500 taels of silver have evaporated.

He flipped further back through the accounts and found that every month there was money that had “vanished into thin air.” The further back he looked, the smaller the missing amounts became, and the higher the restaurant’s profits were—until ten years ago.

Ten years ago, it was still William Clark personally managing the restaurant. But later, in order to find spiritual medicine to cure Henry Clark, William Clark handed the restaurant over to his brother-in-law, Charles Foster, to manage… It was all very clear now: Charles Foster had been cooking the books and lining his own pockets.

To be honest, the fake accounts weren’t even done skillfully. But before this, William Clark had spent the whole year busy searching for medicine for Henry Clark, so how could he have had time to carefully check the accounts? And Henry Clark was famously a fool, so there was even less to say.

A thief within the family is hard to guard against.

Henry Clark shook his head. William Clark had truly treated Charles Foster well. Back then, Charles Foster was a good-for-nothing who only knew how to gamble, even losing his wife in a bet. It was William Clark who stepped in to redeem her, then gave him a job at the restaurant. After William Clark started searching for medicine for Henry Clark, he even handed over the entire restaurant for him to manage.

Charles Foster’s “salary” was also quite high—50 taels of silver a month, enough for his family of four to live very comfortably.

Who would have thought they’d end up with a white-eyed wolf.

Henry Clark closed the account book and said, “Let’s go take a look at the restaurant.”

“Young master—” Robert Hughes hesitated, worried that Henry Clark was too young and would be bullied by Charles Foster.

“It’s fine, let’s go.”

The two set out, and after walking for over ten minutes, they arrived at Fumanlou—the only business owned by the Chu family, their lifeblood.

It was just after nine in the morning, and there wasn’t a single customer in the restaurant. Seven or eight staff members were lazily dozing off. It wasn’t until Henry Clark walked up to them that they noticed him, quickly jumping to their feet and greeting in unison, “Young master!”

Henry Clark nodded and asked, “Where’s my uncle?”

“On the third floor.” The staff all pointed upstairs. A few seemed to want to say something, but in the end, kept quiet.

Henry Clark didn’t mind and went straight upstairs. As soon as he reached the third floor, he heard a woman’s giggling. He coughed heavily, and the laughter stopped abruptly. Then a man’s impatient voice came from inside: “Didn’t I say not to disturb me?”

“It’s me, Henry Clark.” Henry Clark said in a deep voice.

A moment later, the door creaked open and a fat man in his forties came out. When he saw Henry Clark, he immediately put on a smile and said, “Ah, isn’t this my good nephew? Oh, your illness is cured? That’s wonderful.”

He said it was wonderful, but his eyes couldn’t hide his disappointment.

It was simple: if Henry Clark died, the Chu family would have no heir, and he would become the true owner of the restaurant.

Henry Clark walked into the room. Inside was a woman with heavy makeup, tidying her clothes—not his aunt, for sure. He pretended not to notice, tossed the account book onto the table, and said, “Why was last month’s profit only 300 taels of silver?”

“Henry Clark, you’re still young, you don’t know how hard business is.” Charles Foster deliberately sighed, then started rambling about how hard he’d worked to achieve the restaurant’s current success, and that without him, the place would have closed long ago.

Henry Clark smiled. Did he really think he was a fool? He tapped his fingers on the table and said, “Uncle, your fake accounting skills really need some work. At this level, you’re insulting my intelligence.”

“Henry Clark, what do you mean by that?” Charles Foster immediately put on a stern face and snapped, though his heart was pounding.

“Starting today, the restaurant won’t need you to manage it anymore.” Henry Clark said calmly.

Chapter 3: Marketing

“You little bastard, you’re burning the bridge after crossing it!” Charles Foster immediately jumped up. To him, the restaurant was his cash cow, supporting his extravagant lifestyle.

Without the restaurant, what would he have left?

But wasn’t this brat supposed to be an idiot? How did he discover the fake accounts?

Henry Clark smiled and said, “You’ve made more than enough over the years. For my mother’s sake, let’s let bygones be bygones—I don’t want to pursue it further. But the Chu family can’t collapse in my hands, and even less in yours.”

“You’re an idiot—what do you know about running a restaurant?” Charles Foster said arrogantly. This nephew was known by all to be a fool.

“That’s not something you need to worry about, uncle.” Henry Clark replied calmly. He had never managed a restaurant before, but while Earth’s martial prowess might not be high, business competition was even fiercer. He could simply copy some management strategies.

“No way, I can’t just stand by and watch the Chu family’s property ruined by you!” Charles Foster protested shamelessly, but with a righteous tone.

Henry Clark didn’t bother arguing. Instead, he said to Robert Hughes, “Robert Hughes, go call all the staff upstairs.”

“Yes, young master.” Robert Hughes didn’t know what Henry Clark was planning, but as a loyal old servant, he would carry out Henry Clark’s orders without question.

Soon, all the staff from downstairs had come up.