Chapter 128 — Barbecue Tips

Once he learned there was nothing to it, Wang Zhifeng was reassured. As for making Tang Yun write a self-criticism, that was out of the question now; he could see plainly enough that Wei Zhao was shielding her, and there was no need for him to play the villain. His own little indiscretion was still in Wei Zhao's grip, after all. Private schools might not police affairs between their staff as strictly as public ones, but if the board of directors ever got wind of it, he would come to no good end.

They had hired him at a handsome salary to run the school's affairs, not to chase women here.

So when he finally took his leave, Wang Zhifeng even clapped Wei Zhao on the shoulder and told him not to let things with Tang Yun go too far, and at least not to make things difficult for him at school.

To this Wei Zhao could only smile bitterly and offer no explanation, since even if he explained, Wang Zhifeng might not believe him.

Back in the classroom, the others had mostly returned as well. Zhong Yongliang was pestering Gu Mengyao, saying something or other at her back, though she clearly had little interest in answering him. Zhong Yongliang was not discouraged; as he saw it, in this school he had no rival for the time being, and only he was worthy of Gu Mengyao, so he was in no hurry.

Wei Zhao paid him no mind either. Harassment of that sort would not do Gu Mengyao any real harm, so Wei Zhao could not be bothered with him.

"Boss, Director Wang called you away. What was it about? Was it about that fight the other day?" Kang Xiaobo was a little worried; after all, he had been in on it too.

"Ha, no, it was about my transferring schools." Wei Zhao did not mention the matter of Yang Huaijun; to Kang Xiaobo he could not possibly tell everything.

"Oh, that's good then." Kang Xiaobo nodded. "By the way, boss, when I came back just now I passed the door of Class Nine, Grade Twelve, and saw that the curtain by Tang Yun's seat was pulled open and the window was open too. Tang Yun's eyes were all red, like she'd just been crying. Do you think Jia Ruoming went and harassed her again?"

"How would I know..." Wei Zhao was sweating. Kang Xiaobo's powers of observation were really something.

At lunchtime Wei Zhao had meant to go to the cafeteria, but Kang Xiaobo dragged him out for barbecue. "I didn't get enough last Friday. I've been craving it for two days."

Tang's mother's barbecue was, frankly, only ordinary. Tasty, but hardly anything to write home about, with no secret recipe of its own. But it was a street stall; how high could your expectations be?

Tang Yun had not come to help today. In fact, the noon break was a tight squeeze, and many students took the chance to nap a while, or else they could hardly stay sharp for the afternoon's battle in the sea of test papers.

Tang Yun had been thrown into a daze by Wei Zhao today, and meant to rest a little at noon and calm herself, or she would find it hard to settle down and study.

Business at the barbecue stall was not exactly booming at noon. With no signature dish of its own and a cafeteria at school, the students who came to eat were still limited. Tang's mother had just handed a girl two grilled tofu rolls when she looked up and saw Wei Zhao and Kang Xiaobo, and her face broke into a smile at once. "Wei Zhao, brought a classmate to eat?"

"Mm." Wei Zhao felt a little embarrassed. It was clearly Kang Xiaobo who wanted to come, yet it came out as him bringing a classmate; and besides, Tang Yun had just accused him of using it as an excuse to curry favor with her mother. "Auntie, business going all right?"

"Monday, business is thin." Tang's mother shook her head. "Not many people today. We've only just opened. Sit, sit. What do you want to eat? Auntie will get it ready..."

"Twenty lamb skewers, two lamb chops, two chicken necks, two tofu rolls, two bottles of beer, same as the other day." Kang Xiaobo was the type who, once he found something he liked, did not care to change.

"Let's skip the beer, we still have class this afternoon." Though Wei Zhao now had Wang Zhifeng as a powerful backer, having decided to properly enjoy his student days, he did not want to be too much of a special case. Wei Zhao could drink beer like water, but Kang Xiaobo could not.

"Heh... then forget it..." Kang Xiaobo scratched his head. Without Wei Zhao to bolster his courage, he did not dare drink on his own.

Tang's mother was somewhat surprised. Wasn't Wei Zhao supposed to be one of the four notorious young ruffians of the school? The way he had so ruthlessly taught Jia Ruoming a lesson on Friday had been no act. So why was he so cautious about a single bottle of beer? Jia Ruoming and his sort would not care in the least about such things; they drank whenever they pleased.

But on reflection, Tang's mother realized that Wei Zhao did not have the bad habits of those young ruffians. On the contrary, he was quite respectful to her. It seemed that even among wealthy families there were well-bred children, and not all of them were as overbearing as Jia Ruoming.

Having met Wei Zhao several times, Tang's mother had a good impression of him.

Soon the barbecue was brought over. They were the only table, so there was naturally no waiting.

While Kang Xiaobo ate with gusto, Wei Zhao picked up a chicken neck, took a couple of bites, and said to Tang's mother, who was idle with nothing to do: "Auntie, actually you could make the chicken necks Orleans-style. That could be your specialty, and business would be better than it is now..."

"That makes sense, only I don't know how..." Tang's mother smiled wryly. "It's just a little stall. What specialty could it have?"

"That's not necessarily so. Plenty of shops started out small." Wei Zhao said. "Actually, it doesn't need any secret formula. You can buy ready-made marinade online. Mm, if you don't know how to use the internet, you can have Tang Yun buy it for you..."

When Wei Zhao had lived in the mountains with the old man, that glutton, he had often bought things for him from online shops.

"Oh? Really? Would it be very expensive?" Tang's mother did not know about such things, but now that Wei Zhao had mentioned it, she was rather tempted. After all, who wouldn't want better business?

"Not very expensive, but it will certainly add to your costs." Wei Zhao said. "Still, if you don't mind the trouble, you can mix it yourself. I've looked into that recipe; I'll write it out when I get back tonight and bring it to you tomorrow. It's just ordinary seasonings, sugar and chili and that sort of thing, and you can buy them at the wholesale market."

"That would be wonderful. Then Auntie thanks you in advance. Better to mix it myself. It's a small business, doesn't earn much anyway." Tang's mother was rather excited; she had not expected Wei Zhao to have studied the recipe.

"It's nothing, a small matter." Wei Zhao shook his head.

"Then tomorrow I'll have Yun'er come find you for it. Once Auntie mixes it up, I'll treat you to a taste!" Tang's mother's impression of Wei Zhao could not have been better; the more she looked, the more she felt the boy was a good one.

Though his family was well off, he was never arrogant or domineering, and always polite to others... Only, she had never seen Wei Zhao when he was arrogant. When Wei Zhao was arrogant, he could poke a hole clean through the sky.

Have Tang Yun come find him for it? Wei Zhao smiled wryly and rubbed his nose. Would she come find him?

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