C14 How Can He Cause Trouble When He Is Not Full?

Uncle Lin's head was pounding, and he was utterly bewildered.

Was this... the underdog's comeback?

He couldn't fathom what had transpired to compel the family patriarch to issue a decree, with the butler personally delivering the message, signaling disapproval and caution.

Where was Young Master Lin Dong?

And what about Madam Lin Qiu?

Could it be that the Lin family's power dynamics were experiencing a seismic shift?

Having managed the Lucky Mug for many years, Uncle Lin was adept at reading people and navigating the intricacies of business, adept at diplomacy and assessing risks and benefits.

He had followed Lin Dong's orders to the letter in the past, refusing to feed Lin Xi without fear of repercussions.

With Chef Lin gone, who would give him face?

After all, Lin Xi was considered a good-for-nothing.

Moreover, these were the wishes of Young Master Lin Dong.

And the Young Master's wishes were as good as the future patriarch's.

Isn't it a merchant's instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm?

Yet, at this moment, Uncle Lin was completely at a loss.

He desperately needed to understand what had happened within the Lin family estate that could have enabled the once-dismissed Lin Xi to suddenly rise up.

Sweating profusely, he nodded and bowed, assuring compliance with the patriarch's commands.

Lin Buji simply nodded, showing little interest in Uncle Lin, and addressed Lin Xi directly:

"Lin Xi, you must be hungry, right? Just tell Manager Lin what you'd like to eat so he can get it ready for you. Isn't that right?"

Lin Xi glanced at Uncle Lin.

"Um... Manager Lin, is breakfast available?"

Uncle Lin mopped his brow and beamed a sunny smile.

"Absolutely! Lin Xi, let's not dwell on the past. Right now, just tell me what you're craving. Hey, someone go check if Lin Erpo is around?"

A server hurriedly dashed into the Lucky Mug to find Lin Erpo.

Lin Erpo, now the top chef in Chef Lin's absence, scurried out, grinning obsequiously upon seeing both the manager and the Lin family's chief butler.

However, Lin Xi was blatantly disregarded by him.

When Head Chef Lin was around, Lin Erpo lived in his shadow, cooking excellent dishes but always overshadowed and unable to gain recognition. His resentment for Head Chef Lin ran deep, and by extension, he also despised Lin Xi.

After Head Chef Lin vanished, Lin Erpo took every opportunity to belittle and humiliate Lin Xi. At that moment, his emotions were a tumultuous mix, as if a bottle of mixed flavors had been knocked over inside him.

A server hurriedly briefed him on the situation. Lin Erpo was stunned, his discomfort growing.

He thought, "They expect me to cook breakfast for this nobody? Why should I?"

However, with the Chief Butler and the Head Manager present, he dared not refuse the task.

"What would you like me to prepare, Manager?" he asked.

Lin Boqun looked at Lin Xi with a warm smile. "Something light, perhaps?"

Lin Xi dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. "Why bother with light fare? Don't we have that Level Two Demonic Beast meat? I'll have tiger meat stir-fried with spiritual bamboo shoots, Octadic Treasure Chicken stewed with mushrooms, Jade Ganoderma sautéed with Heavenly Sparrow, Explosive Roasted Cloud Leopard loin, and a large pot of Long-teeth Rice with lean meat porridge. Four dishes and a porridge should be just enough to satisfy my hunger..."

As Lin Xi listed the dishes, Lin Boqun's smile remained unchanged, though his lips twitched slightly. These dishes, while not Lucky Mug's signature offerings, featured Level Two Demonic Beast meats and other rare ingredients like spiritual bamboo shoots, fresh mushrooms, and jade ganoderma—all highly valuable.

Such a breakfast could easily bankrupt a modest household.

Lin Erpo's face turned a ghastly pale, his eyes seething with barely concealed loathing. He twisted his apron as if it were Lin Xi's face, his voice thick with anger, "Four dishes and a porridge? You think you can actually eat all that?"

Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, giving Lin Erpo a sidelong glance. "That's none of your concern, is it? You're just a cook. Where's this attitude coming from? Just go and cook... and make sure to use one-foot-wide plates. A small plate wouldn't even be enough to pick my teeth with, hehe..."

Shaking with rage, Lin Erpo's rotund figure quivered like a jelly. He shot Lin Xi a venomous look and stormed off.

Lin Xi waved goodbye to Lin Erpo's retreating figure.

"Hey, Lin Erpo, make sure to use the biggest pot for the porridge, the kind that can satisfy ten people. Otherwise, if it's not enough, you'll have to start all over again..."

Uncle Lin winced with a toothache, while Lin Biyun smiled knowingly.

The cook and the waitstaff were stunned.

Among them, a helper as skinny as a short bamboo pole stood out with his flushed and excited face.

This helper worked alongside Lin Xi, handling the Demonic Beast meat.

He was the same age as Lin Xi and the only friend Lin Xi had at the Lucky Mug.

Wherever Lin Xi went, he was mockingly called a good-for-nothing, while this helper was nicknamed "Reed."

Reed was shy and often bossed around, the kind of person who went unnoticed at the bottom of the pecking order.

But Reed was sharp-witted. Besides ingratiating himself with the cooks and other staff, he was genuinely kind to Lin Xi in private.

For instance, Reed often helped Lin Xi sneak out a piece of Demonic Beast meat every day.

Seeing Lin Xi turn his fortunes around, Reed was even more thrilled than Lin Xi himself, clenching his fists tightly and his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Lin Xi shot Reed a knowing glance, and Reed got the message. He turned on his heel and dashed back into the restaurant.

"Manager Lin, would you care for some morning tea?"

Uncle Lin gave Lin Bufan a smile, uncertain whether the butler would stay or go.

