God-Level All-rounder Expert
Chapter 492 - 528: A Slap

Chapter 492: Chapter 528: A Slap

Qingtian Barbecue stall had truly made a name for itself at the Red Light Night Market.

Before even getting close to the barbecue stall, the aromatic scent floated out and invaded people’s nostrils, stirring appetites and leading them unconsciously towards the aroma.

"Fang Yi oppa, when are you going to open a branch? Counting money every day is really tiresome," complained Han Xiuzhen during a moment of free time.

Although counting a lot of money every day literally meant getting hand cramps from counting money, Han Xiuzhen was fed up. The business at Qingtian Barbecue was too good every evening, and even the normally hardworking and uncomplaining her couldn’t help but voice out.

Fang Yi glanced at the nearby stalls that were doing poorly and smiled, "Don’t worry, it will be soon, just a day or two."

With a goal in mind, Han Xiuzhen stopped complaining and continued to collect and give change.

Fang Yi and Yao Bo were busy. Both were incredibly swift, turning the heat on the grill to full blast. Every few minutes, a customer’s skewers were ready; they then packaged them and took payment.

Just as the two were sweating profusely in their hectic work, a commotion suddenly arose from the crowd. Then, several people in Manager uniforms strutted in, led by a skinny man.

"Looking for trouble?" Yao Bo raised his eyebrow.

"Don’t get excited, you keep going, I’ll handle this," said Fang Yi, then he stepped around the barbecue stall to face the skinny man and his group.

The skinny man stood with his hands on his hips and his chin lifted, looking extremely arrogant while his Manager colleagues looked ready for action, rubbing their hands together with stern expressions.

"Are you gentlemen here to enjoy some skewers?" Fang Yi said indifferently, neither warmly nor coldly.

"Eat what skewers!" a Manager coldly said, "We’ve received complaints that there’s an issue with your stall."

A smile actually appeared on Fang Yi’s expressionless face. "I wonder what the issue could be?"

The Manager replied with a stern face, "Hygiene issues!"

Fang Yi inwardly sneered, sure enough, it was that issue.

Typically, at the night market, if vendors were to be nitpicked, it would be on hygiene grounds, the easiest target. Not just his stall, but almost every other one had hygiene issues, so Fang Yi was not surprised.

But Fang Yi still wanted to argue his point, "But isn’t that a matter for the Sanitation Team? It seems inappropriate for you Managers to intervene, doesn’t it?"

The Manager’s expression visibly cooled, and he said coldly, "Why excuse so much? Feeling guilty of something? What makes you think we Managers can’t intervene? Are you trying to defy the law?"

That big accusation just fell right there; Fang Yi knew they were deliberately making it tough but did not get angry, stepped aside, and said, "Please."

The Manager’s face showed a smug expression as he motioned his colleagues to inspect, and seeing this, Yao Bo visibly got angry, but Fang Yi gave him a look to hold back.

"This, this, and here too, all have problems. It’s so dirty, way too many issues!"

"Eating this is practically lethal!"

"To make food with such significant hygiene issues, it completely fails to meet the standards!"

Several Managers were nitpicking, pointing here and there with a total bureaucrat attitude, skilled at finding faults even where there might be none.

Fang Yi watched coldly from the sidelines, scoffing inwardly but made no move to stop them. Just then, the thin man unknowingly approached Fang Yi and whispered, "Hey, buddy."

Fang Yi glanced at him and smiled lightly, "It seems we are not acquainted."

The thin man said, "With that kind of attitude, you’re not cut out for business. A friend from the Manager has come to point out your mistakes, you should be happy."

"Is that so? Should I point out some mistakes for you too?" Fang Yi slightly narrowed his eyes.

"Thinking of getting rough?" The thin man sneered sharply, "But don’t blame me for not warning you; getting rough here would be unreasonable, and if it escalates, it’s not going to end well for you."

"You’re right, indeed it wouldn’t be good for me; however, your behavior is simply too bullying," Fang Yi seemed to concede.

The thin man felt a bit triumphant and said, "Who told you to do business without leaving us any room? We’re very unhappy with you now."

Fang Yi raised his eyebrows, "Oh? I wonder who else is unhappy with me."

The thin man, convinced Fang Yi was conceding, pointed at other barbecue stall owners, saying, "That one, that one, and that one..." His hand motions carried an air of casting blame and pointing out faults.

Fang Yi smiled faintly and remembered these people; he had visited each of them before.

Then, some Manager staff returned and eyed Fang Yi with ill intent. One, with a sneer, said, "Your barbecue stall doesn’t meet the requirements; from now on you’re not allowed to set up your stall here."

Having anticipated this outcome, Fang Yi smiled and said lightly, "Aren’t you being too overbearing? I’ve paid the stall fee, and you say I can’t set up? Does that mean no one can do business?"

One of the Manager staff sneered back with a clear intention of prohibiting his business and said, "I advise you better comply, otherwise you’ll bear the consequences!"

The thin man also smirked and gloated, thinking, ’Little guy, you dare to fight me? Make a scene, go ahead, if you have the guts, let’s see who it benefits.’

However, the next moment, Fang Yi casually said, "I know your deputy director."

The Manager staff were stunned at first, then laughed, "Don’t play dumb with us here; knowing our deputy director doesn’t help your case, no plea will work."

The thin man also said, "Kid, don’t brag about connections here; the deputy director is my brother, not yours. You don’t pull connections like that. Better go with the officials now, or you’ll regret it."

Fang Yi sighed and said, "Some people are walking into the gunfire and they don’t even know it. What can I say?"

"Acting all calm, kid, let me tell you—"

"Thin man!"

Just as the thin man was about to continue, suddenly a shout interrupted him, sending chills down his spine. The voice was familiar; it was none other than his cousin, Wang Kai.

Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw Wang Kai hastily approaching, looking flustered.

"Cousin, why are you here?" the thin man was puzzled. He had asked Wang Kai for help, and although Wang Kai said he was busy and randomly sent some people to assist him, his sudden appearance was unexpected.

Wang Kai was furious upon arrival. Seeing the thin man, he felt an urge to beat him up. He stormed over, and just as the thin man was about to offer Wang Kai a cigarette, Wang Kai abruptly slapped him across the face.

With a loud smack, the slap disoriented the thin man, leaving the other Manager staff frozen in place, let alone the onlookers who knew Wang Kai was the thin man’s cousin and a deputy director of the Manager. But why did he start by slapping the thin man?

Strange, very strange.