The waitress at Langhuan Jade Pavilion was taken aback upon hearing this, her expression extremely awkward. She quickened her pace, while Leng Caiwen glanced coldly at Baili Chen before slowly sipping the tea that Chuncao had poured for her.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue showed no expression. Dong Xue had already opened the window and looked outside. She then turned her head and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, and Young Master Leng, everyone has gathered outside."
As soon as Dongxue finished speaking, they heard a commotion outside. The three of them immediately straightened up and looked out.
Two groups of people were approaching on Langhuan Street. They were indeed people, and the leaders were familiar to everyone. One group was Lin Changqi, the second young master of the Lin family, and the other was Sun Ming, the third young master of the Sun family. The two rode tall horses, wore thick fur coats, had their black hair tied up high, and had swords at their waists. They looked very imposing. A quick glance behind them showed that each group had about twenty or thirty people, all with serious and cold expressions, glaring angrily at each other, clearly ready to fight.
The room was warm from the burning charcoal fire, and even with the windows open, no one felt cold. Baili Chen and the other two couldn't help but lean closer to the window. Leng Caiwen couldn't help but laugh at this: "Well, so many people from the two mansions, this is quite interesting."
Ouyang Yue watched with a smile. The last two groups, due to their superior numbers, blocked the street, drawing anger from those behind. However, upon hearing that the Lin and Sun families were in front, they dared not act rashly and could only complain inwardly. But no one was a fool; such a commotion between the two families was sure to be entertaining, so a crowd gathered to watch the spectacle. Lin Changqi and Sun Ming had clearly stopped at a restaurant opposite the Langhuan Jade Pavilion. At that moment, a stumbling, overweight man in his forties, dressed in fine clothes and seemingly the manager, stumbled out. He bowed and scraped, greeting the two men. However, after what they said, the manager's expression changed drastically, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace than a cry.
Meanwhile, Lin Changqi and Sun Ming were blocking the entrance of Chenghua Restaurant. When the original manager of Chenghua Restaurant heard that these two men were blocking his restaurant, he knew they were up to no good. He immediately rushed out. The manager of Chenghua Restaurant was fair-skinned and plump. When he smiled, his eyes almost squinted, but he seemed very kind and friendly: "Why didn't you gentlemen send a servant to inform me that you two have come to Chenghua Restaurant? I must have had everyone in Chenghua Restaurant come down to welcome you."
Lin Changqi waved his hand and said, "Manager, let's not talk about those empty words. The Lin family talked to you before, right? The Lin family wants this restaurant."
Sun Ming sneered, "You make it sound so easy. Do you think you can just take Chenghua Restaurant as you please? This property was originally coveted by the Sun family. Do you think you can just forcibly seize it?"
"Young Master Sun is trying to mislead us. This restaurant was clearly first set in the Lin family's sights. Your shameless Sun family is trying to forcibly seize it. The manager is a sensible man. He knows that integrity is paramount in business. If you promised the Lin family beforehand but then broke your promise and transferred the restaurant to some shameless family, then that would be your fault. You should know that the Lin family will not swallow such an insult." Lin Changqi threatened coldly.
The shopkeeper suddenly felt weak all over, and cold sweat poured down his face. He thought to himself, how could he be so unlucky as to run into two powerful families, the Lin and Sun families, who had come together to discuss the shop's business? Wasn't this going to kill him? The Lin and Sun families were both people he couldn't afford to offend. What was he going to do now?
Neither Lin Changqi nor Sun Ming paid any attention to the shopkeeper's internal struggle. Instead, they looked at each other and sneered: "Lin Changqi, doesn't your Lin family pride itself on being the number one family in the Great Zhou Dynasty? Moreover, you value literature over martial arts, and each of you is proud to be a great Confucian scholar of the time. How could you do such a despicable thing as robbing others' property? This is something that a great Confucian scholar would do. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world if word gets out?"
