"Ah?" Not expecting the beauty to fly into a rage, Shang Bin is taken aback. He hurriedly explains, "Shen laoshi, I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about this Zhang Xuan. If you don't have money, don't treat others to a meal. Being stopped by others is an embarrassment and sullying the prestige of our academy..."
Before he could finish his words, the complexion of the goddess before him darkens, as though she would explode at any moment. Just as Shang Bin is filled with doubts, the waiter interrupts him awkwardly, "Shang shaoye..."
"What's wrong?" Shang Bin frowns.
"Cough cough, the one treating us is... Shen laoshi!" The waiter says.
He had received orders to cooperate with Shang Bin to put on an act. He didn't expect that a man and a woman would be the one paying the bill. Before he could report the matter, Shang Bin rushed over, leaving him with no time to explain.
"Shen laoshi is treating us?"
Shang Bin is taken aback. His eyes widen in disbelief.
Are you for real?
He invites the goddess to a meal every day, but she ignores him. What rights does the last place fellow in the academy have to have a meal with her? Furthermore... He even wants her to treat him?
"Why? I don't have money to pay the bill, so I'm pretending to be generous and embarrassing myself! " Shen Bi Ru stares at him coldly. She is already feeling depressed after suffering so many setbacks before Zhang Xuan today. She didn't expect to be mocked by this fellow as well, causing her to be on the verge of exploding.
"No, no..." Shang Bin's face pales and he is on the verge of tears.
Only then does he understand that his attempt at bootlicking has backfired. He hurriedly waves his hands, "That's not what I mean, it's... it's..."
He says it several times, but he doesn't know how to reply.
However, as the grandson of an elder and a teacher of the academy, he is knowledgeable. He quickly regains his senses and turns to look at the attendant. Gesturing grandly, he says, "Alright, Shen laoshi's bill is mine. How much is it? I'll pay for it!"
"Shang shaoye, what are you saying? You are an esteemed guest of our Hongtian Pavilion, how can we possibly take your money!" The waiter hurriedly nods his head.
This is the line that they have prepared beforehand. It is to display his identity and capability before the goddess.
"That's good …" Just as Shang Bin is about to continue speaking to flaunt his dominance, Shen Bi Ru's voice resounds once more, "There's no need for that. I will pay for my own expenses, lest others say that I am pretending to be generous!"
As he spoke, he removed the hairpin from his hair and said, "This jade hairpin is worth at least five thousand gold coins. You can find a knowledgeable person to verify it. I'll leave it here first and come back to redeem it after I get the money!"
"This …"
Holding onto the jade hairpin, the attendant didn't know what to do.
That wasn't in the script …
"Shen laoshi, there's no need to do this. Manager Wu of Hongtian Pavilion is a friend of mine. As long as I say a word, that bit of money of yours is nothing..."
Shang Bin hurried forward.
"That's your problem. What does it have to do with me?" Shen Bi Ru interrupts his words and looks at the attendant once more, "If you don't find someone to verify it, I'm leaving!"
"I …" The waiter hurriedly looks towards Shang Bin with a pleading gaze.
"Why are you looking at me?" Shang Bin anxiously waves his hands, his face filled with rage. "I don't even know you!"
"Enough!"
He didn't expect that a meal would cause such a commotion. Zhang Xuan shakes his head and walks forward. He takes the jade hairpin from the hands of the attendant and passes it back to Shen Bi Ru. "Why are you giving this to him? This meal isn't worth 1280 gold coins. If you give him the money, are you going to let him scam you? "
"Scam? Hongtian Pavilion has been established for close to ten years. Their prices are fair and they do not cheat anyone. No one has ever caused trouble for them before. What do you mean by that? "
Just as Zhang Xuan finished his words, a middle-aged man walks up with widened strides.
Manager of Hongtian Pavilion, Wu Chou.
He had already agreed with Shang Bin that there was no need for him to appear. However, upon hearing Zhang Xuan's words, he couldn't hold himself back anymore.
The matter here has already alarmed quite a number of customers. If he doesn't appear now and the other party were to spread the news, the reputation of the tavern would definitely be tarnished. When the boss, Elder Hong Hao, returns, wouldn't he be killed?
"What do you mean by that? Must I say it out loud? "
Zhang Xuan lifts his eyelids lazily.
