Looking at Tang Zhong, Jiang Weiwei stood frozen in her place, unable to believe this was real. It made no sense.
But after thinking it through, Jiang Weiwei burst into laughter. She got it.
Looking at Tang Zhong, her eyes full of admiration.
This guy was really too smart.
"How are you so smart!" Jiang Weiwei laughed.
"Let's go, I'll treat you to a grand meal."
Just ahead was a five-star restaurant that was still open.
"Let's go there," Jiang Weiwei said.
Tang Zhong quickly nodded, he was really too hungry.
In no time, the table was laden with big dishes: sweet and sour pork ribs, chicken stewed with mushrooms, several roasted chickens, and a pig thigh.
"Please enjoy," the server smiled as he left.
"Let's eat," Jiang Weiwei just started to speak.
Turning her head, she saw Tang Zhong had already started, he was too hungry, holding a chicken in one hand and grabbing the pig thigh with the other.
His mouth greasy.
A whole chicken per bite.
Jiang Weiwei was dumbfounded, with that pace, such a big chicken, how could he stuff it all in?
It was too scary.
"Don't rush, don't rush, there's plenty," she said.
Tang Zhong didn't pay her any attention, just kept eating.
Half an hour later.
Tang Zhong was still eating.
Jiang Weiwei was astonished, and so was the waitress serving them.
If you calculate by the ingredients, Tang Zhong had already eaten three pigs and more than a dozen chickens.
For an ordinary person, this was already too incredible.
"More," Tang Zhong said after he had polished off another chicken.
"Okay," the waitress retreated in shock.
"You... you're still not full?" Jiang Weiwei asked.
"No, usually I eat a whole one," Tang Zhong said.
"A whole one? You don't mean a whole pig per meal, but you've already eaten three pigs today," Jiang Weiwei exclaimed in shock.
"No, no, no, you misunderstood. I usually eat a whole elephant," Tang Zhong explained.
"An... elephant," Jiang Weiwei was shocked into speechlessness.
Another half-hour passed.
Tang Zhong let out a satisfied belch.
"Full?" Jiang Weiwei asked.
"Yeah," Tang Zhong nodded.
Jiang Weiwei didn't say anything, just stared at Tang Zhong's belly. There was something she couldn't figure out—how could such a small belly fit three pigs?
"Let's find a place to stay later; I want to take a bath," Jiang Weiwei said.
"Okay," Tang Zhong nodded.
The server quickly brought over the bill.
"Miss, that will be thirty-eight thousand. Would you like to pay by card or in cash?"
Jiang Weiwei was shocked. Thirty-eight thousand gone just like that, this guy could really eat, how could a manual laborer eat so much?
"Card," Jiang Weiwei said.
The server quickly processed the payment and returned the card to Jiang Weiwei.
It was now time to find a place to rest. Going home was not an option; better find a five-star hotel.
Jiang Weiwei was about to leave when her phone rang. She took it out and her expression immediately turned grim.
It was a text message from the bank.
"Your card has been debited thirty-eight thousand, balance only ninety yuan."
No way.
Jiang Weiwei completely broke down, realizing now she had no money left. She then remembered that the card she had brought was the one with the least amount of money; her other cards were in the car, which was probably at the traffic police station now.
This...
Where will I stay tonight without money?
Jiang Weiwei started to panic.
Just as Tang Zhong had finished belching, he noticed Jiang Weiwei's distress and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing, it's all your fault. You eat too much, and now I don't even have a place to stay," Jiang Weiwei said. If it weren't for Tang Zhong, she would still have enough money for a nice hotel.
Now I only have ninety yuan, which isn't enough for anything.
Tang Zhong was stunned and leaned in, his gaze fixed on the Apple iPhone screen.
"You can stay somewhere with ninety yuan."
"Stay where? I don't believe there are any decent places for that price. I'd rather stay in this restaurant," Jiang Weiwei said.
But at that moment, a waiter came over.
"If you don't need anything else, could you please leave? We're about to close the restaurant and hope you will visit us again some other time."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Weiwei stood up to leave.
Tang Zhong followed behind.
As soon as they exited, they realized it was deep into the night; it was pitch black and windy.
Jiang Weiwei shivered and, not expecting the midnight to be such, quickly moved closer to Tang Zhong.
"Fine, laborer, you just said we could find a place for ninety yuan, where is it, you lead the way."
"Sure," Tang Zhong nodded.
Soon, they arrived.
In front of them was a low-rise civilian building, filled with shops, clothes hanging densely from bamboo poles outside the windows.
The motels that were lit with colorful lights were still open.
But they were in an alley.
Jiang Weiwei felt a bit disordered; she knew ninety yuan wouldn't get a good room, but it shouldn't be this terrible—it was like a haunted house.
"Let's go, this place is perfect, forty-five per room, exact amount for both of us, and there's even a bath," Tang Zhong said.
Jiang Weiwei was stunned, "How do you know, have you been here before? Looking at your laborer's outfit, do you live here?"
"Just look, it's written up there," Tang Zhong pointed to the motel's colorful neon sign.
Jiang Weiwei looked up and saw the motel sign stating "45 a room, WiFi, bathing allowed."
"I'm not going in there with you. It's probably worse inside than outside," Jiang Weiwei said.
"Then stay here," Tang Zhong walked away on his own.
Jiang Weiwei never expected Tang Zhong to actually leave; she stared at his retreating back wide-eyed.
Just then, a cold wind blew, making the surroundings seem eerily sinister. She shivered violently, unable to hold on any longer, "Wait for me, don't leave."
Only one of the motels with colorful lights remained open.
The two had no choice but to enter. The shabby front desk was attended by a middle-aged woman in heavy makeup watching TV, who ignored them as they entered.
It was Tang Zhong who broke the silence, "Do you have any rooms left?"
"Yes, ninety a room, non-negotiable," the middle-aged woman replied indifferently.
"What, so expensive? It's clearly 45," Tang Zhong said.
"What forty-five? It's this late; it's ninety now, okay? You, a laborer, finding such a good lady, spending ninety is nothing, even two hundred wouldn't be a loss," the middle-aged woman said.
Lady...
Tang Zhong knew the middle-aged woman had misunderstood, thinking the woman next to him was a call girl.
At that moment, Jiang Weiwei turned her head and asked Tang Zhong, "What did she say?"
"She... she didn't say anything," Tang Zhong quickly said, knowing if Jiang Weiwei found out, they might not be able to stay there. They should just find a place to stay first—he was really tired after eating so much and could do with a good sleep to digest it all.
"Then book it," Tang Zhong said.
"Money?" the middle-aged woman extended her hand.
"Money!" Tang Zhong turned to Jiang Weiwei with an outstretched hand.
Jiang Weiwei reluctantly took out her card, "Here you go."
The shop had a POS machine, and they quickly handled the transaction.
"Don't you need an ID card?" Jiang Weiwei asked.
"No need," the middle-aged woman said.
Wait a second, I only have ninety in my account, ninety per room.
For a moment, Jiang Weiwei almost lost it.
"There better be more than one room!"