Chapter 92 Bring Me the Most Expensive One

Chai Jin hadn’t intended to go, but after Feng Haodong went on and on over the phone, he had no choice but to agree.

After Liu Shan received a reply from Old Huang, he truly submitted his resignation letter that afternoon. Then, the group found a place to rent and moved out.

Left alone in the dormitory, Chai Jin thought it over. It was time to leave; staying any longer would only be a waste of time. He couldn’t even be bothered to go to his night shift, and the foreman didn’t dare to come and call him. The whole factory was abuzz with rumors that he was Chen Ni’s lover—no one wanted to stir up trouble for themselves.

Guo Minghao had already been arrested. The man was a fool, foolish enough to cross his own cousin. In the end, when things fell apart, even his cousin He Kai wanted to take him down.

…

This industrial district was a place of stark contrasts. Because so many laborers gathered here, the cheapest street-side stalls flourished. Yet, with businessmen and bosses frequently coming and going, there were also a few high-end establishments.

Feng Haodong arrived around six. He spent less than two minutes waiting in a restaurant called Riverside Pavilion. Then He Zhijun and Chen Nianhua rushed in, looking as though they were about to meet the most respected figure in their hearts.

As soon as they walked in, they spotted Feng Haodong by the window—slicked-back hair, a garish short-sleeved shirt, a leather wallet and a chunky mobile phone on the table. His bodyguard stood behind him, cheeks slightly puffed, the kind of man who’d clearly trained for years.

He Zhijun let out a hearty laugh first, “Brother Chen, at last we meet!”—the very picture of an old fox. Chen Nianhua was no better, faces full of calculated smiles. Could Feng Haodong not see through this? It was all just a game.

But in front of these two, he clearly exuded the air of someone above it all. Even as they approached, he didn’t bother to stand—just smiled and stretched out his hand, “How’s business at the factory?”

They hurried to sit, reporting like subordinates to a superior. Feng Haodong sipped his tea quietly.

Meanwhile, Chai Jin, after leaving, didn’t hurry to Riverside Pavilion. Instead, he went straight to the storefront Old Huang and the others had rented. When he finally arrived at Riverside Pavilion, he saw Feng Haodong by the window, opposite two others. A closer look told him who they were. After a moment’s thought, he called Feng Haodong and said he wouldn’t join their table.

Feng Haodong glanced at the two men across from him, picked up his bulky phone and asked, “What’s going on?”

Chai Jin replied, “I’ve got a few friends here who haven’t eaten yet. We’ll sit nearby and not disturb your discussion. When you’re done, you can join us if you like.”

Feng Haodong didn’t know what was going on, but in the end, he agreed over the phone.

So Chai Jin led Old Huang and the others inside Riverside Pavilion. Su Wenbin, Old Huang, and Liu Shan had never been anywhere so upscale before. Even Old Huang, forever the boss in demeanor, felt a little uncertain. He lowered his voice, “Chai Jin, who’s picking up the bill?”

Chai Jin just smiled, “Order whatever you want—I’ll cover it.”

Liu Shan swallowed hard. “Jin, are you sure? I’ve heard that just two dishes here cost a month’s wages. Don’t let us end up pawning our underwear to pay the bill.”

Su Wenbin instinctively pinched his nose. “That’s disgusting.”

Chai Jin burst out laughing and paid them no mind, finding them a seat inside.

You could really see a man’s character in the details. Take Old Huang—on the surface, a smooth old fox, full of pretense, very much the image of a seasoned conman. But it depended on who he was facing. Knowing Chai Jin would pay, he only ordered the cheapest tofu soup. Su Wenbin and Liu Shan just got a few vegetable dishes. They even joked to give Chai Jin an out: “We’re all on a diet lately.”

The waitress couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Chai Jin shook his head with a wry smile and took the menu. Flipping to the most expensive page, he ordered their favorite dishes. Then he looked up and asked, “Do you have Little Li’s White Liquor?”

The waitress smiled, “We used to, but supply got too tight and customers complained that sometimes we had it and sometimes we didn’t. So the boss just took it off the menu. If you really want it, we can buy it for you, but there’s an eight-yuan service charge.”

Liu Shan piped up, “That’s only five or six yuan a bottle, and you want to charge eight for service? Isn’t that a bit much?”

The young waitress, looking aggrieved, explained, “Boss, that liquor’s really hard to get. Of the eight yuan you give me, five go straight to the shop owner, so I only get three.”

Liu Shan wanted to retort, but Chai Jin stopped him. “Forget it, there’s no need to waste eight yuan. Bring us two bottles of Maotai instead.”

“Pfft.” Old Huang spat out his tea and exclaimed, “Brother, do you know how expensive that stuff is?”

Even the waitress looked a little dazed.

How could he balk at spending eight yuan, but be willing to pay dozens of times more for Maotai?

Chai Jin closed the menu with a laugh. “I know. Just go—bring the dishes quickly, we’re hungry.”

The waitress hurried off to place the order at the front desk. But soon enough, their table became the focus of the restaurant’s surveillance. No one wanted them to skip out on the bill. With all the food and drink they’d ordered, the total was already close to two thousand.

Liu Shan and the others kept chattering away. Old Huang, the slyest of the lot, kept smoothing his mousse-slicked hair and scanning the surroundings, plotting several routes for a quick escape.

This chatter started to irritate Chai Jin. He pulled a wad of cash from his bag and slapped it on the table. “Is this enough to pay the bill?”

A hush fell.

“Damn!”

“Jin, you—”

They stared at the pile of cash in disbelief—there must have been five or six thousand there. The moment the cash hit the table, every staff member who’d been eyeing them warily relaxed and went back to their work.

Chai Jin said, “If we’re here to eat, let’s eat properly. Do what you’re capable of—I’m not a child. I know you all have a lot of questions for me, but let’s talk another time.”

No one asked further. But they suddenly found Chai Jin somewhat inscrutable. Carrying a bulky mobile phone, casually pulling out thousands in cash—was this really just an ordinary laborer? What was he after, coming to work in a factory and putting up with all this?

Meanwhile, at the next table, Chai Jin’s actions had also drawn their attention. Chen Nianhua seemed a bit displeased and shook his head, “Why are young people these days so flashy when they’re out and about? Afraid people won’t know they have a bit of money?”