Star Abyss Walker

Chapter 316 My Xicheng No. 1

"No...when did you get back?"

I looked at her questioningly: "Shouldn't we continue to follow up on the concert?"

"The team is preparing for the next concert. I don't need to do the specifics. I just need to go there for two rehearsals in advance. These few days happen to be a free period, so I'm taking a walk."

Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?

"I was afraid of disturbing your sweet life with someone..." she blurted out.

I am speechless.

"Let's get down to business."

Lu Xiaobei said, "Should we come back? Or... let's think of another way. I'll apply to the company for an advance of 20 million, and we can open a second chain store in the new district or the southern district. You can manage it?"

"That's not a good idea."

I shook my head: "The first chain hotel has only been open for a short time. Opening a second one too soon would be reckless. Let's wait and see how Xiaoman and Zhao Yihang hone their business skills. Otherwise, taking too big a step might cause problems, cough cough..."

"So, do you have any ideas?"

Lu Xiaobei carried a chair over, turned the back of the chair towards me, then sat on it with her legs spread apart, resting her chin on the back of the chair, and looked over with her big eyes blinking.

"I really don't have any ideas."

I frowned: "In the past six months, I've worked in internet cafes and e-sports hotels. There aren't many industries left for me. The most important thing is that I have to be interested in the industry, otherwise it will definitely be boring."

"Yes..."

Lu Xiaobei tilted his head and began to help him rack his brains.

As the morning light shone through her hair, strands of pink light streamed down, blending with the shimmering lake behind her, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Suddenly, an idea popped into my mind.

"correct!"

"what?"

"Back when we were in Xicheng, the restaurant with the best taste and the most upscale atmosphere in my mind was Xicheng No. 1. I still miss the taste of their soup base. What do you think?"

Lu Xiaobei's eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded repeatedly, "Mmm, delicious, delicious!"

"You really are passionate about food."

I said speechlessly, "I wonder how Xicheng No. 1 is doing now. If possible, I'd like to open a restaurant similar to Xicheng No. 1, mainly focusing on the taste of the dishes and a unique, high-class atmosphere. What do you think of this idea?"

"Yeah……"

Lu Xiaobei seemed to be injected with energy, and laughed: "I went to Xicheng several times afterward, and I also went to Xicheng No. 1. That building was bombed flat when the Dark Tide Army attacked Xicheng. Later, it was rebuilt into a guesthouse, which is a bit of a pity. Oh, and I asked around and I heard from people nearby that the owner of Xicheng No. 1 later went to Macau and lost everything gambling. After that, the Xicheng No. 1 brand disappeared completely."

"Holy crap, no way..."

I paused for a moment, then a new idea popped into my head: "Xiao Bei, do you think it's possible for me to buy the Xicheng No. 1 trademark from that gambler and create my own Xicheng No. 1 brand?"

"Great idea!"

Lu Xiaobei exclaimed excitedly, "I think it'll work, really!"

"it is good."

I nodded, leaned back in my chair, and smiled, "It's good that the direction is set. Now we can start implementing it step by step."

"Uh-huh!"

Lu Xiaobei nodded repeatedly. The next second, a bell rang in my ear. Sure enough, another daily task was triggered.

[You have triggered the daily quest "My Xicheng No. 1" (SS-level main quest)! Quest requirements: Open a unique restaurant with at least one banquet hall and 15 private rooms. The brand name must be "Xicheng No. 1". Quest reward: One gold ring of any kind!]

……

They have quite a few requirements!

A banquet hall plus 15 private rooms—this is already considered a medium-sized hotel—but the reward is truly amazing: a gold ring, something players are currently dreaming of!
But I only have 300 million RMB right now, which is definitely not enough to open a branded restaurant of this size. Well, no problem, I'll just keep asking my girlfriend for more money!

"Ding Han..."

Lu Xiaobei said, "I really want to be with you, but I only have two days off and I have to go back to BH City tomorrow, so I can't stay with you. I'm sorry..."

"What are you sorry for? You weren't obligated to accompany me in the first place."

I glanced at her and said, "Your top priority right now is to prepare diligently for each concert, gain more fans, and solidify your position in the entertainment industry."

"Ah."

Lu Xiaobei said, "I'm currently penniless, so I can't invest in your Xicheng No. 1 restaurant. Otherwise... I really want to run this restaurant with you. After all, when I come to Huaining City again, I'll stay in a lake-view room at the Feiyang E-sports Hotel and eat at Xicheng No. 1."

