"As a chef and someone who was born into a family of chefs, I absolutely understand what you were thinking at that time." Li Qi nodded repeatedly and said, "However, the appearance of the crab roe feast made you realize that the real opportunity was coming."

Zhang Chun'er hummed and said: "Master Cai has always been a guest at the Four Kingdoms Banquet, and his evaluation is very important. Although he was at home when he became an official, I know that the emperor thinks highly of him, especially in terms of food, so if there is

With Master Cai's help, everything will go much smoother. More importantly, I also heard that General Manager Zuo is looking for a successor."

Li Qidao: "So, you regard the crab roe feast as your springboard to enter the imperial dining room."

Zhang Chun'er said: "Yes, I have tried my best for this, but it's a pity that because of your appearance, I fell short in the end. To be honest, I was very unconvinced at the time. I have tasted your crab roe tofu, and it's not me Zhang Chun'er who said

Literally, the taste of your crab roe tofu dish is slightly inferior to my dish of 'Hundred Sons and Thousands of Suns'. It's just because your dish is served at the end, and Taishi and his friends have eaten more greasy dishes in front of them, so they are more able to taste it.

Highlight the taste of your dish, but the most important thing is your words, otherwise, it’s still unclear who will win.”

Li Qi smiled and said: "Mrs. Zhang, you can't say that. Your dish is also a bit of a slap in the face. It's just that everyone chose different directions. Besides, since it's a competition, of course everyone relies on their ability. The result is

I won, and I won reasonably."

"I know that."

Zhang Chun'er nodded helplessly, changed the subject, and said: "But this does not mean that I will think that your cooking skills are superior to mine. Therefore, I have always wanted to compete with you openly. Later, when you entered the imperial dining room,

And I participated in the Four Kingdoms Banquet on behalf of the Song Dynasty, which made me even more angry. Because this qualification originally belonged to me."

Li Qidao: "I didn't know that the crab roe banquet meant so much to you, but even if I knew it, I would still try my best to win, because the crab roe banquet is also very important to me. Besides, this matter has been in the past for a long time.

It’s useless to say anything now.”

"Yes! It's useless to say more now." Zhang Chun'er nodded and said, "But I really want to know why you just don't want to compete with me again."

Li Qi snorted and smiled: "I'm afraid you've been hiding this question in your heart for a long time, but you should also know the answer. In fact, as the number one cook in Tokyo, you are definitely qualified to compete with me. But, don't you

I know that since you left Fan Lou, you have become my enemy. Since you are an enemy, of course I will not give you any favor. The more you want to compare with me, the less I will compare with you and deal with enemies. I never know how to do it.

He who is kind-hearted and soft-hearted, even if it is just a little effort."

"As expected."

Zhang Chun'er sighed softly and said, "Do you also think that it was wrong for me to leave Fan Lou?"

Li Qidao: "I'm not sure, but in my personal opinion, your approach is definitely not correct. Mr. Fan has saved your life and raised you. Isn't it ungrateful for you to do this?"

Zhang Chun'er asked back: "Mrs. Qin and Shopkeeper Wu of Zuixianju also have the kindness to save your life and help you, but why didn't you sell yourself to Zuixianju for this kindness? Why did you try your best to follow Qin's side?"

Madam wants 50% of the shares, and I am not afraid to tell you that the biggest reason why I left Fan Lou was because of your influence."

This statement made Li Qi stunned for a moment, and he thought to himself that if he had his character, he would probably not be able to work as a chef in Fanlou for a lifetime. He hesitated for a moment and then said: "Judging from the current facts, both Mrs. Qin and Uncle Wu have obtained

You have made more, and Fan Lou has suffered heavy losses because of your departure. I think your example is unconvincing."

"But that's what it is."

