Chen Yaozu limped away, clutching his backside, looking like a dog with its tail between its legs. Granny Lü, who had secretly followed him, rushed to help him.
Actually, she had already arrived, but seeing that even the village head was there, she didn't dare to go in and could only anxiously wait outside.
Seeing her grandson in such a miserable state, she was both angry and heartbroken. She cursed loudly in the direction of Gan Ji's restaurant, calling Gan Li a vicious woman who would even harm her own son.
They could curse and complain, but they dared not step into Ganji.
After all, even Master Zhao was driven to bankruptcy by Gan Li; her son, who was so smart, couldn't get any advantage from Gan Li, so how could she dare to mess with her?
Thinking of this, Granny Lü sheepishly helped her grandson away.
Inside Ganji Restaurant, everyone was frantically cleaning up the mess. The table that Chen Yaozu had smashed was chipped in half, looking like it had been chewed by a dog. Gan Li was annoyed by the sight and ordered it to be moved to the backyard.
The scene was quickly cleaned up. After the incident, the restaurant returned to its usual bustling state.
The diners clinked glasses and toasted each other, filling the restaurant with laughter and chatter, as if the earlier commotion had never happened. Gan Li didn't go back to help in the kitchen; instead, she stood behind the counter, ready to prevent any further incidents.
Just then, a figure flashed at the door, and another person entered. Gan Li looked up and saw that it was Gan Yingzi who had returned.
She hadn't paid much attention at first, but seeing Gan Yingzi's distraught expression and remembering how Yingzi's mother had come to ask for leave to pick her up yesterday with a stern face, Gan Li thought for a moment and called out to her.
“Eiko,” Ganli beckoned, “come here.”
When Gan Yingzi heard her call her name, she bit her lip with a complicated expression, but still went over.
"Shopkeeper..." She walked timidly to Ganli, her head down, her hands twisting the hem of her clothes.
"Um."
Gan Li responded, and seeing that she seemed to have something to say but dared not speak, she frowned and asked:
"What's wrong? You look troubled. Is something wrong at home? If so, tell me. I may not be able to help you, but I can give you some advice."
Hearing these words of concern, Gan Yingzi felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Her mother's words echoed in her mind again... The shopkeeper was so kind to her, disregarding past grievances. If she really did what her mother said, would she still be human?
Gan Yingzi made up her mind.
She looked up at the busy staff around her and said with difficulty, "Manager, I have something to say to you... Could we talk in private for a moment?"
Seeing that she looked strange, Ganli led her to the backyard.
"Tell me, is something wrong at home?" Gan Li looked at Gan Yingzi and said gently.
Gan Yingzi nodded, then shook her head. Seeing Gan Li's puzzled expression, she said with difficulty, "Manager, please don't be angry after hearing this..."
Gan Li was even more surprised: "This has something to do with me?"
Gan Yingzi nodded, took a deep breath, and under Gan Li's gaze, mustered her courage and told Gan Li the whole story.
It turned out that ever since Gan Yingzi told Gan Li where Xiao Si and the others were hiding, the Wu family had assumed that her uncle had leaked the information, so they took back all the rent they had paid before.
Yingzi's uncle lost the money he had just received, and he was so angry that he couldn't sleep for several nights. After thinking it over, he realized that since none of his own family members had leaked the news, the only one who could have done so was his sister!
So he specifically called his sister home, gave her a severe scolding, and said he would sever ties with her.
Yingzi's mother was scolded by her brother and was also very angry, but she was not angry at her brother, but at her daughter. She had told her daughter Gan Yingzi about her brother's house being rented out, and she had not told anyone else. So who else could have told anyone else?
Thinking that this brat had ruined her brother's good deed, Yingzi's mother was furious. After promising to give her brother an explanation, she stormed to the restaurant and called Gan Yingzi back from her work. She interrogated her all night and finally got the truth out of her.
Upon learning that it was indeed her daughter who had messed things up, Yingzi's mother was furious and pointed at Gan Yingzi's nose, yelling:
"Well, you little brat, you're such an ungrateful wretch! Your uncle has been so good to you, and you've turned your back on him and sided with outsiders, ruining his important plans!"
Do you know that because of you, all the money your uncle had in his hands has vanished! He even called your mother and me back and gave us a thorough dressing-down, saying he'd cut ties with me! If your uncle stops talking to us, how are we going to live?!
Gan Yingzi felt extremely wronged by her scolding, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not cry out loud.
Yingzi's mother seemed not to see anything, and continued to scold her, pointing her finger at her nose: "Who will compensate your uncle for his losses now? You have to make up for the trouble you caused!"
Gan Yingzi dared not resist, and sobbed softly, "Mother, I...I'll use my wages to make up for it..."
It's just a tael of silver. At worst, I can just pay a month's wages.
Although she didn't think she had done anything wrong, Gan Yingzi was willing to pay a tael of silver for some peace and quiet.
But Yingzi's mother sneered, "Wages? Your wages should have gone to your uncle anyway, that doesn't count! If you want compensation, you'll have to find another way!"
But Gan Yingzi was already working at the restaurant, so where could she go to earn money to make up for the losses?
Yingzi's mother's eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Gan Yingzi's ear, lowering her voice to say:
"You silly girl, the restaurant makes so much money every day, isn't it a ready-made money bag? You eat and stay at the restaurant, you have plenty of opportunities to sneak some out, and no one will know."
"If they find out, with so many new people joining the restaurant, why was everything fine before, but problems only arose after they arrived? You can just pin the blame on someone else, and no one will suspect you!"
Upon hearing this, Gan Yingzi was terrified. Having worked in the restaurant for so long, she had come to understand many things and knew that many of her past behaviors were inappropriate. Therefore, when she heard that her mother wanted her to steal money, she refused without hesitation.
But she refused, so Yingzi's mother locked her in the house and wouldn't let her out.
Forced into a corner, Gan Yingzi could only feign agreement for now, but she couldn't get over the hurdle in her heart. After much thought, she decided to tell Gan Li about it, even if it meant being scolded by her mother.
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