Seeing the brothers return, Tian Jing asked with a smile, "Have you coordinated your stories?"
Zeng Shengchun felt awkward. "I was just explaining to my elder brother why I used a different name. He found it quite amusing and suggested we share a table. Do you mind?"
Now that they were here, would she really turn them away? If she did, not only would their friendship be over, but their business would also be affected.
"You're welcome, please sit."
Elder Brother Zeng sat opposite Tian Jing.
Zeng Shengchun quickly sat down next to his brother. "My real name is Zeng Jingchu, and my elder brother is Zeng Jingliang."
"Our Zeng family returned in early '79."
"My elder brother's health hasn't been very good, so the inheritance has always fallen on me."
"I didn't want to inherit the family business. I took advantage of the country's reform and opening up to travel around. In your provincial capital, I met sister-in-law Ouyang selling watermelons."
"As the business grew bigger, I experienced the hardships involved, and my perspective changed."
"Besides me and my elder brother, there's no one else to inherit the family business. I can't force my brother to work hard, nor can I force my father to postpone retirement indefinitely."
"Especially during the two years my mother was ill, I decided to take on the responsibility, which led to the three-year agreement with Li Zhengguo."
"What I told you the other day, apart from my name and starting from scratch, everything else was true."
"I genuinely consider you friends. My elder brother exposing me made me feel very guilty, and I was afraid you'd blame me."
"My elder brother comes here to eat every day, so he's very familiar with the waiters. He probably came to your private room to play the good guy again."
As the second brother mentioned this, Elder Brother Zeng immediately remembered he hadn't helped the waiter resolve his issue.
"The waiter said a customer was giving him trouble, demanding a different kind of egg-fried rice."
"Brother!"
Zeng Jingchu couldn't help but scold his elder brother. "This world isn't as wonderful as you imagine. You can't always step in to help the waiters like this."
"The customer is here to spend money. What's wrong with them making a request after paying?"
"I also told you this isn't authentic imperial cuisine, but you didn't believe me. Tian Jing's cooking is more like it."
Elder Brother Zeng's gaze, which had already been fixed on Tian Jing, immediately lit up like a lightbulb.
"Tian Jing, you can cook imperial dishes?"
Imperial dishes?
Tian Jing blinked. "Where did you hear the term 'imperial dishes'?"
Elder Brother Zeng's eyes dimmed. "A friend from my childhood. We promised that once things were stable, I would come back to find her."
"But when I returned, she was gone, and even her ancestral home was no longer there. I was worried about her, so I looked everywhere for her."
"The food this restaurant owner makes tastes quite similar, but he doesn't know where my friend is either."
Li Zhengguo squeezed his wife's hand under the table.
Tian Jing understood. "Is your elder brother's friend male or female?"
"Female."
"What's her surname?"
"Yuan."
Tian Jing's heart tightened. "Zheng Ge, take Elder Brother Zeng outside for a walk. Hurry the waiter along."
Li Zhengguo stood up. "Elder Brother Zeng, would you like to accompany me to get acquainted with this courtyard? I'm quite curious."
Elder Brother Zeng didn't want to move, but Boss Zeng pushed him out. "Brother, chat more with Li Zhengguo. He's very pragmatic, while you're too idealistic."
As the two opened the door, the waiter came in with tea.
Tian Jing narrowed her eyes and smiled at the waiter. "Waiter, my condition remains the same. Tell your boss to show his true culinary skills."
The waiter glanced at Boss Zeng before leaving the private room.
Tian Jing asked Ouyang Lei to guard the door from the outside and Du Hongjuan to guard from the inside.
She sat down beside Zeng Shengchun, no, Zeng Jingchu. "I have something important to tell you. After you hear it, you can make your own decision."
Tian Jing's cautiousness raised a bad premonition in Zeng Jingchu's heart. "Tell me."
Tian Jing asked, "This restaurant owner's surname is Wang, isn't it?"
Zeng Jingchu nodded. "Yes!"
Tian Jing lowered her voice. "I hired a cook whose ancestors were imperial chefs. My culinary skills were guided by her."
