Chapter Ninety-Three: Frame-Up

After hearing of your exploits, they became quite curious as well and wanted to make your acquaintance.

Han Qing did not refuse.

“Who are they?”

“A few idle young heirs from prominent families. None of them hold any particularly high office, so they should pose no real threat.”

He had come to Blue City precisely to build connections.

Naturally, he needed to learn a little more before agreeing. He could not act so blindly.

“If I have the time, I can meet them.”

He nodded without objection.

Besides, at the moment it was actually disadvantageous for them to keep dragging this out.

Rather than waste more time, it would be better to settle the matter while the chance was there.

“Very well.”

Since he had achieved his aim, he could finally enjoy a brief spell of peace.

He did not indulge himself recklessly, but instead helped Magistrate Chen search for the crucial clue.

The culprit had surely not left Blue City yet.

It was very possible they would strike again.

After all, their true objective still had not been achieved.

Meanwhile, the poisoned guest had already lain unconscious for two or three days.

Although there was still no definitive proof to accuse the hotpot restaurant, doubts had begun to spread everywhere.

And with the Du family fanning the flames in secret, the restaurant’s customers naturally dwindled day by day.

“Last time I went there, the food was delicious. How could something like this have happened all of a sudden?”

“Maybe the ingredients were dirty.”

“I heard the poisoned man is still lying in a clinic. It has been so many days, and no one from the hotpot restaurant has come forward to handle it.”

The power of public opinion was immense.

Something need not even be true to make people begin to doubt.

Once Old Master Du learned that the scheme had succeeded, he praised his son endlessly.

“This was handled much more neatly this time. I estimate that in a couple of days, their shop will no longer be able to hold on.”

“Father, he is only an outsider. He does not even understand the local rules. How could he possibly run a business here for long?”

“Good. How are those two taverns under your name doing now?”

“They are receiving customers as usual.”

The old man beamed with satisfaction.

A tiny little nobody dared to strut before him?

Utterly ridiculous.

Yet Han Qing paid the matter no heed.

Instead, he allowed the affair to grow more and more serious.

Three or four days later, the poisoned guest finally woke up.

When he learned of the rumors spreading outside, he was utterly bewildered.

After asking the physician who had treated him at the time, he finally learned what had truly happened.

It was not the hotpot restaurant’s fault at all. He himself had eaten some poisonous mushrooms the day before, which had caused the poisoning.

Perhaps because the symptoms had not been triggered at once, the poison had only taken effect slowly.

The man was an honest soul.

After hearing that the hotpot restaurant had suffered such a wrongful accusation, he even came personally to apologize.

“I am the one who was poisoned a few days ago. All those rumors outside are false. I am truly sorry.”

“Auntie, we already know. Besides, this was not your fault. Those rumors were deliberately spread by someone else. You were merely used by them.”

Han Qing spoke slowly.

He did not think the matter had caused any great trouble.

Instead, he told her there was no need to blame herself.

“But your business here is not doing well now either. There are hardly any customers...”

“Do not worry. It will be resolved before long.”

She nodded.

Then she went back and explained everything to her fellow townspeople, making them understand that it had all stemmed from her own mistake and had nothing to do with the hotpot restaurant.

Zhou Tingjun did not quite understand.

Why not clear the air?

“Now that the truth is out, if we explain it, we can resume business as normal.”

“Do you think they will believe it?”

Han Qing said unhurriedly.

Some people had already set out to pin the blame on them. Even if the truth were laid out exactly as it happened, it would not be especially effective.

“But the hotpot restaurant has so few customers now. If this goes on, it will sooner or later start losing money.”

The little ruffian looked deeply troubled.

He had only just begun to feel recognized, just taken over this business.

Was it about to collapse already?

That was far too absurd.

“No. We only need an opportunity.”

A week later, Han Qing immediately made a suggestion to Magistrate Chen.

“Sir, your prestige in Blue City is extremely high. Why not hold a Chef Champion Competition under imperial orders, and invite several court officials to serve as judges? Could you help with that?”

“What?”

After hearing this, Chen Tianwei looked astonished.

He found it very strange. Why would they do such a thing?

“You want to promote your hotpot restaurant?”

“Yes, but more than that, I want to put the Du family under pressure.”

Once he understood the real purpose, he agreed at once.

He even announced in the court’s name that this competition would be held at the highest level.

All the capable restaurants in Blue City were invited to participate.

The rewards were also exceedingly generous.

Winners could receive official authorization to operate under the court’s patronage, and even take on all future banquets for officials on inspection tours.

This immediately stirred up a great deal of controversy.

But it also made many merchants feel that their chance had finally come.

Once selected, the court officials would naturally look on them with greater favor.

Not only would wealth pour in afterward, but their standing would rise rapidly as well.

Nearly every restaurant with any merit at all began rubbing its hands together, eagerly anticipating the contest.

Yet when he returned to the shop, he found that the little ruffian had no heart for it at all.

On the contrary, he seemed somewhat displeased.

“Aren’t you planning to take part?”

“Me? Running this hotpot restaurant is already quite good enough. Besides, there is no especially reliable chef here.”

He shook his head.

“You have the ability yourself. Do you really think I would have brought in someone who knows nothing at all to manage the hotpot restaurant?”

Han Qing asked coldly.

If he had not had people investigate him and discovered that the man possessed an unusually sharp sense of taste, he would never have thought this little ruffian capable of bearing such responsibility.

“I can only make ordinary home-style dishes. Asking me to cook those exquisite delicacies is just too difficult!”

The little ruffian refused in panic.

That was truly asking too much of him.

“Study this book carefully. You have three days. I want to see perfect results.”

Han Qing produced a cookbook at once.

The hundreds upon hundreds of dishes within it were all timeless masterpieces.

Every one of them had been chosen as a representative classic.

The little ruffian stared blankly, but still took the cookbook in hand.