The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Wang Zhanjie spoke every word deliberately, with his strong chest heaving under the down jacket, gripping Dai Zijing’s big hand with force that made his knuckles turn white.

His demeanor definitely wasn’t issuing a warning to Dai Zijing—it looked like he wanted to hit someone.

He was truly angry.

Wang Zhanjie questioned hoarsely, with black eyebrows against a pale face. At that moment, he couldn’t control himself, his fist almost bleeding from the tight clench, his eyes dark, as he reached out and gave Dai Zijing a push.

Wang Zhanjie didn’t need to ask for details to guess how Wang Jinrui had been bullied at school.

The dignity and emotions of a father were deeply hurt at that moment. It was extremely painful, and he felt both heartache and regret.

Dai Zijing, this little bully, deserved to land in Wang Zhanjie’s hands; he just didn’t know Wang Jinrui had such an impressive father.

As his body swayed, Dai Zijing stumbled back two steps from the forceful push. He barely steadied himself, only to be pushed again, this time falling directly onto the ground.

Wang Zhanjie was burning with anger but had no outlet, so he circled Dai Zijing several times.

The opponent really couldn’t withstand a beating. These couple of pushes felt like pushing into cotton, sinking directly in, making him embarrassed to attempt a third strike!

Their group had been talking normally, although blocking the restaurant’s entrance steps, no one paid attention.

But now, a sudden scuffle caught the attention of the bystanders, even the greeter inside the restaurant glanced over.

Fu Yu saw this and quickly went over, signaling to the greeter that there was no need to call security.

He could tell these two adults were measured and knew their limits, so the situation wouldn’t escalate.

Dai Zijing sat on the ground with a thud, hitting his tailbone so hard it went numb.

Sitting there in embarrassment, his panic, fear, helplessness, and regret suddenly erupted, and he even began to cry.

He buried his face in his arms and sobbed.

Wang Zhanjie, a bit helpless, frowned and looked at him for a moment, walked over, squatted down, and said: ”I haven’t really hit you yet, so why are you crying?”

Dai Zijing, not caring about dirtying his white down jacket, cried until his face was red and he was out of breath.

He was just an ordinary high school student, well-protected by his family, who usually only interacted with peers and hadn’t experienced much adversity.

Wang Zhanjie reached out to help the child up: ”I’ll pull you up, come on, get up quickly!”

The big boy Dai Zijing actually started sulking, indulged in a rare, cathartic cry, refusing to get up from the ground!

Wang Zhanjie was both amused and exasperated: ”Why are you throwing a tantrum with me? Enough, get up quickly!”

Dai Zijing cried with a red nose: ”You’re the one who pushed me down!”

Wang Zhanjie wiped his face, at a loss: ”Such a big guy, crying just like that, aren’t you embarrassed?”

He grabbed Dai Zijing’s arm, supported him from under the ribs, and coaxed and dragged the crying, tantrum-throwing lump off the ground.

Wang Jinrui stood by, sobered by the cold wind, watching Dai Zijing, who had been a crybaby, throwing a tantrum on the ground. He could hardly believe his eyes.

Was it really this foolish little bully who had been bullying him for so long?

He wasn’t actually that tough either!

The fear of being intimidated by him vanished instantly, like a bursting bubble.

In the end, that day, the incident evolved into a small confession meeting.

Wang Zhanjie helped Dai Zijing up from his tearful state, patted the dirt from his down jacket, and even told his eldest son to run to a nearby bubble tea shop for a few drinks, offering them to the other party.

As a father, Wang Zhanjie believed that what he did for Dai Zijing was more than enough.

Sticking up for his son, first courteous then combative, venting his anger and making the bully cry. After warning him, he even had to clean up the mess and offer bubble tea?

Moreover, in between, he helped the two kids by calling their teacher to cover up their truancy...

Dai Zijing held the bubble tea, not drinking, just staring blankly at Wang Zhanjie.

He hadn’t expected Wang Zhanjie to phone the teacher and not only refrain from snitching but also help cover up the truancy.

