《After divorcing my celebrity wife, I became the world s richest person》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1 - 1: One Day After Divorce, Reward Mobile Food Truck Chapter 1 ¨C 1: One Day After Divorce, Reward Mobile Food Truck Suzhou City. Inside the Ximu Cafe. ¡°Chen Yu, you finally decided to show up!¡± A woman¡¯s irritated voice rose from the seat furthest in. To the uninformed, it might seem like just another scumbag had abandoned someone. But one glance at the pair made it clear that was impossible. The woman, despite wearing sunglasses and a face mask, exuded a carefully curated fashion sense and an air of quality that made it clear she was no ordinary person. The man sitting opposite her was dressed quite simply, but still neat and clean. ¡°Can¡¯t we wait until Tuan Tuan is older before getting a divorce?¡± Chen Yu frowned. He had been stalling these past few days, not wanting his child to live in a single-parent family at such a young age. Fang Yuan, however, didn¡¯t care about that, and as usual, she began accusing Chen Yu relentlessly. ¡°How much longer do you plan to drag me down? If I hadn¡¯t threatened you with Tuan Tuan¡¯s custody, would you have even showed up?¡± ¡°If it comes out now that I¡¯m married, all my years of hard work will have been for nothing, do you understand?¡± ¡°And look at you, what have you become now? Do you realize how big the disparity between us is?¡± Upon noticing that the only other table of customers and the waiter were looking over, Fang Yuan toned it down a bit, adjusted her sunglasses, and spoke in a lower voice. But her words were still filled with disdain and contempt. ¡°I want to divorce now!¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s get divorced¡­¡± Chen Yu gave in, ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else, just Tuan Tuan.¡± ¡°All these years, the money I¡¯ve earned¡­¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Yuan was completely caught off guard by Chen Yu¡¯s terms and was momentarily stunned. However, she quickly agreed to his condition. Over the years, she had actually made quite a lot of money and was originally worried Chen Yu would take this opportunity to make exorbitant demands. Just as she was about to recite the speech she had prepared, she heard such a response. She had thought through all the possible demands Chen Yu might make, but this one she had never considered. But after thinking for a moment, she concluded that Chen Yu was merely putting on a brave face. How could he possibly support himself and Tuan Tuan given his current situation? Was he going to return to dependence on his parents? Suddenly, a thought flashed through Fang Yuan¡¯s mind, and her expression instantly became guarded: ¡°You can have the child, but afterwards you can¡¯t reveal anything about us, or I will definitely fight to take the child back.¡± ¡°Fang Yuan, I¡¯m not you, I would never use my child for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Right, how could you possibly want Tuan Tuan now? You¡¯re even afraid of marriage affecting your career, let alone Tuan Tuan¡¯s existence,¡± Chen Yu shook his head with a hint of sarcasm. Fang Yuan, somewhat infuriated and feeling humiliated, struggled to find words to retort. All she could do was angrily pull out the divorce agreement from her bag, wanting to sign it and leave as soon as possible. ¡°I have prepared the agreement, sign it.¡± Chen Yu took the agreement Fang Yuan had prepared and glanced over it. Sure enough, the child was already meant to be his. The second Chen Yu finished signing, Fang Yuan snatched up the divorce agreement without a word and stormed off. Chen Yu looked out the window, lost in thought. 6 years ago, Chen Yu and Fang Yuan met at a concert and started dating not long after. Following that, it was only natural that they got married and had a lovely daughter. Their life was uneventful but warm. But shortly after Tuan Tuan was born, everything changed. Fang Yuan, by chance, participated in a variety show and unexpectedly became popular, began to be heavily promoted by entertainment companies, and stepped into the entertainment circle. In just three years, Fang Yuan had become a hot new star of the new generation. It was also during these three years that Fang Yuan neglected her child. Once, the child had a fever and was crying, but Fang Yuan didn¡¯t pay attention, being busy soliciting votes online. Fortunately, Chen Yu discovered it in time and took him to the hospital. Afterward, Fang Yuan felt no guilt whatsoever, instead, she criticized Chen Yu. Later, she directly left Tuan Tuan with Chen Yu, dedicating herself entirely to her path to stardom. At that time, Chen Yu had struggled in this city for six years, finally getting an opportunity for a promotion. Chen Yu had no choice but to give it up, he even quit his job and found another one that was nine to five, involved less responsibility, and was closer to home. All to have more time to take proper care of the child. At first, Fang Yuan would occasionally come to see the child, later, she only returned during the New Year to meet the child, but even then, she would leave right after seeing him. As for Chen Yu, after Fang Yuan entered the entertainment industry and saw all kinds of high society circles, she increasingly looked down upon him. What she once considered handsome enough to ¡®eat with,¡¯ she now couldn¡¯t be bothered to give a second glance. Chen Yu could barely make ends meet living in Suzhou City while working as a junior white-collar worker. The people in the circle could easily spend more on a single meal than several months of his salary. Not to mention the job he now had that paid a monthly salary of three thousand. Even her assistants were better off than him. He simply wasn¡¯t a match for her anymore. Especially a few days ago, when Fang Yuan attended a dinner hosted by a financier, he joked about her marital status, prompting her to realize she couldn¡¯t drag it out any longer. This year, the entertainment industry was fraught with troubles, constantly challenging the public¡¯s perception, and tolerance for celebrities was getting lower and lower. If her married status were to be exposed, given that she debuted with a single and pure girl image, her career would be over. She would not only miss the critical moment to step into the ranks of second-tier stars but would also become a collapsed artist. That¡¯s why Fang Yuan was in such a hurry to sever ties with Chen Yu, and even with Tuan Tuan. Buzz! Buzz! At that moment, the mobile phone on the table vibrated. Chen Yu¡¯s thoughts were abruptly brought back to the present. ¡°Proceedings at the civil affairs office at 8 am tomorrow.¡± ¡­¡­.. The next day. After confirming with both, the staff at the civil affairs office stamped their divorce certificate. Officially ending their six-year marriage. Fang Yuan, having obtained the divorce certificate, ignored Chen Yu in front of her, walked past him as if he was air, and directly got into the nanny car that was already waiting at the door. She didn¡¯t even want to delay herself by saying a few harsh words. Because in her eyes, Chen Yu was like mud that wouldn¡¯t stick up, and spending more words on him was a waste of time. Seeing Chen Yu standing dazed at the door, Fang Yuan felt relieved, and the worries in her heart gradually dissipated. After all, if she didn¡¯t divorce soon, her married status would sooner or later be unearthed, and then she would lose all her fame and fortune. And to Fang Yuan, Chen Yu looked ¡°soulless and lost.¡± At the moment he received the divorce certificate. He was stunned by a pop-up that suddenly appeared in his mind. ¡°Congratulations host for unlocking the divorce achievement, activating the Perfect Comeback Life System.¡± [First-time activation reward: one mobile food cart, including the skill: Fried Sugar Cake.] [System notification: The host will receive one point for every dollar earned, as well as the corresponding experience points. One hundred points can be used to draw a lottery, where each draw can randomly grant a comeback skill.] Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 - 2 Dad, Why Don’t You Marry My Teacher Chapter 2 ¨C 2 Dad, Why Don¡¯t You Marry My Teacher ¡°` As the system¡¯s crisp voice echoed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, a multitude of virtual screens, brimming with vast amounts of information, flickered incessantly before his eyes. In an instant, Chen Yu felt bewildered, for fried sugar cakes were nothing more than ordinary breakfast fare found at street stalls, something he often made at home when taking care of Tuan Tuan. However, according to the information provided by the system, these fried sugar cakes were practically an artistic craft. From the most basic step of fermenting the dough to the filling that came afterwards, each step left Chen Yu in awe. Furthermore, just the categories of the finished sugar cake products displayed by the system numbered in the dozens, not to mention the detailed classifications within. In comparison, the fried sugar cakes he had made before could only be described as trivial rubbish. Fang Yuan removed her sunglasses and, through the car¡¯s rearview mirror, looked down on Chen Yu with disdain. The agent in the passenger seat covered her mouth to suppress a laugh, ¡°If you ask me, this guy is just putting on airs. Your daughter¡¯s tuition fees, plus the cost of dance classes, add up to at least ten thousand a month, I don¡¯t even know what he hopes to achieve by fighting for custody.¡± Although Fang Yuan¡¯s face was full of scorn, her heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble. She actually wanted to fight for custody, but her current situation made that impossible. ¡°Who cares about him? I¡¯m single now, set up my next appearances immediately!¡± Fang Yuan said coldly and urged the driver to start the car quickly. She had long been utterly tired of Chen Yu, so much so that she couldn¡¯t bear to spare him another glance. After roughly digesting the information brought by the system, Chen Yu slowly lifted his head. He glanced at the departing nanny car and then hailed a shared bike on the roadside, heading straight for Le Meile Kindergarten. Before he knew it, Chen Yu had arrived at the entrance of the kindergarten. His shared bike, however, seemed rather out of place compared to the luxury family cars lined up at the gate. As usual, Chen Yu stood under a Chinese parasol tree at the school gate. After all, compared to other parents, he felt the gap was too significant and feared placing a psychological burden on Tuan Tuan. It was only when nearly all the children had left that Chen Yu tidied up his clothes. Just as he was about to go in, a woman of exquisite figure and graceful posture came out of the school gate, holding Tuan Tuan¡¯s hand and laughing cheerfully. This woman was so beautiful it was beyond description, her perfectly carved features laid upon a face of golden proportions, and a touch of light makeup gave her an ethereal quality. ¡°Tuan Tuan¡¯s daddy, why are you waiting here again? All the other parents go straight to the classroom to wait for their children,¡± she said. The slight annoyance and complaint in her voice didn¡¯t irritate Chen Yu; instead, her gentle tone was like a breath of spring. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to interrupt the kids¡¯ dance practice!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s explanation was far-fetched. Almost all the children who came here to learn dancing came from wealthy or influential families. It was indeed out of place for him to mix in, and it could even negatively impact Tuan Tuan. ¡°You can¡¯t say that; sometimes children need companionship¡­¡± This was not the first time Chen Yu had heard such remarks, and he laughed awkwardly, then took an envelope from his pocket and handed it over. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, this is for the dance class fees you covered for Tuan Tuan! I¡¯ve been a bit busy these past days and haven¡¯t had the chance to bring it to you, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Tong Ya did not reach out to take it but rather handed Tuan Tuan over to Chen Yu. ¡°It¡¯s alright, a few days late is fine, I¡¯m not in a rush! Take Tuan Tuan home first, the child must be hungry!¡± ¡°` With a smile, Tong Ya politely excused herself and adjusted the straps of her purse. ¡°Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad, no matter what, never give up. Tuan Tuan¡¯s dance talent is extraordinary, and today she even won first place in the preschool district preliminary competition. Her future is boundless!¡± After saying these serious words, Tong Ya turned and walked away. ¡°Dad, Ms. Tong Ya knows about you and Mom. She said she¡¯ll find a way to waive the dance class fees for the next few weeks, so you don¡¯t need to worry about the rest.¡± As she spoke, Tuan Tuan picked up a small trophy and waved it in front of Chen Yu. Chen Yu glanced at the trophy, then ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Tuan Tuan. Just focus on your dancing and school, and leave the rest to Dad!¡± Tuan Tuan nodded obediently, but suddenly she tilted her head and looked at Tong Ya¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Dad, I think Ms. Tong Ya is more like a mom! Why don¡¯t you pursue her and let her be my new mom?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback and coughed violently a couple of times. ¡°You little rascal, when did you start playing matchmaker?¡± Tuan Tuan stuck out her tongue, then skillfully climbed onto Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Dad, Mom doesn¡¯t want us anymore, and you¡¯ve lost your job. Where are we going to make money? Maybe I should stop dancing.¡± Chen Yu pretended to be angry and pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little nose. ¡°What are you talking about, being so defeatist? My Tuan Tuan is the most talented dancer in the world, you can¡¯t just stop dancing like that! Dad has already figured out a way to handle the money!¡± Tuan Tuan looked skeptical: ¡°But it seems like we¡¯ve got nothing left except for that envelope you carry, Dad. What are you going to do? You¡¯re not going to do something rash, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not! Dad is going to show you our business right now!¡± As they spoke, Chen Yu had already hopped on a shared bicycle and headed straight for the address provided by the system. A short distance from the kindergarten, there was a medium-sized, somewhat old camper van. Chen Yu took out the keys the system had prepared for him and opened the van¡¯s door. At the entrance, all the necessary permits were already in place, the kitchen was clean and tidy, and there were enough food supplies for two days. There was also a bedroom of modest size connected to the driver¡¯s cabin. With Chen Yu¡¯s driver¡¯s license and health certificate, once he set the price for the fried cakes, he could start doing business immediately! ¡°Wow! Dad, is this what you called our business? Where did you get this from?¡± Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little cheek: ¡°Dad has worked hard for many years and has saved some money. It was just enough to buy this mobile food truck!¡± ¡°Long live Dad!¡± Tuan Tuan kissed Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°So, is this our home from now on?¡± Chen Yu nodded with a bitter-sweet feeling. The divorce had left him with almost nothing. If it weren¡¯t for the system providing this food truck, he probably would have had to rent a place to live. ¡°Sort of! But in the future, Dad will definitely buy Tuan Tuan a big house!¡± After comforting Tuan Tuan, Chen Yu reached for the small blackboard beside him and began writing the price list. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 - 3 Tuan Tuan’s Taste Test Turns into a Grand Opening Chapter 3 ¨C 3 Tuan Tuan¡¯s Taste Test Turns into a Grand Opening ¡°Sweet potato flavor 1.5 yuan.¡± ¡°Purple potato flavor 1.5 yuan.¡± ¡°Brown sugar 1 yuan.¡± ¡°White sugar 1 yuan.¡± ¡°Black sesame 2 yuan.¡± Chen Yu was very adept at setting the prices and placed the sign to one side. His life in recent years, filled with the basics of daily needs, had given Chen Yu a firm grasp of the entire price system in Suzhou City. This pricing was definitely reasonable! ¡°Daddy! I¡¯m a little hungry!¡± For a child of Tuan Tuan¡¯s age, who was growing, and having participated in a regional competition today, burning lots of energy, hunger had already set in. However, aside from the envelope Tong Ya had returned, Chen Yu had nothing on him. Years of instinct told him that this money absolutely could not be touched. Besides, the system-provided RV had nothing extra besides the raw materials for the fried cakes. Seeming to sense Chen Yu¡¯s awkwardness, Tuan Tuan moved closer to him in an obedient manner. ¡°Daddy! Why don¡¯t you make me two fried cakes? This way, I can check out your cooking skills in advance, otherwise, the business tomorrow morning might be ruined!¡± Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s nose, both annoyed and amused. ¡°It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve never made them for you before! Just wait!¡± Chen Yu rolled up his sleeves and headed to the kitchen area, following the skill information provided by the system to mix the water and dough. While the dough was resting, he prepared some filling to use. Even during a minor trial run, beads of sweat had formed on Chen Yu¡¯s forehead. The steps provided by the system were not overly complicated, but there were so many details to focus on that Chen Yu felt a bit overwhelmed at first. Fortunately, he had some previous experience and quickly adapted. As the oil heated up and the cakes began frying, a rich aroma immediately began to spread. ¡°Wow, Daddy! It smells so good! The sugar cakes you fried before never smelled this good! Did you learn some new skills from somewhere?¡± ¡°Of course! It¡¯s all from your dad¡¯s self-researched efforts!¡± Pleased with himself, Chen Yu was also slightly taken aback internally; just changing a few details made such a huge difference in the final product. When the first batch of sugar cakes was ready, Tuan Tuan eagerly grabbed one with oiled paper. She took a bite and the flavor was fragrant, tender, and crispy, sweet but not cloying, and the filling seemed to melt in her mouth, effortlessly sliding down her throat. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious! Daddy, I want more, I want more!¡± Chen Yu too couldn¡¯t quite believe it and ate one himself, the taste giving him an inexplicable sense of elation. ¡°Young man, is this a mobile food cart? What are you selling here? It smells wonderful.¡± An elderly lady dressed in red, fanning herself, approached, drawn by the smell, and looking like she was heading to join in the square dancing. ¡°It¡¯s just ordinary fried cakes, but we haven¡¯t even started¡­¡± Before Chen Yu could finish saying the words about officially starting business, Tuan Tuan had grabbed a small stool and placed herself at the window, holding up the price sign Chen Yu had written. ¡°Grandma! Would you like to buy one to try?¡± That adorable voice blossomed joy in the elderly lady¡¯s heart. ¡°Oh my, what a lovely girl! Then give grandma a black sesame one!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sadness seeing Tuan Tuan looking like a little money-grubber. Fang Yuan¡¯s departure had hit Tuan Tuan hard, but it seemed to have spurred some growth in the little girl. Tuan Tuan decisively took Chen Yu¡¯s phone, opening the payment page. Chen Yu wrapped a black sesame sugar cake in oiled paper and handed it over. As soon as the elderly lady paid, she eagerly put the sugar cake into her mouth. ¡°Oh my, this is tasty!¡± The old lady shouted loudly and then opened her fan, waving it a few times in the distance. ¡°Hey, come over here, this handsome young man¡¯s sugar cake is delicious!¡± With one call, she attracted a large group of elderly men and women. They were all dressed in uniform, clearly a group that often danced together in the square. Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines; he had only made ten for his first batch, nowhere near enough for all the seniors. ¡°Well, Granny¡­¡± Just as Chen Yu was about to explain, Tuan Tuan adorably brought her hands together in salute, making a curtsey. ¡°Dear grandpas and grandmas, we just opened for business! Don¡¯t rush, please wait patiently for my daddy for 15 minutes, the tasty fried cakes will be ready in no time!¡± Who could resist such a cute, adorable, and pretty little girl? Especially a bunch of elderly folks. ¡°No problem, child, we¡¯ll wait!¡± The first grandma who arrived slapped her thigh and then began telling the others how delicious the fried cakes were! Seeing that the seniors agreed, Tuan Tuan quickly nudged Chen Yu. ¡°Hurry up and make the fried cakes, Daddy! Business is here.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just cracked a slight smile and turned to get busy. ¡°Dear grandpas and grandmas, just tell me what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll write it down right away!¡± Saying so, Tuan Tuan took out paper and pen, while holding up a QR code for payments with her other hand. ¡°I¡¯ll have 5 purple sweet potato ones!¡± ¡°Two plain sugar, two black sesame!¡± ¡°Three red sweet potato, two brown sugar!¡± ¡­ As Tuan Tuan noted down the orders, she also calculated the prices, and the seniors conscientiously scanned to pay. ¡°Account credited with 7.5 yuan.¡± ¡°Account credited with 6 yuan.¡± ¡°Account credited with 6.5 yuan.¡± ¡­ Listening to the sounds of payments coming from his phone, Chen Yu felt invigorated. Batch after batch of fried cakes were quickly laid out. ¡°Oh my, eating such delicious fried cakes in my lifetime, I could die happy now. Give me another 20, any flavor will do, I want to take them home for my family to try.¡± The first old lady who had come didn¡¯t even stop for her square dancing; she grabbed 20 fried cakes and rushed back home. Several young women working the night shift at the factory also followed the scent; each bought ten fried cakes. But by the time they reached the shuttle pickup point, the fried cakes in their hands had been polished off, all of them still looking unsatisfied. ¡°Wow, these are so tasty, I¡¯ve never eaten anything this delicious before.¡± ¡°Have all of you eaten your fill? Should we go back and buy a few more?¡± ¡°Oh no, the shuttle bus is here, we don¡¯t have time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, these are meant to be an early morning treat anyway, maybe they¡¯ll still be selling them here tomorrow morning!¡± As they spoke, the young women boarded the bus with faces full of regret. In the nearby square, a bewildered teenager with a skateboard stood there, looking around. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How come those old men and women aren¡¯t here fighting with us for the spot today?¡± ¡°Strange, very strange, they all seem to be gathered over there, what are they doing? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe that shop is having a promotion, giving away eggs or something!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right, it smells so good! How can the scent of fried cakes drift this far?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look. Without the old folks fighting for our spot, I suddenly feel like something¡¯s missing.¡± ¡­ Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 - 4 All Sold Out in One Night Chapter 4 ¨C 4 All Sold Out in One Night 7:00 pm. The usually bustling sports square had suddenly become deserted, with a group of square-dancing seniors leading everyone to gather in front of Chen Yu¡¯s food cart. ¡°Oh my, this is so delicious! How the heck is this made?¡± ¡°No wonder these old men and women have stopped square dancing!¡± ¡°Owner, give me another 30 with black sesame filling!¡± ¡°Over here, 60 more! 30 with sweet potato and 30 with purple potato!¡± ¡­ The crowd was eating and taking away food so quickly that the system¡¯s provided ingredients had already diminished by half. Fortunately, Chen Yu was by now familiar with all the processes, and his proficiency with frying cakes was remarkable, which also quickened his pace considerably. However, the swarm of people had indeed caught him somewhat off guard. Thankfully, Tuan Tuan had brought over some tables and chairs, and sat outside the food cart to keep track of orders and collect money, easing some of the load off Chen Yu. ¡°Hurry up and give us 100, we¡¯re going to a net caf¨¦ to stay overnight!¡± Five teenagers had followed the crowd over, but these five were scruffy, clearly the types who hung around net cafes all year round. ¡°Five brothers, please wait a moment; we¡¯ve really got too many people today! You can pay first and register your flavors with me.¡± The term ¡®brothers¡¯ softly spoken by Tuan Tuan gave the five a somewhat fluttery feeling. People like them, addicted to games and frequenting net cafes, were often looked down upon. But now, such a cute little girl was standing in front of them calling them ¡®brothers¡¯, which rapidly lifted their self-esteem. ¡°No worries, we¡¯ll wait!¡± ¡­ The first old lady who had bought a fried cake had already returned home. However, her little grandson was now lying on the floor, throwing a tantrum, refusing to eat his meal, and had even strewn rice and soup all over the floor. Her son and daughter-in-law were at their wit¡¯s end with the little boy. The grandmother hurried over to soothe him, but the aroma of the fried cake in her hand instantly stopped the young boy¡¯s cries. ¡°Granny, what is this?¡± The grandmother eagerly pushed the fried cake towards her grandson, ¡°Something good, try it quickly!¡± The scent was already mouthwatering, and the little boy hurriedly grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth. Under the astonished gazes of his family, the boy proceed to polish off 20 fried cakes. ¡°Granny, I want more!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, Granny will take you there now, maybe they haven¡¯t closed up shop yet.¡± Both the son and the daughter-in-law swallowed hard involuntarily, the scent they had smelled before was truly astounding. ¡­ The five teenagers heading to the net caf¨¦ with their fried cakes had just stepped inside when they attracted a large group of kids at the computers. ¡°Dude, what¡¯s that and where did you get it? It smells amazing!¡± ¡°If you have a bite of this, it¡¯ll keep you alert and awake all night! You might even snag the top spot in the game.¡± ¡­ It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu¡¯s fried cakes caused quite a stir in the neighborhood. Those who had bought fried cakes earlier came back with friends and family, making Chen Yu¡¯s food cart even livelier. By 9:00 pm, the crowd waiting at the food cart had finally started to thin out. ¡°Ah, owner, this is truly tempting! We¡¯ve been working all day and couldn¡¯t find much to eat. Give us a few fried cakes.¡± ¡°Oh, this little girl is so cute, she must be your daughter, right?¡± Chen Yu served the fried cakes on several plates and set them on the table. ¡°Yeah, daughter!¡± ¡°Wow, the boss is handsome and makes such delicious fried cakes, and having a daughter who listens and understands so well, truly a role model for us all.¡± ¡°Not like us, working like dogs every day and still can¡¯t find a wife.¡± ¡°Hmph, with dowries in the hundreds of thousands, plus they want a car and a house, only a fool would get married.¡± ¡°Exactly, long live being single!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu suddenly had several black lines running down his forehead. ¡°I got divorced!¡± The moment they heard this, they all showed a bit of sympathy. ¡°No worries, bro, with your good looks and a skillful hand, you won¡¯t have any trouble finding a wife.¡± ¡°Hey, brother, is there a secret recipe to your fried cakes? They¡¯re so fragrant!¡± ¡°And they¡¯re not greasy at all, there must be a secret recipe!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°I just use slightly better ingredients, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore, give me another 20 with black sesame!¡± ¡°Oh my God, this is so delicious, it¡¯s my first time getting addicted to something as greasy as fried cakes! Give me a 100 more!¡± Chen Yu shrugged: ¡°I reckon you¡¯ll have to wait about ten minutes!¡± ¡°Hey, we don¡¯t mind waiting ten minutes, or even ten hours!¡± With a smile on his face, Chen Yu began to deftly make the fried cakes. It didn¡¯t take long for him to turn all the remaining ingredients into finished products and toss them into the fryer in batches. When Tuan Tuan brought over the office workers¡¯ fried cakes batch by batch, she stood by their side obediently. ¡°Uncles, since this is greasy food after all, it would be best to eat a little less, for the sake of your health.¡± Her adorable voice instantly melted the hearts of these rough men. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our stomachs are strong and we digest well, no matter how much we eat, it¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°Right, with food this delicious, even if it kills me with its richness, I¡¯d die satisfied!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t just worry about us eating, hurry and call the rest of the people from the company over; many of them haven¡¯t had a proper meal for days!¡± Before long, a large group of people in uniforms were summoned by these office workers. While they grumbled about work, they also praised Chen Yu¡¯s sweet cakes, showing a dichotomy in their behavior. And these folks had huge appetites, soon finishing off all the remaining sweet cakes at a rapid pace. Even so, there were a few who, still not satisfied, stood in front of the food cart, gazing eagerly at Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but today¡¯s sweet cakes are all sold out. If you want more, you¡¯d better come early tomorrow!¡± A group of people, a bit dejected, patted their stomachs and dispersed reluctantly. [Congratulations to the host, today¡¯s net profit is 6235 yuan, reward points 6235!] The system¡¯s notification tone gave Chen Yu a little thrill. He hadn¡¯t expected this make-do business to earn such a high profit. This morning, he was a man forced into divorce and stripped of wealth, unsure of where his next meal would come from. Yet by evening, he had his own little enterprise! Today¡¯s net profit was higher than what an ordinary person makes in a month. But Chen Yu remained quite calm. After all, the raw materials he used today were provided by the system, without any investment on his part. Starting from tomorrow, he would have to factor in the cost of raw materials! And he also had to figure out where to source them from. ¡°Daddy! I helped you out a lot today, shouldn¡¯t you pay me a salary? I¡¯m still hungry. I¡¯ve only eaten two pieces of sweet cake from the afternoon till now!¡± Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 - 5 Pure Net Profit Chapter 5 ¨C 5 Pure Net Profit Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Tuan Tuan, you really were Daddy¡¯s hero today! Haven¡¯t you always wanted to eat the spicy chicken from that place on the east street corner? Let¡¯s go now!¡± ¡°Yay, long live Daddy!¡± After cheering, Tuan Tuan very obediently began to help Chen Yu tidy up the food cart. This had almost become a habit for Tuan Tuan, as Fang Yuan had been busy filming for years, and Chen Yu managed everything at home. Whenever Chen Yu did the housework, Tuan Tuan always came over to help out diligently, and it had become a habit over time. After filtering the waste oil, cleaning the workbench meticulously, and thoroughly sweeping the entire food cart, Chen Yu finally took off his rubber gloves with satisfaction. [Congratulations to the host for a perfect end to a day¡¯s business; reward: contact information for all ingredient suppliers.] Chen Yu was slightly surprised; it seemed that he wouldn¡¯t be able to get the suppliers¡¯ contact information if he didn¡¯t clean up the food cart thoroughly. Truth be told, today¡¯s ingredients could be considered top-notch, and if Chen Yu had to find the raw materials himself, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to find ones this good. At this moment, his phone had a few new phone numbers added to it. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly, Daddy, or they¡¯ll be closing up soon! Oh, we have to print out the payment code too. I¡¯m so tired from receiving payments on the phone all day!¡± It was already ten o¡¯clock at night, and except for a few 24-hour fast-food restaurants, almost all the shops on the street had closed. Fortunately, there was a print shop not far from them that hadn¡¯t closed yet. After printing and copying the payment code, Chen Yu took Tuan Tuan to a small Sichuan restaurant. After ordering two servings of spicy chicken over rice, Chen Yu started making phone calls. ¡°Flour at three yuan per pound, one hundred pounds per bag, right? Bring me ten bags at four o¡¯clock tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Sweet potatoes, mix of purple and regular, at five yuan per pound, bring me two hundred pounds at four o¡¯clock tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Original sesame seeds at ten yuan per pound, bring me one hundred pounds at four o¡¯clock tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°White sugar, brown sugar, both at two yuan per pound, bring me one hundred pounds of each at four o¡¯clock tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Pure mineral water at ten yuan per barrel, bring me ten, um, barrels at four o¡¯clock tomorrow morning!¡± The raw materials Chen Yu bought were double what the system had provided on the first day. After all, the initial stock of ingredients had sold out in just half a day. At this time, the Sichuan restaurant wasn¡¯t busy, and although Chen Yu¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, everyone could hear him clearly. The restaurant owner served the rice and then sat down beside them as if he were an old acquaintance. ¡°Buddy, you sell breakfast fried pastries, right? Your ingredients are too expensive. Let me tell you a place where you can get flour for just one yuan per pound, which could double your profits!¡± Chen Yu just smiled and showed no interest in engaging further with the owner. Flour for one yuan per pound would undoubtedly be of inferior quality, and buying it would only detract from the quality of his fried pastries. ¡°Uncle Boss, my daddy doesn¡¯t sell just any ordinary fried pastries! We can¡¯t be so casual with the choice of ingredients. Flour that cheap must be fake,¡± Tuan Tuan piped up assertively. If anyone else had said that, the owner would certainly have been furiously embarrassed, as that was the kind of flour he used in his restaurant. But Tuan Tuan¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t just sweet; he also looked cute, and even the fiercest-looking person would be disarmed by his charm. ¡°Ah, but in business, you¡¯ve got to consider profits first! No matter how well you make the fried pastries, they¡¯re still just going to taste the same, no big difference.¡± No sooner had the owner finished speaking than Tuan Tuan spit out the spicy chicken he had just put into his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s so yucky, not even as good as the pastries my daddy makes! It never used to taste this bad.¡± The owner was less than pleased at that. ¡°Little sister, you can¡¯t just say anything you like, my spicy chicken is the most famous on this whole street!¡± Tuan Tuan pouted, ¡°It¡¯s really not as good as the fried cakes my dad makes. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can try them tomorrow morning at the mobile food cart on the next street over!¡± ¡°Alright, Tuan Tuan, that¡¯s not polite! Finish eating quickly and go home, you have school tomorrow!¡± With a soft chide, Chen Yu wolfed down a plate of rice covered in meat. He was indeed tired after a long day. Tuan Tuan didn¡¯t talk anymore, but she really couldn¡¯t eat any more of the spicy chicken rice, so she called the owner to pack it to take away. The hard times from her childhood made Tuan Tuan reluctant to waste anything. ¡°Hmph, despising my rice yet still wanting to take it away! It¡¯s just selling fried cakes, what¡¯s so great about that? I¡¯ll try it out tomorrow. If it¡¯s not good, I¡¯ll smash up your shop.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t even pay attention to the owner, simply taking Tuan Tuan back to their food cart. After settling Tuan Tuan in the only room of the food cart, Chen Yu quickly straightened up the driver¡¯s seat and lay down. The partition between the driver¡¯s seat and the room was not very thick; any noise could be clearly heard, and there was also a small window the size of a head. ¡°Tuan Tuan, do you miss mom?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. ¡°No, I hardly ever saw her!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say, after all, it was her mother. ¡°Dad, I still think Teacher Tong Ya is very nice. You¡¯re so handsome and now we have our own business, I bet you could win her over!¡± ¡°You child! Go to sleep quickly! You have school tomorrow, right?¡± ¡­ At four in the morning, there was a loud knock on the door of the food cart. A few cars, as if they had arranged it beforehand, parked outside the cart. ¡°Boss, your goods have arrived, time to unload!¡± Chen Yu hurried out of the cart and after he settled the vendors and their goods, he washed his face and rolled up his sleeves to start working. However, the noise had awoken Tuan Tuan. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re up so early? I¡¯ll come help!¡± Chen Yu, feeling helpless, didn¡¯t force Tuan Tuan to continue sleeping; she would have been woken up by his noise eventually. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re finally setting up. We¡¯ve been waiting all night, come on, come on, I¡¯ll order a hundred right off!¡± A youth who had spent the night at an internet caf¨¦ emerged with dark circles under his eyes, clearly having heard the cart. ¡°Alright, but I just opened up, you¡¯ll have to wait about twenty minutes!¡± ¡°Ah! That long? That¡¯s enough time for a game!¡± The youth hesitated for a moment, then made a call. ¡°You guys go ahead and play! Don¡¯t wait for me, I¡¯m going to wait here for fried cakes!¡± ¡°What? Are they the same fried cakes from last night? Then I¡¯m not playing either, I¡¯ll be right over.¡± Before long, the youths who were at the internet caf¨¦ the night before swarmed the place, making the owner worried that someone was stealing his business, so he hurried over. ¡°Oh boy, boss, your fried cakes smell so good, no wonder these monkeys aren¡¯t even going to the net anymore! Give me fifty as well!¡± Seeing so many people from the get-go, Tuan Tuan was also excited and quickly grabbed the printed payment code sign and got off the cart. ¡°Scan the code, pay the money, choose your flavor, everything¡¯s right here!¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6 - 6 Come to my house for fried cakes Chapter 6 ¨C 6 Come to my house for fried cakes The elders in the nearby residential area, who usually couldn¡¯t get up until five or six o¡¯clock, were up early today, getting out of bed just after four. ¡°Oh my, why is Auntie Wang up so early today?¡± ¡°Going for sugar cakes! If we don¡¯t go now, there won¡¯t be any left.¡± ¡°What sugar cake has such power to get you up at four?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good stuff, sweet but not cloying, after eating one, you still want another.¡± ¡­ ¡°Granny, hurry up. After eating the sugar cake, I¡¯ve got to go to school!¡± ¡°Oh dear, my grandson, it¡¯s just past four, we¡¯ve got time, we¡¯ve got time.¡± ¡­ The food cart had only been open for less than half an hour, and already it was surrounded by people with no room to get through. Just the reserved fried cakes had already reached more than two thousand. Even the sanitation workers who came out to clean in the morning were drawn by the scent, gathering around, waiting to eat fried cakes. ¡°Boss, do you have anything to drink here? It¡¯s a bit stuck in my throat!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning, ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just my second day opening, I haven¡¯t had time to stock drinks yet, please bear with me!¡± ¡°No problem! I just ate a little too quickly, these fried cakes are just too tasty! But for a food cart like yours, if you could hook up a small trailer behind, just for drinks or other small items, that would be pretty sweet.¡± Chen Yu helplessly responded, ¡°I know about that kind of trailer, but it needs to be customized and modified, it¡¯s not easy to find a craftsman on short notice!¡± ¡°Look for me!¡± The man suddenly perked up, pulled out a business card from his pocket, and had Tuan Tuan hand it to Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯m Zhang Fan, I design custom vehicles. Your food cart looks good; just add a small trailer to the back and it will be perfect. If you trust me, I¡¯ll design it for you today when I get back!¡± ¡°Oh, that would be great!¡± Chen Yu replied, ¡°Then let me know the cost when the time comes, and I¡¯ll transfer the payment to you.¡± ¡°Hey, no worries, the custom vehicle shop across the street is mine. I¡¯ll do a good job, and I¡¯ll deliver it to you directly! And load me up with a few dozen fried cakes to take home for my wife and kids.¡± At six forty in the morning, the first wave of customers finally receded, but there was still a long line in front of the food cart. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, everyone, I need to take my daughter to school! I¡¯m closing for twenty minutes!¡± ¡°Ah, boss, I¡¯ve been waiting for a while now, can you get my fried cakes ready before you go?¡± ¡°Yeah, boss, we¡¯ve been waiting so hard!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was somewhat conflicted as there wasn¡¯t any business that came to his door that he wouldn¡¯t do, but in his heart, Tuan Tuan¡¯s place could never be replaced by anything. Just as he was insisting on pausing to take Tuan Tuan to school, Zhang Fan¡¯s family of three appeared to be having a tug-of-war as they left the garage. ¡°Wife, it¡¯s not easy for a guy who¡¯s divorced and still taking care of a child. I¡¯m just sparing some time to design a trailer for him, it¡¯s nothing!¡± ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s nothing? Have you collected the debt they owed you? The designs you handed out, others just went to someone else to make them, not even paying you the design fees. How long are you planning to be Mr. Nice Guy? Don¡¯t you realize we still have mortgage and car payments to make?¡± ¡°Ah, wife, he¡¯s just across the street, we are all neighbors, helping out a bit is nothing!¡± Zhang Fan tried to persuade her, while stuffing the fried cakes he held into his wife¡¯s hands. It wasn¡¯t until she took a bite of the fried cake that the displeasure on her face completely disappeared. ¡°My goodness! Is it really that delicious?¡± The couple had just arrived in front of the snack cart, and the smell of the fried cakes in their hands, combined with the aromas wafting from the cart, invigorated Zhang Fan¡¯s wife. ¡°Are you sure these are just fried cakes? Boss, give me a hundred of them, I want to take them to my workplace and let my colleagues try.¡± Chen Yu strained to listen, suppressing a chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m about to take my daughter to school, so I¡¯ll have to stop for twenty minutes!¡± It was then that Zhang Fan¡¯s wife noticed Tuan Tuan standing beside them. ¡°Oh! What an adorable little girl! Hey, I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before? Are you from the nearby Le Mei Le Kindergarten?¡± Tuan Tuan nodded obediently, ¡°Yes, sister! I¡¯m also classmates with Luo Luo!¡± This endearment of ¡®sister¡¯ made Zhang Fan¡¯s wife¡¯s heart bloom with joy, ¡°Oh, you should have said so earlier, we¡¯re on the way there! My daughter also goes to that kindergarten! Why don¡¯t I let my husband, Zhang, take both of the kids, and you can stay here and help me with the fried cakes!¡± Chen Yu hesitated, after all, Zhang Fan had only come by to eat fried cakes twice and they weren¡¯t very familiar with each other. However, seeing that Zhang Fan¡¯s daughter and Tuan Tuan seemed quite acquainted with each other, he let go of his concerns. ¡°Then, Zhang, I¡¯ll have to trouble you! I will give you a discount on the fried cakes you wanted.¡± ¡°No need for any discount! With fried cakes this good, how can I accept a discount?¡± Zhang Fan¡¯s wife promptly scanned the payment QR code for the full amount. Chen Yu said goodbye to Tuan Tuan and sped up the cooking of the fried cakes. By nine in the morning, the area in front of the snack cart had finally quieted down. The raw materials delivered in the morning were already more than half gone, and the records on the payment QR code had reached an astonishing seven thousand eight hundred and twenty-three yuan. Subtracting the five thousand four hundred yuan spent on raw materials yesterday, he had a net profit of two thousand four hundred and twenty-three yuan for the morning. The system also showed that he had accumulated eight thousand six hundred and fifty-eight points! That is, from yesterday afternoon to now, Chen Yu had made eight thousand six hundred and fifty-eight yuan. The remaining raw materials in the snack cart were now clearly audible to Chen Yu as well. Inside the kindergarten, Tuan Tuan had already started her special dance class. ¡°Tuan Tuan, why didn¡¯t your dad come to drop you off this morning?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s inquiry seemed casual, but there was a certain expectancy in her voice. ¡°My dad started his business last night, and he was even busier this morning, so he had to ask Luo Luo¡¯s dad to send me!¡± ¡°A business? Wasn¡¯t your father cleaned out? Where did he get the capital to start a business? Besides, if he¡¯s running a business, how does he have time to take care of you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really like having a shop; it¡¯s just a snack cart selling fried cakes! My mom didn¡¯t leave anything when she went away, so my dad can only find a way to run the cart and take care of me at the same time.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes filled with pity as she indulgently ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Tell your dad when you go back, the coaching fee for dancing has been waived. Let him not work so hard in the future!¡± ¡°Really!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s face lit up with excitement, ¡°Thank you so much, Teacher Tong Ya! My dad will be very grateful to you, too. How about visiting my dad¡¯s snack cart with me this afternoon? The fried cakes he makes are simply the most delicious things in the world!¡± Tong Ya paused slightly, her gaze drifting off for a moment. ¡°Okay, after school, I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands in joy and excitedly threw herself into Tong Ya¡¯s arms. But in the next moment, for some reason, Tuan Tuan¡¯s face took on a touch of loss, even showing a hint of sadness. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 - 7 Not Enough for Sale Chapter 7 ¨C 7 Not Enough for Sale Tong Ya hurriedly took out the tissues she carried with her and wiped Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face. ¡°Oh, what happened? You were fine just a moment ago, how did you turn into a little crybaby so suddenly?¡± Tuan Tuan rubbed his eyes, pretending to be aggrieved. ¡°My dad is just a fried cake seller now, the teacher won¡¯t look down on him, will she?¡± ¡°How could she? To the teacher, your dad is a very responsible man!¡± ¡°Then, Teacher Tong Ya, you promised, after school this afternoon you¡¯ll come with me, it¡¯s very close to here, just two blocks away!¡± As he spoke, Tuan Tuan held out his little pinkie, wanting to make a pinkie promise with Tong Ya. Tong Ya smiled lightly and did not hesitate to make the pinkie promise with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Alright then, go practice now! Today¡¯s movements are quite difficult!¡± ¡°Got it, Teacher!¡± Tuan Tuan tiptoed with delight, twirling around and gracefully made his way to the dance area, looking as though he had successfully schemed something. The dance they practiced today was the ballet Swan Lake, which is simply hell-level difficulty for beginners. But for a prodigy like Tuan Tuan, it was a piece of cake; she even started dancing to the music, leading the other children along with her. Lunchtime arrived, and after settling the kids in the dance class, Tong Ya served herself a meal and sat in the corner while dialing a number on her phone. ¡°Xiaowei, I¡¯m going to have to skip the hot pot we scheduled today. I might be back late!¡± Tang Xiaowei, apparently still half asleep, replied, ¡°Why? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I have an appointment with someone, going out for fried sugar cakes!¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re going out for fried sugar cakes instead of having hot pot? Do you have a boyfriend?¡± Tang Xiaowei suddenly jumped up from the bed, fully alert. ¡°That¡¯s not the case, it¡¯s not confirmed yet!¡± ¡°Who is it that could make Miss Tong Ya care so much? You never just go out to eat with someone casually.¡± At that point, Tang Xiaowei seemed to remember something, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be that guy you had a crush on in college, would it?¡± ¡°You know and still ask!¡± Tong Ya blushed slightly, ¡°If you want to have hot pot, you can eat it by yourself! Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± ¡°Oh my God! Ya Ya, you need to calm down, it¡¯s been so many years of unrequited love, that man has never even seen you! And besides, isn¡¯t he already married? Are you planning to be the other woman? The Tong family elders would have a fit if they found out!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking!¡± Tong Ya hurriedly explained, ¡°He just got divorced yesterday!¡± ¡°Holy moly, that works! You didn¡¯t stir things up, did you? Remember, we both snuck out, don¡¯t stir up too much trouble!¡± Tong Ya was exasperated, ¡°Do I look like that kind of person?¡± Tang Xiaowei breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s true! But you sure are passionate about your secret crush! It was just one glance at the freshman welcome party, and here we are now! You¡¯re even ready to be a stepmother.¡± ¡°Mind your own business! I know what I¡¯m doing!¡± After hanging up the phone, Tong Ya suddenly became nervous, constantly thinking about the date that evening, and was even fretting over what to wear. At this moment, Chen Yu was already busy in his food cart. With the rush of last night and this morning, he was practically preparing raw materials while selling fried cakes on the side. Even with the system boosting him, things were a bit chaotic. Having some free time during midday, he could prepare all the remaining ingredients into semi-finished products, so in the afternoon, when customers arrived, he could just fry them directly. The simple preparation of semi-finished products made the process much faster, and in just an hour and a half, Chen Yu managed to make eight hundred of each of the five flavors of sugar cakes. All told, he could make a semi-finished fried cake every second. Roughly calculating in his mind, eight hundred of each flavor amounted to a total of five thousand six hundred yuan. That was pure profit! But working so efficiently and rapidly on the fried cake semi-finished products, Chen Yu¡¯s physical strength had reached its limit. From four in the morning until noon, he had barely stopped at all. Just as he had stored away the semi-finished products and was about to take a break, a group of over a dozen girls suddenly ran over. ¡°This is the place! The fried cakes this owner makes are simply peerless!¡± One of the young girls praised and then leaned over the food cart counter. ¡°Boss, do you remember me? I bought some fried cakes from you last night when I was working! We just got off work, and we¡¯re famished. Could you fry some up for us?¡± Chen Yu had wanted to refuse because he was truly tired. However, looking at these dozen or so factory girls, dragging their weary bodies and standing in front of him with dark circles under their eyes and growling stomachs, he couldn¡¯t bear to do so. He had once experienced that kind of factory life, and not just these frail young girls, but even he had nearly been unable to cope with it. ¡°Sure, what flavor would you like?¡± Chen Yu stood up, instantly causing the group of factory girls to scream with excitement. ¡°Wow, the boss is so handsome! Did you bring us here to buy fried cakes, or was it to sneak a peek at the owner?¡± ¡°Not at all, it was too dark to see anything while working last night. You¡¯ll know how delicious these fried cakes are once they¡¯re out. Wait and see.¡± ¡°Never mind the taste of the fried cakes, it¡¯s true that the boss has some serious charm.¡± Amidst the girls¡¯ chatter, Chen Yu fried up twenty of each of the five flavors of the fried cakes. When the girls bit into the fried cakes, their conversations suddenly stopped. ¡°Oh my goodness, it¡¯s really so fragrant!¡± ¡°The boss is handsome, skilled, I¡¯d want to have his babies!¡± ¡°Dream on, the boss has a five-year-old daughter who is super cute!¡± Just then, Zhang Fan hurried over to the food cart. ¡°Old Chen! Everything¡¯s designed for you, with maximum space utilization. You can even put a fridge in there to use as storage, and if you drive away, you can take the trailer with you!¡± As he spoke, Zhang Fan laid out a blueprint in front of Chen Yu. Zhang Fan was indeed a professional vehicle modifier. In just a few hours, he had already produced the blueprints. ¡°It¡¯s fine, do as you see fit!¡± After discussing some details, Zhang Fan took the blueprints back to the vehicle modification shop and started working energetically. After sending off the dozen or so factory girls, Chen Yu quickly closed the serving window of the food cart. If more customers were to come, he wouldn¡¯t have enough fried cakes to sell that night. But at the rate things were going, he would probably need to double the raw materials by tomorrow morning. After carefully cleaning the food cart, Chen Yu ordered a Huangmen chicken from next door. After eating his fill, he set an alarm for two hours and lay down in the driver¡¯s seat, falling into a deep sleep. In his dream, he was counting money¡­ Chapter 8 - Chapter 8 - 8: Wife, Children Chapter 8 ¨C 8: Wife, Children At four in the afternoon, Chen Yu got up and freshened up a bit before heading straight to the school. He had felt somewhat uneasy when he asked Zhang Fan to take Tuan Tuan in the morning, so he decided to pick up the child himself after school. However, when Chen Yu arrived at the school gate and saw all sorts of family cars parked there, he suddenly had the idea of buying a car. But then he thought, he only owned a food truck now, and even if he bought a car, he wouldn¡¯t have a place to park it. After some consideration, Chen Yu decided to focus on saving money to buy a house. Just as he was meticulously planning this, the school bell started ringing. Chen Yu instinctively stayed away from the crowd, leaning against the tree. He had only waited a little while when he suddenly heard Tuan Tuan call out ¡°Daddy¡±. Then he saw Tuan Tuan happily pulling Tong Ya, running over to him. Tong Ya was dressed very simply today, a white short sleeve with a lace blouse, paired with a pair of slim-fit jeans, exuding an ineffable purity and beauty. Parents picking up their children couldn¡¯t help but glance over, but since their own children were there, they dared not behave improperly. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Teacher Tong Ya, for troubling you to personally bring her out every time!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face turned inexplicably red, and just as she was about to explain something, Tuan Tuan had already clung to Chen Yu¡¯s legs. ¡°This time it wasn¡¯t Teacher Tong Ya who brought me out, it was me who brought her out,¡± Tuan Tuan said. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about now?¡± ¡°No nonsense, I¡¯ve already made a deal with Teacher Tong Ya to invite her to our food truck to eat fried cakes,¡± Tuan Tuan said. Chen Yu was stunned, ¡°Fried cakes? What¡¯s so good about them? Besides, Teacher Tong Ya teaches dance, how could she eat such greasy food?¡± ¡°I can!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t know why, but she answered as if compelled and seemed somewhat eager. Realizing her out-of-character response, Tong Ya coughed lightly. ¡°I made a pinky promise with Tuan Tuan this morning, agreeing to eat fried cakes after school. As a teacher, how can I go back on my word? I have to set an example!¡± Tong Ya said. This explanation did indeed seem far-fetched; which teacher would be so punctilious? Moreover, when Chen Yu had previously taken Tuan Tuan to dance, he had heard about Tong Ya¡¯s personality. She was the quintessential ice queen! Once a student¡¯s parent wanted to invite Tong Ya to dinner, but not only did Tong Ya not give face, she also transferred the child to another dance team. Such a principled person agreeing to come to his food truck for fried cakes? Chen Yu couldn¡¯t believe it. But then he thought again, could this be a home visit from Teacher Tong Ya? Chen Yu picked up Tuan Tuan and pinched her little nose. ¡°Have you done something wrong at school, and Teacher Tong Ya has asked to speak with your parents, so you came up with this idea to bring her to the food truck?¡± he asked. There was a slight look of disappointment on Tong Ya¡¯s face; she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to think that way. ¡°Well! Actually, I also heard that your fried cakes are famous far and wide, so I wanted to try them specially! It really has nothing to do with the child,¡± Tong Ya said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more; after all, his fried cakes were made with the system¡¯s help, so how could they not be delicious? ¡°Well then! As long as Teacher Tong Ya doesn¡¯t mind,¡± he said. ¡°Of course not!¡± Tong Ya replied. Chen Yu put Tuan Tuan down and held her little hand, while Tuan Tuan instinctively grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand. And Tong Ya didn¡¯t feel it inappropriate but rather leaned towards Chen Yu as if possessed. From a distance, the three of them looked like a family. ¡°Hey, who is that guy? He¡¯s so close to Teacher Tong Ya!¡± someone remarked. ¡°Who cares who he is? Don¡¯t all beauties like handsome guys?¡± another voice chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s too much, can someone do whatever they want just because they¡¯re handsome?¡± ¡­ The kindergarten wasn¡¯t far from the food cart, and even on foot, it only took ten minutes. However, at the moment, the food cart had already been surrounded by a group of elderly people doing square dancing. ¡°Oh, young man, we thought you¡¯d quit!¡± ¡°Come on, come on, everyone¡¯s been waiting for so long!¡± ¡°My grandson is still at home, crying out for food. Hurry up and give me fifty!¡± ¡­ Seeing that there was business to be done, Chen Yu unconsciously let go of Tuan Tuan¡¯s little hand, opened the vehicle door, and let down the food cart¡¯s counter. Today was much easier than yesterday ¨C he started the stove, heated the oil, and fried the cakes. In less than five minutes, the first batch was ready. Tong Ya hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu, merely by setting up a food cart, could attract such a crowd. It was just past four in the afternoon, and there were already so many people lining up here. This was only Chen Yu¡¯s first day with a food cart! ¡°Teacher, dad is too busy, he might not have time to entertain¡­¡± Before he could finish, a few elderly people had already come over. ¡°Hey, little sister, are we still paying you today?¡± Tuan Tuan quickly agreed and took out a payment code from his backpack, handing it to Tong Ya. ¡°Scan this!¡± After responding, Tuan Tuan moved a small table and two small stools out of the driver¡¯s cabin of the food cart and asked Tong Ya to sit down with him. ¡°Oh, boss! No wonder you only brought your child out yesterday. The mom is so beautiful; you must be afraid someone will steal her away!¡± ¡°Look at this mother and daughter, they look so alike, both so beautiful!¡± ¡°The boss is handsome too. The three of you as a family have off-the-charts good looks!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s breath suddenly quickened, and she didn¡¯t know what to say, but she was somehow enjoying the feeling. Chen Yu was flustered, ¡°Auntie, please don¡¯t talk nonsense. This is my child¡¯s teacher, not my wife.¡± ¡°Oh, the teacher! I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t say much, just blushed and replied that it was fine. ¡°So where¡¯s your wife? She must be beautiful too, otherwise, you couldn¡¯t have such a beautiful daughter.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t shy away, ¡°I just got divorced yesterday!¡± As soon as these words came out, the elderly men and women there looked at him as wolves seeing a fat lamb, moving in closer. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re divorced! Such a handsome man with great skills, what a waste. Have you considered finding another one?¡± ¡°I have a niece, twenty-two years old, just graduated from university not long ago, do you want to meet her?¡± ¡°My niece is twenty-four this year, works in a government job, a stable ¡®iron rice bowl¡¯. How about considering her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fight over him, my daughter, a graduate student and corporate executive, is definitely a match for this young man.¡± ¡­ The sudden competitive scene stirred an inexplicable sense of crisis in Tong Ya. She really hadn¡¯t anticipated that Chen Yu would be so in demand. But she didn¡¯t know how to deal with the situation in front of her. She couldn¡¯t just step forward and confess her feelings to Chen Yu! Chapter 9 - Chapter 9 - 9: Scouting the Candidate Chapter 9 ¨C 9: Scouting the Candidate ¡°Grandpas and Grandmas!¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly shouted loudly, quieting down the scene. ¡°Are you trying to find me a mommy?¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t you want your dad to find you another mommy?¡± ¡°Of course, I do!¡± Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands, ¡°But I like them pretty, and also nice to me! At least like Teacher Tong Ya!¡± The old men and women were amused and laughed, not expecting Tuan Tuan to be so picky. ¡°Oh my, this teacher is like a fairy, it¡¯s not easy to find someone as beautiful as her!¡± ¡°Kid, you want your dad to be a bachelor for life!¡± ¡°The child has quite the opinion! Then you¡¯d better help your dad look carefully!¡± Who knew that Tuan Tuan pouted slightly with an air of arrogance. ¡°Do I even need to look? I just like Teacher Tong Ya, and I doubt there¡¯s anyone prettier than her, so I say it should be her!¡± With that, everyone¡¯s gaze was drawn to Tong Ya. Even one of the old women moved closer, ¡°This girl is so beautiful, there must be plenty of suitors. Maybe she already has someone!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately seized the opportunity, ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, do you really already have someone?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face flushed red in an instant, and she subconsciously glanced in Chen Yu¡¯s direction, slightly raising her tone. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in love before.¡± ¡°Then do you have someone you like?¡± Tuan Tuan continued to pry. ¡°No!¡± Tong Ya said almost reflexively, but in that moment, her gaze was fixed on Chen Yu. Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands excitedly, ¡°Dad, did you hear that? Teacher Tong Ya is still single!¡± Chen Yu merely bowed his head and continued with his work, completely ignoring Tuan Tuan. In his eyes, this little girl was just following the elderly crowd, making a fuss over nothing. Immediately, Tuan Tuan felt a sense of disappointed frustration. The old men and women were all laughing heartily. ¡°Young man, did you see that? Your daughter is taking your matters to heart and even plans to introduce this beautiful teacher to you!¡± Chen Yu replied with a polite smile and continued making fried cakes, treating it as just a joke. Tong Ya, however, felt flustered by these jokes and pretended to look down at her phone to hide her bashfulness. As soon as she unlocked her phone, she saw a message from Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Have you seen him yet? Quickly take a photo and send it over, I want to see who has hooked you so soullessly.¡± Tong Ya subconsciously glanced at Chen Yu. ¡°He¡¯s busy, how can I take a photo?¡± ¡°Aiyah, Miss Tong has learned to guard her food,¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s text carried a hint of jealousy. ¡°Talk nonsense again and see if I don¡¯t tear up your mouth when I get back!¡± ¡°Just kidding, send me a selfie and your exact location! I¡¯m not worried about your safety, I¡¯m just afraid you¡¯re harboring improper thoughts about that father and daughter!¡± ¡°Beat it!¡± Nevertheless, Tong Ya still picked up her phone, ready to take a selfie. ¡°Teacher, are you going to take a selfie? Can I join you?¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly came over. ¡°Of course you can!¡± Without refusal, she subconsciously hugged Tuan Tuan into her arms and struck a pose. For some reason, holding Tuan Tuan, Tong Ya suddenly felt an impulse never to let go. After taking several photos, she reluctantly let go of Tuan Tuan. Tang Xiaowei had just received the photos when she suddenly screamed. ¡°Oh my god, this is too cute! Isn¡¯t this the daughter of your male god?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Tong Ya replied to the message, her face unexpectedly brimming with inexplicable happiness. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re willing to become their stepmother, with such an adorable girl, I¡¯d be willing too!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas about my male god.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not competing with you! But there are some things you really need to think through, the Tong Family¡¯s higher-ups would never let you date a divorced man!¡± ¡°Just eat your hotpot!¡± Tong Ya retorted and then put down her phone. At this point, the food stall had long become a bustling scene, all the folding tables and chairs were already set up on the adjacent open ground, clearly not enough to accommodate everyone. Most people were standing nearby, wolfing down their fried cakes. Even Tuan Tuan was too busy to come over and talk to Tong Ya, looking somewhat flustered as he took money and noted down orders. Suddenly feeling a tad uncomfortable, Tong Ya instinctively stood up and went over to Tuan Tuan¡¯s side. ¡°Let the teacher help you with taking notes!¡± ¡°No need, Teacher, I can manage on my own! It¡¯s Dad who seems to be overwhelmed, making fried cakes and packing orders at the same time!¡± Tong Ya instantly understood Tuan Tuan¡¯s implication, and her heart rate kicked up a notch. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go help your dad!¡± Tong Ya, while trying her best to maintain her composure and dignity, uncontrollably hastened into the food stall. In the kitchen area, Chen Yu was proficiently frying with both hands, managing two woks simultaneously. At the bar area, there were five wooden tray boxes neatly arranged with five different flavors of fried cakes. Next to the trays was a stack of thick orders listing the flavors, quantities, and names. Without any hesitation, Tong Ya grabbed a pair of spare gloves and began packing the fried cakes according to the orders. ¡°Uncle Chen, three brown sugar, three white sugar, two black sesame.¡± Her crisp and gentle voice suddenly rang out, startling Chen Yu. He hadn¡¯t expected that Tong Ya would come to help him in such a greasy environment. The addressed Uncle Chen immediately rushed over. ¡°Ah, truly a teacher, so kind and even helping the students¡¯ parents with work!¡± Uncle Chen took the fried cakes and seized the chance to compliment her. Chen Yu was immediately a bit embarrassed, ¡°Ah, Teacher Tong, I apologize for the inconvenience, I¡¯m already embarrassed, how could I let you do the work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯d be idle anyway!¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya began packing the fried cakes as quickly as she could, as if to show Chen Yu that she definitely wouldn¡¯t be in the way. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what else to say, and after all, he was indeed busy frying and packing. ¡°Teacher Tong, Tuan Tuan really hasn¡¯t done anything wrong at school, you¡¯re not here for a home visit, right?¡± Tong Ya paused for a moment, inwardly cursing him as a blockhead. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already say it, I¡¯m here specially to taste the fried cakes you made!¡± To prove it, Tong Ya directly grabbed a piece of purple sweet potato fried cake and took a bite. The pure savory flavor exploded in her mouth in an instant, causing Tong Ya¡¯s pupils to dilate considerably. ¡°Wow, this is too delicious!¡± Tong Ya had never imagined that someone could make such a small fried cake so mouthwateringly delicious. Chen Yu¡¯s face now bore a more confident smile; after all, receiving a compliment from a beautiful woman like Tong Ya would cause any man¡¯s heart to ripple. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10 - 10: The Male God in My Heart Chapter 10 ¨C 10: The Male God in My Heart By 7 p.m., Chen Yu called for Tuan Tuan to stop taking orders. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking orders anymore? I see there¡¯s still a lot!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, these have all been sold!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of apology. Tong Ya was also astonished at this moment, within just under three hours, so many fried cakes had been sold out. For some reason, Tong Ya suddenly felt a bit of inexplicable guilt, thinking if she hadn¡¯t eaten one, Chen Yu could have sold one more. After dealing with the remaining orders, Chen Yu turned off one of the fryers and placed the remaining twenty semi-finished products into another fryer. ¡°Eh, didn¡¯t you sell out?¡± Tong Ya asked, puzzled. ¡°These are specially reserved for you!¡± At these words, Tong Ya¡¯s heart suddenly started pounding. ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve helped me so much! I should make a few fried cakes as a token of my gratitude, right?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks, which had just heated up, instantly cooled down, and she pouted with a hint of resentment. ¡°Well, thank you then!¡± Tong Ya said her thanks and then subconsciously took off her gloves to help tidy up the food cart. Just as Chen Yu was lifting the twenty fried cakes out of the fryer, he heard Zhang Fan¡¯s hasty voice. ¡°Chen! Your half-trailer is ready, come out and check it!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, it seemed like Zhang Fan had just shown him the blueprint at noon! And now, in just half a day, it was done. When Chen Yu saw the food cart Zhang Fan had made for him, he wondered for a moment if this guy also had a system blessing. Because the half-trailer was crafted with extreme intricacy, resembling a mobile little house. The inside space was also very spacious and even had the electric wiring fully installed. ¡°Zhang, nice workmanship!¡± Zhang Fan scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, ¡°Actually, this small half-trailer was custom-ordered by someone else before, but they changed their mind halfway and didn¡¯t want it anymore, so I just made some slight modifications and brought it over to you.¡± ¡°I really appreciate it, then!¡± With that, Chen Yu took out the cash he had organized, counted two thousand, and stuffed it into Zhang Fan¡¯s hands. ¡°Oh no, there¡¯s no need!¡± Zhang Fan hastily refused, ¡°We¡¯re neighbors, why give money? Besides, that little half-trailer would¡¯ve been scrapped if it stayed with me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the way to say it, I should still pay you! I¡¯ve checked, and such a half-trailer modification costs at least two thousand, so just take it! Otherwise, you won¡¯t be welcome to come for my fried cakes in the future.¡± Seeing Chen Yu so insistent, Zhang Fan didn¡¯t put on airs. However, after accepting the two thousand, he returned five hundred. ¡°Alright, Chen! One thousand five hundred is enough, if you give me more, I¡¯m going to get upset!¡± While Chen Yu and Zhang Fan were going back and forth, the system¡¯s prompt suddenly sounded. [Congratulations, host, on perfectly ending a day¡¯s business, netting a profit of 7,993.5 yuan, earning 7,993.5 points!] Chen Yu was momentarily surprised, as the system usually settled accounts only after the food cart was cleaned up. Could it be that Tong Ya had already finished cleaning the food cart? However, Chen Yu was soon distracted by the system page that popped up. At this moment, his accumulated points had reached 14,228! After doing the math, he had twenty fried cakes left in the afternoon, four of each flavor, totaling twenty-eight yuan. Plus the one with sweet potato flavor Tong Ya ate, that made it twenty-nine point five yuan in total. In other words, the net profit for the afternoon was five thousand five hundred and seventy point five yuan! It seemed that when the system calculated net profit and points, it would deduct the cost of inputs. Probably by tomorrow, the one thousand five hundred yuan spent on the trailer would also be included. While Chen Yu was focused on the system, Zhang Fan had already stuffed five hundred yuan into his hand and left with a stride. At this moment, Tuan Tuan had already brought out the fried cakes Chen Yu made to the front of the food cart. ¡°Dad is just too great, leaving twenty specifically for the teacher! Yesterday he wouldn¡¯t even spare one or two for me to eat, it seems Dad has taken a liking to the teacher.¡± Immediately, Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks turned red, and in comparison, Tuan Tuan was much more skilled at flirting than Chen Yu. With a light cough, Tong Ya hurriedly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, why do your mom and dad want to get a divorce?¡± Instantly, Tuan Tuan¡¯s face was filled with sorrow: ¡°Mom was discovered by a talent scout, became a big star, and didn¡¯t want us anymore! She thinks Dad and I would impact her career.¡± Tong Ya immediately felt annoyed. This was simply a classic case of a heartless woman! ¡°Your dad, at the very least, has a graduate degree, is well-educated, handsome, and a good person. How could your mom leave him?¡± ¡°Huh? Teacher, how do you know my dad has a graduate degree?¡± Suddenly embarrassed, Tong Ya said, ¡°The kindergarten has files on the student¡¯s parents! By the way, where did your dad learn to make fried cakes?¡± ¡°He taught himself! He used to make them for me quite often!¡± Tong Ya was immediately amazed internally. The man of her dreams really was extraordinary; just through self-study, he could make such delicious fried cakes. The liking hidden in her heart grew a bit more; she even thought about whether she should take the initiative. While they were talking, Tong Ya unknowingly ate ten fried cakes. Typically, she wouldn¡¯t touch food as greasy as this, but the taste of these fried cakes was really too unique. If she hadn¡¯t controlled herself, she might have eaten all twenty. At this moment, Chen Yu had already connected the trailer to the food cart and walked over, clapping his hands. ¡°Starting tomorrow, we¡¯ll be able to store more raw materials! We can even open a dedicated window for selling drinks.¡± Tuan Tuan jumped up excitedly, ¡°Yay, tomorrow we¡¯ll have drinks!¡± Chen Yu, however, rolled his eyes: ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t drink soft drinks too often!¡± Tong Ya, who was beside them, concurred, ¡°That¡¯s right, especially since Tuan Tuan dances, you really shouldn¡¯t drink them, though drinking some dairy products is still fine.¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya took out her phone, ready to make a payment using the QR code nearby. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward, grabbing Tong Ya¡¯s wrist. ¡°Oh, Teacher Tong Ya, you helped me out today, and I haven¡¯t even had the chance to thank you. How could you pay?¡± ¡°I should pay! These fried cakes didn¡¯t just appear out of thin air!¡± Tong Ya switched to her other hand, insisting on moving the phone closer. Chen Yu became anxious, he reached out with both hands, grabbing onto both of Tong Ya¡¯s wrists. Realizing how intimate the gesture was, Chen Yu quickly let go. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay, Teacher!¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly jumped over, ¡°I think from now on, the teacher can take me to and from school, and then Dad can take care of the teacher¡¯s breakfast and dinner. That would settle it!¡± ¡°You little girl, the teacher is so busy, how can she take you to and from school?¡± No sooner had Chen Yu scolded, than Tong Ya suddenly looked up. ¡°I can do it! I¡¯m usually not that busy, taking Tuan Tuan to and from school is not an issue!¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 - 11 Wait for You to Grow Up Chapter 11 ¨C 11 Wait for You to Grow Up Chen Yu was stunned on the spot; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to agree so readily. Before Chen Yu could speak, Tuan Tuan had already packed the remaining ten fried cakes and stuffed them into Tong Ya¡¯s hands. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, teacher comes to pick me up for school every day, and my dad gives you fried cakes for free every day!¡± Speaking, Tuan Tuan directly took Tong Ya¡¯s hand and headed to the curb, not giving the two of them a chance to talk any further, fearing they might back out. Chen Yu looked at Tuan Tuan somewhat annoyed: ¡°You little rascal are getting more and more out of hand, even daring to boss around your own teacher.¡± With a mischievous stick out of her tongue, Tuan Tuan ran into the food cart like a little swallow. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t idle either, taking advantage of the daylight, he phoned nearby shops to deliver a double-door large refrigerator and some tables and stools. He also stocked up on a thousand yuan worth of various drinks and ice pops. But when Chen Yu tried to hook up the electricity for the semi-trailer, he immediately faced a dilemma. The system had provided three batteries in total. Although there were usually two batteries as backups, with a massive capacity, charging them was extremely troublesome. Now that one battery was only half charged, after connecting it to the semi-trailer, the electricity meter ticked down even faster. If he didn¡¯t find a place to charge soon, he feared his food cart wouldn¡¯t last more than a few days of business. To ensure there would be no power interruptions the next day, Chen Yu, to be safe, swapped in a new battery and then made a call to the raw material suppliers. With the addition of the semi-trailer¡¯s cold storage, Chen Yu was able to expand his operations. Twenty bags of flour, four hundred pounds of a mix of sweet potatoes and purple yams, original sesame seeds, brown sugar, and white sugar¡ªall at two hundred pounds each, and thirty barrels of bottled water as backup. All in all, these raw materials cost eleven thousand one hundred yuan, plus the additional expenses for the new semi-trailer refrigerator and tables and stools. In total, he had spent thirteen thousand eight hundred yuan. After accounting for the money spent on meals over the past two days, Chen Yu had exactly four hundred yuan left. However, judging by the current progress of the breakfast cart, at least over ten thousand yuan in net profit would be made the next day! After happily calculating it all in his mind, Chen Yu called to order two servings of braised chicken in soy sauce. After a long day, he was hungry enough to feel his chest sticking to his back. At the moment, Tuan Tuan was obediently setting up a table and sitting in front of the food cart doing her homework. Only after Chen Yu was finished with his work did he sit down beside Tuan Tuan. Although the kindergarten homework was simple, it was all rather odd¡ªeither drawing pictures from looking at patterns or figuring out abstract letter problems. Chen Yu looked at it for a while and found some questions that even he, a graduate student, couldn¡¯t react to right away. Fortunately, Tuan Tuan didn¡¯t ask Chen Yu to help with her homework; otherwise, it would have been truly embarrassing. It wasn¡¯t long before the braised chicken arrived. But Tuan Tuan was pouting, looking unhappy. ¡°Dad, ever since I ate your fried cakes, I just can¡¯t eat food from outside anymore! How about you just make fried cakes for me to eat from now on?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just eat fried cakes as your regular meal!¡± Chen Yu quickly retorted, pushing a serving of braised chicken in soy sauce towards Tuan Tuan. ¡°Then how about we ask Teacher Tong Ya to cook for us instead?¡± Chen Yu immediately rolled his eyes: ¡°You¡¯re already asking too much for the teacher to specially pick you up from school, now you want her to come over and cook too?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s eyes swiveled: ¡°Dad, haven¡¯t you noticed that Teacher Tong Ya seems to have feelings for you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Although he scolded her verbally, Tuan Tuan¡¯s words touched a soft spot in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. Today, Tong Ya and Chen Yu with his daughter indeed looked like a family of three, one making the deep-fried cakes, another packing, and the third keeping the books, coordinating seamlessly as if cut from the same cloth. However, Chen Yu was extremely resistant to this beautiful picture. Let¡¯s not even mention that Tong Ya herself is a single beauty, she¡¯s also a dance teacher, and I heard she even won a national competition. But what about him? Not only had he been divorced, but he also had a child to look after. With such circumstances, desiring to be with her would just delay her life, wouldn¡¯t it? Tuan Tuan clearly rolled her eyes, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re really too dense! I clearly already feel that Teacher Tong Ya¡­¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s focus on making money first! Right now, we don¡¯t even have a house, only a food truck. Even if Teacher Tong Ya is willing to marry Dad, where would we live?¡± Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan also became enthusiastic. ¡°Dad, you said our deep-fried cakes are selling so well, why don¡¯t you hire a few more workers? That way, we could make more and earn more too!¡± ¡°But then the taste would decline!¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°The reason why the deep-fried cakes are selling so well is because they taste good, and others can¡¯t replicate my flavor!¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly felt a bit disappointed, ¡°That¡¯s true, is there really no other way?¡± ¡°There is a way; we could share the recipe, start a factory and make semi-finished products, providing them directly to fast-food restaurants!¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that still sacrifice a bit of the taste?¡± Tuan Tuan was somewhat puzzled. ¡°The taste might be a bit off, but it would still be absolutely delicious! Besides, we would only be making a semi-finished product. Even if someone nitpicked, we would still have some leeway. Moreover, there are so many fast-food restaurants all over the world, if we could sign half of the orders, the factory might even go public!¡± Naturally, Tuan Tuan couldn¡¯t understand all this; she still had to count on her fingers for addition and subtraction within a hundred, how could she possibly understand the market? ¡°Dad, you really deserve to be a postgraduate! That makes so much sense!¡± The father and daughter finished their stewed chicken cleanly and tidied up the place a bit before heading back to the food truck. Chen Yu had just lain down when Tuan Tuan pushed open the small window between them. ¡°Dad, I want to watch cartoons. Can that car-mounted TV up front be used?¡± Chen Yu turned his head and glanced at the car-mounted TV set up in the driver¡¯s cabin. ¡°It should work!¡± Saying this, he found the remote control. After all, the food truck was provided by the system, so it was unlikely there would be any unusable parts. Soon, the image appeared on the TV. Tuan Tuan excitedly clapped her little hands and leaned her head against the small window. ¡°Dad, do you have to wake up early tomorrow?¡± Chen Yu nodded his head, ¡°Of course! The supplier will come by at four in the morning.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t watch cartoons, you should go to sleep early, Dad!¡± Tuan Tuan obediently shrank back. Chen Yu instantly felt a pang of sadness, and the thought of buying a house strengthened in his heart. At the very least, he could give Tuan Tuan her own room where she could watch cartoons in peace. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Dad took a nap at noon! Tuan Tuan can watch for an hour.¡± Tuan Tuan immediately perked up and kissed Chen Yu through the small window. ¡°Thank you, Dad! When I grow up, I definitely won¡¯t let you work so hard.¡± A trace of contentment appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°Alright, then Dad will wait for you to grow up!¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12 - 12 Making up one’s mind Chapter 12 ¨C 12 Making up one¡¯s mind The apartment complex where Tong Ya lived was a very elegant and unique one, with rental prices starting at 6,000 yuan per month. The average wage-earning class couldn¡¯t afford to live there. ¡°Oh, my dear Miss Tong Ya, you¡¯ve finally deigned to return!¡± As soon as Tong Ya walked through the door, Tang Xiaowei grabbed her arm, her eyes full of anticipation, ¡°What about that little girl? Didn¡¯t you bring her back with you?¡± Ever since Tang Xiaowei had seen Tuan Tuan¡¯s photo, she had been utterly smitten. Tong Ya rolled her eyes, ¡°What do you think she is? Something you can just bring back with you? And by the way, how long has it been since you washed your clothes? The paint on them smells!¡± Tang Xiaowei was a cartoonist, who hardly ever went out and dealt only with her drawings and paints. Sometimes, when she painted, she would become so engrossed that she¡¯d neglect food and sleep, and naturally, her personal hygiene took a back seat. ¡°Oh, come on, I¡¯m sacrificing for my art! So, how did your first date go? Did you get anything out of it?¡± Tong Ya blinked, then lifted up the bag she was carrying. ¡°Behold, ten fried pastries!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Tang Xiaowei looked at her with disdain, ¡°You¡¯re really prioritizing your love life over friends, huh? Don¡¯t forget, you blew off my hotpot dinner to go fishing for a sugar daddy! And this is what you placate me with?¡± ¡°These fried pastries are specially made, don¡¯t you want to try them?¡± ¡°Eat, how could I not!¡± Influenced by Tong Ya, Tang Xiaowei was also inadvertently trying to keep in shape, so she seldom indulged in such greasy foods. Stuck at home alone all the time, she had had her fill of takeout, and the pastries were a nice change of taste. But when she took a bite, she was stunned. Although the pastries had cooled down, they didn¡¯t have that cloying feel that ordinary pastries have when cold. Instead, they were perfectly soft and chewy, almost like eating a delicacy. ¡°Could this be a new dessert from Baxiangzhai?¡± Tong Ya hung up the bag in her hand, ¡°Baxiangzhai?¡± ¡°Yeah, the pastry shop I took you to last time, where they sell a mint pastry for two hundred yuan.¡± A sense of satisfaction suddenly filled Tong Ya¡¯s heart, as she saw this as Tang Xiaowei¡¯s approval of Chen Yu. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to go to Baxiangzhai just to buy something special for you! It was made by my man god!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°No way! Your man god has this kind of skill? No wonder you¡¯re so devoted to him. With this kind of talent, he could keep you for the rest of your life!¡± Tong Ya shrugged her shoulders, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve made up my mind!¡± ¡°Made up your mind about what?¡± Tang Xiaowei asked instinctively. ¡°To marry him!¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Tang Xiaowei did a complete one-eighty in her attitude, ¡°As long as he brings me pastries every day, it doesn¡¯t matter if you become someone else¡¯s stepmother, even if it involves the Tong family, I¡¯d figure something out for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re selling me out for a few pastries!¡± ¡°I really can¡¯t help it, Ya Ya, they¡¯re just too delicious!¡± Saying so, Tang Xiaowei hungrily grabbed an entire pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. ¡°He can make much more than just pastries!¡± Tong Ya suddenly blushed for no reason, ¡°Right, from now on, I will leave a bit earlier in the morning and won¡¯t come back for dinner in the evenings!¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Tang Xiaowei was instantly taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s not easy for him to take care of the child alone; from now on I will help him drop off and pick up the child from school.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! We¡¯ve barely started and you¡¯re already ditching me?¡± Tang Xiaowei made a pitiful face. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I would bring you fried cakes every day?¡± At the mention of fried cakes, Tang Xiaowei suddenly became serious. ¡°Go ahead, girlfriend, for the sake of your happiness, I¡¯m willing to make a sacrifice!¡± ¡­ At a business dinner, Fang Yuan stood with a wine glass in a deliberately conspicuous spot, displaying her slightly seductive posture to its full extent. ¡°Miss Fang, sorry to keep you waiting.¡± A somewhat short and middle-aged man, with a sleazy smile, leaned in beside Fang Yuan. Although Fang Yuan felt extreme disgust, she still put on a smiling face. ¡°What are you saying, Mr. Huang! You are the investor of our play, the big financial god of the whole crew. We actors can afford to wait for someone like you,¡± retorted Fang Yuan with a smile. ¡°Not only is Miss Fang beautiful, but she also speaks so elegantly and gently; no wonder she has achieved her current status.¡± As he spoke, Mr. Huang tried to touch Fang Yuan¡¯s hand, albeit intentionally or unintentionally, but she skillfully dodged it. ¡°You flatter me too much, Mr. Huang! By the way, I heard that Mr. Huang is about to invest in a big-budget commercial film. I wonder if I might be fortunate enough to take part in it?¡± ¡°Of course! With the rapport between Miss Fang and me, playing a minor role is no big deal. However, if Miss Fang would honor us by taking our relationship a step further, not just a minor role, but even the female lead wouldn¡¯t be a problem!¡± Mr. Huang no longer hid his intentions, placing his hand directly onto Fang Yuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh my, Miss Fang! What brings you here? There are several shots over there waiting for you to make up!¡± The agent appeared just at the right time and pulled Fang Yuan back a little. ¡°Oh dear, Mr. Huang, I¡¯m really sorry. My Yuan Yuan has a lot of advertising commitments these days, and she has to rush off right away. Please forgive us,¡± said the agent politely. After making small talk for a few moments, the agent promptly pulled Fang Yuan out of the business venue and onto the nanny car parked by the roadside. Only then did Fang Yuan let go of the smile on her face, her expression turning to one of distaste. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this Mr. Huang said to be successful and promising when he was young? What¡¯s with this guy?¡± The agent quickly tried to soothe her, ¡°That¡¯s how it is in the entertainment circle. Many investors are even less presentable than Mr. Huang! Luckily we left quickly. If the paparazzi had snapped photos of that scene just now, who knows what kind of big news it would have caused.¡± Fang Yuan waved her hand in front of her face, trying to calm herself down. ¡°Don¡¯t let me meet with such people again! By the way, how is the arrangement for stirring up the CP (celebrity pairing) going?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all set. The other party¡¯s studio has already responded! You can make a subtle announcement on your social media account in a few days, but don¡¯t be too certain. It will be more convenient when you disband the CP in the future.¡± ¡°Got it, got it!¡± Fang Yuan suddenly felt somewhat irritable. Although she was now very popular, if she wanted to survive in the entertainment industry, she had to spend a lot of time and energy ingratiating herself with various capital bigwigs to get resources. Even to maintain popularity, she had to stir up some scandals with little-known popular celebrities she had never met. After all, in this business, without investment and public popularity, mere traffic can¡¯t be monetized. For some reason, Tuan Tuan¡¯s image suddenly surfaced in Fang Yuan¡¯s mind. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13 - 13 Not Responding to Messages Chapter 13 ¨C 13 Not Responding to Messages ¡°` At four o¡¯clock in the morning the next day, the alarm sound rang through Chen Yu¡¯s Bluetooth earpiece. Not wanting to disturb Tuan Tuan¡¯s sleep, he had deliberately worn the earpiece, fearing that the alarm would wake her up as well. Yet to his surprise, as soon as he got up, he found Tuan Tuan sitting noisily on the bed, looking at him through the small bed window. ¡°How come you¡¯re awake so early?¡± Chen Yu immediately tensed up and subconsciously checked if his phone¡¯s sound was playing out loud. ¡°I went to bed early last night, so of course I woke up early today! Besides, how could Dad manage all by himself without me?¡± As she spoke, Tuan Tuan turned on the light, getting dressed with a little excitement. These past few days, she had experienced the joy of earning money, especially when the notification of each payment sounded, she felt an inexplicable excitement. Chen Yu helplessly exited the driver¡¯s cab, unfolded the food cart¡¯s counter, and lit up all the fairy lights around the cart. ¡°Tuan Tuan! Once we¡¯ve saved enough money to buy a house, you can sleep at home, and you won¡¯t have to get up early and work late with Dad!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that!¡± Tuan Tuan pouted her small mouth: ¡°I want to help Dad earn money and then help Dad find a new mom.¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head and sighed. ¡°These aren¡¯t things you should worry about! You just need to study well and practice your dancing.¡± Suddenly, Tuan Tuan grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand: ¡°So as long as I behave and do well in studies and dance, you¡¯ll consider letting Teacher Tong Ya be my new mom?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback; honestly, Tong Ya was indeed nice, but he felt he wasn¡¯t good enough for her. Just as Chen Yu was unsure how to answer, the material delivery master arrived. ¡°Oh, boss, how booming is your business? You just got the supplies yesterday morning, and they¡¯re already sold out? And today you¡¯ve even doubled the order, can you really sell all that?¡± Chen Yu smiled politely: ¡°I¡¯ve just purchased a new trailer, if we don¡¯t sell out, we can store the leftovers!¡± The material delivery master glanced at the brightly lit trailer behind and didn¡¯t say much else, simply helping Chen Yu unload all the supplies. No sooner had he sent off the masters, Chen Yu saw a white car drive over and park steadily beside the food cart. Then, Tong Ya elegantly stepped out of the car. ¡°Hey, Teacher Tong Ya? What brings you here?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. Tong Ya shook her phone: ¡°Someone didn¡¯t reply to my messages last night, I thought something might have happened to you two sleeping in the food cart, so I came over early to check.¡± Chen Yu was slightly stunned and hurriedly took out his phone, only then noticing there were over a dozen messages from Tong Ya. ¡°Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Make sure Tuan Tuan gets to bed early; she has a dance competition tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day too, so get some sleep early!¡± ¡°Can I come over early tomorrow to help out? It¡¯s on the way to picking up Tuan Tuan anyway.¡± ¡­ Looking at the string of messages, Chen Yu suddenly felt embarrassed. He had been so exhausted yesterday that he had fallen asleep as soon as he lay down. ¡°Oh, I really apologize! Went to bed early yesterday, didn¡¯t see the messages, and my phone is old too, sometimes there are no notifications at all!¡± Tong Ya folded her arms behind her back, forcibly hiding her embarrassment. ¡°No worries! How about you give me your first batch of fried cakes as an apology?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Chen Yu hurried back to the food cart, beginning to prepare the fried cakes. ¡°` Tuan Tuan also ran down at this moment, throwing himself into Tong Ya¡¯s arms. ¡°Teacher, how come you¡¯re here so early? You¡¯re not missing my dad, are you?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face immediately turned beet red, ¡°I¡¯m just worried that you might have an accident sleeping in the food cart, and besides, I always get up to practice dance at this time every morning! So I just came straight here.¡± This explanation indeed seemed a bit far-fetched, and Tuan Tuan didn¡¯t believe it anyway. ¡°So, does that mean the teacher is worried about my dad?¡± Tong Ya really didn¡¯t know what to say, as if Tuan Tuan had seen right through her thoughts. However, she still felt a bit disappointed, as if, in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, she truly came because he didn¡¯t reply to her message. The temperature in Suzhou City at four o¡¯clock in the morning was already very low, and Tong Ya had only worn a T-shirt and a checked shirt when she left home, now feeling slightly shivery. Tuan Tuan had an idea and quickly went back into the cab, taking out three jackets from a box. These were family jackets they had bought before, all featuring SpongeBob. Fang Yuan found them childish and had never worn hers. Tuan Tuan put on his own, then handed the remaining two to Chen Yu and Tong Ya. It had to be said, Tong Ya looked quite proper in it. Twenty short minutes later, the first pot of thirty fried cakes was laid out on the table. After hurriedly eating eight, Chen Yu returned to the cart to get busy again. From yesterday¡¯s experience, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the customers started coming! ¡°Teacher, do you want some water?¡± Tuan Tuan took down two bottles of juice from the trailer. ¡°No need, Teacher brought hot water! You should drink some hot water too, don¡¯t always drink soda, it¡¯s not healthy!¡± Tuan Tuan took Tong Ya¡¯s cup and drank a sip with a giggle. ¡°Oh my, if it isn¡¯t just like a family of three, all dressed in parent-child outfits! Boss, I¡¯ll take a hundred fried cakes!¡± Only then did Tong Ya realize that the clothes Tuan Tuan brought over were parent-child outfits. However, she didn¡¯t say anything, just subconsciously zipped up the jacket a bit tighter, with not a trace of dislike on her face. Chen Yu was also stunned for a moment. As he was about to explain, Tong Ya had already entered the cart, expertly donning her gloves to stand by his side. Chen Yu was baffled; even if he tried not to overthink, he was somewhat bewildered now. Not only was Tong Ya not averse to the parent-child outfit she was wearing, but she also came over like the day before to help him. For a moment, Chen Yu suddenly realized that this felt like a complete and intact family. However, he quickly dismissed the thought and focused on making fried cakes. ¡°The boss is really cool. The beautiful sister from yesterday has already been won over today! Looks like I don¡¯t stand a chance anymore.¡± ¡°Who says you don¡¯t stand a chance? You can still eat the boss¡¯s fried cakes in the future!¡± ¡°Boss, the usual order, forty fried cakes!¡± ¡­ Before long, the crowd had already surrounded the food cart, packed tight. Luckily, when they bought the fridge yesterday, the store recommended an automated vending type, otherwise, it would have been a hassle. Just then, the owner of the nearby Sichuan restaurant came over with a few of his workers. ¡°Oh brother, your spot is really bustling!¡± Seeing the Sichuan restaurant owner, Tuan Tuan crossed her arms and pouted, looking like she still remembered the grudge against him. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14 - 14 Medium Lottery Chapter 14 ¨C 14 Medium Lottery ¡°Hmph, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d come to try our fried cakes yesterday? Why are you only coming today?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s words immediately left the Sichuan restaurant owner feeling extremely embarrassed. He had actually heard about how popular Chen Yu¡¯s food cart was yesterday. But remembering the bold claims he had made, he hadn¡¯t dared to come over. However, his small Sichuan restaurant wasn¡¯t very far from the food cart, and yesterday, the aroma of fried cakes had filled his restaurant all day long. ¡°It¡¯s my ignorance, I never imagined that a fried cake could be made so famous, well-known near and far! Here I am, bringing my staff to have a taste, give me two hundred to start with!¡± Although Tuan Tuan was still a bit annoyed, she didn¡¯t say much since business had come knocking, she took note of the flavors, received the money, and then handed the slip over to Tong Ya. With Tong Ya¡¯s help, the efficiency of the fried cakes delivery greatly improved today. By the time it was nearly seven o¡¯clock, the queue had dwindled significantly, but in just three hours, he had sold over nine thousand fried cakes. It was almost the same number as what he sold the entire day yesterday! The turnover also reached an impressive thirteen thousand yuan. With this calculation, the initial cost invested yesterday had all been recouped. Indeed, having an extra person meant extra strength, and the money earned doubled too! However, Chen Yu was still somewhat worried, the self-service vending cabinet was a double-door refrigerator. Yesterday, he hadn¡¯t paid for it, only giving two hundred yuan for tables and chairs. Such a modern refrigerator would need a trial period. Moreover, the owner was not far from the food cart and also liked Chen Yu¡¯s fried cakes very much, so he didn¡¯t even ask for a deposit. He didn¡¯t know how much the refrigerator would cost. If it was too expensive, not much money would be left today. ¡°Chen Yu!¡± Tong Ya suddenly called out, it seemed to be the first time she had used Chen Yu¡¯s name, as she used to call him Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad. ¡°It¡¯s almost time, I¡¯ll take Tuan Tuan to school now!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°Go ahead, there aren¡¯t many people now! And I¡¯ve made so many semi-finished products, I can manage on my own!¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu packed another fifty fried cakes. ¡°Take these, let the teachers at the school have a taste!¡± Tong Ya gladly accepted without protest, ¡°Then I¡¯ll consider this as helping you promote it!¡± After taking off her apron and gloves, Tong Ya directly took Tuan Tuan¡¯s little hand and left, but she didn¡¯t take off the parent-child outfit she was wearing. By ten o¡¯clock in the morning, the number of people coming to buy fried cakes had trickled down considerably, most were heading to the semi-trailer to buy beverages. After all, no matter how delicious the fried cakes were, they were usually just for breakfast or dinner, no one would eat them all day long as their main meal. After preparing a batch of semi-finished products and replenishing the vending machine inside the semi-trailer, Chen Yu finally took a break. By now, the amount on his phone¡¯s payment app had reached eighteen thousand yuan, of course, this included the turnover from selling drinks as well. Seeing the half-remaining raw materials in the food cart, Chen Yu felt an indescribable sense of security. It looked like he only needed to maintain this amount of raw materials in the future. When he opened the system page, Chen Yu saw that his points had accumulated to eighteen thousand four hundred and twenty-eight point five. As expected, the system¡¯s calculations were precise, subtracting yesterday¡¯s cost, the net profit up to now today was four thousand two hundred yuan, and naturally, the accumulated points were also four thousand two. Adding to the previous amount, it was exactly this number! The system had sent a message before that reaching a hundred points would allow one drawing opportunity. Besides the initial free drawing offered by the system, he hadn¡¯t yet taken any drawings. Out of curiosity, Chen Yu clicked open the drawing page. [Congratulations to the host for activating the medium-level lucky draw, 10,000 points per draw.] Seeing the system message, Chen Yu subconsciously checked the information beside it and found that the slot for the previous 100-point draws was for the low-level lucky draw. These points were all hard-earned, and at 10,000 a pop, Chen Yu truly hesitated to part with them. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he clicked on the low-level lucky draw. [Lucky draw result: None!] Chen Yu was immediately shocked, which meant he had just wasted 100 points for nothing. Indeed, you get what you pay for! Gritting his teeth, Chen Yu directly selected the medium-level lucky draw. [Congratulations to the host for obtaining a new skill, deep-fried vegetable dumplings!] Then a flood of information windows popped up before his eyes. Chen Yu was instantly overjoyed, meaning that from now on his food cart wouldn¡¯t just have sweets. Although deep-fried vegetable dumplings and sugar cakes were both fried, their preparation and techniques were entirely different. It seemed that making vegetable dumplings was more complex than sugar cakes, with a variety of techniques and points for attention, making Chen Yu feel that this wasn¡¯t just about dumplings, but about crafting a work of art. Fortunately, there was only one flavor. However, for this one flavor, the filling required over twenty different ingredients, resembling some sort of secret recipe. This time, the system also included several phone numbers, presumably those of ingredient suppliers it had automatically selected for him. Even though the system had just swindled him out of 100 points, this feature was quite considerate, saving him a lot of time in sourcing the ingredients. Without hesitation, Chen Yu immediately called these suppliers. According to the proportions given by the system, he ordered ten pounds each of beef, lamb, pork, and codfish meat, forty pounds of leeks, forty pounds of cabbage, ten pounds of mushrooms, ten pounds of seasoned tofu, along with various seasonings. The beef and lamb were thirty yuan per pound, while pork and codfish meat were eight yuan per pound. The leeks, cabbage, mushrooms, and seasoned tofu were supplied by one vendor, who provided them all for one yuan per pound. All together, the total came to exactly one thousand yuan! When making sugar cakes, the ratio of flour to filling was one to one, so there were still five bags of flour left from the first day. Without any surprises, there would be ten bags left today. Since flour can be stored for a long time, Chen Yu had bought a little extra when stocking up. The afternoon would be a good time to try frying some vegetable dumplings! With a plan in mind, Chen Yu didn¡¯t rest anymore but got up and continued making the semi-finished sugar cakes. At twelve o¡¯clock noon, the deliverymen from the three companies arrived with the ingredients for the vegetable dumplings almost simultaneously. After calculating the time, Chen Yu dared not rest anymore, and only moved a chair to sit and continue working. By three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, all the sugar cake ingredients had been made into semi-finished products, and the food cart was packed full. If the space hadn¡¯t been large enough, it probably wouldn¡¯t have all fit! After a quick inventory, there were nearly ten thousand pieces! Based on the sales experience of the past two days and to be strict, the ingredients today should be able to produce twenty thousand fried cakes. But even with the system¡¯s support, Chen Yu¡¯s hands weren¡¯t precise enough, leading to an excess of around a hundred or so from the morning. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15 - 15 A Larger Facade Chapter 15 ¨C 15 A Larger Facade ¡°` Chen Yu glanced at the time on his phone, took a sip of water, and after a short rest, he began to prepare the stuffing for the specialty dish. The food cart was already fully equipped with cooking tools, and together with today¡¯s purchased stuffing ingredients, there was a total of 140 pounds. In just about ten minutes, Chen Yu had the stuffing ready. Then he used sixty pounds of flour to make the dough for the specialty dish. By just after four o¡¯clock, Chen Yu had produced six hundred half-finished specialty dishes. As Chen Yu was marking the price of five yuan each for the specialty dish on the blackboard, the square dancing uncles and aunties had already begun to arrive in droves. ¡°Hey, young man, have you added something new today?¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Yes, just launched a secret recipe specialty dish!¡± ¡°Wow, a secret recipe specialty dish! And it costs five yuan each? Other places sell their specialty dish for just one yuan each!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used special ingredients, so it¡¯s a bit more expensive,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t explain too much. After hanging the blackboard, he went back into the food cart. To be honest, the specialty dish at five yuan each was indeed pricey. The uncles and aunties were still habitually buying the fried cakes. ¡°Hey, Old Chen, you¡¯ve set up your stall already!¡± Zhang Fan, carrying a backpack and accompanied by his daughter, found a familiar table and sat down with ease. ¡°The usual, give me thirty fried cakes to take away!¡± No sooner had he spoken, Zhang Fan saw the new specialty dish added to the blackboard. ¡°What¡¯s in this specialty dish? Five yuan each!¡± ¡°Secret recipe specialty dish! Want a couple? It¡¯s on the house,¡± Chen Yu was generous, taking two of the specialty dishes and dropping them into the oil. Zhang Fan had indeed done him a great favor; giving away two specialty dishes was no big deal. ¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t possibly accept that! I insist on paying!¡± Zhang Fan immediately took out his phone and transferred the money for the specialty dishes as well. Chen Yu was helpless, but as he was busy, he couldn¡¯t decline. When the specialty dishes were fried and ready, their unique aroma immediately filled the area around the food cart. ¡°It smells so good! What on earth is this specialty dish made of? It¡¯s incredibly fragrant!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a totally different flavor from the fried cakes!¡± ¡°Sigh, if this young man¡¯s fried cakes are so delicious, then of course his secret recipe specialty dish is different!¡± ¡­ At this moment, Zhang Fan was utterly conquered by the fragrance of the specialty dish, and he bit into one without hesitation. ¡°Oh my goodness! What is this? A heavenly specialty dish? It¡¯s so delicious, scrumptious! Forget five yuan each, even ten yuan each would be worth it!¡± Zhang Fan¡¯s daughter, Luo Luo, was also drawn by the fragrant smell and took the other specialty dish. After one bite, Luo Luo jumped up excitedly. ¡°Uncle Chen¡¯s specialty dish is so yummy, Daddy, I want more!¡± Zhang Fan, not caring whether he could finish it all, took out his phone again and transferred another fifty yuan. ¡°Old Chen, give me ten more! I¡¯m taking them home for my wife!¡± ¡°Alrighty!¡± Chen Yu responded and began to fry ten more specialty dishes. ¡°For real, is it that delicious?¡± ¡°` A middle-aged woman drew closer and pulled out her phone, ready to pay. ¡°Give me two to try too!¡± ¡°Auntie, today is the first day of the trial opening for these vegetable pockets, and we only have a little over five hundred. Starting now, we¡¯re limiting purchases to one per person!¡± Upon hearing this, those in line instantly became restless. At first, they thought the price was a bit expensive and had no plans to buy, but when they heard Chen Yu mention the limit, plus Zhang Fan¡¯s expression and the unique aroma of the vegetable pockets, the men and women were suddenly impulsive. ¡°Young man, let me buy ten more sugar cakes from you so that I can get another vegetable pocket!¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, sir, but today the vegetable pockets are just for a trial sale. They will be available without limits starting tomorrow!¡± The old man looked regretfully at the half-eaten vegetable pocket in his hand, ¡°I was even thinking of getting one for my grandson. Sigh! I can only wait until tomorrow!¡± In truth, Chen Yu also wanted to sell all six hundred vegetable pockets, but since it was a new product, he had to save some for Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya to try! By five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Tong Ya drove up in a white sedan with Tuan Tuan and parked next to the food truck. ¡°Wow, there are even more people here today than yesterday!¡± Tong Ya exclaimed in surprise, quickly taking out an apron and gloves from the car and intuitively rushing into the food truck. The apron and gloves were something she bought especially at noon; the ones inside the truck were a bit too large and weren¡¯t comfortable when she wore them the past two times. Tuan Tuan also set up a table, took out paper and pen, and sat down skillfully. ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t that the lady teacher from yesterday? Why is she wearing a mother-child outfit today? She couldn¡¯t have gotten together with this young man, could she?¡± Tong Ya blushed and her heart thumped at the comment, but she didn¡¯t bother to clarify and adeptly packed food for the customers. Chen Yu seemed to have already gotten used to such teasing, and having Tong Ya by his side gave him an inexplicable sense of comfort. So he just kept making fried cakes and vegetable pockets, not responding or explaining. Tong Ya stole a glance at Chen Yu, then immediately suppressed all her emotions. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s a new product today, huh?¡± Tong Ya asked subconsciously, trying to divert her attention. ¡°Right, I specially saved some for you and Tuan Tuan!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s heart skipped once again! However, Tong Ya was indeed busier today, occasionally needing to restock the sales fridge from the semi-trailer parked nearby. By nine o¡¯clock at night, all the fried cakes and vegetable pockets were sold out, with a turnout even more sensational than the day before. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re closing up shop already? Any more fried cakes? It¡¯s hard to find something to eat late at night here for those of us staying overnight.¡± The internet caf¨¦ youths, who had already bought fried cakes and vegetable pockets, came back only to seem somewhat dejected. ¡°Sorry, they¡¯re all sold out!¡± Chen Yu apologized. ¡°Then we¡¯ll come back around four-thirty in the morning! Boss, your fried cakes are absolutely top-notch, they not only invigorate us but also help us achieve the highest score of the venue!¡± After the group of internet caf¨¦ youths left, Chen Yu and Tong Ya had already jointly cleaned up the food truck. [Congratulations Host on perfectly concluding a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit seventeen thousand five hundred yuan, accumulated points seventeen thousand five hundred! Your total points now stand at twenty thousand seven hundred twenty-eight point five!] Hearing the system¡¯s prompt, Chen Yu immediately felt that his hard work throughout the day had not been in vain. With the system there to calculate net profits and points, Chen Yu didn¡¯t worry excessively, simply checking his account balance and the cash on the counter. He now had a total of thirty-one thousand seven hundred yuan in hand! By these calculations, he was getting closer to his goal of buying a house. However, Chen Yu glanced at the food truck behind him, then at the row of storefronts in front. Maybe it was time to rent a bigger storefront! Today, while working, he clearly felt that the food truck was quite cramped, and besides, he didn¡¯t have a good solution for the charging issue of the food truck! Chapter 16 - Chapter 16 - 16: Moral Kidnapping Chapter 16 ¨C 16: Moral Kidnapping ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Tong Ya crept up behind Chen Yu and asked softly. Chen Yu then realized, ¡°The number of customers we¡¯re serving daily has already exceeded this food cart¡¯s capacity. I¡¯ve been thinking whether I should switch to a larger venue!¡± Upon hearing this, Tong Ya didn¡¯t even think twice before pulling out her phone. ¡°Actually, if you need it, I could invest. I do have some spare cash!¡± Chen Yu repeatedly waved his hands, ¡°No need! In fact, you¡¯ve already troubled yourself enough. You¡¯ve been coming here to help out these past few days, and I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. As a teacher, I should care about my students¡¯ family situations too!¡± Just then, Tuan Tuan suddenly popped out. ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you just marry Ms. Tong Ya as a thank-you!¡± Chen Yu had a head full of black lines, this little girl just wouldn¡¯t quit! Tong Ya also coughed twice to ease the embarrassment. ¡°I saw you have a used battery over there; I can take it back and charge it for you if you need!¡± A weight finally lifted from Chen Yu¡¯s heart, ¡°Really? That would be great!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t say much, just went ahead and picked up the battery, placing it in the trunk of her car. ¡°Hold on, Ms. Tong Ya, this one is also about to run out of charge!¡± Tuan Tuan pointed at the nearly empty electric meter of the car. ¡°Then let¡¯s take it down, and I¡¯ll bring it back with me as well!¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed as he took down the battery and replaced it with the last spare one. ¡°A single battery can only last for a day, right?¡± Tong Ya quickly grasped the food cart¡¯s battery consumption. ¡°That¡¯s right. I was just worried about how to charge them!¡± Tong Ya leaned back with her hands behind her and unconsciously lifted one foot, ¡°Actually, you can tell me directly if there¡¯s anything I can help with in the future. If possible, I¡¯ll do my best to help.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°Ms. Tong Ya, if you¡¯re just coming over to help out of kindness because I am a single father with a child, there¡¯s really no need. That would make me feel¡­¡± Before he could finish, Tong Ya immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s implication. As a man, especially someone like Chen Yu with considerable responsibilities and a strong sense of pride, her unsolicited, day-to-day help would only add psychological pressure to him. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Chen Yu! Actually, I¡¯m helping you entirely out of gratitude!¡± Chen Yu was utterly confused, ¡°Gratitude? But you¡¯ve been the one helping me all along! And you¡¯ve even taken such good care of Tuan Tuan in her dance classes. I feel like I¡¯ve done nothing!¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s from back in college!¡± Tong Ya hurried to explain. She was truly afraid that Chen Yu would stop her from coming here because of this. ¡°College?¡± Chen Yu was even more puzzled, ¡°We knew each other in college?¡± ¡°I thought you remembered!¡± Tong Ya suddenly felt a bit aggrieved, ¡°In your junior year, at the end of summer when the freshmen were enrolling, you performed CPR on a student who had heat stroke and took her to the hospital. The hospital fees were paid by you!¡± Chen Yu opened his mouth slightly, instinctively stepping back to look Tong Ya up and down. ¡°That person was you?¡± On the side, Tuan Tuan also jumped up excitedly, ¡°Dad, you knew Ms. Tong Ya that early on!¡± Chen Yu let out a light sigh, ¡°That was just something I did on a whim! Plus, that year I completed my credits and went on to the graduate department, so I never saw Ms. Tong Ya again!¡± ¡°But I have always seen you! At the orientation party, you played the guitar on stage. Then there was the advanced math competition, thesis defenses; I was in the audience every time! I always wanted to pay you back the hospital fees, but I could never find you after the events!¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt an unexpected sense of relief. ¡°I was enrolled in two graduate programs at the time, so I was very busy with coursework. I didn¡¯t even recognize all my classmates!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s smile suddenly became playful and warm, ¡°So remember that! Everything I do now and in the future is out of gratitude, got it!¡± The implication of her words was to tell Chen Yu that under no circumstances was he to send her away. Tuan Tuan promptly stepped forward and grabbed both Chen Yu and Tong Ya¡¯s hands. ¡°Wow, Dad, you¡¯re so mean! Luckily, Ms. Tong Ya ran into you again so she can repay the favor. You¡¯ve got to accept it properly!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mind was filled with black lines. Was this moral blackmail? Tong Ya covered her mouth and chuckled, then went back to the car carrying the battery. ¡°I¡¯ll be coming over again tomorrow morning!¡± Chen Yu felt resigned, as it seemed he really had no reason to refuse Tong Ya now! ¡°Wow, Dad! When did you learn to make these dumplings? They are so delicious! If I had known, I would have taken a few more for Ms. Tong Ya.¡± Chen Yu also sat down and picked up a dumpling. ¡°If it¡¯s delicious, eat more, this is our dinner tonight!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Tuan Tuan cheered and then started gobbling up the food. Chen Yu, on the other hand, dialed his phone to arrange for tomorrow¡¯s supplies. Four hundred pounds of a mix of sweet potatoes and purple sweet potatoes. Two hundred pounds of brown sugar and two hundred pounds of white sugar. Two hundred pounds of black sesame seeds. One hundred pounds each of beef, lamb, pork, and cod. Four hundred pounds each of leeks and cabbage. One hundred pounds each of shiitake mushrooms and marinated tofu. He then went on to stock up on a thousand beverages, just like the day before. Flour, bottled water, and seasoning were exactly enough for the next day¡¯s use, so Chen Yu did not place another order for them. Moreover, Chen Yu specifically asked the delivery driver to arrive an hour earlier because now there were two kinds of goods that needed to be prepared in advance. When all was calculated, the cost for the next day would be 14,400 yuan! Chen Yu did some rough calculations in his head and thought that if the sales were as good as today, his turnover might be close to 60,000. Just then, a rather rough voice interrupted Chen Yu¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Old Chen, how do you find the fridge? Is it convenient to use?¡± ¡°Convenient, quite handy! Oh, by the way, Old Xie, it¡¯s been a day on trial, let me transfer the money to you!¡± Xie Jiang also hurriedly took out his phone, ¡°We¡¯re all neighbors here. I¡¯ll give you a 20% discount, 3,200 yuan! Just let me make a little profit!¡± ¡°Oh, how could I accept that!¡± ¡°Old Chen, don¡¯t be so polite to me! Just reserve a few fried cakes and dumplings for me tomorrow morning.¡± Chen Yu stopped refusing and scanned over 3,200 yuan with his phone. With that settled, Chen Yu now had 14,100 yuan left in hand! This money was pure profit for him to keep! ¡°Dad! I¡¯m going to watch some cartoons and then sleep!¡± By this time, Tuan Tuan had finished the dumplings and had also effortlessly cleaned up the table. Chen Yu let out a yawn as well, after the busy day, he was truly tired. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Dad will watch with you!¡± ¡°Hooray!¡± Tuan Tuan grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, ¡°When can Ms. Tong Ya join us to watch cartoons?¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17 - 17 I Broke Down Chapter 17 ¨C 17 I Broke Down Chen Yu lay in the driver¡¯s seat, his expression distant as he watched the cartoon on the car TV. He didn¡¯t know if the recent time spent with Tong Ya had loosened something inside him, or if it was Tuan Tuan constantly mentioning Tong Ya to him. Images of Tong Ya would flash through his mind every so often. Possibly because he was so tired from the day¡¯s events, Chen Yu fell into a deep sleep before he could carefully sketch the figure in his mind. When Tong Ya rushed back home, she found Tang Xiaowei clutching her sketchpad, eagerly staring at the door. ¡°You¡¯re finally back! Did you bring any fried cakes today?¡± Tong Ya rolled her eyes. ¡°Nope!¡± ¡°What? I haven¡¯t eaten all day, just waiting for the fried cakes! You actually didn¡¯t bring any for me, really, once there¡¯s a man in the picture, one forgets her own life-or-death bestie.¡± Tong Ya, helpless, put the stuffed turnovers she had brought onto the table. ¡°New products from the food cart! Give them a try!¡± Tang Xiaowei quieted down, suspiciously unwrapping the bag. The aroma that wafted out immediately made her taste buds react. ¡°Did your crush make these too?¡± Tong Ya nodded proudly, as if Chen Yu was already her man. Tang Xiaowei, touching the slightly cool turnovers, picked one up and took a bite. ¡°Oh my, this is delicious!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s exaggerated expression was as if she had been revived, and she wolfed down the remaining turnovers with relish. ¡°Tong Ya! I¡¯m sold, your taste is really unique, I can¡¯t even argue with it. If it were me, I could eat something this tasty for a lifetime, no matter how many kids I¡¯d have to bear!¡± Tong Ya huffed. ¡°So, you¡¯d just sell me out like that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about selling out! Some people can¡¯t wait to sell themselves! But I still think yesterday¡¯s fried cakes were good. Remember to bring me some more tomorrow when you come back.¡± Tong Ya picked up a toy and threw it at her. ¡°Eat this!¡± ¡­ At four o¡¯clock the next morning, Chen Yu was woken up by the alarm in his earphones. He quickly got up, shook his somewhat groggy head, and hurried out of the car. As soon as he stepped out of the van, the supplier arrived with the ingredients. ¡°Whoa, brother, all this is for you!¡± ¡°How good is the business at your food cart anyway?¡± ¡°I deliver to five breakfast stalls, and they don¡¯t need as much as your one food cart.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu wasn¡¯t much of a talker, and coupled with having just woken up and his head still feeling heavy, he simply smiled and asked them to come by for fried cakes and turnovers when they had a chance. By five o¡¯clock, Chen Yu had already prepared two large tubs of filling. ¡°Oh my, you got up so early?¡± Tong Ya had already brought the battery to the food cart. Chen Yu quickly made a shush gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t wake Tuan Tuan up!¡± To their surprise, the curtain of the small room was suddenly lifted. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ve been awake for a while now!¡± Chen Yu was resigned; Tuan Tuan seemed to have already gotten used to such an early routine. Tong Ya didn¡¯t say much more and just put on her apron and gloves. ¡°Is there anything I can help with?¡± Chen Yu looked around. ¡°Each material corresponds to a meat grinder; you can just shred them according to the times listed on them.¡± This was already the easiest and most relaxing task in the food cart. Without hesitation, Tong Ya got to work. Chen Yu, on the other hand, was busily preparing the finished fried cakes and turnovers. ¡°Xiao Chen! You told me yesterday that the turnovers were unlimited today, give me ten of them!¡± An old man didn¡¯t even wait for Chen Yu to reply, he just swiped fifty yuan. ¡°Well, old man, you¡¯re gonna have to wait a while!¡± Chen Yu responded and then picked up ten vegetable dumplings to throw into the fryer. By 5:30 in the morning, the area in front of the food cart was already packed with people. ¡°Chen, are you some kind of chef from a five-star restaurant? Otherwise, how could the food you make taste so good?¡± ¡°I thought the boss only knew how to make fried cakes, but it turns out you¡¯ve got other skills too!¡± ¡°When will you add some new dishes?¡± ¡­ Most of the crowd here at this moment were regular customers, who no longer teased Tong Ya. But there were still some new faces, incessantly praising how good-looking Chen Yu¡¯s family of three was. Chen Yu had no time to explain; after adding the vegetable dumplings, his workload had almost doubled compared to yesterday. Even though he had started preparations at four o¡¯clock, he was still a bit flustered. If not for Tong Ya¡¯s help, he probably couldn¡¯t have managed. And for some reason, today the crowd didn¡¯t decrease but increased even more around six o¡¯clock. However, Chen Yu seemed to think of something, looking at Tong Ya with a surprised gaze. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to school today?¡± Tong Ya chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s Saturday today!¡± Chen Yu slapped his forehead, he had been so busy that he had even lost track of time! No wonder there were so many people today, probably many had come from far away. And earlier, the office workers who ate fried cakes here squeezed four tables together, ordering a hundred vegetable dumplings and two hundred fried cakes. They said it was for a weekend gathering. It was not until eleven o¡¯clock at noon that the stream of people gradually began to thin out. Chen Yu hurriedly checked his raw materials, finding that more than half had already been used up. Especially the ingredients for the vegetable dumplings, with only a third remaining. Just as he was considering whether to restock, Tong Ya, very understanding, stepped forward. ¡°Finally, we can catch a breath. Today¡¯s Saturday¡ªmost people will choose to go out and gather, and what remains should be enough. Besides, you¡¯ve been tired all morning, it would be great if we could close the stall earlier today so you can rest properly!¡± Chen Yu took a deep breath, and moved his body to ease some of the soreness in his back. ¡°My goodness, I am indeed tired!¡± But after merely sighing, Chen Yu moved a chair over, sat down, and continued to make semi-finished fried cakes and vegetable dumplings. Tong Ya, feeling helpless, could only assist him on the side while restocking the self-service fridge. Only after using up all the raw materials did Chen Yu satisfiedly stretch, leaning back on the chair. Just as he was about to take a rest, he suddenly noticed many message notifications popping up on his phone. ¡°I want to see Tuan Tuan, let¡¯s set a time!¡± ¡°You dare not reply to my messages now, is that it?¡± ¡°Can you or can you not? Reply to me!¡± ¡°What do you mean Chen Yu? I have visitation rights!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was somewhat annoyed by this barrage of messages. On the day of their divorce, Fang Yuan had clearly written in the agreement that she permanently gave up the visitation rights. Chen Yu thought for a moment and replied directly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of being caught by the paparazzi, affecting your career?¡± Just after sending the reply, the phone screen suddenly went dark. Chen Yu felt frustrated; this phone had already been used for five years, it was already malfunctioning, and being close to the fryer these past few days, it seemed to have finally broken. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 - 18 Gifts Chapter 18 ¨C 18 Gifts Tong Ya had just returned to the food truck when she saw Chen Yu continuously tapping on his phone. ¡°Is your phone broken?¡± Chen Yu, feeling helpless, replied, ¡°It¡¯s been roasted by the frying pan. I need to get it fixed, or else I can¡¯t contact the supplier for tomorrow¡¯s raw materials.¡± ¡°Let me go fix it for you!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t bother with formalities and quickly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s phone before leaving the food truck. Within fifteen minutes, Tong Ya returned, bounding back with a box in hand, glee evident in her steps. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I accidentally dropped your phone on the way, and it¡¯s completely beyond repair now. Consider this my compensation to you.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open slightly, his face full of surprise. In Tong Ya¡¯s hands was the latest model 5G smartphone, costing over ten thousand yuan each. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, I really can¡¯t accept this! I¡¯m standing by the frying pan all day; even the best phone will end up getting roasted.¡± ¡°No, it won¡¯t. I specifically bought a vacuum metal case for you!¡± Chen Yu was momentarily at a loss. He indeed needed a phone, especially one that could withstand high temperatures. Now, Tong Ya had fulfilled both these requirements for him. Chen Yu reluctantly accepted the phone, ¡°Then I¡¯ll transfer the money to you.¡± A flicker of disappointment crossed Tong Ya¡¯s eyes. ¡°Dad! You¡¯re really letting down Teacher Tong Ya¡¯s kind intentions!¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°You child, how have I taught you? You can¡¯t always think about taking advantage of others.¡± Hearing this, Tong Ya quickly straightened up. ¡°Chen Yu, consider this smartphone a gift for the opening of your food truck! If you feel like you¡¯re taking advantage of me, you can give me a gift for my birthday next month!¡± Chen Yu looked up slightly, seeming to agree that transferring money might not be the right move now. Moreover, by next month, he should have a decent amount of savings, just in time to arrange a nice birthday party for Tong Ya. It would also serve as a thank-you for all the care she had provided during this time. ¡°Okay, next month it is!¡± Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s agreement, Tong Ya heaved a sigh of relief. As they spoke, the elders and aunties who danced in the square began arriving one after another. They kept a regular schedule regardless of the weekend, showing up on time every afternoon in the vicinity. After these elderly and regular customers dispersed, the food truck quickly quieted down. Still, by eight o¡¯clock in the evening, all the fried cakes and vegetable rolls had sold out. As Chen Yu finished cleaning the food truck, the anticipated system notification rang in his mind. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing a day of business. Today¡¯s net profit is 45,420.5 yuan, earning an equal number of points. Current total points are 66,149.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. Who would have thought his food truck could net over 40,000 yuan in a single day¡¯s profit? However, Chen Yu quickly reined in his excitement and dialed the supplier¡¯s number. He was truly exhausted and feared he might fall asleep if he waited any longer. The order was the same as yesterday, except today Chen Yu added fifteen bags of flour and twenty buckets of mineral water. Calculating the costs, tomorrow¡¯s expenses would be 19,900 yuan, and the savings he had accumulated amounted to 40,712 yuan. A small sense of achievement rose in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. At this rate, he¡¯d be able to buy his own house soon. Looking at the 60,000-plus points, Chen Yu was tempted to see what new skills he could pull. However, he tried to restrain himself. Currently, making fried cakes and vegetable rolls already left him half-dead from fatigue. If he added another dish, he might not have the energy to cope. Moreover, earning money had become stable now, and Chen Yu felt no impatience whatsoever. Additionally, he was curious to see what kind of skills would come from a high-stakes lottery that cost a hundred thousand per draw. ¡°Chen Yu, what are you thinking about?¡± Tong Ya suddenly interrupted Chen Yu¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Nothing much!¡± Chen Yu responded hastily. ¡°I¡¯ve replaced the battery for you, and I¡¯ll take this one back to charge!¡± Chen Yu did not refuse but simply shook his newly bought mobile phone. ¡°Thanks for your phone!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, ¡°Then you must remember my birthday.¡± ¡°Definitely!¡± Upon receiving Chen Yu¡¯s affirmative response, Tong Ya finally drove away. Having been tired out by the day¡¯s events, Tuan Tuan quickly lay down in bed and fell asleep. Chen Yu yawned, checked the perimeter of the food cart, and then got into the vehicle himself. A film set. Fang Yuan, wearing her costume and holding her phone, sat there trembling. However, she quickly masked her emotions and proceeded to erase all the messages on her phone. ¡°Chen Yu! You¡¯re ruthless.¡± Just as Fang Yuan was about to curse out loud, her agent hurried over. ¡°Dear ancestor! Why are you still here? Hurry on over, today is the best chance to hype up your ¡®ship¡¯!¡± Fang Yuan quickly composed herself, trying to transform her anger into a look of tender affection. Then, following her agent¡¯s lead, she approached a popular young actor. Since the terms had already been negotiated before, their conversation seemed flirtatious but was restrained at the same time. As Fang Yuan gradually got into character, she repeatedly told herself to forget Tuan Tuan, to forget everything from the past, in order to chase a better future. Lost in thought, Fang Yuan became even more invested in her role. Coupled with a bit of acting, an unknowing observer might truly believe she and the young idol were an ambiguously romantic couple. ¡°Sister Fang Yuan, come and have some food! There¡¯s a nighttime scene to shoot later!¡± Called by the crew, Fang Yuan then separated from the young actor. But when she saw that the crew had brought her deep-fried cakes and vegetable turnovers, her brow furrowed. ¡°Who ordered this? Don¡¯t they know I¡¯m watching my figure? How can I eat such greasy food?¡± ¡°Sister Fang Yuan, give it a try! It¡¯s oily but not greasy; it¡¯s a unique find for tens of miles around! If we hadn¡¯t gone early, they might have already sold out.¡± Fang Yuan said she wouldn¡¯t eat it, but she couldn¡¯t resist when the fragrance wafted into her nose. She unconsciously bit into a vegetable turnover and felt as if she had been struck by an electric shock. ¡°Ah, this is delicious! Where did it come from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s several blocks away from here! If Sister Fang Yuan wants more, you can wait for the stall to open tomorrow morning, I think they start at three or four a.m.¡± Fang Yuan maintained her elegance and finished the vegetable turnover and sugar cake in her hands. ¡°Since we have a night shoot today anyway, why don¡¯t we go to this breakfast spot early tomorrow morning? My treat.¡± Upon hearing this, all the crew members became excited. It was also their first time tasting such delicious food. The popular young actor nearby was also conquered by the fried cakes in his hand, gobbling them up voraciously. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19 - 19 Coming by Reputation Chapter 19 ¨C 19 Coming by Reputation Perhaps because he went to bed early, Chen Yu woke up before four o¡¯clock. Just as he got off the food cart, preparing to wash up, he saw Tong Ya¡¯s car parked to the side. Tong Ya was dressed in casual wear, wrapped in a coat, shivering slightly next to her car. ¡°Tong Ya?¡± Chen Yu hurried over, ¡°Why have you come so early?¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe after a whole day yesterday, my body clock has started to sync up with yours! And I¡¯m not your teacher, so don¡¯t call me ¡®teacher¡¯ anymore.¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Hurry into the food cart to warm up!¡± The heat from cooking all day had kept the interior of the food cart at a constant temperature. Just as Tong Ya was about to enter the food cart, the delivery guy with the raw materials arrived. ¡°Wow, boss, no wonder you work so hard, your wife is so beautiful!¡± Tong Ya had always been praised for her beauty since she was young and was used to it. Yet this praise made her feel an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Without waiting for Chen Yu to speak, she quickly directed the delivery guys to bring the raw materials inside the food cart, afraid that Chen Yu might break this feeling of satisfaction. As soon as the delivery guys left, Tong Ya had already put on an apron, helping Chen Yu sort out the ingredients just like yesterday. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching you make fried cakes and vegetable pastries these last two days, and there¡¯s nothing strange about it, so how come they taste so good when you make them?¡± Chen Yu, while mixing the dough, ¡°Are you here to steal the recipe?¡± ¡°That depends on whether you¡¯re willing to teach me!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that difficult, you just have to control the details of every step of the process.¡± Tong Ya stuck out her tongue playfully, ¡°That¡¯s as good as not saying anything!¡± At four in the morning, Zhang Fan arrived at the food cart in a hurry. ¡°Chen Yu, could you prepare two hundred fried cakes and a hundred vegetable pastries for me? I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry and need to go.¡± ¡°So sudden?¡± Chen Yu was surprised; it was his first time seeing Zhang Fan so flustered. ¡°There¡¯s a math competition, and I just got the news, so I hurried over to pick up some breakfast for my colleagues from you.¡± Chen Yu looked at the prepared raw materials on hand. ¡°Can you wait for twenty minutes?¡± ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll come back to pick them up later!¡± With that, Zhang Fan paid the money directly. ¡°Wow, what a lucky start to the day! Such a big order right from the get-go!¡± Tong Ya exclaimed, genuinely happy for Chen Yu. Chen Yu was calmly frying the cakes and pastries in the oil, ¡°Zhang is a regular! He comes every morning and evening.¡± ¡°Yeah, food carts like this rely on returning customers. These past few days, I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯re getting more and more regulars. Have you thought about hiring some employees?¡± Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s just a food cart; I can still manage. If I hire others, they might do the job half-heartedly, and the taste would suffer.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Tong Ya suddenly turned to Chen Yu with a playful tone. ¡°I won¡¯t do things half-heartedly, and I¡¯ll only cost you some fried cakes and vegetable pastries!¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed; truthfully, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Tong Ya said she was here to help, but after these two days, she was like a full-time employee, guarding the place day and night. Yet paying her a salary and treating her like a regular employee didn¡¯t seem quite right either. As he was lost in thought, the local net cafe youths had gathered around the food cart as usual. ¡°Boss, you started cooking so early today.¡± Chen Yu politely replied, ¡°This is just someone¡¯s order, you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°No worries, boss. We can¡¯t even get into our game without your rice cakes; we¡¯ll wait however long it takes.¡± When Zhang Fan came over again, Tong Ya had already packed the fried rice cakes and vegetable pastries and handed them over. ¡°Wow, that was fast! I thought I came early!¡± Zhang Fan took the bag, seemingly reminded of something. ¡°Right, the lease on the shop next to me is up in a week. Old Chen, if you¡¯re interested, I can talk to the landlord for you.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face lit up with joy. He was clearly feeling that the food cart was not enough anymore, and if he hit the jackpot with the lottery a couple more times, even if he didn¡¯t want to, he wouldn¡¯t be able to avoid moving into a shop. ¡°That¡¯d be great! Thanks a lot, Old Zhang.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I¡¯m off now!¡± By six in the morning, as always, the food cart was bustling with people. There was even a foreign tour group that had come seeking its local fame. Fortunately, both Chen Yu and Tong Ya were fairly competent in foreign languages, or else it would have really been a waste of time trying to communicate. Tuan Tuan was also fluttering about like a little swallow, moving through the crowd. Only these past couple of days, with the sudden increase in customers, her writing speed clearly couldn¡¯t keep up. Before long, several minivans parked nearby. ¡°Is this where you bought it from?¡± Fang Yuan couldn¡¯t believe her eyes: ¡°You can make something this delicious in a food cart?¡± The agent beside her was also amazed, ¡°Such a small food cart, and yet it attracts such a huge crowd. It¡¯s nothing short of miraculous.¡± Fang Yuan was a public figure now, after all. She and several actors didn¡¯t get out of the car, instead having their staff line up for them. But when she rolled down the window, she was shocked to find that the person standing at the food cart¡¯s counter was none other than Chen Yu. ¡°How can it be him?¡± The agent also saw Chen Yu through the window. In the entertainment industry, the agent might be the only person who knew everything about Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan frowned deeply, her gaze fixed intently on Tong Ya beside Chen Yu. ¡°Where did this woman come from?¡± Seeing Tong Ya, Fang Yuan suddenly felt somewhat ashamed of herself. In terms of looks, although she wasn¡¯t inferior to Tong Ya, Tong Ya had an indescribable quality and charm about her. What she couldn¡¯t accept, though, was how such a beautiful woman could be selling breakfast here with Chen Yu. A sense of envy emerged spontaneously, and Fang Yuan felt the urge to confront them. But then she thought better of it. She was already divorced, and the past of this marriage absolutely must not be discovered by others. Stepping out now would be career suicide. Fang Yuan¡¯s eyes subconsciously wandered to Tuan Tuan, who darted through the crowd like a little swallow, then she promptly urged the driver. ¡°Forget it, pay for the breakfast and let¡¯s go somewhere else to eat!¡± ¡°Yuan Yuan, the breakfast here is really good, you can tell by the line¡­¡± ¡°I said somewhere else!¡± Fang Yuan cut off the driver directly. The agent quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Let¡¯s go, this kind of food is too greasy anyway! Yuan Yuan still needs to maintain her figure!¡± Perhaps because of the Saturday revelry, there were even more people coming to buy the fried rice cakes and vegetable pastries on Sunday morning than the day before. They kept at it until noon, when the crowd finally began to dwindle down. Chen Yu showed no sign of wanting to rest; he just stretched, pulled up a chair, and sat down to continue making the semi-finished products. Tong Ya, on the other hand, stretched out her own body and then sat down beside Chen Yu, pressing on the spinal area at the back of his head and started to gently massage it. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20 - 20 Youth Palace Chapter 20 ¨C 20 Youth Palace Chen Yu¡¯s body shuddered violently, and even the filling he had just scooped up almost fell off. Tong Ya¡¯s hands were always delicate and soft, and rubbing his shoulders like that instantly refreshed him, as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning. ¡°How¡¯s that? Comfortable, right?¡± Tong Ya giggled, ¡°You stand all day; be careful not to hurt your cervical spine.¡± ¡°Wow! Dad, you actually let Teacher Tong Ya give you a shoulder rub!¡± Tuan Tuan, holding two bottles of juice, suddenly climbed onto the food cart. Chen Yu was about to explain but was preempted by Tong Ya. ¡°You little rascal, which dance class student hasn¡¯t been massaged by me! Besides, your dad has been busy for several days. If I don¡¯t help him loosen up his muscles and bones, he could easily run into problems.¡± Tuan Tuan set the juice aside and hugged Tong Ya¡¯s neck from behind. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, do you want to give my dad shoulder massages for the rest of your life?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her face flushed to the roots of her neck in an instant. Chen Yu rolled his eyes: ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, little girl? Are you asking for a spanking again?¡± Tuan Tuan pouted and hid herself behind Tong Ya. ¡°By the way, Dad, lots of customers say we have too few ice cream flavors!¡± Chen Yu snorted, ¡°I bet it¡¯s you, little girl, who¡¯s tired of those few flavors!¡± Tuan Tuan stuck out her tongue, then went into the room to get her backpack and sat quietly beside them, starting on her homework. ¡°Oh, Chen Yu, we don¡¯t have much of the raw materials left today. Can we pack up around seven or eight o¡¯clock?¡± Tong Ya suddenly asked. Chen Yu glanced around the food cart subconsciously: ¡°The crowd is definitely going to be smaller on weekend afternoons, probably just the elderly who come for the square dancing! We might sell out by six or seven o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! There¡¯s a dance competition at the youth center tonight that I signed Tuan Tuan up for half a month ago. I¡¯ve been so busy these past few days I almost forgot about it!¡± At the mention, Tuan Tuan immediately jumped up excitedly. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true!¡± Tong Ya became serious, ¡°But before we go, you have to finish your homework, okay?¡± Tuan Tuan raised her hands and cheered, then pecked Tong Ya on the cheek and continued on with her homework. This scene, which resembled that of a warm family of three, quickened Tong Ya¡¯s pulse once more. Chen Yu noticed Tong Ya¡¯s change as well: ¡°Are you feeling okay? Why is your face so red?¡± Tong Ya quickly fanned herself, ¡°No, it¡¯s just too hot!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask further, just glanced at the food cart¡¯s built-in refrigeration unit. When the food cart was handed over to Chen Yu, it was stocked with a large amount of solid cooking oil. Plus, the frying pot on the food cart had a filtration system, so the oil consumption wasn¡¯t high. They used on average two big blocks per day. After a few days, even the solid oil was running low, with only one block left in the refrigeration unit. He would have to make a phone call tonight to restock. At four in the afternoon, the square dancing seniors arrived as expected, and it seemed there were even more people today than usual. ¡°Young Chen, did you hire this girl to work for you? She¡¯s been here for two days already, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°With such a beautiful girl by your side, no wonder Young Chen isn¡¯t keen on blind dates.¡± ¡°This girl is perfect¡ªbeautiful and hardworking. Just marry her, Young Chen!¡± ¡­ This sudden rush to get married caught Chen Yu off guard. Tong Ya didn¡¯t say anything but just busily packed things up on her own. Indeed, apart from these seniors, there weren¡¯t many other customers today. Even so, the fried cakes and vegetable dumplings were selling out fast. By six in the afternoon, everything was sold out. [Congratulations, Host, for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 40,700 yuan, earning 40,700 points. Your total accumulated points now stand at 106,840.] Chen Yu¡¯s breathing immediately became rapid; he hadn¡¯t expected the points to accumulate to 100,000 so quickly. With that, he could now take a shot at the high-level lottery. However, Chen Yu didn¡¯t rush to draw the lottery. Instead, he calmed his emotions and first made a call to the raw material supplier. The same ingredients as yesterday, only today he added ten more blocks of solid cooking oil. Each block weighing ten jin, at five yuan per jin, the total cost was 500 yuan. Adding it up, the cost for tomorrow would be a total of 19,600 yuan! After paying the money, Chen Yu found that his savings had reached a staggering 80,920 yuan. In Suzhou City, that amount of money was enough for a down payment on a modest house. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had also changed their clothes; all three of them got into Tong Ya¡¯s car and headed straight to the Youth Palace. Perhaps since there was a competition, there were an unusually large number of people at the Youth Palace today. Tuan Tuan, holding Tong Ya and Chen Yu¡¯s hands, bounced joyfully. The scene immediately drew envious glances from the people around them. ¡°This family of three is so beautiful!¡± ¡°It¡¯s genetics, good heredity, huh!¡± ¡°The child is so big, and they¡¯re still so loving; truly a model family.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen that child before; he was the champion of the last dance competition at the Youth Palace!¡± ¡­ Hearing the discussions along the way, Tong Ya not only didn¡¯t get angry but instead her heart raced, and, like a little girl, she couldn¡¯t help but sway her body. By the time they reached the competition venue, all the competing children had already entered into tense preparations. But Tuan Tuan was not at all flustered and casually changed into her dance costume before going to the prep area. Chen Yu and Tong Ya made a cheering gesture for her from outside, then took their seats in the audience. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, Tuan Tuan¡¯s talent for dance is truly unparalleled!¡± Tong Ya became excited for no particular reason. Chen Yu also nodded with a smile on his face, ¡°It¡¯s because of your good nurturing!¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s praise, Tong Ya immediately bit her lower lip. ¡°Right! If Tuan Tuan can win the championship this time, she will get a prize of 10,000 yuan! That¡¯s just enough for the tuition fees.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback; it seemed Tong Ya had been trying to figure out how to take care of Tuan Tuan for a long time. ¡°Thank you!¡± This thank you, said with a quickened breath from Tong Ya, made her feel it was Chen Yu¡¯s recognition of her. The competition began, and Tuan Tuan was the first to take the stage. From those graceful dance moves, Chen Yu could actually discern a kind of aesthetic derived from life experiences. It appeared the events of this period had greatly influenced Tuan Tuan. But the little girl was able to integrate all her emotions into the dance, which was a testament to her talent. Chen Yu suddenly felt that the best thing he had ever done was to send Tuan Tuan to learn dancing, regardless of the cost. As the music stopped, Tuan Tuan froze on stage in an incredibly wide movement. The thunderous applause erupted suddenly; everyone present knew that the championship had already been swept by Tuan Tuan. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 - 21 Going Back with a Load on the Back Chapter 21 ¨C 21 Going Back with a Load on the Back The rest of the competition seemed dull and flavorless. After all, they were just five or six years old, and at that age, dancing relied purely on talent. Compared with Tuan Tuan, the other children either had uncoordinated body shapes or simply danced terribly. Chen Yu watched until he even fell asleep. 10 p.m. Tong Ya shook the sleeping Chen Yu. ¡°The competition¡¯s over, get up, we should head back!¡± Chen Yu then came to his senses and noticed that Tuan Tuan had changed clothes and was sleeping soundly in Tong Ya¡¯s arms. Thinking about it, Tuan Tuan had been following him day and night; how could she not be tired? In Chen Yu¡¯s heart, the determination to buy a house grew stronger¡ªto at least give Tuan Tuan a proper place to sleep. ¡°Give the child to me!¡± Chen Yu quickly extended his hands to take Tuan Tuan from Tong Ya¡¯s arms. It was not until that moment that Chen Yu realized Tong Ya¡¯s arms and legs were trembling slightly. It looked like Tuan Tuan had been sleeping in Tong Ya¡¯s arms for quite some time. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Chen Yu asked with concern. Tong Ya didn¡¯t answer immediately, but shifted her body with difficulty. ¡°Ouch! My arms and legs are numb!¡± Just then, Tuan Tuan suddenly woke up. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re awake!¡± Chen Yu quickly set Tuan Tuan down and steadied Tong Ya with his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Miss Tong Ya?¡± Tuan Tuan also looked worried. Chen Yu scolded impatiently, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you, little girl, for falling asleep in your teacher¡¯s arms, you¡¯ve made her arms and legs go numb!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s face showed regret, ¡°Then, Teacher, can you walk? If not, let my dad carry you!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment, then turned his head to see a mischievous smile flash across Tuan Tuan¡¯s face. Tong Ya went along with it, ¡°I really can¡¯t walk! It hurts so much!¡± ¡°Daddy, hurry up and carry Miss Tong Ya, look how much pain she is in!¡± Chen Yu had no choice; he couldn¡¯t just leave Tong Ya there. ¡°You don¡¯t mind me carrying you, do you?¡± Chen Yu asked uncertainly. ¡°Of course not!¡± Tong Ya casually draped her arm over Chen Yu¡¯s neck. ¡°Then hold on tight!¡± Chen Yu held onto Tong Ya¡¯s legs and lifted her up on his back. But when Tong Ya¡¯s softness touched Chen Yu¡¯s back, his body involuntarily stiffened for a moment. By this time, the visitors at the youth center had already dispersed, leaving only those who had come to watch the dance competition and couples watching movies. As Chen Yu walked past them with Tong Ya on his back and Tuan Tuan by his side, he immediately received envious glances. ¡°Look, they already have a child and still so affectionate!¡± ¡°These days, the children are the accident, and the parents are true love!¡± ¡°Should I say it or not, their family of three has such high attractiveness!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu felt helpless, not knowing how to explain. Hearing these comments, Tong Ya subconsciously tightened her arms around him. All the way to the underground parking garage, she remained tightly pressed against Chen Yu¡¯s back, reluctant to let go. Chen Yu also went straight to opening the car door, placing Tong Ya on the passenger seat. ¡°You look uncomfortable, should I take you home first?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Tong Ya waved her hand: ¡°It¡¯s just numbness in my hands and feet, I should feel better once we get to the food truck!¡± In fact, she was already feeling better, but Chen Yu¡¯s broad and comfortable back made her reluctant to leave. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and drove straight back to the food truck. When he returned, he actually saw Zhang Fan sitting at the entrance of the food truck, with several cigarette butts already on the ground. ¡°Oh, Old Chen, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Chen Yu approached somewhat sheepishly: ¡°I went out for a bit today, is there an emergency?¡± Zhang Fan quickly took out his phone: ¡°It¡¯s about the shop next to mine I told you about. Their rent expires the day after tomorrow, and they¡¯re moving out tomorrow. Here¡¯s the landlord¡¯s number, I¡¯ll send it to you!¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected Zhang Fan to be waiting there just to help him secure a shop. ¡°That¡¯s really so kind of you!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for!¡± Zhang Fan casually sent over pictures of the interior of the shop. ¡°Old Chen, this shop isn¡¯t just big, it¡¯s enormous. The previous tenants ran a restaurant but didn¡¯t manage it well and couldn¡¯t keep going after a month.¡± Chen Yu nodded continuously, flipping through the pictures in his hands. He suddenly discovered that the shop had three floors, the bottom two were commercial halls, and to his surprise, the third floor was a separate residential area. Three bedrooms and a living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms, nearly two hundred square meters of huge space. ¡°Old Zhang, are they renting out all three floors together?¡± ¡°Yeah! This entire area is mixed-use, residential and commercial together. This shop is all three floors connected, they only rent it out as a whole! And I¡¯ve noticed you and the child have been sleeping in the food truck, what if something happens someday?¡± Chen Yu became immediately excited, especially when he saw that the rent was only twelve thousand. He made up his mind on the spot. Real estate prices in Suzhou City aren¡¯t low, a two hundred square meter residential space alone would go for at least seven or eight thousand a month, not to mention with the two commercial floors, this price is quite a bargain. It would at least give Tuan Tuan a peaceful place to sleep. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take it! Tomorrow at noon, I¡¯ll arrange to meet with the landlord!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided, I¡¯ll talk to the landlord for you, maybe I can even get you a discount!¡± After confirming with Chen Yu, Zhang Fan gave his phone a shake and headed back to the garage. Tong Ya at that moment was putting the replaced battery into the car trunk. ¡°Dad, does that mean we can have our own shop now?¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head: ¡°Yes! Once we have the shop, Dad can expand the business.¡± Tuan Tuan cheered instantly, hugging Chen Yu tightly. Tong Ya was also happy for Chen Yu, though she maintained her composure. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head back first! See you tomorrow!¡± After giving a greeting, Tong Ya got into the car. When she drove around a street corner, she suddenly stopped the car. Her hands clenched into fists, and her feet rapidly tapped back and forth inside the car. ¡°I just knew it, he definitely could do it!¡± Trying to calm her excited heart, Tong Ya started the car again. Tang Xiaowei seemed to have gotten used to Tong Ya bringing her food at night, so she didn¡¯t eat the whole day again. But when she eagerly waited for Tong Ya to enter, she found that Tong Ya hadn¡¯t brought anything this time. ¡°Tong Ya, where are the veggie buns? The fried cakes? Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t bring anything for me?¡± Tong Ya huffed: ¡°Always eating and drinking for free, and now you have demands!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mouth instantly formed an ¡®o¡¯: ¡°Tong Ya, you really are heartless when it comes to the opposite sex! Do you know I¡¯ve been waiting for you all day, and I haven¡¯t eaten a single thing?¡± Tong Ya couldn¡¯t bear to let her best friend stay hungry, and still showed concern: ¡°Really? You¡¯ve been starving all day? I remember there were still some veggie buns left from yesterday, weren¡¯t there?¡± Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - 22 The Feeling of Home Chapter 22 ¨C 22 The Feeling of Home Tang Xiaowei looked aggrieved, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. ¡°The things your god of a man makes are too delicious, I think I¡¯m addicted! I got up in the middle of the night yesterday and finished everything!¡± Tong Ya felt helpless, ¡°We went to the Youth Palace today; we can¡¯t bring any for you! How about ordering some takeout to tide you over?¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Tang Xiaowei cried out like a child. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault for letting me taste something so delicious! I can¡¯t live without your god of a man anymore!¡± Tong Ya rolled her eyes, ¡°Go eat something fast, don¡¯t really starve yourself to death!¡± Tang Xiaowei suddenly stopped crying and then, like a rogue, sprawled on the ground, clutching at Tong Ya¡¯s leg. ¡°I¡¯m totally on your side now, hurry up and conquer your man so I can go over and mooch meals without shame!¡± Tong Ya snorted lightly, ¡°Just for the sake of food, you completely sold me out!¡± ¡°How can I be blamed, it¡¯s only because your man cooks so well! It¡¯s all because you brought his cooking back for me to taste!¡± Tong Ya pouted, feeling as if somehow she was the one at fault! ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯ll definitely bring more for you tomorrow, hurry up and order that takeout!¡± ¡­ Fang Yuan sat in the villa¡¯s hall, elegantly eating her steak. A timid assistant at her side held a notebook, crunching some numbers. ¡°Sister Yuan, our people have been watching near the food truck all day. Based on the foot traffic and the prices, a rough calculation suggests that the food truck¡¯s daily sales could reach sixty thousand, and the cost might be at most twenty thousand!¡± Fang Yuan paused momentarily while cutting her steak. That meant Chen Yu¡¯s daily net profit had already reached forty thousand! Although, compared to her acting income, it wasn¡¯t as much. But acting only feeds you while you¡¯re young, business lasts a lifetime. Chen Yu, just by running a food truck, was able to achieve such incredible revenue. If he were left to develop further, in no time at all, he could very likely become a local tycoon. ¡°How come I never realized he had such ability before?¡± Mentally complaining, Fang Yuan vigorously cut off another piece of steak, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed it with grinding teeth. ¡°Sister Yuan, why did you have me investigate such a small shop?¡± Fang Yuan suddenly turned around, her fierce gaze startling the assistant. ¡°Didn¡¯t I eat breakfast from that place last time? I found it delicious, so I wanted to check it out, is there a problem with that?¡± The assistant shook her head repeatedly, ¡°Sister Yuan, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving!¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Fang Yuan took out five hundred yuan from her bag and handed it to the assistant. ¡°Go buy five hundred yuan worth of fried cakes and vegetable pastries early tomorrow morning and bring them to the set, I¡¯m treating everyone!¡± ¡°Oh, thank you Sister Yuan!¡± The assistant thanked her and left the villa cheerfully. Fang Yuan sat alone, silent for a long while, suddenly picked up the plate, and threw it violently on the ground. ¡°No, I can¡¯t let him make a fortune!¡± ¡­ At three in the morning, Chen Yu was woken by the alarm in his earbuds. As he left the food truck, he saw the delivery man bringing the raw materials. Tong Ya also arrived just before or after these delivery men. Since the delivery men had already seen Tong Ya, they didn¡¯t say much and left after delivering the materials. Chen Yu seemed to have gotten used to Tong Ya¡¯s presence, merely calling her to join him in the food trailer. ¡°These past few days, I¡¯ve noticed that the fried cakes and vegetable turnovers you make taste so good, and a large part of that reason is because the dough is kneaded well!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°You¡¯ve observed quite meticulously! Actually, the quality of the flour and water, as well as the proportion of the two and the fermentation time, all affect the final product¡¯s taste!¡± A look of admiration twinkled in Tong Ya¡¯s eyes, ¡°Who would have thought that there¡¯s so much knowledge in kneading dough!¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just like life? Perhaps because of a minor reason, someone¡¯s entire life can be ruined.¡± Tong Ya had already mastered the technique of preparing the fillings. Without Chen Yu¡¯s guidance, she was quite skilled at doing it herself. It may have been because it was Monday, but it wasn¡¯t until 4:30 that customers gradually began to show up. And it was this extra half hour that allowed Chen Yu to prepare plenty of semi-finished products. Only today, there were many new faces. Moreover, these people, after buying the fried cakes and vegetable turnovers, hurried off as if they were thieves in a hurry. Chen Yu didn¡¯t think much of it, focusing meticulously on making his fried cakes and vegetable turnovers. By six in the morning, there was a mountain of people in front of the food trailer, and Chen Yu felt he almost couldn¡¯t keep up. Zhang Fan, as usual, came to the food trailer in a hurry. Chen Yu had already prepared his order. But just as he handed over the fried cakes and vegetable turnovers, Zhang Fan suddenly climbed into the trailer. ¡°Old Chen! You need to be careful these days; I feel like someone¡¯s out to get you!¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, ¡°I haven¡¯t offended anyone, who would be out to harm me?¡± ¡°Old Chen, it¡¯s not that your food trailer is too popular! I just saw in the group chat that several breakfast vendors have made the same vegetable turnovers and fried cakes as you! But not only are theirs bigger, but they¡¯re also doing a buy five, get one free deal!¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Everyone¡¯s in business, and besides, breakfast food is all the same; nobody has decreed that they can¡¯t make the same things as me.¡± Zhang Fan sighed helplessly, ¡°You! Your heart is too kind. If it were me, I¡¯d have grabbed my weapon and gone to settle the score with them by now! Anyway, watch your back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember your warning!¡± Zhang Fan waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve also made arrangements with the landlord for you. He will come over after twelve noon; don¡¯t forget, ah!¡± ¡°Alrighty!¡± After Zhang Fan left, Tong Ya too pursed her lips. ¡°If you ask me, you should apply for a patent for your fried cakes and vegetable turnovers. Then let¡¯s see if they dare to steal!¡± ¡°Rest assured, nobody can steal my stuff! Even if they know the recipe, they don¡¯t know the exact method!¡± Tong Ya nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, just the technique for kneading the dough is enough for them to learn for a lifetime.¡± Perhaps because she was too tired yesterday, Tuan Tuan only woke up at this moment. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s already so late! Daddy, Teacher Tong Ya, why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± Tong Ya smiled gently, ¡°Hurry up and get ready, we need to go to school soon!¡± Tuan Tuan pouted, clearly unhappy. But after glancing at the time, she had no choice but to go and wash up first. By six fifty, Tong Ya too seemed reluctant to take off her apron and gloves. ¡°I¡¯ll take Tuan Tuan to school first! If you really can¡¯t manage on your own, take a break. Don¡¯t wear yourself out!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s movements paused for a moment. It seemed that for many years, this was the first time someone had cared whether he was tired or not. In the first few years with Fang Yuan, what he heard every day, apart from complaints, was all kinds of grievances! In that moment, Chen Yu inexplicably felt the sense of having a ¡®family¡¯. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23 - 23 Renting a Shop Chapter 23 ¨C 23 Renting a Shop ¡°Boss Chen, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and give me ten fried cakes!¡± Chen Yu then snapped back to reality and quickly packed the order for the customer. All morning, Chen Yu noticed that the several new faces that had come in the morning returned a few more times, each time buying every kind of fried cake and vegetable pastry on offer. Chen Yu didn¡¯t mind, he just busied himself with his own work. Fortunately, he had prepared enough semi-finished products in the morning; otherwise, he really wouldn¡¯t have been confident in handling the morning rush. However, by ten o¡¯clock in the morning, the stream of people abruptly stopped. After all, it was Monday, and once the rush hour for work had passed, there weren¡¯t many people around. Chen Yu, as usual, checked the remaining raw materials. There were still half of the vegetable pastries left, but the fried cakes had been consumed quite a bit. After all, in comparison, fried cakes were cheaper, and many people liked to eat something sweet in the morning. Afterward, Chen Yu hurriedly moved a chair and seized the opportunity to prepare more semi-finished products! At noon, an elderly lady with white hair, leaning on a cane, knocked on the food cart¡¯s door, looking quite cheerful. Chen Yu quickly put down what he was working on and stepped out of the food cart. ¡°Are you the one looking to rent a house?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Chen Yu quickly responded and was ready to wash his hands. Unexpectedly, the old lady grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Zhang Fan told me this morning, and I didn¡¯t believe it. It turns out the person renting my house is really you!¡± Chen Yu was slightly stunned, ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°Know you? I eat your fried cakes and vegetable pasties every day. But it¡¯s inconvenient for me to come over, so my daughter buys them for me!¡± Saying so, the old woman took out the rental agreement from her bag. ¡°The agreed rent was twelve thousand, but since it¡¯s you renting it, I¡¯ll charge you seventy thousand for half a year, though utilities are not included, eh!¡± Chen Yu was a bit surprised, he hadn¡¯t expected the old lady to be so straightforward. He hurriedly helped the old lady sit down at the table beside them. ¡°If that¡¯s really the case, then that¡¯s wonderful!¡± The old lady¡¯s face was brimming with a smile, ¡°I like you young people, so full of energy and vigor! And you, you¡¯re a handsome young man. I heard you¡¯re divorced? Do you have someone else?¡± Chen Yu was at a loss for words for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t have any plans to remarry just yet. After all, with a child to take care of, I also want to make more money while I¡¯m young to give my child a future!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s very responsible!¡± After praising him, the old lady then took out a pen and changed the price on the rental agreement! ¡°This seventy thousand, you don¡¯t have to pay me all at once. If times are tough for you, just give me ten thousand for now, and the rest can wait another month or two ¨C no rush!¡± ¡°How can I accept that? You¡¯ve already given me a discount on the rent, I¡¯m very grateful!¡± The old lady grandly waved it off, ¡°Just as long as I can eat your fried cakes and vegetable pastries every day!¡± Chen Yu nodded repeatedly, ¡°Definitely, for sure!¡± After the old lady made the changes to the contract, she handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Take a look, is there anything else that needs to be added?¡± ¡°Auntie, this is already very good!¡± ¡°What ¡®auntie¡¯? That¡¯s too formal! My surname is Li, just call me Aunt Lee!¡± With that, Aunt Lee took back the contract, ¡°They¡¯re moving out right now, and they should be done by the afternoon. Once you close up shop in the evening, Aunt Lee will take you to see the house. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I won¡¯t force you!¡± ¡°No! No! No! I¡¯m very satisfied!¡± Aunt Lee¡¯s genuine enthusiasm left Chen Yu somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°Then I won¡¯t keep you from your work! I¡¯ll come over this evening!¡± After tidying up the contract, Aunt Lee left happily, leaning on her cane. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, having settled both the shop and his living situation. Stretching lazily, Chen Yu returned to the food cart to keep bustling about. By three in the afternoon, Chen Yu had finished preparing all the remaining semi-prepared items. Just as he stepped down from the food cart, ready to stretch his limbs a bit, he suddenly heard the sound of a loudspeaker in the distance. ¡°Authentic fried cakes, authentic vegetable pastries, new products on sale, buy three get one free!¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, realizing it was just as Zhang Fan had said; these people were indeed playing underhanded tricks. They had bought his fried cakes and vegetable pastries and turned around to make their own versions! However, Chen Yu just smiled and paid no attention. Nearly all breakfast stalls have their own discussion groups and even offer delivery services. Yet, until now, Chen Yu had neither started a discussion group nor offered a delivery service. Even so, his business had already become incredibly popular. Therefore, he didn¡¯t care about these people trying to steal his techniques! After all, the techniques he used for making vegetable pastries and fried cakes were provided by his system, unique in the entire world! At four in the afternoon, the groups of seniors dancing in the square came to support him as usual. But some were intercepted halfway by the breakfast storefronts. ¡°Come in and try, seniors, our shop has launched new products! They¡¯re just like the ones from the cart over there, but with bigger portions, and you get one free when you buy three!¡± ¡°Like the ones over there? Then why should I eat yours, when Boss Chen¡¯s are so delicious?¡± Nevertheless, some seniors couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and bought a fried cake symbolically. But after taking a bite, they spat it out on the ground. ¡°What is this stuff? Compared to Boss Chen, this is trash! The ones I make at home taste better than this! Refund my money!¡± ¡­ From inside the food cart, Chen Yu could see the scene unfold in the distance. These breakfast shops were located along the street, and anyone who wanted to come to Chen Yu¡¯s place had to pass by them. But no one paid any heed to their calls; they all headed straight for the food cart. Even after some of the seniors had a taste, even fewer people visited those stores! Chen Yu simply glanced up before returning his attention to his work. ¡°Young Chen! Those shops next to you are going too far, it¡¯s like they¡¯re trying to steal your livelihood!¡± ¡°Yes, young Chen! You have to be careful, I reckon these people would do anything for money!¡± ¡°This kid is handsome, kind-hearted, and sincere, how can he guard against those old hands?¡± ¡°I say, from now on, we should stick with young Chen and not buy from them anymore!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu felt warmth in his heart as he listened. These past few days, these elderly folks had taken great care of him, not only bringing their whole families to eat his fried cakes and pastries but also inviting everyone from their apartment complex. As Chen Yu worked, he politely responded. ¡°Thank you, uncles and aunties! By the way, I¡¯ve already found a place across the street. I might move there tomorrow, and then you all won¡¯t have to stand and eat like this!¡± ¡°Oh, that would be wonderful! Young Chen, you should have done this much earlier!¡± ¡°With your food cart business being so good, it¡¯s about time to expand!¡± ¡°And you should set up an access control at the door, beating out any sneaky-looking characters who come in!¡± ¡°Is it the restaurant that used to be across the street?¡± ¡°Then I need to go back and spread the word for you!¡± ¡­ Chapter 24 - Chapter 24 - 24 Malicious Reporting Chapter 24 ¨C 24 Malicious Reporting At 5 p.m., Tong Ya drove frantically to the restaurant with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Tuan Tuan had a competition today, so we got back late!¡± Without thinking, Tong Ya explained, then hurriedly put on her apron and gloves and went into the food truck. ¡°Chen Yu, boss, you haven¡¯t started seeing this girl, have you? Why does she come to help every day?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. Before he could speak, Tong Ya quickly explained. ¡°Actually, we¡¯re university classmates and have always been very good friends. He got divorced, and I felt sad, so I came to help out a bit!¡± This explanation immediately gained everyone¡¯s approval. After all, they were university classmates, and it seemed natural to lend a hand when one was in trouble. Chen Yu didn¡¯t feel it was right to say much more, especially since Tong Ya had previously mentioned she was here to repay a favor. By 6 p.m., the food truck was surrounded as usual, packed to the brim. In contrast, the breakfast stall next door was deserted, without a soul in sight. ¡°Old Wang, what do you think he puts in there? Why is it so delicious?¡± ¡°How should I know? I had someone buy some yesterday and tried to reverse engineer it. Sure, we can make it, but the taste is miles off!¡± ¡°What are we going to do? With this food truck here, won¡¯t we be reduced to starving?¡± ¡°Tell me about it. My bun shop hasn¡¯t opened for two days now. How come no one ever tires of his sugar cakes and vegetable pastries? People should buy some buns now and then to change things up!¡± ¡°If you ask me, he¡¯s definitely using something illegal. Why don¡¯t we report him and let the authorities check it out properly!¡± ¡°Yeah, that sounds great. Whatever we can¡¯t figure out, the authorities definitely can!¡± ¡­ Amidst their chatter, a group of people noisily took out their cellphones and dialed numbers. By 8 p.m., all the fried cakes and vegetable pastries had sold out. Luckily, Chen Yu had set aside fifty sugar cakes and thirty vegetable pastries beforehand. Aside from serving as their dinner, he also needed to take twenty sugar cakes and ten vegetable pastries back for Tang Xiaowei. Otherwise, Tang Xiaowei might actually starve to death! As they were cleaning up, the piercing sound of police sirens suddenly rang out. A few authoritative officials headed straight for the food truck. ¡°Sir, we are from the health department. We received a report that you added some bad substances to the food. Please provide samples for testing!¡± Chen Yu was initially stunned, then quickly realized what was happening. It looked like a malicious report from a few neighboring shops. ¡°Sorry, all the fried cakes and vegetable pastries sold out today, only a few left over are for us to eat!¡± ¡°We still need to check those!¡± The officials were quite overbearing and moved to a table, ready to take away the remaining fried cakes and vegetable pastries. ¡°Wow! You guys are so mean, taking these away, what will we eat? Daddy has been busy all day and hasn¡¯t eaten anything, and you¡¯re just taking the food away!¡± A adorable little girl was sobbing and wiping her tears¡ªhow could anyone resist? Tong Ya stepped forward as well, ¡°Our documents are in order here, fair and square. How could we possibly use something bad? There must be some mistake!¡± A little girl had almost melted them with cuteness, and now here was a stunningly beautiful woman with great temperament. Take another look at Chen Yu¡¯s already handsome features. How could this not look like a family of three! Moreover, as the old saying goes, ¡®the countenance is the portrait of the soul¡¯, the health officials were also convinced in their hearts there was nothing wrong with the food truck. After all, what they were selling, they were eating themselves! ¡°Sorry, but since we received a report, as per regulations, we still need to inspect it!¡± One of the officials took an instrument out of the vehicle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll only take one for sample testing!¡± Tuan Tuan stopped crying then, ¡°Do you really need just one?¡± The official completely dropped his authoritative tone, ¡°Why would uncle lie to you?¡± Pouting, Tuan Tuan took out two fried cakes from the bag, handed one to the official, and ate the other in front of him. This made the official quite embarrassed. Such a small child, eating these as meals, not only had no issues but also looked so pretty and cute. They couldn¡¯t believe there was anything wrong with this food to save their lives! Yet, they still had to follow the necessary procedures. The official placed one fried cake into the instrument for analysis. Before long, the instrument displayed a normal reading. ¡°Sorry, it looks like we received a malicious report. We¡¯ve caused you trouble, and as for those who made the malicious report, we will deal with them severely!¡± Chen Yu waved it off generously, ¡°It¡¯s no problem!¡± Almost all the owners of the breakfast stores in the distance were poking their heads out, quietly observing everything happening in front of the food cart. But when they saw the officials leave and Chen Yu remain unscathed, they were momentarily stunned. They¡¯re all ordinary ingredients, so how can Chen Yu make such delicious food? Just as they were shocked, the officials¡¯ vehicle abruptly stopped in front of their stores. ¡°You are suspected of making a malicious report, please come with us!¡± The shop owners were baffled. ¡°Nonsense, it was an anonymous report, how do you know it was us?¡± The officials sneered, ¡°Did you really think we¡¯re just sitting around doing nothing?¡± At this moment, Chen Yu also saw the scene from afar. Tuan Tuan stood with his arms akimbo, showing a look that seemed to roar like a fierce dragon. ¡°I knew it must have been these people causing trouble!¡± Tong Ya stood with her hands behind her back, behind Chen Yu. ¡°Now I understand why you said making fried cakes is just like life!¡± Chen Yu felt a bit proud, ¡°Actually, as long as you are good enough, no one can beat you!¡± Afterward, Chen Yu picked up a cloth and continued to clean the food cart. [Congratulations, host, for perfectly completing one day of business. Today¡¯s net profit is forty thousand and five hundred Yuan. You have earned forty thousand and two hundred points. Your current total points are one hundred and forty-seven thousand and forty.] Chen Yu smiled satisfactorily upon hearing the system¡¯s voice. His daily net profit was now basically maintaining at over forty thousand. Not considering the costs needed for tomorrow, his total personal savings had also reached one hundred and forty thousand and seven hundred and twenty Yuan. This amount was more than enough to pay Auntie Li half a year¡¯s rent in one go. While he was pondering, Zhang Fan was already hastily approaching with Auntie Li. ¡°Little Chen! Something came up, and I was late. Lucky that I ran into Xiao Zhang who gave me a lift!¡± Chen Yu hurriedly went to greet them. ¡°No problem, Auntie Li, I was just about to call you!¡± Auntie Li enthusiastically grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, ¡°That¡¯s great, the previous tenant has already completely moved out. Do you have time now? Come with me and see if the place is to your liking!¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25 - 25 New House Chapter 25 ¨C 25 New House Aunt Li was just about to leave with Chen Yu when she suddenly noticed Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan standing nearby. ¡°Eh, is this your wife? Did she come to see the child?¡± Chen Yu waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°No, she¡¯s the child¡¯s teacher! And also my college classmate.¡± For some reason, Tong Ya felt an inexplicable sense of loss when she heard Chen Yu introduce her that way, even though she knew he was a married man with a child. Chen Yu seemed to have already settled on the identity of Tong Ya as a college classmate. ¡°Oh my, this girl is so beautiful! She really matches with Little Chen!¡± After praising her, Aunt Li directly dragged Chen Yu to the shop across the street. Tong Ya was left standing there. This shop was right next to Zhang Fan¡¯s car dealership, and it was the biggest one on the street. Since it used to be a restaurant, a lot of the decor could be utilized by Chen Yu. Only minor modifications were needed before it could open for business. Chen Yu already had a blueprint in his mind for this place, and he could start construction with a decorating team tomorrow. What he was most eager to see now was the room on the third floor. The three-story building was connected by a staircase. Upon reaching the third floor and turning right, a few steps down a narrow corridor revealed a relatively spacious double security door. ¡°Actually, the previous restaurant, when they rented the place, didn¡¯t rent out the third-floor rooms because they found it expensive, and they already had a place to live, so there was no need to rent another!¡± Aunt Li, whether out of overenthusiasm or because she truly considered Chen Yu as one of her own, didn¡¯t hold back any information. ¡°Anyway, since they didn¡¯t take the third floor, they still had to pay me nine thousand in rent! Little Chen, take a look. If you don¡¯t like it, I can even give you a discount on the rent from the original rate.¡± The moment the main door opened, Chen Yu was completely astonished. The decoration here was simply exquisite. All kinds of furniture and appliances were available, even the bedding was perfectly prepared, ready for someone to move in straight away. Especially the two bathrooms, which were fully equipped with sanitary fixtures, and the larger one even had a bathtub installed. ¡°This place was renovated two years ago, but no one has lived here since¡ªit¡¯s been empty until now!¡± As she spoke, Aunt Li started removing the white cloths covering the furniture. Chen Yu, Tong Ya, and Zhang Fan hurried forward to help. ¡°Aunt Li! I¡¯m very satisfied with this house. We can proceed with the previously agreed rental of seventy thousand for half a year, and I can pay you all at once.¡± Aunt Li¡¯s smile grew even more kindly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Little Chen, you¡¯ve worked hard running a food cart and taking care of a child. Suddenly renting such a big shop space must be putting a strain on your finances¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right, Aunt Li! We can sign the contract right now!¡± Aunt Li was taken aback for a moment: ¡°Well, okay then! But if you ever find yourself short of money, feel free to come to Aunt Li!¡± Chen Yu smiled, agreed, and after signing the contract, he immediately transferred the money. Aunt Li checked the payment record with a hearty laugh, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be off. From today, this is your place!¡± Just as she reached the doorway, Aunt Li turned back. ¡°Oh, and when you move and open your new store, you must remember to reserve some fried pastries and vegetable turnovers for me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Li!¡± Chen Yu said as he politely saw Aunt Li out the door. Zhang Fan stretched and yawned, ¡°I should be going too! By the way, Chen, after you move, you can let me modify the food truck a bit. I can definitely sell it for a good price!¡± Without waiting for Chen Yu¡¯s response, Zhang Fan hurried downstairs. For some reason, Tong Ya found Chen Yu standing before her more charming than ever. What kind of personal charm must it have taken to make so many neighbors help him without regard to cost? Chen Yu looked at the house in front of him with great satisfaction. ¡°Tuan Tuan, this is our new home too! Stay here and wait for me to bring up our things!¡± ¡°Hooray!¡± Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands excitedly, ¡°From now on, I can lie on the sofa and watch TV!¡± Chen Yu affectionately ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head and hurried off to the dining cart. He brought up all their clothes and daily necessities in one go. The shop would definitely need to be renovated in the next few days, and he would have to rely on the business of the dining cart. Bringing these things up freed up even more space. By the time Chen Yu returned to the third floor, Tong Ya had already served up the fried cakes and vegetable pastries and started eating with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Dad, when can we start doing business in the shop?¡± Tuan Tuan asked with a look of anticipation. ¡°At the very least, we have to wait a few days, we need to get it decorated!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately looked a bit disappointed, ¡°Several more days? Doesn¡¯t that mean Dad still has to suffer in that cramped dining cart?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright! Tuan Tuan, you must remember, ¡®To endure hardship is to be superior¡¯. Besides, this is hardly hardship at all.¡± Tuan Tuan nodded obediently and then offered Chen Yu a vegetable pastry. After the three of them had eaten, Tong Ya took the fried cakes and vegetable pastries left for Tang Xiaowei and went home. Chen Yu then made a phone call to order the same raw materials as yesterday, but he didn¡¯t buy any solid cooking oil. He calculated that tomorrow¡¯s cost would be nineteen thousand one hundred yuan. Added to the seventy thousand yuan rent he had just paid, he had spent eighty-nine thousand one hundred yuan in one go. Now he had only fifty-one thousand six hundred twenty yuan left in savings. He estimated that the upcoming renovation would cost a bit more. He didn¡¯t know if these expenses would be counted into the cost by the system. Just as Chen Yu was calculating in his head, the doorbell suddenly rang. Chen Yu hurried to open the door and found Zhang Fan had returned, bringing Xie Jiang with him. ¡°Old Zhang, Old Xie! What brings you here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal!¡± Zhang Fan patted Xie Jiang¡¯s back, ¡°Xie Jiang works in home electronics but also takes on some renovation work on the side. Hearing that you were going to renovate, he asked me to bring him over.¡± Xie Jiang chuckled, ¡°My business is just starting up, it¡¯s still small scale! But if you let me take care of the renovation, I guarantee the quality will be spot on!¡± Chen Yu was just worrying about the renovation tomorrow. ¡°That¡¯s perfect! I was just thinking about finding someone tomorrow. Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll leave the renovation to you!¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s eyes widened; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to agree so readily. Overwhelmed with excitement, he seized Chen Yu¡¯s hand and began to shake it. ¡°You can count on me, Old Chen! Let¡¯s do this; we start the renovation first, payment comes after. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I won¡¯t take a dime!¡± ¡°How can that be right?¡± Chen Yu pulled out his phone, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. I¡¯ll give you ten thousand as a down payment right now, and if it¡¯s not enough, you can come find me anytime!¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s face twitched slightly with emotion, but he didn¡¯t play hard to get and took out his phone to receive the money. ¡°Rest assured, Old Chen! I will make sure your new shop is the finest on the entire street!¡± After saying this, Xie Jiang immediately turned around and went downstairs, calling someone on the phone as he walked, seemingly arranging for materials. Zhang Fan was also helpless, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him; that¡¯s just the way Old Xie is. If you trust him, he¡¯ll work ten times as hard for you!¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I certainly know what kind of man Old Xie is! I¡¯ll leave the remodeling of my dining cart to you guys in the future!¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26 - 26 Coming to Steal the Master’s Techniques Chapter 26 ¨C 26 Coming to Steal the Master¡¯s Techniques On her way back home, Tong Ya drove very slowly. There was always a smile on her face, and from time to time she hummed a few lines of a song. Upon reaching the residential complex, she parked the car and her smile never ceased. Uncontrollably, she started dancing in the underground garage. Her arms were wrapped as if resting on someone¡¯s shoulders. With graceful motions, she spun around in the garage, as though there truly was someone facing her and dancing along. ¡°Ghost ah!¡± A shrill scream suddenly erupted, snapping Tong Ya back to reality. In the middle of the night, dancing a partner¡¯s dance alone, and doing so convincingly, was bound to scare someone. Tong Ya was frightened too, her heart still pounding as she hurriedly went upstairs. When she ran into the room panting, Tang Xiaowei was still sitting on the sofa staring eagerly at the door. ¡°What are you doing? Sitting here every night without even turning on the light, you scared me to death!¡± Tong Ya complained with a touch of resentment and then placed the fried pastries and vegetable turnovers she had brought back on the table. Tang Xiaowei, who was extremely hungry, didn¡¯t mind the greasiness on the bag and grabbed a turnover to gnaw on it. ¡°I was just waiting for you to bring me some food!¡± No sooner had she spoken than Tang Xiaowei noticed Tong Ya¡¯s unusually heavy panting. Grunting so fiercely didn¡¯t seem like the aftermath of just strenuous exercise. An adult-only scenario quickly formed in Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mind. ¡°Tong Ya! You didn¡¯t actually get it done, did you? Completely conquered the kid¡¯s father?¡± Tong Ya naturally understood, ¡°You just wish I¡¯d fall into that trap! Eat your pastry!¡± Tang Xiaowei pouted, ¡°If I could eat something this delicious every day, I¡¯d have laid back long ago and let someone have their way!¡± Tong Ya rolled her eyes, ¡°By the way, my male god has taken over a shop, and he might need staff after a while. Do you want to go?¡± Tang Xiaowei put on an arrogant face, ¡°Please, I wield a paintbrush! An artist! How can I stoop to waitressing?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have fried pastries and vegetable turnovers to eat every day! And maybe they¡¯ll introduce new dishes after expanding the shop.¡± Tang Xiaowei stiffened briefly before rising up righteously after a short internal struggle. ¡°Artists need to experience life too, right? Otherwise, where would inspiration come from?¡± Tong Ya looked at her with contempt, ¡°Then just wait for my notice!¡± Tang Xiaowei stuffed a pastry into her mouth with a choke, ¡°You really have a bit of a boss lady vibe!¡± ¡­ Before three o¡¯clock, Chen Yu awoke from his sleep with a start. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was the unfamiliar bed in his new home or the sudden change in environment that made him uncomfortable. Slapping his face to wake himself up, Chen Yu quietly washed up and went downstairs. The main reason for renting this house was to provide Tuan Tuan with a peaceful place to sleep. If he woke her up, all his efforts would have been in vain. As soon as he got down to the dining cart, Chen Yu saw Tong Ya¡¯s car parked by the road. With a helpless sigh, he went over and knocked on the car window. ¡°Tell me, you¡¯re not my employee, what¡¯s the point of you rushing over so early every day?¡± Tong Ya playfully got out of the car, ¡°I¡¯m here to repay my debt; just consider me your little long-term worker!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, initially accepting the reason when Tong Ya first mentioned it. But there had to be a limit to repaying a favor, and all he did was, after all, a small effort in driving Tong Ya to the hospital. Over the past few days, Chen Yu suddenly realized that now this reason seemed to be one he was using to convince himself, allowing Tong Ya to stay by his side. ¡°You should take a good rest too, and besides, you¡¯re not working here full-time. You¡¯re a teacher!¡± Tong Ya pouted like a child. ¡°Since ancient times, isn¡¯t repaying a debt of gratitude always like this? Lady White Snake, Sea Snail Maiden, Red Fish Lady, which one didn¡¯t work from dawn to dusk tirelessly?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was filled with question marks¡ªhow could you compare real life to fairy tales? Before he could reply, the supplier for the raw materials arrived. Chen Yu hurriedly received the materials into the food truck, banging out his preparations at a rapid pace. After all, the renovation of the storefront was today, and there might be many things he needed to do. Tong Ya also put on her work gear, following Chen Yu around like a little shadow. Though these past few days had been tiring, Chen Yu¡¯s pace had unknowingly picked up. And his techniques for kneading dough and preparing fillings were firmly etched into Tong Ya¡¯s memory. As usual, after crushing the raw materials, she deftly shaped the fillings herself, her skills so professional they even matched Chen Yu¡¯s. ¡°Looks like it won¡¯t be long before you learn all the tricks I know! You¡¯re taking my job away from me!¡± Tong Ya giggled, ¡°So you should work harder and come up with some new dishes!¡± Chen Yu turned to look at the store behind him. ¡°It is about time to come up with some new dishes!¡± Working together, the two were indeed fast. After Chen Yu finished the dough, he immediately started wrapping fried cakes and vegetable turnovers. To his surprise, Tong Ya had learned this process as well. But compared to Chen Yu, Tong Ya was still slow. Chen Yu could produce five while Tong Ya could barely finish one. ¡°Wrapping clockwise is a bit faster!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t mind at all and kept instructing her. Tong Ya was eager to learn, and sure enough, her speed improved a lot. She looked at her accomplishments, feeling very pleased. By four o¡¯clock, when the crowd started coming, the two had already wrapped quite a few semi-finished products. At six-thirty, Xie Jiang also arrived with dozens of workers in front of the food truck. ¡°Old Chen! Our crew¡¯s meals will be settled here for the next few days, so you¡¯ll have to work a bit harder!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°You guys are here to renovate for me, I should be treating you to meals! Why settle any meals here?¡± ¡°No way, everything must be kept separate! No confusion.¡± Saying that, he directly paid. ¡°Boss Chen, are you switching to a bigger shop?¡± A young girl asked expectantly. Chen Yu pointed to the shop across the street, ¡°Yes, right across! Once the renovation is finished, we¡¯ll move in there!¡± With that, the queue of people at the scene erupted into chatter. ¡°With business booming like this, it¡¯s time to expand. Otherwise, we can¡¯t even get a seat to eat!¡± ¡°Make sure to let us know ahead of time when you open, so we can come support you!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got to do justice to Boss Chen¡¯s grand opening!¡± ¡­ Word spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and soon everyone coming to the food truck knew Chen Yu was expanding his business. At six-thirty, Tong Ya washed up a bit and went to the third floor to pick up Tuan Tuan from school. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly noticed a girl skulking around the food truck. She was dressed in a panda costume, completely wrapped up, and in her hands, she held a paintbrush and a sketchpad, continuously sketching something. However, Chen Yu merely glanced at her and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27 - 27: The Girl Who Paints Chapter 27 ¨C 27: The Girl Who Paints It was just after ten in the morning when the flow of people finally began to dwindle¡ªChen Yu let out a sigh of relief. However, the girl in the panda outfit from this morning was still sitting at the flower bed not far away. Chen Yu immediately became curious. The girl¡¯s appearance was on par with Tong Ya¡¯s, and she possessed a distinct quality. She didn¡¯t at all seem like someone who was there to cause trouble. After quickly tidying up the tables outside, Chen Yu packed up two stuffed pastries and four fried cakes and walked over to her. When he got there, he was taken aback to find that her drawing board featured the very scene of him selling fried cakes that morning. And the girl¡¯s brushwork was incredibly lifelike; she had captured everything in vivid detail. It looked like she¡¯d spent the whole morning observing closely! ¡°Been drawing all morning, you must be hungry by now, right?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice, quite magnetic, suddenly rang out, startling Tang Xiaowei. She would shut herself away to draw comics every day, and it was indeed a bit dull. And Tong Ya was now completely immersed in Chen Yu¡¯s world, barely paying Tang Xiaowei any attention. Every morning when she woke up, Tong Ya would already be gone. She was really curious to see what kind of man could make Tong Ya fall so hard. At the same time, she also wanted to see if hot fried cakes and stuffed pastries would taste better. ¡°Are these for me?¡± Tang Xiaowei asked, seeming a bit dazed at the moment. ¡°Is there anyone else here?¡± Chen Yu replied, somewhat annoyed. ¡°But, boss, I didn¡¯t bring any money when I came out!¡± Chen Yu tilted his head to examine the painting in Tang Xiaowei¡¯s hands. ¡°How about I give you some more fried cakes and stuffed pastries in exchange for this painting?¡± Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t hesitate as she handed over her oil painting to Chen Yu and started munching on the fried cakes and pastries he had handed her. Chen Yu frowned slightly. The girl, who seemed quite dazed, was eating like a starving wolf. He put the painting in the food cart, served a few sugar cakes and stuffed pastries on a plate along with a bottle of water, and placed them on the table in front of the cart. ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t squat there, come and sit here to eat!¡± Tang Xiaowei nodded eagerly and sat down at the table, devouring the food. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and returned to the cart to continue preparing semi-finished products. ¡°Old Chen, are the fried cakes and stuffed pastries I asked for earlier ready?¡± Xie Jiang came over with a group of workers in tow. ¡°They¡¯ve been ready for a while!¡± Chen Yu immediately grabbed a large stainless steel platter, filled it with two hundred fried cakes and one hundred stuffed pastries, and set it on an outside table. The workers, who had already tasted the delicious food that morning, couldn¡¯t wait to pounce on it. ¡°Eat slowly, there¡¯s more if it¡¯s not enough!¡± Xie Jiang, however, waved his hand, ¡°Old Chen, no need for formalities between us! You do your thing, and we¡¯ll pay together after we help ourselves!¡± Chen Yu smiled and responded before heading back to the cart. ¡°By the way, Old Chen, the construction should roughly take shape by tonight, so come over and have a look then!¡± Chen Yu extended his hand in agreement, then sat down to continue his busy work. Tang Xiaowei, witnessing this scene, suddenly felt a special kind of warmth. She had never experienced this kind of neighborly and supportive community feeling before. Now this very scene unfolded before her, suddenly stirring her emotions. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll put these drawings into the comics!¡± Muttering to herself, Tang Xiaowei proceeded to eat all the fried cakes and vegetable pastries in front of her. Afterward, she took out some drawing paper from her backpack, laid it on her drawing board, and started to sketch. Xie Jiang and the other workers, having finished their food, conscientiously cleaned up the tables and chairs. Having paid, they said goodbye to Chen Yu and left. It wasn¡¯t until two in the afternoon that Chen Yu finished turning all the remaining ingredients into semi-finished products. Only then did he stretch leisurely and step down from the food truck. But to his surprise, Tang Xiaowei hadn¡¯t left. Moreover, several oil paintings had been moved onto the table next to her. The paintings captured the very scene of him greeting Xie Jiang and the others moments ago. ¡°Little sister, are you here for some artistic inspiration?¡± Tang Xiaowei chuckled, ¡°Art comes from life! Don¡¯t worry, boss, I won¡¯t reveal your privacy; these are just practice sketches, I can give them all to you!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°No need! What¡¯ll you have? It¡¯s on me!¡± A gleam shone in Tang Xiaowei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve been drawing my food truck for so long, I should at least treat you to a meal, but I only have drinks, fried cakes, vegetable pastries¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Tang Xiaowei interrupted Chen Yu directly, ¡°Bring on more fried cakes and vegetable pastries. I¡¯ve found that these two things help me find inspiration!¡± Chen Yu, having no choice, went back to the food truck to fry some more for Tang Xiaowei. By four in the afternoon, Tong Ya had picked up Tuan Tuan and arrived at the food truck. But when she saw Tang Xiaowei nibbling on a vegetable pastry while painting, she looked completely astonished! ¡°Xiaowei, how come you¡¯re here?¡± Tang Xiaowei looked up abruptly and quickly stuffed the last bite of the vegetable pastry into her mouth. ¡°I was bored at home, so I went out for a stroll to find some inspiration!¡± But Tong Ya looked Tang Xiaowei up and down, then suddenly ran to the food truck¡¯s serving window. ¡°Chen Yu, did this kid pay for her food?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°This girl squatted in front of my food truck all morning; seems like an art student. She was drawing all this time! I gave her something to eat because I was afraid she¡¯d get hungry.¡± Upon hearing this, Tong Ya was immediately enraged, rolled up her sleeves, and moved forward to grab Tang Xiaowei¡¯s ear. ¡°This is outrageous! The fried cakes and vegetable pastries I bring you every night, all for free, and here you are, scavenging food and drink!¡± Tang Xiaowei, wincing in pain, covered her ears, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, the boss was kind and gave them to me because he took pity on me! Plus, I didn¡¯t take it for nothing, I exchanged my paintings for it!¡± ¡°Even at this point, you dare to argue! Just drawing a few sketches and you expect to trade for such tasty food!¡± Tang Xiaowei suddenly got serious, ¡°Tong Ya, you can insult me, but don¡¯t insult my work!¡± ¡°Still being so sanctimonious with me!¡± Tong Ya grabbed Tang Xiaowei¡¯s ear and dragged her to the food truck bar, ¡°Cut the nonsense, pay up now!¡± Chen Yu, witnessing this scene, was taken aback. ¡°Looks like you two know each other!¡± Realizing she might have overreacted, Tong Ya quickly let go of Tang Xiaowei¡¯s ear, crossed her hands behind her back, and posed playfully and cutely. ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s the foodie roommate I always tell you about!¡± Chen Yu gestured dismissively, ¡°Then she¡¯s family, what¡¯s there to pay for! Besides, her painting is indeed good, every detail is lifelike! Hanging them in the shop will be a feature.¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve got good taste!¡± Tang Xiaowei immediately perked up, ¡°Then I¡¯ll paint a few more!¡± Chapter 28 - Chapter 28 - 28: Painting Murals Chapter 28 ¨C 28: Painting Murals Tong Ya looked at Tang Xiaowei with annoyance. This guy was clearly here for the fried cakes and vegetable pies. However, she didn¡¯t say much else, just put on her apron and gloves, and entered the food cart. Tang Xiaowei seemed to have grasped that Tong Ya wouldn¡¯t dare to be too barbaric in front of Chen Yu. She gradually became more and more unrestrained. ¡°Boss! Then I¡¯ll draw a few more! Can you cover my dinner today as well?¡± ¡°Cover what? You still need to pay!¡± Tong Ya suddenly scolded, ¡°You really think it¡¯s falling from the sky, free for you to eat!¡± Tang Xiaowei was startled. Tong Ya indeed had to act more ladylike in front of Chen Yu. In Tong Ya¡¯s mind, she probably already considered everything belonging to Chen Yu as hers. Tang Xiaowei pursed her lips, ¡°Just now the boss said we could trade with drawings! You¡¯re not the boss¡¯s wife, why are you saying it¡¯s not okay?¡± Tong Ya stood up angrily, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I am or not! Go clean up that bench, later you will help Tuan Tuan collect money!¡± This scolding scared Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Why are you so fierce! I¡¯ll go, isn¡¯t that okay?¡± No sooner had Tang Xiaowei turned her head than she saw Tuan Tuan. She had seen him in a photo before and was almost melted by his cuteness at that time. Now that she saw him in person, Tang Xiaowei was even more excited and directly went to pick Tuan Tuan up. ¡°So you¡¯re called Tuan Tuan! I¡¯ve finally met you, sister!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face looked somewhat puzzled. ¡°Sister, do we know each other?¡± Tang Xiaowei felt a bit awkward, ¡°Well, I¡¯m a good sister of your teacher Tong Ya! Let me help you collect money.¡± Hearing that Tang Xiaowei was a friend of his teacher, Tuan Tuan nodded and, like a little adult, began to teach Tang Xiaowei hand in hand. Soon, customers had already surrounded the food cart. ¡°Hey, young boss Chen, another pretty girl has come here!¡± ¡°Being handsome is different after all, attracting all the pretty girls.¡± ¡°Girlie, do you have a boyfriend? Want me to introduce one to you?¡± ¡­ A group of uncles and aunties bombarded Tang Xiaowei with a three-question combo, leaving her flustered. ¡°Xiaowei is our waitress here, you can ask her to place an order, pay the bill!¡± Tong Ya suddenly shouted, branding Tang Xiaowei with a waitress¡¯s label. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, all the fried cakes and vegetable pies had sold out. Tang Xiaowei had never done such a thing before, and as soon as she relaxed, she slumped down there. ¡°Oh my God, just taking money and placing orders, and I¡¯m this tired. Tong Ya, how have you been managing these days?¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t respond but walked over and lifted her up with quite the air of a boss¡¯s wife. ¡°You better get up and clean the tables now, or forget about eating later!¡± Tang Xiaowei pouted and started to reluctantly wipe the tables. After cleaning up the food cart, Chen Yu also heard the system¡¯s voice in his mind. [Congratulations, Host, for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. Since costs exceed profits, no points accumulated for now, current total points are one hundred forty-seven thousand and forty.] Chen Yu was slightly stunned. Although he had guessed it would be this result yesterday, he still felt somewhat disappointed. It looked like he wouldn¡¯t see any point accumulation until tomorrow, at the earliest. After steadying his emotions, Chen Yu went ahead and called to order raw materials, as was his routine. The same raw materials as yesterday, totaling nineteen thousand one hundred yuan. Chen Yu roughly calculated today¡¯s turnover, and the savings he now had on hand reached ninety-two thousand three hundred and twenty yuan once again. Seeing this result eased some of the disappointment in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. No matter what, he could always maintain a net profit of over forty thousand per day. ¡°I¡¯ll take the battery back to charge!¡± Tong Ya gently patted Chen Yu¡¯s back. ¡°No need!¡± Chen Yu pointed to a shop next door, ¡°I have a place to charge now! In a few days, we won¡¯t need them anymore.¡± Just then, Tuan Tuan suddenly grabbed Tong Ya and Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly, let¡¯s see how the shop renovation is going!¡± Tang Xiaowei had just finished packing up her drawing board, and when she saw Chen Yu and the others walking toward the shop, she suddenly felt a sensation. ¡°They really look like a family of three!¡± Muttering to herself, she hurriedly followed them. By the end of the day, Xie Jiang and his construction crew had completely overhauled the entire shop. Using the old restaurant¡¯s layout as a base and incorporating Chen Yu¡¯s own design ideas, Xie Jiang indeed made it absolutely perfect. With this rate of progress, in at most two more days he would be able to move in. Plus, Xie Jiang used environmentally friendly materials, completely harmless. Even if there was a slight release of formaldehyde, Xie Jiang had cleaned it up during the construction. At this moment, Xie Jiang had also gathered the workers, paid them their daily wages, and then sent them home. ¡°Old Chen! How does it look?¡± Chen Yu nodded repeatedly, ¡°This has surpassed my imagination! Thank you for your hard work, Old Xie!¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too polite!¡± Xie Jiang said as he took out some certification. ¡°Here are some official proofs, in case relevant departments come for inspection in the future, they will be useful!¡± Chen Yu was surprised, he had dealt with construction teams before. Such certificates were not something many teams would provide. He had not expected that Xie Jiang would get all the documents ready on the first day of construction! ¡°Old Xie, I don¡¯t even know what to say! By the way, is the ten thousand yuan I prepaid enough? If not, you¡¯ve got to tell me.¡± Xie Jiang laughed heartily, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the transformation here; we just made some simple modifications on the original basis. All the raw materials added up to just over four thousand, and the rest is just the workers¡¯ wages and food, not really much expense!¡± Just at that moment, Tang Xiaowei suddenly screamed. ¡°This wall, it¡¯s just perfect!¡± Tong Ya frowned, ¡°Xiaowei, what¡¯s wrong with you now?¡± Tang Xiaowei pointed at the wall, ¡°I can paint a three-dimensional mural here! Just give me one day, and I promise you¡¯ll be satisfied.¡± Although Tong Ya hesitated, she didn¡¯t refuse. She knew Tang Xiaowei¡¯s drawing skills well; she had a bit of fame both in the comic and oil painting circles. And originally, she was a mural painter herself. The highest-priced mural she ever sold went for twenty thousand yuan. Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°Alright, this wall will be yours to handle then! After it¡¯s done, you name your price; I can¡¯t let you work for nothing!¡± ¡°No need to wait, I¡¯ll come with the construction crew tomorrow! I¡¯ll do my painting while they do their work. We all need to apply putty anyway, so nobody will get in the other¡¯s way!¡± ¡°And also, I don¡¯t want any payment, just give me more fried cakes and vegetable pies,¡± Tong Xiaowei said with a smile. Xie Jiang was also stunned for a moment. ¡°Old Chen, I didn¡¯t expect you had such a master around! I was wondering what to hang in this place, but now it seems, painting a mural is just perfect!¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29 - 29 Sleep Together Chapter 29 ¨C 29 Sleep Together Xie Jiang, following Chen Yu¡¯s instructions, modified some details on the blueprint. After the final decision had been made, Xie Jiang packed up the blueprint and left in a hurry. Chen Yu looked at the shop with great satisfaction, not hiding the excitement on his face. He now had a place to live and a shop. The plan to buy a house could be put on hold for now; it would be better to buy a car first. That way, if there were any emergencies, he would be able to handle them on time. Moreover, Chen Yu already had savings of over ninety thousand, so with a little more saving, he could afford a car easily. As he was planning the future, Tuan Tuan suddenly hugged Tong Ya. ¡°Miss Tong Ya, why don¡¯t you stay over tonight?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s heart fluttered with joy; this was exactly what she wanted. But Chen Yu scolded, ¡°How can that be? Miss Tong Ya isn¡¯t even married yet; how could she casually stay overnight outside?¡± Tuan Tuan pouted, clearly unhappy. ¡°We have three rooms at home! What¡¯s wrong with Miss Tong Ya sleeping in one? Or does Dad want to sleep in the same room with Miss Tong Ya?¡± Chen Yu got a bit angry: ¡°You really need spanking every three days, don¡¯t you? Who are you learning this from every day?¡± Tuan Tuan stuck out her tongue and hid behind Tong Ya. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Chen Yu. These past two days of driving back and forth have indeed worn me out; I can stay with Tuan Tuan tonight and take her to school tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Oh, hooray!¡± Tuan Tuan jumped enthusiastically and burrowed into Tong Ya¡¯s arms like a victor, casting a glance at Chen Yu. ¡°Miss Tong Ya is so enlightened; Dad is so old-fashioned!¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Tang Xiaowei was a bit confused. Tong Ya quickly tossed her the car keys. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to paint a mural tomorrow? You need to go back and get the paint!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mouth hung open, about to accuse Tong Ya of valuing romance over friendship, but she was silenced by Tong Ya¡¯s stern glance. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m going!¡± she said resentfully and turned to look at Chen Yu. ¡°Boss, can you save me some deep-fried buns and vegetable turnovers tomorrow morning?¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Of course.¡± With a confirmed answer, Tang Xiaowei drove off with a hint of grievance. Tuan Tuan clung to Tong Ya, urging her to hurry upstairs. Chen Yu lowered the shop¡¯s folding gate and locked it. Just as Chen Yu reached the third floor and was about to open the door, there was a sudden crack in his waist. Crying out in pain, Chen Yu stumbled and collapsed on the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Tong Ya ran out of the room, visibly worried. ¡°I think I just sprained my back!¡± Chen Yu said with an expression of helplessness on his face. Without overthinking, Tong Ya quickly stepped forward, grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s waist, and pressed down gently. With just one touch, the sharp pain disappeared entirely. Those cool, slightly gentle fingers were quite comforting to Chen Yu. ¡°You¡¯re just too tired; since the new shop is being renovated, why not take a day off tomorrow?¡± Chen Yu shook his head: ¡°I haven¡¯t bought the car yet, the house isn¡¯t settled, and Tuan Tuan¡¯s future is even more uncertain; how can I dare to rest?¡± Compassion filled Tong Ya¡¯s eyes, but she didn¡¯t dare to express her feelings outright. Tuan Tuan also ran out of the room at this moment. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s just one day of rest; it¡¯s okay!¡± Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Dad¡¯s fine; just need a good night¡¯s rest.¡± After massaging for a while, Tong Ya took out a bottle of medicinal liquor from her bag. ¡°Dance teachers¡¯ special medicinal liquor for twisting injuries, it¡¯s really effective!¡± After applying the medicinal liquor, Chen Yu indeed felt much more relaxed in his body. ¡°Alright, wash up and go to sleep quickly! We still have to get up early tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu stretched his limbs and went to the small bathroom to turn on the showerhead. Although the food truck also had a place to wash up, the space was too cramped, and Chen Yu had never really had a proper shower there. Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan to the larger bathroom. With Tong Ya looking after him, Chen Yu was at ease, so after showering, he went straight to his room to sleep. At two fifty in the early morning, Chen Yu woke up out of habit. Just as he was about to brush his teeth, he found that Tong Ya had already quietly brushed her teeth and even prepared his toiletries for him. Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart right away. Moreover, the toiletries he had been using before had all been replaced with new ones by Tong Ya. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t noticed when Tong Ya had bought them. Turning his head, he whispered a thank you and quickly finished washing up. He and Tong Ya tiptoed down the stairs. They had to let Tuan Tuan get a good sleep after all. At that time, the supplier delivering raw materials had also arrived punctually. Chen Yu and Tong Ya tidied up the food truck and started getting busy. After a day yesterday, Tong Ya had already mastered the essence of making fried cakes and vegetable pastries. I¡¯m not as fast as Chen Yu yet, but pretty quick now. ¡°How about that? I¡¯m not worse than you, am I?¡± Tong Ya had a proud look on her face, with anticipation in her eyes, as if she was waiting for Chen Yu to praise her. But Chen Yu just sighed softly. ¡°After all, you are a dance teacher, you shouldn¡¯t be doing this with me every day.¡± Tong Ya pouted, stretched out her hand, and made an elegant peacock dance gesture with her fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this movement is exactly like the one you make when shaping the fried cakes?¡± Chen Yu was amused and realized that no matter what he said, Tong Ya would always find a reason to argue. Today, indeed, Chen Yu had it a lot easier, with Tong Ya taking on nearly half of the work. ¡°Eh, Boss Chen, it seems a lot faster today! I didn¡¯t have to wait long before it was my turn.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know how to explain and just responded with a polite smile. Usually, the crowd that lingered in front of the food truck dispersed incredibly quickly today. By six-thirty, there were only a few people left queuing in front of the food truck. And the turnover that morning had actually been slightly higher than the previous day. At that moment Tong Ya also tidied up and went to pick up Tuan Tuan for school. By eight in the morning, Xie Jiang brought the construction team over for breakfast. ¡°Old Chen, last night I discussed it with the guys in the chat group, and we¡¯ll work extra tonight to ensure that you can open for business in your shop tomorrow.¡± The neighbors eating breakfast in front of the food truck were also genuinely happy for Chen Yu. ¡°When Boss Chen opens a new shop, you must hire a few more people so we don¡¯t have to queue up for so long.¡± ¡°A few days ago, I brought my colleagues from the office to eat your fried cakes, but they left because they found the queuing too troublesome.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu responded with smiles to everyone. During this time, he had long become close with the regulars in the vicinity. After finishing breakfast, Xie Jiang led his construction team into the shop with great enthusiasm. By ten o¡¯clock, most of the customers had dispersed, and Tang Xiaowei arrived leisurely at the food truck in Tong Ya¡¯s car. ¡°Sorry for being late. Have you kept my fried cakes and vegetable pastries?¡± Chen Yu immediately took a plate from the counter and handed it over. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30 - 30 Champion Prizes Chapter 30 ¨C 30 Champion Prizes Tang Xiaowei just couldn¡¯t help herself anymore, directly stood with her plate and began to gobble up her food. Chen Yu tidied up the dining cart¡¯s bar a bit, then took down a bottle of hot milk and passed it over. ¡°Eat slower!¡± Tang Xiaowei nodded her little head like a bobblehead and sat down next to him. ¡°By the way, I brought all my paints, and I even have my own putty! You¡¯ll see the mural tonight.¡± She said with a choked voice, hurriedly took a sip of the hot milk, and pressed it down. Chen Yu looked up at the direction of the store, but he didn¡¯t go over. He still had to knead dough and prepare fillings later, and if he wasn¡¯t careful and got dust on himself, it could get into the fried cakes and turnovers, which would be more trouble than it¡¯s worth. Tang Xiaowei might have arrived late, but she was dedicated. After finishing her food, she quickly greeted Chen Yu and then hopped happily into the shop. Chen Yu smiled and went back to continue working on the dining cart. The new store had a rather large cold storage, and in the future, he really could prepare the semi-finished products in advance and freeze them in the cold storage. At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the neighbors, as usual, slowly began to crowd in front of the dining cart. Just then, a somewhat rough-looking woman suddenly squeezed up to the dining cart¡¯s bar. ¡°Boss, give me two thousand fried cakes and a thousand turnovers!¡± This statement instantly enraged all the people waiting in line. ¡°If you buy so much at once, when will it be our turn?¡± ¡°Exactly, and you cut in line too! No manners at all.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu sized up the woman before him, immediately discerning that she was likely a middleman. Nothing more than buying fried cakes and turnovers from him and reselling them somewhere else. And he suspected that this woman was sent by the owner of the breakfast shop on the nearby street. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I only sell that quantity to regular customers!¡± The woman instantly got angry: ¡°The Consumer Rights Protection Law stipulates consumer freedom, you refusing to sell to me is against the law, you know that?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°Sorry, but I took elective law courses in college, and the Consumer Rights Protection Law also states that if one party in a transaction is forced against their will, it constitutes coercion.¡± With that statement, the surrounding customers started clapping in approval. After being outwitted, the woman felt embarrassed and didn¡¯t dare to linger, leaving resentfully. Not long after, Tong Ya hurried to the dining cart following Tuan Tuan. As soon as they got off, Tuan Tuan held a trophy and a check, running all the way up to the dining cart. ¡°Dad, the awards from the Youth Center have been announced, I won some prize money!¡± The customers around cast envious glances. ¡°Oh my, look at that, now that¡¯s someone else¡¯s kid.¡± ¡°At such a young age, able to win big prizes and get prize money, compared to my children, they¡¯re simply useless.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so jealous, I can¡¯t take it, when I get back, I¡¯m definitely going to give my naughty kid a beating to get my anger out.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was also happy for Tuan Tuan: ¡°My daughter is just awesome!¡± Tong Ya also came over with a smile on her face: ¡°Because of Tuan Tuan, the school received a sum of money approved by the relevant departments, so her tuition and dance class fees are all waived, and she even received an additional scholarship.¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya took out a red envelope from her pocket. From the thickness of the envelope, Chen Yu knew it was ten thousand yuan. He hadn¡¯t expected Tuan Tuan, so young, could bring income to the family, which added a layer of comfort to his heart. But now was the peak time for customers to flock in, and Chen Yu really couldn¡¯t afford to idle around. Tong Ya very considerately took Tuan Tuan back to the third floor of the store. Before long, the two came over in matching parent-child outfits to help Chen Yu. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, just after the last customer had left, a light rain began to patter down from the sky. He hurriedly called for Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to return to the shop first, then he meticulously cleaned up the food cart before following them, running into the shop. [Congratulations Host for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. The net profit accumulated over two consecutive days is ten thousand and four yuan, earning ten thousand four hundred points. Your current total points accumulated are one hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred and forty.] Seeing the points starting to accumulate again, Chen Yu was secretly thrilled. At the same time, he also roughly calculated in his mind. Including the ten thousand yuan for Xie Jiang, his total savings on hand was now one hundred twenty-three thousand and twenty yuan. If he counted the twenty thousand yuan that Tuan Tuan had brought back today, he could actually afford a fairly decent car. However, Chen Yu didn¡¯t plan to use Tuan Tuan¡¯s money. Since the money was earned by Tuan Tuan, it should be saved for Tuan Tuan. As Chen Yu was making calculations in his mind, he checked the food cart again. Then he hastily ran back to the shop. At this moment, the shop had been completely refreshed, and they could start normal business once everything was in place. Xie Jiang was leading the construction crew in the final touches and some detail adjustments. Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mural had also received its final strokes. Just then, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ¡°Little Boss Chen, the weather forecast says this rain will continue for several days, and there will be heavy storms over the next two days. Do you think you could take advantage of the lighter rain now to have some more supplies delivered?¡± ¡°Of course, send me enough for four days!¡± Chen Yu requesting four days¡¯ worth of food supplies was based on his own calculations. The store¡¯s freezers and refrigerators were all ready to use, so there was no problem with having more supplies. However, he had to ensure the freshness of the food. Even with freezers, he didn¡¯t want to keep the supplies for more than four days. After the owner agreed, Chen Yu then called several other food suppliers and ordered four days¡¯ worth of supplies from each of them. By now, Chen Yu no longer needed to buy bottled mineral water. A direct drinking water system had been installed during the previous renovation of the restaurant. Xie Jiang also had a specialist enhance and upgrade the entire system. In less than half an hour, all the suppliers had followed one after another to deliver their supplies. ¡°Luckily the rain is still light today, Boss Chen, your ordering is so timely. If it were tomorrow morning with a downpour, we couldn¡¯t have made it over!¡± Chen Yu thanked them repeatedly and then transferred the payment. With a large order, the suppliers also gave Chen Yu a discount. The cost for four days of supplies came to just seventy-five thousand yuan. It looks like I won¡¯t be able to accumulate any interest tomorrow either. And the balance on his phone was left with only forty-eight thousand and twenty yuan. Xie Jiang, meanwhile, with the construction crew, conveniently stored all the supplies in the coolers. ¡°Old Chen, everything is taken care of for you! Plus, of the ten thousand you gave me earlier, I still have one thousand three hundred left. I¡¯ll transfer it to you right now!¡± Chen Yu hastily intervened, ¡°Old Xie, I wanted to ask you, for tables, chairs, benches, kitchenware, and the like, do you have any connections?¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31 - 31: New Kitchenware Chapter 31 ¨C 31: New Kitchenware Xie Jiang couldn¡¯t help but be stunned for a moment. Although the store¡¯s renovation was complete, they had yet to settle on the kitchen equipment. He really couldn¡¯t expect Chen Yu to dismantle the equipment from his food cart and use it in the store. Xie Jiang smacked his head. ¡°Look at me, forgetting about this. I¡¯m afraid the tables and chairs won¡¯t be ready until tomorrow, but I have a complete set of kitchen utensils that can be installed right now!¡± Without hesitation, Xie Jiang called over a few workers and moved an entire set of kitchen equipment from his store. All kinds of pots, pans, ladles, kitchen knives, and stainless steel tables and chairs specifically for kitchen use were there in their entirety. There was even a stainless steel insulated barrel for cooking porridge. Whether Chen Yu could use them now or not, Xie Jiang brought them all over. ¡°Chen, I brought one of each of my available kitchen utensils. See what you need.¡± Chen Yu rubbed his hands together. He currently only had two main offerings: fried cakes and vegetable turnovers. But in the future, the system would undoubtedly provide more skills, and these kitchen utensils would surely come in handy one day. ¡°Xie, I¡¯ll take them all. Name your price!¡± Xie Jiang hesitated for a moment. ¡°Chen, it looks like you¡¯re really planning to expand.¡± As he spoke, Xie Jiang started tapping on his calculator. ¡°The whole set for the kitchen comes to eight thousand yuan! You can have it for six thousand seven hundred yuan.¡± Chen Yu examined the kitchenware. Not only was it complete, but the quality was also excellent. Eight thousand yuan was definitely a bargain. ¡°Xie, did you undercharge me again?¡± ¡°We¡¯re neighbors, after all, looking out for each other! These kitchen utensils don¡¯t actually cost much. All things considered, I¡¯ve already made a thousand yuan in profit. Besides, I made quite a bit from the renovation as well!¡± One had to say that Xie Jiang was indeed honest, telling Chen Yu everything outright. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t the type to fuss either, and he paid the six thousand seven hundred yuan on the spot. ¡°Then I¡¯ll count on you for the tables and chairs tomorrow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! I¡¯ll be off then.¡± Saying this, Xie Jiang called for the workers, and they all donned their raincoats and scattered. Chen Yu stretched his limbs and began arranging the kitchen utensils in their places. Tong Ya was ready to step forward and help when Tang Xiaowei, leaning against him, seemed on the verge of collapsing. Painting murals was an extremely energy and labor-intensive task. Especially since Tang Xiaowei had finished it all in one day, she was now utterly exhausted. Upon seeing this, Chen Yu quickly went over to support Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take her home first?¡± Tong Ya really wanted to stay behind like she did the day before. New n????vel chapters are published on Novgo.c¦Ò?. Although there was nothing romantic between her and Chen Yu, the warmth of feeling like family had already become addictive to her. But with Tang Xiaowei in such a state, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°Alright, then, I¡¯ll be off. You should get some sleep early after you¡¯re done!¡± After expressing his concern warmly, Tong Ya helped Tang Xiaowei towards the exit. Just as they reached the doorway, she suddenly turned back. ¡°Oh, and say goodnight to Tuan Tuan for me.¡± Chen Yu wore a smile on his face. ¡°Of course.¡± Around ten o¡¯clock at night, Chen Yu finally got the kitchen sorted out. Pleased with his work, he closed the folding door, ready to go upstairs to sleep. But as he passed by the mural, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Indeed, the painting was a work of deep artistry, not only exquisitely done but also vivid and lifelike. Suddenly, Chen Yu took out his phone and transferred ten thousand yuan to Tong Ya. ¡°Xiaowei worked hard today, this is her labor fee. Please pass it on to her.¡± Tong Ya and Tang Xiaowei had long since returned home, and Tang Xiaowei had already taken a nap and woken up refreshed. When Tong Ya saw the message, she was stunned for a moment, but she did not respond to the question. ¡°Are you done with your work?¡± Chen Yu immediately responded, ¡°Done, getting ready to sleep.¡± Tong Ya, ¡°Tired or not?¡± Chen Yu, ¡°Not too bad, how about you?¡± Tong Ya, ¡°If you¡¯re doing okay, of course I¡¯m not tired.¡± Chen Yu, ¡°Still, you should go to sleep early.¡± Tong Ya, ¡°Okay, good night.¡± Chen Yu, ¡°Good night.¡± The short conversation left Tong Ya with a girlish sensation. Her cheeks blushing, she sat on the bed for quite a while before transferring the money to Tang Xiaowei. Suddenly, a sharp scream came from the living room, followed by Tang Xiaowei bursting into Tong Ya¡¯s room. ¡°Tong Ya, what¡¯s this about? Did you strike it rich? You sent me a red packet of ten thousand in one go.¡± ¡°It¡¯s from my Chen Yu, your salary. He said you shouldn¡¯t have to work so hard for nothing!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s tone carried a hint of pride, implying, see how considerate my man is. ¡°Aiyo, you don¡¯t even avoid mentioning him in front of me now, ¡®my Chen Yu.¡¯ Would you dare to say it like that in front of him?¡± Tong Ya, indignant and embarrassed, ¡°Stop it, or I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart.¡± Just as Tong Ya stood up, a tearing pain suddenly shot through her lower abdomen. Only then did she remember that today was the first day of her menstrual cycle. On the first day of her period, she always felt unbearable pain, sometimes accompanied by a high fever. Seeing her like this, Tang Xiaowei immediately understood what was happening. ¡°Look at you, so caught up with your male god that you forgot about yourself!¡± As she spoke, Tang Xiaowei hurriedly prepared a cup of brown sugar water for Tong Ya and also gave her a thermometer. It had been raining outside that day, and the temperature had plummeted as a result. Giving the extra strain Tong Ya had been under lately, a fever was inevitable. Indeed, Tong Ya¡¯s temperature had reached 37.2 degrees. ¡°Oh dear, that escalated quickly,¡± Tang Xiaowei exclaimed. ¡°Shall I call in sick for you tomorrow?¡± ¡°No!¡± Tong Ya stubbornly refused. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the first day of his new store¡¯s opening, I need to help out, and the child needs me.¡± ¡°Oh my, my lady, the child isn¡¯t even yours, why are you so invested? Moreover, you¡¯re the one in poor shape right now.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes were resolute, and she simply wouldn¡¯t listen to reason. ¡°How about this, take some medicine first. If you¡¯re fine tomorrow, we¡¯ll talk then, but if the fever doesn¡¯t subside, you¡¯d better stay home obediently!¡± A hint of grievance appeared in Tong Ya¡¯s eyes. She had grown accustomed to her days with Chen Yu. The thought of being suddenly disconnected for an entire day was distressing for her. At 3 a.m. the next day, Chen Yu woke up from his dreams out of habit. He washed up quietly and tiptoed downstairs. He took a wooden sign that was left from yesterday and wrote on it with marker, ¡°Shop relocated to the opposite side.¡± Then, holding an umbrella, he hung the sign on the food cart and also switched on the festoon lights on the cart. After completing these tasks, Chen Yu moved the tables and stools from inside the cart to the shop. Although these were just foldable and small tables and stools, they were better than nothing. It certainly beat leaving his spacious shop bare with nothing at all. Heating the oil, kneading the dough, preparing the filling, Chen Yu worked fluidly and diligently. Soon, however, he felt an emptiness in his heart, as if something were missing. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32 - 32 Substitute Shopping on a Rainy Day Chapter 32 ¨C 32 Substitute Shopping on a Rainy Day ¡°Tong Ya!¡± Chen Yu almost subconsciously called out Tong Ya¡¯s name softly. But the next moment, he shook his head. In fact, he knew in his heart that after spending the past few days together, he seemed to have become inseparable from Tong Ya. And he admitted that he had developed some subtle feelings for Tong Ya. Still, he forcefully suppressed these thoughts to the bottom of his heart. Only because he was clear that he was divorced and had a child. And Tong Ya was too perfect; Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to disrupt her life. Besides, Tong Ya had her own things to deal with and couldn¡¯t possibly come to help in his shop every day! Chen Yu kept brainwashing himself with these reasons. But the more he thought about it, the more frustrated and disordered his mind became, even slowing down the work in his hands. Before long, Chen Yu suddenly stood up. ¡°She couldn¡¯t have run into some trouble, could she?¡± Talking to himself, Chen Yu almost instinctively picked up his phone and sent a message. ¡°Are you awake?¡± After sending the message, Chen Yu regretted it. The question seemed as if he was questioning why she hadn¡¯t come to help. But it was too late; the message couldn¡¯t be taken back. ¡°Are you thinking about me?¡± The sudden reply made Chen Yu freeze for a moment. As he was pondering what to reply, another message from Tong Ya came through. ¡°I have a fever, and I feel terrible. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to take Tuan Tuan to school today.¡± ¡°How could this be? You were fine last night.¡± ¡°I got my period.¡± Tong Ya seemed to do it on purpose, not avoiding the topic in her messages. However, Chen Yu sighed with relief, glad that Tong Ya was just sick. ¡°Then you should rest well.¡± Tong Ya: ¡°But I feel awful. I want to eat your fried cakes and vegetable turnovers.¡± Chen Yu: ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll bring them over at noon when I get a chance.¡± Tong Ya: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, then set his phone aside and continued to busy himself. The rain outside was getting heavier, and by four-thirty, no customers had shown up. Chen Yu took the opportunity to make some extra semi-finished products. Before long, two elderly women hurried into the shop with their umbrellas. ¡°Chen Yu, you really moved so suddenly.¡± ¡°This place is indeed spacious.¡± Chen Yu quickly got up, ¡°Sorry, aunties, I haven¡¯t bought chairs and tables yet.¡± ¡°Hey, no worries. We¡¯re used to these kinds of small stools.¡± The two elderly women rubbed their hands together, set their umbrellas aside, and then took out several large and sturdy food bags from their bodies. ¡°Chen Yu, it¡¯s raining and cold, and the ground is slippery. Many neighbors have trouble walking and can¡¯t come out, so they asked us to buy for them.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just made an okay gesture and began to make fried cakes and vegetable dumplings. Both women were regular customers, and many neighbors had been brought in by them. They would definitely not make secret purchases without Chen Yu¡¯s knowledge. As the two elderly women kept receiving messages and sorting orders, a considerable sum came up¡ªthree thousand fried cakes and a thousand vegetable turnovers. ¡°Aunties, there¡¯s so much. You might not be able to take it all back. Should I help you take it back later?¡± The two elderly women waved their hands. ¡°No need, we both came on mobility scooters.¡± Chen Yu looked out through the window and saw that indeed, each of the elderly women had arrived on a small, older-model mobility scooter. Until six in the morning, there weren¡¯t many customers in the shop at all. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t have a moment to himself. Those who came today were mostly running errands for the neighborhood. Even the nearby internet cafe had sent a few representatives over. Just then, Tuan Tuan came downstairs with a backpack, looking somewhat annoyed. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve become naughty. It¡¯s been several days in a row that you haven¡¯t woken me up! You let me sleep so late every day, like a lazy pig.¡± Chen Yu helplessly replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just to let you get a bit more rest?¡± Pouting, Tuan Tuan stomped into the kitchen. However, when she saw how busy Chen Yu was, she immediately felt puzzled. ¡°Daddy, there are no customers in the shop. What are you preparing all this for?¡± ¡°These have all been reserved! People will come to pick them up in a few minutes.¡± Tuan Tuan nodded her little head and, no longer sulking, quickly began to help Chen Yu with the packing. ¡°By the way, why didn¡¯t Teacher Tong Ya come today?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sick!¡± Chen Yu responded instinctively. ¡°What? Teacher is sick? I want to go see her.¡± Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°How about Daddy goes to see Teacher Tong Ya at noon, okay?¡± Tuan Tuan immediately became excited, ¡°Then you must bring flowers, red wine, and candles.¡± Chen Yu had his head full of black lines, ¡°What on earth do you think about every day, you little girl?¡± ¡°Obviously about a stepmother! Teacher Tong Ya is so perfect! And now that she is sick, it¡¯s the perfect opportunity for Daddy to propose. Don¡¯t you want to be with Teacher Tong Ya?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body shook violently. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to, it was that he didn¡¯t dare to think about it! The barrier in his heart¡ªhe simply couldn¡¯t get over it. ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in adults¡¯ affairs. Right now, our main goal is to make money.¡± Tuan Tuan involuntarily pouted, ¡°Humph, Daddy is such a blockhead!¡± At that moment, four youths with dark circles under their eyes rushed into the shop, holding umbrellas. ¡°Boss, is it ready?¡± ¡°Just in time!¡± Chen Yu quickly handed over the packed fried cakes and vegetable pies. At 6:45, taking advantage of the break when there were no customers, Chen Yu took Tuan Tuan by the hand and walked her to school. But unexpectedly, right at the school gate, the little girl turned around and ran back. ¡°Remember, you must go see Teacher Tong Ya!¡± Tuan Tuan, having issued her reminder, ran back to school again. Chen Yu let out a light sigh, feeling somewhat conflicted inside. When he returned to the shop, there were a few people waiting at the door. ¡°Young Boss Chen is back!¡± ¡°I thought it was raining, and Young Boss Chen had closed up for the day.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu kept apologizing, ¡°I just went to drop my child off.¡± By nine in the morning, Chen Yu finally had some leisure time. The entire morning was mostly about running errands, and the sales even turned out to be a bit more than usual. Without taking a break, Chen Yu continued as usual, preparing the semi-finished products. By eleven, Chen Yu specially made fifty fried cakes and thirty vegetable pies, then closed the shop door, hailed a taxi from the entrance, and headed straight to Tong Ya¡¯s residential district. The location Tong Ya had sent was clear, and before long, Chen Yu arrived at Lucky District, directly finding Building 13, Room 405. The one who came to open the door was Tang Xiaowei; she wasn¡¯t surprised to see Chen Yu. However, her gaze was fixed on the fried cakes and vegetable pies in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. Tong Ya, hearing the noise, also hurried over. Perhaps because of her illness, Tong Ya looked somewhat frail. But the loose clothing she wore at home added a few touches of cuteness to her. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33 - 33: Confession Forget It Chapter 33 ¨C 33: Confession Forget It Seeing Chen Yu, Tong Ya¡¯s complexion instantly improved a lot. ¡°How was business today?¡± Tong Ya asked with concern right away. After all, it had started pouring rain from early morning, and it showed no signs of stopping even now. ¡°It¡¯s been the same as usual, though everyone was placing orders for delivery.¡± Chen Yu said with a smile on his face, taking out a household medical kit from his person. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared these medicines myself, I¡¯m not sure what caused your fever, so I¡¯ve brought them all over.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks were already slightly red from the fever, but now they turned even redder, as if she was bleeding. She quickly took the medical kit, turning around to hide her bashfulness. The medicines equipped in this kit were all mild and suitable for women. And the mixture ratios were meticulously selected. They must have been previously prepared by Chen Yu for Fang Yuan. Tong Ya didn¡¯t mind but silently marveled in her heart, wondering why such a good man was not cherished by anyone. ¡°This medicine should do it!¡± Chen Yu, upon inspection, immediately understood that Tong Ya¡¯s fever was caused by menstrual discomfort. He didn¡¯t ask further, just pushed away the fried rice cakes and vegetable turnovers that Tang Xiaowei had handed him. ¡°You can¡¯t eat these anymore, I¡¯ll go buy you some porridge.¡± Tong Ya, however, reached for a vegetable turnover regardless. ¡°The porridge outside isn¡¯t as delicious as your fried rice cakes and turnovers!¡± Chen Yu felt helpless and was about to ask something more when his phone started ringing. At this moment, Tong Ya¡¯s eyes were also looking dazed. In her heart, she had been wrestling with herself, feeling that Chen Yu¡¯s long trip to see her meant he must have her in his heart. Why not just confess then! Having made up her mind, Tong Ya swallowed all the medicine she had just taken out. Just as she was about to speak, Chen Yu put down his phone somewhat anxiously. ¡°Old Xie has arranged the tables and chairs for me, and they¡¯re about to be delivered to the shop, so I need to go back first. I¡¯ll come back to see you after I close the shop this evening.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you, since I took the day off already, and I can be of help.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Chen Yu became a bit flustered, ¡°With you being sick like this, you need to rest properly!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now!¡± Tong Ya immediately spun around, ¡°After taking your medicine, I¡¯m feeling much better, and in the past when this happened, just going out for some fresh air would make me feel okay.¡± Chen Yu hesitated, as there had always been a voice in his heart wanting Tong Ya by his side. But Tong Ya¡¯s condition truly worried him. ¡°I can vouch,¡± Tang Xiaowei suddenly raised her hand, ¡°Just take her out for some fresh air, and she¡¯ll be as lively and bouncy as a rabbit.¡± Tong Ya immediately made an expression of sisterly solidarity to Tang Xiaowei, then hurried back to her room to change clothes. In the end, Chen Yu agreed and took Tong Ya down to the underground garage with him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t let Tong Ya drive; instead, he made her sit in the passenger seat. On the way, Chen Yu drove very slowly, keeping the ride as smooth as possible. Tong Ya could also sense Chen Yu¡¯s special care for her, which made her heart flutter. Before long, she rolled her eyes slightly and then pretended to be tired, leaning sideways towards Chen Yu. However, there was a bit of a gap between the driver¡¯s and passenger¡¯s seats. As Tong Ya leaned over, she ended up lying straight across Chen Yu¡¯s thighs. Chen Yu frowned slightly but seeing Tong Ya sleeping soundly, he didn¡¯t call out to wake her. He just slightly shifted Tong Ya¡¯s body to ensure that she wouldn¡¯t bump into the handbrake or gearshift. The rain was still pouring heavily when Chen Yu returned to the store and saw Xie Jiang and a few workers standing at the doorway smoking. A large truck was parked at the entrance, covered with a thick moisture-proof tarp. Tong Ya was pretending to be asleep but knowing that they had reached their destination, she pretended to wake up and reluctantly got off Chen Yu. ¡°You stay in the car, I¡¯ll grab an umbrella and come get you!¡± After giving the instruction, Chen Yu got out of the car. Xie Jiang hurriedly greeted him, ¡°Lao Chen, I¡¯ve brought everything over, all brand-new. You should check the goods first. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I¡¯ll help you exchange them.¡± As he spoke, Xie Jiang directly lifted a corner of the moisture-proof cloth. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes lit up, as all these tables were made of solid wood with alloy frames, absolutely sturdy and durable, and moreover, stylish and beautiful. ¡°Of course I¡¯m satisfied! I¡¯ll take them, help me move them inside.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xie Jiang responded and immediately directed the workers to unload. Chen Yu hurried back to the store, grabbed an umbrella, picked up Tong Ya from the car, and took her straight back to the third floor. Before long, Xie Jiang and the workers neatly arranged the tables and chairs throughout the first and second floor¡¯s halls. ¡°Lao Xie, it¡¯s pouring so hard and not many customers are coming. Actually, the tables and chairs could have been delivered a few days later, it¡¯s no problem.¡± Xie Jiang patted his chest, ¡°A promise made is a promise kept, I had to get it done for you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he just took out his phone, ready to make the payment. Xie Jiang, too, quickly presented the bill. Their relationship had grown close, and the formalities of the past were no longer necessary. Xie Jiang hardly made any profit from these tables and chairs. For nearly a hundred sets of exquisite tables, Xie Jiang only took away eight thousand yuan. These tables would sell for at least two hundred yuan a set in the home furnishing market. Chen Yu certainly got himself a great deal. ¡°Well, Lao Chen, then I¡¯m off. I wish you great success on your opening!¡± ¡°Joy to you too, joy to you too!¡± After exchanging congratulations, Xie Jiang left with the workers. At that moment, Tong Ya came downstairs, wrapped in Chen Yu¡¯s overcoat and wearing his cotton slippers, her face flushed with shyness. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold, I borrowed your coat to wear, you wouldn¡¯t mind, would you?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly and quickly poured a cup of warm water for Tong Ya. ¡°Rest for a bit, I need to hurry and prepare the semi-finished products for the afternoon.¡± Tong Ya curiously surveyed the hall. ¡°With such heavy rain, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t sell as much as usual. Take some rest too, don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± Chen Yu was quite touched in his heart, ¡°Don¡¯t think the rain matters, the neighbors are all buying on behalf of others. This morning¡¯s turnover was actually higher than usual, and it will definitely be more in the afternoon.¡± Tong Ya sat in the hall, resting her chin in her hands, watching Chen Yu for a long time. The more she watched, the more she found the man in front of her irresistibly charming. Unconsciously, saliva actually dribbled from the corner of Tong Ya¡¯s mouth. She quickly wiped it away, and suddenly noticed that the newly delivered tables seemed dirty. She hurriedly got some hot water, found a few rags, and began to wipe down the tables. Xie Jiang and his team had already renovated the entire store¡¯s gas and water pipes during the construction. Together with the earlier water purification system, all the faucets in the store, including the third floor, could freely switch between hot and cold water. As she wiped the tables, Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but feel excited for no reason. Wiping the tables, she hummed a tune and from time to time even took a dance step or two. This caught Chen Yu, who was busy preparing semi-finished products in the kitchen, completely off guard. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34 - 34: Sales Increase by Fifty Percent Chapter 34 ¨C 34: Sales Increase by Fifty Percent It was 4:50 in the afternoon, and there were still no customers. Tong Ya had leisurely wiped down all the tables and chairs, arranging them neatly and orderly. Chen Yu was busier than ever. Returning at 12:00 noon, he had been making semi-finished products non-stop until now, feeling half of his body grow numb. He made a rough count and, in five hours, had produced a total of twelve thousand fried cakes and six thousand vegetable pastry semi-finished products. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t worried about whether these could be sold or not since he now had a cold storage facility. Even if they didn¡¯t sell out today, they could be stored in the freezer. After storing these semi-finished products, Chen Yu stretched his back and stepped out of the kitchen. ¡°Tong Ya, I¡¯m going to pick up Tuan Tuan. Don¡¯t wander around,¡± he said. Chen Yu suddenly spoke to Tong Ya as if he was dealing with a little kid. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you to come back,¡± Tong Ya replied playfully. Chen Yu drove Tong Ya¡¯s car straight to the school. By this time, kindergarten teachers were standing at the entrance with umbrellas, sending out children one by one. When Chen Yu arrived, one of the teachers busily called out Tuan Tuan¡¯s name. Tuan Tuan, excited, rushed out and dove into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°Daddy, how come you¡¯re picking me up in Teacher Tong Ya¡¯s car? Is Teacher Tong Ya here?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s at the store right now,¡± Chen Yu tapped Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. Now this little girl¡¯s head was filled with thoughts of Tong Ya. ¡°Hooray, I¡¯m going back to see Teacher Tong Ya!¡± Tuan Tuan cheered and climbed straight into the car. Chen Yu fastened Tuan Tuan¡¯s seatbelt and started the car, soon returning to the store. By this time, several elderly men and women were already sitting in the hall. Tong Ya was kindly serving them hot water. ¡°This rain is so weird; it¡¯s been pouring all day nonstop!¡± ¡°Tell me about it, I was so bored being cooped up at home.¡± They usually came out at this time to dance in the square, but it looked like dancing was out of the question today. Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s return, the elderly customers quickly gathered around. ¡°Young Chen, we calculated on the way here we would need about five thousand fried cakes and three thousand vegetable pastries. Do you think you can manage?¡± These elderly customers came from different communities and seemed to have made their plans on their way there. ¡°Yes, I can manage. I already have the ready-made semi-finished products; just need to fry them up,¡± replied Chen Yu. The elders quickly took out their prepared lists so they could separate the orders for packing. ¡°I knew it, businessman Chen is meticulous in his work, he wouldn¡¯t take a break even on a rainy day.¡± ¡°With the grand opening of his new store, how could businessman Chen afford to slack off?¡± ¡°My grandson will throw a tantrum if he doesn¡¯t get to eat his fried cakes and vegetable pastries every day.¡± ¡­ While the elders were praising Chen Yu, their gaze suddenly fell on Tong Ya. Before, they thought Tong Ya was just there to help out, which they barely believed, but now, with the heavy rain and her still in the store, they couldn¡¯t help but be suspicious. ¡°Businessman Chen, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve already made this girl your girlfriend?¡± Chen Yu became flustered, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± ¡°Aunties, you¡¯re mistaken; it¡¯s just that the rain is heavy, and I¡¯m sick, so he¡¯s just temporarily taking me in,¡± Tong Ya quickly explained, then put on gloves and an apron to join Chen Yu in packing. However, those uncles and aunties kept whispering among themselves, roughly saying that Chen Yu and Xiao Ya made a good match. By 6:30 PM, Chen Yu had all the fried cakes and vegetable pastries that the uncles and aunties had ordered packed up. Now, with four large deep-fryers working simultaneously, in just an hour and a half he had fried up a quantity of eight thousand. This was almost equivalent to a big half of the usual afternoon¡¯s shipments. In the past, this would have been unthinkable with his small food cart. Just after the uncles and aunties had left, Zhang Fan entered the shop from next door, coming up the steps. ¡°Old Chen, I¡¯ve got your food cart deal sorted. They only need to make a few modifications, and they¡¯ve already transferred the money to me,¡± Zhang Fan said. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Chen Yu was instantly excited. He no longer needed that food cart, so being able to sell it was definitely an income. Zhang Fan didn¡¯t say much and took out his phone. ¡°Although the food cart is second-hand, it was converted from an RV after all. It¡¯s worth a market price of 150,000,¡± Zhang Fan said. While saying this, Zhang Fan transferred 150,000 to Chen Yu. Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the other party needs to make modifications? Why did you give me all of it?¡± Zhang Fan patted Chen Yu on the shoulder, ¡°The total they transferred was 180,000. I¡¯ve already kept 30,000 for materials and the cost of modifications, which is enough.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, ¡°Then thank you very much.¡± Zhang Fan waved his hand, ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just business! By the way, do you still have your stuff in that food cart? If not, I can haul it away right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already moved everything to here; you go ahead and take it.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Zhang Fan rubbed his hands together and called a few workers from the shop. They hauled the food cart and the trailer into the car shop together. Seeing the extra 150,000 in his phone balance, Chen Yu decided to buy a car the next day. In weather like this with heavy rain, it¡¯s really inconvenient to get things done without a car. ¡°Boss, do you have fried cakes for sale today?¡± Six somewhat clean-looking young men, holding umbrellas, arrived at the shop. Chen Yu recognized at a glance that these six young men were the internet cafe youths who often came to buy fried cakes and vegetable pastries. Compared to before, they looked much healthier. ¡°Yes, how many do you need?¡± Chen Yu quickly went back to the kitchen. ¡°Three thousand fried cakes and a thousand vegetable pastries, is that enough?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s enough!¡± Chen Yu called them to take a seat, ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Before long, several more people arrived at the shop one after another. Apart from those who bought a few items on their way to or from work, the rest were all bulk purchases. In the end, the half-finished products Chen Yu had made during the day were not enough, so he had to make more. It wasn¡¯t until 10 PM that Chen Yu finished the last big order. Just as he was about to sit down and rest, the system chimed in with a notification. [System notification, automatic settlement of the day¡¯s revenue at 10 PM.] [Today¡¯s net profit is 12,300 yuan, earning 12,300 points, currently accumulating a total of 169,740 points.] Chen Yu was surprised for a moment. Yesterday, he had spent 75,000 yuan just on raw materials, not to mention tables, chairs, benches, and the whole set of kitchenware, and yet he still managed to profit today. However, upon careful consideration, Chen Yu felt relieved. Before this, he would usually stop doing business by 8 PM due to depletion of raw materials. But today he had been open until 10 PM, without even a break to rest in between. Moreover, the raw materials used today were much more than usual, with sales alone reaching over 100,000. After making some quick calculations, Chen Yu realized that his current savings amounted to 285,320 yuan. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35 - 35 Recruiting Waitstaff Chapter 35 ¨C 35 Recruiting Waitstaff Chen Yu closed his eyes, barely able to contain the surprise and excitement in his heart. Although his body was now beyond its limit and he didn¡¯t know when he would fall asleep, the feeling of fulfillment gave him an unprecedented sense of refreshment. However, his body still started to sway uncontrollably. Tong Ya hurried forward to support him, ¡°Are you alright? Go and rest for a bit, you¡¯ve been tired all day.¡± Chen Yu, however, waved his hand, ¡°The raw materials in the cold storage might only last until the day after tomorrow. We need to find a way to get more.¡± Tong Ya had no choice but to agree verbally while helping Chen Yu up the stairs. The next morning when Chen Yu opened his eyes, he found it was already five o¡¯clock. He was startled for a moment and hurriedly jumped out of bed. The lobby on the first floor was already filling up with people. Tuan Tuan and Tang Xiaowei were moving among the customers in an orderly manner. The rich aroma of fried cakes and vegetable turnovers had long filled the shop. Only then did Chen Yu notice that Tong Ya, with her head covered in sweat, was struggling to make fried cakes and turnovers in the kitchen. Her body was naturally frail, and it was uncertain whether she had recovered from her illness the day before. What¡¯s more, her speed making fried cakes and turnovers was indeed too slow, and customers had become impatient and started to urge her on. ¡°Boss Chen is down!¡± Someone shouted, and all the customers looked over in unison. ¡°No wonder this girl comes every day. It turns out she¡¯s a disciple trained by Boss Chen.¡± ¡°The fried cakes and turnovers she makes taste the same as Boss Chen¡¯s, but the speed is too slow.¡± ¡°Boss Chen, are you feeling better? If not, go back and rest. We¡¯ll come again tomorrow.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu immediately understood that Tong Ya wanted him to rest a bit more. He had also called Tang Xiaowei over to act as help. Without hesitation, Chen Yu rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen. When he saw the delicate figure of Tong Ya drenched in sweat, he felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart. He unconsciously took a tissue to wipe her sweat and moved a chair for her to sit at the side. ¡°It¡¯s okay, leave the rest to me!¡± Tong Ya smiled sweetly and obediently sat down, taking a sip of warm water. Perhaps because he was well-rested, Chen Yu felt a surge of inexhaustible energy throughout his body. As the speed increased, the customers¡¯ wait time began to shorten. Yesterday, Xie Jiang had brought over a set of tables and chairs that came with an ordering system. The customers only needed to scan the QR code on the tables to place their orders directly. Both the bar and the kitchen had printers, which better consolidated all the information. This was much more convenient and faster than the handwritten tickets that Tuan Tuan used to make. Chen Yu, looking at the tickets coming out from the side, felt a few more pangs of satisfaction. While he was sleeping, Tong Ya had assigned numbers to all the tables on the first and second floors. They just needed to plate the fried cakes and turnovers according to the order quantities, slip in the tickets, and people outside could get their orders based on the ticket numbers. This model indeed sped up the operation. However, the number of people visiting the shop today seemed to be more than usual; not only were the first and second floors full, but there were also people coming in and lining up outside. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but think, it looks like we need to hire some waiters. At six forty-five, Tong Ya took off her apron and went to school with Tuan Tuan. Tang Xiaowei was swamped. It wasn¡¯t until ten in the morning that the stream of customers began to die down. Tang Xiaowei was so exhausted she was panting heavily, sitting there and gulping for air. ¡°Oh my God, I feel like I¡¯m falling apart! Why does it seem like the flow of people is more than double since we switched from the food truck to the new store?¡± Chen Yu felt the same way. At this rate, he would have to call and order another batch of raw materials tonight. Moreover, the plan to buy a car that had been set for today would probably have to be put on hold. He had to hurry and get the semi-finished products for the afternoon ready. ¡°Xiaowei, help me write a sign to put outside, saying we¡¯re hiring wait staff and kitchen help.¡± Tang Xiaowei agreed and quickly wrote a sign, placing it at the entrance. If things kept going like this, Tong Ya would only call her over day after day to work for free. Chen Yu¡¯s hands moved incredibly fast, working non-stop from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon. Tang Xiaowei also took advantage of this lull to rest for a while. Just then, a few young girls who often bought fried cakes and vegetable dumplings from Chen Yu timidly walked in. ¡°Boss, are you hiring here?¡± Looking up, Chen Yu saw the same four factory girls from before. ¡°Of course we¡¯re hiring!¡± Chen Yu put down his work and hurried out. ¡°I remember you were working at the factory. You left your jobs there?¡± The four girls looked at each other embarrassedly. One of them plucked up the courage to step forward. ¡°We were deceived by a crooked agency. They promised us a monthly wage of five thousand, but after deductions, we only received twelve hundred. And one of my friends here even ended up owing the factory two thousand yuan.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly. These girls clearly came from the countryside and had just reached adulthood. However, judging by their regular visits to Chen Yu¡¯s place to eat, they were definitely the hard-working, enduring type. ¡°These crooked agencies are despicable!¡± Chen Yu complained, and then gestured for the four girls to sit down. ¡°Then stay and try it out. However, the working hours here might be a bit long. Can you handle that?¡± ¡°Yes! The boss is handsome, makes great fried cakes, and must have a good heart. We just don¡¯t know if all four of us can stay.¡± ¡°Of course you can,¡± Chen Yu replied. ¡°But to start, the wage might not be high. I can only promise you three thousand a month for now, with the possibility of an increase based on your performance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± The four girls immediately perked up with excitement. But soon, their faces turned sorrowful. ¡°Boss, we were wondering if you provide accommodations? The factory kicked us out of the dormitory.¡± Chen Yu cocked his head to one side, noticing the four girls were carrying quite a lot of bags. ¡°We do, just rest here for now.¡± Tang Xiaowei, who was quite friendly, brought over a kettle of hot water for the four girls. She had to figure out a way to keep these four girls, so she wouldn¡¯t have to bear the burden anymore. Chen Yu immediately called Auntie Li. ¡°Hello, Auntie Li. Do you have any larger houses for rent? I want to use them as employee housing.¡± ¡°There are some single apartments that are vacant near that small community behind your store. I¡¯ll be right over.¡± Before long, Auntie Li arrived at the store in a whirl, driving a scooter for the elderly. Meanwhile, Tong Ya also entered the store, bouncing in with Tuan Tuan in tow. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36 - 36 Arranging Accommodation Chapter 36 ¨C 36 Arranging Accommodation ¡°Chen Yu, your shop is doing better and better, now you¡¯re even hiring workers, unlike those wastrels in my family who only know how to spend money.¡± As soon as she entered, Auntie Li showered Chen Yu with praise. Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed by the compliments. He quickly pointed to four girls standing nearby. ¡°These four young ladies will be staying for now, how many rooms do you think would be appropriate to rent?¡± Auntie Li looked over the four timid girls. ¡°A bunk bed in one room will be enough for them.¡± After considering for a moment, Chen Yu said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll rent two rooms, I might hire more people in the future.¡± Auntie Li waved her hand, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that when the time comes.¡± One of the young girls timidly stepped forward, ¡°Excuse me, boss, we have two other sisters who went for a cleaning job interview on the next street, can they come and stay as well?¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the young girl bashfully tapped her own head. Chen Yu was lucky enough to take in these four. Now they were pushing their luck, wanting to bring two more. Anyone would get angry. But after some thought, Chen Yu surprisingly agreed. ¡°Then quickly bring them over, I¡¯ll arrange the dormitory for you right now.¡± The four girls burst into cheers. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re the best, we¡¯ll definitely work hard in the future.¡± In the midst of their talking, the seniors dancing in the square had already arrived at the shop. Chen Yu was at a loss, not sure whether to arrange the dormitory for the girls first or to make fried cakes. ¡°I¡¯ll go arrange the dormitory for them!¡± Tong Ya naturally saw Chen Yu¡¯s dilemma and quickly stood up to help. Chen Yu had no choice but to agree. ¡°Auntie Li, how much is the rent? Just text me the amount, I¡¯ll transfer it directly to you.¡± ¡°Okay, got it!¡± Chen Yu was actually afraid that Tong Ya would end up fronting the rent money herself. By five o¡¯clock, the shop was already overflowing with people. Chen Yu was truly feeling overwhelmed. In this area, Auntie Li was a well-known landlord. She owned countless properties, not to mention that half of the shops at the entrance of the neighborhood were hers. At this moment, the other two girls had also been called over. Tong Ya led them, following Auntie Li, to building number three. This building had been constructed as single apartments, targeting single occupants. The rooms averaged from sixty to eighty square meters each. Auntie Li checked the room numbers written on her hand for a while and found two rooms facing each other. ¡°3301 and 3330, these are the two!¡± When the doors opened, all six girls were momentarily stunned. ¡°Oh my, there are private bathrooms.¡± ¡°And the balcony is so big.¡± ¡°This is so much better than the factory dormitories.¡± Tong Ya was also stunned for a moment; these two rooms were top-notch even within the single apartments. And with two double beds, four people living in one room was more than spacious. After the six girls put down their luggage and changed their clothes, Tong Ya led them back to the shop. At this point, Chen Yu was already swamped with work, while Tang Xiaowei and Tuan Tuan were struggling to keep up. After the expansion of the store, business had definitely improved, but it had also become busier. Tong Ya didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly assigned work to the six young girls. Essentially, she divided the areas among them to manage. Tong Ya habitually entered the kitchen, offering Chen Yu a helping hand. ¡°Here are the personal details of those six girls!¡± Tong Ya pulled out a list and laid it in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Oh right! I¡¯ve ordered four wooden bunk beds from Master Xie Jiang. He¡¯ll deliver them tonight.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to have already taken care of everything. There was no denying that those six girls were truly hardworking and reliable. With their addition, Chen Yu instantly felt much more relieved. Now, he only needed to focus on making fried cakes and dumpling corners; he didn¡¯t need to worry about anything else. It wasn¡¯t long before Aunt Li sent a message. ¡°Two rooms total three thousand, including water but not electricity.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; the complex behind was considered high-end, and renting a studio apartment alone would cost nearly two thousand. Aunt Li had clearly given him a discount. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate and directly transferred six months¡¯ rent, eighteen thousand yuan. By nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Xie Jiang had delivered the custom-made wooden beds and some matching bedding to the apartment dormitory. ¡°Miss Tong, everything is taken care of. Here¡¯s the key to the apartment, I¡¯m returning it to you.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t move but gently nudged Chen Yu instead. Chen Yu had been a bit busy earlier, so she had stepped in to take over. Now that Chen Yu was here, there was nothing for her to do. After all, she wasn¡¯t the real boss¡¯s wife yet. Chen Yu hurried out of the kitchen. ¡°Old Xie, your efficiency is as fast as ever!¡± Xie Jiang chuckled, ¡°Can¡¯t neglect my own people, can I?¡± With that, Xie Jiang handed the bill to Chen Yu. Chen Yu glanced at the total amount at the bottom of the bill and directly transferred two thousand yuan. ¡°Oh, right, Old Xie, here are the fried cakes and dumpling corners I kept for you. You can take them now.¡± Xie Jiang rubbed his hands together, ¡°Old Chen, my whole family loves eating these! But now that your store has expanded, you should really come up with some new items!¡± Chen Yu nodded. Even the tastiest food would become tiresome if eaten too much. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce some new ones once things stabilize in the next couple of days.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother you anymore, you¡¯re busy.¡± Xie Jiang waved and hurried off. At ten o¡¯clock at night, there were still a few scattered customers in the store. They were probably residents from the nearby complex. [Today¡¯s net profit is sixty-eight thousand two hundred yuan, earning sixty-eight thousand two hundred points. The current total accumulated points are two hundred thirty-five thousand nine hundred forty points.] Chen Yu was initially stunned, then remembered that today¡¯s turnover was all pure profit. However, the system had accounted for the rent and the cost of the wooden beds as expenses. Moreover, Chen Yu¡¯s current savings had reached three hundred fifty-five thousand three hundred twenty yuan. Chen Yu closed his eyes, trying his best to calm his excited emotions. He decided then and there that he wouldn¡¯t purchase raw materials tomorrow; instead, he would take some time to buy a car. The shop behind came with a parking spot, and it was about time he bought a car, lest the spot remained unused. ¡°You must have earned a lot today, right?¡± Tong Ya asked softly. Chen Yu opened his eyes, ¡°Back when I had the food cart, the net profit had already stabilized at around ten thousand a day. These past two days, it¡¯s been close to sixty thousand.¡± ¡°Hearing that, I¡¯m tempted to come work for you,¡± Tong Ya joked. Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°That won¡¯t do. You¡¯re a fine dance teacher. What would you be doing working for me?¡± Tong Ya giggled, ¡°Oh, by the way, didn¡¯t you mention wanting to buy a car? One of my colleagues, their family sells cars. Maybe they can give you a discount.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll limit the supply tomorrow and take some time to buy the car.¡± With plans in mind, Chen Yu slowly began to tidy up the kitchen. Now, unlike with the food cart, cleaning up was actually a bit of a hassle. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37 - 37 Stress Reduction Chapter 37 ¨C 37 Stress Reduction As the crowds dispersed, six young girls began to clean meticulously. They worked with remarkable dedication, which even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but admire. They were also incredibly efficient with their hands and feet. Before Chen Yu had finished tidying up the kitchen, they had already cleaned up both floors of the dining hall spotlessly. They even wiped down the windowsills. The last table of customers on the first floor felt somewhat embarrassed as they realized the surroundings had been cleaned so thoroughly. ¡°Boss, your new waitresses are really good. The place is cleaned up as if no business had been conducted today.¡± Realizing that their metaphor might not be quite appropriate, the table of customers decided to take the remaining fried cakes and corner pastries home with them. Tuan Tuan was sitting obediently in the main hall, doing her homework. After the six girls finished cleaning, they looked over at Tuan Tuan from a distance. ¡°The boss is handsome, and his daughter is beautiful too.¡± ¡°That must be the boss¡¯s wife working with him in the kitchen, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense; the boss is divorced. That one, they say she¡¯s the boss¡¯s college classmate.¡± ¡°So, they¡¯re not together then?¡± As they whispered among themselves, Chen Yu came out with a list in hand. ¡°Chu Hong, Li Yu, Zhang Qian, Su Qing, Zhao Meng, Han Cai! Did I get anyone¡¯s name wrong?¡± ¡°No!¡± the six girls answered in unison. ¡°Good. These first few days since the store opened, I will be arranging your specific duties step by step. For now, just familiarize yourselves with the environment.¡± ¡°All right, boss.¡± Chen Yu looked at the girls before him with satisfaction. ¡°As for the employee meal¡­¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Chu Hong raised her hand. ¡°We can just have the leftover fried cakes and corner pastries.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we used to eat here a lot when we were working elsewhere, and we couldn¡¯t fit anything else in,¡± Su Qing chimed in. Chen Yu shook his head. ¡°That won¡¯t do, the employee meal needs to be more formal.¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s just be casual since it¡¯s the first day!¡± Tong Ya walked over with a bag and distributed ten fried cakes and two corner pastries to each of the six girls. ¡°Take this as your dinner for today. When you leave, each of you can also take a drink of your choice.¡± The six girls immediately lit up with joy, but they didn¡¯t know how to address Tong Ya. Calling her ¡°boss¡± wasn¡¯t quite right, and calling her ¡°boss¡¯s wife¡± wasn¡¯t appropriate either. After exchanging glances, they all exclaimed, ¡°Long live sister!¡± Tong Ya smiled with satisfaction at their cleverness. ¡°Okay, go to sleep early. We start work at four in the morning tomorrow, but there will be a lunch break at noon.¡± The six girls had no objections; they were used to working twelve hours a day at the factory, sometimes even more. And the work they did there was far more exhausting than here. After giving their instructions, the six girls happily left work. Tang Xiaowei, who had been waiting, quickly stood up and grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s arm. ¡°We should head back too.¡± Tong Ya was reluctant to leave but could not withstand Tang Xiaowei¡¯s tugging. After greeting Chen Yu and Tuan Tuan, she left with Tang Xiaowei. Chen Yu also closed the folding door and carried Tuan Tuan upstairs to the third floor. Perhaps due to having slept for an extended period earlier, Chen Yu had already woken up at two thirty. After he had washed up and came downstairs to open the folding door, he found Tong Ya already standing at the entrance. Last night, Tong Ya had left after ten, and now, not even three o¡¯clock, she was already there. ¡°You¡¯re not fully recovered yet; why didn¡¯t you rest more?¡± Chen Yu was a bit annoyed. Tong Ya giggled, ¡°I¡¯ve been having a bit of insomnia, my neighbor was renovating in the middle of the night and it was super noisy, so I came over to sleep at your place for a while.¡± Without waiting for Chen Yu¡¯s consent, Tong Ya dashed up to the third floor and lay down on Chen Yu¡¯s bed. Chen Yu let out a soft sigh and went into the kitchen to start working. Tong Ya wasn¡¯t really there to sleep. She spread Chen Yu¡¯s quilt over herself and took a deep breath. After lying there for about half an hour, Tong Ya got up and tidied the bed. By this time, Chen Yu had already mixed two large buckets of dough and was letting them ferment. He was using a large meat grinder to prepare the filling. Previously, when he was at the food cart, he had used a small domestic meat grinder. Each time, he could only grind a small clump of raw material. Now it was different; a large piece of pork thrown into it was turned into minced pork in no time. ¡°I¡¯m here to help!¡± Tong Ya was already dressed in an apron and had put on gloves, ready to enter the kitchen. Chen Yu jumped in surprise, ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to take a nap? You came down so soon.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I felt like the sleep quality on your bed was just so good, half an hour was enough to fill me up.¡± Chen Yu, having no choice, moved a chair over for Tong Ya. At three-thirty in the morning, six girls were laughing and chatting as they entered the store. ¡°Wow, the boss is up earlier than us and already hard at work.¡± Chu Hong exclaimed in surprise and then leaned on the kitchen window. Chen Yu was also taken aback, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to start work at four? Why are you here so early?¡± Zhang Qian pouted, ¡°We¡¯re used to coming in early for work at the factory.¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°There are no such rules here, and besides, the dormitory I provided for you is not far from the shop. It¡¯s only a five-to-six-minute walk.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that!¡± Han Cai quickly stepped forward, ¡°You¡¯ve been kind enough to take us in, we can¡¯t let you down.¡± ¡°Alright then, Chu Hong, Li Yu, Zhang Qian, Su Qing, you four come to the kitchen. Zhao Meng, Han Cai, you two arrange the tables and chairs.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the six girls uniformly responded and started to get busy with their tasks. Chu Hong and Li Yu were responsible for preparing the filling with two large meat grinders. Zhang Qian and Su Qing were following Tong Ya, learning how to make vegetable turnovers and fried cakes. The essence of fried cakes and vegetable turnovers actually lies in the dough mixing, the proportion of filling, and the amount of seasoning. The remaining steps are not only tedious but also not that important. Now that Chen Yu had manpower at his disposal, it would be foolish not to use it. During the renovation, Chen Yu had expanded the kitchen and added a smaller kitchen on the second floor. Now the kitchen on the first floor was very spacious, and with six people bustling about, there was more than enough room. Indeed, many hands make light work. By four-thirty in the morning, all the raw materials in the cold storage had been turned into fillings. Chen Yu had also mixed up a total of five large iron buckets of dough. There were also quite a few semi-finished products accumulating. When the flow of customers picked up, Chen Yu no longer felt as much pressure as before. At six forty-five, Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan to school. ¡°Tong Ya, you really treasure this child, personally doing school drop-offs and pick-ups every day.¡± Li Juan, like Tong Ya, was running a dance class. She was one of the few friends Tong Ya had at the kindergarten. ¡°Of course I treasure her!¡± Tong Ya said dotingly, ruffling Tuan Tuan¡¯s head, ¡°Our kindergarten¡¯s dance class blossomed because of this kid.¡± As Tong Ya spoke, her face was full of pride, as if Tuan Tuan was her own daughter. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38 - 38: Buying a Car Chapter 38 ¨C 38: Buying a Car ¡°` Li Juan also rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face, Who wouldn¡¯t love such a cute and charming little girl? ¡°By the way, Tong Ya, didn¡¯t you say you have a friend who wants to buy a car? There¡¯s an event at the dealership this afternoon, you should go check it out if you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± After some small talk, Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan to the classroom. Suzhou City Film and Television City. Fang Yuan was hanging from wires, filming a fight scene. Lately, the quality of the projects she¡¯d been getting was inexplicably getting worse. The roles she landed were complicated, exhausting, and didn¡¯t pay well. ¡°Cut! Actors, take a break.¡± At the director¡¯s command, the entire crew breathed a sigh of relief. Fang Yuan headed to the rest area as well, grabbed a bottle of water, and gulped it down. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t care less about her image; she was just too thirsty. ¡°Yuan Sister, you must be exhausted?¡± The assistant hurried over to massage her shoulders and legs. Just then, a few actors huddled around a tablet couldn¡¯t stop squealing. ¡°Wow, this little girl is so cute.¡± ¡°She dances so well, even better than us professionals.¡± ¡°I really want to hug this little girl and squeeze her.¡± ¡­ Fang Yuan craned her neck and caught a glimpse of the tablet¡¯s screen. She suddenly got excited, ran over, and snatched the tablet. The supporting actors didn¡¯t dare to get angry at Fang Yuan. One of the actors rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Yuan Sister, cute, isn¡¯t she?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s eyes went wide; the little girl on the screen was Tuan Tuan. Her graceful dance moves already showed a unique charm. With the right training, her future held no limits. But Fang Yuan felt a knot tightening in her heart. She so wanted to tell everyone that the dancing girl was her daughter. But her public persona was that of a single woman, without a history of marriage, let alone a child. Hastily composing herself, Fang Yuan returned the tablet. ¡°Make the most of the break; we have more action scenes to shoot this afternoon.¡± She said awkwardly before going back to her seat to rest. At that moment, her agent handed her a phone. ¡°It¡¯s Han Sister calling!¡± Fang Yuan quickly took the phone: ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°My dear daughter, how have you been lately?¡± Fang Yuan hesitated for a moment: ¡°Pretty good!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Just eat and drink well, don¡¯t mistreat yourself, your mom will work hard to maintain your image!¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s tone was somewhat downcast. ¡°Daughter, you¡¯re not still hung up on that good-for-nothing Chen Yu, are you? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a big star now, with a better life ahead of you.¡± ¡°I know!¡± She replied perfunctorily and handed the phone back to her agent. Fang Yuan¡¯s mother, Han Mintao, had been in the entertainment industry in her early years and later established an agency. Fang Yuan never intended to enter show business, but was unexpectedly discovered by a talent scout during a variety show. When Han Mintao heard the news, she immediately signed Fang Yuan to her company. Backed by a massive influx of resources, Fang Yuan quickly rose to fame. After hanging up, the agent handed Fang Yuan a notification for her next job. ¡°Han Sister said to cancel all other engagements after this drama and focus on building a variety show image.¡± Fang Yuan propped her head with one hand: ¡°You handle it.¡± ¡­ By noon, all the ingredients were made into semi-finished products. One has to admit, these six girls are truly worth their salt. ¡°` They only spent the morning following Tong Ya and learning how to wrap, and they grasped the technique in no time. After practicing for a few hours, their speed almost caught up with Chen Yu. Perhaps in a little while, these six young ladies would be able to independently run the shop. Once they finished, the six girls went back to sleep. Chen Yu also stretched his waist, he hadn¡¯t felt this relaxed in a long time. By four in the afternoon, the shop no longer needed Chen Yu at all. With the oil temperature and frying time set, Chu Hong and Li Yu were fully capable of making fried cakes and vegetable dumplings. Zhang Qian, Su Qing, Zhao Meng, and Han Cai were responsible for delivering orders and packaging. Everything was well organized. Chen Yu suddenly realized that as long as he mixed the dough and prepared the fillings, there was no need for him to do the rest himself. This way, not only could he ensure the taste of the final product, but he could also relax a bit. At five in the afternoon, Tong Ya came back to the shop with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Wow, Daddy, why are you outside today?¡± More than one person had asked him this question today. Chen Yu was a bit tired of explaining. ¡°Because the six new sisters are amazing!¡± ¡°Then you can rest more from now on!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face was also full of joy. Chen Yu got up and stretched his muscles. ¡°This is a good time to go buy the car.¡± Tong Ya quickly took out a discount coupon from her person. ¡°This is from my colleague; I think the cars are at a ten percent discount today.¡± After giving some instructions to the six girls, Chen Yu went to the car dealership with Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya. As soon as they arrived at the dealership, Li Juan greeted them warmly. ¡°You¡¯re Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad?¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Ah, so handsome, no wonder Tuan Tuan is also so pretty,¡± she exclaimed. Tong Ya laughed, ¡°Alright, Li Juan, let¡¯s take a look at the cars.¡± Li Juan quickly led Chen Yu to the electric vehicle section nearby. Chen Yu had previously mentioned that it was not cost-effective for him to buy a fuel car at the moment, and that a new energy vehicle would be better. Such cars generally have a grand appearance and don¡¯t embarrass one on the road. Plus, when in a hurry to the market to buy items, one doesn¡¯t need to worry about dirtying the car. After looking around, Chen Yu took a liking to a car model with a character shape. After the test drive, he immediately signed the contract. After the discount, the car only cost one hundred and thirty thousand, and that included insurance and various other fees. It was only on the way back that Tong Ya felt a bit of regret. If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have driven her own car over; that way, she could have experienced Chen Yu¡¯s new car on the way back. Six o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Chen Yu and Tong Ya returned to the shop to find no more customers inside. The whole shop was tidied up and clean. The six girls were lined up, sitting in the hall looking at their cellphones. Seeing Chen Yu return, they quickly got up. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve sold all the fried cakes and vegetable dumplings, so we cleaned up the shop a bit. Also, we didn¡¯t know how to handle the used oil,¡± said Chu Yu, reporting to Chen Yu like a little supervisor. ¡°There¡¯s a filtering and cleaning system for that, I can teach you how to use it later,¡± he replied. Saying this, Chen Yu immediately called the raw materials supplier. This time, he directly ordered one hundred and fifty thousand worth of raw materials. ¡°When the raw materials arrive, I¡¯ll take everyone out for a meal, consider it our first team-building exercise.¡± The six young ladies immediately became excited; coming from the countryside straight to the factory, they had never had a group meal before, let alone knew what team building meant. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39 - 39: Finally Confessing Chapter 39 ¨C 39: Finally Confessing Chen Yu brought the six girls to the kitchen and personally demonstrated the automatic filtration system to them. This system was much more user-friendly than the one on the dining cart, and simpler to operate. In just a few minutes, it filtered out all the grease and residue from the frying pan. When the clean oil flowed back, Chen Yu disassembled the removable parts and cleaned them. After washing and reassembling the parts, the system¡¯s notification rang in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. ¡°Congratulations, Host, for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is fifty-nine thousand eight hundred and forty Yuan, earning fifty-nine thousand eight hundred and forty points, accumulating a total of two hundred and ninety-five thousand seven hundred and eighty points.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he could use the high-level draw three times in a row. Moreover, after buying the vehicle and paying for the raw materials, he still had seventy-three thousand five hundred and twenty Yuan on hand. Chen Yu immediately transferred seventy thousand Yuan into his current account. It was also time to start thinking about saving up to buy a house. Just after depositing the money through mobile banking, the delivery man for the raw materials arrived at the doorstep. This time, most of the deliverers came in small trucks. Chen Yu, ordering so much all at once, was already considered a super VIP customer. All the suppliers delivered a bit extra on top of the original order. The six girls were quick and helped the deliverers carry the raw materials into the cold storage room. Chen Yu roughly calculated that one hundred and fifty thousand Yuan worth of raw materials should last eight days based on the dining cart¡¯s previous turnover. But according to the business turnover of the past two days, it might only be enough for five days. After sending off the delivery man, Chen Yu closed the folding doors and headed to the hotpot restaurant on the next street. ¡°What would everyone like to eat? Order whatever you want, I¡¯m treating today.¡± The six girls were a bit shy, and since it was their first gathering, everyone seemed a bit reserved. Tong Ya gave a light cough, ¡°Then I¡¯ll start.¡± She thoughtfully asked everyone about their dietary restrictions and ordered dishes based on each person¡¯s preferences. And with Tong Ya¡¯s adjustments, the atmosphere at the dining table soon became lively. The six girls gradually opened up, chatting about this and that. After the meal, their relationship with Chen Yu had grown much closer. The initial reserve was gone. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, the six girls went back to the residential area together. Chen Yu, carrying Tuan Tuan, accompanied by Tong Ya, returned to the shop. Tuan Tuan was weary after the day¡¯s events and soon fell asleep in Chen Yu¡¯s arms. After carefully settling Tuan Tuan on the third floor, Chen Yu went downstairs, ready to take Tong Ya home. But just as they reached the doorstep, Tong Ya suddenly stopped, her face flushing to the extreme. ¡°Can I not go?¡± Chen Yu paused for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s not very late today, plus, I can drive you home.¡± This reply was somewhat obtuse, as if deliberately avoiding something. ¡°What I mean is, not just today, can I live here from now on?¡± Chen Yu of course understood what she meant; in fact, ever since Tong Ya had started coming over day and night to help him, he had begun to suspect. And Tong Ya had always been hinting at him, but all her hints were deftly dodged by him. ¡°You¡¯re a single teacher, staying here doesn¡¯t look good. Rumors could spread and it would affect you negatively.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s breathing quickened, her gaze becoming more determined. ¡°I like you, I want to be with you!¡± Finally, she had said it! More than once, she had wanted to confess her feelings to Chen Yu, but each time Chen Yu had skillfully avoided her attempts. ¡°` Chen Yu had a perfect opportunity to see her that day, but it slipped by nonetheless. She didn¡¯t want to wait any longer! Now that the shop had hired more staff, the business was gradually getting on track. She feared she would no longer have the excuse of helping out to stay by Chen Yu¡¯s side. Chen Yu froze for a moment; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to declare her affection for him so bluntly. ¡°Stop joking around.¡± Chen Yu tried to avoid the issue, but Tong Ya suddenly drew closer, her onyx-like eyes fixating on him. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Starting from now, can I be your girlfriend?¡± ¡°No!¡± Chen Yu closed his eyes, trying not to meet Tong Ya¡¯s gaze. ¡°Why?¡± Tong Ya took another step forward, her slightly heated breath brushing Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯re not suitable for each other.¡± Chen Yu stepped back to dodge. ¡°You and I are both single; what¡¯s not suitable about that?¡± Tong Ya was a bit confrontational. ¡°It¡¯s not about being single or not.¡± ¡°Then what is it? Do you still want to get back with your ex-wife?¡± ¡°No!¡± Chen Yu suddenly became somewhat distracted: ¡°It has nothing to do with her.¡± ¡°Then you have someone else you like?¡± Tong Ya was suddenly worried. ¡°No!¡± Chen Yu sighed softly: ¡°The reasons are complex; I can¡¯t explain them all to you.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not complex for me. Just tell me what the problem is; I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s anything in this world that can¡¯t be solved.¡± Chen Yu, helpless: ¡°You¡¯ve seen it yourself, I¡¯m a single father.¡± ¡°So what? Moreover, you¡¯ve noticed, Tuan Tuan wants me to be her mother.¡± ¡°But what about your family? What would they think?¡± Chen Yu, after all, was nearly thirty and thought things through very rationally. He admitted that after spending time together, he had indeed developed a fondness for Tong Ya. And he faintly felt that Tong Ya had become a part of his life. But marriage is not child¡¯s play; there were too many aspects to consider. Even if Tong Ya was sincere about being with him, there were still her family members to think about. Who would want their child to marry a divorced man with a kid? Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for anyone; right now, all he wanted to do was focus on making money. Tong Ya exhaled a turbid breath. ¡°The day I started college, my mother passed away. But my father didn¡¯t care at all, his mind was solely on his business.¡± At this point, Tong Ya paused. Actually, that day she wasn¡¯t truly suffering from a heatstroke; she had taken pills. Her mother¡¯s death and her father¡¯s indifference had left her utterly disappointed with the world. But unexpectedly, it was Chen Yu who came along and took her to the hospital. Chen Yu gave her a second chance at life and a reason to keep living. So, in Tong Ya¡¯s heart, Chen Yu was everything. Tong Ya slightly steadied her emotions: ¡°Two years ago, I ran away from home with Xiao Wei, with no plans to go back, so you don¡¯t have to worry about my family at all.¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to be so resolute, but he still couldn¡¯t get past that hurdle in his heart. ¡°But my family might not agree.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to get them to agree!¡± Tong Ya wouldn¡¯t give up: ¡°Whatever they don¡¯t like about me, I¡¯ll change it, until they do.¡± Chen Yu suddenly stood there, stunned, silently looking at Tong Ya. ¡°` Chapter 40 - Chapter 40 - 40 No Refusal Chapter 40 ¨C 40 No Refusal Just when Chen Yu was trying to think of another reason to refuse, Tong Ya suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°After all that talk, you still haven¡¯t said it¡¯s because you don¡¯t like me. You have feelings for me too, don¡¯t you?¡± Chen Yu took a deep breath and answered very truthfully, ¡°Yes! But with your qualifications, you could find someone better.¡± ¡°You are the best!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s arms slowly tightened: ¡°No one could be better than you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak again, nor did he push Tong Ya away from his embrace. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry so much!¡± Tong Ya looked up at Chen Yu: ¡°I will help you resolve all your concerns, just as long as you don¡¯t reject the kindness I have for you, okay?¡± Actually, Tong Ya didn¡¯t necessarily need Chen Yu to accept her right then and there. As long as Chen Yu didn¡¯t refuse, she would consider it a success. She could then be openly nice to Chen Yu in the future, even spoil him, without having to avoid their relationship in public anymore. Chen Yu was silent for a long time: ¡°Then you should at least bring over your personal belongings.¡± A glimmer of excitement shone in Tong Ya¡¯s eyes. Although Chen Yu hadn¡¯t explicitly agreed, he hadn¡¯t refused either. And he had even agreed to let her stay here. ¡°Okay! Then you can¡¯t go back on your word. I¡¯ll go get my things now and be back in an hour. Wait for me.¡± Having said that, Tong Ya turned and left the house. But the girl played a little trick as she left¡ªshe took Chen Yu¡¯s car. Chen Yu was still in a daze at that moment. Having such a sincere woman in this world who cared for him, what more could he ask for? After adjusting his emotions, Chen Yu went straight into the kitchen and started kneading dough. As soon as Tong Ya got back, she began to pack up, which gave Tang Xiaowei a fright. ¡°What are you doing? Moving out?¡± Tong Ya was busy stuffing clothes and daily necessities into her bags. ¡°Yeah, from now on, you¡¯ll be living here alone.¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mouth hung open: ¡°Where are you going? You¡¯re not going home, are you? We had agreed to stick together¡­¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m going home?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face was filled with joy: ¡°I¡¯m moving in with my future boyfriend.¡± Tang Xiaowei was stunned for a moment: ¡°Future boyfriend? Did he agree to be with you?¡± Tong Ya hesitated for a bit: ¡°Sort of!¡± While speaking, Tong Ya had already finished packing, a handbag, and a backpack ready to go. ¡°And remember to visit the shop sometimes.¡± Tang Xiaowei couldn¡¯t believe how quickly things had developed between Tong Ya and Chen Yu. But she didn¡¯t say much; Chen Yu¡¯s character had truly impressed her over time. Not only was he diligent and hard-working, but his fried cakes and turnovers were made so well that she also felt the urge to offer them to him for free. ¡°Humph, out of sight, out of mind! Don¡¯t forget to bring me some goodies when you have time.¡± Tong Ya nodded, then suddenly put down the backpack she was holding and stepped forward to hug Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Xiaowei, if you feel lonely living by yourself, I can rent you an apartment behind the shop, and you can move in too.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Tang Xiaowei patted Tong Ya on the shoulder: ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll see you out.¡± ¡­ When Tong Ya returned to the shop, Chen Yu was still busy there. In just that little while, Chen Yu had already kneaded two large buckets of dough. Tong Ya didn¡¯t disturb him, treading lightly as she went up to the third floor. She didn¡¯t directly place her personal belongings in Chen Yu¡¯s room, but instead tidied up another room. Tong Ya was clear in her heart; Chen Yu allowing her to move in was already his biggest concession. The two of them were not yet at the stage of sleeping together. Tong Ya was also consciously maintaining this tacit understanding. Just as Tong Ya was about to go down to help, Chen Yu had already come up to the third floor. He was actually a bit worried that Tong Ya would move directly into his room. ¡°How come you¡¯re up here? Are you done with your work?¡± Tong Ya asked, somewhat puzzled. Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s very late, let¡¯s go to sleep.¡± ¡°You should go to sleep early too.¡± After responding, Tong Ya went back to her own room. At half-past three in the morning, when Chen Yu opened the store, six young girls had just arrived. With the experience from the first day, they didn¡¯t need much direction from Chen Yu and got busy on their own. Chen Yu found that he only needed to make the dough and sprinkle seasoning into the filling for the vegetable pockets, and he didn¡¯t need to do anything else. When Tong Ya came downstairs, she simply sat there, joining in to wrap fried cakes and vegetable pockets. ¡°Hey, Sister Tong, did you sleep here last night?¡± Chu Hong suddenly asked. ¡°Yeah!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t avoid the question. The six young girls were taken aback simultaneously, their eyes gleaming with the light of gossip. However, they didn¡¯t ask any more questions, and Chu Hong felt she had been a bit too nosy. Tong Ya just smiled, ¡°From now on, I will be living here, so I can help everyone in the morning.¡± With that explanation, the six young girls understood. Without explicitly stating her relationship with Chen Yu, Tong Ya played it smart. And there was nothing Chen Yu could do about it. A bit after four in the morning, customers started to trickle in. Usually, those who came at this time were internet-addicted teens from the neighborhood. But lately, it seemed that these internet-addicted teens weren¡¯t as interested in internet cafes. By four or five in the morning, they would come in groups to Chen Yu¡¯s place to eat. Today, Chen Yu also made specific work arrangements. Chu Hong was in charge of frying, Li Yu managed the counter, and Zhang Qian served as a full-time waitress in the lobby. Su Qing, the fastest at making semi-finished fried cakes and vegetable pockets, stayed in the kitchen exclusively to prepare them. Han Cai and Zhao Meng acted as floaters, helping out in the lobby when it was too busy, and returning to the kitchen when needed. This arrangement greatly improved work efficiency. By six in the morning, semi-finished products were piled up like a mountain, adequately covering the needs for the day. And the whole shop operated smoothly and orderly. Chen Yu immediately decided to store all these semi-finished products in the cold storage. Then he took out flour and raw materials and started working on them again. At forty-five minutes past six, Tong Ya took off her gloves and went upstairs. Tuan Tuan was already up, but she was a little surprised to see the extra personal items in the bathroom. ¡°Miss Tong, did you bring your personal items over?¡± Tong Ya rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Yeah, from now on, I¡¯ll be living with Tuan Tuan.¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s mouth opened wide: ¡°Did Dad agree to you living here?¡± ¡°What? Do you not want me to?¡± ¡°Of course, I want it!¡± Tuan Tuan excitedly grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand. ¡°Does that mean you and Dad are together?¡± ¡°Sort of!¡± Tong Ya blushed a little. ¡°I confessed to your dad.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Excitement was written all over Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face. Tong Ya pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little cheek, ¡°So do you agree for the teacher to be your mom from now on?¡± Without a second thought, Tuan Tuan threw herself into Tong Ya¡¯s arms. ¡°Mom!¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41 - 41 Preparing Staff Meals Chapter 41 ¨C 41 Preparing Staff Meals The affectionate and excited shouts made Tong Ya¡¯s heart tremble involuntarily. She didn¡¯t know how long she had been looking forward to that ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit early to be changing how you address me!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face fell slightly, ¡°Your dad has only agreed to let me stay here; he hasn¡¯t accepted my confession yet.¡± ¡°Humph, Dad is so wooden! Miss Tong Ya is so nice, why won¡¯t he accept you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± Tong Ya finished adjusting Tuan Tuan¡¯s backpack, ¡°Your dad just has a lot to consider. Besides, we¡¯re already living together, so I can chase after him all the time now.¡± Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands and blinked his big eyes, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Tong Ya pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little nose, ¡°Of course I do! But, Miss Tong Ya barging into your life like this, can you accept it?¡± She still cared a lot about Tuan Tuan¡¯s opinion; though he was young, he had his own thoughts. ¡°As long as you are nice to Dad, it¡¯s alright. Plus, I like Miss Tong Ya, and I want you to be my mom.¡± Tuan Tuan showed his talent for dancing right when he started kindergarten, which Tong Ya had discovered. Over the years, their relationship had grown far beyond that of a teacher-pupil; many thought they looked more like mother and daughter. ¡°Okay, then you¡¯ve got to remember to help me, okay?¡± ¡°Of course, can you buy me snacks to eat?¡± Tong Ya hesitated for a moment, after all, it wasn¡¯t good for such a little child to always eat snacks. ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy them for you once a week.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Tuan Tuan stretched out his little hand, ¡°Pinky promise, no backsies.¡± Tong Ya also stretched out her hand and hooked fingers with Tuan Tuan¡¯s, then took him to school. The business at Chen Yu¡¯s shop was more than twice as busy as it was when he had just a food cart. Previously, due to the limited size of the food cart, many customers missed out. Now with a larger space, they had continuous supplies of ingredients and enough staff, effectively overcoming all previous shortcomings. By ten in the morning, the shop was still bustling with activity. And the semi-finished products piled in the freezer not only met today¡¯s demand but were more than enough for tomorrow¡¯s as well. It wasn¡¯t until noon that the flow of customers gradually dwindled. Chen Yu then allowed the six girls to go back and take a nap. At half-past four in the afternoon, Tong Ya walked towards the shop, holding Tuan Tuan¡¯s hand. ¡°Tuan Tuan, what does your dad like to eat? Or does he have any hobbies?¡± Tuan Tuan paused, ¡°I dunno. Whatever I want to eat or do, he just goes along with it.¡± All of a sudden, Tuan Tuan felt that he had become so accustomed to Chen Yu¡¯s care that he didn¡¯t even know what his dad liked to eat or what his hobbies were. Tong Ya ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°Has he always been like this?¡± ¡°Yes, he was like that with his ex-wife too!¡± Tong Ya felt an inexplicable twinge of heartache, ¡°Then let¡¯s both dote on your dad together, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Tuan Tuan gripped Tong Ya¡¯s hand tightly. At that moment, the shop was filled to capacity, but everyone including Chen Yu looked quite relaxed. Chu Hong and Li Yu calmly dropped the semi-finished products into the fryer. Chen Yu, meanwhile, helped others with their packaging. ¡°Daddy!¡± Tuan Tuan called out and lunged into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. Tong Ya, who had come back with him, just stood there looking at Chen Yu. In her dark, jewel-like eyes, she no longer hid her affection for Chen Yu. Chen Yu only met Tong Ya¡¯s gaze briefly before looking away, appearing somewhat awkward. ¡°Dad, I heard Miss Tong Ya confessed her feelings to you, did she?¡± Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s nose, ¡°How did you know about that?¡± ¡°I just want to ask, when can I call Miss Tong Ya mom?¡± ¡°` Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer, but simply put her down on the ground. ¡°Go home and do your homework. It¡¯s not your turn to worry about adult matters,¡± he said. Tuan Tuan pouted and somewhat resentfully went up to the third floor. ¡°The child was just asking. Why be so fierce?¡± Tong Ya complained, casually taking out a tissue to wipe the sweat from Chen Yu¡¯s brow. The hall was now filled with people who were startled to see Tong Ya¡¯s gesture. ¡°My goodness, could it be that Boss Chen has a thing going with this young woman?¡± ¡°I have to say, they really do make a good match.¡± ¡°That girl is sincere, too. Ever since Boss Chen¡¯s food cart started, she¡¯s always been right by his side.¡± ¡°Boss Chen is hardworking and reliable. Who knows what kind of woman would divorce him, leaving behind such a cute daughter too?¡± ¡°No wonder he wasn¡¯t interested when people tried to set him up before. With such a great woman by his side, why look for someone else?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t refuse Tong Ya¡¯s offer to wipe his sweat, but he quickly took the tissue from Tong Ya and started to wipe himself. ¡°I¡¯m going to buy some vegetables. Now that I have some free time, I need to arrange an employee meal that isn¡¯t just spring rolls and fried cakes all the time.¡± ¡°Then let me go with you!¡± Tong Ya said. Tong Ya tentatively took hold of Chen Yu¡¯s arm and they both headed to the nearby farmers¡¯ market. On the way, seeing that Chen Yu hadn¡¯t refused her, Tong Ya boldly hooked her arm through his. Chen Yu merely paused for a moment, then continued walking ahead. ¡°How much for the greens, boss?¡± Chen Yu crouched down in front of a vegetable stand. ¡°One yuan per bunch!¡± ¡°Give me five bunches and chop off half of that winter melon, please!¡± ¡°You got it!¡± Just as the owner was about to fetch the vegetables, he caught a clear view of Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°Eh, aren¡¯t you Boss Chen?¡± Chen Yu nodded. ¡°I really love the fried cakes and spring rolls from your place! Eh, what brings you out today? Is the business closed?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve hired waitstaff at the shop, so I have more spare time. I¡¯m out shopping for some vegetables for employee meals.¡± The stall owner smacked his head. ¡°Almost forgot! When I visited yesterday, I saw those six girls. They are quite capable.¡± With that, the stall owner looked over at Tong Ya. ¡°Eh, isn¡¯t this the girl who used to help you? You two are together now.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t speak but just chuckled and nestled her head closer to Chen Yu. Their intimate gesture would lead anyone to assume they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Chen Yu did not respond and instead looked at the meat stand next to them. ¡°Boss, is this yours too?¡± he asked. ¡°Yep, just got in some fresh beef this morning; want some?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take three jin, and add some corn to that, please.¡± ¡°Right away!¡± The owner efficiently packed up Chen Yu¡¯s meat and vegetables. ¡°That¡¯ll be one hundred twelve yuan total.¡± After paying, Chen Yu returned to the store with Tong Ya. Though the place was now crowded, everyone here was a regular. After finishing their meals, they would all voluntarily clean up their tables spotlessly. Moreover, many customers would place their orders, take their receipts to the counter, and just go straight to the window to pick up their fried cakes. So, for the entire day, Zhang Qian, who was in charge of managing the hall, didn¡¯t even need to clean up. Han Cai and Zhao Meng didn¡¯t leave the kitchen either, as they were continuously preparing semi-finished products. ¡°` Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 42nd Chapter: Unrestrained and Unscrupulous Chapter 42: 42nd Chapter: Unrestrained and Unscrupulous It was 9:30 PM, and the flow of customers began to thin out. The entire shop had been cleaned spotlessly, leaving only a window open and a deep-fryer. They were there to cater to any sporadic customers who might arrive. Chen Yu also brought out a new large pot, set it on the gas stove, and began to prepare the staff meal. The six girls truly worked hard all day long. With their cooperation, almost half of the raw materials in the cold storage were turned into semi-finished products and stored in the freezer. Tomorrow the kitchen on the second floor could be opened, and just one person assigned to handle the deep-frying would suffice. Chen Yu¡¯s culinary skills were quite good, and before long, tomato and beef brisket stew, winter melon and corn pork rib soup, and stir-fried greens with eggs were all served up. With vegetable pastries as the main dish, a steaming pot of food was ready to eat. ¡°This is our first staff meal, if you think there¡¯s anything that¡¯s not good, please feel free to give your feedback!¡± ¡°No complaints here!¡± Chu Hong was the first one to speak, ¡°With the boss¡¯s fried cake and vegetable pastries tasting so good, the cooking has got to be top-notch.¡± The other girls echoed in agreement. However, while all six girls were full of praise, none of them dared to be the first to pick up their chopsticks. Seeing this, Tong Ya quickly grabbed a piece of beef brisket and brought it to Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡¯re the boss, you have to be the first to eat!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback. It looked like Tong Ya was about to feed him. Just as he was about to refuse, the brisket already touched his lips. With no choice, Chen Yu opened his mouth and ate it. The six girls stared in amazement, thinking it wouldn¡¯t be long before they¡¯d have to call Tong Ya the ¡°Boss¡¯s Lady.¡± But this at least set the precedent for Chen Yu to be the first one to eat, and so the six girls lost their previous restraint. Chen Yu was a bit stunned, besides Tuan Tuan, this was the first time someone had offered him food this way. Before he could react, Tong Ya¡¯s second chopstick was already at his mouth. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it myself, you eat too!¡± Hearing Chen Yu speak, Tong Ya obediently sat down and started eating her meal like a good little girl. Tong Ya now only had eyes for Chen Yu, so she¡¯d comply unconditionally with any request he made. At 10 PM, a system notification sounded timely in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [System automatic settlement: No points accumulated today, total points earned to date are 295,780.] It was normal not to have any point accumulation today since he spent 150,000 on raw materials yesterday. Chen Yu did a rough calculation in his mind; the day¡¯s turnover was about 97,000 yuan. At this rate, tomorrow he could start accumulating points again. Just then, Tang Xiaowei suddenly appeared at the door carrying large and small bags. Tong Ya quickly stood up, ¡°Xiaowei, what are you doing here?¡± Tang Xiaowei, out of breath, put her bags down on one side, ¡°I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯m going to rent a house in the neighborhood behind us.¡± Tong Ya was stunned, ¡°You decided so quickly.¡± Tang Xiaowei looked rather pitiful, ¡°If you don¡¯t go back, who will bring me food?¡± However, the next second, Tang Xiaowei¡¯s expression changed as she sniffed the air and approached the dining table. ¡°Boss, from now on I¡¯ll paint in the mornings and come here to help out in the afternoons! I don¡¯t need a salary, just let me have a meal.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but suppress a laugh. The first time he met Tang Xiaowei, he thought this girl was a bit of a clown. Perhaps due to her main job as a comic artist, she sometimes blurred the line between reality and comics. Moreover, Tang Xiaowei ran away from home with Tong Ya, and now since Tong Ya had moved here, it seemed a bit inappropriate to leave Tang Xiaowei alone in a place so far away. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Chen Yu readily agreed, ¡°Tonight you can sleep with Tong Ya in one room, and tomorrow I¡¯ll help you rent a place from Aunt Li.¡± Tang Xiaowei looked gratefully at Chen Yu and then sat down on her own. At half-past ten in the evening, the six young girls voluntarily cleaned up the dishes and kitchen, then went back to the dormitory together. Chen Yu also helped Tang Xiaowei move her luggage to the third floor. After a quick shower, Chen Yu returned to his room and casually opened the system¡¯s page. The points were about to hit three hundred thousand now, and Chen Yu also wanted to see what skills he could draw from the high-level lottery that cost a hundred thousand a try. He pressed his hand down and the points immediately reduced to one hundred ninety-five thousand seven hundred eighty. Then, a barrage of information appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill of marinating.] Chen Yu was slightly surprised by a myriad of marinating sauces bombarding his view. Spicy pickled chicken feet, soy sauce pork trotters, five-spice beef, spicy mule meat¡­ An entire system of marinated flavors was now presented in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Indeed, it was a high-level lottery, and the outcome made Chen Yu very satisfied. With a breath of relief, Chen Yu decided on the spot that he would launch one type of marinated delicacy for a trial run tomorrow. Just as he was preparing to sleep, Tong Ya suddenly sent a message. ¡°Are you tired today? Do you want me to come over and give you a shoulder rub?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, realizing that the sense of distance between him and Tong Ya was gradually fading. Moreover, since he had agreed to Tong Ya staying, this girl had become somewhat unrestrained. ¡°I¡¯m okay, I¡¯ve hired help, so I¡¯m quite relaxed.¡± ¡°Alright then! Sleep early.¡± Tong Ya sent a goodnight emoji. But that emoji was actually a picture of a little cat with blue and red stripes, tucked in under a blanket. Chen Yu was helpless but didn¡¯t say much else. He also chose a goodnight picture from the system¡¯s built-in emojis and sent it over. In the room next door, Tang Xiaowei lay on the bed with a helpless look on her face. ¡°We¡¯re already living under the same roof; why are you hiding and sending private messages?¡± Tong Ya turned her head and pouted, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Tang Xiaowei clutched her chest as if wounded. ¡°It¡¯s true, with the opposite sex you lose your humanity. You¡¯re just rubbing it in my face.¡± Tong Ya quickly turned around and hugged Tang Xiaowei. ¡°There, there, after a while, I¡¯ll introduce a boyfriend to you.¡± But Tang Xiaowei just hummed lightly, ¡°In the world of comics, I can create a male god. I don¡¯t need to find one in the real world.¡± For Tang Xiaowei, comics were her everything. Tong Ya didn¡¯t say anything more and carefully went to Tuan Tuan¡¯s room. Having taken care of the big one, she also wanted to look after the little one. Chen Yu massaged his temples, just as he was about to put down his phone and sleep, he suddenly saw a transfer notification on his phone. When he opened it, it was surprisingly from his mother Li Lan, who had transferred five thousand yuan to him. ¡°Xiao Yu, with something as big as a divorce, why didn¡¯t you tell the family?¡± ¡°Take this money for now, take good care of Tuan Tuan, don¡¯t let the child suffer.¡± ¡°If you really can¡¯t make ends meet, bring the child back home.¡± ¡­ Chapter 43 - Chapter 43 - 43 Take It Slow on the Road Chapter 43 ¨C 43 Take It Slow on the Road A series of messages hit Chen Yu right in his tender heart. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve opened a shop now, and the daily profit is decent enough to support Tuan Tuan.¡± Li Lan, ¡°Opened a shop? What kind? Do you need your dad and me to come over and help you?¡± Chen Yu, ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already hired some waiters, you guys don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Li Lan, ¡°Then after we finish the errands at home in the next few days, your dad and I will come to see you.¡± Chen Yu, ¡°Okay, mom! Call me when you come, and try to sleep early!¡± Li Lan, ¡°You too, sleep early.¡± After calming his breathing slightly, Chen Yu opened the transaction for that 5,000 yuan. Then he transferred another 20,000 yuan to Li Lan. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m doing quite well now, take this money and have dad check his rheumatism.¡± Li Lan sent a sighing emoticon and accepted the 20,000 yuan. Chen Yu¡¯s family was classified as urban-rural residents, and their financial status could barely be considered average. In the past few years, his father Chen Guang had contracted rheumatism, which caused their family situation to sharply deteriorate. Putting down his phone, Chen Yu silently swore to himself that he must bring both his parents over. The next day, Chen Yu slept until four in the morning before getting up. Previously, he had to wake up early to prepare the semi-finished products. Now, the semi-finished products he had prepared in the freezer just the day before were more than enough to meet the supply for the entire day. Therefore, he didn¡¯t need to push himself so hard anymore. Yet, as soon as he came downstairs, Tong Ya and the six girls were already, as usual, taking out the ingredients from the cold storage room and getting ready. A complex emotion suddenly surged in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. What kind of employees get up earlier than the boss? ¡°From now on, everyone can come to work later, start at four-thirty, and rest a bit more!¡± After saying this, Chen Yu started to pour the flour into an iron bucket to knead the dough. But upon hearing his words, Han Cai, the youngest of them, suddenly started to cry. ¡°Boss Chen is so kind. At the places we worked before, the bosses wished we wouldn¡¯t sleep at all for twenty-four hours.¡± The other girls suddenly felt the same way. Tears also appeared in Su Qing¡¯s eyes, ¡°Last year, when I was working in an internet cafe, I stayed up for three nights straight without sleeping, and the boss didn¡¯t even provide meals.¡± Before long, the kitchen was filled with one cry after another. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected that a single sentence of his could stir up such strong emotions. He felt somewhat at a loss. Tong Ya hurried to console them, ¡°Alright now, since fate has brought us together to work here, we¡¯re like a family. From now on, treat this place like your home.¡± All six girls nodded in agreement. Zhao Meng suddenly looked at Chen Yu, ¡°Boss Chen, you¡¯re like a brother to me. How about from now on I call you Brother Yu?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t like them always calling him boss either as it felt too formal. ¡°Of course, you can. Most of you are about ten years younger than me, so all of you can call me that from now on!¡± The look Tong Ya gave Chen Yu added another layer of adoration. Indeed, the man she had set her heart on possessed an invisible charm. At four-thirty in the morning, customers gradually started coming into the shop. And Chen Yu no longer needed to be as frantic as before, he just had to prepare the dough and then add the seasoning to the dish corner. By six in the morning, Han Cai would deliver the fried cakes and dish corners reserved for the neighbors next door. After kneading two more large buckets of dough, Chen Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat down to the side. Just as he opened his phone to check the time, he suddenly realized it was already Monday. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but slap his forehead, having been too busy recently. Moreover, Tuan Tuan, as a dance specialty student, only got a weekend off every other week. And just like that, he had completely forgotten about the time. While Chen Yu was chiding himself, he suddenly flipped his phone over subconsciously. It was still the phone that Tong Ya had bought for him. Truth be told, he had never used such a good phone in all these years. He needed to figure out when to give Tong Ya a gift in return. At 6:45 in the morning, Tong Ya suddenly approached Chen Yu. ¡°Tuan Tuan and I are off to school!¡± Chen Yu nodded his head, ¡°Go on, and take it easy on the road.¡± Tong Ya was overjoyed, her face blushing as she leaned in closer again. ¡°Is this your way of showing concern for me?¡± Chen Yu was startled and before he could react, Tong Ya suddenly kissed him on the face and ran off without looking back. Chen Yu froze for a moment, his breath even stopping for an instant. Luckily, the four girls in the kitchen were busy, one working over the frying pan while the other three were heads down, preparing the semi-finished products. No one noticed what had just happened. Breathing a sigh of relief, Chen Yu subconsciously touched his cheek. He actually found the moment somewhat enjoyable, to his surprise. No sooner had he entertained that thought than he shook his head. And he kept reminding himself in his heart that he must not hold Tong Ya back. Then, as if invigorated, he suddenly sped up his work. By 8 a.m., the children in the dance specialization class had already begun their training. Tong Ya, dressed in her dance attire, maintained a splits position while staring blankly into the mirror. Tuan Tuan, seeing this, bounced over in front of Tong Ya. He also mimicked her, taking up a splits position. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, what are you thinking about? You haven¡¯t even assigned today¡¯s dance yet.¡± That snapped Tong Ya back to reality, her face flushing as she leaned forward a bit. ¡°This morning I kissed your dad!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s mouth hung open, ¡°Dad didn¡¯t refuse.¡± Tong Ya laughed, ¡°It was a sudden attack; he didn¡¯t have time to react.¡± ¡°Then what was his reaction?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with gossip. ¡°I didn¡¯t see,¡± Tong Ya said, her face full of regret. ¡°I was too nervous at the time, so I ran away.¡± Tuan Tuan clenched his little fists, shaking them excitedly, ¡°Then next time you kiss him, you must tell me in advance. I¡¯ll help you watch.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Tong Ya reached out and pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s cheek. ¡°Oh, by the way, Teacher Tong Ya, didn¡¯t you ask me last time what my dad likes to eat?¡± Tong Ya nodded, her face full of anticipation, ¡°What does he like?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s fish!¡± Tuan Tuan was somewhat unsure, ¡°I remember he seems very happy every time we eat fish.¡± Tong Ya immediately understood and had an idea in mind. At 9 a.m., Zhang Fan came to visit Chen Yu¡¯s shop. At this time, Chen Yu was fairly free, so he found an empty table and sat down to rest. ¡°Chen, having hired servers makes a difference. Back at the food cart, you didn¡¯t even have time to rest.¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°I¡¯m just sneaking in some downtime.¡± Zhang Fan sat down opposite Chen Yu, ¡°By the way, Chen, why don¡¯t you join a delivery service? Your sales could easily double.¡± Chen Yu had thought about this as well, but everything mustn¡¯t be rushed. They were just getting started, and stability was key. Moreover, the shop didn¡¯t even have a name yet. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44 - 44 Making Fish for My Husband Chapter 44 ¨C 44 Making Fish for My Husband Chen Yu took a sip of water. ¡°No rush, let¡¯s decide on a shop name later.¡± ¡°Chen, you¡¯re really laid back. Most people choose a lucky name before opening a store!¡± While he was speaking, Zhang Fan looked around at the bustling shop, as if the name was no longer important. Just then, two hesitant guys entered the store and found a corner to sit down. They didn¡¯t order, just casually looked around. Zhang Fan immediately sensed something was off, ¡°Chen, those two guys¡­¡± Chen Yu gestured dismissively, ¡°They¡¯re from the breakfast shop down the street, they¡¯ve been coming here a lot these days.¡± ¡°They¡¯re obviously spies, why not kick them out?¡± Chen Yu seemed indifferent, ¡°Let it be, it¡¯s not like we¡¯ll lose a piece of flesh.¡± Zhang Fan immediately felt new respect for Chen Yu. If it were anyone else, they would¡¯ve lost their temper by now. Zhang Fan didn¡¯t say much more, just took out a business card and handed it over. ¡°This sign maker is pretty good. Old Xie and I both had ours done there. If you need it, call them and say my name for a 20% discount!¡± As soon as Chen Yu accepted it, Xie Jiang dashed into the shop, flustered. ¡°Chen, how long will it take to prepare three hundred fried cakes and a hundred vegetable pastries?¡± Chen Yu quickly stood up, ¡°They¡¯re ready now! Do you have guests at home? That¡¯s a big order.¡± Xie Jiang sighed, ¡°The contractor who fitted out your place insists on eating your food, threatening to walk off the job if not.¡± Chen Yu smiled, quickly asking Chu Hong to pack for Xie Jiang. Just then, someone from the garage next door was shouting for Zhang Fan¡¯s name. It seemed that a customer had arrived. Embarrassed, Zhang Fan excused himself and hurried back to the garage. Xie Jiang, having paid for the fried cakes and vegetable pastries, also left in a hurry. It looked like he was in a rush with his work too. Chen Yu stretched languidly and glanced at the two people in the corner, a flicker of apology in his eyes. The breakfast shops on this street were barely hanging on because of his business, and now it seemed the neighboring streets were affected, too. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t think too much of it, after all, competition is part of doing business. ¡°Wow, there are so many customers so early.¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s voice suddenly arose beside him. She was wearing a dolphin mascot costume, still seemingly groggy and looking quite adorable in her confusion. Chen Yu was not surprised in the least, this girl¡¯s taste in clothing was always bizarre, as if living entirely in a comic book world. Her appearance, however, did attract the attention of many customers. ¡°Not too many, we¡¯re already past the morning rush,¡± Chen Yu replied. ¡°Oh, by the way, I spoke to Auntie Li, she¡¯ll come over at twelve to take you to see the apartment.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Tang Xiaowei rubbed her somewhat bleary eyes. ¡°Um, is there anything to eat? I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Chen Yu quickly signaled Han Cai to get three vegetable pastries and five fried cakes from the counter. Tang Xiaowei ate voraciously, without any concern for her image. ¡°Waking up to food is such a great feeling!¡± After patting her satisfied belly, Tang Xiaowei hopped to the storefront to help attract customers. She was no less pretty than Tong Ya, and her dolphin costume made her even more adorable. Even several young girls came over to take photos with her. At twelve o¡¯clock noon, Auntie Li hurriedly arrived at the shop. ¡°Young Chen, you hired another server? Aren¡¯t the two apartments I gave you enough?¡± Chen Yu hurriedly called Tang Xiaowei over. ¡°It¡¯s her, the one you met last time. She¡¯s the one who painted that mural over there.¡± ¡°A painter!¡± Auntie Li was quite excited and eagerly took Tang Xiaowei¡¯s hand. ¡°Auntie happens to have a room that¡¯s perfect for you to live in.¡± As soon as Tang Xiaowei heard this, she hurriedly went to the third floor to bring down her luggage. At that moment, the six girls were just about to take their noon break in the dormitory, so they all helped move Tang Xiaowei¡¯s luggage together. Chen Yu stretched his limbs and then returned to the kitchen to keep working on the dough. Given the current pace, by today they could make all the raw materials in the cold storage into semi-finished products. Four in the afternoon. The moment school let out, Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan straight to the farmers¡¯ market. After browsing around for a while, she picked out a seafood shop that seemed quite decent. ¡°How much for this blackfish?¡± Tong Ya asked directly. The fish seller was a woman in her forties. ¡°Larger blackfish, twenty-four per pound, smaller ones eighteen per pound!¡± Tong Ya was somewhat confused; she rarely went to the farmers¡¯ market to buy groceries and didn¡¯t know there was such a distinction for blackfish. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Actually, there¡¯s not much of a difference, it mainly depends on how you want to eat it,¡± the vendor explained. Tong Ya hesitated slightly, ¡°It¡¯s for my man¡­ husband to make a nourishing soup.¡± As she said this, Tong Ya¡¯s face turned as red as blood. Surprise was clearly written on Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face. She didn¡¯t care much about that and quickly echoed, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for making a nourishing soup for my dad.¡± The vendor smiled, giving her a knowing look. Then she scooped up a big fish, processed it on the spot, and turned it into large chunks suitable for making stew. Immediately after, she grabbed two ready-made seasoning packets from the side. ¡°Just put this packet directly into the pot when you get back; you don¡¯t need to add anything else, just a bit of cooking wine,¡± she said. Tong Ya was somewhat surprised; she hadn¡¯t expected the sellers to be so user-friendly these days. ¡°Thank you, big sister.¡± After that, Tong Ya went on to a vegetable stall and bought some meat and vegetables, perfect for making the staff meal that evening. At five in the afternoon, Tong Ya returned to the shop with Tuan Tuan. Though the shop was bustling with a sea of people, it had become more orderly compared to before. Chen Yu had already rearranged the staff. Chu Hong was in charge of the first-floor kitchen, Zhao Meng took care of the front hall on the first floor. Li Yu handled the second-floor kitchen, while Han Cai was responsible for the second-floor hall. Zhang Qian stayed at the bar. Su Qing was still in the first-floor kitchen working on semi-finished products. Moreover, at noon, Chen Yu had upgraded the ordering system. He made a clear division between the first and second floors. From now on, second-floor customers wouldn¡¯t need to run up and down anymore. Tong Ya quickly took the meat and vegetables she bought back to the first-floor kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll make the staff meal today; I bought some fish, too.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°You bought the staff meal with your own money?¡± Seeing a hint of annoyance on Chen Yu¡¯s face, Tong Ya stood there as obedient as a child. ¡°I thought it would be convenient on my way back, so I bought some!¡± Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°It¡¯s okay, what¡¯s done is done, but however much money you spent, take the same amount from the bar later.¡± Tong Ya wanted to refuse; in her eyes, everything she had belonged to Chen Yu. Spending her own money on a staff meal seemed trivial to her. But then she thought about it, this seemed to be about the relationship between the shop and the individual. Business and personal matters shouldn¡¯t be mixed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go get it right away.¡± Chapter 45 - Chapter 45 - 45 Launching New Products Chapter 45 ¨C 45 Launching New Products At 7:30 in the evening, the number of people in the shop had started to scatter. Actually, the shop was always teeming with people, largely because customers often had to wait quite a while for their turn. Moreover, many people just bought food to take home and didn¡¯t sit down to eat. Now with the cooperation of two kitchens, this problem was naturally solved. After seeing the crowd thin out, Tong Ya wanted to take out the fish she had bought and stew it. However, the kitchen in the shop was vastly different from a home kitchen. There were some things she simply didn¡¯t know how to use. Especially the wok, it was so large and sometimes even required an open flame, which made her feel a bit apprehensive just thinking about it. ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Chen Yu appeared behind Tong Ya very gently and took the knife from her hand. Tong Ya quickly stepped aside, feeling a bit embarrassed as she stood by to assist. In no time, Chen Yu, whose cooking skills had reached a miraculous level, had a table full of lavish dishes ready. At Chen Yu¡¯s call, the six girls temporarily put down their work and gathered around. ¡°Brother Yu, I want to make a suggestion,¡± Chu Hong suddenly spoke up. ¡°What suggestion?¡± ¡°We have been discussing these past two days and feel that the tasks given by the shop seem a bit too easy.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback, as the staff in other shops yearned for 24 hours of rest a day. Yet these girls actually complained about having an easy time. Li Yu also nodded in agreement: ¡°And if our shop only sells fried cakes and vegetable turnovers, it¡¯s a bit monotonous, shouldn¡¯t we introduce some new products?¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°I have been planning on that. Braised delicacies will be added to the shop tomorrow, then you will be busy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly got excited, ¡°My dad used to braise pig trotters for me, and they were especially delicious.¡± Tong Ya had a face full of anticipation. If simple fried cakes and vegetable turnovers could be made so delicious, then the braised delicacies would certainly be no less. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, and after dinner, he led everyone to start tidying up the shop. By 8:30 in the evening, Chen Yu heard the prompt in his mind. It had to be said, the six girls¡¯ professional abilities were getting stronger by the day. In just about ten minutes, they had already cleaned up the shop. Even the system approved of the cleaning results. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is forty-four thousand yuan, earning forty-four thousand points. The current total accumulated points are two hundred and thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and eighty.] Chen Yu exhaled softly. Today he finally had a point addition. Furthermore, Chen Yu¡¯s payment account had already accumulated more than one hundred and seventy thousand, and the cash in the bar was also seven or eight thousand. Chen Yu immediately transferred one hundred and thirty thousand yuan to the demand account, adding to the seventy thousand already there, rounding it up to two hundred thousand yuan. On Chen Yu¡¯s hand, including the few thousand left over from before, was a total of over fifty thousand yuan. The six girls and Chen Yu said their goodbyes, then went back to the apartments behind the shop with Tang Xiaowei. However, before they left, Chen Yu gave the keys to the shop¡¯s main gate to Chu Hong. In case one day the girls arrived too early and he had not woken up. It would be unreasonable to let them stand outside in the wind! Tong Ya also gave Chen Yu a meaningful glance, then went upstairs to the third floor with Tuan Tuan. Without hesitation, Chen Yu called the meat supplier he had used before and directly ordered them to deliver five hundred pounds of pig heads and five hundred pounds of pork knuckles. After all, the supplier recommended by the system was definitely reliable. Although he had specified the parts of the meat, the supplier still charged Chen Yu eight yuan per pound. But Chen Yu was cautious when buying seasonings. He had the supplier deliver some of everything, necessary or not. After all, these condiment sellers were very shrewd, even able to derive recipes based on the customers¡¯ needs. Less than twenty minutes later, the butcher arrived at the door, driving a large truck. The deliveryman this time looked burly, with a sullen face. He didn¡¯t want to say more than necessary and helped Chen Yu carry the pork into the cold storage as soon as he got out of the truck. After the butcher left, Chen Yu went upstairs to sleep. It wasn¡¯t until five o¡¯clock the next day that Chen Yu finally got up. When he came downstairs, he found that the shop was already operating in an orderly manner. However, Chen Yu did not see the figure of Tong Ya. It seemed that Tong Ya had not gotten up yet. After all, she had been busy with him for so long; it was time for her to have a good rest. Moreover, yesterday, all of the raw materials had already been turned into semi-finished products for fried cakes and vegetable dumplings. There were no worries about sales for the next three days. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother to manage too much, so he rolled up his sleeves and went straight to the kitchen on the first floor. He took out three pig heads and three large elbows from the refrigeration room. Since it was his first time, he didn¡¯t dare to make too much at once. Although the system had provided him with an accurate recipe, he still had to do the handiwork himself. Chen Yu roughly processed the elbows and pig heads with a kitchen knife before immersing them in clean water, adding cooking wine and ginger slices. After simmering for a while to force out the blood and scum, he washed them clean, then used a tool full of spikes to jab at them repeatedly. At the same time, he applied soy sauce and other seasonings evenly. After processing the elbows and pig heads, Chen Yu began to blend the soup. In the world of braises, there¡¯s a distinction between clear braise and spice braise. Clear braise requires the simmering of a special broth, which is extremely troublesome. And the ingredients needed are very expensive. The broth used for the famous Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chili Oil is known as a clear braise. In comparison, spice braise seems simpler, but its essence lies in the recipe. Every person who makes braise has a unique spice braise recipe. Even those century-old shops that have been handed down for hundreds of years use spice braise for their century-old broth. Soon after, Chen Yu mixed various seasonings into a large pot. When the temperature reached sixty degrees Celsius, Chen Yu placed the elbows and pig heads into the pot and covered it with a lid. He first cooked it on high heat for nearly twenty minutes before switching to a low heat for a slow simmer. After two full hours, Chen Yu finally turned off the heat. The instant the lid was opened, the overflowing aroma instantly spread everywhere. Even Chu Hong, who was earnestly making fried cakes and vegetable dumplings, couldn¡¯t help but look over. ¡°Yu, what¡¯s that smell? It¡¯s so fragrant!¡± ¡°Five-spice sauce elbows!¡± Chen Yu replied, then took a small bowl, scooped out a small piece of pig head meat, and passed it over. Chu Hong quickly took it and stuffed it into her mouth. ¡°Wow, this is delicious! Yu, your cooking skills are really good.¡± The enticing aroma also attracted the attention of customers outside. A few neighbors even went around to the kitchen doorway to peer inside. If the kitchen door wasn¡¯t locked from the inside, they might have rushed right in. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46 - 46 Spicy Braised Delicacies Chapter 46 ¨C 46 Spicy Braised Delicacies ¡°What¡¯s Boss Chen cooking that smells so delicious?¡± An elderly man was pressed against the display window, almost sticking his head inside. ¡°The store is introducing sauce-flavored pig¡¯s head and knuckles!¡± Chen Yu replied with a smile. ¡°How much per pound?¡± the old man asked urgently. Chen Yu thought for a moment, ¡°Fifty yuan per pound!¡± The old man hesitated, as the price was indeed more expensive than the marinated delicacies outside. But the aroma was simply too tempting. ¡°Half a pound of pig¡¯s head, half a pound of knuckle, and two vegetable dumplings, please!¡± Chen Yu quickly brought out the kitchen¡¯s specialized electronic scale, weighed half a pound of each, and handed them over. The old man paid the money, then found a table with delight and began to devour the marinated treats. This made the other customers nearby envious. They rushed to the display window to buy some for themselves. At six ten in the morning, Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan walked down slowly from upstairs. Feeling a bit embarrassed, this was Tong Ya¡¯s first time sleeping in. Yet, as she came downstairs, all her emotions were overtaken by the fragrance that pervaded the lobby. Tuan Tuan, with her little nose working overtime, trotted all the way into the kitchen. ¡°Daddy, what delicious food are you making that smells so good?¡± Chen Yu laughed and took out a large piece of pig¡¯s head meat from the pot. He then split it into two pieces, and gave them to Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan respectively. After gobbling down their shares, their eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Oh my, this is so tasty!¡± Tong Ya exclaimed without thinking. She had tasted many marinated foods before, but what Chen Yu made was the tastiest she had ever had. Tuan Tuan was so excited she couldn¡¯t even speak, her little hands trembling as she held her bowl. ¡°How much are you planning to sell this per pound?¡± Tong Ya asked with expectant eyes. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Fifty yuan per pound, the price is already put out there.¡± Tong Ya became anxious, ¡°Such delicious marinated food, and you¡¯re selling it for so little?¡± The best marinated food she had eaten could sell for two thousand yuan per pound. The marinated food made by Chen Yu was even tastier. Even if it were sold for three thousand yuan, it wouldn¡¯t be overpriced. ¡°It¡¯s not too little!¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°After all, the cost is there. To price it at fifty yuan, I¡¯m already making a handsome profit.¡± Tong Ya was stunned and found herself admiring the man in front of her more and more. He was doing business honestly, not fixated on profits, a rare and excellent man in the world. After having another small piece of the knuckle, Tong Ya reluctantly put down her bowl. She knew these marinated delicacies were for sale, not just for her to eat. ¡°Then I will take Tuan Tuan to kindergarten first. You must save some marinated food for me when I come back in the evening.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly and nodded. Tong Ya picked up Tuan Tuan¡¯s backpack, ready to leave, then suddenly ran back to Chen Yu. ¡°I haven¡¯t even left yet, and I¡¯m already missing you!¡± With that, Tong Ya ran off with Tuan Tuan, her cheeks flushed with joy. Chen Yu stood frozen for a long time before he could react. That girl was getting more and more brazen with her sweet nothings. Three pig¡¯s heads, three knuckles, totaling twenty-five pounds, sold out in less than half an hour since they came out of the pot. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dare to slack off and quickly took out five large cylindrical pressure cookers from the storeroom. He also set up a huge pot at the same time. What he had made earlier was just a test. Now that he had the hang of it, he could use the pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time. Chen Yu poured water into that huge pot, adding white vinegar and ginger slices. After using this pot to remove the blood foam from the heads and knuckles, he placed them in the pressure cookers to stew. Chen Yu roughly calculated the ratio of stewing time between the pressure cooker and a regular pot. With bold strokes, he set to work. The whole process took nearly half an hour to stew a pot. Each of the five large pressure cookers could stew forty pounds of marinated delicacies at a time. That is to say, in half an hour, two hundred pounds of marinated delicacies could be produced. When the first batch of five pots of marinated delicacies was ready, the entire shop instantly buzzed with activity. ¡°Young Boss Chen, quickly sell me three pounds; I¡¯ll take it home to eat,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have two pounds!¡± ¡­ In turn, no one was interested in the fried pastries and cakes anymore, with everyone¡¯s attention now focused on the marinated delicacies. By noon, the shop was still swamped with people. Usually, at this time, the flow of customers would have died down. With the introduction of marinated delicacies, it was as if the shop had launched a lunch service. However, the shop did not offer staple foods like noodles or pancakes, so many people were eating the pastries with marinated delicacies. As a result, the sales volume of pastries greatly increased today. Chen Yu thought about whether he should collaborate with other businesses outside to bring in some noodles or pancakes. The bustling scene continued until five in the afternoon. The previously popular pastries and cakes had already accumulated a large flow of customers for the shop. Hence, the marinated delicacies were an instant success when launched. Up to now, the fourth batch of marinated delicacies was about to sell out. After one more round, the five hundred pounds of pig¡¯s heads and five hundred pounds of hocks that came in last night would be sold out. Just as Chen Yu was busily preparing for the fifth round, Tong Ya suddenly called. ¡°Do you need me to bring some vegetables back for you today?¡± One couldn¡¯t tell if Tong Ya was doing it on purpose or not, but she deliberately spoke in a coy, high-pitched voice. Chen Yu cleared his throat, ¡°Then when you come back, bring fifty pancakes.¡± ¡°Okay, wait for me.¡± Chen Yu quickly hung up the phone, as just those last few words made him feel as if he had been electrocuted. If she continued like this, he would be numbed to death. At that moment, a large number of customers rushed to the display window, afraid that they would not get their chance at the marinated delicacies. Su Qing, Han Cai, and Zhao Meng were frantically trying to maintain order. The kitchen on the first floor had stopped the production of pastries and cakes and became completely dedicated to marinated delicacies. Up to now, the last batch, weighing one hundred and ninety pounds, had all been reserved and sold off. Those who couldn¡¯t get in line could only leave in disappointment. ¡°Boss Chen, make more marinated delicacies tomorrow; many of us didn¡¯t manage to buy any,¡± ¡°This is too delicious, much better than the marinated delicacies from the shop on East Street,¡± ¡°Boss Chen¡¯s culinary skills are truly beyond compare,¡± ¡­ When Tong Ya arrived with Tuan Tuan, the last batch of marinated delicacies was just ready. The enticing aroma made them rush into the kitchen involuntarily. But soon, as the crowd dispersed, the last batch of marinated delicacies also sold out. Fortunately, Chen Yu had the foresight to set aside nearly ten pounds of marinated delicacies. However, coinciding with the peak of the evening rush hour, there was still a large influx of customers entering the shop to buy pastries and cakes. It wasn¡¯t until eight o¡¯clock in the evening that the flow of customers finally began to diminish. Chen called over his staff and brought out the ten pounds of marinated delicacies they had set aside. The wafting aroma instantly made everyone salivate. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47 - 47: The Leap of Quality Chapter 47 ¨C 47: The Leap of Quality Tang Xiaowei¡¯s eyes widened, and without much concern, she picked up a flatbread and started to eat with chopsticks. ¡°This is even better than the braised pork from Duan Fu Ji!¡± As Tang Xiaowei stuffed meat into her mouth, she praised with tears in her eyes. Chen Yu knew Duan Fu Ji; it was a high-end eatery in the capital that specialized in braised flavors. Reportedly, an ordinary pound of their braised pork could sell for thousands of yuan. Now, including Tang Xiaowei, there were ten people in the shop. Chen Yu had originally thought that leaving ten pounds of braised meat might be a bit much, but now it seemed a little less than enough. It had to be said, the flavor of the braised pork was truly exceptional. When Chen Yu first got the recipe for the braised pork, he felt it was quite ordinary. Previously, the spices he used for braising were not much different from those provided by the system. The only difference lay in the amount and proportion of the ingredients. It didn¡¯t seem like much, some ingredients were a bit more, some were less, but the taste produced was completely different. ¡°I think, even the chefs from Duan Fu Ji might not be able to achieve this flavor.¡± Tong Ya was also there, sighing, and she still thought that the braised pork was indeed a bit too cheap. By nine o¡¯clock in the evening, everyone still leaned back in their chairs, caressing their bellies with satisfaction. Especially the six young girls, this was the first time in their lives they had tasted such delicious braised meat. ¡°Alright, everyone tidy up and go back to rest soon, we meet here at four-thirty sharp in the morning.