I Also Have to Apologize

There was no reason Huo Jiu couldn't get what he wanted sooner or later.

Huo Jiu chuckled. "That's enough from you two. It's bad enough that you're lusting after me, but now you're eyeing my cooking skills too..."

Did they really think he was some tireless ox, willing to work himself to the bone for the Su family?

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

He didn't want to deal with the Su family's messes and petty squabbles right now. That alone was already the greatest favor he could do them.

He'd heard of fools who invited wolves into their homes, but never ones so eager to get themselves killed. If they really managed to set him off, Huo Jiu worried they wouldn't even know how to cry.

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

"Are you certain you saw the car that picked up young Mr. Huo go into Su Estate?"

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

His name was Cao Ruzhang. He was seventy-two years old, the seventh-generation heir to First-Rank Pavilion, the father of its dining room manager, Cao Mingyan, and the master of its current head chef, Yan Dongge.

"Absolutely." Cao Mingyan leaned toward the old man and said through gritted teeth, "The Su family must be behind what happened today. Their Su Garden has been losing out to First-Rank Pavilion for years, and Su Shiyuan must resent it. So he schemed to pull this kind of stunt, all to ruin First-Rank Pavilion's reputation."

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

Cao Mingyan's face twitched. He looked sheepishly at Old Master Cao.

Old Master Cao said gravely, "First-Rank Pavilion has been passed down for seven generations, to my generation. You're the only son in the Cao family, but you have no particular talent for cooking. I never intended for you to become the eighth-generation heir to First-Rank Pavilion."

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

Yan Dongge stepped forward, his face full of shame. "It was all my fault. I didn't keep a close enough eye on my junior."

"It's not your fault." Old Master Cao waved a hand. "I know what kind of person my son is better than anyone. But you shouldn't have indulged him. When you discovered this, you should have told me right away."

The few women seated below pursed their lips. "In the end, it's because Dad has spoiled Mingyan too much. He's nearly forty and still can't tell what matters. First-Rank Pavilion's reputation can't withstand him wrecking it like this."

At their words, Cao Ruzhang looked at his three daughters. He had three daughters and one son. Cao Mingyan was his only boy. Having a son late in life, and the family's only male heir, naturally meant the old man doted on him more.

As for his daughters, they did have some talent. Unfortunately, the Cao family's rule was that cooking skills passed from father to son, never to daughters. Cao Ruzhang knew his daughters resented him for it, but there was nothing he could do. It was a rule handed down by their ancestors, and even he couldn't break it.

Hearing his nieces' complaints, Cao Ruzhang's two younger brothers spoke up as well. "What happened today really was close. Luckily, that young man was kind enough to leave us some room to make things right. Otherwise, First-Rank Pavilion's reputation would have been ruined on the spot."

Several of Cao Ruzhang's nephews chimed in. "Uncle, you can't keep indulging our cousin this time. Good thing we found out early. So far, he's only used fake shark fin to deceive customers. And on top of that, First-Rank Pavilion has been very sincere in admitting its mistake—"

"This century-old establishment has been passed down for three hundred years. That's no easy feat." Old Master Cao slowly rose to his feet, interrupting his nephews' complaints. "You're all right. It takes three hundred years to build a reputation, but it doesn't take long to destroy one."

"First-Rank Pavilion doesn't belong to me, Cao Ruzhang, alone. And it certainly can't be ruined by my son. Mingyan—"

Cao Mingyan jumped and hurriedly answered, "Yes!"

"Starting tomorrow, don't go to First-Rank Pavilion anymore," Cao Ruzhang said, his expression grim.

Cao Mingyan hesitated. He knew the old man's temper and didn't dare plead for leniency at a time like this. Instead, he changed tack and said angrily, "Fine, I won't go. I made the mistake, and I'll take responsibility. But we can't let Su Shiyuan get away with scheming against First-Rank Pavilion!"

Chapter 16: I Also Have to Apologize

Hearing Cao Mingyan, the other branches of the Cao family also voiced their agreement.

One thing at a time. Cao Mingyan could take responsibility for his own mistakes, but if Su Shiyuan really was behind this, First-Rank Pavilion couldn't just swallow the insult.

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

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

Yan Dongge slowly shook his head. "I don't think what happened today was planned in advance."

If Huo Jiu had really conspired with the Su family to scheme against First-Rank Pavilion, he wouldn't have let them off so easily today.

Requiring First-Rank Pavilion to provide meals to its customers free of charge for seven days would certainly cause some financial losses. But its greater purpose was to teach the restaurant a lesson and give its diners an outlet for their dissatisfaction and resentment.

No matter how dissatisfied or resentful people were, a week of free meals would probably be enough to appease them. It was also a chance to promote First-Rank Pavilion's image as a restaurant that sincerely regretted its mistakes. If they handled things well, the restaurant's reputation wouldn't suffer too much.

After hearing Yan Dongge's analysis, the rest of the Cao family also calmed down and fell into thought.

Yan Dongge continued, "I also had someone look into it. Huo Jiu doesn't get along with the Su family. He's the son of Su Shiyuan's new wife and her former husband. Apparently, his biological father was an alcoholic who liked to beat him. He died of alcohol poisoning two months ago. Then Su Shiyuan and Lu Manzhen brought Huo Jiu back to the Su family."

The Cao family instantly perked up their ears and stared intently at Yan Dongge. Everyone loved gossip, especially gossip about their old rival, Su Shiyuan.