Chapter 111

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

Upon hearing Zhao Zhenhui's words, the others' gazes instantly grew fervent.

Although they would have to go to the end of the line and queue again after giving up their spots, the temptation of five hundred yuan was not small; quite a few people felt it was a good deal and crowded forward, vying to give up their positions.

Seeing this situation, Zhao Zhenhui felt secretly pleased. He made an OK gesture toward his wife and Qian Laoban standing in the distance, then said to the crowd, "Everyone, don't fight. I'll pay five hundred for the first three spots. In a bit I'll send a few red packets in the group chat. Thanks, everyone!"

The customers behind were a bit disappointed, but upon hearing Zhao Zhenhui say he would send red packets in the group, they grew excited again.

Ever since Zhao Zhenhui joined the group, he would send red packets every now and then; this group of them had earned quite a lot snatching red packets.

The news reached the back of the line before long. Those diners who hadn't joined the group chat now hurriedly started looking for people to pull them into the group.

With a tycoon like this in the group who sends red packets at the drop of a hat, every single one of them wanted in.

Zhao Zhenhui transferred five hundred yuan to each of the three people at the very front of the line. The three thanked him joyfully, then walked to the end of the line to queue again.

After settling this side, Zhao Zhenhui beckoned to Qian Laoban and Zhou Yaqin. The three of them stood together at the very front of the line.

"President Zhao, why go to all this trouble? You might as well just invite this shop's owner to your place and have him cook a meal just for us. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

Qian Laoban patted Zhao Zhenhui's shoulder and asked with some puzzlement.

"General Manager Qian, you think too highly of me." Zhao Zhenhui gave a bitter smile and shook his head, pointing at the shop and saying quietly, "Do you know where this owner lives? Yunding Huating! That's a place even I can't afford to live in. This owner is definitely not short of money!"

"Hiss! This owner is that rich? Then why still come out and open a restaurant?"

Qian Laoban's face couldn't help but show a surprised expression upon hearing this.

Qian Laoban had also heard of the Yunding Huating Villa District. That was not a place ordinary people could live in.

But no matter what, he simply could not associate someone living there with a restaurant owner.

"Maybe cooking delicious food is the owner's personal hobby!"

Zhao Zhenhui thought for a moment and said. It seemed only this explanation made sense.

As the few of them were discussing, the shop door made a light sound and swung open inward. Lu Feng walked out from inside the shop.

The moment the shop door opened, seeing the crowd queuing outside, Lu Feng was also startled.

In the past, on the first day of business each week, there weren't few people queuing either, but most of the time it wouldn't exceed twenty people.

This Monday, opening the door to see a queue that stretched out of sight — this made him feel today's pressure was not small.

The diners attracted by the sound of the door opening all looked toward Lu Feng. Their eyes flashed with fervent light, as if they were die-hard fans seeing their idol.

Lu Feng had long grown accustomed to this kind of gaze. He stood at the door and calmly announced in a loud voice, "Business hours have begun. Please queue in order. Today we are selling Yangchun Noodles. Those who want to eat, please line up properly and take your meals in turn!"

Finished speaking, he turned and returned into the shop.

"This owner looks so young. Interesting."

Qian Laoban looked at Lu Feng's retreating figure and nodded with great interest, then muttered with some doubt, "Just don't know if the owner's culinary skill is really that delicious."

"General Manager Qian, you'll know once you taste it in a bit. Let's go in first." Zhao Zhenhui smiled and said.

After Qian Laoban entered the shop, he looked around and expressed great satisfaction at the clean and tidy renovation inside the shop.

He had always thought that street-side small shops had dirty, messy, and poor environments. Today, after seeing Lu Feng's shop, his impression of street-side small shops was somewhat overturned.

Then he saw the price list on the wall. Pointing at the menu above, he said to Lu Feng, "Owner, all the things on the wall — give me one portion of each first."

"Sorry, this week there's temporarily nothing else. Only soup noodles. Today it's Yangchun Noodles."

Lu Feng smiled and pointed at the boiling noodle pot in the kitchen giving off heat.

"Only Yangchun Noodles?"

Qian Laoban frowned upon hearing this. As a native southerner, he actually wasn't very interested in things like soup noodles.

Yangchun Noodles, this kind of clear-soup meager-noodle dish, was even more not on his diet plan.

"I don't want to eat Yangchun Noodles. Can you make something else for me? I can pay double."

Qian Laoban had originally come today with the mindset of having a big feast at Lu Feng's shop. He hadn't expected there to be only Yangchun Noodles.

In the past, whenever he went to restaurants, as long as he offered more money, there was almost nothing he couldn't eat.

But Lu Feng still smiled and said, "Sorry, only Yangchun Noodles. If you don't want to eat, you can come another day for something else. Let the people behind order first."