¡± The six young girls responded and went about their business. After a while, the system notification sounded in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing a day of business, today¡¯s net profit is 127,500 yuan, earning 127,500 points. The total cumulative points are now 367,280.] Chen Yu carefully calculated today¡¯s turnover and found that after introducing braised meat, the sales volume of fried cakes had obviously decreased. However, the turnover of vegetable twists increased by comparison. This situation might only apply to today, as many people could only use vegetable twists as their staple food while eating braised pork. Moreover, today¡¯s turnover also broke through to 137,500 yuan. Indeed, every time a new skill was unlocked, there would be a qualitative leap in turnover. After deducting the ten-thousand-yuan cost of buying meat and ingredients yesterday, there was roughly 170,000 yuan left in Chen Yu¡¯s account. Adding the cash from the counter and the money previously set aside for minor expenses, it just surpassed 180,000 yuan. Chen Yu calmed his excited heart and transferred 150,000 yuan into his current account. At that moment, the six young girls tidied up the cleaning utensils and bid Chen Yu farewell, bouncing back to their dormitory. Chen Yu then made a phone call, just like yesterday, and ordered 1,000 pounds of pork. The next day, Chen Yu got up early and entered the braised pork into the ordering system. He then began working on his own. However, braising was a complete cuisine in itself, and to make all the varieties, the current manpower and shop space were far from sufficient. Yet with the current savings in hand, expanding into a reasonably large shop was simply not enough. Just the equipment needed for making various braised foods and specialized tools represented a significant expense. Plus, the cost of front-of-house labor, refurbishments, and miscellaneous expenses would be at least several hundred thousand yuan. Indeed, at this stage, making money steadily was the best strategy. At four-thirty, the six young girls also arrived at the shop on time. They were basically familiar with all the procedures, and without needing any further instruction from Chen Yu, they began to work on their own divided tasks. Today is Wednesday, and according to past experience, Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest two days. But now with the addition of marinated dishes, perhaps things might be different. Tong Ya also arrived in the kitchen early today, but now she no longer had a place of her own there. So all she could do was sit idly by and watch Chen Yu. It¡¯s just that her smitten glances always made Chen Yu a bit uncomfortable. ¡°Tong Ya, why don¡¯t you sit somewhere else, or come next to me and give me a hand?¡± Tong Ya pouted, her impish charm on her face intensified. ¡°Call me Ya Ya, and I¡¯ll come over!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment, this was a blatant threat. Yet, as Tong Ya continued to gaze at him, he indeed felt uncomfortable. ¡°Alright, Ya Ya, come over!¡± ¡°Okay then!¡± Tong Ya immediately hopped over to Chen Yu¡¯s side: ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Bring me the white vinegar!¡± As instructed by Chen Yu, Tong Ya quickly got to work. Today Chen Yu had put two more large pots to use, so they could process a little more pork at a time. ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s a dance competition this afternoon, a student-teacher event, and both Tuan Tuan and I need to perform. Could you manage to come see it?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t think much before answering, ¡°Of course.¡± After all, the shop was already on the right track, and with Chu Hong, a young girl here, he didn¡¯t have to worry about anything. And judging from yesterday¡¯s experience, they should be able to finish preparing a thousand pounds of marinated meat by three in the afternoon. Then they could just leave it on a low flame in the large pots to keep warm. By then, all he would have to do is leave a few instructions with Chu Hong, assigning her as the shift leader for some light management, and the whole shop could operate on its own. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you later, you have to come, okay!¡± Tong Ya emphasized once more. New n????vel chapters are published on Novgo.c¦Ò?. ¡°Got it!¡± In the morning, people still mostly bought deep-fried cakes and vegetable triangles; after all, no matter how delicious the marinated dishes were, it felt a bit odd to have them for breakfast. Possibly because of the preparation needed for the dance competition, Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan to kindergarten at six o¡¯clock. Just as Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had left, Zhang Fan rushed into the shop in a hurry, holding a basin in his hand. ¡°Old Chen! I didn¡¯t manage to get much marinated meat yesterday, take the opportunity now while it¡¯s quiet to give me ten pounds! No, make it fifteen.¡± Chen Yu was stunned for a moment: ¡°Better take less! It¡¯s just your sister-in-law and the kids at home; they can¡¯t eat that much.¡± ¡°Old Chen, you don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve got guests over for lunch, and your marinated meat is just perfect.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°Then come back for it at noon. I¡¯ll set it aside especially for you. If you take it now, you¡¯ll still have to reheat it by lunchtime.¡± ¡°Okay, then. But for now, give me a couple of pounds to take back for eating.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Chen Yu immediately chopped off one pound of pig¡¯s head meat and one pound of pork knuckle and handed it over. Zhang Fan then swiped 500 yuan: ¡°Old Chen, I¡¯ll pay for the ten pounds all at once, and I¡¯ll come back for the remaining eight pounds at noon.¡± By comparison, today¡¯s customer flow was a bit higher, seemingly drawn by the marinated meat. Moreover, today¡¯s sales of vegetable triangles were significantly higher than the deep-fried cakes. If things continued this way, the vegetable triangles might sell out completely today. Before noon even arrived, the four hundred pounds of marinated goods had already sold out. By comparison, this pace was quite a bit faster than yesterday¡¯s. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48 - 48: Female Lead Chapter 48 ¨C 48: Female Lead At noon, Chen Yu was busy preparing the ingredients when Zhang Qian entered the kitchen with a strange expression on her face. ¡°Brother Yu, there are two guys outside acting all sneaky. They¡¯ve been here several times in the past few days, always staring at the kitchen.¡± Chen Yu looked up and sure enough, he saw two shifty-looking fellows. One of them he had seen before; it was the spy previously sent by the breakfast shop nearby. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, since they¡¯ve come through the door, they¡¯re guests. Just serve them well,¡± he said. Zhang Qian nodded and didn¡¯t say anything more, just went out and served the two men a cup of tea. The breakfast shops in the vicinity had suffered greatly due to Chen Yu¡¯s impact, with more than half already closed down. Only a few larger-scale ones were still struggling to stay open. It could be said that now, this street and several others nearby were dominated solely by Chen Yu¡¯s store. At the moment, the owners of the last few shops sat together, disheartened with no spirit left. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll also pack up in a few days. The more successful that kid¡¯s shop is, the less hope there is for us.¡± ¡°Now that they¡¯ve introduced braised meat, we have even less of a chance.¡± ¡°Before we could at least sell some braised eggs and meat since our fried cakes and vegetable pastries weren¡¯t as good as theirs, but now, there seems to be no hope.¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t stay here, I¡¯ll find another place. I refuse to believe that with our skills, we can¡¯t find somewhere else to thrive.¡± ¡­ In the western part of Suzhou City, there is a natural reserve area. A large number of crew members gathered here, along with many celebrities and their studio teams, arriving in droves. Fang Yuan was also there, surrounded by her own team, staking out her territory. ¡°Yuan sister, this reality show has a script, so you don¡¯t need to worry. If we follow the script, anything beyond it will fetch extra money from the organizers,¡± someone from her team assured her. Fang Yuan was holding a script, pondering how to get more screen time. Just then, a rich aroma suddenly wafted over from not far away. At a neighboring campsite, a female celebrity around Fang Yuan¡¯s age had her assistant distributing braised delicacies. ¡°I never expected to find such delicious food in this little place. The last time I tasted this flavor was at Duan Fu Ji in the capital city.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention Duan Fu Ji. Their ordinary braised meat costs a thousand bucks, and the better ones are worth several thousand more.¡± ¡°All thanks to Su sister this time, we get to enjoy such tasty treats,¡± they said. ¡­ Fang Yuan stood up and saw that the celebrity in the middle seemed to be Su Rui. Su Rui¡¯s star status was much higher than Fang Yuan¡¯s, having debuted as a child star before the age of ten. In the entertainment circle, she is definitely a big shot! Whether it¡¯s about resources, assets, or connections, she is many times more powerful than Fang Yuan. At that moment, Su Rui¡¯s assistant approached Fang Yuan with a small bowl of braised pork knuckle. ¡°Yuan sister, my boss Rui asked me to bring this for you, please enjoy,¡± the assistant said. Fang Yuan smiled and took it, taking a dainty bite as if she were a lady. ¡°Delicious! Where did you buy this from?¡± she asked. ¡°Rui sister bought it on her way here, from a shop she passed by. I heard that shop used to be just a food cart,¡± the assistant replied. A jolt went through Fang Yuan¡¯s heart as she thought to herself, it definitely can¡¯t be Chen Yu. But the rich taste made her involuntarily recall the fried cakes and vegetable pastries she had before. After the assistant who delivered the braised meat left, Fang Yuan¡¯s own assistant quickly sensed something was amiss. ¡°Yuan sister, are you feeling unwell?¡± the assistant asked. Fang Yuan shook her head, forcibly suppressing the emotions in her heart. ¡°You, find two people to check out the place where we last bought deep-fried buns and vegetable turnovers!¡± The assistant was bewildered for a moment, as she didn¡¯t know about Fang Yuan¡¯s past. Besides, this wasn¡¯t the first time Fang Yuan had tasked her with visiting that small food cart. However, she didn¡¯t dare to refute and could only agree. Just then, the executive director of the event organizers suddenly walked over to Fang Yuan. ¡°Miss Fang, do you have any open dates after this reality show wraps up?¡± Fang Yuan quickly stood up, ¡°I¡¯ve been quite busy recently, so my schedule is probably fully booked. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, there¡¯s a film, and the investors specifically requested you for the role of the third female lead!¡± Upon hearing it was for the role of the third female lead, Fang Yuan was ready to decline. But the executive director suddenly took out a script, ¡°However, the investors mentioned that if Miss Fang is willing, they would also consider you for the role of the leading lady.¡± Fang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes. Until now, she had always been in TV dramas and had never been involved in the big screen. She had never even considered becoming the leading lady in a film. However, Han Mintao had always told Fang Yuan that in the entertainment industry, there were no pies falling from the sky. If you wanted to obtain something, you had to exchange something of equal value. Despite her excitement, Fang Yuan did not immediately accept the offer. ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it, as I can¡¯t allow my schedule to be too conflicted.¡± The executive director didn¡¯t say much more and just stuffed the script into Fang Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Please do get back to me as soon as possible.¡± After the executive director left, Fang Yuan couldn¡¯t wait to open the script. Yet, the so-called script was nothing but a bunch of blank pages, with a room card tucked inside. Fang Yuan immediately understood, this was not about offering her a film role at all! But she wasn¡¯t in a position to make a scene right now, so she just put away the so-called script and sat down. Then she called Han Mintao. ¡­ At twelve noon, instead of waiting for Zhang Fan to come get it, Chen Yu had Han Cai deliver the eight pounds of braised meat they had set aside. But it was less than ten minutes later when Zhang Fan came in, bringing with him eight strapping men in full spirit. ¡°Old Chen, make it twenty more pounds for me. These brothers of mine have just come back from fixing cars in the wilderness, and they need to replenish a lot of energy.¡± The eight sturdy men were already eagerly looking at Chen Yu. It was clear at first glance that these eight were rescue firefighters from the outskirts. They usually volunteered for emergency rescues or handled community fires. Judging by their weary appearance, this mission must have been hard on them. Chen Yu immediately cut out twenty-six pounds of meat and handed it over, ¡°The extra six pounds is on me.¡± ¡°How can we accept that?¡± one of the sturdy men objected, ¡°This braised meat is so delicious that we¡¯d find fifty too cheap. Now you¡¯re giving us an extra six pounds as if looking down on us?¡± Saying so, the sturdy man counted out thirteen hundred yuan in cash and slapped it on the counter. Zhang Fan quickly stepped forward to intervene, ¡°It¡¯s already been agreed that I¡¯m treating everyone today. Besides, with the relationship between Old Chen and me, is there any need for you guys to pay?¡± With that, Zhang Fan scanned thirteen hundred yuan on the adjacent payment code. Li Yu, who was responsible for the cash register today, had the sense to quickly take the thirteen hundred yuan in cash and stuff it back into the sturdy man¡¯s hand. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49 - 49: The Fairy Descends to Earth Chapter 49 ¨C 49: The Fairy Descends to Earth Zhang Qian, who was responsible for the first floor lobby, did not dare to be negligent in the least and hurriedly cleared a table to seat Zhang Fan and his party. Although Chen Yu did not refuse Zhang Fan¡¯s payment, he still gave an extra two pounds of braised meat. Zhang Fan naturally noticed, but it was exactly Chen Yu¡¯s busiest time. If he went over to decline, he feared it might affect Chen Yu¡¯s business. After all, they were neighbors, and such favors could be returned in the future. By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu had stewed all the pig heads and hocks. After tidying up a bit and giving Chu Hong a few instructions to remember to buy flatbreads in the afternoon, Chen Yu changed his clothes and headed to the kindergarten. After all, he had promised in the morning that he would go to see Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan¡¯s competition today. At half-past four, Chen Yu arrived at the competition venue as per the information Tong Ya had sent. The scale of this competition was not small, with kindergartens from several nearby districts sending representatives. However, many of the dance teachers from these kindergartens were not very professional. In comparison, Tong Ya had an overwhelmingly strong advantage. ¡°Daddy!¡± Tuan Tuan, who must have seen Chen Yu backstage, suddenly ran over. People around were stunned to see Tuan Tuan and couldn¡¯t help but turn their gaze towards Chen Yu. ¡°Brother, is this your daughter? She¡¯s so cute.¡± ¡°She also has a good figure, definitely a dancer in the making.¡± ¡°Sigh, it seems there¡¯s not much hope for my daughter then.¡± ¡­ For a moment, Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed by all the compliments and hurriedly ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s head, sending her back backstage. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly saw Tong Ya standing on the edge of the backstage, making a heart gesture at him. Shortly after, Chen Yu received a message on his phone. ¡°Watch carefully, oh, this dance is a recent creation of mine, especially for you!¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned and didn¡¯t know how to respond. Unexpectedly, another message came through. ¡°No need to say more, just watch!¡± The host had already taken the stage by that time and after a generous speech, the dance competition officially began. The first few dances seemed quite childish, and Chen Yu was totally uninterested. It was unclear how much time had passed before Tong Ya finally took Tuan Tuan on stage. Both were dressed in red and white ancient-style costumes, and as soon as they stepped on stage, they waved their fans and struck a fixed pose. As the music started, their bodies twisted into incredible arcs. Such flexibility, along with the costumes and the onstage smoke, made them seem like ethereal fairies descended to earth. Chen Yu was spellbound. At that moment, the audience also fell silent, gazing somewhat foolishly at the stage. Not until Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had finished dancing did the audience snap back to reality. Chen Yu was still lost in the dance they had just performed. Tong Ya had perfectly expressed her desire to be Tuan Tuan¡¯s mother through the dance. Because there were quite a few participants, the competition went on until eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan unsurprisingly won first place. After receiving the award, Tuan Tuan pulled Tong Ya by the hand and ran to where Chen Yu was. ¡°Daddy, was I amazing?¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly, pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s cheek, ¡°Amazing!¡± Following that, Tuan Tuan took Chen Yu¡¯s hand and the three of them left the venue together. ¡°My god, they are a family of three!¡± ¡°No wonder they danced so well together.¡± ¡°A family of three all with high attractiveness, truly envious.¡± ¡­ On the way back, Tong Ya stared unblinkingly at Chen Yu. The distance from the kindergarten to the shop wasn¡¯t long, but Chen Yu felt like he had walked a great length. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± Tong Ya suddenly asked. Chen Yu nodded his head but said nothing more. Tong Ya didn¡¯t press further, just sweetly smiled. Tuan Tuan pouted a little and looked at Chen Yu with slight frustration. In fact, Chen Yu did want to respond but his mind was entirely occupied by the information popped up by the system. [Congratulations Host for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 180,400 Yuan, you have been awarded with 180,400 points, the current total accumulated points are 547,680.] [System notice: When the host¡¯s cumulative points reach one million, a special lottery draw can be conducted.] Chen Yu was delighted. A lottery draw at 100,000 brought him a series-based skill like the marinated food. He also didn¡¯t know what a lottery draw at one million could bring him. Thinking of this, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help feeling excited. Adding the over 20,000 Yuan left from purchasing raw materials yesterday, Chen Yu now had about 210,000 Yuan in liquid funds. While calculating in his mind, Chen Yu headed back to the shop with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. Sure enough, the entire shop had been cleaned up, and the remaining ten pounds of braised meat was placed on the table, being heated slowly on an induction cooker. The six girls waited respectfully for Chen Yu¡¯s return, but Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t mind those, having already started to eat the pancakes. ¡°Brother Yu, you¡¯re finally back,¡± Chu Hong quickly stood up, ready to greet them. Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°Next time I go out, you don¡¯t need to wait for me.¡± Saying that, the three of them quickly washed their hands and sat down at the table. At 8:45 p.m., everyone finished eating and went back to rest. Chen Yu stayed behind to check on the inventory. The past two days had seen a big consumption of dumpling pastry, and there wasn¡¯t much semi-finished product left in the cold storage. The fried cakes could barely manage for tomorrow. After a rough calculation in his mind, Chen Yu made a phone call. Just like last time, he ordered raw materials for the fried cakes and dumpling pastry worth 150,000 Yuan, including beverages. Pork heads and elbows were ordered at 500 pounds each, and various seasonings were acquired for another 2,000 Yuan. Since he still needed to spend time preparing the semi-finished dumpling pastry and fried cakes tomorrow, Chen Yu dared not rashly increase the quantity of the marinated foods. Moreover, marinated foods have high demands on the freshness of the ingredients. The raw materials for this aspect were better brought in fresh daily. In this way, today¡¯s costs came to another 160,000 Yuan. Chen Yu immediately took the remaining money, depositing 40,000 Yuan into his current account. He left a little over 3,000 Yuan on his phone for emergencies, and nearly 7,000 Yuan was placed at the cash register. With that accounted for, the current account now had 390,000 Yuan. At 9:30 p.m., three large trucks stopped in front of the shop. Today¡¯s driver had changed back to the previous ones. ¡°Boss, your business is really booming. Now we can only deliver your goods in trucks; the smaller ones just can¡¯t fit everything.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and just chatted with them with a smile. After he helped the drivers move the raw materials into the cold storage, Chen Yu then closed the foldable door and went back up to the third floor. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50 - 50: Not Answering the Phone Chapter 50 ¨C 50: Not Answering the Phone Tong Ya was currently watching cartoons with Tuan Tuan. The sight made Chen Yu feel an inexplicable warmth. Just as he was about to brush his teeth and sit down to join them, his phone rang with a video call. Seeing it was Fang Yuan, Chen Yu hung up with some annoyance. ¡°Chen Yu, why did you hang up my call? I have some time right now, let me video chat with Tuan Tuan,¡± the message still rang with a presumptuous commanding tone. ¡°Dad, why didn¡¯t you answer the phone?¡± Tuan Tuan asked, lifting his little head. Without avoiding Tong Ya beside him, Chen Yu handed the phone to Tuan Tuan directly. ¡°Your mom wants to video chat with you, do you want to take it?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s small face scrunched up, and he immediately turned his head away. ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t want us anymore, so why should I answer her call? Besides, is she really my mom?¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly, then replied with a text message. ¡°Tuan Tuan doesn¡¯t want to video chat with you.¡± Afterward, he set his phone to silent and tossed it aside. Seeing this, Tong Ya felt a bit excited inside. At least she could be certain that there was no chance of Chen Yu reconciling with his ex-wife. After brushing his teeth and taking a quick shower, Chen Yu put on the pajamas that Tong Ya had prepared for him and went back to his room. He had become accustomed to Tong Ya preparing all sorts of things for him in advance during this recent period. ¡°You guys should go to sleep early too, don¡¯t stay up too late!¡± After saying this, Chen Yu went to bed. The next day at four o¡¯clock in the morning, Chen Yu got up and went downstairs to open the door. The stock of half-finished dumpling shells was running low, so he had to get up early to knead the dough. By the time the six girls arrived for work, Chen Yu made some new arrangements. Li Yu was in charge of the second-floor kitchen, preparing the fried cakes and the half-finished products. Chu Hong, as usual, took care of the first-floor opening. The rest were in the first-floor kitchen, preparing the fried cakes and the half-finished dumpling shells. Chen Yu was busy today, constantly moving between kneading dough, preparing ingredients, and processing pig¡¯s heads and knuckles. It felt like he was back to the busy days when he worked at the food cart. Until six-thirty in the morning, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t stopped for a moment. Kneading dough was not only a technical task but also one that required a lot of physical strength. Continually kneading batch after batch of dough without stopping would wear anyone down. By now, the shop was bustling, and Su Qing was the only one left making half-finished products in the first-floor kitchen. It must be said that this girl¡¯s skills had become faster and even surpassed Chen Yu¡¯s, after the training of the past few days. This morning, the dumpling shells were consumed faster than the fried cakes. The previously made half-finished dumpling shells had already sold out, but thankfully they could be replenished in time. At six forty-five, Tong Ya had already gone to the kindergarten with Tuan Tuan out of habit. But just after stepping out the door, she sent a text message to Chen Yu. ¡°Ah, what should I do, I didn¡¯t get to say goodbye to you before leaving, and now I¡¯ll miss you for the whole day!¡± Chen Yu glanced at it, then put his phone back in his pocket. Even if he wanted to reply now, he couldn¡¯t, as he was indeed too busy. Chu Hong had to handle the fried cakes and dumpling shells on the first floor, so most of the time, cutting and selling meat was still Chen Yu¡¯s job. By twelve o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu was feeling somewhat exhausted. However, remembering that it used to take only two days to prepare all the half-finished products, Chen Yu gritted his teeth and persevered. After all, this meant he could relax for three days afterward. By five in the afternoon, all the marinated meats had sold out. During this period, Chen Yu had already accumulated a substantial flow of people here, including the residential community behind the store and several building complexes around it. Even the merchants on the nearby streets had come to regard this place as their fixed dining hall for both breakfast and dinner. Now with the addition of braised dishes, the shop was bustling even at noon. Chen Yu even considered getting more pork tonight and introducing a few new flavors. Just then, Tong Ya suddenly called. ¡°Hello, my dear future boyfriend! Do you need me to bring you some flatbreads today?¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, Tong Ya was becoming increasingly bold in her flirtations. The little modesty that remained before had completely disappeared. Moreover, since being rejected the last time she confessed, Tong Ya seemed to have skipped the process altogether. She directly pushed their relationship to a state that was more than friends, but less than lovers. And under Tong Ya¡¯s influence, Chen Yu had surreptitiously come to accept this state. Chen Yu cleared his throat twice, taking a moment to calm his emotions. ¡°Yes, like yesterday, fifty flatbreads.¡± At this moment, Tong Ya had already arrived at the farmers¡¯ market with Tuan Tuan. As soon as she hung up the phone, Tuan Tuan looked at her with expectant eyes. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, you seem to have moved one step closer to becoming my mom.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face turned red as she pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s chubby little face. ¡°I¡¯m just tentatively trying to test your dad¡¯s bottom line, in case I touch it one day and mess things up.¡± Tuan Tuan, acting like a little grown-up, patted her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ve still got me! The two of us together, I don¡¯t believe we can¡¯t win over my stubborn old dad.¡± Tong Ya chuckled and pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little nose. ¡°Then I¡¯ll count on you!¡± With that, Tong Ya pointed to a snack stall not far away. ¡°Pick whatever you want to eat, today it¡¯s my treat.¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands with excitement and ran straight toward the stall. Half-past five in the afternoon. Xie Jiang rushed into the shop, looking disheveled. ¡°Old Chen, I heard your shop has launched new products, quickly let me have a taste.¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed, as the sign on the braised meat already displayed a ¡°sold out¡± notice. Just like yesterday, only ten pounds were reserved for the staff meal. With the addition of braised foods, the past two days had been very busy, with hardly any time to rest at noon. The six girls previously could still go back to rest a bit and bring back some fried cakes and turnovers for lunch. Now, working straight until seven or eight in the evening, they definitely deserved a good, filling meal. ¡°Old Xie, there really isn¡¯t any left today, how about I save you two pounds especially tomorrow noon?¡± Xie Jiang sighed resignedly, looking as if he had just returned from finishing a construction job. ¡°What a pity, too late no matter how I rushed! Alright then, make sure to save me some for tomorrow.¡± ¡°And tomorrow is Friday, I¡¯ve got a lot of workers coming over, I¡¯ll arrange a dinner party at your place.¡± After saying this and buying some fried cakes and turnovers, Xie Jiang left. By this time, Tong Ya had also returned to the shop with Tuan Tuan. As soon as she entered, she headed straight for the kitchen, put down the flatbreads, and made her way to Chen Yu. ¡°Have you secretly drugged me these past two days?¡± The sudden question bewildered Chen Yu, and he quickly reached out to touch Tong Ya¡¯s forehead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Tong Ya giggled and took the opportunity to hold Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that, for some reason, I can¡¯t help but think of you.¡± Chapter 51 - Chapter 51 - 51 Quotes from a Scumbag Chapter 51 ¨C 51 Quotes from a Scumbag Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. This girl sure had a variety of tricks up her sleeve. From the time Tong Ya confessed her feelings until now, one could compose a whole anthology of love phrases. But those words were spoken so subtly that even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse them. Even if Chen Yu were to look for faults and ask Tong Ya not to say such things in the future, she would simply put it off with the excuse that it was just a small joke among friends. Chu Hong and Su Qing, who were busy with their tasks, couldn¡¯t help but get startled and looked over with a touch of gossip in their eyes. Chen Yu cleared his throat, ¡°First, take Tuan Tuan upstairs. From now on, her homework is your responsibility.¡± ¡°Okie dokie!¡± Tong Ya responded, then took Tuan Tuan¡¯s hand and went up to the third floor. As soon as they got to the room, Tong Ya took two candied haw sticks out of Tuan Tuan¡¯s backpack. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, where did you learn to say those things you¡¯ve been saying to Dad recently?¡± Tong Ya smiled mysteriously and then took out her phone, clicking open an interface that looked like an e-book. The title on the screen read in big letters, ¡°Playboy Quotes!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s mouth hung open in surprise, ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, you really know how to apply what you¡¯ve learned.¡± ¡­ At eight in the evening, the flow of customers gradually decreased. However, Chen Yu was almost certain that if there was more supply of braised food, at this time the shop would definitely still be packed. But if that were the case, the six girls would not be able to cope. These past two days, they would return to the dorm at nine in the evening and be punctually at the shop at four-thirty in the morning. Deducting the time spent commuting, they truly had only seven hours of sleep. If it were cut down any further, then he would truly feel like a shameless capitalist. Chen Yu called over the girls, quickly tidied up the shop a bit, and gathered around the table. After having tasted the braised food these last two nights, everyone had gotten addicted. Their eyes were now brimming with anticipation. Tong Ya also came down the stairs with Tuan Tuan. Today, Tang Xiaowei was unusually quiet, though. Normally, Tang Xiaowei would be the first one to rush over at mealtime, but today she was sitting alone in the corner, continuously moving her paintbrush. ¡°Xiaowei, it¡¯s time to eat. What are you still drawing?¡± Tong Ya ran over with concern. On Tang Xiaowei¡¯s drawing board were all the bits and pieces of the shop. Moreover, she had slightly adapted these scenes into a coherent comic. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re drawing us!¡± Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. Tang Xiaowei nodded, ¡°I had the idea for the comic last time on the food cart. I drew a few sketches and sent them to the publishing house, they immediately gave me a fifty thousand advance.¡± Chen Yu was startled for a moment, then quickly stood up and moved beside Tang Xiaowei. The cover of the comic announced that it was adapted from a true story. It also detailed the location of Chen Yu¡¯s shop. Chen Yu looked at the comic somewhat excitedly; it was clearly helping him advertise. He initially thought about printing out some flyers over the next few days. Now, it seemed that comics were much more effective than flyers. ¡°No wonder the customer traffic has been on the rise these past few days. It¡¯s your comic that¡¯s had a promotional effect.¡± Chen Yu offered his praise and then picked up the comic next to him to flip through. Tang Xiaowei giggled, ¡°I had to do my part; I can¡¯t keep freeloading off of you.¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°And you have the nerve to say that. You¡¯ve drawn inspiration from the shop¡¯s story, so you should pay royalties.¡± Tang Xiaowei knew that Tong Ya was being protective of her food and didn¡¯t say much. She merely tidied up the draft drawings and sat down to eat together. It was eight-thirty in the evening. After eating, everyone began cleaning up the shop under Chen Yu¡¯s lead. [Congratulations Host for perfectly completing a day of business, today¡¯s net profit is 28,400 yuan, earning 28,400 points. Your current total points accumulated are 576,080.] Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected to maintain yesterday¡¯s sales, and in just one day, he had already broken even with yesterday¡¯s costs. Without any hesitation, Chen Yu immediately called to order pork for the next day. Just as he hung up the phone, Chen Yu noticed a girl hadn¡¯t left. ¡°Brother Yu, why didn¡¯t you let us stay to restock yesterday?¡± Chu Hong¡¯s words carried a hint of grievance. Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°The delivery man brought the raw materials in by himself; we didn¡¯t need to exert that effort.¡± The six girls glanced at each other and then sat down neatly beside him. ¡°When we were working in the factory, the delivery guys were too lazy to help us unload, and even if some were willing, they would get annoyed after a couple of times.¡± ¡°Yeah, Brother Yu, we¡¯ve experienced this firsthand. If you¡¯re going to order raw materials in the future, please order them earlier so we can help you unload.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. After all, what the girls were saying made sense. Even though he had become friendly with the raw materials delivery man, anyone would get annoyed with moving goods weighing over a thousand pounds too often. Before long, the truck carrying the pork arrived at the doorstep. The six girls got to work immediately, each shouldering some of the load. Although they weren¡¯t very strong, each time they could only carry a few dozen pounds. But after several trips back and forth, they quickly placed the pork into the cold storage. This time, indeed, the delivery man didn¡¯t lift a finger. After unloading, he drove off immediately. After the girls had left, Chen Yu sat down and quickly went through today¡¯s accounts. One thousand pounds of pork exactly amounted to 8,000 yuan, and this time Chen Yu counted out 8,000 yuan in cash from the counter to pay. Along with the more than 3,000 yuan left on his phone from yesterday, Chen Yu directly deposited 190,000 yuan into his checking account. He left just over 1,000 yuan in his phone for emergency use. With this, the savings in the checking account had reached 580,000 yuan. It seemed that whether it was buying a house or opening a new store, both goals were going to be achieved soon. [Congratulations Host for surpassing 500,000 yuan in savings, triggering a hidden reward.] Chen Yu was slightly surprised as the system¡¯s virtual screen popped up before his eyes. [The system can provide a supplement to the host¡¯s current skills to improve operational efficiency, but points will be deducted accordingly.] ¡°Skill supplement?¡± Chen Yu was puzzled for a moment, then opened the page before him, and a flood of information immediately flooded in. Automatic dough mixing machine diagrams, skills to complement noodle-making. Chen Yu immediately became excited, the system was indeed reliable, these two items were exactly what he needed right now. Without any hesitation, Chen Yu immediately clicked to confirm and acquire them. [Congratulations Host for receiving the skill supplement, remaining points are 476,080.] Chen Yu¡¯s mouth opened slightly in shock, one diagram and one set of noodle-making skills had actually cost 100,000 points. That was equivalent to one high-level lottery draw. But thinking about how he could skip the dough mixing process in the future, Chen Yu felt quite relieved. And the noodle-making skills were a systematic set of skills. However, these skills also included some machinery design diagrams. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52 - 52 New Machine Chapter 52 ¨C 52 New Machine ¡°` Glancing at the blueprint that appeared in his hands, Chen Yu hurriedly went next door to find Zhang Fan. Although Zhang Fan was a car mechanic, he had at least studied mechanical manufacturing and might know someone capable of building these machines. Chen Yu was surprised when he laid the blueprint in front of Zhang Fan, it excited him. ¡°Old Chen, how did you come up with such precise instruments?¡± ¡°Studied them before!¡± Chen Yu replied with a smile, trying to brush it off. ¡°You really are a genius, dough mixers, rolling machines, pancake makers, shaved noodle machines, noodle presses¡­ and they¡¯re all fully automatic.¡± Zhang Fan¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Chen Yu: ¡°I can make these things. Would you let me have a go?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Chen Yu agreed cheerfully. ¡°However¡­¡± Zhang Fan suddenly propped up his chin: ¡°These things all seem to lack a very crucial core component.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback and was about to check the blueprint. [System Notification: The host will have the machine activated by the system after acquiring the machine, but corresponding points will be deducted.] Chen Yu had a headache, realizing that the points needed seemed to increase as he progressed. Yet, possessing these machines not only would make his life much easier, but the restaurant¡¯s revenue might even increase. ¡°I¡¯ve already made the core components myself, it¡¯s just that some of these external parts are a bit complicated.¡± After this forced explanation, Zhang Fan didn¡¯t say much, just took the blueprints. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Chen! I studied mechanics after all. By tomorrow morning, I guarantee you¡¯ll be able to use these machines.¡± With that, Zhang Fan excitedly took the blueprints to his workbench. Looks like he wasn¡¯t planning on sleeping tonight. Seeing Zhang Fan¡¯s serious demeanor, Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to disrupt him and decided to head back to the restaurant. Suzhou City, west side, reality show filming location. Fang Yuan sat there with her mobile phone, looking dejected. According to the reports from her assistant over the past two days, Chen Yu¡¯s shop might already be bringing in over a hundred thousand in daily turnover. This made Fang Yuan feel somewhat uncomfortable. She had never imagined that Chen Yu, who was so meek when they were together, would suddenly possess such a brilliant business mind. Moreover, now he even dared to decisively refuse requests like video calling her and Tuan Tuan. It was as if Chen Yu had completely changed after their divorce. However, thinking about the twenty million she would receive for completing the reality show eased her mind. ¡­ At four o¡¯clock in the morning, Chen Yu rose early again. He wasn¡¯t sure if Zhang Fan could build the machine overnight, so he still had to get up early to prepare the dough. At four-thirty, the six girls also arrived at the shop on time. Today was Friday, and as usual, there would be a rush of customers in the evening. Fortunately, the semi-finished products made yesterday were enough to cope with today¡¯s crowd. By six in the morning, Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, as if they had agreed in advance, came over to help. Chen Yu had just finished working a bucket of dough, sitting there drenched in sweat, panting for breath. Without any hesitation, Tong Ya reached for a tissue to wipe his sweat. Chen Yu frowned slightly: ¡°It¡¯s already past six, what are you doing in the kitchen? Get ready and go to school with Tuan Tuan!¡± ¡°The dance competition ended yesterday afternoon, and the kindergarten has already started holiday. School doesn¡¯t start again until next Monday morning.¡± ¡°` Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, as the kindergarten¡¯s holiday schedule really didn¡¯t follow the usual pattern. Just then, Zhang Fan hurried into the shop and called Chen Yu to fetch the machinery. Chen Yu quickly called Zhao Meng and Han Cai and rushed to the next door. Before long, several machines were set up in the kitchen. The kitchen had been designed to be exceptionally spacious, so even after adding the braised meats, it only occupied half the space. Even with these machines now in place, there was plenty of room to spare. Chen Yu touched the machines with a hint of excitement, thinking he could finally take it easy. [System notification, the machinery core is automatically activated, current points balance, 376,080.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but gape, as yet another hundred thousand points were deducted. ¡°Old Chen, hurry up and install your core to test it out and see if it works,¡± urged Zhang Fan from outside the kitchen. He also wanted to see how impressive these machines would be when in operation. Chen Yu pretended to tinker with the machinery for a bit, then immediately plugged it in. ¡°Old Zhang, you really have some skills! How much is it? I¡¯ll transfer it to you right now.¡± Zhang Fan waved his hand, ¡°Since the design is yours, I just provided some materials and labor. Just give me five thousand for these machines.¡± Chen Yu took another look at the machines, noting that they were made of high-quality alloy. At five thousand yuan, it seemed that Zhang Fan hardly made any profit. ¡°Old Zhang, how about I just give you six thousand! You¡¯ve toiled all night, you should get some hardship pay,¡± Chen Yu suggested. Zhang Fan got annoyed, ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯re treating me like an outsider now. Aren¡¯t we buddies? Every time I come here to buy food, you always sneak in an extra one or two for me!¡± ¡°The other day I came here for braised meat, and you even added two extra pounds for me. Now you¡¯re haggling over this, I¡¯m really getting angry.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t argue with Zhang Fan and ended up transferring five thousand. Up to now, Chen Yu¡¯s account had almost reached twenty thousand in sales and he estimated that today¡¯s revenues might even surpass yesterday¡¯s. Without hesitation, Chen Yu eagerly tested the dough mixer. The machine could connect to five large barrels at once and would automatically operate if water and flour were mixed into it in a certain ratio. This was much faster than Chen Yu mixing dough by hand. Looking at the machines in the kitchen, Chen Yu immediately phoned the flour supplier to deliver a hundred bags of flour. The quantity startled the supplier. A hundred bags of flour meant ten thousand pounds, and they had just delivered flour to Chen Yu the night before. Tong Ya was also puzzled, ¡°Why do you suddenly need so much flour?¡± Chen Yu pointed to the machines in front of him, ¡°We can¡¯t just let these machines sit idle here, can we?¡± ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re going to introduce new products?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s black jade-like pupils widened slightly. ¡°Not exactly new products, just some staple foods!¡± Before long, a large truck stopped at the shop¡¯s door. At that moment, Chen Yu¡¯s account just happened to have a little over thirty thousand, so he transferred the payment to the driver. Han Cai and Zhao Meng quickly pushed out two small carts from the cold storage to help unload the truck. These two small carts were previously given to Chen Yu by Xie Jiang during the renovation. After all, each bag of flour weighed a hundred pounds, and Chen Yu himself might not be able to carry it, let alone the two young ladies. With the help of several delivery men, it didn¡¯t take long to store the flour in the refrigerated warehouse. Thankfully, they had cleared out half of the raw materials from the refrigerated warehouse the day before, otherwise, ten thousand pounds of flour might not have fit. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53 - 53 Ordering System Upgrade Chapter 53 ¨C 53 Ordering System Upgrade At nine in the morning, Chen Yu switched on all the machines. The flatbreads and noodles soon began releasing their enticing aroma. After a round of experimentation, Chen Yu had a rough idea of the pricing. A pound of flour could make about three large baked flatbreads, priced at two yuan each. As for the noodles, a pound of flour could yield two large bowls, each priced at three yuan. Such prices were much cheaper than those outside. Besides, these items were meant to pair with the marinated dishes, so there was no need to mark up the prices too high. Once Chen Yu entered the prices into the ordering system, the whole store immediately went crazy. It was nearing noon now, and a lot of people had already come in for lunch. A bowl of noodles, three ounces of marinated dishes, two flatbreads, half a pound of marinated¡­ Combinations like these suddenly became all the rage. By twelve at noon, the number of people in the store was more than double that of yesterday. There were even people who brought tables and stools to sit outside. Looking at the sea of people before him, Chen Yu felt the two hundred thousand points deducted by the system yesterday were well worth it. Plus, he was certainly feeling much more relaxed now. Just then, Xie Jiang arrived with a group of more than twenty workers, entering the shop with great fanfare. ¡°Old Chen, is my marinated meat ready?¡± Chen Yu stuck his head out of the kitchen, somewhat embarrassed. ¡°It is, but we¡¯re out of space now!¡± Xie Jiang waved his hand dismissively, ¡°We rough folks don¡¯t need seats! I see you¡¯ve got noodles and flatbreads now, so just prepare forty bowls of noodles and ten pounds of marinated meat for us; we¡¯ll eat outside.¡± Chen Yu hurriedly made the noodles and then divided the ten pounds of marinated meat into forty portions to put in the bowls. ¡°My God, this is so delicious!¡± Xie Jiang couldn¡¯t help shouting after taking a bite. The workers beside him started wolfing down their food as well. ¡°The noodles are firm, the marinate is fragrant! If we had some chili and vinegar, it would be even more amazing.¡± ¡°No way, I need five more big bowls!¡± ¡­ With the addition of the main dishes, the number of customers honestly got a bit overwhelming. Even though Chen Yu was now saving quite a bit of effort, managing so many machines at the same time was still a bit too much for him to handle. In the end, he had to stop making fried cakes and vegetable turnovers on the first floor and even called Han Cai from outside to help, along with Chu Hong, in managing these machines. Tong Ya hadn¡¯t expected the day to be this busy; she didn¡¯t even have time to talk to Chen Yu. By three in the afternoon, the lunchtime crowd had just begun to dissipate when the dinner crowd started to come in. Until six o¡¯clock, the shop was packed with a lively throng of people. Xie Jiang also returned with the group of workers, hoping to have an early dinner. But seeing the bustling scene in the shop, he immediately didn¡¯t want to cause too much trouble for Chen Yu. So he only ordered a bowl of noodles for each worker. Taking advantage of a moment when Chen Yu was delivering noodles, Xie Jiang pulled him aside. ¡°Old Chen, if you ask me, the ordering system in your shop is a bit outdated; you should consider making some changes.¡± Chen Yu was instantly intrigued, ¡°How should we change it?¡± ¡°You set up a few ordering stations where customers can scan and order through a code, then they¡¯ll get a receipt. With the receipt, they can go straight to the counter to pick up their food!¡± Chen Yu slapped his thigh in agreement. This way, they could eliminate the process of servers delivering meals. They only needed to assign one or two waiters to clean up the hall. The rest could focus on monitoring the kitchen. ¡°Where can I buy this system now?¡± Chen Yu quickly asked. ¡°You just need to modify your existing system and add some small devices; I have them ready. I¡¯ll bring them to you now!¡± With that, Xie Jiang ran back to his store, still holding his bowl. His store wasn¡¯t far from Chen Yu¡¯s, and soon, one of his helpers sent over a pile of parts. ¡°Old Chen, when your place is free tonight, I¡¯ll help you install it.¡± ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Chen Yu shook Xie Jiang¡¯s hand excitedly, relieved that his big problem was being solved, ¡°How much is it? I¡¯ll transfer the money to you now.¡± ¡°Hey, what money?¡± Xie Jiang was somewhat annoyed: ¡°I was the one who installed your system in the first place, and now it¡¯s just a little upgrade; consider it after-sales service.¡± Chen Yu wanted to decline, but Xie Jiang just pushed his hand away. ¡°Old Chen, if you keep this up, we can¡¯t be friends anymore.¡± Chen Yu sighed softly and didn¡¯t insist further. By 8 PM, the restaurant was still serving many customers, but the flow of people had finally begun to die down. After all, today¡¯s braised meats were nearly sold out. Seizing the lull, Xie Jiang quickly helped Chen Yu upgrade the system. This system was simple, just like before, it used QR codes, but now it had an added ticketing system. The waiters needed to occasionally load ticket rolls into the system. There were a total of twelve ordering points set up across two floors, six on each level. And the two kitchens were completely separated. The second floor was specifically for selling fried cakes and vegetable pastries, whereas the first floor focused on braised foods and noodles. This way, when customers came to pick up their food, there was directionality to it, avoiding long queues at a single window. By 9 PM, the whole store had been cleaned and the last customer had been seen off. Chen Yu specially set aside some flatbread and noodles, as well as ten pounds of braised meat. Today was definitely the busiest day ever; the six girls were exhausted. Moreover, they had been working from 4:30 in the morning until now, without a break even for a moment. Just after dinner, the meat delivery guy arrived at the door, but today Chen Yu had directly ordered two thousand pounds from him. After unloading the truck, Chen Yu gathered the six girls together. ¡°Tomorrow morning, everyone can sleep a bit more; coming to the shop by five will be fine, and about the distribution for tomorrow, has everyone got it?¡± After giving instructions, they went back to the dormitory. [Congratulations, Host, for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is ninety-nine thousand two hundred yuan, earning ninety-nine thousand two hundred points. The total accumulated points are now four hundred seventy-five thousand two hundred eighty.] The revenue was indeed less than the previous two days; it mainly fell short in vegetable pastries. After all, during the previous two days, staple foods weren¡¯t on the menu, and many people ate vegetable pastries together with braised meats. Now with the staple foods available, customers naturally chose to forego vegetable pastries selectively. It seemed that fried cakes sales had also decreased somewhat. This was an inevitable result due to the change in the store¡¯s sales structure. Moreover, the day had indeed been a bit chaotic. Therefore, Chen Yu went direct and got two thousand pounds of pork to change tomorrow¡¯s sales structure. After buying the pork, Chen Yu still had over ninety thousand in liquid funds. He directly deposited the ninety thousand into his current account, leaving just over two thousand as daily expenses. Now, there was a total of six hundred seventy thousand in his current account. Not until this moment did he stretch lazily, lower the folding door, and return to the third floor. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54 - 54 Coming to Find Chapter 54 ¨C 54 Coming to Find Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had already taken their baths and were sitting on the sofa watching TV. But Chen Yu suddenly realized that the two of them were actually wearing matching parent-child pajamas. And in the bathroom, the pajamas prepared for him were also part of the set. Chen Yu suddenly felt hesitant; he found that his relationship with Tong Ya had been progressing much too quickly these past few days. Although he hadn¡¯t yet accepted Tong Ya¡¯s confession, now they were indeed living together like a family of three. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu let out a sigh and put on the pajamas anyway. His previous pajamas had long since become worn out, and it seemed that Tong Ya had disposed of them. When Chen Yu emerged from the bathroom in his pajamas, Tong Ya¡¯s heart raced. Pajamas are quite intimate by nature, and Tong Ya¡¯s gesture was a way of testing Chen Yu¡¯s boundaries. ¡°Get to sleep early,¡± Chen Yu said just three words before he returned to his room. Tong Ya¡¯ s heart, which had been hanging, finally relaxed, and she bumped fists with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, pajama operation successful, you¡¯ve moved one step closer to being my mom,¡± Tuan Tuan said. Tong Ya pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little nose: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so clever!¡± At four in the morning, Chen Yu got up early and went down to the first-floor kitchen to process pig heads and hocks. He also turned on the dough mixer. When the six girls arrived, Chen Yu helped them take the first batch of dough that had been mixed to the second-floor kitchen. He also prepared the spices needed for the vegetable buns. According to yesterday¡¯s arrangement, Li Yu and Su Qing would stay in the second-floor kitchen, selling fried cakes and vegetable buns. Zhao Meng and Han Cai would take turns being responsible for the cleanliness of the two floors¡¯ dining areas. Chu Hong and Zhang Qian would stay with Chen Yu in the first-floor kitchen, specializing in marinated delicacies. With the new system in place, cash transactions had been completely eliminated, so there was no longer any need for a bar counter. At four-thirty, a few customers had already begun to trickle in. At this time, most people were there for breakfast, so they usually went straight to the second floor. It wasn¡¯t until six o¡¯clock that customers gradually started to appear on the first floor. ¡°Old Chen, quickly give me a jin of your first pot of stewed meat!¡± Zhang Fan rushed into the shop with a basin, full of urgency. Chen Yu was somewhat helpless: ¡°Eating stewed meat so early in the morning?¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± Zhang Fan directly placed the basin in front of the display window while scanning the payment code on top of it. A few payment codes were still kept beside the window for some of the regulars who would scan them directly to pay. These payment codes also served as a backup, for no one could guarantee that the system wouldn¡¯t have an issue someday. By eight in the morning, the shop was in its usual state of being jam-packed with people. However, today things were much more organized than yesterday. Chen Yu even had time to take a break. Suzhou City Di Hao Hotel. An old man with white hair and beard sat sternly by the bed, leaning on a cane. In front of him were a whole bunch of flashy but insubstantial dishes. ¡°Old Tong, this is the best we could find in this small place, please make do with it,¡± someone said. The old man¡¯s expression darkened: ¡°Can¡¯t you find something with more substance? Always bringing me these fancy but useless things to fool me.¡± Just as the old man was about to blow up, a bodyguard rushed into the room hurriedly, placing down a basin of marinated meat and two pancakes. The assistant next to the old man frowned: ¡°What is this you¡¯ve brought! Take it¡­¡± The assistant was momentarily stunned before he could finish speaking, as the aroma emanating from the braised meat invigorated his spirit. The elder¡¯s eyes also lit up as he picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a small bite. ¡°Mmm, delicious!¡± No sooner had he praised it than his expression darkened again. ¡°Did you bring the braised meat from Imperial Capital¡¯s Duanfuji over here?¡± The bodyguard who had just entered kept waving his hands, ¡°It was bought from nearby; that shop sells deep-fried cakes, vegetable pastries, and braised meat, and doesn¡¯t even have a sign, but it¡¯s very popular.¡± The old man paused, then picked up another piece of the braised meat to savor carefully. ¡°There is indeed some difference from Duanfuji¡¯s!¡± As his words finished, the old man began to eat with relish, eventually soaking the flatbread in the braised meat and shoveling it into his mouth. ¡°This is delicious! Now this is more like it! Where is this shop? Take me there now.¡± The bodyguard didn¡¯t dare delay and hurriedly led the old man downstairs. By noon, the shop was already somewhat overcrowded. After changing the sales structure, the flow of customers had indeed increased quite a bit. Especially at this time, the flatbread, noodles, and braised meat were in great demand. Just then, Tang Xiaowei was leaning against the shop¡¯s entrance, basking in the sun while drawing comics. But as she searched for the right contrast in her lines, she suddenly noticed a procession of luxury cars approaching from afar. When she recognized the license plates, her face was filled with shock. ¡°Oh my goodness, they¡¯ve found me.¡± Tang Xiaowei muttered to herself then hastily ran into the shop and dragged Tong Ya out of the kitchen. ¡°Trouble¡¯s here, your dad has come looking!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes widened instantly: ¡°No way? How did he know I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°I have no idea, he¡¯s just outside now, you¡¯d better come up with a plan quick!¡± Tong Ya tried to remain calm, ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily for us, let¡¯s hide upstairs for now.¡± Tang Xiaowei nodded and went upstairs with Tong Ya. At that moment, the cavalcade had already stopped at the entrance of the shop, and the old man, surrounded by a horde of bodyguards, made a grand entrance into the shop. The shop, which had been bustling just moments ago, suddenly fell silent, all eyes on the old man. These people had never seen someone of his level before. Chen Yu simply looked up for a moment, then continued to focus on his braised meat. ¡°Where¡¯s the boss?¡± the old man called out authoritatively. Chen Yu responded from behind the counter without much fuss, ¡°Right here, what can I do for you?¡± The old man coughed lightly, ¡°Give me some of your specialties¡­¡± ¡°To order, please queue up over there!¡± Chen Yu cut him off directly. ¡°You want me to queue? Do you know who I am?¡± The old man was slightly annoyed. ¡°No matter who you are, everyone who eats here is a customer, and they all need to queue. That¡¯s my rule.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s respectful yet firm stance piqued the old man¡¯s interest. The two bodyguards next to him were getting annoyed at Chen Yu¡¯s attitude and were about to step forward to teach him a lesson but were stopped by the old man. ¡°This young man has character, and he has his rules. Reminds me of myself when I was young. Go queue up!¡± Saying this, the old man picked up a chair from the side and sat down. The bodyguards beside him were somewhat impatient and went to join the queue. At this moment, Tong Ya and Tang Xiaowei were peeking sneakily through the gaps in the railing on the third floor. New Book ¡°The Internet is Shocked! You Call This a Psychologist?¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55 - 55 Rejecting Investment Chapter 55 ¨C 55 Rejecting Investment ¡°Wow, haven¡¯t seen your dad in years, he¡¯s aged a lot!¡± Tang Xiaowei spoke in a hushed voice. Tong Ya didn¡¯t answer, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at the old man downstairs. After a while, when they realized that the old man wasn¡¯t making any moves, just sitting there waiting, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Seems like he¡¯s not here for us! Looks like he came for the braised dishes.¡± Tang Xiaowei curled her lip, ¡°Wow, the stuff your future husband makes must be really amazing, even attracting your own father here.¡± Tong Ya gave Tang Xiaowei¡¯s arm a gentle twist. She didn¡¯t know what to do at that moment. If Chen Yu can¡¯t find her later and calls out her name, then everything would be exposed. By now, the old man had a bowl of noodles and a pound of braised meat in front of him. He didn¡¯t care about anything else and started wolfing down his food with chopsticks in hand. ¡°Hmm, delicious! Haven¡¯t tasted such firm noodles and such aromatic braised meat in a long time!¡± After gobbling down a bowl of noodles and a pound of braised meat, the man seemed to still be craving more as he got up and walked over to the display window. ¡°Boss, the flavor here rivals that of Imperial Capital¡¯s Duan Fu Ji. If you don¡¯t mind, I can invest in you and help you turn it into a chain.¡± Chen Yu was indifferent, ¡°I just want to work my way up on my own. If others invest, maybe the taste will change.¡± ¡°Yo, young man, I¡¯m liking you more and more!¡± Having said that, the old man took out a business card and placed it on the counter. ¡°I¡¯m in Suzhou City for a conference these few days, and I hope to have my meals here for the next three days. Can you arrange for someone to deliver?¡± Chen Yu glanced at the business card, Tong Ming! It shared the same surname as Tong Ya. When he saw the address written on the back, though, he frowned. ¡°This address is too far, it¡¯s not within our delivery range. Have someone come pick it up!¡± After being rebuffed again, Tong Ming became even more interested in Chen Yu. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll send someone to pick it up!¡± With a hearty laugh, Tong Ming turned and left. But after just a couple of steps, he turned back around. ¡°Young man, are you sure you don¡¯t want to consider my investment? I can give you a hundred million upfront.¡± Chen Yu smiled and shook his head, ¡°No thanks, I believe that one day I will also be able to make a hundred million on my own.¡± Tong Ming nodded in admiration, ¡°Young man, I have my eye on you.¡± After offering his praise, Tong Ming left the restaurant with his bodyguards in a grand manner. Not until that moment did Tang Xiaowei and Tong Ya, hiding on the third floor, finally breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Wow! Your dad admires your future man!¡± Tang Xiaowei exclaimed, ¡°If you ask me, you should rush downstairs right now, have a father-daughter reunion, and then ride your dad¡¯s coattails to force a marriage. You¡¯d have him in the bag.¡± Tong Ya rolled her eyes, ¡°You think this is one of your comics? Just a stroke of the pen and they¡¯re together.¡± Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t agree, ¡°At least it¡¯s a good opportunity! Your dad seems to have quite a rapport with your future man.¡± Tong Ya kept quiet, only going downstairs with Tang Xiaowei after Tong Ming¡¯s motorcade had driven off into the distance. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya!¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly called out from a corner, and then rushed over. ¡°You didn¡¯t just see my dad be awesome, did you? He was neither servile nor overbearing, just managed to snub a shameless tycoon and send him packing.¡± Tong Ya was exasperated, wondering what Tuan Tuan¡¯s reaction would be if she knew the ¡®shameless tycoon¡¯ was actually her own father. Tang Xiaowei was even more embarrassed, but under the circumstances, all she could do was agree with Tuan Tuan. ¡°That¡¯s right, there are indeed some shameless tycoons these days, acting all high and mighty, thinking they don¡¯t have to queue up for a meal. That¡¯s dismissing the rules of our establishment.¡± Having said that, Tang Xiaowei still looked at Tong Ya with a teasing expression. ¡°Right, Xiaoya?¡± Tong Ya bit her lip, almost ready to swallow Tang Xiaowei whole. ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t let that kind of unscrupulous tycoon in.¡± Chen Yu helplessly glanced at everyone. ¡°Alright, he¡¯s gone. Let¡¯s not talk behind his back.¡± Tong Ya might have felt a bit guilty and quickly ran into the kitchen. ¡°Um, what do you think about the wealthy guy who came by just now?¡± Tong Ya timidly asked. Chen Yu thought for a moment. ¡°Although he was a bit overbearing at first, he did line up later on, which shows he¡¯s not a bad person.¡± Tong Ya inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Speaking of which, why didn¡¯t you accept his investment just now? A hundred million, you know. That could¡¯ve saved you from struggling for many decades.¡± Chen Yu smiled. ¡°If I accepted his hundred million just to struggle less for a few decades, what value would my life have left?¡± His words rang with conviction, stirring something in Tong Ya¡¯s heart. Perhaps this was one of the reasons she liked Chen Yu, that resilience and masculinity that came from deep within him. ¡°I believe even without someone else¡¯s investment, you will definitely succeed!¡± Tong Ya waved her little fists and made a very cute cheering gesture. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and continued working on the pig¡¯s head and knuckle. Today¡¯s volume of marinated meat was double that of yesterday¡¯s, and he had to ensure an efficiency of one batch every forty minutes. By six in the afternoon, the crowd hadn¡¯t lessened but had actually grown. Moreover, the new arrivals all had one thing in common¡ªthey were holding a comic book in their hands. Upon entering, they ordered one of every item in the shop. They posed for pictures before finally sitting down to eat. Without looking, Chen Yu knew these people must have come after seeing Tang Xiaowei¡¯s comics. At this moment, Tang Xiaowei, dressed in a panda outfit, was hiding in a corner not far away, watching her fans take pictures. It wasn¡¯t until eight in the evening that the flow of customers began to wane, but by then, the marinated meats were almost sold out, leaving no choice but to put up a ¡°sold out¡± sign. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected that, even after doubling the volume of marinated meats, they would sell out at this time. It seemed not only that there were more people, but the proportion of customers eating the marinated meats had also increased. By now, the second floor had been tidied up, and Li Yu and Su Qing, looking somewhat exhausted, came down, each holding a list in their hand. All the raw materials for the fried cakes and vegetable pastries had been made into semi-finished products and stored in the freezer. And the sales of fried cakes and vegetable pastries had dropped sharply today, only slightly higher than what they used to sell from the food cart. Chen Yu stretched and called everyone over to eat. Today, after some consideration, Chen Yu set a rule for the staff meal. Pancakes and noodles would be served unlimited, eat as much as you desire. In fact, his main concern was that after so much work each day, the girls might not be able to keep up. Before dinner, as usual, Chen Yu called to order two thousand pounds of pork. However, he was already considering buying a few more pressure cookers to try out marinated meats with different flavors. After all, no matter how tasty this single five-spice blend was, customers would get tired of it if they ate it for too long. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56 - 56 Going Out Chapter 56 ¨C 56 Going Out Just after finishing the meal, the pork delivery master arrived at the shop. After Chen Yu and his colleagues had moved the pork and cleaned the shop, a system prompt sounded in his mind. [Congratulations to the host, perfectly completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 188,200 yuan, obtaining 188,200 points, the current total points are 663,480.] After paying for the pork, Chen Yu deposited the 180,000 yuan into his current account. He then kept a little over 9,000 yuan on hand as emergency funds. Chen Yu roughly calculated today¡¯s business revenue. About 20,000 fried cakes, 10,000 vegetable pastries, 2,000 jin of marinated goods, 6,000 pancakes, and 4,000 bowls of noodles were sold. Compared to before, the sales volume of fried cakes and vegetable pastries indeed dropped a bit, basically returning to the level of the food cart before. However, the sales volume of vegetable pastries was 4,000 more than when they were sold at the food cart. Adding the daily sales of beverages, the daily cost is roughly around 54,300 yuan. If calculated in this way, the average daily net profit could reach 150,000 yuan. If he could continue to operate stably like this, he could earn a net profit of 4.5 million yuan in a month. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his emotion, and at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could open another branch. He could even buy a set of housing in full payment. ¡°What are you thinking about? You look so happy!¡± Tong Ya suddenly appeared behind Chen Yu, startling him. ¡°I was just roughly calculating the revenue these days!¡± After only a sentence, Chen Yu realized that the six girls and Tang Xiaowei had already left. ¡°I have something to talk to you about!¡± Tong Ya suddenly seemed a bit nervous: ¡°There is a dance competition in the next three days, and I have to take Tuan Tuan to the capital.¡± Lying for the first time in front of someone she liked, she indeed felt a bit panicked. ¡°Then go!¡± Chen Yu agreed very readily. After all, Tong Ya was Tuan Tuan¡¯s dance teacher, and moreover, their relationship had grown much closer recently. Even Chen Yu had the impression that they were a family of three. Besides, he was accustomed to Tong Ya taking Tuan Tuan to competitions. Tong Ya was somewhat surprised and didn¡¯t react immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to ask? Or any instructions?¡± Tong Ya asked with some uncertainty. ¡°I trust you with Tuan Tuan! What¡¯s there to instruct? But you two must call me each evening to report that you¡¯re safe.¡± Tong Ya giggled: ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go pack.¡± Tong Ming¡¯s sudden arrival in Suzhou City caught Tong Ya off guard. Staying in the shop for the upcoming days might result in running into Tong Ming. She had to think of a way to avoid Tong Ming and still pass muster with Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, but as he was about to check the inventory in the cold storage, he received a message from Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Brother Yu, could you bring me some pancakes and marinated food tomorrow morning? I¡¯m going to the nearby mountains for inspiration.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, thinking, why does everyone have to leave in such a hurry? But he didn¡¯t dwell on it. ¡°Come to the shop before you leave tomorrow morning to pick them up.¡± After taking inventory in the cold storage, Chen Yu went straight back to his room to sleep. At four o¡¯clock the next morning, Tong Ya got up early with Tuan Tuan, saying they had to catch the earliest flight. At six o¡¯clock, Han Cai took some pancakes and marinated goods, rushed out of the door, saying that Tang Xiaowei was in a hurry and might not have time to come to the shop. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning, suddenly having a bad premonition. Just as he was about to take out his phone to call Tong Ya, he noticed a message from her. ¡°These days, I will keep you in my mind every moment, and don¡¯t you forget to think of me too!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and the bad premonition from earlier vanished completely. At eight in the morning, a convoy of cars grandly arrived at the shopfront. Tong Ming entered just like yesterday, surrounded by a group of security guards. However, today, he seemed to be much more rule-abiding. After finding an empty table and sitting down, he sent his bodyguard to order food. Two shrimp dumplings, two fried cakes, two pancakes, and half a pound of marinated meat. It has to be said, the old gentleman really had a good appetite. Once the bodyguards had ordered exclusively for Tong Ming, they began their frenzied mode as per his instructions. Twenty men, two hundred fried cakes, one hundred shrimp dumplings, forty bowls of noodles, and twenty pounds of marinated meat. Considering they were bodyguards, this wasn¡¯t a particularly large amount of food. But their manner of eating truly intimidated the surrounding customers. ¡°Delicious! No wonder Mr. Tong came so early.¡± ¡°I never expected to find such tasty food in such a small city.¡± ¡°It makes me not want to leave, and I wonder when Mr. Tong¡¯s next meeting in Suzhou City will be?¡± ¡­ After finishing his food, Tong Ming moved a small stool and sat near the display window. ¡°Young man, I really appreciate you. Have you considered opening your store in the capital?¡± Chen Yu was helpless, this was just another approach to talk about investment. ¡°Old sir, I need to do well in this small city first, make a name for myself, before I can move to a big city!¡± Tong Ming chuckled, ¡°Lads like you are rare these days! By the way, are you married? I have a daughter¡­¡± ¡°Old sir, I¡¯m already divorced, and I have a kid who¡¯s five or six years old!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat impatient. His business was essentially on the right track now, and this was the time he least appreciated being disturbed. Moreover, he didn¡¯t know this older gentleman well, and any potential harm coming his way was an unthinkable consequence. ¡°So what if you¡¯ve been divorced?¡± The old man, with a big wave of his hand, affirmed, ¡°These days, men are tested on their perseverance and ability to break new ground. I believe you will definitely find someone better.¡± These words left Chen Yu quite stunned. Somehow, he felt a resonance with this old man on many levels. Gradually, Chen Yu kept busy while chatting with Tong Ming off and on. Tong Ming¡¯s insights on business were exceedingly shrewd; in just half an hour, Chen Yu felt as though he had completed a special course from a business school. By nine in the morning, Tong Ming bid farewell to Chen Yu and left with his entourage. By noon, Tong Ming sent one of his bodyguards to order food again. A day flew by, and although busy and fulfilling, Chen Yu felt something was missing. Not until Tong Ya sent several photos of her with Tuan Tuan did he feel somewhat reassured. At eight in the evening, as the foot traffic dwindled, Chen Yu began to instruct Chu Hong and the others to slowly clean up the shop. He also made calls to order pork and ingredients. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 188,200 Yuan, earning 188,200 points, with a current total of 851,680 points.] Chapter 57 - Chapter 57 - 57 Safety, Return! Chapter 57 ¨C 57 Safety, Return! Today¡¯s profits were about the same as yesterday¡¯s, considering the only increase in cost was the pork expense. Looking at the current situation, the store can essentially guarantee a steady income. I estimate another day of amassing points and I¡¯ll have accumulated one million. Chen Yu was suddenly filled with anticipation; he had no idea what skill he might draw from this one-time, one-million-point lottery. Following his usual practice, Chen Yu transferred a neat sum of 170,000 to his checking account. Apart from spending twenty thousand on pork and ingredients, Chen Yu was pleasantly surprised to find that the balance in his checking account had reached 1.02 million. This sum was certainly sufficient for him to expand with another shop. However, Chen Yu still preferred to wait and see. The business had just stabilized, and he wasn¡¯t keen on disrupting this equilibrium right away. He decided to make adjustments as necessary after completing the top-tier lottery. Just as he was storing the pork and sending the girls back to the dormitory, he suddenly noticed Tang Xiaowei standing at the door. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Chen Yu was slightly surprised, ¡°I thought you went out for inspiration and would need several days.¡± Tang Xiaowei chuckled, ¡°Not that long. By the way, do you have anything to eat?¡± ¡°I could make you a bowl of noodles.¡± Chen Yu took a lump of dough from the fridge and expertly pressed out a bowl of Hele noodles for Tang Xiaowei. There was no leftovers for broth, so he simply mixed in some basic seasonings. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly noticed his own portrait in the sketchbook Tang Xiaowei had brought back. He instinctively pulled it out for a closer look and found Tong Ming inside as well. ¡°Did you not go far today?¡± asked Chen Yu without thinking. The drawing depicted the scene of him talking with Tong Ming that morning. Tang Xiaowei¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, and her gaze became somewhat panicked. But she quickly calmed herself down. ¡°I passed by this morning and felt that this scene had a good atmosphere, so I sketched it! Then I followed to draw that old man.¡± Although the explanation seemed far-fetched, Chen Yu had no suspicions. The drawings thereafter were mostly of Tong Ming, almost documenting all he had done that day. ¡°Has this Mr. Tong left?¡± Chen Yu noticed the last drawing was of the elderly gentleman boarding a plane at the airport. Tang Xiaowei nodded, ¡°It seems like his negotiations with the local consortium fell through.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask any further questions, merely returning the sketches to Tang Xiaowei. ¡­ Suzhou City¡¯s Gaoshan Hotel. Tuan Tuan lay on the vast bed, rolling around cheerfully. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, is it really okay for us to sneak out and play without telling dad?¡± Tong Ya coughed lightly, ¡°Who said we¡¯re just here to play? This is for you to experience the artistic conception in dance.¡± Tuan Tuan pouted, doubting even Tong Ya herself believed that excuse. After a forced explanation, Tong Ya took out more than a dozen skewers of candied hawthorns from her bag. ¡°Here¡¯s your candied hawthorn. Have you remembered what to tell your dad when we get back?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°Remembered. We went on a last-minute trip to the capital to participate in a dance competition.¡± As she spoke, Tuan Tuan grabbed a strawberry candied hawthorn and bit into it voraciously. Tong Ya was quite relieved and rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. She really had no choice this time. But having fun throughout the day did indeed bring her closer to Tuan Tuan. Just then, Tong Ya¡¯s phone received a flood of pictures and a message from Tang Xiaowei as well. ¡°The old man has left, it¡¯s safe now, you can return!¡± Tong Ya finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the atmosphere had been as tense as if she were meeting a spy. Early the next morning, Chen Yu went straight downstairs and turned on the dough machine, then began to fiddle with the braised food seasonings. At six in the morning, Tang Xiaowei arrived at the store extra early. She stood at the entrance in her mascot costume as usual, except today she seemed to be acting rather sneaky. And she kept sending messages on her phone. By eight o¡¯clock, Tong Ya returned to the shop with Tuan Tuan, both in high spirits. However, they had bought a ton of stuff in big and small packages. When Chen Yu saw this, he couldn¡¯t help but frown; it seemed a bit too extravagant. Upon reaching the kitchen, Tong Ya saw Chen Yu with a dark expression on his face. Thinking she was caught, she approached Chen Yu with her head lowered like a little girl who had made a mistake. ¡°Don¡¯t buy so many things for Tuan Tuan next time she goes out, she¡¯s still young, we can¡¯t let her get used to it,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, Tong Ya immediately relaxed. ¡°I understand, I will be thrifty and manage our household well going forward,¡± she said. Chen Yu nodded at this, but then he thought that Tong Ya¡¯s comment seemed a bit out of place. After Tong Ya finished speaking, she went off to get busy, not giving him a chance to respond. At Suzhou City train station, Li Lan and Chen Guang arrived early in the morning. After a short wait, they hailed a flatbed tricycle and headed straight to Chen Yu¡¯s shop. When they arrived, they were completely stunned. ¡°Yu¡¯s dad!¡± Li Lan frowned, ¡°Is Chen Yu¡¯s shop really around here?¡± Chen Guang nodded, ¡°Based on the location he sent us before, it should be around here.¡± Li Lan sighed, ¡°Look at this store; it¡¯s so crowded! If Chen Yu opened his shop next to this one, wouldn¡¯t it just lead to losing money?¡± Chen Guang¡¯s face was filled with concern, ¡°If you ask me, we should just take Chen Yu back home where at least he can have a full meal.¡± With that, Li Lan directly called Chen Yu¡¯s phone. It was precisely noon, the peak of the foot traffic. When Chen Yu saw that it was Li Lan calling, he quickly answered. ¡°Mom! What¡¯s up with the call?¡± ¡°Chen Yu, your dad and I have come to see you, where is your shop?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°It¡¯s at the location I sent you guys before! Why did you come here for no reason?¡± ¡°I¡¯m right at the location you sent us, but there is only one unmarked restaurant here, no other shops.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Yu quickly signaled Chu Hong and hurried out of the shop. ¡°Dad, Mom!¡± He shouted excitedly and ran over. Both Li Lan and Chen Guang wore faces of astonishment. They had not expected such a bustling shop to belong to Chen Yu. ¡°Is this your shop?¡± Chen Guang still found it hard to believe. Chen Yu smiled, ¡°First go upstairs and rest a bit; I¡¯ll join you after I get through this busy time!¡± With that, Chen Yu led Chen Guang and Li Lan directly to the third floor of the shop. As soon as the door opened, Tuan Tuan yelled out loud, dropping her homework and running over. ¡°Grandpa! Grandma! How come you¡¯re here?¡± Li Lan quickly went up to hug Tuan Tuan, ¡°We came to see you!¡± After making sure they were settled, Chen Yu hurried back downstairs. This time was the busiest for the shop; any lapse, and they couldn¡¯t keep up with the demand for braised food. At that moment, Tong Ya was busy managing the dough rolling machine, pressing out noodles bowl by bowl. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58 - 58 Parents Arrive Chapter 58 ¨C 58 Parents Arrive Tuan Tuan had not seen Chen Guang and Li Lan for a very long time. After playing wildly for a while, Tuan Tuan seemed to remember something and suddenly became quiet. ¡°Grandpa and Grandma, don¡¯t you want to try the food Dad makes? It¡¯s delicioust.¡± When Chen Guang and Li Lan entered the shop, they had already smelled the aroma. And since the store was so full of customers, the taste must be good. ¡°Of course!¡± Li Lan was somewhat impatient. She also wanted to know what made this shop so popular. Tuan Tuan nodded his little head and scurried downstairs. However, Tuan Tuan didn¡¯t go to find Chen Yu but instead approached Tong Ya. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, quickly make two big bowls of noodles, with some side dishes to be taken upstairs, for important guests,¡± Tuan Tuan said. Tong Ya didn¡¯t think much of it, after all, those heading to the third floor must be Chen Yu¡¯s good friends. She quickly pressed out two bowls of Hele noodles, added some side dishes, and headed upstairs with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Grandpa and Grandma, the noodles are here!¡± Tuan Tuan shouted excitedly and led Tong Ya into the room. Just as Tong Ya placed the noodles on the table, she realized something. When Tuan Tuan had called for Grandpa and Grandma, it seemed there was no family name added. Could it be that the couple sitting on the sofa were Chen Yu¡¯s parents! Chen Guang, attracted by the scent of the noodles, began eating from his bowl right away. But when Li Lan saw Tong Ya, she paused. ¡°Wow, what a beautiful girl! Do you work here?¡± Tong Ya was startled for a moment, stammering, uncertain of how to reply. ¡°She¡¯s my dance teacher!¡± Tuan Tuan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand. Tong Ya hurriedly bowed. ¡°Hello, Uncle and Auntie!¡± Li Lan looked puzzled: ¡°Teacher? Then why are you¡­ ¡± ¡°I¡¯m here helping out because it¡¯s the weekend!¡± Tong Ya explained in a hurry: ¡°It¡¯s very busy outside, I¡¯ll get going first.¡± Having said that, Tong Ya left the room somewhat flustered. Li Lan still hadn¡¯t grasped the situation; even if it was the weekend, why would a kindergarten teacher come to the shop to help out with odd jobs! Tuan Tuan chuckled softly: ¡°Grandma, isn¡¯t Teacher Tong Ya pretty?¡± Li Lan nodded: ¡°I haven¡¯t seen such a good-looking girl before.¡± ¡°Then, should we have her be my mom?¡± Chen Guang, who was beside them, nearly sprayed the noodles out of his mouth. ¡°Is she your dad¡¯s new girlfriend?¡± Tuan Tuan shook his head: ¡°No, she¡¯s my dad¡¯s college classmate!¡± A flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Guang¡¯s face. If such a beautiful girl were together with his son, he would wake up smiling from his dreams. ¡°But, Teacher Tong Ya has liked Dad for a long time and is currently pursuing him.¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Guang immediately put down his bowl. ¡°What, such a pretty girl is interested in your dad?¡± Li Lan also exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Then has your dad agreed or not?¡± Tuan Tuan sighed: ¡°Dad is really a blockhead. Teacher Tong Ya has confessed so many times, but he just won¡¯t agree.¡± Li Lan suddenly became indignant: ¡°This kid is really stubborn. Doesn¡¯t he know his own situation? To have such a wonderful girl by his side and not to cherish it.¡± Tuan Tuan found empathy: ¡°Exactly, Teacher Tong Ya is so nice, she dances well, is beautiful, comes over to help Dad unconditionally, and even gave him a mobile phone¡­¡± Tuan Tuan talked as if he was listing all of Chen Yu¡¯s misdeeds! Li Lan stopped eating and was ready to go downstairs right away. Chen Guang hurriedly stopped her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s busy downstairs right now, let¡¯s ask him again after he¡¯s finished with the evening rush.¡± Li Lan didn¡¯t say anything else, and simply picked up her chopsticks to take another bite of noodles. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect the kid to have this trick up his sleeve!¡± Tuan Tuan recounted some more details about Chen Yu and Tong Ya, then dashed downstairs. By now it was past two o¡¯clock, and the crowd had slowly thinned out. Tong Ya also found a lull and sat at an empty table to rest. But her breathing seemed a bit rushed. After all, the encounter upstairs was almost like meeting the parents, yet she was wearing an apron, not to mention her hair was a bit messy, and she looked a bit dirty all over. She feared that she had already made a poor first impression on Chen Yu¡¯s parents. ¡°Miss Tong Ya!¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly shouted, rushing over to her side with great enthusiasm. ¡°Grandpa and Grandma really like you!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes widened, the dark cloud lingering in her mind dissipated a bit. ¡°How do you know?¡± Tuan Tuan giggled, ¡°I just told them about you and dad, and they decided to have a good talk with him tonight.¡± Tong Ya immediately became excited; she had thought that Chen Yu¡¯s parents would disdain her because of her appearance. Now, hearing Tuan Tuan¡¯s words, she was suddenly at ease. ¡°You¡¯d better not be lying to me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Miss Tong Ya, it won¡¯t be long before I call you mom!¡± With that, Tuan Tuan stretched out her little hand and high-fived Tong Ya. ¡°What are you two chatting about? You seem so happy.¡± Chen Yu came over with a bowl of noodles for Tong Ya: ¡°You¡¯ve been busy all morning, eat something to fill up first.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t speak and just started eating from the bowl. Before the braised dishes were added, there used to be time for a lunch break at midday. But now, time was a bit tight, and sometimes they couldn¡¯t even have lunch. So, whenever there was a break, Chen Yu would try to arrange a meal for the employees. Since there was no lunch break, they should at least have a full meal. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, after the braised dishes had sold out, the customer flow in the store had gradually decreased. The store had been closing around this time for the past two days. By eight-thirty, after arranging for the employees to have their meal and moving the ordered pork and flour into the cold storage, Chen Yu called the six girls to head back to their dormitory. [Congratulations Host, you have perfectly completed a day of business, with a net profit today of 184,200 yuan, earning 184,200 points. Your current total accumulated points are 1,035,880.] Chen Yu felt an inexplicable excitement in his heart; his points had finally exceeded one million. However, he was not in a hurry to draw a lottery. The store was now stable and should progress in an orderly manner. Adding one new braised dish recently had already kept him more than busy. So, it was better to observe for a while. He had just ordered ten thousand pounds of flour and two thousand pounds of pork. Considering the current daily consumption of pasta and flatbreads, which was four thousand pounds of flour, it would just last until the day after tomorrow. By then, the semi-finished products like the fried cakes and vegetable pastries would also be sold out, and he could place a unified order for raw materials. But the meat used for braising still needed to be purchased on the same day. After calculating briefly in his mind, he transferred sixteen thousand yuan into his savings account. Leaving himself with just over five thousand yuan for contingencies. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59 - 59: Mother and Daughter Chapter 59 ¨C 59: Mother and Daughter Just as Chen Yu was busy doing his accounts, Li Lan and Chen Guang hurriedly came downstairs. ¡°Xiaoyu, tell me what¡¯s all this about?¡± As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Li Lan demanded an explanation in a stern voice, pulling Tong Ya along with her. Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless, ¡°Tong Ya is Tuan Tuan¡¯s teacher, she just came over to¡­¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Li Lan was somewhat angry, ¡°Then why is this girl living with you?¡± Chen Yu paused, ¡°It¡¯s only temporary¡­¡± ¡°What temporary?¡± Li Lan became even angrier, ¡°Such a fine girl, never married, and now living with you¡ªwhat will people say? How can she face others?¡± Chen Yu was at a loss, standing there not knowing how to respond. Tong Ya stood by, her face red, awkwardly fidgeting with her fingers like a child. Tuan Tuan was hiding behind Tong Ya, covering his mouth and giggling. Li Lan tempered her emotions slightly, then glared at Chen Yu ferociously. ¡°Give me an answer today, do you like the girl or not?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°Mom, you know I went through a divorce, with a child in tow. Given my situation, even if I like her, I¡¯m not worthy of her.¡± ¡°So you do like her!¡± Li Lan was somewhat pushy. Chen Yu was rendered speechless. Having been in contact for so long, even if Chen Yu were a stone, Tong Ya had warmed him up. He indeed liked Tong Ya, but to admit his feelings for her in front of Tong Ya remained a hurdle he couldn¡¯t cross. Li Lan then stopped pestering him and sat down next to Tong Ya, taking her hand. ¡°Girl, I¡¯ve already heard from Tuan Tuan, do you like my stinky boy or not?¡± Tong Ya nodded eagerly, ¡°I¡¯ve liked him for a long time; he was even my lifesaver back in university.¡± Li Lan¡¯s face showed great excitement, ¡°I already asked for you just now. Although my boy doesn¡¯t say it out loud, I know he likes you in his heart.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face turned red to the roots of her neck; she had never expected Chen Yu¡¯s mother to be so straightforward. ¡°I can feel it, after all, he agreed to let me stay here.¡± Li Lan caressed Tong Ya¡¯s hand, ¡°It¡¯s just his divorce situation¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Tong Ya exclaimed with some excitement, interrupting Li Lan. ¡°Good!¡± Li Lan was also emotionally moved, her eyes growing moist, ¡°Then what about your family¡­¡± ¡°My mother passed away when I was in university, and my father¡­¡± At this point, Tong Ya hesitated and after a moment¡¯s thought, suddenly looked up. ¡°My father also likes Chen Yu a lot!¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, giving Tong Ya a perplexed look as if asking, have I ever met your father? Li Lan didn¡¯t care about such details, ¡°Alright then, from today on, I¡¯ll treat you as my own daughter!¡± Saying this, Li Lan took out her phone. ¡°I came in haste and didn¡¯t prepare anything for you, so first, let me send you a big red envelope!¡± Tong Ya kept waving her hands, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that!¡± ¡°How is there no need?¡± Li Lan said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s our local custom, and besides, it¡¯s just between us, mother and daughter, right?¡± Chen Yu listened, dumbfounded¡ªmother and daughter, already. Before he could react, Li Lan had already sent Tong Ya a big red envelope of six thousand six hundred sixty-six yuan. Tong Ya was startled; she hadn¡¯t expected to receive so much on her first meeting with Li Lan. Just as she was about to decline, Li Lan took her by the hand and led her upstairs. ¡°Come on, I have so many more things to ask you.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, not expecting things to progress this way. However, he knew very well that it had to be Tuan Tuan, the little girl, playing matchmaker in the middle. When he turned his gaze to Tuan Tuan, the little girl pouted and followed Tong Ya and Li Lan upstairs. Chen Guang, on the other hand, pulled up a chair and sat down. ¡°Chen Yu, your mother and I are very pleased with this girl, and since she doesn¡¯t mind that you¡¯ve been divorced and likes you so much, why won¡¯t you accept her?¡± Chen Yu let out a light sigh, ¡°Some things, I feel, still need to be carefully considered, after all¡­¡± ¡°I understand what you mean!¡± Chen Guang interrupted Chen Yu, ¡°But in life, there are many things that don¡¯t need to be mulled over. Once you miss them, they¡¯re truly gone.¡± Chen Yu was suddenly stunned, unable to say a word. Chen Guang didn¡¯t say much more, only limping upstairs. It seemed his rheumatism wasn¡¯t fully healed. Chen Yu sat alone in the hall for a while, then checked the stock in the storeroom. He then went upstairs to sleep. That night, Li Lan, Tuan Tuan, and Tong Ya slept in one room, where laughter filled the air all night long. Fearing he would disturb Chen Yu¡¯s opening day the next morning, Chen Guang refrained from going to talk to him. Perhaps due to restlessness, at three in the morning, Chen Yu got up, went to the kitchen on the first floor all by himself. Just as he was using a cart to take some pig heads and hocks out of the cold storage, he saw Tong Ya standing not far away looking pretty and alert. ¡°Did you wake up early, or did you not sleep at all?¡± Tong Ya walked over and helped him push the cart. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I slept, but it¡¯s like I didn¡¯t.¡± Tong Ya giggled, ¡°That¡¯s just like how you like me, but also like you don¡¯t.¡± Chen Yu was amused, ¡°Speaking of which, someone seemed to have lied yesterday. When have I ever met your father?¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°Someone also said that his parents would never accept me.¡± Unexpectedly rebuffed, Chen Yu fell silent. He just threw the pig heads and hocks into the big pot. ¡°Since you admitted you liked me yesterday, can you tell me how much you really like me now?¡± Chen Yu paused in his movements and looked up at Tong Ya. After a long moment, he finally spoke, ¡°I also don¡¯t know.¡± Unconvinced, Tong Ya boldly lifted a pig head. ¡°Is it as big as this pig head?¡± Chen Yu took the pig head from Tong Ya¡¯s hands and put it in the pot, ¡°Bigger than that!¡± ¡°Is that enough for you to be my boyfriend?¡± Chen Yu exhaled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s still a bit short.¡± ¡°How much is it short?¡± Tong Ya suddenly moved close to Chen Yu, pressing her nose against his. Chen Yu¡¯s response was no longer as perfunctory as before and even carried a degree of seriousness. Tong Ya¡¯s heartbeat quickened and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Chen Yu¡¯s neck. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait! But if during this time, you start liking someone else, I¡¯ll get jealous!¡± Chen Yu took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around Tong Ya¡¯s waist. ¡°If I¡¯m still lacking even with you, where would I find the energy to like someone else?¡± A tremor went through Tong Ya¡¯s heart, and she hugged him tighter. Although Chen Yu¡¯s words were ambiguous, this was at least the first real response and he wasn¡¯t avoiding it. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60 - 60 Daughter-in-law Chapter 60 ¨C 60 Daughter-in-law ¡°` ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Li Lan¡¯s cough suddenly rang out, startling both Chen Yu and Tong Ya. The two instinctively moved away from each other as if they had been caught in an illicit affair. Li Lan went straight to the kitchen, rolled her eyes at Chen Yu, and said, ¡°You¡¯re already like this, and you still reject her? When did you learn to be so roundabout? Are you planning to become a scumbag?¡± Her scolding left Chen Yu feeling utterly embarrassed. He had just acted on impulse. Yet, the impulsive side of him was questioning whether he truly wasn¡¯t ready to accept Tong Ya. If he didn¡¯t accept her, why did he hold her? He found himself trapped in a loop of self-contemplation. ¡°Auntie, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I accidentally got something in my eye from the seasoning, and he was just helping me blow it out,¡± Tong Ya hastened to step in front of Chen Yu, her resolve firm as if she was protecting her husband. Li Lan laughed helplessly and said, ¡°Is there anything your old mom can help with?¡± Chen Yu waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Please, go back and rest! In another hour, the waitstaff will arrive.¡± Li Lan didn¡¯t listen and directly grabbed a cleaning cloth and went upstairs to tidy up the tables and chairs. Chen Yu had no choice but to take care of cleaning up the pig¡¯s head and knuckles himself. Tong Ya also stayed by his side to help without leaving even for a step. Today, Chen Yu planned to create five different flavors in five pressure cookers. He had already prepared one with five spices and planned to add four more: soy sauce-flavored, spicy numbing, fragrant spicy, and a broth flavor. The preparation methods for these seasoned dishes were mostly similar, differing mainly in the proportions and variations of ingredients. However, the broth flavor was difficult to control. Some people would use various kinds of animal bones to stew the broth, others might use poultry, and some would use sea fish. Chen Yu, on the other hand, would build the flavor entirely from a balance of seasonings. ¡­ In a business hotel, Fang Yuan sat there feeling gloomy, flipping through a comic book. The comic depicted the daily bustling scene of Chen Yu¡¯s shop. After a while, Fang Yuan tossed the comic aside. Ever since she finished recording the reality show, she had been nursing a sense of frustration. Not only had she been overshadowed by other actors during the show, but she had even been told that she lacked Su Rui¡¯s elegance! This had caused her popularity to plummet in the past few days, and even the resources provided by her agency had diminished. Thankfully, Han Mintao had been smoothing things over in various places, allowing her to retain her current opportunities. However, one of the conditions for preserving these resources was to dine with some capital magnates. After several such dinners, Fang Yuan began to question her life choices. These so-called magnates always had bizarre and perverse demands. If she hadn¡¯t kept her cool and handled the situations gracefully, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to sit here unscathed. Taking a deep breath, Fang Yuan glanced at the comic and saw Tuan Tuan¡¯s profile. No matter how ruthless she might be, no matter how driven by her career, that was still her biological daughter. It would be a lie to say she didn¡¯t miss her after all this time. After sitting there in a daze for a while and adjusting her mood, Fang Yuan immediately put on a trench coat, donned a mask and sunglasses, and wrapped herself up tightly. Only then did she quietly head to the underground parking garage. From her observations over the past few days, she knew that Chen Yu¡¯s shop opened at four in the morning, and at that time, there definitely wouldn¡¯t be many people. ¡°` Moreover, even after the divorce, she still had visitation rights to Tuan Tuan. The hotel was not far from Chen Yu¡¯s shop; in less than twenty minutes, she parked the car in front. It was exactly four twenty in the early morning. Inside the shop, as expected, there was no one around, not even the waitstaff had arrived. Fang Yuan tiptoed into the shop and was immediately confronted by Li Lan, who was tidying up tables and chairs. ¡°Mom, where¡¯s Tuan Tuan?¡± Even though Fang Yuan kept her voice very low, Li Lan was still startled. She put down the rag she was holding and studied the person in front of her for a long time. Not until Fang Yuan pulled down her face mask a little did Li Lan recognize her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the great star Fang? What brings you here?¡± Li Lan deliberately raised her voice. Fang Yuan suddenly felt afraid and quickly looked around. Being a public figure now, if paparazzi captured her, they would immediately delve into her original family. The headlines in tomorrow¡¯s newspapers would reveal all her past. ¡°Mom, keep your voice down. I¡¯m just here to see Tuan Tuan and then I¡¯ll leave.¡± Tong Ya, who had just served the first pot of spicy braised delicacies, saw a customer and greeted them warmly. ¡°Hello, we are not open yet, we only have braised flavors¡­¡± Before she could finish, Li Lan pulled Tong Ya over. ¡°Daughter-in-law, stay away from this woman, watch out she doesn¡¯t scratch you!¡± Tong Ya was taken aback for a moment, that term ¡®daughter-in-law¡¯ was quite pleasing to her, even giving her the illusion that she was already together with Chen Yu. ¡°Daughter-in-law?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°She is?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Doesn¡¯t she and Chen Yu make a well-matched couple?¡± Li Lan¡¯s words were quite sharp. After all, Fang Yuan had been extremely mean when she stayed at their house. She even forbid them from visiting Chen Yu in the city. Now that they were divorced, and Chen Yu had such an outstanding woman like Tong Ya by his side, Li Lan finally had the chance to regain her dignity. At this moment, Tong Ya also adjusted her breathing and brought out the aura of a lady of the house. ¡°Yes, I am Chen Yu¡¯s wife. May I ask what you want?¡± Li Lan snorted lightly: ¡°Daughter-in-law, she is the woman who abandoned your husband!¡± Although the phrasing was awkward, it gave Tong Ya confidence. ¡°Oh, you are that actress, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s demeanor suddenly changed. The dignified and elegant wife she had just presented suddenly turned into an overwhelming and assertive stance. Fang Yuan¡¯s visit to see Tuan Tuan was already surreptitious and not a proud moment. The almost oppressive aura emanating from Tong Ya made it hard for Fang Yuan to breathe. She had not anticipated that after the divorce from her, not only had Chen Yu¡¯s career flourished, but he also had such a perfect woman by his side. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time; I just want to see Tuan Tuan. Where¡¯s Chen Yu? I need to speak with him!¡± Tong Ya immediately stepped to the side, blocking the view of the kitchen. ¡°My husband is very busy with numerous matters and furthermore, Tuan Tuan has school tomorrow morning, so it¡¯s not convenient for you to see him.¡± Fang Yuan clenched her teeth, her face showing frustration. But her current status came with many limitations; she dared not make a scene, nor linger too long. Who knows if any paparazzi will show up among the guests later. ¡°Fine, you will remember this!¡± Fang Yuan left these words somewhat helplessly as she hurriedly exited and drove away. At this moment, Tong Ya was exceptionally excited, although she knew that Li Lan had used her as a shield to some extent. But at least, her status as daughter-in-law was acknowledged. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61 - 61: Reap What You Sow Chapter 61 ¨C 61: Reap What You Sow ¡°Auntie, how could she just leave without even trying to fight for it?¡± Tong Ya was a bit puzzled, after all, it was her own child¡ªisn¡¯t that worth fighting for? If it were her, she would never leave so easily. Li Lan shook her head helplessly: ¡°She¡¯s a big star, after all! They all have to cultivate a public image, and part of hers is being unmarried and single.¡± Tong Ya snorted with laughter: ¡°She brought it on herself.¡± At this moment, Chen Yu was also pushing a cart filled with pig heads and elbows out of the cold storage. ¡°Hey, the spicy meat is out of the pot, why don¡¯t you guys give it a try?¡± Tong Ya quickly responded and pulled Li Lan toward the kitchen. By six in the morning, the shop was in full swing. The number of people heading upstairs for fried cakes and vegetable turnovers had dwindled once more. The five-spice marinated delicacies introduced earlier had already maximized the release of many people¡¯s taste buds. Now with four new flavors launched, they felt as if they had entered another world. There were even people who ordered half a jin of each of the five flavors, sitting there and starting their feast alone. No matter how tasty the food, there had to be a limit¡ªif someone got sick from overeating, Chen Yu would still be held responsible. Therefore, he added a new rule to the ordering system: a single diner¡¯s consumption was capped at one jin of marinated meat. At six forty-five, Li Lan quickly tidied up, ready to take Tuan Tuan to kindergarten. But unexpectedly, Tong Ya had adeptly prepared everything for Tuan Tuan. Li Lan instantly understood what was going on¡ªonly regular pickups could result in Tuan Tuan being this well-prepared. It might have been due to the introduction of new flavors, but today¡¯s marinated meat was exceptionally popular. By two in the afternoon, nearly two thousand pounds of the meat was almost gone. Moreover, today¡¯s customers were behaving somewhat irrationally, almost trying every single flavor of marinated meat. No matter how much Chen Yu tried to restrict them, these customers exploited loopholes in the system to place their orders. Chen Yu knew, however, that this situation could only last for a day or two. After all, there was only so much customer traffic in the vicinity, and these people couldn¡¯t possibly eat marinated meat as their daily meal. By three in the afternoon, Chen Yu had no choice but to hang a ¡®Marinated Meat Sold Out¡¯ sign in front of the display window. Just at that moment, a portly middle-aged man with two helpers made an abrupt appearance in the restaurant. The fellow walked in the door and looked around before finding a table to sit down. ¡°Where¡¯s the boss? Come out for a moment.¡± Chen Yu stood up and glanced over the dining room, frowning. The trio seemed to have ill intentions. But there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear on his face, as he took off his apron and came out of the kitchen. ¡°You¡¯re the boss!¡± The portly middle-aged man slammed the table and stood up abruptly. ¡°Buddy, you¡¯re ruthless! You¡¯ve already driven three marinated meat shops in the area out of business, and my place won¡¯t survive today either.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu could smell a distinct odor of gunpowder. In the kitchen, Chu Hong had already grabbed a nearby strainer, ready to rush out at the first sign of trouble. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, after his declaration, the stout man suddenly threw himself in front of Chen Yu and began to sob loudly. ¡°Big brother, I beg you, teach me how to make marinated meat! Otherwise, my little shop is going to close for good!¡± Chen Yu was utterly baffled; he had thought this chubby fellow had come looking for trouble. Unexpectedly, he was here to ask for mentorship. ¡°The family recipe is not for sharing! But if you¡¯re interested, you¡¯re welcome to work here,¡± Chen Yu replied. The chubby guy was stunned for a moment; he was the owner of a small shop now, after all. Coming here to work would be like becoming someone¡¯s subordinate. ¡°No way! How could someone like me ever work under someone else?¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly, ¡°You should consider it. If that¡¯s not an option, you could choose to open a new shop elsewhere.¡± With that, Chen Yu returned straight to the kitchen. The chubby man sat there, pondering for a long time, then left the shop with his two helpers. Chu Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°People like Yu Ge should be driven out, can¡¯t even manage their own business properly and then come running over here¡­¡± Chen Yu gestured with his hand to interrupt Chu Hong. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been easy for them, having worked hard to open a shop only to be run down by us! It¡¯s normal for them to feel uneasy about it.¡± At the moment, there weren¡¯t many customers left in the shop, as their signature marinated dishes had already sold out. The next wave of customers would come in the afternoon, during the post-work rush. Xie Jiang, at this juncture, entered the shop briskly with two workers. ¡°Old Chen called a while ago, asking you to save some marinated dishes for him. Have you saved any?¡± Chen Yu hurriedly served the noodles and marinated dishes he had set aside. ¡°You called me, how could I possibly not save some for you?¡± Xie Jiang rolled up his sleeves and started devouring the food like a wolf, clearly having gone a good while without eating. ¡°Old Chen, these new flavors you¡¯ve introduced are simply divine! If you ask me, you should bump up the prices, nobody would mind paying more for such tasty food.¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Fifty yuan a jin is already on the pricey side; how much higher could we go?¡± Xie Jiang tapped in the air with his finger a few times. ¡°That¡¯s where you fail, Old Chen, too honest! Wang¡¯s Marinated Delights down the street, they¡¯ve raised their price to seventy yuan a jin for meat.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback, as the person who had come to see him earlier seemed to be the owner of Wang¡¯s Marinated Meat. A long time ago, he had tried their marinated delights, and they were indeed quite good. Moreover, their marinated dishes were famous in several nearby streets. Chen Yu simply raised an eyebrow, after all, in business, he was not one to sympathize with his competitors. If Wang¡¯s Marinated Delights tasted better than his, he was afraid they might kick him right off this street. After finishing a bowl of noodles, Xie Jiang seemed to remember something and quickly took out a list from his pocket. ¡°Old Chen, I found that pressure cooker you asked me to look for. Here are a few models; which one do you want? I¡¯ll send it over tonight.¡± Chen Yu hastily grabbed the list. The pressure cookers Xie Jiang found were all very comprehensive, each one a big stainless steel pot. The largest could even fit sixty jin of meat in one go. If he bought several of these large pressure cookers, he could produce marinated dishes even faster. ¡°The biggest one, send me a few extra, to have as backups for the future.¡± Xie Jiang hurriedly took out a pen and jotted something down in his notebook. ¡°Okay, I got it!¡± Having said that, he and the two workers hurriedly finished their food and left, looking like they still had a construction project to rush off to. At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan bounced through the door. ¡°Mommy, can we go play at that place again next time? I think it was really nice.¡± ¡°Sure thing, my sweet girl!¡± This conversation instantly alarmed Chen Yu. ¡°Tuan Tuan!¡± Chen Yu called Tuan Tuan over, ¡°What did you just call Teacher Tong Ya? Is that something you can call her on a whim?¡± Chapter 62 - Chapter 62 - 62 I am Her Husband Chapter 62 ¨C 62 I am Her Husband Tuan Tuan pouted, looking every bit the picture of grievance as he stared expectantly at Chen Yu. At that moment, Tong Ya was also called over to stand there and be lectured. Over the past few days, due to Li Lan and Chen Guang¡¯s influence, Chen Yu had noticed that the relationship between him and Tong Ya had progressed too quickly. While Tong Ya had already met his parents, he had not yet met her father. Even if they really reached that step, he and Tong Ya had not yet registered their marriage and were not legally husband and wife. And now Tuan Tuan was calling Tong Ya ¡°Mom,¡± which was definitely overstepping bounds. But before Chen Yu could say a few words, Li Lan came running over with a broom. ¡°What are you doing? You dare to bully her before you¡¯re married, once you are married, you¡¯ll probably eat her alive.¡± Chen Yu, feeling helpless, said, ¡°Mom, the kid doesn¡¯t understand, she¡¯s already started calling Tong Ya ¡®Mom¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Kids can call her whatever they want, I¡¯ve already given my tacit consent!¡± Saying so, Li Lan took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan upstairs. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, only to suddenly notice Chu Hong watching him with a half-eaten pancake in her mouth, her face full of gossip. ¡°Brother Yu, does that mean we should start calling Tong Ya ¡®Sister-in-Law¡¯ from now on?¡± Chen Yu stared straight at Chu Hong, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do?¡± Chu Hong jumped, hurriedly took a bite of her pancake and went upstairs. The braised dishes on the first floor had sold out, and the cleaning was almost done. The others had also gone upstairs to help, leaving only Chu Hong to keep watch on the first floor. Now that Chen Yu was angry, she didn¡¯t dare stay any longer. At eight in the evening, Chen Yu began to arrange for closing time. The last few days he had gotten used to the business hours and pace, and the neighbors had figured out the timing. After eight o¡¯clock, there were hardly any customers left. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing another day of business. Today¡¯s net profit is 164,200 yuan. You have earned 164,200 points. The current total accumulated points are 1,200,080.] The system¡¯s accounts for the past two days had been clear, with the daily turnover fixed at 204,200 yuan. After spending forty thousand on flour, meat, and seasonings yesterday, the net profit was now down to this amount. He now had nearly 210,000 yuan in liquid assets on hand. However, he didn¡¯t deposit any money in his current account today. After tomorrow, there wouldn¡¯t be much raw material left in the warehouse, and it would be time for another big expense. While he was calculating, Li Lan and Tong Ya had already set the dinner table. Li Lan didn¡¯t disturb Chen Yu. She had seen the operations of the shop over the last few days. Moreover, she had also run a shop during her younger years. Based on the daily customer flow and the pricing, she could roughly estimate how much Chen Yu was earning every day. She would often marvel to herself that divorcing Fang Yuan was the right decision. Not only did he have such a successful business now, but he also had Tong Ya by his side. At eight-thirty in the evening, everyone helped move the delivered pork into the cold storage, and then they all went home. On the way back these last two days, Chu Hong had been bringing some braised dishes and pancakes for Tang Xiaowei. The girl had said she landed a big project and needed to lock herself away to paint at home; she wouldn¡¯t be out for ten days. Just as Chen Yu was about to close the folding door, Tong Ya suddenly stopped him. ¡°There are more mosquitoes these past two days, we¡¯re running out of mosquito repellent. I¡¯ll go buy some!¡± With that, Tong Ya hurried out the door. But just as Tong Ya walked into the supermarket across the street, a clattering noise suddenly came from inside. Chen Yu¡¯s heart tightened, and he sprang up and ran over. The customers and sales clerks in the supermarket were also frantically running out at this moment. Chen Yu reached out and grabbed someone at random, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Someone is stealing stuff!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, ignoring the stream of people rushing out and vigorously squeezed into the supermarket. He saw a burly, disheveled man with one hand clutching Tong Ya¡¯s neck and the other holding a knife under her chin. ¡°Nobody come closer, I don¡¯t want to hurt anyone, I just want the money!¡± Chen Yu quickly stopped in his tracks, ¡°Buddy, calm down, I have money, I can give it to you, just let her go first.¡± Tong Ya, on the other hand, seemed quite calm, at first glance like a rich heiress who had seen the world. ¡°Right, calm down, if you kill me, you won¡¯t get any money either.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fucking talk!¡± the disheveled man shouted, and the knife in his hand pressed forward a bit. A cut immediately appeared on Tong Ya¡¯s neck. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Let¡¯s talk this over.¡± Chen Yu stood there with an outstretched hand, looking very tense, while he took out his mobile phone. ¡°Look, I have money in my phone, I can give it to you¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play that game with me.¡± The disheveled man became somewhat agitated, ¡°I want cash, old bills, unsequential, and also get me a car.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, realizing this guy was a seasoned criminal. ¡°These days nobody uses cash¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± The man exerted force again, and a line of blood flowed down Tong Ya¡¯s neck. ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll trade places with her!¡± Chen Yu raised his hands, moving slowly forward. ¡°You trade for her, who do you think you are?¡± the man roared while tightening his grip with both hands. The immense pressure almost stopped Tong Ya from breathing. ¡°I am her husband!¡± Chen Yu almost shouted out reflexively. Tong Ya, who was struggling to breathe, now widened her eyes in disbelief, looking at Chen Yu. He admitted it! He admitted it! Tong Ya mentally shouted with excitement, not at all concerned about her current predicament. The disheveled man sized up Chen Yu and then looked at Tong Ya. He seemed to think they were a good match. They were using the same model of mobile phones, with matching couple cases no less. ¡°Fine, come over here slowly!¡± The disheveled man slowly released Tong Ya. Just as he let go, Tong Ya suddenly did a beautiful split by spreading her legs front and back. Then she flipped sideways, executing a standard dance split leap. Chen Yu also took the opportunity to leap onto the disheveled man¡¯s back and pinned down his hands. At this moment, the relevant personnel also arrived in time and took the man away. As this guy was being led away, he gave Tong Ya a look of disbelief. As if questioning how Tong Ya could have pulled off those two highly difficult moves just now. Chen Yu instinctively bent down to scoop Tong Ya into his arms, heading straight for the ambulance outside. ¡°You just said you are my husband! Can I take that seriously?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s stride suddenly halted, and he seemed somewhat stunned. Yet his breathing became incredibly rapid. Just now, in that instant, he hadn¡¯t thought of anything except that he had to save Tong Ya. If anything had happened to Tong Ya, he would never have forgiven himself for the rest of his life. Moreover, inside his heart at that moment, a voice kept telling him, he couldn¡¯t be without Tong Ya. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63 - 63: Want a Hug Chapter 63 ¨C 63: Want a Hug ¡°Sure!¡± As Chen Yu uttered those two words, he suddenly smiled. It was as if a massive stone that had been pressing on his heart had been shifted away. Tong Ya, too, bit her lip lightly, her arms already around Chen Yu¡¯s neck, tightened a bit more. ¡°Sir, your wife has injured her neck, please take her to the ambulance to get it checked out!¡± Only after the nurse next to him reminded him did Chen Yu come to his senses. He hastily carried Tong Ya to the ambulance. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s just a superficial wound!¡± The nurse sighed in relief but looked at Chen Yu with a gaze full of admiration. ¡°Big bro, you¡¯re a real man, trading your life for your wife. I¡¯ve only seen that in movies.¡± Chen Yu smiled awkwardly, as his actions had actually been subconscious. To him, there seemed to be nothing worth mentioning. But for Tong Ya, it was different; after all this time, she had finally gotten Chen Yu to admit his feelings. How could she let this moment slip by? ¡°My husband is incredible. It was just that guy who took me hostage earlier, otherwise not even ten of them would be a match for my husband.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice and gave Tong Ya an annoyed glance. If he didn¡¯t stop her soon, Tong Ya would probably boast him up to the heavens. Tong Ya giggled and suddenly stretched out her hand to Chen Yu. ¡°Hubby, I want a hug!¡± Chen Yu was stunned for a second, even though the request was a bit much. But now that Tong Ya was lying in the ambulance, it served as some consolation. He didn¡¯t say much, just bent down gently and lifted Tong Ya into his arms. The nurse in the car seemed somewhat unable to watch. ¡°Wow, this is too sweet! But your wife¡¯s injury isn¡¯t serious; here are some topical medications for wounds. You can take these and get off the ambulance.¡± Chen Yu accepted the medicine with a bit of embarrassment and then carried Tong Ya off the vehicle. Chen Guang, Li Lan, and Tuan Tuan, who had rushed over at the news, were also anxiously coming to meet them. As soon as Li Lan arrived, she touched Tong Ya¡¯s neck with concern. ¡°Daughter-in-law, are you alright?¡± Tong Ya tightened her grasp on Chen Yu¡¯s arm: ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mother-in-law!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help raising an eyebrow; now Tong Ya could call Li Lan ¡°Mother-in-law¡± without any restraint. When they reached the store¡¯s third floor, Li Lan unwrapped the gauze from Tong Ya¡¯s neck and checked the wound. Only after making sure it was alright did she relax. The next morning, at dawn, Chen Yu still naturally woke up at three o¡¯clock. He washed up a bit and was about to quietly go downstairs when suddenly Tong Ya appeared behind him. ¡°Husband! Good morning!¡± Before Chen Yu could respond, Tong Ya had already given him a big hug. ¡°Wait for me downstairs, I¡¯ll wash up and be right there!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say and just hummed in acknowledgment before hurrying downstairs. As soon as he had the kitchen tools ready on the first floor, Tong Ya came bouncing over, joyfully donning an apron. ¡°Hubby! Your gentle and virtuous wife is here to help. Don¡¯t you want to kiss me as a reward?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face became slightly serious as he put back the skimmer he had just picked up. ¡°There are some things we really need to clarify!¡± The sudden sense of gravity made Tong Ya¡¯s heart quiver. She forced a smile on her face, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Chen Yu let out a breath, organizing his thoughts slightly. ¡°This shop, including the house on the third floor, I¡¯m currently renting it, and there are five months left until the lease expires!¡± ¡°I want to buy the whole place, which would cost about eight million, but right now, my checking account only has one million one hundred eighty thousand.¡± ¡°Besides, I want to buy a bigger house, preferably a townhouse, or a more affordable detached house, or even a large flat would do.¡± ¡°That way, I can bring my parents over.¡± ¡°In this city, for a place roughly three hundred square meters, it would also be around eight million.¡± ¡°Right now, my average daily net profit is about one hundred fifty thousand!¡± While talking, Chen Yu had already approached Tong Ya, his slightly towering figure now enveloping her completely. ¡°This is my current situation and some of my thoughts, I want to know, can your father accept it?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s breathing suddenly hastened; at first, she had thought that Chen Yu might want to reset their relationship back to before yesterday. ¡°I already told you, my father admires you! Even if he can¡¯t accept it, I will handle these things.¡± ¡°Moreover, based on your current profits, it¡¯ll only take half a year to achieve all these goals.¡± ¡­ Before Tong Ya could finish, Chen Yu suddenly interrupted her, ¡°And the child, Tuan Tuan is still young, I don¡¯t want him to bear a burden, so we may not want to have children for now.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Tong Ya stepped forward, leaning her entire body into Chen Yu¡¯s embrace, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, and Tuan Tuan can be my child too!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body trembled violently. He suddenly froze, staring straight at Tong Ya in his arms. Making Tong Ya feel a bit uneasy inside, he suddenly lifted her chin. ¡°To have such a wife in life, what more could I ask for!¡± As his words fell, Chen Yu pulled Tong Ya tightly into his embrace. Tong Ya¡¯s breathing became even more rapid, her heart pounding fiercely. She had succeeded; now Chen Yu belonged entirely to her. Later, she could proudly tell others, displaying with perfect legitimacy, that she was the owner of this place. And once Tuan Tuan woke up, she could also reassure him by having him call her mama. Just as Chen Yu was about to let go of Tong Ya to prepare the ingredients, Tong Ya¡¯s hands tightened again. ¡°Don¡¯t move, let me hold you a bit longer, I want to make up for all the previous times you didn¡¯t respond to me.¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly, no longer saying much, just wrapping his arms around Tong Ya, letting her sway in his embrace. They didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when Tong Ya finally loosened her grip, lifting her head to look at Chen Yu with affection. ¡°Chu Hong and the rest will be starting work soon, let¡¯s help them get the initial tasks done.¡± Although these were routine operations for Chen Yu, it was different coming from Tong Ya, now his girlfriend. In a sense, it was akin to instructions from the lady boss. At four-thirty in the morning, when Chu Hong and the others came to start work, they found Chen Yu and Tong Ya in the first-floor kitchen, talking and laughing. Their sweet demeanor left the six young women somewhat stunned. Just yesterday, Chen Yu was angry when Chu Hong joked around; how had it turned into this situation today? The six young women tiptoed into the kitchen, just in time to exchange looks with Chen Yu and Tong Ya. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Tong Ya suddenly scolded with a hint of shyness, ¡°Come here, I have something to announce!¡± ¡°Starting today, I am the lady boss of this shop, do you know how to address me now?¡± The six young ladies paused collectively, looking somewhat dazedly at Chen Yu and Tong Ya. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64 - 64: Gambling Agreement Chapter 64 ¨C 64: Gambling Agreement ¡°Sister-in-law, hello!¡± Chu Hong immediately broke the ice with her greeting. The other five girls followed suit and called out a greeting to their sister-in-law. Tong Ya looked on with satisfaction at the six girls before her. ¡°From today on, we are truly a family. Work hard, and I¡¯ll give you a bonus!¡± ¡°Long live sister-in-law!¡± The six girls immediately became excited and then got busy with their respective duties. Tong Ya was occupied all morning. It wasn¡¯t that she was particularly diligent in her work; rather, her eyes were fixed on Chen Yu without straying. Sometimes Chen Yu would feel somewhat helpless under her gaze and would turn her face away. It wasn¡¯t until 6:45 a.m., when Tong Ya took Tuan Tuan to kindergarten, that Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. But just two minutes later, a message from Tong Ya popped up. ¡°Husband, what should I do? I don¡¯t want to go to kindergarten anymore!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s just torture not seeing you all day long!¡± Chen Yu: ¡°Won¡¯t you see me when you come back in the evening?¡± Tong Ya: ¡°But I want you to think about me every moment of the day!¡± Chen Yu: ¡°Alright!¡± Tong Ya: ¡°When I get back in the evening, I also want a hug!¡± Chen Yu: ¡°¡­¡± The walk from the store to the kindergarten wasn¡¯t very long, but it felt like a century to Tong Ya. And all along the way, she was looking down, texting. If Tuan Tuan hadn¡¯t been there to remind her, she might have been hit by a car. ¡°Teacher Tong Ya, what are you doing? You keep staring at your phone and giggling like a fool!¡± Tong Ya turned her head and gave Tuan Tuan a rather peculiar look before suddenly lifting her up. ¡°From today on, don¡¯t call me teacher; call me mom!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°But wasn¡¯t Dad¡­ yesterday?¡± ¡°This morning he has acknowledged my status, and he¡¯s agreed for you to call me mom.¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands excitedly, ¡°That¡¯s great, my wish has come true.¡± Tong Ya put Tuan Tuan down and affectionately tousled her hair. ¡°From now on, it¡¯s not just in the store, but at school too, our mother-daughter relationship can be made public!¡± Tuan Tuan was immediately jumping around in excitement. Ever since Tong Ya taught her to dance, she had wanted to call Tong Ya mom. Now that her wish was fulfilled, she was overjoyed. She grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand and skipped toward the school, eager to announce to her friends that Tong Ya was her mom. ¡­ A private club. Fang Yuan twirled her wine glass absentmindedly as she sat there. Opposite her was a middle-aged woman dressed in regal splendor. ¡°Daughter, those capitalists I arranged for you last time, why didn¡¯t you entertain them properly? Now they want to withdraw their investment, and it puts me in a difficult position.¡± Fang Yuan put down her wine glass with some irritation, ¡°Mom, can you stop arranging those meetings for me? What do those guys want to do? Don¡¯t you know by now?¡± Li Juan looked helpless, ¡°My dear daughter, this is the entertainment industry, and it¡¯s all about youth. If you don¡¯t latch onto a financial magnate while you¡¯re young, you¡¯ll be completely out of resources in a few years.¡± Fang Yuan was well aware of her current situation. Although she was somewhat famous now, and Li Juan was still operating the talent agency. But in the eyes of those capitalists, she was just an actress. Once they gave up on her and cut off her resources, everything she had worked so hard for would turn to nothing. ¡°Mom! I¡¯ve saved some money, why don¡¯t we invest ourselves, become the capital ourselves.¡± Upon hearing this, Han Mintao suddenly found it somewhat amusing. ¡°Child, do you really think everyone can become capital?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing became rapid, and a look of determination filled her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t there the bet agreement? I want to try it.¡± The wine that Han Mintao had just sipped almost sprayed out. ¡°Have you gone mad? How many have succeeded with bet agreements? Once you fail, you¡¯ll not only be burdened with debt, but your future will be ruined.¡± Fang Yuan slammed her hand on the table. ¡°I want to take a gamble! I¡¯m fed up with my current situation and the persona I have to maintain. I want to be myself.¡± The intensity emanating from Fang Yuan even took Han Mintao by surprise. When she first entered the entertainment industry, Fang Yuan truly did shine for a moment. But as time went on, she realized there were too many complications here. Capitalists, resource providers, producers, operators¡­ Maneuvering among these people, she was like dancing on a dozen eggs, where breaking any one of them was not an option. Only by going all in, becoming the capital herself, would she have the confidence to disclose her past and perhaps fight openly in court to win Tuan Tuan back. Han Mintao exhaled deeply, ¡°I know you¡¯re doing this because of Chen Yu. His shop makes a good profit every day, but after all, it¡¯s just a small shop. Even if he works there his entire life¡­¡± ¡°Mom, I just want to ask you, can you set up a bet agreement for me?¡± Fang Yuan cut Han Mintao off. She was truly scared now, who could guarantee that Chen Yu¡¯s shop wouldn¡¯t expand further? Keep in mind that Chen Yu started with just a small food cart. Han Mintao said no more and simply picked up the phone to dial a number. Before long, she put down the phone. ¡°My agency can provide a guarantee for you, and at the same time sign a bet agreement with multiple financial parties!¡± ¡°You must earn five billion within the next two years! By then, you can leverage thirty billion in capital!¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t succeed, you¡¯ll have to pay thirty billion!¡± ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Fang Yuan clenched her teeth, the image of Tuan Tuan flashing through her mind: ¡°I have thought it through!¡± ¡­ At twelve noon, Tong Ya did not have lunch in the kindergarten canteen but heated up the flatbread and braised dishes she brought from home and placed them on the table. After class, Tuan Tuan bounced over and sat directly across from Tong Ya. At this moment, Li Juan also led a group of children to the canteen. She was immediately attracted by the braised dish in front of Tong Ya. ¡°You brought braised dishes again today! How could you do this to us, bringing such delicious food every day.¡± The other teachers and students were also looking enviously at them. After all, the aroma had already spread throughout the entire canteen. In comparison, the meals provided by the kindergarten canteen seemed a bit inadequate. Tong Ya giggled, ¡°This is the love-packed lunch my husband prepared for me and our child!¡± It was unclear whether she did it on purpose or not, but Tong Ya¡¯s voice was loud when she said this. The teacher sitting by her side suddenly froze, looking at Tong Ya with a puzzled expression. Li Juan moved closer to Tong Ya subconsciously. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65 - 65 Wedding Planning Company Chapter 65 ¨C 65 Wedding Planning Company ¡°When did you get a husband?¡± Li Juan¡¯s face was full of surprise. ¡°It¡¯s Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad!¡± Tong Ya said with pride and coyness. The teachers and students present were all stunned. They only vaguely knew that it had always been Tong Ya¡¯s responsibility to take Tuan Tuan to and from school. Only a very few people knew that Tong Ya had a crush on Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad. But now, Tong Ya outright declaring Tuan Tuan¡¯s dad was her husband was undoubtedly a bombshell. At this moment, Li Juan also looked at Tuan Tuan with a surprised gaze. ¡°Is this true?¡± Tuan Tuan nodded excitedly as well: ¡°Yes, Teacher Tong Ya is going to be my mom now.¡± With these words, there was no doubt the relationship between Tong Ya and Chen Yu was officially announced in the kindergarten. The mouths of everyone present formed an ¡®O¡¯ shape. Li Juan also subconsciously grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s arm, ¡°Then, can I come to your husband¡¯s shop for free meals in the future?¡± ¡°Of course, you can!¡± Tong Ya replied quite generously, ¡°But remember to pay.¡± Tong Ya was constantly considering Chen Yu¡¯s interests at every moment; there was no way she would let people take advantage of her connection to eat for free at the shop. Helpless, Li Juan shook her head, ¡°Aiyah, you¡¯re already acting like the lady boss.¡± ¡­ At two in the afternoon, during the peak hour for lunch, the window seats were already filled with a long queue. With the experience from yesterday, Chen Yu had already prepared all the braised dishes and kept them warm in several large pots. At this moment, he found an empty table in the lobby on the first floor and was chatting and laughing with Aunt Li. ¡°Since the first day you rented my shop, I believed in you. I never expected you to decide to buy it so soon.¡± Chen Yu laughed awkwardly, ¡°Well, I¡¯m with Tong Ya now, and I just want to completely stabilize the business.¡± Aunt Li sighed, ¡°A few days ago, I was thinking of introducing you to my third daughter, but now, it seems a bit late.¡± As she spoke, Aunt Li brought out all the documents related to the shop. ¡°According to the current house prices, selling the whole place to you would be around eight million four hundred fifty thousand. You would need about two million five hundred thousand for the down payment!¡± Chen Yu took the documents and glanced over them, roughly understanding the details. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Li! It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t have enough money on hand right now¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Aunt Li waved her hand generously, ¡°I see the daily profits of your shop; you¡¯ll probably be able to buy this place in two or three months! I won¡¯t sell this shop to anyone else during this period.¡± Hearing this, Chen Yu immediately felt relieved. After all, this shop was one of the most popular on the street, and many people were keeping an eye on it. People had been calling Aunt Li to inquire about the price not too long ago. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Aunt Li took some pancakes and braised dishes and left the shop. ¡°Xiao Yu!¡± Li Lan suddenly called out. Chen Yu turned around and saw that Li Lan and Chen Guang had already packed their luggage. ¡°Mom and Dad, what¡¯s this?¡± Chen Guang patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ve seen how well your shop has been doing these past few days. As long as you¡¯re doing well, we¡¯re at ease and don¡¯t want to be a burden to you here,¡± he said. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward, ¡°How could you be a burden¡­¡± Li Lan waved her hand and interrupted Chen Yu. ¡°We still have things to deal with back home, and we need to leave now. It¡¯s not like we won¡¯t come back. What are you so nervous about?¡± Chen Yu instantly let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Next time you come, I¡¯ll make sure you stay in a new house.¡± Li Lan looked relieved and affectionately caressed Chen Yu¡¯s cheek. ¡°Your filial piety is enough! But remember, treat Tong Ya well. She doesn¡¯t care about anything else and is with you, you must never let her down.¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Li Lan gave a few more instructions and then went out with Chen Guang to hail a cab straight for the train station. ¡°Old Chen, who were those two elders just now?¡± Xie Jiang walked over with his face covered in dust. ¡°They are my parents!¡± Chen Yu replied with a smile. ¡°Oh, Uncle, Auntie came!¡± Xie Jiang smacked his head: ¡°Look at me, I was so busy I didn¡¯t even know about it. Had I known, I would have come to greet them.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°It¡¯s fine! Old Xie, you seem a bit too busy lately.¡± Xie Jiang chuckled, then pulled a comic book out of his coat. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to that little girl in your shop! She put the entire process of my remodeling work into a comic book, and these past few days, I¡¯ve been hired by fans of the comic.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Tang Xiaowei¡¯s comic to not only promote his shop but also inadvertently bring business to Xie Jiang. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Chen Yu ushered Xie Jiang into the shop: ¡°Hungry? How about a bowl of noodles for you?¡± ¡°No, I want a pancake today!¡± Xie Jiang sat down and took out a list. ¡°Old Chen, about the pot you asked for yesterday, I wasn¡¯t able to deliver it. I made another call this morning, and it¡¯ll be delivered this afternoon.¡± ¡°No worries, no rush!¡± Chen Yu personally brought over some pancakes and braised dishes for Xie Jiang. ¡­ At five in the afternoon, Xie Jiang arrived with a few workers, bringing in twenty huge high-pressure cookers into the shop. ¡°Old Chen, come out for the delivery!¡± Chen Yu hurriedly summoned Chu Hong and Han Cai to come help to receive the goods. The quality of the high-pressure cookers far exceeded Chen Yu¡¯s expectations, a lot better than the five he used to use. While Chen Yu was helping with moving the cookers, Tong Ya bounced into the shop with Tuan Tuan. ¡°Husband, I¡¯m back!¡± Tong Ya called out sweetly and flew into Chen Yu¡¯s arms like a swallow. Xie Jiang was also stunned upon seeing this scene. ¡°Old Chen, what¡¯s this¡­?¡± Xie Jiang had always seen Tong Ya in the shop before. But back then, Tong Ya stayed there in her capacity as Tuan Tuan¡¯s dance teacher. He hadn¡¯t expected her to now be calling Chen Yu her husband! Chen Yu also wrapped his arms around Tong Ya¡¯s shoulders naturally: ¡°This is my girlfriend.¡± Xie Jiang was taken aback: ¡°Congratulations! When did this happen? I wasn¡¯t prepared.¡± With that, Xie Jiang started to fumble around on his person. Soon, he took out a slightly wrinkled red envelope, quickly pulling out a few hundred-yuan bills from his wallet to stuff inside it. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward to stop him: ¡°Old Xie, we haven¡¯t had our wedding yet, you¡¯re being too generous.¡± Xie Jiang slapped his forehead: ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m all muddled!¡± Feeling a bit embarrassed, he put the red envelope away and then pulled out a business card. ¡°My wife does wedding planning, call her directly if you need anything.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback and quickly took the business card. Before he could even say thank you, Xie Jiang produced another card. ¡°This is Old Zhang¡¯s wife¡¯s card, she works at the same place as my wife, you can call her too.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and quickly looked at the card; it really was Zhang Fan¡¯s wife. He hadn¡¯t expected that their wives would have this connection. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66 - 66: Kissed Chapter 66 ¨C 66: Kissed Twenty pressure cookers at three hundred yuan each, Chen Yu paid six thousand yuan, exchanged a few pleasantries with Xie Jiang, then moved these pressure cookers into the kitchen. By six in the evening, all the braised delicacies had sold out, but customers still came non-stop for the fried cakes and vegetable rolls. Moreover, the matter of Chen Yu and Tong Ya had spread among the neighbors, and everyone who came by would offer their congratulations. By eight at night, with barely any customers left, Chen Yu called Chu Hong and the others to start closing up. He then took out the account book and began to calculate. Now the daily consumption of flour in the shop totaled about six thousand jin. From the recent sales figures, the amount of flour used for fried cakes and vegetable rolls had stabilized at around two thousand jin. The remaining amount of flour might increase as the variety and quantity of braised foods increased. The other ingredients, such as fillings for fried cakes and vegetable rolls, solid oils, and some seasoning, totaled less than twenty thousand yuan. After a quick calculation, Chen Yu began to order raw materials. This time he ordered raw materials for five days straight, with just flour amounting to a whopping fifty thousand jin. Following the calculations just now, he based the flour proportion on selling four thousand jin of braised food per day. Adding the other raw materials and the four thousand jin of pork needed for the next day, the total cost was two hundred and ninety thousand yuan. ¡°Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing one day of business, today¡¯s net profit is one hundred and eighty-two thousand two hundred yuan, earning one hundred and eighty-two thousand two hundred points. The current total accumulated points are one million three hundred eighty-two thousand two hundred eighty points.¡± The system prompt sounded in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, but there was no longer any change in his expression. It seemed he had grown accustomed to the voice of the system. Counting the twenty-one thousand yuan in working capital left over from yesterday, together with today¡¯s nineteen thousand eight hundred plus yuan. The total was over four hundred and eight thousand yuan! After paying the cost of raw materials, he was left with over one hundred and eighteen thousand yuan. He transferred one hundred and ten thousand yuan into the current account, and as usual, Chen Yu left himself with a reserve of over eight thousand yuan. After briefly recording the accounts, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he had the system to precisely calculate net profit every day, as a formal storefront, he still had to file taxes at the end of the month, so keeping a basic account book was necessary. Before long, several large trucks rumbled up to the door. The delivery drivers had become numb to it. To other stores of the same size they delivered, none received more than one-fifth of what Chen Yu¡¯s shop did. Everyone knew how prosperous Chen Yu¡¯s shop was. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries as usual, the drivers helped with the delivery. Even with the many trolleys Chen Yu had ready in the shop, it took over twenty minutes to finish unloading the goods. It wasn¡¯t until eight forty-five that Chu Hong and the rest finished their staff meal and hurried back to the dormitory. Having locked the door tightly, Chen Yu stretched his limbs and went upstairs. Tong Ya was already lovingly holding Tuan Tuan, watching an animated film. ¡°Daddy, do you want to watch with us?¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°No, I¡¯ve added two thousand jin of braised food for tomorrow, I need to get to bed early tonight.¡± With that, Chen Yu yawned broadly and took a hasty shower before returning to his room. But just as he lay down in bed, the door opened. Immediately after, Tong Ya lifted his cover and slipped in. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tong Ya pouted and hugged Chen Yu tightly without concern. ¡°Can¡¯t I sleep holding my own husband?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was filled with metaphorical black lines: ¡°He¡¯s not a husband yet, he¡¯s a boyfriend!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Tong Ya was somewhat relentless. ¡°We haven¡¯t reached that stage yet, be good and go back to your room!¡± Sparks of light flickered in Tong Ya¡¯s eyes: ¡°Did you just tell me to ¡®be good¡¯?¡± Chen Yu nodded, just about to speak, when Tong Ya suddenly sealed his lips with hers. Chen Yu¡¯s body stiffened, and his mind went completely blank. After kissing for a while, Tong Ya released Chen Yu with her face flushed red. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be good and go back to my room! Can you kiss me every night before you go to sleep?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s throat moved slightly, and he subconsciously uttered a sound of agreement. Tong Ya immediately cheered up: ¡°Then I¡¯m going to sleep, sending you a heart!¡± After saying that, Tong Ya left the room with a sense of reluctance. But the moment she left the room, she immediately gave Tuan Tuan a high-five. ¡°I got a kiss!¡± She said excitedly, then carried Tuan Tuan back to her room. At four o¡¯clock the next morning, Chen Yu, having had a full night¡¯s sleep, washed up and went straight to the kitchen on the first floor. He stored the previously smaller five pressure cookers in the warehouse. Then he designated a spot in the kitchen and arranged twenty large pressure cookers in four rows. Each cooker could hold up to sixty pounds of braised food at a time, and with twenty cookers working simultaneously, he could produce twelve hundred pounds in one go. The only downside was that with larger pots, it took a bit longer than before. Producing a batch took a little over fifty minutes. The pig heads and knuckles delivered by the suppliers were all cleaned up, so Chen Yu didn¡¯t need to waste too much time. He cleaned the blood froth with ingredients in the large pot to remove any gamey smell, then threw in the sauce mixture straight into the pressure cookers. It must be said that preparing twelve hundred pounds of pig heads and knuckles at once was indeed somewhat tiring. Fortunately, by four thirty, the six girls had already arrived at the shop. Li Yu and Su Qing were still in charge of the second floor, and for the next two or three days, Su Qing would be tirelessly preparing semi-finished rice cakes and vegetable rolls. Chen Yu prepared the braised dishes with the help of the other four girls. According to the plan, Chen Yu prepared four thousand pounds of braised food that day. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t very confident about selling all the braised food. At six in the morning, the first batch of braised food arrived fashionably late. However, the blend of five flavors filled the air with a fragrance that immediately caused a stir in the shop. Chen Yu was not idle either, he continued to work tirelessly on preparing the pig heads and knuckles. Just then, a business van suddenly stopped at the door. Tong Ming, along with an assistant, hurried into the shop. Upon entering, Tong Ming directed his assistant to order food, while he found a small stool to sit near the kitchen. ¡°Little brother, I¡¯m back!¡± Chen Yu looked up and was a bit surprised. ¡°Old sir, didn¡¯t you go back to the capital?¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily: ¡°Well, I¡¯ve just been craving the braised dishes you make! And besides, I¡¯ve decided to open a new company in Suzhou City.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just smiled and congratulated him, then turned back to his work. At that moment, Tong Ming was also captivated by the mingling aromas in the air. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67 - 67 Misunderstandings Chapter 67 ¨C 67 Misunderstandings ¡°` ¡°Li Shuai, bring me three taels of each new flavor. I want to try them all!¡± Tong Ming shouted over to the assistant who was placing the order, then wiped his drool. After returning to the capital, Tong Ming had trouble sleeping, as he realized that his taste buds had been conquered by Chen Yu. Helpless, he had even gone to Duan Fu Ji¡¯s specifically to buy several pounds of braised dishes. But he found that the braised dishes from Duan Fu Ji, once considered the best in the capital, tasted like wax to him now. He had even thought about asking someone to buy some from Suzhou City. But the distance was too far, and the food might spoil by the time it got back. After much deliberation, Tong Ming decided to open a branch in the capital. He would work from there from now on. In essence, it meant he had informally moved the headquarters to Suzhou City. But now that everyone was working remotely, it didn¡¯t matter where the headquarters were located. Before long, Li Shuai came up to Tong Ming with the braised dishes, and also ordered some fried cakes and vegetable dumplings on the side. Tong Ming immediately picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of the spicy pig¡¯s head. The taste left an aromatic flavor on the lips, was rich but not greasy, with the spiciness and aroma hitting just the right spot. ¡°That¡¯s the flavor!¡± Tong Ming shouted excitedly and called Li Shuai over to join him. ¡°My man, I¡¯m going to treat this place like a regular canteen from now on. The work meals for my company will be set here.¡± ¡°Great! Then let me thank you in advance.¡± No matter how you looked at it, an entire company¡¯s work meals were a big deal for Chen Yu. And today, with an additional two thousand pounds of braised meat, he was indeed a bit worried about not selling out. At this time, Tong Ya came out of the third floor room with sleepy, relaxed eyes. Just as she was about to go downstairs, she suddenly shivered and quickly hid at the corner of the staircase. ¡°Damn, why is he here again!¡± ¡°Mommy, why are you hiding here?¡± Tuan Tuan, also with his backpack, had just stepped out the door. Tong Ya, a bit flustered, her eyes darting around, quickly covered her stomach. ¡°My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable, I might not be able to go to kindergarten today!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately became anxious: ¡°Then I won¡¯t go either, I¡¯ll stay home to take care of you!¡± Tong Ya nodded repeatedly: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call in for a leave.¡± Saying this, Tong Ya put on a pained expression and hurried back into her room. Tuan Tuan put down his backpack, ready to go downstairs. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell dad!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Tong Ya quickly stopped him: ¡°It¡¯s a busy time right now, don¡¯t distract your dad. Besides, it¡¯s just a stomachache, not a serious illness.¡± Tuan Tuan hesitated for a moment and then nodded obediently before sitting quietly to one side. At this moment, Tong Ya¡¯s brain was rapidly thinking of a strategy. At seven in the morning, Tong Ming showed no signs of leaving, still savoring Chen Yu¡¯s braised dishes. Just then, Tang Xiaowei bounced into the shop, dressed in a frog costume. ¡°Yu, I¡¯ve come out earlier than planned, get me something to eat quick, I¡¯m starving!¡± Just as she yelled out, Tang Xiaowei stood frozen on the spot. Her frog costume hugged her figure, with her head visible outside. At that moment, her gaze met Tong Ming¡¯s. ¡°Xiaowei? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°` ¡°` Tang Xiaowei instinctively stood at attention and couldn¡¯t help but swallow. ¡°Tong¡­ Uncle¡­¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow involuntarily as he carried several flatbreads and a pound of marinated meat out of the kitchen and handed them to Tang Xiaowei. ¡°What, you know each other?¡± Tang Xiaowei panicked at once, ¡°Only met before!¡± Then, she quickly grabbed the tray from Chen Yu¡¯s hands and hurried upstairs. This left Chen Yu quite puzzled, and he turned his head to cast an inquiring look at Tong Ming. ¡°She¡­¡± Tong Ming didn¡¯t conceal the truth, ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of a friend of mine, but what is she doing here?¡± ¡°She can be considered a VIP around here!¡± Chen Yu pointed to a mural on the side, ¡°She painted that, and she also drew a comic book to specifically promote my shop.¡± Tong Ming was somewhat surprised, ¡°Old Tang¡¯s daughter became a painter?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more; it was a busy time, and he wasn¡¯t in the mood for idle chatter. ¡°Old Chen, can you provide fifty flatbreads and twenty pounds of marinated meat right now? I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± Xie Jiang entered the shop, wearing a safety helmet and work clothes, looking rather anxious. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll pack it up for you right now!¡± Chen Yu quickly responded. Xie Jiang was relieved, as he was off to tackle an emergency project. If he couldn¡¯t get the flatbreads and marinated meat, they would have had to hastily eat something else for lunch. ¡°Speaking of which, Old Chen, where¡¯s your girlfriend? Why haven¡¯t I seen her today?¡± Chen Yu paused in the middle of packing the flatbreads; Tong Ya seemed not to have come downstairs today. These past few days, every morning when taking Tuan Tuan out, Tong Ya would come to the kitchen to hug him before leaving. Could something have happened? ¡°Upstairs!¡± Chen Yu replied briefly and then asked Chu Hong, who was next to him, to pack up Xie Jiang¡¯s order. He rubbed his hands together and hurried upstairs. Tong Ming, who had been sitting aside, suddenly moved close to Xie Jiang. ¡°This young boss Chen, he¡¯s got a girlfriend now?¡± Xie Jiang nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a recent development! Before, Old Chen was divorced with a child, but now it¡¯s good, he¡¯s finally able to find a stepmother for the child and have a complete family.¡± Tong Ming became gossipy all at once, ¡°He just said his girlfriend is upstairs, they must be living together already.¡± ¡°It seems so!¡± Xie Jiang nodded, ¡°But Old Chen¡¯s girlfriend is really not bad; not only is she pretty, but she also has a good personality, and she¡¯s quite a good match for Old Chen.¡± In the meantime, Chu Hong had finished packing up the flatbreads and marinated meat. Xie Jiang quickly paid, exchanged a few words with Tong Ming, and then hurried off. Tong Ming stood there with bulging eyes, stunned for quite a while. ¡°Just now, Old Tang¡¯s daughter went upstairs, and Boss Chen said that Xiaowei is his VIP, could it be¡­¡± After muttering to himself for a while, Tong Ming suddenly slapped his hands together. ¡°That Old Tang, too much, I just mentioned his marinated meat to him last time, and he actually sent his daughter out.¡± Li Shuai, who was next to him, overheard and quickly came over. ¡°Manager Tong, are you saying Tang Family¡¯s daughter has become someone¡¯s stepmother?¡± ¡°What do you mean stepmother?¡± Tong Ming was inexplicably irritated, ¡°With such an outstanding young man, what¡¯s wrong with being a stepmother?¡± Li Shuai was suddenly scolded, and he was a bit startled. ¡°Manager Tong, I meant that it¡¯s been over two years since Tang has been looking for his daughter, do you think we should talk to Tang Family about it?¡± Without hesitation, Tong Ming took out his cellphone, ¡°Today we have a cooperation project with Tang Family, and it¡¯s agreed to discuss it in Suzhou City; I think we should just meet directly here!¡± At this moment, Chen Yu had already gone upstairs. As soon as he entered, he saw Tong Ya holding Tang Xiaowei¡¯s hand, with what seemed to be a pleading look in her eyes. ¡°` Chapter 68 - Chapter 68 - 68 The One I Fancy Chapter 68 ¨C 68 The One I Fancy ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened. Tuan Tuan also came out of the kitchen with a bowl of hot water at this moment. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re finally here. Mommy has a stomachache and can¡¯t go to kindergarten today.¡± Chen Yu hurried over, sat down beside Tong Ya, and placed his hand over her stomach. ¡°Does it hurt here?¡± Tong Ya immediately made a pained expression and leaned into Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. ¡°My whole stomach hurts, you must rub it for me.¡± Tang Xiaowei suddenly froze there, questioning her life choices. When she came up, she hadn¡¯t seen Tuan Tuan, only Tong Ya lying on the sofa. She had just told Tong Ya that her dad was here, and immediately following, Chen Yu came in. Now, seeing the intimacy between Chen Yu and Tong Ya, coupled with Tuan Tuan¡¯s earlier reference, she was momentarily unable to react. ¡°What do you mean? Are you guys together now?¡± Tong Ya looked blissful, ¡°It just happened yesterday!¡± Tang Xiaowei took a deep breath, ¡°But downstairs¡­¡± ¡°There are many guests!¡± Tong Ya interrupted her urgently, ¡°Husband, you better go down first! It¡¯s not that serious; I just need to take some medicine and rest a bit.¡± Chen Yu still looked worried, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, and besides, Xiaowei and Tuan Tuan are here!¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tong Ya¡¯s stomach a few more times before he stood up and went downstairs. Once Chen Yu left, Tang Xiaowei gestured with her mouth. ¡°Your dad is here!¡± Tong Ya responded in kind with her mouth, ¡°I know, we just need to hide well.¡± ¡°But he saw me, and he recognized me!¡± Tang Xiaowei exclaimed in shock. Tuan Tuan also seemed taken aback, ¡°Auntie Xiaowei, who recognized you?¡± Tang Xiaowei was suddenly embarrassed and unsure how to respond. Tong Ya quickly waved her hand, ¡°It¡¯s nothing! Tuan Tuan, you go back to your room and rest for a while. I need to talk to your Auntie Xiaowei about something.¡± Tuan Tuan obediently responded and went back to his room, even closing the door behind him. Tang Xiaowei quickly sat beside Tong Ya, ¡°What should we do? Your dad knows I¡¯m here; he¡¯s definitely going to call my dad.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face showed her dilemma, as the Tong Family and the Tang Family had always had a close business connection. With Tong Ming¡¯s sudden appearance in Suzhou City, Tang Xiaowei¡¯s father might be nearby too. Although Tong Ming and Chen Yu had a sort of mutual admiration when they met last time, he might not want his daughter playing stepmother to someone else. Just then, Tong Ya¡¯s phone suddenly received a message. ¡°Where are you now?¡± It was a message from Tong Ming. Before she could reply, Tong Ming sent another message with his location. ¡°You and Xiaowei are always together. I¡¯ve met her here, so you must be nearby. Come over here at once.¡± Tong Ya steadied her nerves. At least for now, Tong Ming didn¡¯t know about her and Chen Yu¡¯s affair. ¡°I¡¯m busy with something and can¡¯t make it over!¡± No sooner had she sent the message than Tong Ming sent back a voice message. ¡°I¡¯ve met a very outstanding young man here, worthy of entrusting your life to. Come and meet him right away.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s pupils dilated sharply, and an inexplicable anger surged in her heart. ¡°Mind your own business,¡± Tong Ya also shouted back in a voice message. ¡°Stop sulking at me, do you know that your Uncle Tang¡¯s daughter is already with someone else! This is the guy I¡¯ve taken a fancy to, I absolutely cannot let the Tang Family have him.¡± Tong Ya was instantly dumbfounded when she received this message. She looked up at Tang Xiaowei with a touch of surprise, ¡°You have a boyfriend?¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mouth formed an O shape, ¡°How is that possible?¡± The two looked at each other, their facial expressions incredibly animated. After a while, Tang Xiaowei spoke with some uncertainty, ¡°Could your dad be talking about Chen Yu? Maybe he got the wrong idea seeing me here.¡± Tong Ya was also momentarily stunned, the location Tong Ming had sent was indeed the store¡¯s location. At this place, the only person that could have caught Tong Ming¡¯s eye seemed to be Chen Yu. Tong Ya instinctively took this as the correct assumption, since the man she admired was undeniably excellent. ¡­ At this moment, Tong Ming was sitting in the lobby on the first floor, angrily sending messages. He also arranged to meet Tang Long in the store. When he saw Chen Yu coming downstairs, he went to meet him with the aid of his cane. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you know about your girlfriend¡¯s family background?¡± Chen Yu paused for a moment, thinking that the old man was being overly nosy¡ªwhy was he suddenly asking about his girlfriend? ¡°We haven¡¯t been together very long, she hasn¡¯t said much, and I haven¡¯t asked much!¡± ¡°You¡¯re with her without even knowing her family background,¡± Tong Ming sighed with a look of pity, ¡°That¡¯s not good, vague backgrounds can lead to future troubles.¡± Chen Yu frowned, giving Tong Ming a baffled look. ¡°Sir, I respect you, and I ask that you respect me too. Please don¡¯t discuss my girlfriend like this.¡± Tong Ming quickly waved his hands, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that, I¡¯m saying when two people come together, they should at least know each other¡¯s backgrounds well.¡± ¡°I have a daughter, who in terms of looks, definitely does not fall short of your girlfriend, in terms of personality, she¡¯s gentle and modest, and she¡¯s also studied finance and business management¡ªshe¡¯s truly a capable woman of the house.¡± Tong Ming was now tirelessly promoting his own daughter. It wasn¡¯t just because he wanted a long-term meal ticket here, but mainly because he was impressed with the resilience Chen Yu exhibited. Moreover, in his eyes, Tang Xiaowei was sent by Tang Long as a deliberate attempt to sabotage him. When he returned to the capital that day, he told Tang Long about what happened in Suzhou City, while also mentioning the idea of marrying off his daughter. This time, seeing Tang Xiaowei in Chen Yu¡¯s store, how could he not be furious? Chen Yu busied himself with the work at hand while occasionally chatting with Tong Ming. However, he now felt that the old man before him was just looking to cause trouble. Trying to marry off his daughter to him as an indirect investment in the store. So, Chen Yu wore an expression that said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen through your scheme,¡± and didn¡¯t respond directly to Tong Ming. At half-past nine in the morning, a commercial vehicle, flanked by two security cars, stopped in front of the store. Following this, an elderly man about the same age as Tong Ming walked into the store with a beaming smile. ¡°Old Tong, what¡¯s the hurry calling me over here?¡± Tong Ming glanced at Tang Long with irritation. ¡°Old Tang! We¡¯ve been friends for decades, I never thought you would actually try to poach from me.¡± Tang Long was taken aback, ¡°Where did that come from?¡± Tong Ming huffed and then walked over to the display window. ¡°Mr. Chen, call your girlfriend down, it¡¯s this shameless daughter of his.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of frustration: ¡°May I ask who this gentleman is?¡± Tong Ming, leaning on his cane, looked at Tang Long with some anger. ¡°He is your girlfriend Tang Xiaowei¡¯s father!¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69 - 69: With Great Righteousness Chapter 69 ¨C 69: With Great Righteousness Chen Yu¡¯s expression was quite a spectacle. ¡°Mr. Tong, you¡¯ve misunderstood, Xiaowei isn¡¯t my girlfriend.¡± Tong Ming¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°She isn¡¯t?¡± A furious anger erupted from Tang Long¡¯s eyes, ¡°What? That disobedient wretch is here?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°She¡¯s upstairs eating, she just finished a painting these past couple of days, quite exhausted.¡± Tang Long was immediately so angry he couldn¡¯t contain himself, rolling up his sleeves preparing to go upstairs. ¡°Really went off to paint! She ignores the huge family business I have, and does nothing all day long¡­¡± Chen Yu quickly stepped forward to block Tang Long, ¡°Sir, this is my place after all, so I hope you won¡¯t go too far.¡± Tang Long was stunned, no one had ever dared to talk to him like this. ¡°And you are?¡± Next to him, Tong Ming coughed twice, ¡°He¡¯s the lad I¡¯ve taken a liking to.¡± Tang Long raised an eyebrow, ¡°Not humble or arrogant, he¡¯s got a bit of Qi Force! Speaking of which, since my daughter Xiaowei is here, what¡¯s between you and her¡­¡± ¡°Surname Tong, you¡¯re going too far!¡± Tong Ming grabbed Tang Long¡¯s wrist. Chen Yu felt a bit frustrated, how come both old men wanted to push their daughters onto him? At this moment, Tong Ya and Tang Xiaowei were hiding around the corner on the third floor, watching everything that was happening in the lobby on the first floor. ¡°Xiaowei, it looks like the misunderstanding has been cleared, you should go down!¡± Tang Xiaowei pouted, ¡°Fine, but you remember this day; you sold out your best sister just to save yourself.¡± Tong Ya grabbed Tang Xiaowei¡¯s arm, soothing her back like she was consoling a child. ¡°Come on, you know the situation between me and my dad the best! At most, you¡¯re just being forced by Uncle Tang to take over the family business, but me¡­¡± ¡°Alright, no more talk!¡± Tang Xiaowei interrupted with a righteousness, ¡°Remember your promise.¡± ¡°For the next five years, I¡¯ve got your meals covered!¡± Tong Ya made a swearing gesture. ¡°No, I want ten years!¡± Tang Xiaowei said defiantly, staring at Tong Ya. ¡°The rest of your life if need be,¡± Tong Ya said in a hurry. Based on how things were unfolding in the lobby, she was about to be exposed. Tang Xiaowei turned her head and straightened her clothes. She had swapped her previous doll-like attire for a rather stylish women¡¯s suit. ¡°The wind is bleak, the waters of Yi chilled, a warrior departs, never to return!¡± Muttering a line of poetry to psych herself up, Tang Xiaowei then headed straight downstairs. ¡°Uncle Tong.¡± She called out with a polite hum and then went directly to Tang Long and Tong Ming. However, her appearance made Chen Yu pause for a moment. The previously cute and adorable look had vanished, replaced by the efficiency of a tycoon¡¯s daughter. With the cane in his hand, Tang Long tapped the ground, ¡°Don¡¯t you see your father standing here? Not even a greeting, no manners at all!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s throat moved slightly, and after a long pause, she quietly called out, ¡°Dad!¡± But that one word diminished much of the anger on Tang Long¡¯s face. ¡°Became a painter?¡± Tang Xiaowei nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Tang Long let out a long sigh, ¡°I never completely opposed your hobby in the first place! You can paint, but you also need to take the time to manage some of the family affairs.¡± ¡°But you, you just ran off for years on end!¡± Though his words sounded incredibly stern, Tang Xiaowei felt a warmth in her heart. And with the atmosphere already built up to this point, if she didn¡¯t kneel down for a father-daughter reunion, it would be an injustice to the scene. Just as she was about to step forward, Tong Ming suddenly began to inquire. ¡°Xiaowei, where is that unfilial daughter of mine? Where is she?¡± In that instant, all the emotion and ambiance welling up inside Tang Xiaowei dissipated into nothingness. ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s on a business trip¡­ Yes, a business trip!¡± Tong Ming naturally knew that Tang Xiaowei was fobbing him off. ¡°You tell her when you turn around, that she can either not come home or not recognize me as her father, either works! But she must marry the man I¡¯ve chosen for her, and at least give me a decent grandson, or even a granddaughter will do! It¡¯d also give this old man a glimmer of hope to see.¡± Tang Xiaowei still responded very politely, and then she suddenly looked up at Chen Yu. ¡°Uncle Tong, is the person you¡¯ve chosen none other than Boss Chen?¡± Tong Ming coughed lightly, ¡°Such an outstanding young man, who wouldn¡¯t like him? Especially his cooking skills¡­¡± At this point, Tong Ming involuntarily swallowed. Tang Xiaowei also breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to worry, I think she will definitely take a liking to Boss Chen.¡± Chen Yu instantly felt unhappy, as if these three people could decide his lifelong matter with just a few words. ¡°I already have a girlfriend, so there¡¯s no need for everyone to worry! Since Xiaowei and Mr. Tang have reunited today, I¡¯ll play the host¡­¡± ¡°Great!¡± Tong Ming eagerly waved, ¡°Two more servings of each flavor, please!¡± After he spoke, Tong Ming leaned in towards Chen Yu once more, ¡°Xiao Chen, my daughter is definitely an excellent choice, take some time to think about it, and I¡¯ll send her over later so you can meet her.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows knitted tightly, ¡°Mr. Tong, about my personal matters, aren¡¯t you¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this now, time will tell!¡± The last time Tang Long had listened to Tong Ming, he had praised this restaurant¡¯s braised dishes to the skies. As soon as the first plate was served, he couldn¡¯t wait to take a bite. ¡°Hmm! Delicious, tender and refreshing, fat but not greasy, soft without falling apart! Old Tang, no wonder you want to send off your daughter, you¡¯re trading for a lifetime meal ticket!¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily without saying much more. Only after they had finished eating and left did Tong Ya, who had been hiding around the corner on the third floor, breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve been squatting here for quite some time. Have you been secretly watching Dad?¡± Caught off guard, Tong Ya quickly composed herself. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t you think that from here, the side profile of your dad is particularly handsome?¡± Tuan Tuan peered skeptically around the corner. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything special!¡± Tong Ya coughed lightly, ¡°Alright, my stomach has been hurting all morning, and I¡¯m a bit hungry now; let¡¯s have Dad get us something to eat.¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her hands subconsciously, but on second thought, she found Tong Ya¡¯s words a bit awkward. However, she didn¡¯t ponder it much and skipped down the stairs, pulling on Tong Ya¡¯s hand. It was already past two in the afternoon by then, and the crowds had thinned out. Chen Yu also had a moment of leisure, finding a table to sit down at. ¡°Daddy, Mommy is hungry,¡± Tuan Tuan declared, sitting directly opposite Chen Yu. Chen Yu quickly stood up to steady Tong Ya, ¡°How are you feeling? Better?¡± ¡°Much better. If you would kiss me again, I would be completely healed!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s voice was very low, and her tone carried a different kind of charm, making Chen Yu¡¯s heart flutter. With evident affection, he pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose and then brought out a bottle of hot milk. ¡°Have some milk first to warm up your stomach. We¡¯ll eat the rest slowly; otherwise, your stomach might start hurting again.¡± While talking, Chen Yu rubbed Tong Ya¡¯s head as if soothing a child. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: 70 chapters The same person Chapter 70: 70 chapters The same person Suzhou City Tong Group¡¯s temporary office. Tong Ming leaned on his cane as he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the scenery of Suzhou City. This building was the tallest in Suzhou City, with over sixty floors, and it was a private asset of the Tong Group. Moreover, this place was just three streets away from Chen Yu¡¯s shop, allowing one to have a clear view of everything inside the shop. When Tang Xiaowei followed Tong Ming and Tang Long here, she too was taken aback. She suddenly felt her sacrifice was utterly meaningless, as this high vantage point made it very easy to discern the relationship between Tong Ya and Chen Yu. And upon further reflection, Tang Xiaowei also felt it was somewhat unfair. Now, Tong Ming clearly had an attitude of admiration towards Chen Yu and had even explicitly expressed his intention to marry Tong Ya off to Chen Yu. It was just that Tong Ya was somewhat afraid now. After all, Chen Yu had already met with Tong Ming twice, yet Tong Ya had always refrained from revealing her relationship with Tong Ming. She feared that this matter might leave a bad impression in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. Tang Xiaowei couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, continuously brainwashing herself. She had taken the risk for the sake of sisterly love, and of course, for the security of ten years¡¯ worth of meals. Trying her best to maintain her own upstanding moral integrity. Tong Ming stared at the shop for a while before suddenly turning his head. ¡°Xiaowei, tell me, what does Tong Ya¡¯s current boyfriend do?¡± Tang Xiaowei was taken aback for a moment; she hadn¡¯t discussed this question with Tong Ya on the way here. ¡°Well¡­ Uncle Tong, I can assure you, you will definitely like Xiao Ya¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Tong Ming humphed lightly, ¡°Is he as excellent as Boss Chen?¡± Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t quite know how to explain and couldn¡¯t help but mock in her heart, aren¡¯t these two the same person? ¡°Uncle Tong, I actually have always been wondering, what exactly do you see in Chen Yu?¡± A look of admiration flashed across Tong Ming¡¯s face, ¡°In this world, there are not many people who can take one thing and do it to the utmost extreme.¡± ¡°Just by the standard to which he has brought his braised dishes, he can surely handle other matters well! And with his qualities, I¡¯m even certain that if the Tong Group is handed over to him, it could reach even greater heights.¡± Tang Xiaowei couldn¡¯t help but open her mouth wide; Tong Group was a publicly-listed company, with a market value close to three hundred billion. It ranked near the top across the world. It seems Tong Ming has already appointed Chen Yu as his successor. In this day and age, the biggest headache for all the rich worldwide was the matter of succession. After all, who would be willing to hand over the enterprise they had painstakingly built over a lifetime to an outsider? Yet, entrusting it to one¡¯s own children, they feared they might prove unworthy, squandering the inheritance within a few years. Tong Ya was Tong Ming¡¯s only daughter, so she had been subject to an education tens of times more severe than others since childhood, all to groom her to be the heir to the Tong Group. But unexpectedly, the father and daughter eventually fell out. And after fleeing her home, Tong Ya even refused to use what Tong Ming had taught her to make a living, instead, choosing to become a kindergarten teacher, a profession she was amateurish in and not particularly skilled at. Even so, Tong Ya managed to stand out among her peers, and even defeated numerous professional competitors, winning many major awards. Now, it seemed that Tong Ming had given up on Tong Ya and had begun to look for a new heir. At this moment, as Tang Xiaowei propped her chin, thinking it over, the tenacity in Chen Yu and his determination not to bow down to life did indeed qualify him to become the heir of the Tong Group. ¡°Uncle Tong, I suggest you invite Ya and her boyfriend to dinner together¡­¡± ¡°Right!¡± Tong Ming tapped the ground with his cane, ¡°Let¡¯s see if this critter is a mule or a horse, gotta take it out for a walk. I¡¯m curious to see what kind of goods this little rascal really is!¡± At this moment, Tong Ming had made up his mind. As long as Tong Ya brought that little rascal along, he would milk him for a huge bride price. These days, it¡¯s not uncommon for couples to split up because they couldn¡¯t afford the bride price. Besides, he had a thousand other ways to make that little rascal give up. However, he still had to consider Chen Yu¡¯s girlfriend; if all else failed, he¡¯d resort to some scheming. All for the sake of the meal ticket for the rest of his life¡­ no, for the future of Tong Ya and the Tong Group. ¡°By the way, have you seen the girlfriend of that young boss Chen? Is she as pretty as Tong Ya?¡± Tang Xiaowei felt a bit dazed, this talk was all about the same person after all. ¡°Pretty, as beautiful as Tong Ya, and she¡¯s very caring towards Chen Yu. She doesn¡¯t even mind being a stepmother.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a stepmother?¡± Tong Ming suddenly got more irritable, ¡°With Tong Ya¡¯s rebellious nature and all her faults, wanting to be a stepmother, people might not even want her.¡± Tang Xiaowei was full of black lines in her head; in Tong Ming¡¯s eyes, Tong Ya was already less important than Chen Yu. ¡°Uncle Tong, if I can find a way to bring Tong Ya and Chen Yu together, could you invest in a studio for me?¡± Sitting aside, Tang Long suddenly slapped the table and picked up his cane. ¡°You brat, you¡¯ve even learned to make demands now, are you itching for a spanking?¡± Tong Ming hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, ¡°Old Tang, I think Xiaowei indeed has talent in painting. Not to mention investing in a studio, I¡¯d even arrange an art exhibit for her.¡± Tang Long harrumphed softly, ¡°You old fool, just thinking about your own meal ticket for the latter half of your life.¡± Exposed so mercilessly, Tong Ming felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°Xiaowei, please take extra care with Uncle Tong¡¯s matter. If you need anything, just ask.¡± The corners of Tang Xiaowei¡¯s mouth flickered with a smile. Anyway, given the current situation, she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep it a secret for much longer. And after having dedicated herself for such a long time, Tong Ya hadn¡¯t even sent her a single text message. ¡­ At eight-thirty in the evening, the last of the braised foods were barely sold out. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had indeed been reckless today. Four thousand pounds of braised food, more than a thousand pounds of which were bought by Tong Ming as a work meal. Otherwise, he really wouldn¡¯t have been able to sell it all. It wasn¡¯t until nine at night that the shop was cleaned and tidied up. But Chen Yu still ordered four thousand pounds of pork, since Tong Ming had already reserved tomorrow¡¯s work meals as well. [Congratulations to the host for perfectly completing one day of business, with a net profit of 38,200 yuan for the day and a cumulative total of 38,200 points earned, bringing the current total points to 1,420,480.] Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had invested a full 290,000 yuan in ordering raw materials yesterday. And yet he had made a profit on the very first day. He roughly calculated that today¡¯s revenue reached 328,200 yuan. Indeed, the addition of two thousand pounds of braised food also increased the sales of pancakes and noodles. After paying for the four thousand pounds of pork, which cost 32,000 yuan, he had 296,200 yuan left in his hands. Adding in the over-eight-thousand yuan of reserve funds from yesterday, the total was over three hundred thousand. Chen Yu directly deposited the whole 300,000 yuan into a demand deposit account, leaving about four thousand yuan for himself as reserve funds. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71 - 71 Coming to Pledge Apprenticeship Chapter 71 ¨C 71 Coming to Pledge Apprenticeship The balance in the current account had reached one million five hundred and ninety thousand. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before all his plans could be realized. Just as he was about to go and share the good news with Tong Ya, he found that she had already taken Tuan Tuan back to their room to sleep. Chen Yu was instantly puzzled¡ªTong Ya didn¡¯t usually go to bed this early! But Chen Yu didn¡¯t disturb them and just returned to his own room. Early the next morning, as soon as Chen Yu opened the folding door, he saw the chubby man who had come to cause trouble a few days ago sitting dumbly at the doorstep. ¡°Eh? What are you doing here?¡± When the chubby man saw Chen Yu open the door, he hurriedly stood up. ¡°Boss Chen, after these past two days and a lot of thought, I¡¯ve decided to apprentice myself to you, even if I start as a janitor.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow and sized up the chubby man in front of him. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve tried the braised dishes from your place, and they were pretty good.¡± The chubby man couldn¡¯t help but let out a light sigh, ¡°Compared to Boss Chen¡¯s braised dishes, mine are basically pig slop.¡± With that, the chubby man suddenly knelt down in front of Chen Yu. ¡°I, Wang Qingshan, hereby earnestly request to become your disciple today, Boss Chen.¡± This truly startled Chen Yu. Wang Qingshan was nearly forty years old and had established Wang¡¯s Braised Foods ten years ago. He had managed to grow his small shop into its current size, investing untold effort. Although his business was now impacted by Chen Yu¡¯s presence, he still retained many loyal customers who chose his braised foods. Yet now he wanted to become Chen Yu¡¯s apprentice. ¡°Boss Wang, please get up,¡± Chen Yu hurriedly helped Wang Qingshan to his feet. ¡°Boss Chen, I¡¯m sincerely here to ask to be your apprentice; if you don¡¯t agree today, I won¡¯t get up.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless; he had never experienced something like this before. The other breakfast shop owners did nothing but trip him up, play tricks, and spread rumors about him. Now, not only did Wang Qingshan not do that, but he also came to apprentice himself and learn with an open heart. It really put Chen Yu at a loss. ¡°Boss Wang, it¡¯s not that you can¡¯t come work with me, but what about your shop? You¡¯ve worked hard for ten years, you can¡¯t just¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already closed the shop!¡± Wang Qingshan¡¯s face showed a hint of determination: ¡°What¡¯s the use of keeping a shop with no customers?¡± Chen Yu let out a helpless sigh, ¡°Alright then, come in, let me see your skills!¡± A flicker of excitement passed through Wang Qingshan¡¯s eyes; he quickly got to his feet and followed Chen Yu to the kitchen. ¡°Master, what would you have me do?¡± Chen Yu immediately raised an eyebrow; to be honest, he didn¡¯t feel he deserved that title. After all, he had gotten to where he was by relying on the system, whereas Wang Qingshan had gotten to his position through his own true skill and hard work. ¡°Chef Wang, how do you usually handle pig heads and knuckles?¡± Just as Wang Qingshan was about to speak, Chen Yu stopped him and immediately took out the raw materials from the cold storage and placed them in front of him. Wang Qingshan immediately understood that Chen Yu was testing him. Without saying much more, he rolled up his sleeves, picked up a pig head and a knuckle, and put them in the pot. ¡°Master, do you have a high-pressure blowtorch?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°I never use that.¡± In fact, a high-pressure blowtorch is a piece of equipment frequently used by many braised food chefs. ¡°` The first reason was to burn off the hairs sticking to some corners of the skin, and the second was to give the exterior of the meat a crispy texture, achieving the effect of being crispy outside while tender inside. When Wang Qingshan heard that Chen Yu didn¡¯t use a high-pressure blowtorch, he was immediately stunned. ¡°Such delicious braised flavors, and they¡¯re not created using a torch?¡± While talking, Wang Qingshan began to reminisce about the braised meat he¡¯d previously eaten at Chen Yu¡¯s place. It seemed that Chen Yu¡¯s style was fragrant, soft, and tender, lacking the crispness of the outer layer. His own Wang¡¯s Braised Delights were famous for that crispness, but when compared to Chen Yu¡¯s, they clearly weren¡¯t in the same league. Wang Qingshan exclaimed in admiration but said no more, skipping the torching step and quickly getting to work. For the initial round, it was necessary to force out the blood foam and other impurities. The whole process was similar to Chen Yu¡¯s but was missing a few ingredients. Still, unsaid, Wang Qingshan¡¯s techniques had reached perfection. The entire process was smooth and efficient, and even Chen Yu had to admire it. After he finished cleaning the pig¡¯s head and knuckles, Chen Yu clapped his hands together. ¡°Excellent skills! Master Wang, I¡¯m willing to keep you here, and I can teach you the basic recipe for the braised flavors, but you must work in my shop for half a year.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Wang Qingshan instantly became excited. Chen Yu raised his hand to interrupt, ¡°However, during these six months, I can only pay you a salary of six thousand per month, can you accept that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it even without pay!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, simply demonstrating once more in front of Wang Qingshan the method for the initial preparation of the pig¡¯s head and knuckles. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± Realization dawned on Wang Qingshan, and without any more words, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. With such a skilled worker now on board, the initial preparation for the braised flavors had someone to rely on, and the speed would also be greatly increased. Chen Yu only needed to add the seasonings into the pressure cooker. At four-thirty in the morning, the six girls arrived at the shop, talking and laughing. When they saw Wang Qingshan, they were momentarily taken aback. ¡°Master Wang?¡± Han Cai leaned excitedly on the display case, ¡°Master Wang, do you remember me?¡± Wang Qingshan instinctively turned around, ¡°You are?¡± ¡°I was crying in front of your shop a month ago; you gave me a bowl of noodles and some braised meat, and five hundred yuan!¡± Wang Qingshan immediately remembered, ¡°You¡¯re that little girl who was cheated by the employment agency!¡± Han Cai giggled, ¡°Right, after that Brother Yu took me in! I was going to pay you back this month when I got my salary, but now you¡¯re here too?¡± Wang Qingshan sighed involuntarily, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve come to apprentice myself to Boss Chen!¡± Han Cai became excited, ¡°Then we can work together from now on.¡± Chen Yu was also surprised, ¡°Well, since that¡¯s the case, starting today, Han Cai will be Master Wang¡¯s assistant!¡± Han Cai clapped her hands and hurried into the kitchen. She had previously been assisting Chen Yu in the kitchen on the first floor and was quite familiar with the operations. Soon, the shop smoothly got into its groove. Chen Yu himself suddenly felt more relaxed. Just after five o¡¯clock, Tong Ya, carrying her backpack, tiptoed downstairs with Tuan Tuan. Chen Yu was puzzled, ¡°You two are going to school this early?¡± Tong Ya suddenly panicked, ¡°There¡¯s a competition at the kindergarten today. I¡¯m going early to get Tuan Tuan a good spot and get familiar with the environment beforehand.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask any more questions, but simply rubbed the noses of the big beauty and the little one, telling them to be careful on the way. ¡°` Chapter 72 - Chapter 72 - 72 Is She Your Girlfriend? Chapter 72 ¨C 72 Is She Your Girlfriend? ¡°` With Wang Qingshan¡¯s help, the work sped up significantly. And although Wang Qingshan looked as rotund as a small hill, he was all muscle. A bag of flour weighed a hundred pounds, and Chen Yu usually found carrying one bag somewhat strenuous, but Wang Qingshan could effortlessly shoulder three at a time. This scene genuinely left Chen Yu a bit dumbfounded. The day was no different from any other, the only change being that Wang Qingshan¡¯s arrival had given Chen Yu quite a bit of leisure time. He could even have a decent conversation with the neighbors who visited the place. In the past, Chen Yu would have been too busy to do more than offer a symbolic response to the neighbors¡¯ chatter. At half past eleven in the morning, Tong Ming sent someone to pick up a thousand pounds of marinated meat. They also paid an advance and said they would take another thousand pounds in the afternoon, asking Chen Yu to keep it aside for them. It seemed that Tong Ming¡¯s company in Suzhou City was well established, and they had quite a few employees. At half past four in the afternoon, Tong Ya came back to the store with Tuan Tuan. Oddly, Tong Ya was wearing a hat and a mask, and also had sunglasses covering her face. When she first walked in, even Chen Yu almost failed to recognize her. ¡°What happened to you? Why are you all disguised like this?¡± Chen Yu asked, somewhat worried that Tong Ya might be allergic to something. Tong Ya still cautiously looked around the shop before she took off her mask and sunglasses. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just that the sunlight outside is too glaring.¡± Right in the midst of their conversation, a small pickup truck and two vans suddenly stopped at the entrance. These were Tong Ming¡¯s company vehicles, here to collect the marinated meat. Chen Yu did not dare to neglect his duties and quickly instructed the kitchen staff to get ready. He had barely called out when Tong Ming, supported by two bodyguards, hurried into the shop. When he saw Tong Ya standing with Chen Yu and Tuan Tuan, he looked utterly stupefied. Tong Ya also opened her mouth wide, instinctively wanting to go upstairs. Tong Ming immediately made a gesture akin to an eagle catching a chick, blocking her way. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chen Yu frowned, sensing that Tong Ming¡¯s gaze toward Tong Ya was somewhat unusual. Almost instinctively, Chen Yu pulled Tong Ya into his arms. ¡°Old Master Tong, do you know my girlfriend?¡± Tong Ming¡¯s eyes widened in shock: ¡°She¡¯s your girlfriend?¡± Chen Yu nodded, looking at Tong Ming with a hint of confusion. He wondered if the old man was seriously ill; why such a big reaction to learning Tong Ya was his girlfriend? The next moment, Tong Ming suddenly shouted, ¡°Heaven has eyes!¡± He had been puzzled as to why Tang Xiaowei specifically instructed him to be at the shop personally between four-thirty and five in the afternoon. Now he understood, his daughter had already become someone else¡¯s stepmother. Of course, she had to take up the responsibility of the child¡¯s school runs. It was the peak of the off-work rush, and the shop was filled with customers. Hearing Tong Ming¡¯s sudden outburst, they all turned to look, puzzled. Wang Qingshan, seeing this commotion from the kitchen, immediately grabbed a kitchen cleaver and rushed out. ¡°Master, is someone causing trouble?¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, signaling Wang Qingshan to return to the kitchen first. Even he wasn¡¯t clear about what exactly had happened. Tong Ya¡¯s chest heaved violently a few times before she looked at Chen Yu like a child who had made a mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I never told you, but he is actually my father.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, and he looked at Tong Ming with a mix of astonishment in his eyes. ¡°` Tong Ming¡¯s emotions at this moment were truly exhilarating. The man he had taken a liking to had actually become his son-in-law so easily. ¡°Young man, my daughter can be a bit headstrong, if she has caused you any trouble, don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± ¡°I still have things to handle at my company, so I won¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± He had merely followed Tang Xiaowei¡¯s hint to come and take a look. Now that he had his answer, there was no need to continue his stay here. Before Chen Yu could even react, Tong Ming had already hurried off with his people and the braised dishes. It was only at this moment that Chen Yu completely understood. No wonder Tong Ya had been so elusive each time Tong Ming visited. Chen Yu smiled briefly and then rubbed Tong Ya¡¯s head. ¡°What¡¯s with you acting so strangely lately? It turns out it was your father coming over.¡± Tong Ya nodded repeatedly, ¡°Actually, he was purely attracted by the braised dishes you made! I swear, I didn¡¯t ask him to come over to look after your business, nor did I¡­¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Chen Yu lightly flicked Tong Ya¡¯s nose, ¡°I understand, go take Tuan Tuan back to the room first.¡± Joy was written all over Tong Ya¡¯s face, it seemed her previous worries were superfluous. But she found it a bit curious, the timing of Tong Ming¡¯s visit this afternoon was too coincidental, wasn¡¯t it? By seven in the evening, the braised dishes had already sold out. The stream of customers gradually dwindled. Chen Yu then called everyone to start cleaning up. With Wang Qingshan joining, everything became fast and systematic. After all, managing a store independently for over ten years had given him a wealth of experience. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 296,200 yuan, earning 296,200 points, with a current total of 1,716,680 points.] Unbeknownst to Chen Yu, the points were close to reaching two million, and he was feeling more expectant about the future. After ordering four thousand kilograms of pork, Chen Yu then deposited a neat sum of 300,000 yuan into his savings account. Leaving 600 yuan in his pocket for emergencies. In fact, the emergency funds he had set aside during this period seemed to be of little use. By early morning, around five or six o¡¯clock, the day¡¯s earnings would already reach over ten thousand yuan. Now, the savings account held a sum of 1.89 million yuan. Although it was not enough to buy the whole block of shops, it was more than sufficient to open a branch. Moreover, with the considerable help of Wang Qingshan, planning to open a branch should definitely be pushed forward soon. Additionally, the items related to the braised dishes that were in his mind, he had only introduced pig¡¯s head and pork knuckles so far. After the delivered pork was stocked, Wang Qingshan went off to the neighborhood behind with the six girls, chatting and laughing. Having worked hard here for ten years, he had long bought a house in the community. He was, after all, able to walk part of the way with the girls. Just as Chen Yu was about to close the shop, a horn suddenly sounded from not far away. Tong Ming drove up in a modest sports car, parking right at the storefront. He didn¡¯t wait for Chen Yu to invite him in, directly taking two bottles of alcohol into the shop from his car. ¡°Lad, can you join me for a drink?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just pulled out a table and placed two stools down. Tong Ming sat down without any pretense, producing two cups. ¡°This is a wine I¡¯ve cellared for twenty-two years, buried on the day Xiaowei was born! It was flown in especially three hours ago,¡± As he spoke, Tong Ming opened the seal on the wine jar and poured two bowls. Chen Yu was greatly spirited, lifting a bowl and downing it with throats gurgling. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73 - 73: It’s up to you. Chapter 73 ¨C 73: It¡¯s up to you. Tong Ming was startled; the wine that had been cellared for twenty-two years was extraordinarily potent. Chen Yu had just downed a glass in one go! However, he didn¡¯t stop him, instead looking at Chen Yu with a gaze of admiration. ¡°Good lad, you¡¯ve got guts.¡± With that, he also drank down the wine in his hand. In fact, it was only at this moment that Chen Yu came to know Tong Ya¡¯s real age. By that account, Tong Ya had been only fifteen years old during the summer of their first encounter. A fifteen-year-old genius girl who had already started college, and now, she was wholeheartedly following by his side. This inexplicably added a sense of guilt to his heart. Tong Ming placed the empty bowl on the table: ¡°To be honest, I like you, young man!¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to see youngsters with personality like yours these days.¡± ¡°You flatter me, elder!¡± Chen Yu responded, then poured another two bowls of wine. Tong Ming laughed heartily: ¡°I came today, actually, to talk about my family situation with you.¡± As he said this, Tong Ming leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. ¡°On the day when Tong Ya¡¯s mother passed away, I was negotiating a very important contract! Career, the love of my life, I really didn¡¯t know what to choose.¡± Chen Yu sat quietly across from Tong Ming, listening. Now that he and Tong Ya were together, they were family. Tong Ming was also his elder; the least he could offer was respect. Moreover, he was curious why Tong Ya had chosen to run away from home. It turned out that on that day, Tong Ya¡¯s mother had called Tong Ming from her sickbed, telling him he must secure the contract. And as Tong Ming recalled these events, tears streaked down his face. It was apparent how deeply he loved Tong Ya¡¯s mother. This was probably why he had never remarried thereafter. But in Tong Ya¡¯s eyes, Tong Ming had given up on her mother for his so-called career. Moreover, with Tong Ming constantly doing business away from home, he had seldom taken care of Tong Ya. All this had further ingrained the impression of Tong Ming as unfeeling in Tong Ya¡¯s heart. Therefore, on the day she finished her postgraduate studies, Tong Ya had chosen to leave home. Soon, both of them were heavily drunk. After all, with twenty-two-year-old liquor, even those with strong alcohol tolerance could get befuddled. [System prompt: The host is in a state of intoxication, which may affect business tomorrow. Would you like to spend one thousand points to sober up?] Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, inwardly complaining, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this feature earlier?¡± Without hesitating, he immediately confirmed the prompt in his mind. His heavy head then cleared up again, as if what he had just drunk was nothing but water. [Current remaining points: one million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand, six hundred and eighty.] But Tong Ming was not faring well, his face had turned an extreme shade of red, and he seemed very unsteady on his feet. He kept talking about his own matters. ¡°The person I owe the most to in this life is Tong Ya. Now I¡¯ve entrusted her to you, hoping you will treat her well.¡± As his words trailed off, Tong Ming then laid his head on the table and fell asleep. Chen Yu sighed helplessly. Just as he was about to carry Tong Ming upstairs, he suddenly heard quiet sobbing from behind him. Tong Ya had appeared at the top of the stairs without him noticing. It seemed that she had heard everything Tong Ming had said earlier. Chen Yu hurried forward to wipe the tears from the corner of Tong Ya¡¯s eyes. ¡°I seem to have resolved someone¡¯s misunderstanding after many years, don¡¯t I deserve some reward?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks turned red, and her heart suddenly began to beat rapidly. Is Chen Yu trying to flirt with her? Without a second thought, Tong Ya leaned in and kissed Chen Yu on the cheek. ¡°Is this reward enough?¡± Chen Yu looked at Tong Ya with a gentle gaze, ¡°How could this be enough?¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face turned crimson, and her whole body involuntarily started to heat up. ¡°Haven¡¯t decided yet, I¡¯ll tell you later! Let¡¯s take your dad back upstairs first.¡± Together, the two of them helped Tong Ming up the stairs. ¡­ Inside an advertising studio. Fang Yuan was wearing a very revealing red chiffon dress, holding shower gel, and shooting an advertisement with great effort. Though she appeared to be in good condition, if one observed carefully, they would notice the dark circles under her heavy makeup. After the shoot, Fang Yuan staggered back to the makeup room, grabbed a can of strong coffee, and gulped it down. An exasperated Han Mintao sighed, ¡°You should rest for a bit, daughter! You¡¯ve been shooting like this non-stop for three days.¡± Fang Yuan shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. The bet agreement has been signed. If I don¡¯t earn enough by then¡­¡± Han Mintao felt a pang of heartache and patted Fang Yuan on the back. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are really angry at!¡± While speaking, Han Mintao took a script from his person. ¡°This is a mainstream blockbuster, the final box office won¡¯t be too bad, and I¡¯ve signed a box office profit-sharing agreement for you.¡± Fang Yuan didn¡¯t say much, just took the script and left with Han Mintao. There were still a few hours to reach the film crew, and she could sleep for a while in Han Mintao¡¯s RV on the way. Han Mintao looked at Fang Yuan, fast asleep, and a surge of nameless rage welled up inside him. She picked up the phone and found Chen Yu¡¯s number, typing out several text messages. ¡°Chen Yu, Fang Yuan is, after all, Tuan Tuan¡¯s biological mother, why won¡¯t you let them meet?¡± ¡°Do you realize that morally, you are in the wrong here?¡± ¡°Legally speaking, I could forcefully sue you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I have many top lawyers at my disposal.¡± ¡­ At this moment, Chen Yu and Tong Ya had temporarily settled Tong Ming in the guest room. Tuan Tuan already knew about Tong Ming¡¯s identity, but she didn¡¯t seem to care about his current state. ¡°Mom and Dad, now that a guest room is taken, does that mean we can sleep together?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, after all, he and Tong Ya weren¡¯t married yet. It seemed a bit inappropriate to sleep together now. ¡°Our home has three rooms, how could we not have enough space to sleep?¡± Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head and carried her back to her room. Tong Ya didn¡¯t say much either, and obediently coaxed Tuan Tuan to sleep with her. Just as Chen Yu was about to return to his own room, his phone buzzed with a message. His disdain for Han Mintao had reached its limit. When he had been with Fang Yuan, Han Mintao had done everything to obstruct them. He had even introduced various wealthy business magnates to Fang Yuan, despite them being married. Chen Yu sometimes suspected that the talent scout who had taken an interest in Fang Yuan had been sent by Han Mintao. Now, Han Mintao was questioning him with such a condescending attitude, it indeed angered Chen Yu. ¡°Your daughter isn¡¯t single, unmarried? Then where did the child come from?¡± After sending the message, Chen Yu promptly blocked Han Mintao. He also blocked all other means of contacting Han Mintao. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74 - 74 Preparing a Branch Store Chapter 74 ¨C 74 Preparing a Branch Store ¡°` At four o¡¯clock in the early morning of the next day, Chen Yu habitually got up and went down to the first-floor restaurant. However, today he did nothing except prepare the seasoning for the marinated foods, making them into spice packs and leaving them there. Today, he was going to make a bold attempt! Before long, Wang Qingshan hurried into the store. ¡°Master, you¡¯re here so early!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed helplessness, ¡°Master Wang, how many times have I told you not to call me that.¡± Wang Qingshan scratched his head somewhat embarrassingly, ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± ¡°You are older than me, just calling me Little Chen will do!¡± Wang Qingshan didn¡¯t immediately agree but simply smiled, went straight to the cold room, and pulled out a cart of pig heads and knuckles, starting to process them by himself. ¡°Master Wang, I have something to do today, I might not be in the store, so I¡¯ll have to trouble you to help keep an eye on it.¡± Wang Qingshan immediately patted his chest, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I am quite good at managing a store.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then pointed to the stack of spice packs beside him. ¡°I have prepared the spice packs for the marinade here, you can just throw them in when adding the spices.¡± Wang Qingshan nodded repeatedly. After leaving that instruction, Chen Yu directly went up to the third floor. He had decided to take the day off for himself, and at the same time, he wanted to test Wang Qingshan. He had secured all those spice packs tightly, using a mesh-like sanitary gauze. Having made marinades for ten years, Wang Qingshan should understand that in this case, all one needs to do is throw the spice packs in. If he coveted the ingredients of the marinated foods, he would definitely try to open the packs and study their composition. If Chen Yu returned in the evening and found the spice packs hadn¡¯t been opened, then he could immediately start setting up a second store. At six in the morning, Tong Ya, wearing pajamas, sleepily rubbed her eyes and came out of her room. She was surprised to see Chen Yu sitting on the sofa. ¡°Is the store not open today?¡± Usually at this time, Chen Yu would be busy in the kitchen. Chen Yu leaned lazily on the sofa, ¡°How could that be? I¡¯m preparing for the branch store.¡± ¡°Branch store!¡± Tong Ya immediately became excited. Considering the current popularity and turnover of Chen Yu¡¯s store, he could have opened a branch store long ago. But Chen Yu, preferring stability, had held off until now. Tong Ya bounced and sat down beside Chen Yu, ¡°Can I help with anything then? I¡¯m off work today.¡± Chen Yu was slightly stunned, ¡°It¡¯s not the weekend, and doesn¡¯t the dance class only take a break every other week?¡± Tong Ya laughed, ¡°Yesterday at noon, Tuan Tuan was admitted to Suzhou City No. 5 Middle School on the grounds of his special talent in dance, so the next few months are essentially summer vacation.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise¡ªhe had known nothing about this. Suddenly feeling guilty, he slapped his forehead. His mind was so preoccupied with the store that he indeed seemed to have neglected Tuan Tuan. ¡°How could I forget about this!¡± Tong Ya wrapped her arm around Chen Yu¡¯s, ¡°It¡¯s okay, now you just focus on running the store, and I¡¯ll take care of Tuan Tuan¡¯s matters.¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya got up and took out an admission notice from the drawer beneath the television. ¡°I¡¯ve completed all the procedures yesterday, and Tuan Tuan can go straight into the first grade.¡± Chen Yu took the admission notice from Tong Ya and sighed softly. ¡°` Before they knew it, Tuan Tuan was about to start first grade. ¡°Then, after Tuan Tuan wakes up and we send your dad back, let¡¯s go out and look for a new store.¡± At eight in the morning, Tong Ming stumbled out of the room, feeling groggy. Surprised to see Chen Yu, he exclaimed, ¡°Kid, you can really hold your liquor! You downed two bowls of aged wine without batting an eye.¡± By this time, Chen Yu was also ready and set to leave the house. ¡°Old man, let me take you back first!¡± Tong Ming waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No need, have some food here before you go, and besides, the driver should already be on his way.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and prepared to leave with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. ¡°Hold on a sec!¡± Tong Ming suddenly called out, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say hello to your own dad?¡± Tong Ya pouted, avoiding eye contact. Although Tong Ming had spilled everything last night while drinking with Chen Yu, she still couldn¡¯t get over the emotional hurdle. Her mother had died in her sickbed years ago, and that was a cold, hard fact. What hurt her most was that in the ensuing days, Tong Ming hadn¡¯t even bothered to ask once how she was getting along. Clutching Chen Yu¡¯s arm, Tong Ya hid behind him. ¡°Husband, let¡¯s go quickly! If we¡¯re late, the good stores will be taken.¡± Tong Ming¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to start calling Chen Yu ¡®husband¡¯. Moreover, in front of Chen Yu, she gave no regard to her father¡¯s feelings. Indeed, daughters married off were like water poured away. Before even getting married, she was already like this; after the marriage, wouldn¡¯t all the family¡¯s wealth end up in Chen Yu¡¯s hands? Tong Ming didn¡¯t dwell on it any further. It had not been easy to locate Tong Ya, and he didn¡¯t want her to run off again. ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to speak to me, I won¡¯t force you! After all, any children you have in the future will still have to call me grandpa.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s lips were pursed; she remembered that Chen Yu had told her he didn¡¯t want any more children for the time being. ¡°We don¡¯t want to have children yet¡ªthis is my child!¡± With that, Tong Ya pushed Tuan Tuan forward. Just as Tong Ming turned his head, about to erupt, he was charmed by Tuan Tuan¡¯s cute and adorable appearance. ¡°What a cute little doll! Come here and call me grandpa!¡± Tong Ya was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to accept Tuan Tuan so easily. Knowing Tong Ming¡¯s identity, Tuan Tuan chuckled and ran towards him with arms wide open. ¡°You are my mommy¡¯s daddy, so I should call you grandpa, but you were really mean to mommy, so I¡¯ll have to observe whether I should call you grandpa.¡± Tong Ming immediately perked up, ¡°Chen Yu, this girl has the same personality as you! She¡¯s got potential and will surely achieve greatness one day. This granddaughter of mine, I¡¯m proud of her.¡± As he spoke, Tong Ming fished out a sapphire pendant. ¡°I came in a hurry and didn¡¯t bring any gifts¡­¡± To his surprise, Tuan Tuan stepped back immediately. ¡°I can¡¯t take it. Daddy said we shouldn¡¯t accept things that come without clarity.¡± Tong Ming was taken aback for a moment. Such young age yet so proud and principled, she already met the initial criteria for an heir in his eyes. ¡°Haha, well done! Found a good husband and also got such a nice kid as a bonus.¡± Though it sounded like he was talking to himself, Tong Ya knew that these words were meant for her. The knot in her heart suddenly loosened a bit. Tong Ming didn¡¯t take back the necklace, ¡°This was originally for your mother, I hope you will accept it on her behalf.¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75 - 75 Renting Together Chapter 75 ¨C 75 Renting Together Tuan Tuan couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes and glanced back at Tong Ya, then turned his head to look at Tong Ming. ¡°It¡¯s clear that you didn¡¯t mean to be fierce with Mom, so I¡¯ll go out of my way to call you Grandpa, and I¡¯ll accept this thing on behalf of Mom.¡± Tong Ming couldn¡¯t be happier; he swept Tuan Tuan into his arms in one go. ¡°Hold on, Grandpa, wait!¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, it looked like Tong Ming and Tong Ya were cut from the same cloth. He had thought Tong Ming couldn¡¯t accept Tuan Tuan before, but now it seemed his concerns were somewhat superfluous. ¡°Alright Tuan Tuan, it¡¯s time for us to go,¡± Chen Yu stepped forward and took Tuan Tuan into his arms. ¡°Instead of looking for a new store, why not expand the existing one!¡± Tong Ming suddenly spoke up, ¡°I see several shops next to yours are vacant; why not rent them all together?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°A fixed location has a limited reach, so I feel¡­¡± ¡°Times are changing, and thoughts must change too. Connect to a delivery system, capitalize on platforms and traffic to turn the shop you have into a brand, and maximize its scale.¡± The group that Tong Ming controlled was a behemoth, after all; his suggestions were very constructive. Chen Yu thought carefully about his current shop, which on the surface seemed to have reached its limit, but it only served the nearby neighbors. And so far, none of his shops had a signboard. Compared to opening branches, expanding the existing shop seemed somewhat safer. ¡°Thank you for the advice, sir.¡± Chen Yu had barely finished speaking when Tong Ming looked somewhat displeased. ¡°Why still ¡®sir¡¯? If that damn girl refuses to acknowledge me, won¡¯t you change your address either?¡± Chen Yu smiled awkwardly and swiftly left with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. Every breakfast shop on this street had to shut down due to the impact of Chen Yu¡¯s business. As a result, many shops were left vacant. There were precisely five shopfronts between his and Xie Jiang¡¯s shop. These five premises previously operated snack outlets, and within less than a week of Chen Yu moving in, they had posted transfer notices at the entrance of their shops. Now, aside from Zhang Fan¡¯s car dealership and Xie Jiang¡¯s home store, there was only one chain convenience store left across the street. Though the street was bustling with crowds during the day, it looked eerily deserted at night. Chen Yu took a quick assessment of these few shops¡¯ structures, then directly called all five landlords over and also brought Auntie Li along. ¡°Little Chen, I never expected you to expand the shop so quickly!¡± While expressing her admiration, Auntie Li brought out the rental contracts with the five landlords. This street was already in a busy market area; all the shops were in prime locations. Therefore, their rent was paid up until the end of the year. Now it was only May, and there were still a good seven months until year¡¯s end. The five landlords were downcast every day, with their businesses not sustainable and so much rental time left, it was discomforting just to think about. Now that Chen Yu was taking over, they were profoundly grateful. Without hesitation, they signed the transfer contracts on the spot. The scale of these five shopfronts wasn¡¯t huge, but fortunately, all five shared the same layout and were closely adjoining. With minor modifications in the future, they could be directly connected to Chen Yu¡¯s shop. Then his shopfront could almost double in size. Moreover, the location of the five shops, situated between two residential buildings, meant the rooftops above could also be utilized. The five shops together only cost a total of twenty thousand in rent per month, which was still quite a bargain overall. After signing the contract, Chen Yu transferred the remaining seven months¡¯ rent to the five owners. He also prepared a copy of the plans with Auntie Li. Once everything was settled, Chen Yu immediately went next door to find Xie Jiang. Having been busy for several days in a row, Xie Jiang could finally take a proper rest. But when he heard Chen Yu was about to expand the shops again, the goji berry water he was drinking spat out of his mouth. ¡°Old Chen, your business is getting bigger and bigger!¡± Chen Yu, somewhat embarrassed, waved his hand: ¡°Anyway, these shops are vacant, and after the expansion, we two will be real neighbors.¡± Xie Jiang also got excited, rolled up his sleeves, and stepped out with Chen Yu. At this moment, Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya were moving back and forth between the five shops, seemingly considering how to perfectly connect the five shops together. After looking around, Xie Jiang couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to do! Each shop has its own unique structure, it¡¯s really going to take some effort to connect them all.¡± ¡°Anyway, as long as it¡¯s connected to my existing shop in the end, that¡¯s good!¡± Chen Yu said it quite casually: ¡°Give me an estimate. How much will it roughly cost?¡± Xie Jiang adjusted his breathing slightly: ¡°To connect the six shops without changing the main structure, it would cost at least fifty thousand.¡± Chen Yu nodded. His first shop was rented as a restaurant, so many things inside didn¡¯t need to be changed. But these shops in front of him were different. It was not just about renovations, some places needed major changes. The fifty thousand Xie Jiang mentioned was somewhat conservative. The final transformation would likely exceed one hundred thousand. ¡°Old Xie, from today, I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands. I¡¯ll transfer one hundred thousand to you, and we¡¯ll stick to the usual rule: return the excess, make up any shortfall.¡± Xie Jiang gritted his teeth: ¡°Leave it to me!¡± After transferring the money, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan back to their shop. It was now twelve o¡¯clock at noon, the time with the highest footfall. Still, meals were being served as orderly as usual. Chen Yu casually wandered to the kitchen and noticed Wang Qingshan really just tossing sauce packets into the pressure cooker without even looking. A smile flickered across Chen Yu¡¯s lips; he had indeed not misjudged the man. At six in the afternoon, at this time, there were hardly any customers left on the first floor, as people coming off work went to the second floor to buy fried cakes and vegetable turnovers. Tang Xiaowei was once again dressed in her panda costume, bouncing energetically to the entrance. ¡°Tong Ya, I¡¯m back again.¡± With an excited shout, Tang Xiaowei directly charged towards Tong Ya and hugged her. Tong Ya might have still felt a bit guilty, after all, the way she acted before could be considered a betrayal to Tang Xiaowei. ¡°Are you back to being free?¡± Tong Ya asked instinctively. ¡°Kind of. And I already have my own studio brand! It won¡¯t be long now, my comics will be turned into a live-action TV series.¡± Tang Xiaowei said with a proud look, and anyone who didn¡¯t know might think she had already become a real comic master. Tong Ya was genuinely happy for Tang Xiaowei. Although she had guessed that Tong Ming¡¯s visit to the shop was probably Tang Xiaowei¡¯s idea. But she didn¡¯t delve too much into it; the two were now even. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76 - 76 Accessing Takeaway Systems Chapter 76 ¨C 76 Accessing Takeaway Systems Chen Yu was not idle at that moment; he had called the relevant departments to make a record and had someone make a sign. After everything was settled, it was already seven o¡¯clock. At this moment, the staff from the relevant departments also arrived at the shop with registration forms and some certificates. ¡°Yuya Bansheng!¡± The staff member looked puzzled, ¡°Are you sure you want to name it this?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Chen Yu asked in return. ¡°You can, but it just feels a bit strange!¡± the staff member replied somewhat embarrassedly, and then registered the name. Then he accessed the delivery system through the mobile app. It was not until eight in the evening that all the procedures were finally completed. As soon as he sent off the staff, a notification sound popped up in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. The net profit for the day is forty-six thousand two hundred yuan, earning forty-six thousand two hundred points. The total accumulated points are now one million seven hundred sixty-six thousand one hundred eighty-eighty.] Chen Yu hurriedly took out the account book and began to make a rough calculation. The rent and renovation for the new shop today totaled two hundred forty thousand, and it cost ten thousand to have someone design and make the sign. Adding up other costs, it seemed to be about this amount. After ordering four thousand pounds of pork, Chen Yu then replenished the remaining money into his current account, with the total account balance amounting to one million nine hundred forty thousand. Chen Yu left six hundred yuan as reserve funds for himself. ¡°This name is really awkward!¡± Tong Ya appeared behind Chen Yu at some point. Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t like it? Then I¡¯ll change it!¡± Tong Ya hurriedly grabbed the documents on the table and clutched them to her chest, ¡°It¡¯s awkward, but it sounds nice, and it has a special meaning.¡± Chen Yu said nothing more but just called everyone over for the staff meal. Just then, a loud noise suddenly came from next door; it looked like Xie Jiang had already started working with his workers. The next morning, Chen Yu didn¡¯t get up until five o¡¯clock. Having Wang Qingshan around had indeed made things much easier. But when he got to the first-floor lobby, he found that in addition to the neighbors, there were also a large number of delivery guys queuing up. And these delivery guys, while waiting for their orders, also placed their own orders, taking the opportunity to solve their breakfast problem. The entire shop had become bustling by this point, with sales volume more than doubling the usual amount for this time. Chen Yu did not dare to slack in the slightest and hurriedly ran to the kitchen to help. ¡°Master Wang, can you manage?¡± Wang Qingshan was already drenched in sweat, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you have these twenty pressure cookers, otherwise we really couldn¡¯t keep up.¡± Chu Hong and Zhao Meng were also moving their hands at lightning speed, and they couldn¡¯t stop for a moment. Even Han Cai ran over from the lobby to help out. The situation on the second floor was slightly better. In the past two days, Li Yu and Su Qing had already turned all the raw materials into semi-finished products. All they needed to do was to add a few more deep-frying pots. Chen Yu suddenly felt he had been somewhat rash, at the very least, he should have waited until the shop was fully expanded before integrating the delivery system. He was not worried about fried cakes and vegetable pastries, as the semi-finished products stored in the freezer were enough to last. But he feared that the braised items might not last until twelve o¡¯clock noon, and he might even fall short of the two thousand pounds Tong Ming had requested. ¡°Master Wang, you keep an eye on things here, I¡¯ll get them to rush another four thousand pounds of pork over,¡± Chen Yu said. ¡°Four thousand pounds might not be enough!¡± Wang Qingshan warned, ¡°It¡¯s only morning now, the demand will be even greater by lunchtime. After integrating into the delivery system, the coverage area has at least tripled since yesterday, and the flow of people will accordingly increase, too.¡± Chen Yu frowned tightly. He had already joined the takeout system, he couldn¡¯t possibly cancel it! After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu immediately called and ordered 3000 kilograms of pig heads and 3000 kilograms of pork knuckles. When Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan woke up and thought about coming to help in the hall, they were instantly stunned to see it as busy as a battlefield. This was the first time they had seen so many delivery guys lining up and pouring into the shop. By ten in the morning, the flow of people still hadn¡¯t decreased; if anything, it had grown even larger. The twenty high-pressure cookers had been working non-stop. As soon as the braised dishes were ready, they sold out immediately. The two-story hall was even more crowded, with delivery guys and neighbors jostling each other, and some even got into disputes. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. If the situation continued to develop like this, even if the shop expanded, he feared it wouldn¡¯t be able to accommodate so many people. Some neighbors, not wanting to cause Chen Yu any trouble, even brought out little tables and set them up outside. With the increase in foot traffic, Zhang Fan¡¯s auto shop and Xie Jiang¡¯s home store also reaped considerable benefits. Just that morning, there were more than forty orders from delivery guys at Zhang Fan¡¯s auto shop for tire replacements. Xie Jiang, who was decorating next door, was shocked by the scene in front of him. In the previous days, the foot traffic at Chen Yu¡¯s shop was relatively stable, but today it had increased by more than threefold. And most of them were delivery guys. It was one thing for them to come and pick up meals, but they also had to order a portion for themselves to take away. By eight-thirty in the evening, the shop was still bustling. There were continuous takeout orders, without any sign of stopping. Yesterday¡¯s order of 4000 kilograms of pork, plus today¡¯s 6000 kilograms, made a total of 10,000 kilograms of braised meat, and now only about 200 kilograms were left. At nine o¡¯clock, Chen Yu hurriedly changed the shop¡¯s status to ¡®closed,¡¯ and only then things quieted down. At that moment in the first-floor hall, dozens of delivery guys sat neatly, wolfing down their food. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think this place was a canteen specifically for delivery guys. ¡°I¡¯ve been delivering takeout around here for so long, and I¡¯ve never heard of this shop before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just too delicious. I only had a small taste at noon, and I was instantly hooked.¡± ¡°They must be using the takeout system for the first time today, that¡¯s why we haven¡¯t heard of it.¡± ¡°This noodle dish is so aromatic, I want another bowl!¡± ¡­ After a long day, Chen Yu was exhausted. It had been a long time since he felt this way. He waited until the delivery guys left and then sat down with his staff to eat. If Wang Qingshan hadn¡¯t specially kept twenty kilograms of braised meat, they might have indeed sold out completely. ¡°Boss Chen!¡± Wang Qingshan had already changed his way of addressing him, ¡°It was really bustling today. It¡¯s only the first day, and there might be even more people tomorrow. Those twenty high-pressure cookers might be working over capacity.¡± Chen Yu let out a relieved breath, ¡°We¡¯ll buy some more later. Pay attention to limiting quantities when selling tomorrow. We¡¯re not yet able to handle such a large volume.¡± The six young girls also looked defeated. Especially Li Yu and Su Qing, who spent the entire day on the second floor, daring not to move. Li Yu even burned her hand, but didn¡¯t dare to take a rest. Moreover, the frozen deep-fried cakes and vegetable pastries in the cold storage were already running out today. If they didn¡¯t restock soon, they might run out of supplies tomorrow. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77 - 77: Exponential Growth Chapter 77 ¨C 77: Exponential Growth ¡°` [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 780,600 yuan, earning you 780,600 points. Your current total accumulated points are 2,542,480.] The system prompt echoed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind at that moment, and even he himself was stunned. He hurriedly checked the day¡¯s turnover and found it had reached over 860,000. This was nearly three times as much as yesterday! Looking at the images provided by today¡¯s delivery system, an area with a six-kilometer radius was entirely covered. Even people more than ten kilometers away were ordering takeout from here. The increase in foot traffic was practically explosive. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but sigh at his own hastiness. He should have waited until the store was more solidly established and hired more staff before launching the delivery system. However, he merely lamented in his heart for a moment and then quickly called the raw material suppliers. Though he wanted to stock up more, the capacity of the cold storage meant he could only order enough raw materials for the next couple of days. For tomorrow, the 10,000 jin of pork used for marinated meat, along with other various raw materials, added up to a total of 358,000 yuan. Subsequently, Chen Yu rushed to place an order for three sets of machinery from Zhang Fan and also gave a shout to Xie Jiang next door, asking him to source twenty larger pressure cookers. After paying for all these expenses, he had 433,600 yuan left in his hands. Depositing 430,000 yuan into a current account and adding what was left over from yesterday, Chen Yu had a bit over 6,000 yuan in reserve funds. After ordering the goods, Chen Yu sat down again to roughly calculate the costs. He found that just today¡¯s raw material costs were nearly 220,000 yuan. It was a good thing he had listened to Tong Ming and hadn¡¯t opened another branch but chose to expand his current shop instead. Otherwise, who knows what kind of mishaps might have occurred. Before long, several large trucks stopped in front of the shop. The delivery guys had become numb to it all, as it seemed that the amount of raw materials Chen Yu needed would double every so often. But the sheer volume of supplies this time was indeed too much; even Wang Qingshan was so exhausted he could hardly catch his breath. Just then, Chu Hong approached Chen Yu with her mobile phone, looking somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Brother Yu, some girls from back home want to come out and find work. Can I invite them to work here?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, ¡°Of course! How many?¡± The six girls currently working in his shop were meticulous in their duties. Not only did they learn quickly, but they also had honest and straightforward characters. Since they were Chu Hong¡¯s fellow villagers, their character and integrity were surely not far off. Moreover, after today, Chen Yu clearly felt the need for more hands. ¡°There are roughly eight girls. If they don¡¯t come out to work and earn money soon, they¡¯ll be pressured into marriage. And I can assure you that they are diligent workers¡­¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Chen Yu interrupted Chu Hong with a raised hand, ¡°tell them to come quickly. I¡¯ll reimburse the travel expenses.¡± With that, he directly transferred the over 6,000 yuan in reserve funds to Chu Hong. ¡°Brother Yu, this is too much¡­¡± ¡°The rest is a bonus for you six for this period; take it back and split it among yourselves!¡± Chu Hong immediately became excited and stepped aside to make some phone calls. After Wang Qingshan and the six girls had left, Chen Yu, holding his forehead, went next door. Xie Jiang was still there with his workers, busy with construction in a hive of activity. The previously independent five shops had been consolidated, and the stairs and various passages were also reinforced. Moreover, the design from the beginning had anticipated integration with Chen Yu¡¯s existing shop. ¡°` ¡°Hard work, Old Xie!¡± Chen Yu placed a stack of drinks on the ground. The workers were somewhat embarrassed; none of their other clients had ever gone out of their way to provide them with drinks. ¡°Old Chen, why go to all this expense? With our relationship, there¡¯s no need for such politeness.¡± Chen Yu checked the time¡ªit was almost ten o¡¯clock at night. ¡°Old Xie, let¡¯s call it a day. Let the masters go back and rest! Don¡¯t wear them out.¡± Xie Jiang waved his hand dismissively: ¡°My construction team gets paid by the hour, overtime means overtime pay, why are you worrying?¡± ¡°Right, the pressure cooker you asked me to order earlier will be delivered first thing in the morning!¡± Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief: ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands.¡± Back in the third-floor room, Chen Yu found Tuan Tuan already asleep, with only Tong Ya sitting on the couch, struggling to keep her eyes open as she waited for him. ¡°Husband!¡± Seeing Chen Yu return, Tong Ya opened her arms and called out, then threw herself into his embrace: ¡°Did you tire yourself out today?¡± Chen Yu pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose: ¡°Not at all! And I have some good news to tell you.¡± ¡°What news?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face was filled with anticipation. Chen Yu smiled slightly and pointed to his own face: ¡°Give me a kiss and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face turned red; she hadn¡¯t expected to start being teased by Chen Yu at this time. Nevertheless, she didn¡¯t think too much, bent down, and kissed Chen Yu on the face. ¡°Now you can tell me!¡± Chen Yu leaned back on the couch: ¡°My current account balance has already reached over two million, we¡¯re getting closer and closer to buying a house and setting up a shop!¡± Tong Ya curled her already petite body into Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to work so hard; buying a house is a matter for us both, and I have some savings too¡­¡± Chen Yu suddenly looked straight into Tong Ya¡¯s eyes: ¡°Keep your money for spending; leave these matters to me.¡± Tong Ya burrowed her head deeper into Chen Yu¡¯s chest: ¡°I want to sleep in the same room with you tonight, is that okay?¡± Chen Yu hesitated for a moment, then gently tousled Tong Ya¡¯s hair. ¡°Of course!¡± Tong Ya was overjoyed: ¡°Then carry me back.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly and picked up Tong Ya to return to the room. At three-thirty in the early morning the next day, Chen Yu was already up and about. As Wang Qingshan had said, the customer flow might be even greater today, and he dared not slack off in the slightest. He had just finished processing a batch of pork and placed it in the pressure cooker when Wang Qingshan hurried into the shop. Right behind him came fourteen laughing young girls, entering the shop with chatter and laughter. Chu Hong quickly ran into the kitchen: ¡°Brother Yu, they all arrived at the high-speed rail station at twelve last night; I went to pick them up and settled them in the dormitory for the night.¡± Last night, when Chu Hong called, eight young girls had already arrived together at their local train station. They initially wanted to head to Suzhou City to join Chu Hong and others to work in the factory together. But since Chu Hong was no longer at the factory, she tried recommending them to Chen Yu. At this moment, Chen Yu was also rising to scrutinize the eight new girls. They all looked the same, the youthfulness and rustic origin not yet leaving their faces. But from them, Chen Yu saw the same character traits that Chu Hong and the other six shared. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78 - 78: Birthday Cake Chapter 78 ¨C 78: Birthday Cake ¡°They arrived in the middle of the night, why did you just bring them over here, at least let them rest for a day!¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, the eight girls all looked worn out, with two of them even having red eyes, clearly not having had a good night¡¯s sleep. Chu Hong also felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°I didn¡¯t pull them over, they came on their own, saying they wanted to make a good impression on you.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Have you all eaten anything?¡± All eight girls shook their heads in unison, they indeed had come in a bit of a hurry. After thinking it over briefly, Chen Yu said, ¡°Li Yu, Su Qing, Zhang Qian, you three take four of them, grab the raw ingredients, and head to the second-floor kitchen to make deep-fried cakes and vegetable pastries!¡± ¡°Make it the same quantity as I gave you before, and prepare breakfast for these eight as well!¡± Li Yu nodded and hurriedly led people upstairs. ¡°Han Cai, you take two, in charge of cleaning both floors of the hall, the rest come to the first-floor kitchen.¡± Yesterday¡¯s supply of semi-finished deep-fried cakes and vegetable pastries was already running low. The demand for these two items was huge in the morning, and now the turnover had increased by so much. Chen Yu was still a bit worried if the seven of them could handle it all. Chu Hong and Zhao Meng began teaching them how to use those machines. Sure enough, just as it turned five in the morning, a flood of takeaway orders came pouring in. The two new girls in the first-floor kitchen immediately jumped into action. It wasn¡¯t that they had become familiar with the machines, but they were extremely fast at packing. From the way they worked, they must have done this before, either in a restaurant or somewhere else. Grabbing bags, filling them with food, sealing them, sticking on delivery slips, all their movements were fluid and uninterrupted, leaving Chen Yu somewhat astonished. Adding eight people had immediately highlighted the effect. At least it was no longer as chaotic as yesterday. By six o¡¯clock, although the restaurant was crammed with delivery riders, everything was still running smoothly. It was also at this time that Zhang Fan and Xie Jiang brought over the custom-made machinery and pressure cookers. Chen Yu quickly moved these items into the kitchen. But the kitchen space was indeed a bit cramped now, at most only capable of accommodating one more set of machinery and five pressure cookers. However, this was sufficient! Chen Yu took the remaining two dough mixers to the second floor. That way, the seven girls wouldn¡¯t need to carry flour in buckets from the first floor anymore. [System notification: Three sets of machinery have been activated, the current total credit balance is 2,224,480 points.] Chen Yu felt a bit depressed at that moment; one set of machinery had cost him 100,000 credits, and three sets were a whole 300,000. But he wasn¡¯t concerned about the credits for now, as, considering the current turnover, he was averaging hundreds of thousands of credits per day. Until twelve noon, the entire store was operating in an orderly fashion. Tong Ya had intended to go down and help, but with the chaos in the store now, she was worried about Tuan Tuan. She only went out to buy some strawberries and oranges at eight in the morning and hadn¡¯t left the room since. At this moment, the two beauties, one big and one small, were sitting in the room watching TV. ¡°Mum, do we really not need to go down and help Dad?¡± ¡°No need, eight new sisters came today, so they should be able to manage.¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya fed Tuan Tuan an orange. Suddenly, Tuan Tuan leaned a little closer to Tong Ya, looking up with her big watery eyes, staring straight at Tong Ya. ¡°Mom, I want to ask you a question. Will you ever suddenly leave Dad one day?¡± Tong Ya was stunned for a moment, ¡°Why would you ask that?¡± Tuan Tuan pursed his lips, ¡°The mom before was bad. She abandoned me for her own sake, so I¡¯m worried¡­¡± Tong Ya quickly cradled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I will never leave Dad! And I¡¯ve said it before, we two should spoil him together, right?¡± Tuan Tuan happily clapped his little hands, ¡°Then let¡¯s go order a super large birthday cake now!¡± Tong Ya was stunned again, ¡°Order a birthday cake for what?¡± ¡°Today is May 24th, it¡¯s Dad¡¯s birthday!¡± Tong Ya suddenly gaped, she actually didn¡¯t know her own man¡¯s birthday. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Let¡¯s hurry! If we order now, we can still get it by tonight.¡± Tong Ya hurriedly changed clothes, picked up Tuan Tuan, and went straight downstairs. At that moment, there were indeed quite a few people in the store; Tong Ya struggled a bit before she could squeeze out of the shop and reach the parking lot next door. It wasn¡¯t until around three in the afternoon that the flow of customers in the shop gradually decreased. It was the perfect lull between lunch and dinner. Even though there were still many takeaway orders, Chen Yu could steal a brief break. He stretched lazily and headed straight upstairs. Upstairs in the kitchen, it was a scene of bustling activity. The two dough mixers were running non-stop. Apart from Li Yu, who was watching the deep fryer, the other six girls were each carrying a bucket of dough and quickly making the semi-finished products. They seemed to have grown skilled, and the pace at which they made these semi-finished products was nearly catching up to Su Qing¡¯s. That morning, not only had they perfectly supplied the fried cakes and vegetable dumplings, but they had also turned half of the raw materials into semi-finished products. With another afternoon¡¯s worth of work, all the raw materials in the cold storage were going to be transformed into semi-finished products. ¡°How did you feel this morning?¡± Chen Yu asked, leaning against the kitchen doorway. One of the girls, named Jiang Yao, looked up, ¡°Pretty good, just like making dumplings during the New Year back in our village.¡± Li Yu also chuckled, ¡°In any case, today has been much easier than yesterday!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just gave them a thumbs-up and went back downstairs. By eight in the evening, Chen Yu directly called it a day. After all, the marinated meats were sold out, and the sales of fried cakes and vegetable dumplings had sharply declined at that time. There was no need to extend the business hours. The more people there were, the faster the cleanup went. [Congratulations Host for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is three hundred eighty thousand six hundred Yuan. You¡¯ve earned three hundred eighty thousand six hundred points, totaling two million six hundred twenty-three thousand eighty points.] Chen Yu took a relieved breath; his efforts throughout the day had not been in vain. After placing an order for ten thousand kilograms of pork, he transferred the remaining money to his savings account, leaving only six hundred Yuan for himself. He glanced subconsciously at his savings account, which now had three million one hundred fifty thousand Yuan. He was one step closer to his goal! Today¡¯s staff meal was much more lively than before. However, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but slap his forehead, he still needed to figure out the accommodation issue for the eight new girls. ¡°You¡¯ll have to bear with it and squeeze in together again tonight. I¡¯ll find Auntie Li tomorrow to rent two more rooms.¡± But to his surprise, the girls shook their hands in refusal. ¡°There¡¯s no need, Brother Yu. We¡¯re fine squeezing together like this. The conditions here are already much better than where we used to work before.¡± Chapter 79 - Chapter 79 - 79 Overall Improvement Chapter 79 ¨C 79 Overall Improvement Chen Yu looked up at the young girl who was speaking; she seemed to be called Wang Dan. ¡°How can that be? You all came from far away to seek refuge with me; I must ensure you have food, drink, and a place to stay.¡± No sooner had he spoken than the eight new girls felt just like Chu Hong and the others felt when they had first arrived. Just then, Tong Ya, carrying a large cake and panting, entered the shop with Tuan Tuan. ¡°We made it just in time!¡± Tong Ya set the cake in the middle of the table, ¡°Darling, happy birthday to you!¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, looking at the cake on the table and then at Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan beside him, before hurriedly pulling out his phone to check the time. He had actually forgotten his own birthday. Wang Qingshan was also somewhat surprised, ¡°Today is your birthday! Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? I didn¡¯t prepare anything.¡± The young girls like Chu Hong were also a bit at a loss. Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°I really forgot! Alright, let¡¯s all eat cake! Ya Ya, pass me that knife.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s body trembled slightly, this was the first time Chen Yu had called her Ya Ya so naturally. ¡°I¡¯ll cut it for everyone!¡± Tong Ya, a little excited, started carefully slicing the cake. But what they didn¡¯t expect was that the eight new girls were even more excited. They had worked outside their home before, but this time, they found a place to stay as soon as they arrived, and there was food too. Now they could even sit with the boss and eat cake together. Each time Tong Ya handed out a slice of cake, she would receive thanks, ¡°Thank you, sister-in-law.¡± Gradually, she felt somewhat elated. Until everyone left, Tong Ya felt a kind of inexplicable happiness in her heart. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, after bathing, the family of three went into their room. Upon finding out that last night Chen Yu and Tong Ya slept together, Tuan Tuan immediately became unhappy, clamoring to sleep with them. Tuan Tuan squeezed between the two of them on the spacious double bed. From her birth until now, Tuan Tuan had never experienced this sense of security wrapped up by her parents. Fang Yuan was frequently away from home, and all of Tuan Tuan¡¯s affairs were managed by Chen Yu; those unaware might even think Tuan Tuan was from a single-parent family. Perhaps reveling in this feeling or for some other reason, Tuan Tuan, having just grabbed Chen Yu and Tong Ya¡¯s hands, drifted off into a deep sleep. ¡°Husband, give me your other hand!¡± Tong Ya mouthed silently. Just as Chen Yu was about to reach out his hand, his phone began to ring. He frowned, picking up the phone and saw that it was several unknown numbers, continuing to send him messages. ¡°Well, you dare to block me. Just you wait, one of these days I¡¯ll make sure your shop goes out of business.¡± ¡°I hold sway over mainstream media; just a few news stories could ruin your reputation.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t need to guess to know, it was Han Mintao who had sent them. He sighed resignedly; in the end, he was just a small shopkeeper. And his influence only extended to Suzhou City. Besides, the neighbors had become his loyal customers. How could they be swayed by a few fabrications? Without a second thought, Chen Yu blocked these numbers. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, husband?¡± Tong Ya asked softly. ¡°Nothing, just an annoying person. I¡¯ve blocked him now.¡± After that, they lay face to face, exchanging thoughts with a look in their eyes. [System prompt: Host¡¯s savings have exceeded three million. Fifty thousand points can be spent to supplement the current package as needed.] Chen Yu was momentarily stunned. The last supplement had indeed made his business structure more complete, and he had even acquired some machines. Now his store was facing expansion, which was the perfect time for supplementation. He silently chose ¡®yes,¡¯ and a flood of information appeared in his mind. [Congratulations, host, on acquiring the complete breakfast series and the staple food series.] Varieties of buns, sesame balls, desserts, tofu pudding, and porridge recipes instantly filled his brain. It almost covered the entire breakfast series. As for the staple food series that was supplemented, it included various rice dishes, noodle dishes, and even glutinous rice cakes and the like. With these items, his store could indeed reach new heights. But as these pieces of information surged into his head, a sharp pain suddenly emanated from his brain. [System prompt: Host¡¯s brain is unable to adapt to receiving information at a fast and high pace. Suggested to proceed with a special lottery draw.] Chen Yu was confused for a moment. He did have a headache because his mind couldn¡¯t handle the influx of information, but what did that have to do with a special lottery draw? Still, it was a suggestion from the system, so without much thought, he clicked on it. [Congratulations to the host for a comprehensive enhancement of intelligence and physical abilities. The body fat percentage will reach its optimal state by tomorrow morning, and you have also concurrently acquired basic mechanical theory knowledge.] A storm of excitement surged in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. The system had such a function! At that moment, the pain in his head immediately eased, and the two series of information he had just received were instantly assimilated. Even the basic mechanical theory knowledge that he had just received was instantly understood. In the future, if he wanted to create something mechanical, he could do it himself. However, it seemed a bit off to receive only this much for one million points. Just as Chen Yu was internally grumbling, the system¡¯s prompt sounded again. [Congratulations to the host, you have concurrently acquired a complete set of Sichuan cuisine skills (max level).] The next moment, a vast number of Sichuan cuisine recipes emerged in his brain. And he had a feeling that the skill of cooking was subtly embedding itself into his muscle memory. Chen Yu¡¯s breath quickened; he suddenly felt as if his entire being had been transcended to some extent. Moreover, from the mechanical theory knowledge he acquired, as long as he spent some time, he could set up a factory. Specifically to make various semi-finished products and then supply his own shops, or sell them directly to other stores. Such as various breakfasts, or marinades. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I feel like your muscles just tensed up a bit.¡± Tong Ya sat up straight, nervously clutching Chen Yu¡¯s hand. Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just remembered something! By the way, do you like Sichuan cuisine?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes shone brightly: ¡°Of course, I do. Don¡¯t you remember there was a Sichuan restaurant right outside our college? I ate there for several years.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a few dishes for you to try tomorrow.¡± ¡°You can cook Sichuan cuisine!¡± Tong Ya exclaimed in shock, almost waking Tuan Tuan. ¡°Of course, once this shop stabilizes, I might even open a Sichuan restaurant.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes were full of anticipation, ¡°Then tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll go to the farmers¡¯ market and buy some vegetables.¡± Chen Yu nodded, tenderly stroking Tong Ya¡¯s cheek. ¡°Go to sleep early!¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80 - 80: Grow Taller and Handsome Chapter 80 ¨C 80: Grow Taller and Handsome All through the night, Chen Yu could almost distinctly hear the crisp crackling sounds coming from his bones. Even Tong Ya was woken up several times by this noise in the middle of the night. At three o¡¯clock the following dawn, Chen Yu got up early to wash and rinse himself. However, he suddenly felt that his old clothes seemed a bit tight. Before this, Chen Yu had been one meter seventy-eight tall, but overnight he seemed to have grown by four centimeters. And his weight didn¡¯t appear to have changed much. The face in the mirror, although still his, looked much more handsome and trim than before. He could even compete with today¡¯s top young heartthrobs. Chen Yu¡¯s breath even halted for a moment. The one million points spent were indeed worth it! Most importantly, he didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all, not even a bit tired. From last night until now, he had only slept for less than five hours, something inconceivable before. After finding some looser clothing, Chen Yu went downstairs to the kitchen in high spirits. After starting the dough mixer, he cleaned up the pig¡¯s head and elbows as usual. But this time, he felt that he was faster than before. By the time Wang Qingshan and the fourteen girls came in for work, the first batch of marinated delicacies had already come out of the pot. ¡°Boss Chen, you rise earlier than us workers every day, and today you even got the first round of marinated food done. This makes us workers quite embarrassed,¡± one of them said. Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t sleep, so I came down early to do some work!¡± ¡°By the way, Master Wang, don¡¯t always call me boss. You can call me Little Chen, or Old Chen, or even by my name directly if you want to. It¡¯s much friendlier that way.¡± Wang Qingshan scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. In the culinary world, the hierarchy between chefs and apprentices is quite clear. No matter the age, if you¡¯re an apprentice, you must address the other as ¡®master¡¯. It was rare for someone like Chen Yu not to fuss over titles. But on second thought, those formalities indeed seemed a bit impersonal. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just call you by your name from now on!¡± Chen Yu patted Wang Qingshan on the shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Since we¡¯re all working together, we¡¯re family! I don¡¯t want my shop to be stiff and impersonal like others¡±, lacking warmth and friendliness. Just then, Chu Hong seemed to notice something was off. ¡°Brother Yu, I feel like you¡¯ve gotten taller and even more handsome. Am I seeing things?¡± Chen Yu cleared his throat lightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I celebrate my birthday yesterday? It¡¯s normal to grow a bit taller over a year.¡± The crowd looked at Chen Yu with a skeptical gaze. Usually, by their age, the growth plates in bones have closed, making it unlikely to grow taller. Even these young girls had basically stopped growing in height. Yet Chen Yu had managed to grow taller. ¡°Alright! We¡¯re on the clock now, everyone should focus on their duties.¡± Chen Yu quickly changed the subject. After all, having grown taller and become more handsome overnight was indeed a bit miraculous. It wasn¡¯t like he could divulge the secret of the system, could he? All the raw materials for fried cakes and dumplings in the storeroom had been prepared into semi-finished products. Therefore, only four girls remained in the upstairs kitchen, with the others acting as a mobile workforce. They would go wherever they were needed the most. By eight in the morning, the flow of customers had already peaked. Yet suddenly, Wang Qingshan became nervous. He discovered that today, Chen Yu¡¯s techniques and speed were both much faster than before, even twice as fast. All morning, Wang Qingshan had been struggling to catch up, but no matter what, he was left far behind by Chen Yu. He suddenly had a feeling that Chen Yu had never been giving his all before. Perhaps he had been considering his pride. ¡°Chen Yu, you don¡¯t want me to call you master, but I feel it¡¯s almost unjustifiable! I¡¯ve been in the braised food business for ten years and have made a small name for myself, but here with you, I feel just like a primary school student.¡± Chen Yu immediately felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Master Wang, you flatter me!¡± By now, five large pots had been set up in the kitchen, and the braised foods from the early rounds had already been transferred into the large pots to keep warm. With today¡¯s speed, even if customer traffic doubled, they could keep up. Hmm. Just then, Tuan Tuan bounced into the kitchen. ¡°Dad, are you going to go shopping with us? Mom said she can¡¯t predict what you¡¯re going to make.¡± Chen Yu quickly washed his hands. Last night, when he received the complete set of Sichuan cuisine information, part of it was specifically about selecting ingredients. Within the Sichuan cuisine system, some dishes have extremely strict requirements for ingredients. A slight deviation could make the taste come out all wrong. Wang Qingshan was somewhat puzzled and asked without thinking. ¡°Aren¡¯t we having braised foods for the staff meal today?¡± Tuan Tuan nodded cleverly, ¡°Yes, Uncle Wang, Dad decided to show off his skills and cook Sichuan cuisine for us.¡± Wang Qingshan¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, looking at Chen Yu with some astonishment. ¡°You know how to cook Sichuan cuisine?¡± Chen Yu smiled and nodded, ¡°I just have a rudimentary knowledge!¡± After replying somewhat perfunctorily, Chen Yu went out with Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya. They hadn¡¯t left the shop for long when Tong Ya also sensed something was amiss and suddenly ran in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Your clothes look a bit ill-fitting! Plus it seems like you¡¯ve grown taller and even more handsome.¡± Tuan Tuan also ran over in surprise, ¡°Yeah, I hadn¡¯t noticed.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; this wasn¡¯t the first time today he had heard someone say this. His response remained the same; it was a birthday wish he made yesterday that accidentally came true. Hearing this response, Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. She clearly heard the sounds of Chen Yu¡¯s bones rattling away last night. Biologically speaking, at Chen Yu¡¯s age, most people¡¯s growth plates have already closed. But there are rare exceptions, and perhaps Chen Yu was one of them. ¡°Then how about we first go to the mall and buy you some new clothes? You are a boss after all; it doesn¡¯t seem appropriate to dress like this.¡± Saying so, Tong Ya directly pulled Chen Yu into the car. Suzhou City Center Mall is one of the most comprehensive and upscale commerce centers in Suzhou City. There¡¯s a fashion street here, known for its high-quality and branded apparel. Tong Ya was very familiar with this place and took Chen Yu there. But when they arrived, they found that the plaza in front of the mall was occupied, as if there was an advertisement being filmed. The whole plaza was packed with people, and many fans were taking photos with their phones. Chen Yu had no interest in star-chasing, and the three of them went straight into the mall through the back entrance elevator. Just as they got off the elevator and were crossing the corridor, Chen Yu unexpectedly saw that Fang Yuan was the one filming the advertisement below. At the moment, she was acting with a rather handsome popular idol. It seemed they had worked together before, as their expressions and eye contact during the shooting were just right. They looked like an actual couple. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81 - 81: A Family of Three Chapter 81 ¨C 81: A Family of Three Chen Yu¡¯s face showed no hint of emotion; he merely glanced over before turning his head away. He was now with Tong Ya, and no matter when, his eyes could only hold Tong Ya and no one else. Besides, Fang Yuan was now a household name, a big star, while he seemed to be just a guy who ran a shop selling braised snacks. A gap in status like that meant they couldn¡¯t possibly have any intersection. Walking through the corridor, the family entered a clothing store. The sales associate greeted them warmly, ¡°Are the three of you looking to buy matching family outfits?¡± These words were exactly what Tong Ya was hoping for, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a formal wear shop? You have matching family outfits too?¡± The sales associate immediately started introducing them and led them to the family matching area. Tong Ya spotted a set of light blue and white suits at first glance. It seemed as if they were tailor-made for the three of them. After trying on the suits briefly and buying a few sets of clothes in different styles, Tong Ya quietly ran to the counter to pay the bill. But when Chen Yu found out, he didn¡¯t blame her, not even uttering an extra word. He already considered Tong Ya as part of his family. Once the family of three changed into their new clothes, they immediately attracted the attention of all the sales associates in the store. ¡°Wow, the good looks of this family are really too high, even higher than the stars shooting an advertisement on the ground floor.¡± ¡°The dad seems to be about 1.82 meters tall, and the mom about 1.72 meters. The height ratio is simply perfect.¡± ¡°The child looks like a beautiful combination of both parents¡¯ genes, just like a porcelain doll, too adorable.¡± ¡­ Although it wasn¡¯t the first time he had heard such praise, Chen Yu still felt a bit thrilled. In just one day, the surprises the system brought him were too many. After buying clothes, they directly took the escalator down to the first-floor plaza. Tuan Tuan had always wanted to buy a goose down plush from here, but Chen Yu never had the time. Today, no matter what, he had to buy the plush. At this moment, all eyes in the plaza were focused on the actors filming the advertisement. Even the owner of the goose down plush store had run over to join in the bustle. It was at this time that two burly men suddenly burst out from the crowd, holding a bottle of sulfuric acid, and threw it towards Fang Yuan and a popular young male actor. The bodyguards who were with them rushed forward to intercept immediately. The crowd quickly became chaotic, scattering in all directions. Fang Yuan, along with the other actor, protected by the two bodyguards, ran towards where Chen Yu and his family were. One of the burly men got around the bodyguard blocking him, his hands gripping the sulfuric acid, and chased after them. He hadn¡¯t run two steps before he threw the bottle of acid. Chen Yu almost instinctively turned his head and saw the acid bottle moving very slowly in his eyes, but from the trajectory of its arc, it seemed like it was going to hit them. Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu immediately shielded Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya in his arms and then kicked the acid bottle into a corner with a high kick. A sizzling noise abruptly filled the air as the stones in the corner were instantly corroded. Hearing the sound, the people nearby almost simultaneously turned their heads to look at Chen Yu. Fang Yuan also widened her eyes. Chen Yu had grown taller and become more handsome, and she did not recognize him at first, but she immediately recognized Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya. Although she had only met Tong Ya once on that night, Tong Ya¡¯s face was deeply etched in her mind. ¡°You meddler!¡± The burly man saw his bottle kicked away and drew a knife from his waist, charging at Chen Yu. But this guy¡¯s movements were still as slow as a turtle in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. He stepped forward with ease and punched the guy in the face. The punch sent the big man staggering backward several steps, until he ultimately fell to the ground and passed out. Chen Yu was also somewhat surprised; his physical fitness wasn¡¯t ordinary at all. If he¡¯d had such skills the last time Tong Ya was held hostage at the convenience store, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt. ¡°Daddy is so awesome!¡± Tuan Tuan pounced, and his little hands were soon in Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. Tong Ya too was worried and came over to Chen Yu¡¯s side to check whether his hand was injured. Such a heroic act, coupled with the high attractiveness of the family of three, instantly made them the center of attention. Fang Yuan, who had fled in a panic, clenched her heart when she saw this scene. Suddenly, she yearned to be the one in Chen Yu¡¯s arms. Chen Yu didn¡¯t enjoy being the center of attention like this and quickly pulled Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan through the crowd, running to the parking lot. It wasn¡¯t until Chen Yu drove off from the mall that the family of three collectively sighed in relief. Tong Ya, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Chen Yu with an almost worshipful gaze. ¡°Husband, you were so handsome just now! You knocked that guy flying with one punch.¡± Chen Yu shrugged his shoulders, ¡°When you and Tuan Tuan are in danger, I of course have to give it my all.¡± No sooner had he spoken than Tong Ya suddenly sat up and kissed Chen Yu on the face. Tuan Tuan, sitting in the back seat, also stood up, ¡°Daddy, I want a kiss too!¡± The family of three chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at the farmers¡¯ market. But Chen Yu was very purposeful, buying some ribs, lotus root slices, chicken, tofu, cucumbers, carrots, scallions, and some condiments. After finishing their purchases, he directly took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan back to the shop. At noon, twelve o¡¯clock, this was the busiest time for the shop. Takeout orders from nearby office workers came one after another. The majority of orders were for noodles, pancake, and flavored dishes. With Wang Qingshan¡¯s coordination, everything was orderly and flawless. Chen Yu could now completely let go and leave the shop to Wang Qingshan to manage. After putting the purchased ingredients back in the fridge, Chen Yu called Auntie Li. Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s appearance, Auntie Li couldn¡¯t help but praise him a few times. This made Chen Yu feel that his attractiveness was somewhat overwhelming. He rented two more single apartments from Auntie Li, right beside the two he had rented previously. Half a year¡¯s rent for the two rooms, including water but not electricity! Chen Yu transferred eighteen thousand yuan with no hesitation. Auntie Li tidied up the contract, was just about to leave, then turned back to look at Chen Yu. ¡°Xiao Chen, you mentioned before about buying my shop, does that include the five shops I¡¯ve just taken over?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t even have to think, ¡°Of course it includes them! It¡¯s just that I¡¯m a bit short on cash right now¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! I¡¯ll keep those shops reserved for you, selling them to someone else would upset me! It¡¯s just to finalize things with you, so we can prepare the contracts in advance.¡± ¡°Thank you, Auntie Li!¡± Auntie Li responded and, before leaving, even bought some pancakes and flavored dishes. Having sorted out the dormitory situation, Chen Yu immediately went next door. ¡°Old Xie, do you still have those double beds from last time? And while you¡¯re at it, bring me some bedding too.¡± Chapter 82 - Chapter 82 - 82: Once Again Chapter 82 ¨C 82: Once Again Xie Jiang was currtly tidying up the hoses, and wh he saw Ch Yu come in, he hurriedly stood up. ¡°We have some ready-made ones, right here in my shop! Shall I sd them over right now?¡± Ch Yu nodded and took out two keys. ¡°They¡¯re right next to the two dormitories we used last time, 330 and 339!¡± Xie Jiang took the keys without saying much and immediately wt with several workers to take care of it. It wasn¡¯t until 7:30 in the eving that the flow of people gradually diminished. Ch Yu wt straight into the kitch, picked up a cleaver, and began preparing the ingredits. His knife skills were not only steady as an old bull but also incredibly fast, which left Wang Qingshan staring in amazemt. ¡°You really keep your light under a bushel!¡± Ch Yu didn¡¯t say much and, while stir-frying, he took a small pressure cooker and steamed half a pot of mixed-grain rice. He th called the supplier and asked them to deliver food materials for the next two days. At eight o¡¯clock in the eving, wh the shop gradually quieted down, Ch Yu laid out the meals on the table. Steamed pork ribs with lotus root, Mapo tofu, shredded pork in garlic sauce, and Kung Pao chick. All four dishes were typical Sichuan cuisine. The pot of mixed-grain rice itself was made with sev differt grains, producing sev differt colors once steamed. It was not only fragrant but also pleasing to the eye. With four big basins of dishes, complemted by five flavors of braised food, everyone¡¯s appetite was wide op. After a busy day, with only a few gaps to grab some noodles or pancakes, they were starving by this time. Wang Qingshan was not shy, directly heaping a bowl full of rice and spooning some Mapo tofu into his bowl. After just one bite, Wang Qingshan was so excited. ¡°Authtic, that¡¯s so authtic! The last time I had such authtic Sichuan food was eight years ago.¡± Tong Ya also picked up a piece of Steamed Pork Ribs, which was crispy on the outside and soft but not mushy on the inside¡ªit was the pinnacle of steamed pork ribs. Fourte young girls were eagerly shoveling rice, picking up dishes with their chopsticks one after another. Although they didn¡¯t know what ¡°authtic¡± meant, they knew what tasted good. Seeing the eight girls who were still a bit reserved, Ch Yu stood up, took a spoon, and served a spoonful of Mapo tofu to a girl named Li Lu. ¡°This spoon is meant for you to use like this. How long are you going to keep picking with chopsticks?¡± A few girls giggled and started to loos up, scooping dishes directly into their bowls with spoons. At that momt, Tong Ya was savoring the food as if it were a piece of fine art, chewing slowly and deliberately. ¡°Honey, your cooking skills have surpassed those of authtic Sichuan chefs. If you ask me, we should just op a Sichuan restaurant¡ªit would definitely be a hit,¡± she said. Wang Qingshan echoed from the side, ¡°If I had your skills, I would have oped several stores by now.¡± Ch Yu lifted his bowl and took a bite of rice, ¡°Bite off more than you can chew and you¡¯ll have trouble down the line. Let¡¯s take it slow and expand step by step!¡± Nobody said anything more; they kept serving themselves from the four basins of dishes, completely ignoring the braised flavors beside them, which they once considered delicacies. Just after finishing the meal, Ch Yu took out a list. ¡°Work at the shop has always be busy, and everyone¡¯s sleeping time could be less than eight hours a day! Now that we have ough staff, I¡¯ve decided to implemt a rotating rest schedule,¡± he announced. With that, Ch Yu handed the list to Chu Hong. According to the schedule on the list, every day two people would be in a state of rest. That is to say, each person gets a day off per week, averaging four days off per month. These young girls were shocked to see the rest policy above, their jaws dropping one after another. They had never heard of restaurant waitresses being giv so many holidays. Just th, Xie Jiang burst into the shop. ¡°Ch Yu, the wood bed and bedding you ordered have be delivered, here¡¯s the key!¡± As soon as he put down the key, Xie Jiang¡¯s eyes were glued to the dishes on the table. ¡°Ch Yu, did you make this?¡± Ch Yu nodded and casually picked up a bowl. ¡°Do you want to sit down and eat together?¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s mouth was watering, and without further ado, he took the rice Ch Yu passed him and scooped up a spoonful of Kung Pao chick. With one bite, he felt as if he¡¯d ascded to heav. ¡°Ch Yu, this isn¡¯t the new dish you¡¯re introducing after expanding the restaurant, is it?¡± Ch Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully, ¡°If conditions allow, I could indeed op a separate counter for Sichuan cuisine.¡± ¡°Fantastic, I really hav¡¯t tasted such authtic Sichuan cuisine in a long time! Don¡¯t worry, after tomorrow, I guarantee your restaurant will be able to op for business as usual.¡± After giving his word and patting his chest, Xie Jiang wolfed down the rice in his bowl. Although he wanted another bowl, he felt a bit embarrassed, especially since this was the staff meal of the restaurant. After greeting everyone, Xie Jiang hurriedly left. After finishing their meal, the two new girls, Zhou Yan and Du Ling, took the initiative to wash the dishes. Th, everyone began to clean together. [Congratulations Host, you¡¯ve completed a day of business, today¡¯s net profit is 76,600 yuan, you¡¯ve earned 76,600 points, and your currt cumulative total points are ,885,680 points.] As soon as the system¡¯s prompt sounded, Ch Yu¡¯s mind began to calculate rapidly. After paying off 358,000 yuan for raw materials and today¡¯s rt of 8,000 yuan, he still had 484,600 yuan on him. After transferring 480,000 yuan into his currt account, Ch Yu left himself with less than 5,000 yuan in reserve funds. All his accounts were crystal clear in his mind, so there was no need to record them on paper. Ch Yu unconsciously exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling that the one million points spt last night were well worth it. In excitemt, Ch Yu called up the system page in his mind again. With ,885,680 points now available, it was more than ough for another top-tier lottery draw. Without hesitation, he clicked on it. [Congratulations Host, your intelligce and physical fitness have reached the currt human limit, your knowledge in mechanics has reached the currt technological limit of humanity, your biological knowledge has reached the currt cognitive limit of humanity, and your chemical knowledge has reached the currt cognitive limit of humanity.] A plethora of knowledge instantly flooded Ch Yu¡¯s mind. He felt as if he himself had be elevated to some extt. However, at this stage, it seemed he had no use for this information. After waiting for a while, there were no new dishes or skills giv by the system. Ch Yu frowned, suddly feeling that the one million points might have be a bit of a loss. However, after merging the biological and chemical knowledge in his mind, he mysteriously gained a rough understanding of some medical-related subjects. He could ev treat some common diseases to a certain extt. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83 - 83 Going into battle, father and son soldiers Chapter 83 ¨C 83 Going into battle, father and son soldiers [System notification: The lottery level has changed. Host will need 10 million points for the next draw, current total points: 885,680] Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit downcast, as if he had regressed overnight. He had no idea when he would be able to accumulate 10 million points. ¡°Why are you daydreaming here again? Everyone has left!¡± Tong Ya suddenly hugged Chen Yu from behind. It was then Chen Yu realized, ¡°I was just thinking about how to deal with the wall up front, so we can perfectly connect the shops together.¡± Tong Ya leaned against Chen Yu playfully. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already handed it over to Master Xie? Why are you still worrying about this?¡± Chen Yu turned and held Tong Ya in his arms. ¡°Can¡¯t I worry about my own shop?¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°Always worrying about your shop, never paying enough attention to others.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, carrying Tong Ya upstairs. At midnight, both Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had fallen into deep sleep. But lying in bed, Chen Yu wasn¡¯t the least bit tired; he felt as though he had endless energy in his body. ¡°Is this the limit of human physical strength?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but wonder. After a short three-hour rest, Chen Yu quietly got up and went down to the lobby. However, today he didn¡¯t go straight to the kitchen to work, but pulled up a table and sat down to plan the blueprint for the new shop. After today, the expanded shops would be interconnected. By then, the store wouldn¡¯t be as crowded as the past couple of days. And Chen Yu would also need to gradually introduce new items. Such as breakfast series and Sichuan cuisine series, which all needed to be added to the schedule step by step. He would probably need to hire more people at that time. Yet his mind was now much clearer than before, and just by sitting down and thinking for a moment, everything made sense. He even made a rough calculation of the future gross revenue and the daily costs. A smile suddenly appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. He was filled with great expectations for the future. Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from Li Lan. ¡°Hello, Mom, why are you calling in the middle of the night? Is it urgent?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve dealt with everything at home, and your dad and I have bought the early morning tickets to Suzhou City. We should arrive during the day to help you out.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to wait until I had bought a house before coming over?¡± The voice over the phone suddenly became Chen Guang¡¯s, ¡°You little rascal, you didn¡¯t even inform me about such a major event as expanding the store. Can you manage it all by yourself?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ve hired a few more waiters here¡­¡± ¡°Waiters are after all outsiders, we need family on the front lines! We will reach Suzhou City in half an hour, free up some time to pick us up.¡± After hanging up the phone, Chen Yu felt a bit helpless. Indeed, parents are always the most concerned about their children. Without any hesitation, he drove to the train station. By the time Chen Yu brought Chen Guang and Li Lan back, it was already past four in the morning. Wang Qingshan and the fourteen girls had already started their day¡¯s work. Chen Yu frowned slightly and went straight to the kitchen to pull Chu Hong out. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to rotate two people for rest each day? Why has everyone come?¡± Chu Hong was somewhat embarrassed, ¡°They all said it would be bad to take a break so soon after arriving! How about we start next week instead?¡± Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°Fine, if you guys don¡¯t take a break, I¡¯ll consider it overtime.¡± Chu Hong was taken aback, and before she could react, Chen Yu went upstairs with Chen Guang and Li Lan. ¡°Dad, Mom, take a break here for now, it¡¯s still early!¡± ¡°Take a break? Nonsense!¡± Li Lan chastised, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to help prepare the fried rice cakes and vegetable pastries.¡± Chen Guang also put down his luggage and hurried downstairs. Chen Yu sighed lightly, but when he saw Chen Guang¡¯s figure, a human anatomy chart suddenly flashed in his mind. He could actually clearly see the location of Chen Guang¡¯s rheumatism. A flood of biological knowledge emerged in his mind at that moment. Although this knowledge was not up to professional medical level, combined with the simultaneously emerging chemical knowledge, Chen Yu actually had a treatment plan for Chen Guang. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing became rapid, he originally thought this knowledge was of no use to him. Now it seemed like a heaven-defying skill. The change in customer flow today compared with yesterday was not significant, and with yesterday¡¯s experience, today was well-organized. Plus, under Wang Qingshan¡¯s leadership, the girls in the first-floor kitchen became adept at handling pig heads and elbows. That is to say, Chen Yu was now fully capable of being a hands-off manager. At noon, Xie Jiang came over for some noodles and braised dishes and directly pulled Chen Yu next door. ¡°Old Chen, according to the original plan, it would be ready by tomorrow. However, I had some people make a push last night, and you can start using it this afternoon,¡± he said. While speaking, Xie Jiang pointed to the markings on the wall beside them. ¡°Just give the word, and we¡¯ll knock down this wall, and your shop will be expanded immediately!¡± It had to be said, Xie Jiang¡¯s work was becoming more and more impressive. The originally packed and connected five shops, under Xie Jiang¡¯s management, became a single entity. The entire shop was spacious and stylish, perfectly blending with the style of the neighboring shop. Chen Yu took a deep breath, ¡°With decoration like this, fifty thousand might not be enough!¡± Xie Jiang smiled, ¡°It won¡¯t take that much, just knocked down a few walls and renovated a bit! By the way, do you need any more kitchen equipment? I can arrange a complete set for you.¡± Chen Yu nodded and immediately produced a list, handing it to Xie Jiang. ¡°Go by this list. Calculate how much it¡¯ll cost, and I¡¯ll cover the difference!¡± Xie Jiang looked at the list, ¡°No problem, I can arrange some of it for you right now.¡± ¡­ In a film crew location east of Suzhou City. Fang Yuan sat in a nanny van, wolfing down the boxed lunch in her hands. She looked as if she hadn¡¯t eaten properly for days. Han Mintao sat opposite Fang Yuan, watching her with a distressed look. ¡°Once you finish shooting these ads, come with me to the capital. How will you ever meet the terms of the bet by just staying in Suzhou City?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s movements paused, she remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up. ¡°Is running a braised food restaurant very profitable?¡± Han Mintao was taken aback, ¡°Why do you ask so suddenly?¡± Fang Yuan swallowed the food in her mouth, ¡°These past days, I¡¯ve had people investigate, and Chen Yu¡¯s shop expanded again, his daily net profit is several hundred thousand.¡± Han Mintao sighed, ¡°Stop worrying so much, as long as you fulfill the bet within two years, you¡¯ll get three billion! On average, that¡¯s several million a day.¡± Chapter 84 - Chapter 84 - 84: Bone Setting Revisited Chapter 84 ¨C 84: Bone Setting Revisited Fang Yuan clched her teeth, her concerns at the momt wer¡¯t tirely about money. Ever since she saw Ch Yu during the commercial shoot yesterday, her heart had be overwhelmed with an inexplicable feeling. Especially wh Ch Yu protectively held Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan in his arms with nervousness, she actually felt a bit jealous. There was a time wh he was her husband, and that was her child. Now, suddly, a woman had appeared and become her husband¡¯s wife and her child¡¯s mother. That extreme sse of imbalance filled her with sourness. Han Mintao seemed to have noticed Fang Yuan¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Alright, daughter, stop thinking about that damn brat. His status now is miles apart from yours. List to Mommy¡¯s arrangemts, it won¡¯t be long before I find you a super rich man.¡± Fang Yuan didn¡¯t say much more, just quickly finished the boxed meal in her hands, and th rested on the bed beside her. ¡­ By eight o¡¯clock in the eving, the shop tered closing time, and the flow of customers gradually diminished. Ch Yu was still personally cooking, preparing a sumptuous meal. Boiled fish, kung pao chick, garlic steamed eggplant, beer duck, twice-cooked pork. Five big dishes, paired with a pot of fragrant rice, the taste was simply irresistible. But tonight, Ch Yu had prepared ough food for nearly forty people. Just as the meal was ready, Xie Jiang rushed into the shop with two workers. ¡°Old Ch, there¡¯s no one in the shop now, shall we knock down the wall right now?¡± Ch Yu waved his hand: ¡°No rush, bring the workers over to eat first, we¡¯ll talk later.¡± It was th that Xie Jiang noticed the several big dishes on the table. ¡°Wow, Old Ch, you¡¯ve switched up the flavors today!¡± Ch Yu smiled: ¡°Come over and eat! I made a portion for the workers as well.¡± Xie Jiang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, quickly calling the workers in from next door. The workers had barely tak a bite before they started praising the food incessantly. For a momt, they were all singing Ch Yu¡¯s praises to the heavs. After the meal, the workers were motivated and immediately demolished the last wall. At the same time, they made minor repairs according to the previous plan. The rovations on the first and second floors were almost happing synchronously. Soon, the tire shop space was joined together into one. At that momt, Ch Yu immediately felt the space become much more expansive. Also, Xie Jiang had tak care of all the kitch equipmt on Ch Yu¡¯s list, ready for expanded business tomorrow. However, Ch Yu wasn¡¯t overly hasty, and today, he still ordered only t thousand catties of pork. Ch Guang and Li Lan, along with the shop¡¯s servers and worker masters, quickly cleaned up the shop. After storing the pork, everyone dispersed one after another. [Congratulations host on completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is four hundred and fifty-two thousand six hundred yuan. You received four hundred and fifty-two thousand six hundred points. The currt total accumulated points are one million three hundred thirty-three thousand eight hundred eighty.] Ch Yu¡¯s mind had already begun to calculate. After the later purchase of fifty thousand yuan for kitch equipmt from Xie Jiang and eighty thousand for pork, Ch Yu still had over sev hundred thirty thousand left. Transferring the sev hundred thirty thousand into a currt account and after deducting the cost of food ingredits bought for employee meals today, Ch Yu had slightly less than four thousand yuan left in petty cash. His currt account had ev reached an astonishing four million three hundred sixty thousand. He was a step closer to buying the tire shop. In the past, wh Ch Yu calculated these accounts, he would prepare a small notebook, but now these figures just passed through his mind once and were deeply etched there. After slightly adjusting his breathing, Ch Yu wt back to his room to change into a fresh set of sportswear. He was still full of ergy, and since he couldn¡¯t sleep anyway, he decided to go out for a night run. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tong Ya asked, th hugged Ch Yu from behind. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, going for a run!¡± Ch Yu turned a and held Tong Ya in his arms. ¡°Can I join you?¡± Tong Ya looked into Ch Yu¡¯s eyes, her face full of anticipation. ¡°Of course, you can!¡± No sooner had those words left his mouth than Tuan Tuan suddly ran over. ¡°Daddy, I want to go running with you too.¡± Li Lan quickly stepped forward and took Tuan Tuan back. In her opinion, Ch Yu and Tong Ya had just gott together and needed time to nurture their relationship. They had to spd as much time together as possible. During the day, Ch Yu was always busy, and Tong Ya needed to take care of Tuan Tuan, leaving them hardly any time to spd with each other. Now, they finally had the chance to go for a night run together, and Li Lan wouldn¡¯t let Tuan Tuan get in their way. Tong Ya quickly changed her clothes, said goodbye to Tuan Tuan, and followed Ch Yu out of the shop. There was a riverside park nearby with running tracks laid out beside it. At this time, there were still many older m and wom exercising there. Ch Yu and Tong Ya ran side by side on the track and quickly became a beautiful sce in themselves. ¡°Boss Ch, what brings you out for a run today? Don¡¯t you get tired after a busy day?¡± ¡°You two are a perfect match, ev your hobbies are the same.¡± ¡°Boss Ch, head back early, otherwise we won¡¯t get to eat your fried cakes tomorrow morning.¡± ¡­ Faced with greetings from the neighbors, Ch Yu always responded politely. After running continuously for about twty minutes, Tong Ya¡¯s breathing became noticeably rapid. Ch Yu immediately adjusted his pace, slowing down. He didn¡¯t feel tired at this level; on the contrary, he was somewhat excited. ¡°How do you feel? Tired?¡± Ch Yu asked with concern. Tong Ya wiped the sweat from her forehead: ¡°Of course, I¡¯m tired, it¡¯s be a long time since I¡¯ve run continuously for this long.¡± All of a sudd, Ch Yu turned a, picked up Tong Ya, and started running at a steady pace. Tong Ya looked surprised: ¡°Husband, I¡¯ve found that not only have you grown taller and become more handsome, but your physical condition has also improved. Have you be secretly taking some medicine without telling me?¡± Ch Yu laughed: ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you came into my life and brought me good luck.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face flushed with shy delight as she lowered her head and snuggled into Ch Yu¡¯s embrace. Just th, a scream came from the riverside railing nearby. The older m and wom exercising nearby quickly gathered a. Tong Ya also looked in that direction: ¡°It looks like Old Man Wu has fall!¡± Ch Yu had some recollection of Old Man Wu, who came to his shop every morning at six, to buy fried cakes and vegetable pastries. Ch Yu hurriedly put Tong Ya down and ran over. It seemed like Old Man Wu had just finished fishing and tripped while climbing over the railing. He was now lying there in pain, clutching his leg, and crying out. Some kind-hearted neighbors had ev started calling for an ambulance. With just one look, Ch Yu knew that Old Man Wu¡¯s right leg had a displaced fracture of the fibula. He quickly pushed through the crowd, grabbed Old Man Wu¡¯s leg, and th gtly twisted it. A clear snap was heard, and Old Man Wu¡¯s pained expression started to subside. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Eh? I think I¡¯m okay now? Boss Ch, you know how to set bones too?¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85 - 85: Birthday Banquet Booking Chapter 85 ¨C 85: Birthday Banquet Booking Ch Yu suddly felt a bit dazed, his earlier actions had be purely instinctive, without much thought. ¡°Wh I was in college, I minored in biomedical scice, so I can handle some simple trauma.¡± The onlooking neighbors immediately gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought, not only does Little Boss Ch cook delicious food, but his medical skills are so impressive too!¡± ¡°Had I known earlier, I would¡¯ve tried harder to marry my daughter off to Little Boss Ch.¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsse, he¡¯s tak now!¡± ¡­ While everyone was discussing, Tong Ya hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and reached Ch Yu¡¯s side, casually wrapping her arm a his, as if to declare her ownership. ¡°Mr. Wu, I just provided temporary relief for your pain, but it¡¯s best if you still go to the hospital for a check-up.¡± Ch Yu gave some instructions and th left with Tong Ya. They hadn¡¯t gone far wh Tong Ya stretched out her arms. ¡°Husband, I want a hug!¡± Ch Yu pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose and lifted her into his embrace. Tong Ya was now increasingly fond of Ch Yu¡¯s arms; they seemed ev more comfortable than before, and there was an inexplicable magic about them. Wh the couple returned, Ch Guang and Li Lan were already asleep in a room with Tuan Tuan. After taking a bath, Ch Yu and Tong Ya also fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. The next day at four in the morning, Wang Qingshan and a group of girls walked into the shop feeling a bit dazed. They hadn¡¯t had a good look at the shop the night before wh it was just completed. Now that they saw it, they were suddly struck by the grandeur and majesty of the place. Wang Qingshan ev sighed softly; he had worked hard for t years, and his shop had never expanded to this size. At six in the morning, a large number of delivery boys quickly arrived at the shop. However, this time the shop wasn¡¯t as crowded as it had be the last two days. The shop was now three times the size it was before, so there was room to sit ev if more people came. Moreover, these delivery boys were basically regulars; after picking up orders here for a few days, they had all become familiar with the local residts. And because the food here was served quickly and efficitly, the delivery boys didn¡¯t have to be as anxious as they would at other places. They all competed to deliver orders from Ch Yu¡¯s place. At eight in the morning, Ch Yu used his spare funds to buy a large quantity of raw materials at the agricultural market. Now that the shop could run smoothly without him, and with Ch Guang and Li Lan coordinating things there, Ch Yu didn¡¯t have to worry too much. He now had ough time to experimt with new recipes. After the rovation, all the kitchs in the shop were connected. Although this design was long and narrow, it clearly divided the kitch into several areas. In the future, Ch Yu could pick one area to specialize in Sichuan cuisine. At that momt, Ch Yu was in one of the new areas, tinkering with kitch utsils in his hands. A few not-so-large pressure cookers were already emitting tantalizing aromas. Among the braised snacks, besides the braising techniques for some meats, the rest was about cooking offal. Pig¡¯s offal, cow¡¯s offal, sheep¡¯s offal, and ev donkey¡¯s offal¡ªif done right, these could be exceptional dishes. Moreover, in Suzhou City, there was a rich culture of appreciation for offal. For some, a day without a bowl of assorted offal soup would feel flavorless. ¡°What are you making, Old Ch? It smells amazing!¡± Xie Jiang, accompanied by a few workers carrying various kitch utsils, rushed over in a hurry. These were special kitch utsils Ch Yu had requested, which needed to be custom-made, hce they were only delivered at this time. Ch Yu just happed to op a pressure cooker, ¡°Some offal braised in soy sauce, want to try some?¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Damn, Ch, you¡¯ve got this trick up your sleeve too! Offal is not easy to cook! Give me a slice of pork liver to try.¡± Ch Yu took a small bowl from the side, scooped half a liver into it, and handed it over. Xie Jiang didn¡¯t ev bother with chopsticks, he just grabbed it with his hands and took a bite. ¡°Mmm! Delicious, unbelievably delicious. This pork liver is so tder and palatable wh you make it.¡± As he spoke, Xie Jiang stuffed the remaining piece into his mouth. Actually, pork liver can easily become tough during the braising process, and if not done well, the ure can be especially poor. But the pork liver made by Ch Yu was incredibly tder, almost offering no resistance wh bitt into. It was like biting into a slice of cake. Just th, the other pressure cookers were also oped by Ch Yu. The workers who had come along to deliver the kitchware were stunned, staring fixedly at the pressure cookers. Inside the twelve small pressure cookers were beef, lamb, and donkey meat, each type of meat offered in four differt flavors. Next to them, two other pots contained an assortmt of beef and lamb offal respectively. The rich aroma from these combined and quickly filled the tire restaurant. Customers who came here to dine, as well as delivery guys waiting for orders, all gravitated towards the sct without any arrangemt. Xie Jiang¡¯s breathing became rapid too; he could hardly wait to rush up and take a bite from each pressure cooker. ¡°Ch, how did you braise this lamb? There¡¯s not a hint of gaminess!¡± Ch Yu smiled, ¡°Secret recipe!¡± Xie Jiang wiped his mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed as he handed over his bowl. ¡°Ch, give me a piece of lamb, any flavor will do.¡± Ch Yu took the bowl and without hesitation scooped a bit of lamb of each flavor into it and handed it back. Xie Jiang still used his hands, scooping all four pieces of meat into his mouth. Ev though the four flavors mixed in his mouth, each unique aroma burst through to Xie Jiang¡¯s brain. ¡°My God! Ch, ever since you came here, our family can¡¯t joy a meal without your food. From now on, it looks like we can¡¯t live without you .¡± Ch Yu simply returned a polite smile, th called over to a few of the workers to have a taste as well. At that momt, the only customers and delivery guy prest continuously swallowed their saliva, some ev standing on tiptoes to peek into the display case. Ch Yu had to lean toward the window to address the people at the back. ¡°This food is just a trial, not quite perfect yet. I¡¯m just testing things out today, it will be available tomorrow.¡± Th the crowd reluctantly dispersed. Xie Jiang and the worker craftsm had only a few bites before returning their bowls to Ch Yu. ¡°By the way, Ch, can we reserve a table here?¡± Ch Yu frowned slightly, ¡°This place is mainly for breakfast and braised dishes; we don¡¯t take reservations at the momt.¡± ¡°But you can cook Sichuan cuisine!¡± Xie Jiang quickly took out his phone and scanned the QR code next to him. ¡°My father-in-law, he¡¯s from Sichuan! Tomorrow is his 60th birthday, and all he wants is a taste of authtic Sichuan food.¡± As he spoke, Xie Jiang directly transferred a thousand yuan. ¡°There are nine of us in total, just prepare a table for us with this money.¡± Ch Yu hesitated for a momt, th nodded. ¡°Alright th! It will be in Room Number One on the second floor.¡± Wh Xie Jiang was rovating, he created a series of private rooms on the second floor as per Ch Yu¡¯s request, totaling twty. Xie Jiang responded and th left in a hurry with the worker craftsm, appartly in need of catching up on the construction work. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86 - 86 Childhood Flavor Chapter 86 ¨C 86 Childhood Flavor At noon, the number of people in the shop peaked. Despite the crowd, the place still seemed very spacious, and ev the delivery guys could comfortably find a spot to sit and wait for their meals. Right th, several business vehicles parked steadily outside, and a few elderly m in smart attire alighted. Among them were Tong Ming and Tang Long. ¡°We¡¯re settling our business here today, while eating. The braised dishes here are truly extraordinary,¡± Ev before tering, Tong Ming excitedly recommded the braised dishes to the others. As soon as he tered, Tong Ming paused to survey the tire shop, seeming quite satisfied with the decor. Before he could express his praise, the ticing aroma had already drawn him to Ch Yu¡¯s display window. Within Sichuan cuisine, two of the most important series are sweet and sour and ¡°yu xiang¡± (fish-flavored). The soul of these are the sweet and sour sauce and the ¡°yu xiang¡± sauce, which have similar tastes but are not exactly the same. At that very momt, Ch Yu was experimting with the sweet and sour sauce and ¡°yu xiang¡± sauce provided by the system. He had already stir-fried a dish of sweet and sour spare ribs and one of ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs. ¡°Is this a new item?¡± Tong Ming shouted excitedly. Seeing Tong Ming approach, Ch Yu quickly put down his work and came out of the kitch. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Tong Ming patted Ch Yu¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Some business partners from the capital have come, and we¡¯re having our lunch here.¡± With that, he turned his gaze to the sweet and sour spare ribs and ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs laid out before him. ¡°Bring these two dishes to our table, and from the new braised dishes you have prepared, I¡¯ll take a bit of each, along with some noodles and pancakes,¡± he ordered. Ch Yu nodded and called over Lan Jing, who was cleaning nearby. The young girl didn¡¯t dare to delay and hurried to find Wang Qingshan. Among the bosses Tong Ming had brought along was a native Sichuanese. Wh the ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs were served, he excitedly picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. ¡°This is the taste! After more than forty years, I¡¯ve finally tasted it again.¡± The boss shouted out of excitemt, disregarding his image, and began devouring the ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs. Moreover, as he ate, tears streamed down his face, startling the others nearby. Tong Ming was also stunned: ¡°Old Liu, what¡¯s going on? It might be delicious, but you shouldn¡¯t be crying.¡± Liu Chong didn¡¯t immediately answer Tong Ming but licked the plate clean after finishing the ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs. It wasn¡¯t until th that he turned to Tong Ming with tearful eyes, ¡°Tong, you don¡¯t understand, my late father was a chef who specialized in Sichuan cuisine!¡± ¡°Since his passing, I hav¡¯t had such an authtic ¡°yu xiang¡± egg dish again.¡± More than forty years ago, during the time of famine, many places couldn¡¯t afford meat, so lots of Sichuan chefs substituted meat in certain dishes with eggs. It was during that time that the dish ¡°yu xiang¡± eggs emerged. But this dish was rather complex to prepare, and as living conditions have improved, few people bother with it. Thus, the authtic flavor gradually faded away. The others prest were somewhat astonished, as the dish seemed to have evoked Liu Chong¡¯s memories of his father. Tong Ming sighed softly, ¡°Old Liu, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll let you eat your fill of this dish today!¡± With that, Tong Ming called out directly to the display window, ¡°Son-in-law, that ¡°yu xiang¡± egg dish from before, fry some more.¡± Hearing Tong Ming¡¯s call, Ch Yu didn¡¯t think twice. After all, there were still plty of eggs left from the morning¡¯s purchase. However, upon hearing the word ¡°son-in-law,¡± all the bosses prest uniformly turned their gaze toward Tong Ming. Especially Liu Chong, whose somewhat weathered eyes were filled with disbelief. ¡°This is your son-in-law¡¯s restaurant? Did he cook this dish?¡± A hint of smug pride actually appeared on Tong Ming¡¯s face, ¡°What, my son-in-law¡¯s culinary skills don¡¯t suit your taste?¡± These words were obviously rhetorical, yet they also carried a hint of bragging. Liu Chong repeatedly waved his hands, ¡°To be able to cook such an authtic ¡®fish-fragrant¡¯ egg dish, one would need at least three or four decades of experice. Don¡¯t tell me your son-in-law started learning to cook from a young age?¡± Tong Ming fumbled with the walking stick in his hand, his face beaming with pride. ¡°Some things, you know, are a matter of talt! My son-in-law is very well-ed, and he ev has a double master¡¯s degree.¡± Apart from Tang Long, everyone prest oped their mouths wide, looking at Tong Ming with vy. For them, at this stage, the most important thing is to find a qualified successor. A young man who can cook to this level is surely capable in other regards as well. And he ev has a high level of education! In their eyes, Tong Ming had truly found a gem. At this momt, Ch Yu brought out two more plates of ¡®fish-fragrant¡¯ eggs. ¡°Could you all eat dishes with Sichuan spicy flavors? I can cook a few right now.¡± The few sitting there were all influtial figures in the capital, and at this momt, they sized up Ch Yu with an indescribable look. ¡°Young and handsome, efficit and capable, he really is a fine young man!¡± Liu Chong couldn¡¯t help but praise. Just th, Tong Ya, who had just put Tuan Tuan down for a nap, happed to come down from upstairs. Wh she saw Tong Ming sitting in the hall with several bosses, she felt somewhat displeased. But still, she slightly composed herself and wt up to greet the other elders. After all, they were Tong Ming¡¯s business partners, and by siority, she ought to address them as uncles. Ev if she and Tong Ming did not get along, it was the very least that her upbringing demanded. However, after she finished greeting them, she pouted slightly and gave Tong Ming a sideways glance. Th, she took Ch Yu by the arm and headed back to the kitch. At this, the vy in the other bosses¡¯ eyes grew ev stronger. In wealthy families like theirs, the relationships with their childr were oft somewhat strained. The kids who were suitable to inherit the family wealth and were relatively talted usually had their own ideas; they would either leave home or start their own businesses. The childr who stayed at home, though obedit, were usually not good at anything. The harmony displayed by Tong Ming¡¯s family made them a bit jealous. Tong Ming knew the real situation in his own home better than anyone, but at times like these, what mattered was face, and he was more than happy to joy the atttion from everyone. However, inside the kitch, Tong Ya clung to Ch Yu¡¯s arm, her face filled with restmt. ¡°Did they pay any money?¡± Ch Yu shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°It¡¯s just a test of new dishes, why charge them?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, it¡¯ll only courage their brazness to come here for free meals!¡± Ch Yu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, about to say, ¡°But that¡¯s your father, after all,¡± but th he stopped himself. Instead, he looked at Tong Ya with a doting expression, ¡°So you tell me, how much should we charge?¡± Tong Ya thought for a momt with her lips pursed, ¡°We should really make him pay through the nose, see if he dares to come for free meals again.¡± Chapter 87 - Chapter 87 - 87: Casual Swipe Chapter 87 ¨C 87: Casual Swipe Liu Chong¡¯s emotions were at their peak at this momt; the Yu Xiang chick eggs and the rest of the Sichuan cuisine really brought back the taste of his childhood. After wolfing down his meal yet again, he suddly grabbed Tong Ming¡¯s hand. ¡°Old Tong, no more talk, with this Yu Xiang chick eggs alone, let¡¯s kick off our cooperation we discussed before! And those proposals that have be hanging, we can sign the contracts now.¡± Tong Ming was a bit surprised, as he didn¡¯t expect Liu Chong would agree to the cooperation so easily. Just as he was about to stand up and shake hands with Liu Chong, Liu Chong picked up the plate he had licked clean. ¡°But you have to promise, from now on, I can eat the dishes from here every day.¡± Tong Ming burst into laughter, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s my son-in-law¡¯s place, come whever you want.¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t rope my husband into your business deals!¡± Tong Ya said, slowly approaching with a tray holding four dishes. Tong Ming was tak aback and seemed somewhat lost in thought. Although he knew Tong Ya was calling him ¡®Dad¡¯ in front of others to save face for him. But that word, ¡®Dad¡¯, he had waited for sev long years to hear. ¡°How could I not? If I don¡¯t mtion my precious son-in-law, people might think the Tong Family doesn¡¯t have a proper pillar to rely on!¡± As Tong Ming said this, he seemed to get a bit carried away, appartly forgetting the tsions betwe him and Tong Ya. Tong Ya moved closer to Tong Ming right th. ¡°I just heard you¡¯ve made a terrific deal with Uncle Liu! My husband also contributed to that, so shouldn¡¯t you give him a big red velope? Or at least pay for the meal.¡± Originally, Tong Ya wanted to make Tong Ming feel embarrassed. Unexpectedly, Tong Ming was not embarrassed at all; instead, he laughed excitedly and pulled out his credit card to give to Tong Ya. ¡°Here¡¯s Dad¡¯s card, feel free to use it!¡± For Tong Ming, this was an excellt opportunity to repair their father-daughter relationship. Th he turned to the others, his face full of pride. ¡°My daughter is fiercely protective of her food. Ever since she got a husband, she¡¯s forgott about her old dad. She comes here for a few free meals and ev wants me to pay up!¡± Upon hearing this, the other business owners laughed and th began to complain about how their own childr were not living up to expectations. Every time they complained, they would bring up Tong Ya and Ch Yu. Tong Ya¡¯s face turned red with embarrassmt. Not only did she not embarrass Tong Ming, she also made herself feel somewhat at a loss. Still, she took the card, hummed restfully, and hurried back to the kitch. To the others, this just seemed like the daughter acting petulantly in front of her father. This meal not only led to Liu Chong and Tong Ming reaching a comprehsive cooperation, but the other business owners also extded olive branches. Once they had signed the contracts, they got up and left one after another. Tong Ming turned a, his face beaming as he leaned against the service window. ¡°You sly girl, thinking you could embarrass your old dad. You¡¯ve got a long way to go!¡± Tong Ya turned and glared at Tong Ming restfully, ¡°I don¡¯t care, the card you just gave counts as compsation for all these years, but you still have to pay for the meal!¡± Tong Ming could only laugh helplessly, th turned to Ch Yu, ¡°Son-in-law, I¡¯ve be getting more and more employees lately, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need to increase the food orders in the cante!¡± Ch Yu naturally understood what Tong Ming meant. He was throwing him an order as a way to gracefully exit the situation. Otherwise, with Tong Ya pressing on like this, it really could be dless. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s count this order as paymt for the meal th.¡± Tong Ming saw that Ch Yu had understood his meaning and nodded his head in satisfaction, taking big strides as he walked away with his cane. However, Tong Ya was still somewhat annoyed, ¡°Husband, you¡¯re just too easy-going! We let him off too easily this time.¡± Ch Yu, feeling somewhat helpless, caressed Tong Ya¡¯s cheek, ¡°Alright, help me take care of those vegetables over there.¡± At eight o¡¯clock in the eving, as the crowd gradually dispersed, Ch Yu called everyone over to eat. The staff meal for the day was all the new items Ch Yu had made at noon. The remaining customers who hadn¡¯t left were involuntarily drawn over wh they saw the staff meal. Some ev asked Ch Yu if they were still hiring! Not many minutes after finishing the meal, the master who delivered the raw materials had already arrived. In the afternoon, after trying out these new products, he had roughly estimated the capacity that the existing store could handle. He th directly ordered one week¡¯s worth of raw materials. Of course, this was only limited to the fried cakes and vegetable pastries. After all, these two items could now be made into semi-finished products and stored in the freezer warehouse. As for the raw materials for marinated meats, Ch Yu still chose to buy them the night before. However, this time, in addition to the daily fixed quantity of t thousand catties of pork, he increased each type of beef, lamb, donkey meat, chick legs, and duck legs by a thousand catties. Pig, sheep, cow, and donkey offals were also ordered at one thousand catties each. As for the others, he was not in a rush to launch them all at once; after all, there must be a gradual progress. The beef, lamb, and donkey meat were uniformly wholesaled by the suppliers at thirty yuan per catty. Chick and duck legs, as well as various offals, were priced at five yuan per catty. The total cost of all the raw materials actually reached ,7,300 yuan. After all, having ordered sev days¡¯ worth of semi-finished fried cakes and vegetable pastries, such a high cost was within reason. Ch Yu had paid out nearly all of today¡¯s turnover and ev took a bit from the currt account. The capacity of Ch Yu¡¯s freezer and refrigeration warehouse had now expanded by more than three times, so there was ough space for all these items. The staff helped move the raw materials inside and cleaned up the store, and th they greeted each other and left. [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day of business. Today¡¯s net profit is 736,600 yuan, and you¡¯ve earned 736,600 points, with a currt total of ,068,880 points.] Ch Yu quickly wt over the accounts in his mind. Now, he had a total of 4,050,000 yuan left in his currt account with an additional 3,300 yuan on him as a reserve. And the points that he had almost used up were now, surprisingly, accumulated to more than two million. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to save up t million points. Moreover, Ch Yu roughly estimated that, probably after this week, he could practically afford to buy the store. Just as Ch Yu was excitedly mulling this over, Tong Ya came up gtly behind him. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that you space out here every day at this time. Are you keeping some secret from me?¡± Ch Yu smiled faintly, but didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°Are you going to jog with me today?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s topic was successfully diverted, ¡°As a dancer, we need to maintain our body¡¯s flexibility every day. Daily running and training are esstial.¡± Ch Yu still affectionately pinched Tong Ya¡¯s cheek. ¡°Th let¡¯s go, get changed!¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88 - 88: The Bone-Setting Sage Chapter 88 ¨C 88: The Bone-Setting Sage The park was still bustling with people, grandpas and grandmas fishing along the river also gaged in thusiastic conversations there. Wh they saw Ch Yu and Tong Ya running by, they all stood up and crowded a. ¡°Ch, I heard you set Old Wu¡¯s bone yesterday, is that true?¡± ¡°Take a look at me too! My back has be feeling off lately.¡± ¡°I took a fall a while back, and my elbow has be hurting. Is there anything that can ease the pain?¡± ¡­ One question after another left Ch Yu somewhat bewildered, as he was after all not a professional doctor. But these elderly folks were neighbors from the vicinity and regular customers at his shop. It indeed seemed inappropriate to just turn them down. With no other choice, Ch Yu could only pick out a rock to sit on. From a biological perspective, every person¡¯s body has certain proportions. Once there is an issue with the skeleton, those proportions can start to deviate. Ch Yu had now mastered all the biological knowledge known to man, so just by glancing at them, he could tell where their skeletal problems were. As the sound of bones being set continued to crack and pop, each grandpa and grandma treated by Ch Yu expressed feeling great relief. There was ev a grandpa whose chronic lumbar disc herniation was cured with just a push from Ch Yu. In no time at all, more and more grandpas and grandmas gathered a Ch Yu, treating him like a professional bone-setting doctor. Before long, Ch Yu had treated a of local siors. Just th, a grandpa with an exceptionally pale and haggard face approached Ch Yu. ¡°Boss Ch, lately the doctor keeps saying that I¡¯m too weak to befit from tonics, and of the many medicines I¡¯ve tak seem to work. Can you take a look at me?¡± Ch Yu was tak aback. He only had some biological and chemical knowledge. Setting bones and handling simple cases of fever and the common cold was one thing, but for these more complex conditions, a professional doctor was needed. Just as he was about to decline, Tong Ya suddly checked the old man¡¯s pulse. ¡°Old man, your body is depleted. Moreover, there¡¯s too much congestion inside you, prevting normal circulation.¡± Her words instantly lighted Ch Yu, his mind rapidly piecing together his biological and chemical knowledge. ¡°Old man, how about this: come to my shop tomorrow at three in the afternoon, I¡¯ll prepare a medicinal meal for you that should improve your condition.¡± The old man immediately became excited and started shaking Ch Yu¡¯s hand vigorously. By this time, the sky was growing dark, and the siors who had come to fish and exercise began to head home. Ch Yu also jogged back to the shop at an ev pace with Tong Ya. After washing up, just as they lay down in bed, Tong Ya suddly turned to face Ch Yu. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you seem to know how to do everything. You ev know how to cook medicinal meals.¡± Ch Yu didn¡¯t directly respond but instead turned to the side and caught Tong Ya¡¯s chin. ¡°The man you¡¯ve set your eyes on is very capable!¡± Suddly being flirted with, Tong Ya¡¯s face instantly turned red. She felt that keeping up with a conversation with Ch Yu was becoming somewhat difficult. In the past, she could occasionally tease Ch Yu, but now she felt utterly outsmarted in every way by him. ¡°Of course, I have very good taste.¡± No sooner had Tong Ya spok these words than she felt they fell flat, as if she couldn¡¯t showcase her intelligce at all in front of Ch Yu. However, seeing Ch Yu¡¯s handsome face so close, she didn¡¯t overthink it and simply snuggled into his arms and drifted off to sleep. At four in the morning, Ch Yu got out of bed quietly and headed to the kitch. Today, there were some new items added to the mu, and he had to make them himself for the first time. Just as he was about to start, Wang Qingshan had already arrived at the shop. In the last couple of days, Wang Qingshan had become fully capable of managing the braised foods section on his own. Moreover, after observing for two days, Ch Yu found that Wang Qingshan¡¯s character was also excellt. Not only was he diligt in his work and serious about learning, but he also ran the shop as if it were his own family¡¯s business. Therefore, Ch Yu had already handed over the recipes and detailed methods of preparing the pig¡¯s head and knuckles to Wang Qingshan. Now that there were new items on the mu, Ch Yu did not hesitate to start working on them together with Wang Qingshan. Before long, fourte young wom arrived at the store, chatting and laughing. As soon as they tered, they got into work mode because the raw materials for the fried cakes and vegetable pastries had just arrived yesterday, so today they still divided half of the staff to go upstairs to prepare the semi-finished products. Chu Hong was already adept at making these types of arrangemts. Being the oldest and most cheerful among all the girls, she had become almost like a hall manager. An hour later, fifty pressure cookers all started to hiss as steam burst forth. The fragrance quickly filled the tire shop. The delivery workers, upon tering the shop, were attracted by these scts. They saw that Ch Yu¡¯s shop had introduced a new mixed offal item and marked it at thirty yuan per pound, which immediately excited them. Usually, wh delivering orders, they hardly had time to eat, and they gerally resolved their meals at familiar restaurants. The food at Ch Yu¡¯s was indeed delicious, but at fifty yuan per pound, the braised pork was still somewhat expsive for them. Yet, the tempting aroma still made them unable to resist having a couple of ounces of braised dishes to go with a bowl of noodles. However, there were some families who were indeed struggling, and they would just spd three yuan to buy a bowl of noodles. After all, the noodles at Ch Yu¡¯s were gerous in portion, cost-effective, and chewy. As time wt on, Ch Yu, in consideration for these delivery workers, would give a spoonful of braising broth for free to those who only bought noodles. Now that the mixed offal was introduced, it meant they could spd fifte yuan to buy half a pound of it, and th spd six yuan for two bowls of noodles. That solved both of their daily meals. In less than five minutes, orders for various mixed offal and noodles exceeded two hundred. All of them were made by these delivery workers. Seeing this, Ch Yu ev considered whether to take the opportunity to introduce some chick and duck offal. After all, in the braised food series, there were also ways to prepare these two kinds of offal. These two kinds had lower costs, and their prices could be kept ev lower, aimed specifically at delivery workers. These delivery workers braved the elemts and led tough lives. After Ch Yu passed on the methods and details of preparing the new braised items to Wang Qingshan and Chu Hong, he wt to sit on the side. With their experice making pork braised dishes, they learned how to make these new items very quickly. In cooperation with each other, they were extremely quick as well. By eight in the morning, the shop was almost full, and they had ev received orders from t kilometers away. Just th, a nanny van suddly stopped at the front of the shop. A tall woman wearing sunglasses hurried into the shop, flanked by several bodyguards. She was very polite and found an empty table to sit down. After that, she had her bodyguards go and place the order. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89 - 89: The Superstar Su Rui Chapter 89 ¨C 89: The Superstar Su Rui Ch Yu didn¡¯t pay much atttion to this woman. After making sure that Wang Qingshan and Chu Hong could operate the marinated food process in an orderly manner, he got in his car and headed straight for the farmer¡¯s market. Beyond purchasing ingredits for the staff meals, he also needed to buy the ingredits for the medicinal meals. In the hall, the woman in sunglasses looked at the noodles and marinated meat in front of her and couldn¡¯t wait to take a bite. ¡°I truly didn¡¯t expect them to have a new product this time; I¡¯m so in love with this place! I¡¯ll tell my agt I want to shoot in Suzhou City from now on.¡± The assistant by her side was startled upon hearing this. ¡°Sister Rui, it¡¯s ough just to say so here. If the company or the paparazzi hear this, they will definitely make a big deal out of it.¡± Su Rui snorted coldly, ¡°So what? Let them make a fuss if they want to; I just love it! Hey, why didn¡¯t you get some donkey meat? Bring it here quickly; I want to try it.¡± At that momt, many people¡¯s gazes had already be drawn to Su Rui. After all, it was hard not to be noticed wh accompanied by so many bodyguards. Just th, a young girl pretding to be nonchalant circled a and snuck a quick glance. ¡°Ah! Su Rui! It really is the big star Su Rui!¡± The shop was already crowded, and this shout immediately alarmed everyone. Some fangirls screamed, took out their phones, and ran over. The bodyguards quickly stepped forward, forming a ring, and circled Su Rui in the cter. ¡°What are you all doing?¡± Su Rui was somewhat angry, ¡°They¡¯re my fans; why block them? Moreover, this is someone else¡¯s restaurant. We are all here to eat, so cut out these prettious airs.¡± Although the bodyguards were scolded, they didn¡¯t back away but instead tighted the circle slightly and left a small gap op. The very first girl who had spotted Su Rui excitedly came forward with a notebook. ¡°Sister Su, I really like you. Can I have your autograph?¡± Su Rui gerously wrote down her name and handed it over. The screams in the shop grew ev louder; after all, a star so approachable emitted an inexplicably warm feeling. Tong Ya had just descded from the third floor. Wh she saw the situation in the shop, she frowned. However, wh she heard someone shouting Su Rui¡¯s name, her pupils dilated slightly. She hurriedly squeezed through the crowd. ¡°Su Rui? Is it really you?¡± Hearing this voice, Su Rui also hastily stood up and took off her sunglasses. ¡°Tong Ya? What are you doing here?¡± Crossing her arms, Tong Ya sat down beside Su Rui with an air of pride. ¡°I¡¯m the owner here, why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Su Rui¡¯s mouth fell op in surprise, ¡°The owner?¡± As soon as she asked, Tong Ya clapped her hands. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t crowd here. Su Rui will have the chance to come here again in the future, and I hope everyone can stay calm and maintain order while dining.¡± At her words, the people nearby immediately quieted down. ¡°Wow, wh the boss lady speaks, we better disperse.¡± ¡°It looks like the boss lady and Su Rui have a good relationship; there will be other opportunities.¡± ¡­ Seeing this, the customers dispersed, and Su Rui was finally certain of Tong Ya¡¯s status as the owner. ¡°So, does that mean it¡¯s your husband who made these delicious dishes?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face lit up with a hint of bragging, ¡°You also like the stuff my husband makes.¡± Su Rui nodded repeatedly, ¡°I love it so much. The last time I was here for the reality show and tried it, that flavor was unforgettable for a lifetime.¡± As she spoke, Su Rui got up and looked a, ¡°Where¡¯s your husband? Let me get a look at the man who can make such delicious food. What does he look like?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone out to prepare ingredits for the staff meal; he should be back in an hour.¡± Tong Ya propped her chin up with one hand, her eyes turning towards the door suddly filled with expectation. Su Rui suddly grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m so vious of you! You can truly pursue your freedom! I can¡¯t do that; my family elders were all in the cultural troupe, so I had no choice but to mingle in the tertainmt circle.¡± Tong Ya chuckled playfully without saying much. During this time, Su Rui st her assistant and bodyguard away. A t in the morning, Ch Yu parked the car at the front door. ¡°Han Cai, call a couple of people to help carry the vegetables!¡± Han Cai, who was busy in the lobby, heard Ch Yu¡¯s voice and quickly rushed out with Du Ling and Liu Tong. Tong Ya reflexively got up and ran out following them. Su Rui followed closely behind; she wanted to see for herself what kind of man Tong Ya had married. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re back!¡± Once outside, Tong Ya threw herself into Ch Yu¡¯s arms. Ch Yu affectionately tapped her forehead, ¡°I¡¯ve just come back from the market, I¡¯m all covered in mud, don¡¯t you mind getting dirty?¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°Why would I mind my own husband?¡± Su Rui was forced to watch this sweet display of affection. ¡°Wow, Tong Ya, your husband is so handsome!¡± Ch Yu glanced up, ¡°And you are?¡± He rarely paid atttion to the tertainmt industry, so he didn¡¯t recognize Su Rui. Tong Ya quickly introduced her, ¡°My college classmate, Su Rui, just like Xiao Wei, she¡¯s also one of my childhood frids!¡± Ch Yu nodded, offering a simple ¡®hello¡¯ before plunging back into moving bundles of vegetables inside. Su Rui felt a touch disappointed; ev though she was a big star, she seemed to hold no importance in Ch Yu¡¯s eyes. Moreover, looking at Ch Yu, he seemed to only have eyes for Tong Ya, which made Su Rui guinely vious. Those in the tertainmt industry, for various reasons, oft couldn¡¯t properly gage in relationships. Their days were spt either promoting CPs or creating scandals with strangers. From the outside, their relationships looked so heart-wrching and touching, but deep down they knew, it was all an act. Once Ch Yu got to the kitch, he immediately set up the large pot and began preparing meals according to the number of people in Xie Jiang¡¯s family. Before long, the rich fragrance had already begun to waft through the air. Once again drawn by the aroma, Su Rui couldn¡¯t help but walk over. ¡°Your husband can also cook Sichuan cuisine? Can you get some for me to try?¡± Tong Ya shook her head, ¡°Today the neighbor¡¯s hardware store owner reserved a birthday table, this is especially made for them. You¡¯ll have to wait if you want some.¡± Su Rui pouted, th suddly leaned into Tong Ya¡¯s ear. ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve be thinking of terminating my contract with the agcy and registering my own company in Suzhou City.¡± Tong Ya was momtarily stunned, ¡°I remember your company is ranked among the top t in the world, right? So many people can¡¯t ev get in, and you actually want to break the contract!¡± Su Rui licked her lips, ¡°I¡¯ve be truly chanted by your husband¡¯s¡­ ah, no! Enchanted by his cooking.¡± Chapter 90 - Chapter 90 - 90: Have a Bite with Us Chapter 90 ¨C 90: Have a Bite with Us At noon, Xie Jiang¡¯s family joyfully tered the restaurant. Ch Yu had already instructed Han Cai to nicely decorate private room number one. Once Xie Jiang¡¯s family settled in, Ch Yu called for Han Cai to serve the dishes. ¡°Ya Ya,¡± Ch Yu suddly called out. Tong Ya¡¯s ears perked up instantly, like a little girl who had just eat candy, bouncing over to the display window. ¡°What is it, husband?¡± Ch Yu handed out a clay pot, ¡°This is a medicinal dish I made on the side for my dad, it should help with his rheumatism, take it to him and have him rest a while.¡± Tong Ya responded coquettishly and carried the clay pot over to Ch Guang. At that momt, Su Rui also cautiously leaned to the serving window. ¡°Brother-in-law?¡± Ch Yu looked up abruptly, ¡°Miss Su, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I was wondering if you can make Sichuan dumplings?¡± Ch Yu nodded, ¡°Of course, can you eat spicy?¡± ¡°Yes, the spicier the better, especially with red chili oil,¡± Su Rui quickly replied. Because she needed to maintain her figure, her agt and assistant strictly controlled her diet. Things like noodles, sweets, and ev spicy food were off-limits to her. Ev this morning, while having seasoned food, she only managed to eat half a bowl of noodles and four ounces of food under her assistant¡¯s strict supervision. She had be craving these Sichuan dumplings with red chili oil for a long time, the last time she ate them was while filming in Sichuan. Without another word, Ch Yu immediately picked up a bowl and started mixing. For today¡¯s birthday banquet for Xie Jiang, he had prepared Sichuan dumplings, so he had bought extra dumpling wrappers. Adding to that the ready-made marinade in the store, mixed together would make the taste ev better. In just two minutes, a dish of Sichuan dumplings with red chili oil was already at the window. Su Rui¡¯s eyes were filled with excitemt; without hesitation, she grabbed a pair of chopsticks and started devouring them. Just th, the young assistant burst in from outside. ¡°Rui Sister! Your next movie is about to start shooting, you¡¯re currtly controlling your figure, you can¡¯t eat these things.¡± Su Rui, clching her teeth, turned a and without any regard, stuffed the dumplings into her mouth. This was, without a doubt, the most delicious Sichuan dumplings she had ever had in her life, to hell with maintaining her figure! In almost three or five bites, Su Rui had swallowed the tire bowl of dumplings. In her flustered state, she got her mouth and face covered with red oil, completely disregarding the image of a big star. ¡°I¡¯m just eating a bowl of dumplings, what¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s the d of the world!¡± As she spoke, Su Rui returned the bowl and chopsticks to Ch Yu and also said thank you. The little assistant became upset, standing with hands on her hips and glaring fiercely at Ch Yu. ¡°What are you doing? If my family¡¯s Rui Sister ruins her figure, can you take responsibility? Don¡¯t you know she¡¯s supposed to be the heroine in her next film¡­¡± Before she could finish, another bowl of Sichuan dumplings with red chili oil was prested. Ch Yu glanced at the assistant and th made a welcoming gesture. The fragrant smell instantly made the assistant lose her reason, her throat involuntarily swallowing. After hesitating for a momt, she couldn¡¯t help but pick up a pair of chopsticks and take a bite. The anger on her face vanished in an instant, and she ate the dumplings in her hand as clean as Su Rui did. ¡°So delicious!¡± The little assistant said, her facial expression extremely exaggerated, almost as if she would cry, ¡°Boss, could I have another bowl please?¡± Ch Yu shook his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare much today, next time!¡± Su Rui wiped the red oil from the corner of her mouth and suddly adopted a reltless demeanor. ¡°Someone here ate the red oil wontons with me and will have to explain to the talt agcy if they ask. That person better have an excuse ready.¡± The assistant at this momt didn¡¯t care about this at all and just stared blankly at the empty bowl in their hands. ¡°This tastes just like the wontons my mom used to make!¡± Just th, Tang Xiaowei hurriedly arrived at the shop. Yesterday, Ch Yu had st her a message asking if she could help paint a few more murals for the shop wh she had time. But the momt Tang Xiaowei stepped through the door, she suddly let out a shriek, and th excitedly rushed forward to grab Su Rui¡¯s hand. ¡°Su Rui! What brings you here?¡± Su Rui gestured toward the kitch behind her: ¡°Of course, I was attracted by the deliciousness here!¡± ¡°What a coincidce, I was originally attracted here by the deliciousness too.¡± While they were talking, Ch Yu pushed a clay pot out from the display window and deftly lifted the lid. ¡°Xiaowei, this is the hot and sour fish with tomatoes that you ordered yesterday!¡± Tang Xiaowei¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. Ever since Tang Long dragged her back, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to eat anything from Ch Yu¡¯s place for a long time. Especially after hearing from Tong Ya that Ch Yu could cook Sichuan cuisine, she had be restless for several days. ¡°Brother Yu, reliable as always, you really prepared it for me!¡± Ch Yu cracked a smile: ¡°For the staple, go get it yourself from Chu Hong over there.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Tang Xiaowei acknowledged and wt straight to Chu Hong to get two bowls of noodles. ¡°Su Rui, have you eat? Do you want to join me for some?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Su Rui¡¯s taste buds had be completely conquered by Ch Yu. The assistant beside her finally snapped out of it and quickly stepped forward to pull her back. ¡°Su Rui, you¡¯ve already had a bowl of wontons, you can¡¯t eat any more.¡± Su Rui didn¡¯t care about that: ¡°It¡¯s sour and spicy, it stimulates the appetite and won¡¯t make you fat!¡± With that, she took a bowl of noodles directly from Tang Xiaowei and scooped up a spoonful of the tomato fish. But seeing that Su Rui had no inttion of leaving, and after finishing her meal, she actually started painting murals on the wall alongside Tang Xiaowei. Ch Yu kely ssed that Su Rui might want to delay her time here for some reason. However, he didn¡¯t interve, after all, Su Rui was Tong Ya¡¯s childhood frid, and it wasn¡¯t his place to say much. At three in the afternoon, the old man from the park came to the shop, leaning on his crutch. Ch Yu quickly served up the prepared medicinal cuisine to him. ¡°Sir, this will only help to improve your condition, you will still need to adjust your body after this.¡± The old man didn¡¯t care about that; ever since he fell ill, he had always lacked appetite, but now smelling the medicinal cuisine in front of him, he felt his appetite surge. He grasped the chopsticks and devoured the food hungrily. Wh the last spoonful of soup was finished, beads of sweat had formed on the old man¡¯s forehead, and he seemed much more invigorated. ¡°That was refreshing! Young Ch, your cooking is unparalleled, and your skill in healing is just as extraordinary! I feel so much lighter now.¡± With that, the old man reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money. ¡°How much do I owe you? I¡¯ll pay you!¡± Ch Yu frowned slightly. To tell the truth, the herbs and ingredits used in this medicinal dish were very affordable. The total cost didn¡¯t ev amount to fifty yuan. ¡°No need, sir, I just happed to make you a meal!¡± ¡°No, I insist!¡± The old man was stubborn and pushed the whole wad of money into Ch Yu¡¯s hand. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91 - 91 Seeing Through at a Glance Chapter 91 ¨C 91 Seeing Through at a Glance Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, as the stack of money amounted to at least two to three thousand. ¡°Sir, you really don¡¯t need to pay¡­¡± Chen Yu had only pushed the money away a few times before the old man became somewhat displeased. ¡°Chen Yu, I¡¯ve spent tens of thousands at the hospital, and my illness wasn¡¯t cured! After eating a meal here, not only has my appetite opened up, but my illness has improved. You must take this money.¡± Chen Yu, somewhat helplessly, said, ¡°How about this? The cost of this meal is only a few tens, I¡¯ll take a hundred from you, and you can take the rest back! To me, you just had a meal here, one hundred is really enough.¡± The old man didn¡¯t know what to say, he grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand and shook it excitedly. ¡°Chen Yu, I have many fellow patients back home, I¡¯ll recommend them to come here.¡± After saying this, the old man stretched his limbs and left, feeling very refreshed. At this moment, Xie Jiang¡¯s family was also satisfied, coming down from upstairs. Especially Xie Jiang¡¯s father-in-law, who approached the display window with an excited face. ¡°Boss, your Sichuan dishes are so authentic. It would be a waste not to open a Sichuan restaurant with your skills.¡± Chen Yu was very polite, responding with a smile. ¡°Sir, we are currently preparing, and Sichuan cuisine will be introduced in a few days.¡± The old man laughed heartily, ¡°Then I will come to eat every day when it¡¯s available.¡± Next to him, Xie Jiang continued to call out to Chen Yu, and after chatting for a few moments, his family returned to the neighboring house. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the stream of customers gradually diminished. Chen Yu then brought out six pots of dishes and a large high-pressure cooker filled with rice onto the table. Without needing Chen Yu to call them over, everyone gathered around. The store had already established a very regular operating schedule these past few days. This time had also become recognized mealtime in everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Wow, mapo tofu, spicy and sour tomato fish, kung pao chicken, braised eggplant, pork with minced garlic, steamed pork ribs with rice flour, such a feast!¡± Chen Guang exclaimed, then directly served himself a bowl of rice and scooped a spoonful of pork with minced garlic. Today, the medicinal meal that Chen Yu had Tong Ya bring him had significantly alleviated his rheumatism. With his mood greatly improved, so was his appetite. At this moment, Tang Xiaowei and Tong Ya also took seats at the dining table, leaving only Su Rui standing alone. However, the bodyguard and assistant who came with her in the morning were nowhere to be seen now. ¡°Su Rui, come and eat with us!¡± Tong Ya called out warmly. Su Rui had been waiting for this invitation and quickly took a seat next to Tang Xiaowei. Just then, He Hua timidly stood up, notebook in hand, and moved behind Su Rui. ¡°Um¡­ could you please give me an autograph¡­ I¡¯ve been busy all day and didn¡¯t get a chance¡­ yeah.¡± He Hua, one of the eight new girls who had joined later, was the youngest of them all, even a year younger than Han Cai. Now standing behind Su Rui with her notebook, she appeared somewhat timid. Su Rui was very generous, took the notebook, and wrote down her autograph. That set the other young girls off, each of them pulling out a small notebook they carried with them. Su Rui didn¡¯t refuse anyone, giving her autograph to each one in turn. After receiving her autograph, Chu Hong even served Su Rui a bowl of colorful rice. Su Rui didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and served herself a spoonful of Mapo tofu, then wolfed down a mouthful without any hesitation. ¡°This is so delicious; I¡¯ve never tasted anything like this! Hey, brother-in-law, can I work here for a few days to experience life?¡± There wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of surprise on Chen Yu¡¯s face, as if he had expected it all along. ¡°Miss Su, your bodyguard and assistant have already left, and they even took your car! For a big star like you, they wouldn¡¯t just leave you here so carelessly.¡± At these words, the smile on Su Rui¡¯s face gradually faded. Before she could speak, Chen Yu pointed at the clothing she wore. ¡°The temperature is quite high today, but you¡¯re not wearing any sun protection, and despite your assistant¡¯s advice, you even ate a bowl of spicy wontons at noon, which doesn¡¯t seem like something a disciplined actor would do.¡± Su Rui¡¯s face showed a hint of surprise after the analysis. ¡°That¡¯s because the food here is so good that I couldn¡¯t help myself, so I just¡­¡± ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Chen Yu suddenly looked straight at Su Rui. ¡°You stayed here for a day, actually delaying time, so that your agency would take the initiative to terminate your contract with them.¡± Su Rui suddenly couldn¡¯t meet Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. Chen Yu seemed to have been busy in the kitchen all day and hardly paid her any attention; how had he seen right through her? Tang Xiaowei also looked puzzled at Su Rui. ¡°Really? Sister Rui, that¡¯s one of the top ten agencies in the world! You just terminated your contract like that.¡± Suddenly, a tearful gleam appeared in Su Rui¡¯s eyes, and she set down her bowl and sighed deeply. ¡°There¡¯s been some trouble at home, my parents want me to marry a wealthy businessman. They want to use my status and popularity as a star to get some benefits.¡± As she spoke, tears had already started rolling down the corners of Su Rui¡¯s eyes. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to marry someone I¡¯ve never met! Before coming here, I had already tried many ways to deliberately create conflicts with the agency, and they terminated my contract with me at five o¡¯clock this afternoon.¡± The people present were dumbstruck; they hadn¡¯t expected to hear about the personal gossip of a popular star. If this got to the paparazzi, they might concoct an incredibly dramatic story about her. However, Tong Ya looked admiringly at Chen Yu. ¡°Wow, hubby, you¡¯re amazing! You¡¯re like a detective.¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly; his intelligence had now reached the limits of humanity. It wasn¡¯t just this; even if someone casually walked past him, he could see right through them with their micro-expressions. ¡°Alright, since Miss Su has chosen to stay, she is our guest. Ya Ya, please book a room at a nearby hotel.¡± Tong Ya was about to make a call when Su Rui waved her hands repeatedly. ¡°No need for that, I can just make do for the night with Ya Ya or Xiaowei.¡± In fact, Chen Yu understood that Su Rui refused because she had no money on her. The clothes she wore didn¡¯t even have pockets, and her bodyguard and assistant hadn¡¯t left her with any bags when they left. Combining this with what Su Rui had previously mentioned, it seemed that her parents had frozen all her bank accounts. And the agency¡¯s termination of her contract wasn¡¯t just because she hadn¡¯t followed dietary regulations. It was certainly because the wealthy businessman she refused had pulled some strings behind the scenes. Su Rui was just going along with the situation. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to embarrass Su Rui too much: ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to put up with sharing a space with Ya Ya for tonight.¡± Su Rui nodded repeatedly, then picked up her bowl of rice and started eating joyously. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92 - 92: Learning Sichuan Cuisine Chapter 92 ¨C 92: Learning Sichuan Cuisine It was 8:30 PM when the master arrived on time to deliver the raw materials. Today, Chen Yu had increased the order by five hundred jin of chicken offal and five hundred jin of duck offal. After storing the materials and cleaning the shop, the system notification rang in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit amounts to 228,300 yuan, earning 228,300 points. The current total accumulated points are 2,297,180.] In Chen Yu¡¯s mind, the total turnover for the day also appeared. The new varieties of marinated dishes had brought the day¡¯s turnover to a total of 1,406,000 yuan. However, the consumption of flour had exceeded Chen Yu¡¯s calculations. After the increase in marinated dishes, the flour needed doubled from before. To ensure the shop¡¯s normal operation for the following week, an additional 140,000 jin of flour was necessary. Besides the 205,000 yuan spent on purchasing the ingredients for the next day¡¯s marinated dishes and seasonings, Chen Yu still had 1,195,600 yuan left with him. After deliberation, Chen Yu transferred 1,190,000 yuan into his current account. He kept the remaining 8,000 yuan as a reserve. Wang Qingshan and the fourteen girls had already left; Tong Ya, Tang Xiaowei, and Su Rui were chatting and laughing as they went up to the third floor. Chen Guang and Li Lan also took Tuan Tuan back to their room. Only Chen Yu was left in the spacious hall. He found that after his intelligence had improved, he seemed to think about more things, and he sat there inexplicably, contemplating Su Rui¡¯s future. With a self-deprecating laugh, Chen Yu shook his head and went straight upstairs. He didn¡¯t plan to go to the park today. Now outside, he was being hailed as an orthopedic sage, and likely, many elderly were waiting in the park for him to set their bones. It wasn¡¯t that he was unwilling to go, but that he was far from being a qualified doctor right now. If someone reported him, he might be accused of practicing medicine illegally. Having not seen each other for many years, Tong Ya and Su Rui chatted until the early morning, still full of energy. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know whether it was the habit of being held by Tong Ya in sleep or something else, but suddenly he felt the large bed was somewhat empty. Early the next morning, Chen Yu washed up and went down to the lobby, where Wang Qingshan and the fourteen girls had already arrived early at the shop, busy with their duties. Now the entire shop could operate on its own without needing much intervention from Chen Yu. Today, all he needed to do was teach Wang Qingshan the steps to prepare the chicken and duck offal. Compared to yesterday, there seemed to be more customers, and the number of delivery riders had also grown significantly. The cost of chicken and duck offal was very low, only three yuan per jin, so Chen Yu didn¡¯t sell it too expensively, only requiring fifteen yuan for one jin. This made more delivery riders treat this place as a canteen. By ten in the morning, Chen Yu had gone to the agricultural market to buy some raw materials. When he returned, he noticed two men, nearly forty years old, sitting at an empty table. The two had grim expressions, neither ordering food nor doing anything, just sitting there silently. Tong Ya and her friends had already woken up. Tang Xiaowei was busy painting a mural on her own while Su Rui helped her. Tong Ya had even gone up to the second floor with Li Lan to work on the semi-finished products. Chen Yu just took a curious look at the two men sitting in the hall and then went back to the kitchen on his own. ¡°Are you the boss?¡± One of the men suddenly stood up and followed Chen Yu to the entrance of the kitchen. Chen Yu slightly furrowed his brow, ¡°It¡¯s me, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°My name is Ning Kai, and this is Li Gang! We are here to challenge you.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but pause, ¡°Challenge me?¡± Indeed!¡± Ning Kai made a fist and bowed slightly, ¡°Liu Chong, Grandpa Liu said that our Sichuan cuisine is not as good as yours. My brother and I can¡¯t accept that, so we¡¯ve come to see who¡¯s better.¡± Chen Yu let out a light sigh, ¡°This is just a breakfast and marinated food shop! If you¡¯re looking for a Sichuan cuisine competition, you¡¯ve got the wrong place.¡± The two men also looked puzzled. Since they had sat down, they hadn¡¯t seen anything in the shop related to Sichuan cuisine. At first, they even thought they had gone to the wrong place. ¡°The address Grandpa Liu gave us is here, it¡¯s impossible to be wrong!¡± Li Gang also stood up, ¡°And I saw you bring some ingredients into the kitchen just now that looked like they could be used in Sichuan dishes.¡± Chen Yu had a helpless look on his face; he just wanted to run his business smoothly. He had no interest whatsoever in culinary challenges. ¡°Please go back! I bought some ingredients just to make meals for the staff.¡± ¡°Just stir-fry a Mapo Tofu!¡± Ning Kai wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer and barged into the kitchen. ¡°What do you two think you¡¯re doing?¡± Wang Qingshan was staring at a large spoon and walked straight over. Wang Qingshan had noticed these two men the moment they entered the shop. Now, seeing the two guys grappling with Chen Yu, he was convinced that they were there to make trouble. Chen Yu quickly stopped Wang Qingshan, ¡°They just want to come here to challenge my cooking skills, there¡¯s no need to be so confrontational.¡± Wang Qingshan was first stunned, then he covered his belly and roared with laughter. ¡°You two are challenging my boss? You must not be fully awake yet. Don¡¯t blame me for not warning you when you lose.¡± After leaving that remark, Wang Qingshan returned to his station. Although Chen Yu was reluctant to compete with these two men, now that things had escalated to this point, he had no choice but to take action. ¡°There are three woks here; we¡¯ll each use one and stir-fry Mapo Tofu. If you lose, don¡¯t bother me again!¡± Having agreed, he immediately turned on the stove to heat the oil and picked up a kitchen knife to start processing the tofu. This was almost a basic skill for every top-class chef. It was all about speed! During the process from when the oil hit the wok to when it got hot, he perfectly timed it to get all the ingredients ready to go into the wok at once. At that moment, knives in both men¡¯s hands were dancing, and soon, the tofu was cut into small cubes of roughly the same size. But as they were about to add the tofu to the wok, they found that Chen Yu already had the tofu and various other ingredients ready in his hands, waiting for the oil to get hot. The two men stiffened simultaneously, surprised that Chen Yu¡¯s knife skills were faster than both of theirs. Before they could react, Chen Yu had already thrown the ingredients into the wok, stirring them with practiced ease. The two didn¡¯t dare slack off and quickly focused their full attention on the task. Before long, the rich aroma began to weave through the kitchen. However, when they caught the scent coming from Chen Yu¡¯s wok, they were stunned on the spot. They knew they had already lost. When the three dishes of Mapo Tofu were placed on the table, the two men sighed in resignation. Then, with a thump, they knelt down on the floor. ¡°Master, please take the two of us as your disciples. We are willing to follow you and devote ourselves to learning Sichuan cuisine!¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93 - 93 Imperial Capital Zhao Family Chapter 93 ¨C 93 Imperial Capital Zhao Family Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, he always felt that these two were intentionally coming over to challenge him, and then using it as an excuse to become his apprentices. ¡°Considering the skills of you two, you should already be at the top within Sichuan cuisine, why would you need to study under me?¡± Chen Yu proceeded to pick up his Mapo Tofu and began eating at the kitchen door. A look of guilt simultaneously appeared on both of their faces. Li Gang even took out a special-grade chef certification from his person. ¡°I always thought my cooking skills had reached the peak, but not until today did I realize I¡¯ve been sitting in a well watching the sky.¡± With that, he was about to tear up the special-grade chef certificate. Chen Yu quickly grabbed a spoon from the side and hit Li Gang¡¯s hand, stopping him. ¡°These days, getting a special-grade chef certificate is no easy feat, you must have put in at least twenty years of effort. Are you really going to throw it away just like that?¡± Li Gang shook his head: ¡°Compared to you, what¡¯s my skill worth?¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh, finding these two individuals reminiscent of Wang Qingshan in temperament. Moreover, since they were introduced by Liu Chong, they were considered acquaintances. If he kept them, he could fully open up the Sichuan cuisine section in the future. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible for you two to learn my skills!¡± Upon hearing this, their eyes immediately lit up, looking at Chen Yu with anticipation. This expression alone gave Chen Yu a sense of inexplicable comfort. At least from this look, it was clear that the two were genuine chefs, at least they wouldn¡¯t betray him after learning from him. In the current catering industry, there¡¯s always been the cautionary tale of teaching the apprentice only to starve the master. It has to be said, some people are truly heartless, setting up their own establishments as soon as they¡¯ve learned all their master¡¯s techniques. Chen Yu had no such concerns, with his current abilities, he could easily keep these two in check. Besides, if he wanted to expand the business, some risks had to be taken. Chen Yu stepped forward and helped the two up. ¡°We do not have a formal apprenticeship here, I can teach you my techniques, but you must work for me.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± The two replied in unison. Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°However, as for the salary, well! I¡¯ll decide on it after you two have worked for a month.¡± The two nodded repeatedly, seeming willing to go along with whatever Chen Yu said. ¡°Good! Do the two of you have somewhere to live, or do you need me to arrange employee accommodation for you?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Ning Kai repeatedly waved his hands: ¡°We¡¯ll sort it out ourselves!¡± After finalizing some details, the two left the restaurant and went to the nearby residential area in search of a house. Chen Yu didn¡¯t intervene too much, after all, both were adults in their forties; since they chose his restaurant, it must have been a well-considered decision. Additionally, they weren¡¯t like Chu Hong and the others, girls not yet twenty years old; they should be capable of sorting out housing on their own. ¡­ Capital Film and Television Base. Fang Yuan looked at the contracts laid out before her with excitement. She had just arrived here, and she got some tremendous news. Su Rui, one of the most famous ¡°Four Flowers¡± in the capital, had actually broken her contract with her agency! Through the efforts of Han Mintao, most of the resources she left behind fell squarely into the lap of Fang Yuan. This was an unexpected joy for her. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for her to fulfill the bet agreement. Right now, Han Mintao was also by her side, guiding her through signing the contracts. After all the contracts were signed, Han Mintao pulled Fang Yuan aside. ¡°You have to dine with young master Zhao tonight!¡± Fang Yuan was stunned for a moment, ¡°Zhao Hai from the imperial capital¡¯s Zhao Family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly, ¡°That man is a beast, how many female stars have been ruined by him? Mom, you¡¯re pushing me into a fire pit!¡± Han Mintao looked nonchalant, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ve already arranged everything for tonight, with six paparazzi and more than a dozen media outlets nearby, he won¡¯t dare to do anything to you.¡± Fang Yuan was still worried, she had vaguely heard that Su Rui had tried to break her contract with her agency because she was unwilling to submit to Zhao Hai. If someone like Su Rui couldn¡¯t get away with it, how could she be any better? ¡°But, Mom¡­¡± ¡°Alright, daughter, don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve signed a bet agreement, and this Zhao Hai is your best chance to turn things around, otherwise, you¡¯re doomed.¡± Just as Fang Yuan hesitated, a scream suddenly erupted from nearby. Zhao Hai was seen approaching with a bouquet of flowers, heading straight towards Fang Yuan. ¡°Miss Fang, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation. I wonder if I am fortunate enough to have dinner with you tonight.¡± Fang Yuan froze in place. The rumors described Zhao Hai as an unabashed playboy who even tormented female actors recklessly. Now, it seemed that Zhao Hai was somewhat different from the rumors. Sunny, handsome, elegant; it appeared all the favorable words could be applied to Zhao Hai. Almost subconsciously, Fang Yuan found herself accepting the flowers, mumbling an affirmative response. Zhao Hai smiled slightly, ¡°Then, after you finish filming, I¡¯ll come pick you up!¡± It wasn¡¯t until Zhao Hai had left that Fang Yuan snapped back to reality. This was the entertainment industry! Everyone was an acting master, and even life itself was a performance. How could anyone judge a person¡¯s character based solely on their appearance? Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing became rapid, and she looked at Han Mintao with a pleading gaze. ¡°Go ahead! Daughter, you¡¯ve already agreed anyway. Besides, the Zhao Family is one of the four great families of the imperial capital, it¡¯s always not good to offend them.¡± Fang Yuan let out a long sigh of relief and stopped thinking about it. She placed the flowers aside and continued filming with a troubled heart. ¡­ By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Ning Kai and Li Gang had already found a place to stay and arrived at the shop fully dressed in their chef uniforms, very formal indeed. Chen Yu admired these two chefs quite a bit. Putting aside their status as special-grade chefs, just their serious attitude earned his respect. ¡°Today the Sichuan cuisine section is not officially open for business yet, I¡¯m afraid I can only trouble you two with some miscellaneous tasks!¡± Ning Kai and Li Gang didn¡¯t mind at all, ready to do whatever Chen Yu commanded. They then went to the next-door kitchen to help Wang Qingshan with the braised dishes. According to Chen Yu¡¯s instructions, they were to come over at eight o¡¯clock in the evening to prepare the staff meal. Just as Chen Yu was about to take a break, several elders rushed into the shop unexpectedly. Without exception, they all carried their own medical records. ¡°Young boss Chen, after old Wang ate your medicinal cuisine, all his ailments were cured in no days, can you make me a meal too? I¡¯m willing to pay whatever it costs.¡± ¡°Yeah, young boss Chen, everyone says you have the healing touch and understand medicine, please help us!¡± ¡­ Chapter 94 - Chapter 94 - 94 A World of Two Chapter 94 ¨C 94 A World of Two Chen Yu was momentarily stunned; it seemed that his medicinal cuisine had already become widely talked about. ¡°Uncles and aunties, Mr. Wang was merely suffering from poor health, and medicinal cuisine was able to cure him, but I really can¡¯t guarantee it for your illnesses.¡± However, these elders didn¡¯t listen and simply handed their documents to Chen Yu. ¡°Xiao Chen, our contact information is on these documents. Just take a look to see if you can treat us and give us a call back, we won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just sorted the documents before seeing the elderly out the door. ¡°All set!¡± Tang Xiaowei stretched her limbs and took a seat on a chair she had brought over. The wall was now fully adorned with landscape paintings, which indeed matched the style of the shop very well. Su Rui also sat by, discussing with Tang Xiaowei the layout of the remaining murals on the wall. It seemed that Su Rui was also extremely interested in painting. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Ning Kai and Li Gang had prepared a table full of sumptuous Sichuan cuisine under Chen Yu¡¯s guidance. However, due to slight differences in technique and cooking methods, the dishes they made weren¡¯t quite as good as Chen Yu¡¯s. But the taste could still be considered perfect. Aside from Wang Qingshan, who could clearly tell the difference in flavor, everyone else thought that the dishes were made by Chen Yu. Ning Kai and Li Gang could certainly taste the difference, and their faces turned red with embarrassment. Today, Chen Yu had already taught them all the techniques and recipes, but they still couldn¡¯t replicate Chen Yu¡¯s flavors. After they finished eating and tidied up the shop, the delivery men arrived. [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business with a net profit of 1,216,600 yuan, earning 1,216,600 points. The current total cumulative points are 3,507,780.] A hint of excitement, impossible to hide, appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. Now, with his point accumulation once again over three million, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he reached ten million. After paying for tomorrow¡¯s marinated food ingredients and 140,000 jin of flour, there was still over 790,000 yuan in his payment account. As usual, after transferring a round sum, Chen Yu left some money aside for reserves. That evening, Su Rui didn¡¯t stay behind but went to the art studio behind the housing complex with Tang Xiaowei. From the looks of it, the two seemed to have found some exciting project. Chen Guang and Li Lan, worried that Tuan Tuan would disturb Chen Yu and Tong Ya¡¯s private world, took Tuan Tuan upstairs to sleep immediately after dinner. Chen Yu was feeling somewhat depressed, sitting in the living room with one hand propping up his chin. He had wanted to make it a habit to go jogging in the park, but now it seemed that this habit couldn¡¯t be maintained. Only if he could get something like a medical practitioner license would he be able to treat these elderly people openly and aboveboard. Otherwise, it would only bring him trouble. But to pass the medical practitioner license exam relying solely on his knowledge of biology and chemistry seemed like a pipe dream. While he was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Tong Ya mimicking him, sitting opposite and staring blankly at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chen Yu asked with a smile. ¡°What else can I be doing? Just imitating my husband and spacing out together here!¡± Chen Yu exhaled softly and pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose with his hand. ¡°I was thinking about those uncles and aunties coming to me for medical treatment. They trust me, but¡­¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Tong Ya grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so conflicted, just do your best.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t know about the system, naturally not understanding what exactly Chen Yu was anxious about. But such concern touched Chen Yu deeply. ¡°By the way, Ya Ya, there¡¯s something I need your consent for.¡± Tong Ya tilted her head: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°About our marriage!¡± Tong Ya suddenly froze on the spot. But the next moment, she came back to her senses and stood up. ¡°Are you proposing to me?¡± Feeling slightly embarrassed, Chen Yu rubbed the tip of his nose. ¡°I suppose so!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Tong Ya puffed up her little face, ¡°You¡¯re clearly discussing it with me like it¡¯s a negotiation! No, it¡¯s more like a notification!