W Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Ding – Good Person Card.

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Ding – Good Person Card.

Ling Xing forcefully made his request, and with Shen Hui watching from the side, Zhao Chuping, always the smooth operator, never resorted to brute force directly. Instead, he preferred to exploit weaknesses, forcing the other party to yield.

After all, business wasn’t war, so why resort to fighting and killing at every turn?

“However—”

Zhao Chuping drawled out his words, self-importantly pouring tea for himself, and casually said, “If I let your stall continue selling buns, it would definitely be a loss for our restaurant. I, Zhao, am just working for the owner, a small fry. If we follow your terms, little stall owner, the price for the recipe will have to be reduced by another three taels.”

“You want to buy the recipe for two taels of silver?” Ling Xing laughed in anger. “Why don’t you just rob me?”

“Look at what you’re saying, little stall owner. We’re all law-abiding people. How can we rob when we’re doing business?”

Zhao Chuping smiled, his eyes narrowing into slits, revealing a row of white teeth.

Despite his anger, Ling Xing couldn’t help but think that ancient people with some means really took care of their teeth.

After all, if your teeth went bad, they couldn’t be fixed, so they were well cared for.

Ling Xing glanced at those dazzling teeth and felt that Zhao Chuping at this moment was like a hyena, opening its fangs to snatch, tear, and drag its prey, a rounded version of a hyena.

He was being singled out for the bite!

But since he wasn’t planning on giving it anyway, the amount of silver didn’t matter.

Ling Xing lowered his eyes briefly, then raised them, his eyes slightly reddened.

“Manager Zhao! I thought you were a kind and gentle person, but who knew you could be so shameless! Are you trying to force me to my death? Buns and steamed buns are my means of survival, and you want to buy them for two taels of silver? I can’t accept it!”

Saying that, he grabbed Shen Hui’s wrist, with a hint of sobbing, “Second brother, let’s go!”

Zhao Chuping didn’t react for a moment. He originally thought that Ling Xing hadn’t hesitated much before agreeing to sell the recipe for five taels of silver. Even if he spoke a bit harshly later, it wasn’t that powerful.

After all, his attitude was still that of agreeing to sell the recipe.

He subconsciously felt that he was a soft, easily manipulated “Ge’er,” but he didn’t expect that his attitude would harden at this moment.

He couldn’t let a duck that had come to his mouth fly away, but he also couldn’t bring himself to soften, lower his head to a “Ge’er,” and raise the price again.

He was the manager of the number one restaurant in Yunxia Town. How could he be manipulated by a widower?

Zhao Chuping sat unmoving, his face darkening a lot. “Little stall owner, are you sure you want to go against Yunxia Restaurant?”

His tone was full of threat, but Ling Xing didn’t even turn his head back, continuing to pull Shen Hui forward.

When opening the door, he saw that there were many people sitting in the hall on the first floor, and then shouted, “Who’s going against it? Manager Zhao, you might as well force me to my death! If you want to beat or kill me, just come!”

Hearing this, Zhao Chuping realized something was wrong. The door was open, and there were guests below.

How could these things be said in public!

“Sun Jiu, are you deaf or blind? Quickly stop him from talking!”

Zhao Chuping hurriedly got up, walking towards the door, and shouted to the waiter at the door, telling him to stop Ling Xing.

As a result, the waiter hadn’t even gotten close before he was pushed away by Shen Hui’s big hand, staggering back several steps.

Seeing Zhao Chuping chasing after him, Ling Xing grabbed Shen Hui and ran as if escaping for his life.

Shen Hui didn’t know what Ling Xing was going to do, but he cooperated fully. When going out, he also didn’t forget to quickly pick up the stove, basket, and other things placed at the door.

Shen Hui had to carry things in both hands, so Ling Xing couldn’t pull him anymore.

He switched to grabbing his clothes, and while running downstairs, he didn’t forget to shout with a sobbing voice, “Manager Zhao, you’re amazing, your boss has great power. You want to kill my whole family and still take my skills for free! Then come on, anyway, without my skills, my family can’t survive! Kill me, it’s better to die than to suffer!”

A thin, small “Ge’er” pulling a tall, strong man, running while crying, shouting about killing the whole family and not being able to survive, easily attracted the attention of the guests in the hall.

Hearing the faint discussions from below, how could Zhao Chuping dare to chase?

He could only watch Ling Xing and Shen Hui leave the restaurant.

He was so angry that he was fuming, but he had to wave his hand and smile apologetically to the diners. “Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding. That ‘Ge’er’ is timid, he misunderstood a few words…”

After leaving Yunxia Restaurant, Ling Xing cleared his throat and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

He immediately returned to his usual appearance, with no trace of sadness or crying.

