pjbooks Chapter 78 [People's Livelihood]
Chapter 78 [People's Livelihood]
Chapter 78 [People's Livelihood]
Are you scared?
Upon hearing the question, Liu Zhuohao paused for a moment, then laughed, his exhaled smoke rings dispersing in the dim light. "Hey—"
He flicked his cigarette ash. "It depends on how big they think I can go."
He had seen this kind of thing many times.
It has always existed, just in different ways, and it can be considered a fine tradition.
Nowadays, young people talk about starting an e-commerce business. They find a boss and start by working in customer service or operations, learning the technology. As they work, they start poaching suppliers and customers, and then start their own businesses.
Therefore, many people yearn to go to other cities because the local business environment is indeed not good, it is corrupt and terrible, and there is no sense of morality at all.
Without the support of a clan, it's actually easier to be away from home than back in one's hometown.
"Actually, we've always thought it was someone in the same industry causing trouble; it's outsiders." My cousin lowered his voice even further, almost a whisper, "Do you think it's possible—"
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Zhuohao shook his head with amusement, interrupting him. "Impossible."
"How is it impossible?" My cousin lowered his head, his voice tense. "You've been sending Huang Weixiong to monitor the testing lately, haven't you? I only just woke up when I heard that old man say something about stepping on you."
"Wouldn't it be safer to entrust such an important matter to our own people?"
"What if we let my uncle keep an eye on it? What if—what if Huang Weixiong changes the raw materials sent for testing halfway through?"
He felt a chill run down his spine as soon as he said those words.
All current arrangements are based on the premise that "the opponent is an outsider".
But what if—someone on our side makes a mistake?
Even if he didn't intentionally sabotage things, what if Huang Weixiong took money from outside and switched the raw materials?
If a problem is detected, all their current preparations will become the sharpest thorn in their own flesh!
Liu Zhuohao glanced at his cousin, his expression somewhat subtle: "Theoretically, it is indeed possible."
"If you're talking about Cheng Bing or Yang Boran, I can't really comment, since they're new and I don't know their backgrounds." He paused, his tone firm, "But Huang Weixiong and Li Zekai, absolutely not."
"Why not?" my cousin pressed.
Liu Zhuohao stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and dusted off his trousers: "Because of the two of them, they are the people I brought up from scratch."
"I can't say for sure what will happen in the future, but at this moment, it definitely won't."
"Are you that sure?" My cousin stood up, his brow furrowed. "What's your basis for that?"
Liu Zhuohao thought for a moment and found it difficult to explain logically. "It's a feeling."
He finally uttered those two words.
Judging people is sometimes a mysterious thing; it's almost an intuitive "feeling."
"Of course, if I'm mistaken—"
He gestured with his chin toward the stall, his tone relaxed, "Then I accept it."
"Someone's here, and they're here pretty fast."
His cousin followed his gaze and saw a white van with a TV station logo parked on the side of the road.
Everyone present recognized that logo.
My cousin was startled.
Everyone else, including Li Ka-shing and his associates, was stunned.
No one expected the TV station staff to arrive so quickly.
The car door slid open, and a female reporter in a smart suit, holding a microphone, got out first, followed by a driver and assistant carrying a camera. The group walked straight toward the dining car.
"Excuse me, is this Mr. Liu Zhuohao's stall?" The female reporter approached, speaking in fluent Chaoshan dialect with a clear voice.
The few customers at the stall stopped what they were doing and looked over curiously.
"Yes, that's me." Liu Zhuohao responded in the same Chaoshan dialect, his tone steady. "I'm the one who reports on people's livelihood."
As a local television station, both the reporters and the hosts used local accents instead of standard Mandarin when conducting interviews and broadcasting.
"Have you seen the relevant videos?" Liu Zhuohao continued, "They're the materials I sent you."
"We've already seen the relevant video materials, Mr. Liu." The female reporter's tone was professional, but her gaze was sharp. "However, we still hope that you can briefly explain what happened in front of our cameras."
The meaning is clear: repeat what was said online in front of the TV camera.
"Here's what happened—"
Facing the camera, Liu Zhuohao appeared calm and spoke at a measured pace, clearly recounting the process from "discovering being followed," "being reported," "cooperating with the inspection," to "a sharp decline in passenger flow."
He had already rehearsed this line in his mind countless times.
The female reporter nodded from time to time, and then asked a few questions: "How did you determine that these people were organized?", "Would you like to show us your relevant qualification certificates again?", "You look very young, why did you choose to drop out of school and set up a stall?" — The questions all hit the nail on the head.
