Chapter 288: Wu Long / Chen Ping

This little restaurant is run by a married couple: Wu Long handles the kitchen, and his wife works as both a server and the proprietress, but she had to go home for a while, so for a time the place had only Wu Long.

After seeing off the last diners, Wu Long had his wife put up a "closed for rest" sign, then prepared a table of fine dishes and greeted Su Sheng and the others.

When the final dish arrived, Wu Long pulled his own wife to a seat.

They're all brothers, classmates, and even a teacher; there's nothing to be shy about.

"Old Wu, won't you make an introduction?" Chen Guan said with a smile, raising his glass.

"Hahaha, my wife—by the way, Kong Lang is actually from the same clan as you… Chen Ping."

"Let me introduce my wife: you already know Mu Zi, and this Mr. Zhang was my high‑school PE teacher; I was even the sports committee head back then."

"Hello, Teacher Zhang," Chen Ping greeted with a smile.

"No need to call me teacher; I'm only a few years older than you, otherwise we wouldn't be friends." Zhang Qinghai replied with a laugh.

After that, Wu Long introduced everyone to Chen Ping one by one.

When they mentioned Chen Guan's nickname, the group laughed for a moment.

Chen Guan didn't hold back either, keeping the lively atmosphere going.

After they were roughly drunk and full, Su Sheng looked at Wu Long: "Old Wu, how much profit does this little place make in a month?"

Wu Long was startled by the question: "It's a small operation; how much could it make?"

Wu Long glanced at his wife; the accounts were basically handled by Chen Ping.

"It's decent. When business is good, after paying rent, utilities and miscellaneous costs, it can bring in about twenty to thirty thousand a month."

"Mostly it's just hard‑earned cash; we don't hire staff. If we did, wages would eat up the profit, leaving little gain." Chen Ping replied with a smile.

It's just a small eatery, not a secret, and they're all teachers or classmates of her husband, so Chen Ping had nothing to hide.

"Brother Sheng, I know what you're getting at."

Wu Long sighed and took a sip: "I'm reluctant to leave my brothers, and I've also seen how heated the Zhu Lu competition is."

"Even the diners who come to my shop often talk about Zhu Lu."

Chen Ping glanced at her husband; she knew well that in his free time he always browses that gaming forum.

He'd occasionally laugh out loud; without knowing it's a game forum, one might think he's watching borderline videos.

"Honestly, I also want to go back."

"If I could balance it, I'd definitely return, but this little restaurant can't be abandoned; we run it as a couple and have to get up at dawn to prep dishes."

"No time to play," Wu Long said helplessly.

"It's fine, I understand…" Su Sheng smiled.

"I'm not forcing you into the game; we're still brothers, but I have something I'd like you to look after, which would also be a favor to me."

Then Su Sheng mentioned the Yanhuang Club.

He clarified the plan to hire Wu Long as a chef.

"Huh?"

Wu Long was stunned for a long while.

"Really?"

Wu Long hadn't expected Su Sheng to go this big this time—he'd even set up a game club, after previously talking about forming a guild.

Now he's directly created a club.

The person closest to Wu Long also spoke about the state of Yanhuang in the game.

Although Wu Long had seen Yanhuang‑related posts on the game forum.

But many details are known only to insiders, and Yanhuang doesn't broadcast them publicly.

After listening, Wu Long's expression showed some yearning.

After all, everyone present is his own family; he too wants to join his brothers in vying for the world.

"So, old Wu, since you're already in this line of work, even if you can't return to the game, come help us with logistics." Su Sheng said with a smile.

"Well…"

Wu Long felt a tug, but looking at his wife and the shop, he hesitated.

"Alright, I'll give you two proposals."

Su Sheng looked at Wu Long: "First, a monthly salary plan—come manage the kitchen for Yanhuang, and I'll pay you thirty thousand a month."

Thirty thousand a month for a chef is a bit steep.

Besides, Wu Long admits he's no master chef, just a small‑time owner of a Cang Ying Tavern who only knows home cooking.

"No… too… too…"

Wu Long knew his culinary skill really wasn't worth thirty thousand.

"Then the second plan: a contracting model—we'll lease the Yanhuang Guild's restaurant to you."

"Our Yanhuang Club members will dine there."

"I can guarantee a contract: you purchase Yanhuang's monthly profit. If it falls short of forty thousand, the Yanhuang Guild will make up the difference. How does that sound?" Su Sheng asked Wu Long.

Su Sheng said with a smile.

"Well…"

Wu Long was conflicted; with a stable Cang Ying Tavern already, jumping into a contract would surely meet his family's disapproval.

He trusted Su Sheng, but his parents‑in‑law wouldn't be so easy to convince.

Moreover, if profit is under forty thousand and Yanhuang tops it up, he'd essentially be giving Su Sheng a leg up.

And the guild is just starting, with many expenses, plus the club that also needs staff.

"I can consider the contract, but I need to discuss it with my parents‑in‑law."

At least it's not just playing games; taking over the kitchen is still a legitimate business, and later we can discuss it with my father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law.

"As for the turnover being insufficient, compensation and such, let's drop it; you'll have to spend even more."

"If we don't earn enough, it's because our skill is lacking," Wu Long said.

After all, we also came from the gaming circle, so we're well aware of gaming guilds and clubs; they're not that easy to manipulate.

Behind nine of the top ten guilds there is major capital support; the only special one is Morning Star, but Morning Star's path is not that easy to replicate.

Otherwise there wouldn't be just a single Morning Star.

Su Sheng smiled faintly: "Don't worry, Old Wu, we definitely earn far more than you imagine."

Then Su Sheng scanned the crowd present and smiled: "Everyone, I have a good announcement."

"Last night, Yanhuang's first pot of gold!"

"One hundred thousand Gold Coins!"

"Got it!"

In the morning, Lin Huan didn't mention it.

Now's just right, so I'll announce it to everyone.

"Huh? One hundred thousand Gold Coins?" Zhang Qinghai froze, then took out his phone.

"The current Gold Coin Ratio… 1:91."

"WTF!"

Zhang Qinghai immediately let loose profanity.

"9,100,000!" Chen Guan said calmly.

"Where did it come from?" Dong Jiaojiao was bewildered.

"Mounts."

Su Sheng said with a smile.

"Huh?"

All present are core members of Yanhuang, so they naturally know that Yanhuang's recent operational directive is aimed at those Roving Horse Bandits, cutting the reins of their mounts.