TTTQF Chapter 115

Dislike

After dropping the children off at school today, Jiang Miao follows the others to get supplies from the dining hall. Jiang Miao is at the back of the line, discussing pest control with a few aunts, when he suddenly hears Li, a kitchen helper at the dining hall, quietly calling him from outside.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Miao says goodbye to the aunts and follows Li outside.

Li looks around and, seeing no one, immediately whispers, "Brother Jiang, from now on, the dining hall will not help you bring in supplies anymore."

“Huh?” Jiang Miao doesn’t understand. What does he mean by the dining hall not helping with the supplies anymore?

“Chef Hu says you’re not part of the Imperial Academy, so from now on, the dining hall won’t bring vegetables up for you.” Li thinks Jiang Miao is a good person, so he calls him out to let him know the truth in order to prevent him from being ridiculed when he goes to get vegetables. A few days ago, Li had injured his head while working and bled quite a bit. Chef Hu found him unlucky and quickly told him to leave. As Li was holding his head and walking out, Jiang Miao happened to see him and took him to Master Yang, the resident physician at the Imperial Academy, to get treatment. Jiang Miao even pays for the medicine and brings him a big handful of red dates from home, saying they would help replenish his blood.

Jiang Miao is puzzled, “Did the head or deputy of the Imperial Academy said anything? I may not be part of the Imperial Academy, but I’m a family member of a student.”

Li thinks for a moment and says, “I think it’s just Chef Hu’s decision. He’s been in a bad mood these days. Yesterday, when the people in charge of purchasing were about to leave the mountain to go home, he called them back and gave the order. I just happened to overhear it.”

Jiang Miao racks his brain but can’t understand why he suddenly gives such instructions. He is still very grateful to Li for the kind reminder. 

The line inside is getting shorter and shorter. Aunt Luo notices Jiang Miao hasn’t gone in yet, so she comes out to call him.

Jiang Miao responds to her and turns to Li and says, "Thank you, Brother Li, for warning me, but I have to ask about this clearly." The people from the dining hall go down the mountain to buy vegetables and then send them up. This is a benefit the Imperial Academy gives to the residents in the back mountain. They are paying to live there, so how could the service just stop like that?

Li watches Jiang Miao walk away and can’t help but sigh. Chef Hu is a relative of the head of the Imperial Academy. Even if Jiang Miao asks, what difference would it make?

After Jiang Miao rejoins the line, it’s soon his turn.

The helper distributing the vegetables glances at him and says, “There are no supplies for your family today.” Without further explanation, he motions for the next person to step forward, not giving Jiang Miao a second glance, let alone an explanation.

“Excuse me,” Jiang Miao refuses to move aside. “Could you please explain why there are no supplies for my family today?”

The man frowns. “No means no. What’s with the questions? Please get out of the way and don’t delay my work."

“The rule of the Imperial Academy is that the dining hall helps bring up supplies. You cut off my supply without a word and no explanation. Is this how you handle things? Besides, I already paid at the beginning of the month!” Jiang Miao is angry. Not only are they refusing to bring him supplies, but they don’t even bother to explain. Bringing the supplies isn’t an act of kindness; it’s their obligation.

The man finally raises his head and looks at Jiang Miao carefully. "It’s none of your business how we handle things. As for that meager sum you paid, you’ll get it back in due time." His tone is arrogant, as if he were the owner of the dining hall.

"Oh? Then who can deal with this? You cooks? The teacher in the Imperial Academy? The deputy or the head?" Jiang Miao makes it clear he intends to file a complaint.

“Heh,” the man sneers at Jiang Miao. “This order came directly from Chef Hu.” Chef Hu is a relative of the head of the Imperial Academy, so complaining won’t help.

This guy is all talk—Jiang Miao comes to that conclusion. They judge people based solely on their clothes and have no idea who he really is.

In fact, many people don’t know Jiang Miao’s true identity. He is always restless, preferring to keep busy, and although Pei Che has bought him some nice clothes, they aren’t very durable. So, Jiang Miao still wears his old clothes every day. To certain snobbish eyes, he undoubtedly seems like just another poor resident of the rear mountain.

Jiang Miao turns and walks away. Aunt Luo and a few others are waiting outside. They are about to call out to him but see him hurrying off in the other direction. Worried, they follow him.

Knock, knock, knock! 

Jiang Miao knocks forcefully on the door. By now, it’s already midday, so Chef Hu should be awake.

Sure enough, after a moment, a voice from inside shouts, "What, are you trying to rush me to my grave?" Then the door is violently flung open.

“And who are you?” Chef Hu’s anger lessens slightly when he sees Jiang Miao, but before long, his expression becomes contemptuous again. “What do you want?”

“What could I want? Naturally, I’m here about the supply delivery,” Jiang Miao says, seeing how rude he is and no longer speaking as politely as before.

“You aren’t a member of the Imperial Academy. It’s only right that the vegetable delivery doesn’t concern you. You’ve gotten away with a few days of it; I’ve already been more than fair,” Chef Hu grins slyly, his smug expression irritating Jiang Miao to no end.

"Whether or not I'm a member of the Imperial Academy isn't for you to decide, is it? Your job is just to deliver the supplies," Jiang Miao retorts.

Chef Hu's face darkens at his words. "In any case, don't expect to get food from the main dining hall anymore. Don’t you like going down the mountain to buy from the farmers? You can keep doing that yourself."

Jiang Miao suddenly understands—it’s all because of buying vegetables. But what does going down the mountain to buy food have to do with them? Why is Chef Hu so upset over something that has nothing to do with him?

Jiang Miao figures there has to be some connection. If there isn’t some vested interest, why would they care? Could it be that Chef Hu is getting kickbacks?

In that instant, Jiang Miao understands. Recently, whenever he goes down to buy vegetables, he often sees other people with baskets doing the same. With more people buying elsewhere, it must have affected Chef Hu’s side business. No wonder Chef Hu dislikes him!

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