Chapter 046: Mass Food Poisoning—What Perfect Timing for the Reporters

At three in the afternoon, the sun blazed so fiercely that even the dogs were too lazy to venture outside.

Inside the shop, a powerful black electric fan whirred tirelessly. Everyone sat in a circle, preparing ingredients for the evening’s meal.

Running a restaurant was exhausting work. Not only did you have to handle the ingredients and cook the dishes well, but you also needed to take care of your guests. If you expanded recklessly, chasing after profits, you’d soon find yourself completely worn out.

Zhang Tianfeng had talked to Fourth Uncle about this many times, but the old man always insisted that this kind of exhaustion brought him happiness and fulfillment.

Since Zhou Runbo had left and no new staff had been hired, Zhang Tianfeng joined in to help out.

“The vegetables are ready—take them and wash them clean,” someone called out.

“I’ll do it!” Wang Li shot his hand up high, grabbed the basin of vegetables, and ran outside.

“The mutton’s been sliced—wash it quickly, we need to marinate it or we’ll run out of time.”

“I’ll do it!”

“This sea fish is prepared, take it for further processing.”

“I’ll do it.” It was Wang Li again.

He darted back and forth, stacking the three kinds of ingredients together and carrying them off to be washed.

“This guy’s a bit too diligent today, it’s almost unnatural,” thought Gao Ran, lounging in the back room, enjoying an ice pop in front of the fan, just like the boss.

“What’s wrong with being diligent? Unlike you—I told you to help, not to sit here eating ice cream and cooling off,” Zhang Tianfeng shot him a glare.

Gao Ran huffed in protest, “I’m not your employee. At best, we’re business partners. You have no right to order me around.”

“Say one more word and next time there’s money to be made, I won’t bring you in,” Zhang Tianfeng retorted, watching Gao Ran flush with anger. Zhang Tianfeng stifled a laugh—still think I can’t put you in your place?

“Ah Feng, don’t be so harsh with Miss Gao. She’s a friend, after all,” Fourth Uncle Zhang Jizheng interjected in a soothing tone.

Now that Zhang Tianfeng had fired Zhou Runbo, he had likely already earned the disfavor of Qin Lin. If he bullied Gao Ran as well, Qin Lin might really retaliate.

“But Miss Gao’s not wrong—Wang Li is acting strange today,” Fourth Uncle added.

Back in Xiyan City, Wang Li had been quiet, never eager, just average in his work. His performance today surprised even Zhang Jizheng, who had been his friend for years.

“Maybe Zhou Runbo’s departure gave him a sense of insecurity. Anyway, let’s get back to work. Later, let’s see if we can find an unemployed worker to help as a server—someone familiar.”

“Alright, leave it to me.”

By five in the afternoon, most vendors along Night Market Street were ready, but Zhang Tianfeng’s group was still preparing.

“Wang Li, what’s taking you so long?”

“Almost done, almost!” Wang Li called out, returning moments later, drenched in sweat and carrying a large tray of food. He grinned sheepishly, “Sorry, I suddenly had a stomachache and had to run to the bathroom, boss, don’t punish me.”

“It’s fine—just make sure it’s the last time. Don’t repeat the same mistake,” Zhang Tianfeng replied.

Zhang Tianfeng always had patience for those who sincerely admitted their mistakes—even giving them another chance.

Wang Li nodded eagerly, inwardly beaming. He had just finished spiking the water tank—specifically bought laxatives for this—but he hadn’t added it to the food, rather to the water tower used by all the Night Market Street vendors.

His plan was simple: if he was the only one acting so diligent and something went wrong with the food, he’d be the first suspect. But if every shop on the street had problems, he’d not only avoid suspicion but also leave a good impression on Zhang Tianfeng. It was also a safeguard against Xu Juncong playing tricks on him.

Wang Li’s self-serving scheme not only derailed Xu Juncong’s plan to ruin Zhang Tianfeng with a single blow, but inadvertently gave Zhang Tianfeng a unique opportunity—to earn fame in Zhucheng.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Zhang Tianfeng was jolted awake by Hong Mao.

“Boss, something bad happened! You need to get up!”

“Why are you yelling so early? Are you dying or something?”

