My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 296: Kitchen Utensils Switched

Just as Nanjing University of the Arts was frowning, a person suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and said, "Boss, I know what happened. The kitchen utensils at Nanjing University of the Arts have indeed been switched."

As soon as she finished speaking, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. The cafeteria manager looked at Liu Lan, who had stepped forward, in disbelief: "What? Is that really true?"

Liu Lan nodded blankly, feeling extremely nervous, after all, so many people were watching, including leaders.

Nanjing University of the Arts seemed to have found a savior, and quickly walked up to Liu Lan: "Liu Lan, are you telling the truth?"

Liu Lan nodded vigorously.

The cafeteria manager stepped forward: "Liu Lan, explain yourself clearly!"

Liu Lan looked at the cafeteria manager, then suddenly turned and pointed at Cui Dake in the crowd: "It's him! He's the one who switched the kitchen utensils at Nanjing University of the Arts when no one was looking!"

Everyone turned to look at Cui Dake. Cui Dake panicked instantly. He clearly remembered that no one had seen the switch, but he immediately tried to appear calm: "Don't make false accusations, lady. When did I ever switch anything from Nanjing University of the Arts?"

Nanjing University of the Arts was also somewhat incredulous, looking at Liu Lan: "Liu Lan, you're not mistaken, are you?"

Liu Lan shook her head firmly: "No, I saw him switch your kitchen utensils with my own eyes. Although I don't know why he did it, I know where he buried them."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze immediately fell on Cui Dake. Cui Dake stammered, "You...you shouldn't talk nonsense! What evidence do you have?"

This question stumped Liu Lan, since she was the only one who had witnessed it. Those around her began to murmur, "That's right, how can Liu Lan prove that Cui Dake switched the package?"

Seeing that everyone was wavering, Cui Da immediately became smug: "Comrade Liu Lan, you say I switched the game, but I'd say it was you! I think you just have a good relationship with Nanjing University of the Arts and want to help them win the competition, so you're just making up an excuse!"

Enraged by this slander, Liu Lan cursed loudly, "You're talking nonsense! It was clearly you, you bastard, who did it!"

Cui Dake became even more smug: "If I switched the dishes, why didn't you stop me? You're clearly talking nonsense!"

Seeing the distrustful looks in everyone's eyes, Liu Lan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Nanjing University of the Arts quickly comforted her, "Liu Lan, I believe in you."

Cui Dake scoffed, "Stop pretending! I think you're just afraid of losing and are deliberately hiring shills!"

The crowd erupted in uproar once again.

Sha Zhu, who was standing to the side, watched with glee and said with a smile, "Nanyi, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. If your cooking skills aren't good, just admit defeat and don't waste everyone's time."

Liu Lan was both anxious and regretful, staring at the worn-out kitchen utensils on the cutting board, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She blamed herself for being too rash, dragging Nanjing University of the Arts into an awkward situation, and hated herself even more for not exposing Cui Dake on the spot.

She had actually been harboring some ulterior motives, originally hoping that the one who would be switched would be Sha Zhu, but unexpectedly it turned out to be Nan Yi.

Lou Xiao'e witnessed this scene and tugged at Zhang Lei's sleeve: "Husband, what exactly is going on?"

Zhang Lei glanced at the scene and said calmly, "It was probably Cui Dake who did it. Liu Lan didn't expose him on the spot, so only she knows the reason, but she wouldn't dare to switch the items."

Lou Xiao'e asked doubtfully, "How can you be so sure?"

Zhang Lei smiled and said, "Look at Cui Dake's hands. Didn't Liu Lan say he buried something? His hands and fingernails are covered in mud, from digging the hole to bury something. And look at Liu Lan, she's clean and has nothing on her."

Lou Xiao'e suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! Husband, you should go and expose him. Look at Liu Lan, all alone and being suspected. How pitiful."

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

He walked quickly to the cafeteria manager and whispered a few words to him.

The cafeteria manager was startled: "Are you serious?"

Zhang Lei gestured, "Director, you can tell by looking at Cui Dake's hands."

The cafeteria manager turned to look at the two of them and said to Liu Lan first, "Liu Lan, put your hand out."

Liu Lan was puzzled, but she obediently stretched out her hand, which was clean and neat.

The cafeteria manager then looked at Cui Dake: "Hold out your hand!"

Cui Dake hesitated before reaching out his hand, his fingernails filled with dirt.

The cafeteria manager immediately shouted sternly, "Cui Dake, aren't you going to tell the truth?"

Cui Dake trembled at the shout: "Director, what did I do?"

"Still pretending? The mud on your hands is clearly from digging a hole and burying something! Liu Lan has nothing on her hands, and you still want to deny it?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.

Cui Dake hurriedly protested, "Director, I just don't like things to be clean, I didn't bury anything!"

The cafeteria manager said coldly, "He won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin. Liu Lan, tell us where he buried his things. Take us to dig up the kitchen utensils from Nanjing University of the Arts!"

Liu Lan nodded immediately: "Okay, Director!"

Soon, several people followed Liu Lan out. Cui Dake still held onto a sliver of hope: Impossible, the factory is so big, she couldn't possibly have found it.

But after a short while, the people who went there returned.

The canteen manager walked back to the canteen hall with a complete set of kitchen utensils in his hand.

When everyone saw what had been dug up, they all glared angrily at Cui Dake, feeling as if they had been completely fooled by him.

Cui Dake stared at the kitchenware set, completely panicked: "This...how is this possible? How could we have found it?"

This statement is tantamount to an outright admission.

Nanjing University of the Arts immediately stepped forward to check, excitedly exclaiming, "Director, this is mine!"

He grabbed Cui Dake by the collar and yelled angrily, "Cui Dake, you bastard, it really is you!"

Cui Dake was so frightened that he backed away repeatedly: "This is the factory, how dare you lay a hand on me?"

The cafeteria manager stopped Nanjing University of the Arts: "Nanjing University of the Arts, wait a moment."

After speaking, the canteen director walked up to Director Yang and several other leaders.

Director Yang and the others had witnessed the whole thing. They looked at Deputy Director Li Huaide and said, "Old Li, this is your responsibility. You handle it."

Li Huaide said in a deep voice, "Cui Dake was sent by the machine repair factory to learn. Since he is one of their people, let their factory director have his own headache."

He turned to his secretary and instructed, "Send Cui Dake back to the machine repair shop and tell the factory manager everything he did, so they can give us an explanation."

The secretary immediately replied, "Yes, Factory Manager!"

Soon, the security department escorted Cui Dake back to his dormitory.

The secretary immediately called the factory director of the machine repair shop, explained in detail what Cui Dake had done at the steel rolling mill, and informed him that he had been sent back.

Upon hearing this, the machine repair shop manager flew into a rage and roared in his office, "Cui Dake! You disgraceful wretch!"

He regretted it even more. He had accepted the gift and sent Cui Dake to the main factory, but it had only brought him trouble.

Cui Dake packed his things in his dormitory, his face filled with fear and unease. He knew this matter would not end there. But with the security guards standing at the door, he had no choice but to leave today.

After a riot, the cooking competition between Sha Zhu and Nan Yi finally officially began.