People are sympathetic to the weak. Ling Xing knew that between him and Zhao Chuping, he perfectly fit the image of the weak in the public’s mind.

With this scene, the restaurant’s diners would notice and help him block Zhao Chuping to some extent.

Now he had finally managed to leave the restaurant successfully.

Ling Xing secretly turned his head back and saw that no one was chasing out of the restaurant. He smiled slyly and asked Shen Hui, “How was my acting? Was it good?”

Shen Hui looked at his lively appearance and nodded lightly with a smile on his face.

“Did you not intend to sell the recipe from the start, brother-in-law?”

Looking at Ling Xing’s series of actions, it didn’t seem like he hadn’t prepared.

Ling Xing nodded. “Originally, I thought he wouldn’t agree if I said I would continue to set up a stall. That was also an opportunity, who knew he would agree.”

At that time, Ling Xing was still thinking about how to cry naturally. Fortunately, Zhao Chuping was greedy.

Although he was really angry because of Zhao Chuping’s words at that time, at least he didn’t have to think of another way.

“What are your plans then? What do you want me to do?”

Ling Xing held up two fingers. “The first way is to ask Tu Hai for help.”

Tu Hai had some power in Yunxia Town. A local tyrant wasn’t called that for nothing. If you asked him for help and gave him enough reward, everything would be easy to talk about.

It couldn’t be said that he could completely settle Yunxia Restaurant; Tu Hai’s power wasn’t that great.

But ensuring the safety of the Shen family and himself was possible.

As for the bun stall business, it was probably impossible to protect it.

Shen Hui also thought of this. He looked at Ling Xing’s slender fingers. “What’s the second way?”

“Go to the county magistrate.”

If you had to say who was the most powerful person in Yunshui County, it would be the county magistrate.

Ling Xing had the idea of finding the county magistrate entirely because this county magistrate wasn’t the kind who just occupied a position without doing anything.

He could provide warehouses specifically for vendors and make the stalls so well-organized, which wasn’t difficult to see that he valued people’s livelihood.

He wouldn’t have any security measures just because vendors didn’t make as much money as merchants.

What was even more rare was that every once in a while, he would send clerks to various villages and towns to announce the law.

The last time the Fang family came to make trouble at home, because the county magistrate had sent people to announce the law many times, everyone knew what the consequences would be for looking at a “Ge’er”‘s pregnancy mole in that situation, so the matter was resolved quickly.

The county magistrate should also be someone who cherished talent. Li Huiyuan worked as a gatekeeper in the warehouse, and everyone in town knew the reason.

The reason why everyone knew might be because the county magistrate wanted a good reputation, but there was also definitely a reason to not let people disturb Li Huiyuan’s reading.

Before this, matchmakers would come to Li’s house every once in a while.

Although Li Huiyuan was just a child scholar, he was the top student, and he still had to continue to take the exams.

You had to know that studying was difficult now. In Yunshui County’s dozen towns, there were less than twenty child scholars each year. The year with the most licentiates had ten, and the year with the least had only two.

Not to mention the provincial graduate, if one came out in five years, that would be the whole of Yunshui County burning incense to heaven.

There wasn’t even one imperial scholar. Their Yunshui County gazetteer hadn’t recorded one imperial scholar.

Those who were optimistic about the Li family and dared to come to form a marriage alliance were all merchant families.

They were willing to provide silver for him to study, just to gamble that Li Huiyuan could become a provincial graduate.

If that didn’t work, a licentiate was also fine, they would have climbed up.

Li Huiyuan was the top child scholar, and the probability of him becoming a licentiate was much greater than others.

With such a big piece of fat dangling, the merchants all wanted to take a bite.

This made it impossible for Li Huiyuan to study in peace.

Now that everyone knew that Li Huiyuan was being taken care of by the county magistrate, some merchants who wanted to marry their daughters or “Ge’ers” to him would carefully consider that now wasn’t the time.

It was estimated that it wouldn’t be their turn to be the first to get the moon near the water, and he was much more peaceful.

Therefore, Li Huiyuan was finally able to study in peace, waiting for next year’s imperial examination.

Even if Ling Xing hadn’t met the Yunshui County magistrate, he could feel from the details that this was a true caring official.

Since he was a caring official, then if the common people had difficulties, they would definitely seek him to preside over justice.

Shen Hui knew more about the county government than Ling Xing. He said, “The county magistrate is diligent and loves the people, but it’s not like all matters will be directly handled by the county magistrate. The matter of the recipe should only be handled by the registrar.”

