My Fantastic Chef Wife

385. The Creditor Has Come

Translator: Tracycbj

Ye Xiaoxian hired a teacher for Dongdong and Xiao Xia, who started to learn words.

After the two children started learning, Ye Xiaoxian had more time to her own.

Xiao Baoshan was busy handling official affairs, and the children were taken care of by the nannies. Ye Xiaoxian didn’t have anything to do, so she continued to work on her recipes.

She wanted to share the recipes with Tianshan Mountains to help the families earn more money.

…

One day, she took a recipe to the restaurant and inspected it to see how it was operated.

She didn’t find anything wrong with the food hygiene and the waiters. The tables looked good.

However, when she was checking the account book, she found that Xiao Baocheng didn’t dare to look her in the eyes.

When the restaurant opened, Ye Xiaoxian deliberately did not hire an accountant. She wanted to cultivate Xiao Baocheng. After all, he had received some education and learned accounting from Xiao Baozhu when he was in Tianshan tribe.

Ye Xiaoxian wondered why Xiao Baocheng didn’t dare to look at her.

She checked the account book and didn’t find anything wrong except some minor errors.

For example, they sold two hundred bowls of beef noodles on one day, and each bowl cost twelve pennies, but Xiao Baocheng miscalculated, making each bowl cost ten more pennies.

It wasn’t a big problem, but Xiao Baocheng should have noticed it.

Ye Xiaoxian pointed it out to Xiao Baocheng. Although Xiao Baocheng accepted it humbly, his forehead was sweating.

Ye Xiaoxian consoled him, “Baocheng, don’t be nervous. I know that you are conscientious. If you pay attention, you will be a good accountant.”

Xiao Baocheng quickly said, “Yes, Xiaoxian, I know. I will be careful from now on.”

“Good. Work hard. We might open a branch very soon, and you will have more work and responsibilities.”

Xiao Baocheng promised to work hard again.

…

In the palace.

It was getting dark.

The eunuch came to ask Li Chengru to choose the woman for the night.

For some reason, he used to hate this moment and feel that he was like animals of Tianshan Tribe that only knew about reproducing.

However, when the eunuch took the name tablets and asked him to choose, he had a feeling of expectation.

He suddenly recalled that someone said, “Some people start to forget their initial goals as they go along the path.”

He looked at the tablets and chose Concubine Zhang.

These days, he had slept with Concubine Chen, Concubine Shu, and Concubine Wen.

For some reason, these beauties who had been stiff in front of him all suddenly became enlightened. They had vivid personalities and talents. Some of them danced, some told jokes, and some recited poems and drew with him. They had their unique beauties.

Unconsciously, he felt that he had been too traditional. How could he regard himself as the tool of reproducing?

It was an enjoyment actually.

The government affairs were tiring and the concubines in the palace could relax him.

However, he insisted on one principle that he should evenly divide his affection among the concubines without favoring anyone.

Therefore, even if he didn’t like some of the concubines, he would choose them.

Therefore, this palace had never been so harmonious.

Li Chengru went to Concubine Zhang tonight. When he entered the hall, he found that Concubine Zhang was shy.

He even whispered, “Don’t be afraid of me.”

Concubine Zhang was still nervous.

Li Chengru asked directly, “What’s wrong? What’s bugging you? Is it inconvenient for you to serve me tonight? Or anything else?”

Concubine Zhang said nervously, “Your Majesty, I heard that the other concubines in the palace are talented. They tell jokes and recite poems. I was lazy when I was small. I don’t write well, nor do I dance well. I only know about one thing…”

Li Chengru asked with interest, “What is it?”

Concubine Zhang said, “I can mimic the sound of animals.”

“Really? Moo for me,” Li Chengru said.

Concubine Zhang mooed.

Li Chengru saw cows in Tianshan Mountains and they mooed like Concubine Zhang. He was amused by the noise and said, “Bleat for me.”

Concubine Zhang bleated like a sheep.

Following that, she crowed and barked.

Li Chengru had been watching the women dance and play instruments, and it was refreshing to hear the animal noises. He was amused, thinking Concubine Zhang was cute.

That night, Li Chengru slept with her.

The next day, he gave her many gifts.

The concubines in the palace came to Concubine Zhang and asked her how she made it. She told them what had happened the previous night.

The imperial concubines realized that the Emperor liked talented women.

Schemes no longer worked in the palace, but talents could get them somewhere. Therefore, the concubines started to work on their talents, hoping to attract the emperor.

…

After Tianshan Restaurant introduced new dishes, the business started to flourish.

