Chapter 554
Chapter 554 – Xiao Dong is mad!
Noon.
Wedding banquet.
Dong Xuebing almost kicked that waitress when he heard that greyish pile of trash is the dish, Women at 40!
Women at 40?!
Do you dare to serve a plate of soybean pulp?!
What sort of name is this?!
The District Party Secretary’s wife and District Mayor, Geng Yuehua, are looking terrible, and Dong Xuebing immediately wanted us to BACK to amend his mistake. But he had used up all his accumulated time to practice REVERSE and used the two minutes he saved over the last two days in his fight in Liu Xiang Hu Tong. He has only slightly more than one minute left. This dish was served more than five minutes ago. Damn! He had embarrassed himself by trying to suck up to them!
Many people heard this, and the banquet went silent for a few seconds!
Suddenly, a few students burst out laughing, and the laughter spread. Even a few people from the Government Service started laughing.
But no one at the table laughed.
District Mayor Geng Yuehua is in her thirties and will be forty in a few years. The dish ordered by Dong Xuebing implies that she might be pretty now, but she will look like this dish in a few years. It is worse for Madam Yan. She is in her mid-forties, and it implies she looks like soybean residue now. Everyone looks like Dong Xuebing and laughs in their heart. He had offended two of the most powerful people in the District with a dish!
Dong Xuebing cursed in his heart and pushed the plate of soybean pulp to the waitress. “Bring it away! How can you all serve this under that name?!”
The waitress quickly brings the dish away.
Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead. “Sorry! I will punish myself by drinking three classes!”
Dong Xuebing doesn’t care whether Government staff are allowed to drink during office hours or not and started pouring alcohol into his glass.
One glass….
Two glasses….
Three glasses….
After finishing the alcohol, Dong Xuebing sat down. He is not suitable to say anything now and hopes someone can help him clear up the misunderstanding. He had done this on purpose. But Chu Qinghua cleared his throat. He did not help Dong Xuebing resolve the awkward situation and stood up to bring his son and daughter-in-law to the next table to offer a toast. Without the host, Chu Qinghua clearing up the misunderstanding, it becomes more awkward.
Dong Xuebing looks at Chu Qinghua. What’s the meaning of this?
It was Wang Yuling who helped Dong Xuebing. She hugged Madam Yan’s arm. “What a stupid menu! Who will name their dishes like this?! Are they trying to close their business?!”
Dong Xuebing added. “The pictures in the menu are not clear, and who can tell what that dish is?!”
Wang Yuling replied. “They are trying to mislead others!”
Dong Xuebing continued. “Women at 40 should be a plate of flowers.”
“Hehe… that’s right. women at 40 are flowers.” Wang Yuling laughed. “My Aunt is prettier than me now.”
Madam Yan smiles and shakes her head.
Dong Xuebing and Wang Yuling quickly defused the awkwardness, and he was relieved. Luckily, Wang Yuling is willing to speak up for him, and his impression of her changed. Although Geng Yuehua and Madam Yan did not show any displeasure, he doesn’t know what they think in their hearts. He knows Mayor Geng only thinks about work and will not be bothered by such trivial matters. But he does not understand Madam Yan and doesn’t know what she thinks.
Damn!
Why do I have to encounter such an unlucky incident?!
Dong Xuebing is mad. Geng Yuehua left during the banquet after a while as she was busy with work. After she left, he stood up and walked over to the front counter.
“Where is your Boss?!” Dong Xuebing stares at a waiter.
The waiter is stunned as he knows many VIPs are around. He quickly points to the back. “The Boss is in the kitchen. Walk straight and turn left.”
Dong Xuebing stormed towards the kitchen.
Kitchen.
A few chefs are cutting fruits, and a sign says “no outsiders” at the entrance.
This restaurant has been newly opened for two weeks, and the kitchen is new.
The restaurant Boss, Li Lu, is ordering the chefs with his arms crossed. “I am saying this again. There are many VIPs today, and after all the main dishes are served, the fruits platter and desserts must be served immediately. Bring out all your skills. Eh, Old Wang, why are you using that apple with bruised skin?! Get a new one. Xiao Chen, hurry up with the desserts. Remember, it is 22 large servings.” Bam! Someone opened the door.
Dong Xuebing barged in with a copy of the menu and threw it on the floor. “Are you the Boss, Li Lu?!” Li Lu frowned as he looked at him. “It’s me. What is it?” Li Lu is quite young and is in his thirties.
