Chapter 8: Alleyway Beef Offal

Chapter 8 Beef Offal in the Alley

Just as Yun Fan had anticipated, the overcast sky they arrived under had now given way to a downpour.

Wen Haochen’s convertible was out of the question; driving back to Wen Yanlan’s residence in it would land him on tomorrow’s headlines.

Liu Erxing held up his car keys, and Yun Fan and Wen Haochen piled into Wen Zhaofu’s car. Their plans for beef offal were dashed, leaving Yun Fan with a faint sense of regret.

In contrast, Wen Haochen was ecstatic. Leaning forward from the back seat, he eagerly recounted Yun Fan’s impressive feats to Wen Zhaofu. Wen Zhaofu listened quietly, neither nodding nor shaking his head, betraying no excitement.

Observing Wen Zhaofu’s reaction, Yun Fan felt a knot of anxiety. He wondered if Wen Zhaofu viewed the day’s events as mere tomfoolery.

Yet, when Wen Haochen had first proposed hiring Yun Fan to hurl insults, Wen Zhaofu hadn’t objected.

No matter. Wen Haochen had already transferred the payment, and Yun Fan wasn’t about to refund it, regardless of what anyone said.

After two blocks, raindrops streamed down the car windows, blurring the outside world—a reflection, perhaps, of Yun Fan’s recent tumultuous experiences.

Still, he had always been one to live in the moment. For instance, the money he had just earned filled him with a profound sense of satisfaction.

"Big Brother, I recall you once mentioned a place near your home that serves excellent beef offal. Let’s head there," Wen Zhaofu’s voice cut through the quiet car, clear and distinct.

Both Yun Fan and Wen Haochen’s eyes lit up. Wen Haochen had completely forgotten about the earlier plan and hadn’t even noticed Yun Fan’s disappointment at missing out on the beef offal.

Now, with his older brother proactively solving the problem, he no longer saw Wen Zhaofu as the stern disciplinarian who had struck him that night, but rather as an angel.

"Big Brother, I thought you didn’t eat street food?" Wen Haochen asked eagerly, but received no reply from Wen Zhaofu.

Upon their arrival, the driver parked discreetly, then stepped out to open the door: "Second Young Master, Butler Yun, we’ve arrived."

"Mr. Zhaofu, aren’t you joining us?" Yun Fan paused, glancing towards the back seat.

Wen Zhaofu offered a faint smile. "You two enjoy. It’s on me."

As the car door slowly closed, Yun Fan caught a glimpse of Wen Zhaofu inside, looking down at his tablet. For some reason, he felt a touch of melancholy from this powerful magnate, who commanded respect by day.

"Sir, aren’t you hungry?" Yun Fan persisted, asking once more.

Wen Haochen nudged him towards the shop. "Big Brother has strict dietary requirements—doctor’s orders. He can’t just eat anywhere. Let’s eat quickly and hurry back so we don’t miss his dinner time."

"Ah? He has a set dinner time?" Yun Fan scratched his head. "I thought he could eat whenever he wanted?"

The driver went to place their order while Wen Haochen explained, "It’s all because Uncle Cheng is so strict. The doctor said finishing dinner before seven is beneficial for his recovery, so he insists Big Brother gets home by then."

Since it was a medical instruction, Yun Fan dropped the subject. The beef offal was served, its enticing aroma filling the air.

To be precise, it was a mixed platter of beef offal: tripe and intestines with a satisfying chew, hand-beaten fish balls and beef meatballs that were springy and soft. There was also beef bone marrow, which slid down like jelly with each sip.

Yun Fan’s favorite was the radish at the bottom of the bowl—stewed until flavorful and bursting with juices.

Liu Erxing, who couldn’t make it due to an unexpected matter, truly had excellent taste. These specialized street stalls, focusing on a single dish, always offered the most authentic flavors.

But with Wen Zhaofu not eating, Yun Fan’s enjoyment gradually waned.

The driver finished first and went to settle the bill, chatting briefly with what seemed like old neighbors. Meanwhile, the carefree Wen Haochen ate until his forehead was sweaty and, still not full, ordered an extra bowl of noodles.

Yun Fan noticed he particularly enjoyed the beef heart and lungs—perhaps he was making up for what he lacked.

Checking the time, Yun Fan urged Wen Haochen to hurry. Wen Haochen wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Let’s go, Big Brother must be getting impatient."

Wen Zhaofu was still on his tablet in the car and smiled as they returned. "Did you enjoy the meal?"

Yun Fan answered before Wen Haochen could, nodding eagerly. "Yes, yes, let’s head home quickly."

*

The driver, having chauffeured Wen Zhaofu for years, drove with practiced smoothness. The luxury car was quiet, and with no one speaking, the atmosphere was perfect for sleep.

If he weren’t mindful of his role as a butler, Yun Fan would have dozed off right there.

As they neared home, Wen Zhaofu cleared his throat and turned to Wen Haochen. "About the caviar... I’ve already hired a lawyer. We’re taking legal action."

"Something like this—you needed to vent, and I need to handle it."

"From now on, focus on your studies. You’re about to graduate—don’t cause any more trouble."

After all that, it still fell to Wen Zhaofu to clean up the mess. Wen Haochen lowered his head.

