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Su Ning had absolutely no recollection of the plot of "The Way of Heaven." Perhaps he had dabbled in it in the distant past, but now his mind was completely blank regarding the specific details of this world.

For him, the name Ding Yuanying was merely a cold symbol provided by the system, without a face or trace, making it as difficult to find as searching for a needle in a haystack.

He strolled along the somewhat desolate street, his gaze sweeping over the vintage shops on both sides.

Unwittingly, a dilapidated and deserted digital mall next door caught his attention.

With the mindset that "something is better than nothing," Suning strolled inside.

The city was dimly lit, with scattered stalls selling mostly outdated electronic components and secondhand appliances, and the air was filled with the smell of metal and dust.

In a corner, a few people were gathered around a stall filled with all kinds of old records and tapes.

The stall owner was a lean, middle-aged man with cunning and shrewd eyes. He was talking in a low voice to a customer whose back was to Suning.

What caught Suning's eye was not the records, but the silhouette of that customer...

Although the face was not clearly visible, the person stood with a relaxed yet composed posture, exuding a calm aura that stood out from the slightly noisy surroundings.

Su Ning's heart stirred slightly, and a sense of curiosity arose within her.

He approached discreetly, pretending to browse the goods on the stall, but his ears were listening to the conversation over there.

The stall owner, holding up a few records, spoke with his usual critical tone and a desire to bargain: "...The quality is just average. These days, not many people listen to this stuff. Fixed price, fifty yuan. I'll take all of these."

Upon hearing this, Su Ning frowned slightly.

Even if he didn't know the specific market prices, he knew that in 1996, genuine records were by no means cheap, with each record costing at least one or two hundred yuan.

The stall owner offered fifty, which was practically robbery.

At that moment, he casually picked up another record in decent condition from the stall, and as his eyes swept across the back cover, a clear personal seal caught his eye...

The two characters "Yuan Ying" were clearly visible!
My heart skipped a beat; it felt like such a coincidence.

But he remained calm and composed, continuing to examine the details.

The customer who had been pressured to lower the price spoke calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, simply replying to the stall owner, "Since we've reached an agreement, let's do as you say."

Opportunities are fleeting!
Su Ning immediately turned around, looked at the distinguished guest, and said sincerely, "Sir, please wait a moment."

When both the other person and the stall owner looked at him, he smiled and said to the customer, "Excuse me for bothering you. I see that these records of yours are rare originals, and I am very interested. I wonder if you would be willing to part with them and transfer them all to me? We can discuss the price."

Upon hearing this, the stall owner's face immediately darkened, and he interrupted in an unpleasant tone, "Hey, what's wrong with you, comrade? Don't you know the rule of first come, first served? We've already made a deal!"

The customer also looked at Su Ning, his expression calm and composed, and echoed the stall owner's words: "That's right! The item already belongs to this owner. If you want it, just discuss it with him."

In his words, he seemed completely unconcerned about the fact that he had been pressured to accept a lower price.

The stall owner wore a smug look on his face and gave Su Ning a provocative glance.

Su Ning remained calm and composed, turning his gaze to the stall owner and saying, "Boss, since the items are now yours, I'll buy them from you. I'll pay sixty yuan each for these records, I'll take them all."

The stall owner was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed as if he had heard a joke: "Sixty? Are you kidding me! This is an authentic product! It would sell for at least two or three hundred in a store!"

Suning's lips curled into a faint sneer: "You buy it for fifty yuan and resell it for sixty, making a net profit of ten yuan per piece. That's a pretty good profit margin. In business, you need to take it slow and steady. Being too greedy won't last long."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.

The stall owner was speechless for a moment, and began to carefully examine Suning.

Although the young man looked young, he had a tall and straight posture and was wearing an expensive suit that looked very valuable. He seemed particularly out of place and out of place compared to his surroundings.

In particular, his brows exuded an extraordinary air, and his sharp eyes made it difficult for him to fathom his true nature.

After hesitating for a moment, the stall owner, not wanting to cause any further trouble, waved his hand reluctantly: "Fine, fine! Since you're so sincere, sixty it is! Consider it making a friend!"

