Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Princely Heir Arrives
It wasn’t long after Lianhua was thrown out of the kitchen when Huang arrived with several servant women and spoke to Qu Fulan.
"If Lianhua made a mistake, Miss, you can simply guide her. Why chase her out of the kitchen? I may be overstepping here, but doesn’t everyone in the restaurant know that the princely heir only likes eating what Lianhua makes? If you don’t let her into the kitchen now, delaying the princely heir’s meal, who would be able to bear the blame?"
Qu Fulan replied, "I can bear the blame. You can rest assured."
Huang was momentarily speechless, then added, "Why make things difficult? We’re all here to serve the princely heir, trying to be helpful to him. Unlike you, we don’t have the chance to attend to the princely heir daily; we can only try our best when he’s here. Why make it complicated for us? Are you afraid we might take away your credit?"
Qu Fulan was busy calculating other matters in her mind, not having the time to waste on arguments with this woman.
Manager Yu’s family wasn’t assertive, and Huang was used to being the leader in the restaurant. Being ignored in public made her feel humiliated, especially knowing Qu Fulan was just a maid beside the princely heir, not necessarily superior to herself. Unable to hold back, she spoke again.
"Miss, you shouldn’t be too excessive. Although the princely heir has entrusted you with managing the business here, the kitchen has always been under my management. You can ask anyone if there has ever been a mistake. Everyone has their own responsibilities. Why meddle in others’ duties? Now that you’re here, taking over the kitchen’s affairs without consideration, if something goes wrong and the princely heir questions it, I will speak frankly."
Despite Huang’s lengthy speech, Qu Fulan only focused on one point, "I must admit I’ve been negligent."
Her mind had been occupied with many thoughts, leading to oversight, which was inevitable. Fortunately, the oversight wasn’t significant and could be promptly corrected.
Huang, hearing this, thought she had intimidated Qu Fulan and was about to continue her smug remarks when Qu Fulan said.
"Huang’s mismanagement of the kitchen warrants her immediate dismissal from her position, which I will temporarily take over. An appropriate replacement will be selected later."
Huang’s eyes widened, "Miss Qu has quite the audacity. I was appointed by the princely heir himself to manage the kitchen, and you think you can dismiss me at will? It should be me asking Miss to leave. This is a critical part of the kitchen, off-limits to idle outsiders."
Qu Fulan, noting things in her book and not paying attention to Huang’s words, simply said, "Shi San, Shi Si."
The two guards promptly and forcefully "escorted" Huang out.
Qu Fulan further added, "Wait, keep an eye on Huang and her daughter for now. I don’t want them ruining my plans later. Once I’m not busy, I’ll deal with them individually."
This was Qu Fulan’s foresight—knowing full well that displeased individuals shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely in the establishment. If any malicious thoughts arose, it could disrupt her significant plans.
Seeing even her mother had no effect, Lianhua harbored deep resentment towards Qu Fulan, knowing full well she was being deliberately difficult, intentionally preventing her from cooking for the princely heir, afraid of her gaining more favor than herself.
Furthermore, seeing her intent to guard her mother along with herself.
Lianhua bit her lip, ready to turn and report to the princely heir for justice.
Just as she turned, she was restrained.
At this point, Huang and her daughter couldn’t help but start shouting.
Suddenly, someone reported, "The princely heir is here."
Both Huang and her daughter’s eyes brightened, exchanging a glance, then Lianhua began to cry.
Heir Pei arrived at the kitchen and upon seeing the scene, asked, "What’s happening?"
The princely heir was here, which meant he would have the final say.
Thus, when Lianhua struggled free, the guards released her.
Lianhua walked up to Heir Pei, then fell to her knees with a "thud," shedding tears and spoke.
"Princely Heir, there were far more guests in the restaurant today than usual, and the kitchen was quite busy. Knowing that the princely heir was coming, along with esteemed guests, Lianhua worried about the princely heir going hungry, and the guests too. Just as I saw two empty stoves, I decided to make some of the princely heir’s favorite dishes. Who would have thought when Miss Qu arrived, without asking, she took away the food I was halfway done with, stating the other guests should eat first, and only after them should the princely heir be served."
Lianhua paused to wipe her tears and quickly continued.
"My mother came to speak a word and was also ’escorted’ out by Miss Qu, who labeled us as troublemakers. Lianhua was thus delayed, failing to serve the princely heir his meal on time. If the princely heir waited and went hungry, it’s Lianhua’s fault. Lianhua doesn’t dare to argue but please, allow me to finish the dishes and then accept whatever punishment is deemed fit."
What a clever tongue, Qu Fulan thought to herself.
She truly said so much in one breath, never pausing for air, not only explaining the situation thoroughly but also slyly swaying opinions to her favor; truly impressive.
If she were to be in modern times, doing paparazzi work, she would certainly turn black into white, concocting rumors effortlessly while others would struggle to prove the truth.
Such eloquence, but misdirected onto the wrong path.
Despite this distortion of truth and facts, Qu Fulan showed no panic, rather she watched Lianhua with a somewhat mocking expression.
Someone brought in a chair for Heir Pei, who brushed aside his clothing and sat down, then looked toward the four guards nearby.
"Can one of you explain what happened?"
Upon finishing her speech, Lianhua noticed that the princely heir hadn’t made a statement; instead, he asked this. She was momentarily stunned, then quickly glanced at the princely heir, unable to decipher his intentions, her heart slowly growing anxious.
Her move to seize the moment was to prevent others from speaking, hoping that based on the princely heir’s favor towards her and her mother, hearing her side would lead to immediate accountability.
Who would have thought the princely heir would actually question others?
What would the four guards say? Lianhua was apprehensive, she glanced at them, with her hands instinctively clenching.
Shi Er was the one who spoke.
Not daring to delay, Shi Er quickly said, "The dishes ordered by the princely heir were already being prepared by the cooks. It was Miss Lianhua here who insisted the princely heir enjoyed only her cooking and stubbornly occupied two stoves, hindering other cooks from preparing dishes, causing delays for serving other guests. Hence, the waiter had no choice but to report this to Miss Qu."
Pei Ji’an looked at Qu Fulan, "What does Miss Qu have to say?"
Shi Er continued, "When Miss Qu arrived at the kitchen, she had us remove Lianhua’s dishes without hesitation, allowing the waiting cooks to use the stoves. Miss Lianhua was furious, using the excuse that delaying the princely heir’s meal was unacceptable to argue for the stoves, prompting Miss Qu to have her thrown out. Shortly after, Lianhua’s mother arrived with the same rhetoric about delaying the princely heir’s meal being unacceptable and was also escorted out by Miss Qu. To prevent them from disrupting operations, Miss Qu ordered us to keep watch over them and stated she would deal with them later."
If Lianhua’s statement was entirely skewed toward her side, Shi Er’s account was exceedingly objective, stating facts as they were without changing anything.