Chapter 128: Crisis Turnaround
The air was filled with the enticing aroma of fried dough and sizzling spices, which was in stark contrast to Xu Yao's inner tension.
The initial peak of her stall's bustle has passed, and now the flow of customers is steady but not numerous, a fragile victory she has won in her smear campaign against Mr. Li.
She knew that this peace was as thin as spring roll wrapper.
Boss Li is not a man who gives up easily - he may be brewing a more vicious conspiracy in his twisted little head.
Just as her anxiety was about to boil like a pot of hot oil, a chubby, cheerful face appeared in front of her and smiled at her.
It was Aunt Zhang, her cheeks flushed with excitement and her eyes sparkling.
"Yaoyao, my dear girl!" she said loudly, her voice cutting through the noise of the market.
"I saw what that despicable Boss Li was up to! Don't worry, I'll support you."
Xu Yao's heart trembled slightly.
Could this be the lifeline she desperately needs?
Aunt Zhang is a celebrity in the town, a walking gossip spreader, and a kind-hearted person.
Having her on your side is like having the golden ticket to success.
"Aunt Zhang, please sit down!" Xu Yao said cheerfully, pulling out a stool with more energy than she thought possible.
Xue Han, as always, supported her silently and handed her a cup of steaming hot tea with a smile.
He knew how important this moment was.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the market as Xu Yao and Xue Han detailed their plan to Aunt Zhang like generals demonstrating a battle strategy.
They described how they envisioned the shop’s welcoming atmosphere, mouthwatering menu, and friendly service would make it the hottest new spot in town.
Driven by a combination of desperation and determination, Xu Yao even revealed some of her secret recipes from her past life, tweaking them to suit local tastes.
Aunt Zhang listened attentively, her eyes widening at every tantalizing detail.
"This...this is great!" Aunt Zhang smacked her lips and said loudly.
"The townspeople have been craving something new and exciting! That dreary old teahouse has had its monopoly for too long."
So, Aunt Zhang, with a belly full of delicious gossip and sincere enthusiasm, became Xu Yao's unofficial marketing master.
She tells her mahjong friends about the upcoming food paradise, whispers secrets to gossipy old ladies at the well, and even convinces a notoriously picky butcher to put in a good word for Xu Yao.
Word of mouth spread like wildfire.
With Aunt Zhang's vivid description and the tempting aroma wafting from Xu Yao's tasting kitchen, people's expectations for Xu Yao's bistro are growing day by day.
Customers began making reservations in advance, eager to try Auntie Zhang's legendary dumplings and spring rolls.
Boss Li hid in the shadows like a disgruntled cockroach, watching Xu Yao's popularity rise with both disbelief and increasing panic.
His dastardly attempts at sabotage backfire, making Xu Yao a local hero.
He paced back and forth, cursing under his breath, his face full of anger and frustration.
As the opening day draws closer, a showdown is about to take place that will determine the fate of both their businesses.
With more and more support, Xu Yao became braver and her confidence grew greatly.
This time, she won't be bullied again.
This time, she was ready to fight back.
That night, when the last ray of sunlight dyed the sky orange and purple, Xu Yao and Xue Han looked at each other.
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"Honey," her voice was playful yet firm, "I think we should go visit Boss Li..." Xu Yao looked at Xue Han's determined face, and the abacus in her heart was clattering.
This face, just by sticking it there, can scare away all the evildoers without saying a word.
Instead of reasoning with a thug like Boss Li, it’s better to subdue the demon physically!
"Hubby," Xu Yao tugged at Xue Han's sleeve, with a hint of cunning in her tone, "How about you go and have a chat with Boss Li?"
Xue Han raised his eyebrows and a dangerous arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. "How do you want to talk?"
Xu Yao smiled evilly: "Just... let him understand that it's better to leave a way out for others so that we can meet again in the future. Of course, if he doesn't understand what we're saying, you can help translate for him."
Xue Han took the order, turned around and walked towards Boss Li's snack bar.
That back view was like the four big characters “Keep away from strangers” walking away.
Boss Li was sitting in the store, eating melon seeds, humming a little tune, and imagining the miserable scene of Xu Yao's stall with no customers.
Suddenly, everything went dark before my eyes and a tall figure blocked the light.
"Who are you? Are you blocking my fortune?" Boss Li raised his head in annoyance. When he saw who was coming, he was like a duck with its neck strangled. His voice changed. "Xue...Xue Han? What are you doing here?"
Xue Han pulled over a chair with an expressionless face and sat opposite Boss Li. His aura lowered the temperature of the snack bar by several degrees.
"I heard that you have been taking care of my fiancée's business recently?"
