Chapter 334 People’s hearts are not as old as they used to be
Without further ado, Ye Jiayao went to find Zhao Qixuan immediately, and let Lu Xiaotian and the others handle the rest.

This guy Zhao Qixuan is still sleeping soundly.

When he heard that it was Ye Jiayao looking for him, he quickly got up, tidied himself up, and asked someone to invite Ye Jiayao in.

Seeing Ye Jiayao's face as cold as the morning frost, Zhao Qixuan thought that the situation had changed drastically, and his heart rose to his throat. But after all, Old Zhao was a man who had seen the world, so how could he be so impatient?

Zhao Qixuan stressed in a strange tone: "What happened? Don't scare me, I'm an injured patient, my blood is weak, I can't stand being scared!"

Ye Jiayao didn't have time to chat with him, and said solemnly: "Someone went to the training class to set fire last night. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and there were no casualties."

Zhao Qixuan took a breath and said, "Are you sure someone set the fire?"

"We almost caught him, but the other party had support and he ran away again." Thinking of this, Ye Jiayao went crazy.

"Then report to the police!" Zhao Qixuan expressed deep sympathy.

"Of course I've reported it to the authorities, but the problem is that they may not be able to find out." Ye Jiayao looked at Zhao Qixuan steadily: "I want to ask you for help."

Zhao Qixuan immediately understood what Ye Jiayao meant. He had several docks under his control, and the identities of dock workers were the most complicated, with people from various gangs. Therefore, he had some connections with people in the underworld. If it was really thugs from a certain gang causing trouble, then it would be easy to deal with. He just had to say hello to Jiu Ye.

"I understand. I will help you investigate this matter. However, do you have any more specific clues? We can't just ask who set the fire last night?" Zhao Qixuan said.

"There are no other clues. We only know that the arsonist had a mole on his left cheek that was the size of a fingernail."

"Okay, I'll ask someone to do it right away, and you go back and wait for my news." Zhao Qixuan said simply.

Ye Jiayao said solemnly: "Please help me find out. Someone came to cause trouble at the last food festival. I suspect it was the same person who instigated it. Otherwise, this bastard will never stop."

Zhao Qixuan was slightly surprised: "Isn't this the first time? This guy is quite courageous. I want to see who is so powerful that he dares to touch my friend."

Zhao Qixuan subconsciously rolled up his sleeves, but the movement caused his wound to be affected. He gasped, collected himself, and said resolutely: "Your business is my business, no doubt about it. As long as this person is a gangster, I will definitely help you find him."

With Zhao Qixuan's words, Ye Jiayao felt relieved.

"Then please."

As soon as Ye Jiayao left, Zhao Qixuan called Xiao Shao in and ordered, "Take my card and go to Jubaolou to find Master Jiu, and tell him that I asked him to find someone..."

At this time, in the east of Jinling City, a man in a blue shirt and with an extraordinary appearance walked into an inconspicuous alley and knocked on a half-worn wooden door.

In the yard, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen was sitting in front of a wooden basin washing clothes. When she saw the man coming, she quickly stood up, wiped her wet hands on her apron, and saluted the man: "Third Young Master..."

This man was none other than Xia Chunfeng, the third young master of the Marquis of Jing'an Mansion. And this girl was none other than Xiaoya, who had been severely punished with fifty strokes of the cane for Liuli and then sold to a matchmaker.

Xia Chunfeng glanced at Xiaoya and said, "Are your injuries healed?"

Xiaoya said respectfully: "Thank you for saving my life, Third Young Master. My injuries are all healed."

The cold wind was filled with the dampness of the Jiangnan water town, and it was even colder and more biting. Xia Chunfeng said, "Come in and talk!"

After sitting down, Xiaoya brewed hot tea and served it respectfully.

"Third Master, please have some tea."

Xia Chunfeng just held the hot tea in his palm to warm it up, and said thoughtfully: "If I ask you to go back and serve the Third Young Madam, would you be willing?"

Xiaoya suddenly raised her eyes, with a hint of surprise in them, but then they dimmed again, and she lowered her head and said nothing.

She has repaid the years of master-servant relationship between her and the princess with her life. She no longer owes the princess anything. She is living a peaceful life now. She doesn't want to go back to the days when she was worried, submissive, and scheming all day long.

Xia Chunfeng felt relieved when he saw her reaction.

"I know you don't want to, and I won't force you if you don't want to. Forget it, I'll just find someone else!"

Xiaoya asked weakly, "Does the princess want me to go back?"

Xia Chunfeng said: "She didn't know your whereabouts, but she did look for you. However, you have been rescued by me."

"Then... Third Young Master, do you want me to go back?"

Xia Chunfeng confessed: "To be honest, I need it."

I wanted to explain to her why, but Xiaoya calmed down and said, "My life was saved by the Third Young Master. Whatever the Third Young Master asks me to do, I will do it even if I don't want to." She is not an ungrateful person. She took the blame for the princess before out of loyalty, and now she is working for the Third Young Master to repay his kindness.

Xia Chunfeng sighed secretly. Liuli's loss of Xiaoya was her biggest loss.

He saved Xiaoya at the beginning, but it was just a whim, thinking that Xiaoya was a loyal servant. If he didn't save her, Xiaoya would have no way out. Unexpectedly, he really needs Xiaoya now.