Ye Xiaoxian improved the recipe of the milk tea and shared it with Wang Mudan and Chen Ju. The milk tea attracted many customers.

It became a popular drink for the palace concubines and the female family members of the ministers.

Not only women but also men loved the tea.

Ye Xiaoxian asked Wang Mudan to open a new window to exclusively sell the milk tea. People queued up in front of the window. There were so many people buying the milk tea that the queue was crowding the street.

Xiao Baocheng was relieved that the brothel procuress didn’t come to ask him to pay off his debt. He thought the procurss didn’t dare to come, or his rich friends didn’t ask him to pay for the bill.

One day, when Xiao Baocheng was busy working at the counter, several ferocious men holding clubs dashed into the restaurant.

Xiao Baocheng suddenly shuddered.

He recognized the clothes of the men, who came from the brothel.

Why did they come after half a month?

The arrival of the ferocious men scared the customers in the restaurant. They scurried out of the restaurant, including those who hadn’t paid for the bill.

Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu were in the restaurant. When they saw these men, they didn’t figure out the reason.

Last month, some men came to ask them to pay for the protection fee. Xiao Tieshu told them that they were the family of General Xiao, and those men didn’t dare to come again.

Xiao Tieshu went up to the men and asked, “Hello, what’s the matter? We are the family of General Xiao. It’s not easy to run a business. If you like to have noodles or other food, we are happy to serve you. If you want something else… Sorry, we can’t do that.”

Xiao Tongshu said, “Yes, yes.”

The two of them had worked in the government office of Qinghe county before and knew how to deal with these men.

The leader of the men said sullenly, “We don’t come here to dine but to ask for payment of a debt. Mr. Xiao Baocheng, why are you hiding behind the counter? Do you think you don’t have to pay off your debt?”

Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu were dumbfounded.

Xiao Baocheng did not dare to hide anymore. He rose and stood behind Xiao Tieshu.

The head of the men took out the IOU and showed it to Xiao Tieshu, “He owes us 220 taels of silver, and there is his signature. It’s clearly written here. It says if he doesn’t pay back the money in time, he has to pay the interest of one tael each day. Considering you are General Xiao’s family, you don’t have to pay the interest. However, you have to pay all 220 taels. Mr. Xiao, please give us the money. We need to take it back to our boss.”

“220 taels?” Xiao Tieshu and Xiao Tongshu gasped.

“Is this a misunderstanding?” Xiao Tieshu asked, “What did he do to owe you so much money?”

“You should ask him.” The man said arrogantly. He looked down on the family because they were indebted.

The law required debts to be paid out in the country.

Xiao Tieshu looked at Xiao Baocheng and said in a fierce tone, “What did you do? Why do you owe so much money?”

Xiao Baocheng muttered, “I… I went to the brothel with my rich friends.”

“You went to the brothel?” Xiao Tieshu flew into a rage. “What a good-for-nothing! You don’t learn from good people. Instead, you learn to go to the brothel. No wonder you come home so late every day recently.”

Wang Mudan and Chen Ju came out when they heard the commotion. Wang Mudan saw many men surrounding Xiao Baocheng and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Xiao Tieshu pointed at Xiao Baocheng. “You have spoiled your son. He went to the brothel and owes them 220 taels of silver!”

“What? 220 taels?” They had earned some money by running the restaurant these days, but Wang Mudan had never seen so much money. She said in a panic, “Does it cost so much to visit the brothel?”

Xiao Tieshu glared at her. “Little Ye told us long ago that there are many kinds of temptations in the capital city, and different places charge different prices. He hangs out with the rich men, who go to expensive places that he can’t afford.”

Xiao Tieshu grew angrier. He picked up a wooden stick and hit Xiao Baocheng.

Wang Mudan was afraid that her son would be injured, so she quickly went to stop her husband.

Chen Ju and Xiao Tongshu didn’t stop Xiao Tieshu.

The restaurant was owned by the two families. Now that Xiao Baocheng was in debt, he had to pay off his debt with the money of the restaurant. That meant the efforts of the two months were wasted.

The men didn’t stop Xiao Tieshu either. They had seen a lot of this before. Their job was to force people to pay off their debts, and the targets were usually the black sheep of the families.

The commotion scared all the customers away, and Xiao Tongshu went to the Xiao mansion to inform Xiao Baoshan.

Xiao Baoshan had been busy with his work, and only Ye Xiaoxian was available.

Ye Xiaoxian felt helpless after Xiao Tongshu told her what had happened.

What she dreaded most finally happened.

Modern times or ancient times, big cities or small counties, it was difficult for people to resist the temptation. Very few people could have the strong mind to resist the temptation.