Chapter 2233 - 2434: Ruthless Innkeepers!!!

"Thirty-nine... Forty-five... Forty-nine... Fifty..." the person next to Hao Jian silently counted.

Under everyone's gaze, Hao Jian finally did fifty standard push-ups with Cheng Wen sitting on his back, effortlessly. The spectators were dumbfounded, never having seen anyone do fifty push-ups with someone sitting on their back and then finish without even panting, looking completely at ease. It was truly surprising.

Everyone looked at Hao Jian with a bit of amazement, as Hao Jian surprised them once again in this regard. Cheng Wen had already gotten off his back and was standing there, her legs a bit weak. Hao Jian rose effortlessly, looking as usual, without even a hint of redness in his face, like it was no big deal.

At this moment, everyone looked at him without knowing what to say, keeping silent with the thought of not drawing Hao Jian's attention to themselves, lest they be punished if they caught the ball later. Hao Jian surely wouldn't let them off.

Hao Jian and Cheng Wen sat down, and the next round of the game began quickly.

The game played quickly, with the result of who would be punished decided in less than thirty seconds. The focus was on the punishment, which took a longer time. Soon, they had played for more than an hour, and everyone was thoroughly entertained, almost everyone had been punished at least once, and some even four or five times. Only a few had never been punished, arguably due to very good luck.

Hao Jian was punished again, but after the last "lesson," no one dared to jeer at him anymore, so his punishment was relatively gentle. Most fun punishments had been exhausted, and by the end, they couldn't think of any new ways to punish. Slowly, as night fell, everyone was very excited yet a bit tired.

Finally, Zhang Danlin went to settle the bill with the innkeeper and paid the money. The group left, feeling slightly unsatisfied, but all too tired, heading back to the inn to rest.

The first day of play was concluded; next was resting and playing all morning the next day before returning in the afternoon. Everyone wore smiles, having had a splendid time, even the introverted Cheng Wen no longer blushed and played much more naturally.

Walking on the road, thinking they were walks at night, the Ancient Town had some shortcomings in street lamp arrangements. People used their phone flashlights to assist while walking. For fear of anyone getting lost, Zhang Danlin led the way ahead, while Hao Jian and Liang Xiaohan followed at the back to ensure no one was left behind.

Slowly, they saw scattered lights from the inn fire, and Liang Xiaohan suddenly discovered something interesting, pulling Hao Jian aside. Though technically they shouldn't leave the rear, the inn was right in front. No one was behind them, so they couldn't get lost. Hence, Liang Xiaohan dragged Hao Jian away.

Hao Jian didn't understand why the usually aloof Liang Xiaohan was sometimes as childish as a child. It was an ordinary thing, but just spotting frogs on the lotus leaves in the pond intrigued her enough to go see. As soon as she approached, the frogs were scared away, making her stomp her feet angrily, cursing a few words before Hao Jian pulled her away.

The two of them walked towards the inn. By this time, everyone had followed Zhang Danlin back to the inn. However, upon reaching the inn's entrance, Hao Jian saw most of them standing outside, not entering. Having played all day, everyone was exhausted and wanted rest. They wouldn't willingly stand outside and not go in to rest, suggesting a problem. Hao Jian looked and realized there was definitely something wrong.

Without saying much, he pulled Liang Xiaohan and ran towards the inn. As soon as they arrived, everyone looked at him, waiting for him to resolve the issue.

He walked into the inn with Liang Xiaohan, puzzled, and saw Zhang Danlin and Li Weiwei standing with the innkeeper and his wife, discussing something unknown. He approached Zhang Danlin and asked, "What happened? Why have we returned and not gone upstairs to rest?"

At this time, Zhang Danlin's face was visibly angry. Seeing Hao Jian return and ask about the problem, she explained looking at the innkeeper and his wife: "Everything was fine; we paid the deposit long ago and paid the full room fees once we moved in. But now they are saying the money isn't enough, we need to pay more, otherwise they'll kick us out and move all our stuff out."