"Don't worry, I'll try my best to meet your needs."

I rested my head on my arms and laughed, “I’m the owner of Xicheng No. 1. When you come, just say my name and you’ll get free food and drinks. I’ll also try to choose a location near Feiyang Chain E-sports Hotel. It’s close to the commercial district and has a good view, which is perfect for opening a specialty restaurant like Xicheng No. 1.”

"Uh-huh!"

Lu Xiaobei nodded repeatedly.

At noon, I stayed at the lakeside restaurant to have lunch with Lu Xiaobei. In the afternoon, I accompanied her to rent a small boat and go crazy on East Lake for a while. Afterward, I went home to buy groceries and cook. Today, I have to let Lin Qingying see the traditional skills of my Ding family.

It was around six o'clock in the evening.

"Click~~"

The door opened, and Lin Qingying walked in carrying her bag. She immediately took off her high heels, then sniffed the air and smiled, "It smells so good..."

"Yes, I made braised mandarin fish, wild-caught, with garlic cloves of meat. I'll try it in a bit."

"it is good!"

Soon, dishes were served one after another, and Lin Qingying and I sat facing each other and began to eat.

After tasting a bite of the fish, she paused slightly, then a hint of disappointment appeared in her eyes.

Undoubtedly, her cooking skills have improved rapidly, but she still has a long way to go to reach my god-like level.

"Is it tasty?"

"It's so delicious..."

"Then eat more, I'll make it for you often in the future."

"it is good!"

Lin Qingying lowered her head and took a bite of rice, then looked at me: "Ding Han, I have a familiar feeling... Like I said, there's no reason for such kindness... Is there something you need?"

"What could possibly be wrong with me?"

I said seriously, "As your boyfriend, what's wrong with me cooking for you after you've had a long day at work? How dare you question me? Please apologize."

"sorry!"

Lin Qingying immediately put down her chopsticks and apologized sincerely and earnestly.

"Keep eating, eat more."

"it is good."

After a moment, I coughed and said, "There is indeed something..."

Lin Qingying gave a helpless smile.

"I really can't just stay idle like this. It's draining my fighting spirit and ambition. So, Xiaoying, I've decided to start another business..."

"what?"

Lin Qingying asked with a smile, "What are you planning to do this time?"

"Back when we were in Xicheng, there was a restaurant there called Xicheng No. 1, do you know it?"

"I don't know, you've never taken me to eat there before."

Her words had a hint of sarcasm, as if she had already guessed that I must have eaten there with Lu Xiaobei.

"that……"

I was a bit speechless: "You can't blame me, after all, we weren't that close back in Xicheng, and you were so aloof, you didn't even want to say more than a few words to me."

"Have it?"

Lin Qingying fell into deep thought: "But I used to go to internet cafes to find you all the time. How can you say I didn't want to talk to you? I even gave you mangosteens once. Do you think I would just give food away to anyone?"

Woman, your memory is truly terrifying.

They even remember the incident involving Mangosteen.

"Cough cough..."

I was slightly embarrassed: "Let's get back to business. Xiao Bei, Milo, and I went to Xicheng No. 1 once. The food was excellent, especially the soup served before the meal. It was simply amazing. So I'm planning to open a lakeside Xicheng No. 1 by East Lake. My goal is to make it the most upscale boutique restaurant in Huaining City. Do you think this is a good idea?"

"Have!"

Lin Qingying nodded without hesitation and said seriously, "Ding Han, I really think you have a very keen market insight. Think about it, you invested in Feiyang Internet Cafe and made the brand very successful. Then you invested in e-sports hotels, which are also quite well-known throughout the city. If you plan to open Xicheng No. 1, I will definitely give you my full support!"

"Okay, now that you've said that, I have no more doubts."

I nodded: "Starting tomorrow, I will begin planning for Xicheng No. 1. Finally, I won't have to be so idle every day, which is making me a little irritable."

She smiled and said, "It's alright. I like seeing you lazing around. It makes me feel more at ease than seeing you carrying a gun and fighting against the swarm of insects."

I:"……"

……

It's late at night, time to go to sleep.

Lying in bed, I thought about it for a long time and finally decided that I should discuss this with Cheng Shuang. After all, she works in the catering industry and has more experience and connections in this area, which can save me a lot of trouble.