¡± Chen Yu looked at Tong Ya in front of him, his eyes filled with tenderness as if he were looking at Tuan Tuan. For the first time, he discovered that when Tong Ya was angry, her face could still hold gentleness, and she was so adorable. Chen Yu looked at the time, got up, took Tong Ya¡¯s hand, and headed straight out the door. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s heart suddenly leaped to her throat, wondering if Chen Yu was planning to take her somewhere special to propose. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t say a word and just drove, with a press on the gas pedal, they arrived at a mall. It was only nine o¡¯clock, and the mall hadn¡¯t closed yet. Chen Yu parked the car and led Tong Ya into a diamond ring store. ¡°Please bring me the ring from the advertisement display outside.¡± The staff behind the counter was stunned¡ªthey were already preparing to close for the day¡ªbut then happily ran off to fetch it. Tong Ya was also taken aback, staring at Chen Yu in a daze. ¡°Husband, what are you¡­¡± Chen Yu held Tong Ya¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°I may not understand romance, but we still need to follow certain procedures!¡± The staff member had already brought over an elegantly designed streamlined diamond ring. This ring, aside from the main diamond in the center, was surrounded by a dozen smaller diamonds. Its price was terrifying, reaching more than two hundred thousand. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with the price, took out his phone, and was ready to pay. ¡°Wait a second!¡± Tong Ya hurriedly stopped him, ¡°I don¡¯t like this ring!¡± The staff member was also taken aback; it was the most expensive ring and had the best design style in their store. How could anyone dislike it? Before she could react, Tong Ya leaned on the counter and pointed to a hollowed-out Gold ring that was less than three thousand yuan. ¡°This one will do! From an economic perspective, Gold jewelry is not only beautiful but also retains its value.¡± Chen Yu was slightly stunned; after all, Tong Ya was the young lady of Tong Group. He had had his eye on that two hundred thousand yuan diamond ring for a long time. He truly believed that only such a ring was worthy of Tong Ya. But unexpectedly, Tong Ya just chose a Gold ring without diamonds. ¡°Hurry up and bring this one out!¡± Tong Ya urged the salesperson at the counter. The salesperson¡¯s face clearly showed reluctance; the commission from the two hundred thousand yuan diamond ring could equal more than a month¡¯s salary. Almost subconsciously, the salesperson turned to look at Chen Yu. It seemed as if she hoped Chen Yu would insist. ¡°What are you looking at him for? I¡¯m the one being proposed to, and I decide what ring I will wear,¡± said Tong Ya assertively. It must be said, Tong Ya¡¯s words carried quite a bit of dominance. Truly befitting of a magnate¡¯s daughter. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95 - 95: The Proposal Chapter 95 ¨C 95: The Proposal ¡°Ya Ya, actually, I think that, this kind of thing¡­¡± ¡°You should listen to me!¡± Tong Ya interrupted Chen Yu directly, ¡°We are going to live our lives together.¡± ¡°What if one day, we fall on hard times, Gold can still be exchanged for money! What practical use does a diamond ring have, other than being sparkly? Besides, you earned your money through hard work, not by it blowing in with the wind.¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya to be so considerate, putting herself in his shoes. The sales associate, hearing this, felt somewhat helpless. But envy was evident in her eyes. She had sold engagement rings here and had seen countless couples. Most girls would insist on their boyfriends buying them the best diamond rings. They say the value of a diamond ring measures how deep a man¡¯s love is. In reality, everyone understands that they do it for the sake of face. Someone like Tong Ya was truly rare. The sales associate didn¡¯t say much else, just took out the Gold ring. Chen Yu, smiling, then headed to the Gold section nearby. ¡°Could you please get this bracelet for me!¡± The saleswoman¡¯s eyes glittered as she hurried to comply. The bracelet was worth thirty thousand, which meant a substantial commission for her. Plus, this bracelet was the latest design, made out of pure Gold, with a layer of gold dust inlaid on top. Chen Yu took the bracelet and immediately placed it on Tong Ya¡¯s wrist. ¡°What are you doing? I already said not to buy something so expensive!¡± Tong Ya was somewhat annoyed. Yet Chen Yu held onto Tong Ya¡¯s hand tighter, ¡°This is also made of pure Gold, it retains its value!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s reasoning was used against her by Chen Yu just like that. Still, Tong Ya pouted and tried to take off the bracelet. ¡°If It doesn¡¯t work out, consider it a gift in return for the phone you bought me.¡± Tong Ya felt helpless, not expecting Chen Yu to still remember that. Before she could react further, Chen Yu suddenly dropped to one knee. ¡°Ya Ya, marry me!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s breathing became rapid all of a sudden, and she nodded heavily. In fact, Chen Yu¡¯s decision to propose wasn¡¯t a spur-of-the-moment idea. Based on the current revenue of the store, he could buy it outright by the end of this week. In another week, he could buy a relatively larger house nearby. He was sure that he could provide Tong Ya with a stable future. The once empty ring store suddenly had dozens of people appear at the entrance, cheering and clapping. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there after paying, and took Tong Ya out of the mall. On the way back, Tong Ya clung to Chen Yu like an octopus, not willing to let go even when Chen Yu was driving. ¡°Ya Ya, if we¡¯re captured on surveillance cameras like this, they might revoke my driver¡¯s license.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°If you lose your license, I still have mine! Just call me when you need a driver.¡± Chen Yu had no choice but to turn the car into a side street. ¡°Husband, when will we have our wedding!¡± Tong Ya asked with eyes full of anticipation. ¡°The end of July is a good day!¡± Chen Yu had already had a date in mind. ¡°Then next month, let¡¯s go take our wedding photos.¡± Tong Ya gripped Chen Yu¡¯s hand even tighter. By the time the two returned to the store, it was nearly ten p.m. They tiptoed upstairs, took a quick shower, and then returned to their room. That night, Chen Yu slept very soundly. It was as if a stone that had been suspended in her heart finally touched the ground. ¡­ In a business winery in the Imperial Capital. Fang Yuan and Zhao Hai sat at the counter, chatting merrily. It was not until this moment that Fang Yuan realized that nearly all the resources she now had in her hands were provided by the Zhao Family. Among the four major families in the Imperial Capital, the Zhao Family specialized in the entertainment industry. Nearly half of the entertainment circle was in the hands of the Zhao Family. As long as Zhao Hai was willing, Fang Yuan could replace Su Rui¡¯s former position in the shortest time and become the new leading actress in the entertainment circle. ¡°Miss Fang,¡± suddenly asked Zhao Hai, ¡°have you signed a gambling agreement with several capital firms?¡± Fang Yuan was startled at first, then she put on a pitiable look. ¡°I had no choice, if I didn¡¯t sign, I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to survive in the entertainment circle.¡± Zhao Hai drained the wine in his glass, ¡°Some things, even if signed, are just a piece of paper. With just one word from Miss Fang, I can help you cancel the gambling agreement, and what¡¯s more, I¡¯ll let you get the capital you want.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, she was well aware that there was no such thing as a free lunch in the entertainment circle. Thirty billion in capital, to easily get it in hand, would inevitably require a price to be paid. Just as she was pondering what Zhao Hai wanted to take from her, a somewhat pale hand had already pinched her earlobe. ¡°The first time I saw a picture of Miss Fang, I was captivated by your ears.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s body stiffened, and she found to her horror that Zhao Hai¡¯s expression had become somewhat gruesome. And what was this bizarre fondness for her ears? While she was at a loss, a person who seemed to be a reporter suddenly stood up and approached them. ¡°Mr. Zhao, Miss Su Rui has suddenly terminated her contract with her agency and left the entertainment circle. May I ask what your arrangements are for the lead roles in your upcoming films?¡± This sudden question annoyed Zhao Hai. ¡°Which media are you from?¡± Zhao Hai snatched the camera from the guy¡¯s hand. The next moment, from nowhere, a large group of media personnel suddenly appeared, surrounding Zhao Hai. Fang Yuan then realized, taking the opportunity, she slipped away from the crowd. She knew that this was a escape plan Han Mintao had specially arranged for her. In a rush, she left the winery and bolt plunged into the nanny car parked at the roadside. Han Mintao also breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°All right, my girl, leave the rest to me for public relations. You just need to focus on your acting.¡± Fang Yuan chugged a large glass of water, trying to calm her heavy breathing. A moment ago, she had suddenly felt an extremely terrifying and perverse sensation from Zhao Hai. ¡­ Not until five in the morning did Chen Yu get out of bed and go downstairs. He had found that last night was the most sound sleep he¡¯d had in over twenty years. Perhaps it was because from now on, he could truly have a stable life. At this moment, the entire shop was already running smoothly. Ning Kai and Li Gang were also extremely fascinated by the techniques of making fried cakes, savory turnovers, and braised delicacies. They even started to learn. At eight in the morning, Tang Xiaowei and Su Rui hurried into the shop. They found a corner as soon as they entered and hid. Both of them wore masks, covering themselves tightly. In the heat of summer, anyone would find it a bit glaring. Just as Chen Yu was about to go over and ask, he suddenly noticed several men with cameras sneaking around at the doorway. Without having to think about it, Chen Yu knew these guys must be paparazzi. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96 - 96 Free Supply Chapter 96 ¨C 96 Free Supply After all, Su Rui¡¯s previous status could already be considered international level. Suddenly terminating her contract with her original agency and running off to Suzhou City, anyone would suspect that there was something fishy going on. Chen Yu certainly wouldn¡¯t be polite with these paparazzi. He came straight out of the kitchen and approached these few people. ¡°Would you like to order some food?¡± ¡°Not eating, get lost!¡± one of the burlier ones suddenly shoved Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is a restaurant. If you¡¯re not eating, then please leave.¡± Chen Yu gritted his teeth, suppressing the fury in his heart. Seeing Chen Yu so unappreciative, the few guys suddenly lost their temper. ¡°You little punk, do you know who we are? Be careful, or we¡¯ll expose your crappy restaurant and bankrupt you.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows. The circles of paparazzi and journalists always had their ways of communicating. Moreover, these guys had countless media resources at their disposal. If they were to exaggerate and write slandering advertorials about Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant, it would attract a slew of harsh criticisms from the media. However, Chen Yu wasn¡¯t concerned about these threats; anyone who threatened him would have to pay a price. Just as he was about to take action, several delivery guys nearby suddenly stood up, blocking in front of him. ¡°What are you guys up to? Looking for trouble?¡± The paparazzi were taken aback. These delivery guys, who braved the wind and rain every day, naturally had stronger builds than the average person. Moreover, as the other customers in the restaurant stood up, the delivery drivers who were waiting for their meals also got up in droves. In the restaurant, the number of delivery drivers typically stayed above two hundred. Just the thought of their momentum was terrifying. And like that, the paparazzi were forcefully driven out the door by the delivery drivers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss Chen. All the delivery drivers in Suzhou City are our brothers! If any more suspicious people come in, just give us a shout, and we¡¯ll take care of it for you.¡± After speaking, the throng of delivery drivers dispersed, those picking up their orders got busy, and those eating continued their meals. All the delivery drivers who came to Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant had an almost heartfelt respect for him. In the beginning, when many people couldn¡¯t afford the marinated dishes, Chen Yu would offer marinated broth for free. Later, he even introduced a special dish just for delivery drivers: a ragtag noodle dish for only ten yuan a bowl. Starting from the day before yesterday, Chen Yu had specially cleared a waiting area in the ground floor hall for these delivery drivers. He had also placed five large pressure cookers there, cooking up five big pots of mixed grain porridge. Next to it, he had also arranged plenty of disposable plastic bowls. If there were any delivery drivers in a rush to deliver orders and didn¡¯t have time to eat, they could come here and help themselves to a bowl of porridge for free. Though for Chen Yu, the cost of the five big pots of mixed grain porridge was less than thirty yuan. But to these delivery drivers, that was a huge favor. Now, wherever these delivery drivers had sat, they always left the place clean and tidy, not needing any cleaning up afterwards. Seeing the paparazzi leave, Tang Xiaowei and Su Rui finally stood up from the corner. Chen Yu looked at Su Rui somewhat helplessly. ¡°Miss Su, always hiding out here isn¡¯t a solution. Do you have any plans for the future?¡± Su Rui sighed softly, ¡°I want to enter the animation industry with Xiaowei, but it¡¯s so expensive. Right now, we¡¯re just in the planning stages.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. It made sense, as Su Rui was an actress and had her own unique insights into scripts. Entering the animation industry did seem like a fitting career move. §ñ?@§Ñ!??-&?+¦É§Ô¡Ò§ä*-*?-?- However, the startup capital for an animation project is never less than ten or eighteen million. As they were speaking, Tong Ming, accompanied by two bodyguards, rushed into the shop. ¡°Son-in-law! I heard you and Tong Ya are getting married, is that true?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. He had been thinking of arranging a meeting with Tong Ming and telling him about it later. Unexpectedly, Tong Ming came over today. ¡°Yes, we were planning to¡­¡± Before Chen Yu could finish, Tong Ming slapped his household registration book on the table. ¡°Hurry up and go get your marriage certificate!¡± Chen Guang and Li Lan had also approached by then. They had met Tong Ming before but had only a brief chat since Tong Ming was always busy. Seeing Tong Ming throw his household registration book on the table was a bit of a surprise. Chen Guang even went forward and grabbed Tong Ming¡¯s hand. ¡°Big brother, are you really handing your daughter over to this brat just like that?¡± Tong Ming was displeased, ¡°How can he be a brat? I see potential in him, his future will certainly be boundless.¡± Chen Guang also got excited. He had thought that Tong Ming would be a difficult obstacle to overcome. After all, Chen Yu was divorced and had a child. Anyone would feel uneasy about such terms. But now it seemed that Tong Ming didn¡¯t care at all, and was even more eager than he was. Chen Guang didn¡¯t play coy either, and promptly took his household registration book out. ¡°Then let them go! We as parents don¡¯t need to worry so much anymore.¡± Tong Ming also laughed heartily, ¡°Where is that rascal Tong Ya? She never comes out to see me voluntarily. She should at least offer a cup of tea to her old man.¡± Tong Ming was indeed thirsty on the way over. He followed the delicious aroma and directly opened a porridge container that was placed there. ¡°Wow, mixed grain porridge, this is good stuff.¡± As he spoke, he served himself a bowl. After just one sip, he felt an unprecedented sense of refreshment. ¡°This must be a new product launched by your store, right? Why didn¡¯t you let me know, so I could come and try it out in advance?¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed, ¡°This is provided for free to delivery riders, you¡¯re indirectly snatching their meal!¡± Tong Ming was stunned for a moment when he realized there were several delivery riders standing next to him, gobbling down the porridge in their hands before rushing out the door with the meals they had picked up. A hint of pride appeared on Tong Ming¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you, young man, to grasp the concept of giving back to society so quickly!¡± After expressing his sentiments, Tong Ming patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°This is good, from ancient times, many wealthy families fell due to their indifference to wealth. I didn¡¯t expect someone as young as you to understand this.¡± Chen Yu, however, appeared indifferent, ¡°These delivery riders are also my shop¡¯s customers, I¡¯m just making things convenient for everyone.¡± Tong Ming¡¯s look towards Chen Yu became filled with even more admiration. ¡°Good for you! Your awareness is much higher than that of the Zhao Family in the capital. Those guys will sooner or later ruin themselves.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. Tong Ming¡¯s change in topic was sudden¡ªhow did they end up talking about the Zhao Family all of a sudden? At that moment, Su Rui also politely stepped up to Tong Ming. ¡°Uncle Tong, hello, I am¡­¡± ¡°I know you, you¡¯re the girl from the Su family, right!¡± Chapter 97 - Chapter 97 - 97: Spokesperson Chapter 97 ¨C 97: Spokesperson Su Rui felt a bit embarrassed, she hadn¡¯t expected to meet Tong Ming under these circumstances. ¡°You¡¯re laughing at me, now I¡­¡± Tong Ming waved his hand, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just terminating the contract with the agency? Ya Ya already told me about it. As it happens, my company has just been established and we¡¯re lacking an endorsement figure. Why don¡¯t you come and help out?¡± Surprised by the offer, Su Rui said, ¡°Uncle Tong, I¡¯ve already planned with Xiaowei to start an animation studio¡­¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll also need start-up capital, won¡¯t you!¡± Tong Ming took out a business card, ¡°Go find this person, let him help you register the studio.¡± Su Rui immediately understood Tong Ming¡¯s intention. He wanted her and Tang Xiaowei to establish the studio first, then represent it as endorsers. In doing so, not only would they have the start-up capital for the studio, but they might also make a comeback through this endorsement opportunity. source-at-MVLeMpYr ¡°Uncle Tong, how could I accept this? Actually, I¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be shy about! I am friends with your parents, it¡¯s just that they wouldn¡¯t take my advice and always wanted to cling to the Zhao Family, as if there were no other choices in the entertainment industry besides the Zhao Family.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Tong Ming turned and left, but before he did, he urged Chen Yu to hurry up and get the marriage certificate. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that Tong Ya came down from the second floor. It was unclear whether she had been deliberately avoiding Tong Ming or was genuinely busy upstairs. It was already four o¡¯clock in the afternoon; they were too late for the Civil Affairs Bureau. However, Tong Ya still carefully put away the two household registration booklets. The business had been booming in the past two days, and the name Yuya Bansheng Park had appeared in various media reports across Suzhou City. They also monopolized the delivery orders within a ten-kilometer radius. By about 7:30 p.m., the shop¡¯s marinated dishes were sold out, and they had to hang up the closed sign. Ning Kai and Li Gang also went ahead to cook, and everyone started to tidy up the shop. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 790,600 yuan, with 790,600 points awarded. The current total accumulated points are 42,983,80 points.] After deducting the cost of purchasing ingredients for marinated dishes for the next day, Chen Yu still had 1,210,600 yuan in hand. After transferring 1.21 million yuan to his current account, Chen Yu was left with 5,000 yuan for emergency use. Based on the current turnover, Chen Yu would be able to discuss the sale of the shop with Aunt Li by the end of the week. After storing the delivered marinated dish ingredients in the cold storage, Chen Yu let everyone go home early. The girls were incredibly diligent. Chen Yu had already prepared a rest schedule for them, but none of them took a break. He took this opportunity to give them a short break. Afterward, Chen Yu changed into sportswear and went out for a run with Tong Ya. Originally, he didn¡¯t want to come out, after all, being surrounded by old men and women and treated like a doctor was indeed a bit depressing. But today, a word from Tong Ming awakened Chen Yu. With the system¡¯s assistance, it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to accumulate substantial wealth. But with wealth, he needed to think about how to give back to the world. Indeed, he only knew some biology and chemistry and could barely treat minor ailments. Even so, he had to help the neighbors as much as possible. Moreover, Chen Yu had already made up his mind. With the knowledge in his head, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to study for a medical practitioner license. Sure enough, as soon as he and Tong Ya arrived at the park, they were surrounded by the elders. Their questions were mostly about whether the medicinal meals they asked about before could be made. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just took out a list he had prepared in advance and told the people on the list to come for the medicine the next day. As for the rest, Chen Yu uniformly responded that he had not figured them out. After all, everyone¡¯s condition is different, and he was not a medical professional. Even with extraordinary intelligence, it was impossible to come up with so many medical dishes in one day. Having escaped the group of elderly men and women, Chen Yu took a deep breath. ¡°Honey, I¡¯ve found another one of your strengths!¡± Chen Yu turned his head to look at Tong Ya, ¡°What strength?¡± ¡°Kindness! You could have completely refused those elders, given that you¡¯re so busy every day.¡± Chen Yu shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Your father told me to contribute to society within my capabilities, and I guess this counts!¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°Why listen to him? His own life is a mess.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, just smiled. At five o¡¯clock the next morning, Chen Yu briefly checked the kitchen before driving out. While reviewing the medical records yesterday, he noticed that many of the elders had very similar health issues. To cure their ailments, a particular medicinal herb was needed, the bitter grandma ding! This herb was fairly common in the past, but it¡¯s hard to find in modern cities. To find a large amount of bitter grandma ding, he had to go to the fields in the outskirts. Taking advantage of the darkness before dawn, Chen Yu drove straight to the countryside. It wasn¡¯t until ten in the morning that Chen Yu returned to the city. After picking up some groceries at the farmers¡¯ market, he went back to the store. At that moment, Tong Ya was sitting at the entrance of the store, holding the box prepared the day before, looking anxiously down the road. In that box were the household registration books of both families. When she saw Chen Yu¡¯s car park, she ran over in a huff. ¡°Where did you run off to so early in the morning? I even got dressed up to go with you to get our marriage certificate.¡± Chen Yu had intended to come back early to obtain the marriage certificate with Tong Ya. But the trip took too long as the distance was simply too far. ¡°Ya Ya, be good, I¡¯m going to change clothes now, just wait here for three minutes.¡± With that, Chen Yu hurried into the store and called two servers out to move the groceries from the car. In less than three minutes, Chen Yu had washed up, changed into a new set of clothes, and rushed back down. Tong Ya was stunned; it took her at least half an hour to change clothes and get ready. But Chen Yu, it was as if he became a different person after just a quick trip upstairs. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ya Ya? Why the daze? Let¡¯s get going.¡± Chen Yu flicked Tong Ya¡¯s forehead lightly and immediately took her to her car. His car had been running all morning and had run out of battery. They had to take Tong Ya¡¯s car. Before long, the couple arrived at the relevant local office. Today was Wednesday, and there weren¡¯t many people coming to get marriage certificates. As soon as they entered, they sat down at the counter and started filling out the forms. The staff member attending to them looked at their information and was somewhat taken aback. ¡°Do both parties know about each other¡¯s situation?¡± This question was actually directed at Tong Ya, essentially asking her if she knew that Chen Yu had been married before. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98 - 98: Going to Get the Certificate Chapter 98 ¨C 98: Going to Get the Certificate ¡°Everyone knows already!¡± Tong Ya replied with a face full of happiness, while simultaneously linking arms with Chen Yu. After confirming, the staff didn¡¯t ask anything more. After all, Tong Ya and Chen Yu, based solely on appearances, were an extremely good match and looked very much like a couple. Moreover, a handsome young man together with a beautiful woman, anyone would feel like they were a match made in heaven. At this moment, all eyes in the hall were drawn to Chen Yu and Tong Ya. The staff didn¡¯t dawdle and quickly processed the marriage certificate for the two of them. When she received the marriage certificate, Tong Ya suddenly burst into tears. Chen Yu panicked immediately, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ya Ya?¡± Tong Ya sobbed, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this day for seven years!¡± Chen Yu tenderly ruffled Tong Ya¡¯s hair. ¡°Then from now on, I¡¯ll make up those seven years to you.¡± Tong Ya nodded vigorously and then burrowed into Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. The two of them left the establishment under the envious gazes of the staff. When Chen Yu returned to the store, he found Chen Guang sitting there with a serious expression, holding an invitation letter in his hand. Chen Yu frowned, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s happened?¡± Chen Guang sighed helplessly, ¡°The store has been invited to the Suzhou City cooking competition.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°And here I thought it was something serious. It¡¯s just a cooking competition!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand anything! This is someone trying to force you into the competition, taking the opportunity to ruin your reputation.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is it really that serious?¡± Wang Qingshan and Li Gang also came over at this point. Their faces were equally grave. ¡°Don¡¯t take it lightly!¡± Wang Qingshan slapped Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ve been invited before and managed to place, otherwise my store would have been gone.¡± Chen Yu was startled, ¡°The competition is linked to one¡¯s own store?¡± Li Gang nodded, ¡°More than that! Competitions like this are meant to generate traffic. Whoever wins will not have to worry about customers for the following year.¡± As he said this, Li Gang suddenly seemed hesitant. Chen Guang took over smoothly, ¡°If you don¡¯t place or are eliminated during the competition, the store¡¯s reputation can plummet.¡± Chen Yu still appeared casual. ¡°This is actually a good opportunity to promote the store.¡± At these words, the three men beside him all froze for a second. At this moment, Ning Kai also approached. ¡°Chen Yu is skilled in the culinary arts, just going up and making a few Sichuan dishes might win the title, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Wang Qingshan also nodded, ¡°Right! Even I managed to rank with just a soy sauce pig¡¯s trotter, let alone Chen Yu.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, simply put away the invitation, and then went to the kitchen. He took a steaming basket, wrapped the bitter melon he had picked that morning in some flour after preparing them simply, and then placed it inside. Next, he took out twenty clay pots and set them on little gas stoves. He added various herbs and main ingredients into the pots. Then he started adjusting sauces on the side. Before long, a rich aroma began to spread. Ning Kai, Li Gang, and Wang Qingshan had mostly freed up their time by now. They smelled the fragrance and immediately ran over to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Wow, what are you making? It smells so good.¡± Wang Qingshan leaned in with his nose, saliva already dribbling from the corner of his mouth. ¡°These are medicinal meals for the elderly.¡± Chen Yu replied simply and continued to busily attend to the task at hand. Li Gang was by now utterly astounded. When he first saw Chen Yu preparing medicinal cuisine, he thought Chen Yu merely knew a single recipe. Little did he expect that Chen Yu could simultaneously make so many different types of medicinal dishes. In the world of cuisine, medicinal dishes can be considered a distinct category. Many medicinal cuisines have their own unique recipes. After all, chefs are not doctors; if they do not strictly follow the specified recipes when making medicinal dishes, it could indeed lead to fatal mistakes. Not long after, the elderly patrons hurriedly arrived at the restaurant. ¡°Old Wang, those steamers over there should be ready; help me take them down,¡± Chen Yu said. Wang Qingshan did not dare to delay and quickly took down the steamer baskets beside him. A unique and strong aroma wafted through the air, causing Wang Qingshan to freeze on the spot. ¡°Is this, bitter melon cake? Can this also be used in cooking?¡± asked Wang Qingshan in amazement. Chen Yu chuckled and promptly served the bitter melon cakes in bowls. Immediately after, he brought out the sauce he had prepared earlier as well. The elderly patrons were initially surprised at the sight of the bitter melon cakes. For them, it was something they had eaten only during difficult times in their childhood. And that bitter taste was almost deeply etched in their bones. However, the bitter melon cakes in front of them seemed different from what they had eaten as children. Especially the rich aroma that continuously tantalized their tastebuds. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this is the special bitter melon cake rice I¡¯ve made. Please treat it as a staple and enjoy it with this sauce,¡± Chen Yu addressed the elders. Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s instructions, everyone hesitated no longer. However, at first, they were still very cautious with their first bites. But as soon as the bitter melon cake reached their mouth, all the elders¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief. This taste was completely different from the bitter flavor they remembered from their childhood. While there was still a hint of bitterness, it felt refreshingly different to them. And with the sauce, it was even more delicious. ¡°Chef Chen, this is too delicious!¡± ¡°If we had known bitter melon cakes were this tasty, we would have gone to the wild to dig some up ourselves.¡± ¡­ After watching all of the elderly finish their bitter melon cake rice, Chen Yu then brought out the clay pots he had prepared for them. Each clay pot contained a medicinal concoction targeted at specific ailments. The balance between meat and vegetarian ingredients, as well as the proportions of the various medicinal herbs, were also meticulously controlled by Chen Yu. At this moment, Wang Qingshan, Ning Kai, and Li Gang stood by nervously. Wang Qingshan even took out his phone and had his finger ready on the emergency call option. As experienced chefs, they were all aware of what medicinal cuisine implied. Should any of these elders have any adverse reactions, they would need to find a way to remedy the situation quickly. But unexpectedly, after the elders had eaten, not only did none of them encounter any issues, but a look of unprecedented relief also appeared on each of their faces. Some even broke out in a heavy sweat all over their bodies. ¡°Oh my, it feels like my stomach ailment has alleviated a bit.¡± ¡°My chronic leg pain is gone!¡± ¡°It¡¯s miraculous! It¡¯s just a bowl of braised pork, but how come my headache has cleared up?¡± ¡­ Seeing the elders¡¯ reactions, Wang Qingshan and the other two finally breathed a sigh of relief. They also looked at Chen Yu with a gaze that was nearly worshipful. Being able to cook delicious food may not necessarily make one a good chef, but being skilled at preparing medicinal cuisine certainly makes one a divine chef. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99 - 99 Participating in the Competition Chapter 99 ¨C 99 Participating in the Competition After easing their bodies, each of the elders took out a stack of money and presented it to Chen Yu. ¡°Uncles and aunties, the cost of your herbal meals comes down to just over thirty yuan per person, please keep your money!¡± However, these elders were quite stubborn. Seeing Chen Yu refusing to take money, they stuffed the cash into the hands of Wang Qingshan, Ning Kai, and Li Gang who were nearby. The three of them also quickly raised their hands and retreated into the kitchen. Chen Yu had no choice but to accept this; the raw materials for the herbal meals really didn¡¯t cost much. Some of the ingredients were even gathered with Granny Bitter Ding from the wild. ¡°How about this! Everyone just leaves a hundred yuan each, after all, this is a restaurant, not a hospital. Please show me a little respect.¡± Having reached their age, these elders were also well-versed in the ways of the world. Hearing Chen Yu say this, they didn¡¯t say much else. Each took out a hundred yuan, handed it to Chen Yu, and then left the place one by one. As they were leaving, they kept praising Chen Yu for his kindness. Having seen off the elders, Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to take a break, a delivery guy approached him with a bit of embarrassment. ¡°Boss Chen, there was an elder with chronic cold legs, how did you cure him?¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°I just used some Chinese herbs with warm-natured meats to draw out the coldness, and that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Do you think you could treat me?¡± The delivery guy hurriedly lifted his leg, ready to take off the kneepad on his knee. Chen Yu then realized, ¡°You have cold legs too? You¡¯re so young, it can¡¯t be?¡± The delivery guy sighed, ¡°I deliver orders every day, through wind and rain, so my knees have been damaged long ago.¡± Chen Yu looked over the delivery guy in front of him. Based on the biological proportions of his body, Chen Yu roughly diagnosed some of his conditions. ¡°Wait for me a second, there¡¯s some leftover herbal meal that can just treat your condition.¡± Chen Yu went back to the kitchen and brought out a pot of braised pork that was left over. In fact, this pot of meat was meant for Chen Guang. MVLeMpYr-original-content Although last time the braised pork had alleviated Chen Guang¡¯s rheumatism, it hadn¡¯t cured it. This herbal meal not only treated cold legs, but also greatly eased rheumatism. Since he encountered the delivery guy now, Chen Yu readily gave it away. The guy didn¡¯t care about the rest, picked up the pot, and wolfed it down hungrily. After he finished, he was drenched in sweat. ¡°Wow, that feels great! This stuff really works!¡± Putting down his utensils and stretching a bit, the delivery guy took out his phone intending to pay Chen Yu. Chen Yu quickly stopped him, ¡°If you want to pay, a hundred yuan is fine, don¡¯t give more, or else I will blacklist you from my shop¡¯s delivery riders list.¡± The guy smiled sheepishly, he had already typed a thousand on his screen. Hearing what Chen Yu said, he removed a zero and made the payment. Just then, Chen Yu noticed that the other delivery riders had similar issues to varying degrees, with thick protective gear wrapped around their legs and waists. These protective gears were not simply for preventing falls. Resting his chin in thought for a moment, Chen Yu went back into the kitchen, picked up a small pressure cooker, and began putting in medicinal ingredients for dispelling cold and dampness in a certain ratio. Before long, the news of the delivery rider being cured had spread among all the riders. Many delivery guys immediately got up and went to the window to ask Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just asked them to wait a moment. Before long, he brought over a pressure cooker and poured the prepared medicinal soup into each of the five porridge pots. ¡°I¡¯ve added some medicinal herbs to these porridges. If you feel damp and cold in your body, or have joint pain, drinking this porridge should help.¡± The delivery guys present were all momentarily stunned. ¡°Boss, is this porridge still free?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s free!¡± The delivery guys on the spot cheered right away. The reason most of them had chosen to do deliveries was because of financial hardships at home. Years had taken their toll, leaving them with ailments and no money to seek treatment. Now, Chen Yu could actually cure their illnesses with a bowl of porridge. At that moment, in the hearts of all the delivery guys, Chen Yu became the image of a living Bodhisattva. Tang Xiaowei was still single-mindedly painting the mural. Since Su Rui went to endorse Tong Ming today and hadn¡¯t come, Tong Ya stayed sitting next to Tang Xiaowei all along. ¡°My man looks handsome no matter what,¡± Tong Ya declared. Tang Xiaowei sighed helplessly, ¡°Look at you two, just got your marriage certificate and you¡¯re not going out to have fun, take a honeymoon or anything. One runs back here to make medicinal meals, the other sits here daydreaming.¡± Tong Ya rolled her eyes, ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Tang Xiaowei pouted, ¡°Some people better not forget how they sold me out initially!¡± Tong Ya felt a bit embarrassed right away, ¡°Still holding a grudge! But, after all, I did help you resolve the conflict with your father! In a way, you should be thanking me.¡± Tang Xiaowei sighed somewhat helplessly and continued to dab and draw on the wall. Today¡¯s orders seemed even crazier than yesterday¡¯s, and by seven o¡¯clock in the evening, all the braised dishes had been sold out. After seven, the restaurant could only take orders for fried cakes and vegetable pies. Chen Yu had also ordered the raw materials needed for the next day in advance. By 7:30, after everyone had put the raw materials in the cold storage, Chen Yu ordered dinner to be served. Today¡¯s dishes, in addition to the usual Sichuan cuisine, included several extra medicinal dishes prepared by Chen Yu. These medicinal dishes weren¡¯t meant for treating specific diseases. They were just some ordinary foods to help relieve fatigue. However, during the meal, Chen Guang just couldn¡¯t seem to cheer up. ¡°Xiaoyu, about this competition, should you think it over again?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into a small smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Besides, they have already sent the invitation to our doorstep. If we don¡¯t go, it would seem like we lack manners.¡± ¡°Brother Yu, I support you!¡± Chu Hong raised her little fist. The other girls also raised their fists, making a gesture of encouragement. By now, Chen Yu¡¯s status in their hearts was no longer ordinary. Tong Ya also grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°I support you too. Let¡¯s tidy up tonight, and I¡¯ll accompany you to the competition tomorrow.¡± Seeing that everyone supported Chen Yu, Chen Guang found it hard to say anything further. ¡°Alright then! Just be careful, I always feel like this competition is targeted specifically at you.¡± Chen Yu was of course aware of this. He had not registered, and he had never even heard of the name of the competition. How could the invitation have come to him out of the blue? Chapter 100 - Chapter 100 - 100 Come Work for Me Chapter 100 ¨C 100 Come Work for Me [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,216,600 yuan, earning 1,216,600 points. The current total accumulated points are 5,508,980 points.] Chen Yu subconsciously glanced at his watch; it wasn¡¯t even eight o¡¯clock yet. In fact, this business model was rather healthy, unlike those that operate till midnight or even 24 hours non-stop, which basically just fill up time with extended hours. Moreover, closing early allowed the staff in the store to have a proper rest and not to be too exhausted. Once everyone had left, Chen Yu took out his phone and checked his current account. It had already reached 8.42 million yuan. He estimated that in another day or two, he would be able to buy the store outright. At this moment, the first-floor lobby was empty, leaving only Chen Yu, Tong Ya, and Tang Xiaowei. After these past two days of hard work, Tang Xiaowei had almost finished painting murals on all the walls. Even the last wall was already halfway done. ¡°Xiaowei¡¯s painting skills are getting better and better. Looking at the shop, her painting really adds a touch of class to it,¡± Tong Ya said, sitting beside Chen Yu, resting her chin in her hand, gazing at him with affectionate eyes. ¡°So, how much do you plan to pay her this time?¡± Without hesitation, Chen Yu replied, ¡°The same as before, 11,000 yuan a piece. I¡¯ll transfer the money to you later.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t say anything, after all, Tang Xiaowei¡¯s painting skill was worth that much. ¡°So what do you want to do now? Go for a run outside?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Not necessary. Why keep going out for runs? Today, I just got my certificate. It seems I haven¡¯t yet had the chance to properly watch a movie with my wife or do things that couples should do.¡± Tong Ya quickly straightened up, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at Chen Yu. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Today, the medicated dishes made over a thousand yuan, and I still have five thousand yuan in reserve. Although it¡¯s not a lot, today I want to spend it all.¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°Don¡¯t be so wasteful. A movie ticket only costs within a hundred yuan.¡± Chen Yu smiled, greeted Tang Xiaowei, and then left the store with Tong Ya. Before long, the two arrived at a nearby mall. After discussing back and forth, Chen Yu and Tong Ya booked a movie and then headed straight to the fourth-floor cinema. While they were sitting in the waiting area, suddenly there was a commotion nearby. ¡°What the hell? Are you blind? You spilled my cola all over.¡± A fat-faced man was berating a worker at the cinema. The worker looked quite young, probably around the same age as Chu Hong. And she kept apologizing. But the fat man was relentless. At this point, a crowd had already gathered around. They were all trying to calm the fat man down. However, unexpectedly, the fat man cursed at anyone who spoke to him, showing an arrogant attitude. Chen Yu could no longer just watch and pushed his way through the crowd to pull the worker aside. ¡°You¡¯re being too much, man. The girl has already apologized to you, and you show no grace at all. It¡¯s just a bottle of cola! Are you planning on devouring her or what?¡± The fat man, seeing someone stand up for the worker, became even more enraged. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that bullshit. It was a large cup of cola.¡± Chen Yu was speechless, what difference did a large cup make? He ignored the fat man and turned to comfort the worker nearby. The little girl seemed to be frightened, trembling all over, her face flushed red. Chen Yu could even hear her heartbeat. see-more-MVLeMpYr Suddenly, the fat man shouted loudly and then charged towards Chen Yu. Chen Yu was not about to indulge him, moving forward directly, he grabbed the fat man¡¯s shoulders and delivered a hard shoulder throw. Just then, the cinema¡¯s security also arrived. They dragged the fat man down. After comforting the little girl a few more times, Chen Yu entered the cinema with Tong Ya. ¡°Husband, I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯re really getting more and more handsome. How am I going to live if I ever leave you!¡± Chen Yu looked at Tong Ya with amusement, ¡°What, you¡¯re planning to leave me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Tong Ya suddenly became anxious, ¡°It¡¯s just a figure of speech, how could I bear to leave you?¡± Chen Yu tousled Tong Ya¡¯s hair, ¡°Alright! I was just joking.¡± As soon as they entered the cinema, Tong Ya lay directly in Chen Yu¡¯s arms, maintaining this position until the movie ended. At ten-thirty in the evening, after the movie ended, Chen Yu took Tong Ya by the hand and left the cinema. Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly saw a frail figure sitting on the nearby stairs, sobbing non-stop. Upon closer inspection, it was the little girl from the cinema. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chen Yu frowned as he approached her, suddenly having a bad feeling. The girl cried even harder, ¡°Our manager said I was affecting the image of the cinema and fired me.¡± Chen Yu was stunned for a moment; it seemed clear that the fat man was in the wrong, so why fire the little girl? ¡°But you can¡¯t just sit here and cry! Hurry home! It¡¯s dangerous out here so late at night.¡± At these words, the girl¡¯s crying intensified, giving Chen Yu a shock. ¡°I¡¯m an orphan, with no home! Now that I¡¯m of age, the orphanage won¡¯t take me. It was so hard to find this job, and now I¡¯ve lost it¡­¡± Chen Yu was dumbstruck, not expecting the girl¡¯s backstory to be so pitiful. Tong Ya hurried forward to help the girl up. ¡°Husband, why don¡¯t we let her work at our shop? After all, you¡¯re not one staff member over, just a waitress.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°If the boss¡¯s wife has spoken, what else can I say?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face flushed all at once; before she got together with Chen Yu, she would always manage to make Chen Yu blush. But now, she suddenly realized that the tables had turned. ¡°Little sister, what¡¯s your name?¡± Tong Ya quickly changed the subject to calm her own agitated heart. ¡°My name is Yang Shu.¡± Tong Ya took out a tissue and wiped Yang Shu¡¯s tears, ¡°Then come with us!¡± Yang Shu nodded without hesitation. It must be said, the girl was still somewhat naive. She didn¡¯t even consider if Chen Yu and Tong Ya were good people and agreed so easily. If it had been someone else, the poor girl might have been abducted. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and took Tong Ya and Yang Shu back to the shop. On the way, Chen Yu casually called Chu Hong to come and take Yang Shu back to the dormitory. After returning home, Chen Yu and Tong Ya started packing the things they needed for the next day. Although the competition venue was not too far from here, the whole place was fully enclosed. Moreover, it was a three-day-long competition, and Chen Yu couldn¡¯t do without taking some personal items with him. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101 - 101: The Competition Site Chapter 101 ¨C 101: The Competition Site Early the next morning, Chen Yu and Tong Ya drove together to the competition site. The competition was set in the wilderness and seemed to be a temporary setup, and there were also many traces of reality show filming. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, thinking the competition might be grand, but it turned out to be quite ordinary. ¡°Welcome chefs from every kitchen, this competition is very special, we require you to gather ingredients on site to create a sumptuous feast.¡± When the host¡¯s voice rang out, Chen Yu¡¯s eyes immediately widened. The person standing there as the host turned out to be Su Rui. While he was still surprised, Su Rui on the stage winked at Chen Yu and Tong Ya. ¡°Accompanying family members, we hope you can stay at the camp to let the chefs perform independently.¡± That statement was clearly directed at Tong Ya. By now, Chen Yu had figured it all out. Perhaps the invitation wasn¡¯t sent by a competitor at all, but by Tong Ming. Now, as Su Rui was signing endorsement contracts with Tong Ming, it was impossible for her to take on projects from other investors. So, it was highly likely that the competition was organized by a company under Tong Ming¡¯s banner. After analyzing the situation in his mind, Chen Yu quietly shared this conclusion with Tong Ya. ¡°I knew it all along! Who else but my old man would host something in such a boring place?¡± Tong Ya pouted and at the same time, looked at Su Rui on the podium with a resentful gaze. As Su Rui announced the start of the competition, chefs who had come to participate got up one after another, heading into the forest. Chen Yu affectionately kissed Tong Ya on the cheek. ¡°Wait for me to come back, okay?¡± The forest seemed to be meticulously selected by the organizers. hosted-on-MVLeMpYr Not only were there many mountain delicacies on the hills, but there was also a large number of poultry and livestock released to roam there. What surprised Chen Yu the most was that this place was actually next to the sea. And on the cliff facing the sea, goose barnacles flourished. That was an exceptionally perfect ingredient! Chen Yu didn¡¯t second-guess himself and immediately climbed down the cliff. His movements were incredibly agile, leaving the few chefs that had come with him in awe. ¡­ At that moment in the competition site, some chefs had randomly gathered some ingredients and hurried back. In reality, for many, this competition had no real significance. Their shops were barely making ends meet in the first place. They came here primarily to get on camera, in hopes of driving some traffic to their own places. Tong Ya sat in the audience with a worried expression on her face. No matter if this place was pre-designed by the organizers, it was still in the wilderness. There would always be some unknown dangers. ¡°Yo, our little beauty is worried about her man, huh?¡± Su Rui suddenly appeared behind Tong Ya. Tong Ya humphed softly, ¡°Go away, you capitalist stooge! Why didn¡¯t you tell me the details of the competition beforehand?¡± Su Rui quickly raised her hands in defense, ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t know anything about this place beforehand, your dad just called me to come over and host.¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°I think you just couldn¡¯t resist the lucrative pay.¡± Su Rui smiled awkwardly, ¡°I had no choice, you know my situation! Besides, your dad offered so much, I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± While the two were talking, Chen Yu had already come running back with a big basket in his arms. Although the organizers didn¡¯t provide the ingredients, they did have a full range of condiments available. Chen Yu quickly processed the barnacles he had picked and prepared the sauce before presenting it directly to the judges. The judges on site were instantly baffled. They knew there were gooseneck barnacles here, but the environment where these barnacles grew was far too harsh. Gathering them required the cooperation of at least five people. Yet it looked as though Chen Yu had gathered the barnacles all by himself. The other chefs looked at Chen Yu with eyes full of admiration. They all knew how harsh the environment for harvesting gooseneck barnacles was. ¡°Delicious!¡± a judge suddenly shouted, ¡°This sauce is a perfect match for the barnacles, it¡¯s so tasty.¡± Chen Yu seemed indifferent to such praise. He simply returned to his makeshift kitchen, bringing out a large bowl. He then took a big bowl of the prepared sauce and sat next to Tong Ya in the audience. ¡°Want to try some?¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t expect Chen Yu to have prepared a portion especially for her. She was stunned. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, picking up a barnacle with chopsticks, dipping it in some sauce, and placing it into Tong Ya¡¯s mouth. The sight filled those nearby with envy. The barnacles Chen Yu had prepared for Tong Ya were much more delicate and careful than those for the judges. The most important part was, there was a bigger portion! Su Rui, sitting nearby, also looked on with envy. However, as she was currently the host, she couldn¡¯t get too close to the contestants. Suppressing the urge to eat, she returned to the host¡¯s stand somewhat disgruntled. ¡°Our chefs have been presenting their dishes one after another. However, Chen Yu from Yuya Bansheng Park seems to have a decisive advantage.¡± On stage, Su Rui was praising Chen Yu to the hilt, secretly hoping he¡¯d let her taste the barnacles after the competition was over. By five in the afternoon, the first day of competition ended, and all the contestants and their families were arranged to stay at a nearby hotel. Actually, Chen Yu felt the competition was a bit off-track. A fine cooking contest turned out to feel like wilderness survival. What¡¯s more, chefs were accompanied by a dedicated cameraman when they were searching for ingredients in the mountains. This made Chen Yu feel as if he was participating in a reality show. After taking a shower, Chen Yu lay on the bed wrapped in a bath towel and placed an order for the next day¡¯s braised ingredients. Tong Ya was furiously making a phone call to Tong Ming. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough, letting Chen Yu join this kind of competition! How is this a culinary contest? It¡¯s just nonsense!¡± On the other end of the phone, Tong Ming was just as unyielding, ¡°Little girl, what do you know? I¡¯m creating precious video records for Chen Yu, which will all be part of his resume in the future.¡± ¡°Resume my foot, you dare say it¡¯s not for the ratings?¡± Tong Ya argued for a bit and then hung up the phone in indignation. Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak; after placing the order for the ingredients, he just lay there, staring straight at Tong Ya. It seemed like this was the first time someone had been so angry for him. When Tong Ya turned her head and saw Chen Yu¡¯s gaze, she suddenly felt aggrieved and flung herself into his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s not compete anymore, I feel like he is just bullying you.¡± Chen Yu stroked Tong Ya¡¯s hair, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t mind, the shop can run normally without me now.¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102 - 102 New Rules Chapter 102 ¨C 102 New Rules Chen Yu held Tong Ya in his arms, constantly comforting her. In fact, Chen Yu understood that Tong Ming had his reasons for doing what he did. But Tong Ya didn¡¯t think so, she truly felt sorry for Chen Yu. ¡°Alright, no more crying! Do you want some late-night snacks? I saw there¡¯s a supermarket downstairs, we can buy some stuff and cook ourselves.¡± It was only then that Tong Ya stopped crying: ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll help you!¡± Both of them got dressed and went downstairs together. The supermarket didn¡¯t have a lot of items, and Chen Yu picked a few vegetables at random. Just as he was about to check out, he suddenly saw a young man with a backpack loitering around the shelves. And this guy had a knife tucked at his waist. Chen Yu frowned involuntarily and instinctively looked for Tong Ya. At that moment, Tong Ya happened to move from a nearby shelf to where the young man was. ¡°Ya Ya!¡± Chen Yu suddenly called out, ¡°Grab me some buttered bread.¡± Tong Ya responded and went back to the previous shelf. The young man looked very nervous, took a deep breath, and then abruptly pulled out the knife and charged towards the counter. ¡°Everybody get down on the floor, and you, give me the money¡­¡± Before he could finish, Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and after a kick to his leg, threw him over his shoulder. Only then did the supermarket owner realize what was happening and quickly called several employees to help control the young man. Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief; this wasn¡¯t the first time he had encountered such a situation in a supermarket, but compared to last time, he now had the confidence to resolve the trouble. Tong Ya was also startled, and she quickly realized that when Chen Yu asked her to get the buttered bread, he was actually saving her. The people in the supermarket were now applauding, and some looked at Chen Yu with admiration. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there and quickly took Tong Ya back to the hotel. As soon as they entered the room, Tong Ya threw herself onto Chen Yu and gave him a fierce kiss. ¡°Husband, you were so cool just now! Did you already notice something was off with that guy, and that¡¯s why you asked me to get the buttered bread?¡± Chen Yu pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose: ¡°Alright, come over and peel the tomatoes for me.¡± By the time Chen Yu had finished cooking, it was eight o¡¯clock in the evening. [Congratulations Host on completing one day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 1,210,600 yuan, you¡¯ve gained 1,210,600 points, your current total points accumulated are 6,719,580.] Chen Yu was immediately excited; at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long to reach 10 million points. Moreover, the money he had transferred to the current account had accumulated to 9.63 million. At this moment, Tong Ya helped serve the food. ¡°Husband, I¡¯ve noticed that every day at this time, you zone out, is there something on your mind?¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°I¡¯m just crunching numbers! Once this competition is over and we go back, I can buy the store, and by next week, we might even be able to buy a house.¡± ¡°Really!¡± Tong Ya suddenly got excited: ¡°Our life is getting better and better, and sooner or later, you¡¯ll definitely surpass my dad, and then he won¡¯t dare to bully you anymore.¡± Chen Yu was momentarily choked up; it seemed that in Tong Ya¡¯s heart, Tong Ming was indeed bullying him. After dinner, Tong Ya cleaned up the disposable cutlery and went to bed with Chen Yu. The next morning at eight o¡¯clock. stay-updated-with-MVLeMpYr When Chen Yu arrived at the competition venue, he found that it had undergone substantial changes compared to yesterday. The temporary kitchens set up yesterday had been replaced with fairly classical honeycomb stoves. These kitchens were highly efficient, capable of frying, deep-frying, boiling, stir-frying, and stewing, you name it. Moreover, today the organizers had prepared a fairly complete variety of ingredients for the competing chefs. Even the number of people who came to watch the competition on-site had doubled since yesterday. It seemed that yesterday¡¯s broadcast had attracted a good deal of traffic. ¡°Yesterday¡¯s competition was just the appetizer, so we didn¡¯t eliminate any chefs, but today we will implement an elimination system,¡± Su Rui, holding a microphone, shuttled between the chefs while explaining the rules of the competition. ¡°Today we¡¯re testing a chef¡¯s speed, as well as their mastery of different types of dishes! Contestants must fry at least six dishes within half an hour, and also prepare the corresponding staple food.¡± All the chefs present were momentarily stunned, since six dishes in half an hour was reasonable but still a bit strict. After all, there are many subcategories of chefs. While many head chefs excel in their craft, they are primarily responsible for the main cooking, requiring side dishes and ingredients to be prepped by others. Without these support staff, their speed would be greatly reduced. Just when many chefs were troubled, Su Rui threw out another condition. ¡°As all the audience members present today are the judges, our chefs must prepare enough servings of dishes for them.¡± At this, nearly half of the chefs were frozen in place, at a loss for what to do. The number of people who came to the site today was not small; there were at least a hundred or more. Having to cook for so many people, and within only half an hour, such a rule was somewhat extreme. Firstly, cooking for so many people meant they had to cook in large pots. But to some extent, large pot cooking loses the deliciousness found in individual dishes. And large pot cooking could never be quick; even with six stoves working simultaneously, it might not be possible within half an hour. While the other chefs were feeling despondent, Chen Yu had already picked up a kitchen knife and started preparing the ingredients. Seeing this, the other chefs did not want to be outdone and quickly got busy. Su Rui looked at the chefs on-site and then raised one hand. ¡°I declare the competition has begun!¡± The scene immediately became bustling, with all the chefs pulling out all the stops. Among them, it was Chen Yu who was the fastest. Moreover, his hand coordination was extremely strong; while one hand was cutting vegetables, the other could handle a strainer to blanch the vegetables. By the tenth minute, Chen Yu had already prepared all the ingredients. He then spun a large ladle in his hand, and poured the six separate portions of prepared dishes into the pots at once. ¡°Mapo tofu, potato chicken stew, Mala blood curd, spicy shrimp, bean sprouts with meat, Kung Pao chicken! Although all these are common household dishes, they are also representative of large pot dishes, and this chef¡¯s technique is very professional,¡± One of the judges, who appeared to be in his sixties, couldn¡¯t help but comment. In front of Chen Yu, the honeycomb stove had eight pot openings. Six were used for cooking dishes, one was dedicated to cooking rice, and the last one Chen Yu did not waste; he diced carrots, potatoes, and taro, combined them with minced meat to make a soup. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103 - 103: Big Pot Dish Chapter 103 ¨C 103: Big Pot Dish Half an hour flew by, and Chen Yu¡¯s side was already emitting an intensely rich aroma. But the other contestants were lagging behind, with some not even having their ingredients ready. The slightly better ones had managed to cook the six dishes with a perfunctory main course put together. As the competition time came to an end, Chen Yu had already set aside disposable bowls and chopsticks that he had prepared earlier. ¡°Everyone, come over here to eat!¡± At this shout, the audience, who had already been drooling, rushed over en masse. As early as the twentieth minute, Chen Yu¡¯s side had been wafting out such a tempting aroma that the audience couldn¡¯t resist. Now, they could finally taste it. Tong Ya was also among the crowd, taking a disposable bowl and helping herself to some rice and dishes. Compared to the bustling scene at Chen Yu¡¯s station, the other chefs had a noticeably quieter presence. Some even tossed their spoons to the ground and sat there sighing heavily. Half an hour to cook six big pot dishes and a main course seemed impossible to them. But Chen Yu not only completed the task but also cooked an extra soup. In fact, the outcome of the competition was already clear at this point. The on-site judges also joined the queue with the audience to get their meal from Chen Yu. ¡°These six dishes might look like home cooking, but each one is an authentic Sichuan dish. This chef must have studied Sichuan cuisine for at least ten years.¡± ¡°The Mapo tofu melts in your mouth with a spicy and numbing deliciousness, truly exceptional.¡± ¡°The taste of the potato stewed chicken is just right, delicious!¡± ¡°This rice is actually mixed grain rice! My god, in such a short time, he actually made mixed grain rice.¡± ¡­ The exclamations on-site rose and fell in waves, and everyone began to regard Chen Yu as a culinary god. Even the chefs who had come to compete resigned themselves and queued up at Chen Yu¡¯s station, wanting to taste the dishes he had made. One senior chef, after taking a bite of the mixed grain rice, looked at Chen Yu with a horrified gaze. ¡°Young man, what method did you use? It¡¯s impossible to cook mixed grain rice in less than two hours.¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°Actually, this traditional stove is part of our ancestral culture, each opening has its purpose! Like this last one, a large amount of high heat converges here, making it the best spot for cooking rice.¡± The chef slapped his own head: ¡°How could I have forgotten that! I used a traditional stove when I was younger too.¡± The competition ended incredibly quickly. By noon, Su Rui had already announced the results. Truth be told, everybody knew there was no point in continuing the competition. With Chen Yu there, like a culinary deity, they could only hope for runner-up positions. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s competition, let¡¯s meet here again early tomorrow! Moreover, we will have some international celebrity chefs joining us tomorrow!¡± After the competition ended, Chen Yu took Tong Ya back to the hotel. To be honest, today¡¯s competition was indeed intense. Although Chen Yu completed it with ease, for the others, it was nothing short of hell mode. After all, his physical condition had reached the human limit; even extreme sports would be a breeze for him. Participating in such a competition was like bringing a dimension reduction assault for him. Chen Yu stretched lazily, just as he lay down on the bed, Tong Ya came over and grabbed his waist. ¡°Husband, I saw you moving a lot just now, does your back hurt?¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°It¡¯s fine, my back is tough! It¡¯s really great.¡± Upon hearing this, Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but think off on a tangent, her face reddening involuntarily. story-by-MvLeMpYr ¡°What about your arm? Do you feel any soreness or numbness?¡± Suddenly, Chen Yu turned around and grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s waist. ¡°Then, sitting in the audience all day, didn¡¯t your back and waist become sore? Let me rub it for you.¡± Tong Ya let out a yelp, somewhat shyly covering her face. Just then, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ¡°Chen, can your place do wedding banquets?¡± Zhang Fan¡¯s voice came through on the phone. Chen Yu frowned; his restaurant, including himself, had four chefs in total, and while it was not impossible to handle a wedding banquet, he had never undertaken one on such a large scale and was somewhat worried. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but you know the situation in my shop, it¡¯s always a mess. Taking on one or two tables is still manageable, but a wedding banquet on such a large scale¡­¡± ¡°No worries, Chen! The environment and all isn¡¯t important, and besides, my friend¡¯s wedding will be low-key, with at most seven or eight tables.¡± ¡°In that case, seven or eight tables can be done!¡± Chen Yu immediately responded, ¡°When exactly is it?¡± ¡°Next Monday, how does that sound?¡± ¡°That works!¡± After the two had finalized the details, they hung up the phone. Tong Ya, with her arms around Chen Yu¡¯s neck, ¡°Hubby, actually I think our restaurant could handle even larger banquets, given how big the first and second floors are.¡± Chen Yu nodded in agreement. The first floor was essentially allocated for the delivery guys, but there was still plenty of space left. The second floor was mostly used for people eating breakfast, staying for just a few minutes each day. Plus, the second floor was very spacious, and even with people there for breakfast, it only occupied one third of the area. Not to mention a seven or eight-table wedding banquet, it could even accommodate twenty or more tables. ¡°Then we can try launching wedding feasts, birthday parties, and the like in the future!¡± As they were talking, there came a knock at the door. Chen Yu hurriedly put on his coat and opened the door. Su Rui entered hurriedly, wearing a mask and carrying bags of groceries in both hands. ¡°I¡¯m here to see you guys! Surprise or not, expected or not?¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°I bet you just wanted to eat my hubby¡¯s cooking! I know you too well.¡± Su Rui smiled sheepishly, ¡°I¡¯ve been here for the past two days hosting, hardly had a proper meal, and today when there was finally a communal pot, I still couldn¡¯t get any.¡± Seeing Su Rui¡¯s pitiful appearance, even Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for her. ¡°Then hubby, I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to take the trouble.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much but took the groceries into the kitchen. One had to admit, the convenience of this home-styled hotel was quite something. After Chen Yu went into the kitchen, Tong Ya grabbed Su Rui¡¯s wrist, displaying a threatening demeanour. ¡°Today my hubby is making an exception to cook for you, but if you become famous later on, you must endorse my hubby¡¯s restaurant.¡± Slapping her chest, Su Rui assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! As long as you need me, I¡¯ll be there anytime without charging a cent, ensuring you¡¯re satisfied.¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104 - 104 Medical Skills Chapter 104 ¨C 104 Medical Skills Less than half an hour had passed when a rich aroma wafted out from the kitchen. Su Rui watched the kitchen with eyes full of anticipation, unable to wait any longer. These past few days, she had been eating boxed meals provided by the organizers, which were simply worlds apart from Chen Yu¡¯s cooking. As soon as Chen Yu brought the dishes to the table, Su Rui couldn¡¯t wait to pick up her chopsticks and take a bite. ¡°Oh, and tomorrow, the one among you with the best cooking skills will go head to head with those international chefs in the competition. Make sure you¡¯re ready.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback as he finally understood Tong Ming¡¯s good intentions. This competition was purely to gain him exposure. Previously, Chen Yu had turned down his investment offer, so he was helping Chen Yu through this method instead. No wonder this competition was set up like a reality show; it turned out that in the end, it was to connect directly with the international stage. see-more-MVLeMpYr As long as he could have a matchup with these international chefs, it didn¡¯t matter whether Chen Yu won or lost; his name would become well-known. It could even turn his restaurant into a trendy spot for internet celebrities to check in. Being part of the production crew, Su Rui couldn¡¯t stay here for too long. After hastily finishing her meal and going over some details of the competition, she hurriedly left. Chen Yu stretched lazily: ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to put in quite some effort tomorrow.¡± Talking to himself, he then collapsed onto the bed. At eight in the evening, Chen Yu was awakened by a prompt in his mind. [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,216,000 Yuan, earning 1,126,000 points. Your current total accumulated points are 7,930,180.] Luckily, Chen Yu had already ordered the raw materials before getting into bed, otherwise he would have missed out. When he transferred the round figure to his demand deposit account, he was surprised to find that it already contained 10,840,000 Yuan. [Congratulations, Host, for accumulating savings over 10 million Yuan. You are awarded a medical skill; the host shall pay 100,000 points for it. Do you wish to pay?] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel ecstatic, as he had been worrying about this very problem. He estimated that once he returned home after the competition, even more neighbors would come to seek medical attention from him. If he could acquire the medical skill and obtain a medical practitioner license with it, then he could confidently treat the people in his neighborhood. Just as he was about to confirm his choice, he suddenly saw the nearly 8 million points displayed on the system. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he reached 10 million points, and then he would be able to unlock even higher-grade skills. For a moment, Chen Yu actually hesitated. However, after careful consideration, he went ahead and confirmed his choice. [Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the medical skill, which is at the current limit of human understanding. Your remaining points are now 7,830,180.] ¡°Honey, you¡¯re awake!¡± Tong Ya, with her slightly relaxed sleepy eyes, sat up. Only then did Chen Yu realize. But when he turned around, he suddenly noticed that Tong Ya¡¯s face looked a little off. ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. Tong Ya was taken aback: ¡°No, not at all!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t waste any time and immediately checked Tong Ya¡¯s pulse. ¡°When you have your period every month, you catch a cold for two days, and you also suffer from extremely severe menstrual cramps.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes widened in shock; this was a problem she had had since she was young, and no hospital had been able to cure it. Moreover, she didn¡¯t remember ever telling Chen Yu about it. ¡°How did you know?¡± Chen Yu released Tong Ya¡¯s pulse, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you, I took some medical courses in college.¡± Tong Ya suddenly looked at Chen Yu with a face full of expectation and asked somewhat uncertainly. ¡°Husband, since you could tell, does that mean you can cure it?¡± ¡°I can, but it¡¯s going to take some effort! After the competition tomorrow, I¡¯ll cook you a few medicinal meals, and you should be able to recover.¡± Tong Ya immediately became excited; this problem had troubled her for more than ten years. It caused her excruciating pain every time, and now, at last, there was hope for a cure. ¡°Husband, you¡¯re amazing! I adore you to death.¡± Tong Ya had just hugged Chen Yu when she suddenly realized something, ¡°That¡¯s strange, then why didn¡¯t you notice it before?¡± Chen Yu gave a slight cough, ¡°I haven¡¯t had the chance to hold your hand before, have I?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s cheeks flushed, actually accepting this reason. The next day at eight in the morning, when Chen Yu arrived at the competition venue, he noticed it was even busier than the day before. It was either because it was Saturday or because the traffic to the event had broken through. Chen Yu was the only local chef appearing on site today; it seemed the rest had already been eliminated. Across from Chen Yu sat four chefs who seemed rather arrogant. Only one of them had an Eastern face, while the other three were foreigners. The four of them obviously didn¡¯t care much for the competition and must have been paid a hefty sum by Tong Ming. Su Rui was dressed even more chicly than the day before. ¡°Yesterday, Mr. Chen Yu won the competition by an overwhelming advantage, so the other contestants were unfortunately eliminated. As a result, the four celebrity chefs, acting as guests, had no choice but to join the competition.¡± These words tied the four celebrity chefs to the competition. And they too seemed somewhat taken by surprise. ¡°Weren¡¯t we here to be judges?¡± one tall chef suddenly stood up, extremely dissatisfied with the decision. Although Su Rui maintained a smile, her eyes brimmed with disdain. ¡°The four of you can only qualify as judges after you have defeated Mr. Chen Yu!¡± This challenge immediately ignited the competitive spirit of the four chefs, and the atmosphere at the scene also heated up. Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines; this was practically like forcing someone into a corner. Moreover, the venue had specially set up temporary kitchens tailored for the preferences of the four chefs. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, didn¡¯t think too much about it, and began to organize his ingredients after Su Rui announced the start of the competition. In fact, Chen Yu noticed the ingredients had already been set up when he arrived. Although there were other materials on his side, most of them were classic ingredients for boiled white cabbage in plain water. This dish was already the pinnacle of Sichuan cuisine, and in such a competition, it was the only dish that could beat world-class chefs. Chen Yu appreciated everything Tong Ming did for him, but he still felt like it was akin to charity. However, Tong Ming had also put in a lot of effort into this competition, so it had to be completed, no matter what. These four chefs were extremely famous internationally; they each started off with their specialty dishes. Colorful Pond Totem, Foie Gras Mousseline, Universe Lotus Sparrow, Secret Recipe Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Any one of these four dishes was a world-class delicacy. Before long, rich aromas wafted from the five contestants¡¯ makeshift kitchens. Chapter 105 - Chapter 105 - 105 Boiled Cabbage Chapter 105 ¨C 105 Boiled Cabbage The competition site, besides yesterday¡¯s several professional judges, also invited some world-class gourmets. Originally, they came here to show face to Tong Ming, never expecting to witness a scene typically only seen at a world-class culinary competition. ¡°Mastering the use of ten different sugars and more than seventy unique flavors in combination, then with exquisite skill, creating a three-dimensional painting, Daniel¡¯s sugar totems have truly reached a divine level.¡± ¡°The essence of goose liver mousse lies in the craftsmanship of slicing the liver with a heated knife; a slight deviation can affect the texture of the liver, and you can see that Master Karnim¡¯s technique is particularly steady.¡± ¡°Master Yu Huaqing still adores his lotus seedpod with peas dish, which in his hands, becomes akin to a work of art.¡± ¡°Master Tullos must have grasped the essence of Minnan cuisine, as his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish alone achieves a golden ratio in its choice of ingredients.¡± ¡­ The judges¡¯ eyes were all attracted by the four culinary gods. After all, their reputations were well established, and for a food critic, being able to witness these culinary gods cook was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Chen Yu was still an unknown junior, even if his performance over the past two days had already been astonishing. Yet in the eyes of these judges, he was nothing more than a young chef who only knew how to cook in large quantities. ¡°My God, Master Chen Yu¡¯s deboning technique is too exquisite!¡± Someone shouted, and then all eyes at the venue focused on Chen Yu. A processed chicken lay on the cutting board; he pressed down lightly with one hand, then with the other hand grasped the neck and pulled sharply. A complete chicken skeleton was effortlessly pulled out. Such a technique, unless one is a chef who has practiced for more than twenty years, couldn¡¯t be so fluid and graceful. Chen Yu¡¯s ability to master such a technique at his age already qualified him as a genius. With this, the judges immediately regarded Chen Yu on par with the other four culinary gods. Throughout the competition, the audience kept exclaiming in surprise. They realized that these five people were not just cooking, but dealing with extremely delicate pieces of art. When the five dishes were presented, everyone in the venue stood up, their eyes brimming with desire, wishing they could rush forward and take a bite immediately. After the dozen or so judges tasted the five dishes, they were at a bit of a loss. Following a heated discussion, everyone cast their votes for Chen Yu. That left the four culinary gods fuming. After all, they were internationally certified, how could they lose to an unknown youngster for no good reason? However, they maintained their composure as culinary gods and didn¡¯t say much, merely advancing together to take a bite of the plain boiled cabbage prepared by Chen Yu. Just one bite left all four of them stunned right there. Plain boiled cabbage is one of the few non-spicy dishes in Sichuan cuisine. The finished dish is extremely simple, just a few cabbage flowers carved and placed in an exceptionally clear broth. But to produce this broth, the raw ingredients for the soup base alone amount to dozens of varieties. Plus, it¡¯s necessary to blend their unique scents without letting them affect each other, and to find ways to enhance each other. In today¡¯s chef circles, being able to use more than twenty raw materials to make a plain boiled cabbage soup base can be considered a mastery. And in Chen Yu¡¯s dish, there were at least fifty-four raw materials, with a taste that reached sublime levels. Karnim sighed helplessly, ¡°It seems Mr. Tong wasn¡¯t deceiving us, it is we who have had a narrow view of the world.¡± Tullos looked at Chen Yu with a gaze that bordered on worship. His love for Chinese cuisine had reached the brink of frenzy. Moreover, he was the only foreigner in the world to have received the title of Master Chef in Chinese cuisine. ¡°Can you teach me how to make this dish?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Tullos to request mentorship on the spot. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t plan to take on any disciples for now!¡± By this point, the competition was nearing its end, and there was no need for Chen Yu to stay any longer. He gave a symbolic greeting to those present and quickly left with Tong Ya. ¡°Honey, why are you leaving in such a hurry? The awards haven¡¯t been given out yet! And Sister Rui said there¡¯s a prize for winning the championship.¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t you realize that this competition was organized just for me? Even if there is a prize, it would be coming from your father. Wouldn¡¯t that be like indirectly accepting his investment?¡± But Tong Ya pouted, ¡°If it¡¯s his money, why not take it? Besides, we¡¯re already married, so let¡¯s consider it his dowry to us.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smile; they say a daughter is her father¡¯s cotton-padded jacket, but Tong Ya¡¯s jacket seemed to be constantly leaking. When the two returned to their shop, they found it had become a hotspot for internet influencers. Seeing Chen Yu return, Chen Guang hurriedly came out to meet him. ¡°Xiaoyu, how come a single competition has attracted so many people? They¡¯re broadcasting live every day at the door, and it¡¯s affecting our business.¡± Chen Yu was full of exasperation; this was the influencer economy, where sheaves of influencers flocked wherever there was traffic. read-first-on-MVLeMpYr It seemed that the chef competition recorded before must have gone viral, or else these many influencers wouldn¡¯t have come here. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay much attention and just went into the shop. As long as these influencers weren¡¯t too excessive, he would let them broadcast live as they wished. After all, it was an indirect form of promotion for Chen Yu. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly noticed an extra ten million in his checking account. Looking at the payer¡¯s signature, it was actually from the ¡®Challenge the Chef¡¯ show¡¯s production team. While he was still in shock, Tong Ming¡¯s call came through. ¡°Son-in-law, why did you leave in such a rush? You didn¡¯t even attend the award ceremony!¡± Chen Yu felt a bit annoyed, ¡°Wasn¡¯t the competition organized by you? I can¡¯t take this money¡­¡± ¡°Who told you it was organized by me?¡± Tong Ming interrupted Chen Yu directly, ¡°This was a bet I made with those international chefs.¡± It was only at this moment that Chen Yu learned those chefs had always been boasting about their cooking skills, even planning to use shell companies to jointly enter the domestic Chinese market. Put simply, they intended to exploit their fame and rally a bunch of shady figures to make a quick profit in China with extremely low cost. When Tong Ming found out, he immediately decided to make a bet with them. If the other side lost, they would not be able to enter the domestic market and had to cover the entire cost of the competition, while also owing Tong Ming a hundred million. In essence, this was a wager between Tong Ming and those four chefs. Chen Yu was stunned, not expecting Tong Ming to have such trust in him. If he had lost, Tong Ming¡¯s loss would have been far more than just a hundred million. Chapter 106 - Chapter 106 - 106: Surrounded at the Door Chapter 106 ¨C 106: Surrounded at the Door Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and was quite relieved to accept the ten million. Moreover, his admiration for Tong Ming grew a bit more. To protect the domestic market and keep these guys from coming in to shear the sheep, Tong Ming had taken a big gamble. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, when the material delivery master arrived, he was blocked at the entrance by various internet celebrities, who stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Excuse me, please let me through!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone carried a hint of annoyance. These guys might be called internet celebrities, but they looked more like a bunch of demons and goblins. Dressed in all kinds of strange outfits, not only did they look bizarre, but they were also doing some really weird things. One of them had already been kneeling and crying at the entrance of the shop all day. The passing locals and delivery guys were so frightened that they didn¡¯t dare to come close, thinking it was some scam. Although it didn¡¯t affect the shop¡¯s business, the sight of these demons dancing wildly was still depressing. With Chen Yu¡¯s loud shout, a few reputable hosts quickly cleared a path. But there were a few who directly approached Chen Yu with their phones out. ¡°My dear viewers, this is the boss, the super chef who just defeated four foreign chefs. You can send gifts in the live stream and make requests, and I will interact with the boss for you.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines, and to put it bluntly, what were these people thinking? MVLeMpYr-com-story Letting them live stream here was one thing, but now they were even trying to profit from Chen Yu¡¯s popularity. For a moment, Chen Yu was seething with anger. Just as he was about to fiercely send this group packing, he suddenly heard a burst of crying. Tuan Tuan, unbeknownst to when, had run down and was sitting among a crowd of internet celebrities, crying his heart out. ¡°You guys are so mean, why would you kick me?¡± The Internet celebrities who were happily streaming froze on the spot. They didn¡¯t even know what had happened. But before they could react, Tuan Tuan lay on the ground and started rolling around. ¡°Daddy, it hurts so much! Why are these uncles and aunties blocking our house? And why did they kick me?¡± This scared the internet celebrities. They were live streaming, and although Tuan Tuan might have been somewhat deliberate, seeing such a cute little girl on the ground would make anyone feel distressed. The wind in these internet celebrities¡¯ live streams suddenly shifted. ¡°How could they have the nerve to lay a hand on such a cute little girl, that¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m unfollowing!¡± ¡°The boss is really nice to tolerate you guys.¡± ¡­ By this time, Chen Yu had already gone up to pick up Tuan Tuan. But Tuan Tuan still looked teary-eyed, although the moment Chen Yu picked her up, she winked at him. Seeing the live stream traffic disappear, several internet celebrities sighed helplessly and began to pack up to leave. The scene was quickly cleared, and the truck delivering the materials arrived at the shop¡¯s doorstep. Chen Yu finally let out a sigh of relief, never expecting Tuan Tuan, this little girl, to become so cunning. After everyone finished their dinner and cleaned the store, Chen Yu directly lowered the folding gate. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 1,216,600 yuan, with points earned totaling 1,216,600, the current cumulative total points are 9,047,780.] Chen Yu checked his current account and found that it now contained 22,205,000 yuan. He had more than enough to buy the store and even make a down payment on a house. However, Chen Yu was worried the system might include the cost of buying a house in the total expenses. After all, the costs for both expansions of the store were considered expenses. If that were the case, it would be a long time before he would see any points accumulation. After some quick calculations, Chen Yu decided to wait until tomorrow¡¯s points accumulation was complete before discussing the purchase of the store with Auntie Li. Based on the current turnover, he should be able to reach over 10 million points by tomorrow. Just as Chen Yu was calculating, he suddenly heard a loud rumbling from the folding door. It was clear that someone was smashing the door from the outside. Chen Yu frowned and looked through the small window next to him, only to discover that the previous social media influencer hadn¡¯t left at all. In fact, a few of them were there, live-streaming themselves kicking Chen Yu¡¯s store door. By this time, Chen Yu could no longer hold back his anger, but he knew he couldn¡¯t forcefully drive these influencers away. This group of people controlled some degree of online traffic, and using force would give them a reason to smear Chen Yu for no reason. Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu directly called the relevant department. This seemed to be the best solution at the moment. Before long, the sound of police sirens was heard outside, and the officers took all the influencers away on charges of disturbing public order. After all, what this group was doing was truly excessive. Crying in the middle of the street was one thing, but some even went onto the main road to block traffic, completely disregarding the traffic order. What annoyed Chen Yu the most was that a few animal lovers even knelt in front of his shop with signs, accusing him of animal cruelty. This was a marinated food shop, for heaven¡¯s sake! And most of the turnover now relied on marinated foods. Should he remove the marinated food items just because of these attention-seeking people? After these individuals were taken away, Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Husband, you really didn¡¯t need to be so polite with them. If it had been my dad, he would have had his bodyguards disperse them long ago and then have lawyers send them letters one by one,¡± said Tong Ya. Chen Yu spread his hands, ¡°I wish I could do that, but our small shop neither has bodyguards nor lawyers, so we had to ask for help from the relevant authorities.¡± Tuan Tuan was also sitting there, pouting with frustration. ¡°If they dare come again tomorrow, I will¡­¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Don¡¯t get involved in such dangerous matters in the future! Daddy knows you want to help the shop, but if someone who isn¡¯t looking where they¡¯re going actually steps on you, daddy would be very upset.¡± ¡°And mommy too!¡± Tong Ya quickly added. After settling everyone down, Chen Yu went into the kitchen next door. Today, he had bought some raw materials and herbs from the farmer¡¯s market. Biology, chemistry, and his professional medical knowledge were now sufficient to create medicinal meals for any kind of illness. He had many of the elderly customers¡¯ medical cases on file, so Chen Yu decided to give it a try. If the effect was good, he would consider getting a medical practitioner license and then set up a special medicinal meal counter here. He laid all the medical cases on the table, then picked out the corresponding herbs and matched them with the appropriate ingredients. Even with his medical knowledge reaching the limits of human understanding, preparing these medicinal meals still took him an entire hour. Now, he just needed to wait until tomorrow to cook them up. Chapter 107 - Chapter 107 - 107 Peripheral Protection Chapter 107 ¨C 107 Peripheral Protection The next morning, Chen Yu arrived at the kitchen bright and early. The medicinal ingredients prepared yesterday required special handling. Some of them needed to be soaked overnight in a secret sauce, which not only removed any off-flavors but also preserved their medicinal properties. While Chen Yu was focused on preparing the medicinal cuisine, Wang Qingshan hurried into the restaurant in a fluster. ¡°It¡¯s not good, a few internet celebrities have already arrived, they¡¯ve set up a live broadcast outside the entrance,¡± he said. Chen Yu furrowed his brows, these guys were just taken away by the authorities yesterday and had already been released today. Sighing helplessly, Chen Yu prepared to go outside and confront these internet celebrities. But he stopped short as soon as he stepped outside. ¡°The store behind me was harassed by some messy internet celebrities all day yesterday, but after our thorough investigation, we found that it¡¯s a genuine charity store,¡± they said. The new group of broadcasters, who were dressed very decently, were clearly not the same type as those from yesterday. They also slightly exaggerated the convenience that Chen Yu provided for the food delivery riders and mentioned it in the live broadcast. Mainly, these broadcasters were talking about the taste of the food in Chen Yu¡¯s shop and his performance at a major competition. This sudden change in style caught Chen Yu off guard, but he didn¡¯t need to think too hard to guess that Tong Ming must be behind it. With such a father-in-law, Chen Yu didn¡¯t know whether to be happy or exasperated. But indeed, it saved him a lot of trouble. At eight in the morning, the broadcasters gathered at the door were still those from earlier. Additionally, there were several idle people loitering around the store. Although they were dressed very ordinarily, they all wore uniform Bluetooth earpieces on their ears. If they saw any suspicious individuals or unruly broadcasters approaching, they would promptly and silently take control of them and then call the relevant departments. Chen Yu leaned against the door with a somewhat exasperated expression on his face. Tong Ya was also leaning beside Chen Yu at this moment. ¡°Husband, I recognize those people, they are the bodyguards who always accompany my dad,¡± she said. ¡°I figured that out a long time ago!¡± Chen Yu said with a face full of exasperation. However, these people were exceedingly professional at concealing themselves; only someone as intelligent as Chen Yu could detect their flaws in the shortest time possible. Chen Yu didn¡¯t expose them; he always said he didn¡¯t want to rely on Tong Ming, but some issues were indeed not something he could handle at this stage. Today was a weekend, and the store was naturally bustling with people. The number of dubious people mixed in was quite substantial; without these bodyguards, Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t know what to do. At noon, the elders whom Chen Yu had informed yesterday arrived at the store in high spirits. At that moment, the store was filled with the rich aroma emitted by the medicinal cuisine. Many onlookers were eagerly watching and continually asking Chen Yu what the elders were eating. Chen Yu gave a perfunctory response, saying it was a personalized meal ordered by the elders. When serving the medicinal cuisine to each elder, Chen Yu always included a prescription. He didn¡¯t guarantee that the prescriptions would cure their ailments but simply asked them to improve their health by following the methods recorded on the prescriptions when they returned home. When these elders left, they each threw down a hundred yuan, as was their custom from before. After all, the medicinal herbs used for the medicinal cuisine aren¡¯t very expensive. Even so, Chen Yu had still netted a profit of about two thousand and more yuan. The day also passed peacefully, everything proceeded in an orderly manner, and there were no livestreamers causing any disruptions here. By seven o¡¯clock, Chen Yu checked all the inventories. Since it had been seven days since the last order of overall raw materials, the inventory had almost hit rock bottom. A rough estimate of the fried cakes, pie filling raw materials needed for the next seven days, as well as marinated food raw materials for tomorrow added up to a total of over one million five hundred and eighty thousand. story-source-MvLeMpYr Chen Yu had no choice but to transfer some money from his current account to the raw material suppliers. When it was eight o¡¯clock in the evening, and the store was closing, those livestreamers also began packing up their equipment, preparing to leave on their own accord. Chu Hong hurriedly rushed out, ¡°Everyone, our boss said to come in and have a meal together!¡± The livestreamers felt somewhat embarrassed. They had made a fair amount of money that day, and now Chen Yu was offering them a meal, leaving them unsure of what to say. But Chu Hong didn¡¯t just call them out for no reason; the bodyguards who were hidden among the crowd were also summoned back. These people looked surprised as they were called into the store, believing they had disguised themselves well, yet they had still been found out. ¡°Everyone has worked hard today!¡± Chen Yu merely said politely, then let everyone take their seats. At this moment, the others also finished tidying up the store and came over for the meal. [Congratulations Host for completing one day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is one million two hundred and ten thousand and six hundred yuan, earning points are one million two hundred and ten thousand and six hundred, the current total accumulated points are ten million twenty-five thousand one hundred and eighty.]] Chen Yu immediately felt exhilarated, the points had finally accumulated to over ten million. But now, there was only twenty-one million one hundred and eighty-nine thousand left in the current account, and he had barely a thousand yuan left on him as petty cash. However, he could at least talk to Aunt Lee about buying the store now. After everyone had finished eating, they left one by one, and Chen Yu stretched lazily, heading back to the third floor. Lying in bed, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t calm the excitement in his heart. Since his divorce over a month ago, he not only had his own business but had also gotten married, and now he was experiencing a qualitative leap. ¡°Husband, what¡¯s wrong? Your heartbeat is so fast!¡± Tong Ya lay on Chen Yu¡¯s chest, playfully listening to his heartbeat. Chen Yu turned over, pinched Tong Ya¡¯s cheek. ¡°Tomorrow we can buy this store, and also take a look at the houses in the nearby upscale residential area.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face lit up with excitement, ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll join you tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and held Tong Ya in his arms. ¡°Right, the day after tomorrow I also need to find time to take a ¡®medical practitioner license¡¯ exam! Our clinic¡¯s services have become well-known around here, and it would be troublesome if someone reported me for practicing medicine without a license.¡± Tong Ya quickly took out her cell phone, ¡°I already registered you when you mentioned it last time, but we have to wait until next Wednesday for your turn.¡± Chen Yu was surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected that Tong Ya would have already taken care of these trifles. He instinctively kissed her on the forehead, then lifted her chin. ¡°You really are my good helper.¡± With a proud look, Tong Ya said, ¡°Of course, who do you think I am!¡± Chapter 108 - Chapter 108 - 108: Luck Bonus Chapter 108 ¨C 108: Luck Bonus They hadn¡¯t been chatting for very long when Tong Ya fell asleep heavily in Chen Yu¡¯s arms. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and called up the system page on the screen in front of him, clicking on the lottery spot. [Congratulations Host, all extreme sports skills have reached the top level, physical knowledge has reached the human cognitive limit, mathematical knowledge has reached the human cognitive limit, literary knowledge has reached the human cognitive limit, theological knowledge has reached the human cognitive limit, and the skills in Cantonese cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Huainan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, and pastry making have reached the top level.] [The Host has also received a luck enhancement, you and the people around you will always have good fortune] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide, he hadn¡¯t expected that these ten million points would bring him so many skills. Especially the last luck enhancement, which meant that from now on, he would always have good luck. As a wealth of information flooded into Chen Yu¡¯s mind, he suddenly felt like his soul had been elevated in some way. Especially the column for theological knowledge, which covered almost all the religions in the world currently. It even included some gods worshiped by obscure indigenous tribes. No matter how Chen Yu looked at these, he felt some of them were useless. However, thinking of the saying that the end of science is theology, Chen Yu still accepted this knowledge with peace of mind. Chen Yu made up his mind that, once he had bought the shop and settled his family, he would then make full use of these skills to do something big. The next morning, Chen Yu slept until 6 a.m. before getting up. After all, there was a wedding banquet to prepare today, and he had his work cut out for him. Ning Kai and Li Gang, seeing that Chen Yu had come down, also took off their chef coats and went with him to the market. A total of eight tables for the wedding banquet, at the standard of 1,500 yuan per table, totaled twelve thousand yuan. However, the cost of the ingredients needed was merely four thousand yuan. This was already the most conscientious wedding banquet in the industry. The food that was actually made was likely even better than the standard of 2,500 yuan per table elsewhere. By eight in the morning, Chen Yu, Ning Kai, and Li Gang were already busy in the kitchen, even calling over Yang Shu and Jiang Yao to help. Although Yang Shu had only been there for a few days, her work was on par with everyone else¡¯s. And with a very competitive nature, she had managed to learn all the skills in the shop in just a few days. Her speed at making fried cakes and vegetable pastries was even comparable to Su Qing. By twelve o¡¯clock noon, several cars stopped at the storefront. The second floor¡¯s hall had already been cleared to hold the wedding banquet. All the dishes for the banquet were ready, and besides Sichuan cuisine, Chen Yu had added a few Huainan and Shandong dishes. After sending the dishes up, Chen Yu simply tidied up the kitchen. Just then, Aunt Li arrived at the door in her car, entering the shop in a whirlwind. ¡°Xiao Chen, when you said over the phone that you wanted to buy the shop outright, were you serious?¡± Chen Yu hurried out of the kitchen to greet her, ¡°Didn¡¯t I win ten million from a competition before? I calculated it, and it was just enough!¡± Aunt Li took out the documentation she had prepared in advance. ¡°Ever since your first day at the shop, I¡¯ve had faith in you. You¡¯re a good person, skilled in doing business, and in such a short time, you¡¯ve managed to save enough money!¡± Chen Yu simply responded with a smile, signed the property transfer agreement, and then transferred the previously agreed sum of 1,435,000 yuan. From that moment on, this entire shop, including the rooms on the third floor, truly belonged to Chen Yu. ¡°Xiao Chen, do you have time now? I can go with you to the notary office to get a notarization and we can finish all the paperwork in one go.¡± Chen Yu nodded and, after giving Chen Guang a few instructions, went with Aunt Li to the relevant department. After completing all the procedures and paying some corresponding fees, Chen Yu¡¯s current account was left with exactly 7.5 million yuan. By three in the afternoon, when Chen Yu got back to the shop, the wedding banquet had already ended. Zhang Fan had just come down from the second floor. ¡°Chen, you did a great job today! Not a single guest left without praising the event. They even asked me if I¡¯d secretly spent more money to get them a higher-grade banquet,¡± Zhang Fan said. As he spoke, Zhang Fan took out a red envelope and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is from the groom¡¯s family. You must accept it.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment¡ªthe red envelope contained at least a thousand yuan. But since it was a wedding, it would have been inappropriate not to take it. As the guests were leaving the banquet one by one, each of them gave Chen Yu a thumbs-up and complimented him as they passed by. They even said that if they had any relatives or friends planning a banquet in the future, they would choose this place. In fact, Chen Yu was a bit nervous today since he was making several dishes for the first time, essentially using the wedding banquet as a trial run. After seeing off Zhang Fan and his party, Chen Yu went straight upstairs. Tong Ya was there, coaching Tuan Tuan in dance homework. Although it was summer vacation, Tuan Tuan had been enrolled in primary school due to her special talent. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t let her training slide. ¡°Ya Ya, here¡¯s our house deed and some necessary documents. You take them and put them away,¡± Chen Yu said. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan both looked over. ¡°Dad, you bought a house?¡± Tuan Tuan, like a little monkey, leaped up from the floor and rushed to Chen Yu. experience-NovelFire-content Tong Ya also stepped forward to take the deed from Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°So this means that the shop is now our own personal property!¡± Tong Ya suddenly became a bit excited. She hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu, who had just mentioned buying the shop last night, would have gone through with it today. Chen Yu laughed softly, ¡°That¡¯s right. Get ready. Let¡¯s take advantage of the afternoon and go see the house.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s mouth formed an ¡®O¡¯: ¡°We¡¯re really going to see it!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is it fake? Hurry up and change clothes.¡± Tuan Tuan also clapped her hands excitedly, ¡°Dad, I want to go too!¡± Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little nose, ¡°Let¡¯s all go together.¡± With that, Chen Yu also returned to his room and changed his clothes. Then the family of three drove to the nearby Shuiyue No.1 residential complex. It wasn¡¯t far from the shop, and it was one of the most prestigious official residences in Suzhou City. The entire complex was divided into two parts: one was an exclusive villa area, and the other was comprised of large, flat residences. Moreover, the average price was above thirty thousand per square meter. Almost all the wealthy people in Suzhou City were concentrated here. When the Chen family of three entered the sales office, they immediately drew the attention of everyone present. The attractiveness of this family could be described as off the charts, especially Chen Yu, who had the golden ratio in looks. Nearly all the idle sales staff crowded around at once, even bringing over a pile of refreshments and filling the table to the brim. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109 - 109: Buying a House Chapter 109 ¨C 109: Buying a House ¡°Sir, what kind of unit are you interested in? A large flat, or a villa?¡± ¡°Do the three of you need a special introduction?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu raised an eyebrow and simply picked up the brochure beside him to take a look. ¡°It seems from this that all the villas here have been sold out.¡± The sales staff suddenly felt a bit awkward. The housing units here were ingeniously designed and set in a tranquil environment, so they were quite sought after. Just yesterday, all the villas had been sold out, and now only the large flats remained. Chen Yu wanted to give his family a more private space. He wouldn¡¯t consider a large flat. At most, he would think about stacked townhouses or terraced villas. Of course, it would be even better if there were detached houses. However, the focus of this community was on high-end villas; they didn¡¯t have stacked or terraced options. Since they were now sold out, there was no point in him wasting his time here. After all, in Suzhou City, there were several other upscale communities similar to Water Moon One. Just as he was about to stand up and leave, a middle-aged man rushed into the sales office. ¡°I¡¯ve listed my villa for sale here; can it be sold within a week?¡± The service counter staff were all taken aback by this statement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but we can¡¯t guarantee that.¡± Chen Yu paused in surprise¡ªwhat luck! He had just been thinking about buying a villa when someone came in wanting to sell one. He didn¡¯t hesitate and went straight to the counter. ¡°Excuse me, sir, you¡¯re selling your villa?¡± The middle-aged man nodded. ¡°There¡¯s been a problem with the business at home and we¡¯re in urgent need of cash flow, so I have to dispose of this property at short notice.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but glance at the floor plan the man was holding. It was a five hundred square meter luxury villa, with two basement floors plus three above ground, making five floors in total. And it also matched Chen Yu¡¯s preferences in other aspects. ¡°As it happens, I¡¯m looking to buy one; maybe we could discuss it.¡± The middle-aged man became excited at once, but he still scrutinized Chen Yu carefully. After all, such mansions cost more than fifteen million, even without the furnishings¡ªa price not just any ordinary person could afford. Chen Yu, of course, sensed the man¡¯s thoughts and immediately unlocked his phone, revealing the balance in his current account. ¡°While this money won¡¯t cover the full amount, I think it should be more than enough for a down payment.¡± Only then did the middle-aged man relax. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go see the house!¡± With that said, the man hurriedly led Chen Yu and his family of three to an area more central to the villa district. The house there was indeed beautiful, uniformly white, with one of the basement floors featuring a semi-subterranean structure, specially designed with a lighting entrance. The three floors above were stacked in layers, extending to a rather spacious balcony. The attached yard was very large, even planted with a few Japanese black pine trees. The interior decoration of the house was nothing short of understated luxury. It was evident that the homeowner had put a lot of thought into it. On the second basement floor, there was a specially made wine cellar, containing several thousand bottles of wine. Chen Yu took a quick look around and estimated that, in addition to the value of the house itself, the furnishings, appliances, and including the decoration, would be at least another three hundred million. All things considered, the total was probably approaching twenty million. ¡°Sir, what can I call you?¡± The middle-aged man casually pulled out a cigar and passed it over. Chen Yu was very polite and gestured with a wave of his hand that he didn¡¯t smoke. ¡°My surname is Chen.¡± The man put away the cigar, ¡°Mr. Chen, are you satisfied with this house?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very nice!¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Could you give me a specific price?¡± Without a second thought, the man said, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry to sell, so I won¡¯t beat around the bush, sixteen million is my bottom line. If you agree, we can close the deal immediately, and everything inside the house will be included as a gift from me.¡± Chen Yu was slightly startled; the homeowner indeed seemed to be taking a loss at that price. ¡°Okay, if there are no other issues, we can make the transaction now!¡± The man looked at him gratefully, ¡°Thank you so much. My company is in trouble right now and urgently needs the money.¡± As he spoke, the man took out a business card and handed it over. ¡°Nanguang Machinery, Hou Jianchang! Are you Boss Hou?¡± Hou Jianchang paused for a moment, ¡°Mr. Chen knows me?¡± Chen Yu had a deep memory of this machinery factory; back then, to earn some extra money for his family, he had worked as a sales representative for this very factory. Never had he expected to meet Hou Jianchang in person today. ¡°The famous Nanguang Machinery Factory, who in Suzhou City doesn¡¯t know it? I just didn¡¯t expect to meet you in person today, Boss Hou.¡± Hou Jianchang smiled awkwardly, ¡°My factory is facing some crises right now, it¡¯s not certain whether we can survive, sorry to make you see this, Mr. Chen.¡± At that moment, Chen Yu subconsciously checked his incoming account balance, which, including the current account, totaled over eight million. It would be impossible to buy this villa in full with that amount. But a full payment transaction was undoubtedly the best option right now, as it would eliminate the loan process and allow a direct transaction with Hou Jianchang, avoiding a lot of intermediaries¡¯ hassle. Plus, the property could be transferred the same day, and perhaps Chen Yu and his family could move in tonight. read-on-NovelFire But reality seemed a bit grim. With a somewhat helpless sigh, Chen Yu was about to discuss loan options with Hou Jianchang. Just then, Tong Ya suddenly came running over. ¡°Honey, this house is great, let¡¯s buy it with a full payment right away; we can move in tonight!¡± Before Chen Yu could react, Tong Ya had already passed a card to Hou Jianchang. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated involuntarily; he had seen this card before, it was the supplementary card Tong Ming had given to Tong Ya. Just as he was about to intervene, Hou Jianchang had already taken the card and processed it on the POS machine that was prepared ahead of time. At the same time, he took out all the prepared documents, including the property title deed. After the card was swiped, Hou Jianchang handed the credit card transaction slip that popped out to Tong Ya. He also wrote a receipt. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing someone so straightforward! If my factory can make it through this crisis, I must invite you two for a meal.¡± As he spoke, Hou Jianchang handed over the documents to Chen Yu. ¡°Right, Mr. Chen, since the sales office hasn¡¯t closed yet, let¡¯s go and get all the paperwork done now.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t say much else, but followed Hou Jianchang out the door. It must be said, the sales office of a high-end community indeed offers one-stop service. After confirming the transaction was complete, they directly called the relevant department, and even took care of all the transfer procedures. Within twenty-four hours, the property title deed and some other related documents would be mailed directly to Chen Yu. But from start to finish, Chen Yu¡¯s expression remained somewhat somber. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110 - 110: The First Salary Payment Chapter 110 ¨C 110: The First Salary Payment After getting the keys and the homeowner procedures, it was already six in the evening. Chen Yu then took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan back to the store. No sooner had they gotten into the car than Chen Yu could react, Tong Ya suddenly grabbed his hand and started to act coquettishly. ¡°Honey, looking at the situation just now, paying in full was the most cost-effective and also the most convenient! I only used that card because I had no other choice¡­¡± This sweet and delicate voice immediately dissipated much of the anger in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. ¡°Forget it¡­¡± Tong Ya hurriedly buried her head in Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. ¡°Okay, hubby, I know I was wrong!¡± Chen Yu took the supplementary card from Tong Ya¡¯s hand and transferred the entire 7.5 million from the current account into it. ¡°The rest of the money, I¡¯ll transfer it back in progressively within a week!¡± Tong Ya giggled and didn¡¯t say much else, just tucked the card away. She knew Chen Yu¡¯s character; such unprovoked giving of money would feel like charity to him. Under the circumstances just now, Tong Ya had simply adapted flexibly. Right at this moment, Tong Ya¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ¡°Daughter, what¡¯s going on with you? Spending 16 million, then you put back 7.5 million?¡± Tong Ya cleared her throat: ¡°I was just using your card for a float. I will return the rest of the money too.¡± ¡°Daughter, if you¡¯ve spent it, you¡¯ve spent it, why bother paying it back?¡± Tong Ya pouted: ¡°Now that I¡¯m married, I¡¯m independent. Besides, my husband makes money fast and he will surpass you one day.¡± After saying this, Tong Ya hung up the phone and then looked at Chen Yu with a cheeky smile. ¡°Honey, did I do the right thing? Praise me!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smile, and his last bit of annoyance vanished. ¡°Next time, remember to discuss this kind of thing with me in advance!¡± When the family of three returned to the store, the crowds had already dispersed. Chen Yu excitedly pulled Chen Guang aside: ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve already bought the house. You and mom pack up, and we¡¯ll move over tonight.¡± Chen Guang was stunned: ¡°Where are we moving to? Didn¡¯t you just buy the store today? Don¡¯t we still have to live here?¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°I bought a villa in Shuiyue No.1!¡± ¡°What?¡± Chen Guang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief: ¡°Why spend that money, child? Isn¡¯t it very good for us to live here?¡± Chen Yu put his hands on Chen Guang¡¯s shoulders: ¡°Didn¡¯t I win ten million from the competition a few days ago? I bought it on a whim, don¡¯t worry about it too much, just move in peacefully.¡± Li Lan did not say much, just pulled Chen Guang to start packing. At eight in the evening, after everyone had tidied up the store, Chen Yu called everyone together. [Congratulations to the host for completing one day¡¯s business. Since costs exceeded profits, no points will be accumulated.] Hearing the system¡¯s popup message, Chen Yu suddenly felt like it was a return to square one. However, now that he owned the store and even had a house, there was still a small sense of satisfaction in his heart. At this moment, everyone was standing neatly in front of Chen Yu, looking at him with puzzled gazes. This was the first time Chen Yu had called them together after work. ¡°Chu Hong, Li Yu, Zhang Qian, Su Qing, Zhao Meng, Han Cai! You six worked for over half a month last month, including overtime, each of you gets four thousand!¡± Everyone present was startled, Chen Yu was going to pay their salaries! However, the six girls whose names were called were all momentarily stunned. Chu Hong even stepped forward to protest, ¡°Brother Yu, when we came here, didn¡¯t we agree on a monthly salary of three thousand each, how come for half a month¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we say there would be bonuses and overtime pay? Besides, everyone¡¯s salary has risen to five thousand yuan per month, and Chu Hong¡¯s salary is a thousand more than everyone else¡¯s each month. I am now officially appointing her as the shop manager.¡± Out of the fourteen girls, thirteen had been brought over by Chu Hong. In the eyes of these girls, Chu Hong was their dearest big sister. There were some things Chen Yu couldn¡¯t conveniently do himself, so they had to go through Chu Hong. Therefore, it was only fair for Chu Hong to be the shop manager. ¡°Li Lu, Jiang Yao, Wang Dan, Lan Jing, Zhou Yan, Du Ling, He Hua, Liu Tong! You eight worked for over a week last month, and with salary, bonuses, and overtime pay combined, each of you gets two thousand!¡± The eight girls were instantly excited, as this was more than they used to earn in a month. ¡°Thank you, Brother Yu!¡± After transferring the salaries to the fourteen girls, Chen Yu gestured for Yang Shu who was standing at the back. ¡°Little Shu, you only worked a few days last month, barely half a week, so your salary is a bit less, just eight hundred yuan!¡± Yang Shu couldn¡¯t help but gape, he would have worked hard for a whole month at the movie theater and might not have made three thousand yuan. To think that he could earn eight hundred yuan for just four days of work here! Yang Shu was overwhelmed with excitement, repeatedly thanking him. If it weren¡¯t for Chu Hong and the others holding him back, Yang Shu would probably have knelt down to Chen Yu. ¡°To the three masters, given your skills, you could earn at least ten thousand a month anywhere you go. I¡¯m setting your wages here at twenty thousand.¡± The three of them were instantly stunned, as when they first came, Chen Yu¡¯s test had been a salary of only six thousand. Now, it had tripled and more. Chen Yu quickly calculated the time and transferred six thousand yuan to Wang Qingshan, and the other two got just over five thousand yuan. This round of salary disbursement surprised everyone, they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to pay so generously. Li Lu and Jiang Yao even swore as they were leaving that they would work here for the rest of their lives. After sending everyone off, Chen Yu checked the revenue account. Experience the best on mvl _emp _yr. After deducting expenses for tomorrow¡¯s raw materials for the marinated food and salaries, he was left with one hundred and fifteen thousand, two thousand five hundred yuan. He directly transferred one hundred and fifteen thousand back to Tong Ya¡¯s secondary card, leaving himself with two thousand five hundred yuan for contingencies. Afterward, Chen Yu hurried upstairs. At this moment, most of the items in the room had already been nearly packed away. Chen Yu came up and immediately carried several packed bundles downstairs and put them into the car. Once all the items had been moved down, Chen Yu and Tong Ya each drove a car straight to Shuiyue Number One. ¡°Xiao Yu, what about the room on the third floor of our store? Won¡¯t it go to waste?¡± Li Lan was a bit worried. ¡°Not everything has been taken down from there. If someone feels unwell in the store one day, they can go up there to rest for a while! Plus, it¡¯ll be of great use after some renovations in the future.¡± Chapter 111 - Chapter 111 - 111 Too Lucky Chapter 111 ¨C 111 Too Lucky Water Moon No. 1, Villa No. 16. Chen Guang and Li Lan were stunned by the scene that greeted them upon their arrival. The couple had worked hard all their lives and had never seen such a luxurious house before. Although Tuan Tuan had already come to see the place during the day, he was still filled with curiosity about everything here. Hou Jianchang seemed to have a daughter, so he had specifically designed a suite full of youthful charm. Inside, everything was complete, and there was even a dedicated music room and studio. With slight modifications, it could be turned into a dance room for Tuan Tuan. Li Lan suddenly felt a surge of excitement; she had not expected that after getting together with Tong Ya, Chen Yu¡¯s development could be so good. Enjoy tales on m-vle-mp _yr. Just then, Tong Ya suddenly let out a scream. Chen Yu was startled and quickly ran down to the first basement level. He saw Tong Ya standing in front of a painting, covering her mouth with her hands, eyes filled with surprise. ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Yu asked with concern. ¡°This painting, it seems to be an ancient painting!¡± Tong Ya said, both shocked and delighted, as she carefully took down a landscape painting from the wall and gently caressed it. Chen Yu instinctively glanced at the painting, his mind whirring with a wealth of knowledge. Judging by the level of carbonization, the painting appeared to have a history of over six hundred years. As for its actual value, Chen Yu did not know. ¡°A Ming Dynasty painting?¡± Chen Yu asked casually. Tong Ya nodded vigorously: ¡°It must be by Gu Kaizhi! I really didn¡¯t expect to find such ancient paintings here; we¡¯ve really hit the jackpot this time.¡± Chen Yu also raised his eyebrow; according to the contract, everything here, except for Hou Jianchang¡¯s personal items, belonged to Chen Yu, with no further accountability. That is to say, if any treasures were found here, they would all belong to Chen Yu. This was simply like striking it rich; an ancient painting from over six hundred years ago would sell for at least a few million. ¡°Could there be other surprises in this house?¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly clapped her hands and then started bouncing around the villa. A suggestive smile played at the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. He hadn¡¯t expected the top-level luck granted by the system to be so effective. In just one day, he had easily acquired both a shop and a villa and now had found such treasures here. At that moment, Chen Guang also shouted. ¡°Come and see, all these are treasures.¡± Chen Yu hurried downstairs, only to find several cabinets in a corner of the second basement, all labeled with the names of medicinal herbs. Upon opening them, they were brimming with contents and the aroma of medicine was overwhelming. They must have been the medicinal herbs Hou Jianchang had stockpiled for emergencies. Some of the herbs were extremely rare. Although the total cost of these medicinal herbs was not very high, gathering so many varieties together must have taken considerable effort. In the future, Chen Yu could use these herbs to study medicinal cuisine. What was originally just a move had suddenly turned into a treasure-hunt. Until midnight, the surprises kept coming, and quite a few valuable items were indeed found in the villa. It seemed Hou Jianchang really needed money urgently, otherwise, he would not have sold the entire villa so readily. Chen Yu suddenly felt as though he had taken great advantage. The next day at 5 a.m., Chen Yu got up and headed to the store. Last night, his family had embarked on what was essentially a treasure hunt, reveling in the search. Even Chen Yu felt somewhat exhausted. After all, it was a five-story villa and running up and down repeatedly would tire even Superman. When Chen Yu arrived at the store, everyone else was already there. Ning Kai and Li Gang were helping to make fried cake and vegetable roll semi-finished products on the second floor. They seemed to be in a competition with the young ladies. After all, this sort of thing didn¡¯t require competing over culinary skills, just technique and proficiency. And the dexterity of those young girls¡¯ fingers was indeed astonishing. Sometimes, even Chen Yu would admit defeat, not to mention Ning Kai and Li Gang. As Chen Yu was preparing the braised dishes with Wang Qingshan in the first-floor kitchen, he suddenly noticed two sneaky figures at the door. These two didn¡¯t look like internet celebrities, nor did they look like bodyguards sent by Tong Ming. They were just lurking nearby, constantly taking pictures with a small camera. ¡°Chen Yu, do you see those two guys at the door? I noticed them yesterday morning. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re here for. Should we take them down?¡± Wang Qingshan¡¯s hand was already tightly gripping a zharu, ready to rush out at Chen Yu¡¯s command. ¡°No need, they¡¯re just some clowns, not worth our attention. Let¡¯s just focus on our business!¡± Wang Qingshan heaved a sigh, ¡°That¡¯s your magnanimity. If it were me running my old store, I would have caught the brat and grilled him by now.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak, his eyes narrowed slightly as he periodically observed the two men. ¡­ In the capital, Qingquan Mountain Film and Television Base. After finishing a scene, Fang Yuan was hurriedly escorted to the rest area by a dozen assistants and staff members However, she dismissed all of them and entered her RV on her own. Once inside, she immediately took out a spare phone. ¡°How¡¯s the task coming along?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Sister Yuan, we have basically got a handle on everything about the shop. It¡¯s just that they¡¯re very guarded, and we haven¡¯t been able to obtain detailed information.¡± Fang Yuan adjusted her breathing slightly, ¡°Is the plan you proposed really feasible?¡± ¡°Absolutely, most restaurants have hygiene issues! Even if they don¡¯t, creating some for them is possible.¡± A smile flashed across Fang Yuan¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯ll leave this matter to you then, spare no expense to ruin him.¡± After hanging up the phone, Fang Yuan¡¯s expression gradually contorted. She had never taken her eyes off Chen Yu¡¯s shop. To her surprise, Chen Yu¡¯s shop was becoming more and more popular, and by rough estimates, just the daily business could yield millions. This wasn¡¯t just running a shop, it was like picking up money. Even some stores opened by celebrities relying on their popularity didn¡¯t see such a boom. Moreover, Chen Yu had also joined a cooking competition, connecting directly with international chefs. His status and caliber in today¡¯s culinary world had secured a place for him. If Chen Yu were allowed to continue developing, she feared that before she could fulfill her gambling agreement, Chen Yu could capitalize on his current popularity to make a fortune. By then, not only would snatching Tuan Tuan back be impossible, but her current position in the entertainment industry might also be threatened. Once Chen Yu became fully famous, his past would surely be dug up by the media. At that time, how could Fang Yuan escape unscathed? Chapter 112 - Chapter 112 - 112: Sanitary Issues Chapter 112 ¨C 112: Sanitary Issues ¡°` It was just past eight in the morning when customer traffic at the shop reached its peak. Ever since Chen Yu had introduced his special free porridge, the number of delivery personnel frequenting the shop had increased significantly. These delivery riders generally shared a common ailment, which Chen Yu¡¯s special porridge could alleviate. Moreover, with orders potentially coming in every minute, they could snatch up orders even if they stayed put in the shop¡¯s lobby. As Chen Yu was busy helping Wang Qingshan in the kitchen, a group of health inspectors suddenly entered the shop. ¡°Nobody move, routine inspection!¡± A loud shout instantly quieted the entire shop, and then the employees, holding professional equipment, proceeded inside. A middle-aged man with a serious look approached Chen Yu somewhat apologetically. ¡°Chen, don¡¯t overthink it. We¡¯re just responding to a report, so we¡¯re conducting a routine inspection! It¡¯s just a formality,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. The middle-aged man leading the group was Li Yang, head of the local environmental department. The first time he had come to eat at the shop, he had already scoured the place thoroughly. ¡°No problem, Brother Li. Please, just do your search!¡± Li Yang smiled and then licked his lips, scooping up a bowl of porridge from a nearby bucket. ¡°Ah, what did you add to this porridge? Drinking it makes the whole body feel warm and comfortable!¡± ¡°Licorice, Panax notoginseng, along with some common Chinese herbs,¡± Chen Yu responded offhandedly. Upon hearing this, Li Yang had another bowl. ¡°You tell me, you serve such good porridge for free; if it were me, I¡¯d sell it for ten or eight yuan a bowl. The delivery boy nearby was not pleased. ¡°Brother Li, Chen is giving out free porridge to take care of us! You saying that is like depriving us of our benefits!¡± Li Yang laughed heartily, ¡°I¡¯m only joking.¡± The inspection team searched upstairs and downstairs and, finding nothing amiss, quickly gathered in the first-floor lobby preparing to leave. Just then, a man wearing sunglasses suddenly shouted. ¡°Yikes! Why is there a giant centipede in this vegetable roll?¡± That shout instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention. The man in sunglasses held the vegetable roll high up for all to see. Indeed, a centipede was wriggling inside. Several people on the scene jumped in fear, letting out shrieks. Li Yang, too, widened his eyes and stepped forward, taking the vegetable roll from the man¡¯s hand. Unexpectedly, the centipede twisted its body and bit Li Yang on the wrist. Li Yang cried out in pain and took a few steps back, clutching his wrist. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated. The head of the centipede was blood-red, a trait only found in toxic tropical centipedes. Without a moment¡¯s delay, Chen Yu swiftly moved forward to support Li Yang while swiftly stomping on the centipede that had fallen to the ground. ¡°Brother Li, don¡¯t move, keep your breathing even! Otherwise, the poison will spread through your entire arm, and by then we¡¯ll have to amputate,¡± Chen Yu said. ¡°` Li Yang was taken aback and forcefully controlled his breathing, despite the severe pain. Chen Yu urgently asked Tong Ya to fetch the spare medical kit from upstairs and had Wang Qingshan throw him a rope to tie around Li Yang¡¯s arm to slow the blood circulation temporarily. After the medical kit was brought down, Chen Yu made a small cut on the site where Li Yang was bitten by the centipede, let the poisoned blood out, and then treated it simply. ¡°Alright, Big Brother Li, I¡¯ve cleaned out the poison, but I still recommend that you go to the hospital for a checkup.¡± It was only then that Li Yang breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn¡¯t leave just yet. The man with the sunglasses, who had caused a scene earlier, was still standing there with his arms crossed. Li Yang glanced at the man and ordered his capture. The man with the sunglasses was immediately taken aback, ¡°What is this about? They found a centipede in their establishment, that¡¯s a clear hygiene issue. Why aren¡¯t you arresting him? Why arrest me instead?¡± Li Yang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, ¡°Do you really think that all of us in the hygiene department are fools? How could there possibly be a tropical centipede in a place like this?¡± Departments like theirs have a basic ability to recognize various snakes, insects, rodents, and ants. Get hooked on mvl _emp _yr novels. Li Yang, who had over a decade of professional experience, could identify the origin of the centipede at a glance. The man with the sunglasses paused for a moment, ¡°What are you implying? I¡¯m the one who found the centipede in my food, I¡¯m the victim here. Are you trying to frame me, or what?¡± The nearby customers and delivery riders all gathered around, staring down the man with disdainful looks akin to an execution by a thousand cuts. ¡°Kid, if you want to cause trouble, at least pick the right place. In the free porridge that Boss Chen serves daily, you can¡¯t even find a grain of sand, let alone a live centipede in your dumpling.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been eating here for almost a month and have never found anything unsightly in my dumplings. Yet, you somehow managed to find a tropical centipede!¡± ¡­ In no time, the man with the sunglasses was drowned in a barrage of spit and censure. Li Yang also shook his somewhat numb arm. ¡°Infuriating. I knew there had to be a malicious report. Take him back for a thorough investigation; if the situation is severe, hand him over to another department.¡± When the man with the sunglasses was led out the door, he still wore a dazed expression, not expecting his once reliable tactic to fail so miserably here. Whereas most customers would empathize with someone who found something filthy in their food, why did everyone here turn against him instead? Just because the centipede¡¯s origin was wrong? It was still a centipede! The farce eventually came to an end, and everyone¡¯s opinion of Chen Yu rose even higher. Especially with his professional handling of Li Yang¡¯s wound, which left onlookers in awe. The elderly men and women who had been cured of their ailments by Chen Yu¡¯s medicinal cuisine also gathered around. ¡°Chen, you claimed to have a rough knowledge of medicine, but I say you¡¯re a professional doctor. You might as well apply for a license and open a small clinic here!¡± ¡°Indeed, the illnesses that cost us tens of thousands at the hospital were cured by your bowl of medicinal cuisine. Calling you a miracle doctor wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration!¡± Chen Yu frowned, not wanting to be labeled too much. Just then, a tourist group of about a dozen people entered the restaurant, as if they had deemed it a must-visit destination. After a flamboyant introduction by the tour guide, two tourists stopped Han Cai, who was passing through the hall. ¡°Excuse me, why don¡¯t you have covered rice here? Isn¡¯t your boss renowned for his Sichuan cuisine?¡± Chapter 113 - Chapter 113 - 113: Extreme Sports Chapter 113 ¨C 113: Extreme Sports ¡°` At that moment, Han Cai was stunned, unable to react. Before, whatever guests wanted, the restaurant would serve. But now, someone suddenly wanted to order rice with toppings, and she felt a bit at a loss. Moreover, when Chen Yu had participated in the culinary competition, he was indeed known for his Sichuan cuisine. If the restaurant didn¡¯t offer rice with toppings, it would be rather awkward. ¡°Of course, we have it! What would you like to have?¡± Chen Yu hurried out of the kitchen. The restaurant was only operating at about half its capacity, with a small part of the kitchen always idle. Even though they had set up an area specifically for delivery riders, the two-story dining hall was often empty. Therefore, Chen Yu had to think about expanding the business within the restaurant. Rice with toppings might be a good option. Furthermore, this tour group didn¡¯t seem to take much interest in the braised dishes, even though the fragrance had filled the entire restaurant; they remained indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ll have a Kung Pao chicken over rice!¡± ¡°Can you make a ¡®Three Earthly Bounties¡¯ over rice?¡± ¡°Is Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish possible?¡± ¡°How about sea cucumber saut¨¦ed with scallions?¡± ¡­ The members of this tour group appeared to be from different places, each speaking with a distinct accent, continuously calling out dish names. Normally, when traveling, people look to try the local specialties, yet these people were ordering dishes from their own home regions. find more stories on mv|lempyr Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is a Huaiyang cuisine dish, while ¡®Three Earthly Bounties¡¯ and sea cucumber saut¨¦ed with scallions are representative of Shandong cuisine. Besides these, the group also ordered several Sichuan and Hunan dishes. Such a complex assortment severely tested the skills of a chef. After all, only a top-level chef could manage to switch between the major cuisines. Even Li Gang and Ning Kai were somewhat troubled. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much; after taking note of the dishes requested, he went back to the kitchen. He quickly wrote out a list and sent Tong Ya off to the market. Then he fired up the wok and started cooking with the ingredients set aside for the staff meals. It took less than ten minutes for Tong Ya to return to the restaurant. Han Cai and Liu Tong quickly went out to help bring the ingredients back to the kitchen. This time, Chen Yu showed off his cooking skills in front of Ning Kai and Li Gang once again. Six stoves and six big pots were in action at once, with cooking techniques changing constantly between them. Before long, more than a dozen dishes were served on the tour group¡¯s table. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this restaurant¡¯s chef to actually be able to cook authentic dishes from our hometowns.¡± ¡°Too impressive, worthy of being a master who has challenged an international culinary god.¡± ¡­ From their words, one could tell that they seemed to have come here to test Chen Yu specifically. Afterward, they were completely conquered by Chen Yu¡¯s dishes. ¡­ Imperial Capital, Qingquan Mountain Film and TV Base. Fang Yuan¡¯s face was gloomy as she took the call. ¡°Yuan Sister, my brothers were caught trying to help you, and now he has taken all the blame upon himself. You¡¯ve got to spend some money, break some cash to get him out, right?¡± Grinding her teeth, Fang Yuan didn¡¯t know what to say. If the two on the other end of the phone turned against her and ratted her out, that would undoubtedly become a blemish in her acting career. ¡°Speak up! How much money do you want?¡± ¡°` ¡°Two million!¡± the person on the other end of the line declared a flat rate, ¡°That price shouldn¡¯t be too high for you, right?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s pupils dilated. The money was indeed not a lot, but this guy¡¯s brazenness in threatening her really got under her skin. ¡°Fine, give me an account! However, I expect that once the money is transferred, you¡¯ll keep this matter to yourselves.¡± ¡°Sister Yuan, you can count on us! We do business with a reputation for discretion! Since you¡¯re so straightforward, I¡¯ll throw in a piece of information for free.¡± With that, the person on the phone hung up abruptly, and soon after, a message was sent over. ¡°The shop owner once cooked medicinal cuisine for someone, and our investigation found that he doesn¡¯t have a medical practice certificate.¡± Fang Yuan was immediately excited; this news was incredibly important to her and might be the key to ruining Chen Yu. ¡­ By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the flow of customers in the shop had thinned out. Chen Yu also called over Li Gang, Ning Kai, and Wang Qingshan to draft a menu together. Even though the menu was diverse, it consisted of common household dishes, which Ning Kai and Li Gang could easily handle cooking. Even Wang Qingshan could manage some of the dishes. However, the more challenging dishes still required Chen Yu¡¯s personal touch. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stick to the dishes listed here for tonight and order a batch of ingredients to prepare for a trial run tomorrow.¡± No sooner had Chen Yu finished speaking than Ning Kai and Li Gang became excited. Although they had been working in the shop for this period, they were essentially freeloading. There was nothing much to do usually, just helping with the prep work on the second floor or minding the marinated dishes in the kitchen on the first floor. Now, they finally had a chance to show off their skills. Just after the menu was finalized, one of Tong Ming¡¯s assistants hurried into the shop. ¡°Boss Chen! Our president is tied up with something and asked me to deliver this invitation to you.¡± Chen Yu frowned instinctively, his mind flashing back to the last cooking competition. ¡°Your boss doesn¡¯t want me to participate in some sort of competition again, does he?¡± The assistant smiled awkwardly, ¡°Not this time! He wants to invite you to cook for the company¡¯s professional racing team.¡± ¡°Racing team?¡± Chen Yu frowned again. ¡°It¡¯s the company¡¯s Extreme Formula racing team! The thing is, the team has been underperforming these past few years and hasn¡¯t scored well. President Tong would like to hire you to cook for the team so that they can¡­¡± By this time, Chen Yu had already read the invitation and raised his hand to interrupt the assistant. ¡°I¡¯ll take the job!¡± The assistant became instantly excited; he was really worried that Chen Yu would refuse, which would have been difficult to report back. ¡°Then thank you very much!¡± As soon as those words were said, the assistant rushed out of the shop as fast as he could, fearing that Chen Yu might change his mind. Li Gang, who was nearby, also leaned in eagerly. ¡°Extreme Formula racing! That¡¯s a world-class competition, only the top-tier A-class drivers can participate. I heard there¡¯s even going to be a live broadcast the day after tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Mr. Li, do you like watching these races?¡± Li Gang scratched his head in slight embarrassment, ¡°Who hasn¡¯t been passionate in their youth? I once thought about signing up for car racing myself, but I didn¡¯t pass because I lacked the physical fitness.¡± Chen Yu refrained from asking further, just looking at the invitation in his hand. He had already acquired various extreme sports skills in the past, and formula racing was among them. The reason he had so readily agreed was due to an indescribable excitement. During university, he had participated in motorcycle racing, but unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t achieved any noteworthy results. Now with his extreme sports abilities, he was eager to go wild on the track. After all, as a chef in attendance at the race, he was entitled to be a reserve member of the team. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114 - 114 Physician Qualification Chapter 114 ¨C 114 Physician Qualification At six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu began arranging for the procureNovelFireent of raw materials needed for the next day. The suppliers previously provided by the system also sold rice and vegetables. After preparing the list, Chen Yu had the suppliers deliver everything directly. Ten thousand catties of rice, plus various other vegetables, meats, and the marinade ingredients needed for tomorrow. Since they were old acquaintances, the suppliers offered Chen Yu wholesale prices. Even so, the total cost of all the raw materials amounted to three hundred and twenty-five thousand yuan. By eight in the evening, the delivery master had formed a long queue outside the shop. If it were any other shop, passersby might think a big job was underway. However, at Chen Yu¡¯s place, this had already become routine. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Since the cost exceeded the profit, no points will be added for now.] Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that for a long time to come, he would not be earning any additional points. Purchasing the shop cost a total of fourteen million three hundred and fifty thousand yuan, meaning that he would have to break even on this figure before he could continue to accumulate points. Chen Yu roughly calculated in his mind and then transferred nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand yuan into Tong Ya¡¯s secondary card, followed by a hundred thousand yuan into her personal account. That was the promised one hundred thousand yuan mural fee for Tang Xiaowei, and it seemed more appropriate for Tong Ya to transfer the money. After closing the shop at night, the Chen family happily returned to Shuiyue No.1. Just the day before, amid the excitement of their move, they hadn¡¯t had the chance to tidy up properly. Upon returning today, the family set about busying themselves upstairs and downstairs. The next morning, Chen Yu briefly gave a few instructions at the shop before heading with Tong Ya to a medical institution in Suzhou City. Yet, when they rushed there, they found that Chen Yu seemed to be the only person taking the medical practitioner license exam that day. One of the senior doctors in charge of administering the exam frowned upon reviewing Chen Yu¡¯s submitted documents. ¡°You run a restaurant? Your university major wasn¡¯t in medical studies either. Are you sure you¡¯re here to take the medical practitioner license exam?¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°Is there a problem with that?¡± The senior doctor coughed, ¡°Well, it¡¯s possible, but I still suggest that non-professionals like you not waste time. A medical practitioner license isn¡¯t something you can pass by just reading a few books.¡± ¡°Doctor Li Tianhe!¡± Chen Yu glanced at the name badge on the desk, ¡°Please let me give it a try. Who knows, maybe I can pass.¡± Li Tianhe sighed deeply, ¡°Alright then! But don¡¯t blame me if you fail to pass!¡± Li Tianhe gave Chen Yu one more look before gesturing to several staff members to prepare the test papers. Normally, the medical practitioner license exam is arranged by professional medical institutions, with many students from colleges participating en masse. Even in this open assessment, it was targeted at hospitals for staff who required the certification or professionals whose qualifications were problematic and needed rectification. Li Tianhe had never before encountered a non-professional individual from society like Chen Yu. Before long, guided by several staff members, Chen Yu arrived at a large hall. Experience stories on m _v _lempy _r. Whether out of deliberate intent or not, the examiners for Chen Yu¡¯s test numbered six tutors. Tong Ya sat outside the hall, nonchalantly browsing her phone. ¡°Miss, is the guy inside your husband?¡± Tong Ya looked up at the approaching nurse, ¡°Yes, why do you ask?¡± ¡°He¡¯s really handsome!¡± The nurse commented with a starry-eyed gaze, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried, though? If a person from society fails the exam, they have to wait another three years to retake it!¡± Tong Ya shrugged her shoulders, ¡°My husband is just going through the motions by taking the medical practitioner license exam. I believe he will definitely pass.¡± The nurse didn¡¯t know what to say to Tong Ya¡¯s confidence which she wore so plainly, so she just brought her a cup of water. After just ten minutes of silence in the hall, several exclamations were heard. Then came rapid-fire questions and answers. This Q&A session encompassed nearly all medical knowledge. Yet, Chen Yu never paused for more than a second before answering each question. In the end, all the staff members of the institution gathered outside the door, staring dumbfounded at Chen Yu in the hall. ¡°Good heavens, is he really a non-professional? The speed of his responses is too fast, almost like those on ¡®The Strongest Brain¡¯.¡± ¡°The question just now seemed to cover six different branches of medicine, and he was able to answer them all.¡± ¡°Without a decade of medical experience, it¡¯s impossible to answer so quickly!¡± ¡­ Tong Ya was thrilled to hear people praising Chen Yu, but she still maintained her composed demeanor. After all, she had absolute confidence in her man. When Chen Yu stepped out of the hall again, the six examiners looked at him with admiration. Li Tianhe personally issued Chen Yu¡¯s medical practitioner license. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone non-professional perform so well on the exam! Young man, do you have a job? I can introduce you to the best hospital in Suzhou City; the benefits are guaranteed.¡± Chen Yu simply tucked the medical practitioner license away. ¡°Thank you, sir, for your offer, but all I need is the legal qualification to practice medicine.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Yu left the medical institution without looking back, accompanied by Tong Ya. Li Tianhe watched them go with a face full of regret, having never encountered a medical genius like Chen Yu before. At twelve noon, when the shop was busiest, there were several vehicles from the relevant departments parked outside. On his return, Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed as he hastily parked his car on the side of the road and rushed back to the shop. He saw several professionals in white coats collecting samples from the porridge vats nearby and performing on-site tests. ¡°Correct, the medicinal ingredients added here are enough to constitute a prescription. It can basically be affirmed that this shop is engaged in unauthorized medical practice.¡± As the test results came out, the delivery drivers became unhappy, surrounding these people in the middle. ¡°What do you mean by this? We¡¯ve been drinking this porridge for so long and it¡¯s been fine, now you come and say there¡¯s an issue.¡± One of the white coats hurriedly explained, ¡°Folks, this medicated porridge isn¡¯t to be consumed recklessly; if something goes wrong¡­¡± ¡°What could possibly go wrong? Chen is highly skilled in medicine; what right do you have to say he¡¯s practicing without authorization?¡± The two sides immediately erupted into a heated argument, and with the delivery drivers having strength in numbers, they soon cornered the professionals. Chen Yu raised his eyebrows; it was fortunate that he had obtained his medical practitioner license today, otherwise, this situation would have been difficult to manage. Fighting through the crowd, Chen Yu squeezed his way to the front, where the relevant personnel were standing. Chapter 115 - Chapter 115 - 115 Participating in the Competition Chapter 115 ¨C 115 Participating in the Competition ¡°Excuse NovelFiree, may I know who sent you here?¡± The several staff members sighed with relief upon seeing Chen Yu. ¡°You¡¯re the owner here! It has now been determined that there are signs of you practicing medicine illegally, please come with us.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he simply took out his medical practitioner license. However, he was careful to cover the issuance date. ¡°I think you must have received a malicious report!¡± The staff members took a look and their eyes widened in astonishment. The license had all the necessary stamps, and it even bore Li Tianhe¡¯s signature. The staff members suddenly felt embarrassed; they had not expected that a restaurant owner could actually obtain a medical practitioner license. ¡°We are truly sorry, Boss Chen, for not checking thoroughly!¡± Having said that, the staff members hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and headed for the exit. After all, the takeaway riders surrounding them were already seething with anger, and if they had left any later, there¡¯s no telling what the takeaway riders might have done. The entire restaurant suddenly erupted with excitement, and everyone looked at Chen Yu with admiration. When these people first arrived, they were a little worried that Chen Yu might be accused of practicing medicine illegally. Now it seemed that such concerns were completely unnecessary. Tong Ya too had been sweating bullets for Chen Yu. She knew the medical practitioner license had been issued only today, and if they had delved deeper into the matter, Chen Yu would indeed have struggled to explain himself. Fortunately, the staff members, under pressure, had left early. By this time, the flow of customers in the restaurant had reached its peak, and Chen Yu didn¡¯t show the slightest neglect, rolling up his sleeves and heading into the kitchen. After rolling out the covered rice and stir-fried dishes, the number of orders at the restaurant increased somewhat. The nearby eateries¡¯ business must have been inadvertently snatched away by Chen Yu. Just the quantity of covered rice shown on the delivery orders was already over ten thousand, and this number seemed to be growing. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t at all surprised since the shop had already accumulated a following of no less than one hundred thousand. Throughout the afternoon, Ning Kai and Li Gang¡¯s hands never stopped moving. Thankfully, the frequency of orders was high, so they could cook the same orders in one batch. Although the pressure was huge, it was an excellent learning opportunity for the two of them. Chen Yu had previously shown them how to make various dishes, but some of the techniques were still very new to them. Such high-frequency work allowed them to quickly master these skills. It wasn¡¯t until four o¡¯clock in the afternoon that Chen Yu and the other two finally got a break. As orders continued to come in steadily, Chen Yu became somewhat anxious, so he prepared a large pot of the most frequently ordered dishes. His intention was to keep the dishes in the pot warm so they could be served with rice anytime. But to his surprise, a large pot of dishes would be sold out in less than five minutes. It wasn¡¯t until four o¡¯clock in the afternoon that the peak finally subsided, though there were still sporadic orders from time to time. Chen Yu finally took a deep breath and sat down in a corner of the kitchen. He quickly calculated that up to this point, just the quantity of covered rice reached over thirty thousand portions, not including those who ordered dishes and rice separately. Now, Ning Kai and Li Gang sat beside Chen Yu, wiping the sweat from their foreheads. ¡°Before, we all thought that it was impossible for mass-cooked dishes to be as exquisite as the fine dining ones, since quantity and quality were thought to be mutually exclusive. But who knew that in your hands, neither would be a problem.¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s just like making ordinary dishes, you just need to pay a bit more attention to certain techniques.¡± With that, Chen Yu stood up, grabbed a large pot, and started teaching on the spot. In fact, the pace of today¡¯s work was handled very well by Ning Kai and Li Gang, who started processing the ingredients delivered yesterday morning. Moreover, Chu Hong had specifically arranged for Du Ling, He Hua, Liu Tong, and Yang Shu to come over and help. Otherwise, Ning Kai and Li Gang would probably have been overwhelmed just by themselves. With today¡¯s experience, Ning Kai and Li Gang had already planned out tomorrow¡¯s schedule in their minds. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, a plethora of exquisite dishes were served on the tables. The kitchen¡¯s leftover ingredients were all processed by Ning Kai and Li Gang into staff meals for today. Right after dinner, the delivery person for the ingredients arrived just in time. All of yesterday¡¯s ingredients, including rice, were sold out, so Chen Yu directly ordered forty thousand catties of rice to use over the next four days. As for the other ingredients, they were ordered daily along with the braising ingredients. [Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business. Since costs exceeded profits, no points have been accumulated.] Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay much attention to that anymore; he had gotten used to this notification sound over the past couple of days. He did a rough calculation in his mind, and today¡¯s turnover was almost two million. After deducting the cost of purchasing ingredients, there was still one million five hundred and one thousand and six hundred yuan in his account. He transferred one million five hundred and one thousand to Tong Ya¡¯s supplementary card, and the remaining six hundred yuan was kept as spare cash. Now, the spare funds Chen Yu had on hand were roughly a little more than three thousand yuan. Looking at the current situation, he still owed Tong Ya four hundred eighty-five thousand for the house purchase. However, the amount of debt in points was still quite high; a rough estimate showed that he would need one million and forty-two thousand eight hundred and twenty points before he could start accumulating points again. After giving some instructions about the store, Chen Yu arranged for everyone to get off work. Having briefly checked the warehouse, he drove home with Tong Ya. Li Lan and Chen Guang didn¡¯t go to the store today, instead, they tidied up the whole villa inside and out. In this cleanup, they found quite a few treasures. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that but simply took a shower and went back to his room. Tomorrow, he had to accompany Tong Ming¡¯s racing team to a Formula race, and he needed a good rest to prepare. Early the next morning, Chen Yu drove off with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. Originally, Chen Yu had planned to go by himself, but couldn¡¯t resist Tong Ya¡¯s persuasion the night before. Discover worlds on m _v _lempy _r. Moreover, when he got up in the morning, he found Tuan Tuan already dressed and waiting eagerly. With no choice, he had to take them along. ¡°Daddy, are you really just following the team to cook?¡± Tuan Tuan, sitting in the backseat, gazed up with big, watery eyes full of anticipation. It seemed as if she already saw Chen Yu as a professional race car driver. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m just there to cook!¡± Chen Yu responded with a smile. ¡°Won¡¯t you be driving or joining the race?¡± Tuan Tuan pressed on. Chen Yu was somewhat helpless, ¡°Anyway, once we get there, you have to listen to Mom and don¡¯t run around! Otherwise, I¡¯ll send you back.¡± Tuan Tuan didn¡¯t speak any further but obediently sat back down and took out her water bottle from her backpack. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116 - 116: Limit Track Chapter 116 ¨C 116: Limit Track The venue for the Extreme Equation Race was nothing short of spectacular, with an array of highly difficult tracks winding through towering mountains. From a distance, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of longing in his heart. At that moment, Tong Ming was anxiously waiting at the entrance. Although he had invited Chen Yu in the name of his personal racing team, Chen Yu did not have the individual qualifications to enter the race site on his own. As expected, when Chen Yu¡¯s car arrived at the entrance to the venue, he was stopped by the staff. ¡°Son-in-law!¡± Tong Ming suddenly shouted from not far away, ¡°You finally came! Any later and the race would¡¯ve started.¡± The staff, seeing that Tong Ming had come personally to meet him, quickly let them through. Tong Ming got directly into Chen Yu¡¯s car, guiding him to the parking area. ¡°Tuan Tuan! Have you missed grandpa?¡± Tong Ming said affectionately as he rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Mmm! Mmm! Of course, I missed you, but grandpa hasn¡¯t come to see me lately!¡± Tuan Tuan even started to act a bit petulant. It seemed that her relationship with Tong Ming was incredibly close. Tong Ming laughed and then took out a jade pendant from his pocket and put it around Tuan Tuan¡¯s neck. ¡°Grandpa has been a bit busy and couldn¡¯t get away! There¡¯s an amusement park nearby; I¡¯ll make sure to spend a few days with you there.¡± Tuan Tuan immediately became excited, ¡°Right, grandpa, we¡¯ve moved to a new house, and you haven¡¯t even visited yet.¡± ¡°Grandpa knows, it¡¯s at Shuiyue Number One; I¡¯ll definitely visit next time.¡± Tong Ming was perfectly aware of Chen Yu¡¯s situation. The staff meals at his place were essentially provided by Chen Yu¡¯s shop, and the employees who went to pick up the food were doing more than just fetching meals. They also reported back on Chen Yu¡¯s recent circumstances to Tong Ming. As they talked, their car arrived at a garage specially prepared for the racing teams. Eight professional race drivers were eagerly waiting there. Before the race, they had visited Tong Ming¡¯s cafeteria and tasted the braised dishes from Chen Yu¡¯s shop. Your source is NovelFire|em|pyr. When they heard that Tong Ming had personally invited Chen Yu to be their team¡¯s chef, each one of them could hardly contain their excitement. ¡°Boss Chen! It¡¯s finally real to meet you today!¡± ¡°Your cooking is so delicious, it¡¯s made me finicky with food.¡± ¡­ As soon as Chen Yu got out of the car, he was surrounded by the eight drivers and taken to the temporary kitchen outside. This place already offered a view of the entire race venue. But it was indescribably more spectacular than the distant view from outside. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate; he rolled up his sleeves and went straight into the kitchen. Tong Ming, meanwhile, joined Tong Ya¡¯s side, ¡°You child, do you really not regard me at all? Buying a new house and not even telling me!¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°I¡¯ve started my own family; there are some things I don¡¯t have to report to you.¡± There was not a hint of anger on Tong Ming¡¯s face, ¡°Ha ha, truly my daughter, you always speak with such personality!¡± As they were talking, a middle-aged man suddenly approached with the staff of the race. ¡°Mr. Tong, four teams have issued a simultaneous temporary challenge to you!¡± Tong Ming¡¯s brow furrowed, but as he took the document from the middle-aged man, he was momentarily stunned. ¡°The Monte Carlo track? What is this all about? This kind of extreme track is only used for tomorrow¡¯s showdown; why are you challenging now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that!¡± The corner of the middle-aged man¡¯s mouth showed a hint of mischief, ¡°According to the contracts between you and the other teams, you have no reason to refuse a challenge.¡± Tong Ming¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, as his top race car drivers wouldn¡¯t arrive until tomorrow. Such a sudden challenge on the extreme track indeed caught him off guard. With no other choice, Tong Ming could only dial his phone to ask those top drivers to come earlier. But what Tong Ming didn¡¯t expect was that he couldn¡¯t get through to any of the drivers¡¯ phones. Just as he was feeling frustrated, his phone suddenly received several contract termination notices. Tong Ming immediately realized that someone might have played him. The amusement on the middle-aged man¡¯s face gradually turned into mockery. ¡°Mr. Tong, if you don¡¯t accept the challenge, you¡¯ll be conceding defeat. Not only will your team belong to Mr. Zhao, but you also won¡¯t be allowed to enter the racing industry for the next ten years,¡± he said. Grinding his teeth, Tong Ming coldly looked at the middle-aged man. ¡°Are you teaching me what to do?¡± he asked. As soon as he finished speaking, the two bodyguards beside Tong Ming directly approached the man. The middle-aged man was startled. ¡°Mr. Tong, this is a gambling agreement you signed with Mr. Zhao. It has nothing to do with me!¡± Tong Ming¡¯s anger reached its peak, as he hadn¡¯t expected the Zhao family to play dirty with him. The eight drivers he had available simply couldn¡¯t complete the Monte Carlo track. If they were forced to compete, they might end up dead or at best permanently disabled. ¡°How about I give it a try?¡± Chen Yu, holding a spoon, smiled as he walked out of the kitchen. His physical condition had now reached the ultimate human limit; he had heard the entire conversation outside loud and clear. Tong Ming¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Son-in-law, that¡¯s extreme racing, a life-threatening competition,¡± he said. Chen Yu spread his hands. ¡°The Monte Carlo track? I had the fortune to run it once when I was in college,¡± he said. Admittedly, that was a bit of a boast, but under the circumstances, Chen Yu had no other choice but to say so. Otherwise, Tong Ming would never let him go. Tong Ya stared at Chen Yu in shock. ¡°Husband, you¡­?¡± Chen Yu raised his hand to interrupt Tong Ya. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, for me, it¡¯s just a small race,¡± he assured her. As he spoke, Chen Yu began to remove his chef¡¯s uniform. The middle-aged man let out a scoff. ¡°A mere chef, he¡¯s practically courting death!¡± Then, he stuffed the documents he was carrying into Chen Yu¡¯s hands and quickly left with his staff. ¡°Son-in-law, listen to me. We don¡¯t have to go to such a race! It¡¯s my miscalculation this time. It¡¯s not the end of the world if we give up racing,¡± Tong Ming said. Chen Yu shook his head. ¡°If I don¡¯t go, you¡¯ll be losing not just a racing team but also a commercial value of nearly two billion!¡± he said. While speaking, Chen Yu had already gone to the nearby garage and climbed into a modified Formula car. By the time everyone realized what was happening, Chen Yu was already driving the car slowly onto the track. Tong Ya pounded on Tong Ming¡¯s chest with resentment. ¡°If anything happens to Chen Yu today, I¡¯ll never forgive you for the rest of my life,¡± she said. Tong Ming was also helpless, as the Tong family and the Zhao family were business archenemies. In the capital, the two families had fought fiercely, and the situation was no different in Suzhou City, still antagonistic as ever. Moreover, he had never expected the Zhao family to resort to underhanded tactics. Just moments ago, he was ready to give up on the race, especially considering his current business arrangements in Suzhou City, which were enough to crush the Zhao family. But now that Chen Yu had entered the track, it was all too late. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117 - 117: Car Destroyed and Lives Lost Chapter 117 ¨C 117: Car Destroyed and Lives Lost Atop the extremely perilous track, the other four teams had all sent out their top racing drivers. When Chen Yu drove his race car into the designated position, the four racing masters all cast strange glances at him. ¡°Brother, I heard you¡¯re a chef, huh! And you¡¯re also Mr. Tong¡¯s son-in-law. How could he bear to let you participate in this kind of competition?¡± ¡°Could it be that he wants to find a new home for his daughter?¡± ¡°If you ask me, you better go back! Find a good place to cook your dishes, otherwise, you won¡¯t even know how you die in a while.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay attention to these four guys, but stared intently at the track ahead, with a barrage of information continually flashing through his mind. In Chen Yu¡¯s current understanding, the Monte Carlo track was merely a low-level circuit. For him, all he needed to do was maintain the car¡¯s velocity, and he could finish the course safely. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to play it safe today, instead, he had to secure the championship. Tong Ming¡¯s agreement had been reviewed by him, and it was evident that the Zhao Family had been sabotaging behind the scenes. If he couldn¡¯t win today, the Tong Group¡¯s racing industry and other advertising revenues might very well fall into the Zhao Family¡¯s hands. Chen Yu took a deep breath, and as the referee gave the command, his car shot out like lightning. The other four drivers were stunned; they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be able to seize the moment right before the referee¡¯s order and take the lead. The start of the Monte Carlo track was an extremely steep downhill, where no one dared to go at full speed. And Chen Yu¡¯s speed had already reached the critical point! The four racing drivers were taken aback all at once. They had been too busy taunting Chen Yu just now to realize that he could possess such prowess. All of the large screens at the race venue were showing Chen Yu¡¯s figure; the accompanying drones had now projected his profile onto the big screens. ¡°Damn it, who is this kid? So fierce, to actually dare to drive like that on the Monte Carlo track!¡± ¡°With that kind of speed, hasn¡¯t he lost control? What¡¯s he going to do when he goes uphill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, he¡¯s probably going to wreck his car and lose his life in a moment!¡± ¡­ Tong Ming and Tong Ya had their hearts in their throats, staring intently at the screen in front of them. Tong Ya even covered Tuan Tuan¡¯s eyes, afraid she would see something she shouldn¡¯t witness. Just when everyone was heart-wrenchingly anxious, Chen Yu¡¯s car had reached the uphill section. All of a sudden, his car tested the big rocks on the side and flew into the air. The next moment, Chen Yu¡¯s car began to leap along the steep mountain road. In a blink of an eye, Chen Yu had completed half of the course in this extreme manner. The other four drivers were still struggling along the windy and tortuous track. For them, this circuit was essentially hell mode. They didn¡¯t dare to go too fast, as they would only end up dead between the cliffs and precipices. But as time went on, resignation was written all over their faces. Chen Yu¡¯s speed was simply too fast. They had only completed a quarter of the distance when Chen Yu had already reached the finish line. Looking quite dashing as he parked the car at the finish line, Chen Yu then took off his helmet and got out of the car. The extreme sport package provided by the system was just too powerful; he had been operating the car almost subconsciously. Tong Ming, watching the big screen in front of him, suddenly became excited. ¡°I really picked the right son-in-law, he can even race cars!¡± Tong Ya suddenly twisted her head and glared fiercely at Tong Ming, ¡°If you ever let him do this for you again, I won¡¯t let you off easily.¡± On the other side of the racetrack, Zhao Feng was staring at the big screen with a sullen face. ¡°Where did this kid come from? Get me a background check on him immediately.¡± ¡­ The following races seemed rather mundane, at best, they were nothing more than friendly regular matches. Chen Yu was leisurely back in the kitchen, putting on his chef¡¯s outfit as if nothing had happened. Just then, Tong Ming burst into the kitchen excitedly and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Son-in-law, do you have any idea how much you¡¯ve saved me? Ask for anything you want!¡± Chen Yu had a look of exasperation, ¡°I was just playing around just now. Besides, aside from your daughter, there¡¯s nothing else I fancy!¡± Tong Ya pouted and looked aggrieved as she pushed Tong Ming away. NovelFiremp yr content ¡°Husband, are you hurt? That move just now was so dangerous¡­¡± Chen Yu held Tong Ya¡¯s hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine!¡± In the midst of their conversation, Zhao Feng walked in with a few bodyguards in a very arrogant manner. ¡°Old man, I didn¡¯t expect you to find such a treasure! To think you have a world-class driver.¡± Tong Ming snorted coldly, ¡°Let me introduce you¡ªthis is my son-in-law, and also the future successor to the entire Tong Group.¡± As he said this, Tong Ming was full of pride, and he pulled Chen Yu forward a bit. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. Tong Ming was very firm when he said this, and Chen Yu couldn¡¯t tell if he was joking. Zhao Feng let out a long sigh, and suddenly, he thought of his own disappointing son. He didn¡¯t do anything worthwhile all day, only fooling around with actresses in the entertainment circle. Zhao Feng looked at Chen Yu subconsciously. The guy was handsome and sharp, not to mention he had honed his racing skills to such a level. Moreover, after participating in the race, he remained unpretentious and calm, cooking here. Zhao Feng even felt a twinge of jealousy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll congratulate you in advance!¡± Zhao Feng¡¯s words were filled with sourness, ¡°I concede this car race, but in next month¡¯s extreme gliding competition, I¡¯ll show you what true extreme sports are.¡± With those words, Zhao Feng left with his bodyguards, clearly disgruntled. Tong Ming¡¯s grip on his cane tightened, ¡°Crafty old fox!¡± ¡°Grandpa, what is an extreme gliding competition?¡± Tuan Tuan asked with a face full of curiosity. Tong Ming was momentarily at a loss for words. Although he managed extreme sports projects with more than a dozen professional teams, he couldn¡¯t clearly describe any of the sports himself. ¡°Extreme gliding competitions involve wingsuit flying. Broadly speaking, it¡¯s a kind of parachuting activity!¡± As soon as Chen Yu spoke up, he attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Tong Ming stepped forward in surprise, ¡°You know about this too?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve dabbled in all extreme sports and have participated in some amateur extreme gliding competitions in the past.¡± Tuan Tuan suddenly became excited, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so amazing! But how come I never knew about you competing?¡± Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s hair, ¡°That was me going out to earn some extra cash! How could I let you know about that? Besides, these sports are very dangerous. It¡¯s better that you didn¡¯t know.¡± Chapter 118 - Chapter 118 - 118 Put on the Agenda Chapter 118 ¨C 118 Put on the Agenda Tong Ming¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with an inexplicable excitement. ¡°Son-in-law, about next month¡¯s extreme gliding competition, could you possibly¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Tong Ya suddenly stepped forward and opened her arms to block Chen Yu. ¡°We¡¯re planning to take wedding photos this month, next month will be busy with wedding banquet preparations, and in July, we have to hold the wedding!¡± Tong Ming couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes: ¡°What? Such an important matter? Why didn¡¯t you inform me?¡± Tong Ya pouted her lips: ¡°What else is there in your eyes besides your businesses? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve long forgotten your own daughter.¡± Tong Ming suddenly felt a bit embarrassed; recently, he had moved the headquarters to Suzhou City, and thus, there was much of the business landscape that needed to be rebuilt. The most important thing was that the Zhao Family was constantly pressing him, causing him incessant annoyance. ¡°I¡¯ve neglected this matter, but rest assured, when it comes to the dowry, your father will definitely not be stingy!¡± Tong Ya puffed her cheeks: ¡°We already have a matrimonial home now, and we will prepare the other items gradually, you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± Chen Yu was also helpless; truth be told, he really wanted to experience extreme gliding. Ever since the system provided him with comprehensive information on extreme sports, he wanted to try every single activity. It seemed to have become an impulse stemming from his soul. He took a deep breath, Chen Yu suddenly grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s shoulders and embraced her. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve always wanted to take a set of sky-themed wedding photos with you! For example, us skydiving together, wingsuit flying, as well as bungee jumping¡­¡± Before Chen Yu could finish, Tong Ya¡¯s face was already filled with longing. It seemed that extreme sports, when mentioned by Tong Ming, were synonymous with danger, but when they came from Chen Yu, they represented a special kind of romance. ¡°That¡¯s great! But I don¡¯t know how to do any of those things.¡± Chen Yu lifted a finger and placed it on Tong Ya¡¯s lips: ¡°I can teach you!¡± Tong Ming also walked up leaning on a crutch: ¡°Son-in-law, about next month¡¯s extreme gliding competition¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± Tong Ya refused again. Chen Yu spread his hands helplessly: ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when the time comes!¡± Tong Ming didn¡¯t say anything more, just arranged for Chen Yu¡¯s family of three to stay at a nearby hotel. At six in the afternoon, Chen Yu hurriedly made a phone call to order the raw materials for tomorrow. Moreover, the idea of starting a factory that had just begun in his mind was also slowly maturing. With mechanical manufacturing plus physical knowledge, he could design and manufacture a set of specialized machines on his own. By that time, fried rice cakes, vegetable pastries, and even items like steamed buns for breakfast, as well as braised foods, could all be made into semi-finished products. Then it would be possible to mimic other fast-food models and open a large number of branches. Chen Yu would need to maintain the current main store and supply the semi-finished products to the branches, which would allow him to build his own business empire in the shortest time. ¡°It¡¯s time to get it on the agenda!¡± Chen Yu had just muttered to himself when Tuan Tuan suddenly bounced over. ¡°Daddy, who are you talking to?¡± Chen Yu turned his head and scooped Tuan Tuan into his arms. ¡°Thinking about some extreme sports!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately became excited: ¡°I was wondering how you drove the car today? Why could it jump?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled slightly: ¡°That involves a lot of physical knowledge, you¡¯ll understand when you grow up.¡± Tuan Tuan pouted her little mouth: ¡°Can¡¯t I know if I don¡¯t grow up?¡± Chen Yu was caught off guard, then promptly took out a chessboard from Tuan Tuan¡¯s bag and set it on the table. ¡°If one day you can beat daddy at chess, then daddy will teach you!¡± Tuan Tuan was quite indignant and picked up a white piece, ¡°Let¡¯s do it now!¡± ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re such a big guy bulling a little kid! How could she possibly win against you?¡± Tong Ya had just finished her shower and sat down next to Tuan Tuan with her somewhat damp hair. ¡°The two of us will gang up on him!¡± In the end, the game of chess had actually turned into a contest between Chen Yu and Tong Ya. Chen Yu never expected that Tong Ya¡¯s skill in chess was actually so formidable. [Congratulations Host for completing a day¡¯s business. Since the costs were greater than the profits, no points have been accumulated.] The system¡¯s notification rang in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, and he subconsciously glanced at the time. Unknowingly, a full two hours had passed while they played chess. He roughly calculated in his head and then transferred 1.63 million to Tong Ya¡¯s auxiliary card. Find joy at m,v,l,e,mpy,r. Aside from the costs of purchasing raw materials for tomorrow, Chen Yu¡¯s revenue account still had six hundred yuan left. After the transfer to the auxiliary account, Chen Yu had less than four thousand yuan in hand. Tong Ya was also startled by the notification sound from her phone at the moment. This auxiliary card was linked to her phone, and the transaction details could be sent independently to Tong Ya. However, as an auxiliary card, Tong Ming would also receive synchronized information. ¡°Wow, our store¡¯s turnover is so high now? The money you¡¯ve returned these past few days is all above 1.5 million.¡± Chen Yu shrugged his shoulders, ¡°People always aim for higher ground, and naturally, the business gets better and better. Do you expect me to lose money instead?¡± Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m just excited, that¡¯s all!¡± While the two were talking, Tuan Tuan suddenly stood up excitedly and placed a chess piece down. ¡°Checkmate, I win!¡± Only then did Chen Yu notice, to his neglect, Tuan Tuan had captured a large group of his chess pieces. ¡°You¡¯re worthy of being my daughter, you¡¯re getting more and more impressive.¡± Just then, Tong Ming made a video call. ¡°Zhao Feng that old boy has already admitted defeat, and this competition is announced as over! Also, the certificate of honor and the racecar driver¡¯s license you earned from this race, I¡¯ll send them to you later.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded his head. He was certainly clear about the rules of this extreme racing competition. Once you act as a substitute and win a championship in a certain race, or achieve a dazzling result, you can bypass the assessments and relevant agencies, and directly obtain the corresponding certificates and licenses. Tong Ya stretched lazily, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, does it mean we can go home now?¡± In the video, Tong Ming nodded, ¡°Of course, you can. By the way, according to the rules, Chen Yu can get an 8 million prize for this competition, I will transfer it to his account later.¡± After hanging up the call, Tong Ya looked at Chen Yu with an inquiring gaze. ¡°So, are we going back now?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t really want to stay here any longer, let¡¯s leave now!¡± At 9:30 in the evening, Chen Yu drove to Waterscape Number One. At the same time, his phone also buzzed with a notification. There was an additional 8 million in income on display. Chen Yu was suddenly a little excited; now he could completely pay off the debt on Tong Ya¡¯s auxiliary card. Still, he felt somewhat frustrated that all his hard work from the food truck until now seemed to have earned him about the same as participating in two races. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119 - 119 Bluffing and Deceiving Chapter 119 ¨C 119 Bluffing and Deceiving Chen Yu understood profoundly while in university what it meant for knowledge to create value. A male student from his department had, by acquiring several professional certificates, been able to earn over a hundred thousand per month by simply hanging his certificates on the wall. Now, Chen Yu¡¯s mind was filled with a vast amount of knowledge, which had reached the limits of human cognition. If he could make good use of this knowledge, his wealth would increase exponentially. It seemed necessary to consider acquiring more certificates in the future. After returning to the villa, Tuan Tuan had already gone to sleep, and Chen Yu carefully took her back to her room before he and Tong Ya returned to their own to sleep. The next morning at six o¡¯clock, Chen Yu and Tong Ya arrived at the shop together. By then, the whole shop was already running smoothly and in order. Ning Kai and Li Gang, with the help of a few young girls, had cleaned all the ingredients, and some had even been processed into semi-finished products. This would greatly accelerate the efficiency of serving dishes. They had even prepared several large pots, planning to cook in advance some of the dishes that were in high demand the previous day and keep them heated. It was no surprise that Ning Kai and Li Gang, being master chefs, had come up with adaptive measures in just one day. Even when Chen Yu arrived, there was no need for him to put his hands to work, at most he could offer guidance on some skill-based aspects. ¡°Old Chen, I saw you on TV yesterday; you were incredibly cool! I had no idea you could race.¡± Li Gang patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder excitedly, their relationship had grown much closer now. Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Driving is just like cooking, as long as you¡¯re focused, you can do anything well.¡± As they were talking, a group of oddly dressed people suddenly appeared at the door. ¡°There is something unclean in this shop, please leave immediately!¡± An elderly man shouted through a megaphone, and the entire shop fell silent. ¡°Only the supreme divine flames can purify everything here; if you immerse your minds and hearts, I can lead you into a new world.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment; he truly had not expected someone to dare to preach theology right in front of him. The theological knowledge in his head had reached the limit of what mankind currently knew. He naturally understood the so-called truths within. True theology seeks after the original heart and cultivates one¡¯s nature. In a sense, theology is an ultimate form of cultivating the mind and character for well-being. These people in front of him were obviously scammers. Just then, Zhang Fan rushed hurriedly into the shop. ¡°Old Chen! You should come out quickly and pay your respects to these masters; they¡¯re amazing, they just cleansed my entire shop.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; he hadn¡¯t expected Zhang Fan to be duped as well. Helpless, he stepped forward toward these so-called masters. ¡°May I ask, what exactly is the ¡®dirty thing¡¯ you were talking about just now?¡± The middle-aged man leading the group put down the megaphone, then extended his right hand, and a ball of purple flame rose up in his palm. The customers in the shop were stunned, and some even showed devout expressions, wanting to step forward and worship. Chen Yu was unimpressed; this was just a matter of applying a layer of alcohol to the hand and then sprinkling potassium permanganate around it before setting it on fire. The flame that the reaction produced was purple! Such tricks are even used in magic shows, yet these guys were playing with them so enthusiastically. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, didn¡¯t say much, and just walked into the kitchen by himself. He found some salad oil and some Chinese herbal medicines. He ground the Chinese herbal medicines into a powder, mixed them with the salad oil, and smeared it on his hands before lighting it with the gas stove. Join us at NovelFiremp _yr now. Then he walked out of the kitchen with a pale blue flame in his hand. ¡°You guys are really something, scamming people with such simple tricks. Do you want me to change the flame through all the colors for you?¡± The so-called masters were immediately stunned, staring blankly at Chen Yu. Zhang Fan¡¯s eyes widened too: ¡°Old Chen, how did you do that?¡± Chen Yu shook the flame off his hand and patted Zhang Fan on the shoulder. ¡°Old Zhang, you¡¯re supposed to be a top student in mechanical engineering, how could you be duped by these guys? With a little bit of chemical reagents, not to mention flames of various colors, I could even make water fly!¡± Zhang Fan smacked his head hard: ¡°Ouch, back in school, I was really good at physics and chemistry! How could my brain have degraded after just a few years of working?¡± The delivery riders in the shop had also realized what was going on and surged forward, surrounding the so-called masters in the center. ¡°I know them, they were swindling people in the east of the city not long ago, and it seems that quite a few people were tricked.¡± ¡°Call the authorities to take them away, these guys are too despicable, actually daring to scam their way over to Boss Chen¡¯s place.¡± ¡°Boss Chen is proficient in medicine, not to mention his knowledge of chemistry, these people are simply playing the lute to a cow.¡± ¡­ In no time, these people were drowned in a barrage of spit. The ringleader saw that things were going south and tried to run, but was forcefully held down to the ground by two delivery guys at the door. The authorities were also surprised when they arrived. These kinds of fraud techniques hadn¡¯t been used for many years, and yet these guys had the audacity to use them so publicly. Chen Yu was also incredibly frustrated, these people seemed no different from lunatics in his eyes. The officials praised Chen Yu as they left, saying that he had a keen awareness of anti-fraud. Zhang Fan also felt a bit scared afterward. He had been too busy at that moment, plus having been up for two days straight, his IQ wasn¡¯t at its best. He nearly got scammed out of over two hundred thousand. At twelve noon, the shop¡¯s foot traffic peaked, and Ning Kai and Li Gang were clearly overwhelmed. Chen Yu had to jump in to help. ¡°Boss, give me a crab meat lion¡¯s head!¡± A familiar voice suddenly rang out at the window. There stood Tang Xiaowei and Su Rui, looking charming at the entrance. Su Rui had her face covered with sunglasses and a mask, wrapped up tightly. Looking like this, she must have become popular again! Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Besides crab meat lion¡¯s head, what else would you like to eat?¡± Su Rui leaned over the counter, ¡°Can you make Beijing-style dishes?¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brow slightly. Beijing-style cuisine had initially branched out from Shandong cuisine, then evolved through the fusion of various culinary styles. According to the Shandong cuisine recipes, he could make most of the Beijing-style dishes but he wasn¡¯t really good at some of the more distinctive ones. ¡°I haven¡¯t studied that specifically! It depends on what you specifically want to eat.¡± Chapter 120 - Chapter 120 - 120 Capital Operation Chapter 120 ¨C 120 Capital Operation Su Rui propped her chin and thought for a while, ¡°Can you make shredded pork in Beijing sauce?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°This I can do! But I lack the ingredients to make the accompanying pancakes here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay, the shredded pork is enough!¡± Discover more at NovelFirempy _r. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu personally brought the meals to the table. ¡°Looking at you guys, did you encounter some happy event? You seem so joyful.¡± The excitement on Su Rui¡¯s face was impossible to hide, ¡°My studio with Xiao Wei is about to open soon, and the first step in animation is her drawing ¡®With You In This Life¡¯!¡± Chen Yu knew this comic, which Tong Ya had adapted from true events that happened in the shop. In Suzhou City, it was extremely popular! If they could turn this comic into an animation, it should be quite popular. ¡°Then congratulations to you both,¡± Chen Yu said with a smile. Seeing the table full of food, Su Rui instinctively swallowed her saliva and quickly grabbed some with her chopsticks. ¡°This shredded pork in Beijing sauce really has the authentic flavor of the capital! You¡¯re incredible, able to make authentic dishes from all over the country. Tong Ya marrying you means she can have whatever she wants to eat, that¡¯s truly enviable.¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°I¡¯m going to be busy now, just call me if you need anything.¡± ¡­ Capital Spring Mountain Film and Television Base. Fang Yuan was looking at the feedback on her tablet, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. She had thought she knew Chen Yu very well, but she never expected that Chen Yu would have actually gotten his medical practitioner license and become an extreme racing athlete. Especially after watching the video of Chen Yu participating in extreme racing, she replayed it several times. She still couldn¡¯t believe that the man on the screen was the same husband she once deemed a complete loser. ¡°Miss Fang, so you were busy here! I was wondering why I couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Fang Yuan looked up to see Zhao Hai standing beside her without her knowing when he arrived, holding a large bouquet of roses. ¡°Young Master Zhao!¡± Fang Yuan quickly got up. Zhao Hai could now be considered her investor and the biggest supporter in the entertainment industry. No matter what, she had to maintain the appropriate attitude. ¡°Miss Fang, you can just call me by my name. Calling me young master makes it seem distant.¡± Fang Yuan just smiled in response, saying nothing. ¡°Oh, by the way, Miss Fang, I have an investment project here that involves capital operations. Are you interested?¡± As he spoke, Zhao Hai set aside the roses and casually took out a document. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand capital operations, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± ¡°You must understand milk tea shops, don¡¯t you?¡± Zhao Hai directly stuffed the document in Fang Yuan¡¯s hand. When Fang Yuan opened it, she found it was actually a business plan. The plan was to use her celebrity influence to open milk tea shops and then attract franchise fees. This actually belonged to an alternative type of monetizing popularity. If managed properly, one could earn several hundred million in less than a month. According to the plan provided by Zhao Hai, Fang Yuan could make at least eighty million. And that¡¯s a conservative estimate. If things really took off, she could make over a hundred million in a month. Fang Yuan immediately became excited. With this plan, she was one step closer to completing the agreement of the bet. ¡°Miss Fang?¡± Zhao Hai gently touched Fang Yuan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Why the long stare? What do you think of this plan? Do you want to collaborate?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Fang Yuan agreed without hesitation, ¡°Can I also invest in some shares?¡± Zhao Hai chuckled lightly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible. However, we still need to discuss the specifics in detail. May I know if Miss Fang has any availability tonight?¡± Fang Yuan was taken aback, as she certainly understood what Zhao Hai implied. Yet the enticement of the proposal at hand was simply too great. If she could succeed, she would be able to meet the terms of the wagering agreement in the shortest possible time and secure that three billion in capital. In the face of such a vast fortune, a slight sacrifice seemed negligible. ¡°I should be the one to discuss this matter with Young Master Zhao!¡± Han Mintao suddenly interjected from the side, ¡°When it comes to capital operations, our Fang Yuan really has no clue.¡± Zhao Hai was somewhat displeased, ¡°Is Sister Han worried that I¡¯d swindle Miss Fang?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± Han Mintao was relatively calm, ¡°Surely Young Master Zhao must be aware of the wagering agreement Miss Fang has signed!¡± ¡°Of course, I am aware of that,¡± Zhao Hai casually picked up a water glass from the table and took a sip. ¡°Until the wagering agreement is fulfilled, everything about Fang Yuan, including her private life, is under the control of the capital backers! Young Master Zhao should understand what I mean.¡± The displeasure on Zhao Hai¡¯s face gradually faded; he naturally understood the rules of the entertainment circle. Once the wagering agreement was signed, everything about Fang Yuan, including her weight and even her most private personal life, had to be strictly controlled. One critical point was that without the capital backer¡¯s consent, she absolutely could not be involved in any scandals. ¡°What a pity! If I¡¯d been the one who signed the wagering agreement with Miss Fang from the beginning, I wouldn¡¯t have let her exhaust herself like this.¡± With a sigh, Zhao Hai placed a document on the table. ¡°I believe that after this plan, Miss Fang will essentially fulfill the wagering agreement. When the time comes, don¡¯t forget to have a drink with me.¡± Having said that, Zhao Hai turned and left. ¡­ By four in the afternoon, the flow of customers in the shop began to dwindle. It was then that Zhang Fan suddenly rushed in, flustered. ¡°Chen Yu, can you perform first aid?¡± Chen Yu was startled, ¡°I can! What exactly happened?¡± ¡°Somebody fainted in my shop, and it will be a while before the ambulance arrives, but that person looks like they¡¯re in a bad way.¡± Chen Yu did not dare to delay, ¡°Wife, quickly bring down the emergency medical kit.¡± After calling out to Tong Ya, Chen Yu hurriedly followed Zhang Fan to the shop next door. A considerably obese middle-aged man was lying on the floor of the car dealership, convulsing continuously. The staff of the car dealership were also panicking, not daring to approach. Chen Yu hurried forward, checking the man¡¯s pulse, and medical knowledge raced through his mind. A few seconds later, Chen Yu¡¯s previously anxious expression eased. He pulled Zhang Fan aside, ¡°Old Zhang, is this man someone you have a grudge with?¡± Zhang Fan¡¯s expression was blank, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve checked him out, he¡¯s not ill, at most due to obesity, a bit of endocrine disorder.¡± Zhang Fan also breathed a sigh of relief, then adopted a serious demeanor. ¡°Liu Jianhui, I won¡¯t quibble with you over that batch of goods. Hurry up and get up; the floor is so cold, you¡¯ll end up sick even if you weren¡¯t before.¡± Liu Jianhui¡¯s shaking instantly stopped, and then he slowly got to his feet. ¡°Was what you said just now true?¡± Zhang Fan did not reply, but simply lifted his mobile phone. He had already been recording a video. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121 - 121: Arresting the Criminal Chapter 121 ¨C 121: Arresting the Criminal ¡°Liu Jianhui, I¡¯ve already recorded our entire conversation just now, and if I hand this video over to the authorities, you¡¯ll be suspected of blackmail.¡± Liu Jianhui¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°Old Zhang, we¡¯ve known each other for so many years, is this how you treat me?¡± ¡°You know very well we¡¯ve been friends for years! To think you¡¯d pawn off counterfeit goods on me, tell me, what should we do about our relationship?¡± ¡­ The argument between the two men became more intense, and while Chen Yu wanted to step forward and mediate, he ultimately recognized it was their private affair. Chen Yu merely greeted Zhang Fan and then returned to his own shop. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, when Chen Yu was about to close up shop for the day, Zhang Fan¡¯s quarrel was still unabated. In the end, unable to tolerate any more, Zhang Fan had no choice but to inform the relevant department to take Liu Jianhui away. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Since costs exceeded profits, no points were accumulated.] Out of habit, Chen Yu checked his revenue account and then mentally ran through all of his accounts. After deducting the cost of materials for the next day and paying off the remaining 3.22 million he owed Tong Ya. Plus the 8 million he won from the competition yesterday, Chen Yu¡¯s current account was back up to 6.41 million, and he had even set aside more than four thousand as a reserve. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could get the factory up and running. Just as Chen Yu was about to check the storeroom and head home, a sudden message came through on his phone. ¡°A murder has occurred recently in Shuiyue No. 1 Residential Community. Please do not wander around at night.¡± Chen Yu frowned; the security level of Shuiyue No. 1 was among the highest in Suzhou City. Yet, a murder had still taken place! ¡°Husband, why are you zoning out again?¡± Tong Ya hopped down from the third floor like a swallow. Every evening before leaving, Tong Ya made it a point to tidy up the third floor. ¡°The homeowner¡¯s association sent a message; there¡¯s been an incident in the community!¡± Tong Ya immediately feigned fear and burrowed into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°Husband, you must protect me!¡± It had been a long time since she last flirted with Chen Yu, and recently, he had been the one doing all the flirting. She wouldn¡¯t let go of this opportunity so easily. To her surprise, Chen Yu lifted her chin with a playful smirk. ¡°Kiss me, and I¡¯ll be your knight all the way home tonight.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s heart raced, and her cheeks flushed; Chen Yu had managed to charm her once again. Chen Guang took Chen Yu¡¯s electric bike and headed home first with Li Lan and Tuan Tuan. Chen Yu had no option but to take Tong Ya¡¯s car. As they were about to get into the car, they suddenly saw a man on a bicycle, sprinting past them in a sneaky manner. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; he could distinctly smell the blood emanating from the man. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, husband?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, not dwelling on it further; he stepped on the gas and took Tong Ya back to Shuiyue No. 1. By then, officials had already cordoned off the surrounding area of Shuiyue No. 1 with yellow tape, and Chen Yu had to undergo a thorough check upon entry. To his astonishment, the crime scene was right next door at Villa No. 15. Officials were busy examining the scene. Chen Yu was somewhat dismayed, hadn¡¯t the system granted his family good luck? Why then did a murder happen so close to home? ¡°Dad, did a murder really happen next door?¡± As soon as he entered the house, Tuan Tuan tugged at Chen Yu¡¯s hand. Chen Yu smiled and rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°With Daddy here, everything will be fine, Tuan Tuan just needs to sleep peacefully.¡± ¡°Then I will sleep with Daddy tonight!¡± Chen Yu nodded, picked up Tuan Tuan, and went into the bedroom. At that moment, Li Lan opened the living room window, wanting to let in some fresh air. A pungent smell of blood simultaneously entered Chen Yu¡¯s nostrils. The scent was identical to the one on the person cycling outside the shop earlier. ¡°The murderer!¡± Chen Yu instinctively spoke out, then quickly instructed Tong Ya with a few words and rushed out the door to find the relevant personnel at the neighboring scene. It wasn¡¯t that he was being nosy, but the murder case was too close to his home. If they didn¡¯t capture the murderer soon, his family wouldn¡¯t be safe. The leading relevant personnel were named Zhou Shengtao, a well-known criminal investigation officer in Suzhou City. ¡°I have a clue about the murderer!¡± Chen Yu shouted as he approached. Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t dare to delay, briefly dealt with the scene, and then took Chen Yu back to the relevant department. ¡°Mr. Chen, you said you recognized the murderer by scent, but I¡¯m afraid that can¡¯t be conclusive!¡± Zhou Shengtao sat opposite Chen Yu, looking extremely authoritative. Chen Yu was also calm, ¡°I¡¯m a chef, I rely on scent to earn my living, and that person who passed by my shop indeed had the same smell of blood as the crime scene, and I saw his profile.¡± ¡°Then, can you briefly tell us about the appearance of that person?¡± Chen Yu thought for a while, looking down, ¡°I can draw him!¡± Zhou Shengtao quickly called for someone to bring in paper and pen. Chen Yu closed his eyes to recall, then began to draw on the paper. The system had not given him drawing skills, so it was a bit clumsy. But relying on the knowledge in his head now, and the coordination of his hands and feet, it was not difficult to simply draw what he remembered. In less than half an hour, Chen Yu had produced a sketch. When Zhou Shengtao saw the sketch, he was surprised. ¡°Good lad, your drawing skills are not bad! I think you might as well stay here and be a Portrait Artist,¡± he joked. After the joke, Zhou Shengtao handed the sketch to the identification personnel nearby. Before long, they had results. ¡°Old Zhou, we¡¯ve found him! He was captured by surveillance ten minutes ago, on the coastal road.¡± Zhou Shengtao slapped the table, ¡°Deploy immediately, proceed with the arrest.¡± After giving the order, Zhou Shengtao grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand and shook it excitedly. ¡°Young man, we¡¯re lucky to have you, otherwise we wouldn¡¯t have found the suspect so quickly.¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°It¡¯s what I should do!¡± After registering his statement, Chen Yu hailed a taxi by the roadside. Unexpectedly, as soon as he got in the car, a bicycle crashed into it quite abruptly. The driver was startled, and just as he was about to get out to check, a shiny knife suddenly pressed against his throat. ¡°Drive now, take me out of the city!¡± A man wearing a duckbill cap jumped directly into the passenger seat through the window. Chen Yu frowned slightly, for he recognized the familiar smell of blood on the man. This guy was the murderer Zhou Shengtao was after! Yet he hadn¡¯t expected that this fellow would so brazenly appear near the relevant department. Chapter 122 - Chapter 122 - 122: Building a Profile Chapter 122 ¨C 122: Building a Profile Chen Yu let out a light sigh of relief and, while the driver had not yet started the car, raised his hand to grab the assailant¡¯s wrist and snatched the knife from him. Then, with a fierce effort, he dislocated the assailant¡¯s arm at the joint. The assailant¡¯s eyes widened in shock, gazing at Chen Yu with a look of horror. ¡°What did you do to me?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t reply but quickly reached out with both hands, grabbed his shoulders, and dislocated both his arms. The driver beside them was drenched in cold sweat, feeling like he had just narrowly escaped death. ¡°Oh my god! That¡¯s terrifying, and to happen in the middle of the night too!¡± Chen Yu appeared quite calm, taking out his cell phone to dial the number Zhou Shengtao had left him. Soon after, Zhou Shengtao, along with several relevant personnel, rushed over and pulled the assailant out of the car. ¡°Wow, young man, you¡¯re impressive! No sooner had you walked out the door than you helped us catch this guy.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°Just happened to be in the right place at the right time and caught him on a whim!¡± As he spoke, he stepped forward to reattach the dislocated joints of the assailant¡¯s arms. This display of skill left Zhou Shengtao completely dumbfounded. ¡°You can also set bones?¡± Chen Yu was straightforward, pulling out his medical practitioner license, which he always carried with him, and handing it to Zhou Shengtao. ¡°I¡¯m also somewhat of a doctor.¡± Zhou Shengtao was visibly astonished, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a cook?¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°My shop is just up the street, called Yuya Bansheng Garden. Come by for a meal when you have time!¡± Zhou Shengtao got excited immediately, ¡°You own that place? Our recent takeout has all been thanks to your shop.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°If you have any feedback on the dishes, feel free to leave a message.¡± ¡°No complaints, it¡¯s simply heavenly food!¡± After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Yu hurried back to Shuiyue No. 1. When Chen Yu returned to the villa, he found that Tong Ya had already fallen asleep on the sofa. By the looks of it, she had been waiting for him until now. ¡°Wife?¡± Chen Yu called out tenderly. Tong Ya opened her eyes groggily, ¡°Husband, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Why are you sleeping here? Don¡¯t you want to cover up with a blanket? Be careful not to catch a cold!¡± Chen Yu gently stroked Tong Ya¡¯s cheek and then lifted her by the waist and carried her back to the bedroom. At three in the morning, Chen Yu got out of bed carefully and went down to the first level of the basement. This place originally served as a storeroom but had been converted into quite a spacious area by Li Lan. Chen Yu took out the drawing board and paper he had prepared and began to draw. With his knowledge of mechanical engineering, Chen Yu quickly designed several sets of machines. Machines for food processing were rare on the market, and those tailored for specific tasks were impossible to find. He had to design and develop them himself. If he wanted to set up a factory, he first had to manufacture these machines. It was not until six in the morning that Chen Yu finally organized several sets of machine designs he was satisfied with. When he emerged from the basement, only Li Lan and Tuan Tuan were left in the house. Chen Guang and Tong Ya had already gone to the shop. Chen Yu did not stay long, hastily leaving the house. But as soon as he arrived at the shop, he noticed that everyone was looking at him a bit strangely that day. ¡°Boss Chen Yu, I never expected you to be so amazing, actually working with the authorities to catch the killer.¡± A lady excitedly approached and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, shaking it non-stop. She treated Chen Yu like a superhero. Yet Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of gloom, the authorities wouldn¡¯t have exposed his information so quickly. After all, they would protect the privacy of the people involved. Tong Ya walked out of the kitchen with a worried look and handed a tablet to Chen Yu. ¡°It was the driver from last night; his cab¡¯s dashcam captured the scene! This guy actually uploaded it to the internet.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, realizing this was equivalent to bringing big trouble upon himself. If the killer had accomplices, his future life would be plagued with endless problems. Sighing helplessly, Chen Yu entered the kitchen with a depressed mood. Li Gang complained while stir-frying dishes. ¡°This driver really takes the cake, exposing the video after having his life saved by us.¡± Ning Kai patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much; we brothers will bear any trouble for you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just changed into his chef¡¯s outfit and helped with the cooking. At twelve noon, Tang Xiaowei and Su Rui arrived at the shop, overjoyed. Their studio was not far from here, and it seemed they planned to treat Chen Yu¡¯s place as their exclusive canteen. As soon as Chen Yu served their lunches, Zhou Shengtao rushed into the shop. ¡°Young man, do you have the time now? Can you come back with me and draw a picture?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Well, it¡¯s rush hour right now¡­¡± ¡°Brother, please help out! You need to draw yesterday night¡¯s guy¡¯s accomplice.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s gaze became resolute, as he knew that only by catching the whole gang could he hope to live a peaceful life. ¡°Xiaowei, do you have the time to come too?¡± Tang Xiaowei was taken aback, ¡°Are you going to draw a portrait?¡± Chen Yu grabbed Tang Xiaowei¡¯s wrist directly, ¡°Yes, I only know a bit of basic sketching, and there are some details I might not capture accurately!¡± Chen Yu lacked professional drawing skills and feared making mistakes. Zhou Shengtao, desperate for help, saw Chen Yu holding Tang Xiaowei and immediately took them both back to the relevant department. ¡°Based on our investigation, last night¡¯s murder was a premeditated one and a gang crime. We have only obtained a few clues sporadically and hope you can use these to give us a rough sketch of the person.¡± Chen Yu looked through a pile of information in front of him and frowned deeply. It contained only some simple descriptions, and some parts didn¡¯t match up at all. Asking a non-professional like himself to draw a portrait was indeed a bit far-fetched. However, Tang Xiaowei did not see it that way; she picked up a few sheets of paper and began sketching immediately. But after a few attempts, Tang Xiaowei encountered difficulties. ¡°This guy is just spouting nonsense, the proportions of the eyebrows and mouth don¡¯t match; they can¡¯t be from the same face.¡± Chen Yu took a deep breath, ¡°Could we base the sketch on a single facial feature and use our imagination to fill in the rest?¡± Tang Xiaowei frowned, ¡°It¡¯s possible, but wouldn¡¯t that be extremely taxing mentally?¡± Without saying much more, Chen Yu picked up a piece of paper and swiftly began to draw. Before long, he drew a dozen portraits based on the clues provided by Zhou Sheng. Each portrait was constructed around one or two specific features. If any of these features were accurate, the killer could be found. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123 - 123 Wilderness Survival Chapter 123 ¨C 123 Wilderness Survival By the time he left the relevant department, it was already seven in the evening. Chen Yu stood at the doorway stretching lazily, his face filled with gloom. He suddenly realized that he had been a bit negligent of his proper business. Originally, his restaurant had been doing well, and with the culinary skills provided by the system, he could have continued to expand his shop. But now, instead of managing his business, he was either participating in survival competitions or providing medical consultations, and, today, he even ended up at the relevant department to assist with a criminal case. However, the skills granted by the system did indeed give him the capabilities he needed. And these so-called distractions had begun to feel like a way of giving back to society. With this thought, Chen Yu felt somewhat reconciled. ¡°Bro Yu, it seems I¡¯ve delayed you for half a day!¡± Chen Yu scratched his head in embarrassment, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just think of it as making a contribution to society.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Zhou Shengtao shouted as he hurried out after them. ¡°I forgot to tell you guys, we¡¯ve been chasing this gang for a whole ten years, and there¡¯s a reward for their capture. You can bring this proof to me later and claim the reward.¡± Chen Yu took the certification that Zhou Shengtao handed over and was immediately shocked by the figure of three million on it. ¡°Well, Xiaowei, since your studio has just opened, consider this three million as compensation for you,¡± he said. Tang Xiaowei waved her hands repeatedly, ¡°I can¡¯t accept it. You drew the last few portraits all by yourself, and I didn¡¯t really help.¡± Chen Yu gestured with his hand, ¡°Then, let¡¯s do this, we¡¯ll split it half and half, and don¡¯t argue with me about it anymore.¡± Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t know what to say. Her studio had just started up, and being in the animation business, it was quite costly. Moreover, Chen Yu had made his stance clear, so she felt it was inappropriate to refuse any further. No sooner had Chen Yu entered the shop with Tang Xiaowei than the system¡¯s notification rang in his mind. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Since costs exceeded profits, no points have been accrued.] At that moment, the shop was empty. Li Gang and Ning Kai had prepared the staff meal and were waiting for Chen Yu to come back to start eating. In the afternoon, Chen Yu had already ordered the materials needed for the next day, which had now been moved into the warehouse. A sense of gloom rose in Chen Yu¡¯s heart again. It seemed as though he hadn¡¯t done anything that day, yet somehow everything was taken care of. With a helpless sigh, he sat down to eat with everyone. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly received a text message. ¡°Son-in-law, sneak out and come to the business van at the crossroads.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; it was the first time he saw Tong Ming being so secretive. ¡°I have something to take care of, I¡¯ll be back!¡± After giving a perfunctory notice to the others, Chen Yu left the shop with feigned calmness and quickly spotted the business van at the crossroads. As soon as he got in the van, he saw Tong Ming holding an invitation. Before he could even ask, Tong Ming looked at him with a pleading gaze. ¡°Son-in-law, do you have any idea how famous your last chef competition has become internationally?¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, ¡°I¡¯m aware! What about it?¡± ¡°You see, there¡¯s this wilderness survival show that I need you to attend,¡± Tong Ming said. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re not kidding, right?¡± Tong Ming appeared somewhat helpless, ¡°After you climbed the cliff to pick goose-neck barnacles last time, it triggered the competitive spirit of several wilderness survival experts abroad, and they have collectively issued a challenge to you.¡± Tong Ming pushed the invitation into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. Seeing the events listed on the invitation, Chen Yu suddenly felt a rush of excitement. But he also felt it was somewhat irresponsible. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been thinking about starting a food processing factory recently¡­¡± ¡°Then this is perfect. If you win the championship in this challenge, you could get about thirty million in prize money. You wouldn¡¯t just be able to start a food processing factory; opening several chain stores wouldn¡¯t be an issue either.¡± Chen Yu was instantly tempted. With the current net profits from his store, it would take about twenty days to earn thirty million. As Tong Ming had said, with the money in hand, he would be able to start the food processing factory right away, so it couldn¡¯t be considered irresponsible. ¡°When do we leave?¡± Chen Yu suddenly became resolute. ¡°Tonight, and you¡¯ll reach the competition site by tomorrow morning. It lasts for three days! However, you can¡¯t bring family members. For Tong Ya¡¯s part, you¡¯d better make up a lie.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Who teaches their son-in-law to lie to their own daughter? He responded rather perfunctorily and returned to his store. Tong Ya had already sensed something was off and stood at the door, staring at the business van from a distance. ¡°Husband, what did my dad want you to do?¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tong Ya¡¯s cheek: ¡°I¡¯m going to participate in a wilderness survival show. If I win the championship, I can go ahead with the plan for the food processing factory.¡± Tong Ya pouted, looking somewhat resentfully at the business van at the crossroads. ¡°He does it on purpose, always getting you to participate in these weird shows.¡± ¡°No problem, it¡¯s also a form of training for me! Take good care of Tuan Tuan at home, and the store is all yours for the next few days.¡± Tong Ya found that Chen Yu was becoming more and more perfect in her eyes. Not only did he run the store perfectly, but he was also proficient in various cuisines, and even medical skills and extreme sports seemed to come naturally to him. Sometimes she even felt that Chen Yu was an omnipotent god. ¡°Then be careful and come back early!¡± Chen Yu nodded and got back on the business van. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Tong Ming took Chen Yu to the airport. At five o¡¯clock in the early morning the next day, Chen Yu, who had only gotten three hours of sleep in the hotel, was awakened by a call from the organizers. After quickly packing his equipment, Chen Yu went up to the rooftop as instructed, waiting for the helicopter. The first task required all the contestants to jump from a helicopter with parachutes on their backs. This was a crucial scoring point in the outdoor survival assessment. Scores were ultimately determined based on the location of their skydiving and the performance of their jump. Chen Yu was taken by helicopter near an island. ¡°Mr. Chen, you can choose any of the islands below. After you jump, you can either swim directly to the mainland or use the island¡¯s resources to live for a day and then make a raft to go to the mainland.¡± Chen Yu nodded and walked straight to the helicopter door. Before the staff could react, he jumped. ¡°Mr. Chen, you haven¡¯t taken your parachute!¡± The staff shouted in alarm, peering out of the door anxiously. They saw Chen Yu spread his arms and precisely land in the ocean. Then, he quickly swam to the island. The helicopter staff, seeing that Chen Yu was safe, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although this was a wilderness survival show, their principle was still to ensure the safety of the contestants and prevent any fatal accidents. Soon after, several drones carrying cameras flew towards Chen Yu. Chapter 124 - Chapter 124 - 124: The Spectacled Cobra Chapter 124 ¨C 124: The Spectacled Cobra ¡°` Inside the organizer¡¯s camp, everyone was dazzled by Chen Yu¡¯s leap. The other three contestants were all carrying some simple equipment and parachutes. Chen Yu, however, had brought nothing, which meant his wilderness survival was starting from scratch. After arriving on the island, he started searching for some dry trees. He picked up a thin branch and, with all his strength, fiercely struck it against the trunk of a tree. A shower of sparks flew out, igniting the dry grass he had placed nearby. This method of making fire by friction was also an eye-opener. Such incredible arm strength was needed to light a fire in one go. After briefly warming his clothes over the fire, Chen Yu stripped some bark from the trees and made a simple hammock, where he lay down with ease. He had hurriedly taken a flight here last night and was called early in the morning to participate in the wilderness survival competition. Even with his excellent physical condition, it was a bit too much to bear. Furthermore, the island wasn¡¯t very large, and it didn¡¯t pose much danger, so it made sense to rest here for a day first. It didn¡¯t take long for Chen Yu to fall into a deep sleep. Unaware of how much time had passed, he was awakened by a system notification in his mind. ¡°Congratulations host for completing a day¡¯s business; since costs exceeded profits, there are no points accumulated.¡± Before leaving, Chen Yu had given his phone to Tong Ya and had also shared his payment password with her. After all, there might not be any signal on the wilderness survival site. Even if there was, according to the competition rules, he wasn¡¯t allowed to carry any electronic devices. Chen Yu stretched lazily, jumped down from the tree bed, and ignited another fire. Then he jumped into the sea and forcefully dragged up two large fish. After a simple meal, Chen Yu put on his dried clothes and chopped down some nearby trees to make a simple raft. Leisurely, he set off for the mainland. The other three contestants weren¡¯t having as easy a time as Chen Yu. They only rested on the island for a short while before swimming straight for the mainland. The wilderness survival competition had a specific destination, and the first to arrive would be declared the winner. Once Chen Yu reached the shore, he didn¡¯t stop for a moment and immediately began darting through the thicket of trees. He was so fast that even the drones following him couldn¡¯t keep up. Having run for most of the night, not once did Chen Yu show signs of fatigue. Just as he was about to find something to eat, he suddenly heard a scream not far away. Chen Yu frowned, climbed up a tall tree to take a look, and indeed saw the flicker of a fire in that direction. Without lingering, Chen Yu swung from one large tree to another and headed toward the fire. The other three contestants were all there. One of them was lying next to the fire, gritting his teeth in agony. The three seemed to come from different countries, and their communication was extremely chaotic. Yet all three appeared to be anxious. Chen Yu took a quick look and realized that the injured contestant had been bitten by a venomous snake. By the looks of the wound, it was likely a pit viper. An injury from such a snake was difficult to heal unless one had antivenom. At that moment, a large number of drones were hovering nearby, inquiring about the situation. Compared to others¡¯ panic, Chen Yu remained incredibly calm. He told the drones he could handle it and then disappeared into the dense forest beside them. Before long, Chen Yu returned with a bunch of herbs. ¡°Chen, this stuff¡­ effective¡­¡± ¡°` Chen Yu looked up and saw the person inquiring before him, with the name ¡®Bell¡¯ written on his chest. His Chinese wasn¡¯t very good, so his speech came out haltingly. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say a word, only giving an ¡®OK¡¯ hand sign. Then, he applied the pulverized herbal medicine to the injured person¡¯s leg. The injured person¡¯s name was Kant, and Chen Yu had seen his wilderness survival programs before¡ªhe was a truly ruthless man. Another person was named Karan. Originally a seasoned adventure blogger, he had become enamored with wilderness survival. The competition was originally a friendly match between the three of them. However, after they saw the video of Chen Yu climbing the cliff with his bare hands and the goose neck barnacles, they unanimously decided they wanted to challenge Chen Yu. After all, the move Chen Yu made was extremely difficult. All three of them had tested it and found that they couldn¡¯t move as freely as Chen Yu did. After Kant had the herbal medicine applied, he quickly regained consciousness, and his complexion gradually improved. Bell and Karan also breathed a sigh of relief. Using their broken Chinese, they kept thanking Chen Yu and even shared some of the supplies they had brought with them. Early the next morning, the four set out together. The primeval jungle was extremely dangerous; Kant¡¯s lesson told them that one person couldn¡¯t cross the jungle alone. In the organizer¡¯s camp, everyone was watching the images sent back by the drones, and the post-production staff immediately began processing these images. Especially the footage of Chen Yu rescuing people last night, which was further dramatized. They then changed the original title from ¡®The Lonely Brave¡¯ to ¡®Teamwork¡¯. By evening, Kant was able to walk freely, and the four buried the stretcher they had used to carry him. Having traveled a bit further, the four worked together using large leaves to make a simple pot. Chen Yu gathered the food and seasoning they each had and used the game he had caught to prepare a feast. The three hadn¡¯t expected to eat something so delicious under wilderness survival conditions. They all saw Chen Yu with new eyes. And they even began to have a faint sense of conceding defeat. Just with the skills of treating snake venom and cooking in the wild, Chen Yu had already overwhelmed the three of them. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. As the cost exceeds the profit, there is no bonus to points.] In the past few days, Chen Yu had grown accustomed to such notification sounds. However, he didn¡¯t care much about points anymore. The skills the system provided were enough to make him a cut above the rest. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t fully mastered many skills, and there was no need to acquire new ones. Chen Yu silently vowed in his heart that he would definitely start up his factory when he returned this time. Just as they were eating, a rustling sound suddenly came from the woods beside them. All four of them had hearing above that of ordinary people and almost simultaneously stood up. Before long, a group of mongrel dogs appeared. They greedily stared at the four, or more precisely, at the large leaf in the middle. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed; he couldn¡¯t help but complain inwardly about who had chosen this wilderness survival location. This was no longer a competition but practically playing with their lives. However, he didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that his cooking was too delicious, and the fragrance had attracted the mongrel dogs. Chen Yu took a deep breath and slowly picked up a tree branch from beside him. As two of the dogs leaped towards him, he lashed out fiercely with the branch. Chapter 125 - Chapter 125 - 125: Master of Gourmet Food Chapter 125 ¨C 125: Master of Gourmet Food Chen Yu¡¯s physical fitness had already reached the limits of human potential, but he had never systematically learned martial arts or any kind of self-defense techniques. Now, he could only rely on his own physical prowess and that sharp reflexes to deal with these mongrels. However, these critters usually moved in packs and were numerous. Even if Chen Yu was formidable, it wasn¡¯t possible to deal with all of them, especially since he also had to protect the three people behind him. Bell, Kant, and Karan, although all world-renowned wilderness survival experts, also had very limited abilities. Chen Yu let out a breath, ¡°We can¡¯t stay here any longer! Let¡¯s leave as soon as possible.¡± The three roughly understood Chen Yu¡¯s meaning, not daring to linger here any longer. After quickly packing their equipment, they took up torches and cautiously proceeded, keeping a watchful eye on the mongrels as they hastened forward. Shortly after they left, the pack of mongrels pounced and devoured the food they had left behind, leaving nothing. Not until the early morning did the four men stop for a rest, looking back with some trepidation. This wilderness survival trip indeed had many accidents, primarily because its difficulty might have been the greatest in recent years. This primeval jungle had been desolate for many years, even housing some primitive tribes. The organizers had initially planned separate routes for the four, but an unexpected event had brought the other three together, with Chen Yu being the exception. Moreover, Kant had been bitten by a rare venomous snake. When these images were transmitted back to the organizers¡¯ camp, everyone was on edge. Initially, they thought that with four formidable participants together, there wouldn¡¯t be too many problems. But they still underestimated the dangers within this primeval jungle. Without any pause, on the afternoon of the third day at two o¡¯clock, the four men almost simultaneously reached the predetermined endpoint. The staff, who had been waiting there, immediately took them away separately for medical examinations. After all the checks were finished, Chen Yu returned to the hotel. [Congratulations, Host, for completing one day of business. Since costs have surpassed profits, there are currently no points accumulated.] Chen Yu checked the time subconsciously; it was already eight o¡¯clock at night. Stretching, Chen Yu was about to go to bed when his phone suddenly rang. ¡°Son-in-law, we have to leave overnight!¡± ¡°Is it that urgent?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly. ¡°The organizers want to sign a lifetime contract with you, and I¡¯m not foolish enough to bury my son-in-law here! No matter what, we¡¯re heading back to Suzhou City first.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and hurried out of the hotel as Tong Ming had instructed. In a clearing not far away, Tong Ming had arranged a helicopter to wait there. Tong Ming did not leave with Chen Yu; he had to stay behind to coordinate some details. Not until four in the morning did Chen Yu finally return to Suzhou City. Although slightly tired, Chen Yu didn¡¯t return to Shuiyue No.1, instead going directly to the shop. By four thirty in the morning, the shop was already in business mode. Except for Li Lan, who was at home taking care of Tuan Tuan, everyone else was there. Tong Ya was also there, helping to tidy up the tables. ¡°Wife! I¡¯m back!¡± The shout drew the attention of the entire shop. Tong Ya, even more so, shouted and darted into Chen Yu¡¯s embrace in three strides. Yet Tong Ya¡¯s face was filled with grievance, ¡°You still remember to come back? You¡¯ve been gone for three days without so much as a message.¡± Chen Yu patted Tong Ya¡¯s back, ¡°The place I went to compete had no signal, you know!¡± Just as he was consoling her, Chen Yu suddenly noticed that the faces of the people in the shop were looking rather grim. Li Gang, with a sullen look, came out of the kitchen and handed over an invitation to Chen Yu. ¡°Old Chen, this was sent over by Master Han Dongli yesterday!¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and took a good look at it, only to realize that Master Han Dongli was indeed a top gourmet critic. Tong Ya let out a sigh, ¡°I heard about Master Han when I was a child. He has an extremely high status in the culinary world. Any restaurant he¡¯s reviewed either becomes the talk of the industry or could possibly shut down that very day.¡± Chen Yu remained calm, ¡°For me, whether he¡¯s a master or not, once he¡¯s in our shop, he¡¯s our guest, and we just need to serve him well.¡± This composed demeanor instantly surprised everyone in the shop, especially Ning Kai, Li Gang, and Wang Qingshan. The three of them were veteran chefs and knew Han Dongli very well. The master was already in his sixties this year and had dedicated his youth to restoring lost recipes. He spent more than thirty years collecting and compiling ancient lost recipes, and so far, he had documented more than four hundred dishes. And he was particularly picky. Restaurants around the world with any degree of fame had been visited by him, yet most were both respectful and fearful of him. Whenever Han Dongli visited a restaurant, nearly the entire staff would run around in circles attending to him. Some venues even went so far as to hire world-class chefs at a high cost, all just to get a word of approval from him. However, the three were quite confident in Chen Yu. In all their years as chefs, they had never seen one like Chen Yu. While other chefs take nearly a lifetime to master one type of cuisine, the three had no idea how many types Chen Yu was proficient in. Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t say, and they didn¡¯t dare to ask. As far as they could tell, Chen Yu was at least an expert in five major cuisines, and he had unique methods and techniques for each. What was most important was that Chen Yu was not yet thirty years old. To have achieved such success at this age in the culinary world was no longer a matter of genius, it was downright divine. By eight in the morning, the flow of customers gradually increased. Chen Yu noticed that many of them were carrying milk tea cups that were exceedingly cute in appearance. He glanced instinctively outside the door and saw that across from the convenience store, a window selling milk tea had opened up at some point. ¡°Yuan Yi Milk Tea? When did this open?¡± Chen Yu casually asked. Li Gang also glanced outside and noted, ¡°It just opened the day before yesterday. It seems to be a celebrity-owned brand, and around a hundred locations popped up throughout Suzhou City in a single day.¡± A look of concern appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t so much that there was something wrong with the milk tea shop, but the sugar crystals and all sorts of additives contained in milk tea mixed with the braised flavors could easily cause problems. The fats in braised foods are naturally high. For most people who are strong and healthy, naturally, it¡¯s not an issue, but those who are slightly weaker or suffering from serious obesity. If they drank the milk tea and then came to his shop for braised flavors, the combined effect could potentially cause issues with blood pressure and blood sugar. Chapter 126 - Chapter 126 - 126: The Rules of the Shop Chapter 126 ¨C 126: The Rules of the Shop Chen Yu had previously tweaked the marinade recipe based on the principles of herbal cuisine, turning the shop¡¯s marinated dishes into bona fide health foods. But who could guarantee that these milk teas wouldn¡¯t undermine the medicinal properties of the recipe? Chen Yu pondered in his mind for a moment, and knew he had to minimize the potential harm of these milk teas on his customers¡¯ health. At the very least, the patrons of his shop absolutely could not be compromised by the milk tea. ¡°Li Gang, Ning Kai, I¡¯ll leave things here to you, I need to step out for a bit.¡± After giving his instructions, Chen Yu hurried off to the farmers¡¯ market. Before long, Chen Yu bought back a large amount of various beans. The system had already provided a complete set of breakfast recipes, which included the preparation of mung bean smoothies and soy milk. Now that the weather was gradually warming up, these two items might be able to counteract the impact of milk tea on the store to the greatest extent if placed in the shop. Especially the soy milk, which only required a special technique to be slightly modified, and it could imitate the taste of cow¡¯s milk. If some ingredients were added, the flavor could be even more refreshing than that of milk tea. What¡¯s more important was that its cost was extremely low, almost negligible. Chen Yu planned to offer these two items for free, just like the porridge previously available in the dining area. In less than ten minutes, Chen Yu had made the first bowl of soy milk. The fragrance it exuded was completely different from that of ordinary soy milk, with a very rich milky aroma. If one didn¡¯t see the preparation process, they might think it was fresh cow¡¯s milk straight from the cow. Li Gang couldn¡¯t wait to take a sip and was instantly amazed. ¡°My God! This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone make pure milk out of soy milk.¡± Ning Kai, already enticed by the smell, snatched the spoon and took a sip with a look of enjoyment. ¡°Delicious and invigorating; oh, Chen Yu, if you supply this for free, it¡¯s simply too much of a waste. If this were sold in other shops, even ten yuan per cup would be too cheap.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just followed the previous steps and made four large pots. Mung bean smoothie, red bean smoothie, secret recipe chilled soy milk, and secret recipe hot soy milk. And in these offerings, Chen Yu had also added some fashionable fruits. The four large pots were plugged in and the temperature set, ready to serve both hot and cold. The aroma that wafted out filled the entire shop in no time. A delivery guy who often brought his daughter with him must have felt sorry for her, so he bought her a cup of milk tea before entering the shop. But as soon as he saw four big tubs added to the free supply section, he was startled. And the aroma that spread was several times richer than the milk tea in the young girl¡¯s hand. Almost subconsciously, he picked up a disposable plastic bowl from the side and scooped up a bowl of the secret recipe soy milk. After just one taste, the delivery guy was so impressed that he grabbed his daughter¡¯s milk tea and took a sip. ¡°What on earth is this garbage, selling for twelve yuan a cup, and it¡¯s not even as tasty as the stuff Chen Yu is offering for free.¡± Exclaiming in surprise, the guy then scooped up another bowl for his daughter. The little girl obediently took a sip and then pushed the milk tea in her hand aside. The free supply area had been set up specifically for delivery guys in the first place, so naturally, they were among the first beneficiaries. It wasn¡¯t long before nearly all the delivery guys in the shop were showering the place with praise. ¡°This is definitely the most delicious smoothie I¡¯ve ever had; Chen Yu, are you sure you¡¯re not charging for this?¡± ¡°If I had known, why would I bother buying milk tea? Those celebrities are just using milk tea as a pretext to make money. Look at young boss Chen, offering such delicious things for free.¡± ¡­ The delivery guys¡¯ praises quickly attracted the nearby customers. After most people tasted the secret soy milk blend, they immediately discarded their milk teas aside. In fact, calculating the cost, the average expense for each big pot of the nine kinds of free beverages was only about ten yuan. Even if each kind of beverage was served in five shifts per day, the cost was just over five hundred yuan. Compared to the daily net profit of over a million, it was literally insignificant. Moreover, Chen Yu had entered these nine kinds of free beverages into the delivery system. Consumers could choose the amount of beverages according to the number of people dining, which was also a benefit offered by Chen Yu. At noon, an old man in his sixties hobbled into the shop with a cane. He walked to the display window with an air of authority and knocked on it casually. ¡°Boss, just give me a few of your specialty dishes,¡± he said. At the sound of his voice, Ning Kai and Li Gang were momentarily startled. ¡°Mr. Han!¡± The two called out almost in unison and then prepared to go out and greet him. But Chen Yu stopped them. ¡°Old gentleman, please go over to the ordering area to place your order, then join the queue here. These are the rules of our shop.¡± Han Dongli¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief: ¡°Take a good look, I am a gourmet critic, and my final opinion can directly determine the fate of this establishment.¡± ¡°Who you are doesn¡¯t concern me; here, you are just another diner, and you must follow the rules of this place!¡± Han Dongli didn¡¯t expect Chen Yu to show him such little respect and immediately felt indignant. However, seeing the popularity of the shop, he suppressed the anger in his heart. This establishment was long famous and had even been featured in Suzhou City¡¯s media more than once. Today, no matter what, he had to taste for himself what made this place so exceptional. Taking a deep breath, Han Dongli headed towards the ordering area. But as he passed the free offering section, he was instantly captivated by the aroma wafting from the nine big pots. Leaning in to sniff, Han Dongli was even more startled. ¡°Licorice, bamboo shavings, lotus leaves, lotus seeds¡­¡± He rattled off the names of several ingredients, saliva already flowing from the corner of his mouth. Eager, he picked up a disposable plastic bowl and helped himself to some black rice and adzuki bean porridge. ¡°Black rice, adzuki beans, the ratio of water was nearly perfect, and the combined effect of the medicines is to dispel dampness and chill! My God, such a thing is offered for free.¡± Exclaiming in amazement, he took another disposable bowl and served himself some chilled secret soy milk blend. ¡°Chilled and refreshing, with a strong fruit flavor, but isn¡¯t this milk too rich? Such cost¡­ No, soybeans! My God, what kind of method was used? The soybean taste is completely hidden; even I almost couldn¡¯t detect it.¡± Overwhelmed with excitement, he took another disposable bowl, wanting to get some mung bean slush. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter with you, old man? Kind boss Chen offers us these free beverages, and look at you¡ªhaving a bit to drink, wasting a bowl. Disposable bowls are still bowls, aren¡¯t they free?¡± A scolding voice startled Han Dongli, and then dozens of delivery guys swarmed around him. From their looks, they seemed ready to tear Han Dongli to pieces. Chapter 127 - Chapter 127 - 127 My Rules Chapter 127 ¨C 127 My Rules Han Dongli was terrified. As a food critic, he had to ensure the purity of each food item. To identify the ingredients used in the porridges, it was absolutely necessary to prevent the flavors from mixing. But these delivery guys were different; they were naturally frugal, and the porridge was provided for free, so how could they waste disposable plastic bowls? And every half bowl of porridge that Han Dongli scooped up, he only took one sip and then threw it into the trash can next to him. It was simply too wasteful. ¡°What are you doing? I am a famous foodie. I came here to judge what level this restaurant is¡­¡± ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± A delivery guy suddenly interrupted Han Dongli, ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of people like you, bloggers who explore restaurants, internet big Vs, who just deceive others for free food and drinks! And then you give yourself the title of a foodie, how shameless.¡± In an instant, the delivery guys and customers in the shop gathered around. If looks could kill, Han Dongli would have been dismembered by now. Tong Ya saw what was happening and hurried over. She obviously knew Han Dongli, and this old predecessor¡¯s temper was quite explosive. If the taste produced by any shop didn¡¯t suit his palate, he could even publicly criticize everyone involved with the shop, including the chefs. Yet now, he had become the one being criticized and judged. Tong Ya covered her lips and chuckled, then approached Han Dongli. ¡°Mr. Han, one of our principles here is not to waste food. Such behavior incurs a fine in our establishment,¡± she said. Han Dongli was stunned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you from the Tong family¡­¡± ¡°This restaurant is opened by my husband, so I am now part of the Chen family,¡± Tong Ya interrupted, and then led him to the ordering area. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from my grandfather since I was little, the Beidou of the culinary world! However, here, I hope you can put aside your set of rules and follow my husband¡¯s,¡± she said, her tone cooling. The domineering air of a conglomerate heiress in Tong Ya¡¯s voice took Han Dongli by surprise. Originally, Han Dongli had hoped to use his renown to intimidate here, but he faced obstacles at every turn. Moreover, this place was connected to the Tong Group; he wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly even if he had ten times the courage. Swallowing instinctively, Han Dongli sullenly began to order food by scanning a code with his phone. The dish he ordered was also extremely tricky: Pagoda-style braised pork. This dish was a true test of a chef¡¯s skill. Firstly, the knife work: when cooking, the whole piece of meat must not be cut apart, and when the dish is served, the pork must remain intact to ensure it¡¯s connected. Secondly, the cooking: since the pork remains connected, it¡¯s difficult to ensure even cooking throughout. Therefore, to properly make this dish, a chef needs decades of experience and a solid foundation, something not simply achieved. In fact, Han Dongli was just looking for a way to save face. Since the restaurant was related to the Tong Group, he obviously couldn¡¯t hastily give it a rating. But Chen Yu looked to be under thirty; how could he possibly manage such a complex dish? When the time came, Han Dongli could sneer and mock with insinuations, at least letting off some steam. As he was scheming in his mind, Yang Shu placed an extremely delicate plate of Pagoda pork on the table. Han Dongli couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes in disbelief; it had only been half an hour, and such a difficult dish had actually been made. Full of doubt, he picked up his chopsticks and clamped the very top of the Pagoda pork, lifting it slowly. To his amazement, the meat below was perfectly connected without a hint of separation. When he lifted the meat, it emitted a rich aroma. ¡°This is impossible, how could it be done in half an hour?¡± No sooner had he marveled at this when Yang Shu looked at Han Dongli with an odd expression. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re really behind the times! Haven¡¯t you heard of a pressure cooker?¡± The two of them were clearly not on the same wavelength. Han Dongli was puzzled that such a complicated process could be done so fast. Yet in Yang Shu¡¯s eyes, those so-called complicated steps were nothing at all. She had even seen Chen Yu prepare even more complex dishes firsthand. Taking a deep breath, Han Dongli cut a piece of meat and placed it in his mouth. The nearly perfect taste nearly made his taste buds explode. ¡°To think you could fuse the flavors of the four major cuisines into one!¡± This exclamation startled the nearby customers, all of whom looked at Han Dongli with strange gazes. A layman appreciates the spectacle, an expert appreciates the technique. In the eyes of others, as long as the food Chen Yu made was tasty, it was good enough. But for Han Dongli, it was different. There were methods for making Bao Ta meat in all the major cuisines. It was difficult to strictly define which cuisine this dish truly belonged to. There had even been a debate in the culinary world over which cuisine could claim this dish. The Bao Ta meat prepared by Chen Yu could leave the chefs from all the contested cuisine camps red-faced. He had directly fused the flavors of all the cuisines together. But in Han Dongli¡¯s view, it was impossible to make such a complex dish like Bao Ta meat in half an hour, let alone blend the flavors so perfectly. He picked up the plate of Bao Ta meat and hurried to the display window. ¡°Young man, how on earth did you make this?¡± Chen Yu, busy tossing a pan, didn¡¯t even glance at Han Dongli. ¡°Old sir, this is a kitchen, not a dining area. I hope you won¡¯t disturb us while we¡¯re cooking.¡± Han Dongli was momentarily stunned. In his more than thirty years in the industry, no chef had ever dared to be so presumptuous in his presence. But when he thought of Chen Yu¡¯s skills, he sighed helplessly. Just based on this dish of Bao Ta meat alone, even if he reprimanded him, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Moreover, Chen Yu was generous enough to offer such delicious food for free¡ªhis magnanimity and realm were simply incomparable to Han Dongli¡¯s. After finishing the Bao Ta meat, Han Dongli didn¡¯t leave. He just sat there blankly until eight o¡¯clock in the evening. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. As costs exceed profits, no points have been accrued.] Chen Yu had just placed the raw materials needed for tomorrow into the cold storage and briefly checked the inventory before leaving the warehouse. Although there were still no points accumulated, his checking account balance had reached 12.94 million. If the rewards from the wilderness survival were also credited, he would have over 30 million in his hands. By then, he could seriously open a large factory. Just as Chen Yu was about to sit down and eat, he saw Han Dongli sitting there in a daze. The others were also frustrated. The old man had been sitting there all day, and even though the plate in front of him had been cleared away, it was unclear why he was still sitting there. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128 - 128 Feeling Ashamed of Oneself Chapter 128 ¨C 128 Feeling Ashamed of Oneself ¡°Old sir, would you like to come over and have a bite?¡± Chen Yu called out with a frown. No matter what, we couldn¡¯t just let an old man sit there idly in the shop! Han Dongli looked up blankly, didn¡¯t say much, and walked over leaning on his cane. Chu Hong hurried to get a clean set of utensils and served Han Dongli a bowl of rice. Han Dongli had just sat down when he was shocked by the sumptuous meal in front of him. ¡°Is this what you normally eat for your employee meal?¡± Wang Dan, who was sitting close by, couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes, ¡°Are you dissatisfied with our employee meal, old sir?¡± The question was obviously charged, as Wang Dan considered their employee meal to be the best in the world. Han Dongli waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean! Your employee meal is too lavish; it includes dishes from all the major cuisines, and even the rice is made with great care.¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s just the leftover ingredients from the day, made casually, nothing special.¡± Han Dongli sighed softly, ¡°Chen, at your age, it¡¯s the time to be competitive and full of vigor, yet the wisdom and demeanor you show have won me over!¡± A thick booklet was then placed on the table by Han Dongli. ¡°These are lost recipes I¡¯ve collated over the years. A precious sword is meant for a hero, and now, it seems there¡¯s no one more worthy of this recipe book than you.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback and politely stood up to receive the recipe book. But when he browsed through it, he found that the so-called lost recipes recorded within were all included in the system¡¯s array of dishes. In other words, there was no such thing as lost recipes for him; even if there were, the system would automatically complete them for him. ¡°Old sir, actually, the lost recipes recorded here, I can make almost all of them!¡± Chen Yu put the booklet away and respectfully returned it. Han Dongli was completely stunned, ¡°Impossible, these are recipes I¡¯ve compiled from over thirty years of travel around the world, and you¡¯re not even thirty years old yet, these lost recipes¡­¡± Chen Yu cut him off, ¡°Ancient dishes varied greatly in their preparation due to historical and geographical reasons from the modern ones!¡± ¡°The lost recipes you¡¯ve noted in this recipe book are modern interpretations of ancient dishes, or to put it simply, they are home-cooked meals handed down from farmers.¡± For Han Dongli, this revelation was like a bolt from the blue; what he had painstakingly collected over thirty years amounted to nothing more than common homestyle dishes in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. Before he could grasp what had happened, Chen Yu pushed a plate of deep-fried fish fillets in front of him. ¡°Peony fish fillets have been documented since the Warring States period as a part of the state banquet of the Chu kingdom, and there are many ways to prepare it to this day! Mine is a homestyle version, just that I didn¡¯t have time to shape it into a peony.¡± Han Dongli¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Peony fish fillets were a signature dish in his recipe collection. Only a very few people in the world could prepare this dish. Yet, in Chen Yu¡¯s place, it was merely a dish for the employee meal. Han Dongli¡¯s face was full of shame, ¡°I have lived in vain for over sixty years!¡± With a heavy sigh, he didn¡¯t linger, but took up his cane and shuffled out of the shop. ¡°Is the old gentleman alright? Why does he look so soulless?¡± Chu Hong asked, full of confusion. Li Gang sighed softly, ¡°A lifelong belief, so mercilessly erased, it¡¯s tragic!¡± Wang Qingshan snorted coldly, ¡°These so-called gourmets are nothing but people using the media to hype their own fame, thinking their words alone can exchange a lifetime of fame and fortune!¡± Ning Kai laughed a few times, ¡°If we¡¯re really talking about cooking skills, this Mr. Han probably can¡¯t compare to any of us here, except for his sharp tongue, that is.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the door, didn¡¯t say much, and after all, once they were in his place, they had to follow his rules. Mr. Han¡¯s actions today were indeed a bit excessive. And before, Chen Yu had read news about Han Dongli, which mostly involved the old guy ruining other people¡¯s businesses. In Chen Yu¡¯s view, such a person was of no use to the culinary world, on the contrary, he was a disaster. After dinner, and a quick cleanup, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Chen Guang back to Watermoon One. Since coming back from the Live or Die scene overnight yesterday, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t rested and was truly exhausted. After a quick shower, he returned to his room and fell asleep. The next morning at six, Chen Yu got out of bed, still groggy. Tong Ya and Chen Guang had gone to the shop early, and Tuan Tuan had woken up early too, practicing dancing in front of the TV. Li Lan busied herself cleaning up the house on her own. Chen Yu exchanged a few words with Tuan Tuan and then drove to the shop. Unexpectedly, there was already a long line at the door of the shop. Chen Yu frowned, usually at this time the shop would be bustling, but it had never formed such a long queue like today. After parking the car, Chen Yu hurried into the shop. Almost all the customers were gathered in the free supply area, taking a bowl of porridge or soy milk before heading to the second floor. ¡°Old Chen, our shop is almost catching up with the bubble tea shop!¡± Li Gang leaned at the counter door, face full of smiles. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, subconsciously looking across at the convenience store. He found that there was nobody at the bubble tea window over there. He had anticipated this scene; it¡¯s obvious that when one place offers better-tasting drinks than the other, and for free, people know what to choose. ¡°Increase the amount for free supply as appropriate today!¡± Chen Yu said casually and then entered the kitchen. The reason why Yuanyi Bubble Tea had spread throughout Suzhou City so quickly was that they had utilized the convenience stores¡¯ locations. Convenience stores were generally located where there was a high flow of people, using this, bubble tea shops could save a large amount of investment. But starting from today, centered on Chen Yu¡¯s shop, all Yuanyi Bubble Tea stores were hit hard. The best stores had their sales cut in half, and like the store opposite Chen Yu¡¯s, so far, they hadn¡¯t made a single transaction. Moreover, in all the major social media in Suzhou City, one could see promotions about the free soy milk. Plus, with Chen Yu¡¯s store already being a popular spot in Suzhou City, its influence had greatly increased. These free supplies also brought a larger customer flow to Chen Yu¡¯s shop. Even though most people came for the word ¡°free,¡± when faced with such delicious offerings, they felt somewhat embarrassed not to buy something else. However, Chen Yu¡¯s shop had long covered within a ten-kilometer radius, almost all customer traffic, so even though sales increased, there wasn¡¯t a very noticeable surge. Chapter 129 - Chapter 129 - 129 Portrait Chapter 129 ¨C 129 Portrait Capital City, Qingquan Mountain Film and Television Base. Fang Yuan looked at the continuously increasing share of profits in her account and instantly beamed with joy. She had not expected that the celebrity effect, coupled with capital operations, could yield such high profits. In just a few days, she had actually received more than twenty million. So far, her milk tea shop had opened nearly ten thousand branches across the country, and the number was still increasing wildly. Fang Yuan couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, and at this rate, she thought, she might fulfill the wager agreement in no more than two months. Han Mintao placed several contracts in front of Fang Yuan. ¡°These are the plans for after you complete the wager agreement. Your personal studio and personal sole proprietorship need to be set up now,¡± he said. Fang Yuan glanced briefly at the contracts, then prepared to sign, but her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Yuan sister, our stores in Suzhou City aren¡¯t doing well. Several of them are struggling to survive.¡± Along with this message came a video. With one look, Fang Yuan knew it was Chen Yu¡¯s store. Especially when she saw the nine large barrels labeled ¡°free supply,¡± her nerves almost snapped. Nowadays, everyone knows that the milk tea industry is highly profitable¡ªa cup of milk tea costing ten yuan might only have a cost of one to two yuan. How could they possibly compete with someone offering free goods? Fang Yuan took a deep breath, not bothering to worry too much. After all, her business layout was nationwide, and the loss of merely one Suzhou City wouldn¡¯t have too much impact. But when she saw the contents of the video, she still felt anger bubbling up inside her. Could free stuff really taste better than her milk tea? ¡°What¡¯s wrong, daughter?¡± Han Mintao pressed on Fang Yuan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Why the long face? You¡¯re about to complete the wager agreement; what could possibly upset you?¡± Fang Yuan was somewhat dazed, ¡°Mom, do you think, when I make my marriage history public, will there be any negative public opinion about me? Can I safely bring Tuan Tuan back?¡± Han Mintao was taken aback, ¡°I advise against it. The entertainment industry relies on personal branding, once that collapses, everything you have will cease to exist.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s breath became rapid, ¡°But didn¡¯t you say that as long as I fulfill the wager agreement, I might be able to bring Tuan Tuan back?¡± Han Mintao sighed lightly, ¡°That¡¯s true, but this is the entertainment industry! Personal branding is fundamental to your livelihood. I can only guarantee your independence from capital¡¯s control. As for the rest, time will tell.¡± Fang Yuan didn¡¯t speak again. She just signed her name on those contracts and then sat staring blankly at the video on her phone. ¡­ By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the flow of people began to dwindle. Chen Yu was preparing to take a break when suddenly he saw several people rush into the shop with great momentum, heading straight for the free supply area. They immediately grabbed the large barrels, ready to pour out all the porridge. Chen Yu frowned and lunged forward, flipping these people to the ground in a swift move. Li Gang and Ning Kai rushed out of the kitchen upon seeing this. ¡°Oh, so you dare to come here and make trouble!¡± Li Gang shouted, lifting one of the men, ¡°Who sent you?¡± These guys were somewhat dazed by Chen Yu¡¯s takedown; they had not expected Chen Yu to be so formidable. ¡°I recognize them; they¡¯re from the milk tea shop across the street!¡± Liu Tong pointed at the men with some indignation. Chen Yu frowned. He had not expected the milk tea shop¡¯s personnel to come over and create a scene. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who they are; just send them straight to the relevant authorities!¡± Just then, the floating TV set up in the middle of the hall suddenly displayed scenes from a wilderness survival show. When Chen Yu appeared on the screen, everyone cheered. ¡°Oh my God, Chen Yu is actually participating in the program with those three wilderness survival experts.¡± ¡°Chen Yu has this up his sleeve, we never saw it before.¡± ¡°Such a perfect man, truly surprising.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, the footage on TV was edited, and many details weren¡¯t shown. It didn¡¯t highlight Chen Yu¡¯s abilities too much, probably because Tong Ming and the organizers had given specific instructions. However, the amount of advertising in the program was really excessive, with various ads popping up on the screen all the time. The show had indeed become very commercial! Just then, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang with a notification, and his account received a whole twenty million. Chen Yu became excited, now he could start preparing the factory. While he was making plans, Tang Xiaowei and Su Rui rushed into the shop and handed a proposal to Chen Yu. ¡°Brother Yu, our animation has passed the review, and the first episode will premiere today!¡± Tang Xiaowei shouted excitedly, then grabbed the remote control and switched to the animation channel. Meanwhile, Su Rui spread out several contracts on the table. ¡°You need to sign this authorization document, after all, the original characters for the animation are based on you guys.¡± Chen Yu was a bit surprised, he hadn¡¯t expected the two girls to move so fast, and in just a few days, they had already produced the animation. And looking at the quality, they must have invested a lot of money. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and directly signed his name. The shop suddenly became lively, even more excited than when they were watching the wilderness survival show. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the comic we read before? It¡¯s been turned into an animation.¡± ¡°Chen Yu, this shop is going to be famous all over the country.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been a witness to this shop since the days it was just a food cart, I¡¯m an old customer here.¡± ¡°As if it¡¯s any different for anyone else!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was also a bit excited; if the animation spread widely, it would be a great prelude to opening his factory later. Just then, Zhou Shengtao rushed into the shop in a hurry. However, he didn¡¯t care about the troublemakers that Chen Yu had caught but anxiously pulled out a photo and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Chen, I have an urgent matter I need your help with, can you draw the person from this photo?¡± Chen Yu frowned, clearly the photo was a blurry surveillance snapshot, and the figure was so indistinct that probably only a professional portrait artist could draw the person. ¡°You¡¯re making it difficult for me! The photo is so blurry, it¡¯s just a profile, and moreover, the person is wearing a mask, I¡¯m afraid I really can¡¯t help this time.¡± Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t care about that, he insisted on stuffing the photo into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°Chen, I still hope you can give it a try, this is related to over a dozen lives!¡± Chapter 130 - Chapter 130 - 130: Restoring Points Chapter 130 ¨C 130: Restoring Points Although Chen Yu felt helpless, Zhou Shengtao had already spoken like that; he couldn¡¯t really refuse, especially since it involved the lives of over a dozen people, a matter of great importance! ¡°Alright, I can try, but I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll be able to sketch it out.¡± Zhou Shengtao¡¯s face was filled with excitement, ¡°Let¡¯s go right now!¡± Just as he grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm, Zhou Shengtao saw Tang Xiaowei standing next to them. ¡°Little girl, you were the one who came with Chen last time, right? Come with me too!¡± Tang Xiaowei was somewhat depressed, ¡°I¡¯m just here to eat!¡± Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t care about that, the case was urgent and he needed personnel. When Chen Yu arrived at the relevant department, he realized that this was probably a typical serial murder case. Each victim had been precisely slashed across the femoral artery, bleeding to death from the excessive blood loss. From the photos of the victims laid on the table, the murderer appeared to be left-handed. However, this person was extremely cautious, always wearing a mask during the crimes and deliberately avoiding all security cameras. Given the existing conditions, Chen Yu could only rely on his intelligence and eyesight, which were at the human limit, to reluctantly sketch out a contour. As for the specific features of the face, Chen Yu was powerless. This guy had completely covered his entire face. It was simply impossible to infer his appearance based on any facial feature. Chen Yu and Tang Xiaowei discussed while they sketched, managing to draw a rough portrait of the suspect based on his physique. For Zhou Shengtao, this was already a major breakthrough; at least it could narrow down their investigative scope. As he was leaving, Zhou Shengtao held onto Chen Yu¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Chen, there are many details about this case that I cannot tell you for now, but it has had a huge impact on Suzhou City and even the whole country. If the suspect isn¡¯t apprehended soon, more people will die.¡± Hearing this, Chen Yu understood the severity of the situation and knew that if he didn¡¯t intervene, Zhou Shengtao would come looking for him again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be on call whenever you need me.¡± After a bit of small talk, Chen Yu and Tang Xiaowei went back to the shop. Su Rui didn¡¯t go back today; instead, she helped out in the shop. The first phase of their studio¡¯s work was complete; now they just needed to build on the foundation they had laid and continue producing animations, so they were relatively at ease. When Chen Yu returned, he found that the convenience store across the street was dismantling its milk tea section. The milk tea shop¡¯s franchisee sat in front of the store, smoking a cigarette with a look of helplessness on his face. He never dreamed that what would defeat him wasn¡¯t a competitor, but the free soy milk offered by a marinade shop. The staff who had been sent to cause trouble in Chen Yu¡¯s shop had been arrested, and naturally, he, as the boss, also had to be held accountable. As a result, the milk tea shop couldn¡¯t continue operating. ¡°Husband, let me tell you some good news. This afternoon, all of the ¡®Fang Yuan Milk Tea¡¯ shops within an eight-kilometer radius centered on our shop¡ªnot just them, but all milk tea shops¡ªhave closed down!¡± Chen Yu wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised, and there was no change in his facial expression. This was business, and competition in the world of business was just like this, survival of the fittest! Nevertheless, he still felt a bit uncomfortable because what he used to eliminate his competitors was something free. In a sense, it could be considered malicious competition. ¡°I¡¯m afraid only in Suzhou City would you find such a pattern!¡± Su Rui said, resting her chin on one hand as she watched the animations, scrolling on the TV. ¡°This milk tea brand was set up by the up-and-coming star Fang Yuan in the entertainment circle! She must have tapped into some big capital backer with the idea of fishing for money using this channel. She even wanted to use my animation for advertising; I rejected her,¡± It had been a long time since Chen Yu had heard the name Fang Yuan. Hearing it again, there were no ripples in his heart. To him, the Fang Yuan of now was like a stranger. Tong Ya unconsciously glanced at Chen Yu and, seeing no trace of emotion on his face, felt a tinge of happiness. Tang Xiaowei nudged Su Rui, ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s talk about work back at the office.¡± Her intention was to prevent Su Rui from mentioning Fang Yuan¡¯s name here. But unexpectedly, Su Rui became more agitated the more she spoke, ¡°What kind of work is this? Most of the resources Fang Yuan has now were leftovers from my past!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t willing to submit myself to the Zhao Family, so I gave up those resources. But this woman was able to immediately take them over after I terminated the contract with the studio. Can her dealings with the Zhao Family be innocent?¡± Tang Xiaowei coughed loudly, ¡°That¡­ We have some other things to deal with at the studio, so we¡¯re heading back first!¡± With an awkward farewell, Tang Xiaowei hurriedly pulled Su Rui out of the shop. Tong Ya fiddled with her fingers in front of her and slowly moved closer to Chen Yu. ¡°Do you really have no feelings for ¡®that person¡¯ anymore?¡± Chen Yu naturally knew whom Tong Ya was referring to; he smiled gently and looked tenderly at her. ¡°Who might ¡®that person¡¯ be? Isn¡¯t there only one lady of the house here?¡± Tong Ya giggled and, paying no mind to others cleaning the store, threw herself into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. [Congratulations to the host for completing one day of business, today¡¯s net profit is 996,800 yuan, earning 996,800 points, bringing the current total accumulated points to 1,248,180.] Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected the 14 million points to even out so quickly. And to reach over a million points all at once. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he racked up another ten million points. Plus, there was already 34,570,000 yuan in his current account; starting from tomorrow, he would have to consider setting up his factory. ¡°Dinner is ready!¡± Li Gang shouted and then brought out the staff meal together with Ning Kai and Wang Qingshan. During this time, Wang Qingshan had learned a great deal from Li Gang and Ning Kai and had even become quite proficient in the entire Sichuan cuisine system. Moreover, Wang Qingshan also taught his pickling experience to Li Gang and Ning Kai. It was fair to say that now there were three high-caliber chefs in the shop. With the three of them, the shop could run entirely on its own. Several employees were still working overtime inside Weirui Animation Studio. Tang Xiaowei dragged Su Rui all the way to her office. ¡°Xiaowei, why did you drag me back here? I was planning to scrounge a meal there,¡± Su Rui protested. ¡°Oh, my leader! Could you clear things up before you speak next time?¡± Tang Xiaowei said with a face full of reproach. Stunned, Su Rui asked, ¡°Did I say something wrong in the shop just now?¡± Tang Xiaowei sighed softly, ¡°Not exactly, but that Fang Yuan is Chen Yu¡¯s ex-wife. Try not to mention that name in the shop in the future.¡± Su Rui gaped, this was a bolt from the blue, an absolutely earth-shattering piece of news for her. Chapter 131 - Chapter 131 - 131 Purchase of Factory Chapter 131 ¨C 131 Purchase of Factory Fang Yuan, in all public appearances, has maintained the persona of being unmarried and has even been taking on the pure and innocent route. The majority of her current roles fit this persona as well. This public persona is strikingly similar to what Su Rui used to present, which is why after Su Rui¡¯s contract with the studio ended, Fang Yuan was able to immediately take over all her resources. ¡°Xiaowei, are you saying that Chen Yu is Fang Yuan¡¯s ex-husband and Tuan Tuan is her daughter?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Tang Xiaowei curled her lips, ¡°Don¡¯t go spreading this everywhere. After all, Chen Yu is with Tong Ya now.¡± ¡°Of course, I know that! But has Fang Yuan gone mad? She actually dares to use such a persona so brazenly. Once it collapses one day, she¡¯s done for.¡± Tang Xiaowei rubbed Su Rui¡¯s cheek, ¡°My Miss Su, you better take care of yourself! To the outside world, you are now a washed-up artist.¡± Su Rui¡¯s face was full of defiance, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m stronger than that Fang Yuan. I won¡¯t do things that betray my true self!¡± There was a look of puzzlement on Su Rui¡¯s face as she spoke. ¡°Why would someone like Boss Chen, who is handsome and talented, be divorced by Fang Yuan? Could it be that Tong Ya was the third party ¡­¡± ¡°Third party? What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Tang Xiaowei was a bit indignant, ¡°Have you been watching too many TV dramas? Chen Yu has been Tong Ya¡¯s crush since college, and she only came into his life after he divorced Fang Yuan.¡± Su Rui nodded repeatedly, ¡°Oh, so Chen Yu is the one Tong Ya has always talked about! Our Tong Ya is really head over heels.¡± Tang Xiaowei felt somewhat helpless and subconsciously covered her stomach. ¡°I was supposed to scrounge a meal at the shop tonight, but because of you, I can only grab something quick.¡± ¡­ The next morning, Chen Yu drove Tong Ya to the western suburbs. This was the economic development zone, where new factories were everywhere. One area was specifically designated for food processing, separated from the other factories. After all, safety considerations in food require separate facilities to prevent contamination. Chen Yu drove to a factory that was under expansion, based on an address he had found online. According to the information on the internet, this factory was up for sale at a low price because of mismanagement that led to a financial breakdown. When Chen Yu saw the scene before him, he immediately understood that it wasn¡¯t due to mismanagement. The owner must have been played by business partners or caught up in a scheme orchestrated by others. If there was expansion underway, it indicated a demand for production, but if the funding broke halfway through the expansion, it meant that business partners had probably suddenly terminated their contracts, or someone had run off with the funds. As Chen Yu arrived at the factory entrance, he saw a plump man sitting on a pile of stones, chain-smoking with a look of utter despair. Even from a distance, the man looked somewhat familiar. Upon getting out of the car, Chen Yu realized that the man was Hou Jianchang. ¡°Mr. Hou, this factory belongs to you?¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s voice, Hou Jianchang stood up abruptly. ¡°Mr. Chen? You¡¯re the one looking to buy my factory?¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. He had already taken huge advantage of Hou Jianchang with the Villa No.1 at Shuiyue, and now it seemed he was going to benefit from Hou Jianchang again when it came to the factory. ¡°It seems we really are fated!¡± Chen Yu took the opportunity to extend his hand toward Hou Jianchang. Hou Jianchang, feeling somewhat ashamed, shook it briefly, then led Chen Yu and Tong Ya into the factory together. ¡°We used to do biscuit processing here. Mr. Chen, if you take it over for food processing, some of the machinery can still be used. We¡¯ll stick to the original price, including these machines.¡± Hou Jianchang was quite serious in his introduction, and his tone carried a hint of urgency. It looked like he really was deeply mired in difficulties, desperately needing funds to extricate himself. ¡°Boss Hou, after selling the factory, what do you plan to do?¡± This sudden question from Chen Yu threw Hou Jianchang¡¯s train of thought into disarray. He sighed helplessly, subconsciously stroking the machinery nearby. ¡°For this factory, I¡¯ve put in all my assets. I still owe a considerable amount to the bank. Selling the factory will just about enable me to clear that debt, and the remaining money should be enough for our family to live by for a few years.¡± ¡°Have you never thought of making a comeback?¡± Chen Yu immediately asked. Hou Jianchang¡¯s body shook, ¡°A former business partner, together with others in the industry, conspired against me. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no hope left.¡± While they were speaking, a large number of workers began to emerge continuously from the factory¡¯s dormitory. Carrying their personal belongings, they lined up neatly on the open ground not far away. What shocked Chen Yu even more was that nearly half of these workers were disabled. Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyes suddenly moistened: ¡°Mr. Chen, if you could settle the payment today, I could then pay the overdue wages to the workers.¡± ¡°Boss Hou, we are not leaving! So we were deceived, but if we can complete this order, maybe the factory can still be saved.¡± ¡°Right, even though we are disabled, we do not fall behind when working. Just give us three days, and we can definitely complete the order.¡± ¡°You know how you¡¯ve treated us over the years? We have it all in our hearts. Now that trouble has come, we can¡¯t let you suffer alone!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was utterly moved. The feelings expressed by these workers were definitely not staged. ¡°Everyone, listen to me! Even if we complete this order, we¡¯ll only have an income of over six million. It¡¯s impossible to fill the factory¡¯s deficit. I, Hou Jianchang, have no ability. I once promised to take care of everyone for a lifetime, but it seems I can¡¯t fulfill that promise now.¡± As these words fell, Hou Jianchang knelt down with a thud, bowing deeply and forcefully. The workers, too, dragged their disabled bodies to kneel down. It was clear that Hou Jianchang could definitely be considered a righteous businessman. Chen Yu let out a long breath: ¡°Boss Hou, how much do you need? What would get you through this crisis?¡± Hou Jianchang was startled: ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu glanced at the workers in front of him: ¡°Nothing special. I¡¯m mainly interested in food processing, and your workers here are skilled technicians. Plus, you understand factory management! I think, why don¡¯t we join forces?¡± Hou Jianchang couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes: ¡°But I owe a lot of debt to the bank, and we still haven¡¯t paid the contractors for the factory expansion¡­¡± ¡°Just give me a number!¡± Chen Yu was quite commanding at the moment, rather like a domineering boss. ¡°Thirteen million! But this can only keep the factory afloat for a month!¡± Chapter 132 - Chapter 132 - 132: Visiting to Collect a Debt Chapter 132 ¨C 132: Visiting to Collect a Debt Chen Yu pondered for a moment. To make the food processing factory successful, he needed professional managers and workers. Now, all of this was laid out before him. ¡°Mr. Hou, I can give you the money first to get through the immediate crisis and also clear the remaining orders of the factory.¡± Hou Jianchang couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, consider this money a loan from me. You settle the outstanding orders and then repay me; after that, we can discuss further collaboration. I just need you to give me a receipt.¡± Hou Jianchang stood there dumbstruck, unable to believe what was happening. He was at the end of his rope, thinking in his heart that with less than thirty million, he could take over the entire factory. Yet, unexpectedly, Chen Yu was not only willing to help him out of the predicament but also looked like he wanted to co-invest in the factory. This arrangement would secure the jobs of several hundred factory workers and also give him hope for the latter half of his life. ¡°Mr. Chen, you really need to think this through. Apart from the current orders, this factory won¡¯t be generating any profit.¡± ¡°Unless you have a new product direction and a sufficient market to sell them.¡± ¡°Of course, I have those!¡± Chen Yu confidently replied, ¡°Mr. Hou, just focus on fulfilling the current orders! If you have to return them, you¡¯d have to pay extra for breach of contract.¡± While they were talking, a few guys dressed in identical suits and looking tough marched into the factory compound. ¡°Mr. Hou, the loan you took out is due today. If you don¡¯t repay it today, the interest will double tomorrow!¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s face showed helplessness as he hurriedly took out a pack of cigarettes to go up and say a few words of appeasement. ¡°How much money does Mr. Hou owe you?¡± Chen Yu directly inquired. The leader of the men gave Chen Yu a cold glance, ¡°With interest, the total is twelve million.¡± Chen Yu then understood why Hou Jianchang said that with thirteen million, he could last a month. Twelve million was needed to pay off debts, and the remaining one million could just keep the factory running temporarily. As for other debts, they were probably wages owed to the bank or construction crews. The hole was indeed quite big! ¡°Where¡¯s the IOU? Let¡¯s settle this account today!¡± The leader¡¯s expression suddenly changed, ¡°Ah, I see you¡¯re here to pay off the debt. You should have said so earlier!¡± This guy leisurely took out the IOU from his bag with an air of courtesy to present it to Chen Yu. However, he did not immediately hand over the IOU to Chen Yu but took out various payment methods from his bag. These debt collectors had honed this procedure to perfection. Without saying much more, Chen Yu checked the figures on the IOU and transferred twelve million. Once the leader confirmed the full payment was received, he immediately bowed and scraped, handing the IOU to Chen Yu like a grandson, while also presenting a business card. ¡°You certainly look like a generous boss! In the future, if you have any trouble, feel free to look me up. I can get tens of millions with just a word.¡± Chen Yu did not wish to have too much to do with these people. He just smiled and signaled for them to leave. ¡°Mr. Hou, how many orders do you currently have on hand? How much will it cost to complete these orders, and how much time is needed?¡± Chen Yu got straight to the point with his questions. Hou Jianchang had a clear grasp on these figures, ¡°There are four orders in total, the cost has already been covered, and it¡¯s all waiting in the warehouse. We can deliver in ten days!¡± ¡°Right now, all it takes is two hundred and eighty thousand to keep the factory running smoothly for ten days.¡± At this point, Hou Jianchang looked at the workers around him, ¡°But to pay the workers their overdue wages requires more than seven hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Mr. Hou, it¡¯s less than half a month¡¯s wages, you don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Someone shouted out, and all the workers echoed in agreement. Chen Yu raised his hand to gesture for silence, and the place quickly quieted down. ¡°Everyone, I am now in a partnership with Mr. Hou, and I won¡¯t lay off any of you. Your salaries will still be paid in full each month, as before. All you need to do right now is return to your posts and continue working.¡± Cheers erupted on the spot. For these disabled workers, it was likely that apart from Hou Jianchang¡¯s place, they had nowhere else to go. If they left here, they might not have any support for the rest of their lives. The factory being able to operate normally was an enormous piece of good news for them. Chen Yu then transferred three hundred thousand to Hou Jianchang. ¡°Mr. Hou, remember, you only have ten days! I will be assessing the entire factory during these ten days while also making some modifications. After ten days, I need the factory to be capable of producing new products.¡± Hou Jianchang nodded excitedly and wrote Chen Yu a receipt. By the time Chen Yu and Tong Ya returned to the shop, it was already afternoon. Usually, the flow of people in the shop would gradually decrease at this time, but today it was still packed, mostly with travel groups from out of town. They must have seen the anime and come here to check in. As soon as Chen Yu entered, a few self-media journalists approached him. ¡°Are you the owner of this shop? You really are handsome! Is your life really like what¡¯s depicted in the comics?¡± ¡°Can you talk about how you managed to go from a small food cart to such a big shop in such a short time?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your daughter? We would like to interview her and also invite her to be an ambassador for our children¡¯s clothing line.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu frowned. Although these self-media questions seemed normal, they were somewhat wishful thinking. Comics are adaptations, not a reflection of his real life, plus he had the support of the system. No matter what, he wasn¡¯t about to let Tuan Tuan become an endorser so easily, as if he couldn¡¯t afford to support his daughter. After politely greeting them, Chen Yu took Tong Ya next door to the car shop. ¡°Zhang Fan, I have a big job for you, I¡¯m not sure you can handle it.¡± Zhang Fan was lying underneath a truck and quickly slid out after hearing Chen Yu speak. ¡°What¡¯s the big job?¡± ¡°I need to build a batch of large machines and was hoping you could help!¡± Chen Yu took out some comparative drawings of certain parts. Zhang Fan took a look and immediately became excited. ¡°This really is a big job, but with dimensions like these, we¡¯ll need a professional machinery factory. I can put you in touch¡ªhow soon do you need them?¡± Chen Yu thought for a moment, ¡°The sooner the better, within ten days ideally!¡± Zhang Fan shook his head, ¡°The machines you need are too large, I doubt we can rush them out in ten days, unless we get several machinery factories to work on it simultaneously, but that¡¯s going to be quite expensive.¡± Chapter 133 - Chapter 133 - 133 Paying in Full Chapter 133 ¨C 133 Paying in Full Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about money now, what he cared about was time. As long as he could get the factory up and running, he could recoup his investment in the shortest amount of time. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and categorize the blueprints, and you help me get in touch with a few more machinery factories. Money is not an issue, as long as I can see these machines within ten days.¡± Zhang Fan was first stunned for a moment, then nodded excitedly. Just from these blueprints, the machinery Chen Yu needed was massive in size and not small in number. Even if the orders were split among several machinery factories, each factory would receive a large order. There would certainly be a nice referral fee for Zhang Fan from the corresponding factories. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call a few local machinery factories right now!¡± After arranging with Zhang Fan, Chen Yu went to Xie Jiang¡¯s shop. Riding the recent renovation wave, Xie Jiang took quite a few orders and made a nice sum of money, now taking a break at home. ¡°Old Xie, do you have any construction projects on your hands recently?¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s voice, Xie Jiang quickly got up, fanning himself with a hand fan. ¡°What¡¯s up? Old Chen, are you expanding your shop again?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°I have a factory that I want you to help refurbish, and I¡¯ll give you all the subsequent projects.¡± Xie Jiang nearly spat out the tea he had just sipped. ¡°What? A factory?¡± In their trade, factories were highly coveted. They were easy, finished quickly, required fewer materials, and were profitable! For these renovation and reconstruction crews, landing a project for a factory, even just a part of it, meant they could immediately set up a small construction company. ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯re not kidding with me, are you?¡± ¡°Do we need to kid with each other?¡± Chen Yu took out a simplified blueprint of the factory and spread it on the table. This was the factory construction blueprint Hou Jianchang had given him before leaving. ¡°This factory is currently undergoing expansion, and the external construction is already halfway complete.¡± ¡°After you take over, you can continue construction according to the original blueprint, and for some detailed issues, I will draw you another blueprint.¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s eyes were wide with excitement that was hard to express. ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯ve really handed me a ripe fruit! When do we start? Just say the word.¡± ¡°It would be best if we could start within these couple of days!¡± Chen Yu took out Hou Jianchang¡¯s business card, ¡°If you¡¯re free now, go to this address and meet with Boss Hou to get an idea of the environment there.¡± Xie Jiang nodded repeatedly, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Seeing Xie Jiang leaving in such a hurry, Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. The man had finally finished his projects and could rest for a couple of days, but now he had to get busy again. ¡°Honey, are we going back to the shop? There seem to be a lot of media people gathered around there,¡± Tong Ya said as she tugged on Chen Yu¡¯s arm, looking somewhat annoyed. Chen Yu tilted his head to glance over at his own shop. ¡°Let¡¯s not, let¡¯s go home and get the design blueprints. The factory might need to start operations by tomorrow.¡± As soon as Chen Yu arrived home, he saw Tuan Tuan had laid out a few cushions in front of the TV and was jumping along with the dance moves on the screen. ¡°Dad, Mom, how come you¡¯re back at this time?¡± Tuan Tuan was somewhat puzzled. Chen Yu and Tong Ya usually didn¡¯t get home until after eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little cheeks, ¡°Daddy had to design some things today, so he came back early.¡± Tuan Tuan, somewhat excited, clapped his little hands and then took Tong Ya¡¯s hand. ¡°Mommy, ever since you¡¯ve been with Daddy, you rarely dance with me anymore. Do you not like Tuan Tuan anymore?¡± No one could resist a little lucky beast making such a pitiful face. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Tuan Tuan. Mommy happens to be free today. I¡¯ll teach you some new moves.¡± Chen Yu looked at the two before him, a smile showing at the corners of his mouth. However, he did not linger there for long and quickly went down to the basement. He took the complete drawings of the machine and divided them into individual parts, then scrambled the distribution. After all, the machines he was designing and manufacturing were exclusive, and if he handed over the complete drawings to the same machinery factory, they might manufacture them independently, which would be a great loss for Chen Yu. After he finished dividing them, Chen Yu made a phone call to Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan had some connections in Suzhou City and, being a talented graduate in mechanical engineering, amazingly secured six machinery factories in just one afternoon. Chen Yu split the drawings in front of him again, organized them into six sets, took photos and sent them to Zhang Fan, also marking the quantities of parts required. Chen Yu took the architectural drawings of the factory he had acquired, made some minor modifications on them, wrote down some of his requirements, and sent the photos to Hou Jianchang and Xie Jiang. Putting down his phone, Chen Yu stretched lazily and opened another bottle of red wine to quench his thirst. What remained now was to solve the problem of sales channels. Originally, Chen Yu had planned to set up a large number of branches like some fast-food restaurants, with the factory supplying semi-finished ingredients directly. But on further thought, the fast-food restaurant industry had already reached saturation, and trying to follow these old paths seemed unworkable now. Moreover, the previous collaboration between Yuanyi Milk Tea and the convenience stores had inspired Chen Yu. He could also use this creative idea, negotiate with all the fast-food outlets across the country, and supply them with semi-finished products. Additionally, the braised dishes could be made fully cooked, simply packaged to create a brand, and then have contracts signed with major supermarkets. In other words, lay his eggs in someone else¡¯s nest. This would not only allow for quick recouping of funds but also enable a rapid takeover of the market. ¡°[Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1.636 million yuan, earning 1,636,000 points. The current total cumulative points are 2,787,880 points]¡± Hearing the system¡¯s notification, Chen Yu realized it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. A quick check revealed that after today¡¯s payment to Hou Jianchang, he had a total of 23.92 million yuan in his current account. This amount of money might be a bit tight to fully finalize the machinery and the later construction and decoration of the factory. The urgency now was to find good sales channels and obtain an advance payment. However, Chen Yu¡¯s personality had always been introverted, and although he had acquired so many skills now, he could not change this inherent trait. Ten days to pre-sell was indeed a bit difficult for him. Moreover, the factory was still in the planning stage, so who would dare give him an advance payment easily? Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°Have I been too hasty this time?¡± Just then, the phone suddenly rang. ¡°Son-in-law, I heard you¡¯re setting up a factory? Can I place an advance order for a batch of products? I can pay in full.¡± Chapter 134 - Chapter 134 - 134 Domineering Father-in-Law Chapter 134 ¨C 134 Domineering Father-in-Law Chen Yu was momentarily baffled. The construction of the factory had only just started today, yet Tong Ming had already found out about it. But Tong Ya had been with him all day, and now she was dancing with Tuan Tuan, leaving no time to call Tong Ming. However, on second thought, Tong Ming was able to muster up so many people to stay nearby when the online celebrity caused trouble at the shop. It would have been relatively easy to send a few people to loiter around his shop and gather some intelligence. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°Dad, my factory has just begun the construction phase and hasn¡¯t started production yet, and here you are placing orders. Isn¡¯t this a form of covert investment?¡± ¡°Nonsense! What do you mean by covert investment? I¡¯ve seen your semi-finished products warehouse before. If you¡¯re running a factory, of course, you¡¯d produce semi-finished puff pastries and vegetable rolls. I have a few breakfast brands under me, so why wouldn¡¯t I buy these semi-finished products?¡± Chen Yu paused for a moment, as this did indeed make sense. With the Tong Group¡¯s vast portfolio, it was not surprising they owned a few breakfast brands. ¡°But, Dad, my factory hasn¡¯t even started operations, and you¡¯re already coming to buy, which really seems a bit¡­¡± ¡°Seems a bit what?¡± Tong Ming interrupted Chen Yu, ¡°We¡¯re family now, aren¡¯t we? Your semi-finished products, should they be sold to someone else? Do you want their breakfast brands to outcompete the Tong Family¡¯s?¡± There was nothing wrong with what he said, and Chen Yu found himself unable to retort for the moment. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s decided then!¡± Tong Ming declared, making a decision on the spot: ¡°Take some time in the next few days to come to my office. List out what your factory plans to produce so we can sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement.¡± After speaking, Tong Ming hung up the phone. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Although he still suspected Tong Ming of making a covert investment, supplying semi-finished products to breakfast brand stores was indeed his sales target, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Honey? Who were you talking to?¡± Tong Ya led Tuan Tuan into the basement. Chen Yu shook his phone, ¡°It was your dad. He wants to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with me, saying he¡¯ll supply the first batch of semi-finished products produced by the factory to him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news!¡± Tong Ya took a seat across from Chen Yu, casually pouring a glass of red wine. Chen Yu was taken aback, this was the first time Tong Ya seemed so supportive. Before this, Tong Ya and Tong Ming were on bad terms. Even if their misunderstandings had been resolved, there were still some barriers between them. ¡°But don¡¯t you think this is a bit like covert investment?¡± Tong Ya shot back, somewhat exasperated, ¡°Honey, he doesn¡¯t own a share in your factory, and besides, it¡¯s just business. Plus, the Tong Group is indeed a good sales lead. They own a multitude of breakfast and supermarket brands.¡± Chen Yu shook his head; he was really overthinking this time. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go sign the contract tomorrow.¡± The next morning at eight, Tong Ya got dressed in a sharp professional suit that added an authoritative aura to her. Chen Yu remained casual as usual; he wasn¡¯t one to fuss over what to wear. After all, his physique was now proportioned like Gold, negating the need for clothes to enhance his appearance. Tong Ming was in the conference room at the top of the building, having a meeting with the group¡¯s senior executives. The meeting had just started when Tong Ya, leading Chen Yu, barged in. Upon their entry, all the executives stood up immediately, viewing Tong Ya with reverent gazes and collectively addressing her as Director Tong. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, astonished by the status Tong Ya held in the eyes of these senior executives. In fact, Tong Ya had previously served as the vice president of the Tong Group, as well as the chief planner for the group¡¯s macro business strategy. In some respects, Tong Ya¡¯s competence even surpassed that of Tong Ming. Therefore, the entire Tong Group regarded Tong Ya as the designated heir, whether or not she ran away from home. Tong Ya did not respond to these people but simply pulled out a chair from the side. ¡°Husband, you sit!¡± Before Chen Yu could react, Tong Ya had already pressed him into the chair and then stood by his side like a secretary. Everyone present was stunned, they had not expected the Miss Tong, whom they had always respected, to be willing to take a subordinate position to a man. ¡°Son-in-law, I didn¡¯t expect you to come so early!¡± Tong Ming excitedly stood up with his cane, ready to come over and shake hands with Chen Yu, but Tong Ya raised her hand to stop him. ¡°Mr. Tong, my husband and I are here to talk business today, please refrain from familial gestures.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s more like my daughter.¡± The senior executives, who had previously looked down on Chen Yu, now viewed him with a bit more respect. They had all tried Chen Yu¡¯s cooking, and some of them had personally been involved in editing the footage of the two competitions he had participated in. Someone like Chen Yu, who could do several things to perfection and had also defeated world-class experts in his field, was an absolute legend! Such a person was not only worthy of Tong Ya but also qualified to be Tong Ming¡¯s son-in-law. Tong Ming also straightened his tie and took his seat very formally. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s talk business! The rough terms of the collaboration and the contract were prepared by someone I found last night. Take a look, and if there are no problems, we can sign the contract right away.¡± The secretary hurriedly brought the documents in Tong Ming¡¯s hand to Chen Yu. But Tong Ya took the documents first, ¡°Mr. Tong, you haven¡¯t added any strange clauses in this document, have you? My husband¡¯s factory is a sole proprietorship, so don¡¯t have any inappropriate thoughts.¡± Everyone present could not help but cough. There never was a father so blatantly trying to trick his own daughter! Tong Ming smiled helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, take your time, I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± Tong Ya only handed the contract to Chen Yu after confirming there were no problems with it. The contract was designed quite reasonably; even Chen Yu could not find any faults. After Chen Yu signed his name on the contract, he clipped the sorted list of items in with the contract and handed it back. Tong Ming glanced over it, ¡°I want all these items, and we can finalize the ratios later. Let¡¯s start with a prepaid fund of one hundred million!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes went wide, that number would directly monopolize all the initial products from his factory. Before he could respond, Tong Ya had already taken one copy of the contract. ¡°Husband, we can leave now!¡± Chen Yu was still a bit dazed but simply nodded his head and left the office with Tong Ya. In just a few minutes, Chen Yu¡¯s receiving account was credited with a company transfer from the Tong Group, a full one hundred million. Having never seen so much money in his life, Chen Yu was momentarily unable to count all the zeros displayed on the screen. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135 - 135: Kicked Out of the Store Chapter 135 ¨C 135: Kicked Out of the Store Chen Yu had just returned to the shop when Zhang Fan was already waiting at the door. ¡°Chen, I¡¯ve settled everything with the six factories, but the machine parts you requested are too complex and too numerous. It will probably take half a month to produce them all.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, as long as you can make half of them within ten days.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get in touch with them soon.¡± Zhang Fan casually took out six contracts, ¡°Take a look, and if there¡¯s no problem, just sign your name. Leave the rest to me.¡± After confirming there were no issues with the contracts, Chen Yu transferred twelve million to Zhang Fan. In fact, the investment for these machines could have been less, but Chen Yu insisted on using the best materials, which made it more expensive. No sooner had Zhang Fan left than Xie Jiang called right afterwards. If the entire factory area were to be refurbished according to Chen Yu¡¯s ideas, and the unfinished projects completed, it would require an additional investment of over eight million. For such a large factory area, Xie Jiang only quoted a budget of just over eight million, which even Chen Yu doubted, wondering if Xie Jiang had missed something. After repeatedly confirming, Chen Yu transferred eight million three hundred and twenty thousand to Xie Jiang. Indeed, starting a factory did require burning through cash at the beginning. Apart from the one hundred million given by Tong Ming, there were now only three million six hundred thousand left in Chen Yu¡¯s current account. Fortunately, it seemed there was nothing else to invest in other than raw materials. However, since yesterday, there had been a noticeable increase in miscellaneous people in the shop. Although they were not as nonsensical as the social media influencers from last time, they were still annoying. Some self-media journalists scooped up the free congee provided for photography, but after taking pictures, they didn¡¯t eat it, just left it aside. Moreover, many food bloggers entered the shop claiming how many followers they had and demanding complimentary meals. There were even those who used the free soybean milk for a competitive eating challenge. That was no competitive eating challenge. It was clear they were just taking a sip and then spitting it out, using cut editing to create the illusion of being a competitive eater. Because of this, many delivery riders went up to argue with these people, and the two sides even came into conflict. In the end, it even attracted the attention of the relevant authorities. Chen Yu had no choice but to put up a sign at the entrance of the shop. ¡°Anyone wasting food will be expelled from the shop immediately!¡± The sign did make things somewhat better, and Wang Qingshan rolled up his sleeves and stood firmly at the entrance. His inherently hefty and tall frame stood like a small mountain there, quite imposing. No sooner had Chen Yu settled things in the shop when he received a call from Zhou Shengtao, along with an address. Chen Yu did not dare to delay and hurriedly drove there. The moat surrounding the outskirts of Suzhou City had been left desolate for many years, and due to urban reconstruction, it had become a wasteland. By the time Chen Yu arrived, a large number of relevant personnel had already cordoned off the area. A strong smell of blood emanated from within, invading Chen Yu¡¯s nostrils. ¡°Chen, over here!¡± Hearing Zhou Shengtao¡¯s shout, Chen Yu pulled aside the yellow police tape and jogged over. There were two bodies by the moat, and like the previous victims, both had their femoral arteries severed. However, this time, the killer had destroyed the victims¡¯ faces. ¡°Chen, can you draw what these two victims looked like before their death, based on the remaining features of their faces?¡± Chen Yu found himself in difficulty. Many times he had wanted to explain that he was not a professional Portrait Artist. But how could he refuse something as serious as a matter of life and death? He had no choice but to take the sketchpad handed to him by a nearby staffer and start sketching on the spot. With his knowledge of biology in mind, Chen Yu roughly estimated the facial proportions of the deceased. He then used the ratios of the facial skeleton, muscles, and skin layers to extrapolate the curves of the missing parts. In half an hour, he had roughly sketched out two portraits. ¡°It should be quite close¡ªpossibly just missing some details,¡± Chen Yu said as he handed the portraits directly to Zhou Shengtao. Taking the portraits, Zhou Shengtao couldn¡¯t help but get excited. ¡°Xiao Chen, your talent is absolutely amazing. What we need the most now is a talent like you. Why don¡¯t you consider becoming a part-time staffer with us?¡± Chen Yu laughed awkwardly, ¡°Don¡¯t joke with me, I still have my own shop and business¡­ ¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s just a part-time position, it wouldn¡¯t interfere with your business. I¡¯ll contact you when needed! And it¡¯s a government position too, why not think it over?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Having a government position could indeed make things more convenient for him in the future. ¡°Then let me get through this busy period first!¡± Zhou Shengtao laughed heartily and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± As they talked, two analysis officers hurried over with tablet computers. ¡°Chief Zhou, the identity of the deceased has been confirmed. It¡¯s very likely one of Li Ming¡¯s accomplices!¡± Zhou Shengtao clenched his teeth, ¡°This guy is trying to reenact the case from ten years ago!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed, a jolt going through him when he heard the name Li Ming. He was still in college ten years ago, when the serial killer case was all the rage. It was said that Li Ming murdered thirteen people, took nearly ten million in finances, then killed all his accomplices and vanished completely. During that time, everyone was living in fear, worried that Li Ming would suddenly jump out from some corner, and some even used Li Ming¡¯s name to frighten their children. According to the clues he had seen in the relevant departments, there were already thirteen victims in Suzhou City. Now that Li Ming had begun killing his accomplices again, it meant he was preparing to flee. The faces of those present were solemn; the same case was unfolding before their eyes after a decade, and so far they had no leads. A good number of them didn¡¯t think it was because Li Ming was too cunning, but rather blamed their own incompetence. If the same case happened again in ten years, they would live their lives in self-reproach and guilt. Chen Yu sighed. Perhaps the skills the system had given him weren¡¯t meant just for him to open a shop, make money, and enjoy a life turnaround. Giving back to the world was what he truly ought to do. Subconsciously, Chen Yu began to focus his attention on observing the scene. Two lives had been taken here, the bodies left unhandled, only their facial features destroyed. This indicated that the murderer was extremely hurried when acting and did not have prior arrangements. If that was the case, there surely had to be some traces left behind at the scene. Indeed, Chen Yu noticed a partial footprint exposed by the side of the moat. ¡°Chief Zhou, there¡¯s something here!¡± Chen Yu called out and hurried over first, reaching out to block the river water on the side. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136 - 136: Special Visit Chapter 136 ¨C 136: Special Visit Zhou Shengtao couldn¡¯t contain his excitement when he saw the footprints. ¡°Quick, put up the police tape here, and find someone to drain this section of the river.¡± Several relevant personnel didn¡¯t dare to delay and hurried to carry out the instructions. It didn¡¯t take long before the water in this part of the river was drained completely. Sure enough, a dense mass of footprints appeared on the riverbed. ¡°Clever, I wondered why I didn¡¯t find any footprints on the bank; it turns out they walked along the river.¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed and immediately called someone over to compare the footprints. Without waiting for the relevant personnel to arrive, Chen Yu had already used his biological knowledge to analyze the results according to the size of the footprints. ¡°There are three people in total, with heights of one meter seventy-four, one meter seventy-five, and one meter eighty, corresponding to weights of seventy-three kilograms, eighty kilograms, and one hundred kilograms!¡± Zhou Shengtao looked at Chen Yu with surprise, ¡°You little rascal, did you also study criminal investigation?¡± Chen Yu scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, ¡°According to biology, it doesn¡¯t seem hard to figure out these things, right?¡± Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t say much more but looked at Chen Yu with a few more shades of appreciation. ¡°Immediately follow these footprints and continue to search for clues.¡± At that command, all the relevant personnel on scene were excited. Just moments before, they had almost despaired, all feeling frustrated. A large number of police dogs and search equipment were summoned to the scene, ready for an extensive search. Just as Chen Yu was preparing to follow everyone up the mountain, he suddenly felt that the ground under his feet was a little too soft. Instinctively stepping on it a few times, Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated. ¡°Zhou Team!¡± Zhou Shengtao stopped in his tracks, his face showing some astonishment. ¡°What is it, Xiao Chen?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak but quickly wrote on the clipboard in his hand. ¡°There¡¯s a tunnel beneath the riverbed, they might be hiding in there!¡± Zhou Shengtao couldn¡¯t help but gape, slowly walking forward a few steps and then placing a disposable paper cup on the ground. After listening for a while, he slowly stood up, gestured for Chen Yu to come behind him, and then used professional hand signals to quietly call back the relevant personnel who had dispersed. It had to be said, Li Ming¡¯s counter-surveillance ability was outrageously strong. To think he managed to use a string of fake footprints to mislead the relevant personnel while they hid underground at the scene of the crime. Under Zhou Shengtao¡¯s command, the relevant personnel blew open the tunnel entrance, then threw a large number of flash-bang devices inside. Li Ming and his two companions were captured seemingly without realizing what happened. The tunnel they dug under the riverbed was covered with silt, and they had even scattered some powder nearby to prevent police dogs from searching. In their view, everything was perfectly executed, and it was impossible for the outside world to discover them. When the three were taken away, Zhou Shengtao patted Chen Yu on the shoulder excitedly. ¡°Xiao Chen, I¡¯m really starting to like you more and more. Listen to me, come be an auxiliary member, I¡¯ll apply to the superiors to reserve a spot just for you.¡± The relevant personnel present knew that it was Chen Yu who had discovered Li Ming and his companions, and they too were thrilled. Moreover, the three men¡¯s heights and weights matched exactly what Chen Yu had deduced earlier, which further increased their admiration for him. These were all professionally trained personnel, yet in some ways, they actually couldn¡¯t match Chen Yu, making them feel somewhat ashamed. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 1,636,600 yuan, earning 1,636,600 points, the current total cumulative points are 4,509,380 points] Chen Yu then realized that it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Looking at the data prompted by the system, it seemed that the money invested in the factory had not been included in the calculations. Before this, the system would account for all daily costs and expenditures. Could it be that the system would only start a systematic calculation after the factory begins operation? Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger here and, after saying hello to Zhou Shengtao, returned to Shuiyue Number One. As soon as he got home, Chen Yu heard voices in the living room. He saw an elderly lady, sobbing and sniffling, sitting on the sofa pouring her heart out to Li Lan. ¡°Chen Yu, you¡¯re finally back! Come and take a look at your Auntie Wang¡¯s illness,¡± Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, having just returned and not even having had the chance to drink any water. Auntie Wang hurriedly presented her wrist in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Young Boss Chen, I¡¯ve heard that your medicinal cuisine has cured many people. Can you see if there¡¯s anything that could cure my ailment?¡± Without any alternative, Chen Yu had to grasp Auntie Wang¡¯s pulse and, after observing for a moment, frowned. ¡°Auntie Wang, there¡¯s nothing majorly wrong with your body, just a bit of osteoporosis! Eating more celery and the like should be helpful.¡± Auntie Wang was full of disbelief, ¡°Is it really that simple? But every day I feel like ants are crawling all over my body; it¡¯s so uncomfortable.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; Auntie Wang¡¯s body was indeed a bit frail, which was due to her lack of daily exercise. ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll go and prepare a medicinal cuisine for you right now, and then I¡¯ll write up a dietary prescription for you to follow for a month after you return home. The pain should be relieved.¡± After offering his reassurance, Chen Yu went to the kitchen and in less than half an hour brought out a clay pot. The enticing aroma instantly made Auntie Wang salivate. She didn¡¯t fear the heat and picked up chopsticks to eagerly devour everything in the pot. Afterward, Auntie Wang was drenched in sweat, her skin flushed, and she looked somewhat rejuvenated. ¡°Little Chen, you really are a miracle worker! After eating just one of your dishes, I feel so much lighter.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more but handed over the prepared prescription. Auntie Wang excitedly accepted the prescription and happily left the house. Chen Yu then sat down beside Li Lan, feeling helpless. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve made friends so quickly?¡± Li Lan smiled, ¡°I met her during a walk these past few days; she also lives in our community.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed relief. He had originally worried that Li Lan would be uncomfortable here, but now it seemed his concerns had been somewhat superfluous. The next morning at six o¡¯clock, Chen Yu and Tong Ya went to the store together. As soon as they entered the store, they saw several foreigners lingering around the entrance. Not far away, a few others were pointing at the nearby buildings, not sure what they were doing. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay much attention and went straight into the store. He had just entered the kitchen and was getting ready to get busy when a foreign man, holding a cane and dressed in a suit with leather collar, walked in grandly surrounded by bodyguards. ¡°Excuse me, may I ask if Mr. Chen Yu is here?¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brow slightly, wiped his hands, and then came out of the kitchen. ¡°That would be me, what can I do for you?¡± The foreigner extended his hand: ¡°My name is Hals, I¡¯ve come especially to meet Mr. Chen.¡± Chapter 137 - Chapter 137 - 137: Three-Star Chef Chapter 137 ¨C 137: Three-Star Chef Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning; he was certain he had never seen Hals before. However, he could distinctly smell the scent of spices on the other man. Seeing that Chen Yu had no intention of shaking hands, Charles awkwardly withdrew his hand and passed over a business card instead. ¡°I am a Michelin three-star chef and plan to open a restaurant nearby. Hearing that Mr. Chen is a renowned chef of this generation, I came to pay a visit,¡± he said. Chen Yu arched his eyebrow and politely pocketed the business card. He knew very well that this fellow had no good intentions; anyone could open a restaurant anywhere, so why bother visiting him specifically? It was nothing more than an attempt to capitalize on his local fame to establish their brand. ¡°At most, I¡¯m just a restaurateur; there¡¯s no need for your visit. If you have no other business, please don¡¯t disturb me while I¡¯m conducting mine,¡± he said. Although these words sounded humble, they were incredibly domineering. Charles stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve watched the show where you competed with the four famous chefs. I believe you merely had the advantage of the home field. Today, I¡¯ve come specifically to ask for your guidance,¡± he said. Chen Yu felt helpless; truly, the more famous you get, the more trouble comes knocking. All he did was appear on two shows, gained a bit of fame, and now even a Michelin three-star chef had come to challenge him. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to wait! As you can see, I have many customers. According to the rules here, you need to line up,¡± he said. Charles was instantly taken aback. In no restaurant around the world would a Michelin three-star top chef ever be expected to queue up at the door. To him, this was an outright humiliation. ¡°Mr. Chen, your country is known for its courtesy. Your behavior is hardly the proper way to treat a guest,¡± he said. Chen Yu simply ignored him and went straight to the kitchen to get busy. Charles¡¯s bodyguard immediately became furious and was about to storm into the restaurant to reclaim their dignity. Just as they were preparing to take action, the delivery boys inside the restaurant stood up in unison, blocking the entrance. Although from a professional standpoint, these delivery boys might not be a match for the bodyguards. But their numbers were overwhelming. This formidable show of force stopped Charles in his tracks. ¡°Mr. Chen, I will not go anywhere; I¡¯ll wait right here for you,¡± Charles said, calling out to the restaurant. He then pulled up a small stool and sat down at the entrance, with his bodyguards neatly lined up behind him. For a while, they became a beautiful scene outside Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant. After all, Charles was a world-famous chef; he quickly attracted a lot of local reporters. Before long, all of Suzhou City was buzzing. ¡°Old Chen, this foreigner is still a three-star chef, after all. Isn¡¯t it a bit¡­ to leave him hanging out there?¡± Li Gang began, then trailed off. Afetr all, their restaurant in Suzhou City was quite the internet sensation, frequented by celebrities on a regular basis. Now, leaving a world-class chef hanging outside could easily make the front page headlines, and who knew what kind of public opinion it would attract. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow: ¡°This guy actually wants to step on us to climb higher. Do you really want to let him succeed?¡± Li Gang shrugged his shoulders and didn¡¯t say anything more. However, the increasing crowd of reporters outside still put some pressure on Chen Yu. The scene of internet celebrities blocking the door last time had already been a headache. If some new tricks emerged this time, it would be another troublesome matter. With no choice left, Chen Yu stood up, grabbed a few pieces of tofu, and quickly made a simple home-style tofu dish. He then called Yang Shu over, gave her a few instructions, and had her serve the tofu. ¡°Mr. Charles, it¡¯s almost noon. This is the lunch our boss has sent for you. If after eating, you feel it¡¯s necessary to challenge our boss, he would be happy to oblige.¡± Charles immediately became excited. Coming here to compete with Chen Yu was his ultimate goal. Having taken only a couple of bites, Charles¡¯s body suddenly trembled. His eyes also became somewhat blank. ¡°Is this personally made by Mr. Chen?¡± Yang Shu didn¡¯t say a word, just nodded. Charles¡¯s breathing became rapid, and he no longer cared about appearances, picking up the spoon and wolfing down the entire plate of home-style tofu. ¡°Delicious! Indeed, I cannot make flavors like this. Please tell your boss, Mr. Chen, that I humbly admit defeat.¡± After handing the plate back to Yang Shu, Charles left with his bodyguard, looking defeated. Although it was an invisible confrontation, anyone could see that Chen Yu had conquered a Michelin three-starred chef with a plate of home-style tofu. In fact, chefs of this world-class level would often challenge the most famous local chef before opening a restaurant in the area. First, to demonstrate their culinary skills, and second, to stake their claim in the local culinary scene. This approach would allow their restaurant to generate substantial economic benefits in the shortest time possible. But if there was a mishap during the challenge with the local chef or if they lost, they would gracefully exit the city and pick a new place to set up shop. Seeing Charles leave, Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. The reporters and officials that had been crowding the entrance also dispersed. At six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Zhou Shengtao arrived at the shop with a few officials in uniform, looking very serious. ¡°Chen Yu, come out and get your plaque!¡± Chen Yu was stunned for a moment and hastily left the kitchen. He saw Zhou Shengtao holding a metallic plaque. ¡°What are you doing with this, Captain Zhou?¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t yet grasped what was happening. ¡°You see, yesterday you helped us catch a criminal who¡¯s been on the run for ten years. This is a plaque to reward you, and in addition, you¡¯ll receive a bounty of five million yuan.¡± Chen Yu was surprised, ¡°That much?¡± Zhou Shengtao waved his hand dismissively, ¡°That¡¯s nothing. The reward for Li Ming alone was up to seven million yuan. You just played a key role in our capture process, so you only get a bounty of five million yuan.¡± Chen Yu took a sharp breath, feeling somewhat like a bounty hunter. ¡°Then, thank you, Captain Zhou.¡± Zhou Shengtao had other business and didn¡¯t stay much longer. After leaving the bounty and the plaque, he led his team away. The shop¡¯s staff suddenly cheered. They hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu would inadvertently help the authorities crack a significant case. Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed; in truth, he hadn¡¯t done much ¨C he had merely accompanied Zhou Shengtao to inspect the scene. After quickly dealing with everyone¡¯s praise, Chen Yu hurried back to the kitchen. He immediately called the supplier. Today was already Saturday, and after tomorrow, the stock of ingredients in the warehouse would be running low. Therefore, Chen Yu decided to purchase the next week¡¯s ingredients a day early. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138 - 138 Zeus Alliance Chapter 138 ¨C 138 Zeus Alliance ¡°` At eight in the evening, all the delivered raw materials had been placed in the warehouse, and the entire store was cleaned and closed for the night. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 1,636,600 yuan, and you have earned 1,636,600 points, with a current total accumulation of 61,399,980 points] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel excited, it wouldn¡¯t take long to gather another ten million points. However, after purchasing next week¡¯s raw materials, along with the meat and vegetables needed for tomorrow, there was only 10,800 yuan left in Chen Yu¡¯s payment account. Chen Yu didn¡¯t put it into his current account but planned to use it to buy more porridge ingredients. The spare funds that Chen Yu had left over this period had been almost entirely invested, and another ten thousand wasn¡¯t much. Including the bounty Zhou Shengtao gave today, Chen Yu¡¯s current account once again had over ten million in deposits. The task now was to speed up the establishment of the factory. After dinner and a quick tidy up, Chen Yu took Chen Guang and Tong Ya back to Shuiyue Number One. As soon as he parked the car, Chen Yu saw a long queue in front of his villa. All of them were the neighborhood¡¯s elderly uncles and aunts. ¡°Dear neighbors, my son hasn¡¯t arrived back yet, I hope everyone can wait patiently.¡± Looking at the scene, the news of Chen Yu healing Auntie Wang last night had spread throughout the neighborhood. When Chen Yu got to the door, he was immediately surrounded by these uncles and aunts. ¡°Young Boss Chen, I¡¯ve been suffering from insomnia recently, please take a look at me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been having trouble seeing things clearly, and the hospital couldn¡¯t find any problems either.¡± ¡°My husband and I have been married for eight years and have never had a child¡­¡± ¡­ Chen Yu was at a loss for words, the ailments were varied, and some people didn¡¯t have any real problems; they were just there for the excitement. ¡°Everyone, it is quite late now, so let¡¯s do this: write down your symptoms on a piece of paper, and if you have medical records, that¡¯s even better. Pass them all to me tomorrow morning, and I will tend to each one of you.¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s arrangement, the many neighbors present didn¡¯t say much more and dispersed. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The TV in the living room was showing the anime produced by Tang Xiaowei, and it seemed to have been updated to the third episode. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but admire the girl¡¯s speed at updating. After watching it with Tuan Tuan for a while, Chen Yu stretched lazily and went back to his room. Just as he lay down, his phone received a text message. It was an invitation to the Zeus Culinary Alliance, forwarded by Tong Ming. Chen Yu had heard of this alliance before. It was said that all of Europe¡¯s top chefs were within the alliance. ¡°Son-in-law, the Zeus Culinary Alliance has issued a challenge. This is a world-class contest between Western and Chinese cuisine, the stake being half the Chinese restaurants in Europe. Are you interested in representing Tong Group in the competition?¡± Reading the message, Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wife, does Tong Group have any restaurants besides the breakfast brand?¡± Tong Ya nodded, ¡°Yes, there are some high-end restaurants that are more show than substance, both domestic and international.¡± After a brief reply, Tong Ya tilted her head to glance at Chen Yu¡¯s phone screen. ¡°The Zeus Alliance! Husband, I¡¯m afraid you really need to make a trip. This alliance has always been the public enemy of overseas Chinese restaurants. In the past two decades, they have initiated challenges more than forty times with the aim of nipping Chinese cuisine in the bud.¡± It was the first time Chen Yu had heard of such an audacious alliance. ¡°According to the invitation, the competition should be in three days. How about we go tomorrow? It would be a perfect opportunity to have our wedding photos taken there.¡± ¡°` Tong Ya immediately got excited, ¡°Great!¡± ¡­ In the capital, Qingquan Mountain Film and Television Base. Fang Yuan was packing her luggage in a bit of a hurry. Han Mintao was also beside her, helping to prepare her daily necessities. ¡°Daughter, this notice should allow you to stay in Europe for at least a week, remember, don¡¯t be in a hurry to come back, wait for my message.¡± Fang Yuan didn¡¯t speak, just continued to pack her luggage in a fluster. She didn¡¯t even bother to answer her constantly ringing phone. By now, Fang Yuan had already successfully become an on-screen couple with Zhao Hai. The capital¡¯s major media had even concocted a love story for the two of them. But Fang Yuan knew that all she wanted was the commercial value that Zhao Hai could bring. Being with Zhao Hai, that was absolutely impossible. The milk tea shop had been doing quite well during this time. Just another half a month and she would be able to fulfill the terms of the contract, becoming capital herself. Then she would be able to completely rid herself of Zhao Hai. But at this stage, she could only rely on Zhao Hai and choose to stay far away, avoiding meeting him as much as possible in the face of relentless harassment. At this juncture, Fang Yuan was panicking. She was afraid that Zhao Hai, in a fit of anger, would cut off their cooperation, and then it would be a long way off before she could fulfill the contract. ¡°Mom, can you really guarantee that everything will go smoothly?¡± Han Mintao nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when I signed the contract I was cautious. Even if Zhao Hai unilaterally terminates the agreement, we can still operate the milk tea shop independently, after all, we just need to collect the franchise fee.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s tense emotions relaxed slightly, she didn¡¯t linger any longer, picked up her suitcase, and got into the nanny car parked outside. Seeing the car drive away, Han Mintao also breathed a sigh of relief. She lit a lady¡¯s cigarette, calmed her emotions, then leaned back in a chair at the photo studio. About half an hour later, Zhao Hai¡¯s sports car stopped at the entrance of the studio. ¡°Sister Han, where is Miss Fang?¡± Han Mintao exhaled a ring of smoke, ¡°Young Master Zhao, you¡¯re out of luck, Fang Yuan had to catch an urgent notice, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s already on the plane now.¡± Zhao Hai couldn¡¯t help frowning; he had arranged meetings with Fang Yuan several times, but every time it seemed like they just missed each other. He suddenly lost his patience. ¡°Sister Han, you and Miss Fang aren¡¯t deliberately making fun of me, are you?¡± Han Mintao put out her cigarette and took out a notice from her bag. ¡°What are you talking about, I wouldn¡¯t dare make fun of you. This notice was indeed urgent, involving several international bigwigs, and that Zeus Alliance in Europe.¡± Zhao Hai took the notice and frowned. Although this alliance was only a chefs¡¯ union, all the chefs inside were world-class, and it was affiliated with a significant number of large international capitals. If it were a typical entertainment circle notice from the capital, he could have used his influence to put a stop to it with just a word. But this one, even his father, would probably be powerless to intervene. Zhao Hai cleared his throat a few times, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect Miss Fang to go international. Make sure you let me know when she¡¯s back, so I can welcome her.¡± Han Mintao chuckled a few times, ¡°Naturally, the relationship between you and Fang Yuan is quite special. I¡¯ll definitely let you know when she¡¯s back.¡± Chapter 139 - Chapter 139 - 139 Wedding Photos Chapter 139 ¨C 139 Wedding Photos At four o¡¯clock in the early morning, Chen Yu and Tong Ya got up early and arrived at the airport. Today was the weekend, so the airport was still quite crowded at this time. With more than an hour left before the plane¡¯s departure, Chen Yu went to the airport¡¯s fast-food restaurant and bought two breakfasts to bring back. They had left in a hurry that morning and hadn¡¯t had time to eat anything. Tong Ya had just taken a sip of soymilk when her eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Husband, this soymilk tastes much worse than the one from our store. Had I known about the flight delay, we could have had something to eat there before coming over,¡± she complained. Chen Yu also took a sip. In the realm of ordinary soymilk, this flavor could be considered premium, but compared to the soymilk he made, it was worlds apart. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not very good, but we still need to eat something. It¡¯s at least twelve hours from here to Frankfurt. If we get hungry midway, we¡¯ll only have airplane food to eat, and that¡¯s worse than this breakfast,¡± he replied. Tong Ya, having no choice, pinched her nose and ate the breakfast in her hands. Apologies from the airline staff kept ringing throughout the airport, continuously explaining the reasons for the flight delays. Even so, many people were still crowding around the ticket counter, giving the staff a hard time. Chen Yu and Tong Ya, as a couple, appeared extremely calm. To them, this was just a journey¡ªworst case, they could simply catch the flight the next day. The pair had just finished their breakfast when they heard a scream from a counter not far away. An elderly man, slightly overweight, suddenly lay on the ground, convulsing, with a stylishly dressed and dignified-looking woman squatting beside him, nervously providing first aid. From her resuscitation technique, the woman appeared very professional, intermittently pressing on the man¡¯s chest while occasionally pressing on his neck as well. The noisy ticket counter area suddenly cleared out a large space, as nobody dared to come closer, fearing trouble. The dignified woman ignored the people around her; she was just trying to stay calm, doing first aid and dialing emergency numbers at the same time. Chen Yu took a glance at the elderly man from a distance, then furrowed his brow and squeezed through the crowd. ¡°He¡¯s having an acute myocardial infarction, and your conventional first aid methods aren¡¯t effective,¡± he said. The woman looked up suddenly but didn¡¯t stop what she was doing. ¡°Who are you? How do you know it¡¯s not effective?¡± she asked. Chen Yu pulled out his medical practitioner license, ¡°I¡¯m a doctor.¡± Upon seeing Chen Yu¡¯s license, the woman finally relaxed. ¡°Please, help my husband!¡± she implored. Chen Yu nodded, then squatted beside the man, casually pressing down on the left side of his chest. After finding the position of the left ventricle of the heart, he jabbed down hard with a single finger. This was an ancient emergency technique from the medical knowledge provided by the system. It could use such abrupt methods to temporarily break through the blockage between the atrium and the blood vessels. The man suddenly gasped for air and then opened his eyes. The crowd around them was stunned; Chen Yu had just used a single finger, and he seemed to have cured a man on the brink of death. The woman also stared wide-eyed, momentarily at a loss. She was from a medical background too, initially serving as the old man¡¯s personal physician, standing by his side. This was the first time she had ever witnessed such a method of emergency aid. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay attention to the surrounding gazes and continued to rhythmically press on the man¡¯s chest area. ¡°Do you have any emergency nitroglycerin pills?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. The woman didn¡¯t dare to delay, quickly taking out a bottle of pills from her backpack and passing it over. Chen Yu poured three pills and offered them to the elderly man. ¡°Are you about to board a flight?¡± Chen Yu continued to ask. The beautiful lady nodded, ¡°A flight to Frankfurt in an hour.¡± ¡°I suggest you bring a backup oxygen supply, otherwise, it will be very difficult for the patient to endure the flight of more than ten hours.¡± The beautiful lady quickly took out a small oxygen tank and oxygen equipment from her person. ¡°Will this do?¡± Chen Yu took the oxygen tank, weighed it, and said, ¡°It should be enough, but you still need to be careful on the way.¡± The beautiful lady¡¯s face was full of gratitude as she helped the old man up. The old man took several deep breaths and just as he was getting relieved, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Thank you, sir, for saving my life. If you ever need anything, you can call me directly.¡± Chen Yu smiled, as for him, this was just a simple gesture, and he had never thought about asking for anything in return. But as he was about to push the business card back, Tong Ya next to him quickly took it. ¡°Uncle Bai, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here!¡± Bai Qiu turned his head, somewhat surprised, to look at Tong Ya. ¡°Tong Ya? My, you¡¯ve grown so much. I remember the last time I saw you, you were only fourteen! By the way, how has your father been lately?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing very well, thank you for your concern, Uncle Bai.¡± Bai Qiu clutched his heart and took a few moments to relax so as not to get too excited. ¡°By the way, Tong Ya, your relationship with this gentleman¡­¡± Tong Ya directly took Chen Yu¡¯s arm and introduced, ¡°This is my husband, Chen Yu!¡± Bai Qiu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Tong Ming¡¯s son-in-law, no wonder you¡¯re so skilled, such great medical expertise! Where are you two headed?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on the same flight as you, going to Frankfurt,¡± Tong Ya replied politely. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful.¡± Bai Qiu swayed a little, ¡°With my health¡­ I¡¯m afraid I may trouble Mr. Chen on the way.¡± After exchanging pleasantries, Bai Qiu led Chen Yu and Tong Ya into the airport¡¯s VIP lounge. Bai Qiu was dragging his ailing body to Frankfurt not only for some business collaborations but also to retrieve the remains of laborers left there since the early 20th century. It was said that his grandfather was one of the laborers in Europe during World War I. Many laborers perished on that land, and Bai Qiu¡¯s grandfather had narrowly escaped death before returning to his homeland. Therefore, bringing back the remains of the deceased laborers became a family maxim for the Bai Family. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, they could only bring back at most ten sets of remains at a time. Bai Qiu wanted to bring back a few more before he died. This reason immediately filled Chen Yu with admiration. He certainly knew about that part of history and the laborers who died on that land. Those who are still dedicated to bringing back the laborers¡¯ remains to their homeland are now few and far between. While waiting for the plane, Chen Yu also considerately prepared a prescription to ease Bai Qiu¡¯s condition. By the time they boarded the plane, Bai Qiu¡¯s condition had also improved significantly. Chen Yu also noticed that Du Bing, who had been accompanying Bai Qiu the whole time, although at least thirty years younger than Bai Qiu, displayed unmistakable affection. Her gaze never left Bai Qiu from beginning to end, and the concern in her eyes was sincere. Chapter 140 - Chapter 140 - 140 Bridal Gown Design Chapter 140 ¨C 140 Bridal Gown Design Chen Yu and Tong Ya had booked their tickets last minute, and thus only managed to secure seats in economy class. Just as they found their seats and sat down, a woman wearing sunglasses and a face mask, with a large suitcase in tow, stumbled her way over to them. However, the suitcase was so big, and the woman¡¯s slight frame couldn¡¯t manage to heave it into the overhead compartment. Chen Yu simply glanced over and stood up, effortlessly placing the suitcase above. But as soon as he sat back down, he noticed the woman standing next to him, staring blankly, motionless. ¡°Miss, is there something else?¡± The woman¡¯s breathing became hurried, and she inadvertently took off her sunglasses and mask. A familiar face suddenly appeared in front of Chen Yu. Chen Yu was slightly startled, smiled, and nodded his head in greeting before sitting back down. Tong Ya, possibly feeling a bit unwell from breakfast, felt somewhat dizzy and leaned against Chen Yu. ¡°Husband, my head is aching a little, rub it for me, will you?¡± Chen Yu held Tong Ya in his arms, lifted his fingers to her temples, and gently started to massage. Fang Yuan tried to steady her breathing and sat down next to Chen Yu in a very unnatural manner. She hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be on the same flight, let alone sitting right next to her seat. Her heart, already in turmoil, felt unexpectedly agitated at that moment. During this period, all the news from Chen Yu¡¯s store had been funneling into her hands, and she was still harboring grudges over Chen Yu shutting down her milk tea shop in Suzhou City. What made her feel most unbalanced, and even somewhat jealous, was Tong Ya, lying in Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. This outstanding man should have been hers. Just as she calmed her breathing and was about to speak to Chen Yu, a flight attendant approached them politely. ¡°Mr. Chen Yu, Miss Tong Ya, Mr. Bai Qiu has just upgraded you both to first class, if you¡¯d please follow me to the front.¡± Chen Yu nodded, then pulled Tong Ya to her feet and followed the attendant. Fang Yuan clenched her fist, took a deep breath, and suddenly slapped herself. ¡°What am I doing? To think I was about to talk to him, isn¡¯t that just asking for humiliation?¡± Without reason, Fang Yuan murmured to herself and then lay down, closing her eyes. The flight was rather high-end, with first class divided into several VIP compartments. Bai Qiu and Du Bing had booked an entire compartment for themselves. Inside, all the facilities were complete, including a sofa bed. ¡°Mr. Chen, please forgive my presumption, but my chest still hurts terribly, and I will need your assistance once more.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just stepped forward and took Bai Qiu¡¯s pulse. ¡°Actually, at your age, it¡¯s normal for various bodily functions to decline. All that¡¯s needed is a good adjustment of the heart.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu took pen and paper and began writing out a prescription. The twelve-hour flight was smooth, and by six in the evening, they had safely arrived at Frankfurt Airport. After greeting Bai Qiu, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and got into a taxi that was waiting at road¡¯s side. Soon, they arrived at the hotel they had booked in advance. Beneath the hotel, there was a world-famous bridal shop, which was precisely why Chen Yu had chosen this hotel. After placing their luggage in the hotel and freshening up a bit, the couple went into the bridal shop together. ¡°Good evening, do you two have an appointment?¡± the attendant at the door asked with a polite face. However, there was a hint of disdain in the smile on the waiter¡¯s face, as if questioning whether Chen Yu could afford a wedding dress from the store. Although Chen Yu couldn¡¯t understand what the waiter was saying, he could read the expression on his face. Tong Ya¡¯s face turned somber as she took out a purple-gold card from her person. ¡°Do you think we need an appointment?¡± The waiter¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, and his expression changed to one of respect. ¡°Please come in, this way!¡± Chen Yu had not expected Tong Ya to speak German so fluently and that she was a VIP of this shop. As soon as the couple entered, they headed straight to the handcrafted wedding dress section. ¡°Honey, what do you think of this wedding dress?¡± Tong Ya stood behind a low-cut wedding dress and flashed a cute smile. Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°There are too many feathers at the chest, and the diamonds on the side are too dazzling, it seems quite gaudy without substance.¡± Tong Ya pouted, ¡°I don¡¯t really like it either.¡± After browsing the entire handcrafted wedding dress area, Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Waiter, don¡¯t you have any better wedding dresses here?¡± Several waiters hurriedly came over. ¡°Sorry, miss, the best wedding dresses in the store are basically here, and all of these dresses are designed by the master Lopeta.¡± Tong Ya looked back at the dresses. ¡°Lopeta? Has she gotten too old, her design inspiration failing to keep up with the times? Why are the designs so ostentatious?¡± No sooner had she spoken than the door of the nearby compartment burst open, and a woman in her fifties with a furious face walked out. ¡°What do you mean? How dare you call my wedding dress designs ostentatious.¡± Tong Ya sized up the woman in front of her, ¡°Yes! After all, a wedding dress is a garment, the ultimate pursuit should be comfort, along with a perfect silhouette.¡± ¡°Yet in your designs, there¡¯s an excessive use of diamonds and even gold threads, pretty to look at but otherwise useless.¡± Pelota, one of the most famous wedding dress designers in Europe, was today criticized to her face by a girl in her twenties, which made her furious. ¡°Young lady, who are you? What gives you the right to lecture me?¡± Tong Ya did not answer but hopped over to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Honey, it seems there¡¯s no wedding dress here suitable for me, we¡¯ve come to the wrong place.¡± Although Chen Yu hadn¡¯t fully understood the conversation between Tong Ya and Pelota, from Pelota¡¯s expression, it was clear Tong Ya had given her a piece of her mind. Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask any questions but simply smiled and started leading Tong Ya towards the exit. ¡°Hold on, since you look down so much on my designs, why don¡¯t you design one yourself!¡± ¡°If the wedding dress you design surpasses all the work here, I will transfer all my honors to you.¡± Tong Ya paused in her steps, ¡°If I design it, can you make it here?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Pelota assured. Tong Ya said nothing more, simply took out a neatly folded sheet of drawing paper and handed it over. On it was the design for a wedding dress. When Pelota saw the design, her eyes widened in shock. It was a new wedding dress that combined classical Eastern charm with the spirit of Western freedom. Just by looking at the design in her hands, Pelota felt it was astonishing. If it could be created, it would be truly extraordinary! Chapter 141 - Chapter 141 - 141: Pre-Race Reception Chapter 141 ¨C 141: Pre-Race Reception ¡°Little girl, can you sell me this design drawing?¡± Pelota¡¯s eyes were filled with longing, tinged with a hint of greed. Tong Ya huffed, ¡°I¡¯ve already applied for a personal patent for this design, so even if you buy it, you can¡¯t mass produce it! If you don¡¯t plan on helping me make this wedding dress, I can find someone else.¡± Having spoken so dominantly, Tong Ya took the drawing from Pelota¡¯s hands and left the shop, arm in arm with Chen Yu. ¡°We even booked a hotel here before coming, and I didn¡¯t expect Pelota to be so arrogant.¡± Tong Ya muttered, her face full of grievances. With a helpless smile, Chen Yu said, ¡°What can we do when they¡¯re famous!¡± After wandering around the nearby streets, the two returned to the hotel. Sitting on a plane all day had tired even the physically fit Chen Yu, not to mention Tong Ya. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 10,800 yuan, earning 10,800 points, the current total accumulated points are 6,157,780.] It seems that the cost invested in the shop yesterday was accounted for by the system, but the factory¡¯s investment was still not included. In the afternoon upon arrival in Frankfurt, Chen Yu made an international long-distance call to the supplier. He directly booked the supply of marinades and fresh vegetables for the next seven days, asking them to deliver at seven o¡¯clock every evening to the shop. For this alone, Chen Yu paid 2,135,500 yuan. Taking into account today¡¯s total sales, Chen Yu¡¯s current account had shrunk to 10,300,000 yuan. ¡°Husband, are you calculating accounts again? We¡¯re already in bed, why are you still daydreaming?¡± Tong Ya cuddled up to Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder very affectionately. Chen Yu turned his head and stroked Tong Ya¡¯s chin, ¡°I was thinking about where to get your designed wedding dress made.¡± ¡°That was just something I drew for fun. I don¡¯t want to wear a wedding dress for a wedding; I want the most authentic Chinese wedding ceremony! I came here just to take a set of Western style wedding photos¡ªit doesn¡¯t matter what wedding dress I wear.¡± Though Tong Ya said this, her eyes were still intently fixed on the design drawing of the wedding dress. Chen Yu also secretly took note of this. Early the next morning, the couple went to the bridal photo studio they had previously booked. It was only there they learned that if they wanted to take wedding photos across Europe as they had initially planned, they would need to embark on a fourteen-day European tour. With this limiting condition, it seemed impossible to have the wedding photos taken after all. With no other choice, the two could only wander around the sights of Frankfurt. In the evening, as they were leaving a castle, they ran into Bai Qiu and Du Bing. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you here for travel?¡± Bai Qiu was somewhat surprised, as he didn¡¯t expect to encounter Chen Yu here. Moreover, since they had parted in such a hurry last time at the airport, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to ask Chen Yu what he was doing here. Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°I was invited to attend a competition, and I arrived two days early, so I¡¯ve been touring around.¡± ¡°A competition? Could it be the day after tomorrow¡¯s Zeus League Challenge?¡± Bai Qiu suddenly became excited. Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Does the elder also know about this competition?¡± ¡°This is the most famous competition in all of Europe, and for the time being, it¡¯s the only competition happening in Frankfurt! By the way, Mr. Chen, do you cook?¡± ¡°I know a little!¡± Chen Yu was very humble, ¡°This time, I am representing the culinary department of the Tong Group to participate in the competition.¡± ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Bai Qiu took out a platinum identity tag from his person, ¡°I am one of the invited guests for this competition, and I will be making an appearance as well.¡± Next to him, Du Bing took out two invitations from his person and handed them to Chen Yu. ¡°Tonight at seven, there will be a cocktail party for the invited guests of the competition, and if you¡¯re interested, you¡¯re welcome to attend.¡± Chen Yu had been worried about having nowhere to go these couple of days out of boredom, and he had not expected that there would be a cocktail party before the competition. It was already evening at the moment, and only a few hours were left before the start of the cocktail party. The four of them then strolled around the vicinity together before heading directly to the cocktail party venue. The majority of the invited guests were sponsors of the competition or influential figures from various fields. There were also some world-famous actors and a few competing contestants. The cocktail party venue was also extremely imposing, set within an ancient castle with a history of a thousand years. Bai Qiu even had someone bring Chen Yu and Tong Ya a set of fitted formal attire. Both of them, whether in figure or appearance, ranked top among those with Eastern features, and with the enhancement of formal wear, they instantly became the most dazzling presence upon entering the scene. Almost everyone¡¯s gaze was drawn to him, even the musicians stopped their tunes. ¡°Who are these two? Why haven¡¯t we ever seen them before? Could they be actors from some Eastern country?¡± ¡°Looking at their temperament, they must come from some prominent family.¡± ¡°Quick, check the guest list, I want to know their identities in the shortest time possible.¡± ¡­ Fang Yuan was also present at the venue, having secured the position of host for the Zeus Alliance Challenge through Han Mintao¡¯s connections. But now she hid in a corner, not daring to move forward in the least. It wasn¡¯t because Chen Yu and Tong Ya were too dazzling, but rather she was afraid of facing Chen Yu. According to the persona she had crafted, she had never met Chen Yu, and if she got too close and any microexpression was captured by the media, it could collapse the persona she had painstakingly built. The convergence of everyone¡¯s gaze made Chen Yu somewhat uncomfortable, so he pulled Tong Ya over to a corner and started eating pastries on his own. [Congratulations, Host, on completing a day of business. Since costs have exceeded profits, there are no points to be added.] Chen Yu wasn¡¯t surprised in the least; after all, he had invested over two million yesterday, while his revenue for the day was just over one million nine hundred and thirty thousand. It would have been strange if there had been a profit. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really didn¡¯t expect to see you in Frankfurt!¡± Charles called out excitedly and walked over with a glass of wine in his hand. Chen Yu slightly furrowed his brow, as he didn¡¯t have much affection for Charles. As a Michelin three-star chef, to actually block someone¡¯s shop entrance just to force their chef into a competition with him. Such a person had issues with his character. Chen Yu reluctantly squeezed out a bit of a smile, ¡°Mr. Charles, it seems like you will also be participating in the competition the day after tomorrow.¡± Charles sighed helplessly, ¡°Since Mr. Chen is participating, I definitely don¡¯t stand a chance of even placing.¡± While they were chatting casually, a sudden sound of a glass bottle breaking rang out. A portly middle-aged man suddenly fell from the second floor. Chapter 142 - Chapter 142 - 142 Barrier-Free Communication Chapter 142 ¨C 142 Barrier-Free Communication ¡°` The scene suddenly descended into chaos as security and medical personnel appeared almost simultaneously, forming a circle around the person who had just fallen from the second floor. Meanwhile, above the second floor, four masked assassins holding automatic weapons aimed down at the lobby on the first floor. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he had not expected to encounter professional hitmen in this place, much less ones this skilled. He instinctively shielded Tong Ya behind him and flung a nearby wine glass with an impromptu throw. As the wine glass was hurled, Chen Yu crushed it into fragments. The countless shards hurtled towards the four hitmen, instantly disarming them and piercing through their bodies. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected his physical condition to be so incredibly strong. After all, this was the peak of human physical prowess; it was extraordinary. In agony, the four individuals fell from the second floor and were subdued by the security personnel on-site. Bai Qiu, in a state of panic, pushed through the crowd to reach the center of the commotion. ¡°Victor, how are you?¡± The portly old man who had fallen from the second floor was spitting blood and convulsing violently. Although the medical personnel were administering aid immediately, their emergency equipment was relatively rudimentary. Victor¡¯s injuries were too severe, with at least four or five bullet fragments lodged inside him; surgery was imperative. Bai Qiu, seeing the medics in disarray, took matters into his own hands and quickly approached Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, can you perform a surgery like this?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed deeply; he had not wanted to draw too much attention, but lives were at stake, and he couldn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I can, but I need tools!¡± Upon hearing Chen Yu¡¯s affirmative response, Bai Qiu didn¡¯t hesitate, dragging him to where Victor lay. The surgical conditions at the scene were extremely crude; aside from a scalpel and some hemostatic and disinfectant items, there was nothing else. Chen Yu didn¡¯t think too much about it, picked up the scalpel, quickly sterilized it, and then deftly brought it to Victor¡¯s body. The security personnel beside him were startled by such impulsive action. But before they could intervene, four bullet fragments had already been swiftly removed. Almost simultaneously, Chen Yu grabbed a suturing needle and began stitching up Victor¡¯s wounds. ¡°My God, that was fast! Are you a professional doctor?¡± one of the security staff exclaimed in awe. Chen Yu didn¡¯t reply, meticulously finishing the sutures, then combined the available emergency drugs and administered them to Victor. He then slowly pressed on Victor¡¯s chest cavity, ensuring normal blood circulation. Victor, who had been convulsing uncontrollably, slowly began to recover. ¡°He¡¯s out of critical condition now, he will be okay once he¡¯s at the hospital.¡± With a casual remark, Chen Yu instantly eased Bai Qiu¡¯s worry. Bai Qiu hastily translated Chen Yu¡¯s words to the others nearby. Upon hearing this, the encircling security and medical personnel began regarding Chen Yu with veneration. They had watched the entire process of Chen Yu¡¯s surgery. Such speed, such technique, they had barely grasped what had happened before the operation was completed. And he had also successfully stabilized Victor¡¯s condition. A few security staff muttered among themselves and then quickly carried Victor away. ¡°` ¡°` Bai Qiu was also patting Chen Yu on the shoulder with a grateful face. ¡°They just said you are a great benefactor of the William family, and asked me to get your name and address so that they can thank you generously later on.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°What I did was nothing more than acting on a sense of injustice, I don¡¯t need any generous reward. Please, Mr. Bai, decline their offer on my behalf.¡± Bai Qiu was momentarily stunned, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what kind of existence the William family is? Their ¡®generous reward¡¯ could potentially change your life!¡± Chen Yu just shrugged, his face indifferent. He now had the system as his companion; his destiny had already changed, and perhaps in the future, he might even change the world. ¡°Husband, I think you should consider it carefully. The William family is one of the top ancient families in the world, their assets are even double that of the Tong family.¡± Tong Ya also had a look of surprise on her face; after all, no one in this world could refuse the William family. The expression on Chen Yu¡¯s face remained unchanged, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then Mr. Bai can decide on his own.¡± Although his words sounded perfunctory, Bai Qiu wasn¡¯t angered; in his eyes, Chen Yu was simply a man indifferent to fame and wealth. Previously, when Chen Yu treated him at the airport, he had not taken any compensation either. The entire wine party concluded in such an atmosphere, and the castle went into a state of martial law. All the guests who had come for the wine party were forced to stay for identification. Chen Yu and his wife, along with Bai Qiu and his wife, were taken to a wine cellar as honored guests. In such medieval castle architecture, wine cellars were always built luxuriously with the finest stone to feature a bar. The castle¡¯s servants presented them with various delicacies and opened two bottles of extremely valuable vintage wine. The two security personnel tasked with guarding them stood symbolically nearby. After all, everyone had seen Chen Yu¡¯s heroic act of saving lives just before. And Bai Qiu had been friends with Victor for many years and was present in the hall when the incident happened. No way could either of them be the culprit behind Victor¡¯s assassination attempt. ¡°Mr. Chen, the William family¡¯s vintage wine is rarely used to entertain guests; this is your first visit here, and you¡¯re being given such high honor. Your status in the William family is comparable to those world-class tycoons.