Chapter 58 Emergency Incident

Chapter 58: Emergency

Having arranged with Bai Qiannuo yesterday to go outside the city together today to relieve the refugees and select suitable candidates in the process, Li Qi prepared to head out for their appointment early in the morning, though he muttered unceasingly under his breath with a thoroughly depressed expression.

In truth, he really did not want to trouble himself with this matter. When he first proposed the suggestion, a large part of the reason was Bai Qiannuo; he had simply wanted to dump all these responsibilities onto her, spending the absolute minimum amount of money while reaping the maximum return.

However, Bai Qiannuo was no fool.

Naturally, she saw right through Li Qi's calculations, but how could such a wonderful bargain exist in this world? Therefore, she had nipped Li Qi's desire to stand aside and do nothing right in the bud.

Li Qi had previously expressed strong protests against this.

Spend money and still have to exert physical effort?
Was there any justice left in the world?

Yet Li Qi's protests were completely ignored by Bai Qiannuo, who offered only a single sentence: Cooperate and we work together, disagree and we part ways!

Those seven simple words were enough to make Li Qi bow his head in submission.

The moment Li Qi stepped out of his door, he almost collided head-on with Wu Furong.

"Uncle Wu, are you looking for me?" Li Qi asked with a curious expression upon seeing Wu Furong's hurried appearance.

Wu Furong nodded, glanced at Li Qi's attire, and asked, "Young Master Li, where are you headed?"

Li Qi smiled faintly and said, "I have some business to attend to outside the city."

"Outside the city?"

Wu Furong paused slightly, then asked with some tension, "Is it something urgent?"

Li Qi shook his head and replied, "Nothing urgent, just minor matters, trivial things. By the way, what brings you here?"

Wu Furong was momentarily stunned, only then remembering the purpose of his visit. "Ah, it's like this: just now, the Madam sent Xiaotao to invite the two of us to the manor."

"What? We have to go to the manor again!"

Li Qi scratched his head and began to grumble: "The Madam really something else. If there's any business, couldn't she just come over herself instead of making things so troublesome? She is truly rigid."

Faced with Li Qi's complaints, Wu Furong resolutely adopted the strategy of turning a deaf ear to the world outside his window; he had no desire to get entangled in the grievances between Li Qi and the Madam.

Seeing the odd expression on Wu Furong's face, Li Qi knew full well what he was thinking, mentally despised him thoroughly, and asked with a trace of irritation, "Uncle Wu, do you know what this is about?"

Wu Furong shook his head. "Xiaotao didn't specify the exact matter, and I suspect she didn't know either. However, she did mention that yesterday, Master Zhang of the Yang Restaurant came to the Qin manor to pay a visit to the Madam. Judging by that, I'm certain it's related to this."

"The Yang Restaurant?"

Li Qi furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "Strange! The Madam has always remained uninvolved in business affairs. If this concerns business, Master Zhang should have come to find you instead. If it has nothing to do with business, then there is no point in the Madam summoning us."

Wu Furong shook his head. "Young Master Li doesn't understand. If it were an ordinary minor matter, this old man could still make a decision, but for major affairs, I must still seek instructions from the Madam. Since Master Zhang has shown up in person, in this old man's humble opinion, this matter is definitely of great importance and far beyond what I can decide on my own."

"So that's how it is!"

Li Qi nodded and said, "Viewed in that light, this matter must also be extremely urgent, otherwise Master Zhang wouldn't have rushed to seek out the Madam."

Wu Furong nodded. "That is precisely what this old man thinks."

Li Qi narrowed his eyes and pondered for a little longer, but still could not figure it out. He nodded and said, "Since that's the case, let's hurry over."

"Aren't you going outside the city then?" Wu Furong asked hesitatingly.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot about that!"

Li Qi patted his forehead, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Never mind, those are just trivial matters; it won't matter much if I don't go. We'd better clear this matter up first."

