The Rise and Fall of the Last Imperial Cook

39. Provoking Boss Liu with an Artful Speech

Translator: Lao Xinxian

Proofread by Peter Gong

“Now we hit home. Taihe’s reputation will be in tatters. They expect to drive us into bankruptcy, but it’s still hard to tell who will emerge victoriously.” Cai Renxin manifests the cruelty of a predator.

“Will other people believe us? Taihe can deny it as long as the others can’t tell the difference by taste, and unless someone from that restaurant confesses their deed.” What Xu Zhiwei says is truth.

“Master Xu, do you mean we should buy a chef of Taihe over to let him confess?” Zhu Shengpeng is always the one who thinks further.

“None of those chefs will stand out and risks losing his job unless a pretty penny is offered, but we don’t have that much money.” Cai Renxin is so blunt that he points out his dilemma and the others’ at the same time.

“What about letting Shuishuantou and his men have a try? They could get tough with someone of Taihe to extract the confession.” Zhu Shengpeng’s idea is more practical — supposing Shuishuantou will lose his source of income because of the bankruptcy of Shengxin, the villain will never decline such a task.

“Few people will believe Shuishuantou and his men. Moreover, the person intimidate by Shuishuantou to stand out may reword his statement in public. He may claim that he has no choice but to confess, or that Shuishuantou, who conspires against Taihe, coerces him to say so accordingly.” Xu Zhiwei feels that it is inappropriate to seek help from Shuishuantou in this case.

“Then, Master Xu, do you have any idea?” asks Shuixian.

“Neither do I. I just feel that, if only there is a reputable and prestigious third-party standing out to tell everyone the truth!” Even though Xu Zhiwei has an idea, he doesn’t know how to put it into action.

“Boss Liu of Liu’s Scissors Shop is the most reputable and prestigious person in this street. He fears neither the underworld nor the official circles. The neighborhood often asks him to judge between right and wrong.” A candidate immediately comes across Shui Xian’s mind.

“But Boss Liu is in connection with Taihe. All the cooking utensils in Taihe are from Liu’s shop. Meanwhile, workers of Liu’s Scissor Shop can buy food from Taihe without lining up.”

Kind as Cai Renxin is, he is too blunt and rash. Therefore, Zhu and Xu manage to put him in charge of the purchase of expensive fresh fruits, vegetables, dry goods and the management of tableware and cooking utensils rather than the reception work. As a result, Cai has more time off and is keen on hanging out in the street. After Taihe posed a threat to Shengxin, he often hangs around Taihe and thus knows many things related to Taihe.

“Really?” Zhu Shengpeng stands up instantly.

“Sure. I saw it several times. Workers of Liu’s Scissor Shop also say that Taihe’s dishes are so economical that these dishes have become their daily meal. For Boss Liu, it saves the cost of cooks, food, and oil.” Recently, Shengxin is out of business, so Cai Renxin usually walks along the street to and fro anxiously. Therefore, he does hear and see lots of things, especially things relevant to Taihe.”

“Got it. That is to say, Boss Liu is also eating those leftovers. That is enough. We only need to find the right catalyst that reveals the truth to Boss Liu either by design or accident. Boss Liu will certainly find out.” Zhu Shengpeng claps his hands excitedly, but he then swings his arms, “but who can be that catalyst? We are surely the worst choice. Boss Liu will consider us someone getting between him and Taihe deliberately.”

Shuixian blinks: “a man can absolutely do it.”

“Who?”

“Tell me! Who is it?”

“My dad!”

Never will Qian Hezi become a front man easily, especially a front man to do something that may offend people. However, given Shuixian’s acting cute, her reasoning, and her threat that Zhu Shengpeng and Cai Renxin may default on their rent, the old father has to stand out, making full use of his skills as an experienced and astute businessman.

When he arrives at Liu’s Scissor Shop, Liu Chonggui (T/N: The Chinese character gui contains two characters meaning earth, one of the five elements). Boss Liu has such a name because according to fengshui, his character lacks earth. Moreover, earth gives rise to metal, while Liu was born in a blacksmith family. Therefore, this name suits him perfectly.) the Boss, along with his workers and cutlers are just having dinner.

“Yo, are you having dinner? Enjoy yourselves! I am just looking around to buy a cuticle nipper.” The topic Qian Hezi chooses sounds stomach-churning.

“Boss Qian, just help yourself. Feel free to take a suitable nipper. We can discuss the price later.” Liu Chonggui looks up to greet Qian straight, but he doesn’t stand up or offers his seat to Qian — the custom of Shanghai is different from that of northern China. In northern China, hosts give precedence to guests out of courtesy even though few guests will really join them for having meals. In Shanghai, which used to be not-that-affluent, the income of ordinary people was just enough to make ends meet, so people have developed a habit that they seldom greet others while eating, and that even if they greet others, they won’t invite them to join in.