¡± Chen Yu took a sip of wine, which indeed tasted nice. It was mellow to the taste, fragrant and lingering, truly a rare vintage. ¡°Mr. Bai, could you please not keep calling me ¡®Mr. Chen¡¯? If we were in my home country, people would say I¡¯m disrespecting my elders.¡± Chen Yu skirted around the issue of the William family and was instead discussing the trivial matter of how to address Bai Qiu. Bai Qiu chuckled lightly; in his heart, Chen Yu was certainly worthy of the honorific ¡°Mister.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you little brother! It sounds more cordial.¡± The two security personnel nearby also gathered around. ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you manage to subdue those four criminals at the same time?¡± [System notification: Host detected in a German-speaking environment. You can spend one hundred thousand points to obtain systemic German language skills.] Chen Yu was taken aback, not expecting the system to be so considerate. However, spending one hundred thousand points to learn a language seemed a bit of a loss. Still, he had to stay in this place for at least a week, and relying on others to translate all the time seemed somewhat improper. After brief consideration, Chen Yu chose to confirm. [Congratulations to the host for acquiring German language skills. Now, you can communicate with the locals without any barriers.] ¡°` Chapter 143 - Chapter 143 - 143: Relative Time Difference Chapter 143 ¨C 143: Relative Time Difference Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but get a little excited, but when Tong Ya next to him was about to translate for him, he raised his hand to stop her. ¡°All I did was smash the glass and throw the shards out.¡± This fluent German stunned Bai Qiu and Tong Ya on the spot. They had always thought that Chen Yu did not speak German. The two security personnel, finding no barrier to communication, also bombarded him with questions non-stop. Before long, the six of them were actually chatting away like old friends. William¡¯s family was known for its swift and decisive actions, and in just two hours, they had rooted out the person behind the incident. The castle¡¯s butler personally came down to the wine cellar and arranged for Chen Yu and his party to stay in two separate yet luxurious guest rooms. ¡°Husband, when did you learn German? And you speak it so fluently,¡± Tong Ya relentlessly pursued the matter. Chen Yu smiled, ¡°I took an elective course during university and learned enough to handle everyday conversations.¡± Tong Ya was instantly full of admiration, ¡°My man is simply formidable!¡± ¡­ The next morning, when Chen Yu awoke, he found the castle had entered a rather strange state. The red flags from yesterday had been replaced with light blue ones, and many of the more noticeable signs had changed color too. Was it because the master had been the target of an assassination that they had to take down the original decorations? ¡°Mr. Chen, good morning!¡± The patrolling security personnel saw Chen Yu and saluted him very respectfully, before continuing their patrol. This left Chen Yu feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He had wanted to go for a morning run around the ancient castle, and take in the scenery as well. But he hadn¡¯t gone far before people were greeting him, which he found rather uncustomary, so he quickly returned to his room. Tong Ya, with sleepy eyes, asked, ¡°Husband, weren¡¯t you going for a run? You¡¯re back so soon.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless, ¡°I¡¯m not quite comfortable with the atmosphere here, let¡¯s just go back to the hotel.¡± Tong Ya obediently nodded and quickly got out of bed. No sooner had the two left the room than a business van stopped at the entrance, and William¡¯s family¡¯s security personnel respectfully invited them to get in the vehicle. Chen Yu frowned slightly and had no choice but to get in the car with Tong Ya. At the Frankfurt Central Hospital, Victor lay on his hospital bed with a look of gloom on his face. He never thought that one day he would be the target of an assassination in his own estate, and nearly lose his life. However, when he saw Chen Yu, he almost jumped out of bed in excitement. ¡°Sir, not only are you my lifesaver, but you have also saved the entire William family! Just ask for anything you need, and as long as I can do it, I will not refuse.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression remained neutral, ¡°At the time, it was merely a reflex. Please don¡¯t dwell on it, Mr. Victor.¡± ¡°How can I not dwell on such a matter? Please, Mr. Chen, just name any condition, even if you ask for a check,¡± Victor insisted. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Knowing Victor¡¯s status, if he didn¡¯t ask for something, it might be seen as a snub to William¡¯s family. These ancient families that have descended from the Middle Ages care deeply about their honor. If the current situation wasn¡¯t handled well, it could easily lead to a feud with William¡¯s family. After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yu handed over the wedding dress design that Tong Ya had previously drawn. ¡°If possible, I would like Mr. Victor to help me get this wedding dress made.¡± Victor¡¯s eyes widened in surprise: ¡°Just this one wedding dress?¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°That¡¯s right, and I want it to be purely handmade!¡± Victor glanced at the design paper in his hand and then handed it to the assistant beside him. ¡°Get someone on it immediately!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there for too long either, exchanging a few casual words with Victor before leaving with Tong Ya. After all, there was no business cooperation between him and William¡¯s family, and they had very few common topics to talk about. After leaving the hospital, the two went to a Western restaurant. According to the travel guide, the steak at this restaurant was the most authentic locally. Tong Ya propped her chin with both hands, looking at Chen Yu with an indescribable gaze. ¡°Husband, you could have asked Victor for any favor just now, and he would have satisfied you immediately. With the power of William¡¯s family, they could have made you a billionaire in no time. Why did you only ask him to make a wedding dress?¡± In Tong Ya¡¯s view, anyone facing William¡¯s family would seem to choose business cooperation, or at the very least, want a check. But Chen Yu¡¯s choice seemed somewhat lacking in shrewdness. Chen Yu pinched Tong Ya¡¯s nose. ¡°Everything in this world is balanced. Today, maybe I could accept help from William¡¯s family, but with their family¡¯s strength, they could replicate my business model in no time or even take control of my company outright.¡± Tong Ya actually understood all of these things Chen Yu mentioned, as business matters are always unpredictable. Accepting someone¡¯s investment also means accepting any unforeseen changes that may come with it. Shortly, their steak dinners were served. Chen Yu took a bite and found the steak to have a very unique flavor. Although he currently didn¡¯t have skills in Western cuisine, he could taste the general quality. At least, from the plating and the preparation of the steak, the chef¡¯s dedication was evident. ¡°By the way, husband, can you cook Western food?¡± Tong Ya suddenly asked. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know how to reply. He might not know much now, but his points were almost at ten million. Another lottery draw and he might get a Western cuisine skill. ¡°A little!¡± He gave a non-committal answer and then focused on finishing his steak. Today was Tuesday, so the streets weren¡¯t very crowded. Hand in hand, they toured almost every spot they had missed the day before. [Congratulations to the host for completing one day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,736,200 yuan, earning 1,736,200 points, bringing the current cumulative total points to 7,786,980.] Chen Yu frowned involuntarily. It wasn¡¯t evening yet, so why had the system notification sounded? But when he checked the time on his phone, it did indeed show 8 p.m. In a moment of realization, Chen Yu helplessly slapped his forehead; there was a significant time difference here from back home. He had adjusted to the time difference over the past two days, but the system still operated on home country time. The time difference here was six hours from home. It might have been 8 p.m. there, but in Frankfurt, it was only 2 p.m. However, Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay much attention to the time difference. Seeing the total amount of points, he couldn¡¯t help feeling excited; it wouldn¡¯t be long before he reached ten million points. Chen Yu and Tong Ya aimlessly wandered the streets for the afternoon before they returned to the hotel. Chapter 144 - Chapter 144 - 144 Stir-fried Beef with Green Onions Chapter 144 ¨C 144 Stir-fried Beef with Green Onions Early in the morning the next day, Chen Yu arrived at the location specified for the competition. The venue for the competition appeared to be the local sports stadium, which was quite large in scale. By the time Chen Yu got there, the site was already teeming with people. There were as many as twenty members of the Zeus Alliance participating in this competition. However, they looked more like a professional team, among whom a few were well-known chefs, while the rest seemed to be participating as assistants. Apart from Chen Yu, the Chinese cuisine team that came to face the challenge consisted of only six people. ¡°Welcome everyone to the challenge competition, I am honored to host this event,¡± a familiar voice suddenly rang out, causing Chen Yu to frown involuntarily. Dressed in a formal gown, Fang Yuan held a microphone and slowly appeared on the podium with the help of a lift. When Chen Yu saw Fang Yuan at William¡¯s family¡¯s castle, he thought she was just an artist invited to perform, not expecting her to be the host for the whole competition in Chinese. Fang Yuan also paused when she stood on the stage, as she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be able to take part in a competition of this caliber. No matter whether Chen Yu won a place in this competition or not, just by standing on the competition floor, he had already gained recognition as a world-class chef. Fang Yuan could never have dreamed that in less than two months since their divorce, Chen Yu had grown to such an extent. When she was with him, Chen Yu wasn¡¯t this impressive! How did he suddenly become a world-class figure? After all, Fang Yuan was an actress, and her mental fortitude was significantly stronger than that of the average person. She immediately adjusted her emotions, ¡°The rules for the first day of the competition are relatively simple. It¡¯s a friendly match between the two sides, where each team specifies the ingredients and seasonings that the opposing chefs must use, but please note, this does not include kitchenware!¡± Put simply, the first match was about tripping up the other side, taking away the ingredients they were adept with, and providing those they weren¡¯t skilled in handling. The chefs from Zeus Alliance were quite shrewd; they seemed to have known the rules well in advance. Before the host Devon could even finish explaining the rules, they had already come over to select their choices. The six Chinese cuisine chefs competing alongside Chen Yu were not to be outdone and quickly turned the opposing chefs¡¯ selections into chaos. In the end, the teams practically swapped ingredients with each other. ¡°Alright, it looks like the chefs from both sides have made their choices, so please present your dishes within the allotted time. The countdown starts now.¡± The seven Chinese cuisine chefs, including Chen Yu, looked at the large pieces of beef in front of them and couldn¡¯t help but feel troubled. Besides these pieces of beef and some onions, ginger, and garlic, they hardly had any proper ingredients left, not even the cooking oil for stir-frying had been taken. To be honest, the chefs from the Zeus Alliance had been rather excessive. They glanced at the Chinese team disdainfully and then eagerly set about cooking. Chen Yu took a deep breath, ¡°Master Wang Hai, can you extract some oil from that pile of sesame seeds?¡± The older Master Wang Hai immediately nodded and made a simple oil press tool on the spot. ¡°Who can help me prepare the onions, ginger, garlic, and other minor ingredients?¡± Chen Yu asked, and with a knife in hand, he quickly started slicing the beef. ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± one chef responded and took out all the remaining onions, ginger, and garlic. The other four chefs immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s intention and began cooperating with each other. By the time Chen Yu finished processing the beef, Master Wang Hai had already extracted the sesame oil. Chen Yu promptly heated the oil in the wok, stir-fried the onions, ginger, and garlic, and then skillfully added the beef to the pan. The entire process took less than half an hour, and a fragrant dish of onion and beef stir-fry was presented by Chen Yu. In contrast, over at Zeus Alliance, they had just finished making their salt-baked snails, the mousse foie gras was still being processed, and the other dishes were halfway done. Fang Yuan on the hosting stage was seeing Chen Yu cook for the first time. Even though they had been married for so long, Fang Yuan barely stayed at home, not to mention seeing Chen Yu cook, she had hardly even spoken a few words to him. Now standing at the hosting station with such a clear view, Fang Yuan suddenly discovered a unique charm in Chen Yu. Especially when he was cooking, his movements were as smooth as flowing water, effortlessly graceful; for some reason, it was quite enchanting. Fang Yuan hurriedly shook her head, ¡°Now the Chinese chef here has already served a dish, and I can smell the fragrance from where I¡¯m standing.¡± The six gourmands had long been captivated by the aroma lingering at the scene and couldn¡¯t wait to take a bite. ¡°This onion and beef stir-fry looks simple, but during stir-frying, the meat¡¯s fibers and sinews were completely broken down, soft yet chewy once you take a bite.¡± ¡°To use such simple ingredients and make such a delicious dish in such a short time, it seems that Chinese cuisine is indeed a notch better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sesame oil! With freshly extracted oil like this, it can maximize the fresh taste of the ingredients.¡± ¡­ One dish of onion and beef stir-fry made the six judges rave about it for a long time. It was only at this moment that the dishes from Zeus Alliance were just ready. Having just eaten such steaming, delicious food, the judges were somewhat resistant to switching to cold dishes. Out of professional integrity, they rinsed their mouths and began tasting meticulously. However, their expressions while eating the onion and beef stir-fry were a stark contrast to now. Although only two of the six judges were Chinese, they unanimously cast their votes for Chen Yu¡¯s side. After that round ended, both sides proceeded to the halftime break. Fang Yuan on the hosting stage finally breathed a sigh of relief, but as soon as she stepped down, she dashed towards the restroom like a madwoman. ¡°Stay calm, I must stay calm!¡± Chen Yu and the six Chinese chefs leisurely made their way to the break room. Master chef Wang Hai patted his chest with a look of relief tinged with fear. ¡°I was really a bit worried that we might lose this competition, but I didn¡¯t expect Little Chen¡¯s cooking skills to be so extraordinary, turning decay into magic, making that onion and beef stir-fry so delicious.¡± The other five master chefs also offered continuous praise. They had checked the piece of beef at the start of the competition. Though it was of quality, being genuine Wagyu, it wasn¡¯t the perfect cut of Wagyu beef. It was filled with sinews and even a little gristle. Unless cooked in a pressure cooker for a long time, it would be tough to chew. Who would have thought that Chen Yu, just by simple stir-frying, could perfectly deal with the sinews and gristle. Chen Yu was so lauded that he started to feel a little embarrassed, sitting there and repeatedly waving his hand. After a brief rest, they entered the arena again, but on the original judges¡¯ seat, a few more figures had appeared, among them was Bai Qiu. It appeared she was a special guest. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145 - 145: The Golden Gemstone Chapter 145 ¨C 145: The Golden Gemstone ¡°After the friendly exchange just now, I believe both chefs have gained a basic understanding of each other. The next competition will have no specific rules, but what needs to be highlighted is your knife skills,¡± the host announced, and the venue immediately boiled with excitement. For the audience, the knife skills segment is the most thrilling part of any competition, especially when watching Chinese chefs display their knife work. In previous competitions, all kinds of ingredients had transformed in the hands of Chinese chefs, providing a feast for the eyes. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, as this competition¡¯s rules clearly favored them. This was the turf of the Zeus Alliance, and in theory, the organizers couldn¡¯t show partiality towards Chinese chefs. However, when Chen Yu saw Victor enter the venue, limping with the aid of several security personnel, he seemed to grasp something. Tong Ya had told Chen Yu the night before that William¡¯s family was the biggest financial backer of the Zeus Alliance. But in recent years, the Zeus Alliance had been establishing independent companies, trying to shake off William¡¯s family. This had greatly angered William¡¯s family. Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, it looked like the Zeus Alliance had already lost this battle. Who have they managed to offend now? They actually went and irritated their own ¡®sugar daddy¡¯! ¡°[Congratulations Host on completing one day of business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,935,600 Yuan, earning 1,935,600 points. Your current total cumulative points are 9,725,580.]¡± The sudden notification sound startled Chen Yu. Checking the time, it was two o¡¯clock in the afternoon locally, which meant it was eight o¡¯clock in the evening back home. Seeing the rate at which points were accumulating, he would have another ten million points by this time tomorrow. The competition was intense, with both sides showcasing their special skills. Most of the Zeus Alliance¡¯s chefs were Western cooks whose cutting skills weren¡¯t that great, but to deal with this challenge, they must have been practicing hard in secret. Although the knife work of a few was not quite masterful, it could still be considered top-notch. But to Chen Yu, such knife work was nothing more than a laugh. They couldn¡¯t even compare to any of the chefs on his side. Wang Hai quickly sliced a cucumber with a kitchen knife twice, then lifted it. The entire cucumber stayed connected like a spring, not only were the connections extremely fine, but the slices were also as thin as cicada wings. Wang Hai mixed the finely cut cucumber with other ingredients and made a simple yet honest cucumber salad. Chen Yu was not to be outdone. He picked up the fruit next to him and rapidly brandished his kitchen knife, and soon, a lifelike platter of animal-shaped fruit was arranged on the table. Moreover, Chen Yu also made a dish of Mapo Tofu on the spot. When all of the dishes from the Chinese chefs were presented, all the judges fixated on the Mapo Tofu. It wasn¡¯t because it was the only hot dish on the table, but because every piece of tofu in it was identical in size and shape. The whole platter of Mapo Tofu looked like a perfect piece of art, and almost all the judges were reluctant to spoil it by eating. The big screen at the venue also focused on Chen Yu¡¯s Mapo Tofu. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s my first time seeing such a dish, it¡¯s too perfect. These pieces of tofu are just like Lego bricks, as if they were mass-produced,¡± ¡°None of them got damaged during the cooking process, what great skill.¡± ¡°It seems that on this first day of the competition, the Zeus Alliance has been completely defeated.¡± ¡°Although the alliance is supposed to be a collective of chefs, over the years they have become overly commercialized and are becoming less and less like chefs.¡± ¡­ In comparison, the knife skills of the Zeus Alliance left much to be desired. The only presentable skill was some basic carrot flower carving. But these were the most fundamental plating techniques in Western cuisine, a world apart from what the Chinese chefs were doing. Amid the discussions of the audience, the competition concluded, with the Chinese chefs emerging as the clear winners. The first day of competition ended like this, with the people from the Zeus Alliance leaving the scene rather unwillingly. After a busy day, Chen Yu was a bit tired and was just about to go back to rest when Victor stopped him. ¡°Mr. Chen, the wedding dress you commissioned me to make yesterday, I have had it rushed through the night, may I have your hotel address so I can send it over right away?¡± Chen Yu was surprised, he had not expected that it would be possible to make such a complex handmade wedding dress overnight. Tong Ya¡¯s eyes also widened in amazement. According to her design, the materials for the wedding dress were very hard to find, and even for William¡¯s family, it would probably take some effort. It seemed she had underestimated the capabilities of William¡¯s family. Victor didn¡¯t beat around the bush and immediately took out his tablet computer to show Chen Yu and Tong Ya the finished product. Even just looking at the photos, they could feel an overwhelmingly beautiful aura. Chen Yu thanked him profusely and gave him the address of his hotel. Not long after Chen Yu and Tong Ya returned to their hotel, Victor had already sent two assistants to deliver the wedding dress. Seeing the finished product, Tong Ya was so excited she was almost beside herself. When she designed this wedding dress, she did so rather casually. After all, the materials for making this dress, and the gemstones set in it, were extremely rare. Even if all the materials were found, to purely handcraft it would require the cooperation of no less than three master dressmakers to perfectly create it. But Chen Yu furrowed his brow. When he saw the photo earlier, he thought the gemstones set in it were just ornaments, but now he realized that all of the gemstones and diamonds were real. Just the largest gold gemstone, and the two symmetrical pink gemstones, were probably worth over a hundred million in value combined. It had to be said, Victor was incredibly generous. Such a gift left Chen Yu not knowing what to do. If he were to send it back, he might offend William¡¯s family. He wasn¡¯t afraid of much, but Tong Group had a close collaboration with William¡¯s family in Europe, and he was afraid it might affect the partnership. But if he didn¡¯t return it, such a valuable gift was truly overwhelming for him to receive. ¡°Honey, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a big face that you could get William¡¯s family to set their family heirloom gemstones on it; it¡¯s like they¡¯re extending an olive branch to you,¡± Tong Ya said. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly: ¡°Family heirloom gemstones?¡± ¡°Yes, these gold gemstones have been passed down since the Middle Ages and are unique to William¡¯s family! They only give one to those they consider their most intimate friends, and in a thousand years, they¡¯ve only given out five.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, which meant this was the sixth one. It turned out Victor considered him a friend; perhaps he was being too cynical after all. Chapter 146 - Chapter 146 - 146: Exchange Recipes Chapter 146 ¨C 146: Exchange Recipes Tong Ya truly adored the wedding dress in her hands, holding it continuously from the moment she saw it until she went to sleep. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much; he just stretched lazily and fell into a deep sleep. The competition entered its second day, with the venue still swarming with people. Chen Yu felt a bit depressed. Today was Thursday and, logically, most people should be at work. Why were there so many spectators present? Today¡¯s rules were a bit different from yesterday¡¯s, not as freeform but rather directed competition. The morning¡¯s content was pastry, which did not have any specific restrictions. Both sides could create according to their own culinary strengths. But the afternoon¡¯s content was a bit more demanding. The two sides had to exchange recipes! This meant that in the afternoon¡¯s competition, the Chinese chefs had to prepare Western cuisine according to the requirements of the Zeus Alliance. And the Alliance had to do the same, preparing Chinese cuisine according to their demands. This seemingly simple exchange actually concealed a deeper challenge. It tested whether a chef had expanded their expertise beyond their specialty dishes. In other words, it was a test of the chefs¡¯ versatility, or rather, their learning ability. As soon as the morning competition began, the atmosphere became intensely competitive. Both sides chose to work on Fondant Craftsmanship! This was no longer just a culinary competition, but rather a contest of artistic expression on some level. Many regard Fondant Craftsmanship as edible figurines. Some masters of Fondant Craftsmanship with superior skills have created works so lifelike that they have been featured in world-class art exhibitions. Fondant Craftsmanship was an integral part of Chen Yu¡¯s pastry and staple food series, so he was particularly skilled in this area. In the midst of everyone¡¯s astonished gazes, he quickly fashioned more than a dozen lifelike fondant figures. In the end, he created a massive platform for these fondant figures and set them upon it, presenting a stunning depiction of the flying apsaras of Dunhuang before everyone¡¯s eyes. When the judges and the audience saw this fondant scroll, they rose to their feet. Thunderous applause erupted at the venue. Such a fondant creation, rich in regional flavor and cultural heritage, was top-notch wherever it was placed. It seemed the Zeus Alliance had aimed to create Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but their fondant work was only half completed, and in terms of difficulty and technique, it fell far short of Chen Yu¡¯s. Even most of the judges believed there was no need to continue the competition and declared the Chinese chef the winner outright. Perhaps even the people of the Zeus Alliance hadn¡¯t anticipated such an unequivocal match, where Chen Yu secured victory with an overwhelming advantage. Their fondant work had been practiced countless times in private, and today¡¯s execution was their fastest yet, but even so, they were soundly defeated. When Chen Yu returned to the resting room, he was met with absolute respect from the other six chefs, and two of them even asked to take him as their master. Chen Yu dismissively attributed it to practice makes perfect and then changed the subject to chat idly with the other masters. In the afternoon, they had to prepare Western cuisine, and these Chinese chefs, who had handled cleavers and large spoons all their lives, knew very little about Western cuisine. Take Master Wang Hai, for example, he was definitely top-notch in Chinese cuisine, yet he didn¡¯t even know the basic steps of cooking a steak. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know much about these things. After discussing with each other for a while, they suddenly panicked, realizing they might lose the afternoon competition. However, what comforted them was that since yesterday, they had already won three matches in a row, and losing one wouldn¡¯t be too damaging. [Congratulations to the host for completing one day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,935,600 Yuan, which earns you 1,935,600 points. The current total accumulated points are 11,658,180.] The system¡¯s notification sounded, which excited Chen Yu for a moment; his points finally surpassed ten million. ¡°System, can you give me Western culinary skills in this draw?¡± Chen Yu unconsciously asked in his mind. [System Notice: All draws are random and the results cannot be known in advance.] [If the host confirms the draw, the next draw¡¯s points will accumulate to one hundred million before you can continue the draw.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. Wasn¡¯t this a rip-off? When could he ever accumulate enough points to reach one hundred million? But now was not the time to worry about that; regardless of the outcome, he had to go through with the draw. After all, with luck on his side, maybe he could win the Western cooking skills this time. After clicking confirm, a wealth of information appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [Congratulations to the host for acquiring the skills of all the world¡¯s cuisines and mastering all the world¡¯s languages.] The system fell silent after a brief sentence. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. Was that it? He suddenly felt that the ten million points were a terrible loss, hearing as if he had gained only two skills. But when all the information emerged in his mind, Chen Yu was momentarily stunned. Now, he could prepare any dish from any cuisine in the world, even those signature dishes from some very small tribal nations appeared in his memory. The amount of information these represented was nearly a hundred times larger than that of a single cuisine! Moreover, Chen Yu¡¯s mind was filled with information on various languages, including complete systems for even those obscure ones that remained largely unheard of. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing became rushed; now he was truly prepared to travel anywhere in the world without fear. [System Notice: The current point balance of the host is 1,658,180.] ¡°Xiao Yu, are you okay? Why are you standing here, daydreaming?¡± Wang Hai noticed something off about Chen Yu and quickly approached, asking with concern. Chen Yu snapped back to reality, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just remembered some special Western recipes. They might come in handy in this afternoon¡¯s competition.¡± Wang Hai was surprised, ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! We don¡¯t know much about Western cuisine, so we¡¯re counting on you for the afternoon¡¯s match.¡± At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the competition resumed. The representatives from the Zeus Alliance handed over an envelope which had ¡°Beef Wellington Set¡± written on it. The set included a Beef Wellington, salt-baked snails, foie gras mousse, and a fruit salad. Although these items seemed simple, preparing them properly required a lot of attention to detail; a slight mistake could mean a completely different taste. The menu sent from the Chinese chefs was even simpler, just four words: Kung Pao Chicken! While this dish appeared simple, it was a trump card at the Zeus Alliance. What the Western chefs least excelled at was knife skills, yet this dish placed great emphasis on that. All the ingredients had to be diced in precise proportions! Chapter 147 - Chapter 147 - 147 Ominous Premonition Chapter 147 ¨C 147 Ominous Premonition Chen Yu started preparing immediately after he received the recipe. The six chefs beside him conscientiously assisted Chen Yu with the preparation. Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion, and it wasn¡¯t long before the rich aroma of steak wafted from Chen Yu¡¯s side. In contrast, the Zeus Alliance¡¯s side was in complete disarray. They mobilized eight people to chop vegetables, but no matter what, they couldn¡¯t get it right. By the time Chen Yu finished making a complete set of Beef Wellington, they had only just finished processing the ingredients. Although they had intended to give Chen Yu a hard time, not only did they fail, but they also ended up being outmaneuvered. The judges at the scene sighed at the performance of the Zeus Alliance; the competition had not yet ended, but the result was already evident. Fang Yuan stood on the stage, her throat moving continuously. Chen Yu¡¯s performance over the past two days had exceeded her expectations; it was no longer appropriate to describe it as merely superb culinary skills¡ªit was truly the performance of a culinary god. This was a world-class competition, and once it concluded, Chen Yu would naturally earn the title of Culinary God and even secure world-class fame. Fang Yuan knew that the fame she possessed was insignificant in comparison to world-class fame. The determination she once had to fulfill the terms of the bet suddenly wavered. She wanted to abandon her current public persona, give up everything she had and remarry Chen Yu at any cost. Given Chen Yu¡¯s current capabilities, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could earn not just three billion but perhaps even thirty billion. With such a man by her side, what need was there for her to continue struggling so desperately? However, when she saw Tong Ya, hugging Chen Yu with great intimacy, she became frozen again. ¡°Do I really have no chance anymore?¡± After muttering to herself, Fang Yuan put down the microphone and stepped off the stage. She had already heard the organizers discussing in the backstage to end the competition today. Her presence here had become valueless. Before long, the organizers announced the end of the challenge, with Chinese chefs achieving a complete victory. As a reward, ten of the Zeus Alliance¡¯s restaurants in Europe were distributed to Chinese restaurants. The Tong Group, represented by Chen Yu, acquired three of them. The competition had ended, and Chen Yu and Tong Ya had just left the competition venue when a SUV approached from a distance. Chen Yu suddenly had a bad premonition and instinctively pushed Tong Ya to the side. As expected, the SUV drove straight towards Chen Yu. A loud roaring noise erupted as the SUV, with Chen Yu in its path, crashed through several pillars before coming to a halt. Immediately after, a large number of fully armed assassins appeared nearby, swarming towards them. Chen Yu was dazed by the collision, and despite his strong physique, the impact had left his head spinning. The assailants, seeing that Chen Yu was not dead, were also startled for a moment. They quickly reached Chen Yu and injected him with a syringe. Then they dragged him into the vehicle and sped away. Everything happened too swiftly, and only at this point did the people at the scene realize what was happening. Tong Ya hurriedly got up, calmed herself down in the shortest time possible, and immediately made calls to the relevant authorities. William and Bai Qiu, who had come out together, also began to mobilize their connections. ¡­ ¡°Congratulations, Host, for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit is 1,935,600 yuan, earning 1,935,600 points. Your current total accumulated points are 3,953,780 points.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body shuddered slightly as he was jolted awake by the system¡¯s notification. A wave of cold air hit him, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. From the damp environment around him, he seemed to be in a cave, but the darkness enveloped him so completely that he couldn¡¯t discern any direction or time. However, judging from the system notification, it should now be 8 p.m., Friday, local time! Dragging his somewhat heavy body, Chen Yu shakily stood up, only to feel his bones cracking and popping. This must have been because his skeleton was misaligned from being squeezed into a small space for a long time. With a vigorous stretch, the misaligned bones in his body instantly snapped back into place. ¡°Kid, not bad at all. It took me two full days to realign my bones after I was captured, but you managed it in just an instant.¡± A cold voice with a hint of allure suddenly sounded from beside him, startling Chen Yu. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Yu immediately became alert. ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Just get used to the darkness here, and soon you¡¯ll be able to see me.¡± Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly, trying to stay calm. It wasn¡¯t long before the surrounding environment began to slowly come into view. Right across from him, not too far away, lay a rather unkempt woman who seemed to be in her thirties. She was bound with five thick chains that were embedded in the stone wall. Chen Yu shifted slightly, trying to get closer. But to his surprise, he was shackled with the same kind of chains as the woman. ¡°You¡¯re quite something, kid, to receive the same treatment as me. It seems those guys value you highly. How did you offend them?¡± Chen Yu felt depressed. To tell the truth, he didn¡¯t even know why he was here, let alone anything else. ¡°Who exactly are they?¡± The woman paused for a moment: ¡°You don¡¯t know who they are, and you got captured? You really are an odd one.¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh and said no more, instead focusing on the iron chain in his hand, slowly starting to exert force. The woman raised an eyebrow: ¡°Don¡¯t bother, those chains are made of a special material, no matter how strong you are¡­¡± She was cut off as a clanging sound suddenly erupted. The iron chain in Chen Yu¡¯s hands had been forcefully torn apart. Chen Yu proceeded to do the same, dismantling all of the chains wrapped around his body. ¡°Holy crap! Are you even human? With such strength, quickly come over and help me out. Once we¡¯re out, I¡¯ll reward you handsomely.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brows; he still didn¡¯t know this woman¡¯s identity, but she was already getting chummy with him. But since they were both caught and brought here together, they shared a common plight, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to help her out. Moreover, the woman had a serious injury on one leg; the external wound was already festering. Even if she were free from the chains, walking would be a problem, and she posed no threat to Chen Yu. No sooner had he unshackled the woman than the door to the cave thunderously opened. A muscular but slightly deformed man, carrying two meals, walked in nonchalantly. When he saw the scene before him, he froze on the spot, instinctively raising the weapon in his hand. Before he could pull the trigger, a large hand clasped around his throat. Chapter 148 - Chapter 148 - 148 Domineering Wife Chapter 148 ¨C 148 Domineering Wife ¡°What is this place? Who are you?¡± Chen Yu gripped the neck of the burly man, asking with icy coldness. The burly man simply yelled some strange language, not answering Chen Yu¡¯s questions at all. The woman threw aside the iron and struggled to stand up: ¡°Don¡¯t bother; he¡¯s probably a native of the Bagel Tribe. Their language is so obscure, outsiders¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Chen Yu started to speak in the language of the burly man. The burly man was stunned for a moment and looked at Chen Yu somewhat blankly: ¡°How can you speak our language?¡± ¡°Quit the nonsense, answer my questions!¡± ¡°This is Paradise Island, the headquarters of the Crows!¡± ¡°Why did you abduct me?¡± Chen Yu continued to press. ¡°You interfered with our attempt to assassinate Victor William, so you must die!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was filled with frustration; he had only saved Victor on a whim and hadn¡¯t expected it to cause trouble for himself. After knocking the burly man out with a blow to the back of his neck, Chen Yu crawled to the mouth of the cave and peered around. ¡°Little brother, you are quite impressive, fluent in such an obscure language and so skillful too! How about this, you carry me out of here, and I¡¯ll make sure to repay you handsomely.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay her any attention, just kept observing the terrain beneath the mountain. Although this was an island, most of the area was covered by a primitive jungle. Escaping from here would be much harder than surviving in the wilderness. After figuring out an escape route, Chen Yu finally turned back to face the woman. ¡°Who are you? How did you end up here?¡± He asked simply and imperiously, leaving the woman bewildered; no one had ever spoken to her like this before. ¡°I¡¯m Jin Lingsu, the head of a small neighboring country, and I was kidnapped here.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, reading from the woman¡¯s subtle facial expressions, she appeared to be telling the truth. ¡°I can take you with me, but you must follow my instructions on the way.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded fervently, immediately stretching out her hands to cling onto Chen Yu¡¯s back. Following the planned route, Chen Yu carefully slid down the slope. Just as he was passing through the jungle and about to reach the coastline, numerous explosive devices suddenly rained down from the sky, turning the entire island into a blazing inferno. Chen Yu had no choice but to quicken his pace, carrying Jin Lingsu as he jumped onto a speedboat by the shore. ¡­ Before long, over a dozen helicopters descended from the sky, and the armed personnel from them rapidly took over the entire island. Tong Ya rushed out of the plane anxiously, grabbing someone immediately to demand Chen Yu¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Miss Tong, don¡¯t worry, my men have started a comprehensive search. I believe Mr. Chen will be fine.¡± Victor, leaning on a cane, descended the plane with the support of two bodyguards. Tong Ya tried to calm herself, but her eyes betrayed her anxiety. She had only lived for the two words ¡®Chen Yu¡¯ her whole life; if anything happened to Chen Yu, she would make the entire world pay. ¡°Mr. William, just now our people saw a small boat heading towards Coconut Palm Island over there, and one of them seemed to be Mr. Chen.¡± Victor¡¯s brow furrowed deeply: ¡°Coconut Palm Island? That¡¯s Jin Lingsu¡¯s territory. That woman is merciless; if Mr. Chen has fallen into her hands, I fear the worst.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t care about the specifics, immediately boarding the nearby helicopter, gesturing the pilot to head towards Coconut Palm Island. Victor, feeling helpless, could only order his people to follow suit. ¡­ Guided by Jin Lingsu, Chen Yu quickly arrived at Coconut Palm Island. But no matter how he looked at it, he felt that this small island didn¡¯t resemble a country at all, but more like a bandit¡¯s den. ¡°The chief is back!¡± Someone shouted, and the entire island instantly boiled with excitement. A group of raggedly dressed people then burst out from the depths of the island. Among these people, besides some sturdy men, the rest were all women and children, frail and elderly. However, they each held an automatic weapon in hand. Chen Yu suddenly had the feeling that he had escaped the tiger¡¯s den only to enter the wolf¡¯s lair. ¡°What are you standing there dazed for, little brother? Come over here!¡± Although Chen Yu was somewhat annoyed, he decided to go with the flow since he was already there, and he followed along without much thought. Jin Lingsu lay back in the seat of honor, propping her injured leg on a stool, then summoned the island¡¯s physician. This physician seemed rather incompetent, not bothering to treat the wound, just dumping a packet of powder on it. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and pushed the physician aside, taking out instruments from a nearby medical box to treat Jin Lingsu¡¯s concentration. ¡°Not bad, little brother, you even know medical skills! Since we¡¯ve gone through life and death together, we¡¯re one of our own. How about you stay on this island and work for me in the future?¡± Chen Yu frowned tightly, ¡°Saving you was just out of humanitarianism. Once your leg is healed, I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Hey, quite the temper! I like that!¡± As they were speaking, the roaring sound of a helicopter suddenly echoed above the island. ¡°Jin Lingsu, I know my husband is on this island. Hand him over quickly, or else I¡¯ll flatten your little island.¡± Chen Yu hurriedly got up, easily recognizing Tong Ya¡¯s voice. It was just that he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ya, who was so docile and lovely before him, to be so domineering. ¡°My wife has come to pick me up, so this is farewell!¡± After finishing up Jin Lingsu¡¯s bandaging, Chen Yu turned and left the house directly. ¡°This isn¡¯t a place where people can come and go as they please!¡± Jin Lingsu shouted and pursued him. When she saw the helicopters circling around the island, she was stunned. ¡°May I ask, what does your wife do?¡± Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s probably a young mistress from a wealthy family!¡± With the protection of a pair of individuals, Tong Ya got off the helicopter, fluttering towards Chen Yu like a little swallow. The domineering aura from before was nowhere to be found. Chen Yu ruffled Tong Ya¡¯s hair as well: ¡°Where did you get so many helicopters?¡± Tong Ya looked up at Chen Yu docilely, ¡°They¡¯re all from William¡¯s family. I don¡¯t have that much capability!¡± Jin Lingsu sighed in resignation beside them. ¡°Sigh, perfect men are indeed all taken. Looks like my little island can¡¯t keep you any longer! I¡¯ll remember your lifesaving grace; if there¡¯s a chance in the future, I¡¯ll surely repay it.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded, then boarded the helicopter with Tong Ya. Upon returning to the castle of William¡¯s family, Chen Yu went straight to Victor and asked for a room, and without further ado, collapsed into sleep. He felt there was still some medicinal strength in his body that hadn¡¯t been fully absorbed; his mind was constantly foggy, and with the exhaustion of the past two days, he was really tired. Tong Ya, meanwhile, moved a small stool next to Chen Yu¡¯s bed, propped her chin in her hands, and just stared blankly at Chen Yu. Chapter 149 - Chapter 149 - 149: Compensation for Lost Work Time Chapter 149 ¨C 149: Compensation for Lost Work Time [Congratulations Host on completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 1,935,600 yuan, earning 1,935,600 points, bringing the current total cumulative points to 5,889,380] Chen Yu was once again startled awake by the system¡¯s notification sound. When he woke up, he found that Tong Ya was sleeping next to him with her head tilted, looking very tired. He affectionately rubbed her cheek and then carried her to the bed, after which he went out the door. Victor was in the office, discussing with local departments on how to continue eradicating the Crow Organization. Upon seeing Chen Yu, he immediately came up with a face full of apologies. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Chen. It was my negligence this time, to let you undergo such an ordeal. Please make any requests you have, I will fulfill them without question if it¡¯s within my capabilities.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m here to say goodbye. Since the competition here has ended, it¡¯s time for me to go back.¡± Victor was taken aback, but didn¡¯t say much else. ¡°Alright then, I will book your flight tickets right away. If there is anything in the future, just give me a call.¡± Chen Yu responded with a smile and then returned to his room. Tong Ya had already woken up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking somewhat anxious. Seeing Chen Yu come in, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she threw herself into his arms. ¡°I thought you had been abducted again!¡± Chen Yu patted Tong Ya¡¯s back, ¡°It¡¯s alright, everything is fine. We should head back now.¡± By the time the two returned to Suzhou City, it was already the afternoon of the next day. Their trip to Frankfurt brought them even closer. Throughout the journey, Tong Ya held onto Chen Yu¡¯s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. After getting off the plane, although Chen Yu was a bit tired, he hurried to the store without stopping. Today was Sunday, and the warehouse¡¯s raw materials were probably exhausted. Moreover, he had never been away from the store for a whole week before. Even though the store could operate on its own now, he was still somewhat worried. By five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the flow of people in the store had died down. Everyone became excited upon Chen Yu¡¯s return. ¡°Brother Yu, we saw you on TV. You¡¯re amazing, to defeat so many foreign chefs.¡± ¡°You can even make fondant, why don¡¯t we add a fondant figurine item to our store menu?¡± ¡­ Seeing the scene before him, Chen Yu finally felt relieved. After checking the cold storage, he called the supply master. This time he directly placed a bulk order following last week¡¯s pattern. Calling every day otherwise would seem a bit troublesome. However, the total cost of ingredients for the entire week amounted to over 3.72 million yuan, which was indeed a substantial amount of expenditure. At dinner, there was a large cake specially arranged on the table. It was to welcome Chen Yu back, and everyone had chipped in to buy it spontaneously. Chen Yu looked at everyone with a sense of gratification, feeling suddenly more moved in his heart. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit amounted to 1,935,600 yuan, earning 1,935,600 points, with a current total accumulated points of 78,249,980] At the moment, it seemed that the pace of accumulating points was much faster than before. After paying off the costs for the coming week, Chen Yu still had 16 million yuan left in his current account. After dinner, Chen Yu and Tong Ya hurried back to No.1 Shuiyue. Upon entering the door, Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with anything else and directly ran back to his room to fall asleep on the bed with a loud snore. It wasn¡¯t until 8 o¡¯clock the next morning that Chen Yu was woken up by the ringing of the phone. ¡°Old Chen, the first batch of machinery has been delivered to the factory, but we don¡¯t know how to assemble it. Can you come and take a look?¡± Hearing Hou Jianchang¡¯s voice, Chen Yu suddenly jolted awake, hurriedly washed up, and headed straight for the factory. Xie Jiang was leading a construction team working energetically on the site, while Zhang Fan and Hou Jianchang were standing at the entrance of the main factory area waving at Chen Yu. Several large trucks were coming in and out of the factory, seemingly transporting goods. Chen Yu parked his car and quickly made his way to the factory area. Seeing the machinery parts laid out here, he felt an inexplicable excitement. ¡°Old Hou, can you find me twenty or thirty workers?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Hou Jianchang responded and directly brought over thirty people from the neighboring factory. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate either, directing these workers to classify all the parts on-site and personally demonstrating how to assemble them. As for the crucial main body part, Chen Yu didn¡¯t teach them that; he would complete it himself later on. Hou Jianchang presented a cheque to Chen Yu, ¡°Old Chen, I¡¯ve completed all my orders, though I had to discount some, the total funds recouped is 9.5 million, all here.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t take it, ¡°You keep the money. The factory is transitioning, and there are expenses everywhere. Consider this part of my investment, use it for operations first.¡± Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t say much; he and Chen Yu had already signed a contract. He brought the entire factory and the existing personnel to take a share, with Chen Yu as the main investor holding the majority of the shares. The ratio was sixty-eight to thirty-two! That is, Chen Yu held 64 percent of the shares, Hou Jianchang held 36 percent, and the rest would be adjusted later on. Although most of these workers had disabilities, they were extremely dexterous, and they assembled all the parts in less than a day. Chen Yu then installed the core components on each machine, one by one. Just then, a large group of workers driving big trucks appeared majestically on the outskirts of the factory area. ¡°Stop the damn work, where are you guys from? Who let you take jobs here?¡± The leader, a middle-aged man, yelled at Xie Jiang and his team before charging towards them with a wrench. Xie Jiang was a bit confused; he had been working here for over a week now, and now suddenly a group of people rushed out and told him to stop working! Hearing this commotion, Hou Jianchang immediately tensed up, quickly got out a pack of cigarettes, and jogged out. ¡°Guys, this factory has already been contracted out, this construction site is legally operational¡­¡± ¡°What do I care!¡± The leader, the middle-aged man, directly knocked Hou Jianchang¡¯s offered cigarettes out of his hand. ¡°Boss Hou, don¡¯t forget, the wages you owe my brothers, you haven¡¯t settled yet! We had to go on strike because we had no choice, according to the contract, you have to settle our wages first before continuing to find others to work.¡± Chen Yu also came over with a frown, ¡°I¡¯m the boss here now, and I will take care of your wages. How much are you short in total?¡± The middle-aged man snorted coldly, ¡°For a hundred brothers, two months¡¯ wages total up to 1.6 million, plus another half a month of wages due to the strike¡ªthey should get two hundred per day, totaling 1.9 million in all!¡± Chapter 150 - Chapter 150 - 150 The Factory Starts Operation Chapter 150 ¨C 150 The Factory Starts Operation Xie Jiang suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter. ¡°A hundred people worked for two months and that¡¯s all you¡¯ve done? You¡¯ve got the nerve to ask for so much pay? Stop embarrassing our construction industry; I think you¡¯re all just loafing around.¡± Those words provoked the workers, who picked up their tools and prepared to fight with Xie Jiang. The workers behind Xie Jiang were no pushovers either; seeing the confrontation, they casually picked up the rebars from the ground. Chen Yu cleared his throat, ¡°As I said just now, I will take care of your wages. Bring out all the contracts you signed with Boss Hou, and I¡¯ll need you to give me a receipt as well.¡± The leader, a middle-aged man, looked at Chen Yu coldly, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re still wet behind the ears, stop trying to act capable. That¡¯s 1.9 million, not 190 yuan. You think you can just say you¡¯ll take care of it? Show us the money first.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow and then opened the current account page on his cellphone. When the middle-aged man saw the figure displayed, he was taken aback and his attitude immediately changed. ¡°Oh wow, we really have a big boss here!¡± ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Chen Yu said impatiently, ¡°Bring out what I just asked for.¡± ¡°Alright, here you go!¡± The middle-aged man quickly unslung the leather bag he was carrying and dumped out a thick stack of contracts. After Chen Yu received the receipt and confirmed there were no issues with the contracts, he transferred the 1.9 million. The middle-aged man looked at his account balance with glee before looking back up at Chen Yu with a gaze that suggested he saw him as a sucker. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice, boss. This factory is a money pit. Now that you¡¯ve bought it, you should make a clean break from Boss Hou and not be a fool continually pouring money into it!¡± ¡°My business is none of your concern. Now, we¡¯re done here, so please leave. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to accuse you of trespassing.¡± The middle-aged man didn¡¯t say anything more, hurriedly herding his people out and hastily leaving. Hou Jianchang looked helpless, ¡°Chen, sorry for causing you trouble!¡± Chen Yu patted his shoulder, ¡°No worries, as long as we get the factory up and running soon, these troubles will pass.¡± In fact, Chen Yu was interested in Hou Jianchang himself. Ten years ago, media all over Suzhou City was filled with news about Hou Jianchang ¨C the overseas returnee who invested in building a factory, a paragon of industry ethics, a business prodigy! Hou Jianchang even made it onto the list of Suzhou City¡¯s wealthiest for a time. If it weren¡¯t for being trapped by a coalition against him, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation. But his talent and experience are undeniable assets, things that even Chen Yu doesn¡¯t have. That is why Chen Yu gave him a thirty-six percent share right off the bat. At 8 p.m., as the first machine passed the operational test, other machines also started up one after another. ¡°Congratulations, Host, for completing a day of business. Since costs exceeded profits, no points will be added for now.¡± It seemed the system still hadn¡¯t incorporated the factory into its system. Chen Yu didn¡¯t think too much of it and picked up the phone to call the previous raw material supplier. Now that the factory had started, he was not sure whether the previous suppliers could guarantee the supply. To his surprise, the person on the other end picked up the phone, absolutely thrilled, and immediately agreed to the big order. After all, an order worth a hundred million would make anyone come over and sign without conditions. Chen Yu didn¡¯t transfer all the money but only paid a deposit of thirty million. The supplier promised to deliver all the raw materials Chen Yu needed to the factory in batches within three days. By 9 p.m., after Xie Jiang arranged for the workers to settle into temporary shelters nearby, he changed his clothes and joined Chen Yu. ¡°Old Chen, I¡¯ve been working outside for more than a week now, can I take a look at your factory today? I¡¯ll just have a quick look from the outside.¡± Chen Yu smiled, patted Xie Jiang on the shoulder, and then grabbed Zhang Fan who was beside him. ¡°The factory wouldn¡¯t have opened without the two of you pitching in; what¡¯s the harm in taking a tour?¡± The group laughed and talked as they entered the factory. The night-shift workers had already started arriving, but it was only then that they realized the familiar assembly lines had been dismantled, replaced with new machines. Chen Yu then gathered all the night-shift workers to explain the function and operating rules of all the machinery. By ten o¡¯clock that evening, the first batch of raw materials was smoothly delivered to the factory. Hou Jianchang immediately organized workers to move the raw materials into the cold storage. Under Chen Yu¡¯s direction, all the machinery then began to roar into action. Following Chen Yu¡¯s earlier explanations, the workers carefully placed the raw materials into the machines. Although the machines appeared to be extremely complex, they were actually very simple to operate. Workers at each stage of the process only needed to take the raw materials at hand and toss them in. By midnight, all the night-shift workers had become familiar with operating these machines. Xie Jiang and Zhang Fan were witnessing the whole factory¡¯s operations from up close for the first time, and it was also their first time seeing so many new types of machinery. Even well into the night, the two were incredibly excited. Hou Jianchang was the most excited of all. His previous food processing factory had already developed its own system, poised for grand achievements, only to be capsized unexpectedly. Looking at the scene before him, he knew he could finally make a comeback! Not until two in the morning did Zhang Fan and Xie Jiang leave the factory. Chen Yu and Hou Jianchang, on the other hand, stayed up the entire night watching; after all, since the machinery was new, Chen Yu worried that some workers might not understand how to operate it. However, his worries were clearly unnecessary. Thanks to the many years of training by Hou Jianchang, all the workers were skilled technicians. Any machinery related to food, they only needed to watch once to be able to handle it with ease. Moreover, that night, all the workers formed an effective assembly line. From taking raw materials out of the storeroom to the finished products entering the cold storage¡ªall was clear at a glance. Hou Jianchang was starting to feel exhausted, but he did not leave, instead choosing to rest in a corner of the factory building. Chen Yu did not leave either, as he needed to hand over the entire process to the day-shift workers in the morning. ¡°Old Hou, how does my set of machinery compare to what you had before?¡± Hou Jianchang rubbed his eyes and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Great, all the design elements interlock beautifully and ingeniously, saving a lot of manpower, and the output tonight has been five times higher than what I managed before.¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°This is just a portion of the machinery. Once the factory area next to us is built and all the machinery is set up, our output can increase several times more.¡± Hou Jianchang got excited, when suddenly, he realized a severe problem Where were they going to sell all these products? Chapter 151 - Chapter 151 - 151 System Upgrade Chapter 151 ¨C 151 System Upgrade ¡°` ¡°Chen Yu, I¡¯m not worried about production, it¡¯s just that finding sales channels is tough! What if the products we produce can¡¯t be sold and end up piling up?¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have already found a buyer, and it won¡¯t be long before someone comes to take the goods. You just need to oversee the factory for me!¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s face was full of determination, ¡°I shall not shirk my responsibility.¡± At nine in the morning, Chen Yu and Hou Jianchang, dragging their fatigued bodies, explained the machine usage process to the day shift workers once again. Fortunately, these workers were skilled and quickly got the hang of it. Chen Yu and Hou Jianchang stayed until noon at twelve, and then they left the factory. At this time, Xie Jiang was also getting into the groove with his workers, estimating that in a few days, the surrounding factory areas would be operational. After greeting Xie Jiang, Chen Yu got into his car and drove off, heading straight for the relevant departments. There were many procedures for the factory that hadn¡¯t been completed yet, and Chen Yu had to resolve them as soon as possible; without these procedures, the factory couldn¡¯t operate normally. Upon arriving at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, Chen Yu was about to queue up when he suddenly saw Zhou Shengtao leaning on a window, apparently inquiring about something. ¡°Officer Zhou, what brings you here?¡± Chen Yu greeted. Zhou Shengtao, seeing Chen Yu, immediately became excited. ¡°Chen Yu, it¡¯s so good to see you, come over here quickly!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°Officer Zhou, I still need to handle some procedures, and it looks like it¡¯s almost closing time¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, come to this window to do it!¡± Zhou Shengtao went forward and pulled Chen Yu over, handing his documents to the staff at the window. Also sitting at the window was another young girl, who looked timid as if she was new. Zhou Shengtao took a blank sheet of paper and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Based on the features described by this girl, help me draw a few sketches.¡± Chen Yu sighed inwardly, not again. However, he still took the paper and pencil and began to sketch based on the girl¡¯s description. What puzzled him was, in Frankfurt, when the system detected he was in a German-speaking environment, it could provide a channel for him to learn German. Why, after he¡¯d sketched so many times, had the system not offered any drawing skills? [System notification: Skills channels will only appear when the host is in an environment where those skills are commonly used. A singular, infrequent environment will not provide such channels.] Chen Yu frowned. Clearly, the system knew what he was thinking, but it just couldn¡¯t communicate with him properly. [System notification: The host may spend ten million points to upgrade the system to version 2.0. After the upgrade, the system will be able to converse freely with the host and flexibly provide relevant skills channels.] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. This function existed¡­ why hadn¡¯t it mentioned it sooner? He instinctively checked his points and found he only had a little over seven million eight hundred thousand, not enough to upgrade the system. Another couple days then! Before long, Chen Yu had completed a portrait. The young girl looked at it and nodded repeatedly. ¡°That¡¯s the guy, but all the documents he used to apply here were legal, and we didn¡¯t find anything wrong.¡± ¡°` Zhou Shengtao took the portrait and closed his notebook. ¡°This person is an expert at forging; his work is indistinguishable from the real thing to the common means of identification.¡± The young girl suddenly felt wronged, ¡°Does that mean I will be punished?¡± Zhou Shengtao quickly comforted her, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. The same thing would happen to anyone; you shouldn¡¯t burden yourself psychologically, just focus on your work!¡± While they talked, all of Chen Yu¡¯s procedures were also completed. Only half an hour had passed; if Chen Yu really had to queue up, he might not have been finished until four in the afternoon. After being busy all night, Chen Yu was indeed a bit sleepy. ¡°Chen Yu, since I¡¯ve run into you here, come back with me. There are a few more portraits that need your help.¡± Though Chen Yu looked reluctant, he still followed. It wasn¡¯t because Zhou Shengtao had offered a lot of reward money these past two times, but because Chen Yu wanted to give back to society in this way. ¡­ Hokkaido, Sapporo. The hot springs here are second to none worldwide and are a vacation paradise for many wealthy businessmen. In the area concentrated with hot springs, there¡¯s also the world-famous Shiroi Koibito Park, where many people like to check in to remember the trip. Inside a hot spring villa, Fang Yuan and Han Mintao were comfortably soaking in the hot springs. ¡°Daughter, are you saying Chen Yu also participated in that competition? And he represented Tong Group in the event?¡± Fang Yuan removed the towel from her face, ¡°That¡¯s right, and he¡¯s quite the sensation. It won¡¯t be long before he becomes a sought-after celebrity, and he might even break into show business.¡± Han Mintao clenched his teeth tightly, ¡°We cannot let this kid develop smoothly. Once he¡¯s on the rise, his past will be dug up by the media, and you will be implicated too, ruining the public image you¡¯ve worked so hard to build¡­¡± ¡°I know, you¡¯ve told me many times!¡± Whether it was because she was soaking in the hot springs or something else, Fang Yuan became somewhat languid, seemingly indifferent to everything. ¡°Daughter, what are you really thinking? I¡¯ve had someone check; that guy is remarried now. There¡¯s no chance of you reconciling with him!¡± Han Mintao clearly saw through Fang Yuan¡¯s intentions. After all, any woman would be enticed by such a remarkable man. Fang Yuan laughed at herself mockingly, ¡°Even if I wanted to reconcile, he would have to want me too! According to recent news, the woman by his side is Tong Ya, the only daughter of Tong Ming, the chairman of Tong Group. If I were to foolishly go back to him, it would be like offending the Tong Family.¡± ¡°What? The Tong Family?¡± Han Mintao suddenly stood up, ¡°How did this kid get involved with the Tong Family?¡± Fang Yuan grew impatient, ¡°I don¡¯t know, and it doesn¡¯t relate to me anymore. I just want to get my hands on that three billion in capital quickly.¡± Han Mintao sighed helplessly; had he known Chen Yu was so outstanding, he should never have encouraged Fang Yuan to divorce him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, daughter, with your mother here, you won¡¯t suffer! Each of the major families in the capital is a force to be reckoned with. Just because Chen Yu is connected to the Tong Family doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t establish connections with other families.¡± Fang Yuan was taken aback, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not seriously considering fixing me up with Zhao Hai, are you? That¡¯s like throwing me into a pit of fire.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s talking about the Zhao Family? I¡¯m talking about the Tang Family!¡± Fang Yuan looked confused, ¡°I remember Tang Long, the old man, doesn¡¯t have a son, right?¡± Han Mintao waved his hand dismissively, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just focus on maintaining your current public image, and leave the rest to me.¡± Fang Yuan let out a soft sigh; she didn¡¯t want to concern herself with so much anymore. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152 - 152 Dance Performance Chapter 152 ¨C 152 Dance Performance Under the dim light, Chen Yu sketched out more than twenty portraits based on the narratives of several witnesses. These people saw the suspect at night, so they did not get a clear look at the person¡¯s face, only a rough idea. Chen Yu could only infer the features of the entire face based on the partial characteristics they described. Zhou Shengtao brought over a cup of coffee somewhat sheepishly and placed it beside Chen Yu. ¡°Little Chen, we need your help again! But you could consider my suggestion from last time, just being an external support won¡¯t interfere with your business.¡± Chen Yu felt helpless, ¡°Officer Zhou, I would like to, but I just can¡¯t find the time. I even went to Frankfurt for a competition a few days ago.¡± Zhou Shengtao laughed heartily, ¡°I watched that competition; it was thrilling! You¡¯re a talent no matter where you go.¡± Zhou Shengtao casually picked out four from the twenty-something portraits. ¡°These few are more similar to the information we¡¯ve collected. I¡¯ll take them for a network comparison right away.¡± Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Then Officer Zhou, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll contact you if there¡¯s anything!¡± Zhou Shengtao responded, then took a registration form from beside him, ¡°If you have time, fill out the registration form. I really do appreciate your talent.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, he hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Shengtao to be so persistent, but after thinking it over, being an external staff member seemed to have its advantages. By the time he left the relevant department, it was already 6:30 pm. Chen Yu didn¡¯t go back to the shop but drove straight home to Shuiyue Number One. But as soon as he got home, he saw several old men and women from the neighborhood sitting in the living room, chattering and laughing with Li Lan. They became excited when they saw Chen Yu return. ¡°Little Chen, have you looked at the medical records I wrote for you? How should my illness be treated?¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned; he had truly forgotten about this. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I¡¯ve just returned from a competition in Europe and haven¡¯t had the chance to take a close look. How about this? Since there are only a few of you here, I¡¯ll take a look for you now!¡± The old men and women present immediately became excited, almost simultaneously extending their wrists onto the table. Chen Yu exhaled softly and started taking each of their pulses in turn. ¡°Each of you has a minor issue, and all belong to the same condition. Just wait here for a moment!¡± After saying this, Chen Yu took some medicinal herbs and headed to the kitchen. In less than half an hour, he brought out a big pot of braised meat in red sauce. ¡°I¡¯ve added some medicinal herbs to this, and the meat has been specially treated. Everyone take a bowl, cover up with a blanket after you go back, sweat it out during sleep, and you should recover.¡± The old men and women didn¡¯t question it; they each took a bowl and started eating. By the time he sent the old men and women off, it was already 8 pm. [Congratulations, host, on completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s net profit amounts to 147,900 Yuan, earning 147,900 points. The current total accumulated points are 7,972,880 points.] Looking at this, it seems I still fall short for the system upgrade. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with anything else and, stretching lazily, directly collapsed onto the bed to sleep soundly. When he awoke again, it was already 7 am the next morning. Suddenly opening his eyes, he saw Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya sitting side by side at the edge of the bed, chins propped in their hands. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been a long time since I saw dad sleep for so long; a whole eleven hours!¡± Chen Yu shook his head; he had indeed been a bit exhausted from dealing with factory matters these past two days, not expecting to sleep for so long. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± Tong Ya shook her head, ¡°Being able to sleep is a blessing. Besides, you¡¯ve been busy for so long, you should have a good rest.¡± Chen Yu wore a smile on his face and lightly scratched the noses of Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya. ¡°While I was asleep, have you two been staying right here to keep watch over me?¡± Tuan Tuan shook his head, suddenly adopting the manner of a miniature adult. ¡°It¡¯s not just to keep watch over you, yo. Today, I have a dance performance at the Youth Palace, and I wanted Daddy to go with me. You haven¡¯t accompanied me in such a long time!¡± Chen Yu stretched his muscles and said, ¡°Well then, go wait outside, we¡¯ll set off right away.¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands excitedly, ¡°Yay, Daddy is finally going out to play with me.¡± By nine o¡¯clock in the morning, the family of three arrived at the Youth Palace. Today was Wednesday, and the Youth Palace was not very crowded to begin with, mostly populated by children on summer vacation. Right after arriving at the venue, Chen Yu felt as though someone had been following them consistently. ¡°Wife, you go ahead and take Tuan Tuan inside!¡± Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s grave expression, Tong Ya did not dare to delay and led Tuan Tuan into the venue ahead. ¡°Come out, I know you¡¯re following me!¡± Chen Yu shouted, and a familiar figure emerged from the corner. ¡°Jin Lingsu?¡± Jin Lingsu was dressed like a lady of high society, exuding elegance. ¡°Your family of three really is sweet, and that little girl is quite the beauty!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anything; I¡¯m just bored, came out to see an old friend!¡± Speaking, Jin Lingsu handed several photos to Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯m after these people; they are utterly evil and extremely dangerous. They might cause chaos in this city. Have you seen them?¡± At first glance at the photos, Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated. Weren¡¯t these the sketches of the people Zhou Shengtao asked him to draw yesterday afternoon? ¡°Who exactly are these people? How come you have their photos?¡± Chen Yu asked with some agitation. ¡°They are fugitives from the organization known as ¡®The Crows,¡¯ and I¡¯m cooperating with William¡¯s family to capture these guys! Intelligence gathered indicates that these people are in Suzhou City, and they have contacts here assisting them.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; he had to inform Zhou Shengtao of this situation as quickly as possible. ¡°Husband, the performance is about to start.¡± Tong Ya suddenly emerged from the venue, taking Chen Yu¡¯s arm and casting a wary look at Jin Lingsu. Chen Yu did not hide this from her, passing the photos he held directly to Tong Ya. ¡°These individuals are dangerous, and they might be near the Youth Palace.¡± Jin Lingsu is after these guys. Her presence here means that these criminals are also nearby. Tong Ya did not hesitate, ¡°I will inform the organizers immediately and cancel the competition.¡± Before long, the parents and children in the venue began to disperse, and even the rest of the people in the Youth Palace hastily departed. On the rooftop, two menacing-looking individuals were holding explosive devices, sitting there with frustrated expressions. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a performance here today? Why has everyone left?¡± Chapter 153 - Chapter 153 - 153: Tianfu Lane Chapter 153 ¨C 153: Tianfu Lane Two people furrowed their brows and stared at those scattering figures for quite some time before finally pulling out their cell phones and dialing a number. ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t know what happened, but everyone in the building has run off. Has our plan been blown?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± a furious voice came from the other end of the line, ¡°The plan was confirmed just an hour ago. How could it possibly have been exposed in such a short period of time?¡± The two of them held the phone, not knowing what to say, just standing there blankly listening to the scolding from the other end. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared on the rooftop. Before the two goons could react, they had already received heavy blows to their necks. Chen Yu moved swiftly and casually picked up the explosive device from the ground, dismantling it. Only then did the two men see Chen Yu¡¯s figure, and they hurriedly pulled out their automatic weapons from their waists. But just as they were about to pull the trigger, two flying knives whizzed through the air, piercing their throats. Jin Lingsu rushed to the side and furiously kicked the two men a few times. ¡°Quite the runners, making me chase you so far, practically half across the globe!¡± This fierce manner even startled Chen Yu. ¡°Please, once you¡¯ve caught them, just hand them over to the authorities. Why are you still¡­¡± Jin Lingsu snorted coldly, ¡°People as violently evil as these, it¡¯s done when they¡¯re killed. Besides, they¡¯re not from around here anyway. Even if you hand them over to the authorities, they still have to abide by extradition treaties.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless and began to search the bodies of the two men. What surprised him, though, was that apart from some chaotic symbols, there was nothing on them. He had planned to dig out the mastermind behind all this through these two goons, but now it seemed the only option was to notify Zhou Shengtao to take care of the bodies first. ¡°ÄãÕâС×Ó»¹Í¦ÐÒÔ˵Ä!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly stepped forward and snatched the symbols from Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°These are the secret codes they use to communicate. With these, we can uproot them altogether.¡± Saying this, Jin Lingsu excitedly took a photo of these secret codes, then gave the originals back to Chen Yu. Just then, the sound of police sirens blared outside. Chen Yu stood atop the building, looking down to see Zhou Shengtao leading a group of fully armed personnel storming into the building. ¡°Zhou¡¯s team is here, and it¡¯s not convenient for you to be here. Better go first¡­¡± Chen Yu was just about to remind Jin Lingsu, but when he turned around, he found that she had already vanished without a trace. With a resigned sigh, he could only quickly clean up the scene, wiping out all traces of Jin Lingsu. Soon after, Zhou Shengtao and his team reached the rooftop. ¡°Chen Yu! I knew it, who else could be so bold, to face two thugs all by himself.¡± Chen Yu managed to squeeze out a faint smile and handed over the symbols in his hand to Zhou Sheng. ¡°Just happened to come across them, so I took care of it.¡± Zhou Shengtao, taking the symbols, immediately became excited. ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve really done a great service this time. These are the secret communication methods we¡¯ve been searching for!¡± Without saying much more, Chen Yu just cooperated with Zhou Shengtao to make some notes before hurrying down the building. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan were anxiously waiting downstairs. Seeing Chen Yu come out, they immediately heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Husband, you¡¯re finally down. I was so worried,¡± Tong Ya said. Chen Yu pinched Tong Ya¡¯s cheek, ¡°It¡¯s alright, everything¡¯s been taken care of. It¡¯s just that we won¡¯t be able to attend the dance competition this time.¡± Tuan Tuan showed no signs of upset, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Dad. The teacher just called and said it was force majeure, and it¡¯ll be okay as long as we reschedule.¡± Tuan Tuan took out a small advertisement from his jacket and handed it over to Chen Yu. ¡°Since we still have time, why don¡¯t we try this small hot pot place? My mom said she loved it when she first came to Suzhou City.¡± Tong Ya felt a bit embarrassed by the side. She had always wanted Chen Yu to accompany her to that hot pot restaurant, but Chen Yu was always too busy to have time. Today, fortunately, there was a gap in his schedule, which she naturally didn¡¯t want to waste, but she was too shy to speak directly to Chen Yu, so she had Tuan Tuan act as a sacrificial pawn. Chen Yu could obviously tell what was going on, he didn¡¯t say much and just flicked the small advertisement he saw. ¡°Then let¡¯s give it a try!¡± Tianfu Small Street Hot Pot was one of the most famous hot pot restaurants in Suzhou City and also a national chain. It was almost always packed with customers every day. Compared to Chen Yu¡¯s shop, this place was much more upscale. Whether it was service or environment, both were top-notch, and it was several times larger in size, occupying three floors. Yet, like other hot pot restaurants, there were peak times and off-peak times every day. Unlike Chen Yu¡¯s shop, which was at peak business from morning till night. The moment they stepped inside, a strong aroma hit their nostrils. Chen Yu merely sniffed and was able to distinguish the secret ingredients used in the hot pot base, as well as those of other minor recipes. Moreover, it was clear that these formulas had been modified and improved. In his mind, he already possessed a complete Sichuan cuisine system, through which he could find some similar recipes, yet they still fell short compared to the secret recipes of Tianfu Small Street. It seemed that when it came to cooking, one couldn¡¯t always follow the recipes; there had to be some innovation. ¡°Good evening, the three of you, do you have a reservation?¡± asked a meticulously dressed attendant who came to greet them right away. Tong Ya shook her head; they had decided to eat here on a whim, so how could they possibly have made a reservation? The attendant didn¡¯t ask any further and simply smiled, pointing them to a relatively open area. ¡°This is our family space we¡¯ve opened up specially. If the three of you don¡¯t mind, you can take a seat right away, no need to queue.¡± ¡°Of course, we don¡¯t mind!¡± Tong Ya felt a surge of inexplicable excitement. Being treated like a family of three, it felt so blissful. The attendant quickly arranged seating for them. But just as the hot pot soup base was served, a man and woman barged in aggressively. ¡°This spot is nice, and the soup base is already here. We¡¯ll sit here,¡± said the man with a menacing voice, a cigar clenched in his mouth. The woman next to him looked provocatively seductive, but the heavy makeup on her face emanated a pungent odor that made one feel nauseous. Even Tuan Tuan couldn¡¯t help but cough. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is a family space, please head over there to queue and make a reservation¡­¡± the attendant began. ¡°Shut the hell up with your bullshit!¡± the man exclaimed, grabbing the attendant by the collar. ¡°Is this how you treat your customers? Call your manager over now.¡± The attendant was startled, as the man¡¯s arms were extremely thick, suggesting he must be involved in boxing or a similar profession. Just as the attendant was about to be forcibly thrown out, Chen Yu flashed forward, one hand supporting the attendant¡¯s waist and the other grabbing the man¡¯s arm. Chapter 154 - Chapter 154 - 154: Chef Jin Chapter 154 ¨C 154: Chef Jin The waiter, after being rescued, hurriedly stepped aside and dialed the manager¡¯s phone. Shortly after, a middle-aged man sporting a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and a demeanor of smugness hurriedly ascended the stairs. Upon seeing the scene before him, he dashed straight to Chen Yu and scolded. ¡°What are you doing? This is a shareholder of my restaurant and also the chef in charge of our special dishes. Let go at once!¡± Chen Yu was a bit stunned; he couldn¡¯t sense any hint of a chef from the man before him. ¡°Chef in charge? He feels more like a fitness coach to me.¡± The man, waving his hefty fists, kept smashing them against Chen Yu¡¯s arm. But no matter how hard he tried, his fists seemed as powerless as chicken claws in front of Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, casually tossing the guy aside. The manager, seeing this, hurried forward to help the man up. ¡°Oh dear, Chef Jin, why didn¡¯t you give a heads-up before coming? This area is indeed for parents and children, and the chairman has instructed us, you should go to the VIP room over there¡­¡± But the man was relentless and immediately grabbed the manager by the collar. ¡°What do you mean? Did you all take the wrong medication today? Why do you keep siding with strangers?¡± The manager was on the verge of tears, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, the chairman¡¯s child just turned one month old today. This area meant for parents and children was set up to attract good fortune. If you really must sit here¡­¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Chef Jin immediately backed down, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so sooner?¡± He straightened his clothes and glanced over at Chen Yu before quickly turning to leave. When Chen Yu had grabbed his arm earlier, he felt a tremendous force seep into his bones, almost crushing his wrist. If things escalated, he wouldn¡¯t end up in a good place either, so it was best to take advantage of the chairman¡¯s name to give himself a way out. As he was about to leave, however, Chen Yu suddenly stood up. ¡°Hold on, I wonder which special dish Chef Jin is good at. Could you make one for us today?¡± Chef Jin was taken aback, realizing from Chen Yu¡¯s tone that he was angry and evidently not inclined to let things go. ¡°Manager, the special dishes aren¡¯t listed on today¡¯s menu, right?¡± After giving an excuse, Chef Jin subconsciously took a step back. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about any of that and stepped forward, once again seizing Chef Jin¡¯s wrist. ¡°As a chef, one should be happy when someone wants to taste his special dish, unless you¡¯re not really a chef.¡± In reality, Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to come off as too aggressive; he simply found the restaurant to be quite unique, with almost all the dishes being improvements on the original menu. Moreover, as Chef Jin specialized in the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes, Chen Yu wanted to see for himself. ¡°Kid, our Jin family¡¯s cuisine has been passed down for twenty-seven generations to me. You dare say I¡¯m not a chef?¡± Chef Jin seemed to have received an immense insult and immediately became belligerent. Chen Yu deliberately shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t think so, not unless you can cook the dish.¡± Chef Jin was instantly enraged further, ¡°If I can cook this special dish today, you¡¯ll have to apologize in front of all the diners.¡± His shout disturbed all the customers in the hall, with many standing up and craning their necks to look over, and a few even came over to encircle the area. Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Sure! But since it¡¯s a special dish, I¡¯d have to be satisfied with it. If it isn¡¯t good, then we¡¯ll need to question your identity as a chef.¡± Chef Jin snorted coldly, gesturing to the manager beside him and headed straight for the kitchen. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan covered their mouths, snickering the whole time. ¡°Honey, this chef¡¯s mind is a bit too simple, he actually fell for such an obvious taunt!¡± Chen Yu smiled, said nothing more, and simply put the lamb that the waiter had just brought over into the pot. It had to be said that the secret base of this pot was truly exceptional. Several spices, because of their combination, had created different flavors, so just by smelling, it was impossible to discern them. Chen Yu also tasted several mouthfuls before he deduced all the seasonings and their order of addition in this pot base. As he savored the pot¡¯s base, an unusual fragrance suddenly wafted over from the side; soon after, Chef Jin wheeled over a cart and placed a plate of golden, crispy pastries on it. ¡°The Jin family¡¯s ancestral secret dish, ¡®Five Dragons Ascending the Golden Hall!''¡± Chef Jin spoke with a face full of haughtiness, vaguely resembling a true chef. The surrounding crowd had already gathered close by, and the smell wafting from the dish made many unconsciously drool. ¡°I was fortunate enough to try this dish a few days ago, and its taste lingers with me to this day.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also had the pleasure once, truly a delicacy of this world, but it¡¯s so expensive, over eight hundred yuan a portion.¡± ¡°With a delicacy like this, what you¡¯re paying for is the taste, over eight hundred a portion is already quite cheap.¡± ¡­ While everyone was discussing, Chen Yu shook his head and set down his chopsticks. ¡°Carp, crucian carp, yellow croaker, Wenchang fish, mixed together with the neutral taste of catfish, coupled with starches extracted from potatoes, sweet potatoes, and taro, then made tender and smooth with chicken, duck, and goose eggs!¡± At this point, everyone looked at Chen Yu with disbelief. He hadn¡¯t even touched his chopsticks and had merely taken a sniff, yet he could list the ingredients used. Chef Jin stood there, his face completely blank. ¡°Have you eaten this dish before?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°I have never eaten it, nor do I wish to. To me, this is just a hodgepodge of a bunch of things thrown together!¡± Chef Jin¡¯s face instantly turned beet red with rage as he stepped forward. If it weren¡¯t for the fear of the strength Chen Yu had previously demonstrated, he would probably have flipped the table. ¡°How dare you insult our family¡¯s ancestral secret dish?¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°A secret dish? The so-called secret is to create a unique flavor that is both unforgettable and indiscernible to others in terms of its specific components, but your dish does not meet the standard of ¡®secret¡¯. Do you want me to list out the exact recipe of the sauce you used as well?¡± Chef Jin became panicked; he subconsciously glanced at the people standing around. If the recipe were revealed and everyone could make it, he would be worthless. He might even be fired by Tianfu Alley instantly. ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Before Chen Yu could respond, Tuan Tuan stood up. ¡°My dad is also a chef, and I don¡¯t know how much higher his culinary skills are than yours!¡± Upon hearing this, Chef Jin¡¯s eyes bulged, and he took several steps back, looking at Chen Yu with a mix of fear and awe. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155 - 155: Five Dragons Leap onto the Golden Hall Chapter 155 ¨C 155: Five Dragons Leap onto the Golden Hall Chen Yu slowly rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this dish before; it was once a royal tribute dish, but unfortunately the original recipe has been lost! If you ask me, I can restore this dish for you right here.¡± The arrogance in his voice completely dispelled Chef Jin¡¯s earlier brashness. It¡¯s not that Chen Yu really wanted to prove a point, but this guy had gone too far and almost scared Tuan Tuan. He had to teach this guy a lesson. Chef Jin¡¯s breathing suddenly quickened, ¡°If you can really restore this dish, I won¡¯t have a problem kowtowing a hundred times.¡± Chen Yu rolled up his sleeves, ¡°Do you have a portable kitchen here?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The manager was also excited. No matter what happened today, their Tianfu Alley was sure to trend on social media. After all, scenes of chefs competing like this are hard to come by. Moreover, many people were already filming videos on the side, which was akin to free publicity for them. Before long, the portable kitchen was wheeled over, and the ingredients Chen Yu had requested were also brought. ¡°The five types of fish you used were not the most perfect combination, but they were used because they can be perfectly merged together. The original dish used just five very ordinary types of fish.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu scooped up five live fish from the nearby water tank. Grass carp, black carp, crucian carp, bighead carp, and common carp! These five types of fish were as common as could be, no matter where you were. Chen Yu took the kitchen knife and deftly twirled it, then swiftly drew it across the bodies of the five fish. The smooth and flowing knife skills dazzled the onlookers and, before long, the five fish were skinned and deboned, their flesh placed in a small basin. Next, the ingredients Chen Yu chose were all extremely common staples. After wrapping them into cubes, they were fried at low temperature in oil heated to sixty degrees Celsius. Soon, the fragrant aroma spread throughout the hall. Chen Yu finished one piece and brought it directly to Chef Jin. ¡°Try this, it¡¯s my ¡®Five Dragons Ascending to the Palace¡¯.¡± Chef Jin¡¯s eyes bulged, the aroma was much richer than what he had created. He didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly picked up his chopsticks to take a bite. Delicious, crispy, tender, smooth, chewy¡ªseveral textures almost exploded in his throat at the same time. ¡°My God! How did you do this? How could such ordinary ingredients possibly¡­¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°In this world, there are no ordinary ingredients, only incompetent chefs.¡± With one sentence, Chef Jin¡¯s pride was completely shattered. He fell to the ground with a thud and kowtowed deeply. ¡°I hope you can enlighten me on how to prepare this dish. I¡¯m willing to take you as my master! I will kowtow these hundred times to you right now.¡± Chen Yu paid no attention to him and simply served a dish of the ¡®Five Dragons Ascending to the Palace¡¯ for Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. The rest he shared with others. After the meal, Chen Yu was about to settle the bill but was stopped by the manager, who also handed him a membership card for Tianfu Alley. As the family of three left, Chef Jin remained on the ground, continually kowtowing. ¡°Daddy, that uncle looks so pitiful, let¡¯s just stop making him kowtow.¡± Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°He scared you just now, so he needs to be punished by kowtowing! Unless you forgive him.¡± Tuan Tuan nodded her little head and then let go of Chen Yu¡¯s hand, running over to Chef Jin. ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no need to kowtow anymore. Even if you knocked your head until it breaks, my dad still might not take you on as an apprentice, unless you show enough sincerity.¡± Having said that, Tuan Tuan bounced back to Chen Yu¡¯s side. Chen Yu was a bit surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected his daughter to be so wise. She had not only refrained from directly forgiving the other party but had also vaguely refused the other party¡¯s request to become an apprentice. Tong Ya also cast an approving glance. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more. It was already ten o¡¯clock at night, right when the factory shifts to the night crew, and he wanted to go take a look. After sending Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan home, Chen Yu headed straight for the factory. The remaining section of the factory that was under construction was already taking shape, and he believed it would be fully operational in another ten days or half a month. The section of the factory that was already running was operating smoothly. Chen Yu could hear the roar of machinery as soon as he arrived. Just as he was about to enter to check things out, he suddenly noticed an SUV parked in the adjacent parking lot. Hou Jianchang was sitting at the driver¡¯s seat, resting with his eyes closed. Next to the car, a large number of cigarette butts were scattered. It seemed Hou Jianchang hadn¡¯t had a good sleep for a long time. After arranging the daytime and nighttime supervisory tasks with Hou Jianchang, Chen Yu had gone back to sleep. But Hou Jianchang had stayed alone in the factory area, fearing something might go wrong. ¡°Old Hou!¡± Chen Yu gently knocked on the window. Hou Jianchang immediately woke up, his face full of vigilance. When he saw it was Chen Yu, he relaxed. ¡°Old Chen, it¡¯s you!¡± As he spoke, Hou Jianchang stepped out of the car, offering a cigarette in passing. Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°I don¡¯t smoke, as you know!¡± Hou Jianchang slapped his forehead: ¡°Look at me, all muddled, I forgot.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home to sleep?¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang¡¯s shoulder: ¡°It must be uncomfortable to be cooped up in the car.¡± Hou Jianchang sighed: ¡°The factory isn¡¯t finished yet, and we haven¡¯t put up the protective fences. If someone sneaks in to steal things in the middle of the night, it¡¯s the factory that will suffer the loss.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, after all, Hou Jianchang had been duped before and was now a bit overly cautious. Xie Jiang had specifically left some workers to live in the simple prefabricated houses near the factory. There were lights still on in that place. With those workers keeping watch, he doubted any petty thieves would dare cause trouble. As they were speaking, a faint engine sound suddenly came from a not-too-distant place. A medium-sized truck leisurely passed through the factory¡¯s fence and headed straight for the construction site. Chen Yu instantly became alert, moving behind the SUV to observe the situation over there. Hou Jianchang also perked up considerably: ¡°Lately, there have been many such guys committing crimes in Suzhou City. Many construction sites and unfinished factories have been hit, and one electronics factory even had two trucks¡¯ worth of goods stolen.¡± Although Hou Jianchang spoke in a low voice, Chen Yu could still hear the anger in his words. ¡°Old Hou, have these guys stolen from you before?¡± Hou Jianchang sighed helplessly: ¡°They¡¯ve stolen once, but the people under me caught them.¡± Chen Yu let out a heavy breath: ¡°Then this time, let¡¯s catch them red-handed!¡± Chapter 156 - Chapter 156 - 156 Fish Fillet Chapter 156 ¨C 156 Fish Fillet Chen Yu took out his phone and called Zhou Shengtao to briefly explain the situation here. He then quietly moved closer to Hou Jianchang. Six people descended from the truck, looked around, and then went onto the construction site to load the leftover steel onto the truck. Hou Jianchang held a stick in one hand and his phone in the other, recording from a distance. Chen Yu even picked up a steel rod, ready to rush over and capture the culprits. Just then, a spotlight suddenly shone down, enveloping the six men. ¡°Who¡¯s there? What are you doing?¡± A voice abruptly rang out, and the workers staying at the site rushed down en masse. The six men were startled, quickly dropped what they were holding, and were about to drive off. But Chen Yu was already waiting beside the truck for them. As they ran toward him, he struck each one with the rod, knocking all six to the ground. When the workers from the prefab house chased over, they looked ferocious, as if they were ready to tear the six men apart. Simple workers like them truly hated these thieving scoundrels to the bone. When they worked on construction sites before, many things were never certain. If something really went missing, they might even have to compensate for it out of their own pockets. Chen Yu quickly stopped the crowd. ¡°Folks, I¡¯ve already called the police. The relevant personnel will be here soon! You all did a great job, and there will be bonuses for everyone later,¡± The workers then calmed down, thanked Chen Yu, and went back to their dormitories. Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. If the workers had accidentally killed someone in the heat of the moment, things would have gotten really complicated. It wasn¡¯t long before Zhou Shengtao hurried over with several people and took the six culprits away. ¡°Chen, you¡¯re really my lucky star. We¡¯ve been looking for these guys for a long time, and I didn¡¯t expect them to end up in your net. If you don¡¯t consider a career in public service, it would be such a waste,¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, ¡°It was just a coincidence. I can¡¯t take much credit for it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, even if you¡¯re not on the payroll yet, I¡¯ve already reported this for you. As long as the approval comes through, you¡¯ll be able to draw a salary from us. We won¡¯t interfere with your daily life at all, as long as you can help us out when needed,¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, not quite accustomed to Zhou Shengtao¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Then thank you, Captain Zhou!¡± After seeing off Zhou Shengtao, Chen Yu went with Hou Jianchang to the factory area. After two days of operation, all the workers were essentially up to speed, working more than twice as fast as on the first day. It wouldn¡¯t take long to complete all of Tong Group¡¯s orders. ¡°Old Hou, the factory is basically running smoothly now, and you don¡¯t need to keep watch here all the time, especially since there are other workers outside,¡± Hou Jianchang sighed and rubbed the dark circles under his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just scared of being conned again. Besides, you¡¯re the one who invested this time. We can¡¯t let your money go to waste, can we?¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°No worries, lost money can be earned back, but a broken body is irreparable! Come over to my place sometime. I¡¯ll cook you a medicinal meal to help you recover.¡± Excitement flashed in Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyes. He had heard about Chen Yu¡¯s culinary skills, especially his medicinal cuisine that had cured many complex ailments. ¡°` Moreover, the house Chen Yu now lives in was the one he had flipped and sold. Even though he hadn¡¯t lived there for a long time, it was still his home. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll definitely visit when I¡¯m free!¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Yu drove straight back to Shuiyue No.1. The next morning at six o¡¯clock, when Chen Yu arrived at the shop, it was as crowded as usual, packed with people. However, there were noticeably more people today than before. When they saw Chen Yu, they rushed up to him as if they had seen a superstar. ¡°Mr. Chen, yesterday at Tianfu Small Street, you prepared a long-lost secret dish. Are you an expert in this area?¡± ¡°According to Chef Jin, that is a family heirloom recipe of theirs, even he doesn¡¯t know the essence of it, but you managed to make it. Could that mean you are suspected of stealing someone else¡¯s family recipe?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, these people¡¯s questions had the professionalism of reporters, but what they held in their hands were equipment belonging to various self-media. One look and he knew these were unscrupulous self-media looking for traffic. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to say much to them, he simply went straight into the shop. Chu Hong saw Chen Yu come in and hurriedly greeted him. ¡°Brother Yu, these people came early in the morning, very annoying. Some have even accused us of stealing others¡¯ recipes. The three chefs are also quite upset.¡± Chen Yu turned his head to look at the kitchen and noticed Wang Qingshan, Ning Kai, and Li Gang fuming as they tossed pots and pans around. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let them talk. The reputation of our shop stands firm, it¡¯s not something they can ruin with a few words.¡± Chu Hong nodded, looked angrily at the door for a moment, and then went to attend to the customers. Without saying much more, Chen Yu rolled up his sleeves and went straight to the kitchen. ¡°Chefs, do we have plenty of fish in today¡¯s delivered ingredients?¡± Wang Qingshan glanced at the water tank beside him: ¡°It¡¯s okay, what¡¯s up? Are we featuring fish today?¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Something like that. It¡¯s just a plain old fish fillet! I¡¯ll need the three of you to go out and buy some more fish; we might not have enough.¡± With that, Chen Yu began to seamlessly wield his knife like flowing water. It wasn¡¯t long before a large number of golden, crispy fish fillets were served out. The aroma that spread in that moment attracted the customers in the shop to gather around. ¡°It smells so good, what is this?¡± Chen Yu chuckled: ¡°This is the legendary ¡®Five Dragons Leaping to the Golden Palace¡¯, but to me, it¡¯s just an ordinary fish fillet, five yuan a piece. If you like it, line up here!¡± With those words, the entire shop suddenly buzzed with excitement, and a long line formed before long. Actually, Chen Yu had noticed when he arrived that those so-called self-media might have been invited by the people from Tianfu Small Street. Yesterday, he had only conquered Chef Jin and the diners of the day, not the capital behind the scene. The incident yesterday could help them create a wave of traffic for Tianfu Small Street, but it would also plummet their reputation. From then on, the dish ¡®Five Dragons Leaping to the Golden Palace¡¯ would probably have to be removed from their signboard. In order to minimize losses, they invited a multitude of self-media to maliciously smear Chen Yu. Since they had struck first, Chen Yu had no intention of being polite and directly introduced the so-called fish fillet to his shop! ¡°` Chapter 157 - Chapter 157 - 157 The Final Ultimatum Chapter 157 ¨C 157 The Final Ultimatum Actually, if you really break it down, the cost of making this kind of fish fillet is a mere two yuan, and even five yuan a piece felt a bit expensive to Chen Yu. In Chen Yu¡¯s view, so-called gourmet food should be delicious enough that the average person can afford to eat it. The same dish, casually priced at several hundred, even thousands, or tens of thousands, serves no purpose other than inflating one¡¯s own status. It could even make customers turn away. The most famous Peking duck and steamed buns in Suzhou City borrowed their so-called ancient fame to set prices unaffordable to ordinary people. This caused a crisis, and in just a few short months, more than half of their branches had shut down. Since the people of Tianfu Street insisted on opposing him, Chen Yu decided to cut the price of the fish fillet directly. Before long, amidst everyone¡¯s praises, this kind of fish fillet completely took off. The self-media sent by Tianfu Street also became free advertising machines. Former regular customers flocked to buy it, treating it as a little snack after their meals. Suzhou City Tianfu Tower. A corpulent man paced back and forth in his office with his hands behind his back. ¡°Where did this guy come from? How did he come to know the secret recipe of our signature dish?¡± The others beside him were silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe. The former master chef looked devastated as he sat there, appearing somewhat dazed. Just then, a secretary rushed into the office in a flurry. ¡°Mr. Wu, I¡¯ve found out. This man is named Chen Yu, the owner of Yuya Bansheng Park. He has participated in many world-class competitions and has the title of a special-grade chef.¡± Those present were stunned for a moment, especially Wu Qiangsen. Having run Tianfu Street for so many years, he never imagined such a thing could happen. A special-grade chef who had participated in world-class competitions possessed an energy that was completely incomparable to that of a chain hotpot restaurant owner like himself. If the chef wished, it wouldn¡¯t be just about knocking down the price of his signature dish; it would be effortless to reduce the prices of all the dishes in his restaurant. ¡°Quick, tell those self-media people to pull back immediately and delete all the videos they¡¯ve taken.¡± Wu Qiangsen knew all too well that Chen Yu was someone he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke. The secretary next to him didn¡¯t dare delay, hurrying to call the self-media staff outside. After pacing in the hall a few more times, Wu Qiangsen suddenly rushed to the master chef, pointing at his nose and cursing furiously. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, you just had to provoke such a person. Even if we sell all of your shares, we can¡¯t compensate for our losses.¡± The master chef looked up, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°My fault? I was simply trying to learn from them normally; if you hadn¡¯t sent a bunch of self-media to cause trouble at their doorstep, why would they target you?¡± Wu Qiangsen was left speechless and could only gesture to his subordinates to go buy some gifts. All that remained was to go and offer an apology. If they truly provoked a full-on response, Tianfu Street, which he¡¯d operated his entire life, might go bankrupt completely. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the customers at Chen Yu¡¯s store gradually dispersed. The staff, along with three chefs, prepared the staff meal and cleaned up together. Although the fish fillet was a new addition, sales of other categories had not dropped at all. Moreover, during the day, the self-media that had been surrounding this place had disappeared without a trace. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is 2,085,600 yuan, earning points totaling 2,085,600, with a current cumulative total of 10,058,480 points] Chen Yu was immediately a bit excited; it seemed that adding a fish fillet had significantly increased the sales, and now he had enough points to upgrade the system. Without hesitation, he chose to upgrade on the system page. [Congratulations to the host for completing the system upgrade, the current system has reached version 2.0] [The host can now communicate with the system without any barriers] Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. Was this the only feature? After spending 10 million points to upgrade the system, all he got was a privilege to communicate with the system without barriers. Chen Yu felt somewhat gloomy, his face growing a bit grim. ¡°Honey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Tong Ya suddenly hugged Chen Yu from behind. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just went over today¡¯s accounts briefly.¡± Chen Yu fobbed her off with a sentence and sat down to have dinner with everyone. Right at this moment, a few commercial vehicles suddenly stopped in front of the shop, and a group of people hurried in, including the previous Chef Jin. The man leading them swept a glance over the shop and set his eyes on Chen Yu. ¡°This must be Mr. Chen Yu!¡± As he spoke, the man placed a gift box on the table. ¡°My name is Wu Qiangsen, the chairman of Tianfu Small Street. There was a bit of a misunderstanding between our chef and you before, and today I specifically came to apologize.¡± Chen Yu frowned: ¡°There seems to be no misunderstanding between Chef Jin and me, but Mr. Wu, scheming against me behind my back, is something I take to heart.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu picked up a piece of fish fillet. ¡°I recall that Tianfu Small Street has many signature dishes. I wonder if these dishes, if cooked by my hand, might taste a bit better than yours?¡± Wu Qiangsen¡¯s body trembled violently: ¡°Mr. Chen is a world-class master chef, no matter what dish he makes, it would surely be top-notch! Our small establishment can only hope for mercy from Mr. Chen.¡± Chen Yu put down the fish fillet, giving Wu Qiangsen a cold glance. If this had been before, Chen Yu might not have lowered himself to the other¡¯s level. But ever since he had been granted abilities by the system, he noticed that his personality had undergone a subtle change. He not only had to do many things but also had to follow through to the end. ¡°My hand isn¡¯t that precious; it can¡¯t lift up high. Since Mr. Wu had the guts to have the self-media spread rumors about me and smear my name, you must have prepared for bankruptcy!¡± Wu Qiangsen¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly, and he fell to his knees with a thud. ¡°Mr. Chen, I truly realize my mistake, this box contains a gold medal I specially made for you, please accept it with a smile.¡± Chen Yu chuckled and pushed the box back. ¡°I really don¡¯t lack for such things, but seeing how sincere you are, I might just give you a chance.¡± Hope flashed in Wu Qiangsen¡¯s eyes as he looked at Chen Yu eagerly. But to his surprise, Chen Yu simply stretched out three fingers. ¡°You have three days to prepare, after three days, I will put together a series of plans targeting Tianfu Small Street!¡± Wu Qiangsen felt as if he¡¯d been struck by a thunderbolt on a clear day, completely stunned in place. This wasn¡¯t an opportunity at all; it was clearly an ultimatum. Chapter 158 - Chapter 158 - 158 Assassination Chapter 158 ¨C 158 Assassination The people who came here with Wu Qiangsen were all intimidated by the aura bursting forth from Chen Yu. In their eyes, Chen Yu was like a king at that moment. The meals laid out on the table particularly shocked everyone present. Who would have thought that an employee meal could be so rich? Previously, the media always said that the employee meals at Tianfu Xiaojie were the best in the entire industry, even in all of Suzhou City. But compared to what was before them, these people suddenly felt that their previous employee meals were like pig swill. Every time Chen Yu merely said something, it was Wang Qingshan beside him who was sending the guests off. Already scared by Chen Yu¡¯s aura, and with Wang Qingshan¡¯s stature resembling a small mountain, that feeling of oppression made them quickly drag Wu Qiangsen out the door. [A complete plan has been provided to the host, which can be used to take over the other party within five days.] Chen Yu suddenly heard the system¡¯s prompt in his ear, followed by a flood of information in his mind. The details of each step were calculated clearly, and even the liquidation plan after the bankruptcy of the other party had been properly arranged. Chen Yu was a bit surprised; he had thought that after the system¡¯s upgrade, there would only be an added function to communicate with him, but he didn¡¯t expect it to have autonomous planning capabilities as well. Before he could get excited, Ning Kai next to him angrily put down his chopsticks. ¡°The food industry in Suzhou City is getting more and more excessive; some people came over a while ago, saying they wanted us to join the Suzhou City Food Association, and now even a small shop like ours is being troubled.¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°Food Association? Why don¡¯t I know about this?¡± Li Gang pulled out an invitation from his pocket, ¡°When you were in Europe before, those guys came looking, and this is the invitation they gave.¡± When the invitation was placed on the table, everyone present turned gloomy. After reading the contents, Chen Yu was even more furious; it wasn¡¯t an invitation at all, but a blatant attempt to collect protection money. The so-called Suzhou City Food Association was merely a few individuals with chef credentials in name, forming a local organization. All businesses that joined the food association had to pay a certain membership fee within a specified time. In name, it was said that they could gain a large customer base, and the safety of their shops would be guaranteed. But anyone could see that this was clearly a thuggish agreement. Chen Yu slammed the invitation onto the table, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this in time?¡± Wang Qingshan sighed, ¡°You were busy with the factory at that time, and you had just returned from Europe; I really didn¡¯t want to disturb you. Besides, I¡¯ve dealt with these guys before, and they wouldn¡¯t dare to go too far.¡± After all, Wang Qingshan had been doing business in Suzhou City for more than a decade, and his own braised food store had been open for nearly ten years. He had had dealings with all sorts of forces in Suzhou City, especially this so-called food association. When he first opened his shop, these people also came knocking from time to time to cause trouble. It was only because Wang Qingshan¡¯s shop had good flavors, and the workers in his shop were big and burly, that they didn¡¯t dare get too tough. Even so, Wang Qingshan still had to pay some membership fees. After all, no one doing business wants to attract so much trouble. Chen Yu breathed out gently, ¡°Next time those guys come again, make sure they call me. I¡¯d like to see just how arrogant they can be.¡± As soon as his words fell, a torrent of information once more surged through his mind, all concerning the Suzhou City Food Association. There was even a response strategy included. Chen Yu¡¯s heart suddenly filled with excitement, it seemed that the ten million points he spent were truly not in vain. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Chen Yu returned to No. 1 Shuiyue with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. But when he arrived, the entire villa was surrounded so tightly that not even water could get through. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, hurriedly parked the car in the underground garage, and rushed to the door. ¡°Ah, young Boss Chen has returned, thanks to the medicinal meals you provided for us, my decades-old problems have finally gotten better.¡± An elderly man excitedly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand and shook it. The rest of the people also came forward and kept praising Chen Yu, each holding a small packet made of gauze. These were the medicine packets Chen Yu had made for the various neighborhood illnesses over that period. Li Lan approached with a smile on her face, ¡°Xiao Yu, the neighbors came to get their medicine, and since you weren¡¯t here, I had to distribute the packets according to the names you marked.¡± Chen Yu nodded, without saying much else. He had marked each packet with the corresponding patient¡¯s name and the method of use. Chen Yu responded briefly, and for a few seriously ill elderly, he went into detail about certain aspects before sending them on their way. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan by his side both sighed with relief; they had thought that there was trouble when they first arrived. After all, they had driven Wu Qiangsen away from Tianfu Small Street that evening. It wouldn¡¯t be far-fetched that the guy might hold a grudge and come for revenge. ¡°Mom, let me help you back inside!¡± Tong Ya quickly stepped forward to support Li Lan and led her back to her room. Chen Yu then turned around to close the gate. [System Alert: Danger Detected] The sudden voice startled Chen Yu; he quickly looked up, cautiously scanning his surroundings. Just then, a streak of red suddenly appeared before his eyes, resembling the glow from infrared night vision goggles. The figures hiding in the surrounding shrubbery were clearly visible to him. In the next moment, the system had already rapidly created a plan for him. Chen Yu tried to keep his expression in check as he silently closed the main gate, and then followed the route given by the system to circle around the villa. Passing several arhat fruit trees, Chen Yu clearly saw five burly men hiding behind the bushes, each holding an automatic weapon. ¡°Big brother, will we really get three million after this job is done?¡± ¡°Relax, Boss Wu from Tianfu Small Street is one of the few wealthy figures in Suzhou City; he won¡¯t shortchange the promised money. Besides, haven¡¯t we already received a million in advance?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu frowned, originally he had thought it was the boss behind the two thugs he killed yesterday that had come here, only to find out it was assassins hired by Wu Qiangsen. As those five fellows were preparing to act, Chen Yu¡¯s figure flashed, and he appeared in front of one of them, grasped his neck, and threw him violently against an arhat fruit tree nearby. Before the other four could react, Chen Yu propped himself on one hand and swung his legs up for a series of chain kicks. In a matter of seconds, he had knocked two men to the ground, leaving the remaining one standing there, bewildered. Now that Chen Yu¡¯s physical fitness had reached the human limit, he was in a league of his own compared to these thugs. Chapter 159 - Chapter 159 - 159 Recording Merits Chapter 159 ¨C 159 Recording Merits ¡°This is impossible, you were just in the villa, how did you get here so quickly?¡± The last thug trembled, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Chen Yu¡¯s expression was icy cold; he didn¡¯t feel like wasting words with these guys. With a swift movement, he reached them and grabbed the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Showing up here late at night with weapons, just that alone is enough to lock you up for over twenty years.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yu tapped the guy¡¯s spine, knocking him unconscious. He then immediately called Zhou Shengtao. [The system has detected that the host¡¯s understanding of the legal knowledge system is not comprehensive. It is recommended that the host spend three million points to study it separately.] Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. The system was becoming more humanized by the day, but three million points was indeed a bit much. When he previously gambled, ten million points could net him quite a few nice things. Before long, Zhou Shengtao arrived at the scene urgently with his team. ¡°Little Chen, what am I to say? You¡¯ve captured so many suspects over the past few days, how can I even begin to thank you?¡± Zhou Shengtao excitedly grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand and began shaking it vigorously. If not for Chen Yu¡¯s exceptional physical strength, his arm might have been torn off. ¡°Chief Zhou, they¡¯re just petty thieves, there¡¯s no need to get so worked up,¡± Chen Yu said. Zhou Shengtao waved his hands dismissively, ¡°These guys are not just petty thieves; they belong to a gang! Moreover, this bunch is extremely cunning. We¡¯ve been trying to catch them for a long time without a clue. Now, we finally have a breakthrough.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, if that was indeed the case, then there was no need for him to take action at Tianfu Alley. Just hiring these men would be enough to land Wu Qiangsen in jail for at least ten years. Just then, the rugged phone Zhou Shengtao kept at his waist suddenly rang. Phones like these were only called in the event of an emergency. Zhou Shengtao hurriedly answered the call, speaking some code words that Chen Yu couldn¡¯t understand at all, before hanging up with a grave expression. ¡°Little Chen, could you come with me? I have an urgent matter that requires your assistance.¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu followed Zhou Sheng into the car. After all, his experiences were far beyond those of an ordinary person; staying awake for seventy-two hours straight wasn¡¯t a problem for him. Furthermore, Zhou Sheng¡¯s look of unprecedented urgency meant that something serious must have happened. It wasn¡¯t long before the group arrived at a bridge. The relevant personnel had already set up control around the area. Stepping over several yellow lines, Chen Yu suddenly discovered three bodies lying under the bridge. Zhou Sheng¡¯s face was solemn. He took a deep breath and with heavy steps, hesitantly lifted the white cloth covering the bodies. Chen Yu was about to ask about the details when a few workers nearby stopped him. ¡°Little Chen, those are Chief Zhou¡¯s close friends. Let¡¯s give him some time. We should look for clues in the vicinity.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ready to start investigating, when a holographic coverage map of the surrounding kilometer suddenly appeared in his mind. [Preliminary analysis suggests that this is not the original crime scene. The bodies were most likely transported here with the flow of the water.] Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Anyone could come to that conclusion just by looking at the crime scene. No sooner had he silently scoffed at that, the system, as if taking offense, shut off the holographic map. [Then the host may proceed to analyze the case on their own.] Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open. Was the system actually capable of throwing a tantrum? ¡°Little Chen!¡± Zhou Shengtao suddenly arrived behind Chen Yu, ¡°We found some extremely fuzzy footage in the surveillance, do you think you could restore these images?¡± Chen Yu nodded his head, this sort of thing was child¡¯s play for him. Before long, Zhou Shengtao had brought Chen Yu to a tent nearby. Every piece of equipment there was readily available, even capable of covering all surveillance and electronic devices within a radius of several kilometers. On one of the computer screens, a very blurry segment was being played in rotation. It appeared the surveillance had been damaged at the time, which is why the blurry images were retrieved. As soon as Chen Yu arrived, the two workers next to him immediately stood up. Having worked with Chen Yu on a previous case, they knew about his remarkable talent for drawing. Zhou Shengtao also hurriedly handed over a drawing board. Without hesitation, Chen Yu took a few glances at the footage and then began sketching rapidly on the paper. It wasn¡¯t long before two human silhouettes emerged on the page. However, the surveillance footage was so vague it looked like nothing, leaving Chen Yu unable to capture some of the details. He could only do his best to draw simple facial contours. After Zhou Shengtao took a look, he immediately had his subordinates perform a facial comparison. But after a good amount of effort, no results came forth. Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; with such blurry images, as long as one could find the approximate facial proportions, it was basically possible to restore the true face. However, this segment of footage seemed to have been specially processed, with the facial proportions a complete mess. Even some professionals would think it was just two blobs of walking mosaic. ¡°Team Zhou, based on the contour comparison, we have found twenty-three suspects; the range has been greatly narrowed down, but if we could be more precise¡­¡± Before the worker could finish speaking, Zhou Shengtao interrupted him. ¡°To have achieved this much is already quite remarkable; even the world¡¯s top forensic artists couldn¡¯t do much better. Let¡¯s find more evidence to confirm the suspects.¡± Everyone immediately set about their tasks, and the autopsy personnel arrived at the scene at this moment. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly saw a portrait flash across the computer screen. ¡°Wait a minute, can we pull up this person¡¯s information?¡± The worker at his side didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately pulling up a massive amount of data. After all, Chen Yu was there to help Zhou Shengtao, and was thus considered one of the team. When the information had been pulled up, Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, and he pulled Zhou Shengtao over. ¡°Team Zhou, I¡¯ve seen this person before; he seems to belong to a family in Europe. On the surface, his identity is that of a chef, but actually, it seems he is the leader of an assassin organization.¡± Zhou Shengtao immediately keyed in a string of codes, and then a vast amount of information appeared on the screen. His breathing also became rapid at this moment, ¡°Immediately use this person as a breakthrough point, search for all the people and forces involved behind him.¡± The people, as if injected with adrenaline, suddenly became excited. Zhou Shengtao held onto Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder tightly. ¡°Chen, if we can solve this case thanks to you, I¡¯ll make sure you get the credit!¡± Chapter 160 - Chapter 160 - 160 Cerebral Palsy Patient Chapter 160 ¨C 160 Cerebral Palsy Patient At three in the morning, after all the evidence had been cleaned up, everything became simple. The next step was to coordinate the arrest with other relevant departments. Chen Yu might not have known many of the details, but he could tell how important those three deceased individuals were to Zhou Shengtao. It wasn¡¯t until four in the morning that Chen Yu returned to Shuiyue No. 1 after the personnel finished clearing the site. At ten o¡¯clock the next day, just as Chen Yu was groggily waking up from bed, he received a call from Hou Jianchang. The rest of the raw materials have basically been delivered! Without any delay, Chen Yu quickly freshened up and drove straight to the factory. Several trucks loaded with raw materials were parked at the factory gate, looking mighty impressive. A middle-aged man with an honest appearance stood between the trucks, chatting amiably with Hou Jianchang. Upon seeing Chen Yu arrive, the two hurriedly approached him. ¡°Old Chen, let me introduce you, this is our main supplier for raw materials! He¡¯s not from Suzhou City himself, but with such a large order you placed, he said he must make the trip over.¡± The middle-aged man also respectfully handed over his business card. Chen Yu took it and saw: ¡°Luo Qingjian, Mr. Luo! I¡¯ve long heard of your reputation, and I never imagined the raw materials I¡¯ve been using were supplied by you.¡± Luo Qingjian was very well-known along the southeast coast, and nearly all agricultural produce in the region had passed through his hands. This time, with Chen Yu placing an order of one hundred million, regardless, the man behind the scenes had to come and take a look in person. Luo Qingjian also had a smile plastered across his face. Initially, he thought Chen Yu was just making a one-time purchase, but after touring the factory, he realized there would be ongoing cooperation. In his eyes, Chen Yu was already considered a big client. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two parties quickly finalized several contracts, and Chen Yu transferred the remaining seventy million over. As for future cooperation, they agreed to sign relevant contracts once the factory was fully operational and the production cycle was established. After seeing off Luo Qingjian, Chen Yu prepared to check the warehouse with Hou Jianchang. After all, they had only one factory area, and the warehouse was not very large. To fit all these raw materials in, they needed to sell off some semi-finished products they had produced earlier. But they had just arrived at the warehouse entrance when four vans suddenly charged in, and more than twenty people, each wielding various types of sticks, tumbled out of the vehicles. ¡°Is Wu Lao Liu here?¡± The question left Chen Yu completely perplexed. He didn¡¯t even know who Wu Lao Liu was! And seeing the demeanor of these people, they seemed to be here for revenge, but upon closer observation, it didn¡¯t quite seem that way. Hou Jianchang quickly stepped forward: ¡°Wu Lao Liu is my employee, who are you guys?¡± The leader took out a notebook from the car, flipped through it, and then handed some documents to Hou Jianchang. ¡°His daughter owes us a sum of money, which after interest has accumulated to over two hundred thousand. It¡¯s best to repay the money right away, otherwise, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite.¡± Hou Jianchang widened his eyes in disbelief. Wu Lao Liu was disabled, with limited mobility in his legs, and had always worked for him. Moreover, his daughter was only about fifteen or sixteen years old, still a minor. How could she possibly owe so much money? Hou Jianchang instinctively looked at the materials in his hand. Not only were there photos and personal details of Wu Xiaoxuan, but also the identity information of Wu Lao Liu. ¡°Could there be some mistake?¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knotted, ¡°I remember Wu Xiaoxuan is a cerebral palsy patient who has always been lying in the hospital, how could she possibly borrow money from you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of our business!¡± The leader twirled the stick in his hand, ¡°Either hand over the person or pay the money; otherwise, we¡¯ll smash up this factory!¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s anger surged. When he had seen the information, he knew there was something fishy about it. Looking at these guys¡¯ attitudes, he was even more certain that they were a bunch of criminals. Moreover, ever since he started his business, Wu Laoliu had always been working under him; no matter what happened, he would handle it. Just as Hou Jianchang was about to speak, Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the man¡¯s neck, and lifted him high. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question from earlier, how did a cerebral palsy patient borrow money from you?¡± The others, seeing this posture, were stunned at first, then quickly swung their weapons and rushed forward. But what they didn¡¯t expect was that the first three to charge were kicked away by Chen Yu and smashed heavily onto a car. The rest stopped in their tracks, not daring to approach. After all, they were just trying to make a living, and nobody wanted to go to such extremes. Chen Yu still held the man by the neck, slowly applying pressure, ¡°Answer my question!¡± A strong sense of suffocation enveloped the man; his face swelled up blue, and his legs flailed in mid-air. ¡°The IOU is written like that, we are just here to collect a debt, it¡¯s not our business!¡± ¡°Then whose business is it?¡± Chen Yu asked angrily, slamming the man to the ground. A crisp sound of bone cracking instantly filled the air as the man¡¯s shoulder collapsed. The lackeys following behind were scared out of their wits, with a few even dropping their sticks and scattering in all directions. ¡°Old Hou, the Wu Xiaoxuan you mentioned just now, where is she? Can I meet her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s at the Third Municipal Hospital!¡± Hou Jianchang replied and then pressed the car key. The two men headed straight for the Third Municipal Hospital, but Chen Yu still held the middle-aged man in his hand, pressing him into the back seat. The hospital was not far from the factory, and Hou Jianchang knew the way well, arriving in less than five minutes. It seemed he visited often. In a common ward of the psychiatric department, a dozen patients lay there, with doctors and nurses moving among them from time to time. Compared to other wards, this one was eerily quiet. After all, they were cerebral palsy patients, mostly in a sleeping state, unable to move. Besides caring for their daily needs, the doctors and nurses just had to make sure they were still breathing. Hou Jianchang carefully led Chen Yu to a ward in front of them, where a delicate young girl lay on the bed like a sleeping beauty. The steady beeping of the nearby equipment indicated that Wu Xiaoxuan¡¯s condition was relatively stable. The middle-aged man brought by Chen Yu was quite depressed at the moment. His shoulder blade had been completely ruined, and the pain tormented his spirit greatly. But in such an environment, he didn¡¯t dare to shout out, fearful that Chen Yu would ruin his other shoulder in a fit of anger. Chapter 161 - Chapter 161 - 161: Uproot Entirely Chapter 161 ¨C 161: Uproot Entirely Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed tightly as he subconsciously placed his hand on Wu Xiaoxuan¡¯s pulse. Her vital functions and physical condition were almost the same as a normal person¡¯s, the only exception being that her brain nerves were in extreme disorder, posing the risk of brain death at any moment. How could a person who was paralyzed in bed, without even a sense of self, possibly have taken out a loan? In a daze, Chen Yu suddenly noticed a patch of red ink on Wu Xiaoxuan¡¯s finger that hadn¡¯t been properly wiped away. At that moment, he seemed to understand something and quickly checked the other patients, shockingly finding that many of them had the same red mark on their hands as Wu Xiaoxuan. Chen Yu suddenly turned around, smiling at the middle-aged man before pinching his collapsed shoulder. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you pressed their fingerprints without their knowledge, scanned their facial information, and then took out loans, didn¡¯t you?¡± The middle-aged man howled in pain, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, we only handle debt collection, the borrowing was done by another group of people.¡± ¡°So where are those people?¡± Chen Yu increased the pressure on his grip. ¡°I have their addresses, right here for you!¡± The middle-aged man hastily took out a small notebook from his person and handed it to Chen Yu. The notebook was crammed with the identity information of debtors, as well as the amount of money borrowed. When Chen Yu saw the figures written, he stood frozen in place. According to this record, on average, each person had borrowed around thirty thousand, but the repayment amount was about two hundred thousand. Moreover, nearly all of the debts were overdue. Chen Yu was immediately consumed with rage; setting aside whether the loan procedures were compliant, expecting a group of patients with cerebral palsy to repay the loans was simply impossible. They were intentionally waiting for the debts to add up, and then would use the IOUs to approach the patients¡¯ families. Hou Jianchang also understood the scheme, suddenly grabbing a cup from the side and smashing it onto the middle-aged man¡¯s head. ¡°Are you even human? These are patients who can¡¯t take care of themselves, and you¡¯re scamming even them out of their money!¡± The pain in the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder had caused his body to convulse continuously, and now that he had been hit on the head with a glass, fresh blood gushed out, nearly causing him to faint. At that moment, a young man in his twenties, a relevant official dressed in uniform, hurried over with several staff members. ¡°Mr. Chen, Chief Zhou is still dealing with another case, so he sent me over first!¡± Chen Yu had seen the young man before; he seemed to be a recent graduate from the police academy. ¡°I know you, you¡¯re Chief Zhou¡¯s apprentice, Li Ming, right?¡± Li Ming nodded, then activated the recorder he was wearing. Chen Yu recounted all the details and handed over the notebook he was holding. After hearing the full story, Li Ming was also furious, but as an official, he had to follow the proper procedures. ¡°Mr. Chen, we will immediately open a case, but we will need your help with many of the details. When Chief Zhou asked me to come, he also said¡­¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Chen Yu interrupted, ¡°Leave this guy to you for now. As for those who made the initial loans, I can assist in arresting them, you just need to give me two men.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Li Ming quickly assigned two men from those he brought with him. Before long, Chen Yu and the two officers arrived at a rundown urban village. Places like this were commonplace in Suzhou City, each one aptly described as dirty, messy, and bad, and within their small confines, power dynamics were exceedingly complicated. Not only did they have local bullies, but there were also some dubious characters from outside. The industries they were involved in were mostly illegitimate, but the departments in Suzhou City struggled due to the lack of evidence; otherwise, they would have taken them down a long time ago. When Chen Yu, accompanied by two relevant personnel, entered the urban village, he immediately attracted everyone¡¯s attention. The lookouts at the entrance of the village quickly reported their movements to their respective bosses. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dawdle and led his people directly to a simple color steel house. This place was extremely secluded, and there were two garbage factories outside, so usually, no one came here. There were four or five guys on the lookout at the door, constantly wandering nearby. Seeing Chen Yu approaching, they wanted to go in and report right away. But they didn¡¯t expect Chen Yu to be so fast; in the blink of an eye, he was behind one of them, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and kicked him hard in the leg. A crisp snap of bones echoed instantly, and the guy¡¯s legs were directly crippled, while the others widened their eyes, their faces filled with terror. Before they could react, Chen Yu¡¯s figure flashed again, reaching another person, grabbed him by the back, and pushed hard, sending him crashing into the color steel house. There were more than twenty people in the room, each looking fierce and threatening. On their tables were piled various documents, most of which were medical information. Each of them held an encrypted phone and was continuously making calls. Seeing Chen Yu suddenly barge in, everyone was stunned for a moment. The man leading them immediately stood up, grabbed an automatic weapon from the side, and aimed it straight at Chen Yu. ¡°Who the fuck are you? Do you have any idea what this place is to barge in like this, do you have a death wish?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curved slightly upward, drawing a strange arc. Then he threw the person he was holding out, knocking down the leader and several others to the ground. The two relevant personnel who had followed Chen Yu rushed in, holding automatic weapons. ¡°Don¡¯t move, put your hands on your head, and squat in the corner!¡± These people were purely evil and, far from being scared, they grabbed the weapons close at hand, preparing to fight back. The two young personnel who had followed were inexperienced in going out. Facing this scene for the first time, it was inevitable they felt a bit intimidated. However, their solid professional training made them instinctively pull the trigger. Chen Yu went straight forward and kicked the table flying, knocking over a dozen people to the ground. He then grabbed the leader and lifted him up. ¡°The money you guys scammed out of the hospital, did it all go into your pockets?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice was exceptionally cold, especially the eerie aura emanating from his body made everyone present feel a twinge of fear. But the leader was surprisingly calm, ¡°Kid, do you know where you are? You think you can just walk in and out whole?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, ¡°Since you say so, if I don¡¯t rip this place out by the roots, it would seem I¡¯m not giving you face.¡± As soon as his voice fell, the exterior of the color steel house suddenly became chaotic. Chapter 162 - Chapter 162 - 162: Gourmet Association Chapter 162 ¨C 162: Gourmet Association A once extremely secluded area was now suddenly teeming with over a hundred people. They were dressed in a variety of clothes, clearly small merchants from all walks of life, but now, for some inexplicable reason, they had united together. It seemed that these people inside the color steel house were also involved, or at least part of the entire chain of interests. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he dragged the leading man out of the color steel house. The two accompanying officials next to him seemed somewhat nervous at the moment, with their fingers on the trigger, ready to pull it at any time. ¡°Steady!¡± Chen Yu patted one of the accompanying officials on the shoulder and then slowly walked out. ¡°I¡¯ll give you all a chance, everyone put your hands on your head and stand by the roadside, or else you¡¯ll be deemed as assaulting the officials!¡± But these people simply did not listen, instead slowly approaching while waving the weapons in their hands. [Host detected in a dangerous situation, do you need an escape plan to be made?] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback, the system usually made plans for him directly, why was it now asking him? ¡°No shit, of course!¡± He had barely replied in his mind when suddenly the system fell silent. Just as Chen Yu was about to speak up, the voice of the system sounded again. [Best plan has been made, requiring the host to pay 500,000 points] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, seeming like the system had a bit of a temper, or perhaps it still remembered Chen Yu questioning it the night before. Moreover, he had just spent ten million points, and today¡¯s business wasn¡¯t over yet, where would he get another 500,000 points to pay? He sighed helplessly, never expecting the system to let him down at a critical moment. Scanning his surroundings, Chen Yu rapidly planned an escape route in his mind. Even with his exceptional physical fitness, carrying the two men behind him, there¡¯s no way he could break through the encirclement of over a hundred people. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu locked onto a surrounding wall. ¡°Both of you, keep up with me!¡± He shouted hastily, then knocked the leader unconscious, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and ran towards the wall, taking two steps at a time. The two did not dare to delay and closely followed behind Chen Yu. The wall was high but rickety, and with just one punch on it, Chen Yu brought it crumbling down. The three of them ran forward with all their might, turned a corner down a narrow alley, and found themselves on the main road outside. Four in the afternoon. Zhou Shengtao, looking at the documents and reports in front of him, was overjoyed. ¡°We¡¯ve been watching these guys for a long time, desperately lacking evidence, and now we can finally uproot them completely.¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about these things, he simply placed the bills in front of Zhou Shengtao. ¡°So these things do not comply with regulations, and the debtor doesn¡¯t have to pay them back, right?¡± Zhou Shengtao nodded, ¡°Making a person with cerebral palsy pay debts, isn¡¯t that a joke? Of course, it doesn¡¯t count.¡± Chen Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, Wu Laoliu was his employee after all now, how could he let his own people take on such a huge debt for no reason? After confirming a few more details with Zhou Shengtao, he returned to the factory. Hou Jianchang at this moment had already loaded the finished semi-products onto the truck and simultaneously contacted the Tong Group¡¯s related officials to take them away. According to the requirements of the contract, about half of the semi-finished products that had been completed these days, and the rest could all be finished within another week. After that, the entire factory would be able to get back on track. Old Wu Six was incessantly talking to Zhou Shengtao at the moment, seemingly lamenting the misfortune of his family. Chen Yu didn¡¯t join the conversation but went over to check the accounts instead. After all, he had handed over all the affairs of the factory to Zhou Shengtao; there was no need for him to meddle too much. After verifying the accounts, Chen Yu found an empty room and sat down. ¡°System, you definitely possess independent consciousness now, I think we need to talk.¡± [Due to the host¡¯s lack of trust, the system refuses.] Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, astonished that a mere system could have such an attitude. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Shengtao briskly walked in. ¡°I¡¯ve investigated the matter. There are a total of four people who were deceived in the factory, each of them with debts of over two hundred thousand¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of this issue, the owed money doesn¡¯t need to be repaid,¡± Zhou Sheng said. Hou Jianchang kept nodding his head: ¡°Now that¡¯s a relief. My workers here are all half-disabled, their monthly wages are so meager, suddenly saddling them with debts of over two hundred thousand would have ruined their entire families.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply passing the account book on the table to Hou Jianchang. ¡°The factory is about to enter normal operations; it¡¯s time to find a financial manager. Always doing the accounts myself is time-consuming and laborious.¡± Hou Jianchang sighed helplessly. ¡°I truly dare not recruit a financial manager from outside right now, most of the ones I had before were disasters.¡± Chen Yu exhaled softly; the financial department of any company is a key link. If the wrong person is chosen, what¡¯s ruined is not just a single company. [The system can perform fund pool calculations; no financial manager is needed.] A notification suddenly sounded in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, startling him. Right, he had a system, why bother bringing in a financial manager. Chen Yu instinctively smacked his head: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later then, just keep an eye on these accounts for now! But take some rest whenever you can, even if something goes wrong, I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Hou Jianchang smiled awkwardly, indeed scared stiff by his past experiences. At half-past eight in the evening, Chen Yu hurriedly drove back to Shuiyue No.1. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business. Today¡¯s profit is twenty-eight million five hundred and sixty thousand yuan, earning the same number of points. The current total accumulated points are twenty-one million four thousand and eighty.] It seemed that the business system of the factory had not yet been included. After parking the car in the underground garage, Chen Yu returned to the villa. But as he entered, he saw a man dressed in a suit and leather shoes engaging Li Lan in conversation in the living room. Upon seeing Chen Yu come in, the man quickly stood up and handed over an invitation. ¡°Mr. Chen, I am here on behalf of the Suzhou City Culinary Association to deliver this invitation, hoping you will be able to join us at Huameilai Hotel for a culinary competition tomorrow noon,¡± he said. Chen Yu frowned, just about to speak when the man hurriedly left, not giving him a chance to talk. Li Lan stood up excitedly. ¡°Xiao Yu, you¡¯re truly famous now; even people from the culinary association are inviting you to competitions.¡± Chen Yu was unsure of how to explain, although he knew that even if he did, Li Lan would probably not understand the intricacies. Looking at the invitation in hand, a cold glint flickered in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. It would be a good opportunity to meet with the culinary association properly. Chapter 163 - Chapter 163 - 163 Fathead Fish Chapter 163 ¨C 163 Fathead Fish At six in the morning the next day, when Chen Yu arrived at the shop, he found that in addition to the customers, there were some people loitering around. These individuals were dressed in uniform, with a food association badge hanging around their necks. They would intermittently block the nearby customers, forcefully stuffing flyers into their hands. A middle-aged man, sturdy and imposing, sat at the entrance, stretching one leg across the way. Many delivery people and customers had to walk around him. Wang Qingshan stood by, staring intently at the middle-aged man, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. If it hadn¡¯t been for people recording the scene nearby, he probably would have already taken a swing. Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected that these people, who had delivered an invitation yesterday, would get aggressive so soon. The group noticed Chen Yu approaching and quickly surrounded him. The man in the lead stepped directly in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, Huameilai has already prepared a feast and is waiting for you to come over. Let¡¯s head there now!¡± he said. Chen Yu glanced at the time: ¡°It¡¯s still early, I¡¯ve got some things to handle in my store first. Wait here!¡± The crowd grew discontent, having woken up early and waited all this time just to take Chen Yu with them; they didn¡¯t expect to be ordered around by him. ¡°Mr. Chen, I advise you to come with us now, otherwise, do you know the consequences?¡± Chen Yu looked down, his fingers twitching slightly. ¡°What consequences?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s hands clenched tightly then relaxed, the crackling sound of his bones displacing rang out. ¡°Then don¡¯t blame us for being rude!¡± As his words fell, a group seemed ready to charge into the shop. Li Gang, Ning Kai, and Wang Qingshan immediately blocked the entrance, and it looked as though a conflict would erupt at any moment. Suddenly, Chen Yu raised his hand and grabbed the lead man¡¯s arm. ¡°Rude? Are you qualified?¡± The pain shooting through his wrist caused the man¡¯s body to tremble violently, and his eyes fixed on Chen Yu with a newfound fear. Before he could react, he felt a strong force and his entire body was sent flying. Chen Yu chose to turn and easily dodge the crowd. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll leave when I come out!¡± The group that had just been menacing now stood like a bunch of quails, not daring to move an inch. ¡°Old Chen, should we call the police, have Officer Zhou come over?¡± Wang Qingshan was already seething with anger. Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively: ¡°No need, these people are definitely packaged goods, with no traces to be found by the authorities. I have to handle this personally.¡± After placating everyone, Chen Yu walked out of the door. Huameilai Hotel was one of the few five-star hotels in Suzhou City, and it also boasted a Michelin-rated restaurant. As soon as Chen Yu arrived, he was captivated by the hotel lobby¡¯s decor. The combination of Eastern and Western styles was both elegant and infused with an Oriental charm. Chen Yu had once planned his own business empire and contemplated that if he were to open a hotel of the same caliber, such decor could serve as inspiration. In the center of the hall stood a table, with an old man seated at the head, sipping tea nonchalantly, exuding an air of disdain for everything around him. Meanwhile, Chen Yu had been examining the decor since entering, completely ignoring the old man. ¡°The young people nowadays really have no respect for their elders, not even offering a cup of tea when they see one,¡± he said. The old man tapped the table a few times in annoyance, prompting his bodyguards to rush towards Chen Yu, attempting to forcibly bring him over. However, to their surprise, as the bodyguards approached, Chen Yu lifted his hand and delivered a powerful slap. Each slap was extraordinarily forceful, knocking each one unconscious with a single strike, laying out five men flat on the ground. The old man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, as his bodyguards were all specially trained, yet they proved to be no match for Chen Yu, as frail as chicks. Exhaling a breath of foul air, the old man dropped the subject of offering tea. ¡°Young man, the Suzhou City Culinary Association has been established for decades, admitting only renowned chefs and businesses, being here was supposed to be an opportunity for you to climb up, don¡¯t be ungrateful,¡± he said. Chen Yu continued to pay no attention, instead, he stroked the column next to him, asking the waiter nearby about the material of the column. The old man was livid with rage, seeing as no one had ever dared to ignore him like this. ¡°Hey, kid, Mr. Hu Yan is talking to you!¡± a man standing beside the old man suddenly shouted. This fellow was extremely corpulent, his beer belly stuck out as if he were pregnant. Only then did Chen Yu turn his head: ¡°I presume you must be the famous Fathead Fish of Suzhou City, Mr. Li Jiakai.¡± Li Jiakai snorted coldly: ¡°Since you recognize me, then¡­¡± ¡°I was merely giving a symbolic greeting, after all, you reek of smoke, but I guess that still qualifies you as a chef,¡± Chen Yu said. Li Jiakai¡¯s eyes bulged in anger: ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu spread his hands: ¡°Since this is the Culinary Association, the majority gathered here should be chefs, but from the moment I walked in, only Mr. Li could barely be considered a chef.¡± Li Jiakai became furious: ¡°Barely? Do you have any idea how many awards I have won for the Suzhou City Culinary Association? Three of them are even of a world-class level!¡± ¡°What a pity, though, all those awards have something to do with your Spicy Fish Head! Relying on a single specialty to win acclaim everywhere doesn¡¯t really make one a chef, if I¡¯m honest.¡± Li Jiakai hopped around in anger, his hefty belly shaking up and down. ¡°Kid, if you¡¯re so capable, let¡¯s have a competition, I can even refrain from making Fish Head for you,¡± he challenged. With a slight smile, Chen Yu replied, ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be fair, would it? If you lose without making Fish Head, wouldn¡¯t it seem like I¡¯m bullying you?¡± Li Jiakai¡¯s breathing became ragged as he waved to someone nearby. ¡°Roll out the mobile kitchen for me, today I need to teach this kid a lesson.¡± Soon enough, two fully equipped mobile kitchens were rolled out. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much; since a challenge was posed, he was ready to accept. ¡°Master Li, I plan to make a Sichuan Fish Head dish to seek your guidance, please use all your skill in making Spicy Fish Head,¡± he said. Although the words were extremely humble, they were filled with provocation. Li Jiakai snorted coldly, saying no more as he took a fish head from the ingredient shelf. Hu Yan and the other bigwigs of the Culinary Association stepped back, giving ample space to the two of them. As soon as Li Jiakai got hold of the fish head, he became excited as if injected with chicken blood, his bulky body suddenly moving with agility. He even spun several circles on the spot, spoon in hand. Chapter 164 - Chapter 164 - 164 Sichuan-Style Fish Head Chapter 164 ¨C 164 Sichuan-Style Fish Head Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow; he had not anticipated that the guy would put on such a flashy show while cooking. When he spun around just now, Chen Yu clearly saw Li Jiakai¡¯s body slip a little. Had it not been for his steady lower-body technique, he would probably have fallen flat on his face. Chen Yu stifled a laugh, placed the fish head into the steamer after frying it and then began to stir-fry the sauce. The Sichuan fish head and the chopped pepper fish head are of the same origin; the key lies in the raw materials and the sauce. The fish head used for cooking must be carefully selected; the mouthfeel varies greatly with different qualities of fish heads. However, Chen Yu had no choice in this matter, after all the fish head was prepared by someone else. He had to work with whatever he was given. Moreover, he had just made a rough comparison of the two fish heads and found that Li Jiakai¡¯s fish head was clearly superior to his. The key to their rivalry, therefore, came down to the sauce. Although Li Jiakai was famous for his chopped pepper fish head, the information on fish head sauces in Chen Yu¡¯s mind was incomparable to Li Jiakai¡¯s. He only needed to slightly adapt it, blending several sauces together to create the most perfect sauce. It wasn¡¯t long before a rich fragrance began to spread, but everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on Chen Yu¡¯s side. The sauce in his wok was too tempting. Even Li Jiakai turned his head from time to time, inhaling deeply. In less than ten minutes, Chen Yu¡¯s Sichuan fish head was ready ahead of schedule. The tender fish head was wrapped in a layer of golden crispy skin, and with the addition of the sauce, its appearance was extremely perfect. The emanating aroma was refreshing, making one eager to rush up and take a bite. Hu Yan and a group of big shots couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; two of them had even begun to drool. Li Jiakai was sweating profusely; he had not expected Chen Yu to be so fast. It was only after Chen Yu¡¯s fish head had been served for five minutes that he completed his dish. Only then did everyone pick up their chopsticks to taste. In truth, any perceptive person could see that this crowd was colluding. The most important aspect of fish head is the moment it comes straight out of the pot, as that¡¯s when the flavor is at its best. But now Chen Yu¡¯s fish head had been sitting for five minutes; it must have cooled down considerably, and the flavor was definitely compromised. And this fact would undoubtedly be selectively ignored by the crowd. However, as they tore open the crispy skin on Chen Yu¡¯s fish head, hot steam billowed out. ¡°My God, it¡¯s been five minutes since it was taken off the stove, and it can still retain such temperature!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the crispy skin! This layer of crispy skin preserved the temperature of the fish head!¡± ¡°The sauce on the outside and the fish meat on the inside fused perfectly; to eat it at this moment is just right.¡± ¡­ Li Jiakai quickly picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece. The fish was tender, smooth, and delicious; its nearly perfect taste made him feel inferior. No matter what, he had lost this competition. And as judges, the group of big shots finished off Chen Yu¡¯s fish head thoroughly, yet for Li Jiakai¡¯s, they merely took one bite each. Looking at that, it was clear who was superior. But, unexpectedly, after eating up everything, these people cast all their votes for Li Jiakai. Hu Yan even put on an elder statesman¡¯s air, ¡°Young man, although I admit that your fish head is very delicious, you are too inexperienced. Sometimes, you still need to respect your seniors.¡± Chen Yu let out a light laugh, ¡°I came here today just to see what this so-called Gastronomy Association really is, nothing more!¡± With that, Chen Yu took off his chef hat and strode away. The people at the scene were dumbfounded. Since the establishment of the Gastronomy Association, no one had ever been so presumptuous here. ¡°Stop right there, do you think you can come and go from the Gastronomy Association as you please?¡± Hu Yan suddenly stood up and shouted, then tossed a contract out. ¡°Sign this contract right now, from now on, your store must give up a tenth of its profits as a membership fee, and you must also hand over all your business accounts.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body paused, he hadn¡¯t expected the Gastronomy Association to be so excessive, that they had reached the point of coercion. ¡°Why don¡¯t you share with me half of the profits from the Gastronomy Association and hand over your business accounts!¡± Hu Yan¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re too impudent!¡± A small smirk appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s lips as he swiftly moved in front of Hu Yan. Before Hu Yan could react, Chen Yu had grabbed his neck and squeezed hard. ¡°Write up a contract right now with the terms I just mentioned, or I¡¯ll kill you right here and now.¡± The sudden turn of events caught everyone present off guard. The bodyguards following Hu Yan didn¡¯t dare to step forward, after all, their companions had already been knocked to the ground by a slap from Chen Yu. Beads of sweat instantly appeared on Hu Yan¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re threatening me? Do you have any idea what happens to people who threaten me in Suzhou City?¡± The strength in Chen Yu¡¯s hand slowly increased, ¡°All I know is, if you don¡¯t agree to my terms right now, you can be killed.¡± Hu Yan struggle to breathe, suddenly experiencing an inexplicable sensation of death. ¡°I agree!¡± As he spoke, he hurriedly had his secretary reprint a contract, quickly signed it, and also stamped it with the seal. Chen Yu glanced at the contract, ¡°I would also like you all to sign your names on it as well.¡± The others exchanged glances, with not a single one willing to step forward. After all, the Gastronomy Association was an organization they had worked hard to establish over decades, and now they were being asked to give up half their profits for no reason; anyone would be reluctant. Hu Yan became anxious, ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up and sign, do you want me to die?¡± Without further delay, everyone stepped forward and wrote down their names. Chen Yu looked at the contract with satisfaction and then released Hu Yan. ¡°I will hand this contract over to the relevant department and then apply for a tax declaration form.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone in the room went into a brief shock. To them, it was just a piece of paper; even though they had signed it, as long as they denied it, the contract wouldn¡¯t mean much. But now, with Chen Yu declaring it to the relevant department, it was tantamount to taking their lives. Maybe the wealth they had worked for over decades would be wiped out. ¡°What are you waiting for, stop him!¡± No one knew who shouted, but everyone in the hall rushed over urgently to block Chen Yu¡¯s path. Hu Yan, leaning on his cane, even jogged over. ¡°Young man, we can talk this over! We can really agree to the conditions written in the contract, but applying at the relevant department for this should be considered carefully.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression was cold, ¡°From what I see, it seems like the Gastronomy Association has never paid taxes!¡± Chapter 165 - Chapter 165 - 165: Carrot Carving Chapter 165 ¨C 165: Carrot Carving Everyone present wore a look of horror on their faces. When the Gourmet Association had just been established, it was nothing more than a social organization. Even though it later formed a corporation, it maintained the original organization¡¯s loose nature. Hence, its finances were highly irregular. Just a cursory investigation would reveal a multitude of violations. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about all that; he already had the contract, which in a way, served as incriminating evidence. As long as he handed it over to Zhou Shengtao, and with further investigation by the relevant departments, it would be enough to uproot the entire Gourmet Association. At the very least, it could reorganize it. By the time the crowd moved to encircle him, Chen Yu had already vaulted out of a side door. Hu Yan stood there, his weathered eyes wide with shock. ¡°What are you spacing out for, chase after him! You must snatch that contract from his hands for me.¡± No one dared to slack off, as their signatures and fingerprints were on that contract. If anything went wrong, none of them could escape. On the streets of Suzhou City, a dozen luxury cars chased after a hybrid electric vehicle, speeding past. Such a scene quickly caught the attention of passersby and even alerted some media outlets. Two news agencies even called in helicopters to follow and report on the chase. Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knit, the accelerator floored, and the steering wheel turning rapidly as he continuously wove through the crowd and traffic. At that moment, he regretted not buying a supercar after he had come into money; how could a hybrid compete with luxury cars in speed? If it weren¡¯t for his constant detours through streets and one-way roads, these people would have caught up to him long ago. Fortunately, the relevant department wasn¡¯t too far from the Hua Mei Lai Hotel. Before long, Chen Yu arrived at the entrance but failed to stop due to the high speed, crashing through into the courtyard. Several officers immediately went on alert, surrounding the vehicle, but when they saw Chen Yu, they hurriedly helped him out of the car. ¡°Mr. Chen, what happened to you? You¡¯re in such a rush!¡± Chen Yu caught his breath, ¡°Block those guys behind me, I need to find Zhou.¡± Inside the hall, Zhou Shengtao and several people were intensely poring over a pile of documents. The giant screen beside them constantly switched between various photos. Seeing Chen Yu come in, Zhou Shengtao quickly stood up. ¡°Chen, you¡¯re just in time, I have a favor to ask of you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t immediately respond but laid the documents he brought onto the table. ¡°Zhou, people from the Suzhou Gourmet Association are outside. I¡¯ve got a share distribution chart here, with all their signatures on it.¡± Zhou Shengtao¡¯s eyes flashed with joy as he hurriedly took the contract from Chen Yu. ¡°Great, I¡¯ve been looking for a reason to deal with those guys!¡± As he spoke, Zhou Shengtao made a gesture to his deputy, and the formerly busy officers stood up and left the room. Zhou Shengtao then pulled Chen Yu in front of the screen. ¡°This case is connected to several previous cases. Following the portrait you drew, we can narrow down the suspects but still can¡¯t apprehend the culprit accurately! Fortunately, we¡¯ve found a relatively clear figure in another surveillance video.¡± Chen Yu merely glanced at the screen before he picked up a drawing board and started to draw rapidly. Before long, the face of a middle-aged man emerged on the paper. Zhou Shengtao¡¯s eyes were brimming with excitement, ¡°Chen Yu, well done! Additionally, those people we arrested near your house have given up the owner of the Heavenly Mansion Street, Wu Qiangsen. Unbelievably, he¡¯s connected to a case from several years ago.¡± While he spoke, those from the Culinary Association who had followed Chen Yu here were being taken in one by one. In their wildest dreams, they never imagined that Chen Yu would actually drive to the relevant authorities. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Zhou Shengtao, Chen Yu headed straight back to his shop. But when he returned, he found two mobile kitchens placed at the entrance of his shop. An old man, over fifty, and Li Gang each stood at their stations, their knives flashing rapidly through the air. Before long, each of their hands bore a plate of carved garnishes. However, the old man¡¯s carvings were more exquisite and sophisticated than Li Gang¡¯s by several notches. ¡°Young man, I admit your cooking skills are indeed very good, but you¡¯re lacking a bit of innate talent. If you would take me as your master, perhaps it could make up for your deficiencies. In a few years, your culinary skills could reach new heights,¡± the old man said. Li Gang¡¯s hands trembled slightly; his knife skills were what he was most proud of throughout his years as a chef. However, his face showed no hint of defeat. The old man in front of him was at least thirty years his senior! If he could reach the old man¡¯s age, he was confident that he could surpass him in terms of knife skills. With a snort, Li Gang placed the dish aside. ¡°Old man, you¡¯re just taking advantage of your age and experience. But to speak of taking me as your disciple, you¡¯re not qualified.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes narrowed, a flash of viciousness fleeting across his face. ¡°That¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to do anything. As the chef of this restaurant, according to our agreement before the competition, this restaurant is mine now,¡± the old man asserted. Li Gang casually shook the cleaver in his hand and put it back in its place among the kitchen wares. ¡°Who told you I¡¯m the chef of this restaurant?¡± he retorted. The old man stared, wide-eyed. ¡°What do you mean? If you¡¯re not the chef, why did you come out to compete with me?¡± Li Gang laughed, ¡°Our chef had to step out for a bit, so at best I¡¯m just a helper! You got excited over beating a helper, what¡¯s there to be proud of?¡± As he spoke, laughter erupted from the crowd, even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. Wang Qingshan approached from the side, ¡°Old man, since we¡¯re competing, one dish or two doesn¡¯t make much difference. How about we each prepare a signature dish and see who¡¯s better?¡± The old man was livid with rage. He had come here to avenge his disciple, Wu Qiangsen. His aim was to take over this restaurant. Who would have thought that after painstakingly showing off his knife skills, it turned out that he was only competing with a helper? Now, an overweight man had popped up, looking to challenge him, and it was enough to make anyone lose their temper. Just as the old man was about to explode in anger, Chen Yu appeared beside Li Gang as if he had all the time in the world and casually picked up a knife from the table. Seeing Chen Yu step forward, Li Gang and Wang Qingshan immediately made room for him. A murderous look flashed in the eyes of the old man. ¡°And who might you be?¡± he inquired. ¡°I¡¯m also a helper!¡± Chen Yu nonchalantly twirled the knife in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, a radish lotus blossom appeared in his hand. This seemingly effortless action produced a radish carving that was breathtakingly perfect, even more so than the actual flower. The old man swayed slightly, his gaze towards Chen Yu now filled with a tinge of wariness. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166 - 166 Evaluating Dishes Chapter 166 ¨C 166 Evaluating Dishes ¡°` Chen Yu¡¯s hands did not stop moving as he meticulously replicated the old man¡¯s carved design onto a plate of his own. In just five minutes, a lifelike carving was presented to the crowd. Instant silence descended, with all eyes concentrating on the carving. Compared with the old man¡¯s work, Chen Yu¡¯s carving was akin to the real thing, and had the onlookers not seen him pick up the ingredients from nearby themselves, they might have suspected Chen Yu of buying real flowers to cheat. The elder involuntarily swallowed, realizing that in terms of knife skills, Chen Yu was many times superior to him. ¡°You are insulting me! Sending one kitchen help after another to challenge me, let someone with authority here come out now, I want to bet this restaurant with him.¡± ¡°No problem, my husband can make that decision!¡± Tong Ya slowly emerged from the store, ¡°But since my husband is putting the restaurant on the line to compete with you, you should at least put up assets of equivalent value as a wager.¡± The elder let out a sigh of turbid air and said no more; he looked the restaurant up and down before taking out a bank draft from his pocket. ¡°I reckon your restaurant¡¯s investment is at most a few million. Here is a five million bank draft, which should be more than enough.¡± Tong Ya offered a slight smile, ¡°How could that be enough? Our daily turnover is over two million. Thinking a mere five million draft could serve as a wager, aren¡¯t you a bit too optimistic?¡± The elder was taken aback, ¡°Two million in daily turnover? That¡¯s impossible! A restaurant of this size could at best make a few hundred thousand a day.¡± ¡°Where did this old man come from? He¡¯s so clueless!¡± An older woman in her sixties scoffed at the elder, ¡°Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant draws crowds from thirty miles around; more than two million a day is quite normal.¡± ¡°Exactly. Chen Yu has been running this place for quite some time now, and we neighbors have made rough calculations. Forget about two million, if Chen Yu were willing to raise the prices of his dishes even slightly, he could easily hit four to five million in daily turnover.¡± ¡°This old man must have never seen the wider world, thinking he¡¯s the high and mighty with a bit of cooking skill.¡± ¡°Let Chen Yu teach him a lesson!¡± ¡­ Almost everyone present was overwhelmingly supportive of Chen Yu, with a flood of disdain directed at the elder. The elder¡¯s face turned red, suddenly feeling quite embarrassed. But he steadied his emotions and took out three drafts, each worth ten million, from his bosom. ¡°Surely this is enough!¡± Tong Ya then turned her gaze to Chen Yu, her eyes softening. ¡°Husband, what do you think?¡± Chen Yu pondered for a moment, ¡°Thirty million is indeed worth cooking a dish for!¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± The elder suddenly shouted, ¡°If I win, I want all the recipes for the ingredients in this restaurant.¡± Wang Qingshan immediately objected, ¡°Hey, this old man really doesn¡¯t know when to stop!¡± Chen Yu stopped him, ¡°It¡¯s okay, the old gentleman is here to give us money, not to really take our recipes.¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Qingshan calmed down, knowing it would be too easy for Chen Yu to beat the elder with his skill. He said nothing more, only pulling Li Gang, who was also angry, to the side. ¡°Tell me, which aspect do you want to compete in?¡± the elder challenged Chen Yu with a defiant look, as if wishing Chen Yu to set a constraint. ¡°` ¡°The old man must be a Sichuan cuisine chef, so let¡¯s compete in Sichuan dishes!¡± The old man burst into laughter, ¡°Kid, you sure about that? Competing against me in Sichuan cuisine is like seeking death.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, simply picking up a block of tofu from the side. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just make do with a Mapo Tofu!¡± However, the old man snorted coldly, ¡°Mapo Tofu is just a home-cooked dish among Sichuan cuisine. Authentic Sichuan dishes are mainly sour and sweet in flavor!¡± As he spoke, the old man took out a small jar he carried with him and picked up a plate of pork loin from the side. It looked like he was going to make sweet and sour pork loin. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just quickly cutting the tofu into even pieces and then adding the other ingredients to the pot. The old man was also incredibly fast; after all, he had decades of experience in cooking, which showed in his speed. In less than five minutes, both of their dishes were ready. The rich aroma instantly spread at the entrance of the store, making the crowd around them look on eagerly, some of them itching to rush up and take a bite. But when both dishes were presented, the old man¡¯s face took on an ugly expression. Though they matched each other in speed and cooking skill, he knew that the reason he finished the sweet and sour pork loin so quickly was that he had prepared a secret sweet and sour sauce in advance, while Chen Yu followed the steps precisely, frying up the sauce for his Mapo Tofu from scratch, and even treated the tofu with a special technique. Being able to complete so many steps in such a short time, Chen Yu¡¯s cooking skills were clearly superior to his own. The old man squeezed out a forced smile, ¡°Should we now find a respectable judge to determine whose dish tastes better?¡± As he finished speaking, a middle-aged man slowly stepped out of the crowd and handed Chen Yu a business card. ¡°I happen to be a somewhat famous food critic. May I have the honor of being the judge?¡± Chen Yu frowned, this guy showed up at just the right moment. He subconsciously glanced at the old man next to him and noticed that the old guy was looking somewhat evasive. Without guessing, he knew the so-called food critic was someone the old man had summoned to be on standby. But in such a competition, a legitimate food critic is needed on site for comments, or else the competition would be invalidated. Chen Yu was in a bind, as the only ones with a gourmet judge certification on site were just a few of them. The only one who seemed impartial and fair, and also out of the blue, was this suddenly appearing food critic. Allowing this person to judge, however, would compromise the fairness of the competition. Just at that moment, the piercing sound of a police siren suddenly rose from afar. A vehicle from the relevant department came to a stable stop at the entrance of the store, and Zhou Shengtao came down from it. ¡°Chen, it¡¯s quite lively here!¡± After a brief greeting, Zhou Shengtao waved the sketch in his hand, which seemed to be from a case earlier that required some details from Chen Yu. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond immediately, instead pulling Zhou Shengtao over. ¡°Zhou, here are two dishes. I hope you can give a fair evaluation, whose dish tastes better!¡± Zhou Shengtao was instantly annoyed, since when did he know how to evaluate dishes? Chapter 167 - Chapter 167 - 167: Sudden Heart Attack Chapter 167 ¨C 167: Sudden Heart Attack Zhou Shengtao was invited to be a judge, and no one present dared to utter a word of dissent. not even the old man. To make such a competition legally binding, apart from having professional gourmets, it was also necessary to invite public officials like Zhou Shengtao to serve as the arbiters. It ensured both the fairness and the regulatory compliance of the competition. Zhou Shengtao had urgent business with Chen Yu, but seeing so many people waiting here, and since it was just a matter of sampling two dishes, he thought nothing more of it. He simply picked up his chopsticks and tasted both dishes in succession. ¡°Both dishes are pretty good, authentic Sichuan flavors, but the Mapo Tofu is the superior one, with an excellent texture, and you can even taste something like crispy pork in this tofu.¡± At these words, the old man felt as if struck by lightning and retreated several steps involuntarily. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hold back and went straight forward to take the bank note that was on the table into his hands. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the meals are on the house today! However, each person can purchase a maximum of two servings of any food in the shop, until 8 o¡¯clock tonight!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone present was immediately excited. Chen Yu¡¯s cooking was already a local delicacy, and now that he was offering it for free, how could people resist? The old man and the gourmets next to him were suddenly at a loss and somewhat bewildered. They had come here full of confidence, intending to win over Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant, but instead, they ended up losing thirty million. However, they dared not make any uncalculated moves, especially with Zhou Shengtao and officers from relevant departments present. Taking advantage of the commotion in the crowd, they left the scene dejectedly. Chen Yu then took Zhou Shengtao and a few of the officers up to a room on the third floor. ¡°Captain Zhou, didn¡¯t we just finalize the suspect? What¡¯s the problem now?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed helplessly and handed a stack of documents to Chen Yu. ¡°The problem isn¡¯t too big, it¡¯s just that the suspect¡¯s identity is particularly sensitive, and it¡¯s been causing us tremendous difficulties in apprehending him.¡± ¡°Angelnorth!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. This was a small country within the Arctic Circle, having gained independence less than a year ago¡ªit was practically lawless territory. To catch someone there was nothing short of a fantasy. ¡°That¡¯s right, luckily we have reached out to a global organization. This time it¡¯s a joint operation by major departments, but we absolutely must send someone who is in the know.¡± Chen Yu was looking over the documents and nodding subconsciously, but the next moment he seemed to grasp something and suddenly looked up at Zhou Shengtao with an indescribable gaze. ¡°Captain Zhou, you¡¯re not thinking of sending me, are you?¡± Zhou Shengtao was a bit embarrassed: ¡°This mission is a secret operation, and everyone involved must conceal their identity, and also requires a certain level of¡­ ¡± ¡°Captain Zhou, you¡¯re joking too much! I¡¯m just an ordinary citizen, how could I possibly¡­¡± Before Chen Yu could finish, Zhou Shengtao handed over an application form. ¡°Your application for becoming an external staff member has been approved, and since this operation requires a professional Portrait Artist, I could only ask you to go!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in disbelief. He had thought Zhou Shengtao was just speaking casually before, but it turned out that he had actually prepared an application form for him. Before Chen Yu could speak, Zhou Shengtao began to take out some credentials. ¡°Chen, it¡¯s not that I want to do this, but the higher-ups instructed specifically for you to go, otherwise I would have gone in your place!¡± ¡°Also, if you successfully capture the target and bring them back, the reward from our department and the relevant global organizations will be at least one hundred million.¡± Chen Yu instantly felt like he had been caught in a trap. If this had been before when he had nothing, he would have considered the hundred million for Tuan Tuan¡¯s sake and taken a chance. But now that he had Tong Ya, he had to fulfill the responsibilities of a husband, providing her with a sense of security. [System prompt: It is recommended that the host heads there immediately, as it will help in accumulating points for the future.] Chen Yu was momentarily startled. His current source of points was solely his shop, and no rewards or even the factory had been included in the points system. The sudden advice from the system left him puzzled. Just then, Tong Ya entered gracefully, carrying snacks and tea. ¡°Husband, Zhou Sheng has helped us a lot recently. Since he¡¯s asking for help now, I think you should lend a hand,¡± she said. It appeared that Tong Ya had been eavesdropping at the door moments before. Chen Yu turned around and took Tong Ya¡¯s hand. ¡°But you and Tuan Tuan¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! I¡¯ll tell Tuan Tuan that you¡¯re going to do something very heroic. Besides, as your wife, I will support you unconditionally, no matter what choice you make,¡± she assured him. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for. Zhou Shengtao coughed lightly, ¡°Sister-in-law, don¡¯t worry. This time Chen Yu is just going as a portrait artist accompanying the team; there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t say anything more, just nodded slightly to Zhou Shengtao and then left the room. After Chen Yu and Zhou Sheng had finalized the travel plans, the afternoon flight was booked without delay. By seven in the afternoon, Chen Yu was already on the plane. However, to get to Angulna, one must transfer at Sumter, so all members of the mission would converge there. The journey would take at least seven hours, so Chen Yu stretched and prepared to sleep a little. But just then, a scream suddenly came from not far away, and the direction it came from became chaotic. ¡°Stewardess, it¡¯s bad. Someone fainted and is vomiting blood, and they¡¯re convulsing all over!¡± Hearing the shout, two flight attendants quickly ran out. They saw an old man with white hair lying on the floor, convulsing continuously and foaming blood at the mouth. The flight attendants did not dare to delay and immediately organized first aid. But no matter how hard they tried, the old man¡¯s condition showed no improvement, and even worsened, his face turning paler rapidly. Chen Yu was also surrounded by passengers who got up from their seats. From his angle, he could see the old man¡¯s condition. He recognized it as a sudden heart attack; conventional emergency aid would only exacerbate the illness. Fortunately, he had the ultimate medical knowledge within reach of human cognition in his mind. After seeing through the cause of the illness, he rushed forward and pulled the flight attendants aside. ¡°I am a doctor, let me handle this!¡± With those words, he placed his thumb below the old man¡¯s heart and pressed down hard. A crisp sound of bone cracking suddenly rose, instantly silencing the crowd around them. Anyone with a bit of common sense could tell that it was the old man¡¯s rib being broken. The flight attendants nearby immediately became anxious. ¡°Sir, are you really a doctor? If you can¡¯t help, please step back and don¡¯t add to the confusion,¡± one of them said. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168 - 168: Sumuter Chapter 168 ¨C 168: Sumuter Chen Yu paid no attention, and instead pressed quickly with his fingers. Seeing his actions, a flight attendant hurriedly stepped forward to pull Chen Yu away. Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly coughed twice, and a black blood clot the size of a quail egg was directly spat out of his mouth. The old man, whose life had been hanging by a thread, slowly began to recover, and his pale complexion improved, starting to regain some color. ¡°Sir, you should have your emergency heart-saving pills with you, take six immediately, don¡¯t hold them under your tongue, just swallow them down.¡± The old man nodded repeatedly, quickly taking the pills out of his bag and popping them into his mouth. ¡°Young man, I can¡¯t thank you enough, otherwise I fear I might have¡­¡± Before he could finish, a piercing pain suddenly spread from his heart. Chen Yu quickly steadied his body, gently pushing on his waist with the palm of his hand. A cracking sound was heard, and the pain on the old man¡¯s face vanished entirely. It seemed that the broken rib had just been set back in place. ¡°A miracle doctor!¡± A voice suddenly rang out, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this method of treating before, it seems to use the impact force created when a rib breaks to expel the stagnated blood stuck at the heart.¡± With this explanation, the people who had been accusing Chen Yu of reckless behavior immediately had an epiphany. The flight attendant also cast an apologetic glance. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he simply asked a nearby attendant for paper and pen, wrote down a prescription, and handed it to the old man. ¡°After you get back, follow this prescription for seven days, and your heart attack symptoms should ease.¡± The old man nodded again and again, ¡°Thank you so much!¡± After giving some additional instructions, Chen Yu returned to his seat, as if what had just happened was nothing out of the ordinary to him. But now, the other passengers on the plane were all abuzz; a few tried to approach Chen Yu, hoping he would treat them. The flight attendant next to him saw Chen Yu¡¯s helplessness and promptly stepped forward to keep order. After all, this was on a plane, and even if someone needed medical attention, it needed to be somewhere other than here. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business; today¡¯s net profit is 10,325,520 yuan, gaining 10,325,520 points. The current total accumulated points are 31,766,600.] Chen Yu was not too surprised; after all, he practically gave his services away for free in the latter part of the day, so earning over ten million was already pretty good. In the wee hours of the next day, 3 AM to be precise, Chen Yu arrived at Sumter Airport. The passengers he was with had mostly changed planes halfway and only he had arrived here. After all, no one would go to a city within the Arctic Circle for no reason. The airport wasn¡¯t very big, and the surrounding buildings and facilities were even sparser, looking like a wasteland from afar. The only place open was a fried chicken shop. Chen Yu touched his stomach; after more than seven hours of ordeal on the plane, he was indeed hungry, and having some fried chicken seemed like a good idea. But just as he walked into the fried chicken shop, he saw a dozen tall men sitting around two round tables. On the tables in front of them were a large amount of automatic weapons, and there was a tense atmosphere loaded with hostility between the two groups. Seeing Chen Yu come in, surprise showed on their faces simultaneously. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay them any attention, simply walking to the counter by himself. ¡°Give me ten of your signature fried chickens, please!¡± The clerk, already terrified by the dozen or so large men sitting in the hall, stood there, nervous and unsure of what to do. Chen Yu knocked on the counter subconsciously, ¡°Can you understand what I am saying?¡± He had already switched to the local language, and language proficiency was a system-provided skill. No matter which language he spoke, it was supposed to be very authentic. The other party could not possibly misunderstand. Only then did the clerk react, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I think you should find another place to eat¡­¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°At this late hour, only your place is open. Where else can I go? Hurry up and prepare ten fried chickens for me and I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± After that, Chen Yu directly turned around, found a table for one, and sat down, ignoring the dozen or so strong men sitting across from him. Less than five minutes later, the clerk had fried up five chickens and brought them over. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about anything else and just grabbed a chicken and started eating. Seeing Chen Yu like this, the strong men decided not to pay him any more attention. One of them suddenly slapped the table. ¡°The goods that arrived here earlier, besides you guys, who else has the ability to take them away in this place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best you hand over the stuff, otherwise none of you will leave here alive.¡± As one person spoke up, the rest stood up, and the weapons that had been laid out on the tables were now picked up by them. Chen Yu continued eating his fried chicken, seemingly unconcerned, and gestured to the clerk for something. ¡°Do you have anything to drink? Anything will do!¡± The clerk couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously and quickly poured two cups of cola and brought them over. But after putting down the cola, she pulled up a chair from the side and sat behind Chen Yu. Perhaps only by sitting there could the clerk feel a hint of safety. Just then, a rhythmical series of footsteps came from the entrance, followed by the figure of a strikingly dressed woman in a red robe walking in slowly. Chen Yu was startled. The person walking in turned out to be Jin Lingsu. ¡°Chen Yu, it really is you! Suzhou City said they were sending a Portrait Artist over, and I guessed it must be you.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°So you¡¯re here on a mission as well?¡± Jin Lingsu nodded, ¡°Is that not allowed? As a woman, I don¡¯t want to drift around forever. I need to find some support.¡± Chen Yu shrugged his shoulders and didn¡¯t say much else, just handed over a piece of fried chicken. At this moment, the dozen or so strong men next to them were already arguing noisily, and it seemed like a fight was about to break out, but Chen Yu¡¯s corner seemed like another world compared to theirs. He and Jin Lingsu were old acquaintances; it wasn¡¯t easy to meet up here, and they had to catch up on a few things. ¡°So noisy!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly put down the fried chicken, ¡°How can you eat with all this noise?¡± Chen Yu looked at the strong men disdainfully, ¡°They make their noise, I eat my food, the two don¡¯t relate.¡± Jin Lingsu wiped her hands, then drew two spikes from her thigh-high boots. ¡°I don¡¯t have your patience.¡± No sooner had she spoken, than she began to swing the spikes in her hands, instantly killing two of the strong men. The others were stunned for a moment, almost simultaneously pointing their weapons at Jin Lingsu. But in Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes, they were too slow. With a quick twirl of the spikes in her hands, half of the men were impaled through their throats, and the other half had their tendons sliced, screaming in agony. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169 - 169: Purple Pockmarks Chapter 169 ¨C 169: Purple Pockmarks Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. His senses had always been acute, especially his sense of smell. Now, Jin Lingsu had made the place reek of blood, completely ruining his desire to eat. With a helpless sigh, Chen Yu could only turn his head to the side, doing his best to ignore the gruesome scene. After dealing with those guys, Jin Lingsu casually shook the fresh blood off her hands and sat down in front of Chen Yu as if nothing had happened, picking up the fried chicken she was eating before. The clerk who had hidden behind Chen Yu involuntarily stepped back, fear evident in his eyes. It seemed he had been frightened by Jin Lingsu¡¯s madness earlier. Soon after, several more figures entered the fried chicken shop. These people walked straight past the bodies scattered throughout the store and up to the counter. ¡°Get out all the fried chicken you have¡ªwe¡¯re starving!¡± The clerk swallowed nervously and, not daring to say much, hurried back to the kitchen to busy himself. The group that had just come in totaled four individuals, one woman and three men, all with foreign faces. After they gave their orders to the clerk, they made themselves comfortable next to Chen Yu. These people, like Chen Yu, all had a golden ribbon tied around the bend of their left arms, the secret signal for their operation. No sooner had the four sat down than they took out a small notebook and placed it on the table. Without saying much, Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu did the same. After the six of them had confirmed each other¡¯s information, they communicated with a series of hand gestures. Only after completely verifying each other¡¯s identities did the vigilance in their eyes finally dissolve. ¡°Mr. Chen, it really is you!¡± The sole woman among the four suddenly grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°I am from the William family, my name is Katherine, and this is my brother, Ka Jinwen!¡± Ka Jinwen also respectfully rose to his feet and held out his palm to Chen Yu. After all, Chen Yu was the lifesaver of the William family, and all members of the William family would treat him as if he were their own family head. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected to encounter members of the William family here. He made a symbolic response and then gestured that his hands were greasy, and he couldn¡¯t shake hands. Ka Jinwen didn¡¯t say much more but simply pulled his stool a bit closer to Chen Yu. The remaining two seemed to have a strong aversion to Katherine and Ka Jinwen, having kept their distance from them since they entered the door, and now they showed a hint of disdain toward Chen Yu. One of them took out a backpack and removed six wrist-mounted devices from inside, distributing them. ¡°Although Angluna is a lawless land, the inspections around its borders are extremely strict, and outsiders cannot enter at will, so we must enter in batches according to our previously prepared identities.¡± ¡°Not only can this device be used for communication, but it can also record our respective locations. Do not damage it before we regroup.¡± The six people immediately set the coordinates and timing on their devices while also establishing public and private communication channels. After these arrangements were made, those two left directly, showing little interest in the fried chicken here. Katherine curled her lip, a hint of anger in her eyes. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why the World United Organization would send these two. They¡¯re notoriously irresponsible.¡± Ka Jinwen sighed, ¡°The capture operation this time is funded by their families. There are some things we shouldn¡¯t take so seriously; we just need to do our part.¡± Chen Yu had no interest in dealing with those matters. According to the rules, his sole purpose for being here was to act as an accompanying artist. He wouldn¡¯t foolishly risk his life unless it was absolutely necessary. The four of them left the fried chicken shop and did not part ways, but instead boarded a modified armored vehicle parked by the roadside. Although regulations required them to enter Angluna separately, the method of entry was not important as long as they could get in. Besides, the four of them could be considered part of the same group, and it was useful to coordinate with each other when necessary. Moreover, now that Ka Jinwen and Katherine William had encountered Chen Yu here, they had to prioritize following William family¡¯s orders to ensure Chen Yu¡¯s safety. Even under the best conditions, the trip from Sumger to Angluna would take at least five hours. Plus, since they had all just arrived and had been traveling a long distance, they would need to find a place to rest first. Under Ka Jinwen¡¯s lead, the group quickly arrived at a village. ¡°This place is part of the private property of William¡¯s family. The deep-sea fish caught here are sent directly to the William estate every year,¡± Katherine excitedly explained to Chen Yu as she led him to a wooden cabin. ¡°Mr. Chen, please rest here for now, and we¡¯ll plan in detail how to enter Angluna tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu managed a weak smile and then fell straight to sleep. At twelve noon the next day, Chen Yu emerged from the wooden cabin, fully refreshed. At the entrance of the village, four snowmobiles had been arranged early, with the necessary supplies for each person. However, the whole village seemed desolate, and the only person standing next to the snowmobiles was Jin Lingsu. ¡°Where did those two siblings go?¡± Jin Lingsu instinctively adjusted the protective face shield she was wearing, then handed one to Chen Yu. ¡°We miscalculated on arrival. The village has been infected by a contagious disease, and most of the villagers are ill. This morning, Katherine also had a lot of purple pustules on her face.¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re purple?¡± Jin Lingsu gestured towards a nearby cabin, ¡°You can see for yourself.¡± Chen Yu put on the face shield and went to knock on the door of the cabin. Ka Jinwen carefully cracked the door open, and upon confirming that Chen Yu was wearing a face shield, he opened the door confidently. ¡°Mr. Chen, my sister has caught the disease, I¡¯m afraid our plan will have to be¡­¡± Before Ka Jinwen could finish, Chen Yu interrupted him, then walked over to the bed, taking Katherine¡¯s pulse. ¡°Dead fish erythema, a type of eczema caused by low-temperature injury. It¡¯s not really a contagious disease,¡± Chen Yu said as he swiftly prescribed a treatment, handing it to Ka Jinwen. ¡°These ingredients should be found nearby. Go and have a look!¡± Taking the prescription, Ka Jinwen hurried out the door. Jin Lingsu also hastily entered the cabin at that moment, ¡°Can you cure this disease?¡± Chen Yu heated a needle in the fireplace until it was red-hot and then pricked Katherine¡¯s wrist with it. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve encountered this disease. Let¡¯s give it a try!¡± Jin Lingsu quickly grabbed a basin from beside and placed it next to the bed to collect blood. ¡°Do you need me to do anything?¡± Chen Yu breathed out softly, ¡°Help me take stock of how many people in the village are infected, and also collect some blood samples from those who are not infected.¡± Chapter 170 - Chapter 170 - 170: Radioactive Materials Chapter 170 ¨C 170: Radioactive Materials Jin Lingsu was decisive in his actions, and before long, he returned with several sealed syringes, each containing a sample. ¡°I¡¯ve taken samples from those without infection and those with differently colored facial pockmarks.¡± Chen Yu was very satisfied and nodded in approval. This disease was highly contagious and could mutate during the process of infection. Now that Jin Lingsu had brought back enough samples, Chen Yu could systematically study them and incidentally cure all the people in the village. As Katherine¡¯s blood was drawn out in large amounts, her complexion improved a great deal, and the color of the pockmarks on her face gradually faded. About half an hour later, Ka Jinwen rushed into the house with a large bag in a hurry. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve found everything, what should we do next?¡± Chen Yu looked up at the transparent bag in Ka Jinwen¡¯s hands. It contained various deep-sea fish that had just been fished out of the ice holes. ¡°Light a big fire to dry the skins and bones of these fish and then grind them into powder!¡± Ka Jinwen immediately went out with the bag to slaughter the fish. Chen Yu then placed the blood drawn from Katherine alongside the other samples. However, as he prepared to study them, he suddenly encountered a difficulty. There were no relevant instruments in this place, and the extremely cold weather made it impossible to differentiate the samples, even using primitive methods. [System prompt: The Host can spend five hundred thousand points, and the rest will be handled by the system.] The look of concern on Chen Yu¡¯s face instantly relaxed, but as he thought about spending five hundred thousand points, he felt somewhat displeased. Given the current situation, he had no other option but to confirm the expenditure. [Analysis in progress, Host¡¯s current points remaining: two million six hundred seventy-six thousand six hundred.] [This is a fungal mutation, having undergone six mutations, its self-division has entered the degeneration period.] Shortly after, a great number of treatment plans appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, designed to eradicate the fungi from each subsequent mutation. It wasn¡¯t long before Ka Jinwen had dried the fish skin and bones, ground them to powder, and brought them in, contained in separate containers. Without hesitation, Chen Yu immediately started to concoct the medicine. In truth, this condition could be cured through a normal eczema treatment plan, but it would take too much time. Moreover, in this frozen and snowy environment, the needed medicinal herbs for treatment could not be found, so they had to rely on substances obtained from local organisms. After administering medicine to Katherine, Chen Yu also successively produced the corresponding antidotes for other mutations and had Jin Lingsu and Ka Jinwen distribute them to the patients in the village. As for those who had not fallen ill, Chen Yu had also produced the appropriate medication. In fact, the system had already analyzed that these people¡¯s bodies were not free of mutations; the fungi were simply in their final degenerative phase, with their eventual spores lying dormant within the human body. As soon as these people left this environment, they would immediately fall ill. By three in the afternoon, all those who had taken the herbal medicine saw their pockmarks completely disappear, and Katherine woke up. ¡°Mr. Chen, no matter what, we have to go. Angluna will close all entrances after seven o¡¯clock tonight, and if we miss the time to meet up with the others, the entire plan might fall through,¡± said Ka Jinwen, his face full of worry while his eyes occasionally glanced at Katherine on the bed. He knew that this time, it might not be possible to take his sister with him. Chen Yu, however, was propping up his chin, deep in thought. ¡°Our ultimate goal is to capture the person, so it seems unimportant when we go in.¡± Ka Jinwen, upon hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. This is an order from a world-level organization. If they don¡¯t reach their destination within the set time, any adverse consequences of the mission would be their responsibility. Chen Yu apparently didn¡¯t want to worry about that much; after all, he could not just focus on the mission and ignore whether his team members lived or died. Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from outside the door. Jin Lingsu hurried in, a burn-like wound on her arm. ¡°There¡¯s a group of fully armed people outside, rushing this way at full speed. They seem to be from Angluna.¡± Ka Jinwen¡¯s pupils dilated instantly, ¡°Could they have discovered our whereabouts?¡± Jin Lingsu shook her head, ¡°Unlikely! Among their convoy, there¡¯s a vehicle with some civilians.¡± As she spoke, a dozen trucks along with armored vehicles entered the village together. These people were savages, knocking on doors house by house as soon as they arrived, hauling villagers onto the trucks. Chen Yu frowned as well, standing at the door to look outside. Over seventy percent of the villagers had just been treated for their illnesses and were currently in a weakened state, without any strength to resist. ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan!¡± Chen Yu suddenly blurted out and ran outside. ¡°Wait a second, these people had contagious diseases and were just treated. The viruses have not been completely cleared from their bodies, and if you get too close to them like this, you might get infected too.¡± This shout startled everyone. A bearded man jumped down from the armored vehicle and walked straight up to Chen Yu. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu spread his palms open, bringing the blood sample he had collected earlier to the bearded man. ¡°This contains blood samples I previously extracted from them. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can have someone check it.¡± The bearded man hesitated, glancing instinctively at the sickly villagers. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re the one who cured them?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Exactly! Plus, I see some of your people behind you appear to have contracted the same disease. If I¡¯m not mistaken, many of your men have developed odd little nodules.¡± The bearded man¡¯s eyes widened; he had come out to capture people because many in the camp had caught a strange disease that had stopped most of the miners from working. Because of this, he had already consulted quite a few doctors. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that the doctors had an inexplicable fear of the disease and wanted to flee the camp as soon as they arrived. The bearded man suddenly became agitated, rushing to a nearby vehicle to pull one of his subordinates down, and rolled up his sleeve. This person¡¯s arm was covered in yellow pustules, some of which had burst, emitting a foul stench. [System prompt: These are malignant mutations formed by fungal spores stimulated by radioactive materials, difficult to treat unless the radioactive substance can be removed.] Chen Yu was taken aback. Many of the pieces of knowledge in his mind had already reached the limits of human understanding, including knowledge about radioactive substances. To remove such substances was practically harder than ascending to heaven. Chapter 171 - Chapter 171 - 171: Upgrading the Version Chapter 171 ¨C 171: Upgrading the Version ¡°Kid, can you cure this disease?¡± The bearded man rudely pushed Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. It was only then that Chen Yu reacted, realizing he had more than a dozen different plans in his mind to simply remove such fungal substances. But to extract the radioactive material from this guy¡¯s body, he couldn¡¯t do it in a short time. ¡°I can cure it, but I need time!¡± ¡°Good!¡± The bearded man excitedly slapped Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°In that case, come with us!¡± Afterwards, the bearded man ordered all the villagers they had just captured to be released, taking only Chen Yu back to Angluna. After all, he wasn¡¯t running a shelter. Since these people were all sick, there was no need for him to burden himself further. It wasn¡¯t until the caravan had left that Ka Jinwen and Jin Lingsu crawled out of the wooden hut. ¡°What do we do now? Mr. Chen¡¯s trip looks more dangerous than lucky.¡± Ka Jinwen immediately started pacing anxiously. If anything happened to Chen Yu, William¡¯s family wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook. Jin Lingsu, however, appeared quite calm. Knowing Chen Yu as she did, she suspected that all this was within Chen Yu¡¯s control. Sure enough, a message arrived on the device on both their wrists at the same time. ¡°Wait for my signal, we will coordinate from inside and out!¡± They both breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, Chen Yu was now in Angluna, and their plan had gotten off to a good start. Long ago, Angluna was one of the few small cities within the Arctic Circle. Since the discovery of rare minerals, the economic value of the place had risen. Even with its harsh environment, the small city was gradually expanding. Eventually, a power established its own nation here and developed independently. When the caravan entered Angluna, Chen Yu felt as if he had suddenly entered a world of eternal night. The aurora on the horizon constantly swayed, its radiance bringing brilliant illumination to the night. Chen Yu subconsciously calculated in his mind that this latitude was in a state of polar night. Although he came here on a mission, witnessing such a magical sight made the journey worthwhile. The vehicle soon stopped at a campsite, where the previous bearded man dragged Chen Yu into the camp. ¡°Everyone here has the same illness. As long as you can cure them, you can ask us for anything.¡± Chen Yu looked around and saw at least two thousand people, all of them young and able-bodied. Even with rare minerals, such a small Arctic city couldn¡¯t possibly gather so many people at once. And these were just the sick ones. Based on the contagion rate of the disease, the working force still at work must be at least ten thousand strong. Just then, a tall figure suddenly entered the camp. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Why are there more and more people? What happened to the doctors we brought in before?¡± The bearded man hurried forward, ¡°Mr. Bell, the previous doctors were incompetent and have been executed. We just found another one, and he should be able to¡­¡± Bell snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three more days. If these patients aren¡¯t cured by then, dispose of them all. Don¡¯t let them interfere with the progress of the mine.¡± With that, Bell turned and left. The bearded man nodded repeatedly and then rushed to Chen Yu. ¡°Listen, you¡¯ve only got three days to cure this, or you¡¯ll go to hell with these guys if you can¡¯t,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded his head, his gaze drifting occasionally towards the departing figure of Bell. He was certain that this Bell was the target they were meant to capture this time. Only after the bearded man and his men left did Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. He rushed to a patient, lifting their blanket. He found that the patient¡¯s body was covered with extensive ulceration. Although the fungi could destroy the human immune system and reproduce spores on the skin¡¯s surface, they would never cause such severe ulceration. There was only one explanation for such a condition, these people must have been in a high-radiation environment for a long time. [Detection of host in a low-level radiation environment, do you require protection?] Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, he hadn¡¯t expected the system to provide him with radiation protection. ¡°Of course I need it!¡± [Magnetic Field Induction Protection initiating, one million points will be deducted from the host¡¯s remaining points] [Current remaining points are one million six hundred seventy-six thousand six hundred] ¡°Damn, one million!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. Although the upgraded system certainly had more practical uses, this seemed to be too much of a scam; he had painstakingly accumulated those points, only managing to earn a couple hundred million a day. Before he could feel the pain of his loss, the system¡¯s notification sounded again. [The protection can only last for five hours, afterwards, if continuation is desired, points will be deducted continuously at the rate of one million points per five hours] Chen Yu felt like cursing. Although his physical condition had reached the human limit, he wasn¡¯t able to perfectly resist radiation. Moreover, he had no idea how long he would need to stay in this environment. Didn¡¯t that mean he had to spend a million points every five hours? [System notification, if the host spends one billion points to upgrade the system to version 3.0, usage of Magnetic Field Induction Protection will be free, and the system can also help the host to treat all the patients here] Chen Yu could no longer bear it, now he was in pain just spending one million points, where would he get one billion points to upgrade the system? Moreover, after spending ten million to upgrade the system last time, it had developed some self-awareness. If he really upgraded it to version 3.0, who knew what would happen? ¡°Doctor, please save me, I have a wife, children! And elderly parents to care for at home.¡± The patient from before suddenly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, his eyes full of pleading. The other patients also struggled to sit up, looking at Chen Yu with hopeful eyes. They were just ordinary people who wanted to leave this place. Chen Yu was immediately moved by compassion, but he didn¡¯t have a billion points to upgrade the system. [Congratulations to the host for completing one day of business, today¡¯s expenditure exceeded profits, no points accrued.] Chen Yu¡¯s face was filled with frustration; it looked like the store was running out of raw materials, and Tong Ya had, as usual, ordered the next week¡¯s materials in one go. He had thought that after closing for the day, he would have some extra points left over, but he had forgotten about this matter. However, before he left, he had entrusted the store¡¯s account to Tong Ya, and with her abilities, he had nothing to worry about in terms of the business. But as he looked at the people lying before him, gasping for breath, he suddenly felt at a loss. Chapter 172 - Chapter 172 - 172: Bite Back Chapter 172 ¨C 172: Bite Back Chen Yu sighed helplessly and could only instruct the person beside him to start preparing the medicinal materials. No matter what, the patients¡¯ wounds had to be addressed before considering radiation, and once they had dealt with the issues here, the relevant departments would naturally take care of the radiation for them. The resources of Angluna were much more abundant than other Arctic towns, not only could they find a variety of deep-sea fish, but also the herbs Chen Yu needed. After a night of busyness, by the next morning, nearly all the patients¡¯ injuries began to subside. Some with milder symptoms could even walk on the ground. However, Chen Yu knew this was only temporary. His medicine had only eradicated the fungal spores within the patients¡¯ bodies, and could not remove the radiation from them. Although the fungi caused large areas of ulceration on their bodies, at least they blocked some of the radiation from the outside. But now that the fungi were completely killed, the radiation was pervading their organs with impunity. In the long term, their bodies would experience varying degrees of failure, and even cancerous changes. When the bearded man arrived at the camp, he grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders excitedly and kept shaking him. ¡°I never expected someone as young as you to be such an excellent doctor, curing diseases that many doctors shy away from.¡± Chen Yu managed to squeeze out a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve just studied these diseases before, and there should be a source of the fungus here. It must be found in the shortest time possible, otherwise the sickness will recur.¡± The bearded man nodded repeatedly, ¡°We¡¯ve already found the source. Come with me.¡± With that, the bearded man took Chen Yu to a nearby mine. At that moment, Bell was dressed in a protective suit and a mask, standing on a railing and watching the progress below. When Chen Yu entered, he was also given a protective suit symbolically. [System Warning: Radiation levels at this location are dangerously above standards. Host credits have been depleted, triggering emergency self-rescue provisions.] Chen Yu frowned, for since last night, the electromagnetic induction shield had been up for thirteen hours. After the system cleared his credits, he could maintain the shield for less than half an hour more. But that emergency self-rescue provision was somewhat puzzling to Chen Yu. When he bound the system, he hadn¡¯t seen any related provisions. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to think about that now. All the workers in the mine were working without any protective measures, some of them covered only with a tattered cloth. From a distance, these people looked like walking corpses, some of them already covered with numerous pustules, on the verge of ulceration. Bell slowly got up and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°Please, in the shortest time, cure these workers too. I will be very grateful.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded and walked down. Only then did he realize that the workers were carrying plutonium ore! This ore, a key material for making dirty bombs, had a radiation index even higher than uranium ore. Most importantly, the quantity of this ore was massive, enough to make thousands of dirty bombs if all transported out. Just at that moment, the device on Chen Yu¡¯s wrist emitted a slight vibration. He quickly ducked out of sight of Bell and the overseers, under the pretext of checking on a patient. The situation has been briefly described above, as well as the mission plan. The two people who had separated from them earlier did not enter Angluna, but instead met up with Jin Lingsu and the others in a cave on the outskirts of the small town. Now they have agreed to use high explosives to blow up the entire Angluna, while at the same time killing Bell. They want Chen Yu to send out all the arrangements inside the city. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brow, thinking this was simply reckless. Not to mention that there were so many innocent people in the town, just the explosion of the plutonium ore would create radiation pollution that could contaminate the environment for thousands of kilometers. It¡¯s likely that not even they would be able to escape safely. Besides, wasn¡¯t the previous mission to capture Bell alive? Why the sudden change of plans? Chen Yu quickly sent out a brief report on the situation inside the city. It was at that moment that Bell suddenly appeared beside him. ¡°Doctor Chen, these illnesses should not be difficult for you, right? Could you give me a precise time?¡± Chen Yu was startled; Bell had managed to approach him silently, and even the system hadn¡¯t given any alerts. ¡°The workers here are in extremely poor health, and without adequate nutrition, I will need at least three days to heal them.¡± Bell shook his head: ¡°I can¡¯t wait that long, I can only give you one day at most!¡± After speaking, Bell left. As he turned away, a strange smile flashed across the corner of his mouth. On the outskirts of Angluna, Jin Lingsu and Ka Jinwen, dressed in snow gear, were observing the situation in Angluna from atop a small hill. ¡°Mr. Chen said that there is a large amount of plutonium stored here, at least ten thousand tons. Based on this yield, if we blow this place up, the entire Arctic could be affected.¡± Jin Lingsu seemed somewhat distracted: ¡°I always feel that those two guys are a bit off. Although the orders were passed on to us through them, this command is really strange.¡± Ka Jinwen turned over and put a piece of beef jerky into his mouth. ¡°I find it strange too, but those two are ultimately the organizers of this operation, and we can only comply with their orders.¡± Jin Lingsu also opened a can: ¡°Where do you think they went when they separated from us earlier? It seems that besides these small towns, there are no other places to stay nearby.¡± While they were talking, a snowmobile suddenly raced towards them, stopping nearby. ¡°It¡¯s bad; I overheard the conversation between Holm and Nailos. They have been in cahoots with Bell for a long time.¡± Katherine seemed anxious, walking while pulling out a recording pen from her body. The conversation of those two guys had already been recorded by her. After listening, the expressions on Jin Lingsu and Ka Jinwen¡¯s faces became somewhat stunned. It seemed as though those two were planning to broker some kind of deal with Bell here, and now it appeared they intended to buy the plutonium ore. Just then, an armored snow vehicle came racing in fast. Holm and Nailos, armed with weapons, jumped down and slowly walked toward the trio. ¡°We received intelligence that you three, along with Chen Yu, might be colluding with Bell. Now we must follow the orders from above and kill you.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Katherine immediately reached for the automatic weapon on her waist: ¡°The ones colluding with Bell are clearly you.¡± Chapter 173 - Chapter 173 - 173 Emergency Self-Rescue Chapter 173 ¨C 173 Emergency Self-Rescue Holm¡¯s face was grim as he pointed his weapon directly at Katherine. ¡°What a joke, if we were in cahoots with Bell, we would have strutted into the city by now.¡± Nailos beside him immediately removed the device from his wrist. ¡°All the data on this has been altered by you, and erroneous commands have been issued, you¡¯re now regarded as rebels!¡± Jin Lingsu, gritting her teeth, said, ¡°Don¡¯t just yell there, calling us rebels, show us the evidence.¡± Holm suddenly burst into laughter, ¡°Chen Yu entering Angleruna so smoothly is the evidence.¡± Just then, a loud rumbling sound suddenly rose from not far away, and shortly after, more than a dozen vehicles appeared on the horizon. Jin Lingsu and her two companions immediately became tense, knowing that if that convoy surrounded them, they would be completely trapped. However, Ka Jinwen remained extraordinarily calm. He tapped on the device on his wrist quickly twice, and then a shockwave spread out. A crisp shattering noise instantly erupted, Holm and Nailos¡¯s wrist devices abruptly exploded. Both men¡¯s arms were turned into mangled flesh, and the weapons in their hands dropped to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Jin Lingsu threw out the golden spike at her waist, piercing through both men¡¯s throats. ¡°Run!¡± Jin Lingsu shouted and jumped onto the snowmobile beside her. Katherine and Ka Jinwen followed close behind her. Just as the convoy was about to encircle them, the three of them broke out of the encirclement and headed straight for a small town further north. This small town was even more remote than Angleruna, and the weather was even harsher. But now, other than this place, they had nowhere else to go. The world-class organization issuing missions had already branded them as rebels, and all equipment within the Arctic Circle was unusable to them. Now, only this small town had all the equipment they needed, and it was also the secret base left by William¡¯s family in the Arctic. At the Angleruna mine, Chen Yu set up five large pots on the outskirts of the mine shaft and meticulously cooked the deep-sea fish and herbs he had collected earlier. Before long, the rich aroma began to waft through the entire minefield, and the miners inside the tunnels couldn¡¯t help but climb out. Chen Yu directly selected five foremen and asked them to help distribute the medicinal soup. [System prompt: Magnetic Field Induction Protection has ended, entering emergency self-rescue mode.] [The system enters a semi-upgrade state, upgraded to version 2.2, point calculation enters a semi-conversion state.] [Congratulations to the host, you have earned a thousand points.] [Congratulations to the host, you have earned one thousand and fifty points.] ¡­ The continuous point accumulation prompt tones baffled Chen Yu for a moment. Where were these points coming from, were the restaurant¡¯s earnings being converted into real-time points? But on second thought, he found it suspicious. He knew his own restaurant well; even if business was good, the income couldn¡¯t come in this fast. Moreover, he had just paid for the raw materials for the upcoming week. Whether or not he could profit today was still uncertain, so how could the points be accumulating continuously? In less than a minute, the cumulatively added points had nearly reached two million, and the number was still increasing. [Magnetic Field Induction Protection continues to activate] Chen Yu was utterly confused and kept asking the system in his mind, but he didn¡¯t receive any response. However, at this stall, he didn¡¯t have time to worry about that and could only think of a way to cure the patients here first. By 7:30 in the evening, all the patients had drunk their herbal soup, and their lesions gradually receded. When Bell witnessed this scene, his face lit up with added excitement. He went straight up to Chen Yu, grabbed his hand, and took him into the mine. ¡°Mr. Chen, look, this plutonium mine holds more reserves than any other place on Earth! Someone has already agreed to buy up all the reserves here at a price of ten million per ton! Roughly calculating, that¡¯s over a hundred billion,¡± Bell said. Chen Yu was slightly stunned, ¡°Mr. Bell, what do you mean by that?¡± Bell opened his arms wide, his face bursting into excitement as he looked at the ore in front of him. ¡°A wealth of a hundred billion can allow several generations to live a carefree luxurious life, don¡¯t you find it tempting, Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu let out a slight breath of turbid air, understanding that he had been exposed. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted by over a hundred billion, but Mr. Bell, are you willing to hand over this wealth to me?¡± ¡°Of course, I am!¡± Bell suddenly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders, ¡°There are many mines like this one all over the world, as long as I¡¯m willing, I can mine them at will. The only pity is that I lack a decent doctor.¡± Mining these deposits meant workers not only had to face radiation contamination but also various diseases. Once workers lost their ability to work due to illness, the mining progress would be delayed. Therefore, Bell needed a competent doctor to ensure the workers¡¯ progress. Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, ¡°You mean, you want me to join your team?¡± ¡°Exactly, how much money can you make working for those messy organizations? With me, billions, hundreds of billions, or even a trillion are within reach!¡± Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and scrutinized his surroundings; with his current physical condition, escaping wouldn¡¯t be difficult. But the problem was that he wasn¡¯t alone. Now that he had been discovered, the chances for Jin Lingsu and the others were very likely slim. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, due to expenses exceeding profits, no points are stacked] The system¡¯s prompt tone pulled Chen Yu¡¯s thoughts back. ¡°It sounds very tempting, but right now I¡¯m entirely at your mercy. Whether I can survive depends on your attitude, how can I know that you will give me the money?¡± Bell immediately became excited, interpreting Chen Yu¡¯s words as interest in his offer. He directly pulled out a world-wide bank draft from his body and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is a bank draft with a value of ten billion, cashable at any bank, and now it¡¯s yours.¡± Chen Yu was not shy; he took the bank draft straightforwardly. ¡°Since Mr. Bell is so generous, what reason do I have not to stay?¡± ¡°Good!¡± Bell clapped his hands in excitement, ¡°From now on, all the patients here are your responsibility. I need them to be able to work with full energy tomorrow morning!¡± Bell then motioned to his men, and they brought over a full set of protective gear. This protective suit utilized top-level current world technology, virtually capable of blocking all radiation. Although a small amount of radiation could still enter his body, it would allow him to manage without the system¡¯s Magnetic Field Induction Protection for a short time. Chen Yu took the protective suit and then crushed the device on his wrist and threw it on the ground. Chapter 174 - Chapter 174 - 174: Integration Superposition Chapter 174 ¨C 174: Integration Superposition Bell glanced at the shattered remnants and, without saying much, handed a wristwatch to Chen Yu from beside him. ¡°There¡¯s a listening device inside this watch. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust Mr. Chen, but everyone who has just joined us must go through a probation period. Please understand,¡± Bell explained. Chen Yu smiled and immediately put the watch on his wrist. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve joined you, shouldn¡¯t I have my own room? I¡¯ve been busy for so long, surely I deserve a good sleep,¡± Chen Yu said. Bell patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder and then ordered his subordinates to make it happen. Before long, Chen Yu was taken to a bunker room constructed with concrete. Moreover, the room was coated with a protective layer, which appeared to be specifically designed to block external radiation. Chen Yu, sitting on the bed, glanced at the watch on his wrist, his face filled with worry. The reason he smashed the equipment earlier was to prevent Bell from using it to harm Jin Lingsu and the others. And since this mission was highly confidential and Bell was aware of it, it proved that there must be a traitor among them. Sighing helplessly, Chen Yu lay back on the bed, pondering his next move. At that moment, a brilliant light shone through the protective glass. Chen Yu instinctively looked up, suddenly noticing that if the colors emanating from the aurora were carefully distinguished, there could be more than a dozen colors. As he marveled at the aurora, a crackling noise suddenly echoed in his mind. [The surveillance device has been shielded, the host may now disassemble and modify it.] Chen Yu immediately became excited and began to take apart the watch. With the mechanical knowledge in his mind, it was quite easy to modify a surveillance device. Before long, he had reversed the mechanisms within the watch. If he wished, he could now make Bell hear exactly what he wanted Bell to hear. Meanwhile, the system¡¯s notification sounds kept alternating in his mind. However, the accumulation of points was gradually slowing down. In the end, Chen Yu found that he had amassed nearly nineteen million points. This did not include the one million points he had spent in the past five hours. He kept scrolling through the prior notifications, trying to discern the reason behind the point accumulation. But besides displaying the amounts credited, the messages didn¡¯t contain any useful information. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly realized there were over ten thousand messages. The number of mine workers! Chen Yu grew excited. It looked like each person had contributed a thousand points to his total, which also seemed to include the villagers he had rescued before. Although the system still offered no response, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t think of any other explanation for the accumulation of points. After all, he hadn¡¯t done anything else during this period. Fortunately, these nearly twenty million points would be more than enough for the next few days. Now, the most urgent task was to make contact with Jin Lingsu outside as soon as possible. Just then, a sudden, violent explosion erupted from outside the door, followed by a chorus of agonizing screams. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he hurriedly rushed out. He saw several miners sprawled across the ground, already breathless, and nearby stood a man holding high explosives. This person also appeared to be a miner, only he had an ID badge from Bel¡¯s men dangling at his waist. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me the money you promised me? Give me the money quickly, or else I¡¯ll blow up this place.¡± Chen Yu frowned, feeling that Bel wasn¡¯t someone who kept his word. ¡°You bastard, what are you doing? Get down from there now!¡± Bel, weapon in hand, hurried out. If this place were to explode, the consequences would be unthinkable, and he couldn¡¯t let anyone behave recklessly here. However, seeing Bel emerge, the man became even more brazen, igniting a stick of high explosive and throwing it over. Bel swiftly picked up a metal net from the side and smashed it over, forcing the explosive into the corner of the wall. A loud explosion ensued, and the several-meter-thick concrete wall was blasted open with a gaping hole. Bel didn¡¯t give the man another chance to throw explosives; he pulled the trigger without hesitation. The subordinates also swarmed in, decisively ending the man¡¯s life. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t interested in their internal conflicts; his gaze fixated on the hole blasted into the concrete wall. Logically speaking, all the buildings here were mostly constructed of reinforced concrete, their toughness self-evident. But the fact that a hole so large could be made by explosives at this spot suggested that the material here was relatively soft, or the structure rather weak. If they could use this spot as a breakthrough, perhaps they could create a tunnel. Bel also glanced at the hole but didn¡¯t pay it much mind since the mining operation was nearing its end, and they would be able to evacuate in three days. There was no need to call people over to repair the breach in the wall for such a small hole. ¡°Notify everyone to increase the workload; we must mine out all the ore inside in the shortest time possible.¡± After receiving orders, the subordinates acted immediately, rounding up the miners who had just come off their shift to rest and driving them back into the mine. These were mostly patients that Chen Yu had just healed, still in a weak state, and putting them to work on heavy tasks now was akin to sending them to their deaths. Suddenly, there was significant unrest among the workers, but Bel¡¯s men quickly suppressed it with violence. Chen Yu simply watched everything silently, without saying much. Just as he was about to return to his room, Bel suddenly approached him. ¡°Mr. Chen, you seem worried. What are you concerned about?¡± Chen Yu stared in the direction of the mine: ¡°The radiation over there is too strong, and the workers have no protective suits. Even if I¡¯ve cured their illnesses, their bodies will still be weak to varying extents, and they might even drop dead!¡± Bel chuckled, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m aware, but the protective suits that can shield against radiation are extremely difficult to manufacture, and the materials for making them are strictly controlled by major organizations around the world. It¡¯s impossible for me to procure tens of thousands of these suits just for the workers.¡± Chen Yu frowned, feeling the weight of over ten thousand lives on his shoulders. Despite having the system, he was after all an ordinary person and couldn¡¯t remain unmoved. Moreover, he had earned more than twenty million points treating these people¡¯s illnesses; if he could save them, perhaps he could accumulate even more points. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Chen? Are you feeling sympathy for these workers?¡± Chapter 175 - Chapter 175 - 175: Abnormal Magnetic Field Chapter 175 ¨C 175: Abnormal Magnetic Field Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and gently tapped his wristwatch. ¡°After all, I am a doctor, and I cured their illnesses before. Is it wrong for me to feel sympathy for them?¡± Bel burst into hearty laughter, ¡°Dr. Chen truly is a good doctor! But you are unaware that many of these people are from tribes within the Arctic Circle, frankly speaking, just a bunch of savages. Their lives aren¡¯t important.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more; in Bel¡¯s eyes, all those working here were no more than ants. If these people died, he could simply gather another group in the next place. [System alert: Unidentified magnetic field disturbance detected. Please advise Host to avoid.] Following the system prompt, a map of Angluna appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, alongside an evacuation route marked with a red line. ¡°Mr. Bel, with all that commotion just now, I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯d like to take a walk around, if that¡¯s alright?¡± Bel hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Chen Yu¡¯s wristwatch. ¡°Of course, you may. I only hope Dr. Chen doesn¡¯t wander too far; don¡¯t blame me if an accident occurs.¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly and then followed the evacuation route provided by the system, pretending to stroll carelessly. The next moment, a thunderous roar erupted suddenly. The earth, like a raging giant beast, suddenly cracked open, dragging down buildings nearby. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and he instinctively crouched in a corner. He had not expected the system to be able to predict earthquakes now. Angluna was at the epicenter of the earthquake, with nearly half of its buildings already destroyed, and even the nearby mines had collapsed by half. Luckily, several layers of fortifications had been erected around the small town, so despite the chaos, none of the workers could escape. Bel proved to be a cunning leader; he quickly gathered his men, controlled the workers, and had them thrown back into work. Even so, Angluna still plunged into chaos, and many who did not obey Bel were thinking of fleeing. Chen took the opportunity to slip away and found a blast hole that had been created earlier. Due to the earthquake, a large crack had appeared under the hole. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care; he quickly wrapped his hands with protective materials and fiercely punched through. His physical strength was formidable, and the force he unleashed with his punch was terrifying, blowing open a large hole where the blast had occurred. He pounded several more times until there was room enough for a person to pass through, then moved the surrounding debris and covered the outskirts with sand and dirt. After completing these tasks, Chen Yu cleared the surrounding traces and immediately returned to his room. The next morning, Bel and several of his lieutenants put on protective suits and patrolled around. The earthquake had caused a widespread collapse in the little mining tunnels, where some remaining ores had collided and exploded, releasing a large amount of radiation. Dozens of miners died on the spot, and those in charge of watching them also suffered severe radiation, with massive organ failure. Chen Yu was also called over immediately. When he saw the scene before him, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°` Radiation has already spread extensively. If it continues like this, I¡¯m afraid everyone will die here. Unless the system is immediately upgraded to version 3.0 to eliminate all radiation. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you think we can continue to stay here?¡± Bell suddenly asked Chen Yu with a strange look in his eyes. ¡°Even if I say no, I¡¯m afraid Mr. Bell would still force these workers to load all the ore onto the trucks before he¡¯s willing to leave.¡± Bell burst out laughing, ¡°This is all money. I won¡¯t give it up easily! I came to see Mr. Chen precisely to ask if it¡¯s possible to remove the radiation from these people to the greatest extent?¡± Chen Yu frowned deeply, ¡°To remove radiation, you need specialized equipment. It doesn¡¯t seem like Anglen has this stuff.¡± Bell¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°There is equipment, in a base not far from here. I hope Mr. Chen will accompany me there.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded his head. After that, Bell formed a convoy right away and took Chen Yu out of Anglen. But as soon as the convoy had left the city, Chen Yu¡¯s mind suddenly flashed with a thermal imaging map. In the snow not far away, there were three figures, which, according to the system¡¯s thermal imaging analysis, were Jin Lingsu and her two companions. Chen Yu became excited, ¡°Wait a minute, I need to pee!¡± Bell was somewhat helpless but had to order the convoy to stop. After all, there were still four hours to the destination, and even people with strong physiques might not be able to hold it in. As soon as Chen Yu got off the vehicle, he ran a few steps in the direction of Jin Lingsu, then placed a hand on his chest, making continuous hand signals. This was a set of covert signals Jin Lingsu had used before in Chen Yu¡¯s presence. Later on, Chen Yu had memorized them all. After rapidly repeating all the messages three times with hand signals, Chen Yu headed back to the vehicle. Only after the convoy had left did Jin Lingsu and her companions all let out a sigh of relief. ¡°What did Mr. Chen mean just now? I¡¯ve never seen those hand signals before!¡± Katherine said, holding binoculars and looking puzzled. Jin Lingsu cried out in alarm, ¡°Anglen has been covered in radiation. If we want to go in there, we must have protective suits! Moreover, Chen Yu has opened a channel for us there.¡± Ka Jinwen also widened his eyes, ¡°Mr. Chen is really amazing, to be able to open a channel under those circumstances.¡± Jin Lingsu rolled over, ¡°After all, he is the doctor invited by Bell. It¡¯s quite normal for him to have some freedom. Besides, with his ability, opening a channel is no big deal! If he had some time, he might even be able to bring Bell out alive.¡± Ka Jinwen and Katherine had never met Chen Yu and had only heard of his medical skills. Hearing Jin Lingsu¡¯s evaluation of Chen Yu, they also grew more respectful in their hearts. Katherine took out a device and pressed a few buttons, ¡°There should still be a few protective suits in the safety house of William¡¯s family. Their protective level against radiation should be over eighty percent.¡± Jin Lingsu exhaled a breath of turbid air, ¡°Then let¡¯s take action quickly. Chen Yu has already given us a good start; we can¡¯t fall behind.¡± In the northern coastal area, there is a very strange structure that looks like a fortress from afar. On closer inspection, everything here is built against the mountainside, and there are passages connecting the structures. Moreover, all the constructions are made of reinforced concrete, and even high-performance, explosive TNT couldn¡¯t destroy them. ¡°` Chapter 176 - Chapter 176 - 176: Earning Points Chapter 176 ¨C 176: Earning Points The fortress here was essentially in a state of abandonment, with only part of the structure being usable, the rest somewhat dilapidated from years of neglect. In a sealed room, there was a large quantity of weapons and protective suits, along with many parts for large instruments. As soon as Chen Yu saw these parts, he knew they were for a radiation elimination device. However, these parts were missing some core components, so even if assembled, they wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°Mr. Chen, these parts have been sitting here for about twenty years, could you help see if you can put them together?¡± Chen Yu stepped forward and flipped through the parts, ¡°I can put them together, but they won¡¯t work, some core components are missing.¡± Bell snapped his fingers, and then two of his subordinates carried over a large box, inside of which were the core components for these instruments. ¡°Since Mr. Chen can assemble them, please start as soon as possible, we don¡¯t have much time to waste here!¡± Chen Yu felt a slight twinge of frustration, realizing he¡¯d been manipulated by Bell once again. One had to admit, this guy was quite cunning, no wonder he had caught the attention of a world-class organization. He didn¡¯t say much more, just moved a chair over and started working on the machine by himself. [Congratulations host, you have gained five hundred points.] [Congratulations host, you have gained one hundred twenty points.] [Congratulations host, you have gained three hundred points.] ¡­ One after another, the notification sounds rose again, baffling Chen Yu. Where were these points coming from out of the blue? Could he be earning points from assembling the machine? Subconsciously checking the time, he suddenly realized. It seemed to be the time for neighbors to come to his house for medicinal cuisine. Apparently, as long as he treated people, he could accumulate points. And the amount of points depended on the severity of the illness. With this in mind, Chen Yu suddenly had an idea, Anglers now had over ten thousand workers suffering from malnutrition and various health issues. If he could continuously treat these people, maybe he could rack up a substantial amount of points. Chen Yu became excited at once, and after he quickly assembled the machine, he returned to Anglers with Bell. On the way back, thermal images occasionally flashed across his mind, but he didn¡¯t see Jin Lingsu and the other two again on the journey. It seemed they must have gone back to prepare. The entire Anglers looked like a walled ruin. However, Bell didn¡¯t have the time or energy for repairs and just did some basic fixes in necessary areas, then continued to make the workers labor. After directing a few people to place the machine in the center of the city, Chen Yu went straight to the miners¡¯ camp. During previous treatments, he had already examined the health of these patients. After reassessing the situation, he directly set up twenty large pots next to the radiation removal machine. Bell frowned, ¡°Mr. Chen, what are you doing? We have our own chefs, are you planning to take over their jobs?¡± Chen Yu lifted a bucket of cooking oil and poured it into the pot. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it, I¡¯ve noticed that your men and the workers here are not in good health, even with the machines eliminating most of the radiation.¡± ¡°Their bodies won¡¯t recover quickly, but if they eat my medicinal cuisine, I can assure you their conditions will improve in the shortest amount of time.¡± Bell immediately grew excited, ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, this is the legendary Eastern food therapy, right? Mr. Chen, why didn¡¯t you mention you had this skill earlier?¡± After that, Bell directly transferred all the kitchen staff to assist Chen Yu, while also bringing over all the ingredients from the kitchen. With help, the work sped up considerably, and before long, a rich fragrance wafted from the twenty large pots. Chen Yu had cooked large-pot meals like this more than once and was already well-practiced at it. Those under Bell couldn¡¯t help but gather around as they smelled the aroma. Even Bell made his way to the front, pushing through the crowd. ¡°Mr. Chen, can you really make such delicious food in such a large pot?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, but simply handed over a bowl to him. Just as Bell was about to eat, a flash of wariness appeared in his eyes. He passed the bowl he was holding to an underling next to him, ¡°Consider this your reward, eat it all up.¡± The underling, who had already been drooling, took the bowl and began wolfing down the food. Once the bowl of rice was devoured, the person¡¯s spirits lifted noticeably, and the ashen color in his face also gained some color. Only then did Bell feel reassured and had Chen Yu fill another bowl for him. The rest of the people didn¡¯t care for formalities and quickly formed a long line. [Congratulations to the host, you have gained three hundred points] [Congratulations to the host, you have gained eighty points] [Congratulations to the host, you have gained one hundred and twenty points] ¡­ Chen Yu was immediately somewhat downcast, even though after these people ate the meal, he began to accumulate points, the number of points was pitifully low. However, with the number of people there, even if the points were few, the actual accumulation was still a considerable amount. Moreover, each person had more than one ailment, and by letting them eat different medicinal meals, he could accumulate points several times from each individual. By eight o¡¯clock that evening, he had already accumulated more than four million points again. [Congratulations to the host for completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is two million one hundred thirteen thousand five hundred RMB, today¡¯s points earned are two million one hundred thirteen thousand five hundred, the current total accumulated points are twenty-five million seven hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred] Chen Yu felt a little excited at heart, now the system was nearly accumulating points from two aspects at the same time. In this way, the speed at which he accumulated points would greatly increase, and it wouldn¡¯t take long before he reached a hundred million points, at which time he would be able to continue to draw lots or upgrade the system to version 3.0. Furthermore, Bell¡¯s underlings and the miners were still eating in shifts, meaning his points were still being continuously added. At that moment, Chen Yu suddenly hoped that Jin Lingsu and the others would arrive later so he could ¡°farm¡± more points. The roaring sound of machinery echoed through the whole of Angleruna, making it a bit unsettling. However, the total radiation levels here had finally dropped. In the area where Chen Yu was cooking, the radiation levels had reached a state suitable for humans. Therefore, he didn¡¯t need to use electromagnetic induction protection anymore, simply wearing protective clothing would suffice. Just then, more than a dozen large trucks rumbled to a stop at the city gate. A man of medium build, wearing a coat and somewhat chubby, got off the truck while puffing on a cigar. To this man, Bell acted as if he had seen the God of Wealth, coming out to greet him with a big smile. ¡°Mr. Carnay! You¡¯ve finally come, now our trade can proceed normally.¡± Carnay exhaled a ring of smoke, ¡°Naturally, but the goods you provide had better be pure!¡± Chapter 177 - Chapter 177 - 177: The Buyer Behind the Scenes Chapter 177 ¨C 177: The Buyer Behind the Scenes Chen Yu was still fiddling with the frying pan in his hands when he saw Bell and Cardanai walk by from the side. His body stiffened instantly. He had seen Cardanai¡¯s photo at Zhou Shengtao¡¯s place before, and the bounty on this guy was a staggering eighty million. A gleam suddenly appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes¡ªit was like a walking ATM! After Cardanai put on his protective suit, he headed to the mine with Bell. Before long, a large number of workers began carrying ore out of the mine. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly noticed obvious signs of loosening at the breach he had made earlier. ¡°Go grab a few more big pots and set them up over there!¡± After calling over a nearby chef, Chen Yu walked straight to the corner and began clearing away the rubble, then nonchalantly squatted next to the breach. Soon, an arm reached up from below, followed by Jin Lingsu¡¯s enticing face. She seemed extremely tense as she climbed out, and if she hadn¡¯t recognized Chen Yu¡¯s face in time, she might have fired her crossbow. ¡°Did you calculate exactly when I¡¯d be coming and decided to wait here for me?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly. The spot he had chosen to set up the big pots had a direct line of sight to this area. He had thought that Jin Lingsu and the others would have some special plan, but they had simply squeezed their way through the hole. ¡°I just happened to be here! Hurry inside, I¡¯ll get you three sets of clothes.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded, quickly cleared the nearby sand, and then, along with Katherine and Ka Jinwen, crawled out. Chen Yu, on the other hand, approached five fully armed fellows nearby. ¡°Come over here and help out!¡± These five, still holding big bowls and wolfing down their food, ran over immediately when Chen Yu called them. They had eaten Chen Yu¡¯s food, and it was so delicious that it was considered an improvement to their meals in this icy, snowy environment. So whatever Chen Yu asked them to do, they wouldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Mr. Chen, what can we do for you?¡± Looking at the five men in front of him, Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his nose. Although these people were under Bell¡¯s command, they weren¡¯t vicious or evil, and there were no hard feelings between them¡ªhe really had no reason to kill them. ¡°I want to set up five big pots over there. Would you mind digging a few holes for me?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± The five men cheerfully agreed and, still eating their food, walked towards the breach. But after just two steps, Chen Yu suddenly grabbed a handful of stones from the ground and threw them, piercing through their necks. The men hadn¡¯t even had time to react before they fell down, their mouths full of food they hadn¡¯t managed to swallow. Jin Lingsu and her party crawled out and immediately found cover, dragging the five bodies with them, then they changed into their clothes. After making a quick fake scene, Jin Lingsu triggered an explosive device. A massive explosion rang out instantly, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention, and Bell, startled, rushed over. Yesterday¡¯s earthquake had already cost him dearly, and if anything else went wrong, his business would be finished. When he hurried over, he saw a mass of severed limbs scattered on the ground, while Chen Yu and his three men were lying to one side, apparently having passed out. This area was already near a corner wall, and due to the earthquake the previous night, a huge crack had appeared on the ground that nobody wanted to approach. The five people before were just responsible for patrolling this area. Bell rushed to Chen Yu¡¯s side and pulled him up. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you alright?¡± Chen Yu staggered to his feet and pointed to the chunks of flesh on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your men? Why are they always playing with explosives? I just called three workers to help, and they insisted they were trying to escape¡­¡± After a long and frustrating explanation, Bell actually believed him. After all, the chunks of flesh on the ground added up to five bodies, two dressed in uniforms and the other three barely clothed, just covered in rags. Moreover, Bell¡¯s men were fully armed with face masks and sunglasses, unable to see each other¡¯s faces. And since the number of people patrolling on site was correct, Bell didn¡¯t bother to verify the identities of Jin Lingsu and the two others. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, Mr. Chen. I will punish them!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°The ones you need to punish are already dead. If it weren¡¯t for these three pulling me out, I¡¯d probably have been blown up with them.¡± Only then did Bell breathe a sigh of relief and pointed towards Jin Lingsu and her two companions. ¡°From today on, you three are in charge of Mr. Chen¡¯s personal safety. If something happens, find a place to kill yourself.¡± With those words, Bell hurriedly left to continue supervising the workers as they transported the ore out. It was a business worth more than one hundred billion, and he didn¡¯t want any mishaps. Jin Lingsu and the others also breathed a sigh of relief, and Katherine moved closer to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, did you see? The person with Bell is Kanai, one of the individuals wanted by world-class organizations. William¡¯s family has also issued a bounty, a whole three hundred million!¡± Chen Yu was startled, realizing that Kanai was no longer just an ATM but a walking bank. ¡°Of course I know him. That guy must be the buyer of the ore. We need to seize the opportunity to capture both of them together, but before that, we must ensure the lives of all workers here, and it would be best if we could rescue all of them.¡± Ka Jinwen nodded in agreement, knowing that with plutonium ore all around, a conflict leading to an explosion here would be unthinkable. But Jin Lingsu was unwilling. She had been stuck in this icy wilderness for a long time and was fed up. ¡°If you ask me, we might as well just take action and kill them both. After all, the higher-ups didn¡¯t explicitly say whether they needed to be alive or dead.¡± Chen Yu immediately rolled his eyes, ¡°We need to have a little patience. I always feel like there¡¯s a bigger fish behind all this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that delicious smell?¡± Ka Jinwen suddenly leaned forward, sniffing a couple of steps ahead. When he saw the large pot on the stand, he ran over, excited. They had been wandering outside for days, eating only deep-sea fish and canned food. Moreover, in such harsh conditions, everything tasted like chunks of ice, and it had been a long time since he had a warm meal. He had had enough of this kind of life. Chapter 178 - Chapter 178 - 178 Delaying Time Chapter 178 ¨C 178 Delaying Time Jin Lingsu also wiped her mouth and subconsciously touched Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Did you make this?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°It¡¯s just some ordinary medicinal meals. If you don¡¯t like the taste of the herbs, I can make it again for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll just take a few bites to replenish some strength.¡± Without giving it much thought, Jin Lingsu, along with Ka Jinwen, rushed over. Chen Yu, however, retreated to the corner of the wall and did some simple treatment to the hole there. When the cook carried over the five large pots, Chen Yu immediately set them up around the hole. ¡°Where¡¯s the cook?¡± Ka Nai suddenly shouted, then, along with Bell, ran over to Chen Yu¡¯s side. Seeing this from a distance, Jin Lingsu subconsciously placed her finger on her weapon, ready to act immediately should the situation change. ¡°This gentleman here is our cook and also the doctor!¡± Bell enthusiastically introduced him and went straight ahead to pull Chen Yu over. ¡°Mr. Chen, this here is our biggest buyer. He¡¯s here to purchase eighty percent of our stock in one go, a whopping eighty billion!¡± Chen Yu forced a smile and inwardly cursed, What does this have to do with me. Ka Nai suddenly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°What on earth did you put in the food? I only ate half a bowl and my rheumatism actually improved.¡± Chen Yu did not answer but casually took Ka Nai¡¯s pulse. ¡°Your health is not looking good. Apart from rheumatism, you also suffer from a severe case of spondylitis. Your body has a total of seventeen gunshot wounds, and there are eight bullet fragments not yet taken out, one of which is merely half an inch from your heart.¡± Hearing this, Ka Nai became somewhat stupified. ¡°Amazing! Just by touching my wrist, you could tell all the ailments I have. How on earth did you do that?¡± Chen Yu turned away and started pouring water into the pot by himself. ¡°As Mr. Bell mentioned, I¡¯m the doctor here, so naturally, I can detect your ailments.¡± ¡°Can they be treated?¡± Ka Nai stared intently at Chen Yu. For someone like him, who lived on the edge of the knife and was pursued by the entire world, he was always in peril. Almost every once in a while, he would suffer a potentially fatal injury. Although he had managed to survive every time, and is still alive today, the injuries that remained plagued him incessantly. Especially in certain environments, life was worse than death. If it weren¡¯t for the deal with Bell, requiring his personal inspection of this batch of ore, he probably wouldn¡¯t voluntarily come to such a frigid and snow-bound place. Chen Yu started a fire under the large pot, ¡°Of course they can be treated, but with so many injuries, it will probably take some time¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Bell quickly jumped in: ¡°Buddy, Mr. Chen is one of the rare miracle doctors I¡¯ve met. As long as you follow his method, you will definitely be cured. Why not stay here for a few days?¡± The previous earthquake had caused different levels of collapse in two minor mine tunnels, and now only sixty percent of the finished ore could be brought out. Bell did not want to see the pre-negotiated deal shrink by twenty percent. The only way was to have Ka Nai stay a few more days. But Ka Nai¡¯s physical condition simply did not allow him to reside in such an environment for long. Now that Bell had finally found a reason, he was not willing to let go of the opportunity. ¡°Could you possibly prescribe some medicine first to alleviate my symptoms?¡± Ka Nai¡¯s eyes held a glimmer of hope. Bell was also getting anxious, ¡°Mr. Chen, you see¡­¡± Chen Yu added some firewood under the large pot and sized up Ka Jinwen, noting his seemingly large and plump body was trembling nonstop. ¡°Your body has too many injuries and sicknesses; they might not be treated quickly elsewhere, but here we have a special medicine tailored just for you.¡± Chen Yu then took a palm computer from Bell, tapped on it a few times, and an image of a deep-sea fish appeared on the screen. ¡°Have your men catch them immediately, the more of these fish, the better!¡± Ka Jinwen grabbed the palm computer and handed it to a subordinate by his side, ¡°Go catch the fish at once.¡± Bell didn¡¯t dare to delay, immediately dispatching over a dozen people to help with the task. Then, Chen Yu wrote two prescriptions, one for traditional Chinese medicine and one for Western medicine. ¡°Choose any prescription to find the medicine, and it would be even better if you could gather the ingredients from both prescriptions!¡± Ka Jinwen glanced at the prescriptions and became excited. ¡°I have all these medicines!¡± He had been ill for so many years, and this time, coming to the Arctic for work, he naturally brought along a large supply of medical materials. It wasn¡¯t long before all the medicines from the two prescriptions were laid out in front of Chen Yu, along with a large quantity of deep-sea fish. The place was close to the coast; in order to solve the town¡¯s food issues, Bell had people drill many ice holes nearby and also set up fishing nets. As a result, the deep-sea fish that Chen Yu had mentioned were quickly found. Chen Yu first blanched the fish in boiling water, then after cutting them into pieces, he coated them in batter and fried them in a wok until they were seventy percent cooked. Next, he put the Chinese herbs in the pot according to the proportions and stewed them together with the fried fish pieces. He also picked out some of the Western medicines, ground them into powder, and tossed them into the mix. Before long, a rich fragrance began to spread, but the medicinal scent mixed within made the aroma somewhat less appealing. Even so, it attracted the personnel on patrol not far away. Chen Yu calmly served up the fish pieces and presented them to Ka Jinwen. ¡°The taste might be a bit strong, but you need to eat the fish with the soup as well, and after, you will feel a slight faintness.¡± Ka Jinwen hesitated, ¡°A feeling of faintness?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t have too much impact on your body. You just need to sleep it off, and your sickness will ease. Afterward, I¡¯ll help you remove the bullet fragments from your body.¡± Ka Jinwen¡¯s throat moved slightly. At this point, he could not afford to be picky and wolfed down the fish pieces. Bell immediately had someone prepare a room for Ka Jinwen. However, before going to sleep, Ka Jinwen arranged all of his men around the perimeter of the room, and even placed six by the bedside. For someone like him, no matter how much he trusted Bell, he had to play it safe. But Bell didn¡¯t care about these precautions; he was thrilled, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders and shaking them nonstop. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve really helped me out, if you can keep him here, one-tenth of the profit from this deal could be your commission.¡± Chen Yu just gave a symbolic smile and then sorted the remaining medical ingredients, mixing them into other dishes. Many people here had ailments similar to Ka Jinwen¡¯s, though not as severe. By diluting these medicines and feeding them to the people here, he could also earn a new batch of points. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179 - 179: Factory Completion Chapter 179 ¨C 179: Factory Completion As all the workers¡¯ health improved, the mining progress had accelerated considerably, and even the previously collapsed tunnels were gradually being restored by them. ¡°Hey, do you really plan to cure that Ka Nai?¡± Jin Lingsu leaned close to Chen Yu, pouring a large basin of chopped ingredients into the pot. Chen Yu looked up at Ka Nai¡¯s room, ¡°If we can bring this guy back alive, there¡¯s at least an eighty million bounty, and William¡¯s family is offering another three hundred million.¡± Jin Lingsu gave Chen Yu a strange look, ¡°Since when did you become a Bounty Hunter?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m short on cash!¡± Jin Lingsu rolled her eyes, ¡°Your wife is the Tong Group heiress! How could you be short on cash?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, some things can only be achieved on one¡¯s own!¡± [Congratulations Host, you have received a hundred points] [Congratulations Host, you have received seventy points] ¡­ At ten o¡¯clock at night, Chen Yu¡¯s mind was still intermittently receiving system notifications. However, the accumulated points were becoming less and less. It seemed that apart from radiation, almost all other illnesses affecting the workers here had been cured. After tidying up the pots, Chen Yu returned to his room, and also brought Jin Lingsu and the others back with him. As soon as they entered, Jin Lingsu immediately took off her helmet. ¡°This Bel really has no taste, the standard uniform he designed could suffocate someone to death.¡± Chen Yu quickly placed his finger on his lips, making a shushing gesture. ¡°Keep it down, we just had an earthquake and all the buildings suffered different levels of damage, the soundproofing isn¡¯t that great.¡± Jin Lingsu quickly lowered her voice and started setting up her bedroll on the side. After so much hustling over the past few days, she was already very tired. Ka Jinwen and Katherine also began to set up their bedrolls next to Jin Lingsu¡¯s. Chen Yu did not say much, under the circumstances, they could not afford to be too particular. [Detection of Host¡¯s current environment suggests activating the defense surveillance function] Without any hesitation, Chen Yu immediately chose to agree. After all, having an extra layer of protection in such conditions was excellent. In case someone broke into the room in the middle of the night and saw Jin Lingsu and the other two, it could be dangerous for them. [Defense function activated, duration ten hours, will deduct one million points from the Host] Chen Yu suddenly sat up in bed, his face full of frustration. As expected, every time the system introduced a new function, it deducted a hefty amount of his points. Fortunately, he was now earning points through a dual-sync method, which was much faster than before, and he would soon recoup the one million points. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there danger?¡± Jin Lingsu also sat up, instinctively drawing the golden spikes from her body. ¡°No, just thought of something important!¡± he replied casually and went back to sleep. The next moment, the complete three-dimensional topography of Angluna appeared entirely in his mind. Even the movements of the patrol and guards outside the room could be synchronized and displayed. This function was indeed formidable, currently unachievable by even the pinnacle of human technology. Chen Yu immediately felt relieved. That night passed without any incidents, and early the next morning, Chen Yu hurriedly woke up Jin Lingsu and the other two. He then took them out to prepare breakfast. Having rested for the night, the three of them regained their abundant energy and scattered to carefully observe all the layouts of the city. Just then a shout of excitement suddenly erupted, followed by Ka Jinwen rushing out of the room, thrilled. ¡°Where is Mr. Chen!¡± This shout alarmed everyone in the city, including Bell, who ran out in a hurry. Under the astonished gazes of the people, Ka Jinwen, wearing only shorts and draped in a thin coat, ran barefooted and somewhat crazily in the snow. When he saw Chen Yu, he ran straight over and bear-hugged him tightly. Ka Jinwen was naturally tall and heavy, and with this hug, he immediately lifted Chen Yu off the ground. ¡°Mr. Chen, I haven¡¯t run like this in the snow for a very long time!¡± Chen Yu frowned, thinking Ka Jinwen¡¯s health had taken a turn for the worse. ¡°Mr. Ka Jinwen, please put me down, and then I can take your pulse!¡± Ka Jinwen, behaving like an ardent fan of Chen Yu, hurriedly set him down and then obediently extended his wrist toward him. Chen Yu stretched his limbs and placed his fingers on Ka Jinwen¡¯s pulse. ¡°Your illness has been essentially cured, and currently only some inflammation on your spine and the bullet shrapnel risks in your body remain!¡± Ka Jinwen quickly grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, I hope you can operate on me immediately!¡± Chen Yu hesitated, ¡°We¡¯re currently in a high-radiation environment, which isn¡¯t suitable for surgery. Besides, the inflammation on your spine also affects the operation. Let¡¯s focus on getting your health back first.¡± [Congratulations to the host, you¡¯ve earned 1,200,000 points.] The sudden alert made Chen Yu excited. Ka Jinwen¡¯s illness consisted of complex symptoms, aggravated by the passage of years, making it extremely severe. Even if the world¡¯s top medical team were brought in, they might not be able to cure it. It seemed the more difficult the illness was to cure, the more points were earned. Chen Yu instantly understood the key; it appeared that removing the bullet near Ka Jinwen¡¯s heart could potentially earn even more points. Now, Ka Jinwen in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, was not only a walking bank but also a tool for raking in points. But Ka Jinwen was unaware of all this. In his eyes, Chen Yu was his lifesaver. ¡°Alright, Mr. Chen, from now on, I¡¯ll do whatever you tell me to do!¡± Chen Yu really couldn¡¯t stand such a burly man fawning over him. ¡°Then you should go rest first. Also, don¡¯t eat anything for the entire day today; endure for thirty hours before eating according to my instructions, and try to keep your body in ketosis.¡± Ka Jinwen nodded repeatedly, and then excitedly asked Bell for a sled, heading out to ski. It seemed that after being sick for so many years, he had never indulged in such reckless fun in the snow. [Congratulations to the host, the factory has entered normal operational status, and the first transaction has been completed.] [Congratulations to the host, the factory has gained a net profit of 38,970,000 and earned 38,570,000 points, with a current total cumulative score of 73,624,800 points.] Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. When he left, the factory had only completed one-third of its business. It had only been a few days; could it be that the order for one billion had already been fulfilled? Just as he was feeling puzzled, a flood of information suddenly emerged in his mind. Chapter 180 - Chapter 180 - 180 Additional Gains Chapter 180 ¨C 180 Additional Gains The remaining sections of the factory had been completed and put into use four days ago, and meanwhile, Hou Jianchang had recruited a large number of workers. After working overtime for four consecutive days, the remaining products were shipped out of the factory this morning. Not only did Tong Ming take away products worth one billion, but he also took away all the remaining products. Hou Jianchang had also negotiated the pricing with Tong Ming, setting the factory price at one hundred and sixty-four percent of the raw material value. That is to say, the raw materials worth one billion yielded a profit of sixty-four million in total. After deducting Chen Yu¡¯s early investment in the factory, plus the previous repayment of nine million five hundred thousand, that was the remaining profit. Chen Yu briefly sorted through the accounts in his mind and realized that the factory didn¡¯t even need a finance department. ¡°Mr. Chen!¡± Katherine suddenly called out to Chen Yu, pulling his thoughts back to reality. ¡°We have already mastered the terrain around here, and since both parties are in a trading state with their personnel dispersed, I believe we have a good chance of capturing both of these guys at the same time and then breaking out.¡± Chen Yu cleared his throat softly. The system had already devised numerous escape plans in his mind before, and he could leave with both Belle and Ka Nai. But if he did so, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stay and continue accumulating points. ¡°I already said there must be someone behind them, let¡¯s wait a bit longer, we may have a bigger gain from this trip.¡± Katherine didn¡¯t say much more; during this time, she had developed a heartfelt respect for Chen Yu. After all, being able to infiltrate the inside of the enemy camp and mix into the high-level ranks in such a short period wasn¡¯t even guaranteed by the most elite special operatives. Throughout the day, small amounts of points kept adding up, and it looked like it wouldn¡¯t take long to accumulate eighty million. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the remaining twenty percent of the ore had been moved out and transported to the sealed compartment of the truck. [Congratulations Host on completing a day¡¯s business, today¡¯s net profit is twenty-one million eight hundred fifty-six thousand Yuan, with points earned being twenty-one million eight hundred fifty-six thousand points, current total accumulated points are seventy-five million nine hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred points] Chen Yu found a stone stool to sit on, his face unable to hide the excitement. Just then, Ka Nai came running over in a hurry. ¡°Mr. Chen, I feel like my body is in its peak condition right now, can we find a place to perform the surgery on the spot?¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrow: ¡°It seems like you have enough ore now, we could completely change the location, like go to the warmer south, couldn¡¯t we?¡± Ka Nai rubbed his hands together excitedly: ¡°I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯ll buy all the ore here.¡± Chen Yu suddenly understood, extracting the rest of the ore would take some time. Ka Nai wanted to use this window of opportunity to completely cure his injuries and illness. After all, he might not get such a chance in his lifetime. Chen Yu put on a troubled face, stroking his chin and pondering for a while. ¡°This might require discussing with Mr. Belle, he has a secret stronghold here.¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Belle¡¯s voice suddenly sounded: ¡°I will escort the two of you there immediately.¡± Belle naturally couldn¡¯t ask for better, if Chen Yu could completely cure Ka Nai, then he might be able to leverage this to establish a comprehensive cooperation with Ka Nai in the future. Before long, Belle had made the arrangements to escort Chen Yu and Ka Nai to the stronghold. Jin Lingsu and her two companions were naturally included. As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the stronghold, Chen Yu sent a series of secret signals to Jin Lingsu. ¡®Start the capture plan, kill everyone here before my surgery is completed!¡¯ Upon receiving the message, Jin Lingsu immediately relayed it to Katherine and Ka Jinwen. Following that, the three individuals dispersed, each keeping watch over a few people. Chen Yu then brought Ka Jinwen to a secluded room. After a thorough cleaning, the place was transformed into a makeshift operating theater. ¡°Mr. Ka Jinwen, the operating environment must be quiet, please ask your men to leave,¡± Chen Yu said. Ka Jinwen immediately ordered the several subordinates guarding the area to leave. Without any hesitation, Chen Yu opened the medical kit he¡¯d prepared in advance and took out several acupuncture needles, inserting them into various acupoints on Ka Jinwen¡¯s body. ¡°Now the acupoints on your body have been sealed, and you will lose all consciousness, but your brain will remain alert!¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu took a scalpel and made an incision at the location of Ka Jinwen¡¯s heart. ¡°My God, it really doesn¡¯t hurt, it¡¯s amazing!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face, however, remained serious, ¡°Try not to talk!¡± He reprimanded softly and quickened his pace. This kind of surgery was not difficult for him; in less than ten minutes, he had removed all eight shrapnel fragments from Ka Jinwen¡¯s body. After treating the wounds, Chen Yu then removed the acupuncture needles. An excruciating pain instantly spread throughout Ka Jinwen¡¯s body, causing him to cry out involuntarily. ¡°Mr. Chen, is the surgery over now?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°As long as you continue to take the medicine I prescribe for one more week, your body will fully recover.¡± Ka Jinwen was immediately thrilled and took out a stack of bank drafts from the pocket of his clothing beside him. ¡°Mr. Chen, I didn¡¯t bring much money this time, but here are fifteen bank drafts, each worth one hundred million. They can be cashed at any bank worldwide, please consider it as my consulting fee.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected people like Bell and Ka Jinwen to be so generous. This trip, he had earned an extra twenty-five billion from these two men. The only regret was that this income couldn¡¯t be entered into the points settlement system. ¡°Then, thank you, Mr. Ka Jinwen.¡± Unhesitatingly accepting the bank drafts, Chen Yu suddenly raised his hand and inserted a needle into Ka Jinwen¡¯s chest. Immediately thereafter, Ka Jinwen¡¯s body stiffened and he collapsed onto the bed, yet his consciousness remained clear. The next moment, the door was suddenly burst open, and Jin Lingsu and her two companions came in, covered in blood. ¡°Chen Yu, we¡¯ve taken care of everyone outside, only this guy is left!¡± Jin Lingsu said excitedly. Jin Lingsu twirled the golden spike in her hand before placing it against Ka Jinwen¡¯s neck. ¡°Is it this idiot¡¯s turn now?¡± Katherine and the others were visibly thrilled. They had originally come to capture Bell, but hadn¡¯t expected to stumble upon an unexpected prize. ¡°Killing him won¡¯t benefit you!¡± Chen Yu stepped forward to stop Jin Lingsu, ¡°Who knows, this guy might help clear all your past charges.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smile as she put away the spike. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, but how are we supposed to take this idiot away now?¡± Katherine promptly brought out a satellite phone, ¡°I¡¯ll have William¡¯s family send a submarine.¡± Chapter 181 - Chapter 181 - 181 Malicious Score Boosting Chapter 181 ¨C 181 Malicious Score Boosting [Congratulations, Host, you have gained 2.5 million points] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, such a difficult surgery only earned him 2.5 million points, and no matter how he looked at that number, it seemed like the system was mocking him. ¡°How long will it take for the submarine to get here?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. ¡°The nearest submarine will arrive in eight hours!¡± Ka Jinwen replied and then handed the satellite phone to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Victor wants to speak with you directly.¡± Chen Yu slightly furrowed his brow, he really didn¡¯t want to get too entangled with William¡¯s family. However, since this mission involved someone from William¡¯s family and he had some acquaintances with Victor, it would be inappropriate not to take the call. Chen Yu forced out a slight smile and then took the satellite phone. Victor on the other end seemed extremely excited, babbling on about various things, while Chen Yu only asked about his physical condition. After hanging up, Chen Yu patted Ka Jinwen on the shoulder. ¡°If the acupuncture needles on Carnay¡¯s body aren¡¯t removed, his body won¡¯t be able to move. Before bringing him to a safe area, remember not to remove the acupuncture needles from his body.¡± Ka Jinwen subconsciously glanced at the acupuncture needles on Carnay¡¯s body: ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll stay here and wait for the submarine.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then returned to Angleruna with Jin Lingsu and Katherine. But on the way there, they saw two snowmobiles speeding towards them, which seemed to be directly under Carnay¡¯s command. The riders stopped their snowmobiles by the side of the road as soon as they saw Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, how is my boss doing?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled slightly: ¡°The surgery was very successful, he¡¯s currently in recovery.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, we were just about to go see him!¡± With that, the two men got on their snowmobiles. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, letting these two guys go would be asking for trouble. He didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately pulling one of them down and pressing him firmly into the snow. Jin Lingsu also flung the golden spike from her waist, piercing right through the throat of the other one. The man caught by Chen Yu¡¯s hand had his eyes wide open. ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you mean by this?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak, just grabbed the other¡¯s neck, ready to silence him. Just then, a spark of inspiration suddenly flashed through his mind. He then grabbed the man¡¯s arm, twisted it violently, and dislocated the whole arm. A shrill scream echoed across the snowy plains immediately. Before the man could react, a series of cracking sounds followed. Chen Yu reattached the man¡¯s arm. Then, he just squatted there, as if waiting for something. [Congratulations, Host, you have gained 100 points] Chen Yu immediately perked up, as if he had discovered a new world, continuously dislocating the man¡¯s arm and then reattaching it. After repeating this ten times, he had accumulated a thousand points. Next, Chen Yu tried experimenting with other skeletal parts one by one. In the end, he discovered that the closer to vital areas the bones were, the more points he gained. Especially the third and fourth ribs on the left side near the heart, each reattachment could actually gain eight hundred points. As Chen Yu¡¯s enthusiasm grew, the screams echoing across the snowfield became increasingly tragic. In the end, even someone as ruthless as Jin Lingsu couldn¡¯t bear to watch and couldn¡¯t help but curse ¡®pervert¡¯ in her heart. Katherine involuntarily stepped back a few paces, the once towering image of Chen Yu in her mind now greatly diminished. [Detected host¡¯s malicious exploitation for points. Please cease this behavior immediately, otherwise previously earned points will not be counted by the system.] Chen Yu was somewhat helpless; he had thought that he could rely on one person to infinitely inflate his points to one hundred million, but now he realized he was too naive. The guy¡¯s entire skeleton had become extremely fragile, lying there like a pile of mud. In this state, even if the guy was healed, he would only be able to lie in bed for the rest of his life. Chen Yu directly grabbed the other person¡¯s neck and forcefully squeezed, ending his life. ¡°Can we leave now?¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly became cautious. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chen Yu got into the car somewhat dejectedly. After all the efforts he had put in before, he had only accumulated thirty thousand points. The next morning, Chen Yu and his two companions finally returned to Angluna. The mining operations were nearing their end, and the workers were not as busy; most of them sat on the ground, seemingly waiting for something, their eyes full of longing. When Chen Yu walked in, everyone stood up and looked at him with fervent gazes. Bell came over, rubbing his stomach as well. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve finally come back. If you hadn¡¯t, we all would have starved to death.¡± It was only then that Chen Yu came to his senses, but as he was about to cook, Bell pulled him aside and stuffed a packet of powder into his hands. ¡°Mr. Chen, I hope you can prepare the meals separately this time! I hope you can add this into the workers¡¯ food.¡± Chen Yu frowned, for after sniffing the powder slightly, he knew that it was a mixture of arsenic trioxide and potassium cyanide. Both substances were highly toxic in their own right, and their mixture was ten times more potent. Such a dosage was enough to kill over ten thousand workers. It looked like Bell was ready to dispose of the donkey once it had done its job grinding the wheat. ¡°It seems that there are still some ores yet to be mined. What do you plan to do with the remaining minerals if you¡¯re so eager to dispose of them?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Chen!¡± Bell patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder: ¡°All the ores were mined last night; what¡¯s left is transportation! My men can handle those tasks.¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°To kill them, you probably don¡¯t need to go through so much trouble, and mixing the two poisons gives off a pungent odor that can easily be detected even when mixed with food.¡± Bell raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°Do you, Mr. Chen, have a better method?¡± ¡°These workers have already been seriously exposed to radiation. A reaction with just a bit more trace elements and the radioactive substances in their bodies will make their bodies rapidly deteriorate. In less than a day¡¯s time, they could die without ever knowing it.¡± Bell¡¯s eyes widened in surprise: ¡°Mr. Chen, I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you! I¡¯ll leave everything to you.¡± Without saying anything more, Chen Yu immediately gathered the people together and set up a large cauldron. [Congratulations to the host for gaining one thousand five hundred points] [Congratulations to the host for gaining one thousand two hundred points] [Congratulations to the host for gaining two thousand points] ¡­ The sudden system notifications left Chen Yu somewhat stunned. He hadn¡¯t saved anyone, nor had he treated anyone, so how did a pile of points suddenly appear? Before long, his total points had abruptly increased by over sixteen million. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182 - 182: 100000000 Points Chapter 182 ¨C 182: 100000000 Points Chen Yu suddenly realized something. By refusing Bell¡¯s request to poison earlier, he had indirectly saved over ten thousand lives. ¡°So that counts too!¡± With a small surge of excitement in his heart, he called people over to start preparing meals. Since last night, his total points had accumulated close to ninety-six million. Just four million more, and he would reach a hundred million points. But time was of the essence, and unless he could perform two high-difficulty surgeries, there was no way he could accumulate enough points in such a short time. Just then, a violent explosion suddenly erupted, and the mine area plunged into chaos. Immediately after, two people rushed to Chen Yu in haste. ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Bell has had an accident! Please, come right away.¡± Chen Yu instantly became excited, judging from the situation it seemed Bell had been seriously injured! This was clearly a chance for him to earn points. Without hesitation, he quickly followed the two men. He saw Bell lying on the bed, his body horrifically mangled, with countless rock fragments embedded in his flesh, including many pieces of plutonium ore. It looked like radioactive material had already penetrated his body. At that moment, Bell was convulsing all over, continuously spitting blood foam, clearly on the brink of death. A few other people were in the same condition as Bell, but no one was attending to them. ¡°Can Mr. Chen save him?¡± The person beside him was frantic with worry. These people were merely hired staff; if Bell died, they wouldn¡¯t know where to get their money from. Chen Yu tried his best to conceal his excitement, ¡°Quickly get me a large amount of adrenaline, and move that filtration machine over to that factory building.¡± The subordinates didn¡¯t dare to delay and hurried to carry out Chen Yu¡¯s orders. Afterward, Chen Yu had them bring all the injured people over, then he drove those guys out. He rubbed his hands together, quickly injected adrenaline into all the injured, and then took out acupuncture needles from the nearby medical box, pricking them at corresponding acupoints on their bodies. Having done this, Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing, then squatted down next to Bell. ¡°Mr. Bell, just lie here honestly for now, I¡¯m going to save you, but once you wake up, you will have to say goodbye to everything you have.¡± A playful glint suddenly flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, followed by picking up the scalpel, and first performing surgery on the injured workers beside him. This kind of trauma surgery was not very difficult, for it only required removing the rock fragments. The challenging part was dealing with the fragments embedded inside the organs. Even for Chen Yu, the process had to be handled with extreme care, as one small mishap could result in major bleeding. Although highly difficult surgeries could enable him to accumulate points quickly, he was still unaware of the consequences should the surgery fail. His mind was in a state of high tension; soon, he removed all the fragments from one of the workers. However, this worker had a piece lodged in the left ventricle, severing a blood vessel. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing immediately became rapid; it was his first time facing such a high-difficulty surgery. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu subconsciously bit the tip of his tongue. He rapidly removed the fragment and then in a very short time stitched up the blood vessel. After completing all this, Chen Yu checked the worker¡¯s vital signs again before releasing a long sigh of relief. [Congratulations, Host, you have earned three million points.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. This surgery was at least twice as hard as the Carnine surgery, how could it be worth just three million? But by this time, he couldn¡¯t care about that much anymore. After dealing with the other injuries, he turned his attention to another patient. The surgeries for the others weren¡¯t very difficult, mostly just external injuries. In less than an hour, he had treated everyone¡¯s wounds, but he had no way to deal with the radiation in their bodies just yet. [System Prompt: The current host has accumulated a total of 101.75 million points. Would you like to upgrade the system to version 3.0?] [Do you wish to select the current lottery plan?] Chen Yu let out a long sigh. Spending a hundred million points on a lottery might yield an incredibly generous reward, but the uncertainty was too great. If he chose to upgrade the system to version 3.0, at the very least, he could use the system¡¯s power to remove all the radiation from the bodies of the people here. By that time, he would also be able to exploit the situation with the workers. ¡°System upgrade!¡± Chen Yu made his decision resolutely, and a flood of information appeared in his mind. [System upgrade, point accumulation status transformed] [System autonomous communication analysis capability activated] [System entering holographic entity state] Chen Yu felt as if his head had been struck by something, and shortly after, a faint silhouette appeared floating over his shoulder. The figure looked very ethereal, blue and white in color, with two ponytails hanging down the sides of its head. What shocked Chen Yu the most was that the figure looked exactly like Tuan Tuan. ¡°How come¡­¡± [The system has scanned the host¡¯s memory information and selected the most important person to be virtualized.] Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Will you always remain in this state? What if someone discovers you?¡± [Only the host can see me.] Seeing such a vivid and lifelike phantom figure that looked just like Tuan Tuan, Chen Yu suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement. ¡°Can you now remove the radiation from everyone here?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. [At the host¡¯s command, I can serve at any time.] Then, a blue and white glow suddenly spread, completely enveloping the whole of Angulna. [All radiation has been completely removed. There is automatic sensing protection around the host Zhou Shen, and the perimeter of the mine is also covered by the protection; no radiation will leak.] Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had not expected that after the system upgrade, the efficiency would be so high. ¡°Since you¡¯ve materialized, you should have a name, right?¡± Chen Yu asked while holding the scalpel. [Please name me, host.] Chen Yu continued his work, ¡°Then you¡¯ll be called Ling Ling!¡± [System has set its own name, Chen Lingling.] Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment, as the system had actually taken his surname too. Throughout the surgery, Ling Ling was there assisting, significantly reducing the time and difficulty of the surgery. When all the wounds had been stitched up, Chen Yu put away the surgical equipment. [Congratulations to the host for earning a hundred points.] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, suddenly feeling somewhat displeased. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? When I was performing surgery over there, I earned three million points. The difficulty of this fellow¡¯s surgery was much higher than that of the worker, so why have I only been awarded a measly hundred points?¡± Chapter 183 - Chapter 183 - 183: Point Conversion Chapter 183 ¨C 183: Point Conversion ¡°After the system upgrade, it will enter a new state, with different methods and extents of point accumulation.¡± Upon hearing this answer, Chen Yu felt somewhat frustrated. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I won¡¯t be able to draw lots anymore?¡± ¡°The host will receive full-scale assistance from the system and won¡¯t need to draw lots considering the current state of the world.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly. With a living system by his side to assist, there truly was no need to draw lots anymore. Although Victor¡¯s surgery was complete, Chen Yu had left a micro-needle in him, causing him to remain unconscious. ¡°Right, can you help me control all of Victor¡¯s subordinates in one go?¡± ¡°Of course, but the energy consumption is too high and will need replenishment.¡± ¡°How do you replenish?¡± Chen Yu suddenly had a bad feeling. ¡°Fifty points.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body stiffened, as he discovered that all the points he had accumulated before were wiped to zero after the system upgrade. In his point balance, a pitiful one hundred points lay, and now the system wanted to take away fifty. But then he thought, spending fifty points to have the system control nearly a thousand fully armed people outside actually seemed quite worthwhile. ¡°Alright, deal!¡± The next moment, a burst of blue and white light suddenly exploded. Chen Yu was stunned for a moment: ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°The host can personally go out and see for himself.¡± Chen Yu rushed out of the room and, indeed, found that all of Victor¡¯s subordinates stood motionless, as if they had been turned to stone. Jin Lingsu and Katherine seemed not to have realized what had happened yet, just standing at the entrance to the ward waiting for Chen Yu. Seeing Chen Yu come out, they immediately approached him. ¡°What are you waiting for, get moving. They¡¯ve all been poisoned by me and have temporarily lost the ability to move.¡± Jin Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes, glancing instinctively at the people beside her, and found that these guys were indeed just as Chen Yu said, frozen in place. She didn¡¯t hesitate any longer, raising the weapon in her hand and pulling the trigger. Katherine went to kill in another direction. Before long, all of Victor¡¯s subordinates had become corpses. The workers just stood there dumbfounded, somewhat at a loss, looking at Chen Yu with an indescribable gaze. ¡°Everyone, from today on you¡¯re free. It won¡¯t be long before someone will come to take you away from here.¡± The workers were a bit incredulous, some even pinching themselves hard. By three in the afternoon, people from William¡¯s family and world-class organizations arrived, successfully taking Victor away. Chen Yu also boarded the helicopter belonging to William¡¯s family. Their operation had lost its linchpin the moment Holm betrayed them. Even though they had completed the mission, they still had to face necessary scrutiny. Frankfurt, William family¡¯s castle. Because of the time difference, it was still noon here. Victor, accompanied by a host of William¡¯s family members, had been waiting at the entrance early on. The moment Chen Yu got off the plane, Victor immediately went up to greet him excitedly, leaning on his crutch. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s been a long time!¡± Chen Yu returned the greeting with a smile and was then led by Victor into the castle. In an open space of the castle¡¯s central estate, an auction platform had been set up. It seemed a small auction event was taking place. Those who were present were mainly business tycoons and some highly renowned celebrities. Seeing Victor return, an elderly man, trembling with age, walked over. ¡°Who exactly is so important that you personally went to pick him up and left the rest of us hanging here?¡± Victor supported the elderly man¡¯s body, ¡°Mr. Reynolds, the person I was waiting for is my lifesaver! He cured my illness.¡± Saying this, Victor helped the elderly man up to Chen Yu. Reynolds scrutinized Chen Yu, ¡°So young? How skilled can someone of this age be in medicine?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± A middle-aged man dressed impeccably interjected disdainfully. ¡°To achieve something in medicine, one needs at least fifteen years of practicing experience. This gentleman looks to be under thirty, how extraordinary can his medical skills be?¡± Reynolds pointed proudly at the middle-aged man, introducing him, ¡°This is my personal doctor, Hans, who has won numerous medical awards. Without him by my side, I¡¯d probably have gone to meet God by now.¡± Victor¡¯s expression suddenly turned unsightly. Chen Yu held a very special place in his heart, and now Reynolds and Hans were overtly insulting him. Just as Victor was about to react, Chen Yu suddenly leaned forward. ¡°Mr. Reynolds, have you been feeling a swelling sensation under the third rib on the right side of your chest, with occasional sharp, needle-like pains?¡± Reynolds¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and even Hans displayed a look of disbelief. Chen Yu, with just a cursory glance, was able to diagnose Reynold¡¯s condition. ¡°Young man, how did you figure that out?¡± Reynolds instinctively asked. Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but looked Reynolds up and down from head to toe. ¡°In addition, there¡¯s a significant accumulation of fluid below the knee on your right leg. I believe your doctor must have advised you to use medication and avoid the risk of surgery.¡± Hans became instantly anxious, ¡°Mr. Reynolds¡¯ leg tissue is in a state of degeneration. If we operate forcefully, it will only damage his nerves, and it might even lead to the amputation of the entire leg¡­¡± Without letting him finish, Chen Yu suddenly crouched down, grabbed Reynolds¡¯ leg, and jabbed his finger hard into it. There was a crisp sound of a bone snapping back into place, followed by the swelling gradually subsiding. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hans yelled out and tried to pull Chen Yu away, even as two bodyguards surrounded them. But Chen Yu paid them no heed and lightly pushed Hans aside with his hand, then drew a needle from his person and poked it into Reynolds¡¯ knee. Subsequently, a large amount of foul-smelling, black and yellow fluid seeped out from around Reynolds¡¯ knee. ¡°There, the fluid has been drained, and your bones are back in place. You just need to clean up this dirty blood and treat the wound with anti-inflammatory medication, and you¡¯ll be able to walk freely.¡± Reynolds¡¯ eyes brimmed with astonishment, as he felt an unprecedented lightness in his injured leg when the pooled blood was drained. ¡°Kid, you didn¡¯t say anything, just came up and gave Mr. Reynolds a needle stab, that¡¯s assault! I¡¯m going to have you¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Reynolds abruptly reprimanded, ¡°My leg feels like it can walk. Get someone to find anti-inflammatory medication right away.¡± Hans stood there dumbfounded, at a loss for words, simply staring at Reynolds¡¯ healing leg. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184 - 184: Assembling Items Chapter 184 ¨C 184: Assembling Items Victor waved a hand at the accompanying doctor, who immediately took out some anti-inflammatory medication from the medical kit and sprinkled it on Reynold¡¯s leg while also cleaning the dirty blood at the knee. ¡°Young man, how exactly did you do it? This leg has troubled me for decades, and you merely used one needle to cure me!¡± Chen Yu acted as though he had done something of no great significance. ¡°This is just some acupuncture therapy, and your body can be healed in the same way. As for what Mr. Hans just said about organ degeneration and such, it simply doesn¡¯t exist! He just doesn¡¯t know the method to reactivate the body¡¯s function.¡± Though his words were extremely calm, everyone¡¯s gaze immediately focused on Hans. It was a gaze full of mockery. A flash of resentment flickered through Hans¡¯s eyes, ¡°That¡¯s impossible, aging is a natural law of the human body, how could it possibly be reactivated?¡± ¡°All it takes is for the body¡¯s cells to enter a state of autophagy! It doesn¡¯t seem that difficult.¡± Chen Yu casually responded, then looked over at Reynolds. ¡°Mr. Reynolds, if you¡¯re willing, I can treat you after the auction is over!¡± Reynolds nodded again and again, after all, Chen Yu came recommended by Victor, and the medical skill he had just displayed was indeed stunning. Victor burst into laughter and then arranged for everyone to take their seats. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. Fang Yuan! However, Chen Yu merely glanced at her before paying her no more attention, simply taking his own seat next to Victor. Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing became rapid for a moment, for the look Chen Yu gave her just now clearly had more indifference in it. After all, they were husband and wife; now they were like strangers. Fang Yuan soon steadied her breathing. Just three days ago, she had completed a hedge agreement with capital investors and successfully secured three billion in funding. Now, she genuinely could be considered a famous socialite! Although at this auction she wasn¡¯t much of a standout, merely invited as a filler celebrity, In other places, she was genuinely a capital mogul. Subconsciously straightening her back, Fang Yuan displayed all the qualities of a true socialite. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this is an Eight Treasures Colored Glaze Cup from the Ming dynasty¡¯s Yongle period, starting at eighty million!¡± As the host¡¯s voice sounded, the atmosphere on-site immediately livened up. [This item is an assembled piece, only the right side of the base is authentic, the rest are imitations from three years ago] The notification sound in Chen Yu¡¯s mind made him pause for a moment. The system actually had a treasure appraisal function. But speaking of it, this thing was indeed very well-crafted; even he could not discern the truth of it. The nearby tycoons were even less able to spot it, each of them bidding frantically. ¡°Mr. Victor, is this auction held by William¡¯s family?¡± Victor shook his head. ¡°The purpose of this auction is to raise funds for charity, and most of the items on auction come from donations.¡± Chen Yu propped his chin, putting on a thoughtful mien. ¡°This Colored Glaze Cup should be a fake, with only a very small part being genuine!¡± Victor was taken aback, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course, you can have someone specialized to verify it again.¡± While the two were talking, the auction price had already been raised to three hundred million and the transaction was completed! Victor couldn¡¯t help but frown, as the auction¡¯s rules stipulated that once a transaction was completed, it could not be returned or exchanged. Besides, suddenly changing the auction item at this stall would cause a loss of face for William¡¯s family. Just as Victor was feeling troubled, Chen Yu suddenly held his arm. ¡°Never mind, since it¡¯s already been sold, there¡¯s no need to return or exchange it, as those are the rules of the auction!¡± Victor nodded and did not say anything more. Chen Yu then glanced back, nonchalantly, towards where Fang Yuan was sitting, who was at that moment holding the Eight Treasures Colored Glaze Cup that had just been sold. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t interested in such a charity auction, especially since several items in a row were patched-together fakes. He wasn¡¯t sure if these foreign bigshots simply liked fake goods, or if they truly had no understanding. ¡°Qin King Breaking Array Diagram! The starting bid is ten million. This painting is from the hand of Zeng Guofan of the late Qing Dynasty.¡± [System Notification: This is a folded painting. The top layer is from Zeng Guofan, but a hidden layer underneath is an authentic work by Wu Daozi.] Chen Yu immediately became excited. Zeng Guofan was a famous figure in the late Qing Dynasty, and his imitation selling for more than ten million wasn¡¯t expensive. But an authentic work by Wu Daozi were rare in the world, especially this Qin King Breaking Array Diagram, which was a gem among gems. If he could buy it, he could flip it for a starting price of at least five hundred million. The people present bid one after another, but the increments in price were very small. Even if it was from the hand of Zeng Guofan, it was still an imitation, with limited room for value appreciation, unless it was bought by someone who truly loved it and was willing to pay a high price. ¡°Thirty million!¡± Chen Yu suddenly raised his bidder¡¯s card. Everyone looked at Chen Yu with a surprised gaze. The price had just increased to fifteen million, and now Chen Yu had doubled it. The host was also extremely excited, as she was truly afraid that the painting would not sell. After quickly asking three times, she brought down the hammer. Fang Yuan, sitting in a corner, subconsciously scoffed. In her view, even though Chen Yu had acquired some status and position, he was still unsophisticated. He actually spent three times the starting bid on a painting nobody wanted. Victor was also puzzled, ¡°Mr. Chen, if you like it, I could have skipped the auction and given it directly to you. Why spend such a high price to buy it?¡± Chen Yu smiled without saying a word. As soon as he got the painting, he took a needle from his body and carefully began to pick at the layer next to the painting. Before long, the painting was split into two parts. Seeing the two identical paintings appear before him, Victor¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Mr. Chen, what¡¯s going on here? How come there are two paintings?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this authentic work by Wu Daozi was probably Zeng Guofan¡¯s private collection. To protect this painting, he created a duplicate and hid the original within it.¡± No sooner had Chen Yu finished his explanation than the people nearby crowded over, with Reynolds even getting up and rushing over to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I would like to collect this painting. I can offer you seven hundred million, could you transfer it to me?¡± Chen Yu laughed lightly, ¡°I like Wu Daozi very much too, I¡¯m afraid I cannot transfer it.¡± Reynolds sighed helplessly, suddenly regretting not having bought the painting himself. The others around also sighed in admiration, looking enviously at the painting in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. Chapter 185 - Chapter 185 - 185 Osteophytes Chapter 185 ¨C 185 Osteophytes Fang Yuan stood in a corner, her face blank with shock. She had never expected Chen Yu to have such discernment. This auction was incredibly niche, so there wasn¡¯t much on offer; it concluded in less than two hours. However, the most precious item at the auction turned out to be the Qin King Breaking Array Diagram in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. Even after the auction had ended, many people wanted to deal with Chen Yu, but he rejected them all. ¡°Mr. Chen, I need to discuss some matters with Victor in the coming days and plan to stay in the castle for a while. Could I ask Mr. Chen to help improve my health?¡± Not long after the auction ended, Reynolds sought out Chen Yu directly. His private physician, Hans, had already disappeared, seemingly dismissed. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible. I also need to do a follow-up check on Mr. Victor in these next few days.¡± Fang Yuan, watching from a distance, felt a sense of imbalance. She could never have dreamed that Chen Yu could connect with William¡¯s family, and that the magnates around him were all treating him with utmost respect. Fang Yuan had come to Frankfurt to draw on the capital here to co-produce a movie, mainly targeting Victor and Reynolds. These two were like lords over this land, and the entire movie industry had to have their approval before taking any action. Fang Yuan took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and then briskly walked forward. ¡°Mr. Chen Yu!¡± This call was almost a complete abandonment of her own dignity. No matter how much she tried here, the two magnates, Reynolds and Victor, would likely not notice her. Now, the only feasible plan was to make a connection with these two magnates through Chen Yu. Chen Yu instinctively stopped and turned back. Victor also turned back, ¡°Mr. Chen, do you know this lady?¡± A crafty flicker passed through Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°How could I possibly know a lady of such outstanding elegance?¡± Fang Yuan stood frozen on the spot, not expecting this outcome. She suddenly felt her cheeks burning, as if Chen Yu had slapped her hard. ¡­ Reynolds lay in a hospital bed in a well-equipped ward, connected to various medical machines. ¡°Mr. Reynolds, it might hurt a bit soon, just bear with it.¡± After saying this, Chen Yu directly inserted fine needles into his major acupoints. Reynolds was already in his seventies or eighties. His body was nearly at its end, with many of his joints suffering damage to varying degrees. Additionally, having been treated with an excessive amount of stimulating medicines by other doctors, his condition worsened by the day. To put it bluntly, Reynolds was currently hanging on to life by those medications, and once they were discontinued, his life would start to count down. What Chen Yu was doing now was re-establishing Reynolds¡¯s meridians, stimulating the nerves in his body to rejuvenate his vitality. It didn¡¯t take long before over sixty fine needles densely covered Reynolds¡¯s body. ¡°Mr. Chen, I don¡¯t feel any pain. It¡¯s just that I now feel like a hedgehog,¡± Reynolds remarked. Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°You might need to maintain this state for a full three days. During these three days, I will prepare some medicines specifically for you, and I hope you can cooperate with my treatment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Reynolds suddenly felt an unprecedented passion. From the moment Chen Yu inserted needles into his body, he began to feel his blood flow gradually accelerate until even his heartbeat became strong and forceful. Just as Chen Yu was preparing a medicinal soup for Reynolds, a noisy commotion suddenly erupted outside the castle. ¡°Mr. Hanick, your own student¡¯s medical skills are lacking, so what does it have to do with others? You should properly discipline your student,¡± said someone. Victor¡¯s voice was extremely cold as he stood opposite an old man with a hunched figure. ¡°Impossible, Hans¡¯ medical skills are nearly equal to mine, how could he lose to someone under thirty years old? There must be some trickery involved.¡± Victor couldn¡¯t help frowning, as in his view, Hanick was completely making trouble out of nothing. ¡°Do the two of you sense any problems?¡± Chen Yu suddenly emerged from within the castle, his hands still stained with some herbal residue. Hanick immediately raised his walking stick, pointing it at Chen Yu and cursing loudly. ¡°I thought it was someone else, but it turns out to be a young man from the East. He must have used some ¡®Demon Art¡¯ to bewitch you all. It would be best to pour away all the medicine he gave you and then drive him out, or else the entire William family will suffer terribly because of him.¡± There stood Chen Yu, who had merely come out to see what the fuss was about, and yet he was suddenly accused of so many things. ¡°Demon Art?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing; what era was it already, and yet there were still people so ignorant and foolish. He didn¡¯t want to bother with this fellow; after all, he hadn¡¯t finished preparing Reynolds¡¯ medicine yet. But just as he was about to leave, Hanick actually raised his walking stick to strike. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning; this was going too far. He directly grabbed the walking stick and then stepped forward to seize the old man¡¯s arm. [Suffering from severe bone proliferation, most joints have become calcified, life expectancy less than two months.] As the system¡¯s notification sounded, Chen Yu also diagnosed the old man¡¯s ailment. He really couldn¡¯t understand why such a sickly old man would come out to accuse him for no reason. ¡°Let go of my teacher!¡± Hans shouted and rushed forward to grapple with Chen Yu. Only then did Chen Yu understand that after all this commotion, the old man had come to stand up for Hans. ¡°Your teacher¡¯s body is already in dire straits. If he doesn¡¯t receive treatment, he won¡¯t live more than two months.¡± Hanick widened his eyes in disbelief; he was a doctor himself and was, of course, aware of his own body¡¯s condition. Severe joint proliferation had wreaked havoc on his body. If it had happened in his younger days, he might have been able to treat it himself, but now that he was old and frail, with a considerable loss of calcium from his bones, his skeleton was quite weak. If forcefully treated, it would only hasten his death. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Hanick stubbornly argued, attempting to pull his walking stick back to continue attacking Chen Yu. But Chen Yu was quick, pressing several acupoints on his arm and then firmly twisted it. The clear sound of joints popping could be heard, and Hanick¡¯s previously twisted arm suddenly straightened, becoming flexible and mobile. Hans stood there stunned: ¡°Teacher, your arm seems¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Hanick was somewhat angry; he certainly knew what had just happened. The bone deformation caused by long-term joint proliferation had been corrected in an instant. Chapter 186 - Chapter 186 - 186: Ten Years Younger Chapter 186 ¨C 186: Ten Years Younger ¡°Old gentleman, if you have nothing important, please don¡¯t raise your voice, I still have patients over there!¡± Chen Yu said with anger and then turned around to head back to the castle. Victor coughed twice lightly, ¡°Hanick, you must have seen Mr. Chen¡¯s medical skills, haven¡¯t you? That¡¯s not some kind of Demon Art, it¡¯s a legitimate method to cure diseases, and your approach is outdated.¡± Without any courtesy, Victor insulted him and then also prepared to leave. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Hanick suddenly called out, ¡°Could Victor ask Mr. Chen to take a look at my illness?¡± In Victor¡¯s eyes a hint of mockery flashed, ¡°Mr. Chen¡¯s fees are very expensive, I¡¯m afraid you don¡¯t have enough money for him to treat you.¡± Hanick immediately became anxious, as he had been tormented by his sickness for nearly a decade and could hardly bear it anymore. Just now, Chen Yu not only repositioned the bones in his arm but also opened up some of the meridians within it, providing him with immense relief. ¡°Mr. Victor, I wonder if these are enough?¡± Hanick hurriedly took out dozens of promissory notes from his person, each with a denomination of ten million. Victor spread his hands, ¡°That¡¯s a question for Mr. Chen! Currently, he is tending to Reynolds¡¯ health. When he¡¯s free, you can ask him.¡± Hanick nodded continuously and directly found a stone stump outside the castle to sit down. Hans quickly stood beside Hanick, ¡°Teacher, shouldn¡¯t we just go back? Isn¡¯t it a bit too¡­ to beg a young man from the East like this?¡± Hanick gritted his teeth, he didn¡¯t want to beg someone so casually, but it was too hard to find someone who could treat his condition. ¡°Wait until you reach my age, then you will truly understand that in the face of life, pride and dignity can be put aside.¡± Hans didn¡¯t know what to say, he just moved a stone stump from the side and sat next to Hanick. For the entire day, no one paid any attention to the master and apprentice. Even the people patrolling the outskirts for William¡¯s family just let them sit there without coming over to speak with them. At this moment, in the sickroom, life was gradually returning to Reynolds¡¯ body, his wrinkled skin starting to become firm and a healthy color returning to his pale face. ¡°Mr. Chen, here¡¯s the medicine you asked for!¡± Katherine called softly and then carefully walked in. Chen Yu smiled slightly and took the medicinal soup from her hands to feed to Reynolds. ¡°Oh my, Mr. Reynolds, you seem to have become more than ten years younger!¡± Katherine exclaimed with some excitement. Reynolds also became excited upon hearing this, ¡°Mr. Chen, could you give me a mirror to take a look?¡± Chen Yu did not speak but simply handed over a mirror. Reynolds¡¯ eyes widened immediately when he saw the reflection in the mirror. Although his body was still immobile, his consciousness was very clear, and it didn¡¯t prevent him from speaking. At this moment, he seemed to see himself as he looked in his fifties or sixties in the mirror. ¡°Mr. Chen, after three days of recuperation, how many years younger can I become?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°I¡¯ve merely opened up the meridians in your body, allowing the cells to enter a state of autophagy. The activated new cells will devour the damaged or aging cells! That¡¯s why you feel younger, but I haven¡¯t reversed your aging.¡± ¡°I know that!¡± Reynolds, unable to contain his excitement, would have jumped up if his body hadn¡¯t been restrained. ¡°As long as it can make me look younger, tell me, after the treatment ends, what age will my body revert to?¡± Chen Yu pondered briefly, ¡°You could look as young as in your forties!¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Thank you, Mr. Chen. From now on, your affairs are my Charlie family¡¯s affairs. Just give the word, and my Charlie family can do anything for you.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. Both Charlie¡¯s family and William¡¯s family were among the oldest and most prominent families in the West. It was said that over seventy percent of the world¡¯s economists were associated with Charlie¡¯s family. And, like William¡¯s family, Charlie¡¯s family was also a royal lineage. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to get too deeply involved with these families, not even with Tong Group. After all, within such prominent families, internal struggles could be quite fierce, and one could be dragged into endless trouble if caught up in their disputes by accident. However, a simple collaboration with these families was still acceptable to Chen Yu. After all, the products from his factory weren¡¯t meant just for Tong Group; exporting to the Western world was also a possibility. In that case, Charlie¡¯s family and William¡¯s family could be very good partners. Exhaling a sigh, Chen Yu gave a symbolic nod. ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble Mr. Reynolds for this!¡± ¡°Uh, Mr. Chen!¡± Katherine cautiously touched Chen Yu¡¯s arm, ¡°Is there a way for me to look a few years younger?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly. Katherine was barely in her twenties and already had an extremely charming and cute appearance, looking no more than seventeen or eighteen. To make her look even younger, wouldn¡¯t that be unfair to other girls? ¡°Your cells are very active right now, you don¡¯t need any treatment, but I do have some beauty and rejuvenation remedies. I can give them to you if you need.¡± ¡°Of course I need them!¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes shone, her face full of anticipation! Chen Yu took a pen and paper and wrote down a prescription, handing it over to her. ¡°Take this prescription and get three doses. Dry them in the sun, crush them, and then decoct them into a paste to apply on your face. Ten consecutive days of application should be enough.¡± After receiving the prescription, Katherine thanked him several times. ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen, Hanick and Hans are still at the slope outside the castle. Mr. Victor has tried to persuade them several times, but they just refuse to leave, insisting on seeing you,¡± she added. Chen Yu gave a wry smile, ¡°He knows his body won¡¯t last much longer, and he wants me to save his life.¡± ¡°So, will you see them?¡± Katherine asked uncertainly. Chen Yu let out a sigh, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go see them. It is indeed impolite to let a sick old man wait outside.¡± With that, Chen Yu put down his tools and followed Katherine out of the castle. They saw Hanick and Hans sitting together on a stone stool, looking somewhat desolate. The night wind was piercingly cold, and the teacher and student huddled together, shivering continuously. Chen Yu frowned and quickly ran over to check on them. Hans was somewhat better off, being younger. But Hanick¡¯s situation was more dangerous. His bones were already diseased, and the cold wind could exacerbate his condition, possibly even leading to his death. Chapter 187 - Chapter 187 - 187: Edward Family Chapter 187 ¨C 187: Edward Family Chen Yu beckoned at Katherine, who was by his side. ¡°Please ask Mr. Victor to find a room and settle these two masters and apprentices.¡± Katherine nodded repeatedly and hurriedly went to handle it. Before long, Hanick and Hans were brought into a reasonably spacious room. Chen Yu took out a prescription he had prepared earlier and had Katherine bring twice the amount of medicine. He then divided the medicine into two parts, making one part into a plaster for topical application on Hanick¡¯s body, while the other part was boiled into a medicinal soup for Hanick to drink. In less than ten minutes, Hanick¡¯s body underwent noticeable changes, his previously dry skin gradually becoming elastic. When Hanick awoke, his face was full of guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chen, I had some prejudices against Eastern arts! I hope you can overlook the past and heal my body.¡± Chen Yu wiped the medicine off his palms, ¡°Medicine inherently knows no borders, it¡¯s just that you Westerners are too stubborn, turning what should be simple medical knowledge and pharmacology into something complex and expensive.¡± Hanick didn¡¯t know what to say, being a seasoned physician himself, he naturally knew that the medicines from the East were more affordable and effective than those from the West. Yet, the education he received made him reluctant to accept these facts. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, only continuing to press slowly on the various joints on Hanick¡¯s body until they were in place. As the sound of bones popping and snapping continued, Hanick felt nothing but relief throughout his body. However, Hans who was adjacent to them felt his scalp tingle at the sounds. In his understanding, such noises meant either fractures or dislocations of the body. Under such circumstances, the patient should be in excruciating pain, but Hanick appeared to be enjoying it instead. This puzzled him greatly. Not much later, Hanick¡¯s previously hunched body actually became supple, and his withered skin also started to appear fuller. ¡°Katherine, find someone to take care of Mr. Hanick here. Divide these herbal soups into three parts and feed him once every two hours,¡± Chen Yu instructed. Katherine nodded, immediately took out a walkie-talkie, and called a servant over. Chen Yu then returned to Reynolds¡¯ sickroom. However, he was somewhat melancholic since the system used to prompt a points settlement every afternoon, but it had been over twenty-four hours without any notification. It seemed that from now on, the shop¡¯s earnings would no longer count towards the points settlement system. It was unclear whether the factory¡¯s income would still be considered for points. [No, it won¡¯t!] Ling Ling suddenly appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. [From now on, all earnings won¡¯t count towards points settlement. To earn points, the host must do good deeds] Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°So you mean I need to do a good deed every day, huh!¡± [Correct] ¡­ After spending about three days in the castle, Chen Yu not only healed Reynolds and Hanick but also took care of Victor¡¯s health. Before leaving, he also prescribed a medicinal recipe for physical recuperation for each of the three. Edinburgh Castle Film and Television Base. Fang Yuan leaned against a corner in her gown, feeling somewhat gloomy. ¡°Daughter, having traveled around in the West, have you had any revelations? Do you have any thoughts of setting up a film and television company here?¡± Han Mintao swirled a glass of red wine and slowly walked to Fang Yuan¡¯s side. A hint of inexplicable sorrow appeared on Fang Yuan¡¯s face, ¡°When I was in Frankfurt, I saw Chen Yu. He actually sat on an equal footing with both William¡¯s family and Charlie¡¯s family.¡± The red wine that Han Mintao had just taken a sip of almost sprayed out. ¡°What? He actually connected with both William and Charlie¡¯s two major families!¡± Fang Yuan nodded, ¡°I finally won the gamble and obtained three billion in capital, but I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong, I still feel stifled.¡± The wager had been too tough for her to win. Not only did she have to spend every day wining and dining, but she also had to be wary of these guys making a move on her. Especially Zhao Hai from the Zhao Family in the capital, who several times almost drugged her without her noticing. If it hadn¡¯t been for Han Mingtao arriving in time, she might have lost even her last shred of dignity. So now that she had won the capital through the wager, she could make Zhao Hai suffer a loss in silence, but the Zhao Family in the capital would not let her off easily. That was why Han Mintao brought Fang Yuan to the West to set up a film and television company. Initially, they hoped to make connections with William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s families at the small-scale auction, but the current situation had taken mother and daughter by surprise. ¡°Chen Yu! I really didn¡¯t expect him to be able to mix with such world-class tycoons.¡± Han Mintao sighed and then took an invitation out of her pocket, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, daughter, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s only one path in this world, the Edward Family previously sent me an invitation, saying they want to collaborate with the East to set up a film and television company.¡± The gloom on Fang Yuan¡¯s face instantly dissipated. The Edward Family might not be as powerful as William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s dynasties, but in the Western world, they were still absolutely dominant. If she could reach an agreement with the Edward Family, she would have the power to contend with the Zhao Family in the capital. ¡°Mom, you really have connections everywhere, even managing to connect with the Edward Family!¡± Han Mintao wore a smug look, ¡°Of course, with so many years spent struggling in the entertainment circle, how could your mom lack resources?¡± ¡°Hurry and pick out a nicer gown, we¡¯re going to the ball tonight.¡± ¡­ The General Administration of Related Departments in Suzhou City. Zhou Shengtao gave Chen Yu a bear hug, continuously patting him on the back. ¡°Chen, you¡¯ve truly surprised me. When we caught that guy Bel, I didn¡¯t have much hope, but you managed to nab two! To think you could even capture a figure like Kanai alive!¡± No matter how strong Chen Yu was, being heavily slapped like that, he couldn¡¯t help coughing a few times. ¡°Captain Zhou, it was pure chance that I ran into William¡¯s family folks. Without their help, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to catch these two.¡± Only then did Zhou Shengtao let go of Chen Yu, ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Chen!¡± Just then, a staff member ran in flusteredly, delivering a folder into Zhou Shengtao¡¯s hands. ¡°Captain Zhou, an entire town under Suzhou City has suddenly experienced mass food poisoning, we urgently need to dispatch medical staff, and some of our people will also need to be pulled away to maintain order.¡± Zhou Shengtao¡¯s face dramatically changed, the excitement from before completely vanished. He didn¡¯t dare to be the slightest bit negligent and immediately deployed the few office staff who were on duty. ¡°Captain Zhou, how about I go along as well?¡± No sooner had Chen Yu said this than Zhou Shengtao paused in surprise. If this had been before, Chen Yu would certainly not have volunteered like this, seeing that he wasn¡¯t a specialized staff member. What caused such a sudden change of heart!? Chapter 188 - Chapter 188 ¨C 188 Group Therapy ¡°Xiao Chen, you¡¯ve just come back, and you¡¯re not planning to return to spend time with your wife and child?¡± Zhou Shengtao asked somewhat uncertainly. Yet Chen Yu put on an air of righteousness, ¡°Now that I¡¯m considered an informal member of the staff, with such severe cases of food poisoning, I ought to lend a hand. Besides, I do hold a medical practitioner license.¡± Zhou Shengtao looked at Chen Yu with obvious admiration. ¡°Good, then you follow us and go, too!¡± Without saying much else, Chen Yu directly joined the relevant personnel and got into the vehicle. After the system upgrade, the only way to accumulate points was to do good deeds. He now had to test just how many points he could accumulate from various activities. Besides, he still wasn¡¯t very familiar with the system and needed to understand all of its attributes in the shortest time possible. There were many rural towns on the outskirts of Suzhou City, and the one they were headed to was an extremely densely populated township. The economic growth of this township was said to be the fastest in all of Suzhou City. As they just entered the township, vast fields of cash crops came into view. Moreover, the air here was extraordinarily fresh, and even Chen Yu greedily inhaled several breaths. However, just as they were about to reach the residential area, they found many people collapsed by the roadside, clutching their stomachs in agony. And their bodies were extremely thin, looking malnourished from afar. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he had never seen such symptoms before. [System notification: all villagers are suffering from parafossarulus gland snail gland poisoning, and the host is advised not to consume any local water or food.] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; he knew that the parafossarulus carried parasites, which at most entered the human brain and damaged nerve tissue. As long as one underwent surgery, it could still be cured. But looking at these people, it seemed like something had completely sucked away the nutrients in their bodies, and even their bones appeared broken. Chen Yu put on a mask and got out of the car, helping up one of the individuals lying by the roadside. After a quick examination of the patient¡¯s body, he found that the person was filled with a large number of worm eggs, some of which had already penetrated the internal organs. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing became rapid; he had to cure these people in the shortest time, or else the worm eggs of the parafossarulus would eat them alive into skeletons. ¡°Ling Ling, do you have any treatment methods?¡± [The illness is a variant strain of the parafossarulus snail disease, and currently, there is no effective treatment method.] Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Then what do we do? Are we just going to watch these villagers die?¡± [The only way is to find a method to attract the worm eggs out of the patients¡¯ bodies.] A rough plan then emerged in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. To Chen Yu¡¯s relief, this time the system did not charge any points. ¡°Mr. Chen, how are things looking?¡± a relevant official hurried over to ask as they got out of the car. ¡°Tell everyone not to eat anything here, especially water, don¡¯t drink it at all! Additionally, contact nearby towns to gather a large amount of pork and medicinal herbs,¡± Chen Yu said and then handed over a prescription he had written. The worker, not daring to be negligent, took the prescription and drove off. Basically, everyone in the town had fallen ill with the same disease, suffering unbearably. The parasites within their bodies were a variant of the golden apple snail, in other words, these snails treated the human body as a kind of parasitic nourishment. Unless these patients were burned to death together, the variant of the golden apple snail could be completely eradicated. But such inhumane treatment methods would be agreed upon by no one. The only choice was to use pork soaked in medicinal water to lure the snail eggs out of the human body. It wasn¡¯t long before a large quantity of pork and medicinal materials had been delivered here. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately preparing a bowl of medicine soup and then placing a piece of pork into it, bringing it in front of an elderly patient with severe symptoms. The old man¡¯s body was so withered and twisted in constant spasms that he looked as though he wouldn¡¯t survive for much longer. Chen Yu fed the old man some strength-building medicinal pills he had prepared and then made a small incision on his wrist. He then placed the medicated pork under the wrist. Before long, fresh blood mingled with pink particles began to flow out of the old man¡¯s body, seeping into the pork. Once all of the pink particles had left the old man¡¯s body, his complexion noticeably improved. After checking the old man¡¯s body and confirming that all the eggs were cleared, Chen Yu immediately treated the wound. He then threw the bowl in his hands into the prepared furnace. With a series of light popping sounds, those eggs were directly burnt to ashes. This method of treatment made the onlookers shudder. Who could have thought that these eggs would burrow into a person¡¯s body? Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, at least proving that this method was effective. ¡°Everyone, please follow the method I¡¯ve taught earlier and treat the patients in the town one by one. Remember, do not touch those pink particles!¡± Although the people were reluctant, they were the relevant personnel after all. Moreover, Chen Yu had already provided the method, so they had no excuse not to get to work. Therefore, the people could not fuss overmuch and hurriedly treated the patients according to the method Chen Yu had taught. After three full days, they were finally able to relieve all the patients of their ailments. The township had a population of over five hundred thousand; if not for the large number of supporting personnel who came to help, it would have taken even longer. In the following days, Chen Yu strolled through the fields, tossing his prepared medicinal materials into the water sources. These medicines were formulated after meticulous analysis by the system, which could kill the snails and ensure the water sources wouldn¡¯t be damaged. [Congratulations, Host, you have earned one thousand reward points] Chen Yu felt somewhat frustrated; to think that resolving the ailments of over five hundred thousand people garnered him so little reward. He sighed in resignation, did not linger any longer, and after a brief farewell to the accompanying personnel, he went straight back to Watermoon No. 1. By now it was ten o¡¯clock at night, Tong Ya had already returned home and was practicing yoga in front of the TV with Tuan Tuan. Seeing Chen Yu return, the two beauties, one big and one small, greeted him warmly. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re finally back. You¡¯ve been gone for nearly half a month this time!¡± Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head somewhat sheepishly, ¡°That¡¯s why Daddy rushed back in the shortest time possible.¡± Tuan Tuan giggled and then took a few steps back. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯ve learned a new dance, I¡¯ll perform it for you now!¡± Chapter 189 - Chapter 189 - 189 Supplementary Provisions Chapter 189 ¨C 189 Supplementary Provisions Chen Yu¡¯s face was also filled with gratification, as he pulled Tong Ya¡¯s hand and leaned to sit on the sofa together. Tuan Tuan, after all, had a foundation in dance, and with Tong Ya¡¯s instruction, her dance posture could now be considered quite accomplished. Chen Guang and Li Lan also ran out from their room. In this period, the couple had been worried sick, especially after learning that Chen Yu had been called away by Zhou Shengtao, they were even more scared. Since childhood, Chen Yu had always been an incredibly honest child, and after graduating from university, he had worked steadily in a company, never having undertaken any dangerous tasks. How could they not worry when he was suddenly summoned by Zhou Shengtao? However, seeing Chen Yu return safe and sound now, they too were relieved. Just then, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly started ringing insistently. He had just picked up the call when his brow furrowed involuntarily. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of trouble at the factory, I need to go over there!¡± He said this in a rush and then hurried out the door. The expansion of the entire factory had been completed, and what had looked like a disorderly construction site was now extremely tidy. All the factory buildings and workshops had entered normal operations, and Hou Jianchang had also hired a large number of workers. When Chen Yu arrived, he found a huge crowd of people standing on the empty ground of the factory, each one looking fierce, all of them carrying various types of weapons. The man leading them was even holding a big pile of documents, looking extremely domineering. ¡°Hou Jianchang, I don¡¯t care who you sold this factory to, but I just have one question for you, can the debt we owed before be settled now?¡± Hou Jianchang stood there, his face full of anger. By his expression, he obviously did not acknowledge any so-called debts. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed as he hurried over. Seeing Chen Yu approaching, Hou Jianchang suddenly seemed somewhat embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve troubled you again!¡± ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Chen Yu was completely in the dark. He had previously checked all of Hou Jianchang¡¯s accounts, and apart from the money he had paid off for him before, it seemed there were no other debts. Now, how could suddenly a whole bunch of people appear, asking for their debts to be paid? Hou Jianchang¡¯s face turned red. ¡°It was a contract I signed a long time ago, but I didn¡¯t notice the supplementary clause in it, which said that if my factory went bankrupt, I had to pay tenfold compensation.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief. That wasn¡¯t any supplementary clause; it was more like an extortionate demand. Tenfold compensation was outright robbery! [System Prompt: Many of the supplementary clauses in the contract are illegal agreements and do not need to be adhered to.] Chen Yu was well aware of this logic, but in this world, many things happen without regard for whether you comply with regulations. Many people are only interested in the outcome. Moreover, the fact that they had brought so many people today suggested an attitude of if you don¡¯t give the money, you¡¯ll pay with your life. If Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t pay up, these guys might just break his leg on the spot. ¡°Is there any way to amend the contract?¡± Chen Yu quietly asked in his mind. Only by changing the supplementary clauses in the contract could he take control of the situation now. [Yes, but it will cost ten points.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t care about that now and immediately chose to agree. The next moment, the electronic agreement regarding the contract immediately appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Then the clause about tenfold compensation was changed to 0.1 times. Even the paper document the other party was holding underwent a change. A look of worry instantaneously transformed on Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°Ten times the compensation? Let¡¯s not talk about whether such a clause is compliant, I just don¡¯t believe there¡¯s anyone foolish enough to sign such an addendum.¡± The other party snorted coldly and directly placed the document in front of Chen Yu. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, have a look for yourself. Hou¡¯s signature and thumbprint are right there.¡± Chen Yu snatched the contract and quickly found the supplementary clause. ¡°What is this, it clearly states a single times compensation; plus, I remember when the factory went bankrupt, this money should have already been compensated to you, right?¡± The person seized the contract back: ¡°How is that possible, when we signed it clearly stated ten times¡­ But as soon as he saw the contract in his hands, he was stunned to see that the ten times compensation had somehow changed to just 0.1 times. The man¡¯s breathing immediately became hurried, as he hastily pulled out his phone to flip through the electronic contract. When he saw that the electronic contract also stated 0.1 times compensation, he suddenly started to doubt his life. ¡°Impossible, this can¡¯t be possible, did you tamper with the contract?¡± The man directly pointed at Chen Yu, his face full of aggression. Chen Yu frowned, ¡°What does this have to do with me? You were the ones who signed the contract, and both the paper and electronic versions should belong to the same system; it states one times compensation on both. How could you out of the blue ask Hou for so much money, is this extortion?¡± With that, the logic leaned towards Chen Yu¡¯s side, and the opposing man instantly became flustered. But such a person wouldn¡¯t abide by any clause; he directly tossed the contract aside. ¡°To hell with the contract, brothers, as long as we get the money today, each of you will get a reward of a thousand!¡± With that, everyone present was instantly stirred up. These people were basically the type who hauled heavy sacks under the overpass; they could earn at most two to three hundred a day. Now, with a thousand yuan laid out in front of them, anyone who wouldn¡¯t take it was an idiot! A group of men readied themselves, brandishing their weapons and charging over with primeval yells. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that; with justice on his side, he could kill one or two in self-defense. His figure flashed sharply, and he rushed into the crowd, seizing a pair of baseball bats and immediately started weaving through the throng. His body had already reached human limits, not only fast but also extremely powerful. The sixty to seventy people before him weren¡¯t enough for him to deal with; in barely five minutes, all of them were down on the ground, wailing miserably. Finally, only the leader stood there in shock. ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Chen Yu threw down the baseball bats, ¡°I¡¯m the new chairman of this factory. You¡¯re causing a scene here with a contract that was fulfilled a long time ago, which to me is just extortion.¡± With that, he immediately phoned Zhou Shengtao. The leader instantly grew nervous and, seizing the opportunity, tried to flee. But he¡¯d barely made it two steps when Chen Yu¡¯s figure flashed, blocking his path and striking him squarely in the chest. A mouthful of blood spurted out, and the man passed out. It wasn¡¯t long before Zhou Shengtao arrived in a hurry with several officials. Yet looking at the mayhem, Zhou Shengtao frowned. Chapter 190 - Chapter 190 - 190: Purple Blood Chapter 190 ¨C 190: Purple Blood ¡°Chen Yu, what¡¯s happened recently? Why has it turned into such a mess?¡± When Chen Yu used to call Zhou Shengtao over, it was mainly to apprehend criminals, and they wouldn¡¯t harm these guys. But this time, sixty or seventy people were injured, muscles torn and bones broken, with more than half of them having passed out. In such a situation, if Chen Yu did not offer a reasonable explanation, Zhou Shengtao would have to take him back according to the relevant regulations. Chen Yu was well aware of Zhou Shengtao¡¯s intent and immediately picked up a contract from the ground, then he fished out the lead man¡¯s cellphone. ¡°Captain Zhou, this is a very old contract, and the debt it mentions has already been paid by Boss Hou; I didn¡¯t expect these guys to come back to extort us.¡± Zhou Shengtao glanced at the contract and the receipt Hou Jianchang had passed over, and immediately understood the situation. ¡°Chen Yu, your factory has only been open for a few days, and already you¡¯ve had so many people causing trouble, I¡¯d say you should report to the relevant departments, organize the workers here, and form a district. That way, I can assign a few people to be stationed here.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°That is indeed a good idea! We currently have over eight hundred workers, which meets the basic requirements to form a district.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I will help you apply for it. Later, bring your documents to my office!¡± After giving a few instructions, Zhou Shengtao took all those troublemakers away. Just then, a large crowd came rushing over with various tools, and the leader among them was Xie Jiang. ¡°Where are they? Have I arrived too late?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Old Xie, why are you here?¡± Xie Jiang set down the large sledgehammer he was carrying on the ground, ¡°With such a big incident here at Boss Hou¡¯s, how could I not come over to help?¡± Chen Yu patted Xie Jiang on the shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s okay, everything has been resolved!¡± Xie Jiang also breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°By the way, Chen Yu, a while back when we were working, we found a deep pit over there. Since it wasn¡¯t inside the factory area, I told the men to fill it in first.¡± As he spoke, Xie Jiang took out a silver-white bead from his pocket. ¡°This was dug up from that pit. Can you tell what it is?¡± Chen Yu took one look and was momentarily startled. ¡°This should be a burial object from the Yuan Dynasty! Did you guys find a tomb?¡± Xie Jiang scratched his head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It could be. Why don¡¯t you come and take a look with us?¡± Chen Yu became excited instantly, as he had not expected to find an ancient tomb near the factory area. He quickly followed Xie Jiang to the southeast corner of the factory area. This location was indeed on the perimeter of the factory area, and very well hidden, covered by a layer of lime slabs. After removing the lime slabs, a tomb chamber appeared, neither too large nor too small, but without any luster; there were only a dozen or so large chests. Two of the chests were crushed, containing silks and fine fabric that, due to age, had already rotted away, leaving only some accessories behind. The remaining chests were intact, protected by an outer layer of iron sheeting. Chen Yu grabbed a pair of simple gloves from the side and got down into the tomb chamber to tap and knock on those chests. ¡°Ling Ling, can you scan to check the items inside the chests?¡± [Thirteen pine chests, five chests of gold, three chests of pearls, three chests of black rhino horn, two chests of jade jewelry.] The more Chen Yu heard, the more excited he became; it was clearly the tomb of a wealthy ancient family¡¯s daughter, perhaps even of a princess¡¯s status. But the things inside here were treasures by any measure, and he couldn¡¯t just dispose of them heedlessly. ¡°First, let¡¯s secure this place. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll call some archaeologists to take a deep dive into it.¡± Everyone else had no choice but to follow Chen Yu¡¯s instructions. After making another round inside the factory, Chen Yu drove back to Shuiyue No. 1. But just as he reached the entrance, he suddenly spotted a sneaky figure skulking outside his villa. Chen Yu frowned, quietly drove his car into the underground garage, and then directly made his way to the back of the villa. He saw a skinny man constantly rubbing something against the corner of a wall, occasionally sparking some flames. Moreover, a thick scent of gunpowder wafted constantly from that spot. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and he charged over. Unexpectedly, the skinny man reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side in a flash. Chen Yu was shocked; after all, his physical condition had reached the human limit, and there were very few people in this world who could evade his moves. As he was taken aback, the skinny man¡¯s body charged at him like lightning. Chen Yu hastily threw a punch, clashing with the man¡¯s fist, and the resulting impact was so powerful it actually snapped two nearby arhat trees at the waist. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened; he felt an incredibly terrifying force coming from his fist, making his arm tremble slightly. Instinctively stepping back a few paces to dissipate the force in his arm, Chen Yu looked coldly at the other party. ¡°Chen Yu, you really are as formidable as the legends say! It¡¯s just a pity that you¡¯ve offended someone you shouldn¡¯t have. I came here today to send you and your family to the Western Paradise!¡± The man¡¯s voice was somewhat maniacal as he pulled out a palm-sized explosive device from his body. [Hostile threat detected, automatic defense function activated] The next moment, a blue-white glow suddenly spread across Chen Yu¡¯s body, and he felt a surge of wild power bursting forth from within. Then, his body charged like lightning, snatching the explosive device from the man¡¯s hand, and followed with a fierce punch. This punch was ten times more powerful than the previous one, sending the man flying into the nearby wall with a heavy impact. The man was utterly dazed, his eyes bulging wide. ¡°This is impossible, how did your strength suddenly become so great?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother explaining, he charged again with another thunderous punch. This punch landed squarely on the opponent¡¯s head, burying him into the ground. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stop there; he grabbed the man by the neck and gave it a vicious twist. It was only then that he breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, Chen Yu suddenly noticed a purple badge hanging at the man¡¯s waist, with the words ¡°Fei Yun¡± written on it. [Detection reveals the subject has been injected with an excitant drug, resulting in severe damage to internal organs] Chen Yu furrowed his brows; an excitant drug capable of stimulating human potential to this extent was definitely extraordinary. After a quick examination of the man¡¯s body, Chen Yu was surprised to find that the man¡¯s blood had turned purple. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191 - 191: Come Less Often in the Future Chapter 191 ¨C 191: Come Less Often in the Future Chen Yu took the badge from the man¡¯s waist, his eyes suddenly flashing with a trace of murderous intent. ¡°Can it scan what this Flying Cloud means?¡± [Its headquarters is located in Cyprus, with Carnai as one of its members] A flood of information then appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. His pupils involuntarily trembled violently, indicating that the strength of this Flying Cloud was extremely formidable, with Carnai only ranking seventh within it. Such a powerful organization standing there could threaten the safety of his family at any time. Chen Yu suddenly felt a chill down his spine. [Organization decomposition program initiated, will process the corpse for the host] Subsequently, the lean man¡¯s body visibly dissipated at a rapid pace, ultimately turning into a pile of light purple powder. ¡°Flying Cloud, huh?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with fierceness as he crushed the Flying Cloud Token in his hand and returned to the villa. The next morning, Chen Yu arrived at the shop with a troubled mind, filled with information about Flying Cloud. Perhaps even someone at the level of Zhou Shengtao wouldn¡¯t necessarily know of Flying Cloud¡¯s existence. By 8 A.M., a long line had formed outside the shop, mostly comprised of delivery boys. Just as he was about to go in and help, he suddenly noticed that next to the convenience store opposite, a lottery shop had opened. For such national chain stores, it¡¯s not strange for them to open anywhere, but the location of this shop seemed a bit off to Chen Yu. That spot was perfectly positioned to observe everything inside Chen Yu¡¯s shop from the side. However, the system didn¡¯t give any hints; maybe he was just being overly nervous. Just as he was about to enter his shop, shaking his head, he suddenly saw Xie Jiang and a few workers under his command at the counter of the lottery shop, seemingly playing with scratch-off lottery tickets or something of the sort. Chen Yu frowned slightly and instinctively walked over. ¡°Lao Xie, feeling leisurely today?¡± Xie Jiang scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, ¡°It¡¯s just neighbors supporting the new shop! Plus, I wanted to see if I was lucky enough.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow; there were already dozens of scratched and discarded scratch-off lotteries beside Xie Jiang and the workers. Normally, the win rate of these things should be fairly high, but having scratched so many without a single win was suspicious. [System Alert, this store¡¯s procedures are incomplete, all items sold are recycled goods] Chen Yu¡¯s mouth opened slightly, and he subconsciously surveyed his surroundings, noticing that indeed, the shop¡¯s interior wasn¡¯t much to look at, looking like the previous wonton shop with some minor modifications. Looking at this, it seemed the owner planned to use counterfeit scratch-offs to make a quick buck before taking off. Just then, a mass of information suddenly flooded Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Afterward, the results of all the scratch-offs in the shop appeared before his eyes. Indeed, amongst the more than six thousand various scratch-off tickets, fewer than fifty were winners. The grim-faced shop owner was sitting behind the counter at this moment, looking at Xie Jiang and the others with a gaze that expected to fool the gullible. ¡°Sir, would you like to play?¡± The owner took out a scratch-off lottery ticket from the counter and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun then!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, ¡°But I¡¯d like to pick one myself.¡± The owner immediately became excited. For him, the shorter the duration the shop was open, the better, and the quicker the money was made, the better. As long as he could sell all the scratch cards here in the shortest amount of time, he could move on to another location. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care too much, he directly picked out forty-eight scratch cards from the pile. But as he picked out these scratch cards, the owner¡¯s eyes suddenly bulged like a cow¡¯s. The owner had made special marks on each scratch card, and these forty-eight were the winning guarantees he had deliberately kept aside. After all, if such things kept losing, anyone would become suspicious. But now all the winning guarantees had been picked out, which greatly alarmed the owner. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already scratched off ten cards and passed the scratched cards to Xie Jiang, asking him to help verify them. ¡°Old Chen, won a hundred bucks!¡± ¡°This one has twenty bucks!¡± ¡­ It was too late for the owner to stop him; Chen Yu was very fast. Soon, all the scratch cards had been scratched. However, the amounts won were very small, with the sum totaling less than two thousand yuan. Chen Yu deliberately made a discontented face, ¡°Boss, the amount you offer is way too small. Other places have prizes up to a million.¡± Sweat suddenly erupted like a torrent on the owner¡¯s forehead. If his store offered a million yuan prize, would he even survive? ¡°This sort of thing depends on luck. Besides, you¡¯ve only scratched fifty cards. Scratch a few more, and maybe you¡¯ll hit the jackpot.¡± Chen Yu sat down next to him and tapped on the counter. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, aside from the ones I just scratched, the rest probably won¡¯t have any prize!