Dong Xuebing frowned. “You still dare to ask me what is it?! What are you trying to do? Women at 40, and you served a plate of soybean residue?!”
Li Lu’s eyes darted around. “This is one of our specialty dishes, and it’s a joke. Don’t take it too seriously.”
“Who will joke like this?” Dong Xuebing is furious. “This might be fine if it is a family dinner, and they can laugh it off. But who are you all serving today?! Mayor Geng and Madam Yan! How can you joke like that?! That plate of soybean residue is an insult! Mr. Li, you are too daring to play a joke on Mayor Geng!”
Li Lu stares at Dong Xuebing. “Who are you?”
“You don’t need to know who I am!” Dong Xuebing points outside. “Madam Yan is still around. I want you to bring your staff and chefs to apologize to her now!” If the restaurant staff and owner apologized to Madam Yan, it would calm the situation. Even though he is not on District Mayor Wang Anshi’s faction, they have not fallen out or clashed. There’s no point offending him for this stupid reason.
“Apologize?” Li Lu looks surprised. “Is this Madam Yan’s instruction?”
“…. It’s mine!”
“You?!” Li Lu is relieved, and his tone becomes calmer. “Sorry, we have included pictures in our menu. Even if you misunderstood the dish because of the name, you could tell what that is from the picture. Why should we apologize after this dish is ordered by you all? If you all don’t like this dish, you all can don’t order it.” He is scare of Madam Yan, but not Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing stares at Li Lu coldly. “Pictures?! Look at it yourself! Other than some chop chilis, who can tell that is a plate of Soybean residue?!” He kicked the menu towards Li Lu.
Li Lu did not look at the menu. “How is it our fault if you all did not see it carefully?!”
Damn! You still dare to blame me and still don’t want to admit it is your fault?!
“This is the kitchen, and you are not allowed to be here. Please leave.” Li Lu ignored Dong Xuebing and turned to his chef. “Hurry up!”
Dong Xuebing is furious.
Suddenly, Ping An Subdistrict Office’s Director Chu Qinghua enters the kitchen. “Eh, Director Dong? I thought you had left. Are you here because of that dish?”
Dong Xuebing looks at Chu Qinghua and leaves without saying anything. He will settle the score another time.
Chu Qinghua looks at Li Lu. “Mr. Li, there’s an issue with your menu. How can you name a dish as Woman at 40? You had embarrassed Director Dong and me!”
“Director Dong?” Li Lu asked.
“This is Director Dong from Guang Ming Subdistrict Office.” Chu Qinghua introduced.
“Oh…” Li Lu smiles. “Director Chu, we had hired someone to design our menu, and it is a joke. We didn’t think much about it. I will get them to change the menu, and we will not serve this dish, Women at 40, again. It’s our fault.”
Chu Qinghua nodded. “You can decide about it yourself. Oh, is the dessert ready?”
“Give me five minutes.”
“Alright. The guests are waiting. Hurry up.”
“No problems.”
Dong Xuebing gave Li Lu a cold stare. He remembers every word Li Lu said. You got me into trouble with your dish and made me offended Nan Shan District’s No. 1 and No. 2. This would be over if he had apologized to Madam Yan. Dong Xuebing will not make a fuss over it, but he is not showing any remorse. This is your restaurant’s fault, and you still dare to blame me for not checking the menu?!
“Director Dong.” Chu Qinghua laughed. “Don’t get angry over this. Come, let’s go out and get a drink.”
Chu Qinghua had not given Dong Xuebing ‘face’ earlier, and he is not going to give him any ‘face’ now. “Mr. Li, I will say this one more time. Apologize to Madam Yan now, and this is over!”
Li Lu frowned and looked away. Even after knowing Dong Xuebing is a Subdistrict Office’s Director, his attitude towards him is completely different from Chu Qinghua. Maybe it is because his restaurant is located in Ping An Subdistrict Office’s jurisdiction and has no dealings with Guang Ming Subdistrict.
Ignoring me?!
Li Lu! Li Zhi Restaurant!
Fine! This is not the end!
Dong Xuebing nodded at Li Lu. This guy is asking for it.
Dong Xuebing turns and leaves.
But Dong Xuebing did not see the moment he turns, Chu Qinghua and Li Lu exchanged looks and laughed.