A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1392 Charlotte's Mom's trick really worked! (Please subscribe)
Lost and disoriented, Li Youcai unknowingly wandered back to the vicinity of the steamed bun shop where he had eaten lunch.

The cold and despair made him desperately need some warmth, so he pushed open the door and went inside.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere at Hua Shier's table was still worrying, but it had barely managed to get out of control.

Li Youcai's arrival caught Hua Shier's attention. He looked somewhat familiar with the man, and after a moment's thought, he remembered that he seemed to be Li Weijuan's ex-boyfriend from her hometown in the original story.

Li Youcai ordered the cheapest bottle of liquor and a side dish, but before the dish even arrived, he picked up the bottle and took a big gulp of liquor.

Hua Shier had an idea. He picked up a clean cup, poured in some hot water, and under the surprised gazes of the three women, got up and walked over to place it in front of Li Youcai.

"Brother, are you in trouble?"

Hua Shier sat down opposite him, speaking in a calm tone.

Li Youcai raised his teary eyes and saw that it was Hua Shier. He hurriedly wiped his eyes and said in a heavy accent:
"Nothing, it's just that I'm not feeling well."

Hua Shier asked directly, "You know Li Weijuan, right?"

Li Youcai stiffened, thinking that he and Li Weijuan had been seen on campus earlier. He lowered his head and said in a muffled voice:

"I was her high school classmate. I just didn't get into university, and I'm upset about it. It has nothing to do with Li Weijuan, and I won't bother her."

Hua Shier, seeing his demeanor, figured he'd been dumped by Li Weijuan, yet he was still helping to cover for him. Thinking he was a decent guy, she smiled and asked:

"You came to Nanjing to find a job? Are you able to endure hardship?"

Li Youcai nodded: "Yes, why can't rural people endure hardship?"

Hua Shier patted him on the shoulder:

"As long as you can endure hardship, that's fine. I happen to have a job here. If you don't mind, come find me tomorrow."

As he spoke, he asked Sister Zhu for paper and pen, wrote down his mobile phone number and the address of 'Jinluan Building', and handed it to Li Youcai:
"Call this number tomorrow at noon, or come to this address to find me. I'll arrange a job for you, with room and board included. The starting salary is 1,500 yuan a month, and I'll raise it if you do a good job."

Li Youcai was stunned. He looked at the note, then at Hua Shier, somewhat incredulous.

"Classmate, I can't possibly accept this."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I happen to be short-staffed here. Take this, find a place to stay, and come over on time tomorrow."

Hua Shier's tone left no room for refusal. He then asked the other person's name and, upon learning it was Li Youcai, couldn't help but smile.
"This name is great! It's perfect for my company's opening, so I'm hoping it brings good luck!"

Li Youcai's eyes reddened again, this time from gratitude. His hands trembled as he accepted the note as if it were a lifeline, repeatedly expressing his thanks.

"Thank you! Thank you, comrade... no, thank you, boss! I'll definitely work hard and not let you down!"

Hua Shier nodded, said nothing more, and returned to his table.

After this little incident, the atmosphere at the table seemed to ease slightly, and the three women were also curious about why Hua Twelve was interested in that person.

Hua Shier went to settle the bill with Sister Zhu, and then, ignoring Fang Hui's subtle struggles and Lin Jiamo's hesitant gaze, he took one of them in each hand, and gestured to Shi Jie. The four of them left the steamed bun shop together.

Hua Shier took a taxi directly to the Jinling Hotel with the three women and booked four luxury suites in one go.

"Each of us has our own room, so that foreigners won't think we can't afford it."

His tone was relaxed, but it made Shi Jie laugh out loud. Lin Jia and Fang Hui also smiled, but quickly suppressed their smiles and reverted to their 'we're not happy' expressions.

And then, today's real 'negotiation' or rather 'conquest' begins.

That night, Hua Twelve displayed energy, patience, and strength far exceeding that of ordinary people.

The main activity was visiting each other's homes. First, they went to Fang Hui, who was the most emotionally unstable and in need of comfort.

Faced with her crying, hitting, and questioning, he didn't become impatient. Instead, he used his actions and deep voice to gradually break down her defenses, allowing all her grievances and anger to ultimately transform into an irresistible surrender and weary tears. His actions exemplified the shortcut Zhang Ailing spoke of—yes, it makes sense.
After Fang Hui fell asleep (or unconscious), it was Lin Jiamo's turn to go to her room.

Lin Jiamo was relatively rational, but she was also full of resentment.

With the same patience and even gentler actions, Hua Shier made her understand that his feelings were not fake, and that his 'greed' stemmed from his inability to let go, rather than from toying with her.

As Lin Jiamo half-heartedly and ultimately became completely lost in the trap of tenderness, many barriers seemed to be temporarily forgotten.

