Chapter Eighteen: Half a Year's Wages Deducted

Neither of them noticed that not far away, a carriage had come to a halt. The carriage bore no ornate decorations, looking rather unassuming, and seated within was a young gentleman. He had witnessed the entire scene where Lin Hongda had knocked Guo Da to the ground.

“Uncle Yuan, did you see that?”

“I saw it, young master.” Beside him sat an elderly man who stroked his beard and chuckled. “That fellow may look frail, but his skills are truly remarkable.”

The young master smiled. “If I could have such a man as my bodyguard, I imagine I could travel anywhere with peace of mind.”

When they arrived at the front entrance of the Wanhua Restaurant, where the three brothers worked, Lin Sangqian noticed for the first time that there was another restaurant directly across the street, named Fortune’s Abundance. The two establishments faced each other, and judging by the number of patrons inside, business seemed about equal.

With the two restaurants standing face to face, competition must surely be fierce.

A thought flickered through Lin Sangqian’s mind, and a smile played at her lips.

“Isn’t this the restaurant where your three brothers work?” Lin Hongda asked.

“Yes, I think so.”

Just as they were about to enter, a young servant spotted them and immediately came out, frowning and barking, “Hey! Where did you beggars come from? Go beg elsewhere!”

Lin Sangqian frowned and glanced down at her clothes. They were somewhat tattered, but surely not enough to be called beggars?

Yesterday, the lad who greeted them had been quite polite. Why was this one so rude today?

“Watch your tongue,” Lin Hongda said, his expression darkening.

“What, am I not allowed to speak when you’re here to cause trouble?”

“We’re looking for someone,” Lin Sangqian said. “The three Lin brothers—Lin Wenyan and his siblings.”

The servant paused, then let out a derisive laugh. “Oh, it’s them? Ha, birds of a feather. The whole family’s nothing but beggars.”

“What did you say?” Lin Hongda flared up at once. The servant seemed intimidated by his imposing presence and shrank back, but still muttered, “It’s working hours now—they don’t have time for you. Leave, before you cause trouble!”

“You—!”

Lin Sangqian quickly tugged Lin Hongda’s sleeve, signaling him to stay calm. After all, this place was nothing like where they’d just been; if a fight broke out, it might draw the attention of the authorities.

“Father, let’s go for now,” she said, intending to circle around to the back and see if they could spot the brothers there.

Just then, she caught sight of Lin Yanbei.

He had a towel slung over his shoulder and was carrying a tray of dishes toward a table of guests.

Suddenly, someone stuck out a foot and tripped him. Lin Yanbei lost his balance and fell hard to the ground.

The food scattered everywhere, and the plate shattered into pieces.

Scrambling to his feet, Lin Yanbei’s face turned pale with fright. Not only had he wasted a dish, he’d broken a plate—surely the proprietor would scold him harshly now, and as for his wages, he could forget about them!

“Yanbei!”

Lin Hongda immediately shoved aside the servant blocking his way and rushed inside, with Lin Sangqian close behind.

“Hey, you can’t just barge in here!”

“Father? Little sister? What are you doing here?” Lin Yanbei stared at them in astonishment.

By now, all the diners had turned to look. A portly middle-aged man hurried over, first bowing and scraping to the guests, then rounding on Lin Yanbei with a furious glare. “What’s the matter with you? You can’t even carry a plate? Do you know how difficult this dish is to make? And the customer is still waiting!”

“I... Manager, someone tripped me on purpose!”

“Excuses, excuses!” Bao Mingzhi raised his hand, ready to strike him, but Lin Hongda stepped in front of his son.

“Manager, even if your staff makes a mistake, you can’t just hit them, can you?”

Lin Yanbei gazed in a daze at the figure shielding him.

So this is what a father is...

“And who might you be?” Bao Mingzhi snapped impatiently. “How I discipline my staff is none of your concern!”

“I’m Yanbei’s father,” Lin Hongda replied evenly.

“Oh, so you’re this troublemaker’s old man? Look at this, just look! Your son spilled the dish, broke the plate—shouldn’t I give him a thrashing? Do you know how much trouble it is for the kitchen to remake that dish?”

“It’s just stir-fried lamb with scallions, isn’t it? How much trouble can that be?” Lin Sangqian said coolly.

Bao Mingzhi snorted. “What does a little girl like you know?”

“Manager, with so many customers watching, wouldn’t it be better not to make a scene out here? Why not take this to the kitchen?” Lin Sangqian said, her smile inscrutable.

Not wanting to make a spectacle in front of the clientele, Bao Mingzhi shot Lin Yanbei a vicious glare. “You, come with me!”

With that, he strode toward the back kitchen.

Lin Yanbei quickly whispered to Lin Hongda and Lin Sangqian, “Father, little sister, please just go home—don’t get dragged into this.”

“We’re family. How could we leave you to face this alone?” Lin Hongda clapped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry—with your father here, everything will be fine.”

Lin Yanbei suddenly felt his eyes grow hot.

His father truly was different now.

“Showing off, are you? You’ll still have to rely on me!” Lin Sangqian teased, making a face at him.

Lin Hongda chuckled, and the three of them made their way to the kitchen.

Before leaving, Lin Sangqian cast a glance to the side. If she wasn’t mistaken, it had been another servant who’d deliberately tripped her second brother. What grudge did he bear? Once she’d dealt with the immediate problem, she’d have a word with that troublemaker.

Once in the kitchen, they saw several cooks still busy at the stoves, while Lin Wenyan and Lin Beitao were sweating over a mountain of dirty dishes.

Lin Hongda’s heart ached.

So this was how his three sons toiled here—exhausted, scolded, and even beaten!

“Father? Little sister?” Lin Wenyan and Lin Beitao were equally astonished to see them. “What are you doing here?”

“All right, this isn’t the time for a reunion,” Bao Mingzhi snapped coldly. “How do you propose to resolve this mess?”

“How would you have it settled?” asked Lin Hongda.

“Me? He goes without food for two days, and loses half a year’s wages!” Bao Mingzhi barked.

Lin Yanbei’s face fell.

They hadn’t been paid in three months as it was, and now he wanted to dock another six months?

Now Lin Sangqian understood why her brothers called Bao Mingzhi the heartless boss.

“That’s too much!” Lin Hongda clenched his fists.

“Oh, the customer is still waiting, and all our cooks are busy. If the guest blows up, do you know how much business we’ll lose?”

“In that case, let me redo the dish myself.”