She sent a message: "Cheng Shuang, are you asleep?"

"I was just about to go to sleep."

Cheng Shuang said, "You're looking for me so late. Did something bother you and you want me to come out and have a drink with you?"

"Ahem, that's not the case."

I said, "Are you free tomorrow morning? Let's meet and talk. There's something I need your help with."

"Okay, I'm free tomorrow morning, feel free to come see me anytime."

"Row!"

……

The next morning, after Lin Qingying went to work, I hailed a taxi and headed to Cheng's Group.

On the shore of East Lake, the cool morning breeze felt especially comfortable on my face. I chatted with the driver for a long time. He was very resentful, feeling that the whole society owed him something and that the Red Dragon Kingdom was doomed.

Get off the car and go upstairs.

Cheng Shuang's office was still bright and clean. The rows of explosive gun bullets were neatly fixed in a metal container on the table. The container seemed to be specially made. She really put a lot of thought into it.

Tea or coffee?

Cheng Shuang, dressed in a professional and elegant manner, smiled and said, "It's rare that you would take the initiative to come here to me."

"Busy..."

"Busy dating President Lin?"

"You've gone astray; you've even learned to criticize."

She chuckled and said, "I'll order two coffees; I haven't had any this morning."

"its not right……"

I joked, "I heard a joke before that drinking coffee to stay awake is a privilege reserved for cattle and horses. Real rich people don't need to drink coffee to stay awake when they're tired; they can just sleep. Why is it different for you?"

Cheng Shuang laughed and said, "There's no such thing. For entrepreneurs, they are probably more tired than their employees. They have to consider all sorts of things, which is not just a little tiring. As for the rich people that ordinary people understand, they are a bunch of parasites, a bunch of people who enjoy the fruits of others' labor. They are two completely different types of people."

"It makes sense."

A moment later, Cheng Shuang's assistant came in and placed two cups of coffee on the table.

Cheng Shuang pulled her short skirt up and sat down, picking up her coffee and asking with a smile, "What's the matter?"

"I'm thinking of opening a boutique restaurant, so I'd like to hear your advice."

"Oh?"

A slight smile played on her lips: "You've come to the right person. I'm an expert in this field; I'm practically an authority."

"sharp."

I gave a perfunctory straight man response.

"Tell me more specifically, what kind of restaurant?" she asked, continuing to drink her coffee.

"Cheng Shuang, have you ever heard of a restaurant in Xicheng called Xicheng No. 1?"

"I have indeed heard of it."

Cheng Shuang said, "I have seen the catering reports of various cities in Jiangning Province before, and I have seen the data of Xicheng before. The turnover of Xicheng No. 1 is top-notch among restaurants of the same size in Xicheng No. 1. Just like you said, this restaurant belongs to the boutique type. However, the restaurant closed down later, and I don't know why."

"An irresistible factor: the Dark Tide army breached Xicheng and leveled Xicheng No. 1 with a single cannon shot."

"I see……"

She was relieved: "So you're planning to buy the Xicheng No. 1 trademark?"

"clever!"

I nodded and smiled, saying, "I heard from Xiao Bei that the owner of Xicheng No. 1 lost everything gambling. I wonder if he sold the trademark."

"That's easy. I'll have someone check who owns the Xicheng No. 1 trademark."

"Okay, get it done right away!"

"~~~"

She got up silently, made a phone call, and received a call back shortly afterward.

"I found out."

Cheng Shuang sat down again and said, "The Xicheng No. 1 brand trademark is currently registered under the name of a person named Sun Zhiyou, and it can be confirmed that this person is the former owner of Xicheng No. 1. Although he has gone bankrupt, he is unwilling to sell the trademark and still holds onto it. However, in my opinion..."

She pursed her red lips: "The commercial value of this trademark is almost zero. After all, the Xicheng No. 1 store is gone, and outside of Xicheng, this trademark has almost no influence."

"It's okay, I just like this trademark, I'm a bit obsessed with it. Besides, once I get the trademark, I can inherit the brand's history, like a century-old brand or something..."

She couldn't help but smile: "You've really thought things through... Sun Zhiyou currently lives in Donghai City. I can find his address, but I can't find his phone number. He must have changed his SIM card."

