C22 Chicken Hotpot

Yang Zhiming wasn't exactly silver-tongued, so he simply stated, "This dish is called Chicken Hotpot. There's no heartwarming tale behind it. It's named for its most crucial ingredient, the hotpot broth."

Before Gold Tooth's lackey could utter a word, a girl's voice cut in, "Yang Zhiming, where have you been? I've been searching for you forever. What are you guys eating?"

No sooner had she finished than another girl inquired softly, "Mr. Yang, I thought you had left. Is this Chicken Hotpot your latest culinary creation? I'd love to try it."

The speakers were Bai Lang and Lin Ke'er, who had been unable to locate Yang Zhiming. They had been in Lin Ke'er's room but were drawn out by the loud voices of Gold Tooth's group.

Of course, Yang Zhiming couldn't reveal that he had just turned into a giant dice, as such a confession would not only be bizarre but also frightening.

He simply offered, "I stepped out for a bit to fetch some ingredients for the dish. If you're still hungry, come over and give it a try."

Despite appearing upset, Bai Lang obediently came over and began to sample the dish with her chopsticks.

Lin Ke'er, not upset in the slightest, was brimming with curiosity: Mr. Yang is so talented. What kind of delectable dish has he whipped up today?

Both were enticed by the spicy and tasty Chicken Hotpot, but they weren't as adept at handling the heat as the others. After a few bites, they paused.

Observing their reactions, Yang Zhiming mused that perhaps less hotpot broth would be advisable, considering not everyone enjoys such intense spice.

He decided to start with a smaller amount and, if that was well-received, he could adjust the spice level to individual tastes.

Bai Lang had no pressing issues with Yang Zhiming that evening. Having found him, she didn't speak up but instead gazed longingly at the Chicken Hotpot.

Lin Ke'er, on the other hand, had a task at hand. After finishing her meal, she turned to Yang Zhiming and said, "Mr. Yang, I needed to discuss something with you tonight. Since you're here, I'll go ahead. Hee Zhen, who visited our shop, called me this evening to reserve the first roast chicken for tomorrow."

Upon hearing the news, Yang Zhiming felt a surge of joy. If Hee Zhen were to dine on roast chicken in his district, it would signal a bright future for his business's expansion.

The cost of roast chicken was somewhat steep for the average person, but if he could break into the affluent area where Hee Zhen resided, it could pave the way for other ventures within the roast chicken restaurant.

He inquired of Lin Ke'er, "I've been informed about this. Tomorrow, I'll prepare the roast chicken, and you can have Gold Tooth deliver it. Did he provide an address?"

Lin Ke'er produced a piece of paper from her pocket, explaining, "He mentioned it over the phone, and I wrote it down. From the background noise during the call, it seemed Mr. Hee wanted to share the meal with friends, but we were out of marinated chicken today, so I had to decline."

Lin Ke'er was aware that Hee Zhen was a major patron of the roast chicken restaurant and was concerned that turning him down might negatively impact the business.

Yang Zhiming understood Lin Ke'er's concerns and reassured her, "Don't worry; I'm on top of it. Mr. Hee isn't the type to sweat the small stuff. We'll get the roast chicken to him tomorrow, and he won't hold a grudge over such a trivial issue."

Her worries dissipated with Yang Zhiming's comforting words.

Gold Tooth, driven by curiosity, chimed in, "Is this Hee Zhen the same guy who stormed into our yard on opening day?"

Yang Zhiming nodded affirmatively, "Yes, and I'm planning for you to take the roast chicken to him tomorrow. Just remember not to overcharge. Mr. Hee is a reasonable man and won't dwell on past disagreements. Plus, if he's pleased, it could mean a significant boost for our restaurant's business."

Gold Tooth felt a twinge of discomfort at the thought of the previous altercation with Hee Zhen, but the prospect of expanding the restaurant's clientele put his concerns to rest. He had come to realize that running a successful business could be far more profitable than his former life of thievery and intimidation.

After all, who would pick a fight with money?

Gold Tooth nodded in agreement. "The high road is not to dwell on the petty grievances of the past. I've already let go of any past displeasures with him. As long as he pays up, I'm more than happy to make the delivery."

Yang Zhiming, reassured by Gold Tooth's lack of concern, handed him the note. Gold Tooth accepted the note and scrutinized the address. "Wow, this fellow actually lives in the fortress."

Realizing Gold Tooth was clueless about the gravity of the situation, Yang Zhiming enlightened him, "That Hee Zhen is the son of the wealthiest man in Mars Area B. Try not to stir up any trouble this time."

Gold Tooth was astounded. "I overheard you mention Hee Zhen and assumed it was someone with the same name. I never imagined he was the son of the richest man."

At heart, Gold Tooth was the type to intimidate the weak and cower before the strong, especially considering the immense influence of Hee Zhen's family. He felt a wave of relief. Thank goodness I didn't get into a fight with him last time, or I might be running from the hitmen sent by the tycoon by now.

Despite his internal relief, Gold Tooth's face betrayed no fear. "Don't worry about me. Why would I ever turn down money? If he pays me on time tomorrow, I'd even dance in apology if he asked."

Bai Lang sighed at Gold Tooth's lack of pride. "In the future, when you're out and about, don't claim to be my little brother. You'll only bring shame upon me."

One of Gold Tooth's underlings spoke up in his defense. "Boss Bai Lang, our leader knows when to be flexible. After all, it's better to swallow our pride and make some easy money than to risk our lives fighting."

Gold Tooth, still eager to stay in Bai Lang's good graces, added, "I'm simply avoiding a direct confrontation with Hee Zhen. Behind the scenes, we're still at odds."

Yang Zhiming wasn't interested in Gold Tooth's personal musings. His only concern was that Gold Tooth safely delivered the roast chicken tomorrow.

He turned to Lin Ke'er and remarked, "Ke'er, Mr. Hee holds our roast chicken in such high regard that he's even recommended it to his friends. Wouldn't it seem insufficient if we only sent him a roast chicken?"

Lin Ke'er's eyes sparkled as she glanced at the chicken hotpot on the cutting board. "Mr. Yang, didn't you come up with a new dish tonight?"

Yang Zhiming followed her gaze and had an epiphany.

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