¡± The owner was stunned for a moment, and his body began to tremble slightly. ¡°Sir, what are you implying?¡± Chen Yu took one of the winning scratch cards, ¡°No implication, I¡¯m just wondering what these marks are about. Don¡¯t tell me they were there when they were made.¡± Xie Jiang and a few workers beside him hurried to examine the winning cards and found an extremely subtle mark on each of them. A wave of anger erupted among them. By this point, even a fool would understand what was going on. ¡°Great, no wonder you called us over to play early in the morning. Turns out it was all a trick; you were using us as patsies! And we were even nice enough to come support your business.¡± Xie Jiang was at the peak of his anger and went straight up, grabbing the owner¡¯s collar, almost dragging him out from behind the counter. At this moment, Chen Yu called Zhou Shengtao, asking him to send someone to arrest the culprit. The owner¡¯s face turned ashen; the marks he had made were extremely secretive and should not have been noticeable to the average person. Moreover, Chen Yu had picked the cards directly from behind the glass counter. It wasn¡¯t long before the owner was taken away, and the entire shop was closed down. Xie Jiang resentfully threw the bunch of scratch cards he was holding onto the ground. ¡°Such bad luck early in the morning!¡± Chen Yu patted Xie Jiang on the shoulder: ¡°Alright, even if places like these were legitimate, we can¡¯t always come here.¡± Xie Jiang sighed helplessly: ¡°I just wanted to teach these kids a lesson, and considering the owner was a neighbor¡­¡± Xie Jiang became somewhat incoherent, not knowing what to say, just looking resentfully at one of the young men. ¡°Did you hear what Boss Chen said? If you need money, come to me. Places like this, you¡¯re better off avoiding in the future.¡± Chapter 192 - Chapter 192 - 192 Underground Boxing Ring Chapter 192 ¨C 192 Underground Boxing Ring The young man who was scolded had a face full of grievance, constantly keeping one hand in his pocket as if searching for something. ¡°Brother Jiang, it¡¯s just that something happened at home, and I didn¡¯t know what to do.¡± Xie Jiang couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°What happened exactly that you have to come here to play scratch-off lottery?¡± The young man hung his head, ¡°Suddenly, a strange illness appeared in our area, and both my parents have caught it! The hospital said for a cure, it¡¯s over seven hundred thousand per person.¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s face was filled with astonishment, ¡°What kind of illness costs so much money?¡± Chen Yu, however, was intrigued, ¡°Strange illness? Tell me about it?¡± The young man sighed and pulled out a medical record from his person. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but the doctor prescribed a whole bunch of medicine, and even said surgery was necessary!¡± Chen Yu took a look at the medical record and immediately furrowed his brow. The symptoms recorded there seemed to be muscle atrophy caused by sepsis. Yet some symptoms went beyond the scope of sepsis, appearing like bone marrow mutations. ¡®Ling Ling, can you analyze any results?¡¯ [The medical case is too chaotic, need to see the patient for detailed analysis] Chen Yu gave the medical record back, ¡°Can you take me to see your parents?¡± The young man hesitated and instinctively glanced at Xie Jiang beside him. ¡°What are you hesitating for?¡± Xie Jiang lightly kicked the young man¡¯s rear, ¡°Mr. Chen has a medical practitioner license, perhaps he could cure your parents¡¯ illness.¡± The young man immediately became excited, and just as he was about to lead Chen Yu to the hospital, two menacing-looking thugs suddenly drove up to the entrance of Chen Yu¡¯s shop. Lan Jing was taking out the trash at the entrance when the two men got out of the car and charged directly towards her. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened and with a quick dart across the street, he flew into a kick. Caught off guard, one of the tough guys was sent flying by the kick, and Chen Yu also grabbed the wrist of the other. ¡°Brother Yu!¡± Lan Jing seemed to have not yet realized what was happening. Chen Yu quickly pulled the tough guy he was holding over and punched him squarely in the chest. A sharp crack of breaking bones echoed instantly as the man spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Who are you guys? What business do you have coming here looking for trouble?¡± The tough guy¡¯s eyes were wide open, his face a picture of disbelief as he stared at Chen Yu. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so formidable, and his companion had already passed out. ¡°Big brother, we were just paid to make trouble at your shop.¡± Speaking, the tough guy hurriedly took out his cell phone and showed a contact. Chen Yu wasted no time and dialed out immediately. ¡°Is the job done?¡± an extremely gloomy voice came through the phone. ¡°Done, and caught someone too, where should we meet?¡± Chen Yu deliberately lowered his voice, mimicking the tough guy¡¯s manner of speaking. ¡°Suzhou City South, Liang Gezhuang!¡± After confirming the location, Chen Yu called over Li Gang and Ning Kai. He tied up the two thugs, then after giving a few instructions, he hurried off. As he passed by Xie Jiang, he made a telephone gesture to the young man. The message meant they should go to the hospital first. Liang Gezhuang is located in the southern part of Suzhou City, a newly redeveloped urban village. Because it¡¯s close to the city center and connected by subway, it has developed quite rapidly over the years. Chen Yu followed the address on his phone and quickly found a self-built residential building. The small building had three floors and looked simple yet impressive, with various rental ads plastered on the doorway. At this moment, several young people who had just arrived in Suzhou City were standing at the entrance, dialing the phone number from an advertisement. Chen Yu suddenly saw his past self in these young people. Back when he had just graduated from college and started his internship, he had been just like these youths, searching everywhere for a place to live and a job to work. Chen Yu took a deep breath and then headed straight upstairs. In a self-built attic on the rooftop, four hefty men were excitedly playing mahjong. Chen Yu glanced into the room, then kicked the door open. All four men looked over in unison, their eyes filled with shock. ¡°Who the hell are you, looking to die?¡± A cold smirk flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s face, and he darted forward, sending a fist into one man, knocking him airborne. The remaining three men scrambled to their feet, searching for weapons at hand. But to their dismay, Chen Yu was too quick; in just a few moves, he had knocked all three to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to live; tell me, who are you guys, and who¡¯s pulling your strings from behind?¡± The breathing of the four men suddenly became frantic; at this moment, they finally got a clear look at Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s you! How is this possible? Could it be that you¡¯ve taken down Li Shan and Li Shi? They¡¯re champions in Suzhou City¡¯s underground boxing ring!¡± Chen Yu slapped the speaking man in the face and then seized his throat. ¡°Answer my earlier question!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Suzhou City Gourmet Association!¡± the hefty man yelled in haste: ¡°Old Master Hu Chong!¡± Chen Yu frowned then a whole bunch of information flashed through his mind. After all this trouble, it turned out that this Hu Chong was the president of the Gourmet Association, Hu Yan¡¯s younger brother. Moreover, this Hu Chong operated an underground boxing ring, with no shortage of experts under his command. To some extent, the Gourmet Association still relied on Hu Chong. A frigid expression covered Chen Yu¡¯s face as he slowly tightened his grip on the hefty man¡¯s hand. ¡°Now, do me a favor and tell me where the underground boxing ring is!¡± The hefty man was obviously struggling to breathe: ¡°It¡¯s in Liang Gezhuang!¡± After getting the specific location, Chen Yu pricked each of the four men with a needle, rendering them immobile. Then he set off directly for the underground boxing ring. Beforehand, he had made a call to Zhou Shengtao. In the center of Liang Gezhuang, there was an abandoned roller rink, looking quite desolate and void of people. In a corner of the rink, one could faintly make out a concealed entrance. Without hesitation, Chen Yu walked in. Just a few steps down the staircase, Chen Yu noticed a faint glimmer of light. As he prepared to walk towards it, he suddenly bumped into something muscular. ¡°What are you doing? Got an invitation?¡± The gruff voice took Chen Yu by surprise, and only then did he realize a man with an unusually large build stood before him. Chen Yu lightly exhaled a breath and casually struck the big man¡¯s chest. The man collapsed onto the ground. ¡°Overestimating yourself!¡± Chen Yu dusted off his hands and pushed open the door before him, stepping into the underground boxing ring. The raucous noise suddenly erupted; the scene before him was like entering another world. On the vast ring, two burly, muscular men were colliding fiercely, with extensive bruising already visible on their bodies. One of them had even lost an eye. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193 - 193 Professor Level Chapter 193 ¨C 193 Professor Level Chen Yu frowned involuntarily; he had never seen such a scene in Suzhou City before. Below the ring, almost everyone was placing bets, and the cheers echoed throughout the venue. Among the crowd, there was a particularly sleazy-looking guy, sitting on an elevated platform. He held two flamboyant women in his arms, his eyes filled with lust and greed. ¡°Boss Hu, for this match, you should clear a profit of seventy million, right?¡± A man stood beside Hu Chong obsequiously, his demeanor several times sleazier than Hu Chong¡¯s. Hu Chong glanced at the man disdainfully, ¡°What, you want a slice of the pie?¡± The man snickered, ¡°You promised me one-tenth of the profit. After all, I brought over several of the fighters.¡± Hu Chong laughed loudly, ¡°Do you think you are someone significant? Just because you found a measly few fighters, you want to carve out one-tenth of the earnings!¡± The man¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Hu Chong directly took out a plaque from his body, which had ¡°Feiyun¡± boldly written on it. ¡°I¡¯m now working for Feiyun. All the properties under my name are branches of Feiyun. What rights do you have to claim a share?¡± The man took a step back instinctively, and before he could react, a short knife had already pierced through his heart. Hu Chong gave him a fierce kick and spat on him. ¡°Still thinking about taking money from me, dream on!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu witnessed all of this and then slipped away quietly. By now, Zhou Shengtao had already arrived with a large number of related personnel, positioned around the area. As soon as Chen Yu came out, he hurried over. ¡°Captain Zhou, you¡¯re here!¡± Zhou Shengtao was brimming with excitement, ¡°After catching the Culinary Association, we¡¯ve been looking for Hu Chong. I never expected that he¡¯d be hiding here.¡± Chen Yu checked the time, ¡°I¡¯ll leave this place to you then; I have something else to do and need to go to the hospital.¡± Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t stop him and even gave Chen Yu his car. Just as he arrived at the hospital, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ¡°Husband, where are you? I¡¯m at the hospital with Tuan Tuan now!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Tuan Tuan?¡± ¡°Gastric colic!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s voice was extremely anxious. ¡°I¡¯m already at the hospital. Where are you and Tuan Tuan?¡± Chen Yu rushed into the hospital lobby. ¡°Third floor VIP ward, room 302!¡± Once Chen Yu confirmed the room number, he went straight up to the third floor and quickly reached the ward. Tuan Tuan lay weakly in bed, her little face pale. ¡°Husband!¡± Tong Ya got up in a hurry, her face full of apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t take good care of Tuan Tuan¡­¡± As soon as Tong Ya saw Chen Yu, she kept apologizing as if she had made a grave mistake. Chen Yu quickly embraced Tong Ya, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s me; I haven¡¯t been home often recently!¡± Ever since the system upgrade, Chen Yu had been busy testing the system¡¯s various capabilities and accumulating points in various ways and amounts. He hadn¡¯t taken good care of Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya for quite some time. ¡°Dad, Mom, don¡¯t fight anymore. It¡¯s my fault. After eating the fish fillet, I secretly ate some ice cream!¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and quickly sat down beside Tuan Tuan, grabbing her small hand. ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± Tuan Tuan still had a hint of guilt in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m fine now, Dad!¡± [System prompt: The doctor reduced the medication, which could lead to delayed recovery.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°Ya Ya, you stay here and take care of Tuan Tuan, I¡¯ll go buy some medicine!¡± Tong Ya nodded obediently and then picked up the bowl of nutritional porridge next to her, bringing it to Tuan Tuan¡¯s lips. The current hospitals in Suzhou City had undergone changes, essentially achieving a separation between medical consultation and medication dispensing. Apart from some patented medicinal materials exclusive to the hospitals, the rest of the medicines were available for purchase at affiliated pharmacies. As soon as Chen Yu arrived at the pharmacy, he saw a little girl standing in front of the counter, holding a hundred-yuan note, looking distraught. ¡°Little sister, I¡¯ve told you already, we don¡¯t have the medicine you need right now, only this kind is available. You should let an adult from your family come!¡± The little girl stood on tiptoe, ¡°My mom¡¯s in the hospital and can¡¯t come! I remember the last time we bought this medicine, it only cost eighty yuan.¡± ¡°You little girl, why can¡¯t you understand? I¡¯ve told you that the medicine you want is no longer available, we only have¡­¡± ¡°Norfloxacin, erythromycin¡­¡± Chen Yu interrupted the salesperson, rattling off a long list of medications. The salesperson didn¡¯t dare to neglect and quickly packed up the medications Chen Yu needed. After paying, Chen Yu took two boxes of medicine out of his bag and handed them to the little girl. ¡°The medicine you need can be substituted with these two, and together, they only cost five yuan!¡± The little girl widened her eyes in shock, staring at Chen Yu. The salesperson nearby was also agape. Anyone working here had to have some pharmaceutical knowledge. She certainly knew which medications could serve as substitutes. Seeing the two boxes of medicine that Chen Yu pulled out, she also understood that Chen Yu was no ordinary person. Naturally, she didn¡¯t dare to say much more. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger and led the little girl out of the pharmacy directly. ¡°Uncle, thank you, but I only have one hundred yuan, I don¡¯t have five yuan.¡± Chen Yu ruffled the little girl¡¯s hair, ¡°No worries, it¡¯s just five yuan.¡± ¡°No, my mom said that whatever we buy, we must pay for it, especially since you¡¯ve helped me so much¡­¡± The little girl in front of him was just slightly younger than Tuan Tuan, yet just as sensible as him. ¡°Then next time,¡± Chen Yu took the little girl¡¯s hand, ¡°I have to go to that hospital as well, let¡¯s go together.¡± The little girl still looked somewhat wary, but she felt an inexplicable sense of kinship emanating from Chen Yu. After bringing the little girl back to the hospital, Chen Yu headed straight for room 302. ¡°Madam, what are you doing? We need to change the patient¡¯s medication! Otherwise, your daughter¡¯s condition will worsen.¡± A slightly authoritative voice suddenly rose, tinged with a hint of threat. ¡°I¡¯ve already said it, my husband is out buying medicine, and my daughter won¡¯t be using your medicines anymore!¡± ¡°Madam, what do you mean by this?¡± the doctor asked impatiently, ¡°Who is your husband? Can he prescribe medicine to the child just like that?¡± Tong Ya was quite stubborn; she trusted Chen Yu unconditionally. To prescribe medicine for Tuan Tuan was only one of the things she would not make any complaints about if he asked. ¡°Because I¡¯m also a doctor!¡± Chen Yu walked in, holding a medical practitioner license in his hand. The two doctors in the room hurriedly took it and looked it over, suddenly freezing on the spot. It turned out that the qualifications on Chen Yu¡¯s medical practitioner license were several levels higher than theirs, even reaching the level of a professor. Chapter 194 - Chapter 194 - 194: Daddy is Awesome Chapter 194 ¨C 194: Daddy is Awesome At that moment, the hospital ward fell into silence, with doctors and nurses exchanging puzzled looks. Even within their own hospital, they seldom witnessed a doctor of such caliber. ¡°Is your license real or fake? Falsifying a medical practitioner license is a crime!¡± Although the doctor was flustered, he still fixed Chen Yu with a skeptical gaze. Nobody could believe that such a young individual could possess achievements that would take others decades to accomplish. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he simply mixed the medicine he was holding and then fed it to Tuan Tuan. In just two minutes, the paleness on Tuan Tuan¡¯s face had disappeared, and even the stomach pain was gone. The doctor beside him watched, astounded ¨C the medical record clearly stated intestinal colic. This condition is difficult to manage because there are many causes, especially in children ¨C no one can be sure of the exact pathogen, and drug use in such young children is extremely tricky. If the dose is too much, it might harm the child¡¯s body, but if it¡¯s too little, the condition could persist. However, for the hospital¡¯s doctors, they generally preferred to reduce the amount of medication administered; this not only extended the patient¡¯s hospital stay but also allowed the sale of more medication. It ensured the patient¡¯s safety while bringing more profit to the hospital. The doctors and nurses exchanged glances, and then one doctor stepped forward, offering a medical chart to Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, we need to confirm that you treated this patient. Should any complications arise, we will not be held responsible, but I still suggest that you continue the hospital observation for a while.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes held a touch of contempt. This fellow was really good at playing games, absolving himself of responsibility while trying to get them to shell out more for the hospital stay. ¡°No need, I don¡¯t want my daughter to suffer here any longer! And your hospital¡¯s billing methods are all over the place, I can¡¯t make heads or tails of them.¡± His tone was somewhat sarcastic, implying that there was something wrong with their fee schedules. Chen Yu placed his fingers on Tuan Tuan¡¯s pulse to quickly check her body, and then he heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Daddy, I feel much better! It¡¯s just that this hand feels a little cold.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the IV bag beside them, noting that it was mainly saline, with only a three percent concentration of medication. It was practically the same as administering pure saline. Gently holding Tuan Tuan¡¯s small hand, Chen Yu smoothly removed the IV needle and treated the wound. His proficiency was even better than that of some professional nurses. Especially the technique he used to stop the bleeding at the end, which left the nearby nurse dumbfounded. Normally, after an IV needle is removed, a few beads of blood might emerge, but Tuan Tuan¡¯s little hand was not only bloodless but also as if it had never been pierced¡ªutterly smooth. Without saying much more, Chen Yu hoisted Tuan Tuan on his back and, accompanied by Tong Ya, left the ward. ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s been so long since you¡¯ve carried me. Have you really been that busy lately?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback. He indeed had been in contact with quite a few world-class big shots lately, but none of that interested him. Moreover, he undertook these activities purely to test the system¡¯s points and performance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tuan Tuan. From now on, unless something extraordinary comes up, I will never leave your side again.¡± Tuan Tuan giggled, ¡°Then you can¡¯t leave Mommy either!¡± Chen Yu looked at Tong Ya and noticed that she was gazing at him with an inexplicable look of anticipation. ¡°Of course, I will never leave!¡± After settling the hospitalization fees, Chen Yu called Xie Jiang. ¡°Old Xie, where are you guys now?¡± ¡°Old Chen, we are in Ward No. 3, hurry over. The two elderly patients seem to have deteriorated, the doctor has issued a critical condition notice.¡± Chen Yu hung up the phone and quickly glanced at the hospital layout map beside him. ¡°Tuan Tuan, Daddy has to go see a patient. You and Mommy come with Daddy!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately got excited, ¡°Yeah, I knew Daddy is the best! He can cure all the diseases in the world.¡± ¡°And make the most delicious food in the world!¡± Tong Ya also clung tightly to Chen Yu¡¯s arm. It wasn¡¯t long before the family of three arrived at the ward. As soon as they got there, a strange mix of odors hit them, almost making Chen Yu throw up. His physical condition had reached the human limit, and his sense of smell was incredibly sensitive. The impact of this odor on him was much greater than on Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya. ¡°Old Chen!¡± Xie Jiang quickly got up and beckoned to Chen Yu, ¡°Over here.¡± Chen Yu responded and carried Tuan Tuan over. Xie Jiang also greeted Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan politely. ¡°Oh, sister-in-law came along too! I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡± Tong Ya returned a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, I was just bringing the child here for a check-up, so we thought we¡¯d stop by.¡± Xie Jiang suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. After all, the young man was his subordinate, and now that Chen Yu had come to treat his parents, he felt uneasy, and with Tuan Tuan being sick as well, he felt as though a stone was weighing on his heart. ¡°Oh, I really didn¡¯t know, Old Chen, I¡¯ve caused you trouble!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand and put Tuan Tuan down, while Tong Ya immediately took Tuan Tuan¡¯s little hand. Soon after, Chen Yu went to the two adjacent beds. The elderly patients¡¯ bodies had turned black and purple in some areas, and their breathing was extremely weak; they could barely breathe with the help of oxygen tanks. Their medical records were also a mess, with a heap of different conditions that didn¡¯t match up. ¡°Ling Ling, help me analyze this!¡± [System check: Both individuals are suffering from heavy metal poisoning, showing severe physical decline, and there are a large number of unidentified bacteria mixed in.] Chen Yu furrowed his brow, could there really be bacteria that the system couldn¡¯t identify? Without hesitation, he stepped forward and took the pulse of both patients. The vital signs of both elderly patients had reached the limit; if this continued, they probably wouldn¡¯t live another forty-eight hours. Fortunately, the bacteria and heavy metal elements had not fused with the nerve fibers in their bodies; they just needed to be expelled from the system. However, these substances had already penetrated the bloodstream, and separating them was not a simple task. After a brief contemplation and combining it with the treatment plan provided by the system, Chen Yu immediately wrote a prescription and handed it to Xie Jiang standing beside him. ¡°Hurry and go to the pharmacy outside to find these medicines for me, remember, I need six doses!¡± Chapter 195 - Chapter 195 - 195: Painkillers Chapter 195 ¨C 195: Painkillers Xie Jiang didn¡¯t dare to hesitate even a bit, clutching the prescription as he rushed out of the ward. The young man suddenly saw hope and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, kneeling down with a thud. ¡°Boss Chen, thank you so much! Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have known what to do.¡± Chen Yu patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just make sure you don¡¯t go to the lottery shop anymore, no matter what happens. That stuff¡¯s not reliable!¡± The young man nodded repeatedly, his face full of regret. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re here too!¡± A milky voice suddenly came from the side. Chen Yu turned his head and saw it was the little girl he had encountered in the pharmacy before. ¡°Little sister, you¡¯re here too!¡± The little girl nodded, then took out five yuan and handed it over. ¡°My mom is over there, she asked me to give this money back to you!¡± As she said this, the little girl inexplicably lowered her head. ¡°Mom said we don¡¯t have money now and can¡¯t repay you, so we can only give you five yuan for now. We will definitely repay you double in the future.¡± The sensible and cute little girl would be liked by anyone who saw her; even Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but move forward and rub the little girl¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s only five yuan! And, Uncle here happens to be a doctor, maybe he can cure your mom¡¯s illness.¡± The little girl immediately became excited and quickly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Then please, Uncle, save my mom. She can¡¯t sleep at night and it¡¯s really painful!¡± Chen Yu followed the direction the little girl pointed and saw a skeletal woman lying in the corner. She was riddled with tubes and her body was covered in bruises. These were clearly the symptoms of advanced leukemia; at this stage, the patient was living a life worse than death. You either rely on some exorbitantly priced medicine to maintain your condition, or you have to take painkillers every day to make it bearable. The little girl, when she was buying medicine earlier, had only bought some simple pain relief meds. Chen Yu frowned, rushed over quickly, and grabbed the woman¡¯s wrist. [The body has deteriorated to the extreme, with over seventy percent of cells necrotic, beyond the healing capacity of current human medical knowledge] Chen Yu had likewise gathered a general idea of the condition from the woman¡¯s pulse. Although the woman still had some consciousness, her life definitely wouldn¡¯t last more than twenty-four hours. ¡°Uncle, is there any hope for my mom?¡± The milky voice made Chen Yu¡¯s heart tremble. The woman also slowly opened her eyes and beckoned the little girl with her hand. ¡°Huan Huan, you shouldn¡¯t speak to the Uncle like that. Besides, Mommy¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry, okay?¡± Huan Huan suddenly burst into tears, ¡°How could Mommy be fine? You¡¯re in so much pain every night you can¡¯t sleep! And the medicine you asked me to buy is just painkillers, not for curing the disease!¡± The woman¡¯s tears flowed uncontrollably, as she hadn¡¯t expected her daughter to know everything. ¡°Ling Ling, is there really no way?¡± Chen Yu silently asked himself. [According to current human medical knowledge, it¡¯s incurable. However, the system can clean her body of the disease to the greatest extent possible, then with medication, she might be able to recover] ¡°Then let¡¯s start!¡± Chen Yu urged in his mind. [System suggestion: This treatment method is deemed futile, with only a 30% chance of recovery, and it requires 100 points to proceed] Chen Yu hesitated for a moment, fully aware of the woman¡¯s physical condition, which indeed had reached its limit. And now, accumulating points was too difficult; a hundred points would take a long time to collect. Chen Yu clenched his teeth, the woman before him might be the only family Huan Huan had. If anything were to happen, leaving a young girl all alone in the world, how could she cope? ¡°No matter what, let¡¯s give it a try!¡± After instructing Ling Ling, Chen Yu wrote out a prescription. ¡°Ya Ya, help me get these medicines!¡± Tong Ya nodded and hurried out of the ward with the prescription. Chen Yu then took out a few needles and slowly inserted them into the woman¡¯s body, afterward, he started to clear the pathological changes within her body in coordination with the system. Before long, the bruises on the woman¡¯s body dissipated at a visible rate, and her vitality was restored. A look of relief appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face, as the woman¡¯s health was indeed improving. However, this method could only clear most of the pathological changes in the woman¡¯s body, which was, to some extent, like undergoing chemotherapy. But the effect was a hundred times better than chemotherapy! Nevertheless, neither this method nor chemotherapy could clear all the pathological changes in one go. To do so would mean killing most of the healthy cells in the patient¡¯s body. To ensure the patient¡¯s vital signs, only part of the pathological changes could be left inside the body. Afterward, a substantial amount of drug treatment was needed to reverse the condition. But no one could guarantee that the remaining pathological changes wouldn¡¯t flare up again. If they couldn¡¯t be reversed, the pathological cells would spread throughout the body anew. Chen Yu then made a show of twisting the acupuncture needles in his hand before pulling them out. ¡°Wow, Dad, you just inserted a few needles, and this auntie¡¯s complexion has gotten so much better!¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands in admiration, and even Huan Huan excitedly grabbed the woman¡¯s hand. The woman moved her limbs slightly and slowly sat up. Her condition had indeed improved a lot, and she seemed to have been reborn. The woman felt her body and then suddenly jumped out of bed, kneeling down before Chen Yu with a thud. ¡°Miraculous doctor, truly a miraculous doctor! All the doctors here said I wouldn¡¯t live long, but I never expected you to be able to cure me.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback and hurriedly helped the woman to her feet. ¡°Just now, I only cleared most of the pathological changes in your body. As for what comes next, I can¡¯t guarantee there won¡¯t be another outbreak! After all, this kind of disease¡­¡± The woman nodded, ¡°I understand, but just being able to live a little longer, I¡¯m satisfied, at least I can raise Huan Huan.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, after all, he wasn¡¯t a god and was at a loss in the face of such a situation. Right then, Xie Jiang and the young man hurried back, carrying a large bag of sealed herbal concoctions. Before leaving, Chen Yu had instructed them on the method of preparation, and practically every traditional medicine shop has a professional pressure cooker for decoction. As long as instructions were given, they could prepare it on the spot. Chen Yu took the herbal concoction and went to the parents of the young man, applying a portion of it to the surface of their skin. The remaining portion was then fed to the two of them. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196 - 196: Holiday Villa Chapter 196 ¨C 196: Holiday Villa After administering the medicine, Chen Yu took out several acupuncture needles and inserted them into specific points along the spines of the two elderly patients. These acupoints were specifically designed to stimulate the hematopoietic stem cell activity in the human body. Combined with the herbal medicine they had just drunk, it could accelerate their blood production by dozens of times. Following that, Chen Yu made a small cut on the veins of the two elderly patients. The dark purple blood slowly flowed out. However, upon seeing the color of the blood, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, and he turned around to pat the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re saying that many people in your village have contracted this disease?¡± he asked. The young man nodded, ¡°Yes, many people have died already, and their deaths were particularly tragic. Some even bled from all seven orifices, their bodies completely deteriorated.¡± Xie Jiang sighed helplessly from the side, ¡°Speaking of which, it¡¯s a holiday resort. If this continues, I¡¯m afraid the entire resort will be ruined.¡± ¡°A holiday resort!¡± Tuan Tuan immediately perked up. ¡°Can I go play there?¡± Chen Yu frowned. It was somewhat inappropriate to talk about playing in such a situation. But then again, a holiday resort was meant for leisure, wasn¡¯t it? After such an incident, anyone would feel unhappy. ¡°Alright, in a couple of days, Daddy will take you and Mommy there to have some fun, okay?¡± he said. Tuan Tuan seemed to realize that it wasn¡¯t appropriate to say such things at that moment. But she couldn¡¯t help but get excited, as it had been a long time since Chen Yu had taken her out to play, especially now that it was summer vacation. Before long, the blood drawn from the two patients turned bright red. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward to treat their wounds and then had them drink the remaining herbal medicine. This disease was actually not difficult to treat; it was only because heavy metals and bacteria had invaded the body, affecting the circulation. Simply by replacing the damaged blood with fresh blood from outside the body would solve the problem. The previous doctors had failed to research the actual cause of the illness and treated them indiscriminately. This caused the accumulation of more damaged blood in their bodies, ultimately causing complete bodily deterioration. ¡°Okay, their condition is now stable. They just need to continue with the herbal medicine treatment,¡± Chen Yu stated. He then patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Give me the address of your holiday resort. I¡¯ll take my wife and child there for a couple of days, and while I¡¯m at it, I¡¯ll treat the people in your village.¡± The young man became excited at once; the people in the village were in dire straits, and if their illnesses could be cured, it would be more than wonderful. Just then, in the entire shared ward, all the patients turned their gaze towards Chen Yu. The three patients he had just cured were among the most challenging cases in the ward. If he could cure such illnesses, couldn¡¯t he possibly cure theirs too? Chen Yu felt the weight of their stares and suddenly got goosebumps. There were too many people here, and their eyes were filled with greed. Although there was nothing wrong with treating and saving lives, doing so without any conditions or limits was a bit unprincipled. Besides, these people were not suffering from incurable diseases; they could be healed with just medication and time. Chen Yu no longer paid attention to them and led Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan out of the ward. On the way back, Tuan Tuan kept clapping her hands and used every complimentary word she knew to praise Chen Yu. Tong Ya¡¯s face was also brimming with happiness, as Chen Yu had indeed been spending too little time with her recently. Now that they can finally be together, she naturally felt joyful. Before long, the family of three arrived at the store, only to find several small stalls had set up at the store¡¯s entrance at some point. These people, pushing their carts, had tightly blocked the entrance to the store. Chen Yu quickly parked the car by the roadside and got out with Tuan Tuan to take a look. The stalls mostly sold some deep-fried snacks, including vegetable balls, shrimp cakes, and fried cakes. However, the food they sold gave off a strong smell of oil and contained some sort of spice, which although tempting, also felt somewhat cloying. When they saw Chen Yu coming over, they suddenly became excited, and their hawking grew louder. ¡°Shrimp cakes, ancestral craft! Three for ten bucks!¡± ¡°Vegetable balls here, delicious vegetable balls, come take a look!¡± ¡­ Perhaps because the food they sold was indeed very fragrant, quite a crowd quickly gathered around. Nevertheless, a considerable number of people didn¡¯t even give them a glance, walking straight into the store instead. People had been causing trouble here too much recently, and besides, they were Chen Yu¡¯s store¡¯s regular customers, so they automatically categorized these vendors as troublemakers. Wang Qingshan was standing at the entrance with his arms crossed, coldly watching those vendors. Seeing Chen Yu coming, he hurried over. ¡°Chen, these folks suddenly showed up around noon. It looks like they¡¯re here to cause trouble. Should we ask Captain Zhou for help and drive them away?¡± Chen Yu shook his head. Firstly, the vendors were just setting up their stalls and hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, and moreover, Zhou Shengtao had been quite busy recently, possibly dealing with Hu Chong¡¯s case. Burdening him with this trivial matter would indeed be somewhat embarrassing. ¡°No worries, if they wish to sell, let them sell! Besides, I find what they¡¯re making quite fragrant. Do you want to try some?¡± Wang Qingshan gave the vendors a cold look: ¡°The stuff they¡¯re selling is all greasy and overpowering. Who knows if the ingredients are even fresh? I don¡¯t want to eat that!¡± Chen Yu, however, had a smile on his face. He patted Wang Qingshan on the shoulder, then asked Li Gang to bring out the portable deep fryer that had been prepared earlier. The fryer was something Xie Jiang had prepared for him while buying equipment. It was originally intended to be used outside the kitchen when it was too busy, setting up this equipment at the entrance to sell some snacks. Chen Yu then poured oil into one of the fryers and took some raw materials. After washing his hands, he began to get busy. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan also assisted at his side. ¡°Hey, boss Chen, what are you making now?¡± a spirited auntie rushed over. Chen Yu pointed at the few vendors beside him: ¡°I just noticed that what they¡¯re making smells so good and they¡¯re selling well, so I decided to learn from them and try to develop these items.¡± The auntie immediately became excited: ¡°So, boss Chen, are you coming out with a new product?¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°It can¡¯t really be considered a new product, just an imitation I guess!¡± As they talked, he had already made several dozen shrimp cakes and laid them out. The fragrance wafting from them had a pure and clean taste; compared to the others¡¯ fare, it felt somewhat more refreshing. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197 - 197: Cinema Chapter 197 ¨C 197: Cinema ¡°Wow, this flavor is so unique!¡± Two middle school students who had just finished school came bouncing over, sniffing excitedly. They were also regular customers of the shop, and every day at this time, a large number of middle school students would come here to buy food after school. Mostly they were buying for their families, but over time they also grew fond of the meals here. Especially the fish fillets introduced these past two days, the flavor was even better than many fast-food chains. Now, suddenly smelling this refreshing aroma, they naturally gathered around. Chen Yu looked up at the students in front of him and directly handed out a small meal with two shrimp cakes. ¡°You two are the first customers this afternoon, so these two shrimp cakes are on me.¡± The students immediately lit up with excitement, having an instinctual trust in the new products introduced in Chen Yu¡¯s shop. And the scent from before was so distinctive that they both started drooling, promptly popping the shrimp cakes into their mouths. ¡°Wow, this is so delicious, Boss Chen, can I buy ten?¡± ¡°Of course, you can!¡± Chen Yu immediately took out a sign and set it up: ¡°Two yuan each! And for today, there¡¯s no limit on supply, all the way until eight o¡¯clock!¡± With these words, the customers present became excited, and a long line quickly formed. Shrimp cakes, shrimp balls, vegetable dumplings¡ªall kinds of greasy fried snacks had a refreshing twist at Chen Yu¡¯s place. The vendors nearby were so jealous they were practically gnashing their teeth. They thought they could steal the business by blocking the entrance to Chen Yu¡¯s shop, but he simply set up shop imitating their own and reopened for business. That move directly put a dent in their sales. Wang Qingshan was still standing at the entrance, with He Hua and Liu Tong by his side. The two girls each held a broom and were ready to rush out at any signs of trouble. Chen Yu, however, was not worried at all since the system had already provided an analysis. These people were just merchants who had moved away under the pressure of his shop before. But they couldn¡¯t bear leaving Suzhou City¡¯s market, so they banded together, attempting to play some tricks to give Chen Yu a hard time. Little did they know that Chen Yu, apart from excelling at marinated food and breakfast items, could in such a short time learn and even transform what they had perfected over decades as their special tricks. These fried snacks usually relied on the flavor of being deep-fried. As a result, many would recklessly add oil, even mixing different kinds to ensure the flavor of the snacks. But this also made the food greasy. Chen Yu, however, fundamentally changed the taste of these fried foods, making them not only crispy and delicious but also cutting down on the greasiness. As time passed, almost everyone present was queuing at Chen Yu¡¯s cart. The other stalls had no one paying any attention to them, with some people even throwing away their purchases after a couple of bites and then obediently joining the line at Chen Yu¡¯s. The disheartened stall owners sighed, exchanged glances, and reluctantly pushed their carts away. They knew that the market no longer belonged to them. At seven in the evening, there was still a huge crowd at the entrance to the shop. Wang Qingshan, Li Gang, and Ning Kai were now out helping since the flow of people coming for dinner had started to decline at this hour. They were not as busy anymore. It did not take long for Chen Yu to teach the three of them the skills required to make these homemade foods. However, those items could not be made using semi-finished products, as that would cause them to lose their crispness and refreshing taste. Having just launched this new product today, they naturally provided an unlimited supply, but after today, they would have to supply a fixed quantity. At 8:30 pm, after closing the shop, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to the nearby cinema. Tuan Tuan was just recovering from a serious illness, and Chen Yu had to take her out for some entertainment no matter what. He had also booked tickets for a trip to the holiday resort for tomorrow. At this time, many people came to see the late-night movies, mostly couples, so there were many venues specifically set up for couples at the entrance. As soon as the family of three got there, they were stuffed with all sorts of flyers. Private cinemas, family playgrounds, and all kinds of inexplicable projects were advertised. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°Does this count as receiving the full-package service?¡± Tong Ya pouted, looking somewhat gloomily at the flyer in her hand. ¡°These guys, if they put the effort they used for printing flyers into running their shops, maybe their business could do better and better.¡± Tuan Tuan, on the other hand, was attracted by the family playground project on the flyer: ¡°Dad, why has our shop never printed such beautiful flyers?¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; his shop simply had no need to print flyers! Tong Ya also scratched Tuan Tuan¡¯s nose: ¡°Dad¡¯s shop¡¯s flavor is the best advertisement!¡± Chen Yu smiled, found a trash can, and threw all the flyers into it. He then took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan into the cinema¡¯s elevator. Entering the elevator with them was a middle-aged man and a little boy. The two seemed like father and son, but the boy¡¯s face had an inexplicable look of panic. The man had a noticeable scar at the corner of his eye, which looked somewhat terrifying at first glance. Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, giving the little boy a few more glances subconsciously. A large amount of psychological knowledge quickly appeared in his mind, which he then matched with the little boy¡¯s situation one by one. In almost an instant, Chen Yu could ascertain that the two in front of him were not real father and son, and that they had likely not met each other before this. As soon as the elevator reached the fourth floor, the man took the little boy to the counter, where they bought two movie tickets and two popcorn combo sets. ¡°Honey, why are you staring at those people?¡± Tong Ya quietly asked Chen Yu, leaning close to his ear. Chen Yu grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand and squeezed it slightly, signaling her to be silent, then went to pick up the tickets and also bought a popcorn combo. Just as they were about to enter the theatre, they suddenly noticed a man at another entrance of the cinema looking hurried and disoriented, holding a box and even carrying a hint of pleading in his eyes. Chen Yu understood immediately-it was a kidnapping! ¡°Ya Ya, you take Tuan Tuan over there, I have something to handle!¡± Tong Ya did not ask further questions and quickly took Tuan Tuan to the corner, her eyes filling with increased vigilance. Chen Yu slowly approached the three individuals. As he moved closer, the scar-faced man suddenly acted, grabbing the child in his grip and looking coldly at the man with the box. Chapter 198 - Chapter 198 - 198: Hero’s Proof Chapter 198 ¨C 198: Hero¡¯s Proof Both sides suddenly confronted each other there, neither of them taking a step forward, but both eyes were filled with intense vigilance. ¡°Waiter, how much is this action figure!¡± Chen Yu suddenly shouted, instantly drawing the attention of the entire hall to him. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was caught off guard, Chen Yu¡¯s body flashed, and he immediately grabbed Scarface¡¯s arm. Before the other could react, Chen Yu held the little boy in his arms and retreated several steps. Scarface¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his originally fierce gaze filled with terror. The middle-aged man next to him also shouted excitedly, running to Chen Yu¡¯s side and taking the child from him. ¡°Little treasure! Are you okay? Daddy was so worried!¡± The little boy burst into tears, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m scared!¡± Seeing this, Scarface didn¡¯t dare stay any longer and hurriedly turned and ran toward the elevator. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about anything else, and directly picked up an action figure from nearby and threw it. With a loud crashing sound, Scarface fell to the ground and was immediately restrained by the surrounding security personnel. But the nearby waiter also stood up, ¡°Hey, what are you doing? That¡¯s our newly released action figure, and it¡¯s expensive! You smashed it, how are you going to compensate?¡± Chen Yu frowned, as he had been desperate to save someone and had no choice but to grab the action figure. The crowd around him was indignant, filling the air with complaints. However, Chen Yu was not angry, knowing that the waiter was just working there, and his boss would definitely make him pay for the damaged figurine. Moreover, the action figure was priced at over two thousand yuan, and how could he, a part-time worker not yet twenty years old, afford to compensate for it. Chen Yu let out a slight breath and directly took out his phone to transfer the money, then picked up the action figure. The waiter did not expect Chen Yu to be so straightforward, which made him feel somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Daddy is so awesome!¡± Tuan Tuan clapped her hands cheerfully and quickly came forward to take the action figure from Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Can I have this?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°This action figure is already broken, daddy will get you a new one.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it!¡± Tuan Tuan clung to the broken figure, refusing to let go, ¡°This is the proof of daddy¡¯s heroism, I want to keep it as a collectible.¡± Those words made the waiter feel even more embarrassed. Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, and then led her and Tong Ya into the movie theater. The excitement spread among the onlookers, many inquiring which movie Chen Yu was watching, wanting to get a closer look at the hero. Chen Yu was quite exasperated, having just sat down in the theater, he found a large group of people coming in. He had no choice but to watch the movie to its end, with a sense of frustration. The next morning at eight o¡¯clock, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to the resort villa. Suzhou City¡¯s tourism business was already doing well; aside from some characteristic ancient towns, there were a large number of resort villas. However, most of these resort villas were nestled deep in the mountains, purportedly to get close to nature, but in reality, it was to develop some barren areas, which essentially was a form of poverty alleviation. Yet such poverty alleviation plans were extremely prone to loopholes. After all, not everyone likes to venture deep into the mountains and forests! Moreover, these deep mountains are generally uninhabited now, so the so-called poverty alleviation plan is just about getting some subsidies. When Chen Yu and his family arrived there, they found the place extremely desolate, and they could even see pieces of an abandoned roller coaster at the entrance. ¡°Dad, is this really a resort? I feel like it¡¯s more like an adventure house!¡± Tuan Tuan couldn¡¯t help but complain, and even Tong Ya felt somewhat depressed. However, neither of them had any complaints, knowing full well that they didn¡¯t come here just for fun. The family of three had just gotten off the car when the bus driver immediately turned around and hurriedly fled. Chen Yu was instantly a bit downcast. Earlier, the driver had been advising them, saying that the place was eerie and had been abandoned and that it would be best for them to leave quickly. But Chen Yu simply wouldn¡¯t listen. Now that the driver had dropped them off, he was unwilling to stay a moment longer. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply leading Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan into the resort complex. It wasn¡¯t long before they followed a mountain path and arrived at a village that seemed long abandoned. This place appeared to have been refurbished, with exquisite small villas everywhere. However, among these villas, there were a large number of old boxes. Each box was oddly shaped, and they all had a small opening for divination on them. From time to time, some black powder would drift out of them, with a particularly disgusting smell. Just then, an elderly woman leaning on a walking stick, coughing, shuffled towards them. ¡°Hello there, are you folks here to have fun?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he noticed that the skin on the old woman was largely black. ¡°Yeah, but why is there no one around? I heard this place was bustling!¡± The old woman let out a sigh, ¡°Indeed, this place used to be very bustling, but ever since a strange disease spread here, we¡¯ve fallen on hard times, and many people have left!¡± Chen Yu sized up the elderly woman in front of him, then stepped forward, grabbing her wrist. Before the woman could react, Chen Yu let go of her hand. ¡°Old lady, how many people are left at the resort now?¡± The woman sighed helplessly, ¡°Including myself, there are only eight old timers left. Maybe it won¡¯t be long before we die here too.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just asked the old woman to gather all the people here. The old woman didn¡¯t say much either; after all, Chen Yu and his family were there for a visit, and as hosts, they should at least offer some hospitality. Before long, eight elderly figures, frail and lean, shuffled out, supporting each other. When they saw Chen Yu and his family, they were also taken aback. The current state of the resort was definitely not suitable for visitors. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that; he immediately gave the prepared medicinal broth to the eight old people. After drinking the medicine, they instantly felt much better, and two of them with milder conditions even recovered on the spot. ¡°My God, what kind of medicine is this? It¡¯s so miraculous, I¡¯m completely healed!¡± ¡°You must be angels sent by the heavens to save us; otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t appear out of nowhere at such a time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you are the gods of our place!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we call everyone back now? No need to spend money on treatment outside!¡± ¡­ The eight elderly people were so excited they could hardly contain themselves; this meant their resort could come back to life again. Chapter 199 - Chapter 199 - 199: Intentional Poisoning Chapter 199 ¨C 199: Intentional Poisoning Although the entire resort was abandoned, most of the facilities were still there. After recovering, the eight elderly people turned on all the facilities and even cleaned up an inn for Chen Yu and his group. After settling down briefly, Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan on the cable car deeper into the mountains. It could now be confirmed that this so-called illness was contracted through the external environment. Upon entering the resort for the first time, Chen Yu had noticed a problem with the water supply. It contained not only a large amount of heavy metal elements but also many toxins. This was clearly a case of someone poisoning the water. The water sources here were primarily from mountain springs; if one wanted to poison the water, that was the best place to do it. After crossing over, Chen Yu and the others arrived at a ravine surrounded by numerous springs, each as clear as crystal. But upon their arrival, they were met with a pungent smell that continually invaded their nostrils. Chen Yu frowned and quickly took out specially made masks from his belongings to put on Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, then he took a test tube to collect some samples from the springs. He had brought a large amount of equipment with him this time and began to experiment with the samples immediately. Moreover, he explained the process as he conducted the experiments, which Tuan Tuan listened to with great interest. Besides vacationing and investigating, this trip was also an excellent educational experience for Tuan Tuan. Though Tuan Tuan was a genius in dance and was destined for the arts, she also needed to know this knowledge from cultural lessons. Before long, a large amount of sediment appeared in the test tube, and numerous bright red particles were filtered out. This was a mixture of heavy metals that had been specially processed and blended into the spring water. Tong Ya also brought over some rock samples, which were covered in some strange moss. ¡°It can now be confirmed that someone has poisoned the water; the rocks are interspersed with a large amount of medication,¡± Tong Ya said with a furrowed brow, unable to understand why such a simple resort could offend someone to the point of being targets of poisoning. Chen Yu packed away the samples and continued to move deeper into the mountains. After traveling some distance, Chen Yu suddenly became alert. Not far away, there was a recently abandoned campfire that was still emitting smoke. ¡°Dad, this looks so suspicious!¡± Tuan Tuan whispered into Chen Yu¡¯s ear, appearing like a little secret agent. Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s hair, ¡°Then let¡¯s go check it out!¡± The family of three approached the campfire cautiously and found some feathers scattered around. It seemed someone had had a barbecue here, and there were at least five people. Chen Yu exhaled softly and slowly looked up at the deep mountains not far away. [Holographic Projection Coverage] As the system¡¯s notification sounded, a three-dimensional image of the entire forest appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Soon, he spotted a cabin hidden inside the dense forest. Apart from a few piles of fire outside the door, there were many signs of life around the cabin, roughly indicating indeed five people. ¡°Ya Ya, you stay here with Tuan Tuan; I¡¯ll go and check it out.¡± Tong Ya nodded and instinctively hugged Tuan Tuan close. Chen Yu followed the route given by the system, taking a small path around to the side. At the entrance of the cabin sat three individuals, engrossed in a card game, with several large jars beside them that constantly emitted a foul stench. As soon as they saw Chen Yu approaching, they immediately got up and became alert. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± One of the fierce-looking men took out a knife from his body and looked at Chen Yu coldly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a vacation resort?¡± Chen Yu put on an innocent face. ¡°I¡¯m here for tourism.¡± The three of them burst into laughter as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world, clutching their bellies. ¡°Get out of here quickly, this is no longer any vacation resort. It won¡¯t be long before this place turns into a winery!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly. ¡°A winery? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Such a good place, how could it possibly continue to let a bunch of inexplicable people run a vacation village here, of course, it¡¯s to develop its greatest economic value!¡± Right at that moment, the remaining two people also walked out of the house. ¡°Why explain so much to a stranger? Just hurry up and get him to leave!¡± Saying this, the few men prepared to shoo someone away. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, quietly taking note of everything here before turning around to leave. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan were sitting by the spring at the moment, holding several test tubes, continuously conducting experiments. Through these small experiments, Tuan Tuan had basically revisited all of the chemistry knowledge from junior to senior high school. By the time Chen Yu returned, the family of three went down the mountain and back into the resort. However, when they descended the mountain, Chen Yu poured the drug residue that he had long prepared into the spring. This residue was specially made with a certain ratio, specifically to deal with these heavy metal toxins. At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu, along with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, happily played around inside the vacation resort. Roller coasters, sky flyers, pirate ships, and all sorts of entertainment facilities, they played on almost every one. Speaking of which, this resort still had its own characteristics, such as the interconnected caves. It wasn¡¯t until nine o¡¯clock at night that they had tried all the attractions here. The eight elderly people in the resort were now basically recovered, and many others had flocked back gradually. Among them were the parents of the young man Chen Yu had previously treated. [Congratulations, Host, you have earned five points] [Congratulations, Host, you have earned eight points] ¡­ The continuous system notification sounds, although exciting for Chen Yu, were really too meager compared to the hundreds or even millions of points previously given. Fortunately, the practical use rate of these points was much higher than before. At nine o¡¯clock the following morning, half of the villagers who had left the resort had already returned, but they all looked sickly, with some even being carried back on stretchers. After falling ill, these villagers sought medical help everywhere, but aside from giving money to hospitals, they were unable to do anything else. Some even died outside due to their worsening conditions. Chen Yu was well prepared, setting up a small table on the open space outside the resort inn, treating each of the villagers in turn. Not only did he remove the heavy metal toxins from their bodies, but he also cured various long-standing ailments that had accumulated inside them. He even corrected the bones of some of the older folks. Chapter 200 - Chapter 200 - 200: Steak Challenge Chapter 200 ¨C 200: Steak Challenge Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan had been helping by the side, either delivering medicine or arranging places for the patients. Just then, several large trucks suddenly appeared at the resort. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? How many times have we told you? We¡¯re turning this place into a vineyard, so pack up and leave!¡± The sudden voice made everyone present widen their eyes. The villagers almost rushed up in unison to argue with them. It looked like this wasn¡¯t the first time these people had come here. And it seemed like they were very familiar with everything here as they directly took out a report on the infectious disease. ¡°Your resort has long finished; only our company has the technology to handle infectious diseases. This place can only be revived in our hands!¡± ¡°We¡¯re telling you, if you keep resisting, you have no other choice but to await death. Just sign on the dotted line and maybe you can get a compensation payment.¡± Chen Yu sat there quietly, tending to the villagers¡¯ illnesses on his own. He was all too familiar with these tactics: some corporation had taken a fancy to this place¡¯s location and was trying to drive the villagers out in order to buy the land at a low price. While the villagers were in an endless argument with these people, Chen Yu suddenly stood up and picked up a pack of medicine to throw out. The powder from the medicine bag scattered upon hitting the ground, its strong medicinal scent spreading out at that moment. ¡°You just added some chronic poison to the heavy metals; this isn¡¯t really that clever. How can you have the gall to come here to acquire the resort?¡± At these words, the group of people widened their eyes, staring at Chen Yu with a strange look. ¡°Who the hell are you? How dare you meddle in our business? I advise you to scram, or we¡¯ll break one of your hands.¡± Chen Yu ignored them and took out a walkie-talkie from his body. ¡°Captain Zhou, did you hear what they just said?¡± ¡°We heard it!¡± With Zhou Shengtao¡¯s voice coming through the walkie-talkie, a chorus of police sirens followed, enclosing the area. He had called Zhou Shengtao the night before, sending over the coordinates of five people in the jungle. Zhou Shengtao began to deploy his plan, quietly capturing those five people, then hiding his forces around the resort. Before the gang could react, a large number of relevant personnel rushed out from hidden corners and completely subdued them. Looking at the villagers, Zhou Shengtau sighed helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s been too much happening lately. We¡¯ve received tips about the situation here, but, with no leads, it was tough! Besides, nobody would think about poisoning.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just continued brewing the medicine there. The resort project was a good one; as long as all the villagers could come back, operations could recover, plus Chen Yu had plans to invest. Chen Yu stayed there for three more days to handle some aftermath matters, then left with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. But he didn¡¯t return to the city; instead, he headed straight to another tourist destination. Now, during the summer holiday, Chen Yu decided to take Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan for a trip, which also served as a honeymoon. On the Aegean Sea beach, Chen Yu buried his body in the sand comfortably, with Tuan Tuan mimicking him and lying beside him. ¡°Daddy, the sand here is so comfy, and the color is pretty, too, it¡¯s pure white.¡± Read today on Novgo Chen Yu raised his hand and grabbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Where did your mom go?¡± Tuan Tuan pointed to a small stall nearby, ¡°Mom said the steak here is delicious, and she¡¯s going to buy two servings!¡± Chen Yu looked up and saw that at this moment, Tong Ya was queuing in front of a steak food cart. The scent wafting from the cart was extremely rich and smelled quite authentic. The steak being used, it seemed, was a carefully selected filet mignon. However, amidst that authentic scent, Chen Yu detected a jumbled aroma of cumin and spices mixed together. This could enhance the taste of the steak, but it would spoil the steak¡¯s own flavor. Chen Yu directly pulled Tuan Tuan up and walked over to the food cart, but as soon as he got close, he noticed the chef giving Tong Ya a lecherous look. ¡°Beautiful miss, you must have been attracted by the scent of my steak. I can make you a signature steak for free!¡± Although Tong Ya¡¯s face bore a smile, her eyes were filled with intense wariness. ¡°No need, I¡¯m here to buy steak, not to freeload a meal and drinks!¡± Her voice carried a certain haughtiness, as if she was rejecting someone from a thousand miles away. However, the chef didn¡¯t show any displeasure; instead, he seemed even more interested in Tong Ya. ¡°It¡¯s okay, consider it my treat! You only have to share a drink with me.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face suddenly showed traces of anger, and just as she was about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly arrived at her side and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Your steak is so disgusting, yet you still want to force this beautiful miss to eat it. I can¡¯t imagine what you¡¯re thinking!¡± The chef glared with wide eyes as if he had been greatly insulted and slammed his hand down on the cutting board fiercely. ¡°You dare say my steak is disgusting! I am a Michelin three-star chef, and many people can¡¯t even get a taste of the steak I make even if they line up.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°I am a chef too, and if you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s see whose steak is more delicious.¡± The chef directly took out a certificate from his body, seemingly to intimidate Chen Yu. ¡°Lucas!¡± Chen Yu read the name aloud and raised an eyebrow. He had actually heard of this name before. When he was in college, he had seen an interview with this person on a food program. However, the guy in front of him seemed much younger than the one he had seen on the program. ¡°Indeed, I am the thirteenth-generation heir of the Lucas Family!¡± Chen Yu felt like laughing at this point. It turned out to be a family affair after all. ¡°Alright, then consider this a challenge to your entire Lucas Family!¡± With that, Chen Yu went straight to the back of the food cart and began to cook a piece of filet mignon. It had to be said, the steaks prepared by this guy were top-notch, not only deliciously tender but also emanating a faint fragrance, likely from cattle bred specifically for this purpose. Chen Yu¡¯s cooking was extremely straightforward, following the usual method of making steak, only he sequenced the spices differently from most people. Moreover, he had strict control over the quantity of each spice, treating the cooking of the steak as if conducting a very precise chemical experiment. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Techniques Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medical Techniques In less than five minutes, a unique mellow fragrance drifted out. The tourists sunbathing on the nearby beach all gathered around, some even drooling involuntarily. ¡°My goodness, this smell is so fragrant, it¡¯s like it brings out all the essence of the beef!¡± ¡°This smells even better than an authentic Lucas steak!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu presented the steak he¡¯d prepared and conveniently placed it in front of the chef. ¡°Try it and see what¡¯s different from your family¡¯s steak.¡± The chef¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. Judging by the smell, this steak had surpassed the Lucas steak; it was something he could never achieve. ¡°Who exactly are you? How could you possibly make such a steak!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were full of disdain, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have the right to know that!¡± The chef, as if deeply insulted, glared at Chen Yu with eyes wide open. Before he could react, Tong Ya suddenly stepped forward and kissed Chen Yu on the face. ¡°Husband, you don¡¯t need to bother with this guy! These so-called culinary heritage families are all a bunch of self-righteous people!¡± Chen Yu had initially not wanted to pay attention, but the guy had taken an interest in Tong Ya, and that crossed his bottom line. However, since Tong Ya didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it, Chen Yu saw no need to get into an argument. He hurriedly took Tong Ya¡¯s hand and left. The beaches of the Aegean Sea are world-famous tourist destinations and, to an extent, a symbol of love. Therefore, there were many couples there. Seeing Chen Yu and his family of three, they all cast envious glances. ¡°Wow, they are such a good-looking family!¡± ¡°To maintain such feelings after getting married is really rare!¡± ¡°It¡¯s that chef again who claims to be a descendant of Lucas. He¡¯s been harassing a lot of people this month!¡± ¡­ While everyone was discussing, Chen Yu had already taken Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan onto a yacht. Just as the family of three was admiring the coastal scenery, a miserable scream abruptly rose. A girl who seemed to be in her early teens was floating nearby in the shallow waters near the reef, with her body covered in dense, purple patterns. ¡°Not good, blue-ringed octopus!¡± Chen Yu shouted, almost instinctively leaping off the yacht. He was not very far from the girl and reached her side with just a leap. By this time, many well-intentioned people had already gathered around, intending to lend a hand. Seeing this, Chen Yu urgently yelled, ¡°Get away, there¡¯s a blue-ringed octopus here!¡± Because the people gathered on the beach were from all over the world, they spoke different languages. Chen Yu used dozens of languages in succession, shouting in each one. With his shouts, the entire beach instantly descended into chaos. Everyone knew how dangerous a blue-ringed octopus was; even slight contact could be lethal. The very people who were previously desperate to rush in now backed away, not daring to come any closer. Chen Yu keenly scoped out his surroundings, carefully avoiding the range of activity of the blue-ringed octopus. In the shortest time possible, he rescued the girl and brought her ashore. At this moment, the girl¡¯s breathing was difficult to the extreme, and Chen Yu quickly pressed his hand against the girl¡¯s neck, pinching two acupoints to temporarily seal the flow of blood and air. Then he took out a needle and pricked it into the girl¡¯s arm, slowly draining the toxins from her blood. ¡°Stop!¡± A rough voice suddenly came from not too far away, ¡°The toxin of the blue-ringed octopus accelerates the flow of human blood, what you¡¯re doing will only make the patient die faster!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows slightly furrowed as he saw a burly man stagger towards him. It seemed like the man was injured, and he was carrying a medical kit in his hand. Chen Yu paid no attention to the man, simply continuing with his work. When the burly man arrived, he was shocked to find that the bleeding from the girl¡¯s wound was extremely steady. ¡°How is this possible? The toxin of the blue-ringed octopus is so potent, how can this girl¡¯s wound bleed like a normal wound?¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrows. The guy spoke awkwardly, and it was unclear if he was doing it on purpose or what. ¡°I¡¯ve simply sealed several acupoints on her body to normalize the blood flow!¡± The big man looked at Chen Yu with a bewildered gaze. ¡°Are you talking about the Eastern acupuncture technique?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t reply. After letting some blood, he took some standby medicine from his body and placed it into the girl¡¯s mouth. Simultaneously, he took the medical kit from the man¡¯s hand and took out gauze to wrap the girl¡¯s wound. After treating the wound, the autonomous medical staff on the beach ran over and carried the girl away. After providing some details, Chen Yu returned to the yacht. But the burly man, insistent, followed suit. ¡°Sir, what exactly did you use just now? What¡¯s the principle? Could you explain it to me?¡± Chen Yu frowned without rising to it, finding the man annoying. ¡°My medical skills are inherited and not shared with outsiders, and the principles are extremely complex. Unless you know ¡®The Book of Changes¡¯ or the Hetu and Luoshu diagrams, you can¡¯t understand it!¡± The big man stood still, stunned. He hadn¡¯t even so much as heard of these books. Even if he were to study them, it would take him eight to ten years to grasp anything. Before he could react, the yacht had already started moving towards the deep-sea area. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief and found a quiet place to sit down. Tong Ya also sat down beside him, ¡°It¡¯s just some acupoint theory; telling him wouldn¡¯t hurt. Why do I feel like you¡¯re deliberately making it difficult for him?¡± Chen Yu held Tong Ya in his arms, ¡°The guy¡¯s talent is too weak, hmm, even if I really taught him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to learn it! No point in wasting time.¡± Tong Ya pouted her lips but didn¡¯t say much more, merely handing a plate of crispy lobster to Chen Yu. ¡°Where did Tuan Tuan go?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. Tong Ya pointed towards the deck beside them, ¡°She seems to have found something tasty!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed; with the system at his side, no one in this world could make anything tastier than him. He almost instinctively stood up and went over. Then he saw Tuan Tuan by a food cart mixing some fried chicken nuggets with seasonings. Chen Yu casually sniffed and immediately identified the raw ingredients in the fried chicken nuggets, but the sauce next to them released a unique aroma. It looked like a mix of ketchup and sweet chili sauce, yet if one were to smell carefully, it seemed as if a different blended ingredient had been added. Even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t identify it at once and simply dipped a bit and tasted it. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Planning to Study Abroad Chapter 202: Chapter 202 Planning to Study Abroad ¡°Truffle powder? No, there¡¯s also shrimp powder added!¡± Chen Yu slightly raised his eyebrows, as the flavor was indeed unique, combining mountain delicacies with seafood, and then mixing in the most common sweet and spicy pepper. ¡°You¡¯re very good, being able to taste the seasoning added to the sauce!¡± A very charming voice suddenly rang out from the side, and a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, holding a plate of fried chicken nuggets, walked over with a smile. Although the girl hadn¡¯t fully blossomed yet, her golden hair and blue eyes¡¯ unique charm still made Chen Yu unconsciously take a few extra glances. ¡°Did you make this sauce?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. ¡°Kind of, I just mixed some leftover ingredients together in a certain ratio!¡± Chen Yu looked at the young girl with admiration: ¡°You have some interesting ideas, mixing truffle powder with shrimp powder, which doesn¡¯t have a fishy smell, but instead has a refreshing taste, greatly reducing the greasiness of this fried food.¡± The girl giggled and was about to put down the sauce in her hands when a bearded chef-like man ran out, fuming with anger. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, girl? Why are you messing with my recipe again? If the customers have a problem after eating this, will you take responsibility?¡± The girl was scolded and immediately hung her head, her face filling with grievance. ¡°I just thought it would taste better this way¡­¡± ¡°Better what?¡± The man interrupted the girl directly, snatched the plate from her hands, and sniffed it under his nose. ¡°They¡¯re all leftover seasonings, and moreover, they¡¯re mixed together, you¡¯re simply insulting my creation.¡± Chen Yu frowned, thinking to himself that it was just a piece of fried chicken, and yet he referred to it as a ¡®creation¡¯. ¡°I think this little sister has quite the idea, the sauce she made might even be patentable, and who knows, she might even score a ranking in sauce competitions!¡± The man rolled his eyes at Chen Yu: ¡°What do you know? Our chicken nuggets here are famous far and wide, the choice of sauces has been very carefully selected, and a single misstep in flavor can lead to customer complaints¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yu directly picked up the sauce from the table. ¡°Good or not, let¡¯s have the customers decide!¡± The man clenched his teeth and glared at Chen Yu with a look of resentment. ¡°Who are you to butt in on our business here?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a slight smile: ¡°I¡¯m also a chef, and if you¡¯re willing, I¡¯d like to challenge you. Let¡¯s have a competition, and if I win, then you¡¯ll have to accept this little sister¡¯s sauce.¡± The man laughed uproariously as if he had heard the funniest joke ever. ¡°Do you know who I am? In the fast-food world, I am¡­¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Chen Yu interrupted him: ¡°It¡¯s just making fast food, let¡¯s get started.¡± Saying this, he immediately washed his hands and picked up the prepared chicken next to him. Seeing Chen Yu so immersed in making fried chicken, the man instantly became furious. He too put on a chef¡¯s uniform and went to the mobile kitchen beside him, quickly stirring the chicken nugget mix. Actually, this kind of fast food is the least technical, but Westerners always like to make these simple things complicated, as if creating a new sauce or changing a frying method is innovation. Especially the man in front of him, although the raw materials he used seemed unimpressive, all the oil in the pot was a blend of six different cooking oils. While it could incorporate the unique flavors of different oils into the chicken nuggets, it also added greasiness to them. By contrast, Chen Yu¡¯s method was much simpler, being the most basic cooking technique, but before he put the chicken into the fryer, he gently rubbed it with his palms, completely breaking down the fibers. At the same time, he completely separated the bones from the meat! It wasn¡¯t long before the two of them laid out their finished products. The rich fragrance that wafted from the dishes quickly attracted nearby tourists, who surrounded the stalls, but most of them gathered around Chen Yu¡¯s side. Although his fried chicken legs were simply deep-fried, beforehand he had treated them inconspicuously with a special preparation; a generous amount of sauce had already been infused into the meat. Therefore, after being fried, they carried a unique aroma. The chef, however, still had an air of superiority, merely staring coldly at Chen Yu before distributing his own fried chicken pieces. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this person has broken the rules here. We are now in a contest, so please help us judge whose creation is more delicious!¡± Fried chicken legs and chicken nuggets, to put it bluntly, are the same type of food. However, when making chicken nuggets, there is greater flexibility to add other ingredients. Thus, in many instances, the taste of chicken nuggets is much superior to that of fried chicken legs. This was the source of the man¡¯s confidence. Unexpectedly, after the tourists tasted the food prepared by both individuals, they turned their approving gazes towards Chen Yu. ¡°Wow, how did you make these fried chicken legs? Crispy yet tender, they melt in the mouth.¡± ¡°Even without any sauce, they taste so much better than the chicken nuggets!¡± ¡°Are you a professional fast-food chef? You¡¯ve turned ordinary fried chicken legs into something so delicious.¡± ¡­ The people on the yacht gathered around Chen Yu as if they were meeting a celebrity, continuously praising him. Seeing this, the man¡¯s eyes bulged; he hadn¡¯t expected that his chicken nuggets would lose to Chen Yu¡¯s fried chicken legs. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with all of you? Have you lost your taste buds? These chicken nuggets are my own creation, with a secret blend of ingredients.¡± At this remark, the tourists suddenly got annoyed. ¡°The way you say that, it¡¯s as if his fried chicken legs weren¡¯t personally made by him!¡± ¡°Where did this guy get his confidence from? Insisting others praise his food.¡± ¡°It¡¯s as greasy as this and still has the nerve to expect compliments, can¡¯t understand what he¡¯s thinking!¡± ¡­ The man couldn¡¯t help but bulge his eyes, instinctively took several steps back, and appeared utterly dejected. With his secret recipe for fast food, he had some fame on this beach. But after today, his reputation was probably gone. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer, as he didn¡¯t wish to become the center of attention. Just as he was about to leave with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, the little girl from earlier suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Sir, are you from the Orient?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°What is it? Is something the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to study in the Orient next month, but I don¡¯t know much about it. Could I learn some details from you?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Agreed Wedding Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Agreed Wedding ¡°Study abroad? Which city are you preparing to go to?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. He was quite fond of this young girl, not only because she was beautiful, but also because she had a lot of interesting ideas. ¡°It seems to be a city called Suzhou City! I¡¯m going there to learn how to be a chef.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; he rarely saw Westerners go all the way to the East specifically to learn to be a chef. After all, given the large cultural differences between the East and West, if they trained in the East, they would only be able to stay in the East. Once they took what they had learned back to the West, it simply wouldn¡¯t adapt to the local lifestyle and would inevitably be eliminated. ¡°So you plan to stay in the East in the future?¡± The young girl nodded, ¡°I was an orphan to begin with, and I¡¯m very interested in Eastern culture, so I plan to develop there in the future.¡± Chen Yu pointed to a small yacht nearby: ¡°That yacht is rented by us; we can go there and chat in detail.¡± The young girl immediately got excited and followed Chen Yu and his family to the side. After a brief conversation, Chen Yu learned that the girl¡¯s name was Ke Lan. She grew up in an orphanage and was sent to a Catholic church when she got a little older. Later, through self-study, she managed to get into a local community college, and she also worked at a restaurant near the beach. Before this, her life had been very difficult, but now she basically had saved enough money to study abroad and didn¡¯t need to put up with the attitude of that chef just now. As they were chatting and laughing, sudden violent waves surged upon the sea. [System warning, a tsunami will approach in ten minutes, please evacuate immediately] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened as he quickly drove the yacht towards the shore, while using a megaphone to warn the people on the coast. But everyone scoffed at his warning; after all, it was a clear sky, and it didn¡¯t look like a tsunami was possible. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and could do no more than to leave the area. Before long, a monstrous wave surged over the sea, instantly overturning all the yachts and boats near the shore, even reaching up onto the beach. Edinburgh Studios. As soon as Fang Yuan finished a day¡¯s filming, under the guidance of Han Mintao, she entered an ancient-looking palace. ¡°Miss Fang!¡± A supremely handsome man reached out to Fang Yuan with a smile. Fang Yuan also returned a smile, ¡°Mr. Edward, it¡¯s truly an honor to meet you here!¡± Brown Edward was the head of the current generation of the Edward Family, and the wealth he controlled was beyond the reach of ordinary people for several generations. ¡°Miss Fang, have you looked over the previous contract? I wonder if this time the collaboration can proceed normally?¡± Fang Yuan quickly responded, ¡°Of course it can! However, there are some details we still need to discuss.¡± Brown laughed elegantly, ¡°Of course, but to complete this contract, we need to reach a private agreement between Miss Fang and myself.¡± Fang Yuan immediately had a bad feeling, ¡°What agreement?¡± ¡°Miss Fang and I are to have a faux engagement!¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Brown took a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses, ¡°Western resources have been depleted, and expanding overseas resources requires entering the Eastern market, so I need an intimate Eastern face by my side.¡± Fang Yuan immediately understood that Brown wanted to expand the overseas market by leveraging her identity. In fact, this was also a fair trade, after all, what Fang Yuan needed now were resources, while what Brown needed was the market. The benefits were mutual, and on the surface, there seemed to be nothing inappropriate. Just as Fang Yuan was about to agree, Han Mintao, who had been standing behind her, suddenly stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Brown, there are some things we need to discuss in detail, after all, engagement is not something to take lightly as a joke.¡± Brown frowned, such conditions were perfectly normal in the West, and there were even marriages used as content in treaties. He had already made a considerable concession by bringing the standard down to engagement. ¡°This is merely a clause in our cooperation! Personally, I don¡¯t see any problem, unless you are not genuinely interested in working with me.¡± Han Mintao frowned, now that Fang Yuan had just gotten a foothold in the West, and before this, he had used some unsavory methods against Zhao Hai, causing the Imperial Capital Zhao Family to lose face. If he now accepted the engagement with Brown and then went back to the domestic market, it would be like slapping Zhao Hai hard in the face. The Zhao Family would definitely not let her go! By that time, it was uncertain whether the Edward Family would be able to continue protecting her and her mother. ¡°I agree!¡± Fang Yuan suddenly spoke up, at the same time taking over the contract. Han Mintao¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and he quickly whispered in her ear. ¡°Daughter, have you gone mad? Do you realize the Zhao Family in the Imperial Capital is still watching you?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing became rapid, ¡°I want to take a gamble! Maybe by using the power of the Edward Family, we can temporarily deter the Zhao Family, gaining some more time.¡± Han Mintao was worried, ¡°This way, you¡¯ll completely fall out with the Zhao Family, and I might not be able to help you in the end.¡± Fang Yuan bit her lip, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind! Otherwise, I will always be trampled underfoot by Chen Yu!¡± Han Mintao sighed helplessly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t say much more.¡± After the mother and daughter had decided, they immediately signed the agreement. Once Brown confirmed there were no issues with the contract, he promptly fixed the engagement date and issued wedding invitations. ¡­ Chen Yu¡¯s family of three left the Aegean Sea beach and headed north, arriving at a religious sanctuary. Ke Lan was also following them the whole way. Once she knew that Chen Yu and his family came from Suzhou City, Ke Lan couldn¡¯t hide her excitement, eagerly playing the role of a guide and showing the family around. When they entered the religious sanctuary, Chen Yu suddenly noticed huge posters at the entrance of every major church. The person on them was Fang Yuan. Tuan Tuan was also stunned upon seeing the posters, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to get married so soon!¡± Chen Yu simply glanced at the poster, then rubbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Why bother caring so much? She¡¯s a stranger to us now, besides, don¡¯t you have your mom already?¡± Tuan Tuan giggled and clung tighter to Tong Ya¡¯s arm. The church in front of them had already been decorated for a wedding ceremony, it looked like Fang Yuan and Brown¡¯s wedding was going to be held here. Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, took a quick look around the church, and then left the place directly. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Sign the Contract in Advance Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Sign the Contract in Advance As the family of three arrived at the entrance, a familiar voice soon echoed from nearby. ¡°Mr. Chen! What are you doing here?¡± Katherine rushed over excitedly and respectfully performed a deep bow. Today, the young lady was dressed in a gown, looking very elegant. Chen Yu was also somewhat surprised; as a direct descendant of William¡¯s family, Katherine should have been staying in Frankfurt. Why had she suddenly come here, and dressed so formally at that? ¡°I¡¯m out traveling with my wife and child! What about you? Why are you dressed so grandly?¡± Katherine pointed towards the picture on the church, ¡°To attend the Edward Family¡¯s wedding, one must, of course, dress up.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°You¡¯re saying that person is from the Edward family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he is the current head of the family, Brown Edward!¡± Tong Ya beside him was slightly stunned, subconsciously glancing back at the wedding poster. As a child, she had met the leaders of various ancient royal families in the West and had seen Brown when he was a child. But just now, her attention had been all on Fang Yuan, and she hadn¡¯t noticed Brown. Looking at him now, Brown still bore some resemblance to how he looked in his childhood. Katherine reached into her gown and after rummaging around, she pulled out a few invitations. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is an invitation to the inner ceremony of the wedding. Mr. Victor will be attending as well!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly¡ªhe really did not want to accept the invitation before him. On one hand, the person getting married was his ex-wife, and on the other was his delicate relationship with William¡¯s family. Just as he was about to refuse, Tong Ya suddenly reached out and took the invitation. ¡°That¡¯s great, Tong Group still has some overseas contracts to sign with William¡¯s family!¡± Chen Yu looked at Tong Ya with a hint of confusion, not quite understanding what was going through the young lady¡¯s mind. But now, Tong Ya¡¯s decision, in a sense, represented his decision. Moreover, since the invitation was already accepted, he didn¡¯t feel it was appropriate to say much else. ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen, last time Mr. Victor had investigated the Eastern market and found that the semi-finished products sold by your company are very popular, hence he is interested in introducing them to the Western market.¡± Chen Yu perked up at this; lately, Hou Jianchang had been bringing him good news¡ªfactory efficiency had increased manifold compared to before. Furthermore, a comprehensive cooperation with Tong Group had been achieved. According to the current factory operations, they could achieve a production cost of three billion a month, with a net profit reaching one billion eight hundred million. This was after deducting the factory¡¯s various basic expenses and worker benefits. However, the products leaving the factory were barely enough to supply Tong Group; to supply the Western market, they would have to expand their factory. ¡°At present, it appears that introducing my products to the Western market will take some time. The question is whether Mr. Victor can wait that long.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Katherine raised her wrist and gently tapped a few times on the device attached to it. ¡°If Mr. Chen is willing, I can sign an order with you right now, although my authority is limited¡ªMr. Victor has only granted me the power to exercise three billion.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback; in his view, Katherine was at most an executor for William¡¯s family. To put it bluntly, a steward! ¡°` I couldn¡¯t believe Victor actually gave Katherine the authority to exercise three billion. Such immense trust. ¡°Aren¡¯t we hurrying too much? Even if you sign the order with me right now, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to take half a year to fulfill it, as I still have to expand the factory¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Katherine directly asked for Chen Yu¡¯s corporate account. ¡°Working with Mr. Chen, let alone six months, even a longer time would be worth the wait for William¡¯s family!¡± Chen Yu now felt a bit embarrassed; he has always wanted to avoid too much interaction with William¡¯s family, even harboring some resistance. But now, it seems William¡¯s family might be a very good business partner. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s find a place to finalize the details of the contract!¡± Katherine nodded excitedly, ¡°I know there¡¯s a museum nearby. Let¡¯s sign the contract there and also take the opportunity to visit the local sights.¡± Chen Yu did not refuse, but pointed to Ke Lan beside him at the same time. ¡°This young lady is about to go to my city for study abroad. Could you perhaps help with some arrangements?¡± Indeed, Ke Lan was on the same path as Chen Yu, and they could take her back to Suzhou City after they finished their trip. But now, with the contract talks and the wedding attendance, there was definitely a conflict of schedules. Yet this young lady was extremely talented; she might even be a catch for his own shop. Moreover, her background was pitiable; alone in this place without family or a job, it didn¡¯t seem right to just leave her behind. Katherine glanced at Ke Lan and immediately made a phone call. It wasn¡¯t long before two members of William¡¯s family came to discuss things with Ke Lan. The Holy Empire Museum is one of the largest museums in the West. Almost every era and civilization from around the world can be appreciated here. There are even some Eastern treasures that have found their way to this place. They only took a brief look around before finalizing the contract. However, Katherine did not sign in the delivery time section, effectively giving Chen Yu ample time. But just as they had finished signing the contract, an annoying voice suddenly rose from the side. ¡°These past few years, more and more Easterners have been coming here to visit. Could it be that they¡¯re here to witness how their country¡¯s history has been trampled under our feet?¡± With that statement, a fierce anger rose inside Chen Yu. Even Tuan Tuan, standing beside him, looked fiercely at the man who spoke. The fellow had golden hair and blue eyes, dressed quite appropriately, appearing to be a gentleman at first glance. But the disdain in his eyes and the aura he exuded were utterly sickening. Moreover, this guy was standing right beside a bronze square cauldron. Chen Yu could tell at a glance that the bronze cauldron was a relic from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with a large amount of inscriptions on it. This artifact must have been plundered here during the invasion by the Western powers in the past, and now it was displayed as proof of their previous conquests over the Eastern people. [System prompt: This bronze cauldron is actually a late Qing Dynasty replica, and the verdigris is deliberately antiqued.] Chen Yu paused for a moment; the luster and inscriptions on the bronze cauldron exuded a sense of historical depth. If one didn¡¯t look carefully, it would be impossible to recognize it as a replica. Yet even so, as the replica had been crafted nearly two hundred years ago, it still counted as a treasure. ¡°Excuse me, could I ask where the person in charge of this museum is?¡± ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 205 Fried Rice with Eggs Chapter 205: Chapter 205 Fried Rice with Eggs Chen Yu¡¯s voice, when he asked his question, immediately attracted a large number of tourists nearby, and many people came over directly. ¡°Sir, what do you want to do? Do you wish to buy this square cauldron and take it home?¡± A middle-aged woman with an air of sophistication, appearing to be in her forties or fifties, came over slowly. However, her tone was laced with a touch of mockery. Over the years, many Easterners had come here, trying to buy back cultural relics from their own country, but each item was exorbitantly priced, deterring many. The price tag on the bronze square cauldron before them was an astronomical 1.3 billion, not something just anyone could afford to buy on a whim. A hint of contempt flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes: ¡°You misunderstand, to me, this thing is nothing but a pile of scrap metal!¡± This statement immediately provoked public outrage. ¡°Scrap metal! You really dare to say it, don¡¯t you know? The inscription carved on this is about the ceremonial procedures during King Ping¡¯s eastward move!¡± ¡°No matter where it is placed, this object is a treasure among treasures; even 1.3 billion seems a bit low.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s this brat from, completely ignorant of the ways of the world!¡± ¡­ But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about any of this and just stepped forward, placing his palm on the surface of the bronze square cauldron. ¡°When King Ping moved east, although the technique of bronze casting had reached its peak, it was still mold casting! While this method produces bronze cauldrons that are extremely sturdy and collectively aesthetic, the distribution of the metal alloy mixture inside is not very even! This results in an uneven spread of verdigris.¡± The entire hall suddenly fell into silence, as everyone stared at Chen Yu with a strange look in their eyes. The museum director¡¯s face was full of shock. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying that this large bronze cauldron is a fake?¡± Chen Yu gently touched the cauldron¡¯s body: ¡°This verdigris is distributed very unevenly, and there are a lot of hammer marks, obviously, it wasn¡¯t made with molds alone, but rather using the earthen kiln firing methods of the late Qing period.¡± All the people present were unsettled and rose to surround and closely examine it, while even the museum director called several experts over. After studying it together, they found that, just as Chen Yu had said, the item was indeed a counterfeit made during the late Qing period. A group of experts felt utterly humiliated; this object had been on display for such a long time, and they hadn¡¯t spotted any clues, to the point that two of them furiously kicked the bronze square cauldron. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger any longer and turned to go to the adjacent calligraphy and painting exhibition hall. He figured that someone must have deliberately created a batch of fake treasures to sell to these Westerners at a high price. It never occurred to him that not only did these people fail to realize the fakes, but they also showcased them in the museum for such a long time as prized possessions. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re amazing! How did you know that thing was a fake?¡± Chen Yu pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s little face and then pointed to his temple. ¡°Of course, because Dad is smart.¡± After a brief walk around, Katherine arranged a suite for the family of three to stay in temporarily. Once they were settled, Chen Yu, Tong Ya, and Tuan Tuan went downstairs to a small alley. This place was similar to many food streets back home, with all kinds of local specialty snacks. Now that he had decided to sign with William¡¯s family, Chen Yu had to take into account the tastes and specialties of the locals. Just then, two burly men walked over quite aggressively and sat down at the empty table next to them, slamming their hands down on the table. ¡°Boss, if you can¡¯t make dishes today that satisfy us both, then there¡¯s no need for your restaurant to stay open.¡± These two men appeared to be troublemakers on the surface, but the other patrons were not afraid at all. Instead, cheers erupted from them as the two men approached, some even egging them on. The owner hurried out, holding a spatula and with a look of helplessness on his face. This owner was also an obese man, weighing over two hundred kilos, resembling a small mountain. Yet at the sight of the two men, a look of fear crossed his face. ¡°I must say, the two of you have exceptionally particular tastes. I can¡¯t make the dishes you want, so please try another restaurant!¡± But one of the two big men was having none of it. He stood up and pointed to a sign next to them. ¡°Your sign claims to leave all your customers satisfied! We¡¯ve been here several times now and have never been satisfied. By rights, that sign of yours should have been taken down a long time ago!¡± The owner couldn¡¯t help but sigh, and somewhat reluctantly reached for the sign, preparing to pull it down, though still with some reluctance in his eyes. The laws of this place were incredibly strict, particularly for the food industry. No matter the size of the establishment, if you put up a sign making certain claims, you had to fulfill everything written on it. Once a complaint from a customer was lodged, the authorities would shut down the restaurant straight away, and also remove the sign. In this place, a sign was the face of a shop. If a restaurant was shut down, they could still set up shop elsewhere with their sign, but if the sign was removed, they would never be able to open a restaurant in their lifetimes again. Just as the owner was about to forcefully remove the sign, the two large men became unhappy. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve been eating here for many years, and we¡¯ve always been extremely satisfied with the taste. Can¡¯t you think of a way to make the flavor we want?¡± The owner¡¯s face was full of conflict; it was a difficult request for him. Not to mention that his cooking skills had plateaued, the flavor that the two men wanted was something they probably didn¡¯t know themselves. Amidst the tug-of-war, Chen Yu suddenly stood up and took the spatula from the owner¡¯s hand. ¡°Perhaps I can give them the taste they¡¯re looking for!¡± Before the owner could react, Chen Yu had already walked into the kitchen. The guests who were dining there all stood up and crowded around. ¡°Where is this Easterner from? He really doesn¡¯t know his own limits. Those two are the most fastidious customers I¡¯ve seen. Can he really satisfy them with a dish made on a whim?¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re all mistaken. The East is a mysterious land; their chefs can perform magic.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it unless he can really make something delicious!¡± ¡­ While the crowd was discussing, the owner also hurried back into the kitchen. At that point, he was willing to let Chen Yu meddle in the kitchen. After all, there was still a glimmer of hope. It wasn¡¯t long before two simple servings of fried rice were brought out. However, the aroma that wafted from them took everyone present by surprise. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Syndrome of Dry-Heat Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Syndrome of Dry-Heat ¡°My goodness, how did you do that? This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen anyone turn fried rice into a golden color!¡± ¡°What are those red and green things? They¡¯re so pretty!¡± ¡°Why do I smell a sweet fruit scent?¡± ¡­ Just as the crowd gathered around, those two burly men had already embraced two servings of fried rice and were wolfing it down. In fact, these two people¡¯s requirements weren¡¯t very high; all they wanted was a certain feeling from the taste. Chen Yu had known at first glance that the two men were suffering from a heat-related illness due to the hot weather. Although this illness didn¡¯t cause any substantive harm to the human body, it could make a person¡¯s sense of taste deviate temporarily. Some people, after catching this illness, even developed a severe case and would eat things like sand or even rust. Chen Yu had simply added some heat-relieving sour plums to the fried rice, allowing them to fully integrate with the starch in the rice, creating a new flavor. It not only stimulated their taste buds but also cured their heat-related illness. The two men suddenly looked at Chen Yu with excited eyes. ¡°Is there more? I can eat ten more bowls!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow; where was he going to make that much food in such a short time? The plums and other seasonings were all local specialties, but the main staple food for the locals wasn¡¯t rice but baked starch foods like bread. The rice used for the fried rice just now was some leftovers from the owner himself. Before Chen Yu could speak, the owner suddenly grabbed his arm. ¡°Sir, could you do me a favor and make some more fried rice? You can keep all the profits from tonight!¡± Chen Yu frowned, as he had only intended to help out as a convenience, not to get himself roped in. But when he saw the people before him, he felt a surge of compassion. Like those two burly men, they all had varying degrees of heat-related illness and could potentially face problems if not treated promptly. Without saying much more, he turned and entered the kitchen, where the owner quickly took out two bags of rice. This was his treasured stock! After all, not many shops in this area had rice. [Congratulations to the host for earning three points] [Congratulations to the host for earning three points] Hearing the system¡¯s notifications, Chen Yu felt a bit of relief; at least there was some gain. Ever since the system upgraded, he hadn¡¯t heard the daily point tally chimes anymore. However, thankfully, although the points seemed very few now, the value brought by each point was much greater than before. It wasn¡¯t long before he steamed three pots of rice, processed the rice a bit, and then started stir-frying it in the pan. The customers outside had already become impatient, forming a long queue at the entrance of the small shop. Other passersby also stopped in their tracks, some even inexplicably lining up as well. [Congratulations to the host for earning one point] [Congratulations to the host for earning two points] [Congratulations to the host for earning one point] ¡­ As more than a hundred servings of fried rice were sold, Chen Yu accumulated over two hundred points. ¡°` Moreover, he had taught the owner how to make this plum fried rice. Even as he left, the points continued to steadily accumulate. Early the next morning, Chen Yu and his family of three headed straight for the church. After a night of preparation, the place had been transformed into a resplendent and magnificent palace. Basically, all the prominent figures of the West had arrived, with Victor, supported by Katherine, shuffling into the church. His excitement surged when he saw Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± he exclaimed, ¡°you left in such a hurry last time that we didn¡¯t get to discuss some of the cooperation projects in detail! Fortunately, Katherine signed a three-hundred-million-dollar contract with you. From now on, we are partners.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed; to William¡¯s family, a three-hundred-million-dollar contract was but a drop in the ocean. Yet Victor valued it so highly, which was enough to prove that he now considered Chen Yu one of his own. After exchanging a few polite smiles, the group entered the church together and found a rather conspicuous place to sit. No sooner had they sat down than the people next to them began handing over their business cards. Since Chen Yu and Victor were so close, everyone thought of Chen Yu as some big shot from the East. Tong Ya also took the opportunity to discuss some cooperation with Victor. Although the wedding had not yet started, all the business tycoons had already taken their seats, turning the place into a sort of business gathering. It wasn¡¯t until twelve noon, when the priest appeared, that the scene gradually quieted down. Brown and Fang Yuan entered the church slowly under the envious eyes of all. The Edward Family, being an ancient Western royal lineage, conducted their wedding with the splendor of a royal ceremony. At that moment, Fang Yuan was dressed like a queen, eliciting the envy of many women. No matter what the purpose of the wedding was, marrying into the Edward Family was a woman¡¯s highest honor. Just as Brown and Fang Yuan were about to receive the priest¡¯s blessing, Fang Yuan was startled to see Chen Yu in the crowd. Her heart was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions; she had not expected to see Chen Yu at this event. What surprised her even more was that Chen Yu hadn¡¯t glanced her way the entire time, only speaking in low tones with Victor. And when her gaze drifted over to him, Tong Ya suddenly straightened her back, grasping Tuan Tuan with one hand and Chen Yu¡¯s arm with the other. It seemed like a display of defiance. Fang Yuan¡¯s eyes widened, her body trembled slightly, even the bouquet in her hand swayed involuntarily. Brown frowned and quickly reached out to grasp Fang Yuan¡¯s arm. Han Mintao, who followed behind, was also startled by the situation. At today¡¯s event, those invited to attend the wedding were all distinguished figures of the West, many of whom were even descendants of royalty. But he had never expected Chen Yu to be among them, and even more so with an invitation. This was enough proof that Chen Yu, to some extent, could sit on an equal footing with these Western tycoons. Han Mintao¡¯s breathing became rapid as she subconsciously prayed in her heart, hoping that this marriage wouldn¡¯t just remain a contract on paper but would materialize in reality. Perhaps only then could she and her daughter use the name of the Edward Family to get everything they desired. At least, they wouldn¡¯t be trampled underfoot by Chen Yu. At that moment, the priest respectfully turned to Victor. ¡°Mr. Victor, as the eldest and most honored person here, could you please place the engagement rings on the couple?¡± the priest asked. No sooner had the words been spoken than Victor respectfully assisted Chen Yu to stand. ¡°` COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Purchasing a Bus Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Purchasing a Bus ¡°Mr. Chen is the person I respect the most in this world, and he is also my life-saving benefactor. In my opinion, he is the most honorable person here.¡± Brown looked back at Chen Yu, a slight surprise in his heart. He had heard of Chen Yu before, said to be a miraculous doctor and a distinguished guest of William¡¯s family. The William family had even notified the entire West that to disrespect Chen Yu was to be an enemy of the William family. Now that Victor had put Chen Yu forward in such an occasion, it invisibly elevated Chen Yu¡¯s status even further. But Chen Yu was a bit awkward, this was forcing him to preside over the engagement ceremony of his ex-wife. Tong Ya, standing to the side, naturally noticed Chen Yu¡¯s discomfort and quickly stood up, performing a western aristocratic courtesy to Victor very gracefully. ¡°Mr. Victor, after all, this is considered a royal wedding in the West, and we are merely guests. It¡¯s not appropriate for my husband to conduct the engagement ceremony in terms of etiquette. It needs an esteemed and respected elder like you!¡± Her words were not only graceful and generous but also gave ample face to Victor. Chen Yu too smiled and stood up, ¡°Old sir, please don¡¯t decline, the role of the officiant belongs to no one but you!¡± By this point, Victor was no longer pretentious. The engagement ceremony ended up quite perfect, except that the bride did not display any joy of getting married, instead, she was extremely nervous throughout. Even Brown was downhearted, it was just an engagement, there was no need for such a big reaction. Chen Yu sat there steadily, watching the entire ceremony. He didn¡¯t care whether the wedding was real or fake; he and Fang Yuan once had some feelings, so waiting until the ceremony was over was already a blessing to Fang Yuan. After the wedding, Chen Yu only exchanged brief pleasantries with Victor, then left with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. They had originally come to travel the world, and certainly couldn¡¯t stay here the whole time. In the following half month, they visited all the famous historical sites in the West before returning to Suzhou City. After resting for a couple of days, Chen Yu went directly to the factory. During this period, the system had been calculating the revenue ratios within the factory for him; he didn¡¯t need to worry about anything, but the recent investments had been significant. He wasn¡¯t sure if Hou Jianchang was too anxious or what. When he arrived at the factory, he found it somewhat different from when he left. Not only was there a new factory building, but also several dormitory buildings had been erected next to it, with even a small supermarket opened within the factory area. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t hide his surprise, so the system had been calculating the accounts for him, but many specific investment directions hadn¡¯t been marked out. Now, seeing the scene before him, he realized Hou Jianchang had invested most of the money into employee welfare. Even in the open space of the factory area, there were three buses parked, prepared for the employees living nearby to commute to work. As Chen Yu was wandering around, Hou Jianchang happened to come out of the factory building with two workers. ¡°We must speed up the work progress, this batch of goods needs to be delivered in half a month!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss Hou, given our current progress, let alone half a month, we can finish it in ten days.¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°What I want is not your assurances, but the quality of the products!¡± ¡­ ¡°Mr. Hou!¡± Chen Yu called out as he approached. Seeing Chen Yu, Hou Jianchang¡¯s excitement surged, ¡°Chen, you¡¯re back!¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°It seems you¡¯re in quite a hurry. Are there a lot of goods to be delivered from our factory?¡± Hou Jianchang quickly took out a contract, ¡°This is the contract with William¡¯s family that you sent me before. I¡¯ve looked it over carefully, and we must deliver this batch of goods as soon as possible!¡± ¡°The market over there is different from the domestic one. We must seize the top resources in the shortest time, or else we¡¯ll lose our competitive edge.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the contract in Hou¡¯s hand and saw that its completion had already reached sixty percent. ¡°The goods for the West are not in a rush, let¡¯s first ensure the supply for Tong Group!¡± Hou Jianchang nodded and then gestured to the driver nearby. The driver, not daring to delay, hurried over, but as he walked, he fished something out of his pocket, and by the time he arrived, he had another contract in his hand. ¡°Mr. Hou, are you going to sign a contract with me?¡± Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t reply but took the contract from the driver and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Chen, this is a vehicle purchase contract, take a look!¡± Chen Yu took the contract and saw that it was related to the purchase of shuttle buses for the factory. Many factories usually rent buses from passenger transport companies. It was unexpected that Hou Jianchang wanted to buy them outright. ¡°Mr. Hou, is this really necessary? Our factory¡¯s employee dormitories are located within the factory area, and there aren¡¯t many employees living outside. Providing some bicycle or electric scooter sheds should suffice. Isn¡¯t buying several buses a bit inappropriate?¡± He Jianchang did not deny Chen Yu¡¯s point but took out an employee personal information sheet. ¡°Indeed, we don¡¯t have many employees living outside, but within the employee welfare promises we made previously, there are many detailed clauses. The issue with the shuttle bus isn¡¯t that I¡¯m opposed to renting from a transport company, but that their safety guarantees are often inadequate.¡± Chen Yu pondered with his chin in his hand. In recent years, there had been frequent reports of factory shuttle buses involved in accidents and rollovers. If any issues arose, compensation for the workers would be an astronomical amount. If he took control of the shuttle bus service and purchased sufficient insurance, it would indeed save a lot of trouble. ¡°Alright, I agree. As for how many, you decide!¡± Chen Yu immediately signed the contract and handed it back to Hou Jianchang. The driver nearby became even more excited. Many of them rented their buses themselves, and whether it was insurance or other expenses, they had to cover it on their own. Sometimes, an accident could lead to financial ruin. Now that the factory was purchasing buses, it was like including them in the factory¡¯s employment system. Not only could they enjoy the wages and welfare of employees, but they also wouldn¡¯t have to live in fear every day. ¡°Mr. Hou, Mr. Chen, then I¡¯ll call over all the guys right away to form a team!¡± Hou Jianchang also signed his name on the contract and handed it back to the driver. ¡°Call them all over, but I¡¯ll have to make a selection. If their skills aren¡¯t up to standard, I won¡¯t take them.¡± The driver patted his chest confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my guys have all been bus drivers for over ten years.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Three Lives Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Three Lives Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t exempt his drivers from assessment just because of one driver¡¯s assurance; instead, he sent them an assessment procedure and then took Chen Yu to the factory area. A newly built factory area, still spearheaded by Xie Jiang, was running very well, just like the several factories he had constructed before. Since they needed to expand, it was natural for Hou Jianchang to seek out Xie Jiang. However, the factory had just been built, and expanding production would still take some time; they were still investing three hundred million a month. After inspecting the production lines, Chen Yu immediately had a new idea. The main business of the factory was marinated foods, semi-finished products, processed goods, and a portion of quick meal packages. These items were mainly supplied to supermarkets. But the most important thing for food items was to collaborate with restaurants, especially those large chain hotels and restaurants. If he could turn all the cuisines he was proficient in into meal kits and sign contracts with these restaurants, establishing long-term supply cooperation, then his business would reach a new level. However, one must take things step by step; even if he could make those meal kits, he couldn¡¯t industrialize them in such a short time. Just then, a huge explosion echoed from not far away, accompanied by a heatwave that instantly engulfed nearby buildings and even swept towards them. The fire alarm went off instantly, and the security guards from the plant ran out from the duty room, each holding a fire extinguisher ready to support at a moment¡¯s notice. Chen Yu also rushed out in a hurry, only to see flames shooting up into the sky not far away¡ªit seemed to be a factory less than five kilometers from here that had exploded. The raging fire spread quickly, enveloping several nearby factories, including two fuel chemical plants. If these factories were to explode as well, all the buildings within dozens of miles would be affected. ¡°Old Hou, quickly bring out all of our factory¡¯s firefighting equipment and help put out the fire,¡± Chen Yu shouted instinctively while running towards the direction of the explosion. [System Alert: Danger ahead, please evacuate immediately] Chen Yu furrowed his brow, the center of the explosion had been severely destroyed, and there must have been heavy casualties, with the number of dead and injured still on the rise. He couldn¡¯t just stand by at such a time. Hou Jianchang, along with all the fire personnel and firefighting equipment, quickly followed, while simultaneously calling the relevant departments. Fortunately, the fire was contained before it could spread too far, and it was quickly extinguished without causing too much damage. But on a clearing lay a crowd of people who had been severely burned, where Chen Yu was sitting, setting up a makeshift medical tent, treating them. Among them was a middle-aged man, grimy with ash, sitting there in despair. When Hou Jianchang saw this person, he hurried over and helped him up from the ground. ¡°Old Zhang, what happened? Your plant used to run so smoothly; how did it suddenly explode?¡± Zhang Baichuan looked up, bewildered, ¡°The factory had been struggling to operate for a long time, many facilities were aging, and I didn¡¯t get the chance to overhaul them before this happened.¡± Hou Jianchang let out a helpless sigh. People like them who ran factories often lived in dire straits. Let¡¯s not even mention whether the products they produced could be sold in a timely manner; the sheer amount of related investments was enough to make them walk on thin ice. Once a problem emerged in any part of the process, even if the relevant departments didn¡¯t come knocking for a fine, they would still have to bear extremely serious consequences. Now, half of the entire factory had been blown up, and there were so many casualties; the loss was self-evident. Zhang Baichuan might even face several years in prison. Fortunately, the explosion did not spread to the nearby factories, avoiding a lot of unnecessary trouble. Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t know what to say and was just comforting Zhang Baichuan on the side. At that moment, Zhang Baichuan suddenly lifted his head, grasping onto Hou Jianchang¡¯s shoulder like grabbing a lifesaving straw. ¡°Old Hou, I remember when your factory faced a crisis. You managed to breathe new life into it in less than two months. What method did you use? Do you have any experience to share with me?¡± Hou Jianchang frowned involuntarily and glanced instinctively at Chen Yu, not too far away. ¡°I merely received help from a benefactor who provided me with an investment, which allowed me to integrate my original factory and change the main business, and that¡¯s how it started running again! Otherwise, the creditors would have driven me to jump off a building long ago.¡± Despair filled Zhang Baichuan¡¯s face once more: ¡°Does that mean my life has come to an end?¡± [Congratulations, host has earned twenty points.] [Congratulations, host has earned fifteen points.] [Congratulations, host has earned thirty points.] ¡­ A series of notification sounds kept ringing in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Most of the victims rescued from the fire were healed by him, including a few who were on the brink of death. In the end, except for the three people who were instantly killed at the epicenter of the explosion, everyone else was saved by Chen Yu. [System notification, the factory area is close to the host¡¯s factory area. It is recommended that the host acquire it to expand the factory size.] Chen Yu stretched his muscles and slowly stood up, glancing at Zhang Baichuan, who was sitting there sobbing bitterly. This factory was probably his everything, and now that it was gone, he likely didn¡¯t want to live anymore. Chen Yu patted the dust off himself and was about to walk over when Zhou Shengtao and several related personnel came over. ¡°Zhang Baichuan, you are the person in charge of this factory, aren¡¯t you? Such a serious incident has occurred; please come with us. Additionally, we will assign someone to investigate your factory.¡± Zhang Baichuan¡¯s body stiffened on the spot, followed by convulsions, and he even spat out foam from his mouth. It seemed likely that the immense pressure had caused a disruption in his bodily functions, leading to acute myocardial infarction. Chen Yu quickly ran over, grabbed Zhang Baichuan¡¯s body, pressed twice on his chest, and then grasped his neck to massage it up and down. Before long, Zhang Baichuan came around. ¡°Team Leader Zhou, can the investigation be postponed for now? Look at the state he¡¯s in; even if you take him away for an investigation, you won¡¯t be able to figure out anything.¡± Chen Yu and Zhou Shengtao, after all, had an old relationship, so Zhou Shengtao naturally considered his words. But this situation also put Zhou Shengtao in a difficult position. ¡°Little Chen, the investigation can wait! But now that there have been three fatalities, I can¡¯t just ignore it.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Entrance Selection Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Entrance Selection Chen Yu also furrowed his brows, indeed, other matters were negotiable, but a lawsuit involving a fatality could be troublesome. Even if they could delay here for a few days, what about the deceased¡¯s family? ¡°Old Zhang, how much insurance did your factory have originally?¡± Hou Jianchang suddenly asked from beside him. Zhang Baichuan looked helpless: ¡°Even with the insurance payout, it¡¯s only enough to cover half of the loss, and I have to pay the rest out of pocket.¡± ¡°What if you sell the remaining part of the factory to me in a package deal?¡± Chen Yu asked casually. Zhang Baichuan was startled momentarily. His factory was already blown up like this, and the remaining half of the facilities were probably unusable. Now, the only things of value were the various formalities associated with the factory. By acquiring his factory at this time, Chen Yu was essentially buying a heap of junk. ¡°Chen, have you gone mad!¡± Zhou Shengtao hurriedly pulled Chen Yu aside. ¡°The factory is in this state now, if you buy it, you¡¯re essentially buying its liabilities. You might have to compensate part of what the deceased¡¯s family demands.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Captain Zhou, I can afford this amount of money. Besides, by acquiring the factory, I can also relieve you of some unnecessary trouble.¡± Zhou Shengtao nodded, then said no more. Hou Jianchang pulled Zhang Baichuan in front of Chen Yu: ¡°Old Zhang, what are you hesitating for? Since Chen has said he wants to buy your factory, he¡¯s not just talking. Hurry up and bring all the documents here, and tally up the losses while you¡¯re at it.¡± Only then did Zhang Baichuan react, quickly calling over the factory¡¯s accountant and the heads of each department. It wasn¡¯t long before everything was tallied up. The entire factory, including the registered investment costs, totaled thirty million. Judging by the damage from the explosion, at best it was worth ten million. After going through the insurance and completing various compensations, what Zhang Baichuan would have in hand in the end was likely less than a million. But fortunately, he avoided possible debt and the disaster of imprisonment, and still had a little money in hand to keep himself afloat. Chen Yu just glanced at the materials tallied by Zhang Baichuan, then generously signed his name on it and paid ten million on the spot. Zhang Baichuan was ecstatic after getting the money, at least he could avoid the immediate crisis. With Zhou Shengtao¡¯s help, Chen Yu handled some necessary procedures. By the time everything was settled, it was already 8 pm. Chen Yu, Hou Jianchang, and Zhang Baichuan sat on the stone stools outside the decommissioned factory. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect, a lifetime of hard work in building this business, to go up in smoke just like that!¡± Zhang Baichuan wore a bitter smile, even when the cigarette in his hand burned down to his fingers, he felt nothing. Hou Jianchang could very much relate. He had been swindled previously, nearly going bankrupt. If not for Chen Yu¡¯s help, the consequences would have been unthinkable. ¡°Old Zhang, don¡¯t think too much about it now. If there¡¯s anything in the future, just give me a call. I¡¯ll definitely help if I can.¡± Zhang Baichuan didn¡¯t say much, just exchanged a few polite words before driving away. Chen Yu then made a brief inspection of the factory¡¯s layout and the damaged parts. It wasn¡¯t long before the system¡¯s prompt sounded in his mind, with a complete planning schematic appearing immediately thereafter. Simultaneously appearing were connections to the original factory and some machinery manufacturing plans. However, to realize all these, it would likely cost a substantial amount. Fortunately, in his previous mission in the Arctic, he had made an extra two billion-plus, so this amount of money was nothing to him now. ¡°Old Chen, this factory is separated from ours by just one street, and it¡¯s not even a main road. Apply for it and the road can be modified. Then we can completely connect the two factory areas to create an industrial park.¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyes gleamed, evidently, he had thought about this countless times. After all, everyone who owns a factory wishes their industrial area could develop infinitely, even annexing the factories nearby. Chen Yu let out a sigh, ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll present the plan, then we can connect the two factories into one.¡± The next morning, Chen Yu drove Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to school. This primary school was one of the most famous in Suzhou City; a significant portion of the students were special admission students. They were directly selected from kindergartens. Tuan Tuan¡¯s dancing talent might have ranked her first in kindergarten, but it wasn¡¯t certain here. The students who came here were not just from Suzhou City, but also outstanding students from the capital. Studying here could definitely offer Tuan Tuan a better future, but the competition she would face was far crueler than before. The family of three had just arrived at the school when they noticed countless luxury cars parked at the entrance, even a lot of nanny cars. Compared to them, Chen Yu suddenly felt that his hybrid car wasn¡¯t much to look at. ¡°Please, all new students accompany your parents to the selection hall.¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the special talent students were already admitted in advance by the school? Why is there still a selection process?¡± Tong Ya was somewhat helpless as well, ¡°That¡¯s what they said, but after all, this is a well-known primary school, and to some extent, a prestigious institution, so they categorize students based on their family¡¯s status.¡± Disgust appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just forcibly dividing students into ranks? It¡¯s better if we don¡¯t attend such a school.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± Tong Ya quickly grasped Chen Yu, ¡°Though you say this, the school has strong teaching resources, especially the students selected for the key special talent class. The educational resources they enjoy are even richer than the highest in the capital.¡± Chen Yu glanced at Tuan Tuan beside him; his daughter deserved the best education no matter what. Moreover, after the class division, Tuan Tuan¡¯s class would certainly consist of rich students, which would mean a higher average quality that could benefit her future growth. Exhaling a heavy breath, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say more, simply followed Tong Ya¡¯s persuasion and headed towards the hall. Yet just as they approached the hall, Chen Yu saw a donation station. There were many donation projects, mainly aimed at adding to the school¡¯s infrastructure. And amazingly, the person in charge of the donations had clearly listed the parents¡¯ names and the amounts donated, displayed prominently for all to see. This induced an invisible competition among the parents. They would subconsciously compare to see who donated more. Moreover, according to the school¡¯s unwritten rules, the more a parent donated, the more educational resources their child would receive in turn. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Scrapped Machinery Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Scrapped Machinery The largest amount on the donation list right now is twelve million, and judging by the name at the front, it must come from a certain family in the capital. Chen Yu frowned slightly, still somewhat hesitant to place his daughter in such a competitive environment. The teacher in charge of recording donations politely stood up, ¡°Sir, may I ask how much you plan to donate?¡± Tong Ya directly took out her phone, ready to make a transfer. It seemed that she had been preparing for today¡¯s donation since Tuan Tuan was in kindergarten. ¡°No need for such trouble!¡± Chen Yu stopped Tong Ya and casually took out a bank draft worth one hundred million from his pocket and placed it on the table. ¡°Teacher, if someone donates more than I do, please notify me, and I¡¯ll add another hundred million!¡± The teacher responsible for registration shot up, her mouth agape with disbelief. In the history of the school¡¯s admissions, the highest donation they had ever received was only ten million, and now someone had just donated a full hundred million. There were only a few individuals in Suzhou City with a net worth over a hundred million, and even in the capital, such people were rare. By the way Chen Yu acted, it was clear his net worth was at least several billion; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have so casually dropped a hundred million. ¡°Right this way, please!¡± The registration teacher hurriedly directed Chen Yu and a staff member came over and took him away. Inside an extravagantly decorated classroom, there were only five families and their children. Seeing Chen Yu enter, they immediately got up, approached him warmly, and presented their business cards. Chen Yu simply replied with a smile, barely shaking hands in response and saying hardly a word, not even carrying his own business cards. After all, he was just a restaurant owner; where would he have business cards? ¡°The Tong Family from the capital!¡± Tong Ya¡¯s seemingly indifferent remark instantly shocked the five families present. Afterward, their attitude became much more respectful, and they even told their children they must never cross Tuan Tuan in any way. The Tong Family from the capital was undoubtedly an enormous entity, ranking within the top twenty super families globally. Chen Yu was somewhat helpless; it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to use the Tong Family¡¯s identity, but he felt that it could bring unnecessary trouble to Tuan Tuan. However, such a name served as protection in some respects. After briefly interacting with the families, Chen Yu found a spot to sit down. Then, several well-dressed teachers came over and respectfully introduced themselves. From their demeanor, it was clear the six children in this classroom would be a class and would be educated by these teachers before them. Moreover, these teachers would also provide one-on-one tutoring to the six children if necessary. This greatly pleased Chen Yu, as it meant that Tuan Tuan would, at least, not be at a disadvantage from the start. By five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, all the admission procedures and processes were complete, and Chen Yu took Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan back to Shui Yue No. 1. But as soon as he sat down, Xie Jiang called him. Having eaten only a few bites, Chen Yu hurriedly rushed to the factory. At that moment, next to the factory that had been blasted beyond recognition, a large number of workers were busy at work. Xie Jiang and Hou Jianchang were controlling some of the details on the side. Seeing Chen Yu arrive, Xie Jiang excitedly greeted him. ¡°Chen, I really didn¡¯t expect you to give me such a big project this time. To cope with your partnership, I had to start several companies on top of my original construction team, and now my business is growing bigger and bigger.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, merely taking out the blueprints he had prepared. ¡°Xie, when constructing the factory, you need to leave some spaces for me; I might acquire all the factories here in the future.¡± Xie Jiang immediately became excited; as Chen Yu¡¯s businesses expanded, he could also get a share of the profits. All the major projects that Chen Yu had ordered so far had been assigned to him. With just these projects, he had earned a fortune that a regular person couldn¡¯t in a lifetime. ¡°Great, I¡¯ve got that covered, but you¡¯ll need to guide some of the details. The requirements on your blueprints are indeed a bit challenging.¡± Chen Yu patted Jiang Xiejiang on the shoulder and walked onto the ruins. ¡°You didn¡¯t call me here in such a hurry just to discuss blueprints, did you?¡± Xie Jiang swiftly beckoned to a few workers nearby, and then a huge robotic arm was placed in front of Chen Yu. ¡°We checked earlier with Old Hou and found that there are a lot of machines buried under the debris here. Although they¡¯ve been affected by the explosion, with a little tidying up, they can still be used!¡± ¡°If we collect these machines for reuse, it could save us a considerable sum.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly; the machines he was about to build didn¡¯t need these mechanical arms at all, at most he could disassemble some of their parts for reuse. ¡°Forget it, better to call a recycling company and haul it all away!¡± Hou Jianchang quickly stepped forward, ¡°Chen, let¡¯s keep these things. As the old saying goes, ¡®A broken-down family may still have a hidden treasure.¡¯ These mechanical arms might come in handy in the future, and besides, the technology used in them is world-class.¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you to handle.¡± As they were speaking, a sudden, jarring shout burst from the side. The workers, who had been focused on their tasks, were all drawn to the source of the noise. They saw a massive hole under a pile of rubble, which was unconnected to the adjacent building and extended deep underground, filled with water. [System Alert: There is a large number of ancient tombs nearby. It is recommended that the host contacts the relevant departments before constructing the factory.] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. Wherever there was a large number of ancient tombs, relevant authorities would be involved, which would delay the construction of the factory. Just as he was about to call Zhou Shengtao, an X-ray terrain map suddenly appeared in his mind. It was a layout map of all the nearby factories, showing that beneath this area there were several ancient tomb complexes to varying degrees. From the construction of these tomb chambers, most appeared to be from the Yuan dynasty, with some even tracing back to the Tang dynasty. Chen Yu was instantly thrilled; if the relevant authorities got involved, most of the nearby factories would be affected, and some would even be forced to relocate. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Creating an Industrial Park Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Creating an Industrial Park According to the analysis diagram provided by the system, the original factory area of Chen Yu only had a few scattered ancient tombs on one side of the corner wall. Therefore, if relevant departments intervened, his factory area could be perfectly preserved. Although doing so was somewhat unscrupulous, Chen Yu had already tapped into the Western market, and his factory needed to be expanded. Moreover, many surrounding factories had already been half-dead due to their own reasons, even without the intervention of relevant departments, they couldn¡¯t continue operating. In a sense, Chen Yu was saving them. With this in mind, Chen Yu contacted the relevant departments overnight, and it wasn¡¯t long before they sent a large number of experts and professionals. An excited old professor, nearly sixty years old and wearing glasses, grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand and shook it vigorously. ¡°Young man, you have such noble awareness! If it were an ordinary person who had come across such a group of ancient tombs, they would probably have dug them up themselves without thinking of notifying the relevant authorities.¡± Chen Yu just stood there with a smile, as he had only reported the tombs under the ruins of Zhang Baichuan¡¯s factory area and had not included the surrounding ones. However, he still unintentionally mentioned this to the old professor. Unexpectedly, the old professor became extremely excited and immediately ordered people to explore the nearby factory areas. Despite their exploratory technology not being as advanced as Chen Yu¡¯s system, it was still quite sophisticated, and in no time they had analyzed all the subterranean structures in the area. The next day, the whole industrial park was in an uproar. ¡°Have you heard? A large number of ancient tombs have been unearthed beneath our land, what are we going to do? My factory only opened a couple of years ago!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention you, I just built my factory last year, I never expected such an incident to happen, looks like I might be forced to relocate.¡± ¡°Who would want to take over our factories even if we tried to transfer them now?¡± ¡°The archaeological work alone will take at least half a year, who can afford the economic losses in that time?¡± ¡­ Almost all of the factory owners had gathered in the industrial park, chattering about what they would do in the future. Strictly speaking, the current situation was an act of God, and they had no choice but to move or transfer their factories. The most important thing was that most of these situations were also of social welfare nature, which might require them to pay out of their own pockets for the relocation. Just as everyone was feeling utterly dejected, Hou Jianchang arrived with a small bag under his arm, all smiles. ¡°Fellow bosses, what¡¯s happening today? It looks like there¡¯s a gathering here!¡± Everyone was acquainted with Hou Jianchang and quickly came forward to greet him. ¡°Old Hou, a large ancient burial ground has suddenly appeared underneath this industrial park, and we all don¡¯t know what to do, so we¡¯re discussing it here.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Hou Jianchang feigned surprise, ¡°Well, what¡¯s to be done? Have you all figured out a way out?¡± ¡°Sigh, our entire fortune is invested in these factories, how are we supposed to deal with this on short notice!¡± While Hou Jianchang was chatting with the crowd, an elderly man suddenly grabbed his wrist. ¡°Old Hou, I remember your factory was about to close down before, how come it has suddenly come back to life? Did you meet some sort of master?¡± Hou Jianchang chuckled, ¡°What master? I just encountered an angel investor who not only provided funds but also projects, which brought me back from the brink.¡± ¡°Angel investor!¡± The crowd immediately buzzed with excitement and quickly surrounded Hou Jianchang. These days, angel investors were highly sought after, with substantial funds at their disposal, willing to invest in any promising project. Some even specialized in acquiring sunset industries, looking for partnerships to transform them. ¡°Old Hou, we¡¯ve been friends for many years, and now everyone¡¯s in trouble. You must help us out by introducing us to this angel investor, and perhaps we could even offer a small share in our businesses.¡± Hou Jianchang put on a hesitant expression. ¡°This is a bit difficult; those types of investors are elusive, hard even for me to meet, not to mention that no one¡¯s money comes blowing in the wind. With this incident, I¡¯m afraid they may not be so willing to invest.¡± ¡°Old Hou! There¡¯s always room for negotiation. Please think of a way to introduce us, we can discuss sharing some equity off the record.¡± The so-called ¡°off-the-record equity¡± essentially bought goodwill; the person receiving it might not seem to do much on the surface, but without them, business transactions wouldn¡¯t even be possible. Now, these factory heads were all counting on Hou Jianchang, or else they faced the prospect of bankruptcy and liquidation. ¡°Alright then!¡± Hou Jianchang seemed to agree with difficulty: ¡°I¡¯ll go out on a limb for you brothers then! Let¡¯s set it for tonight at eight. As for the place, that¡¯s up for you all to arrange.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± At this juncture, the group had few options and quickly agreed. At two in the afternoon, Chen Yu sat in the kitchen of his shop, fiddling with the seasoning packet in front of him. This was a new product he had just developed. Simply put, it was a method to process the finished dishes in a special way and preserve them. However, there were many factors to consider, such as food safety testing and whether the shelf life was long enough. It was very difficult to address all these aspects at once; the current preservative technologies on the market could only ensure one aspect. Chen Yu stood still as if frozen to the spot. But no one else dared to approach and disturb him, allowing him to think alone. At the moment, Chen Yu was attempting to combine all the knowledge in his head. He considered every preservation method, from physical to chemical and even biological techniques. But all these methods were too traditional, with noticeable flaws, and he was reluctant to settle for any of them. While he was deep in thought, his phone suddenly chimed with a message. ¡°Old Chen, everything¡¯s set up, tonight at 8 PM, Sh¨¨ng Business Club!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled upward. Before this, he had already arranged with Hou Jianchang and had also given the archaeology team a heads up. No one knew he was the one who had reported the burial site to the authorities, and he could also use the time to buy up the surrounding factories en masse, merging them into one large compound. However, after a brief moment of happiness, Chen Yu fell back into contemplation. Now that the issue with the factory had been resolved, he needed to sort out the food preservation technology and apply for patents. Moreover, this technology had to obtain international certification, even reaching a global standard. After all, his future products would be for the entire world, and nothing could go wrong. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Application for Patent Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Application for Patent ¡°Old Chen!¡± Ning Kai gently tapped Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder and passed him a tablet computer at the same time. ¡°I¡¯ve looked at the preservative technologies of several large food factories. Should we learn from them?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°These technologies are too traditional; we must come up with something new!¡± Ning Kai sighed helplessly. To create new technology, they needed a research and development team. Just thinking here among themselves wouldn¡¯t lead to anything. Besides, they were chefs who had previously focused on fresh ingredients. Asking them to work on preservation technology was indeed challenging. Just then, a vast array of information suddenly filled Chen Yu¡¯s mind, followed by the system¡¯s alert tone. It was a complete set of sterilization and packaging processes, definitely more advanced than any food factory¡¯s current preservation technology in the world. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smack his forehead; he had forgotten about having the system. Excited, he immediately grabbed the blueprints and started drawing. Before long, he had mapped out the entire process and organized the theoretical support for the whole technology. By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu had taken all the reports and materials to the relevant departments for verification. This process was quite troublesome; it wasn¡¯t until six o¡¯clock that he obtained part of the permits. After resolving these issues, Chen Yu went straight to Sheng Business Club. This place was an ideal spot for doing business; everyone in Suzhou City¡¯s business circles liked to negotiate deals here. When Chen Yu arrived, all the heads of the factories in the industrial park were already waiting there. Hou Jianchang was also there, making small talk with these people to liven up the atmosphere. But every face present bore a look of worry; if they didn¡¯t transfer their assets and factories soon enough, it would be too late. The moment the relevant departments issued an order, they could forcibly demolish their factories, leaving them with paltry compensation at best, perhaps only a banner for protecting relics. When everyone saw Chen Yu come in, they immediately became excited. Yet, some people furrowed their brows and looked Chen Yu up and down with caution. To them, Chen Yu was simply too young to be an angel investor. Unless he was a rich second generation who splurged money freely, but Chen Yu didn¡¯t seem to be that sort of person. While people were speculating, Hou Jianchang had already walked up and ushered Chen Yu to sit down aside. ¡°Let me introduce everyone, this is the investor in my factory, President Chen! I went through a lot of trouble to invite him over, so if you have anything to discuss, go ahead. President Chen doesn¡¯t have much time.¡± While everyone was still hesitant, a person in his forties suddenly stood up and sat next to Chen Yu. ¡°President Chen, my factory was just established less than a year ago, with a total investment of forty million! I plan to transfer it completely; please offer a fair price.¡± With that, the man took out a pile of documents from his briefcase and respectfully handed them to Chen Yu. In fact, this person was also doubtful about Chen Yu¡¯s identity, but with things having come to this point, he couldn¡¯t care less and was prepared to take a shot in the dark. Chen Yu just glanced at the documents in his hand, made a brief analysis of the other party¡¯s asset allocation, and then placed them on the table. ¡°Your factory has too many burials underneath. I¡¯m afraid they all need to be excavated. Right now, I can only purchase some of your factory¡¯s equipment and your property rights, plus the land use rights of that parcel of land.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± The man immediately took out a seal and a signature pen from his briefcase, ¡°Then please quote a price!¡± Chen Yu feigned contemplation, then signed a figure of fifteen million directly on the documents. ¡°Given the current situation, this is the best price I can give you. However, I will take over all the current workers in your factory. Their insurance expenses and subsequent arrangements are all on me.¡± The man got excited, although fifteen million wasn¡¯t a high price, taking over all his employees was like a godsend to him. Not to mention the unemployment benefits alone for the workers would cost him quite a sum. Now that all the workers would smoothly transition to Chen Yu¡¯s company, it was more than he could ask for. It also meant he would directly receive fifteen million, and he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything that followed. After the contract was signed, Chen Yu took out a bank draft with a face value of ten million and then transferred another five million from a bank account. Seeing this, everyone else no longer hesitated and queued up to sign contracts with Chen Yu. After taking over all the nearby factories and lands, Chen Yu spent a total of seven hundred million. Since this money was all from the bounty he earned during the mission in the Arctic, spending it didn¡¯t hurt at all. It was already midnight by the time all the contracts were signed. The factory heads left in a hurry after signing their contracts, fearing Chen Yu might change his mind. Little did they know that they were the ones at a loss. Chen Yu looked at the contracts before him, unable to contain his excitement. Now he could expand his factory without restraint and even build an industrial park in the shortest possible time. He had already analyzed the burial groups beneath the development zone, and most had been severely damaged with significant waterlogging. So even if the relevant departments exhumed them, they could only take away all the treasures after clearing the site. Eventually, this land could only be included in the scope of the development zone. The system had already provided Chen Yu with an excellent plan to excavate the underground burial groups. In less than two months, the industrial park could be completely cleared out. After quickly organizing the contracts in his hand, Chen Yu handed them over to Hou Jianchang. ¡°Old Hou, I¡¯ll leave these things in your care. Make sure to take good care of the workers who have transferred from those factories.¡± Having said this, Chen Yu took out a one-hundred-million bank draft to be invested in settling those workers. After all, these workers were skilled laborers, which would save him from any trouble when hiring in the future. After taking care of these matters, Chen Yu drove home. Little did he expect that as soon as he got there, he found Tong Ming with an elderly man sitting in the living room, chatting leisurely with Chen Guang. ¡°Ah, young Chen is back! I haven¡¯t seen you for a few days, and you¡¯ve become even more handsome, and your build even stronger!¡± Tong Ming exclaimed excitedly as he patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 213: 2 Billion Order Chapter 213: Chapter 213: 2 Billion Order The elderly man standing next to them now stood up as well and walked over to Chen Yu¡¯s side with a friendly demeanor. ¡°Old Tong, is this the divine-doctor son-in-law you were telling me about?¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s right, he has cured many difficult and complicated illnesses. Perhaps your condition, in his hands, would be nothing more than a common cold.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood what Tong Ming was trying to do. ¡°It¡¯s nothing that deep, I just know some secret recipes for treating difficult and complicated diseases,¡± he said modestly. The elder didn¡¯t say much more, he simply sat down and extended his wrist. Without hesitation, Chen Yu took hold of the pulse to feel it. However, the next moment, he was completely stunned. This older man¡¯s physical condition was not much different from that of a normal person of his age, even quite robust, one might say. But his body was filled with an excessive amount of hemoglobin. Though this substance could keep someone¡¯s body constantly active, too much of it could cause the body to collapse. Chen Yu immediately took a fine needle from nearby, pricked the old man¡¯s finger, and took some samples. ¡°Sir, please wait here for me,¡± he said. With that, Chen Yu went directly to the room next door. This room had been specially renovated into a medical room, which was fully equipped with all sorts of medical instruments, all imported from abroad by Tong Ya. Since moving here, there had been a constant stream of people seeking medical attention. To accommodate this, Tong Ya had transformed this space into a medical room, with a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy right next door. After a simple laboratory test, Chen Yu produced a diagnostic report. ¡°Sir, your health is in a very unstable condition. Have you taken any particular medication recently?¡± he inquired. After a moment of thought, the old man replied, ¡°It¡¯s a kind of tonic. I have some on me.¡± As he spoke, the old man took out a blue bottle from his person. Chen Yu frowned upon inspecting the ingredients listed on the medication, which were all in excessive amounts. Although they contained a large quantity of trace elements essential for the human body, the dosage was indeed too high. Chen Yu immediately took pen and paper and wrote a prescription. ¡°Sir, I advise you to stop taking this medication! The stimulation to your body is simply too great. After returning home, take the medicine according to this prescription for three days, and all the toxins in your body will be purged.¡± The old man glanced at the prescription, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°You can take it with confidence!¡± Tong Ming clapped the man on the shoulder and then took out a contract from his pocket. ¡°Son-in-law, the last batch of goods sold really well. They barely hit the supermarket shelves before they were sold out. I need a large restock. This time I¡¯ll pay you one billion upfront, and you¡¯ll supply us with the goods to my full demand,¡± he said. Chen Yu readily accepted the order, not passing up the business that came knocking at his door. ¡°What goods?¡± asked the old man, who had leaned in closer, ¡°Are they the new products you placed in the supermarkets last time?¡± Tong Ming nodded confidently, ¡°That¡¯s right, not only is my son-in-law good at treating diseases, but the ready-to-eat products his factory makes are truly exceptional.¡± The old man suddenly became excited, ¡°Old Tong, you¡¯re not being fair, keeping such good channels to yourself without telling me. Don¡¯t you know that the biggest business under my name is the supermarket chain?¡± Tong Ming laughed, ¡°This is my son-in-law, not yours; naturally, he¡¯ll provide me with supplies first and foremost.¡± The old man wasn¡¯t having any of it and stood up, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s hand straight away. ¡°Young man, you must recognize me! Back in the day, I carried the title of Retail King!¡± Chen Yu gave the elderly man a closer look, suddenly feeling a sense of familiarity. ¡°Li Kaiquan? You are Mr. Li Kaiquan.¡± Li Kaiquan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. The supermarket chain under my name is much larger than your father-in-law¡¯s, at least three times the size. If you¡¯re willing, we can sign a contract right now for an order of one billion.¡± Chen Yu felt a bit helpless, ¡°Sir, you may not be aware, but my factory is still in the initial stages of operation. Just handling this one billion order from my father-in-law might take three months to produce; I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy to meet your demand in the short term.¡± ¡°Ah, why so inflexible, young man? Does it have to be one by one? They could be split into two parts, with each getting half,¡± the old man suggested. ¡°Li, you¡¯re going too far now!¡± Tong Ming feigned anger, ¡°I brought you here to get treatment, not to compete with me for business.¡± Li Kaiquan patted Tong Ming¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t be so stingy, we can all make money together! If anything, I¡¯ll just release a portion of my other market shares.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled!¡± Tong Ming slapped the table in agreement, ¡°Then you¡¯ll give me a couple of your river channel projects.¡± Li Kaiquan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯ve set a trap for me?¡± The two elders looked at each other and then burst into hearty laughter, understanding what the other was thinking. Moreover, they already had many business collaborations together. In supermarkets and food, Tong Group¡¯s volume couldn¡¯t compare to Li Kaiquan at all. But in construction projects, Tong Group was many times bigger than Li Kaiquan. Without saying much more, they signed the contract on the spot. Chen Yu smoothly landed an order worth two billion. At this rate, he must complete the expansion of the industrial park in the shortest possible time, especially since there were still three billion worth of orders to fulfill overseas. The very next morning at eight o¡¯clock, Chen Yu sought out the older professor who had come to do the survey before, passing over his own drafted plan. When the professor saw the plan, he was so moved that tears filled his eyes. The underground tomb complex beneath the industrial park had suffered significant damage. If they didn¡¯t clear it out as quickly as possible, the loss would be enormous. But typically, clearing operations for a project like this would take at least six months, and they simply couldn¡¯t wait that long. Now, Chen Yu had provided them with a solution that would allow them to complete the work in just one month. ¡°Young man, you¡¯re really sending charcoal in snowy weather! However, looking at your plan, it seems that an engineering team will still be needed, and we don¡¯t have a ready one at our disposal,¡± the professor pointed out. Chen Yu just smiled, ¡°I happen to have one, and all the salaries for the engineering team won¡¯t be your concern; I¡¯ll take care of that myself.¡± The professor didn¡¯t know what to say. This was originally meant to be an industrial park, and they were unsure about how to manage the excavation. Unexpectedly, Chen Yu had taken over all the factories. And now, he was also providing them with an engineering team. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 214 The Final Challenge Chapter 214: Chapter 214 The Final Challenge The old professor was nearly moved to tears, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders and shaking them incessantly. In the end, he even gave Chen Yu many backdoors, signing most of the relevant documents in his hands. This meant that while the underground tombs in the industrial park were being handled, Chen Yu could build his factory simultaneously. Once the tomb clearance was complete, Chen Yu could almost immediately expand his factory on the basis of the original one. After signing the contract, Xie Jiang took the workers directly to the site, but facing such a massive project, he still had to recruit several nearby construction teams. Since partnering with Chen Yu, Xie Jiang¡¯s business had grown ever larger. He no longer planned on running his shop and decided to open a construction company instead. After handing over all the blueprints to Xie Jiang, Chen Yu left the place. After all, it wasn¡¯t their first collaboration, so Chen Yu didn¡¯t have any concerns. In the eastern suburbs of Suzhou City, a group of individuals with plump figures congregated, each with a grave expression. ¡°Now the entire catering industry in Suzhou City has suffered a fatal blow, all taken over by that kid surnamed Chen.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? Ever since the Food Association was liquidated, there has been no one to stand up for us.¡± ¡°Every breakfast shop in Suzhou City, even the restaurants, now eighty percent are shut down. If this continues, we might not even be able to keep our own shops.¡± ¡­ While everyone was discussing, an elderly man sitting in the seat of honor suddenly stood up. ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this, we need to send a few people to challenge that kid. I refuse to believe he can master every cuisine in the world.¡± The crowd nodded in agreement. A matter between chefs had to be settled in a chef¡¯s way. Chen Yu¡¯s shop had nearly monopolized the entire Suzhou City catering industry, to the point where many company canteens came to order braised dishes from him. How could those who specialized in providing meals for companies or factory canteens accept this? Even a lot of people had left Suzhou City. ¡°Chen Tian, Su Huan, you two are the best chefs here. Choose a few others to form a chef team and issue a challenge to that kid. It would be best to invite the big shots of Suzhou City to witness it.¡± Two middle-aged men, still rather handsome, stood up from the crowd, each taking out something that looked like a contract. ¡°Elder Guan, today the two of us brothers will sign this life-and-death statement right here. If we don¡¯t win this time, we will leave Suzhou City on our own.¡± Guan Chengshan hurriedly stepped forward to calm the two men down, ¡°Things have gotten to this point, you don¡¯t need to torment yourselves like this. Besides, this time is just about claiming a last foothold for Suzhou City¡¯s culinary world. If you lose, we simply move to another place.¡± Chen Tian and Su Huan sighed helplessly; they didn¡¯t dare to sign any life-and-death statement. After all, their assets were in Suzhou City. If they just left like that, the loss would be too great. The two didn¡¯t say much more, only selecting a few chefs from the crowd, then sent the challenge document to the relevant departments in Suzhou City. At this moment, Chen Yu was at Zhou Shengtao¡¯s place, helping him with a few portraits and picking up some related certifications. His developed preservation technology had already been approved, and the remaining procedures had to be issued by Zhou Shengtao¡¯s side. But when Chen Yu came to pick up the certifications, Zhou Shengtao held him up to work as labor. ¡°The portraits you requested have been drawn, but the specific features of two people weren¡¯t very clear, so they don¡¯t resemble very much.¡± Zhou Shengtao took the portraits, visibly excited as he patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°Kid, the things you draw are always useable, and since we¡¯ve caught the guy, your share of the reward will be given to you.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, just having my pertinent certifications prepared will do.¡± Only then did Zhou Shengtao realize, and he hurriedly handed over the prepared documentation to Chen Yu. ¡°The items you¡¯re distributing are in high demand on the market; if you manage to achieve mass production, that would be a considerable business opportunity.¡± Chen Yu just smiled and nodded, not saying much. As he was about to take the material and leave the place, two people rushed in, hustling and bustling. ¡°Captain Zhou, we¡¯re about to launch a challenge and need your department to bear witness. We hope you could sign off on some documents.¡± Zhou Shengtao frowned when he saw these two people. ¡°Launch a challenge? What are you trying to do?¡± The two were startled and quickly pulled a challenge letter from their person. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, we just want to compete in culinary skills. Our object of challenge is none other than Chen Yu, who has been making waves in Suzhou City recently.¡± Zhou Shengtao laughed out loud and then pointed to Chen Yu, standing beside him. ¡°I thought you were up to something else. This is the person you¡¯re looking for. If you want to issue a challenge, give it directly to him. Is my signature really necessary?¡± The two were taken aback, sizing up Chen Yu, and then produced a photo from their possession to compare. ¡°It really is you! You¡¯ve already caused catastrophic damage to our Suzhou City¡¯s catering industry. If we want to protect our business, we must challenge you. If you lose, please close your shop.¡± Such words sounded altogether too presumptuous. Since ancient times, the catering industry has always relied on real strength to compete for market share. The food from Chen Yu¡¯s shop is tasty, affordable, and healthy, and occasionally he introduces some medicinal dishes. Who wouldn¡¯t like that? Moreover, the current situation reflects the choice of the masses in Suzhou City; it seems unfair to blame Chen Yu. Zhou Shengtao also regarded the two men with an indescribable look. In his view, firstly, Chen Yu had not violated any laws, and secondly, having helped the authorities solve so many cases, he was naturally inclined to stand by Chen Yu. However, the expansion of Chen Yu¡¯s shop was indeed drastic, not only striking a blow to Suzhou City¡¯s dining industry but also leading to a large number of unemployed people. Thinking of this, Zhou Shengtao¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Chen, what do you think? Will you accept their challenge?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless, as he had already faced many such challenges. But these two appeared to represent the last of Suzhou City¡¯s restaurants. And seeing how serious the two of them were about it, Chen Yu agreed. After signing the necessary documents, the two hurriedly left the place. Chen Yu then handed his factory¡¯s planning blueprint to Zhou Shengtao. ¡°When my factory starts up, there will likely be a need for a large number of job positions. I¡¯ll need a lot of help from you in that regard!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Tampering Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Tampering Zhou Shengtao¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, for he knew that Chen Yu was expanding his factory, but he had not expected Chen Yu¡¯s domain to be so vast. Almost the entire development zone had been incorporated into Chen Yu¡¯s territory, and the factory workers who had been there before not only escaped unemployment but were also provided respective guarantees. This undoubtedly increased the number of job opportunities in Suzhou City. Zhou Shengtao, who had just been worried about Chen Yu creating a large number of unemployed people, suddenly became excited. ¡°Little Chen, I really didn¡¯t expect your business to grow so big! Also, about that challenge, just watch out, anyway, all the influential people of Suzhou City will be at the scene, and we¡¯ll all be on your side.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, simply taking his documents and leaving the relevant department. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, while Chen Yu was dining with employees, a van suddenly stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. Seven or eight people scrambled out of the van, each holding a stick in their hands. ¡°Who is Chen Yu?¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°I am, who are you guys?¡± The man leading them pointed a stick at Chen Yu¡¯s nose, ¡°You¡¯re the one who donated a hundred million at the school before, aren¡¯t you? Think you¡¯re really something, huh?¡± Chen Yu was full of frustration, previously at the school he had been pressured into making the donation, and now someone had come looking for trouble over it. ¡°That¡¯s me! What, is donating money wrong too?¡± The leading man snorted coldly, ¡°Donating more than my big brother is wrong, die!¡± As his words fell, these people charged forward. Wang Qingshan and Ning Kai hurriedly stepped forward, trying to stop them. After all, the service staff in the restaurant were mostly young girls, easily frightened. But Chen Yu moved faster, jumping out and swinging his fists. In less than a minute, several men were knocked to the ground, with the leader pinned under Chen Yu¡¯s foot. ¡°By the way, who exactly is your big brother? Why so petty? Just because my donation was larger, he comes to trouble me?¡± These men were already scared out of their wits, with the leader screaming miserably. ¡°My big brother is Zhao Erhu from the south of the city!¡± Chen Yu was startled for a moment, he had heard of this Zhao Erhu before, seemingly a real estate developer in Suzhou City, also somewhat famous. It was said that he had a net worth of at least two billion. Unfortunately, with the real estate industry in a slump, his net worth was high, but the liquid funds he could free up were not much. Previously, when donating to the school, he had only come up with eight million. Because of this, Zhao Erhu¡¯s child did not get into the so-called one-on-one professional tutoring class. Since he became wealthy through tough methods, facing such a scenario, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let it go, including on his hit list anyone who donated more than him. ¡°Zhao Erhu, huh!¡± Chen Yu said with disdain, ¡°Go back and tell your boss, if he dares to make trouble here again, I definitely won¡¯t be polite.¡± The men nodded repeatedly, quickly got into the van, and fled in a panic. ¡°Old Chen, this Zhao Erhu is not easy to provoke, he was a land ruffian before he got into the real estate business.¡± Wang Qingshan frowned worriedly, having spent over a decade in Suzhou City himself, he understood the local forces very well. When he first opened his shop, Zhao Erhu came to collect protection money with his men, if it weren¡¯t for Wang Qingshan having some influence in the area, he might have been harassed into closing down by Zhao Erhu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that much, since Zhao Erhu had already sought him out, he couldn¡¯t back down, otherwise he would only make the other party think he was weak and easy to bully. With a plan in mind, Chen Yu directly called Zhou Shengtao, and at the same time, a set of plans emerged in his mind. He wanted to completely swallow up all the businesses under Zhao Erhu¡¯s control. The next morning at ten o¡¯clock, Suzhou City stadium was already a sea of people. The culinary competition that had been agreed upon beforehand was set here, and with all the massive publicity, it had attracted almost the entire population of Suzhou City to come and watch. Today, there were four people who had come to challenge Chen Yu, Chen Tian, Su Huan, Zhou Zheng, Li Tai. All four of them were top chefs, whether in Suzhou City or the whole country. They had even teamed up to participate in a world-class competition. Today, Chen Yu had to confront these four people at the same time. ¡°Chen Yu, today¡¯s competition between us has no personal grievances, it¡¯s only to fight for the last lifeline for Suzhou City¡¯s catering industry. If you lose, please honor your previous promise,¡± one said. Chen Yu sighed helplessly. Originally, he had wanted to purposely lose to these people to save them face, but he didn¡¯t expect that they would be so aggressive. His foundation was now in Suzhou City, and the industrial park was being built; there was no way he could leave here. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, since everyone is struggling to survive, let¡¯s each rely on our own capabilities to compete!¡± Chen Yu declared, then made his way to his open kitchen. It must be said that the organizers were extremely serious about equipping the props and ingredients. Even the kitchen knife felt great in his hand. Just as Chen Yu was getting ready to start, he suddenly realized that the cutting board next to him felt strangely light. He tapped on the cutting board and discovered it was hollow. For a Chinese cuisine chef, the cutting board is most important; such a hollow cutting board would greatly limit performance. Chen Yu looked up sharply and saw that the cutting boards used by the others were all substantially heavier. Then it dawned on him that these people had tampered with his tools. [System prompt: The high-pressure cooker¡¯s internal system has been tampered with and could easily explode.] Chen Yu sighed helplessly, not expecting these people to stoop so low just to win the competition. ¡°Ling Ling, is there any way to deal with this?¡± he asked. [The host¡¯s situation is quite bad. Although the other party has tampered with the tools, according to the rules, the host must bear all of this.] ¡®I¡¯m not asking you to analyze the situation, I¡¯m asking you to give me a practical solution.¡¯ [The host just needs to spend five hundred points, and leave the rest to Ling Ling.] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. The speed at which he was accumulating points was so much slower than before. It really pained him to deduct five hundred points all of a sudden. But given the situation at hand, he had no choice but to agree. The next moment, a blue and white light flashed by, and all the kitchen utensils emitted a crisp tinkling sound almost simultaneously. However, everything happened so quickly and the sound was so soft that it didn¡¯t attract anyone¡¯s attention. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled up slightly, his face filled with confidence once again, as he grabbed the kitchen knife beside him and began to wield it. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Mastering the Eight Major Cuisines Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Mastering the Eight Major Cuisines ¡°This is impossible, the cleaver has been tampered with; how could it not have shattered after so many chops!¡± Zhou Zheng was becoming anxious; he was mixing some soup base, and unconsciously scattered all of the seasoning into it. Li Tai¡¯s breathing also became rapid involuntarily: ¡°That cutting board is hollow and can¡¯t possibly withstand the force of chopping; how did he manage to cut the vegetables?¡± The four of them instantly tensed up, their gazes all fixed on Chen Yu, just waiting for him to make a fool of himself. According to the rules of the competition, if there was the slightest mistake with Chen Yu¡¯s equipment, he would be declared the loser. But as time went on, Chen Yu became more and more adept, and his speed also kept increasing; on the cutting board, he had prepared ingredients for a total of seven dishes. The four of them gave up any hope and could only bury their heads and concentrate on cooking their own dishes. Not long after, a rich fragrance spread across the stadium, drawing the attention of everyone there. Some members of the audience even couldn¡¯t help themselves and walked down from the stands, wanting to take a closer look. ¡°Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix!¡± Chen Yu suddenly shouted, and then he presented a huge plate. This dish is a classic in the Huizhou cuisine, made with over a dozen types of poultry and aided by hundreds of cooking techniques. Various side dishes and meats were neatly arranged on the plate, forming a picture of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, with the phoenix in the center looking dazzlingly colorful. Especially, the mix of scents from the hundreds of cooking techniques used in this dish created an extremely unique aroma, making all the judges unable to resist. When this dish was served, the judges quickly gathered around and eagerly took a bite. ¡°Delicious, so delicious! With one bite, the flavors of pigeon, chicken, duck, and goose meat blend together; it¡¯s incredibly tasty.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this sauce made of? Taking a bite, I can taste several flavors evolving on my tongue.¡± ¡­ These judges were some of the rare gourmands in Suzhou City, and their comments were enough to prove how delicious this dish was. The spectators in the stands could hardly wait; they were dying to rush down for a taste. The four opponents had no choice but to speed up the movement of their hands. While Chen Yu was cooking, his knife skills and techniques were superior to theirs, and even the flames he used for cooking were much larger than typical gas flames. They had also heard of the dish Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, a very difficult dish to prepare. To create it, one had to prepare ingredients and sauces half a month in advance, and most importantly, the knife skills during the cooking process were highly challenging. Under circumstances where ingredients were ample, even the best chefs would need a full day to complete it. But Chen Yu had used less than twenty minutes from start to finish. Just as the four were filled with anxiety, Chen Yu took out another dish from the steamer. ¡°Drunken Fish in Scorched Rice!¡± Anyone with a bit of culinary background would start upon hearing the name. This dish is strictly speaking a Huaiyang cuisine, but it has been fused with Cantonese cuisine to form a new cooking method. The rich aroma of fish had already captivated all judges, bringing them back from the intoxicating taste of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix. At a glance, the dish seemed like a simple steamed fish, but upon closer inspection, one would realize that this fish was dissimilar to ordinary fish. It actually had various characteristics of different fish. The significance lay in the sheer size of this fish, which astonishingly weighed over twenty pounds. One of the judges also hurried forward, eager to taste the dish without delay. ¡°It¡¯s incredible how more than twenty kinds of fish can be mixed together, yet each retains its own unique flavor, too perfect!¡± ¡°Not only does it preserve the individual flavors, on a certain level, it also blends them without any clash of tastes, a true masterstroke of genius!¡± ¡­ Just these two dishes had already surpassed the understanding of Chen Tian and his peers. The two dishes just prepared by Chen Yu could both be considered exquisite cuisine; if not well made, they would be nothing more than a jumbled mess, but if done right, they were a heavenly delicacy. At this moment, they knew they were no match for Chen Yu; as chefs, once they had started a dish, they had to finish it. All four mustered their courage to complete their dishes and lined up to present them to the judges. Each of them made two dishes, totaling eight in all. It must be said that these four were also top-tier chefs, and the dishes they made were of a world-class standard. In another place, these eight dishes might be considered superb. However, in front of Chen Yu, these eight dishes were just ordinary home cooking. The judges had already had their expectations recalibrated by the previous two dishes and hardly had the interest to taste the eight dishes. Instead, their gazes were locked onto Chen Yu. According to the rules, Chen Yu alone had to make eight dishes; with only two presented so far, the anticipation for the remaining six grew. Chen Yu did not disappoint the eager judges, and before long, the remaining six dishes were successively brought out. ¡°Jade Rabbit Adorning the Moon! Carp Leaping Over the Dragon¡¯s Gate! Drunken Sleep on the Battlefield, Laugh Not! Tramping Through Snow in Search of Bears! Lone Boat on the Clear River in Moonlight! Golden Dragon Stirring the Sea!¡± The moment the six dishes were served, all the judges straightened up, staring intently at the six plates. These dishes were mostly legendary, and together with the two served earlier, they could be said to embody the essence of China¡¯s eight major culinary traditions. The judges didn¡¯t bother with formalities and hurried forward to taste them. ¡°To eat such dishes in one¡¯s lifetime is worth dying for!¡± ¡°I never thought someone on this earth could master all eight major cuisines simultaneously and bring out the essence of each.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this ¡®Tramping Through Snow in Search of Bears¡¯ must have used a mix of pork and mutton to replace bear paws!¡± ¡°Jade Rabbit Adorning the Moon has a great name, and the dish is superb, it¡¯s rare to see rabbit meat cooked to this level.¡± ¡­ In the tidal wave of compliments, even Chen Yu felt somewhat elated. The other four sighed in resignation. By now, they were clear in their hearts that they might never be able to compete with Chen Yu in their lifetimes. Just the first dish, the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, was enough for them to study for a lifetime. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, but simply took out the contract they had signed earlier and placed it on the table. ¡°Although this competition originated from a challenge, I believe that chefs should get along amiably and avoid such life-and-death stakes. Moreover, this contest was merely an exchange of skills, and its outcome doesn¡¯t signify anything!¡± As his words fell, Chen Yu directly took the life-and-death contract they had signed and tore it into pieces. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 217 Accident Occurs Chapter 217: Chapter 217 Accident Occurs Chen Yu¡¯s demonstrated vision and demeanor instantly conquered everyone present. Especially the big shots who were invited here, they had an even greater appreciation for Chen Yu. Before this, Zhou Shengtao had already given them a brief introduction to Chen Yu, leaving a good impression on everyone. Now Chen Yu¡¯s image in their minds had risen considerably. An elderly man who appeared kind and benevolent stepped forward and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°young man, you¡¯re doing great! No wonder Captain Zhou thinks so highly of you. I heard you¡¯re setting up a factory recently, that¡¯s very good. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come directly to me.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat flattered, although he had basically completed all the necessary paperwork by now, but he was sure to encounter plenty of trouble during the construction process of the factory. ¡°In that case, I shan¡¯t be shy!¡± The old man laughed heartily, ¡°Work hard, the future is unlimited for the youth.¡± Having gained the old man¡¯s approval, the others didn¡¯t say much else, and many of the big shots even stepped forward to hand their business cards to Chen Yu. Guan Chengshan didn¡¯t say anything more upon seeing this scene, after all, he was one of the major figures in Suzhou City¡¯s culinary world, and it wouldn¡¯t be proper for him to lose his status at such an event. After all, the contract from before was clearly written in black and white, whoever lost had to leave Suzhou City, but now Chen Yu had torn up the contract, which gave them enough face. If he continued to dwell on it, it would make him look petty. The competition quickly became the talk of the entire Suzhou City, and Chen Yu¡¯s fame grew even more. On the afternoon the competition ended, the visitors to Chen Yu¡¯s shop doubled from before. And sales volume more than tripled. Chen Yu was surprised but didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it, as this had become quite normal for the shop, and with its size, it was well able to handle the influx of more visitors. After the competition, Chen Yu went straight to the factory. The place looked somewhat chaotic, with archaeological workers and Xie Jiang¡¯s people mixed together, cleaning the underground tomb complex on one side, and clearing up the factory buildings on the surface on the other. Xie Jiang had also made the greatest effort to keep the equipment left over from the factories, saving Chen Yu a considerable amount of cost. Just then, a terrible scream suddenly erupted from not far away, and two people who looked like students fell straight into a pit on the ground. Chen Yu frowned, now being a critical moment for cooperation between the two sides, not a single mistake could be afforded, otherwise all his plans would be ruined. Without hesitation, he rushed over, only to see two archaeological workers had fallen into an extremely narrow interlayer, with nearby nails already wounding their bodies. One of them had even been pierced through the body by old steel. ¡°Call an ambulance quickly!¡± The old professor immediately became anxious, as these workers were archaeologists he had selected from his institution. Nowadays, very few students are willing to engage in archaeology, and if these two were harmed, it would make recruiting for the archaeology departments even more difficult in the future. Chen Yu, while calling an ambulance, also summoned the medical staff from his factory. To ensure the basic living standards of the employees, Hou Jianchang had previously established a dedicated clinic. ¡°` After all, most of the workers in his factory were disabled, which made various problems prone to occur. After Chen Yu took over the factory, he even expanded the clinic into a small hospital and specifically hired several relevant doctors. The old professor was extremely anxious at this moment, not knowing what to do. The pit was incredibly narrow and the two students who had fallen were trapped, unable to move, and the blood from their injuries had turned the pooled water below red. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, and his joints started to make crackling noises. Then, before the eyes of all, his body actually shrank in size, allowing him to forcibly squeeze into the pit. ¡°My God, what kind of kung fu is this? Could it be the legendary Bone Shrinking Technique?¡± an archaeologist suddenly exclaimed. While the others were also astonished, none made any sound, as they were too preoccupied with the fate of the two people below to pay attention to anything else. Once inside the pit, Chen Yu grabbed the iron nails and steel rebar next to him. He suddenly exerted tremendous strength in his hands, snapping the steel rebar, then carefully pulled the two workers out. The water at the bottom had accumulated over many years and was teeming with countless viruses, not to mention that the rebar and nails were rusty, which made tetanus a real risk. As soon as he emerged, Chen Yu immediately took out acupuncture needles he carried with him and sealed the workers¡¯ acupoints to stop the bleeding. At that moment, the medical staff from Chen Yu¡¯s factory brought over the emergency medical kit. Chen Yu quickly used the medicine to treat the workers¡¯ wounds and gave them a mixture of pre-prepared herbal decoctions to drink. Before long, scabs formed on their wounds, and their complexions began to ease up. ¡°Thankfully, there¡¯s nothing serious. They just need to rest for a couple of days, and their injuries will heal.¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s words, the old professor and the other workers immediately breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, the old professor and the other workers looked at Chen Yu with eyes full of near-worship. The old professor, in particular, excitedly grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Chen Yu, I had no idea you were also skilled in medical arts. If it weren¡¯t for you, my two interns might have been doomed here.¡± Chen Yu felt a bit embarrassed; the old professor really could not control his emotions. ¡°They¡¯ve just suffered some minor injuries and nothing too serious. Besides, I only helped to treat their wounds.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too modest!¡± The old professor praised him a few more times, then told the others to rest. They had been working intensely for two whole days, and a great number of burial sites had been cleared, so it was natural they were tired. Realizing that there might have been issues with their work after this incident, the old professor quickly ordered his subordinates to rest. Xie Jiang and the other workers didn¡¯t care about that. They took the opportunity to manage the nearby pit, pumping out the water and pulling out all the discarded rebar and concrete. To others, these materials might only be industrial waste, but to them, with just a bit of processing, they could be recycled and reused. Seeing this, Chen Yu nodded in satisfaction. Xie Jiang was indeed one of his own, always considering his interests. If it were anyone else, they would have already sold these materials. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Coach Rental Company Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Coach Rental Company ¡°Everyone, lunchtime!¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from the side. He had driven up in a large truck, which was loaded with factory-made ready-to-eat products. After all, under these circumstances, it was impossible to establish a complete cooking system right away. Although Xie Jiang¡¯s construction team came with their own chef, such mass-produced site meals probably wouldn¡¯t be palatable to those involved in archaeology. Hou Jianchang had proactively taken on the task of handling the meals for the past few days. He didn¡¯t just bring products from the factory, but also had the canteen steam a large quantity of steamed buns. Chen Yu, though he had just taken part in a cooking competition, had rushed over here without eating and sat down to have lunch with the archaeology team. As they were eating, an old van suddenly appeared not far away. Soon after, five sleazy-looking middle-aged men crawled out of the vehicle. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Zongze? Get your ass out here!¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brows; he had never heard of the name Li Zongze, so how could he possibly know where he was? However, at a glance, he knew these people meant trouble, and the idea of them harming any of the archaeology workers was unthinkable. Just as he was about to stand up, Hou Jianchang suddenly stepped up to intercept them. ¡°What do you want with Old Li?¡± The leader raised the stick in his hand, pointing it at Hou Jianchang. ¡°Hurry up and get that old bastard out here, he still owes us money!¡± Hou Jianchang sized up the men in front of him: ¡°You¡¯re from the bus rental company, aren¡¯t you? Whatever Old Li does, it¡¯s his own choice. You coming here is an infringement on his personal freedom!¡± The sleazy man snorted coldly: ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, he owes us money, it has nothing to do with the rental company.¡± Hou Jianchang stood his ground, as he clearly understood the situation. Li Zongze was now the factory¡¯s dedicated driver, and he had also brought several skilled drivers with him here. This undoubtedly had touched the bus rental company¡¯s interests. Them sending people to make trouble here made sense now! Chen Yu directly joined Hou Jianchang¡¯s side: ¡°Old Hou, don¡¯t waste your time talking to these people, come over and eat.¡± Worry was written all over Hou Jianchang¡¯s face; Li Zongze was an important employee under their care, and they could not afford any mishaps. Seeing their determination, the men stopped their idle talk and charged with the sticks in their hands. But they had barely run two steps before Chen Yu kicked them and sent them flying. ¡°So it¡¯s the bus rental company, huh? Go back and tell your boss that after this industrial park is built, I will need many buses! They can choose to cooperate with me, or they can choose to oppose me. As for the consequences, let them weigh that for themselves.¡± These people were not professional thugs to begin with, and after being kicked away by Chen Yu, they didn¡¯t dare make another move. They scrambled into the van and quickly fled the scene. Chen Yu furrowed his brows as he suddenly realized that some of Suzhou City¡¯s business tactics were indeed a bit unsavory. Just last night, Zhao Erhu had sent people to make trouble at his shop, and today, the bus rental company actually sent people to the factory to cause trouble. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t afraid of people causing trouble, but no one could handle endless disturbances. ¡°Old Chen, what¡¯s up?¡± Xie Jiang led a dozen workers and hurried over, looking ready for a fight. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a few insignificant hooligans,¡± Chen Yu dismissed casually, suddenly grabbing Xie Jiang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Old Xie, your construction company is getting bigger and bigger. Are you interested in becoming the number one construction company in Suzhou City?¡± Xie Jiang was first stunned, then instinctively took a few steps back. ¡°Old Chen, don¡¯t make fun of me. Suzhou City is a new first-tier city after all, and the real estate business has long been divided up by others. How could there be a chance for me?¡± Chen Yu just smiled, ¡°No problem, as long as you want it, it can be yours!¡± Xie Jiang¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, not one of the things promised by Chen Yu had ever failed! ¡°Old Chen, are you really sure?¡± Chen Yu pointed to the industrial park in front: ¡°Right now, all the so-called real estate companies can¡¯t get a decent project. This industrial park can be said to be the biggest piece of fat in Suzhou City.¡± ¡°With this project, your company should be able to enter the top ten in Suzhou City. With a little more effort, what can¡¯t you achieve?¡± Xie Jiang clenched his fist subconsciously: ¡°Old Chen, just tell me what to do!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come up with a plan for you later, and use my resources and connections to help you. You just need to focus on your own work.¡± Xie Jiang immediately felt his blood boil. When he started in this industry, he only wanted to make some extra money to supplement the household income, but he never expected to grow so much. Now, he even had the qualifications to compete with the big real estate tycoons of Suzhou City! Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, simply returning to the construction site to continue eating. After a brief rest, the old professor continued the excavation with a group of workers. The surface cleaning work was basically complete, and now it was just a matter of digging everything up from underground. Right then, two workers dug up a large black box. As soon as the object was excavated, it emitted a strange fragrance. However, this fragrance seemed to carry an anesthetic effect, and two workers fell unconscious immediately. ¡°Everybody, back off!¡± The old professor shouted anxiously, quickly grabbed a spare gas mask from the side, put it on, and dragged the unconscious workers away. ¡°Drowsy Sandalwood!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened at once; this fragrance was not from an ordinary wood but a fine substance known for calming the mind and enhancing cognitive faculties. In ancient times, many nobles used this fragrance for their beds, as it not only induced fast sleep but was also believed to extend life and benefit one¡¯s health. The two workers weren¡¯t poisoned, they were simply put to sleep by the strong scent. ¡°Leave this to me to handle!¡± Chen Yu suddenly called out, stepping forward to lift the large black box, and quickly ran off to one side. This item, whether as a medicine or for other purposes, was top-quality, and Chen Yu naturally wanted to keep some for himself. Seeing the box carried off, the old professor also breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright, everyone continue the excavation. However, be cautious about safety, avoid any unidentified objects, and don¡¯t rashly handle them.¡± The group responded in unison and resumed their hard work. Right then, a business van abruptly stopped near the construction site. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 219 Home Visit for Cooperation Chapter 219: Chapter 219 Home Visit for Cooperation A man dressed as a driver hurried out of the car and headed straight for Hou Jianchang. ¡°Director Hou!¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, ¡°President Wang, what kind of wind has blown you here?¡± President Wang smiled somewhat sheepishly, ¡°Director Hou is joking. No matter what, we were bound to collaborate¡ªit¡¯s fate¡­¡± ¡°Those who came to make trouble just now seemed to be your subordinates, President Wang!¡± Hou Jianchang cut him off directly, ¡°And now you come to talk about cooperation with me, isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate?¡± President Wang apologized with a smile, not daring to say another word. His bus rental company had already been experiencing financial problems, and he had been unable to pay his drivers¡¯ wages for some time. Now, with Li Zongze taking away several skilled drivers, his company¡¯s difficulties were compounded. Originally, he wanted to send some people over to cause trouble for Hou Jianchang and incidentally bring Li Zongze back. But after those people were taken away, President Wang became anxious. Everyone around knew that the industrial park was being renovated. It was clear to everyone how many employment opportunities would come with its completion. So how could President Wang let such an opportunity slip by? Even if it meant losing face, he had to seek a chance for collaboration. ¡°Appropriate? How is it not appropriate?¡± President Wang clung desperately to Hou Jianchang¡¯s sleeve, ¡°We¡¯ve had quite a few collaborations before and are familiar with the terms and rules. Of course, we should continue to work together.¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s brow was still furrowed; he had never encountered such a shameless individual. Chen Yu also walked over with raised eyebrows, ¡°President Wang, are you here to discuss business?¡± President Wang did not dare show any negligence, quickly grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Exactly, here to discuss business! You must be the legendary Chen Yu, I heard the factory was revived thanks to your investment.¡± Chen Yu let out a light chuckle, ¡°Since we are talking business, we should have the proper attitude and setting. It doesn¡¯t seem fitting here, does it?¡± ¡°Where do you suggest we go? I¡¯ll arrange it right away!¡± President Wang was behaving like a lackey at the moment. A mischievous smile flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°I really don¡¯t have time right now, but how about this? You go back first, and after the industrial park is completed, we can talk, how does that sound?¡± President Wang hesitated slightly, yet with Chen Yu having spoken to this extent, he could not say much more and simply handed Chen Yu his business card. ¡°Director Chen, just call me when the time comes!¡± After seeing President Wang off, Chen Yu was slightly annoyed. ¡°If we really start collaborating with this kind of person, we are likely to be the losers.¡± Hou Jianchang also sighed, ¡°My past collaboration with him was purely because he had a few drivers with good driving skills. When I was in a tough spot, this guy also stabbed me in the back.¡± Chen Yu did not say anything more, but simply tucked the business card away and then went to check on the progress of the construction site. Although there was already a rough framework, many details had changed with the ongoing excavation. Therefore, it was necessary to make more plans for these details. By eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Chen Yu had drawn dozens of blueprints. These blueprints were extremely professional, not only considering the subsequent factory construction but also greatly facilitating the work of archaeologists. Even the old professor could not help but exclaim upon seeing these blueprints. After explaining some details to everyone, Chen Yu went straight to a business restaurant. By the time he arrived, Zhao Erhu had long been waiting there. In the afternoon, Chen Yu had called Zhao Erhu to arrange a dinner meeting for the evening. ¡°Mr. Chen, such a big shot, making me wait until now!¡± Zhao Erhu¡¯s tone was sarcastic, and the murderous intent flickering in his eyes seemed like he wanted to tear Chen Yu into pieces. ¡°I don¡¯t recall forcing you to wait for me here!¡± retorted Chen Yu directly, seating himself without concern for the other. Zhao Erhu¡¯s eyes bulged like copper bells, and he slammed his huge fist down onto the table fiercely. ¡°Kid, I¡¯m here to give you face! Tell me, how are we going to settle the issue with the school?¡± Chen Yu frowned deeply, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Zhao Erhu snorted coldly, ¡°To get into the one-on-one tutoring classes, the donation must be over ten million. Here¡¯s the deal, you give me another eight million, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡± A look of disgust flashed through Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°I think it¡¯s better like this: your child doesn¡¯t need to attend that school anymore, and all your assets in Suzhou City are no longer yours!¡± Zhao Erhu laughed as if he had heard a joke. ¡°You mean to take away my assets in Suzhou City? Who do you think you are? Donating a hundred million doesn¡¯t mean a thing. Even if you come from a great family in the capital, you still have to play by my rules in Suzhou City.¡± Chen Yu had originally planned to negotiate with Zhao Erhu amicably, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to be so aggressive. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to talk about! I¡¯ll give you three days to prepare. After three days, your company will enter bankruptcy proceedings.¡± Having dropped that statement, Chen Yu turned and left. Zhao Erhu became furious and ordered his men to chase after him. But unexpectedly, as soon as his men caught up, they were kicked back into the room by Chen Yu. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Chen Yu returned to Shuiyue No. 1. Tong Ya was still practicing dance moves in front of the TV with Tuan Tuan at that moment. After all, dance is a skill that can become rusty if not practiced daily. However, Tuan Tuan seemed a bit unhappy. ¡°Tuan Tuan, what¡¯s wrong? Were you bullied at school?¡± Chen Yu was worried, especially since he had just met with Zhao Erhu. A child raised by such a person might well do something excessive to other classmates. But Tuan Tuan sighed like a little adult. ¡°Today, someone stopped me, insisting that I had taken his spot in the tutoring class. He also said that in a few days, my spot would be canceled and given to him.¡± Chen Yu was furious, ¡°Did he do anything else to you?¡± Tuan Tuan shook his head, ¡°The school assigned me a bodyguard. That guy just threw some harsh words at me and then the bodyguard took him away.¡± Chen Yu immediately heaved a sigh of relief; it seemed the school¡¯s conditions were quite good, at least the hundred million hadn¡¯t been wasted. ¡°In the future, if you encounter such people at school, there¡¯s no need to pay attention to them!¡± Tuan Tuan nodded her little head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with such a lunatic. Besides, his voice was particularly annoying, and none of the students like him!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Ginkgo in the Snow Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Ginkgo in the Snow Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, Tuan Tuan had been with him since she was little, although she had endured some hardships, her mind was much more mature than other children her age. She was still capable of handling things at school by herself. Chen Yu ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, ¡°No matter what happens at school, you must tell Daddy when you come back.¡± Tuan Tuan pouted and made a face. ¡°I¡¯ve already told Mommy though, you can ask her tonight!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Smart little devil.¡± After joking around for a bit, Chen Yu called the teachers at school to ask about Tuan Tuan¡¯s situation before going back to sleep. The next morning at nine o¡¯clock, Chen Yu made his way to the shop unhurriedly. The shop had now been registered as a business and was considered an independent company. Usually, Chen Guang and Li Lan would keep an eye on it, completely freeing Chen Yu from worries. When he arrived, he found Tong Ming and Li Kaiquan taking up a couple of tables with some bodyguards, leisurely eating braised noodles. ¡°Son-in-law, come over here, Old Master Li has something to ask you,¡± Tong Ming called out, pulling out a chair beside him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dare to dally and quickly took a seat. ¡°Old Master, if there¡¯s anything, you could¡¯ve just called me, why come in person?¡± Li Kaiquan pulled out several business cards from his pocket. ¡°This is a bit embarrassing to talk about, so it has to be in person.¡± Chen Yu glanced over the business cards laid on the table and noticed they all belonged to significant figures from the capital. The common feature among these people¡¯s photos was a dull bluish-gray color on their foreheads. At first glance, the bluish-gray color didn¡¯t seem like much of a problem, but when considering their ages, it was the harbinger of their demise. ¡°Old Master, you¡¯re not thinking of having me treat these people, are you?¡± Li Kaiquan gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°These are all old friends of mine, they all took the same medicine as me before, and now each person¡¯s health has deteriorated! You cured me, so I thought maybe you could cure them too.¡± Chen Yu collected all the business cards, ¡°Their illnesses are not hard to treat, but there¡¯s a particular medicinal ingredient that¡¯s extremely hard to find, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Li Kaiquan instantly became excited, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the medicinal ingredient, these people have assets totaling more than ten trillion, no matter how rare the ingredient, they can find it.¡± Chen Yu hesitated, ¡°This ingredient isn¡¯t something you can find just because you have money! Have you ever heard of the Snow Ginkgo?¡± ¡°Snow Ginkgo!¡± Li Kaiquan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it, does their illness require this particular ingredient?¡± Tong Ming, sitting nearby, was also startled, ¡°That¡¯s problematic, Snow Ginkgo is even rarer than the Snow Lotus, it¡¯s said that someone saw it on the northern slopes of the Himalayas decades ago, but that was many years ago.¡± Chen Yu let out a deep breath, ¡°The ingredient does exist, it¡¯s just that in recent decades no one has been able to climb to the summit from the northern slopes of the Himalayas, hence no one has seen it since.¡± The despondent look on Li Kaiquan¡¯s face was once again filled with hope. ¡°I will send them a message right away, to organize a team to climb the northern slopes,¡± he declared. Chen Yu quickly interjected, ¡°Old Master might not be aware, while there are many routes up the Himalayas, some are akin to hell on earth, no one is willing to take them!¡± ¡°The Snow Ginkgo grows in an area that is a chasm, any who choose to climb from there, none have returned alive.¡± Li Kaiquan let out a long sigh, ¡°Looks like my old pals can only die slowly in agony.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how you should put it!¡± Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, ¡°Maybe I can make the trip, but such a life-risking task comes with a high price from me.¡± ¡°No problem! All these guys have left is money, they¡¯re willing to give as much as¡­¡± ¡°I disagree!¡± Tong Ming directly interrupted Li Kaiquan, ¡°We¡¯ve already said it¡¯s a deadly task, how can I let my son-in-law do it? What if something goes awry, what about my daughter?¡± Li Kaiquan suddenly felt a bit awkward, unsure of what to do. Chen Yu cleared his throat twice, then leaned in close to Tong Ming¡¯s ear. ¡°Dad, actually that place is very safe, I just said that to drive up the price.¡± Tong Ming steadied his emotions, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Chen Yu hastily patted his chest to assure, ¡°I will definitely come back safely.¡± Tong Ming was silent for a while, then looked toward Li Kaiquan. ¡°Old Li, remember this, my son-in-law is risking his life for you guys, after the task is accomplished, you know what to do.¡± Li Kaiquan excitedly grabbed Tong Ming¡¯s hand, ¡°Rest assured, I still have that much sense, how could I mistreat your son-in-law.¡± Chen Yu then asked about the specific conditions of the people on the business card and proceeded to prescribe medication for each of them. Afterward, he prepared to head to the Himalayas. Tong Family Private Airport. Tong Ming looked at Chen Yu with complex emotions and patted his shoulder. ¡°If you find that something¡¯s not right, come back immediately, don¡¯t try to be tough in that kind of place.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely bring back the Snow Ginkgo, and besides, your health also needs this medicinal ingredient.¡± Tong Ming sighed softly, ¡°Alright, when you come back this time, those old guys in the Imperial Capital should sign a contract with you, and then you¡¯ll probably have to establish another company in the Imperial Capital.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to have already planned out his future for him. Before he could speak, Tong Ming took out an identity tag. ¡°After you return from the Himalayas, just go directly to the Imperial Capital! This is an identity tag from a racing team of the Tong Family, help manage it when you get there.¡± Chen Yu took the identity tag and boarded the plane directly. For many extreme sports enthusiasts, climbing the Himalayas is an essential goal in their lives. Therefore, every year, many lovers of extreme sports come to the foot of the Himalayas. There¡¯s even a small town that has formed in this place. By the time Chen Yu arrived, he found it to be extremely bustling, with none of the desolation one would expect from a high-altitude area. Just as he entered the town, Chen Yu saw two strong men sitting by a stone table, arm wrestling. Veins popped on their faces as their bodies trembled continuously, indicating that it would be quite some time before a victor could be determined. Chen Yu just glanced at them and went on his way toward the center of the town. Here, there was a store specializing in mountaineering equipment, all of which was top-of-the-line globally. Almost all climbers who came here bought their professional gear from this store. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 221 Familiar Route Chapter 221: Chapter 221 Familiar Route Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger here any longer. After purchasing all the equipment he needed, he headed straight for the northern foothills of the Himalayas. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re going the wrong way!¡± A rough voice suddenly called out from behind Chen Yu, ¡°No one can make it up there, and all the paths have been closed off. If you keep going forward, there¡¯s nothing but a dead end ahead.¡± Chen Yu turned around to see a young man with a scruffy beard standing there. From the young man¡¯s attire, it seemed he also planned to climb Mount Everest, only he was heading towards the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Chen Yu cracked a slight smile, ¡°Life, you see, is about taking on challenges, and I just want to find out just how perilous these northern foothills really are.¡± Giving a noncommittal response, Chen Yu continued on his way. Time passed, and when Chen Yu had climbed halfway up the mountain, he suddenly realized someone was following him ¨C it was the young man from earlier. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but stare in astonishment. This path was a dead end for ordinary people. His body had already reached the limits of human endurance, plus the system had provided the optimum climbing route and methods. As such, it was almost certain he would get the Ginkgo Biloba with little doubt, but for anyone else, once past the halfway point, the harsh environment could easily be fatal. ¡°Hey, turn back, there¡¯s no way ahead!¡± Chen Yu shouted instinctively. It seemed the young man didn¡¯t listen at all, instead waving at Chen Yu excitedly. ¡°You said life is all about facing challenges; I find that quite sensible, so I also wanted to try if I could scale Everest from this direction.¡± Chen Yu began to doubt his own life choices; this guy was an absolute blockhead! At that moment, a large blanket of snow suddenly slid down from the mountain peak. The terrain here was already extremely steep, and even without any sound, localized avalanches would occasionally occur. Though not large in size, the force of the snow falling due to potential energy was quite formidable. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t worry about that now, quickly pulling out a shield-shaped snow sledge from behind. As the snow from above fell, he dashed down with it, firmly grabbing hold of the young man¡¯s arm. Then, using the falling snow, they hurtled towards a narrow path along the gully. [Maintain speed, turn left ahead, then turn right¡­] The system¡¯s prompt continuously echoed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, keeping his nerves stretched tight. In such a harsh environment, only the system could provide the most precise navigation. After an unknown duration of gliding, a cave of moderate size suddenly appeared before them. Without any hesitation, Chen Yu immediately followed the system¡¯s guidance, bringing the young man into the cave. The next moment, a large amount of snow sealed the route they had just used to slide in, even covering half of the cave. Once sure of their safety, Chen Yu gasped for breath, deeply and roughly. ¡°Are you out of your mind? I¡¯m here purely for the adventure, and if there was a problem I¡¯d turn back. Now you¡¯ve got us both trapped here, and who knows when we¡¯ll be able to get out!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat annoyed; if he were alone, arranged by the system, perhaps he could have smoothly acquired the Ginkgo Biloba and left this place, but now with this guy, it was like dragging an anchor. The young man was also shaken by the recent ordeal. ¡°I had no idea it was so dangerous here! Bro, I really admire your courage.¡± Chen Yu felt helpless. At this moment, only a trace of shock appeared on the young man¡¯s face, completely absent of the fear that should have been there. It seemed this person also was not afraid to die. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just took out a heating device and placed it aside. At such high altitudes, many things were useless, including the heating device, which had to be used with caution. A slight mishap could trigger a widespread avalanche. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the young man suddenly offered Chen Yu a piece of chocolate, appearing extremely friendly. Chen Yu took the chocolate and bit into it, ¡°Chen Yu, and you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Wayne!¡± Wayne smiled, then took out another piece of chocolate from his bag. In such extreme conditions, chocolate really was a good food choice. At that moment, Chen Yu was leaning against a rock, squinting his eyes. The system had etched a complete climbing route through the mountain range in his mind. Moreover, the system provided more than one route, so it was up to him to decide which one to ultimately take. As he was analyzing the routes, Wayne suddenly leaned in. ¡°Brother Chen Yu, I¡¯ve actually climbed Everest twice, but it was from the other side. I¡¯ve never taken this route. I really admire your courage for choosing to climb from here! Many have tried before, but sadly, they all died here.¡± Chen Yu took out a sextant from his body, ¡°This place is indeed extremely dangerous, but that doesn¡¯t mean there are no routes to climb, it¡¯s just that they used the wrong methods.¡± After measuring their current position coordinates as well as wind speed and force, Chen Yu packed up his gear. ¡°We need to keep moving towards the summit before night falls, or else we might get completely buried here by the snow.¡± Wayne hastily picked up his backpack, closely following behind Chen Yu. In fact, a cave like this was not suitable for shelter. Firstly, it was a recessed cave with few points of support. They could possibly slide down the slope next to them and fall off the cliff while they slept at night. Secondly, the entrance of this cave was almost level with the mountain gully outside, with snow falling nearby from time to time. It wouldn¡¯t take long for this entrance to be completely sealed off. Then, both of them could suffocate to death here due to lack of oxygen. Under Chen Yu¡¯s leadership, the two climbed carefully along the narrow path next to them. As the light was fading, they had successfully reached a relatively open small cave. ¡°Brother Chen Yu, you seem to be extremely familiar with this place. Have you been here before?¡± Wayne was puzzled. A small cave like this was completely hidden in the snow of the mountain ravine, and it would be impossible to discover its existence unless you were far enough away unless it had been visited before. Chen Yu noncommittally nodded his head, ¡°I¡¯ve been here before, but I gave up when I was only three hundred meters from the summit.¡± Wayne couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°That¡¯s really a pity, otherwise you would have been the first person to reach the summit from the north ridge.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, just tidied up the place a bit, then took out a sleeping bag from his backpack. He also drilled a few small holes in the nearby stone wall and fixed the sleeping bag there. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 222 Clearing the Snow Chapter 222: Chapter 222 Clearing the Snow [System alert, the temperature will drop another 20 degrees Celsius in two hours, please keep warm.] Chen Yu furrowed his eyebrows and subconsciously looked towards Wayne. Although this guy was fully equipped, those gears were not much of help against such a harsh environment. Moreover, compared with Chen Yu, Wayne¡¯s physical condition was vastly inferior; he was likely to freeze to death here. After a quick assessment of the cave¡¯s surroundings, Chen Yu moved some of the harder-packed snow to the entrance, turning the entire cave into a makeshift snow hut. He also drilled a few small holes next to the cave to maintain ventilation. Having done that, he placed the portable oxygen device he was carrying on the side. ¡°The temperature¡¯s going to drop soon; we must be fully prepared. Whether we can survive tonight will depend on our luck,¡± he said. Wayne, too, could feel the sudden change in temperature from outside. He swallowed and took out all his warming devices, also placing a black metallic sphere by his side. The warmth emanating from the metallic sphere was incredibly gentle, and, before long, the temperature inside the cave began to rise gradually. Chen Yu was stunned; he had never seen such a device that could increase the temperature from thin air, and it also managed to circulate the air flow in the entire cave. Most importantly, the device was only the size of half a fist, very easy to carry. ¡°What is this thing?¡± Chen Yu asked instinctively. With a somewhat embarrassed smile, Wayne replied, ¡°This is a brand-new product that our company has just developed for use in extreme environments.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s interest was piqued; if such a device were mass-produced, it would definitely be a boon for mountaineering enthusiasts. Just as he was about to touch it, the system¡¯s alert sound suddenly rang in his mind. [System warning: This technology is immature. The integrated metals emit heat and also release radiation.] Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, and a flood of information appeared in his mind. The system had completely analyzed the device. Seeing the components inside, Chen Yu immediately lost his interest. ¡°If it can be avoided, don¡¯t use it ¡ª it can cause physical exhaustion!¡± he warned. Wayne¡¯s eyes widened in shock: ¡°You haven¡¯t even looked at the instruction manual, yet you know it¡¯s harmful to humans. This is a major issue our company has been urgently trying to solve, but we have not yet found an effective method.¡± Chen Yu took hold of the device and pressed a button on the switch, turning it off. ¡°Don¡¯t use it unless it is absolutely necessary!¡± Wayne said nothing more but spread out the warming devices he had taken out earlier. Before long, the temperature in the cave rose again. In the middle of the night, while Chen Yu was in a half-asleep state, a loud noise suddenly came from outside. Chen Yu hastily got up and peered through the small hole he had left earlier to check outside, only to see a large amount of snow rolling down from the mountain peak, blocking much of the adjacent slope. ¡°Avalanche!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened; he hadn¡¯t expected an avalanche to occur in the middle of the night. Wayne also rolled over: ¡°What? Avalanche!¡± On such high mountains, some of the snow had been accumulating for tens of thousands of years, already fused with the frozen mountain sides, and avalanches were rare. ¡°` But now, a vast expanse of snow descended from the sky, directly rushing into the cliff. Fortunately, their cave was nestled within a crevice of a mountain stream, so the massive slide of snow didn¡¯t bury it. Chen Yu crouched down and placed a hand on the ground, constantly feeling the sounds that came from the outside. Wayne was already scared out of his wits, standing there, at a loss. ¡°Brother Chen Yu, we can survive this, right?¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brows. At this moment, he didn¡¯t dare to make any promises, as the snow falling from the mountain was far too much, and the potential energy it generated was immense. Such force was enough to collapse a mountain peak. ¡°Let¡¯s hope so!¡± Chen Yu responded perfunctorily before closing his eyes. In his mind, a vast amount of analysis data from the system had already appeared. The snow outside wouldn¡¯t cover their area for the time being, but no one could guarantee that as time passed, it wouldn¡¯t bury them. After an indeterminate amount of time, the noise outside gradually subsided. Chen Yu then abruptly opened his eyes and peered outside through the small opening. According to the system¡¯s analysis, the avalanche had been caused by a landslide, which meant that not much snow had actually fallen. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. Although they were temporarily safe, climbing the mountain tomorrow morning would be much more difficult. ¡°We¡¯re safe for now. There are three hours left in the latter half of the night, so let¡¯s rest up. If we want to reach the summit tomorrow, it will probably take all our strength.¡± Wayne nodded repeatedly and quickly leaned against the side, forcing himself to sleep. As a professional mountaineering enthusiast, he was well aware of the terrifying amount of physical energy climbing required. If he showed even the slightest fatigue tomorrow, it could end with him falling into an abyss, his body shattered to pieces. Early the next day, Chen Yu quickly packed up and woke up Wayne. They then started to clear the snow at the entrance of the cave. Working together, they opened up a passageway at the entrance before long, although the outside was already completely covered by snow. Under such conditions, it would be virtually impossible for most people to clear a path. And one might even step into thin air and fall off the cliff. But Chen Yu seemed to see through the snow as if it were transparent, his excavations were not only directional but also meticulously careful. Wayne found it strange, but at that moment, he didn¡¯t dare to ask more questions. In such high-difficulty extreme sports, at times, very complex and rapid thinking is required. Perhaps Chen Yu was using a unique method to find the way, and any disturbance could ruin all their previous efforts! As they continued to dig, Wayne¡¯s breathing became rapid. He realized they were on a narrow path only fifty centimeters wide. If they strayed, they would tumble down the cliff. He took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, and closely followed Chen Yu without any deviation. After what seemed like an eternity, once they had cleared the snow, they found a climbable path not far off. At that moment, they were just one thousand meters from the summit. Wayne breathed a sigh of relief. He was, after all, a professional climbing hobbyist; as long as there was a trail, he knew he could make it to the top. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 223 The Hardest Direction Chapter 223: Chapter 223 The Hardest Direction Chen Yu climbed all the way, keeping an eye out; after all, he was here to find the Snow Gingko, not to join these enthusiasts on a mountain climb. The environment of this place was incredibly perilous, an ideal zone for the growth of the Snow Gingko. Moreover, according to its growth habits, it should be around four thousand meters above sea level. [Snow Gingko discovered] The system¡¯s prompt suddenly resounded, followed by the approximate geographical location appearing in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Chen Yu instantly became excited, but when he looked up toward that location, he found that there were no supports nearby at all. If an ordinary person were to climb over there, they would likely fall to their death. ¡°Climb up seventy meters, then install a rock climbing nail there, and throw a rope, wait for me!¡± Wayne looked up and noticed that seventy meters away from here there was a relatively flat section of cliff face, indeed suitable for fixing nails. Additionally, after last night¡¯s avalanche, there was less snow in that area, and there was even a platform revealed, perfect for a temporary rest. Just as he was excitedly preparing, he suddenly realized that Chen Yu had already moved towards a very treacherous area next to him. ¡°Brother Chen Yu, why did you go there?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t turn back, ¡°Do as I say, go there and install the nail!¡± Wayne dared not say anything more and quickly climbed over to that place. Chen Yu¡¯s physical fitness after all had reached the limits of humanity, so he appeared extremely agile and simple on the cliff, jumping twice, and directly arriving at the location where the Snow Gingko grew. However, when he got there, he realized that the surrounding area, apart from a few extremely daunting, climbable rocks, was all flat cliff faces. And atop these cliff faces were thick layers of ice. Years of accumulation had made these ice layers extremely hard; if he were to forcefully climb, it was likely he would slip down. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly and then took out two ice-climbing hammers from his body. He swung the hammers with all his strength, embedding them into the cliff face with a metallic ring. With each swing, the hammer would penetrate deep into the cliff face, enough to support his body. If it were anyone else, this would simply not be possible. At this moment, Wayne had reached the spot Chen Yu mentioned earlier, had set the rock climbing nails, and thrown down two ropes. When he finished and saw Chen Yu, he was frozen in place, his eyes filled with fear. He had never thought someone would choose such an extreme condition for climbing. What shocked him even more was that Chen Yu¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, even faster than those top extreme sport enthusiasts. And now, Chen Yu was completely dangling in mid-air; if his ice-climbing hammers did not secure properly, he would fall. Wayne subconsciously clenched his fists with sweat and didn¡¯t even dare to breathe heavily, just silently watched. Chen Yu climbed between the cliffs for a while, then arrived at an extremely narrow ledge. There grew a very delicate little tree, which on its branches bore three gingko nuts, each only the size of a thumb. Chen Yu steadied his breathing again; such a medicinal herb was rarely seen once in a thousand years, just taking a small piece would suffice to cure those old masters in the Imperial City! The rest, if properly collected and combined with other medicines, could also treat some major and complicated diseases. After stowing the three silver gingko leaves, Chen Yu brandished his climbing hammer and slowly moved to the side. ¡°Wayne, throw me that rope!¡± The sudden shout made Wayne hesitate for a moment. He quickly grabbed his prepared rope, ready to throw it, but this rope was designed specifically for short-distance extension and was not very long. Moreover, in such extreme conditions, a too long rope could easily be frozen by ice and snow and damage the internal fibers, causing it to break. ¡°Brother Chen Yu, this rope isn¡¯t long enough, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t throw it over!¡± ¡°Trust me, throw it here!¡± Chen Yu called out and pulled a climbing hammer from his side, raising it over his head. Although Wayne still hesitated, he had no choice at that moment and could only muster all his strength to throw the rope to Chen Yu. Chen Yu eyed the rope¡¯s trajectory and then fiercely kicked off the cliff with his feet, propelling his whole body into the air. Then, he caught the rope firmly with his hammer and wrapped it around his hand. The next moment, Chen Yu used the rope to swing himself right in front of Wayne. ¡°My God, how on earth did you do that!¡± Wayne¡¯s eyes were wide with disbelief. Chen Yu said nothing, merely grabbed the rope and tied it around his waist before steadying himself. He took a few deep breaths and pulled out an energy bar from his body, stuffing it into his mouth. At that moment, Wayne looked at him as if he were a god. In his eyes, Chen Yu had become a being that had surpassed human limits. ¡°Let¡¯s rest here for a while, and then continue climbing, we should be able to reach the summit before sunset today.¡± Only then did Wayne realize that they were effectively hanging on the cliffside, which only allowed them to take a brief rest; staying here too long could exhaust their strength. Without any hesitation, he copied Chen Yu, tied the rope around his waist, and after securing himself, continued to climb upwards. Every so often, they would switch ropes and re-anchor the climbing pegs. The northern ridge was inherently perilous, and especially in the section they were climbing, there was not even a path to find¡ªthey could only move slowly upwards through such terrain. Compared to Chen Yu, Wayne¡¯s stamina was appearing somewhat weaker; before long, he was struggling, and if not for Chen Yu constantly pulling him along, he might have already fallen. With the help of the system¡¯s calculations, their ascent was relatively smooth, and they managed to reach the summit before sunset. At this location was the world¡¯s highest base station; once there, they could contact the outside world. Additionally, there was a supply station nearby, with people stationed there year-round, and it was stocked with a large amount of essential supplies. For anyone climbing Mount Everest, reaching this point meant success! When the two men reached the summit, there erupted a chorus of exclamations. These people had climbed from several safer routes, a feat that in the eyes of ordinary people was already quite an accomplishment. Yet Chen Yu and Wayne had climbed up from the most difficult northern ridge, which to everyone there seemed like an impossibility. A crowd immediately gathered around, some with cameras in hand, wanting to interview the pair about how exactly they had managed to climb from that direction. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Making the Decoction Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Making the Decoction Chen Yu did not want to waste too much time here, since he already got what he came for, there was no need for him to stay. He pushed Wayne forward and then went straight to the nearby supply station. After packing some essential items, he descended the mountain from the south. Emperor City, Orchid Garden Private Hospital. This hospital was established by several major families in Emperor City, equipped with the world¡¯s most advanced medical facilities and healthcare resources. According to the equipment in this hospital, it was entirely possible to extend the life of a centenarian by another ten years. In a luxuriously excessive room, Li Kaiquan and a few other elders leisurely played mahjong. However, these elders had various tubes attached to them, one even wearing a respirator. Even in such a state, to be able to play mahjong so spiritedly showed just how remarkable the hospital was. ¡°Old Li, when is that miracle doctor you talked about coming? We¡¯re practically gambling with our lives playing mahjong with you, you¡¯ve got to help us extend our lives.¡± ¡°Yeah, Old Li, the prescription you brought back last time improved our health a lot. If that miracle doctor comes, maybe he could even cure our diseases.¡± ¡­ The elders spoke with humor and ease, as if what they were facing was not death but merely a trivial matter. Li Kaiquan did not know what to say, Chen Yu¡¯s retrieval of the Ginkgo biloba was like playing with his life. If it failed, everyone in this room would be waiting to die. As they were chatting, a noisy commotion suddenly rose from outside the door. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve already told you many times, this is a private place. If you insist on barging in, I will have to call someone from the relevant department.¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times as well, I am here to treat someone. If you delay the patient¡¯s condition, can you afford the responsibility?¡± The nurse, full of scorn, ¡°Sorry, but our hospital is one of the top in the world, there¡¯s no way we would delay a patient¡¯s condition. As for you, barging in so casually, I have serious doubts about your intentions.¡± Chen Yu, frustrated, had rushed here as if on a deadly mission, and now, to be doubted by a nurse was just too much. While they argued, Li Kaiquan hurried out from the hospital room. He saw Chen Yu in the hallway, tugging at a nurse. ¡°Little Chen! You¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Li Kaiquan excitedly approached and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm, ¡°Hurry, the gentlemen are all waiting for you here.¡± The nurse was taken aback when she saw Li Kaiquan coming out to greet him. Li Kaiquan was one of the hospital¡¯s shareholders, effectively her boss. Seeing the situation, she dared not neglect any duty and quickly stepped aside. Chen Yu did not bother with the pettiness and followed Li Kaiquan in a rush into the hospital room. But when Chen Yu saw the scene before him, he couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. The condition of these elders was like running on fumes, one of them not likely to live past the next week. Yet even in such a condition, they were still gathered around, leisurely playing mahjong. Deserving of being called moguls, such an attitude was unparalleled. Chen Yu did not say much, quickly opened his backpack, and took out the prepared medicine. In the past few days on his way back, he had already processed the silver ginkgo, mixing it with other herbs to brew a medicinal soup using an electric pot. When the elderly folks saw Chen Yu come in, they started rummaging through their bags, immediately looking somewhat dejected. ¡°Where did this young fellow come from? How did he barge in here like a headless fly!¡± ¡°Old Lee, this little fella can¡¯t be the miraculous doctor you were talking about, can he? He¡¯s too young, can he even treat illnesses?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this pile of stuff? It¡¯s a mess and smells awful!¡± ¡­ The group of old men was extremely disdainful of Chen Yu. After all, at his age, it was impossible for him to be a top physician, and moreover, the soup he had brought had an extremely foul smell. Li Kaiquan hurriedly entered, ¡°Old buddies, Little Chen is the doctor I mentioned to you before. The prescriptions you have are all his doing.¡± The group of big shots couldn¡¯t help but widen their eyes, filled with disbelief. Before they could even react, Chen Yu had already divided the soup he brought into several portions and placed them in front of them. ¡°These medicines are carefully formulated by me and need to be used in conjunction with the medications you were previously taking!¡± The crowd suddenly became excited and, at this point, didn¡¯t care about the details, immediately picking up the soup medicine on the table and drinking it down. Now, they were essentially in a state where their oil was exhausted and the lamps were burnt out; they were willing to do anything just to extend their lives. After they drank the medicinal soup, their bodies immediately began to recover, and the most serious of the old men even removed the respirator from his face. ¡°My God, what kind of medicine is this? It¡¯s miraculous, just one cup, and my body feels like it¡¯s grown thirty years younger.¡± ¡°Young man, did you really mix this medicine yourself? You¡¯re so young, you can¡¯t possibly have such experience.¡± ¡°Where did you learn medicine? Are you interested in working here, or we could invest and build a hospital just for you?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu did not answer but checked the conditions of the several people and then took out silver needles, inserting them into their acupuncture points. After doing a simple meridian grooming for them, Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief and then wrote out several more prescriptions. ¡°Your bodies are still different and require different prescriptions for treatment. Remember to take your medicine on time. You could extend your lives for several more decades. Also, the elder gentleman¡¯s body has a pathological change that needs to be removed.¡± As soon as these words were uttered, those present were all stunned on the spot. Especially the big shot whose name was called out, he suddenly stood up and firmly grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you mean to say that if the pathological change in my body is removed, I can be cured?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°The liver has a regeneration function. While your body¡¯s functions have aged, I am confident that after the surgery, we can reactivate the liver¡¯s function, allowing it to regenerate.¡± The old man¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. He was well aware of his body; the pain in the area of his liver had tormented him for decades. To date, no one had been able to cure him, some even suggested removing the entire liver along with the surrounding organs. Such a move would only cause his body to suffer a heavier blow, ultimately not only failing to restore his health but also possibly leaving him with even more serious conditions. He never dreamed that Chen Yu could actually help him recover! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Chain Hotels Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Chain Hotels The elderly patient¡¯s body trembled violently, his hand grasping Chen Yu¡¯s shaking uncontrollably. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose, let¡¯s not wait any longer. Perform the surgery on me now; all the medical facilities here are fully equipped.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of metaphorical dark lines; he had just rushed back from the Himalayas, utterly exhausted. Even if his physical condition had surpassed human limits, he needed rest. Li Kai rushed to smooth things over, ¡°Old Huang, Chen just brought back such precious medicine for you; he deserves some rest! If he performs surgery in his current state of fatigue and something goes wrong, it could be fatal.¡± Huang Daolun nodded repeatedly, ¡°Alright, Chen¡ªno, I mean, Doctor Chen! My Huang Family owns several star-rated hotels in the capital. If you don¡¯t mind, you can stay at any of them as you please. I¡¯ll speak to the staff right away.¡± Chen Yu laughed awkwardly, at a loss for what to say to the Huang Daolun in front of him. ¡°Chen!¡± Li Kaiquan patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You rest for a couple of days. As for the surgical equipment you need, give me a list, and we¡¯ll prepare it as soon as possible!¡± Chen Yu nodded and, guided by two of Huang Daolun¡¯s assistants, made his way to a nearby five-star hotel. Upon arrival, he saw photos of Huang Daolun on the walls, along with a complete introduction. It turned out that this old gentleman was a chain hotel owner, even extending his business overseas. After briefly learning about the other party¡¯s information, Chen Yu returned to his room and fell straight to sleep. He had already expended nearly all his energy on the Himalayan expedition and hadn¡¯t slept since, having spent time compounding medicines in the car on the way back. Now both his mind and body had reached their limits. Only after a full two days did he wake up refreshed. After a quick wash, he wrote out a list of medical instruments and just as he was about to go out for something to eat, he noticed several waiters waiting respectfully at his door, with a meal cart. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re awake!¡± They greeted him warmly, walked straight into the room, and set the food from the meal cart, while also producing a telephone. ¡°Old Mr. Li Kaiquan instructed us to ask you to call him as soon as you woke up.¡± Chen Yu simply nodded and took the phone to dial. ¡°Elder Li, the medical list is ready, and we can start the operation at two in the afternoon.¡± Before Li Kaiquan on the other end could respond, Huang Daolun¡¯s excited voice came through. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m nearly ready, just waiting for you to come and perform the surgery!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow; it seemed Huang Daolun was getting impatient. After eating, Chen Yu went straight to the hospital. Huang Daolun¡¯s condition was a deterioration of internal organs upon a foundation of organ failure, typically due to aging, mutation, and bacterial infection. Generally, this sort of condition manifests in the elderly. However, many doctors choose to give up treatment when faced with such patients, as eliminating bacteria or surgery could cause irreversible damage to the patient. After a brief examination of Huang Daolun¡¯s condition, Chen Yu took out several needles and inserted them into his acupoints, anesthetizing his body completely yet allowing him to retain a clear consciousness. Huang Daolun¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Mr. Chen, are you using general anesthesia? Why haven¡¯t I fallen asleep?¡± Chen Yu took out a syringe, ¡°Old Master Huang, don¡¯t you want to consciously experience the entire process of your surgery?¡± Huang Daolun¡¯s mouth dropped open; he really did not want to experience this process. At his age and suffering from such a disease, many would choose to await death, and even if they underwent surgery, they would opt for general anesthesia. If the surgery failed, they could pass away peacefully in their sleep. This kind of conscious fear is almost too daunting for anyone to face. Just as Huang Daolun was about to say something, Chen Yu had already injected the drug into his body, while simultaneously making an incision in his abdomen with a scalpel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, old man, my success rate in surgeries is very high, and this disease of yours is really no big deal for me! Just chat with me about something happy,¡± Chen Yu said. Huang Daolun, now extremely tense, how could he possibly chat about happy matters under such circumstances? ¡°Cough cough! Young man, do you like car racing?¡± he asked. The moment he asked that, Huang Daolun felt some regret. At this time, he really did not know what else to say. Moreover, seeing such professional techniques from Chen Yu, surely a doctor devoted to the study of medicine wouldn¡¯t be interested in car racing? ¡°Of course, I do!¡± Chen Yu responded calmly while continuing the surgery, ¡°My father-in-law has a racing team in the Imperial Capital, and I¡¯m helping out with managing it while I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°A racing team?¡± Huang Daolun¡¯s interest was piqued, ¡°It¡¯s quite rare to own a racing team in the Imperial Capital, who is your father-in-law?¡± ¡°Tong Ming.¡± Huang Daolun immediately became excited, ¡°What? Tong Ming is your father-in-law?¡± Chen Yu nodded and then fell silent. In less than a minute, he picked up the surgical needle and thread and began to suture the wound. ¡°The surgery is done now, and as long as you follow my prescription and take good care of yourself, your body will recover.¡± ¡°What? It¡¯s finished?¡± Huang Daolun was incredibly surprised, it hadn¡¯t even been five minutes since he got on the operation table, and it was already done. Surgeries of this kind were viewed as highly challenging by others, not only because of the high failure rate, but also because most doctors wouldn¡¯t even attempt to perform them. Yet, to Chen Yu, it seemed as if he had done something extremely simple. After treating the wound, Chen Yu removed the silver needles from Huang Daolun¡¯s body, restoring his freedom of movement. At the site of the surgery, apart from a faint dull pain, there was almost no other sensation. ¡°Mr. Chen, your medical skills are truly superb; I feel almost no pain after the operation,¡± Huang Daolun said. Chen Yu just smiled and then left with the surgical equipment for the sterilization room. [Congratulations to the host, you have earned one hundred points] He had accrued quite a few points lately, but with the current point exchange system, Chen Yu always felt like he didn¡¯t have enough points. Moreover, there used to be the occasional chance at a lottery, but now there were no more lotteries. However, since Ling Ling became physical, he really didn¡¯t need the lottery anymore, especially now that he had basically mastered all the knowledge in the world. After packing up the medical equipment, Chen Yu made a phone call to the Tong Family racing team and was ready to leave, but was stopped by Huang Daolun. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Racing Team Captain Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Racing Team Captain ¡°Mr. Chen, there is a car racing event in the capital these days, if you¡¯re interested, our Huang Family¡¯s team could let you have some fun!¡± At this moment, Huang Daolun completely lacked the arrogance one would expect from a big shot, appearing almost like Chen Yu¡¯s underling. ¡°I¡¯m just helping my father-in-law run his business; my interest in car racing isn¡¯t that great.¡± But Huang Daolun didn¡¯t care about that and directly put his hand on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°At our level, car racing is just a business, and as for the racetrack, it¡¯s even more a networking place. Tomorrow morning at eight, at Sanxiang Hill Extreme Racing, all of us old guys will be there. We¡¯d be honored if Mr. Chen would grace us with his presence.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable, no matter how one looked at it, Huang Daolun was an elder, but he was speaking to Chen Yu as though they were peers. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll definitely be there tomorrow.¡± After agreeing, Chen Yu left in a hurry. The Dragon Hill Warehouse in the capital. When Chen Yu arrived there, he was shocked by the scene in front of him; there were no fewer than fifty racing cars on the open ground outside the warehouse. Each car had been modified and even equipped with special engines. More than twenty drivers were there, testing the performance of the cars. When these drivers saw Chen Yu, they were all taken aback, and two even stepped forward to tease him. ¡°Kid, where are you from? Do you know what this place is? Just barging in here, better leave right now.¡± ¡°This lad looks pretty fit, isn¡¯t thinking about joining our team, is he? Too bad we¡¯re not recruiting now, and even if we were, you¡¯d have to beat at least half of our drivers first.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu frowned, it seemed these people didn¡¯t recognize him. ¡°Beat half of your drivers and I can join the team, is that right?¡± As soon as he said this, the many drivers present were all momentarily stunned. A man who looked like the team captain came forward with a serious expression. ¡°Kid, do you realize that you have to stand by such bold words?¡± Chen Yu leaned against a car, adopting an indifferent demeanor. ¡°Since I¡¯ve said it, of course, I¡¯ll stand by it. So, who will race me now?¡± The laughter from before came to an abrupt halt, and the captain went so far as to take out his business card. ¡°My name is Lin Zhifei, I¡¯m the captain of this team. Since you want to join, you¡¯ll have to beat me first.¡± Chen Yu was surprised and took a careful look at the man before him. He had heard of Lin Zhifei when he was in university; back then, Lin Zhifei was a world-renowned young racing driver. Even now, he was a legend, said to have won the Grand Slam in all the racing competitions. He had not expected to find him working under Tong Ming as a team captain. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s start then!¡± After Chen Yu agreed, he immediately had the system analyze all the vehicles present. Since it was his first time participating in such a race, he at least had to choose a decent car. As he was selecting, Lin Zhifei suddenly brought out a contract and presented it before him. ¡°If you want to race me, you need to have your own car. If you don¡¯t have one, you can rent one from us, but you¡¯ll need to pay a deposit!¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected this rule and he subconsciously looked around, noticing that all the cars bore the Tong Family¡¯s emblem, which meant that all these cars were provided by the Tong Group. It seemed that Lin Zhifei was clearly applying pressure on him, hoping to use the excuse of not having enough for the deposit to drive him away. ¡°Alright then!¡± Chen Yu gave a slight smile and took out a promissory note from his person, laying it on the roof of the car. ¡°This money should be enough to buy a race car, right?¡± The drivers present gaped at the ten-million face value of the promissory note. All racing cars are basically custom-built, the cheapest being around one to several million, while the more expensive ones can cost seven to eight million. As for the top-tier racing cars worth tens of millions, they are standard issue for international competitions. With this money, not to mention renting a car, even buying a top-spec racing car would be more than enough. Lin Zhifei frown deepened, ¡°Are you sure about this? We are all professional racers, no matter who you compete with, your chances of winning are not great.¡± Chen Yu walked straight up to a race car and touched its roof. ¡°I¡¯ll choose this one! Besides, that track up on the mountain seems to be the toughest one here, right?¡± Lin Zhifei¡¯s pupils abruptly dilated, ¡°Do you know that track is a one-to-one recreation of the extreme Bayinbrook race track? Some parts have even been upgraded. Many professionals can¡¯t even complete the whole course, and you actually want to race me there.¡± The drivers nearby were initially stunned, then burst into laughter. ¡°This kid must be joking, even our captain can only barely run that route!¡± ¡°This guy is clearly a greenhorn, to think he can tackle that road is simply overestimating himself.¡± ¡°Race with him and let this kid understand what top-level racing competition is about!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu paid them no mind and got into the car on his own, suiting up in his protective gear. Lin Zhifei let out a cold snort and also got into his own car. The entire track has over four thousand sharp turns, and more than three thousand elevation changes. Even top-tier racers, without a spotter, would be unable to complete such a circuit alone. Lin Zhifei pulled up the electronic image on his car¡¯s system, intending to call a team member over to be his spotter. But unexpectedly, Chen Yu simply held up five fingers towards him, then immediately started his car. Lin Zhifei¡¯s eyes went wide with shock; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to just drive off like that. He didn¡¯t dare to hesitate any longer, quickly started his car, and gave chase. At the finish line. All the drivers were anxiously waiting there, looking forward eagerly. Just then, a car steadily stopped in front of them. Everyone glanced at the license plate, and they were immediately taken aback. They had all thought that Lin Zhifei would be the first to reach the finish, but to their surprise, it was Chen Yu who arrived first. After bringing the car to a steady stop, Chen Yu went straight to sit by the roadside. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve won! According to our previous agreement, I am now a member of your team, and after joining, I want to be the captain.¡± The group of drivers sighed helplessly; managing to complete this course was enough qualification to be their captain. Just as they were talking, a sudden explosion thundered halfway through the race. ¡°Oh no, that looks like it¡¯s the captain¡¯s car!¡± Someone shouted, and everyone¡¯s gaze converged there. Chen Yu furrowed his brows too; after all, Lin Zhifei was a top-tier racer. Even if he couldn¡¯t beat him, at least he should be able to complete the course safely, without flipping the car! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Inside the Competition Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Inside the Competition Chen Yu couldn¡¯t manage much and hurriedly drove back. A group of drivers quickly stepped forward to block his way, and even two of them stood firmly in front of the car, refusing to let Chen Yu go back. Driving in the right direction on this track was already very difficult, let alone driving back in reverse; the danger level would dramatically increase. Now that Lin Zhifei had an accident, letting Chen Yu go back would only add another life for no purpose. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care; he swung into a drift and rushed onto the racetrack. All the drivers were stunned and quickly contacted the helicopter rescue. The track itself was built on a mountain road, and after Lin Zhifei¡¯s crash, his car rolled down the cliff. After driving a certain distance, Chen Yu floored the gas pedal and leapt from the top of the mountain. He controlled the car, jumping continuously on the cliff walls, and finally, incredibly, stopped steadily next to Lin Zhifei¡¯s burning car. Lin Zhifei had activated the ejection mechanism when he fell, and at this moment, he was rolling on the ground not far away, but judging by his appearance, his bones were fractured all over. Chen Yu sighed helplessly; he hadn¡¯t expected the former number one driver to end up like this. If his injuries weren¡¯t treated promptly, they could leave lingering problems, or even prevent him from ever returning to the racetrack. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about the protocol and immediately set Lin Zhifei¡¯s bones. After treating his wounds, the rescue helicopter also arrived at the scene. The rescue personnel were shocked when they saw the bandages on Lin Zhifei. ¡°Thank goodness it was in time, otherwise his entire skeleton could have been ruined.¡± ¡°My God, this technique is so professional!¡± ¡­ While everyone was in awe, Chen Yu had already returned to the warehouse. All the drivers looked at Chen Yu with a kind of reverence and didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too loudly. After all, Chen Yu had won, and Lin Zhifei was now considered their team leader, with the rest just needing to go through the motions to formalize it. Just as they were ready to welcome the new leader, Chen Yu took out a document from his person and placed it on a car roof. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being your team leader. I¡¯m just here to manage the team for my father-in-law and to participate in tomorrow¡¯s race by the way.¡± All the drivers widened their eyes and quickly stepped forward to scrutinize the contract closely. ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s Young Master Chen!¡± The drivers quickly came forward, eager to establish a connection with Chen Yu. Moreover, they had been thoroughly impressed by Chen Yu¡¯s driving in the race just now. The next morning at eight o¡¯clock, Chen Yu arrived at the race venue. Li Kaiquan, Huang Daolun, and other big names were already there early and even reserved a spot especially for Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, this way please!¡± Huang Daolun still greeted him with utmost respect. But as soon as he called out ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± he startled the few big names beside him. Huang Daolun was known for owning a chain of hotels in the capital and even had branches worldwide, his finances on par with Li Kaiquan. The other big names didn¡¯t fuss much and went straight up to greet Chen Yu. After all, if even Huang Daolun treated him with such respect, it was certainly correct for them to follow suit. Chen Yu offered a few perfunctory replies before taking his seat next to Li Kaiquan and Huang Daolun. ¡°Mr. Chen, I wonder what insights you have on the business of racing?¡± Huang Daolun asked casually, passing over a cup of coffee. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the greatest source of income from a race is the advertising within the venue.¡± Since entering, Chen Yu had noticed no less than a hundred billboards, along with a large number of mobile screens moving within the race track. Almost every team would dispatch two cars specifically as advertising vehicles to carry advertisements. Some were even from world-class industries. Huang Daolun nodded his head, then took out a racing number from his clothing. ¡°Racing is not only a business but also a game in our circles! The source of advertising revenue is only about forty percent, with the most profit coming from betting.¡± Chen Yu could not help frowning as a succession of system prompts sounded in his mind, accompanied by a barrage of information flooding in. During each race, several outstanding racers would be chosen and their racing numbers announced to the public. Then, betting organizations would be set up outside, using the power of advertising to promote them and let the public guess who would ultimately win the championship. This form would be distributed through various welfare organizations and lotteries, where ordinary people could participate for just two dollars. But all the races and participants were prearranged, and they would decide the eventual winner based on the number of lottery tickets issued by the welfare organizations. Chen Yu was suddenly filled with aversion, although this method was not against the rules and was perfectly legal, it violated ethics to a certain extent. ¡°I see!¡± Chen Yu replied nonchalantly, then the conversation dropped there. At that moment, several racers¡¯ numbers were brought over. The bigwigs, following their usual practice, immediately distributed these numbers and began to manipulate the race. Unexpectedly, the racers who had been chosen for their numbers all suffered accidents, and Lin Zhifei couldn¡¯t race today either. Suddenly, there was an uproar among the crowd. If the race could not go on, all their prior arrangements would have been in vain. ¡°Compared to doing business, I still prefer being a racer!¡± Chen Yu suddenly stood up, walked off the stage on his own accord. The onlookers¡¯ eyes widened in shock. Chen Yu¡¯s status was no ordinary matter, not to mention being Tong Ming¡¯s son-in-law; just the fact that he was a life-saving benefactor to Huang Luncai and Li Kaiquan was enough to make them flustered. ¡°Quick, get ready immediately, we must not let Mr. Chen encounter any accidents, give the advertisers a heads-up, just say the Tong Family¡¯s son-in-law is personally taking to the track!¡± They were in a frenzy, immediately starting to arrange the site. Chen Yu put on his gear, sat in the driver¡¯s seat, started the car, and sped out directly. In fact, Chen Yu understood why Tong Ming wanted him to manage the racing team, it was to let him see how the big players in the Imperial Capital did business. But he indeed couldn¡¯t conduct such business. The income from his current factory wasn¡¯t low, and continued operation even held the potential for expansion. At this stage, running the factory well was better than anything else. Participating in a race here today was like managing a racing team once for Tong Ming; from now on, he would never meddle in this kind of business again. Just as he was racing down the track like lightning, a car suddenly flew past him, crashing straight into the guardrail on the side of the road. Then the cars behind followed in rapid succession, a dozen or so piling up in an instant, with several even emitting black smoke. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Traditional Stir-Fried Liver Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Traditional Stir-Fried Liver The scene suddenly descended into chaos as a large number of rescue helicopters arrived one after another. Chen Yu heard the commotion behind him and immediately returned. The car crash site was a complete mess, with a dozen racers trapped in the wreckage of their vehicles, unable to crawl out. Chen Yu frowned as he closely observed the scene and noticed that a stone had appeared in the middle of a bend, embedded in the road surface. It seemed someone had deliberately placed a stone there. Without concerning himself with the details, Chen Yu hurriedly stepped forward to help rescue all the racers, setting their bones and treating their wounds until the doctors arrived to provide further treatment. The normally predictable race and its associated earnings were already calculated, but now with such a serious accident, it was likely that all profits would go down the drain. Inside a hall at the race control center, a group of bosses sat with grave expressions. ¡°Mr. Chen, we have already clarified that there was a stone on the track that shouldn¡¯t have been there,¡± one said. ¡°It¡¯s obvious someone is sabotaging us; we must investigate this thoroughly!¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not hard to investigate. We have national-level drivers in our team, and there¡¯s a world-class race in a couple of days. Now, our national-level drivers are all seriously injured and have no way to participate.¡± ¡°Right, how could I have not thought of that; these people are really ruthless.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu sat on the side, silent. He had not wanted to get involved in the business to begin with, and since the accident had nothing to do with him, he saw no need to speak. Just then, a junior assistant hurried over to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, there¡¯s someone looking for you outside!¡± Chen Yu nodded and headed straight out the door. Jin Lingsu was standing not too far away, smiling and waving at Chen Yu. ¡°Chen Yu little brother!¡± This almost enchantingly seductive call made Chen Yu stumble. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chen Yu asked, his brow furrowed, as every encounter with this woman had never boded well. ¡°I¡¯m just traveling, took a turn around here, and found the local snacks to be not so great. They¡¯re not even as tasty as the big pot meal you make,¡± she said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t believe her, but his look toward Jin Lingsu contained more fear than before. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± Jin Lingsu spread her hands, ¡°I heard that someone has cured several big shots from the capital one after another in a top private hospital. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess it was you.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless and subconsciously looked back at the hall behind him, then at Jin Lingsu. Maybe going out with Jin Lingsu for a stroll would indeed be more relaxing than staying here. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t found the special local snacks. I¡¯ll take you to a place!¡± Having said that, Chen Yu drove over and took Jin Lingsu to a dilapidated alley. As evening approached, street food stalls began to set up one after another in the alley. Upon their arrival, a rich fragrance wafted through the air. ¡°Wow, you really know where to go! I¡¯ve been wandering around here for days and hadn¡¯t discovered such a great spot in the capital,¡± Jin Lingsu said, clapping her hands and running excitedly into the alley. Chen Yu parked the car and followed inside. This alley had at least two hundred years of history, and all shops opening here were old brands of the imperial capital. As for those so-called delicacies outside, they all originated from this place. The first shop in the alley was a stir-fried liver shop, run by an elderly man nearing his sixties. His stir-fried liver was a genuine family secret recipe, selling only five hundred bowls a day, each priced at five hundred yuan. Even so, his stir-fried liver would sell out every day. Jin Lingsu followed the scent straight into the shop. ¡°Boss, give me a bowl of stir-fried liver!¡± The owner, hearing the shout, came out somewhat embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but today¡¯s stir-fried liver has all been reserved, and I¡¯m about to close the shop!¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s mouth dropped open: ¡°Old man, I came all this way to eat here, you can¡¯t make me leave on an empty stomach.¡± The owner was also helpless; he was getting on in years, and his child didn¡¯t want to learn his craft, so the whole shop rested on his shoulders alone. With his current physical and mental stamina, he could only make five hundred bowls a day, not one more. Chen Yu also smiled. He hadn¡¯t expected Jin Lingsu¡¯s first culinary stop in the alley to be the stir-fried liver. When he first came to the capital to exchange learning skills, he also came for the famed stir-fried liver, but despite lining up for several days, he never managed to get a bowl. ¡°Old man, how about this, I see you¡¯ve got some ingredients left over. You don¡¯t need to do any work yourself, let me do it, how about that?¡± The old man looked Chen Yu up and down, eyes filled with wariness. It wasn¡¯t that he was unwilling to let Chen Yu cook; rather, there had been someone who insisted on cooking stir-fried liver in his shop before, and the result was not tasty, even spilling dirty water on him. If it were not for his hundred-year-old brand to back him up, the shop might have been shut down by the relevant authorities. ¡°Young man, you can cook if you want, but we¡¯ll need to sign a contract in advance. Whatever the taste of the stir-fried liver you make, you can¡¯t blame me.¡± Chen Yu, of course, knew about the shop¡¯s past incidents, and without hesitation, he wrote up a contract and pressed his handprint on it. After the old man confirmed there was nothing wrong with the contract, he let Chen Yu into the kitchen. Only five minutes had passed when the old man suddenly perked up, looking towards the kitchen with disbelief. The scent wafting out was extraordinarily fragrant, many times more so than the liver he stewed using the secret recipe. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu emerged with two bowls of stir-fried liver and two flatbreads. The old man¡¯s eyes nearly popped out; this stir-fried liver was equal to their secret family recipe and seemed to have a few extra spices added. ¡°Young man, how on earth did you make this stir-fried liver?¡± Chen Yu replied with a polite smile, ¡°It¡¯s just some simple seasonings; I only changed the ratio and order of them.¡± The old man¡¯s interest was piqued, ¡°May I have a taste?¡± Chen Yu appeared very generous, handing over his own bowl directly. The old man couldn¡¯t wait to take a bite, enlivening as if rejuvenated, with even the wrinkles on his face seeming to unfold one by one. ¡°Delicious! Reducing the proportion of aniseed, using some Sichuan pepper as a substitute, and the proportion of chili pepper is just perfect, marvelous!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just sitting there, biting into a flatbread. The flatbread was also a unique item in the shop, but Chen Yu almost knew how it was made after just a couple of bites. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Secret Recipe Roast Chicken Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Secret Recipe Roast Chicken Jin Lingsu was already eagerly holding up her bowl, wolfing down the contents until it was perfectly clean. ¡°Chen Yu, I knew it, your cooking is truly extraordinary, even those heritage brands over a century old can¡¯t compare to you.¡± The elderly man beside her also felt somewhat embarrassed; suddenly, he thought that asking Chen Yu to sign an agreement earlier seemed a tad petty. ¡°Young man, could you perhaps sell me your secret fried liver recipe? I¡¯m willing to offer five million for it!¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°Delicious food is meant to be savored by people, not bought and sold, besides, I really just casually made a couple of bowls of fried liver just now, it wasn¡¯t anything exaggerated.¡± By this time, Jin Lingsu had already finished her fried liver and was urging from the side. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the next place. This small bowl of fried liver isn¡¯t nearly enough to line my stomach!¡± Chen Yu was well aware that Jin Lingsu was trying to help him out of an awkward situation. He quickly got up and went with Jin Lingsu to the next shop. This shop sold secret recipe roasted chicken, which has existed since the late Ming and early Qing dynasty. Their chicken was so famous that even the big fast-food chains would beg to buy their recipe. Compared to the neighboring fried liver shop, this one was decorated much nicer, and it was run by a couple. It seemed that the roasted chicken shop¡¯s tradition had not been broken. As soon as Chen Yu sat down, the owner brought over several small dishes of condiments. This roasted chicken shop never takes reservations or signs contracts with delivery services. It¡¯s first come, first served for everyone, no matter who they are. At this moment, the roasted chicken shop was already filled with customers, with several tables set up outside as well. Fortunately, it was the off-season for tourism, so Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu were able to squeeze in two seats. Before long, two fragrant roasted chickens were served. The golden brown sauce slowly flowed over the surface of the chickens, looking incredibly enticing. Jin Lingsu couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and, without any regard for her image, tore off a chicken leg and stuffed it into her mouth. ¡°This flavor is truly exquisite, but it still falls short compared to your cooking!¡± Whether intentionally or not, Jin Lingsu spoke so loudly that she attracted the attention of everyone in the shop, even making the owner take notice. With these heritage brand shops, their nerves are always on edge. After all, countless people come to challenge their signature dishes every day. Jin Lingsu¡¯s words especially led them to mistake Chen Yu for a challenger. ¡°Brother, may I ask which cuisine you specialize in and which restaurant¡¯s chef you are?¡± The owner didn¡¯t beat around the bush and asked directly, leaving Chen Yu somewhat embarrassed. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, boss. We¡¯re just here to eat, nothing more.¡± The owner sized up Chen Yu, ¡°No need to explain. Every day here, many come with different intentions. Even if you have some thoughts, it¡¯s not a big deal. If you can beat me in making roasted chicken, I wouldn¡¯t mind giving you this shop!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of helplessness; before he could figure out how to respond, the owner had already taken him to the kitchen. It looked like he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave today without competing. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m not that good at barbecuing. How about we compromise? I¡¯ll just casually cook a dish, and you continue with your roasted chicken, how does that sound?¡± ¡°No way!¡± The owner was also straightforward, ¡°Today you have to make roasted chicken.¡± Chen Yu sighed softly, didn¡¯t say much, and simply grabbed a chicken frame beside him to place on the grill. Barbecue food, actually, is the simplest, only requiring a little preparation. The most difficult part is the sauce. The reason this roast chicken shop has stood for two hundred years in the capital is because of their secret sauce recipe, which no one has been able to decode to this day. Chen Yu didn¡¯t concern himself with that; he simply picked up various seasonings from the side and began to mix them up. However, as he was preparing the ingredients, the shop owner suddenly froze beside him. The ingredients Chen Yu was mixing were identical to his secret recipe, even the order and the quantities were controlled with extreme precision. Moreover, Chen Yu had made some improvements that could greatly enhance the flavor of the ingredients. The owner watched, dumbfounded, convinced he had never seen Chen Yu before, especially since Chen Yu had only taken one bite of his roast chicken. The owner¡¯s breathing became rapid at that moment, but his hands did not fumble at all, quickly preparing the sauce and applying it to the roast chicken. But as it roasted, the owner noticed something else. Chen Yu was constantly adjusting the temperature based on different parts of the chicken. In less than twenty minutes, a rich aroma wafted from Chen Yu¡¯s direction, and when he took out the roast chicken, all the customers on-site gasped in surprise. Compared to the shop¡¯s roast chicken, Chen Yu¡¯s had a golden-brown hue, like gold; the sauce on top was extremely even, and most of it had already seeped into the meat. At this point, the owner couldn¡¯t care less about anything else and stepped forward to tear off a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth. The crisp exterior and tender interior won over the owner instantly. ¡°Brother, how the hell did you cook this chicken? Can you sell me the recipe?¡± Chen Yu frowned, wondering why everyone kept asking him for the recipe when he had just casually grilled the chicken. ¡°I used your shop¡¯s recipe; I analyzed your approach and sauce after just one bite of the roast chicken. I just made some improvements during the cooking process!¡± The words were already quite modest, immediately making the owner feel mortified. Just then, the owner of the neighboring fried liver shop came rushing over. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m too late. I knew you, with your stubborn head, would definitely want to compete with him.¡± The roast chicken owner widened his eyes, looking at the fried liver shop owner with an inexplicable gaze. ¡°What do you mean by that? Did he also make fried liver in your shop?¡± The fried liver shop owner sighed helplessly: ¡°This gentleman is probably a culinary genius. I saw him enter your shop earlier and was worried you¡¯d try to compete with him. I rushed over to dissuade you, but it seems I¡¯m still too late.¡± The roast chicken owner was mortified, but before he could speak, Chen Yu had already left the shop. Jin Lingsu, on her way out, casually took the roast chicken that Chen Yu had cooked. ¡°Chen Yu, I never thought you¡¯d be able to cook like this. If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have come out. We could have just found a spot for you to cook for me.¡± Chen Yu stopped in his tracks, pondering for a moment. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s find somewhere to camp.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Charlies family Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Charlies family Actually, Chen Yu still wanted to wander around this street. When he first came to the capital, firstly, he had no money, and secondly, there were too many people queuing up for food, so he only visited a few places. But now, Jin Lingsu obviously held bad intentions, provoking the shopkeepers every time they entered a store, leaving Chen Yu quite helpless. If he really made enemies out of everyone on the street, then there would be nowhere left for him to enjoy specialty snacks in the future. Just as Chen Yu got into the car, Jin Lingsu¡¯s expression suddenly changed. ¡°Don¡¯t move! We¡¯re being watched.¡± Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, glancing out of the corner of his eye. He noticed a man skulking around the corner not far from here. ¡°Where did this guy come from?¡± Chen Yu asked instinctively, since he had just arrived in the capital and couldn¡¯t possibly have made any enemies. ¡°He must be here for you, he¡¯s been following us ever since we left the racing scene,¡± Jin Lingsu said. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± Jin Lingsu remained unfazed, ¡°If I¡¯d told you earlier, how could we find out who¡¯s behind this?¡± Without saying anything more, Chen Yu started the car with a calm demeanor. Sure enough, the guy also started up a motorcycle by the roadside and slowly followed behind. Chen Yu drove leisurely, eventually taking the car out of the city and into a suburban area. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly stopped the car, opened the door, and picked up a stone to throw. The man on the motorcycle was knocked to the ground in an instant. Jin Lingsu leaped out, pressing a golden spike against the man¡¯s throat. ¡°Kid, who exactly are you? Why are you following us?¡± The man was terrified, ¡°I¡¯m from the Charlies family, here to surveil the Eastern Racing Association.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°What association?¡± The man gasped, ¡°Aren¡¯t you an important member of the Eastern Racing Association? I was ordered to follow you and report your whereabouts to my superiors.¡± Chen Yu looked frustrated, it seemed that he had now been fully dragged into the business of racing. ¡°Forget it, let him go! I understand what¡¯s going on now.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of not letting the tiger return to the mountain?¡± Chen Yu glanced at Jin Lingsu, ¡°Haven¡¯t you already cooperated with the relevant departments? Why still act like a bandit?¡± Jin Lingsu did not say anything more, sheathing the golden spike and then brutally kicked the man on the ground. Meanwhile, the meeting hall of the racetrack was already in uproar. To cope with the upcoming world-class competition, they had invested a lot of effort and money. If they canceled now, the entire Eastern Racing Association could be disbanded. ¡°What do we do now? All the race drivers are gone, how can we participate in the competition?¡± ¡°In our country, there aren¡¯t many top race drivers to begin with, and now we can¡¯t recruit anyone in such short notice.¡± ¡°How about we let Young Master Chen take over? Let him lead the team to barely finish the race. Even if we don¡¯t place, we can still ensure other revenues.¡± ¡°Are you all crazy? Chen is the son-in-law of Elder Tong. If his elderly relative gets angry, not just the Eastern Racing Association, even the families here will suffer greatly.¡± ¡­ As Chen Yu approached the door, he heard intense arguing coming from the office. Without much concern, he walked straight in. The voices of the argument subdued a bit when everyone saw Chen Yu entering. Li Kaiquan, who was sitting by the side, lightly tapped Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re back. Just now, they were discussing whether to have you represent the Eastern Racing Alliance in the battle,¡± he said. Chen Yu laughed twice but didn¡¯t respond, simply leaning back in his chair. When everyone had quieted down, he suddenly stood up. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the ones pulling strings behind the scenes should be the Charlie family. This family owns extremely top-tier racing teams around the world. However, their main racer recently had an accident, which is why they¡¯re resorting to such despicable tactics to prevent us from competing,¡± he said. Upon hearing this, everyone in the room widened their eyes in shock. Although they suspected that it was the Charlies family who had sabotaged them, and had sent their people to investigate, they had yet to receive any results. Chen Yu had just stepped out for a moment, and when he returned, he seemed to have figured everything out. Originally, they thought Chen Yu had simply left the meeting out of boredom, but now it appeared that although young, Chen Yu had some cunning strategies up his sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful that Mr. Chen is willing to represent the Eastern Alliance in the competition!¡± An elderly man, using a cane, slowly stood up and walked over to Chen Yu, excitedly shaking his hand. This gentleman had been a top racing driver in his youth and continued in the racing business after becoming a powerful figure in the capital. He accounted for a significant portion of the Eastern Alliance racing team. Chen Yu merely responded with a smile, then placed a document on the table. ¡°It¡¯s no problem for me to represent the team, but I have one condition. If I win the race, I¡¯ll need certain advertising rights and profits,¡± he stated. To the many moguls present, such conditions were trivial. After all, racing was just a hobby for them. ¡°No problem!¡± Li Kaiquan was the first to agree. The others hurried to concur, some even signing the contract and stamping their fingerprints on it right away. Seeing this reaction, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and simply left the office on his own. Jin Lingsu was sitting on a sofa outside, her hawk-like eyes scanning the surroundings. In this place, the Charlie family had no idea how many spies they had planted. In less than ten minutes of sitting there, she had already identified more than a dozen of them. However, she didn¡¯t expose these people; she merely memorized their faces in secret. When Chen Yu came over, Jin Lingsu handed him over a dozen photos. ¡°I originally came here for a vacation. Unexpectedly, I ended up working for you! Once this is over, you have to take me around, and personally, you owe me ten days of home-cooked meals,¡± she said. Chen Yu flicked through the photos in his hand: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be disappointed,¡± he assured. The racing driver who had been in an accident was saved after emergency lifesaving efforts. Thanks to Chen Yu setting their bones in time, they could still enter the racing industry after being discharged from the hospital, without it affecting their professional career. This incident was extensively covered by the media, but most of the coverage criticized the organizers. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Thawing Previous Grudges Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Thawing Previous Grudges Overwhelming news plunged the entire Eastern Racing League into an extremely embarrassing situation. And it seemed the direction of the news had already been manipulated. Chen Yu¡¯s brows were furrowed as he watched the news on television. The big shots in the capital should have control over many media outlets, so how did the narrative end up like this? He glanced at Li Kaiquan, who was dining with him, ¡°Mr. Li, it seems that the media in the capital has been taken over by Charlie¡¯s family!¡± Li Kaiquan sighed helplessly, ¡°Our country¡¯s media developed rather late, and many aspects are not well-established; even a lot of media had substantial foreign investments at their start¡­¡± At this point, Li Kaiquan¡¯s face was also full of melancholy. Even he could not possibly control all the media in the capital. ¡°It is said that the largest foreign stake in the capital¡¯s media seems to be William¡¯s family!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly spoke up. But her nonchalant demeanor could easily irritate people. Even Li Kaiquan frowned. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about those things; he understood that Jin Lingsu was reminding him. ¡°Right, William¡¯s family!¡± Chen Yu hurriedly finished a few bites of his meal and then dialed a phone number. ¡°Hello, who may I speak with?¡± A familiar and sweet voice sounded, making Chen Yu unconsciously pause for a moment. ¡°Katherine?¡± Chen Yu asked uncertainly. ¡°Oh, Mr. Chen, you finally called! Can I help you with something?¡± Chen Yu cleared his throat, ¡°About your William¡¯s family¡¯s media business in the capital, could you possibly help me¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the matter between Charlie¡¯s family and the Eastern Racing League, right?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, ¡°You know about this?¡± ¡°Of course! Mr. Reynolds from Charlie¡¯s family has already been in discussions with Mr. Victor.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been discussing?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow in inquiry, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Originally, Charlie¡¯s family wanted to take over the Eastern Racing League completely, and had everything set up. But after Mr. Reynolds saw you at the race, they had to find a compromise.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood that both Reynolds of Charlie¡¯s family and Victor of William¡¯s family had once been his patients. As long as he was involved, all problems could be solved. And there were also a lot of orders between him and Charlie¡¯s family. ¡°In my view, we might as well sit down together and have a good talk. Car racing is supposed to be fair and just; the way things are now benefits no one.¡± Katherine on the other end of the phone suddenly became excited. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you have agreed to step in, that makes things easier. I¡¯ll contact Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Victor right away.¡± After the call ended, Li Kaiquan stared at Chen Yu with an odd look. ¡°You¡­ you can actually get Charlie¡¯s family and William¡¯s family to sit down together and discuss with us!¡± These two families were not just ancient royal bloodlines of the West, but also controlled economic power of enormous magnitude. Even many companies in the East had investments from these two powerful families. Yet Chen Yu appeared indifferent, ¡°All I did was happen to treat the heads of both families.¡± Li Kaiquan¡¯s breathing became noticeably more rapid. Chen Yu¡¯s medical skills were known to him, but he had originally thought that Chen Yu was only somewhat famous in Suzhou City; he hadn¡¯t realized that Chen Yu had already achieved international renown. The current situation of the Eastern Racing League was not very good, and if they could sit down with both the Charlies family and William¡¯s family to talk things over, perhaps they could find a way out of their current predicament. ¡°That would be truly wonderful!¡± Li Kaiquan excitedly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm, after all, he owned a part of the shares in the Eastern Racing League. The next morning at eight o¡¯clock, at the Dragon Soar Tower in the capital. Reynolds and Victor had actually arrived here early, having rushed to the capital overnight after getting the news from Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen!¡± The two men nearly cried out in unison and then stepped forward to grasp Chen Yu¡¯s hand. Compared to before, both men appeared much younger and in far better health. The titans of the capital gaped at this scene, every one of their eyes wide. Nobody in the world had ever been this close to the heads of these two great families at the same time. ¡°Gentlemen, let¡¯s put aside the pleasantries for now and focus on resolving the matter at hand!¡± Without saying anything further, they both took out the contracts they had prepared. There were a total of six world-class top racing teams, and the East only had one, the Eastern Racing League, with the remaining five all in the West. Originally, the Charlies family intended to directly take over the Eastern Racing League and completely dominate the field, then design their rules. Now, to bring out a contract to preserve the Eastern Racing League and even negotiate on equal terms was entirely out of respect for Chen Yu. The magnates of the capital felt as if they were dreaming, the terms of the contract exceeding their imagination. However, one clause surprised them. It was to extract a portion of the shares from the Eastern Racing League and then select some resources from the Charlies family¡¯s team to form a seventh team, completely under Chen Yu¡¯s control. If it were under any other circumstance, such demands would be considered draconian, but when it involved Chen Yu, everyone saw it differently. Moreover, the team split off from the Eastern Racing League was all from the Tong Family, so the impact on them was not that significant. They barely thought about it and immediately approved the decision. Chen Yu, however, was somewhat frustrated; he indeed had little interest in the racing business, and now, quite by accident, he had his own world-class team. Once all the contracts were signed, Victor wasted no time in approaching Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, lately my heart hasn¡¯t been well; it often beats rapidly out of the blue. Apart from the team matters, I need you to prescribe a few medicines for me again this trip.¡± Chen Yu casually took Victor¡¯s pulse. ¡°This isn¡¯t a serious illness, just a normal phenomenon as your body recovers. I¡¯ll prescribe you some calming medicines to send over later.¡± ¡°Ah, how can we trouble Mr. Chen to deliver the medicine personally? Let¡¯s do this, we¡¯ll leave it to Katherine to handle.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and just nodded. Reynolds, on the other hand, had booked a restaurant nearby. Reynolds was extremely fascinated with Eastern culture, especially with culinary culture, to which he had a fervent pursuit. The restaurant he had booked was the most famous Qingfeng Bistro in the capital. Soon after, the negotiation parties settled down in the largest luxury private room of Qingfeng Bistro. With a glass of wine filled to the brim, Reynolds stood up excitedly. ¡°To collaborate with all of you is truly a fortunate event for my Charlies family; today, we shall not return until we are drunk! As for past affairs, let¡¯s consider them water under the bridge!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Leek with Fermented Soybean Paste Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Leek with Fermented Soybean Paste Reynolds was proficient in Chinese, and particularly authentic at that; his words immediately bridged the gap between him and everyone else. Moreover, with Chen Yu there, the crowd quickly livened up. Just then, Reynolds suddenly spat out a mouthful of food he had taken a bite of. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you guys change your chef? Why is this spicy chicken so disgusting?¡± A waiter hurried over, apologizing profusely. Reynolds¡¯s face was a picture of gloom, ¡°Every time I come to the East, I order from your place, and I¡¯m even your top-tier VIP. Is this how you treat me?¡± The waiter looked new and didn¡¯t know what to do, just kept apologizing over and over, making Reynolds somewhat impatient. Li Kaiquan stood up as well, ¡°I also think today¡¯s dish is a bit off, it seems different from the previous chef¡¯s cooking.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than a middle-aged man with a stylish appearance strutted out with a trace of arrogance. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this is our new signature dish. The taste is naturally different from before! Moreover, the previous chef had been fired for some minor mistakes. The new chef is a world-class top chef, and the food he cooks is much tastier than before.¡± Everyone paused, their gazes collectively shifting to the middle-aged man. The man¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he hadn¡¯t expected to meet so many big shots from the capital¡¯s circles that day. The arrogance he had just displayed diminished somewhat. ¡°Oh my, we truly did not expect such distinguished guests to visit our establishment today. It¡¯s our fault for not entertaining you properly, but there shouldn¡¯t be any problem with the taste!¡± Chen Yu also tried a bite of the spicy chicken at that moment. He deduced that the chef who made this dish must be a novice, lacking even the most fundamental skills. Reynolds was even more enraged, ¡°How can there be no problem? Even I, a foreigner, find it disgusting!¡± The middle-aged man straightened his tie, ¡°Sir, you must be misunderstanding Chinese cuisine. Our dishes here are the best in the country¡­¡± ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Jin Lingsu cut him off bluntly. ¡°The best chef in the country is sitting right here, and you dare say your food is the best in the country! That¡¯s overestimating your abilities.¡± A flicker of disdain crossed the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes, ¡°Madam, are you referring to yourself?¡± Jin Lingsu set her chopsticks aside and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°This gentleman has participated in world-class cooking competitions and has genuinely been crowned a ¡®Culinary God¡¯!¡± The middle-aged man immediately fixed his gaze on Chen Yu, gave him a once-over, and approached with a conceited air. ¡°A world-class Culinary God, that must mean you have a background in Western cuisine. I already said, our food here is Chinese cuisine, it¡¯s different from Western.¡± Chen Yu sighed softly and slowly stood up. ¡°These two elderly gentlemen have traveled thousands of miles from the West to taste authentic Chinese cuisine, and yet your chef has been so neglectful, simply tossing a few dishes together!¡± Chen Yu spoke indifferently and rolled up his sleeves, heading straight to the kitchen. The middle-aged man became anxious, ¡°What are you doing? The kitchen is off-limits to outsiders!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care at all, darted into the kitchen with a swift move, but what he saw made him frown. Several aging chefs were leisurely sitting by, sipping tea; a couple of kids around a dozen years old were lingering by the stove, and the rest were playing games on their phones on the side. How could such a kitchen possibly produce good food? Chen Yu cleared his throat twice and then walked straight to the counter. The chefs who had been drinking tea suddenly stood up. ¡°Who is this? How dare you casually enter our kitchen? Someone, come here, and throw him out quickly!¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he just picked up a kitchen knife from the stove and took several peeled potatoes. In the blink of an eye, the potatoes were completely disassembled, becoming as thin as hair. The knife skills instantly shocked all the chefs in the kitchen, especially the older ones who were dumbfounded. Knife skills are different from other cooking techniques. To cook a dish, one only needs to control the heat and remember the order and amount of ingredients. But knife skills are foundational skills that accompany a chef for a lifetime. For an average chef to reach the level of knife skills that Chen Yu displayed, it would take fifty years of practice. Yet Chen Yu appeared to be not even thirty years old. To achieve such knife skills at his age could truly be considered nothing less than genius. Before they could even react, Chen Yu had already stir-fried the potato shreds in the wok, flipping and frying them. It took less than two minutes for him to serve the dish. The rich aroma instantly spread throughout the kitchen, surprising everyone present. Reynolds couldn¡¯t wait to step forward and picked up a few potato shreds to taste. The crisp and mellow flavor conquered his taste buds in an instant. ¡°This is so delicious, these extremely thin potato shreds haven¡¯t scorched at all, maintaining the original flavor of the potatoes while also evenly coating each strand with seasoning.¡± This assessment raised Chen Yu to a certain height, and others also crowded forward to try the potato shreds for themselves. ¡°Good knife skills!¡± A deep voice suddenly rang out from the corner of the kitchen, and an old man with a somewhat portly figure came over slowly, holding a cup of tea. ¡°I have never seen someone your age achieve so much. Really remarkable, but casually barging into my kitchen, that¡¯s a challenge to me.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, he somewhat recognized this elderly man, who almost dominated the headlines of major media a decade ago. His culinary skills were ranked among the top five in the world, especially his knife work, which was legendary. His signature dish was Phoenix-tail Leeks! The leeks were already fine enough, but he could carve them, and the whole process took less than a minute. ¡°Excuse me, sir, might you be Mr. Wen Zaichang?¡± Chen Yu was very respectful as he apologized, showing his respect for a senior figure in the culinary world. However, Wen Zaichang was extremely arrogant. He put his teacup aside and casually picked up a kitchen knife while also tearing off a cabbage leaf. As the kitchen knife swiftly rotated, the cabbage leaf quickly turned into strips, and in less than two minutes, what had looked like an overwhelmingly large leaf of cabbage was carved into a phoenix tail shape, neatly arranged on a plate. ¡°Your knife skills are decent, and your cooking is quite good, but alas, you are still too young! Come back here and be brazen when you¡¯ve reached my level!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 233: The Nine-Colored Deer Chapter 233: Chapter 233: The Nine-Colored Deer Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, as he had already treated this senior with the highest etiquette, yet to his surprise, the old man was still disrespecting his age. ¡°Old sir, I know your knife skills are unparalleled in the world, and I may not compare, but how can we know without a trial?¡± Chen Yu remained very polite, flipping the kitchen knife in his hand, and imitating Wen Zaichang¡¯s manner, stripped off a cabbage leaf. With just a few cuts, the cabbage leaf rapidly transformed in Chen Yu¡¯s hands, and in less than two minutes, a lifelike phoenix appeared in the middle of the plate. ¡°This junior can only casually present a phoenix, and I ask for the senior¡¯s guidance,¡± he said. Chen Yu put down the knife and his gaze towards Wen Zaichang turned a bit more hostile. Wen Zaichang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; his carved phoenix-tail cabbage was already top-notch in terms of knife work, but after all, what he carved was just a replication based on a model. Chen Yu, on the other hand, directly carved out the entire phoenix. In terms of knife skills and speed, he had already surpassed Wen Zaichang. ¡°Impressive, young man. It seems you¡¯ve set your heart on challenging me today! Since that¡¯s the case, I accept your challenge,¡± Wen Zaichang said. Chen Yu¡¯s face was filled with gloom; he had come here only because the kitchen¡¯s food was not to his taste and he could only come over to cook a meal himself. But he didn¡¯t expect Wen Zaichang to be so lacking in elder¡¯s dignity and so aggressive. ¡°This old guy is too arrogant!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly burst out, ¡°Chen Yu, go against him, teach this old boy a lesson.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mind was full of black lines; wherever he was, as long as Jin Lingsu was by his side, he could never have peace. Wen Zaichang didn¡¯t wait for him to speak and immediately took out a piece of deer meat from the refrigerator, slicing it in half. ¡°This is freshly transported deer meat from the northeastern mountains, it can be considered a top-grade ingredient. Let¡¯s both make a dish with this deer meat, and everyone present will be the judges,¡± Wen Zaichang declared. Without saying anything more, Chen Yu simply accepted the half-piece of deer meat handed over by Wen Zaichang. The others in the kitchen stepped back, moving aside to create enough space for the two of them. Wen Zaichang adjusted his breathing slightly, then took out three incense sticks, placing them in a bowl on the stove. This was a tradition of the older generation of chefs, to pay homage to the ancestors and the Kitchen God before cooking a traditional dish. Chen Yu, however, had no such customs; he directly took the knife and began to section the deer meat. By the time Wen Zaichang had finished his offerings, Chen Yu had already evenly divided the deer meat into four pieces. ¡°Young man, don¡¯t think that by getting the upper hand you can beat me! Today, I will cook a palace dish that has been lost for ages, to show you what it means to be a chef,¡± Wen Zaichang said. Chen Yu merely nodded respectfully, and then he went back to focusing on his own cooking. Wen Zaichang was stunned for a moment, not expecting Chen Yu to be so indifferent towards him. A nameless rage suddenly rose within him, and then he picked up the cleaver and brought it down fiercely, splitting the piece of deer meat in half. Half an hour quickly passed by, and Chen Yu had already finished four dishes, which he arranged in basins and pushed out. These four dishes were extraordinary, each with their uniqueness and full of color, aroma, and taste. When displayed, they gave off a sense of the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter! Reynolds could hardly wait and immediately started tasting each dish in the order Chen Yu had presented them. ¡°Delicious! These four dishes have the unique flavor of four seasons, and eating them all gives one the feeling that a white deer is carrying them through the scenic beauty of the seasons,¡± Reynolds exclaimed. Upon hearing this, the other people also became excited and crowded forward to taste. This exerted an invisible pressure on Wen Zaichang. Having been in the culinary world for half his life and participated in over a hundred competitions, he¡¯d never expected that today his speed in serving dishes would actually be slower than that of a twenty-something-year-old young man. About ten more minutes passed before his dish was finally brought out. ¡°A lost imperial secret dish, the Nine Colored Deer! Please, everyone, have a taste!¡± He said this with extreme excitement, as if the dish he¡¯d prepared was the finest in all the world. Yet, no one at the scene paid him any attention; they were all gathered around Chen Yu, carefully tasting his food. Wen Zaichang couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; logically, food tastes best the moment it comes out of the pot. Ten minutes had already passed; Chen Yu¡¯s dish should have already lost its flavor. His own dish¡¯s aroma should have been able to surpass Chen Yu¡¯s. Wen Zaichang subconsciously sniffed the air, only to find that the fragrance lingering was still strongest from Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°How is this possible? What method did you use? Did you add some other kind of seasoning to the dish?¡± Wen Zaichang was somewhat off-balance; his Nine Colored Deer dish had once won a world-class cooking competition, earning him the title of Kitchen God. But now, Chen Yu had casually prepared four dishes that seemed to surpass his own! Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but simply pushed his dish forward. ¡°According to the rules, both parties in the competition have to taste each other¡¯s dishes, and I am very interested in the master¡¯s signature dish.¡± Without waiting for Wen Zaichang¡¯s consent, Chen Yu had already picked up some chopsticks and took a piece from the Nine Colored Deer. It must be said, Wen Zaichang¡¯s culinary skills were indeed top-notch. Just this Nine Colored Deer alone used twenty-four different ingredients, and the taste of each ingredient didn¡¯t clash with the others. Instead, they were perfectly fused together through the venison. That mellow fragrance left Chen Yu with a lingering aftertaste. If he didn¡¯t have the system on his side, Chen Yu would likely not stand a chance against his opponent. ¡°Indeed worthy of the master¡¯s signature dish, it¡¯s just a pity that you skipped two steps in the preparation!¡± As these words came out, Wen Zaichang¡¯s eyes instantly bulged. The main point of this dish was to fully enhance the aroma of the venison using the other ingredients, which required first charcoal-grilling the cured meat, then steaming it to allow the flavors of the other ingredients to fully integrate. But such a process was overly complicated, and seeing Chen Yu cooking at such a fast pace had forced him to skip this step. What astonished him the most was that Chen Yu could discern the essence of his dish after just one bite. ¡°Who exactly are you? Who taught you how to cook?¡± Wen Zaichang stared intently at Chen Yu with a strange look in his eyes. ¡°No one taught me. I just happened to come across an ancient cookbook and slowly practiced according to the methods described there!¡± Wen Zaichang trembled all over: ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯re self-taught!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t reply, just picked up the ingredients beside him and continued cooking. He hadn¡¯t come here for a competition; he simply wanted to cook a good meal for these people. After all, Victor and Reynolds had traveled a long way to get here; he had to make it worth their while! COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Fake Gang Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Fake Gang Once the table of dishes was ready, Chen Yu directly left the kitchen. Although Wen Zaichang was an old predecessor in the culinary world, his character and actions were extremely strange, and he even behaved with disrespect for his age. Chen Yu did not want to have anything to do with him. After everyone finished their meal and prepared to leave, Wen Zaichang was still standing there, staring blankly at Chen Yu. ¡°Be careful!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly patted Chen Yu on the shoulder, ¡°That person looks wolfish, watch out for him stabbing you in the back.¡± Chen Yu just smiled, as, in his eyes, he utterly disregarded people like Wen Zaichang. ¡°He would need the skill to stab me first!¡± The group left the restaurant chatting and laughing. However, their discussion still revolved around Chen Yu¡¯s culinary skills, which they used to belittle Wen Zaichang to no worth at all. In the following days, Chen Yu integrated all of the racers under the Tongshi Group in the capital and also gathered resources sent by various Western teams. After confirming the time and place of the race, Chen Yu did not stay long in the capital and returned to Suzhou City with Jin Lingsu. ¡°Chen Yu, brother, I never thought you would be so versatile, even capable of running a racing team, and starting on par with world-class teams,¡± she said. When Jin Lingsu spoke, her tone was somewhat strange, and it was unclear whether she was praising Chen Yu or being sarcastic. ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence that I came across it. Speaking of which, I really don¡¯t have much experience in the racing business. If you have the time, I would like to hire you as a professional manager to help me manage it!¡± ¡°I have the time!¡± Jin Lingsu exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Ever since I started working with the relevant departments, I stopped my old business and I¡¯m almost idle all day. If you don¡¯t mind, I could really manage the team for you.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised but recalling the way Jin Lingsu drove in the Arctic, he was indeed impressed. Moreover, this woman, whether in temperament or in other facets, could be considered top-notch. Entrusting her with the racing team seemed like a good choice. ¡°Great, then for the upcoming race in Europe, you can take my place in participating,¡± he said. As they spoke, the two had arrived at the airport exit. Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly noticed a man in a hurry near the entrance. The guy seemed sneaky, with a scar by his eye and a bag in his hand, his hand constantly inside it as if searching for something. Chen Yu noticed the man almost immediately, but he did not act rashly and just observed from a distance. Before long, the man took out a stack of ID cards and walked towards the boarding gate. ¡°That person is holding fake IDs!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly said. Chen Yu also slightly narrowed his eyes. Nowadays, anyone roaming around with fake IDs was definitely not up to any good. Just as he prepared to approach, he suddenly noticed many plainclothes officers nearby, one of whom was Zhou Shengtao. It seemed the relevant department had already targeted this man and was in the process of apprehending him. However, they missed covering one direction during their setup. If they cornered the man too much, he could possibly escape or even take hostages. Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu exchanged a secret signal, then slowly began to approach in that direction. The plainclothes officers lying in wait soon noticed Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu. ¡°Zhou team, are those two people ours?¡± Hearing the report from his subordinate, Zhou Shengtao also looked up in the direction of Chen Yu. ¡°He¡¯s our unofficial staff member; he just happened to block that spot for us! If he makes a move later, we¡¯ll cooperate as much as possible.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone let out a sigh of relief. ¡°We were already short-handed and couldn¡¯t cover every place; never expected that Zhou Sheng had it arranged here earlier, the unofficial staff member really has foresight.¡± Zhou Shengtao felt a bit embarrassed; although he had already considered that loophole during the deployment, due to the actual situation, he could only station people next to that direction. Firstly, there weren¡¯t enough people, and secondly, he was worried about pushing the suspects into desperate action. Now that Chen Yu had arrived, all his concerns were dispelled! The man seemed to realize something at this moment and looked around restlessly. Gulping down large breaths of air, he then set his eyes and ran frantically towards the boarding gate. But he hadn¡¯t taken two steps before a golden spike shot through the air, piercing his shoulder and pinning him firmly to the ground. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward, pushing the man to the ground. Zhou Shengtao also shouted loudly, and all the plainclothes officers rushed up, completely subduing the man. ¡°Xiao Chen, you¡¯ve really helped me out big time again!¡± Zhou Shengtao was too excited to contain himself; if it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu¡¯s intervention, capturing this guy would have been much tougher. Chen Yu felt a bit puzzled. ¡°Zhou Sheng, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you should have locked onto this guy¡¯s trail a long time ago. Why wait to capture him at the entrance of the airport?¡± Zhou Shengtao was briefly taken aback, instinctively looking around before leaning in close to Chen Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°We are investigating a major case. The reason for capturing this guy in a crowded place is to scare the snakes out of their holes and lure out the person behind the scenes.¡± Chen Yu nodded his head, his face showing a mix of resignation. ¡°In other words, I¡¯ve been dragged into this case again.¡± Zhou Shengtao smiled with a hint of malice: ¡°Xiao Chen, what are you saying? How can you feel like an outsider? You¡¯re now our unofficial staff member, and there are some things I still want to ask for your help with.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly and did not say much, just accompanied Zhou Shengtao back to the relevant department. Jin Lingsu did not follow them but went to Shuiyue No.1 at the request of Chen Yu. Suzhou City, Xujia Rock No. 54. Everywhere in the spacious villa were all kinds of jewelry, and in the corner, stacks of cash piled up like mountains, including various national currencies. Chen Yu was taken aback when he first saw these; it was his first time seeing such a vast amount of wealth laid out before him. But as he went closer to inspect, he discovered that all the banknotes were fake, and even the gold and jewels on the floor were imitations. ¡°Zhou Sheng, the people you¡¯re after aren¡¯t just a counterfeiting ring, are they?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed softly. ¡°If it were just a simple counterfeiting ring, that would be easy. Among this group are some extremely vicious criminals with more than one life on their hands, and the mastermind behind them is yet to show up.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed¡ªcontrolling such a large-scale operation, the person behind it must be formidable. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Poisoning Chapter 235: Chapter 235 Poisoning ¡°Team Leader Zhou, do you have any clues at this point?¡± Chen Yu asked before he unconsciously started wandering around the room, hoping to incidentally find some traces or clues. ¡°We¡¯ve basically captured all the key figures of this group, but they just refuse to divulge the person behind it all!¡± As he said this, Zhou Shengtao¡¯s face took on a strange expression. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t even know how to put it, it¡¯s like these people have never seen, or rather, they don¡¯t know the true identity of the person controlling them from behind.¡± Chen Yu was also taken aback for a moment; he had not expected there to be someone in this world who could actually achieve such a feat. Not only to have complete control over their subordinates and all of their affairs but also to keep their true identity unknown to these people. This was definitely the work of a mastermind! No wonder Zhou Shengtao was so helpless that he had to resort to arresting suspects in a public place like an airport. After wandering around the living room for several laps, Chen Yu suddenly discovered a very inconspicuous hairpin in a corner. According to what Zhou Shengtao had said, the gang was all male; how could such an item be present? Just then, Zhou Shengtao¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He hurriedly answered it and then left the place. But before leaving, he handed a stack of documents to Chen Yu. On the surface, this case seemed to be a simple case of forgery, but since it involved human lives, no one dared to take it lightly. As Chen Yu reviewed the files, he found that many of the clues could not be connected. Especially the victims; no matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be no connection between these people, and their deaths were all unexplained. There were two individuals that, if not for Zhou Shengtao uncovering clues, the coroner might have determined their deaths as accidental. Chen Yu noted down the basic information of the victims and decided to investigate thoroughly. On the southern outskirts of Suzhou City, there was an ancient tower dating back many years. Because it was located at a tourist attraction and considered a historical site, the place was extremely popular, but the most famous aspect was not the scenery but the vegetarian meals inside the tower. Many came for the reputation, just to have a vegetarian meal there. Chen Yu had investigated all day and came up with nothing, yet he found himself arriving at this place unwittingly. It was now approaching evening, and there were not many tourists left, only two middle-aged men who looked somewhat shabby, sitting in front of a dining table and devouring their vegetarian meals. Chen Yu unconsciously touched his stomach and found an empty table to sit down at. ¡°Sir, are you here to eat vegetarian meals or to pray?¡± A delicate voice arose from not too far away, followed by a woman who appeared to be in her twenties, walking over slowly. This woman was exceptionally beautiful, and her monk robes gave her an otherworldly aura. Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°I just happened to pass by and thought of seeking a fortune-telling slip in front of the Buddha. But as it so happens, I¡¯m also feeling hungry, so I might as well do both¡ªeat a vegetarian meal and pray.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really quite spontaneous,¡± the woman replied politely, and then she brought out a well-assorted dish of vegetarian food. Chen Yu¡¯s appetite was instantly aroused, but just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks to eat, he noticed that the two burly men not far off were glancing over at him from the corner of their eyes. He subconsciously glanced at the two men and noticed something off about their expressions. At first glance, the pair seemed to be homeless men who had not eaten for a very long time, but upon closer observation, one would note that they were robust, with fierce eyes, not at all like the perennially wandering homeless. ¡°Sir, is our food not to your taste? Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± the woman asked gently. Only then did Chen Yu come back to his senses, ¡°That¡¯s not it. I just feel that when eating a vegetarian meal in front of the Buddha, one should at least pray silently in their heart.¡± The woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly, ¡°The gentleman is quite particular!¡± After placing a few more dishes down, the woman got up and gracefully left. [SYSTEM WARNING] An urgent alert suddenly sounded, followed by a flood of information in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, along with a three-dimensional topographical map of the area. There was an ancient cemetery on the mountain, which included several new graves. The system had extracted details from inside the tombs during its scan, and when Chen Yu saw the images in his mind, he immediately became unsettled. The bodies interred in these graves hadn¡¯t been buried long and were highly identifiable. Chen Yu recognized at a glance that these were the young girls who had recently disappeared. Moreover, two of them seemed to be related to a counterfeiting case. However, Chen Yu did not act rashly; instead, he sat there leisurely eating his vegetarian meal, while his gaze occasionally swept over the two burly men. After the two had their fill, they left the pagoda and meandered down the mountain path, only to head straight for the cemetery behind. Chen Yu immediately sensed something was amiss. Just as he prepared to get up and check, the woman from before floated out again and placed a bowl of noodle soup in front of him. ¡°The gentleman seems unfamiliar, what do you do?¡± Chen Yu managed to squeeze out a slight smile, ¡°I¡¯m in the catering business. Is it just you alone here in this pagoda?¡± The woman nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing here for many years, always by myself.¡± ¡°Then you must be careful, Suzhou City has not been peaceful lately!¡± As soon as he said this, Chen Yu¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat. In the wilderness, within an ancient pagoda, lived a solitary woman. During the day with tourists, it was fine, but at night or other times, it was just her alone. Even if she had a strong mental resolve and firm beliefs, as a woman living alone in this desolate place, she could not possibly be without fear. ¡°It is a peaceful and prosperous time now! How can you say that it¡¯s not peaceful outside?¡± The woman asked as if jokingly, then prepared to rise and leave. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Chen Yu suddenly called her back, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this seems to be shrimp porridge. Such a pity that there are too many shrimp shells in it, and it¡¯s even made with oranges.¡± The woman¡¯s body suddenly froze, ¡°What do you mean by that, sir? This porridge is a kind gesture for you, is there something wrong?¡± Her words sounded utterly innocent as if Chen Yu was the one who had erred. But anyone in the catering industry knows that shrimp shells contain large amounts of arsenic, which, when mixed with the vitamins in oranges, can form arsenic trioxide. And that substance is the main component of arsenic poison! ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, those two men just now must be your underlings. They probably went to the cemetery to deal with a fresh body for you!¡± The woman¡¯s body shook violently, with emotions rapidly shifting in her eyes. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Having Money to Earn but No Life to Spend It Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Having Money to Earn but No Life to Spend It ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± The woman, with an appearance of grievous distress, took several steps backward, her posture radiating utter aggrievement at a glance. Chen Yu, however, paid no heed to that, stepping forward directly to grasp the woman¡¯s wrist. ¡°Do I need to spell it out more clearly for you? Let¡¯s set aside those lives lost in the cemetery for a moment. Just for poisoning the soup you gave me just now, I can have you arrested.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened, and before Chen Yu could react, her other hand reached towards her waist. But all her movements were fully recorded by the system, presented vividly in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. By the time she made her move, Chen Yu had already caught her other hand and wrested the knife from her grip. ¡°Those were some pretty practiced moves! You must be a professional assassin.¡± The woman¡¯s breath turned ragged, her gaze at Chen Yu filled with a new edge of terror. She tried to pull her hand free, but Chen Yu¡¯s grip was like a vice, tightly clenching her wrist. ¡°Who exactly are you? What do you want to do?¡± Chen Yu sneered, ¡°I¡¯m an unofficial member of the relevant department. Since I¡¯ve encountered you today, I can only take you with me.¡± No sooner had he spoken than a loud explosion rang out at the door. Four burly men dashed over from the woods outside, each armed with standardized weapons. These men looked ferocious, with distinct facial features. Chen Yu had even seen portraits of two of them before. At this juncture, he was nearly certain that this group was a gang of accomplices, and that the previous counterfeit cases were their handiwork. The woman¡¯s eyes were full of murderous intent, ¡°Young man, let me advise you to let go at once, or they¡¯ll kill you on the spot.¡± Chen Yu paid no mind, suddenly exerting force with his hands, crushing the woman¡¯s wrists, before turning around and snatching up a pair of chopsticks from the table and hurling it out. Everything happened so fast that the four men hadn¡¯t even managed to pull their triggers when the chopsticks already pierced their wrists. Not only did the weapons fall from their hands, but their arms and shoulders were punctured as well. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and immediately called Zhou Shengtao. Just as he was about to head to the cemetery in the back mountains to look for evidence, the woman behind him suddenly yelled out. ¡°Young man, you¡¯re so capable and yet you¡¯re just an unofficial member. If you followed me, I guarantee you could earn more than ten billion a year!¡± Chen Yu looked at the woman with a mocking gaze, as if he had just heard the biggest joke in the world. ¡°My net worth has already exceeded ten billion long ago, so I don¡¯t need to make this kind of life-threatening money with you. Besides, what¡¯s wrong with being an unofficial member? At least it¡¯s a secure job!¡± The woman¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; she couldn¡¯t fathom how someone worth more than ten billion would willingly remain an unofficial member. Before she could grasp the situation, Chen Yu suddenly caught her neck and pressed lightly, causing her to faint. Zhou Shengtao was patrolling nearby when he received Chen Yu¡¯s call and hurried over immediately, only to be left gaping at the sight of one man and four women lying on the ground. Only two of these five were confirmed suspects; he had never seen the other three. Especially this woman, who did not seem local, appeared to be of mixed heritage. Chen Yu had already reached the back mountain, where the cemetery had been turned into a complete mess. Some of the older graves had been excavated and had new corpses placed in them. When the system scanned all the information into Chen Yu¡¯s mind, he felt nauseated. It was the first time he had ever seen such a scene. Moreover, these people had even hidden a large amount of gold, jewelry, and cash within the tombs. As he was analyzing the situation at hand, the two burly men he had seen earlier suddenly ran back, overjoyed. ¡°After being busy for so long, we can finally leave this damn place. We brothers must have a good time.¡± ¡°I want to buy a big plane so I can go anywhere in the world, anytime I want to.¡± ¡­ As the two men were dreaming about their future, they suddenly noticed Chen Yu standing there. The two men instantly became wary and reached for their weapons at their waists. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± they demanded. Chen Yu didn¡¯t turn around; he just blankly stared at the scene before him, feeling a surge of nameless rage within him. These graves had been resting in place just fine until these people not only dug them up and ruined them but also filled them with all sorts of trash. This was intolerable! Though angry, Chen Yu seemed to have taken on a bit of a dramatic air at the moment. ¡°My family¡¯s ancestral grave is buried here! I just wanted to come up here to pay my respects today, and I didn¡¯t expect it to turn out like this. Who has dug up my family¡¯s ancestral grave?¡± Upon hearing this, the two burly men suddenly felt embarrassed, considering they were solely responsible for the scene in front of them. The wariness on their faces dissipated, and they put their weapons away. One of the men even took out two gold bars from his person and offered them to Chen Yu. ¡°Brother, we¡¯re setting up a foundation here, and all the graves need to be moved! Unfortunately, the tombs are so ancient that we couldn¡¯t find many of the families. Since you¡¯ve shown up, take these two gold bars as compensation. If it¡¯s not enough, I can give you more.¡± Chen Yu acted as if he had lost all desire to live, looking down at the two gold bars before him. ¡°These two aren¡¯t enough. It should be at least two hundred!¡± The two men¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Damn you! You ungrateful brat, giving you two gold bars is already more face than you deserve, and now you¡¯re asking us for two hundred? Believe me, I can make it so you have money but no life to spend it!¡± Chen Yu suddenly looked up, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll have a life to spend this money, but I¡¯m sure you two no longer have a chance to possess these treasures.¡± The two were taken aback, ¡°Hey, really shameless, aren¡¯t you?¡± As they prepared to take action, they barely lifted their arms before a series of cracking sounds ensued, and they collapsed to the ground. Before they could speak, Zhou Shengtao arrived with a large group of people. However, when Zhou Shengtao and his party arrived, the sight before them completely shocked them, and a few of the new interns who had just started their jobs started to vomit against the nearby trees. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 237: The Residential Gardener Chapter 237: Chapter 237: The Residential Gardener ¡°` Chen Yu told Zhou Shengtao everything he knew, and also informed the relevant personnel about the location of the buried jewelry and cash. When everyone dug out the buried items, astonishment was written all over their faces. They had solved countless major cases and, in theory, seen a lot of the world, but the scene before them was completely beyond their imagination. All of their combined efforts over several lifetimes probably wouldn¡¯t amount to this much money. After Chen Yu had done what he needed to do, he hurried back to Shuiyue No.1. He had been out for some time, and even upon his return, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to reunite with his wife and child. By the time Chen Yu rushed home, it was already 10 o¡¯clock at night, yet the house was still buzzing with lively activity. Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya were striking an extremely difficult pose, standing on one leg. Tuan Tuan, too, was imitating their pose, standing between them. The three of them standing there was like a beautiful scenic painting. When Tuan Tuan saw Chen Yu return, she immediately put her little foot down and bounced into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re finally back, you have no idea how much I¡¯ve missed you!¡± Chen Yu affectionately ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head and took out an exquisitely small jade bracelet from his pocket. ¡°Daddy missed you too! Look, this is a little gift I carefully picked for you, do you like it?¡± Tuan Tuan excitedly took the bracelet and put it on her wrist: ¡°Of course I like it, I love anything from Daddy!¡± Chen Yu then pinched Tuan Tuan¡¯s nose and turned to look at Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu. ¡°What are they doing?¡± Tuan Tuan pouted her little mouth: ¡°I don¡¯t know, it was normal at first, then for some reason, Mommy insisted on competing with Aunt Jin in flexibility, and that¡¯s how it ended up.¡± Chen Yu also had a full head of black lines; indeed, wherever Jin Lingsu was, no good came of it. At this moment, Jin Lingsu suddenly smiled: ¡°Your husband is back, aren¡¯t you going to greet him? Give him a hug, a kiss, something like that?¡± Tong Ya clenched her teeth: ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re already married, there¡¯s always time for that! You¡¯re not getting overwhelmed and trying to distract my attention, are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that bored!¡± said Jin Lingsu with a nonchalant air: ¡°I practice martial arts; my flexibility and muscle strength are countless times greater than yours. Just admit defeat!¡± Tong Ya forced a slight smile; upon closer observation, one could see her body had already begun to tremble. Tong Ya was merely a simple dance teacher, while Jin Lingsu was different; she had fought and bled, weathering storms and braving the rains, possessing a physical and mental toughness incomparable to Tong Ya. Chen Yu frowned, realizing that if this continued, Tong Ya might actually hurt herself. ¡°Ya Ya!¡± Chen Yu called out softly, then walked straight over to Tong Ya and scooped her up around the waist. ¡°Alright, she is a single dog, bored out of her mind, that¡¯s why she¡¯s challenging everyone. We don¡¯t need to bother with her! I¡¯ve even picked out a special gift for you on my return.¡± Tong Ya breathed a sigh of relief. She had been enduring for nearly two hours and couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu giving her a way out, the consequences would have been unimaginable. What¡¯s more, Chen Yu¡¯s simple words had also helped her regain some face. ¡°` ¡°Why would I do such a boring thing with a single dog?¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya tenderly buried her head in Chen Yu¡¯s embrace. Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, ¡°Hey, you two are breaking the rules, ganging up on me, an outsider. I¡¯m at least a guest, for goodness¡¯ sake. You should show some hospitality. Besides, your husband promised to cook for me for ten days.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°This late at night, what dinner? ¡± He said dismissively and then took Tong Ya back to their room, with Tuan Tuan hopping along behind them. Jin Lingsu sat on the sofa with a sulky expression, like one who had been wronged. Just as she was about to go to sleep, a strange rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes outside. Her sharp instincts made Jin Lingsu jump up and rush outside without a second thought. When she stepped outside, she saw a middle-aged man sneakily swinging a hoe under the arhat tree in the backyard, apparently digging something. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jin Lingsu shouted and dashed over, kicking the man in the back of his head and knocking him out cold on the ground. Chen Yu too hurried out, ¡°What happened?¡± Jin Lingsu clapped her hands dismissively, looking down at the middle-aged man lying on the ground. ¡°Caught a thief. This guy seemed like he was about to steal your arhat tree!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened when he saw the middle-aged man. He knew this person; he was the community gardener. Recently, the arhat trees in the community were diseased, and the gardener, afraid of disturbing the residents during the day, quietly came out to tend to them in the dead of night. Chen Yu sighed in exasperation, ¡°Who would blatantly come to the community to steal an arhat tree at night? This is a communal worker.¡± After explaining briefly, Chen Yu took out two needles and pricked them into the gardener¡¯s nape. Before long, the middle-aged man stood up groggily. ¡°What happened? I feel like someone hit me on the back of my head with a hammer!¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, ¡°Master Wu, it¡¯s very dangerous for you to work at such an hour. If we hadn¡¯t arrived on time to rescue you, the consequences could have been grim!¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu picked up a broken flowerpot. He had broken it on the spur of the moment while rushing to help. Master Wu didn¡¯t say much, obviously believing the explanation. ¡°I had no choice, really. Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll let it go for today and go rest.¡± After seeing Master Wu off, Chen Yu too breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Sis, now that you¡¯re collaborating with the relevant departments and have obtained a legitimate identity, you should get to know the life of a normal person. You can¡¯t go around acting rashly like this. If something really happens one day, your legitimate status will be in jeopardy.¡± Jin Lingsu looked indignant, ¡°I¡¯ve been through so much over the years, and now I have to be schooled by you, kid?¡± Grumbling to herself, Jin Lingsu went back to her room, albeit in an exaggerated way¡ªshe actually went out the window. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Basketball Game Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Basketball Game Chen Yu sighed helplessly. Although Jin Lingsu was top-notch in many aspects and could even be considered a perfect woman, she was like a giant baby when it came to some details of life! Just as Chen Yu was about to head back, he suddenly spotted something shiny not far away. He walked over, picked it up, and discovered it was actually a badge, and this badge astonishingly belonged to the Charlies family. Chen Yu immediately furrowed his brows. He had just signed a contract with the Charlie clan, so why did their item appear here? Could it be that these people from the family were two-faced, secretly following him? ¡°Ling Ling, scan the surroundings for me. Look for any suspicious people!¡± [Understood] A blue and white light spread instantly, and not long after, a three-dimensional map of the entire villa area emerged in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. But no matter how the system scanned, it found nothing amiss. It seemed the other party had long gone. Chen Yu slowly clenched his hand, gripping the badge tightly. ¡°Charlies family, I want to see what exactly you¡¯re trying to do!¡± Muttering to himself, Chen Yu then returned to his room. The next morning at eight o¡¯clock, Chen Yu drove straight to the factory. Tong Ya, as usual, took Tuan Tuan to school, but Jin Lingsu had gotten some strange idea and insisted on going with Tong Ya. After some time of renovation, the underground tombs in the entire industrial park had been mostly cleared out, and some areas had already entered the reconstruction stage early. The initial factory area had also been expanded, and its industrial value had doubled. When Chen Yu arrived there, the whole industrial park seemed bustling with activity. Xie Jiang¡¯s workers had at least doubled since before, and the old professor who was clearing the tombs had also called for assistance from other relevant departments. Everyone got excited when they saw Chen Yu arriving, especially Xie Jiang. He directly dropped what he was doing and ran over to Chen Yu. ¡°Old Chen, you seemed quite busy recently, so I haven¡¯t called you! But look how well I¡¯ve done the job for you!¡± Chen Yu looked around: ¡°With the progress like this, the entire industrial park can be put to use in another two months, right?¡± Xie Jiang waved his hand: ¡°No need for two months. I now have enough manpower, and many projects have started simultaneously. The speed is more than twice as fast as before. Including the construction and later decoration of the industrial park, you give me a month and a half, and I guarantee it will be done.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face brimmed with excitement: ¡°Then I¡¯m counting on you!¡± Just then, Hou Jianchang came running over in a hurry. ¡°Old Xie, there has been a big problem. I just got news that the land price in this area has plummeted; it seems like someone is intentionally opposing us.¡± Hou Jianchang was yelling as he ran, looking extremely anxious. However, when he saw Chen Yu, the anxiety on his face lessened by half. ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯re back!¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Old Hou, what happened? You¡¯re rarely in such a rush!¡± Hou Jianchang caught his breath and brought out several documents from his person, spreading them in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Because ancient tombs were excavated here, the land price has plummeted. Until the tombs are completely cleared, this place is worthless wasteland! This might indirectly affect the efficiency of our factory. It¡¯s possible that our products may not sell at all.¡± Chen Yu of course understood what Hou Jianchang meant. In many places, once ancient tombs or some ancient facilities were excavated, they would be designated as special regions by the relevant departments. ¡°` The value of these plots of land will not only plummet, but there will also be disreputable media writing all sorts of nonsensical articles about them. They¡¯ll speculate about poor feng shui, products tainted with heavy yin energy, and all kinds of dirty water will be splashed onto it. Chen Yu glanced at the document in front of him, his face showing not the slightest ripple of emotion. ¡°The current price of the land plot allows others to spin stories, and we can do the same!¡± Hou Jianchang was stunned for a moment. ¡°Old Chen, what do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°Old Hou, go now, immediately invest in a business company, and create a stock based on the land plots we control in our hands!¡± Hou Jianchang was an old hand in the business world and understood what Chen Yu meant at once. ¡°You mean to fight poison with poison and use stock to recoup our losses?¡± Chen Yu nodded. ¡°The price of the land has dropped so drastically; someone must be undermining us from behind. Since they like to play, we¡¯ll keep them company and play along! Besides, we also need to make sure the media doesn¡¯t get too arrogant.¡± Hou Jianchang collected the documents. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what to do with the rest.¡± ¡­ Suzhou City Jian Nan Primary School. On the vast playground, a large group of parents stood in their basketball gear, doing some simple warm-up exercises. Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu were among them. ¡°Dear parents, please divide yourselves evenly into two teams according to the rules, the basketball game is about to start!¡± A teacher stood at the referee¡¯s stand with a microphone, looking awkwardly at the scene on the court. Most of the parents who came to the meeting today were fathers, with only Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu being women. Therefore, it was decided on the fly to hold a basketball game, but nobody wanted to be on the same team as the two women. Moreover, both Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu had enchanting figures, fair skin, and looked frail and delicate. How could they possibly play basketball in that state? The teacher had already asked several times through the microphone, but these people just did not want to divide up into teams; eight big men were standing there with reluctant expressions. Even a few men¡¯s eyes kept wandering over Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu. ¡°Forget dividing the teams, the two of us will form one team, and they can have a men vs. women game!¡± Jin Lingsu shouted out, spinning the basketball on her hand with an air of dominance. That queen-like aura instantly made the eight men take a few steps back involuntarily. Tuan Tuan, sitting in the spectator stands, suddenly got excited, holding two pompoms and jumping up and down. ¡°Mom, Aunt Jin Su, beat them!¡± Other children covered their mouths, wanting to laugh after seeing Tuan Tuan¡¯s antics. In this scenario, Tong Ya and Jin Su were bound to lose. A middle-aged man with a sloppy beard looked at the two women with a sleazy expression. ¡°Ladies, basketball can be very dangerous. Don¡¯t blame us if you get hurt later!¡± Jin Lingsu snorted coldly and suddenly threw the basketball in her hand. Under everyone¡¯s incredulous gaze, the basketball went straight into the hoop. ¡°` COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 239 103 to 0 Chapter 239: Chapter 239 103 to 0 The scene fell silent, and everyone stared at Jin Lingsu with shocked gazes. Being able to precisely shoot the basketball into the hoop from such a distance was almost something very few could achieve. Moreover, Jin Lingsu was a woman! ¡°That was just a fluke, right?¡± A muscular middle-aged man with a solemn expression couldn¡¯t quite believe what was happening before him. ¡°Definitely a coincidence, I think I even felt a draft just now!¡± Another person immediately echoed! Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t care about all that and just gave the people in front of her a cold glance, then slung her arm over Tong Ya¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hurry up and start! How can a bunch of grown men dawdle so much!¡± With that, Jin Lingsu directly pulled Tong Ya to the other side. The teacher in charge of refereeing was also stunned for a moment; he really didn¡¯t expect things to develop to this point. But seeing how confident Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya seemed, he didn¡¯t feel it was right to say much more. ¡°All right, let the game begin!¡± As the referee gave the order, the court immediately boiled over with excitement. The eight men got ready for serious business, looking earnest, but a closer look would reveal that their eyes, more or less, held a lecherous glint. Some even swallowed their saliva. The referee holding the basketball walked to the center of the court, ¡°We now begin the jump ball, please send a representative each!¡± Jin Lingsu naturally took this task upon herself and walked straight to the center of the court. Her enchanting yet authoritative and bold demeanor was hard not to attract attention. The man who came out from the opposite team was full of sinewy muscles, clearly a regular at the gym. And his calf muscles were extremely developed, suggesting good jumping ability. In any other competition, the jump ball would have been his advantage, but unfortunately, he was up against Jin Lingsu. As the basketball was thrown high by the referee, Jin Lingsu and the man jumped almost simultaneously. But unexpectedly, Jin Lingsu¡¯s leap was a whole half-body taller than the man¡¯s, effortlessly catching the ball and passing it to Tong Ya. The moment Tong Ya received the basketball, she immediately spun and threw it. That seemingly delicate figure managed a shot from an extremely tricky angle, making the basketball swish through the net. ¡°Two points for the women¡¯s team!¡± Everything happened so fast, many people hadn¡¯t even reacted! Even the referee called out the score only after the basketball had landed. ¡°Mommy is awesome!¡± Tuan Tuan cheerfully bounced in the stands, causing a bunch of kids to feel envious. Logically, the other parents were all burly men, yet Tuan Tuan¡¯s parent, being only two women, had taken the lead in scoring! Even though these kids were disgruntled, there wasn¡¯t much they could do about it! As the game continued, the scene became increasingly chaotic. The coordination among the eight players deteriorated, with some even getting injured. Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya were both incredibly flexible, and with their slender figures, they effortlessly weaved through the players, practically running rings around them. Apart from Tuan Tuan¡¯s cheering, the court was filled with constant sighs. ¡­ In Suzhou City¡¯s Beijiang Restaurant, Chen Yu and Hou Jianchang sat in a private room, waiting in silence. Before long, Zhou Shengtao rushed over in a hurry. ¡°The case earlier was a bit tricky, so I¡¯m late. My apologies to both of you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, merely placing a contract on the table. ¡°Captain Zhou, some of the terms here I¡¯m afraid only you have the authority to sign, so I had to come to you for help!¡± Zhou Shengtao burst into a hearty laugh, promptly picked up the pen, and signed his name on the contract. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. Next time, you don¡¯t need to call me over specifically for these things, just bring the contract straight to my office!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°That won¡¯t do. Your position is quite sensitive, and it¡¯s necessary to avoid conflicts of interest when required!¡± Zhou Shengtao stamped the contract and handed it back, ¡°By the way, Chen Yu, that forgery case has been closed. In view of your significant contribution this time, not only have you been given a formal position, but there¡¯s also a reward!¡± As he spoke, he handed over a check bearing the stamp of the relevant department to Chen Yu. The amount on it was a whopping ten million! Looking at it, the misdeeds of those guys must have been far from minor. ¡°In that case, I will accept it!¡± Chen Yu politely accepted the check, then stood up, ready to leave. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Zhou Shengtao suddenly called out, ¡°I have a matter here that I need your help with!¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, knowing from the moment Zhou Shengtao entered that there must be some big issue, otherwise Zhou Shengtao wouldn¡¯t be laughing so casually. ¡°Captain Zhou, there¡¯s no need for formalities between you and me, just tell me what you need!¡± Zhou Shengtao patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder excitedly, ¡°Then I won¡¯t stand on ceremony!¡± With that, he took out an invitation from his pocket. ¡°This is a yacht entry ticket. I need you to disguise yourself as a wealthy businessman to get on board and help me find something!¡± Without any hesitation, Chen Yu took the invitation gracefully. ¡°What am I looking for?¡± Zhou Shengtao immediately took out a photo and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡­ The basketball game at Jiannan Elementary School ended quickly, but the score was somewhat too overwhelming to bear witness to. Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya won the game almost with a crushing momentum. One hundred and three to zero! The eight burly men stood there, like children who had done something wrong, utterly at a loss! ¡°Hey, I thought the game was going to take a long time, but it ended so quickly! That¡¯s just boring!¡± Jin Lingsu taunted and walked off the court with Tong Ya, carrying the basketball. Both of them had superior control over their physical fitness, and after playing for a considerable time, they were just a little sweaty. In contrast, the others looked as though they had just come off a battlefield, dripping with sweat, and a few of them lay on the ground, refusing to get up. To the uninitiated, it might look like these guys were pulling a con! ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, my parent-child basketball game today concludes perfectly. I look forward to the next parent-child event being as lively as today!¡± The host finished the scripted lines with some difficulty and then hurried off the stage, seemingly unwilling to stay a moment longer! At five in the afternoon, Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya, with Tuan Tuan in tow, chatted and laughed as they slowly made their way home. ¡°Auntie Jin was so amazing today; she even dunked the ball!¡± No sooner had Tuan Tuan spoken than Tong Ya took umbrage. ¡°Auntie Jin is amazing, but doesn¡¯t that make Mom amazing too?¡± Tuan Tuan giggled, ¡°Mom¡¯s amazing too, it¡¯s just a pity you can¡¯t dunk! Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been perfect!¡± Tong Ya immediately felt a twinge of jealousy, ¡°You little thing, you¡¯ve known her for such a short time, and you¡¯re already turning your elbows out!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 240 Zhao Familys Yacht Chapter 240: Chapter 240 Zhao Family¡¯s Yacht After a day, the relationship between Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya had improved by leaps and bounds. Even though they still didn¡¯t see eye to eye, it was just part of their personalities and didn¡¯t affect their relationship. At nine in the evening, Tong Ya even personally cooked, making Jin Lingsu¡¯s favorite dishes. ¡°Why are we eating so late today, and why didn¡¯t you guys go back to the restaurant to eat?¡± The moment Chen Yu¡¯s voice rang out, Tuan Tuan immediately jumped down from the dining table. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re back! You don¡¯t know how amazing Mom and Auntie Jin were today! They teamed up and defeated a professional basketball team!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true!¡± Jin Lingsu immediately took over the conversation, ¡°Who do you think I am? It¡¯s not just basketball; I could win even at soccer!¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Tong Ya suddenly coughed twice, ¡°Children should be honest and can¡¯t just exaggerate the truth at will, otherwise, the consequences will be serious!¡± Jin Lingsu was displeased, ¡°How can you educate a child like that as a mother? Sometimes you need to boast when it¡¯s time to boast! Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t life be so boring!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines, wondering why they were getting so worked up! ¡°I¡¯ve got something to tell you, I¡¯ll be traveling again soon. Ya Ya and Tuan Tuan¡¯s safety will be all in your hands.¡± Jin Lingsu looked at Chen Yu somewhat sullenly, ¡°Hey, you really treat me as a free bodyguard!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m just letting you experience what normal life is like, how could that be a free bodyguard.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was full of grievances, ¡°In a few days, I have something to do too, I¡¯ve already received the invitation!¡± As she spoke, she placed an invitation on the table. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re going on that ship too?¡± Jin Lingsu was also taken aback, ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu directly took out his own invitation. Tong Ya hurried over, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Zhao family¡¯s ship?¡± ¡°The Zhao family?¡± Chen Yu looked puzzled, ¡°How do you know?¡± Without a word, Tong Ya took out an identical invitation from her person. ¡°My father also received one, but he doesn¡¯t like these kinds of gatherings so he asked me to go on his behalf.¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brows. Zhou Shengtao had told him that these invitations were very precious, with less than a thousand sent out altogether, yet there were three within this villa. ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll all go together tomorrow, and treat it as a trip.¡± Tuan Tuan immediately became excited. She had had enough of school lately, and if she could go out and play, she would do anything. ¡°No, Tuan Tuan.¡± Chen Yu suddenly grabbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s shoulders seriously, ¡°This time, Daddy has a very important task to do, and I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t take you with me!¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s mood plummeted, as if her soul had left her. Tong Ya quickly held Tuan Tuan in her arms, ¡°The people operating this ship are not exactly good people. Tuan Tuan, be good, next time Mommy will take you to an even better place.¡± Tuan Tuan, being obedient, didn¡¯t say much and just nodded her little head. Chen Yu said no more, just told Chen Guang and Li Lan to take good care of Tuan Tuan. The next morning, Chen Yu and the two women quickly packed up and set off. It wasn¡¯t strange for the Zhao family to own several yachts, being a super family in the capital. But the yacht¡¯s current location was very unusual, being in international waters and even the place of registration was an obscure little island. From this, it¡¯s clear that the Zhao Family must be up to something! Chen Yu and his two companions followed the instructions on the invitation, first arriving at the designated dock, then they were escorted by special personnel onto the yacht. Upon reaching their destination, Chen Yu realized that what lay before him could hardly be called a yacht; it was a ten-thousand-ton behemoth spanning the sea. The whole ship had been decorated with extreme luxury; just the outer hall, used to entertain guests, was adorned with copious amounts of 24K gold. When Chen Yu boarded, he was shocked by everything here. He had never seen anyone put so much effort into a yacht! Just then, a man in his early twenties suddenly hurried through the hall, holding in his hand a Tang sword faster than a person¡¯s height. From the color of the blade, this sword was definitely a rare treasure, and might even have been a precious sword used by the Imperial Guard during Emperor Xuanzong¡¯s time. Yet such a treasure was being carelessly brandished about. ¡°Murder! Murder! Zhao Tian has killed someone!¡± A scream instantly attracted the attention of everyone present! The screamer was a man in his thirties. This fellow was big and burly, a mass of muscle, but his voice was remarkably shrill, almost squeaky¡ªone might think it small wonder if he could change it to a falsetto! ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you today, you sissy! Showing off in front of my grandfather, you¡¯re really asking for it!¡± Right then, a man bursting with a heroic air appeared, blocking Zhao Tian¡¯s path. ¡°Little brother, Zhao Fu is, after all, your cousin; there¡¯s no need for knives! Besides, this sword is a treasure for the auction, what if you damage it?¡± Zhao Tian snorted coldly, glancing at Zhao Fu lying on the ground with utter disdain. ¡°Today I¡¯ll overlook this out of respect for Big Brother Zhao Hai, but next time, if I see you acting like a sissy again, I won¡¯t let you off so easily!¡± Zhao Fu was already scared out of his wits. ¡°Understood!¡± Although this farce seemed sudden, it had drawn everyone¡¯s attention to the Tang sword. ¡°Who would have thought the Zhao Family would bring out such a splendid treasure this time!¡± ¡°If such an item is so casually presented, there must be even better ones to come!¡± ¡°This trip is absolutely worth it! We¡¯re all going to leave with a full load!¡± ¡­ While people were abuzz with discussions, the Tang sword had already been sold for the astronomical price of twelve million! In a corner, Chen Yu silently watched it all, saying nothing. He couldn¡¯t be sure whether all this was a charade put on by the Zhao Family to create an atmosphere for the auction. At that moment, a wave of soul-stirring music suddenly started up from outside the door. Following that, a large group of people grandly boarded the yacht, among them was Fang Yuan! Brown Edward followed right behind Fang Yuan, very gentlemanly holding up her dress for her. This scene made countless young girls scream with excitement! Just then, Zhao Hai suddenly rushed towards Fang Yuan like a madman! ¡°You harlot, you dare to show your face here! You¡¯ve deceived our Zhao Family so badly!¡± The focus of the scene methodically shifted, and a thick scent of gossip instantly filled the air. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Not Fake Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Not Fake The sudden incident left Fang Yuan somewhat embarrassed, but there was no significant change in her expression. It seemed that she might have anticipated such a situation before she arrived. ¡°Mr. Zhao, please watch your language. I am now Mrs. Edward! Is it not impolite for you to come rushing up and shouting at me like this?¡± Zhao Hai snorted coldly, ¡°Etiquette? You talk to me about etiquette? When you were with me, we signed quite a few contracts, and now these contracts can all serve as evidence of your fraud!¡± As these words were spoken, the yacht suddenly became noisy. Whispers abounded, with everyone guessing the real relationship between Fang Yuan and Zhao Hai. ¡°Are you the guy who signed the betting agreement with Yuan Yuan?¡± Brown Edward¡¯s voice suddenly rose in the hall, instantly attracting everyone¡¯s attention. Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, filled with malice like the eyes of a hawk. ¡°Betting agreement? Why don¡¯t you ask your wife if that was a betting agreement? It was practically like taking money for nothing from the Zhao Family!¡± Zhao Hai was somewhat heartbroken, decidedly losing his composure in such a setting. After all, Fang Yuan had effortlessly made three billion from him and thoroughly outmaneuvered him. Anyone would break down in such a situation! Brown¡¯s face darkened as he pulled out a thick stack of documents from his chest. ¡°Hmph, Mr. Zhao, there are things I don¡¯t want to squabble too much about on such an occasion! But the unequal treaties you forced Yuan Yuan to sign are utterly despicable! And Yuan Yuan has told me everything!¡± Brown¡¯s words were extremely firm, as he saw Fang Yuan as the one who had been wronged. Before coming here, Fang Yuan had already recounted the entire betting process with the capital circles of the Empire. Of course, she couldn¡¯t avoid a bit of exaggeration. In doing so, Fang Yuan had craftily turned herself into a victim. Although Brown was in a marriage of convenience with Fang Yuan, he too was filled with righteous indignation after hearing her story. Besides, they were engaged now, meaning Fang Yuan¡¯s affairs were the Edward Family¡¯s affairs as well. Zhao Hai couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, ¡°What is wrong with you Westerners, actually believing in such a woman! Today, I will expose her true face.¡± With that, Zhao Hai stepped forward, intending to lay hands on Fang Yuan, but in the next moment, the Edward Family¡¯s personal bodyguards stopped him. These men were elites passed down from ancient Western royal lineages, some of whom had even fought in underground boxing matches. Their physical fitness and strength were many times stronger than ordinary bodyguards. Zhao Hai suddenly shouted loudly, and then the Zhao Family¡¯s bodyguards also rushed in. Just as it looked like a fight was about to break out, a somewhat elderly voice suddenly spoke up from the side. ¡°Today is a big day for the Zhao Family, and we hope the Edward Family can show some respect. Let¡¯s resolve any issues afterwards!