Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 24

Without waiting for Qin Mo’s response, Song Qingzhan knew his temperament. Since Qin Mo didn’t answer immediately, Song Qingzhan didn’t expect him to say anything.

“Should we help him?”

Qin Mo laughed, “A teacher for a day, a father for life. Besides, he truly sees me as a father. Let’s watch and see.”

Song Qingzhan couldn’t help but laugh, “You weren’t like this before. Why do you keep taking advantage of him?”

Qin Mo walked to the round table and poured himself a cup of tea, feeling rather pleased. “I’ve never encountered such a level of foolishness before!”

Lu Tang had only stayed on the mountain for two days.

But she managed to do things in those two days that most people wouldn’t accomplish in a lifetime!

The waiter soon brought the head chef upstairs, not only the chef but also the manager of Chunxi Inn.

The manager was a man in his fifties, thin with a shrewd look in his eyes.

As soon as he entered, he apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for making you feel wronged, young master. I’m Zhao, the manager of Chunxi Inn. If there’s anything about the food that displeases you, please let me know, and we will make it again to your satisfaction.”

The head chef stood behind the manager, not bowing or scraping, just looking guilty. His expression, however, showed clear defiance.

Lu Tang glanced at the manager, then looked at the head chef. “Raise your head!”

The manager immediately tugged the head chef, “Raise your head.”

The head chef reluctantly raised his head, his eyelids drooping, not looking at Lu Tang.

Lu Tang studied his features for a long time, etching his face into her memory. Then she suddenly smiled, “Brother, you have excellent culinary skills. To be honest, my family is in the restaurant business. This spicy pork kidney you made is superb. If I’m not mistaken, the secret lies in the pickled peppers, right?”

Manager Zhao: Huh?

Head Chef: Ah?

Next door, Qin Mo: Coward!

Song Qingzhan laughed, worried that Young Master Lu would start a fight.

After speaking, Lu Tang stood up and grabbed the head chef’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to steal your recipe. I just want to see those pickled peppers.”

The manager, thinking he had encountered trouble, was ready to compensate to avoid any conflict.

He was prepared to grovel!

Unexpectedly, things took a turn.

After a moment of surprise, the manager confirmed he wasn’t imagining things and quickly smiled, “Young master, you flatter us. It’s our duty to satisfy you.”

He pushed the head chef, “Bring out the jar of pickled peppers for the young master to see.”

An apprentice behind the head chef held a porcelain jar and quickly placed it on the table, opening it.

Immediately, the pungent smell of pickled peppers filled the room.

But Liang Cheng’s attention was drawn to the jar lid on the table.

The lid wobbled a bit before settling, and on the inner edge, there was a small, inconspicuous character: Qiao!

Liang Cheng immediately looked at Lu Tang.

Lu Tang met his gaze briefly before turning back to the manager, “I have an unusual request. Could I buy a jar of these pickled peppers? Don’t worry, I’ll pay a good price.”

As she spoke, Lu Tang pulled out a fifty tael silver note and stuffed it into the manager’s hand.

“How about it?”

The manager was stunned.

Is there really such a fool? This doesn’t seem like a large amount!

Fifty taels could buy hundreds of jars.

These pickled peppers weren’t a secret recipe; almost every household in Sihe Town made them.

With a quick thought, the manager returned the silver note to Lu Tang, smiling, “Young master, you honor us. How could we take your money for something so trivial? We’ll give you this jar as a gift!”

The head chef, who had remained silent, looked at Lu Tang and frowned, “Where is your restaurant? You look familiar. Have we met?”

Liang Cheng’s heart skipped a beat, and he moved slightly closer to Lu Tang, ready to protect her if necessary.

Lu Tang blinked, looking confused, “Really? Have we met? My family’s restaurant, Qin’s Restaurant, is in Shili Village, near the capital. Have you been there? I’m Qin Mo. Do I seem familiar?”

She imitated Qin Mo’s accent perfectly.

Next door, Qin Mo: !

Song Qingzhan burst out laughing, “He’s a good mimic.”

The head chef stared at Lu Tang for a while, then shook his head, “Maybe I was mistaken.”

He said nothing more.

Lu Tang handed the silver note back to the manager, “How can you not take the money? Do you look down on me? Do you think Qin Mo can’t afford a jar of pickled peppers? If you don’t take the money, do you think I’m a bandit? Take it, let’s be friends. If you come to the capital, find me, Qin Mo. I’ll help you with anything!”

Qin Mo: !

Song Qingzhan: !

The manager cursed inwardly but kept smiling, bowing his head, “Very well, we’ll consider Chunxi Inn as a friend of Young Master Qin! I’ll take the fifty taels, and these pickled peppers…”

Lu Tang said, “Take them for now. The smell is too strong. Give them to me when I check out.”

The manager agreed, “No problem. When you leave, I’ll prepare some local specialties from Sihe Town for you.”

After a few more polite exchanges, the manager left with his people.

Once the door closed and they heard no noise outside, Liang Cheng whispered to Lu Tang, “Even the pickled peppers are ours!”

Lu Tang sneered, “There’s nothing here that isn’t ours. Did you remember the chef’s face?”

Liang Cheng patted his chest, “Don’t worry, I’ve got it memorized.” Then, he added worriedly, “He seemed to recognize you. We fooled him just now, but what if he remembers later?”

As if on cue.

Just as they reached downstairs, the head chef suddenly stopped, “Wait!”

The manager turned back, “What’s wrong?”

The chef frowned, recalling the images in his mind, “That young master upstairs, I’m sure I’ve seen him before. He’s definitely not Young Master Qin. He’s… he’s…”

As the images flashed through his mind, he clenched his fist, “He might be the young master of the Lu family!”

The manager was shocked, “What did you say?”

The chef was now certain, “That’s right, he’s the young master of the Lu family. I saw him last year when I delivered something to the Lu family. There’s no mistake!”

The manager’s face changed dramatically. He turned and hurried to the back courtyard, “Keep an eye on things here. I need to report this to the boss!”

The back door of Chunxi Inn led to a narrow alley, and diagonally opposite was a small house with green-painted doors.

He knocked urgently, and a maid’s voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

The manager, heart pounding, said, “It’s me. Hurry, I need to see the madam. It’s urgent.”