I Want to Go Apologize Too

What Huo Jiu had his eye on—how could it possibly fail to come true one day?

Huo Jiu chuckled. "I'd say you two have had just about enough. It's one thing to covet my body, but now you're after my cooking too..."

Did they really think Huo Jiu was some tireless beast of burden who would willingly slave away for the Su family?

Huo Jiu drank a bowl of soup, then leisurely rose from the table.

The fact that he did not want to bother with the Su family's rotten people and rotten affairs was already the greatest kindness he could show them.

—He had seen idiots who invited wolves into their homes, but never one so desperate to court death. If they truly provoked his wrath, Huo Jiu feared this bunch from the Su family would not even know how to cry when the time came.

Meanwhile, the owner of First-Rank Pavilion was also discussing Huo Jiu.

"Did you really see the car that picked up Young Master Huo enter the Su Estate?"

The brightly lit main hall was decorated in an antique style. An elderly man with white hair and beard sat in a grand armchair at the head of the room and spoke slowly.

His name was Cao Ruzhang, and he was seventy-two years old. He was the seventh-generation heir of First-Rank Pavilion, the father of hall manager Cao Mingyan, and the master of Yan Dongge, First-Rank Pavilion's current head chef.

"Absolutely." Cao Mingyan leaned close to the old master and said viciously, "The Su family must have been behind what happened today. Their Su Garden has been suppressed by First-Rank Pavilion for years. Su Shiyuan must be unwilling to accept that, so he deliberately arranged this just to ruin First-Rank Pavilion's reputation."

Cao Old Master lifted his eyelids, glanced at Cao Mingyan, and asked unhurriedly, "So Su Shiyuan grabbed your hand and forced you to change First-Rank Pavilion's suppliers?"

Cao Mingyan's face twitched as he looked awkwardly at Cao Old Master.

Cao Old Master said in a low voice, "First-Rank Pavilion has reached its seventh generation under me. You are the Cao family's only male heir, but you have no talent for cooking. I never intended for you to become First-Rank Pavilion's eighth-generation successor."

At that, Cao Ruzhang looked toward his eldest disciple, Yan Dongge.

Yan Dongge stepped forward with a face full of shame. "It was all my fault. I failed to keep an eye on Junior Brother."

"It has nothing to do with you." Cao Old Master waved a hand. "I know better than you what kind of person my son is. But you should not have indulged him. The moment you discovered something like this, you should have told me."

The several women seated below curled their lips. "In the end, Father, you spoiled Mingyan too much. He's nearly forty, yet he still cannot tell what matters and what does not. First-Rank Pavilion's signboard cannot withstand him ruining it like this."

Hearing that, Cao Ruzhang looked at his three daughters. He had three daughters and one son in his lifetime. Cao Mingyan was his only son. Born in his old age and the family's only male heir, he had naturally favored him more.

His daughters did have some talent, actually. Unfortunately, the Cao family's rules dictated that culinary arts could only be passed to men, never women. Cao Ruzhang knew his daughters resented him for it, but he had no choice. It was a rule passed down by their ancestors. Even he could not break it.

Hearing their nieces' complaints, Cao Ruzhang's two younger brothers slowly spoke up as well. "What happened today was indeed dangerous. Luckily, that young brat was thin-skinned and left some room for mercy. Otherwise, First-Rank Pavilion's signboard would have been smashed on the spot."

Cao Ruzhang's nephews also began speaking over one another. "Uncle, you cannot indulge Cousin again this time. Fortunately, it was discovered early. This time, he merely used fake shark fin to fool the customers. And First-Rank Pavilion showed a good attitude in admitting its mistake—"

"A three-hundred-year-old establishment is not easily passed down." Cao Old Master slowly rose to his feet, cutting off his nephews' complaints. "You are all right. It takes three hundred years to build a signboard. But destroying one does not take long at all."

"First-Rank Pavilion does not belong to Cao Ruzhang alone. Nor can it be destroyed by my son. Mingyan—"

Cao Mingyan jolted and hurriedly answered, "Yes!"

"Starting tomorrow, you will not go to First-Rank Pavilion anymore." Cao Ruzhang spoke with a dark expression.

Cao Mingyan hesitated. He knew the old master's temper and did not dare plead for mercy at a time like this. Still, he changed the subject and said resentfully, "Fine, I won't go. I made the mistake, so I'll bear the consequences myself. But Su Shiyuan scheming against First-Rank Pavilion behind the scenes is something we cannot simply let go."

Author's note:

Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I am taking a day off and will not be updating. Everyone, remember to eat mooncakes.

I Want to Go Apologize Too

Upon hearing Cao Mingyan's words, the other branches of the Cao family also voiced their agreement.

One matter was one matter. Cao Mingyan had made a mistake, and he should bear it himself. But if Su Shiyuan truly had been plotting behind the scenes, First-Rank Pavilion could not just swallow this grievance in silence.

"If we don't teach the Su family a lesson, Su Shiyuan will really think First-Rank Pavilion is easy to bully!"

Cao Old Master was silent for a long while before asking Yan Dongge, "What do you think?"

Yan Dongge slowly shook his head. "I do not think today's matter was premeditated."

If Huo Jiu had truly conspired with the Su family to plot against First-Rank Pavilion, he would not have let First-Rank Pavilion off so easily today.

Demanding that First-Rank Pavilion provide customers with free meals for seven days would cause it some financial losses, but its greater purpose was to make First-Rank Pavilion learn a lesson and give diners a channel to vent their dissatisfaction and resentment.

No matter how dissatisfied or resentful people were, a week of free meals would more or less calm them down. They could also use the opportunity to promote First-Rank Pavilion's image as sincerely repentant. If handled well, First-Rank Pavilion's reputation would not suffer too greatly.

Hearing Yan Dongge's analysis, the other members of the Cao family also calmed down, deep in thought.

Yan Dongge continued, "I also had someone look into it. This Huo Jiu does not have a good relationship with the Su family. He is the child Su Shiyuan's new wife had with her ex-husband. It is said that his biological father was an alcoholic who also liked domestic violence. He died of alcohol poisoning two months ago, and then Su Shiyuan and Lu Manzhen brought him back to the Su family."

The Cao family members immediately pricked up their ears and stared eagerly at Yan Dongge. Everyone loved gossip, especially gossip about their old rival, Su Shiyuan.