“Don’t mind me. Enjoy yourselves.” Qian Hezi says, but never does he go away from the table. “Yo, your dinner looks good and nourishing! Boss Liu, you share the same dishes with your men. How kind and benevolent you are!” He keeps up a continuous chatter so that everyone looks up and listens to him politely.

“These dishes are normal but nutritive. They are take-away food from Taihe. Such delicious and economical dishes are so rare that they have become our daily food, haha!” Boss Liu is so honest that he does not attempt to disguise his happiness in eating economical food.

“Ah! Boss Liu, why do you eat Taihe’s swill? You two shops have a good relationship at other times, don’t you? Didn’t Taihe tell you …” Qian Hezi seems surprised at first, then he suddenly realizes something and breaks off in his mid-sentence, turning towards the counter.

“Wait a minute. Boss Qian, please make it clear. I can’t bear mid-sentence.” Liu Chonggui puts down his chopsticks and walks toward Qian.

“Don’t mind it. Haha, it doesn’t matter. Well, I forget the public bath is already open. Let me take a bath and have a pedicure. Then there’s no need to buy a nipper! Bye.” Qian Hezi says, ready to turn and leave.

However, as soon as he turns around, Boss Liu has grasped his wrist, “wait, wait, Boss Qian. Even though I have a shop in this street, from the locals’ perspective, I am still a countryman from the area north of the Yangtze River. They secretly draw a clear distinction of the street, no, of the Yangtze River with me!”

“How can that be! I always admire you from the bottom of my heart. How can I look down upon you? There aren’t too many people as just and righteous as you.” Qian Hezi puts in so many good words. Actually, he is flattering Liu Chonggui imperceptibly so that when he tells the truth later, Boss Liu will have to give a decent reply.

“If so, please make clear what you just said. You and other shopkeepers are either locals or settlers that have long been in Shanghai. There must be some maoerjing (T/N: It is a local dialect in area north of the Yangtze River meaning tricks and secrets.) hidden from foreigners like me. I won’t ask without paying. Folks, give Boss Qian one of our best knives as a present.” Liu Chonggui is more like threatening than giving a gift.

“Alas, Boss Liu. I tell you not to eat the dish because I really admire you, but I am also a man of his word. Everyone on this street is my neighbor for long, so I can’t tell you what happened. Moreover, even if I make it clear, you may disbelieve me and feel that I am just stirring up trouble and ruining your relationship with others, let alone that you are such a man who hates evil as your enemy. If you create a disturbance after I tell you, I will court meaningless hatred.” Qian Hezi talks endlessly, but he skillfully avoids talking about the true reason.

“Alright! Boss Qian, you are so dragging your feet. In fact, you can explain it within a sentence, can’t you? If you don’t want to tell me, then let me know who can make it clear why the dish is inedible.” Liu Chonggui shouts, preventing Qian from gabbling on.

“Oh, Boss Liu, your loud voice startles me.” Qian Hezi seems to get cold feet. The old man sits on a nearby bench, “you should have known who can make it clear! Alas, why don’t you ask one of the cooks in Taihe? Their words are more credible.”

“You are right. I can find one of those cooks and ask him.” Liu Chonggui takes “one of his best knives” handed by his workers and walks outside, followed by three or four workers and cutlers hurriedly. Not until now does Qian gasps — that gasp sounds somewhat like a burst of laughter.

Meanwhile, at Shengxin restaurant, Xu Zhiwei puts on a coat and heads for the door. But before waking out of the door, he stops and says to Zhu Shengpeng, who stands in front of the counter, “I think again. Even if Boss Liu creates a disturbance, it is possible that only Taihe’s take-out business will be affected. Those who eat in Taihe will feel that they are VIP and that they can eat in or even set feasts in Taihe without anxiety. Therefore, the arrangement about Shuishuantou should run on the rails. We can’t give Taihe a temporary respite. As for me, I will hurry up and try to figure out how to defeat them one more time.”

Writing something on a red paper seriously, Zhu Shengpeng merely raises his head slightly, “Okay. Don’t worry, Master Xu, it’s fixed. No matter Boss Liu reacts or not, Shuishuantou and his men will take action as planned.” Then he continues to write. Xu Zhiwei goes out without another word, as if he were a fighter walking into a field of honor. From the distant alley come a few protracted shouts.

“Wonton in Soup—”

”Boiled Tender Rice with Shredded Vegetable in Soup—”

”Parched Rice and Foreign Sugar—”

…

Xu Zhiwei’s shadow lengthens as the Chinese lantern in his hand flickers. The elongated shadow gets distorted and flickers on the stone road and the wall, heading towards the alley.