Chapter 247 New Store Opening, Unfriendly Visitors
The person in charge flashed his credentials. "We are from the Health Department. We received a public complaint alleging food safety issues at your restaurant. We need to conduct a health inspection now."
The floor manager froze for a moment, but reacted quickly and politely led them toward the kitchen.
Cecilia, who was supervising food preparation in the kitchen, heard the news, and her eyes instantly turned cold.
First day of opening, during peak hours, and they come for a health inspection? Under the guise of a public complaint?
This move was all too familiar.
Cecilia pushed through the swinging kitchen door and stepped out of the main work area.
She saw several inspectors holding various instruments, examining the kitchen.
Their attitude was extremely harsh, even nitpicky.
An inspector wearing glasses pointed at a water stain on the edge of the sink.
"The cleaning log for this sink is incomplete."
The floor manager quickly explained, "Someone just used this to wash vegetables. The logbook is hanging on the wall — it is updated every hour."
The other person ignored the explanation and directly made a note on his tablet.
The man in charge stopped in front of the refrigerator.
"Show me the supplier licenses for your food vendors."
Cecilia waved at him, signaling Garth to get the folder.
"Present the food handler certificates for all kitchen staff. Line up and show them — we need to verify each one."
These inspectors were making exaggerated movements, even bumping into trays being carried out.
Their actions were seriously disrupting the kitchen's normal operations.
Outside in the dining hall, many customers noticed the commotion and started talking among themselves.
"What is going on? Getting inspected on opening day?"
"Look at those inspectors' faces — they look really serious. Must be big trouble."
The chatter grew louder, and the previously lively dining atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.
Robert and Mabel were getting anxious, too.
They had run an honest business their whole lives and valued cleanliness above all else. How could they stand being wrongly accused like this?
But Cecilia remained unusually calm.
She did not step forward to argue. She simply took out her phone and started recording those inspectors from a moderate distance.
Her hand was steady, the phone screen clearly showing each person's badge number and facial features.
"What are you doing?" The lead inspector noticed her action and walked over with a frown.
"We are performing our official duties according to the law. You are interfering with us!"
His voice was loud, trying to intimidate Cecilia with his presence.
"I am not interfering with you," Cecilia spoke slowly, her volume controlled just enough for people around to hear.
"I am just recording your enforcement process."
"Since you are acting according to the law, you should not mind an ordinary citizen observing the process, right?"
The captain was stumped. He turned his head and gave his subordinates a look. "Keep checking. Check carefully, especially the supply chain for that raw meat."
Just then, Stefan also rushed over after hearing the news.
He took one look at the situation and understood most of what was happening.
Stefan did not get angry. He simply walked to a corner and made a phone call.
The person on the other end responded quickly to something.
Soon, he put away his phone and walked slowly to Cecilia's side.
And the second after he hung up, the inspection captain, who was still arguing with Cecilia, had his phone start ringing in his pocket.
The captain pulled out his phone, saw the job title on the caller ID, and his face instantly changed color.
He quickly walked behind a support column and bent over to answer the call.
"Hello, Director... We are at Red Maple Financial Center."
"What? Yes, yes, understood."
His voice became extremely humble, even trembling a bit.
"We will immediately... okay, okay, definitely."
After hanging up, the captain's face had turned completely pale.
He rushed back to the center of the kitchen and shouted at his subordinates, "Alright, stop checking! Pack up!"
The subordinates who were examining expiration dates on cling film were all stunned.
"Captain, we have not finished checking yet? Did you not just say there was a problem with those oil containers?"
"Check what!"
The captain slapped the back of his subordinate's head.
"This is a prestigious restaurant! Their hygiene standards are higher than those of our office! Everyone, grab your stuff and let us go. Stop interfering with their business!"
Before leaving, the captain jogged over to Cecilia and Stefan.
"Um... Mr. Hensley, Ms. Martinez, it is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding." He forced out a very ugly smile, the corners of his mouth even twitching.
"We were just following regulations. Maybe the complaint information we received earlier was wrong."
"The inspection results are in — your restaurant's hygiene standards are completely up to code, an industry benchmark!"
"We will not disturb you anymore. We will be going now."
The group that came in so aggressively left looking completely defeated.
The commotion in the restaurant quickly died down, and many diners felt relieved and went back to eating their pasta.
But Cecilia's heart sank.
She knew Rufus very well.
This was just Rufus's way of showing his power.
Rufus was telling her he had plenty of ways to make her life difficult.
This little drama was just the prelude.
Sure enough, the food inspectors had barely left when bigger trouble arrived.
"Oh my God! There is a bug in this pasta! That is disgusting!"
A very shrill scream suddenly rang out in the gradually quieting hall.
Everyone's movements stopped, and all eyes turned to the window-side table.
It was a table with four men sitting at it.
The leader had a buzz cut, a heavy-set face, and smelled strongly of cigarette smoke.
He was pointing at the bowl of pasta in front of him that he had already eaten halfway through, yelling and screaming.
"Everyone, come look! Such a famous place, and there is a bug in the pasta!"
His companions all stood up with fierce looks on their faces.
A tall, thin man slammed the table hard, making the dishes rattle.
"What is wrong with you people! Such expensive pasta, and you will not even let people eat it!"
"Get your boss out here! If you do not give us an explanation today, we will smash up your restaurant!"
They shouted while deliberately shoving the empty tables nearby.
The solid wood tables screeched across the tiled floor with a harsh sound.
The diners around them were scared by this scene. Several parents with children quickly pulled their kids aside.
The scene descended into chaos.
Seeing this situation, Robert's first reaction was to go reason with them.
"Gentlemen, let us talk this out calmly. Please do not get physical." Robert's voice was sincere, even carrying a bit of pleading.
"Our pasta is all freshly rolled and made. The vegetables are thoroughly washed — absolutely clean."
"There is no way there could be insects. Is there some kind of misunderstanding?"
The buzz-cut man glared, completely ignoring what Robert was saying.
"Nonsense!" He suddenly reached out and shoved Robert hard in the chest.
"You say there is not, so there is not? I saw it with my own eyes — the insect was still moving!"
"You look like an honest person, but you are so bad. Trying to deny it, huh!"
Robert was old — how could he withstand being shoved by such a strong man?
He stumbled backward, his body tilting back, his back hitting the checkout counter behind him.
"Robert!"
Mabel cried out, and she and Cecilia both rushed over, supporting Robert's body from left and right.
Mabel was shaking with anger, pointing at those men and shouting, "How can you hit people? Is this reasonable?"
Cecilia positioned Robert behind her and looked directly at the troublemaking men.
They clearly were not here to eat. This kind of thuggish behavior was extremely common in business competition.
These people were probably also sent by Rufus.