"Do you know why I want you to go back?" Xia Chunfeng still felt that it was better to say it out loud. If Xiaoya was not determined and changed her mind halfway, then it would be of no use.

Xiaoya understood what was going on: "Third Young Master, do you want Xiaoya to be your eyes and ears?"

There was a flash of surprise in Xia Chunfeng's eyes. She actually guessed it.

"That's right. You know the temper of the Third Young Lady. Although we have moved out now, she still holds a grudge against the people in the old house. I can't keep an eye on her all the time. You are the person she trusts the most. She will tell you everything. I think I can feel more at ease with you by her side."

The situation in the court has been turbulent recently. Before his eldest brother left, he told him to pay special attention to Liuli and not to get herself into trouble. But now, Liuli is getting closer and closer to Prince Yu's concubine, and she won't listen to his advice, which makes him very uneasy, so he comes to find Xiaoya.

Xiaoya nodded: "Then I will go back and let the Third Young Master make the arrangements!"

In the Seventh Prince's Mansion, Liuli sent away Prince Yu's concubine Lin, feeling very happy. Finally, she made the surname Ye suffer a setback. Haha, wait and see, this is just the beginning. She will slowly and step by step destroy everything of Ye Jinxuan, her career, her love... until she has nothing left.

Mr. Ye, one day, I, Zhao Liuli, will defeat you.

A maid hurried in to report.

"Princess, a matchmaker came and said there's news about the person you asked me to look for."

Liuli was startled for a moment, then asked happily: "Where is the person?"

"Wait outside."

"Let her in quickly."

Liuli said anxiously, after asking for so long, she finally got news about Xiaoya.

In the afternoon, Lu Xiaotian convened an emergency meeting of the Chamber of Commerce.

Ye Jiayao also attended.

"I think some people have heard about what happened in the training class." As he spoke, Lu Xiaotian's eyes swept across the faces of some people intentionally or unintentionally, and he emphasized his tone and said, "Someone set the fire maliciously. I don't understand why the existence of the training class is an eyesore to anyone, and they have to burn it down to vent their anger."

Lian, the shopkeeper of Xiangyilou, asked, "Could it be someone who has a personal grudge against you guys who did it?"

"Whether it's a personal grudge or a public grudge, taking such despicable and vicious means is condemned by both humans and gods. The net of heaven is vast and nothing can escape it. Whoever does evil will not escape the punishment of the law and the judgment of morality." Lu Xiaotian was very emotional. He was the one who promoted the training class. It was a place where he and a group of like-minded people poured a lot of effort and placed a lot of hope, but it was burned down by someone.

"President Lu called everyone here, right? They aren't just here to listen to President Lu vent his anger, right?" Zheng Sanduo said casually.

Lin Changchun sneered, "The training class doesn't belong to President Lu alone, but to everyone in the Chamber of Commerce. The training class was burned down. I think, as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, everyone should be angry! Why? Does Manager Zheng disagree?"

How could Zheng Sanduo fall for the trick so easily? He sneered and said, "What are you talking about, Manager Lin? Such an unfortunate thing happened, and everyone feels sad. However, there is no point in being angry now, and we don't know who the murderer is? Even if you curse his ancestors for eight generations, they won't hear you, right? Could it be that Manager Lin suspects that someone here did it?"

"Who did it, only God and the earth know, and that person knows it in his heart. However, I think that everyone here is a well-known figure in our catering industry. How could they do such a despicable thing that is worse than pigs and dogs?" Lin Changchun retorted without showing any weakness.

"Okay, indeed, there is no point in being angry now. The government has already intervened, and I believe there will be a result soon. By then, whoever did it will be our common enemy. Now, let's discuss the aftermath." Lu Xiaotian raised his hand to stop the two from continuing their verbal sparring.

Ye Jiayao was always observing the situation from the side.

Some people are indignant, some are indifferent, and some even gloat over the misfortune.

Haha, people’s hearts are no longer the same as they used to be…

Lu Xiaotian continued, "We have calculated the amount of losses, which is about 60,000 taels of silver. The training class needs to be rebuilt, and the students' losses must be compensated. They are all small cooks, and their lives are not easy. Before, we have contacted the 39 restaurants participating in the food festival. Everyone is willing to donate generously, 500 taels each. Our three presidents will each contribute 3,000 taels, and Madam Rong is also willing to contribute 500 taels. Now we have raised a total of 26,500 taels, and we still need more than 30,000 taels. Our presidents mean to use the Chamber of Commerce's membership fees to pay for it. After all, the training class is under the Chamber of Commerce and serves all members. What do you think?"

The restaurants that sent students to the training classes naturally had no objection and expressed their opinions one after another.

But there was a group of people who looked at each other and finally set their sights on Zheng Sanduo. Obviously, these people followed Zheng Sanduo's lead.

Zheng Sanduo pondered and said, "The training class only recruits about 30 students each term. The first term was fine, but now there is a selection test. As a result, those small restaurants can't compete with the big restaurants at all. The big restaurants can send two or three people in, but the small restaurants can't get any. Now everyone is very dissatisfied!"

(End of this chapter)