Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

Outside "Zhang Jie Mala Tang," a crowd of students who had rushed over after hearing the news had gathered.

The message spread like wildfire, from technical exchange groups to campus forums, and then from the forums to various class groups and club groups.

In just over ten minutes, the explosive news that "the rumor-monger was actually the son of a competitor on the same street" exposed the shop, which had originally tried to hide behind the scenes and spread dirty water, to everyone's attention.

"This is the shop! Zhang Lei is the son of this owner!"

"That's outrageous! If their own business is struggling, they resort to such despicable tactics to smear others?"

"No wonder his business has been booming these past few days; he's been riding on the coattails of our classmate's honest business!"

"Call the police! We must call the police! This is defamation, this is unfair competition!"

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation, and accusations rose and fell.

Many students who had believed the rumors and even joined in the criticism of "Qianweifang" felt their faces burning with shame, as if they had been fooled, and their anger was amplified.

Ms. Zhang frantically tried to close the half-closed shop door, but was stopped by several excited boys.

"Want to close down? Too late!"

"Bring your son out here! Confront him face-to-face!"

"Explain yourself clearly! Why are you spreading rumors?!"

Sister Zhang's face was deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down her forehead. Her usual sharp and sarcastic demeanor had completely vanished, leaving only panic.

"No...nothing like that...don't listen to people's nonsense...my son is a good student..."

"A good student?" A bespectacled student, clearly a computer science major, sneered, holding up his phone screen, which displayed screenshots of the evidence shared in the tech group.

"IP address, device fingerprint, uncleaned logs... the evidence is overwhelming!"

"Your 'good student' didn't seem to think about the consequences when he was stirring up trouble online!"

Inside the shop, the door to the small room was tightly closed.

Zhang Lei slumped in his chair, listening to the growing commotion outside. He felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into the freezing cold, unable to move.

It's over, it's over.

His studies, his reputation, and even the legal consequences he might face... countless terrible consequences flashed through his mind.

Why is this happening?

He was clearly very careful... and he clearly knew a thing or two about those techniques...

He suddenly looked up at the computer screen.

On the forum, the official announcement is still pinned to the top, but the sentiment below has completely changed.

All posts questioning the school and conspiracy theories were drowned out by a new, even stronger wave of voices.

"It's confirmed! It's that mala tang place!"

"Thanks to the tech guru! This exposé came just in time!"

"Apologize to 'Qianweifang'! We were misled!"

"Support senior Yang Fan! Severely punish those who spread rumors!"

"This kind of person should be expelled from school! They're so vicious!"

Those rumors he had meticulously planned and spent countless hours spreading now seemed like boomerangs, stabbing back at him with even greater force.

For the first time, he felt so clearly what it was like to be condemned by thousands and have public opinion sway him—and this was exactly what he had inflicted on others.

Outside the door, a mother's piercing scream, choked with sobs, could be heard:

"Xiao Lei! Xiao Lei, come out and explain to your classmates! Say something!"

Explanation?

What else can be explained?

Zhang Lei gave a bitter laugh, his fingers trembling, not even having the strength to turn off the computer.

"..."

The atmosphere inside "Qianweifang" is completely different from that of "Zhangjie Malatang" just across the street.

Although there were still few customers in the shop—most of the students who had gathered had moved to the opposite side of the street—the huge weight that had been pressing on the hearts of Wang Xiuying, Lin's mother, and others had been lifted.

Xiaoya held her phone, her voice trembling with excitement:

"Brother! Look! The forums and group chats are all full of people criticizing that mala tang restaurant and apologizing to us!"

"Many people are still asking when we will reopen so they can come and support us!"

Lin Xiaoyu's eyes were also red, but this time it was because of excitement and relief.

She kept refreshing the school's official website and forum, and felt a surge of warmth as she watched the rapidly growing comments expressing support and apology under the official announcement.

Wang Xiuying, Li Cuihua, and Lin's mother held hands, laughing and crying at the same time.

The grievances, anger, and despair I experienced over the past two days have finally been released.

They didn't understand IP or technical analysis, but they understood the result:

The bad guys have been caught, and they are innocent!

Yang Fan stood by the window, looking at the "Zhang Jie Mala Tang" restaurant across the street, which was surrounded by a huge crowd. His face showed little joy of victory, only a calm expression.

He turned around and said to his excited family, "Mom, Auntie, Third Aunt, Xiaoyu, Xiaoya, things aren't completely over yet."

"Huh?" Xiaoya was taken aback. "Weren't all the bad guys caught?"

"Catching him is only the first step." Yang Fan walked back to the table and sat down.

"The evidence provided by Zhou Jin and Chen Mo has been submitted to the school's security department and the local police station."

"Next, it's a matter of legal procedures."

"The rumors and slander have severely damaged our business reputation, and this cannot be resolved simply by an apology."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable power:

"What we want is a public apology and clarification, as well as reasonable compensation."

"Legal responsibility must also be pursued."