Zhang Chun'er said: "When people go to higher places, water flows to lower places. Before you appeared, I thought that cooks should stay in the kitchen all their lives, but you told me that cooks can actually do a lot more, and can even do more than

Ordinary people have to do better. I saw that you and Cai Yuanwai have become the leading wealthy businessmen in Tokyo. You even became an official. I thought why don't I do this. If I don't change now,

Then I will have to stay in the kitchen for the rest of my life, and my fate will probably be the same as that of your former chef, Master Zhou, of Zuixianju.

In this regard, Fan Lou cannot give me anything, because Mr. Fan will not allow anyone to take Fan Lou away from Fan Shaobai. I ask myself that I am not Mr. Fan’s opponent in business, so I chose to set up my own business, which I have never done.

I don’t think there is anything wrong. As for Mr. Fan’s kindness, I don’t think I should use my whole life to repay it. Then what’s the point of my life? I have been cooking diligently in his Fan Building for more than ten years. I should also

It's almost done. However, Mr. Fan's death was beyond my expectation. I could have left a long time ago. But Mr. Fan was not in good health at the time, so I waited until he got better before leaving. But I didn't.

Come to think of it, he finally left."

Unexpectedly, the starting point of the matter still lies with me. Li Qi thought it was funny and said: "Maybe what you said is very reasonable. No one likes to be inferior to others, but why did you write that letter and why did you want to collapse it again?"

Fan Lou?"

Zhang Chun'er shook his head and said: "I have explained this a long time ago. My departure cannot be hidden from Mr. Fan. Although Mr. Fan had handed over most of the business to Fan Shaobai at that time, he was still the real helmsman.

Therefore, once I leave, someone will immediately tell Mr. Fan. Instead of doing this, I might as well tell him personally and explain it clearly to him. As for the collapse of Fan Tower, I think this has nothing to do with your Zuixianju and Jade Pavilion.

There are similarities in the relationship between them. There is a saying that one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers. Since I have chosen to set up my own business, I must defeat Fan Lou. Moreover, Fan Shaobai will not let me go. Jin Lou and Fan Lou compete with each other.

inevitable."

Li Qi suddenly glanced sideways at Zhang Chun'er and said with a half-smile, "I believe Yuan Cai and I are not the real reason why you left Fan Lou."

Zhang Chun'er smiled softly and said, "Is this what you care about most?"

Li Qi nodded and said: "Although I am a little dissatisfied with your approach, I can at least understand it. To be honest, if Zuixianju refused to sell me the shares, I would have chosen to leave, but maybe the way

I will be different from you. I will wait for the best time. But that doesn’t matter. Everyone has their own ideas, as long as they don’t do anything harmful to nature. However, the reason why you left is not simply because you want to start your own business.

This is also the main reason why I regard you as my enemy."

Zhang Chuner said: "Then how much do you know?"

Li Qidao: "Jin Kingdom."

Zhang Chuner suddenly chuckled.

Li Qidao: "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Zhang Chun'er shook his head and said: "You are right, I am indeed helping you with the Kingdom of Jin."

What kind of tricks is this woman playing? You must be honest. Could it be that she wants to persuade me to defect to the Kingdom of Jin? No one should be so stupid! Li Qidao: "You are also half Han, so you don't have to worry about your conscience being hurt by doing this."

To be condemned?"

Zhang Chun'er said: "But the Kingdom of Jin gave me everything I wanted. Besides, only the Kingdom of Jin is willing to give me all this. Do I have any other choice? Although the Kingdom of Jin destroyed the Liao Kingdom, I don't know anything about it.

I don’t hate the Jin Kingdom, but I am very happy to see the Liao Kingdom perish, and it would be best to kill that foolish king Yelu Yanxi.”

At this point, she restrained herself a bit, as if she didn't want to describe the grievances too much, and returned to the topic. "Just when I was extremely envious of you and your Zuixianju being prosperous, my senior brother suddenly sent someone to deliver a message.

He told me that he had become the imperial chef of the Kingdom of Jin and would come to Tokyo to attend the Four Kingdoms Banquet. He also advised me to join the Kingdom of Jin. However, the reason that moved me the most was that they would give me a restaurant in Tokyo.