While talking, Zhang Danlin had changed the addresses for the innkeeper and his wife, directly calling them without names.

Upon hearing, Hao Jian roughly understood the situation. It probably started this morning when the innkeeper breeched the contract, and the originally booked rooms were gone, so he and Li Weiwei had to squeeze into one. Now, again, he violated the agreement, engaging in dishonest business.

Everything was set, the deposit paid earlier, and after arrival, the rest was paid. Nevertheless, now the innkeeper and his wife wouldn't let them stay, claiming more money was needed. Their reason was sufficient: prices had increased, demanding more payment; otherwise, they couldn't stay.

What kind of business is that, accepting money but not allowing people to stay, stopping people from staying at night unless they paid more? Hao Jian listened, a hint of anger appearing on his face.

"What's going on here? How can you do business this way? Do you believe we'd report this to the internet, exposing this scam shop?" someone protested.

"Right! So shady, it's the first time encountering such a shady innkeeper. Even dogs would avoid swallowing their conscience like yours, eager to make money like this. Why don't you just go rob someone!" people expressed their anger, pointing at the innkeeper.

However, hearing this, the innkeeper had a calm, slightly amused look, as if everything was justified, retorting: "What? Robbery is illegal. We're running a legitimate business, which follows market laws of price fluctuation. You paid yesterday's room rate, but today's rate increased, so your accommodation fee must rise accordingly; it's a valid matter. If you don't pay, you won't stay here tonight and should take your belongings elsewhere."

Listening, someone disputed: "It's the first time hearing such a rule that hotel room rates can rise the second day after payment, refusing the accommodation without further payment. Moreover, you're just an inn, so-called legitimate business. Don't think you can fool us just because we're students; it's not that easy."

The innkeeper's wife heard and pointed at the speaking student, shouting: "Student? So what if you're a student? Do students stay at inns without paying? You few clean-looking kids, unexpected to speak so ruthlessly."

That person listened and continued to rebut: "Outrageous! Fabricating reasons when clearly at fault, it's unclear how you conduct business, likely swindling one guest at a time. An insidious tactic, it has reached this stage with each customer conned."

The innkeeper and his wife seemed to know arguing with these students was pointless and understood that Li Weiwei and Zhang Danlin were the key figures. So they turned their attention to them.

The innkeeper told Zhang Danlin: "You seem in charge of this group. I'll make it clear today: pay to stay. If not, no accommodation. It's straightforward; it's getting late, eleven o'clock, almost twelve. Ancient Town's lodging is traditionally tense and for a group like yours, finding another place would be near impossible. To rest well, pay now, enjoy a hot bath, and rest. Tomorrow, play well again."

The words were clear: a pretense of goodwill, yet coercing tightly. Meaning was that only here could they accommodate, while elsewhere either had no vacancies or couldn't host such a large group. If desired to stay, pay more, everything would be enjoyable.

Hao Jian watched, with a slight upward curl on his lips, finding it the first time encountering someone so brazenly shameless. Such audacity for money, indeed anything was doable. During the day, noticing this couple felt they weren't kind; unexpectedly, they were pretending during daylight, while their real faces at night showed greater detestability. By day, presenting an honest facade; by night, revealing their true colors with no place to stay but theirs, they shifted faces, executing such acts.

Initially, some objected to the innkeeper's and his wife's behavior, finding it indecent. Yet under the innkeeper's persuasive words, it seemed that accommodation existed only here. And to stay meant paying more, earning their unsavory profits.

To sleep early was only feasible through this route, understood by all. The group C2got restless again, plenty suggested paying the fee anyway, avoiding sleepless unknowns.

Meanwhile, Li Weiwei played the part of a hands-off manager entirely, upon confrontation of such a situation, depended on Hao Jian to resolve it, while she sat back.

During this moment, Zhang Danlin spun with anxiety.