At that moment, he was hoping Lin Bufan would leave so he could quickly gather information and make the most advantageous decision for himself.

Lin Bufan, fully aware of Uncle Lin's ulterior motives, simply smiled and decided not to leave.

He wanted to give Uncle Lin a hard time, but he was also curious to see what kind of miracle would unfold after Lin Xi finished his meal of four dishes and porridge.

...

Lin Erpu, frustrated and with no outlet for his irritation, lashed out at the waitstaff.

"What are you thinking? Do you believe you're a chef just because you can chop a few vegetables? Hurry up and prepare the meat slices, where are the green onions, ginger, and garlic? Have your hands fallen off? You all eat like pigs, and your cooking is even worse. Get it out of the pot, onto the plate, and serve it up!"

Lin Erpo spat directly into the freshly stir-fried tiger meat and spirit bamboo shoots.

All the waiters turned a blind eye, while a shadow flickered at the door—it was Reed.

One waiter, with a plate in hand, made his way to the table where Lin Xi was seated, a gleeful grin hidden behind a sweet demeanor.

"Lord Lin Xi, please enjoy your meal..."

Lin Xi, with Reed at his side, nodded. Lin Biyun and Lin Boqun were seated at a nearby window table, observing the scene.

Lin Xi picked up a pair of chopsticks and leaned in to smell the dish.

"Ah! It smells so delicious, it's making me drool..."

He was about to take a bite when he suddenly paused, his nostrils flaring as if he caught an unusual scent.

"Hmm? Hold on, it actually does smell like saliva. Reed, did you see me drooling earlier? I didn't accidentally drool into it, did I?"

Before Reed could respond, the waiter who had brought the dish quickly interjected.

"Lord Lin Xi, you definitely did not drool. I saw everything clearly, there was absolutely no drool!"

Lin Xi looked puzzled, glancing between Reed and the waiter.

"No? Then where is this saliva smell coming from?"

He then pulled the waiter closer.

"Smell this, smell this. It's a strong saliva scent, isn't it?"

The waiter didn't even want to think about it, the mere thought was nauseating.

"Lord Lin, truly, there's no smell of saliva!"

Lin Xi scoffed:

"Really? Is it my nose that's malfunctioning, or are you congested?"

He picked up the plate and handed the waiter a pair of chopsticks.

"No saliva smell, you say? Then eat one and prove it. Go on, eat!"

He thrust the plate right up to the waiter's mouth.

The waiter was on the verge of tears.

He had bullied Lin Xi before, but never this eagerly.

Now, he had hoped to watch Lin Xi eat the tainted dish, yet he found himself coerced into eating Lin Erpo's saliva.

At that moment, Uncle Lin's expression was sour.

Lin Biyun watched him with a smirk that left him utterly bewildered.

"Hey, Lin Scallion Cake, are you going to eat this or not? Do you really think I won't crack your skull open and pour it down myself?"

Lin Xi's face contorted with anger as he glared at the waiter, whose face resembled a scallion pancake.

Lin Scallion Cake, fighting the urge to vomit, shakily took the plate and began to eat, bite by bite. His facial muscles twisted grotesquely, looking more repulsive than if he were eating excrement.

Lin Xi let out a cold laugh, arms folded, eagerly anticipating Lin Scallion Cake's next move.

After a few bites, Lin Scallion Cake could no longer contain himself and vomited on the floor with a retching sound.

The plate and chopsticks were discarded.

Was there any need for further explanation?

Lin Scallion Cake's reaction said it all.

Lin Biyun turned to Lin Biyun.

"Shopkeeper Lin, is this how you run your establishment?"

Lin Biyun was seething with rage.

When was it not okay to spit? Why did this have to happen in front of the steward?

He rose to his feet and stormed into the kitchen, only to freeze in shock, his body shaking as if he were about to lose his flesh.

"You... You've done a fine job..."

Just then, Lin Biyun appeared behind Lin Biyun, observing the chaos in the kitchen with a detached gaze.

In the kitchen, the cooks and helpers were lined up, each taking their turn to spit into the second dish prepared by Lin Erpo.

At that moment, a scrawny, withered worker named Lin Fur Monkey was in the act of spitting.

With a series of clatters, Lin Biyun's entrance caused Lin Erpo to fumble, and the dish crashed to the floor. The food splattered onto his shoes, a filthy mess.

"I... I..."

Lin Fur Monkey, about to spit, turned around at the commotion and let out a terrified yell, collapsing to the ground unconscious.

The other kitchen staff were petrified, their legs cramping as they exchanged looks of ashen despair.

Without needing a word from Lin Biyun, Lin Biyun exploded in fury.

"Lin Erpo, you bastard! And the rest of you ingrates, listen up! From today, you'll work without pay for a year. Your meals will be nothing but leftovers and swill. If any of you dare to pull another stunt, I swear I'll flay you alive!"

After waiting for at least an hour, Lin Xi's table was finally set with four dishes and a bowl of porridge.

Lin Xi glanced at Lin Bufan and murmured, "Uncle Lin, would you like to join me for a meal?"

Lin Bufan shivered with emotion. Despite Lin Xi's reputation for being good-for-nothing, he had never been known to address anyone as 'uncle' before. Lin Bufan understood that Lin Xi was showing him appreciation and acknowledgment.

Yet, with a smile, Lin Bufan replied, "I'm not hungry, nephew. You go ahead and eat up. You need to grow strong..."

Lin Xi gave a wry smile and said, "Exactly! How can I stir up trouble on an empty stomach?"

Lin Bufan was at a loss for words, and Uncle Lin felt a chill run down his spine. Were they gearing up for a hearty meal before settling some scores?

Lin Xi beckoned Reed to sit beside him. "You skipped breakfast, didn't you? Come on, have something to eat with me!"