Chapter 1394: It's All Over Now

"You have friends visiting? Oh, why didn't you say so sooner? We certainly would have treated them with care!"

"What a coincidence, you have already 'treated' us with care."

After Jiang Chenghao finished speaking, he looked at the manager with an unreadable expression.

That look made the manager's heart skip a beat, and a bad premonition surfaced.

He swallowed hard, then pointed behind him: "Could it be..."

"It is exactly these people."

It's all over!!

The manager wailed internally, thinking how he could be so unlucky that the person he had a dispute with happened to be the boss's friend!?

This, what should he do now?

The manager's mind was in a mess.

But in his panic, he grasped onto something.

That thing was like a lifeline to the manager, allowing him to calm down quickly.

He then whispered: "Actually, this is all a misunderstanding."

Xiao Li didn't want to hear this, and immediately retorted: "How is this a misunderstanding? Did you not pass off inferior goods as quality ones? Did you not shield your staff? Did you not find people to try and use violence to make me shut up? This is all set in stone, don't you dare try to quibble!"

Xiao Li was very imposing.

Under his accusations, the manager's head hung lower and lower.

But when Xiao Li finished speaking, the manager slowly raised his head again.

In the depths of his eyes, a flickering light shone: "Since you are friends with the boss, even if you discovered a problem, couldn't you have told him in private? Bringing it up in front of everyone, isn't this just smearing the boss's reputation!"

"I..."

Before Xiao Li could finish, the manager interrupted him.

He even said righteously: "You think you are speaking up for justice, but now is the time for the Shanzhuang to build its reputation; why can't you think of us?"

Xiao Li was so angry he laughed.

What it meant to distort the truth—he had truly witnessed it today!

And the manager's distortion of the truth was not over yet.

He looked at Jiang Chenghao with a righteous face and began to pledge his loyalty: "We old employees have racked our brains for the Shanzhuang. I admit there were oversights in our work, but I will certainly educate them in private. But this kind of thing shouldn't be exposed in front of outsiders!"

The expression on Jiang Chenghao's face was very faint, so faint that one could not tell if he was happy or angry.

He even followed the manager's lead and continued: "You mean, dirty laundry shouldn't be aired in public?"

"Exactly!"

"So, I should even praise you for thinking of the collective?"

"I wouldn't dare, I'm a bit slow, I can only think of clumsy methods."

Jiang Chenghao chuckled and said: "You aren't slow; on the contrary, you are very smart, but..."

His gaze turned cold, and his voice became dangerous: "Being too smart will bring disaster upon yourself!"

Jiang Chenghao's change made the manager's breath hitch.

Amidst his suspicion and uncertainty, Jiang Chenghao said again: "I don't know what your previous work model was, but with me, I don't fear mistakes, I only fear a crooked heart!"

"Boss..."

Jiang Chenghao couldn't be bothered to listen to the other party's excuses anymore, turned his head, and ordered the people behind him: "Fire everyone who participated in causing trouble today!"

"Yes!"

This, just like that, fired?

The manager was unwilling to accept this, so he gathered his courage and made an accusation to Jiang Chenghao: "This is unfair! We have worked at the Shanzhuang for so many years; you can't just kick out old employees the moment you arrive. This is too heartless!"

"That's true, this firing..."

Jiang Chenghao seemed swayed by what was said, and his tone paused for two seconds.

Then, he added: "Is too easy on you! We must also check the kitchen's procurement list!"

Upon hearing this, the manager's face changed instantly!

Over these years, he had taken plenty of benefits by abusing his position; if this were to be investigated...

No, he had to go and destroy the evidence!

The manager said with a panicked look: "I, I'll go pack my personal belongings, and then I'll leave!"

After saying this, the manager turned to slip away.

But how could Jiang Chenghao not see through his little trick?

He gave a look to his men, and Security Guards came over to restrain the manager.

The manager struggled with his limbs unwillingly, shouting: "Let me go, don't touch me!!"

His shouting was too piercing, so to avoid affecting other guests, the Security Guards simply took him to an empty area.

And the manager, being dragged away, finally lost the mask-like fake smile on his face...

Seeing this, Xiao Li couldn't help but say: "Truly reaping what he sowed!"

After saying this, he felt someone touching his arm.

He turned his head to look... it was Professor Shen.

Professor Shen gave Xiao Li a hint, hoping he would say less.

After all, the current owner of this Shanzhuang was Jiang Chenghao, and he still needed to be given some face.

But Xiao Li was a bit stubborn and didn't quite understand Professor Shen's eye signal, even asking back: "Professor, is your eye uncomfortable?"

Upon hearing this from Xiao Li, Professor Shen gave up.

He felt that this kid had traded all his emotional intelligence for IQ!

On Jiang Chenghao's side, he took the initiative to apologize to the group: "I am truly sorry for giving everyone such a bad experience."

Professor Shen composed himself, then smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Jiang Chenghao: "The villain received the punishment he deserved, and that is enough."

Others echoed: "Exactly, this kind of ending is quite satisfying."

"I believe Mr. Jiang's bold reforms will allow the Shanzhuang to develop even better!"

"Actually, it's not bad right now; I was even planning to bring friends next time."

Everyone began to offer praise in a flurry of voices.

Hearing this, Liu Xin'ai felt a bit surprised.

She hadn't expected that when it came time to offer praise, everyone would be so unsparing with their kind words...

While she was feeling this emotion, Liu Xin'ai noticed Jiang Chenghao was looking at her.

What did that mean? Did he hope she would offer a couple of compliments too?

Then what should she praise?

The nice things had all been said by everyone else already.

Well then...

Liu Xin'ai lightly pursed her lips and said: "That braised lamb chop dish was quite delicious."

Her praise came from the bottom of her heart.

After hearing this, the others... could not help but reveal smiles.

Liu Xin'ai didn't quite understand what everyone was laughing at; there wasn't anything funny, was there?

Jiang Chenghao was also smiling, and he was smiling very gently.

But soon, he restrained his smile and said to the group: "Please continue your meal, I still have matters to attend to."

"Alright, Mr. Jiang, please go ahead and get busy."

Jiang Chenghao bowed politely to the group, then turned and took his people away to resolve the follow-up issues.

Professor Shen also greeted the group: "Alright, let's continue."

Although they had just had a big argument, the satisfying outcome had not affected everyone's appetite.

Everyone sat back down and chatted while they ate.

And the content of the conversation gradually evolved from academic issues to... gossip.

Specifically, gossip about Liu Xin'ai.

At first, everyone was relatively subtle, all chatting in a roundabout way.

But the person involved seemed not to understand, paying no attention at all.

Finally, someone lost their patience and took the initiative to ask Liu Xin'ai: "Xin'ai, do you think Jiang Chenghao becoming the boss here has anything to do with you?"