《Agent Yi Leng》


 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 2

    <strong>Chapter 2: The Struggling Yumei Restaurant</strong>


    Before Yao Yao could wait for Yi Leng to take out his iron bar and smash the three bully girls into a pulp, a mountain bike screeched to a halt. A long leg nted firmly on the ground, and its owner¡ªa handsome boy¡ªraised his brow. "Are you bullying people again?"


    The three girls, who had just been arrogant and domineering, immediately turned into obedientmbs. They jumped out of the car and helped Yi Nuan Nuan pick up her lunchbox. One of the girls with almond-shaped eyes even took the scattered rice and ced it back in the lunchbox, pretending to be concerned. "Oh, Yi Nuan Nuan, you¡¯re so careless. Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s slippery on the snowy road?"


    The other plump girl also spoke up, "Yes, why don¡¯t we give you a ride?"


    The third, a skinny girl, added, "By the way, howe your parents didn¡¯t drive you today in this snow?"


    Yi Nuan Nuan stiffened. "It¡¯s not polite to hit someone¡¯s face or expose their shorings," she thought. They were clearly targeting her weak points.


    "No need, thanks," she replied politely, keeping her manners even though they were venomous.


    She took her lunchbox, but the rice was mixed with dirty snow and could no longer be eaten.


    The boy nced at them, kicked the mountain bike and rode off.


    The three girls no longer paid any attention to Yi Nuan Nuan and got back in their cars, leaving her behind. In front of the road, an uncle was shoveling snow with an iron bar, blocking half of the road. The other half was obstructed by snow piles, forcing them to pass through a narrow passage.


    This passage was icy, and oil had been sprinkled on the ice. One by one, three electric bikes fell, and the three girls tumbled off, their backpacks scattering books everywhere. Luckily, they were bundled up for winter, and there were no serious injuries. The uncle seemed oblivious, as he turned and scooped a shovel of dirty snow toward them. The girls couldn¡¯t help but curse in anger, "Are you blind?!"


    "Whose child is this? Did you eat breakfast in the outhouse? Watch your filthy mouth!" The uncle wore an old military coat, looking unapproachable, the type of person who wasn¡¯t easily messed with.


    The three girls had been bullying ssmates, but when faced with this kind of street tough, they could only shrink away.


    Yi Nuan Nuan passed by them and felt a sense of satisfaction inside.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that the fierce-looking uncle, just moments ago, was now watching her back with a loving gaze.


    Yi Leng was a man of strategy. He couldn¡¯t directly intervene to help his daughter take revenge, but with a small scheme, he could still make them pay. Returning to the restaurant, he saw a fat man staring at him. stic bags filled with vegetables were scattered on the ground.


    Without asking, Yi Leng knew this man was the head chef of Yumei Restaurant. It was amon rule for chefs to buy the ingredients; they earned extra money through this task.


    "What are you doing?" the chef asked, his tone unfriendly.


    "I¡¯m the cousin of Yumei¡¯s owner," Yi Leng replied, not needing to think twice when dealing with this kind of character.


    "I didn¡¯t know someone wasing," the fat man said. Although his words were dismissive, he had already believed him. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and didn¡¯t offer Yi Leng one. "Take the vegetables inside. I¡¯ve got things to do."


    Yi Leng smiled faintly. He didn¡¯t need to guess; the reason why Yumei Restaurant was on the verge of closing down was the fat man, and he suspected there was also a female staff member involved with him.


    Sure enough, at around 9 o''clock, Wu Yumei came to the restaurant with a girl named Xiaohong. Xiaohong was Wu Yumei¡¯s fellow townswoman, working as a waitress and part-time cashier at the restaurant.


    Upon entering the restaurant, Wu Yumei could hardly believe her eyes. The ce was spotless, shining like new. The kitchen, a ce usually associated with mess and grease, was sparkling clean. The countertops were free of oil stains, spider webs were gone from the corners, and even the venttion fan des gleamed. The ground, once covered in years of grime, now revealed its original color.


    Yi Leng stood by, watching Wu Yumei¡¯s reaction with a smile.


    "You¡¯re too capable," Wu Yumei said, amazed. She had never met a man so willing to work, especially in a restaurant. He was a rare breed, an oddity.


    "Can¡¯t eat your noodles for free," Yi Leng replied.


    "This is too much¡­" Wu Yumei took out 100 yuan and then added 200 more, handing it over to him.


    She seemed to be preparing to settle the bill for the meal. In her view, this was a fair gesture for a meal.


    "I¡¯m notcking in money," Yi Leng didn¡¯t ept the money. He could tell she was an experienced woman, and he didn¡¯t need to y games. Genuine sincerity was enough.


    "You need a ce to stay, right? You came down from the mountain?" Wu Yumei asked.


    Yi Leng nodded, his eyes filled with sadness and sorrow. "I went to university for four years. My wife died in a car ident, and I never got to see her onest time."


    Wu Yumei bit her lip. "Old Huang, I won¡¯t hide it from you. My small restaurant is about to go under. I can¡¯t afford to hire anyone."


    Yi Leng replied, "A ce to eat and stay is enough for me. A person like me doesn¡¯t have anything else to ask for."


    Wu Yumei was straightforward, replying immediately, "Then you stay here for now. The rent is due in a month and a half. You can eat and stay at the restaurant until then."


    "Deal," Yi Leng agreed without mentioning wages. She was right; in a small restaurant like this, three people were enough. He was the extra one.


    In the morning, when business was slow, Xiaohong was ying on her phone behind the counter, while Yi Leng and Wu Yumei worked together in the kitchen. Wu Yumei talked a lot, and without Yi Leng needing to ask, she revealed her background.


    She wasn¡¯t from this area; her life had been full of ups and downs. She had run a clothing factory in the south before falling in love with a man anding to Jiangwei to start a business. Her husband passed awayst year, and she couldn¡¯t go back to her hometown. This little restaurant was herst resort.


    "Recently, it¡¯s been strange. Business is good, but I¡¯m not making any money," Wu Yumei said. "I¡¯m surrounded by a huge shipyard with thousands of workers, yet I¡¯m still on the brink of closing. It must be bad luck and ack of fortune."


    Yi Leng didn¡¯t want to discuss other people''s faults, but he had a suspicion about the chef and Xiaohong¡¯s involvement in stealing money. He nced at the iron pots hanging on the wall and said, "Maybe the pot isn¡¯t working properly."


    Wu Yumei said, "Then please help me fix it."


    "Do you have any old pots?" Yi Leng asked.


    Wu Yumei found a rusty iron pot, heavy and unused. It was said to be a high-quality Zhanqiu pot, but the chef didn¡¯t like how heavy it was and abandoned it.


    Yi Leng started working, using strong fire to season the pot, cleaning it, and then heating it with oil until it smoked. The process wasn¡¯t a secret; the keyy in how skilled one was.


    Yi Leng¡¯s movements were practiced and smooth, like a man with years of experience. Watching him work, Wu Yumei was left in awe.


    Once the pot was ready, Wu Yumei said, "I still have some leftover clothing from my old business. You don¡¯t have any spare clothes, so let me give you some."


    "Thank you, boss," Yi Leng epted her kindness. She was a good boss, but too kind, which made her vulnerable to being taken advantage of by the chef.


    As Wu Yumei went to get the clothes, Yi Leng thought about his daughter¡¯s lunchbox, and his heart ached. Eating rice with pickles was already pitiful enough, but now it had been spilled on the ground. As a father, he couldn¡¯t allow his daughter to go hungry while he worked at the restaurant.


    ---


    The kitchen was stocked with all kinds of ingredients. Yi Leng quickly sprang into action. During his time in prison, he often fantasized about returning home to cook for his wife and children. He had hundreds of recipes in his mind, especially the lunchboxes his daughter made, which had to be perfect in color, aroma, and taste.


    The kitchen knife flew through the air, the fiery wok sizzled with oil, and with a flurry of swift movements, Yi Leng¡¯s heartfelt dish was ready. He carefully packed it into an insted box, then grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the counter and asked Xiao Hong to charge it to the ount. After that, he left the restaurant and headed straight for the local school.


    During ss hours, no one was allowed to enter the school, but Yi Leng didn¡¯t need to. He had found the textbooks that had fallen off a scooter, which belonged to his daughter, Yi Nuannuan. From there, he figured out her ss and knew what to do¡ªjust take care of the gatekeeper.


    Yi Leng had received professional training and was excellent at quickly establishing rapport with people. A few words and a cigarette were enough to convince the gatekeeper to hand over the insted box to Yi Nuannuan¡¯s ss, exining that it was a matter arranged by her grandfather.


    "I know that child," the gatekeeper said, lighting his second cigarette and tucking it behind his ear. "She just transferred here. Her grandfather used to work in the factory. Her parents are gone... sigh."


    When Yi Leng returned to Yumei Restaurant, Wu Yumei was back too, bringing a pile of outdated clothes. As someone who had worked in the clothing industry, her sense of size was spot on, and the clothes fit Yi Leng perfectly.


    Just then, the fat chef came back and saw how harmonious Yi Leng and Wu Yumei were, and his expression turned sour.


    "Boss, why didn''t you tell me your cousin wasing?" the fat chef asked sarcastically.@@novelbin@@


    "My cousin is not your cousin, why should I give you a heads-up?" Wu Yumei shot him a re and smoothly covered for Yi Leng¡¯s lie.


    "So, what¡¯s your cousin responsible for here?" the fat chef pressed.


    "I help out with everything," Yi Leng replied. "I can do a bit of everything¡ªred and white dishes, wok, noodle pots, cold dishes¡ªjust some basics."


    "Oh, so you''ve been trained," the fat chef said, his gaze full of hostility, like a wild boar whose territory had been encroached upon.


    "A half-hearted level from being self-taught," Yi Leng smiled, knowing the fat chef was easy to deal with. If he wanted to, he could easily handle him.


    "This is Kang Peng, our head chef," Wu Yumei introduced. "Cousin, learn from him."


    Yi Leng understood. As the conversation deepened, he realized Wu Yumei was sharp. Even if she didn¡¯t see the little scheme between Kang Peng and Xiao Hong, she could feel the chef¡¯s irresponsibility. The soul of a restaurant lies in the chef, and it seemed like Wu Yumei didn¡¯t have any better options. Now that ¡°cousin¡± was here, Yumei Restaurant was about to change.


    At the same time, inside Zidi Middle School, after thest ss in the morning, the gatekeeper personally delivered the insted box to ss 2, Grade 5, and handed it to the bewildered Yi Nuannuan.


    ¡°Your grandfather sent this,¡± the gatekeeper said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yi Nuannuan politely replied, though she didn¡¯t believe it. Her grandfather was a quiet, retired technician who didn¡¯t understand emotional expression, let alone caring for others. He would never be thoughtful enough to send her a lunch. But who else could have made it?


    She couldn¡¯t help but think of Feng Xiaoxiao, the boy who had helped her out earlier in the morning.


    Though only in second year, and just fourteen or fifteen, the school¡¯s social hierarchy was even more straightforward and cruel than society''s. Students were not only judged by their grades and looks but also by their parents'' administrative rank, social status, and wealth.


    Jiangwei was a narrow, east-to-west city, and the shipyard area on the eastern coast was home to most of the poption, so the status in the shipyard was an important reference.


    Feng Xiaoxiao¡¯s father, Ma Xiaowei, was the deputy chief engineer, with a high rank and a lot of power. Feng Xiaoxiao took his mother¡¯s surname, and his mother, Feng Li, was the only daughter of the former factory director. As a result, Feng Xiaoxiao was the top ¡°idol¡± in the school.


    Yi Nuannuan, who was from Jinjiang, hadn¡¯t yet adjusted to this system of social status. She simply thought Feng Xiaoxiao was handsome, righteous, and thus considered him her ¡°idol.¡±


    The three girls who often bullied Yi Nuannuan had parents who were either mid-level officials in the shipyard or private business owners reliant on the shipyard. Although young, they had an acute sense of the "smell of poverty" on their ssmates.


    Poverty was the original sin. If your parents were poor, you were bullied as a result. There were also children whose parents were so busy with work that they neglected them, creating a poor parent-child rtionship, which made them vulnerable targets for bullying.


    Yi Nuannuan was the perfect example of both. Her parents had passed away, her grandparents were elderly, and she lived in an old housingplex. She struggled in school, wore sses and braces, and used a hearing aid. She was literally the perfect target for bullying.


    Among the three girls, the leader was named Yin Weiran, said to be a distant rtive of Gao Ming, the chief engineer. The chubby one was named Jian Shiyu, whose father worked in engineering. The slim one was Mei Xin. Together, they called themselves ¡°Yijianmei¡± (One Cut Plum). Their greatest joy, besides idolizing their ¡°best brother,¡± was bullying ssmates.


    When Yin Weiran casually nced around, she noticed Yi Nuannuan¡¯s desk now had an insted box. Suspicious, she whispered something to her two friends.


    ¡°Yi Nuannuan changed her box, wonder what¡¯s inside?¡±


    ¡°Nothing fancy, given her background, probably pickled vegetables instead of salty ones.¡±


    ¡°Still, how dare she bring it out.¡±


    Yin Weiran nced again and saw Yi Nuannuan leaving the ssroom with the box. An idea popped into her head, and she whispered to Jian Shiyu, "She knows it''s embarrassing. You go grab it and show it to the ss so she can feel humiliated."


    ¡°Got it!¡± Jian Shiyu, a tall and hefty girl, blocked Yi Nuannuan¡¯s path and grabbed the box.


    ¡°Give it back!¡± Yi Nuannuan stretched her hand out in vain.


    Jian Shiyu tossed the box to Mei Xin, who ran over to hand it to Yin Weiran.


    Yin Weiran held up the box, her expression filled with glee and unmasked contempt. ¡°Come and see, Yi Nuannuan¡¯s embarrassing lunch.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a full-course banquet,¡± Jian Shiyu joked.


    ¡°More likely it¡¯s just rice and pickled vegetables,¡± Mei Xin added.


    Yi Nuannuan bit her lip, enduring the humiliation from the three girls.


    Yin Weiran smirked as she opened the box, only to freeze in surprise.


    Inside was a beautifully arranged Christmas-themed meal. The rice was shaped into a smiling face, with a red carrot peel making a Santa us hat, surrounded by lettuce and shiso leaves, and garnished with halved boiled eggs, heart-shaped tomatoes, bright green broli, thick slices of salmon with alternating orange and white colors, and crispy golden-fried pork chops.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡± Yin Weiran looked at her own lunch, which had pig¡¯s head meat and braised intestines, and suddenly felt hers wasn¡¯t so appetizing.


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    /Flokixy

 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 4

    Yi Leng did not rush to protect his daughter because he had already seen that the person was Xian Mo¡¯s younger sister, his sister-inw, Xiang Bing.


    Xiang Bing was ten years younger than Xian Mo. Back when he was dating Xian Mo, she was still in middle school. His sister-inw had never liked him, so Yi Leng quietly turned around and walked away.


    ¡°Nuannuan, didn¡¯t you notice themotion?¡± Xiang Bing noticed what was happening. Her niece¡¯s hearing aid didn¡¯t have good sensitivity; maybe if it was an expensive imported model worth 80,000, it could solve the problem.


    But that wasn¡¯t possible. When her sister passed away in the car ident, nopensation was received. The case was still tangled in court. Xian Mo had worked hard toplete her PhD and stayed at the university, but her sry wasn¡¯t high, and they lived modestly. The only valuable thing in the family was the house she and her husband bought with a loan years ago. It had appreciated several times in value, and it would eventually be left to Nuannuan. How could they sell it? The mortgage was still being paid by her sister-inw every month.


    Xiang Bing¡¯s life wasn¡¯t easy either. She was approaching thirty, struggling in all aspects¡ªfailed rtionships, failed career. She couldn¡¯t stay in the big city and couldn¡¯t return to her hometown. Last month, she quit her job and still hadn¡¯t found a new one. This time, she was reluctantly sent back to her hometown, Jiangwei, by her parents for a blind date.


    It was destined to be an unpleasant Christmas Eve.


    Xiang Bing held Nuannuan¡¯s hand as they returned home. Though they were mother and daughter, they looked like sisters from behind. Xiang Bing was 1.65 meters tall and weighed 98 pounds, while Nuannuan had inherited her father¡¯s height. At just 14, she was already 1.68 meters tall and weighed around 80 pounds¡ªso they really did resemble sisters.


    When they got home, Xiang Bing immediately felt the oppressive atmosphere. The furnishings hadn¡¯t changed in over a decade: the old sofa,ndscape paintings on the walls, and the factory-issued calendar. The wooden floors were worn and faded. This house was one her parents had gotten when they married. It was a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, 78 square meters. The north-facing bedroom was where she and her sister grew up. It had a double-decker bed. Back then, it was where the two sisters slept, but now that her sister was gone, Xiang Bing and Nuannuan shared the room.@@novelbin@@


    Nuannuan¡¯s maternal grandparents both worked at the shipyard. Her grandfather, Xiang Dongming, graduated from university but due to his personality, never achieved much. He was only a technician when he retired, having lived a humble life.


    Now, Xiang Dongming was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. When he saw his daughter and granddaughtere back, he put down his reading sses and began to lecture.


    It was all the same old rhetoric, starting with her sister¡¯s unfortunate marriage. If only Xian Mo hadn¡¯t insisted on staying in Jiangjiang and hadn¡¯t married that unfortunate man, but had followed her parents¡¯ advice to return to the shipyard and marry her childhood friend Ma Xiaowei, now she would have been the dignified wife of the deputy chief engineer. She wouldn¡¯t have spent eight years as a widow or died in a car ident, leaving her ck-haired husband to mourn her.


    Based on these painful lessons, Xiang Dongming resolutely insisted that his younger daughter should return to Jiangwei to find stability¡ªtake the civil service exam, or work at the shipyard for a state-owned enterprise, marry someone she knew well, and live a stable, happy life.


    These were exactly the things Xiang Bing was desperately trying to avoid. She couldn¡¯t stand the stifling atmosphere of arge, decaying state-owned enterprise, the rigid and corrupt bureaucracy, and theplicated rtionships. The city felt lifeless, with no Starbucks, no Muji, and nothing or no one worth her staying for.


    Her mother, Ding Yujie, came out of the kitchen holding a te of fruit. She had been the top student at the shipyard¡¯s vocational school and was quite popr, with suitors lined up from Workshop One to Workshop Five. But she had made a terrible choice by rejecting the model worker Qin Dechang and instead marrying the university student Xiang Dongming. Now, Qin Dechang was the chairman and secretary of the shipyard group, a real big shot, while she regretted her decision, with no one to turn to forfort.


    From her mother¡¯s experience, she also wanted her daughter to marry someone with a strong future from the factory.


    The two elders had helped their daughter set up a blind date with someone whose family and prospects seemed decent. They invited her back for the holiday to meet him.


    Today was Christmas Eve, and the shipyard area was bustling. After Xiang Bing changed clothes to prepare for the date, she noticed her niece¡¯s hopeful look and quietly asked if she wanted to go out.


    Nuannuan eagerly nodded. She had no friends in Jiangwei and wanted to contact her ssmates from Jiangjiang, but her grandfather had taken her phone away. There was noputer at home, so she could only go to an inte caf¨¦ to chat with her ssmates.


    Xiang Bing, using a bit of charm, tricked her grandmother into letting Nuannuan join her for the blind date.


    ¡°Keep an eye on your aunt and make sure she doesn¡¯t leave early,¡± her grandmother reminded as they left.


    It was Christmas Eve, and the streets were crowded. Xiang Bing decided to take Nuannuan out for a meal first before heading to the blind date.


