Back at Big Willow Tree, Chen Cheng parked his car, humming cheerfully, and casually walked towards the Fennel Noodle House.
Business wasn't great at the noodle house in the evenings.
A few years ago, when food delivery wasn't popular, Xiao Meier could still receive dinner orders from the nearby Jilang Internet Cafe around this time.
But now, whether it's the food delivery or meal packages provided by the internet cafes, they've greatly impacted the noodle house.
After the last customer finished their noodles, Xiao Meier started cleaning, a frown quickly forming on her face.
When she saw Chen Cheng come back, she immediately put on a smiling face and asked, "Haven't eaten yet, right?"
Chen Cheng responded with a smile: "I specifically saved my appetite just for here!" He then helped by wiping down the tables in tacit agreement.
"We're having fatty intestine rice bowl tonight."
Xiao Meier cleared the bowls into the sink while ladling out the stewed, tender intestines from the pot onto rice, and didn't forget to ask with concern, "Is your back better now?"
Chen Cheng, seated at the table, replied, "It's all better; your Red Flower Oil is better than going to a bonesetter! It was all good after just one night."
Two bowls of braised fatty intestine rice bowls were served.
"Has the bed from IKEA been delivered?" Chen Cheng asked while eating.
"It's already set up, but..." A hint of difficulty crossed Xiao Meier's face.
Chen Cheng looked up, noticing her expression, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"We didn't pay attention to the size when we bought it."
"Didn't fit?" Chen Cheng asked again.
Xiao Meier responded with a resigned tone, "Go up and take a look later!"
Chen Cheng polished off his meal cleanly, wiped his mouth, and went upstairs.
In the narrow attic, two single beds were placed side by side and the cabinet in the middle had been moved away, making it look like a standard hotel room.
And the bedside table that Xiao Meier had taken a liking to and paid extra for, was placed in between the two beds.
Following Chen Cheng upstairs, she said, "I had the installer try several times; it just wouldn't fit, so we had to leave it like this."
Chen Cheng turned around, his eyes inadvertently sweeping over her full figure wrapped in a T-shirt, the tender flesh along its edges seemingly ready to spill out.
"Loft turned into a twin room, I suppose I should pay some lodging fee, eh?" A single remark from Chen Cheng diffused the awkwardness.
Xiao Meier laughed and hit Chen Cheng playfully, "You and your jokes~!"
The two of them went upstairs, each taking a separate bed.
Xiao Meier looked down at her toes, asking hesitantly, "Xiao Cheng, is it convenient for you to live like this?"
Chen Cheng joined in, "I'm fine with it. And you?"
"I don't think it's too bad either," Xiao Meier's voice was as faint as a mosquito's, "So we'll keep it this way?"
"No problem."
Chen Cheng stood up, "Let's go, it's time to set up our stall."
"Li Dinger came by today; he said they're cleaning up the market and not allowing street vending," Xiao Meier said with helplessness on her face.
Li Dinger, whose real name is Ding Chaohui.
Dacheng, Shu Biao, Li Dinger, and Xia Bao used to watch Young and Dangerous in the video parlors in their youth, and like the characters in the movies, they picked their own nicknames.
But the name Li Dinger was settled upon by the four of them back in their Denghua Middle School days during a restroom break.
To the outside world, they still claimed to be the Willow Tree Four Tigers.
However, Ding Chaohui was somewhat lucky, having taken over his father's role, and now works in the local office, with prospects of getting a vice-chief position by the end of the year.
Hearing this, Chen Cheng approached Xiao Meier and asked, "Is there a new policy now?"
Xiao Meier nodded, "We'll have to think of something else. Without vending, that's two to three hundred less a day, five or six thousand a month."
"Then let's not set up the stall," Chen Cheng said with a smile. "Let's properly plan for the reopening of Wanbao Hall."
Xiao Meier looked up, "But we still don't have enough money!"
Chen Cheng sat down beside Xiao Meier, "Meier, I went to see Jin Baogen today."
"How did he respond?"
"I reached an agreement with him." Chen Cheng didn't mention the issue with the draft, only saying, "He agreed to give me the keys first, and I will pay him back the money for the shop in six months."
Xiao Meier excitedly grabbed Chen Cheng's arm and said, "Really? Is that true? Xiao Cheng!"
She asked twice in a row.
Chen Cheng smiled and nodded, "Why would I lie to you?"
"So you don't have to rush. As long as Wanbao Hall reopens, you won't have to set up a stall anymore. We'll start a business with dignity." He continued, "And we'll put Xin Chuanji across the street out of business!"
Xiao Meier's eyes were filled with anticipation, but she quickly became calm again.
"Half a year, two million." She calculated, "That averages to over three hundred thirty thousand a month, more than ten thousand a day!"
The more Xiao Meier calculated, the more nervous she became.
"That's not even counting utilities, raw material costs, labor," she continued, "as well as the cost of refurbishment and the expenses for the grand opening promotion. Can we really earn that much money in such a short period of time?"
"That's not the first thing we need to think about."
Xiao Meier asked with confusion, "What is it then?"
"Tomorrow I'll go see Li Dinger to ask about the change in our business scope." Chen Cheng said, "After I get that sorted, I'll give you a call."
"Okay."
"We should buy a couple of suits to look presentable," Chen Cheng added.
Xiao Meier blinked, "Buying clothes?"
"Yeah, you're going to be the new lady boss of Wanbao Hall. Shouldn't you look dignified and pretty?" Chen Cheng said off the cuff.
But Xiao Meier took it to heart.
Seeing her bow her head, Chen Cheng quickly said, "Boss, boss."
"And what about you?" Xiao Meier looked up at Chen Cheng, a spark of passion in her eyes.
Chen Cheng laughed, "I'm your landlord!"
"Then give me the rent," Xiao Meier knew Chen Cheng was teasing her, she stood up and wanted to leave, "We need to settle our accounts clearly between us."
Chen Cheng reached out to grab Xiao Meier and pulled her over in one fluid motion.
Xiao Meier was caught off guard. She lost her balance and involuntarily fell toward Chen Cheng.
In a flash, she fell into Chen Cheng's arms.
"Stop it!" Xiao Meier quickly stood up, her face flushed, "No more jokes like that! Go wash up and sleep!"
Chen Cheng was still reeling from the impact, "Just going to sleep now, isn't it a bit early?"
"I'm tired!"
...
Lying in his newly purchased bed, Chen Cheng couldn't fall asleep.
With no wardrobe to hide her, Xiao Meier's sleeping figure was laid bare just as on their first night together.
She lay with her back to Chen Cheng, her voluptuous figure even more enchanting in the moonlight.
One leg was stretched out straight, while the other was slightly bent, resting on top. From time to time, one could see her delicate little foot twitching cutely, irresistibly adorable and oozing with allure.
[Interest settled for today]
[You have received 155,300.42 yuan]
[Current funds: 3,261,308.9 yuan]
[Current interest rate: 5%]
The expected interest did not surprise Chen Cheng; instead, it was the exquisite silhouette before him that kept him from sleep.
"To watch like this day after day is real torment!"