Chapter 777 - 725: Imperial Kitchen! (1)
The Imperial Kitchen was perched on a hillside on the outskirts of Four-nine City. The restaurant immediately exuded a strong, retro style. Even from the outside, its luxurious decor conveyed a stately and majestic aura. Dragons and tigers, seemingly ready to leap and pounce, were carved into the solid gold stone pillars before the gate. The architecture, with its gold and silver tiles, seemed to invisibly transport one back to the imperial courts of the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The imposing characters spelling out "Imperial Kitchen" were engraved with a palpable sense of majesty.
The moment Qin Fan stepped out of the car, those large characters commanded his attention. Standing outside the Imperial Kitchen, facing this overwhelming presence, he involuntarily halted.
Status determines one’s perspective. Once upon a time, in his past life, he was but an inconspicuous ant among the masses. The most he had ever encountered were those star-rated hotels that ordinary people regarded as money pits. Through the grapevine, he had heard of the palace hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, reputed to be the most lavish of the modern age. But in comparison, the Imperial Kitchen’s intangible aura undoubtedly obliterated the so-called palace hotels! This obliteration wasn’t about the level of luxury, but the barrier to entry! With enough money, anyone could enjoy the supreme service of an eight-star hotel at any time. But could money alone get you past the threshold of the Imperial Kitchen? Considering that overwhelming aura of majesty and power, the answer was obvious!
"Mr. Qin, the Imperial Kitchen is a symbol of status! Those who come here are all of the utmost standing! To this day, I still have no clue who the owner is. It’s not just me; I reckon the number of people in all of Huaxia who know its mysterious owner could be counted on one hand! There was this tycoon from Shanxi who learned of the Imperial Kitchen’s existence and came with tens of millions in cash. He tried to barge in, planning to throw around millions just for a meal to show off! But do you know what happened? He was thrown out like a dead dog, and the next day, the relevant departments started investigating him. Unsurprisingly, how many of those who get rich quick off mining are clean? On the third day, at the airport, he wasn’t given a chance to leave the country; they arrested him on the spot! As a result, pulling up one radish unearthed the whole muddy patch—everyone involved in his illicit dealings was dragged down with him! Since then, the Imperial Kitchen has scared off many boorish upstarts who thought their wealth made them invincible! It also shocked the big shots in Four-nine City! In the past, some tough nuts would occasionally bluster and act out, but since that incident, they’ve all been damn well-behaved! Countless people have tried to uncover the truth behind the Imperial Kitchen, but after all these years, it remains a mystery! I have to say, the boss behind this place is truly on another level!"
Seeing Qin Fan standing there, stunned, Ma Yunhai sidled up to him and began his sheepish explanation. As he spoke, however, his expression grew incredibly solemn. If there was any place in Four-nine City, apart from the special areas within the Forbidden City, that could intimidate its top players, then without a doubt, the Imperial Kitchen ranked first.
Often, mystery commands reverence. The thicker the veil of mystery, the more it instills a sense of awe. This was a common human reaction when faced with the unknown, and Ma Yunhai and the others were no exception.
"Interesting! Lead the way," Qin Fan said noncommittally, nodding with a slight chuckle.
Seeing Qin Fan’s nonchalant expression, Ma Yunhai was stunned. The six hedonists from Four-nine City were also dumbfounded.
This— Was that nonchalance? Or was it contempt?
After five seconds of stunned silence, Ma Yunhai finally nodded abruptly and hurried to lead the way.
At the same time, his heart began to pound with anxiety. He had been so focused on bringing Qin Fan to the most impressive restaurant in Beijing that he hadn’t considered the man’s tyrannical character—his tendency to scorn the world, do as he pleased, and disregard all rules. If he were to start some trouble in the Imperial Kitchen, how the hell would they handle it? For a moment, Ma Yunhai couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. But things had already come to this. He could only silently pray that no blind fool would dare to provoke this Venerable Divine!
There were no greeters. There were no hosts. There were only a few waitresses in classic qipaos who occasionally glided by. Intricately arranged screens partitioned each of the dining tables. In the center of the hall, water babbled as it circulated over an artificial rockery, which was clearly a Feng Shui Bureau.
When Ma Yunhai and his group entered, no one came to greet them. Even the waitresses didn’t deign to give them a second glance. The top scions of Four-nine City seemed to hold no special status here.
"They’ve got quite the attitude here, huh!" Qin Fan remarked with a shake of his head.
"Mr. Qin, they really do have the capital to be arrogant! A year ago, a young master was lucky enough to get a reservation at the Imperial Kitchen. Unbelievably, that ignorant fool threw a tantrum, yelling and screaming because no servers were fawning over him! In the end, he had his leg broken and three ribs snapped! His family didn’t dare utter a single complaint! Here, the customer isn’t god, the staff is! Throwing a tantrum or making a scene with the staff is just asking for death!" Ma Yunhai deliberately added, hoping to prevent Qin Fan from causing any trouble.
Although he knew that even the Forbidden City was helpless against Qin Fan and that he could probably create a huge mess here without consequence, it was they who would suffer! Even if the higher-ups didn’t hold them accountable, would their old men back home not discipline them? Bullshit! Being grounded for a month would probably be considered a light punishment!
"Fucking hell! Why don’t you take a piss and see what kind of trash you are? Do you motherfuckers even have the right to sit here? Get lost! I don’t want to say it a second time. Take your food and get the fuck out of here! And wipe this table clean!"
Just as Ma Yunhai finished speaking, an arrogant shout erupted.
Huh?
Hearing the familiar voice, Ma Yunhai and his group all frowned.
"Qi Shijie?" the other six exclaimed in unison.
"It’s that idiot’s voice! Christ, I don’t get it. What does he get out of constantly picking on the weak? He never gets tired of it. Fucking hell, he’s always tarnishing the reputation of Four-nine City! Our bad name is mostly because of idiots like him!" Ma Yunhai spat, shaking his head in frustration.
But he had no intention of getting involved. Every circle had its own rules. He wasn’t so full of righteousness that he would jump in to help a stranger in need. He quickly turned to Qin Fan and said, "Mr. Qin, let’s go. The private room I booked is just inside!"
"Hm," Qin Fan nodded placidly, seemingly unfazed by the sudden outburst.
But they hadn’t walked far when a voice, filled with surprise and excitement, suddenly called out.
"Mr. Qin!"
Huh?
At the call, not only Qin Fan but also Ma Yunhai and the others stopped in their tracks. They turned to look back.
They saw a young man holding a platter of food, his face alight with an excitement he couldn’t hide. After getting a clear look at Qin Fan’s face, the young man’s throat bobbed as he cried out in disbelief, "Mr. Qin, is it really you? When did you arrive in Beijing?"