    The blind date was part of a dinner at a high-end local restaurant, Blue Ind Western Restaurant. Xiang Bing had been on many blind dates and knew well that the food at such gatherings was never satisfying. It was better to eat beforehand, so she wouldn¡¯t embarrass herself by looking hungry.


    However, Xiang Bing was short on cash. After walking around, she spotted a small, clean restaurant and decided to eat there.


    It was Yi Leng¡¯s restaurant, Yumei Restaurant. Business was booming today. There were already three tables of customers by the time they arrived. It was the weekend and Christmas Eve, so all the local restaurants were packed. Even small ces like this one were benefiting from the holiday rush.


    Kang Peng and Xiao Hong had already left, leaving only Wu Yumei and Huang Pihu to run the ce. They worked efficiently, one attending to customers and the other handling the kitchen.


    Yi Leng had to bring out the dishes himself. Just then, Xiang Bing and Nuannuan walked in, and Yi Leng¡¯s heart, weathered by years of hardship, raced like a teenager in love. He could swear that he had never been this nervous, not even when defusing a nuclear bomb.


    His daughter had arrived¡ªwas this the moment they would finally recognize each other? But a secondter, he realized he was overthinking it. They were just here to eat. Xiang Bing sat down and ordered: ¡°Tomato scrambled eggs, sweet and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried pork with chili, two bowls of rice.¡±


    This was clearly just a meal. Yi Leng didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to get close to his daughter, so he asked Wu Yumei to watch the stove and noted down the order. He then asked if she wanted soup¡ªsomething warm for the cold weather.


    ¡°What soups do you have?¡± Xiang Bing asked.


    ¡°Seaweed and pork rib soup, m tofu soup, abalone and sea cucumber soup¡­¡± Yi Leng listed off the soups, ncing at Nuannuan. The 14-year-old girl was looking down, lost in thought, not even noticing the unfamiliar chef.


    ¡°Tomato egg soup,¡± Xiang Bing ordered, picking something that wasn¡¯t on the menu. She was trying to be frugal, not wanting to spend too much money.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you already order tomato scrambled eggs?¡± Yi Leng smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°I like it,¡± Xiang Bing snapped. She could feel his eyes lingering on her, and it made her ufortable.


    ¡°Alright, tomato egg soup it is.¡± Yi Leng nodded and went to the kitchen.


    Wu Yumei rolled her eyes, muttering to herself that every time Old Huang saw a pretty girl, he¡¯d go out of his way to attend to her. Men were all the same.


    Huang Pihu quickly prepared the dishes for Table 4. They were simple, taking only five minutes to cook. Besides the tomato egg soup, he also sent over two bowls of abalone sea cucumber soup.


    ¡°Old Huang¡¯s acting strange!¡± Wu Yumei thought to herself.


    ¡°On the house! No charge,¡± Yi Leng said, pulling a red apple from nowhere. He was about to ce it in front of his daughter when his sister-inw snatched it away and took a bite.


    ---


    "Thank you," Xiang Bing said.


    "This is your sister, right? She¡¯s in middle school now, isn''t she?" Yi Leng tried to strike up a conversation. "Kid, do you know how to say ''Merry Christmas'' in English?"


    The noise from the customers in the restaurant was deafening, with clinking sses andughter, so Yi Nuannuan, whose hearing was weak, couldn¡¯t even hear what he was saying.


    Wu Yumei couldn''t hold back anymore and walked over to urge Lao Huang to get back to cooking.


    While Xiang Bing and Yi Nuannuan were eating, Feng Xiaoxiao and a few other boys headed across the street to the third floor inte caf¨¦. The boys, still in their second year of middle school, hadn¡¯t yet reached the age where they¡¯d think about rtionships. Going to the inte caf¨¦ and forming teams to y League of Legends was their favorite pastime.


    A Toyota Land Cruiser passed by the entrance. It was Yin Bingsong, returning home with his wife and child after a meal at his parents'' house. Yin Weiran spotted Feng Xiaoxiao¡¯s figure and hurriedly asked his dad to stop the car.


    Yin Bingsong, who doted on his daughter, pulled over without a second word. Yin Weiran jumped out of the car and said, "I¡¯m going to hang out with my ssmate. I¡¯ll head hometer."


    "Be careful, and call if anything happens," Yin Bingsong called after her.


    "You spoil her too much," his wife muttered, though she didn¡¯t stop her.


    Yin Bingsong started the car and, through the rearview mirror, saw his daughter enter a metal gate leading to a staircase that went up to the second-floor game room and the third-floor inte caf¨¦. He said, "The caf¨¦ is run by one of my old buddies. Nothing¡¯s going to happen."


    ---


    After finishing their meal and settling the bill, Wu Yumei didn¡¯t give any discounts. Lao Huang had secretly sent two bowls of abalone and sea cucumber soup without charging for them, but even so, Xiang Bing felt the meal was too cheap. "Everything back home may not be great, but the cost of living is so low here. Living on the wages from Jiangsu is prettyfortable."


    Leaving the restaurant and distancing themselves from the rowdy drinkers and gamblers, the world seemed quieter. Yi Nuannuan said, "Aunt, the dishes here taste special."


    "What makes them special?" Xiang Bing asked her.


    Yi Nuannuan tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "It has a taste of Dad."


    If Yi Leng had heard that, he would have likely burst into tears right then and there.


    "What do you mean by that? Do you remember how your dad¡¯s cooking tasted?" Xiang Bing asked, puzzled.


    "It¡¯s more of a feeling, not really the vor of the dishes," Yi Nuannuan said as she gathered her words. "Dad used to travel a lot for work, but whenever he was home, he¡¯d always cook. I was too young back then to remember the taste. Oh, wait, I have a photo. I¡¯ll show you."


    She pulled out a photo from her bag, showing the three of them together¡ªwarm and intimate, with the family dining table and a spread of dishes, proving that her brother-inw was indeed a talented cook.


    Xiang Bing handed the photo back to Nuannuan and checked her phone. "It¡¯s time for me to go. What about you?"


    Yi Nuannuan said, "I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯m going online. We¡¯ll meet upter."


    The two women split up: Nuannuan went to the inte caf¨¦ across the street, and Xiang Bing went to a nearby Blue Ind Western Restaurant.


    Coincidentally, Yi Leng, carrying a pot of hot soup, stepped out and saw his daughter heading up the stairs across the street.


    ---


    At the window-side table in the western restaurant, the boy had already arrived and was quite punctual. He was dressed appropriately, but his manners were somewhat...cking. The restaurant even provided ashtrays, and the young man, holding a cigarette, had a pack of hard Chinese cigarettes on the table, along with a leather-covered BMW car key. His down jacket hung on the back of his chair, revealing a white shirt with a fleece lining and an LV belt with arge logo.


    The boy¡¯s name was Jian Xiaotian, the same age as Xiang Bing. They had added each other on WeChat and exchanged a few messages, but today was their first time meeting in person. Jian Xiaotian called the waiter over and ordered two Angus steak sets, a beer for himself, and a drink for Xiang Bing. He even thoughtfully asked her how she wanted her steak cooked.


    "Well done," Xiang Bing replied. She usually preferred medium-rare, but she didn¡¯t trust the quality or cooking skills at the local western restaurants, so well-done felt safer.


    Jian Xiaotian ordered his steak medium-rare and, while waiting, lit another cigarette and started chatting, or more urately, introducing himself.


    "I work at the shipyard. After graduating from college, I joined the publicity department. My sry, including bonuses and benefits, is around 3,500 a month. I have a house and a car¡ªa BMW X1."


    "My older brother is Jian Dayong, he¡¯s in engineering, and he¡¯s close to the factory director. They¡¯re all like family..."


    "My second aunt works at the city¡¯s education bureau, managing elementary and middle schools..."


    "I have a great big brother who owns a shipping fleet..."


    "I have a younger brother who got a projectst year..."


    Xiang Bing stifled a yawn. Jian Xiaotian wasn¡¯t a bad guy, but he had no real achievements to speak of. All he could boast about were the people around him. Xiang Bing had no interest in this type of man, but out of politeness, she didn¡¯t want to shut him down directly. She needed to find a way for him to push her away instead.


    "Um..." Xiang Bing hesitated slightly, then asked, "Big brother, could I have a cigarette?"


    Jian Xiaotian froze in shock, but before he could answer, Xiang Bing grabbed a cigarette from his pack, put it in her mouth, and casually lit it with his lighter. She took a long drag, lookingpletely rxed, as if savoring every moment. She almost looked ready to say, "This is perfect."


    ---


    Back at Yumei Restaurant, customers kepting and going. Although each table¡¯s bill wasn¡¯t high, the steady flow of customers meant that the sums added up. If it were like this every day, business would be good.


    Suddenly, a van pulled up to the door, blocking half the entrance. Five or six people got out. The leader was slick-haired, wearing a ck leather jacket and carrying a small bag. He walked in with an air of confidence, followed closely by Kang Peng.


    They were here to stir up trouble.


    Wu Yumei wasn¡¯t scared. This wasn¡¯t 10 years ago, when street thugs would break in to smash and grab. The restaurant had cameras, and the police would arrive within 10 minutes, so she wasn¡¯t worried.


    But the group had clearly adapted to the times. None of them were carrying weapons. They weren¡¯t here to fight.


    "Wu Jie, I¡¯m Kang Peng¡¯s brother. I heard you¡¯ve been a little unreasonable," the slick-haired man said, sitting down and bringing a few people with folded arms behind him, all ring at her.


    Wu Yumei nced at Kang Peng. "Xiao Peng, impressive, huh? Can¡¯t even ask for your own money, so you had to bring in someone from the streets? What¡¯s your brother¡¯s name?"


    The slick-haired man replied, "My name is Rou Mingrui..."


    Wu Yumei patted his shoulder. "Rou, since you''re here, I can''t ignore you. I won¡¯t owe Xiao Peng a single cent. But let¡¯s be clear. Running a restaurant as a woman isn¡¯t easy. I trusted Xiao Peng and Honghong as if they were my siblings. I never questioned their shopping bills. Honghong handles the payments, and the ounts are a mess. I thought they were family, so I turned a blind eye if they earned a bit more. But what did they do? They started beingzyingte, leaving early, and cooking as slow as a snail. If they¡¯re like this, I might have to shut down!"


    She pped her thighs as she spoke. Rou Mingrui scratched his head in confusion. He wasn¡¯t afraid of tough talk, but dealing with a woman who pped her thighs was a different story.


    Just then, Yi Leng stepped out of the kitchen with a steaming pot of soup. Kang Peng pointed at him. "That¡¯s him! The one with thest name Huang!"


    Rou Mingrui, not one to argue with a woman, was about to speak when Yi Leng shed a sharp look, ced the soup in front of Rou Mingrui with force, and spilled it all over his pants.


    "Today, if you don¡¯t clean this up, I¡¯ll kill you!" Rou Mingrui shouted, fuming.


    But Yi Leng didn¡¯t even look at him. He darted back to the kitchen, grabbed a wet towel, and rushed outside. Rou Mingrui lost his bnce and fell, and hisckeys couldn¡¯t catch up with Yi Leng¡¯s swift movements. They could only watch helplessly as he rushed out.


    Across the street, on the third floor, mes erupted from the window of the inte caf¨¦. It was on fire.


    This was a true life-or-death situation, but Nuannuan was up there. Without a


    moment''s hesitation, Yi Leng, without even looking back, ran into the burning building.


    [----------------¡ã-------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 6

    When someone else says it, it''s just wild spection, pure nder. But when Yin Bingsong says it, it bes reasonable suspicion. After all, he once worked in the shipyard''s security department and could be considered an insider in the system.


    This Christmas Eve was destined to be anything but peaceful. At No. 178, Meigang Road, a fire broke out. Due to traffic congestion, the fire brigade took fifteen minutes to arrive at the scene. After controlling the mes, they began search and rescue efforts, saving 25 injured individuals. Most injuries were not burns but were caused by a stampede. Within an hour of the incident, city officials and leaders of the associated group arrived at the scene to direct the response.


    The highest-ranking leader on-site was Qin Dechang, the top executive of the Jiangwei Shipyard Group. The group is directly under the provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and Qin, a department-level cadre, holds a rank equivalent to the mayor of Jiangwei. The building that caught fire was part of the group''s property, so Qin was in charge of the firefighting and rescue efforts.


    In the biting cold, 62-year-old Qin Dechang, the group¡¯s chairman and secretary, stood in front of a fire truck, frowning deeply. Department-level cadres are supposed to retire at 60, but since his term wasn''t over, he had another year before retirement. Now, this man-made disaster, even though it didn''t ur within the nt, was bound to tarnish his record¡ªa potential blemish on his legacy.


    "This must be thoroughly investigated without dy!" Qinmanded. "No matter who is involved, we will investigate to the end. Neglecting the safety of the people¡¯s property is an unforgivable crime!"


    The leaders of the rted departments standing nearby nodded solemnly.


    Switching to a gentler tone, Qin instructed that the injured should receive the best possible medical treatment. If district hospitals weren¡¯t sufficient, they were to be sent to top-tier city hospitals. Additionally, he emphasized the need to console the families of the injured.


    Eager to impress, one cadre chimed in, "The families of the injured are rtively calm."


    This was because most of the people in the inte caf¨¦ lived nearby. Their families, having received the news, had rushed over. They weren''t crying¡ªnot because they were calm, but because they were still in shock.


    Qin shot a sharp re at the cadre, turned around, and boarded his ck Audi A6. The wind swept the hem of his coat, making his retreating figure seem somewhat forlorn.


    "To the hospital," Qin instructed before closing his eyes for a moment of rest. A night of meetings awaited, and his aging body would have to endure.


    At the shipyard''s affiliated hospital, Qin Dechang visited the injured. Most of them had external injuries, though some burn victims, bandaged up, were a shocking sight. Reporters from the nt''s TV station had also arrived. Qin Dechang, familiar with facing cameras, spoke confidently when the lens turned toward him. Just then, he noticed a young girl, with delicate features and a pair of almond-shaped eyes, lying in one of the beds. He approached her to offer his condolences, and the camera followed.


    The girl was Yin Weiran, who had never been camera-shy. She had appeared on the nt''s television programs a few times. Facing the attention of the high-ranking official, Yin Weiran replied in fluent, broadcast-style Mandarin, thanking Qin Dechang, "Thank you, Grandpa Qin. I will take care of my injuries and return to my desk as soon as I can."


    Qin Dechang reminded the girl to rest well and recover, but just as Yin Bingsong stretched his hand out to shake, Qin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He recognized Yin Bingsong as someone who seemed to be aligned with his political opponents, but still, he gave a brief handshake.


    After leaving the ward, the division¡¯s leaders approached Qin Dechang to report thetest developments. A public tip-off suggested the possibility of arson.


    The division leader was too eager. In fact, this so-called tip was nothing more than Yin Bingsong''s baseless gossip, but after a few rounds of cirction, it had turned into a significant lead. Arson was a different matter from an idental fire. Qin Dechang ordered that the case must be solved tonight and the suspect apprehended.


    The most anxious person right now was Sun Bin, the owner of the Ju You Inte Caf¨¦. The escape route was locked, the smoke rm had malfunctioned, and the automatic fire suppression system was nothing more than a decoration. All the money he saved on safety measures had now cost him ten times over¡ªpaying for the victims''pensation, hefty fines, and the damage to many people''s lives. Worst of all, he¡¯d probably end up in jail himself.


    By now, Sun Bin had fled. Sitting in his car, he made endless phone calls trying to use his connections, but no one dared to answer. Just as he was about to turn off his phone and disappear, a friend¡¯s call came through. ¡°It¡¯s all good. Your rival is the one who set the fire, and he¡¯s been caught.¡±


    ¡°My rival?¡± Sun Bin was confused. There were a few people who had grudges against him, but it hardly seemed worth going to the extremes of setting a fire. However, since it was a criminal case, it could at least reduce his own liability. He decided to return and observe the situation.


    The person who had been arrested was Yi Leng. The division acted swiftly, sending two inclothes officers to his ce. They didn¡¯t make a big show of it because there were still smart individuals within the department who knew that a public tip-off wasn''t always reliable¡ªit might be true, or it might be false. Regardless, they couldn¡¯t overlook any suspect.


    Meanwhile, the Yumei Restaurant was still operating. Their specialty waste-night dining, catering to workers finishingte shifts. Ma Ge, a regr who came for lunch, was also back to support the restaurant. The topic on everyone¡¯s lips was the fire.


    From across the street, thick smoke and mes billowed, resembling a warzone.


    Wu Yumei, the restaurant owner, turned around after cing an order, only to find Huang Pihu, an employee known as "Old Huang," fiddling with theputer at the counter. ncing at the footage from the restaurant¡¯s security cameras, she saw the two girls, one big and one small, who hade to eat.


    "That Old Huang¡­" Wu Yumei muttered, shaking her head.


    At that moment, a Passat drove up. Two well-built men got out. They were inclothes officers from the division¡¯s criminal investigation unit. They entered the restaurant, sat down, and Wu Yumei greeted them. Wu Bin, one of the officers, shed his police badge and asked, ¡°Did you hire someone new recently?¡±


    Wu Yumei turned and called out, ¡°Old Huang, they¡¯vee for you. Looks like you¡¯re about to be a hero.¡±


    Yi Leng, who had been watching, quickly realized that these two weren¡¯t just ordinary customers. People with this kind of demeanor couldn¡¯t hide their intentions. He hadn¡¯t nned on going into hiding, so he calmly walked over but didn¡¯t speak.


    "Let me see your ID," Wu Bin said.


    Yi Leng shook his head.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Then tell me your name and ID number,¡± Wu Bin pressed. He was studying Yi Leng, sensing that something was off. Yi Leng didn¡¯t appear to be hiding anything, but something about him didn¡¯t sit right.


    ¡°You¡¯re not talking? Alright, then you¡¯ll have toe with us for further investigation,¡± Wu Bin said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.


    Yi Leng extended his hand, ready to be cuffed.


    Wu Bin twisted his arm and cuffed his hands behind his back. He could tell from the way Yi Leng had extended his hand that the man had nned to resist, even trying to make it easy for himself to escape.


    ¡°He¡¯s a hero who saved people!¡± Wu Yumei cried, flustered. "Why are you arresting a good person?"


    The police ignored her, dragging the man away. They also told Wu Yumei to stay put and cooperate with the investigation.


    The chef was arrested. Wu Yumei sat down, despondent, and told the customers to leave. It was time to close for the night.


    Yi Leng was taken to the shipyard division''s headquarters. They entered through the back door, and the face recognition system between the A and B gates failed to register Yi Leng¡¯s face. As a result, they had to take him in for questioning directly.


    Once inside, they tried to confirm his identity again. Yi Leng remained silent. He refused to speak about who he was, making it difficult for the next steps in the investigation to proceed.


    ¡°¡®Huang Pihu¡¯ is a fake name, right?¡± Wu Bin said, his voice sharp. ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, we¡¯ll just drag this out. The detention center can hold you for up to 37 days, and in there, you''ll meet all sorts of people. Life in there is nothing like thefort outside.¡±


    Yi Leng showed no emotion. Though he had never been to a detention center in China, he had spent some time in the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. There, the U.S. military held prisoners from various conflicts, including Middle Easternbatants. In that hellish ce, prisoners were forced to wear poorly ventted face masks and goggles that made it difficult to breathe and see clearly. Long-term use of this gear damaged their respiratory systems and eyesight. They also wore one-piece prisoner suits with handcuffs and shackles in a tropical heat of about 35¡ãC. It was truly a torturous experience, worse than anything Yi Leng had faced so far.


    Wu Bin continued to apply pressure, trying to get Yi Leng to crack. He had his own suspicions about Yi Leng''s background, but Yi Leng wasn¡¯t giving him anything to work with. The longer Yi Leng stayed silent, the more frustrated Wu Bin became.


