Yet, the two men waited until 3 pm. As the last satisfied customer left, their stomach full, there was no hint of any food-related discomfort.

Seeing the waitstaff approach, both hastily contemplated an inconspicuous exit.

"Hold on." Yu An Tong emerged from the kitchen, intercepting them, "Remind Shen Yun Qing to catch up on today's social news."

"What do you mean?" The duo, hearing Shen Yun Qing's name, panicked internally, "Have we been recognized?!"

Exchanging nervous glances, they retorted defiantly, "What are you rambling about? We don’t understand!"

Yu An Tong offered a knowing smile, stepped aside, and cleared their path. The pair, dripping with cold sweat, swiftly exited with heads bowed.

Come 6 or 7 in the evening, Immortal's Banquet saw its dinner rush peak.

"It's half-off for their grand opening today, better seize the chance to try."

"I'll pass. I have a penchant for Ju Ying Tower's dishes."

"Hey! I guarantee, once you try it, Ju Ying Tower won’t hold the same appeal."

"Is it really that amazing?"

"Let's go, my treat."

Those who dined here at noon went back and recommended the newly opened restaurant to friends and colleagues. As a result, the evening rush was several times busier than lunch. Many couldn’t find a seat and had to take a number to wait.

A young man who joined the crowd began to grow impatient, mumbling, "It's too crowded. Should we go elsewhere?"

The middle-aged man in front of him, who had eaten there at noon, turned and said, "Good things come to those who wait. This place is worth it. If you don't mind, we can share a table when my number's called."

The young man, a food enthusiast, was easily persuaded, "Is it that good? Okay, I'll wait then."

Bored, he browsed his phone, catching every news notification.

"Concerned citizens have reported issues with vegetables sold by Maoyuan Vegetable Factory. Upon receiving the hotline tip, our TV station promptly contacted the Food Safety Bureau. They immediately arrived at Maoyuan for on-the-spot sampling."

"Test results indicate that some vegetables sold by Maoyuan contain pesticide residues significantly exceeding the standard."

"Currently, all the contaminated vegetables have been destroyed. Maoyuan has ceased operations and is under investigation."

"What's concerning is the vast quantity of vegetables Maoyuan sells daily. Notably, the renowned restaurant chain, Juying Tower, sources from them for five of its branches. It remains uncertain if any toxic vegetables reached the market. Further investigation is underway..."

The young man played the news aloud. The older man listening alongside remarked, "It's hard to know what's safe to eat these days."

People behind the young man, initially annoyed by the loud volume, whispered to each other, "Thank goodness we came here, or we might've been poisoned at Juying Tower."

"Number 78," called the waiter.

"That's me."

As the waiter led the older man to his table, the talkative diner couldn’t resist asking, "I just heard about Maoyuan’s vegetable issue on the news. You don't source from them, do you?"

The waiter paused, then assured with a smile, "Sir, rest assured. Our restaurant exclusively uses quality vegetables from Rongding Company. Every batch undergoes strict quality tests, ensuring our customers dine with confidence."

The purchasing manager of Xianren Banquet, after seeing the news, greatly admired Yu Antong, but also felt a close shave. "Boss, if you hadn't spotted the issue, our restaurant would've been ruined today."

Deep down, Yu Antong was not as calm as he appeared. Those lunatics actually tampered with the vegetables. He shuddered at the thought of the consequences if they had unknowingly used contaminated produce.

At that time, he felt Maoyuan's excessive concessions were suspicious, so he investigated the company. The findings showed that their production and sales channels had remained unchanged. Clearly, they weren't expanding into high-end vegetable markets as claimed.

It was a clear trap.

Why would a vegetable distributor want to deceive and harm his newly opened small restaurant? It made no sense.

Revisiting the documents, Yu Antong noticed the surname of Maoyuan’s boss was Bai, who was also a supplier for Juying Tower.

The surname Bai and a connection with Juying Tower...

Bai Ying!

Yu Antong suddenly remembered the man he chatted with at the bar alongside Shen Yunqing. Shen referred to him as Bai Ying. If Bai Ying is associated with Maoyuan, everything would make sense.

It must be Shen Yunqing seeking revenge, conspiring against him with Bai Ying!

Having pieced the puzzle together, Yu Antong devised a counterstrategy. He instructed the purchasing manager to simultaneously negotiate a long-term contract with Rong Ding, and feign interest in testing a batch of vegetables from Maoyuan for potential profit.

He then asked Xing Lixuan to connect him with journalists he knew and officials from the Food Safety Department. Timing it perfectly, he planned a surprise inspection just before Maoyuan's vegetable delivery.

To be honest, Yu Antong wasn’t certain if there was anything wrong with these vegetables. He's no omniscient being; he can't predict everything. If Maoyuan was innocent, there would be no harm done; if not, they only have themselves to blame.

The truth is, harm unto others eventually harms oneself.

The two sneaky individuals in his restaurant were sent by Shen Yunqing. Shen had instructed them to cause a scene at Yu Antong's place: if any diner showed signs of food poisoning, they were to immediately take pictures and videos, loudly claiming the food was tainted and lethal, doing everything they could to tarnish the restaurant's reputation.

However, their plans were doomed to fail. Not only did their schemes fall flat, but they were also left salivating over a table of enticing dishes they couldn't eat. Hungry and frustrated, they slinked back to report to Shen Yunqing.

"How is it possible that no one fell ill?!”

In a fit of rage, Shen Yunqing hurled a set of porcelain cups to the ground. They shattered with a crisp sound, leaving sharp fragments scattered everywhere.

The two trembled in fear, "He must've realized something was amiss. He told us to remind you to check today's social news."