Boss Li's fat flesh trembled, and he laughed dryly, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! I was just... just playing a joke on the neighbors to liven up the atmosphere."
Xue Han snorted coldly and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a frightening sound.
"A joke? Spreading rumors and causing trouble, malicious competition, you also call this a joke? Boss Li, you're taking this a bit too far."
"I...I..." Boss Li stammered, cold sweat running down his temples.
He knew that Xue Han was not someone to be trifled with; he was a tough guy who had fought on the battlefield with real guns and swords.
Those little tricks of mine were nothing compared to him.
"I'll give you two choices," Xue Han's voice was deep and powerful, like a sharp knife, piercing Boss Li's heart, "First, stop your little tricks immediately and apologize to Xu Yao publicly. Second..." Xue Han paused, and a chilling smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "I can help you recall when was the last time you were hospitalized after a fight with someone."
Boss Li got scared instantly.
The scene of being beaten black and blue by a few thugs last time is still vivid in his mind, and he doesn't want to experience it again.
"No, no, no! Brother Xue, I apologize, I apologize! I promise I will never cause trouble for Xu Yao again!"
Only then did Xue Han nod with satisfaction.
"Remember what you said. If I hear any rumors about Xu Yao again, I will let you know why the flowers are so red."
After saying that, Xue Han stood up and left, leaving Boss Li slumped in his chair like a dead fish that had been drained of water.
The news soon reached Xu Yao's ears.
She almost wanted to give Xue Han an award for "Best Negotiator".
What an efficiency!
In the next few days, Boss Li became much more honest. Not only did he stop spreading rumors, he also took the initiative to say a few good words for Xu Yao in front of the neighbors.
Preparations for the opening of the snack bar are also in full swing.
Xu Yao is very busy every day, but her heart is full of energy.
She believed that as long as she worked hard, she would be able to run the snack bar successfully.
However, just when everything seemed to be moving in the right direction, Xu Yao began to worry about funding issues.
Although I have saved some money during this period, it is still a long way from the budget for decoration and purchasing equipment.
That night, Xu Yao and Xue Han were lying in bed, and she told Xue Han about her worries.
"Honey, do you think we have enough money? I'm afraid we'll run out of money halfway through the renovation, which would be embarrassing."
Xue Han gently held Xu Yao in his arms and kissed her on the forehead.
"Don't worry, Yaoyao. There will always be a way out when the car reaches the mountain. There will always be a way out."
Xu Yao sighed and buried her head in Xue Han's chest. I hope so...
The next morning, as soon as Xu Yao opened the shop door, she saw Aunt Zhang standing at the door with a bulging cloth bag in her hand.
"Yaoyao, this is..." Aunt Zhang smiled mysteriously, "A little surprise prepared for you." As she spoke, she opened the cloth bag, revealing stacks of brand new banknotes inside.
Xu Yao was stunned for a moment, her eyes widened: "Aunt Zhang, what are you doing..."
Aunt Zhang said with a smile: "Don't ask so many questions, just use it first. I believe you can run a good snack bar!"
Xu Yao looked at Aunt Zhang's kind smile and felt a warm feeling in her heart.
She knew that this was not just about money, but also about Aunt Zhang's trust and support for her.
"Aunt Zhang, thank you!" Xu Yao was so moved that her eyes became moist.
"Silly child, what are you thanking me for?" Aunt Zhang patted Xu Yao's hand, "Work hard and make a name for yourself for us!"
Xu Yao nodded heavily, her heart filled with strength.
With the help of Aunt Zhang, the funding problem was finally solved.
However, she vaguely felt that things were not that simple.
Looking at Aunt Zhang's departing figure, Xu Yao turned to Xue Han and said, "Husband, tell me, how did Aunt Zhang get so much money?"
Xue Han frowned slightly and shook his head.
"I don't know. But I think we'd better be careful."
Xu Yao nodded and began to feel a little uneasy.
She always felt that there were some unknown risks hidden behind the opening of the snack bar...
That night, Xu Yao tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
She always felt that there was a voice in her heart reminding her that something bad was about to happen.
"Hubby," Xu Yao nudged Xue Han beside her, "Do you think our snack bar can really be opened smoothly?"
Xue Han opened his eyes, looked at Xu Yao's anxious eyes, and smiled gently.
"Of course. With me here, any difficulty can be solved."
Xu Yao forced a smile, but she was still feeling uneasy.
She turned over, with her back to Xue Han, and murmured to herself: "I hope so..."
The next day, when Xu Yao arrived at the store, she saw a group of people gathered at the door, making a lot of noise. She didn't know what they were doing...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