¡± All eyes converged on the direction of the voice as they saw an old man with white hair slowly appearing in a wheelchair. ¡°We have seen Mr. Zhao!¡± Everyone greeted respectfully, and the whole venue became quiet. Seeing this scene, Chen Yu frowned, having not expected both the expected and unexpected to appear here. Exhaling a breath of foul air, Chen Yu paid no attention to these people, instead searching for his mission target. This time, Zhou Shengtao asked him to obtain a red dragon-embossed scepter. This scepter was said to be a treasure of a lost Eastern civilization that could potentially help to excavate the entire civilization intact. ¡°Let¡¯s go check over there!¡± Chen Yu whispered, then led Tong Ya and Jin Lingsu toward a corner. Having taken just two steps, Chen Yu realized that Tuan Tuan was pouting her little mouth, standing there full of dissatisfaction, staring fixedly at Fang Yuan. Tong Ya¡¯s expression changed immediately, she hurriedly stepped forward to hold Tuan Tuan in her arms. ¡°Tuan Tuan, be good, let¡¯s go first, we¡¯ll talk about everything else later!¡± She certainly understood what Tuan Tuan was thinking; anyone would be reluctant to see their own mother so entangled with two men. If Tuan Tuan lost her composure and made the matter between her and Fang Yuan public, there¡¯s no telling how much chaos might ensue. Moreover, Chen Yu was here to carry out a secret mission, and absolutely could not afford too much exposure. Tuan Tuan was also intelligent, she grasped Tong Ya¡¯s intent in an instant, and the anger on her face immediately diminished somewhat. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Mom, I wouldn¡¯t stoop to her level! Besides, I only have you as my mom now!¡± Tong Ya affectionately ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head, then took out a piece of chocolate she carried with her. Tuan Tuan took the chocolate, then hopped and skipped away with Tong Ya. At this moment, Fang Yuan¡¯s gaze drifted towards them, intentionally or otherwise. Her heart ached inexplicably, she was aware that she might never be able to get Tuan Tuan back in this lifetime. Chen Yu and the others had already reached the adjacent hall by this time. The space here was indeed not small, and the treasures on display each had significant renown. There were even ancient Khmer Buddha statues. At the moment, there were few visitors here, quite a number of them preferred places that were not too noisy. Others were genuinely fond of these antiques. ¡°I saw a Spring and Autumn square ding three years ago in the Capital; I can recite the inscriptions on it to this very day!¡± ¡°Oh my, square dings are rare to see in the market these days, especially those from the Spring and Autumn period!¡± ¡°Indeed, I didn¡¯t expect the Zhao Family¡¯s banquet to actually have a square ding from the Western Zhou era!¡± ¡­ A group of people surrounded a huge square ding, discussing and pointing. After all, such items were things they may never encounter in their entire lives. Chen Yu also glanced at the square ding unconsciously, but he immediately furrowed his brows. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the material of this square ding!¡± With this remark, he instantly stunned all those present. ¡°Young man, what do you mean by that? Are you saying this item is fake?¡± An elderly man looked at Chen Yu with some surprise. ¡°Not fake!¡± Chen Yu peered through the glass and scrutinized, ¡°The square dings from the Western Zhou tended to be made using wooden molds with clay sculpting before firing, but this one appears to have used an iron mold!¡± The old man immediately widened his eyes and hurriedly brought up the magnifying glass in his hand for a closer look. The others also crowded around, quickly surrounding the square ding so tightly that not even water could pass through. ¡°My goodness, you¡¯ve really awakened me from a dream! This item was indeed made using an iron mold!¡± ¡°Judging by the craftsmanship and the degree of artificial aging, this item must have been made at least during the Northern Song dynasty!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled slightly, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this item should have been made during the Northern Song dynasty, the reign of Shen Zong, and it¡¯s even from an official kiln!¡± With these words, the scene erupted once more! COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Chapter 242 Bronze Square Tripod Chapter 242: Chapter 242 Bronze Square Tripod ¡°This gentleman is knowledgeable about antiques?¡± The old man had looked at Chen Yu with a delighted surprise in his eyes. The others also regarded him with amazement. After all, someone able to specify the era so clearly and accurately was definitely not ordinary. Chen Yu shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯ve just studied them a little!¡± While they were speaking, Zhao Hai came storming in, furious. Behind him followed several burly bodyguards, all bearing scars, evidence of a significant conflict that had just occurred. Chen Yu ignored the man, having no desire to interact with him in any way. Unexpectedly, the guy made his way straight to Chen Yu. ¡°What did you mean by what you just said? Are you suggesting that my family¡¯s items could be fake?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of being fake, just that the era is incorrect!¡± Zhao Hai didn¡¯t care for such details and reached out to get physical. Having suffered such indignity, he felt the need to reclaim some face. ¡°What do you mean the era is incorrect? This Fang Ding has been authenticated by world-class experts, there¡¯s absolutely no problem with it, and now you¡¯re saying it¡¯s from the Northern Song Dynasty period of Emperor Shenzong? That¡¯s absurd!¡± Chen Yu exhaled a turbid breath and was about to argue when Tong Ya suddenly stepped forward. ¡°Zhao Hai, so nobody is allowed to comment on the Zhao family¡¯s junk?¡± Zhao Hai was momentarily startled and slowly became more respectful, ¡°Tong Ya? Miss Tong! I didn¡¯t expect you to be here. Why isn¡¯t Elder Tong with you?¡± At that moment, Zhao Hai completely softened, not even daring to breathe heavily. Although the Zhao family was also a super clan in the capital, the Tong Family was much more formidable. ¡°What, does Young Master Zhao wish to discuss business with my father?¡± Zhao Hai laughed awkwardly, ¡°If possible, that would be wonderful!¡± Tong Ya took hold of Chen Yu¡¯s wrist, ¡°If you want to talk business, speaking with my husband will do. He makes decisions on over eighty percent of the Tong Family¡¯s business matters!¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be Tong Ya¡¯s husband. Moreover, Elder Tong had so quickly entrusted Chen Yu with the decision-making power for Tong Family business. This meant Chen Yu was a person Elder Tong recognized! ¡°No wonder he is Elder Tong¡¯s son-in-law chosen to ride the dragon; he indeed has such insight!¡± After flattering him, Zhao Hai had someone take out the Fang Ding and smash it heavily onto the ground. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Young Master Zhao, why did you smash the cauldron?¡± Zhao Hai snorted, ¡°Since Mr. Chen has already appraised it, there¡¯s no need to keep it on display here!¡± Chen Yu could not help but suppress a chuckle, ¡°Although the era is incorrect, a bronze square ding made by the Northern Song official kiln as an imitation is absolutely a rare treasure. It¡¯s far more valuable than the original Western Zhou specimen!¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes widened, and his body shook violently. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier!¡± Chen Yu spread his hands, ¡°I did say so earlier, it¡¯s just a pity that Young Master Zhao didn¡¯t understand what I meant.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s words got choked off before he could utter them. Chen Yu¡¯s remark clearly intended to shame Zhao Hai for his low intelligence. However, compared to the Tong Family, the Zhao Family really was a notch below, and he didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. ¡°No harm, it¡¯s just a square tripod, nothing serious! I have plenty of other nice things here. If either of you is interested, I can give it to you when you leave.¡± After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Hai left the place with his people, visibly irate. If Zhao Hai knew that Fang Yuan, whom he had just been jealously guarding, was Chen Yu¡¯s ex-wife, who knows if he would have died of anger. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, but went straight to a bracelet, shattering the glass covering it with his own hands. Zhao Hai, who hadn¡¯t gone far, suddenly turned around, his body jolting once more. That was the personal bracelet of Empress Xiao of the Liao, rumored to be forged from a metal refined from the Meteorite from Beyond the Heavens¡ªthere¡¯s only one like it in the world! Chen Yu looked at Zhao Hai as if it were only right and said, ¡°Young Master Zhao, this was something you allowed me to take as I pleased!¡± Zhao Hai swallowed his anger and turned to leave. At noon, the grand hall on the second floor was incredibly lively. Representatives from more than half of the top hundred families in the world were present, fully honoring the Zhao Family. However, many of them did not directly interact with the Zhao Family, instead doing business with each other. Just as Chen Yu was looking for a place to grab a bite to eat, a figure suddenly ran over from the side. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re here too!¡± Katherine held a glass of red wine, her face beaming with excitement. Chen Yu returned a smile, ¡°Just bored and out for a stroll!¡± Katherine respectfully bowed and then greeted Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya beside her. Their familiarity startled the people nearby. People from William¡¯s family prided themselves on their aloofness, never mingling with outsiders easily, especially people from the East. Onlookers began to speculate about Chen Yu¡¯s identity, with some even snapping his photo and searching for him online. ¡°My God, that man has competed in a world-class culinary contest, and he even won the title of Culinary God. He appears to be treated as an honored guest by William¡¯s family!¡± ¡°Moreover, William¡¯s family has announced to the entire Western world that Chen Yu can represent William¡¯s family in full capacity to some extent!¡± ¡­ As a flood of information was uncovered, everyone gained a new understanding of Chen Yu. Some even looked at him with admiration. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about all this; he just chatted idly with Katherine. ¡°Mr. Chen, if I had known you were coming, I would have prepared. I¡¯m embarrassed by my appearance! You must find it funny,¡± Katherine said. Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about these things. By the way, are you the only one from William¡¯s family this time?¡± Katherine nodded, ¡°For gatherings like these, the main members of the family seldom attend. They just send a representative symbolically. Besides, the Zhao Family and William¡¯s family don¡¯t have much business dealings, so there¡¯s no need to give them too much face!¡± Chen Yu chuckled twice, seeing that the Zhao Family¡¯s standing in the world wasn¡¯t all that. As they spoke, a portly fellow suddenly approached and sat firmly opposite Chen Yu. ¡°I just looked up your information and found out you¡¯re a Culinary God. I am too, so why not take this opportunity to have a contest!¡± Chen Yu frowned; he had come on a mission, not to casually compete in cooking with someone else. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have that kind of spare time. Besides, I¡¯m here to dine with my wife and kids. How could I possibly compete with you for no reason!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Chapter 243 Knife Skills Competition Chapter 243: Chapter 243 Knife Skills Competition The chubby man opposite clenched his fist tightly, his eyes squinted slightly, and judging by his demeanor, he would strike the moment Chen Yu disagreed. ¡°Mr. Chen, I respect you as a person, which is why I came here to compete with you. Moreover, today we have a gathering of distinguished guests, so we might as well let them be our witnesses to see who truly has the superior culinary skills!¡± It was unclear whether the guy was doing this on purpose or what, but his voice was so loud that it immediately attracted the attention of most people present. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he really didn¡¯t want to stoop to this man¡¯s level. Just at that moment, he suddenly noticed several crew members passing by with a large box. The box appeared extremely bulky, with at least eight layers of protection inside and out, and this type of long box was the best choice for storing a scepter. Chen Yu hurriedly got up, intending to go over and take a look, but his wrist was tightly grasped by the chubby man. ¡°Mr. Chen, it seems you agree, so let¡¯s go over there for the challenge¡ªthe kitchen over there is the best one in this ship¡¯s cabin!¡± Chen Yu originally wanted to refuse, but when he saw the place the chubby man was pointing to, he immediately agreed. The long box they had come with was actually placed near the kitchen. This place already had a stage, and it was also the official spot where the restaurant¡¯s crowd gathered. It looked like they were planning to hold a small auction here. The chubby man became ecstatic, stuffing a business card into Chen Yu¡¯s hand before happily running up to the stage. ¡°Today I, Gao Shenglu, a world-class chef, challenge Mr. Chen Yu here. If I lose, I will give the culinary knife I once used to win the title of top chef to the other party!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd, and all eyes focused on Chen Yu. The culinary knife mentioned by Gao Shenglu was a legendary item in the Western culinary world, said to be extremely sharp, with an innate chill to it, making it the perfect tool for slicing sashimi. Chen Yu immediately furrowed his brow, not expecting this guy to drag him into a paid competition. Letting out a slight breath, Chen Yu searched his person and pulled out a banknote with a billion-dollar denomination, slamming it onto the stage. ¡°I¡¯m a simple man, and I don¡¯t have any particularly impressive kitchen tool on me. If I lose, consider this banknote a gift for meeting you, Mr. Gao!¡± The audience instantly boiled with excitement, all staring at Chen Yu with a peculiar look. Although those assembled here were the world¡¯s top tycoons, casually pulling out a billion-dollar banknote wasn¡¯t something many could manage. Setting aside the fact that such large banknotes were seldom issued by banks, even when they were, there would be an extremely strict scrutiny of one¡¯s assets. In this world, anyone who could produce large-denomination banknotes at any time was a sure sign that they came from a super-wealthy family. Gao Shenglu was also wide-eyed; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so domineering. In comparison, his so-called precious knife seemed somewhat inferior. Chen Yu carefully observed the position of the box and then had the system scan its structure. He then looked towards Gao Shenglu. ¡°Since you¡¯re the one who proposed it, you choose the content!¡± Gao Shenglu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, immediately taking out his treasured knife. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s test our Knife Skills!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, casually glancing at the seafood in the glass tank nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s go with sashimi then!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Gao Shenglu took the lead, pulling out two pufferfish from the fish tank. If you want to test knife skills, fugu is the best choice. Not only must you remove the poisonous parts of the fugu, but you also have to ensure that perfect taste of the fugu is preserved. Some chefs will even create unique sauces for the fugu. Gao Shenglu¡¯s action immediately caused dissatisfaction among the onlookers; after all, he was the one who proposed this competition, and he also had a treasured knife specially prepared for slicing raw fish. The competition seemed unfair to Chen Yu no matter how you looked at it. But Gao Shenglu didn¡¯t care about that, and as soon as he received the fugu, he immediately started to clean it and put his knife to work. Chen Yu, however, slowly walked over to the fish tank and briskly started spinning the knife in his hand. Before long, he had a collection of various kinds of fish meat in his hand. Before the onlookers could react, Chen Yu had already placed the fish meat into the steamer. ¡°Mr. Chen, have you got it wrong? We¡¯re comparing knife work here, why did you put the fish meat into the steamer?¡± A middle-aged man in the crowd suddenly asked in confusion, and the others gathered around, looking at Chen Yu with puzzled eyes. Next door, Gao Shenglu had already finished processing two fugu; all he needed to do was to mix up the sauces, and his dish would be ready to serve. And up until now, everyone had already witnessed Gao Shenglu¡¯s superb knife skills. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just patted his steamer and then comfortably took a seat to the side. In less than three minutes, before Gao Shenglu had his sauces ready, Chen Yu had already served his dish. All the onlookers were astounded. What Chen Yu had put into the pot was clearly a mess of fish meat, but now it had turned into a complete fish, and this fish was decorated with an abundance of carvings. Paired with the side dishes, it looked like a vivid golden dragon! ¡°My goodness, how on earth did he do that?¡± ¡°When Mr. Chen put the fish into the pot just now, it seemed like he deliberately did some assembling actions. It must have been then that he put the dragon together!¡± ¡°That was too fast, we didn¡¯t even see what happened!¡± ¡­ Amidst the crowd¡¯s praises, Gao Shenglu also served his slices of raw fish. The knife in his hands was indeed a treasure, each slice of raw fish was thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, and covered with a layer of frost. That cool and refreshing sensation immediately attracted many to come and watch. Just then, a sharp cry suddenly rang out from the fish tank area. ¡°My goodness, come and see, these fish are actually not dead, they¡¯re still alive!¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze was drawn over, and when they looked, they noticed that the fish whose meat had been removed by Chen Yu were actually swimming lively in the tank. ¡°My goodness, what exactly did Mr. Chen do in that instant!¡± ¡°With such exquisite knife work, I¡¯m afraid there aren¡¯t many people in the whole world who could match it!¡± ¡­ The scene instantly boiled over with excitement, and Gao Shenglu suddenly seemed like a child who had fallen out of favor, becoming completely stunned. His slices of raw fish also appeared quite ordinary. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Chapter 244 White Jade Guanyin Chapter 244: Chapter 244 White Jade Guanyin Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing and hurried to the long crate while these people were admiring his artwork. The information scanned by the system instantly entered his mind. After confirming that the contents inside were correct, Chen Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He discreetly pressed the satellite signal transmitter in his pocket, then returned to the competition scene. As Gao Shenglu stared at the dragon-shaped fish Chen Yu had crafted, he stood frozen in place, his hands trembling continuously with the treasured knife they held. ¡°Mr. Gao, to be honest, I¡¯m not really interested in your knife, but since you insist on giving it to me, I can only graciously accept it! Also, let me remind you, your cooking techniques are far too outdated. When slicing sashimi, you¡¯re still using the simplistic single-directional knife technique! If it¡¯s all the same to you, you might want to practice a bit. It¡¯s no good to keep coming out and losing face like this.¡± Gao Shenglu looked as though he had been greatly insulted; his eyes turned blood-red, and then he suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, collapsing to the ground. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, just sneered coldly and sat back down with Tong Ya at their previous spot. Just then, Jin Lingsu suddenly leaned in. ¡°I noticed you were hanging around that crate just now, have you already scoped out the situation?¡± Chen Yu nodded slightly, ¡°As long as I can confirm that the item inside is genuine, I can instruct Captain Zhou and his team to board the ship and arrest people!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly burst into laughter, ¡°You really are ruthless; this is clearly intended to doom the Zhao Family to utter destruction!¡± A flicker of coldness passed through Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°This item was stolen by them in the first place. Since it¡¯s stolen, it must be returned!¡± Jin Lingsu swayed the champagne in her hand, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Fair enough, but we¡¯re in international waters; capturing someone here is going to be difficult!¡± Chen Yu glanced sidelong, ¡°When you came, you promised to lend a hand when necessary. Now I need you to go to the captain¡¯s quarters, then find a way to steer the ship out of international waters!¡± Jin Lingsu pouted, ¡°I knew it, you just see me as a free enforcer!¡± After grumbling softly, Jin Lingsu immediately left the hall. At that moment, a woman who appeared to be an emcee stepped onto the stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Chen Yu and Mr. Gao Shenglu have just provided us with an extremely spectacular culinary performance. It can even be considered the appetizer for our small-scale auction. Now the auction will officially begin.¡± The venue immediately quieted down, with everyone¡¯s attention focused on the emcee. Just then, six middle-aged men carrying a treasure chest cautiously walked up. As they set the chest down, half of the audience stood up. Long before the auction started, the list of lots had already been released, with every item to be auctioned clearly listed. Inside this chest was a white jade Guanyin statue. Legend has it that this white jade Guanyin was carved by talented craftsmen from the West during the Tang Dynasty¡¯s Zhenguan era, intended as a gift for Emperor Taizong¡¯s enthronement ceremony. It is said that embedded in the heart of the white jade Guanyin is a pearl of Buddha¡¯s relics, and even the entire text of the ¡°Diamond Sutra¡± is carved on its back. In terms of significance, this item is certainly of national treasure caliber! Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brows; something didn¡¯t seem right to him. The Zhao Family, although a super family from the imperial capital, had limited treasures to offer; how could they possibly produce an item of such caliber? Looking at the auction list from before, it seemed that there wasn¡¯t just one existence like the white jade Guanyin statue. As he pondered, those burly men had already opened the crate, and a white jade Guanyin statue, crystal clear and emitting a splendid light, was carried onto the stage. All eyes were attracted to the artifact, and even two people immediately offered a price. Seeing the frenzy at the scene, the auctioneer smiled with satisfaction and then raised the small hammer in hand, gently tapping the table. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, there¡¯s no need to hurry. Since this is an auction, we must follow the normal procedure. I believe everyone is clear about the value of this white jade Guanyin, so I will not elaborate further! The starting bid is eight hundred million!¡± Chen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, examining the white jade Guanyin on the stage carefully. If the piece was genuine, its value wasn¡¯t too high at that price. But he felt that there was something off about this Guanyin statue. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly noticed an extremely faint crack on the right-hand side of the white jade Guanyin. At first glance, such a crack might seem insignificant. After all, an artifact that had been passed down from the Tang Dynasty would be very old, and some cracks would be considered normal. The crack in front of him was a bit strange, spreading from both sides toward the center. There was only one explanation for such a crack: the exterior had been coated with a later added layer. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, then suddenly stood up, ran onto the stage, and snatched the microphone from the auctioneer. ¡°Excuse me, I need to interrupt. There seems to be something wrong with this white jade Guanyin. I hope the organizers will properly investigate this matter, or else you would be deceiving us consumers!¡± At these words, the auctioneer was dumbfounded as well. Although the auction was privately organized by the Zhao Family and some items were not obtained through regular channels, everything that appeared in the auction was absolutely authentic. For this auction, the Zhao Family had spared no expense in assembling an expert team. Each item for auction was appraised by these experts. Two staff members hurriedly rushed over. Their fierce and intimidating appearance made it clear they regarded Chen Yu as a troublemaker. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he just pushed these two guys away, grabbed the small hammer from the auctioneer¡¯s hand, and walked over to the white jade Guanyin. He gently tapped its left side twice. This action scared everyone present. The material of the white jade Guanyin was already very fragile, and with the force Chen Yu used to tap it, it could easily break into pieces. The staff at the scene immediately became anxious and hurried forward to stop him, but as they got close, a dense network of cracks suddenly appeared on the exterior of the white jade Guanyin. Then, the entire Guanyin statue seemed to shed a layer of its shell, revealing its true form underneath. ¡°My God, what is this? It looks like just ordinary white jade!¡± ¡°Moreover, this Guanyin statue seems to be forcibly pieced together from different jade blocks and then wrapped with a layer of white jade paste on the exterior!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with the Zhao Family? How dare they use such an item to pretend to be genuine at the auction!¡± ¡­ COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Remarrying Again Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Remarrying Again The scene suddenly became abuzz, with all eyes focused on the auction stage. No one had ever thought that the white jade Guanyin offered by the Zhao Family was fake. After all, they were a super-elite family from the imperial capital; for whatever reason, their status would plummet after this auction. Zhao Hai¡¯s face darkened, his gaze poisonous as he stared deathly at Chen Yu. By now, there was nothing he could do but have the white jade Guanyin removed from the premises. The host hurriedly tried to smooth things over onstage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, what just occurred was merely an accident. Our investigation indicates that this white jade Guanyin might have been the work of a master forger. As such, it wasn¡¯t detected immediately, and we ask for your understanding!¡± After sincerely explaining, the host had several treasures brought up onto the stage. This time it seemed the Zhao Family was desperate; the eight treasures they presented were all of high grade and authentically aged. The moment they were displayed, everyone became excited and quickly forgot about the white jade Guanyin. While the crowd was busy bidding, Chen Yu had already left the venue quietly, and the long case he had left there was now nowhere to be seen. ¡°Attention, all aboard! You are now surrounded. Exit the cabin immediately!¡± The sudden shout startled everyone in the cabin. ¡°What¡¯s going on? We¡¯re in international waters; how can someone just surround us for no reason?¡± ¡°Could it be that there¡¯s something illicit hidden aboard?¡± ¡­ While everyone was buzzing with speculation, Zhou Shengtao, accompanied by a large number of officials, stormed into the cabin and seized all the treasures that were being auctioned. Just moments before, Chen Yu had already handed over the scepter to Zhou Shengtao. After verifying its authenticity, Zhou Shengtao immediately convicted the Zhao Family and boarded the ship with his team. Zhao Hai didn¡¯t know who had it in for him until the moment he was apprehended. However, because of the white jade Guanyin incident, Zhao Hai bore a grudge against Chen Yu from then on. After the entire cruise ship was seized, the guests who had come for the banquet started to leave. Most of them had diplomatic immunity, so Zhou Shengtao couldn¡¯t really do much to them, besides, they were only invited to attend the banquet. Arresting them could have affected international relations. Nonetheless, these people didn¡¯t go far; after circling around, they approached the vessel where Chen Yu was. When leaving, they specifically left a small yacht for Chen Yu¡¯s family to return to land. ¡°Mr. Chen, why did you leave so quickly? I still have something to discuss with you!¡± Katherine chased after him in a speedboat, hurrying along. Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°Is there some kind of emergency?¡± Katherine smiled sheepishly and then pulled out an invitation from her person. ¡°Mr. Chen, the last shipment you sent to William¡¯s family was very well received; Victor has asked me to inquire if you could possibly develop some new products based on that shipment. William¡¯s family would be willing to purchase the entire order!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. The ready-to-eat dishes and semi-finished products he made were almost all Chinese cuisine. He had originally thought that these items wouldn¡¯t take off in the Western world, but to his surprise, they were actually very popular. ¡°Many new products are still in development, and it will take at least two months for delivery. However, Western eating habits seem to be different from the East, so why are these dishes¡­¡± Katherine hastily took out several photos from her person. They were all photos of the fast-food cooking packs that Chen Yu had developed. ¡°Actually, Chinese cuisine has always been very popular in the West, but because Western eating habits and cooking methods are different, few people have managed to learn how to cook Chinese food. Now, with these cooking packs, cooking has become simple, setting off a trend in the West! All the products are in short supply.¡± Chen Yu immediately became excited, as this could be seen as opening up a market in the Western world. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll consider increasing our presence there!¡± He directly opened the invitation in his hands and discovered it was actually a wedding invitation, and the bridegroom was none other than Victor. Looking at the bride marrying Victor, she was indeed just a little over twenty years old. Chen Yu¡¯s head was filled with black lines. Although it wasn¡¯t uncommon for wealthy families to marry young wives, this woman was a full fifty years younger than Victor! ¡°Is Mr. Victor really getting married?¡± Chen Yu asked in disbelief. Katherine also embarrassingly laughed twice, ¡°Mr. Victor¡¯s wife passed away ten years ago, and he hasn¡¯t remarried since. Ever since he started using the medicine you provided, the old gentleman feels like he has become decades younger, so¡­¡± Chen Yu instantly understood. The prescription he had designed for Victor not only improved his body¡¯s cell circulation but also allowed his physical state to return to how it was thirty years ago. No wonder Victor was getting married and had specifically asked Katherine to deliver an invitation to him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just put the invitation away, and casually pulled Katherine onto the boat. Looking at the situation, she must have stolen a speedboat from the Zhao Family¡¯s yacht to chase after him. And the fuel in the speedboat was nearly depleted; he couldn¡¯t let her drift at sea. The news of the Zhao Family¡¯s failed offshore auction quickly spread across the entire world. Even the news media in Suzhou City were vying to report it. Seated in his office, Tong Ming looked at the newspaper in front of him and burst into loud laughter. ¡°The Zhao Family has really taken a fall this time. Not only was their auction ruined, but they have also offended the Edward Family. It won¡¯t be long before the Zhao Family¡¯s overseas businesses are completely stripped away, and even their businesses in the imperial capital will be divvied up by other super-families!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the board members present immediately understood Tong Ming¡¯s intentions. ¡°Back when the Zhao Family was expanding limitlessly in the imperial capital, they directly confronted our Tong Group. Now is our chance for revenge. In my opinion, we should take over the real estate part of their business!¡± ¡°Just the real estate isn¡¯t enough. Over the years, the Zhao Family has collected numerous treasures from all over the world, many of which are said to be hidden in their old mansion. Moreover, many of these hidden items are illicit, so why don¡¯t we report them? Who knows, we might be able to pick up some spoils!¡± ¡­ As everyone was discussing, Tong Ming suddenly stood up. ¡°You all think too small. Immediately notify the financial department to manipulate the Zhao Family¡¯s stock, and when the time is right, commence a full acquisition of all the enterprises under the Zhao banner!¡± This remark caught everyone by surprise; they had not expected Tong Ming to be so ambitious. Before they could even react, Tong Ming had already called the financial department to have them come up with a plan as soon as possible. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Annexation of the Zhao Family Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Annexation of the Zhao Family Chen Yu returned to Suzhou City and immediately went to the industrial park. What he was most worried about was this place, although everything had been arranged, and the engineering was proceeding in an orderly fashion, once a mistake occurred, the entire industrial park would be washed away. Moreover, the West was already urging them for orders, with the possibility of increasing them later on. If there were issues with the industrial park at this critical juncture, his loss would not just be the orders, but a matter of reputation. Fortunately, under the coordination of Xie Jiang and Hou Jianchang, everything was progressing smoothly, and the archaeological excavation was also nearing its end, with just a small area left to be cleared. The old professor was still as excited as ever when he saw Chen Yu. He hurriedly came over, not minding the mud on his hands, and excitedly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, shaking it nonstop. ¡°Chen, I really have to thank you this time. Without you, we would not have been able to obtain such precious historical materials!¡± Saying this, the professor pointed to a large box next to him, filled with bamboo slips excavated from the tombs. Since the chamber where the bamboo slips were stored was well-preserved, with no water damage or other harm, these bamboo slips were as good as new. They even recorded many major historical events, having historic significance for archaeology. Even the relevant departments issued their team a large number of certificates and bonuses, providing them with more research funds. Chen Yu gave a few perfunctory replies, merely symbolic in nature. While he was interested in these cultural matters, he would not get involved. After all, his mind was entirely focused on the factory at the moment. With Chen Yu¡¯s help that day, the progress of the engineering work accelerated, and the old professor, along with his interns, finished up the last few things and left directly. Chen Yu immediately brought out the new design drawings and had Xie Jiang complete the remaining engineering work. By evening, everything was nearing completion, and the last small piece of land was also filled with the foundation. Given the current pace, in just a few days, the entire industrial park could be built into a fledgling form, and then transportation and greening projects would follow. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and with this, he could industrialize all his products as soon as possible. The next step was to recruit a large number of high-caliber individuals in food preservation and chemistry, which was the only way to rapidly develop healthy meal kits that could be preserved for a very long time. For Chen Yu, an office building had been designed early on in the very center of the factory area. Inside, all kinds of experimental equipment were fully equipped, meant for research and development. In the following week, Chen Yu spent almost all his time at the factory, and only when everything was entirely built, forming an industrial chain, could he relax. He then went straight to Frankfurt. Victor had already sent him an invitation earlier, and it would have been inappropriate not to go. Moreover, William¡¯s family had already signed a long-term contract with him, and he had to personally sign the first batch of factory orders. Chen Yu had been to Frankfurt several times before and felt there wasn¡¯t much change with each visit. After all, it was an old industrial city that had been developed for hundreds of years, and further transformation was probably impossible. However, each time Chen Yu visited, he was always in a rush and never got to properly tour the city. This time, he definitely wanted to enjoy himself there. As he was preparing to explore, he suddenly noticed a commotion not far down the street. Instinctively looking over, he saw two groups of people wielding knives, slashing at each other on the street. Chen Yu frowned. He had no desire to join in on such commotion and promptly turned to leave the area. Just as he took two steps after turning around, two burly men blocked his way. ¡°Kid, are you with William¡¯s family?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback by this question, and because the other party spoke in the local vernacular, German, he didn¡¯t understand what was being said and hesitated. Unexpectedly, the gang was unreasonable, thinking Chen Yu was deliberately ignoring them, and one of the burly men grabbed his collar directly. Just as the two were about to start a fight, they suddenly felt a strong force on their wrists, followed by the sudden sound of bone-cracking. Chen Yu casually grabbed the wrists of the two men, but the tremendous force that came from him caused them unbearable pain and even twisted their bodies. ¡°Who exactly are you? If you¡¯re not with William¡¯s family, why are you here?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stoop to their level. After shaking them off, he went around. Unexpectedly, another large group of people rushed over, surrounding him. ¡°William¡¯s family has gone too far, bringing in a large number of Chinese meal kits, which have taken over all the Chinese restaurants in Frankfurt. Now even our local chefs are out of work, so William¡¯s family must pay the price!¡± Such logic left Chen Yu bewildered. The commotion, it seemed, was because the meal kits had taken over the catering industry, causing disturbances here. It appeared his meal kits had captured a large market share in Frankfurt. If that was the case, this matter did indeed relate to him. It was then that Katherine, accompanied by several others, hurried over. When they saw Chen Yu, they were momentarily taken aback. ¡°Mr. Chen, what are you doing here? Has this mob been troubling you?¡± Chen Yu waved his hand: ¡°No, I just got here. Speaking of which, why are these people making such a fuss? Did you distribute all the goods previously sent here?¡± Katherine nodded: ¡°The meal kits you sent have become very popular here, so much so that the entire Western world is competing to buy them. But inadvertently, they have taken away these people¡¯s livelihoods. Besides, their food is very unappetizing. Before, many people got sick after eating their food!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded and went with Katherine to William¡¯s family. Along the way, he saw many troublemakers, but it was the local common folk who were stopping these ruffians. The public held up huge banners, denouncing the inedible cooking of these chefs and elevating Chen Yu¡¯s meal kits to a pedestal. Seeing such a scene made Chen Yu somewhat bemused. It truly was a miraculous country. He thought that with such incidents, the sale of the meal kits might decline, but to his surprise, they had such a loyal fanbase locally. With that being the case, he could continue to increase the orders to improve the market structure here. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Chapter 247 Critical Condition Chapter 247: Chapter 247 Critical Condition In the William family¡¯s drawing room, there sat many Western elite figures, and even the Edward family had sent a representative. Everyone sat there steadily while on the large screen behind them, a video showcasing the cuisine packets from Chen Yu¡¯s factory played. All processing procedures and the production environment had received approval here! ¡°These items are fundamentally Chinese cuisine, independently researched and developed by Mr. Chen¡¯s company, and the sanitary standards have reached world-class levels, so everyone can rest assured,¡± said Victor, seated in the main seat as though he were a fan, endlessly introducing the products of Chen Yu¡¯s factory, and invisibly elevating the status of these products. The others also nodded in agreement, while voicing their concerns and opinions, but Victor resolved each of these so-called concerns one by one. In the end, representatives of these families were purchasing products from Victor to stock in their own retail supermarkets. As the meeting was in full swing, Katherine walked into the conference room with Chen Yu slowly following. The moment Chen Yu entered, everyone stood up; Victor had already introduced Chen Yu to everyone before, and this name had long resounded throughout the Western world. ¡°It is Mr. Chen indeed! At the Zhao family auction previously, you helped our Edward family out of a difficult situation, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to properly thank you yet,¡± said a somewhat handsome middle-aged man, warmly grasping Chen Yu¡¯s hand. On the ship before, Chen Yu had merely disapproved of Zhao Hai¡¯s petty actions and pointed out some problems, not intentionally aiding the Edward family. Chen Yu merely smiled politely and then took a seat next to them. He directly took out a large stack of documents and placed them in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, everyone sitting here today has been carefully selected by me as reliable distributors. Once your cuisine packets arrive here, they will distribute and sell them,¡± said Victor. ¡°All contracts are here for your review; if there is anything amiss, we will immediately make changes!¡± he added. Chen Yu was somewhat taken aback; to be honest, many research and development processes for his packets were not yet finalized, but Victor had already solved the marketing at the lower levels for him. It appeared that the association with William¡¯s family was not without merit. Chen Yu did not look at the contracts but assumed a casual air; however, at this moment, the system had already displayed all the contract contents in his mind, pointing out several unreasonable aspects. ¡°Since Mr. Victor has already finalized the contracts, there¡¯s no need for me to check them!¡± Chen Yu said and promptly signed his name, while tactfully mentioning a few of the unreasonable points in the contract. Victor immediately felt somewhat embarrassed; originally, when finalizing the contracts, he had largely followed Western standards, hence a few clauses were indeed somewhat inconsiderate. Now, it seemed to them that Chen Yu had not closely reviewed the contracts but had opted to sign immediately, so the issues he had mentioned, they would strive to resolve. The others present also greatly admired Chen Yu; the West is a region that values the spirit of contracts, especially these ancient royal lines that regard contracts as even more important than life. Now that Chen Yu had signed the contract without even looking, they naturally felt a bit remiss, and they would definitely consider these clauses afterward. All of this was within Chen Yu¡¯s control; he had long since used the system to thoroughly analyze these people¡¯s psychology and facial micro-expressions. It seemed that all of their behavior was essentially under Chen Yu¡¯s control. After all the contracts had been signed, Chen Yu roughly calculated, and to his surprise, the total orders amounted to a staggering eight billion! Even though his industrial park had already formed an industrial chain, it would still require overtime and phased deliveries to complete all the orders, After all, back in the country, the imperial capital¡¯s major super families also had a large number of orders. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hide anything and informed everyone of the real situation. Unexpectedly, people didn¡¯t mind and just went by the delivery date Chen Yu set. After the meeting was over, Victor took Chen Yu straight to a castle. This castle was not the one Chen Yu had visited last time, but an old villa located in the distant suburbs. The historical and cultural atmosphere here was very strong, as if it were genuinely an ancient castle. The castle walls stretched over the mountains, forming an extremely thick defense, and the overgrown mountain paths were all covered with moss. The castle, perched at the mountainside, presented a towering presence. When Chen Yu entered, he was also shocked by the profoundness of the place, but a part of the castle had been rebuilt later, and most of the interior decorations had been replaced. After all, a castle as old as this would easily collapse if it were not renovated. After Chen Yu briefly toured the castle, the initial sense of historical weight disappeared, replaced by a feeling of discordance. Just then, a very glamorous Caucasian lady suddenly appeared in front of Chen Yu. ¡°You must be Mr. Chen!¡± Chen Yu politely responded and then took the chance to look the lady up and down. This person was actually the bride listed in the invitation Victor had sent previously. ¡°You must be Mrs. Victoria.¡± Victoria smiled and nodded her head, then extended her hand. ¡°Mr. Victor once mentioned that you can determine a person¡¯s health status just by feeling their pulse. Could you please examine me?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, grabbed Victoria¡¯s pulse, and after carefully examining it, his face immediately underwent a dramatic change. Although Victoria appeared extremely young, the internal structure of her body was in very poor condition, even her spinal marrow blood-forming function was half as low as that of a normal person. Most importantly, many cells in her body had already started to mutate, which were early signs of leukemia. If not intervened in time, it could lead to serious problems! Chen Yu, looking quite anxious, grasped Victoria¡¯s wrist and pulled her towards the main room of the castle. ¡°Victor, I must speak to you alone!¡± Victor was entertaining some distinguished guests at the moment and was taken aback when he saw Chen Yu and Victoria running in. ¡°Mr. Chen, what happened? Why the urgency?¡± Chen Yu took a moment to catch his breath and then whispered Victoria¡¯s condition into Victor¡¯s ear. Victor was startled, almost instinctively pulling Chen Yu and Victoria into the next small room. ¡°What exactly is going on? How advanced is the illness? Is there a way to treat it?¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Chapter 248 Familial Diseases Chapter 248: Chapter 248 Familial Diseases Victor was in utter disarray. Doria not only possessed noble blood but was also the most perfect wife he had searched for over many years. If she suddenly fell ill, the wedding they had been preparing for so long would turn into a laughingstock. Chen Yu¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, ¡°Fortunately, it was discovered in time. I can temporarily suppress the condition, but later on, I will need several extremely precious medicinal herbs to treat her!¡± Victor instantly breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, Mr. Chen. As long as there is a cure, I can find any medicine for you in the shortest time possible!¡± Chen Yu nodded and then asked Victor for a rather secluded chamber. Just as the door was closed, Chen Yu¡¯s expression swiftly changed, and he moved a chair to sit gravely in front of Victoria. ¡°Miss Victoria, the illness in your body is one part, but most importantly, it¡¯s an ailment at the mental level. If you cannot have an epiphany, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t live past three months!¡± Doria¡¯s eyes widened, filled with shock within her ink-black irises. ¡°Mr. Chen, you must be joking. My psychological state has always been good, how could I possibly have a psychological disease?¡± Chen Yu let out a slight exhale of turbid air, ¡°I have a professional medical practitioner license, and I¡¯m considered a real doctor, so as a basic principle of being a doctor, I have it. You can tell me the troubles in your heart, and I¡¯ll help you see through them. Even if you do not wish to have such a wedding, I can still help you.¡± When Chen Yu took her pulse earlier, he already knew where Victoria¡¯s real issue lay, and it wasn¡¯t just leukemia. Thus, he had already signed an extremely large order with Victor, but in the face of a living being¡¯s life, he would still choose some form of compromise. Victoria suddenly became frantic, unable to avoid Chen Yu¡¯s penetrating gaze. ¡°Mr. Chen, if I tell you, can you save me?¡± ¡°Of course I can!¡± Chen Yu agreed very readily. Victoria took a deep breath and then took out some photographs from her person. ¡°Our family, although it was a significant part of the European royalty 800 years ago, has now come to my parents merely being ordinary miners!¡± At this, Victoria suddenly began to choke up. In fact, Victoria¡¯s lineage included many ancestors of European royalty. If it had been successfully passed down to today, its status might even surpass that of William¡¯s family. Victor¡¯s reason for marrying Victoria was also because of her family¡¯s royal ancestry. It was just unfortunate that Victoria¡¯s entire family of seven was afflicted with some inexplicable illness. One of the conditions she had agreed upon when she consented to marry Victor was for William¡¯s family to help treat her family¡¯s disease. After hearing Victoria¡¯s story, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. Like many traditional Western women, psychological distress during marriage generally stems from not marrying a deeply-loved suitor. But Victoria¡¯s psychological journey was different from others. It seemed she was marrying into William¡¯s family primarily to secure treatment for her own family. Pneumoconiosis, caused by mining, was a major medical challenge in this world, and even William¡¯s family might not be able to cure her family. Now, Victoria¡¯s own health was also problematic due to her parents¡¯ genetic issues. Without timely intervention, she wouldn¡¯t live much longer. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly and, after roughly understanding the situation, he had a plan in mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, after this matter is handed over to me, I will explain the reasons to Mr. Victor, and then you take me back to your home. Perhaps I can cure your family¡¯s illness!¡± Hope immediately filled Victoria¡¯s eyes, dark as ink, and without any hesitation, she threw herself into Chen Yu¡¯s arms, fervently kissing his cheek. In the West, this was a normal social etiquette, but Chen Yu really wasn¡¯t accustomed to it, so he quickly pushed Victoria away and then they discussed the details of saving the sick. Upon learning about the situation, Victor immediately felt some self-reproach. He had been too busy recently and had sent out a few doctors, but none of them brought back any definitive information. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, only asking Victor to help them reach a very remote little village in the mountains, a journey facilitated with a few tickets he had provided. The West had long since entered the final stages of urbanization, so in a sense, their rural areas were essentially large farms. Victoria¡¯s ancestral family had some wealth, and with her family members working as miners for generations, they had accumulated quite a bit of farmland and pastures. From a distance, Chen Yu could see Victoria¡¯s family toiling away on the farm. However, these people looked all skin and bones; every one of them was extremely frail, some looking as if a gust of wind could blow them over. Victoria got out of the car and ran over like a little butterfly. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I¡¯m back to see you!¡± Two elderly people with white hair rushed over and embraced Victoria in their arms. Chen Yu didn¡¯t approach to disturb them, merely watching quietly from the side. Before long, Victoria pulled Chen Yu over to her parents. After a brief introduction, they took Chen Yu into the barn beside them. Prior to coming here, Chen Yu had already asked William¡¯s family to prepare a large amount of temporary medical equipment for him. After a simple pulse diagnosis and blood tests, the condition of everyone¡¯s illness was clear in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Aside from him, everyone in Victoria¡¯s family were elderly, and their cardiac and pulmonary functions had already reached their limits. If the disease were allowed to continue to deteriorate, these old people probably couldn¡¯t survive even a week. Chen Yu wrote a prescription and then asked Victoria to contact Victor to have the medicine delivered. Afterwards, he treated the elderly with acupuncture. These illnesses weren¡¯t difficult for him now, but coordinating the treatment with surgery made it somewhat troublesome. For three full days, Chen Yu didn¡¯t rest for a minute, not until he had completed surgery on Victoria¡¯s family members. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Just as he was preparing to take a good rest, a child who looked only six or seven years old suddenly ran into the barn. The child held an apple that had been bitten more than half-eaten and stared blankly at Chen Yu as soon as he entered. Under their gaze, Chen Yu suddenly noticed an inexplicably murky color in the young boy¡¯s eyes. His brows furrowed immediately as he quickly stepped forward to check the boy¡¯s pulse. After inspecting three times, Chen Yu¡¯s expression changed drastically. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 249: The Insect in the Eye Chapter 249: Chapter 249: The Insect in the Eye Chen Yu hurriedly grabbed the little boy¡¯s wrist, checked his physical condition, then reached out to flip the little boy¡¯s eyelids. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Where do you live? Does anyone in your family have the same symptoms as you?¡± The little boy was immediately scared. He didn¡¯t understand what Chen Yu wanted to do, and subconsciously took several steps back, even the apple he was holding rolled onto the ground. Victoria nearby quickly stepped forward and grabbed the little boy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Dyson, don¡¯t be afraid, this is the doctor sister has asked to come. You need to carefully answer any questions he asks you!¡± Only then did Dyson breathe a sigh of relief, ¡°My grandparents died suddenly yesterday for some reason, and my parents were paralyzed this morning. My brother went out to look for medicine and still hasn¡¯t come back!¡± Chen Yu inhaled sharply, ¡°This is not good, it seems blood fluke disease has broken out in this place!¡± Upon hearing this name, Victoria¡¯s eyes widened as well. During the medieval period in Europe, more than one outbreak of blood fluke disease had occurred, each time claiming the lives of tens of thousands of people. The disease was extremely terrifying; those infected would enter an irreversible state of physical decline, and even after death, their bodies were prone to triggering the Black Death. ¡°Mr. Chen, what can we do now? Should we inform the relevant authorities?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s already too late to notify the relevant authorities under the current circumstances. Even if they send a large number of epidemic prevention personnel, they could also get infected with blood fluke disease!¡± ¡°Then what should we do!¡± Victoria suddenly felt overwhelmed, as this was, after all, her hometown. Chen Yu calmed down a bit, ¡°The disease in your family has already been cured. Take them to William¡¯s family, then tell Victor to report this situation here, and ask him to find a way to contact the relevant authorities. I will stay behind, I am certain I can solve the blood fluke disease here!¡± Victoria hesitated for a while, then gave a heavy nod and left with her family. Although she didn¡¯t want to leave Chen Yu to face the danger alone, this was the best solution for the moment. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, quickly packed up his medicine box, and took the little boy towards the village center. [Congratulations, Host has obtained one hundred points] [Congratulations, Host has obtained one hundred and twenty points] [Congratulations, Host has obtained ninety points] ¡­ Chen Yu had no mind to heed the system prompts echoing in his mind; he quickened his pace towards the center of the village and discovered that it had already become a hell on earth. Western villages were inherently very spacious. Despite having individual village units on the vast plains, each household was quite far apart from the others. However, in the village¡¯s central area, several houses were situated closely together, but now these houses had seen varying degrees of casualties. Some of the people who were infected with the blood fluke disease and had not yet died sat on the roadside, looking like the walking dead. These peoples¡¯ eyes were bloodshot, their bodies covered in dense blood vessels, even their clothes torn to shreds, and wounds covered their bodies. After briefly observing the state of mutation of these patients, Chen Yu took out some medicinal powder and had Dyson take it. Although Dyson was infected with blood fluke disease, he was still in the early stages. And by observing the condition of these patients, he could roughly determine the growth state of the blood flukes in the body. Therefore, the medicine that Chen Yu had hastily compounded could completely cure Dyson. ¡°Little guy, you already have antibodies in your system, so you won¡¯t be afraid of these diseases anymore. I want you to be my assistant now, help me save your friends and family. Are you willing?¡± Dyson didn¡¯t say much, but nodded directly and then picked up the medicine box that Chen Yu had placed to the side. Chen Yu was satisfied, nodded, stuffed some medicine into his mouth, and then put on a makeshift mask. He quickly checked the condition of the people here and then dispensed the appropriate medicines to them, while starting to deal with the bodies. [System prompt: The schistosomiasis here has entered a very dangerous state, and it is recommended that the host leave immediately.] Chen Yu did not heed the system¡¯s warning, and continued to make medicine powder on his own. At that moment, Ling Ling¡¯s figure suddenly appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really don¡¯t plan to leave? So you know that curing these schistosomiasis patients can earn you quite a few points, but your life might also be at risk!¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you should have an emergency plan to protect the host, so you wouldn¡¯t let me be in danger. We¡¯ve come this far, aren¡¯t you going to bring out the plan?¡± Ling Ling sighed helplessly, then flooded Chen Yu¡¯s mind with a large amount of information. Chen Yu¡¯s body paused for a moment as he discovered that among the medicines Ling Ling provided, there were a few he didn¡¯t bring. However, if those were added, it might be possible to completely cure all the schistosomiasis patients here, and even prevent the disease from morphing into the Black Death. But with the disease so severe here now, no one was willing to come here to deliver medicine. With a helpless sigh, Chen Yu could only make a call to Victor to figure out a way. Over the next few days, Chen Yu lived and ate with the patients, and with the protective mechanism in place, he had no issues and even cured most of the patients. On the third day, a car suddenly drove into the village, and Victoria and Katherine hurriedly ran down from the car. They had only simple protective gear, carrying bags big and small full of a lot of medicine. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected Victoria and Katherine to be the ones delivering the medicine. But at this point, he couldn¡¯t worry about that and hurried to dispense medicine to the patients. Victoria and Katherine didn¡¯t leave either but stayed to assist Chen Yu. Moreover, Katherine also brought a video camera, saying that according to Victor¡¯s request, they had to record the entire process of treating and saving patients to use as future materials. Chen Yu didn¡¯t mind much and let Katherine shoot. Two days later, they finally managed to cure all the schistosomiasis patients and gave special treatment to bury the deceased deeply. Only after doing all these did Chen Yu finally breathe a sigh of relief. [Congratulations, host, you have earned a total of four thousand eight hundred and ninety points.] Chen Yu immediately became excited, although the number of points he now had couldn¡¯t compare to before, their utility value had greatly increased. Giving over four thousand points at once was indeed generous of the system. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Utilizing News Media Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Utilizing News Media Chen Yu finally sprinkled the medicine powder around every corner of the village and went straight back to William¡¯s family castle. According to the date recorded in diligence, the wedding would be held tomorrow. Thus, the entire castle was festooned and arranged beautifully. Chen Yu was too exhausted to attend the wedding scene, and wanted to find a room to sleep well. Just as he was looking for a room, he suddenly discovered a huge screen not far away, showing Victoria treating patients with schistosomiasis! Chen Yu understood instantly, no wonder Victor had Victoria personally go to help treat and save people¡ªit turned out he wanted to use this opportunity to create momentum and craft an image for Victoria. Moreover, Victor had specially allocated a section for Chen Yu in the video, not only portraying his medical skills as nothing short of miraculous but also mentioning Chen Yu¡¯s achievements in various chef competitions. Chen Yu just smiled and didn¡¯t concern himself too much, as all the super families in this world would use the media to create momentum for their own people and thereby obtain benefits. As evening came, Chen Yu was sleeping soundly in his room when suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, hurriedly put on his clothes, and opened the door to see Katherine standing at the doorway, somewhat embarrassed, holding a challenge letter in her hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, I am very sorry to wake you so urgently, but someone has come outside and specifically asked to challenge you. Mr. Victor is already there, but given the challenger¡¯s status, he can¡¯t stop them for long!¡± Chen Yu immediately felt somewhat annoyed; it seemed that Victor¡¯s previous promotion had taken effect. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu rubbed his eyes and then followed Katherine to the hall. The hall was quite lively, with a large portion of the people there to congratulate Victor. However, the reason they came early was because of the previous videos of Victoria. So, it turns out a mere video of saving people, but at William¡¯s family, it was the best marketing strategy. Using this as a pretext, Victor could help Victoria secure a position within the World Health Organization. He could even have Victoria occupy a seat in the United Nations, securing various benefits for William¡¯s family in the future. Yet, amidst these congratulations, a very handsome middle-aged man stood in the middle of the hall, with his eyes slightly closed, exuding the aura of a hermit from the mundane world. Chen Yu felt a sense of disgust seeing this man. If this man were a chef, his hands lacked the calluses that a chef should have. Moreover, this man was spick-and-span, appearing extremely refined, which indicated he focused on appearance when cooking and not on substance. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re finally here. If you hadn¡¯t come, Mr. Karvana would have become quite impatient!¡± Chen Yu responded with a smile and then looked towards Karvana standing there. ¡°I heard you insist on challenging me; is that true?¡± Karvana suddenly opened his eyes, ¡°A challenge is hardly the word, for you are not worthy. I have seen your videos before; you should be a very good doctor. But why do you also dabble in being a chef? Don¡¯t you know these two professions can never be compatible?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. To some extent, these two professions are interconnected in the East, where the traditional culture includes a concept of food therapy. ¡°The point you¡¯re making relates to the cultural differences between East and West, which we¡¯ll set aside for today. Since you¡¯re so keen on challenging me, then I¡¯ll lay my life on the line to accompany a gentleman. It can also add some color to Mr. Victor¡¯s wedding!¡± With that, Chen Yu walked straight to the prepared mobile kitchen, picked up a cleaver, and sliced off a piece of mutton. Carnado¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to start cooking without even asking about the competition¡¯s details and procedures. Not to be outdone, he quickly took out a piece of steak he had prepared earlier and placed it in the pan. Karvana was best known for his Wellington beef steak, a dish that was his specialty and had once earned him the title of Western culinary god. Chen Yu was still in a somewhat dazed state, given that he hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep for a whole week. Anyone would feel a bit light-headed in that situation. But that didn¡¯t affect the speed of his hands, and before long, an extremely authentic stir-fried mutton dish was presented. ¡°A home-style dish from the East, scallion explosion mutton, please taste it, everyone!¡± The aroma that had already filled the air had tantalized many people¡¯s taste buds, and they crowded forward, eager to take a bite. But, after all, Victor was the host here, and he should definitely have the first taste. Seeing everyone giving way, Victor didn¡¯t hesitate and clumsily picked up the chopsticks beside him, took a bite, and put it in his mouth. ¡°Mr. Chen¡¯s culinary skills have never disappointed. This scallion explosion mutton is incredibly fragrant and tender, well-seasoned, and the taste is extraordinarily delicious!¡± His comment immediately got everyone excited. They all picked up chopsticks or forks and went forward to take a bite. Before long, the dish of scallion explosion mutton had been wiped clean. Only at this point did Carnado serve his so-called Wellington beef steak. However, whether it was the taste, aroma, or presentation, his Wellington beef steak couldn¡¯t match Chen Yu¡¯s scallion explosion mutton. Prior to this, many had a very high regard for Carnado¡¯s culinary skills, but their views shifted after they saw Chen Yu¡¯s cooking. It was clear that Chen Yu had cooked in a very casual manner, simply cutting the meat a few times before throwing it into the pan to stir-fry, without any intricate processes. In contrast, Carnado had treated the steak as a piece of art from start to finish. From searing the beef to preparing the sauces afterward, his movements were extremely graceful, a pleasure to watch. But food is ultimately meant to be eaten, and the standard of judgment for food is its taste. No matter how graceful the cooking process is or how clever the sauce preparation, if it doesn¡¯t taste right when eaten, it¡¯s all in vain. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, simply picking up some ingredients from the side and placing them on the cutting board. ¡°Mr. Carnado, actually, when I came to Frankfurt, I had already looked over your details. You were one of the organizers of the so-called ¡®protest against Eastern cuisine packets.¡¯ Your challenge today, I¡¯m afraid, is also an attempt to trample my reputation underfoot.¡± Carnado¡¯s body trembled involuntarily, staring at Chen Yu with a strange intensity. ¡°Since you know, then there¡¯s nothing more to say. A word of advice, you¡¯d better withdraw those messy meal kits from the market!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Another One Taken Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Another One Taken Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, even at this point, this fellow still carried an air of arrogance, actually still wanting to edge his products out of the Western market. ¡°Mr. Carnado, there are some matters we need to discuss seriously, you want my products to be pulled out, but do you have any sufficient reason for that?¡± Carnado snorted coldly, his face filled with malice. ¡°As everyone knows, Eastern and Western cultures absolutely cannot coexist. We have been eating Western food for generations, and now that your meal kits have entered our market, they can easily make our people form the habit of eating Chinese food, which is a blatant cultural invasion!¡± Chen Yu suddenly found it somewhat amusing; what cultural invasion? Frankly, this was just a matter of personal choice by the public. Everyone felt that Chinese food was much more delicious than Western food by an unknown multiple. They hadn¡¯t eaten it before simply because preparing Chinese food was too troublesome, but now with these affordable meal kits, of course, they would be welcomed by the majority. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just took a spare meal kit from the counter beside him. This time, to promote these meal kits, William¡¯s family had also specifically prepared a large number of meal kits for Victor¡¯s wedding banquet. Chen Yu didn¡¯t do much, just lightly cooked the meal kits, and then made seven dishes. The rich aroma instantly filled the hall, and the crowd, who had just been raving about Chen Yu¡¯s cooking skills, now gathered around and soon polished off all seven dishes. ¡°I never thought such delicious food could actually be made from meal kits, if we had these at home in the future, wouldn¡¯t that save us the cost of hiring a chef!¡± ¡°This taste is really exquisite, not even top chefs could necessarily create such flavors!¡± ¡°No wonder the William family is so enthusiastic about promoting these meal kits, they are definitely a convenient benefit for the people!¡± ¡­ The people present began to discuss animatedly, suddenly elevating the status of the meal kits by several notches. In this world, it¡¯s ultimately capital that speaks. The William family and other ancient royal families are themselves big capital. Many companies and groups worldwide are controlled by them, so they can easily manipulate global stock prices, even the financial system. The entry of meal kits into the Western market was a godsend for them; it would not only save a lot of trouble, but also allow many of their older industries to be phased out, keeping only some high-end restaurants or other industries. Therefore, meal kits were a powerful tool for them to harvest the entire Western market¡¯s underclass. The most important thing is that ordinary people had long been eagerly embracing these products. Not only are the prices of these products very cheap, but they are also extremely convenient, ready to eat with just a little heating at home. There was no need to spend money eating out, nor the effort to cook at home. But those who suffered most were the chefs and businesses in the middle. Calcedo was a well-known representative among them. He came today to challenge Chen Yu in order to protect their industrial chains. ¡°Mr. Calcedo, I don¡¯t want to judge you too much, but you¡¯ve seen the advantages of these products! Moreover, as history progresses, many things will be phased out, I hope Mr. Calcedo can adapt to the historical tide.¡± This was said very reasonably, and in a very mild manner; anyone could hear it, it was clearly an urge for Calcedo to give up all his interests. Releasing a heavy breath, Calcedo suddenly burst into laughter. His family had been chefs for generations, and it had been several decades since it had passed down to him. Unexpectedly, their culinary skills, which had dominated the entire Western world, were defeated by a mere recipe pack. With some resignation, Victor gave a salute to Calcedo and left the hall dejectedly. However, everyone in the hall did not see him off, or even glance at him; they were all discussing the future business value of the recipe packs in the Western world. Chen Yu made a slight adjustment, not interested in the industry structure chain of the Western world. Even if he destroyed its underlying structure, it would have nothing to do with him. All he needed to ensure was that the Eastern market would not be too greatly impacted. The next morning, the entire castle was festooned with decorations, and everyone was immersed in a joyful atmosphere. Chen Yu, on the other hand, found a quiet spot, opened a bottle of champagne, and drank to himself. Just then, Katherine suddenly sat down beside him. ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Victor, I hope you can come to the race track at the Alps after the wedding!¡± she said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded. After all, he was now one of the representatives of the seven major racing teams in the world. The next world-class motor race was to take place on the track of the Alps, so he had to be there. By his calculations, it was just a few days away. Katherine took out a USB drive from her person and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, this contains all the basic information on the race track. You will need to examine it carefully before the race. The tracks here are not like those in the East and many things are based on Western rules!¡± she explained. Chen Yu had not expected Katherine to be so considerate and carefully stored away the USB drive. The cars in the East and West were different to begin with, even the positions of the driver¡¯s seat were on opposite sides. Moreover, the rules for world-class racing events were mostly set by the West, which is why Eastern teams had always struggled to appear on world-class tracks. Chen Yu finished his glass of champagne and then got up, looking in the direction of the wedding. ¡°It seems that Victoria and Mr. Victor have a deep relationship,¡± he observed. Katherine rested her chin on her hands as she leaned on the railing. ¡°Yes, they have known each other for a very long time,¡± she said. In the middle of their conversation, a figure rushed into the wedding scene and collapsed onto the red carpet. ¡°Victor, I really didn¡¯t expect you, old man, to break the promise between us and remarry!¡± he exclaimed. The sudden turn of events made everyone at the scene tense up, and William¡¯s family¡¯s bodyguards entered the scene immediately, trying to drag the intruder away. But Victor stopped everyone and stepped forward to help the old man up from the ground. ¡°Lost! Our agreement was voided ten years ago. Besides, the William¡¯s family still lacks a true heir, so I have no choice but to remarry,¡± said Victor. Lost did not care about that and lay on the ground, rolling around and behaving like a scoundrel. ¡°When you married my sister, you promised that you would have her as your only wife in your lifetime, but now you¡¯re marrying someone else, how should I interpret this?¡± he demanded. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Chapter 252: International Chess Chapter 252: Chapter 252: International Chess Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, what a mess this all was. The guests present also became tense, as the grand wedding of the William¡¯s family was an event of extreme importance in the Western world, with quite a few media outlets present. If something went wrong on such an occasion, the reputation of the William¡¯s family would plummet. As the two parties were squabbling, Lotus suddenly stood up, opened the bundle he was carrying, and placed it on the ground. ¡°Since you¡¯re determined to remarry, let¡¯s abide by our agreement from years ago and have a chess match. Choose anyone from the William¡¯s family, and if they can beat me, I won¡¯t stand in your way today!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of question marks, he hadn¡¯t expected a marriage to be decided in such a manner. As he brooded, Victor surprisingly agreed readily and even began playing chess with the opponent right then and there. Lotus was already a master at chess, extremely renowned throughout the Western world. When the two began to play, the guests started to murmur among themselves, none believing Victor would win. Sure enough, within less than five minutes, Victor admitted defeat. Lotus, brimming with smugness, grabbed a bottle of red wine from nearby and gulped it down. ¡°Old man, in the realm of chess, nobody in the world is a match for me. I would advise you to just concede and call off this wedding!¡± Victor¡¯s breath began to quicken. He must have had his reasons for insisting on this wedding, moreover, the fact that William¡¯s family lacked a successor was the biggest issue. Now that his health had finally improved, he needed to take the chance to father a child. Beads of sweat had formed on Victor¡¯s face, yet he didn¡¯t know what to do. Lotus was extremely arrogant, glancing over everyone present. ¡°As I said earlier,¡± he announced, ¡°anyone from the William¡¯s family and the guests here today can play a match of chess for Mr. Victor! Today¡¯s rule is ten games of chess, and if someone can beat me in six of them, I will withdraw and not interfere with the wedding any further.¡± As these words were spoken, the room immediately erupted into an uproar, the faces of those present darkening. Most of them were businessmen for whom chess was simply a pastime, never something they studied deeply. And with Lotus being a real master at chess, how could any of them be his opponent? Katherine grew anxious at once: ¡°It¡¯s over, looks like Mr. Victor¡¯s wedding cannot proceed!¡± Chen Yu naturally saw through the complexities of the situation, and his mind had already conjured up a massive amount of information systems, having transferred all of Lotus¡¯s background to him. Chen Yu sighed, today he was a guest of the William¡¯s family, and he had to help no matter what. ¡°Ling Ling, immediately compile all the rules and strategies for chess for me!¡± [Chess strategies are being generated] Before long, Chen Yu¡¯s mind was filled with ample information. As Lotus sat there, Chen Yu suddenly approached him, gently patted his shoulder, and then sat down. ¡°Mr. Lotus, I too am a guest of the William¡¯s family and have some understanding of chess,¡± he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me play a few games with you?¡± Lotus looked Chen Yu up and down, his face full of disdain. While the rules of chess are quite simple, mastering its myriad strategies takes at least decades. Lotus, who had studied chess for fifty years, saw Chen Yu, who appeared to be under thirty, and thought it inconceivable that the young man could be his match. ¡°Ha ha! Kid, let me give you a piece of advice, don¡¯t humiliate yourself here. Step down obediently or don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡± Chen Yu paid no heed and readied the chessboard, moving a piece first. ¡°Old sir, as my senior, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem with me making the first move!¡± Lotus burst into laughter once again, ¡°Even if I let you move ten times, what can you possibly do!¡± Speaking thus, he also began to move his pieces. The two played methodically, stunning the spectators around them. When Victor played earlier, he was defeated in under five minutes, yet Chen Yu and Lotus had been playing for a full ten minutes without any sign of failure. On the contrary, Lotus¡¯s face was suddenly covered with beads of sweat, as if he was extremely nervous. ¡°What¡¯s happening here? Why do I feel like Lotus seems to be at a disadvantage after making the first move!¡± ¡°Impossible, the man has been studying chess for over fifty years. How could a young fellow under thirty possibly defeat him?¡± ¡­ In the midst of the crowd¡¯s heated discussion, Lotus suddenly threw down his piece and stood up sharply. ¡°This can¡¯t be possible! Who did you learn your chess from? Why do you have such an unusual method of play?¡± Chen Yu glanced at his hand, remaining extremely calm, and then reset the chessboard. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m just a beginner who has only been exposed to chess for a measly three years. However, back in the East, I frequently played our local version of chess.¡± Lotus swallowed hard, shook his head, and slapped his cheeks before sitting in front of Chen Yu again, concentrating deeply on the game. The duration of this round was two minutes shorter than the last, and naturally, Lotus was defeated. His expression appeared dazed, and his face showed an unprecedented level of panic. ¡°This can¡¯t be true. What method are you using? Why can¡¯t I win against you?¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°Eastern chess is somewhat similar to international chess, but it has many more rules. I believe any ordinary Eastern chess expert could match you blow for blow!¡± Lotus¡¯s body shook involuntarily, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Let¡¯s have one more game. If I lose this time, I¡¯ll leave immediately!¡± The two sat down once more, and everyone noticed that Lotus was extremely serious this time, almost bringing out everything he had learned in his life. Alas, Chen Yu was one step ahead, and after only four minutes of play, Lotus¡¯s body went limp. ¡°Impossible, how could I, who have studied chess all my life, lose to a young whippersnapper like you! Tell me, who is your teacher!¡± Lotus was visibly frantic, while Chen Yu didn¡¯t wish to explain too much. Casually placing a piece on the board, he stood up, bowed respectfully, and then turned to leave. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Chapter 253 Antique Business Chapter 253: Chapter 253 Antique Business The scene suddenly erupted into chaos, and two bodyguards hurried forward to drag Lotus away, after which the wedding proceeded as normal. Chen Yu didn¡¯t concern himself with the commotion, having helped Victor with his trouble, he found a corner and continued drinking. It wasn¡¯t until the wedding was over that Victor found Chen Yu with a beaming smile. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really can¡¯t thank you enough for this time, I wouldn¡¯t have known how to carry on with the wedding without you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply rattling the wine bottle in his hand. ¡°Mr. Victor, may I ask how this wine was brewed? Why is it so mellow and sweet?¡± Victor glanced at the wine in Chen Yu¡¯s hand and immediately ordered his men to bring two more bottles. ¡°Mr. Chen, without concealment, this wine is brewed using a unique secret recipe of William¡¯s family, and it has been stored in the wine cellar for a thousand years!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected such a fine wine within William¡¯s family. At that moment, a middle-aged man was led into the hall by two bodyguards from William¡¯s family. Carrying a package wrapped tightly in black cloth. When Victor saw the middle-aged man, he immediately became enthusiastic, quickly pulling him over to sit at the table. The middle-aged man wasn¡¯t shy either, leisurely unwrapping the black cloth to reveal a knight¡¯s longsword that glittered with a silver light. Victor became excited instantly, eagerly cradling the longsword to inspect it closely. ¡°Is this the knight¡¯s longsword once used by William¡¯s family? Finally, this sword has returned to William¡¯s family!¡± In his excitement, the middle-aged man gently tapped the table, then extended a finger. ¡°Mr. Victor, according to our previous agreement, this sword is priced at one hundred million, please make the payment immediately.¡± Victor didn¡¯t say much; after all, the sword belonged to William¡¯s family, and now that it was back, he was even more delighted. Without paying much attention to the price, Victor directly instructed his subordinates to make the transfer. ¡°Hold on!¡± Chen Yu suddenly called out, then stepped forward and took the longsword from Victor¡¯s hands. ¡°I feel like there¡¯s something wrong with this sword!¡± The middle-aged man immediately tensed up, then hurriedly tried to cover the panic on his face, staring at Chen Yu with an inexplicable gaze. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, sir, you must be from the East, right? Our Western treasures have our unique attributes and are different from Eastern antiques. Since this is an heirloom of William¡¯s family, you shouldn¡¯t speak carelessly!¡± Chen Yu burst into laughter as if he had heard a terrific joke. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re quite funny. Regardless of whether it¡¯s from the East or the West, anything handed down from ancient times is an antique, there¡¯s no difference!¡± With that, Chen Yu tapped the longsword a few times. ¡°If I remember correctly, such knight¡¯s longswords are typically forged from black steel, which takes on a silver sheen with the passage of time! Yet the glint on this sword is a bit too bright.¡± Victor instantly became vigilant; after all, Chen Yu had more than once seen through the authenticity of a gemstone at previous auctions. His expression changed subtly as he quietly signaled the bodyguards to stand behind the middle-aged man, ready to take control of him if anything seemed amiss. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you¡¯re here, could you please help me verify the authenticity of this sword?¡± Victor muttered a request and passed a magnifying glass to Chen Yu. Chen Yu did not reach out to take it, instead carefully examining the longsword in his hand. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this sword must be a treasured one, and it was broken three months ago. It was only treated with a special method, and the gemstone set in the hilt is made of synthetic cubic zirconia.¡± Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man completely panicked and turned to run away, but two bodyguards who were already standing behind him immediately grabbed his shoulders and pinned him down to the ground. Victor flew into a rage and slammed the table hard. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve really got some nerve, trying to deceive William¡¯s family with this scam!¡± The man had already been scared out of his wits and knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing. ¡°Mr. Victor, I assure you this has nothing to do with me; I¡¯m just following someone else¡¯s orders. They gave me this sword and asked me to bring it here!¡± Victor went straight up to him, grabbed the man¡¯s collar, and hoisted him up. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°The Illuminati!¡± When the middle-aged man uttered these three words, everyone in the room was momentarily taken aback. Chen Yu, however, appeared extremely composed; he had heard of this organization before. It was said that this organization could control the elements in the Western world, with immense power. Yet he did not expect these people to be engaged in making forgeries, and even selling their creations to William¡¯s family. Chen Yu coughed lightly and with a strange look in his eye, stared at the kneeling middle-aged man. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Illuminati has many antiques from the East. I wonder if that¡¯s true. Could you take me to see them?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened with a look of terror as he gazed back at Chen Yu. ¡°Indeed, there are many treasures from the East over there, but all the treasures are locked away in a very secretive vault that no one can find. Even members of the Illuminati need to gather ten keys to get in!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s interest intensified, ¡°No matter, I relish a challenge.¡± The middle-aged man was already scared out of his wits, knowing that if the higher-ups of the Illuminati found out he had led an outsider into the vault, they would tear him to pieces. ¡°Please, sir, I¡¯m not ready to meet God just yet!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice suddenly turned icy, grabbed the other¡¯s throat, and pressed him hard against the ground. ¡°If you don¡¯t take me there, I can send you to meet God right now!¡± Stifled with dread, the middle-aged man did not dare say more and quickly sketched out a map. After a brief word with Victor, Chen Yu left with the middle-aged man. In fact, besides the current factories and shops, what Chen Yu truly wanted to do was to deal in antiques. It wasn¡¯t so much the profit that derived from it, but rather Chen Yu wanted to recover all the cultural treasures that had been scattered abroad. Under the guidance of the middle-aged man, Chen Yu soon arrived at a bar that seemed exceedingly secret. The exterior of the bar was very run-down; one would not even notice its existence without looking carefully. But upon entering the bar, Chen Yu was astounded by everything inside. This place could no longer be considered a bar, but a hall! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Illuminati Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Illuminati The receptionist at the bar, seeing the middle-aged man return, hurried to greet him. ¡°Did you deliver the items to William¡¯s family? And did you receive the payment?¡± The two questions left the middle-aged man at a loss, his gaze occasionally drifting to Chen Yu behind him. The receptionist immediately sensed something was amiss and sent out a signal that put everyone inside the bar on alert. Various weapons in hand, they pointed them at Chen Yu, ready to open fire at the first sign of trouble. Yet Chen Yu appeared extremely calm, ¡°I¡¯m only here to discuss business with your leader, why all this fuss?¡± The crowd exchanged glances, and one of them picked up a pager and began speaking a strange language rapid-fire. It seemed to be a unique language specifically designed for use within the Illuminati. Before long, an elderly man made his way slowly from a corner of the bar, and as soon as he appeared, the middle-aged man immediately rushed over and knelt down with a thump. ¡°Mr. Kaylo, I swear I didn¡¯t mean to bring this guy here on purpose. I was forced, and besides, he came to do business with us. I couldn¡¯t just leave him outside,¡± the middle-aged man pleaded. Kaylo looked disdainfully at the middle-aged man before lifting his gaze to Chen Yu. ¡°An Easterner! Over the years, quite a few Easterners like you have come here for business. You are not the only one. Are you also looking to take back some lost Eastern antiques?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows twitched. It seemed many before him had harbored such intentions. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be straightforward. No matter how many Eastern treasures you have here, I¡¯ll take them all!¡± Kaylo sighed somewhat helplessly. ¡°I have a lot of items here, but I¡¯m afraid you might not be able to handle them all!¡± Chen Yu stretched his limbs casually, ¡°How can you be so sure I won¡¯t be able to take them all? Regardless, please show me the goods first, Mr. Kaylo.¡± After pondering for a moment, Kaylo rose, leaning on his cane, and led Chen Yu down a subterranean passageway. Before long, the two arrived at a relatively spacious hall. There sat two other elderly men with white hair, the symbols of the Illuminati emblazoned on their chests, each holding a nine-dragon cup, drinking. Seeing Kaylo come down with Chen Yu, they immediately became wary. ¡°Kaylo, what¡¯s this about? Why did you bring another Easterner down here? Our treasures are all going to be bought out by them at this rate!¡± expressed the two men. Kaylo chuckled, ¡°They have the money, we have the goods; there¡¯s no reason not to do business! Quickly bring out our treasured items for the gentleman to see.¡± The two old men did not say much, just opened a large glass door, and a dazzling light emanated from within. At first glimpse of the light, Chen Yu was surprised; he did not expect so many treasures to be hidden here. But upon closer inspection of the items, he revealed a face full of disdain; they were all fakes. The forger, however, was quite skilled; each item was painstakingly crafted to look just like the real thing. Just as he was about to make a sarcastic remark, he suddenly noticed a white jade Guanyin statue placed nearby. This white jade Guanyin statue, both in expression and in the technique of forgery, was identical to the one that had been auctioned off at the Zhao Family¡¯s auction before. It seemed that the forger not only had connections with the Zhao Family but also conducted covert business with the Illuminati. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breathing and then slowly walked up to a red-veined dragon pinnacle. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your collection to be so rich¡ªyou could open a museum. If I took all these things away, I wonder how much it would cost?¡± Kaylo and the two remaining old men¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up; they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so generous. Kaylo suddenly put on a troubled expression. ¡°These items were collected through our painstaking efforts. If you want to take them all, it would be absolutely impossible without 800 billion!¡± Chen Yu wanted to laugh. Apart from the authenticity of these items, everything here that the Illuminati had gotten their hands on was basically plundered. Even if he took it all back now, there would be nothing to say, yet they dared to ask him for 800 billion. Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Chen Yu directly picked up a celadon vase and, while the three old men weren¡¯t paying attention, smashed it to the ground with force. The three old men immediately widened their eyes, and Keno even raised his cane to point at Chen Yu. ¡°What are you doing? Do you have any idea how precious this item is? If it were taken to an auction, it would start at least at 600 million!¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°Cut the crap. Do you really think I can¡¯t tell? Everything here is fake!¡± The three old men were momentarily stunned and looked at Chen Yu with an added measure of surprise in their gaze. ¡°You¡¯re just a wet behind the ears kid, how can you be so sure that all these items are fake?¡± Kaylo still held an imposing demeanor. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth suddenly curled into a dangerous arc, and he reached for the shelf beside him, giving it a fierce tug, sending everything on it crashing to pieces. ¡°I am from the East; did you really think I could not discern the authenticity of these items? It¡¯s best you bring out the genuine articles, or our business is off, and I have more than enough power to obliterate the Illuminati!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s words were somewhat boastful, but being pushed to this point, he could not care less. Moreover, he had a system to protect him, ensuring he could leave this place safely no matter what happened. Besides, after so many years of decline, the Illuminati no longer possessed their former strength. If really pushed, the ancient royal families of the West could unite and completely annihilate the Illuminati. Kaylo couldn¡¯t help but frown; he was almost certain that Chen Yu was a tough nut to crack. After taking a moment to regulate his breath, he consulted carefully with the other two old men, and then took Chen Yu to another room. Compared to the previous room, this one was much more spacious, and the shelves here were stocked with absolutely precious treasures. Chen Yu also widened his eyes when he saw these items; he hadn¡¯t expected so many lost treasures to appear here all at once. In fact, one of the treasures was a large, emerald Luminous Pearl. It was said that this Luminous Pearl was a priceless treasure once bestowed by Emperor Xuan of Han to his consort and had been lost for a long time. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Take Them All Away Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Take Them All Away Chen Yu exhaled slowly, and then subconsciously took a few steps forward, wanting to take away the Luminous Pearl. Kaylo and the two old men beside him hurried forward to stop him. ¡°Young man, since you recognize the value of our goods, we¡¯ll get straight to the point! You can take anything you like here, but we have the final say on the pricing. Whatever you take, you must pay the corresponding price!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face immediately darkened. He didn¡¯t expect that these three old men would be so shameless. Everything here was indeed authentic, and he could take whatever he wanted, but if the three old men were to ask for astronomical prices, he simply couldn¡¯t afford it. Besides, the assets he currently possessed amounted to just a few billion. If he were to waste it all here, his factory would definitely face a funding crisis. Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond. He simply focused on his breathing. Taking advantage of the old men¡¯s lack of attention, a flash of silver suddenly streaked from his hand. By the time the three old men realized what was happening, they had already collapsed onto the ground, completely knocked out. ¡°Ling Ling, I¡¯m not sure about these items. Scan them for me!¡± Ling Ling¡¯s ethereal form appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder and immediately, a large swath of blue and white light covered the entire room. Not long after, a wealth of information filled Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Apart from a few fake vases, the rest of the items turned out to be authentic. Chen Yu became instantly excited. He picked up a large bag from the side and gathered all the genuine treasures in the room. [System Notification: Hidden compartment discovered] Chen Yu paused for a moment. The place was already underground, and carving out such a vast space was the limit; he hadn¡¯t expected there to be a hidden compartment. Without hesitation, he followed the system¡¯s guidance to the hidden compartment. The items stored here far surpassed those in the outside space. Despite the dust, the paintings and treasures here could be categorized as national treasures. Chen Yu¡¯s breath became rapid. He never imagined he would see so many treasures in his lifetime. Without wasting any time, he grabbed a box from the side, packed all these items into it, and then followed the system¡¯s directions, crawling through a nearby pipe into an underground tunnel that led back to William¡¯s family. Victor was shocked when he saw the items Chen Yu brought back. These were almost all of the Illuminati¡¯s possessions! ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you do it? These items have been hidden by the Illuminati for over two hundred years, and even we seldom see them. How did you manage to bring them here?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t explain much. He simply asked Victor to arrange a private ship for him in the shortest possible time. Victor didn¡¯t dare to delay and immediately had his subordinates make the arrangements, also helping Chen Yu to properly store these items. The next morning, Luo Kai arrived at Victor¡¯s castle with several members of the Illuminati in tow. ¡°When the Illuminati first met with William¡¯s family, your people were the elders. I didn¡¯t expect that now, you¡¯d let your guest steal the Illuminati¡¯s treasury. How are we going to settle this account?¡± It seemed Victor had already guessed they would come; today, he just sat in the principal seat, tapping on the table, not saying a word. Meanwhile, a large number of William¡¯s family bodyguards rushed into the hall en masse, occupying all corners. Should any member of the Illuminati dare to act recklessly, they would take action. Under the protection of numerous bodyguards, Chen Yu sat boldly in the middle of the hall, looking coldly at Luo Kai. It was only after Luo Kai had finished his long-winded speech that Victor slowly rose from his seat. ¡°Indeed, William¡¯s family was an elder member of the Illuminati, but the actions of the Illuminati had long violated the interests of the major families. Over a hundred years ago, William¡¯s family announced our withdrawal from the Illuminati. Now, it seems we have no ties whatsoever, but you still insist on bringing this up. Are you not taking William¡¯s family seriously?¡± Luo Kai¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; he had not expected Victor to show him no courtesy. ¡°Victor, don¡¯t forget that when Europe was cleaning up the royal families, it was the Illuminati that saved William¡¯s family!¡± With a snort, Victor replied, ¡°If I remember correctly, it was the Illuminati that first proposed the clean-up of the European royal families, then hypocritically claimed to be protecting us. You took credit for both the good and the bad. The ancient royal families of Europe, who would still trust you now?¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt it amusing and couldn¡¯t help but spit out the wine he had just drunk. ¡°The Illuminati is really quite amusing, daring to come to William¡¯s family¡¯s territory and stir up trouble. Does Mr. Victor even need to steal your messy trinkets?¡± Luo Kai¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°You brat, stop spouting nonsense with your eyes wide open. The treasures from our vault were stolen by you!¡± Chen Yu laughed, ¡°You¡¯re talking about the Illuminati¡¯s vault? I have indeed been there, and as far as I remember, none of the items inside seemed to be missing. Unless you have some other secret vault behind the scenes?¡± At that, Luo Kai fell silent, unsure of how to argue. Since the dissolution of the Illuminati¡¯s key members, their primary source of income had shifted to trafficking antiques and producing forgeries. Therefore, the vault they showed to outsiders and under surveillance was that so-called fake vault. As for the real vault, it was not only devoid of any surveillance devices but also unrecorded. In other words, they simply could not produce valid evidence to prove that the items from the vault had been stolen by Chen Yu. Moreover, the previous night, all the treasures had already been shipped away by Chen Yu and had since passed through the Strait of Malacca. Luo Kai and the other two elders were seething with rage, unable to believe they had been outwitted by Chen Yu. Victor unceremoniously had his bodyguards show the three elders the door. And so, they were mercilessly thrown out. Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, but just as he was preparing to leave, Victor blocked his way. ¡°Mr. Chen, although the Illuminati is in decline, their influence remains. Now that you have taken their vault, they will retaliate, more or less. If it¡¯s all the same to you, you might as well stay with William¡¯s family for the time being and avoid going out.¡± Chen Yu agreed on the surface, but how could he possibly stay put here? He still needed to assess the Western market to decide whether to continue dumping meal kits here. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 256 Market Survey Chapter 256: Chapter 256 Market Survey That evening, Chen Yu left the castle immediately and headed to the busiest commercial street in Frankfurt. This street is world-famous, for it¡¯s said that one can see over ninety percent of the world¡¯s goods here, as well as witness over seventy percent of the world¡¯s cultural phenomena. When Chen Yu arrived, he was instantly captivated by everything around him, not only catching a glimpse of the Malaysian grass skirt dance but also the Native American cultural festivals. Even the tribes from many small regions in Asia had set up stalls to sell their unique cultural wares. The street was overflowing with an uncountable variety of delicious foods, and Chen Yu had seen hundreds of different dishes within just ten meters of walking. Just then, Chen Yu spotted a group of extremely short people with dark skin, clearly from some primitive tribe, selling food called ¡°chocolate bugs¡±! During the production of chocolate, it¡¯s inevitable for some bugs to appear, and these bugs are what¡¯s referred to as chocolate bugs. The chocolate produced by these primitive tribes was pure, yet distinct from any other kind of chocolate. Not only were the bugs ten times larger than normal, but the liquid oozing from their bodies was a bizarre red with a hint of green. There were already a few people at the stall tasting the food, though most people kept their distance. After all, no sane person would eat mashed bugs. However, as Chen Yu approached, he could smell an incredibly rich sweet scent. He ignored the terrified looks from those nearby and sat down without hesitation, ordering a portion of the chocolate bugs. The stall owner became excited, first praising Chen Yu¡¯s courage, and then promptly crushed ten live bugs and placed them in front of Chen Yu. At first sight of this, Chen Yu felt a bit queasy, but when he put some of the liquid on his tongue, he was utterly amazed. The bugs must have been raised on cocoa trees from a young age, fed on cocoa beans. Once they reached a certain size, the tribal people would capture them and feed them special spices and sugar cane. After ingesting these ingredients, the bugs underwent a reaction that soon turned their bodily fluids into a substance akin to chocolate. At the end of the day, this was truly a natural delicacy, and Chen Yu, thrilled, devoured two large bowls of it. While he was enjoying the exotic delicacy, a few people suddenly came over and rudely smashed the tribal people¡¯s stall to pieces. ¡°You idiots who only know how to do the grass skirt dance, what right do you have to set up a stall here? Take your disgusting stuff and get lost, or else we¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± Chen Yu frowned, surprised to encounter such bullying and unreasonable behavior in this place. To his astonishment, the tribal people obediently began to pack up their things. Just as they were about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly stood up and stopped them, turning to look at the troublemakers. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, these people have their own business license, and they¡¯ve paid the rent for this spot as well, so why can¡¯t they set up a stall here?¡± The men sized Chen Yu up and down and burst into laughter. ¡°I thought you were something special, but it turns out you¡¯re just another barbarian. You must have eaten their bugs just now, right? To swallow something so disgusting, indeed, you¡¯re as revolting as they are!¡± Chen Yu could no longer tolerate it and stood up abruptly, his fists clenched, and slammed one fiercely into the leader¡¯s face. The scene instantly descended into chaos, and that bunch of guys immediately took out distinct whistles and started blowing them. Before long, dozens of burly men came running over, surrounding the place in a concerted rush. The people from the primitive tribes were also startled and immediately grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arms, with a few even forming a half-circle in front of him to protect him. ¡°Well, well, you¡¯re all in this together, are you? Bring it on, take them down for me!¡± At the leader¡¯s command, his crew prepared to make their move. Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in a very odd manner suddenly approached. ¡°Wait a minute, our street in Frankfurt represents the whole world! How can you disgrace yourselves in front of all the people of the world?¡± This rebuke instantly cooled the tempers of that bunch of guys, and they respectfully saluted the middle-aged man. ¡°Mr. Bakro, we are protesting against these primitives selling this disgusting stuff ¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s so disgusting about it?¡± Bakro cut the man off rudely, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten these chocolate bugs before, and they¡¯re absolutely delicious! If you want to drive them out, you¡¯ll have to show some real skill.¡± The lead man burst out laughing, ¡°Mr. Bakro, you should know our ancestral turkey is famous far and wide and is even an offering to the European royalty! By your logic, aren¡¯t you just asking us to bully them?¡± The watching crowd immediately boiled with excitement, and some even cheered for no apparent reason. Chen Yu understood the meaning as well, Mr. Bakro must be the manager of this street, and that middle-aged man was looking to compete with the natives. No, these natives seemed to only be proficient in breeding these insects, and were practically novices when it came to cooking them. In the end, this was nothing but an unfair competition. The indigenous people sighed helplessly as if they already knew the outcome. They didn¡¯t linger, but started silently packing up their things. Chen Yu stepped forward without hesitation, ¡°You guys are really going too far, I¡¯ll represent these native brothers and compete against you!¡± A burst of laughter erupted from the group, their view of Chen Yu was the same as their view of the natives. Bakro didn¡¯t care for that, he immediately had someone bring two mobile outdoor kitchens. The middle-aged man rolled up his sleeves and took out a prepared turkey from his stall, placing it in the outdoor kitchen. From this, it was evident that the competition was completely unfair; they had their ingredients already prepared, while Chen Yu had nothing. Chen Yu, not to be outdone, looked around and took some centipedes from the natives¡¯ bags. These creatures were no trifling matter, all raised on medicinal herbs, possessing extremely high nutritional and medicinal value. Chen Yu slightly adjusted some accompanying items, then wrapped the centipedes in them and dropped them into the deep fryer. It wasn¡¯t long before a rich aroma wafted through the street, immediately attracting the people nearby. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Flying Dragon Pastry Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Flying Dragon Pastry What was presented before everyone was a seemingly ordinary plate of crispy fried butter cake, yet the aroma wafting from it was utterly enticing, and surprisingly, the cake had many unusual patterns within it. Anyone who had cooked before knew that when making a crispy cake, due to fermentation, there would invariably be some cracks. But during the cooking process, Chen Yu managed to transform these cracks into patterns, which looked quite aesthetic and grand. The middle-aged man nearby was now overwhelmingly busy, already sweating profusely. His hands became frantic, and while adjusting the sauce, he accidentally messed up some of the proportions, and could only start anew. Chen Yu, on the other hand, seemed calm and collected, frying up a large pot and placing it on his stall for the people on this street to taste at will. ¡°My God, what on earth is this? Not only is it crisp and refreshing, but it also has a soothing flavor, and once eaten, it feels very comfortable in the stomach.¡± ¡°My God, I¡¯ve never sweated before, and now I¡¯m actually sweating, and it feels like all the pores on my body have been opened, it¡¯s so amazing!¡± ¡­ The scene instantly boiled over, with everyone praising the crispy butter cakes made by Chen Yu. Actually, cooking with insects was practiced only by a very few ethnic groups and in remote areas; such dishes from insects were generally scoffed at in a modern metropolis like this one. However, during his cooking, Chen Yu masterfully minced the centipedes along with the other ingredients, incorporating them into the dough, and then frying it until crisp. In this way, the customers wouldn¡¯t see the centipedes while eating. It wasn¡¯t until after everyone on the street had finished the crispy cakes that the middle-aged man managed to cook a turkey. Though the turkey appeared golden and crispy on the surface, it had to be eaten with sauce, as due to the turkey¡¯s large size, it was impossible for all the seasonings to permeate into the meat during cooking. Moreover, turkey meat is naturally tough, and no matter how it¡¯s cooked, it¡¯s challenging to make it truly delicious. When the middle-aged man presented the roasted turkey before everyone, all of them furrowed their brows, as they had already enjoyed the delicious fried crispy cakes and couldn¡¯t possibly be interested in this turkey. ¡°I personally think this gentleman from the East has a culinary skill that surpasses all of us, how about this, let¡¯s let this gentleman decide everything about tonight¡¯s affairs!¡± Someone shouted, and people nearby started to echo and stir, swiftly elevating Chen Yu to an extremely high status. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and readily accepted the accolades. After all, no one had the natives¡¯ back, but fortunately, he had gained such authority, which was also considered helping these indigenous people out of their plight. After briefly adjusting his breath, everyone helped the natives set up their stall once again and even taught them some methods of making insect dishes. Actually, insect cuisine had existed in this world for thousands of years, with Sichuan cuisine having a specialized branch of insect dishes. Chen Yu¡¯s mind was already full of the complete recipes and methods of Sichuan cuisine, and naturally, he was very proficient in insect dishes as well. Before long, the native¡¯s stall became the most popular on the entire street. In three hours, all sorts of insects brought by the natives were sold out. But just as they were about to leave, a burly man suddenly blocked their way. ¡°A few measly bugs, I don¡¯t believe they can taste that good, actually beating our family¡¯s heirloom turkey!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown and took a closer look at the man in front of him, realizing that the person standing behind him was the one who had competed with him earlier. ¡°I say, the people here really go back on their word, huh? Didn¡¯t you all just lose? Why have you brought people over again? Can¡¯t accept defeat?¡± The middle-aged man coldly sized up Chen Yu, ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you can cook you can do whatever you want. Let me tell you, my big brother is the real boss of this area. If he says you can¡¯t set up stall here, then you¡¯ve got to get out!¡± Chen Yu arched an eyebrow; he hadn¡¯t expected the people here to be so overbearing. ¡°Well, in that case, we¡¯ll leave. It¡¯s not like we have anything left to sell, no need to stay anyway.¡± These words sounded like backing down, but if you pondered the meaning carefully, you could feel a strong sense of provocation. The hefty man by his side was instantly enraged, pulling a knife from his body. Chen Yu¡¯s brows knitted tightly; he had thought the guy would abide by the spirit of the contract and challenge him with culinary skills rather than pulling out a knife. ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, then I won¡¯t be polite!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone suddenly turned icy. Then, with a flash, his hand reached out and grabbed the wrist of the hefty man. With a fierce squeeze, he snatched the knife from his hand and then stretched out his palm to grab the man¡¯s throat. A scream rang out, and the large man¡¯s body slumped to the ground, collapsing. ¡°What did you do to me just now? Why can¡¯t I muster any strength in my body?¡± The big man¡¯s voice trembled to the extreme, his eyes filled with terror. The middle-aged man by his side was so frightened that his soul nearly left his body, he fell to the ground and scurried away in an attempt to escape. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to bother with these thugs and simply let go of the big man¡¯s palm, leaving with the locals in tow. Only after escorting the locals to a dock did Chen Yu stop. ¡°After what happened tonight, the people on that street won¡¯t let you off the hook! So you better leave fast and never come back here again.¡± With a helpless sigh, the locals knew they had only wanted to do a bit of business here to earn some foreign currency to support their tribe but had not expected to be bullied this way. The group thanked Chen Yu profusely before boarding the ship that was already prepared. After sending off the locals, Chen Yu started wandering the streets on his own. He hadn¡¯t gone far when he felt a chill on his back as if someone was following him from a distance. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing before quickening his pace and heading straight into an alleyway around a corner up ahead. The two people who had been following him hurriedly chased after him, but when they entered the alley, they didn¡¯t find any trace of Chen Yu, their eyes widening in shock. This place was a dead-end, impossible for anyone to just disappear without a trace. As the two men stood there frustrated, a figure suddenly dropped down from above, landing heavily on their heads. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Light Chef Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Light Chef Before the two could react, they felt dizzy, and one of them passed out cold while the other found himself pinned to the wall. This guy looked to be in his early twenties and had never witnessed such a bizarre scene, so when he was hung by his clothes on Chen Yu¡¯s steel nail, he panicked, thinking his body had been pierced through. Chen Yu stepped right up to the man, pinching his throat with a finger. ¡°The position my finger¡¯s at now is the artery in your neck. Starting now, I ask, and you answer. If you dare tell a lie, I will kill you immediately,¡± The young man swallowed nervously and nodded repeatedly, not daring to slack in the slightest. Chen Yu glanced at the young man before him. ¡°Are you a member of the Illuminati?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. Lord Luo Kai ordered me to follow you,¡± he replied. Chen Yu nodded slightly but didn¡¯t ask further. The mere mention of the name Luo Kai told him everything he needed to know. It meant his movements in Frankfurt were completely in the hands of Luo Kai. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breathing, then let the young man down. ¡°Listen, I won¡¯t trouble you, but you must take me to see your master,¡± Chen Yu said. The young man was taken aback, a look of difficulty flitting across his face. ¡°Sir, do you want to see my master or Lord Luo Kai?¡± he asked. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly. ¡°What do you mean by that? Isn¡¯t Luo Kai your master?¡± ¡°Although I belong to the Illuminati, strictly speaking, I¡¯m from the Illuminati Culinary Society! To put it plainly, we¡¯re a cooking organization,¡± he explained. Chen Yu was visibly surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected such an offshoot under the Illuminati. The young man, probably scared out of his wits, didn¡¯t wait for Chen Yu to question him further and spilled everything he knew. In recent years, the Illuminati had declined, many of their fake antiques being recognized for what they were. Hence, they couldn¡¯t make much money in that field and had to figure out other lines of business. The culinary industry was one of them. However, these people were extremely vile; the cuisine they prepared was in essence nothing short of poison. Although it tasted exceptionally good and had many returning customers, they added all sorts of nonsense to their dishes that could easily ruin one¡¯s health. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but take in a breath of cold air, appalled at how despicable the Illuminati were. While Chen Yu was interrogating the young man, a harsh voice suddenly rang out from the side. A figure shrouded in a black robe had appeared at the end of the alley without notice. ¡°What a useless wretch, giving up all the secrets of our organization just because someone threatened you a little. You might as well be dead,¡± the figure said. As the voice fell, a cold gleam darted forward, heading straight for the young man. And on that gleam of light was a faint trace of black aura, clearly indicating a poison-tipped dart. Chen Yu dared not catch it and quickly stepped back a few paces. The dart flew unerringly through the young man¡¯s body, claiming his life. ¡°Are you from the Bright Food Association?¡± Chen Yu instinctively asked, his eyes full of vigilance. The man in the black robe let out a loud laugh, ¡°Correct, I am a top pastry chef from the Bright Food Association. My master wishes to meet you, please come with me.¡± Just as Chen Yu was about to refuse, he suddenly noticed that the wall of the nearby alley was crowded with people, all of whom were holding weapons and each one emitted a faint stench of blood. This was enough proof that these individuals had been exposed to deadly poisons; if he were to forcibly confront them, even Chen Yu would likely meet his end here. ¡°Fine, then I will go with you!¡± After agreeing to follow them, Chen Yu directly followed the man in the black robe out of the alley. Although the current situation was somewhat passive for him, it also provided him with the perfect opportunity to see who exactly was behind the Bright Food Association. Before long, a stretch Lincoln stopped at the corner of the street, and a group of people escorted Chen Yu into the car. However, after getting into the car, these people blindfolded Chen Yu and drew all the curtains closed. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel amused, for this tactic might be effective on ordinary people, but he had a system within him. Once they blindfolded him, the system began scanning all the surrounding terrain and transmitted it into his mind. The car meandered through the Frankfurt city area for nearly three hours before finally stopping at the entrance of a hotel. The Eclan Grand Hotel was considered one of the top hotels in Europe, and even in the entire western world, it was among the front runners. Moreover, this hotel was part of a chain, with more than forty locations worldwide, each one maintaining a standard of five stars and above. Chen Yu was only allowed to remove his blindfold when he was brought into the main hall. ¡°Mr. Chen, to have you visit our establishment today is a pleasure we didn¡¯t anticipate. To invite a culinary god like you is truly a fortune of three lifetimes for us!¡± Such insincere pleasantries angered Chen Yu a bit, but he showed no sign of it and simply walked over to a nearby counter and poured himself a glass of red wine. ¡°When I was studying, I had worked at an Eclan Hotel. Although on the surface it appears all glitz and glamour, they really spare no expense in pinching pennies from their employees, did you know that my salary was only a little more than a thousand bucks a month back then!¡± While the remark seemed innocuous, it was a veiled mockery of the Eclan Grand Hotel, and at the same time, a jab at the Bright Food Association. The middle-aged man leading the group gave an awkward laugh, then approached Chen Yu. ¡°Actually, the treasures of the Bright Association have been a subject of controversy for a long time. Those items are useless just sitting there; they can¡¯t be auctioned off openly nor can they be sold easily. Since Mr. Chen has taken them away, we¡¯ll no longer pursue the matter and consider it a favor given.¡± Chen Yu drained the wine in his glass, ¡°I dare not accept such a favor, besides those items inherently belong to the East, and they are best suited to return to their original place!¡± In fact, Chen Yu was aware that this man so readily proposed a favor because he had a request for him, perhaps even intending to recruit him for some shady deeds. The man laughed awkwardly again, then took out an invitation from his person. ¡°The Bright Food Association is also one of the representatives of the world cuisine community now. Next month, gourmets from all over the world will gather aboard the Queen Eisa in the English Channel for a matchless culinary competition! We hope that Mr. Chen will represent the Bright Food Association in this contest.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 259 King of Dim Sum Chapter 259: Chapter 259 King of Dim Sum Chen Yu did not answer immediately, but simply poured himself a drink. The robed man who had brought Chen Yu back was immediately enraged and stepped forward, pointing at Chen Yu¡¯s nose and cursing loudly. ¡°You little shit, don¡¯t fucking play hard to get when we¡¯re offering you a chance to redeem yourself. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be leaving this place tonight,¡± he said. Chen Yu sneered and deliberately put on a frightened expression. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so scared!¡± he said mockingly. The robed man¡¯s eyes bulged with anger, and as he raised his fist to strike, a wine bottle suddenly came crashing down on his head from above. Chen Yu was already on the other side of the man by then, and the empty wine bottle had become a handy weapon. It was unclear whether all of this had been prearranged by Chen Yu. With eyes wide open in fury, the robed man pulled out a dagger and prepared to lunge forward. The middle-aged man hurriedly stepped in to stop him. ¡°Dolance, we invited Mr. Chen here to discuss matters, not to be rash,¡± he said. Dolance¡¯s teeth clenched with an audible grind, but he dared not make another move and only stepped back, clutching his bleeding head. The middle-aged man let out a quiet sigh, then politely apologized to Chen Yu. ¡°My name is Karan, the current president of the Illumination Gourmet Club. I kindly ask Mr. Chen to seriously consider my request. You should know that the Illumination Gourmet Club controls not only the Alanke Grand Hotel but also over sixty percent of the world¡¯s dining business!¡± he said. Chen Yu glanced sideways with a hint of disdain at Karan, who, although apologizing, did not hide the murderous intent shining in his eyes. Moreover, his words carried a very thick layer of threat. ¡°In my view, food should be something that makes people happy when they eat it. Even if it¡¯s treated as a business, there¡¯s a line between what money should and should not be taken. We should all have a scale in our hearts,¡± Chen Yu pointed out. Karan¡¯s eyes filled with resentment as he exhaled a breath of turbid air and then signaled to Dolance with a gesture. ¡°Since Mr. Chen has his principles, I won¡¯t say much more. Since you grace us with your presence today, why not have a competition with Dolance? If he wins, you¡¯ll die here today. If you win, then you must represent our Illumination Gourmet Club in the competition,¡± he proposed. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°So what you mean is, either way, I won¡¯t be able to leave today, right?¡± Without any courtesy, Karan took out an incense stick. ¡°We¡¯ll follow the etiquette of your Eastern traditions. Before this incense burns out, you both must present your dishes! Let the competition begin,¡± he declared. As soon as he finished speaking, a few attendants pushed out a movable kitchen. Dolance, not caring for anything else, grabbed some dough and began to work it immediately. Those around them were fully armed, their gazes like torches fixed on Chen Yu. It seemed no matter what, he had to compete today. Chen Yu put on a helpless expression, but it was a ruse as he communicated with Ling Ling in his mind, scanning all the nearby terrain and planning the best escape route. ¡°I truly don¡¯t understand your thinking, wanting to compete with me in dim sum! Don¡¯t you know this thing has a history of four thousand years in the East?¡± he said. As he spoke, Chen Yu directly picked up the basin and expertly worked the dough, his movements smooth as flowing water. Dolance, the King of Dim Sum at the Glorious Gourmet Gathering, was extremely serious when preparing food. He immersed himself completely in the task, and the dough in his hands seemed to come to life, vivid and lifelike. It looks like this guy is planning to make a dough figurine dessert. Chen Yu suddenly took a deep breath and then his hands began moving faster, becoming a blur. The people around could hardly see what he was actually doing. Half an hour flashed by, and both of their preliminary preparations were completed; now it was time to start steaming. Dough figurine desserts and fondant are not the same. Fondant involves directly molding sugar into various figurines, which is relatively simple in comparison. But dough figurine desserts are different. The fermentation and steaming processes must be taken into account when making the raw dough. During this process, the previously crafted dough figurine desserts could easily become deformed. Therefore, strict control over the heat and the steaming basket was necessary, with strict oversight required for each step, allowing no room for any exposes. Dolance was already as tense as could be. He watched his steaming basket like a hawk, not daring to slack off even a little. As time ticked by, steam began to rise from Dolance¡¯s basket, and if he maintained this condition, the contents would be ready to come out in ten minutes. In contrast, Chen Yu appeared utterly relaxed, as if, for him, this was all too simple of a task. Moreover, the steaming basket he used was astoundingly basic, a huge rectangular one. You should know that when making this kind of dough dessert, the larger the steaming basket, the less likely it is that the contents will cook thoroughly. After all, food is not just for looking at, it also has to end up being edible. Although some dishes may look magnificent on the surface, beautiful enough to feast one¡¯s eyes on, if they taste half-cooked when you take a bite, then it¡¯s a failed dish. About ten minutes had passed when Dolance suddenly stood up, inserting the timer and then opened the steaming basket. In front of everyone appeared an array of tiny animals, each one seemingly alive, vivid and lifelike, especially at the moment they came out of the basket, looking incredibly fluffy. From a distance, it appeared as if these little creatures in the steaming basket were vying for beauty and attention. The audience immediately got excited. After all, Dolance was their King of Dim Sum, and his creations were naturally incomparable. By comparison, Chen Yu remained extremely calm. He simply uncovered his rectangular steaming basket and tossed it aside, then pulled up a stool and sat down beside it. ¡°These little animal dough figures and such, those are just leftovers from our Eastern ancestors¡¯ playthings. Now, what we play with is this!¡± With these words, he immediately attracted the attention of everyone present. As the steam cleared, the crowd¡¯s gaze turned blank. What emerged from within the steam was a complete Tang Dynasty palace banquet scene! Every character¡¯s figure was lively and lifelike, further enhanced by the surrounding color of the sugar decorations, creating a scene that seemed almost as if it was a painting brought to life. Various flowers, birds, fish, insects and details were embellished upon it, making everyone stare in wonder, some even burst into applause. Even Dolance stood there, staring blankly, somewhat at a loss. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Sun and Moon Mountain River Sacrifice Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Sun and Moon Mountain River Sacrifice Every person present found their breathing becoming short and rapid; they truly hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu could turn the most ordinary of noodles into something awe-inspiring, such that even Dolance wasn¡¯t his match. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, merely maintaining a calm and composed demeanor as he took a doll-like pastry from amongst the selection and stuffed it into his mouth. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Food is meant to be eaten, and since the dish has already been made, don¡¯t tell me there aren¡¯t any judges here to taste it?¡± Although the words were not problematic in themselves, to the ears of the people from the Bright Culinary Gathering, they were a blatant insult. Whenever they had a pastry or fondant competition, they would display the finished products as works of art. In the past, whenever Dolance participated in a competition, he would seal his creations in vacuum glass containers for memorabilia. However, Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about any of that, just continuing to eat his own creations. Dolance couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes and hurried forward to stop Chen Yu. ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t you know that such a work, carelessly placed anywhere in the world, could win international prizes, and you just ate it?¡± A look of disdain crossed Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°Food, the moment it is made, is meant to be eaten. If we are supposed to put it on display as an artistic piece instead, then there¡¯s no need for us to go to the effort of making it at all.¡± His words left Dolance with no place to hide his shame, and even Karan beside him couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed. But in a dark corner, a figure cloaked in black suddenly coughed twice, and a hint of cold light flashed in his eyes. Karan immediately reacted, gesturing to the people around him, whereupon a dozen or so tight-clothed and fully armed individuals rushed in. The weapons in their hands were all standard automatics, and at that moment, dozens of gun barrels were aimed directly at Chen Yu. Karan cleared his throat and slowly stepped forward a few paces. ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t blame us for some things. Since the day the Bright Culinary Gathering was established, it has been for profit. Since you are not willing to join with us, then you can only be our enemy,¡± Karan said, readying to order the people beside him to fire. Just as he was about to raise his hand, a loud bang suddenly erupted from the side. The steamer containing the pastries that Chen Yu had made exploded with a roar. While making the food, Chen Yu had packed the remaining dust into the bottom of the steamer, covered by a plastic bag on the outside. In the moment before the flames had extinguished, they completely burned the plastic bag, causing the dust within to mix with the air and create a vacuum! The force of the explosion blew the mobile restaurant to smithereens, with debris flying everywhere and several nearby brawny men being violently knocked back. Taking advantage of the chaos, Chen Yu turned and bolted for the door. Before the people could react, Chen Yu had already run out and, snatching a car, sped away. ¡°This man had everything calculated from the start. Since he is unwilling to submit to us, then kill him. Issue the command for all members of the Bright Culinary Gathering to pursue and eliminate Chen Yu immediately,¡± Karan exclaimed while gasping for air and personally driving a car in pursuit. After all, it was Karan who had brought Chen Yu back and, at that time, Chen Yu¡¯s eyes had been covered, so he had no idea how to escape. Just by searching the vicinity for a while, Chen Yu could be captured and brought back within half an hour. But his perfect plan had already gone awry, as by now, following the route suggested by the system, Chen Yu had already disappeared without a trace. In less than an hour, Chen Yu had returned to the ancient castle of William¡¯s family. At this moment, the entire William family was in complete disarray, as nobody had expected Chen Yu to actually run off on his own. Katherine was furious, lashing out at the servants responsible for Chen Yu¡¯s care, berating them harshly. Victor also issued orders, commanding everyone in the William family to search for any trace of Chen Yu. Just as they were preparing to leave, Chen Yu drove straight into the castle yard. Upon seeing Chen Yu, Katherine¡¯s emotions surged, and she quickly went to greet him. ¡°Mr. Chen, what on earth happened? Where have you been, and weren¡¯t you supposed to carry a satellite phone when you left? Why couldn¡¯t we reach you?¡± Gasping for breath, Chen Yu took out a hand-drawn map and handed it over to Katherine. ¡°I ran into some people from the Bright Culinary Association on the road, and these fellows want me to take their place in a world-class competition. This is their location.¡± Upon seeing the hand-drawn map, Katherine¡¯s mouth fell open. The Bright Culinary Association was an extremely secretive organization; for years, no one had managed to find their hiding place, and all those captured by them would mysteriously vanish without a trace. Yet, Chen Yu had not only managed to escape, but he had also drawn the location of the Bright Culinary Association. Victor ran out as well, very concerned, and began bombarding Chen Yu with questions, while clutching his shoulder. Chen Yu merely smiled and headed towards his room on his own. Victor quickly instructed the kitchen to prepare something to eat and personally brought it to Chen Yu¡¯s room. ¡°Mr. Chen, the people from the Bright Culinary Association didn¡¯t give you a hard time, did they? If anything happened, just tell me, and with the power of the William family, we can easily eliminate the Bright Culinary Association.¡± Chen Yu sighed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s actually nothing much; they just wanted me to replace them in a competition, something called the ¡®Sun and Moon Rivers Festival¡¯.¡± Victor¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°These guys are actually considering such things; it looks like they definitely have some ulterior motives.¡± Chen Yu drank a glass of wine to himself, leaning back in his chair. ¡°By the way, what exactly is this so-called ¡®Sun and Moon Rivers Festival¡¯ that the Bright Culinary Association values so highly?¡± Victor sighed helplessly and took out an invitation from his pocket. ¡°The Queen Elsa is actually a historical ocean liner with over three hundred years of history. It once represented the United Kingdom in battles across the world, earning undying merit. The ¡®Sun and Moon Rivers Festival¡¯ held on it is a farewell ceremony before the liner is retired. After the banquet, the authorities will immediately blow up the ship.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood; in essence, it was about holding a world-class culinary competition on a soon-to-be-retired ship to create some final value. And once its last bit of value had been extracted, the ship would be utterly useless. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Fully Occupying the Market Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Fully Occupying the Market Victor spoke at length about the Queen Elsa again before leaving Chen Yu¡¯s room. However, when he left, he ended up leaving behind what he had earlier. The intent was now clear. He wanted Chen Yu to represent the William family in the competition. Chen Yu didn¡¯t give it much thought and simply took the invitation, given that he also had some binding business interests with William¡¯s family; he really had to attend the competition. Moreover, his factory¡¯s products were gradually entering the Western market. If he could shine at this competition, he might even open up some sales channels for his products. The next morning, the entire William¡¯s family was on the highest alert. All personnel who were outside returned, and a plethora of bodyguards continuously patrolled the ancient castle. And these bodyguards were different from before, every one of them fully armed as if it was the apocalypse. Chen Yu sat on the balcony, absorbed in his own world, drinking wine, admiring the distant scenery. The views inside and outside the castle really had their own unique charm. At that moment, Katherine carefully walked up carrying a few plates and then placed them in front of Chen Yu. On the plates were all sorts of precooked dishes made from ingredient packs. Chen Yu was surprised. According to the factory¡¯s current pace, it would take at least a month to transport these ingredient packs and precooked dishes here. Yet, they had already arrived at William¡¯s family. After trying a bite with chopsticks, Chen Yu nodded with a smile. ¡°It seems that the first batch of goods has already been delivered to William¡¯s family!¡± Katherine happily sat down and took a bite as well. ¡°It¡¯s not just the first batch. Half of the previous orders have been fulfilled.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; it seemed that after the industrial park had achieved industrialization, the efficiency had more than doubled. Katherine didn¡¯t know what was going on either. She seemed extremely excited while eating. ¡°Mr. Chen, did you know? The first time I tried Chinese food, I fell in love with the flavor, but then it was hard to come by such taste. Now, it¡¯s great. You just need to boil these packs in a pot to make delicious Chinese food.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. Moreover, he only took a couple of bites before he put down his chopsticks. Precooked dishes, after all, were not freshly cooked meals, and the taste was somewhat different. Even if the preservation techniques inside were developed after a lot of time and effort, it was, after all, preservation¡ªbound to affect the taste of the food to some extent. ¡°If you want to eat these in the future, just go directly to Suzhou City. I have a shop there where you can eat whatever you like.¡± Katherine immediately became excited, and just as she was about to speak, a bodyguard hurried over. ¡°Mr. Chen, Mr. Victor is asking for you right away. He says there¡¯s an urgent matter to discuss with you.¡± Chen Yu nodded and quickly got up, hurrying after him. Soon after, Chen Yu arrived at an underground location led by the bodyguard. This place seemed extremely small and secretive, but relatively speaking, the space was quite large. As soon as he walked in, Chen Yu smelled an extremely pungent scent of blood, mixed with a bitter taste. It looked like someone had been poisoned. Seeing Chen Yu enter the room, Victor hastily stepped forward and grabbed his arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, please, you must save this man, he¡¯s brought back critical intelligence! It¡¯s a matter of life and death for the entire William¡¯s family,¡± Chen Yu glanced sideways and saw a middle-aged man lying on the hospital bed, breathing faintly, his skin all over turned black, even his eyes had become blood-red. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and quickly stepped forward to check the man¡¯s pulse. From a Western medicine perspective, this person was already devoid of vital signs, yet his body still retained a trace of warmth. But from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, he was merely in a state of suspended animation. Chen Yu hurriedly took out a set of silver needles and began inserting them into various acupoints on the middle-aged man¡¯s body, turning him into a porcupine in no time. Meanwhile, he also prescribed a herbal formula and instructed Katherine to fetch the medicine. Ever since Chen Yu had come to William¡¯s family, Victor had someone prepare a room for Chinese herbs, collecting almost all kinds of traditional Chinese medicinal materials available in the world. Even some of the rarest could be found here. Before long, Katherine brought over two bowls as Chen Yu had requested: one contained some crushed dry herbs, and the other half a bowl of herbal decoction. Chen Yu checked the contents of the two bowls, then ground those crushed licorice pieces into a finer powder and applied it to the wounds on the man¡¯s body, while the decoction was fed directly to him. Not long after, the man who had been without breath miraculously came to, and the wounds on his body began healing at a visibly rapid rate. The crowd in the room was instantly agitated, and Victor eagerly stepped forward to grasp the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°How do you feel? Did you bring back the intelligence from the Queen Elsa?¡± The middle-aged man swallowed his saliva and then retrieved an envelope from his person. The envelope, crafted from pure gold leaf, looked quite impressive. Victor hastily opened it and found that in addition to a letter, there was also a pure gold plaque inside. ¡°Mr. Victor, Queen Elsa has two levels. The upper level is for hosting the culinary competition, and the lower level is for trading. Everything we are after will be traded there. If they succeed, then¡­¡± At this point, the middle-aged man suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and then he fainted. Chen Yu quickly removed two needles from his chest and checked his condition again. ¡°He¡¯s not in any serious danger, just extremely weak, and he got a little too excited just now. He¡¯ll be fine after some rest,¡± Only then did Victor relax. He gave a few instructions to the bodyguards beside him before letting them leave the room. ¡°Mr. Chen, it seems this trip to Queen Elsa is extremely dangerous. If there¡¯s no pressing need, you shouldn¡¯t go up there. Just stay in this castle, and I can ensure your safety!¡± Chen Yu suddenly laughed twice and pulled out an invitation, waving it in front of Victor. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m very interested in this competition. I believe those who come will be some quite influential figures. If I can promote my meal kits and ready-to-eat dishes at the event, it might boost sales,¡± Victor suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, regretting a little that he had left the invitation in Chen Yu¡¯s room. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Chapter 262 Queen Elsa Chapter 262: Chapter 262 Queen Elsa A month had swiftly passed by. During this time, Chen Yu investigated the European market and found that since the entry of his cooking packs, the sales had been exceptionally good, and he feared that future orders might double. After a simple market analysis, Chen Yu and Victor boarded the Queen Esha. The number of families that came to attend the banquet was indeed considerable; almost ninety percent of the world¡¯s super families gathered here, and many from the East also came to participate. No sooner had Chen Yu settled down to rest than a middle-aged man approached him with a strange air. ¡°This must be Mr. Chen Yu. I really didn¡¯t expect you to attend such a grand event. I just wonder how your culinary skills measure up. We should definitely have a good competition later.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. He had never seen this guy before, and the man had a somewhat effeminate appearance. Although he seemed male on the surface, his entire demeanor exuded an air akin to that of a ¡®ladyboy.¡¯ Katherine quickly stood in front of Chen Yu and blocked the fellow while reaching out a hand. ¡°Mr. Katolan, I truly didn¡¯t expect you to come to this banquet. But I wonder, do you represent an organization this time, or are you merely here on your own behalf?¡± Katolan laughed heartily, ¡°Even if I represent myself, it¡¯s all the same. After all, no matter which competition I enter, the fame that comes is mine alone. The organization is just a support; it doesn¡¯t matter which one I stand for.¡± Chen Yu instantly understood that the man before him was clearly a turncoat, representing whoever offered more benefits. However, looking at the badge on Katolan¡¯s chest, it seemed he was representing the Light Gourmet Society this time. As they were speaking, Kadoran suddenly walked over and patted Kalanto on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Kalanto, you¡¯ve met your opponent so quickly.¡± Kalanto laughed heartily, ¡°Anyway, my competition with Mr. Chen has been scheduled for the first match, so of course I wanted to meet him in advance. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it seem a bit awkward during the match?¡± Chen Yu frowned again and cast a questioning glance at Katherine beside him. He was here representing William¡¯s family, and logically speaking, his competition should have been scheduled later. Why was his the first? Katherine hurriedly leaned in to whisper into Chen Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°Mr. Chen, on the ship, the competition is somewhat arranged according to the fame of the chefs. You have participated in so many international competitions before, so in a sense, your reputation ranks fairly high!¡± Chen Yu let out a resigned sigh. Indeed, ¡®the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.¡¯ He didn¡¯t say much more, though, and simply sat there, sipping his drink and paying no mind to anyone else. Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s behavior, Kalanto felt a surge of irritation. He had hoped to have a conversation to get a better understanding of Chen Yu¡¯s personality and basic situation, but Chen Yu had ignored him completely. Kadoran, on the other hand, cheerfully patted Kalanto on the shoulder. ¡°The competition is about to start soon, we should sit over there instead, otherwise the organizers are going to kick us out.¡± Although Kalanto was irritated, he did not say much and simply followed Kadoran to take a seat nearby. The banquet seemed extremely lively, but the organizers did not seem to want the attendees to interact too much. There was strict management, distributing the guests in various areas and leaving a huge space clear in the center of the hall. Before long, two mobile kitchens were rolled up to the scene. At this moment, an elegantly dressed lady made her way slowly onto the stage. ¡°The Queen Elsa has a history of over three hundred years, it embarked on its maiden voyage as a cargo chef ship included in the fleet. Therefore, every thirty years, we hold a banquet here to commemorate this heroic vessel in a special way,¡± she said. After briefly introducing the history of the Queen Elsa, the lady stepped back and cleared the way for the big screen. The screen displayed the profiles of Chen Yu and Kalanto. ¡°These two gentlemen are the most skilled chefs participating in the competition. We now invite them to perform a culinary demonstration for us and also to select one who is the superior chef.¡± Although the words were said with grandeur, a closer listen revealed that it was essentially an invitation for Chen Yu and Kalanto to duel it out in the kitchen. Chen Yu had long been prepared and, without saying much, went straight to his mobile kitchen, picked up the ingredients on the table, and got to work. Kalanto, on the other hand, strolled over leisurely and posed as if he were a recluse from the outside world. The theme given by the competition organizers was ¡°soup¡±! And even the scope was clearly defined: they were to make fish soup! Chen Yu chose an ordinary type of octopus, but he made many odd movements while cooking. Kalanto seemed to take the competition very seriously, picking various ingredients with an almost obsessive meticulousness. In less than twenty minutes, Chen Yu had already presented his completed soup to the judges. In fact, the soup Chen Yu made was a simple squid soup, a common dish in the East, and not at all exotic. However, Chen Yu had altered the sequence of seasonings and the method of stewing, giving the soup a unique taste. As a result, when the judges tasted the soup, they couldn¡¯t stop singing its praises. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Yu promptly took out several packets of preprepared dishes he carried and laid them in front of the judges. ¡°These are some new products I¡¯ve just developed. If you¡¯re interested, you can try them at home. They only need to be warmed up in the microwave for two minutes,¡± he explained. The judges immediately became excited, already harboring an almost obsessive interest in Chinese cuisine. Though they were connoisseurs in tasting, asking them to cook would be a challenge, especially Chinese dishes. Now that such simple meal kits were laid out before them, they were of course eager to have them. After finishing all this, Chen Yu dusted off his clothes and returned to his seat, and only then did Kalanto bring up his finished soup. This guy¡¯s soup was made from a type of ribbon fish found in the deep sea, rare and typically only seen in the shallows during earthquakes or volcanic eruptions underwater. But the taste of this fish was truly exquisite, hence many spared no expense to venture into the deep sea to catch it. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Chapter 263 The True Quick Blade Chapter 263: Chapter 263 The True Quick Blade Almost everyone in the world is drawn to this kind of hairtail fish. Especially the soup made from it, which is incomparably delicious, but when that big pot of soup was brought up, everyone present turned a blind eye to it. They had already been immersed in the deliciousness of Chen Yu¡¯s cooking, as for anything else, it simply couldn¡¯t arouse any interest. It wasn¡¯t until they had finished Chen Yu¡¯s soup that they remembered Kalanto. But squid is seafood in itself, and Chen Yu¡¯s cooking method made its flavor even more intense. Such a taste, once eaten, to some extent, makes one lose interest in other seafood products. Though Kalanto is a renowned chef and his dishes are exceptional, the trouble was that he was too slow and had not fully brought out the fresh taste of the hairtail fish. The many judges present were quite fair and quickly made their judgments. However, a few judges, without a second thought, directly cast their votes for Kalanto. This proved that there were already people from the Bright Food Society mixed in among the judges. Chen Yu silently noted the appearance of these individuals and also checked their countenances. It¡¯s not that Chen Yu wanted to read their fortunes, but rather it was a way to assess their health conditions. At this moment, Victor was clinking glasses and apparently discussing business matters with some of the organizers. Chen Yu, having finished the competition, sat by himself, resting with his eyes closed. Kalanto stood in place, looking utterly dejected. He held the soup he made, standing there, hands trembling incessantly. ¡°Impossible, this simply cannot be, it shouldn¡¯t be, I am the Soup God, after all!¡± Shouting in frustration, Kalanto spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. A few people rushed over to help him up and escorted him out of the venue. Just as the host was about to announce the next part of the event, a thin man suddenly ran over. ¡°Chen Yu, you¡¯ve gone too far, don¡¯t think your cooking is the best in the world, there¡¯s always someone better. Today, I am here to challenge you!¡± Chen Yu opened his eyes with disdain. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man proudly took out an identity plaque from his attire. ¡°I am the chief disciple of the Old Man of Jinshan! Wu Lanxian!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone in the room stood up. ¡°My God, it¡¯s a disciple of the Old Man of Jinshan! I heard that the old man¡¯s culinary skills have reached an otherworldly level.¡± ¡°Especially his knife skills, he can gut a fish and extract its roe without the fish reacting at all, and no wounds are visible!¡± ¡°I wonder if the old man is here today; witnessing his transcendent knife skills would make my life complete!¡± ¡°With the chief disciple here today, we¡¯ll get to broaden our horizons!¡± ¡­ The scene suddenly erupted into excitement, with all eyes turning to focus on Wu Lanxian. Chen Yu furrowed his brows slightly and casually sized up Wu Lanxian. ¡°I think we should respect the organizers, after all, they haven¡¯t expressed any intention to add events, and we shouldn¡¯t insist on it¡­¡± The words had not yet been fully spoken when two burly men had already pushed out two mobile kitchens. It seemed that the organizers were highly interested in the impromptu competition that had been added! Chen Yu did not say much more, for today he still needed to use the organizers to market his product. No matter what, he had to go along with the other party first. Wu Lanxian also became excited, directly grabbing a knife from the side while instructing someone to bring over a large fish! As everyone watched in anticipation, Wu Lanxian slightly twirled the knife in his hand before effortlessly slicing open the belly of the large fish. With the swiftness of lightning, he extracted the roe, then gently caressed the fish¡¯s wound, which miraculously began to heal quickly. However, Wu Lanxian¡¯s skills were still not quite perfect; the wound had not completely healed and left a small gap. But this did not affect the fish¡¯s normal life. Wu Lanxian proudly held up the fish roe. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯ve merely learned half of my master¡¯s skills. If today Mr. Chen can do better than me, then I concede defeat!¡± A strange curve appeared on the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth, ¡°Mere words won¡¯t suffice. This competition is a private duel between the two of us, unrelated to the organizers, so it¡¯s better to stake something on it.¡± Wu Lanxian, his face full of scorn, took out a bank draft from his person and placed it on the table. ¡°This draft is worth one billion. It can be exchanged at any bank in the world. If I lose, it¡¯s all yours, but I wonder if Mr. Chen can also produce such a stake?¡± Chen Yu stretched lazily and walked over to the mobile kitchen, placing a promissory note with a face value of one billion on the table. A promissory note holds its value much better than a draft. When Chen Yu took it out, surprise cries suddenly erupted from the crowd. Wu Lanxian frowned slightly, but he did not say much, instead crossing his arms and sitting to one side, waiting for Chen Yu to show his hand. Chen Yu did not hesitate, directing someone to bring over a large fat goose. All eyes were focused on Chen Yu. For a knife skills contest, why was a live goose brought up? Logically for such competitions, most would choose a sea fish since, even if the knife skills were lacking, the resulting dish wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Laughter broke out across the venue. Almost everyone was waiting to be entertained by Chen Yu¡¯s performance. Just as all eyes were on Chen Yu, a flash of cold light suddenly cut through. Before the crowd could react, Chen Yu already had half a piece of blood-drenched goose liver in his hand. And that large goose was still bouncing around, completely unharmed. The liver is a very special part of an animal¡¯s body, one of the few organs capable of regeneration. With precise knife skills and the correct positioning, it¡¯s even possible to enhance the liver¡¯s functions, improving the animal¡¯s bodily functions more than before. ¡°This is impossible!¡± Wu Lanxian¡¯s eyes were filled with incredulity, and his body couldn¡¯t help but tremble involuntarily. ¡°That piece of goose liver must have been prepared by you in advance. There¡¯s no way such knife work exists in this world!¡± Wu Lanxian aside, the others were even more astounded. The reason why the roe could be scooped out and the fish¡¯s wound could heal quickly while maintaining its vitality is mainly because the roe is not entirely an organ of the fish. But geese are different; even if the liver can regenerate, cutting off half of it like that would certainly cause injury to the goose. Yet now not only was the goose completely fine, but not even a hint of a scar could be seen. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Chapter 264 French Foie Gras Chapter 264: Chapter 264 French Foie Gras The organizer was startled by this turn of events. In the world of chefs, there were certainly those whose knife skills were so phenomenal they seemed supernatural. To some extent, as long as the knife was fast enough, fast enough that the animal¡¯s nervous system couldn¡¯t react in time, it was entirely possible to make the wound appear as if it had never been made. However, Chen Yu¡¯s skill was a bit twisted, not only fast but also lifelike, which made people suspect that the goose liver might have been prepared in advance. After some research, the organizer brought over a light box, and then a staff member placed the goose onto it. The large screen immediately revealed the inside of the goose¡¯s body. Within it, there truly was only half a liver, which could perfectly match the half in Chen Yu¡¯s hand. In the face of such ironclad evidence, any doubts seemed pale and weak. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply placing the goose liver on the chopping board and beginning to cook. All of the procedures were carried out in an orderly manner, leaving the Western culinary bigwigs present in awe. Even they could not achieve the realm that Chen Yu had reached! Before the crowd could recover from their shock, a rich aroma began to fill the hall. The fattier the goose liver, the more intense the aroma it released, and combined with Chen Yu¡¯s unique cooking method, it fully brought out the flavor of the goose liver. Several judges couldn¡¯t suppress their urge and rushed over, with one of them even slicing off a piece of goose liver and shoving it into his mouth. Despite the scalding heat of the liver, he was unwilling to spit it out. Chen Yu let out a sigh and walked straight to Wu Lanxian¡¯s automated kitchen, taking the bank check. Wu Lanxian¡¯s eyes were closed, his face full of distress. Although he was known as a culinary god, a billion was still an astronomical sum for him. Glancing at Chen Yu¡¯s back, Wu Lanxian heaved a long sigh and quickly ran to Chen Yu¡¯s mobile kitchen to pick up a piece of goose liver and put it in his own mouth. The savory taste immediately conquered his taste buds, making him feel completely transparent. He had never eaten such a delicious goose liver in his entire life. After being stunned for a few seconds, Wu Lanxian suddenly burst into a frenzy of laughter, his whole person becoming utterly crazed, especially as his face began to contort. This scared the people nearby, especially those from the Illuminated Gourmet Association, who stared at him with a puzzling look. Wu Lanxian didn¡¯t know how long he laughed, but suddenly, he took two steps at a time, came to Chen Yu¡¯s front, and knelt down with a thud. ¡°Apart from my master, I¡¯ve never admired anyone in this world. You count as one. However, I¡¯m really curious. Just what did you do to remove the goose liver in an instant without causing any damage to the body?¡± Chen Yu glanced sideways at Wu Lanxian for quite a while, then suddenly laughed. ¡°This skill of mine has been practiced since I was in my mother¡¯s womb, and it¡¯s been almost thirty years now. In plain terms, it¡¯s built upon time. What do you have to compare with that?¡± Wu Lanxian¡¯s eyes widened in shock¡ªhe was only in his forties, and he had been learning to cook for just over twenty years. He didn¡¯t have thirty years to dedicate solely to honing his knife skills. As the two were speaking, a middle-aged man suddenly ran over and forcefully dragged Wu Lanxian aside. ¡°What on earth is going on with you? Your mentor is none other than the Golden Mountain elder, how could you kneel down so casually like some greenhorn? And you are representing the whole Bright Culinary Association right now!¡± Wu Lanxian¡¯s eyes were lifeless, indifferent to the man¡¯s scolding, entirely unmoved. Chen Yu had no interest in dealing with these people, he sighed softly and went straight back to his seat in the audience. The organizers also breathed a sigh of relief, although accidents of this sort tended to happen at each banquet, the incident this time was far too serious. Fortunately, the incident did not last very long and finally came to a stop. Just when the host was about to announce the continuation of the event, a thunderous noise suddenly erupted from the crowd, and an old man with a cane slowly emerged from the rubble. The old man had an exceedingly strange appearance, his face was so aged it seemed almost skeletal, and from afar he looked just like a skull. Moreover, his nose was the classic hooked type, giving off an enormously astute and cunning vibe. ¡°I never imagined that in this world someone could train Knife Skills to such an extent. Today, I must come and seek some pointers,¡± he said. These words instantly drew the attention of everyone present. The members of the Bright Culinary Association were especially ecstatic. All their top chefs had already sparred with Chen Yu, and without exception, they had all respectfully stepped down, but now that the Golden Mountain elder had unexpectedly shown up, it was as if they had grasped at a lifeline, crowding around him. ¡°Venerable elder, you must stand up for us. Many of our chefs are essentially your indirect disciples. Yet this young man has insulted not only us but you as well. This is intolerable!¡± With these fueling words, they ignited the Golden Mountain elder¡¯s anger. He walked straight up to Chen Yu and reached out to grab his collar. But just as his withered palm was about to touch Chen Yu, a powerful force suddenly came through. Chen Yu, it seemed, had at some point already grabbed the old man¡¯s arm, and he yanked with force. The clear sound of bones cracking echoed in an instant; the Golden Mountain elder¡¯s eyes bulged, his body staggered backward several steps, and finally, he tumbled to the ground. The scene immediately began to boil, all eyes focused on this spot. No matter what, the Golden Mountain elder was advanced in years and not in the best of health. Now that he was pushed to the ground by Chen Yu, he immediately began to wail. At once, voices of condemnation rained down from those present. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this person? I thought if one could cook well, they must be of good character, but I never expected him to be so ruthless to an old man!¡± ¡°The Golden Mountain elder¡¯s culinary skills are among the world¡¯s best. This young man probably thinks his cooking is no match for the elder¡¯s, so he wanted to use other methods to incapacitate the old man!¡± ¡­ Various discussions flooded in from every direction, leaving Chen Yu feeling frustrated. He subconsciously took a few steps back, then raised both hands, signaling he hadn¡¯t done anything just now. But no one at the scene believed him, and the Golden Mountain elder, a scoundrel by nature, began to roll around on the ground. Chen Yu frowned, somewhat helplessly crouching down in front of the Golden Mountain elder, patting his shoulder gently. ¡°You have severe arthritis. If you get up, I can cure it for you, and even heal any other ailments you might have,¡± he offered. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Bone-Setting Expert Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Bone-Setting Expert The old man from Jinshan was instantly excited. He didn¡¯t expect that Chen Yu could actually discern his illness, and even cure other ailments plaguing his body. His years as a chef had inflicted him with numerous diseases. He had once been examined by a specialist doctor who warned that without timely treatment, he might not live much longer. But many of his illnesses were chronic and complex, and even a top medical team might not be able to cure them completely. Now, hearing that Chen Yu could cure him, he immediately stood up. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he still had to pretend to be well-acquainted with the old man from Jinshan as he moved to the audience seats. The organizers immediately breathed a sigh of relief as well, and then announced that the banquet would continue. The grand hall suddenly transformed into a stage for chefs from all walks to showcase their skills. Chen Yu, however, was sitting there grabbing the old man from Jinshan¡¯s arm, continually manipulating his body with a series of crackling sounds. This frightened the people nearby, who had no clue what Chen Yu was doing. A few even thought to intervene, but they were stopped by the old man from Jinshan. Before long, the old man from Jinshan stood up, looking rejuvenated and spirited. He walked a few steps and excitedly threw his walking stick to the side. ¡°I can finally move freely again!¡± It had to be said that the old man from Jinshan had indeed suffered from many old injuries; there were more than twenty places where his bones were misaligned. Had Chen Yu¡¯s bone-setting technique not been so superb, he probably couldn¡¯t have been healed. But that was not all. Chen Yu handed over a prescription, directly handing it to the old man from Jinshan. ¡°This prescription is designed specifically for your body. Among these meat ingredients, you must choose the freshest ones, and you absolutely must follow the sequence listed on the prescription during preparation, or the consequences would be unimaginable.¡± The old man from Jinshan nodded repeatedly. As a chef, he was very knowledgeable about Chinese cuisine and especially interested in dietary therapy within it. In his younger days, he had traveled to the East just to learn about medicinal diet therapy. However, given the multitude of chef sects there, no one was willing to teach him, and he could only return home dejectedly. Now that he had finally obtained a dietary therapy prescription, he naturally would not pass up such an opportunity. He would surely study it in detail when he got back, especially since it was for treating his own illness. The people sitting nearby were already frightened by this scene. Just a short while ago, the two men were at drawn swords, and now they seemed to be chatting like good friends. Moreover, the old man from Jinshan held Chen Yu¡¯s hand and kept shaking it as if he were speaking to a relative. Time passed unknowingly, and the competition at the venue had reached its climax. Perhaps because of Chen Yu¡¯s earlier impressive performance, this competition didn¡¯t select any particularly notable chefs. At this moment, a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses slowly entered the venue. He exuded an extremely strong medicinal scent, similar to that of an orthopedic patch. Chen Yu furrowed his brow upon smelling this scent, as he had seen every ancient prescription in the world and was familiar with a wide variety of medicines. The scent emanating from the middle-aged man was that of a long-lost orthopedic patch. There was one particular ingredient that was exceptionally hard to find, one that even Chen Yu had not managed to fully replicate. Yet this man bore that scent on his person. ¡°Old Mr. Jin, we meet again. Have you considered the matter from last time? If you agree, I can fix your bones immediately and cure your other ailments as well,¡± the man said. The old man from Jinshan¡¯s face darkened as he looked up coldly at the middle-aged man before him, and then took a small token from his person and threw it on the ground. ¡°Kriech, take your damn trinket and get out of here. I do not need your treatment, and from now on all benefits you received here are revoked.¡± Kriech¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Old sir, you cannot delay treatment for your ailment any longer¡ªif you do, the consequences could be dire. Let me treat you right now. As for the conditions I previously mentioned, we¡¯ll just cut them in half.¡± However, the old man from Jinshan completely ignored him and, pulling Chen Yu, prepared to leave. But after just two steps, Kriech suddenly shouted out loud. ¡°Old sir, can you reveal who cured your illness? I want to have a word with him. I refuse to believe that someone in this world can completely heal all the bone dislocations you had.¡± The old man from Jinshan snorted coldly and then pointed at Chen Yu beside him. ¡°This gentleman right here cured me. His medical skill is extremely brilliant; the entire treatment process took less than three minutes. When you did the first treatment session for me, it seems it took you an entire day, and even then, that merely eased my rheumatism.¡± Kriech¡¯s pupils quivered, and his gaze fixed on Chen Yu, hostility accumulating on his face. ¡°Sir, there is a saying in the medical world: once a patient has chosen a doctor, they must stick with them to the end. Changing doctors midway can lead to serious issues. Surely, you understand such a principle.¡± Chen Yu plainly understood what this man meant; such a rule applied only to the West. In the East, patients naturally selected whoever provided the better treatment. ¡°Mr. Kriech, I don¡¯t want to argue with you, but I have already cured Mr. Jin¡¯s illness. I hope you won¡¯t interfere anymore in the future.¡± Grinding his teeth and full of resentment, Kriech was at a loss about what to do next. Just as he was brooding, a piercing scream suddenly erupted nearby. A man in his twenties, having lost his footing, tumbled down the stairs. His body was so twisted that it seemed he had fractured in multiple places, and he continuously spat out foam from his mouth, indicating that his ribs had likely punctured his internal organs. Kriech suddenly perked up, rushing to the man¡¯s side and taking out a medical kit to start examining him. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Professional Techniques Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Professional Techniques The scene of the accident had caught everyone¡¯s attention, with even the organizers dispatching an emergency medical team. When these medical teams arrived at the scene, they were all at a loss, the patient¡¯s condition was simply too severe, and bone fragments had likely embedded themselves into his body. Furthermore, judging by the patient¡¯s breathing, he probably couldn¡¯t hold on for much longer. Even Kriech, who had arrived promptly, frowned upon assessing the situation, He could only administer emergency aid now, but at this point, no matter how hard he tried, it seemed impossible to save the man¡¯s life. He had wanted to showcase his superior bone-setting skills in front of Chen Yu, but the patient was too grievously injured. The joy on his face quickly turned to sorrow, then to despair. The event was covered by major media, and their cameras were all focused on this spot; if he didn¡¯t come up with a plan soon, it could affect his medical career. After taking a moment to steady his breath, Kriech got up and retrieved a small black notebook from his pocket. Anyone who had practiced medicine knew what this notebook was for, Once the signs of life in a patient reached their end, they would use this notebook to issue a critical condition notice. A top-tier doctor like Kriech naturally carried such a notebook, and the critical condition notices he issued carried authority. The organizers¡¯ medical team possibly recognized Kriech and had already assessed the patient¡¯s condition, so their involvement was not significant, but they cooperated by signing along with Kriech on the document. Just as they finished writing the death notice, Chen Yu came running over from somewhere with a medical kit. He completely ignored the guy beside him and took out a few silver needles from the medical kit, piercing them from top to bottom along the patient¡¯s body¡¯s acupoints. Before long, more than sixty silver needles were inserted into the man¡¯s body. Seeing the patient turned into a ¡°porcupine,¡± everyone¡¯s eyes widened, especially Kriech¡¯s. Frowning, he approached Chen Yu and gently touched his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re a doctor too, Can¡¯t you see that this man is hanging by a thread? Moreover, fragments of bone have penetrated multiple organs in his body, Even the best medical units could not possibly cure this.¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t listen and just kept doing his own thing. ¡°My God, the man¡¯s breathing is gradually stabilizing.¡± ¡°The bruises on his body are also being released.¡± ¡­ With the people around continuously gasping, shock appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. The patient¡¯s condition was supposed to be beyond saving, yet Chen Yu forcefully brought the patient¡¯s bodily functions back to stability. While everyone was astonished, Chen Yu picked up a sterilized scalpel, gently sliced open the patient¡¯s abdominal cavity, and meticulously removed the bone fragments, also repositioning the rib cartilage and surrounding organs. After completing these steps, Chen Yu took a deep breath, and once he sutured the wound in the patient¡¯s abdomen, he continued setting the man¡¯s bones. As crackling sounds filled the hall, everyone fell silent, they quietly watched Chen Yu, waiting for a miracle. After all, they had never seen injuries of this magnitude, and in their understanding, no one could heal such wounds. Yet Chen Yu taught them a lesson through his actions. After everything was done, Chen Yu rose to his feet and casually clapped his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t go running around for the next week, and take the medicine I prescribed on time. In just half a month, you¡¯ll be able to walk on the ground just like a normal person,¡± he said. At these words, Kriech, who stood nearby, dropped his jaw in surprise. He had already examined the patient¡¯s body before, and such a level of injury would, even if healed, leave a disability. But now, Chen Yu was giving such a verdict, which would shock anyone. Kriech¡¯s throat moved slightly, and he instinctively reached forward to grasp the man¡¯s body for a thorough examination. He didn¡¯t expect that every part of the man¡¯s body would be restored to its original state, without even a trace of a scar. At this moment, Kriech¡¯s breathing suddenly quickened. He didn¡¯t know what to say, and the medical team beside him was unable to utter a single word. Before they could react, Chen Yu had already left the place with the elderly Jinshan. The scene immediately erupted, and all eyes were focused on Chen Yu. Who would have thought that such an outstanding chef would also be a doctor with exquisite medical skills? Victor, who was in the midst of conducting business, couldn¡¯t help but frown. With so many eyes on Chen Yu now, it was inevitable that some enemies would be among them, harboring ill intentions towards Chen Yu. Without much consideration, he ordered a detachment of his own bodyguards to protect Chen Yu from a distance. Just then, a white-haired elderly man suddenly approached Chen Yu and bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Chen, I am one of the organizers of this banquet. I have seen the culinary packs you brought, and I believe there is a market for them in Europe. I would like to place an advance order with you, if that¡¯s possible,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and simply nodded. After all, he had no reason to turn down business that came knocking at his door. The old man became excited and immediately handed over the contract he had prepared to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is the contract my assistant just drafted. Please have a look, and if there are no issues, we can sign it right now,¡± he said. Chen Yu took the contract with ease and was startled when he looked at it¡ªit was actually a contract for three billion. ¡°Old sir, this is such a large order. I¡¯m afraid I cannot fulfill it in a short period of time. How about we postpone signing this contract for a few days?¡± he suggested. The old man waved his hands again and again, then sat down beside Chen Yu. ¡°I didn¡¯t specify the exact delivery time on the contract. Mr. Chen, whenever you have the goods, you can deliver them to me,¡± he said. Chen Yu suddenly realized something and looked at the old man up and down with a strange expression. ¡°Is there something you need, old sir?¡± he asked. The old man smiled somewhat embarrassedly and then extended his wrist to Chen Yu. ¡°Having witnessed your superior medical skills just now, I hope you can treat my illness. This disease has been tormenting me for nearly thirty years, and it¡¯s truly painful,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. He simply grasped the old man¡¯s wrist right away. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: Chapter 267: The Imperial Fish Chapter 267: Chapter 267: The Imperial Fish The elderly man¡¯s body was truly in shambles, especially his bones which seemed to be at risk of falling apart at the slightest touch. Upon a brief examination, Chen Yu found that the old man had at least twenty steel pins in his body. This condition had surpassed Chen Yu¡¯s expectations¡ªthe steel pins had penetrated deep into the marrow, some having already fused with the flesh and blood. To fully heal the old man, all the steel pins had to be removed, but doing so might cause his body to enter a premature state of decay. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; the old man¡¯s physical condition was entirely dependent on high-end medication. Without it, he probably wouldn¡¯t live past two days. ¡°Sir, your body must undergo surgery to receive comprehensive treatment. How about we set aside a special time after the banquet for me to perform the surgery on you?¡± The old man immediately became excited. Since Chen Yu had said this, it meant there was still hope for his illness. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Chen. May I ask if you have any other businesses besides these food enterprises? I think we could become very good partners.¡± Chen Yu smiled somewhat embarrassedly: ¡°Right now, these are all I have. When it¡¯s time to expand my business, I will contact you, sir.¡± The old man nodded repeatedly, which was akin to reaching some sort of cooperation with Chen Yu. Just as they spoke, a commotion suddenly arose at the scene, followed by a dozen workers carrying a massive fish slowly walking past. This fish was surprisingly large, comparable to half the size of a whale. A creature of this size would normally be found deep in the ocean; it was virtually impossible to encounter one in shallow waters. Catching such a thing was enough to show how powerful the host of the banquet was. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, just now, our fishing boat was fortunate enough to catch a deep-sea imperial fish¡ªan event so rare it¡¯s seldom seen. Perfectly timed with today¡¯s banquet, we¡¯d like to invite the esteemed chefs present to delight in a special imperial fish banquet!¡± The crowd instantly boiled with excitement. Although the fish wasn¡¯t a rare species, it usually dwelled in the deep sea and was rarely seen by average people. Moreover, legend has it that each part of this fish tastes different and requires an endlessly diverse array of cooking methods. Preparing this fish with just one method would be a waste. Yet, while everyone was reveling, the chefs on site couldn¡¯t help but frown. Although they all carried the title of culinary masters, they had never encountered such a fish. The last time humans had caught one of these deep-sea fish was over thirteen hundred years ago. The host, noting all the chefs sighing and looking troubled, felt somewhat embarrassed. He was aware of the rarity of this fish and the complexity of its cooking methods, but such an occasion demanded a spectacle to elevate the banquet to a climax. The frenzied excitement at the venue gradually cooled down, and everyone¡¯s gaze focused on these culinary experts. They all anticipated someone stepping forward! Right then, Chen Yu suddenly stood up from his seat, walking slowly to the front of the large fish. ¡°The imperial fish, also known as the Mariana Deep Sea King Fish, is one of the few mammalian fish in the deep sea. It has a shark-like appearance but resembles a whale in size. Additionally, there¡¯s a noticeable lump of flesh on its head, like a second brain, which is why it¡¯s also known as the two-headed monster fish.¡± This explanation instantly silenced everyone at the scene. They didn¡¯t expect that someone in this world would actually be familiar with this fish. Especially the chefs sitting there, each one of them felt utterly embarrassed. Originally, understanding the ingredients was meant to be a chef¡¯s basic skill, yet they didn¡¯t even know to which variety the royal fish in front of them belonged. While everyone was still astonished, Chen Yu had already picked up a large knife from the side and placed it at the head of the fish. ¡°The tumors on the head of this kind of fish are used to convert waste in the body; therefore, they contain a lot of filth and are inedible,¡± he said. As he spoke, he had completely removed the tumor on the top of the head and set it aside. Although this material couldn¡¯t be used as an ingredient, it could to some extent be considered medicinal. The substances contained within were similar to the feces of sperm whales and could emit a peculiar fragrance. Moreover, its medicinal properties were tens of times stronger than that of a sperm whale. In fact, the ambergris mentioned in ancient records might possibly be these tumors from the head of the royal fish. Chen Yu didn¡¯t tell the others about this, he simply and quietly put the tumor into a box beside him, planning to take it away later. These things were all documented in ancient Eastern records; after all, there were four instances in Eastern history where this fish had been captured. After the tumor was removed from its head, the fish¡¯s head would have an extremely delicious taste, similar to carp but hundreds of times more savory, making it perfect for stewing in soup. The section below the fish¡¯s head, resembling the belly of a cow, not only had firm flesh but was also extremely rich in protein, making it a good choice for grilling or frying. As for the flesh in the abdominal area, it was somewhat like that of a pomfret, extremely soft and tender, which could easily fall apart if not handled with care during cooking. The flesh on the back was reminiscent of lamb and was definitely a top choice for hotpot or thinly sliced for dipping. The flesh near the tail was slightly sour and somewhat tough, but it became perfect when stewed in a spicy soup. As he divided the fish¡¯s body, Chen Yu described the tastes of the different parts and their cooking methods. The many chefs present naturally understood Chen Yu¡¯s intentions; after all, such a big fish could not be cooked by Chen Yu alone. Moreover, today Chen Yu generously shared this information with them, providing them a lesson, so they did not dare to be negligent and quickly stepped forward to help Chen Yu cook the fish. The awkwardness caused by the host earlier was instantly alleviated, and the scene became lively once again, with a rich aroma spreading throughout the entire hall before long. Even people from other cabins were attracted by the smell and came over in droves. At this point, Chen Yu truly stood out, with all eyes on him as nearly everyone inquired about the cooking packages he brought. It wasn¡¯t until 8 o¡¯clock in the evening that the banquet gradually came to an end. However, this banquet wasn¡¯t just a culinary competition, there were a variety of other activities in the other cabins as well. After finishing up here, Chen Yu followed Victor to the adjacent cabin. The place was far more luxurious than the neighboring one in both decoration and other aspects, with even some basic facilities made out of 24k pure gold. On a huge shelf, there were several Buddha heads carved from white jade on display. When Chen Yu saw these Buddha heads, his eyes widened instantly; without exception, all of them were authentic, and they had been passed down from the Tang Dynasty. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Buddha Head in the Mid-Heavens Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Buddha Head in the Mid-Heavens ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this banquet is a cultural gathering of the whole world, and the organizer has taken out all the collections from their own home to auction here. I ask for your kind guidance!¡± The host, whether in tone or otherwise, was very polite, and because of the nature of the auction items, deliberately spoke in Chinese. But such phraseology felt awkward no matter how one listened to it. Chen Yu even frowned, his expression seemed somewhat peculiar. The host did not care about these reactions and continued to introduce the origins of the Buddha heads. Everyone present was looking forward with anticipation, just waiting for the host to announce the price. Chen Yu let out a breath of turbid air, his eyes fixed intently on the Buddha head on the stand. Most of these items had been plundered by the Western world from the East during the late Qing dynasty, and it was shameful to see them being auctioned off so brazenly now. However, this also indicated that the sponsors behind the event were indeed in need of money. This banquet¡¯s main purpose was not only to exploit the last value of the ¡®Queen Elsa¡¯ but also to bring together the world¡¯s super families. This way, they could not only expand business cooperation but also liquidate all the antique treasures they had in hand. Chen Yu¡¯s feelings were extremely complex, not knowing how to deal with the Buddha head before him. First of all, these items were too precious; each could fetch a price of over a billion at auction, and even if Chen Yu put up all his current assets, he still might not be able to purchase these Buddha heads. Secondly, at an auction of this scale, it was impossible to let someone take away all the Buddha heads in one go. The profit from selling them one by one would be much higher than selling them as a lot. Thinking of this, Chen Yu¡¯s heartbeat accelerated. It was painful to only be able to watch these marvelous items slip away! As he struggled internally, he suddenly noticed a crack on the head of one of the Buddha statues. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the first item up for auction is the White Horse Temple Buddha head. It is said that this Buddha head was carved in the image of Wu Zetian and has a history of over a thousand years! The starting bid is 500 million!¡± As soon as the price was announced, the room immediately erupted, and almost instantly, the price soared to 1.3 billion! It¡¯s hard not to cause a sensation with such a priceless treasure. But Chen Yu¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the Buddha head with the crack, which despite its unremarkable appearance, and seeming like a later imitation, captivated him with the strange glow emanating from the crack. Most Buddha heads from the Tang dynasty were carved from jade, with very few stone carvings, unless they were part of a group in a cavern. Especially Buddha heads modeled after Wu Zetian, which were made from extremely valuable materials. It was said that the Tang dynasty¡¯s national treasury once contained a pair of Buddha heads carved from purple jade, but they were lost inadvertently during the An Lushan Rebellion. Zhu Yuanzhang later recovered them from the Mongols and enshrined them in a temple. Unfortunately, they were lost again in the late Qing period. Thinking of this, Chen Yu became inexplicably excited. He suddenly stood up and yelled out abruptly. ¡°Wait, there is a problem with these Buddha heads!¡± As soon as he spoke, the room fell silent, with everyone¡¯s gaze converging on Chen Yu. The host was extremely embarrassed and unsure of what to do. After all, Chen Yu had just pushed the banquet to a climax; he had brought great benefit to the event. Additionally, many in the audience had already become fans of Chen Yu, and now whatever he said, there were people ready to follow suit. As expected, the crowd of tycoons that was just frenzied a moment ago suddenly calmed down, looking at Chen Yu with strange anticipation, as if waiting for something. ¡°Mr. Chen, these Buddha heads are all from legitimate sources, there is no way they could be fake!¡± The auctioneer responded with firm resolution. However, Chen Yu remained unmoved and made his way onto the stage. ¡°Legitimate sources? They were simply plundered from the East. Your ancestors didn¡¯t even check properly when they were looting them; they shipped back a bunch of fakes and now you¡¯re presenting them as treasures in an auction.¡± Instantly, those attending the auction couldn¡¯t remain seated any longer and started discussing among themselves. The auctioneer was even more panicked, the consequences were unthinkable if the auction couldn¡¯t proceed. If things went south, not only would the organizing party behind the scenes suffer losses, but she, as the auctioneer, would also not be left unscathed. Before she could react, Chen Yu had already approached the podium and casually picked up a Buddha head, smashing it directly in front of everyone. Cram-full of cracks instantly appeared on the Buddha head, and then the external layer of jade carving shell started to shatter, revealing a dark-colored stone Buddha head underneath. ¡°My God, isn¡¯t this just a broken stone? You actually brought this for auction; are you trying to scam our money?¡± Someone shouted out, and the scene immediately erupted into chaos, with everyone standing up. ¡°There¡¯s no need to look at the rest of the Buddha heads; they are definitely all of the same ilk!¡± ¡°Thank goodness Mr. Chen stepped in, I had just bid 1.8 billion. If I had truly paid, I¡¯d have no place even to cry.¡± ¡°Since when did the auction on the Queen Elsa become so low-end!¡± ¡°Refund our money!¡± ¡­ A cacophony of curses and accusations rang out, everyone¡¯s gaze focused on the auction stage, and some were even searching for the organizer¡¯s presence. However, the organizers hiding in the shadows were already deeply frustrated. They truly hadn¡¯t anticipated the situation to escalate to this point, and moreover, these Buddha heads had been passed down from their ancestors¡ªhow could they have become fakes here? But to be honest, when their ancestors looted these Buddha heads, they hadn¡¯t examined them closely, only feeling assured that anything from the East must be a treasure. To their surprise, these Buddha heads turned out to be stone cores wrapped in a layer of jade. As the situation was about to spiral out of control, the organizers immediately discussed how to address the current predicament. Just as they were preparing to step in, Chen Yu suddenly produced a painting from the side. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. I don¡¯t think this is the organizers¡¯ fault; their ancestors weren¡¯t aware of the authenticity of this Buddha head when they took it, just as they didn¡¯t know the true nature of this painting.¡± The room fell quiet again, with everyone¡¯s attention now fixed on the painting in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. The painting looked unremarkable, even a bit coarse, clearly a low-quality imitation at first glance. This thing seemed far from what anyone would consider a treasure. While the crowd was bewildered, Chen Yu took some alcohol and a fine brush from the side and began to delicately work on the painting. Before long, the painting miraculously split in two, and that inferior feeling it had given before was entirely gone. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Hundred Herbs Diagram for Typhoid Fever Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Hundred Herbs Diagram for Typhoid Fever After handling the two paintings, Chen Yu hung them up. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, if I am not mistaken, this should be the legendary ¡®Typhoid Hundred Herbs Chart.¡¯ As his voice fell, everyone¡¯s eyes widened, staring intensely at the two paintings. This was, after all, a painting from legend, said to have been created by Zhang Zhongjing to teach his students, summoning top artists to illustrate based on his ¡®Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases.¡¯ Although the painting depicted landscapes, it concealed numerous medicinal herb illustrations and prescriptions. However, to see what was hidden in the painting, one would need to use some special methods. The media reporters at the scene rushed forward and started snapping pictures of the paintings, completely ignoring the Buddha head. ¡°Mr. Chen, which of these two paintings is the real one?¡± A sly flicker passed through Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the one on the right-hand side!¡± With these words, the venue once again erupted into a frenzy. ¡°What are you waiting for, host? We want this painting! Name your price quickly!¡± Someone shouted, and the host came to her senses. She promptly pressed the communicator by her ear, had a quick discussion with the organizers, and then directly announced a staggering price of three billion. The place was silent for only a moment before it erupted once again. Such a price elsewhere would represent the full assets of a medium-sized family, but to those present, it was nothing remarkable. Their frenzy even exceeded Chen Yu¡¯s expectations. While everyone was going mad with their bids, Chen Yu approached a middle-aged man responsible for managing the items backstage. Chen Yu had noticed this guy early on. Though he had been standing there doing seemingly insignificant tasks, he was able to control the order in which the treasures were brought up. ¡°Since these events were set into motion by me, it¡¯s only right that I take responsibility. I¡¯ll purchase these ruined Buddha heads and the fake painting at a proper price!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face broke into a joyous smile; he had been worrying about how to deal with these items, but Chen Yu had come to him out of the blue. ¡°Mr. Chen, we should be thanking you. Without you, we might have never known that we possessed such a rare treasure in our hands. As for those Buddha heads, just follow the procedure and you can take them directly. Don¡¯t worry about the money, it¡¯s not important!¡± All of this was almost within Chen Yu¡¯s expectations, so he said nothing more and directly found Katherine to help him take all these items away. Once everything was arranged, Katherine sat next to Chen Yu with a bit of a grievance. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really don¡¯t know why you want these pieces of junk. Now that we know they are fake, we shouldn¡¯t have gone through so much effort.¡± Chen Yu just smiled and said nothing, contentedly sipping his red wine. Earlier, when he had spotted the issue with the Buddha heads, Chen Yu had immediately instructed the system to scan everything at the scene. He discovered that within the Buddha heads, two were merely stone embryos and even imitations from the late Qing dynasty. The rest were all precious treasures from between the third year of Tang Zhenguang to the first year of Tianbao. Among them was the famous ¡®Central Heaven Buddha Head.¡¯ Legend had it that this Buddha head was crafted from tricolor gemstones and was exceedingly valuable. Thus, Chen Yu directly smashed one of the stone embryo Buddha heads to create a distraction and took the opportunity to take away all the other Buddha heads. As for the ¡®Typhoid Hundred Herbs Chart,¡¯ Chen Yu had taken the real one and left the fake behind. This painting was originally created by hundreds of top artists, and apart from the secret hidden within it, it was impossible to tell the real from the fake. The replica, too, had been replicated by a great many artists summoned by Li Hongzhang during the late Qing dynasty. However, they failed to replicate the essence of the painting. At this moment, the auction was still intensely competitive. Hidden within the ¡°Cold Damage Herb Map¡± was the entire ¡°Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders,¡± including a vast number of ancient medical prescriptions. If one could get their hands on it, it would be like getting hold of a medical code. Just by analyzing the prescriptions, one could lie there and make money for a lifetime. Since Chen Yu found the ¡°Cold Damage Herb Map,¡± two whole hours had passed, and the price had soared to 25.6 billion, yet the major families were still stubbornly clinging on without letting go. Honestly, such a price was already insane, and if the outside world found out, they would only curse and call it madness. Yet, just how precious medical drug patents are was something only these super families understood. Just take an anti-cancer drug, for example¡ªone injection could sell for the sky-high price of 1.2 million! Moreover, each family qualified to attend this banquet owned assets worth tens of trillions. To them, a mere two or three hundred billion was nothing to fuss about. It was precisely because they saw through the value of the ¡°Cold Damage Herb Map¡± that the organizers allowed Chen Yu to take away the Buddhist relic head so generously. In the end, the ¡°Cold Damage Herb Map¡± sold for the terrifying price of 42.6 billion. Hearing this result, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty. After all, that painting was just a replica. The number of prescriptions that could be gleaned from it were few, and buying it for such a high price was definitely a loss. But being able to bring back so many national treasure-level gemstones still brought some consolation to Chen Yu. ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen, why didn¡¯t you let Victor join the bidding? Is this painting not worth buying?¡± Katherine¡¯s voice pulled Chen Yu back to his thoughts. ¡°I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth it!¡± Chen Yu said perfunctorily and did not elaborate further. Katherine didn¡¯t ask any more and simply topped up Chen Yu¡¯s glass with wine. In the middle of the night, the auction gradually dispersed, and the guests who had come to the banquet returned to their rooms one by one. Just then, a harsh alarm suddenly sounded. Chen Yu abruptly opened his eyes, and immediately a wealth of information displayed within his mind. [System Alert: Ship has sustained deliberate damage, please board the lifeboats immediately] Analyzing the information in his mind, Chen Yu discovered a large hole had been made in the ship¡¯s hull, and it was deliberately manipulated to look like damage from running aground. Chen Yu immediately realized that someone intended to deliberately damage the ship to commit insurance fraud. Exhaling lightly, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, since this kind of insurance fraud was not uncommon among the super families; as for the outcome, that would be up to the insurance company! Chen Yu followed the staff and quickly evacuated to the lifeboat. It had to be said, the organizers behind the scenes were truly humane. They had made all the preparations well in advance, and they safely evacuated everyone from the Queen Elsa before it sank, without any casualties. At that moment, a terrifying explosion was suddenly heard not far away, and a strange-looking ship appeared with many men in black standing on it. ¡°We¡¯ve heard that a rare treasure has surfaced on the ship. We¡¯ve come to inspect it and hope to purchase it at a reasonable price. We also hope everyone will cooperate, otherwise, bear the consequences!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Factory Turmoil Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Factory Turmoil Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, these guys looked like they were from the Illuminati. He really hadn¡¯t expected that these guys would actually rob in front of so many super families. Just as the Illuminati was about to make a move, a group of fully armed people suddenly appeared, along with a large number of amphibious landing crafts. The people from the Illuminati were scared out of their wits, they hadn¡¯t expected the organizers to have made such arrangements. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about any of that, during the time both sides were entangled, he directly steered the lifeboat towards the shore. His purpose for attending the banquet was essentially achieved, and there were even some unexpected gains, which left him quite excited. The next day, after saying goodbye to Victor, he hurried back to his country. The construction of the factory had now reached a certain scale, and the original factory area was no longer at the core. Furthermore, since the order from Europe arrived, Hou Jianchang had to accelerate the construction and also talk with the surrounding factories to see if they were willing to sell their land. The reason he had been able to smoothly take down this industrial park in the first place was that a group of tombs had been unearthed underneath. And ever since the completion of the industrial park, the economy there had seen substantial development, it wouldn¡¯t be possible for people to easily transfer their projects anymore. After recent negotiations, Hou Jianchang had only managed to acquire two small factories, and had not been able to connect them with the original industrial park yet. Even so, when Chen Yu first arrived, he was shocked by everything in front of him, he hadn¡¯t expected that in such a short amount of time, all the equipment for the industrial park had been successfully constructed and more than a dozen factory buildings had been expanded. Given the current scale, not to mention the European order, even if they took on some additional orders, they could be completed in the shortest amount of time. Just as Chen Yu was getting excited, a large group of people dressed in work clothes charged into the factory area looking fierce and threatening. ¡°Hou Jianchang, get the fuck out here, we¡¯re all healthy, with no sickness or ailments, why the hell are you kicking us out?¡± This sudden shout startled Chen Yu, who couldn¡¯t help but look into the distance, only to see that there were at least two hundred people in the group, each holding a weapon, and most of their faces bore scars. As soon as he saw these people, a system was already providing him with the basic information of everyone present in his mind, and he discovered that all these people had criminal records. There¡¯s a basic principle every factory follows when hiring people, which is not to accept anyone with a criminal record. Moreover, this factory had employed many disabled workers from the start, so if they let these guys in, who could guarantee the lives and safety of so many disabled workers? Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing before preparing to step forward to mediate, but just as he was about to do so, Hou Jianchang rushed out with several security personnel in a hurry. ¡°Da Gou! What the hell are you doing? Do you know it¡¯s illegal to do this?¡± Hou Jianchang shouted, clenching the stick in his hand, ready to strike down without hesitation at any wrong move by Da Gou. But Da Gou laughed crazily instead. ¡°Stop feeding me that crap, when I first got out, you told me you could arrange a job for me, but when I barely got into your factory, you want to drive me away again, plus I brought so many brothers here for you, and now you¡¯re even trying to kick them out along with me.¡± Hou Jianchang was somewhat helpless, he really didn¡¯t know what to say. Although Da Gou had had some misconduct in the past, it wasn¡¯t very serious; he had been imprisoned for three years and then released. But many of the people behind him had records of over a decade. Some were even notorious criminals! Even though they had been reformed, no one could guarantee these guys wouldn¡¯t cause trouble once inside the factory. ¡°Brothers, I don¡¯t mean to kick you out intentionally. It¡¯s just that we need to check your character and other records. I hope you can wait quietly, and it won¡¯t be long until I distribute the notices to you.¡± A burly man with a clearly visible scar on his shoulder which seemed to have damaged the bone, suddenly stepped forward. ¡°Cut the bullshit, telling us to go back and wait, isn¡¯t that just a roundabout way of kicking us out? Besides, how long can it take to review a single record? All of us are people who have come out from inside, already unable to hold our heads high, and yet we still face discrimination at your place.¡± No sooner had the voice fallen than a man approximately one hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall, looking slightly chubby, also stepped forward. ¡°I won¡¯t say anything about those brothers with records, but why are you sending me back just because I¡¯m fat? Is it discrimination against fat people?¡± Hou Jianchang was speechless, the fat man in front of him had already come several times, and he had always told him to bring a medical report from within the last forty-eight hours, but somehow, this chubby guy either didn¡¯t understand or just hadn¡¯t gone for the health check. Even though the factory had entered fully mechanized operations, it still needed the staff to work shifts, and the workload was extremely heavy. If they had health problems, they might not be able to withstand such work intensity. What Hou Jianchang was doing was purely for the sake of his employees, but he never expected it to cause such a huge mess. Chen Yu watched from a distance, having never encountered such a situation before. Furthermore, when Hou Jianchang originally set up the factory, at most there were a little over a thousand employees, but now there were tens of thousands in the industrial park. Not to mention that managing so many people was a difficult task on its own, the individuals present were enough to cause a headache. [System prompt: The optimal choice has been made for the host, do you wish to execute?] Suddenly, a plethora of information appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, all tailored for the current emergency. By this point, he couldn¡¯t care less and walked straight over. ¡°Brothers, I understand your feelings, but this is a rule of the vast majority of factories, there are sometimes things even we can¡¯t handle, after all, your employment status has to be reported to the relevant departments.¡± No sooner had these words been spoken than they caused great turmoil among the crowd. ¡°And who the fuck are you? Daring to mind our business, do you have a death wish? Scram, or we¡¯ll chop you into pieces.¡± Chen Yu arched an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t expected these people to be so simple-minded, lacking even a basic sense of right and wrong. Hou Jianchang hurriedly stood in front of Chen Yu, ¡°This gentleman is our factory¡¯s chairman and the biggest boss, I advise you not to do anything foolish.¡± Hearing Hou Jianchang¡¯s words, Da Gou and his group unraveled once again. ¡°Since you are the chairman, then tell us, what are we supposed to do about our current situation?¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Chapter 271 Employee Segmentation Chapter 271: Chapter 271 Employee Segmentation Chen Yu exhaled a heavy breath before standing up. ¡°Previously, Factory Manager Hou recruited key employees according to the normal process, and I believe he will honor every promise made to you, but now there have been some problems with the actual situation.¡± Having said this, Chen Yu briefly discussed with Hou Jianchang and then directly asked the security personnel to lead these people towards the eastern part of the factory area. This place was a newly built factory area that includes employee dormitories, although part of the dormitory buildings had yet to be cleaned out, with decoration materials still scattered inside. ¡°Everyone, this is our just recently established new factory area. From now on, this will be your team¡¯s location. I will arrange for everything you need as soon as possible, and the doctor for your medical check-up will arrive shortly.¡± Da Gou and his group were thrilled to hear such promises, as their wishes were quite simple: just to stay in the urban area and be able to work and earn money later. Hou Jianchang immediately breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly calling over a large number of relevant personnel according to Chen Yu¡¯s earlier instructions. This included security, medical, and various other personnel. As soon as these people arrived, they immediately arranged for Da Gou and the others to have medical check-ups, followed by arranging their accommodation, and also brought in some specialized assembly line workers for training. After all, it was a newly built factory area, and these people needed to be treated with particular attention, so they had to find a rather isolated place for them. This would not only provide them with psychological comfort but also prevent any disruption to other workers. Once everything was on track, Chen Yu also relaxed. ¡°Old Hou, I never imagined that under your management, the factory has reached such a scale. I wonder how many employees we have now.¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang¡¯s shoulder casually as he asked. Hou Jianchang smiled somewhat sheepishly and then held up a finger. ¡°Including these few hundred people, we now have a total of sixteen thousand employees, and that doesn¡¯t even include drivers, cafeteria staff, and other supporting staff.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The last company report Hou Jianchang had sent showed that the whole project had just over ten thousand people. He hadn¡¯t expected that in just a short month, it had grown to such a size. ¡°Old Hou, it seems that entrusting the factory to you was the best decision!¡± Hou Jianchang did not say much more, quickly hopping into an open-top small electric car nearby. ¡°Come on, let me take you around for a visit!¡± Chen Yu nodded and got into the vehicle. The entire factory area was extremely well-organized, with all sorts of living facilities fully equipped. Especially the cafeteria food, which was of a star-rated standard. After touring the factory, Chen Yu then returned home. When the people in the neighborhood saw Chen Yu, they all felt an inexplicable warmth, coming forward to greet him. The medicinal meals Chen Yu had made earlier had cured most of their old illnesses, so now when they saw Chen Yu, it was as if they were seeing a family member. Just as Chen Yu was greeting his neighbors, a noise suddenly came from not far away. A runaway BMW slammed hard into a Porsche. Both luxury cars instantly turned into wrecks, and shrill screams of agony echoed from that direction. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he almost instinctively ran over, wanting to save people. But just as he had taken two steps, a middle-aged woman dragged a little girl, only six or seven years old, from the car. The little girl was covered in blood, with a piece of metal piercing through her shoulder and widespread abrasions on her body; if she was not treated in time, she would not last long. The middle-aged woman was also desperate. She didn¡¯t call for an ambulance, but instead swiftly checked her surroundings and rushed to Chen Yu¡¯s villa, holding the child. By now, Chen Yu¡¯s medical skills had won over everyone in the neighborhood, so whenever there was an incident at anyone¡¯s home, they would first head to Chen Yu¡¯s. Seeing this situation, Chen Yu did not hesitate to save money and directly returned to his own villa. By the time he entered the door, the woman had already brought the child into the hall; Tong Ya and Li Lan hurriedly stepped forward to take the child, while arranging for the woman to sit down on a sofa nearby. Tong Ya had planned to treat the child with some simple medical procedures she had learned from Chen Yu, but the girl¡¯s injuries were too severe. Her internal organs had sustained trauma, and many parts of her body were dislocated. If anything went wrong during treatment, it could be the end for the little girl. As the two were interfacing, Chen Yu happened to walk in from the door, rolling up his sleeves and immediately grabbing the girl¡¯s pulse. ¡°Husband, you¡¯re back!¡± Tong Ya called out excitedly, then stepped aside, not wanting to disturb Chen Yu during his treatment. Chen Yu simply nodded in acknowledgement and then closed his eyes; after carefully examining the girl¡¯s body, he found that her condition was beyond his expectation. According to the analysis of the car accident scene, the girl must have been sitting in the passenger seat, and the deformation was worst at that spot. It seemed some car parts had embedded into the girl¡¯s body. To save the girl¡¯s life, urgent surgery was necessary to remove all foreign objects from her body. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly and gave Tong Ya several instructions. He then pressed on several acupoints on the girl¡¯s body. Tong Ya did not dare to delay, quickly bringing the first-aid kit from the medical room. Chen Yu took out specialized silver needles from it and inserted them into the girl¡¯s body one by one to stabilize her condition. Once the girl¡¯s breathing gradually became stable, he picked up the scalpel and made an incision in her body, carefully cutting along the areas that were injured. After all, the girl was young, and cutting elsewhere would leave more scars, which might affect her life as she grew older. After quickly removing the foreign objects, Chen Yu sealed the incision. However, when sealing, he purposely left some openings. Before anyone could react, Chen Yu had already held the girl in his arms, patting her body quickly. As sounds of bones popping back into place resounded, the girl¡¯s twisted and deformed body miraculously recovered. By the time Chen Yu put the girl down, she had returned to her original state, not at all looking like someone who was in a car accident. This scene thoroughly astonished the middle-aged woman watching. She truly hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so remarkable. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Chapter 272 Relaxing Muscles and Invigorating Bones Chapter 272: Chapter 272 Relaxing Muscles and Invigorating Bones By the time everything was over, Chen Yu let out a long sigh of relief. It has to be said that this little girl was lucky¡ªshe happened to have a car accident inside the residential area. If the distance had been farther or the time longer, even Chen Yu would have been helpless. During the examination earlier, Chen Yu found a three-foot long iron stake next to the girl¡¯s heart. Moreover, this object had already penetrated into the blood vessels surrounding the heart, and with the flow of blood, it was very likely to pierce into the heart, obstructing the cardiac vessels. By that time, not even a deity could save her. Chen Yu wiped the sweat beads from his forehead, then grabbed a dose of medicine from nearby and handed it to the middle-aged woman. ¡°After you go back, boil this medicine with twenty bowls of water until it reduces to one bowl. After your daughter drinks it, she will be bouncing around within three days, and the scars on her body won¡¯t leave any marks. As for the leftover medicine dregs, crush them into powder and apply it to your own wounds. It won¡¯t be long before they too will heal.¡± The middle-aged woman immediately became excited, falling to her knees with a thud to kowtow to Chen Yu. If Chen Yu hadn¡¯t provided timely treatment today, her daughter may well have died. Chen Yu hurriedly stepped forward to help the woman up, ¡°We¡¯re all neighbors here. Sometimes, we should help each other out. Besides, I was just treating your daughter¡¯s illness¡ªyou don¡¯t need to behave like this. Who knows, maybe in the future I¡¯ll have something important to ask of you.¡± Only then did the middle-aged woman calm down. She then took off a red gemstone bracelet from her wrist and stuffed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, you must accept this. It represents my gratitude!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, instead handing it to Tong Ya behind him. He knew that if he refused, this woman would likely persist, and if any rumors spread in the neighborhood because of it, it would not be good for him. Seeing that Chen Yu accepted the gemstone, the woman left with her child. ¡°Husband!¡± It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Tong Ya called out with emotion, then flung herself into Chen Yu¡¯s arms like a little bird. Chen Yu indulgently embraced Tong Ya tightly. ¡°Have you missed me during this time?¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t answer but just giggled and then pointed to a room next to them. ¡°The things you asked me to bring back before are all kept in there. Could you check to see if anything¡¯s missing?¡± Petting Tong Ya on the head, Chen Yu walked over to the adjacent room, which originally served as a storage room and was now chock-full of items Chen Yu had sent back. Among those items were the treasures of the Illuminati and a Buddha head retrieved from the Queen Elsa. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly, then picked up a small hammer from the side and gently tapped on the Buddha heads. Before long, all the layer of jade pulp wrapped around the Buddha heads was knocked away. A dazzling radiance burst forth, instantly illuminating the entire storage room. Especially the central Buddha head in the middle, its trio of colors reflected off each other, extremely pleasing to the eye. Chen Yu laughed twice in excitement, then hurriedly called Zhou Shengtao and asked him to bring people from the relevant departments to take away these Buddha heads and treasures. However, before taking these items away, he reviewed the ¡°Cold-Relief Herb Chart¡± once more. Through the system¡¯s scan, all the prescriptions and methods of healing on the chart were stored into Chen Yu¡¯s mind. ¡°` These things are not at all like the methods of modern medical journalists; they are comparable to genuine ancient medical manuals. When all the information had fused into Chen Yu¡¯s mind, the previously incomplete medical system he knew was suddenly made whole. He could now treat any patient through surgery combined with traditional Chinese medical techniques. Zhou Shengtao was overjoyed when he saw these things. He hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu¡¯s trip abroad would bring back so many national treasures. If all these were placed in a museum, that would be a great achievement! ¡°Chen, you really are my lucky star. If we hand these over, our Suzhou City¡¯s relevant departments will receive this year¡¯s excellence award, and I¡¯ll make sure you get the credit.¡± Chen Yu squeezed out a perfunctory smile, then took out some documents from his person. ¡°This is some information about the Illuminati that I brought back from Europe. I found that many of their members are from our side, and we need to investigate quickly. This bunch is no good.¡± After Zhou Shengtao received the documents, his face immediately turned serious. ¡°I never thought these guys would hide within the Illuminati. I¡¯ve been wondering why we couldn¡¯t catch them these years!¡± Zhou Shengtao took out a pen and circled a few names on the document, then pulled out his phone and started to match a few identities. ¡°Chen, according to you, these items were smuggled over by the Illuminati, and these guys are within the organization. This means I can charge them with smuggling and then secure an international arrest warrant!¡± Chen Yu understood what Zhou Shengtao meant. He needed to go back to make a statement and then attend as a witness. Regardless of whether it was Chen Yu¡¯s responsibility, he was now an auxiliary member of the relevant departments. This was his duty. Without saying much, Chen Yu followed Zhou Shengtao back to the department. By the time all the materials had been processed, it was already eight in the evening. Chen Yu stretched lazily and was about to leave when Zhou Shengtao stopped him at the door. ¡°Chen, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re good at setting bones. Would you do me the honor of accompanying me somewhere?¡± Chen Yu knew full well that Zhou Shengtao was about to use him as free labor again. ¡°If there¡¯s a task, just tell me directly, Zhou. There¡¯s no need to beat around the bush. Besides, I¡¯m an auxiliary member here now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Zhou Shengtao laughed heartily, then patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and pulled him into the car. Before long, the two arrived at a very dilapidated nursing home. The place was extremely remote with a yard full of large camphor trees. Despite the nursing home¡¯s dilapidated appearance, the interior decoration was extremely neat and designed to national standards. In a spacious hall, there were dozens of elderly people sitting in wheelchairs ¨C some were playing chess, some drinking tea, while others sat in small groups chatting away. Upon seeing these elderly people, the word ¡°heroes¡± leapt to Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. He had seen photos of them in their youth at the department; they were men who had risked their lives for the country! The wounds they bore were remnants of ailments sustained during their service. ¡°` COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Nursing Home Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Nursing Home Zhou Shengtao saw these people and respectfully greeted them before pulling Chen Yu in with him. ¡°Xiao Chen, all these elderly folks are retired, and due to various degrees of disability in their bodies, the state has done its utmost to arrange their twilight years. However, our current medical conditions are limited, and many of them can¡¯t be cured of their illnesses and injuries, and that¡¯s why we¡¯ve called you¡­¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Chen Yu replied promptly and then went straight to the middle of the elderly group, grabbing an old man whose body was bent to the extreme. This elderly man¡¯s bones had become faded and gray, and his muscles had atrophied significantly. He was extremely frail. After a brief examination of the elderly man¡¯s body, Chen Yu started gently moving his joints, taking advantage of the old man¡¯s enjoyment of the knowledge. Suddenly, he exerted force, and there was a rapid series of bone dislocations, creating an abrupt sound. Before the elderly man could even cry out, Chen Yu had already withdrawn his hands. The previously extremely hunched-over old man now appeared normal. The old man looked at his body with disbelief, his mouth agape. He had been paralyzed for over thirty years and never dreamed that he would be cured today. ¡°Young man, you must be the orthopedic doctor Xiao Zhou mentioned, right? I really didn¡¯t expect you to come so quickly, thank you so much.¡± Chen Yu returned a smile, ¡°Elder, your body is only initially restored, and the most serious problem is your legs. When I set your bones in a while, you must endure the pain.¡± The old man laughed heartily, ¡°Back in the day, I fought dozens of bandits by myself. I took a slash on my thigh, and my bone was chopped in half, but I didn¡¯t cry out in pain. Now it¡¯s just setting a bone, come on and do it.¡± Seeing the old man respond this way, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. He immediately took hold of the old man¡¯s legs and began to move them gently. Soon, a snap echoed in the room. The old man¡¯s eyes bulged as he valiantly bore the pain, stifling the urge to scream in his throat. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of admiration for him; he knew the excruciating pain involved in setting bones to this extent, which for many requires anesthesia, yet the elderly man bore it stoically. After allowing the old man a brief moment to recover, Chen Yu continued his work, albeit less fiercely this time. It took a full half-hour before the old man¡¯s leg bones were completely realigned. Chen Yu exhaled a breath of stale air, then prescribed the old man a dose of medicine. ¡°Elder, the medicine I¡¯ve prescribed is entirely herbal. You must take it as instructed when you get home; otherwise, your muscle atrophy might recur.¡± The old man stood up shakily, taking the package of herbs with great reverence before excitedly taking a few steps. ¡°I¡¯ve been paralyzed in bed for over thirty years, never imagining I might stand again one day. Thank you so much, young man. If you ever need anything, just come to me. Whether I can help or not, I¡¯ll give it my all.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed, as for him, what he had done was extremely simple. Moreover, with the medical knowledge from the ¡°Map of a Hundred Grasses for Cold Diseases¡± etched in his mind, it became even simpler. After chatting briefly with the old man, Chen Yu moved on to the other elderly individuals. They each had different injuries, though many involved dislocated bones, which had deformed over the years without proper treatment. Chen Yu went about treating the elderly one by one without much ado. Zhou Shengtao stood by, fetching various medicines and necessary items as per Chen Yu¡¯s instructions. The old men who had been healed also joined in the efforts, immediately acting upon Chen Yu¡¯s commands¡ªwhether because they felt better and wanted to move around more, or out of excitement. It was not until the early morning of the next day that the physical condition of most patients at the elder care facility improved under Chen Yu¡¯s treatment. Unfortunately, there were simply too many patients here, and each one had more than one illness, some even with extremely complicated conditions. To cure everyone here, Chen Yu might have to stay for over a week. Chen Yu let out a sigh and didn¡¯t think too much about it. He found an empty bed and lay down to rest. Although his physical condition had reached the human limit, the high-intensity treatment sessions were still exhausting. He definitely needed to sleep for a few hours. The elderly who had been treated by Chen Yu saw him asleep and spontaneously became extra careful. Whether they were walking or doing anything else, they made no noise, and even posted ¡°no noise¡± signs in every corner. A few elders discussed among themselves and went straight to the kitchen, intending to cook some delicious food for Chen Yu. When it was two in the afternoon, Chen Yu finally woke up. But when he woke up, he saw several benevolent-looking elders walking in front of his bed, carrying large basins filled with specialty dishes in their hands. To put it plainly, these were casserole dishes typically made by certain departments, and were only prepared during times of combat. However, those who had served in these departments maintained the tradition of preparing large casserole dishes after demobilization. Chen Yu was somewhat comforted by the aroma wafting from these dishes, touched by the thoughtfulness of these elders. He didn¡¯t say much and simply grabbed a basin of food and began to eat voraciously. He hadn¡¯t had a proper meal since he returned from Europe, and his stomach had long been empty. Now, with several large basins of fragrant food in front of him, how could he not eat? The only thing was, the amount he ate in one go shocked the elderly¡ªhe finished six large basins of food. What was most important was that after eating all the food, Chen Yu acted as if nothing was amiss, even patting his belly as if he was still not fully satisfied. One of the old grandfathers approached with concern and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve eaten several basins of food, that¡¯s enough for ten people! Won¡¯t you feel a bit overstuffed? If there¡¯s any problem with your body, you must tell us in advance!¡± Chen Yu just waved his hand, not concerned, then stood up and walked over to an elderly man. This old man had a longstanding issue with his scapula bone, which had caused his body to be in a constant state of torsion, even making his neck look crooked. Chen Yu gently massaged with his hands, then slowly started to rotate the elder¡¯s neck. Once the old man got used to the rhythm, Chen Yu suddenly exerted force. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Under the Camphor Tree Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Under the Camphor Tree The crisp snapping sound suddenly erupted, startling even those standing nearby, after all, it was the neck. Once contorted too far, it could cause direct spinal injury, leading to instant death. If it weren¡¯t for the old man¡¯s good fortune, he probably would¡¯ve died a long time ago in his youth. After Chen Yu released his grip, all eyes focused on the scene. Not only was the elderly person completely unharmed, but he also sat there, gently turning his neck as if nothing had happened, occasionally shrugging his shoulders. ¡°This is so comfortable, I never imagined that after so many years, my neck could still move freely.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just stretched his own muscles a bit before continuing to treat the next elderly patient. Zhou Shengtao had also come to his senses by this time. He had specifically taken time off just to spend quality time with these elderly folks. Seeing so many of them being cured right before his eyes, he became even more excited. A few of the elderly people pulled Zhou Shengtao aside when he woke up. ¡°The young folks these days are getting more and more incredible. Such orthopedic skills would definitely rank as a top-level doctor in a hospital, making a good income in a year. To think he would become our unofficial team member!¡± Zhou Shengtao chuckled, ¡°He¡¯s certified to practice medicine, and not only is his medical skill excellent, but his cooking is also delicious. Don¡¯t be fooled by his age; he has participated in several world-class culinary competitions and has been awarded the title of Chef Supreme.¡± The elderly folks gathered there gaped in astonishment; they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so exceptional. The elderly people who used to cook for Chen Yu suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°It turns out he is a Chef Supreme. I really was playing the lute to a cow!¡± For the following days, Chen Yu stayed in the nursing home until he had cured all the elders¡¯ ailments. Just as he was about to leave, Zhou Shengtao suddenly took him to the back of the nursing home. Compared to other areas, this one seemed much more desolate, and not far away stood a lone little house on a clear patch of land. What was puzzling was that the small house was built entirely out of reinforced concrete, with an additional layer of steel rebar welded around it. There wasn¡¯t a single window to be found on all sides of the house, and the only door, made of iron, could only admit one person at a time, beside which stood various scanning devices. When Chen Yu saw this scene, his eyes widened in surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected to find such a place in a nursing home. ¡°Zhou, this looks more like a prison. How can there be such a place in a nursing home?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed helplessly. ¡°Inside is an old hero, but he suffered a head injury during a mission back in the day, which led to mental disarray; sometimes he goes mad and kills on sight! Besides, there are many enemies outside who want to take him down quickly, so we had no choice but to confine him here in this way.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then headed straight for the small iron door. Zhou Sheng quickly stepped forward to stop him. ¡°There are many scanning devices outside and numerous traps and weapons set up. If you just walk in like that, the chance of survival is extremely low! I brought you here to ask if there¡¯s anything you can do to treat this kind of condition?¡± Chen Yu stroked his chin and pondered for a moment. ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure I can cure him completely, I can still alleviate his condition. Captain Zhou, you can rest assured and leave him to me.¡± Zhou Shengtao hesitated for a moment, then opened the heavy door and closely followed Chen Yu inside. This place was extremely gloomy and terrifying because it never saw sunlight, and being underground, there was always a chilling sensation. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much about that and simply quickened his pace to the end of the corridor. There was a particularly sturdy room here, and upon arriving, Zhou Shengtao¡¯s body couldn¡¯t help but tremble. Although it wasn¡¯t his first time here, the horrific scenes inside the room always left him with lingering fears. As he was trembling, preparing to open the door, a sudden thunderous noise came from inside¡ªit sounded like someone was smashing the door, and the solid steel door already showed a multitude of fist marks. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief¡ªthe door was made from steel plates thirty centimeters thick, and an ordinary person couldn¡¯t possibly deform it. But judging by the frequency and force of the blows from inside, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the iron door was shattered. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t care less and immediately grabbed the doorknob, yanking it harshly backward. The solid door was torn out directly, and at the same time, a huge fist burst forth from the darkness. Zhou Shengtao was startled. He knew the formidable power of the elder¡¯s punch; if it landed on Chen Yu, even if he didn¡¯t die, his chest would turn into mush. Almost instinctively, he wanted to shield Chen Yu, but the punch was too fast and had already landed on Chen Yu¡¯s chest. However, Chen Yu had no intention of dodging and simply threw Zhou Shengtao out of the way, then bravely took the punch with his own chest. A dull thud resounded as if the punch had hit a wall of dirt. The next moment, Chen Yu surged forward and threw a punch of his own. Another heavy collision sounded, and after what felt like an eternity, the noise from within finally ceased. Taking his chances, Zhou Shengtao crept in with his flashlight. An old man with white hair and a robust body sat in a chair, with Chen Yu standing beside him. It was as if nothing had happened just moments before, with Chen Yu still gently massaging the old man at the shoulder blades. ¡°You¡¯re quite something, kid. In the midst of our fight, you managed to insert silver needles into me, not only restoring my consciousness but also giving me a feeling of clarity and refreshment!¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, knowing the dangers he had just faced alone. During the fight with the old man, he had done his utmost to realign the dislocated bones to unblock his nerves. He also had to seize the opportunity to insert the silver needles into the old man¡¯s acupoints to help restore his consciousness in sync. If anything had gone even slightly awry, Chen Yu could have lost his life. Fortunately, everything had been accomplished in an orderly fashion. Zhou Shengtao, too, let out a long sigh of relief and ran over excitedly. ¡°Master, you¡¯ve finally come to!¡± The old man was taken aback when he saw Zhou Shengtao and tenderly stretched out his hand to caress his cheek. ¡°Little Taotao, I never thought I¡¯d get to see you again in my lifetime! You¡¯ve suffered a lot these years.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Long-Distance Race Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Long-Distance Race Zhou Shengtao¡¯s body trembled violently, he was practically kneeling on the ground, continuously kowtowing. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu helping him up, he probably would have cracked his own head open. ¡°Teacher, if you hadn¡¯t pulled me out of the pile of corpses back then, I most likely would have died a long time ago, and staying here to guard you is my duty and obligation!¡± The old man laughed heartily and didn¡¯t say much else, merely moving his body a bit. Chen Yu had already put all of the old man¡¯s bones back in place, and even cleared some of his stiff muscles. With medication, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he would recover. Only the old man¡¯s brain nerves were severely damaged, and even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t completely cure him, only able to gradually treat him with traditional Chinese medicine. After telling Zhou Shengtao all of the circumstances, Chen Yu moved his own arms and hurried out of the room. Chen Yu had used too much force when assisting the old man, and his hands were now covered in large bruises. He truly couldn¡¯t imagine how an ordinary person could train their body to such an extent. Upon leaving the room, Chen Yu immediately took some medicine for bruises from his person and applied it to his arms to prevent the injuries from worsening. ¡°Ling Ling, didn¡¯t you say my physical fitness had already reached human limits? Then why can¡¯t I beat this old man?¡± [The host¡¯s physical fitness has indeed reached human limits, but that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t people in this world who can surpass those limits.] Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of frustration, which equated to with his physical fitness, he could eliminate ninety percent of the people in this world in a hundred-meter dash, but he wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up to Bolt! Indeed, there were many beings in this world who had surpassed human limits, but they had only reached such feats in a single aspect. If it came to all-around physical strength, Chen Yu was absolutely stronger than all of those people. After prescribing some medications for the old man, Chen Yu left the place directly. Even though he had applied the ointment to his arms, the bruises were still there; he had to go back and take care of himself. In the evening, Chen Yu finally reached home. Tuan Tuan had already finished school and was practicing yoga in the living room. Seeing Tuan Tuan, Chen Yu affectionately approached and scooped her up. ¡°My dear daughter, have you missed Daddy during this time?¡± Tuan Tuan pouted, ¡°Not at all. There was a sports day at school recently, and you didn¡¯t attend. It was Mom and Aunt Jin who accompanied me.¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt embarrassed; he had been so busy recently that he had no time to join Tuan Tuan in any activities. ¡°Then Daddy will definitely accompany you next time, okay?¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s face displayed a sense of grievance, ¡°You¡¯ve already said that many times, but you never keep your promises. I¡¯m not going to believe you this time.¡± Chen Yu was also full of helplessness and suddenly didn¡¯t know what to do. His business was growing bigger by the day, yet he felt somewhat deficient at home. Moreover, lately, it was Tong Ya who had been taking care of everything at home, and Chen Yu always felt somewhat indebted. ¡°By the way, husband, Tuan Tuan¡¯s school is organizing a parent-child event tomorrow. How about we both go?¡± Seeing Tong Ya helping him out, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s settled. Tomorrow, our family of three will go together!¡± Though Tuan Tuan was still acting sulky, a smile had begun to appear on her face. The next morning, Chen Yu drove Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to the school. Tuan Tuan¡¯s school practiced modern education, which meant there were plenty of parent-child events. Last time, Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya dazzled everyone, and someone had uploaded a video of them online, causing quite a sensation. This time, in addition to the children¡¯s parents, there were also many people from outside the school. When Chen Yu¡¯s family of three got there, the spectator stands at the sports field were already completely full. It seemed like all these people had come for Jin Lingsu and Tong Ya. However, when they saw Chen Yu, envy flashed in their eyes. ¡°How did that guy, who¡¯s only a bit good-looking, manage to marry such a beautiful wife?¡± ¡°Hmph, he¡¯s just a pretty boy, his basketball skills probably aren¡¯t even as good as that beauty¡¯s!¡± ¡°By the way, where is the other beauty? Why didn¡¯t she come today?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu heard the murmurs from the spectator stands very clearly, and a strange curve formed on the corners of his mouth. He effortlessly scooped Tong Ya into his arms and grabbed Tuan Tuan, then swaggered up to the stands. ¡°Dear parents, today we¡¯re having a parent-child long run, please come here to get your bib numbers!¡± The teacher cheerfully walked up to the podium and announced the details of today¡¯s event. After Chen Yu got his bib number, he immediately went with Tuan Tuan to the track. Today¡¯s race was of course simple, the parents just had to carry their children to the finish line to complete it. But such a race indeed tested one¡¯s stamina and endurance. Many people shook their heads and sighed after learning about the rules of the race. They were hard-pressed to complete a kilometer on their own, let alone carrying a child with them. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about these things. As soon as he got to the sports field, he promptly put Tuan Tuan on his back and lined up at the starting line. Although the other parents were reluctant, seeing Chen Yu step out, none of them hesitated any longer, and all walked over. At the referee¡¯s signal, everyone started moving, but they slowed down almost immediately at the beginning, while Chen Yu took the lead. This kind of race was child¡¯s play for Chen Yu; he reached the finish line without much effort. The other participants looked on in astonishment, as some had barely managed to run less than a hundred meters, yet Chen Yu had already finished the whole course. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± Tuan Tuan excitedly wrapped his arms around Chen Yu¡¯s neck, affectionately clinging to him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply and easily took Tuan Tuan back to sit next to Tong Ya. It was at this moment he suddenly noticed several parents limping over, looking like they¡¯d hurt their backs. Moreover, these people didn¡¯t seem very fit; each one was panting heavily, as though they had taken part in a triathlon. Dozens of treatment plans suddenly flashed through Chen Yu¡¯s mind, but all these plans were inclined towards wellness, and the issues could be solved with some tailored medicines. An idea suddenly took root in his mind, why not open a wellness clinic targeting a specific demographic? Previously, while at the nursing home, Chen Yu had already had a similar idea, but at that time, it was wholly aimed at the elderly. Now it seemed that some things should not be limited by age, as many people who weren¡¯t very old were also experiencing all sorts of problems with their bodies. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: Chapter 276 Renovating the Shop Chapter 276: Chapter 276 Renovating the Shop The parent-child event at the school didn¡¯t last very long, and by two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Chen Yu and Tong Ya had already returned to the shop. The shop had now entered a state of autonomous operation, and it could run normally even if Chen Yu didn¡¯t manage it at all. Moreover, the popularity of the shop far exceeded Chen Yu¡¯s expectations. In the past, by eight in the evening, there would hardly be any customers left, but now, people were still coming to the shop at midnight wanting to eat. Additionally, the various revenues of the shop had basically stabilized, and many were coming here to reserve tables. As such, the shop was beginning to feel a bit cramped. Wang Qingshan and the other two chefs were already swamped with work. Since coming in the morning, they hadn¡¯t left the kitchen and hadn¡¯t even had a chance to take a sip of water. Actually, if one really thinks about it, the original scale of their shop was just a breakfast place, catering to a very limited crowd. But as its fame grew, more and more people started coming, and now with the steady stream of people booking tables for banquets, the shop was becoming overwhelmed. Wang Qingshan and his colleagues, feeling helpless, could only select a few waiters with decent talent and bring them into the kitchen to help out. However, this made staffing in other areas somewhat tight. Seeing this situation, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and went straight to the kitchen to help. ¡°Old Chen, how come you have time to come by today?¡± Wang Qingshan was somewhat surprised; it had been a long time since he had last seen Chen Yu. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Chen Yu replied, ¡°I was at the school with the kid today and just happened to pass by, so I came to have a look. I didn¡¯t expect our business to be booming like this.¡± Wang Qingshan sighed helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s more than just booming. You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like here at our busiest times. Even those girls outside don¡¯t have time to rest!¡± ¡°They can¡¯t even get a good night¡¯s sleep. If you ask me, we should hire more people. If possible, we should also consider expanding the shop.¡± Chen Yu nodded, he had similar thoughts. Now that the shop¡¯s revenue had significantly increased, they could further expand the shop just from its earnings. With that in mind, he subconsciously glanced across the street. This street was considered one of the more bustling locales in Suzhou City, but now, apart from some other shops, there was only his restaurant left, and it seemed like the convenience store across the street had started clearing out, preparing to move. It was said that because a supermarket had opened nearby, the impact on the convenience store was too great, forcing them to leave. However, the location of the convenience store was a prime spot, not only connecting with several specific buildings but also hooked up to a building behind! If he could take over both the convenience store and the building behind it, not only could they strike while the iron¡¯s hot and expand the shop, but they could also build a hotel and even transition the shop to a 24-hour operating model. At this thought, Chen Yu suddenly fell into deep contemplation, and his movements unconsciously came to a halt. Right at that moment, a middle-aged man barged into the shop in a hurry. He didn¡¯t care whether there were people around or not, and quite rudely pushed through several people in line to get to the window. ¡°What the hell is going on with your shop? Why did my child suddenly die after eating food from here?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, they startled everyone present, and all eyes quickly turned to the middle-aged man. He was a sight, clad in tattered clothes, bruises covering his arms and legs, and even some bloodstains on his forehead¡ªclearly, he had just gotten into a brawl. Moreover, he looked dizzy, as if he were drunk. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed deeply as he quickly peered out from the kitchen. Before he could speak, Wang Qingshan raised the large spoon in his hand. ¡°Where did you come from? Our restaurant is well-known far and wide, and there¡¯s absolutely no such thing as dead people here. If you¡¯re looking to cause trouble, do it somewhere else. We don¡¯t serve your kind here,¡± he said. Yet the middle-aged man was unrelenting, laying himself on the ground and rolling around. The customers nearby frowned at the scene, but they didn¡¯t intend to leave, still waiting in line there. After all, it was mealtime, and they had already queued for such a long time¡ªhow could they just leave? A group of delivery guys waiting on the side, upon seeing this situation, moved forward to help, with two even trying to drag the middle-aged man out. Chen Yu let out a heavy sigh, feeling that something was off no matter how he looked at it. He had never seen this man before; it was impossible for him to specifically come to cause trouble, unless someone was behind this. Just then, he suddenly noticed an old man with white hair standing not far from the shop¡¯s entrance. The old man seemed panicked, pacing back and forth on the street as if he was waiting for something. After giving a few instructions to Wang Qingshan, Chen Yu walked out to approach the old man. ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve been wandering around here for quite a while. Is there something you need? If there¡¯s an issue, we can go inside and talk,¡± he suggested. Startled, the elder took a few steps back involuntarily, watching Chen Yu with a wary gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me. I did my homework before coming here. You, young man, practice sorcery, bewitch people, especially with the dishes you cook, adding some sort of love potion to them. Anyone who eats your food becomes blindly loyal to you!¡± the old man accused. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in shock¡ªwhat was this all about? ¡°Sir, perhaps there¡¯s some misunderstanding about me? My restaurant is legitimate, and we certainly don¡¯t engage in any other¡­¡± he began. Before Chen Yu could finish, the old man pulled out a newspaper from his person. One could not tell which publishing house had produced it, but it painted Chen Yu¡¯s restaurant as a den of evil. All sorts of absurd charges were attributed to him, even claiming he was messing around with women on the side. But even if these allegations were true, what did they have to do with the old man? Why would he come unprovoked to cause a scene? Without waiting for a response, the old man pointed toward the high-rise behind him. ¡°I live right here, I can keep an eye on you every day. Whatever you do, I can see it all. I advise you to repent before it¡¯s too late, otherwise, I¡¯ll hand over all the evidence to the authorities,¡± he threatened. Chen Yu was unnerved, slandered beyond any reasonable measure. Moreover, he himself was an external member of the said authorities and had every right to arrest the old man for defamation! COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Chapter 277 Auctioned Assets Chapter 277: Chapter 277 Auctioned Assets Chen Yu heaved a long sigh and took two steps forward. ¡°Old man, you said that the food from my restaurant killed someone. I need you to bring out the evidence, or have the victim come here, and I will fully compensate.¡± The elder seemed not to expect Chen Yu to be so assertive and was momentarily stunned. His voice also started to falter. Just then, two other elders of similar age strode over furiously, and immediately pulled out several death certificates from their clothes and threw them in front of Chen Yu. ¡°How can you be so heartless? Your shop has killed people, and you¡¯re still acting as if nothing¡¯s wrong here. Hurry up and discuss the compensation, or we¡¯ll contact the relevant people to smash your shop.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed tightly; he understood that these people were simply here to make trouble. And judging by the direction they came from, they must be residents of the building right in front of him. Actually, Chen Yu knew when he moved in that this building was a mixed-use complex, but since its completion, not many people have bought the residential spaces, so most are used for commercial purposes. The entire ground floor was leased out to a supermarket and several grocery stores. Previously, there were also several restaurants here, but after Chen Yu¡¯s shop opened, these restaurants moved away quite perceptively. ¡°Ling Ling, help me scan this building!¡± Chen Yu sensed something was off and immediately gave the command to his system. Before long, a flood of information entered Chen Yu¡¯s mind. He was astonished to find that the building in front of him was hollow, with only a few residents, and even their homes were unfinished. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, seeing that there must be something fishy going on. At this moment, about a dozen vans suddenly arrived, and a hundred or so people got off the vehicles. These people were all in uniforms, ranging from various departments, and the man leading them was even in a forensic officer¡¯s uniform. ¡°Mr. Chen, we just received a report that the food sold in your restaurant is substandard! We have already examined the victim¡¯s food before coming here and found that the food in their stomach came from your establishment. Please come with us immediately.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. Not to mention whether these guys¡¯ uniforms fit properly, but some of their uniforms were so poorly made, you could grab a handful for less than a hundred yuan on the street. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you must have been sent by the developer of this building,¡± he said. As soon as these words came out, everyone present was taken aback, with a few even subconsciously stepping back, clearly feeling guilty. The leader tried to steady his breathing, trying his best to remain calm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about who sent us. The fact is you¡¯ve broken the law, and now you must come with us for our investigation, and your shop will be closed for ten days.¡± Chen Yu had already learned everything when he received the building¡¯s information. Although the building was completed, most of the property rights had not been sold. With current policies, they had to change the building¡¯s industrial structure or dispose of it as quickly as possible, or it would just sit unsold. Thus, the developer behind all this had no choice but to resort to such measures, finding residents of the building and some riffraff to act as relevant personnel to drive Chen Yu out and take over his shop. This way, they could use the reputation Chen Yu had established to open a hotel and then bag all the shops along the street, facilitating a big deal¡ªperhaps even engaging in stock speculation to cash out! Chen Yu, who had already seen through everything, didn¡¯t argue with them, instead, he took out an identity badge from the relevant department. ¡°You say you have orders from the relevant department to close my shop, but as an external staff member of the relevant department, how come I haven¡¯t received such an order?¡± All those present were wide-eyed; they could not have imagined that Chen Yu had such an identity. The leader choked and instinctively leaned in to check Chen Yu¡¯s badge. His body trembled, and a flash of panic appeared on his face. ¡°How do I know if your badge isn¡¯t fake? Besides, we have the full documentation.¡± The man continued to be defiant, and then pulled out a weapon, ready to force Chen Yu into submission. Just as he was about to make a move, Chen Yu suddenly struck, slapping his face so hard that he fell to the ground, with half his body distorted from Chen Yu¡¯s blow. The rest were just riffraff, and they were stunned by the scene; some turned and ran immediately. Then, the piercing sound of a whistle broke the silence, and a dozen police cars gradually rolled in and surrounded the area. Zhou Shengtao stepped out of the car steadily, fiddling with a pair of handcuffs in his hand. ¡°Kid, it¡¯s only been a few days since I last saw you, and you¡¯ve become so arrogant, bringing a crowd to cause trouble again. Are you going to come with me, or do I have to take you by force?¡± The leader was scared out of his wits and immediately knelt on the ground. ¡°Officer Zhou, I swear this isn¡¯t my fault. I was just paid by Boss Wu to make trouble for Mr. Chen and force him to transfer his shop.¡± Zhou Sheng said nothing more and just motioned to the people behind him to arrest the riffraff, then walked up to Chen Yu. ¡°We¡¯ve been hearing rumors for a while now. I didn¡¯t expect Wu Zhonghe to be so bold as to actually make a move at this time.¡± Chen Yu looked annoyed: ¡°Wu Zhonghe? Who¡¯s he?¡± Zhou Shengtao pointed to several buildings in the vicinity: ¡°He¡¯s a local property developer; these buildings around us were all developed by him. The only thing is, this guy had some crooked ideas while developing real estate, and a lot of his money became dirty; a big portion of his assets has been seized, and right now he has no ability to run these buildings.¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°I see, he¡¯s just eager to dispose of these buildings quickly and find a profitable business to revive his ventures.¡± Zhou Shengtao suddenly laughed: ¡°This guy has no chance now. We¡¯ve caught him red-handed, and all his assets will be auctioned by the court in a few days!¡± Chen Yu suddenly became excited; he had just been thinking about expanding his business and changing his industry, and now an opportunity had practically fallen into his lap. ¡°Officer Zhou, you must save me a spot at the auction.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Property Transfer Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Property Transfer Zhou Shengtao patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and directly took out a sign from his body and placed it in his hand. ¡°Little Chen, could I possibly forget about you with such a good opportunity? I¡¯ve already prepared it for you. Just take this sign with you tomorrow at 10 a.m. to the specified location for the legal auction, and not only these buildings but other assets will be on sale as well. If you¡¯re interested, you might even buy them all together,¡± he said. Chen Yu immediately became excited. If he followed the normal procedures, one building would cost him over ten billion yuan, but through the legal auction process, he might get it for several billion yuan. ¡°Thank you, Officer Zhou. Why don¡¯t we go to the shop and have something to eat? I¡¯ll treat everyone today!¡± Chen Yu suggested. Zhou Shengtao waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve got some matters to attend to. You have no idea, these past few days Wu Zhonghe has mobilized all of Suzhou City¡¯s underground forces, causing us a lot of chaos.¡± After a few more words, Zhou Shengtao hurriedly left with the others. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breathing and tried his best to suppress his joy before he began to calculate his current assets. The revenue from his shop had basically fixed the major profits, mostly coming from the factory, and the recent orders from the West and domestically combined were worth several billion yuan in profit. He could fully mobilize these funds. Adding on the several billion yuan in savings he already had, it should be enough to buy the ownership of these buildings. Thinking of this added a bit more excitement in Chen Yu¡¯s heart, but he didn¡¯t linger there and hurried back to his shop. He had not paid enough attention to his shop recently, and it was time to make amends. Chen Yu, who had personally experienced the situation for the day, found that the scale of his shop was indeed insufficient. Even at 8 p.m. when the shop was supposed to close, it was still full of people, and even delivery boys were queuing at the door. Having no choice, Chen Yu had to continue operating the business, which went on until 2 a.m. before it finally ended. If it continued like this, he feared he might have to create a special midnight menu. The next morning at nine o¡¯clock, Chen Yu dragged his tired body to the auction. When he arrived, he saw the place was already crowded. It seemed everyone wanted to look for a bargain since the assets sold at the legal auction were about half the price of those on the market. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and just found a place to sit. After all, he had received the auction identity card beforehand, which saved him a lot of trouble. While he was waiting for the auction to start, a familiar voice suddenly appeared behind him. ¡°Son-in-law, you¡¯re here too!¡± someone called out. Chen Yu turned around to see Tong Ming walking in through a side door with several bodyguards. ¡°Dad!¡± Chen Yu quickly stood up as he hadn¡¯t seen Tong Ming for a while. Tong Ming didn¡¯t say much but just patted Chen Yu on the shoulder, then sat down next to him. ¡°It¡¯s rare to encounter an auction on this scale, and Wu Zhonghe used to be quite an influential figure in Suzhou City,¡± Tong Ming commented. ¡°The assets he controls are considerable in scale. If someone could acquire all of his assets, they could definitely become the richest person in Suzhou City!¡± Before coming to the auction, Chen Yu had already thoroughly investigated all of Wu Zhonghe¡¯s assets and found that this man had a lot of illegal assets, both openly and in secret. Although Wu didn¡¯t rank as the wealthiest in Suzhou City on the surface, if all his assets were combined, they could even make it onto the Forbes list. ¡°Dad, it looks like you¡¯re set on acquiring Wu Zhonghe¡¯s assets,¡± Chen Yu surmised. Tong Ming gestured dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s not so much about desire as it is about competition. Many in Suzhou City are eyeing his assets, and I believe this auction will be extremely fierce,¡± he said. Chen Yu nodded in agreement, knowing well that with such a bargain at stake, anyone with a bit of sense would want a piece of the pie. Moreover, today¡¯s crowd included not only Suzhou City¡¯s wealthy but also top families from other cities. If these individuals bid recklessly, the final auction price could end up being higher than the original value of the assets. Chen Yu exhaled a deep breath and was about to have the system analyze the asset status of all the attendees when Tong Ming suddenly handed him a detailed list of assets. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, your target this time is those buildings across from your shop, right?¡± Tong Ming asked. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much but nodded. After all, Tong Ming was the man who had singlehandedly built up the Tong Group, and his business acumen and thinking were far beyond the average person¡¯s. A brief analysis was enough for him to know about Chen Yu¡¯s intentions. ¡°I thought that opening the factory would allow the restaurant to maintain the status quo, but it¡¯s become even more popular, and many out-of-towners and internet celebrities come just to check in and tour. There are simply no accommodations nearby my place¡­¡± Chen Yu began. ¡°I get it!¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily. ¡°When I first started doing business, there were many things I didn¡¯t anticipate, and it¡¯s always been a matter of taking it one step at a time. Moreover, your business already has its own model, some things will still depend on you, and with me backing you up, what do you have to fear?¡± Chen Yu felt very reassured, chuckled, and said no more, simply waiting quietly for the auction to begin. Just then, a female host dressed exquisitely slowly walked up to the podium, and as her gavel fell upon the table, the venue instantly quieted down. ¡°Thank you all for attending the auction. I won¡¯t go into extraneous details. Our first asset up for auction is the Wu Family¡¯s amusement park in the eastern suburbs of Suzhou City. Interested bidders may start bidding now,¡± she announced. As her voice fell, a starting price appeared on the big screen beside her. Chen Yu had no real interest in the amusement park, moreover, its location was too remote to be of any practical use, even if he acquired it. Still, there were many bidders who started bidding, and not long after, the amusement park was sold for eight billion yuan. To be honest, this price was already quite low. Constructing a similar amusement park would cost at least 24 billion yuan. The excitement in the room reached a climax, with everyone eagerly anticipating the next auctioned asset. At that moment, Tong Ming suddenly stood up and raised his bid card. It was a piece of undeveloped land littered with construction debris and located away from the city center, which in many people¡¯s eyes was practically a wasteland. But to Tong Ming, this plot was near one of his industrial development zones, and acquiring it could increase its value at least tenfold. Therefore, no one contested Tong Ming, and he snapped up the land for the minimum price possible. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Core Assets Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Core Assets The initial auctions weren¡¯t anything special; it was mostly a matter of everyone taking what they needed without much struggle, but as the auction progressed, the core assets came up for sale. One business club was eventually sold for ten billion more than its starting price. Located right in the city center and with booming business, the venue would create enormous profits for whoever took over. When this asset was put on the block, even Daoist Boy couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. Owning such a business club would make hosting guests or conducting other business much more convenient in the future. However, Chen Yu remained calm. After all, the business club was too large for him to manage on his own, and Tong Ming already had several of similar size¡ªworst case, he could just borrow one temporarily. Chen Yu exhaled a deep breath and kept his eyes fixed on the large screen on the stage. The assets up for auction next were the large buildings opposite him. But when the price was announced, Chen Yu was momentarily stunned. Those buildings required a bid of a hundred and ten billion! Chen Yu was troubled. He couldn¡¯t come up with that kind of money with the assets he controlled, unless he mortgaged the entire industrial park he had just built to secure a loan for these buildings. But now, the industrial park had just started flourishing, and business at the factories was booming. If he mortgaged the park at this critical time, it would have a negative impact. If he ever really got to the point where he had to take out loans, then it would be troublesome. ¡°How about it, son-in-law, shall I give you a hand?¡± Chen Yu felt a bit awkward, not sure what to say, but right now he was indeed in urgent need of money. ¡°If you could, I¡¯d be much obliged; I¡¯ll pay you back!¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily. ¡°You¡¯re too polite!¡± With that, he raised his bidding paddle. As soon as Tong Ming made a move, the venue fell silent. Everyone knew that the Tong Family was the wealthiest of the four super-rich families in the capital and that the buildings in question were right across from their son-in-law¡¯s! Understanding this relationship, no one dared to bid anymore. Some even looked at Tong Ming uncertainly, tentatively raising their paddles, but when they caught his gaze, they lowered them again. In recent times, Tong Ming¡¯s developments in Suzhou City had been extremely smooth, virtually monopolizing half of Suzhou¡¯s financial landscape. No one in Suzhou City dared to oppose Tong Ming. Chen Yu also let out a sigh of relief; with his father-in-law present, if he had been bidding alone, the price might have skyrocketed to over two hundred billion. The auctioneer was clearly embarrassed, but he didn¡¯t dare to say more. He looked around the room, counted to three, and then hammered the gavel. The buildings, which had substantial commercial value, were sold for a hundred and eleven billion, which would have been an extraordinary event at any auction. Just as Chen Yu was getting excited, a large map was brought onto the stage by several men. It was a map of the Suzhou City industrial development park, a large portion of which depicted Chen Yu¡¯s industrial park. The assets now up for sale were several factories owned by Wu Zhonghe. Although these factories were not contiguous, each one was extremely large on its own. Moreover, over ninety percent of the equipment in these factories was new, ready for production immediately after take-over. The venue erupted into a buzz of excitement; such assets were considered high-quality, and they were worth splurging on. While the crowd was eager and ready, Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened as he stared intently at the map of the industrial park. Although Wu Zhonghe¡¯s factories were not connected, they were not far from Chen Yu¡¯s industrial park. If he could acquire all of these factories and make some planning tweaks, he could connect them with his existing park, potentially doubling the size of his factory operation. Chen Yu had already planned to expand his current industries or pivot to some extent, which required acquiring a significant amount of land and factories. Among these factories, one in particular¡ªa pharmaceutical plant¡ªexcited him the most. The medical prescriptions he acquired from the ¡°Cold Damage Hundreds of Grasses Diagram¡± had completed his knowledge in the field of medicine. Now, he could use ancient prescriptions combined with modern medical knowledge to create highly targeted, packaged medication. Such products were exceedingly popular in the Eastern Island and on the Peninsula, where they were touted as ¡°Traditional Chinese Medicine,¡± but their formulas were merely scratching the surface. Once the full breadth of the ¡°Cold Damage Hundreds of Grasses Diagram¡± prescriptions were produced in pre-packaged form, they would completely outclass Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing quickened; Tong Ming had covered the purchase of the buildings for him, leaving several billion in his hands. Tong Ming could see what Chen Yu was thinking and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Son-in-law, have you set your sights on these factories?¡± Chen Yu nodded without hiding his intentions. Tong Ming narrowed his eyes, examining the location of the factories, then took the factories¡¯ basic information from his assistant. ¡°Actually, when you started making pre-packaged food, I thought about whether it¡¯s possible to produce medicinal meal packages. But that¡¯s very specific, and it could cause trouble if eaten recklessly. However, if you create pre-packaged medical formulas with your medical skills, that¡¯s a different story.¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed; Tong Ming had seen through his plans all along. ¡°Dad, food and medicine have always been part of my plan. I didn¡¯t want to move so quickly, but a good opportunity has presented itself, so how could I let it slip through my fingers?¡± Tong Ming looked at Chen Yu approvingly. ¡°I knew I was right about you, son. Go ahead and do it. I have several tens of billions at my disposal; don¡¯t worry, just go for it!¡± Tong Ming spoke so loudly that it was unclear if he did so on purpose. The people nearby, upon hearing this, became disheartened. The eager atmosphere that had just been there dissipated. ¡°Ah well, it looks like this is another gift from old Tong to his son-in-law. Let¡¯s not get involved and avoid causing trouble!¡± ¡°It¡¯s wiser to let it go. Let¡¯s focus on other assets.¡± ¡°Unspoken though it may be, Chen has profound knowledge in both medicine and gastronomy. In his hands, these assets will surely gain even greater value.¡± ¡°Exactly, we shouldn¡¯t compete! I give up!¡± ¡­ COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Chapter 280 Traditional Chinese Medicine Chapter 280: Chapter 280 Traditional Chinese Medicine As more and more people dropped out of the auction, the auctioneer¡¯s face suddenly turned unsightly. Although this auction was the relevant department foreclosing on bad assets, the money Wu Zhonghe owed to the department was very real. They had originally thought that they could recover some of the capital to offset the debts Wu Zhonghe had accrued through the auction. Now, it seemed to be somewhat difficult! After all, who would dare to compete with Tong Ming once he made a move? Moreover, with Chen Yu¡¯s immense popularity in Suzhou City and his status as a world-class chef, many company cafeterias essentially ordered their meals from Chen Yu¡¯s outlets. If they were to genuinely anger Chen Yu and lose their meal supply, all of their company staff might very well go on a collective strike. As everyone withdrew, the several factories were taken down by Chen Yu for a mere price of 1.9 billion. The auctioneer sighed helplessly and could only continue with the auction. After the auction was over, Tong Ming immediately took Chen Yu to a nearby estate. This place didn¡¯t look very impressive and even felt a bit crude. An abundance of grape trellises covered the entire estate, and upon entering, one could smell the peculiar scent of fermenting grapes. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown and instinctively covered his nose. As the car slowly entered the estate, Chen Yu was startled to find several well-dressed elderly men standing in the vast open space of the estate, who appeared to be from influential families of the imperial capital. But looking at them, they seemed to lack some of the elegance expected of families from the imperial capital. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply following behind Tong Ming. ¡°San Mu! Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t get involved with this year¡¯s medicinal liquor? Why have you come early?¡± An elder with a slightly stooped figure slowly turned around and cast a malicious glance at Tong Ming. ¡°Mr. Tong, I truly didn¡¯t expect you to be interested in this stuff!¡± Tong Ming¡¯s lips curved up slightly as he casually plucked a grape from a nearby shelf and popped it into his mouth. ¡°This is one of the important materials for making traditional medicine, how could I give it up?¡± San Mu¡¯s eyes suddenly turned icy, ¡°Mr. Tong, don¡¯t forget that more than eighty percent of the traditional medicines on the market have already had their patents applied for by our So-and-So Group. Even if you want to get involved in this field, you¡¯d have to buy the patents from us.¡± Tong Ming laughed as if he had just heard a joke, leaning on Chen Yu and laughing uproariously while patting Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°My dear son-in-law, isn¡¯t this funny? These guys have almost forgotten who their ancestors are. They learned a bit from us, went back, and had the audacity to apply for the patents, quite shameless, claiming that these things are theirs.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but cough twice. Mocking San Mu so openly and arrogantly was something only Tong Ming dared to do. But this guy really was detestable! Chen Yu had heard of the name San Mu Daohe even when he was at university. This guy not only pioneered the field of traditional medicine but also traversed the Eastern lands looking for locations of various medicinal herbs. If they ever found any pristine, high-quality herbs, they would acquire them at high prices right away, so much so that they had taken over more than seventy percent of the precious herbs. ¡°It¡¯s quite funny, indeed! And I see Mr. San Mu is seriously ill, yet how come he hasn¡¯t thought of using traditional Chinese medicine to treat himself?¡± San Mu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be able to discern his physical condition at a glance. He knew his health condition better than anyone else. He had sought out famous doctors far and wide, yet his illness was incurable no matter what he tried. Moreover, all the patents for traditional Chinese medicine he held were copied directly from ancient medical books, and he himself had no clue how to treat illnesses. ¡°May I know who this gentleman is?¡± San Mu asked subconsciously. Before Chen Yu could speak, Tong Ming directly took his hand and led him to the doorway of the inner courtyard. ¡°Li Song, you old geezer, come out here!¡± This loud shout startled everyone present, and soon after, an extremely short old man emerged from the villa. The old man was less than a meter tall, resembling something like an earth deity, and his figure was entwined with an odd assortment of vines, which even bore some small fruits. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but gape; he had never seen such a bizarre old man. Upon seeing Tong Ming approach, Li Song became instantly infuriated, swinging his walking stick ready to strike. However, his frame was too feeble; even as he lifted his walking stick, he could only reach Tong Ming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mr. Tong, don¡¯t think you can bully me just because you¡¯re taller. Let me tell you, you can forget about getting this year¡¯s fruit wine,¡± he said. Tong Ming sighed helplessly and directly grabbed the walking stick from Li Song¡¯s hand. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just that you lost a bet back then? We might as well write off our debts, and I can even settle your account with that guy.¡± Li Song instantly perked up, glancing disdainfully at San Mu beside him, then shuffled forward with his walking stick. ¡°San Mu, when you first came to get wine from me, you said it was to glorify the culture of China around the world. But I never imagined that you were only doing it for your own selfish gain, injecting it into traditional Chinese medicine and even patenting it! I let it go previously because you had leverage over me, but now I am gravely ill and won¡¯t live much longer, there¡¯s no need to put up with your threats anymore.¡± San Mu¡¯s eyes widened even more; he hadn¡¯t expected things to take such a turn. ¡°Old sir, please, don¡¯t get angry. Those leverage points were just in my possession, I never told anyone about them, and I long since destroyed all that messy stuff, so you don¡¯t have to be scared. I¡¯m here this time hoping to follow through with our previous contract¡­¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve destroyed it long ago, you mean you¡¯ve actually been freeloading my medicinal wine all these years!¡± Li Song¡¯s face grew even angrier as he raised his walking stick and viciously swung it down, snapping San Mu¡¯s already disabled leg clean in two. San Mu¡¯s eyes bulged out; he had not expected Li Song to be so ruthless. Chen Yu watched in bafflement, not understanding the grudge between these three men, but Li Song¡¯s strike at San Mu genuinely excited him. Just then, Li Song suddenly threw down his stick and scurried to a corner of the courtyard, where he pulled back the grapevines. Hidden among the thick grape leaves were indeed three large vats of medicinal wine. As Li Song opened the lids, a rich fragrance instantly wafted out, enveloping the entire courtyard, seducing even Chen Yu into intoxication. This was not merely wine fermented from grapes; it contained at least a hundred different medicinal herbs. The medicinal effects combined to treat hundreds of diseases, truly astonishing to behold. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Chapter 281: 30 Years of Research Achievements Chapter 281: Chapter 281: 30 Years of Research Achievements Chen Yu¡¯s eyes sparkled as he stared intently at the three large vats. On the ¡°Cold Injury Herb Chart,¡± there was a record of a fruit wine made mainly from pears and apples, which could be used to treat most common colds, and to some extent, even relieve pain. Li Song looked proudly at the people before him, then placed his cane on top of the three large vats. ¡°You all came here today for the wine in these vats. So, state your reasons. If you satisfy me, the wine is yours. If I¡¯m not convinced, I¡¯ll smash them right away,¡± he said. San Mu suddenly became tense; his application for the new Traditional Chinese Medicine recipe required this fruit wine. If he couldn¡¯t bring this wine back with him, his project would be ruined. In his anxiety, San Mu hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, but after just two steps, his body suddenly weakened and he collapsed to the ground. The blow Li Song had delivered with his cane had not only injured his bones but also his tendons and meridians. He wouldn¡¯t be able to recover for at least ten days to half a month. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils widened. When he had seen the old man take action, it seemed like a light tap with a cane. How could it be so formidable? While he was still puzzled, Li Song had already taken a small bowl and ladled out a bowl of wine from the vat, offering it to Tong Ming. ¡°Old Tong, you¡¯ve also contributed to making this wine. The very last sip is for you,¡± he said. Unexpectedly, Tong Ming, far from being grateful, sat down with a smile to the side. ¡°Old Li, I can guarantee that this bowl of wine is not the last sip, and you¡¯re not going to smash these three vats today either,¡± he claimed. Mr. Li Song was taken aback for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter and drained the wine in his hand. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve passed my test, so you¡¯ll have a share of this wine. As for this young man¡­¡± he began. Before Li Song could finish, Chen Yu stepped forward and whispered into his ear. ¡°Old master, the herbs you used for brewing this fruit wine, as well as their order, are¡­¡± Chen Yu had already discerned all the ingredients when he smelled the fruit wine and now he easily recited them. After listening, Li Song stood there thunderstruck. He never imagined someone else in the world could know his secret recipe. His breathing became rapid, and he seemed somewhat dazed. ¡°Impossible. This is a family secret recipe of mine, and I¡¯ve spent a full thirty years refining it. No one in the world besides me knows the exact method of production. Where did you steal it from?¡± he demanded. Tong Ming burst out laughing, ¡°My son-in-law is unlike anyone else; he has an exceptional sense of smell that surpasses the ordinary, able to discern all your formulas and even the brewing methods with just a sniff.¡± Li Song sighed resignedly, ¡°So you mean to say that even if I go back to these three vats, your son-in-law could easily brew a new batch!¡± With that, Li Song retracted his cane and sat down somewhat helplessly. Chen Yu immediately felt relieved. Although he already knew the precise brewing method and the herbs used, it would still take him quite an effort to brew it himself. Moreover, the fruit wine in these three large vats was also an extremely important raw material for him. If he could slightly refine it and offer it as a specialty drink in his shop, it would definitely be a hit. San Mu, lying on the ground and seeing the situation, suddenly had an odd gleam in his eyes. He slowly got up, made a bow to Li Song, and then left the place, leaning on his cane. However, just as he was about to step out of the doorway, he paused and turned back to look at Chen Yu. The tense expression on Li Song¡¯s face eased at once. Before this, San Mu had always used various threats to blackmail him, but now he was finally rid of the guy. Tong Ming didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, dialing a phone call immediately after which two burly men entered the yard and carried away the three large vats. Li Song didn¡¯t obstruct them but only waved to Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, you are very impressive! However, I must remind you that in order to make that fruit wine successful, you¡¯ll need a medicinal primer. Without these things, no matter how incredible your formula is, it will not succeed,¡± said Li Song, taking out something that resembled a caterpillar from his pocket. This thing looked somewhat like cordyceps, but the patterns on it were much more numerous than those on the cordyceps, and the medicinal scent it released even had an intoxicating quality. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in excitement as he took the caterpillar from Li Song¡¯s hand. ¡°Core Earth Worms? Elder sir, these worms are not easy to catch.¡± These were creatures that lived deep underground, requiring extremely stringent conditions to survive, and usually, they came in pairs. If one was captured, the other would emerge from the ground on its own. Li Song was also surprised that Chen Yu recognized the worms; he excitedly patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and then pulled out a box. ¡°Back then, I went through a lot of hardship to catch these two worms, and now they are yours. You know how to use them, right?¡± Chen Yu nodded and gently stroked the heads of the two worms. These worms were incredibly precious and although their body fluids were necessary for making wine, they did not have to be killed; it only required some of their saliva. ¡°Of course I know, thank you for your generous teaching, elder!¡± Li Song nodded, not saying much more, but as he was about to turn around and go back to the villa, Tong Ming called out to him. ¡°Old Li, don¡¯t rush off. If I remember correctly, you should have an ancient book with you, right? It contains quite a few treasures. Why not take it out and give it to my son-in-law as well?¡± Li Song immediately started hopping mad: ¡°Don¡¯t be too greedy. I¡¯ve already offered up thirty years of research outcomes; what more do you want from me?¡± Tong Ming didn¡¯t care for the complaints. He took out a yin-yang jade pendant from his pocket and stuffed it into Li Song¡¯s hand. ¡°We are both old now, so we should do what the elderly are supposed to do, and someone is still waiting for you!¡± The sight of the jade pendant stopped Li Song in his tracks; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to still have it. ¡°You¡¯re ruthless! I can give you the item, but you have to return the wine cellar I lost to you ten years ago! When I leave here, I have to have some business to rely on,¡± said Li Song. Tong Ming agreed readily, taking a key from his pocket and tossing it over as if he had anticipated Li Song¡¯s condition all along. After receiving the key, Li Song immediately threw out a book. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Decorating the Building Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Decorating the Building Tong Ming immediately stuffed the book into Chen Yu¡¯s hands after he received it. It was a yellowed ancient tome, whose pages had become so brittle that they might crumble into pieces with just a little force. Chen Yu carefully flipped through the book and discovered that it was filled with extremely old medicinal recipes. If he looked closely, he would realize that it was actually a cookbook. It almost summarized all the foods in the world, providing methods of preparation, and each food¡¯s corresponding medical benefits were also recorded. This was simply a perfect compilation of therapeutic foods! Chen Yu became instantly excited; he had always wanted to introduce a medicinal dietary window in his restaurant, but considering the varying illnesses it would target, he had hesitated to fully promote it. With this ancient book, he could systematically train Wang Qingshan and the other two, and in no time at all, they would be able to master the method of preparing medicinal dishes. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing, striving to contain the excitement within him, and then carefully stored the ancient book away. After exchanging a few words with Li Song, Tong Ming left the place with Chen Yu. Before long, Tong Ming and Chen Yu arrived at the building across from the restaurant. The building now seemed extremely calm, as the shops previously located beneath it had moved out one after another, leaving it deserted. Tong Ming glanced at the quiet building, then patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°The following tasks seem simple, but they are all troublesome. If you want to remodel this building, you must properly relocate the residents inside; otherwise, you¡¯ll have a tough time with the follow-up matters,¡± he said. Chen Yu nodded; he was well aware of the stakes involved, as there were no shortages of people who had thrown themselves off buildings over property disputes. While they were talking, a middle-aged man suddenly ran out of the building with two homemade Molotov cocktails made from gasoline in his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, if you dare touch my house, I¡¯m ready to fight for my life right now,¡± he exclaimed. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; it was as if his worst-case scenario had come to pass. However, in most cases, such people wouldn¡¯t actually commit suicide; after all, no one would truly gamble with their own life. As long as the compensation was sufficient, everything could be resolved. The man brandished the Molotov cocktails in his hands, his cold gaze sweeping the surroundings before swiftly locking onto Chen Yu and Tong Ming. After the auction, news that Chen Yu had acquired the place had spread throughout the entire building, and everyone had memorized his face. So, whenever they saw Chen Yu approaching, they would immediately rush over, aiming to negotiate for a higher compensation amount. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t the least bit panicked, but instead walked over nonchalantly. He had already investigated the building, which, though commercial-residential, housed only thirteen families. Even if he compensated them at the highest market rate, it wouldn¡¯t amount to much. The middle-aged man became somewhat flustered when he saw Chen Yu approach, hastily shaking the Molotov cocktail he held. But unexpectedly, Chen Yu acted quickly, moving right in front of him, grabbing his hands, and snatching the Molotov cocktail away. ¡°Holding such dangerous things is risky. Besides, isn¡¯t it just money you want? It¡¯d be a bad deal to risk your life for it,¡± Chen Yu said. With that, Chen Yu handed the man a check. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the amount written on the check, and without further words, he eagerly took the check and dashed home, seemingly ready to move. Before Chen Yu could catch his breath, the other twelve households rushed down in a hurry. But when they saw the previous middle-aged man excitedly running back, they seemed somewhat disheartened. Before they could come to terms with the situation, Chen Yu had already handed them prepared checks in turn. ¡°Everyone, according to the rules, this building is mine now. You were supposed to receive the minimum subsidy from the relevant departments and move out, but I¡¯ve given you the highest compensation available on the market. I hope you can give me a break and move out as soon as possible,¡± Chen Yu said earnestly. Having sincerely spoken and offered the money already, the residents didn¡¯t say much else. After glancing at their checks, they returned home. Before long, they were seen leaving the building with their belongings in large and small bags, seemingly having been prepared and just waiting for the compensation. Tong Ming nodded with satisfaction at Chen Yu¡¯s handling of the situation. For a businessman, it¡¯s vital to consider the long-term strategy and comprehensive value of a decision and not to waste time over trivial gains. Although Chen Yu had spent a lot on getting these people to move, he had saved a considerable amount of time. After sending the residents off, Chen Yu went straight upstairs. The building was the highest quality asset of all those auctioned, with all renovations already completed, ready for immediate use, and turning it into a hotel wouldn¡¯t take much time. After a brief tour of the building, Chen Yu contacted Xie Jiang immediately. The projects in the industrial park were finished, with only some final touches left; Xie Jiang just needed to leave one construction crew there. It wasn¡¯t long before Xie Jiang arrived at the site with a group of workers, cheerful and eager. ¡°Old Chen, I never expected you to line up work for me like this. The industrial park project just wrapped up, and you¡¯ve given me such a big job. How can I ever thank you?¡± Xie Jiang exclaimed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, only produced a contract and laid it in front of Xie Jiang. ¡°I¡¯ll share my design ideas and other details with you later. From now on, this place is in your hands. Make sure to complete the project as quickly as possible,¡± Chen Yu instructed. Xie Jiang laughed heartily. ¡°Leave it to me; I¡¯ll take care of it. Besides, this place is basically finished; it only needs some minor modifications. It won¡¯t take more than a month,¡± he assured. As he spoke, Xie Jiang fired up his computer, scanned the entire building, and inputted the details that Chen Yu had stressed. Soon, numerous designs were generated on the computer. Chen Yu reviewed the preliminary plans and nodded in satisfaction. After conveying a few more details, he left the building with Tong Ming. Just as he stepped outside, Chen Yu noticed over a dozen vans inexplicably parked in front of his shop. A fierce-looking middle-aged man, accompanied by a group of people, slowly disembarked from the vans. As soon as these folks got out of the vans, they barged into the shop in a very brash manner. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Chapter 283 Intermittent Psychosis Chapter 283: Chapter 283 Intermittent Psychosis Chen Yu frowned and hurriedly ran over. But he had barely taken two steps when Tong Ming stopped him. ¡°What¡¯s the rush, kiddo? Don¡¯t you see who these people work for?¡± Only then did Chen Yu calm down and notice that these people were all wearing the uniforms of the Tong Group. ¡°Dad, did you arrange for all these people?¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily, ¡°Since the building is yours now, you should move there as soon as possible, and your original store can be upgraded and renovated once more.¡± Chen Yu nodded and didn¡¯t say much more. His original store was situated between two buildings. If he could acquire the development rights to the land, dig deep into the foundations, and then add a few more floors on top, he might be able to transform it into a six-story building. The diners in the restaurant thought there was trouble when so many people suddenly burst in and quickly got up from their seats. One of them picked up a megaphone at hand and stood on a chair to shout. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, starting from today, the entire restaurant will be moving across the street. We hope for your understanding.¡± Upon hearing this, all the people present became excited. They had been regular patrons since Chen Yu opened his restaurant and had watched him grow step by step to where he was today. The restaurant was so popular that there were always too many diners. Even though the shop was large, it couldn¡¯t accommodate the current volume of customers. If it could move to the building across the street, they would be happier than Chen Yu himself. This way, they wouldn¡¯t have to queue up for meals in the future, and it could be more spacious too. All the customers spontaneously began to move, carrying tables and chairs to the building across the street and arranging them under the guidance of a professional. These buildings were connected to begin with, and the space on the first floor was very spacious. With a little tidying up, it could easily accommodate the whole restaurant. As for the renovation, that was for the mixed-use rooms above the first floor, so it was possible to continue operating the restaurant while renovations were ongoing. Chen Yu felt an inexplicable excitement. Once the restaurant moved into the building, he would be able to expand his business even more. ¡°Boss Chen, I really didn¡¯t expect your restaurant to develop so quickly. The new location has barely been renovated for a few months, and now it¡¯s already moving into the building.¡± ¡°Hey Chen, are you going to raise your menu prices after moving into the building?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Chen bought this huge building, so it¡¯s only fair if he raises the prices a bit, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Just look at those centenarian restaurants, their food is barely palatable and yet so expensive! Take Chen¡¯s fried cakes for example, even if they cost five bucks each, I¡¯d still come to eat.¡± ¡­ A bunch of people were discussing endlessly, some even started arguing, causing Chen Yu to feel somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°Everyone, rest assured, the prices of my dishes will never go up!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of people began to praise him enthusiastically. It wasn¡¯t long before the tables, chairs, and some of the kitchen equipment were moved to the first floor of the building. Chen Yu had already reviewed the layout here, so setting up was very convenient. In a short time, the entire restaurant had moved here, and it was even divided into several counters. After all, it was originally constructed with the layout of a large mall in mind, featuring many circular counters. With a little bit of tidying up and a few servers stationed at each circular counter, followed by sequentially putting up pictures of the food on the outside billboards, the restaurant was ready to operate normally. As for the other spacious areas, they could not only accommodate tables and chairs and include some basic facilities, but also sell space to other manufacturers for advertising. Once the rooms in the building were tidied up, it could then be used as a hotel or for other purposes. Chen Yu looked at the layout in front of him with great satisfaction, his expectations for the future growing even larger. After helping with all of this, Tong Ming didn¡¯t stay much longer, as there were still a ton of things waiting for him to handle at Tong Group. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tong Ming left the place, surrounded by a group of bodyguards. Following that, Chen Yu directed everyone to move all the things from the warehouse over to this side. There were several large cold storages under the building, much larger than the original restaurant¡¯s cold storage, at least ten times larger. Thus, the amount of semi-finished products that could be stored was greatly increased. Just as Chen Yu was tidying up, the sound of glass shattering suddenly came from not far away. A muscular middle-aged man carrying a small bag appeared in the hall, who knew when he had entered. In his other hand, he held a brick and coldly surveyed the hall. ¡°Who the fuck let you open a restaurant here?¡± At these words, everyone on the scene was stunned for a moment. Chen Yu had already bought these buildings, and it was his business what he wanted to do here. What business was it of these people to interfere? Chen Yu also frowned, ¡°I¡¯m the person in charge here. Who are you guys? If there is an issue, talk to me!¡± The man sized Chen Yu up and down before swinging the brick in his hand down. The brick seemed to be made of concrete, mixed with some steel beads. Had it been an ordinary person, they would have lost their life from such a blow, but Chen Yu¡¯s physical fitness had already reached the limit of human capability. When the brick hit his head, it broke apart while he himself remained unaffected. The middle-aged man looked incredulously at the half piece of brick left in his hand, his entire demeanor becoming somewhat dazed. One of his purposes for coming here was to find a reason to kill Chen Yu, for which he had even tampered with the brick. Who would have thought that Chen Yu¡¯s head was so hard. Chen Yu also understood the man¡¯s intention; the guy was simply a scapegoat, with definitely someone behind him. When he bought these buildings, several gazes locked onto him at the auction. Back then, due to Tong Ming¡¯s influence, no one dared to touch him, but that didn¡¯t mean those people wouldn¡¯t play dirty in the shadows. The man in front of him was a desperado brought in by that bunch. Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air and patted the dust off his head, then reached out and grabbed the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Speak up, who sent you?¡± The middle-aged man found himself at a loss for words, he had done this kind of thing many times before, always ending up with it being labeled an accident due to someone backing him up each time. He had never encountered a situation like today! ¡°No one, I¡­ I have mental illness, I just like to walk around with a brick, is that a problem?¡± The man hastily blurted out, at the same time taking out a certificate from his body. It was actually a formal intermittent mental illness certificate issued by the relevant authorities! The guy sure had come prepared. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Chapter 284 Chu Jianghe Chapter 284: Chapter 284 Chu Jianghe Chen Yu was not muddled either; he pulled out a certificate for non-staff personnel from a government department from his bag. Seeing the certificate, the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes bulged as if he had seen something terrifying. ¡°Impossible, how can you, a cook who owns a restaurant, have such a certificate?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of mockery, ¡°You, a drifter who can get a certificate for being mentally ill, why can¡¯t I have a certificate for non-staff personnel?¡± The man was immediately thrown into extreme panic. With Chen Yu¡¯s identity, he was qualified to confiscate his certificate for intermittent mental illness. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already snatched the certificate away. ¡°After my assessment, you are just fine; you don¡¯t need this certificate anymore!¡± The man was stiff as if struck by a bolt from the blue, and his companions who came with him were panicked, scrambling to escape. But the patrons in the shop wouldn¡¯t let them get away so easily; they took it upon themselves to stand at the door, blocking their escape route. The man¡¯s eyes darted around rapidly. ¡°No, even though you can confiscate my certificate, you can¡¯t prove I¡¯m not a normal person unless you have a medical practitioner license.¡± Chen Yu said nothing, simply pulling out a medical practitioner license from his pocket. The man¡¯s face turned ashen, never expecting Chen Yu to hold so many certificates. Before he could recover, Chen Yu had taken out handcuffs from his pocket and cuffed the man, while making a call to Zhou Shengtao. Just then, Chen Yu suddenly saw a business car parked at the entrance of the building. There were a pair of hawk-like eyes inside the car, staring intently over here. Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, as, at that moment, the system scanned the information of the person inside the business car and displayed it in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Chu Jianghe! The head of the Chu Family from the Magic Capital, one of Tong Ming¡¯s main competitors. Due to Suzhou City¡¯s unique geographical location, both the Chu Family and the Tong Family had intentions to take control of Suzhou City. Unfortunately for the Chu Family, they were one step behind, which allowed the Tong Family to easily occupy half of Suzhou City¡¯s territory. During the previous auction, Chu Jianghe had not arrived at the scene in time and thus came away empty-handed. What he had set his sights on was exactly the block of buildings that Chen Yu had purchased. This place, close to the city center, could serve as corporate headquarters or be used for other purposes. If the Chu Family could take over this spot, they would stand a chance to outmaneuver the Tong Family in Suzhou City. Therefore, at all costs, Chu Jianghe had sourced some thugs from the street, hoping to have Chen Yu killed by accident. But who could have imagined that Chen Yu not only had multiple identities, but also a remarkably strong constitution, to the point where even specially tampered bricks couldn¡¯t harm him in the slightest. Chu Jianghe¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment, but under the circumstances, he couldn¡¯t linger, quickly instructing the driver to start the car. Yet as soon as the car started, Chen Yu stood in front of it, placing one hand on the window. ¡°Mr. Chu, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation and would like to invite you for a casual drink. Would you grace me with your presence?¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s expression changed, never expecting Chen Yu to have such audacity. Without saying much, Chu Jianghe got out of the car and walked arrogantly into the hall. The restaurant¡¯s facilities had basically all been moved over and were ready for normal operation. When the cooperation was initially set up, Chen Yu had Wang Qingshan bring all the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes, even opening a jar of fruit wine on the spot. ¡°Mr. Chu, you¡¯ve come at the perfect time. This jar of wine was brought over from an old senior; it has been fermented for thirty years, and it¡¯s mixed with a hundred medicinal herbs, able to cure various diseases.¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Having spent so many years in the business world, he had seen it all, but he had never heard of this kind of fruit wine before. The smell it emitted had a unique fragrance, and just by taking a sniff, he felt a sense of light-headedness. Without hesitation, Chu Jianghe lifted his glass and downed the wine in one gulp. ¡°Excellent wine! Although I do not drink, I do enjoy collecting wine. I have a cellar full of various famous wines from all around the world, but I have never seen this one.¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly and poured himself a cup. ¡°If the elder likes it, that¡¯s all that matters. However, I am puzzled about one thing. Why did you suddenly act against me? Have we had a dispute before?¡± Chu Jianghe tensed up a bit; he didn¡¯t know what to say. Compared to him, Chen Yu¡¯s magnanimity and vision seemed to surpass that of the elder. ¡°No hard feelings, you just got in my way. Plus, I¡¯ve had decades of feud with that old man Tong. Since we¡¯ve met here in Suzhou City, I intend to settle things once and for all.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply inviting Chu Jianghe to eat. In the following ten minutes, neither said a word. Chu Jianghe just sat there eating by himself, while Chen Yu stared fixedly at him. Only after Chu Jianghe finished eating, did Chen Yu speak up again. ¡°How does the food here suit you, elder?¡± Chu Jianghe put down his chopsticks, ¡°One could say it¡¯s a delicacy from heaven; I¡¯ve never tasted anything so delicious in my life!¡± As he spoke, Chu Jianghe took out a unique handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth. ¡°While eating just now, I took the opportunity to observe the layout here and grasped an understanding of your business model. This block of buildings really can achieve their full potential in your hands.¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°So it seems Mr. Chu is not intending to compete with me anymore.¡± Chu Jianghe grabbed the walking stick beside him, ¡°That old man Tong is narrow-minded. I didn¡¯t expect him to have a son-in-law like you. I¡¯m even a bit envious!¡± ¡°I refrained today simply because I admire you. As for Tong Ming, I will still settle my score with him!¡± Chen Yu refrained from saying more. After all, it was a grudge between the older generation, and even if he understood the details, it wasn¡¯t his place to meddle. Chu Jianghe got up slowly and just as he took two steps, he turned back. ¡°I heard your restaurant offers meal services for companies. If you don¡¯t mind, from now on, I¡¯d like to order employee meals from you, and I hope you can deliver on time.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I¡¯m in business to serve customers. With a big client like you knocking, I¡¯ve no reason to refuse. Just leave me the address and the number of employees. But I have to warn you, the price for meals from my place is several percent higher than others.¡± Chu Jianghe let out a hearty laugh, ¡°For such delicious food, even if the price were several times higher, I would accept it.¡± With that, he pulled out a check from his pocket and handed it to Chen Yu. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Chapter 285 Pharmaceutical Factory Chapter 285: Chapter 285 Pharmaceutical Factory After Chu Jianghe left, Chen Yu finally let out a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Tong Ming¡¯s competitor at this time. However, this fellow was quite insidious, actually finding someone with intermittent mental illness to come here and cause trouble, even attempting to take his life. But this person¡¯s composure was indeed extraordinary, one second he wanted to kill Chen Yu, and the next he was ordering a meal from him. No wonder he had made the Chu Family the number one family in the Magic City. After explaining some details to the employees and Xie Jiang, Chen Yu drove to the factory. Hou Jianchang had been waiting for Chen Yu early at the factory gate. After all, several nearby factories had already been bought by Chen Yu, and as the factory manager, Hou Jianchang had to take part in the handover as well. But when the two arrived at the factory, they found that at the gates of several factories, there stood a large number of workers, holding various tools, their presence menacing. Chen Yu quickly stopped the car and hurried out. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m here to take over the factory,¡± he said. ¡°I mean no harm, and I hope you all can put down whatever you¡¯re holding.¡± But these people were completely unreceptive. An elderly worker at the head of the group took a few steps forward with a hoe in hand. ¡°Kid, I don¡¯t care what you intend to do, but the former owner of this factory owes us money and hasn¡¯t paid up. Unless you make that guy pay us, we¡¯re not leaving.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning. The old man¡¯s words were somewhat incoherent, but he understood the gist of them. The workers were afraid he would take over the factory and forcibly evict them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve taken over this factory and I¡¯ve taken over all of you as well, so your wages are my responsibility. Also, I will rehire all the technical jobs in this factory!¡± Upon hearing this, the workers present quieted down. The elderly man and several older workers exchanged glances, then looked at Chen Yu with suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to trick us, are you? I¡¯ve been a factory worker all my life, and I¡¯ve seen factories being sold a few times. The new factory owners always try to drive away the original workers and never pay a dime!¡± Chen Yu replied somewhat helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve brought the money already, and I have the factory¡¯s ledger in my hand. If you don¡¯t trust me, you can line up right now and come collect your wages from me.¡± The lead old man was obviously taken aback but still somewhat doubtful. ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s trust him this time. Line up here, and I¡¯ll see how much he¡¯s going to pay us,¡± he said. As he spoke, the old man directly moved some tables over in front of Chen Yu to serve as a temporary desk. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate; taking out his phone, he called out names according to the personnel roster recorded in the ledger and distributed wages in turn. Normally, such large-scale wage distribution should be conducted through a bank, considering that it also involves many tax issues. But given the urgent situation, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t care about that. He had to get the money into the workers¡¯ hands first and deal with the rest later. When the workers received their full wages, they were incredulously looking at their bank card balances. In their minds, without a struggle, there was no way to get the money rightfully owed to them. Yet now, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t said much, and he had fully and generously paid their wages. As everyone was moved, the old man from before stood up again. ¡°Boss, we used to contribute to social security and the housing fund here. Now that you¡¯ve paid us our wages, does it mean we are no longer entitled to these benefits?¡± Chen Yu approached affectionately and patted the old man on the shoulder, then took out a booklet from his hand. ¡°This contains records of everyone¡¯s contributions to social security and the housing fund. After taking over the project, I will continue all of it! As long as you are willing to continue working here, none of the benefits will change.¡± The elder¡¯s breathing became rapid, and he stared at Chen Yu somewhat incredulously. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with you? Are you the ¡®silly and rich¡¯ type from the legends?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smile; it seemed these workers had been scared off by deceitful practices. ¡°This place used to process medicinal materials, and the project I want to do also involves medicinal materials, so you are all extremely valuable to me. I don¡¯t care how much the previous factory paid you, but after I take over, everyone will get a raise of one thousand!¡± At these words, all the workers present erupted in excitement. They had never expected to encounter such a fortunate circumstance, as they had all been prepared for a bloody sacrifice before. After pacifying the workers, Chen Yu went with Hou Jianchang into the factory. Upon entering, Chen Yu smelled an extremely strong scent of medicine, although the smell was mixed with a lot of impurities. It seemed that the former factory had mixed a lot of random substances into the medicine during production. Chen Yu frowned and followed the scent to a large pool of medicinal materials. A few of the older workers also followed behind. After briefly observing the powdered medicinal materials inside, Chen Yu¡¯s face showed a hint of anger. ¡°Has the production of medicinal materials always been like this here?¡± The old man from before sighed helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve been working here ten years. At the beginning, they really used some good medicines, but as time went by, they started adding all sorts of mess, and it eventually got to this state! We reported this to the higher-ups many times, but nobody cared.¡± Chen Yu exhaled slowly. It seemed all of this was done by Wu Zhonghe and had nothing to do with the workers here. ¡°From now on, all procedures must be strictly monitored. I don¡¯t want to see this situation again. As for the medicinal materials needed for work, I will ship them from other places, ensuring they are all top-grade.¡± The workers again grew excited. They haven¡¯t seen real medicinal materials for a long time, let alone top-grade ones. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else but reassured the workers and then moved on with Hou Jianchang to the next factory. Of Wu Zhonghe¡¯s factories, four were pharmaceutical plants, and the rest were all food processing plants. Almost all of the factories used very low-grade raw materials, some of which were poor quality leftovers from others. And like the previous pharmaceutical plant, all of the workers gathered, wanting to confront Chen Yu. However, after replenishing all of their wages, they didn¡¯t say much else. Some even regarded Chen Yu as their savior. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Heading South to Sell Medicine Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Heading South to Sell Medicine After successfully taking over all the factories, Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He really hadn¡¯t anticipated that Wu Zhonghe would leave such a mess for him. One of the food factories hadn¡¯t paid wages for an entire half year. It was a wonder how the workers there had managed to hold on. Though these factories had been completely taken over, their layout was too scattered, and it was somewhat troublesome to want to operate them systemically. Chen Yu frowned, realizing that if he truly wanted to produce custom drugs on a large scale, he would probably have to take over other factories as well, forming a specialized pharmaceutical industrial park. This was indeed a huge project. If nothing unexpected happened, he would have to buy up the surrounding factories one by one. However, for the time being, the most pressing matter was to find the original source of the medicinal materials. ¡°Old Chen, all the workers have been pacified, but having so many people here is a huge expense for food and lodging. Do you think we should figure out a way to weed some of them out?¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s face showed difficulty, as an experienced factory manager, he understood the operation¡¯s key. Moreover, they had unconditionally kept all the workers and even paid their back wages, fulfilling a moral obligation. But with so many workers, it was inevitable that some were just skiving off, and there was simply no need to keep people like that around. Chen Yu stroked his chin and pondered. ¡°For now, let¡¯s not dismiss anyone. We¡¯ve just taken over these factories, and what¡¯s most important is the workers¡¯ morale. If we cause any disturbances, the consequences would be unthinkable.¡± Hou Jianchang heaved a helpless sigh. This was indeed a troubling matter. ¡°Then when do we arrange for them to start working? We can¡¯t just let this big crowd sit idle.¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Old Hou, you keep an eye on these people for me for now, and make sure nothing goes wrong. I need to go out and find the source of the medicinal materials during this time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll arrange everything here.¡± Hou Jianchang replied and immediately made a phone call. During this time, he had already cultivated a group of practical workers in the factory, and these individuals could serve as factory managers anywhere. Temporarily putting them in charge of some of the workers was an easy task. After settling the matters in Suzhou City, Chen Yu went directly to Nanyun. It could be said to be the center of medicinal materials in the entire East, with more than seventy percent of the world¡¯s medicinal materials originating from there. Chen Yu traveled without any rest, almost rushing nonstop to Nanyun. But as soon as he left the airport, he was astounded by everything he saw. The bustling airport perimeter was filled with many vendors, each stall laden with various medicinal materials. The rich scent of herbs permeated outside the airport, and just a whiff was enough to feel refreshing and clear-headed. Just as Chen Yu was about to approach and inquire about the prices of the herbs, he suddenly stopped in his tracks as he detected an odd scent among them. Not far away, a small stall displayed a large number of Paris polyphylla, a common medicinal herb in Nanyun. Most Paris polyphylla had seven leaves and one flower, but the ones in front of him had nine leaves and two flowers. This item, at a glance, was obviously mutated, and, moreover, the flowers of these Paris polyphylla were a vivid red. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. If it were someone else, they probably would have treasured it and bought it on the spot. ¡°Brother, looking at herbs? This is the most precious nine-leaf Paris polyphylla, our local specialty. If you take it to another place, its value could increase a hundredfold.¡± The small vendor called out, then looked at Chen Yu with a hopeful gaze. If it were anyone else, they likely would have made the purchase, but that just wasn¡¯t possible with Chen Yu. Not to mention that he could see at a glance whether this Paris polyphylla was real or fake, the system had already clearly analyzed the components of this thing and projected them in his mind. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just glanced away and continued on his way, but unexpectedly, just as he had gone a few steps, those vendors that were selling herbs suddenly stopped him. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re from out of town, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you know the rules here? If you don¡¯t buy some herbs after getting off the plane, that¡¯s showing us disrespect.¡± Chen Yu wanted to laugh immediately; it seemed these guys were the local bullies. No wonder so many people headed straight here to buy herbs the moment they got off the plane, and many of them appeared quite reluctant. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it with these guys. After all, he was here to trade herbs and didn¡¯t need to get involved with them. Without saying much more, he walked over to a small stall, threw down ten thousand yuan, casually picked up a herb, and then turned around to leave. This time, those vendors didn¡¯t stop him but merely took the money and remarked that he was understanding. Nanyun was situated at the junction of subtropical and tropical zones, where natural resources were abundant. Aside from the copious amount of herbs, there were numerous fruits and various subtropical cash crops. Chen Yu admired the scenery along the way as he quickly made his way toward the herb market. Before long, he arrived at a rather bustling small town. The town, backed by a large mountain, had generations of residents who lived by gathering herbs and hunting. In modern society, with the enactment of hunting bans, the main livelihood of the locals had shifted to growing and trading medicinal herbs. At the foot of the mountain lay a large trading market, where a wide variety of herbs were available. It was the first stop for every merchant who dealt in herbs. Chen Yu also eagerly joined the crowd and entered. But as he stepped through the gate, he froze in place. This was indeed a large herb market with a complete range of medicinal plants, but the air was mixed with many strange scents, just like the odors at the airport entrance. It seemed not all the herbs here were authentic. Chen Yu sighed in resignation, and just as he was about to leave, a voice suddenly rang out from behind him. ¡°Young man, you seem to know your stuff, huh? Running around here to exchange herbs. Come on, my family still has lots of valuable herbs. I¡¯ll give you a good deal.¡± Chen Yu turned around and saw that the speaker was the same person who had previously forced him to buy Paris polyphylla at the train station. The guy was quick; he had arrived here before Chen Yu. However, Chen Yu had practically been sightseeing along the way, so naturally, his pace was slower. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare buy your herbs. There are many I haven¡¯t even seen before, and I don¡¯t even know their effects. If I bought the wrong ones, that could spell serious trouble,¡± Chen Yu responded dismissively and prepared to leave. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 287 Big Tiger and Second Dog Chapter 287: Chapter 287 Big Tiger and Second Dog ¡°Stop right there!¡± The man suddenly shouted and then immediately stepped forward to grab Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If a medicine is used incorrectly, it won¡¯t be fatal. You just need another medicine to fix it. Besides, you¡¯re out here doing business with medicinal materials, not healing the sick and saving lives. Why so serious? How about this, we become friends, you give me a list of medicinal materials, and I¡¯ll send them to you right away.¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brow, surprised by how persistent this guy was. Furthermore, as the guy reached over his shoulder, a dozen or so brawny men began to emerge nearby. These men all bore the unmistakable mark of Nan Yun, each with the same tattoo on their necks. One glance was enough to tell these men belonged to the same group. Chen Yu let out a slight breath, his body suddenly twisting as he grabbed the man¡¯s waist and fiercely pinched a chunk of his flesh. ¡°Are you saying I can¡¯t leave here intact today if I don¡¯t buy the medicine?¡± The man¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, wanting to say something but not daring to speak, as intense pain made his body tremble uncontrollably. He knew that if Chen Yu applied a bit more force, he could tear off the piece of flesh on his stomach. ¡°Brother, who exactly are you?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer, just increased the pressure of his grip. ¡°Don¡¯t move, and don¡¯t speak. Just get me out of here like this, and signal your men to back off, or else you¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± The man didn¡¯t dare to delay, nodding repeatedly while gesturing to the approaching men with a wave to back off. Chen Yu, holding the man, watched his surroundings cautiously and soon reached the entrance. But just as he was about to leave, a burly man suddenly jumped out from the doorway, holding a thick medicinal harvesting stick in his hand. However, this guy appeared to be quite simple-minded, even his eyes seemed a bit confused. His jump might have been intimidating at first, but a closer look would reveal that he was nothing but a simpleton. ¡°Er Gou brother? Where are you headed?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but pause. Didn¡¯t the simpleton realize he was currently holding Er Gou hostage? Er Gou was getting impatient now, ¡°Get the fuck out of the way, can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy here?¡± That, well, the big brother didn¡¯t say much, just nodded and turned to sit down beside them. Er Gou¡¯s body visibly shuddered. He had said that line in hopes of reminding the simpleton to help him escape, but to his surprise, the guy just ignored the situation entirely and sat down nonchalantly. Just as he was about to speak again, Chen Yu applied more force in his hand. ¡°Er Ge, what¡¯s going on with you today? Hurry up and take me to the place where you said those medicinal materials grow. I have to see what kind of treasure spot it is!¡± Chen Yu said this to distract the simpleton so he could continue to take Er Gou away, but unexpectedly, the guy leapt up immediately. ¡°So you were going to the medicinal herb site? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Only I know that place, and only I can take you there! Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s set out right now.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t react at first, even doubting whether this big lug¡¯s brain had a problem. However, since this big lug knew the way to the medicinal herb growing area, that did save him a lot of trouble. ¡°That¡¯s right, Ergou and I came out specifically to find you, hurry up and take us there.¡± The big lug happily nodded his head and then drove a truck over from the side. After the three of them got on the truck one after another, the big lug started the vehicle and raced off. On the way, Ergou kept winking at the big lug, but the big lug just ignored him, pretending not to see. It took a full three hours before the truck stopped in a bumpy area. ¡°Ergou brother, we¡¯re here, come down quick, we still need to cross over the stone wall.¡± Fear suddenly appeared on Ergou¡¯s face, but the next moment it turned to excitement. ¡°Huzi, this gentleman is a rock climbing expert. He doesn¡¯t need you to carry him across, just point out a path for him and he can climb over by himself.¡± Upon hearing this, Huzi became immediately excited, looking at Chen Yu with an almost worshipful gaze. ¡°I always thought that aside from our village¡¯s people, no one else could safely enter and exit that valley. It seems I¡¯ve been really ignorant. Big brother, quickly climb over so I can see how you get across those cliffs.¡± Chen Yu instantly caught on. It looked like Ergou wanted him to die on those cliffs. ¡°It¡¯s just a mere cliff. Getting across is very simple. I¡¯m afraid only an idiot like Ergou would need to be carried across by someone.¡± After a fierce insult, Chen Yu let go of Ergou and headed straight for the cliff. ¡°Dammit, are you sick? Didn¡¯t you see this kid was holding me hostage just now? Hurry up and take him down.¡± Ergou shouted in anger, even leaping up to slap Huzi¡¯s face. Huzi felt wronged from the slap, ¡°Brother Ergou, this guy was clearly brought by you. How would I know what he¡¯s up to? Plus, you just said he could climb across the cliff. The elders in our tribe say whoever can climb across that cliff is our friend.¡± Ergou was so mad he was half dead, ¡°You¡¯re such a fucking idiot¡­¡± Before he could finish, Ergou suddenly noticed that Chen Yu¡¯s body was already hanging on the cliff wall, with his movements incredibly agile, just like the monkeys in these mountains. ¡°Huzi, if I¡¯m not wrong, your brother Ergou once climbed this cliff by himself too, otherwise you two could have never become friends. How about we have a competition?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s loud shout instantly got Huzi excited. He grabbed Ergou and started running forward. ¡°Brother Ergou, I¡¯ve been carrying you across these past few times. This time you try it, just like the first time you came to my group.¡± Ergou¡¯s eyes bulged. Before, in order to get across the cliff, he had set up some mechanisms above to trick Huzi. But now there were no such contraptions on the cliff, and if he tried to climb, it would be a dead end. ¡°Huzi, listen to me, I¡¯m not feeling good today, haven¡¯t eaten yet, how could I possibly have the strength to climb the cliff? How about you still carry me across this time?¡± But Huzi just laughed loudly, ¡°Brother Ergou, it¡¯s good that you haven¡¯t eaten. The elders in the tribe say that if you¡¯ve eaten too much, you might not be able to make it across. I remember seeing several senior members starve for several days just to climb over this place!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The Ancient Town of Medicinal Herbs Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The Ancient Town of Medicinal Herbs Ergou¡¯s screams suddenly spread throughout the entire cliff, eventually even turning into pleas for help. Dahu ignored everything and leapt onto the tooth wall, casually placing Ergou on a solitary rock before heading straight over to Chen Yu. It didn¡¯t take long before Dahu and Chen Yu reached the opposite side of the cliff. But Ergou remained standing there, utterly alone, afraid even to make a move. ¡°Dahu, come and save me quickly! Otherwise, I¡¯m really going to fall down.¡± Dahu was taken aback, ¡°Ergou, what¡¯s wrong with you? You used to jump over so easily, how come now you don¡¯t dare to move?¡± Chen Yu scoffed coldly, then found a rock nearby and sat down. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, he must¡¯ve rigged some kind of device on himself when he came with you before, or there¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve crossed so easily.¡± Dahu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chen Yu pointed at Ergou, ¡°Look at him, he doesn¡¯t have a muscle on his body, his form is thin and small like that, with no sense of balance whatsoever. How could he possibly have jumped across this cliff?¡± Dahu¡¯s expression instantly stiffened, and he seemed somewhat dazed. ¡°Ergou, is that true? Did you have a device on you when you jumped over before?¡± By this point, Ergou didn¡¯t dare to hide anything anymore. ¡°Before, when I jumped in front of you, it was to sneak into your village to get some medicinal herbs. Now I realize my mistake, please just take me back. I don¡¯t want to die here.¡± Dahu¡¯s breathing became rapid, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, you never considered me a brother!¡± Ergou didn¡¯t speak; he didn¡¯t know what to say. From the very beginning, he was just using Dahu; they weren¡¯t even friends, let alone brothers. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and stepped forward to pat Dahu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Someone like him, who only cares about himself, how could he possibly consider you a brother?¡± Dahu might not look very clever, but he had a pure nature, treating everyone with his whole heart, which was exactly why he was so easily deceived by Ergou. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just took a vine from the side and threw it into the middle of the cliff. ¡°Ergou, you can climb back using this vine. Good luck.¡± Ergou grabbed the vine like a lifeline and moved towards the side of the cliff. Dahu sat in place, heartbroken for a while, then picked up his stick and turned to walk towards the village; Chen Yu was not about to let such an opportunity slip by and quickly followed. Before long, the two men arrived at a mountain stream, one after the other. Although the place didn¡¯t seem to be anything special at first glance, a closer look revealed an extremely prosperous village hidden among the mountains and ridges. All sorts of retro-style buildings could be seen here, including even the legendary cylindrical drum towers. When Chen Yu saw all this, he was instantly thrilled to the extreme. He had long heard that deep within the southern clouds there lay a secluded tribe that subsisted solely on gathering herbs, isolated from the rest of the world to this day. At first, he was a bit skeptical, as it was hard to believe that in modern society, there could be a tribe hidden from civilization, especially when even those in the mountains were recorded. ¡°Our ancestors were a branch of the ancient Li tribe, who later relocated here to avoid the turmoils of war. Since then, we have rarely had any contact with the outside world,¡± Dahu was still enthusiastic as he gave an introduction, then he pulled Chen Yu towards the village. There was an ancient rule in their tribe that had not changed for a thousand years: anyone who could climb the cliff outside the village would be regarded as an honored guest of their community. Previously, Ergou had used some tricks to climb up, but now Chen Yu had truly climbed the cliff on his own merit, so naturally, Dahu was going to treat him as an esteemed guest. Chen Yu did not say much, but simply followed behind Dahu. Yet just as they arrived at the village, a group of men armed with forks and herb-gathering tools stood at the entrance of the village in a vigilant manner. Seeing this, Dahu suddenly felt a surge of guilt. He threw the stick he was holding aside and knelt at the entrance of the village. ¡°Everyone, I was wrong to bring troublemakers into our village before, but now I know my mistake. He could never have climbed that cliff.¡± Seeing how earnest Dahu was, the other villagers didn¡¯t say much. An elderly man with a faltering step came up to Dahu and gently patted his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s alright, child. You are naive and were deceived. We don¡¯t blame you, but from now on, don¡¯t bring any more riffraff into our village.¡± While someone was speaking, they fixed Chen Yu with an unkind stare. Dahu quickly stood up, ¡°Elder Chieftain, this man is different from the previous one. He truly can climb that cliff; I witnessed it with my own eyes.¡± The Elder Chieftain snorted coldly, showing no good grace towards Chen Yu. The reason they had gathered there today was to guard against Ergou, and they did not expect Chen Yu to show up. ¡°There aren¡¯t many in this world who can climb that cliff, and for thousands of years, only the trickster Ergou has used devious means to enter our village! You, young man, don¡¯t seem very trustworthy either, how did you get in?¡± Chen Yu was suddenly a bit frustrated. How had he become untrustworthy? ¡°Elder, I am here only to procure some medicinal herbs. Meeting Dahu was a complete accident, and that Ergou tried to trick me and have me fall down the cliff to my death¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother telling me these things!¡± the Elder Chieftain interrupted Chen Yu bluntly: ¡°We knew by Ergou¡¯s third visit that he was a swindler, but because Dahu always treated him as a friend, we didn¡¯t expose him prematurely. But we won¡¯t let such an incident happen a second time.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°If the Elder Chieftain doesn¡¯t believe my words, you can verify them. I can go to the cliff outside right now, climb up and down a few times, and let you witness it yourself if you wish!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about climbing cliffs!¡± the Elder Chieftain rolled his eyes: ¡°Since you claim to be here for the herbs, you must know something about them, right? I happen to have a few herbs here. Could you please identify them for me?¡± Saying this, the Elder Chieftain waved his hand to the tribespeople behind him, after which several young girls came forward holding trays. On their trays were placed a dozen or so medicinal herbs of various shapes. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Ice Silkworm Tears Chapter 289: Chapter 289: Ice Silkworm Tears Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; it seemed the old chieftain was intent on testing him. He didn¡¯t say much more, for identifying medicinal herbs was not a difficult task for him, as his mind possessed the limits of current human medical knowledge. But when he walked over, he was immediately taken aback. Out of the sixteen trays, there were twelve kinds of medicinal herbs he had never seen before, and there was no record of them even in the medical knowledge within his head. ¡°Seven-Flower Leaf, Five-Color Fragrance, Frosty Sky Root, Flying Fish Willow!¡± After naming those four medicinal herbs, Chen Yu paused. To tell the truth, these four herbs were also extremely rare, and perhaps in this world, only Chen Yu could recognize all of them at the same time. Yet, the remaining twelve herbs made Chen Yu hesitate. [System prompt, analyzing the category of medicinal herbs] At the moment the system¡¯s voice sounded, Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. It wasn¡¯t long before a wealth of information appeared in his mind. ¡°Sky Wolf Hemp, Black Water Fruit¡­¡± He named the remaining eleven herbs smoothly, but then Chen Yu was stumped. The final herb was such that even the system could not deduce its real name. This thing looked like a giant white bug squirming slowly. If he were to observe closely, he would find it appeared to be a liquid congealed together. Moreover, it emitted a strange fragrance. Chen Yu felt somewhat frustrated. What kind of rare item was this that even the system could not analyze it? However, in his heart, a surge of excitement also blossomed. A small village was able to produce such rare medicinal herbs, which meant there must be a massive medicinal herb base here. ¡°Honored chieftain, forgive my ignorance. I have never seen this last herb before, and I do not recognize it.¡± Unexpectedly, the old chieftain burst into hearty laughter, patting Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder with some excitement. ¡°When that Er Gou came before, he could only identify one herb. The thought that you could identify eleven in one go! Even the people in our village may not be able to identify so many.¡± The other people also looked at Chen Yu with an admiring gaze, as if they were looking at a deity. The nearby Da Hu also ran over excitedly and lifted him up in a hug. ¡°Do you know? That last herb is a unique man-made medicinal herb from our area called ¡®Ice Silkworm Tears!¡¯ Besides the people in our village, no one else can recognize it.¡± Hearing Da Hu say this, Chen Yu finally understood. It was a herb that had never appeared before; no wonder even the system could not determine it. But Chen Yu had also developed a great interest in the Ice Silkworm Tears. ¡°Honored chieftain, may I ask what are the effects of this herb?¡± The old chieftain didn¡¯t immediately answer but enthusiastically led Chen Yu into the village. Before long, Chen Yu was brought in front of a large expanse of medicinal fields. As the great array of medicinal herbs came into view, Chen Yu was also stunned there. There were tens of thousands of herbs intertwining in the air, and just a slight whiff was refreshing to the spirit. ¡°This is our medicinal field. Whatever herbs you wish to purchase, you may choose yourself! However, I must say this in advance, we here do not accept any form of currency, only goods!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, for he had never heard of such a requirement before. However, after giving it some thought, the village is so remote that even if they were given money, there would be nowhere to spend it. Only goods would be of any practical use. ¡°That¡¯s easy to handle. Please, elder, write me a list of goods, and I will make sure they are delivered in the shortest possible time,¡± The elder nodded in satisfaction, then waved over a few of the women who gathered herbs. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and directly led the women into the herb fields. Before long, several large baskets of herbs had been gathered. The herbs here were naturally nourished by the environment, giving them an exceedingly strong medicinal effect, many times more potent than those cultivated in greenhouses. If the herbs from here were used as raw materials, the output of semi-finished herbal products would greatly increase. The elder had meanwhile made a list of the necessary goods and handed it over to Chen Yu. ¡°Since you have already got your hands on the herbs, we won¡¯t see you off. The herbs you have taken can only be transported out by yourself.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, realizing that even though his body was at the peak of human physical prowess, carrying so many herbs across the cliff would still be quite the challenge. However, thinking back on the incident with Er Gou, Chen Yu came to terms with the situation. ¡°If that is so, then I shall take my leave. Farewell!¡± he said politely before packing up the herbs and hoisting them onto his back. The enormous bundle of herbs was twice Chen Yu¡¯s size, looking like a small mountain upon his back. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dwell on it and, with the herbs on his back, bolted for the outskirts of the village. This sight left the villagers staring in amazement. With so many herbs, to be able to move so freely was something only Da Hu in their village was capable of doing. Since Chen Yu was a newly made friend of Da Hu, he did not wish to see any harm come to him and instinctively followed. But by the time Da Hu caught up, Chen Yu had already scaled the cliff with the large bundle and was on the other side. Da Hu breathed a sigh of relief and headed back to the village. Now that Er Gou¡¯s true colors had been revealed, there was no longer a need for him to leave the village. Chen Yu wandered the mountainous terrain with his bundle on his back. The truck that had been driven there was long gone, taken by Er Gou, leaving Chen Yu with no choice but to walk down the mountain. But just as he reached the foot of the mountain, a large group of people suddenly appeared at the road, blocking his way. ¡°Damn it to hell, I¡¯ve been dealing herbs here for so many years without a hitch. You come along and abruptly ruin my business. If I don¡¯t chop you into pieces today, I won¡¯t be able to hold my head up in this area,¡± Er Gou¡¯s annoying voice suddenly rang in his ears, causing Chen Yu to frown. Before he could react, a large group of people armed with weapons and shouting loudly charged at him. Chen Yu sighed in resignation; he really didn¡¯t want to fuss too much with these people. After a slight adjustment of his breathing, he deftly untied the bundle from his back and hurled it fiercely at the ones charging at the front, pinning them to the ground. Then, like a bolt of lightning, he dashed forward, knocking the rest to the ground with a few punches and kicks, and directly lifted Er Gou up. ¡°You¡¯re no more than an ant in my eyes. I don¡¯t want to stoop to your level. Get lost now, or else I¡¯ll take you back to that cliff and let you hang there for a few days and nights to thoroughly appreciate the place!¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Wingsuit Enthusiast Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Wingsuit Enthusiast Er Gou¡¯s spirit had reached the peak of bewilderment; he had never imagined Chen Yu could be so formidable. Back when Chen Yu had climbed the cliff with his bare hands, Er Gou had realized Chen Yu was skilled, which is why he had brought a few more people along, all armed with weapons. But to his surprise, these men were no match for Chen Yu, who knocked them to the ground swiftly and efficiently. ¡°Big brother, I know I was wrong,¡± Er Gou begged for mercy. ¡°From now on, do whatever you want here; I won¡¯t interfere. If there¡¯s anything you need, I¡¯m ready to go through fire and water for you, no shirking.¡± Er Gou kept pleading, as if one less word spoken would result in Chen Yu throwing him off the cliff. Chen Yu didn¡¯t waste much time there; he tossed the large bag of medicine onto a truck by the roadside, took the keys from Er Gou, and drove straight to the shipment station. Though the batch of medicinal herbs didn¡¯t appear extensive, they were all extremely pure and valuable, any of which could potentially fetch a sky-high price at an auction if sold separately. Therefore, he had to send all the medicinal herbs back as quickly as possible. After making a call to Hou Jianchang and detailing some specifics, he proceeded to a small restaurant near the shipment station. The people of Nanyun have a habit of enjoying various oddities. These delicacies all share one common trait: bizarre flavors. Strange-flavored broad beans were one such specialty. Chen Yu sat down at a small stall and casually ordered a bowl of noodles. He had expected them to be just ordinary noodles, but upon tasting the first bite, the sweet and spicy flavors melded together and shot straight to his forehead. And on the surface of the noodles was sprinkled a layer of finely chopped vegetable leaves. They seemed to be a unique type of coriander local to the area. After getting used to it a little, Chen Yu took another couple of bites and rapidly analyzed the ingredients of the noodles in his mind. Before long, he had memorized the complete recipe. To say the noodles had a strange flavor was an understatement, but their texture was excellent, and they could be easily incorporated with various medicinal herbs to create an ideal base for medicinal dishes. Just then, the owner of the shop approached with a smile and sat across from Chen Yu. ¡°By the look of it, you seem to be a connoisseur,¡± said the owner. ¡°Rarely does anyone savor my noodles with their eyes closed in such appreciation.¡± Chen Yu felt slightly embarrassed; his actions could almost be considered stealing the trade. ¡°I¡¯m just experiencing this flavor for the first time and wanted to appreciate it fully. At best, I¡¯m just a food lover, far from a connoisseur,¡± he replied. The owner chuckled and signaled to his staff to bring over another bowl. ¡°Frankly, these noodles are but an ordinary dish here, nothing special. Maybe you find them delicious because you¡¯re trying them for the first time. Anyway, we locals are quite used to them.¡± Chen Yu expressed his thanks and returned to eating, while the owner brought over two more side dishes. These pickled vegetables were clearly homemade by the owner, carrying a Sichuan flavor combined with Nanyun¡¯s unique twist. Chen Yu subconsciously reconstructed the recipes for these side dishes in his mind, knowing that in Suzhou City, they would be considered specialty dishes. After eating his fill, Chen Yu bought a large load of supplies and headed towards the fort. By the time he arrived at the edge of the cliff, he found Da Hu already sitting there with a few people from the village waiting. Before leaving, he had already agreed with the chief on the time to deliver the supplies, and now the timing was just perfect. Seeing Chen Yu coming, the villagers immediately became excited. Before, Er Gou had promised to deliver supplies to them, but he only did so when they needed medicinal herbs. But Chen Yu really brought the supplies, how could they not be excited? Da Hu was especially enthusiastic, moving a large amount of supplies out of the vehicle, and then used a stick to support his body as he crossed the cliff. The others also took out their baskets, filled them with some supplies, and followed behind Da Hu. Seeing this, Chen Yu suddenly felt an impulse to build a road for the people in the village. But they had been living in seclusion here for over a thousand years, and they really didn¡¯t want to have contact with the outside world. If he were to build them a road, it might offend them. Chen Yu shook his head and didn¡¯t bother with such concerns. He packed the remaining supplies on his back and followed by jumping across. The old chief was so excited when he saw the supplies that he could hardly contain himself. Just these supplies were enough for the village to live on for a month or two. Seeing the old chief so happy, Chen Yu struck while the iron was hot and directly took Da Hu¡¯s hand to the old chief. ¡°Da Hu is really a rare talent. I want to make him my liaison for purchasing medicinal herbs from the village. What do you think?¡± The smile on the old chief¡¯s face gradually stiffened, ¡°This child is simple-minded. He has already been deceived by outsiders once; I don¡¯t want him to go out again. Besides, you can cross that cliff by yourself. Do you really have to find someone from our village?¡± Chen Yu was filled with frustration. Although he could cross the cliff, he still had many things to take care of. If he waited until the processing plant began to operate, he would have even less time to come here. Moreover, no one around him had the skills to easily travel back and forth across the cliff; he needed Da Hu¡¯s help. ¡°Old chief, rest assured, I would never deceive Da Hu. Moreover, with him here, he can ensure the two-way transportation of medicinal herbs and supplies.¡± The old chief pondered for a while, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I won¡¯t say much. But if I find out that you have deceived someone from our village, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it.¡± Chen Yu nodded repeatedly and assured the old chief of a great many things. While they were talking, several wingsuit flyers suddenly appeared in the sky. With the advantage of their gear, they dove down rapidly, and it didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the village. When the old chief saw these people, he was immediately stunned and blew the whistle in his hand. Soon, the young and strong men of the village ran out one after another, each holding a weapon, looking very tense. Chen Yu frowned, couldn¡¯t comprehend why a few wingsuit flying enthusiasts could scare the villagers like this. Just then, two guys descended from the sky and landed steadily at the entrance of the village. One of them took off his helmet and approached the old chief with an arrogant face. ¡°Chief, the world has advanced so far, yet you¡¯re still clinging to this little bit of land. The young people in the village should go out and see more of the world. They can¡¯t waste their whole lives here.¡± The old chief¡¯s teeth clenched with a crunch, ¡°Xiao Shi Tou, what are you up to again? And you¡¯ve even brought so many outsiders here.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Petty-minded Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Petty-minded ¡°` Little Rock burst into laughter and suddenly pulled out an automatic weapon from his body. ¡°Elder, today I will let you witness how far technology has advanced outside.¡± As he spoke, the dark muzzle was pressed against the elder¡¯s forehead. Chen Yu was startled, his body flashed to Little Rock¡¯s side, and he grabbed the weapon, instantly dismantling it. ¡°These weapons may be advanced, but it also depends on who uses them. In your hands, they are simply a pile of scrap metal.¡± Little Rock¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, having never imagined that someone in this world could disassemble an automatic weapon with their bare hands. ¡°What are you? This is an internal affair of our village. An outsider like you has no place interfering!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply stepping forward and lightly tapping Little Rock on the neck, knocking him out. The few people who came with Little Rock rushed forward, trying to restrain Chen Yu, but they were far too slow. Before they could lay a hand on him, Chen Yu had already knocked each of them out with a tap on the back of their heads. The old chief looked at Little Rock lying on the ground, sighed helplessly, and then affectionately crouched down to stroke his cheek. ¡°Child, what¡¯s so good about the outside world that has bewitched you so much?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more. After all, this was someone else¡¯s internal matter; he was merely here to purchase medicinal herbs. After taking a large amount of herbs from here, Chen Yu left directly. Suzhou City, Chu Tian Building. Chu Jianghe sat in his office, his face grim. ¡°I hope you all understand, we are outsiders, and whatever we do, we have to pay almost twice as much as others, but I hope you can cut out those unnecessary expenses.¡± Chu Jianghe was very angry, holding a pile of bills in his hand, and slammed them hard on the table. These bills recorded the expenses of the group¡¯s directors while they were out. He had been quite frustrated lately, not only consistently outplayed by Tong Ming, but also preempted by others in his attempts to secure a building and a factory. However, Suzhou City was a transport hub, a strategic commercial location for the Chu Family, and not something they could give up easily. No matter the cost, they had to secure a place in Suzhou City. A group of directors, scolded bloody, hung their heads, not daring to utter a word. Suzhou City was known as a land of fish and rice since ancient times, so the climate here was very nurturing. These directors, coming from such a fast-paced city as the Magic Capital, naturally wanted to relax upon arriving in such a place. But such unrestrained relaxation soon crossed Chu Jianghe¡¯s bottom line. While Chu Jianghe was berating these executives, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and then Tong Ming walked in with several bodyguards striding confidently. ¡°Chu Jianghe, you¡¯re too insincere. Coming all the way from the Magic Capital to Suzhou City and not even giving me a heads-up so I could go out and welcome you.¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he had not expected Tong Ming to show up like this. ¡°` Seething with anger, he grabbed the phone on the desk. ¡°What the hell are you all doing? Letting just anyone in, doesn¡¯t anyone check their identities?¡± Tong Ming didn¡¯t care about that and casually dragged a stool over to sit down. ¡°Come on, Old Chu, you can¡¯t keep treating your staff like this, it¡¯s easy to provoke a rebellious spirit in them. If a few key people get together, who knows, they might swallow your company whole.¡± Chu Jianghe glared at Tong Ming with murderous eyes, ¡°Tong, what do you mean by that? Are you saying you¡¯ve already colluded with people from my company?¡± Tong Ming was momentarily at a loss for words, this guy was really petty. ¡°Alright, enough with the nonsense, I won¡¯t say more. I¡¯m here today to discuss cooperation. Since both of our families are now in Suzhou City, I think we should stop the competition just like in other places. After all, this city¡¯s resources are limited, we have no other choice but to cooperate!¡± The words were quite reasonable; for a rival to come over and propose cooperation was a significant concession. But to Chu Jianghe¡¯s ears, it was nothing but a blatant insult. ¡°Cooperate? How are we supposed to cooperate? You¡¯ve already got control over all the resources in Suzhou City. If we cooperate, I¡¯d be at a disadvantage, I¡¯d even have to sip soup from your bowl! Tong Ming, it seems to me you¡¯ve come just to humiliate me today.¡± Tong Ming sighed helplessly, unsure of what to say for a moment. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve set up a staff meal service at my son-in-law¡¯s place, that¡¯s a good start! I believe we can find common ground in other areas as well.¡± Suddenly, Chu Jianghe stood up, slammed his hand on the table, ready to explode, when Tong Ming stepped forward and grabbed his arm. ¡°I hear your leg injury has been plaguing you for twenty years. How about this, let my son-in-law treat it? If he heals you, then let¡¯s bury the hatchet. What do you say?¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s body stiffened instantly; he had been a soldier in his youth and his leg had been injured in an explosion while on duty. Because of this, he had to retire from the military and start a business instead. He had previously sought out most of the world-renowned doctors, but none could heal his injured leg. ¡°I¡¯ve met your son-in-law, and if you say he¡¯s a good cook, I¡¯ll agree. But to say he¡¯s a doctor, you¡¯re just making a fool out of me! Even if he really is a doctor, how much experience can such a young person have?¡± Chu Jianghe had already seen Chen Yu¡¯s medical license, and in his opinion, it was just a qualification to practice medicine. Tong Ming didn¡¯t say much else, just left his and Chen Yu¡¯s business cards behind. ¡°You old man are getting less and less gracious with age. Give me a call if you come around, or you can directly contact my son-in-law.¡± After dropping that remark, Tong Ming turned and left. Chu Jianghe clenched his teeth so hard they almost broke, and as Tong Ming exited the door, he grabbed a cup from the desk and smashed it to the ground. Still, he subconsciously collected the business cards from the table. At this moment, Chen Yu had already returned to the factory with a batch of medicinal materials. The previous material factory had already started production, but the output was not very high due to some of the old machinery being unusable. After all, the medicinal materials Chen Yu had brought back were all precious high-performance herbs, and most of them were wild. The machines they had on hand simply couldn¡¯t process them. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Health-Preserving Traditional Chinese Medicine Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Health-Preserving Traditional Chinese Medicine [System Prompt: The host can spend 5,000 points to purchase a new production machine.] Upon hearing the system¡¯s prompt, Chen Yu¡¯s mouth dropped open in astonishment. Ever since the system had upgraded, accumulating points had become exceedingly difficult for him. So far, he had only managed to amass a mere ten thousand points or so, and spending five thousand in one go pained him greatly. However, considering that he could build a production line for medicinal herbs in the shortest time possible, he gritted his teeth and chose to confirm. Before long, a vast array of mechanical blueprints manifested within his mind. The machine this time was incredibly complex, involving several core components that, upon assembly, would require a substantial number of points to put together. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with these concerns and immediately contacted Zhang Fan. Such a complicated machine could only be perfectly constructed by him. Chen Yu dissected the blueprints and sent them to Zhang Fan, along with the deposit for the machine. Once these matters were settled, he went straight to the medicinal herb factory¡¯s laboratory. When the factory first opened, they had recruited some researchers for scientific research, but as the factory expanded, they had discontinued the research projects and laid off the entire department. Although the laboratory still housed a wealth of experimental equipment, not a single professional was to be found. Chen Yu inspected the equipment and found that many pieces had rusted and become damaged, necessitating the purchase of new ones. After tidying up the place, Chen Yu set up an experimental station and took a portion of the previously acquired medicinal herbs to place on it. It wasn¡¯t long before he manually produced a simple pack of pre-made medicine. This was a medication specifically for the flu; however, its proper use required following specific medical advice. After all, every flu was different¡ªif a simple pre-made medicine could cure diseases, there would be no need for doctors in this world. After preparing the sample medicine packs, Chen Yu sent them to the relevant department for patent application. Having dealt with these matters, Chen Yu¡¯s biggest problem was sales. If he wanted to sell his products, he would have to collaborate with doctors, and to a certain extent, that meant cooperating with hospitals. After arranging things at the factory, Chen Yu hurried to the largest traditional Chinese medicine hospital nearby. By four in the afternoon, Chen Yu was sitting in the office of the hospital¡¯s dean. However, upon sitting down, he noticed a large pile of gifts on the desk, which, judging by the labels, seemed to have all come from the island nation. Among these gifts was even a stack of gold bars. Chen Yu frowned; such lavish gifts did not seem like something an ordinary person could afford to give. As he pondered this, he suddenly saw an invitation next to the gifts, signed by San Mu. Chen Yu recalled the man from the island nation he had seen at Li Song¡¯s home. It seemed this individual had not given up on promoting his traditional medicine in Suzhou City. Soon, laughter and cheerful voices came from outside the door as the dean entered the office shoulder to shoulder with San Mu, talking and laughing. ¡°Mr. San Mu, you are too kind. If your medicine is sold at our hospital, we can guarantee the sales. Besides, these traditional medicines are designed for specific conditions, and even if people are not ill, taking them won¡¯t kill anyone,¡± said the dean, almost obsequiously. These sycophantic words made Chen Yu feel sick to his stomach. He hadn¡¯t expected the dean of this traditional Chinese medicine hospital to be so unprincipled. Both men were taken aback upon entering the room and seeing Chen Yu. San Mu tapped his walking stick and stepped forward warmly. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t Mr. Chen. We¡¯ve met before; I wonder if you remember.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was cold, ¡°I¡¯d rather not have any ¡®fate¡¯ with Mr. San Mu!¡± With that, he stood up and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± San Mu suddenly stopped him, ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty to leave. I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Chen has developed some new pre-made medicines; perhaps you could share them so we can exchange knowledge?¡± Chen Yu knew all too well that this guy had ulterior motives; he simply wanted to swindle the formula and then sell it as traditional medicine. ¡°My medicinal formula is too profound. I¡¯m afraid Mr. San Mu wouldn¡¯t understand. That¡¯s all for today.¡± Leaving these words behind, Chen Yu walked out the door. He had not anticipated the dean¡¯s shamelessness; to think that he would deal with San Mu just for a bit of short-term profit. The so-called traditional medicines largely had no actual effect; they were at best dietary supplements. The pre-made medicinal formula developed by Chen Yu was many times more potent than those traditional remedies. After leaving the traditional Chinese medicine hospital, Chen Yu visited several other hospitals nearby and found that they had already signed contracts with San Mu and had stockpiled a considerable amount of traditional medicine. This left Chen Yu feeling somewhat helpless; at this rate, there would be no market for his medicines. Just then, his phone began to ring insistently. ¡°Hello, Zhou Shengtao, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Chen Yu, do you remember the nursing home we visited last time? Hurry over; I¡¯m waiting for you here.¡± Zhou Shengtao¡¯s tone was very grave; it seemed like something serious had occurred, and Chen Yu did not dare to delay, driving there right away. When he arrived, he discovered more than half of the elderly residents had contracted the same diarrheal illness, which appeared to be food poisoning. Zhou Shengtao and several others were frantically pacing, uncertain of what to do. Even the experts and doctors at the nursing home were at a loss. Seeing Chen Yu arrive, Zhou Shengtao immediately reached for him, gripping his arm as if clutching at a lifesaver. ¡°Chen Yu, please take a look; two of the seniors are in so much pain, they nearly passed away.¡± Chen Yu quickly examined the elderly patients and found a common toxin in their bodies. ¡°It must be deliberate poisoning; fortunately, the seniors aren¡¯t too deeply poisoned yet¡ªthere¡¯s still a chance to save them!¡± With that, he immediately wrote out a prescription and sent Zhou Sheng to get the medicine. After the medicine arrived, Chen Yu began to prepare it. In less than an hour, all of the seniors were out of danger. ¡°Chen Yu, we are lucky to have you here; otherwise, today could have turned into a disaster.¡± Chen Yu waved it off: ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, but the poison these seniors were exposed to is very peculiar. Could you tell me what they have been eating recently?¡± A nurse quickly produced a report documenting everything the seniors had consumed. ¡°All the meals here are tailored; they¡¯re not exactly the same. The only thing they have all consumed recently seems to be some kind of health-preserving traditional medicine.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 293: The Medicine Material Business Chapter 293: Chapter 293: The Medicine Material Business Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated sharply as something suddenly occurred to him. ¡°Are those medicines still around? Show them to me!¡± The nurse was startled and quickly brought over the Chinese herbal medicines that had been distributed earlier. ¡°These are the herbal materials provided by the hospital we have a contract with, claiming to be specifically for health cultivation, so we gave them to the elderly.¡± Chen Yu tore open a packet of the Chinese herbal medicine and sniffed it, discovering it was composed of dried herbs that had been stored for too long. These substances were not particularly harmful to the human body, and some herbal medicine shops even package leftover dried herbs together to make Siwu Tang, or Four Substances Soup. However, the problem lay in these being leftover dried remnants of Chinese herbal medicines. Chinese herbal medicine is ordinarily composed of single-prescription herb packets tailored to address specific ailments. But now, to mix so many different herbs together, that¡¯s no longer medicine for curing diseases, but a poisonous concoction harming people. Chen Yu instinctively looked at the company name on the back of the herbal medicine packet, and prominently saw the words ¡°San Mu Pharmaceuticals.¡± ¡°Notify everyone immediately, from now on we are not to purchase any Chinese herbal medicines from this pharmaceutical company!¡± Without the slightest hesitation, the nurse immediately made the call. The elderly residing here for recuperation were mostly veterans with distinguished military service, and some had even higher connections within their families. If anything happened to the elderly here, these nurses would be in too deep to escape trouble. Zhou Shengtao was also frowning deeply and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°Chen, what on earth is going on here?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, ¡°When I was promoting ready-made medicines at various hospitals, I found that they had all purchased Chinese herbal medicine packs from San Mu Industries. But these packets are just some simple packaged medicines with not much effect. If mixed together, they could easily harm the body.¡± Zhou Shengtao was immediately angered, grinding his teeth, ¡°These damn rascals are just too despicable. I will coordinate with the relevant departments immediately to stop the use of these Chinese herbal medicines in all hospitals.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, as this was ultimately good news for him. As long as Chinese herbal medicine packets disappear from the hospitals, his own ready-made medicine packets could rapidly dominate the market. After making sure the elderly were all taken care of, it was already 8 pm. Chen Yu had intended to leave then, but Zhou Shengtao forcefully dragged him into the car. ¡°Chen, there¡¯s something I must ask for your help with! Are you aware of a drug trafficking gang recently active in Suzhou City?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, having been too busy with the factory lately to pay attention to any drug trafficking gangs. ¡°Captain Zhou, just tell me what you need me to do?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed with some difficulty. ¡°You are now an official external staffer, and you have a businessman¡¯s cover, so I want to ask you to go undercover for us there.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Captain Zhou, you really think highly of me. I¡¯m not very confident about this undercover business.¡± Zhou Shengtao patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our people will assist you in secret. As long as we can get evidence of their illegal activities, we can arrest them. First, you need to get in touch with them and buy their merchandise.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, knowing at this point he couldn¡¯t say much else, especially since Zhou Shengtao was essentially his superior officer. Early the next morning, after briefly inquiring about the factory¡¯s status, Chen Yu immediately drove to a restaurant on the eastern outskirts of Suzhou City. Despite its remote location, the restaurant was lavishly built, and most of the people dining there were decked out in a dazzling display of wealth. As soon as Chen Yu walked in, all eyes in the room simultaneously converged on him. An employee even ran over to Chen Yu¡¯s side with enthusiasm. ¡°Sir, are you here to have a meal or to drink tea?¡± This fellow was obviously too enthusiastic, especially since the restaurant¡¯s notice board clearly stated that today they only had spiced noodle soup, yet he even asked Chen Yu whether he wanted a meal or tea. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that and directly took out an invitation from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯m here to meet friends!¡± Upon hearing this, the people at the scene breathed a sigh of relief and shifted their gaze elsewhere. Soon after, a middle-aged man slowly descended from the second floor. ¡°You must be Mr. Chen! I¡¯ve long heard of your great reputation, and today I finally see you in person!¡± The middle-aged man appeared extremely enthusiastic; he went straight up to Chen Yu and embraced him, but no sooner had their bodies touched than Chen Yu felt a hard object pressing against his waist. It was a small automatic weapon¡ªif the other party pulled the trigger, Chen Yu would be dead. ¡°Boss Niu, what is this supposed to mean?¡± Boss Niu chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing personal, I just felt that Mr. Chen¡¯s arrival was so timely that I couldn¡¯t help but be suspicious! I hope Mr. Chen understands.¡± While speaking, Boss Niu had frisked Chen Yu from top to bottom, only retracting the automatic weapon in his hand after making sure Chen Yu had nothing else on him. Chen Yu deliberately made an angry face, ¡°Boss Niu, this is a bit much, don¡¯t you think? I came here for business, recommended by someone, and you treat me like this. If that¡¯s the case, then our deal is off.¡± As his words fell, Chen Yu walked out without looking back. But just as he reached the door, Boss Niu hurried after him. ¡°Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t be angry. We all have lived through perilous times; we are very cautious in everything we do. Moreover, the medicinal herbs we have were smuggled over from Cambodia, which the relevant departments would not approve of.¡± Chen Yu snorted, ¡°I can understand that, but your actions just now were too much. The price we agreed upon earlier has to be discounted by ten percent.¡± These words vividly displayed the image of a businessman looking to profit. At the same time, they completely lowered Boss Niu¡¯s guard. ¡°Mr. Chen, we can negotiate the price. As long as you can take all the goods I have, not to mention a ten percent discount, I am willing to give you half off.¡± ¡°Where is the merchandise?¡± Chen Yu asked with an intentionally cold demeanor. Without saying much, Boss Niu led Chen Yu to the back courtyard and lifted up a large tarp. Varieties of medicinal herbs piled up like mountains, their fragrance wafting through the air, momentarily making Chen Yu¡¯s spirit vibrate. Among them were some rare medicinal materials, and the quantities were extremely vast. Actually, if we get right down to it, there wasn¡¯t anything special about these herbs, it was only their channel of distribution that was improper. No one could guarantee that these herbs weren¡¯t mixed with other miscellaneous substances. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Chapter 294: The Mysterious Village Chapter 294: Chapter 294: The Mysterious Village Chen Yu briefly inspected the herbs in front of him and, after confirming there were no issues, he promptly pulled out a contract from his person. ¡°Boss Niu, although I was referred here by someone else, I¡¯m conducting legitimate business, so we still need to go through the necessary formalities!¡± Boss Niu laughed heartily, ¡°I never expected Mr. Chen to be so particular. No problem, just sign here, it¡¯s easy!¡± With that, Boss Niu immediately signed his name on it. After making sure there was nothing wrong with the contract, Chen Yu paid the money and then had someone take all the herbs away. However, according to the regulations, Chen Yu could not leave immediately after the transaction was completed; he had to stay with Boss Niu for three days. This was also one of the rules of these guys, intended to prevent possible undercover agents from infiltration among the buyers of herbs! It was equally a means to assess the buyer to see if further cooperation was feasible. Chen Yu was well aware of all this, so he didn¡¯t leave and instead swaggered to the restaurant outside, clamoring for them to serve up a feast. Boss Niu didn¡¯t say much, immediately instructing his men to make the arrangements. Before long, a lavish banquet was laid out. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care too much and sat down to eat heartily. ¡°Mr. Chen sure has a good appetite! I heard that besides being in the herbal medicine business, Mr. Chen also runs a restaurant, so you must have done some research into gourmet food. I know of a little village inn, it¡¯s quite remote but incredibly delicious. Would you like to go taste it with me?¡± A hint of caution flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. The usual village inns were simple guest houses run by honest folks¡ªwho could expect delectable dishes there? If Boss Niu was talking about such a place, he must be planning to take Chen Yu to their hangout to look around. Feigning ignorance, Chen Yu immediately put down his chopsticks. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention the good food earlier? You made me order this big spread for no reason.¡± Boss Niu signalled to someone beside him: ¡°This meal is on Mr. Chen; you all should thank him.¡± A group of burly men immediately became excited, as they had been busy around here for many days without a decent meal, not to mention a banquet. After thanking Chen Yu, they hurriedly sat down at the table and started eating. Chen Yu then followed Boss Niu into a Maybach. Before long, the two of them arrived at a very remote little mountain village. When he got there, Chen Yu felt that something was off. The place was too desolate, not at all like a place for humans to inhabit. After driving down the petite mountain road for what seemed like quite some time, Boss Niu finally stopped the car and urged Chen Yu to hurry out. ¡°Mr. Chen, just follow this road straight ahead, and when you see a house with a red roof, stop there. That¡¯s the place I was telling you about.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming with me, Boss Niu?¡± Boss Niu waved his hand: ¡°I¡¯ve got some business to attend to, so I can only drop you off here. I¡¯ll come back for you in two days. I hope you have fun, Mr. Chen.¡± After speaking, Boss Niu drove off, leaving the area. Chen Yu suddenly felt uneasy. In such a wilderness, if someone killed him, nobody would know. Letting out a deep breath, Chen Yu turned and slowly walked forward. Soon enough, he indeed saw a house with a red roof. But just as he was about to approach, a sharp scream suddenly erupted from within the house. Four burly men charged out like madmen, followed by several fully armed men. As the four strong men rushed out, they immediately threw grappling hooks and pulled them back. Chen Yu immediately stopped in his tracks, watching warily ahead. The fully armed individuals paused upon seeing Chen Yu, then quickly took out their electric batons and charged at him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to get entangled with these people, so he turned to leave, but just after taking two steps, several masked men suddenly sprang out from the nearby woods. ¡°Young man, do you know where you are? How dare you barge in like this? Anyone who comes here should never leave.¡± Without saying much, these several men immediately attempted to subdue Chen Yu. Chen Yu had been ready to resist, but as these men approached, he suddenly smelled the scent of the plague. ¡°Wait a minute, has a plague broken out here?¡± Chen Yu shouted, stopping the armed personnel in their tracks. The individuals exchanged glances, and one older person slowly approached. ¡°How do you know there is a plague here, are you someone sent from above?¡± Chen Yu frowned, unsure of how to respond. Boss Niu had suddenly sent him to this place, and he wasn¡¯t sure whether it was to test him or for some other purpose. If he claimed to be someone sent from above, his identity would surely be exposed, and Boss Niu would then escape without a trace. After a moment¡¯s thought, Chen Yu took out his medical license. ¡°I am a doctor, if there is indeed a plague outbreak here, I can help you cure it.¡± The armed individual looked at Chen Yu skeptically. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t talk nonsense. This plague has been here for eight years. We¡¯ve had countless experienced experts come and go in defeat, and even some of the supporting doctors have died here. You think you can cure the plague here? I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a bit premature.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just took a mask he carried with him and put it on his head, and walked into the village on his own. The armed personnel, seeing Chen Yu¡¯s confident demeanor, did not stop him. After all, they too hoped the plague could be brought to an end sooner. Once Chen Yu entered the village, he was shocked by everything before him. The village was in utter disrepair, some bodies were carelessly discarded on the streets without even a coffin. The few who were still alive sat like zombies at their doorsteps, holding broken bowls and muttering nonsense. Seeing this, Chen Yu¡¯s heart clenched, and he wasn¡¯t sure what to do. ¡°Do you still have any medicinal herbs here?¡± At this question, the armed personnel were taken aback. They had been here for seven or eight years. Although they had seen some medicinal supplies, such items were practically useless in this place. Medical supplies that could be used for several years in other places were plundered empty in less than a month here. Everyone wanted to survive, so they would desperately snatch any medicinal supplies delivered here, then consume them recklessly. More people died from taking the wrong medicine than from the plague itself. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 295 Price Cut in Half Chapter 295: Chapter 295 Price Cut in Half ¡°` Chen Yu had no other choice after he got a basic understanding of the situation here. The small mountain village had been completely sealed off, and some of the people who were cured couldn¡¯t wait to leave after ensuring they didn¡¯t have any abnormal symptoms, which resulted in fewer and fewer people remaining. But, solutions to plague problems like this had been found decades ago, so how come this small mountain village couldn¡¯t solve it after seven or eight years? Chen Yu didn¡¯t think too much about it and simply used the basic medical equipment available to conduct a sampling survey of the villagers. He discovered that these residents had many kinds of plague antibodies in their bodies! Moreover, the plague affecting them was constantly changing. In other words, for the past seven or eight years, it was essentially a battle between the antibodies and the mutating plague. But those residents who failed to develop antibodies had already died; the survivors all had developed antibodies to some extent. If that was the case, then the problem should be easy to address! Chen Yu found some leftover medicinal herbs in the storeroom, combined them with herbs he gathered from the mountains, and made a medicinal soup. However, he didn¡¯t distribute the soup directly to the patients but instead poured it into the village¡¯s well. The entire village had been sealed off by then, and those who survived could only scrape by on water from the only well and relief supplies from outsiders. As a result, no matter how many people survived in the village, they all had to drink water from the well. Two days went by in the blink of an eye, and those in the village who had been half-dead began to show signs of life. [Congratulations Host, you¡¯ve earned two hundred points] [Congratulations Host, you¡¯ve earned one hundred seventy points] [Congratulations Host, you¡¯ve earned one hundred sixty points] ¡­ Seeing the points accumulating once again, Chen Yu felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He wished such mass treatments could happen every day, but if that were really the case, humanity wouldn¡¯t be far from the end of the world. At that moment, several armed individuals also came out of their houses, slowly removing their gear. They were personnel sent here by the relevant departments from Suzhou City. It seemed these people had been unlucky enough to get infected with the plague after they arrived here, preventing them from leaving and forcing them to stay and receive supplies to maintain order. They excitedly approached Chen Yu, shaking his arms vigorously. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re incredible; you solved the plague that has been unsolvable for so many years with just a herbal soup. Quickly check us to make sure our condition won¡¯t relapse,¡± they said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much but quickly checked the bodies of these relevant personnel. They had persevered here for a very long time, essentially dedicating their youth to this place. After examining their bodies, Chen Yu casually wrote them some prescriptions. Having dealt with matters here, Chen Yu left on his own, heading straight for the restaurant he had visited before. But before he had gone far, he saw a familiar Maybach parked at the roadside, with Boss Niu leaning against the car, smoking. When he saw Chen Yu, his face was incredulous, as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°` ¡°This is impossible, with such a severe outbreak of the plague there, no one could survive, how on earth did you manage it?¡± Chen Yu clapped his hands and then got into the car on his own accord. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, something Mr. Niu should be aware of, I suppose. The plague in that village, although it has persisted for eight years, every person has antibodies within their bodies. They only need a bit of medication and they¡¯ll be on the mend,¡± he said. Mr. Niu immediately gave a thumbs up. ¡°I had thought that no one in this world could cure such a disease, considering even a few specialists from abroad had failed there.¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the plague another time. Shouldn¡¯t we discuss our own affairs now?¡± The boss suddenly looked embarrassed and awkwardly patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°It was my short-sightedness, brother. I only wanted to test your medical skills, and I do have confidence in you. I¡¯ve been waiting here especially for you,¡± he explained. Chen Yu sneered. He knew very well that the boss was here just to see if he had died. ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll need to renegotiate many of our deals. For the previous batch of herbs, I want them at another ten percent off the half-price basis!¡± Mr. Niu¡¯s eyes immediately widened, betraying some pain at the thought. ¡°Chen, there needs to be a limit in business dealings. You¡¯re pushing your luck. I¡¯ll be losing money at this rate,¡± Mr. Niu protested. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care, ¡°At most, you lose a bit of money, while I almost lost my life. Besides, if you get it cheap from me, you can pick more ¡®bamboo poles¡¯ elsewhere, right?¡± Mr. Niu had nothing more to say, and simply started the car, taking Chen Yu to a business club in Suzhou City. ¡°Chen, I admit I was wrong this time. I¡¯ll cover all expenses for this trip, and I also have a batch of items that will definitely interest you.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let¡¯s not have too many financial disputes between us, or one day I¡¯ll die without knowing it.¡± ¡°Chen, what are you talking about? I guarantee you¡¯ll like what I have.¡± Saying so, Mr. Niu led Chen Yu into an enormous warehouse. The warehouse was built on a grand scale, filled with various kinds of herbs, all of which were valuable ones from the tropics. Without a doubt, such a large quantity of herbs must have been smuggled in by Mr. Niu from the Indochina Peninsula. ¡°So Mr. Niu, you¡¯ve been hiding these goodies. No wonder you¡¯ve been living the good life!¡± Chen Yu complimented with business-like praise and began to gently touch the herbs. ¡°Mr. Niu, I¡¯ll take all of the herbs here. But as per our usual agreement, I will pay half price.¡± The boss laughed heartily, ¡°Since Chen has spoken, I have no reason not to comply. Take all the herbs, I¡¯ll give you an additional ten percent off on top of the half price.¡± ¡°Then we have a happy cooperation!¡± Chen Yu promptly pulled out a contract from his person and laid it before Mr. Niu. Mr. Niu, without much ado, signed his name. After the deal was concluded, Chen Yu, following routine, made a call to have someone come over for the herbs. However, it wasn¡¯t long before a vehicle from the relevant authorities barged in, knocking down two columns as it entered. ¡°No escape for you, Niu!¡± The voice of Zhou Shengtao suddenly rang out, startling everyone present, followed by an influx of official vehicles surrounding the entire club. Zhou Shengtao even aimed a weapon at Mr. Niu¡¯s head. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 296: The Old Rascal Chapter 296: Chapter 296: The Old Rascal Mr. Niu suddenly stood up, looking somewhat dazed and confused. He stared blankly at Chen Yu, his eyes filled with incredulity. ¡°You¡¯re actually Shuixianzi!¡± Chen Yu might have felt he hadn¡¯t had enough fun, supporting his chin with one hand, his eyes brimming with teasing. ¡°Look at me, how could I possibly be Shuixianzi? I am a genuine businessman!¡± Mr. Niu¡¯s eyes were wide with disbelief. ¡°Chen, don¡¯t make me come over there, or I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Suddenly, Chen Yu became serious, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. ¡°Then you¡¯ll need the ability to actually kill me!¡± In that instant, Mr. Niu felt an unprecedented murderous intent, causing his body to shiver uncontrollably. ¡°Enough, why waste words on this guy?¡± Zhou Shengtao had his men take Mr. Niu away, then pulled Chen Yu aside. ¡°Chen, you¡¯ve really made a significant contribution this time. You have no idea how much we¡¯ve paid to catch this old fox. I heard he tricked you into that village. Are you okay?¡± Thinking back to the village gave Chen Yu a chill; he had never imagined a small mountain village could suffer from plague for seven or eight years. ¡°Right, Captain Zhou, I haven¡¯t asked you yet, what¡¯s the deal with that village?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed helplessly. ¡°We¡¯ve sent so many people there before, but we could never get to the root of the problem. Once we cured one type of plague, a variant would emerge. In the end, we could only isolate the place.¡± Chen Yu nodded, deciding not to ask any more questions. Industrial Park, Pharmaceutical Factory No. 3. Hou Jianchang sat on a pile of stones at the entrance, his face showing helplessness. In front of him, a hundred or so grey-haired elderly people, all wearing uniforms, clearly the factory¡¯s retired workers, surrounded him. ¡°We¡¯re all retired from here. Since you¡¯ve taken over the factory, our pensions should now be your responsibility.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve worked at this factory my whole life and I¡¯m attached to it. Why won¡¯t you let me come back? Do you think I¡¯m too old to be of use? That¡¯s discrimination.¡± ¡°Call your manager out, let them explain it to us face to face.¡± ¡°We too were owed wages back when we worked. You¡¯ve paid those new workers their back pay, so why haven¡¯t you paid us?¡± ¡­ The crowd kept up a constant chatter, which was giving Hou Jianchang a headache. As the Industrial Park continued to expand, more and more chaotic issues emerged. Hou Jianchang¡¯s hair, which had already been half white, was now almost completely white. Moreover, the current situation had arisen so suddenly that even he didn¡¯t know what to do. The people who came brought with them old labor contracts, some even dating back twenty years. In those decades, that pharmaceutical factory had changed owners countless times; could the wage issues from so long ago really be piled onto them? ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯ve already made it very clear to you, it wasn¡¯t us who signed the labor contracts with you. Although we¡¯ve taken over this factory, according to the rules, we¡¯re not responsible for the personal wages and other benefits of the employees. What we¡¯ve done already exceeds our obligations¡­¡± Before he could finish, a crowd surrounded him, armed with all sorts of tools, ready to settle accounts with Hou Jianchang. If it weren¡¯t for the security guards holding them back, Hou Jianchang might¡¯ve been dragged out already. Just as the scene descended into chaos, a supercar suddenly charged through and stopped steadily amidst the crowd. The once chaotic crowd instantly quieted down, and Hou Jianchang let out a sigh of relief. Chen Yu got out of the car with ease, bypassing the troublemakers in front of him. After resolving the issues with Boss Niu, he had rushed back nonstop. Halfway through, he received a call that made him anxious; if it weren¡¯t for Zhou Shengtao¡¯s grand gesture of transferring one of Boss Niu¡¯s supercars to Chen Yu, he might not have been able to make it back so quickly. On his way back, Chen Yu quickly looked up the personal details of the troublemakers and discovered they were the local ruffians from this factory area decades ago. It was precisely because of their severe disturbances back then that the relevant departments had been forced to close several factories, leading to the constant resale of these factories. Everything had already been settled, but now that Chen Yu had acquired the factory and distributed back pay to the old employees, it had aroused the jealousy of these people. They brought their employment qualifications, as well as the wage arrears slips from the old factory, to this place. To put it plainly, they just wanted to get a share of the wages from Chen Yu. ¡°The criminal records of all of you are in my hands. I¡¯m giving you one chance to leave immediately, or else I¡¯ll hand you over to the relevant departments for prosecution.¡± Chen Yu waved a large stack of documents in his hand gently, and immediately subdued everyone present. But the leading few old thugs weren¡¯t afraid of this. They gripped their tools and took a few steps forward. ¡°Kid, you really shouldn¡¯t try to bluff us with these things. Back when I was running this turf, you were still in your mother¡¯s womb. Today we have only one demand, either pay up, or we¡¯ll smash your factory.¡± A dangerous smile suddenly appeared at the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth; he hadn¡¯t expected these people to be so brazen and unreasonable. He let out a sigh and then took out a certificate for external personnel from his person. ¡°Since it¡¯s like this, then I won¡¯t waste any more time.¡± These people were a bunch of old rogues, and seeing the certificate in Chen Yu¡¯s hand, they immediately deflated and didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. Some even started running away as soon as they saw Chen Yu¡¯s certificate, not daring to stay a moment longer. ¡°Brother, this is all a misunderstanding. To tell the truth, we just feel sentimental about the old factory, so we came to make a fuss. We didn¡¯t intend to do anything! Let¡¯s just turn the page on today¡¯s incident, alright?¡± The old ruffian in front said with a smile, then gestured to the people behind him. The large group quickly dispersed. But as they walked away, the murderous intent in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t dissipate; he truly hadn¡¯t anticipated such an incident. ¡°Hou Jianchang, next time this happens, just kick them out immediately; don¡¯t waste time with them.¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s face was helpless: ¡°Old Chen, you don¡¯t understand the situation. These people are experienced thugs. Today you drive them away, tomorrow they¡¯ll dare to carry a bed to the front of your factory and lie down.¡± Chen Yu was incensed: ¡°I refuse to believe that this bunch can really turn the sky upside down; next time they come, just fight them off directly.¡± COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 297: The Third Pharmaceutical Factory Chapter 297: Chapter 297: The Third Pharmaceutical Factory After returning to the office at the factory, Chen Yu still felt full of gloom. He had originally thought that the industrial park had already formed a unique operational system, but to his surprise, there were still so many trifling matters. Especially today¡¯s bunch, they were just a group of unseemly characters. Even if he informed the relevant departments to have them all arrested, it wouldn¡¯t be too much. But the problem was, these people could not really be dealt with effectively; at most, they caused a public disturbance, and after being detained for a couple of days, they would be released again. If they kept making trouble endlessly, it would cause huge losses for the entire factory area. Hou Jianchang leaned back in his chair, his face etched with world-weary helplessness. ¡°Old Chen, a tall tree catches the wind. We already have one industrial park, and if we were to annex another piece of land, those who envy us in the dark will jump out, like the thugs today. Can you guarantee there isn¡¯t someone behind them pulling the strings?¡± Chen Yu sat there silently. His first thought was of Chu Jianghe. This guy had just arrived in Suzhou City, eager to seize Suzhou¡¯s business resources. Moreover, as these factories were once on Chu Jianghe¡¯s radar, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for him to meddle behind the scenes. But then he thought again, although Chu Jianghe was ruthless, he had a big picture mindset; he wouldn¡¯t be so desperate as to send a bunch of old gangsters to cause trouble. ¡°Old Hou, be extra careful during this period. Also, ask the security department to recruit more people, preferably ex-military personnel.¡± Hou Jianchang took out his mobile phone, which displayed the recruitment information he had just sent out, roughly similar to what Chen Yu had suggested. As the two were talking, several large trucks slowly entered the factory area. ¡°Old Chen, the machines you asked for are ready, come down and take a look. Some parts may not be done perfectly.¡± Upon hearing Zhang Fan¡¯s shout, Chen Yu immediately brightened up, the gloominess on his face gone as if swept away. He hurried downstairs and rushed to the trucks, grabbing a component and carefully caressing it. This thing was supposed to be made of special steel and had been forged and tempered several times. It seemed that Zhang Fan had truly put his heart into it, and each component¡¯s catch was made extremely ingeniously. Now, they just needed to install the core components, and these machines could start operating immediately. ¡°Old Zhang, thank you so much. I¡¯ll give you an extra 10 percent profit for these machines as we agreed before. We¡¯ve got a lot more cooperation ahead of us.¡± Zhang Fan shook his head though: ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯re smacking my face by doing this. Ever since your shop opened, we¡¯ve been partners, and how many profits have you given me just for the machinery? Now I¡¯ve got my own repair company. I don¡¯t even need the extra profit.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just smiled and forcefully stuffed a prepared check into Zhang Fan¡¯s hand, refusing to let go regardless of how much Zhang Fan tried to decline. Having no choice, Zhang Fan finally accepted it, then instructed his workers to move the assembled machines into the factory. The pharmaceutical factory was originally called Zhonghe Pharmaceutical Factory, but it was renamed to Third Pharmaceutical Factory when it came into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. This factory was also the largest one under Chen Yu¡¯s management, and it was his experimental site for producing pre-manufactured drug packs. The first batch of machines was also custom-designed for this factory. Once all the machines were moved in and assembly was complete, Chen Yu took the opportunity while nobody was paying attention to let the system install the core components. With all the machines started, the entire production line also came into operation. The factory workers, who had been waiting, came over to familiarize themselves with the performance of the machines and soon took over the controls. After all, they were skilled workers, and some had even worked for over a decade as veteran employees. These might seem like ordinary pharmaceutical factory workers, but to some extent, they were nearly akin to doctors. Making pre-manufactured drug packs was second nature to them. In less than two hours, the first batch of finished products reached Chen Yu¡¯s hands. He carefully checked the characteristics of the drug packs and also tested the components in the lab to ensure there were no issues before allowing the batch to be packaged. This first shipment had already been reserved by the nursing home, and Zhou Shengtao had personally given the nod, so Chen Yu couldn¡¯t afford the slightest negligence. When he sent out the shipment, it was already eight o¡¯clock at night. Chen Yu had originally planned to return home, as he had been away too long on missions. But once the machines started, they couldn¡¯t be stopped easily, so he had no choice but to stay and input several new drug formulations planned into the system and distribute the raw materials. The medicine he brought back this time was enough to produce hundreds of thousands of pre-manufactured drug packs, so there was no need to procure raw materials for a month. Still, by the time he finished everything, it was already midnight. Fortunately, Hou Jianchang had already established a training program within the factory to cultivate leaders at various levels. As Chen Yu organized everything in the Third Pharmaceutical Factory, Hou Jianchang had arranged for a few people to learn all the processes by Chen Yu¡¯s side. By the time Chen Yu had finished organizing everything, these individuals had grasped the key points and were ready to commence production. Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. If this had been in the past, he would¡¯ve needed to explain the use of the machines and the processes meticulously to the day and night shift workers. Now, everything had been simplified. However, Hou Jianchang¡¯s appearance made Chen Yu feel an inexplicable guilt. When he first met Hou Jianchang, although he had gone bankrupt, he still seemed spirited. But now, not only had his hair turned completely white, but even his forehead was full of wrinkles. Releasing a sigh, Chen Yu walked up to Hou Jianchang and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Old Hou, this time I brought back a type of insect from Nanyun that¡¯s good for you. Want to take a look?¡± Hou Jianchang hesitated. After all, new machines had just arrived, and the workers were still getting the hang of them. He needed to arrange the specific tasks with the new factory managers and staff. Chen Yu could see what Hou Jianchang meant and grabbed his shoulder, leading him out of the factory area. ¡°I heard your ancestors were from Nanyun, and you can¡¯t live without those exotic items at every meal. So I brought this especially for you. You can¡¯t let me lose face.¡± Saying so, Chen Yu directly pulled Hou Jianchang into the car and headed straight for the restaurant. Ever since the restaurant moved into the building, its business had grown by more than tenfold. Chu Hong and the original waitstaff each took up a stall, blending new operating models into the original restaurant format. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 298: The Long-Missed Taste Chapter 298: Chapter 298: The Long-Missed Taste ¡°` During this period, almost no one had rested properly, after all, since moving to the mall, we had entered the 24-hour business mode, and everyone took turns catching some sleep at their respective stations. When Chen Yu arrived, he just happened to see Chu Hong curled up on a small stool, sleeping there. The nearby Yang Shu also looked completely drained, even her movements seemed mechanical. Startled by Chen Yu¡¯s approach, Yang Shu quickly nudged Chu Hong, who was on the chair. ¡°Welcome, customer, welcome to our shop, may I ask what you would like to order?¡± Chu Hong was so hurried in her greeting that she didn¡¯t even open her eyes, as if this had become the norm for her. Chen Yu suddenly felt rather embarrassed; he hadn¡¯t expected his employees to be driven to such a state. He had been too busy lately to take care of the mall business himself. ¡°It¡¯s me, Xiao Hong!¡± Upon hearing Chen Yu¡¯s voice, Chu Hong jerked awake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brother Yu, I wasn¡¯t slacking off, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Chen Yu patted her shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s okay, if you want to sleep, take a break. You¡¯ve all worked hard recently. Also, we¡¯ll post recruitment ads on major job platforms tomorrow to hire more people.¡± Chu Hong immediately perked up and quickly took out the tablet beside her. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent out the recruitment details, and several people have come for interviews recently, but unfortunately, very few meet our requirements.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s interest was piqued, and he pulled up a chair to sit beside Chu Hong. ¡°It¡¯s just a waitressing job, why set so many requirements? As long as they can work, that¡¯s fine!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat frustrated; to him, being a waiter wasn¡¯t a highly difficult profession, especially since the criteria for applying here weren¡¯t very strict. ¡°I know that!¡± Chu Hong said with a face full of helplessness, then she flipped through the information of the recent applicants. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want them, it¡¯s just that these people are too much! Two of them looked quite honest, but they were actually old hands at this, always asking about the basic benefits here.¡± ¡°They weren¡¯t willing to work long hours, they wouldn¡¯t do it if the food wasn¡¯t up to par, and they even demanded that we provide them with private dormitories.¡± Chen Yu could hardly believe his ears, this wasn¡¯t about hiring waitstaff but accommodating some overlords coming to enjoy themselves. ¡°Not everyone can be like that, surely. As long as they¡¯re more or less okay, that should be fine.¡± Chu Hong got serious, ¡°No can do, Brother Yu, our business is growing, and many are jealous! Who knows if some of those applying are spies sent by others. Brother Wang Qingshan has said, better to have none than to have something bad, told me to be strict in the recruitment process.¡± Chen Yu cleared his throat twice. While he was comforted to have such conscientious employees, this inadvertently increased Chu Hong¡¯s workload, and it would be counterproductive if she ran herself down. As he was about to offer some words of advice, a rugged shout suddenly sounded not far away. ¡°The herbal tonic soup is ready!¡± Wang Qingshan was seen placing a large pot on a table. There, five young men were seated, evidently newly employed office workers. Even from a distance, Chen Yu could smell the medicinal herbs and raw materials used in the tonic soup. Wang Qingshan had not used strong medicine in the soup; all the herbs were of a mild nature. ¡°` After all, these people were young, and if they were nourished too much, it would be very easy to harm their bodies. It seemed that Wang Qingshan had reached a masterful level of expertise in making medicinal meals. However, Wang Qingshan¡¯s originally obese and swollen body had slimmed down significantly, looking at least forty pounds lighter. It seemed that he too had been under unprecedented pressure during this period. Not far away, at two of the stations, Ning Kai and Li Gang were tirelessly swinging their knives. Li Gang was visibly tired, his movements a few beats slower than before. It looked like there was an urgent need to hire a large number of workers in the shortest time possible, otherwise, those under him might just collapse from exhaustion. ¡°Xiaohong, I remember you once said that there were many people in your village who wanted to find work. Do you know how many exactly?¡± Upon hearing this, Chu Hong somewhat embarrassedly lowered her head. ¡°Our place is quite backward, and the local customs are also a bit different from other places. Many people our age are already married with children and simply can¡¯t come out.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to give up just yet; all the servers he had, except for Yang Shu, had come out with Chu Hong. These people were not only hardworking and honest but also of excellent character, which is why Chen Yu had a special persistence for the people from Chu Hong¡¯s hometown. ¡°What about the adjacent villages or towns? Are there any idle hands there?¡± Chu Hong pondered for a moment: ¡°There are, but sadly our area is quite backward, and many people are very ignorant. Although they want to earn money, getting them to leave the village is very difficult.¡± If someone else heard this, they wouldn¡¯t understand, but Chen Yu knew exactly what it meant. It was nothing more than the constraints of their native families and backward notions, which forced them to stay in their local area, get married, have children, and lead an unremarkable life for generations. ¡°How about this then, pack your things, and in a couple of days, I¡¯ll go back with you to your hometown to personally recruit people.¡± Chu Hong opened her eyes wide in disbelief. She had thought about recruiting people from her hometown before, but after calling a few people last time, she hadn¡¯t been able to get anyone else. They were indeed poor, and many couldn¡¯t even afford proper meals. She had wanted to bring more fellow townspeople out to earn some money, but to no avail. Now that Chen Yu was willing to personally go back with her to recruit workers, it was naturally something she had long hoped for. ¡°Thank you so much, Brother Yu!¡± Chen Yu patted Chu Hong on the shoulder, then pointed to a small table nearby. ¡°If you are really too tired to stand, sleep there, don¡¯t slump over in the chair, it¡¯s bad for your waist and abdomen.¡± Chu Hong, a bit embarrassed, scratched her head but didn¡¯t follow the advice, instead mustering the strength to stand behind the counter. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and simply took Hou Jianchang over to Ning Kai. ¡°Master Ning, do you still have the ingredients I gave you last time? Make me two dishes.¡± Seeing Chen Yu come over, Ning Kai was also thrilled and immediately twirled his kitchen knife. ¡°Of course I do, just wait at the side for a moment, and I¡¯ll prepare the dishes right away.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then sat with Hou Jianchang at the counter nearby. It wasn¡¯t long before a rich fragrance wafted through the air. The long-missed aroma involuntarily made Hou Jianchang stand up from his seat. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 299: The Hollow Cannot Be Filled Chapter 299: Chapter 299: The Hollow Cannot Be Filled ¡°Flying Dragon Golden Toad Soup!¡± Hou Jianchang exclaimed excitedly, his body involuntarily drawing closer. Ning Kai was also taken aback, ¡°Old Hou, you really know your stuff, these ingredients were just brought back by Old Chen from Nanyun, and this dish has just been introduced, yet you can tell the name of the dish just by its smell.¡± Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and hurried forward to take the bowl Ning Kai handed over. ¡°This is a famous dish from my hometown, how could I possibly not know the name?¡± With that, he picked up a spoon and fiercely guzzled a mouthful. The recipe for this dish was actually very simple, involving nothing more than stewing artificially bred red-headed centipedes with stone frogs, to which some herbs were added as condiments. Stone frog itself is a special product of Nanyun, with a very unique texture of meat. As long as it was cooked in a pot for a long time, it would dissolve into the broth, and not even a bit of meat residue could be seen. If cooked for even longer, even the bones would meld into the soup. And red-headed centipedes were even more a preferred choice for medicinal use. Just one alone, its effects could be compared to turtle and snake soup! The essences of the red-headed centipede and stone frog combined could produce a unique substance that not only strengthened the body but also energized people. Many elders in Nanyun were particularly fond of this dish; even drinking half a bowl could make them feel instantly rejuvenated. There was even a town in Nanyun where, due to the regular consumption of this type of food, the average lifespan exceeded a hundred years. Upon seeing this dish, Hou Jianchang had already excitedly forgotten his manners and quickly drank a bowl of soup. By the time he came to his senses, he felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Ah, Old Chen, I couldn¡¯t help myself and drank it all¡­¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang on the shoulder, ¡°This bowl of soup was meant for you, and there¡¯s plenty more over there.¡± Ning Kai also laughed, then ladled out two more bowls and pushed them forward. ¡°Old Chen brought back a lot of ingredients, and he says more can be constantly sent over, so just drink up, there¡¯s plenty to go around!¡± Hou Jianchang wasn¡¯t shy, he rolled up his sleeves, picked up a bowl, and guzzled down another one. Just as they were enjoying themselves, two muscular men sitting nearby suddenly stood up and marched over with an aggressive air. ¡°I smelled the scent of stone frog earlier, and when I asked you to make a bowl of soup for me, you refused. Now that they are here, you say there¡¯s enough soup for everyone, what¡¯s the meaning of this? Are you looking down on us?¡± Ning Kai frowned, ¡°I¡¯ve already said, the two of you are too weak, you simply can¡¯t handle such a nourishing food, don¡¯t be ungrateful.¡± The two strong men still looked unsatisfied and insistent. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®too weak¡¯? Look at the muscles on us! My brother here has even won bodybuilding competitions, and you dare say we are weak! I think the medicinal dishes you make here are just a sham, believe it or not, I¡¯ll overturn your stand?¡± Chen Yu slightly furrowed his brows and sized up the two men. Indeed, as Ning Kai said, their bodies seemed deficient, likely due to long-term use of hormones. If they were given stone frog soup to drink, it could easily injure their internal organs. But an ordinary person couldn¡¯t tell at a glance, especially given the two men¡¯s extremely muscular physiques¡ªno one would associate their health with weakness. It was already evening, but there were still many people in the shopping mall. Although some were regular customers of the stores, the majority were new faces, even including a few internet influencers from afar who were currently filming with their smartphones. If things really continued to develop from here, the store might face some disadvantages. Chen Yu let out a heavy breath and went straight into the kitchen; he grabbed a handful of medicinal herbs and brought them out. ¡°You two, it¡¯s not that your bodies are weak, but rather that you¡¯re so robust you can¡¯t take any more nourishment! It means your bodies have already reached such a perfect state that any more strengthening would be overdoing it. Our chefs are thinking of your well-being.¡± As Chen Yu spoke, his tone and demeanor were very humble, which greatly pleased the two men. They dropped the aggressive attitude they had shown earlier. ¡°You have a way with words, boy. But we¡¯re at an age brimming with vigor. What¡¯s the worst that could happen if we overdo it? We¡¯d work it off in no time.¡± All of this was within Chen Yu¡¯s expectations; he distributed the medicinal herbs he held in his hand to the two men. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you try drinking this medicine with the soup? I guarantee your energy levels will be even higher than now.¡± The two men immediately looked triumphant. They consumed the herbs Chen Yu passed to them, and Ning Kai promptly served up two bowls of soup and brought them out. The surrounding internet influencers had moved in closer, even pointing their filming equipment right in the faces of the two robust men, curious to see their reaction after drinking the nutritious soup. ¡°Refreshing!¡± One of the robust men exclaimed loudly, then set his empty bowl on the table. Soon after, his forehead started to bead with sweat, and his face turned exceedingly flushed. The other even took off his shirt, appearing extremely exhilarated. Earlier, Chen Yu had concocted a medicinal dose according to each of their physical traits to counteract the effects of the Flying Dragon Golden Toad Soup, also negating the damage their hormones could inflict, essentially offering them a free treatment for their condition. This scene immediately stirred up excitement among the onlookers, who quickly formed a long queue in front of Ning Kai¡¯s stand, all eager to taste the nourishing soup for themselves. Ning Kai let out a sigh of resignation. Although he had been following Chen Yu for quite some time, his understanding of medicinal cuisine was still lacking. For specific conditions, he could tailor medicinal dishes accordingly, but facing a long line of people queuing for the same nutritious soup was troubling. Not to mention the various physical constitutions of each person, if someone had some innate illness, the nutritious soup could potentially lead to their death. As he worried over what to do, Chen Yu suddenly leaned in and whispered in his ear. ¡°Add more seasoning, dilute the soup by five times!¡± Upon hearing this, Ning Kai breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed Chen Yu¡¯s instructions to dilute the soup. That way, no serious issues would arise. However, once tonight¡¯s events spread, they could expect an even larger influx of customers, which would stretch their manpower even thinner. Chen Yu sighed helplessly. It looked like he would need to visit Chu Hong¡¯s hometown with her tomorrow. ¡°Business is booming, isn¡¯t it, Boss Chen!¡± A familiar voice suddenly called out from nearby. A delicate figure was standing on a ladder, leaning against the wall, sketching something. Turning his head, Chen Yu was surprised to see it was Tang Xiaowei, whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a long while. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 300 Recruiting on the Spot Chapter 300: Chapter 300 Recruiting on the Spot Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, he subconsciously looked around and noticed that several new murals had been added to the mall. ¡°Have you been painting here these past few days?¡± Chen Yu asked casually and then hurried over. Tang Xiaowei stirred the paint bucket in her hands, ¡°Your dear wife nagged and begged me for several days, insisting that I come over and paint for you, what choice did I have?¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt a little embarrassed, as if every time he expanded his shop, Tang Xiaowei would come over to help. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard! By the way, now that the expansion into a mall is complete, I want to set up a membership system. When it¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll give you a VIP card, and you can eat for free here for life.¡± Tang Xiaowei immediately became excited, ¡°At least you have some conscience! But a lifetime of free meals won¡¯t satisfy me, you also have to reserve a room for me specifically.¡± Chen Yu smiled slightly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible!¡± Tang Xiaowei put the stirred paint bucket aside and carefully climbed down the ladder. ¡°By the way, I recently got a case from the relevant departments in the capital, Zhou Team asked me to do the portrait, but from one single image, I ended up drawing thirteen different ones, and each one matched a specific person!¡± Chen Yu frowned, having been a portrait artist himself, he was well aware of the intricacies involved. If there was one blurry surveillance image, one could only draw a single portrait through visual restoration. If there were any deviations, the resulting portrait wouldn¡¯t match anyone in the database. For Tang Xiaowei to draw thirteen distinct portraits in one go, all matching specific people, was simply impossible. Unless that video was fake! ¡°There¡¯s something like that? But Zhou Team hasn¡¯t approached me recently.¡± Tang Xiaowei sighed, ¡°Originally, he wanted to find you, but it seemed that you were tied up with a task, so they had to call me in to make up the numbers.¡± Chen Yu understood, it must have happened during the time he was undercover. As an outsider, he should be assisting Zhou Shengtao right away, but his shop and factory had been expanding recently. If he didn¡¯t pay attention now, there could be big problems. ¡°Do you have a copy of the video?¡± Chen Yu asked after some thought. ¡°Yes, I do!¡± Tang Xiaowei immediately took out a USB drive and handed it over. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate, taking it and putting it in his pocket. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and study it. If I can draw the portraits, I¡¯ll send them directly to you.¡± Tang Xiaowei didn¡¯t ask further, simply added some ingredients into the paint bucket and climbed back up the ladder. Chen Yu then greeted Chu Hong and took Hou Jianchang home. The next morning at ten o¡¯clock, Chen Yu and Chu Hong arrived at the train station. Chu Hong¡¯s hometown was in a remote mountainous area of the Sichuan-Shu region, and even if you flew, you could only reach a secondary city nearby, after which there was still a bumpy ride to get there. Taking the train was different. Three years ago, aiming to support the development of the mountainous area, the authorities built a train station in a small town near Chu Hong¡¯s hometown. Chen Yu bought two first-class sleeper tickets and then boarded the train with Chu Hong. Though the train compartment wasn¡¯t very large, the first-class sleeper with only two beds was quite comfortable. But once Chu Hong entered the compartment, she seemed a bit uncomfortable. ¡°Brother Yu, we¡¯re just going back to hire people, there¡¯s no need to buy such expensive berths. Let¡¯s return them, and I¡¯ll just take a hard seat.¡± Chen Yu smiled helplessly, ¡°The tickets are already bought, and the train is about to leave, how could they possibly issue a refund now? Besides, you¡¯re on a business trip right now, everything can be claimed on your travel expenses, so just sit back and relax.¡± Chu Hong was still somewhat uneasy, after all, she came from a poor background and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit inferior. When she had first left her hometown, the best seat she had ever bought was a hard seat, and sometimes she could only get standing-room tickets. Now this way of traveling really made her feel unexpectedly flattered. ¡°Brother Yu, I will definitely work hard in the future!¡± This sudden pledge caught Chen Yu off guard. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve got me at a loss here! Go take a nap, we still have eighteen hours before we reach our destination.¡± With a somewhat perfunctory response, Chen Yu laid down on the bed and fell asleep. The journey went smoothly, and at five o¡¯clock the next morning, they arrived at the station, but to reach Chu Hong¡¯s mountain village, it would take at least another two hours. Chu Hong found a donkey cart near the train station and headed straight for the village with Chen Yu. The mountain road was indeed rugged, and even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t bear the jolting, feeling as if his bones were about to fall apart. When Chen Yu arrived at the village, he found many people gathering at the village entrance, they were gathered in small groups, some playing chess, others gossiping. As soon as they saw Chen Yu and Chu Hong, they almost simultaneously stopped what they were doing, and several elderly women came over. ¡°Oh my, Xiaohong, did you make a fortune outside these past few years? How come you brought back such a handsome young man?¡± ¡°Our Xiaohong has the highest education in the village, after all, she¡¯s someone who went to high school in the county, she¡¯s very capable.¡± ¡°Where is this young man from? He looks quite handsome!¡± ¡­ Chu Hong immediately became nervous, ¡°Auntie Liu, you¡¯ve misunderstood, this is my boss, and he¡¯s here to recruit workers for our village.¡± Those women didn¡¯t pay any attention to Chu Hong¡¯s explanation and continued their discussion. Chen Yu frowned, not surprised by the entrenched mindset of people who grew up in such an environment. He didn¡¯t say much else and simply lifted the millstone at the village entrance, placing it on an open space. This action startled everyone present. The millstone weighed several hundred pounds, and with the stone roller underneath, it was nearly a thousand pounds. Chen Yu lifted it with ease. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, as Chu Hong has already mentioned, I am here to recruit workers. If your family has young people of the right age who are out of school and at home, please let them come out, I will offer them a decent job.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd¡¯s expressions varied; some showed faces of disgust, looking at Chen Yu as if he were a villain, while others were overjoyed, running home to call their children out. Soon, the open space at the village entrance gathered more than a dozen young people. But among them, the vast majority were girls, with only two boys. Chen Yu frowned, although his workplace also needed a large number of female attendants, he still wanted to find a few young men to train under Wang Qingshan and his team, possibly even to cultivate a few specialized chefs. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Ignorant and Backward Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Ignorant and Backward ¡°Aren¡¯t there many boys here?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously, at the same time he set down his recording pen. Chu Hong next to him seemed to have heard something terrifying and quickly tugged on Chen Yu¡¯s arm. Chen Yu was puzzled and before he could ask, a middle-aged woman nearby casually spat out a sunflower seed shell. ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. It¡¯s already not bad that they brought out a girl for you, yet you still want a boy? They are treasured by their families for continuing the lineage; how could they possibly let them go?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head buzzed. He had guessed some situations before coming here, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated such ignorant thinking. No wonder these people never left the mountains in their whole lives. Just then, a petite figure suddenly ran out from the village. ¡°Take me with you. I can do all the work that a boy can do! And I only need half the wages.¡± The sudden shout startled Chen Yu. He saw a frail-looking young girl stumble and scramble to his table. The girl appeared to be only about fourteen or fifteen, but when she slapped her ID on the table, Chen Yu realized she was already eighteen. ¡°What are you doing, you foolish girl? They¡¯re offering seven thousand yuan. How many people in this place have been willing to give seven thousand yuan all these years? Yet you refuse to marry. Are you trying to turn the world upside down?¡± An angry voice followed, making the girl tremble with fear. She quickly got up and hid behind Chen Yu. Chu Hong also noticed this girl and looked at her carefully before suddenly stepping forward excitedly. ¡°Xiaoyu! How did you end up like this?¡± Xiaoyu was initially stunned and then rose excitedly to hug Chu Hong. ¡°Xiaohong, I thought I¡¯d never see you again in my life!¡± As they spoke, Xiaoyu¡¯s parents had already caught up, each wielding a pickaxe, seemingly ready to beat Xiaoyu to death. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward to stop the couple. ¡°What are you doing? She¡¯s your own daughter after all; how can you treat her this way?¡± To his surprise, the couple showed no respect for Chen Yu. ¡°Who¡¯s this meddlesome brat? Dare to interfere with our family matters? Get lost, or I¡¯ll break your legs, too.¡± Chen Yu was immediately infuriated. Ever since he arrived in this village, everything seemed to go against his sense of reason. Even if the people here were ignorant and backward, that was no reason to treat one¡¯s own flesh and blood so harshly. As he was about to argue, Chu Hong suddenly tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Brother Yu!¡± Chen Yu turned and saw that Chu Hong had stuffed a bulky envelope into his hand. ¡°Give them this money, and they¡¯ll let Xiaoyu leave with us.¡± Chen Yu was dumbfounded. What kind of reasoning was that? Moreover, weren¡¯t the couple chasing Xiaoyu because they wanted to marry her off? Could it be that anyone who offered seven thousand yuan could take Xiaoyu away? Before he could react, the couple had already moved two chairs aside and sat down. ¡°You outsiders really have no reason. My daughter is getting married, and you want to take her away! Since that¡¯s the case, leave ten thousand yuan and we¡¯ll act like nothing ever happened.¡± Chen Yu felt all his values being destroyed, the change was just too abrupt. An elderly aunty next to them, threw a handful of sunflower seed shells in front of the couple. ¡°You two are absolutely shameless. Xiao Yu wasn¡¯t even your biological daughter. Ever since she arrived at your place, you treated her nothing better than an animal, and now you have the audacity to come here and scam money! Tell me, when has little Xiao Yu ever been betrothed?¡± Following the lady¡¯s comment, the onlookers joined in the uproar, spewing insults and belittlement that even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t bear to listen to. Yet, unbelievably, the couple sat as if they were being showered with compliments, composed and unaffected. Chen Yu instantly understood that these people merely wanted to extract a sum of money from him using this charade. No wonder Chu Hong had prepared several envelopes before they left Suzhou City; it looked like they would come in handy right about now. Chen Yu let out a frustrated sigh, then stood on top of the stone mill. ¡°I want to ask all the kids who are here in line; if I want to take them with me, do I also have to pay a sum of money?¡± The aunty who had been cracking sunflower seeds laughed as if she¡¯d heard a joke. ¡°Young man, you think you can just take our village kids without paying? Are you delusional?¡± Chen Yu felt his heart cool; if real criminals were to come here, couldn¡¯t they easily take these children away? In a daze, he noticed the eager eyes of all the children around him. After all, Chu Hong had managed to leave this place, and most of them had been her playmates since childhood. In the eyes of those children, Chu Hong was someone who had escaped from a life of suffering. If they could leave with Chu Hong, they too could escape the mountains. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breathing and then picked up the suitcase next to him, which was filled with a box of money. Originally, he had intended to pay half a month¡¯s salary in advance whenever he hired someone, as a way to display his credibility. But now, he was grateful that he had brought a suitcase full of money. The aunty who had been eating sunflower seeds suddenly became excited and promptly pulled a little girl out from the crowd. ¡°Since you gave little Xiao Yu ten thousand yuan, the rest of the kids should get ten thousand each too!¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu distributed the money in the order it was asked for. Those so-called parents, upon receiving the money, couldn¡¯t contain their excitement, and their children were handed over to Chen Yu like toys. In the end, many people pushed forward their little boys. As Chen Yu left with thirty-six children, he did not feel the joy of having successfully recruited people. Instead, he felt a sense of accomplishment for having rescued thirty-six children from a life of misery. He began to despise this place from the bottom of his heart! Once they were on the train leaving the village, the children began to act strangely excited. To them, they were facing a brand new life. However, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t feel happy. Upon arriving at Suzhou City, he handed the children over to Chu Hong to manage and went straight to the relevant authorities. The hall was already in an uproar, Zhou Shengtao stood in front of the big screen, incessantly pointing at the suspects there. ¡°Can someone explain to me what exactly is happening here? We were about to close in on them, how could you let these thugs slip right under your noses?¡± The leaders of the various action teams seated below were silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly, with one of them holding a thermos and taking a trembling sip. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Case File Association Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Case File Association ¡°Zhou Team!¡± Chen Yu burst through the door with an abrupt shout. Zhou Shengtao¡¯s expression changed instantly, he quickly threw down the laser pointer in his hand and strode out to meet him. Everyone present let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. ¡°Xiaochen, how come you didn¡¯t say anything before you came?¡± Chen Yu felt a little embarrassed, seeing the situation just now, it seemed Zhou Shengtao had been in the middle of a very important meeting. Clearing his throat gently, he proceeded to take out several sheets of drawing paper from his person. These were portraits he had sketched based on the video provided by Tang Xiaowei, drawn on the train. But no matter how he drew them, the results were never unique. Logically, there should only be one person in the video; even if the image was blurry, as a professional portrait artist, he should only produce one drawing in the end. Yet neither Tang Xiaowei nor he could come up with a unique result. The suspect¡¯s appearance was either too peculiar, the facial features inherently asymmetrical, which disturbed the portrait sketching, or this suspect simply had no face at all! Zhou Shengtao took the drawings with a sigh of resignation. He had been following this case for a long time, and based on the portraits previously provided by Tang Xiaowei, he had interrogated suspects, and yet, no results were forthcoming. The suspects in the portraits Chen Yu had now provided had also been brought in for questioning. ¡°Xiaochen, this case is complicated; the other party is very cautious, and their counter-surveillance skills are particularly strong. Many times we¡¯ve found clues, but each time we¡¯ve been just minutes too late!¡± ¡°Now that video tape is our last lead, but we¡¯ve asked several artists to sketch, and none can produce a single conclusive portrait.¡± Chen Yu frowned deeply, ¡°Zhou Team, is it possible for me to see the original video?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Zhou Shengtao led Chen Yu to the archives room. Due to recent investigations, the place had been turned upside down; many items were strewn across the desks, and even some cases from several years back had been dragged out into the mess. Dossiers, videos, documents, all scattered about in disarray. Zhou Shengtao plugged a video tape that was on the table directly into the playback system. When the blurry images appeared before them, a flood of information suddenly flashed through Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [System notification, related message] The moment the system¡¯s voice sounded, all the materials in the archive room appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Just as Zhou Sheng was about to speak, Chen Yu turned on his heel and began rifling through a pile of documents, soon pulling out several old case files. The dates on these files were quite old, one of them was from a case over thirty years ago. Chen Yu quickly searched through the dossiers and soon found a photograph. It was a black and white photo from over thirty years ago. The person in the photo looked very young, but their face was twisted to an extreme degree. Looking at the scars, they appeared to have been splashed with sulfuric acid, causing the facial features to distort and even damaging the bones. Even the most skilled portrait artist wouldn¡¯t be able to recreate the original appearance under such circumstances. Even attempting to replicate the skin over the bone structure could lead to deviations. Chen Yu was suddenly excited, following the system¡¯s prompt, this person was the suspect Zhou Shengtao was looking for, but just as he was about to hand over the photo, he hesitated. Everything was far too simple, and there were no connections between them. If he directly handed over the photo, Zhou Shengtao would definitely suspect something, and he couldn¡¯t possibly expose the system, could he? After briefly pondering in his mind, Chen Yu had a plan. ¡°Captain Zhou, this reminds me of a major case that occurred, where the suspect had severe facial injuries. Back then, it took dozens of portrait artists a lot of effort to draw a likeness of the person!¡± Zhou Shengtao evidently believed Chen Yu¡¯s explanation, as Chen Yu had hinted more than once before that he had looked over most of the documentation here. ¡°You mean to say, the criminal suspect we¡¯re looking for has been disfigured!¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°It¡¯s possible that he has undergone a full-body transformation, maybe even altered his bones, which is why the portraits drawn have resulted in depictions of over a dozen different people.¡± Zhou Shengtao, too, grew excited, ¡°How did I not think of this before! With this, the scope of our investigation is much narrower.¡± Just as he was getting excited, Chen Yu casually pushed the file over to him, his middle finger subtly tapping on a section of the record. Zhou Shengtao noticed Chen Yu¡¯s gesture and subconsciously glanced at it, and the next moment he froze. ¡°My God! How did I forget? This case from over thirty years ago is too similar to today¡¯s!¡± Zhou Shengtao exclaimed loudly and quickly took the file from Chen Yu, looking it over carefully. ¡°This is it, the criminal suspect is likely the same! Chen, you¡¯re really a godsend!¡± Chen Yu feigned an innocent look, ¡°Ah, could it really be such a coincidence?¡± Zhou Shengtao didn¡¯t say much more, just hurriedly took the file to the conference room and spread the suspect¡¯s information on the table. ¡°Starting now, pull up this person¡¯s movements over the past thirty years for me.¡± Everyone acted without the slightest delay and immediately set about their tasks. Chen Yu, based on the suspect¡¯s photo from over thirty years ago, sketched out the original appearance, and considering the injuries and potential cosmetic surgery, compared it against the blurry surveillance footage to produce a rough sketch. ¡°Captain Zhou, this is the suspect¡¯s portrait I¡¯ve drawn with utmost effort, I hope it can be of help.¡± Zhou Shengtao, without looking, immediately ordered it to be distributed, and then a city-wide manhunt ensued. However, according to regulations, before the suspect was captured, all personnel involved in the case were not allowed to leave unauthorised, and had to stay within their respective departments. As an external consultant, Chen Yu was of course aware of such rules, and he made no complaints, just sitting quietly in the office waiting. Around midnight, with a text message from Zhou Sheng on his phone, everything was settled. Before long, several relevant personnel brought in a handsome, tall man to the department. His facial proportions and bone structure had an almost impossible perfection, even his facial bones were different from the average person¡¯s. Moreover, he had features of over a hundred different people, which explained why Chen Yu produced different results while drawing from the video. Most importantly, the suspect had more than one steel pin implanted inside his body to alter his physique and height. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 303 Full Body Plastic Surgery Chapter 303: Chapter 303 Full Body Plastic Surgery ¡°Did I hear it was you who fleshed out my precise portrait?¡± When the man saw Chen Yu, he instinctively asked this question. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, only nodding his head. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect to be taken down by a youngster like you! When I committed that case ten years ago, nobody could trace me at all, I thought this time would be perfect, just the same¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the two officials beside him nudged his shoulder. ¡°Enough with the nonsense, get inside!¡± An odd smirk flashed across the suspect¡¯s face, and as he passed by Chen Yu, he even shot him a malicious glance. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there for long, exchanging a few pleasantries with Zhou Shengtao before he hurried off to Shuiyue Number One. It had been quite a long time since he had been home. But when he returned, he found the villa¡¯s front gate tightly shut, and the business car he had just purchased was nowhere to be seen. After entering, he saw a photo and a note left on the counter next to the door. ¡°Honey, Tuan Tuan is on holiday, and we¡¯re all going out to relax without you.¡± Chen Yu immediately felt depressed, the photo featured everyone in his family but him. He rubbed his forehead subconsciously and suddenly felt a wave of sleepiness washing over him. He yawned, then went straight to his bedroom and fell asleep. It was not until noon the next day that Chen Yu woke up groggily, only then he noticed there were over a dozen missed calls on his phone. Seeing that they were from Chu Hong, he quickly called back, got dressed at the same time, and drove straight to the shopping mall. The mall¡¯s first floor was now incredibly bustling, with the customer flow being more than five times busier than even its best days before. Customers from the city, outsiders, and even those who came from abroad were constantly coming and going. The only issue was that the construction opposite the building and on its rooftop meant that there were some limitations, preventing the customer flow from reaching full capacity. I believe that once the construction is finished, this place will become the busiest mall in Suzhou City, if not the whole world. When he arrived at the mall, he found all the stations operating smoothly, Wang Qingshan and his two colleagues even had two apprentices each. These kids, having grown up in the mountains, had a rather straightforward character, and at their age, they hadn¡¯t yet been molded by the outdated thinking of their villages, showing much promise for growth. The people brought back yesterday had already been put to work today. When Chu Hong saw Chen Yu arrive, she approached him in a hurry. ¡°Brother Yu, I really didn¡¯t want to bother you, but there are so many people, and our dormitories simply can¡¯t accommodate them all; we even had to clear out a room for a few boys last night!¡± Chen Yu slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten about this. In the beginning, the dorms were rented, but when he bought the shops, he also purchased those apartments. Though he acquired a few extra at the time for unexpected needs, with the sudden influx of so many people, those dorms now seemed rather cramped. In the future, this mall might hire a huge number of employees, and by then, more employee housing would be necessary. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, I¡¯ll arrange it. Tell them to focus on their work, and I¡¯ll take care of their living necessities as well!¡± Chu Hong nodded her head, then somewhat sheepishly pulled out a letter from her pocket. ¡°` It was a letter of guarantee, and nearly everyone had signed it and even pressed their fingerprints on it. However, the handwriting at the beginning was still relatively delicate, but as it went on, the signatures started to stray, and some even resorted to using Pinyin instead. ¡°Brother Yu, it¡¯s mainly because the people in our village are too poor that such situations arise, making you the butt of the joke. We¡¯ve all already agreed that the money you spent on them before will be deducted from their wages!¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless, ¡°It¡¯s just over three hundred thousand, which is small change for me. Besides, they have traveled miles to work here; I should give them some bonus and a settling-in allowance, right? Try to reassure them, so they don¡¯t feel too much psychological burden.¡± After giving a few instructions, Chen Yu headed straight to the residential area behind the original shop. This residential area was built corresponding to the surrounding commercial district, so there were specifically two buildings constructed to apartment standards. Only, when the developer was building them, they were short on funds and sold the property rights ahead of time, which made the ownership of these two apartment buildings extremely complex. Chen Yu contacted the property owners through the property management and soon gathered most of the owners together. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I called you here today with no other intention but to buy the property rights of the apartments in your hands to use as my employees¡¯ dormitory. I hope you can understand,¡± he said earnestly. Most of the people present scoffed at his sincerity. ¡°You¡¯re a bit too brash, kid. Do you know how much these two apartment buildings are worth now?¡± ¡°To use as employee dormitories, do you think you¡¯re some kind of tycoon? Now which company¡¯s employee dormitories aren¡¯t rented?¡± ¡°Young Chen, I support you! I still want to eat at your place in the future! But this is business after all, you have to pay me the market rate.¡± ¡°No problem, Young Chen. If others don¡¯t want to sell, I will! I have a total of sixteen apartments in my hands, just give the word, and I¡¯ll turn them all over to you.¡± ¡­ This polarization of opinions left Chen Yu somewhat at a loss. If it were a small-scale transaction, that would be fine, but such a large-scale transaction would definitely involve many messy issues. Even the price might not be unified! As he was feeling frustrated, an elderly lady bustled in. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for being late. I heard someone wants to buy our apartments, is that true?¡± As soon as this person arrived, everyone present quieted down. ¡°Auntie Li?¡± Chen Yu was stunned, for when he first opened his shop here, Auntie Li had given him considerable help, renting him both the shop and the apartment at the market¡¯s lowest price. Later, when he bought the place, Auntie Li even gave him a substantial discount. Chen Yu hurriedly stepped forward to help Auntie Li sit down. ¡°Auntie Li, what brings you here? Didn¡¯t you sell all your apartments to me already?¡± No sooner had he spoken than all eyes in the room converged on Chen Yu, as though mocking his ignorance. ¡°Young man, what are you talking about? The one with the most property rights in this area is Auntie Li.¡± ¡°Just in these two apartment buildings, she owns more than half of them!¡± ¡­ ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 304 Arranging Dorms Chapter 304: Chapter 304 Arranging Dorms Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be stunned for a moment; he hadn¡¯t expected Auntie Li to be so capable. When he first bought the apartment, he had thought that those were all the apartments Auntie Li had in her hands, that she was selling them to him in order to have peace of mind in retirement. Chen Yu suddenly felt that he had been naive. Auntie Li laughed heartily and stepped forward to pat Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s right, I sold all the apartments from my first batch to you!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was filled with confusion, the words ¡°first batch¡± truly dazzled him, suggesting that Auntie Li¡¯s wealth was far beyond his imagination. Auntie Li did not elaborate, simply taking out a large stack of contracts from her bag. ¡°Young Chen, from the time you first came back here to set up shop, I saw potential in you. Since you need apartments for employee accommodation, go ahead and take all these apartments I have.¡± With that, Auntie Li took out a calculator and calculated the total price on the spot according to market value. Although houses are talked about as investment items, if they are monopolized by someone, that person can control the specific prices at will. Auntie Li had held more than half of these two apartment buildings, and she could sway the price per square meter by hundreds of yuan if she wished. Now that Auntie Li had sold all her apartments to Chen Yu, in other words, the person who now had that kind of ability had become Chen Yu. The rest had a choice: either sell all their apartments to Chen Yu now or deal with the uncertainty later on. If one day Chen Yu was displeased and decided to drive down the housing prices, their loss would be substantial. ¡°Young Chen, as I said just now, I¡¯m willing to sell you all these apartments, so take them all!¡± An elderly gentleman promptly stood up and laid out his prepared property deed and related documents on the table. This gentleman was a regular customer at Chen Yu¡¯s store, and Chen Yu had even cured his many years of rheumatism before, so naturally, he wanted to back Chen Yu at this time. Immediately, more people placed their property deeds and documents on the table. Seeing this, the others didn¡¯t say much more. Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief; with this, things had become simpler. After rapidly signing contracts with everyone, Chen Yu paid on the spot and completed the transactions. However, Chen Yu didn¡¯t relax; after sending off these property owners, the real trouble was just beginning. This place was inherently part of Suzhou City¡¯s commercial center, with a number of large malls and companies in the vicinity, so there were many outsiders working here. Many company white-collar workers and even some fresh graduates lived in the two apartment buildings. Convenient transportation and affordable rent forced them to choose to rent here. Now that Chen Yu had bought this place to be used for employee accommodation, how to settle these renters had become the biggest issue. Hearing that the apartments had changed hands, the renters stirred up trouble together, spontaneously gathering in the square, wanting to get an explanation from the property management. But these were not matters the property management would handle; they could only push it onto Chen Yu. At this moment, Chen Yu had already set up a few tables in the community square. By the time these people gathered around, he had already taken out a floor plan of the apartments, along with an allocation scheme. ¡°Everyone, I didn¡¯t have any other intention in buying the apartments, merely to expand our employee accommodation. However, I don¡¯t have many employees right now, so we won¡¯t take up too many rooms. You can all continue to live here.¡± As soon as he spoke, those tenants who had been preparing to cause trouble suddenly quieted down. However, some people still had doubts, and they asked a myriad of questions in disarray. After Chen Yu had responded to these questions one by one, he then consolidated the originally vacant rooms and adjusted the rooms for these tenants. It was only after all the issues had been resolved that these people left one after another. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief and immediately called the cleaning staff to tidy up the adjusted rooms. Although the occupancy rate of these two apartment buildings was very high, a significant portion was used for storage, so the total occupancy rate was only 60 percent. After the adjustment, Chen Yu concentrated all the tenants in the mobile apartment building, and another area of the other apartment building was also specifically designated for these tenants. When the time came for some people to move out, Chen Yu would gradually clear out one apartment building to be used entirely for staff accommodation. Once the rooms were cleaned up, Chen Yu had someone simply decorate them, arranging all the basic living facilities. By 8 p.m., many employees had gradually arrived at the apartment building. When they saw the clean and tidy dormitories, they were so excited they could hardly contain themselves, and in that moment, they almost regarded Chen Yu as a god. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, and after simply settling them in, he returned to the shopping center. Although it was already evening, the flow of people in the shopping center hadn¡¯t decreased, but instead, it was getting even busier. Chu Hong arranged the shifts based on the different stations into opening, mid-shift, closing, and night shifts. She then had everyone familiarize themselves with the essentials of these four shifts, so once they had mastered the details, they could freely swap shifts. Even if someone had a last-minute issue, all the stores and stations could continue to operate without any disruption. Seeing that everything was well-organized, Chen Yu felt a surge of relief. Just then, Xie Jiang came down from upstairs laughing and talking with several workers. They had been busy with renovations and remodeling upstairs, so they used the first-floor hall as a canteen. The group quickly found a few familiar spots to sit down at. ¡°Old Chen, how come you have time to swing by here today?¡± Xie Jiang called out excitedly as he approached. Chen Yu smiled in response, ¡°Just taking a stroll since I have nothing better to do, and besides, arranging accommodations for our staff.¡± ¡°Chen, you¡¯re a busy man. It¡¯s rare for you to have nothing to do. Come on, let¡¯s have a good drink together today.¡± Before Chen Yu could react, Xie Jiang had already dragged him to a spot and ordered some plum wine. This wine was brewed by Chen Yu¡¯s own shop. When they first shared these recipes, it was impossible to brew perfect plum wine due to limited conditions. So Chen Yu spread the formula for the staff to brew on their own, but unexpectedly, Chu Hong and the other girls managed to make it. Although it did not reach the perfect level of the recipe, it was still many times better than other wines of the same type. Most importantly, the alcohol content was not very high, so even if one drank too much, it wouldn¡¯t affect work. Therefore, it became a favorite among the workforce, something they¡¯d indulge in whether or not there was an occasion. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 305 Long-Term Poisoning Chapter 305: Chapter 305 Long-Term Poisoning Chen Yu had just poured the wine when a commercial van pulled up at the mall entrance, and several burly bodyguards barged in. The construction workers dining saw the scene unfold, rising to their feet in unison. During this time, there had been no shortage of troublemakers at the mall, and Xie Jiang and his workers had driven away many. Now, with these men suddenly rushing in, it was clear they were no good. Chen Yu also became wary, but as he prepared to speak, two of the bodyguards approached him with great respect. ¡°Mr. Chen, our president would like to invite you over for an important discussion,¡± one said. Chen Yu frowned, ¡°Who is your president?¡± The men did not conceal anything, directly handing over a business card. Chen Yu took the business card and glanced at it, a slight shock passing through him, as the person inviting him turned out to be Chu Jianghe. However, judging by the respectful demeanor of these two bodyguards, Chu Jianghe probably wouldn¡¯t harm him. Without saying more, Chen Yu followed the bodyguards into the car. Xie Jiang and his group, filled with worry, got into a van and followed the commercial vehicle from a distance. Before long, Chen Yu was brought to an extremely luxurious villa. Though the villa was the epitome of luxury, almost like a palace, it was located in a very remote area, on the far outskirts of Suzhou City¡¯s eastern suburbs. Nearby, there were even vast rice fields, suggesting Chu Jianghe must have purchased the land from farmers to build the villa himself. In the expansive hall, Chu Jianghe sat firmly, his face solemn. ¡°Mr. Chu, you invited me here so late; may I ask why?¡± Chen Yu inquired. Holding a cane, Chu Jianghe slowly stood up and extended his wrist towards Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your exceptional medical skills. I¡¯ve invited you here to treat me. If you can cure my illness, I¡¯m willing to agree to any of your conditions¡ªI¡¯m even open to discussing leaving Suzhou City and retiring,¡± he offered. Chen Yu was taken aback; he had not expected Chu Jianghe to propose such terms. ¡°Elder Chu, Suzhou City is there for the taking. Anyone looking to develop or invest here doesn¡¯t seem to need anyone¡¯s permission. Moreover, a city¡¯s financial capital isn¡¯t as limited as it appears. If you¡¯re willing, Mr. Chu, we could collaborate on some new projects,¡± Chen Yu responded. Chu Jianghe¡¯s body trembled slightly, truly not expecting Chen Yu to have such a vision. After a moment of silence, Chu Jianghe sat down again. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the treatment first!¡± he suggested. Chen Yu said no more, reaching out to feel Chu Jianghe¡¯s pulse. But in the next moment, his expression dramatically shifted. ¡°Elder sir, were you poisoned thirty years ago?¡± he asked. These words caught Chu Jianghe off guard; indeed, during a family conflict thirty years ago, he had been poisoned. It had been so long, and he thought any residual poison would be long gone. He couldn¡¯t believe that Chen Yu could deduce so much from a simple pulse check. ¡°Are you saying the poison in my body hasn¡¯t been completely cleared?¡± Chu Jianghe queried. Chen Yu nodded and then took a piece of paper and a pen from the side and wrote down a prescription. ¡°In fact, the condition your body is experiencing is almost entirely caused by toxins within the body that haven¡¯t been cleared, and for these past thirty years, someone has been poisoning your food.¡± As he said this, Chen Yu deliberately lowered his voice to ensure that only Chu Jianghe could hear him. Chu Jianghe¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he couldn¡¯t believe that someone had been meddling with his food all this time. ¡°Who exactly is it? How dare they treat me this way?¡± ¡°That is something you¡¯ll have to investigate yourself!¡± Chen Yu replied somewhat dismissively as he handed over the prescription. Chu Jianghe¡¯s breathing suddenly grew rapid, and a hint of caution appeared in his eyes. Just as Chen Yu was about to stand up and leave, Chu Jianghe suddenly grabbed his arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, ever since my staff started ordering meals from your place, they¡¯ve caused an uproar in the previous dining hall and even drove away the former chefs. I find it strange. Is the food from your place really that delicious?¡± Others might have found this question rather baffling, given that the two men weren¡¯t on familiar terms¡ªespecially since Chen Yu was forcibly brought here by Chu Jianghe. But Chen Yu understood perfectly what Chu Jianghe meant. ¡°The best time to enjoy food is definitely the moment it comes out of the pan. The meals ordered from my place must certainly taste different by the time they arrive here! If Sect Leader Chu doesn¡¯t mind, you could come to my restaurant and taste it fresh on the spot.¡± The servants nearby were totally confused; the conversation between the two men seemed odd, as if they were forcibly carving out some emotional connection. Before people could react, Chen Yu had already left the room with Chu Jianghe. And this time, Chu Jianghe didn¡¯t bring anyone with him, just drove an old Beetle car by himself. The whole way, neither of them spoke, only communicated through strange hand gestures. Chu Jianghe was already cautious, and upon hearing that he had been poisoned for thirty years, he became somewhat panicked. If someone could poison him for so long, it proved that there must be a surveillance system around him, possibly even within this car. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the shopping mall that Chu Jianghe finally breathed a sigh of relief. Xie Jiang and his companions, who had previously followed them out, also returned to the shopping mall. After ensuring that nothing was amiss with Chen Yu, they dispersed on the spot, but the Sect Leader was still uneasy and sat near Chen Yu with two workers. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just handed the prescription he had prepared to Wang Qingshan, asking him to make a medicinal meal according to the herbs listed. Chu Jianghe, however, looked flustered. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve heard that your place is about to be transformed into a hotel. I wonder if there are any rooms available now, as I would like to stay here for a while.¡± Chen Yu spread his hands: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my place is currently under renovation. If Sect Leader Chu would like to stay, I know there¡¯s a decent 7 Days Inn nearby.¡± Chu Jianghe frowned. How could he, the Sect Leader of the Chu Family, possibly stay in such a low-end chain hotel? But his situation was incredibly dangerous at the moment, and if he didn¡¯t lower himself, he might very well lose his life in Suzhou City. While he hesitated, Chen Yu suddenly took out a business card and handed it to him. ¡°My father-in-law does have a decent business hotel. If Sect Leader Chu doesn¡¯t mind, you could stay there for a few days, and all the food there is supplied by me.¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s eyes widened; he knew all about the grudge between himself and Tong Ming. And Chen Yu surely was aware of it too. This was clearly a way to make him swallow his pride and seek help from an adversary. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Private Chef Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Private Chef ¡°What do you mean by this? Taking advantage of the situation? Using this opportunity to let your father-in-law trample all over me?¡± Chu Jianghe became inexplicably angry, his cane pounding ceaselessly on the ground, making a resounding clang, quickly drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Xie Jiang, who had been watching intently from not far away, suddenly stood up, clutching a steel bar tightly in his hand. Chen Yu, on the other hand, appeared unfazed, pouring a cup of plum wine and sliding it across to Chu Jianghe. ¡°At this point, sir, do you really need to care so much about face?¡± Chu Jianghe was stunned for a moment, unsure of what to do. If what Chen Yu said was true, that someone had been poisoning him for thirty years, it must have been someone very close to him. That meant he could neither return to Suzhou City nor continue to stay in Suzhou City; he could only find a place to hide until the real culprit behind the scenes was found. Chu Jianghe took a moment to regulate his breathing and then downed the cup of plum wine with a gulp. ¡°Fine, I can stay at your father-in-law¡¯s place, but you have to ensure that he provides me with a top-notch suite, with all the services I need, nothing missing, and you also have to take responsibility for curing my illness,¡± he declared. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; speaking of which, he seemed to be helping Chu Jianghe¡ªthis kind of felt like taking care of a demanding elder. ¡°These are minor issues, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to make the call to my father-in-law yourself,¡± he replied. Chu Jianghe, left with no choice at this juncture, reluctantly agreed. Soon, Wang Qingshan came over with a bowl of braised pork. The braised pork looked ordinary, no different from regular braised pork, but its flavor was entirely unique. As soon as it was served, a pungent scent of herbs assailed Chu Jianghe¡¯s nostrils, causing his body to shiver involuntarily. The persistent sense of weakness that had wrapped around him vanished completely. He instinctively picked up his chopsticks and devoured two big mouthfuls. ¡°How in the world is this made? Not only is the taste rich and mellow, but it also melts in the mouth, and it can even cure my illness!¡± Chen Yu rested his chin on one hand, ¡°This is a special medicinal dish from my restaurant. If Mr. Chu is willing, we can provide this kind of medicinal cuisine every day. It can clear the poison from your body and even rejuvenate you to some extent.¡± Chu Jianghe immediately got excited, ¡°Then I have another condition. For the next few days, you must take charge of my meals. I won¡¯t eat anything made by anyone else.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell agape; he had a pile of things to attend to¡ªjust dealing with the factory and shopping center renovations was enough to give him a headache. Where would he find the time to cook specifically for Chu Jianghe? He subconsciously gestured towards Wang Qingshan standing nearby. ¡°He is one of our head chefs here, and his skill in producing medicinal dishes is unparalleled! He made this braised pork; if you¡¯re willing, I can ask him to cook for you for a few days. However, the price for a personal chef like him must be separately discussed,¡± he explained. At this point, Chu Jianghe didn¡¯t care about the details and promptly wrote a check for five million. ¡°That¡¯s the price for ten days; I doubt anyone else would offer a higher rate than me.¡± Chen Yu was startled for a moment; according to market rates, at the very least, a private chef would cost thirty thousand a month, and at the high end, several hundred thousand. It had to be said, Chu Jianghe was really generous in this regard. ¡°Deal!¡± Chen Yu accepted the check and passed it directly to Wang Qingshan. Afterward, Chu Jianghe hesitantly picked up his phone to dial Tong Ming¡¯s number. It wasn¡¯t long before Tong Ming led a fleet of cars to the mall. ¡°Old Chu, I never thought there¡¯d come a day when you¡¯d need my help,¡± As soon as Tong Ming arrived, he excitedly slapped Chu Jianghe¡¯s shoulder. Chu Jianghe sighed helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve just run into a bit of trouble, it¡¯s only temporary that I¡¯m asking for your help, don¡¯t think it¡¯s because I¡¯m afraid of you.¡± Tong Ming didn¡¯t say much, only taking out a set of keys and a room card. ¡°The car has been checked for you, there¡¯s no surveillance equipment on it, and the room card is for the best presidential suite under my name. You can stay as long as you want.¡± Chu Jianghe was silent for a while, then said a soft ¡°Thank you¡± before heading straight out of the mall. Wang Qingshan, after receiving the check, chose not to leave with them. In his view, he was after all an employee under Chen Yu, and couldn¡¯t just follow someone because they handed him a check. Besides, Tong Ming¡¯s business hotel wasn¡¯t far from here; all he needed to do every day was to make good food and deliver it there. By the time Chen Yu had dealt with everything and returned home, it was already twelve at night. These few days, Tong Ya had taken the family on a trip, leaving the house cold and empty. Just as he hung up his coat and prepared to head to the bedroom to sleep, the lights in the house suddenly turned on. Chen Yu instinctively looked around the room, noticing a graceful figure sitting on the sofa. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Jin Lingsu. At that moment, Jin Lingsu was wearing Tong Ya¡¯s nightgown, half-reclining there, looking utterly seductive. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chen Yu asked instinctively. Jin Lingsu dangled a set of keys in her hand, ¡°Little Ya gave me a set of keys to the house, and I have fingerprint verification for all the systems here, I should count as part of this house by now, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless. Although Jin Lingsu had obtained a legal identity, she always had an uncanny way of disappearing and appearing suddenly. Last time, after attending a parent-child event with Tuan Tuan, she suddenly vanished, and now she had suddenly appeared, surely for a reason. ¡°You haven¡¯t gotten yourself into trouble outside again and can¡¯t deal with it yourself, so you came to hide out here,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu suddenly looked a bit embarrassed, ¡°You really can¡¯t hide anything from you, can you!¡± With that, she took out a photo from her person and handed it over to Chen Yu. ¡°You must have some recollection of this person!¡± When Chen Yu saw the person in the photo, his expression changed drastically. He had seen this man before at Fang Yuan¡¯s wedding; he seemed to be an important member of the Edward Family. ¡°I remember him. What about it?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s expression turned ugly, ¡°This guy seems to be the brain of the Edward Family. Recently, under his operation, the Edward Family incorporated several businesses of the Charlies family.¡± ¡°And lately, the Edward Family has already landed in the Magic City; it¡¯s said they intend to forcefully intervene in the financial markets of the East.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face grew even more puzzled. In theory, the commercial competition between the major families, no matter how intense, was a matter of the financial world. What did this have to do with Jin Lingsu? He stared at Jin Lingsu with an inexplicable gaze, making her feel somewhat uneasy after a while. Possibly understanding the implication in Chen Yu¡¯s gaze, Jin Lingsu took out a letter. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 307 Business Plan Chapter 307: Chapter 307 Business Plan ¡°Recently, I received news that several companies under my name had been swallowed up without cause, so I hurried to investigate. I never expected to encounter the last thing I wanted to see.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s expression was grave, and there was even a hint of fear in her eyes. Chen Yu was slightly taken aback; he had never seen Jin Lingsu look this way before. Moreover, Jin Lingsu¡¯s complexion looked somewhat pale. If one observed carefully, they would notice that her arms and thighs were wrapped in gauze, with bloodstains seeping through. Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask further and hastily opened the envelope in his hand. Inside was a financial contract that looked ordinary on the surface but hidden within it was a nearly ten-billion bet agreement with signatures from both the Edward Family and the Charlie Family. ¡°Looks like the Edward Family is planning to take over the Charlie Family!¡± Chen Yu put down the envelope and took a deep breath. Jin Lingsu shifted her body and sat up, ¡°It seems that way, and their plan also includes targeting William¡¯s family.¡± Chen Yu took out some loose powder from a drawer nearby and handed it to Jin Lingsu. ¡°Then what¡¯s with all these injuries? Could it be that taking over the business wasn¡¯t enough for the Edward Family, and now they want to completely eliminate you?¡± Jin Lingsu took the powder and, right in front of Chen Yu, she unabashedly opened her clothes to change her dressing. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s mainly because I got hold of some of their secrets. Unfortunately, I lost the USB when I was being pursued. If these things were made public, the entire Edward Family would face catastrophe.¡± Chen Yu nodded and did not say anything more. He had connections with William¡¯s family and had some business in the West, but his main commercial interests were still in the East. Even if the Edward Family really took over all the super-families in the West, it wouldn¡¯t have much to do with him. Jin Lingsu finished changing her dressing and lazily leaned back on the sofa. ¡°All the little assets I had left are frozen. Now I¡¯m penniless. Given our past relations, you¡¯ll have to support me for a while.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Although he did not dislike Jin Lingsu, he didn¡¯t particularly like her either. Every time she appeared, she brought trouble. ¡°As you wish!¡± Leaving that remark, Chen Yu went straight to his room to sleep, as there was a contract to be signed at the pharmaceutical factory the next day. The next morning, Chen Yu got out of bed and hurried to the factory. But just as he arrived, he found a group of well-dressed individuals wearing hard hats wandering about, pointing and discussing. Chen Yu frowned. He recognized some of these people; most of them were well-known local entrepreneurs. Many factories in this industrial park were under their companies. If these people were just inspecting their own factories, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised, but they were oddly loitering near the third pharmaceutical plant. Hou Jianchang was also among the crowd, but he looked rather embarrassed. ¡°Boss Hou, the industrial park started with food processing, and you initially were in food processing, so you should know what the necessary conditions for this industry are!¡± Hou Jianchang let out a turbid breath, ¡°Each factory has its own independent operational model, and besides, the third pharmaceutical plant¡¯s location doesn¡¯t seem to interfere with you all, does it?¡± ¡°But your factory emits wastewater with a high concentration of pharmaceuticals. If it merges with the raw materials of my food processing plant, how can I sell the products?¡± Hou Jianchang snorted coldly, ¡°Are you saying that all the water used by your factory is wastewater discharged from my pharmaceutical plant?¡± ¡­ For a time, the two sides were at a deadlock, and there were even preparations made to come to blows. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that both sides had brought a large number of bodyguards and exercised restraint, the scene would have likely descended into chaos long ago. Seeing this, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. He hurried over and patted Hou Jianchang on the shoulder. ¡°Old Hou, what¡¯s going on?¡± Seeing Chen Yu approaching, Hou Jianchang also awkwardly scratched his head. The troubles the factory had encountered during this period seemed like none had been resolved by him; it was always when Chen Yu arrived that things got sorted out. ¡°Old Chen, our pharmaceutical plant is surrounded by other factory districts, and given the different industrial structures, there is bound to be some impact! But these guys are exaggerating, insisting that I relocate the plant area.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed tightly as he subconsciously surveyed the surrounding environment. Indeed, the location of the pharmaceutical plant was somewhat awkward. Suddenly, Chen Yu laughed, ¡°After all this fuss, it¡¯s for this matter that you have come. I thought there was some big issue! Gentlemen, you could all sit down and discuss calmly¡ªthere¡¯s no need to argue until you¡¯re red in the face. A middle-aged man with an air of great authority stepped forward disdainfully. ¡°Stop beating around the bush with me¡ªhow do you intend to resolve today¡¯s issue?¡± The corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth suddenly curled into a strange arc. ¡°Simple. I invite all of you to relocate your factory districts, or perhaps let me buy them out. That way, our sides wouldn¡¯t have any conflicts, would we?¡± The middle-aged man laughed as if he had heard some hilarious joke, and the crowd around him joined in the laughter. ¡°Has this kid gone mad? We¡¯ve worked hard to build these factories, and with just a few words from him, he expects us to sell to him¡ªwhat a dreamer.¡± ¡°A little brat who¡¯s not even fully grown wants to buy out our factories.¡± ¡°The kid really has no idea the immensity of heaven and earth¡ªI say we should just go through legal procedures and split up his factory.¡± ¡°Why are we wasting our time with them? Let¡¯s go straight to the relevant authorities and shut down their factory.¡± ¡­ The chattering crowd was extremely annoying, but Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. He simply pulled out his certificate as a reserve officer. At this, everyone at the scene fell silent; no one had expected Chen Yu to have such an identity. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you wanted to go to the relevant departments to shut down my factory? Now I suspect there are regulatory violations in your factories¡ªwho can lead me for an inspection?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned, and the middle-aged man who had spoken earlier was especially eager to apologize. Soon after, the group dispersed in chaos. After sending these people away, Chen Yu didn¡¯t go back to the pharmaceutical plant. Instead, he found a higher spot to overlook the entire industrial park. This industrial park was even more expansive than the neighboring one, with nearly a hundred factories, large and small. However, a large part of these factory districts handled food processing, and only a small portion were involved with electronics products. Seeing this layout, Chen Yu immediately understood; the reason this group had come to make trouble was because his food processing park was taking away their business. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Acquiring at a Low Price Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Acquiring at a Low Price Pre-packaged meals could be somewhat considered as ready-to-eat or canned food products. Not only are they cheap, but they also come in a wide variety of flavors, which makes them extremely popular in the market. In comparison, other processed foods seem somewhat lackluster. Take the best-selling canned luncheon meat, for example; not only is its product range limited, but many food processing plants are also producing it, leading to an oversaturation in the market. Moreover, to some extent, canned luncheon meat competes with products like sausages, further shrinking its market space. Now that pre-packaged meal kits have entered the market, their impact is even greater, directly causing sales of products like canned luncheon meat to halve. On the surface, these people have banded together against Third Pharmaceutical Factory, but their main target is likely Chen Yu¡¯s food industrial park. A dangerous curve formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. He had initially planned to negotiate with these people to transfer their factories, but now, it seemed that if he didn¡¯t play his cards right, it would be an injustice to their cunning. Just then, a violent explosion suddenly sounded not far from there, with thick smoke billowing towards the heavens, quickly plunging the area into darkness. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. The factory that exploded seemed to be a fuel plant that, aside from the new type of fuel, also stored a large amount of traditional fuel. If all the fuel were to catch fire, the entire industrial park might well plunge into disaster. Most crucially, there was a large battery factory near the fuel plant. If that factory were to explode as well, the consequences would be unimaginable. Chen Yu almost instinctively pushed all other plans in his mind aside and hastily instructed Hou Jianchang to call out all the fire brigade personnel in the industrial park. A somewhat stout man lay half-prostrate in front of the fuel factory, as if burnt out. This was his life¡¯s savings, and he had not expected such a disaster to occur. This man had previously been among those threatening Chen Yu, and his remarks had been particularly offensive. Chen Yu merely glanced at him before leading his team directly into the inferno. In the current situation, there was no time to consider the consequences of the explosion; the top priority was to rescue the workers trapped inside the factory. But the place was extremely dangerous, and no one could guarantee when the next explosion might occur. [On the right, Building Three, floor four, there are seventeen trapped individuals.] [To the left, Factory Area One, there are forty-eight trapped individuals.] ¡­ A large amount of information continued to flash in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Relying on the information provided by the system, he tirelessly rescued the trapped individuals from inside. Before long, professional firefighters also arrived at the scene, immediately throwing the most advanced fire extinguishers into the fire. Before they arrived, Chen Yu¡¯s firefighting personnel had already brought the fire under control, and as soon as the professionals arrived, they took appropriate measures and soon extinguished the blaze. [Congratulations to the host, you have gained twelve points.] [Congratulations to the host, you have gained seventeen points.] ¡­ Chen Yu had already lost much interest in these continuously accumulating points. Ever since the system was upgraded, it had become merely an auxiliary device that would only appear when absolutely necessary, and the way to accumulate points was incredibly difficult. Today, having rescued so many people from the fire scene, the total points earned were still less than three hundred. He sighed helplessly, and Chen Yu was about to leave with his fire brigade when the obese man suddenly leaped up and grabbed his arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, I have something to discuss with you, could you consider buying my factory at half price? Everything inside would be all yours,¡± the man said. Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, glancing back at the factory area subconsciously. Although the fire had been controlled, more than half of the factory was in ruins, with many facilities unusable. Even buying at half price seemed like a loss. Moreover, among those people earlier, it was this man who had slandered Chen Yu the most; he had no reason to be the good guy here. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m really not interested! Since so many bosses came today, you can discuss it with them, maybe someone will want to buy your factory at full price!¡± he said. He mocked the man deliberately and then strode away without looking back. Speaking of which, this factory was the closest to the Third Pharmaceutical Factory. If he could acquire it, it would allow for easy expansion into the surrounding area, making the building of an industrial park much more convenient. However, to implement such a business plan required many more essential conditions, and besides, Chen Yu had his own price in mind for the acquisition of the fuel factory. Just after returning to the Third Pharmaceutical Factory, Chen Yu was preparing to visit the laboratory. In this period, under Hou Jianchang¡¯s management, the factory had recruited quite a few research personnel and had developed several new medications based on the formulas provided by Chen Yu. But just as Chen Yu was about to inspect, the obese man from earlier came running over in a panic. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m willing to halve the price I mentioned earlier. Could you please consider buying this factory?¡± he pleaded. Chen Yu had anticipated the man¡¯s visit. ¡°Mr. Xu, your factory is in such a state, the priority should be aid for the injured and rebuilding the facilities; why are you in such a rush to sell the factory?¡± Although the question was posed very seriously, a flash of embarrassment crossed Mr. Xu¡¯s face. His factory had suffered serious damages, and just the medical care for the injured and the rebuilding of facilities would cost a significant sum of money. Regrettably, in an attempt to save money during the construction of his factory, he had skimped on the insurance coverage. With today¡¯s incident, the insurance company was unlikely to pay out in full, meaning he would have to shoulder all the losses caused by the fire. If that were the case, he would have no option but to declare bankruptcy and might even end up with massive debts. His only strategy now was to transfer ownership of the factory as soon as possible to protect himself. Chen Yu sat down on the steps nearby. ¡°Mr. Xu, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you, but how do I know there won¡¯t be any trouble after taking over this factory?¡± Mr. Xu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, and his entire demeanor turned frantic. He sighed with resignation and laid out all the documents related to the factory before Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I beg you, please save me. In this industrial area, you¡¯re the only one who can save me, and you¡¯re also the only one who can prepare the paperwork for transferring the factory ownership within a day,¡± he said. With that, Mr. Xu presented all the official stamps and seals of his factory, pushing them towards Chen Yu. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Different Concepts Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Different Concepts Seeing how eager Boss Xu appeared, Chen Yu instantly understood. According to the relevant regulations, once a company or enterprise gets into trouble, as long as the person responsible is changed within twenty-four hours, the company can be reset. Take the fuel factory in question, for instance. Even if it hadn¡¯t paid insurance or various fees before, as long as a new person responsible takes over within the set time limit, they could make up for the insurance and related fees, minimizing the losses. Boss Xu had his eye on this very point, which is why he came over groveling to Chen Yu. His goal was to protect himself, to at least save some money to live on. Chen Yu glanced at the documents and the seal laid out before him, feeling a little thrill surge through his heart. Now he could take over this factory without spending a penny. However, the small stack of documents Boss Xu had brought along also caught his attention. Those were the personal details of all the factory owners in the entire industrial park. A quick look was all Chen Yu needed to realize that these so-called owners were already heavily in debt, some even ready to sell their factories. No wonder this guy came to him first, convinced that only Chen Yu could help him. Chen Yu disdainfully rolled his eyes, got up without saying a word, and headed straight for the pharmaceutical factory. ¡°Boss Chen, we can talk this through, can¡¯t we? At least give me a base price,¡± Boss Xu said, panicking. Once the twenty-four hours passed, he would face nothing but bankruptcy and liquidation. Chen Yu chuckled, then turned around. ¡°100,000. If you agree, we¡¯ll sign the contract right now! I¡¯ll take care of your subsequent insurance, employee resettlement, and the fire incident report for you!¡± Boss Xu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. 100,000 was far too little; in the past, that wouldn¡¯t even cover him for two trips to the club. But thinking about the lifelong debt he¡¯d face if he missed this chance, he gritted his teeth and agreed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dawdle, checking the documents and the seal before transferring the money, then handed the materials over to Hou Jianchang to handle. Hou Jianchang was no novice at this business, moving swiftly and adeptly. Soon, all the injured workers at the fuel factory were gathered together. Moreover, representatives from the insurance company arrived promptly at the scene to finalize the contract with Hou Jianchang. Seeing everything settled, Boss Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless, he¡¯d walked away with 100,000. It was then that several other factory owners crowded around. ¡°Damn, Boss Xu, how did you get that guy to agree to buy your factory?¡± ¡°Your crappy factory was already near bankruptcy, and now after such a disaster, no one would want to buy it. Is he out of his mind?¡± ¡­ A group of people closed in, chattering noisily. Some were asking Boss Xu how he managed to sell the factory, others took the chance to belittle Chen Yu. In their eyes, a factory in ruins was not even worth acquiring for free. After all, the subsequent insurance and varied matters were bound to cost a significant sum, not to mention the possibility of unforeseen accidents. Mr. Xu didn¡¯t say much else, quickly packing his belongings before hurriedly leaving. Even though he had sold his factory for a low price, he had managed to extricate himself from misery. With his business acumen, he just needed to borrow some money from the bank to rise again quickly. Seeing Mr. Xu¡¯s carefree demeanor, others couldn¡¯t help but feel jealous. The industrial park where this development occurred was situated on the outskirts, and many of the industries already had a fixed structure. Unless it was a large-scale operation or a production in an industrial park city, it would be difficult to find a way out. Some of them owned several factories, but they were all mired in difficulties, with everyone thinking about how to quickly transfer their own factory. Chen Yu stood high above, looking at the gathered factory owners from a distance, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. He had been unaware of these people¡¯s bottom line, but the information provided by Mr. Xu suddenly gave him confidence. With a little maneuvering, he could easily acquire their factories, and soon he would have two industrial parks at his disposal. As Chen Yu was planning his future business empire, a strong medicinal scent suddenly wafted from the laboratory. He could tell it was a pre-made prescription he had provided, but the scent was a bit off, as if a chemical reaction had occurred between several ingredients. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t afford to be negligent, panicking as he raced to the laboratory to find several researchers looking dejectedly to one side. They were more or less damaged, with a pile of charred medicinal residue on the experiment table. The pungent odor originated from these residues. ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Yu instinctively asked, frowning as he approached the experiment table. These pre-made prescriptions were the simplest, some research even being perfunctory, yet such simple studies had resulted in mistakes, making Chen Yu doubt the researchers¡¯ abilities. Two researchers who looked like recent graduates became flustered at once. ¡°We wanted to use chemicals to test a new medicine and, at the same time, extend its shelf life, but we didn¡¯t expect the chemical agents we used to react with the medicine itself.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, seeing that these individuals had yet to leave behind the rigid thinking taught by their schools. ¡°What you see here are all traditional Chinese medicines. You must understand that these aren¡¯t entirely equivalent to chemical reagents.¡± ¡°In a certain sense, you should treat them as food or vegetables. Can these be preserved simply using chemical agents?¡± This comment left the researchers with nowhere to hide their shame. Indeed, their experiments had been superfluous. In Chen Yu¡¯s prior design, all pre-made medicines had to strictly follow protocols of high-temperature sterilization and vacuum storage. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, taking the chemical agents from their hands and setting them aside while fetching some strange powders. ¡°In the production of Western medicine, it is necessary to add a lot of chemical agents, not only to extend shelf life but also to enhance the effects of the medicine to some extent!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a shame that when those chaotic substances interact, they produce some substances harmful to the human body, which can¡¯t be expelled.¡± Having said this, Chen Yu had already mixed a pile of the powders together and prepared some transparent reagents. Then, he poured these reagents into a pile of dry, pre-made medicinal herbs. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 310 Critical Situation Chapter 310: Chapter 310 Critical Situation The whooshing sound accompanied by white mist rose up, filling the entire laboratory with a rich aroma in an instant. ¡°My gosh, what is this scent? Why do I feel so refreshed?¡± ¡°Alas, didn¡¯t we just use the same formula? Why did the result come out differently?¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, how on earth did you do it?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu set the remaining potion aside, ¡°This is just some basic chemical pharmacology knowledge. The more you practice, the more you¡¯ll understand!¡± ¡°I hope each of you will not just work here but also learn many necessary things.¡± All the researchers present looked at Chen Yu with admiration, treating him almost like a deity at that moment. After giving some more details about the experiment, Chen Yu left directly. After all, these people were professional researchers; there was no need for lengthy explanations, as they would figure out the rest on their own. If they couldn¡¯t reach that level, then there was no reason for the pharmaceutical plant to keep them around. Just out of the industrial park, an extremely seductively dressed woman, in her high heels, hurried forward and handed an invitation to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re available tonight at eight? There¡¯s a banquet set up especially for you at Ocean Paradise, and we hope you can grace us with your presence.¡± Chen Yu frowned as soon as he saw the woman, knowing she must be someone¡¯s secretary, but her attire was a bit too much. Not only was she seductively charming, the fabric of her clothes combined was less than a single item Chen Yu wore. If it were someone else, they would have had a nosebleed by now. Chen Yu took the invitation and saw many names written on it, more than forty in total. He was familiar with these names; they were all the factory managers and persons in charge from the nearby industrial park. It looked like these people couldn¡¯t restrain themselves any longer. After all, Chen Yu had effortlessly taken over Boss Xu¡¯s operation, so naturally, the others were envious and wanted to dispose of their non-performing assets in the shortest time possible, so they had to turn to Chen Yu. This was indeed a great opportunity to expand the factory area. ¡°I have other plans tonight; eight is too early for me, tell them to wait for me until ten!¡± Chen Yu replied casually, put away the invitation, and walked away, not expecting the little secretary to follow closely behind him. Chen Yu slightly knitted his brows, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The little secretary trembled slightly, ¡°When I was sent here, General Gao already mentioned, starting from today, I¡¯ll be your secretary. Whatever you want to do, just do it¡­¡± Chen Yu felt a sense of disgust. These people really went to great lengths to deal with their non-performing assets. ¡°You can go back; I don¡¯t need you here!¡± As soon as he had spoken, the little secretary stumbled and fell to the ground. ¡°Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t send me away, if I go back today, not only will I not get paid, but General Gao will also fire me!¡± The sudden tearful plea caught Chen Yu off guard. His mind was filled with a complete set of psychological knowledge, and he could tell at a glance that the little secretary wasn¡¯t faking it. And looking at her flushed face, it seemed this was her first time dressing so scantily, she didn¡¯t even seem comfortable in the high heels. The reason she had fallen to the ground just now was that she twisted her ankle in her heels, and ended up kneeling down as a result. ¡°What? Could it be that you were forced here by Manager Gao and the others?¡± The young secretary bit her lip, ¡°I came voluntarily. Manager Gao promised me that as long as I get the job done, he would pay for my parents¡¯ medical expenses.¡± Chen Yu frowned deeply. How could this be voluntary? He took a closer look at the young secretary in front of him and noticed that she was barely past twenty, with delicate, fair skin and a pretty face¡ªa rare beauty indeed. However, her otherwise perfect hands were filled with calluses, and there were many needle holes on her fingers. It was clear that the girl often did needlework. Chen Yu took off his coat and tossed it to the young secretary. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to follow, then come!¡± The young secretary, not daring to say much, quickly draped the coat over her shoulders and followed. Tong Group, Suzhou City branch. Tong Ming was holding a small meeting. Three company directors sat beside him, with several secretaries frantically switching between videos and documents. ¡°The international situation has been getting worse lately. Over in Europe, the Edward Family suddenly became aggressive, absorbing several groups under the Charlies family¡¯s flag, and it¡¯s said that they are planning to move against William¡¯s family next. Our business in Europe seems to have been affected too.¡± ¡°Director Tong, considering the size of our group, a confrontation with the Edward Family could very well cost us the whole company. I suggest we avoid their sharp edge, after all, our roots are in the East.¡± ¡°Some good news has come from the capital though. Our project with the Tang Family has entered a comprehensive strategic phase. Except for the Zhao Family, the other families are all supporting us.¡± ¡­ This director analyzed the current situation and through the secretary beside him, passed the report to Tong Ming. However, Tong Ming seemed uninterested in these reports. He glanced at them briefly before setting them aside and continued staring at the big screen. According to the current situation, the best option for Tong Group now is to temporarily pull out of Europe, perhaps even from the entire Western market, and solidify its base in the East. When necessary, it might even have to pull out of Suzhou City and retreat to the capital. Deep down, Tong Ming was reluctant to do so. It felt like conceding without even being hit, and moreover, it meant giving up all the benefits to others. The office suddenly fell silent, and even the secretaries weaving between them seemed at a loss. Just then, the door was slowly pushed open, and Chen Yu hurried in with the young secretary previously mentioned. The directors present were startled for a moment, then rose to their feet, asking courteously. After all, Chen Yu was Tong Ming¡¯s son-in-law, and there were certain formalities they had to observe. Chen Yu responded briefly and then took a seat next to Tong Ming. ¡°Dad, why the urgency to call me over?¡± Tong Ming sighed helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m in a hurry. We¡¯re just in a state of internal and external troubles! The Edward Family is relentlessly pressing in the European market, and the Chu Family has spread from the Magic City to Suzhou City, wanting to challenge us. It¡¯s a difficult situation.¡± Chen Yu was aware of these issues, but he hadn¡¯t calculated that the combination of these issues would put such pressure on Tong Ming. ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t need to worry. I might have a way to win over the Chu Family. As for William¡¯s family, they will probably cooperate with us.¡± Tong Ming was well aware of Chen Yu¡¯s relationship with William¡¯s family, but convincing the Chu Family was not so simple. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 311: The Little Secretary Chapter 311: Chapter 311: The Little Secretary ¡°Actually, the main industry of the Edward Family is energy, and their rivalry with William¡¯s family might also be for that underwater oil field in the Nordic region.¡± The timid voice rang out quite unexpectedly, immediately drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Chen Yu¡¯s little secretary, whom he had brought with him, had unknowingly made her way to the front of the large screen. Her finger was pointing at a business layout publicly disclosed by the Edward Family. Such business layouts are usually designed to confuse competitors or to casually deal with the media; the amount of hidden information in them is minimal. Moreover, the layout did not involve any energy issues. Yet this little secretary was able to see through the essence at a glance. Tong Ming suddenly became interested, ¡°Then tell us, how did you figure it out?¡± The little secretary¡¯s face turned red, and she was a bit flustered. She had just left school less than a week ago, and her only work experience was a day at the front desk for President Gao. It was only because of her good looks that President Gao had pushed her to Chen Yu¡¯s side, hoping to exchange some resources from Chen Yu. As the little secretary panicked, she suddenly met Chen Yu¡¯s affirming gaze. ¡°This business layout map of the Edward Family on the surface is about the philanthropic activity of developing the Nordic permafrost, and the project is already halfway through, but I think this is just a smokescreen!¡± ¡°Less than five kilometers north of the philanthropic activity lies an underground field of oil and gas, and extending further north from there is the offshore oil field developed jointly by William¡¯s family and Charlie¡¯s family.¡± ¡°With such a vast wealth in front of us, I don¡¯t believe the Edward Family would contentedly carry out philanthropic activities without profit.¡± Tong Ming suddenly stood up and laughed twice, ¡°You guys claim to be strategic experts, yet you can¡¯t see as clearly as a young girl.¡± After mocking several directors beside him, Tong Ming once again fixed his gaze on the little secretary. ¡°So tell us, given the current situation, what should the Tong Group do in response?¡± The little secretary now had a bit more confidence. ¡°Base ourselves in the East, stabilize our current industries and watch the tigers fight from the mountain! Edward Family¡¯s capacity is not as robust as William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s families after all, even if they win, they will suffer greatly.¡± Tong Ming nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Son-in-law, how come you always have such characters around you? Why don¡¯t you leave this young lady with me to be my secretary, how about that?¡± ¡°No can do!¡± The little secretary suddenly shouted, then hurriedly moved behind Chen Yu. She knew she was a gift from President Gao to Chen Yu, and if she were to run around carelessly, her parents wouldn¡¯t get the money they needed for treatment. Chen Yu frowned, he naturally understood what the little secretary meant. But on second thought, such a clever girl with strategic insight, how could she be so naive? President Gao, a man on the brink of bankruptcy, was able to provide money for her parents¡¯ treatment; wouldn¡¯t a man like Tong Ming enable her to live a life of glory and wealth? Tong Ming did not say much more but simply instructed the few secretaries milling around to go and prepare a strategic plan. ¡°Dad, it seems you have resolved the matters here, so I won¡¯t stay any longer. Besides, I¡¯ll take care of the matters with the Chu Family,¡± Chen Yu said. Tong Ming felt a bit helpless, ¡°I don¡¯t know what that old guy is thinking, I¡¯ve spoken to him many times in good faith, yet that little old man just won¡¯t listen. As if cooperation between the Tong Family and the Chu Family would cause the Chu Family to lose out!¡± Chen Yu sighed softly. He had met Chu Jianghe several times; although he had a great business mind and a grand vision, he was also quite petty. For such a person to bring the Chu Family to the status of the number one family in Shanghai was probably the limit. ¡°Perhaps besides sir, there¡¯s just some misunderstanding with us on certain matters.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries with Tong Ming, Chen Yu left the office with his junior secretary. ¡°What¡¯s your name again?¡± Chen Yu asked casually as he started the car. ¡°Han Xiaohui!¡± ¡°Where did you graduate from?¡± ¡°Suzhou City University of Finance and Economics, Institute of Modern Economic Studies!¡± Chen Yu paused for a second, realizing that Han Xiaohui seemed to be no more than twenty-one years old and had already completed her master¡¯s degree at such a young age. Considering what Han Xiaohui had said in Tong Ming¡¯s office, she could certainly be considered a genius. ¡°Which hospital are your parents in?¡± Chen Yu continued to inquire. ¡°Suzhou City Fifth Hospital!¡± Upon hearing the name of the hospital, Chen Yu¡¯s pupils shuddered slightly. The hospital was located in a rather remote area that ordinary people might find hard to locate, yet it was a place eagerly sought after by cancer patients from around the world. It was said that there were precedents of cancer patients being cured there, and the treatment plans were extremely humane; even if a patient failed to survive, they were allowed to pass on with great dignity. Without saying much more, Chen Yu stepped on the gas and headed straight for Suzhou City Fifth Hospital. Although the place was in the outskirts of Suzhou City, the area nearby was extremely bustling, with a variety of hotels and snack shops. The throngs of people on the streets added to the liveliness of the place. But if one looked closely, it was evident that these people¡¯s faces carried traces of despair. Walking on the road as if they had lost their souls, they seemed like the walking dead. Chen Yu found a place to park his car and then escorted Han Xiaohui into the hospital. In a rather large public ward, dozens of patients were crammed together. Each one bore strange marks on their body, presumably from the treatments they had undergone. Some patients with blood disorders were particularly emaciated, their skin covered in a ghastly hue of blue and purple, looking terrifying. Upon seeing these people, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; the disease had spread throughout their bodies, and not even a divine being could turn back the tide. Even if Chen Yu¡¯s medical abilities reached the limits of human knowledge, he still couldn¡¯t bring these people back. After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, Chen Yu approached a pair of adjacent beds. Those were Han Xiaohui¡¯s parents lying there. However, the bodies of the two elderly people were so hunched over that, even with respirators on, they appeared to be hanging on by a thread. Chen Yu stepped forward to examine the couple¡¯s condition and found that they didn¡¯t simply have cancer but were also suffering from pneumoconiosis. By his estimation, they must have worked for many years in coal mines or similar environments, having inhaled an exorbitant amount of dust that led to their conditions. What Chen Yu found most frustrating was that the old couple¡¯s bodies had been ravaged by a mess of treatments, and getting them well again would likely require some effort. ¡°Go get these medicines for me; remember, you need to bring back six doses!¡± Chen Yu handed the prescription he had written to Han Xiaohui and then continued to carefully feel the pulse of the two elders. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Business Dinner Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Business Dinner Han Xiao Hui, since she followed Chen Yu, had not changed her clothes and was merely draped in Chen Yu¡¯s coat, the clothes underneath were constantly attracting the attention of the people around her. Fortunately, most people here were suffering from illness and had no time to pay attention to such a scene. But it was different for the nurses who moved between the doctors and patients, they stared at Han Xiao Hui almost without blinking. It wasn¡¯t until Han Xiao Hui got the medicine and returned to the ward that these people actually followed her. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he took the medicine from Han Xiao Hui¡¯s hand and mixed it, and before the others could react, he injected two syringes of medicine into the two elderly people. The doctors and nurses who had followed over then realized something was amiss and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. ¡°Who are you, and do you not know that the patients here all have a meticulous treatment plan, your random medication might destroy their bodily functions.¡± Chen Yu glanced sideways, his eyes filled with coldness. Every person sent to this ward had been diagnosed by doctors as impossible to treat and abandoned, what treatment plan could there be? A group of doctors had already swarmed around, but most of their gazes still lingered on Han Xiao Hui. Before they could even speak, the two elderly people began to react violently and started vomiting. A large amount of filth mixed with black blood gushed out, instantly spreading a foul odor. The group of doctors immediately covered their noses and mouths, retreating in disarray. An older doctor still had some sense, he hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Young man, these patients¡¯ bodies are already extremely depleted, you can¡¯t mess around anymore, I¡¯ve looked at the medicines you¡¯re using, they¡¯re all potent drugs, and the dosage is enough to kill someone instantly!¡± Chen Yu shook off the old doctor¡¯s hand directly. ¡°The bodies of these two patients are spent, if we do not use aggressive medicines and seek survival in danger, I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t survive tonight.¡± After a brief explanation, Chen Yu took out some pills from his person and gave them to the two elderly people to swallow. Unexpectedly, after swallowing the pills, the bruises on the two elderly people¡¯s bodies quickly faded, and their originally pale faces gained some color. What was even more surprising was that the two patients, who had been unconscious for who knows how long, miraculously came around. It was only at this moment that the onlookers¡¯ attention shifted from Han Xiao Hui to the two elderly people. ¡°My god, what method did this guy use to actually cure such patients?¡± ¡°I remember these two patients seemed to have more than one terminal illness, besides pneumoconiosis, there seemed to be concomitant lung cancer, and their blood had also mutated.¡± ¡°I think otherwise, those drugs he used were so potent, it¡¯s very possible that the patients were just momentarily revived, and it won¡¯t be long before they¡¯re gone.¡± ¡­ While everyone was discussing, Chen Yu had already helped the two elderly people up. The two of them were still in a daze, having no idea what had happened, but when they saw their daughter dressed so revealingly and also wearing a man¡¯s coat, they instantly became agitated. However, after a brief moment of excitement, the two elderly people also sighed helplessly. In their condition, there was no way to provide their daughter with a better life, and they didn¡¯t know how long they would live, so there was no point in admonishing their daughter anymore. Even Han Xiao Hui realized that her appearance was somewhat unseemly, and subconsciously tightened the coat around her. ¡°` Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just made a phone call to Zhou Shengtao. After the strong dose earlier, the conditions of the two elderly had improved slightly, but their bodies were extremely weak, necessitating a good nursing home for recuperation. Chen Yu simply wanted to inquire if it was possible to add two more beds in the nursing home run by the relevant department. To his surprise, Zhou Shengtao agreed without a second thought and even sent someone to take them. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, just patted Han Xiaohui on the shoulder. ¡°Your parents have been cured, and you no longer have any worries. From today, you can just work peacefully as my secretary,¡± he said. Han Xiaohui didn¡¯t say much, either; she briefly spoke to her parents and then hurried off with Chen Yu. She knew that at eight o¡¯clock that evening, Chen Yu had another dinner engagement. But instead of going directly to Ocean Paradise, Chen Yu stopped at a nearby shopping mall first, picked out a more casual outfit for Han Xiaohui, and then proceeded to the clubhouse. By now, it was already nine o¡¯clock in the evening, and a bunch of factory directors and managers had long since booked a large suite and were waiting there. When Chen Yu walked in, everyone stood up, fawning as if they had just seen their own father. The tall man standing in the center was President Gao. This fellow stood out among the crowd of factory directors and managers, looking rather distinct. However, his appearance was extremely sleazy, with an air of a lecherous predator that made one feel disgusted at a glance. When Han Xiaohui saw President Gao, she seemed somewhat evasive, her eyes filled with fear, suggesting that President Gao had harbored inappropriate thoughts towards Han Xiaohui in the past. If it weren¡¯t for the unforeseen events that had suddenly occurred, Han Xiaohui might have already fallen victim to President Gao¡¯s sinister intentions. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he just found an isolated sofa to sit down, and Han Xiaohui quickly followed, obediently standing behind him. ¡°What exactly is the reason for inviting me here? If there¡¯s something to say, say it quickly. If there¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m leaving,¡± he stated assertively. With that domineering talk combined with Chen Yu¡¯s emperor-like presence, it gave off a vibe of an emperor holding court. The crowd didn¡¯t dare utter any useless words; President Gao even offered a cigar. ¡°We know that President Chen is extremely busy, so we¡¯re deeply grateful that you could take the time to be here. Today, we just want to ensure you have a good time, with no other intentions,¡± he said. This was a standard procedure for a business dinner. The first dinner was usually about enjoying oneself, while specific business talks were reserved for the next meeting. But these people had misjudged Chen Yu. He just sneered contemptuously and then stood up ready to leave. President Gao immediately became anxious and quickly stepped forward to stop Chen Yu. In his view, since Chen Yu had taken in Han Xiaohui, it proved that Chen Yu must be a person greedy for money and lust. With a bit of manipulation, he was certain that he could control him. But, to his surprise, things had escaped his control. Even Han Xiaohui, following by Chen Yu¡¯s side, had changed into an outfit that was rather proper. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, President Gao? You¡¯re not letting me leave?¡± Chen Yu asked. President Gao laughed awkwardly twice and quickly grabbed a stack of documents from the side to hand to Chen Yu. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Reaping the Profits without Any Effort Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Reaping the Profits without Any Effort ¡°President Chen, I believe you¡¯re well aware of our situation. All of our factories are basically in crisis! With an industrial park already in your hands, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t mind having one more. If you¡¯re willing, we can give up a percentage of the profits and hand over the factory to you.¡± It seemed as though President Gao was resigned to breaking the pot if it couldn¡¯t be lifted. He knew very well that if he missed today¡¯s opportunity, seeing Chen Yu again would be harder than reaching the heavens. At this point, he could no longer care about the niceties of business socializing, whatever it was, it had to be resolved today. Chen Yu looked at the document President Gao handed over with apparent indifference. ¡°Are you teaching me how to do my job? Just because you want to sell me your factory, I have to buy it? Who do you think you are?¡± President Gao¡¯s eyes bulged, full of disbelief. When Chen Yu¡¯s industrial park was being established, he had sent a few people to work there as laborers and to gather intelligence. From the information gathered overtly and covertly, it was deduced that Chen Yu was in need of an industrial park dedicated to the production of pharmaceutical raw materials. But now, looking at Chen Yu¡¯s attitude, it seemed he had no such intention at all. ¡°President Chen, that was not my intention. Our factories are considered high-quality assets, you definitely won¡¯t lose money on the acquisition.¡± Chen Yu laughed dryly as if he had heard a joke. ¡°I think you must have received some news, I plan to build a specialized industrial park for pharmaceuticals. Among all of you, some deal in food, some in machinery, and even electronics. With those assets you have on hand, I cannot directly use them. You call those high-quality assets?¡± Everyone present was stunned for a moment; this reason did seem a bit far-fetched. Considering the assets they held, they would surely be considered high-quality if placed on the market. They couldn¡¯t be cast as bad assets simply because they differed from Chen Yu¡¯s line of business. A few executives were immediately angered and wanted to stand up and argue with Chen Yu, but then, thinking better of it since they were the ones seeking a favor, they forcefully suppressed their urge. President Gao also felt helpless, momentarily at a loss for what to do. He turned to look at the other factory managers and executives and suddenly had an idea. He hastily pulled out a document from the pile, handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°President Chen, take a look, this is the detailed information of my company. We do have a business sector that manufactures pharmaceutical products, which suits your needs perfectly. Perhaps consider acquiring just that part?¡± His words took everyone by surprise. ¡°President Gao, what do you mean by this? We agreed to sell all of our industries as a package, why are you now only selling yours?¡± ¡°That¡¯s really underhanded. Is our asset supposed to end up as manure?¡± ¡­ The large room instantly erupted into noise, as everyone¡¯s attention turned to President Gao. Everyone there had factories that had reached a bottleneck or were in crisis, and for several of them, bankruptcy was just a few days away. If they didn¡¯t sell their assets quickly, they would only face ruin. Seeing these people quarrel among themselves, a flicker of excitement crossed Chen Yu¡¯s heart. If they were disorganized first, he could press the price to the lowest point. After taking a moment to calm his breathing, Chen Yu returned to his seat and whispered something to Han Xiaohui. Han Xiaohui understood instantly and went out the door. Shortly after, she returned with a stack of contracts. The arguing in the room had reached a fever pitch, with several executives even smashing wine bottles over each other¡¯s heads. Han Xiaohui, having never witnessed such chaos, was evidently frightened and cowered behind Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with the commotion and simply reviewed the contracts Han Xiaohui had printed out, discovering that the terms she had included were not only comprehensive but also augmented with extra details. It had to be said that Han Xiaohui was indeed a qualified secretary, and very attentive at that. After reviewing the contracts, Chen Yu was full of praise. It was unclear how much time passed or whether these people were exhausted from fighting, but gradually, the room grew quieter. President Gao was gasping for breath, slumped beneath a table, his head covered in shards from broken bottles. ¡°Have you all had enough of fighting? If so, let¡¯s discuss the details of the acquisition.¡± With that, Chen Yu distributed some of the contracts down the line. The executives, upon receiving the contracts, found the terms strict but still acceptable. It seemed as if Chen Yu had an uncanny grasp of their psychology. Moreover, now that internal strife had broken out amongst them, it was impossible for them to unite and find a major buyer for their assets. One of the executives, resembling a rotund winter melon, quickly browsed through the contract and headed straight to Chen Yu. ¡°President Chen, I agree to all the terms laid out here, we can sign the contract right now!¡± Without any further words, Chen Yu took out the prepared seal and pen. Once there was a first, there were inevitably more to follow. Before long, the people in the room were lining up, pleading for Chen Yu to acquire their industries. In less than half an hour, all the contracts had been signed, transferring the entirety of the assets in the industrial park to Chen Yu¡¯s name. In total, Chen Yu spent less than one billion. This industrial park was even larger than the one he currently owned; if it were sold through normal channels, it would fetch at least ten billion on the open market. Now, having spent just a tenth of that price, Chen Yu had gotten a tremendous bargain. After resolving the matter, Chen Yu, accompanied by Han Xiaohui, headed straight to the factory area. The factory managers and executives followed close behind, rapidly transferring assets and instructing relevant personnel to vacate the premises. Hou Jianchang, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed as he hastened to the scene. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so efficient; within just a day, he had secured the factory area. Next was to proceed in the same manner, renovating the factory area and settling the workers who were left behind. In a rather luxurious office, Chen Yu sat comfortably, lightly stroking the Maneki-neko on the desk. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this bunch to be incompetent in business, but they sure knew how to enjoy life. This office is more than twice as big as ours.¡± Hou Jianchang looked around the room and let out a breath. ¡°Well, in business, some face-saving is necessary, but this is indeed too much. No wonder these guys ended up running their factories into the ground.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Stay as a Bodyguard Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Stay as a Bodyguard Chen Yu placed the contract he had previously signed on the table. ¡°Old Hou, you should organize these files, and as for these new factories, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to entrust their management to you.¡± Upon hearing this, Hou Jianchang immediately felt overwhelmed. Although Chen Yu would give Hou Jianchang corresponding shares for every additional factory, a person¡¯s energy is limited, especially at Hou Jianchang¡¯s age, when health issues are more or less inevitable. Managing the food processing zone had already exhausted him, and now having the pharmaceutical factory industrial park added to his responsibilities, even if he was willing, he simply lacked the strength. ¡°Old Chen, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve truly reached my limit!¡± Seeing Hou Jianchang like this, Chen Yu also felt somewhat embarrassed. With the help of the system, his business had been developing too quickly, especially the factories, whose growth rate even Chen Yu hadn¡¯t anticipated. If both of these large industrial parks were to be put on Hou Jianchang, it might indeed exhaust him to death. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, as currently, the only reliable and capable person he could find was Hou Jianchang. Finding someone like that in a short amount of time was truly impossible. ¡°How about this, Old Hou, we¡¯ll keep the financial structure the same as before, and my personal company will still hold the controlling shares of the parent factory.¡± ¡°However, from today on, you will serve as the chairman of the parent company. As for the structure beneath, you can differentiate it according to the existing model and then recruit managers externally.¡± Hou Jianchang immediately let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders feeling somewhat lighter regardless. When setting up the company, he hadn¡¯t anticipated the factories would develop so quickly, so he hadn¡¯t thought too much about it. But now, the previous company could no longer satisfy the current scale of the factories. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get to it as soon as possible in the next few days!¡± Chen Yu nodded, then took out another document from his person and handed it over. This was the optimal company model for the current scale provided by the system before. But this was merely the part that suited the factories, while the parts for the department stores and foreign trade exports had indeed been drawn up, they were not yet fully implementable. After discussing some details with Hou Jianchang, Chen Yu left the place, but as he did, he kept some of the pre-manufactured medicine produced by the pharmaceutical factory. It was a special medication made specifically for Hou Jianchang¡¯s health, which could greatly improve his condition. Water Moon Villa No. 1. Jin Lingsu was practicing yoga on the mat wearing form-fitting clothes. According to her, it was necessary to practice like this for two hours each day, not just to maintain her figure but also to ensure the flexibility of her body. However, practicing yoga at midnight struck one as somewhat peculiar. If one observed closely, they would notice that Jin Lingsu did not close her eyes like others did while doing yoga. Not only were her eyes open, but they were also full of vigilance. After all, she had fled back from Europe, and there was always the chance that someone could come after her at any time. Before coming here, she had thought about whether this would cause trouble for Chen Yu, but after careful consideration, she realized that in this world, the only one who could provide her shelter and match her in strength was probably Chen Yu. Just then, a noise suddenly came from outside the door, and Jin Lingsu instinctively grabbed the spike that was tucked into her waistband. Seeing Chen Yu come in, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Mr. Chen, you really are a busy man, coming back so late every day! How come you¡¯ve brought back a little sister today? What¡¯s this, have you started to eat meat outside?¡± Chen Yu rolled his eyes, ¡°She¡¯s the new secretary I just hired. She has nowhere to go for the moment, so I brought her back home first.¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t say much more. After all, she was an outsider, and even if Chen Yu were to cheat outside, it wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with her. [System Alert, Danger Detected] The sudden alert tone made Chen Yu¡¯s body tremble violently, and he subconsciously crouched down to watch his surroundings warily. Jin Lingsu also became alert, instinctively flipping up, with two sharp spikes already in her hands. The two glanced at each other and rushed outside without needing to speak. They saw a rather sleazy-looking man standing under the nearby wall, his eyes full of shadows. This guy had a Western face, one could tell right away that he was sent by the Edward Family. It seemed he was here to assassinate Jin Lingsu, but when he saw Chen Yu, he couldn¡¯t help but pause. ¡°Mr. Chen? Is this your home?¡± Chen Yu nodded slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you do your homework before coming here?¡± The man hesitated, ¡°Earlier in Edinburgh, this woman killed several people from our Edward Family. The higher-ups ordered me to bring her head back. I hope Mr. Chen can make it convenient for me.¡± Chen Yu scoffed, ¡°If I make it convenient for you, then who will make it convenient for me? Miss Jin is my esteemed guest. As long as she is here, I have to ensure her safety for that duration!¡± ¡°Even if she leaves this door, I¡¯ll seek revenge for her.¡± The man frowned deeply and slowly stepped back, retreating into the shadows nearby, and then the sound of dialing a phone rang out. After some inquiring, the man reappeared in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Starting today, the Edward Family¡¯s pursuit of Miss Jin is revoked!¡± ¡°As for the companies in Miss Jin¡¯s name, my Edward Family will take it as compensation.¡± After dropping these words, the man flipped over the wall and disappeared without a trace. Chen Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, aware of the situation in Europe to some extent. Although the Edward Family was at odds with William¡¯s family and the Charlies family, their main strategic goal was to penetrate the Eastern market. At such a time, they absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to offend any enterprise or family in the East, especially a person with as many connections as Chen Yu. Jin Lingsu also patted her chest. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve asked you to help me negotiate directly, saving me days of worry and fear.¡± Chen Yu felt helpless. Indeed, whenever this woman appeared, she would bring trouble to him. ¡°Don¡¯t act coy after getting a bargain. The Edward Family just needs the Eastern market, which is why they gave me face. If it were any other time, who knows what the outcome would be.¡± Jin Lingsu felt somewhat embarrassed, she put away the spikes, closely following behind Chen Yu. ¡°Worst comes to worst, I¡¯ll stay here from today on and be a personal bodyguard for your family as payment for saving my life.¡± Chen Yu paused in his steps. He did not expect Jin Lingsu to repay him for any favor; as long as she didn¡¯t cause him any more trouble, he would be ever so grateful. Nevertheless, having her stay on as a bodyguard wasn¡¯t a bad idea after all. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: 315 Chapter 315: 315 On the following morning, Chen Yu washed up briefly before heading directly to the villa by the Chujiang River, on the outskirts of Suzhou City. Last time he had been here, the area around the villa was a wilderness, but now it had been entirely fenced off and planted with many green plants. It seemed that Chu Jianghe was planning to reside here regularly. When Chen Yu entered, Chu Jianghe greeted him warmly. ¡°Little Chen, what wind has blown you over here? The medicine you gave me last time really worked wonders. I haven¡¯t had any problems with my old injuries recently. Could you prepare some more medicine for me?¡± Chen Yu smiled apologetically and took out several medicine bottles from his person. ¡°I have already prepared them for you before coming. These medicines are specially formulated for your body. Just follow the instructions on the bottle and take them regularly, and your health should improve.¡± Chu Jianghe immediately grew excited and carefully put the medicine bottles away like treasures. ¡°I can¡¯t thank you enough! But you coming to me so suddenly, there must be something you need, right?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°You must have heard about what¡¯s happening in Europe, haven¡¯t you?¡± Chu Jianghe let out a sigh, ¡°With the Edward Family making such a big move, who doesn¡¯t know? The Chu Family¡¯s businesses in Europe have also been threatened. If it weren¡¯t for having an edge in industry structure, those businesses might have been swallowed up.¡± ¡°Mr. Chu, there¡¯s no need to be so anxious. I guess the Edward Family is just feinting. Their main target is the energy resources in the North Sea!¡± Chu Jianghe paused slightly, then quickly stood up and went over to a map. It was a complete map of Europe, clearly marking all the major families and powers. After examining it closely, he suddenly slammed his hand on the map, excited. ¡°Hey, how did I not think of that? These damn kids are playing a game of secret maneuvers.¡± Chen Yu took the opportunity to stand next to Chu Jianghe. ¡°Even though it¡¯s a secret move, it still reveals the Edward Family¡¯s ambition. Once they complete their strategic planning in Europe, they will directly venture into the East.¡± ¡°At that time, whether it¡¯s the imperial capital or the magical capital, I¡¯m afraid they will both be plundered.¡± A flicker of concern suddenly appeared on Chu Jianghe¡¯s face. ¡°The Edward Family has Gypsy genes, they have a knack for finance, and even if they¡¯ve declined over the years, they can still make a comeback through these means. If we let them gain momentum, I¡¯m afraid my foundation in the magical capital could also be swallowed by them.¡± ¡°You need not worry, Mr. Chu!¡± Chen Yu pointed to the map of the East on the side, ¡°As long as we can use Suzhou City as a node to unite the major families in the imperial and magical capitals, not only can we resist the Edward Family, but we might even take a bite out of them.¡± Chu Jianghe¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. With his vision and scope, he couldn¡¯t possibly overlook this point, and perhaps he already had a plan in mind. But as if he thought of something, he suddenly turned his head and stared at Chen Yu with a strange look. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be here as an emissary for your father-in-law, would you? Trying to unite my Chu Family with his Tong Family.¡± Chen Yu laughed somewhat awkwardly, ¡°The Tong Family and the Chu Family are the leading families in the imperial and magical capitals, respectively. If these two families could unite, then the other families would naturally join! That¡¯s why I came today, to ask you and my father-in-law to put aside your differences¡­¡± ¡°Although there¡¯s bad blood between him and me, to continue bearing a grudge at a time like this would just make me look petty,¡± Chu Jianghe interrupted Chen Yu and gestured to an assistant nearby. Before long, the assistant brought over a contract detailing all the collaborative matters. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected Chu Jianghe to agree so readily, especially as the contract did not have any additional clauses attached. He was immediately impressed by Chu Jianghe¡¯s largeness of spirit. ¡°Then on behalf of my father-in-law, I thank you, Mr. Chu!¡± Having settled matters with Chu Jianghe, Chen Yu felt a weight lift from his heart. After discussing some details with Chu Jianghe, Chen Yu headed straight for the airport. The medicinal materials brought back from Nanyun last time were almost used up, and if he didn¡¯t bring more back, the medicine factory wouldn¡¯t be able to continue operations. In addition, now that the medicine factory was about to expand into an industrial park, the amount of medicinal materials required would be terrifyingly large. But to bring back those materials, Chen Yu had to go in person, as the people of Nanyun¡¯s tribal village only recognized him. Moreover, this time, Chen Yu wanted to completely solve the issues of supply and transportation. All along the way, Chen Yu did not stop for a break, rushing non-stop to the village. Upon his arrival, he found the atmosphere of the entire village different from the last time he was there. It no longer had the liveliness of the past, but instead was enveloped in a dead, heavy air. Only Datiger was sitting at the entrance to the village, as if waiting for something. Seeing Chen Yu come, Datiger jumped up excitedly. ¡°Brother Chen, you finally came. The people in the village thought you wouldn¡¯t buy our medicinal materials anymore.¡± Datiger¡¯s frame was too large for anything but a symbolic pats on his arm by Chen Yu. ¡°How could that be? I¡¯ve signed a contract with your village, I want all the medicinal materials you have.¡± Datiger chuckled twice and then led Chen Yu to find the tribal chief. As soon as they entered, the tribal chief smashed a cup onto the floor. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you all? Have you been bewitched by the outside world? Why do you all want to run away to the outside?¡± Chen Yu frowned, it seemed that the village had experienced significant upheavals in his absence. When he came in, not only did he find the place dull and desolate, but also that many people were missing. ¡°Tribal Chief, what¡¯s going on? Why such anger?¡± Seeing Chen Yu enter, the tribal chief quickly suppressed his anger. ¡°Mr. Chen has arrived! Datiger, quickly take Mr. Chen to the herb fields, we¡¯ve just harvested medicinal herbs that can be taken away.¡± Datiger nodded and was about to lead Chen Yu away, but Chen Yu stopped him. ¡°Tribal Chief, this time I¡¯ve come not only to take away all the medicinal materials here but also to buy a batch of seeds from you, if that would be possible?¡± The tribal chief, probably still angry, simply waved his hand dismissively. ¡°We have plenty of seeds here, Mr. Chen. If you need them, just go take them; no need to talk about buying or not!¡± Chen Yu frowned, seeing that the tribal chief¡¯s thinking was indeed very rigid. Not only was he preventing the young people of the village from leaving, but he was also selling the village¡¯s medicinal seeds to outsiders. Once outsiders grew medicinal materials that were identical to those of the village, the village itself would lose its value. Those left behind would either die of poverty or starve to death; either way, there was no good ending in sight. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and followed Datiger out the door. It wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at a warehouse, where a strong fragrance of medicine immediately filled the air. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Establishing a Medicinal Garden Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Establishing a Medicinal Garden ¡°Big Brother Chen, these are all the dried medicinal herbs, and over there are the seeds you were asking for. Take a look at what you need, and I¡¯ll pack them up for you right away.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. If he were to really take everything in this warehouse, he¡¯d be essentially cutting off the village¡¯s lifeline. But perhaps only by doing so could he bring a new lease of life to the village. ¡°Take everything!¡± Da Hu was simple by nature and didn¡¯t think too much. He immediately packed up all the herbs and seeds here. But there were too many items; they couldn¡¯t possibly take them all away by themselves. At that moment, some of the village¡¯s young men suddenly ran over. ¡°Mr. Chen, could you take us to see the outside world?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected the village youth to come to him so quickly. Now that he had the medicinal seeds, what he lacked were professionals who specialized in planting them. These youngsters had grown up here, adept at cultivating medicinal herbs. If he brought them back, they could set up a specialized medicinal herb plantation in the shortest time possible. Without hesitation, Chen Yu had these people take the medicinal herbs and leave the village with him. As he left, he saw many young people carrying large and small packs, climbing between cliffs and precipices. This small village had been isolated for thousands of years, yet the outside world had developed too quickly. With just a little bit of progressive thought introduced here, everyone could be swayed. Previously, Da Hu simply came into contact with Er Gou and became infatuated with the outside world. Although he couldn¡¯t let go of the village, he would still follow Er Gou outside to sell herbs and was even exploited by him. Chen Yu guessed that a good number of these young people who left the village would probably be swindled outside. The better scenario would have them returning to the village poor and destitute. In the worst case, they could even lose their lives outside. But now, Chen Yu simply didn¡¯t have the time to concern himself with these people, and even if he wanted to, they would not appreciate his kindness. Suzhou City, Li Song Estate. Ever since taking the medicine Chen Yu gave him, Li Song¡¯s health had improved markedly. Although he had given away more than thirty years¡¯ worth of treasured liquor, he felt at ease in his heart. Moreover, Chen Yu had also provided him with several fine medicine recipes and secrets to winemaking. Lately, he had been busy tending to his own vineyard, drinking wine leisurely, truly embodying the lifestyle of his later years. ¡°Old Master Li!¡± Chen Yu called out loudly as he and Da Hu strode into the garden. ¡°I¡¯ve come to pay a visit!¡± Hearing Chen Yu¡¯s voice, Li Song leapt from his chair as if injected with adrenaline. ¡°Oh my, Xiao Chen is here! What goodies have you brought this time, with all those big and small packages?¡± Upon arriving in Suzhou City, Chen Yu had all the finished medicinal products delivered to the industrial park, and brought the rest of the medicinal seeds here. Though Li Song was living a secluded life, he had an unparalleled manor at his disposal. When he first arrived, he had specially allocated several plots of wasteland around the villa. Through his cultivation, the fertility of these lands surpassed even the best soil in the world. Not only did Li Song grow grapes here, but he also cultivated a large number of medicinal herbs, which were significantly more vibrant than those grown outside. This was why he could so easily produce that kind of medicinal wine. ¡°These are some medicinal herb seeds, I¡¯d like to borrow the elder¡¯s land to grow them!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Song¡¯s smile immediately faded. ¡°Xiao Chen, I can¡¯t just plant anything on this patch of land. If it¡¯s not rare medicinal herbs, I wouldn¡¯t do it even for your sake.¡± Without saying much more, Chen Yu directly took out a bag, opened it, and placed it in front of Li Song. The incoming fragrance instantly invigorated Li Song. ¡°Wow! White Snake Grass, Black Forest Flower, Three-Yellow-White¡­ These are all rare medicinal herbs you don¡¯t see often!¡± No sooner had Li Song named the herbs than Chen Yu promptly pulled the bag closed. ¡°If the old gentleman won¡¯t let me touch your land, then I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± ¡°Hold on a minute!¡± Li Song hurriedly stopped Chen Yu: ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s just that this piece of land is something I¡¯ve cultivated with hard work for over thirty years. If you¡¯re planting, it has to be rare medicinal herbs, and these seeds you¡¯ve brought are just right.¡± Chen Yu tugged at the bag and revealed a sly smile. ¡°Your land is indeed the best choice, but now I¡¯m a bit concerned. What if you help yourself to my herbs when they mature?¡± Li Song immediately got hopping mad: ¡°How could that be possible? Don¡¯t you know my character by now? Just hand me those seeds, and in three months, I will make them into herbs!¡± Chen Yu believed that. Many herbs have short growth cycles, some even sprouting in a matter of days. However, he still put on an act of difficulty: ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll leave these seeds to the elder. And these people here, they¡¯re all experienced herb farmers, and they can stay here to help the elder.¡± Li Song didn¡¯t bother with the details and directly embraced the seeds. ¡°Rest assured!¡± After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Yu handed over all the seeds and people to Li Song and left on his own. By noon, the mall¡¯s ground floor was packed with people. All the food stalls were in full operation, and despite the increase in staff, it was still tense. With such a large flow of customers, once the building renovations are complete and the upper floors of the mall and hotel are open, they could bring in significant revenue. Jin Lingsu sat elegantly at Ning Kai¡¯s stall, eating with Han Xiaohui. ¡°Master Ning, your cooking is getting better and better. Have you learned the essence from Chen Yu?¡± Ning Kai continued with his work: ¡°Chen previously gave me a few recipes. They contained lost dishes and cooking methods. It was truly eye-opening. How could my cooking not improve?¡± Although Han Xiaohui was somewhat reserved, she couldn¡¯t help but wolf down her food. ¡°Sister Su, I¡¯ve never eaten anything this delicious before!¡± Jin Lingsu passed a bottle of soda to Han Xiaohui. ¡°Eat slower! This place is Chen Yu¡¯s property, and he cooks even better. You¡¯ll get a chance to have him cook for you later.¡± Han Xiaohui smiled shyly: ¡°I¡¯m already grateful that Mr. Chen took me in, how could I dare to have him cook for me?¡± ¡°Why so formal?¡± Jin Lingsu patted Han Xiaohui¡¯s shoulder: ¡°You¡¯re his secretary now, still calling him Mr. Chen? Just call him Yu Ge, that¡¯s what everyone here does.¡± While they were talking, Chen Yu arrived. ¡°What brought you two here?¡± Jin Lingsu pouted: ¡°To eat, of course! You wouldn¡¯t be so petty as to not even let us have a meal here, would you?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Seizing the Project Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Seizing the Project Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he just called for Ning Kai to add a few more dishes. He had come here after receiving a text message from Xie Jiang, who seemed to have run into some trouble during the construction process. On the twenty-seventh floor of the tower, the project was in its final stages; it just needed a sweep of the cement floor to be completed. But there was a guy dressed up like a decent human being, sitting there along with dozens of men, staring intently at Xie Jiang. ¡°Han ¡®Beardo,¡¯ our issue is a personal grudge. There¡¯s no need to involve someone else¡¯s project! That¡¯s also an unspoken rule of the streets. Aren¡¯t you going a bit too far?¡± Han ¡®Beardo¡¯ smirked with a sleazy expression: ¡°Old Xie, you¡¯ve been developing too fast lately. You¡¯ve even set up your own construction company and have started to look down on your peers!¡± ¡°In the past, whenever there was work, we would all share in it. Now look at you, you can handle the whole thing by yourself!¡± In the construction industry, there are many unwritten rules, and those small-scale subcontractors typically occupy various stages of construction. For example, if a small construction team took on a sizable project, they would collaborate with other subcontractors responsible for different stages of the project. But now Xie Jiang had developed his own company and was able to take on an entire project by himself, naturally setting himself apart from the industry. For Xie Jiang, it was a good thing, as his business had grown considerably. But to his peers, he had become a thorn in their side. ¡°Han ¡®Beardo,¡¯ we all make our living based on our skills in this line of work. How is it my problem if you can¡¯t get jobs? And now you¡¯re causing trouble here today, are you not taking me seriously?¡± ¡°Old Xie! That doesn¡¯t sound right,¡± Han ¡®Beardo¡¯ retorted with a clenched teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s just stick to the facts. When I used to take on projects, I always left the juiciest part for you¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you had no clue how to handle that part of the project! And besides, I¡¯ve given you plenty of work, haven¡¯t I?¡± The two of them argued fiercely, neither willing to back down. Their workers looked ready to jump into action, and it would take only one spark to potentially incite a fight between the two sides. ¡°What¡¯s all this about? Why the big fuss?¡± Chen Yu walked onto the construction site with a look of frustration on his face. When he had come up earlier, he had checked the various floors and found the decoration to be quite satisfactory. With a bit of furniture arrangement, the hotel could start its business right away. The entire tower was basically decorated; only this twenty-seventh floor, which served as a buffer zone, had to be left till the end for renovations. For floors like this compromise one, pillars sometimes have to be erected to connect above and below when necessary. Otherwise, there could be unwanted troubles, even causing walls to crack. But now, this critical floor had only been halfway through construction when someone obstructed it; anyone would be angry in this situation. Seeing Chen Yu enter made Xie Jiang a bit embarrassed. After all, he was responsible for the project, and the grudge with Han ¡®Beardo¡¯ was personal. If any issues arose, the responsibility would certainly be his. Although Han ¡®Beardo¡¯ was aggressive, he wilted upon seeing Chen Yu. For Chen Yu to entrust such a big project to Xie Jiang meant he was already a major player in Suzhou City, and there might be more and better projects to come. For those like them working on contracts, Chen Yu was definitely not someone to offend. ¡°Ah, this must be Mr. Chen! I¡¯ve heard so much about you.¡± Han ¡®Beardo¡¯ put on an obsequious smile and took the opportunity to pull out a cigarette from his pocket. Chen Yu didn¡¯t even glance at him, but instead, moved a chair from the side and sat down. ¡°Mr. Han, what exactly do you want to do by coming here out of the blue? Are you intentionally trying to obstruct my construction project?¡± Han the Bearded waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°Even if you lent me the guts, I wouldn¡¯t dare. But when it comes to this type of in-between-floor construction, I¡¯m the best in Suzhou City! If you give this project to me, I guarantee it¡¯ll be finished in three days.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat annoyed. Although there were their own rules among those engaged in construction, this project was his, and the building was already operating on a semi-open basis. If he couldn¡¯t complete the construction in the shortest time, the losses would fall on him. Therefore, it was impossible for him to employ a stranger and such an untrustworthy fellow for his project. ¡°Old Xie, how much longer do you need to finish?¡± Chen Yu asked abruptly. Xie Jiang held up one finger, ¡°One day, by tonight at twelve o¡¯clock, the whole building will be ready to open for business.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then directly called Zhou Shengtao. Regardless of whether Han the Bearded had a criminal record, just his actions in hindering the project already constituted a crime. Han the Bearded still had no idea about Chen Yu¡¯s connections and continued to be extremely arrogant. ¡°One day? Mr. Xie, stop blowing your own trumpet! For this kind of floor construction, without special techniques and workers, it would take at least three days¡­¡± Once Xie Jiang heard the content of Chen Yu¡¯s phone call, he knew it was to Zhou Shengtao. He didn¡¯t say much more, just instructed the workers behind him to clear a path, and sat down next to Chen Yu himself. Han the Bearded kept on talking incessantly, praising his workers to the skies and claiming he had graduated from a foreign university specializing in construction engineering and had returned to the country. What should¡¯ve been said, and what shouldn¡¯t have been said, he babbled on and on, giving Chen Yu a headache. If it wasn¡¯t for Zhou Sheng arriving timely with the relevant personnel, Chen Yu might have been unable to resist pummeling him right then and there. When Han the Bearded was taken away, he was still confused, not understanding what had happened. Once the situation had been resolved, Chen Yu stepped forward and patted Xie Jiang on the shoulder. ¡°Old Xie, every worker onsite today gets a red envelope of two hundred. I hope you can help me clean up this mess quickly; I need to be open for business tomorrow.¡± The workers onsite immediately became excited; they thought they would have their pay docked after such a long delay, but instead, they were getting a red envelope of two hundred. Xie Jiang looked at Chen Yu gratefully, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s done by tonight.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and headed downstairs. ¡°Xiao Hui!¡± As soon as he reached the first floor, he called Han Xiaohui to his side. ¡°Starting today, you are officially my secretary. Your monthly salary will start at ten thousand, with social insurance and housing fund. I¡¯ll get it sorted out for you! For now, your workplace will be here. Get familiar with the place, and if there¡¯s nothing else to do, you can try doing some embroidery based on the paintings on the wall.¡± Han Xiaohui was flabbergasted. She was still wrapped up in the idea that she was a ¡®gift¡¯. She hadn¡¯t expected not only to be given formal employment by Chen Yu but also to have her social insurance and housing fund covered. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡­¡± Before she could speak, Chen Yu pointed towards the busy Chu Hong. ¡°Head over to Chu Hong and get to know the business model of this mall, then draft a detailed business strategy report for me.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: 318 Chapter 318: 318 Han Xiaohui didn¡¯t hesitate at all and quickly agreed, and after Chen Yu explained some details to her, she went straight to find Chu Hong. Chen Yu asked Ning Kai for a serving of braised chicken stomach and sat next to Jin Lingsu. ¡°You don¡¯t have anywhere else to go right now, how about you hang your name at my place and help me hold some shares?¡± ¡°Sure! It¡¯s not like I have anything else to do anyway!¡± Jin Lingsu pouted. ¡°But I¡¯m already working as your family¡¯s bodyguard. Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit improper to hold shares, too?¡± Chen Yu fiddled with the chicken stomach in his hand. ¡°Do you look like someone who could calmly work as a bodyguard at my place?¡± At 10 p.m., the mall¡¯s hall was still bustling. Those who came to dine at this hour were either those who worked overtime until now or those who were taking over the night shift. Chen Yu also witnessed firsthand how the staff at each station took turns to change shifts. Each person on the handover shift was staggered by fifteen minutes, which meant the entire process lasted half an hour, leaving plenty of time. And due to the shift arrangements, it wasn¡¯t that the entire station¡¯s staff would switch over, leaving a portion behind regardless. This method ensured the smooth operation of each station while also allowing employees not to be rushed off their feet. What Chen Yu wanted here was to see the current operating mode of the entire first-floor hall. Soon, Han Xiaohui rushed over in a hurry and handed a report to Chen Yu. The market economic model marked on it and the detailed prospective operation plans would make one think Han Xiaohui had been working here for years. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but sigh, thinking that a talent like her was being gifted around. If Boss Gao could properly exploit Han Xiaohui¡¯s talents, perhaps his industry could be revived from the brink of death. ¡°All construction work will finish tonight, and the mall will open for business in a few days. You stay here, where you don¡¯t need to do anything. Just walk around and take a look. I will arrange the specifics of the job later.¡± Han Xiaohui nodded excitedly, her talents finally being recognized. ¡°Old Chen!¡± An excited shout suddenly rang out upstairs; then, Tong Ming and a large group of workers hurried over, bursting with energy. ¡°The construction work upstairs is done. We¡¯ve cleared the formaldehyde and other harmful gases out. With a little placement of items, it can immediately start operating.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had seen the progress of the construction before and even doubted the deadline Xie Jiang had assured. Yet here they were, finished by 10:30 p.m. Chen Yu was a bit skeptical but didn¡¯t want to express doubt, so he made a half-joking remark about going up to take a look. Chen Yu had already seen all the other floors, except for the twenty-seventh, which was not yet inspected. As the elevator reached the floor, Chen Yu was instantly taken aback by how different everything looked from just a few hours ago. The air purifiers and various devices were running at full power. In under an hour, all the harmful gases would be removed. ¡°Old Xie, you¡¯ve really worked hard this time!¡± Chen Yu patted Xie Jiang on the shoulder and then brought out a box. He had prepared it while eating earlier. According to his earlier promise, each worker was to get a red envelope with two hundred, but Chen Yu gave three hundred instead. According to the original schedule, if the work finished by midnight tonight, they would at least be able to commence operations the day after tomorrow. Now it seems that with a little tidying up, the opening ceremony could take place tomorrow morning. Moreover, the necessary infrastructure had already been prepared; they just needed to move it in. The workers were thrilled to receive red envelopes, all clamoring to go to the factory for work. After Xie Jiang took over the project, he divided his people into two groups: one mainly responsible for the factory, and the other for the building. Now that the building was finished, these workers temporarily had no work to do, and with Chen Yu¡¯s generous gesture, they were willing to work for such an employer. Xie Jiang was straightforward as well, bringing out his prepared factory construction plan. ¡°Old Chen, according to the plan you gave me before, there should be several thoroughfares connecting the two industrial parks. I¡¯ve made a detailed design. If you agree, I can lead people to start building concurrently.¡± Chen Yu briefly looked over the plan. ¡°Old Xie, I trust you to get the job done. The factory is in your hands. The last payment will be transferred to your account soon.¡± Xie Jiang didn¡¯t say much else and directly led his workers toward the factory. That place already had temporary accommodation built for the workers, who could move in and start work the next day. The next morning, the front of the building was decked out in lights and decorations, with dozens of luxurious business vehicles neatly lined up at the entrance. The news that Chen Yu released last night had sent shockwaves through Suzhou City¡¯s business community. P particularly in the catering and hotel industries. The moment these buildings opened, they would become Suzhou City¡¯s largest hotel and restaurant. Previously, when Chen Yu opened a small shop, the catering industry within a ten-mile radius suffered a devastating blow, leaving only a few fast-food restaurants standing alone. With the expansion to this extent, it would surely trigger a reshuffle in Suzhou City¡¯s catering industry. Some came ostensibly to celebrate but were in fact banding together to demand accountability. As they just entered the hall, they suddenly found a large number of well-built bodyguards standing in batches. One could tell at a glance that these were retired special forces talent! Tong Ming and Chu Jianghe sat down with titans from both the Imperial Capital and Magic Capital circles at two adjacent stations, chatting amicably. The ones who had come with intentions to accuse Chen Yu suddenly wilted. With so many tycoons sitting there, they had no place to speak. Chen Yu sat in between the two sides, seemingly discussing collaboration. By noon, Tong Ming and Chu Jianghe stood up simultaneously and handed a contract to Chen Yu. The next moment, a business contract appeared on the screen suspended in the hall. The Tong Family and the Chu Family had joined forces to establish a company, and Chen Yu was the head of this company. By this point, even the dimmest individual should have realized that Chen Yu had stepped beyond the scope of Suzhou City¡¯s industrial circle and simultaneously entered into both the Imperial Capital and Magic Capital circles. The anger that they had been holding back suddenly deflated. Today, if anyone dares show the slightest dissatisfaction with Chen Yu, it won¡¯t be long before they are eliminated. Right then, a taxi stopped abruptly at the entrance. An old man got out of the car in a hurry and stumbled into the building. ¡°Mr. Chen, this old man is late. Please forgive me.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 319 Cyprus Chapter 319: Chapter 319 Cyprus The elderly man seemed travel-worn and was dressed very plainly. The security staff on the perimeter of the shopping center saw the old man and adopted an overbearing attitude. Just as they were preparing to stop him, Chen Yu hurriedly greeted him. ¡°Mr. Victor, how come you¡¯re here all of a sudden?¡± Victor, panting heavily, handed a transfer contract to Chen Yu. ¡°I came in a rush and didn¡¯t have anything good to give. This is a property of mine in Cyprus, consider it a celebration gift for you.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; he had seen the property of the William family in Cyprus¡ªit was a castle with a history of over six hundred years. That place was also a highland fortress, one of the few historic buildings of its kind in the West. ¡°Old sir, this gift is simply too generous¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, just take it,¡± Victor insisted, as he stuffed a file bag into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to give you when I was on my way here. After much thought, I decided this was the only gift that would befit your status. Besides, this property has already caught someone¡¯s eye. Better to give it to you than to have it forcibly taken away!¡± His words were indeed sincere. Now, the Edward family was closing in on the William family, seizing who knows how many of their assets. How could the Edward family overlook a premium asset like the castle in Cyprus? Chen Yu found it difficult to refuse and accepted the gift. ¡°Mr. Victor, we¡¯ve launched a new health-conscious menu here, you should try it.¡± Victor sighed helplessly. ¡°I am in quite a hurry, there¡¯s a pile of things to deal with in Frankfurt¡ªI must return by tonight, I¡¯m afraid I cannot stay here longer.¡± After greeting everyone present, Victor left with an apologetic expression on his face. ¡°The entire William family must be in crisis! His visit here might be a cry for help, and the Cypriot asset is his visiting gift.¡± Tong Ming, being an old hand, pointed out Victor¡¯s true purpose outright. Chen Yu frowned slightly; he was in the midst of a career upswing, in great need to expand the overseas market to a significant extent. Although he already had a substantial number of orders, they would not be enough after the expansion of the industrial park. If he could take this opportunity to fight against the William family and at the same time weaken the Edward family¡¯s presence in Europe, maybe he could influence the economy there to some extent. Chen Yu did not hesitate to share his thoughts with Tong Ming and Chu Jianghe. After a brief consideration, they immediately had their subordinates form a visiting team to head to Europe with Chen Yu. Chen Yu did not wait for the visiting team; instead, he set off in advance with Han Xiaohui and Jin Lingsu. All these ancient royal families had already caused quite a turmoil. The Edward family, in alliance with a tremendous amount of capital, were continuously harvesting assets in the West, with many small and medium-sized enterprises being directly swallowed up by the Edward family. The battered Charlie family had no choice but to join forces with the William family, alongside some other industries that had been edged out by the Edward family, to combat them. When Chen Yu arrived at Frankfurt airport, the posters everywhere immediately caught his eye. He had seen Brown Edward before, appearing on posters in various forms. It was as though he had become the ruler of this land. Next to him, Fang Yuan was revered like a queen. Chen Yu glanced at the posters indifferently and then turned away. Outside the airport, a business Mercedes was parked steadily, and a mild-mannered middle-aged man was waiting there respectfully. Seeing Chen Yu come out, he hurriedly rushed forward to greet him. ¡°Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Are you Mr. Liu Mu?¡± Liu Mu didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly opened the car door. The thirteenth floor of the Wanlong Department Store was a property of Chu Jianghe in Frankfurt. Originally, he had intended to develop a red wine business here, but unfortunately, there had never been a suitable project to dock with, so it had been left idle. When Chen Yu arrived, he found the office had only a few simple furnishings and, apart from a cleaning lady, it was empty. Liu Mu felt somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Mr. Chen, this place has been abandoned for a long time. Mr. Chu has already instructed us to provide whatever you need, just tell me directly, and I¡¯ll take care of it immediately.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer right away but turned to look at Han Xiaohui beside him. ¡°Can you speak German?¡± ¡°I have no problems with day-to-day communication!¡± Chen Yu directly pushed Han Xiaohui forward. ¡°Mr. Liu, take Xiao Hui with you. She¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s missing, okay?¡± Liu Mu was somewhat disbelieving, as Han Xiaohui had also just arrived here. Merely having glanced at the room, how could she possibly know what was needed? Before he could react, Han Xiaohui had already headed downstairs, seeming to be very familiar with Frankfurt. Chen Yu casually moved a chair and sat down. ¡°It seems the situation here is not optimistic. Many enterprises have been controlled by the Edward Family, even William¡¯s family has been suppressed very, very tightly.¡± Jin Lingsu let out a long sigh, ¡°The Edward Family has not only one influential backer behind them, in just less than two months, they¡¯ve already reached such volume. It¡¯s truly astonishing.¡± Speaking of which, Jin Lingsu took out some documents from her belongings. These were the information she had collected on her way here, which nearly encompassed all the basic information of everyone in the Edward Family at the moment. She specifically picked a few files and placed them in front of Chen Yu. ¡°This person is called Carter Edward, he¡¯s Brown Edward¡¯s second uncle, and he¡¯s currently the head of the Edward Family¡¯s advisory group. If you want to restrain the Edward Family, you¡¯ll probably have to start with him.¡± Chen Yu had seen this man at Fang Yuan¡¯s wedding. At that time, he seemed very unremarkable, and Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected him to have such capabilities. The others were all elites from the Western world, and many of them quite well-known. After briefly reviewing these people¡¯s information, Chen Yu had a simple plan form in his mind. It wasn¡¯t long before Han Xiaohui and Liu Mu hurried upstairs with a bunch of items. The items were not many, and they looked very miscellaneous, but each was extremely practical. After arranging the items, Han Xiaohui directly got into work mode, requiring no instructions from Chen Yu. Liu Mu, on the other hand, looked depressed, standing there somewhat at a loss. He didn¡¯t even know what he should be doing now. ¡°Mr. Chen, if there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t stay any longer. There are some matters to be handled back at the company.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just acknowledged Liu Mu, and saw him off. Soon enough, Han Xiaohui had organized all those scattered files on the table, and she even found additional information about these people from the news. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 320 Mutual Alliance Chapter 320: Chapter 320 Mutual Alliance At Anchana Manor. Brown Edward swirled a glass of red wine, sitting comfortably on the couch. ¡°This manor was built during the time of Louis III. Back then, the Edward Family also took part in its construction. By rights, this manor should also belong to the Edward Family. It¡¯s a pity it has always been occupied by the Charlies family. Today, it has finally returned to its rightful owner,¡± he mused. Fang Yuan stood by, pretending to gracefully touch each object. Her decision to marry Brown was essentially a huge gamble. Had the Edward Family not won this commercial war, she would have been doomed along with the entire Edward Family. But now, not only had the Edward Family won, but they had won very impressively. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they could enter the East with the financial capital they controlled. At that time, she could finally settle the score with the Zhao Family! ¡°But ultimately, this manor is still the private property of the Louisian royalty. Many families, upon acquiring the manor, choose to return it to the descendants of the Louis Family. Should we also extend this favor?¡± she questioned. Fang Yuan was indeed somewhat intelligent, or else how could she have easily won the three-billion capital wager? Brown stroked his chin, thinking it over. ¡°Although the Louis Family has declined, they still hold some standing in Europe. If we could use this manor to bring them over to our side, it would make swallowing up other families much easier!¡± he declared. As he finished speaking, Brown suddenly stood up and clinked his glass against Fang Yuan¡¯s. ¡°In this period, you have demonstrated a wisdom beyond that of mere mortals. Had it not been for you and my second uncle working together on the Smart Group, I might not have achieved what I have today. How about we nullify our previous marriage agreement and truly get married!¡± he proposed. Fang Yuan trembled slightly, unsure of how to respond. Marrying Brown would indeed be a good choice. It would not only allow her to step into high society in one go but also save her a lot of trouble. However, she had a child in this world, which was always a risk. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, not willing?¡± Brown¡¯s tone carried a hint of urgency. ¡°That¡¯s not it, I¡¯m just a bit surprised!¡± she replied hastily. Just as Fang Yuan was making an excuse, the butler hurriedly ran in, handing the tablet to Brown. ¡°Young Master Brown, there¡¯s a big problem!¡± the butler exclaimed. The screen was showing information about a myriad of companies. Some small companies that they had previously beaten without any resistance had unexpectedly merged overnight into a big company. ¡°Yu Ya Limited?¡± Brown was furious and slammed the tablet on the ground. ¡°Where did this company spring up from?¡± The butler was startled and didn¡¯t dare to utter a word but handed over a phone instead. Brown quickly composed himself and answered the call. ¡°Brown, a new company has arrived in Frankfurt, and it seems they¡¯re opposing us. Prepare immediately and convene an emergency board meeting!¡± Carter¡¯s voice sounded extremely authoritative, proving the severity of the situation. Brown didn¡¯t dare delay, sending messages to all directors at once. As he left, he also took Fang Yuan with him. Fang Yuan had already gained actual power within the Edward Family and was present as Brown¡¯s personal assistant. Many of the Edward Family elders even admired Fang Yuan¡¯s wisdom and had come to regard her as one of their own. At the top floor of a commercial building, nearly all the elders of the Edward Family had gathered here. After all, this was just a branch of theirs, so the meeting wasn¡¯t too particular. A group of people, swirling their glasses, sat together, their faces extremely solemn. ¡°Have you obtained the information on that company? Who is their legal representative? Is there any capital support behind them?¡± ¡°It seems to be from the Orient. I don¡¯t know why they¡¯ve suddenly started opposing us.¡± ¡°Their movements are too swift. They¡¯ve not only brought those small-scale enterprises together but also made contact with William¡¯s family and Charlie¡¯s family. It¡¯s said that the capital of all three parties has already started interfacing.¡± ¡°We absolutely can¡¯t let them unite. Those two families are already European behemoths, and with the addition of capital from the Orient, we alone will have great difficulty coping.¡± ¡­ Though the group was somewhat noisy with each taking their turn to speak, the content of their conversation was extremely well-organized. And when one person spoke, the others would certainly not interrupt. It didn¡¯t take long before they had completely reviewed all the information. At the same time, the Public Relations Department had already begun to act, fully investigating Yu Ya Limited Company. But due to the location of its registration, they had difficulty finding specific information. Chen Yu had quickly brought together those beaten-down enterprises and then went directly to meet with Victor. In the daytime, Victor hurried to Suzhou City to congratulate Chen Yu. By the time he returned to Frankfurt, he was stunned to find that the situation had completely changed. Chen Yu had not only reached Suzhou City before him but had also finished the early stages of his planning. Their meeting was extremely rushed, merely choosing a street-side cafe. Fortunately, this cafe could provide a decent private room. ¡°Mr. Chen, I never expected the capital from the Orient to choose you to come help us as their representative. I am truly surprised,¡± said Victor, unable to hide his excitement. After all, his trip to Suzhou City had been with the intention of seeking reinforcements, but he¡¯d always been too embarrassed to mention it. On one hand, he didn¡¯t have deep cooperation with the capital from the Orient; on the other, Chen Yu was his lifesaver, and he didn¡¯t want to draw Chen Yu into this chaotic situation. Chen Yu appeared very nonchalant in response, ¡°Doing business is all about mutual benefit, and the actions of the Edward Family are indeed overbearing; they really need to be suppressed!¡± ¡°Additionally, I contacted someone from Charlie¡¯s family today. They don¡¯t seem too keen on cooperating!¡± Victor let out a sigh of resignation, ¡°The last time the two big families clashed head-on, the Edward Family sent assassins, and in one night, nearly a dozen senior members of Charlie¡¯s family were killed! Now their head is a thirteen-year-old girl, how can she make proper judgments?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated sharply; he hadn¡¯t anticipated such a drastic turn of events within Charlie¡¯s family. ¡°That¡¯s not surprising then! But Charlie¡¯s family¡¯s influence is still there. I hope Mr. Victor can help make connections and try to get our families integrated,¡± said Chen Yu. Victor nodded and then took out a USB drive from his pocket and handed it over. ¡°Managing Charlie¡¯s family is my job; as for the rest, I¡¯ll leave it to you. This contains the data of all the small-scale enterprises suppressed by the Edward Family.¡± ¡°Although their scale isn¡¯t large, their number is their strength. If we can unite them all, they are definitely a force that cannot be ignored,¡± he explained. Without hesitation, Chen Yu took the USB drive and immediately handed it to Han Xiaohui beside him. ¡°Organize the data inside and hand it to me immediately!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Stock Market Evaporation Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Stock Market Evaporation Frankfurt may be the old base of William¡¯s family, but with the rise of the Edward Family, William¡¯s family¡¯s prestige here has plummeted. There might even be eyes and ears of the Edward Family in this caf¨¦. Chen Yu didn¡¯t dare to stay here long, so after briefly discussing some details, he hurriedly left with Han Xiaohui. At the eastern suburban street corner, several individuals with somber expressions and an aura of murder were hiding in the dark corners, seemingly waiting for something. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu and Han Xiaohui arrived there. Upon seeing the two, these people burst out from their hiding spots, brandishing old-fashioned knight¡¯s longswords. ¡°These two are the reinforcements old man Victor called for? They¡¯re too young, what can they possibly do?¡± ¡°Who cares, Mr. Brown has already given the order¡ªto bring back these two¡¯s heads.¡± ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s do it!¡± ¡­ The gang was visibly excited, it seemed completing this job would earn them quite a reward. Han Xiaohui had never witnessed such a scene and was already scared out of her wits, but she still instinctively positioned herself in front of Chen Yu. As a secretary, apart from doing auxiliary work usually, she was to act as a bodyguard in key moments. Besides, Chen Yu was Han Xiaohui¡¯s benefactor, and naturally, she would stand in front to protect him at such a time. Chen Yu was taken aback at first, but then he grabbed Han Xiaohui¡¯s shoulder, pulling her back a step, and casually tossed out several pebbles. He had sensed an extremely dense killing intent while walking over earlier, so he crushed a brick at the street corner in preparation. These stones were thrown with great force, immediately knocking several people to the ground. Their longswords crumbled to pieces upon contact with the flying pebbles. One of them, who was physically stronger, managed to half-kneel on the ground using his longsword for support after taking several hits from the stones. ¡°Who exactly are you? Why are you opposing my Edward Family?¡± Chen Yu found it funny that these people came to ambush him, and now they were asking him why he was opposing the Edward Family. ¡°Who I am is none of your damn business!¡± Chen Yu stepped forward, his figure flitting through the assailants like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, those men were scattered across the street, unconscious. Chen Yu had sealed several acupoints on the back of their heads; even when they awoke, they would be mere imbeciles. Chen Yu cautiously checked the surroundings to ensure there was no danger before leaving with Han Xiaohui. Within the temporary office, Jin Lingsu had already completed the preliminary preparations and had injected large sums of money into the European stock market. ¡°Were you ambushed?¡± Jin Lingsu could tell something had happened just by looking at Chen Yu and Han Xiaohui¡¯s state. Chen Yu casually sat down on the sofa, ¡°Just a few lackeys, nothing serious! How are the preparations going?¡± Jin Lingsu pushed the computer towards Chen Yu. ¡°As per your instructions, the account has been registered, and all the specific stocks have been marked. You can start buying in bulk whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± Chen Yu briefly glanced at the information displayed on the computer screen, then entered the password¡ªall the funds were invested at once. Jin Lingsu suddenly panicked, ¡°Hey, you need to think this through, all my fortune is tied up in this. If I lose it here, what will I do after?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t even lift his head, ¡°You¡¯re already hanging the title of director with me, and you¡¯re holding shares on my behalf. You shouldn¡¯t have to worry about the second half of your life, should you?¡± Jin Lingsu pouted, ¡°This time it¡¯s a huge gamble, you could even throw yourself into it! Are you taking this too lightly, a bit too casually?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, his fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, and at the same time, his mind was continuously updating with various kinds of information and skills. The system had long designed a plan for the stock market for him, and right now, Ling Ling was sitting on his shoulder, personally guiding him. It¡¯s just that no one else could see her. While European stock markets were connected to Wall Street, they were also independent of the Wall Street system, so the closing times and methods were different. Chen Yu took advantage of this dislocation in timing and loopholes to pour all his funds into specific stocks. By the time his fingers struck the last key, the market had just closed, and all trading came to an immediate halt. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief; now all he needed to do was wait until the market opened the next day. Jin Lingsu¡¯s face carried a bit of resentment as she had never felt such anxiety before. This woman grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, having seen and been through everything. Saying she had eight hundred schemes up her sleeve wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. But she had never touched the stock market, nor dared to touch it. Without professional knowledge and a macro perspective, not only could you not make money here, but you might also lose everything you have. If she didn¡¯t have absolute trust in Chen Yu, she would have never let him gamble all her fortune in the stock market. At this point, even if she wanted to back out, it was too late¡ªshe could only wait for the results the next morning. Early the next day, Jin Lingsu sat in front of the computer with red eyes, quietly waiting, not knowing whether she had risen early or hadn¡¯t slept all night. Chen Yu somewhat helplessly took over the computer, opened the stock market page, and listed all the stocks they had selected yesterday. As the opening bell rang, all the selected stocks surged in value. In less than half an hour, they had doubled. ¡°Xiao Hui, help me operate that computer, sell all the stocks displayed on the page.¡± Han Xiaohui was already prepared. As soon as Chen Yu gave the command, her fingers flew quickly across the keyboard. Chen Yu was also decisive, and before long, he had sold all the stocks they held. Minus the transaction fees, their investment from last night had actually doubled by now. Jin Lingsu exhaled deeply, ¡°Nice going, my money has just doubled!¡± Just as she was getting excited, Chen Yu put all the money they had just withdrawn into a concept stock. Jin Lingsu¡¯s spirits plummeted again. ¡°Making a profit once should be enough; are you trying to test how fast my heart can beat?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond; he simply stared intently at the changes in stock prices on the screen. The stocks he had just pulled out showed a rapid outflow of funds, causing the share prices to plummet to the bottom. Meanwhile, the concept stock they had just invested in was crazily surging by forty percent. Jin Lingsu also stared unblinkingly at the screen, feeling an inexplicable excitement at the sight of the surging stocks. Then, in the next moment, Chen Yu suddenly let go of all the concept stocks he was holding. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Merger of Companies Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Merger of Companies The sudden withdrawal of such a significant amount of capital instantly caused fluctuations in the prices of concept stocks. Jin Lingsu clutched her heart and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s wrist. ¡°We¡¯ve made money twice already, that should be enough, right? Should we withdraw all the money?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer; he just glanced at Jin Lingsu and continued typing on the keyboard. Han Xiaohui, who was next to him, had already grasped Chen Yu¡¯s intent and, without waiting for him to speak, followed his lead in making her moves. The money that had just been pulled out was all reinvested into the stocks that had just bottomed out. This series of coherent operations depressed Jin Lingsu, who normally walked with an air of dominance; now, she almost felt like crying without tears. ¡°Sister Su, Brother Yu is currently using the suddenness of a large amount of capital to disrupt the stock market, thereby achieving his goal!¡± ¡°If we miss this window, we¡¯ll lose our advantage and won¡¯t achieve as good a result. Just sit tight, and as long as we complete all operations within this period of suddenness, not only will our capital increase manifold, but we¡¯ll also strike at the Edward Family.¡± Han Xiaohui did see things clearly, and her explanation slowly eased the panic on Jin Lingsu¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m a simple person and really don¡¯t understand your operations. Forget it, I won¡¯t bother anymore. After all, I¡¯m relying on you for the rest of my life!¡± Chen Yu remained silent, his fingers flying over the keyboard, transferring funds back and forth. After four hours, the funds indeed increased by a whole eightfold. The initial investment of eighty billion had turned into six hundred forty billion. Before coming here, Tong Ming and Chu Jianghe had given over three hundred billion; the rest was put together by Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu. Among them, Chen Yu invested the least, but even so, his money also multiplied by eightfold. Even though it wasn¡¯t much compared to the other super-rich, he now qualified for the wealthy rankings. ¡°Keep going, why have you stopped?¡± Jin Lingsu had already jumped up from the sofa by now; her investment of over fifty billion had turned into over four hundred billion, and the despondency on her face was replaced by excitement. ¡°The capital market here has already set its sights on us. If we continue, all our money will be swallowed up!¡± ¡°What we need to do now is targeted strikes, using the stock market to take down Edward¡¯s smaller companies one by one, and then inject the money into tangible assets to wage a full-scale war against them.¡± Jin Lingsu was confused by what she heard, but seeing the return on her money, she chose not to ask anything more. For the next half a month, Chen Yu hardly slept, keeping his eyes glued to the stock boards. From initially two computers, it turned into a central control with dozens of screens at the end. During this time, eighty-seven small and medium-sized enterprises were plundered bare, then through capital operations, these industries were all merged into William¡¯s family empire. The previously swift development momentum of the Edward Family was abruptly contained, and most of the territory they had established in Frankfurt was taken over. ¡°Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on?¡± Brown Edward slammed his hand hard on the table, his expression turning fierce. The people below didn¡¯t even dare to breathe heavily, each looking like a corpse. Carter Edward leaned back in his chair, his face clouded with gloom. During this period, he and his think tank had sat down and perfected their layout, but unexpectedly, one by one, his industries were still being swallowed up. To this day, he had no idea who was behind the sabotage. The previously investigated Yuya Limited, which could potentially threaten the Edward Family, had been inactive for half a month, with not even a hint of their company¡¯s financial transactions detectable. What they didn¡¯t know was that this limited company operated entirely outside of the major systems; even if it did operate, it was done in the shadows, and outsiders couldn¡¯t possibly detect any clues. Moreover, the accounts Chen Yu used to trade stocks were registered privately. ¡°The enemy is in the dark, and we are exposed. Moreover, they are planning specifically against us, so they will always be one step ahead. No matter how we adjust our strategies, we will not be their match. We have to find the person behind this!¡± Carter¡¯s eyes flickered with viciousness, and the joints of his fingers cracked as he clenched them tightly. Brown immediately stepped forward, ¡°You mean to say, Uncle, that we should find a way to kill them?¡± Carter nodded, ¡°Start by screening everyone who has entered Europe in the past half a month. As soon as you find anyone closely associated with William¡¯s family, take them down immediately! Also, eliminate those two in charge at Yuya Limited.¡± Without hesitation, Brown gave orders to the person beside him. Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing became inexplicably rapid; he naturally knew that the person in charge of Yuya Company was Chen Yu. She wasn¡¯t so much worried about Chen Yu as she was scared that if anything happened to Chen Yu, Tuan Tuan would have no one to take care of him. But at present, her public identity was that of the Edward Family¡¯s first lady. If she tried to intervene at this time, it would likely arouse suspicion from others. Just as she was caught in a dilemma, Brown suddenly approached her. ¡°You previously said the plan against the Charlie family was very good. We¡¯ll implement it tonight. I refuse to believe that a little girl who¡¯s not yet fully grown can stand up against me.¡± Fang Yuan couldn¡¯t say much more; she nodded, then quickly left with several assistants in tow. The Charlie family¡¯s stronghold was initially in Edinburgh but, under the relentless pressure of the Edward Family, they sought refuge in Frankfurt under the protection of William¡¯s family. Now, the remaining members of the Charlie family were all staying within a vineyard owned by William¡¯s family. After stabilizing the stock market, Chen Yu went directly there to meet with the Charlie family. Initially, the Charlie family was somewhat hostile toward Chen Yu, as any well-established family would be, having fallen to such a state for no apparent reason, likely feeling a bit paranoid of persecution. Fortunately, Chen Yu¡¯s culinary skills were top-notch, and under Victor¡¯s mediation, he prepared several dishes for the new head of the Charlie family. The young girl¡¯s taste buds were conquered, and she hurriedly arranged a meeting with Chen Yu. In the dimness of the underground bunker, a pretty young girl sat across from Chen Yu, her sapphire-blue eyes blinking constantly, seemingly very interested in him. ¡°Mr. Chen, how do you make your meals? My cooking skills aren¡¯t even one-tenth as good as yours.¡± Chen Yu had a full head of black lines, realizing she was just a young girl after all. Her family had fallen to such a state, yet she was still thinking about food. ¡°If you like it, I can make some more for you next time! However, what¡¯s most important right now is the issue of ownership of several companies that belonged to the Charlie family.¡± Chen Yu laid a pile of documents on the table. Just as he was about to discuss the details, a middle-aged man suddenly grabbed his arm. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 323: The Last Family Head Chapter 323: Chapter 323: The Last Family Head ¡°Mr. Chen, our master is asking you about culinary matters, and out of respect, you cannot casually change the subject. Furthermore, these are matters the people below can handle, so there¡¯s no need to bother the young master.¡± The hoarse voice sounded gloomy, filling Chen Yu with an inexplicable revulsion. He lifted his head, the middle-aged man beside him was quite handsome, but his lips were unnaturally red, and his eyes emitted a strange cold light. On his hand, he was wearing a peculiar sapphire blue ring. ¡°Mr. Noka, if I remember correctly, the Charlies family¡¯s current signatory authority rests with Miss Diana. Should I discuss these details with anyone else if not with her?¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t misunderstand!¡± Diana hurriedly stood up, ¡°Mr. Noka is only concerned about my wellbeing. I have to sign hundreds of documents every day, and my arm is already swollen. ¡± ¡°Hundreds of documents?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. How could the Charlies family, now reduced to just their main businesses and a few auxiliary companies, possibly have hundreds of documents to sign every day? [System alert: Danger detected, switching to autonomous defense mode] Chen Yu immediately became vigilant, with the system¡¯s scanning results simultaneously surfacing in his mind. The ring in Noka¡¯s hand radiated a red glow. [Miniature surveillance communication system, currently operational, linked to Fackel Estate] The Fackel Estate is the Edward Family¡¯s temporary base in Frankfurt. The system¡¯s findings were enough to prove that the Noka before him was a spy the Edward Family had planted within the Charlies family. The documents laid out on the table by Chen Yu had likely already been photographed by Noka and sent to Fackel Estate. ¡°Mr. Noka! If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯ve been working for the Charlies family for thirty years. Why choose to betray?¡± This sudden interrogation startled Noka, and he instinctively stepped back, instinctively grabbing the long sword beside him. ¡°Mr. Chen, you helped the Charlies family recover losses, and I am grateful to you for that! But you can¡¯t defame my character like this.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care for that; he stepped forward to grab the ring off Noka¡¯s hand directly. Noka¡¯s reactions were extremely quick, feinting to the left and dodging away, then drawing his long sword to slash at Chen Yu. But Chen Yu was quicker, lunging forward like a specter, grabbing Noka¡¯s ring-wearing hand and wrenching it backward with force. The sharp sound of bone breaking with a piercing scream filled the air instantly, Noka¡¯s body coiled on the ground like a silkworm cocoon. ¡°Your character doesn¡¯t hold value in my sight, I¡¯m more inclined to trust my own eyes.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice was ice-cold as he directly pulled off the ring. Crushing the sapphire casing on the outside, a miniature surveillance device was revealed within, still in operation. Diana suddenly stood up, staring incredulously at the unfolding scene. ¡°Mr. Noka, you are the person I have respected the most from childhood, how could you do such a thing?¡± Noka gritted his teeth, ¡°The Charlies family are a bunch of disgusting beasts. Thirty years ago, my whole family died at your hands. I came to your house to work as a servant for the sake of revenge.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, uninterested in the grudge between Noka and the Charlies family. He came here only to expand his business empire, and at the same time, based on a relationship of interests, he linked the William¡¯s family, Charlie¡¯s family, the Tong Family, and the Chu Family together. Chen Yu lifted his foot and kicked hard on Noka¡¯s shoulder, crippling his shoulder blade and simultaneously crushing the monitor. ¡°Miss Diana, this place is no longer safe, you¡¯re afraid you¡¯ll have to come with me.¡± Diana¡¯s throat moved slightly. Even though she was born into Charlie¡¯s family, she was after all just a thirteen-year-old girl who lacked even some basic concepts of understanding. Although Chen Yu had disposed of Noka for her, she still remained wary of him. By then, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t care less about caution; he directly grabbed Diana¡¯s arm, picked her up, and hurried out of the underground wine cellar. The Charlie family bodyguards responsible for the perimeter surveillance saw this scene and rushed to intercept, but they were all repelled by Chen Yu one by one. Before long, Chen Yu had taken Diana all the way to William¡¯s family¡¯s ancient castle. When Victor saw Diana, he just stood there, stunned. It was a time of crisis; the Edward Family was running rampant on the European continent, with every other family feeling imperiled. Although Charlie¡¯s family was somewhat reliant on William¡¯s family nowadays, it still maintained its independence. If outsiders knew that Chen Yu had forcefully brought Diana to William¡¯s family¡¯s castle, it could spark all sorts of public opinion that Edward Family might exploit. ¡°Mr. Chen, why did you bring her here?¡± Victor appeared flustered. Chen Yu picked up a teacup from the table and gulped down the tea, ¡°Now that Charlie¡¯s family is full of spies, if she wasn¡¯t brought here, Charlie¡¯s family¡¯s last hope would be finished.¡± After giving a somewhat perfunctory explanation, Chen Yu took out his laptop. ¡°These companies are now practically in our control; we must have Diana sign quickly so the companies belong to Charlie¡¯s family, and at the same time, use Charlie¡¯s family¡¯s core companies and private equity funds to take control!¡± Victor glanced at the business map displayed on the computer screen and nodded his head. The solution that Chen Yu had presented was practically the only viable method at the moment. Although Diana¡¯s concept of recognition was not fully formed, she was quite savvy with business matters from being exposed to them since a young age. Hearing what Chen Yu said, she no longer hesitated, hurriedly ran to Chen Yu¡¯s side, picked up the documents, and started signing. Victor also breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Diana was willing to sign of her own accord, the alliance between Charlie¡¯s family and William¡¯s family had taken a substantial leap forward. Chen Yu organized all the materials in his hand and sent them to Han Xiaohui. During this time, she might have already made sense of the disputes among the various families in Europe and the business system, as the strategic plan she provided was nearly the same as the system suggested. As a result, Chen Yu confidently entrusted most of the business operations to Han Xiaohui. Just then, a sudden violent explosion sounded from the outskirts of the castle, and the strong smell of gunpowder instantaneously spread. Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, subconsciously glancing at the surveillance screen beside him, and noticed a large number of masked individuals appearing outside the castle. These people wore bizarre masks, and each carried a knight¡¯s longsword, bearing quite the style of the Middle Ages. At their waists, without exception, each had an identical explosive device, and all were turned on with the countdown initiated. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 324 Secret Agreement Chapter 324: Chapter 324 Secret Agreement Victor was petrified. Never since the founding of the Williams family had they faced such a large-scale attack. He hastily picked up the walkie-talkie to issue orders to all the security personnel within the castle. Before they became security personnel for the Williams family, they had all gone through special training and were exceptionally skilled. However, the people who burst in were clearly desperados, and they were also carrying explosive devices; no matter their training, no one dared approach such individuals. Before long, those masked people had already rushed down to the base of the castle. If they were to detonate the explosives on them simultaneously, the entire castle would be reduced to ashes. ¡°The Edward Family is truly despicable, resorting to such tactics! Where have their noble royal spirits gone?¡± Victor was gnashing his teeth in hatred so much that he itched, yet he was helpless. Chen Yu, on the other hand, appeared extremely calm. Just now, the system had generated a comprehensive plan in his mind. His fingers rapidly tapped on the keyboard, and oddly enough, a series of blue and white codes appeared on it. If someone could see the system next to Chen Yu, they would discover that Ling Ling had now entered into the computer. A barrage of commands shot out from the computer, and before long, the timers on the masked men¡¯s bodies had simultaneously stopped. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve hacked the electronic codes on their bodies; those explosive devices won¡¯t blow up anymore. Hurry and have your security staff clean them up.¡± Victor became instantly agitated and immediately ordered through the walkie-talkie. The security personnel of the Williams family were indeed highly capable and they immediately charged out upon receiving the orders. The masked men also realized something was amiss, and despite fiddling with their explosive devices in haste, it was to no avail. After half an hour of resistance, all the masked men lay beneath the castle. Victor heaved a long sigh of relief and then immediately called for additional security personnel from other areas to strengthen the defenses here. After resolving the crisis, Chen Yu did not linger; once he sent the last code, he hurriedly left with his computer. Without interfering with Victor, what was urgent now was to handle the contract issue between the Williams and the Charlies families. At six in the afternoon, Chen Yu arrived early at a coffee shop just outside Frankfurt. He seemed very familiar with the place and went straight to a highly secretive small room. If not for regulars, no one would know about this spot. The environment here was also very elegant, with a lot of French plane trees planted around; during this season, pink paulownias covered the ground. His first visit here was when he was a sophomore in college. After working hard and saving up money for a year, he took Fang Yuan here for a trip. That trip not only spent all his wages, but he also went into quite a bit of debt, resulting in half a year of eating instant noodles during his sophomore year. Memories flashed across his mind, bringing Chen Yu an inexplicable sense of melancholy. However, he didn¡¯t care too much and continued to type rapidly on the keyboard. Next to him was a folder of documents, along with a few strange contracts. Soon after, a figure wearing a khaki trench coat, sunglasses, and a ladies¡¯ denim hat hurried into the coffee shop, heading straight for the small room. ¡°What exactly do you mean by the message you sent?¡± The woman took off her hat and sunglasses, revealing a somewhat aristocratic face in front of Chen Yu. ¡°` The person was none other than Fang Yuan! Chen Yu handed over the two contracts on the table directly. ¡°What you seek is mostly fame and wealth, depending on the Edward Family is just a stepping stone for you!¡± ¡°But in a sense, you are just a pawn of the Edward Family. You are merely using each other.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, especially with the two contracts laid out in front of her, causing her body to tremble violently. ¡°I understand all that you¡¯re saying! But your plan is too dangerous. If it fails, I will be doomed, and I have no reason to join you in this foolish chaos.¡± The tapping of Chen Yu¡¯s fingers on the keyboard came to an abrupt halt, and he slowly lifted his head, looking at Fang Yuan with an indescribable gaze. ¡°By clinging to the Edward Family, you will at most gain some real power and shares, but that¡¯s far from enough to suppress the Zhao Family of the Imperial Capital! You must enlist the power of the East.¡± Fang Yuan was slightly startled, ¡°You investigated me?¡± Chen Yu did not answer but instead pushed the file bag next to him towards her, as if letting her consider it for herself. Indeed, even if the Edward Family actually annexed both the Charlies and William¡¯s families, their influence would still be limited to Europe and the West. Besides, the Edward Family might not necessarily assist her against the Zhao Family, and in the end, the only one who could help her was Chen Yu. Fang Yuan wavered! Even though the two were divorced and their separation had been unpleasant, there was still Tuan Tuan between them. The contract offered by Chen Yu, and the plan enclosed in the file bag, were extremely clear. If she agreed and took action, she could inflict a devastating blow on the Edward Family without anyone knowing it was her doing. After the deed, she could take advantage of the operation to embezzle most of the Edward Family¡¯s assets and quickly grow to become a business magnate paralleled only by the royal families of Europe. Such temptation was far too great. Just as Fang Yuan was in a daze, Chen Yu turned the laptop towards her. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged everything for you. Now you just need to nod, sign your name, and the foundational company will immediately be established!¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s throat moved slightly, ¡°But I am currently part of the Edward Family. Even if I act in secret, they might still¡­¡± ¡°The Edward Family has already incurred public wrath. With their arrogance and having killed so many from the Charlies and William¡¯s families, it would be no surprise if they were annihilated.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice unexpectedly had a hint of ruthlessness. This was completely different from the Chen Yu Fang Yuan remembered. ¡°Alright, I agree! I hope you can honor your promise after this is done.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s hand holding the pen was still hesitant, but she ultimately signed her name. After hammering out a few more details of the contract, Fang Yuan wrapped herself up like a rice dumpling and hurriedly left again. Chen Yu let out a long sigh of relief, closed his laptop, and leaned back in his chair with his eyes slightly closed. ¡°Is it settled?¡± A domineering and cold voice suddenly came from the corner behind him. Jin Lingsu, holding a golden spike, slowly walked out. ¡°It¡¯s settled,¡± Chen Yu replied, then began to tidy up the things on the table. Jin Lingsu put away the spike, ¡°You¡¯re one lucky guy, having such beautiful wives, both of them!¡± ¡°Looks like I worried too much. This woman came alone, without even a tail behind her!¡± ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Manipulating Behind the Scenes Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Manipulating Behind the Scenes Upon hearing that Chen Yu was meeting with Fang Yuan, Jin Lingsu felt an inexplicable surge of nervousness. Nowadays, Fang Yuan was the first lady of the Edward Family, and if she disagreed with Chen Yu¡¯s plan, it was very likely that she would set up an assassin in the shadows. After all, the things the Edward Family had recently done in Europe were indeed disgraceful. Chen Yu gathered the items on the table. ¡°Even if there is real danger, I can escape, there¡¯s no need for you to follow!¡± Jin Lingsu pursed her lips, ¡°Now, all of my possessions are in your control, if you die, who will I cry to?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, he carefully looked around and then hastily left the place with Jin Lingsu. Within Wilburg, a castle controlled by the Edward Family. Carter smashed a pile of documents forcefully onto the faces of several middle-aged men. ¡°What do you all mean by this? It¡¯s only a few minor setbacks that the Edward Family has encountered, and you¡¯re already preparing your back-up plans? Look at this mess of accounts you¡¯ve made¡ªwhere has the knightly spirit of our ancestors gone?¡± If this had happened in the past, those people might have kept silent out of fear, not daring to even breathe deeply. But now, things were different. For nearly half a month, the Edward Family had faced setbacks everywhere, with even their original business plans dead in the water. The nearly a hundred small and medium-sized businesses that had been snatched away were now taken back by their original owners. Moreover, the Charlies family had recently made a comeback and even established a new company, controlling those reclaimed small businesses through private equity funds. If this continued, the hard-earned foundations of the Edward Family would go down the drain. ¡°Mr. Carter, don¡¯t forget that we came here initially with the intention to help! Now that the Edward Family is facing such a crisis, can¡¯t we let go early?¡± Carter¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he hadn¡¯t expected these people to dare to talk back to him. ¡°You bastards! When you first came, you were all nothing but Zhu Luos hiding in your estates. I not only increased your assets by dozens or hundreds of times but also made you directors of the Edward Family. Is this how you repay me?¡± The several middle-aged men exchanged looks, directly took off the badges of the Edward Family from their chests, and threw them on the ground. ¡°You¡¯re just relying on your royal family background, right? Now, this name is nothing more than a big hat you wear for a show ¡ª don¡¯t try to intimidate us with it! We¡¯ll have to excuse ourselves.¡± Leaving behind these words, they didn¡¯t stay a moment longer and turned to leave the room. After all, they were directors of the Edward Family, with some authority over financial resources; by just withdrawing their shares and holdings, they could get out completely unscathed. This process didn¡¯t even require a signature from anyone in the Edward Family. Carter was dumbfounded; although their withdrawal would not impact the current Edward Family too much, this start would trigger a series of reactions. Before long, all the directors would follow suit, and by then, the Edward Family would truly be finished. Just as Carter was about to stand up and follow them, a series of hurried high-heel taps echoed in the corridor. ¡°Uncle Carter, why did those directors just storm out like that?¡± Fang Yuan walked in with an air of feigned surprise, presenting several contracts to Carter. Carter sighed with resignation, ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of ungrateful dogs. We¡¯re only facing some minor setbacks and they¡­¡± As he spoke, Carter became so agitated that he was nearly out of breath and stumbled onto the sofa. ¡°Don¡¯t stoop to their level. What we now lack in our business system isn¡¯t these people, but truly influential individuals with achievements!¡± Fang Yuan moved a chair over and sat down without further ado. Carter glanced at the contract Fang Yuan had brought over and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°This plan is not bad, if we can only lure over half the people on this list, then we shall be able to stay on this continent. Just give us a moment to catch our breath, and we could swallow up both Charlie¡¯s and William¡¯s families.¡± Fang Yuan nodded, a meaningful smile flickering at the corner of her mouth. Frankfurt, William¡¯s castle. Victor and Diana, leading their respective families¡¯ heads, were seated together, discussing the merger of their two families and the cooperation with the Eastern families. Chen Yu was also there, but he was more like an observer, hardly providing any constructive opinions. In fact, no one there knew about the agreement and plan that he and Fang Yuan had signed. The so-called alliance at present was only temporary; he just needed to strive for maximum profit and value from it and then wait for the Edward Family¡¯s downfall. ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you think of our plan?¡± ¡°Quite good!¡± Chen Yu responded noncommittally, then signed his name on the proposed contract. Over sixty percent of the contract was about securing advantages for the Tong Family and the Chu Family in Europe. As long as the final terms could be successfully implemented, the assets of the two families could double in an instant. With such favorable terms, Chen Yu had no reason to disagree. Moreover, this was the return favor from Charlie¡¯s and William¡¯s families to the Tong and Chu Families. As everything was running smoothly, the Edward Family could no longer withstand the pressure and retreated rapidly. All the industries they had encroached upon were spewed out at once. A secret underground wine cellar at Vilberg. Brown, Carter, and Fang Yuan were gathered around a small table which was piled with thick stacks of documents. ¡°Uncle, at this point, Fang Yuan¡¯s plan is the only way out for our Edward Family; there is no time for hesitation!¡± Brown urged repeatedly while pushing a signing pen into Carter¡¯s hand. Carter, breathing rapidly, seemed somewhat at a loss. ¡°The plan is indeed good, as it can maximally hide the assets of the Edward Family and leave us with capital to resist. But the risk is too great ¨C if any one of us has an accident, it could¡­¡± ¡°Uncle, at this point, there¡¯s no room for hesitation anymore! Do you really want to watch the entire Edward Family face utter ruin?¡± Brown shook Carter¡¯s shoulders, urging him incessantly. Carter looked over at Fang Yuan, who appeared somewhat indifferent. ¡°Are you really confident?¡± Fang Yuan let out a sigh: ¡°Although my marriage to Brown is a contractual one, it has legal effects! Now, we have no other choice but to use this relationship as a basis to hold the Edward Family¡¯s shares through private equity funds. Apart from this, I can¡¯t think of a better plan.¡± Carter thought for a long while and finally signed his name on the contract. After all the details were settled, Carter and Brown hurriedly left with their pre-packed luggage. In the vast wine cellar, only Fang Yuan and the mountains of documents were left behind. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: Chapter 326 Net Worth Doubled Chapter 326: Chapter 326 Net Worth Doubled The dim lighting cast a gloomy atmosphere, and the stacks of wine barrels against the wall stretched their long shadows under the old-fashioned candlelight. Fang Yuan held the contract in her hand, her expression blank. When she had signed the contract just now, although she appeared calm on the surface, her heart was already in turmoil, even filled with panic. If it weren¡¯t for her acting experience, which allowed her to perfectly conceal these emotions deep within, she would have probably given herself away just now. She knew that after today, she would never see Brown and Carter again. And the main members of the Edward Family would also mysteriously disappear tonight. As the first lady of the Edward Family, and with almost all of the family¡¯s data in her hands, she could easily take over most of the Edward Family¡¯s assets. No one in the whole of Europe, or even the entire West, would question her, and William¡¯s family and Charlie¡¯s family would even clear all obstacles for her. They would also manipulate the media to maintain her perfect public image. At this moment, Fang Yuan¡¯s emotions were indescribably complex, so much so that even she couldn¡¯t articulate them clearly. ¡°Not bad acting, truly professional!¡± A cold voice suddenly came from the corner, as Jin Lingsu¡¯s figure slowly emerged. She wasn¡¯t wearing shoes, just a pair of special socks, and made no sound when she walked; she must have been hiding here for quite some time. Fang Yuan¡¯s gaze remained blank, and she sat without moving. ¡°Chen Yu saw this quality in you, which is why he sought to cooperate with me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t respond, but simply pulled a chair over and sat down. ¡°My current job is to ensure your safety. I will let you out after the matters outside are settled. By that time, you¡¯ll be the richest woman in Europe.¡± Only then did Fang Yuan slowly come to her senses, ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, I¡¯m imprisoned now?¡± Jin Lingsu poured a glass of wine, ¡°With the downfall of the Edward Family, you, the first lady, should also disappear along with them!¡± ¡°To put on a convincing act, you need to reappear suddenly, waving the flag of revenge for the Edward Family, to draw other events together.¡± Fang Yuan let out a long sigh. She was clear that she was now just meat on Chen Yu¡¯s chopping block. The contracts in her hand had real significance, but if Chen Yu didn¡¯t agree, she was helpless. The situation had developed beyond her control; all she could do now was wait. On an especially quaint train, all the leaders of the Edward Family were gathered in the same carriage. Before this, they had already sent out a message, claiming that they were going to take a private plane back to Wales. Despite this clear path and secretive operation, they still couldn¡¯t find peace of mind. Now with a massive shift in the industrial structure of Europe, William¡¯s family and Charlie¡¯s family were launching a full-scale counterattack. All of the Edward Family¡¯s strategies here had been wiped out. They were facing an all-out manhunt! The train¡¯s route was extremely secretive and its speed remarkably fast. Everyone in the carriage was holding a cross, ceaselessly praying. Brown looked lost in thought, an inexplicable unease about him, while Carter was constantly pacing beside him, appearing extremely restless. ¡°I¡¯m still not at ease. Is it really a good idea to leave Fang Yuan alone there? What if she conspires with people from William¡¯s family in secret and betrays us? What then?¡± Carter had always been cautious and would never take action unless he was absolutely sure of success. If it hadn¡¯t been for the rush, he certainly wouldn¡¯t have signed the documents Fang Yuan had given him. Brown was also breathing heavily, of course he was aware of the risks involved, but he had no other choice at this point. During the conversation, a violent shaking sound suddenly erupted, followed by the entire private train careening off the track, crashing hard against the tunnel wall. From a distance, on top of the high mountain, Chen Yu stood there, watching the explosion unfold with a cold indifference. Ling Ling was perched on his shoulder, her body flickering with alternating blue and white lights. [As per the original plan, the train derailed and exploded, leading to the demise of all the Edward Family¡¯s leaders and senior executives] Chen Yu remained silent; according to the original plan, he only had to figure out a way to derail the train, and leave the rest to the assassins of William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s families. It was only after seeing a swarm of men in black rushing towards the tunnel that Chen Yu turned to leave. The very next morning, the headlines of major media outlets were dominated by the news of the Edward Family¡¯s tragedy, and some even sensationalized the story with added embellishments. With that, the business circles of Europe were thrown into complete chaos. All sorts of comments flooded in, but were swiftly suppressed by the media controlled by William¡¯s family. Furthermore, the Edward Family¡¯s recent severe assaults on European finance and industry had made them widely despised and condemned. Consequently, the public furor quickly subsided. Forces and small-to-medium enterprises that were originally aligned with the Edward Family defected one after another, flocking to Charlie¡¯s and William¡¯s families. Some were outright roped in by the Tong and Chu Families to serve as their footholds in the West. However, there were also some who were obstinate and were financially stripped clean by Chen Yu¡¯s maneuvers. It wasn¡¯t until the Edward Family¡¯s leftover power and assets were completely divided and reshuffled that Chen Yu finally released Fang Yuan. However, when she appeared before the media, she was portrayed as a patient lying on a bed, bandaged and barely clinging to life. Under the media¡¯s portrayal, she became the sole survivor of the private train collision disaster. Legally, Fang Yuan naturally became the sole heir to the Edward Family¡¯s fortune. Humanely, she earned the respect of the entire West. After all, in the public¡¯s eyes, she had established her image as sharing life and death with the Edward Family. This fitted the Western notion of a female hero. Those remaining from the Edward Family unanimously regarded her as their leader, gathering outside the hospital shouting for Fang Yuan to step forward and lead them. All secret contracts that had been previously signed came into effect at this moment. Over the next month, following the script, Fang Yuan became a strong female figure fighting for the Edward Family¡¯s interests. Through her wide-ranging coordination, she recovered most of the Edward Family¡¯s former assets. Leading the remnants of the Edward Family, she stood on equal ground with William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s families, firmly cementing their position. As for the future, prioritizing the big picture and turning conflict into alliance were roles Fang Yuan would slowly take control of. It wasn¡¯t until everything settled that Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he, as the puppet master behind the scenes, did not make many appearances this time, he secured the greatest benefits. Not only did he facilitate the influx of a massive amount of capital from the East into the West, but he also increased his personal fortune tenfold, reaching over thirty billion! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Marching Towards the Imperial Capital Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Marching Towards the Imperial Capital Suzhou City, Yuya Department Store. After its construction was completed, the place entered a state of full operation, and business improved several times over than before. As Chen Yu was always busy in Europe, Tong Ya came here immediately after ending her trip to take charge of the department store as the lady boss. At the same time, following the basic business model previously set by Chen Yu, she managed to take care of the industrial park in her spare time. After all, as the young lady of the Tong Family, she had been steeped in business from a young age and understood all kinds of business models. Simply by reviewing the foundation set by Chen Yu, she could come up with corresponding plans. ¡°The employee meals for the various companies must not be neglected; it¡¯s a necessity for our internal circulation!¡± In Tong Ya¡¯s hands were several documents, her words tinged with a hint of reprimand. Han Cai didn¡¯t dare to even breathe heavily, standing there with her head hung low. Due to her negligence, the delivery mixed up the employee meals for two companies. This resulted in one company having an excess of forty meals, while the other did not have enough for its employees. Dozens of companies in Suzhou City ordered their employee meals from them, and this did not even include the various companies under the Tong Family and Chu Family. With so many companies in operation, mistakes were inevitable, and as it was Han Cai¡¯s first time carrying out such a business task externally, her performance was already quite commendable. Tong Ya didn¡¯t dwell on the issue. After handing the documents to Han Cai, she went on to attend to other matters. Han Cai breathed a sigh of relief as if she had been pardoned, and quickly contacted the two companies affected by the mix-up. Chu Hong quickly stepped forward to comfort her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, the lady boss just said a few words; she won¡¯t dock your pay. Just make sure the job is done properly.¡± Han Cai nodded again and again. It wasn¡¯t the first or second time Tong Ya had reproached them, but it was always just a few words each time. In other places, you could be humiliated all day long, then lose your salary performance and might even get fired in the end. Moreover, during this recent period, Tong Ya had consecutively recruited a large group of people, making it somewhat difficult to manage. As one of the team leaders, Han Cai naturally understood the difficulties Tong Ya faced. Late at night, when Tong Ya returned home, she discovered that Chen Yu had already arrived. However, his expression looked rather grim, sitting there alone staring at the computer screen in a daze. Not daring to disturb him, Tong Ya made a cup of tea and gently placed it on the table before sitting down beside Chen Yu. The computer screen displayed a commercial blueprint, which surprisingly targeted the Imperial Capital. Tong Ya waited until Chen Yu had typed the last character before she spoke. ¡°Husband, are you planning to venture into the Imperial Capital?¡± Chen Yu had a smile on his face as he pulled Tong Ya into his arms. ¡°The plan is set, unite with the Tong Family, Tang Family, and other families from the Imperial Capital to divide up the Zhao Family!¡± ¡°Making a move on the Zhao Family?¡± Tong Ya was slightly taken aback, ¡°While the Zhao Family may not be as large as the Tang Family or the Tong Family, they are also an established super family. Dividing them up might be challenging.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, overseas forces will be involved as well. All the plans have been laid out; the Zhao Family is meat on the chopping board!¡± Tong Ya took a sharp breath; Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t usually target an existence like the Zhao Family so casually. It seemed that Chen Yu must have secured greater capital during his European trip. ¡°So when do we start?¡± Tong Ya asked casually. ¡°Tomorrow, beginning with the opening of a branch in the Imperial Capital!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t ask further, she briefly looked over the plan on the computer screen and had already grasped Chen Yu¡¯s basic idea. ¡°Should I have my dad help? That way, we could bind the capital of Suzhou City and the capital together in the shortest time.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curved slightly upward, ¡°He has already started to take action.¡± In the capital, at the Zhao family residence. Several senior members of the Zhao family were seated in the office, their faces etched with solemnity. ¡°Can anyone tell me what¡¯s going on? Why are so many capitals suddenly opposing the Zhao family at the same time?¡± An old man in his seventies was sitting in the main seat, his body trembling, and the cane in his hand kept thumping on the ground, making a banging noise. The current assets of the Zhao family were created single-handedly by Zhao Zhongde. Who knew that his son and grandson were no good, especially the young lads of the grandson generation, who were purely loafing around, waiting to die. He didn¡¯t want to interfere originally, considering that the assets of the Zhao family were enough for these people to live comfortably for several generations. But now, with such a crisis at hand, if he didn¡¯t step in, the entire Zhao family was likely to be ruined by these young punks. Zhao Hai hurriedly stood up, being the most outstanding among his generation, it was natural for him to step up at this time. ¡°Grandfather, so far, we have only lost some small peripheral industries, which are insignificant. As long as we still hold our main industries, even if all the capitals in the capital besiege the Zhao family, we do not need to be too concerned.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s statement, at first glance, seemed like it had some strategic depth, but upon closer analysis, it was nonsense. External capitals naturally start small, first tentatively taking over your minor industries, and then moving on to your main industries. If you can¡¯t even protect those small peripheral industries, how can you expect to keep a firm hold on your main industries? Zhao Zhongde just waved his hand, signaling Zhao Hai to sit down, and then took out a document from his pocket. ¡°This is a cooperation invitation from the new head of the Edward family. Now that the Zhao family has inexplicably faced such encirclement, it¡¯s likely related to them. At this point, we can only cooperate with them first and deal with the rest later.¡± Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, most of them without their own opinions, even being summoned here for the meeting by Zhao Zhongde forcefully. What they had in mind was to quickly end the meeting and get back to their indulgent lifestyle. Zhao Hai, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up again. ¡°We can¡¯t agree!¡± The phrase ¡®head of the Edward family¡¯ was the last thing Zhao Hai wanted to hear. The news from Europe in recent times was overwhelming, causing him great distress. He never dreamed that Fang Yuan could take over the entire Edward family so easily, becoming one of the few female billionaires in Europe. Remembering his previous wager with Fang Yuan, as well as their feud, Zhao Hai felt a cold chill on his back. If Fang Yuan clung to past issues and insisted on settling accounts with him, the entire Zhao family might be dragged down. Zhao Zhongde¡¯s brows were furrowed into a knot, he couldn¡¯t understand why his grandson was reacting so strongly. The Zhao family was in an extremely dire situation, and although Fang Yuan had sent a cooperation invitation on the surface, no one knew about her behind-the-scenes maneuvers. The Zhao family¡¯s newly acquired companies that were being taken over could very well be Fang Yuan¡¯s doing in the background, forcing the Zhao family into cooperation. ¡°Why can¡¯t we agree?¡± Zhao Zhongde¡¯s face was grim, staring fixedly at Zhao Hai. Based on his demeanor, Zhao Hai had to come up with a reasonable explanation today, or Zhao Zhongde wouldn¡¯t let it go lightly. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 328: 300-Year Legacy Chapter 328: Chapter 328: 300-Year Legacy Zhao Hai panicked instantly, stuttering and unable to articulate a reason. ¡°Grandfather, in any case, we absolutely cannot agree, or else our Zhao Family might risk¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhou Zhongde¡¯s knuckles made a snapping sound in his grip; now, besides cooperating with the Edward Family, he had no other way out. ¡°I am still the head of the Zhao Family! Have someone start preparing for negotiations with the Edward Family immediately, and if necessary, enter into full cooperation. The others present didn¡¯t dwell on the matter. Since the elder had given his command, they had no choice but to execute it, and some were already anxiously heading to the door. Zhao Zhongde didn¡¯t say much more, treating Zhao Hai¡¯s behavior as foolishness. At Xiangyun Restaurant in the Imperial City, Chen Yu and Tong Ya ordered some specialty dishes and took a seat in a private room. Xiangyun Restaurant was the largest comprehensive restaurant in the Imperial City, with a history of over three hundred years. Nearly all the well-established brands in the north had branches here. As a result, the customer flow was ceaseless every day. Within dozens of miles around it, apart from some fast-food eateries and simple breakfast and dinner shops, one could hardly see any other large-scale restaurants. This line of business was almost monopolized by Xiangyun Restaurant. If one wished to open a branch in the Imperial City, the first obstacle would be Xiangyun Restaurant; one would either need to acquire and reform it, or simply open one opposite to it to compete. But to defeat a well-respected brand with more than three hundred years of history, even if Chen Yu had the secret recipes of the world¡¯s finest foods in his head, it would be nearly impossible. With over three hundred years of tradition, their flavors and business practices had been perfected, and the connections they had amassed were a formidable force. If the taste was similar, people would naturally subconsciously choose Xiangyun Restaurant. Chen Yu took a bite of the scallion braised sea cucumber on the table and then put down his chopsticks. It wasn¡¯t that the dish didn¡¯t taste good, but it had reached a level that even surprised him. Scallion braised sea cucumber might seem simple, but to perfectly prepare the sea cucumber and let it absorb the flavors is not an easy feat. This was a great challenge for a chef! Just based on the taste, the chefs at Xiangyun Restaurant were undoubtedly no less skilled than Chen Yu. ¡°Ya Ya, what do you think of this place?¡± Tong Ya peeked through the crack of the door at the bustling hall. ¡°It¡¯s quite nice, but to take it over, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t take it over, we¡¯ll cooperate!¡± Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, ¡°You won¡¯t find a better location than this anywhere else in town.¡± As they spoke, a waiter hurried in and placed a plate of shumai on their table. ¡°The two of you, this is a new product complimentary with the reservation of a private room. Please enjoy!¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback; the shumai was divided into four parts, using an extremely strict golden ratio. Average chefs didn¡¯t have this level of skill. ¡°Could I meet the chef here?¡± Chen Yu suddenly called out to the waiter. The waiter laughed as if he had heard a joke, covering his mouth and giggling twice. ¡°Sorry, our chefs don¡¯t see visitors. If you really like our dishes, just leave your opinion.¡± This waiter sure had a way with words. By asking for an ¡°opinion,¡± he meant he wanted Chen Yu to leave a good review. ¡°If they won¡¯t meet, then forget it!¡± Chen Yu smirked lightly and continued to eat without looking up. After the waiter left, Chen Yu suddenly grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s wrist. ¡°I need to meet with someone, and after thinking it over, I still have to see them with you.¡± ¡°Fang Yuan?¡± Tong Ya asked indifferently. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised, as Tong Ya had read his business plan and cooperation with the Edward Family was inevitable. Naturally, she would have to interact with Fang Yuan. ¡°The additional conditions that were agreed upon during our partnership in Europe must now be fulfilled!¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t say much, she just nodded obediently. In the western suburbs of the Imperial City, there¡¯s the Ireland Castle Western Restaurant. It¡¯s a private property of the Edward Family and one of their few strongholds in the Imperial City. Fang Yuan had emptied the entire restaurant early in anticipation of Chen Yu¡¯s arrival. But when Chen Yu appeared at the door, Fang Yuan was startled. She hadn¡¯t expected that Chen Yu would actually bring Tong Ya along. ¡°Miss Fang, aren¡¯t you going to invite me to sit down?¡± The term Miss Fang felt extremely distant, making Fang Yuan¡¯s already silent heart grow even colder. ¡°Please, come in!¡± Feigning elegance, Fang Yuan responded and then led Chen Yu and Tong Ya to the private room. As soon as he entered, Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much; he simply took out the business plan he had prepared. ¡°The Zhao Family¡¯s assets in the Imperial City are scattered all over, and it¡¯s impossible to strike at once; we can only break them down one by one. I need the Edward Family to help me take over the Zhao Family¡¯s energy industry.¡± Fang Yuan didn¡¯t reach for the business plan. Instead, she leaned back in her chair and casually lit a lady¡¯s cigarette. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you ordering me around? Don¡¯t forget, our current relationship is cooperative, on equal terms,¡± she said. Chen Yu was blunt, ¡°We have never been equals from the very beginning. The Edward Family is something I hold in the palm of my hand. If I wish, I can dismantle it immediately. My assistance against the Zhao Family now is simply to fulfill previous conditions.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s body trembled violently, shocked by Chen Yu¡¯s blatant disrespect. But upon reflection, she realized the Edward Family had already been infiltrated by many people installed by William and Charlie. Although she was the nominal head of the Edward Family, the power and assets she controlled were minimal. ¡°If the dock transportation is cut off, it will disrupt the construction of the energy industry. This is something the Edward Family alone probably can¡¯t manage¡­¡± ¡°Tang Long, the elder, will meet with you later to discuss the details!¡± Chen Yu interrupted her directly and handed over another business plan. ¡°After dealing with the Zhao Family, all import and export business will belong to the Edward Family, and the rest will be divided among the major families in both the Imperial City and Magic City.¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, as this was not a negotiation but an order. Chen Yu had set all the details long ago, and his meeting with her was just a formality. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Edward Family is based overseas, and it already has import and export trade with the major families of the Imperial City. Your doing this is essentially excluding the Edward Family!¡± Chen Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Then what else do you want?¡± Fang Yuan¡¯s expression was dull as she finally understood that Chen Yu had controlled everything from the start, and she was nothing more than a puppet. It wouldn¡¯t be long before even the last bit of power she held would be stripped away by Chen Yu. As she was about to retort, Tong Ya suddenly stood up. ¡°Miss Fang, since all the plans have been set, please carry them out in the order listed!¡± ¡°The plans my husband makes never go wrong. Besides, in the current situation, you only have to listen to him if you want the Edward Family to survive!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 329 New News Chapter 329: Chapter 329 New News Tong Ya¡¯s tone was extremely calm, but when she uttered the words ¡°Edward Family,¡± she deliberately bit on the words. That was a reminder to Fang Yuan about the current plight of the Edward Family. Although Fang Yuan felt angry, she dared not speak out loud. Everything she now had was given by Chen Yu, and she was also controlled by him. She could either obediently play her role as the first lady of the Edward Family or lose her reputation and be left with nothing. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Miss Tong.¡± Fang Yuan could only respond with that sentence before picking up a pen and signing her name on the contract that Chen Yu had handed over. After everything was settled, Chen Yu stood up with Tong Ya to leave, without any intention of staying longer. Just as they reached the door, Tong Ya suddenly turned around, giving Fang Yuan an indescribable look. ¡°A reminder for Miss Fang, I am married now. Please call me Mrs. Chen from now on.¡± These words carried a hint of personal grudge, and when Fang Yuan heard them, she shook for a moment, and the pen in her hand involuntarily dropped to the floor. Long ago, the title of ¡°Mrs. Chen¡± was hers alone, but he just never valued it. But now, not only had the title become an unattainable status for her, but she also had to be forever trampled underfoot by Chen Yu. ¡°Understood!¡± Fang Yuan replied disconsolately, trembling as she lifted a glass of red wine from the table to her lips. Tong Ya, on the other hand, had a triumphant expression, pulling Chen Yu by the arm and heading straight out the door. Three floors below ground in the Zhongtian Building. Zhao Hai sat there with a dark expression, staring intently at a dozen middle-aged men in front of him. All these men were equipped with distinctive video recorders, and a thorough search of them would yield dozens of pinhole cameras. ¡°You are the best paparazzi and private investigators in the capital, so why haven¡¯t you come up with any information after so many days? Did I spend all that money just for you to upgrade your equipment?¡± The group stood there quivering, not even daring to breathe heavily, with two of them even dropping their cameras to the floor. After a long silence, one of the more experienced paparazzi cautiously stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Zhao, we have closely monitored the individuals in the photos as per your instructions, but these people are not simple. With dozens of personal bodyguards alone, and security measures inside and out akin to presidential level, we simply can¡¯t get any useful information.¡± Zhao Hai slammed the table furiously, his eyes filled with fierceness. ¡°Can¡¯t you infiltrate some way or another? I¡¯ll give you three more days. If you can¡¯t get information on these people, I¡¯ll expose all the disgraceful things you¡¯ve done in the past!¡± The group instantly widened their eyes in terror. In their line of work, weren¡¯t they always walking on the edge of the knife? Although each one of them held many secrets unknown to others, their own secrets were equally in the hands of others. If Zhao Hai were to reveal their dirty laundry, they would be left with no means to make a living. ¡°Young Master Zhao, please calm down!¡± A stunningly beautiful woman suddenly stepped forward. ¡°These stinking men don¡¯t know the right way to do things. What good can they possibly capture by squatting at the door? If you trust me, give me more investment, and I guarantee I can get useful information.¡± When Zhao Hai saw the woman, his body clearly shivered, obviously unable to resist her charm. He subconsciously raised his hand and grasped the woman¡¯s chin, slowly lifting it. ¡°Wanting investment is no problem, but I need to know in advance whether my investment will indeed yield a return.¡± The woman threw a seductive glance and casually took out a photograph from her body. It was a photo of Chen Yu, Tong Ya, and Fang Yuan discussing a collaboration together. Zhao Hai, crazed, snatched the photo. ¡°Where did you take this?¡± The woman smugly replied, ¡°I just disguised myself as a waitress at that Western restaurant to blend in, and happened to take it! And I also found some explosive information.¡± Zhao Hai grabbed the woman¡¯s shoulder, ¡°What information?¡± The woman seemed to hurt by the grip, instinctively stepped back, then reached out and gently rubbed her shoulder. Zhao Hai naturally understood what she implied and immediately wrote a check for two million. The woman checked the check and casually stuffed it into her chest. ¡°That woman named Fang Yuan seems to be Chen Yu¡¯s ex-wife, and they have a daughter! Moreover, as far as I know, Miss Tong seems unaware of this fact, otherwise how could the esteemed Miss of the Tong Family possibly marry such a man?¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s breathing became rapid, this was exactly the key information he needed. With this, he could obliterate the reputation that Fang Yuan had painstakingly built up. After all, from the moment Fang Yuan entered the entertainment industry, her persona was that of a pure and innocent woman. The news that she was already married, had a child, and was divorced, would undoubtedly be explosive! Immediately, Zhao Hai had an idea. After sending all the paparazzi back down, he rushed back to the top floor of Zhongtian Tower. This place was his secret base, unknown even to Zhao Zhongde. The room¡¯s furnishings were luxurious, to say nothing of the several hot bikini-clad women standing by. Upon entering, Zhao Hai lay down on the sofa, his face alight with excitement, and dialed a number. Emperor City, Drum Tower Street. Chen Yu and Tong Ya were walking side by side on the main street. Besides dividing up the Zhao Family¡¯s assets, the most important thing was to open a branch here. It was crucial for laying foundations in Emperor City for the future. After all, this ancient capital had accumulated hundreds of years of history, and many time-honored brands had their own business models. These were not things that a system could simply analyze to produce results. This included extremely complex human nature. Just as the two sat down in front of a beef stand, Tong Ya¡¯s phone started chiming incessantly. She frowned and glanced at the screen, noticing a strange number. As soon as she answered, Zhao Hai¡¯s sleazy laughter came through. ¡°Miss Tong, I have some information you might be very interested in. How about we make a deal?¡± Tong Ya¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and she instinctively glanced at Chen Yu beside her before placing the phone on the table, turning on the speaker. ¡°What information?¡± Tong Ya asked warily. ¡°Your husband Chen Yu happens to have an ex-wife, but for the rest of the information, you¡¯ll have to agree to collaborate with me first.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s face clouded with annoyance. What kind of information was this? She had secretly followed Chen Yu for so many years; what did she not know that others needed to tell her? However, she did not expose this, feigning excitement as she agreed and even arranged a meeting with Zhao Hai to discuss the collaboration. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 330 Top Paparazzo Chapter 330: Chapter 330 Top Paparazzo The call ended, and Tong Ya couldn¡¯t help but clutch her stomach, laughing so hard she bent over and rocked back and forth. ¡°It looks like this guy is getting desperate and planning to resolve the Zhao Family¡¯s current predicament through unorthodox means.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, he hadn¡¯t expected that Zhao Hai would resort to such dirty tricks. ¡°So you¡¯re planning to take control of Zhao Hai first?¡± When Tong Ya had just arranged the meeting place, Chen Yu had roughly guessed her plan. If Zhao Hai could use this information to blackmail Tong Ya, then it was possible to use him to create other schemes. It was necessary to nip all his plans in the bud before he could take any major action. A sly smile appeared on the corner of Tong Ya¡¯s mouth. ¡°I might as well reveal some things while I¡¯m at it, otherwise, as time goes by, it will be hard to clarify a lot of issues.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, he seemed to have guessed what Tong Ya meant, but wasn¡¯t sure. But then he thought that, objectively or subjectively, it seemed time to come to a conclusion about many things. ¡°Shall I pick a place for you?¡± Tong Ya propped her chin with both hands, lifting her little head, staring at Chen Yu with a strange look in her eyes. ¡°What? Afraid something will happen to me?¡± Chen Yu chuckled but didn¡¯t respond, simply making a phone call on his own. While they were talking, a rather sleazy-looking middle-aged man suddenly ran over from the side path. He didn¡¯t hesitate to sit down right next to Chen Yu, reaching for the beef on the table and started eating. Tong Ya was startled and hurriedly got up and backed away. Chen Yu also measured up the situation, casually pulling out a pair of chopsticks from nearby. If Zhao Hai could know Tong Ya¡¯s phone number and so much information, it proved that you must have had people loitering around them these past days. Both of them stood watchfully to the side, observing the middle-aged man, who unexpectedly was only interested in eating, and after he had almost finished, he wiped his mouth and stood up. ¡°Not bad, out of all the places I¡¯ve been, it¡¯s just you two who stood there waiting for me to finish eating.¡± Chen Yu frowned and took a closer look at the middle-aged man from before, noticing that aside from his sleazy appearance, he was also incredibly unkempt, dressed in tattered rags that barely covered his body. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. The man patted his belly and then took out several photos from his person, tossing them onto the table. ¡°These are the shots some colleagues of mine took recently! They¡¯ve almost all taken money to keep an eye on the two of you.¡± Chen Yu looked at the photos, which documented all of their movements over the past few days. ¡°What¡¯s your point in giving us this stuff?¡± The man picked his teeth with a toothpick. ¡°You tell me, I¡¯m a paparazzi too. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been ostracized by my peers, and I haven¡¯t had a decent meal in a long time!¡± ¡°You two are good people, I don¡¯t want to take pictures of you. I can destroy the shots they took, or I can give them to you if you want. And if you¡¯re willing, I can take shots of the Zhao Family¡¯s whereabouts and give them to you.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; the life of a paparazzo shouldn¡¯t be bad, after all, each of them controlled so many secrets, which could be exchanged for a sum of money just by taking them out. But the fellow before him roamed the streets like a beggar. Either he didn¡¯t hold much intelligence, or his outstanding performance had led to his ostracization by his peers. ¡°How do I know these photos were actually taken by you? Are you purposely bringing them here to exchange for money?¡± Chen Yu tentatively asked. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t believe, but he wanted to make the man prove his real capabilities. The man naturally picked up on Chen Yu¡¯s intent and flung out another set of photos, which shockingly displayed all the surrounding paparazzi. In other words, every paparazzo and related person within several miles was under his control; their privacy could be exposed whenever he wished. Chen Yu said no more, and directly took out a promissory note with a face value of ten million and passed it back. ¡°You¡¯re talented. Today, I¡¯ll make you my friend, but I won¡¯t demand specific intelligence like the others do!¡± ¡°You think about how much intelligence your money can buy from you, to what extent, then bring it to me!¡± The man unceremoniously pocketed the promissory note. ¡°Mr. Chen is much more generous than young master Zhao Hai. Someone captured photos of you and Miss Fang eating at a restaurant, which only exchanged for two million!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, yet I got a promissory note for free. You two really think highly of me.¡± The man picked up a glass of water from the table and gulped down a few sips, then took out a small wrist-mounted screen from his person. ¡°From here, you can monitor the situation inside the Zhao Family estate anytime. I¡¯ll keep sending other intelligence here continuously.¡± Having put down the item, the man did not stay any longer and left directly. Chen Yu picked up the device on the table and tapped it, revealing the entire grand vista of a vast estate before him. ¡°I seem to recall this person!¡± Tong Ya seemed to remember something. ¡°I remember, ten years ago, a man named Li Mao went undercover in a mine and exposed some astonishing inside information. He looked quite similar to this person.¡± Chen Yu suddenly became interested. During his school days, he had heard of this man and even regarded him as an idol. It just never occurred to him that such a character would be marginalized to this extent, unable even to afford a meal. But upon closer consideration, he surmised the man must possess a substantial amount of inside stories and scandals about the major families; it¡¯s just that he disdained to blow up these matters. After a simple meal, the couple headed to a mansion belonging to the Tong Family in the capital. At the moment, the small room had already gathered over a dozen people, all of whom were industry leaders in the capital without exception. They buzzed with conversation nonstop, mostly discussing how much benefit they could obtain from the divided Zhao Family assets. Truthfully, Chen Yu didn¡¯t like these people. If it weren¡¯t essential to take down the Zhao Family, Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t want to give them any benefits. ¡°Ahem, ahem!¡± With two light coughs from Chen Yu, the previously noisy room suddenly quieted down, and all eyes converged on him. Although they were quarreling nonstop just now, Chen Yu was the one who had the final say in the end. He was entrusted by Tong Ming and the heads of other super-families to take full charge of the capital¡¯s affairs. It can be said that the amount of benefit these people could ultimately receive depended entirely on Chen Yu¡¯s mood. ¡°Ay, Mr. Chen is back, and here we are, discussing! We all think we should draw up a plan in advance to decide once and for all how much benefit each family gets. It¡¯ll save us from getting into disputes over petty gains later, which would harm the harmony and make everyone unhappy!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Love Story Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Love Story ¡°` The speaker was the leading figure in the entertainment industry of the imperial capital, with several studios under his belt, a person who could be said to call the wind and summon the rain. However, in front of the several super families, he was nothing at all. Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer immediately, but instead sat down on a sofa nearby with Tong Ya. ¡°Do you all feel the same way?¡± This rhetorical question startled everyone, as it showed that Chen Yu fundamentally disagreed with their proposal. A portion of the people immediately fell silent, while others remained animated. They more or less held some lifelines of their respective industries in their hands and tended to be arrogant in their speech and actions, not taking the super families seriously at all. Chen Yu swept his gaze over these people and took a mental note of their faces. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to set up a distribution plan for everyone; it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t have an accurate assessment of the Zhao Family¡¯s assets!¡± ¡°What if we set it now, and later you all feel you¡¯ve got less than you deserve, what then?¡± The crowd briefly fell silent again before resuming their discussion. The Zhao Family was originally one of the super families of the imperial capital, with vast industrial holdings and immeasurable wealth. Although the total assets reported on the surface were twenty-seven trillion, who knew how much more they had hidden away? Those who were clamoring for a plan to be made also tempered their insistence, and after discussing some details, everyone dispersed. Once these people had left, Chen Yu threw a stack of contracts on the table into the trash can. ¡°These people really want an inch and will take a mile, they haven¡¯t even dealt with the situation yet and are already trying to pocket the benefits!¡± Tong Ya leaned against Chen Yu, comforting him continuously. ¡°These people are local snakes in the imperial capital; if we don¡¯t promise them benefits in advance, this group might create difficulties for our plan, just like Zhao Jia.¡± Chen Yu naturally knew this truth as well, so he didn¡¯t say much else, but simply rubbed his temples and went to sleep. The next morning at ten o¡¯clock, Tong Ya, after a simple makeup, headed straight for a restaurant on the Third Avenue of the imperial capital. The restaurant¡¯s location could not be considered the best, nor its decor luxurious, but it possessed an ancient charm. Judging by its structure, it should have been built at the beginning of the nineteenth century, having a history of over a hundred years by now. Zhao Hai had early on set up a table in the hall, anxiously waiting. This place was originally an asset of the Zhao Family, and he had cleared out everyone in the vicinity early in the morning, creating a vacuum state, specifically waiting for Tong Ya. Since the morning, the prepared meals didn¡¯t know how many times they had been remade, causing Zhao Hai¡¯s mentality to almost collapse. When the security reported Tong Ya¡¯s appearance, Zhao Hai couldn¡¯t have been more excited, eagerly going out to meet her like a lackey. Tong Ya, however, appeared extremely indifferent, merely giving him a cold glance before walking straight into the room and sitting down at a side. ¡°Mr. Zhao hurriedly asked to meet, what explosive news do you have? If your news isn¡¯t worth much, don¡¯t blame me for not giving you a heads-up.¡± Zhao Hai laughed arrogantly, his face full of confidence, and then took out some documents from his person. ¡°I have long since investigated clearly for Miss Tong; that Chen Yu had already been married while in Suzhou City, and his spouse is none other than the current first lady of the Edward Family, their child is now studying in this elementary school.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t want to look at these documents; she knew far more than the Zhao Family ever could. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°` Zhao Hai was momentarily confused. Weren¡¯t these materials enough to drive a woman insane? ¡°Miss Tong, seeing as this Chen Yu guy has deceived you like this, showing utter disregard for the Tong Family, how about the Zhao Family and Tong Family join hands to take him down first? Then we can swallow up the other families in Suzhou City. When that time comes¡­¡± ¡°When that time comes, the Zhao Family will seize the opportunity to take down my Tong Family!¡± Tong Ya cut off Zhao Hai immediately and then pulled out several photographs and laid them out. ¡°There are some things I¡¯d rather not discuss openly, but since Mr. Zhao has taken action, I can¡¯t keep hiding it.¡± When Zhao Hai saw these photographs, his eyes were filled with shock and horror. They were group photos of Chen Yu, Tong Ya, and Tuan Tuan, with Chen Yu¡¯s parents also in them. ¡°Miss Tong¡­ you¡¯ve known all along?¡± Zhao Hai began to doubt his life choices. How could someone with the status of Tong Ya possibly end up with a divorcee with a child? ¡°This isn¡¯t about knowing or not knowing! The child is named Tuan Tuan and she¡¯s my biological daughter.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s mouth hung open, too surprised to speak. ¡°How is that possible? Miss Tong, you¡¯re so young, and this child looks to be at least six or seven years old. How could she be your daughter?¡± Tong Ya made a helpless gesture. ¡°Chen Yu and I met a long time ago, and we were engaged at a very early age. I just hadn¡¯t finished my studies yet, so it was delayed!¡± ¡°As for the child, although I was of age then, I was still young, so I could only keep it secret.¡± As she spoke, Tong Ya produced several other sets of photos. They appeared to show her and Fang Yuan signing some documents. If a professional were to look at them, they would easily discern that these photos were staged with the subjects made up to look younger. Yet these photos were made to appear very authentic. They were even treated with potassium permanganate to age and yellow them. Of course, someone like Zhao Hai wouldn¡¯t be able to detect that. ¡°This is one of the Tong Family¡¯s secrets! At that time, to protect me, my father hired an actress to have a fake marriage with Chen Yu. After some time, they would divorce, and then I would return. I had not expected such a plan to concern Mr. Zhao so much.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s body shook violently, he hadn¡¯t anticipated Tong Ya would pull such a move. ¡°No, that¡¯s not right! You went abroad as an exchange student when you were eighteen, I saw you then and you showed no sign of being pregnant.¡± Tong Ya remained calm, ¡°Then tell me, why would I suddenly go abroad to study?¡± This ambiguous response completely baffled Zhao Hai. Just then, a swarm of reporters burst in from nowhere, frantically taking pictures of the photos on the table. ¡°Miss Tong, are these things true?¡± ¡°Did you really have a daughter for Mr. Chen when you were eighteen?¡± ¡°Miss Tong, can you share with us the details of your love story?¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Tong plans to train Mr. Chen as the sole heir. Is all this based on your love story?¡± ¡­ It was obvious that these reporters had been arranged in advance; the questions they started with were somewhat private, but as it continued, the direction was swayed somewhat off course. It seemed as if these reporters had appeared suddenly just to embellish the love story between Chen Yu and Tong Ya. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Chapter 332 True and False Alternation Chapter 332: Chapter 332 True and False Alternation ¡°` A portion of the media surrounded Zhao Hai, bombarding him with questions, embellishing them with sensationalism. This included content regarding him threatening Tong Ya with false news. Moreover, these journalists specifically picked out this part and magnified it endlessly. Zhao Hai was stunned. From the moment those reporters had suddenly appeared, he had realized that he¡¯d been set up. Originally, it was a trap he had laid, intending to use the intelligence in his hands to ally with Tong Ya to deal with Chen Yu and thus protect the Zhao Family. Unexpectedly, not only had he not achieved the desired effect, but it had also turned out like this. Zhao Hai did not dare stay any longer. He frantically pushed through the encircling reporters and hurried out of the restaurant as if it were no longer a Zhao Family asset. Tong Ya¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. Before this, the Tong Family¡¯s comprehensive siege of the Zhao Family was slightly short of a reason; now, with the accusation of spreading false news, the Tong Family could directly declare war on the Zhao Family. At the Emperor Capital Zhongxing Hotel, Fang Yuan sat on the sofa looking somewhat listless, with the champagne glass in his hand gradually tilting and spilling over. The TV was broadcasting news of the meeting between Zhao Hai and Tong Ya, with a barrage of information flooding in. Some media were also creating a buzz, saying how Fang Yuan was such a dedicated actress for sacrificing so much to save the love between Chen Yu and Tong Ya. If it weren¡¯t for these events, Fang Yuan might have already become famous. They also said that Fang Yuan becoming the first lady of the Edward Family was entirely the result of her efforts. All of this was positive news, but Fang Yuan knew that the moment he refused to cooperate with Chen Yu, or even became enemies with him, the direction of the media would instantly change. Han Mintao watched the relentless stream of news on the TV, sighing helplessly. ¡°How could you agree to such terms for your daughter?¡± Fang Yuan supported her chin, seemingly a bit tipsy. ¡°What could I do? I calculated every step very clearly to fulfill the bet agreement and then went to Europe to marry into the Edward Family. Every step I took was something ordinary people wouldn¡¯t achieve in several lifetimes!¡± ¡°But how could I have not realized that Chen Yu was always one step ahead of me?¡± Han Mintao sighed helplessly. The current situation was beyond his control; even his talent agency had long been taken over by the capital partners designed by Chen Yu. If he dared to utter a word of dissent, his agency would collapse immediately. ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± Fang Yuan set the champagne glass aside and casually pulled out a document from her bag. ¡°The script has already been written for me. All I need to do is hold a press conference according to the content!¡± ¡°Then I can openly join forces with the capital moguls of Emperor Capital together with the Edward Family to siege the Zhao Family.¡± Han Mintao glanced at the script, his face showing a trace of regret. If only he had not forced Fang Yuan to divorce Chen Yu, perhaps the situation would not have come to this. Before long, Zhongxing Hotel was besieged by a large number of media reporters, all of whom were there to verify whether what Tong Ya had said was true. Fang Yuan had already anticipated this outcome. After getting dressed up carefully, she pretended to unintentionally walk downstairs, where she ¡°accidentally¡± ran into the reporters. ¡°Miss Fang, is what Miss Tong said earlier true?¡± ¡°During the years you were with Mr. Chen, was it all just an act? Was there no real affection at all?¡± ¡°` ¡°Have you, Mr. Chen, and Miss Tong ever engaged in deceit so convincing it became truth?¡± ¡­ A deluge of chaotic questions bombarded Fang Yuan one after another, leaving her somewhat flustered. Fortunately, she was a professional actress and had ample experience dealing with such situations. ¡°This relates to a confidential agreement that Mr. Chen, Miss Tong, and I signed several years ago, the specifics of which I am not at liberty to disclose. Moreover, I am now the wife of the Edward Family. As for conjectures about us putting on a show that turned into reality, I urge everyone to speak with caution.¡± After a brief explanation, Fang Yuan boarded a business vehicle and swiftly departed. But the moment the car door closed, her tears couldn¡¯t help but flow uncontrollably. Everything had been real, yet now she had to claim it was all an act, and it had to come from her own mouth. It meant that from now on, she could only treat her own biological daughter as a stranger, at most owing her a debt of upbringing. Han Mintao didn¡¯t know how to comfort her, so he just patted Fang Yuan¡¯s shoulder and instructed the driver to go. Zhao Family Estate. Zhao Zhongde furiously smashed a valuable vase to the ground. ¡°Useless! I thought you were the most virtuous and talented among the third generation of the Zhao Family, yet you¡¯ve managed to fall right into someone else¡¯s trap!¡± Zhao Hai sat by, his face full of confusion, not knowing what to do. The Zhao Family was now engulfed in a maelstrom of public opinion, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before the authorities came knocking. When the walls fall, everyone is ready to push. The Zhao Family had its connections in the relevant departments once upon a time. But with such a major public opinion crisis now mounting, just being accused of slander would be trouble enough for them, not to mention the numerous other charges that could be brought up! ¡°How was I to know they had set such an elaborate trap!¡± Zhao Hai suddenly stood up, becoming somewhat frenzied. The teacup in front of him was crushed to pieces in his grip, and bright red blood flowed from his palm. ¡°Grandfather, with the Zhao Family in this situation, everyone here is responsible. How can all the problems be blamed solely on me?¡± His outburst silenced the room instantly; even Zhao Zhongde was taken aback. Now in his seventies or eighties and close to retirement, the future of the Zhao Family relied on these younger men. Among all the younger members of the Zhao Family, Zhao Hai was the most outstanding and the most likely to inherit the mantle of the family. Even Zhao Zhongde couldn¡¯t dare to do anything serious to Zhao Hai. ¡°Then tell me, what should the Zhao Family do now?¡± Zhao Hai took several deep breaths. ¡°If my guess is correct, the one targeting us should be the Edward Family, and it¡¯s that woman, Fang Yuan, settling personal scores under public pretext!¡± ¡°We can find capital overseas to contain them, and then, relying on the connections the Zhao Family has built, we can confront the domestic capital, which may help us resolve this crisis.¡± Zhao Zhongde nodded, his eyes showing approval. ¡°We still have some relations with overseas families. Given that, I¡¯ll set aside my pride and invite them over.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a rather seductively dressed woman hurried over and approached Zhao Zhongde. ¡°President, there¡¯s big trouble! Thirteen of our companies have suddenly announced their independence, and the heads of fifty-four other companies have publicly declared their intention to demand a higher share of stock dividends. The rest are also restless and likely to follow suit.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Chapter 333 Set the Price Chapter 333: Chapter 333 Set the Price Zhao Zhongde¡¯s recently calmed emotions surged once again. The current state of the Zhao Family was one of total siege, on the brink of collapse. ¡°Zhao Hai, go immediately to Magic Capital and invite the head of the Zhong Family to the Imperial Capital. I¡¯ll contact the Belle Family myself!¡± In the hall, aside from the very few who were extremely tense, the rest looked indifferent, some even leisurely sipping champagne. Although they were members of the Zhao Family, their companies were relatively independent; if the Zhao Family were in trouble, they could simply go it alone. Zhao Zhongde looked at the roomful of parasites, furious yet helpless. Since the founding of the business, these people had been veterans. Not only did they hold shares, but they also had actual control. If he really turned against these people, they wouldn¡¯t even give him the last shred of dignity. If truth be told, the entire Zhao Family was like a grape trellis. Zhao Zhongde held only the main structure in his hands, while the other members of the Zhao Family hung beneath like bunches of grapes. Plainly speaking, it was a loose alliance. ¡°Gentlemen, I hope you remember that once the Zhao Family falls, the value of what you control will evaporate by at least half.¡± But the people present didn¡¯t care at all, merely laughing it off perfunctorily before leaving together. Imperial Capital Northern Garden Villas. All the villas here were designed for both residential and commercial use, so they were built with a business mindset from the start. Each villa had, more or less, an extremely luxurious and spacious conference room. At this moment, in one of the most imposing villa conference rooms, a dozen people sat around a table, symbolically nibbling on desserts. ¡°Young Master Zhao Hai, coming to seek out my Zhong Family at this time seems a bit calculated, as if we could really rescue the Zhao Family from disaster.¡± The speaker was a rather handsome middle-aged man. Although his appearance was somewhat delicate, the sharpness bursting from his eyes was unnerving. As soon as he spoke, everyone else fell silent, fiddling with the dessert spoons in front of them. Zhao Hai grew desperate, ¡°Mr. Zhong, there has been a lot of cooperation in business between the Zhao and Zhong families, and when the Zhong Family first entered the Imperial Capital, the Zhao Family was fully supportive!¡± Zhong Ruhai¡¯s expression suddenly darkened, ¡°Mr. Zhao, there are some things I¡¯d rather not quibble over with you, but since you brought it up, let¡¯s settle the total account.¡± The secretary promptly took out a thick stack of documents from a briefcase and placed it on the table. Judging from the information marked on them, these were the financial statements between the Zhong and Zhao families. Zhong Ruhai casually popped a piece of dessert into his mouth. ¡°Over the years, the assets embezzled by the Zhao Family from my Zhong Family are all here, including some mutual account transactions. I hope Young Master Zhao Hai can settle these at once! Perhaps then the Zhong Family can support the Zhao Family with all its might.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes widened. He knew these accounts all too well, but not in detail. Added all together, they amounted to roughly twenty billion. To the average person, this might be an astronomical figure, but for two major families like theirs, it was nothing at all. But the Zhao Family of today was not what it used to be. These few hundred billion might just be the last straw to break the Zhao Family¡¯s back. ¡°Mr. Zhong, aren¡¯t you taking advantage of someone in trouble?¡± Zhao Hai slammed his fist on the table, enraged. ¡°It seems that this account is settled every year with the Zhao Family, but alas, the Zhao Family always makes excuses to evade. So tell me, is it me taking advantage of someone in trouble, or has the Zhao Family gone too far?¡± Zhong Ruhai¡¯s voice sounded somewhat gentle, yet the domineering and authority that seeped through his words were chilling. Zhao Hai was also startled, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and he instinctively took several steps back. Just then, the conference room door burst open, and a few oddly dressed people hurried in. They seemed to be actors from some drama troupe, who had just finished performing and hadn¡¯t had the chance to change out of their costumes. One woman in green respectfully placed an invitation in front of Zhong Ruhai. ¡°Mr. Zhong, the terms over there have been settled. The specifics will be discussed at the banquet,¡± she said. Zhong Ruhai opened the invitation, confirmed the content, and then looked at Zhao Hai with a sinister gaze. ¡°Young Master Zhao, you may leave now,¡± he said. Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; moments ago the negotiation was proceeding smoothly, why was he suddenly being asked to leave? He glanced at the invitation subconsciously and noticed the Tong Family¡¯s seal on it. It seemed that Zhong Ruhai had reached an agreement with the Tong Family. ¡°Mr. Zhong, I think we can still talk. It¡¯s just over twenty billion, right? The Zhao Family will pay!¡± Zhao Hai said desperately, pulling out his phone to call Zhao Zhongde. Zhong Ruhai just sneered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the Tong Family has already made their offer, three hundred and twenty billion!¡± At these words, Zhao Hai understood that the so-called terms offered by the Tong Family were the profits promised to the Zhong Family after the division of the Zhao Family¡¯s assets. In a moment of clarity, Zhao Hai also realized why the Zhong Family had suddenly appeared in the capital. The Zhong Family and the Chu Family were among the top families in Shanghai, with similar assets and scales. However, there was some estrangement between the two, which was why the Zhao Family had hoped to use the Zhong Family to contain the Chu Family while also assisting them in the capital against the Tong Family. Unexpectedly, the two families had set aside their enmity and joined forces to help the Tong Family against the Zhao Family. In other words, the Zhao Family was now facing the entire Eastern capital market, even the world¡¯s capital market. If Zhao Zhongde could not come to terms with the Belle Family, it would truly be the end for the Zhao Family. Zhong Ruhai leaned back in his chair, watching Zhao Hai with an eerie gaze. ¡°If Young Master Zhao has nothing else, please leave now. I¡¯m afraid lunch won¡¯t be provided here,¡± he said. Before Zhao Hai could react, two bodyguards had already forcibly escorted him out. In the face of a family about to be carved up, its third-generation member no longer had the privilege of receiving any special treatment. No sooner had Zhao Hai been thrown out than Chen Yu and Tong Ya arrived at the door, surrounded by bodyguards. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Young Master Zhao? Why are you lying here?¡± Chen Yu said, his words tinged with a hint of mockery. Zhao Hai had already lost his reason and suddenly picked up a brick from the side to throw at Chen Yu, but as he approached, a gust of wind hit him square in the face. Not only did the brick shatter, but half of his face collapsed in on itself. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to have too much interaction with this fellow and simply flicked his wrist before he entered the building. The Zhong Family bodyguard who witnessed the scene showed a look of disgust as he dragged Zhao Hai away and dumped him on the road like a dead pig. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 334 Belle Family Chapter 334: Chapter 334 Belle Family Zhong Ruhai immediately put on a different face upon seeing Chen Yu, welcoming him with a smile that was starkly different from when he had just met Zhao Hai. ¡°Mr. Chen has arrived!¡± Chen Yu gave a nod and then took out a pile of documents from his person. ¡°Now that both parties have reached an agreement, I¡¯ll trouble Mr. Zhong to transfer these documents, and included is a rough division of the company¡¯s subsidiaries!¡± Zhong Ruhai immediately became excited; he hadn¡¯t expected that right after they had settled the terms, Chen Yu would personally deliver the documents. Without saying much, he took the documents, briefly scanned them, and then handed them to his secretary nearby. Businesses in Modu are inherently cautious, always inspecting even the contracts that have been settled. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t in a hurry and simply sat with Tong Ya on the side, leisurely sipping tea. After an indeterminate length of time, Zhong Ruhai put down the contract and, with a cheerful laugh, signed his name on it. ¡°Mr. Chen is really generous, giving me over two hundred billion out of the Zhao Family¡¯s total assets of not even three trillion. I wonder how much the Chu Family received?¡± Although the two families were currently in a cooperative relationship, the barriers between them couldn¡¯t immediately disappear. The corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and then he took out another contract. ¡°This is a document signed by Old Mr. Chu himself, please take a look, Mr. Zhong.¡± Zhong Ruhai didn¡¯t hold back, taking it directly, and when he saw the figure of two hundred and twenty billion on the contract, he smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Good, then our cooperation is settled. The Zhong Family will immediately dispatch manpower and capital to fully pressure the Zhao Family!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Zhong Ruhai had his secretary make a phone call. While they were talking, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ¡°Son-in-law, come to Xiangyun Restaurant immediately, I¡¯ve got a meeting with someone from the Belle Family!¡± Excitement appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up the phone and exchanging a few polite words with Zhong Ruhai, he and Tong Ya stood up to leave. Just as they reached the door, Zhong Ruhai suddenly stood up. ¡°Miss Tong, using the media like that was brilliant. I don¡¯t recall you having a child when you were eighteen.¡± Tong Ya was startled at first, then turned around, looking at Zhong Ruhai with a strange gaze. ¡°There are some things I am not clear about myself, so how would Mr. Zhong know?¡± The words were vague, but someone like Zhong Ruhai instantly understood the meaning behind them. It was a hint for him not to pry into other¡¯s affairs. Zhong Ruhai nodded and didn¡¯t say anything more. Xiangyun Restaurant, Tianzi No. 3 private room. Tong Ming sat with an old man who had a face full of stubble and wore somewhat tattered clothes. At first glance, one might think this man was a beggar, but on closer inspection, one would notice his eyes were exceptionally determined. Moreover, he exuded an aura that was different from ordinary people. ¡°Son-in-law, you are here. Let me introduce you, this is the head of the Belle Family, Tani Bell!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he had not expected the head of the Belle Family to look like this. Tani, upon seeing Chen Yu, suddenly displayed an extremely excited and inexplicable expression. He rose to his feet, grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand, and wouldn¡¯t stop shaking it. ¡°I¡¯ve watched your adventure shows, and they¡¯re really incredible,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve never imagined that wilderness survival could be taken to the level you¡¯ve achieved.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know quite how to respond, as this Tani bore no trace of a financier but seemed more like a pure adventurer. ¡°Mr. Tani, wilderness survival is merely a hobby, and with varying natural environments, the outcomes differ. What I did was really nothing special,¡± he said. But Tani didn¡¯t see it that way. He pulled out a stack of business cards and stuffed them into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°If you¡¯re free some time, I hope we can co-host a wilderness survival show together. I promise I won¡¯t hold you back.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat baffled by the scene before him, unsure whether he was there to negotiate or to discuss wilderness survival. Tong Ming noticed Chen Yu¡¯s discomfort and quickly intervened to smooth things over. ¡°Tani, let¡¯s focus on business this time,¡± Tong Ming said. ¡°As for the wilderness survival show, I¡¯ll make the promise on behalf of my son-in-law. Once we wrap up the current matters, I¡¯ll arrange for you two to do the program immediately.¡± Before Chen Yu could even react, Tani excitedly slapped the table. ¡°Great, if that¡¯s the case, then let our collaboration begin immediately. I¡¯ll notify my people to cut off all deals with the Zhao family and start channeling a large amount of capital into the Imperial Capital.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t expect Tani to be so forthcoming. Without any hesitation, Tani signed the contract and even added some additional clauses on his own. He also stipulated in his signature that this help was only temporary and that he wouldn¡¯t stay in the Imperial Capital for too long. After all, with foreign capital being involved, it could become troublesome if the investors were invited in and then refused to leave. It seemed Tani had calculated everything, offering help seemingly in exchange for Chen Yu! Tong Ming also quickly signed his name beneath the terms. No sooner had the two parties finalized their cooperation than a figure staggered in. ¡°Mr. Tani, isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡± the figure slurred. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve just signed an agreement with my Zhao family, and now you¡¯ve made a promise to the Tong family?¡± Tani¡¯s face was full of disgust. ¡°Mr. Zhao, what we had was merely a verbal agreement, and furthermore, that agreement was clearly based on your lies!¡± Tani declared. ¡°I hereby announce the severance of all cooperation with your Zhao family. Deal with it yourself.¡± Zhao Zhongde¡¯s face turned ashen. He had not anticipated matters would escalate to this level, with even his final lifeline slipping away. Before he could react, two bodyguards took his arms and dragged him out. The once-unrivaled head of the Zhao family now looked like a dog that had lost its home. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with the details; the Zhao family was already just a piece of meat on his plate, ready to be devoured at his leisure. In the ensuing days, the news in the Imperial Capital exploded with reports on various scandals involving the Zhao family. Furthermore, the Zhao family¡¯s capital had visibly shrunk at an alarming rate during this time. From what was once nearly three trillion in assets, now there was a mere two hundred billion left. And the remnants were just some tangible assets; the Zhao family likely didn¡¯t even have a penny of liquid cash left. Chen Yu sat in an office, his gaze fixed on the giant screen displaying the stock market, his eyes tracing a hint of scorn. In his campaign against the Zhao family, he had manipulated the stock market with a heavy hand, profiting immensely in the process. Today, he was not interested in wasting any more time¡ªone last move would ensure the Zhao family¡¯s utter destruction. After a few keystrokes, the stock charts on the screen shifted once more. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Concentrated Capital Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Concentrated Capital Less than fifteen minutes passed, and the Zhao Family¡¯s stock market completely collapsed, with the remaining assets of over two hundred billion instantly cleared to zero. Yet the downward trend of the stocks hadn¡¯t stopped, continuing to plummet several dozen points more. As a result, not only had the Zhao Family lost everything, but they were also deep in debt. They could only auction off the tangible assets they currently held to pay off their debts. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, the Zhao Family was truly finished this time. However, one thing still worried Chen Yu, although everything was within his plan, the Zhao Family¡¯s collapse had happened too quickly. This proved that a portion of the capital had actively detached from the Zhao Family before its collapse. After all, they were once a superfamily that stood tall in the imperial capital, they would inevitably have some tricks up their sleeve. In the western outskirts of the imperial capital, an abandoned factory. Zhao Zhongde led a group of Zhao Family members gathered here. However, the expression on each person¡¯s face was different, some looked as if they were facing the end of the world, some seemed unwilling to stay, eager to leave. ¡°Everyone! When the Zhao Family¡¯s stock market collapsed, many of you chose to protect your own interests, withdrawing all your assets. Now, I hope you can bring out these funds to help the Zhao Family through this difficult time.¡± Zhao Zhongde¡¯s tone was as commanding as always, but there was an obvious plea in his words. ¡°Old Master, when the Zhao Family started its business, we were related by marriage, and we staked everything to gamble with your family! But now you¡¯ve provoked those you shouldn¡¯t have, causing the Zhao Corporation to fall apart. Do you still expect us to drag everyone down with you to your grave?¡± A middle-aged man suddenly stood up, speaking righteously, instantly resonating with everyone present. They got up one after another, criticizing the impractical business plans Zhao Zhongde had put out over the years, which dragged them down as well. Zhao Zhongde was furious but found himself helpless. The Zhao Family had fallen and lost their status as a superfamilia, leaving them no way to restrain the people before them. Besides, they had already established their own private companies just before the Zhao Family collapsed, marking a clear separation from the Zhao Family. ¡°Enough!¡± Zhao Hai suddenly stood up, walked straight up to Zhao Zhongde, and pressed him down onto his wheelchair. ¡°It¡¯s because of your indecision that the Zhao Family has fallen to this state!¡± Zhao Zhongde¡¯s pupils dilated in shock, full of disbelief. He had never expected Zhao Hai to treat him like this. ¡°Xiao Hai, what are you doing?¡± Zhao Hai flipped him to the ground, turned, and pointed at the people before him. ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯re nothing but a bunch of dogs. The Zhao Family gave you food, gave you the status you have today, and yet you dare to bite the hand that feeds you.¡± With those words, streaks of cold light suddenly flashed from the side. Dozens of burly assassins, armed with knives and clubs, leaped out from the ruins of the factory. ¡°Zhao Hai, what do you mean by this?¡± The previously boisterous middle-aged man remained defiant. Little did he know, as soon as he spoke, a steel knife traced an arc, plunging directly into his chest. There was a moment of silence at the scene, followed by sharp cries. Dozens of steel knives charged into the crowd, beginning a massacre. These people evidently had instructions in advance, targeting the bodyguards who had come with the Zhao Family members. Zhao Hai stepped onto a stone stump from a pool of blood. ¡°You bunch of despicable scum! You¡¯re just a pack of dogs raised by our family, and you really take yourselves for something.¡± The remaining people were already scared out of their wits, huddled together tremblingly as the strong men drove them to sit down. Zhao Hai threw a box onto the ground and took out the documents he had prepared in advance. ¡°Sign these documents immediately and hand over all the assets you have, or else your lives will be taken today!¡± Zhao Zhongde was trembling all over; he had not expected his own grandson to become so deranged. ¡°Little Hai, what are you doing? He isn¡¯t even related to us by blood!¡± ¡°He is related to you by blood!¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s face was hideously twisted: ¡°I¡¯ve never acknowledged them as relatives. These people were your support when you started your business, but to me, they are nothing but obstacles!¡± Zhao Zhongde¡¯s breathing became rapid; he finally realized what his grandson was going to do. Not to mention the Zhao family members who had been controlled in front of him, even he himself was like meat on Zhao Hai¡¯s chopping block. Soon, everyone signed their names on the documents, stamped their fingerprints, and sealed them with their private seals they carried with them. After confirming that everyone had signed, Zhao Hai gave a signal to the strong men standing by. Shrill screams rose up yet again. Zhao Hai collected the contracts, snatched a steel knife from one of his subordinates, and put it to Zhao Zhongde¡¯s neck. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re too useless. A good Zhao Family has been turned into what it is today under your watch! But rest assured, after you die, I will definitely make the Zhao Family rise again.¡± He pressed down hard on the steel knife, and blood spurted from Zhao Zhongde¡¯s neck, ending his life in a moment. Zhao Hai did not linger at the scene. After cleaning up the traces, he set a fire and then hurried away with his men. Not long after they left, a figure emerged from the roadside bushes, holding a professional video camera. Li Mao¡¯s breathing was extremely rapid. The scene he had just witnessed was so shocking that even he could not believe it. Who could have thought that the most promising third-generation member of the Zhao family would kill his own grandfather? And furthermore, he had forced his own family elders to sign terms of absolute authority. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Li Mao packed up the video camera and quietly left along the back alley of the abandoned factory. At the corner across from Xiangyun Restaurant. The few breakfast stalls that were barely operating there due to the flow of people suddenly closed down and started renovating, changing even the signs on the doors. Chen Yu was sitting at the door, observing these stalls while seeming to calculate something about the nearby Xiangyun Restaurant. At that moment, a figure stumbled to his side, handing over a memory stick. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve captured what you wanted. I just didn¡¯t expect it to be so cruel. Whatever you want to do with the contents of this memory stick, I hope you make sure the murderer is brought to justice.¡± Chen Yu frowned and looked at Li Mao with a strange expression. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Although Li Mao had been a paparazzo for many years and had even gone undercover in some extremely hostile environments, he had never encountered such cruelty as displayed by Zhao Hai. ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you look at the content on the memory stick.¡± Without saying more, Chen Yu opened his laptop he was carrying, inserted the memory stick and the wireless network card he had with him. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Leaving a Hidden Danger Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Leaving a Hidden Danger The image that appeared on the computer screen unsettled even Chen Yu. However, upon further thought, he realized that the Zhao Family could only resurge by resorting to such extreme measures. Chen Yu suddenly felt a chill down his spine, originally thinking that by stripping all the capital from the Zhao Family, he could completely cripple them. Now it seemed, there were still unforeseen dangers left! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let such a person live in this world.¡± Chen Yu stowed away the memory stick and then took out a promissory note with a face value of ten million. ¡°Mr. Li, you did a great job; this is your reward for this time!¡± Li Mao shook his head, ¡°You gave me ten million last time, including the job this time! Besides, that money is already enough for me to live on for a lifetime¡­¡± ¡°This is for your next mission!¡± Chen Yu got up and directly stuffed the promissory note into Li Mao¡¯s chest, ¡°Next time, I might use the information you provide to save tens of millions of people!¡± Li Mao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, reflecting a mix of complex emotions. Ever since he entered this line of work, he had been determined to use the information he gathered to benefit the masses. This was also the reason why he had been reluctant to trade the information he held for money. Chen Yu¡¯s words undoubtedly touched his heart. ¡°Alright, Mr. Chen, whenever you need me next time, just give me a call.¡± Li Mao accepted the promissory note and disappeared into a nearby alley. It was noon, the peak time for lunch, and the street quickly became bustling with traffic. Despite the high prices at Xiangyun Restaurant, there was a nonstop flow of people reserving tables to dine every day. It was nearly always packed, which also boosted the surrounding industries. Chen Yu sat there, chin propped on his hand, watching the passersby and observing the economic logic between the various industries. Before long, Tong Ya came over pushing a small cart carefully. ¡°Husband, I¡¯ve prepared everything you asked for. Are we really going to be okay doing this?¡± Chen Yu stretched lazily, moved to the back of the cart to change into a chef¡¯s outfit, and then turned on all the devices on top. A pot of hot oil quickly boiled, releasing a very peculiar fragrance. This pot of oil used over a hundred different spices and herbs, claiming it could cure a hundred ailments was not an overstatement. Chen Yu swiftly shook his hands over a counter beside him, and soon had made a dozen shrimp cakes, which he then placed into the frying oil. From the moment the small cart was pushed out, people began to gather around it in dribs and drabs. The area was already crowded with foot traffic, and given it was mealtime, even without the unusual fragrance, curious onlookers would have gathered. ¡°Boss, what are you selling? Why does it smell so good?¡± An elderly man dressed simply, fanning himself, couldn¡¯t help but draw near. ¡°It¡¯s just ordinary shrimp cakes. Would you like to try one, sir?¡± Chen Yu casually picked up a small dish, served a shrimp cake, and handed it to the old man. The man eagerly took a bite and put it in his mouth. ¡°Oh my, these shrimp cakes really are uniquely soft and savory, they just melt in your mouth after a couple of chews.¡± Seeing this, other people were also curious to try the shrimp cakes. Chen Yu immediately put up a sign¡ªfive yuan for one shrimp cake! Although the shrimp cakes weren¡¯t large, selling for five yuan each was indeed a bit pricey. However, the unique aroma they emitted made people¡¯s mouths water. Especially the elderly man who had just had one insisted on taking out a hundred yuan to buy twenty. At first, people thought the old man was just fussing and wouldn¡¯t buy, but unable to resist the fragrance, they decided to buy one to try for themselves. The situation quickly became uncontrollable, with a long queue forming in front of the small stand. Even customers from the surrounding shops were drawn over. ¡°Damn, this is so unique, it¡¯s even better than the signature dishes Xiangyun Restaurant introduced.¡± ¡°How come this couple selling shrimp cakes look so familiar, as if I¡¯ve seen them somewhere before!¡± ¡°That woman seems to be the eldest daughter of the Tong Family!¡± ¡­ As the discussions among the crowd grew, more and more people gathered, some not just to eat shrimp cakes but also to gossip about Tong Ya. Recently, Tong Ya had let slip that she had a child for Chen Yu when she was eighteen. How could such gossip not be exciting? In no time, the stand was surrounded, impenetrable, with everyone chattering about all sorts of messy questions. But Tong Ya didn¡¯t seem to mind at all and just gently helped Chen Yu on the side. The situation soon attracted the attention of Xiangyun Restaurant. The lobby manager hurried over with several people, and after understanding the situation, they chickened out. The Tong Family was not someone Xiangyun Restaurant could afford to mess with, especially now that the Tong Family had become even stronger after carving up the Zhao Family. With just a flick of their fingers, they could doom Xiangyun Restaurant. The lobby manager immediately frowned. ¡°Quickly go find the boss. These two are not someone we can afford to provoke.¡± Before long, a richly dressed, corpulent man waddled over to the side of the stand. Seeing the throngs of people in front of the small stand, the man couldn¡¯t help but sigh before elbowing his way into the crowd. ¡°Oh, Miss Tong, what are you doing here?¡± Tong Ya just glanced up before continuing with her work. ¡°Mr. Huang, there¡¯s no need to beat around the bush, just speak your mind.¡± Huang Ban Cheng twirled the string of beads in his hand quickly. ¡°Miss Tong, how about this? Why don¡¯t you just push your cart into my restaurant and sell the shrimp cakes there? What do you think?¡± You have to admit, Huang Ban Cheng did have some brains. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s popularity to be completely snatched away by this tiny stand. But if they could invite Tong Ya and Chen Yu into the restaurant, then the popularity would still belong to Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s. For a brand that¡¯s been around for hundreds of years, what they want isn¡¯t just profit, but reputation. ¡°That would depend on what my husband thinks!¡± The moment she said that, the love-struck girls in the crowd cheered. Not only did they deal with the Zhao Family recently, but they also crafted a pure love persona for Tong Ya. Such a persona could attract countless fans wherever it goes. Huang Ban Cheng was somewhat dazed before he hurriedly leaned in toward Chen Yu with an almost obsequious attitude. ¡°Mr. Chen, about my offer just now, I hope you¡¯ll consider it!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t stop his hands, ¡°The several shops behind me have already been taken over by me, and we¡¯ll be moving in within a few days! No need for Mr. Huang to trouble himself.¡± To ordinary people, these words seemed harmless, but to Huang Ban Cheng, they were a naked provocation. Selling delicious food near Xiangyun Restaurant and even taking over the shops, this was clearly a challenge to Xiangyun Restaurant. Or rather, it was the Tong Family preparing to make a move on the Huang Family! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Dragging Someone Down with You Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Dragging Someone Down with You Huang Ban Cheng couldn¡¯t figure out what Chen Yu was really up to, so he didn¡¯t stay any longer and sullenly returned to Xiangyun Restaurant. ¡°This is outrageous, what on earth does that kid mean? Setting up a stall right in front of the Xiangyun Restaurant.¡± Huang Ban Cheng was furious, yet there was nothing he could do about it. The power dynamics in the capital had long since been reshuffled. If it weren¡¯t for Xiangyun Restaurant maintaining its independent stance and wise self-preservation, it might well have been shut down by now. ¡°Boss Huang, with the Tong Family on the rise and Chen Yu being the only designated heir appoint by the old Tong patriarch, he¡¯s practically unrivaled. Perhaps we should lay low for the time being?¡± ¡°Lay low my ass!¡± Huang Ban Cheng gritted his teeth in anger: ¡°The guy has the audacity to create a ruckus right at our doorstep, and you tell me to lay low? If word gets out, they will think the Huangs are afraid of them!¡± The manager of the lobby was startled, hastily retreating a few steps, and didn¡¯t dare say another word. After venting for a while, Huang Ban Cheng calmed down and leaned against the railing at the staircase entrance, gasping for air with big breaths. His body was already obese, and the rush of anger had only exacerbated his condition, causing his mind to reel and nearly passing out. Just then, a man with a somewhat sinister appearance suddenly approached. ¡°Boss Huang, my young master invites you to have a chat over there!¡± Huang Ban Cheng was taken aback and examined the man closely, feeling somewhat apprehensive. The man looked exceedingly ferocious, and the hint of murderous intent in his eyes sent shivers down his spine. Without a doubt, this man had blood on his hands. ¡°Who is your master?¡± Huang Ban Cheng was still angry, but he did not dare to be too insolent. The man didn¡¯t care about that and went straight to grab Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s wrist, forcefully pulling him several steps back. ¡°Just come in and see for yourself.¡± Huang Ban Cheng didn¡¯t dare to resist and reluctantly followed the man to Private Room No. 5. Sitting in the host position in the room was a man with a gloomy face. Taking a closer look, Huang Ban Cheng suddenly froze on the spot. ¡°Zhao Hai, young master, what are you doing here?¡± Zhao Hai downed the drink in his hand: ¡°That¡¯s a weird thing to say, Boss Huang. This is a restaurant, it seems anyone can come in to eat, right? Or does Boss Huang not welcome me?¡± Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s throat moved violently as he sat down awkwardly, chuckling beside Zhao Hai. Besides Zhao Hai, the room was filled with over a dozen sullen-faced strong men, each with a bulge at their waist, clearly carrying weapons. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just that with the Zhao Family suffering such a calamity, I¡¯ve heard that all members of the Zhao household met their end. I just didn¡¯t expect that you, young master Zhao Hai, would still be alive.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s face was filled with murderous intent: ¡°I just got lucky. Who knew those bastards wanted my entire family dead!¡± Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s breathing became rapid, and he quickly took out several promissory notes from his pocket and placed them on the table. ¡°This modest establishment of mine can¡¯t offer much, but here¡¯s fifty million. I hope young master Zhao Hai can further inquire elsewhere.¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes were piercing, as he harshly slammed the cup on the table. ¡°What are you implying, Boss Huang? Do you think I¡¯m some kind of robber? Even in my direst straits, I, Zhao Hai, would never resort to such lowly acts.¡± Huang Ban Cheng hastily waved his hands: ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, I just¡­¡± Before he could finish, Zhao Hai suddenly stood up and handed him a glass of wine. ¡°Boss Huang, I saw what happened outside. You know how overbearing the Tong Family is. Their ultimate goal might be to take over Xiangyun Restaurant, and by that time, you could end up in the same boat as me.¡± Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s eyes bulged out; he instantly understood what Zhao Hai intended to do. This guy had not left the imperial capital simply because he wanted to revive the Zhao Family, and to revive the current Zhao Family, he would need a substantial amount of capital. Xiangyun Restaurant was relatively independent among the imperial capital¡¯s capitals, and its underlying assets were estimated to be worth over ten billion. Zhao Hai¡¯s visit this time was likely aimed at dragging Xiangyun Restaurant down with him. Huang Ban Cheng adjusted his breathing slightly; in his heart, he was clear that he couldn¡¯t mix himself up with Zhao Hai no matter what. ¡°My little restaurant is nothing in the eyes of a capital giant like the Tong Family. Besides, they are thriving in the restaurant industry in Suzhou City. Why would they want to oppose me?¡± No sooner had he asked the question than Huang Ban Cheng regretted it; wasn¡¯t this giving Zhao Hai something to latch onto? Indeed, Zhao Hai slammed the table fiercely. ¡°Their family¡¯s restaurant business is now growing untamed, especially with their prefabricated meal packs practically sweeping the globe. I refuse to believe that doesn¡¯t affect you in the slightest, Boss Huang.¡± Huang Ban Cheng felt somewhat troubled; he was well aware of the crux of the matter. Yet, even so, as long as he did not openly confront the Tong Family, he could still hold a footing and barely survive. But if he were to ally with Zhao Hai now, he feared he wouldn¡¯t have even remnants left later. Just as he felt troubled, two waiters happened to enter the private room. Huang Ban Cheng hurriedly stood up and placed a bottle of Romane-Conti on the table. ¡°It¡¯s an honor for Xiangyun Restaurant to have Young Master Zhao Hai visit us today. Please accept this bottle of wine on the house.¡± After setting down the bottle and offering a perfunctory comment, Huang Ban Cheng left the private room with the two waiters. Murderous intent seethed in Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes, as if Huang Ban Cheng was already a dead man in his sight. ¡°Young Master, this fat Huang doesn¡¯t wish to cooperate. What should we do? Should we teach him a lesson?¡± Zhao Hai shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no need to fall out with this fatso right now; our main target is still the Tong Family! We must reclaim the capital that belongs to our Zhao Family in the shortest amount of time; only then will we have a chance to turn things around.¡± The man beside him squinted slightly, ¡°Young Master, what do you mean?¡± Zhao Hai stood up and walked to the window, gazing distantly at Chen Yu and Tong Ya, who were setting up a stall at the street corner. ¡°Grab that wench!¡± Several burly men beside him immediately caught on to Zhao Hai¡¯s intention, saying in unison, ¡°Yes.¡± The hustle and bustle of the imperial capital was incomparable to Suzhou City; even at night, the place was still teeming with people. It was said that this street would have customers until four or five in the morning. Chen Yu, on his first day of setting up the stall, did not stay too long and left the area with Tong Ya and the pushcart around ten o¡¯clock at night. [System Alert: Danger!] The moment the system alert sounded, holographic images nearby appeared instantly in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. He could clearly see that a dozen men armed with weapons were rapidly approaching, and among these people was Zhao Hai. Chen Yu immediately held Tong Ya in his arms and then grabbed a handful of pebbles from the side, throwing them out. Before the assailants could get any closer, they were struck on the shoulders by the flying stones. Crackling sounds of bones breaking rang out one after another, and all the burly men fell almost at the same time. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 338 Resource Integration Chapter 338: Chapter 338 Resource Integration Zhao Hai, who had rushed over with these men, was momentarily stunned; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so formidable, taking down his most skilled killers in just one move. Before he could react, Chen Yu¡¯s figure had already flashed in front of him, grabbing his throat and lifting him high into the air. ¡°Young Master Zhao Hai, we meet again!¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his face full of terror. Before the action, he had made thorough preparations: to kill Chen Yu, to kidnap Tong Ya, and then to force the Tong Family to cede the Zhao Family¡¯s capital assets. But he hadn¡¯t expected the plan to fail right from the start, with even his own life now in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°What do you want, Chen? Murder is against the law.¡± A strange curve formed on Chen Yu¡¯s lips, ¡°How can I compare to you, who can even turn against your own family?¡± Zhao Hai¡¯s complexion changed dramatically, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t understand. I happen to have the entire process of Young Master Zhao Hai committing the crime. Now that you¡¯ve fallen into my hands, I might as well hand you over to the relevant departments.¡± Just then, the dozen or so thugs who had been knocked to the ground earlier stood up again, pulled out the steel knives from their waists, and charged over with shrieks and yells. Chen Yu paid them no mind and once again picked up a handful of pebbles and threw them out. This time he increased the force, actually piercing through these men¡¯s bodies and causing them to faint. Chen Yu didn¡¯t waste time there, and directly handed Zhao Hai over to the relevant authorities, also submitting the memory card that Li Mao had previously filmed. After all this, Chen Yu didn¡¯t idle, and immediately used financial means to track down the company that Zhao Hai had just created. This company was just a loosely built alliance formed in haste, so it was easily deciphered. Before long, all assets within the company were seized. Thus, the Zhao Family, once influential in the capital, was completely annihilated. The next morning, the street across from Xiangyun Restaurant became lively once again. The previously conjoined shops had reopened, only this time they merged into one store, and many new faces appeared inside. These were all staff that Chen Yu had transferred over from Suzhou City. Also transported here were a large number of semi-finished products and raw materials. That is to say, the shop could start operating at the first possible moment. Chen Yu and Tong Ya, of course, were also amongst them. The couple themselves were a draw, and now with the opening of the store, they attracted a large number of customers. Ban Cheng stood on the top floor of Xiangyun Restaurant, staring intently at Chen Yu¡¯s shop. The news of Zhao Hai¡¯s arrest had been released that morning, making him sweat nervously. If he had handled yesterday¡¯s affairs improperly, today he might have been captured along with Zhao Hai, and even Xiangyun Restaurant could have faced irretrievable doom. By this point, he dared not to provoke Chen Yu anymore. But with such a rival store appearing next to his own, and one that was so popular, it would one day run Xiangyun Restaurant into the ground. After taking a moment to adjust his breathing, Ban Cheng had some gifts specially prepared and personally went downstairs. ¡°Boss Chen, congratulations on your opening. I¡¯ve prepared some modest gifts, I hope you¡¯ll accept them.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply took the gifts, and then pulled Ban Cheng straight into the kitchen. ¡°Actually, Boss Huang, you have always had a business proposition you wanted to discuss with me, which is to establish a company to merge with your Xiangyun Restaurant. Unfortunately, Boss Huang¡¯s pride was too great, and I simply could not find a way in!¡± Overwhelmed with anxiety, Huang Ban Cheng replied, ¡°Mr. Chen, those are harsh words. The Xiangyun Restaurant has been in operation for hundreds of years, and it hasn¡¯t been easy to get to this day. To be swallowed up just like that, I truly cannot accept it.¡± ¡°Who said anything about swallowing you up?¡± Chen Yu took out a few sheets of paper from his coat, all of which were written with recipes. As Huang Ban Cheng took the recipes, he immediately broke into a sweat. All the recipes listed were the signature dishes of the Xiangyun Restaurant, which had enabled the restaurant to survive until today. However, if the methods recorded in the recipes were followed, the taste would be vastly superior. If Chen Yu randomly chose a location and cooked according to the recipes, it wouldn¡¯t take long for their Xiangyun Restaurant to go out of business. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡­¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°Boss Huang doesn¡¯t need to worry. The hottest spot on this street is Xiangyun Restaurant, but its food offerings are somewhat limited. What I propose is to complement these offerings for Boss Huang, not to swallow you up!¡± Huang Ban Cheng suddenly felt embarrassed; he had misjudged Chen Yu¡¯s intentions. Before he could recover, Chen Yu had already led him to the warehouse behind the kitchen. ¡°My business model here is quite simple and can be completely open to Boss Huang. I just hope Boss Huang won¡¯t keep hiding things from me anymore.¡± Huang Ban Cheng nodded repeatedly, then immediately made a few phone calls. Before long, the head managers of the Xiangyun Restaurant arrived specifically to transport Chen Yu and Tong Ya over. The business model of Xiangyun Restaurant had indeed weathered hundreds of years, but in some areas, it appeared old and complicated. The distribution of shares was unclear, with many seniors collecting dividend shares but not contributing any actual work. Moreover, their shares were very substantial; this placed an extremely serious burden on the restaurant. If this continued, Xiangyun Restaurant might fall into crisis. The only way out was to figure out a strategy for integration and reform. It was because Chen Yu had seen through this that he wanted to cooperate with Xiangyun Restaurant, but Huang Ban Cheng flatly refused. That is why he had opened a shop opposite Xiangyun Restaurant, to force Huang Ban Cheng to come to him for a partnership. He had thought this process would take longer, but he hadn¡¯t expected to see results so soon. Under Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s guidance, Chen Yu and Tong Ya finished touring the layout of the Xiangyun Restaurant and even saw their storeroom. But Chen Yu wasn¡¯t interested in these; what he really wanted to see was the ownership structure. At that moment, two men as portly as Huang Ban Cheng slowly descended from upstairs. ¡°Little Huang, what¡¯s the matter with you lately? You keep bringing all sorts of riffraff into our restaurant!¡± ¡°Indeed, if someone didn¡¯t know better, they might think Xiangyun Restaurant is looking to collaborate with some other organization.¡± The two men played off each other, appearing extremely brazen. Looking at these two, they must be the veteran shareholders of Xiangyun Restaurant. Huang Ban Cheng sighed helplessly and approached them with great respect to salute. ¡°Uncles, these two are from the Tong Family. I¡¯m just showing them around to see the restaurant¡¯s layout; there is no other intention!¡± ¡°Also, weren¡¯t you two uncles staying in the suburbs of the capital? Why did you suddenly come to the restaurant?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 339 Secret Collaboration Chapter 339: Chapter 339 Secret Collaboration The two of them paid no mind to Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s explanations and sat swaying unsteadily to the side. ¡°Ban Cheng, I don¡¯t mean to criticize, but ever since Xiangyun Restaurant opened for business, countless people have coveted it over the past few centuries. If it were not for the efforts of several generations of the Huang Family, I¡¯m afraid this business would have been taken away long ago.¡± The speaker was older in age and spoke with a strong, resonant voice, carrying an air of pride due to his achievements. Chen Yu¡¯s brows slightly furrowed; he knew that these people were all Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s elders. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back. ¡°Mr. Huang, I think we¡¯ve seen enough for today. We can discuss the specifics later. I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± This startled Huang Ban Cheng. Despite recent news media glorifying the Tong Family to the skies, anyone slightly cunning could see that the one actually manipulating everything behind the scenes was Chen Yu. Who else but Chen Yu could coordinate the capital of several major families both domestically and internationally and launch a joint media offensive against the Zhao Family? Now, with Chen Yu suddenly dropping such a statement, it was clear he was a bit irritated. If he were to leave today and turn to manipulate capital to besiege Xiangyun Restaurant, the entire establishment would likely have to change hands within two days. ¡°Mr. Chen, in my opinion, it would be better to finalize all the details today. Besides, Xiangyun Restaurant has recently introduced some secret dishes, and I was hoping that Mr. Chen could give them a try.¡± The two elders saw Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s attitude and immediately found it intolerable; the younger of the two stood up and, grabbing his cane, moved to strike Huang Ban Cheng. ¡°You disgraceful brat, is this how you take care of Xiangyun Restaurant?¡± Huang Ban Cheng had long reached the end of his patience with these old shareholders. Using their seniority and control over shares, they would speak without any restraints on a regular basis and even meddle in the management of the restaurant. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they shared the surname Huang, Huang Ban Cheng would have driven them out long ago. ¡°Great-Uncle, unless you have any business here, you and Granduncle should stay at home. I am now the Sect Leader of Xiangyun Restaurant.¡± The two elders were simultaneously taken aback. They never expected Huang Ban Cheng to speak to them like this. Just as they were about to reproach him, several bodyguards suddenly appeared and forcibly escorted the two elders out. Seeing this, Chen Yu¡¯s brows quirked slightly. ¡°Mr. Huang, it seems that the ownership of your restaurant isn¡¯t very clear, and it¡¯s a bit like a multi-stakeholder governance, isn¡¯t it?¡± Huang Ban Cheng sighed helplessly. ¡°Not to hide from Mr. Chen, Xiangyun Restaurant has been around for several centuries, leaving behind an enormous and cumbersome system. In my generation, the actual funds used for the restaurant¡¯s operations and daily expenses account for only thirty percent. The rest is all used to support these elders.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had thought the internal consumption of Xiangyun Restaurant would only account for thirty to forty percent, but it turned out to be seventy percent. No wonder there had been no development in the restaurant over the years, and there were even signs of regression. ¡°Mr. Huang, do you want to see Xiangyun Restaurant revitalized?¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked expectantly at Chen Yu. ¡°Please enlighten me, Mr. Chen!¡± Chen Yu adjusted the century-old staircase beside him and glanced at the bustling scene in the lobby on the first floor. ¡°The cicada sheds its shell! Use financial means to register an independent company, then expand the store opposite Xiangyun Restaurant. Trade space for time to undermine those stubborn old-timers!¡± Huang Ban Cheng sighed helplessly, ¡°Mr. Chen, I have thought about this method, but most of Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s funds are in the hands of the elders who also possess the decision-making power. Every decision I make has to go through them, so to bypass them is simply impossible.¡± Chen Yu leaned against the staircase with a strange smile flashing across his face. ¡°Previously it was just you, Mr. Huang, but now with me on board, we two together can definitely make it happen.¡± Huang Ban Cheng was stunned at first, but then became excited. He might not believe this from someone else, but he had complete faith in Chen Yu, the man who brought down the Zhao Family. ¡°If Mr. Chen can revive Xiangyun Restaurant, I am willing to give up half of my shares, as a gesture of respect to Mr. Chen!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°Share distribution is a matter for later. Starting now, you and I must act as adversaries!¡± As a businessman, Huang Ban Cheng got the point immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Chen, I have some experience in acting! If you need anything on your side, just give me a signal. Though I may not be able to help you overtly, I will support you wholeheartedly behind the scenes.¡± Chen Yu nodded and, after patting Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s shoulder, he left with Tong Ya. The building opposite Xiangyun Restaurant was originally a mixed-use office and residential tower, which had changed its operation model to a hotel due to the unique business practices on this street. However, the hotel¡¯s internal systems were still quite complex. All the storefronts on the first floor were leased out for the catering industry. The basement up to the third floor were turned into an entertainment center, known as a famous entertainment city locally. The third to sixth floors were a business club that seemed to operate on a membership basis, visited daily by prominent figures from the capital. Only from the sixth floor upwards was the hotel! Chen Yu returned to his store and casually took a seat on a chair. Although it was the store¡¯s first day of operation, the previous groundwork had attracted quite a bit of customer traffic. Moreover, the waiters brought in were experienced, highly proficient in their jobs, and could start working right away. Thus, the operations of the entire store ran without any hiccups. Originally, Chen Yu had wanted to use this store to compete with Xiangyun Restaurant and then take the opportunity to merge it, but now it seemed there was no need for such complexities. If he could take over this building and manipulate it financially, he could achieve a complete integration with Xiangyun Restaurant. ¡°Husband, do you think that Mr. Huang can be trusted? Although he seems rather simple and honest, he does have some cunning. Otherwise, Xiangyun Restaurant would have gone under in his hands long ago.¡± Tong Ya was a bit worried. After all, Huang Ban Cheng had managed to run the three floors of Xiangyun Restaurant in such a profitable way with just the operating capital ¨C his talents were not to be underestimated. Given enough funds, perhaps he could achieve even greater things. But Chen Yu was unworried, ¡°In this world, you only get results when you collaborate with those who are cunning and wise. Otherwise, you¡¯ll not only fail to gain what you want, but you could also lose everything.¡± Tong Ya nodded and said no more. No matter what decisions Chen Yu made, she would support him unconditionally. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Chapter 340: The Arrogant Fatty Chapter 340: Chapter 340: The Arrogant Fatty At noon, the foot traffic in the restaurant peaked, all seats were occupied, and there wasn¡¯t even standing room. The restaurant was understaffed, so Chen Yu and Tong Ya had no choice but to lend a hand. Just then, a sleazy-looking man holding an invitation card skulked into the restaurant. ¡°Who¡¯s the boss here?¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°I am!¡± The man sized up Chen Yu and handed him the invitation. ¡°Our boss wants to invite you for a meal, come with us now.¡± With this tone and this attitude, it was obvious that the visitor had ill intentions. Tong Ya quickly ran over, about to speak, but Chen Yu stopped her. ¡°May I know who your boss is?¡± The man arrogantly said, ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you get there, hurry up now. It¡¯s an honor for our boss to invite you for a meal, and if you¡¯re late, you¡¯ll bear the consequences!¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu changed his clothes and followed the guy straight out the door. But after just two steps, the guy led Chen Yu into the elevator of the adjacent building, heading straight for the third sub-level. The foundation of this building was very deep, with a total of six underground levels. The bottom three levels were used as a parking garage, and the top three levels were an entertainment complex. After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at a fairly well-decorated room. A fat man with a big face was holding a remote control and lounging on the sofa, incessantly flipping channels. Dressed in shorts and a tank top, his shirt crept up, exposing a flabby, greasy, and snow-white belly. Upon seeing this man, Chen Yu felt a wave of disgust as the man lay there like a half-dead wastrel. He even had the urge to rush forward and kill the man. The man appeared disdainful, giving Chen Yu a sidelong glance without moving an inch. ¡°So it¡¯s you who just opened a restaurant in my territory?¡± Chen Yu wasn¡¯t one to indulge him; he sat down and picked up a cup of wine from the table. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. What advice do you have?¡± The fat man suddenly sat up, his greasy facial flesh trembling. ¡°Boy, do you know where you are? Daring to be so arrogant in front of me, do you believe I can make sure you never leave this place?¡± A murderous look flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. He had never seen someone so shamelessly brazen¡ªcalling him over for no reason and acting so arrogant. In his eyes, the fat man was already a dead man. ¡°You can try!¡± The fat man snorted coldly, as if no one had ever dared to speak to him like this. He tossed aside the remote control and grabbed a nearby wine bottle, walking towards Chen Yu. But before he could make a move, Chen Yu¡¯s body flashed behind him like lightning, striking him hard on the spine. The crisp sound of bones cracking and a pitiful scream echoed instantly in the room, and several bodyguards, seeing this, quickly pulled out their carry-on machetes and rushed forward. As they charged, a blue-white light suddenly erupted from Chen Yu, and before they could react, they collapsed to the ground as if electrified. Ling Ling had by that time already appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. [¡°I¡¯ve already activated the autonomous defense system; they¡¯ve all been stunned and won¡¯t be waking up for a few days.¡±] Chen Yu simply nodded his head and flipped the fat man over, grabbing his throat with one hand. ¡°What grudge is there between you and me that you would treat me this way?¡± The fat man¡¯s breathing immediately became rapid. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so formidable, and now his body was as limp as mud, lying on the coffee table without the ability to move. ¡°Around here, I call the shots. Every new shop has to report to me, and each month they must pay me a fixed fee¡­¡± At this point, Chen Yu understood what the fat man did for a living. He never imagined that in broad daylight, someone would be extorting protection fees here. After slightly adjusting his breathing, Chen Yu suddenly exerted force, dislocating all the bones in the fat man¡¯s body. This wasn¡¯t simply dismantling his skeleton, but breaking the bones and then inserting them back into the surrounding flesh. In other words, this guy would never be able to stand up again for the rest of his life. Having done all this, Chen Yu immediately dialed the relevant department¡¯s number. After all, this was the Imperial Capital, and the Tong Family had certain connections with the relevant departments here. No matter what kind of backing this fat man had, it was of no avail. Soon after, a large number of personnel arrived at the scene, confiscated everything in the room, and took away both the fat man and his minions. However, Chen Yu still had to stay a while longer to cooperate with the authorities and provide a statement. By the time all the inspections were complete, it was already evening, and it seemed the fat man was also involved in other cases. Chen Yu didn¡¯t concern himself with those details and left the place. But when he appeared outside, everyone looked at him as if he were a savior, all kneeling on the ground, knocking their heads repeatedly. Chen Yu was taken aback and hurried forward, trying to help these people up, only to find an older woman clinging to the ground, refusing to get up. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯ve all heard about what you did. You took care of Liu P¨¤ngzi, and now our businesses will be able to thrive.