Above the registrar was the chief clerk, and above that was the county magistrate.

If the county deputy magistrate didn’t only manage grain affairs and taxation, then to see the county magistrate, you would have to pass the county deputy magistrate’s level.

And if you couldn’t see the county magistrate in this matter, according to what Zhao Chuping was doing now, at most the registrar would send a police runner to question him.

Whether Zhao Chuping admitted it or not, there wouldn’t be any damage.

Because he hadn’t done anything yet, it was just a subtle threat in his words.

Not to mention that no one else heard this threat.

If Zhao Chuping made a false accusation, they might be charged with falsely reporting to the authorities, and then they would have to be beaten with a board or pay silver to redeem themselves from the beating.

Not only that, but it would also anger Zhao Chuping.

Shen Hui knew that finding the county magistrate would be a permanent solution, but they couldn’t see the county magistrate.

Shen Hui told all of this to Ling Xing. In comparison, it was more appropriate to find Tu Hai.

While speaking, the two walked to the warehouse.

Shen Hui took the bamboo skewers inside to put things down, leaving Ling Xing standing at the door.

Li Huiyuan, as usual, would put down the pen in his hand at this time and smile at Ling Xing, “Ling “Ge’er” is here.”

“Yeah.”

Ling Xing looked at Li Huiyuan, thinking of the fact that the county magistrate cherished talent and specially took care of Li Huiyuan.

After hesitating for a moment, he still chose to open his mouth, “Third brother, can you see the county magistrate?”

Ling Xing wanted to try. If he couldn’t, he had tried his best.

If there was really no way, he would even give the silver to Tu Hai to seek personal protection and fight Zhao Chuping to the death on business matters, and he wouldn’t sell the recipe to Zhao Chuping.

If he compromised this time, then any recipe in his hand in the future wouldn’t be kept.

Everyone would know that he was a dough that could be kneaded by anyone, and anyone could come and take a bite.

Whatever he did would become someone else’s wedding dress.

Making money was not important to him now. What was important was to let those who coveted it know that he was not a pushover.

But a tough bone to gnaw.

It had meat, but gnawing it would make your teeth chip, and it couldn’t be repaired.

Seeing that Ling Xing’s expression was solemn, Li Huiyuan’s expression was much calmer, and he restrained his smile.

“I can see him. Does Ling “Ge’er” want to see the county magistrate?”

Ling Xing’s eyes lit up, but he didn’t nod to say yes.

He only had a nodding acquaintance with Li Huiyuan. Going to see the county magistrate through him would cost too much favor, and Ling Xing was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to repay it.

“No, no, no, I don’t need to see him. I just want to offer the county magistrate a secret recipe that can make the dough bigger and softer.”

If the county magistrate wanted to see him after looking at the recipe, it would be easier for Li Huiyuan to do so than for Li Huiyuan to ask the county magistrate to see him.

Ling Xing continued, “I want to send it to the county magistrate as soon as possible, but I’m afraid that if I go through the government, the layers of delivery will take too long.”

After all, the sooner it passed the county magistrate’s eyes, the sooner it would be safe.

Li Huiyuan was a smart man, and he understood the meaning in Ling Xing’s words.

He wasn’t offering the county magistrate a secret recipe, he was clearly handing over the skills to support his family and seeking protection.

“I know, Ling “Ge’er” don’t worry. You can tell me the recipe and I’ll help you write it down, and I’ll definitely send it to the county magistrate’s hand.”

To reassure Ling Xing, Li Huiyuan also said, “Ling “Ge’er” can go with me. If the county magistrate wants to see Ling “Ge’er” after reading the recipe, you can meet him in time.”

Ling Xing didn’t expect Li Huiyuan to be so kind. He didn’t even say a word of refusal or hint at giving him silver, and he was so considerate.

He had just met a bad person in front, and now he had met a good person, Ling Xing’s heart was warm and his nose felt sour with emotion. “Third brother, you are really a great person! No matter what the result is, I will definitely remember your kindness today.”

Li Huiyuan’s face turned red. Afraid of being seen as impolite, he quickly lowered his head. “Okay…”

Shen Hui had always had an unknown sense of vigilance towards Li Huiyuan, and he always put things down very quickly.

When he came out, he saw that Ling Xing’s face was full of smiles, and the previous melancholy was gone.

He subconsciously looked at Li Huiyuan and saw that the other party lowered his head and blushed. Shen Hui’s heart sank.

This kid really was –

Caught off guard.