Lin Changqi's eyes turned cold: "Sun Ming, don't you dare make false accusations. The Lin family has always acted with a clear conscience, unlike your self-proclaimed family of military generals who do things that are far from the straightforward and heroic spirit of military generals. You've resorted to petty theft and other despicable acts. If you're smart, leave now, and I won't hold you accountable for today's events. Otherwise, hmph!"
Sun Ming's face turned cold: "Otherwise what? You think you can just rob me? Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"Don't be afraid, go ahead and try. I'm not afraid of Sun Quan here, but with your pathetic skills, I'll beat you so badly you won't even recognize your own mother today. I'll change my surname to yours." Lin Changqi said with a look of disdain.
Sun Ming's face darkened, and he roared, "Lin Changqi, you've gone too far! Today I'll see how you dare to take my surname!"
"ah!"
"ah!"
At the same time, Lin Changqi and Sun Ming shouted and rushed towards the other party, reaching out to fight. The shopkeeper turned pale with fright and suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
Lin Changqi and Sun Ming both stopped in surprise, but when they saw that it was the manager of Chenghua Restaurant who was calling out, their faces darkened. Lin Changqi said coldly, "You ordered me to do this." Although Sun Ming did not speak, his expression conveyed the same meaning.
The innkeeper's lips twitched, and he frantically wiped his forehead with his sleeve, stammering, "My... my lords, this restaurant is just a business to make a living. Since you both think highly of me, I am naturally willing to sell it. However, there are two buyers now, and you are both outstanding individuals from prestigious families. I really dare not offend either of you. I hope you two gentlemen can understand. How about I make a suggestion, and you two can see if it is acceptable?"
Lin Changqi and Sun Ming immediately turned their heads and coldly looked at the manager of Chenghua Restaurant, who was so frightened that he staggered: "Gentlemen..."
Lin Changqi, however, asked coldly, "What suggestion?"
The innkeeper wiped his forehead with his sleeve, looked at the two men cautiously, and swallowed hard. "Well... I only have one restaurant. Both of you gentlemen, or rather, both of you want it. I can't just split Chenghua Restaurant in two, can I? There's only one way now: the highest bidder wins. What do you think of this idea, gentlemen?"
"Hmph! You sure know how to do business. This restaurant is already expensive, and now you want the highest bidder to win. You're trying to rip off the Lin family!" Lin Changqi sneered upon hearing this, took a step forward, and forced the manager to break out in a cold sweat.
Sun Ming, unusually speaking, retorted, "Do you think I'm a fool? I wouldn't fall for your tricks!"
The innkeeper's facial muscles twitched: "Gentlemen, there's nothing I can do about it. This restaurant has been passed down through generations of my family. Originally, I was determined not to sell it under any circumstances, but I had no choice because you two come from the five great families. However, since I can't divide the restaurant in two, I'll sell it to whoever offers the most satisfactory price. You two don't want me to sell it off without any profit, do you? Would my whole family starve?"
The innkeeper's words were incredibly audacious. Lin Changqi and Sun Ming both frowned. Just then, a bystander outside said, "That's exactly right! The innkeeper didn't really want to sell the restaurant. Being forced to sell it was already outrageous enough. Now what? Is he trying to rob us? Even if he comes from one of the five great families, he shouldn't act like a robber. It's shameful!"
"Whoever speaks, shut up!" Immediately, people from the Lin and Sun families shouted.
The man was also enraged: "So what if it's me? You dare to touch me? Little Six, go and call the Prefect of the Capital. I don't believe that the capital is still so lawless. Anyone who dares to touch me today, I'll go to the palace and file a complaint with the Emperor. Do they think I'm easily scared?!"
"That's right. So what if it's the Lin family or the Sun family? This capital city is under the Emperor's jurisdiction. The rules are not set by the Lin family or the Sun family, but by the Emperor. Do you all think the Emperor is blind? If anyone dares to cause me trouble today, I will make sure the whole city knows about it."
"Exactly! I refuse to believe that the Lin and Sun families would dare to touch us. Let's all unite. If anyone dares to touch us, we'll go and complain to the emperor together and see who ends up getting the short end of the stick."
"Yes, we must appeal to the Emperor! We must appeal to the Emperor!"
