Mastering the Sword Manual, sweeping across the globe

The young man opened the door.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with delicate features and slightly tousled hair. She was wearing light gray cotton loungewear, and her face was full of apology, with her ears slightly red.

"Hello, hello! Oh dear, I'm so sorry!" Upon seeing Zhang Qiliang, the young man immediately apologized repeatedly. "Maybe... no, it must be my mistake, I clicked the wrong option! I originally wanted to complain about the restaurant's food quality being so bad, it was outrageous, it was definitely not targeting you! I'm so sorry for causing you trouble, I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Zhang Qiliang smiled and said, "It's okay, this situation is normal and common... Um, could you explain in more detail why the food did not meet expectations? Once we understand the situation, we can report it to the platform."

Speaking of this, the young man sighed and stepped aside, saying, "Come and take a look."

Zhang Qi nodded and followed the young man into the house.

The room wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy, exuding the warmth of a young family home.

On the small dining table in the living room, several open plastic lunch boxes were laid out, with two sets of bowls and chopsticks next to them.

The young man pointed at the table and shook his head helplessly: "Brother, look at this, how is anyone supposed to eat this?"

There are four lunch boxes on the table: spicy diced chicken, eggplant with minced meat, braised fish chunks, and braised pork ribs.

Zhang Qiliang's gaze swept over the lunchbox, his extraordinary senses making the details incredibly clear:

The diced chicken was fried fairly well, with golden-brown pieces coated in dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, glistening with oil; the eggplant was soft and tender, the minced meat was evenly distributed, and the sauce was rich and flavorful, making it look quite good as well.

Two very ordinary dishes.

The problem lies with the two meat dishes.

The fish pieces in the braised fish stew were uneven in size, with some edges slightly loose. The sauce coating was uneven in thickness, and several pieces of fish were of different sizes with jagged edges, clearly not cut into whole sections.

The problems with the braised pork ribs were even more obvious. Most of the ribs were small, fragmented pieces with more bone than meat. Several pieces were clearly broken bones from the spine or joints, and it was almost impossible to remove any whole pieces of meat. The sauce was too dark and greasy, and some of the bones still had fascia that had not been properly removed.

The young man poked at the box of ribs with his chopsticks and sighed, "I know ribs are expensive now, but this is too shoddy, it's all bone fragments... And this fish, it's cooked too carelessly, the meat is all falling apart. The two stir-fries are okay, but the overall experience is terrible, I feel like I didn't get my money's worth."

Standing to the side, his girlfriend nodded in agreement: "We're regular customers, and this time it's really a bit much... Well, our complaint is mainly because we're disappointed with the business, we really weren't trying to cause you any trouble."

“Hmm,” Zhang Qiliang nodded in agreement, “These two dishes are a bit… excessive.”

It's more than just a little excessive!

Zhang Qiliang couldn't even explain it to the two of them in more detail: to ordinary people, these two dishes might just be a matter of inconsistent cooking skills, but with Zhang Qiliang's extraordinary keen observation, he could tell at a glance that several pieces of braised fish had marks from being poked and pinched with chopsticks, and two pieces of ribs even had irregular broken edges from being bitten.

Is it appropriate to mention such details to a young couple who were just having this meal?

While Zhang Qiliang was examining the lunchbox, the young man next to him was quietly asking his girlfriend how to cancel the complaint.

The girl took out her phone and taught him how to use it step by step.

Zhang Qiliang thanked him at the appropriate time.

The young man was clearly still angry, and he asked his girlfriend in a low voice how to file a complaint against the merchant.

While operating her phone, the girl explained somewhat dejectedly that the platform's rules are sometimes very rigid. If a complaint against a rider is canceled, the complaint path against the merchant for the same order may be affected, or the weight may be reduced, and it may not be able to be successfully filed or attract attention.

"Forget it, forget it," the young man waved his hand after hearing this. Although his face was still not very good, his tone was quite decisive. "We can't let this guy get dragged into this mess because of the merchant's nonsense. If we can't file a complaint, we can't file a complaint. We'll just never order from them again."

"Thank you for your understanding," Zhang Qiliang said sincerely again.

Seeing the young man's eyes glancing at the food containers, seemingly hesitant about whether to eat a few more bites, Zhang Qiliang stepped aside to block him: "Don't eat these obviously problematic meals. Give them to me, I'll take them back to the restaurant and make them give you an explanation and refund your money."

The girl immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, let's not eat that. Let's order something else... How about beef offal noodles?" She looked at her boyfriend.

The young man's face showed obvious hesitation.

Zhang Qiliang understands this dilemma: it's just a takeout order, even if you get a refund, how much money can you really get back?

But I was really hungry, so I had to reorder and wait for delivery, which took at least another 30 or 40 minutes.