"More importantly, we should use this as an example to tell everyone on this street, and even throughout the entire university town, who wants to start a restaurant business—we welcome fair competition; those who play dirty tricks will bear the consequences."

Wang Xiuying wiped her eyes and nodded vigorously:

"Xiao Fan is right! We can't just let this go!"

"We've suffered so much these past two days! The shop almost went out of business! We have to get an explanation!"

"Yes! We need an explanation!" Li Cuihua and Lin's mother echoed.

Just then, Yang Fan's phone rang.

It was Lin Qingyue calling.

"Yang Fan, I saw the progress online." Lin Qingyue's voice came through, tinged with fatigue, but mostly serious.

"The school's security department has intervened and temporarily detained Zhang Lei."

I've also contacted the school's legal department about the police; someone will be there soon.

"Thank you, Qingyue," Yang Fan said sincerely. "The school responded quickly, and the announcement was timely."

"It's what I should do." Lin Qingyue paused, her voice lowering slightly.

"As the principal, I also bear responsibility for this incident."

It was my inadequate management and guidance of the surrounding businesses.

Don't worry, the school will definitely handle this seriously and give you an explanation.

"I trust the school," Yang Fan said. "Besides, will the 'Spark Fund' and the entrepreneurship competition be affected by this?"

"Absolutely not." Lin Qingyue's tone was firm.

"On the contrary, this incident has made us realize the necessity of supporting honest entrepreneurship and cracking down on vicious competition."

The competition preparation meeting will proceed as scheduled, and I will use this as a case study at the next school-wide assembly.

"Okay." Yang Fan was relieved.

After hanging up the phone, Xiaoya leaned closer: "Brother, was that Principal Lin? What did she say?"

"The school will handle this seriously," Yang Fan said briefly. "The police will be here soon too."

Just then, police sirens sounded outside the shop. Two police cars pulled up in front of "Zhang Jie Mala Tang".

Police officers and school security personnel walked through the crowd and entered the store.

The students who had been watching automatically made way for them, and the discussion became even more heated.

"The police are here!"

"Serves them right! Let's see how they try to deny it now!"

"They must be severely punished! This is outrageous!"

A few minutes later, accompanied by two police officers, Zhang Lei, who looked ashen-faced and hung his head, and his sister, who was crying and pleading, were brought out and put into a police car.

The sirens blared again, and the vehicle drove away.

The crowd did not disperse immediately; many people pointed at "Zhang Jie Mala Tang" and some even took out their phones to take pictures.

"This shop probably won't be able to stay open in the future."

"Who would dare to eat here? They're so heartless."

"Let's go check out 'Qianweifang' next door and give them some support!"

Someone shouted this, and it immediately received a response.

A group of students who had been watching, feeling apologetic and curious, turned and walked towards "Qianweifang".

Xiaoya, with her sharp eyes, immediately called out, "Brother! Mom! We have guests!"

Wang Xiuying and the others perked up, quickly wiped away their tears, and straightened their clothes and aprons.

The glass door was pushed open, and seven or eight students walked in somewhat embarrassedly.

"Auntie... um, we... we'd like to come eat hot pot."

A boy wearing glasses scratched his head and said, "I...I misunderstood you before, I'm sorry."

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Wang Xiuying quickly waved her hand, her eyes reddening again, this time from gratitude.

"You're here! Please have a seat! Xiaoyu, Xiaoya, quickly pour water for the students and get the menus!"

Lin Xiaoyu and Xiaoya immediately got to work.

More and more students came in one after another.

Some came to apologize, some came out of curiosity to try it out, and some were simply attracted by the dramatic reversal and wanted to see the "victim's" shop.

After two quiet days, "Qianweifang" quickly became lively again.

In the kitchen, the long-lost sounds of clattering spatulas and bubbling soup rang out again, and the aroma once more filled the air.

Yang Fan didn't stay in the front hall. He went up to the second floor, stood by the window, and looked at the shops downstairs that were gradually coming back to life, and the shop across the street that was deserted and where people were even tearing off the word "mala tang" from its signboard. His eyes were deep.

This incident appears to have ended in their victory.

But the warnings behind this are far from over.

Business competition has never been about gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and humility.

Today we take down Zhang Lei, but tomorrow there might be Li Lei, Wang Lei, and so on.

Only by being strong enough, acting uprightly, and possessing the power to deter villains can one truly gain a foothold.

Just then, his phone vibrated; it was a message from Zhou Jin:

"Brother Fan, the police have finished their initial questioning."

"The evidence is conclusive; that kid confessed everything."

"Besides him, the owner of the small stir-fry restaurant next door was also involved; he was the one who first instigated it. The police have already gone to look for him."

"Also, all the equipment at the e-sports hotel has been tested and is ready to open on May Day. We're confident of success!"

Yang Fan replied, "Thank you for your hard work. Please take good care of things at the hotel. As for this matter, we'll proceed according to the legal procedures."