Chapter 7 Convincing The Galassos

"Well, I used to reside in Hollow Springs. The elders there used to talk about a river in a nearby town that flows into the sea," Roman interjected. He couldn't help but speak up for Kenneth upon observing Kenneth's meticulous and serious demeanor. "You understand, sir," Kenneth explained. "This river is quite remote. As it approaches the county, it narrows, making it difficult for boats to navigate. That's why it's not often talked about." "Young man, this fish is pretty good. I can tell it's a pure wild species. What's your asking price?" Roman directed his question to Kenneth, bypassing Daniella. "Based on this fish's quality, Old Mr. Galasso, it would fetch no less than eight hundred per pound in a big city," Kenneth replied confidently. "Yes, tuna tends to fetch higher prices the larger it is. Naturally, the price also depends on the fish's quality. I doubt there are any experts on tuna in Hollow Springs, so..." Roman interjected, allowing Kenneth to name his price. "Old Mr. Galasso, I can see you're truly interested in the fish. I'll offer it at five hundred per pound," Kenneth stated confidently. "This fish weighs nearly one hundred and seventy pounds, but I'll round it down to one hundred and thirty pounds." Selling it for five hundred per pound in this town was already pushing the limit. Hence, Kenneth was open to offering a discount. Daniella's appearance naturally drew the attention of the kitchen staff. "Wow! Five hundred per pound!" At this time, Chef Luis emerged with several of his apprentice chefs, immediately beginning to mock Kenneth. "Seriously? Five hundred per pound for tuna in this small town? Are you running a scam?" Neither Daniella nor Roman uttered a word. Chef Luis, formerly the head chef of a four-star hotel, had been headhunted and brought his culinary expertise to this small town. Surely, he had some skills worth noting. Let's hear what he has to say. "Chef, my price is fair. If you don't appreciate the fish's value or don't know how to handle this fish, then refrain from making baseless comments," Kenneth retorted confidently. Chef Luis was dumbstruck and bristled at Kenneth's criticism, his anger evident. "What did you say?" "I apologize. It was in response to your initial jest," Kenneth replied after a moment's thought, opting not to escalate the confrontation with Chef Luis. "Hmph! I wasn't jesting with you! This fish isn't worth more than three thousand. It's not worth a cent more!" Chef Luis declared firmly. "Three thousand? Chef, I'm beginning to doubt your ability to handle this fish properly. It seems you're quoting such a low price just to discourage me." "Heh! Back when I was made head chef and handled yellowfin tuna, you probably didn't even know how to make mud pies yet!" Kenneth quipped. "Tell me, then, what species is this fish? Where does its primary value lie? And where should we begin when handling it?" Kenneth fired off three consecutive questions, causing Chef Luis's eyes to widen in disbelief. What a joke?! How dare this countryside peasant question me? "Who are you? Do I really need to entertain your questions?" "That's right! Do you know who my mentor is? How dare you question him?" The group of kitchen workers in the back burst into laughter. "Exactly! Our mentor used to be the head chef of a five-star hotel, skilled in various cuisines. You're merely a peasant. Who do you think you are to question him?" Their sense of superiority led them to treat Kenneth rudely. "Yes, I come from the countryside, and I take pride in that. However, this is the real deal. It's okay if you don't appreciate it and mock me, but at least show some respect. Without peasants like me, where would you be?" Kenneth replied, feeling a bit irritated. In the past, these insults would have spelled a different fate for these people. "You!" Chef Luis's hand trembled with anger. If Daniella hadn't been there, he would've ordered his apprentices to teach Kenneth a lesson he wouldn't forget. "Alright, let's calm down," Roman intervened, sensing important values in Kenneth, namely his integrity and respect for others. "Young man, I'll purchase this fish at five hundred per pound, as you suggested." "Great! You understand its value, sir! Thank you so much," Kenneth exclaimed joyfully. One hundred and thirty pounds at five hundred per pound totaled more than fifty thousand! It would be enough to settle Casey's family's debt and cover household expenses. "Sir, please don't be misled by this country boy. This fish isn't worth it!" Chef Luis interjected, trying to dissuade Roman. "It's fine. This young man is trustworthy, and based on that alone, this fish is worth the price," Roman affirmed firmly. Seeing Roman's resolute stance, Chef Luis grew anxious. It was because he had never dealt with tuna before. If he mishandled it later, he would face severe consequences. Roman was the head of the Galasso family and was influential in the state capital. If he ruined Old Mr. Galasso's fish, he would surely face repercussions. "Old Mr. Galasso! This fish..." "Chef, please have someone bring the fish inside to weigh it," Daniella interjected. Today was her grandfather's birthday, and if it made him happy, she didn't mind spending a large sum of money. "Ms. Galasso, but..." Chef Luis started to protest, feeling helpless under Daniella's authority. "Chef, is something wrong?" Daniella questioned, noticing Chef Luis's troubled expression. Kenneth almost wanted to laugh at the sight. It seemed his suspicions were correct; this chef couldn't handle the fish! "Ms. Galasso, Old Mr. Galasso, I've actually never dealt with such a large tuna before. I'm afraid I might ruin it," Chef Luis admitted reluctantly to Daniella, glaring at Kenneth before lowering his gaze. "What?!" Daniella had assumed Chef Luis was concerned about her overspending on subpar fish. She never imagined his reluctance stemmed from an inability to deal with it. She felt deeply embarrassed in front of Kenneth. "Heh. It appears the young man was correct," Roman remarked with a sneer. He had already assessed Chef Luis's skills, which were mediocre at best. The man was also rumored to be prone to frequent outbursts in the hotel kitchen. Perhaps this was an opportunity to impart the chef a lesson. "Old Mr. Galasso, this fish is too valuable. Handling it demands exceptional expertise, and Chef Luis lacks that capability. Had it been under one hundred and thirty pounds, he might've managed it flawlessly, but anything above that..." Kenneth deliberately remarked. "Haha! That's a new one. He can handle tuna in general, but he can't deal with slightly larger tuna?" "What are you implying, you punk? Are you saying I can't handle it? Don't tell me you can do it?" Chef Luis restrained his anger, feeling mocked by Kenneth in front of Daniella and Roman. If necessary, he was prepared to confront Kenneth right there and teach him a lesson. "Since you've purchased the fish from me, Old Mr. Galasso, and no one in the county seems capable, I suppose I should assist with dealing with it," Kenneth replied calmly, a faint smile on his face. "Hmm?" Daniella and Roman exchanged surprised glances. "Young man, can you really handle this fish?" Kenneth had arrived on a cargo bike and clearly seemed to be living in the village. If a chef from a five-star hotel didn't know how to deal with such a high-quality fish, how could he manage it? "Haha! Ms. Galasso, Old Mr. Galasso, did you hear that? This punk is too arrogant!" Chef Luis chuckled, seeing an opportunity to avoid blame if Kenneth failed to deliver. "Young man, don't take on something you're uncertain about, or I'll retract my earlier statement." "Of course, if I fail to handle it properly, I'll consider this fish a gift for you as a local delicacy, and I won't ask for a penny, Old Mr. Galasso," Kenneth replied calmly, a faint smile on his lips.