The compensation would undoubtedly be handled by Zhao Tianyi, the big-shot lawyer, as he was the most skilled at it.
Zhao Tianyi sat at a redwood desk, a calculator in hand, his fingers dancing swiftly across the buttons, producing rapid beeping sounds.
"597 bottles of beer, compensation totaling 59,700 yuan. As for the liquor..."
"Plus the losses from business suspension, equipment damage, employee wages, and so on."
His fingers tapped a few more times on the calculator before he snapped it shut with a crisp click. He looked up, his tone casual: "The total compensation comes to 269,531 yuan. Let’s round it up—just pay 300,000."
Deng Zheyan: "???"
What kind of rounding was that? Reverse rounding?
And 300,000? Where the hell was he supposed to pull 300,000 from?
"I’m calling the police! This is a scam! You’re ripping us off!"
"Go ahead. Need a phone? I can lend you mine if you don’t have one."
"Besides, our prices are clearly listed. Even if you report us or call the cops, it won’t make a difference."
As soon as Zhao Tianyi finished speaking, footsteps echoed from outside.
A group of yellow-haired young men swaggered in, holding a brand-new drink price poster, which they promptly stuck on the wall.
The numbers on the price list matched the printed menu exactly, even including a considerate note at the bottom: "Drink responsibly~"
Deng Zheyan stared at the price list, his voice trembling. "I’m not paying! What kind of beer costs 100 yuan a bottle? The suggested retail price on the box is only five yuan!"
Zhao Tianyi adjusted his glasses. "The boss doesn’t take suggestions. Got a problem with that?"
"Also, let me inform you—your actions violate Article 26 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law. Deliberate destruction of public or private property, if severe, is punishable by five to ten days of detention and a fine of up to 500 yuan."
"Article 275 of the Criminal Law: Intentional destruction of property. If the amount is significant or the circumstances severe, the punishment ranges from three years imprisonment, criminal detention, or a fine..."
Zhao Tianyi rattled off a string of legal clauses like reciting a textbook, his words rapid-fire.
Deng Zheyan and his friends were stunned into silence.
"Given the substantial losses you’ve caused the restaurant, the usual sentence would be three to seven years in prison."
"Luckily, the boss is kind-hearted and isn’t pressing charges. As long as you compensate accordingly, you won’t have to rot in jail."
Zhao Tianyi crossed his hands on the table, leaning slightly forward as he fixed his gaze on Deng Zheyan and the others. "Your choice: pay up, or go to jail. Though, even if you choose jail, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for compensation."
By the time he finished, both Deng Zheyan and Brother Erkun’s gang of thugs had turned pale.
A few days in jail was one thing—but years?
Who the hell wanted to be locked up that long?
The thugs dropped to their knees one after another, begging for mercy.
Deng Zheyan had never seen street toughs lose their backbone so quickly. He couldn’t help but curse, "Erkun, you spineless cowards! All of you scared off by just four people—"
Before he could finish, a clamor of footsteps erupted from the entrance.
Whoosh—
A crowd poured in, flooding the restaurant hall until it was packed wall-to-wall, all of them glaring menacingly.
Deng Zheyan took one look at the scene and thud—dropped to his knees.
"Boss, I’ll pay! I’ll pay the money!"
Now he understood why Brother Erkun and his crew had knelt so fast.
It wasn’t cowardice—it was sheer terror!
Who wouldn’t tremble at a sight like that?
Hands shaking, Deng Zheyan pulled out his phone and called home.
His parents, upon hearing he needed 300,000 yuan, refused without hesitation.
But when they learned their son might end up behind bars, their attitude changed instantly.
The compensation was steep, but not impossible for them to scrape together. More importantly, their son was still in college—if he got arrested, not only would he lose his diploma, his future would be ruined, and he’d suffer in prison.
In the end, money exchanged hands, and Deng Zheyan was released to his family.
They took him straight to the county’s First Hospital.
The doctor examined him thoroughly. His superficial injuries—bruises and scrapes—weren’t too bad.
But his right arm had been kicked one too many times by Brother Erkun, leaving it fractured. He’d need a long recovery.
Brother Erkun and his gang didn’t fare much better.
They were asked—no, voluntarily—to crawl out of the restaurant on their knees over shattered glass as punishment.
"Miss, the matter’s settled," Zhao Tianyi said, stepping beside her in a low voice.
Liu Yutong nodded. "Well done."
Adjusting his glasses, Zhao Tianyi allowed a smug smile. "If you’ve got more jobs like this in the future, just call me. I specialize in negotiation and bargaining."
Honestly, he found this kind of work far more satisfying than courtroom bickering and mediation.
So efficient!
Compensation settled without the endless haggling of a marketplace.
Liu Yutong seemed to read his thoughts. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze resting on his face. "Take some time to scout out a new office for your law firm in Bright Pearl City. I’ll cover all expenses—rent, renovations, everything."
Zhao Tianyi blinked, then his eyes lit up. "Thank you, Miss!"
His grin stretched ear to ear.
