Li Sheng was a very ordinary waiter. He had never been to a place more than a hundred miles away from his hometown. The furthest he had been to at the age of 17 was Xiangling County, which couldn't be compared to Lin Fen.
Linfen, where he lived, was the capital of Jinzhou. It was prosperous, yes, everyone said so. The surrounding counties were poor, and the people living in the surrounding counties were naturally ignorant. Yes, ignorant. There was actually someone who didn't know that this place belonged to Hedong Road.
Even the failed High Scholar in Xiangling County was not as knowledgeable as the bookkeeper of Nanfeng Restaurant. What did the bookkeeper know about the sea? He knew that there were huge fish in the sea, but the failed High Scholar didn't know.
He had been a waiter at Nanfeng Restaurant for four years and was busy every day. In the whole of Lin Fen, only Nanfeng Restaurant could eat all kinds of seafood. They used boats, carriages, and horses to transport them. Baskets of dried goods were soaked in water, and when the time came, they would become delicacies.
Usually, when he was busy, he always hoped to be more relaxed. Not only him, but the other waiter was also like this.
But now that he was really free, he realized that it was better to be busy.
Except for the people who occasionally came to Jin Province, the people who used to eat here didn't come anymore. Not to mention that there was no reward, yesterday the shopkeeper even said that if this continued, he wouldn't even be able to get his monthly salary.
It was all because of the three restaurants with the same name, Between the Clouds and the Water, that appeared in the prefecture just now.
He didn't know where the three restaurants got the seafood from. They were the same price, but it was said that the food was a hundred times better than Nanfeng Restaurant. In addition, the waiter was wearing the same clothes, and it was said that all of them were literate. In an instant, the local rich people were attracted to them.
Why? Three restaurants with the same name in the prefecture city. Who came up with this bad idea? Could they still make money?
If no customers came, the shopkeeper would probably fire all the waiter next month. He didn't know where to find a job, and he couldn't read. Between the Clouds and the Water was really too free. What was the use of having a waiter who could read? Wasn't he still a waiter?
"Li Sheng, there are guests. Why aren't you going to greet them? How can you get paid sitting at the door like a fool? Come over quickly." Hearing the shouts in the restaurant, Li Sheng broke free from his thoughts and hurriedly ran in. He casually put the cloth used to wipe the table on his shoulder and, just like before, put on a flattering smile.
"What would you like to eat?" Li Sheng habitually wiped the table with a rag while glancing at the four guests. He knew they were from outside at first glance.
Among the four people, one was old and the other three were young. The old man Weiwei closed his eyes and didn't say anything. The young man sitting next to him looked at the waiter and then at the rag. He frowned.
"How long has it been since you washed this rag? Also, the table beside it has been eaten by insects. It's not like this is a roadside wine shop. "
"You're right, sir. I'll change to another one. The four of you, please sit at the table on the side. That one hasn't been eaten by insects."
Li Sheng cursed in his heart. Which restaurant was not like this? However, he did not dare to say it out loud. He maintained the same smile as before to cater to those who found fault with him.
After the four changed seats, Li Sheng took a new rag. The color was better than the previous one. He also wiped the table and asked, "What would you like to eat? We have … "
"No need. Four bowls of chicken and bamboo shoot soup and two light side dishes." The one who spoke just now did not wait for Li Sheng to introduce the dishes and directly ordered one.
Li Sheng looked embarrassed. His smile was not as natural as before. He replied, "Sir, this is the South Wind Restaurant. We specialize in seafood and nothing else. Would you like to change?"
"Oh, then four bowls of shark's fin bird's nest soup and a plate of stir-fried fresh sea snails." This person was easy to talk to. He ordered whatever the restaurant served.
"Ah? Fresh sea snails? How about stir-fried sea snails? " Li Sheng's smile disappeared. He thought these four people were here to make trouble. Otherwise, who could order fresh sea snails and bring them here from afar?
"What? You can't do it? "
"Well … Sir, the price of fresh sea snails is a bit high. Are you …?"