"It's normal to change SIM cards. People like this are heavily in debt, so their old phone numbers are definitely unusable."

I thought for a moment: "Are you busy? If you're not, come with me to Donghai City?"

"Not busy, not busy at all."

She smiled slightly: "However, I have one request. I am very satisfied with the idea of ​​the Xicheng No. 1 brand and boutique restaurant, so I plan to invest and become your partner. Don't worry, I won't influence all your ideas. I just want 10% of the shares, so I can have a sense of participation."

"can."

I nodded: "Then let's set off for Donghai City?"

"Okay, let's go!"

……

Around 11 a.m.

In Donghai City, a crowded and cramped old-style residential area was so densely packed that cars almost couldn't get in.

"It's this building."

Cheng Shuang looked at the address, confirmed it, and then said, "Let's go up to room 505."

"Row!"

I nodded and walked ahead.

The neighborhood was indeed dilapidated, with walls covered with small advertisements for things like document processing, plumbing repair, and dating services.

Dressed in a sophisticated business attire and smelling sweet, Cheng Shuang was completely out of place in this environment.

505, I knocked on the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man who looked to be around 40 years old. He was slightly stocky and looked a bit like Ma Dong-seok. He was holding a mop.

"Excuse me, are you... Sun Zhiyou?"

"Sun Zhiyou?"

He frowned: "No, no... that was a previous tenant here. I'm the landlord. Sun Zhiyou moved out six months ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

I nodded: "Then may I ask... do you have his contact information here?"

"No no!"

He was getting a little impatient.

At this moment, Cheng Shuang stepped forward and said, "If you have any, could you please help me find them? This is very important to us. Thank you so much, landlord!"

"..."

The landlord stared at the beautiful Cheng Shuang for a full three seconds, feeling like his soul was about to leave his body.

"Wait a moment, I'll look for it."

"Okay, thank you very much, landlord."

A moment later, the landlord pulled out a number from his phone and said, "I deleted Sun Zhiyou's number. He owed me a month's rent and left without saying a word. His number is no longer in service. But this number is from a friend of his, so maybe it can help you."

"it is good!"

I immediately wrote down the number and thanked him repeatedly.

The landlord didn't even glance at me; his eyes were fixed on Cheng Shuang.

Fearing that the landlord might have malicious intentions, I quickly took Cheng Shuang downstairs. After getting into the car, I gave Cheng Shuang the number and said, "You make this call. Women are easier to talk to, especially women with such sweet voices."

"Really?"

Cheng Shuang asked with a smile, "Is my voice really that sweet?"

"Yeah, very sweet."

"How does she compare to Lin Qingying?"

"My Yingbao has the sweetest voice!"

She immediately handed the number back: "You can call that yourself." "Yours is sweet too, just slightly less so!"

"~~~"

Cheng Shuang glared at me, then dialed a number, calling the person on the other end of the line "Big Brother" in a sweet voice...

A moment later, she hung up the phone and then received a text message.

The text message contained Sun Zhiyou's new address, but no phone number.

I immediately located the address, and the navigation showed that it was in a small fishing village on the eastern edge of Donghai City.

"Sun Zhiyou is a man of some talent."

I'm a little moved: "They've hidden themselves away from their debts in such a secluded paradise."

"Go right over."

Cheng Shuang said, "We'll arrive there around 1 p.m., and then we'll have lunch."

"Row!"

We're setting off immediately for the small fishing village.

……

It was a little before one o'clock in the afternoon.

Cheng Shuang's MC20 slowly stopped in front of a small restaurant in the fishing village that was hardly decorated. The place was so deserted that not a single car was parked in front of it.

get off.

Cheng Shuang and I stood in front of the small restaurant, dumbfounded.

This small restaurant is also called Xicheng No. 1, but it's only about the size of a palm. Inside, there are a few folding tables, and the kitchen is right next to it. The owner is wielding a large ladle and is passionately stir-frying.

"What would you like to eat, both of you?"

The owner served a dish of freshly stir-fried razor clams to the only table of customers, a young couple who seemed to be tourists. However, their eyes looked slightly mischievous, giving the impression that they had stumbled into a shady establishment.

"Give us a few of their signature dishes, and two bowls of rice."

"okay!"

Let's eat first; we can talk about things after we've eaten.

Moreover, it's unknown whether this man who is both the boss and the chef is actually Sun Zhiyou.

