"Manager Liu, didn't you stop working and stay home to watch your son sell dried fruit? Why are you suddenly back out here?"
The person speaking was Manager Liu's former rival, and the one who stole some of his technology—Manager Ding! Manager Ding had been targeting Manager Liu for the past few decades.
Shopkeeper Liu's shop was originally in good working order. However, Shopkeeper Ding disrupted the surrounding market, causing Liu to ultimately make no profit and be forced to close down.
Since Manager Liu stopped running the shop, he has been somewhat depressed, staying at home alone and no longer going out to show his face or interact with people.
Now, after so many years, the two meet again, still bitter rivals, each harboring deep hatred for the other. Manager Ding resents Manager Liu for hoarding the recipe and refusing to teach him the complete steps. Although he now makes hand-pulled mutton that tastes similar to Manager Liu's, the flavor is vastly different. Many people familiar with Manager Liu's taste look down on Manager Ding's cooking.
Although Manager Ding has made a lot of money, his reputation is not good. Many people particularly hate Manager Ding, blaming him for suppressing Manager Liu. But this is just survival of the fittest, and Manager Ding never thinks it's his fault.
In this world, whoever is strong is right, and whoever occupies a high position deserves to sit on the high platform. It's clear that Manager Liu, although he has the recipe, is not good at management and cannot keep his shop running. What does that have to do with Manager Ding?
Manager Ding is a shrewd businessman. Even though he only stole a small part of Manager Liu's recipe, he is still able to make a fortune. This is entirely due to his own abilities!
When Manager Liu saw Manager Ding, he had no desire to speak to him. Although the two had been good friends before, after Manager Ding betrayed him, Manager Liu no longer wanted to have anything to do with him.
The young man from the Liu family also knew that his father had a conflict with Manager Ding. When he saw Manager Ding talking about his father like that, his expression immediately changed.
"What are you talking about? Whether my father comes out or not, and when he comes out, has nothing to do with you. Why aren't you running your shop properly? What are you doing here? Are you seriously ill and not going to live much longer?"
The young man from the Liu family mocked Manager Ding, whose face immediately turned pale, and he glared coldly at the young man. "You ill-mannered brat, your mother died young, and you're like a scoundrel! It must be your father who didn't raise you properly, letting this mad dog out!"
It was one thing for Manager Ding to scold Manager Liu, but Manager Liu couldn't accept Manager Ding scolding his own son. He immediately yelled at Manager Ding, "Your own family is a mess, don't come here to interfere with my son. If you want to interfere, go home and take care of your son, or you'll end up not being able to make a living on this street!"
Everyone in the neighborhood knew that Manager Ding's son was a rebellious brat. Like many rich kids, he often bullied respectable women in the area. People would avoid him like the plague whenever they saw him.
Listening to their conversation, Xu Yuehuai quickly understood their grudge. Perhaps the person opposite them was the one who had wronged Manager Liu before. Naturally, Xu Yuehuai wouldn't treat the person who had bullied Manager Liu kindly.
"A good dog doesn't block the way! Please move aside! You're blocking our way in! You're standing outside the clinic and not going in, but don't block other people from getting in."
Xu Yuehuai immediately waved her handkerchief, shooing Ding away as if she were swatting flies. Ding saw that Xu Yuehuai was just a young girl and didn't take her seriously at all.
Shopkeeper Ding shoved Xu Yuehuai and yelled at her coldly, "Where did this little brat come from? We're talking, what right do you have to speak? I like to block the way, what's it to you?"
"If you can't stand it and are in a hurry to get in, you can crawl between my legs! What are you barking about here? Can't you see that I'm talking to someone?"
Shopkeeper Ding was a fat man with big ears and was naturally strong. When he pushed Xu Yuehuai, he almost knocked her to the ground. Luckily, the young man from the Liu family next to her caught Xu Yuehuai, otherwise she would have definitely fallen to the ground.
Seeing that Xu Yuehuai had just sided with his father, Liu's younger brother immediately stood up to speak for Xu Yuehuai, put his hands on his hips, and pointed at Manager Ding's nose: "You know she's just a young girl, how could you lay a hand on a young girl! He just asked you to move aside, he didn't do anything to you."
"If you don't apologize to her, I'll report you to the authorities and have the officers arrest you. I'll tell them you bullied an innocent woman in broad daylight! Just like your shameless brat, always bullying people in broad daylight!"
Shopkeeper Ding hated it most when people talked about his good-for-nothing son. He beckoned to the servants beside him to come forward and grab the Liu family's young master and his companions.
"Stop standing around watching! Your master has been bullied to the point of being a doormat! Go over there and grab them!"
Upon hearing the commotion, the servants immediately rushed forward and surrounded Liu's young master and his companions. Xu Yuehuai had already steadied herself and was now protected behind Liu's young master.
She had originally gone out alone today, without anyone else with her. Now, with no one to help deliver the message, she was all alone with the two members of the Liu family, and she might get bullied.
If she were beaten and left with any marks, Xu Yuehuai would have a hard time explaining herself to Qi Guze and the others when she returned. So, Xu Yuehuai quickly asked someone nearby to pass on a message, handing them a silver ingot and telling them to find someone at the Tianxianglou branch and tell them that she had encountered danger there and to send someone to help her.
"What are you trying to do in broad daylight? Even if the government wants to punish a criminal, they need evidence of a crime! We haven't done anything to you, and you've already had us surrounded. Are you trying to attack us? Is there no law in this world?"
The young man from the Liu family protected Manager Liu and Xu Yuehuai, preventing anyone from attacking them. Hearing this, those people were momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Shopkeeper Ding was furious and wasn't thinking about anything else. He just wanted to arrest them as soon as possible and give them a good beating. But hearing what the young man from the Liu family said, his anger subsided somewhat.
But seeing everyone around him watching, if he were to back down now, wouldn't he be slapping himself in the face? If others knew that he was actually afraid of this useless Manager Liu, how would he ever be able to establish himself in this area again?
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