Chapter 9: No Fight, No Acquaintance

Chapter 9: No Fight, No Acquaintance

A single pig’s trotter became the bone of contention between two men, their Eight Immortals Table crowded to capacity. Jiang Biehe’s love of making friends had drawn a full house.

The other six diners wore expressions of disdain at the squabble, though they’d long grown accustomed to such antics. They hadn’t come to the Jin Clan’s birthday banquet to feast—they were here to network within the Martial World.

As for the two men at odds, they’d been focused solely on their meal from the start.

Li Chaofeng wasn’t one to pick fights, but he refused to yield to the burly oaf before him. At first, he’d disliked the man for his keen nose—a “superhuman” trait that only accentuated his foul stench. Now, though, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the brute’s face looked oddly familiar, yet utterly unplaceable.

Still, he decided, No fight, no acquaintance.

Squinting, Li Chaofeng locked eyes with the ruffian, their gazes as sharp as needles.

Neither wanted to escalate the scene and disrupt the birthday banquet, but neither would back down. Their fingers dug into the trotter’s bone like bulls locking horns, silent yet unyielding.

The ruffian leaned in, his voice low but threatening. “Kid, I’ve been fleeing from a woman for over a year, enduring hardships on the road. I finally get a decent meal at the Jin Family’s table, and you’re going to begrudge me a pig’s trotter?”

Li Chaofeng recoiled slightly but kept his grip. “Old proverbs say growing youths eat their fathers poor. One trotter? Ten? I’ll finish them all.”

He gestured at the half-empty table. “You’ve already devoured half the spread since we sat down. After all your ‘hardships,’ haven’t you had enough?”

The ruffian snarled, “I ate half? You wolfed down half too! And don’t forget—before I even sat down, you gobbled up all the appetizers and dried fruits. I didn’t get a single bite. You ate more than me!”

Li Chaofeng arched a brow, smugness gleaming in his eyes. “Too bad. Not my fault you were late.”

The ruffian’s glare turned menacing. “You really won’t let go?”

Li Chaofeng scoffed. “I’d give it to a dog before I’d hand it to you!”

Suddenly, the ruffian raised his eyebrows and jerked his chin behind Li Chaofeng. “Someone’s here!”

Li Chaofeng almost dismissed it as a child’s trick—until he sensed the approaching presences. Reluctantly releasing the bone, he turned to see Madam Jin herself, the banquet’s guest of honor, accompanied by Lord Jin Sizhe and several servants.

Lord Jin Sizhe held his grandmother’s hand, introducing her. “Grandmother, this is the Little Gourmet God who’s prepared your meals these past days.”

The banquet hall was vast, but not so large that a corner table could hide a scuffle. Lord Jin Sizhe had caught sight of the trotter tug-of-war from the corner of his eye. When he’d learned this “Little Gourmet God” had been relegated to a corner and embroiled in a quarrel, he’d resolved to make amends—especially after recalling the young chef’s contributions over the past fortnight.

Li Chaofeng, hands greasy from the trotter, hastily wiped them on Jiang Biehe’s sleeve before bowing deeply to Madam Jin. “Li Chaofeng at your service, Madam Jin! May your blessings flow like the Eastern Sea and your years stretch beyond the Southern Mountains!”

“Excellent, excellent,” the elderly Madam Jin murmured, her frailty evident despite her efforts to appear lively. Lord Jin Sizhe, noting her fatigue, quickly ushered her back to her seat.

His gaze swept the table, lingering on the ruffian who’d fought Li Chaofeng. “This fellow—would he be a friend of the Little Gourmet God?”

The question carried the weight of unspoken authority.

The ruffian, however, kept his head down, shoveling food into his mouth as if deaf to the exchange.

Li Chaofeng, though repelled by the man’s odor, hesitated to expose him as a plotter. With a sigh, he evaded, “We’ve crossed paths.”

Lord Jin Sizhe’s eyes narrowed, then softened. “Earlier, I feared someone had accosted you. Forgive the Jin Clan’s lapse in decorum.”

Turning to the diners, his tone warmed. “As for my earlier offer…”

Li Chaofeng cut him off, face falling. “No thanks. I’m heading into the Martial World.”

The refusal drew a collective gasp. Even the ruffian paused mid-chew.

Lord Jin Sizhe sighed. “The largest restaurant in Hangzhou—the kind men dream of owning. And you’d turn it down?”

The room buzzed. Lucky the Little Gourmet God didn’t take offense earlier, the diners thought. Jiang Biehe, meanwhile, kept his head down, jealousy burning in his eyes. Lord Jin Sizhe had ignored him for two weeks, lavishing attention on a chef he’d once dismissed as a mere cook.

Li Chaofeng smirked. “You’re giving it to me? Can I sell it?”

Lord Jin Sizhe barked a laugh. “Ha! You’d make a fine heir to the title ‘All-Under-Heaven’s Premier Restaurant.’ But the deed to Hangzhou’s finest is a trifle to me. Your talent—now that is rare.”

The ruffian suddenly raised his hand. “The Little Gourmet God wants ten pig’s trotters!”

Li Chaofeng’s eye twitched. “I don’t know him!”

Lord Jin Sizhe chuckled, signaling a servant. “Bring whatever this table desires.”

As the servants scrambled, he added softly, “A shame you won’t stay. But I respect your spirit.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end