It's too simple.

“Okay,” Zhang Qiliang had a plan, “Beef offal noodles, right? I’ll have my brothers deliver them to you directly, it’ll be quick.”

Before the two could respond, Zhang Qiliang dialed the number of a well-regarded beef offal noodle shop nearby, placed an order efficiently, and provided the address and requirements.

After hanging up, I immediately called the rider, Xiao Mao, and asked him to make the trip. Xiao Mao readily agreed—but refused Yu Xi's offer and muttered, "Who do you think you are?"

Zhang Qiliang put down his phone and smiled at the surprised young couple in front of him: "It's all settled. It'll be delivered in ten minutes at most."

"This...this is too much!" the young man said hurriedly. His girlfriend also thanked him repeatedly, her gloom vanishing and replaced by a smile.

"It's nothing," Zhang Qiliang said, quickly helping to tidy up the mess on the table.

Not only did they re-cover the problematic food items and put them back in the plastic bags, but they also carefully collected the napkins the two had used and the bits of bone they had spat out, leaving nothing behind.

"I'll take these with me and deal with them, so you don't need to worry about them."

The young couple thanked him again and saw him to the door.

Zhang Qiliang smiled, waved goodbye, and turned to go downstairs.

The plastic bag in his hand swayed gently with his steps.

45 Too many children

After leaving the apartment building, Zhang Qiliang rode his bicycle directly back to the station.

After parking his electric scooter, Zhang Qiliang took off his work clothes and changed into a plain dark casual outfit.

Several riders who were resting, smoking, or chatting at the station were somewhat surprised to see this.

A young rider, a cigarette dangling from his lips, mumbled, "Brother Mingzi, are you done work already? So early today?"

Familiarity among working people often comes directly. In just two days, Zhang Qiliang had already made his way into the circle and even acquired nicknames.

“Hmm,” Zhang Qiliang smiled, “I’ve been so busy making orders today that I haven’t bought any daily necessities like towels and toothbrushes. If I don’t go buy them soon, the supermarket will have to close down.”

"Hey, what's the rush!" another rider interjected, waving his phone. "Just place an order on the platform tonight if you need anything, and I'll deliver it to you."

"You wish," Zhang Qiliang said, shaking his head as he folded his work clothes and put them into his personal storage compartment. "Nighttime deliveries cost extra... I'm off."

Zhang Qiliang hopped on the rented electric scooter and drove towards the restaurant indicated by order number 4417.

A cool evening breeze blew, and neon lights flickered on both sides of the street.

About ten minutes later, he stopped in front of a brightly lit restaurant where the sounds of people could be faintly heard.

The signboard is red with yellow lettering, and the three characters "Old Flavor" are written solidly. The storefront is not small, and you can see the general layout inside through the bright glass windows: on the left side of the entrance, there are two small square tables side by side, suitable for two to four people to dine; the right side is more spacious, with four large round tables covered with disposable plastic tablecloths, enough to accommodate a group of about ten people.

It was nearly 9 p.m., not the peak dinner time, but the restaurant still seemed to be doing well.

A young couple sat at a small table by the window, eating and talking quietly in a peaceful atmosphere.

The innermost round table was quite lively, with seven or eight middle-aged men sitting around it. The table was littered with cups and plates, piled high with empty beer bottles, and used napkins were carelessly tossed next to the leftover food and bone dishes. There were also many cigarette butts scattered on the floor.

The group was clearly quite drunk, their faces flushed, and their laughter and toasts were rather boisterous.

The sound of spatulas clattering and the roar of the high-powered stove came from the kitchen, mixed with the buzzing of the range hood.

A waiter wearing an oil-stained apron was carrying a tray and hurried out of the kitchen.

Zhang Qiliang parked his car, carrying a plastic bag containing lunch boxes and trash, and walked into the store.

"Waiter," Zhang Qiliang sat down at a small square table by the window near the counter, maintaining a polite distance from the men at that table and the young couple, "Excuse me, could you please take my order?"

The waiter who had served the food earlier came over when he heard the noise, holding a menu clipboard and a ballpoint pen: "Good evening, what would you like to eat?"

"Stir-fried shredded potatoes, braised pork ribs," Zhang Qiliang picked up the plastic-sealed menu on the table and quickly scanned it. "Hmm, also add stir-fried eggs with chives and braised fish chunks, and pack the latter two to go."

A single piece of evidence is insufficient.

While the young couple's ordeal in the apartment building was certainly distressing, Zhang Qiliang did not intend to act rashly based solely on one side of the story.

Since we're already here and there's no rush, we might as well see it for ourselves.

The waiter quickly jotted down notes on a piece of paper and then went to the kitchen.