Finally, there's Shi Jie. Well, they're an old married couple. They chat together, do yoga together—all very proper and beneficial exercises for both body and mind.

That night, a certain floor of the Jinling Hotel was destined to be sleepless.

Fang Hui and Lin Jiamo finally realized that Hua Shier's earlier statement, "Even the three of you combined are no match for me," was not an empty boast.

The next day at noon, Hua Shier appeared on the ninth floor of the Jinluan Building, which was under renovation, looking radiant.

Li Youcai was already waiting there at the address, still wearing his old cotton-padded jacket, but he looked much more refreshed after washing his face.

"Boss!" Li Youcai rushed forward and greeted Hua Shier excitedly when he saw him.

Hua nodded and led him on a tour of the noisy construction site:
"This is the place. It's my company, and it's still under renovation. Your first task is to keep an eye on the renovation progress. If there are any problems with the workers, or if you notice anything wrong, call me immediately."

"Food and lodging are provided. I'll rent a temporary dormitory for you nearby. The monthly salary is 1,500 yuan. Once the company is fully operational, I'll assign you a specific position."

Looking at the spacious floors and the busy workers, Li Youcai was so excited he didn't know what to do, and could only nod repeatedly:

"Yes! Yes! Don't worry, boss, I'll definitely keep an eye on things! There won't be any problems!"

After arranging things for Li Youcai, Hua Shier received another call from Zhang Kai, whose tone was both excited and mysterious:
"Twelfth Brother, Godfather! How did the battle go last night? Did the three sisters-in-law start fighting? Are you treating us to dinner again today? The brothers are all waiting for your legendary tale!"

"Get lost!" Hua Shier laughed and cursed, then said:

"It seems like we can't have a meal together now. Let's wait for another opportunity. Could you please tell them for me, and we can get together on our own later?"

I didn't think things through yesterday. Now that I think about it, even if Fang Hui and Lin Jiamo accept the current situation, they would definitely feel embarrassed to face his friends right away in this complicated relationship.

Zhang Kai smiled knowingly and said, "I understand, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, a wicked smile appeared on his lips. He had already guessed that the internal conflict within the Hua family must have been 'suppressed' using unconventional methods.

For the next three days, Hua Shier accompanied Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui on a tour of Nanjing, visiting Confucius Temple, Qinhuai River, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Xuanwu Lake, and Qixia Mountain. At each place, he acted as a tour guide, knowing the historical stories of each attraction like the back of his hand.

Even Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui sighed, if they didn't know that Hua Shier was a native of Beijing, they would have thought he was from Nanjing because of how familiar he was with Nanjing.

During these three days, Shi Jie demonstrated exceptional emotional intelligence and resilience. She humbled herself and took the initiative to get close to and befriend Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui.

She was well aware of her status as a 'newcomer' and understood Hua Shier's feelings for Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui, so she placed herself in a very proper position.

She chose to use this sincere approach to show the two women that she was there to integrate into the family, not to destroy it.

Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui are both kind-hearted girls at heart. Faced with Shi Jie's attitude, their hostility and anger are gradually replaced by helplessness.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. After three days of getting along, although the thorn in their hearts was still there, at least on the surface, a delicate and fragile peace had formed between the three women, and they could even occasionally exchange a few jokes.

They formed a kind of 'alliance,' openly resisting, condemning, and isolating Hua Shier, this womanizer. But in private, whenever Hua Shier caught any of them alone, they would inevitably engage in intimate and affectionate conversations, as if the previous disputes had never happened.

Three days flew by.

Lin Jiamo's leave period was up, and she had to return to the capital.

As for Fang Hui, she came in a fit of anger and hadn't asked for leave at all, but now she's scared and worried:
"Oh no, I wonder how the department will punish me when I get back."

Hua Shier and Shi Jie saw them off at the airport.

When saying goodbye, Hua Twelve comforted the two women:
"Don't worry, I'll come back to Beijing to see you during my vacation."

Watching the two women pass through security and disappear from sight, Shi Jie finally felt relieved.

She could no longer hold back, and in the bustling airport lobby, she excitedly hugged Hua Shier, buried her face in his chest, and choked with sobs:
"Twelve. I...I'm so afraid they'll take you away from me."

Hua Shier patted her back and said softly, "Don't worry, I'm a greedy person, I won't let go of any of you."

Back at school, Hua Shier had just reached his dormitory floor when he saw Xiao Pang from the next dormitory crying his heart out, with several of his buddies trying to comfort him.

Back in the dormitory, Zhang Kai and Xu Kaiyang were both there.

Xu Kaiyang and Zheng Wei's relationship has taken a big step forward, and his face is always beaming with happiness.