    As Yi Leng stood there without speaking, the atmosphere grew tenser. Wu Bin was well aware that silence could sometimes be a tactic¡ªone that Yi Leng was likely using to protect himself. The officer¡¯s job was to break that silence, but no matter how he pushed, Yi Leng''s expression remained impassive.


    Back at the restaurant, Wu Yumei remained unsettled. She knew something wasn¡¯t right about the whole situation. Why would Yi Leng, someone who had seemed to be an upstanding person, suddenly be dragged into this mess? The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. She knew that the people behind the scenes¡ªthe ones who had orchestrated the fire¡ªhad far more to do with it than anyone was letting on.


    Her thoughts were interrupted when another officer walked in, giving her a stern warning not to discuss the case with anyone.


    As the night wore on, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how deep the conspiracy surrounding the fire ran and whether Yi Leng was truly the person they had arrested or if he was merely a pawn in a muchrger game.


    Apologies for the iplete trantion earlier. I''ll continue tranting the remaining parts for you.


    Wu Yumei¡¯s concern for Yi Leng continued to grow. Despite the arrest, she knew that Yi Leng wasn''t a criminal. He was a hero, someone who had helped people during the fire, and yet now he was being treated as a suspect. She couldn¡¯t understand why things had turned out this way.


    The atmosphere in the restaurant had shifted too. With the arrest of Yi Leng, everything felt off, and Wu Yumei could sense that something more sinister was at y. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that the truth behind the fire was far from simple. There were people involved who would do anything to cover their tracks, and she feared that Yi Leng might have been dragged into something muchrger than he could have imagined.


    As Yi Leng sat quietly in the interrogation room, the officers had little to go on. The authorities weren¡¯t sure whether he was involved in the fire or not, and his silence was making things difficult. But Wu Bin¡¯s suspicion only grew stronger. His experience told him that the truth was hidden behindyers of deceit, and it was his job to uncover it.


    At this point, Yi Leng remained unyielding. The investigation had barely begun, and he refused to speak. What he had endured at Guantanamo was far worse than anything they could throw at him here. He had no intention of revealing anything, not until he understood the bigger picture of what was truly happening.


    Wu Bin grew frustrated, knowing that time was running out. But Yi Leng remained calm, unwavering, despite the pressure. He had been through far worse and wasn¡¯t about to break now. His silence spoke volumes, and Wu Bin couldn¡¯t help but feel that Yi Leng knew something important, something that could change the course of the investigation. But for now, it remained locked away behind his stoic exterior.


    Yi Leng was taken to the shipyard division''s headquarters. He entered through the back door, and the face recognition system between the A and B gates failed to register Yi Leng¡¯s face. As a result, they had to take him in for questioning directly.


    Once inside, they tried to confirm his identity again. Yi Leng remained silent. He refused to speak about who he was, making it difficult for the next steps in the investigation to proceed.


    ¡°¡®Huang Pihu¡¯ is a fake name, right?¡± Wu Bin said, his voice sharp. ¡°If you don¡¯t talk, we¡¯ll just drag this out. The detention center can hold you for up to 37 days, and in there, you''ll meet all sorts of people. Life in there is nothing like thefort outside.¡±


    Yi Leng showed no emotion. Though he had never been to a detention center in China, he had spent some time in the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. There, the U.S. military held prisoners from various conflicts, including Middle Easternbatants. In that hellish ce, prisoners were forced to wear poorly ventted face masks and goggles that made it difficult to breathe and see clearly. Long-term use of this gear damaged their respiratory systems and eyesight. They also wore one-piece prisoner suits with handcuffs and shackles in a tropical heat of about 35¡ãC. It was truly a torturous experience, worse than anything Yi Leng had faced so far.


    Back at the restaurant, Wu Yumei remained unsettled. She knew something wasn¡¯t right about the whole situation. Why would Yi Leng, someone who had seemed to be an upstanding person, suddenly be dragged into this mess? The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. She knew that the people behind the scenes¡ªthe ones who had orchestrated the fire¡ªhad far more to do with it than anyone was letting on.


    Her thoughts were interrupted when another officer walked in, giving her a stern warning not to discuss the case with anyone.


    As the night wore on, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how deep the conspiracy surrounding the fire ran and whether Yi Leng was truly the person they had arrested or if he was merely a pawn in a muchrger game.


    Wu Bin continued to apply pressure, trying to get Yi Leng to crack. He had his own suspicions about Yi Leng''s background, but Yi Leng wasn¡¯t giving him anything to work with. The longer Yi Leng stayed silent, the more frustrated Wu Bin became.


    As Yi Leng stood there without speaking, the atmosphere grew tenser. Wu Bin was well aware that silence could sometimes be a tactic¡ªone that Yi Leng was likely using to protect himself. The officer¡¯s job was to break that silence, but no matter how he pushed, Yi Leng''s expression remained impassive.


    Wu Yumei couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Yi Leng wasn¡¯t guilty, but there were far too many strange things happening around the fire. The investigation seemed to be going in the wrong direction, and she feared that Yi Leng might be framed for something he didn¡¯t do.


    As the night progressed, the pieces of the puzzle started toe together. It wasn¡¯t just about the fire¡ªit was about something much bigger. And the more Yi Leng stayed silent, the more it became clear that he was a part of a muchrger web of deception.


    Fortunately, Yi Leng was only confined for half a year before being transferred to another prison. Although the new facility remained a dark and oppressive environment, at least it was free from the inhumane torture devices.


    For someone who had endured such experiences, the threat of 37 days in a detention center hardly felt intimidating.


    ¡°We brought you back here for a reason, and I¡¯m sure you know exactly why,¡± Wu Bin said.


    Yi Leng remained silent.


    ¡°You still won¡¯t speak? Fine, I have my ways.¡± Wu Bin had Yi Leng photographed for a formal mugshot and then took his fingerprints with an ink pad.


    Everyone has unique fingerprints, much like an ID card. Before facial recognition became widespread, fingerprints were the most effective method of solving cases.


    Knowing that further interrogation wouldn''t yield results, Wu Bin decided to keep Yi Leng detained for the night and deal with him tomorrow.


    The division had established a special task force for the fire investigation, with Wu Bin as the deputy team leader. His next task was to arrest the inte caf¨¦ owner, Sun Bin. As he was about to leave, he overheard two female officers discussing something at theirputer. They were saying that if it weren¡¯t for this person, the inte caf¨¦ would have had at least a dozen casualties.


    Curious, Wu Bin went over and looked at theputer screen. It disyed a video from the fire scene taken by bystanders. Amidst the thick smoke and mes, and the noise of the crowd, a figure could be seen struggling to pry open a stainless-steel window on the third floor of the inte caf¨¦. As the window opened, there was a cheer from below, and arge vehicle drove up. The person in the video jumped down, holding the first girl who had climbed out. Although there was no close-up shot of their face, Wu Bin could clearly recognize that the person helping was none other than Huang Pihu.


    This was interesting¡ªsomeone who was supposed to be the hero had been reported as the arsonist.


    Wu Bin, ustomed to seeing twists in cases, didn¡¯t let this distraction bother him. He moved ahead with the n and sent people to arrest Sun Bin, the inte caf¨¦ owner, and bring him in for questioning.


    Sun Bin, a local man who owned the inte caf¨¦, didn¡¯t seem to have much information to offer, so Wu Bin handed him over to others for interrogation. Wu Bin then reviewed the security footage from the nearby surveince cameras on Coal Harbor Road, confirming Huang Pihu¡¯s entire rescue process. The footage from the surveince cameras was of much higher quality than the bystander video, and Wu Bin was astonished when he saw how Huang Pihu had climbed up the wall. This wasn¡¯t a regr residential building, but a shop front with tiled walls, and the first floor was nearly 4.7 meters high, offering very few ces to grab. Yet Huang Pihu had managed to scale the wall effortlessly. This kind of skill was extraordinary, and in ancient times, it would be seen as the ability to walk on walls.


    Suddenly, Wu Bin received a call from the duty office. The restaurant owner, Wu Yumei, had arrived. She came to speak on behalf of Huang Pihu, iming, ¡°I heard people are saying that our old Huang set the fire. That¡¯s pure nder. I have surveince footage from the restaurant¡ªhe was here, and never left.¡±


    Wu Bin checked the video from the USB drive. The footage showed that Huang Pihu had been busy in the restaurant since evening and had no time to start the fire.


    But this wasn¡¯t the important part anymore¡ªthe real concern was Huang Pihu¡¯s true identity.


    ¡°Go home for now, and we¡¯ll release him once the investigation isplete,¡± Wu Bin said as he copied the video and sent Wu Yumei away.


    Yi Leng sat alone in the detention room, his handcuffs removed. The room was filled with narrow wooden chairs¡ªonly enough room to sit, but not to sleep. The chairs were covered in red fingerprint marks, remnants of previous detainees.


    Meanwhile, at the Xian family¡¯s new vige near the shipyard, Aunt Xian and her niece had made a pact not to reveal the truth about the fire. If they did, they would be scolded by the older family members. Xian Bing simply said that the matchmaking waspleted, but the person was average, and she wasn¡¯t satisfied.


    On the television, the evening news was ying, and Xian Dongming remarked, ¡°Did you get the contact information? Don¡¯t reject them just yet. Let¡¯s talk first.¡±


    Xian Bing, having learned from experience, told her father that she had exchanged contact details and was chatting with the person. ¡°But it¡¯s gettingte, I¡¯m going to bed now.¡±


    Lying in bed, both mother and daughter still felt uneasy, but the little girl soon shrugged off the danger and seemed to enjoy the excitement.


    ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ve got a secret to tell you. Do you know who saved me?¡± the little girl asked.


    ¡°I know. I saw it. I think it was the cook from the restaurant where we ate. He looked a bit sketchy,¡± Aunt Xian replied.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not talking about that uncle. I mean the boy from my ss, Feng Xiaoxiao¡­¡±


    After discussing Feng Xiaoxiao, Yi Nuan Nuan mentioned that someone had brought her a delicate lunch the day before, but she couldn¡¯t figure out who it was.


    ¡°Such a mystery! Maybe we should get Detective Conan to figure it out,¡± Xian Bing joked.


    At that moment, Yi Leng sat in the cold detention room, unaware of the heartless chat between the mother and daughter.


    Later that night, Yi Leng suddenly fell ill in the detention room. He started foaming at the mouth and became incoherent. The detention staff quickly took him to the emergency room, where brain and heart tests were conducted, but there were no abnormalities.


    While strapped to a stretcher, Yi Leng babbled in a dialect that was hard to understand¡ªsomething simr to Minnan (Southern Fujian) dialect.


    This wasn¡¯t amon urrence, but it wasn¡¯t unheard of either. There were people in the world who lived on the fringes of society¡ªwithout ID cards, bank ounts, or connections, only poverty and disease.


    Wu Bin asked the doctors to extract Yi Leng¡¯s DNA, as the police had a gene database. In the past, many cases had gone unsolved due tock of technical means, but now, blood or hair samples from crime scenes could be analyzed. If Yi Leng hadmitted a crime and escaped years ago, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape this time.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s faking illness? The brain scan shows normal results. What¡¯s he pretending for?¡± Wu Bin asked the doctor.


    The doctor replied, ¡°Not necessarily. There are many types of epilepsy. While most brainwaves show abnormalities, 5-20% of patients may have normal brainwaves during an episode.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible that he¡¯s suffered some intense trauma and forgotten his own identity. That can happen too,¡± the doctor said.


    This was a possibility. People in underdeveloped areas often didn¡¯t have ID cards, and their data wasn¡¯t recorded in the poption registry, but they were still legitimate citizens.


    This created someplications, as Yi Leng had no legal identity, and he didn¡¯t seem to be an illegal immigrant from ces like Vietnam or Myanmar. Even if they wanted to send him to the detention center, they couldn¡¯t fill out the paperwork properly.


    The next morning, Wu Bin asked his colleagues to help with theparison. Huang Pihu¡¯s face didn¡¯t show up in the database, neither did his fingerprints, and there was no DNA record. This didn¡¯t mean he hadn¡¯tmitted a crime in the past, but it didn¡¯t provide any evidence to keep him detained.


    Wu Bin consulted his superiors again. The leader asked, ¡°Do you have any evidence of this person¡¯s criminal activity?¡±


    ¡°No, but he did act heroically,¡± Wu Bin replied.


    The leader responded, ¡°Don¡¯t pry into things you shouldn¡¯t. Just let him go. Consider it a misunderstanding. Don¡¯t make a big deal out of it. You understand?¡±


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 7

    People can be released, but that doesn¡¯t mean the matter is over. The local police station will keep an eye on this person and help him find his hometown and family.


    The police had lifted the detention on Huang Pihu. After taking him out of the holding room, he remained calm andposed, neither angry nor speaking unnecessarily.


    ¡°Comrade Huang Pihu, if you run into any difficulties in the future, you cane find me,¡± said Wu Bin.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Huang Pihu nodded and left.


    Back at the Yumei Hotel, Wu Yumei hadn¡¯t bought any groceries. The chef wasn¡¯t around, and she couldn¡¯t handle the business on her own. Sitting in the shop absentmindedly, she perked up as soon as she saw Huang Pihu return. She quickly went over and asked, ¡°So, what happened? Is everything okay? Did you clear things up?¡±


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t really anything to it. Did you buy the ingredients? How are we going to open the shop if you don¡¯t get anything? You should hurry up and head to the market. As the boss, you should know the prices. I¡¯ll make a list for you¡­¡± Huang Pihu was quite adept at gauging people¡¯s needs. Since Wu Yumei cared so much about him, he took charge without hesitation, not even suggesting that he buy the groceries himself, instead sending the boss to do it.@@novelbin@@


    Wu Yumei thought Huang Pihu was a solid, straightforward man. She didn¡¯t want to make him buy ck-market goods, but she didn¡¯t realize that truly honest people wouldn¡¯t deal in such things even if they did buy groceries. In any case, she drove her little rickety car and went to the market. The prices were a bit higher than the morning market, and the produce wasn¡¯t the freshest, but it was good enough.


    Afterpleting her shopping, she returned to see the shop wide open, sunlight pouring in. Huang Pihu was sitting inside, with a cup of tea and a pack of cigarettes by his side, squinting in the sun, looking like a giant middle-agedzy cat.


    ¡°Boss, we can¡¯t do this alone. I suggest you hire another waiter,¡± Huang Pihu said. ¡°There are always small chores that need to be done.¡±


    Wu Yumei replied, ¡°I can¡¯t find a suitable person right now. The locals have high expectations and won¡¯t work for others.¡±


    Huang Pihu said, ¡°I think it¡¯d be best to bring Xiaohong back. Give her another chance.¡±


    Wu Yumei remarked, ¡°Has Kang Peng given up on her? I knew it, that girl¡¯s really stupid. She got sold out and helped count the money for the people who sold her. Only someone as kind as me wouldn¡¯t mind her being so dumb.¡±


    She cursed her out freely, but she had already guessed that Xiaohong was eavesdropping from the kitchen. Sure enough, after a while, Xiaohong appeared, tugging at her clothes nervously, apologizing. Wu Yumei, seeing this, epted the apology, since Xiaohong was someone she had brought from her hometown. She didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for her and didn¡¯t want to exin it back home.


    With Xiaohong back to help, Huang Pihu no longer had to do any work himself. He didn¡¯t know where he¡¯d gotten two walnuts from, but he was now sitting there idly, ying with them while sipping tea, smoking, and basking in the sun. His feet were propped up on the table, bossing the two women around. He wasn¡¯t just the boss¡ªhe was like a king.


    And yet, neither Wu Yumei nor Xiaohong had anyints. Initially, Wu Yumei had thought of Huang Pihu as a simple, honest middle-aged man. But after witnessing his heroic actions when he saved someone the day before, her first impression transformed. He now seemed like a man with a rich, hidden past¡ªsomeone who was deep and full of stories. Her sympathy turned into admiration. Xiaohong, even more so, had an admiration for him three times that of Wu Yumei¡¯s.


    By around 11 in the morning, Yi Leng was still resting when he saw his sister-inw and her daughter arriving. He quickly got up, assuming they hade to thank him for saving Nuan Nuan.


    His guess was correct. Xiang Bing felt that, since the chef had saved Nuan Nuan, they should show their gratitude in some way. The two of them had discussed the matter the previous night. Normally, they would have given gifts, perhaps sending a banner or money! But Xiang Bing still had debts on her Huabai ount, and Yi Nuan Nuan didn¡¯t have any savings. Banners seemed too tacky, and as for gifts¡­ buying tea leaves or Eight Treasure Porridge? That wasn¡¯t something worth showing off. In the end, Xiang Bing decided to express her thanks through taking care of business. After all, aside from her main job, she was a food blogger and restaurant reviewer on Weibo.


    So, as she walked in, she was filming with her phone. On the screen was a greasy middle-aged man¡¯s face¡ªthe chef of the Yumei Hotel, Huang Pihu. His appearance today was a far cry from the heroic one she had witnessed yesterday when he smashed the window to rescue someone. Today, he looked tacky, a little sleazy, holding a cigarette and ying with walnuts, with none of the previous charm or grandeur.


    ¡°Here you are,¡± Huang Pihu greeted them. ¡°Come in. What¡¯s all this stuff?¡±


    Xiang Bing looked at the box in her hand with suspicion, saying, ¡°Oh, this is a tablemp I bought for someone from Jiangbei Ikea. After eating, I¡¯ll have to deliver it.¡±


    Huang Pihu didn¡¯t feel awkward at all. He waved for them toe in and order.


    However, the menu wasn¡¯t on the table. The old menu had been set when Kang Peng was the chef. Now that it was Huang Pihu¡¯s turn, everything had to be reced, and they hadn¡¯t decided on the new one yet. But Xiang Bing, who considered herself a food connoisseur, didn¡¯t need a menu. She waved her hand and said, ¡°Just bring out your best, most expensive dish. Money¡¯s not an issue.¡±


    Huang Pihu chuckled. ¡°Well, if you insist, I¡¯ll show off a little.¡±


    Xiang Bing took her phone into the kitchen to film. Upon entering, she was momentarily startled. She frequently visited restaurant kitchens, and five-star hotels usually had neat and clean kitchens. But small eateries were often a different story¡ªthere could be spider webs, dirty water everywhere, and sometimes rats running about. The kitchens used for takeout were particrly bad. However, the kitchen at Yumei Hotel was much cleaner than she expected.


    Huang Pihu put on an apron, donned a hat, and began working like a whirlwind, skillfully lifting the frying pan with mes shooting high. The heat in the restaurant¡¯s stove was much stronger than a home gas stove, and the ingredients quickly heated up, with moisture evaporating. That¡¯s why dishes cooked with high heat and oil always taste better¡ªthey develop that wok vor.


    Xiang Bing filmed from various angles, satisfied with the material, and eagerly awaited the meal.


    Arge enamel basin was brought to the table. This was Huang Pihu¡¯s first signature dish, something he had thought of after spending a night in jail. He had finallye up with this ¡°Da Hong Pao¡± dish.


    It was arge dish made with a whole chicken stir-fried in a special sauce. The chicken was marinated with a secret recipe, and the pan was heated with peanut oil, ginger, garlic, and scallions. After that, the chicken was stir-fried over high heat, with star anise, bay leaves, and Sichuan peppercorns added. A shot of white wine was poured in, followed by a generous amount of medium-hot, fragrantntern peppers. Sugar, salt, and five-spice powder were added before the dish was finished off with sesame seeds. The bright red chili oil made it look mouthwatering.


    Jiangwei, a northern coastal city, had many workers from the northeast, Sichuan, and Hunan regions, whose tastes were diverse. They loved spicy food, and the shipyard workers, who did heavybor, preferred hearty, meaty dishes. This dish was specially created for them.


