At this time, it was the dead of night and everyone had already fallen asleep when suddenly a young worker living in the back courtyard of Yuelai Restaurant shouted, "This is bad, the fire has started, everyone get up quickly."
The voice was extremely piercing, awakening several fellow workers lodging in the back courtyard, who all began to panic and cry out.
"What? A fire has started?"
"Quick, get up quickly."
Several workers hurriedly got up, threw on their clothes haphazardly, and ran toward the front courtyard of the restaurant, only to see thick smoke billowing in the hall of Dongfeng Restaurant, causing great anxiety. Someone shouted, "Quick, go fetch water."
Several people rushed to the well to draw water, bucket after bucket they tried to extinguish the fire in the hall, but the fire continued unabated. Some workers frantically used wet rags to slap at the flames in hopes of putting them out, but to no avail.
The workers’ faces and bodies had already turned pitch-black from the smoke, and someone suggested, "Quick, go to the street and find people to help."
Upon hearing this, the young worker hurried out to find help, waking up anyone living in the backyards along the entire street. When people heard that Yuelai Restaurant was on fire, they all came running with buckets of water to assist.
Thanks to everyone’s relentless efforts, the fire at Yuelai Restaurant was finally extinguished by dawn.
Everyone’s face was covered in soot and they were so exhausted that they simply collapsed to the ground.
Seeing that the fire was finally out, the workers of Yuelai Restaurant breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to the back courtyard to fetch water for everyone to wash their faces, and made tea for everyone to drink.
By morning, pedestrians were already on the streets; seeing the scene at the entrance of Yuelai Restaurant, they gathered around and started to discuss the situation.
"How could a fine restaurant catch fire?"
"Look at the damage, I guess nothing’s left now."
"It might have been arson."
"Really? With the Chu Family being so powerful, who would dare oppose them?"
"It must have been someone with deep hatred, then."
Shibao Town, Chu Mansion
Chu Lian was embracing Wang Xiangxiang, still in the midst of sleep, when he suddenly heard urgent knocking, "Knock, knock."
The noise woke them up. Chu Lian frowned, irritated by the early disturbance, he said sharply, "Don’t they know the young mistress is sleeping?"
Wang Xiangxiang pulled Chu Lian, signaling him not to get angry, "My husband, maybe there’s a reason?"
The Little Maid at the door quickly apologized, "Young master, I’m sorry, but someone at the door has reported that Yuelai Restaurant in the county has caught fire."
This news startled the couple who had just been awoken. How could it suddenly catch fire?
"Understood, you can go now."
"Yes, young master." The Little Maid acknowledged and left.
Chu Lian quickly dressed while saying, "My wife, you go back to sleep, I’ll go check on the county town."
"Husband, could this be," Wang Xiangxiang had a bad premonition, feeling that the restaurant wouldn’t catch fire without reason. There must have been someone who set it.
"Don’t worry, I am here. I’ll go check it out first." Chu Lian was patting Wang Xiangxiang on the head,
After quickly washing up, Chu Lian took Acheng and galloped towards Yuelai Restaurant in the county town.
Upon arriving, it was just after the fire had been put out. He pushed through the crowd and saw the burnt state of Yuelai Restaurant.
Seeing Chu Lian arrive, the workers seemed to find their backbone, "Our young master is here." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelFɪre.net
As they called out, they approached Chu Lian, "Young master, it was all thanks to the help of these neighbors."