The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

"When I was in school, our class monitor was a stellar student, but he was introverted and didn’t talk much. There were a few mischievous students in the class who often intercepted him after school, wouldn’t let him go home, and demanded money. Eventually, one day, the monitor suddenly tailed after the leader of the group and smashed a brick directly on his head, sending the student to the hospital."

"My eldest son, Zhiyuan, has been rebellious since he was young. When he got into fights at school and came home, I would pin him down on a bench and whip him with a belt."

"People aren’t born willing to be bullied. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered."

"You all are still young and not adults yet. When you make mistakes, getting scolded or hit a few times can serve as a lesson and prevent bigger mistakes in the future."

"There’s still time to change."

"If my son does something wrong, I will definitely discipline him, but I need to know the reason first, so I can discipline him properly and to the necessary extent."

"When our class monitor hit someone, even though it was the other student’s fault, the school and the teachers got involved, and after a thorough investigation, he was found to be the victim. However, he injured the other student, so his family had to cover the medical expenses."

"But afterward, those students who bullied him initially just received a disciplinary record. However, the monitor’s family wouldn’t let it go, repeatedly lodging complaints to the education bureau, accusing the school and teachers of being irresponsible and negligent, submitting to TV programs, and protesting at school demanding justice."

"The issue became very public, and in the end, the student who led the bullying was persuaded to leave the school."

Zijing was stunned, looking at Wang Zhanjie with uncertainty.

Who’s being scared here!

Just because of bullying a classmate, they were persuaded to leave?

But looking at Wang Zhanjie’s expression, he inexplicably felt that everything he said was true.

If he were to be persuaded to leave the school, he didn’t even dare to think about it.

Zijing’s face turned red, wanting to say something, but instinctively glanced at his companion.

The companion had been hanging his head, staring at his feet.

Zijing was annoyed; at a critical moment, he suddenly played the weakling.

He couldn’t accept this accusation; he had to defend himself: "You’re blocking us from going home today, just because your son paid for the treat, right? We came to eat together with our classmates, there were over ten of us, why are you blocking us and not letting us leave?"

"If your son didn’t treat, would we have followed? If he didn’t want to treat, why did he pay?"

"We’re just classmates and friends. Friends treating each other to meals is completely normal, and now that parents found out, it becomes our fault?"

"Fine, then I won’t hang out with your son anymore! We’ll cut ties and pretend we were never friends!"

"It’s not like anyone cares; in our class, nobody likes him! I’m the only one who talks to him!"

"From now on, I won’t bother with him anymore; let him play by himself!"

"You’re the ones bullying us now! If my dad were here, let’s see if you’d dare to block me and not let me leave!"

Wang Zhanjie only spoke after Zijing finally stopped: "Do you want to know what I would do if your dad were here?"

"Then I’ll tell you now, I would feel ashamed for your dad and argue with him about today, asking why your son bullied my son, extorted him to pay for the meal, and incited classmates to ostracize my son."

"We’re not from the same generation; I’m your elder, and you’re someone else’s child. I can’t possibly lay a hand on you."

"But if your dad stood in front of me today, I definitely wouldn’t let him off easily."

"Your son bullies my son, fine, then I’ll bully you!"

As he spoke, Wang Zhanjie reached for the bag on his eldest son Wang Zhiyuan’s shoulder, unzipped it, and let Zijing see the contents inside.

Zijing leaned over and saw a wooden handle of a knife poking out of the bag opening, the blade wrapped in paper, but its shape unmistakably a kitchen knife.

Zijing’s pupils contracted, fear creeping into his eyes: "What, what do you intend to do?"

No matter how unruly he was, Zijing was just a high school student, inexperienced with the ways of the world, essentially still naive.

At the moment he discovered the kitchen knife in the bag Wang Zhanjie was holding, he felt the hair on his back stand on end.

He hadn’t expected the usually timid Wang Jinrui to have such a father.

At first glance, he seemed mild and courteous, speaking without any airs, dressed in a security uniform, indicating the family probably didn’t have much money or influence.

But now it seemed he definitely wasn’t the kind of parent afraid of causing trouble; his words sounded like he wanted to smooth things over and be reasonable, but...

Wang Zhanjie said coldly: "What do I intend to do? If today your dad stood in front of me, I’d make him understand what ’a lack of proper upbringing is a father’s fault’ means!"

Wang Zhanjie’s tone wasn’t passionate, even almost too calm, but to Zijing, it sounded like drums pounding against his heart.

He was scared.

Genuinely terrified.

He fully believed that if his dad were here today, Wang Zhanjie might, without a word, pull out the knife and harm someone.

Because looking at Wang Zhanjie, he seemed like a man of his word, someone who never went back on what he said.

Zijing’s demeanor visibly shrank, and he struggled to keep his chin up as he spoke: "Well, my dad’s not here right now, what, you’re going to stab me?"

"I’m telling you, hurting people is against the law! If you dare touch me, you, you try..."

Although it was a fierce sentence, his trembling voice made it sound much less intimidating.

Facing Wang Zhanjie’s gaze again, Zijing couldn’t help but avert his eyes, daring not to meet his gaze.

The turn of events happened the moment Zijing finished speaking.

All along standing silently on Wang Jinrui’s right, who hadn’t uttered a word, Liu Tao suddenly spoke: "Uncle, today’s matter was our fault, originally we just planned to have a meal with a few good friends. Ended up playing too hard, lost track, and ordered too much food and drink. For this meal, we’ll discuss it among ourselves, how about we split the bill?"

"We’re all classmates with Wang Jinrui, usually get along well, today we did go too far, I apologize to Wang Jinrui, it won’t happen again."

Zijing gaped at Liu Tao.

Liu Tao quickly took the chance to apologize to Wang Jinrui, giving Zijing a look that said: Don’t seek trouble when facing the truth!

After apologizing, without looking back at Zijing’s expression, Liu Tao assured Wang Zhanjie he wouldn’t bully Wang Jinrui anymore, saying he’d get along well with him in the future.

And unexpectedly, Wang Zhanjie casually accepted Liu Tao’s apology and assurance, even stressing: "Since we’re friends, then today’s meal, let’s just say Xiaorui treated you, and you don’t need to split the bill. However, if this happens again, I hope, first, it doesn’t take time away from class. Second, you can come directly to me if you want to eat something, and talk to me."

Liu Tao agreed repeatedly; once Wang Zhanjie waved his hand, indicating he could leave, he quickly made his exit.

Zijing was left bewildered watching this scene unfold.

He confusedly watched Liu Tao slip away easily while Wang Zhanjie, who seemed determined not to let it go easily, let him off so lightly.

What does this mean?

Only he was left singled out?

Why’s that?

Didn’t he just say he wanted to deal with his parents, let his dad understand what ’a lack of proper upbringing is a father’s fault’ means?

Zijing didn’t know, but as Liu Tao passed by him, he almost cursed inside.

Bullying someone is already wrong; he was clearly at fault.

Now that someone’s parent came to confront, isn’t it better to quickly bow and apologize, why be stubborn?

What if they go to the school, go to his home afterwards?

He realized Wang Jinrui’s dad was tough, not someone to provoke or mess with.

He’s decided, as long as he gets out of this smoothly today, he’ll never trouble Wang Jinrui again in the future.

Too damn scary!