pjbooks Chapter 75 [Setting a Peaceful Talker Is Not a Sign of Weakness]
Chapter 75 [Setting a Peaceful Talker Is Not a Sign of Weakness]
Chapter 75 [Setting a Peaceful Talker Is Not a Sign of Weakness]
There was no tension, no explanation, or he would quickly pull out a cigarette and say a few flattering words.
There was nothing there.
As for covering it up or dragging it out? That simply doesn't exist.
From the moment the comrades got off the bus and walked to the stall, to Liu Zhuohao slapping stacks of certificates and receipts onto the food cart table like playing cards, and then packing the pre-packaged food samples in clean containers and pushing them over.
The whole process was incredibly efficient, taking less than three minutes.
Apart from the older team leader who remained relatively calm, the younger law enforcement officers following behind all had obvious signs of nervousness on their faces. Holding body cameras, they were momentarily at a loss as to what to focus on filming.
This process was so smooth—it felt unreal, like a seasoned veteran who'd been through dozens of regulatory inspections.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, I have a cousin who is a lawyer."
Liu Zhuohao looked at the group apologetically, his face showing just the right amount of apology, but his voice was loud enough for the customers nearby to hear clearly, "I have a cousin who is a lawyer, and with this sudden investigation, I'm not really sure what to do."
"Could I make a call to check if there were any mistakes or omissions in the process I just followed, and whether it was in accordance with the rules? It will only take a few minutes, please wait a moment."
The words were polite, yet reasonable. The team leader and his colleague exchanged a glance and nodded: "Sure, please proceed."
Liu Zhuohao immediately took out his phone and dialed a number in front of everyone.
This caused the crowd to stir even more, pushing forward to hear more clearly.
"Hey, Yue, are you busy? — Yes, some market supervision officials have come to check after receiving a real-name report — Yes, yes, I'll put it on speakerphone so they can hear too."
He actually placed the phone flat in his palm and turned on the speakerphone.
Cousin Liu Zhuoyue's serious voice came through clearly: "What happened? Recount the entire process step by step, in detail."
He recounted each incident calmly and deliberately: "I had just set up my stall, and hadn't even started cooking yet, when several comrades came over, saying that someone had filed a formal complaint against me for operating illegally. Of course, I fully cooperated!"
"I immediately asked them to show their law enforcement credentials. I'll send you their names and enforcement order numbers via text message later. Then I provided all of our health certificates, the steak supplier's complete qualifications, animal quarantine certificates for each batch of meat, purchase invoices, site rental contracts and registration, and health permits —"
Liu Zhuohao explained every step clearly and explicitly from the moment the law enforcement officers got out of the car until he made the phone call.
The buzzing from the surrounding crowd grew even louder: "Wow, this doesn't look like a roadside stall at all; the rules are even stricter than some restaurants!"
"Is the person who reported this blind?"
"Do you need a personal health certificate to set up a street stall?"
But some dissenting voices emerged from a corner of the crowd, sharp and shrill: "They're really putting on a good show! Who knows if their IDs are fake!"
"Yeah, just making a phone call and putting on an act, right? A lawyer? Who are you trying to fool!"
"Investigate first! What's the use of just being good with words!"
Upon hearing the noise, the team leader frowned and spoke into his phone, "This is Mr. Liu? This is Wang Youwei, the person leading the inspection team. Please rest assured, Mr. Liu's cooperation is fully in accordance with regulations."
"We wore body cameras throughout the entire process, and the audio and video recordings are open and transparent."
"We received a report with a real name and conducted an on-site verification in accordance with the law. This is a normal procedure and there was no malicious intent involved."
On the other end of the phone, Liu Zhuoyue listened quietly to the whole story, including the doubts in the background.
His steady voice rang out again: "Ah Hao, you handled it well. Is Ah Wei there?"
"Yes, yes! Brother Yue!" Huang Weixiong quickly brought the phone closer.
A voice came from the phone: "Awei, go to the testing center with these comrades and follow up on the whole process."
"Make sure your cameras are fully charged, and bring two spare batteries."
"After taking the samples, remember to ask the staff for a food safety sampling and inspection form or similar written certificate. It must be a stamped document for your records, understand?"
Huang Weixiong replied, "Understood, Brother Yue!"