    Xiang Bing and Yi Nuan Nuan stared at the enormous enamel basin, both in shock.


    In Jiangbei, you couldn¡¯t get a serving thisrge. Xiang Bing picked up her chopsticks and tasted the chicken. The spicy and numbing pepper vorbined with a hint of sweetness, and theyers of vor were immediately noticeable.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± Xiang Bing eximed. ¡°It goes perfectly with rice or wine. You wouldn¡¯t even mind a p in the face when eating this!¡±


    Huang Pihu brought over a te of cold cucumber sd, ced a bottle of beer on the table, flicked the cap off with his thumb, and Xiaohong brought over a thermos of rice. ¡°Eat as much as you want.¡±


    Next came a non-spicy dish of shiitake mushrooms with oyster sauce and bok choy, followed by a dessert of deep-fried ice cream.


    Yi Nuan Nuan, who loved sweets, particrly enjoyed this dish, where ice cream was wrapped in dough and deep-fried. It required precise timing, and Huang Pihu¡¯s skill was just right.


    The chef came out, grinning, and asked how the twodies were enjoying the food.


    ¡°Absolutely amazing,¡± Xiang Bing said, giving a thumbs-up. ¡°You didn¡¯t skimp on the ingredients. I can tell¡ªit¡¯s home-raised, free-range chicken, no older than six months.¡±


    Huang Pihu also gave a thumbs-up. ¡°You know your stuff!¡±


    He looked at his daughter and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sadness. It was Saturday, and Nuan Nuan wasn¡¯t in her school uniform. The clothes she was wearing were ones that Xiang Mo used to wear¡ªtoo big and hanging loosely on her.


    His sister-inw wasn¡¯t dressed much better. She wore cheap Taobao clothes and didn¡¯t even have a proper bag¡ªjust a random canvas tote.


    "If she hadn''t been imprisoned, if Xiang Mo hadn''t had the ident, Nuan Nuan wouldn''t be so lonely and helpless, with no one to rely on."


    After finishing their meal, Xiang Bing went to pay, but the brother-inw wouldn''t take his money. Xiang Bing said, "If you don''t take it, I won''te again."


    Wu Yumei spoke up, "Don''t argue about it, just give it a 10% discount."


    Xiang Bingughed, "As expected, the bossdy is straightforward." He paid the bill and pulled Yi Nuan Nuan along. "Let''s go, boss."


    It was as though they had all be a family with Huang Pihu and Wu Yumei. Wu Yumei didn''t correct him and cheerfully saw them off, "Come again."


    At the shipyard workers'' canteen, Qin Dechang appeared in the food line. It was amon practice for the previous party secretary to eat with the workers, but Qin Dechang wasn''t as down-to-earth. He wasn''t the type to eat with themon folk but also wasn''t one of those leaders who were so detached from the people. As a top leader, his time was precious, and in his view, waiting in line to get food was just for show.


    However, some shows had to be made. After the fire incident, Qin Dechang keenly sensed the unrest and ckened discipline. He was fortunate that the fire happened outside the factory area, or if it had been in a key workshop, the losses and impact would have been much greater.


    No one dared to sit at the same table with Qin Dechang, so he simply carried his tray and sat next to some workers, who were still talking animatedly. They hadn''t noticed him sitting beside them.


    They were discussing the fire rescue at the inte cafe, with one eyewitness excitedly saying, "If those people hadn¡¯t helped, who knows how many would have died."


    "Really? That¡¯s definitely an heroic deed worth recognizing," a strange voice suddenly interjected.


    One of the workers wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and said, "Of course," before turning around and realizing something was off. The man''s work clothes were too neat, and when he looked closer, it was none other than Qin Dechang, the top leader. He was startled and nearly jumped up.


    "Sit down," Qin Dechang said, pressing his hand on the worker¡¯s shoulder to keep him seated. He asked in detail about the situation, and the worker exined again. Someone had pried open the anti-theft window, and someone else had pushed arge truck over to act as a cushion. Qin Dechang sighed deeply. The public had a strong sense of self-preservation, and it was a good thing someone had helped; otherwise, the death toll would have been shocking.


    Qin Dechang immediately called his assistant, instructing him to arrange for a mission to find the rescuers and award them recognition to promote positive energy.


    The assistant passed the task on to the administration department, which sent it to the publicity section. The publicity section didn¡¯t have a head but had a deputy head named Mei Yuliang, who was handling things. Due to yesterday''s fire, the entire administrative department was working overtime to manage public opinion.


    Handling such delicate matters was something Mei Yuliang was quite familiar with. He called in the new recruit, Jian Xiaotian, and assigned him the task of interviewing the heroes of the fire rescue, writing an article.


    Jian Xiaotian had graduated from the Chinese department of Huaimen Normal University. Though his university was not prestigious, he was clever and well-versed in the rules of the shipyard. He was good at ttering people, and his actual skills weren¡¯t bad either. So, despite there being over ten people in the publicity section, all the work was left to him under the guise of "training neers."


    After epting the task, Jian Xiaotian went out in the afternoon to interview. He asked around the shops near the fire scene, and everyone knew that it was the new chef from Yumei Restaurant who had pried open the window, and it was a well-known local ruffian, Rou Mingrui, who had pushed the truck over.


    Jian Xiaotian walked into Yumei Restaurant and saw a man sitting with his legs crossed, resting his eyes while cracking walnuts. He asked a few questions, but the man neither confirmed nor denied it. He only said that anyone who saw such a situation wouldn''t stand by, but he didn''t want to say more or ept an interview or have his photo taken.


    Indeed, some people didn¡¯t like to show off. Jian Xiaotian had no choice but to return to the office. After racking his brain, he wrote an article titled "The Everyday Heroes Around Us." He thought it was good enough to score 95 points, and happily took it to Mei Yuliang for review.


    Mei Yuliang frowned as he looked at the article. It was clear he wasn''t satisfied.


    Jian Xiaotian asked, "Mr. Mei, do you want me to revise it?"


    Mei Yuliang replied, "It''s not about revising. It''s about the nature of the article. Look, the fire at the inte cafe¡ªit''s the chef and the street ruffian who went to save people. Where were our factory workers?"


    Jian Xiaotian replied, "They were probably eating and drinking."


    Mei Yuliang almostughed in frustration. "Xiaotian, you first need to understand one thing. Who is publicity for? Is it for our grouppany or for those outsiders?"


    Jian Xiaotian understood instantly. The group¡¯s publicity section was not like the media outside; they were on the factory¡¯s payroll. Everything was for the purpose of promoting the positive energy of the shipyard. Once he grasped that, the task became much easier.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll go find a few more typical examples," Jian Xiaotian said.


    "Good. Think it through," Mei Yuliang said, handing the article back to him and packing up to leave. He had two dinner appointments that evening and needed to rush to the next one.


    The first dinner was at Shunfeng Hotel, one of the most upscale hotels in the shipyard area. A friend had invited the client to dinner, and as per the rules, a few local influential figures had been invited as well, including Mei Yuliang. The dinner hadn''t started yet, and everyone was gambling in the private room. Mei Yuliang saw Yin Bingsong, a friend of over twenty years, with whom he had a good rtionship. Both of them had daughters in the same ss at the local secondary school, so their families were quite close.


    The fire incident was widely discussed on TV, and Yin Bingsong¡¯s daughter had been injured in it. Mei Yuliang casually asked about it, and Yin Bingsong replied that he had been at the scene when the fire broke out.


    Mei Yuliang had a thought. Since Yin Bingsong worked in the factory and had been present at the scene, why not give him the honor of being recognized as a hero? After all, the reward should stay within the family. When he shared the idea, everyone apuded, and Yin Bingsong grinned with pleasure.


    No one questioned whether the story might fall apart. Mei Yuliang had worked in publicity for years, expertly using tricks and tactics, and there was no risk of mistakes. Besides, the only people who might be affected were outsiders, and they were no threat.


    "Is there a bonus?" Yin Bingsong joked. "If there¡¯s no bonus, I¡¯m not interested. If there is, we can all drink to it."


    At Yumei Restaurant, the two tables of guests had just left, and Xiao Hong was cleaning up. Wu Yumei, seizing a rare break, entered the kitchen and said to Huang Pihu, "Old Huang,e stay at my ce tonight."


    Huang Pihu hesitated, "Boss, don''t you think things are moving a bit too fast?"


    Wu Yumei¡¯s expression darkened. "Old Huang, what are you thinking? Are you trying to take advantage of me?"


    Huang Pihu quickly exined, "Boss, I mean that you''re already arranging a ce to stay so soon. It''s moving too fast, and the probation period hasn¡¯t even passed yet."


    Wu Yumei replied, "Fast or not, I decide that."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll follow the boss¡¯s orders," Huang Pihu said.


    Wu Yumei snorted and left with a swish of the curtain.


    Then Xiao Hong saw the boss, while tapping on the calctor, swaying her hips and singing, "Don¡¯t let me look around anymore, don¡¯t make me guess every day, you¡¯re my groom, and I¡¯m your bride, awoo~~~"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 9

    At the end of the runway at West Flow Bay Airport, the top executives of the Jiang Tail Shipbuilding Group gathered to wee the Temasek Company investigation team.


    Qin Dechang stood at the front in a navy blue wool coat with a gray scarf, followed by the group''s general manager Yin Yongchen, third-level managers, and deputy directors.


    The group had been continuously losing money and was deeply in debt, surviving only by the slimmest margin. The lower-level workers were unaware of the situation, like frogs in warm water unaware of the impending crisis. These leaders understood that the group''s survival depended on this order.


    The airport was windy, blowing the trouser legs of the chief engineer and deputy general manager, Gao Ming, who was the youngest and most promising candidate to seed as chairman. He deliberately stood slightly apart from the others, looking down on those fat, old guys as if they were y chickens and tile dogs.


    Standing behind Gao Ming was deputy chief engineer Ma Xiaowei, even younger and more educated, but only five years younger than Gao Ming, destined to forever remain his right-hand man.


    Watching the business jet slowly descending, Ma Xiaowei felt a surge of ambition. Compared to the private jets of super-rich people, the Hummer, Range Rover, and Cayenne of these nouveau riche shipyard workers were nothing. A real man should travel the world in a private jet.


    The ne stabilized, a red carpet was rolled out, and group leaders stepped forward to wee it. As the cabin door opened and the stairs lowered, the first to emerge was a refined, well-fed middle-aged man - Ou Jinhua, a director of Temasek Holdings and head of the Singapore Ou Family Consortium.


    Ou had a legendary background. The Ou family was originally a Shanghai aristocratic family, split into four branches after liberation, spreading to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Thest branch, the youngest son, remained on the maind. While the first three branches developed well in the previous decades, the maind branch eventually surpassed them, growing rapidly in the past ten years, even acquiring the Singapore Ou family and reorganizing arge international shipping group.


    Just based on this order, calling Ou Jinhua the "Ship King" would not be an exaggeration.


    Following Ou Jinhua was a tall girl wearing colorful down clothing and snow boots, not looking like a business professional. Some of the less sophisticated old men in the weing party were secretly specting whether she might be Ou''s third child.


    Qin Dechang was already shaking hands with Ou Jinhua and his entourage. The girl remained detached, not participating in the handshake line, instead looking around with great interest.


    After the wee ceremony, the shipyard prepared a convoy. Motorcycles from the security department led, followed by Toyota Coasters and a long line of ck Audi sedans, with a grand reception rivaling national-level hospitality.


    VIP guests were arranged in the shipyard''s internal, non-public guest house, with a separaterge garden, a standalone sea-view vi, and dedicated chefs and security. The shipyard had gone to great lengths to ensure thorough hospitality.


    Ou Jinhua was a practical man who, after a brief rest, proposed visiting the ship production workshop. Qin Dechang and others apanied him fully. With dozens of people and propaganda department cameras, it was chaotic. No one noticed Ah Li slipping out of the guest house.


    ...


    On Coal Port Road, there was a hardware shop mainly dealing with anti-theft doors and windows, also doing some welding work. The owner was aid-off welder from the factory. Yi Leng had eaten at Yu Mei Restaurant, approached him, offered a cigarette, and exined his purpose. The owner found him some angle irons and a roll of iron sheet, and Yi Leng picked up the welding gun and started working himself.


    "You''re quite skilled. Where did you learn this?" the owner asked, curious about his proficiency.


    "I graduated from a technical school," Yi Leng said, reminiscing about his time at the International Rtions Academy. To maintain cover, trainees would learn some basic skills. He had chosen cooking and engineering sses, bing proficient in various technical skills including welding.


    Yi Leng was making a simple water heater. He bought a slightly better electric kettle from a nearby grocery store, reced the plug, made a water tank, and installed a shower head. With just a few dozen yuan, he could achieve hot water freedom.


    While welding, sparks flying, Yi Leng wore a protective mask and noticed a pair of slender legs in snow boots. He said, "Move aside, don''t get hurt."


    The snow boots shifted slightly but didn''t move away. When Yi Leng looked up, his heart unexpectedly stirred, reminiscent of his first sight of Xiang Mo.


    This girl didn''t belong to the shipyard area. She was too sophisticated, not just in her clothing, but in her demeanor - the kind of quality only someone who had seen the world would possess.


    The girl worerge sunsses and smiled sweetly: "Master, I''m just watching. Am I disturbing you?"


    "Oh, wee to observe," Yi Leng continued working. From the corner of his eye, he saw the snow boots excitedly stomping.


    Ah Li recognized this man - wasn''t he the one eating bread in the snow at the Jinjiang High-Speed Railway South Station za? She was genuinely happy for him, finding a job he was good at, with life ahead of him.


    "What are you doing?" Ah Li asked. She liked interacting with people, especially strangers in unfamiliar cities. The more she met and interacted, the more she felt she had truly traveled the world.@@novelbin@@


    "Making a water heater," Yi Leng said. "This way, you can have a hot shower for very little money."


    "Can I take a photo?" Ah Li pulled out thetest iPhone 5.


    "Don''t photograph my face," Yi Leng maintained his spy''s instinct, always avoiding photographs.


    "Click click click" - Ah Li took a series of photos. She thought men working seriously were most attractive, worth capturing this moment.


    After photographing, she continued exploring. It was Ah Li''s first time in Jiang Tail, but everything felt strangely familiar. She wandered the streets, taking photos, chatting with vegetable vendors, enjoying herself until noon when her stomach started growling.


    Since her heart transnt, Ah Li''s tastes had changed. Raised in Shanghai andter studying in the US, she had always loved light foods. Now she craved spicy and sweet dishes, fortunately maintaining her figure.


    For lunch, she naturally chose a local small restaurant. Ah Li disliked chain restaurants with centrally distributed semi-prepared dishes. To her, the best restaurants were family-run shops that had been operating for years, bustling with customers - only then could you taste the true local vor.


    Coal Port Road had dozens of restaurants. Ah Li walked around and stopped at Yu Mei Restaurant''s entrance because the man who was welding earlier was there.


    "Master, are you here to eat?" Ah Li asked.


    "I''m the chef here," Yi Leng said.


    "Great! Rmend something for me," Ah Li entered the restaurant.


    It was early, and the restaurant was empty. Wu Yumei had just organized ingredients from the market when she saw a beautiful girl in a red and white down jacket walk in, chatting with Old Huang. She couldn''t help feeling displeased. Old Huang might bring in business, but he was also attracting women.


    "What would you like, sister?" Wu Yumei pushed Huang Peihu into the back kitchen and handed over the menu, strongly rmending the spicy stir-fried sesame chicken.


    "I might not be able to finish that much," Ah Li said.


    Just then, Yi Bing brought Yi Nuannuan to help with business. Wu Yumei said, "Why don''t you two share a dish? I''ll split onerge portion into two. It''ll be more economical than ordering two small portions."


    Both being girls with small appetites, they were naturally happy to agree.


    Huang Peihu bustled in the kitchen and personally brought out tworge bowls of Dahongpao spicy chicken. Xiao Hong followed with two tes of fried ice cream - a sisterbo dish.


    "Spicy dishes need to be eaten with sweet dishes," Yi Leng lit a cigarette and said cheerfully. He loved cooking for his daughter.


    With few customers in the restaurant, Yi Nuannuan heard this and was moved. Her father had said something simr before, and they had even debated it.


    Ah Li tasted the Dahongpao, closing her eyes to experience the richyers - numbing, spicy, fragrant, sweet, and crisp. Though extremely spicy, she found herself increasingly addicted. Eating the fried ice cream afterward helped reduce the spiciness, making her even more satisfied.


    At the next table, Xiang Bing was asking about his niece''s studies. Nuannuanined about her poor English grades, saying their English teacher wanted to transfer and wasn''tmitted to teaching.


    Ah Li took the initiative to chat with the middle school girl.


    A LCD television hung on the wall, broadcasting the factory TV station''s news about fire rescue heroes. Yin Bingsong''s face appeared on screen, pompously telling the camera this was the responsibility of an old factory worker.


    Xiang Bing mmed the table: "How shameless! It was clearly this uncle who rescued people! By the way, what''s your name, uncle?"


    Yi Leng said: "Just call me Old Huang."


    Ah Li curiously asked about what happened. Xiang Bing vividly exined, with Xiao Hong adding dramatic details, saying the man on TV was a bad guy.


    "Wow, just like Spider-Man," Ah Li eximed.


    "Forget it, rescuing people isn''t about seeking recognition," Old Huangughed. At that moment, Ah Li felt a light in his eyes.


    Suddenly, the door opened. Several uniformed personnel entered, asking Wu Yumei to show her business license. They were from the district health bureau, conducting a routine inspection.


    Wu Yumei cooperated. After checking the license without issues, they entered the kitchen and were disappointed. They then demanded to see everyone''s food hygiene certificates.


    This caused trouble. Huang Peihu had no health certificate. The health bureau staff immediately pulled out a seal, closing the kitchen and fining them 2000 yuan. They asked the two tables of customers to leave, iming the restaurant was unsanitary and needed rectification.


    Wu Yumei had nothing to say. It was indeed her fault.


    The two tables of customers had to leave before finishing. Wu Yumei packed their food, saw them out, and watched as the health bureau staff also sealed the front door.


    Ah Li saw the light disappear from Old Huang''s eyes and inexplicably felt a pain in her heart.


    Wu Yumei said it was no problem, they could quickly get the certificates and reopen tomorrow.


    She didn''t know this was arranged by Yin Bingsong. Today was the health bureau, tomorrow would be market supervision, the day after city management - ensuring they couldn''t continue operating.


    Ah Li paid and took her packed food, continuing to wander. She reached the middle school gate. It was Sunday, with only high school seniors taking supplementary sses. The campus was quiet. The gate guard said, "Are you a newly assigned college graduate? Come back tomorrow. The principal is resting today."


    As if possessed, Ah Li asked, "Uncle, does our school need teachers?"


    The gate guard said, "Of course. There''s always a shortage. Capable teachers have been transferred, leaving behind those who continue to harm the next generation."


    Ah Li said, "I wonder if I''m qualified."


    The gate guard asked, "Which university did you graduate from? Do you have a teaching qualification certificate?"


    Ah Li said, "I graduated from Princeton University''s Comparative Literature, but I don''t have a teaching certificate."


    The gate guard said, "Sounds like a foreign university. What''s your English level?"


    Ah Li sweated, "I don''t seem to have a level."


    The gate guard said, "No way. First, get a domestic bachelor''s degree through self-study, then pass the English level 6 exam, get a teaching qualification certificate, thene apply."


    "Okay, thank you," Ah Li said disappointedly, leaving the middle school and continuing to wander. This time she arrived at a residential area and saw the four faded characters "Shipyard New Vige".


    Themunity wasrge, with six-story old buildings from the 1980s. Aspidistra grew in cement nters, dirty snow piled on both sides. Domestic brand small cars and more electric bikes were parked, each handlebar decorated with colorful cotton wind guards.


