Jiang Beicheng's evaluation of Li Ji's general manager, Zeng Haifeng, was blunt and brutal: utterly worthless.
This guy, a little punk who used to follow him around playing in the mud as a kid, was the type to snitch to teachers about everything in school. Jiang Beicheng had always looked down on him.
During their school days, Zeng Haifeng repeatedly tried to worm his way into Jiang Beicheng's circle, only to be mercilessly kicked out each time.
This guy liked to play dirty, and in a way that made people sick. The two of them could never get along.
In the years after Zeng Haifeng's father struck it rich, Zeng started showing off, especially during college. He had to compete with Jiang Beicheng in everything.
Jiang Beicheng rode motorcycles, so Zeng did too. Jiang Beicheng dated the campus beauty, so Zeng tried to flirt with her as well…
It was as if his life's goal was to outdo Jiang Beicheng.
Truth be told, Jiang Beicheng never even gave him a proper glance. To him, Zeng was like a clown, not worth his attention.
Sure, Jiang Beicheng's lifestyle might seem reckless, with a hint of the spoiled second-generation heir vibe.
But born into a family like his, the education he received from a young age, the broadened perspectives, and the way he thought… all of it far surpassed most of his peers.
His only shortcoming was that his manners and demeanor weren't refined enough for high-society occasions like forums, meetings, or gatherings, where his father shone. That kind of polish required time and experience.
Recently, Jiang Beicheng had been reading books to improve himself.
When he heard that Zeng Haifeng was managing Li Ji restaurant, he braced himself for the worst.
The reality of Li Ji was likely even worse than he'd imagined.
As he stepped into the kitchen, all eyes turned to him.
"Young Master Jiang!"
Executive Chef Wu Zhonghui looked shocked.
Jiang Beicheng scanned the room. Few familiar faces remained; the kitchen team had clearly undergone a major overhaul.
"Old Wu, carry on," Jiang Beicheng said calmly, glancing at the ingredient display area.
His face showed no trace of a smile, just a constant frown.
Using farmed ingredients instead of wild ones was bad enough, but vacuum-sealed, quick-frozen products?
Could that even be called "seafood"?
Yet the prices on the menu hadn't dropped one bit.
"They've gone money-crazy!"
Jiang Beicheng's expression was grim as he left the kitchen.
Wu Zhonghui and Xu Ru followed him. Jiang Beicheng casually ran his hand over a wine cabinet—covered in a layer of dust.
As he passed the staff break room, he caught a glimpse inside.
Xu Ru and Wu Zhonghui exchanged a glance, their hearts torn.
They feared Jiang Beicheng seeing the restaurant's sorry state but also hoped he'd notice and bring change.
Though Li Ji no longer belonged to the Jiang family, back when Zeng Wei begged Li Yun to transfer ownership, he'd promised at Li Yun's bedside to maintain the Li Ji brand and treat its employees well.
Through the crack in the door, Jiang Beicheng caught sight of the scene inside.
It could only be described as a chaotic mess.
Waitstaff sprawled haphazardly on sofas, some picking at their feet, others smoking, spewing profanities.
This current batch was almost entirely different from the group of young women his mother had trained back then.
"Young Master Jiang, sorry you had to see this. But that's the reality," Xu Ru said, lowering her head in shame.
"I'll go talk to Zeng Haifeng…"
Before Jiang Beicheng could finish, he was interrupted.
"No need for Young Master Jiang to make a special trip. I'm here at the restaurant today," Zeng Haifeng said, striding toward him in a sharp suit. "I was just having a meal when it got noisy outside. Turns out, Young Master Jiang is here to inspect the place."
His tone dripped with smugness.
"Mr. Zeng~"
Another familiar voice called out. Zhou Yu hurried over, originally intending to prevent Zeng Haifeng and Jiang Beicheng from meeting. Now, the worst-case scenario had unfolded.
She looked at Jiang Beicheng with a strange expression, even suspecting that his big scene today was an act of revenge against her.
To ruin her chance at clinging to a powerful figure.
She was now deeply worried that Jiang Beicheng might expose her.
Li Xingying stood beside Jiang Beicheng, her gaze unfocused, mind blank. The situation had spiraled beyond her control.
"Manager Xu, is Young Master Jiang unhappy with the food? Or does he have some valuable feedback about our service?" Zeng Haifeng asked Xu Ru.
Xu Ru glanced at her old boss and her new one, nodding silently. As a small player, she didn't dare get involved in a clash between these two rich kids.
Even if she leaned toward Jiang Beicheng, she couldn't say it outright—she was still eating the Zeng family's rice.
"If Young Master Jiang isn't satisfied with the food, just have the kitchen swap it out. No need to make such a fuss and disrupt our business!" Zeng Haifeng said. "Not long ago, my dad mentioned you.
He told me to keep an eye on you and offer help if you needed it.
Our new hotpot restaurant in the North District opens at the end of the month. If Young Master Jiang hasn't found a job yet, I can make a call and get you a spot as a store manager. How's that?
The pay's negotiable."
His words sounded casual, not overtly biting.
But the damage was immense.
Only those who knew both Jiang Beicheng and Zeng Haifeng could grasp the sheer insult in those words.
Back when Jiang Tao was still in power, would Zeng Haifeng have dared to speak to Jiang Beicheng like this?
Aside from badmouthing Jiang Beicheng behind his back, he wouldn't even dare face him in person.
There's a gap even between second-generation heirs.
Not to mention, Zeng Haifeng's father, Zeng Wei, only rose to prominence with Jiang Tao's support.
At this moment, Zhou Yu was probably the only one secretly thrilled.
Recalling how Jiang Beicheng had just kicked her out, Zeng Haifeng's words now felt like sweet revenge.
Jiang Beicheng smiled and said, "Are there even any customers in the restaurant?"
The sarcasm was dialed to the max.
The dining hall was practically empty. Even during the lunch rush, only a few private rooms had guests, likely just business connections.
It was a glaring testament to how dismal Li Ji's business had become—and how incompetent Zeng Haifeng was.
Zeng Haifeng's face darkened. "Young Master Jiang, it's just a meal. No need to get emotional.
Tell you what, if you're unhappy with today's food or service, I'll comp your meal. Please, find somewhere else to eat."
He kept piling on.
His words, laced with mockery, were essentially telling Jiang Beicheng to stop stirring trouble.
He was outright kicking him out.
Zhou Yu's face broke into a smile. She felt lucky—her newly hooked "Mr. Zeng" had a way with words. That speech had thoroughly humiliated Jiang Beicheng.
Suddenly, Li Xingying stepped forward. "No need for a free meal. Is this how you, as the general manager of a restaurant, treat your customers?"
Zeng Haifeng glanced at Li Xingying with a smile, then said to Jiang Beicheng, "Your family's in this state, and you've still got a girl sticking by you, supporting you. True love, no doubt. Cherish it."
"Manager Xu, do as I said," Zeng Haifeng said, placing a hand on Zhou Yu's shoulder, turning to leave.
Xu Ru suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Zeng, just to confirm, you're comping this table's meal?"
Zeng Haifeng looked at Xu Ru, puzzled, his expression clearly saying, *Didn't you hear me? Get rid of them.*
Xu Ru continued, "Mr. Zeng, one thing to report. Young Master Jiang opened that jar of Guyue Longshan vintage wine from the cellar, worth 138,888."