Liu Zhuoyue then asked, "Comrade Wang, do these written documents you've seen so far appear to be compliant?"
Team leader Wang replied affirmatively: "The documents we have checked so far are all complete, valid, and stamped with official seals. At first glance, we have not found any problems."
There was a few seconds of silence on the phone.
"Ah Hao, turn off the speakerphone for a moment, I need to talk to you for a bit."
Liu Zhuohao understood, and under the watchful eyes of several law enforcement officers and many others, he turned off the speakerphone, put the phone to his ear, and took a few steps to the side.
"Judging from your description, they are most likely not in cahoots with the whistleblower, and there's nothing wrong with the procedure," my cousin said in a low, cautious voice. "That's a good thing."
"I suggest that you take this opportunity to hand over the video evidence of someone stalking you and suspected malicious competition, and formally submit a written request to verify whether the whistleblower is suspected of making false accusations."
"In the restaurant business, sometimes it's better to avoid trouble. If this can make the other party behave themselves, that's fine too."
Liu Zhuohao's smile remained unchanged, but his voice was calm: "Brother Yue, do you really think that all this trouble I went through, preparing everything, was just to get a 'criticism' or an apology in return?"
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"If it's verified, this is the normal procedure, or they'll arrange mediation, have the other party apologize, and settle the matter."
My cousin's tone was persuasive.
Liu Zhuohao chuckled softly, but his eyes were devoid of warmth: "Brother Yue, if you can just apologize and walk away after doing something bad, then the cost of doing such a thing is far too low."
"It's true that in business, harmony brings wealth, but you also need to have a strong will and decisiveness."
"If someone bites me today, and I just laugh it off, will anyone dare to try and bite me tomorrow?"
"You—" Liu Zhuoyue wanted to say something, but finally sighed, "Never mind, I'm flying tomorrow."
"Your documents are all in order, so you shouldn't be asked to close down. You can set up shop as usual, whether you want to later or the day after." "But you have to be careful of other tricks later. Remember, make sure you read any documents that require your signature carefully. If you're unsure, just wait until I get there."
The phone hangs up.
Liu Zhuohao went back and whispered a few more words of advice to Huang Weixiong.
Huang Weixiong nodded vigorously, picked up the box containing the sampled food, and followed several law enforcement officers into the white official vehicle.
The car slowly drove away under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Only after the taillights disappeared around the street corner did Liu Zhuohao's smile slowly fade. He turned to the dense crowd of onlookers, clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, and said, "I'm sorry everyone! I've taken up your time! It was all a misunderstanding. But we have nothing to hide, and we will cooperate fully with the inspection!"
"However, all this has happened today, affecting both our preparation and our mood. We're really sorry, but we'll be closing early today, at 9 PM! To everyone in line, we'll be giving away a drink with every steak as a small token of our apologies!"
Voices of regret and understanding immediately rose from the crowd, but a discordant note also emerged: "They just raided us like that, took everything, who knows if it's safe?"
"Yeah, boss, you've got some connections. The inspectors were really polite to you, and they even waited for you when I called earlier!"
"Are you trying to pull a charade? Who will you hold responsible if something goes wrong with the food?"
These voices were elusive and blended into the crowd, making them difficult to pinpoint.
Liu Zhuohao's smile faded, his sharp gaze sweeping over the direction from which the voice came, and he said loudly, "The friends who just said that, please step forward and speak."
"I, Liu Zhuohao, conduct business honestly and uprightly. All my certificates and sources of goods can withstand inspection by any department or anyone! So many neighbors witnessed the whole process today. Was I uncooperative, or did I lack complete documentation?"
His voice was clear and resonant, carrying a confident and unwavering tone.
Immediately, a regular customer at the front of the line chimed in, "We've all seen it! Boss Liu's stuff is as clear as day!"
"Who's making sarcastic remarks in there? Is it someone from a competitor who's jealous?"
"If you've got the guts, stand up and say it! What's the point of hiding in the crowd!"
Liu Zhuohao's gaze swept across the crowd like a searchlight, but those sarcastic remarks were like mudfish in the water, disappearing as soon as they surfaced, slippery and untouchable.
Some people in the crowd looked around, while others shouted and cursed, "Who is it that dares to say that but doesn't dare to admit it?" It was all very chaotic, but no one could be identified as the person in question.