    Ah Li had lived in a standalone Western-style house in Shanghai''s Jingan District since childhood and studied abroad as a teenager. She had never encountered such a workers'' vige before. Yet now, she unexpectedly felt a sense of home, a strong impulse to stay and apany certain people.


    After sitting in the shipyard new vige for a long time, Ah Li finally returned. Walking east from the dpidated vige, she saw a high-endmunitypleted four years ago, looking much more pleasant. Called "Hawaii Style Coastal Residence", it had high-rise buildings, row houses, and the best location being a batch of standalone vis. The exterior wall was an iron fence, with mostly joint-venture vehicles parked in the spaces, mid-to-low-end Mercedes and BMWs everywhere.


    The shipyard guesthouse was built by the sea, with fifty years of history. Rumored to have hosted national leaders in the 1960s, it underwent renovation and expansion two years ago, adding a main building. It was one of the few five-star hotels in Jiang Tail, with a VIP building used only for internal reception, a separate courtyard with experienced old guards.


    So even without a pass, the guards let Ah Li in, recognizing she wasn''t a local.


    Returning to the sea-view vi, Ah Li handed the packed Dahongpao to the service staff, asking them to reheat it. Just as the leftover dish was warmed, Ou Jinhua returned afterpleting his investigations,ing back to rest and change before the evening banquet.


    "Dad, try this," Ah Li fed a piece of chicken into her father''s mouth, making Ou Jinhua sweat from the spiciness. Yet he still praised, "Mm, good. Very tasty. Where did you buy it?"


    Ah Li said, "At Yu Mei Restaurant. By the way, Dad, I want to do volunteer teaching here."


    "What?" Ou Jinhua didn''t understand.


    "I want to work here for a while. Wasn''t the n to go to Africa for social practice? I think here is good too," Ah Li said.


    Ou Jinhua didn''t dare object. His daughter had been delicate since childhood, fragile as a ss flower with a sensitive temperament. Since her heart transnt, she seemed like a different person - braver, with changed tastes. Previously, she wouldn''t even look at such unhealthy, oily, and spicy food.


    However, his daughter had be more sunny and positive. As a father, he was gratified and supportive. He didn''t seek great achievements for her, just wanting her to be happy. Whatever choice she made, he would fully support her.


    The original n was for Ah Li to be a volunteer in Kenya for six months, serve in a local medical institution, write a thesis, and then go to Harvard. But ns change - volunteer teaching in Jiang Tail could work too. But does Jiang Tail have Hope Primary School?


    A service staff in the VIP building called the group''s chief engineer''s office, whispering for a while.


    cing an inside line in the VIP building was arranged by Chief Engineer Gao Ming and personally implemented by Deputy Chief Engineer Ma Xiaowei. This staff member was responsible for collecting all information about the investigation team, with meticulous detail - what they ate, what they drank, any special preferences.


    Ma Xiaowei took the call and immediately reported to Gao Ming that the Ou family really enjoyed a chicken dish from Yu Mei Restaurant, very spicy and bright red.


    Gao Ming immediately instructed: "I don''t care how you do it, but this dish must appear at tonight''s reception banquet."


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 10

    The Chief Engineer''s Office was one of the most powerful departments in the grouppany. Apany''s core is its business, and the Chief Engineer''s Office manages shipbuilding. Other departments provide logistics support for shipbuilding. If the shipyard is an independent kingdom, Gao Ming would be its prime minister.


    Ma Xiaowei was naturally a general under this prime minister. He was a legend in the shipyard. He was once the city''s top high school exam scorer, admitted to Tsinghua University. He gave up the opportunity to stay in Beijing and resolutely returned to the shipyard. However, contrary to his expectations, the factory didn''t value talented graduates and assigned him to sit idle in the research institute. While his contemporaries were promoted to assistant engineer, he remained a nobody.


    Then came his reversal. Ma Xiaowei understood he had no backing, so he became a live-in son-inw, marrying Feng Jia, the only daughter of an old party secretary. When the party secretary was still in power, Ma Xiaowei''s career rocketed upward. He also gave the Feng family a grandson named Feng Xiaoxi.


    Now, not yet forty, Ma Xiaowei was the group''s deputy chief engineer. Everyone predicted that in the next leadership team, he would rise with Gao Ming - with Gao Ming as the top leader and himself taking the chief engineer position and deputy general manager. That would be truly making it.


    Some underperforming men in the factory liked to talk about Ma Xiaowei, saying they''d rather remain workers than be a live-in son-inw, with children taking their wife''s surname, which was shameful.


    But many young talents saw Ma Xiaowei as an idol, constantly specting about whether factory leaders had unmarried daughters they couldn''t marry off.


    Ma Xiaowei had gathered a group of people around him, willingly used by him, from all walks of life. He wasn''t stingy, always returning favors and providing corresponding care.


    After Gao Ming''s instructions, Ma Xiaowei immediately acted. He went downstairs and got into his ck Passat. In the factory, car choices were deliberate - upper management drove Audis, middle management drove Volkswagens. They couldn''t overstep. They shared onemonality: two small red gs on the windshield, showing their state-owned enterprise cadre status.


    Ma Xiaowei made a phone call to Rou Mingrui, a street hustler on Coal Port Road. Xiao Rou was somewhat rted to Ma Xiaowei, young and energetic. He was effective when needed, familiar with ground-level operations. Ma Xiaowei would find him to solve social issues.


    "Xiao Rou, help me with something quickly," Ma Xiaowei always got straight to the point. "There''s a Yu Mei Restaurant. Find their head chef. He''s needed at the guesthouse tonight. Remember, it''s the chef who can make spicy chicken, a big bright red te."


    "Director Ma, what a coincidence. I know that guy," Xiao Rou said. "I''ll arrange it immediately. I''ll deliver him before 5 pm."


    "Good, handle it," Ma Xiaowei hung up and drove to the guesthouse, wanting to take this opportunity to get closer to Ou Jinhua and make an impression.


    Xiao Rou drove to Yu Mei Restaurant, got out, and shouted, "Brother Huang! Brother Huang~"


    No one responded. Only the conspicuous seal on the door was visible.


    Xiao Hong came over, speaking through the ss door that the health bureau had inspected at noon. Being Sunday, they couldn''t process health certificates. Reopening would likely be in two or three days.


    Xiao Rou was amused: "Perfect timing to rest. Where''s Old Huang? I have work to introduce. Leaders have heard about his cooking skills and specifically want to try it."


    Xiao Hong said Old Huang and the boss went to install a water heater. Xiao Rou got the address, went there, knocked on the door, and exined the situation. Huang Peihu shook his head: "Not doing it."


    "Brother, this is a great opportunity. Director Ma isn''t an ordinary person. Getting his appreciation means you''ve made it in this field," Xiao Rou persuaded.


    Wu Yumei, being smart, added, "Really can''t go. Old Huang has no health certificate. If something goes wrong with the food, we can''t bear the responsibility."


    Huang Peihu also said, "I have no chef''s certificate, no health certificate. What am I going there for? We''ve already been fined 2000 yuan. If something else happens, it won''t just be a fine - I might end up in jail."


    Wu Yumei said, "Yes, Old Huang was already detained for a night. We''re not risking anything."


    Rou Mingrui said, "My dear brother, my dear sister, can''t my little brother handle this for you? Just go and show up, and I''ll take care of the rest."


    Wu Yumei said, "Little Rou, you might not be able to fix this. Today''s health bureau inspection on a Sunday is suspicious. This is targeting us. We won''t help unless we find the person behind this."


    Rou Mingrui had no choice but to call a friend. In small ces, socialworks areplex, and through one or two connections, you can find anyone. He found out the reason for the health bureau''s inspection - it was a so-called public report, but actually just familiar people who disliked Yu Mei Restaurant and wanted to cause trouble.


    The name wasn''t hard to find - Yin Bingsong.


    Rou Mingrui knew Yin Bingsong, a true top-tier social big shot who was untouchable.


    He could only call Ma Xiaowei and exin the situation. Ma Xiaowei was frustrated. He knew what Yin Bingsong was like. Logically, they should be on the same side, but they were actually ipatible, with deep conflicts.


    Ma Xiaowei thought to himself that such a small matter shouldn''t be escted to Gao Ming, nor did it require direct confrontation with Yin Bingsong. Helping Yu Mei Restaurant resolve this issue and responding as needed would suffice. In terms of resources, Yin Bingsong was no match for him.


    "Xiao Rou, handle it like this. Bring me the health bureau''s fine slip. I''ll take care of it. Come to the guesthouse to cook a dish. It''s not work, just a private gathering between friends to show off cooking skills. 1000 yuan for transportation, and I''ll help get the health certificate and keep the health bureau from causing more trouble. What do you think?"


    Rou Mingrui repeated these words verbatim. Huang Peihu, who was already nning to negotiate a price, naturally agreed when offered such satisfactory terms.


    "But I''ll bring my own pot and ingredients. I''m not used to the hotel''s kitchen," he said.


    "Of course," Rou Mingrui was happy.


    He went back to the store, took some of the morning''s purchased ingredients, grabbed his iron wok and spat, and took Huang Peihu in his bread van, arriving at the guesthouse before 5 pm.


    Ma Xiaowei hadn''t met the chef. He was busy chatting with Ou Jinhua and his daughter in the sea-view vi. As the shipyard''s top young talent, his demeanor and appearance were extraordinary. Ou Jinhua was quite appreciative.


    Ou''s daughter also chatted with him a bit. Ma Xiaowei secretly sighed, "This is how a real man should choose a wife." He regretted marrying too early. Comparing a Princeton-graduated, English-speaking wealthy youngdy to his fat, vulgar wife Feng Li was likeparing an elegant white deer in a green forest to a ck pig in a country pigsty.


    Feng Li weighed 130 jin when young, now 180 jin, with a face full of fat. She constantly visited beauty salons and luxury stores, was very suspicious, and often caused scenes at the Chief Engineer''s Office. Last time, she even scratched the face of a newly assigned female college graduate because the girl had sent Ma Xiaowei a text message about work arrangements.


    Ma Xiaowei had wanted to divorce several times, but his father-inw''s disciples were still in power. Divorce would harm his career. Having finally climbed to the deputy chief engineer position, leaving the shipyard would make him nothing. He couldn''t afford to lose everything, so he could only endure.


    Collecting his thoughts, Ma Xiaowei stood up, politely excused himself, saying he would return in an hour to escort the investigation team to dinner in the East Sea Hall of the main building.


    After leaving the vi, Ma Xiaowei headed directly to the guesthouse kitchen, where he found Huang Peihu already changed into chef''s attire. He barely looked at anyone, not out of disdain, but because he was incredibly busy and had to handle every detail.


    "Thank you, thank you, Xiao Rou, for taking care of the chef," Ma Xiaowei shook hands with Huang Peihu and then spoke to the administrative head chef. The guesthouse chef was dissatisfied with bringing in an outside cook, seeing it as disrespectful. Ma Xiaowei couldn''t reveal this was Gao Ming''s arrangement, so he could only bear it himself. After a lot of sweet talk, he finally pacified the administrative head chef.


    At 6:30 PM, guests were seated. Ma Xiaowei, as deputy chief engineer, could only sit at the end of the table. In fact, he hardly sat at all, constantly bustling about, busier than the administrative staff. The administrative director even joked, "Director Ma, are you trying to steal our jobs?"


    "We''re all for the factory," Ma Xiaowei smiled apologetically. Checking the time, cold dishes had been served for a while, and three cups of wine had been drunk. It was time for hot dishes.


    Ma Xiaowei ran to the kitchen personally, nodded in this direction, and Huang Peihu began cooking. His movements were skilled, ensuring quality and quantity - absolutely the explosive vor of a street-side restaurant.


    The head chefs looked down on this street-style cooking. A five-star hotel kitchen could make such dishes but considered it beneath them. Their division ofbor was more refined, with higher standards. Catering to a broader audience was key. Overemphasizing local characteristics was a taboo. Today''s guests were from Shanghai and Southeast Asia. Serving such a spicy dish would be disruptive.


    This was a reputation-damaging move. If Ma Xiaowei hadn''t guaranteed the guests would love it and taken full responsibility, the kitchen would never have allowed it.


    The servers brought up a Great Red Robe dish. To maintain authenticity, Huang Peihu even brought his own enamel basin to serve the dish, preserving its original vor and details.


    Ma Xiaowei watched the VIPs'' expressions. Ou Jinhua and others were casual, showing no particr reaction. With so many dish choices, they wouldn''t be attracted to a dish that looked entirely of red peppers, probably not even touching their chopsticks.


    But Ou''s daughter clearly became happy, even showing her little tiger teeth. At this moment, Ma Xiaowei''s heart stirred, feeling everything was worthwhile.


    Ah Li took a bite, then used public chopsticks to pick some and ce it in front of her father, insisting Ou Jinhua try it.


    The daughter-doting Ou Jinhua couldn''t eat spicy food, but if his daughter said it was good, he''d say even dog shit was fragrant. He tasted it and nodded seriously, "Mm, not bad."


    Since Ou had said it was good, others had to taste it. The Southeast Asian guests in the investigation team also took a bite, nodding and praising, but only one bite - they''d die before taking a second.


    Locals were curious too, tasting it and finding it nothing special. They were used to delicacies and weren''t impressed, but out of politeness, they gave a thumbs up, saying Ou was a gourmet.


    Ma Xiaowei understood - only Miss Ou truly loved it, but that was enough to achieve the predetermined goal.


    He looked at Gao Ming, who had a nk expression but slightly nodded, meaning "well done."


    Then servers brought out a te of fried ice cream, saying it was a special dish from the chef, given to the most beautifuldy at the table.


    The te was naturally ced in front of Miss Ou. Ah Li was delighted, her expression overflowing. She finally realized this was a carefully arranged reception, bringing the Yu Mei Restaurant''s chef.


    Gao Ming looked at Ma Xiaowei again, his eyes smiling. The leader assigned task 1, the subordinate proactivelypleted task 2 - well done.


    Ma Xiaowei was confused. He hadn''t arranged this. Who gave the script? Who asked for the dish? Could it be the chef?


    The banquet began its drinking battle. Unlike usual Maotai drinking, today they drank red wine, quite restrained. Ma Xiaowei didn''t want to miss this opportunity to build rtionships. Back and forth, he forgot about the chef''s matter.


    After sending the investigation team back to their amodation, it was quitete. Ma Xiaowei remembered the issue and called Rou Mingrui.


    "It''s done. I brought the fine slip and gave him 1000 yuan. Sent him home," Xiao Rou said.


    "Good, you worked hard. Let''s have a drink sometime," Ma Xiaowei said.


    ...


    Of the 1000 yuan Rou Mingrui gave, Huang Peihu only kept 200 for ingredient costs, returning 800. Xiao Rou, being a social operator, couldn''t refuse the money after some argument. He said the money would be spent in the store.


    "Come by often, have a drink with brother," Huang Peihu had the demeanor of a big brother, skilled at winning people over. He knew how to chat with society''s characters. He wouldn''t be someone who would just be ordered around. In the kitchen, he had already probed the details of the shipyard''s VIP reception, and even dressed in chef''s whites, he went to the East Sea Hall entrance for a peek, coincidentally seeing Ah Li. Now he understood everything.


    Basically, he was summoned by the factory''s big shots to cook a dish, just a guest chef. But Huang Peihu wouldn''t let this opportunity go to waste. He wouldn''t just be used; he''d use others too.


    After returning, he tore off the seals from the store door and stove, reopening for business, and casually spread word to create a mysterious atmosphere and sense of prestige.


    Fragrance needs more than just an alley. In this era of inte marketing, but you can''tck fundamentals. Without a solid base, even if hyped, it would cool down quickly.


    In fact, it wasn''t just Yu Mei Restaurant promoting itself. Other forces were involved too. Xiang Bing''s Weibo post got over 100,000 views. Not because the writing was great, but because her photography skills were excellent. She could perfectly capture the smoky, fly-restaurant atmosphere and the oily, spicy dishes through her lens. With "A Bite of China" Season One being hugely popr, her post went viral.


    But Weibo was for nationwide users. Outsiders wouldn''t travel far to taste the Great Red Robe. So it just gained a reputation. What really worked was word of mouth within the shipyard.


    Ma Xiaowei bringing an outside chef to entertain the investigation team, making the big boss eat with a mouth full of oil, giving a thumbs up and saying "OK", even wanting to pack some to take back to Singapore for family to taste - Chinese cuisine is global number one, Jiang Tail''s cuisine is top-notch, and the shipyard area''s foodpletely won over foreign guests. The simple masses love such stories, and this wasn''t baseless - it was verified by multiple sources.


    Rumors spread that Yu Mei Restaurant''s chef was a martial arts master who had saved those people at the inte cafe, also supported by on-site photos.


    Another rumor imed Yu Mei Restaurant changed its menu. A Great Red Robe dish was priced at 99.9 yuan, using free-range, green-certified local chickens. Only ten were avable daily -ete, and you''d miss out.


    People are always like this. When something''s freely avable, no one cares. But mention it''s limited, and they''ll rush to get it. In the following days, Yu Mei Restaurant''s business would boom - but that''s another story.


    The next day was Monday. In the morning, Huang Peihu didn''t go to get a health certificate. He didn''t even have an ID, so naturally couldn''t get the certificate. He made lunch, packed it in a thermal box, and delivered it to the middle school, chatting with the gate guard about yesterday''s experience.@@novelbin@@


    The gate guard''s eyes were sharp. He suddenly asked, "Do you know Old Xiang?"


    Factory people all knew each other. This was a ce with no secrets. Yi Leng honestly admitted he''d known the elder Xiang''s daughter for many years and wanted to take care of the child.


    "You must have some untold story," the gate guard said. "Don''t worry, I''ll keep your secret."


    Yi Leng expressed his thanks, left the thermal box, gave the guard a cigarette, and then left.


    Just after he left, Ah Li arrived. The gate guard said, "You really came to apply? I asked the principal this morning. He said your foreign university qualification is recognized in our country."


    Ah Li was delightedly surprised: "Really? That''s great!"


    The gate guard picked up the phone, called the principal''s office, and then let Ah Li in.


    Ah Li wasn''t actually there to apply, just passing by. She didn''t expect this unexpected surprise. She found the principal and introduced herself. The principal was a serious middle-aged intellectual who asked about her qualifications.


    "I didn''t bring my degree certificate," Ah Li shrugged. "I only have my passport with me."


    She took out a red-covered Singapore passport. The principal looked and said, "Introduce yourself in English."


    Ah Li''s English had no Singaporean ent, a very standard American ent. Though the principal wasn''t an English major, he had basic discernment skills. Hearing her, he was secretly pleased. Her English was good, but her foreign status was more important - now the school could im to have a foreign teacher.


    The principal said, "Not bad. However, our school has no establishment quota. You can only be a substitute teacher, teaching children English. What do you think?"


    "Substitute teacher means what was previously called a civil teacher?" Ah Li was delighted. "That''s great, it''s my honor!"


    The principal smiled bitterly. Several young teachers had been waiting for establishment and had to resign because substitute teacher treatment was low with no future. This well-dressed Singaporean girl was so excited about a substitute teacher position. This didn''t necessarily show her noble character, only that her family was wealthy and she was worry-free. For substitute teachers, this was just life experience, but for other young teachers, this was real life.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 13

    Yi Leng stayedte chatting with the security guard at the gate before heading back home. With the new electric water heater installed, the issue of insufficient hot water from the sr heater was finally resolved. His quality of life instantly improved. After a hot shower and a few drinks, hey on his bed,forted by the thought that his daughter was just across the hall, and slept soundly.


    However, in the middle of the night, he dreamed of Xiang Mo, the memories of her leaving him heartbroken once again.


