Our Hobbies Complement Each Other

Huo Jiu was not only skilled with a knife, but sharp-tongued as well. His words left Master Yan's face as red as a jujube, and he immediately felt too ashamed to show his face.

Our Hobbies Complement Each Other

"You're right!" After a long silence, Master Yan mocked himself with a red face. "This matter was our First-Rank Pavilion's fault to begin with. Young Friend Huo kindly came to support First-Rank Pavilion, naturally because of our reputation built over three hundred years. Yet who would have thought..."

Master Yan was too ashamed to say the rest aloud and could only mumble, "...First-Rank Pavilion was at fault first. Now that my skills are inferior, I still have the nerve to ask for your forgiveness..."

It was no wonder Huo Jiu looked down on such a change in attitude.

The more Master Yan thought about it, the more ashamed he became.

"Then we'll do as Mr. Huo says. Starting today, every guest who dines at First-Rank Pavilion over the next week will eat for free." As for guaranteeing that all ingredients supplied to First-Rank Pavilion in the future would be genuine, Master Yan felt there was no need to deliberately emphasize it.

After things had escalated to this point, the old master would surely hear of it. Those people who cut corners and passed off inferior goods as quality products probably would not dare send fakes into First-Rank Pavilion's kitchen again. It was just a pity that this three-hundred-year-old establishment had still suffered damage to its reputation.

Master Yan could not help sighing. Looking at Huo Jiu's youthful face, which still carried a trace of immaturity, he could not resist asking, "May I ask whom Young Friend Huo studied under?"

At such a young age, with such superb culinary skills, there was no way he could have remained unknown all this time. Which family's outstanding young talent had hidden him so well?

Huo Jiu glanced at Master Yan.

He had not even gotten to properly enjoy his meal before somehow ending up in a cooking contest. Huo Jiu was extremely dissatisfied. Looking at First-Rank Pavilion's head chef, who was still probing for answers and refusing to give up, he sneered, "What, you can't even beat me, yet you want to challenge the person 'behind' me? Or are you planning to go back and complain to your old master, then have him personally come out and compete with me to win back your honor?"

Master Yan's old face reddened, and he hurriedly waved his hands. "I have no such intention. First-Rank Pavilion accepts the outcome of the wager."

Huo Jiu sneered. "Hurry up and refund the money!"

Once he got his money back, he could book several tables somewhere else. Since he had promised to treat the uncles and aunties from Lakeside Park to a lavish meal, he would keep his word despite this little interruption.

Hearing that, Master Yan immediately said, "The money must certainly be refunded. But please give me an opportunity to personally cook several tables of dishes and apologize to everyone."

Before Huo Jiu could respond, Master Yan added, "Don't worry. This time, the ingredients will definitely be genuine."

Upon hearing Master Yan's words, the uncles and aunties from Lakeside Park gathered around and chimed in, "Since they're willing to treat us, let them do it. They already agreed to accept the loss, waive the bill, and compensate us. Besides, it would be such a waste to throw away all this food. Why not heat it up and eat it? At least it won't go to waste."

"Exactly. It's already good enough that we didn't demand ten times the compensation for selling fakes. If we don't let them treat us to this meal, wouldn't we be letting them off too easily?"

Setting aside the matter of fooling people with fake shark fin, First-Rank Pavilion's chefs were genuinely very skilled. At least locally, no other restaurant could compare with First-Rank Pavilion.

The uncles and aunties from Lakeside Park did not want to waste money, nor did they want to let First-Rank Pavilion off cheaply. They tried their best to persuade Huo Jiu to stay for the meal—after all, their Little Huo had won this meal fair and square, so of course they had to eat their fill.

"As the saying goes, no friendship without a fight," the lobby manager took the opportunity to persuade him as well. "Mr. Huo, you're so young, yet you taught yourself such exquisite culinary skills. Not only are you highly talented, I imagine you must also love cooking in your daily life. Would you be interested in becoming a kitchen consultant for First-Rank Pavilion? You may use any of the precious ingredients in our kitchen. It would help you hone your cooking skills, while also letting everyone supervise us and ensure that all ingredients First-Rank Pavilion purchases in the future are genuine..."

The lobby manager was calculating carefully. He had observed Huo Jiu closely and noticed that Huo Jiu always avoided discussing his training. No one in his family ran a restaurant either, so the kid probably had no real background. In that case, they might as well find a way to recruit him into First-Rank Pavilion. Once they were all on the same side, even if First-Rank Pavilion's scandal of passing off inferior goods as quality products spread, they could barely spin it into an amusing anecdote.

Huo Jiu looked at the lobby manager with some amusement. Setting aside his character, this man really was suited to crisis management.

"No need for the consultant position," Huo Jiu said. "But I can accept six new tables of dishes."

The uncles and aunties were right. Why should he not eat the food he had won with his own ability?

Though it was not ideal, Huo Jiu had at least agreed to stay for the meal. Master Yan was delighted and went straight into the kitchen, personally preparing six tables of dishes to apologize to Huo Jiu and his group.

The surrounding onlookers had watched a good show for free and enjoyed free meals as well. They were all satisfied.

The only dissatisfied person was Diwu Ling, who had volunteered to act as the judge.

The domineering CEO looked expressionlessly at Huo Jiu, unable to hide his disappointment. "Your family really doesn't run a restaurant?"

Huo Jiu shook his head.

"Then why are your culinary skills so good?"

Huo Jiu answered succinctly, "A hobby."

Diwu Ling sighed. "My name is Diwu Ling. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Faced with such a standard self-introduction, Huo Jiu could only reply, "Huo Jiu. Jiu, as in coffin. Thank you for speaking up for me today, Mr. Diwu."

Diwu Ling shook his head. "I didn't help much. You won through your own skill."

Huo Jiu smiled but said nothing.

Diwu Ling took out his phone. "Let's exchange contact information."

Huo Jiu hesitated slightly. He did not particularly like exchanging contact information with people he had just met. Besides, in his current state, the plot would reset in another week, and all the relationships he had formed would cease to exist.

Huo Jiu did not want to bother unnecessarily.

Diwu Ling noticed Huo Jiu's hesitation. His face remained stern and expressionless, but his pitch-black eyes fixed on Huo Jiu for a long while before he suddenly asked, "You don't want to exchange contact information with me?"