Wen Zhaofu glanced at Yun Fan, who smiled back, once again thinking this man had far too much on his plate.

Returning a little late, the old butler’s exasperated cries could be heard from the entrance of Langyun Terrace all the way into the main hall. Unable to bear it, Yun Fan spoke up: "Mr. Wen is very busy—it’s unavoidable if he can’t always return on time. As butlers, we should be flexible."

"Who’s agitated? I’m not agitated!" The old butler turned to Yun Fan. "Weren’t you out with the Second Young Master? Why did you return in the Eldest Young Master’s car?"

The weather was stifling, and Wen Zhaofu, knowing he was late, was inevitably anxious. A thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead. Noticing his pale complexion and poor condition, Yun Fan ignored the old butler, pushed the wheelchair forward, and tossed out, "I’ll take the sir to change first."

"Hey! Why aren’t you following procedure?" the old butler shouted after them.

"I’m slacking off!" Yun Fan yelled back just as loudly.

All along the way, Yun Fan’s muttering reached Wen Zhaofu’s ears: "Eating a meal feels like going into battle—where’s the joy in that? No wonder you don’t enjoy meals. Is this punishment?"

"Not even letting someone change clothes—this is your own home. Why dress so formally?"

"Da Liu was right—he’s such a traditionalist."

Suppressing a laugh, Wen Zhaofu reached back and patted Yun Fan’s hand. "Xiao Yun, don’t clash with him because of me."

"It’s for work," Yun Fan said with a frown, already forming a plan in his mind.

That evening passed without incident, though under the old butler’s dissatisfied gaze. Wen Zhaofu didn’t know what Yun Fan might do but didn’t want to say more, lest Yun Fan think he was siding with the old butler.

The old butler’s family had served the Wen family for generations—he probably knew the household better than Wen Zhaofu did. Since Wen Zhaofu returned to Hong Kong with his grandfather, the old butler had been overseeing his daily life.

By traditional butler standards, Wen Cheng was exemplary. But there was a generational gap between him and Wen Zhaofu, which naturally led to differing perspectives.

Still, this wasn’t the most urgent matter for Wen Zhaofu to address, so he and the old butler had coexisted awkwardly until now.

Perhaps that balance was about to be disrupted.

*

Cheng Yu’s visit to Hong Kong wasn’t just for his cat. After a short rest, he went to the Wen Group and, with Wen Zhaofu’s permission, attended several internal meetings.

Since Wen Qichang had stepped back from active management to become a nominal chairman of the board, Wen Zhaofu’s workload had increased dramatically. He was extremely efficient, and those newly joining his assistant team often struggled to keep up.

Even so, he still brought work home with him every day when he returned to Wen Yanlan’s residence.

The Wen family was now highly prominent, but after tailing Wen Zhaofu for several days, journalists found no gossip to report. His daily routine was almost strictly two points—home and work—with little variation.

The only exception was some time ago when he deviated from his usual route to visit a beef offal shop. But when he arrived, he didn’t even get out of the car.

Truly baffling.

Cheng Yu came to Wen Zhaofu's office and sampled the coffee beans that had just been flown in fresh. Wen Zhaofu sat in his wheelchair by the window, smoking a cigar.

He didn't inhale, only letting the smoke linger in his mouth.

"Want one?" Wen Zhaofu turned and asked Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu shook his head, still holding his cat in his arms. Wen Zhaofu smiled and said, "I have people watching. If that person comes to snatch the cat, we’ll know as soon as they reach Hong Kong."

This didn’t reassure Cheng Yu, who still refused to let go. Wen Zhaofu asked curiously, "Why are you so protective of this cat?"

"It provides far more emotional value than people do," Cheng Yu replied with a smile. "You probably wouldn't get it."

Wen Zhaofu looked into his eyes and said with depth, "How do you know I haven’t?"

Just as Cheng Yu gave him a curious look, Wen Zhaofu turned his head back toward the bright window and blew a smoke ring.

In the distance was the sea, vast and boundless. Clouds drifted in the sky, seemingly within reach from such a high floor.

As the sun began to set, he got a call from home. After understanding the message, Wen Zhaofu paused for a moment.

Yun Fan and the old butler had gotten into an argument at home. Liu Erxing was siding with Yun Fan, and Wen Haochen was so anxious he was about to cry.

Everyone in the Wen Group’s executive office watched as Wen Zhaofu, seated in his wheelchair, showed rare signs of worry. Cheng Yu followed behind him as the two left together.

"Seriously, why can’t we just wear casual clothes?" Yun Fan exclaimed impatiently. "First, where I come from, only insurance salespeople and real estate agents dress like this all day! Second, I checked with the other seven major houses—they stopped dressing like this ages ago. As long as it’s appropriate, it’s fine."

Just as Wen Zhaofu and Cheng Yu arrived home, they saw Yun Fan and the old butler in a heated argument. Liu Erxing stood by with his arms crossed, while Wen Haochen was pacing anxiously, only to be held back by Liu Erxing pressing a hand on his head.

"This is tradition! This is the style of a gentleman! This is what we ought to do!" the old butler insisted, standing his ground.

Wen Zhaofu tapped his fingers, quickening the pace of his wheelchair. Steadying his voice, he said, "Xiao Yun, have some water and sit down. Let’s talk about this calmly."