Chapter 148 Fame
The final dish was clear broth cabbage. As the maids and servants poured a pot of broth over the dish, a white lotus slowly bloomed on the jade-white plate, stunning all the guests present.
"This dish is called Clear Broth Cabbage, which implies the expectation of passing down integrity and upholding a simple life. It is a gift from Xu Chunming, the owner of Bichunlou, to the Prefect and his wife!"
Looking at the clear broth and cabbage on the table, the guests would have thought it was a real lotus flower if they hadn't heard the name of the dish. They were surprised that it could be carved so realistically that they didn't know how to eat it.
Xu Qingyan stared at the dishes on the table with a somewhat gloomy expression. He had originally come to see what kind of ability Xu Chunming had to dare to step on the Xu family's face to get to the top. He did not expect that Xu Chunming would have such ability. After today's birthday banquet, Bichunlou would probably make a fortune every day.
The dishes on Song Yushu's table had been completely eaten up. The woman who had been praising Xu Family Restaurant and belittling Bichunlou had eaten more than anyone else. Now that she had tasted Bichunlou's cooking, she didn't say a word until the end of the banquet.
"I'd like to invite you to Bichunlou sometime. I didn't expect that after only a short time since I last visited, they've come up with so many dishes. But after this banquet, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get a table," Madam Wang said. She was very satisfied with the meal. Even though she hadn't been able to get along well with the other ladies this time, she felt that the trip hadn't been in vain.
“As long as Madam is free, we can get together,” Song Yushu did not refuse, but she felt that this was just a polite remark. She had only met this Madam Wang once, and even if they got along well, there was no conflict of interest. She might not really want to see her.
After the birthday banquet ended and the guests left one after another, Song Yushu went to the kitchen to find Xu Chunming.
"Congratulations, Mr. Xu! Once the birthday banquet is over, everyone in the city will know Bichunlou. Mr. Xu, are you ready to receive some surprises?"
"Thanks to Boss Wei, if Bichunlou can truly reach new heights this time, I, Xu, will definitely bring generous gifts to express my gratitude!"
"We already have a partnership, there's no need for this, it's a win-win situation!" Seeing his spirited appearance, Song Yushu knew that he was very satisfied with the publicity results.
After Song Yushu left, he unexpectedly ran into Xu Qingyan, who was already waiting outside the mansion.
"I was right, Xu Chunming's recipe was indeed from you. It's such a pity, if only I could have cooperated with you sooner..."
“Young Master Xu is overthinking things. I’m just an ordinary village woman. How could I possibly have such abilities? It’s getting late, so I won’t say any more to you. Farewell.”
"Mr. Wei, I know you still harbor resentment towards the Xu family. How about this, I'll choose a time for Xu Mingchuan to apologize to you? We've cooperated in this county before, why make things so ugly? I guarantee that what the Xu family gives you will be much more than what Xu Chunming gave you!"
"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. I cannot agree with the Xu family's way of doing things. No matter how much Young Master Xu says, I will not cooperate with the Xu family. Farewell."
Song Yushu left without waiting for Xu Qingyan's reply.
Xu Qingyan arrived at the Xu family home with a sullen face, and Old Master Xu immediately sent someone to summon him.
"how?"
“Bichunlou will surely reach new heights,” Xu Qingyan briefly recounted the events of the birthday banquet, focusing instead on the dishes that Xu Chunming had presented.
"A barking dog doesn't bite. I never expected Xu Chunming to have such abilities! If I had known this would happen, I should have suppressed him so much when Bichunlou was still unknown that he could never recover!"
Upon hearing this, Old Master Xu gritted his teeth and said...
"If Father could poach the chef from Bichunlou once, he could certainly do it a second time. However, Xu Chunming probably won't fall into the same trap twice. It will probably take more effort."
“There’s another matter. Xu Chunming has always been cautious and hasn’t dared to stand out for so many years. This time, he suddenly stepped on the Xu family to rise to power. I’m afraid there’s someone behind him interfering. Second Brother should also know this person.” Xu Qingyan couldn’t stand being wronged himself and didn’t want Xu Mingchuan to have an easy time either.
"Someone! Bring the second young master over!" Old Master Xu understood Xu Qingyan's meaning perfectly well. It was probably because Xu Mingchuan, that unfilial son, had offended people again and had finally met his match.
"Father, what do you need me for?"
"Smack!"
"You unfilial son! Have you been causing trouble again lately? Confess now!"
Grandpa Xu was both anxious and angry, and slapped Xu Mingchuan, who hadn't even figured out what had happened.
"Dad! What did I do to make you angry? You have to tell me, right?" Xu Mingchuan was slapped as soon as he entered, and in front of Xu Qingyan, with whom he had always been at odds. He felt wronged and a little resentful.
"Second brother, this time Father didn't wrong you. You usually act recklessly and have offended so many people that you can't even remember them all. If Father hadn't cleaned up your messes, you would have gotten yourself into trouble long ago. Do you still remember the Wei Niangzi you framed before? Now she's angry with the Xu family and has even cooperated with others, causing our Xu family to suffer heavy losses."
"She's just a village woman! If it weren't for the prefect's help, she wouldn't have gotten out so easily. How could she possibly cause such heavy losses to our Xu family? Third brother, you must be joking!"
Xu Mingchuan was able to remember Song Yushu only because he had been punished with a beating by Prefect Liu last time. Otherwise, he would have forgotten about Song Yushu long ago.
Even so, he didn't believe that Song Yushu had such great abilities, and thought that Xu Qingyan just disliked him and wanted him to take the blame.
"Why would I lie to you? Do you still remember that cheap paper from before? Why did Prefect Liu commend her back then? And why was it that both she and the Bai family were commended? She was also involved in Xu Chunming's actions this time. If Xu Chunming really had those recipes, he couldn't have kept them hidden for so long. It was only after he came into contact with this Madam Wei that he suddenly became famous because of these recipes. Do you think it's believable that she wasn't behind these two things?"
Xu Qingyan originally thought it was good that his second brother was stupid, at least he couldn't compete with him for the family fortune. He didn't expect that not only was the other party stupid, but he also caused trouble everywhere. In the past, with Old Master Xu backing him up, he could turn a blind eye as long as it didn't affect his interests. But now Xu Mingchuan has brought a powerful enemy to the Xu family, making them busy and overwhelmed these days. How could he not be angry?
"So what if she was locked up in jail for a few days? I got a beating too, isn't that enough? If you ask me, she's so ungrateful, we might as well go all the way..."
Xu Mingchuan felt embarrassed after being scolded by Xu Qingyan. Although he was full of bad ideas, he was not cut out for business and only knew how to use underhanded methods to deal with his opponents.
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