The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 339 A Challenge at the Door
"strangeness…"

Standing at the entrance of the "Fish Flavor" restaurant, Qin Lang's brows furrowed slightly, and he stopped in his tracks as he prepared to enter.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Qian, who was following closely behind, almost bumped into Qin Lang's back and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Did we go to the wrong place?"

"No, not at all." Qin Lang shook his head slightly. "It's just that the business at this 'Fish Flavor' restaurant is worse than I expected."

It was still lunchtime, but there were only a handful of diners at the "Fish Flavor" restaurant, which was completely different from the expected customer traffic of the top ten restaurants in Yuehu City that Cao Dongdong had found.

"Never mind, let's go in and ask if Mr. Xu Chen is here." Putting aside his doubts, Qin Lang stepped into the "Fish Flavor" restaurant.

"Welcome!" A pretty waitress quickly approached with a warm smile. "How many?"

"We're not here to eat," Qin Lang shook his head. "Excuse me, is your restaurant owner, Mr. Xu, here?"

"Are you looking for the boss?" The waitress paused for a moment, glanced at Qin Lang and his group, said "Please wait a moment," and turned to walk inside.

Soon, she came out with a middle-aged man in a suit and tie. The latter looked somewhat gloomy, and his eyes were full of fatigue.

He glanced at Qin Lang and the others, and after confirming that he didn't recognize them, obvious doubt appeared in his eyes. "Did you come looking for me?"

"Yes." Qin Lang nodded. "You must be Mr. Xu Zhe, the son of Mr. Xu Chen, right?"

"It's me." Xu Zhe nodded slightly.

"We greatly admire Mr. Gu Cong. We've heard that Mr. Xu Chen is Mr. Gu Cong's disciple, so we'd like to meet Mr. Xu Chen to learn more about Mr. Gu Cong. Would that be convenient?"

"My father's teacher?" Xu Zhe frowned even more deeply.

"My father has been bedridden for the past few days and is still resting."

Bedridden?

Everyone's expressions changed slightly.

No wonder the other party hasn't visited Gu Cong's old residence for some time.

"Mr. Xu Chen has fallen ill. Please allow us to visit him!" Cao Dongdong couldn't help but speak up.

Xu Zhe glanced at Cao Dongdong, his tone hardening slightly, "I appreciate your kindness, but my father is not currently able to receive guests."

"Dongdong." Qin Lang pulled Cao Dongdong back and looked apologetically at Xu Zhe, "I'm sorry to bother you. I hope Mr. Xu Chen can recover soon."

"It's alright." Xu Zhe shook his head slightly and turned to leave.

"Mr. Xu Zhe!" Qin Lang quickly called out to him, "I noticed that your store's business isn't very good today. Have you encountered any trouble?"

"We are spirit chefs, perhaps we can be of some help."

Perhaps it was the words "Spirit Chef" that changed Xu Zhe's attitude. He stopped and turned to look at Qin Lang and the others.

"We have indeed encountered some trouble." Xu Zhe sighed and picked up a menu from the side, handing it to Qin Lang.

"You'll know just by looking at it."

Qin Lang took it and looked at it for a moment before his expression changed slightly.

Half of the signature dishes on the menu were labeled "Not Available," and many other dishes were also temporarily unavailable.

This has a huge impact on a restaurant that is open for business.

"Why are so many dishes unavailable?" Qin Lang looked up at Xu Zhe and couldn't help but ask, "Did the chef quit?"

“No, that’s not it.” Xu Zhe shook his head slightly. “There’s been a problem with the supply of ingredients.” “Our ‘Fish Flavor’ restaurant specializes in cooking fish dishes, and we have long-term cooperative suppliers throughout Mingjing State.”

“But starting a week ago, most of the out-of-town suppliers stopped supplying ingredients, and the ingredients they supply are irreplaceable. If the ingredients are forcibly replaced, the taste of the dishes will be reduced.”

At this point, Xu Zhe's eyes dimmed slightly. "In order to uphold the 'Flavor of Fish' principle, we have no choice but to suspend the supply of the corresponding dishes and contact the ingredient suppliers to resume the supply of ingredients."

“In the past, my father was the one who negotiated with those food suppliers, but now that he is ill, I have to take over these things.”

At this point, Xu Zhe let out a heavy sigh.

His father's serious illness and the restaurant's business crisis came one after another, a double whammy. He was worried day and night and hadn't had a proper rest in a long time.

But after so much time, the problem remains unresolved, and the business of "Fish Flavor" restaurant continues to decline.

"I see." Qin Lang nodded in understanding, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Cao Dongdong beside him.

If I remember correctly, before coming to Mingjing Prefecture, the thing Cao Dongdong's father asked them to do was to investigate the hidden food supply chain problems of the "Hai Ba Wang" chain restaurant. Now "Yu Zhi Wei" is also experiencing supply chain problems. I wonder if there is any connection between them?

As he was thinking, a voice came from behind the group.

"Oh, Mr. Xu is here."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man with a fierce face who looked very intimidating stride into the restaurant.

He glanced around at the sluggish business of the "Fish Flavor" restaurant, a smile appearing on his face. "Boss Xu, you've had a tough time lately."

“Mr. Liu, just say what you have to say.” Xu Zhe recognized the other party, and his face darkened. “If you’re just here to mock me, then please leave.”

"You're telling me to leave as soon as I arrive? That's incredibly disrespectful!" The man glanced at Qin Lang and the others, then his gaze returned to Xu Zhe. "Don't be angry, I'm here to help you."

"Help me?" Xu Zhe frowned and looked at the other person. "What do you mean?"

While the two were talking, Cao Dongdong quickly tapped a few times on his phone, then pulled Qin Lang and the others aside and whispered, "Liu Tong, the owner of 'Haishengyan' restaurant. This restaurant is newly opened but very popular."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lang looked at Liu Tong thoughtfully.

Rivals are common in the same industry. Since they both run restaurants, they are naturally competitors. Their interactions reveal that they do not get along well.

This Liu Tong, he's up to no good.

"What else could it mean?" Liu Tong smiled. "Of course, it means helping you secure supply channels."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and figures walked in from outside the restaurant.

Upon seeing the people following closely behind, Xu Zhe's expression suddenly changed.

The people entering the restaurant at this moment were all owners of supply chains that had suspended the supply of ingredients. He had been communicating with them all this time and they were extremely familiar with each other.

"Mr. Li? Mr. Zou? Mr. Song?"

"What are you..."

“They are the ones I invited.” Liu Tong interrupted Xu Zhe with a slight smile. “Mr. Xu, on behalf of ‘Haishengyan’ restaurant, I issue a cooking challenge to your ‘Yuzhiwei’ restaurant.”

"If 'Fish Flavor' restaurant wins..."

"All the food suppliers behind me will renew their food supply contracts with you, so that 'Fish Flavor' can return to its former glory!"

(End of this chapter)