Clearly, they did their homework beforehand, not only watching the videos but also likely paying attention to account data and public opinion trends.
Although Bilibili is currently a niche website, it is even more so in this small city.
However, when Liu Zhuohao contacted the public affairs section, he not only provided a detailed explanation of the situation, but also attached a video link and screenshots of account data.
For local media, a local event that has already generated considerable buzz online and has relatively complete evidence is undoubtedly a "headline" worth grabbing.
This may explain why they reacted so quickly.
"Excuse me, are you a regular customer of Mr. Liu?" The female reporter turned the microphone to a slightly nervous high school student in a school uniform next to her. "Would it be convenient for you to do an interview?"
"I'm a regular customer!"
The high school student jumped to his feet, his face flushed red, but his eyes shone brightly. "I'm still a fan of the boss! His hygiene is absolutely impeccable!"
"He used to have a breakfast stall outside our school, and many of us bought from him. He always wore a camera on his head to film the whole process, recording exactly how he made the scallion pancakes! And..."
"Excuse me, young man!" the female reporter gently interrupted him. "Let's focus on the current state of steakhouses, shall we?"
We've gone a bit off-topic.
"Oh, a steak stand!" The high school student blushed even more, speaking faster, "I've only eaten at a steak stand twice—not because it's bad! It's just that the lines are always too long! There's never a chance to get in! It's incredibly crowded; even when we arrived, we couldn't squeeze in!"
He gestured wildly, trying to describe the glory days of the past.
"—Are there many people in line?" The female reporter paused, gesturing to the cameraman to give a panoramic view of the booth.
A handful of guests, an empty street.
She had certainly seen the video and knew what had happened, but the contrast now was even more impactful.
"That was before!" The high school student's voice suddenly rose, filled with the indignation unique to teenagers. "It's all because someone maliciously reported us!"
The microphone was then turned to other diners, where the noise intensified: "Just one complaint, and the business is gone! I suspect someone deliberately spread the news!"
"Definitely! My mom told me about it at home at noon. She said that Boss Liu's meat wasn't clean, and the test results haven't even come out yet, but the rumors are already spreading like wildfire!"
"Can we arrest them? Reporters, you have to do something about this!"
Not only customers, but also the owners of several nearby stalls, cigarettes dangling from their lips, gathered around, even more anxious than Liu Zhuohao: "Reporter, please report this properly! This is ruining everyone's business!"
"Yes! Boss Liu is capable; he's the one who brought business to this whole street! Now, with this mess, all the goods we bought are stuck with us!"
"Does your Minsheng branch have any way of finding out who those people hired to cause trouble are?"
Spittle flew everywhere, and the crowd was filled with indignation.
In the past two months, all the stall owners on the street have benefited from the surge in customer traffic, and their purchases have increased day by day.
Overnight, all the customers disappeared, and their anxiety and losses are very real.
All those goods are stuck in our hands!
Food, unlike other things, cannot be kept for long!
The camera then returns to Liu Zhuohao.
He took over the conversation at the right moment, his expression both helpless and sincere: "That's roughly the situation."
Nearby, the uncle at the barbecue stall slammed his hand on the table and interrupted in a loud voice, "That's right! If you want to steal our business, then fry your meat to taste better than Boss Liu's! Using these underhanded tactics is a disgrace to us Chaoshan people!"
This remark drew nods of agreement from the customers at both stalls.
Liu Zhuohao paused, and after the small commotion subsided, he continued, "I think that in business, we should be fair and square, and compete based on our abilities."
"If you're really in the same business and feel I'm stealing your business, then let's compete on whose food tastes better and who gives customers more peace of mind. Using a tactic like reporting someone is a bit—"
He hesitated, then shook his head.
This composed and appropriate expression was completely different from the excitement of the crowd just now.
Clearly, these words had already been said and acted out in private several times before.
"Hello, host. I am currently at ————" The female reporter faced the main camera and began recording her introduction.
This wasn't a live broadcast, but the procedures on site were still rigorous.
These interviews were all pre-recorded, but on set, reporters would still say some standard scripts for the broadcast so that they could smoothly connect with the host when the story was actually broadcast on television.
"So, how about we try Boss Liu's steak next?" The reporter turned to Liu Zhuohao and brought up the inevitable part of the trip.
"Okay." Liu Zhuohao nodded.