However, the food was indeed delicious, but it wasn't the same flavor as Xicheng No. 1. It was more like the taste of Quzhou, Zhejiang. The seafood was all stir-fried a little on the spicy side.

"It tastes good," Cheng Shuang commented.

"It's actually not bad."

I nodded and ate an extra bowl of rice.

After finishing my meal, I took out my phone and said, "Boss, the bill is due."

"It's 62 in total, just scan the code and pay 60."

"okay!"

After paying, I looked at the shop owner and smiled, "Boss, are you called Sun Zhiyou?"

"you……"

The boss was taken aback at first, then his eyes showed obvious panic.

He probably thought I was a debt collector.

"Don't get me wrong, I used to be a regular customer of Xicheng No. 1, and I really like the taste of your dishes."

"Oh, that's how it is……"

He finally relaxed and said sullenly, "I thought they were debt collectors. I've hidden in this godforsaken place, and it's really hopeless that anyone can still find me."

"Can we talk?" I asked.

"Okay."

He laughed and said, "How about I cook two more dishes, and we'll have a couple of drinks, brother?"

"also!"

I swiped another 300 yuan and said, "Put it on my tab, you can cook as much as you want."

Cheng Shuang started playing on her phone, knowing that the men's drinking session was about to begin.

Unfortunately, I can't hold my liquor, so I can only drink a little beer with them.

Sun Zhiyou didn't need to be urged to drink; he drank it all by himself.

"Brother, you're suffering inside..."

He started pouring out his grievances.

First, it was said that the house in Xicheng No. 1 was razed to the ground by the Dark Tide Army, but the government did not provide any compensation.

Then he talked about how he was heavily in debt and had been chased by creditors so much that he had to hide in this kind of place.

Moreover, he was separated from his wife and children; his wife ran off with a younger man, and custody of his son was awarded to his wife.

As he spoke, tears began to fall from his eyes.

However, I felt no empathy whatsoever. Gamblers deserve any kind of hardship in the world and are not worthy of any sympathy.

"Now, I am all alone. Apart from the Xicheng No. 1 trademark, which is worth a little money, I really only have my worthless life."

He looked at his small shop, probably thinking about how glorious Xicheng No. 1 used to be, and his smile was full of bleakness.

"Mr. Sun, to be honest, I came here specifically for the Xicheng No. 1 trademark."

I finally steered the conversation back to the main topic, saying, "I want to open a Xicheng No. 1 restaurant myself. It's not that the trademark is that valuable, but I just like the name Xicheng No. 1. So, would you consider selling the Xicheng No. 1 trademark to me?"

"You want a trademark?"

Sun Zhiyou was taken aback, then turned his gaze to Cheng Shuang and said, "No wonder you brought such a beautiful girlfriend to this godforsaken place. Although our place is a 3A tourist area, there are no tourists at all."

"she is not……"

I was only halfway through my sentence when Cheng Shuang looked up and smiled, "I am Cheng Shuang from the Cheng Group. Since Mr. Sun is in the catering business, you should have heard of this name."

"The Cheng Group..."

Sun Zhiyou suddenly realized: "So it was you..."

He then fell into a state of despondency again after drinking.

I said, "Mr. Sun, my name is Ding Han. I want to buy the trademark for Xicheng No. 1. I'm very sincere. Name your price."

"Xicheng No. 1 is my lifeline. You want to buy my lifeline?"

Sun Zhiyou looked at me, then at Cheng Shuang, and said, "Okay, I'll sell it to you for 200 million."

He's asking for an exorbitant amount; he must be insane.

Cheng Shuang and I smiled at the same time.

"you……"

Sun Zhiyou looked a little embarrassed.

"Boss Sun."

I said solemnly, "I came all this way to buy your trademark because I had a meal at Xicheng No. 1 with my friends and had some wonderful memories there. Whether it's called Xicheng No. 1 or not is really not important. I can register Xicheng No. 2 or Xicheng No. 3. What's the difference? Xicheng No. 1 has been closed for more than half a year. You don't really think this trademark still has much commercial value, do you?"

Cheng Shuang said, "Besides, it's just a restaurant's trademark. If Ding Han hadn't been so fond of Xicheng No. 1, I wouldn't have bothered to come all this way here."

You are the best wingman, Cheng Shuang!
I remained outwardly calm, but inwardly I was panicking terribly.