He observed the scene for a while, his mind clear as day. He raised his hand and gestured downwards, his voice drowning out the noise: "Fellow neighbors, forget it, let's not look anymore."
"The pure remain pure, and the impure remain impure."
He turned around, the sharpness on his face quickly fading, replaced by his usual composure. He began assigning tasks, his voice low, just loud enough for the few people around him to hear: "Kai, hold onto the stuff, go back and upload it according to the old rules, then tell Zi Cong and the others to hurry up and be efficient."
As he spoke, he deftly removed the SD card from the card slots of several cameras and placed it steadily into Li Zekai's outstretched palm.
Immediately, Liu Zhuohao's gaze shifted to Cheng Bing and Yang Boran, who were still somewhat dazed beside him. "You two—"
He softened his tone, "Just like usual, serve the dishes when you need to, tidy up when you need to. Remember, don't lose your rhythm. The sky won't fall. I'll handle anything."
Cheng Bing, who was usually so loud and boisterous, suddenly swallowed hard, took a half-step closer, and asked in a low, urgent voice, "Boss—boss, are you really, really alright?"
Yang Boran, standing beside him, remained silent, but his once innocent eyes were now filled with surprise and uncertainty. What had just happened was clearly something they had never experienced before.
Li Zekai gripped the SD card tightly in his hand, then quickly stuffed it deep into his pocket, pressing it repeatedly as if to ensure its safety.
He glanced at the two newcomers' uneasy expressions, frowned, and whispered to Liu Zhuohao, "Boss, are they capable of handling this?"
His words revealed his unease.
He seemed to have forgotten that when he first arrived, he also followed behind Huang Weixiong in the same way, not daring to breathe too loudly.
"It's alright, don't worry. Newcomers need time to grow."
Liu Zhuohao replied to Li Zekai, and seeing the two somewhat uneasy people in front of him, a smile finally appeared on his usually expressionless face. He patted their shoulders and gently comforted them: "You two still have a lot to learn. If you really treat this as a job that pays three thousand yuan a month and you can leave and find another job whenever you can't do it, then you won't grow."
"But if you want to grow, if you want to be able to work independently like Ah Wei and Ah Kai, then don't just focus on your current job."
"Read more, learn more."
This photo gave the two of them a boost of confidence.
They exchanged a glance, and although their expressions were still not as relaxed as usual, the panic and helplessness they had shown had faded somewhat, and they nodded heavily.
When these two joined the company, Liu Zhuohao already had a lot on his plate, making it difficult for him to occasionally offer advice or chat with them about career planning, unlike when he was mentoring Awei or when Awei was mentoring Akai.
But the workplace isn't a school; it's not about paying tuition to a school. Instead, it's about taking money from the boss's pocket, and you can't always expect the boss to teach you.
Just like when the breakfast stall was first set up and recruiting workers, if you really want to improve, you have to be observant and have a knack for it.
"Boss, should I really go?" Li Zekai asked again, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, as if countless ill-intentioned eyes were hidden in the crowd.
"Go ahead." Liu Zhuohao waved his hand, his tone as indifferent as if he were just asking him to go to the street corner to buy a pack of cigarettes.
Watching Li Zekai's figure push through the crowd and quickly disappear into the alley, Liu Zhuohao finally relaxed the tension that had been building in his heart for so long.
He turned to face the iron plate that had been reignited with a roaring fire, and picked up the oil can.
After so much preparation, the stage is finally set up.
The steak on the cutting board is ready to be cooked.
A ride-hailing car quietly stopped across the street.
The passenger door opened first, and Cheng Bing jumped out nimbly, walking around to the back of the car to open the trunk.
He volunteered to pick up the person early in the morning.
The rear door then opened, and a man wearing thin-rimmed glasses and with a slightly thin build emerged, carrying a lightweight briefcase. He stood on the side of the street, looking around with a refined air.
"Brother Yue!"
On this side of the road, Liu Zhuohao had already seen it and raised his arm high to wave.
Upon hearing this, his cousin Liu Zhuoyue turned his head, his gaze passing through the traffic and landing on him. He paused for a moment, then raised his hand in greeting, a smile spreading across his face.
The two waited tacitly for a gap in the traffic before quickly crossing the road to meet up.
