Gorgeous Female Tenants

Chapter 291: I’ve Got This

The chubby chef glanced at Boss Zhou and turned off the blazing stove: "President Zhou, when will our salaries be paid?"

The faces of Boss Zhou and his son, which were just now filled with joy, turned somber. Boss Zhou explained with a wry smile: "Master Liu, just wait a few more days. There haven’t been many guests these days. I’ll pay you once we have enough revenue."

Master Liu said helplessly: "President Zhou, I actually wanted to leave earlier too, but there’s still one table of guests needing a meal, so I stayed to finish this dish. After today, I won’t be doing this anymore."

Boss Zhou said in distress: "Master Liu, you’re the head chef and an old employee. You’ve been working here since Emperor’s Pavilion opened. Have I ever shorted you a penny over the years? Your wage is the highest here. We’re going through a tough time now. You can’t just stand by; you should stick with us."

Seeing Boss Zhou speak like this, Master Liu sighed lightly: "I stayed because you’ve treated me well. We haven’t received our salaries for three months. There’s no money to buy food tomorrow. We can’t fight the local antagonist. I think you should let Boss Peng take over Emperor’s Pavilion."

Boss Zhou continued to persuade: "Master Liu, I am trying to raise funds. Someone wants to invest. We are just waiting to sign the contract and transfer the money. It won’t take long, and you’ll get your salary."

Master Liu shook his head: "It’s useless. As long as Boss Peng causes trouble, no one dares to invest. Unless that person doesn’t know the situation, even then, the restaurant won’t last long. You’ll get the investment but also harm them."

Boss Zhou was silent. Indeed, several people had expressed interest in investing. He was an honest man, not wanting to deceive anyone into investing, so he revealed Boss Peng’s intention to forcibly take back the restaurant, and everyone was scared away without spending a dime, vanished without a trace.

As Master Liu said, as long as Boss Peng doesn’t stop causing trouble, whoever invests is just throwing money into a bottomless pit, losing everything.

Xu Xiangbei watched curiously from the side and interjected: "Boss Zhou, are you looking for investors for your restaurant? How much do you want to invest?"

Boss Zhou glanced at Xu Xiangbei with a troubled expression and said nothing.

In his mind, Xu Xiangbei’s medical skills were indeed impressive, but the current discussion was about a sizable investment, and Dr. Xu couldn’t help with that.

Zhou Ping sighed lightly, said nothing, rolled up his sleeves, moved to the cutting board, and began making his specialty dish, beef and seafood balls.

Zhou Ping asked the junior chef: "Has the last table of guests’ food been served?"

"It has started being served."

He smiled at Xu Xiangbei and said: "Dr. Xu, go back to the room and eat. Your table’s food has already started coming out. I guarantee you’ll get to eat beef and seafood balls at lunch today. If you want them in the future, call me and come to my house."

Xu Xiangbei heard the underlying meaning in Zhou Ping’s words, realizing that their Emperor Pavilion Restaurant might truly close soon, overwhelmed by internal and external troubles.

Externally, Boss Peng disrupted and destroyed business; most of the kitchen staff left; even the last head chef staying was about to leave due to three months of unpaid wages.

Xu Xiangbei’s phone rang. It was Ouyang Jiahui calling, definitely because the food had been served but Xu Xiangbei hadn’t returned, asking him to come and eat.

He didn’t answer the call, directly hung up: "Boss Zhou, I’ve roughly understood your situation. How much do you need to invest? Is one million enough?"

Everyone was startled by his words, eyes all turned towards Xu Xiangbei in surprise. Zhou Ping, while chopping beef, was so shocked he almost knocked the knife out of his grip.

Boss Zhou asked in doubt: "Little brother, you have money to invest?"

Xu Xiangbei pulled off a sly smile: "Why, do I not look like I have money?"

Boss Zhou quickly waved his hand in fear: "No, it’s great if you can invest, but you know, our hotel is in a big crisis right now. I’m afraid your investment will go to waste."

"Not at all. I’m confident, but you aren’t? Isn’t it only because Boss Peng is causing trouble? Relax, aside from healing people, I also fix troublemakers. I guarantee he’ll not only stop causing trouble but also come to apologize and compensate for the losses."

The chubby chef looked at Xu Xiangbei with disdain, shaking his head. He didn’t believe Xu Xiangbei’s words. Such a youngster, claiming he can handle renowned Boss Peng in Earth Sea, sounded utterly absurd.

Fat Chef Liu had seen Boss Peng’s power firsthand, unimpressed with the youngster’s boasting.

The Zhou family father and son were skeptical about Xu Xiangbei’s words, remembering their doubts about Dr. Xu previously, but he indeed quickly healed Zhou Ping’s arm, instilling them with half trust in Xu Xiangbei.

However, dealing with the local antagonist wasn’t as simple as healing.

Seeing the chubby chef shaking his head at him, Xu Xiangbei glared at him: "Do you not believe me?"

Chef Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, asked disdainfully: "Little brother, I’ve lived well over forty years, been a chef in Earth Sea since my teens, from junior chef to lead chef, I’ve always known Boss Peng isn’t an ordinary person. Let me ask you, do you know Boss Peng? Or have you heard of him?"

Xu Xiangbei shook his head with a clueless expression: "No, it’s my first time hearing about him."

Chef Liu chuckled: "Yet you brag and claim he’ll apologize? I’ve seen people boast, but none like you. Never met Boss Peng, yet say you can make him apologize? Ha, this is the biggest joke I’ve heard this century."

Xu Xiangbei remained unfazed, still insisting: "So what if I don’t know him or haven’t heard about him? If he does something despicable, of course, I can make him apologize and offer compensation."

Hearing Xu Xiangbei persist, the Zhou family father and son bowed their heads in embarrassment, feeling increasingly that Xu Xiangbei’s words were unreliable.

They were internally conflicted. Not believing Xu Xiangbei went against having faith in their benefactor. Yet believing Xu Xiangbei could actually make Boss Peng apologize and compensate for losses challenged their intelligence.

The father and son exchanged a look, and Boss Zhou interrupted Xu Xiangbei.

"Dr. Xu, hurry back to the room and eat. The dishes are almost served; it’ll get cold if you don’t eat."

Zhou Ping also urged: "My beef and seafood balls will be ready soon; Dr. Xu, go eat."

Xu Xiangbei glared at the father and son: "Do you all not believe me? Don’t believe? I’ve decided to handle your affairs. Tell me, where does this Boss Peng operate? Give me two days; I guarantee he’ll stop harassing you."