The name Xicheng No. 1 has been locked in by an SS-level mission, so you absolutely must take it down!

"That's it..."

Sun Zhiyou seemed somewhat dazed, his mind racing. He quickly said, "How about this... Ding Han, Cheng Shuang, I can let you use the Xicheng No. 1 trademark for free, but I require that the trademark be converted into shares, a cooperative investment. I don't need too much, just 20% of the shares will do. What do you think..."

Wow, he thinks a lot!

Is this an attempt to get something for nothing and climb up to Cheng Shuang, who has the entire Cheng Group behind her?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sun."

Cheng Shuang said, "Ding Han and I opened Xicheng No. 1 not because we were short of money, but because of our interests. It is our shared dream, so... there can only be the two of us as shareholders. We will not accept any other investments. Please understand."

"Mr. Sun, how about this..."

I took a deep breath: "I'll offer 100,000 to buy your trademark. If you're willing, just nod. If not, that's fine too. In my opinion, the Xicheng No. 1 trademark is worth at most that much, and that's with a lot of added prestige. Otherwise, it wouldn't even be worth that much."

A palpable sense of loss welled up in his eyes.

Cheng Shuang secretly glanced at me. Well done, Ding Han!

"Let me think about it."

Sun Zhiyou fell into deep thought. He really needed money. Even 100,000 yuan could solve his immediate livelihood problems. After all, prices in Xingyuan were not too high, and 100,000 yuan would be enough for him to live on for many years.

"Boss Sun."

I pressed my advantage: "I acquired the Xicheng No. 1 trademark to open a better boutique restaurant. I will deliver quality worthy of the name Xicheng No. 1. I don't think you want the name Xicheng No. 1 to be wasted and end up in a dismal failure, do you?"

"Ding Han, stop talking..."

Sun Zhiyou said, "I'll sell you the trademark for 100,000, but you have to promise me that you will do a good job with this brand and not let the name 'Xicheng No. 1' be tarnished!"

"Don't worry, I will do my best!"

"it is good!"

Sun Zhiyou downed another glass of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), then stood up and said, "Bring the documents, we'll go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to transfer the trademark registration."

Cheng Shuang and I smiled happily; it was settled.

……

Evening, at the entrance of the Industry and Commerce Bureau.

The trademark transfer was completed, and I gave 10 yuan to Sun Zhiyou.

He sat on the steps outside the Industry and Commerce Bureau, clutching a wad of cash, lost in thought, just like someone who had just broken up with their boyfriend.

This feeling is probably equivalent to being so miserable that you have to push your beloved first love, who is like a white moonlight, into the arms of a domineering CEO, and this 100,000 is the breakup fee between you and Xicheng No. 1.

"Old Sun."

I took out a Jinliqun cigarette and handed it to him, lighting it for him, and then asked, "Who was the head chef at Xicheng No. 1 back then? Do you still have any contact with them?"

"The head chef is Lao Chen, but we've lost contact with him."

Sun Zhiyou, smoking a cigarette, glanced at me with a weary look in his eyes and said, "Ding Han, you have to run this shop well. I'm leaving."

With that, he grabbed the money and drove off in his 18-year-old Skoda, which was constantly losing parts.

……

"What should we do now?"

Cheng Shuang asked, "Back to Huaining?"

"Are you in a hurry?" I asked.

"That's true... no rush..."

Cheng Shuang smiled slightly: "But if we're staying outside, I'll have to prepare some clothes to change into..."

That's very ambiguous, Cheng Shuang!
"Wait a moment."

I took out my phone and called Xu Tian.

I had heard that Xu Tian was the highest-level computer player in the entire Huaining City besides myself.

"Han, what's up?"

"Hey, are you at the computer?"

"Yes, I'm playing Warcraft right now."

"Okay, help me investigate someone."

"explain."

"Xicheng No. 1, the former head chef, a man surnamed Chen, please help me find out."

"Hold on."

A few minutes later, Xu Tian called back.

"Ding Han, we've found out. This head chef is named Chen Zhong. He's 60 years old and has already retired. However, according to the social security system records, he hasn't fully retired. He's currently working at a restaurant called Lao Chen Sauerkraut Fish on Yonghui Road in Xicheng. As for why he still works, it's because he has two twin granddaughters in high school, and his son's salary is low, so he's short of money. Lao Chen has no choice but to open his own restaurant to earn some more money."