"You must be tired from your journey. Come on, let's go to the hotel and drop off your luggage first. My mom is nagging me to make sure you come home for dinner tonight." Liu Zhuohao took a small bag from his cousin and gave him instructions in a familiar tone, leading him towards the hotel not far away.
Liu Zhuoyue didn't move so quickly. He adjusted his glasses and looked his cousin, whom he hadn't seen for several years, up and down, his eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny and emotion: "The last time I saw you was during the Chinese New Year the year before last, wasn't it?"
"I remember when I went to your house to wish you a Happy New Year, you were all alone in your room playing CrossFire, wearing a headset and shouting so loudly that the whole floor could almost hear you."
"We were having tea in the living room, and my uncle and aunt were still worried, saying that if you continue like this, it will be a problem whether you can even get into university."
He paused, shook his head, and said with a hint of teasing, "It's only been a few years? You've really got the air of a 'boss' now."
"The way you waved from across the street just now was completely different."
Liu Zhuohao smiled, ignoring the comment, and changed the subject as he walked forward: "People always have to change."
"By the way, the Double Ninth Festival is in a few days. If you're free, stay a couple more days, and let's go back to the old house to offer incense to Grandpa and Grandma?"
Liu Zhuoyue's family moved to the mountain city many years ago, and they no longer have a fixed place to live in their hometown.
Upon his return, Liu Zhuohao booked a hotel for him in the commercial area near the stalls.
Strictly speaking, the old house could be considered a place to stay. It was the old courtyard left by my grandparents, a brick and tile bungalow with mottled walls and moss-covered ground. It had long been dilapidated and abandoned. Except for festivals and ancestral worship, no one would go there at other times.
"Sure," Liu Zhuoyue readily agreed. "I just became a full-time employee at the law firm this month, so I'm temporarily settled in. I happen to have a few days of annual leave, which will give me some time to relax."
As he spoke, his hand unconsciously reached for the briefcase he was carrying for him, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat hesitant and serious: "Um—"
Ah-Hao, the money I borrowed from you before in an emergency—"
Liu Zhuohao paused, then burst into laughter.
His cousin is still as upright as ever.
The first thing we did upon meeting wasn't to exchange pleasantries or rush into business; instead, we laid out the old grievances on the table.
"Brother Yue————"
Liu Zhuohao reached out and gently pressed down on his cousin's hand, which was about to unzip his backpack. "Aren't you still acting as my legal counsel for free? Forget about the money."
"Besides, you just got your permanent position. I know a little bit about this. In the legal profession, getting a permanent position is just getting your entry ticket. There's a long road ahead and many more expenses to pay for it."
"Keep that little bit of money for when you need it."
"That won't do." Liu Zhuoyue insisted, not pulling his hand back, but his tone left no room for negotiation, "A loan is a loan, and a consultation is a consultation. They are two different things and cannot be mixed up."
"I'm a little more financially secure now, so I'll definitely pay it back as soon as I can."
"If I ever encounter another problem in the future, I will definitely have to ask you for help again."
He paused, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of embarrassment, "Besides—this money wasn't borrowed directly from you; I asked my uncle and aunt for it."
Looking at his serious expression, Liu Zhuohao felt a wave of helplessness melt away, replaced by a warm sense of understanding.
He understood this feeling all too well; wasn't he the same way in his past life? He'd rather endure it alone, eating only plain steamed buns, than tell his family...
Open your mouth to your relatives.
I can't bring myself to say no.
"Alright then." Liu Zhuohao finally relented and stopped objecting. "Then don't rush to pay me back now. Wait until we get home tonight, and pay me back in front of my parents, so they can be happy too, okay?"
My cousin thought for a moment, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a relieved smile appeared on his face: "————Okay."
As the two spoke, they entered the hotel lobby, where a cool breeze swept over them, dispelling the heat outside.
Even in mid-October, the weather in the southern coastal areas remains hot and dry.
Cheng Bing had already taken Liu Zhuoyue's ID card and gone to the front desk to complete the formalities.
Taking advantage of the lull, my cousin adjusted his glasses, and the topic abruptly veered back to business, his tone regaining the cautiousness typical of a lawyer: "By the way, those videos you filmed—they haven't already been released, have they?"
He paused, as if carefully choosing his words, "Ah Hao, I have to give you another piece of advice: in the restaurant business, many times, settling things peacefully isn't a sign of weakness!"
>