CH 136

“Where is the bastard going?” Xiao Chuzi asked.

Lu Junming shook his head, “Who knows? Since he doesn’t have any family members, he probably isn’t from this town.”

“I heard from Zhou Liangsheng that his restaurant had only been open for a few years.”

“With his personality, he wouldn’t be able to stay anywhere for long. It’s good that he’s gone. There’ll be less mayhem in this city.”

They thought Manager Liang’s departure was a good thing and would restore the peace in the town, but who knew that disaster would find Mr. Cao.

Early the next morning, when Mr. Cao had just arrived at his clinic, a few of the governing official’s men were already waiting there. He politely asked them what was the matter, and someone replied, “Yesterday, you said that someone in the town had tuberculosis?”

Mr. Cao was taken aback, cupped his hands and said, “It was a lie.”

The man said sternly, “How can you just lie about such things? If you spread rumours about tuberculosis, no one will go to the market. Do you know the consequences of your action?”

Mr. Cao still had a smile on his face, “That person doesn’t really have tuberculosis. Rest assured, he isn’t contagious.”

“But this rumour has already spread. Cao Anshi, as a doctor, you are unqualified to practise medicine if you spread these rumours! Come! Seal up his clinic.”

Zhao’er came when they were boarding up the clinic door. He tried to stop them, but was pushed aside and almost fell down. Mr. Cao supported Zhao’er, “If you want to seal the hospital, go ahead, but don’t hurt anyone.”

Zhao’er broke free from Mr. Cao’s grasp and ran towards the workshop.

Mr. Cao was just about to return to the village when Mo Yan and the others came to meet him, and Zhao’er ran over from the workshop with Lu Junming.

When Mo Yan saw the boarded-up clinic door, she knew that the worst had just happened: “Mr. Cao, was your clinic closed just like that?”

Mr. Cao shook his head slightly, and smiled bitterly, “What can I do? I will practise medicine in Chenzhong village from now on.”

“But why!”

Mr. Cao was still as gentle as usual, “Doctors should not lie about illnesses.”

“This incident happened because of us, how can we just ignore it? I’ll go argue with them!”

“There’s no need, you won’t win an argument with them.”

As Mr. Cao walked towards Chenzhong Village, Zhao’er caught up and grabbed his sleeve, “Sir, what should I do then?”

He looked sideways at Zhao’er, “If you still want to be my disciple, find me in Chenzhong Village!” After saying that, he walked away, leaving Zhao’er standing there in a daze.

Ms. Liang went to open the door of the storefront. Mu Yan looked tired as she said, “Mother, pack up the things in the shop! We can sell them at the market.”

She asked in shock, “Why, do they want to close our shop as well?”

“Mr. Cao was the guarantor of our business documents. Now he’s been charged with crimes, how can our shop be safe? Besides, this storefront has no deed.”

“In this case, why did you rent this deedless storefront, if our storefront is just waiting to be boarded up like Mr. Cao’s clinic?”

Mo Feng voiced his agreement, and Mo Ling tugged at Ms. Liang’s sleeves, “Mother, we didn’t have capital back then, and rent was cheap. Besides, who would’ve expected this to happen?”

Ms. Liang sighed and said, “You’re right, let’s pack everything up!”

Ms. Hua saw them going into the yard to pack up, and only found out what had happened after asking. Hearing that the clinic was closed, and the shop might also be closed, she immediately became anxious. Her and Zhao’er’s life has just improved, and now the good days are gone so soon, how can she not be anxious?

“If anyone dares close my shop, I’ll fight them to the gap.”

Ms. Liang looked at the goods in the yard with great unease. They had no choice but to push the goods to the market to sell for as much as they could.

Mo Yan saw that Ms. Hua’s brows were furrowing and comforted her, “Godmother, take the goods to sell in the market too, you will get any profits you earn!”

The weather is getting warmer, and the dried fruits should not be stored for too long. It was better to sell them as soon as possible.

Mo Ling also said, “If we’re in a hurry to sell, you can ask Zhong Cheng’s people to help. Speaking of which, he hasn’t been here for several days. He’s always around when he is free, but now we haven’t seen him despite-”

Before she finished speaking, Zhong Cheng ran into the yard, “What happened?”

Lu Junming tugged at Mo Yan’s sleeve, “There’s someone here to help out, let’s go, I have something to say to you.”

She followed him out of the courtyard and headed north along the road.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“You’ll know when you see it.”

The two arrived at the post office. Lu Junming raised his finger and pointed to the restaurant opposite it. The door was closed and the stalls weren’t open.

Lu Junming said, “Manager Liang ran away last night.”

Mo Yan was pleasantly surprised, “Is this restaurant empty now?”

Lu Junming nodded, and Mo Yan lamented never having entered. Xiao Chuzi came from behind and said, “You might be able to get in through the back door.”

The two followed him there, and the back door was indeed open. They entered the backyard, and not far away was the back kitchen. Its door was also open. Listening carefully, there seemed to be movement inside.

The three approached slowly, hid outside the back kitchen door, and looked in. After a while, they saw the two young kidnappers walking towards the door with various bags, and they were cursing, “He left in such a hurry and still didn’t leave behind anything, it’s just rags that aren’t worth selling.”

The two of them saw Manager Liang run away, and decided to take the opportunity to commit theft. When they went out and saw Lu Junming and the others, they were shocked at first, then smiled disdainfully and said, “There’s nothing valuable inside.”

The three people outside the door looked at them, but no one spoke to them. Manager Liang and these two are scumbags, so they didn’t want to be involved in their matters.

They waited for them to walk away before going in to have a look. The entire restaurant was empty and spacious, with only a few pieces of furniture left. There were stairs on the side, and upstairs were the guest rooms.

Just as they were about to go upstairs to have a look, they heard movement at the front door. Fearing that they’d be mistaken as thieves, they hid behind the door and listened carefully, only to hear someone say from outside, “Do you think this shop can be rented out?”

Another person said, “Its location is good, so we won’t have to worry about renting it, but it’s too big for ordinary people to afford.”

They were the governing official’s men, putting on a notice the restaurant is available for rent.

“Are we allowed to rent this place?”

Mo Yan’s words had already left her mouth, and it was too late for Lu Junming to stop her.

They heard someone talking inside and asked, “Who’s inside?”

Now they was discovered, it’d be detrimental if they continued to hide. Lu Junming simply stretched out his hand and opened the door. Before the people outside the door could speak, he said, “I want to rent this shop.”

The two of you look at each other, and then look at the notice that was just stuck on. Had the shop really been rented out before the glue had dried?

Mu Yan ran out and looked at the notice. It costs five silver taels a month, and only sixty silver taels a year. If their small storefront could make that much money, such a big shop could make a profit.

“Yes, we’re renting this shop!”

Post-translation notes: Honestly, I hope Mr. Cao will have his clinic back very soon. He doesn’t deserve his current misfortune.