"understood."

I nodded: "Thank you!"

"polite!"

So I glanced at Cheng Shuang and said, "Shuang, I'm sorry to trouble you to drive again..."

"To Xicheng?"

"Yes, on Yonghui Road in Xicheng, there's a restaurant called Lao Chen Sauerkraut Fish."

"Okay, will you treat me to sauerkraut fish when we get there?"

"Please, the big bowl!"

"It's a deal, get in the car!"

She smiled slightly and continued on her journey without complaint.

……

Around 8 p.m., we returned to Xicheng.

Sitting in the passenger seat of the MC20, I looked at the scenery outside. Everything seemed so familiar, yet everything seemed different.

Lu Xiaobei, Ding Han, and Lin Qingying are no longer in this city.

Shortly after, the car stopped on the side of the road.

The lightbox for Lao Chen's pickled fish is flashing continuously.

Even at night, there were still quite a few diners. There were three tables of customers in the small storefront, while Cheng Shuang and I were at the fourth table.

"Old Chen, we have a guest! Hurry up and greet him!"

A familiar diner shouted.

Immediately, a kind-looking old man wearing an apron came out, holding a bill in his hand, and said with a smile, "What would you two like to eat?"

"The signature dish."

I said, "I'll have a large portion of the pickled fish, and you can help me stir-fry a few side dishes."

"Okay, wait a minute!"

……

Soon after, dishes were served one after another.

As expected of the former head chef of Xicheng No. 1, his pickled fish is also a masterpiece.

Even Cheng Shuang was full of praise for the food, saying that the old man's cooking skills were really something.

Old Chen is incredibly talented, and I already have my own ideas about him.

After I hired him, I would squat by the stove every day to learn his skills. When I could cook such delicious sauerkraut fish, I would go home and cook it for Lin Qingying.

Perfect plan!

After finishing the meal, we paid the bill: 52 yuan.

It was so cheap! That huge plate of pickled fish was only 20 yuan, so cheap that Cheng Shuang and I felt a little embarrassed.

"Old Chen."

I pulled up a stool and said, "There are no other guests. Come sit down and let's chat."

"Oh?"

Old Chen wiped his hands with his apron and chuckled, "Young man, do we know each other? You look a bit unfamiliar. And this young lady, it seems like I'm seeing her for the first time too."

"Old Chen, my name is Ding Han."

I shook hands with him and said with a smile, "This lady next to me is Cheng Shuang, my friend. We came to Xicheng specifically to see you."

"They came for an old man like me?"

Old Chen smiled kindly: "Ding Han, what's the matter?"

"That's right, I plan to open a new Xicheng No. 1 store in Huaining City. I have already bought the Xicheng No. 1 trademark from Sun Zhiyou."

“Sun Zhiyou…”

Old Chen's expression instantly changed: "He still owes me two months' salary, where is he?"

"Ahem, he's in a godforsaken place, he's really having a tough time."

I said, "We came here this time to rehire you as the head chef of Xicheng No. 1. After all, you know Xicheng No. 1's dishes, soup recipes and so on better than anyone else, so we came here."

"It's not that my old man doesn't want to do it, it's just that he really can't anymore."

Old Chen shook his head and said, "Ding Han, I've reached retirement age. I have no desires now, and I'm quite content running this little restaurant."

"Alright, Lao Chen, let me ask you, how profitable is your restaurant?"

"I can earn several hundred yuan a day. After deducting rent, raw materials and other expenses, the net profit is about 9000 yuan a month. I'm an old man, and I don't have any big ambitions. I'm content."

He waved his hand: "Find someone else for the head chef position. If you need the recipe, I can write it down for you."

"..."

Cheng Shuang looked at me, her eyes filled with worry. It seemed that Old Chen was determined to retire from his criminal life.

I've decided to unleash my ultimate move.

"Old Chen, listen to my offer first. We'll sign a two-year head chef contract. I'll give you a 5 yuan franchise fee for the first month, and then a monthly salary of 2 yuan. What you need to do is very simple: just help me train a few apprentices and pass on your skills. We'll sign a formal contract, and you'll get all the benefits, including social insurance and housing fund. What do you think?"

Old Chen put down his teacup, his expression grave.

"Ding Han, just for your sincerity, I've decided to work for you for another two years!"

(End of this chapter)