Chapter 248: Chapter 217: Huaye Tower Reform

Huaye Tower.

"Starting today, Huaye Tower will no longer engage in such filthy business. Entertaining guests and dining are permissible, but guests are not allowed to stay overnight. The song and dance performances will continue!"

"Why, Sister Nanmo?"

"Exactly, why give up the business when it’s going well?"

"This is the owner’s decision. I’m just passing on her orders," said Nanmo. "If any of you can find a new place, feel free to go. Your contracts of sale can be given to you at any time, without objection. Those who choose to stay at Huaye Tower can remain, and in the future, you might earn more than before, but every penny will be clean!"

"Clean, what do you mean?"

"Those who stay, with the sale contracts in the owner’s hands, can be transformed into contract workers for five to twenty years. After signing this agreement, the contract of sale will be returned to you, and then you can go to the government office to restore your civilian status. From then on, you can freely marry..."

A contract worker, but it sounds quite tempting. After all, without a contract of sale, you’d be a free person.

"From now on, Huaye Tower will transform into a high-end restaurant, and all of you will become attendants working in the restaurant. Guests coming to Huaye Tower for a meal can watch performances in the main hall or request private performances in private rooms. So, you don’t have to worry about your talents being wasted..."

"From now on, Huaye Tower is closed for renovations and training!" Nanmo announced.

"Ah..."

The sudden announcement caught everyone inside and outside of Huaye Tower off guard.

"Rest assured, even those planning to leave, we won’t drive you away immediately. Before finding a new place, you can stay here, and Huaye Tower will cover your living expenses for up to six months. After that, you either sign a work contract with Huaye Tower or unfortunately, you’ll have to be asked to leave!"

Leaving means Huaye Tower will find them a new place, then transfer them.

"Where is the owner? Such a big decision, and she doesn’t explain it in person?" someone asked, puzzled that the owner Qin Yanran didn’t address the change in business operations directly, instead sending Nanmo to relay the message.

"The owner is not in Dongshan right now. She has entrusted Shi Yin with full responsibility for the future operations of Huaye Tower."

"Shi Yin, didn’t she go to the neighboring house? How did she come back?"

"Shi Yin, that little girl, went out and managed to climb over us upon her return..."

"Exactly, do you think Shi Yin has already become Mr. Lin’s concubine? And Liuli, they have always been close. Now Liuli is not only free but also the shopkeeper of Furong Garden. Could it be that the two of them have a secret relationship?"

"Could it be that Liuli and Shi Yin have something going on with the neighboring Mr. Lin?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. How old is Liuli, and how old is Mr. Lin? Besides, Mr. Lin already has his senior disciple sister, how kind-hearted Youwei is..."

"Shi Yin was given a slave status by Mr. Lin from the neighboring house, as a government crime slave, not easy to erase."

"Shi Yin wasn’t she at Furong Garden? I didn’t expect her to come to manage things at Huaye Tower?"

"Wasn’t the owner in opposition to Mr. Lin? Why would she hand Huaye Tower over to someone from next door to take charge..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Could it be that the owner plans to wash her hands of the business and transfer Huaye Tower to Mr. Lin?"

The notice was then posted with black characters on white paper.

The women started gossiping eagerly, already forgetting that they would face a major decision in their lives.

Those who already worked at Furong Garden didn’t care, even though the work there was busy and a bit tiring.

But now they earn their living with their own hands, making clean money, and once they regain their freedom, the money they earn belongs solely to them. Even if they don’t meet a good man in the future, they can still support themselves.

Huaye Tower suddenly shut its doors and suspended operations.

Instantly, rumors swirled within Xiuyue Square, as Huaye Tower’s previous business was quite good. Though not making a fortune daily, it ranked in the mid-to-upper tier among the establishments in Xiuyue Square.

Several well-known beauties suddenly ceased operations, causing some regular patrons and new guests to be quite puzzled and even disappointed.

But since they’ve closed and quit doing business, one can’t force them to open, can they?

That’s not reasonable, right?

Anyway, various rumors circulated. Some said the owner Qin Yanran had become someone’s concubine and was washing her hands of the business.

Others claimed Qin Yanran gambled away Huaye Tower in the black market of Li Hen City...

Several of Huaye Tower’s top stars had already secretly contacted other establishments, preparing to transfer, which was no secret and quickly spread in Dongshan City’s flea market.

Opening a business naturally involves some underworld connections, which Qin Yanran naturally had. Otherwise, how could she run this kind of business?

Qin Yanran often travelled to Longchuan Canyon and Li Hen City, so naturally, people assumed she had connections there.

As for which faction in Li Hen City she was connected with, no one could say for sure.

Regardless, in Dongshan City, there were very few women running businesses without being seen with the men behind them, contributing to the mysterious aura around Qin Yanran.

As long as the business was legitimate, even with countless secrets around Qin Yanran, the court wouldn’t bother her without reason.

Besides, she had been in Dongshan City for ten years without any incidents.

"Sir, why me?" Shi Yin asked Lin Miao, puzzled as to why she was chosen to take over Huaye Tower.

"Why shouldn’t it be you?" Lin Miao chuckled, "Didn’t I say I wanted to open a Medicinal Cuisine Workshop? But a standalone medicinal cuisine workshop might have a limited target audience, so why not directly open a restaurant, also offering medicinal cuisine? Let’s create delicious dishes that are also healthy, isn’t that good?"

Now doing only medicinal cuisine, customer acceptance is a problem. With so much money invested, what if business is sluggish? He has so many people to be responsible for.