"Hmph, every single dish of our Hongtian Pavilion uses the most precious ingredients to ensure that they are fresh and delicious. Our prices have also been verified by Hongtian Academy. If you can't explain the matter clearly, even if you are a teacher of the academy, you can forget about leaving today!"
Manager Wu's face darkens.
To a tavern, scamming customers is a huge crime. If he doesn't clarify the matter and word gets out, Hongtian Pavilion will have to shut down.
"You are really courting death!"
Initially, he thought that he wouldn't be able to deal with Zhang Xuan this time around. However, upon seeing the other party accuse Hongtian Pavilion of scamming and offending manager Wu, Shang Bin's eyes shine with excitement.
Manager Wu seems to be an easy-going person with a good temper. However, when the reputation of Hongtian Pavilion is at stake, he won't back down!
Looks like this fellow, who is the last in the academy, is in for it!
"What nonsense is this fellow spouting …"
Shen Bi Ru is anxious.
For Hongtian Pavilion to be established in Hongtian Academy, not to mention, it is such a huge place, the power behind it is unimaginable. To publicly accuse them of scamming their customers, isn't this inviting trouble?
Large taverns like that place great importance on their reputation.
"Since you want me to speak, I won't stand on ceremony then!"
Faced with the other party's threat, Zhang Xuan doesn't think much of it and walks up to the table.
"This 【Violet Fragrance Violent Bear Meat】, according to what you said, after the violent bear is killed, it is soaked in Violet Fragrance Flower for three days. Only then can the meat be charred on the outside and tender on the inside and be filled with fragrance. However, it is a pity that you only soaked it for a day and a half before taking it out and stir-frying it. Even though the texture is about the same, the medicinal properties of the Violet Fragrance Flower have not seeped into the meat at all. It is useless no matter how much you eat!"
"As for this 【Honghu Mandarin Fish】, you advertise that it is a wild mandarin fish caught in Honghu Lake, but in reality, it is a mandarin fish reared in Yeluo Bay. The difference between the two is simple. As wild mandarin fish have to deal with their nemesis 【Clear River Turtle】, their tail fins are much tougher than those reared in captivity and their tails are much thicker as well. As long as you ask around, you will be able to find out!"
"As for this 【Clear Stir-Fried Nestled Heart Grass】, there is no need to talk about it. It isn't Nestled Heart Grass but Bitter Heart Vegetable! These two plants are actually the same, just that they grow in different environments. As such, their names are different as well. Nestled Heart Grass grows beside the nest of savage beasts and is taken care of by the savage beasts. Its stem is usually much larger and its nutritional value is much higher as well! "
"Bitter Heart Vegetable, on the other hand, grows in the wilderness and is extremely cheap. Its stem is thin and its nutritional value is much lower as well! The price of the same dish is at least ten times more than the price of the two! It is a completely different story! You label it as Nestled Heart Grass but use Bitter Heart Vegetable. If this isn't extortion, what is? "
…
Zhang Xuan casually points to a dish and clearly points out the origins and flaws of the dish. Upon hearing those words, the initially aggressive manager Wu's face pales.
As the manager of Hongtian Pavilion, not only does he have to deal with the customers at the front desk, he also has to deal with the kitchen. Naturally, he knows whether the other party is speaking the truth or not.
He isn't spouting nonsense, but … he is right!
The boss isn't aware of these matters. In order to reap huge profits, he got someone to secretly alter the dishes. This is especially so for the Honghu Mandarin Fish and Nestled Heart Grass. The two substitutions are exactly the same. Even a professional gourmet didn't notice anything amiss.
How did this youngster see through it? Furthermore, he said it perfectly?
"Damn it!"
"We specially came from afar to eat the authentic Nestled Heart Grass. To think that it would be fake!"
"Me too. I heard that the Honghu Mandarin Fish here is the most fragrant and authentic. Thus, I specially came here. To think that you would try to fool us like this!"
"Refund, refund! To think that the number one restaurant of Hongtian Academy would use a fake. To think that I, an old customer, would be cheated like this! "
…
Zhang Xuan spoke calmly and logically, and the crowd who were watching the commotion immediately burst into an uproar.
Hongtian Pavilion can be considered as a famous restaurant in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom. Many of its signature dishes attract countless experts. Never in their dreams would they expect that all of them are fake!
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