Who would’ve thought? In less than a month, his law firm was about to level up.
One step closer to becoming a true high-powered lawyer.
......
With Deng Zheyan’s mess resolved, Liu Yutong felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
She was starting to appreciate the benefits of having people like Yuncheng’s underworld connections.
Time flew like a fleeting steed.
Days passed in a blur.
Seated in her hotel suite’s living room, Liu Yutong flipped through the account books.
The restaurant’s business remained booming, with daily revenue steady at around 30,000 yuan. The gross margin held at 60%, and net profit hovered around 25%.
Monthly revenue approached 900,000 yuan—nearly 10 million a year, with net profits exceeding 2 million.
Closing the ledger, Liu Yutong leaned back in her chair, eyes drifting shut as she mapped out future plans.
Meanwhile, Ma Da was growing restless.
He was still leading his crew of fresh vocational school graduates, hustling daily in the countryside. But profits were dwindling.
Not because the rural fish hauls had shrunk—but because competition had surged.
Where there was money to be made, others would follow.
Sure, buying from rural fishermen was more hassle than sourcing from commercial farms—but the savings made it worth the trouble.
Both Bright Pearl City and Wushui County are areas with exceptionally developed water systems, crisscrossed by rivers and dotted with several famous inland lakes.
For instance, in the southwest of Wushui County lies a large inland lake known for its abundant fish, shrimp, and crabs, making it one of the primary sources for the local seafood market.
However, the catch from rural areas has one drawback—a strong earthy smell—making it less palatable compared to the produce from Yunshui Lake.
But the significantly lower costs make up for it.
Moreover, the earthy smell is easy to handle. Just let the fish stay in clean water for a few days, changing the water frequently, and the odor will disappear.
Of course, no matter how low the costs are now, they can’t compete with competitors driving up prices.
If you offer two yuan per pound, someone else will raise it to two and a half, and the local farmers will naturally sell to the higher bidder.
After finishing today’s procurement, Ma Da immediately called Liu Yutong to report the latest purchasing situation.
"Miss, prices have gone up again. Unless we raise prices for the night market and street food vendors, it’ll be hard to maintain profits."
On the other end of the line, Liu Yutong listened quietly before lightly tapping her desk. "No need to raise prices. This business isn’t meant to be long-term anyway. Once summer break ends, the supply of fish and lobsters will drop. We’ll earn what we can, and if not, so be it."
After hanging up, Liu Yutong walked to the window, gazing at the bustling streets in the distance, her mind already forming new plans.
......
June 25th.
Liu Yutong and Yu Xin returned to school together to check their college entrance exam scores.
Truthfully, Liu Yutong could have checked her score via phone, but seeing how nervous Yu Xin was, she decided to accompany her to school.
They weren’t the only ones—many of their classmates had returned that day.
Some wanted one last look at the school they’d spent years in, knowing that university marked a new chapter in life and feeling a pang of nostalgia at leaving high school behind.
Others wanted to chat with close friends, and some even shed tears at the thought of parting ways soon.
In her past life, Liu Yutong had checked her scores at home, filled with excitement.
But in this life, she felt none of that. To her, university was no longer a place that could change her destiny.
Entering the office, they found it packed with people.
The homeroom teacher booted up the computer to check their scores, and many students held their breath in anticipation.
The academic performance at No. 2 High School varied widely—nowhere near as consistent as No. 1 High School—so the score gaps were particularly stark.
The highest scores reached over 600, while the lowest barely scraped past 100.
Yu Xin stood beside Liu Yutong, her breathing uneven, palms damp with sweat.
Liu Yutong gently squeezed her hand and whispered, "Don’t worry. You’ve always done well—you’ll be fine."
Finally, it was Yu Xin’s turn.
When the teacher entered her exam number, the screen displayed a score of 567.
Yu Xin froze for a moment before breaking into a radiant smile, her eyes glistening.
She turned and grabbed Liu Yutong’s hand excitedly. "Yutong, I did it! I’ll definitely get into a top-tier university!"
Liu Yutong smiled back. "Congratulations. I knew you could do it."
Next was Liu Yutong’s score.
When 612 flashed on the screen, murmurs of amazement rippled through the room.
But Liu Yutong remained calm. This score was over 20 points higher than in her past life—completely within her expectations.
After all, she still remembered some of the questions from before and had studied more strategically.
The homeroom teacher smiled at her. "Liu Yutong, with this score, you can easily get into a top university. Where are you planning to apply?"
Liu Yutong didn’t answer directly, saying only that she hadn’t decided yet.
In her past life, she would’ve chosen a law school without hesitation. But now, her goals were entirely different.
A lawyer?
That was no longer her ambition.
With money, why worry about finding a good lawyer?
Now, she had her own business—her restaurant was just getting started, and her future plans were already clear.
After leaving the office, Yu Xin sidled up to her curiously. "Yutong, where are you planning to go?"
Liu Yutong thought for a moment before replying, "I’ve decided—I’m choosing the University of Finance and Economics!"