Hua Shier pointed outside and asked, "What's wrong with Little Fatty? He looks like he's heartbroken!"

"You guessed perfectly!"

Zhang Kai sighed and lowered his voice, saying, "He got cheated on!"

"Cuckolded?" Hua Shier was somewhat surprised, thinking of Xiao Pang's girlfriend who weighed over 200 pounds, and couldn't believe it:
"With his girlfriend's physique, how could he possibly cheat?"

In his memory, the girl and the chubby boy looked like two balls standing together, a very 'perfect match'.

Xu Kaiyang scoffed:
"Who knows? Apparently, she hooked up with a handsome guy. Fatty and that girl were renting a place outside, and Fatty was preparing for his final exams and was studying in the dorm. But for some reason, he changed his mind and went back to the rented room, where the two of them caught him. His girlfriend broke up with him on the spot!"

Zhang Kai looked up and sighed, reciting in a reciting tone, "Alas, people's hearts are no longer what they used to be, and the world is going to the dogs!"

The little fat boy's cries outside grew increasingly desperate.

Hua Shier reminded him, "Old Zhang, you're just being shameless. Can't you keep your voice down? You have to let people hear you, don't you!"

After talking about Old Zhang, he seemed to find it hard to believe:
"That woman usually seems quite honest, how could she cheat on me?"

Xu Kaiyang sneered:

"Honest? What's with the 'honest'? He's like a toad riding a frog, ugly but good-for-nothing. On the day of recruitment before National Day, that girl dragged Little Fatty to act in a play, and that very night she slept with him. Little Fatty came back crying and said he was sorry to Ruan Wan!"

Hua Shier and Zhang Kai both laughed. Little Fatty really has wild ideas; he's still thinking about Ruan Wan.

He shook his head. Whether it was Little Fatty or his similarly chubby girlfriend, appearances really can't be judged.

That very evening, on the tree-lined path outside the library where Chen Xiaozheng and Zeng Yu had been covered in sacks, almost the exact same scene played out again!

Chen Xiaozheng and Zeng Yu were once again subjected to a beating, with sacks over their heads.

This time, the other party was even more ruthless. Chen Xiaozheng's leg was broken, and Zeng Yu was kicked several times, crying out in pain.

The security department intervened in the investigation again, but just like last time, there were no clues. The murderer acted cleanly and efficiently, leaving no valuable traces at the scene, and in the end, the case was dropped.

Hehe! Did you really think Hua Shier didn't know who was behind Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui's sudden arrival?
At Beijing University of Science and Technology, only those close to him know of Fang Hui and Lin Jiamo's existence, and among them, the only one with a motive is that bastard Chen Xiaozheng.

It was obvious that Chen Xiaozheng was holding a grudge about what happened last time and wanted revenge. Xu Kaiyang had no leverage, but Hua Shier had obvious leverage. So this Chen guy secretly sabotaged things by making phone calls to sow discord.

As for how Chen Xiaozheng knew Fang Hui and Lin Jiamo's dormitory numbers, it's simple. Hua Shier and his dormitory only had one cell phone. Chen Xiaozheng probably saw the two girls' dormitory phone numbers when he borrowed his phone before.

Since you dare to play dirty tricks, don't blame him for playing ruthlessly. Hua Shier felt that if one leg couldn't teach Chen Xiaozheng a lesson, then next time he would double the punishment!
The day after Chen Xiaozheng broke his leg, Hua Shier received a phone call from Lin Jiamo in Beijing.

"Twelve, Fang Hui's situation is a bit troublesome! The department found out that she left school without permission for several days. Normally, a few kind words would have been enough to resolve the issue, but now a new vice dean has been transferred here and says he wants to use Fang Hui as an example to give her a severe warning! It will also be recorded in her file! Even the class teacher's pleading is useless. What should we do?"

A serious warning will be recorded in your personnel file, which will affect your future graduation, postgraduate entrance exams, and even job search.

Hua Shier smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll handle this!"

Using unconventional methods, he managed to gather information on the vice president that very night, which made him frown; things were getting complicated.

If the other party has any shady dealings, such as accepting bribes or academic misconduct, he will directly use extraordinary means to take them down.

However, the investigation results surprised Hua Twelve and also presented him with some challenges.

This Vice Dean Zhou is a female professor in her fifties, with an upright character and rigorous scholarship.

She comes from an ordinary family, lives a simple life, and is known for her strict requirements for students, but she also cares about them very much. She has made great achievements in academia and has an excellent reputation.

It can be said that they have almost no flaws to criticize.

The reason this female professor insisted on punishing Fang Hui was purely because Fang Hui's behavior seriously violated school rules and regulations; she had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

However, this would make it difficult for Hua Shier to use those extraordinary methods, as it would not only leave hidden dangers and create unnecessary karmic consequences, but also violate his principles of doing things.

