nycdaug Chapter 169 Adaptation
Chapter 169 Adaptation
Li Mu didn't believe it. How could someone who was doing a favor be expected to bring the other party down? It was clearly illogical.
He looked at Manager Liu and sneered, "You think I'd believe you? You and he are clearly in cahoots. Now you want me to be the one to stick my neck out? No way!"
Upon hearing this, Manager Liu became agitated: "What are you saying? How could I be in cahoots with him? I genuinely want to help you."
Li Mu didn't want to waste any more words with him and said, "You'll help me? Then let me out right now!"
"Okay! I'm an old friend of the leaders above, so they'll give me that much face. But you have to promise me one thing first."
Li Mu looked at him, his eyes full of wariness: "What is it?"
Manager Liu said, "You have to promise me first that once we get out of here, you'll get Chef Sun out of the picture."
Li Mu sneered: "Are you using me? To get me to help you eliminate your rivals?"
Manager Liu quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, you misunderstand. Chef Sun is greedy by nature. If he continues to stay in the cafeteria, my position as manager will be difficult."
If it weren't for the relationship between Li Mu and Vice Mayor Zhao, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths; he could have simply kicked Chef Sun out. But now, he needs Li Mu's help to achieve his goals.
Li Mu hesitated, realizing that if he wanted to continue working at the municipal canteen, he would have to maintain a good relationship with him.
Now that Manager Liu has offered him a position, if he doesn't accept it, he might offend him.
But if you accept the offer, you have to do as he says and bring Chef Sun down.
This is a bit unethical, but in business, who doesn't engage in deception and treachery? Li Mu knew that to survive in this circle, he had to learn to be flexible.
He looked at Manager Liu and said, "I can agree to that, but you have to let me out first."
Upon hearing this, Manager Liu immediately beamed with joy: "Okay, okay, okay, I'll arrange it right away."
He turned and left the visiting room, seemingly looking for someone. A short while later, he returned with a middle-aged man in uniform.
Upon seeing Li Mu, the man said with a stern face, "Li Mu, there is currently insufficient evidence in your case regarding food poisoning, so we can release you. However, you must cooperate with our investigation at any time."
Upon hearing this, Li Mu immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, okay, I will definitely cooperate."
"Okay, sign this name and you can go."
The man handed him a piece of paper and a pen. Li Mu quickly signed his name and followed Manager Liu out.
As soon as Li Jianjun saw Li Mu come out, he quickly went up to him and said, "Brother Mu, how are you feeling? Are you hungry? Let's go find Brother Gao and have a meal at a restaurant."
"Okay, Manager Liu, thank you for your help. Would you do me the honor of having a meal with me?"
Manager Liu, eager to get closer to Li Mu, quickly agreed, "Okay."
Brother Gao left with Lao Zhao first, leaving Tian Xiaohu squatting at the hospital entrance. Chef Sun happened to be helping his brother-in-law with the discharge procedures when they ran into the group.
When Chef Sun saw this, his heart sank. He knew that this group of people had come with ill intentions and were definitely here to cause him trouble.
He forced himself to remain calm and went to greet him: "Hey, isn't this Li Mu? I heard you're alright, that's great!"
Li Mu glanced at him and said irritably, "Thanks to you, I'm still alive."
Chef Sun gave an awkward laugh: "What are you saying? We're old brothers, why would I want you to die?"
Li Jianjun, who had been listening for a while, couldn't stand it anymore and angrily said, "Stop pretending! You're a heartless bastard! You got Brother Mu locked up in the detention center, and now you still have the nerve to talk to him?"
Chef Sun's face turned pale and then red as Li Jianjun spoke. He retorted, "What are you saying? How could I harm Li Mu? I'm a victim too!"
"Keep pretending, you little brat!"
Li Jianjun grabbed Chef Sun by the collar and said angrily, "You caused Brother Mu to spend so many days in the detention center, almost losing his life, and now you still call yourself a victim? Have you lost your conscience?"
Manager Liu stepped in to smooth things over: "Everyone calm down, stop making a scene here."
He stepped forward and grabbed Li Jianjun: "Jianjun, let him go first, let's talk this out."
Li Jianjun wanted to argue further, but Li Mu stopped him with a look, so he had no choice but to let go.
Chef Sun straightened his collar and glanced at Manager Liu with a sarcastic look.
"You've climbed the social ladder? Manager Liu, don't forget how you begged me for a favor back then."
Manager Liu's face darkened: "Chef Sun, watch your words. Don't make trouble here."
"Making trouble out of nothing? I think you're just feeling guilty! Don't think I don't know you want to oust me so you can replace me with your own people!"
Li Mu stopped them from wasting their breath: "Let's go, let's not waste our breath on him, let's go eat first."
After leaving the hospital, Manager Liu drove them to the Lakeside Restaurant, where they ordered several hearty dishes. Everyone sat together, eating and chatting.
After drinking a few glasses of strong liquor, Li Jianjun's tongue started to get tied: "Brother Mu... this time you... I'm afraid you won't be able to get out after you go in. I'm so anxious, like a cat on a hot tin roof, running around in circles. I go to the detention center every day just to see how you are doing."
"Thank goodness, we're finally out."
Manager Liu put down his wine glass and, emboldened by the alcohol, got down to business.
"This Chef Sun, let's just call him Sunzi! You have no idea how arrogant he was back in the cafeteria. He always bossed me around like he was the manager!"
"That's right! Every time I deliver goods, he picks and chooses, saying this is no good or that won't do, making me feel like I owe him something."
Tian Xiaohu echoed this.
"Mu Zi, let me tell you the truth, your produce... is really good! You have no idea how much better your vegetables are than the ones from your supplier, that relative of Sun Zi's! They're fresher and cheaper! But that Sun Zi just won't use yours, he insists on using his relative's. Can't you believe it!"
"They might criticize your products verbally, but guess what they do behind your back?"
"He secretly took your good stuff and sold it, making a lot of extra money! I saw it with my own eyes. Once I happened to pass by his house and caught him doing it."
Li Mu frowned slightly, his dislike for Chef Sun growing even stronger.
"Is that so? That bastard is really wicked!"
Manager Liu slammed his hand on the table: "That's right! I've had my eye on this bastard for a long time! Take those eggs, for example, didn't you quote the cafeteria 1.2 yuan per pound?"
Li Mu nodded: "Yes, it's 1.2 yuan per jin."
Manager Liu said, "But he's selling it for 1.5 yuan per jin, making a huge profit! And your pork, you quoted the canteen 12 yuan per jin, but he's selling it for 15 yuan per jin. Tell me, isn't this guy utterly heartless? This kind of behavior is simply fraud!"
Li Jianjun and Li Mu got angry.