Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

Hao Pingchuan also realized what was going on and chimed in, "Well done, Bai Ling! You're usually so quiet, but you really come up with ideas when it matters! Xiao Cheng, are you okay now?"

Cheng Shuhai nodded repeatedly, the gloom in his heart vanishing.

"It's all right, absolutely no problem!"

He looked at Bai Ling and said sincerely, "Sister Bai Ling, thank you so much! You've really helped me a lot!"

Bai Ling felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, her ears turning slightly red, but she still spoke in a cold tone: "No need to thank me, I'm just stating the facts."

Cheng Shuhai smiled but didn't point it out.

He knew that this seemingly cold but actually warm-hearted policewoman was just that kind of person who wasn't good at expressing herself.

"This meal is on me! Order whatever you three would like!"

Cheng Shuhai said with great enthusiasm.

"That won't do!" Zheng Chaoyang waved his hand. "We're here to eat, how can we let you spend money? Besides, we're public servants, we have rules, and we can't take advantage of the public."

"Yes, yes, that's the price!"

Hao Pingchuan echoed.

Cheng Shuhai knew their principles and didn't insist.

"Alright, whatever you say. But I'm in a good mood today, so I'll add two more dishes for the three of you!"

With that, he turned and went into the kitchen, ready to show off his skills.

Zheng Chaoyang and the other two smiled as they watched his busy figure disappear into the distance.

"This kid is not bad."

Zheng Chaoyang commented.

"He's a nice person, but I heard his yard is quite messy, full of trivial and petty things."

"He must have offended quite a few people; he'll probably be targeted sooner or later."

Bai Ling frowned slightly as she watched Cheng Shuhai bustling about in the back.

"What are you afraid of! Anyone who dares to mess with him should first ask if my fists, Hao Pingchuan, will allow it!"

"Besides, that kid isn't exactly a pushover either. Didn't you see how badly he dealt with Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong's gang?"

Hao Pingchuan disagreed.

"Pingchuan is right. Xiao Cheng is not the kind of pushover who can be easily manipulated. He has his own methods and sense of propriety."

"We just need to give him more guidance on policies and regulations, so that he doesn't go down the wrong path."

Zheng Chaoyang nodded; he didn't believe Cheng Shuhai was just someone who could be bullied.

Bai Ling listened and didn't say anything more, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Soon, Cheng Shuhai brought the food up.

It was the same signature spicy chicken, plus a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables and a bowl of three-delicacy soup.

Although it's a simple home-style dish, it tastes pretty good.

The three of them ate with great relish, praising the food repeatedly.

After finishing the meal, Zheng Chaoyang insisted on paying the bill and even gave Ling'er extra money, saying it was for her to buy candy.

Cheng Shuhai couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it.

After seeing the three off, Cheng Shuhai was still unable to calm down.

Bai Ling's suggestion opened a whole new door for him.

Going back to my hometown to recruit people!

Once the idea took hold, it took root and sprouted wildly in his mind.

His hometown is a village called Chengjia Village, located dozens of miles outside of Beijing.

Most of the villagers share the surname Cheng, and those who are related to him are all honest farmers.

He brought his sister to the city and inherited the small restaurant and two rooms.

Now, this is a good opportunity to go back.

Firstly, it solves the problem of manpower in the restaurant.

The village has many young people, some of whom are unemployed.

Find a few quick and trustworthy relatives to help out, pay them a salary, and provide them with room and board; they'll definitely be happy to do so.

This not only solved their own labor shortage but also helped their fellow villagers—a win-win situation.

Secondly, it was also Cheng Shuhai's personal motive.

Although his blessed space now grows potatoes and sweet potatoes and raises chickens, ducks and fish, the species are still too limited.

He had long wanted to expand his breeding scale.

Pigs, cattle, and sheep—all these large livestock must be taken care of.

We also need to get a batch of seeds for various vegetables and grains.

These things are difficult to do in the city; they're too conspicuous.

But it's much more convenient once we get back to the village.

Cheng Shuhai planned to spend money to buy a few heads and secretly put them into his spatial dimension, which would be a piece of cake.

As for the cow... Cheng Shuhai thought about it and decided not to hold out much hope for the time being.

In those days, cattle were important means of production, owned collectively, and private trading was illegal. He didn't want to risk his life for that.

But pigs and sheep are absolutely fine.

At that time, with herds of pigs and sheep and granaries full of grain in the space, his small restaurant will be completely worry-free about the supply of raw materials.

Moreover, the meat produced in this space is of a quality far superior to that of meat sold in the market.

Just thinking about braised pork, roasted whole lamb... makes Cheng Shuhai's mouth water.

It's settled then!

Once I'm done with these next couple of days, I'll head back to Chengjia Village!

Once Cheng Shuhai made up his mind, he worked with even more energy.

................

in the hospital.

Yi Zhonghai lay in his hospital bed. Although the physical pain had subsided considerably, the hole in his heart was growing ever larger.

The nickname "Eunuch Yi" was like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in his heart.

He could imagine how the entire steel mill and the entire Nanluoguxiang were mocking him.

His reputation and dignity, painstakingly built up over his entire life, were destroyed overnight.

And all of this is thanks to that little beast Cheng Shuhai!

Yi Zhonghai clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, and his eyes were filled with resentment and malice.

He vowed that he would definitely take revenge! He would make Cheng Shuhai pay a price ten or a hundred times worse than he had!

Just as he was gritting his teeth, the door to the ward opened.

Tan Zhaodi walked in carrying a lunchbox.

Upon seeing Tan Zhaodi, Yi Zhonghai felt a pang of panic. The resentment in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by tension and fear.

What he fears most now is that Tan Zhaodi will bring up divorce.

If even Tan Zhaodi leaves, given the current situation, he won't be able to find a wife.

Then he will truly be a lonely man for the rest of his life.

"Zhao Di..."

He struggled to sit up.

"Don't move, lie still."

Tan Zhaodi placed the lunchbox on the bedside table, her tone calm and revealing no emotion.

She opened the lunchbox, which contained white rice porridge and two steamed buns.

She ladled out a bowl of porridge and held it to Yi Zhonghai's lips: "I made you some porridge, have some."

Yi Zhonghai looked at her, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He couldn't figure out what Tan Zhaodi was thinking.

She neither cried nor made a fuss, nor did she scold him. She simply took care of him calmly, which made him even more uneasy.

He tentatively took Tan Zhaodi's hand.

"Zhao Di, I'm sorry... I..."

Tan Zhaodi's hand stiffened for a moment, but she did not pull it back.

She looked at Yi Zhonghai with a complicated expression.

There was resentment and hatred, but more than anything, there was a sense of resignation and helplessness.

"Alright, that's enough of that," she interrupted him. "The old lady already told me. Things are already like this, there's no point in saying anything more."

"I need to get better first; life goes on."

Hearing this, Yi Zhonghai finally felt relieved.

She's not getting a divorce! She doesn't plan to get a divorce anymore!

A surge of elation at surviving a disaster instantly filled his chest.

"Zhao Di, thank you... thank you for still being willing to stay with me."

"Don't worry, I... I'll definitely treat you even better from now on!"

"I'll do whatever you say at home! All the money I earn will be yours to manage!"

Yi Zhonghai held Tan Zhaodi's hand tightly, his voice choked with emotion.