Chapter Fifty-Six: Is the Whole Family Doomed to Suffer Together?

The Four Seas Street!

Chen Feng’s parents were busy tending to their shop’s business, and today’s trade was clearly even more bustling than yesterday. As soon as they opened in the afternoon, customers began to stream into their small store. This was only natural—after all, last night’s events had caused quite a stir. Luxury cars had lined the street, goddess-like figures had appeared, and the store’s delectable Signature Juicy Beef Balls had left a lasting impression. All of this instantly elevated the little shop’s reputation on Four Seas Street.

Barely had the doors opened when a number of customers immediately stepped forward, specifically requesting the Signature Juicy Beef Balls. Now, this dish could be said to have had a promising start. Of course, if Chen Feng were to sign a contract with Xiao Yu and confirm their future partnership, then even if Chen Feng’s family did nothing more, wealth would continue to pour in.

At this moment, Chen Feng’s parents had yet to realize that their Signature Juicy Beef Balls had cured the appetite disorder of Lu Ran, the son of the wealthiest man in Jiang Province, Lu Rui. They were frantically serving customers—the shop was packed, the flow of patrons seemingly endless.

Today, Chen Feng’s parents had prepared three hundred portions of the Signature Juicy Beef Balls, but in less than an hour—from two to three in the afternoon—they had already sold more than two hundred.

That was a full twenty thousand yuan in income!

To make nearly twenty thousand in just one hour was a figure they could never have imagined before. But now, seeing this number materialize before their eyes, they were left utterly astonished.

And this was only the second day. If their fame continued to spread, even more people would flock to the shop, and they would surely earn even more.

As Chen Feng’s parents were still busy dreaming of a brighter future, the shop’s door was suddenly flung open. Several men in uniforms of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce strode in. Chen Ze immediately approached them, greeting them politely, “Gentlemen, what can I get for you?”

The leader of the group lazily eyed Chen Feng’s father, Chen Ze, and drawled, “You’re the owner of this place?”

Chen Ze answered at once, “Yes, I’m the owner. What would you like to order?”

“Nothing at all!” the man replied coldly. “We’re from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. We just received a report claiming you use inferior beef. Enough with the chatter—by law, we’re here to shut your shop down!”

“Shut us down by law?” Chen Ze was stunned, blurting out, “Comrade, you must be joking! How could we possibly use inferior beef? All our beef is top quality—the best and priciest in the market. We would never use inferior meat.”

Chen Feng himself was extremely particular about the beef. For the Signature Juicy Beef Balls, only the finest cuts would do—a lower grade would never yield the same flavor. The standard was so high that the use of inferior beef was entirely out of the question.

“It’s not up to you to say whether your beef is inferior. We’ll wait for the inspection results,” the lead inspector sneered. “All right, everyone out! We’re shutting this place down in accordance with the law!”

“You people—!” Chen Ze was instantly furious. The shop had only been open for two days, and already someone had reported them. It felt like a cruel joke. Though Chen Ze was usually mild-mannered, he couldn’t help but feel he was being made a fool of.

He took a deep breath, his tone icy as he said, “I have reason to doubt your identities. Let me see your credentials!”

“Oh?” The team leader grinned, fixing Chen Ze with a cold stare. “Doubting our credentials, are you? Fine, take a look.”

He pulled out his identification and tossed it in front of Chen Ze, snapping, “Open your eyes and see for yourself whether it’s real.”

Chen Ze stared, picked up the credentials, and was dumbfounded.

They were genuine. They really were here to shut the shop down.

“Comrade, our beef is absolutely fresh. We would never sell inferior meat—there must be a mistake!” Chen Ze pleaded anxiously. “We’ve only just opened—surely you’re not looking for a bribe? If that’s what you want, we can give it to you!”

“Hmph! A bribe? We act according to the law—what need have we for bribes? Do you think we’re all corrupt?” The inspector sneered again. “Whether or not your beef is inferior will be determined later. For now, I’m shutting down your shop. Everyone out—except you. Tomorrow, report to our office. You’ll receive the results of our investigation then. Enough talk—get out! I’m sealing this place up!”

Chen Ze tried to protest, but the inspector shoved him roughly outside. The shop’s door was slammed shut, and a seal was pasted across it.

Chen Feng’s parents were left in shock. They simply couldn’t understand how, on only their second day of business, the Bureau could come and shut them down. At a loss for words, the two of them stood dazed on the street, bewildered and lost.

Just moments before, the shop had been lively and full—now it was suddenly silent. The uniformed men swaggered away, leaving only Chen Ze and his wife standing alone in the emptiness.

They exchanged helpless glances and finally, with a heavy sigh, trudged back home.

Meanwhile, the inspectors who had just shut the shop down underwent a sudden transformation. Bowing and scraping, they approached a Bentley parked nearby. The leader of the group, now exceedingly polite, said, “Young Master Luo, the task you assigned us has been accomplished.”

The window rolled down to reveal a cold, impassive face—Luo Wenhao. His arms were still wrapped in bandages; during that basketball game, he had dislocated his arm from overexertion, and only now was he barely recovering.

“I know,” Luo Wenhao replied icily, tilting his head to signal the driver, who promptly produced a bulging envelope from his coat. Its thickness made it clear that it was stuffed with cash.

The inspector’s face instantly broke into a fawning smile. “Young Master Luo, it was such a small favor—there’s really no need for so much money.”

Luo Wenhao gave a cold laugh. “You did a job for me; of course I’ll make sure you’re rewarded. Take it, share it with your men. Rest assured, there’s plenty more where that came from as long as you handle things for me.”

The inspector had only been polite for form’s sake; now he could hardly contain his excitement as he took the envelope and bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, Young Master Luo! Thank you!”

Luo Wenhao nodded slightly, accepting the flattery as his due. He glanced silently at Chen Feng’s shop, a trace of malice flickering in his eyes. Raised amid endless praise and privilege, he had never before suffered public humiliation.

Yet Chen Feng had shamed him in front of everyone—a bitter, unfamiliar humiliation.

“Chen Feng,” Luo Wenhao murmured, his eyes cold, “I told you this was only the beginning. Soon, you’ll understand what it means to cross me.”

Suppressing the pain in his arm, he tapped out a few commands on his phone.

“Young Master Luo?” came a respectful voice from the other end.

“Get ready,” Luo Wenhao replied icily. “Wait for my signal to act.”

“Yes, sir!” came the emphatic reply.

Luo Wenhao hung up, the malice in his gaze growing ever darker. “Chen Feng, I’ll have you begging on your knees before me. You’ll pay dearly for your actions.”

Nearby, the inspector shuddered, unsure what this family could have done to offend someone like Luo Wenhao. But one thing was certain—their whole family was in for a world of trouble.