Zeng Jingchu sat up straight. "A woman?"
Tian Jing nodded. "Yes, her surname is Yuan."
Zeng Jingchu became agitated. "Then, then that must be the person my elder brother is looking for. Why did you ask Li Zhengguo to take him away?"
Tian Jing shook her head. "Didn't you say your elder brother is too idealistic and pure? I have more to tell you."
"Go on."
Tian Jing said thoughtfully, "I brought A'Feng away in '81. At that time, she was desperate and only wanted a quiet place to live."
"Because a boss named Wang gave her two choices: either join the Wang family restaurant or never open the Yuan family restaurant again."
"Your elder brother said this owner doesn't know A'Feng's whereabouts. Yes, that's correct."
"But did this owner tell your elder brother that A'Feng was forced out of the capital by him?"
"I have another important matter here. Li Zhengguo found out that Boss Wang plans to target someone and intends to use someone surnamed Zeng to frame them. How do you think he plans to use them?"
"Detestable!"
Zeng Jingchu slammed his palm on the table. Given their Zeng family's strength, only matters of life and death would make them waste energy on dealing with others. With his elder brother's personality, he would surely be too trusting.
"Tian Jing, I owe you a favor. You can ask for it anytime."
Tian Jing waved her hand. "We consider you a friend too. When we encounter such a situation, we'd rather misinterpret it than gamble on a possibility."
"You should first settle your elder brother. He's not suited to walk in society."
"Mm-hmm." Zeng Jingchu stood up.
"I'll take my elder brother home now and have a good talk with him."
Tian Jing saw him off. "Alright, I won't keep you."
As she opened the door, the waiter who was about to serve the dishes was stopped by Ouyang Lei.
Zeng Jingchu's sharp gaze fixed on the waiter, startling him. Why was the second young master Zeng looking at him like that?
"Waiter, bring all the dishes we ordered to this private room. Put it on my tab."
The waiter nodded. "Yes."
Tian Jing waved her hand. "No need, I've prepared..."
"Boss Tian."
Zeng Jingchu interrupted Tian Jing. "If you make a move, you'll reveal yourself."
Tian Jing was stunned, then nodded. "Alright, then let him off the hook."
Zeng Jingchu comforted her. "Don't worry, I won't let it go. Even if it hasn't happened yet, if there's even a hint of such a thought, it's unacceptable. My family is my inviolable boundary."
"Mm-hmm, I'll leave it to you."
Elder Brother Zeng was forcibly pulled away by his younger brother.
Li Zhengguo returned to the private room, and the four of them finally began to eat.
Ouyang Lei and Du Hongjuan both found the taste excellent.
Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo exchanged a glance and nodded. "Not bad. I imagine the egg-fried rice should be good too."
A knock came from the door. The waiter was here to serve more dishes.
Tian Jing curved her lips. The waiter always arrived at opportune moments.
With a few extra dishes, even though the four of them were full, they couldn't finish them.
Du Hongjuan hated to waste food and wanted to pack some to take home for her husband and son to try.
Before Tian Jing could speak, Ouyang Lei called the waiter over. "Pack six meat dishes for us to take away. And pack these leftovers too."
The waiter went to prepare.
Ouyang Lei chuckled slyly. "Sister Du, someone's treating today, why are you still being so frugal?"
"Six dishes, three for you, three for me. We'll split these leftovers too."
Du Hongjuan glanced at Tian Jing. "Then I won't be polite. I'll share it with Wang Huan and the others when I get back."
Ouyang Lei already knew who Wang Huan was. This time, he seized the opportunity to lecture.
"Heroine Tian, no matter how benevolent you are, you shouldn't help the Tian family, should you?"
"Sigh!" Tian Jing sighed.
"When I was young, it was a chasm for Wang Huan, very difficult to climb out of. For me now, it's just a matter of raising my hand. If I hadn't seen it, it would be one thing. But since I saw it, I can't bear it if I don't help. Even if I help an ungrateful wretch, if I encounter a similar situation again, I'll still help, because heaven watches what people do."
Ouyang Lei...
What else could he say?