate Zhu was anxious and couldn't help but look at Tang Li.
How could this happen?
The evidence is conclusive. If the trial really goes on, I can't favor her.
Tangli looked calm.
In fact, she had anticipated this happening when she invited Magistrate Zhu. The Ding Deren brothers, seeing that the rumors hadn't brought down their restaurant, were certain to file a complaint with the County Magistrate upon his arrival.
"Masters of the Ding family, may I ask you a question first?" Tang Li said, "After you answer my question, you can sue me in court, or do anything else. It's all up to you."
Ding Deren snorted coldly: "Ask."
"Initially, for various reasons, you two didn't inherit the Ding family's culinary skills. Later, the old man of the Ding family fell ill, and you two sons ignored him. Fortunately, you met the kind-hearted Ma Cheng, who helped take care of him. Old man Ding was troubled by the fact that he couldn't pass on his culinary skills, so you happened to discover that Ma Cheng was very talented in cooking, so you passed on your skills to him. Later, Old man Ding wanted to accept Ma Cheng as his disciple, as the inheritor of Ding family cuisine. However, you ruined the inheritance ceremony and angered Old man Ding so much that he became seriously ill and passed away soon after."
Tang Li paused for a moment, then looked at Ding Deren and Ding Deyou with sharp eyes: "Gentlemen, is what I just said true?"
Ding Deren said sternly, "Nonsense! You're slandering me! Be careful or I'll sue you again in court!"
Ding Deren was completely fearless.
Although what the female shopkeeper said was true, so what?
Without evidence, no one can prove it.
Ma Cheng has explained this countless times, but who would believe him?
Rather than one-sided statements, everyone would believe the heirs of the Ding family - the two brothers.
Tang Li's gaze shifted from Ding Deren to Ding Deyou. "Ding Deyou, am I right? Ma Cheng did nothing wrong. He was just being kind and culinary enthusiasts. You've turned a blind eye to his kindness, pushed him into a corner, and threatened to sever the Ding family's legacy. Are you still human beings when you do this?!"
Tangli's tone became cold and tough.
Ding Deyou opened his mouth and wanted to refute, but his mouth became uncontrollable and he said what was in his heart.
"So what? His last name isn't Ding, so why would he learn my Ding family's cooking?"
Ding Deren's expression suddenly changed and he looked at Ding Deyou.
"Deyou, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Brother, am I wrong? The reason he was so nice to that old man was because he wanted to learn the cooking skills of our Ding family. He tricked the old man into teaching him all the cooking skills! He even tricked the old man into taking him as his apprentice! The old man is crazy! If we hadn't stopped it in time, the Ding family's inheritance would have fallen into the hands of others!" Ding Deyou shouted, his voice full of indignation.
"I remember that one time, Mr. Ding sent someone to invite us, saying that he wanted to take us in as disciples. When we rushed to the Ding family, we were stopped outside the door. Could this be the case?" At this time, an older gourmet suddenly said.
"Yes, I remember this too. Could it be that the disciple that Mr. Ding wants to accept is really Ma Cheng?"
"Ma Cheng didn't steal the recipe, but actually learned it from Mr. Ding?"
The gourmets in this group all became hesitant and looked at the Ding brothers with suspicion.
"No...it's all nonsense!" Ding Deren explained in a panic.
"I'm not talking nonsense! Ma Cheng, whichever restaurant you go to, I'll destroy it! I'll make sure you can't survive in this business! So what if you learned Ding's cuisine? So what if you inherited the legacy from that dead old man? We two brothers can make you nothing!"
Ding Deren was almost mad at his brother. Seeing that Ding Deyou was about to say something, he slapped him in the face in a hurry.
Ding Deyou's eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground.
Tang Li looked at Ding Deyou and smiled silently. Ding Deyou had completed the task, so it didn't matter whether he fainted or not.
The truth is now before our eyes.
"County magistrate, witnesses, everyone heard what Ding Deyou said just now. Ma Cheng is indeed the inheritor of Ding family cuisine. Our restaurant sells Ding family cuisine in order to pass it on." Tang Li said.
County Magistrate Zhu nodded. "Yes, I heard everything he said. Ding Deren, since Ma Cheng is the inheritor of Ding's cuisine, there's nothing wrong with him making Ding's cuisine. Do you have anything else to say?"
Ding Deren's face turned pale and he couldn't utter a word.
"It seems Master Ding has nothing more to say, but I do," Tang Li said. "County Magistrate Zhu, and everyone else, I'd like to ask for help on behalf of Ma Cheng. Ma Cheng is clearly the inheritor of the Ding family cuisine, yet he was falsely accused of stealing the menu and has suffered this stigma for years. He's truly a pitiful man. I hope you can clear his name."
The gourmets looked at each other.
They were friends with Mr. Ding. When he was ill, they went to visit him but were turned away. They thought it was strange, but now they think it was the two sons who were unfilial.
Later, when Master Ding wanted to accept a disciple, he probably asked them to go and witness it, but unfortunately...
Since it was Mr. Ding’s last wish, they must support it.
"Then let us old men express our stance. We all unanimously agree that Ma Cheng is the inheritor of Ding's cuisine. He shoulders the heavy responsibility of passing on the legacy of Ding's cuisine. Ma Cheng, we hope you will work hard and pass on the Ding's cuisine."
Ma Cheng nodded fiercely.
He will!
"Ding Deren, now things are very clear. Ma Cheng is the inheritor of Ding family cuisine. If you two brothers come to cause trouble again, I will not forgive you!" said County Magistrate Zhu.
Under the intimidation of the county magistrate, Ding Deren could only nod reluctantly.
Ding Deren failed to steal the chicken and ended up losing the rice. He looked very unhappy and left alone without caring about the fainted Ding Deyou.
County Magistrate Zhu and those gourmets also left one after another.
Tang Li glanced at Ding Deyou who had fainted at the door with a look of disgust on his face. He called the waiter and dragged him aside.
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