Married the Tough Guy After Transmigrating

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Zhang Youquan Compensates Money

What to do, it’s a disaster, Chef Ge must be worried to death. How much money can all these dishes fetch? Even half a month’s salary of Zhang Youquan wouldn’t be enough to cover it.

The guy had just gotten married, with his wife pregnant and their home in need of money. How would they get by if he had to pay for the damages?

But if he didn’t compensate, today’s shortfall was so significant that the leaders would definitely notice.

“Chef Ge, how should we handle today’s situation? We’re short so much money for the day, the leaders will surely ask questions.

This has nothing to do with us in the front-of-house. If there’s a fine to be paid, it’s all on Zhang Youquan alone,” Gao Guihua quickly said, anxious to avoid trouble.

Once Gao Xianghong heard this, she chimed in, “My sister-in-law is right, this has nothing to do with us.”

Sun Lifang also didn’t want to get involved in the mess and followed, “This trouble was caused by Zhang Youquan, it has nothing to do with us.”

Zhang Youquan saw how all these people were pushing the blame onto solely him and instantly his face turned sour. How much could a big pot of potatoes sell for, after all?

How was he supposed to compensate for this?

His only choice was to turn to Chef Ge, pleading for help.

Chef Ge, angered, averted his gaze and wouldn’t look at Zhang Youquan, “What can we do, all these dishes have been sold, compensation is definitely necessary.

The dishes could have sold at least eighty portions, fifty cents each, totaling to forty yuan.

I’ll cover a small part of it for you, Zhang Youquan, and you’ll cover the larger part. It’ll serve as a lesson for you.”

The moment Zhang Youquan heard this, he felt numb. If he had to cover the larger portion of forty yuan, that would be thirty yuan for him.

His monthly salary was barely forty, and if he had to pay out thirty yuan all at once, how much would he have left for the month?

If his wife found out, she would surely berate him to death.

Looking at Chef Ge, he begged, “Chef Ge, my monthly salary is less than forty yuan. If I have to give up thirty, how will I get by afterward? I have old and young to look after at home.

Please, I’m begging you, help me!” as he spoke, Zhang Youquan’s eyes reddened instantly.

Upon hearing this, Chef Ge was enraged and glared at him with his large, gong-like eyes, “Zhang Youquan, what do you want me to do for you, cover the entire cost?

If it weren’t for your acting on your own, we wouldn’t be in today’s predicament. If Director Hong finds out, he’ll have no choice but to fire you!”

Sun Lifang looked down on Zhang Youquan’s attitude. Someone had kindly covered part of the costs, but still, he felt it wasn’t enough.

“Chef Ge, if you ask me, if one person causes the problem, they should be the one to fix it. You really shouldn’t help him. Even if you do, he won’t remember your kindness.”

When Zhang Youquan heard this, he angrily glared at Sun Lifang, “Sun Lifang, don’t you dare look down on people. You only get by because of your parents’ capabilities. Otherwise, what qualifications would you have to work at the State-owned Restaurant?”

Sun Lifang exploded in anger instantly, as she hated people who got jobs through connections the most. She had earned her position through her own merit.@@novelbin@@

“Zhang Youquan, cut the crap! I got this job on my own merit. Do you think everyone is as dumb as you?

After four years here, you still can’t even stir-fry shredded potatoes properly. It’s embarrassing to even speak of it; someone like you should just get lost sooner rather than later.” Sun Lifang wasn’t someone to be trifled with; when she spoke, it was like a machine gun firing without costing a penny.

Zhang Youquan shut his mouth and couldn’t utter another word. He looked at Xu Ying, fuming inside. He had followed Xu Ying’s cooking method to the letter, not missing a single step, yet how could the flavor turn out so different?

She must have sabotaged him behind the scenes. Indeed, the hearts of women are the most poisonous.

The final resolution was that Zhang Youquan paid thirty, and Chef Ge helped with the remaining ten yuan.

Sun Lifang pursed her lips and moved closer to Xu Ying, whispering, “Chef Ge is way too kind-hearted. Zhang Youquan is an ingrate, even if you help him with the money, they won’t remember any of it with gratitude—might even hold a grudge.”

Sun Lifang guessed right. When Zhang Youquan got off work and told his wife what happened, she began to wail, “Chef Ge, really, since he helped us, he should have done it thoroughly. He’s an old man with no children or elderly to care for. With all the money he’s making a month, he doesn’t even think to take better care of you, truly heartless.”

“What are we going to do next month? When can you get the chef’s salary? I’m about to give birth, and expenses will only go up,” Zhang Youquan’s wife nagged incessantly.

Zhang Youquan’s expression grew increasingly grim.

As soon as Xu Ying got off work, she saw Huo Chen waiting at the entrance, leaning on a bicycle looking at the restaurant.

Seeing Xu Ying come out, he quickly waved his hand, “Off work, let’s go.”

“Why are you here?” Xu Ying looked around, curious.

“I’m here to take you home. It’s not safe for a girl to go home alone after work,” Huo Chen said, his face flashing a hint of unease before standing tall and speaking.

Xu Ying let out a “huh,” not believing that this guy was so kind-hearted. She was on full alert, “What do you want?”

Huo Chen’s face reddened instantly, “Can’t I walk you home for no reason? I just finished something in the county and thought I could tag along, is that not okay?”

Only then did Xu Ying nod her head and the two cycled side by side back to the village.

Just reaching the village entrance, Xu Ying spotted an old acquaintance and couldn’t help but feel joyful, smiling and greeting, “Yanran, thanks for treating me to lunch today.”

“Xu Ying, why are you here?” Dong Wenzhong was shocked to see her; looking at Xu Ying, she didn’t appear at all like someone who had been violated. He suppressed the confusion in his heart.

When Chen Yanran saw Xu Ying, she was startled, and the humiliation from noon flooded her mind. Yet, she dared not speak out; God forbid Dong Wenzhong found out that his cousin had taken advantage of her—then he would never want her.

“I’m off work, why can’t I be here?” Xu Ying hooked her lips up into a smile, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she looked at Chen Yanran, then turned and left behind a ticking time bomb.

“Yanran, I saw that you seemed uncomfortable at lunch and had to leave early. You’re not mad at me, right? I was in a hurry to get to work. Oh, and thank my cousin for me, the lunch was delicious.”

After Xu Ying left, Dong Wenzhong stared down Chen Yanran with darkened eyes, “Yanran, what happened at lunch? Tell me the truth.”

Chen Yanran was startled by his gaze, her heart skipped, and she stammered in panic, “Wen Zhong, I’m sorry, I didn’t manage to complete the task well. Xu Ying is too cunning; she wouldn’t fall for it or drink the water in the cup. She only ate the dishes after we did. You were right; Xu Ying has gotten much smarter. She must be wary now; your cousin certainly won’t work for this anymore.”

“Is that really all?” Dong Wenzhong was somewhat skeptical.

Chen Yanran suddenly looked aggrieved, her small face wet with tears, and she implored in a pitiful voice, “Wen Zhong, why would I lie to you? Why don’t you believe me, or do you think I let Xu Ying off? She ruined my reputation; how could I possibly let her go?”

Dong Wenzhong nodded, embracing her in a comforting hug, feeling that something was amiss, yet he couldn’t figure out what it was at the moment.

“Alright, I believe you. Stop crying now.”

Chen Yanran rested her head on Dong Wenzhong’s shoulder, her eyes devoid of any earlier pitifulness, instead gleaming like a venomous snake, steeped in poisonous intent.