Showcasing the product is the best way to dispel rumors.
He deftly tied on his apron, put on his mask, and walked behind the metal plate.
Liu Zhuohao reached out and felt the temperature above the iron plate, then sprayed oil and preheated it, his movements as smooth as drinking a bowl of water.
A thick, original-cut steak is picked up and gently placed on the sizzling hot iron plate. With a "sizzle," white smoke and a caramelized aroma burst forth simultaneously.
"How well-done do you want it? What kind of sauce?" he asked without looking up.
"—50%. Black pepper sauce." The female reporter stared intently at his movements, while the camera lens remained firmly fixed on the hot plate.
Flipping, drizzling with oil, adding butter and spices repeatedly, picking up the meat to rest—every step is precise and efficient, with a reassuring skill.
"Wow, it smells so good!"
A young girl who had originally just been watching the spectacle couldn't help but gasp softly, and subconsciously swallowed.
Her companion nudged her: "How about we buy one later? The reporters are here to cover it, it should be fine, right?"
As Liu Zhuohao worked, he casually replied, "Thank you all for coming to support us today. Whether it's a treatment or a whole cut, it's all 20 yuan. Consider it a treat, and I'll treat you all to a meal."
"Of course, that will have to wait until I finish this interview."
Upon hearing about the freebies, several more diners gathered around.
When he personally placed the still slightly sizzling sizzling steak on the small table in front of the reporter, the steam carrying a rich aroma of meat wafted over.
The female reporter picked up a knife and fork and skillfully cut off a corner.
The pink, juicy cut surface is exposed under the lens, revealing the clear texture of the meat.
She paused noticeably, looked up at Liu Zhuohao, and a hint of indescribable surprise flashed in her eyes.
She then put the steak into her mouth.
Chewing, pausing, and pausing for even longer periods —
Her brows furrowed slightly, not out of displeasure, but out of surprise.
A few seconds later, she almost blurted out, "Boss Liu—do you usually use meat like this?"
As soon as she spoke, she seemed to realize that this was not a pre-planned interview question, and subconsciously glanced at the camera.
Before Liu Zhuohao could answer, after a brief adjustment, she regained her professional smile and turned to the camera: "As you can see, this steak is cooked just right."
"I think just looking at it makes everyone's appetite soar," she said, her tone becoming lighter. "To be honest, if it's this quality, I'd be happy to come here often."
She then looked at Liu Zhuohao: "I heard that besides this original cut steak, you also have a more affordable classic option?"
"That's right, our tender pan-fried steak uses a special cooking process, making it more tender and more affordable." Liu Zhuohao nodded and gestured to Cheng Bing, "Abing, you're in charge of the tender pan-fried steak."
Then he instructed Li Zekai, "Zekai, you keep an eye on the heat."
He explained to the reporter, "My colleague graduated with a degree in culinary arts, so you can rest assured about his skills."
The female reporter nodded.
The camera followed her gaze to Cheng Bing's control panel.
She couldn't resist cutting another small piece of the original cut steak in front of her and putting it in her mouth.
After savoring the steak, she looked at it on her plate and finally asked, "This one—fifty eight?"
"Yes, if you order a set meal, it costs eighty yuan for a whole slice of meat plus a pan-fried meat, plus a drink and side dishes," Liu Zhuohao replied calmly.
The female reporter didn't say anything more.
As she looked at the prepared steak that was served, she cut a piece with her knife and fork, and just looking at the cut surface, the complex emotions in her eyes deepened.
The exorbitant profits from some food items far exceeded her understanding.
After the interview, the female reporter ordered another original-cut steak, and several photographers and assistants also sat down to eat.
This gesture has almost vindicated Liu Zhuohao.
As customers strolled around, they saw Minsheng's car parked on the roadside, gathered around, learned about the situation, and inevitably sat down.
A serving of whole-cut steak for 20 yuan is definitely a great deal.
"I contacted the local news outlet here and just finished filming and left."
Just before closing up shop, Liu Zhuohao sent a message to the station manager.
He replied to the message almost instantly.
He glanced at the time: 9:31 PM.
"Have the test reports for those raw materials been released yet?"
That was all the message; there were no extra formalities, nothing at all.
"no."
Liu Zhuohao's response was equally brief.
"Once the report is ready, please scan a copy and send it to me."
The station manager's response remained brief.
Liu Zhuohao didn't ask him what to do after sending the message, but instead put away his phone.
He looked at his small stall.
—Reputation.