"Regardless of wealth, return home for the Lunar New Year."
The sudden arrival of this phrase from Yu Ze left Cheng Youshi puzzled during his somewhat idle lunch break.
"Xiao Cheng, how long has it been since you last returned home for the Lunar New Year?"
Yu Ze asked him a peculiar question.
"Return home for the Lunar New Year?"
Cheng Youshi glanced down at his phone and then raised his head. "Brother Yu, isn't it too early to talk about returning home for the Lunar New Year now?"
"It's not too early. There are still seven months until the Lunar New Year. It's time to think about whether we can earn enough money to go home for the festivities."
"Well, there's no need for that. I haven't returned home for the past three years anyway."
Cheng Youshi scratched the back of his head. "Going home is not enjoyable for me. My mother passed away early, and my father is like a closed book. Going back would just mean staring at each other, with nothing to talk about. It's too awkward."
"I see."
Yu Ze put down a book, and Cheng Youshi glanced at it, titled "Logical Philosophical Discourse."
"After today, I probably won't come here anymore."
Yu Ze's words left Cheng Youshi stunned and caused Rice Li, who was still playing with her phone next to them, to hastily look up.
"Brother Yu, you haven't been working here for very long, have you?"
Cheng Youshi wondered, "Did you find another job?"
"I found one, a job that offers freedom, convenience, and the potential to make a lot of money."
Yu Ze nodded in affirmation.
"Huh?"
Cheng Youshi became a bit nervous and asked in a low voice, "Brother Yu, please don't do anything illegal! We can't engage in illegal activities!"
"Why do you think it's illegal? What made you think that immediately?"
Yu Ze was puzzled.
"Not illegal? Didn't you say we can earn a lot of money?!"
Cheng Youshi didn't understand. "How can you earn a lot of money legally?"
"Just listen to you. I can make a lot of money even without breaking the law. I stand tall, and money comes to me naturally! That's called talent!"
"Brother Yu, what kind of job did you find? Will we still be able to see each other often in the future?"
Rice Li felt a bit down as she heard this unfortunate news. It abruptly shattered her previously cheerful mood.
"I suppose we won't be able to see each other often. There's no feast that never ends. If you want a never-ending feast, then you can only open a hotel and invite that person to dine every day..."
Yu Ze patted Cheng Youshi on the back. "But opening a hotel requires a lot of money. Even if I work here for a lifetime, I won't be able to earn enough."
"It's not that exaggerated. I'm working hard."
"If working hard alone could make us wealthy, then the richest creature in the world wouldn't be a donkey, but myself."
Yu Ze said what he intended to do, and he truly contacted the store manager. Once he settled his wages, he arranged not to return anymore.
After finishing the final fruit tea and handing it to the customer, Yu Ze changed out of his professional uniform from Meishixue Ice City in the back work area and bid farewell to the two colleagues preparing to take over his shift.
"Wait, Yu, I'd like to treat you to dinner," Rice Li, unwilling to let him go, stopped Yu Ze.
"I'll treat!"
Cheng Youshi interjected.
"I'll treat!"
Rice Li glared fiercely at Cheng Youshi, leaving Cheng Youshi pleased, thinking that she was being too good to him, and he felt like saving her money.
"Neither of you needs to rush. I should be the one to treat. It's not easy for you to earn money, and it's easier for me to earn money."
Yu Ze intervened in the argument between the two.
Rice Li and Cheng Youshi were puzzled and looked at each other. Weren't they all working at Meishixue Ice City? What did he mean by it being easier for him to earn money?
"Come, after changing shifts, freshen up, and come with me."
Taking his phone off the charger and powering it on, Yu Ze slipped it into his pocket and led the two to a place.
Throughout the journey, the two chatted away. Rice Li was eager to know what job Yu Ze had found; he didn't directly reveal it, but instead teased her, telling her to tune in to "Super Talented Show" on Sunday evenings.
"Super Talented Show? Yu, did you participate in the Super Talented Show?"
Cheng Youshi and Rice Li were extremely surprised.
"Now that you've figured it out... I won't conceal it any longer. Yes, I participated in the Super Talented Show on Donghai Satellite TV, and I am poised to become the new champion, taking the first step into the world of fame and fortune."
Yu Ze nodded slightly and dropped his act.
"Rice."
Rice Li's mouth hung open in a circular shape, expressing her overwhelming shock.
Cheng Youshi nearly stumbled off the curb, but Yu Ze's quick reflexes saved him from falling.
"Yu, you're amazing!"
Rice Li's first reaction was not one of doubt but of trust. She joyfully punched Cheng Youshi's shoulder. "Yu is going to make it big!"
Cheng Youshi was also excited, hesitated, then punched himself in the chest. "Even if you don't win the championship, if you make a successful appearance in the early stages, you'll still become a small celebrity."
"What do you mean 'even if you don't win the championship'? Do you doubt Yu's abilities?"
Rice Li's dangerous gaze made Cheng Youshi shiver. He hurriedly said, "I don't doubt it; I have great confidence in Yu's abilities!"
"Of course, Yu's abilities will definitely secure the championship!"
Rice Li beamed enthusiastically at Yu Ze. "By the way, Yu, what talent performance are you showcasing? Singing?"
"Don't rush; we'll talk when we get there."
Yu Ze waved as he approached the door, ready to greet Lao Chen, the owner of the barbecue restaurant, for the evening's business. "Lao Chen, I'm here!"
"Why do you keep coming here?"
Lao Chen scolded, "Didn't I tell you not to eat too much barbecue? It's not good for your health to eat too much of it. The World Health Organization has said it causes cancer. Why do you keep coming to eat barbecue for no apparent reason? Young people don't take good care of their health!"
"I'm just taking two friends out to dinner. I thought I'd help with your business."
Yu Ze explained.
Thank you for taking care of my business, damn it!
Lao Chen's flabby cheeks twitched, looking rather ugly, like a piece of pork belly in the freezer, all dead meat.
"Come on in, don't be shy. The boss and I have been acquainted for over a month now."
Yu Ze gestured for the two to enter and sit down.
Rice Li whispered, "The owner is really kind; I've never seen a barbecue restaurant owner advise people not to eat barbecue."
Cheng Youshi also commented, "He's a good person. I've been in Donghai for so long, and I've never met such a good owner; I always felt that the locals are very exclusive."
Yu Ze handed Cheng Youshi a bowl and chopsticks. "Exclusivity is just a superficial manifestation. You need to look beyond the superficial manifestations and see the essence. So don't be too pessimistic; Donghai doesn't exclude all outsiders; it just rejects those without money. Once you become wealthy, you won't be rejected."
"Yu, the key is how to become wealthy?" Cheng Youshi asked as he received the bowl and chopsticks.
"Once you start thinking about how to become wealthy, you will never become wealthy," Yu Ze said calmly. "In our era, the opportunity to make money easily is gone. If you want to make a fortune, you need to elevate yourself with a competitive mentality, manifest a certain potential, because a person can never earn more money than their own perception, except for someone like me, a special case."