With a clatter, four strings of copper coins were taken out by another person and directly thrown on the table.
Li Sheng was shocked. He didn't know why this person had more than twenty catties of copper coins on him. He gritted his teeth and said honestly, "Sir, you are making things difficult for this little one. Who can transport a live conch to this place? We don't have any in this restaurant. "
"Then why are you talking about seafood? We came from the capital and ate live sea snails every day at Savant's Restaurant. You don't have any here. No wonder you can't operate. Forget it. Just serve whatever soup you have. Any light side dish will be fine. "
This person looked at the old man when he spoke. The old man narrowed his eyes. Weiwei nodded and settled down.
Li Sheng was relieved and quickly went to arrange. After the soup was served, he stood aside and waited. Seeing the four people eating, he wanted to ask several times but held back.
The person who spoke just now drank half a bowl of soup. He estimated the old man's eating speed and slightly stopped to eat at the same time as the old man. Otherwise, it would be rude to eat first and let the old man eat first. He met the eyes of the waiter and asked,
"Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing. I just want to ask, which Savant's Restaurant in the capital can really eat live sea snails?" Li Sheng looked at the old man from time to time. He knew that among the four people, as long as the old man was satisfied, there was no need to worry.
The person who stopped temporarily nodded and said, "Of course. Savant's Restaurant belongs to Between the Clouds and the Water. Do you still need to say what Between the Clouds and the Water is capable of?"
"Between the Clouds and the Water? Between the Clouds and the Water again? "Li Sheng now hated and yearned for the name Between the Clouds and the Water.
"Yes! You also know about Between the Clouds and the Water here? "
"Yes, Between the Clouds and the Water opened three stores at the same time. They also specialize in selling seafood. Nanfeng Restaurant's business is getting worse and worse," Li Sheng replied bitterly.
"Oh? Between the Clouds and the Water here? If I had known, I would have gone to Between the Clouds and the Water. Although it's a little expensive, it's comfortable to eat. The cloth there is all white, and you can change it if you wipe it a little. Nanfeng Restaurant also sells seafood? I wonder if the owner's surname is Ning? "
This person's interest was piqued. The old man also stopped his already slow movements and opened his eyes slightly.
Li Sheng's eyes widened even more. With a face full of doubt, he asked, "How did you know? The owner's surname is Ning. "
"That's right. Isn't the price of Between the Clouds and the Water here the same as Nanfeng Restaurant's? I'm going to eat at Between the Clouds and the Water later. "
After this person finished speaking, he saw that the waiter was still puzzled. Perhaps it was because he could eat cheap food at Between the Clouds and the Water, so he kindly explained, "The owner of this restaurant has offended someone.
Of all the people he could have offended, he just had to provoke the Zhang family of Sanshui County. His methods were so despicable that he even beat up one of their farmers. Between the Clouds and the Water's revenge is coming, right? Listen to me and leave Nanfeng Restaurant quickly. Nanfeng Restaurant will be closed soon. "
"What? One farmer was beaten up, and Nanfeng Restaurant attracted three seafood restaurants Between the Clouds and the Water? Is the life of a farmer so valuable? "
Li Sheng felt that this fact was more interesting than a live conch. Was the Zhang family's farmer made of jade? Not even for a moment?
As if knowing what he was thinking, the person continued, "The situation here is complicated and simple at the same time. The head of the Zhang family is an official in the south, next to the head of the Ning family, and there are some conflicts between them.
The Ning family couldn't deal with the head of the Zhang family, so they set their sights on the Zhang family's farmer. Less than ten days after the fight, the Zhang family acted like a storm. Do you know why?
The Zhang family is telling other people that if they have the ability to cause trouble, they should directly deal with the head of the Zhang family. Don't talk about the servants of the Zhang family. There is no difference between dealing with the Zhang family's servants and dealing with the head of the Zhang family. The revenge will be the same. The Ning family is finished, and no one will speak up for the Ning family.