Zhang Qiliang sat quietly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the shop's furnishings, the noisy customers at the table, and the occasional figure flashing by in the direction of the kitchen.

About seven or eight minutes later, the first dish of stir-fried shredded potatoes was served, and the waiter brought over a bowl of rice at the same time.

Zhang Qiliang picked up his chopsticks, carefully examined the glistening, finely shredded potatoes in front of him, and then began to eat slowly and deliberately.

Two or three minutes later, the braised pork ribs arrived.

A white porcelain bowl, piled high with rich, dark brown spare ribs.

Zhang Qiliang's gaze lingered on the bowl for a moment, and he sighed almost imperceptibly.

He didn't touch the bowl of ribs, and continued to eat rice with shredded potatoes, bite by bite.

He ate steadily, but quickly; in no time, the shredded potatoes were gone, and he had eaten about half of the rice.

Seven or eight minutes later, when he had his third bowl of rice and finished it off with the last bit of potato shreds soup, the waiter came over carrying a red plastic bag with the store's logo on it.

The waiter's face showed obvious surprise when he saw the empty plate of shredded potatoes, the almost empty rice bowl, and the bowl of braised pork ribs that hadn't been touched at all, not even by chopsticks.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply put the bag down: "Your scrambled eggs and braised fish pieces are packed up."

"Thank you." Zhang Qiliang took the bag, placed it on the table, and untied it.

He took out the packed rice container and put it aside, then opened the lids of the two transparent plastic lunch boxes containing scrambled eggs and braised fish pieces.

The scrambled eggs are golden and fluffy, garnished with bright green chives; there's nothing wrong with them.

Zhang Qiliang's gaze fell on the braised fish pieces again.

The broth is rich and flavorful, and the fish pieces are soaked in it.

He used the disposable chopsticks on the table to gently pry open a few pieces on the surface and look at what was underneath.

"Why bother?" Looking at the fish pieces in the lunchbox, and then glancing at the untouched bowl of braised pork ribs, Zhang Qiliang sighed again.

This time, there was a hint of understanding in the sigh.

Seeing Zhang Qiliang's actions, the waiter's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively wanted to turn around and leave.

"Please wait a moment." The corner of her clothes was gently tugged, the force was light, but it prevented the waiter from moving.

He turned around and met Zhang Qiliang's calm eyes.

Zhang Qiliang pointed to the unopened bowl of braised pork ribs on the table, then to the newly opened takeout box of braised fish chunks: "Could you explain what's going on with these two dishes?"

“I…I saw it,” the waiter forced a smile, trying to ease the tension. “Sir, is it that the ribs…don’t suit your taste? Too salty? Too bland? Or is there some other problem? Please tell us, and we can remake them for you or give you a refund.”

"You know what the problem is."

"I don't know what you're talking about." The waiter shook his head quickly, his eyes darting away.

Although the commotion wasn't loud, it still attracted the attention of other people in the store.

The young couple, who were quietly eating, stopped talking and turned their curious gazes over.

The previously boisterous men lowered their voices, and several pairs of eyes swept toward the window.

"Don't know?" Zhang Qiliang chuckled softly.

As I said before, if Zhang Qiliang is capable of reporting someone to the authorities, why would he care about what others think?

He picked up the disposable chopsticks on the table and steadily picked up a piece from the bowl of braised pork ribs—it was clearly a piece near the end of the spine, irregularly shaped, and with a few faint teeth marks visible on the edge under the dark brown coating.

He held the ribs up to the waiter: "What does this mean?"

The waiter's face paled, and his Adam's apple bobbed. "This...this is just a piece of pork rib. Braised pork ribs are all like this; the bones...the bones aren't usually this neat."

Zhang Qiliang stopped looking at him, put down the rib, and instead used his chopsticks to rummage through the takeout box of braised fish pieces, picking up a piece of fish.

The fish meat had fallen apart, with jagged edges, and the main bone in the middle seemed to have been forcibly pulled out, leaving an unnatural void.

"What does this mean?"

"This...this is just a piece of fish! Braised fish will fall apart if cooked for too long..." The waiter's forehead was covered in a fine sweat.

“Okay.” Zhang Qi nodded, put down his chopsticks, stood up, and looked past the waiter. “Since you don’t know, let’s go to the kitchen and see how these ribs and fish pieces are made.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Qiliang bypassed the stunned waiter and went straight to the kitchen.

The curtain was lifted, and the figure disappeared inside.

Immediately afterwards—

Crash! Bang! Clang!

A series of crashing sounds, tumbling sounds, and short, indistinct gasps of alarm suddenly came from behind the curtain.

The young couple, who had fallen completely silent, and the men at the table stared wide-eyed at the swaying curtain.

Just half a minute later.

The curtain was lifted again.