"Damn it, what are we afraid of? No matter how arrogant the Lin and Sun families are, do they think they can be arrogant enough to challenge the Emperor? They're asking for death!"
"Yeah, fuck him. Who's afraid of who!"
"beat!"
"beat!"
Immediately, the onlookers erupted in a clamor, shouting incessantly. Lin Changqi and Sun Ming's expressions changed upon hearing this. Langhuan Street, as the most luxurious street in the capital, was usually frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles. Why were there so many people spouting nonsense today? Could they be up to no good? However, this thought only lasted for a moment, because there was a more serious problem. If these people really caused a disturbance and the Emperor were to hold them accountable, no one could afford the consequences. No matter how fiercely the five great families fought, they still had a sense of honor. If they were labeled as bandits, their reputation would be completely ruined.
"Nonsense! Shut up, all of you! When did I ever say that taking over this restaurant would be free? Stop talking nonsense. If anyone is found to be maliciously slandering the Lin family's image, I will not let them off easily," Lin Changqi said angrily.
“That’s right. The Sun family would never do such a thing. They’re just unhappy about the manager’s hidden price increase. Are we not even allowed to express our feelings? Anyone who tries to damage the Sun family’s image will not be let off lightly.” Sun Ming shouted.
Although there were still some whispers in the crowd, they were scared and there was no more of the previous noise and commotion.
However, Lin Changqi and Sun Ming felt satisfied but also somewhat frustrated. They had genuinely intended to deliberately lower the price to acquire Chenghua Restaurant. Chenghua Restaurant was indeed one of the top ten restaurants in the capital, having been passed down through three generations, and now in its fourth generation, its reputation was extremely prestigious. Sometimes, it's all about the name. Chenghua Restaurant might not have the best food or service in the capital, but it was certainly the oldest. Acquiring such a place would cost at least tens of thousands of taels of silver. But now that things had escalated to this point, if they said anything else and tried to lower the price further, it would reach the Emperor's ears, which wouldn't benefit them. So they had no choice but to accept.
"Alright, shopkeeper, name your price," Lin Changqi said, waving his hand.
The shopkeeper's eyes darted around, glancing at Lin Changqi and then at Sun Ming. Seeing their grim expressions, he hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said painfully, "Fifty...fifty thousand taels..."
"What! Only fifty thousand taels? Has this shopkeeper lost his mind?"
"That's right. The most expensive table at Chenghua Restaurant costs several thousand taels, while the entire restaurant only costs fifty thousand taels. He really dares to offer such a price."
"It's so cheap, I'm tempted to buy it."
"Keep dreaming. Can't you see? This shopkeeper is clearly afraid of the Lin and Sun families, so he's deliberately lowering the price. He's a complete idiot."
"Get lost, I just didn't think of it for a moment."
Lin Changqi and Sun Ming listened to the discussion, but their expressions improved. This shopkeeper was quite sensible; otherwise, if the price had been too high, he wouldn't have been able to make a living in the capital.
Lin Changqi raised the price, saying, "I'll take it for sixty thousand taels."
“I’ll offer 70,000 taels,” Sun Ming said repeatedly.
Lin Changqi sneered: "Eighty thousand taels."
"Ninety thousand taels."
"One hundred thousand taels."
"110,000 taels."
"..."
In no time at all, Lin Changqi and Sun Ming deliberately raised the price, reaching 150,000 taels. Everyone stared wide-eyed, and the shopkeeper also looked quite frightened, constantly watching the two bid, clutching his chest, as if he was afraid he would collapse from the pressure.
"Two hundred thousand taels." Lin Changqi gritted his teeth and shouted, then angrily said to Sun Ming, "Sun Ming, that's enough. This restaurant is worth at most one hundred and twenty thousand taels. Asking for more is not worth it. This time, the Lin family has suffered a loss. Next time, we won't compete with your Sun family."
Sun Ming sneered, "If you're not going to compete with the Sun family next time, you might as well not compete with them this time. Since you know that Chenghua Restaurant isn't that valuable, why are you competing with me? Just leave. I'll offer 220,000 taels."