The other merchants are only chosen because they have connections with the Zhang family. The people of the imperial court don't just look at who is rich, they look at who is more capable. When it comes to the ability of the Zhang family's Master to govern, even a hundred Ning Zhongze can't compare to him. Listen to me and quickly change. Change to the Water Cloud Room.
"Ah? So that's it? But will Between the Clouds and the Water want me? " Li Sheng understood now. He couldn't change anything. When adults were fighting, it was better for children to stay away.
"Yes. You don't know how the Zhang family does things. No matter what kind of business they do, they will always look for the local people. They never directly bully a shop. They always work together first, unless the shop offends them. Even if it offends them, they are not afraid. If the shop is gone, the local workers will be taken over by the Zhang family.
It is because of this that the imperial court doesn't care. The Zhang family doesn't only have a restaurant, but also a variety of other shops. When they open a shop, they will recruit local workers, even farmers. Wherever the Zhang family's shop is, the lives of the people will be better.
Go. Say that you are a worker of Nanfeng Restaurant, and they will help you arrange it. If you do well, they might even let you take charge of the business and send you overseas to be a manager. "
As the man spoke, he picked up a piece of fried shrimps and put it on the old man's plate. He lowered his head and ate.
Li Sheng didn't expect this result. After feeling happy, he suddenly reacted. "Sir, how do you know so clearly?"
The man just smiled and didn't say anything.
*****
The workers working for the Ning family didn't have to worry, but the head of the Ning family in Qinzhou was worried.
As long as the family's business wasn't in Qinzhou, all of them were attacked. Even if the news hadn't been sent back from further away, Ning Zhongze didn't have the slightest bit of hope.
Especially the shops near the capital. That was the foundation of the Zhang family. If other places were being attacked, then the shops around the capital wouldn't escape.
"It's over. It's completely over. I don't even know if I can keep my official position. My status in the family is gone."
After Ning Zhongze received the news, he immediately knew the seriousness of the matter. He looked at the housekeeper standing there respectfully. This time, he really couldn't push the blame to the housekeeper.
In the past, the family clearly knew what was going on and tacitly agreed. Now that all the shops in the family were being attacked, the family wouldn't be satisfied with just the housekeeper.
"What should I do? What should I do? "Ning Zhongze sat there, paralyzed, and kept muttering the same words.
The housekeeper sighed. He didn't expect the Zhang family to react so fiercely. They were willing to lose money to destroy the Ning family's business. Originally, he wanted to use this method to force the Zhang family to compromise. In the end, the Zhang family didn't have the heart to do so.
The old master couldn't be defeated. If the old master was defeated, he would be finished as well.
"Master, why don't I go to the head of the family and tell them it was my idea. Master, you can write a memorial and say good things about Zhang Zhong. Also, you can ask the imperial court to allow you to learn from Lu Zhou and compromise with Zhang Zhong. Lu Zhou's construction is almost done. It's time for Zhang Zhong to leave. After he leaves, won't the old master have the final say? "
"It's useless. Zhang Zhong has already made his move. In order to suppress us, the Zhang family lost so much money. How can they agree to let go? If it were you, would you do it? If it were before, it would be fine. Besides, I've already sent the memorial. Zhang Zhong is waiting for an opportunity. Finally, it's in his hands.
I don't understand. Zhang Zhong is taking care of the lives of the local people, collecting local specialties for his family, opening a few new businesses, and Lu Zhou's construction. How can he find the time to deal with me?
I used one plan after another, but Zhang Zhong didn't worry at all. He solved it easily. I don't think he's going against me. It's as if he's playing with me. Let's go all out. I'll lead the army and say there's a fugitive. Let's see if Zhang Zhong is still in the mood to play with me. "
Zhang Zhongze steeled his heart and wanted to take the risk.
"Master, you can't do that. You can't lead the army. You'll fall into Zhang Zhong's trap. Even if he's afraid, the imperial court won't allow it. Master, think twice. Master, why don't you spend more money and send it to the people in the imperial court so that they can get rid of Zhang Zhong as soon as possible?"
The housekeeper advised as he gave the idea.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
