Chapter 1614: Old Fox, Too Treacherous

Flying Speed Chinese.

"One million?"

Huo Zhenteng was so angry he laughed: "Where do you get the nerve to ask me for one million? Because of you, how much money have I lost? That broken shop without a plaque isn't even worth eight hundred thousand in total, and you made me spend eight million on it, damn it!"

"It's good enough that I didn't make you pay for the damages; how dare you ask me for compensation?"

Huo Zhenteng clapped his hands twice, and the thugs outside entered. Like picking up a chick, they grabbed Xiao Huang by the collar and threw him outside.

"Get lost! If you dare harass our boss again, we'll kill you!"

Xiao Huang was sore all over from the fall, but he didn't dare talk back.

These people were fierce and menacing; they were really hitting, and he really couldn't beat them.

A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; he would deal with it later.

He walked away dejectedly, but having nowhere else to go, he still had to return to the construction site to work.

Huo Zhenteng did not keep idle people on his payroll.

He found his former subordinate to act as General Manager and take over Sheng Zichen's shop.

Although the plaque wasn't left behind, it wasn't entirely useless; there were still some repeat customers, and if the fixed clientele was maintained well, it would be the same!

This subordinate of his was much better than Xiao Huang and was a person with real ability.

After the new General Manager took over, he first fed the staff empty promises, telling them they would have better development under him and urging them to work hard.

There would be opportunities for everyone to get promoted and receive raises in the future, and their prospects would be limitless... The promises were painted big and round.

But it was useless.

Even though he spoke eloquently, everyone still resigned one after another.

Huo Zhenteng was so angry he smashed his favorite purple clay teapot.

He cursed in a rage: "Huang Shiyong, that piece of trash, can't accomplish anything but ruins everything; he can't do anything right. The sign wasn't kept, and the people weren't kept either..."

"Eight million bought me a pile of broken tables and rotten chairs, that bastard!"

He blamed all the mistakes on Xiao Huang, but since the person had already been driven away, he had nowhere to vent his anger.

Huo Zhenteng wanted revenge, but before he could think of a "good idea," Chenxin Snack had already reopened!

It was the same method, just with a slightly changed location, and not a single old customer was lost.

They opened a new shop at such a fast speed, and they unleashed a killer move right at the opening.

Sheng Zichen promised that for every bowl of noodles sold, one mao would be donated to children in impoverished mountainous areas.

Although one mao wasn't much, it added up over time.

The old customers all returned and even brought along many new ones; the newly opened Chenxin Snack was packed with customers, nearly breaking down the threshold.

Meanwhile, Huo Zhenteng was just preparing to raise prices, increasing them by two hundred percent to reach the normal market rate.

After the price hike, if Chenxin Snack didn't open, they would still be able to make money.

But before he could make any money, Chenxin Snack launched a counterattack, and he was finished!

Huo Zhenteng couldn't hold on any longer; he had been losing money ever since he opened the shop that way.

He could hold on for ten days or half a month, but no one could stand it for long.

He prepared to transfer all the shops to recoup some of his losses.

The idea was good, but the process was very difficult.

People with real strength in the catering industry kept their eyes on the big picture and were only focused on large establishments.

People with strength looked down on these small shops near the University City, and those without strength meant they couldn't swallow everything at once!

Someone would come to inquire today, and someone else would come tomorrow; he didn't even ask for a high price, yet these people still wanted to haggle and quibble over every cent.

Huo Zhenteng had long been in a high position and really disliked these people, but he still had to face them all day long and haggle with them.

He was not the man he used to be; he had been severely weakened by Sheng Zichen's trap and had to get back as much money as possible to plan his next comeback!

After half a year, he finally managed to sell off all the shops.

Huo Zhenteng had wasted money and manpower, gained no advantage, and finally managed to close them all down.

Rising from where he fell, he set up a Resort in a village near Chen Family Village.

It was the same approach as Liangxinsnack's original style; all the models were exactly the same as Chen Family Village, and the prices were even lower, stealing away quite a few of their customers.

Li Dashao couldn't take it and led people over to smash their restaurant.

This played right into Huo Zhenteng's hands; he called the police and collected evidence, and Li Dashao and his apprentice were arrested by the police.

It wasn't a big deal for the Resort to lose a chef; Gu Zhihao was very capable himself and could fill in temporarily.

But it was a big deal that his elder brother was arrested and not released. Zichen went to save him, and the people at the police station told him: "This matter can be big or small. He smashed someone else's normally operating Resort; we can only release him if the other party agrees. You should go talk to the owner of the Resort first."

As fate would have it, Sheng Zichen went to find Huo Zhenteng.

Huo Zhenteng was just waiting for him to come. Seeing Zichen, he remained calm and said: "My humble temple has welcomed a great Buddha today. Do you have business? Please sit."

He was an old fox, very capable of keeping his cool.

Huo Zhenteng poured tea for Zichen himself: "This is some Longjing I just acquired; taste it and see how it is?"

He acted just like a kind elder; if they hadn't clashed before, Zichen would have believed him.

Although he knew the person in front of him was no good, he was here to seek peace today and couldn't make things too tense.

He placed the gift on the coffee table and said: "Uncle Huo, I apologize to you for what happened last time. I was young and impulsive, didn't know how to restrain myself when encountering problems, and offended you; it was truly inappropriate."

"I hope you, as a magnanimous person, will not hold a grudge against a petty person like me and will not lower yourself to my level."

Among the Sheng Family children, Sheng Zichen and Zihan were the best at talking; their flattery was flawless and tactful.

Huo Zhenteng smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Zichen, you are too polite. Look, I said it, we are all in the same industry; we see each other all the time, and the world is round—people will meet again sooner or later. Why make things so tense?"

"You are right to lecture me; it was my youth and ignorance."

"Rest assured, I am not a petty person, and I won't hold a grudge. You arrived at just the right time; it's almost noon, so let's have a drink together. You must taste our chef's cooking; if you refuse, you aren't giving me face..."

Zichen did not want to eat here, but he also knew that such matters could not be rushed.

Since it was difficult to decline, he agreed: "Thank you, Chairman Huo, then I will shamelessly impose on you for a meal."

He gave a quiet wink to his subordinate, who understood and went to make arrangements.

Only when Zichen arrived at the banquet did he realize there were quite a few people.

Besides the two of them, there was a group of Huo Zhenteng's subordinates, filling a whole table. Everyone was very enthusiastic, taking turns to toast Sheng Zichen and serve him food.

Zichen vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he had no time to overthink it now.

The most urgent matter now was to rescue Li Dashao quickly, but since his weakness was in their hands, he had no choice but to be obsequious.

The atmosphere at the dining table was harmonious and peaceful!

It was just that every time he tried to mention Li Dashao, Huo Zhenteng would deflect it with other topics.

He was a true old fox with remarkable methods.

Zichen had to admit that he was indeed young and still needed more tempering!