"Forget it. Give me a portion of Yangchun Noodles then."

Qian Laoban sighed with some disappointment. Although he felt a bit uncomfortable inside, to not have made the trip for nothing, he could only make do.

In order to come eat the delicious food Zhao Zhenhui spoke of, he had even changed his originally booked plane ticket.

Unexpectedly, he could only eat a bowl of Yangchun Noodles he looked down on. This made him somewhat dissatisfied with Zhao Zhenhui's arrangements today.

"Alright, it'll be ready soon."

Lu Feng smiled and nodded. Seeing Qian Laoban about to leave after ordering, he hurriedly called him to a halt: "Trouble you to wait a moment. When the food is out, you'll need to carry it yourself."

Qian Laoban froze upon hearing this. He had been to countless restaurants to eat, but had never once carried his own food.

His face showed some displeasure. He couldn't help but speak up: "You don't even have a waiter here?"

"Not for now. Preparing to hire one." Lu Feng said with a serious face.

He indeed had this thought.

After all, he had been open this long, and all matters were done by him alone. Sometimes he indeed felt a bit too busy to handle everything.

This week he also had to sell 100 portions of soup noodles in one hour. He felt even more strained.

Hiring a waiter could relieve quite a lot of pressure for him, and at the same time he could focus more on cooking delicious food for the diners.

Compared to entertaining diners, he was still more willing to enjoy the fun that cooking brings.

Originally, Lu Feng had planned to have Li Jiang come over to help him.

But since going to his place on the weekend and seeing Li Jiang's performance in the kitchen, he immediately dismissed that thought.

Seeing some displeasure on Qian Laoban's face, Zhao Zhenhui hurriedly said, "Qian Zong, you go sit down; I'll bring it over to you once it's ready."

"Forget it, forget it; when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Qian Laoban glanced at Zhao Zhenhui, shook his head, and said expressionlessly.

Seeing Qian Laoban's complexion, Zhao Zhenhui knew he was already somewhat displeased, his heart sank slightly, and he couldn't help but sigh softly.

It seemed Qian Laoban's impression of Lu Feng's shop wasn't good at all; this cooperation was probably going to fall through again.

Zhao Zhenhui regretted it a little; if he had known, he would have taken Qian Laoban somewhere else to eat, at least Qian Laoban wouldn't feel dissatisfied due to poor service.

But this couldn't be blamed on Lu Feng; after all, it had always been the rule, and no one else had any objections.

Looking at his wife's somewhat anxious gaze behind him, Zhao Zhenhui shook his head helplessly.

Hearing Qian Laoban's words, Lu Feng turned around and walked straight into the kitchen.

He didn't need to ask about the diners queuing behind; anyway, today there was only Yangchun Noodles, which saved a lot of time.

Zhao Zhenhui, standing in the queue waiting for food, looked at Qian Laoban's back ahead, still thinking of ways to make amends in his mind.

If all else failed, arrange for Qian Laoban to go to the bathhouse to relax in the evening?

He didn't know if his wife would agree.

Even if this cooperation couldn't be reached, he couldn't let Qian Laoban leave Jiangcheng full of anger.

Otherwise, it would be even harder to talk about cooperation with him in the future.

Just as Zhao Zhenhui was pondering, Lu Feng walked out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl.

"Qian Zong, let me help you carry it." Zhao Zhenhui quickly reached out, preparing to take the large bowl from Lu Feng's hand.

Unexpectedly, Qian Laoban waved his hand and said somewhat displeasedly, "No need, I'll do it myself."

After speaking, he didn't pay attention to Zhao Zhenhui's embarrassed expression, carrying the bowl and finding a seat to sit down on his own.

Zhao Zhenhui cursed his luck in his heart, and hurriedly picked up his own bowl on the counter with his wife, walking over quickly.

"Qian Zong, I'm really sorry; I didn't arrange it well. After we finish eating, let's……"

Zhao Zhenhui sat beside Qian Laoban, smiling as he spoke.

Before he could finish, Qian Laoban interrupted him somewhat impatiently: "Eat first. After eating, I want to return to the hotel to rest early; whatever the matter, we can talk after I return to Yangcheng."

Hearing Qian Laoban say this, Zhao Zhenhui and his wife exchanged a glance, and could only nod helplessly.

Qian Laoban casually took the chopsticks, stirred twice in the bowl, intending to eat a couple of bites and then leave.

As he stirred, the steam in the noodle bowl, carrying lard and wheat fragrance, came rushing toward him.

Qian Laoban sniffed, and the expression on his face changed slightly; this fragrance did arouse his interest.

"The noodles look unremarkable, but they smell quite fragrant."

Qian Laoban muttered softly, then picked up his chopsticks, took a mouthful of noodles, put it into his mouth, and began to chew.

The next second, the expression on his face became remarkable.