Chapter 27: Hong’s Restaurant

Seeing the character “Hong,” Jing Xi immediately recalled the day Wu Dazhuang had advised some gamblers to take out high-interest loans, mentioning a certain Boss Hong.

She decided to check it out.

She headed straight for Hong’s Restaurant—wait, no, actually, she went to the small eatery across the street.

Small eateries like these were often the best places to gather information.

Their specialties included donkey meat fire-baked buns, braised donkey meat, donkey meat wontons, and steamed donkey meat dumplings.

Jing Xi ordered two fire-baked buns and a bowl of egg drop soup, spending fifty cents. In an era when a bowl of beef noodles cost thirty-five cents, fifty cents wasn’t exactly cheap.

However, the round fire-baked buns were stuffed with generous portions of donkey meat, and the soup was steaming hot. The simple egg drop soup was topped with a drizzle of fragrant sesame oil, making its aroma irresistible. It was worth the fifty cents.

The shop was run by a busy husband-and-wife duo.

“Boss lady, can I sit anywhere?”

“Of course, anywhere is fine!”

Jing Xi picked a seat closest to the shop owner’s wife.

“Hey, boss, are you both from Nan Town?”

“Oh, no, we’re from Cang City. This fire-baked bun is a local specialty from our hometown! Is this your first time trying it, young lady?”

“Yes, it is. How long have you been running this place?”

“Three to four years now. Ever since they started encouraging people to run their own businesses, we jumped in. Now we’ve settled down here in Nan Town!”

Jing Xi took a sip of the soup and a bite of the fire-baked bun.

“It’s delicious!”

“Hah! No one has ever said otherwise about our buns. Donkey meat is highly nutritious, perfect for the winter, and it doesn’t cause inflammation!”

“They say, ‘Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground.’ I’ve heard that before!”

“Wow, young lady, you’re quite knowledgeable!”

Jing Xi chuckled.

“Hey, boss lady, is that Hong’s Restaurant across the street a new place? The building looks brand new.”

“Yeah, it just opened—less than half a year ago. Apparently, a big boss from the south started it. What’s it called again? Ah, right—Cantonese cuisine!”

“Oh, Cantonese food. That must be expensive!”

“Of course! I heard that even a single dish costs several yuan! It’s not something small business owners like us can afford. The people who eat there are all factory and mine executives or business owners from out of town!”

Just as expected.

Jing Xi casually asked a few more unrelated questions while finishing her meal. As she was about to leave the eatery, several black sedans pulled up in front of Hong’s Restaurant.

One after another, seven or eight men dressed in all-black stepped out in unison.

It was quite a sight.

Almost like something out of a gangster movie.

Jing Xi observed them carefully. From one of the imported sedans in the middle, a tall, slender man with slicked-back hair and sunglasses stepped out.

Jing Xi stared at his back for a while—until, suddenly, he turned around and looked directly at her.

He removed his sunglasses, revealing sharp, chiseled features—strikingly androgynous, yet undeniably charismatic.

The slightly upturned phoenix eyes carried a sharpness mixed with a hint of unrestrained wildness. Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, his refined demeanor was evident—he was clearly a noble young master from an affluent family.

Jing Xi kept her gaze steady and straight.

This should be a man, right?

He was so beautiful that he could be mistaken for a woman, yet his features exuded masculinity. That heroic air was tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible softness—an exquisite blend of traits.

But the aura surrounding him was extraordinary, carrying an overwhelming sense of pressure.

The man gave her a slight smile before shifting his gaze away, adding a layer of cold aloofness. Then, he turned and was escorted into the restaurant by the crowd.

Jing Xi felt her breath quicken.

That oppressive presence lingered for a long time before finally fading. She stood in place for a while.

She wasn’t sure whether she was simply mesmerized by his looks or intimidated by his aura.

Could it be… was he the owner of this restaurant?

Carrying her freshly roasted flatbread, she walked back while deep in thought.

The pitch-black night mirrored the current state of the Liu couple—dark and hopeless.

She could only hope that dawn would come soon.

Jing Xi decided to rest for the night and head out again in the morning.

