Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

Aside from greed, Yan Bugui had no other faults.

He was a smart man and knew very well that there must be a conspiracy behind Yi Zhonghai's promise to return the cellar.

He believed that as long as he didn't cooperate, Yi Zhonghai wouldn't be able to scheme against him.

Yan Bugui also knew that returning the cellar was not an easy task.

Yi Zhonghai's current agreement doesn't mean he won't go back on his word later. Even if Yi Zhonghai doesn't want to go back on his word, there are still Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu behind him.

These two widows never give up what they've already got.

Yan Bugui didn't really want to return the cellar to He Yuzhu.

Whether it's important or not.

The important thing was that he wanted to use the return of the cellar as a way to prove his loyalty to He Yuzhu and let He Yuzhu know that he and Yi Zhonghai were not on the same side.

As long as He Yuzhu understands this, he can profit from it.

If He Yuzhu wants to deal with Yi Zhonghai, shouldn't he try to win people over?

Who could be more suitable than him to be courted?

That is where his value lies.

Back then, when Yi Zhonghai wanted to control the courtyard house, the first person he tried to win over was him.

Because he guarded the gate, nothing inside or outside the courtyard could escape his eyes.

Now, if He Yuzhu wants to deal with Yi Zhonghai, the only way is to win him over.

Because he knew Yi Zhonghai very well, and was much smarter than Yi Zhonghai.

Yan Bugui handed over the accounting work at the braised meat shop to the Third Aunt, while he himself went around looking for He Yuzhu.

Although it's tiring, you don't have to worry about middlemen taking a cut.

Yan Bugui always believed that there were significant interests at stake in him.

He Yuzhu knew that Yan Bugui was looking for him, but he had no intention of responding to him.

If it were just about making money, Yan Bugui wouldn't be so eager to find He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu then called Ma Hua over to ask about the situation of the courtyard house.

Has anything happened in the courtyard recently?

Ma Hua thought for a moment and said, "No, it seems like Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong's family had a falling out."

Is that all?

"Why is Yan Bugui looking for me everywhere? He went to the restaurant and the Xiangpiao Bancheng area."

Ma Hua couldn't figure it out either: "I don't know either. I'll ask Uncle Li when I get back."

He Yuzhu told him to go back to work. Actually, even if he couldn't get any information out of him, it wouldn't have mattered.

His only connection to the courtyard house was those few rooms.

Apart from the fire that burned down the houses, nothing else in the courtyard affected him.

Seeing how profitable He Yuzhu's fried chicken shop was, Yan Bugui wasn't the only one who couldn't sit still.

Yan Jiecheng and his wife couldn't sit still any longer.

After they separated from Yu Li, the restaurant's business did not improve much.

As more and more restaurants opened outside, their business became increasingly worse.

Yan Jiecheng went to He Yuzhu's restaurant specifically to take a look.

When he got back, he complained to Hao Min, "How come Sha Zhu is so lucky? His fried chicken shop's business is better than several of ours."

Hao Min sighed helplessly: "If I had known the restaurant would turn out like this, I shouldn't have believed your father in the first place."

Yan Jiecheng also harbored resentment towards Yan Bugui.

Without Yan Bugui's encouragement, they wouldn't have separated from Yu Li so early.

Given its popularity back then, it might have opened branches by now.

After the family split up, income decreased while expenses increased significantly. Rent and workers' wages were both much higher than before.

"Let's not dwell on the past. Let's think about what we should do now."

Hao Min said, "What else can we do? We can't just close this restaurant down."

Yan Jiecheng said, "Fried chicken shops are so profitable, do you think we could open one?"

Hao Min turned her head and asked, "Can you make fried chicken like the ones at Sha Zhu's shop?"

Yan Jiecheng wanted to say that was easy. But he opened his mouth and then didn't say it.

He hadn't tried the fried chicken at He Yuzhu's shop before, and just by looking at it, he knew it wasn't easy to make. "Let's go find Sha Zhu. Do you think he can tell us how it's made?"

"What do you think?" Hao Min countered.

Yan Jiecheng gave an awkward smile. The answer was obvious: no one would tell others their secret to making money.

"So what do we do? Business is getting harder and harder these days."

With all the costs added up, it's like we've been working for nothing for a month.

Hao Min said helplessly, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

Yan Jiecheng glanced at the kitchen a few times and whispered, "What do you think, should we find a new chef?"
Their wages are too high; other stores like ours don't pay that much.

Hao Min asked cautiously, "Can you find someone?"

Yan Jiecheng nodded: "I found a few chefs, and their skills are pretty good, about the same level as the chefs in other restaurants."

Hao Min confirmed Yan Jiecheng's words several times and immediately agreed.

"Not only the chefs, but the waiters also need to be replaced. They know about what's going on at the restaurant, and when they tell the chefs, the new chefs will definitely be restless."

The two of them had agreed to gather the restaurant staff together after get off work.

"The reason I called everyone here today is not for anything else."

Everyone knows the situation at our restaurant. We only make a small amount of money each month.

After deducting rent, utilities, and everyone's wages, we basically don't make any money.

We had no choice but to close down.

The restaurant workers were unhappy when they heard that it was going to close. They were paid well and their work wasn't strenuous, so they didn't want to give up their jobs.

"The restaurant is closed, what are we going to do?"

Yan Jiecheng said, "We told you in advance so that you would have time to look for a job."

You can go to Yu Li; she's never had a chef.

Also, you can go find Sha Zhu.

The salary and benefits at Shazhu's place are much better than ours.

You knew him before, so you can go to their side.

The rent expires this month, so the restaurant will be closed. Let's all part ways amicably.

We will give you all the wages you are owed tomorrow.

Seeing that the workers did not cause trouble, Yan Jiecheng breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm really afraid they'll hit me."

Hao Min rolled her eyes at him: "Look at you, such a coward. It's good that they took action; at least we won't have to pay them."

Yan Jiecheng rolled his eyes at her, realizing that she wasn't the one who got beaten up.

When do you think they'll leave?

"do not know."

"So do you think Yu Li will want them?"

Hao Min spat, "What do you want? To Yu Li, they are all traitors."

Would you want a group of people who betray you?

Yan Jiecheng said firmly, "We definitely can't take them. Who would want a bunch of ungrateful wretches?"

Yu Li's restaurant is a hot pot restaurant, so she doesn't need a chef.

Hao Min said, "You already know, why are you asking? Hurry up and pack up, let's go home."

Just a heads-up, don't tell your parents about this.

"If they find out, they'll try to take advantage of our restaurant again."

The two inspected the shop themselves, then closed the door and prepared to go home.

On the way, the two ran into Yu Li and her husband, who were walking towards the courtyard house together. Although they were on the same road, they barely spoke to each other.

Since the family split up, the two sides have become enemies; it's a miracle they haven't fought.

The two sides barely spoke to each other, and when they met, they acted as if they didn't see each other.

They quickly returned to the courtyard house, and the two sides parted ways at the gate, each going home.

As for Yan Bugui standing at the door, he was completely ignored.

This wasn't the first time this had happened, and Yan Bugui was still extremely angry. (End of Chapter)