Chapter 46: She Can’t Take This Lying Down

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: She Can’t Take This Lying Down

Shu Yao cleaned out the small storage room and turned it into a kitchen.

Her little uncle really came through, getting everything she needed in a single day. When it came to good food, he didn’t spare any expense, and his efficiency was off the charts.

With everything in place, it was time to fire up the stove.

Since Xiao Juzi was just recovering from his illness, Shu Yao decided that for their first meal, she would prepare a sumptuous, nutritious feast just for her little Zaizai!

Knowing that fish was Xiao Juzi’s favorite food, Shu Chao Yu took half a day off that morning to bring the mother and son to the Federation’s famous seafood market: Luoxing Port.

Most of the ships docked at Luoxing Port were from the Outer Star System, and many fishmongers gathered here to conduct business both online and in person.

In fact, most transactions were completed online. After an order was finalized, the fishmonger would pack the specified amount of ingredients and load them onto a transport drone, which would then deliver them to the buyer. It was very convenient.

However, some discerning buyers, determined to procure the very best and freshest ingredients, didn’t mind making the trip to Luoxing Port in person.

Perched on his great-uncle’s shoulders, Xiao Juzi had a high vantage point to see all the different kinds of fish. He felt like he was in heaven. His dark, bright eyes sparkled like brilliant stars as he let out a constant stream of oohs and aahs. Every new species he saw was as exciting as the discovery of a new continent.

"Mom, look! It’s the fish we ate the other day!"

Xiao Juzi had spotted the scaleless whitefish from Gelang Star.

A food safety scandal involving this very fish had recently erupted at the Lin Family’s viral restaurant, triggering a chain reaction that sent the whitefish’s price plummeting.

But now, no one dared to buy it, no matter how cheap it was.

People were afraid they would end up buying infected fish. After all, compared to other species, the whitefish had a relatively weak immune system, making it more susceptible to disease.

Shu Yao saw that the whitefish in the transparent tank were very active and all looked quite healthy, so she asked the fishmonger, "How much are the whitefish?"

The glum-looking fishmonger replied, "72 Star Coins each, regardless of size."

To put that in perspective, before the price drop, a single pound of whitefish cost over 800 Star Coins, and each fish weighed about two pounds.

Star Coins for a whole fish—the price was absurdly low!

"So cheap! They must be diseased!" a voice suddenly cut in. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

The speaker clearly recognized Shu Yao.

Shu Yao looked over and recognized the face.

She had first seen this person at a celebratory banquet held by the Imperial Family. Then, over the past couple of days, she’d seen the face again several times while binge-watching cooking videos from various food bloggers at home.

The woman’s name was Zhang Xiaoxiao, another food blogger. She wasn’t nearly as famous as Lin Zhenxiang, and had only been able to attend the Imperial Family’s banquet by riding on Lin Zhenxiang’s coattails.

Assuming Shu Yao hadn’t recognized her, Zhang Xiaoxiao stepped aside to discreetly contact Lin Zhenxiang.

"Xiangxiang, I’m at Luoxing Port. Guess who I just saw! That trashy woman from the Lower Star District!!"

Lin Zhenxiang was startled for a moment, then she muttered in confusion, "What is she doing there?"

Her voice held a sharp, vicious undertone.

’That trashy woman humiliated me in front of the Empress and all those reporters! She nearly made me the laughingstock of the entire culinary world!’

’It was an insult she simply couldn’t swallow!’

Zhang Xiaoxiao glanced over at Shu Yao. "It looks like she’s here to buy something."

Lin Zhenxiang’s voice turned grim. "Keep an eye on her for me. I’m on my way!"

As it happened, she already had business at Luoxing Port—she needed to track down the fishmonger who had sold those diseased fish to her relative!

She had been searching for that utterly conscienceless fishmonger for two days, but there had been no sign of him.

If there had been transaction receipts or a proof of delivery, the restaurant’s food safety issue would have been manageable. But her money-grubbing uncle, trying to save a few coins, had paid the fishmonger directly in an off-the-books cash transaction.

’The money was gone, and aside from a single, bare-bones transaction log, there were no invoices. And what did he get for it? A pile of diseased fish!’

The transaction had taken place right here at Luoxing Port.

’If that damned fishmonger was still in the seafood business, he was bound to show up here again!’