"It’s good, but how could Huaye Tower let me oversee the operations?"

"What if I say, Qin Yanran used Huaye Tower to invest in our Medicinal Cuisine Workshop?" Lin Miao said with a smile.

"How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible. Mrs. Qin doesn’t intend to continue, but she can’t just let Huaye Tower go, and I happened to have the idea of opening a Medicinal Cuisine Workshop. The place and the people are just right, so we hit it off right away. Isn’t it fine for her to earn a dividend without doing anything?"

"But Mrs. Qin previously opposed us by grabbing Yong’an Hall, and outsiders all know you and Mrs. Qin are like water and fire?"

"Is what outsiders see always true?" Lin Miao said with a grin. "If I didn’t create a confrontational stance with Mrs. Qin, how could I have gotten her to buy Yong’an Hall?"

"Ah..." Shi Yin listened, unable to help being stunned. The truth was just like this, and everyone was deceived.

"Mrs. Luu will go with you. She’ll take over the kitchen of Huaye Tower. Those cooks and stewards who don’t want to stay, settle their wages and let them go."

"If Mrs. Luu leaves, who will cook for the young master?"

"Isn’t Xiaolian still here? Her skills should be good after so long. We only have a few people eating; the kitchen workload isn’t heavy. Yu’er and the others can also help. If we’re really short on people, we’ll hire more," Lin Miao said.

"Hmm, young master, I’m afraid I can’t do it well..."

"Didn’t you do well at Furong Garden? Just do the same. Nan Mu will assist you, don’t worry," Lin Miao said. "From today, you are the Chief Shopkeeper of Huaye Tower, Nanmu is the Second Shopkeeper, and Mrs. Luu is the Head Chef."

"Yes."

...

"Junior Brother, Huaye Tower belongs to us now too?" Sun Youwei was somewhat in shock. In just half a year, Lin Miao had managed to acquire such a large industry.

The tofu workshop, clinic, restaurant, and pastry shop were things she couldn’t even dream of before.

"Half of the earnings are distributed as dividends to Miaoxue; we only own half," Lin Miao chuckled. "But I transferred Yong’an Hall directly to your name, Miaoxue. From now on, all clinics under our family name are under yours. I’m working for you."

"Ah?" Sun Youwei’s face instantly turned bright red. She knew this was her junior brother compensating her for past grievances.

But truthfully, how many women could refuse such compensation?

"I said before, we would never let you suffer again. Our family will be wealthy in the future; spend as you like!" Lin Miao pulled Sun Youwei into his arms, gazing deeply into her eyes as he spoke affectionately.

"Junior Brother..."

The heat from his chest and the sound of each other’s heartbeats, drew them into an irresistible desire, and their lips met.

Sun Youwei was a bit inexperienced, but with gentle guidance, she quickly learned how to respond to his demands.

Already at twenty, she understood the matters between men and women. Faced with her beloved, if not for the restrictions of etiquette, she would have already given herself to him.

Lin Miao knew that his senior sister had long given her heart to him. Thus, he wasn’t in a hurry, waiting until marriage, when she would wholly and completely be his, instead of now.

...

Shanyuan Square Ye Mansion.

"Cheat, damn whore! She had already coupled with that Lin bride. She actually set me up!" Ye Shengyuan cursed, smashing his beloved brush washer in anger upon learning everything.

"Patriarch, what happened?" A servant pushed a wheelchair inside, where Ye Mi Yuan sat, his limbs broken.

Lately, while recuperating in the Ye Mansion, he had become much thinner. Physical pain he could endure, but the repeated humiliation gnawed at his soul like ants.

"Qin Yanran, that woman from Huaye Tower, turned out to be in cahoots with Lin Miao. She shut down Huaye Tower and handed it over to Lin Miao to operate!"

"Such a thing..."

"People from Xiyuan have been monitoring his movements and reported back to me today," Ye Shengyuan angrily explained.

"Patriarch, since Qin Yanran is with Lin Miao, then Yong’an Hall..." Ye Mi Yuan, with quick wit, immediately realized the critical point.

Upon hearing this, Ye Shengyuan’s face changed instantly. He found it odd how someone running Qin Tower would buy a clinic when she didn’t know medicine. He thought it was Qin Yanran opposing Lin Miao. Now it appeared it was a deliberate scheme.

He had desperately tried to prevent Lin Miao from obtaining the medical license, but they cleverly diverted attention and secured the license.

This Yong’an had plagiarized many ointments and medicines by Lin Miao and put them on the market, and Lin Miao hadn’t caused any trouble, as it was all part of a carefully rehearsed drama. He had opened all the doors for Yong’an Hall, and ultimately, Lin Miao benefited.

Ye Shengyuan was so angry he could almost spit blood. He had never met such a cunning young man, managing to deceive him completely.

How had someone running Qin Tower gotten involved with him? Ye Shengyuan couldn’t comprehend it.

"Patriarch, Mr. He is here, requesting you go over to the mansion immediately." The old servant, Ye Cheng, hurried in from outside.

"Did he mention what it’s about?" Ye Shengyuan asked. Mr. Xue had left Dongshan for Li Jing, so what could it be?

Could it be this woman was being troublesome again at this age? If this continues, he won’t be able to endure it.

Ye Cheng shook his head. He had asked, but they wouldn’t tell him.

"Let’s go, tell him I’m on my way," Ye Shengyuan said, rubbing his temples. Regardless, he couldn’t not go.