Is it because they're carefree or simply don't care at all?

What Jiang Nuan didn't know was that Madam Jin had already forgotten about this matter, because the Jin family had fewer and fewer servants, and she was getting busier and busier.

All of this did not affect Jin Shao.

After the elderly at Wuweilou were sold off overnight, Jin Shao, who was not good at business, saw his income dwindle and could barely make ends meet.

At Wuweilou Restaurant, Jin Shao, as usual, went to the accountant to withdraw money.

“Young master,” the new accountant said with a bitter expression, “there is no money left in the account.”

Wuweilou was doing very well, but it couldn't withstand having such an unruly master.

He kept asking for money, which cost a lot of the money that was meant to be spent on the restaurant's equipment, and he also offended one customer after another.

Jin Shao is a typical playboy, and it would be difficult for such a person to be a good businessman.

They openly express their joy and disdain for others without any regard for their feelings.

In his eyes, peasants didn't even have the right to enter Wuweilou, and ordinary middle-class families didn't deserve his smiling welcome.

In just half a month, he single-handedly reduced the number of customers at Wuweilou by 30%.

"No money?" Young Master Jin raised an eyebrow, his face immediately turning cold. "Such a big restaurant, with so many customers every day, you're telling me you have no money?"

Do you think he's a fool?

“Young master,” the accountant said with a wry smile, “you took forty taels yesterday, sixty taels the day before yesterday, and one hundred and twenty taels the day before that. There really is no money left in the account!”

"You scoundrel!" Young Master Jin angrily kicked him. "I'm using my own money, what right do you, a servant, have to interfere?"

How dare a lowly servant be so arrogant? Does he really have no temper?

The already slender accountant, after being kicked like that, immediately clutched his chest and said, "Young master, please forgive me, I have overstepped my bounds."

"Good to know," Young Master Jin's expression softened. "Really, you don't have a single penny?"

"There are only thirty-eight taels, four mace and twenty-six coins left, just enough to buy vegetables tomorrow."

"Give it to me," Jin Qian said without any politeness. "Use today's income for the groceries, and let me use the money in the account first."

He had already spent 470 taels of silver at Hua Man Lou, and was only 30 taels short of meeting the courtesan. Anyone who interfered with his business would be killed by him.

Jin Shao found that since his family let him manage Wuweilou, his life had become much more comfortable. He could get money whenever he needed it, and when he was in a bad mood, he could vent his anger on those scoundrels.

"Yes!" The new accountant sighed and gave the last bit of silver to Young Master Jin.

He had a feeling that Wuweilou wouldn't last long.

Not only because their young master was bad at business, but also because...

well!

He sighed deeply and buried himself in the ledger, seemingly trying to escape.

The commotion they made attracted the attention of the people dining in the lobby.

"The food is good," the young man in black shook his head, "but unfortunately, the host family isn't very likable."

The voice wasn't lowered, and Jin Shao happened to hear it while passing by. Instantly, he glared angrily at the speaker and said, "Say it again if you dare."

"Insolence!" the bearded middle-aged man next to the young man in the black robe reprimanded, "How can you be so rude!"

He had never seen anyone so rude in such a small place as Ping'an County.

“You sissy,” Jin Shao said, pointing at the middle-aged man. “I’ll remember you. I have serious business to attend to today. I’ll settle the score with you next time.”

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Hua Man Lou is always fully booked every night; if you don't go early, you won't find a seat.

He didn't have time to argue with two mud... troublesome people.

Even with his arrogance, Jin Shao knew that these two well-dressed people were no ordinary individuals.

However, I didn't take it to heart.

Ping'an County is the territory of the Jin family. Outsiders are like dragons coiled and tigers crouching, just like they are in the prefectural city...

The middle-aged man sat down, feeling indignant. "Master, this young man is too inconsiderate."

In the past, he would have been dragged to the Meridian Gate and beheaded.

“Playboys are indeed not likable,” the young man shook his head, picked up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks, “Their vision is so limited, it’s pointless to argue with them.”

It's just a fly; if it gets too annoying, I'll swat it dead. But not right now.

The main reason is that the food tastes really good, and the young people are more tolerant of the restaurant owners.

"Eat more, this mutton is good, the taste is rare."

"If Master likes it, we'll take the cook back with us."

"Let's talk about it later, let's wait and see."

As the two were talking, the waiter brought up the last dish, "Sirs, the last dish, braised lamb trotters, has arrived. Please enjoy."

After the waiter finished speaking, he bowed and retreated.

"Wait," the young man in black robes tossed over a piece of silver, "The food was good, here you go. Call the cook over, I want to see him."

"Yes, I'll go and fetch him right away."

The waiter took the silver and left with a beaming smile.

He had seen people who wanted to see the chef after finding the food good, but he had never seen anyone so generous, casually giving two taels of silver, which was equivalent to the cost of a whole meal.

Shaking his head, the waiter muttered to himself, "Rich people, why didn't it get to me?"

A moment later, the cook came over, bowed, and asked, "Gentlemen, is the food not to your liking?"

“No,” the young man in the black robe shook his head, “The food was very good, so I called you over to give you a tip.”

After saying that, he threw over a small gold ingot weighing five taels.

"Thank you, gentlemen," the cook said happily, glancing at them hesitantly before adding, "If you two wish to enjoy your meal to the fullest, Juquan Restaurant is also a good option."

"Huh?" the middle-aged man asked in surprise, "They say that people in the same trade are often jealous of each other, but judging from your high regard for Juquanlou, could it be that you are really not as skilled as others?"

“Of course not,” the cook shook his head and puffed out his chest. “I’m no worse than the head chef at Juquanlou, otherwise we wouldn’t have so many customers.”

"If that's the case, then why do you say that?"

Upon hearing this, the cook instantly deflated, "I'm not planning to work here anymore."

"You're quitting?"

The two exchanged a glance, and the middle-aged man continued, "Why?"

"I feel uncomfortable," the cook said, feeling stifled ever since his old friends left. It was rare to find someone he could vent to. "Our business used to be terrible, we almost had to close down. But then the manager spent a lot of money to buy the recipes, and business started to improve. But the good days didn't last long, and then the owner smashed it up."

“My old buddies aren’t here, and the boss is being unreasonable. I’m living a miserable life. I’m not going to serve him anymore.”

"My wife also said that Wuweilou is going to go out of business sooner or later, so we should find a way out as soon as possible."

"Master Chef wants to go to Juquanlou?"

“No, no, no,” the cook shook his head. “My wife wants me to continue working with my old brother. I’m waiting for the manager to come back so I can work with him.”

“He is a man of loyalty and integrity,” the middle-aged man nodded. “Master, you may consider him.”

"Um!"

"Chef," a middle-aged man dressed in fine cotton clothes hurried down from upstairs, "are you leaving Wuwei Restaurant?"

“Yes, that’s right,” the cook straightened his back. “The boss is always doing incompetent things, and I’ve wanted to quit for a long time.”