Uncle Zhang said to Ye Chen, "Our shop is in the Commercial Center—using it for a Hot Pot Restaurant feels like a waste, doesn't it?"
Ye Chen smiled. "This location is exactly what I want: the storefront's big, the layout's the exact design we need, and best of all it faces the street. We can install floor-to-ceiling windows for great light, and passers-by on both sides can see inside."
Hearing Ye Chen's words, Li Sitong gazed at him in pure admiration.
Ye Chen is amazing!
Li Li was also taken aback.
Listening to Ye Chen's plan, it actually sounded pretty convincing.
Ye Chen asked with a smile, "Uncle Zhang, if I take over this storefront, how much?"
Seeing how serious Ye Chen was, Uncle Zhang hesitated. "Three hundred…"
"A-hem!"
Li Li coughed loudly from the side.
Uncle Zhang glanced at Li Li, then reluctantly gritted his teeth. "Two hundred eighty thousand."
Ye Chen said nothing.
Thinking the price sounded high to Ye Chen, Uncle Zhang explained, "Young man, my asking price is already low. To be honest, I just settled on a client for three hundred thousand. It's only out of respect for Old Li that I'd go lower—how about I shave off another ten grand? Two hundred seventy thousand."
Li Li was quite pleased, even shooting Li Sitong a smug look.
See? Your old man's face carries weight.
After thinking for a moment Ye Chen spoke. "Uncle Zhang, I don't think you need to give Uncle Li any face. Two hundred thousand sounds just fine to me."
Li Li: "…"
An awkward silence filled the shop.
Uncle Zhang stared at Old Li in bewilderment, his eyes asking: Is your daughter's classmate mentally sound? Who voluntarily raises their own price in a deal?
Reading Uncle Zhang's confusion, Ye Chen said righteously, "In business, how could I let an elder lose money?"
Both Li Li and Uncle Zhang were stunned by his words.
Ye Chen looked sincerely at Li Li. "I know Uncle Li has our best interests at heart, and I respect and admire him very much."
Li Sitong blinked at Ye Chen. "??? Did you ever say that? I never heard it."
"Uncle Zhang, as Uncle Li's friend, you're also an elder to Si Tong and me. Leasing the shop to us is already help enough—how could we let an elder lose money?"
Uncle Zhang was visibly moved.
Even Li Li began to see Ye Chen in a new light.
Uncle Zhang turned to Li Li. "Old Li, your daughter's classmate has real vision. He's got more class than you. In all my years of business I've never seen this—fine, let's settle on three hundred thousand."
Li Li: "What do you mean, more class than me…"
Still, Li Li was delighted.
So in Ye Chen's mind he was that impressive—who knew!
Ye Chen felt miserable. To squeeze a bit more out of the system I even have to praise my future father-in-law. Ye Chen, Ye Chen, you'll do anything for money—no shame at all.
In the end they agreed to sign and pay at month's end.
Why month's end? Because that's when his bitcoin can be cashed out!
With the storefront secured, Ye Chen and Li Sitong began touring Hot Pot Restaurants.
The two of them ate at several Hot Pot places.
Eventually Li Sitong couldn't even look at the meat in the pot.
They simply wanted to gauge the standard of Hot Pot Restaurants in Jiangzhou.
To know what flavors the public liked, they had no choice but to taste the Hot Pot themselves.
Delicious as Hot Pot is, their appetites were finite.
Li Sitong normally loved Hot Pot, yet she never imagined a day when the sight of it would make her nauseous.
"Ye Chen, I feel like my belly is stuffed with Hot Pot meat."
Ye Chen wasn't much better off, but with a bigger appetite he tasted and said, "This place's flavor is good; we can try to reproduce this base."
Leaving the restaurant, Li Sitong whined about her bloated stomach.
Ye Chen had to support her.
Nestled in Ye Chen's arms, Li Sitong looked like a gentle little kitten—adorable.
Does it hurt that much?"
"Mm, I've never eaten so much Hot Pot; my stomach feels so full."
"Should I rub it for you?" Ye Chen asked worriedly.
"Mm." Li Sitong's face flushed crimson; she nodded shyly.
Ye Chen gently massaged her stomach, and sure enough she felt much better.
Watching how attentive he was, Li Sitong couldn't resist; her little lips pecked Ye Chen's cheek.
Then, shyly, she said, "A kiss from you makes me feel better."
Ye Chen sighed—great, the school flower's taken advantage of me again.
Back home Ye Chen checked the time: seven in the evening.
He had an interview at eight.
Ye Chen dialed a number.
"Hello, good evening."
The familiar female voice answered—it was the woman from that day.
"Hello, this is Ye Chen. We arranged an interview yesterday."
"Oh, hello. Is something the matter?"
"I'd like to ask: after the interview can I start teaching right away?"
Today's Hot Pot tasting with Li Sitong had nearly drained their cash; Ye Chen wanted to start as soon as possible.
The woman said, "Yes, but be prepared—many people are applying. I hope you succeed."
After hanging up, Ye Chen smiled faintly.
Many applicants?
He wasn't worried in the least.
As long as no degree was required, everything else was easy.
Ye Chen changed into clean clothes and hailed a Taxi.
"Driver, to Jingdu Garden."
Hearing the address, the driver blinked. "Kid, Jingdu Garden is Jiangzhou City's most famous luxury complex. My cab can only stop at the gate—I can't go inside."
Ye Chen nodded. "No problem."
Jingdu Garden sits in the city center and is Jiangzhou's finest estate.
Every residence is a detached villa of about three hundred square meters.
They say the crown jewel there is worth two hundred million.
Only the city's upper-crust elite live in Jingdu Garden.
Because it was Sunday, traffic was light.
At 7:10 p.m. Ye Chen arrived at the gate.
The entrance was opulent, with several guards; entry required a card swipe.
Glancing at his phone, he saw fifty minutes remained—perhaps too early.
Since he was already there, Ye Chen dialed again.
"Mr. Ye?"
"Yes, it's me. I'm at the Jingdu Garden gate, but it looks like I need a card to enter."
"Oh, terribly sorry. I'll send someone to pick you up right away."
"Great, thank you."
After ending the call Ye Chen mused.
The woman on the phone sounded refined; despite her wealth she was polite, without a hint of arrogance.
Seems like the boss should be decent.