Chapter 349 Ke Ling
"The food that Ju Xialou has been cooking lately doesn't taste right to me."

"Don't you know? Chef Abei is ill, so other chefs have been the head chefs these days. Of course, the taste is different from what Chef Abei cooks."

"I see. I was wondering what was wrong. I thought there was something wrong with my tongue."

"Other chefs are just not as good as Master Abei. Have you noticed that fewer people go to Juxialou these days?"

"Yeah, most people went to that new restaurant."

"You know what, the food in that restaurant is really good. Although it's not as good as Chef Abei's, it's much better than the current chef at Juxialou."

"Now that you mention it, I'm interested. Let's go, I'll try it too."

"I have to introduce this to you in detail. I am a frequent customer of that store."

The two of them walked away talking.

They were not the first to leave from Juxialou, nor would they be the last.

Gradually, the number of guests coming to Juxialou to eat became fewer and fewer. Only some familiar old customers were still able to support the restaurant. There were only a few tables of people in the huge hall.

If this continues, I'm afraid Juxialou will have to close down.

"Ke Ling, I'm really sorry, our strength is still far from enough."

Hong Xi was filled with guilt.

"Uncle Hong Xi, please don't say that. If it weren't for you guys supporting the business, Juxialou would have to close down."

Ke Ling said quickly.

"Hey, Ke Ling, don't blame me for being blunt. Even if a few of us hold on here, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on for much longer. Fewer and fewer people come every day, and all the customers are attracted to the new restaurant. If this continues, it will close sooner or later. We can only delay it for a day or two at most, but it won't change the situation."

Li Shun said.

Now, only Hong Xi and Li Shun are still in Ju Xia Lou. Among the four judges of the cooking competition, Fang Lei returned to his hometown and opened a small restaurant, while Liao Shengyi left Sichuan and traveled around to learn skills, occasionally sending letters back.

After the two men left, Ju went downstairs and hired a new chef to help. Although there were more people than before, their cooking skills were uneven.

When it comes to strength, Master Abei is the undisputed ceiling. There is a gap in strength, but no one else except Master Abei can support this Juxialou.

It was fine when Chef Abei was around, but now that he has fallen ill, the situation of no one to take over has been immediately exposed, and Juxialou, which was once the best restaurant in Sichuan, has instantly become a second-rate restaurant.

Even a newly opened and unknown restaurant can show off its power over them.

No matter how aggrieved and upset Hong Xi and Li Shun felt, they had to accept reality.

Hong Xi sighed, "Oh, if only Xu Qing or Shao An were still here, we wouldn't be in this situation now, and we wouldn't be bullied by a newly opened restaurant and have our customers taken away."

Li Shun said, "Shaoan hated us when he left. If he comes back, we don't know whether it will be a good thing or a bad thing. As for Xu Qing, haven't you heard? Xu Qing is very impressive now. Not only has he become the chef of Yangquan Restaurant, the most prestigious restaurant in Guangzhou, he has also received the golden brocade clothes bestowed by the emperor! Even officials have to stand three inches shorter when they see him. And Guangzhou is full of gold and is known as the 'food capital'! How could he come back to our poor and remote place? Even if you ask him to come back, he won't come back."

Ke Ling said angrily: "Xu Qing is not that kind of person! He said that he would definitely come back because this is his home." Li Shun sighed: "Ke Ling, uncle, as a person who has been through this, I tell you that you can't trust what men say."

Hong Xi frowned and said, "Okay, just stop talking. If you have time to gossip, you might as well get back to work."

"Yes, yes, I was too talkative. Ke Ling, don't take it seriously, I was just joking."

Li Shun apologized repeatedly and quickly turned around to run to the kitchen to help.

Ke Ling was angry and bitter, with tears welling up in her eyes.

Master Abei has been ill for more than a week. During these days, she wrote a letter to Xu Qing every day and sent it to Guangzhou, but she never received a reply, not even a single one.

Ke Ling kept comforting herself, thinking that maybe the journey was too far and the letter had not been delivered yet, or maybe the delivery person was delayed on the way.

But no matter what, after such a long time, there should be a letter sent back, even if it's only one.

Judging from the time, the reply should arrive in the next two days.

But these two days, Ke Ling has been feeling uneasy.

She was afraid, what should she do if she didn't get a reply?
If it is true as Uncle Li Shun said, that after Xu Qing has seen the more prosperous and wealthy Guangzhou, he will never want to come back again, and even doesn't want to have any contact with them, then what should we do?
Although she knew Xu Qing was not that kind of person, Ke Ling still couldn't help but think the worst.

In addition, her mother's condition did not improve and Ju Xialou's business was getting worse day by day. All the pressure was on her young shoulders, causing the girl to grow up quickly, but also making her experience the bitterness and sweetness of adults too early.

Li Shun just made a joke, but it was like a fuse, triggering all the sorrow and depression that Ke Ling had been feeling for the past few days.

She was just a child after all, and at this moment she could no longer hold back her tears, her face covered with tears.

Hong Xi could only wipe her tears and comfort her softly, "Don't listen to Li Shun's nonsense. He is just like that. He is a man with no control over his words. He doesn't use his brain when he speaks. You can't spit out ivory from a dog's mouth. If you take his words seriously, he will make you angry to death in the future."

"I know Uncle Li Shun was joking, I just..."

Ke Ling wiped her tears hard.

At this time, A Mao happened to come back. Seeing Ke Ling crying with red eyes, he immediately became anxious: "Sister, who bullied you? I'm going to settle the score with him!"

Ke Ling quickly shook her head, holding back all the grievances and depression in her heart, as well as the tears that had not yet flowed. Now was the most difficult time, she couldn't cause any more trouble for everyone, and couldn't let everyone worry about her.

Ke Ling took a deep breath, wiped away all the tears on her face, and said with a smile: "No one bullied me, it was just sand that got in my eyes, but I'm fine now."

When Hong Xi saw that Ke Ling was so sensible and strong, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Ke Ling said that they were supporting Ju to go down the stairs, but that was not the case. The one who was actually supporting Ju to go down the stairs was the girl in front of her.

It was her strength that helped them find a new backbone after Master Abe fell ill, and helped them know what to do next.

Although Ke Ling is not good at cooking, her extraordinary strength and resilience make her a replica of Master Abei. She is truly worthy of being Master Abei's daughter.

(End of this chapter)