Dai Zijing said: ”...Thanks for earlier.”

Wang Zhanjie said: ”No need for thanks. If you dare to skip class again, I’ll break your legs on behalf of your teacher. Your family works hard to send you to school for learning, not for skipping class to get drunk! You better not drag my son into skipping again.”

Dai Zijing dare not mess with Wang Jinrui again?

Absolutely terrified, profoundly nodding, with a fearful look: ”I, I’ll stay far away from him, I won’t play with him anymore.”

On this end, they engaged in a amicable discussion, with apologies and commitments duly made.

Meanwhile, Fu Yu stood there watching the whole scene, greatly moved, thinking that being a dad was truly a challenging task.

Seeing Wang Zhanjie get a commitment from Dai Zijing, he let the boy go.

Fu Yu turned around to hail a taxi on the roadside to head to Shangshi Private Kitchen.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he had stood still, the Wang family of father and sons also arrived at the roadside, preparing to hail a cab to leave.

Leaving from the restaurant entrance, Wang Zhanjie and Wang Zhiyuan led Wang Jinrui over to wait for a taxi.

Wang Jinrui followed nervously behind his dad and brother, worried that his dad might hit him.

Wang Zhiyuan kept an eye on the passing cars, ready to flag down a taxi.

Wang Jinrui, watching his brother’s actions, nervously suggested: ”Brother, why don’t we just take the bus home?”

Actually, their family was fairly well off.

His dad and mom both had jobs, and his brother was already working, the three of them supporting his education. They didn’t lack for food or drink, but the family was frugal, managing very carefully.

Wang Zhiyuan chuckled, patting his brother’s head: ”It’s already late, doesn’t your school have evening classes to attend?”

”Xiaorui, Dad’s been worried for the past few days, afraid something might really happen to you. I didn’t dare to say much. Dad said no matter how big the problem, you’re still the family’s child. As long as you’re not really hurt, there’s nothing to be afraid of; our family will stand by you.”

Wang Zhanjie looked at his younger son, laughing lightly.

As long as his son was safe and sound, nothing else mattered.

Tears streamed down Wang Jinrui’s face, and Wang Zhanjie sighed, patting his head: ”It’s okay, I know it’s not easy for you at school, getting bullied and feeling wronged.”

Wang Jinrui sobbed, ”Dad, that Dai Zijing is really terrible. He only picks on honest students like me.”

”Our class’s study monitor, who is similarly reticent and about my height, also got bullied by him. Last time, he plagiarized an assignment and even tore the monitor’s workbook.”

”Every day he steals my lunch money. When it’s snowing heavily outside, he makes me run to the supermarket to buy him food. He snatches my homework and curses at me. If I resist, he gathers people to block me, won’t let me use the bathroom, and tears my papers.”

Wang Zhanjie said, ”I know, Xiaorui, your brother and I both know.”

”Son, in this world, there will always be people like that, who bully and oppress, doing evil without reason, picking on the honest and obedient.”

”Avoid these people like stepping in dog poop.”

”But we’re not Han Xin; I’m not telling you to become outstanding by enduring humiliation.”

”When someone bullies you relentlessly, you need to fight back.”

”Life is long, but remember this: no matter how narrow the path, you can still walk through it.”

”As I’ve always said, we don’t provoke trouble, but we’re not afraid of it either, understand?”

Wang Zhanjie used his rough hand to wipe away Wang Jinrui’s tears: ”Son, life is long, and you’ll meet all sorts of people. Remember the good ones, find ways to repay them. As for the bad ones, just stay clear of them.”

Wang Jinrui nodded vigorously, crying: ”Dad, I’m sorry, I used up all my New Year’s money and savings. Today I treated everyone to a meal and spent all my savings. There’s nothing left.”

Wang Zhanjie, upon hearing this, actually felt relieved: ”Alright, spent is spent. That money was meant for you anyway.”

As long as the money was earned honestly, consider it the cost of peace.