"Two hundred and fifty thousand taels. Sun Ming, this is the bottom line. Are you out of your mind to argue?" Lin Changqi said, already somewhat irritated.
Sun Ming's face also darkened. He gritted his teeth and said, "Lin Changqi, if you don't fight me this time, I, Sun Ming, will be your friend and even owe you a favor of 270,000 taels of silver."
Lin Changqi's chest heaved rapidly, his anger barely contained: "Sun Ming, don't go too far. If you raise the price any further, you could buy two Chenghua Restaurants. Are you crazy?"
Sun Ming's expression also darkened. Originally, the Sun family's transaction price for Chenghua Restaurant was only 100,000 taels, and at most 120,000 taels. Now it had doubled and even turned into a curve. He would have a hard time explaining this when he got back. Fortunately, his father had previously said that he should try his best to acquire the restaurant, otherwise Sun Ming would not have dared to offer such a price.
Lin Changqi was in a similar predicament. The highest price offered by the Lin family when they came out was no more than 150,000 taels. He was still torn between his own desires and his own. But thinking about how the Sun family had been constantly opposing the Lin family lately, always trying to take two of everything they wanted, and how the Lin family had lost in a previous dispute over a shop and a hairpin among the women, if they failed this time, they would lose all face and reputation. They represented not only the Lin family, but also the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Crown Prince. He had heard that Consort Sun had used these two incidents to pressure the Empress in the palace in the past two days. Therefore, when they left, the Lin family gave a firm order: this time, they had to outbid the Sun family by at least 10%. Lin Changqi took a deep breath and shouted, "I'll offer 300,000 taels to take over Chenghua Restaurant!"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's face flushed red, and he clutched his chest, groaning twice. He almost fainted. Sun Ming's face was ashen, but in the end, he didn't ask for a price. That was no longer the bottom line that the Sun family had set for him. The Lin family had spent 300,000 taels to acquire Chenghua Restaurant, and it would take time to earn back the money. The Sun family had been fiercely competing with the Lin family recently, and their expenses were huge. In addition, they had secretly acquired the Fu family's shops, so they had to give up on Chenghua Restaurant. But at the same time, it meant that Sun Ming had lost to Lin Changqi. How could he swallow this insult? Sun Ming clenched his fists tightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged out, almost bursting from his anger. Seeing Sun Ming's rage, everyone else couldn't help but shrink back.
Seeing Sun Ming like this, Lin Changqi was in a very good mood: "Shopkeeper, let's sign the transfer contract. I'll send someone to get the silver notes, and we'll transfer the shop today."
The shopkeeper was so excited his face turned red, and he almost knelt down and kowtowed to Lin Changqi to express his gratitude. He had originally intended to sell Chenghua Restaurant at a low price at a loss, but now it had more than doubled in value. Now he and his wife and children would live a life of luxury, enough to last two lifetimes. The shopkeeper hurriedly had someone prepare paper and pen to draw up an agreement with Lin Changqi. This agreement was drawn up in front of everyone, which was Sun Ming's insistence. He ultimately failed to acquire Chenghua Restaurant. Lin Changqi offered 300,000 taels, which was a considerable burden for anyone. If he left, it was not impossible for Lin Changqi to change his mind and force a low-price resale, which would allow the Lin family to profit.
Thus, with everyone present, the agreement was reached. The contract was signed and stamped by the government, and Chenghua Restaurant became Lin Changqi's property. However, due to the suddenness of the event, the manager needed two days to pack up his belongings. Lin Changqi took the contract and led the Lin and Qi families back to their residences first, and the commotion came to an end.
At the open window on the fifth floor of Langhuan Jade Pavilion, Leng Caiwen clapped his hands and laughed, "Good, good, good, this is hilarious!"
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue were also laughing together. Leng Caiwen looked at Ouyang Yue, not knowing what to say: "These two idiots have been tricked by you, cousin."
Ouyang Yue tilted her head but didn't speak, while Leng Caiwen looked excited: "They don't know that my cousin has already taken over Chenghua Restaurant, but it has been managed by the original manager. The news that the Fu family wanted to take over Chenghua Restaurant was also spread by you, cousin. With the Lin family and the Sun family fighting like dogs, my cousin has made double the money."
