"Er Zhu, how have you been lately?"
As Er Zhu looked up, he saw Fang Zhoucheng walking over with a smile, a bodyguard following behind him carrying a gift box.
"I'm doing well. Is there anything you need from me, Grandpa Fang?"
Er Zhu nodded slightly and walked forward. Ever since the last incident, Fang Zhoucheng had been calling him every few days, even asking him to call him Grandpa. Er Zhu found it a bit awkward but couldn't refuse such kindness.
"Nothing much. I heard you're also attending Xiao Feng's birthday banquet, and I figured you're so busy you wouldn't have time to prepare a gift for her, so I prepared one for you too."
Fang Zhoucheng smiled as he looked at Er Zhu, then glanced at the gift box in the bodyguard's hand.
"Thank you, Grandpa Fang. You've been too thoughtful."
Er Zhu hadn't expected Fang Zhoucheng to think of him even for such a small matter. A wave of warmth surged through him, and calling him Grandpa no longer felt so reluctant.
"It's nothing, just a small favor. Don't mention it," Fang Zhoucheng waved his hand and entered the house with Er Zhu's support.
In the evening, Li Mei prepared a table full of delicious dishes to entertain Fang Zhoucheng. Although it was just home cooking, Fang Zhoucheng was very pleased, especially when he tasted the Five Flavor Chicken.
"Li Mei, this chicken is absolutely delicious! How did you make it?"
Fang Zhoucheng ate heartily, looking expectantly at Li Mei.
"I don't know. Er Zhu made this chicken."
Li Mei shook her head gently and picked up a chicken leg as she spoke.
"Er Zhu, I didn't know you had such a skill! This chicken is truly amazing, more delicious than any delicacy I've ever eaten in my life."
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Fang Zhoucheng's eyes. He gnawed on the chicken leg as he praised Er Zhu.
Er Zhu possessed so many precious medicinal herbs, owned so many businesses, and even his cooking skills were this good! How many more unknown abilities did this young man have?
"Grandpa Fang is too kind. It's just a medicinal dish. I just threw in a few Chinese herbs."
Er Zhu wasn't particularly excited. He picked at his food indifferently.
If just a few casually added herbs could result in such deliciousness, what would it be like if he prepared it with care?
Fang Zhoucheng chewed on the delicious food, staring blankly at Er Zhu. Li Mei had lost her appetite. Fang Zhoucheng didn't know, but she knew very well that Er Zhu's two hotels owed their continued success to this very dish!
"Er Zhu, sell me the secret recipe! I will certainly make this delicious chicken famous!"
The more Fang Zhoucheng ate, the more he enjoyed it. His eyes darted, and a sudden idea struck him.
If he could buy this secret recipe, their Fang family would become wealthy, and becoming the richest man in Huaibei Province would be within reach!
"I won't sell the secret recipe, but I can cooperate with you, Grandpa Fang."
Er Zhu shook his head, wiped his mouth, and replied with a serious expression.
"Ah? Well... that's fine too. But all my hotels are in Huaibei City. Commuting back and forth will waste a lot of time."
Fang Zhoucheng was stunned. Although he felt a bit disappointed, he could only accept seeing Er Zhu's determined gaze.
"It's fine. I have nothing else to do anyway. I'll just treat it as a trip to Huaibei City."
Er Zhu smiled slightly, thinking of Huaibei City, which was ten thousand times more prosperous than Liuzhen, a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.
Huaibei City was the provincial capital of Huaibei Province. If he could develop his businesses there, he would not be far from the capital!
Thinking of the deep-seated vengeance he carried, Er Zhu unconsciously clenched his fist, his gaze complex as he looked in the direction of Huaibei City.
"Alright, let's sign the contract now." After a moment's thought, Fang Zhoucheng quickly put down his chopsticks and took out paper and pen to draft the document, as if he feared Er Zhu would regret it if he delayed even a second.
He had only intended to deliver a gift, but he had received an unexpected surprise!
Watching Er Zhu's flamboyant signature, Fang Zhoucheng's eyes almost narrowed into slits. He seemed to see a bright future for the Fang family!
The night passed without incident. In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. Er Zhu boarded Fang Zhoucheng's car and quickly arrived at the hotel where Wang Xiaofeng's birthday banquet was being held.
"Er Zhu, you go in first. I need to go see an old friend."
As soon as he opened the car door, Fang Zhoucheng slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering something, and said to Er Zhu apologetically.
Before coming to Liuzhen, he had promised to visit a friend, but he had forgotten in his excitement last night!
"Okay, Grandpa Fang, please be careful."
Er Zhu nodded slightly, offered a few cautionary words, and closed the car door. He looked at the throng of guests coming and going, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his lips.
This was the Qingfeng Hotel, the number one hotel in Liuzhen, which he had founded!
Of course, not many people knew he was the owner; there weren't more than five people in the entire town!
"Excuse me, sir. Due to the loss of an important item in the hotel, all incoming guests must be inspected!"
As Er Zhu approached the entrance, he was stopped by a bodyguard. Although the bodyguard appeared respectful, his eyes were filled with disdain!
"What important item was lost from the hotel, and who lost it?"
As the hotel owner, Er Zhu naturally had to ask, but these words, in the bodyguard's eyes, were merely gossip.
"You don't need to worry about that. It's something that people of your level wouldn't see in a lifetime. As for the owner, you definitely wouldn't know them!"
The bodyguard glanced at Er Zhu, snatched the gift box from his hand, and openly mocked him.
In fact, the bodyguard was too lazy to inspect guests of Er Zhu's caliber. He was only doing a random check as a precaution, but when he opened the gift box, he was stunned by what he saw!
"Someone, I've found the lost sapphire! Everyone, quickly apprehend the thief!"
With the bodyguard's shout, all the bodyguards in the hall surrounded them. The bodyguard quickly picked up the gift box and handed it to a bodyguard standing at the front.
"Miss Chen's sapphire was found on this kid. Captain Huang, he's the thief!"
The bodyguard said, pointing angrily at Er Zhu as if he were truly the thief.
"I am not a thief. This sapphire is a birthday gift for my friend."
Er Zhu calmly swept his gaze over the surrounding bodyguards, finally fixing his eyes on Captain Huang.
"Friend? Are you referring to Miss Wang of the Wang family? Kid, why don't you look in the mirror? What right do you have to be friends with someone as wealthy as her!"
Captain Huang glanced at the sapphire in his hand, then at Er Zhu, and a smirk appeared on his lips, his eyes filled with disdain!
"Stop arguing. Brothers, get him! Take this guy to Miss Chen!"
Seeing Er Zhu about to speak again, the bodyguard who had just inspected the gift box waved his hand, and all the bodyguards rushed towards Er Zhu!