155 – Play Big If You’re Going to Play

“Manager Sun, when will your bosses come back? We’ve been waiting for nearly half a month.” A fat man leaned on the counter, seemed as if he didn’t see Manager sun’s ugly face, “Going to the Capital or whatever is just your excuse, isn’t it?”

Manager Sun took a look at the other diners in the lobby and said with patience, “Chef Wu, I have already said that I’d sent someone to find our bosses a few days ago. The Capital is at least half a month away from Running Water Town. Our bosses can’t fly. Or, why don’t Chef Wu demonstrate it to me?”

Greatly embarrassed, Wu Dewang put down his arm but his mouth still didn’t spare anyone, “Who knows if your bosses are deliberately delaying? We’re not from small shops. We’re all famous chefs in big wine houses. It doesn’t make sense to let us wait like this, does it?”

Zheng Xiangui squared his shoulders with hands behind his back as he added fuel to the fire, “You don’t say! I think, your bosses really went to the Capital, but instead to hide out of fear after receiving the news?”

Several waiters had their faces covered with fury, but due to the rules of the wine house, they dared not act rashly.

Manager Sun was very angry but smiled instead, and said with a drawl, “If your distinguished selves had sent a notice in advance, our bosses will respectfully wait for your distinguished selves here in any way. In other words, your distinguished selves didn’t send any notice, but all arrived in Running Water Town almost on the same day. Was it really not an agreement made in advance? That’s a bit of a coincidence.”

As soon as the customers in the lobby heard it, they immediately understood that these people were deliberately making an appointment to make trouble together in the absence of Double Xiang House’s bosses.

Wu Dewang, Zheng Xiangui, and the other five chefs all had a slight change in their looks and flatly denied it.

Manager sun waved his hand and said, “I don’t care whether you have made an agreement or not. Either you step back, or find a place to sit down. Don’t delay my work here. Please.”

“Manager Sun, you don’t have to stall any longer. I think it’s better to do it today.” Wu Dewang wrinkled his brows and said in a raised voice, “In fact, you, Double Xiang House’s staff, don’t have to be so afraid. Maybe you can win? Brother Zheng, don’t you think so?”

“That’s right!” Zheng Xiangui and the others laughed heartily.

“You!” Chen Si was so angry that he wanted to come forward but was stopped by Manager Sun.

Manager Sun was about to open his mouth when a familiar clear and bright voice came from outside—

“It’s no fun just to compete with a few people. If you want to compete, make it bigger!”

Manager Sun and the other staff looked so happy and excitedly exclaimed, “Little Boss is back!”

Wu Dewang and the others turned to look. A figure of a young man dressed in white like a ghost came in from the door and fell quietly in front of them.

A short moment later, a man dressed in black came in floating with two sleeping little children dressed in red in his arms, just like a fallen leaf, and stood side by side with the white-clothed young man. His cold eyes looked around the people in front of the counter with indifference. There was a nip in the air.

White Spot poked its head out from behind them with an arrogant look and cold eyes.

“Big Boss is back, too!” Manager Sun and the others looked even happier and high-spirited that their backs were straighter than before.

Qin Mian glanced coolly at Wu Dewang’s group and walked over slowly with Lei Tie.

Manager Sun led the group of staff to salute with great momentum.

“Greetings to Big Boss and Little Boss!”

Wu Dewang and the others were frightened and puzzled. Why did the bosses of Double Xiang House come back so soon? Even if they rode fast horses, it would take them at least six days to get from the Capital to Running Water Town. When Lei-Qin Cheng was sent out, they all knew about it. According to the calculation of time, it should take another three days for Qin Mian and Lei Tie to come back from the Capital.

They couldn’t have known that Qin Mian was so worried about Double Xiang House that after a few days in the carriage, he and Lei Tie went ahead first – Lei Tie directly flew the father and sons back. Lei-Qin Le and the others were left behind with the carriage.

Qin Mian hinted at the staff to continue their work with a wave of his hand. To Wu Dewang’s group, he smiled politely and saluted, “I’m Qin Mian, the Little Boss of Double Xiang House. I haven’t asked you your distinguished names, have I?”

The customers in the lobby looked at his smile and inwardly shivered. They all felt that there was going to be a good show. They slowed down their eating paces and perked their ears to eavesdrop.

Wu Dewang’s group didn’t attach importance to Qin Mian at all. They revealed their origins, such as coming from a certain wine house in a certain city or a certain county, before they finally told their names.

“It turns out that all of you are chefs from famous wine houses. I’m sorry for my bad manners. This way, gentlemen.” Qin Mian wanted to make things bigger. Instead of taking them to the meeting room, he invited them to sit down at the biggest round table in the lobby.

Lei Tie sat next to him with Yuanyuan and Manman in his arms, and Qin Mian took Yuanyuan from his arms.

Wu Dewang and the others looked at each other and said, “Boss Qin, we’re here to–”

Qin Mian interrupted with a light smile, “I know. You want to have a match with our Double Xiang House.”

“Correct. If–”

Qin Mian interrupted him again, “It’s boring to compete with only eight wine houses. In my opinion, since we want to compete, we might as well hold a large-scale cooking competition. Call in the chefs from all over the country who are willing to participate in the competition and bring all kinds of bargaining chips. If Double Xiang House loses, I can make public the recipes of our thirteen spices and eighteen delicacies for free. What do you think?”

