Linxia

Chapter 70, Don't Listen

The next morning, Manager Liu went out for a stroll and asked Cheng Shiliang, "Fang Lin, do you know what's going on with Cheng Shiliang recently? I think something is wrong."

He is not a fool. Just like Cheng Shiliang was during the day, he seemed as if a female ghost had sucked away his yang energy at night. He was in low spirits and made mistakes repeatedly. There must be a reason behind it.

Fang Lin thought for a moment and said, "Boss, I can't say anything about this."

"That's right." Shopkeeper Liu was a clever man. He didn't ask any more questions, but just pondered over it as if thinking about something.

After taking a stroll and getting ready to eat, Cheng Shiliang came back yawning and brought back three bamboo tubes of milk and a large meat bun wrapped in oil paper.

This morning's meal was stir-fried bean sprouts and rice soup, which was pretty good, but it pales in comparison to this.

"Cheng Shiliang probably won some money and tasted the sweetness, so it's getting harder for him to quit gambling." Fang Lin sighed inwardly.

"Yes, I brought you Xu Fuji's milk and big meat buns." Cheng Shiliang said with a wave of his hand. His every move exuded a sense of generosity.

"Wow, Brother Cheng is so generous! I heard that the breakfast at Xu Fuji is eaten by nobles in the morning! Look at this milk, so fresh, fragrant and mellow. These big meat buns have thin skin and lots of stuffing, and are greasy and steaming hot! I've only heard of them but never eaten them!" Huang Di said, wiping his hands on his clothes, looking like he wanted to eat but was embarrassed, which was very vivid.

Chai Yiwei was honest. He kept waving his hands and said he couldn't bear it.

"Eat it. I brought it for you. If you don't eat it, you're looking down on me." Cheng Shiliang saw the three people, one was thinking, one was embarrassed, and one even said he couldn't afford it, so he took the food and stuffed it into their hands.

It has to be said that he may have some minor problems, but he has a generous and magnanimous side to his character.

Having said that, the three of them no longer refused, including Fang Lin.

Fang Lin knew that he would most likely have to pay it back in the future, but he still ate it, choosing to become a nobody.

But I have to say that both the milk and the big meat buns are indeed fragrant and taste great.

——In this era, anyone who can spread his reputation must be very skilled, otherwise he can't open a restaurant. There is no technology or hard work, just natural and delicious food brought by craftsmanship. For gourmets, it is definitely a great blessing!
"This milk is so pure and fragrant. You can tell at a glance that it has not been diluted with water."

“Big meat buns are more delicious!”

"Thanks to Brother Cheng, we can enjoy the breakfast of those nobles this morning."

……

Only Fang Lin was still somewhat reserved, while Huang Di and Chai Yiwei were eating so much that they could hardly lift their heads.

Cheng Shiliang leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head, watching them eat, and felt a sense of satisfaction from feeding them.

Fang Lin and the other two had big appetites, so after finishing their milk and big meat buns, they didn't want to waste the breakfast in the store and ate that as well. However, it tasted a bit like chewing wax in comparison, so they ate it reluctantly, and when their stomachs were full, they started to work.

……

In the morning, Cheng Shiliang yawned from time to time and made mistakes when checking out two or three times. Manager Liu finally couldn't stand it anymore and called him out.

Shopkeeper Liu chatted for a while and then got to the point: "Cheng Shiliang, you have made a lot of mistakes these past two days, but did you go to a brothel at night? Young people should exercise moderation!"

He knew that Cheng Shiliang went to the brothel, but he didn't say anything. Food, sex, and love are the basic needs of human beings. Besides, it never affected his work in the past.

"No, boss, I haven't been to the brothel much recently..." Cheng Shiliang said.

Because I often stay up late in the gambling house, I am exhausted and cannot last long after taking medicine. In comparison, the gambling house is more exciting.

"Is that the gambling house?" Manager Liu asked suddenly.

This is not difficult to guess. In this era, there are limited places for night activities, just a few places.

"Linzi told you?" Cheng Shiliang's head was a little groggy, and he didn't think much about it. He subconsciously thought that Fang Lin had informed on him, and said angrily, "Didn't Linzi promise to keep it a secret? Why did he tell others? Isn't he just like the villain in the opera?"

After all, Fang Lin persuaded Liu last night, and Liu knew about it this morning. It was too coincidental. "No, I asked Fang Lin, but he didn't tell me." Liu shook his head and said to Cheng Shiliang, "Cheng Shiliang, you have also worked in the store for several years. I can't bear to see you go astray. Listen to my advice and stop gambling."

Seeing Cheng Shiliang lowering his head and not saying anything, he sighed inwardly and said, "Forget about these past few times. If there is a next time, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep you here."

……

After coming back, Cheng Shiliang had a stiff face and kept it to himself until noon. Finally, he had an outburst when there were only four waiters in the kitchen during lunch.

"Linzi, did you tell the shopkeeper that I went to the gambling house?" Cheng Shiliang asked with a cold face.

Huang Di and Chai Yiwei were both surprised when they heard "go to the gambling house", and then they suddenly realized, with different expressions on their faces.

"No, the shopkeeper asked me, but I didn't tell him." Fang Lin paused, then said, "There's no need for me to lie about this kind of thing, or else it would seem like I'm two-faced if it gets out."

He hated those misunderstandings and nonsense that could be avoided with just a few words, so at this moment, he explained calmly and truthfully.

All I can say is that reality is not a storybook. One person refuses to explain, while the other insists on misunderstanding.

Cheng Shiliang was not a fool. After listening to Fang Lin's words, he thought about it and believed it.

What Fang Lin said made sense. Moreover, he thought of Manager Liu's personality. He had never seen him lie. Since he said it was not Fang Lin who said it, then it must not be true. If it was Fang Lin who said it, even if he was defending him, he would most likely avoid answering it.

"Linzi, I misunderstood you. I'm sorry." Cheng Shiliang is not the kind of person who would be stubborn even if he knows he is wrong. He will admit his mistakes when he makes them.

"It's okay." Fang Lin waved his hand.

"Brother Cheng, gambling is not good..." Chai Yiwei persuaded in a low voice.

"Okay." Cheng Shiliang interrupted.

Today, first it was Manager Liu who advised him, and now it was Chai Yiwei. In addition, he was already in a bad mood, so he was naturally impatient at this time.

"Yiwei, Brother Cheng knows his limits." Huang Di said to Chai Yiwei, and then said to Cheng Shiliang: "Brother Cheng, Yiwei doesn't have any bad intentions."

He tried to smooth things over, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Well, small bets can make you happy, big bets... Anyway, Brother Cheng, take it easy."

"I know."

……

Needless to say, there is work to do in the afternoon.

After dinner in the evening, Fang Lin was learning to read, Huang Di and Chai Yiwei were taking a break and playing chess. Cheng Shiliang was invited to play chess but did not go. He was restless and after a while, he stood up, apparently wanting to go out.

"Brother Cheng, are you going to the gambling house again?"

"Yes, the shopkeeper has already said something to you. If you continue like this..."

"As long as you don't tell me, how would the shopkeeper know?" Cheng Shiliang paused, then said, "Don't worry, I will be back early and it won't affect the work the next day."

Without waiting for the three to say anything else, he went out.

……

More than half an hour later, Cheng Shiliang came back early today, and brought back the crystal pork elbow and spicy chicken from Xianglai Pavilion.

……

(End of this chapter)