Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 41

Lu Tang quickly gathered her things and set off for Sihe Town.

As soon as she left the house, she ran into Liang Cheng and the others.

“The most handsome man in Qingshui County is here!”

Zhou Shu waved his chubby hand and shouted at Lu Tang, only to receive a slap on the head from Guo Dawei beside him. “Idiot, our Brother Tang isn’t just the most handsome in Qingshui County. He’s the most handsome in the world!”

Xu Shen rolled his eyes in exasperation and asked Lu Tang, “Heading to Sihe Town today?”

Liang Cheng had already dashed over and put an arm around Lu Tang’s shoulder. “I’m coming with you!”

Ever since he received that damned reading task, Lu Tang hadn’t had the chance to hang out with his friends.

Yesterday, Liang Cheng had wanted to invite him for a meal, but Lu Tang refused. Eventually, Liang Cheng ended up watching him study while they both smelled the aroma of a table full of delicious food.

Everyone thought he was still brooding over the incident with Lu Deren and tried various ways to cheer him up.

Lu Tang appreciated their efforts and didn’t push Liang Cheng away, but he did glance around at the group. “You all aren’t planning to come too, are you?”

Xu Shen, Zhou Shu, and Guo Dawei all replied in unison, “Of course we are. We have to go!”

Liang Cheng grinned and clapped Lu Tang on the shoulder. “We don’t know the situation over there. If we all go, we’ll feel more at ease.”

Since they were all genuinely concerned, Lu Tang didn’t refuse.

The Five Young Masters of Qingshui County set off for Sihe Town.

The inn had been closed since that day, while the signboard of the Chunxi Inn opposite had been taken down, leaving the place in a mess after the looting and smashing.

Now that both inns belonged to the Qiao family, Lu Tang naturally had to arrange for them to be cleaned up.

A job notice had been posted at the door, and many people were lining up for interviews.

Liang Cheng’s family had a shop in Sihe Town, and since he was worried that Lu Tang might not manage things well, he had called the manager of his family’s shop to help out.

The manager, seeing his young master for the first time, kept glancing at Liang Cheng with excitement. Even though he was a fifty-year-old man, he looked like a lovestruck teenager.

This prompted Lu Tang to tease Liang Cheng, “Does his family have a daughter ready for marriage? Looks like she’s taken a fancy to you!”

Liang Cheng rolled his eyes, “No way. He has six sons and has been hoping for a daughter all his life without success. Now he’s pinning his hopes on having a granddaughter. He’s even declared that half of the family’s fortune will go to the first granddaughter! Guess what? All six daughters-in-law have tried their best, but none have had a daughter. The place is full of grandsons running around!”

Lu Tang burst out laughing.

Sunlight illuminated Lu Tang’s face, making her fair skin glow. Liang Cheng couldn’t help but laugh along.

After a moment of shared laughter, Liang Cheng nudged Lu Tang with his elbow. “Hiring kitchen and laundry staff is easy, but how do you plan to choose the manager?”

“Actually, I already have someone in mind.”

“Who?”

“The former manager of Qingchun House, Yu Shunhai.”

Qingchun House was the second-largest restaurant in Qingshui County, and Yu Shunhai had been its manager for half his life. Four or five years ago, he suddenly resigned and returned to Sihe Town, despite Qingchun House’s efforts to retain him.

After returning to Sihe Town, he worked as the manager of Yunyang Restaurant.

Lu Tang had someone investigate and found that Yu Shunhai’s contract with Yunyang Restaurant had expired, and he was looking for a new job.

The day before, Lu Tang sent Yuan Bao to find Yu Shunhai, who immediately agreed to join the Qiao Family Inn.

After hearing the story, Liang Cheng felt reassured.

“Yu Shunhai is indeed capable and meticulous. My father said he would pay double the price for someone like him. With him as the manager, you can truly be a hands-off boss. But why did he leave Qingchun House in the first place?”

Lu Tang shrugged, “Who knows? Everyone has their private matters.”

“True. When will he come?”

“No set time yet. After we tidy up here, I’ll invite him over tonight.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

With the help of Liang Cheng’s manager and the assistance of Zhou Shu, Xu Shen, and Guo Dawei, they selected six young attendants and six laundresses before nightfall.

It was too late to choose the head chef that day, so they had dinner at a restaurant. Zhou Shu, Xu Shen, and Guo Dawei stayed behind to supervise the young attendants while Lu Tang and Liang Cheng headed to Yu Shunhai’s house.

Leaving their servants at the alley entrance, the two of them walked into a very narrow alley.

Looking at the dilapidated houses around them, Liang Cheng said, “Yu Shunhai worked at Qingchun House for half his life. They treated him well. Why does he live in such a poor place?”

Lu Tang was also puzzled. “Let’s go inside and find out.”

When they arrived at Yu Shunhai’s house, they saw that the door had clearly been kicked in. They exchanged worried glances.

What happened here?

Lu Tang quickly walked inside.

“Are you leaving Yunyang Restaurant?”

Before Lu Tang reached the door, he heard voices inside.

The scene was eerily similar to the time he overheard Lu Deren and Gu Yunhe’s conversation.

Inside, it was Gu Yunhe.

Lu Tang was startled, and Liang Cheng, realizing the same, grabbed Lu Tang and swiftly pulled him up onto the roof.

The two of them lay flat on the roof, and Liang Cheng gestured for silence before carefully prying up a few tiles.

They could see the scene inside clearly enough.

Yu Shunhai sat pale-faced in a chair while Gu Yunhe, pointing angrily at him, demanded, “Have you thought this through? Are you really leaving me?”

Gu Yunhe’s furious roar was followed by a brief silence. Yu Shunhai, with his head bowed, replied, “Yes, I don’t want to manage Yunyang Restaurant anymore.”

Taking a deep breath, Yu Shunhai looked up and met Gu Yunhe’s gaze. “Don’t try to persuade me. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Why?” Gu Yunhe’s eyes blazed with anger, questioning Yu Shunhai like a wild beast.

On the roof, Lu Tang and Liang Cheng were both bewildered.

“I have my own principles. Yunyang Restaurant’s business philosophy completely contradicts mine. The only reason I agreed to come back was to repay your favor. We signed a four-year contract, and now it’s expired.”

Gu Yunhe interrupted harshly.

“Expired? Don’t talk to me about expired contracts! Don’t forget, who covered up your son’s murder case? Your son can still study in the capital thanks to the Gu family’s reputation! Without me, you’d be ruined! Do you think you’ve repaid that favor? Yu Shunhai, where is your conscience? I never thought you’d be such a shameless, selfish person!”

Enraged by Gu Yunhe’s accusations, Yu Shunhai slammed his fist on the table and stood up. “My son did not commit murder! He was framed from start to finish!”

He gritted his teeth, his low voice trembling with fury.