421 Resort to Violence

This matter was discussed in the capital for more than three days. The Hundred Flavors Restaurant, which had just opened, was doing fine. How did the government suddenly find out? “Master, the authorities said that we’ve made too much noise and caused the people around the workshop to be unhappy. They said that we’ve disturbed their peace, so they asked the authorities to come and check!”

Shang threw the vase on the ground, his face full of anger. “What a bunch of useless people. You can’t even handle such a small matter! Now the workshop matter is in an uproar, and the government has ordered us to move to another place as soon as possible.” Shang panted heavily. “This is great. All my plans have been disrupted. Let me ask you, does that Zhao guy and his intelligent wife know that this workshop is mine? I told you to keep an eye on them, how’s it going?”

“Father! Father!”

The door was pushed open.

The long whip in Liu Qinqin’s hand made a clunking sound as she walked to Shang angrily. “Father, you promised me that you would bring Zhao Zhan to me and beg me to let him go. I’ve waited for so long, and now his restaurant is in trouble. Is it that you’re almost done with your task?”

“My dearest daughter, don’t worry about anything.” Even though Shang was furious, he was still patient in front of Liu Qinqin. “Although things went wrong this time, since I promised you, I will definitely do it.”

“But father, Zhao Zhan’s restaurant is barely surviving. Is he still not going to admit defeat? I don’t care. I’m going to find him now. As long as he agrees to be with me, we’ll let go of his restaurant.” The more Liu Qinqin said, the more she felt that what she said made sense. “If it really comes to a point where he can’t make a comeback, what if he sees me as an enemy and hates me more than he loves me.

“Qinqin, you can’t disobey me on this matter.”

Shang tried to persuade her. “Just wait patiently, don’t worry.”

The attendant, who was standing aside, received Shang’s look and came to persuade her. “My lady, what your father said makes sense. He has always done what he promised you for so many years.”

“I’m talking to my father. Who are you to interrupt?”

The attendant didn’t dare to say anything more.

With Qinqin’s personality, if he said another word, the whip would soon fall on him.

“Qinqin…” Shang put his hands on Liu Qinqin’s shoulders and said earnestly, “You’re underestimating Zhao Zhan. Even if he’s in trouble, he still has many tricks up his sleeve. If you don’t let him feel that he’s already unable to save himself, how can he willingly crawl under your feet?” Shang said each word very slowly, his eyes fixed on his daughter’s face. “Don’t sweat the details, time will take its toll.”

“If you still can’t do it, I’ll send people to kidnap his wife and lock her up for a few days before letting her go back. When the time comes, I’ll have people spread the news all over the city. A woman has been kidnapped for so many days, and no matter how good Zhao Zhan’s relationship with her is, he’ll definitely doubt her chastity.”

When she spoke, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and there was a kind of innocent viciousness on her face.

“You’re just a young girl. How could you think of such a plan?” Shang’s heart ached when he spoke, and he tried to comfort her. “I don’t blame you. I just want you to know that I’ll get you whatever you want. You just have to be happy and not worry about these things.”

The attendant standing by the side lowered his head and didn’t dare to make a sound.

Shang probably thought that his daughter was naive and didn’t know how cruel she was. In reality, she was much more violent than Shang.

“Alright, I still have things I need to discuss.” Shang pulled off the pouch at his waist and stuffed it into her hand. “Here, take this fifty pieces of silver. Go buy some of that rouge and face powder that you like.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to give you a few more days, Father.”

Liu Qinqin kept her purse, wrapped the whip around her waist, and left.

After she left, the attendant looked at Shang and looked up to speak.

“Master, I’ve just thought about it. Although our workshop has been raided by the government, Zhao Zhan’s restaurant has also closed down because of this.

“Although this is different from what you have previously imagined, I foresee that if you were to step forward and open another restaurant now, wouldn’t it be just nice for us to use the reputation that the Hundred Flavors Restaurant had previously pushed out?

“You can let your subordinates learn most of the dishes that his restaurant makes. At that time, we can only explain that we made those raw materials by ourselves. We can use this opportunity to snatch all of Zhao Zhan’s business. Even if he wants to make a comeback, it will be difficult.”

Shang muttered to himself for a long time, but did not make a decision immediately.

The main thing was that after fighting with Zhao Zhan for two years, he knew better than anyone how difficult it was to deal with that guy.

“Don’t worry, let’s wait and see how it pans out.” Shang waved his hand. “I feel that there’s something strange about the workshop. Let’s wait and see.”

Zhao Zhan was not aware of their discussion, and even if he did, he would not have taken it to heart.

He had moved to the new house.

After the workshop incident, he had already put up a notice in front of the restaurant to clarify that the workshop had nothing to do with the restaurant. Even so, the restaurant’s business had been greatly affected. Recently, it has become more and more deserted.

Yue Jiaojiao had a large cloak draped over her shoulders, and her neck was wrapped in pure white fur. Her hands were hidden in her sleeves, and she was holding a hand warmer. She carefully looked down as she entered the courtyard.

“Zhao Zhan, I’m back.”

“Mother!”

Zhao Nian was now a chubby little boy. His small body was wrapped in a thick cotton coat and was not as mobile as before.

Zhao Zhan walked to the door before him, held Yue Jiaojiao’s arm, and led her into the house. “Where’s Madam Qin? Why didn’t she come back with you?”

“When we came back from Xiangjun’s house, Madam Qin said that she was going to visit Doctor Sun. In the end, she realized that Doctor Sun wasn’t feeling well, so I asked Madam Qin to stay there and take care of Doctor Sun. He’s been getting on in years, we can’t be careless even if he’s caught in a cold wind.”

Zhao Zhan had already taken off her cloak and hung it at the side. Then, he gave her a new hand warmer. “I’m assured to have Madam Qin taking care of him. I’ve been having a lot of time on my hands recently, so I wanted to ask if you would like to go to the hot springs in the suburbs. Since winter has come, I have been letting people take care of the manor. If you are willing, we can set off tomorrow.”

“When did you buy the hot spring?” Yue Jiaojiao pulled Zhao Nian into her arms and looked up at Zhao Zhan with a smile in her eyes. “Aren’t you afraid that Shang will take advantage of our absence and shut down our restaurant?”

“He can come and try,” Zhao Zhan said in a casual tone. “I know that he won’t dare come and find trouble with me. I’ll accompany you and Zhao Nian to the manor and have some fun for a few days. I’d like to see what Shang can do while we’re gone.”