Inside the Restaurant

At that moment, inside the restaurant, Long Yue Zhi followed his attendants as they were welcomed into Hong’s Restaurant by Hong Qifu.

Hong Qifu had long been preparing for Long Yue Zhi’s visit. He had arranged for a full staff reception in the main hall.

To secure this business deal, Hong’s Restaurant had closed for three days in advance, focusing solely on cleaning and staff training.

All of this was to welcome this distinguished guest from Shaanxi province.

That alone showed how much Hong Qifu valued this opportunity!

No one could have predicted his sudden stroke of luck—how had the Long family taken the initiative to extend an olive branch to him?

If this deal went through, Hong Qifu would dominate the market in this area.

“Oh my, Mr. Long, what an honor! I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” Hong Qifu greeted enthusiastically, stepping forward to shake Long Yue Zhi’s hand.

However, he was subtly blocked by the burly Yu Er, who stood protectively in front of Long Yue Zhi. “Apologies, Mr. Hong. Mr. Long has a cleanliness obsession—I’ll shake hands on his behalf.”

Hong Qifu was a shrewd man. The moment he heard this, he swiftly shook Yu Er’s hand instead, his expression unchanged, maintaining his enthusiastic demeanor.

He had heard that noble young masters often had eccentric habits.

Now, he was witnessing it firsthand.

“No need for such formalities, Mr. Hong,” Long Yue Zhi finally spoke, his voice carrying a lazy tone, yet it was incredibly pleasant to the ears.

The moment he spoke, a small wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.

The young women working in the restaurant couldn’t take their eyes off him.

Some even whispered softly among themselves—how could a man be this stunning?

Noticing the group of young women whispering about him, Long Yue Zhi flashed them a bright smile.

Yu Er, however, spoke in his place. “Mr. Hong, let’s get down to business first.”

Hong Qifu smacked his forehead as if suddenly remembering. “Please, Mr. Long, this way.”

Then, he exchanged a glance with his assistant, who immediately understood and left to make arrangements.

In the North, business discussions often took place over food and alcohol.

As a Southerner, Hong Qifu had long adapted to this drinking culture.

During the meal, there was no shortage of toasts and flattery.

He practically sang praises of Long Yue Zhi, calling him the ‘Number One’ in the Northwest, making it seem as if there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.

Long Yue Zhi, however, remained composed. His expression didn’t change, nor did his heartbeat quicken. He simply ate the food that Yu Er had arranged for him.

“Boss Hong, I don’t drink. No need to offer me a toast. I’d advise you to drink less too. You’re not young anymore—drinking this much will harm your health.”

Hong Qifu, who had just lifted his cup of white liquor, immediately set it down and switched to tea instead.

He had learned his lesson.

“Haha, you’re absolutely right! I only picked up this habit after coming to the North, seeing how business is always discussed over drinks. I was just following the local customs—my apologies.”

Long Yue Zhi wiped his mouth and leaned lazily against his chair.

Paired with that striking face of his, he was nothing short of captivating.

A seductive fox-like charm wrapped in masculinity.

Even the young women serving at the table were mesmerized.

Long Yue Zhi, completely unabashed, flashed a dazzling white-toothed grin. “Boss Hong, I’ve noticed that the young ladies here seem quite fond of me. They haven’t stopped staring.”

Hearing this, the young woman who had been caught red-handed immediately turned red with embarrassment. She hurriedly looked away and busied herself pouring more tea.

Hong Qifu chuckled. “Mr. Long, with your good looks, it’s not just women—men would be envious as well. But I’m sure such ordinary company wouldn’t interest you. Once we finish our meal, I’ll find you some… premium selections.”

Long Yue Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Premium selections? Seems like Boss Hong dabbles in a variety of businesses?”

Hong Qifu instantly realized he had misspoken and quickly tried to recover. “Haha, of course, I only conduct legitimate business!”

“Doesn’t seem that way.”

Hong Qifu started to panic.

Everyone knew that Long Yue Zhi had strict principles when it came to business.

Anything involving gambling, drugs, prostitution, or anything illegal or unethical—he refused to touch.

“Please rest assured, Mr. Long!” Hong Qifu swore with utmost sincerity.