âOh! Alas! Why does this girl earn more money than me! Iâm really impressed by her!â Lan Tao said helplessly. Leng Ruoxue was really too similar to him in certain aspects.
âPatriarch, the fifth young miss and the guards of our Lan family are still in Leng Ruoxueâs hands? Where should we pay for this?â the fifth elder asked carefully. He knew that the patriarch was currently in pain over this matter! However, he couldnât not remind the patriarch. After all, the patriarch had already agreed!
âDidnât the elders of our Lan family go to work for her? Letâs use them to repay the debt!â Lan Tao said matter-of-factly.
âUh!â The Fifth Elder was a little speechless. So the patriarch didnât intend to fork out this sum of money at all! No wonder the time limit that the fire phoenix gave the patriarch was already up, but the patriarch didnât seem to be anxious!
âPatriarch, the wages of those elders are too low. Iâm afraid they wonât be able to repay Leng Ruoxueâs debts even if they work for her for a lifetime. Moreover, Leng Ruoxue doesnât provide food, soâ¦â The Fifth Elder reminded, but he was interrupted by Lan Tao before he could finish speaking!
âThey can come back to the Lan family to eat!â Lan Tao said nonchalantly.
âUh, thatâs true.â Two drops of cold sweat dripped down the Fifth Elderâs forehead as he echoed.
âPatriarch, the innâs manager requests an audience!â At this moment, a guardâs voice sounded from outside the study.
âLet him in!â Lan Tao said, but he was muttering in his heart. Why was he here so late?
âGreetings, patriarch and fifth elder.â The shopkeeper bowed respectfully after entering the study and then stood in front of Lan Tao anxiously.
âJust say it!â Lan Tao said.
âYes, Patriarch. I find it really difficult to speak about thisâ¦â The shopkeeper was in a difficult position. Boohoo⦠Would the patriarch blame him after he said it?
âSay it if you have something to say. Spit it out if you have it. Stop wasting time!â the patriarch roared a little roughly.
âAh! Yes, Patriarch. Take a look at this and you will understand.â The shopkeeper directly placed the few pieces of paper he had been holding in front of Lan Tao.
âWhat is this?â Lan Tao opened the pieces of paper doubtfully. His expression became more serious the more he readâ¦
The shopkeeper and the Fifth Elder carefully observed Lan Taoâs expression from the side. They saw that his face alternated between green, white, and black. It was almost a color palette!
After a long while, Lan Tao read through all the plans and was silent for a while. Finally, he said, âThis plan is not bad. Letâs do as it says!â
âHuh?â The shopkeeper thought he heard it wrong and couldnât help looking at Lan Tao in puzzlement.
âI said do as it says. From tomorrow onwards, give the waiters in your shop a break. Let the elders do all the work in the shop, including cleaning the toilet!â Lan Tao said loudly.
âPatriarch, what can those elders do?â the shopkeeper said fearfully. Alas! Arenât they causing trouble for me!
âItâs precisely because they donât know how to do it that they have to learn it! If they can do anything, why train them?â Lan Tao asked in displeasure.
âBut⦠what if they donât do well?â The shopkeeper was a little worried. Those people were all elders! He, a mere shopkeeper, didnât dare to care!
âTell them. Tell them what I said. If they donât do well, donât give them food. If they break anything, they have to pay double the compensation,â Lan Tao said with a naughty smile.
âOkay then!â the shopkeeper replied. Since the patriarch said so, what was there to be afraid of?! The patriarch would naturally support him if anything happened! Therefore, he was more confident!
âFifth Elder, send the Second Elder to Leng Ruoxue tomorrow,â Lan Tao said after some thought.
âPatriarch, isnât the Second Elder sick?â The Fifth Elder said helplessly. The Second Elder had been pretending to be sick for a day. He was still complaining about the pain just now!
âSick? You have to send him to me even if heâs about to die!â Lan Tao said nonchalantly.
âYes, Patriarch.â The Fifth Elder was so happy! Hehe, let him pretend to be sick. He had nothing to say now, right?
âPatriarch, Iâll take my leave first!â The shopkeeper said, seeing that the matter was resolved.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âOkay, go down! Oh right, try to satisfy Leng Ruoxue if she has any additional requests!â Lan Tao reminded.
âYes, I understand,â the shopkeeper replied and left Lan Taoâs study with the Fifth Elder!
âFifth Elder, why does the patriarch treat Leng Ruoxue so differently?â the shopkeeper couldnât help asking curiously on the way out of Lan Taoâs study.
âDonât ask what you shouldnât ask. Just do what you have to do!â the Fifth Elder said with a serious face.
âYes,â the shopkeeper quickly replied. Then he bowed to the Fifth Elder and quickly strode out of the Lan family mansionâ¦
The next morning.
The First Elder and the Third Elder led the elders of the Lan family to the inn early to prepare for the so-called special training. As for the Second Elder, they naturally brought him here even though he was being carried in!
Leng Ruoxue and the others saw the Second Elder lying on the stretcher as soon as they entered the living room.
âYo, Little Second is here today!â Old Man Zao looked at the bald Second Elder and teased.
âHmph!â The Second Elder snorted and turned his head to the side, ignoring Old Man Zao!
âLittle Second, itâs not good for you to keep people at a distance! Alas! I originally thought that you were a patient and wanted to arrange a more relaxed job for you! However, forget it since you donât appreciate it! Iâm too lazy to be sentimental!â Old Man Zao sighed with a sad expression on his face. Boohoo⦠His good intentions were actually being treated as ill intent!
âUh! Old Man Zao, arrange something more relaxing for me! My performance these two days was pretty good, right?â Third Elder said ingratiatingly.
âYes, yes. Donât worry, youâre doing very well!â Old Man Zao patted the Third Elder on the shoulder like they were good brothers.
âOh, is that so?â Third Elder asked curiously. In fact, he was a little uncertain about what this Old Man Zao was saying. He was very afraid that there was some undercurrent, so it was better to ask clearly.
âDonât worry! Itâs your and the First Elderâs turn after arranging their work.â Old Man Zao kept the Third Elder in suspense, wanting to make him anxious.