Though he spoke thus, his heart was somewhat filled with trepidation, and he thought to himself: *That Mistress Bai shouldn't break our partnership over something this small, right?*

The two of them hurried to the Qin manor at top speed.

After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Qin asked, "Uncle Wu, do you know about the opening of the Emerald Pavilion's branch in the North City?"

Wu Furong nodded and said, "This old man has heard of it, though I was told it wouldn't open until next month."

Madam Qin shook her head. "That branch opened yesterday."

"What?"

Wu Furong cried out in surprise and asked, "Madam, is this true?"

Madam Qin nodded. "Naturally it's true. Master Zhang came to the manor in person yesterday to tell me."

"Madam, could that Master Zhang have come because of the stinky tofu?" Li Qi suddenly asked.

A flash of surprise crossed Madam Qin's eyes as she said, "Young Master Li, how did you find out?"

Li Qi smiled and said, "It's very simple. I once heard Uncle Wu mention that the Yang Restaurant was established during the reign of Emperor Renzong, boasting a history of more eighty years to this day. It has long dominated the North City, becoming a household name with a deeply rooted position that virtually no one can contend against. Furthermore, the geographical location of the North City is not particularly advantageous, so very few people are willing to open restaurants there. Aside from the Yang Restaurant, the only large-scale establishment is the branch of the Fan Restaurant, yet even among its various branches, the Fan Restaurant's North City branch is the smallest.

"Logically speaking, for the Emerald Pavilion to plant its flag over there shouldn't have thrown the Yang Restaurant into such a panic, so all of this must be because of the stinky tofu.

"Currently in Bianjing, aside from us, only the Emerald Pavilion knows how to make stinky tofu, and the reputation of the stinky tofu has already spread far and wide. I presume the reason Master Zhang decided to open a month early was to use the stinky tofu to shake the Yang Restaurant's dominance in the North City. Judging by the fact that Master Zhang came looking for you the very day the Emerald Pavilion's branch opened, yesterday's opening battle for the Emerald Pavilion must have achieved remarkable results, except..."

At this point, Li Qi suddenly sighed.

"Except what?" Madam Qin asked eagerly.

Li Qi shook his head and sighed, "Except that I didn't foresee this beforehand. If I had known earlier that Manager Cai intended to use the stinky tofu to strike at other restaurants, I should have squeezed a larger sum out of him at the time. Alas, I am still too kind-hearted."

Upon hearing this, Wu Furong was left half-smiling and half-crying. "Young Master Li, please don't take it too hard. Selling the secret recipe for a single dish for fifteen hundred guan is unprecedented; I'd say that's quite enough."

"Indeed! He who is content is always happy. Sigh!"

Though he said this, Li Qi still felt a deep sense of regret.

Seeing Li Qi's remorseful look, Madam Qin shook her head helplessly and said, "Young Master Li is entirely correct; Master Zhang came yesterday precisely for the secret recipe of the stinky tofu."

Li Qi smiled bitterly. "Manager Cai anticipated this long ago, which is why when he bought the recipe, he signed a written agreement with me stating that neither of us is permitted to sell this recipe to anyone else—not even to the Madam."

"What? There is such a thing? Why has this old man never heard you mention it?" Wu Furong asked in astonishment.

"Is that so?"

Li Qi laughed awkwardly. "I suppose... perhaps I forgot."

He could even forget a matter like this?

Wu Furong was instantly rendered speechless.

Madam Qin said, "Since that is the case, Young Master Li need not force yourself. I shall simply decline Master Zhang when I see him tomorrow."

"No, don't be in such a hurry to decline him. Allow me to think it over."

Li Qi paced back and forth across the room with a furrowed brow, then suddenly stopped and said, "Madam, Uncle Wu and I will head over to the North City first to understand the situation. We can discuss what specific course of action to take once we return."

Madam Qin cast a suspicious glance at Li Qi and nodded.