Chapter Seventy-Seven: Acquiring Resources

At that moment, Zhao Cuihua was stunned by what she heard.

“What a coincidence, we’re going to the Neijiang Restaurant as well,” Zhao Cuihua replied.

“What? You too? He’s treating you? Don’t pretend to be rich when you’re not, eating at Neijiang Restaurant is expensive, you know—dishes cost dozens of yuan each. Can your little pretty boy afford it?” Liu Shuiyu sneered, her face full of sarcasm and doubt.

“Listen, Zhao Cuihua, don’t try to compete with me in this area, it’s pointless, you know? You’re the sort who acts sanctimonious while being anything but, and I’ve seen right through you.”

“You can talk tough, but I look down on you.” With that, Liu Shuiyu pulled Chen Dekui toward Neijiang Restaurant.

In her mind, sleeping with these men was partly for emotional needs, but more importantly, to extract resources from them. It was a ruthless form of bloodsucking and exploitation; she felt nothing for these men. That exploitation had become her capital for flaunting herself, and it was precisely why she was notorious.

“We’ll go our own way, pay them no mind,” Zhao Cuihua said, taking Lu Hao’s arm.

“Alright.”

They ignored the brief episode and soon arrived at the entrance of Neijiang Restaurant. Just as they reached it, they saw Liu Shuiyu and Chen Dekui entering.

Chen Dekui certainly wasn’t stingy when it came to widows; no wonder he could sleep with so many in Peach Blossom Village.

While Lu Hao was mulling over this, suddenly the curtain was pulled aside, and a sullen-faced man appeared before him—it was Manager Zhang, stepping out for a breath of fresh air and a smoke.

“It’s you!” As soon as Manager Zhang saw Lu Hao, he marched over angrily.

“You dare show up here after what you did last time—causing trouble, beating people, and leaving without paying a cent? I haven’t settled that score yet, just been waiting to come find you.”

“Don’t you dare leave.” He strode over and grabbed Lu Hao by the collar.

“Take your hand off me,” Lu Hao said, frowning.

“Last time, didn’t you say you wanted me to spend a hundred thousand yuan within a month to get cured by you? You must be delusional—crazy!” Manager Zhang roared.

“I said, take your hand off me,” Lu Hao repeated angrily.

In front of Zhao Cuihua, Lu Hao didn’t want to lose his temper, so he was already holding back with Manager Zhang.

“Also, what did you do to my cousin? Why is he still like a stroke victim, unable to move? What did you do to him? Hurry up and fix him, you hear me!” Manager Zhang’s rage was so ferocious that a crowd began to gather.

“Hey, look, the two of them really did come to eat at Neijiang Restaurant. But I bet they owe debts and offended someone, otherwise how could things turn out like this?” Liu Shuiyu, who had been ordering food, suddenly brightened and pulled Chen Dekui’s arm.

“What do you mean?” Chen Dekui was still absorbed in ordering and hadn’t noticed the commotion at the entrance.

“Look closely, just look.” Liu Shuiyu pointed excitedly toward the door.

“Isn’t that Manager Zhang at the entrance? And that’s Lu Hao, right? How did they end up arguing with him—ha, this is going to be interesting.” Liu Shuiyu said.

“Come on, let’s take a look.” She dragged Chen Dekui toward the entrance.

Soon, they reached Lu Hao and Zhao Cuihua.

“Manager Zhang, what did they do to upset you? You seem so angry.” She batted her eyelashes at Manager Zhang.

He responded with a cold laugh. “Last time, he assaulted someone in our restaurant and left my cousin half-paralyzed—and didn’t pay a cent. I haven’t even gone to settle accounts with him, and now he shows up again.”

“How could I let them off?”

Zhao Cuihua grew anxious and quickly spoke up, “That’s not how it happened, last time—”

She just began to defend Lu Hao, but Liu Shuiyu interrupted immediately.

“You claim he’s not your man, but you defend him like this? Saying there’s nothing between you two—who are you kidding?” Liu Shuiyu pointed at Zhao Cuihua.

Between widows, sympathy was rare; more often, enmity brewed.

Now Zhao Cuihua’s face was flushed with anxiety, but she could only stew in silence.

“Sigh, you’ve offended Manager Zhang. From now on, don’t expect to eat at Neijiang Restaurant,” Liu Shuiyu said, feigning regret.

“You’ll have to make do with the little eatery at the east end of the village. Zhao Cuihua, you just weren’t born under a lucky star.” She was practically gloating.

Then she turned to Manager Zhang. “Manager Zhang, these two really aren’t good people. When they spoke to us earlier, they were rude and arrogant.”

“Especially this university student—he looks pale and innocent, but he’s no better than the rest. Why else would he be hanging around with Widow Zhao?”

“As manager here, you must keep your eyes open in the future. Don’t let people like them step into the restaurant again, otherwise everyone will be upset.”

Manager Zhang frowned, saying nothing and ignoring Liu Shuiyu. His mind was still on his own and his cousin’s illnesses.

“I’m telling you, Lu Hao—now that you’ve come, don’t expect to leave easily. If you don’t give me an explanation today, you’ll regret it,” Manager Zhang said menacingly.

Suddenly, Lu Hao’s phone rang.

“Hello?” It was a call from someone at Neijiang Restaurant.

“Hello, is this Mr. Lu? Have you arrived at the restaurant?” came a calm, middle-aged man’s voice.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m already at the entrance. What’s the situation? Which Miss Long?” Lu Hao asked.

He suspected it was Long Gui who intervened. If it wasn’t her, he wouldn’t have come at all, since it could have been a trap set by Zhou Run and Sun Wenguo.

“Alright, please wait a moment. I’ll call Miss Long Gui down right away.”

“Also, your staff have been giving me trouble. Please come deal with it,” Lu Hao said, frowning.

“Of course, we’ll be right down. Please don’t worry.” The call ended.

Soon after, Long Gui led a middle-aged man and Zhao Xiaojie, along with others, straight to the restaurant entrance.