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "Business is business. As a businessman, I naturally have to put profit first. Besides, I released this news, so why didn't anyone else make a move? Why are the Lin family and the Sun family so eager to get it? Isn't it because they have ulterior motives? If I don't take advantage of them, who else will I take advantage of?"
Leng Caiwen was speechless and kept shaking his head: "They say that women and villains are hard to deal with, and that's absolutely true. You can never offend a woman, especially someone as clever and ruthless as my cousin. She's absolutely, positively off-limits! Otherwise, you won't even know how you've been played to death. This time, the Lin family is going to be furious with several of them."
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly and remained silent, while Baili Chen was overjoyed, his face as bright as a blooming flower. He said with doting smile, "Well done, my wife. I support you. It's good if you can infuriate a few people or trick a few people to death, as long as my wife is happy."
Leng Caiwen was speechless. Baili Chen was such a henpecked husband! But he couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy. If it were him, he would have spoiled him just as much.
Two days later, the Lin family came to take over Chenghua Restaurant. The restaurant's doors weren't locked at all. Lin Changqi, somewhat suspicious, led his men inside. But when he saw what was inside, only one thought crossed his mind: "Damn it, we've been tricked!" Lin Changqi roared angrily, "Arrest him! Arrest that damned manager! I'll skin him alive!"
The roar startled all the passersby, and when they saw what was inside, they were all astonished and trembling: "What...what's going on?!"
☆、225、Wife, I want it~!
The sidelong glances from those people finally made them understand what was going on. Although some were initially puzzled, they gradually came to understand the reason for Lin Changqi's anger. The Chenghua Restaurant's main hall, which used to accommodate more than twenty tables and occupy a large area, was now completely empty, a desolation that sent shivers down one's spine.
Empty! Yes, completely empty. At this moment, apart from some fixed round wooden pillars that could not be removed, the tables, chairs, counters, abacuses, and even the coarse cloth curtains that separated the inner rooms were all gone. On the contrary, everything that could be taken away, whether valuable or not, was gone.
Lin Changqi shouted angrily, "Quickly, go to the second floor, check everywhere in the backyard, where are the things? Where did everything go?!"
Lin Changqi's anger was so great that no one dared to be negligent. His followers rushed to the second floor or the backyard, but after a while they all came back with very ugly faces, looking at Lin Changqi hesitantly, as if they were wondering whether to speak or not. Lin Changqi's face turned ashen and he said, "Speak quickly if you have something to say!"
The attendants were startled and hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, the inner hall and backyard, apart from some stone tables and benches, and flowers and plants that can't be moved, everything else is gone."
"Yes, even some flower shovels are gone."
"Second...Second Young Master, there is no difference between the upstairs and the first floor. All you can see is...emptiness...vacuum."
No wonder this person spoke haltingly. After hearing the reports from the two people in front, Lin Changqi's expression was already quite unpleasant. However, after hearing this person's words, Lin Changqi's face turned as black as hell, his entire face contorted with muscles, making him look terrifying.
"Gone? What's gone? How could it be gone? You're all useless bastards! You've all been emptied out of Chenghua Restaurant! What are you all good for? Do you want to die? Do you want to die? Die! Die! Die! Die! Die... Die!" Lin Changqi roared, his voice so loud it shook the empty Chenghua Restaurant, echoing throughout. The Lin family servants who had come with him hung their heads, too afraid to speak, but they were very dissatisfied. The second young master hadn't even had anyone guard it, who would have thought the people at Chenghua Restaurant would be so bold?
That's right, I didn't expect Chenghua Restaurant to be so bold.