Wu Dewang and the others took a breath of cold air. What a big declaration!

“It seems that Boss Qin is very confident.” Zheng Xiangui gave a cold smile.

“Confidence or not isn’t a matter of talk.” Qin Mian patted Yuanyuan on the back in case he was woken up. “If you are interested, I’ll let the news out and hold the cooking competition in Double Xiang House a month later. If you are not interested in a big competition, I can also provide a venue for the seven of you to have a competition. As for our Double Xiang House, we are not interested in small-scale competition.”

Wu Dewang’s group of seven had an unsightly look. It was already been said up until now, so if they didn’t accept the challenge, the reputation of their seven wine houses would be ruined.

Qin Mian looked at Manager Sun in reproach, “Manager Sun, what are you doing in a daze? Serve tea for these chefs, and it’s better to be the kind that can decrease internal heat.”

It was unknown which diners couldn’t help laughing before they quickly covered their mouths.

“Yes, Little Boss!” Manager Sun appeared very proud and self-satisfied as he instructed the waiter, “Hurry up and serve the tea. Our newly launched chrysanthemum tea is pretty good.”

“Yes!”

Wu Dewang looked at the other six people and said with gritted teeth, “On behalf of Floating Fragrance Wine House in Wenyuan County, I agree to participate in the competition. As for the bargaining chips, I have to discuss it with my employer.”

Zheng Xiangui nodded and said, “I’m the same.”

“Me too…”

……

All seven of them agreed to participate.

Qin Mian looked at them with appreciation, “I’m looking forward to competing with you. I’m going to ask people to let the news out. How about setting the competition on the 22nd day of the 6th lunar month?”

Wu Dewang’s group of people had no objection and left in a hurry. The closer ones had to go back quickly; the long-distance ones had to write a report to their employers.

After the seven men went away, all the waiters couldn’t help cheering.

“Little Boss is mighty!”

Qin Mian had no time to stop it. He helplessly shook his head as he watched Yuanyuan and Manman open their eyes in a daze.

The waiters realized that they were in trouble and bowed their heads in shame.

Qin Mian waved his hand, “Well, it’s no big deal. Go do your work.”

The waiters hurriedly excused themselves.

Qin Mian winked at Lei Tie in triumph, “A-Tie, my prestige is higher than yours.”

Lei Tie calmly said, “Even if your prestige is higher, you’re still my wife.”

Qin Mian: ……

“Hee hee!” Yuanyuan and Manman looked at their Dad’s speechless appearance and snickered.

“You’ve got guts to laugh at your Dad.” Qin Mian stretched out his hands to tickle their armpits.

“Hahaha… Old Dad, help!” Yuanyuan and Manman hid in Lei Tie’s arms.

Lei Tie held each of the boys in one hand and walked to the lounge very quickly.

Qin Mian closely kept up with him, “It’s coming, it’s coming!”

Manager Sun came to the lounge with hot tea and fruit juices. He didn’t ignore White Spot and also prepared a large plate of bones for it. When he heard that the roughhouse in the lounge was over, he knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“Big Boss, Little boss. The two little gongzis must be thirsty?”

Yuanyuan and Manman thanked in unison, “Thank you, Grandpa Sun.”

The two children were still young, so they called the servants at home grandpas, uncles, and so on. Qin Mian and Lei Tie did not deliberately correct them.

“Oh.” Manager Sun beamed with joy.

Lei Tie touched the glasses of juice, which were not hot, and he handed them to Yuanyuan and Manman.

Qin Mian asked, “Manager Sun, is there nothing else that happened here during this period?”

Manager Sun answered, “Don’t worry, Little Boss. Except for today’s incident, everything is normal. The first time Wu Dewang’s group came to find fault with us was known to Boss Nie. Boss Nie came over and helped us to persuade them. He even sent four helpers to be on night watch for us. Besides that, Boss Nie will get married on the 8th day of next month.”

“Oh? Then, we have to present a big gift.” Qin Mian said, “Each of the four helpers will be given a red envelope. Double Xiang House’s staff will get double monthly payment this month.”

“Yes. Your servant I thank the two bosses on their behalf.” Manager Sun asked, “Little Boss, based on your meaning, you will take part in the competition in person?”

“Yes.” Qin Mian had a face full of self-confidence and his bright eyes were spirited. “I want to take this opportunity to make Double Xiang House famous all over the country!”

Manager Sun could not help but wear a look of anticipation.

Manman climbed up and stood on Lei Tie’s thighs. He went closer to kiss Qin Mian on his face and said with a grin, “Dad is the most amazing!”

Qin Mian deliberately asked, “What about Old Dad?”

Manman said without the least hesitation, “Old Dad is the most most amazing.”

Clearly, he added one more “most”. Stabbed by his son again, Qin Mian covered his chest and looked up at the sky: Alas, I’m used to the stabbing.

Lei Tie chuckled and gripped his wife’s hand under the table, which was gripped back.

Yuanyuan’s small hand comfortingly patted Qin Mian on the chest, “Dad, Yuanyuan adores you.”

Manager Sun took his leave wisely without disturbing the interaction of the family of four.

Thank you, Elaine!