“It’s not me dying—it’s you!” Hong Mao cried. “Over ten thousand people got food poisoning! It’s in the papers—look!”

[Tangwan Town rocked by food poisoning incident, affecting over ten thousand people.]

[Summary—Tangwan Town reported a mass food poisoning event, main victims are factory workers who ate at the factory canteen and night market street…]

If it made the paper, it meant the city’s Food Supervision Bureau was already aware. The authorities had probably already sealed off all the night market shops.

Qin Yuelan was roused by the commotion and snapped alert upon reading the headline.

“Boss, what do we do now?” she asked.

“What do we do? We run!” Hong Mao announced, brimming with confidence. “I have contacts—whether you want to go to the Southern Isles or across the ocean, I can arrange it. Just say the word, boss, and—”

“We’re not running,” Zhang Tianfeng interrupted. “We stay and face it head on.”

“What? Face it?” Hong Mao paled. “Boss, over ten thousand people poisoned! The compensation alone could ruin us.”

“Damn it, you talk as if I’m the one who poisoned them.”

“No, no, I’m just worried you’ll be framed,” Hong Mao replied with a foolish grin.

Upstairs, Wang Li, who had been eavesdropping, broke out in a cold sweat, his legs giving way beneath him.

“So what’s our next move?” someone asked.

“We take the blame—what else can we do?”

At present, the only known fact was that over ten thousand people had been hospitalized for food poisoning, though the cause was still unclear.

City leaders in Zhucheng would surely bear the brunt of the blame, whether or not the fault was theirs. If Zhang Tianfeng stepped forward—not necessarily taking the fall, but drawing most of the fire—he could earn their notice. That was his first motive: to make himself known as a responsible figure in their jurisdiction, making official matters easier in the future.

Secondly, the food poisoning would eventually be investigated and the truth revealed, but until then, Zhang Tianfeng would be a target for public outrage—not only from the ten thousand victims and their families, but likely from Zhucheng’s millions, perhaps even beyond.

But when the official notice came, clearing Zhang Tianfeng’s name, what would happen then?

Most people would simply forget, few would apologize, but the focus wasn’t on the apology—it was on how many people now knew his name.

That was Zhang Tianfeng’s second motive for stepping up: fame! An essential ingredient for achieving great things.

Without explaining any of this, Zhang Tianfeng rushed out the door, followed by Qin Yuelan and Chen Jiaqi, then Hong Mao.

“Old Wang, why aren’t you going too? Show some loyalty!” Zhou Runbo called from his bed.

The house belonged to Gao Ran, and Zhang Tianfeng had no authority to evict him. But by afternoon, Zhou Runbo would be on a train back to Xiyan City.

“Coming, coming!” Wang Li replied nervously, hurrying downstairs—his behavior catching Zhou Runbo’s attention.

After a moment’s thought, Zhou Runbo got up and watched from the balcony, noticing that Wang Li wasn’t even heading toward Night Market Street.

“You little rat, let’s see what tricks you’re up to!”

...

Night Market Street was already cordoned off, police stationed at both ends.

After a sleepless night, Lu Dingqian, struggling to stay awake, lit a cigarette and saw Zhang Tianfeng striding toward him.

“Old Lu, what’s the situation?” Zhang Tianfeng asked.

“What are you doing here?” Lu replied.

“My customers got sick—why wouldn’t I come?” Zhang Tianfeng shot back, leaving Lu momentarily dumbfounded.

Usually, the moment a food poisoning scandal broke, the night market bosses vanished—either feigning illness or going off the grid. Yet here was this guy, turning himself in. It was a first.

After a pause, Lu said, “The Food Supervision Bureau is gathering evidence. It’ll be a while before we know anything. What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to the hospital.”

“What for?”

“Most of my customers are out-of-work, poor folks. They may not be able to cover their medical bills. I’ll see if I can help—chip in some money if need be.”

This caught the attention of those nearby, including several reporters.

They’d been sent by their station to cover the story, but with little to report so far. Now, at last, was their chance.

One young woman straightened her hair, picked up her microphone, and approached.

“Sir, hello, I’m Xiao Liu from Zhucheng Radio…”

At that, Zhang Tianfeng’s spirits lifted. Just what he’d been hoping for—the perfect opportunity for a misunderstanding.