Lin Changqi and Sun Ming had initially driven up the price of Chenghua Restaurant from 50,000 taels to 300,000 taels in their competition. The restaurant's actual value was only a little over 100,000 taels, but Lin's family accepted the offer to undermine the Sun family and secure the 300,000 taels. However, when the handover date arrived, there wasn't a single tael left. Absolutely nothing! Lin Changqi had bought Chenghua Restaurant for 300,000 taels, and the restaurant itself, including its tables, chairs, pots, pans, and the jade and antique items displayed in the private rooms—while not the finest—should have been worth at least 100,000 to 200,000 taels. In the capital, this was the unspoken rule: when buying a shop, the interior decorations and furnishings were included. So, although Lin Changqi initially spent 300,000 taels to buy it, the Chenghua Restaurant was worth over 100,000 taels, and with all the miscellaneous items, it would be worth at least 200,000 taels. After that, as long as the shop was set up for a higher social class and the business wasn't too bad, it could break even within a year. This is why Lin Changqi ultimately accepted the 300,000 taels.
But now, apart from the empty shell of Chenghua Restaurant, there's nothing left. This has cost him another 100,000 yuan. In total, the cost of taking over Chenghua Restaurant, including decorations and furnishings, will be close to 400,000 yuan, or even more. He will definitely be reprimanded when he returns to the Lin residence for this loss. How could Lin Changqi not be angry and resentful?
Lin Changqi gritted his teeth in anger, almost breaking one of his front teeth, and roared, "Chase them! Chase them! We must catch that shopkeeper and his group and bring them back. I'll tear them to pieces!"
Seeing Lin Changqi on the verge of a breakdown from his rage, the onlookers couldn't help but back away. Lin Changqi was no different from a half-mad dog at this moment. If an innocent person were bitten by him, it would hurt even if they didn't die. But they were secretly laughing. Who would have thought that the second young master of the eldest branch of the Lin family, the head of the five great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who had always been the pride of heaven and the object of flattery, would be completely outmaneuvered by a restaurant manager, and so outrageously at that? It was a heavy slap in the face to the Lin family, which made them feel extremely satisfied.
These powerful families are usually incredibly arrogant, and it's time for someone to teach them a lesson. So when Lin Changqi was tricked, most of the onlookers were gloating. Lin Changqi was extremely frustrated. He thought for a moment with a sullen face, and then led his men to the Prefect of Jingzhao.
Speaking of the former Prefect of Jingzhao who was exiled for committing a crime, the new Prefect of Jingzhao is also quite prominent. He is An Huai Ren, a famous figure in the Great Zhou Dynasty. His fame is comparable to that of Liu Hanwen, the Imperial Censor known for his unyielding character. The reason why the two are famous and comparable is that they are both known as unyielding figures in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Anyone who falls into their hands, whether a prince or a beggar, will be dealt with according to the law. An Huai-ren was once handling a case of a member of the imperial family harassing a respectable woman. Under immense pressure, even with Emperor Mingxian personally intervening, An Huai-ren insisted on his opinion, punishing the man and exiling him three thousand miles away. Because he had offended the imperial relative, the man tried to cause trouble for him several times. However, An Huai-ren was the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture and a confidant of the emperor, so the man dared not go too far, but his hatred for An Huai-ren was clear. Of course, what ultimately angered the emperor was An Huai-ren's dissatisfaction with Baili Chen's behavior and his desire to punish him. Emperor Mingxian then sent him to a remote and impoverished area to serve as a local official.
An Huai-ren was indeed capable and a tough nut to crack, achieving remarkable results. Furthermore, due to the former Prefect of Jingzhao committing a crime, Emperor Mingxian couldn't find a suitable replacement and reluctantly transferred An Huai-ren back. Upon returning to the capital, An Huai-ren immediately appointed two sons of officials, bringing a temporary respite to the city. However, no matter how capable An Huai-ren was, he wouldn't instill fear in the five great families. Lin Changqi, in a fit of anger, led his men to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
"Prefect of Jingzhao, this matter must be severely punished. How dare he deceive me, the young master, and swindle the Lin family out of 300,000 taels of silver! Such a person should be torn to pieces as soon as he is caught!" Lin Changqi said angrily as soon as he saw An Huai Ren.
An Huai-ren was slightly taken aback and asked, "What is the matter that Young Master Lin has done, and who has committed such a heinous crime?"