Chapter 67

The Spring Star Restaurant was not originally called that.

At that time, Shu Shu had just arrived in An Shi not long before; one day she casually walked into a small eatery and ordered a bowl of pickled vegetable wonton soup.

Unexpectedly, the shop looked small, even a bit cramped, and certainly not decorated, but the taste was surprisingly good, and fortunately she came early, just before mealtime, and there was already a long line waiting outside.

The menu changed every Monday, not only noodles but also dim sum, stir-fried dishes, and so on.

Shu Shu's taste buds were instantly captured; in early pregnancy, her appetite became picky, so for that whole month, except when it rained, she would come to patronize.

During a meal break, Shu Shu overheard a customer discussing, saying the shop's owner, who was also the chef, was a descendant of imperial palace chefs, with a secret family technique.

Shu Shu felt that the title of imperial palace chef descendant was well-deserved, yet if so, why would he still cling to such a tiny shop?

Until one day, as usual, she came to the shop and saw a "Shop Transfer" notice posted on the door.

Upon entering, walking to the ordering counter, she heard the owner's voice on the phone, very gentle:

"I've already figured out how to handle the surgery fees; selling the shop? You heard nonsense, that's not happening, honey, just stay in the hospital and listen to the doctor, then rest easy waiting for the surgery, okay?"

"Once you recover, everything at home will get better too; you don't even know your husband's abilities yet?"

"Get good rest, I have customers here, I'm busy now, bye, honey."

It turned out the owner's wife had a serious illness.

They needed expensive medication to withstand the pain, and precisely because of that, the shop was so small, as almost all the family's money went to buying medicine for the wife.

And now, finally there is a medical technique that could likely help the wife completely rid herself of the pain, so they had to sell the shop to raise the high surgery fees.

At the moment the phone hung up, the owner felt as if all his bones and strength had been drained; the gentleness and cheer on his face vanished, he slumped there, gazing at his "life's work," his eyes full of bewilderment and reluctance.

But soon, that reluctance faded, replaced by a slowly rising smile of relief at the corners of his mouth.

Roughly thinking, using the shop to exchange for his wife's health was completely worth it.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure at the window; the owner immediately stood up, composed his emotions in a second, and enthusiastically asked, "Oh sorry, what would you like to eat today?"

Shu Shu's expression remained normal as she ordered a few dishes, as if she hadn't witnessed the owner's earlier loss of composure.

Not long after, the shop became crowded.

Shu Shu ate very slowly, so slowly that all other customers had left, leaving only her.

After wiping her mouth, she stood up and asked the owner the bill.

After receiving the money, the owner habitually said, "Welcome back next time," then went to grab a rag to clean the tables, but a slender white hand reached out to him again.

This time it wasn't cash, but a bank card.

The owner was stunned, looked up to meet Shu Shu's gaze, and heard her say: "This card has six hundred thousand; it should be enough to relieve your urgent need."

"Little miss, this joke can't be made..."

"No joke, the password is on the back of the card."

The owner examined Shu Shu up and down, feeling she bore an air of either wealth or nobility, not like someone who would lie, so he immediately waved his hands: "No no, I can't take this money, I have no relation to you, you have no obligation to help me, it's not possible..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted.

"But your wife really needs this money." Shu Shu smiled: "Just consider I have a bit of selfishness too; this dish is so delicious, I don't want to never be able to eat it again; if the shop is just sold like that, what a pity."

"Besides, you and your wife certainly have a deeper attachment to this shop than I do; don't you want to fight a little to keep it?"

The girl bent her beautiful peach-blossom eyes, sincere and earnest, making no one feel embarrassed.

Then she handed the card over again.

"……" The owner, eyes red, took the card with both hands, moved to tears and not knowing what to say: "Thank you! Little miss, I—I'll write you an IOU, this money, I will definitely repay you!"

Saying that, the owner went to find paper and pen; while writing, his hand trembled, because if he were off by a little, he would not only be selling the shop, but also selling the ancestral recipe.

Afterwards, the shop still closed, but the notice on the door that originally read "Shop Transfer" changed to:

"Dear customers, sorry, due to my wife's surgery, we will return shortly."

…

When writing the IOU, the owner wanted to press his ID card into Shu Shu's hand, but Shu Shu declined, merely taking the IOU, and before leaving she wished his wife's surgery success.

It was not until two months later that Shu Shu came back to patronize.

In the shop, the owner and his wife were seen busy and healthy, smiling.

Upon seeing Shu Shu, the owner was very excited, first bringing his wife to express strong gratitude, then wanting to repay Shu Shu the six hundred thousand.

Shu Shu tore up the IOU in front of them: "Use this money to get a larger shop."

She had never intended to ask the owner to repay the money from the start.

The owner said no matter what, it was impossible; he truly didn't know how to repay Shu Shu's timely help; Shu Shu shook her head, saying: "Seeing your wife healthy is already repayment enough, because I like to see things turn out round and happy."

…

Later, the small shop was moved to a larger location.

On the day the new shop opened, the owner invited Shu Shu, hoping she could write the inscription and name the new shop.

The original name was Little Star Restaurant, with "Star" being the wife's name.

Shu Shu suggested that the new shop's name be called Spring Star.

——Spring, an endless spring of water, symbolizing vitality.

Afterwards, the owner indeed relied on his decent skills and management ability, step by step developing and expanding, from the original Little Star Restaurant, to Spring Star Restaurant, to Spring Star Restaurant Hotel, and now, as one of An Shi's landmarks, the largest Spring Star Restaurant Hotel.

The grateful owner wanted to use that six hundred thousand as original shares, formally making Shu Shu a founding shareholder receiving dividends from Spring Star Restaurant Hotel.

Shu Shu refused, saying she lacked no money.

The owner then said let's each take a step back; since Shu Shu likes eating his dishes, he will prepare a consumption card for her, so that whenever she wants, she can use the card to consume for free at Spring Star Restaurant Hotel.

That consumption card has no spending limit and is permanently valid.

And only Shu Shu has one copy.

At that time, Shu Shu's months gradually increased, her body became bulky, she disliked going out; after later giving birth to Shu Lingchen, she also brought Shu Lingchen to Spring Star Restaurant Hotel a few times.

After she 'died', that consumption card came into Shu Lingchen's possession.