Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 18

“Officer, can he accuse me of slander?” Zhao Xiaojing noticed the man was shaken and decided to press further.

“He can, but if you’re telling the truth, it’s not slander. You could also accuse him of defamation—defaming you for slander.”

“Oh… I see. So shall I continue?”

“There’s a pair of stalls at the school gate; one has been there a long time. The owner is…”

“You just want money, right?! I’ll give it to you! I accept, I accept mediation!” the man exclaimed, panicked, fearing any more delay would be disastrous.

“Officer, I’d like the settlement finalized immediately,” Zhao Xiaojing calmly shifted her demand.

“Uh-huh, huh? What settlement? What were you saying about the school gate?” The recording officer looked confused.

“I was saying that everyone at the school gate knows each other well. We even know each other’s home addresses—very close relations.”

Zhao Xiaojing smiled at the man.

He flinched again, guilt etched on his face.

The police confirmed details, asked a few questions, and mediation became surprisingly smooth. The unruly man acknowledged everything and cobbled together the compensation after several frantic phone calls.

“Officer, if anything happens to my personal safety, this gentleman should be the main suspect, right?” Zhao Xiaojing asked the police while looking at the man.

“Of course. We keep records here, and if any harm comes to you, the police will check those records first.”

“Oh… but this gentleman seems genuinely remorseful. Surely he wouldn’t make such a mistake. Investigating my workplace relationships would be the next step then?”

“Indeed.” The officer gave Zhao Xiaojing a knowing smile.

“The People’s Police are thorough in their work, aren’t they?”

“Yes, yes!” The man forced a smile, compelled to agree with Zhao Xiaojing.

With another smile, Zhao Xiaojing turned and rode off on her tricycle.

“This young lady is incredible—so meticulous despite her youth, able to handle such a rascal.”

“Indeed, quite impressive…” At the door, two officers shook their heads, watching both parties leave.

Zhao Xiaojing felt relieved, finally smiling joyfully as she rode into the sunset.

Today was lucky—everything went perfectly.

Thanks to Li Zhi’s hint, although vague, she guessed it hinted at an improper relationship between the man and someone on that street.

The overt conflict occurred with only those two rival vendors at the gate. She speculated it was them and decided to bluff.

Unexpectedly, the guilty man faltered under pressure.

She didn’t know which vendor it actually was—nor did it matter. As long as he believed she knew, it was enough.

Her comment about stall owners knowing each other’s addresses was pure conjecture and gamble. She bet he’d fear her exposing things to the woman’s family.

This made him think she had leverage, worrying enough to dissuade retaliation.

Finally, her conversation with the police was mostly for the man’s ears—a warning for her safety, adding extra weight.

It seemed like calculated victory, but really was a mix of vague statements with bets and bluffs.

The 1,000 yuan compensation served dual purposes—teaching him a painful lesson without pushing him too far, and funding tomorrow’s customer appreciation for their support today.

Back home, opening the system page showed task progress at 1813/3500. She sold 682 skewers today, despite disruptions—thanks to parental help, everything sold out.

Adding up revenue reached 3,862 yuan, plus 1,000 yuan compensation totaled 4,862 yuan!

Though not much considering tomorrow’s restocking cost would halve it, daily highs brought immense joy to Zhao Xiaojing.

Early next morning, she appeared at the poultry wholesale market punctually.

Grateful for the parents’ strong backing yesterday, Zhao Xiaojing spent nearly 3,000 yuan on goods.

Today she’d sell chicken legs, duck legs, frames, and tenderloin—all discounted promotions.

With yesterday’s 1,000 yuan from troublemakers supporting discounts, she covered reduced earnings.

Feeling jubilant, Zhao Xiaojing indulged in her first lavish stock purchase since rebirth, ending with almost 2,000 yuan spare cash.

At home, hauling supplies upstairs took multiple trips, leaving her drenched in sweat.

Entering, she washed her hands, turned on the fan, donned an apron, and began food prep: soaking chicken legs, duck legs, and frames in large steel basins to draw out blood.

Fresh goods needed an hour soak to purge blood. After two or three washes, odors vanished.

During soaking, she sliced all tenderloins thinly.

Chicken and duck legs were tough to flavor and fry thoroughly—they needed scoring on both sides. Chicken legs required more cuts than duck legs—deeper yet not through.

Scoring done, marinating commenced—a crucial step determining post-fry flavor depth and balance.

System recipes detailed marination methods precisely, down to duration, spice ratios, and timing.

Some spices unavailable at markets led Zhao Xiaojing to pharmacies for powdered herbal blends.

Slight differences marked chicken leg/frame and duck leg marinades—all evenly coated surfaces.

Marination lasted at least an hour. Meanwhile, she threaded tenderloin onto skewers.

Next came coating—a vital aspect for meat products. Quality coating impacted texture post-frying. Perfect coating formed a protective layer, keeping juices intact during high heat for crispy exteriors and tender interiors.

Today’s skewer batch exceeded yesterday’s volume. Zhao Xiaojing lunch consisted of hastily devoured buns before completing preparations by four, rushing to school afterward.

Arriving at the alley revealed some changes in the snack street scene.

Previously hosting three simple skewer stalls, two now had tricycles and glass cabinets; one sported a huge sunshade.

Smiling, Zhao Xiaojing marveled at how her efforts improved skewer quality and hygiene standards. But scattered parents approached, appearing less happy.

“Boss…”

“Boss…”