Among the seventy-two main stores, the one I know best is Fan Lou’s old rival Pan Lou. Moreover, I also know that Pan Yuanwai was suppressed by Fan Lou and had long wanted to quit. Coupled with the rise of Zuixianju,

He was already beyond his means, so I quietly bought Pan Lou from Pan Yuanwai and gave him a sum of money that he might never be able to earn in his life, on the condition that he leave Tokyo."

"You did hide it from many people at that time, including me." Li Qi recalled the scene at that time and couldn't help but sigh. He had never been able to understand why the Jin State chose Zhang Chun'er. What was there in Zhang Chun'er that was worthy of Jin Guo's trust?

Yes, now he finally knows that Zhang Chun'er is a Khitan and has such a relationship with the imperial chef of the Jin Kingdom. He added: "However, there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. A restaurant may not be as valuable to a country."

It’s nothing, but I believe that Jin Guo will not give it to you for nothing.”

Zhang Chun'er said: "You are right. Their request may be simple or difficult. It is to let me know everything near Tokyo, including the terrain, defenses, and the situation of the forbidden army."

Li Qidao: "You did it."

Zhang Chun'er hesitated for a moment and said: "I should say that I have done everything I can, but I can't say that I have completely achieved it."

Li Qi's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said calmly: "It seems that the Kingdom of Jin is very satisfied with your meticulous work."

Zhang Chun'er smiled and said, "You can say that."

Li Qidao: "I believe that when you learn all this, you should also know what Jin Guo wants to do, right?"

Zhang Chun'er nodded and said: "They made it so clear. How could I not know? Obviously, the Jin Kingdom was planning to attack the Song Dynasty at that time. Maybe you don't know one thing. In fact, this matter has something to do with He Shilie who came to Beijing at that time.

It has nothing to do with Bo He, he was not involved in the whole thing, there is someone else behind the scenes."

Li Qi already had the answer in his mind, but he still asked: "If you don't mind, I would like to know?"

"That is the second prince of the Jin Kingdom, Wanyan Zongwang." Zhang Chun'er said.

Sure enough, it is this guy. He has been planning for so long, no wonder he can't wait now. Li Qi said: "It turns out to be him! It's not surprising."

At this point, he looked up at Zhang Chun'er and said: "As you talk, you are confusing me. Why do you want to tell me all this? Do you want me to defect to the Kingdom of Jin? If that's the case,

Then I can only say that I am very disappointed with you, and I am an official of the Song Dynasty. Do you think it is possible for you to get out of here after you confess?"

Zhang Chun'er smiled and said, "Do you think I would do such a stupid thing?"

Li Qi shook his head and said: "No, so I am very curious about it."

Zhang Chun'er said: "The economy makes you so smart, can't you guess it at all?"

Li Qicheng sincerely asked for advice: "It's not that I'm pretending to be low-key. I really have no clue as to the purpose of your trip. I'd like Madam Zhang to give me some advice."

This was quite the truth. He still couldn't figure out Zhang Chun'er's intention.

"I am really proud to be able to make the economy unable to do anything." Zhang Chun'er laughed and said: "Actually, the reason is very simple. It is that the Kingdom of Jin is ready to invade the Song Dynasty."

Li Qi frowned and said, "This reason is really unique. I would like to hear the details."

Zhang Chun'er said: "This time the envoy from the Jin Kingdom came to Beijing and brought me a letter. The letter told me that within three months at most, the Jin Kingdom would send troops to attack the Song Dynasty, so that I could be prepared to respond internally.

"

Li Qidao: "Did the letter also say that you should tell me all this?"

"of course not."

Zhang Chun'er smiled and said: "I came to you on my own initiative."

Li Qi frowned and said, "In other words, you have betrayed the Kingdom of Jin."

Zhang Chun'er nodded and said, "You can't say that, because I have never submitted to the Kingdom of Jin."

"Why?"
To be continued...