So he called Xiao Chuan over and asked him to go across the street and buy some braised meat, just like last time. Before long, Xiao Chuan brought back the braised meat and laid it out on the table.
Meng Zhao glanced at it and immediately noticed that it was different from last time. The braised meat on the table was darker in color, and some of the dishes were clearly left overnight, probably more than a day ago.
Although the weather is cool now, it won't spoil, but the taste of braised meat left overnight will definitely be worse.
The braised meat I brought last time wasn't the best, but at least the meat was fresh and the texture was okay. This time, the meat looks like inferior quality.
Meng Zhao picked up two pieces and tasted them. The taste was a bit bland and not as salty as last time, but this made the porky smell stronger. Moreover, probably because it had been sitting for a long time, the aftertaste was a bit bitter. It really wasn't very tasty.
This is very strange. The customers who were robbed all work nearby and have been buying from her since she opened her shop. They are regular customers, so how could they not tell the difference between good and bad food?
Meng Zhao tasted the wine opposite him again, wondering if it was the wine that made it so? After all, for those who love to drink, as long as there is good wine to drink, even pickled vegetables can be eaten as a snack.
Unfortunately, the wine tasted the same as before, with no change. After eating a few pieces of braised meat, Zhao got up and went into the shop, paying more attention to the situation of the shop across the street.
She noticed that the people who went to the shop to buy braised meat seemed to be in a great hurry, always running over. If the shop assistant was a little slow in getting the items, they would be scolded.
After paying and receiving the braised meat, many people couldn't even wait to go home and started eating it on the go.
Upon seeing this, an ominous thought flashed through Meng Zhao's mind, but he couldn't be sure, so he could only hurry back and check the remaining braised meat.
But aside from being able to tell that the ingredients were of poor quality, some of them were left overnight, and the taste was mediocre, she couldn't really see any other problems.
When evening came, Xiao Chuan saw that there was still braised meat on the table. He thought it would be the same as last time, so he asked Meng Zhao if he wanted to take it out and share it.
Meng Zhao shook her head. She suspected that Zhao's Braised Pork across the street had added something addictive to the braised meat. Before the other side was cleared of suspicion, she couldn't let the staff try it.
She carefully wrapped up the braised meat on the table, intending to take it away herself to throw it away so that she could feel at ease. Then she asked Xiao Chuan to tell everyone not to buy the braised meat from the shop across the street recently.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chuan patted his chest and assured her, "Sister Meng, don't worry. The braised meat in our shop is so delicious that even if we were stupid, we wouldn't give money to the other side."
In the following days, Meng Zhao paid close attention to the movements of the other side and discovered another problem: the repurchase rate of the other side was particularly high. Meng Zhao saw that some people would buy something every one or two days at most, and they would buy quite a lot.
These people were familiar faces who worked as shop assistants in the surrounding shops. In the past, when they bought braised meat from their own shops, they would only come once every few days. After all, the shop assistants' monthly wages were limited, and they usually lived frugally. But now, why did they suddenly become so frequent?
At the same time, I also found out that the new manager, Ms. Tian, had sent braised meat to many shops in the surrounding area several times in order to cultivate relationships. I didn't know this because she was a competitor, and naturally, she wouldn't send it to me.
Connecting the dots of the unusual events that had occurred recently, Meng Zhao was pretty sure that the braised meat on the other side of the table had most likely been spiked with something it shouldn't have.
Even though Meng Zhao was already certain in her heart, there was nothing she could do. Judging from her own reaction, she wouldn't have any adverse effects after taking this addictive substance once.
If you want someone to become addicted, you have to eat it at least two or three times. But look at those diners who frequent the place; they all look pretty normal.
Even if they went to the yamen, the other party would say that the customers came often because their food was delicious, and that Meng Zhao was jealous of their good business. Without any evidence, it would be easy for the other party to accuse them of false accusation. You should know that there are two stone tablets at the entrance of the yamen, one of which reads, "False accusation, three times the punishment."
Although she did help the magistrate once, it doesn't mean the magistrate will show her favoritism.
Are we really going to sit idly by and wait for those people to consume it for six months or even a year until they become completely addicted before we have solid evidence? Wouldn't that result in even more people being harmed?
Moreover, the demand for braised meat in the county is limited. If the business across the street is doing well, his own business will naturally suffer. Meng Zhao immediately decided that this matter could not be ignored.
She first approached Xiao Chuan and asked him to have someone pass a message to Chef Zhou across the street, saying that she wanted to see him. If Chef Zhou hadn't lied before, then the seasoning packet must have been brought over by the new manager.
Xiao Chuan found a local guy to wait in the backyard of Zhao's braised pork, and when Chef Zhou came out alone, he quietly went up to him and passed him a message.
In the afternoon, Meng Zhao heard someone calling her from outside the courtyard wall. When she went out, she saw Chef Zhou, who was wrapped up tightly, his face completely covered by a scarf. When he saw her come out, he pulled the scarf down a little, revealing his round face, and asked softly:
"Madam Meng, is there something you need from me?"
Meng Zhao nodded and, without beating around the bush, went straight to the point, "I'd like to ask you to bring me a portion of your shop's braising sauce."
Upon hearing this, Chef Zhou's eyes widened, his face full of disapproval. "Madam Meng, don't think that just because our shop has been doing well these days, you've done something stupid. That guy surnamed Tian's food is awful. I tried two bites and I had to throw up. Don't follow his example."
Meng Zhao quickly explained, "I didn't want to learn from him. I have other uses for him, and I don't know if you would be willing to help me."
She had only met Chef Zhou a few times. The only connection she had with him was when he watched her cook a banquet at the Zhao family's house. He had apparently learned a few tricks from watching her cook and was grateful to her. But Meng Zhao wasn't sure if he would help her with such a big favor.
Chef Zhou was indeed a little hesitant. He had only reminded Meng Zhao before, which was just a matter of saying a few words. But if he were to actually steal the braising ingredients and get caught by the Zhao family, the consequences would probably be even worse than those of his second uncle.
Meng Zhao noticed his hesitation and said apologetically, "I was presumptuous today. This matter is indeed too difficult and I shouldn't have forced it. I'm really sorry."
Seeing Meng Zhao's sincere expression, Chef Zhou did not refuse outright. "Madam Meng, please allow me to think about it some more."
A glimmer of hope rose in Meng Zhao's heart. After watching Chef Zhou leave, she went to the bookstore, hoping to find some clues in the books.
Chef Zhou first took off the two layers of clothes he was wearing and sent them home, then returned to the shop.
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