    Seeing his daughter this time had brought Yi Leng immense emotional relief. Now that he had calmed down, he finally had the time and mindset to consider his own situation.


    Tossing and turning through the night, Yi Leng eventually made a decision before dawn. He would return to his unit, reim his identity, publicly reunite with his daughter, ept the disciplinary consequences, and try to transfer to a civilian desk job. If that didn¡¯t work, he would retire and leave Jiangwei with his daughter, making it his mission to make up for all the years he owed her.


    But Yi Leng wasn¡¯t naive enough to simply walk into the relevant department and announce himself. Four years had passed, and who knew what had changed at his old unit? His profession was highly secretive, and being missing for four years ssified him as a "lost asset," with a high risk of defection. After careful deliberation, Yi Leng devised a safer approach.


    The next morning, Yi Leng drove to the Jiangwei long-distance bus station. After observing the crowd for a while, he identified a pickpocket. When the thief stole a phone from a traveler¡¯s pocket, Yi Leng deliberately bumped into him, taking the stolen phone in the process.


    Behind the public restroom at the bus station, in a secluded corner, Yi Leng dialed the number of his former superior. It was disconnected. Thinking for a moment, he tried another familiar colleague''s number¡ªalso disconnected. He made five calls in total, all either disconnected, out of service, or reassigned to someone else.


    Left with no other choice, Yi Leng called andline number, the office line of his former unit, which he knew was unlikely to change. Finally, someone answered¡ªa duty officer. Yi Leng mentioned his former operations unit, but the officer replied that the unit had been disbanded a long time ago.


    "Is Xin Zichao still there? What about Zhang Wei, or Director Di? Surely someone must still be around?" Yi Leng¡¯s voice grew tense.


    "Sorry, I don¡¯t recognize any of those names. Please state your name and code," the officer replied calmly.


    Thendline was confidential, so anyone who managed to call it was likely not an ordinary individual. The duty officer¡¯s caution was understandable, but Yi Leng felt a sinking sense of foreboding. He hung up, removed the SIM card, destroyed the phone, and walked away.


    Next, he found a ck-market inte caf¨¦ nearby. Using specific search terms, he finally uncovered the information he was looking for: his former superior, Director Di, had passed away two years ago due to illness.


    Yi Leng had been a special agent, his identity highly ssified. Very few people knew who he truly was. Now, with Director Di gone, his unit disbanded, and his personnel file likely sealed in some forgotten safe, there was no one left who could verify his identity. His closest teammates had all perished, and the remaining acquaintances couldn¡¯t vouch for him. This wasn¡¯t just a matter of retiring or transferring to a civilian role¡ªthere was a real risk of being ssified as a defector and executed.


    If that were the case, Yi Leng would truly be "cold" (dead). It might be better to remain in Jiangwei, hiding under the alias "Huang Pihu," living as a greasy chef.


    At Xiliu Bay Airport, group executives were sending off the inspection team. Ma Xiaowei noticed that the daughter of Chairman Ou was absent from the boarding lineup. However, he didn¡¯t think much of it; perhaps Miss Ou had left the day before. After all, Jiangwei wasn¡¯t exactly a tourist destination¡ªit had no famousndmarks or delicacies, only polluted seawater and an old shipyard.


    Meanwhile, Ali was busy sorting out her housing situation. The principal had granted her a day¡¯s leave and assigned another young teacher, Ling Siyan, to apany her. Ling Siyan, a recent graduate from a teacher¡¯s college with a degree in English, was cheerful and chatty.


    Ling Siyan was a local, though she didn¡¯t live in the shipyard district and was currently staying in temporary housing provided by the school. She too needed to find a rental.


    She told Ali that the best residentialplex nearby was the "Hawaiian Coastal Neighborhood," but the rent there was expensive. After paying rent, there would barely be enough left for food. Plus, it was far from the school, requiring the purchase of an electric scooter formuting, making it less practical. Instead, renting an old unit in the Shipyard New Vige would save a lot of money, and there¡¯d be no need to buy a scooter.


    "Walking can be your transportation," Ling Siyan said. "It¡¯s good exercise too."


    Ali agreed. She had plenty of options¡ªshe could easily rent a long-term hotel suite or even buy a fully furnished apartment with modern amenities. But that would go against the purpose of her support-teaching program in Jiangwei, which was to experience "real life."


    Not understanding Ali¡¯s financial situation, Ling Siyan assumed the Hawaiianplex was too expensive for her and proposed a second option: "Why don¡¯t we share a small apartment in Shipyard New Vige? That way, we can look out for each other and save some money."


    "Sure!" Ali agreed enthusiastically.


    The two headed to a real estate agency and found a newly listed property. An agent took them to see a two-bedroom unit on the third floor of Building 17. Both rooms faced south and had good lighting. The decor was over a decade old¡ªwood paneling, door frames, and parquet flooring¡ªbut the original owner had barely lived there. The furniture was intact, but basic appliances and kitchenware were missing.


    The rent was 800 yuan per month, with a deposit of three months¡¯ rent up front. Ali was about to agree, but Ling Siyan stopped her with a look. Instead ofmenting on the unit, she suggested they check out other options.


    After viewing several other apartments with issues like high floors or pooryouts, they returned to Building 17. Ling Siyan haggled the rent down to 500 yuan, but the agent would only lower it by 50. After some back-and-forth, they settled on 700 yuan.


    Since Ling Siyan didn¡¯t have enough money, Ali paid three months¡¯ rent and a one-month deposit, totaling 2,800 yuan. After signing the lease and receiving the keys, the two went on a shopping spree for essentials.


    They headed to the busiest area in the shipyard district, Shipyard Boulevard, to buy appliances. The stores on this street had a decent selection, but for something like McDonald¡¯s, they¡¯d have to travel to Jiangwei¡¯s city center.


    As usual, Ling Siyan took charge. She chatted with sales staff, mentioning that she was a teacher at a local school and could help with student enrollments in exchange for discounts. The staff rmended some government-subsidized appliances, including a gas stove, refrigerator, and washing machine. A television wasn¡¯t necessary, and an air conditioner could wait until summer. They bought everything at the Haier counter.


    The sales staff provided a payment slip, and Ling Siyan asked Ali to pay first, promising to reimburse her once she received her paycheck. Ali nced at the modest total, took the slip to the cashier, and pulled out a ck American Express Centurion Card.


    This was a supplementary card her father had issued to her, one of the most prestigious credit cards globally. Abroad, its appearance would draw envy and admiration.


    But at the cashier counter of a department store on Shipyard Boulevard in Jiangwei, the ck card was promptly rejected.


    "Use a different card," the cashier said bluntly.


    The cashier, trying to be helpful, added, "Youngdy, why are you trying to pay with a beauty card? This isn¡¯t a bank card."


    "It <em>is</em>a bank card," Ali replied, confused.


    The cashier, skeptical but obliging, swiped the card. The POS machine didn¡¯t respond.


    Unbeknownst to Ali, China¡¯s banking regtions prohibited standalone foreign-issued credit cards. Cards had to be co-branded with local banks to work domestically. Moreover, the Amex Centurion Card wasn¡¯t technically a credit card but a charge card, making it even more ipatible.


    Ali was at a loss. She typically didn¡¯t handle her own purchases and carried no other cards besides the ck one.


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t a big issue¡ªshe could always call her father for help, and the problem would be resolved within half an hour.


    The cashier tossed the ck card back at Ali. "Next."


    Ali turned around and unexpectedly came face-to-face with a scruffy, bearded man¡ª<strong>Huang Pihu</strong>(Yi Leng).


    Yi Leng had just returned from the city and stopped by the department store to pick up some household items. To his surprise, he ran into Ali at the checkout counter.


    "What a coincidence," they both said at the same time.


    "Having some trouble?" Yi Leng had overheard the earlier interaction. He took the receipt from Ali¡¯s hand, nced at it, and handed both his and her receipts to the cashier. "Let¡¯s put it all on one bill," he said.


    "Thank you, Master Huang. I¡¯ll pay you backter," Ali said gratefully.


    "Stocking up on supplies? Are you settling down here?" Huang asked casually.


    "Yes, I¡¯m substitute teaching at the local school. I just rented a ce in Shipyard New Vige," Ali replied openly, her honesty and openness on full disy.


    "Well, what a coincidence. I live in Shipyard New Vige too. If you¡¯ve got more things to buy, let¡¯s get them all at once. I can drive us back together," Yi Leng offered.


    Ali mentioned she still needed to buy pots, pans, kitchen knives, pretty tableware, tablecloths, an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, a disinfectant cab, a water purifier, a garbage disposal, and more.


    Yi Leng immediately shut her down: "If you want to ''blend in with the locals,'' keep it simple. And stop buying everything here at the department store. I¡¯ll take you to the market instead¡ªone-stop shopping, and don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got a car."


    Hearing that there was a car, Ling Siyan decided to tag along. They went to the parking lot, where they found <strong>a battered Wuling van</strong>. Its doors creaked as they opened, revealing a backseat with no seating, windows covered in poor-quality bubble-ridden film, and an overwhelming stench of mixed vegetables and meat. Sitting inside felt less like being a passenger and more like being cargo.


    "Where are the seats?" Ling Siyan asked, her voice full of disbelief.


    Master Huang nonchntly pulled out two folding stools and unfolded them. "What do you mean? These are perfectly good seats."


    Ling Siyan wasn¡¯t having it. "I just remembered¡­ someone needs to be home to receive the deliveries from the mall. I¡¯ll head back now. Ali, you go ahead."


    So Ali climbed into the rickety Wuling van. Compared to the empty passenger seat, she found the folding stool more novel and exciting. Though there was no air conditioning¡ªjust a heater that still let in drafts¡ªher curiosity and exhration far outweighed any difort.


    Ali had grown up in a standalone vi in Shanghai¡¯s Jing¡¯an District, with maids and chauffeurs at her disposal. Due to her heart condition, her parents had always kept her under strict protection. She had never seen the "darker side" of the world or experienced the lives of ordinary people. What Ling Siyan found repulsive, Ali found new and adventurous¡ªan exciting yet harmless exploration.


    Yi Leng drove them to the market, which sold wholesale kitchenware and appliances. Unlike the shiny pots and pans of the department store, the items here were tied together with rough ropes and looked dirty. But the prices were shockingly low.


    Yi Leng helped Ali pick out a set of bowls and tes, a wok, a boiling pot, a cutting board, a knife, and a spat. These basics were more than sufficient. After paying, he loaded everything into the van and drove Ali to Shipyard New Vige.


    It was only then that they realized Ali had moved into the same building as Yi Leng¡ª<strong>they were now neighbors</strong>.


    Ali was delighted. "This is perfect! The two households downstairs are Warm Warm (Yi Nuan Nuan) and Master Huang. We¡¯re all familiar faces now. Neighbors watching out for each other!"


    With her new home settled, Ali began nning. She wanted to ship her pillows and sofa from her house in Shanghai, buy a ton of soft furnishings, and get herptop and gaming console sent over. She envisioned creating a brand-new, cozy home for herself.


    After helping Ali move her things upstairs, Yi Leng got a phone call and left quickly. Something had happened at the restaurant. This time, it was the city administration officers (chengguan) causing trouble. They imed the restaurant¡¯s signage hadn¡¯t been approved, and both the lightbox and signboard needed to be removed. There was also a fine to be paid. Wu Yumei, holding a rolling pin, was in a standoff with the officers when Xiao Hong called him for help.


    When Yi Leng arrived, the confrontation was still ongoing. A group of chengguan officers in blue uniforms stood at the restaurant entrance, while Wu Yumei, armed with her rolling pin, blocked their path like an unyielding fortress. The sight of Yi Leng seemed to give Wu Yumei renewed energy, as she appeared ready to battle the officers single-handedly.


    What shocked everyone, however, was that Yi Leng didn¡¯t back her up. Instead, he politely greeted the chengguan captain, offering him a cigarette. Somehow, Yi Leng immediately identified the captain among the group of officers.


    The captain waved the cigarette away with the back of his hand and, sticking to protocol, stated, "You¡¯ve vited the <strong>Urban Appearance and Environmental Sanitation Management Regtions</strong>. You reced your signboard without filing with the chengguan bureau, and the outdoor lightbox advertisement alsocks approval. ording to regtions, we need to remove the nonpliant signage and issue a fine."@@novelbin@@


    Yi Leng smiled and said, "Captain, someone must have tipped you off about our restaurant, right?"


    The captain ignored thement and replied, "If you refuse to cooperate, we¡¯ll have to call the police."


    "We¡¯ll cooperate," Yi Leng said calmly. "Please issue the ticket."


    Wu Yumei was furious at his ¡°weakness,¡± but before she could act, Yi Leng gently stopped her by cing his hand on the rolling pin and shaking his head. Seeing his steady gaze, she relented, threw the rolling pin aside, and stormed into the kitchen, muttering angrily about not wanting to see any of this.


    Remaining cooperative, Yi Leng personally climbed adder and removed the LED lights from the signboard that read "Yumei Restaurant." This was the first light he had seen on his arrival in Jiangwei on a snowy night, a symbol of warmth¡ªbut now, he had to take it down himself.


    The chengguan officers loaded the removed lightbox and signboard onto a blue truck. The captain handed Yi Leng a fine for 2,000 yuan, instructing him to pay at the Agricultural Bank by the next day to avoidte fees or increased penalties.


    "Thank you, Captain," Yi Leng said politely, as if the officers were there to help rather than dismantle the restaurant.


    After the officers left, Yi Leng returned to the restaurant, humming as if nothing had happened. This infuriated Wu Yumei even more. "Yi Leng, are you even a man?!"


    Yi Leng smirked and put his hand on his belt. "What, do you want to check?"


    Wu Yumeiughed in exasperation. "They walked all over us, and you didn¡¯t even fight back. I¡¯m starting to think you¡¯re missing some vital parts."


    Yi Leng retorted, "Do you even know who these people are?"


    "They¡¯re chengguan. I¡¯m not blind," Wu Yumei replied.


    "Chengguan are state officials with administrative enforcement authority. They have the power to act. As long as they follow regtions and don¡¯t resort to violence, we can¡¯t fight back. First the health bureau came, now the chengguan. Someone¡¯s clearly targeting us. That¡¯s the real issue. If we resisted and broke thew, we¡¯d be ying right into their hands. Losing the signboard and lightbox doesn¡¯t stop us from doing business. Once we fix the paperwork, the problem is solved."


    Wu Yumei grudgingly admitted he had a point but remained defiant. "Hmph, as if they¡¯ll approve our application. They¡¯ll just keep stalling us."


    "Everyone ys by the rules. If they refuse to process our application, we¡¯ll escte¡ªcall the mayor¡¯s hotline, seek help from the local radio station. If all else fails, we¡¯ll confront their bureau chief directly. In ancient times, suing officials came at the cost of one¡¯s life. Nowadays, it just takes some guts and persistence."


    Wu Yumei, finally conceding, said, "Fine. I¡¯ll pay the fine and file the application this afternoon."


    "Good. But don¡¯t rush. Let me stop by the electronics market and pick up some things to help you out," Yi Leng suggested.


    Just then, Ali approached, her face clouded with worry.


    "Boss Huang, I¡¯m looking for a part-time job," she said.


    Yi Leng raised an eyebrow. "First off, I¡¯m not the boss¡ªshe is," he said, pointing at Wu Yumei. "Second, isn¡¯t your father some big-shot businessman? How did you end up needing part-time work overnight?"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 14

    Ali said, "Something happened back home..."


    Earlier, when she called her mother to ask her to ship some of her belongings, her mother revealed that <strong>Ou Corporation</strong>was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, and the family''s assets had been frozen¡ªthey couldn¡¯t ess a single cent. Her mother, too, would be flying back to help resolve the crisis, leaving no one to take care of Ali for the time being.


    Ali immediately insisted on returning home to face this unexpected disaster alongside her family. However, her mother reassured her, saying, "Staying safe where you are is the biggest help you can give us. I¡¯ll send your things over. Just hang in there for three to six months, and everything should be fine."


    What Ali didn¡¯t know was that this "crisis" had been orchestrated by her parents. They both felt that their daughter had been shielded too much growing up. Life for her had been carefree, as though she¡¯d been raised in a sterile bubble. They worried that, despite her excellent education, she would struggle to face real hardships or challenges. If she didn¡¯t learn to grow now, it might be toote by the time they were no longer around to protect her.


    After consulting with doctors and being assured that her transnted heart was strong and healthy, they quietly revised their will. The shares they had initially nned to donate would now all go to Ali. One day, the <strong>Ou Corporation</strong>would be hers to helm.


    But a naive, carefree girl wouldn¡¯t be capable of such a responsibility. The journey toward bing a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial by fire.


    What her parents underestimated, however, was Ali¡¯s intelligence and sharpness. While she was sweet and innocent, she wasn¡¯t foolish. The situation hade so suddenly and without warning, but when connected with past clues, it seemed highly likely to be a well-meaning ploy. Rather than resist, she decided to y along, fully aware of her parents'' intentions.


    Ali was multi-talented, fluent in multiplenguages, skilled in various instruments, and adept at photography and painting at a professional level. With her qualifications and artistic expertise, she could easily earn a good living as a pricey private tutor. But as the daughter of Ou Jinhua, such a route didn¡¯t align with her identity or ambitions.


    Yi Leng was unaware of these behind-the-scenes machinations, and Wu Yumei certainly didn¡¯t know either. All Wu Yumei thought was, "If someone¡¯s in trouble, I¡¯ll help as much as I can."


    "The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, working as a waitress seems like a waste of your talent," Wu Yumei said.


    Ali responded, "I think being a waitress is great! I really like the food here, and I believe there¡¯s a lot of potential. In fact, I want to <strong>invest</strong>in this restaurant."


    Wu Yumei froze,pletely taken aback. This was beyond her imagination. Usually, when girls fall on hard times, they turn to others for help. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in this tiny eatery? There were dozens of simr small restaurants along Meigang Road. If Ali really wanted to enter the food industry, she could just open her own shop.


    Yi Leng, however, understood Ali¡¯s perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were worlds apart from what Wu Yumei had encountered in her life. This could be a rare opportunity¡ªone that most people might only encounter once or twice in their lifetimes.


    "Let¡¯s hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali into the room. Wu Yumei made tea and feigned interest, though she was internally dismissive.


    Ali flipped over the restaurant¡¯s menu and began sketching on the back, exining her vision. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, something akin to the Yum! Brands Group."


    "I¡¯ve never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yumei said.


    "Pizza Hut and KFC belong to them. They operate over 30,000 stores across more than 100 countries and regions, employing 800,000 people," Yi Leng exined, cigarette in hand, giving Wu Yumei a quick lesson.


    But Wu Yumei scoffed. She had long outgrown dreaming of fantastical ideas. To her, Ali¡¯s ambitious ns sounded like nothing more than wild nonsense.


    "We¡¯ll start by building a brand, opening multiple chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued enthusiastically. These were words she often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua, but to Wu Yumei, it all sounded like fairy talespletely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.


    "So you¡¯re the angel investor, then?" Yi Leng asked.


    "You could put it that way," Ali nodded.


    "How much are you willing to invest?" Yi Leng followed up.


    "Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali replied.


    Wu Yumei nearly choked on her tea. This girl casually mentioned half a million yuan like it was pocket change. But her serious demeanor suggested she wasn¡¯t joking.


    Now Wu Yumei was starting to feel tempted. She¡¯d opened this small restaurant purely to make a living. She had no grand ambitions or deep-rooted convictions¡ªmaking money was her top priority. If someone was willing to invest, not lend, then why not agree?