If hard methods don't work, then try softer ones, or even... something unethical?
Hua Shier pondered for a long time, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and decided to apply what he had learned in a practical way!

He immediately approached Zhang Kai: "Old Zhang, there's a job that pays five thousand yuan, do you want to take it?"

The next day, Hua Shier and Zhang Kai took the earliest flight to Beijing. Before noon, the two were already standing on the campus of Yenching University.

Looking at the campus of Yenching University, Zhang Kai sighed:

"So this is Yenching University. I was just over 80 points short of getting into this university, but alas, fate is cruel, and I ended up as an ordinary person, which is why I'm hanging out with you and Lao Xu."

Hua Shier patted him on the shoulder: "Old Zhang, I need your shamelessness. I'm counting on you later!"

Zhang Kai patted his chest and blurted out in Shanghai dialect, "You're not afraid it'll be cold? Just you wait and see, hey, my damn London accent!"

Hua Shier almost burst out laughing. He felt that bringing Lao Zhang over was definitely the right move.

The vice dean was alone in his office when someone knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

The door was pushed open, and two unfamiliar young men walked in. One of them was handsome, and even the vice dean, a female professor who had been single for many years, wanted to take a second look.

The other one, though young, seemed somewhat slick, which gave the vice dean a bad first impression.

"Which class are you from? Is there something you need?"

It was Hua Shier and Zhang Kai who entered.

As soon as the two entered, they saw a middle-aged female professor with glasses, neatly combed hair, and a serious expression sitting behind her desk reading documents. They knew that this was the vice dean.

"Hello Dean, let me introduce myself. I am Fang Hui's boyfriend."

Hua Shier greeted them politely.

Zhang Kai bowed and scraped, a sly grin on his face: "I'm Fang Hui's boyfriend's boyfriend."

The vice president momentarily lost his composure: "Your relationships are a bit complicated!"
Hua Shier's face darkened. "Old Zhang, what do you want with me?"

Fortunately, Zhang Kai realized what was happening and said, "It's a friend, a friend. It's my first time at Yenching University, I'm a little nervous, hehehe."

Hua Shier thought to himself that this guy's hair was really unnecessary.

The vice dean raised his head, adjusted his glasses, and said in a cold tone:
"You're here because of Fang Hui's violation of discipline, right? There's nothing to say about this. The school has its rules. She left school without reason for several days, which had a bad influence and she must be punished."

Hua Shier put on a sincere smile:

"Dean, Fang Hui knows she was wrong. This time it was indeed due to a reason; she acted impulsively. Do you think we could give her a chance to reform? Focus on criticism and education, and avoid any disciplinary action."

"impossible!"

The vice dean took off his glasses and placed them on his desk, then rubbed his temples.
"Rules are rules! If everyone shows leniency, then school rules and regulations become meaningless! You young people just don't take discipline seriously at all!"

Hua Shier's smile gradually faded. He sighed, stood up, and walked outside, patting Old Zhang on the shoulder as he said:

"Old Zhang, it's up to you now!"

Zhang Kai said it was no problem, took off his coat first, and then pulled the collar of his sweater up to his shoulders, revealing a large area of ​​skin on his shoulders.

The female vice dean was startled, quickly put on her glasses, and stared wide-eyed:

"What are you trying to do? Calm down!"

Zhang Kai said in a cheeky tone, "Sorry, Dean, it was all for the sake of a friend. Please understand!"

After he finished speaking, he started shouting, "Help! This woman is harassing me!"

The vice dean was completely dumbfounded. She had been teaching for decades and had seen mischievous students and those who argued their points, but she had never seen anyone so shameless!

She pointed at Zhang Kai, trembling with anger, her lips quivering, unable to utter a single word:
"You...you're spouting nonsense! You...you're shameless!!"

Zhang Kai was still there, shouting in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:

"Come quick! My innocence is proven!!"

The vice dean was extremely anxious:
"You have absolutely no manners! Alright, alright, stop yelling. I... I promise you, I'll have Fang Hui write a profound self-criticism, and the whole hospital will issue a reprimand. That'll be the end of it."

Zhang Kai immediately stopped shouting, instantly returning to normal. A bright, harmless smile appeared on his face as he slowly and methodically put on his coat, saying respectfully:

"Thank you so much, Dean! You are so understanding! Fang Hui will definitely reflect deeply on her actions and never do it again!"

At this moment, Hua Shier also walked in from outside, thinking to himself, "Xia Luo, your mother's trick really works."

He bowed slightly to the indignant vice president, then opened the office door and left with Zhang Kai, leaving without a trace of shamelessness.

Thank you to 08a and Little Tiger of the Demon Realm for the donations, and thank you to all the brothers who voted with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you so much!