The food at Dongfeng Restaurant was unclean, and the quick spread through Shanshi County about its kitchen being infested with cockroaches and rats—and subsequently sealed by the government office—had disastrous results.
Because of this situation, no customers came knocking on Dongfeng Restaurant’s doors anymore, leading to its utter downfall.
Mrs. Li had been imprisoned by Li Fuyou for many days already.
She had initially spent her days cursing and causing a scene, but eventually accepted her fate when she realized that no amount of yelling would change her son’s determination to keep her locked away.
That day, as she was napping in her room, she faintly heard the servants chatting outside and quietly approached the door to eavesdrop.
"Hey, did you all hear? The Li Family is done for."
"It’s all over town that their restaurant has no customers left and was sealed by the government office."
"Yeah, I really didn’t expect it to go under just a few months after the second young master took over."
"What are we going to do now that the Li Family is finished?"
"What can we do? Just wait for a new master, I guess."
"But even though the restaurant is done for, they still have quite a bit of property to sell off. Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse."
"Shh, keep it down, don’t let the mistress hear this." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveIＦire.net
Mrs. Li was completely stunned by what she heard, the situation crushing her. She dazedly walked back to the table and sat down, wondering how the Li Family could collapse so quickly. It had taken her such effort to secure her position.
She bit her lip, fingers trembling, and realized her son was indeed useless.
Moments later, a calculating glint passed through her eyes, the Li Family’s wealth would have to be hers.
She approached the door again, supporting herself on it. The servant guarding outside heard the noise and quickly said, "Madam, please don’t keep shouting to go out, don’t make it difficult for us servants."
The young master had been in a terrible mood lately and had dealt harshly with them, reducing many maids to tears; they couldn’t afford another mistake.
Inside, Mrs. Li, although seething with resentment towards the servants’ attitude, feigned a weak voice, "I won’t shout anymore, but I am feeling quite ill. Could you find a doctor for me?"
On hearing this, the servants opened the door to see for themselves and indeed found Mrs. Li looking frail and unsteady on her feet.
The Little Maid quickly supported her, "Madam."
"Xiaohong, please go fetch the doctor; I’m truly feeling terrible," Mrs. Li persisted in acting frail, seemingly about to collapse at any touch.
Xiaohong glanced at the house servant at the door, then decided to head out. Mrs. Li remained locked in the room by the house servant, and the moment the door shut, Mrs. Li’s face twisted into a vile expression.
Xiaohong didn’t go straight for the doctor but instead went to the young master’s quarters. Despite being terribly mistreated by him on a previous occasion, as a servant, she couldn’t resist, only obey, even though she was frightened. Still, she had to report the situation.
She knocked on Li Fuyou’s door, "Knock knock."
"Young master, the madam is ill and has asked me to fetch a doctor. May I go?"
Only then did Li Fuyou remember that he had locked up his mother for many days. With the consecutive setbacks overwhelming him lately, he had completely forgotten her, yet no matter her actions, she was still his mother. So, he responded, "Go ahead."
"Yes, I will go now." Xiaohong, receiving the young master’s permission, immediately left to summon the doctor.