    Besides, Wu Yumei¡¯s financial situation was dire. She was carrying hundreds of thousands of yuan in debt. Her six-table restaurant was just enough to cover basic living expenses, but making a fortune would require immense effort, time, and dedication. The food industry was abor-intensive field, with little room for shortcuts. If someone offered her a way to leap forward, why wouldn¡¯t she take it?


    "Girl, you¡¯re not joking, are you?" Wu Yumei asked cautiously.


    Ali nodded. "I¡¯m not joking."


    Wu Yumei pressed further. "Do your parents approve of this? This is a huge amount of money¡ªdon¡¯t go stealing from their savings ounts!"


    Ali reassured her, "I wouldn¡¯t do that. I don¡¯t have that much cash on hand right now, but I can get it soon. All I have to do is sell a few of my cameras and lenses."


    "What kind of cameras are worth that much? Are they gold-ted?" Wu Yumei asked incredulously.


    "Hasseld H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.


    "That¡¯s it?" Wu Yumei asked in disbelief.


    Ali nodded earnestly. "That¡¯s it."


    Wu Yumei turned to look at Yi Leng. She trusted him above all. This restaurant had been on the verge of copse before his arrival, but under his management, it had miraculously revived and was even thriving. She attributed its sess entirely to him. In her eyes, Yi Leng held 80% of the decision-making power over the restaurant''s fate.@@novelbin@@


    Of course, there was another, more personal reason for her trust. Wu Yumei had already started seeing Yi Leng as an ideal partner¡ªa man of integrity and steadfastness, someone she could rely on. So, she deferred to his judgment.


    Without hesitation, Yi Leng made the decision: <strong>"Let¡¯s do it."</strong>


    Ali beamed with joy. "I have one condition: we need to rename the restaurant. Something more distinctive, memorable, and unique."


    The name "Yumei Restaurant" was too generic¡ªa casual choice reflecting Wu Yumei¡¯sck of branding efforts. While it had sufficed in the past, a more professional name was necessary for future growth and formal operations.


    "I¡¯ll throw out a suggestion: let¡¯s name it after Huang Pihu. How about ''Huang Pihu Restaurant''?" Ali said, standing up and grabbing a yellow tiger plushie from the counter. She quickly sketched a cartoon tiger on a piece of paper. "This will be our logo."


    The name "Huang Pihu" had originally been Yi Leng¡¯s moniker, derived from the plush tiger. Now, by sheer coincidence, it was bing the name of the restaurant. It felt like fate, and Yi Leng had no objections.


    With Yi Leng on board, Wu Yumei certainly wouldn¡¯t oppose the idea. While she personally preferred names like "Good Fortune Restaurant" or "Golden Harvest," she ultimately went along with the new name.


    Just then, Xiao Hong returned with a bucket of red paint. Yi Leng dipped a new mop into the paint, climbed adder, and painted threerge characters¡ª<strong>"Huang Pihu"</strong>¡ªon the white wall above the restaurant¡¯s entrance.


    Writing with a mop on a vertical wall was no easy feat, yet Yi Leng¡¯s brushstrokes were bold and precise. While it might not impress a calligrapher, to the neighbors and local merchants, it solidified his status as the most impressive figure on Meigang Road¡ªa man of both strength and skill.


    Ali decided to showcase her own talents as well. Xiao Hong fetched some additional paint in various colors and handed her a few brushes. Treating the brushes like oil paint tools, Ali painted a cartoon tiger in the nk space above the new restaurant name.


    Ali said, "Something happened back home..."


    Earlier, when she had called her mother to arrange for her things to be shipped over, her mother informed her of a family crisis: <strong>Ou Corporation</strong>was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, their family assets had been frozen, and they couldn¡¯t ess a single cent. Her mother, too, needed to fly back to Singapore to try to salvage the situation, leaving Ali to fend for herself for the time being.


    Ali immediately offered to return home to face this sudden disaster with her family. But her mother reassured her, saying, "The best way you can help us is by staying where you are. I¡¯ll send your things over. Just hold on for three to six months, and everything should be resolved."


    What Ali didn¡¯t know was that this "crisis" was part of a scheme orchestrated by her parents. They both believed that their daughter had been excessively sheltered growing up. Her life had been worry-free, as though she had been raised in a bubble. Despite her excellent education, they feared shecked the ability to face real adversity. If she didn¡¯t learn to grow now, it might be toote by the time they were no longer there to protect her.


    After consulting with doctors and ensuring that her transnted heart was healthy and functioning well, they revised their ns. The shares and assets they had originally nned to donate would now be left to their daughter. One day, <strong>Ou Corporation</strong>would be Ali¡¯s responsibility.


    But they knew that a carefree, naive girl wouldn¡¯t be able to handle such a burden. The process of shaping Ali into a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial.


    What Ali¡¯s parents didn¡¯t realize, however, was how sharp and perceptive their daughter truly was. While she was sweet and innocent, she was far from foolish. The suddenness of the crisis,bined with previous subtle hints, made it clear that this was likely a well-intentioned "game." She decided to y along, understanding her parents'' good intentions.


    Yi Leng and Wu Yumei, on the other hand, werepletely unaware of the orchestration behind the scenes. To them, Ali¡¯s situation was simple: someone had run into trouble, and helping her was the natural thing to do.


    "The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, wouldn¡¯t being a waitress be wasting your talents?" Wu Yumei said.


    Ali replied confidently, "I think being a waitress is great! I love the food here, and I see a lot of potential. In fact, I want to <strong>invest</strong>in this restaurant."


    Wu Yumei was stunned. Thispletely defied her expectations. Typically, when girls faced hard times, they would seek shelter and support from others. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in at this small eatery? There were dozens of simr restaurants along Meigang Road. If Ali really wanted to get involved in the food industry, she could have just opened her own shop.


    However, Yi Leng immediately understood Ali¡¯s perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were on apletely different level. The opportunity she saw was something Wu Yumei couldn¡¯tprehend. For most people, life-changing opportunities onlye once or twice in their lifetimes.


    "Let¡¯s hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali to sit down. Wu Yumei brewed some tea and pretended to listen with interest, though her heart wasn¡¯t in it.


    Ali flipped over the restaurant¡¯s menu and began sketching on the back. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, something like Yum! Brands."


    "I¡¯ve never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yumei said, puzzled.


    "Pizza Hut and KFC are part of Yum! Brands," Yi Leng exined, cigarette in hand. "They operate over 30,000 stores in more than 100 countries and employ 800,000 people."


    Wu Yumei scoffed. She had long since stopped dreaming of fantastical ambitions. To her, Ali¡¯s grand vision sounded like pure nonsense.


    "We¡¯ll start by building a brand, opening chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued, her tone confident. These were ideas she had often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua. But to Wu Yumei, they sounded like fairy tales,pletely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.


    "So, are you the angel investor?" Yi Leng asked.


    "You could put it that way," Ali replied.


    "How much are you nning to invest?" Yi Leng inquired.


    "Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali said.


    Wu Yumei nearly spat out her tea. This girl casually mentioned half a million yuan like it was nothing. But her serious demeanor suggested she wasn¡¯t joking.


    Now Wu Yumei was starting to feel tempted. She had opened this small restaurant simply to make a living and had no lofty ambitions. Making money was her sole priority, and if someone was willing to invest, not lend, why wouldn¡¯t she agree?


    "What kind of cameras are worth that much? Are they gold-ted?" Wu Yumei asked skeptically.


    "Hasseld H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.


    "That¡¯s it?" Wu Yumei asked, still in disbelief.


    Ali nodded earnestly. "That¡¯s it."


    By the afternoon, Ali had sold her cameras and other luxury items, including a tinum handbag and a Cartier watch her mother had given her. She received 580,000 yuan in cash as starting capital. She immediately withdrew 49,000 yuan and began making moves.


    With her guidance, the restaurant began the process of registering as apany. They also expanded by acquiring the dry-cleaner¡¯s shop next door, which was closing due to poor business. After the dry-cleaning machines were removed, there was no need for renovations¡ªthe space was ready for use as a dining area.


    The newpany was registered under the name <strong>Jiangwei Wuyumei Culinary Consulting and Management Development Co., Ltd.</strong>, with Wu Yumei as the legal representative. They also registered trademarks for "Huang Pihu," "Wuyumei," and "Spicy Sesame Chicken."


    Ali¡¯s strategic vision was clear: as an individual business entity, the restaurant couldn¡¯t franchise or open additional branches. But as apany, the possibilities for expansion were endless. Although Wu Yumei didn¡¯t fully understand the details, her instincts told her that Ali¡¯s direction was the right one.


    Meanwhile, Ali continued to bnce her teaching responsibilities. She visited the school and asked Yi Nuan Nuan what she had for lunch.


    "Fried rice with avocado, cherry tomatoes, braised beef shank, and a yogurt," Nuan Nuan replied.


    "Did you get a note with it?" Ali asked.


    Nuan Nuan pulled out a pale yellow sticky note with neatly written calligraphy. The handwriting matched the note from the restaurant.


    "So it was Huang Pihu who did this," Ali thought, feeling intrigued. She didn¡¯t immediately reveal this secret to Nuan Nuan.


    Later, Ali shared some good news with Nuan Nuan: they were now neighbors, living in the same building, one upstairs and the other downstairs.


    Their conversation was interrupted by two girls, Jian Shiyu and Mei Xin, who had been watching them from a distance. Mei Xin whispered bitterly, "We were going to teach Yi Nuan Nuan a lesson. Who knew Ali would stick to her side like glue? Guess we¡¯ll have to back off for now."


    "Let¡¯s go to the hospital and find the boss," Mei Xin said. They rode their electric scooters straight to the shipyard hospital, where they reported to their leader, Yin Weiran, about the recent events at school, emphasizing how much attention Yi Nuan Nuan was getting.


    "I¡¯m getting discharged tomorrow!" Yin Weiran dered angrily. "I¡¯ll put her in her ce!"


    "But, boss, your leg¡¯s still in a cast. Are you sure you¡¯re up for it?" Jian Shiyu asked hesitantly.


    "That¡¯s nothing," Yin Weiran replied. "My dad will drive me to school. Besides, with my injury, my resilience will inspire everyone. Even the ss monitor might start helping me every day."


    Elsewhere, ss monitor Feng Xiaoxiao, who had been pedaling home to the Hawaiian Coastal Vis, returned to an empty house as usual. His mother was likely at the beauty salon or ying mahjong, while his father was forever "working overtime."


    Just as loneliness began to creep into his heart, he heard movement from the garage. His father¡¯s ck Passat was back.


    "Today must be important," Feng thought, rushing downstairs to find his father loading Maotai liquor and premium cigarettes into the car.


    "Your grandfather is having a big birthday celebration today," Ma Xiaowei said. "Go change¡ªyou¡¯reing with me."


    At that moment, Feng Xiaoxiao realized today wasn¡¯t just any day.


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 16

    Yi Leng had loved fighting ever since he was a child. He had both a sharp mind and a strong body, making him quite the anomaly. In elementary school, he was the kind of kid who would receive a "Model Student" certificate in the morning and a disciplinary warning in the afternoon. During high school, he got caught up in a case that led to him being coerced into enrolling at the International Rtions Academy.


    At the academy, he initially studied intelligence analysis, which was more of a desk job. But after taking an elective in mixed martial arts, he underwent brutal training in lethalbat techniques taught by special forces instructors. These weren¡¯t shy moves, but brutal, efficient techniques designed to kill in a single strike. After a few field missions, he somehow transitioned from an analyst to an operative, bing a figure akin to James Bond.


    During four years of imprisonment, Yi Leng was held on an isted ind near Cape Horn. In this deste and freezing ce, there was little to do, and fights between inmates were a daily urrence. For thugs like Yin Bingsong, snapping someone¡¯s neck was a brag-worthy feat they¡¯d boast about for years. For Yi Leng, it was just a casual part of survival.


    Even if the surveince cameras hadn¡¯t been turned off, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. The footage would show Yi Leng seemingly dodging and defending himself, his movements cleverly concealed and seamlessly executed, like action scenes from a Jackie Chan movie.


    Before anyone could react or pull out their phones to record, Chef Huang Pi Hu had already dislocated six men¡¯s shoulders, bringing the fight to an abrupt end.


    The six men groaned in pain, drenched in sweat and clutching their dislocated arms. Fighting was no longer an option.


    A Li, however, had recorded the entire scene on her phone. Her heart was racing, and adrenaline coursed through her veins. She was at a loss for words, overwhelmed with excitement.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Hong leaned against the doorframe, munching on sunflower seeds and enjoying the spectacle like it was her favorite TV show.


    Yin Bingsong, humiliated after hisplete defeat, was fuming. As a well-known figure in the local underworld, being taken down so easily in front of hisckeys was a massive blow to his pride. He couldn¡¯t let this slide unless he found a way to regain face by defeating the one who had dislocated his arm.


    However, with all six of them painfully nursing their dislocated shoulders, putting up a fight was impossible. Still, Yin Bingsong couldn¡¯t resist throwing out some harsh words:"Put my arm back in, or I¡¯ll kill you!"


    Remarkably, Huang Pi Huplied. Grabbing Yin Bingsong¡¯s arm, he applied force. With a"pop", the shoulder was back in ce.


    Yin Bingsong, still woozy from the alcohol, wasn¡¯t thinking clearly. With his newly-realigned arm not yet functional, he swung at Huang Pi Hu with his other arm,nding a punch that sent the chef flying.


    Huang Pi Hu crashed into the wall and slid to the floor, seemingly unconscious.


    Yin Bingsong stared at his fist in disbelief."Wow, I had no idea I was this strong!"


    Rou Mingrui barely managed to keep a straight face, thinking to himself,"Damn, Brother Huang deserves an Oscar for that performance. Looks like he¡¯s going to milk this situation forpensation."


    Yi Leng was a master at faking injuries, thanks to years of dealing with real bullets and des. His reactions and expressions were spot-on, making his performances incredibly convincing.


    Though Huang Pi Hu¡¯s dramatic fall might have been a bit over-the-top, it achieved the desired effect. Yin Bingsong felt he had reimed some dignity, while Huang Pi Hu had set the stage for a financial settlement.


    Outside, police lights shed as officers finally arrived. Being seasoned professionals, they recognized many of the faces present and approached the situation with measured diplomacy. Huang Pi Hu eventually "regained consciousness" and, when asked if he needed to go to the hospital, insisted that he did because of a severe headache.


    The officers didn¡¯t immediately call for an ambnce. Instead, they gathered both sides outside for mediation. They exined there were two options: settle the matter amicably or escte it, which would result in both parties being detained.


    This was standard procedure for minor scuffles without serious injuries. Escting the matter would only waste police resources, making mediation the most practical solution.


    Yin Bingsong, a veteran at handling the aftermath of street fights, confidently approached Yi Leng."Alright, I won¡¯t make this difficult for you. Five grand, t rate."


    "Deal,"Yi Leng replied calmly.


    "So, are you paying now or tomorrow?"Yin Bingsong asked.


    Yi Leng smirked."You¡¯ve got it wrong. The five grand is what<em>you</em>owe me."


    "You¡¯re trying to extort<em>me</em>? Bold of you!"Yin Bingsong sneered."Alright, let¡¯s y."


    With mediation failing, the police had no choice but to proceed with official procedures. However, Huang Pi Hu insisted on being taken to the hospital for a full checkup, iming he was seriously injured. Meanwhile, Yin Bingsong¡¯s group also imed they had been assaulted, forcing an ambnce to transport everyone involved to the hospital for medical evaluations.


    The results were astonishing.


    X-rays revealed that Huang Pi Hu¡¯s body was riddled with old injuries¡ªfractures, knife wounds, gunshot scars, burn marks, and whipshes covered him from head to toe. None of these injuries were new, but they painted a tragic picture.


    Huang Pi Hu also imed to have a concussion, citing headaches and nausea¡ªsymptoms notoriously difficult to verify with scans. Everyone understood the game he was ying, but there was no way to refute it.


    Meanwhile, five of Yin Bingsong¡¯s men had their dislocated shoulders realigned by the orthopedist. Despite being treated, they pretended they were still incapacitated, sticking to the same ybook. At this point, it wasn¡¯t about who was stronger but who could act better.


    Dislocated shoulders were considered minor injuries, but they were enough to get Huang Pi Hu detained.


    Toplicate matters, Huang Pi Hucked proper identification, which could lead to serious legal trouble. With the restaurant unable to operate under these circumstances, everyone involved headed to the hospital to assist.


    At the hospital, Ma Xiaowei seized the opportunity to showcase his capabilities.


    His face had been nicked by a beer bottle thrown by Yin Bingsong, leaving two small scratches. A nurse applied a band-aid, giving him the appearance of a "wounded hero." Although the injury was superficial, the fact that it was on the face of a deputy chief engineer made it a big deal. If the situation escted, Yin Bingsong would face serious consequences.


    Standing firmly on Huang Pi Hu¡¯s side, Ma Xiaowei called Yin Bingsong outside to talk. Despite being a Tsinghua graduate, Ma Xiaowei had no problem slipping into streetwise banter.


    They eventually negotiated a truce: both sides would drop the matter and avoid involving the authorities further.


    "Ma Gong (Manager Ma), I¡¯ll let this slide for your sake. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t let him see tomorrow¡¯s sunrise,"Yin Bingsong said, leaving a veiled threat before departing. In truth, he wasn¡¯t conceding out of respect for Ma Xiaowei but simply giving himself an excuse to back down gracefully.


    "Let¡¯s catch up sometime,"Ma Xiaowei replied with a measured smile. He knew better than to issue threats directly¡ªmature men preferred to settle scores quietly.


    As Yin Bingsong walked away, his face hardened under the streetlights. Dialing a number with his left hand, he barked,"Qiangzi, find me two kids¡ªfresh faces from out of town."


    Back in the emergency room, Rou Mingrui and Huang Pi Hu were chatting. After this ordeal, the two had be fast friends. Rou mentioned that it was likely Yin Bingsong who had orchestrated the recent inspections by the Health Bureau and Urban Management.


    Wu Yumei furrowed her brows."Why would he target us? We¡¯ve never had any conflict with him. He¡¯s even dined at our restaurant and has always been polite, sometimes even tipping extra."


    "Maybe he made a pass at you, and you ignored him?"Rou Mingrui spected.


    That seemed usible. Yin Bingsong was notoriously persistent when it came to women he fancied¡ªa reputation widely known in the shipyard district.


    Wu Yumei¡¯s face turned an uncharacteristic shade of red¡ªnot from embarrassment but from anger. Though she often came across as carefree and bold, she wasn¡¯t the type to indulge casually. If she were, with her looks and figure, she wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard running a small restaurant; she could¡¯ve easilytched onto a wealthy man.


    Yi Leng recalled his first day working at the restaurant when Yin Bingsong had already begun harassing Wu Yumei, forcing her to drink alcohol. It was a rude and disgraceful disy, the typical behavior of a thug. If it had been four years ago, Yi Leng would have dealt with him on the spot in a way he¡¯d remember for the rest of his life. But the current Yi Leng no longer had an official status or logistical support to fall back on¡ªhe couldn¡¯t rely solely on his courage to act recklessly.


    It was now clear that Yin Bingsong had a grudge against Yumei Restaurant and would likely continue to provoke and retaliate. Yi Leng never fought battles he wasn¡¯t prepared for. Even against small-time troublemakers, he made sure to gather sufficient intelligence.@@novelbin@@


    He discreetly sought out Rou Mingrui, asking him for everything he knew about Yin Bingsong. The two conversed in hushed tones while nearby, Ma Xiaoweiforted A Li, asking her if she was scared and assuring her,"Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here if anything happens."


    "I¡¯m not scared, not with Master Huang around. I think he might be a descendant of Wong Fei-hung,"A Li said, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She was only wearing a light down jacket and an apron, and Ma Xiaowei felt a pang of sympathy. He took off his cashmere coat, intending to drape it over her shoulders.