Shen Yunqing puzzled, "Social news? What does that mean?"

An inkling struck him, and he quickly searched for news related to Maoyuan.

[Maoyuan sells toxic vegetables: Who ensures food safety?]

[Shock! Juying Restaurant suspected of using toxic vegetables from Maoyuan!]

Shen Yunqing collapsed weakly into a chair, “How did this happen?”

Even if Maoyuan had issues, how did it get linked to Juying Restaurant?

The two cautiously inquired, "Mr. Shen, can we get our wages for today?"

Despite their lack of results, they did put in a day's effort, didn’t they?

"Get out! All of you, out!” Shen Yunqing furiously threw a wad of cash at them.

They quickly picked up the money and hurried away.

Once composed, Shen Yunqing immediately rushed to the company to manage this crisis.

"Immediately release a PR statement clarifying our ingredients are flawless, and send legal notices to the misleading media!”

"Mr. Shen, should we terminate our collaboration with Maoyuan?"

Shen Yunqing responded, "Yes, yes, end it at once."

While the incident has had its impact on Ju Ying Tower, the storm will eventually pass. However, the blow dealt to Mao Yuan was catastrophic.

With the news of toxic vegetables going public, which restaurant would dare collaborate with Mao Yuan?

Bai Ying and his father were running around like headless chickens, seeking connections and favors everywhere. It was then that they received the notification from Ju Ying Tower terminating their contract.

Bai Ying, seething with anger, dialed Shen Yunqing: "Shen, what's the meaning of this? Trying to burn the bridge after crossing the river, are you?"

Shen Yunqing replied coldly, "Had it not been for your ineptitude and your botched job, none of this would have happened. And Ju Ying Tower wouldn't have been dragged into it."

"Very well, I was blind not to see through you, the treacherous hound," Bai Ying sneered, "Perhaps, Mr. Shen, you'd like to hear this."

Bai Ying played a recording on his device, and the voices of both him and Shen Yunqing were clearly audible—

"My father has agreed. Are you genuinely going to honor our conditions?"

"Absolutely, as long as you help me transport those compromised vegetables to Yu Antong's place, Mao Yuan will supply all the vegetables to every branch of Ju Ying Tower in the future."

Shen Yunqing gripped his phone tightly, the veins in his hand bulging, "You dared to record our conversation!"

Bai Ying shut off the recording, a smirk on his face. He'd kept this ace up his sleeve at the advice of his father, not expecting to use it so soon. It was almost laughable.

Bai Ying stated, "Mao Yuan's downfall is entirely your doing. If you neglect our plight, don't blame me for turning against you. Do you think you can still hold your position as the CEO of Shen Corp once this recording goes public?"

On the weekend, Xing Lixuan had some work, so he spent the day at the company. When he returned in the afternoon, he noticed smoke wafting from the corner of their villa's yard.

On closer inspection, there were two large black iron pots with wood fires beneath them.

Yu Antong and Grandma Xing were each tending to a pot, feeding the fire with more wood.

Xing Lixuan was perplexed, "Yu Antong, what on earth are you doing?"

"Lixuan, you're back! Come here," Grandma Xing called, spotting him, "Look at these pots Yu got. We're making clay pot chicken."

They say the older one gets, the more childlike they become. It seemed Grandma Xing was proving this true, forgoing her usual decorum to join Yu Antong, both seated on little stools, cooking over the pots.

[omitted as irrelevant]

Xing Lixuan exclaimed, "Grandma, you too are indulging in his antics?"

"Hush, I won't have you speak ill of Yu," Grandma Xing defended Yu Antong, "You wouldn't understand. The meat cooked in these large pots is exceptionally aromatic."

"Let's not give him any when it's ready, Grandma. Let him salivate and envy!" Yu Antong said, buoyed by the support, perfectly embodying the phrase 'bold because of one's backup'.

Xing Lixuan felt left out, "One pot isn't enough?"

Though smaller than the traditional village cauldrons, these pots were still much larger than regular rice cookers. Cooking in two such pots at once, could they even finish it all?

Yu Antong clarified, "Mine contains clay pot chicken, and Grandma's has pork stew with glass noodles."

The Wang couple, who lived next door to the Xing family, were walking their dog home. As they reached the Xing residence, their Husky stubbornly refused to take another step.

"Woof! Whimper!"

The dog's barking drew the attention of Yu Antong and the others. They saw a Siberian Husky pressed against their ornate iron gate, drool pooling beneath it.

Catching the scent, Mr. Wang also grew curious and called out, "Li Xuan, what delicious dish is cooking at your place? It smells irresistible!"

Their Husky, who usually hates to return home after a walk, was surprisingly eager to head back today. But it wasn't the home it was interested in, but rather the tantalizing aroma from next door.

As the pot's lid was lifted, a rich aroma wafted through the air. The mere scent was enough to whet one's appetite, making a simple meal seem worthy of three bowls of rice.

"Bark, bark! Howl! Awooo~"

The Husky's barks grew even more fervent, its demeanor suggesting it wouldn't leave unless it got a taste. It certainly lived up to its goofy reputation.

Grandma Xin approached the door, "Mr. Wang, dinner is ready. Why don't you both join us?"

Mr. and Mrs. Wang swallowed hard, politely replying, "Oh, we wouldn't want to impose."

"We're all neighbors, always in each other's sight. There's nothing imposing about sharing a meal. My daughter-in-law made a delectable pot chicken, and I assure you, it's delicious. We've made plenty. Please, come and join us."

As the door opened, the Husky, pulling its owners along, dashed inside the Xin's house. Mr. and Mrs. Wang hurriedly tried to restrain their eager pet, "So sorry for the intrusion."

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