CHAPTER 424: CHAPTER 424: THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Everyone saw Pei Shu’er being so ungrateful and couldn’t help but frown.

The guy with the horse face snapped, "Manager Yang, I see Pei Shu’er is so disrespectful to us, there’s no need for us to stay here. Pei’s dishes are just food, aren’t they? It’s not like we can’t make them ourselves."

Manager Yang hesitated a bit, and Pei Shu’er responded coolly.

"Well, you actually can’t make them. If you’re here to dine, you’re welcome. But if you’re here to stir up trouble, I’m not afraid."

After saying that, Lin Yu stood beside Pei Shu’er with a few people to back her up.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense and competitive.

You could say these words struck a hornet’s nest.

The shopkeepers of these few restaurants had some pride.

With Pei Shu’er saying this, it was obvious she looked down on their restaurants, which was intentional trouble.

Manager Yang sneered, "Fine, then we must indeed taste and see what charm Pei’s Restaurant really has."

Pei Shu’er handed them an acrylic number plate.

"Please wait over there for your number to be called."

Manager Yang looked at the plate in his hand, not knowing what material it was, but it was quite unique, appearing high-end just by looking at it.

And most likely cannot be replicated.

When they arrived at the waiting area, they sat there, originally wanting to gripe about this restaurant.

Then the waiter quickly served a plate of sunflower seeds and a pot of floral tea.

The sunflower seeds were roasted to perfection, each seed was big, plump, and none were bad.

The horse-faced shopkeeper looked for faults for a long time but couldn’t find anything to critique.

He could only mutter angrily, "There are so damn many people here. If it’s not up to the level of the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet, it’s probably not worth the wait of so many people."

The other shopkeepers also coldly laughed in agreement, "Is a place like Pei’s Restaurant worthy to be compared to the Peach Banquet? It’s just because they’ve discounted it; otherwise, only fools would come."

Other guests were also somewhat swayed by their words.

"Is the taste at Pei’s Restaurant really that bad?"

The horse face scoffed, "I’m telling you, it’s really like this; the taste is definitely not good. Those who praise it, could very well be intentionally sent out to attract customers."

Some other customers hesitated, and some got annoyed upon hearing this and left immediately.

"Turns out it’s just a name-seeking bunch. Seeing so many people, I thought it was some human delicacy."

"Exactly, I heard from my relatives that the food here is supposed to be delicious, so I came. I didn’t expect it was just hired folks praising Pei’s Restaurant. Let’s go, find another place to eat."

Thus, several groups were persuaded to leave, and before leaving, a waiter collected their waiting plates, still politely sending these guests off.

This actually made those guests feel a bit embarrassed.

Manager Yang closed his eyes, trying to ignore the noise around him.

He was thinking whether Pei Shu’er’s business model, if applied to his own restaurant, might be better.

Previously, they used Pei Shu’er’s discount coupon model, which indeed worked well. If they do this in the waiting area too, wouldn’t it be even better?

Then, Manager Yang opened his eyes, showing a slightly worried expression.

The problem is their restaurant has never been full...

Where would a waiting area come from?

Just then, he noticed a regular customer, Xie Tongda, in the waiting area.

Manager Yang personally went over to greet him.

This was a relative from Prefect Xie’s family, with a wide network in Jingzhou, and also a well-known foodie with many like-minded friends who love food.

The two quickly started chatting about Pei’s Restaurant.

Xie Tongda smiled and said, "I think this place’s taste is not as exaggerated as people say."

"But I’m the kind of person who loves to eat no matter whether something tastes good or bad. I have to try it; I can’t miss any food."

Manager Yang laughed, "Brother Xie considers that—once you’ve tried it, if it’s not tasty, you can tell your friends, saving others from being deceived."

Of course, he knew that with this gentleman’s picky taste, he definitely wouldn’t find it tasty.

Even a restaurant like Drunken Immortal Tower never received a good word from him.

Even after dining around the Capital last year, he only gave a lukewarm review.

For Pei’s Restaurant to earn a "good" word from this gentleman is extremely difficult.

No, it’s absolutely impossible.

As long as that group of foodies doesn’t come, Pei’s Restaurant’s status won’t stabilize, nor can it join the Commerce Association, making it an enemy of the entire Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce. Soon, it will close down.

Xie Tongda nodded, "Naturally."

Manager Yang laughed heartily, complimenting Xie Tongda.

"Wherever Brother Xie eats, you’re treated as a VIP. But here, you have to wait for half an hour; it’s truly outrageous."

Xie Tongda didn’t mind initially, but after Manager Yang said this, he also felt uncomfortable.

He looked around; most people were common folk. When had he ever squeezed among such people?

He sneered, "Just wait. If Pei’s Restaurant dares to treat me like this, if their food isn’t delicious, I’ll smash their shop!"

"A restaurant worthy of making me wait hasn’t been born yet."

The other shopkeepers glanced at each other, increasingly flattering Xie Tongda.

They didn’t need to act personally, letting Xie Tongda deal with Pei’s was quite a clever strategy.

They really didn’t believe Pei Shu’er dared to confront a relative of an official.

If she does, she’d be courting death.

Soon, it was time for Xie Tongda to enter.

As he entered the restaurant, he scanned the hall with his gaze, finding the place filled with a mix of patrons, increasing his displeasure.

The people accompanying him saw his expression and immediately realized, whether he eats or not, he was going to make a fuss.

When the food was served, it took a burn incense’s worth of time, and Xie Tongda’s face was already clouded.

Even if the dishes on the table looked good and were artistically arranged, Xie Tongda sneered.

A polished surface hides the manure; just a bunch of flashy things.

It wasn’t until he tasted the spicy fish that his expression began to change.

This was a spicy fish bursting with the strong flavor of fish and spice, well-seasoned, with an additional oily aroma.

The fish meat was tender and refreshing, without a single bone, melting in the mouth.

Once he swallowed, he couldn’t help but take another bite.

He had been to many restaurants, but it was the first time he tasted such flavorful and delicious spicy fish.

The other people saw this and also picked up chopsticks to eat the spicy fish, almost instantly being conquered by its taste.

This... how is it possible for such food to come from a little restaurant in a remote area?

Even the Capital couldn’t produce this kind of flavor.

And that place is under the Emperor’s foot, the gathering place of talents.

They then ate the braised pork, which was rich without being greasy, with a complex texture, making them surrounded by a sweet taste of happiness.

This is impossible!

There cannot be food that makes people feel happiness!

Even less possible that it came from Pei’s.