    But A Li didn¡¯t notice. She immediately turned and ran off, dashing over to Huang Pi Hu. Rubbing her hands together, she asked,"Are you done talking? Can we go back now? I¡¯m waiting for the staff meal."


    Yi Leng burst intoughter and said,"All done¡ªlet¡¯s go eat."


    The four restaurant workers piled into a Wuling minivan and drove off without inviting Ma Xiaowei to join them. Left behind, Ma Xiaowei could only shrug on his cashmere coat and wave them off with a veneer of grace.


    Back at the restaurant, Yi Leng cooked up two dishes for everyone to enjoy before heading to bed. During dinner, A Li kept pestering Huang Pi Hu about where he had learned his martial arts.


    Without hesitation, Yi Leng fabricated a story, saying,"I grew up in a performing arts troupe. As the saying goes, ¡®A skilled martial artist can¡¯t beat a wily actor.¡¯ All my skillse from childhood training."


    "Do they teach joint dislocation in performing arts troupes?"A Li pressed.


    "Later, I apprenticed under an old master who specialized in bone-setting,"Yi Leng replied with a straight face."In fact, I¡¯ve re-aligned more joints than I¡¯ve dislocated."


    His seriousness convinced A Li, who epted the exnation without further question. After finishing their meal, the group drove home. Worried about potential retaliation from Yin Bingsong, Wu Yumei discreetly carried a knife for protection, while Yi Leng also made his own preparations. Overconfidence wasn¡¯t an option¡ªeven the most skilled fighter could be ambushed.


    They returned to Building 17 in the Shipyard New Vige, where everyone went to their respective homes to wash up and sleep.


    The events of the day left Wu Yumei deeply unsettled. She realized how vulnerable she was without a man by her side. Yet despite her frustrations, Huang Pi Hu remained as oblivious as ever, refusing to take a hint. The thought alone irritated her, and in a fit of pique, she locked herself in her bedroom, refusing to step into the living room.


    After washing up, Yi Leng went to bed but soon got up quietly, sneaking out the door. He had earlier purchased a can of WD-40 to lubricate the door hinges, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t creak in the middle of the night.


    His destination? Yin Bingsong¡¯s hideout.


    Yi Leng believed in being proactive. Yin Bingsong, a thug like him, wasn¡¯t going to let the matter drop. Since the restaurant was open to the public, it was impossible to prevent every possible attack. Offense, therefore, was the best defense.


    Late at night, dressed in a gray cotton jacket, Yi Leng moved through the darkened streets, avoiding surveince cameras. Based on the information provided by Rou Mingrui, Yin Bingsong had multiple hideouts. His wife and children lived in a high-rise apartment in Hawaii Residential Complex. His mistress resided in Binhai Commercial Tower, and he also had an office space that doubled as a residence, though the exact unit number was unclear.


    But that didn¡¯t matter¡ªYi Leng remembered the license te number of Yin Bingsong¡¯s SUV. Wherever the car was, Yin Bingsong wouldn¡¯t be far.


    The next morning¡ª


    Yin Bingsong stepped out of his mistress¡¯s apartment on the 18th floor of Binhai Commercial Tower. Taking the elevator to the underground parking lot, he pulled out his remote key and unlocked his SUV.


    As he approached the driver¡¯s door, he noticed a faint ck smudge on the handle, as if someone with dirty hands had touched it.


    Years of experience working in security,bined with his time navigating the gritty underworld, had honed Yin Bingsong¡¯s instincts. Suspicious, he circled around to the passenger side, opened the door, and climbed inside to inspect the driver¡¯s side more closely.


    Nothing seemed out of the ordinary¡ªit could simply have been a homeless person touching the car.


    But as he inserted the key into the ignition, he noticed something else amiss. The dashboard cover appeared to have been tampered with.


    Upon closer inspection, he found a red electrical wire attached to the ignition. Following the wire, he traced it to the enginepartment.


    Opening the hood, he discovered the wire was connected to a rectangr device. Attached to the device was a cylindrical object resembling a firecracker, with the wires leading directly into it.


    Yin Bingsong froze. He didn¡¯t dare touch the device and instead backed away slowly. Cold sweat drenched his thermal underwear, sticking ufortably to his skin.


    His hands trembled so much that it took four or five attempts to light a cigarette. His mind raced, reying every possible scenario.


    "Who would dare do this to me?"


    [--------------------------------------------]


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 Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 18

    <strong>Dealing with amateurs like this untrained assassin wasn¡¯t a challenge. Yi Leng could take on eight of them single-handedly.</strong>


    He calmly sidestepped the attack, stuck out a foot to trip the young man, and gave a swift pull. The guy fell t on his face, eating dirt, and his knife fell from his grip. Yet, the young man was persistent. Crawling over, he grabbed at the knife handle again, but a foot nted firmly on his back pinned him to the ground, rendering him immobile.


    The young man struggled and protested, ¡°Don¡¯t step on me!¡±


    Yi Leng immediately removed his foot and even apologized, ¡°Sorry, did I hurt you?¡±


    The young man scrambled to his feet, now covered in filth from the grimy alley floor. Despite his disheveled state, he still held the knife tightly, his eyes scanning Yi Leng¡¯s body, searching for a spot to strike.


    Yi Leng could tell his intentions just from his gaze and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter where you aim; none of it¡¯s a good idea. The upper half is all vital organs¡ªheart, liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen. Hit any of those, and you¡¯re dead. Slice a major artery? You¡¯ll bleed out in no time.¡±


    The young man retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± But this time, he didn¡¯t dare rush headlong at Yi Leng. Instead, he cautiously approached, step by step.


    About ten meters away, the back door of the hair salon opened. Yan Hua stepped out, holding a spittoon, and was startled by the scene. She set the spittoon down, grabbed a mop with a broken handle from nearby, and prepared to join the fight.


    At that moment, Yi Leng decided to show off. He leapt into the air, performing a 360-degree spinning roundhouse kick. Time seemed to slow for the young man. All he could see was a ck leather pant leg, under which was a white cotton sock with a Nike swoosh logo, followed by a heavily worn ck leather shoe. That shoe smashed into his face with a resounding <strong>thud</strong>.


    Yan Hua paused, lowered the mop, and lit a cigarette. She leaned against the doorframe, watching with interest.


    The young man sprawled face-first on the ground, his head buzzing. Such a shy spinning kick wasn¡¯t ideal for generating force; had it been a solid side kick instead, the guy would probably already be unconscious.


    Yi Leng walked over, grabbed the young man¡¯s permed hair, and asked, ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    The young man was surprisingly honest. ¡°I don¡¯t know. In our line of work, it¡¯s a rule not to ask for the client¡¯s name.¡±


    Yi Leng chuckled. ¡°Very professional of you. But how much are they paying you to kill me? That¡¯s not a secret, is it?¡±


    The young man replied, ¡°Thetest iPhone.¡±


    Yi Leng raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is that all my life is worth?¡±


    The young man exined, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m not here to kill you. Just to stab you once¡ªnot fatal. If you let me stab you, I¡¯ll give you the iPhone. This is my first job, and I can¡¯t mess it up.¡±


    Yi Leng was both amused and exasperated. This kid was clearly not all there. Risking someone¡¯s life for a phone¡ªwhat a ridiculous notion. He was lucky to have encountered Yi Leng. If it had been anyone else, that knife could have gone too deep, and two families would be ruined forever.


    Yi Leng wasn¡¯t much for lecturing but was more than capable of teaching a lesson. A good beating could reach the soul, followed by a trip to the police station for proper handling.


    Before he could act, Yan Hua swung the mop and struck the young man. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to go around stabbing people! Some assassin you are!¡±


    The young man rolled on the ground, trying to dodge Yan Hua¡¯s strikes. But by sheer bad luck, one hitnded on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. Hey there,pletely motionless.


    Hearing themotion, Wu Yumei and Xiao Hong rushed over. They froze in shock at the sight.


    ¡°Did you just kill him?¡± Xiao Hong asked.


    Yi Leng crouched down to check the young man¡¯s pupils and pulse. ¡°He¡¯s not dead, just stunned.¡± He then asked Xiao Hong to bring a half-basin of cold water and sshed it on the young man¡¯s face. In the freezing winter air, the shock revived him instantly.


    Wu Yumei took out her phone, ready to call the police, but Yi Leng stopped her. First, he dragged the young man into the kitchen and asked Xiao Hong to bring some rope to tie him up. Tying someone up was a skill in itself, and Xiao Hong¡¯s clumsy attempts resulted in little more than wrapping the rope around in circles.


    Yan Hua took over. In no time, she had the young man tied up securely, with his hands and feet bound behind his back in a way that tightened the restraints with every movement.


    Yi Leng was quietly impressed. This wasn¡¯t a simple technique. During his time at the International Rtions Academy, he had learned a simr method from a tactical instructor, who called it the ¡°butcher¡¯s hogtie.¡± Once bound this way, no amount of strength could break free.


    Xiao Hong marveled, ¡°Sister Yan, where did you learn this?¡±


    Yan Hua replied, ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t ask questions they don¡¯t need answers to.¡±


    Xiao Hong pouted. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what <em>SM</em>is.¡±


    Wu Yumei pped her hands. ¡°Enough bickering. What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Yi Leng searched the young man¡¯s pockets and found an ID card, a set of keys, and a few loose coins. The guy¡¯s name was Zhang Cong, just 18 years old and registered as a local resident. At his age, he should have been in his third year of high school. How had he ended up like this?


    Crouching down, Yi Leng patted Zhang Cong¡¯s face and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s at home?¡±


    ¡°No one. I don¡¯t have parents,¡± Zhang Cong replied nonchntly.


    ¡°An assassin, huh? The not-so-cool kind, huh?¡± Yi Leng pped his face lightly. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯ve done? Attempted murder¡ªit¡¯s a criminal case. That could get you ten years in prison.¡±


    Zhang Cong shrugged. ¡°Then so be it. I¡¯ll take it. You get food and shelter inside. Pretty good deal. When Ie out, I¡¯ll have a reputation.¡±


    Yi Leng pped him hard. The crisp sound echoed through the room. As a father himself, hearing such self-destructive words infuriated him. He could tell Zhang Cong meant every word. Some kids, far too young, had already tasted the deepest sorrows of life. With no love, no guidance, and only bad influences leading them astray, they fell further and further into darkness.


    ¡°This kid can¡¯t be kept around,¡± Yi Leng said. ¡°He¡¯s a disaster waiting to happen.¡±


    While Xiao Hong looked confused, Wu Yumei and Yan Hua understood his meaning immediately.


    Yan Hua proposed, ¡°Get an empty oil drum, put him inside, fill it with quick-dry cement, and dump it into the bay tonight. No one will ever find him¡ªnot even the gods.¡±


    Zhang Cong¡¯s face briefly faltered, but he muttered defiantly, ¡°You think you can scare me?¡±


    Wu Yumei added, ¡°That¡¯s too much trouble. Why bother with an oil drum and cement? Just stick him in the freezer and grind him into dumpling filling. Nice and clean.¡±


    Zhang Cong¡¯s face turned pale. He finally realized these seemingly kind women might actually be serious.


    He was wrong. The freezer was real. Momentster, Yi Leng gagged him with a cloth and stuffed him into Wu Yumei¡¯s new freezer, covering the transparent lid with a nket.


    Curled up in the frigid darkness, Zhang Cong felt the vibrations of thepressor and grew colder and more terrified with every passing second.


    <strong>¡°This is my great elder brother, the legendary Fire Alkaline Brother,¡±</strong>Rou Mingrui introduced as he gestured toward the hulking figure standing beside him. ¡°He came all the way from the city just to try our Da Hong Pao tea.¡±


    Fire Alkaline Brother removed his tinted sses and nodded politely at Wu Yumei. <strong>¡°Sorry for beingte, sister-inw, traffic was terrible,¡±</strong>he said, hanging a set of car keys on his belt. Among the jumble of keys were a Land Rover remote and a dozen other keys jangling like the set of a prison guard. They dangled from the waist of his ck leather pants, which, notably, seemed to be the trend this winter for the social elite of Jiangwei.


    Wu Yumei was puzzled as to why he was calling her "sister-inw," but before she could respond, Fire Alkaline Brother asked, <strong>¡°Do you have a private room here?¡±</strong>


    ¡°No private rooms,¡± Wu Yumei thought to herself. In fact, there weren¡¯t even any free tables at the moment. She was about to exin when Huang Pihu emerged from the kitchen, his tone warm and weing. <strong>¡°Oh, you¡¯re here! This way, please, we¡¯ve reserved the best spot for you.¡±</strong>


    Huang Pihu led the four guests to the back of the adjacentundry shop, now converted into an improvised dining area. There wasn¡¯t even a proper table¡ªjust a wooden board bnced atop a freezer. The appetizers were alreadyid out, consisting of a mix of braised meats, fried peanuts, cucumbers, scallions, carrots, and four bottles of white liquor lined neatly in a row.


    To Fire Alkaline Brother, this arrangement was perfect. In a small eatery like this, one couldn¡¯t expect luxury. What mattered was the sense of exclusivity; with other patrons still waiting for tables, he had a private spot, separate from the rest¡ªa clear sign of respect.


    <strong>¡°If I¡¯d known Fire Alkaline Brother wasing, I would¡¯ve prepared more,¡±</strong>Yi Leng said with a smile. Truthfully, he had no idea who Fire Alkaline Brother was, but in situations like these, ttery was essential. Among the social elite, drinking wasn¡¯t just a pastime; it was a test of character¡ªa measure of boldness, resilience, and physical strength. A drinking session was akin to a battlefield, and showing weakness was uneptable.


    <strong>¡°You¡¯re too polite, brother,¡±</strong>Fire Alkaline Brother replied. <strong>¡°We¡¯ve brought our own supply.¡±</strong>


    One of his subordinates pulled out two bags of liquor, revealing an additional four bottles of the locally popr Huaijiang Special Reserve, the same brand already provided on the table. Even the cigarettes matched¡ªGold Huaijiang, priced at 41 yuan per pack.


    Huang Pihu, busy frying up more dishes, couldn¡¯t stay long. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he returned to the kitchen, leaving the four guests to their drinking.


    Rou Mingrui, sitting nearby, was both nervous and awestruck. This was his first time meeting the infamous Fire Alkaline Brother, a man he had only heard about in rumors. Introduced through a mutual friend, Rou Mingrui considered this encounter a great honor.


    Fire Alkaline Brother was a relic of Jiangwei¡¯s earliest generation of gangsters. Among his peers, there were only two fates: execution by the government or death by a rival¡¯s de. Yet, Fire Alkaline Brother had survived unscathed¡ªa true miracle.


    The drinking began, with the customary downing of three full sses. It was then that Rou Mingrui witnessed a bizarre scene he would never forget. Fire Alkaline Brother filled his ss to the brim, tipped it into his mouth¡­ but didn¡¯t swallow. Instead, he pulled a rubber tube from his waistband, inserted it into his mouth, and funneled the liquor through the tube.


    <strong>¡°Sorry about this, brother,¡±</strong>Fire Alkaline Brother said, as if the act were perfectly normal.


    Rou Mingrui could only give a thumbs-up. <strong>¡°Impressive.¡±</strong>


    After three cups, the group picked up their chopsticks and began eating. Fire Alkaline Brother delicately picked a piece of braised intestine, chewed it thoroughly, then pulled out a small funnel. Attaching it to the rubber tube, he spat the chewed food into the funnel, added a bit of water to dilute it, and raised the tube high to let the mush slide down into his stomach.


    One of his long-timeckeys, ever loyal as theedic sidekick, asked, <strong>¡°Fire Alkaline Brother, why don¡¯t you tell us how you got your name?¡±</strong>


    Lighting a cigarette, Fire Alkaline Brother exhaled a plume of smoke, his mind drifting back to years gone by.


    ¡°It was the early ¡¯90s,¡± he began. ¡°I was young and reckless, ended up seriously injuring someone and got sent to prison. Back then, the legal system was underdeveloped, and prison conditions were rough. If you got seriously ill, you could apply for medical parole. So, many inmates tried everything to get sick¡ªeven self-harm.¡±


    ¡°Among all the methods, swallowing fire alkaline was the most extreme,¡± he continued. ¡°Fire alkaline, or sodium hydroxide, is highly corrosive and used for cleaning. Some guys would secretly pocket a chunk while working and swallow it when no one was looking. Within minutes, they¡¯d be coughing up blood. Sodium hydroxide would burn through the esophagus, leaving them permanently disabled. But hey, it got them out of prison.¡±


    ¡°For some, nothing mattered as long as they got out,¡± Fire Alkaline Brother said, his tone tinged with mncholy. Taking another sip through his tube, he added, <strong>¡°Of course, some didn¡¯t know their limits. They swallowed too much, and the stuff burned straight through their stomachs. Those guys didn¡¯t make it.¡±</strong>


    Rou Mingrui, awestruck, raised his ss. <strong>¡°You¡¯re as ruthless as the legends say, Fire Alkaline Brother. Truly Jiangwei¡¯s most hardcore figure. I salute you.¡±</strong>


    Just then, Yi Leng entered the room, carrying the Da Hong Pao tea. Fire Alkaline Brother beckoned him over. <strong>¡°Join us.¡±</strong>


    Yi Leng smiled, raised his cup, and joined the toast.


    <strong>¡°Brother, take a seat,¡±</strong>Fire Alkaline Brother said. <strong>¡°I came here today because I wanted to meet you. I heard you dislocated Yin Bingsong¡¯s arm yesterday?¡±</strong>


    Yi Leng chuckled. <strong>¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it that big a deal.¡±</strong>


    <strong>¡°Let¡¯s not downy it. Yin Bingsong is a formidable figure,¡±</strong>Fire Alkaline Brother replied. <strong>¡°I¡¯ve had my share of disputes with him, and you saved me the trouble of dealing with him. I owe you a drink for that.¡±</strong>


    Yi Leng epted the toast and replied modestly, <strong>¡°I¡¯m just a cook. I still have much to learn from you, Fire Alkaline Brother.¡±</strong>


    Fire Alkaline Brother shook his head. <strong>¡°Don¡¯t learn from me. I¡¯ve spent decades in this life, gaining nothing but an empty reputation. I¡¯ve failed my parents, my children, and my wife. She was once the school belle, but ever since marrying me, she hasn¡¯t had a single good day. Listen to me, brother: once you enter this world, there¡¯s no going back. These days, it¡¯s not about fights and feuds anymore¡ªit¡¯s about brains, connections, and making money.¡±</strong>


    Yi Leng nodded. <strong>¡°I appreciate the advice.¡±</strong>


    Just then, the table began to shake violently. Fire Alkaline Brother¡¯s subordinates removed the wooden nk covering the freezer and revealed what was underneath¡ªa bound man with a gag in his mouth!


    The notorious Fire Alkaline Brother was momentarily stunned, while Rou Mingrui stumbled back in shock, his gaze toward Yi Leng now filled with fear.


    Yi Leng exined calmly, <strong>¡°Sorry about this. That kid was sent by Yin Bingsong to kill me. I caught him and decided to teach him a lesson. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s alive.¡±</strong>@@novelbin@@


    He opened the freezer lid and pulled out the young man¡ªZhang Cong¡ªwho was indeed still alive but looked frozen stiff.


    Zhang Cong sat up, ring at Fire Alkaline Brother with cold resentment.


    Fire Alkaline Brother yanked the gag from Zhang Cong¡¯s mouth, hisposure faltering. <strong>¡°You little bastard¡ªwhy is it you?¡±</strong>


    Zhang Cong, his tongue still numb, retorted, <strong>¡°Old bastard¡ªwhy can you drink here but I can¡¯t chill in the freezer?¡±</strong>


    [--------------------------------------------]


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