"Thank you for your generosity, boss." Su Ning paid the money promptly and carefully put away the records bearing the "Yuan Ying" seal.

After completing the transaction, he immediately caught up with the customer who had just turned to leave.

“Sir, please wait a moment longer.” Su Ning blocked his way, his attitude humble yet firm. “My name is Su Ning. May I ask if you have any similar collectibles? If you are interested in selling them in the future, I am willing to buy them for one hundred yuan each.”

The guest stopped and stared intently at Su Ning's face for a few seconds, as if scrutinizing her.

After a moment, he nodded: "Yes. But there are no plans to sell at the moment."

“No problem,” Su Ning replied immediately. “Could you leave your contact information? We’ll get in touch when it’s convenient for you.”

He promptly handed over a small notebook and pen, which he habitually carried with him.

The guest hesitated for a moment, then took the pen and paper and wrote down a string of numbers smoothly.

Su Ning took the note, carefully put it away, and then looked at the other person solemnly, asking the most crucial question: "May I ask your name, sir?"

The guest raised his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, and uttered three words in a soft voice:
"Ding Yuanying".

……

Watching Ding Yuanying's somewhat lonely yet determined figure disappear into the bustling crowd at the entrance of the digital mall, Su Ning stood there, feeling a strange mix of amusement and unease.

Just as he was savoring every detail of his first encounter with this "hidden king," that familiar, cold, and emotionless mechanical voice unexpectedly resounded once again deep within his mind:
【ding dong】

[System notification: Main quest (Phase 1) status updated.]

[The target person, Ding Yuanying, has been successfully located.]

[Detection indicates that the host has established initial contact with the target (valid contact information has been obtained).]

[Task Status: Completed.]

[Task rewards being calculated...]

[Cash reward: RMB 10 billion. Legally and compliantly processed in accordance with the 1996 financial system rules of this world, and deposited into the host's system bank account.]

[Cultivation Resource Reward: 10 Qi-Nourishing Pills. Securely stored in the system's auxiliary storage space; the host can access them at any time by thought.]

[Ding! All rewards have been distributed.]

The moment the voice faded, Su Ning clearly felt a string of bank account numbers appear in his consciousness, along with a strange space about one cubic meter in size, seemingly existing in a corner of his mind. Ten milky-white pills, each the size of a longan and emitting a faint fragrance, were quietly suspended in that space, their surfaces subtly shimmering with light, clearly indicating they were no ordinary pills.

One billion in cash!

In 1996, when people with 10,000 yuan were still rare, this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money that could shake the economy of a region, providing him with the most solid foundation for his subsequent actions in the world.

The ten Qi-Nourishing Pills were a cultivation resource he could hardly find in the real world, and they had immeasurable value in consolidating his Qi Refining stage realm and strengthening his foundation.

The successful completion of the task and the immediate receipt of the generous reward gave Suning a sense of security.

This proves that his judgment and direction of action were correct.

Ding Yuanying is indeed the key to this world.

He looked down at the stack of records he had just bought, which bore the private seal of "Yuan Ying," and then recalled Ding Yuan Ying's unfathomable gaze and seemingly calm yet subtly witty conversation.

This initial encounter, seemingly accidental, actually contained an inevitability that he had actively created.

"I've finally taken the first step," Su Ning thought to himself, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

He then carefully put the record away and turned to leave the somewhat dilapidated digital mall.

Outside the door, the early spring sunshine of 1996 was slightly chilly, and the streets were bustling with traffic.

With its enormous capital and resources for development, Suning stands at this crossroads of opportunity and challenge, setting its sights on a more distant future.

Finding Ding Yuanying is just the beginning; the real test lies in how to outmaneuver this wise man and leverage his power to complete deeper tasks within the system.

The first piece has been placed in the new game.

……

Although Su Ning successfully completed the first step of the system task during his initial contact with Ding Yuanying, he remained very clear-headed.

He knew that he couldn't possibly follow this hermit like a shadow all day long; that was neither in line with his nature nor a sustainable solution.

The system's tasks need to be completed, but in the real year of 1996, he needs a foothold of his own, a base where he can take root, live, and take action.

He could not allow himself to become a slave to the mission, but rather he wanted to leave his mark on this era as a leader.

Strolling leisurely through this ancient northern city, one can feel the unique local atmosphere of the 1990s, before it was fully invaded by the wave of globalization.

As he strolled to the foot of the ancient city wall, his gaze was drawn to a fairly bustling street in front of the city gate.

The streets are lined with shops selling local snacks and groceries. One restaurant, which has a sign that reads "Home-style Dishes," has a conspicuous red sign that reads "Business for Sale."

Suning stopped and examined it carefully.

This restaurant has a great location, facing the Guangyue Tower in the ancient city of Liaocheng, offering a wide view and a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle.

The shop wasn't very big, but the layout was neat. However, the doors and windows looked a bit old, giving off an air of poor management.

For some reason, looking at this restaurant for sale, Su Ning felt a strange sense of familiarity and an urge to try it out.

Fragments of knowledge about ingredient preparation, heat control, and seasoning pairings, like dormant memories being awakened, naturally surfaced in my mind.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be...

Has a deep understanding and talent for cooking?

"Perhaps this is a good start," Su Ning thought to himself.

Owning a business not only solves his livelihood problems, but also provides a legitimate identity cover and a social platform, making it easier for him to integrate into the local community and facilitate more natural contact with Ding Yuanying or other potential "key figures" in the future.

Without further hesitation, he found the shop owner, who was eager to sell, using the contact information left on the red paper.

The negotiation went smoothly. The owner was already disheartened due to the slow business, and Suning quickly bought the restaurant along with all its operating rights at a reasonable price.

After all, this is just a small city in Shandong. It's impossible for it to be very prosperous, otherwise Ding Yuanying wouldn't have chosen to live in seclusion here.

After the contract was signed, Suning immediately demonstrated its swift and decisive action.

First, they hired a reputable local renovation team at a high salary and personally communicated with them to discuss design plans.

He abandoned the original greasy and dark style, advocating a brighter, simpler, and more rustic and elegant new Chinese style decoration, aiming to create a dining environment that is both stylish and down-to-earth.

The renovation drawings underwent several revisions under his almost demanding requirements before being finalized.

Meanwhile, he planned ahead and rented a spacious and bright three-bedroom apartment in a relatively well-managed residential area near the restaurant.

Although the house was a bit old, it had good lighting and ventilation. He personally selected the furniture and household items, creating a comfortable and peaceful place for himself.

Of course, the means of transportation should not be taken lightly either.

In an era when cars were still an absolute luxury, Suning went directly to the car dealership. His eyes swept over the Xiali and Santana cars, and finally landed on a black, boxy, and imposing Mercedes-Benz S600, commonly known as the "Tiger Head Benz".

This car is not only a means of transportation, but also the most direct symbol of status and power in this era, saving him a lot of unnecessary trouble.

The procedures were completed exceptionally smoothly, thanks to the system's "rational" handling of the funding sources.

Soon after, the unassuming restaurant downstairs in the ancient city's Guangyue Tower was surrounded by green construction netting, and the clanging and banging of renovations could be heard from inside.

People in the neighborhood started asking curiously which boss had the audacity to take over this quiet shop and make such a big fuss.

Suning spent his days shuttling between construction sites and building material markets, supervising progress and controlling details; in the evenings, he would return to his rented apartment, browse newspapers and magazines of the time, familiarize himself with social dynamics, and occasionally pick up a pen to jot down some ideas about the future operation of the restaurant, or ponder how to have a second, more in-depth contact with Ding Yuanying, who had left his phone number.

He did not rush to contact Ding Yuanying again.

He needs to build his "nest" first and gain a firm foothold.

Only when one becomes a person of substance can dialogue with wise individuals be based on relative equality.

This restaurant, still in its infancy, is the first piece he has laid out in his game.

...(End of chapter)