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected the fat man to have been so powerful and oppressive in this area. At this moment, the street outside the building was packed with local vendors, occupying every inch of space¡ªa truly impressive sight, even the authorities sent to investigate the case were taken aback. Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; to him, the recent events were just a minor incident¡ªLiu P¨¤ngzi, no matter how formidable, was nothing more than a pest in his eyes. ¡°Everyone, please get up. Gathering here for no reason will cause traffic congestion!¡± With a resigned excuse, Chen Yu made his way through the crowd and hurried off. Just then, a person from the relevant department rushed into Chen Yu¡¯s shop. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re skilled at drawing, could you help us with a few sketches?¡± Chen Yu frowned. This member of the relevant department seemed familiar. After careful recollection, it suddenly struck him that this person had been an intern in Suzhou City. ¡°You¡¯re Wu Qingfan, right?¡± Wu Qingfan nodded repeatedly: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Chen would still remember me!¡± After exchanging a few words, Wu Qingfan pulled out several extremely blurred photos. These photos appeared to have been deliberately destroyed, with the images already scratched off, making recovery difficult. Only a professional drawing restorer could redraw them to reveal the contents anew. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 341 Childe Family Chapter 341: Chapter 341 Childe Family Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, after all, they had worked together and were colleagues, so he couldn¡¯t really refuse when someone asked for help. After briefly looking at the couple of damaged photographs, Chen Yu quickly started drawing on the sketch paper. Although the photos were severely damaged, some details were still preserved, and by slightly expanding on those details, the contents of the photos could be seamlessly reconstructed. It didn¡¯t take long before Chen Yu handed over the completed drawing to Wu Qingfan. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve really done us a great favor. Without you here, it would have taken us months to wrap up this case, it might have even turned into a cold case,¡± said Wu Qingfan. Chen Yu frowned, in his opinion, Liu the Fatty was just a local bully, so how could he be involved in such a big case? ¡°Speaking of which, who is this Liu the Fatty? Why is he worth such a commotion?¡± asked Chen Yu. Wu Qingfan sighed helplessly. ¡°You don¡¯t know, Mr. Chen, this guy has actually been on the run abroad, with more than one murder case on his hands!¡± said Wu Qingfan. ¡°He¡¯s always used unrelated cases to attract our attention, while he himself has been committing crimes in the capital,¡± Wu Qingfan explained. Chen Yu nodded; he had not expected the man to be so scheming. After discussing some details with Wu Qingfan, Chen Yu hurriedly left the place. But as he reached the doorway, he suddenly spotted a slim figure lurking in the alley afar, peering in this direction. The person¡¯s eyes were unusual; with just one glance, Chen Yu felt as if he had fallen into an abyss. The person seemed to notice Chen Yu and instinctively turned around, sprinting down the alley. Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened, this person was terrifying. A mere look was enough to send shivers down his spine, but he didn¡¯t hesitate and gave chase. The two dashed through the alleys of the capital, and after an unknown period of time, they finally stopped in an open area. This seemed to be a construction site, materials scattered about, with iron wire fences enclosing the area. Caught in his brazen escape, the man had run into a dead end here. When Chen Yu caught up, the man immediately pulled out a switchblade from his waist. ¡°Kid, was it you who caught Liu the Fatty?¡± the man asked. Without responding, Chen Yu just stared intently at him, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before. After pondering in his mind for a while, he suddenly realized that this man resembled someone from the photos he had restored earlier. Only, the man before him seemed thinner. ¡°Liu Kuohai!¡± Chen Yu enunciated the man¡¯s name, startling him. Liu Kuohai¡¯s breathing became rapid, and a fierce intent filled his eyes. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d recognize me, kid. Well then, there¡¯s no need for you to keep living, die!¡± Liu Kuohai bellowed. As his words fell, Liu Kuohai lunged forward like lightning, the knife reaching Chen Yu¡¯s face in the blink of an eye. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that Chen Yu was faster, catching his wrist in one move and then violently twisting it, breaking the wrist outright. Liu Kuohai screamed miserably, tumbling to the ground. To escape the pursuit of the authorities, he had been extremely cunning over the years, not only finding Liu the Fatty as a decoy in the capital. But he had also gone to great lengths to change his appearance to the state it was in now. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, took a couple of slow steps forward, and then raised his foot to step onto the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know exactly who you are, since you have broken the law, you will be subject to the sanction of the relevant authorities. Now, come with me.¡± Liu Kuohai¡¯s eyes were filled with extreme terror. The cases against him were enough to have him executed a hundred times over¡ªhow could he possibly surrender without a fight? In a panic, he took out a small bamboo tube from his body, gave it a gentle pull, and something like a firework shot up into the sky, bursting into brilliant colors. In an instant, more than a dozen masked men leaped over the wall and charged in, one of them exceptionally tall, like a towering iron tower. This man charged straight at Chen Yu upon entering, while his fist, large as a casserole, came smashing down ferociously. Chen Yu only felt a wave of air rush toward his face and hurriedly swung out his fist to block. In the moment they crossed paths, the terrifying force actually made Chen Yu take several steps back. The brute was also taken aback; he was well aware of the power behind his fist. For many years, no one had been able to steadily catch his punch and still stand there unscathed. The brute¡¯s competitive spirit was suddenly ignited, and with a pat on his fist, he charged like a tank. [System warning: danger detected, autonomous protection feature activated] A blue-white radiance instantly covered Chen Yu, with even brighter light emanating from his fists. The collision this time, with power emanating from Chen Yu¡¯s body tens of times stronger than before, sent the brute flying in an instant. The brute¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, his eyes full of disbelief. Before he could react, Chen Yu was already in front of him. He grabbed the brute¡¯s neck before he had even landed and flung him to the side, snapping over a dozen concrete bollards with raw force. The sound of bones cracking emitted from the brute¡¯s body. The others, witnessing the scene, were petrified and quickly grabbed Liu Kuohai, preparing to flee. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t about to give them such an opportunity. His body moved like lightning, weaving among the mob, and before long, all of them were lying on the ground, clutching important joints and wailing in pain. Once everyone was downed, he walked over to the prior brute and removed his mask. The man¡¯s face was covered in a full beard, clearly western in appearance. Chen Yu scrutinized him carefully, realizing he did not recognize the man. ¡°Which family do you belong to?¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu gripped the brute¡¯s throat and gradually increased the pressure. For the first time, the brute felt a threat like the presence of death. ¡°The Childe Family!¡± Hearing this name, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. The Childe Family was a very ancient one, reputedly controlling capital amounting to hundreds of trillions worldwide. Why would such a vast and old family be involved with Liu Kuohai, and why would they go so far as to send people to the capital to rescue someone? Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with such questions; ultimately, these men would all face the sanctions of Eastern law. After calling Wu Qingfan, it wasn¡¯t long before a large number of relevant personnel arrived and took all the individuals away. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Property Rights Confusion Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Property Rights Confusion In a mansion on the eastern outskirts of the imperial capital, several Western faces sat around a round table, their expressions solemn. ¡°What in the world is going on? How could Liu Kuohai have been captured?¡± ¡°Although this kid is our undercover spokesperson in the East, his behavior over the years has been outrageous, and he has long been out of our control.¡± ¡°No, we absolutely cannot let the Easterners get any intelligence from him; we must take this guy out.¡± ¡°But he holds too many of our secrets; some are known only by him. We might have to find a way to rescue him first.¡± ¡°This annoying guy, he only causes us trouble!¡± ¡­ The imperial capital seemed like a city without memory, or rather, everyone was so busy with their lives that they had no time to concern themselves with those messy affairs. The event that happened opposite Xiangyun Restaurant the previous evening seemed as if it had never occurred, with everyone going about their business, heading to work, setting up their stalls as usual. Chen Yu arrived here early in the morning and went straight up to the high-rise building. The property ownership of this building was exceedingly complex, mingled with some bad assets, making it difficult to take over entirely. However, Fatty Liu had been captured, and his assets, subject to a judicial auction, could be acquired at an extremely low price with the right maneuvers. The other assets were negotiable, but a portion of them appeared to be property rights that Liu Kuohai had purchased years ago. This man¡¯s identity was exceedingly vague, and he also had overseas status; now he had been apprehended by the relevant authorities. Resolving this portion of the property rights would likely be even more troublesome. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about the complications and headed straight to the top floor. ¡°Who are you? Do you know where this is? Inside there are several big shots having a meeting.¡± Two security guards blocked Chen Yu¡¯s path, their stun batons crackling with electricity. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste time here, so he reached out and gave a light pat, knocking the two guards unconscious, and then casually entered the conference room. About a dozen middle-aged men in suits and leather shoes sat around, seemingly discussing some important matters. When Chen Yu walked in, their gazes converged on him, each pair of eyes filled with a different expression. Most of them were worried! Chen Yu didn¡¯t concern himself with that and directly found a seat to sit down. ¡°Gentlemen, I consider myself one of the property owners of this building, why wasn¡¯t I invited to the meeting? Are you trying to exclude me?¡± The group was taken aback for a moment, none daring to utter a word. They were all aware of Fatty Liu¡¯s fate from the night before. Such a bully was no more than a chick in Chen Yu¡¯s hands, so how could they dare to confront Chen Yu directly? The man seated at the head of the table hurriedly snuffed out his cigarette. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t find you, it¡¯s that your property had just transferred ownership, and the situation is not yet stable. Even if we called you over, there are some things you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, his legs stretched out onto the table. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t need to understand too much. I came here today to tell you that I want the property rights to this building. I can offer a price thirty percent higher than the market value and I hope you will seriously consider it.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was taken aback. Their greatest fear had just become a reality. The most significant share here belonged to Fatty Liu, who owned the rights to six full floors. Now that Chen Yu had effortlessly obtained these rights, nobody could guarantee that he wouldn¡¯t covet other floors¡¯ property rights. Now that Chen Yu had directly stated his intention, the others were deeply worried. Tempting as the offer was, everyone knew this was the imperial capital. Simply holding a small fraction of property rights could comfortably last a lifetime. Who knows, if they sold their property rights today, they could skyrocket by several percentage points the next day! The lead man took a deep breath and sidled up to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being somewhat overbearing? Besides, property rights are not something a few of us can decide on our own; we still need to go through the relevant departments and¡­¡± Before he could finish, Chen Yu threw a stack of documents onto the table. ¡°Here is the official approval from the relevant departments. All you have to do is sign here, and the transfer of the property rights will not be a problem.¡± In the spacious office, silence reigned, fear evident in everyone¡¯s eyes. They had been in the imperial capital for so long, believing they carried clout in both the underworld and the legitimate world, yet acquiring such official approvals was still harder than reaching the skies. Chen Yu had only been there for a day and had already procured the documents. At that moment, one of the middle-aged men suddenly stood up. ¡°Mr. Chen, we acknowledge you are the Tong Family¡¯s son-in-law, but you can¡¯t be this aggressive, using the Tong Family and the relevant departments to pressure us¡­¡± Chen Yu suddenly looked up, the fierceness in his eyes silencing the man. ¡°The entertainment venues occupying the three underground levels and the three above-ground floors, which include many unsavory activities¡ªif I¡¯m not mistaken, the gentlemen here all have a share in them!¡± The office grew quiet once again, everyone¡¯s face filled with fright. Since Chen Yu had spoken such words, it meant he already had enough evidence in his hands. Every person in the room knew that the dealings in that entertainment complex were enough to keep them in jail for a lifetime. ¡°Mr. Chen!¡± A man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking a bit sleazy, suddenly ran forward and knelt down. ¡°I think we can discuss the transfer of property rights right now. The entire twenty-sixth floor is mine; we can sign the contract now.¡± With the first one breaking, the rest lost their last shred of dignity, crowding forward. Before long, everyone in the office signed their names on the contracts. Chen Yu made sure the contracts were in order, gathered them up, and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± The lead man suddenly called out to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, even if you take over our property rights, this building will still not be yours. The ownership has passed through so many generations that no one can make heads or tails of it, especially¡­¡± ¡°Since the property rights have already been handed over!¡± Chen Yu interrupted him, ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more words. Live your lives in peace. I¡¯m sure you all understand, getting further involved in this matter won¡¯t be to your benefit.¡± With that said, Chen Yu walked out the door. However, the moment the door closed behind him, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had escaped a dire fate. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 343 Equity Structure Chapter 343: Chapter 343 Equity Structure The northern suburbs of the imperial capital, Tong Family Estate. Tong Ming leaned back on the sofa and listened, while his secretary read the latest documents beside him. After swallowing up the Zhao Family¡¯s assets, the Tong Family had seen significant development and even became the firmly established number one family in the imperial capital. However, the core of the Tong Family was extremely weak. The other super-elite families were essentially complete families, and even their in-laws would be pulled in to form an incredibly large core. But the Tong Family was different; it had been just Tong Ming since the start of their business. He had almost single-handedly contended with the other super-elite families of the imperial capital and ultimately reigned supreme over them. Today, the so-called Tong Family was none other than him and Tong Ya! ¡°Son-in-law, ah! That skyscraper you mentioned, I know its ownership is extremely complicated. I didn¡¯t expect that you could acquire more than ninety percent of its property rights in such a short period of time. However, the remaining ten percent might be a bit difficult.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow was furrowed tightly; over the past few days, he had thoroughly studied the ownership of the entire building and discovered that the last ten percent of the property rights was in the hands of the Childe Family. This family was not comparable to an ordinary Western royal family; they controlled tangible capital, and even historic royal families were merely playthings in their hands. Taking ownership from them was harder than reaching the heavens. ¡°Dad, I heard you had some connections with the Childe Family when you were young. I wonder if it¡¯s possible to obtain that portion of the property rights through your relationships.¡± Tong Ming sighed helplessly. ¡°It was an invitation to cooperate, but at that time they wanted to control the stocks in my hands, and I rejected them!¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat perplexed, ¡°It seems we have to take drastic measures now!¡± Tong Ming remained silent for a while, then casually took out a document from his person and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is an analysis of the property structure of that building; there are some loopholes, and you can start with this Liu Kuohai!¡± Chen Yu glanced over the document and instantly became excited. Liu Kuohai¡¯s identity was illegal to begin with, so the property relationship between him and the Childe Family was unclear. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it right away!¡± Chen Yu took the document and hurried out the door, heading straight for the relevant department. Now, all he needed was to process some related paperwork with this document to temporarily hold that portion of the property rights in his hands. In any case, he had to integrate the whole building first before implementing the plans that followed. As for the dispute with the Childe Family, that would have to wait for another time. After acquiring the property rights to the building, Chen Yu immediately closed the shops and began a comprehensive renovation. The decoration here was already extremely luxurious and the building was zoned for both commercial and residential use; it would only take a few days to complete the transformation. It was just going to take some time to kick out all the mess inside. In a temporary office on the top floor, Chen Yu and Ban Cheng sat together, laughing and chatting. In front of them lay several contracts, which were the proofs of the two establishing their own sole proprietorship. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve really done me a huge favor. With this title, I guarantee that I can acquire all the property rights of Xiangyun Restaurant within half a month.¡± Ban Cheng was extremely excited; he had long been fed up with those old guys. Chen Yu furrowed his brow, ¡°No, we must get it done within a week!¡± Huang Bancheng was somewhat puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that timeline too tight? After all, Xiangyun Restaurant has been around for centuries, and its property rights are extremely complex. How could this possibly be arranged in such little time?¡± Chen Yu shook the contract in his hand casually. ¡°Now that the shares you hold are independently controlled by the two of us as a sole proprietorship, it becomes much simpler to manipulate the shareholding structure of Xiangyun Restaurant starting from this point!¡± Huang Bancheng nodded, ¡°I see what you mean, but my share is only seven percent. It¡¯s impossible to confront the remaining ninety-three percent no matter what!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that!¡± Chen Yu opened a laptop next to him, ¡°Although you don¡¯t hold many shares, you have the right to list them. As long as we consolidate Xiangyun Restaurant and list it, I¡¯ll find a way to transfer their shares into your hands.¡± Huang Bancheng instantly understood. What Chen Yu was talking about was the method to deal with the Zhao Family, just with a changed strategy applied to Xiangyun Restaurant. Now, Huang Bancheng and Chen Yu had signed a personal agreement and established a sole proprietorship, controlling the seven percent of shares held by Huang Bancheng. In other words, this portion of the property rights was completely independent of Xiangyun Restaurant. Using these shares, Huang Bancheng could list the entire Xiangyun Restaurant, but during the listing perfectly retain this portion of the shares, separate from the listing. In other words, only the remaining ninety-three percent of the shares would be listed. Subsequently, they could manipulate the market to control the ninety-three percent of the shares. At the same time, they could mobilize the remaining seven percent to penetrate and harvest, ultimately absorbing the ninety-three percent of shares with this portion. And throughout this entire process, Huang Bancheng would not have the slightest concern. After all, based on the current contract, he and Chen Yu jointly held the shares of the sole proprietorship. Even if Chen Yu changed his mind later, what he could take away was only fifty percent of Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s shares. And Huang Bancheng had promised Chen Yu this portion of the shares right from the start of their cooperation! After discussing some details, Huang Bancheng hurriedly left the office. Chen Yu rubbed his forehead and leaned back in his chair. Just when he was about to take a rest, a rumbling noise suddenly came from outside the window. At first, he didn¡¯t pay it any mind, since this was the top floor. But at that moment, a loud shattering sound suddenly rang near his ear, and then an extremely stocky man broke through the window and jumped in, wielding a long knife in his hand. This guy didn¡¯t say a word upon entering; he swung the long knife and hacked toward Chen Yu. The sudden assassination caught Chen Yu completely off guard, and the system hadn¡¯t given any warning this time. Chen Yu quickly adjusted his breathing and rapidly retreated. ¡®Ling Ling, what the hell is going on? How did this guy get inside?¡¯ [The individual has an electromagnetic induction device on him, and I am unable to detect his movements.] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. He had thought the system was omnipotent and could detect any danger, but now he realized that it couldn¡¯t monitor if the other party carried an electromagnetic induction device. At this point, he didn¡¯t think too much and picked up a steel rod from nearby to fight back. The sound of metal clashing echoed in the air, and after a dozen or so strikes, neither had gained the upper hand. Chen Yu believed that his physical fitness had reached the human limit. Yet, he had met an opponent today who could exchange so many moves with him without falling short. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 344: The Same Physical Fitness Chapter 344: Chapter 344: The Same Physical Fitness [System Decryption in Progress] [Cracking the Electromagnetic Induction Device Phase One] [Deep Decoding, Code Replacement] [Crack Successful] The system¡¯s prompt tones continuously echoed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, making him somewhat frustrated. Why would the electromagnetic induction device be hacked at this time? Before he could react, a blue-white light suddenly spread out from his body, engulfing the other party within it, rendering the electromagnetic induction device on his opponent completely useless. The next moment, all the motion predictions appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. Chen Yu was instantly excited. Although the opponent¡¯s physical condition was similar to his, he now had the upper hand. The steel pipe in his hand struck at an inconceivably strange angle, hitting the vital joints of the other¡¯s body. After just a few moves, the burly man lay on the ground. Then, Chen Yu swung the steel pipe and smashed it hard on his head. After the heavy blow to the head, the burly man was dazed for a moment and then collapsed on the ground, unable to move for some time. Chen Yu took this opportunity to grab some iron chains from the side and bound the burly man tightly with them. By the time this guy came to his senses, he was already immobilized. ¡°Who the hell are you? Why do you want to kill me?¡± Fear flashed in the eyes of the burly man as he stared at Chen Yu with an inexplicable gaze. ¡°You and I are well-matched. How did you defeat me instantly just now? Did you use some kind of kung fu?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, as this guy was not making any sense. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another chance, who exactly are you?¡± Only then did the burly man realize, ¡°Don¡¯t you know who you¡¯ve offended yourself?¡± Chen Yu looked surprised. To him, the capital was like his own backyard; he could do whatever he wanted. How could he possibly offend anyone? Moreover, the Zhao Family had long been destroyed, and any remaining offshoots had been eradicated. It was impossible for them to come for revenge. ¡°I really don¡¯t know about that! That¡¯s why I need to ask you.¡± Suddenly, Chen Yu picked up a knife from the side and fiercely stabbed it into the back of the burly man¡¯s hand, nailing it to the floor. A piercing scream erupted instantly. ¡°I was sent here by the Childe Family to take you out.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood. He hadn¡¯t expected the Childe Family to act so quickly; he had thought these people would wait a few more days. However, this guy¡¯s physical condition was too strong, far beyond Chen Yu¡¯s expectations. Especially the electromagnetic induction device he carried, which was so powerful it could block the system¡¯s probes. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu dismantled all the devices from the burly man and called the relevant department to take him away. It had to be said, the equipment carried by this guy was really extensive, with various advanced instruments and even automatic weapons. Once the people from the relevant department took the burly man away, Ling Ling floated above Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, scanning the instruments on the table with a blue-white light. [These items are all specially made, and the program codes are of world-class level, unbreakable even by some of the top spies of nations.] Chen Yu leaned back on the chair beside him, his face tinged with melancholy. The Childe Family had stood tall in this world for over a thousand years, and throughout these millennia, they had always been major players in the realm of capital. Many royal families and even entire countries were within their grasp. With such immense wealth, it was no surprise they could create items that surpassed the limitations of their era. Chen Yu had originally thought he would need some time before confronting the Childe Family, but unexpectedly he had run into them so soon, and they had taken the initiative to seek him out. A mere assassin possessed almost the same physical prowess as he did; who knew how many more such individuals were in the Childe Family. Chen Yu tried to calm himself down, clearing his mind of all thoughts. The pressing matter was to handle the Huang Family¡¯s situation properly, else endless troubles would ensue. In the dead of night, all the elders of the Huang Family gathered in a large hall on the top floor of Xiangyun Restaurant. Ban Cheng sat on the right side, holding a remote control to operate the large screen at the main seat. ¡°Xiangyun Restaurant has stood in this world for hundreds of years and must adapt to the times. Early tomorrow morning will be the best opportunity for our stock market listing.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of all the elders in attendance showed excitement. ¡°Ban Cheng, you¡¯ve finally come to your senses. We¡¯ve been urging you to list for a while now, but you insisted on maintaining the old management traditions. If we had gone public earlier, maybe our Huang Family could have already joined the ranks of the super families in the imperial capital.¡± Ban Cheng didn¡¯t say much, just stood to the side with a forced smile. He had agreed to Chen Yu¡¯s plan because these old fellows had long harbored intentions to go public. With the many shares and equity they controlled, their assets could skyrocket tenfold or even a hundredfold upon listing. Moreover, they wanted to use their capital to squeeze Ban Cheng out completely and then take control of the entire Xiangyun Restaurant. Ban Cheng was well aware that letting these people control Xiangyun Restaurant would lead to its immediate division among them. They were a group of lazy good-for-nothings; could he really expect them to run the restaurant properly? And with money in hand, who would care about the life or death of a restaurant? Now that Ban Cheng had proposed going public, it naturally gained the approval of everyone present. ¡°I was young and did not understand the plans of my seniors; please forgive me! The reason for the urgency in calling everyone here tonight is to plan for the listing tomorrow!¡± Everyone was pleased to hear this, nodding their heads, and they eagerly took out all the stock ownership documents they held. Before they arrived, Ban Cheng had intentionally leaked the news. So when they came, they brought all their documents with them. Ban Cheng did not hesitate to collect these papers. To go public, they had to release some of their shares as free-floating stock for the market, which meant that each person had to contribute some of their shares. Ban Cheng directly displayed on the big screen the part of the contract he had signed with Chen Yu. This portion was actually an addendum, the document of Ban Cheng transferring half of his shares. But this transfer document was highly deceiving. Placed there, it was to make the elders believe that Ban Cheng had long allocated half of his shares as free-floating stock. Perhaps out of pride, the elders did not scrutinize the origin of the transfer document and suggested one after another to relinquish half of their own shares as well. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Ban Cheng immediately prepared the contracts. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Sold at a Sky-High Price Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Sold at a Sky-High Price Second day, nine in the morning. Chen Yu was sitting in the office on the top floor of the building, staring intently at the screen of his laptop. The moment the stock market opened, his fingers were already positioned on the keyboard. All the floating shares put out were completely bought by Chen Yu in no time. With this move, the privately held company of Chen Yu and Huang Ban Cheng now held more than fifty-three percent of Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s shares. At the same time, the funds that Chen Yu injected into Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s concept stocks exceeded the original pricing, causing its floating shares to be priced at a premium. That is to say, Xiangyun Restaurant had to issue more floating shares. In fact, Chen Yu was merely exploiting loopholes present during the listing of concept stocks. During this period, there would be a protection phase for the stocks based on some rules of the stock and financial markets, where the excess premium must be covered by issuing additional shares. In the office on the top floor of Xiangyun Restaurant, all the veterans had assembled early, eager to see by how much their net worth would multiply after the listing of their concept stock. However, to their surprise, even though all the floating stocks were sold out after the listing, there was not the slightest change in the share price. ¡°Ban Cheng, what¡¯s going on? Logically, since all the stocks have been sold out, the share price should at least double. Why is there no movement at all now?¡± Huang Ban Cheng had already discussed the countermeasures with Chen Yu and, excited, he rushed to the large screen. ¡°Everyone, according to the rules of the stock market, our share price will double in less than an hour. We need to release more floating shares now. I am willing to contribute all my remaining shares.¡± These words immediately caused a huge commotion at the scene. Most of these people had outdated thinking. Although they knew the stock market could make money, they did not understand the specific rules involved. Hearing what Huang Ban Cheng said, many became impulsive, with some even considering giving away all their shares as well. But still, some people remained calm, knowing that shares are more powerful when held in hand, waiting for the share price to change was the real deal. For a while, many people were hesitant, but Huang Ban Cheng didn¡¯t care so much and just pretended to type on the keyboard for a bit. ¡°Done, I have sold all the shares I had.¡± Now, many people started to feel uneasy. Although all their shares had been sold, they still had ownership in the company. As long as the share price would rise in the end, they could still sell the equity at a sky-high price. Instantly, half of the people sold all their shares. Indeed, once all the shares were sold out, the share price immediately began to climb rapidly. Everyone in the office became excited. After all, they were old and didn¡¯t want to waste time at Xiangyun Restaurant. If they could get enough money, it would allow them to live the rest of their lives in comfort. At this moment, Chen Yu was sitting in front of the computer, typing rapidly on the keyboard. He had just sold all the shares he controlled. In the beginning, the share price soared exponentially, nearly quintupling, but then was abruptly cut in half, and afterwards steadily declined until it was even less than half of the original price. Without much hesitation, Chen Yu bought back all the previously released shares at the lowest price just before the market was about to close for the night. All the veterans of Xiangyun Restaurant were sitting dumbfounded in the office, faces filled with gloom. ¡°What on earth happened? It was all fine this morning, how come it plummeted so much by afternoon?¡± Many of the veterans were outraged, now the price was even lower than before the market opened. Ban Cheng hummed, ¡°I told everyone to sell all their shares this morning, but you didn¡¯t listen. What¡¯s the use of regretting now?¡± With those words, everyone fell silent. The price had already quintupled that morning. Those who sold then had earned enough money for their retirement. Even though they had to sell all their stock and the equity had to be taken back due to contract issues, they were completely satisfied. Those who hesitated to sell their shares were now filled with regret. What they held in their hands now was essentially worthless paper, utterly useless. Ban Cheng sat in his chair, his expression indifferent. ¡°Seniors, it was you who proposed listing Xiangyun Restaurant on the stock market. So why, when it actually happened, is everyone still so hesitant? Now that it has come to this, do you mean to blame me?¡± Some of the veterans got up leisurely. ¡°Ban Cheng! That¡¯s a bit harsh to say. Where do we have the idea of blaming you?¡± ¡°We no longer have shares in our hands now, and the little bit of equity that we do have left is worthless. Could you see if you can sell it to the restaurant in your own name?¡± The speaker was eager to sever ties with Xiangyun Restaurant and retire in peace, having just made a tidy profit. Ban Cheng was more than happy to oblige, ¡°No problem, I can sign the contract with you all right now.¡± Saying so, he immediately brought out the contracts he had prepared earlier and placed them before these men. They didn¡¯t even look at them, just signed their names and affixed their seals directly. After signing the contracts, these individuals left without looking back. The rest sat there, faces full of regret, having gained nothing except for the shares they had sold at the original price the day before. Not only had they lost half their shares in Xiangyun Restaurant by now, but the remaining half had also halved in price. Ban Cheng collected the newly signed contracts. ¡°You all should go back first, there may be a turnaround by tomorrow. If you trust me, you can leave the remaining operations to me.¡± After a moment of silence, the remaining veterans left their share contracts behind and walked away. From the beginning to the present, it seemed their excessive interference had led to this outcome. Once these men had left, Ban Cheng¡¯s lips twisted into a triumphant smile. Chen Yu was still typing away on the keyboard in his office, needing to plan out tomorrow¡¯s schedule to implement at the first opportunity. Just then, a strange noise suddenly arose outside the office. Chen Yu¡¯s fingers abruptly stopped, his eyes full of vigilance. [System alert, danger is approaching] Ling Ling had hacked the electromagnetic induction device earlier and had deduced its operating method. Now, as long as someone approaching carried such a device, Ling Ling could detect their position. The scene outside appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. After all the commotion, these people had used suction cups and special devices to appear on the rooftop. He slightly adjusted his breathing and, in a flash, reached the rooftop. Indeed, about a dozen burly men almost simultaneously jumped onto the rooftop from the edge. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 346 Transfer to the Imperial Capital Chapter 346: Chapter 346 Transfer to the Imperial Capital More than a dozen fellows were exceedingly burly, with physical fitness similar to that of the big man from last night. Moreover, almost all of these people had Western faces, making it obvious they were sent by the Childe Family. Chen Yu¡¯s gaze was icy. Dealing with one person of equal strength had already been extremely difficult, and now there were more than a dozen of them! It seemed the Childe Family wouldn¡¯t rest until they killed him. After slightly adjusting his breathing, Chen Yu slowly stepped back a few paces. He intended to use the few pillars on the rooftop for cover, picking them off one by one. [System Prompt: Host may spend ten thousand points to upgrade the defense system] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he hadn¡¯t expected the system to have this function. But the figure of ten thousand points made his heart involuntarily twitch. Since the system¡¯s upgrade, accumulating points had always been a problem, and saving up ten thousand points was harder than reaching the heavens. He had toiled for so long and had only just a little over thirty thousand points. This would mean spending a third of his points in one go! But the situation was dire; without relying on the system, he was certain to die. ¡°Then what are we waiting for, upgrade it quick!¡± [Defense system upgraded, entering electronic manipulation state] Chen Yu felt a burst of blue-white light penetrating his mind, and then his body seemed to enter a virtual game, giving rise to an indescribable sense of unreality. In the next moment, the dozen or so assassins surrounding him appeared like NPCs in a game. Their weaknesses and physical characteristics were completely displayed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. A sneer curled at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he dashed out like lightning. Within less than three minutes, all those guys were lying on the ground. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and stepped onto the shoulder of a big man. ¡°Who is your master?¡± The big man sneered disdainfully, gave Chen Yu a cold glance, then suddenly bit into a blood capsule in his mouth. The blood capsule seemed to contain extremely potent poison, and in an instant, the big man was breathless. The others were all in the same situation. Before long, more than a dozen people had turned into corpses. Chen Yu¡¯s face paled with shock; he hadn¡¯t expected these people to be so ruthlessly poisonous. These people¡¯s physical fitness was at its peak, almost on par with Chen Yu, and would be heavily relied upon anywhere. To think that in the eyes of the Childe Family, these people were as insignificant as ants, so easily sent to their deaths. Filled with doubts, Chen Yu grabbed a corpse, pulled open its clothing to inspect. After a meticulous examination, he found a large number of needle marks on their bodies, as if they had been injected with something. Chen Yu took a knife from one of them, retrieved some skin tissue as a sample, then called the relevant authorities. Half an hour later, the sound of police sirens rose from the base of the building, and a host of personnel hurried up to the rooftop. ¡°Chen Yu?¡± The familiar voice made Chen Yu slightly startled, and he looked up to see the person standing before him was Zhou Shengtao. ¡°Captain Zhou? Weren¡¯t you in Suzhou City? How come you¡¯re in the capital?¡± Zhou Shengtao burst into a hearty laugh, then excitedly patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°This is all thanks to you. If you hadn¡¯t helped me crack so many major cases, there¡¯s no way I could have been transferred to the capital.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, it seemed that Zhou Shengtao had been promoted. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be counting on Chief Zhou to take care of me in the future!¡± Zhou Shengtao waved his hand, ¡°Aren¡¯t you an external staff member as well? Now that you¡¯re opening a shop in the capital, you¡¯re bound to be incorporated here. I should be saying that it¡¯s me who will be under your care.¡± In the midst of their conversation, the people below had already cleaned up the corpse on the rooftop. Chen Yu then returned to his desk. When he made the phone call, he put the skin tissue he had just received into the culture medium, and now the colonies within were growing rapidly. ¡°Xiao Chen, what is this?¡± Zhou Shengtao asked, puzzled. The culture medium emitted a scent similar to Red Bull, hard to define. Chen Yu didn¡¯t immediately respond, but after a brief test, he analyzed the components. ¡°It¡¯s a drug similar to a stimulant, only altered to enhance the human body¡¯s potential by a hundredfold.¡± ¡°A stimulant?¡± Zhou Shengtao frowned deeply. Although he had just been transferred to the capital that day, the big fellow caught yesterday and the related case had already been handed over to him. During the physical examination of the big fellow last night, they also found a strange substance in his body, which seemed to be the stimulant Chen Yu was talking about. ¡°Xiao Chen, from the sound of it, this stimulant seems very powerful. Does that mean the people behind it are also very powerful?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Didn¡¯t you catch one last night? Didn¡¯t he say anything?¡± Zhou Shengtao sighed helplessly. ¡°That kid¡¯s as tight-lipped as a stone; we couldn¡¯t pry anything open from him. Moreover, he¡¯s a foreign national. If we can¡¯t find any evidence of his crimes, we must release him after detaining him for forty-eight hours.¡± Chen Yu let out a deep breath. ¡°Chief Zhou might not know, but these people are likely sent by the Childe Family!¡± ¡°The Childe Family!¡± Zhou Shengtao was astonished; he had heard of this family, rumored to be the most mysterious capitalist family in the world. ¡°But Xiao Chen, what are they doing here?¡± Chen Yu pulled up a chair nearby and sat down, ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯re here to kill me.¡± Zhou Shengtao¡¯s face showed shock, ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the Childe Family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not quite it!¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°Since Chief Zhou has been transferred to the capital, you must know about the recent Liu Kuohai case.¡± Zhou Shengtao nodded, ¡°I¡¯m aware of it. The case involving this guy is extremely complicated. We had to establish a professional team, but unfortunately, we didn¡¯t get anything useful out of him.¡± Chen Yu regulated his breathing slightly. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, he must have an inseparable connection with the Childe Family. Someone related to them must be coming to bail him out.¡± Zhou Shengtao slapped his palm emphatically. ¡°You¡¯re spot on. Today alone, at least three groups came to bail out Liu Kuohai, and this guy himself has a foreign nationality, so we¡¯re in a difficult position.¡± Chen Yu handed over the sample he had extracted to Zhou Shengtao. ¡°This should be of some help to your case. Once I¡¯ve dealt with my current situation, I¡¯ll come over and report to you immediately.¡± Zhou Shengtao said nothing more and immediately had his subordinates hurriedly take the bodies away. Zhou Shengtao, however, was the last to leave, and on his way out, he surreptitiously slipped a distinctive booklet into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. It contained the complete interrogation process for Liu Kuohai. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 347 Share Distribution Chapter 347: Chapter 347 Share Distribution Chen Yu was immediately thrilled and quickly sat down to review all the inspection records. Liu Kuohai indeed had an airtight way of speaking; there was not a single flaw in the inspection records, only an admission of some minor offenses. If this continued, he might be released on bail after forty-eight hours. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing. Currently, Liu Kuohai was not his concern, and as for the Childe Family, they still lurked in the shadows, having not yet shown their faces. He had to settle the matter of Xiangyun Restaurant in the shortest time possible. The next morning, Chen Yu was already in front of his computer, watching the stock market¡¯s movements. Ban Cheng immediately sold all his stocks at market opening at nine o¡¯clock. At the same time, Chen Yu swiftly moved to buy up all the shares that Ban Cheng had released. By this point, the entire stock of Xiangyun Restaurant was completely under the control of the sole proprietorship established by Chen Yu and Ban Cheng. Chen Yu let out a long sigh of relief, immediately located the contract he had prepared earlier, and headed straight to the top floor of Xiangyun Restaurant. Ban Cheng had already been anxiously waiting in his office. As soon as Chen Yu walked in, Ban Cheng immediately greeted him and placed a portion of the documents on the table. ¡°Mr. Chen, we don¡¯t have much time; those old fellas will come to check the situation before too long,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply spread out the documents he brought on the table, and then both men quickly signed and sealed them. Once all the procedures were completed, a series of hurried footsteps sounded at the door. Chen Yu immediately dodged, hiding behind a large screen. ¡°Ban Cheng, how did it go? Did we get a good price for our stocks?¡± Ban Cheng immediately welcomed them with a smile and pushed the newly signed contract in front of the crowd. ¡°Gentlemen, all you need to do is sign these contracts, and then you can receive the money from selling your shares. I guarantee it¡¯s a good price,¡± Without any hesitation, the people immediately signed their names, not even glancing at the contracts. These old fellows were already impatient, eager to get their money for retirement and couldn¡¯t care less about these empty formalities. After they had signed the contracts, Ban Cheng directly brought out a laptop and completed the last part of the transaction. A significant amount of money immediately transferred to the elders¡¯ hands; when they saw their balances, their faces instantly darkened. ¡°Ban Cheng, what on earth is going on? How come the share price is still the same as yesterday?¡± The smile instantly vanished from Ban Cheng¡¯s face. ¡°Uncles and elders, you have spent enough time at Xiangyun Restaurant, made numerous contributions, and it¡¯s time for you to retire and enjoy your remaining years,¡± The people were taken aback for a moment, subconsciously looking at the contracts they had just signed. When they clearly saw the content of the contracts, they immediately became agitated. ¡°Ban Cheng, you dare to trick us! Do you realize that what you¡¯re doing is fraud?¡± Ban Cheng didn¡¯t care much about that, pulling over a chair to sit down in. ¡°I have already exhausted my duties and obligations to you all. If you feel the money you¡¯ve received is too little, I can add more, but I hope you will no longer interfere with the matters of Xiangyun Restaurant,¡± Although these words were spoken gently, the ruthless intent they carried sent a chill through the spine of the elders. Before this, Ban Cheng had always appeared to be compliant, but now he was unexpectedly ruthless and resolute. ¡°No, your shares are among them too, and now it seems that all the shares of Xiangyun Restaurant have been sold. What will you use to control the restaurant?¡± Ban Cheng let out a hearty laugh and then took out a business license, throwing it in front of everyone. ¡°I had long established a sole proprietorship. All of the shares and equity of the restaurant were bought by this enterprise. As of now, I control fifty-one percent of Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s shares.¡± The veteran members all wore faces of astonishment, staring at Ban Cheng with a strange look. ¡°What do you mean? Where¡¯s the remaining forty-nine percent of the shares?¡± ¡°They¡¯re with me!¡± Chen Yu stepped out from behind the big screen, ¡°I had signed an agreement with Boss Ban a long time ago. Now, the two of us have real-time control over Xiangyun Restaurant.¡± The veterans in the room couldn¡¯t help but breathe more rapidly. They had never dreamed Ban Cheng would collude with an outsider to cheat them. Ban Cheng slowly stood up, his face full of contempt. ¡°The fixed assets under your names have all been separated from Xiangyun Restaurant. I won¡¯t pursue that matter. Given the current situation, I can completely take back the fixed assets in your hands through legal means.¡± The crowd dared not say anything more; they could only swallow their anger and leave one after another. Chen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, moved over a chair, and sat next to Ban Cheng. ¡°Boss Ban, starting from today we are truly partners. However, I would like to hand over the entire management of Xiangyun Restaurant to you.¡± Ban Cheng¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he had thought that Chen Yu, upon acquiring the shares, would progressively encroach on Xiangyun Restaurant. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so generous. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you really willing to hand over the management rights to me?¡± Chen Yu nodded. ¡°Right now, Xiangyun Restaurant is controlled by our personal sole proprietorships. Logically, management rights should be evenly split between us, but there is a regulation that allows us individuals to decide on the actual distribution of equity and shares.¡± Ban Cheng¡¯s breathing immediately quickened; he was, of course, clear about this regulation. Before this, he had prepared himself to negotiate with Chen Yu, using this very regulation as his basis. ¡°May I ask how Mr. Chen would like to distribute it?¡± Chen Yu directly took out a prepared contract from the side. ¡°Regarding equity, we¡¯ll stick to the sole proprietorship, fifty-fifty. As for the shareholdings, you get sixty-four percent and I take thirty-six percent!¡± Ban Cheng¡¯s mouth formed an ¡®O¡¯; this was essentially transferring the lion¡¯s share of the profits to him. He knew that the properties in the building opposite were already under Chen Yu¡¯s control. He could totally claim a larger share of the equity based on that building. ¡°Mr. Chen, did I hear you wrong?¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly: ¡°Besides, I will also send a professional management team to spearhead Xiangyun Restaurant. The combination of both our features, with no distinction between primary and secondary, its operational model is entirely up to you to be in charge of.¡± Ban Cheng swallowed hard: ¡°Do you mean to say that I¡¯ll have full control over the building across the street as well?¡± Chen Yu pushed the contract forward. ¡°Boss Ban, you can look at the contract yourself! I¡¯ve written all the clauses already. If there are no issues, then please sign.¡± Ban Cheng, unable to contain his excitement, took the contract, glanced over it quickly, and then signed his name before stamping it with his seal. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: 348 Chapter 348: 348 The entire building was already in place, so there was not much effort put into the decorations. In a few days, it could be merged with Xiangyun Restaurant and operated simultaneously. Chen Yu slightly tidied up the documents in hand and packed them to hand over to Tong Ya. As for the follow-up matters, he let Tong Ya negotiate with Huang Ban Cheng. Having arranged everything, Chen Yu bought a ticket to Alaska. Alaska, located between the Arctic Circle and the subarctic climate zone, is covered with snow and ice all year round and is a rare tourist destination. Every year in the height of summer, a large number of people come here to escape the heat. And this land has a particularly special place, which is the stronghold of the Childe Family. No sooner had Chen Yu disembarked from the plane than he went straight to a restaurant. The system had already recorded the electronic sensing devices carried by the assassins of the Childe Family. Therefore, it could quickly determine whether there were any members of the Childe Family here. On the second floor of the restaurant, in a corner by the window. Three tall men were quietly eating steaks. They seemed to be on some special mission, maintaining a high level of alertness even while dining. Chen Yu walked straight over and sat down beside the three of them. The three men immediately became alert, their hands reaching towards the weapons at their waists. ¡°What¡¯s the panic? I¡¯m just here to ask what the three of you are doing here?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone was extremely relaxed, casually taking out a badge from his body and placing it on the table. The badge, which had been taken from an assassin of the Childe family, now came in handy. The three men indeed relaxed their guard and pushed a pint of beer towards Chen Yu. ¡°Brother, you look unfamiliar. Are you new here?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Came for a special mission, was told to protect a key person, but headquarters didn¡¯t give me any specifics, told me to wait here.¡± The three men pointed towards a private room not far away. ¡°It¡¯s over there, the fifth young master of the Childe Family, Luo Ming!¡± Chen Yu tilted his head to look inside the room and indeed saw a man in his twenties or thirties, excitedly nestled among a few women. ¡°Thanks, guys!¡± A hint of excitement flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s face, and then with a swift movement of his fingers, the three men¡¯s bodies jerked as if electrocuted, slumping straight onto the table. Without any hesitation, he quickly entered the private room. The man in the room was startled and got up in a rush. ¡°Who are you? How did you get in here? Do you have a death wish?¡± The man shouted and grabbed a wine bottle from the table, smashing it down harshly. Chen Yu¡¯s expression remained indifferent, casually taking a seat on the sofa nearby. ¡°Why are you so worked up, Mr. Luo Ming? I¡¯m simply here to discuss business with you.¡± Luo Ming couldn¡¯t help frowning and instinctively looked towards the door, noticing that his three bodyguards were already sprawled on the table, deepening the concern on his face. ¡°Since it¡¯s about business, why attack my bodyguards?¡± Chen Yu casually poured himself a glass of champagne. ¡°They were too annoying and might have interfered with our conversation.¡± Luo Ming seemed to realize something, his breathing becoming labored. He held the broken bottle, slowly moving to the side as if to take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Chen Yu had seen through his every move. As Luo Ming was preparing to act, Chen Yu¡¯s body suddenly moved forward like lightning, seizing him by the throat. ¡°It seems that young master Luo Ming is not willing to have a proper conversation with me. In that case, let¡¯s change our approach,¡± Chen Yu said. The tone of Chen Yu¡¯s voice took on a menacing edge as he delivered a punch to Luo Ming¡¯s abdomen, before slamming him against the table. ¡°I would like to ¡®borrow¡¯ a sum of money from the Childe family, the kind that doesn¡¯t have to be repaid, of course.¡± Luo Ming clenched his teeth, breathing heavily. ¡°I get it, you¡¯re in the business of making money without capital. It¡¯s just a pity you¡¯ve got the wrong person. The moment you step out of this door, I can assure you, millions will rip you to pieces.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°Is that so? Then I really must witness this.¡± With that, Chen Yu picked up the microphone nearby and commanded the system to reroute the room¡¯s lines. ¡°All members of the Childe family, listen up. Your fifth young master is in my hands. If you want him to leave here unharmed, get ready to cough up a hundred billion immediately!¡± His domineering voice spread rapidly through the loudspeakers, and before long, the surrounding district indiscriminately received this message. Countless assassins and bodyguards began to emerge from the urban area and converged towards this location. A glance revealed there were actually a thousand people! The Childe family truly lived up to its reputation as the world¡¯s number one capital; just for the protection of a fifth young master, so many people were mobilized. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breathing and then casually walked out of the restaurant with Luo Ming. The bodyguards surrounding the area immediately became tense, their gazes all locking onto Chen Yu. ¡°Kid, I advise you to let go of the young master quickly. Otherwise, you¡¯re going to regret it,¡± one bodyguard threatened. ¡°I hope you have enough sense to realize that if you don¡¯t, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death.¡± ¡°Daring to mess with the Childe family, you must be tired of living,¡± another chimed in. ¡­ The crowd¡¯s incessant chatter was extremely noisy. Chen Yu had no interest in dealing with them, simply leading Luo Ming to the top of the restaurant¡¯s building. Who knows how long it took, but helicopters began to arrive at the top of the building. Two men clad in tailored suits were quickly dispatched to the roof. ¡°Sir, we are negotiation experts from the Childe family. We hope you can see reason and release young master Luo Ming promptly. As for your demands, we will try our best to accommodate them.¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°You two are just dogs kept by the Childe family. Your promises mean nothing. Get someone from your family over here immediately, otherwise, I¡¯ll tear up the ticket right now.¡± The Childe family, after all, was the strongest capital in the world, and it was incredibly difficult to meet their head of the family. Even families like William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s might not be able to reach the core of the Childe family. Chen Yu could only employ this extreme tactic in the hope of meeting their true person in charge. The two negotiation experts suddenly became frantic. Before they could advance, two pebbles flew out, piercing through their shoulders. As screams erupted, the two men fell to the ground, and then a few fully armed individuals descended from the helicopter and took the wounded negotiators away. After an indeterminate amount of time, another helicopter appeared in the sky. This helicopter didn¡¯t circle as the previous ones had; it landed directly on the roof. A somewhat overweight middle-aged man slowly descended from the helicopter. He was holding a cigar, wearing sunglasses, and looked somewhat greasy. However, his every movement exuded inexorable authority, making it apparent he was no ordinary figure. Even if this man wasn¡¯t the head of the Childe family, he was undoubtedly an indispensable pillar within the family. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: 349 Chapter 349: 349 ¡°` ¡°Sir, what grievance does your Childe Family have with me to kidnap my brother?¡± The tone in which this man spoke was filled with a murderous intent, clearly showing he was a decisive killer. Yet, Chen Yu didn¡¯t give in at all, and there was even a flicker of disdain in his eyes. ¡°And who are you exactly? You should at least report your name before coming up here.¡± The man clenched his teeth, wishing he could tear Chen Yu into thousands of pieces. ¡°My name is Russell Childe, the third eldest in my family.¡± A sly smile flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s face as he quickly rushed forward. Before the people on the plane could react, Russell was already grabbed and brought next to Luo Ming. The brothers were tied up by Chen Yu and tossed aside. Despair and shock filled their eyes; they never dreamed that someone would dare to kidnap members of the Childe Family. And to kidnap two at once! In a high tower not far away, an old man sat there trembling, leaning on a cane. ¡°What¡¯s happening? How is this person in Asgard? Haven¡¯t all the assassins I sent out failed to kill him?¡± The people beside him were silent as the grave, none daring to utter a word. After a long silence, the old man suddenly stood up. ¡°Call for a helicopter, and get me there immediately!¡± The people nearby rushed to stop him. ¡°Sir, you are the core of the entire Childe Family; you cannot put yourself in danger so recklessly.¡± The old man didn¡¯t care; he pushed away the people beside him and personally called for a helicopter. Atop the restaurant rooftop, Chen Yu cleverly used the two brothers¡¯ bodies to shield himself tightly. Even if the other side wanted to use special means to kill him, it would be impossible. Before long, another helicopter landed on the rooftop, and an old man with a cane slowly walked out from inside. ¡°Kid, you wanted to see me, here I am. Let my sons go.¡± Chen Yu slightly tilted his head. ¡°Are you Fox Childe?¡± Fox nodded his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you young fellow to recognize me. Tell me, what do you really want?¡± Chen Yu slowly rose to his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t want much, I just want to ask Mr. Fox in person why you have sent so many people after me to kill me?¡± Fox took two more steps forward, ¡°You took something you shouldn¡¯t have taken. As a member of the Childe Family, it is necessary for me to step in and teach you a lesson.¡± The corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curved into a strange arc, and his body flashed like lightning in front of Fox, grabbing his shoulder. ¡°As a return gift, shouldn¡¯t I also give a scare to a member of the Childe Family?¡± Fox¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu¡¯s speed to be so fast that he was already within reach in the blink of an eye. ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡± This tone carried a hint of panic, the experienced head of the Childe Family was actually flustered in front of Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯m here to settle a matter with your Childe Family. May I have the honor of sharing a drink with you?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s palm exerted a slight force, causing Fox to cry out in pain. ¡°` ¡°Of course you can!¡± The two didn¡¯t linger long on the rooftop and headed down the restaurant together. The entire restaurant had already been cleared out, leaving only some self-service robots. Chen Yu popped open a bottle of champagne and poured a glass for each of them. ¡°Brother, sending out a hitman was indeed a bit abrupt on our part, but Liu Kuohai is an important agent for us in the East. Taking him down has put us in a difficult position.¡± Fox was well aware of his predicament, knowing that, with Chen Yu¡¯s skills, it would take mere minutes to end his life. No wonder sending out so many hitmen failed to kill him. Chen Yu swirled the champagne in his glass. ¡°Seems like Liu Kuohai was taken down for violating laws over there, right? It doesn¡¯t have much to do with me; you could say that you didn¡¯t choose your people wisely, picking such a fellow to be in charge.¡± Fox sighed helplessly. Their business direction had always been in the West, where they controlled the capitals of Wall Street. The Eastern piece of the cake had long been divided up by others, making it incredibly difficult for them to infiltrate; their only option was to find an agent. Before Liu Kuohai, they had considered many candidates, but those candidates either lacked business acumen or were disobedient. After much thought, they reluctantly settled on Liu Kuohai. Who knew it would turn into such a mess! Moreover, their only foothold in the East had been snatched away by Chen Yu, which was a real headache for them. ¡°Brother, I see you¡¯re a real talent! How about we let bygones be bygones? The Childe Family will appoint you as the person in charge in the East, where you¡¯ll have complete control over all the operations there. As for the profits, forty percent is yours!¡± Chen Yu casually rotated the glass in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in being your agent. If we¡¯re to do this, let¡¯s be partners!¡± Fox¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu¡¯s ambition to be so great. In the Western world, anyone who did business with the Childe Family had to put the Childe Family first. They could never be partners! Otherwise, it would be a direct challenge to the Childe Family¡¯s authority. Fox took a moment to regain his composure and sipped his champagne lightly. ¡°Being partners is not impossible, but I¡¯m not sure if you have the strength for it, brother. At the very least, you should have a wholly-owned private enterprise under your complete control.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°That I certainly have. This trip to Aslarga is precisely for the expansion of the market here. If we could cooperate with the Childe Family, that would be more than ideal.¡± Fox drained his glass of champagne. At this point, he had to compromise. ¡°Alright, I can agree to a partnership, but my two sons are still trapped on the rooftop; I hope you can let them go.¡± When they had come down earlier, although Luo Ming and Russell Childe were out of Chen Yu¡¯s control, they were both unable to move as if magic had been cast upon them. Chen Yu, with an unhurried demeanor, took out a contract from his person and slammed it on the table. ¡°Mr. Fox, please sign this contract first. Otherwise, those two will remain like that for the rest of their lives.¡± Fox sighed in resignation, glanced over the contract briefly, and signed it. This was a proposal for cooperation between the two parties; it did not have specific clauses but was intended to cement the cooperation plan. The document was legally binding, requiring both parties to reach cooperation within the specified time or pay a penalty for breach of contract. After Fox stamped the seal, Chen Yu accompanied him back to the rooftop and lightly tapped on the bodies of Luo Ming and Russell Childe. The brothers, who had been rigid just moments ago, immediately relaxed. Russell even jumped up and down subconsciously to feel the condition of his body. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Load failed, please RETRY Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 350 Delaying Time Chapter 350: Chapter 350 Delaying Time ¡°`Chen Yu didn¡¯t leave but continued to follow Fox. After all, the Childe Family is a capital giant, and where there is capital, there is blood. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that the Childe Family wouldn¡¯t pursue him after he left. Once Fox confirmed that his two children were safe, he breathed a sigh of relief and then left the restaurant with Chen Yu. Not far from there stood an ancient castle that sprawled over ten thousand acres. Calling it ancient was a stretch, as it had only been built some two hundred years ago. It was a private property of the Childe Family. The interior was decorated lavishly, akin to a palace, even the security guards at the entrance were specially trained. Chen Yu simply followed Fox straight into the castle and sat down in a relatively spacious hall. Fox understood what Chen Yu wanted, so he dared not go too far and merely gestured for a servant to open a bottle of wine. ¡°Mr. Chen, it is a supreme honor for the entire Childe Family to cooperate with you! I hope we will have a pleasant collaboration,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t reach for a glass but just nodded his head slightly before slowly standing up and heading straight to the second floor. Everyone present was confused, not knowing what Chen Yu was planning to do. Before they could react, a scream came from the second floor, and a rather sturdy figure was thrown down forcefully. All eyes widened as they hurried forward to check and discovered that it was the eldest young master of the Childe Family, Luohao Childe! Fox quickly stood up, his eyes filled with complex emotions. ¡°You little bastard, still eating that stuff. I¡¯ve told you, it¡¯s from the laboratory and not to be consumed. Why can¡¯t you kick this habit?¡± Fox said, his words tinged with a sense of frustration and disappointment. Then, several doctors rushed out hastily and subdued Luohao. They immediately injected him with a sedative. Chen Yu observed for a while before pushing aside the doctors and grasping Luohao¡¯s neck, slowly moving his hand downward. No one knew what Chen Yu was about to do, but they did not dare to stop him, having already witnessed his capabilities. After roughly a minute, Luohao¡¯s body suddenly convulsed violently before spitting out a red and yellow liquid. Upon contact with the floor, this substance demonstrated a potent corrosive ability, literally burning a large hole in the flooring. It was baffling how Luohao had managed to ingest such a thing! While everyone was concerned, Luohao unexpectedly stood up perfectly fine, and the hazy look he had earlier vanished without a trace. ¡°My God! Mr. Chen, you can actually cure this illness!¡± Fox¡¯s breathing became rapid; this drug was something they developed specifically to treat schizophrenia. After clinical trials, the results looked very promising, but it had one side effect ¨C the user could easily develop a dependency. Given that it was a drug for treating schizophrenia, if the dosage was too high, it could potentially cause irreversible damage to the human brain. Not only could it worsen schizophrenia, but it might also lead to other mental disorders. Something had happened when Luohao was young, which made his mental state extremely unstable. Therefore, Fox ordered the establishment of a dedicated department within the Childe Family to research this miracle drug.¡°` Although the research had yielded results, new problems had arisen before them. Chen Yu seemed to be extremely familiar with the issue, and merely by examining Luohao¡¯s body, he understood the crux of the problem. After forcing the mixed liquid out of Luohao¡¯s stomach, he took out several needles and began to prick them into his body. Before long, Luohao¡¯s obese body turned into a hedgehog. Fox, after all the head of the Childe family, naturally knew what Chen Yu was doing and therefore did not interrupt. ¡°Alright, the toxins in Young Master Luohao¡¯s body have been completely cleared. As for the disease in his head, that might be a bit more tricky. If Mr. Fox trusts me, I can treat him, but the process will take some time, perhaps a month.¡± Fox immediately became excited. Luohao was, after all, his eldest son, who had been deranged from a young age. If Luohao could be completely cured without side effects, he couldn¡¯t ask for more. ¡°Of course you can! Whatever Mr. Chen needs, I¡¯ll arrange it right away!¡± Chen Yu pointed to the largest room on the second floor. ¡°Give me that room, and also help me find some medicinal materials!¡± Fox nodded repeatedly: ¡°None of these are a problem, I¡¯ll go handle them immediately.¡± A weird curve suddenly formed on the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth, and then he took out the previous contract. ¡°In addition, I hope that during my treatment period, the terms on the contract can be fulfilled as soon as possible! The Fox Family must connect with the Tong Family from the Imperial Capital in the shortest time.¡± By this time, Fox could no longer care about the finer details. Not to mention fulfilling the contractual terms, he would have no issue even giving away a portion of the Childe family¡¯s shares. ¡°Mr. Chen, rest assured, I can arrange these matters as quickly as possible!¡± Chen Yu said no more, but instructed the two medics beside him to carry Luohao to the second-floor room. Upon entering the room, Chen Yu took a syringe of anesthetic from the medical box nearby and injected it into Luohao. The medicine developed by the Childe Family was in fact miraculous and had already cured Luohao¡¯s ailments to a certain extent. However, the man had developed a dependency on the medication, and excessive use had led to such consequences. All that was needed was to eliminate this dependency. In other words, Luohao had already been cured back in the first-floor hall. The reason for the one-month timeframe was to allow the Childe Family to negotiate with the Tong Family and quickly complete the capital integration. In the following period, the Childe Family people were bustling about busily. They had to fulfill all the strange requests posed by Chen Yu and also try their best to draft the most perfect contract for cooperation with the Tong Family. Many western magnates and Wall Street capitals were stirred up, thinking that the Childe Family was up to something big. Even economic experts specially compiled a so-called forecasting plan. While everyone was busy, Chen Yu sat leisurely in the room, playing games with ease. He only needed to ensure Luohao¡¯s safety now. Just then, a rush of knocking came from outside the door, and Fox barged in hurriedly. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you have a moment now?¡± Chen Yu frowned: ¡°I do have some time before this bottle of nutrient solution for Young Master Luohao runs out!¡± Fox immediately became excited and hurriedly stepped forward to grasp Chen Yu¡¯s arm. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 351 Mixed Toxicity Chapter 351: Chapter 351 Mixed Toxicity ¡°My lady suddenly fell ill with a strange disease, lying motionless in bed, continuously spitting out a dark black liquid from her mouth¡­¡± Fox blurted out all the symptoms his wife had! Chen Yu was greatly shocked, as the symptoms were incredibly bizarre and his medical knowledge had no record of such a case or anything similar. However, since he had encountered it, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. He quickly followed Fox to the room next door. A beautiful woman in her early thirties was lying on the bed, her body convulsing non-stop. Not only was she spitting out a dark black liquid from her mouth, but her body surface was also covered with dense, black lines. A few doctors were at a loss, next to them a trolley already piled with used needles and empty vials. It seemed they had already employed all available treatments. The situation was frightening, enough to scare anyone, and even Chen Yu froze for a moment. After adjusting his breathing briefly, Chen Yu hurried forward and grasped the woman¡¯s pulse. It must be said, this woman was incredibly enchanting; even in such a state, she had a uniquely alluring charm. No wonder Fox was so worried. It didn¡¯t take long for Chen Yu to determine the woman was poisoned with a compound toxin. The toxin had long since invaded her viscera, wreaking havoc, and traditional medical methods were simply incapable of curing her. Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Chen Yu took a scalpel from nearby and cut open the patient¡¯s abdomen. All the organs inside had turned a dark purple-black color, truly horrifying! Chen Yu quickly inspected the internal condition of the patient and immediately wrote a prescription, handing it to the nurse beside him. ¡°Get me these medicines within three minutes, or there will be no saving her!¡± The nurse didn¡¯t dare delay, grabbing the prescription and rushing out the door. In just two minutes, she came back carrying an assortment of bottles and jars. Chen Yu had already removed a small part of the woman¡¯s liver and began preparing the medication immediately as the nurse brought the drugs. He then crushed the liver into powder and mixed it with the medication. After the mixture was ready, he quickly distributed the liquid evenly throughout the patient¡¯s body. The liver is the only organ in the body with the ability to self-repair, leveraging special secretions and the stimulant properties in the other medicines to maximize this regenerative capacity. Moreover, since it was the patient¡¯s own liver, there was no risk of rejection. After quickly suturing the patient¡¯s abdominal wound, Chen Yu took out silver needles and continuously pricked the patient¡¯s body. About five minutes later, the patient began to cough violently, incessantly vomiting a foul-smelling, viscous substance from her mouth. In less than a minute, she had vomited almost half a basinful. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Yu took several bottles from the medicines delivered, mixed them together, and rudely poured them into the patient¡¯s mouth. Although the treatment process appeared extraordinarily brutal, the patient¡¯s condition miraculously began to improve. The dense lines on her body started to dissipate quickly. Fox was trembling with fear and astonishment as he watched, and if it weren¡¯t for his absolute trust in Chen Yu¡¯s medical skills, he would have intervened long ago. ¡°From now on, just take the medicine on time and rest well, and she will recover in less than a month!¡± Chen Yu said, wiping his hands casually, looking completely unperturbed. It seemed to him that what had just transpired was no more than a trivial matter. Fox nodded repeatedly and quickly stepped forward to embrace the patient in his arms. Before he could speak, Chen Yu suddenly touched his arm. ¡°Mr. Fox, my main reason for coming here was to treat your son; shouldn¡¯t your wife pay me a little for the medical care?¡± asked Chen Yu. At this moment, Fox didn¡¯t say much and immediately took out a banknote from his person. Chen Yu took it and saw to his surprise that it was an entire billion, and even more, it was in green currency! That would be seven billion when converted! True to the Childe Family¡¯s patriarch¡¯s reputation, his generosity was immense. After silently marveling to himself, Chen Yu left the room directly, as there wasn¡¯t much left for him to do here. Just as he had stepped out of the sickroom, a cold light suddenly struck from behind. A burly middle-aged man appeared, wielding a knight¡¯s longsword, and brought it down fiercely. Chen Yu moved swiftly, dodging and simultaneously reaching out to grasp the longsword. ¡°I truly didn¡¯t expect that someone from the Childe Family would attempt to kill me; if I¡¯m not mistaken, the person who sent you here is the same one who poisoned that lady, isn¡¯t it?¡± said Chen Yu. A look of terror suddenly appeared in the man¡¯s eyes; he hadn¡¯t anticipated Chen Yu¡¯s deduction to be so precise. Before he could react, the longsword in his hands was crushed into powder. The next instant, Chen Yu had grabbed his neck and began to apply pressure slowly. Fox had heard the commotion outside and rushed out to see what was happening. When he saw the man, he was momentarily startled. ¡°Why are you here? Why did you attack Mr. Chen?¡± he demanded. The man¡¯s breathing became rapid, as he had thought a single move would be enough to kill Chen Yu, never expecting such an outcome. ¡°Mr. Fox, I won¡¯t say anything, please just kill me,¡± the man pleaded. Fox snorted coldly, ¡°Do you really think I wouldn¡¯t dare to kill you? Tell me, did that wretched woman send you?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened, and a mysterious rage appeared on his face. ¡°Mr. Fox, that¡¯s still your lawful wife; how can you insult her like this?¡± he protested. Fox¡¯s own breathing became labored as he slapped the man¡¯s face and then violently kicked him in the abdomen. The man fell to the ground, writhing in agony. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know it was you who had an affair with that wretched woman. You even had the shamelessness to come here and target Mr. Chen. If I don¡¯t kill you today, I can no longer hold my head up as the head of the family,¡± Fox raged. Overcome with emotion, Fox drew a dagger from the wall, ready to take action. The man was startled and quickly knelt on the floor. ¡°Uncle, I did it all for your sake,¡± he pleaded. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth dropped open at the scene; he hadn¡¯t expected the internal relations of the Childe Family to be so chaotic. Though many wealthy families often dealt with various scandalous rumors, the volume of information here was simply too much for even Chen Yu to absorb. He didn¡¯t linger and turned to return to the adjacent room. Just as Chen Yu opened the door, a dark figure flickered at the window and then disappeared without a trace. Chen Yu was startled and hurriedly went to check on Luo Hao¡¯s condition. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 352 Huang Family Forces the Throne Chapter 352: Chapter 352 Huang Family Forces the Throne There were no obvious changes to Luo Hao, except for the addition of a special knife beside him. It must have been left here in haste by the figure that had rushed by earlier. Chen Yu immediately became vigilant, cautiously surveyed the surroundings, and then leaned over the window to look down. Everything had happened too quickly earlier, and since the shadow had flashed by, it hadn¡¯t left any clear traces. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing and returned to Luo Hao¡¯s bedside to check on his condition. Once sure there were no problems, he moved over a chair and sat down. Right now, the most important thing for him was to buy time. As long as he could get the Tong Family and the Childe Family to connect, they could establish a real capital center in the Imperial City. Based on this, the Tong Family could expand worldwide. In not too much time, perhaps the Tong Family could surpass the Childe Family in most aspects and even replace their position. The following month passed without any unexpected events, with everything seeming very calm. On the last day, Chen Yu removed all the anesthesia from Luo Hao, allowing him to regain consciousness. The moment Luo Hao awoke, Fox stood in front of the bed, extremely excited, and gripped Chen Yu¡¯s arm, shaking it nonstop. ¡°Mr. Chen, I didn¡¯t expect that in one month at my place, you¡¯d save two lives of our family. I don¡¯t know how to thank you! Rest assured, I will strictly fulfill the contract we signed before, and I will also increase the capital investment.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Fox to make such a promise to him, especially since the Childe Family was the world¡¯s top capitalist family, one that never lightly made promises to anyone. ¡°Then let me thank you in advance, Mr. Fox!¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Yu left directly. The Fox Family all but rolled out the red carpet for Chen Yu, even offering their family¡¯s private plane for his use. All the media reporters who had rushed to the airport, as well as many Wall Street tycoons, were utterly shocked by the sight before them. They had never seen the Childe Family give anyone such treatment, let alone an Easterner. As soon as Chen Yu boarded the plane, a blue-white glow emanated from him, enveloping the entire aircraft. Besides the key equipment in the cockpit, all other electronic information devices were completely shielded. Then, a multitude of information appeared in his mind. While treating Luo Hao, Chen Yu had discovered that besides the medicine for mental illness, there were other drug residues in his body. Although these medicines were greatly beneficial to the human body, an excessive dosage could be counterproductive. After analyzing the components of these medicines, Chen Yu, with the help of the system, located the factory where the Childe Family developed their pharmaceuticals. For several nights, he sneaked into the factory under the cover of darkness and collected all their data. The system was now using this data, combined with traditional Chinese medical theory, to develop more effective medicines. If he could turn these medicines into a kind of system, he could occupy a large share of the medical market. Chen Yu briefly analyzed the information in his mind and then turned off the shielding. If this state continued too long, it would alert others, and besides, those who could pilot for the Childe Family were no ordinary people. Accompanying the private plane was a private air route, so the entire flight was incredibly smooth, and they landed in the capital in less than three hours. In a business clubhouse in the northern suburbs of the capital, all the patriarchs of Xiangyun Restaurant sat there with gloomy faces. Huang Ban Cheng, sitting at the head of the table, cradled his chin in one hand, his face solemn. ¡°I¡¯ve already made it very clear to all of you before,¡± he said, ¡°there is no contractual relationship between us.¡± ¡°If you all lack retirement funds, I can give them to you, but if you¡¯re here to force me to give up my shares, then please leave.¡± His words were very tactful, yet the old patriarchs didn¡¯t listen, still staring fixedly at Huang Ban Cheng, with even one elder taking out a curved knife from his waist and placing it on the table. ¡°Ban Cheng, we watched you grow up,¡± one of them said. ¡°We all thought you were a very honest and filial child, but you¡¯ve gone too far in doing such a thing!¡± Huang Ban Cheng kept a level expression on his face and pulled out several contracts from his possession and placed them on the table. ¡°All the contracts between us were already signed,¡± he said, calm and clear. ¡°It clearly states that you no longer have any ties to Xiangyun Restaurant, and all your shares have been transferred to me. Therefore, you have no right to dictate to me.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± another patriarch laughed wildly, ¡°Boy, don¡¯t forget you have no children yet. If you die here today, everyone present is entitled to a share of your inheritance!¡± Huang Ban Cheng was taken aback; he had not expected the patriarchs to say such a thing. From their aggressive demeanor, he knew that if the negotiations broke down today, violence would follow immediately. ¡°The elders really are domineering!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice, carrying an undertone of authority, suddenly rang out, and the firmly locked doors were forcefully pushed open. The bodyguards guarding the doorway were sprawled on the ground in disarray, moaning nonstop. Chen Yu shook his fists and casually pulled over a chair to sit down. A few of the patriarchs stood up sharply, pointing shakily at Chen Yu. ¡°You¡¯re too arrogant, young man. Are you bullying us because you think the Huang Family has no one to support it?¡± Chen Yu had no intention of wasting time with these guys. ¡°I¡¯ve come here today to inform you all that Xiangyun Restaurant is about to start a comprehensive cooperation with the Tong Family. If you persist in being so aggressive, then you will be opposing the Tong Family.¡± No sooner had he spoken than everyone present was taken aback; while Xiangyun Restaurant was a centuries-old establishment, it was not on the same level in terms of influence and scale as the Tong Family. Moreover, Tong Ming was already a capital tycoon in the capital, and should they stubbornly proceed, they would not be able to accept the eventual consequences. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and then pulled Huang Ban Cheng to his feet and strode out of the door without anyone daring to stop them. As soon as Huang Ban Cheng stepped outside, he couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, panting heavily. He had really been scared back there; originally, he thought that the many patriarchs, being related by blood, would not harm him. But it turned out that these people had come fully prepared to kill him there. If Chen Yu hadn¡¯t arrived in time, he might have been in great danger. No sooner had the two of them left the clubhouse than a car screeched to a halt at the entrance. A few stocky men alighted from the vehicle and encircled Chen Yu and Huang Ban Cheng. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 353 Li Dongcheng Chapter 353: Chapter 353 Li Dongcheng ¡°So you¡¯re Huang Ban Cheng?¡± The leader of the men narrowed his eyes, his murderous intent clear upon his face. Huang Ban Cheng also felt the threat, and subconsciously retreated a few steps. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Once these people confirmed Huang Ban Cheng¡¯s identity, they took out a strangely shaped badge from their person. ¡°Our master invites you to a banquet and hopes you will kindly come with us. Otherwise, you can only die here.¡± Huang Ban Cheng seemed to think of something, and his breathing suddenly became rapid. ¡°Are you Li Dongcheng¡¯s men?¡± The leader nodded and reached out to grab Huang Ban Cheng. Just as he was about to touch Huang Ban Cheng, his body shook rapidly as if electrocuted, and then he fainted. The others immediately became alert, thinking Huang Ban Cheng had a stun gun or some other weapon in his hands. But before they could react, their bodies started convulsing too. In the end, only a skinny man was left standing. He held a rubber club in his hand and had been following the group with an air of arrogance. Now that he was the only one left, his body immediately began to tremble. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m just being paid to do a job. I just came out to earn two or three hundred bucks, please let me go.¡± Chen Yu patted his shoulder with a kind appearance. ¡°No need for this. I just want you to take me to meet Li Dongcheng.¡± Huang Ban Cheng immediately became nervous and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, Li Dongcheng is the tyrant of the imperial capital. We don¡¯t need to provoke him!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. Having returned from Agas, he had planned to rest for a while, but as soon as he left the North Suburb Airport, the system alerted him that Huang Ban Cheng was in danger. Now that he had encountered Li Dongcheng, his already poor mood immediately exploded. ¡°If I don¡¯t clear out these jumping clowns, who knows what trouble they might cause later! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± Chen Yu comforted Huang Ban Cheng for a moment and then directly picked up the man next to him and got into the car. Although the imperial capital was an international metropolis with a high degree of modern civilization, the network of relationships within it was incredibly complex. Various powers were intermixed, and it was easy to offend someone inadvertently. Li Dongcheng had a significant influence on the catering industry in the imperial capital. It was said that hundreds of years ago, his family¡¯s ancestors were the leaders in this line of business. Even now, many people who wanted to set up shop in the imperial capital had to pay tribute to his family, or they would be troubled every other day. The car soon stopped in front of a restaurant. Though it bore the sign of a restaurant, it looked more like an abandoned warehouse that had been unattended for a long time. Neatly lined up at the entrance were more than a dozen Jinbei vans, but there was no one to be seen. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes shimmered with blue and white light, and a three-dimensional perspective view of the entire restaurant instantly appeared in his mind. The seemingly quiet restaurant was hiding secrets. In the vast hall, what was piled up were not supplies, but large amounts of steel reinforcement and concrete slabs. In the relatively open area in the middle, there stood about twenty people. In their midst, a thin man with a stubbly face sat there, holding a bottle of beer in his hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, maybe we should just let it go. There are only the two of us, and Li Dongcheng is extremely cruel¡­¡± ¡°Afraid of what?¡± Chen Yu directly interrupted, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen it yet? The elders of the Huang Family have already joined forces with Li Dongcheng. If we don¡¯t take this guy down, Xiangyun Restaurant will never have peace.¡± A firmer resolve glinted in Ban Cheng¡¯s eyes. Without the interference of those elders, Xiangyun Restaurant had gradually gotten back on track, recovering its previous sales volume. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before Xiangyun Restaurant could truly become the number one old establishment in the imperial capital. Yet the royal elders had been exerting pressure in the shadows, trying to take back their shares and rights. And now they¡¯ve colluded with Li Dongcheng. This was a rhythm set to doom Xiangyun Restaurant forever. ¡°Mr. Chen, from now on I will follow your lead. Whatever you tell me to do, I¡¯ll do it.¡± After expressing his loyalty, Ban Cheng entered the restaurant with Chen Yu. The hall was extremely dim, with only one lamp lit in the very center. ¡°Who here is Li Dongcheng, Boss Li?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t waste words and inquired directly upon entering. All eyes in the room immediately locked onto him, especially the person sitting in the center, who reached for a Wolf Fang Club. He seemed drunk or something, his body swaying. ¡°Ban Cheng! You¡¯ve allied with outsiders to kick all of your uncles and elders out, which hundreds of years ago would have been a crime of betraying and destroying lineage and family.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t break all the joints in your body today, I¡¯m afraid you will forget the iron rules passed down through generations in the imperial capital¡¯s catering industry.¡± Li Dongcheng spoke with great momentum, and to those listening, he would surely seem like the just side. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing and, with a swift motion, appeared right in front of Li Dongcheng. Before the other man could react, Chen Yu¡¯s punch had already flown out, knocking Li Dongcheng to the ground. The onlooking underlings¡¯ eyes went wide; they had never seen anyone dare to be so brazen. A group of them almost instinctively pulled out weapons from behind to charge forward but unexpectedly, their bodies convulsed simultaneously. The defense system update was indeed useful. Although it looked like an electric baton, this large-scale, indiscriminate attack was quite impressive. Li Dongcheng must have sobered up, as he staggered to his feet. When he saw his underlings downed in masses, his breathing became rapid. Many of his men had undergone special training, and yet they had all fallen to the ground in a mere moment. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Li Dongcheng instinctively backed away several steps, his eyes filled with terror. Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but stepped forward, seizing him by the neck and hoisting his body high. ¡°I never thought the imperial capital still harbored such a scoundrel as you. Now that we¡¯ve met today, you can spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.¡± Chen Yu lifted his fist and smashed it fiercely into Li Dongcheng¡¯s legs. The crisp sound of bones cracking, accompanied by pig-slaughter-like screams, resounded chillingly throughout the hall. ¡°From now on, there is no longer a man named Li Dongcheng in the imperial capital!¡± Chen Yu said disdainfully as he turned to leave. But just as they reached the door, a loud shout suddenly came from behind them. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 354: No Such Person Chapter 354: Chapter 354: No Such Person ¡°Who do you think you are, saying it¡¯s not there just because you say so?¡± The voice carried endless rage, making the air buzz with a humming sound. Chen Yu turned his head, a fairly well-proportioned man emerging from somewhere. He was enveloped in a large amount of purplish-red gas, which seemed highly toxic. [System lock-on, target Li Dongcheng] Chen Yu frowned slightly, realizing that the guy from before was just a decoy. No wonder he looked half-dead! After all, Li Dongcheng was a local tyrant in the imperial capital, how could he be so weak? Wherever the purplish-red gas went, the nearby buildings rapidly decayed into liquid. This guy could actually wrap toxins around his body to attack. That an ordinary person could achieve this was truly astonishing, even Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. He adjusted his breathing slightly and took two steps forward before raising his fist and throwing a powerful punch. That punch carried a tremendously strong gust of wind, blowing away the purplish-red gas from Li Dongcheng¡¯s body. Chen Yu casually grabbed a handful of purplish-red gas from the air and sniffed it at his nose, discovering it was a mixture of more than two hundred toxins. ¡°Ling Ling, scan this person¡¯s information immediately.¡± Chen Yu instinctively gave an internal command to the system and kept his gaze fixed on Li Dongcheng. [System analysis confirmed, this person has installed some kind of air dynamics device on the chest] [Utilizing principles of aerodynamics to manipulate toxins] [His body has been injected with three hundred and twenty-seven anti-poison vaccines] Chen Yu suddenly realized, after all this commotion, that was the case; he had thought this guy had mutated. He adjusted his breathing slightly again and his figure dashed over like lightning, delivering a solid punch to the chest. In the end, Li Dongcheng was just an ordinary person, lacking both the speed and physical stature to compare with Chen Yu. He was merely using the device installed on him to scare others. With that punch, the device on Li Dongcheng¡¯s chest shattered, and the poison gas surrounding him quickly lost control and seeped into his body. Despite having taken so many anti-poison vaccines, the sudden influx of such a vast amount of toxins was more than anyone could bear. He coughed violently twice, stumbling backward, his skin turning a ghastly shade of blue. ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time, from now on there is no Li Dongcheng in the imperial capital.¡± After shaking his fist, Chen Yu strode away. Ban Cheng was utterly convinced by Chen Yu; he had never imagined Chen Yu could be this formidable. Not only was he aggressive in financial dealings, but his combat skills were equally impressive, even a bully like Li Dongcheng had been neatly handled. Since then, the Xiangyun Restaurant had completely merged with the building across from it. Although it still bore the name Xiangyun Restaurant, much of its style had now shifted to Chen Yu¡¯s approach to management. At the Tong Family villa in the northern suburbs. Just as Chen Yu entered the door, he saw a familiar figure flying towards him like a swallow. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re finally back. If you didn¡¯t return, I would have had to go out looking for you.¡± Tuan Tuan¡¯s sweet and adorable voice made Chen Yu¡¯s body tremble involuntarily; he had not expected Tuan Tuan to be in the imperial capital. ¡°How did you get here?¡± Tuan Tuan stuck out his tongue, ¡°Of course it was my mom who brought me here.¡± Tong Ya stood by with a smile, but there was a strange expression on her face, as though she feared Chen Yu would blame her. ¡°It was me who asked Xiao Ya to bring Tuan Tuan over!¡± Tong Ming walked down the stairs with a cane, chuckling, holding a very pretty bow in his hand. If one observed closely, they would notice that the bow was actually made of pure gold and inlaid with seventeen valuable gemstones. As soon as he descended, he placed the bow on Tuan Tuan¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯ve concocted such a story in front of the media, I had to make the play complete. Starting today, Tuan Tuan is my biological granddaughter, and she has a legal right to inherit from my Tong Group.¡± Chen Yu was full of surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to go to such lengths. The charade he and Fang Yuan had played was simply to deal with the Zhao Family, while also allowing Fang Yuan to clear up the loose ends from her acting career. It was a reluctant, yet mutually beneficial move. But Tong Ming had actually acknowledged it. However, when it came to it, Fang Yuan had indeed been excessive. For her own reputation and the vast assets of the Edward Family, she truly abandoned Tuan Tuan. And she hadn¡¯t even come to see her to this day. Tuan Tuan and Tong Ming got along well already, and the pair seemed to talk about everything under the sun. From life to business, from business to personal conduct, Tong Ming wished to pass on everything he had mastered in his life to Tuan Tuan. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say. Now they were a family, both nominally and in reality, anything he said seemed somewhat awkward. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu promptly took out several contracts from his person and handed them to Tong Ming. ¡°These are supplemental clauses signed with the Childe Family; could you check if there¡¯s any issue?¡± Tong Ming skimmed through the contract briefly. ¡°Chen Yu, the Childe Family is the world¡¯s top capitalist family, after all. If you want to cooperate with them, you must be extra cautious. If they renege, we would be ruined. You must thoroughly consider the arrangements you¡¯re making.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then took out a folder he was carrying with him. ¡°These are some clauses I retained personally when we signed the contract with them. All the plans extended from these clauses are to our advantage.¡± Tong Ming said no more; he had decades of experience in doing business. Even if the cooperation with the Childe Family fell through, he could still come out unscathed. Now, his focus was on training Chen Yu¡¯s abilities. Just as they were talking, a figure hurried down from upstairs. ¡°There¡¯s trouble. The cargo ship you mentioned¡ªI checked, and it seems to be in the Strait of Magellan.¡± Jin Lingsu held a report in her hand, her face the epitome of urgency. Tong Ming took the report and frowned deeply. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to have them go through the Panama Canal? How did they end up going through the Strait of Magellan?¡± Jin Lingsu sighed helplessly. ¡°The Childe Family has a vast business in that area, perhaps they diverted the fleet there for their own convenience.¡± Tong Ming slammed the report onto the table with force. ¡°This is too much. Do they think they can dictate the terms of all cooperation?¡± ¡°Sir, what do you think we should do now?¡± Jin Lingsu asked, her face solemn, with a deep murderous intent flickering in her eyes. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 355 Kraggley Chapter 355: Chapter 355 Kraggley Tong Ming rested his chin in silence for quite some time before finally getting up and using the remote to turn on the large screen on the wall. What appeared was a portion of the map of the Strait of Magellan. ¡°I remember that place is full of forces, even the Childe Family can¡¯t completely settle the issues, and once our ship gets there, it¡¯s very likely that it could go and never return. We must send someone to personally retrieve the ship; otherwise, this cooperation will cost us at least sixty billion.¡± Jin Lingsu stepped forward immediately. ¡°Mr. Tong, now I¡¯m an employee of your company too, and I¡¯ve been in charge of this matter from start to finish, so it should be me going to retrieve the ship. Besides, I do have some connections in that place!¡± Tong Ming did not immediately agree, as if he was pondering something. Chen Yu also furrowed his brows; he knew about this business deal, working with the Childe Family on an energy project. A whole sixty billion at stake¡ªif they were to lose out, it would be like someone had bitten off a chunk of flesh from Tong Group. ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t I go along as well? I¡¯m more familiar with business matters.¡± Tong Ming nodded. ¡°Then the two of you go together. Remember, safety must be your top priority.¡± Chen Yu bid farewell to Tong Ya, exchanged a few words with Tuan Tuan, and then left the villa with Jin Lingsu. Jinmen Port is one of the largest ports in the Orient, with tens of thousands of oceangoing freighters entering and leaving daily, each with a capacity of tens of thousands of tons. Standing atop the pier, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be moved as he watched the large ships clustering below. Until now, his business dealings had been fairly small, and even the larger ones involved playing with finance; he had never dealt with tangible, physical businesses. Seeing so many oceangoing freighters laid out before him, he was somewhat awestruck. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve never seen a scene like this before, have you?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s words had a hint of teasing in them. Chen Yu rolled his eyes. Truth be told, he was just a poor kid who came out of Suzhou City. If it weren¡¯t for the system¡¯s help, he would never have made it this far, let alone witness such a grand and majestic sight. ¡°First off, I am your boss, and secondly, I hold a lot of your shares! So be careful with your words.¡± Jin Lingsu huffed lightly: ¡°What, are you planning to deal with me like you did with the Zhao Family?¡± Chen Yu chuckled twice but said no more. They were already very familiar with each other and would often crack such jokes without hesitation. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the airport port; we¡¯ll miss the plane if we¡¯re any later.¡± Chen Yu reminded her and then led the way to the airport. Jinmen Port itself is a global place, hence its sea and air transport are interconnected. Right next to the harbor is the airport. The moment the two entered the airport, dozens of eyes were fixedly staring at them. [System alert: Danger detected, automatic defense feature activated] Jin Lingsu stopped in her tracks as well, cautiously surveying her surroundings, her hands gripping the golden spikes at her waist. Chen Yu looked around and noticed that more than twenty people were casually surrounding them, their waists bulging, clearly concealing weapons. ¡°Don¡¯t get too entangled with them; we need to get on the plane quickly.¡± Chen Yu patted Jin Lingsu¡¯s shoulder and took her hand, heading towards the boarding gate. Unexpectedly, just as they took a few steps, those people closed in directly, with one even pulling out a weapon from his waist and stabbing it towards Chen Yu. Blue and white electric light burst forth in an instant, sending this guy tumbling to the ground, his companions falling and convulsing like they¡¯d been shocked. Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What happened to these people? Could the static electricity here be that strong?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t explain, just pulled her towards the boarding gate. There were only ten minutes left to board the plane, and if they got delayed here summoning the relevant personnel, they would miss their flight. By then, the six hundred billion worth of goods wouldn¡¯t be under their control anymore. Yet, their pursuers continued relentlessly, all eventually brought down by the blue and white electric light. The relevant departments didn¡¯t know what had happened, thinking these people had some kind of illness, only able to have the medical staff take them away. Hmm ¡°Excuse me, miss, you can¡¯t bring this item on the plane?¡± The staff member stopped Jin Lingsu, pointing at the golden spike in her hand. This thing, when hung at the waist, could pass for a decorative item, unrecognizable to most people, but in hand, it did bear a resemblance to a dagger. Jin Lingsu smiled faintly, twirling the spike in her hand before inserting it into her hair. ¡°What, do you like my hairpin that much?¡± The staff member stood dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. As a hair ornament, the spike didn¡¯t look out of place, only perhaps a bit too long! Having no choice, the staff let Jin Lingsu pass. Settling into his seat on the plane, Chen Yu rubbed his forehead, reclined his chair and lay back. ¡°Who were those guys just now? Were they after Tong Group?¡± Jin Lingsu shook her head: ¡°Unlikely, judging by their attire, they seem like enemies from my past.¡± Chen Yu frowned, wondering just how many enemies this woman had made in the past for them to be tracking her down even to Tong Group now. However, since Jin Lingsu was his employee, and her safety was in jeopardy, he, as the boss, had to intervene. ¡°After we return from the Magellan Strait, I¡¯ll take care of those troubles for you. I don¡¯t want them showing up anymore from now on!¡± In fact, Chen Yu was mainly worried that these people could threaten Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. Jin Lingsu seemed to have anticipated that Chen Yu would do this and thanked him excitedly. The Magellan Strait, located in the Antarctic Circle, was a freezing region without nearby airports; they would have to fly to Kraggley and then rent a special off-road vehicle to reach the Magellan Strait. Almost a day¡¯s flight was exhausting for anyone, and by the time the plane landed, Chen Yu was still deep asleep. [System Alert, danger is approaching] Chen Yu snapped awake, instantly on alert. Jin Lingsu looked at him confused. ¡°Are you muddled from sleep? We¡¯ve already arrived in Kraggley!¡± Chen Yu shook his head: ¡°Be careful, we might have been targeted by someone.¡± Before long, a holographic map of the entire airport appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, with one figure marked in red. The man was holding two photos, one of Chen Yu and the other of Jin Lingsu. It looked like this person was a professional assassin, here specifically to hunt them down. At the same time, the assassin¡¯s personal information also surfaced in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Hax Group Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Hax Group ¡°Hacks Group?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, he had never heard of this company. ¡°What did you say? Hacks Group?¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly became tense, ¡°They are a local power entrenched here, often living off robbing passing ships.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood what was happening and quickly pulled Jin Lingsu to the side and ran. Before long, they saw a middle-aged man leaning against a column, scrutinizing a photo, and fiddling with a knife in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Chen Yu charged straight at him, and before the man could react, he had grabbed him by the neck and lifted him high. ¡°Are you from the Hacks Group?¡± The man was instantly confounded, having quietly lurked here early in the morning, carefully observing the passing pedestrians. Yet, before he could complete his mission, he had been discovered and controlled by his target. ¡°So what if I am? You foreigners have offended people you shouldn¡¯t have and even dreamed of negotiating, so we can only teach you a lesson,¡± he said. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; typically, assassins caught would be frightened, showing at least some panic. But this guy was completely different, not only extremely composed but also with an undiminished murderous look in his eyes. He seemed to be a professional killer trained from a young age. Just as he was preparing to continue the interrogation, the sound of clapping hands came from the side. ¡°Quite impressive, it¡¯s the first time one of our Hacks Group¡¯s assassins has been caught.¡± Chen Yu abruptly turned his head to see a dozen people slowly approaching. However, the man leading them was somewhat strange, his entire body exuding an odd metallic quality, and his hands seemed to be entirely made of mechanical frames. [Detecting electromagnetic device, decoding in progress¡­] [Decoding failed!] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, this was the first time he saw something the system couldn¡¯t hack. ¡°Are you also from the Hacks Group?¡± He cautiously asked, then tossed the man in his hands aside. The leading man let out a loud laugh. ¡°Whether I am or not is irrelevant, you¡¯re talented, and I think you should have greater opportunities for development! Why not join the Hacks Group? I can guarantee you the highest salary.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, had this guy not investigated his background properly? ¡°I¡¯m not interested! Since you¡¯ve come to the airport to block me, that means our ship must have fallen into your hands, so let¡¯s talk terms.¡± The man didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°Direct, let¡¯s find a place to talk.¡± Although Kraggley was not a major international city, it was still a fairly decent medium-sized city. Many of its landmarks were quite distinctive, also making it a tourist destination. The two parties sat down in a mixed-style restaurant. ¡°Mr. Chen, now that we understand each other, let¡¯s get straight to the point! I want twenty billion, once the money is transferred, I will immediately release the people and the ship.¡± Chen Yu sneered; the ship¡¯s principal amount was sixty billion, and after one deal, the most it could double. According to the contract, the Tong Family and the Childe Family each would get thirty billion. Now these people were demanding twenty billion right off the bat, likely testing his bottom line. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to give you a single penny?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with contempt, signaling his readiness to confront them head-on. The man slammed the table hard, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I can no longer guarantee the safety of young master Russell!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; after all this commotion, it turned out that Russell was in the hands of these people, no wonder they were so brazen. In principle, the ransom should be paid by the Childe Family, but since both parties are currently partners, the top priority is to rescue the person first. Just as Chen Yu was preparing to have the system analyze Russell¡¯s location, a strange sizzling sound arose in his mind. [Unknown interference source detected] [Anti-jamming program initiated, cracking, entering] A series of voices left Chen Yu puzzled, and before he could react, a flood of information had already appeared in his mind. [Hewick, forty-two years old, the number two person at Hacks Group] [Suffered a car accident in his early years, replaced the damaged parts with mechanical devices, which are equipped with weapons] At the same time, an action plan also took shape. Chen Yu instantly felt much more at ease, leaned back in his chair, and stared at Hewick coldly. ¡°Mr. Hewick, since you¡¯ve kidnapped young master Russell, I¡¯m going to use you to exchange him.¡± Hewick laughed hysterically as if he had heard a huge joke. ¡°Kid, do you know what all this equipment on me is for? You want to use me to exchange for Russell, just like that? You must be very naive.¡± No sooner had his voice faded when his devices suddenly made a series of squeaking noises and then stopped completely. Before he could react, Chen Yu¡¯s figure was already beside him, gripping his neck tightly. ¡°To some extent, killing you would be easier than crushing a disgusting bug!¡± After humiliating Hewick harshly, Chen Yu turned to a nearby underling. ¡°Go back and tell your boss right now, say that Hewick is in my hands, and they should use Russell for the exchange, and I also want twenty billion as compensation.¡± The crowd was instantly dumbfounded; these sorts of plots usually happened to them, so how had it now turned around? But with Hewick now captured, they didn¡¯t dare delay and hurriedly left the place. Chen Yu, on the other hand, controlled all the devices on Hewick¡¯s body through the system¡¯s adjustments. ¡°This is impossible, how did you do it? My systems were designed by top hackers.¡± Hewick was petrified with terror; now, if Chen Yu wanted him dead, he had no way to resist. Chen Yu did not answer, his expression turning grave. He didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened to the system; it hadn¡¯t made any sound since the crack of Hewick¡¯s system. Was it because the system had crashed due to a forced crack after a decoding failure? As he was lost in thought, a surge of data information suddenly appeared in his mind. [System cracked, merging new codes, autonomous upgrade] The functions that newly appeared amazed Chen Yu. One of them could even directly scan brain information. Just as he was about to understand more about the system¡¯s new functions, Jin Lingsu got anxious. ¡°Hey, what are you doing? Why are you just standing there with a silly grin? What¡¯s our next move? Give me an answer.¡± Chen Yu then came to his senses. ¡°Find a safe and secluded place to hide this guy, and then let¡¯s have a good fight with the Hacks Group!¡± ¡°I want to see what kind of skills these guys have that enable them to rule over the Zheren Strait.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 357 Death Desert Chapter 357: Chapter 357 Death Desert Kraggley Center Hotel, Chen Yu had thrown Hewick, bound hand and foot, onto the sofa. He had also altered every program and electric code in his body, rendering him immobile. What Hewick found most intolerable was that Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu were eating grilled fish right in front of him. In this place, resources were extremely scarce, but the grill was exceptional. Many people traveled thousands of miles just to taste the local delicacies. Chen Yu tore off a piece of beef fiercely, looking at Hewick with a provocative gaze. ¡°Would you like to have a bite?¡± Hewick, already drooling, instinctively nodded his immobilized body, completely unable to move. Chen Yu laughed heartily, then tore off another chunk of meat right in front of him. Jin Lingsu had been laughing so hard she was bending forward and backward. Just then, a rapid knock on the door suddenly came from the entrance, turning both of their complexions grave in an instant. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes immediately flashed with blue-white light, and the scene outside the door presented itself in his mind. A chambermaid with fresh linen stood at the door, and behind her followed more than twenty burly men armed with weapons. These men radiated a murderous aura; if they burst in, they would kill both of them on the spot. Chen Yu made a silencing gesture and quickly approached the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Good evening, sir, we¡¯re here to change the bedding. Could you please open the door?¡± The chambermaid¡¯s voice was still crisp, but there was a hint of panic in her tone. Chen Yu responded and opened the door directly, and indeed, the twenty-odd people behind her rushed in. As these people charged in, they felt an electric current pass through their bodies and collapsed instantly. The chambermaid, terrified out of her wits, stood motionless at the door. Chen Yu picked up one of the men from the ground and dragged him to the table. With a light pat on the man¡¯s shoulder, he woke him up. ¡°Aren¡¯t your people at the Magellan Straits? What are you doing here?¡± The man seemed not yet to have come to his senses, his face full of confusion; he had no idea how he had ended up on the floor. ¡°I¡¯d advise you to let our second in command go, or we¡¯ll kill you all.¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected the man to be so defiant, so he smacked him across the face. ¡°Answer my question first.¡± The man, stunned by the slap, looked over at Hewick, who hadn¡¯t moved an inch on the sofa; terror reached its peak on his face. The suit Hewick wore was a costly creation by Hacks Corporation; if even such a being was controlled by Chen Yu, what could he do? ¡°We just got wind of your location and came here to ambush you.¡± Chen Yu sneered and grabbed the man¡¯s head, a flash of blue-white light passing by. The information from the man¡¯s brain instantly appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. The system¡¯s functions were becoming increasingly godlike, as if he carried an artificial intelligence with him. ¡°So, you planted a spy in the Childe Family, no wonder you know our movements like the back of your hand and can precisely control the merchant ships in the Magellan Straits.¡± At these words, Hewick, who was standing nearby, was startled. Chen Yu¡¯s interrogation had been fully observed by him, and it seemed like nothing substantial had been asked, yet how could he know everything? Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing; he hadn¡¯t expected things to be so deeply complicated. Although the Childe Family was the top capitalist conglomerate in the world, its internals were extremely unstable, with spies infiltrating from time to time. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t know the specific routes of the cargo ships in such detail. After the deep collaboration between the Childe Family and the Tong Group, all ocean-going cargo ships over ten thousand tons had been disguised, and even their berthing positions were meticulously designed. Unless it was someone from inside, no one would know the exact situation. Chen Yu extended his finger to tap lightly on the man¡¯s head, electrocuting him into unconsciousness once again. He then walked up to Hewick. ¡°Mr. Hewick, some matters may require your cooperation, and I hope you can now voluntarily turn off all the electronic devices on you so I can scan your brain.¡± Hewick¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and fear covered his face to the utmost. The set of equipment on him couldn¡¯t be re-installed after the car accident; it was powerful, but it caused him a lot of pain. How could Chen Yu, who seemed to be a complete human without any obvious electronic devices on him, possibly scan a normal person¡¯s brain? Before he could react, Chen Yu had already grabbed his shoulder, and a current instantly ran through Hewick¡¯s body. All the electronic sensing devices on him completely failed! A strange curve formed on the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he stared intently at Hewick. Before long, everything inside the man¡¯s head was replicated in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. ¡°So it was a seduction strategy, such a low-level tactic, and you still resorted to it!¡± Chen Yu scoffed and tapped Hewick¡¯s head, electrocuting him into unconsciousness. ¡°You¡¯re getting more and more powerful now!¡± Jin Lingsu said with disbelief in her eyes, ¡°How did you do it? How could you scan the information in their brains?¡± Chen Yu casually pointed at the watch on his wrist. ¡°This is a specially customized new product that can, to some extent, merge with a person¡¯s brain waves, thereby probing for information from the brain.¡± This explanation was far-fetched, and naturally, Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t believe it, but since the conversation had reached this point, she didn¡¯t ask any further. The two did not linger there for long. After eating and drinking, they set off in the middle of the night for the Magellan Strait. The journey from Kraggley to the Magellan Strait required an eight-hour drive, which necessitated crossing a desolate desert. Therefore, they needed to get a professional off-road vehicle. Jin Lingsu had some connections here. With a single phone call, she obtained a fully equipped vehicle. The journey through the desert was tough, and it was the largest Death Desert on the planet. The climate there was extremely harsh, with temperatures fluctuating between forty degrees Celsius above zero and twenty degrees below zero. Anyone wishing to enter the desert must make thorough preparations; otherwise, they would perish there. Although Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu were not ordinary people, they had still made ample preparations. When their car reached the center of the desert, the colors between heaven and earth changed dramatically, and the temperature shift was rapid. This place was near the Arctic Circle and was extremely cold, but because of its peculiar terrain, a current of air passed through here and converged in the desert, creating the temperature difference. That was what led to the environmental extremes in this area! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 358 Midnight Ambush Chapter 358: Chapter 358 Midnight Ambush Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, hurriedly found a spot to park the car, and covered it with the prepared camouflage tarp. ¡°This damn weather really is unpredictable, looks like we¡¯re going to have to spend the night here.¡± Chen Yu casually took out several packs of ready-to-eat food from the car and placed them on the ground. Jin Lingsu sighed helplessly, she had been here before and knew how awful the weather changes could be. Hurriedly, she began to help Chen Yu tidy up. Just then, a truck suddenly appeared not far away. They must have wanted to find shelter too, and when they saw Chen Yu, they immediately drove over. ¡°You two, the environment here is really harsh, it¡¯s hard for a single team to make it through, can we join you? Let¡¯s get through the night together?¡± There were six people who came down from the truck, and they seemed to be on their way to the Strait of Magellan for some business, each carrying a bag. Chen Yu immediately had his system scan these people¡¯s identity information, as well as everything on the truck, and even extracted information from their brains. These guys were no simpletons, carrying with them ten million in green currency! Beyond that, there were a large number of weapons in the truck. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just had them park their truck to the side, then began setting up camp. It seemed that these people¡¯s boat had also been detained by the Hacks Group, and their purpose was similar to Chen Yu¡¯s. The two sides exchanged pleasantries briefly, then each returned to their cars. At midnight, two people suddenly came down from the other vehicle, quietly circling to the side of Chen Yu¡¯s car. These two guys sneakily pried open the car door, intending to get in. Little did they know, every move they made was replicated in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. The moment they stepped onto the car, Chen Yu suddenly leapt up, kicking out twice in quick succession, sending the two men flying out. ¡°Gentlemen, aren¡¯t you going a bit too far? Everyone going to the Strait of Magellan has the same status, and here you are attacking us in the dead of night.¡± The two men clutched their chests, coughing violently, without saying a word. The remaining two from the truck also ran over, pointing weapons at Chen Yu. ¡°Since we all have the same goal, you should know how much it costs to ship a ten-thousand-ton freighter through the Strait of Magellan? The money we brothers have isn¡¯t enough, we just wanted to borrow some from you! Don¡¯t worry, we will surely repay it later.¡± You had to admit, those guys were smooth talkers. In such a desolate wilderness, after borrowing money, they could just kill them off, why bother saying anything about repayment? ¡°Since you know the score, I won¡¯t say much more.¡± A murderous aura suddenly erupted in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Then please leave all the money you have on you.¡± With a loud shout, Chen Yu charged out, tapping each of the four men, who immediately collapsed. The four were caught off guard, not anticipating that Chen Yu could overpower them so effortlessly and take control. ¡°Who exactly are you? Do you know the price of offending us?¡± The apparent leader was still blustering as if he were something formidable. Chen Yu snorted coldly, lifting his foot and pressing it onto the man¡¯s head. ¡°Who you are is none of my business; in any case, you¡¯re going to slowly die out here in this desert.¡± At that moment, a sudden strong wind arose in the desert, and huge hailstones fell from the sky, clattering noisily upon the car. If it weren¡¯t for the camouflage net that had been set up in advance, which caught the hail, I¡¯m afraid the car would have been smashed to pieces. Once the four people were exposed to such an environment, they wouldn¡¯t last long. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. He directly took all the money and personal belongings from the other car and moved them to his own. Then he tied up the four people thoroughly and threw them by the roadside. By dawn, Chen Yu drove away in the car, leaving them behind. Although the Magellan Strait lies within the Antarctic Circle and is frozen year-round, it¡¯s an important transportation hub, and also home to the largest port within the Antarctic Circle. Countless mega-tonne tankers pass through here every year! When Chen Yu arrived, he was shocked by the scene before him; the scale of the port was twice the size of Tianjin¡¯s. He didn¡¯t have time to marvel at the scenery; as soon as he got there, he went straight to a bar. This bar was built with a brazen design, located right in the middle of the bustling area, and featured a plethora of luxury cars parked outside. Hundreds of people were standing guard around the clock. As soon as Chen Yu parked nearby, two bouncers stopped him. ¡°Are you blind? Don¡¯t you know parking¡¯s not allowed here? Get lost quick or I¡¯ll kill you.¡± A sinister smile curled at Chen Yu¡¯s lips. He floored the accelerator and rammed his way through. The roaring of the car made the bouncers as if facing a formidable enemy; two of them even pulled out weapons. But the car, modified and exceptionally sturdy, instantly ran over a dozen bouncers. It also left a huge hole in the wall of the bar. Inside the hall, a dozen middle-aged men sat by a table, seemingly in a meeting. As the car crashed in, they all stood up, and the bodyguards by their side instinctively drew their weapons. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly, kicked open the car door, and stepped out. ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯m here to redeem a hostage. I hope you can make it easy for me.¡± The crowd was confused, no one had ever come here so brazenly to redeem someone before. ¡°Who the hell are you? Daring to come here like this, grab him and mince him into meat,¡± ordered a thin middle-aged man covered in various gold ornaments; he obviously had quite the fortune. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care, his figure flashed before the man, and with a palm to his stomach, he sent him flying, slamming him onto the table. Everyone present was stunned. They did not expect Chen Yu to actually strike. Before they could react, a surge of electricity spread instantly through the room. The group who had just been fierce and menacing collapsed to the ground. One, who appeared to suffer from some chronic illness, spat out a mouthful of foam when the electric current passed through him. Chen Yu¡¯s expression was icy as he quickly approached an old man, lifted a finger, and lightly tapped the man¡¯s head. The man came to and gasped for air, his eyes filled with terror. ¡°Who are you? What exactly do you want to do?¡± Nonchalantly, Chen Yu took out a photo of Russell from his pocket and handed it over. ¡°I already said I¡¯m here to redeem someone. Let¡¯s get on with the trade.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Chapter 359 Kro Archipelago Chapter 359: Chapter 359 Kro Archipelago The old man was terrified to the extreme, Chen Yu looked nothing like he was here to make a deal, anyone would believe he was here to rob. ¡°Mr. Kro is in the room over there, if you¡¯re willing, you can just take him and go.¡± Chen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze brimming with endless murderous intent. ¡°We still need to do this by the book, after all, it was you who asked me to come here to ransom someone. Either I kill you all and take the person away, or I pay the money, and you hand over the person.¡± The old man¡¯s body shook violently, wasn¡¯t this situation leading to them all being killed? But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he knocked the old man out and dragged Kro out of the neighboring room. The moment Kro saw Chen Yu, he lunged toward him as if he saw a family member. ¡°Mr. Chen, you finally came. If you had been any later, those guys would have devoured me alive.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of disgust; who knows how many days this guy had been locked up here, reeking of a strange odor. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry up and leave this place.¡± Kro nodded repeatedly, almost running out the door. He had had enough of this place and feared he would go mad if he had to stay even a moment longer. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with anything else, he quickly headed to the dock with Kro. Their cargo ship was trapped in a cove at the dock, along with over a dozen other mega tankers. Each ship was guarded by people from the Harkes Group. A large number of crew members and workers were imprisoned in the cabins, unable to get out. Chen Yu frowned at the scene before him, not expecting the situation here to be so dire. The Harkes Group, a group built by desperados, feared nothing and no one, not giving face even to the Childe Family. ¡°Halt, who are you? Do you have a pass?¡± A burly man suddenly blocked Chen Yu¡¯s path, pointing his weapon at Chen Yu¡¯s head. A gleam of contempt flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he pushed the man aside and boarded the ship. The people from the Harkes Group were startled. They had not expected anyone to brazenly board the ship they controlled. Just as they were about to force Chen Yu off, a surge of blue and white light suddenly enveloped the entire vessel. Chen Yu merely extended his hand to touch the hull of the ship, and then the system activated its defense function to the maximum. The system had, on a chance occasion, undergone a minor evolution. Within its range, the electric current it generated could knock out large groups of people. However, spreading this current over such a large ship was bound to weaken its effect. Even so, all the people belonging to the Harkes Group on the ship were stunned instantly. People from the other ships, witnessing this, were shocked and rushed over, eager to regain control of the vessels. ¡°Your boss is already dead. From today onwards, the Harkes Group no longer exists. If you want to live, release all the ships here immediately.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s voice suddenly spread throughout the entire dockyard through the loudspeakers. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. At that time, he merely stunned those guys and did not take their lives. But given Jin Lingsu¡¯s temperament, how could she possibly let those men off. She must have circled back after he left and killed all of them. Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; this woman¡¯s ferocity was unchangeable. Once it was known that the boss of the Hacks Group had met his end, all the minor players on the ship simultaneously rushed to flee the place. They were just there to make a living, and now that the boss of the Hacks Group was no more, they naturally had to find a new leader in the shortest time possible, or else how would they survive? Chen Yu did not concern himself with them. After throwing the Hacks members off the ship, he ordered the crew to set sail. The Strait of Magellan is situated within the Antarctic Circle, where it is icy and snowy all year round, with ports ice-bound for most of the time, making it impossible for ten-thousand-ton ocean freighters to leave safely without icebreakers. Luckily, with the Hacks Group gone, the entire dock was Chen Yu¡¯s domain. After a bit of maneuvering, he had control over all the icebreakers here, and then he left triumphantly across the water. In fact, there was only one ocean freighter belonging to the Childe Family and Tong Group that was trapped here, but there were a full ten ships that left with him. Many ships that had been forcibly docked here were involved in the grey market, and their bosses simply couldn¡¯t come to redeem them. Some just couldn¡¯t afford the hefty ransoms and thus dared not come. Yet another group had their behind-the-scenes bosses killed and were forced to dock their ships here. But these matters were of no concern to the crew members; they needed to eat, to support their families, and they had to find a boss somehow. Chen Yu had easily taken down the boss of the Hacks Group and managed to bring the ships out safely; he seemed every bit the leader of a group. The fleet sailed across the ocean majestically, and a week later, they arrived at Kro¡¯s archipelago. This place was a transfer station on the sea, where many large fleets would basically need to stop to resupply. Chen Yu¡¯s fleet itself had left the Strait of Magellan hastily, carrying not much in the way of supplies, necessitating a stop here for replenishment. But as soon as their fleet docked here, a large group of people suddenly appeared on the dock. The leader wore sunglasses, looking fierce and aggressive, with a scar extending from his face down to his neck. ¡°Who¡¯s in charge of this ship? Get down here and see me immediately.¡± The domineering and brutal voice startled many of the crew, who all turned their gazes toward Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that much, he walked down from the ship leisurely and went straight to the man. The man was extremely arrogant; seeing Chen Yu coming down, he raised his hand intending to grasp Chen Yu¡¯s neck. Unexpectedly, just as he reached out, Chen Yu¡¯s punch swung up, hitting him right at the base of his chin, sending his body flying. The others around were stunned by the scene, as they had never seen anyone dare to treat their boss with such disrespect. Just as they were about to take action, a blue-white flash emanated from Chen Yu¡¯s body, and they felt an electric current pass through them, causing them to fall to the ground. Chen Yu did not want to waste time on these guys, so he went straight to the dock with his crew and casually replenished their supplies. Seeing their boss knocked away and their most elite troops lying on the ground, no one dared to utter another word of protest. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Transit Company Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Transit Company On Kro¡¯s islands, there were many transit stations, stocked with a vast amount of supplies. It was by leveraging this that the islanders earned pots and bowls full of money. Most importantly, the power on the island was akin to that of bandits. Anyone passing through was heavily fleeced by them. But today, they met their match. Chen Yu initiated a plunder upon arrival, sweeping away nearly all the island¡¯s resources. And as he left, he even mapped out the entire archipelago¡¯s layout. After all, this place was a transit station. With minor alterations, it could become the world¡¯s largest ship transfer company. By then, neither the Childe Family nor the Tong Group would need to worry about docking issues for their ships. However, as they departed, all the island¡¯s power leaders gathered. ¡°Where did this person come from? He doesn¡¯t respect us at all, taking away all the island¡¯s supplies. That¡¯s hundreds of billions worth of assets!¡± ¡°It is said he¡¯s the Tong Family¡¯s next heir, extremely capable, having just recently facilitated a deal with the Childe Family.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do. We must come up with a plan. We can¡¯t let this kid lead us by the nose.¡± ¡­ A group chattered among themselves, and on the wall, Chen Yu¡¯s photo was pinned to a large screen, already pierced with many darts. It took them a full two hours to come up with a viable plan, and then they promptly requested assistance from the Cypriot assassin organization to pursue a comprehensive hunt for Chen Yu. Half a month later, a grand fleet arrived at the Jinmen docks, where Tong Ming and a host of company veterans had come to meet them. Originally, this was only supposed to be a business deal worth sixty billion, but now the scale of Chen Yu¡¯s returning fleet had far exceeded that figure. Many of the goods on the ships were now ownerless, to be sold only by the Tong Group¡¯s sales departments. If all were sold, the income would be at least seven hundred billion. Such a scale was enough to elevate the Tong Group to a new level. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised by such a turnout; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to personally come to meet him, let alone bring so many veterans. ¡°Dad, why have you come yourself?¡± Chen Yu hurried off the ship and rushed over, but, unexpectedly, Tong Ming stepped back and bowed respectfully. ¡°The revenue you¡¯ve brought to the group is at least the equivalent of our ten years¡¯ operation. From now on, you will directly decide over seventy percent of the group¡¯s business.¡± Tong Ming was very serious, and he also took out a folder from his person and handed it over. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, still unable to accept such an appointment at the moment. Once he took the folder in front of him, he could immediately become a new entrant on the Forbes rankings. ¡°Let¡¯s delay this matter for now, after all, there are many things I still have to handle.¡± Tong Ming did not speak further, but waved to the many veterans behind him. They too stepped forward and bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Chen, greetings!¡± The docks were always bustling with activity, with countless business elites passing through each day. Now, with such a grand scene at the docks, they naturally stopped to watch. Even many reporters had gathered around, ceaselessly taking photos. I¡¯m afraid the front pages and headlines of major media outlets tomorrow will be all about Chen Yu inheriting Tong Group. Chen Yu had no idea how to respond, and just as he was about to speak, a violent explosion erupted from the harbor exit not far away. The bodyguards on site immediately surrounded everyone and escorted them into the cars, hastily leaving the area. Chen Yu¡¯s mind immediately conjured up a three-dimensional layout of the entire dock, along with the identity information of everyone there. However, no sooner had Chen Yu begun to view the information of half the people, the system emitted an alarm. [Information overload, current system capabilities unable to sustain.] Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, the system¡¯s capabilities were indeed formidable, but after all, this auxiliary function was just an aid; if it carried too much information, it could easily collapse. ¡®Isn¡¯t there any way you can level up?¡¯ [System prompt, the current system can be directly upgraded to version 4.0, requiring three million points.] Chen Yu suddenly felt doubtful about his life, as the current point accumulation system was quite difficult. He had no idea when he would be able to amass three million points. The explosion at the dock was soon confirmed to be deliberate sabotage! Its purpose seemed to be targeting the Tang Family of the imperial capital. Chen Yu frowned; logically speaking, the main business of the Tang Family was not import and export trade. Moreover, it seemed that neither domestically nor internationally, there was any main competitor against the Tang Family. Moving openly in such a large international dock was indeed somewhat unusual. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with it; he couldn¡¯t manage the affairs of other families now. The Kro archipelago was indeed a great place, but to fully take control and affiliate it with Tong Family was somewhat difficult. Although there was no independent nation there, after all, it was an overseas territory, and it was not easy to set up a company there. At the top-floor office of Tong Group¡¯s building. Chen Yu and Tong Ming sat together, with a large screen displaying information about the Kro archipelago and the Childe Family next to them. ¡°So, you want to use this archipelago as a stepping stone to continue expanding Tong Group¡¯s weight in this cooperation.¡± Tong Ming saw through Chen Yu¡¯s intentions at a glance. ¡°Exactly, although our current cooperation seems fair, we are ultimately at a disadvantage. We must leverage our strengths as much as possible; the Kro archipelago is the best midpoint. If we secure this place, we will have much more say.¡± While they were talking, the door was suddenly burst open, and an elderly man rushed in hurriedly. ¡°President Tong, something serious happened, several shareholders suddenly proposed withdrawing their shares, saying our cooperation with the Childe Family is extremely unreliable and that we might very well be taken over by them!¡± The old man appeared extremely anxious, but there was a strange curve on his lips. Tong Ming leaned back in his chair, unfazed. ¡°If they want to withdraw their shares, let them. There¡¯s no need to stop them; buy back all their shares at the current market price.¡± As he said this, Tong Ming¡¯s demeanor suddenly changed, and he looked at the old man with a peculiar gaze. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this mass withdrawal is led by you, right? If so, then get the related procedures sorted out quickly, and I¡¯ll sort it out for you immediately.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; he had never dreamed that Tong Ming would agree so easily. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 361 Desertion on the Eve of Battle Chapter 361: Chapter 361 Desertion on the Eve of Battle They are all senior members of the company. The group¡¯s success today is largely attributed to their support. Moreover, these people control a significant portion of shares. Should they withdraw their shares at the same time, the group could face a crisis. For Tong Ming to agree so easily was, to a certain extent, akin to suicide. At first, Chen Yu didn¡¯t understand, but after giving it some thought, he quickly grasped the key issue. It is currently a critical period for cooperation with the Childe Family, part of which is directly completed with the Childe Family. In other words, if these people suddenly withdraw their shares, the Childe Family will fill these vacancies in the shortest time possible. Moreover, with Chen Yu¡¯s adjustment, the Childe Family could only get shares and not voting rights. That is to say, no matter whether these people withdraw their shares or not, the ultimate profit for Tong Ming and the entire group, as well as control over the group, would not change at all. The old man suddenly panicked¡ªhaving been with the group for so many years, he naturally knew Tong Ming¡¯s temperament. Withdrawing shares now could indeed bring many benefits, but whether he could securely receive the money after withdrawing was another matter. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already proposed it, let¡¯s sign the contract then!¡± Tong Ming directly took out a contract from the folder beside him and handed it over. The old man¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to have prepared the contract in advance. Chen Yu leaned to one side, remaining silent, already thinking about how to fill the void left by these people¡¯s shares. The atmosphere in the office suddenly became tense; the old man who had just been adamant about withdrawing his shares seemed somewhat guilty. Chen Yu cleared his throat, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Just as he was about to leave, Tong Ming suddenly called him back and handed him a file folder. ¡°There¡¯s a match over here, go have a look. You will take over these business aspects in the future.¡± Without even looking, Chen Yu agreed right away and turned to leave the room. It was only after he got into his car that he realized the folder contained information about an esports team. Although esports might seem like just a derivative industry of gaming on the surface, a closer study reveals it harbors a business worth tens of trillions. Not to mention the vast fan base generated by the gaming industry, the traffic brought by the games themselves can create millions of job opportunities out of thin air. The Tong Group had tapped into this business a long time ago and had made significant progress in recent years, boasting no less than six teams. After briefly reviewing the contents of the contract, Chen Yu drove straight to an esports venue. There was an internal competition happening in the imperial capital during these days, and one of the teams was from Tong Group. But when he arrived, the scene was somewhat chaotic. The team¡¯s rest area was a complete mess, with the coach pacing back and forth, breathing rapidly. ¡°What on earth is going on? Why did this have to happen now? He¡¯s an essential player.¡± The remaining team members sat in silence, unsure of what to say, letting the coach continue his rant. ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡± Chen Yu pushed the door and entered the room, a trace of impatience on his face. ¡°Who are you?¡± snapped the coach, preparing to push him out. Chen Yu quickly took out the ID badge that Tong Ming had given him. The coach said nothing more but sat down dejectedly to one side. ¡°Boss Chen, don¡¯t blame me for losing my temper, the game is about to start and our key player has vanished!¡± Chen Yu had already reviewed the game and team information; he was well-informed about all the details. The team¡¯s key player seemed to be Mao Xiaolong, who managed to win the MVP for best performance in every match he participated in. A player like that, no matter where they are, is held in high esteem. Over the years, countless people had wanted to poach him. Now, with only three minutes left before the start of the game, the supporting player had disappeared too; there was only one explanation¡ªMao Xiaolong had been poached! ¡°Don¡¯t we have a substitute player?¡± asked Chen Yu instinctively. The coach sighed deeply, ¡°We do, but no one is stronger than Mao Xiaolong for that position, and we need him to set the pace for the entire game. Now that he¡¯s gone, our initial rhythm is disrupted.¡± Chen Yu was silent for a while before standing up. ¡°I¡¯ll take his position for today¡¯s match, and I¡¯ll be responsible for the outcome, win or lose!¡± The coach immediately breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Chen Yu was the team¡¯s owner, and it wasn¡¯t unheard of for owners to personally enter the fray in the esports arena. If the match was lost, Chen Yu would take on all the responsibility, so they needn¡¯t be afraid. But if they won, it could serve as a publicity stunt to generate buzz for Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you¡¯re going to play, you better change quickly; there¡¯s less than two minutes left,¡± said the coach. Without saying much more, Chen Yu changed his clothes and joined the team on the stage. Just when they took their seats in the arena, all the spotlights suddenly focused on the opposing team¡¯s bench. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Mao Xiaolong was sitting there, his face alight with excitement. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown¡ªhe had only thought the guy had been poached, not that he would betray them at the last moment. The venue instantly erupted into turmoil, with all eyes on Mao Xiaolong. As an esports player with his own following, especially one so talented, that shift in focus was inevitable. Fans who originally supported the Tong Family team began discarding their placards and switched to personal support signs for Mao Xiaolong. One could imagine that in this industry, there is no such thing as betrayal; as soon as a player makes a choice, the fans will follow suit. In this era of influencer culture, such incidents are no longer rare. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing and placed his fingers on the keyboard, his mind recalling every detail about the competition. He had enjoyed playing games during his university days and had even taken part in community competitions. Now, with his physical abilities at the peak of human capacity and the aid of the system, playing a game should be a breeze. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you ready?¡± The coach asked worriedly from the side. Chen Yu nodded and entered the game. The host was delivering an excited speech on the stage, but all his topics revolved around Mao Xiaolong. As if his act of defection was a fearless deed. At the same time, many sneered at Chen Yu. They believed Chen Yu¡¯s participation was an act of masochism¡ªan owner with no experience in esports would soon be beaten so badly that he¡¯d be crying for his father and mother, and the game might even end prematurely. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Parachuting Into Mid Lane Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Parachuting Into Mid Lane ¡°` Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about much, and the moment the match¡¯s alert sounded, his fingers danced rapidly across the keyboard. He was taking over for Mao Xiaolong in the middle position. Right off the bat, he concealed himself in a nearby blind spot. This method of play was one of Mao Xiaolong¡¯s best. Instead of facing the enemy directly, nor appearing in the viewers¡¯ sight immediately, he chose to hide himself away. After thoroughly reviewing all of Mao Xiaolong¡¯s materials, Chen Yu immediately mastered this tactic. Based on his usual style of play, he predicted a route Mao Xiaolong was very likely to take and hid himself there. Sure enough, Mao Xiaolong moved at top speed through this area to roam towards the top lane. His goal was to kill as many enemy heads as possible within the first three minutes of the game, to establish an advantage for his solo lane teammate. Chen Yu certainly didn¡¯t indulge the opponent, and the moment he appeared, he burst out of the bushes with a combination of moves that left the enemy half-crippled. Mao Xiaolong was taken aback, unable to believe that his preferred style of combat had been so thoroughly read by someone, and countered with such a perfect response. His fingers raced across the keyboard, trying to dodge Chen Yu¡¯s pursuit and wait for an opportunity to counterattack. But the character controlled by Chen Yu seemed to not belong to the game at all, performing many unexpected actions. No matter how Mao Xiaolong tried to dodge, he couldn¡¯t escape Chen Yu¡¯s combo. And the skills he launched were dodged by Chen Yu at an incredibly strange angle. In less than thirty seconds, Mao Xiaolong had lost the first head of the game. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. It was his first time playing eSports in such an intense manner. Many combos and maneuvers weren¡¯t very familiar to him, and given time to practice, perhaps he would need only ten seconds to take down the opponent. Without lingering there, Chen Yu rushed to the top lane to collaborate with his own top laner to kill the enemy top laner. The pace of the game was suddenly picked up by Chen Yu. The live audience was shocked. What they had been looking forward to was Mao Xiaolong¡¯s surprise attacks. But now, not only were his attacks being tightly constrained, but he was being killed in return. Mao Xiaolong took a few deep breaths, filled with disbelief. Once he respawned, he immediately went around through the jungle area. He wanted to find and kill Chen Yu for revenge. Just as he was searching, there was trouble in the bottom lane. Their adc and support were suddenly ambushed and killed by Chen Yu during the laning phase. Mao Xiaolong panicked, his rhythm constantly disrupted by Chen Yu, and he knew he must find a way to break the cycle. After taking a moment to adjust his breathing, he changed direction and headed straight for the top lane. He wanted to capitalize on the gap Chen Yu left in the bottom lane to help turn the tide for his top laner. But by the time he got there, it was too late. His team¡¯s top laner had been decimated by the enemy. Having secured several kills in a row, Chen Yu instantly became the brightest star in the arena, and those who were rooting for Mao Xiaolong began to switch their support to Chen Yu. Some even started inquiring about Chen Yu¡¯s personal information, wanting to make a fan support sign for him on the spot. And just as the crowd was boiling with support, Chen Yu suddenly rallied his team, charging down the mid lane. They pushed all the way to the enemy high ground, and wiped out the opposing team. The situation was now dominated, only the entrance of a player on par with Chen Yu could possibly turn the game around. But it was all too late, as by the six-minute mark, Chen Yu led his team to destroy the opponent¡¯s Nexus. ¡°` ¡°My God, the new guy is so impressive, I¡¯ve never heard of him before in the gaming circle. Is he a new player?¡± ¡°He beat Mao Xiaolong in less than six minutes, it¡¯s miraculous!¡± ¡°No wonder they let Mao Xiaolong go so easily, they must have had an ace up their sleeve.¡± ¡°The Tong Family is a major capital player, after all. For them to cultivate a top esports player, it¡¯s too easy.¡± ¡­ The scene suddenly became noisy with all kinds of chatter, but Mao Xiaolong¡¯s fame and popularity he had built up over the years were likely thoroughly squandered because of this match. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly, he had finally understood all the match procedures and operating principles. If there were another round, he was confident he could dominate the opponent within five minutes. Just as he was about to put down his headphones and leave the stage, a teammate quickly grabbed him. ¡°Mr. Chen, we haven¡¯t won yet, the game format is best of five!¡± Chen Yu smacked his forehead, he had indeed forgotten about that. ¡°From now on, everyone listen to me, we must defeat the opponent within five minutes!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s team immediately became fired up, as the despondency left by Mao Xiaolong¡¯s departure was nowhere to be found. In the following two rounds, they almost completely steamrolled the competition. The third round took just four minutes to break through to the opponent¡¯s crystal, creating a classic match since the start of esports competitions. Chen Yu stretched his limbs and directly led the team out of the arena. As soon as they stepped out, a large number of fans swarmed them, clamoring for Chen Yu¡¯s autograph. He maintained a faint smile throughout, and after getting into the car with his team, they headed straight for Xiangyun Restaurant. ¡°Mr. Chen, I had no idea you were so skilled in esports!¡± ¡°Mao Xiaolong was considered the best player here, we never thought he could be defeated so easily.¡± ¡°Could you teach us some tricks?¡± ¡­ Everyone at the moment had already started idolizing Chen Yu, gathering around him. Chen Yu raised his glass. ¡°I merely trained specifically for a while beforehand, so I achieved this success, it¡¯s nothing to envy.¡± Everyone also raised their glasses and clinked them together. Just then, the sound of angry cursing came from a private room next door. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? After spending so much money to bring you over, you went and set the record for the fastest loss! Do you know our team might collapse from now on?¡± Chen Yu frowned, picked up his glass, and went next door. The team that battled against his today, sat together with faces full of dejection. Especially Mao Xiaolong, with a life-questioning expression that would make anyone feel pity. ¡°Boss Hu!¡± Chen Yu called out and walked straight over. Hu Naichao was also a veteran in the esports industry, with three professional teams under his command. He had been committed to building the strongest esports team in the world, thus investing the most in personnel, equipment, and many other details. Even several teams owned by the Tong Family couldn¡¯t compare to the other side in overall strength. If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yu¡¯s sudden intervention, this match might well have been won by the other side. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Reasonably Debunking Rumors Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Reasonably Debunking Rumors Hu Naichao was somewhat embarrassed, as he was the one who had poached players just before the game, breaking the rules of the competition. And yet, he still lost. Now that the game was over, and Chen Yu had come to settle the score, he really had nothing to say for himself. ¡°I always thought that Mr. Chen was just a professional businessman, but I never expected you to play esports so brilliantly,¡± he said. A smirk formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°When you¡¯re in this world, you can never have too many skills, the more you know, the better¡ªit could save your life in a critical moment! But Mr. Hu, you went a bit too far, poaching from my team?¡± Hu Naichao¡¯s breathing became rapid, after all, he was in the wrong and couldn¡¯t justify his actions. ¡°Mr. Chen, just give it to me straight, how do you want me to die?¡± Chen Yu snapped his fingers at a waiter nearby. ¡°Could you help us get a bigger private room? Both teams would like to have a meal and ease the tense atmosphere.¡± The players from both teams widened their eyes when they heard this. The game just now had set them at each other¡¯s throats, and with Mao Xiaolong¡¯s betrayal, their feelings were in utter turmoil. And now they were supposed to eat together? How could they possibly swallow their pride? Since Chen Yu had spoken, the players couldn¡¯t say much, so they followed him to a larger private room. Both sides still looked ready to go to war with each other, harboring some hatred. Mao Xiaolong sat with his head hung low, not saying a word. He was just a seventeen-year-old boy, after all, with an immature mind. At his age, it¡¯s the golden period for an esports player, and he wanted to maximize his value. Seen in that light, he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, but deserting his team at the last moment was a moral issue. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with any of that and took the seat at the head of the table, then pushed a contract forward. ¡°Mr. Hu, in the esports industry, you are a veteran with a team under your command that¡¯s achieved world-class rankings for several years, while I am just a newcomer to the field, looking to control a team and compete on the world stage. There are some aspects in which I still need to rely on you, Mr. Hu.¡± Hu Naichao¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought Chen Yu came to seek retribution, but it turned out to be a proposal for cooperation. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you sure you want to cooperate with me?¡± In any other company, this issue wouldn¡¯t be settled without a lawsuit. Chen Yu nodded his head, ¡°These kids, the youngest only thirteen or fourteen, the oldest eighteen or nineteen, are risking their youth for a chance to succeed in this industry. There¡¯s no need to destroy their futures because of a business rivalry between us.¡± Those calm words immediately elevated the situation, and the esports players present began to look at Chen Yu with admiration. Especially Mao Xiaolong! He had switched sides at the last minute, hoping to prove himself with a flawless game, but ended up losing miserably. If the two sides went to court over this, his career would be over, and he might even have to pay back the money he had earned at Tong Group. Hu Naichao¡¯s breathing quickened as well. He quickly looked over the contents of the contract and immediately signed his name. ¡°Mr. Chen, we could add one more clause to the contract, starting today all three teams under me will be transferred to your name, and I¡¯ll just be the vice-manager,¡± he offered. Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Cooperation is cooperation, our positions are equal, and besides, we¡¯ll need to use this later as a story for the media. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to calm down today¡¯s incident.¡± Hu Naichao nodded repeatedly, realizing that he had been superficial. Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the door as Mao Xiaolong¡¯s multitude of fans crowded the entrance, lifting banners and shouting loudly. ¡°Mao Xiaolong, why did you betray your teammates, betray your original team?¡± ¡°Has your skill level declined? How can you not beat an amateur making his debut?¡± ¡°Were all your past skills and achievements simply boosted by your teammates?¡± ¡°You must give us fans an explanation.¡± ¡­ The chattering noise was giving everyone a headache. When the number of fans increased, the quality varied greatly, with good people as well as bad ones. The good ones might pay attention to what had actually happened to their idol, while the bad ones would think in all sorts of directions. Now, there were all sorts of people saying various things below the building, and with a large number of news media gathered, if the situation wasn¡¯t resolved, who knows what news might spread by tomorrow. Chen Yu directly pulled Mao Xiaolong and Hu Naichao out the door. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, you may not know, but I had already reached a cooperation agreement with Boss Hu long ago, and today¡¯s match was a last-minute decision,¡± he said. The scene immediately quieted down, with all eyes focused on Chen Yu. Even a few citizen journalists shoved their microphones in Chen Yu¡¯s face. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that; he simply picked up a microphone from the side. ¡°Tong Group and Boss Hu¡¯s team will merge starting today. Today¡¯s match is actually a sort of trial run, with Mao Xiaolong temporarily transferred over. As an esports player, he naturally must follow his boss¡¯s arrangements,¡± he explained. This rationale seemed to clear Mao Xiaolong, and the massive crowd of fans on site immediately quieted down. In their eyes, as long as Mao Xiaolong wasn¡¯t someone who turned coat at the last minute, that was enough. After observing the situation on site, Chen Yu cleared his throat. ¡°Perhaps today¡¯s decision was a bit rushed, resulting in Mao Xiaolong¡¯s unstable performance, which gave me, a rookie, an opportunity! Moreover, my teammates have been playing with Mao Xiaolong for no less than three years; they are too familiar with his playstyle,¡± he continued. At this point, Chen Yu intentionally paused. By now, he had completely pulled Mao Xiaolong out from the center of the public opinion storm. As for the rest, it would only take a press conference to clear everything up. The rowdy crowd quickly calmed down, dispersing one after another. The multitude of news media also found it uninteresting and left one by one. They originally thought they would find something explosive to report, but it turned out to be nothing more than prior teamwork between two merging teams. It was simply that the match was hasty, and no clarification had been given to the general public, leading to misunderstandings. This type of news would at most result in a single report; there was no need to take up too much bandwidth. Chen Yu let out a long sigh of relief and then led everyone back to the restaurant. Mao Xiaolong, who seemed to be under a great deal of emotional distress, suddenly collapsed on the ground, grabbing onto Chen Yu¡¯s pants and bursting into tears. After all, he was just a kid, and his heart was bound to fluctuate somewhat due to such an ordeal, but this reaction was a bit too intense. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 364 Merging the Islands Chapter 364: Chapter 364 Merging the Islands The merger of two esports companies meant that they had to reapply for tournament regulations. The original competitions and their specific clauses were no longer effective for them, and much had to start anew. Chen Yu was not afraid of the hassle, as he had already analyzed all the clauses of the esports industry before he came. All he needed was a lawyer and the relevant staff to sign a contract. In less than half a day, everything settled. After reorganizing the two companies, they managed to form nine teams in total. Once all the procedures were completed, the nine teams dispersed to participate in local competitions. Chen Yu handed over the management of all the teams to Hu Naichao, while he went on to oversee the ancillary aspects of the teams and games. In the business of esports, what makes the most money isn¡¯t the competition itself, but the various peripherals that arise based on it. As long as he could coordinate all these peripheral industries, the economic value they could generate was astronomical. Using the financial strategies he had employed before, Chen Yu rapidly set up several companies, categorizing the potential peripheral industries he could think of. Then he drew a single line from Tong Group to form a company that would coordinate these categorized companies. This business layout could be described as impeccably structured; even if something went wrong with the teams, it wouldn¡¯t affect the peripheral business. In his spacious office, Chen Yu kept signing a variety of documents, occasionally glancing at the large screen beside him. The huge screen was divided into nine sections, showing live matches of the nine teams he owned. If five of these teams could qualify, he could take them to play in world-class leagues. By then, the periphery business and industry could be promoted abroad, and might even merge with other businesses. ¡°Honey! Have you been too busy lately? You don¡¯t even come home to visit?¡± Tong Ya approached with a cup of coffee in hand. Chen Yu leaned back in his chair and stretched. ¡°I used to think being a boss was easy, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be this exhausting, with not a moment¡¯s rest every day.¡± Tong Ya wrinkled her nose and popped a refreshing candy into Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, my dear!¡± Chen Yu pulled Tong Ya into his embrace, ¡°How many of these nine teams do you think will qualify?¡± Tong Ya wrapped her arms around Chen Yu¡¯s neck, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that area, and I¡¯m even less familiar with their rules of engagement. But if you really want me to guess, of course, I hope all nine teams qualify.¡± Chen Yu said nothing further, just gazed intently at the large screen. Before long, three teams overwhelmingly defeated their opponents, and the other six teams began to gain the upper hand. ¡°It looks like your guess might come true; all nine teams might actually qualify.¡± Tong Ya didn¡¯t concern herself too much with these matters and instead took out a file from her bag and laid it on the desk. ¡°The industry in Suzhou City has already formed a chain. Both industrial parks are complete, and they have also established connections with the capital.¡± Chen Yu glanced over the contents of the file briefly and then pushed it back. ¡°These items have basically formed a stable industry chain. You can manage them, while I need to develop other new areas.¡± As he was speaking, Chen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He couldn¡¯t afford to stay any longer, quickly exchanged a few words with Tong Ya, and hastened away. During his last passage through Kro¡¯s territory, Chen Yu¡¯s fleet had disturbed the local order. Severe frictions occurred among the major powers, with significant internal conflicts. Seizing the opportunity, Jin Lingsu reached out to her former contacts and quickly took control of the entire archipelago in the shortest time. Now, all that was needed was a certification from Tong Group to legally acquire the island. Chen Yu called Hu Naichao, instructing him to take full responsibility for the competitions in the coming half month, as he rushed nonstop to Kro Island. The place, situated in the mid-ocean, had a highly advantageous geographical location. It was not only suitable for ports, but also for the growth of various tropical economic plants. If developed properly, it could not only become a hub but possibly also a unique tourist paradise. When Chen Yu arrived, Jin Lingsu had already taken care of everything; she even had the local residents start building a port. ¡°How does it look? Am I not very reliable when handling things?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly. He had intended to acquire the islands in a very gentle manner, but Jin Lingsu had been so straightforward and forceful. ¡°I heard there¡¯s the world¡¯s tallest watchtower here; can you show it to me?¡± Jin Lingsu immediately drove over in a touring car and took him straight to the watchtower. The tower was originally constructed to overlook the entire archipelago. Unfortunately, due to substandard conditions on the island at the start, the materials used had been haphazard. The walls were riddled with dense cracks, and at this rate, it would not last more than a few months without collapsing. After inspecting the entire tower, Chen Yu immediately took out a design plan. A strategic high point was essential on such a small island, to coordinate everything. In case of an incident, it would allow for immediate resolution. Jin Lingsu was surprised by the blueprint; she had not expected Chen Yu to be proficient in architectural design as well. Just then, several brawny men arrived at the base of the tower. ¡°Who¡¯s in charge here? Wasn¡¯t it agreed before that after we helped you take control of the island, you would allocate a piece of land on the island for us to farm? Why haven¡¯t you followed through yet?¡± Chen Yu frowned, recognizing that these men were certainly the island¡¯s indigenous people, straightforward and probably generations of farmers by trade. Jin Lingsu was somewhat embarrassed; she indeed had forgotten. She had been fully committed to port and land development on the archipelago, neglecting to allocate the promised farmland. But she was clueless about agriculture; had she been tasked with dividing the farmland, who knows what she would have ended up designating. Chen Yu cleared his throat and unfolded a map of the archipelago. ¡°Apart from you, how many native farmers are there on the island?¡± The brawny men quickly briefed him on the basic situation of the island. After a brief analysis, Chen Yu led them to the largest island in the middle of the archipelago. Surrounded by smaller islands, this spot had fresh water, and its central area featured a vast plain, highly suitable for the growth of crops. Chen Yu took everyone there and started to plan the layout of the land immediately. Unexpectedly, the farmers looked at him with eyes filled with terror. ¡°Sir, are you sure you are the one who decides this? Can this land really be given to us for farming?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: 365 Chapter The Real Team Chapter 365: 365 Chapter The Real Team ¡°` Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, he hadn¡¯t expected the villagers to be in such a state. Logically, the land here had belonged to them, and they could do with it as they wished. Now, it seemed that they had pinned all their hopes on Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu. Indeed, the people here had been enslaved for too long, and unintentionally developed a kind of inexplicable servility. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and directly distributed the land before him. The many villagers were grateful, they had never thought they could obtain land so easily. Some even thought they were dreaming, and only after picking up a stone and hitting themselves hard on the head did they believe it was true. After obtaining the land, this group didn¡¯t just leave, but voluntarily organized themselves to help build the harbor. This place was already remote from the mainland, and the climate was quite unique. If craftsmen from other places were brought here, they might suffer from acclimatization, but it wouldn¡¯t be the same with locals. Firstly, these people were extremely familiar with the local environment, and secondly, they were in their prime working years. After Chen Yu sent down the design plans, these people implemented them quickly. At this rate, the harbor could be completed in less than half a month. Afterwards, with a little bit of renovation, it would be possible to connect about a dozen nearby harbors, forming a world-class large dock. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stay here for long, and after handing over the planned construction scheme to Jin Lingsu, he hurried back to the Imperial City. The question of the sovereignty of Kro Island hadn¡¯t been settled yet, and he had to obtain the necessary paperwork in the shortest time possible. Such isolated islands without any sovereignty were easily coveted by others. Chen Yu had to prepare in advance. In the Imperial City, Xiangyun Restaurant¡¯s private room. Hu Naichao stood there spiritedly and vehemently. This time, all nine teams had won their matches under his leadership, and perhaps, the champion team would come from within their ranks. Just as everyone was celebrating, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy burst in rudely. ¡°You bunch are just some third-rate teams, and yet you dare to celebrate here. It won¡¯t be long before we show you what a real esports team is.¡± The sudden arrival of the boy stunned everyone present, and then anger began to rise on their faces. This guy¡¯s behavior was an outright provocation. Hu Naichao furrowed his brows and slowly walked toward the boy. ¡°Who are you? An esports player as well?¡± The boy snorted coldly and passed his ID over. Hu Naichao glanced at the ID and was instantly shocked. The boy in front of him was none other than the number one esports player from South Korea, Jin Sanxuan. This competition was global, but each country had to battle internally to send a champion team to compete. South Korea¡¯s esports scene was world-renowned; they represented the pinnacle of global esports. Especially this Jin Sanxuan, he virtually stood at the apex of the pyramid. Hu Naichao politely handed back the ID. ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll see what a real esports player is when the time comes!¡± Jin Sanxuan took back his ID indifferently and turned to leave. Only then did Hu Naichao notice, in a not-too-distant private room, a group of teenagers were dining together. They spoke Korean and were discussing the recent matches with arrogance. ¡°` Hu Naichao couldn¡¯t help but frown as he quickly checked the latest competition events. Only then did he realize that this group of guys had come to the capital to practice. People from Korea were already few and far between, and the esports elites they could select were even fewer. Often, they didn¡¯t have any high-end players to spar with internally. So they had to scour the world for players to maintain their standard. This method of training was somewhat against the rules, but Korea had always been looking for loopholes in the regulations to maintain this state. Besides finding people to spar with, they could also adapt to the playstyles of players from other countries in the shortest time possible. Hu Naichao was filled with anger¡ªthey had planned for this competition for so long and put in so much effort. If the Koreans became familiar with their playstyle and game strategy, they would miss out on the world-class competition prizes once again. ¡°Manager Hu, there are some matters I need to discuss with you!¡± Chen Yu suddenly entered the private room, looking a bit rushed. Hu Naichao quickly suppressed the anger in his heart. ¡°Mr. Chen, when did you get back?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but took a pile of documents from his person and placed them on the table. ¡°Sort out these documents immediately, let everyone take a look, we¡¯re going to Korea next week for the world-class competition,¡± All those present stood up, seemingly filled with an inexplicable passion. Chen Yu was surprised by the reaction of these kids; with this kind of spirit, maybe they really could take home a championship. Hu Naichao read the contents of the documents and slammed his hand on the table forcefully. ¡°Great, I thought we wouldn¡¯t go to Korea this time. We can finally teach those guys a lesson,¡± Chen Yu was a bit bewildered: ¡°What has gotten into you all?¡± Hu Naichao pointed to the next room: ¡°You don¡¯t know how arrogant these kids have been acting, as if they could sweep the overall championship.¡± Chen Yu tilted his head and saw the Korean players in the adjacent private room from afar. Speaking of which, the esports industry of this country was indeed enviable; they almost always took home the annual championship. Seeing the tension in the air, it seemed that the two sides had engaged in some degree of ¡®friendly¡¯ exchange. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more. In his view, the team didn¡¯t necessarily need to win the overall championship, as long as the merchandise and traffic could sell. ¡°Alright, some things we don¡¯t need to care too much about. Get ready right away; tomorrow is the national finals. Let¡¯s aim for a good ranking,¡± With just a few instructions, Chen Yu walked straight out the door. Since he had entrusted Hu Naichao with full responsibility for the team, there was no need for him to meddle any further. On the outskirts of the capital, atop a vast wasteland. Several men stood there, exuding arrogance. When Chen Yu arrived, a strange expression appeared on their faces, and then they knelt on the ground. ¡°Mr. Chen, as per your instructions, all the supplies have been delivered here. Please sign a receipt so that we can report back to Mr. Victor,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and directly wrote out a bill and handed it over. These men didn¡¯t linger any longer; after receiving the receipt, they drove away in a hurry. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breath before climbing into the medium-sized truck parked nearby. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Mysterious Man Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Mysterious Man The truck was nothing special, just tightly covered with a layer of rather rare camouflage cloth. Chen Yu climbed into the truck compartment for a quick inspection and, after confirming everything was in order, returned to a building. This place was originally a training facility provided by Tong Group specifically for their esports team, but it had since been transformed into one of the venues for esports competitions. Chen Yu drove the truck into the warehouse and ordered his men to carefully carry the contents into a training room. Early on, when he took over the esports team, Chen Yu had asked Victor to help him acquire a large number of advanced gaming machines. All of them were of the highest standard, and they had even been modified to have convertible sockets. They could not only be used in China but also worked seamlessly when brought to South Korea. After all the machines were installed, Chen Yu tested them himself, and in terms of touch and other aspects, they met the top international standards. Just then, Hu Naichao walked into the training room with the team members, talking and laughing. When they saw the brand-new computers and keyboards, they stopped dead in their tracks. As professional esports players, they naturally understood how much of an impact the quality of equipment could have on a match. Previously, they thought the equipment they used was top-notch, but it was nothing compared to what was now before them. Chen Yu stretched, then gestured invitingly. ¡°What are you waiting for? Come check out your new equipment. If there¡¯s anything that doesn¡¯t suit you, I¡¯ll change it immediately,¡± he said. The group instantly became excited and quickly started to select their gear. Each set of equipment had been meticulously refined and all had similar performance, so there wasn¡¯t much choice involved¡ªthey merely picked a set randomly. Afterward, everyone immediately logged into the game to get accustomed to the new equipment. Hu Naichao¡¯s breathing became rapid to the extreme, his chest heaving dramatically, and he excitedly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, shaking it non-stop. ¡°Mr. Chen, I never expected you to be able to acquire such advanced equipment. Now we¡¯ll truly have the confidence to take on those arrogant South Koreans,¡± he said. Chen Yu quickly withdrew his hand, ¡°Let them familiarize themselves with the machines first, in preparation for the upcoming national competition,¡± he instructed. Esports competitions were becoming increasingly mature in China, with many places having their own independent teams. This time, the national competition was particularly fierce. It was, after all, about selecting the strongest teams to join the world-class competitions, and each team had sent their best players. After several rounds of selection, ultimately thirty teams converged in the capital. Nine of these teams were from Tong Group. When the competition started, Chen Yu was also present at the scene. The thirty teams were divided into five groups. Six teams in each group competed against each other at the same time to advance three teams from each group. In other words, fifteen matches were taking place simultaneously in the venue. A huge screen at the venue simultaneously displayed the content of all fifteen matches. Chen Yu was somewhat annoyed, as two of the groups included his teams. This meant that, after this match, at least two of his teams would be eliminated. Chen Yu was not the least bit worried; he just lounged back comfortably. To him, there was nothing particularly concerning. The two teams that would be eliminated could just be reorganized into reserves and incorporated into the remaining teams, going together to South Korea for the competition. The matches at the venue were in full swing, and everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to the large screen, continuously cheering on their teams. ¡°` Chen Yu¡¯s five teams, thanks to switching to new equipment, had improved by more than just a notch and each had decimated their opponents within ten minutes to claim victory. As time went by, almost all the matches had concluded, yet four teams were still fiercely contending, unable to part with an easy win or loss. This time, all of the teams came from Tong Group, and their strengths were quite evenly matched, making it impossible to determine a winner in a short time. Moreover, before they went onstage, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t informed them that even if they lost, they could still join the world finals with the team. Therefore, they all held their breath, eager to make an appearance in the international tournament. After an indeterminate period, they finally arrived at a result. However, these kids had fairly broad minds; the winners weren¡¯t arrogant, and the losers didn¡¯t say much either, supporting each other as they stepped down from the stage. Chen Yu was very satisfied with this scene and personally went to receive them. The remaining fifteen teams would be selected as the strongest ten through a round-robin format! Chen Yu didn¡¯t watch the ensuing matches but bought plane tickets to South Korea for everyone. At the end of the tournament, seven of Chen Yu¡¯s teams were among the winners, and he mixed and matched members from the other two teams before setting off with everyone in a grand procession. Also joining them were three teams from the Magic Capital. One of the teams came from the Chu Family in the Magic Capital. Bonguk Gold Mountain Building. This was one of the most high-end skyscrapers in all of South Korea. Once everyone was settled, Chen Yu went alone to a street. He had already researched the culinary industry here before arriving, noting that, aside from kimchi, there was additional room for development. If he could turn everything here into prefabricated meal packs and sell them specifically in this market, it would be another source of extra income. Just as Chen Yu was wandering around, a fierce-looking bruiser suddenly charged out of a nearby alley and swung a fist at his face. Chen Yu¡¯s face was a picture of annoyance; he didn¡¯t seem to have any enemies around here. Subconsciously stepping back, he threw a punch and sent the man flying several meters away. The man paused, sized up Chen Yu, then turned and ran in the other direction. A large group of people then swarmed up in pursuit. It seemed the fellow was evading someone¡¯s chase and had mistaken Chen Yu for an enemy by chance. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just spread his hands and went on his way. Unexpectedly, after only a few steps, the same man reappeared from the alley and pulled him aside. At the same time, he produced a metal object and stuffed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about the misunderstanding; I was being chased so closely I didn¡¯t see who was in front of me!¡± ¡°Please keep this item for me. Bring it to 38 Han River Road at three o¡¯clock this afternoon.¡± Before Chen Yu could react, the guy had already darted off, disappearing at the end of the alley. Chen Yu held the metal object, somewhat at a loss, unsure of who the man was. Moreover, this was no ordinary piece of metal¡ªit was made of pure gold. Wasn¡¯t it a bit too rash to entrust such a precious item to a stranger like him? ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 367: The Wang Financial Consortium Chapter 367: Chapter 367: The Wang Financial Consortium Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of confusion, and at this moment, he could not care too much, only to find a tavern nearby. [System alert, danger is approaching] Chen Yu¡¯s face slightly changed, and he immediately surveyed his surroundings, his hand gently shaking the glass of wine. He had been watching for a long time, but couldn¡¯t discern anything. A burst of blue and white light was also flickering in front of him at this moment, and a three-dimensional image of the surroundings appeared in his mind. Equally, he didn¡¯t have any relevant information. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu set down the glass of wine and then slowly rose to his feet. Just as he was about to leave, a grotesquely ugly, tall man suddenly appeared with a massive fist headed straight for his face. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated dramatically, and he hurriedly stepped back several paces, then raised his hand to meet the other¡¯s. A powerful force burst forth between the two of them, actually flipping the nearby table over. Only then did Chen Yu see that this guy had a very strange belt around his waist, emitting bursts of bizarre red light. At the same time, strange electromagnetic waves were emitting from it, which appeared to have interfered with the system¡¯s scan just now. The two exchanged blows quickly, with Chen Yu continually retreating towards the riverside. The system had already scanned all the components of the belt, and he discovered that it was an extremely precise explosive device, which, if detonated, would impact for miles around. Chen Yu could only try to lead this man to the riverside and then push him into the water. The strong man seemed to have some issues with his intelligence, as he allowed Chen Yu to lead him to the riverside so easily. Just then, the red light on the belt suddenly stopped, emitting a rapid alarm. Without hesitating, Chen Yu pushed the strong man into the river. An earth-shattering explosion spread from the water, drawing a large crowd of onlookers in no time. Chen Yu dared not linger there too long; he dodged once and then merged into the crowd. Atop a tall tower not far away, in an elevated restaurant. Two men in their twenties looked down through a pair of binoculars. ¡°This guy is really useless, defeated so easily; had I known, I would have sent more men.¡± The speaker exuded an air of profligate arrogance, his face the epitome of brazenness. Any item of his clothing would be enough for an ordinary person to work hard for a lifetime. Wang Zhengshuo, one of Bang Nation¡¯s most famous young masters from wealthy families. Next to him was his younger brother, Wang Zhengxi. The two of them were well-known figures among the world¡¯s elite, and their deeds were innumerable. Especially Wang Zhengshuo, who, with his family assets and resources, dominated Bang Nation¡¯s entire esports and girl group industries. Anyone who wanted to join these two industries had to have his approval; otherwise, they would be thoroughly suppressed. He had already thoroughly investigated Chen Yu¡¯s information because Chen Yu¡¯s esports team could very likely be his biggest opponent in this competition. If he could make Chen Yu disappear from the world before the competition, perhaps he could win with ease. Next to him, Wang Zhengxi also sighed helplessly while holding the binoculars. ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t blame others. The side effects of such a drug are too obvious. Although it can bring out a person¡¯s potential in a short time, it causes severe damage to the brain. It¡¯s already quite fortunate he didn¡¯t turn into an idiot.¡± Wang Zhengshuo angrily slammed the binoculars he was holding onto the ground. ¡°The competition starts tomorrow. We still have one night left. Immediately dispatch someone and tell them that whoever can put this kid¡¯s head on my desk will get a hundred million green currency right away.¡± This sum was a huge amount in any country. The bodyguard nearby heard this and immediately became excited, and several volunteered to go out and kill Chen Yu right then and there. Wang Zhengshuo was thrilled and immediately authorized these people to go downstairs. Chen Yu wandered continuously through alleyways until he finally arrived at an inconspicuous street after an indeterminate amount of time. Compared to other bustling streets, this place was practically a slum. The bumpy concrete road was difficult to navigate, the surrounding shops were in shambles, and the items for sale were simple street food fare. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, looking around and confirming that this was indeed Hanjiang Road, then he continued walking and soon arrived at a shop marked with the number thirty-eight. It appeared to be a bento shop, specializing in cheap boxed lunches as its unique offering. As soon as he walked in, Chen Yu was hit by a strong smell of frying oil. He didn¡¯t need to guess to know that this oil was certainly reused ¡°gutter oil.¡± Chen Yu casually found a spot to sit down, then gestured to the owner. ¡°Is this Hanjiang Road number thirty-eight?¡± The owner wiped his hands and nodded repeatedly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Do you want to order a bento?¡± Chen Yu frowned, briefly examining the variety of bentos displayed on the counter, and immediately felt nauseated. Aside from kimchi, there were just a bunch of jumbled fried foods that would probably give him diarrhea if he ate them. ¡°Just bring something to drink.¡± The owner didn¡¯t say much, hurriedly bringing out a bottle of plum wine and setting it down. Chen Yu checked the time, then looked out the window before slowly closing his eyes. Everything that had happened today had been recorded by the system, which was now conducting an in-depth analysis. The person who had given him the gold medal must have been targeted by some force and the guy he encountered in the afternoon definitely could not be from that force. That meant he had now also become a target for assassination, only he didn¡¯t know who exactly wanted to make a move on him. As he was analyzing this in his mind, a figure hurried into the shop and sat down directly opposite him, ordering a bento from the owner at the same time. Chen Yu recognized the person in front of him at a glance¡ªit was the guy who had given him the gold medal during the day. The owner seemed very familiar with this person, directly serving up three bentos. These three bentos were different from the others in the shop¡ªnot only were they nutritionally rich, but their preparation was unique. It looked like the owner had specially prepared these bentos for the man. The man didn¡¯t care much else, picking up the bentos and wolfing down two of them, then packing the third one away. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, I was just too rushed this afternoon, and I had to leave that thing with you. Can I have it back now?¡± Chen Yu held the gold medal in his hand. ¡°Ever since you¡¯ve given me this, people have started to hunt me down. Although I¡¯m not sure whether these people have anything to do with you, my life is now under threat! So you must tell me. What exactly is this gold medal?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Assassination in Advance Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Assassination in Advance The man¡¯s pupils dilated into perfect circles, and he stared at Chen Yu with a strange look. After a long silence, the man finally heaved a sigh. ¡°It was my oversight to have also dragged you into danger. Now that it has come to this, there¡¯s no harm in telling you.¡± The man took out an identical gold medal from his person, lightly tapped it, and a virtual screen suddenly appeared on the medal. ¡°In our country, everything is controlled by the financial oligarchs, and the most powerful among them is the Wang Family! Inside these gold medals, there are evidence of their crimes, the best weapon to bring them down in the future.¡± Chen Yu had a drink and leaned back in his chair. He was somewhat aware of the dealings of the financial oligarchs of this country¡ªthis group who acted unscrupulously and beyond the reach of law. He never expected that there would actually be someone wanting to bring them down here. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and simply threw the gold medal in his hand back. Although he hated such people too, it was their internal matter and had nothing to do with him. Just as he was about to stand up and leave, over a dozen people suddenly appeared at the door, each holding a weapon in hand. The shop owner seemed to have been waiting for this moment and instantly took out a large pot of flour from behind the counter and threw it out. A huge amount of flour spread out, instantly creating a vast white blind spot. Then from behind the kitchen, a tunnel appeared. Following the lead of the shop owner, they hurriedly escaped through the tunnel. It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but they finally arrived at the riverbank. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. He felt as though he had been drawn into a huge conspiracy, yet he seemed unable to extricate himself. The man adjusted his breath for a moment and took out a special mobile phone from his person, and stuffed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°From today onwards, if you ever find yourself in danger, immediately dial the emergency number here, and my people will arrive at the earliest opportunity to ensure your safety.¡± With those words, the man and the former shop owner boarded the speedboat that had been prepared earlier and hurriedly departed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger in that place and quickly followed a small path to the bridge and made his way back to the hotel. Above in the high tower, Wang Zhengshuo and Wang Zhengxi, the brothers, were still observing through binoculars. ¡°Brother, what exactly happened? That kid seems to have vanished from our surveillance.¡± Wang Zhengxi¡¯s face was filled with confusion. The place they were in was the tallest skyscraper in the entire city, and the equipment they used was of the level of astronomical telescopes. They could monitor almost half of the city. One hand propping his chin, Wang Zhengshuo¡¯s face appeared somewhat gloomy. ¡°I refuse to believe he¡¯s not coming back to the hotel tonight. Order everyone to go to the hotel he¡¯s staying at¡ªif they can¡¯t kill him, figure out a way to make his eSports players disappear.¡± A fierce expression flashed across Wang Zhengxi¡¯s face, and he immediately began issuing commands to his subordinates as directed by Wang Zhengshuo. The moment Chen Yu arrived at the hotel, he immediately sensed something was off. He felt as though an invisible murderous aura permeated the hotel. After slightly adjusting his breath, he activated the system¡¯s scanning function and broadcast it. It didn¡¯t take long for the projection of the entire building to appear in his mind. Indeed, in some corner positions, a large number of men in black lurked. All these men were armed, and they didn¡¯t look normal¡ªtheir eyes were actually blue. Chen Yu immediately felt that something was amiss. These people were not only focusing on his room but also the rooms of the eSports team members he had brought with him. After locking onto their positions, Chen Yu abandoned the elevator and started moving through the floors. Soon, he reached a stairwell corner. Three burly men were hiding behind the door, seemingly waiting for an order. ¡°Hey, are you waiting for me?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s teasing voice suddenly rang out, startling the three men. Before the men could react, Chen Yu suddenly made his move, his fists raining down on them like a torrential downpour. The physical fitness of these three was beyond that of an ordinary person, clearly having been injected with some unknown medicine. Chen Yu had realized this long ago, so he went all out as soon as he took action, breaking their bones in an instant. After dealing with these people, he immediately shifted to another location. In half an hour, he had been traveling back and forth through every corner of the building, taking down nearly a hundred people. Finally, dragging two guys who still had some clarity of mind, he brought them to the rooftop and viciously stomped them into the cement floor. ¡°Who exactly are you? Who sent you here? What are you here for?¡± The two were already scared out of their wits. One of them was even kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. ¡°Young Master Wang sent us. We¡¯re here to off you, so you¡¯d drop out of tomorrow¡¯s eSports competition.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he hadn¡¯t expected the Wang Family to go as far as to kill him over a regional eSports competition. These people really knew no bounds. ¡°Go back and tell your Young Master Wang that not only will I attend tomorrow¡¯s eSports competition, but I¡¯ll also take the overall championship.¡± With that said, he threw them onto the building¡¯s rooftop, with its makeshift rope ladder. After returning to his room, Chen Yu didn¡¯t go to sleep immediately. Instead, he put all the team members¡¯ rooms under surveillance. He had thought this would be just a simple eSports competition, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to involve so much trouble. It looked like the people who chased him this afternoon were also sent by the Wang Family. The next morning, Hu Naichao led the team mightily toward the competition venue. Chen Yu didn¡¯t follow. Instead, he headed straight for the Wang Corporation¡¯s skyscraper. Wang Zhengshuo was sitting in his office, pondering what to play with that day. Just as he and a few assistants were deliberating, the office door was violently kicked open. Before he could react, Chen Yu was upon him, grabbing his neck and slamming it down on the desk. ¡°I thought you were some big shot. Turns out you¡¯re nothing but this.¡± Wang Zhengshuo¡¯s eyes bulged with shock; he hadn¡¯t expected someone to breach his office so easily. The assistants beside him were petrified, with a few collapsing to the ground. Chen Yu had no intention of giving him a chance to speak. He grabbed Wang Zhengshuo¡¯s arm and twisted it viciously, grinding the bones into powder. Horrific screams echoed instantly, and the terrified assistants quickly made calls for help. Soon, the building¡¯s bodyguards came rushing in, but upon seeing the scene before them, they were too scared to speak. The usually untouchable and emperor-like Wang Zhengshuo was being pressed down like a mere ant, unable to move a muscle. Even an arm had been ruthlessly crippled. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Computer Virus Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Computer Virus ¡°Nobody move!¡± Chen Yu bellowed, startling everyone present. Fear like they had never known filled their eyes, and their bodies shook violently. The Wang Family¡¯s eldest young master was the prized jewel of the Wang Corporation; if he suffered injury on their watch, they would likely be unable to continue working here thereafter. When Chen Yu came in, he had activated the system¡¯s surveillance function, and the thoughts of those present were collected into his mind. In other words, this bunch was completely transparent in front of Chen Yu, with not a single secret hidden. ¡°If I remember correctly, the Childe Family holds a portion of the Wang Corporation¡¯s shares, and I am one of the honorary shareholders of the Childe Family. If willing, I could offer you better jobs, or even erase the Wang Corporation from this world without any problem,¡± Chen Yu said. Those present looked at Chen Yu with strange glances and then began whispering to each other. So, they were all members of the Wang Corporation, but they weren¡¯t much better than the dogs the Wang Family kept. Ordered about every day, not to mention sometimes risking their lives. After some discussion, a few of them even put down their weapons and consciously stood in the corner. The rest either turned and left or directly went forward to restrain Wang Zhengshuo. A bizarre smile formed on the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he stepped on Wang Zhengshuo, fiercely kicking him twice. Such pompous nobility simply couldn¡¯t be dealt with through normal thinking. If they were cruel, one had to be even crueler than them. Moreover, with the connection to the Childe Family, Chen Yu could completely erase the Wang Corporation using financial means. ¡°Young Master Wang, I¡¯m not going anywhere today. I¡¯ll just stay here with you to watch the esports match. What do you think, whose team under our banner will prove superior?¡± Chen Yu said. Wang Zhengshuo had already lost his usual arrogance and sat shivering; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be more ruthless than him. Just then, a dozen people burst into the office, led by Wang Zhengxi. ¡°Brother, how are you?¡± Wang Zhengshuo seemed to see a lifesaver and hurriedly got up, ready to shout. Unexpectedly, Chen Yu¡¯s speed was astonishing. He flashed to Wang Zhengxi¡¯s side, grabbed his neck, and threw him violently. The man crashed to the ground like a heavy iron ball, his bones making a cracking sound. Chen Yu dominantly glared at the few who had just rushed in. A flash of blue-white light twinkled on his body, and then the group collapsed to the floor. He took a deep breath and had the system take full control of all surveillance equipment here, and simultaneously hacked into the security system. This meant no more disturbances before the end of the match. However, Chen Yu was not idle, making several phone calls in succession. The competition was in full swing, and Chen Yu¡¯s team already had world-class technical skills. With the introduction of new equipment, their operation was even more proficient. The competitors from the nation of Bang were no match at all. If this continued, the match would end prematurely before long. Just as Chen Yu was about to leave the Wang Corporation building, the screen suddenly showed a flurry of chaos. It seemed an accident had happened at the scene, and both teams had to pause the game. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; the game had been going smoothly without any accidents, and they needed only the last ten seconds to determine the winner. An accident happening at this moment was just too coincidental. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he closely observed the situation displayed on the big screen. ¡°Are you from the Wang Family really that despicable? Can¡¯t beat us in the game, so you pull the plug on the internet, huh?¡± Chen Yu glared fiercely at the brothers, causing their bodies to tremble violently. In their eyes, Chen Yu was essentially a fearsome Asura from hell. Wang Zhengshuo gasped for air, ¡°That¡¯s something that happened on site; it has nothing to do with us.¡± Chen Yu coldly stared at the two brothers before stepping out the door. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time with these guys. The deal with the Childe Family over the dismemberment of the Wang Group had already been settled. After today, the Wang Group would cease to exist, and the Childe Family would be sponsoring a new conglomerate to take their place here. Although conglomerates in this country stood tall like emperors, they were nothing but curs in the eyes of Western capital. If those from the other side chose to withdraw their investments or cut off cooperation, their assets would instantly shrink and even be driven down. Chen Yu originally didn¡¯t want to stoop to their level, but they had been too excessive. So, the Wang Group would have to disappear from this world. The competition scene was in complete chaos at the moment; staff members were continuously troubleshooting and repairing equipment. All these people were from Stick Country, and naturally, they sided with their own team members. They didn¡¯t bring up anything about the internet cable, just kept checking the computers and other equipment, focusing mainly on teams from other countries. While inspecting, each person held a USB drive, claiming it was to check if the computers had anything else installed. But anyone with a bit of savvy could tell they were trying to plant viruses in the computers. While they were busy inspecting, Chen Yu arrived at the scene. He directly grabbed a maintenance staff member and snatched the USB drive from his hands. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you guys to be this vile, implanting viruses in our players¡¯ computers.¡± As soon as these words came out, everyone at the scene was momentarily stunned. Reporters from various countries and world-class esports organizations surrounded him en masse. Although they could be biased in some reports, there was no questioning their integrity when it came to fair play in the competition. After attracting the attention of these reporters, Chen Yu immediately plugged the USB drive into a computer and opened all the files on it. In the small USB drive, there were thousands of viruses hidden, including ones that could slow down the computer and some cheating programs. If they injected these programs into the players¡¯ computers, and then had the referees detect them, the players would be branded as cheaters and lose their qualifications as esports athletes forever. Utterly reprehensible! The maintenance staff were immediately surrounded by the crowd, and some people swiftly began to check their identities; it didn¡¯t take long to find out that they were electronic engineers from the Wang Group. The situation escalated quickly, and condemnations against the Wang Group rose loudly from all sides. However, some media outlets remained rational, since the Wang Group was the most prominent local conglomerate. If they offended them in such a setting, these reporters might not be able to safeguard their careers in the future. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 370: Fully Responsible Chapter 370: Chapter 370: Fully Responsible Chen Yu could naturally sense the concern of the reporters, and from nowhere, he produced a chair to stand on, holding aloft the USB drive he had mentioned earlier. ¡°Starting today, the Childe Family will sanction the Wang Group; all their esports players will be barred from entering North America.¡± The crowd¡¯s attention was drawn back, their faces showing unprecedented astonishment. The Childe Family¡¯s reputation resounded across the globe, with many powerful conglomerates having ties to them in the shadows. If they decided to sanction someone, that person could not escape their reach. Some among the crowd immediately began looking up information about Chen Yu. ¡°He is the heir to the Tong Group and also an honorary director in the Childe Family.¡± Upon these words, the scene erupted once again, with the reporters who had drawn back in fear now crowding around once more. Though an honorary director is only a nominal position, it can to some extent determine the investment directions of the Childe Family. Now that Chen Yu had made such a statement on this occasion, it signified that the Wang Group had reached a dead end. As the saying goes, ¡°When the wall falls, everybody pushes,¡± the reporters on-site promptly began to embellish their reports with gusto. All esports teams in Korea came from the Wang Group; now that this incident had occurred, these teams had also lost their qualifications to compete. The following competitions became much simpler as a result. Mao Xiaolong led Tong Group¡¯s top team to victory without any suspense, claiming the championship. Chen Yu didn¡¯t get too involved afterward, instead letting Hu Naichao take everyone to enjoy themselves in the vicinity. He himself went to a seaside hotel. ¡°Mr. Chen, long time no see!¡± Russell hugged Chen Yu excitedly upon greeting him. After all, Chen Yu had saved him twice; such a debt of gratitude made Russell regard Chen Yu as family. Chen Yu had not expected the Childe Family to send Russell over. Although this guy had full authority to represent them, his way of handling things was somewhat unconventional. He was purely a prodigal son. Chen Yu responded quite perfunctorily and sat down beside him, pouring himself a drink without much care. Russell hurriedly came over, handing over a letter. ¡°My father said that you have full authority over everything here. Even if it means erasing the Wang Group from this world, the Childe Family will follow through,¡± he said. Chen Yu was slightly stunned; he now understood why Fox had sent Russell. It seemed like the current Childe Family had placed him in a very high position. Sending Russell was just to have a representative, a symbol, while the rest was left for Chen Yu to handle. ¡°This isn¡¯t quite right, is it? After all, I am only an honorary director of the Childe Family. How could I possibly represent the Childe Family in full capacity?¡± he questioned. Russell didn¡¯t care about all that; his main purpose here was to indulge in leisure and pleasure, without any desire to deal with such messy affairs. Moreover, he had absolute trust in Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, here are some seals from the family, now they are in your hands,¡± he stated. After forcefully passing a box to Chen Yu, Russell hastily exited the door. Chen Yu glanced at the seals in his hand; with these items, coupled with the assistance of the system, he could easily swallow a good portion of the Childe Family. It was evident how much trust Fox had in him. After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, Chen Yu didn¡¯t hurry to leave. He activated the system¡¯s scanning feature, extending the range to the maximum. The two individuals he had encountered on Hangang Road possessed a large amount of incriminating evidence against the Wang Group. If they could assist, perhaps he could accomplish more with less effort. The system¡¯s ability could only cover within a ten-kilometer radius. Fortunately, this place was not too far from Han River Road, and Chen Yu had found the traces of the two individuals after looking briefly. They had actually rented a boat on the river to grill fish. Having been chased for their lives in such a disheveled state the night before, they were now leisurely grilling fish on the boat today. It had to be said that the two guys still had some nerve. Chen Yu locked onto the target and immediately set off. He rented a small boat at the dock and headed straight for them. The two were grilling food while discussing their next plan. ¡°The two of you meet again!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s sudden appearance startled them. When escaping the previous night, the two had blocked all communication signals on themselves. It was impossible for anyone to find them. Without waiting for them to speak, Chen Yu leapt onto the boat and picked up a grilled fish, biting into it fiercely. ¡°Last night you mentioned you had evidence of the crimes committed by the Wang Group, I wonder if you could hand it over to me.¡± The two became instantly vigilant, eyeing Chen Yu with a peculiar look. To gather this evidence, they didn¡¯t know how many people had died. Now, with Chen Yu suddenly asking for it, they couldn¡¯t help but be on guard. ¡°What do you want these for?¡± Without saying much more, Chen Yu took out a document from his person. ¡°This is a document from the Childe Family for abolishing the Wang Group. It won¡¯t be long before they are completely wiped out. Right now, I need the evidence you have to add fuel to the fire.¡± When the two saw the document, their eyes widened in astonishment, and after triple-checking, they looked at Chen Yu with surprise. ¡°Where did you get this thing? It¡¯s a private document of the Childe Family!¡± Chen Yu took a sip of his drink. ¡°Let¡¯s properly introduce ourselves. My name is Chen Yu, a titular director of the Childe Family.¡± The breathing of the two men quickened, and the proprietor from the previous night immediately came forward and grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°My name is Park Sanjiang and he is Li Enjiang, both of us have suffered at the hands of the Wang Group.¡± Chen Yu nodded. ¡°From now on, we are allies. However, it won¡¯t be easy to completely topple the Wang Group. I need to know how many hideouts they have here.¡± Li Enjiang did not hesitate, pulling out a map with hundreds of red circles densely marking it. ¡°These are the places frequently visited by the Wang family. Some are their private clubs, others are specially constructed underground fortresses.¡± Chen Yu immediately scanned the locations on the map into his brain through the system. Park Sanjiang, on the other hand, poured out a large number of USB drives from his person. ¡°Mr. Chen, these all contain some of the atrocious acts committed by the Wang family, each one is enough to get them the death penalty.¡± Chen Yu did not hesitate to take all of the USB drives. ¡°Alright, you should not stay on the boat any longer. Pack up and come with me.¡± The two nodded repeatedly; this might be their only chance. As long as the Wang Group fell, they wouldn¡¯t have to live a life of hiding anymore. Just as they were preparing to leave, a rather luxurious yacht suddenly appeared nearby, and then several fully armed individuals jumped over directly. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 371 Clearing the Obstacles Chapter 371: Chapter 371 Clearing the Obstacles Chen Yu felt somewhat dazed; the surveillance system hadn¡¯t given any alert about the appearance of these people, and the weapons they were carrying seemed to surpass those of modern times. He quickly tensed his body and then immediately pulled Park Sanjiang and Li Enjiang into the cabin. The assailants outside acted at once, and the sound of violent explosions erupted instantly. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the entire boat submerged. Chen Yu frowned, these individuals looked like they were from the Wang Family, yet they didn¡¯t seem to be. Not daring to linger, he grabbed Park Sanjiang and Li Enjiang and jumped straight into the river. The assailants didn¡¯t pursue them. They rummaged through the cabin as if searching for something, and the three took the opportunity to quickly swim to the riverbank. ¡°Who are these people?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but ask. Park Sanjiang, panting heavily, took out a piece of metal. ¡°They are part of an organization secretly trained by the Wang Family called Manjiang. They specialize in handling their dirty work.¡± Chen Yu immediately scanned the metal piece, which was composed of a large number of chips. With such high-level chips, a quick scan by the system could project the contents directly into Chen Yu¡¯s mind. As expected, the information was explosive, nothing more than some scandals within the Wang Family and the process of their manipulation of underground transactions. The Wang Family had reached a desperate state; naturally, they would try to eliminate any unfavorable evidence as much as possible. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he took note of the men before him and hastily departed. Inside the Han River Center Building, Wang Tianhai shook uncontrollably in the principal seat. ¡°What the hell is going on? The Childe Family has been cooperating well with us. Why suddenly withdraw their shares, and transfer all their business dealings?¡± The company veterans seated below fell silent, daring not to even breathe too loudly. An older man, because of his age, leaned over to Wang Tianhai. ¡°Could it be that someone under our command has provoked an unprovokable power, leading Childe Family to make us a target?¡± It wasn¡¯t impossible. People of their financial dynasty¡¯s background did have some special preferences and could easily engage in jealousy and envy. If that indeed caused the current situation, it would be terribly unjust. ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything else, find the reason immediately. Otherwise, we¡¯ll all be buried along with the Wang Family group.¡± Everyone refrained from saying anything further and immediately called their subordinates, instructing them to find the cause as quickly as possible. Wang Tianhai also phoned the Manjiang organization, instructing them to eliminate any obstacle. Just then, a middle-aged man stumbled into the office. ¡°Mr. President, it¡¯s terrible! Both young masters have been hospitalized after a fight, and we¡¯ve also lost this round of the eSports competition.¡± Wang Tianhai¡¯s pupils dilated sharply, and he looked at the man before him with a panic-stricken gaze. ¡°What did you say? Both of them got beaten up?¡± The middle-aged man gasped for breath, ¡°It seems they¡¯ve offended the heir of Tong Group, who is also an honorary director of the Childe Family. They¡¯ve decided to take action against us, and many partners have already fled.¡± Wang Tianhai trembled violently; in his wildest dreams, he had not suspected that all this had started because of his sons. ¡°The heir to the Tong Group, I remember, is a kid named Chen Yu. Does he really have the power to mobilize Childe Family resources?¡± The middle-aged man nodded emphatically. ¡°Young Master Russell of Childe Family has already arrived, and he¡¯s given all decision-making power to Chen Yu.¡± Wang Tianhai¡¯s breathing became frantic. ¡°Chen Yu! No, we can¡¯t let the kid live. Tell our men that if anyone sees this kid, take him out on the spot. Once he¡¯s dead, the Childe Family will naturally let down their guard.¡± Everyone present didn¡¯t dare to delay and immediately contacted the killer organizations they could reach. Chen Yu arrived at the Han River Central Hotel with Park Sanjiang and Li Enjiang. The team had settled here after the completion of the competition. Moreover, this place was wholly owned and considered safer by the Childe Family. As soon as the three of them arrived, Chen Yu placed all the USB drives and chips on the table, simply staring at them with his eyes. The two beside him had some strange looks on their faces. These were chips, after all; how could you possibly receive the information inside just by looking at them with the naked eye? Just as they were about to ask, Chen Yu suddenly rubbed his eyes and then leaned back in his chair. ¡°These things are useless now, just burn them.¡± Park Sanjiang¡¯s mouth gaped wide open. ¡°These items were obtained at the risk of our lives; isn¡¯t it a pity to just burn them like that?¡± He didn¡¯t know that all the information here had already been replicated by Chen Yu in his mind, and he could reproduce a copy simply by operating the system. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the moment you guys came in, I had already activated a special device that made a copy of all the chip content.¡± The two immediately looked around, but they couldn¡¯t see anything out of the ordinary. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much about that, and he made a phone call to Hu Naichao, telling him to take the team back to their country first. The situation here had already exceeded his expectations, and if the team were to stay, they would likely be affected. After arranging everything, Chen Yu asked Park Sanjiang and Li Enjiang to stay at the hotel while he left alone. The Wang Family had already set their sights on them, and it would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths if they were to show their faces publicly at this time. Chen Yu went straight to a building as soon as he left. This was the Wang Family¡¯s headquarters. As soon as he reached the entrance, a dozen fierce-looking bodyguards blocked his path. ¡°Kid, do you know where you are? Daring to barge in like this, get lost, or else you¡¯re dead.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay them any attention; a blue and white glow flashed over his body, and he vanished in front of everyone. When he reappeared, he was already inside the elevator. The abilities granted to Chen Yu by the system after several evolutions had already surpassed those of normal people. According to the system, if it could evolve a few more times, it could even digitize Chen Yu¡¯s body. Wang Tianhai was sitting in the top-floor office, continuously issuing orders. All he could do now was use his power to cash out all his virtual assets. Only then would he be able to survive the Childe Family¡¯s siege. Suddenly, the office door was violently kicked open, and Chen Yu appeared before him. ¡°Mr. Wang, in such a hurry? What are you doing, moving assets? Do you think you still have time for that?¡± The mocking voice made Wang Tianhai¡¯s body shake violently. Seeing Chen Yu, he knew his end might have come. He carefully scrutinized Chen Yu, his face suddenly taking on a strange expression. He never imagined his opponent would be so young. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 372 Mount Carol Chapter 372: Chapter 372 Mount Carol ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve looked over your profile and understand a bit about you. I believe we can be partners, not enemies,¡± said Wang Tianhai, his breathing somewhat labored. He took a cigar from beside him and offered it to Chen Yu. ¡°The difference between partner and enemy is a fine line, but why should I partner with you?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t reach for the cigar but instead laid several contracts on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s cut the crap, sign these contracts immediately, then hand over all the assets under your name, and maybe you can still live,¡± he said. Wang Tianhai¡¯s teeth clenched with an audible grind. ¡°We are both Easterners; we could unite against the Childe family. Why are you doing this to me?¡± he asked. Chen Yu propped his chin in his hand, ¡°Comparatively, I dislike you more!¡± Enraged and embarrassed, Wang Tianhai threw his cigar violently on the floor and then pressed the alarm. Soon after, a dozen fully armed fellows burst into the office, identical to those Chen Yu had seen on the boat before. The equipment on them screamed future and high-tech, and they had a special sensing device on them that even Chen Yu¡¯s system couldn¡¯t analyze. However, after a day¡¯s accumulation, the system could barely parse some of their functions. As these men appeared, images flashed through Chen Yu¡¯s mind, then he moved like lightning. Before they could even act, they were already lying on the floor, two of them with their gear in tatters. The core chips were now in Chen Yu¡¯s hands for a comprehensive analysis. ¡°I thought this guy had prepared some high-tech stuff, but it turns out to be just a pile of devices not yet on the market,¡± he scoffed. Chen Yu tossed the chip aside and slowly approached Wang Tianhai. The atmosphere in the room turned eerie, as Wang Tianhai kept retreating until he finally curled up in the corner of the room. ¡°What method did you just use? These men are all specially trained, and their equipment is the best in the world,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond but just walked up to Wang Tianhai and grabbed his neck. Before he could react, Chen Yu¡¯s fingers were already rapidly typing on a keyboard. All the data linked to the computer now flowed continuously into Chen Yu¡¯s mind, and he also gained full control over Wang Tianhai¡¯s accounts and passwords. He even scanned through Wang Tianhai¡¯s brain information. A strange curve formed on Chen Yu¡¯s lips as his hand unexpectedly held several pieces of silicone. He placed these silicone pieces on Wang Tianhai¡¯s eyes and fingers, and after a brief sculpting, collected his iris and fingerprints. ¡°Mr. Wang, you¡¯re now completely useless. If you don¡¯t want to suffer, I suggest you find a place and kill yourself,¡± Chen Yu said and left the office. The next morning, all assets under the Wang Group were transferred to Tong Group and the Childe family. At the same time, every scandal of the Wang family was exposed. The two sudden moves plummeted the Wang family to rock bottom, with Wang Tianhai penniless. His two sons lay in the hospital, unable to afford the medical bills. After completing all the procedures, Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay any longer as there was nothing interesting in such a small country. Just as he was about to leave, Russell suddenly found him and forcibly pulled him into a limousine. ¡°Mr. Chen, when you were coming, my father mentioned that if you finished the business here, you must accompany me to the Carroll Mountains,¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, the Carroll Mountains being one of the most mysterious mountain ranges in the world. Afterward, through renovations, this mountain range became the private property of the Childe Family. Since then, no outsiders were allowed entry. Chen Yu had not expected that he would become the first outsider to enter the Carroll Mountains aside from the Childe Family. ¡°Is there a reason for me to come over?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. ¡°Nothing much, just a pure invitation!¡± Russell gave a perfunctory response and let the driver hurry to push and pull Chen Yu onto a private plane. Honestly, if Chen Yu wasn¡¯t curious about the Carroll Mountains, he wouldn¡¯t have let himself be so easily dragged onto the plane. After six hours of long-haul flight, they arrived at a private airport near the Carroll Mountains. Upon landing, Chen Yu felt as though he had entered a paradise. The environment was extraordinarily beautiful here; there were many plants he had never even seen before. The system continuously imprinted the names of these plants in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, and he was surprised to find that some were plants from ancient times. ¡°Mr. Chen, come quickly, the auction is about to start, and we¡¯ll miss it if we¡¯re any later.¡± ¡°Auction?¡± Chen Yu was full of questions. Before he could gather his thoughts, Russell had already pulled him into the mountain range. This place was simply an underground palace, incredibly luxurious wherever they went. When the two of them entered, a sightseeing cart came forward to pick them up, and they continued deeper underground. After an uncertain amount of time, they arrived at a hall. The hall¡¯s decor was extremely unique, as if tailored to the visiting guests¡¯ styles. Chen Yu had just arrived when an elderly man of advanced years greeted him warmly, pulling Chen Yu to a table where Fox was also seated. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯ve asked you here today to introduce the youngest and most promising person in the world, Mr. Chen Yu.¡± Such an introduction from Fox was somewhat unexpected, even making Chen Yu a bit overwhelmed. Upon entering, the system had already replicated the identity information of everyone here into Chen Yu¡¯s brain. He was astonished to find that everyone present was an invisible tycoon, each possessing assets nearly equivalent to the Childe Family. If these people wished, they could probably affect the entire world¡¯s financial markets. An octogenarian with a cheerful smile walked over, taking hold of Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°When I joined the Knights of the Round Table, I was already a man in my sixties, but you are not even thirty yet, the future is limitless for you.¡± These people seemed to be united in an organization, regularly meeting at this location. However, it appeared that the conditions to join this organization were extremely strict. Counting carefully, there were a total of thirteen people in the room. Just as Chen Yu was pondering how the organization operated, several scantily clad ladies placed a golden scepter on the table. COMMENT 1 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 373: The Meeting Gift Chapter 373: Chapter 373: The Meeting Gift Fox swayed his body and slowly took a seat beside him, presenting Chen Yu with an exquisitely crafted token. ¡°Mr. Chen,¡± he began, ¡°this is a token of the Knights of the Round Table; from today onwards, you are one of the thirteen Knights of the Round Table.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; the so-called Knights of the Round Table were part of a legend that had arisen a long time ago. To defeat the Celt invasion, King Arthur gathered thirteen knights, forming a covenant of life and death. Since that time, the covenant had been passed down from generation to generation. In the modern era, everyone believed that the Knights of the Round Table were nothing more than characters in a legend. In reality, this legend had become an organization that had been passed down through the ages. As Chen Yu took the token that Fox had handed to him, he was shocked to find that it was inlaid with a top-tier gemstone that had been lost for ages. Just one could possibly fetch a price of several hundred million. Yet on a single token, there were as many as thirteen gemstones. Just auctioning this one token could make a person the top tycoon of a region. Chen Yu¡¯s breath suddenly quickened; judging from this alone, the combined wealth of all the Knights of the Round Table could very well overturn the entire world. Suppressing the surprise in his heart, Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, looking at the gold scepter placed before him. At a glance, one could tell this scepter was the exclusive gold scepter of Tutankhamun. It had been lost since the 1920s and 1930s. Organizations around the world had searched for an entire century yet failed to find any trace of it, only to unexpectedly discover it here. Fox clapped his hands twice. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this gold scepter we¡¯ve just found has been authenticated as belonging to Tutankhamun,¡± he said. ¡°Now we shall distribute it, following the old rules, the highest bidder takes it.¡± The others appeared indifferent, showing little interest in the gold scepter before them, merely raising their tokens mechanically. Almost everyone seated at this table had seen all the treasures in the world, and were not too impressed by a mere gold scepter. Before long, an old man took the gold scepter into his possession; it seemed like he bought it not out of interest, but simply because he offered the highest price. However, after obtaining the gold scepter, the old man did not instruct his bodyguard to put it away. Instead, he pushed it across to Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, since you¡¯ve joined the Knights of the Round Table, consider this a welcome gift from me,¡± the old man said. ¡°You must accept it; it¡¯s our tradition.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, having just witnessed the old man spend six billion to purchase the gold scepter, only to casually offer it to him. Just as he was about to decline, the next item was brought up for auction. Compared to the gold scepter, this item seemed rather ordinary, but the intricate patterns on it quickly captured Chen Yu¡¯s interest. It appeared to be a unique ceremonial object from the Ancient Shu State. Having been passed down for at least six thousand years, the patterns seemed to chronicle the rise and fall of a nation¡¯s civilization¡ªan inestimably valuable historical treasure when viewed from the outside. The most important thing was that this item belonged to the treasures of Eastern civilization, and no matter from which perspective, Chen Yu had to purchase it. Just as he prepared to make his move, an elderly man seated near him suddenly placed a key on the table. ¡°This is the key to a safe deposit box in a Swiss bank. The money inside should be sufficient to purchase this item. Does anyone else wish to compete with me?¡± No one else spoke up at the scene, and the item naturally fell into the old man¡¯s hands. However, after making the purchase, like the first elderly man, he presented it to Chen Yu. The subsequent process held no surprises; everyone bought a treasure and pushed it in front of Chen Yu, as a gift for their first meeting. After understanding the rules, Chen Yu did not decline and accepted them with equanimity, especially since some of the items were unique treasures from Eastern civilization that had been lost to the outside world. After the auction of twelve items was completed, everyone began to stand up, and Fox even announced the end of the auction. It seemed that the auction had been designed specifically for Chen Yu, as a welcoming event. The crowd then escorted Chen Yu to another room, which was somewhat smaller compared to the previous one, yet it was filled everywhere with gold. Even the smallest ornaments were crafted from gold. Most importantly, all the objects were densely inlaid with a variety of gemstones. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat self-mocking. Though he considered himself worldly, in this place, he felt like a newborn baby. Not to mention the splendor before him, he had never even seen the gemstones that lay scattered on the ground. After taking a moment to compose himself, Chen Yu sat down like the other old men. Fox entered a code next to him, then took out two test tubes. ¡°This is the highest secret of the Knights of the Round Table. Inside is said to be two keys that can sway the world, but so far, no one has been able to decipher where the keys truly lie.¡± This statement was baffling, and Chen Yu glanced subconsciously, only to find that the test tubes contained a liquid. He frowned and immediately had the system scan the liquid in the test tubes, but to his surprise, the test tubes were made of a special material. Not even the system could penetrate the glass walls to detect the composition of the liquid inside. Fox didn¡¯t say much more, only put the test tubes back, then shared the opened code with Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, now that you are a member of the Knights of the Round Table, there is no need to hide these secrets from you. From now on, you can come and go here as if you were at home, with no one to stop you.¡± Chen Yu was filled with curiosity about everything here, especially since he still hadn¡¯t fully grasped the rules of this place. His eyes shifted slightly, and he suddenly grabbed a handful of gemstones from the ground, stuffing them into his pocket without hesitation. The rest acted as if they hadn¡¯t seen anything, simply continuing to discuss their own businesses. Fox approached with a smile and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°Young man, this is the wealth of the Knights of the Round Table. Everyone is entitled to take anything from here. Even if you were to empty this room, it would be fine, let alone taking a few gemstones.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes shone with surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected to stumble upon such good fortune. Considering the number of gemstones and gold here, he could become the world¡¯s richest person in a very short time if he wished. However, that would only make him the richest person on the surface, not even worth mentioning when compared to any member of the Knights of the Round Table. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 374 Betting on Luck Chapter 374: Chapter 374 Betting on Luck ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, trouble is here again; that fellow is back, this time with a heap of diluted treasures, and he¡¯s brought some inexplicable people with him.¡± The security staff hurriedly barged in and presented a video calling device to everyone. On the screen stood a man in his sixties with a face marked by scars. Around him stood a dozen or so people, each exuding an air of distinction. Fox couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°That old man refuses to die. I thought he was already dead. Why has he come here again?¡± Out of curiosity, Chen Yu craned his neck to have a look at the screen and recognized the person to be Carroll Philock. This man held an immense fortune, always ranking first among the world¡¯s richest as publicly known. Fox tossed aside the communication device in his hand and hurried out. The other elders remained indifferent, simply sitting there drinking tea without a care. This was Chen Yu¡¯s first visit here, and he was filled with curiosity about why the world¡¯s richest man had come to this place. When he stepped outside, Carroll looked at him with a gaze mixed with astonishment. ¡°Who is this kid? Has the Knights of the Round Table added a new member?¡± Fox nodded and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, lifting the Token in his grip. ¡°He¡¯s a new member carefully selected by all of us. You want to join the Knights of the Round Table; you might have to wait a few more decades, that is if you can actually live that long!¡± Carroll¡¯s breathing became ragged, and he quickly stepped forward. ¡°I refuse to accept this. How is this kid better than me in any way? My wealth is number one in the world, I have a very powerful family behind me, and each of my clients could be the best in their respective fields.¡± Such arrogant words were particularly distasteful. Chen Yu also furrowed his brows but said nothing more. Instead, he took out a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them by the door frame, clearly in a mood to watch the show. Carroll¡¯s anger intensified. In his view, he was the only one worthy of becoming a new Knight of the Round Table. ¡°Fox, I know you are the recruiter for this generation¡¯s Knights of the Round Table. I want to have a contest with this kid, to prove that I am stronger than him.¡± Fox didn¡¯t say much; he only looked at Chen Yu with an inquisitive gaze. The atmosphere became somewhat strange as numerous security personnel slowly surrounded them, ready to expel Carroll if necessary. Chen Yu tidied up the sunflower seed shells in his hand and slowly stepped forward. ¡°Very well then, let¡¯s have a contest. I¡¯d like to see just how formidable the world¡¯s richest man really is.¡± A flash of contempt crossed Carroll¡¯s eyes. He found a spot to sit, and pulled out a deck of playing cards. Actually, at their level, competing in mere wealth or other capabilities seemed lowly. Anyone who is extremely wealthy in this world owes their fortune, at least in part, to luck. Therefore, a contest of luck was the best method of comparison. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it simple, each of us will draw one card from the deck, and whoever draws the higher number wins.¡± Chen Yu almost laughed, with the system in his hand, he could see through everything in this world. Even if the deck was placed in front of him, he could easily tell where the largest card was. Carroll also appeared to be supremely confident, with a strange, crystal-like sparkle flashing in his eyes. If you looked closely, you¡¯d notice that he was wearing a pair of invisible glasses. No wonder he wanted to bet on luck. It turned out he had come prepared: the invisible glasses in his eyes were made of a special material that allowed him to easily see through the cards. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, then casually drew a card from the deck. Carroll¡¯s expression clearly changed for a moment; he also drew a card, and when they both revealed their cards, the numbers were exactly the same¡ªthe highest numbers. The first round ended in a tie, and both men found themselves in a deadlock. Carroll, gritting his teeth and feeling unsatisfied, wanted to play another round, but suddenly, Fox appeared by his side and grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Old buddy, you¡¯re going too far. Coming here with x-ray glasses to play with this young brother here, even if you win, it won¡¯t be a win to be proud of. If I were you, I¡¯d pack up and go home and stop causing trouble here, or else I¡¯ll have you thrown out.¡± Carroll suddenly let out a scream, becoming frantic. His family had started to prosper centuries ago, and the descendants had taken the way of thinking left by their ancestors to the extreme, accumulating billions of wealth. Theoretically, their family already had the qualifications to join the Knights of the Round Table. In the past, many members of their family had received invitations from the Knights of the Round Table, including Carroll. When they saw the environment of the Knights of the Round Table, it was as if they had opened the door to another world, unable to return to their former lives. Therefore, joining the Knights of the Round Table became an additional goal for their family through the generations. But no matter how hard they tried, it always seemed they were just a little short, getting eliminated at the very last step every time. This time, Carroll wanted to make an effort on top of his previous attempts to see if he could join the Knights of the Round Table, but to his surprise, someone else had beaten him to it, and it was a young man not even thirty years old. ¡°Why? My family is already so powerful, why aren¡¯t we meeting the mark? What makes this little brat any better than me?¡± Fox chuckled coldly and slowly moved forward a few steps. ¡°Although this young brother¡¯s wealth may not compare to yours, he possesses a skill you could never match, the Art of Resurrection.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. He indeed knew medicine, but as for bringing back the dead, he didn¡¯t have such an ability. However, remembering the scene when he saved someone at the Childe Family, Chen Yu understood. The two patients from their family were already critically ill, and anyone else would have been unable to cure them. Moreover, the Childe Family had even set up a research lab specifically for their ailments, yet to no avail. In the end, Chen Yu managed to cure them within a month, and naturally, they saw him as a divine healer. Having someone like that join the Knights of the Round Table meant these old fellows might extend their lives by a decade or even several decades. In this world, everything is related to interests. The older generation of the Knights didn¡¯t actually lack money; what they lacked was life and a healthy body. This was also a major reason for Carroll¡¯s failure. Upon hearing the words ¡°Art of Resurrection,¡± Carroll staggered and collapsed onto a chair. How many people in this world could achieve resurrection? COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Biotechnology Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Biotechnology Carol fell silent for a while, then suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. To ordinary people, the idea of coming back to life sounds like a joke, but to them, it was a reality. All the super-rich in the world would set up special laboratories committed to the study of resurrection and even the art of immortality. Carol was no exception; his company recently produced a capsule with elements that, when combined, could not only prolong human life but also treat some chronic diseases. As the head of the Childe Family, Fox had no need to deceive him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to say much and went back to his room on his own. By contrast, he was more interested in the gemstone he had seen in the room earlier and wanted to take some back for research. It wasn¡¯t long before Fox also entered the room, bringing a huge sapphire into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°This is a gift from Carol to you, in the hope that you¡¯ll save his life at a critical moment, or at least prolong it for him,¡± he said. Chen Yu was exasperated, these wealthy people really had no scruples when it came to living a few more years. He just nodded, picked up a few gemstones from the ground, and prepared to leave. ¡°Young man, no need to rush, I still want to take you to a place!¡± Fox didn¡¯t wait for Chen Yu¡¯s consent, directly pulling him out of the room and onto a tour car. Before long, the two arrived under a waterfall. The scenery at this location was very pleasant, the air exceptionally fresh. Upon arriving here, Chen Yu felt as if he had entered a fairyland. Just as he was preparing to breathe in some fresh air, a strange noise suddenly came from the waterfall, and he saw a creature that looked like a crocodile rush out. But upon closer observation, it didn¡¯t quite resemble a crocodile, its body was abnormally long, like that of a python. What was even more astonishing was that it had a pair of fleshy wings on its back. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes and subconsciously let the system analyze the creature before him. ¡°Genetic hybrid, bred through Cloning Technology, but flawed, can only live for three years.¡± Honestly, being able to create such a being was already a miracle in biology. According to the system¡¯s analysis, this monster¡¯s body contained at least four million pairs of ancient creature genes. Perhaps only an existence like the Knights of the Round Table could have cultivated such a being. ¡°Mr. Chen, I bet you never imagined that such a creature existed in this world. It¡¯s the result of decades of our labor, and its blood possesses regenerative functions,¡± said Fox. Chen Yu clearly understood what Fox meant. Long ago, a biological research institute, inspired by the regenerative capabilities of a gecko¡¯s tail, developed a regenerative solution. It was said to have been applied in clinical practice. However, this technology had always been unable to break through the biological barrier. Geckos, being cold-blooded reptiles, had different genes from humans. This kind of regeneration was an instinct for geckos, but an unattainable ability for humans. Even if the solution was successful in clinical trials, it could not be widely adopted. The creature before him was like an upgraded version of the gecko, mixed with human genes. If serum extracted from it could be used on humans, maybe humans could gain regenerative abilities. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; he hadn¡¯t expected these people to be so crazy. He had developed a heartfelt aversion to the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°This thing in my eyes is just a hybrid, and its genes are unstable, it won¡¯t live long.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone was not evasive, which even made Fox pause for a moment. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re really something, just one look and you knew this guy wouldn¡¯t live long.¡± Fox suddenly became excited and took out a tablet computer to hand to Chen Yu. On it was displayed the complete data of the creature. Such secretive things are usually not shown to just anyone, but Fox really regarded him as one of his own. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t polite and immediately had the system copy the data. Just then, the monster suddenly went berserk, making strange sounds from its mouth, and its body seemed to shed its skin, continually shaking off scales. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly, and he hurriedly grabbed Fox and ran to the side. No sooner had the two left than the monster¡¯s body rapidly disintegrated, and eventually, it turned into a heap of rotten flesh stewing in the waterfall. Fox¡¯s face was full of regret, the creature he had so painstakingly cultivated for many years was now dead. However, the pain on his face quickly vanished. ¡°Kid, strictly speaking, that thing was just an experimental subject. Let me take you to see a real deal.¡± Saying this, Fox directly pulled Chen Yu and walked towards a place not far away. Soon, they reached a swamp. This place was very muddy, with rotten mud and animal carcasses everywhere. The thick stench was so strong that even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t stand it. Just then, a bubbling sound suddenly came from the swamp, and a crocodile emerged. Compared to the previous monster, this crocodile looked much more normal, just a bit larger. ¡°Mr. Chen, this creature is also one of our modifications, but its genetic code has two million fewer pairs than the previous one. Its body is much more stable, and the serum extracted from it has developed quite a few products.¡± Fox introduced it excitedly, as if the crocodile in front of him was some priceless treasure. Chen Yu quickly scanned the crocodile¡¯s condition and then started backing away in panic. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, this fellow¡¯s been raised by us since it was little and won¡¯t hurt people.¡± Fox looked proudly satisfied, his back to the crocodile, without a hint of fear. Almost subconsciously, Chen Yu stepped forward and grabbed Fox¡¯s body. The next moment, the crocodile suddenly rushed out of the swamp, its huge mouth wide open to bite. Chen Yu immediately extended his hands, grabbed the crocodile¡¯s upper and lower jaws, and forcefully pushed forward. The massive body was in Chen Yu¡¯s hands like a kitten, tossed soaring through the air, landing back into the swamp. ¡°Mr. Fox, these cultivated species have extremely unstable genes inside; you should be more cautious. You could easily lose your life that way.¡± Fox¡¯s breathing was extremely rapid; he hadn¡¯t expected the usually docile crocodile to suddenly lash out at him. If not for Chen Yu¡¯s quick reaction, he would now be a meal in the crocodile¡¯s belly. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve saved me again, I don¡¯t know how to thank you.¡± Fox thanked him, then looked at the crocodile with a strange gaze, his eyes flashing fiercely. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 376: Elixir of Immortality Chapter 376: Chapter 376: Elixir of Immortality Not long after, more than a dozen fully equipped security personnel charged in, swiftly dismembered the crocodile and tossed its pieces into the swamp. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he hadn¡¯t expected Fox to be so ferocious. Although the crocodile had almost eaten him, creating such a synthetic creature wasn¡¯t easy, and to kill it off so readily seemed far too wasteful. Fox clearly didn¡¯t want to linger there, and he hurriedly left with Chen Yu. All members of the Knights of the Round Table had already left the mountain range, and their main purpose for coming here today had been to welcome a new member. Fox gave a few instructions to the security personnel nearby, and then took Chen Yu onto a private plane. ¡°Mr. Chen, now that you are a member of the Knights of the Round Table, there are certain things you must know. Let¡¯s go to Chicago; there is a biological laboratory there.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t refuse, for the amount of information he had received today was already overwhelming, and with a little organization, he could come to some unexpected conclusions. If he could gain a bit more information, perhaps he could even synthesize a super-creature himself. The northern part of Chicago seemed somewhat chaotic, with several hundred forces large and small mingling together. But this was all superficial; at the very center of the chaotic area was a towering skyscraper and a vast industrial park. When Chen Yu arrived there, he was stunned by everything in front of him. He had never seen such a large industrial park before; even the two industrial zones in Suzhou City combined were only a tenth of this place. A multitude of workers scurried about, each carrying an extremely strange box in their hands. Fox gestured to a worker nearby, who then brought over a special vehicle. This vehicle looked quite compact, but its exterior was entirely composed of hard armor, even the glass was made from an extremely special fiber. After boarding the vehicle, Chen Yu scanned all the materials it used. Indeed, the materials were impressive; with just a bit of research, he could perfectly replicate them. Not much later, the vehicle arrived at a strange place. Though still inside the industrial park, it resembled a primeval jungle, with trees seeming to have survived from hundreds of millions of years ago, towering into the clouds and immensely large. As the vehicle entered the jungle, it seemed to disturb the creatures living there. Shortly after, a few bizarre-looking small foxes charged towards them. Chen Yu gasped in astonishment; he had thought the huge crocodile had been Fox¡¯s limit, but he hadn¡¯t expected there to be even more formidable creatures hidden here. Some of these foxes had two heads, some had eight tails, and there were even some that appeared to be hermaphrodites. ¡°Mr. Chen, everything here has been cultivated with our latest technology, and there is no other place like this in the world. If you like, I can allocate a piece of land here for you,¡± offered Fox. Chen Yu didn¡¯t expect Fox to be so generous, but he wasn¡¯t interested in anything here. To him, arbitrarily altering creatures and trampling on life were not much different. Moreover, these animals¡¯ bodies were mixed with all sorts of genes, making their very existence a pain from the moment they were born. Suddenly, Chen Yu harbored a thought to burn this place to the ground. After the vehicle weaved through the jungle, Chen Yu¡¯s worldview completely collapsed. He finally understood what the Knights of the Round Table had come together for. They were actually exploring the quest for immortality. In a luxurious room, several scantily clad women served up a table of delicacies. Fox tore off a leg of lamb and placed it in front of Chen Yu. ¡°This goat was cultivated using high technology, it tastes very delicious,¡± As soon as he heard the words ¡®high technology,¡¯ disgust welled up in Chen Yu, making him want to vomit. ¡°I¡¯m not much hungry, I want to rest alone for a while.¡± Fox didn¡¯t say much more and hurriedly arranged a room for Chen Yu. The scenes he had seen earlier kept reappearing in his mind. He couldn¡¯t believe that the Knights of the Round Table were so cruel as to turn decent animals into such monstrosities. Just as he was about to rest for a while, a hurried knock suddenly sounded at the door, followed by the intrusion of several muscular men. One of the men looked extremely robust, with a strange scar on his face. If one observed carefully, they would realize that this man was different from normal people, with blood-red lines continuously surfacing on his body. And the scar on his face looked very much like a centipede. ¡°You¡¯re the new Knight of the Round Table, so young, and an Easterner to boot! To tell you the truth, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re worthy. Die!¡± The man raised his broadsword and prepared to bring it down. Unexpectedly, Chen Yu suddenly swung his fist and turned his broadsword into pieces. Before the man could react, Chen Yu¡¯s fist had already hit his face, smashing him into the ground. A succession of bone-cracking sounds abruptly rang out as the man¡¯s skeleton instantly shattered to pieces. ¡°You think you can kill me? You¡¯re still too green. Just who exactly are you?¡± Chen Yu asked perfunctorily, then used the system to scan the man¡¯s brain for information, and soon a plethora of details flooded into his mind. This guy was one of the managers in the industrial park, also a candidate for the Knights of the Round Table. Rumor had it he had concocted an elixir of immortality. This elixir was still in clinical trials, not yet successful, but it could maximize the alteration of a lab mouse¡¯s genetic structure, granting it an additional hundred years of life. Chen Yu was astounded that such a bulky man was actually a scientist. Just then, Fox rushed in hurriedly through the door. ¡°Hannes, what¡¯s the matter with you? Why are you being so disrespectful to Mr. Chen? Apologize at once.¡± Hannes adopted a cold demeanor; he was now the hottest scientist in the entire industrial park, and all the Knights of the Round Table respected him greatly. How could he apologize to a youth who had just joined the Knights of the Round Table? ¡°Mr. Fox, I think this time you¡¯ve got yourself a fraud. This guy just managed to cure a few people by fluke, how could he possibly help us research the elixir of immortality?¡± A strange curve formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. These guys were indeed in pursuit of immortality. Taking advantage of Fox¡¯s distraction, Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward and seized Hannes¡¯s neck. With a flash of blue-white light, Hannes fell to the side. Fox was terrified, hastily attempting to help Hannes, but to his shock, Hannes¡¯s body was already icy cold, devoid of any sign of life. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Collective Palace Coup Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Collective Palace Coup Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated. He had only released an electric current, but now the man was dead. After briefly adjusting his breathing, he hurried forward to check and found that there were no apparent wounds on Hannes¡¯s body, just a crack at his neck. The location of the crack was peculiar, right in the middle of the trachea. An electric shock couldn¡¯t possibly cause such an injury unless someone did it on purpose, or there was something abnormal about his body. At once, Fox called over the doctors on standby to save Hannes at all costs. However, after examining Hannes¡¯s body, the doctors all shook their heads. In their opinion, Hannes was already a dead man, beyond saving. Fox was just joking. ¡°Sir, this person must have dosed himself with some kind of drug, causing irreversible damage to his bodily functions. He¡¯s beyond saving.¡± What Chen Yu said struck Fox like a bolt from the blue. The most important scientific researcher of his company had died so inexplicably. ¡°Wait a moment, Mr. Chen, did you just say he injected himself with a drug?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°It¡¯s probably the immortality drug you¡¯re experimenting with.¡± Fox gasped, that drug was strictly forbidden within their ranks, no one was allowed to inject it without authorization. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then he brought this on himself.¡± Fox gave a signal to the doctors around him. They immediately went forward to take some samples from Hannes¡¯s body and took them back. Although the drug was already in clinical trials, most subjects were small animals, and it had seldom been used on humans. Hannes¡¯s body could serve as a good research subject. Without lingering, Chen Yu exchanged a few words with Fox and then turned to leave. The secrets of the Knights of the Round Table, he no longer wanted to delve into them. This place was like a purgatory on earth. Staying another moment felt like torture. Imperial capital, Tong Family estate. Tong Ming sat there, his voice gravely low. Lately, there had been many dissenting voices within the corporation. The day he designated Chen Yu as his successor, many veterans within the company disagreed. They believed Chen Yu didn¡¯t qualify to be the successor at all. Some even banded together to challenge his authority, wanting to strip Chen Yu of all his positions within the corporation. Today, more than twenty veterans had appeared here at once, each bringing their contracts, trying to pressure Tong Ming. The atmosphere on the scene was incredibly tense, the bodyguards both sides brought were on edge, about to come to blows. Tong Ming adjusted his breathing slightly and directly took out his personal seal. ¡°Since you all wish to terminate the contracts, let¡¯s not waste too much time, let¡¯s start.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with shock; they hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to agree so easily. ¡°Mr. Tong, you had better think this through. Are you willing to kick out these veterans over a milk-nosed brat? Can you guarantee you won¡¯t regret it in the future?¡± Tong Ming laughed coldly, his face full of scorn. ¡°Gentlemen, remember the times when we fought side by side to conquer the world? You made all sorts of unreasonable demands, and I satisfied all of them.¡± ¡°As of today, all of you have a net worth of over a hundred million, and some even have tens of billions. I, Tong Ming, don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever treated you unfairly, have I?¡± The crowd exchanged glances, no longer daring to utter another word. They were well aware of the details behind the group¡¯s development. Most of the time, it was Tong Ming who pulled things back from the brink of disaster, and the rest of them merely followed behind to reap the benefits. Choosing to terminate the contract at such a time indeed seemed inappropriate. But these people didn¡¯t care about that much, for the sake of their interests, they were willing to give their all. The true moment Chen Yu took control of the group¡¯s power might also be when it was time to replace them. Before that, they had to fight for the greatest benefits for themselves, and coming together to force the issue, resigning en masse, was to maximize their profits. But they never dreamed that Tong Ming would agree to their demands so readily. The group was instantly panic-stricken. They had originally wanted to rely on their shares in the group to ensure a comfortable retirement. Withdrawing so easily could have unimaginable consequences. Some time ago, there was also a group of people clamoring to pull out their shares. Tong Ming had agreed to their request as easily as he did today. ¡°Mr. Tong, we hope you understand, that young kid will only bring disaster to us. We are doing this for your own good. As long as you revoke his inheritance rights, we might still negotiate over our issue,¡± one of them said. Clearly, the crowd had lost their nerve; they dared not make their statements too absolute. Tong Ming didn¡¯t indulge them, directly taking the contracts from their hands, signing his name on them, and stamping them with the company seal. The group¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as the contract with their signatures took effect. Just then, Chen Yu hurried into the office. He had meant to discuss the Knights of the Round Table with Tong Ming, but did not expect to find so many people standing in the office. The crowd was taken aback at the sight of Chen Yu. It was because of this youngster that they had landed in such a predicament. In private, they had plenty of complaints about Chen Yu, even cursing him outright, but now, faced with him, they didn¡¯t dare to say a word. The moment Chen Yu entered, he knew what these people intended. Ignoring the lot, he made his way straight to Tong Ming. ¡°There¡¯s something I must talk to you about alone,¡± he said. Tong Ming nodded, stood up, and signaled to the bodyguards to show the visitors out, then followed Chen Yu to a small room on the side. The group was now in a full-blown panic, their earlier arrogance gone. But it was too late. The contracts they had brought along had already been signed. Chen Yu picked up the tea on the table and gulped down a few mouthfuls. ¡°Do you know about the Knights of the Round Table?¡± he asked. A strange light flashed in Tong Ming¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have encountered that level. Of course, I know about the Knights of the Round Table, and I also know there are many similar organizations in the world.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated with shock. ¡°You mean to say there are many organizations like the Knights of the Round Table?¡± Tong Ming nodded. ¡°Many of these organizations are bound together by interests. They either seek the same things or are tightly controlled by money. However, the Knights of the Round Table are an exception. Their purpose for coming together is to pursue immortality.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s breathing became rapid. He hadn¡¯t expected Tong Ming to have such an in-depth understanding of these organizations. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 378 Traditional Business Chapter 378: Chapter 378 Traditional Business Chen Yu took out the Token of the Knights of the Round Table from his person and placed it on the table. ¡°Fox invited me to join the Knights of the Round Table and even told me many secrets within the organization.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not surprising!¡± Tong Ming was not the least bit startled, ¡°Someone like you is eagerly sought after by many organizations.¡± Chen Yu sighed softly, having showcased his medical skills in many places. That, in itself, was the foundation for researching the elixir of life. ¡°So, do you think I should leave the Knights of the Round Table?¡± ¡°No need!¡± Tong Ming handed back the token, ¡°Stay there, but keep an eye on their internal movements at all times. Those guys are going against nature with their actions, and one day they¡¯ll cause trouble for this world.¡± Chen Yu suddenly understood what Tong Ming meant. He had known about the existence of the Knights of the Round Table, which certainly meant he had known all along that the Childe Family was a member. His initial agreement to collaborate with the Childe Family was to probe the internal movements of the Knights of the Round Table as quickly as possible. ¡°Are you suggesting that we should take them out when we get the chance?¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, and besides, the financial power of the Knights of the Round Table could cover the whole world. With the power we currently wield, it¡¯s not realistic to take them down.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, just kept these words in mind. Tong Ming took a document out of his desk and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is a report from Suzhou City. I¡¯ve already sent someone to handle it, but the results weren¡¯t satisfactory. You¡¯ll have to go yourself.¡± Upon seeing the contents of the document, Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He hadn¡¯t expected such chaos in Suzhou City during his absence. Without lingering, he immediately boarded a private plane for Suzhou City. Chen Yu had, to some extent, monopolized Suzhou City. His production of medicinal herb packs and pre-made meals had delivered a devastating blow to many traditional industries. Many local chambers of commerce banded together, seeking to fight against Chen Yu and force him to shut down two industrial parks. Hou Jianchang, as the person in charge of the industrial parks, natually had to confront these people, but he hadn¡¯t expected them to play dirty tricks. In an unexpected accident, Hou Jianchang suffered a comminuted fracture in one of his legs and was still in the hospital. Chen Yu went straight to the hospital as soon as he landed. In the intensive care unit, Hou Jianchang lay half-reclined, stuffing grapes into his mouth, looking rather optimistic. ¡°Old Hou!¡± Chen Yu called out urgently and rushed in. Hou Jianchang became excited, ¡°Old Chen, you¡¯re back?¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°With such a big incident, how could I not come back?¡± Hou Jianchang sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s all trivial matters; I didn¡¯t expect it to blow up so much that even you were alerted.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything further and grabbed Hou Jianchang¡¯s leg, gently kneading it. A comminuted fracture could likely lead to lifelong disability. The hospital had set his bone and provided a detailed treatment plan, but that was only a temporary solution, not a cure. Chen Yu restored the shattered bones one by one, then gave them a sharp twist. The plaster wrapped around the outside instantly broke apart, and Hou Jianchang¡¯s leg was completely healed. Afterward, Chen Yu wrote out a prescription. ¡°Take this medicine for three days and you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Hou Jianchang didn¡¯t even look at it before handing the prescription to his private nurse, instructing him to get the medicine. ¡°These doctors always make a big fuss, claiming that my leg would never heal in this lifetime. Still, Old Chen¡¯s skills are top-notch; he fixed me up in no time.¡± Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing before placing the documents he had collected in front of Hou Jianchang. ¡°Where did these people come from? I remember that we dealt with the Suzhou City Food Association a while back, didn¡¯t we?¡± Hou Jianchang shifted in his seat. ¡°These are new groups that organized later, reportedly all are physical business merchants.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, he detested these people the most. They were clearly in a sunset industry that would be delisted before long, yet they insisted on confronting emerging industries. The outcome could only lead to their demise. Originally, Chen Yu wanted to give these fellows a chance, allowing them enough space to develop. Now it seemed that he had to prematurely erase them from this world. Near the food industry park, a large group of ragged individuals crowded daily, holding banners and shouting a mess of slogans. When Chen Yu arrived, he was met with the ridiculous scene of people brandishing banners demanding ¡°Give back our hard-earned money.¡± Back when the industrial park was built, all the issues had been resolved. Even the workers left behind from the old factories had been taken in by Chen Yu, who had provided them with comprehensive social insurance and housing fund. Moreover, so much time had already passed. Suddenly a group appeared with banners demanding money, wasn¡¯t this nonsense? Chen Yu sighed helplessly and then moved forward, squeezing into the crowd. ¡°Then may I ask what kind of money you are demanding here?¡± A burly man close by looked at Chen Yu with surprise on his face. ¡°Where did you come from? How did you end up in our line? Hurry up and leave; we¡¯re paid by the head here.¡± Chen Yu instantly understood; these guys were intentionally brought here by someone. However, their intelligence was quite low, as they openly spilled the beans right away. Chen Yu found it rather amusing and instantly scanned the man¡¯s brain information. Li Xuezhong, a well-known big shot from Suzhou City, had a total of thirteen companies under his belt. Most of them were traditional food industries. Chen Yu no longer cared about these people and simply called security to drive them away. In a car not too far away, Li Xuezhong, puffing on a cigar, watched the scene from a distance. ¡°This guy¡¯s got the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard, daring to drive people away. Call the media reporters over quickly,¡± No sooner had he spoken than Chen Yu suddenly appeared, opened the car door, and sat down inside. ¡°Mr. Li, don¡¯t you think this is a bit underhanded? Your company can¡¯t keep going, so you come to cause trouble for others. Do you think you can swallow my enterprise using this method?¡± Li Xuezhong¡¯s eyes widened, earlier he had seen Chen Yu a hundred meters away, but how did he reach here in an instant? And his car door was secured with three locks; how did Chen Yu open it? ¡°Mr. Chen, long time no see. I heard you went off to the capital to develop your business. What brings you the leisure to return to Suzhou City?¡± Li Xuezhong blatantly ignored the business matters, trying to brush it off. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries; he grabbed Li Xuezhong¡¯s clothes and dragged him out of the car forcefully. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 379 Jade Business Chapter 379: Chapter 379 Jade Business Li Xuezhong was terrified, his body trembling violently, unable to speak clearly. ¡°Mr. Chen, there must be some misunderstanding, these people have nothing to do with me, they¡¯re just a bunch of beggars, it¡¯s impossible for someone of my status to be involved with a bunch of beggars, right?¡± Despite his desperate defense, Chen Yu simply didn¡¯t listen, and dragged Li Xuezhong straight to the group of people. Upon seeing Li Xuezhong, the people immediately surrounded him. ¡°Boss Li, we¡¯ve been hollering here for several days now, when are you going to settle our wages? If you don¡¯t pay us, then we¡¯ll just leave.¡± Li Xuezhong¡¯s head was filled with black lines; he hadn¡¯t expected the people he¡¯d hired to be so dim-witted, exposing his secret as soon as they met. Chen Yu let out a cold snort. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Boss Li won¡¯t be able to pay your wages. If you want to get your money, it would be best to tell everything that Boss Li instructed you to do, and I¡¯ll pay you double.¡± These people were all unemployed wanderers loitering outside agencies and factory gates, earning small change to get by daily. As soon as they heard there was money to be made, they threw caution to the wind. ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± A man with a scruffy beard stepped forward immediately: ¡°Boss Li told us to block this place, to follow anyone coming out, and to rush into the factory and cause trouble if necessary.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Boss Li said, as long as we can bring down your factory, he would give each of us ten thousand yuan.¡± ¡­ A group of people chattered non-stop, as if they had endless complaints, instantly reducing Li Xuezhong to a worthless figure. Li Xuezhong stood by, his face ashen, he hadn¡¯t expected such an outcome. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to say much more; he paid the people present and sent them away. As for Li Xuezhong, he was handed over to the relevant authorities. Chen Yu had already investigated when he arrived; Li Xuezhong was nothing significant, just a pawn. The real troublemaker in Suzhou City wasn¡¯t him. In the office of the food factory, Chen Yu flipped through the documents in his hand, growing angrier as he read. He really hadn¡¯t expected the situation here to have become such a mess. Hou Jianchang was almost single-handedly contending against the entire business world of Suzhou City and the surrounding provinces and cities. Even under such pressure, Hou Jianchang managed to keep the company profitable, which was enough to prove his ability. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing and pulled out a document from a pile of materials. Hu Sanjiang, the newly appointed president of the Gourmet Association, this guy had no simple background. He was supported not only by the capital of Modu but even by that of the capital city. No wonder he could be so arrogant in Suzhou City. Just then, an assistant hurried in and placed a stack of files on the table. ¡°Mr. Chen, here is what you asked for, all the materials of the emerging catering industry in Suzhou City.¡± Chen Yu nodded slightly and quickly scanned through the materials before him. ¡°Where does this Hu Sanjiang usually appear?¡± The assistant was startled, then quickly took out a phone. ¡°This person likes antiques. He¡¯s often at auction houses when he has nothing else to do, and lately, it seems he¡¯s always hanging around at Tianfeng Jade House.¡± Chen Yu narrowed his eyes and pinned the location of Tianfeng Jade House on the map before driving straight there. This jade house had risen in Suzhou City in recent years. It was said that the behind-the-scenes owner was from Modu and was very influential, and that all of their raw stones came directly from the south border without any middlemen. Therefore, everything here was nearly half the price compared with outside, attracting many customers. ¡°` What¡¯s important is that the volume of raw stones shipped from here is very high, and some people have even cut ice variety jadeite here. When Chen Yu arrived, the place was already swarming with people, with the lobby on the first floor packed full. He couldn¡¯t even find a spot to stand. Having no choice, he settled for a small stool to sit on. The meeting here was full of young people dreaming of wealth, eagerly watching the stones in their hands while waiting in line, hoping to cut open some rare and precious gems. But in this business, one cut could mean poverty and another riches, with no eternal victors, and some people could accidentally end up losing everything. Chen Yu just watched all this indifferently while letting the system scan the entire jade industry¡¯s three-dimensional schematic into his brain. Hu Sanjiang was at this moment on the third floor in the VIP hall, cutting a raw stone, surrounded by several wealthy merchants, seemingly discussing jade trade deals. After Chen Yu had identified his target, he prepared to head upstairs, but as he approached the staircase, he was stopped by two security guards. ¡°Sorry, sir, our establishment is members-only, and you need to have a ten-year membership to go to the second floor.¡± Chen Yu frowned immediately, as places like this normally operated with a VIP system. Yet, he hadn¡¯t expected that just to access the second floor would require a ten-year membership; going to the third floor would likely need an even longer membership, wouldn¡¯t it? Just as he was about to force his way up the stairs, the crowd suddenly became agitated. ¡°The big event is about to start, let¡¯s rush over to watch the excitement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that anyone who can cut open five pieces of jadeite in a row can go directly to the VIP hall on the third floor.¡± ¡°Forget about it, ever since that event started, nobody has been able to do it. To cut open five in a row is practically a task for immortals.¡± ¡­ A large crowd had gathered around the podium, peering inside, and some people even paid money and put down their names, wanting to take a gamble. If you could get to the third floor, you would receive a jade stone as a gift. It was said that the jade stone was worth more than a million. Just for that, it was worth giving it a shot. Furthermore, the registration fee wasn¡¯t high, just thirty thousand yuan. Chen Yu suddenly became interested; he was here to settle accounts with Hu Sanjiang, not to become a distinguished guest of this place, so there was no need to get a membership. He directly took out thirty thousand yuan, squeezed into the crowd, and bought a qualification certificate from one of the staff members. Previously during tournaments, no one could succeed, which deterred many people. Even so, nearly a hundred people signed up for the competition. It must be said that this jade business¡¯s money-making scheme was quite something; with a hundred people each paying thirty thousand, that was an income of three million. Even if someone actually won, they wouldn¡¯t be at a loss. A large pile of raw stones was placed on the podium, and the people almost stampeded to pick their stones. For them, it was a path to riches and skyrocketing success. It didn¡¯t take long for all the stones on the podium to be snatched up. Chen Yu, however, acted unhurriedly, casually picking up five stones. Before others could react, he had already taken over a simple stone-cutting machine and started sawing. ¡°My god, this guy has cut one open!¡± No one knew who shouted, but all eyes swiftly focused on Chen Yu. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Straight to the Third Floor Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Straight to the Third Floor ¡°` All five stones had been opened by Chen Yu, and one of them revealed the green brilliance inside. Although not highly valuable, it still was top-quality green. Moreover, the competition did not stipulate that only items of immense value must be uncovered. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and broke open the remaining stones. The scene immediately exploded into an uproar, as all five stones yielded jade. It¡¯s worth noting that Chen Yu had selected only five stones, which meant he knew in advance that these stones contained jade. Other participants either picked more than a dozen stones or grouped together to take possession of large pieces of high-quality rough stones. Yet almost nothing was uncovered from the stones in their hands. ¡°Who in the world is this guy? How can he be so lucky? He¡¯s opened five in one go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been in several competitions and haven¡¯t found a thing. Could this guy have been arranged by the organizers?¡± ¡°Why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen this guy before? Seems like he¡¯s the Chen Yu who was on TV.¡± ¡°I remember now, he¡¯s rumored to be a chef.¡± ¡­ The place quickly became chaotic as people who recognized Chen Yu came forward, wanting to ask for his business card. To some extent, Chen Yu was also a celebrity in Suzhou City, known not only for his culinary and medical skills but also for his excellent character. What¡¯s most important is that his achievements in Suzhou City were simply too dazzling. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay attention to all of that, simply placing the five stones in front of the person in charge and heading straight for the third floor after obtaining his qualification certificate. Hu Sanjiang was sitting in the VIP room at that moment, discussing several pieces of rough stones with a group of tycoons. These stones, both in color and luster, were considered fine pieces, with a high probability of yielding exceptional jade. ¡°Mr. Hu, you are an old hand in this industry. How much do you think this stone should be valued at?¡± Hu Sanjiang, quite pleased with himself, stepped forward to stroke the stone and tapped it with a professional tool. ¡°If you ask me, this stone is worth at least forty million at the least!¡± According to the market, forty million was not a high price for this stone; if an exceptional item was uncovered, its value could potentially increase tenfold. Even the most common jade, considering the size of this stone, could sell for more than fifty million. Either way, it would be profitable. The people present nodded in agreement; they all had their eyes on this stone, each wanting to buy it for themselves. Hu Sanjiang glanced at the eager crowd and directly placed a contract on the table. ¡°Since everyone is interested, let¡¯s follow the rules of the auction house. Whoever bids the highest gets it.¡± The others did not say much and started bidding immediately. ¡°In my opinion, this stone is utterly worthless. Whatever you pay for it, you will lose.¡± The sudden voice surprised everyone present, and they turned to look, only to see Chen Yu strolling confidently inside. The two security guards at the door, who had been blocking the way, were now laid out on the floor, unable to even stand. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Who are you? What do you want to do? How dare you be so bold here? Do you know who¡¯s behind the jade stone business?¡± Chen Yu did not answer but walked straight to the stone and gently caressed it. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this stone should be synthetic, merely coated with a layer of olive oil-like substance on the outside, which is why the color seems so superb. Truly, inside it¡¯s nothing more than worthless granite.¡± A hint of panic flashed across Hu Sanjiang¡¯s face, and he quickly stepped forward to grab Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°` ¡°Brother, don¡¯t talk nonsense, my stone here is directly mined from the south, not even burnt once.¡± Chen Yu sneered coldly, raised his finger, and lightly touched the stone. The gesture seemed casual, but the force it generated was immense, splitting the stone in half with a single touch. All those present were startled and quickly came forward to inspect. Indeed, the stone was filled with granite mixed with grey quality flame, completely worthless. On the surface, some interlayers could be clearly seen, obviously made on purpose. ¡°Boss Hu, you¡¯ve gone too far, trying to fool us with these things.¡± ¡°With this junk, you dare to sell to us for forty million, you might as well go rob someone.¡± ¡°Boss Hu, let¡¯s not work together in the future, and as for those contracts we just signed, I¡¯ll need to think it over.¡± ¡­ The merchants were quite disdainful, stood up one after another, and left, leaving Hu Sanjiang there alone. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Hu Sanjiang became utterly furious, pulling out a short knife from the side. Chen Yu dodged the short knife with ease and sat down on a nearby sofa. ¡°Who I am is not important! What matters is that I came here to give money to Boss Hu.¡± Hu Sanjiang was full of confusion; if Chen Yu was here to give him money, why scare away all his customers? Before he could react, Chen Yu took out a cashier¡¯s check from his pocket and placed it on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Boss Hu loves to gamble on stones here, and I came especially for that. How about we play a round? If I lose, this one hundred million is yours.¡± Hu Sanjiang instantly lit up with excitement, not expecting Chen Yu to be so generous. ¡°You want to play with me? You may have got the wrong person. I have a reputation in the jade industry, and every stone I handle can turn into a precious gem.¡± Chen Yu remained silent, merely pushing the cashier¡¯s check a bit closer to Hu Sanjiang. ¡°Then, please enlighten me, Boss Hu.¡± Seeing a hundred million laid out so generously before him, Hu Sanjiang didn¡¯t say much more and immediately notified the staff downstairs to make arrangements. The third floor was designed for the convenience of guests gambling on stones. It not only had dedicated service staff but also professional stone-splitting masters. Even the stones brought up were carefully selected. In the middle of the third floor was a large hall where a vast array of raw stones was displayed, and those participating in stone gambling could freely choose from them. Chen Yu and Hu Sanjiang didn¡¯t hesitate and went out the door. Hu Sanjiang walked leisurely to the pile of jade stones and gently pointed at one. ¡°Brother, I have made my choice; now it¡¯s your turn.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much either, simply picked up a stone the size of a baby and went into the room. Hu Sanjiang was stunned at first, then started laughing heartily, holding his stomach. In the jade industry, there was an unwritten rule that if both parties chose stones to gamble, the stones selected must be more or less the same size. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s stone was as big as two adults, with many protruding parts. Chen Yu¡¯s chosen stone was only a tenth the size of Hu¡¯s, which was practically tantamount to giving up. In other words, Chen Yu was indeed here just to give him money. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Lost 300,000,000 Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Lost 300,000,000 ¡°Brother, this must be your first day playing with this stuff, right?¡± Hu Sanjiang burst into laughter as he walked into the room, his piece of stone requiring two professionals to carry it in. ¡°I can give you a chance to go outside and pick out a new piece yourself.¡± But Chen Yu seemed unconcerned, directly handing his stone over to a staff member nearby. ¡°It¡¯s okay, a hundred million is nothing to me; consider it a welcome gift from me to you.¡± Hu Sanjiang barely suppressed his laughter, ¡°Then I won¡¯t be polite.¡± As he was about to grab the promissory note on the table, he was stopped by Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°But what if I win by chance?¡± Hu Sanjiang¡¯s face slightly changed, as the aura emanating from Chen Yu at that moment was that of someone commanding heaven and earth, as if he was certain of winning. This inexplicable feeling made Hu Sanjiang shiver inwardly. ¡°According to the rules of the jade industry, since you¡¯ve put forward a hundred million in chips, naturally, I¡¯ll also put forward the same amount.¡± Hu Sanjiang did not hesitate to take out a proof of assets from his body. ¡°I don¡¯t carry that much money on me; this is my winery in Suzhou City, valued at one hundred million, and I¡¯ll use it as my betting chip.¡± Chen Yu said no more, simply leaning back and waiting quietly. There were two stone-cutting masters in the room, there specifically to serve their VIP clients. The two masters were extremely skilled, and before long, they had both stones opened up simultaneously. However, the expression on the faces of the two masters seemed odd. They didn¡¯t immediately bring out the stones but were discussing something. ¡°Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and bring out the stones.¡± Hu Sanjiang was obviously impatient, shouting a command and walking over himself. The two masters dared not delay and quickly brought out both people¡¯s stones, but when the two stones were placed on the ground, everyone present widened their eyes in astonishment. The staff members nearby even began to question their life choices. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s stone was indeed of good quality, but that was only on the surface; what was revealed inside was merely ordinary jadeite. On the other hand, Chen Yu¡¯s piece was full of blood-red color. Although his stone was smaller, the price of red jade was much higher than that of jadeite, many times over. Even considering the size of the other stone, the overall value still didn¡¯t measure up to that of the red jade. Chen Yu seemed to have known the outcome all along, picking up his teacup and taking a leisurely sip. ¡°Boss Hu, it looks like I¡¯ve won. I¡¯ll gladly accept your winery.¡± Hu Sanjiang¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; he seldom misjudged, and he had never lost before. Yet today, he had suffered such a crushing defeat. Chen Yu did not look like an expert at all; the stone he selected was too ordinary, even verging on being considered waste material. Anyone experienced could tell that this thing couldn¡¯t produce a decent jade, it¡¯s practically a worthless rock. But now, to everyone¡¯s surprise, such a precious red jade had been excavated. Hu Sanjiang hurriedly turned around to secure his proof of assets. ¡°Brother, I admit defeat in this round. You can have the winery, but could you wait a moment?¡± It was all the same to Chen Yu; his goal was to play a few games with Hu Sanjiang and preferably make him lose everything he owned. ¡°Okay, I just don¡¯t know how exactly Mr. Hu wants to play.¡± Hu Sanjiang gasped heavily and pointed toward the pile of stones outside. ¡°How about this, we sit here and observe that pile of stones, and each person picks out two pieces to see whose stone turns out to be more valuable.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a strange arc as he leaned back in his chair, casually pointing to two pieces. Hu Sanjiang couldn¡¯t afford to be negligent, he picked up the binoculars next to him and looked again and again, then he took out a magnifying glass and placed it on top of the binoculars. After watching for a good ten minutes, he finally chose two pieces hesitantly. The staff didn¡¯t dare delay, and hurriedly brought in all four stones. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s palms were already soaked with sweat; he didn¡¯t know if he could turn defeat into victory this time. ¡°By the way, Mr. Hu, you seem not to have taken out your chips yet?¡± The promissory notes and proof of assets laid out on the table were already the chips Chen Yu had put forward. With a look of resignation, Hu Sanjiang exhaled and took out another proof of assets from his person. It must be said that this guy really carried proof of assets with him, just like that he had whipped out three billion. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just sitting there drinking tea. It wasn¡¯t long before the master stonesmith pushed the four pieces of stone out. ¡°Mr. Hu, the two stones you picked are indeed not bad, one of them turned out to be ice-type jadeite, and the other, though it¡¯s of a glutinous type, is violet.¡± Hu Sanjiang suddenly got excited and went to inspect immediately, but as he got closer, his face darkened once again. His two pieces of stone were indeed of high value, but the stones Chen Yu had picked took him by complete surprise. The two stones shone with a translucent purity, radiating pure white light. They turned out to be pure glass-type jadeite. In this place, it¡¯s already incredible to occasionally find a piece of glass-type jadeite, and now two pieces had been found at the same time, both by the same person. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s body suddenly felt unstable, and he nearly fell to the ground; he really hadn¡¯t expected such a result. The value of Chen Yu¡¯s two stones, even taken individually, was much higher than the combined value of his own two pieces. ¡°Mr. Hu, I truly didn¡¯t expect you to be so generous, to give me three billion just like that. How about we have another go, betting all of our properties?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone was extremely calm, but the contempt in his words was very obvious. Hu Sanjiang hurriedly ran to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re not new to jade, are you? Who exactly are you?¡± Chen Yu put down his teacup, eying Hu Sanjiang with a strange look. ¡°My name is Chen Yu, and lately, Mr. Hu, it seems you¡¯ve been constantly looking for trouble with me, haven¡¯t you? How come you don¡¯t even have a picture of me?¡± Hu Sanjiang¡¯s body trembled violently; he had never dreamed that the man before him was Chen Yu. He had heard the legends about Chen Yu before, but to him, they were just that¡ªlegends. No matter how he had started from scratch and accumulated assets worth billions, he was just an ordinary person who could be bankrupted with just a little scheming. But now, after only playing with stones twice, he had lost three billion to Chen Yu on the spot. If this continued, it wasn¡¯t impossible for him to be completely ruined. ¡°So it¡¯s Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve been disrespectful! I had thought you only dominated the catering industry, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so impressive with raw stones too.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 382: The Invaluable Amber Chapter 382: Chapter 382: The Invaluable Amber Hu Sanjiang knew he had come up against a tough nut today, and there had always been grievances between him and Chen Yu. It seemed today¡¯s issues were unlikely to be settled amicably. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hu Sanjiang immediately had some exquisite food brought over. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and picked up the chopsticks to eat. He had been busy with all sorts of messy issues recently and was indeed hungry. ¡°Mr. Hu, to be honest, I just got lucky earlier. If you were to really get serious, maybe I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance! Although there¡¯s some bad blood between us, it¡¯s not unsolvable. Why don¡¯t we play a few more rounds and have a ¡®Jadeite Reconciliation Match¡¯? What do you say?¡± Hu Sanjiang, representing the emerging Gourmet Association, had almost all of Suzhou City¡¯s traditional business community betting their treasures on him. If he settled privately with Chen Yu here today, how would the business community view him? ¡°Mr. Chen, reconciliation is not out of the question, but it needs to involve the whole business community of Suzhou City¡­¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I must take my leave!¡± Chen Yu immediately stood up and casually took the three billion in assets with him. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Hu Sanjiang hastily stood up and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. Although he had several billion in assets, not much of it was liquid. Otherwise, he would not need to carry his asset certificates when going out to have fun. The three billion in assets in Chen Yu¡¯s hands were among his most crucial core assets. If he lost those, his cash flow would be completely severed. ¡°Mr. Chen, let¡¯s talk this over calmly. How about we play once more, this time relying solely on luck?¡± Frankly speaking, Hu Sanjiang just couldn¡¯t let go of his own assets. He wanted to gamble one last time to at least retrieve the three billion he had put out. Chen Yu could see through the man¡¯s intentions and said nothing more. He placed the promissory notes and assets he had in his hands on the table, then picked up half a piece of Purple Jadeite. ¡°Mr. Hu, don¡¯t say I¡¯m bullying you. All these items together are worth at least six billion. This time, you should bring six billion in chips to play.¡± Hu Sanjiang swallowed hard, hesitated for a moment, and then shakily took out an asset certificate from his pocket. What he produced this time seemed a bit shaky; it was a stock promissory note. As something inherently volatile, its value wasn¡¯t constant¡ªit might be worth six billion today, but by tomorrow it could drop to four billion. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is all I have with me today, is that okay?¡± Chen Yu simply nodded, then leaned back in his chair. Hu Sanjiang let out a sigh of relief and quickly called over the staff from outside, asking them to bring in any two stones at random. However, while summoning them, Chen Yu could clearly see Hu Sanjiang making signals to the staff. He didn¡¯t expose it, nor did he say anything further, simply sitting quietly and waiting. It didn¡¯t take long for two stones to be placed in the hall. Without a moment of hesitation, Hu Sanjiang immediately clung to one of them. ¡°Mr. Chen, I choose this one!¡± Chen Yu glanced up and a hint of contempt flashed across his eyes. With the knowledge in his mind, he could see the structure inside the raw stones at a glance. Such a game could never stop him. Not to mention he had the system as assistance; just one scan allowed him to replicate everything in his mind. On the stone that Hu Sanjiang had chosen there was a mark, rated as protective by many experts after evaluation. The light that radiated from within was crystal clear, pure Purple Jadeite. The other stone, however, appeared somewhat rough on the outside, indistinguishable from waste rock. But at the very core of this stone, there hid a piece of amber the size of a fist. The amber that¡¯s popular in the market today is all artificially made with beeswax and plastic, then aged using special methods. Real amber, on the other hand, takes hundreds of millions of years to form; its value is, needless to say, immeasurable. ¡°Since Hu has made his choice, the other one is mine; it¡¯s all about luck anyway, and I want to see just how good my luck is.¡± The two masters didn¡¯t say much, and directly carried the two large stones inside. As the roaring of the machine started, Hu Sanjiang¡¯s heart leapt into his throat. He had great confidence in his stone, but for some reason, he harbored an inexplicable fear of Chen Yu. They both had already played two rounds, and that overwhelming feeling of being crushed without suspense had made Hu Sanjiang question his life. ¡°If Hu is in a hurry, you can go inside and stand next to the two masters,¡± Chen Yu said, with a hint of mockery in his voice. Hu Sanjiang repeatedly waved his hands, and somewhat embarrassedly sat down, nibbling on some food. It was unknown how much time passed before the cutting noise finally stopped. Just as Hu Sanjiang was about to step forward to check, one of the masters suddenly shouted. ¡°My god! It¡¯s really rare to find amber!¡± The other master was also startled and hurried over. The crystal-clear amber, emitting a dazzling light, lay there quietly. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s eyes widened; the piece of amber the masters referred to had emerged from Chen Yu¡¯s stone. Although his stone yielded a Purple Jadeite of inestimable value, he couldn¡¯t muster any joy. The worth of amber speaks for itself; no jadeite could possibly compare. Chen Yu stretched lazily and collected the asset proof from the table. ¡°Looks like I win. Thanks for the contribution, Hu,¡± Chen Yu said. Hu Sanjiang stood there like a statue, motionless. The last round was his cheat; the stone was actually planted there by people from the jade shop on his behalf. He would not use it unless it was absolutely necessary. Not only had he used it today, but he had also lost it. Keep in mind that Chen Yu¡¯s stone was purely chosen by luck, even thrown to Chen Yu deliberately by him. This very stone had yielded an amber of immense value, showing just how extraordinary Chen Yu¡¯s luck was. ¡°Mr. Chen! Can we negotiate? You give me back those assets, and I¡¯ll dissolve the Gourmet Association and stop troubling you,¡± Hu desperately suggested. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. ¡°How can that be? I won these fair and square with my luck. If I just give them back to you, how will the jade shop continue to do business?¡± Chen Yu asked. Hu Sanjiang became frantic; after all, it was a full eight hundred million in assets¡ªat stake, and anybody would hate to let it go. ¡°Mr. Chen, you can ask for anything now, just please don¡¯t take these things away; I¡¯ll even give you all the jadeite that I just cut out,¡± Hu bargained. Chen Yu sneered, shaking the asset proof in his hand as he approached Hu Sanjiang. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Intercepting on the Street Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Intercepting on the Street ¡°Isn¡¯t it true, Boss Hu, that everything started because of you? You organized the new food association and orchestrated the encirclement and blockade of my industrial park. The things Li Xuezhong did were also on your orders, weren¡¯t they?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s tone suddenly turned icy, his emperor-like aura terrifying Hu Sanjiang out of his wits. ¡°Mr. Chen, please listen to me, we just wanted to fight for some profits, no other intentions. Besides, we¡¯re both in the food industry, we could cooperate, right?¡± Hu Sanjiang¡¯s face was full of urgency, clutching at Chen Yu¡¯s sleeve without letting go. This time his losses were too great. If Chen Yu decided not to let him off, he might even lose his position as the leading enterprise in Suzhou City. ¡°Boss Hu, you agreed to the bet and you¡¯ve already lost to me. How can you go back on your word now? Besides, when we were playing with stones earlier, I don¡¯t recall forcing you.¡± Chen Yu was full of disdain. One of his aims today was to win all of Hu Sanjiang¡¯s assets. Having taken only half so far, this guy was acting as if it was a matter of life and death, clearly a spineless character. Hu Sanjiang didn¡¯t care anymore, he knelt on the ground and advanced two steps forward. ¡°Mr. Chen, I can hand over the complete list of physical industries targeting your industrial park. In light of this, please let me go.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed contempt, this guy was betraying his allies too quickly. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for today. If Boss Hu wants to reclaim what¡¯s his, gather everyone on the list. I will definitely come, and I will return the money I won today in full.¡± Hu Sanjiang immediately perked up. Those who had chosen to ally with him, he didn¡¯t care about them at all. At most, these people were business partners who could be discarded at any time; the billions in assets he personally earned were substantial. ¡°Boss Chen, don¡¯t worry. Tomorrow right here, I will bring them to meet with you.¡± Chen Yu nodded and said no more. When he left the building, all the staff at the jade market bowed respectfully to him. The events that had occurred on the third floor were already known throughout the entire jade market, and everyone began to regard Chen Yu with a feverish admiration. These people all had an almost insane obsession with gambling on stones. Such a thing depended entirely on luck. If they uncovered a treasure, that was one thing, but if they opened up nothing, they would be left destitute and crying in the streets. Driven by this mentality, Chen Yu became the object of their worship. There were even some who followed behind him, hoping to catch a whiff of the luck emanating from him. Chen Yu had no desire to interact with these lunatics any more than necessary. He left the building and drove away swiftly. Since the emergence of two industrial parks, Suzhou City had undergone a subtle transformation. Many old industries were completely replaced by new-style fast-food businesses; most restaurants began to directly order pre-made meal packs from Chen Yu. In fact, there were many brands of pre-made meal packs on the market now, but none could compare to Chen Yu¡¯s. Not to mention they were a step behind in production alone, just in terms of ingredients, materials, and production processes, Chen Yu¡¯s investment was double theirs. How could such pre-made meal packs not be popular? As Chen Yu drove near the food industrial park, he suddenly found two cars blocking the road ahead, obstructing his path. It was broad daylight, and there was no traffic jam; they were there purely to cause trouble, and the people from the cars were standing in the road. Each of them was holding some sort of wrench or other car repair tool, their eyes emitting a strange murderous intent. Chen Yu frowned, it seemed that these people were after him. After adjusting his breathing a bit, he got out of the car and walked straight over. But after just two steps, one of the brawny men charged at him, waving a wrench in his hand. This guy, I don¡¯t know if he works out a lot or what, but his muscles were ridiculously swollen. It was as if a bunch of lead lumps were embedded in his body. Chen Yu immediately found it amusing, this muscle-bound guy might be developed, but he was clearly a bit simple upstairs. All the others blocking the road hadn¡¯t made a move, and here he was, foolishly charging over with a wrench in hand. Chen Yu lifted his hand and hurled a punch with formidable force, flipping the big man onto the ground in an instant. The man¡¯s face was the picture of frustration, as he hadn¡¯t anticipated being defeated so effortlessly, and his wrench had even snapped into two pieces. The crowd standing in the middle of the road stared with wide eyes, at a loss. They had all witnessed Chen Yu break the helper¡¯s wrench with a single punch, and even flip their strongest big guy over onto the ground. Before they could recover, Chen Yu was already upon them and directly grabbed a middle-aged man, lifting him up. ¡°Who ordered you guys to block the road here?¡± These people were already scared out of their wits; the middle-aged man he had lifted was panting heavily. ¡°Mr. Chen, we didn¡¯t have anything to do with this, we were just paid to do a job. It was all Li Xuezhong who sent us.¡± Chen Yu immediately found it funny, he hadn¡¯t expected this guy to be so forgetful. It hadn¡¯t been that long, and here he was, troubling him again. ¡°Go back and tell your boss there¡¯s a gathering at the Jade Exchange tomorrow, make sure he attends.¡± Chen Yu casually tossed the middle-aged man aside and went directly into the factory. After several expansions, the factory was top-notch in both scale and quality in Suzhou City. The workers here had mostly seen photos of Chen Yu, so when they saw him, they greeted him enthusiastically, with some even excitedly coming forward to shake his hand. Just then, a middle-aged man rushed out of the warehouse hurriedly, with a forklift following behind him. ¡°Everybody get out of the way, the forklift¡¯s brake system has malfunctioned!¡± Chen Yu frowned at this, knowing that if a forklift¡¯s brake system malfunctioned, it could run amok. If in a tight spot it might be manageable, but now that it had burst out, it could easily injure someone. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care for hesitation; he charged forward, grabbed the forklift¡¯s head, and hugged it, giving it a fierce shoulder throw. The forklift, weighing about a thousand pounds, was effortlessly laid down by Chen Yu, who also dismantled its critical components. All the onlookers¡¯ jaws dropped, unable to believe Chen Yu¡¯s strength was so immense. There were even two people who wanted to come forward to strike up a conversation, hoping to get in good with Chen Yu. ¡°Old Chen!¡± Xie Jiang came running over with a few workers from behind the open space in a hurry. Looking at the workers¡¯ attire, Chen Yu knew that the factory was about to expand again. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 384 Encirclement Chapter 384: Chapter 384 Encirclement Chen Yu hurried forward to greet him. Now, whenever there was an issue at the factory, people would seek out Xie Jiang, who had become Suzhou City¡¯s top construction head after the completion of the two industrial park expansions. ¡°Old Xie, you really are riding high,¡± he said, chuckling. ¡°Tell me honestly, how much did you rake in here?¡± Xie Jiang burst out laughing, ¡°Not much, but speaking of which, you should watch out these days. It seems like the whole business community in Suzhou City is banding together against you.¡± Chen Yu smiled but didn¡¯t say much; he was already aware of these matters. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s a gathering at the gemstone market tomorrow, swing by if you¡¯re free.¡± Xie Jiang seemed surprised, ¡°That place is usually frequented by people who are against you, are you sure you want to go?¡± Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Life¡¯s issues have to be resolved one way or another. If they¡¯re going to close in on me, then naturally, I have to checkmate them.¡± Xie Jiang didn¡¯t say much else, exchanging only a few pleasantries before hurrying off with his workers. With all the projects he had taken on, Xie Jiang was a very busy man now, including many small jobs. They might not have paid much, but they ensured a continuous salary for his workers. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there either and went straight to the office. Hou Jianchang had already returned from the hospital, sitting at his desk, sorting through the latest account books. ¡°Old Hou, weren¡¯t you in the hospital? How did you get back so soon?¡± Chen Yu hurried forward to check Hou Jianchang¡¯s pulse. The last time they met, Hou Jianchang had been in bed with a comminuted fracture in his leg, and it seemed inappropriate for him to be back at work so soon. Hou Jianchang waved his hand, ¡°This little injury is nothing. If I don¡¯t sort out these documents quickly, the factory might descend into chaos.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless. He didn¡¯t say much and quickly scanned the account books next to him, soon confirming that they matched what Hou Jianchang had calculated. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with these accounts, so stop calculating! You should rest properly for a few days.¡± Seeing Chen Yu insist, Hou Jianchang rubbed his forehead. ¡°Alright, I have indeed been tired for a long time.¡± After backing up the data on the table, Chen Yu left the office. Following his last departure from Suzhou City, Tong Ming had also brought Chen Yu¡¯s parents to the capital. Therefore, Number One Water Moon had been unoccupied until now. When Chen Yu entered, he found only a housekeeper cleaning up. The furnishings were the same as before and had not changed. Just as he was about to leave, the housekeeper suddenly rushed over. ¡°You are Mr. Chen, right?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± The housekeeper immediately became excited, rushing over with a small notebook. ¡°These are all the people who have been looking to contact you recently. They¡¯ve come several times without seeing you, so I could only jot down their phone numbers.¡± Chen Yu took the notebook and saw that it was full of phone numbers, all apparently from his neighborhood. These people seemed to have come here before seeking medicine. As he was looking through the notebook, a middle-aged man burst in, flustered. ¡°Mr. Chen, thank goodness you¡¯re back!¡± The man rushed up to him, excited, ¡°Some time ago, my mother fell ill. We¡¯ve been to many hospitals but to no avail, so I had no choice but to come to you for help.¡± Chen Yu was at his wit¡¯s end with this man¡¯s over-the-top excitement. Without saying much, he followed the man out the door. After a few turns, they arrived at the front of a villa where several old ladies were sunbathing. Seeing Chen Yu, one of the elderly women hurriedly stood up, almost falling over due to her inconvenience of movement. The man beside her immediately stepped forward to steady her. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is my mother, please take a look at her condition.¡± Chen Yu grabbed the old woman¡¯s pulse and let out a light sigh, feeling somewhat depressed. The old lady was merely suffering from a bit of osteoporosis, which at her age, was not even considered an illness. ¡°I¡¯ll write a prescription. Give it to her, and she will be better in a couple of days.¡± Chen Yu took a piece of paper and a pen, quickly wrote out a prescription, and handed it over. The main purpose of this prescription was to strengthen the foundation and nourish the origin, mainly to improve the old lady¡¯s overall health. After explaining some details, Chen Yu hurriedly left. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to treat the illnesses here, but the symptoms these people presented were all kinds of nonsensical conditions. Some simply had mild periarthritis, but they insisted that it was some serious disease. It seemed he would not be able to rest here tonight; he would have to find a hotel. Early the next morning, Chen Yu went directly to the gemstone shop. Perhaps because several gemstones were sold continuously the day before, today, the gemstone shop was especially bustling. Not only people from Suzhou City but also bosses from surrounding cities and provinces made special trips here. When Chen Yu arrived, he found that Chu Jianghe was also there. ¡°Mr. Chu, what brings you here?¡± After warmly greeting him, Chen Yu went straight over and sat down beside Chu Jianghe. Chu Jianghe sighed softly. ¡°I had been wondering what kind of person could stir up such a storm in the gemstone shop. As it turns out, it¡¯s you, kid.¡± Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°Someone insisted on dragging me here for a bet. I just went with the flow. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re a shareholder of this gemstone shop?¡± Chu Jianghe laughed heartily, ¡°I suppose you could say that, though I¡¯ve only invested a few million in this little venture.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Then please forgive me for whatever I do later.¡± Just then, a large group of people came striding over with a lot of fanfare, led by Hu Sanjiang. They looked fierce, as if they were there to deal with Chen Yu today. As they approached, Hu Sanjiang suddenly dropped his arrogant demeanor and approached Chen Yu like a dog. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve brought everyone as you asked. Can you return my assets from yesterday?¡± Chen Yu rested his chin on one hand, his eyes filled with disdain. ¡°You¡¯ve brought the people, but the job isn¡¯t done yet. Let¡¯s not forget our agreement; you were to force these people to cough up all their assets.¡± Whether Chen Yu did it on purpose or not was unclear, but he raised his voice significantly as he spoke these words. All the people present were shocked, never having imagined that Hu Sanjiang would betray them. ¡°Hu, what do you mean by this? We had an agreement to join forces. How could you betray us?¡± ¡°Boss Hu, are you being threatened? If so, just blink and we will help you!¡± ¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 385 Half of the Property Chapter 385: Chapter 385 Half of the Property Hu Sanjiang didn¡¯t dare to utter a word. He stood there meekly, like a quail, not even daring to take a deep breath. He knew all about Chen Yu¡¯s methods, relying on luck alone to uncover peerless amber. Sometimes, luck is also a kind of ability, a skill not just any ordinary person can possess. ¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no point in wasting your efforts. I¡¯ve long been a man of Mr. Chen, and bringing everyone here today is to resolve the conflict between the two parties.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in shock, especially Li Xuezhong, who had practically become a pawn in the game during this time. All the dirty and tiring work was shoved onto him; he was even invited by the relevant departments to ¡°drink tea¡± at the station for a few days. At this point, he was the least able to tolerate it. ¡°Hu Sanjiang, you traitor, to think that we all recommended you to be the new president of the Food Association, and yet you show such a lack of spine,¡± one of them accused. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, then slowly rose to his feet. ¡°Mr. Li, since everyone is here today, there¡¯s no use saying these pointless things. Let¡¯s just have a good game,¡± he said. Li Xuezhong was fuming with rage. He didn¡¯t care about formalities, and directly from the side, he brought over a stone and placed it in the midst of the crowd. ¡°I choose this stone. If I lose, all my possessions are yours. If you lose, then leave Suzhou City,¡± he challenged. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. This guy was seriously gambling with his life. As per the rules of jade betting, any stone valued over a million would be taken to a VIP room on the third floor. To place a stone in the middle of the plaza, amidst the crowd, was to have all present bear witness. If you won, all was well, but if you lost, you could be brought to ruin and dishonor. Chen Yu wanted to laugh. The Li Xuezhong in front of him seemed like nothing more than a child. ¡°Since Mr. Li wants to play, then I¡¯ll be happy to oblige to the end,¡± Chen Yu responded. Chen Yu also went over to the pile of stones nearby and casually picked one up and placed it on the ground. The master nearby immediately came forward and took the two stones to the back. The craftsmen here were well-versed in cutting stones¡ªthey were experts in their field. It wasn¡¯t long before the two stones were brought out. Li Xuezhong was just an impetuous young man; the stone he picked turned out to be greywacke. Whereas the stone Chen Yu picked was a piece of jadeite. All those present widened their eyes in disbelief. They hadn¡¯t expected such an outcome. Li Xuezhong was a well-known figure in the jade industry, having cut open many decent stones before. How could he have misjudged this time? Before the crowd could even react, Chen Yu walked up to Li Xuezhong and patted his shoulder. ¡°Mr. Li, I remember you just said you would hand over all your assets. I wonder if that promise still stands?¡± Chen Yu asked. Li Xuezhong¡¯s breathing became rapid. He realized he had been too hasty. Now in his forties, he had toiled to amass a fortune of over a billion. If he were to give all of that away, what would he do with the rest of his life? ¡°Ah, Mr. Chen, I was just a little impulsive just now. How about we play another round?¡± Li Xuezhong suggested. Chen Yu resumed his seat. ¡°It looks like Mr. Li is not convinced. All right then, I¡¯ll give you another chance. If you lose this time, I¡¯ll have to take your assets. If I lose, I¡¯ll lose a corresponding amount of wealth to you,¡± Chen Yu proposed. Li Xuezhong immediately became excited. He had been rash to wager all his wealth on Chen Yu leaving Suzhou City. Now, with a more equal footing in terms of stakes, he felt the odds were fair. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get started then,¡± Li Xuezhong rubbed his hands and then darted to the pile of jade stones beside him to pick one out carefully. The jade stones there had actually been appraised by various experts and could basically all produce jadeite, only with varying qualities. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much and just sat there leisurely drinking tea, waiting until Li Xuezhong had made his choice before casually pointing at a stone. Such a hasty approach surprised many of those present. This was jade gambling, after all, where fortunes could be lost in an instant; how could he be so reckless? Everyone immediately crowded around, all eager to see what these two stones would reveal. Li Xuezhong was tense to the extreme; this related to all his assets. Chen Yu, on the other hand, maintained an indifferent attitude, as if it was nothing important to him. It wasn¡¯t long before two masters brought the stones selected by each party to the center of the room. Li Xuezhong had certainly put in the effort this time, and the stone he opened had a faint purple tinge, somewhat reminiscent of violet, and the color quality was very good. However, by comparison, Chen Yu¡¯s stone was crystal clear, emitting a green light from within¡ªit was a top-quality icy jadeite. The scene immediately erupted into excitement, and all eyes were intensely focused on Li Xuezhong. He had just bet all his family fortune, and everyone was waiting to see if he would willingly hand over his assets. Li Xuezhong swallowed hard, panting heavily. Before the watchful eyes of the crowd, he rushed over to Chen Yu and fell to his knees with a thud. ¡°Mr. Chen, it was all my fault before, I shouldn¡¯t have been so against you. I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold it against me,¡± This move baffled everyone present. With Hu Sanjiang¡¯s betrayal already rendering them leaderless, now their strongest, Li Xuezhong, was kneeling before Chen Yu¡ªwhere did that leave the rest of them? Chen Yu, however, seemed gracious and immediately helped Li Xuezhong to his feet. ¡°I can let you off, but you already made your statement earlier; if you don¡¯t hand over all your family fortune, it would seem inappropriate,¡± Fear reached its zenith in Li Xuezhong¡¯s eyes; this was essentially a death sentence, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Mr. Chen, isn¡¯t there some room for negotiation?¡± Chen Yu pretended to be in a difficult position, ¡°Of course, there is. You just need to hand over half of your family fortune, and you can keep the rest for your retirement,¡± Li Xuezhong let out a sigh. His situation was not good; if today¡¯s events spread, his reputation would be destroyed. Now, he thought, the more of his fortune he could keep, the better. He promptly wrote a certification by the side and handed it to Chen Yu. Chen Yu accepted it and then turned to look at the other people. ¡°All of you are the leaders in the business and industrial sectors of Suzhou City. I truly don¡¯t know where I have offended everyone to warrant such hostility towards me,¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take this opportunity today to settle our grievances with the original stones,¡± This remark scared everyone present; they had seen firsthand how skilled Chen Yu was at selecting raw stones. Under these circumstances, to still gamble against Chen Yu was simply courting death. One middle-aged man swallowed hard and scurried out. ¡°Mr. Chen, I was ignorant before. I apologize to you here and now,¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Dongming Canyon Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Dongming Canyon Everything that happened on the scene made everyone close their eyes in disbelief. The two groups that had been at daggers drawn just moments ago had now become such a spectacle. The many people kneeling on the ground were all well-known figures in the business world of Suzhou City, and it was unthinkable that they would demean themselves as lowly as crawling creatures. Chen Yu simply sat there with an indifferent expression on his face, waiting for these people to kneel and beg for mercy, almost enough for him to step forward and slowly rise to his feet, then he took out the contract that he had prepared well in advance. ¡°I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for all of you,¡± he said, ¡°but you have forced my hand. If you want to resolve today¡¯s matter, then please sign this contract. From now on, we will be even.¡± The crowd dared not delay and quickly reached forward to grab the contract. But when they saw the contents of the contract, they were all stunned and dared not say a word. The contract wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary, it simply required them to hand over all of their companies to Chen Yu for full control, while they would retain just a small portion of their original shares, with all management rights stripped away. Honestly speaking, the contract left them with enough dignity to ensure they wouldn¡¯t go bankrupt immediately, but to give up the businesses they had worked so hard to build over a lifetime to someone else was something anyone would find hard to accept. Hu Sanjiang¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. He brought the contract right in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, do I really need to sign such a contract as well?¡± he asked. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Mr. Hu, it seems you already lost to me yesterday, didn¡¯t you? Your assets worth several hundreds of millions are still in my hands. If you don¡¯t sign, you won¡¯t get that money back.¡± Hu Sanjiang¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he had not expected to end up like this. But now, getting all his assets back was the best outcome he could hope for. After a moment¡¯s hesitation and without thinking too much, he signed his name directly on the contract and also placed some of his company¡¯s seals on the table. Chen Yu nodded his head in satisfaction and then turned to look at the others. These people had already lost any will to resist and didn¡¯t dare utter another word, only obediently signing the contract one by one. When everyone had finished signing, Chen Yu took out another contract from his person. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t be so tyrannical as to strip away all your rights,¡± he said. ¡°There are still some things that should be left for you.¡± The group, who had experienced despair, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope and hurriedly gathered around to find that this new contract was an application for cooperation in ready-to-cook meals. In other words, from now on, all the food companies they ran could collaborate with Chen Yu¡¯s industrial park. This was undoubtedly a huge blessing for them. They had been representatives of traditional commerce and industry, and development within their companies had been greatly limited due to the entrenched models, preventing further growth. If they could establish a partnership with Chen Yu, it would be an incredible stroke of luck. Chen Yu did not wish to linger there any longer, he merely left Hou Jianchang¡¯s phone number and left the scene. Suzhou City had already formed a unique operational system and there was no need for him to stay, as Hou Jianchang could take full responsibility. Moreover, after today, there would be no other powers in Suzhou City. Even the magnates of traditional commerce and industry would be tied to the industrial park. Put simply, the city from now on would be under Chen Yu¡¯s sphere of influence. Suzhou City International Airport. Chen Yu and Hou Jianchang sat in the waiting room, chatting happily. No one had expected that this matter would be resolved so easily. Originally, Chen Yu had planned to stay here for another month, to completely absorb the assets of those guys. I never expected that a single gamble on stones would settle all matters. ¡°Old Chen, from now on, Suzhou City is in my hands. You can rest assured.¡± Chen Yu patted Hou Jianchang on the shoulder and, without saying much more, prepared to board the plane. But after taking just two steps, a warning alert echoed in his mind. [Target locked, seven individuals, carrying weapons] Chen Yu immediately halted, his eyes filled with vigilance. Hou Jianchang thought Chen Yu had something he hadn¡¯t explained, and intended to approach and ask. Before he could move, a thin man suddenly burst forth, holding in his hand an extremely bizarre spike. The spike bristled with barbs, each one pitch-black and glossy, obviously coated with potent poison. Hou Jianchang¡¯s pupils dilated in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected someone to dare attack Chen Yu in this place. Just as he was about to call out a warning, Chen Yu¡¯s body vanished like lightning, reappearing with the frail man now pinned under his foot, and the man¡¯s spike reduced to powder. Hou Jianchang breathed a sigh of relief, and as he was about to step forward to comfort Chen Yu, he noticed Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with a murderous intent. ¡°Old Hou, stay back, don¡¯t come any closer.¡± Hou Jianchang¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment. What did this mean? The next moment, six more individuals charged out of the crowd, each holding bizarrely shaped weapons, all aiming for Chen Yu. The scene descended into chaos instantly, with the once bustling passersby now screaming, and the security personnel on patrol quickly surrounding the area. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care for any of that. He placed his fingertips on the ground and a blue-white glow flickered, causing those people to collapse onto the ground. After several upgrades, the system had significantly increased the intensity of the electric current it released. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of these few people; even a few hundred more would be stunned at the same time. Unexpectedly, however, a young man who looked to be in his twenties was not afraid of the current at all. His body slowed down only slightly before he continued to charge forward. Chen Yu frowned. Were there really people in this world immune to electric current? Without giving it much thought, he rushed forward, grabbed the stick in the man¡¯s hand, and jabbed his other hand into the man¡¯s neck. The powerful force deformed the man¡¯s body, leaving him collapsed on the ground. Only then did Chen Yu breathe a sigh of relief, squatting beside the man, holding his neck. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man glared fiercely at Chen Yu, remaining silent. The next moment, black blood gushed out of his mouth; the man had hidden poison in his mouth. But this poison didn¡¯t seem lethal, only rendering him mute. Fury flooding him, Chen Yu was about to grab another person for questioning when the man took out a letter and stuffed it into his hand. The letter was exquisitely made, even the envelope was metallic with gilded edges. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed, and he immediately took out the letter, finding it to be an invitation to travel to Dongming Canyon. Attached to the letter was a map marking the location of the canyon. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Dongming Canyon Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Dongming Canyon Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed; he had never heard of this place before. Looking at the marked location on the map, it should be in the northwest desert. How could there possibly be a valley in such a desolate area? Just as he was perplexed, the relevant personnel had already arrived at the scene and took away those who had fainted. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you alright?¡± Most of these people recognized Chen Yu, so naturally, they didn¡¯t treat him like a bad person. Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively and didn¡¯t say much, just took his boarding pass and hurried to the boarding gate. But just as he was about to leave, his phone suddenly rang. ¡°Son-in-law, have you received the invitation from Dongming Valley yet?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, ¡°Was the invitation sent by you?¡± The voice of Tong Ming sounded very grave, ¡°I don¡¯t have that qualification, but that place is the entrance to a mysterious organization in the East. You can go check it out, and by the way, compare it with the Knights of the Round Table.¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat bewildered; he had heard from Tong Ming before that there were many organizations in the world like the Knights of the Round Table. He didn¡¯t expect to receive an invitation from another organization so soon. After hanging up the phone, Chen Yu cancelled his previous plane ticket and exchanged it for one to the northwest. On the map of the northwest, no matter what, Dongming Valley could not be found. Even the place marked on the map was an endless desert; looking for a valley in such an area seemed like a fool¡¯s errand. After getting off the airplane, Chen Yu immediately bought an off-road vehicle from a nearby dealership and headed straight for the northwest desert. Following the map¡¯s directions, he drove for an entire day before finally arriving at a small town. This place was extremely remote; if it weren¡¯t for the markings on the map, it would probably be impossible to find. Chen Yu found an open space to park his vehicle, but instead of entering the village immediately, he used the system to scan the entire village. When the three-dimensional image of the entire village appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, he did not hesitate for a moment; this place didn¡¯t seem as desolate and simple as it appeared on the surface. All the houses were essentially connected, with no courtyards or fences set up between the households. Chen Yu became immediately alert. He adjusted his breathing slightly and entered the village with great caution. After only a few steps, he was stopped by two young men blocking his path. ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t receive outsiders here. Please, sir, walk northwards a bit. There is a small city over there.¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s already so late in the day, and the roads in the desert are not easy to navigate. If a sandstorm hits, wouldn¡¯t I be finished right here?¡± ¡°Besides, that small city is at least three hundred miles from here; how do you expect me to get there?¡± The two young men didn¡¯t care about such details. They took out short swords from their garments, ready to make a move. ¡°This gentleman is my guest, please let him in,¡± said a delicate yet somewhat domineering voice, leaving Chen Yu somewhat astonished. He could never have dreamed that Jin Lingsu would be here. After the issue with the Strait of Magellan had been resolved, Jin Lingsu went there, using her influence to mediate conflicts between various organizations. In theory, that was a massive project, one she might well spend her whole life dealing with. The two young men no longer obstructed and cleared the way. Just as Chen Yu was letting down his guard, Jin Lingsu immediately grabbed his arm and hurried into a house. Relatively speaking, this structure was the largest in the village, and the space inside was even more vast. A few simple tables and chairs were placed inside the room, along with a counter, making it a small tavern. ¡°Weren¡¯t you at the Magellan Strait?¡± As soon as Chen Yu sat down, he couldn¡¯t wait to ask. Jin Lingsu took a sip of her drink. ¡°Do I look like someone who stays in one place forever? Just find a professional to handle things there!¡± Chen Yu grabbed some lamb from the table and took a bite. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± Jin Lingsu pulled out a map from her clothing. ¡°The whole world knows by now that there is a haven in this desert, where one can find the secret to immortality. People from all the major organizations have come here, even William¡¯s family has sent their experts.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face slightly changed, his heart suddenly roiled with shock. Immortality was what the members of the Knights of the Round Table pursued all their lives. If Jin Lingsu knew about it, those old men couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware. Yet up to now, he hadn¡¯t received any news! This could only mean one thing¡ªthe Knights of the Round Table were keeping it from him. If he thought about it carefully, the reason he was exceptionally invited to join was to help them develop an elixir for extending life. Once those old men mastered that technique, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kick him out of the game. Exhaling a heavy breath, Chen Yu picked up his bowl and gulped down a mouthful of wine. ¡°How could there be a method for immortality in this world, these people really dare to believe anything.¡± Jin Lingsu shrugged, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t believe it either, but since so many are here, I just came to join in the excitement. Who knows, I might even make some extra money on the side.¡± That was very much in line with Jin Lingsu¡¯s character; apart from money, she cared little for anything else. ¡°Did you come here alone?¡± Chen Yu asked unconsciously. ¡°I don¡¯t like having so many people follow me!¡± Jin Lingsu took out a token from her clothing and placed it on the table: ¡°This is the tavern¡¯s identity token. You can only stay here if you have it. I¡¯ll give you the room next to mine.¡± As they were speaking, two burly men suddenly barged in. They threw their identity tokens on the table and started to shout. ¡°Innkeeper, hurry with the food, we still have to hit the road after eating!¡± The waiter didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly served up the good wine and meat. The two men had rugged facial features and were dressed in extremely simple clothing, giving off a primitive vibe. On their shoulders were wolf-shaped tattoos, which looked very dominating. The weapons they carried were even more astonishing; they were two huge Wolf Fang Clubs. Each weighed over a thousand pounds; a blow from one could turn a person into pulp. ¡°I never expected to encounter these two here; I still have a score to settle with them!¡± Seemingly on a whim, Jin Lingsu stood up and walked straight over to them. When the two men saw Jin Lingsu, they too were taken aback. They hurriedly picked up their Wolf Fang Clubs, their eyes filled with wariness. ¡°Jin Lingsu, what are you doing here? Weren¡¯t you at the Magellan Strait? Are you also interested in that thing?¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t respond but drew a golden spike from her clothing, and with a flash, she charged at them. In the next moment, the spike was pressed against one of the men¡¯s necks. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 388: Cooperative Allies Chapter 388: Chapter 388: Cooperative Allies Although these two people possessed supernatural strength and the weapons they used were quite heavy, their bodies were not very agile. In a flash, Jin Lingsu had subdued both of them. ¡°You stole a gemstone from me last time and haven¡¯t settled the account yet, and now you dare to appear before me so brazenly. Do you have a death wish?¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t bother with any nonsense, and was about to act with the spike in her hand raised. Just then, an imposing female figure hurried down from upstairs. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Why did a fight break out all of a sudden?¡± The woman hurriedly tried to mediate, while also instructing the staff to bring over food and drink. Jin Lingsu furrowed her brows, seemingly wary of this woman. She put down the spike, kicked the man to the side, and then returned to her seat. ¡°Madam, I¡¯m giving you face by not taking action here, but these two fellows are of poor character. If you keep them here, I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll ruin the feng shui of your tavern.¡± Despite this, the woman¡¯s face still wore a smile, without a hint of anger. ¡°Those who come from north and south are all guests. There¡¯s no need to be so particular. As long as everyone behaves and doesn¡¯t cause trouble, that¡¯s fine.¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t say much more, ate a few bites of food, and then went upstairs on her own. Chen Yu, on the other hand, was staring intently at the two strong men at the neighboring table. The two men were abnormally well-built, and the patterns that emerged from their tattoos seemed somewhat familiar. After observing for a while, he too returned to his room. Tonight, this small town was destined to be unpeaceful. Most of the people who stopped here were on their way to the Dongming Gorge. There was more or less some enmity between these people, and if a conflict occurred, it was uncertain what consequences might ensue. No sooner had Chen Yu sat down in his room than a knock sounded from outside, interestingly insistent. ¡°Mr. Chen, an old gentleman has arrived downstairs. He says he¡¯s your friend and invites you for a drink.¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brow and immediately used the system to scan the surroundings. Apart from Jin Lingsu, there was not a single familiar face. But he didn¡¯t care about that much, since someone had invited him, it made no sense not to go. In a corner of the lobby, a middle-aged man was sitting steadily, gnawing on lamb. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and just sat opposite the man, who also had tattoos. The design of the tattoo was exactly the same as the patterns on the two men Jin Lingsu had disciplined earlier. They must be from the same organization. Chen Yu directly picked up the wine on the table and took a sip. ¡°What business do you have with me, sir?¡± The middle-aged man was taken aback. The two had never met in such a situation before, and Chen Yu would at least have asked for his name or other basic information. Instead, he had gotten straight to the point. The man swallowed the lamb in his mouth and then clasped his hands together. ¡°Mr. Chen, I am Wu Rihan, the current leader of the Cangwang Mingyue organization.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly; he had indeed heard of the Cangwang Mingyue organization before. It was said that the Mongolian Empire once dispatched several expedition teams, each led by a royal family member. Their mission was to preserve the bloodline of the Mongolian royalty and search for treasures to regain their lost kingdom. It was believed that their true purpose was to seek the Method of Immortality abroad. Originally, Chen Yu had thought this was merely a legend, but to his surprise, such an organization truly existed. Wu Rihan gave a brief self-introduction before taking out a map from his person. ¡°Mr. Chen, I know you are Mr. Tong¡¯s son-in-law, so in a way, we¡¯re allies,¡± he said. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief and immediately activated the system to scan the other man¡¯s brain information. As a flood of information came in, everything about Wu Rihan was laid bare before Chen Yu. Strictly speaking, the man indeed qualified as an ally, but it was merely a partnership; he had received some documents from Tong Ming and was on his way to meet a few people in the Dongming Gorge. He also had orders to protect Chen Yu. However, this man was not likely to dutifully carry out his mission; he planned to use Chen Yu to obtain the objects granting eternal life. A strange curve formed on Chen Yu¡¯s lips as he leaned back in his chair. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you should be a descendant of Genghis Khan. I wouldn¡¯t dare to become allies with you,¡± he said. Wu Rihan became anxious. He was just a rough man with scant information and documents in his possession. If he were to rush into the Dongming Gorge with his men, there was no telling what might happen. ¡°Mr. Chen, after all, I am entrusted by Mr. Tong. No matter what, I must escort you safely to Dongming Gorge. I hope you won¡¯t mind,¡± he said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to say anything more. He took a sip of his drink and prepared to leave. Just then, two young men carrying an elderly man who appeared to be over fifty hurried into the room. As soon as they entered, they put the old man down on the ground and cried out for help. It looked like the old man had been in a car accident; he was drenched in blood from head to toe, making it impossible to see his face clearly. Two of his ribs were broken at the chest, piercing through the skin. In the desert, cars were scarce and car accidents even more unlikely¡ªclearly, this was no accident. The cries of the two young men soon summoned the landlady. ¡°Oh dear, this is just an inn, not a hospital. Why have you brought him here? Should I contact a doctor from a nearby town for you?¡± she asked. The landlady obviously wanted to avoid trouble; with the old man injured like this, staying here would mean only one thing: certain death. One of the young men stood up and tried to grab the landlady by the neck. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, the seemingly delicate landlady was incredibly agile, grabbing the young man¡¯s hand and flipping him over her shoulder. Those nearby were stunned by the sight; who would have thought such a dainty woman could be so formidable? The landlady, still looking meek, dusted off her hands and pulled a first-aid kit from the side. ¡°I really have no choice, the inn¡¯s been full these past few days, there are no rooms left, and we don¡¯t have professional doctors here. You¡¯ll just have to make do with this,¡± she said. The two young men didn¡¯t dare to make another move, but the old man¡¯s life was hanging by a thread, and in their desperation, they opened the medical kit to try their luck. ¡°Four ribs are broken, and the artery near the heart has been punctured; he doesn¡¯t have much time left,¡± Chen Yu said slowly and quietly as he sauntered over. The two young men immediately stood up, as if grasping at a lifeline. ¡°Sir, if you can discern the injury, surely you must know medical skills. Could you please save our master?¡± they pleaded. Chen Yu, without saying much more, pushed the young men aside and moved closer. But as he knelt down, he suddenly regretted it; the old man¡¯s injuries were beyond his expectation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 389 Bone Reduction Chapter 389: Chapter 389 Bone Reduction The old man already had some chronic illnesses, with half of his organs in a state of failure, some even having mutated. The person responsible for the car accident had clearly intended to kill, aiming to leave the old man dead. Therefore, apart from his ribs, other parts of the old man¡¯s body were also severely injured. It was doubtful that any doctor in the world could heal him. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing, then placed his palm on the old man¡¯s shoulder blade and gently moved it down along the gaps in the bones. Before long, he had realigned the dislocated bones and pieced together the fractured ones. All his movements were fluid, without any hesitation, leaving the onlookers dumbfounded. The shop owner was even more astounded; she had run her store for many years and had never seen anyone with such masterful bone-setting skills. ¡°Young brother, I didn¡¯t know you were a doctor, had I known, I would have asked you to treat my husband as well.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, simply concentrating on the bone-setting. After all the bones were back in place, Chen Yu took out silver needles and inserted them into the old man¡¯s chest at specific acupoints. Bones first, then flesh, followed by skin, Chen Yu followed this sequence to treat the old man¡¯s ailments. The more critical the situation, with multiple diseases gathered in one body, the less one can afford to rush. It had to be done bit by bit, otherwise it would backfire. ¡°Madam, could you please help me find some medicine?¡± Chen Yu casually wrote a prescription and handed it over. The shop owner¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon receiving the prescription. ¡°Sir, we have all the ingredients listed here, but some are quite precious, so I must ask for payment upfront.¡± Chen Yu looked towards the two young men beside him. ¡°Pay up, do you expect me to cover it?¡± The two young men didn¡¯t dare to delay, hastily pulling out several gold notes and stuffing them into the shop owner¡¯s hand. Anyone carrying gold notes must be of no ordinary status. It wasn¡¯t something an average person could afford. The material itself was made of Gold, exchangeable in banks all around the world. It was, to say the least, extremely valuable. The shop owner immediately became excited and quickly took out exactly five portions of the medicinal ingredients listed on the prescription. Chen Yu hastily took one portion of the ingredients, ground it into powder, applied it to the old man¡¯s external wounds, and put the remaining four portions into a pot to boil. ¡°Remember to boil it down from twenty bowls to one and have the patient drink it; by tomorrow morning, his illness will be cured.¡± The two young men nodded repeatedly, then took out another gold note and handed it to Chen Yu. Looking at the denomination, it was a whole one billion. Chen Yu didn¡¯t fuss over it and simply pocketed the note, but as he was about to leave, the shop owner grabbed his arm. ¡°Sir, my husband has been bedridden for so many years, could you treat him as well? If you can cure him, I will be immensely grateful.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; frankly, he did not want to get too involved with the shop owner. But she was no ordinary person, and the store she ran was even more extraordinary. If he could leave behind some good karma, it might come in handy in the future. Without saying much, Chen Yu followed the shop owner into another room. On the bed lay a middle-aged man nearing forty whose skin was so dark that he looked almost like charcoal. Chen Yu furrowed his brow as soon as he saw the man; he had never before encountered such a disease. The man must have been stricken with an exceedingly rare poison that rapidly carbonized his body, turning it into what it was now. Chen Yu carefully approached and gingerly touched the man¡¯s wrist, and indeed, one arm felt just like charcoal. ¡°Ling Ling, what kind of disease is this?¡± Just a moment before, Chen Yu had searched through all the rare diseases in his mind but couldn¡¯t find anything; he had no choice but to ask the system. [The patient¡¯s body contains a type of fungal spore that continuously transforms the elements of his body, carbonizing them.] [To treat him, all the fungal spores must be removed.] Chen Yu¡¯s brow tightened; with this kind of treatment method, he feared the man was beyond saving. After regulating his breathing slightly, Chen Yu extended a finger to press on the man¡¯s forehead, sensing the changes in his body. ¡°Ma¡¯am, your husband¡¯s condition is very serious. I can only prescribe him a medicine. With time, perhaps, his carbonized body might recover.¡± The innkeeper¡¯s wife immediately grew excited; in truth, she had no grand hopes, only wishing to restore her husband¡¯s body to normal. Then she could treat her husband¡¯s disease on her own. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and left behind an easily accessible map in haste as he exited the door. ¡°Mr. Chen!¡± the innkeeper¡¯s wife suddenly called out, ¡°I know who you are and what you are here for, but you cannot fathom the dangers of Dongming Gorge; please take care.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, giving the innkeeper¡¯s wife a perplexed look. Before he could respond, the innkeeper¡¯s wife had taken a map from her person and stuffed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°This map is unique in the world. Also, do not touch the Eternal Life Being, or you will suffer as much as my husband has.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and he looked visibly frightened. So it was that the man on the bed had become like this because he had come into contact with the Eternal Life Being. Glancing at the map in his hands unwittingly, it appeared to be a map of an underground palace. After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, Chen Yu put the map away. ¡°Thank you for the advice, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± When he returned to his room, he found that Jin Lingsu had arrived at some point, and there was a pile of lamb meat on the table. ¡°You¡¯re quite kind-hearted. Had it been me, I wouldn¡¯t bother with these fools.¡± Chen Yu spread his hands and then sat down beside her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have enough to eat earlier? Why set out another basin?¡± Jin Lingsu let out a soft sigh, ¡°Eat up, we need to be in our best condition for the deep desert tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu, full of confusion, said, ¡°Why not just bring more food later? Why eat so much now?¡± Jin Lingsu swallowed the lamb meat in her mouth. ¡°Just listen to me, eat more. Otherwise, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Chen Yu said no more and grabbed a big piece of lamb, tearing off a bite with relish. Just then, a raucous noise suddenly came from downstairs, sounding like someone was causing trouble. Chen Yu, holding a lamb leg, opened the window and leaned out. Several fully armed men rushed into the shop, flipping over the two young men from earlier and attempted to take the old man away. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you know whose turf this is? You dare to make trouble in my place; get out now or I¡¯ll chop you up and feed you to the camels,¡± the innkeeper¡¯s wife¡¯s commanding voice startled the men. However, they were not intimidated in the least and even pointed their weapons at the innkeeper¡¯s wife. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Uninhabited Area Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Uninhabited Area ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve got some tough ones here today. Looks like I need to teach you the rules of this place,¡± The landlady¡¯s gaze suddenly sharpened as the rooms next to her opened one after another. The next moment, more than a dozen monkeys charged out, heading straight for those burly men. These monkeys seemed to have undergone some special training; their fur was shaved off, and they were dressed in armor. Sharp metal fittings were also attached to their claws. The men had never seen such a spectacle before; within moments, three of them were torn to shreds, and the rest quickly put down their weapons and knelt on the ground. ¡°Landlady, we mean no harm. We only want to take Victor away, and we hope you can accommodate us,¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated dramatically, and he immediately had the system scan the old man on the ground. However, the information that came back showed that this man was not Victor William at all. Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, reasoning that there were more than one person named Victor in this world. The landlady didn¡¯t care about that; she ordered the monkeys to control the remaining men and had her staff collect all the weapons. ¡°No one in my tavern is allowed to fight. That¡¯s the rule. You lot have broken the rules here, so you will have to accept punishment,¡± As she finished speaking, the staff promptly threw them out. Tonight, likely not a single household in town would dare to take them in. The desert night is terribly frightening; the low temperature alone is unbearable. By morning, those men were likely to freeze into icicles. Chen Yu ate his mutton and went downstairs, heading towards the old man. At that moment, the old man was gradually regaining consciousness. Seeing Chen Yu, he became so excited that he tried to kowtow despite his injuries. Chen Yu quickly held the old man up, ¡°Your body is very weak; you need to rest properly.¡± ¡°By the way, they called you Victor just now. May I ask what your surname is?¡± The old man caught his breath, ¡°Bog!¡± Chen Yu nodded and didn¡¯t ask any further. But as he was about to leave, the old man suddenly grabbed his arm. ¡°I have a friend who shares my name, he is the head of William¡¯s family, and he¡¯s currently trapped in Dongming Canyon. Can you help me save him? Even just passing a message outside would be good.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened; he knew that people from William¡¯s family had also arrived here, but he hadn¡¯t expected Victor to come in person. However, upon reflection, Victor was already an old man close to death. Even if he had rejuvenated by more than a decade under Chen Yu¡¯s treatment, it was not a cure. With the elixir of eternal life before him, how could he not be tempted? Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just nodded and returned to his room. Jin Lingsu was getting impatient, ¡°You running up and down like this, are you trying to fight your own body? Can¡¯t you rest properly?¡± Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, ¡°How could I possibly sleep in such a place? With all sorts of forces mingling, who knows if these people have a grudge against me.¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t say much more and had the waiter bring in two more basins of meat. The next morning, the seemingly peaceful town suddenly became busy. Who knows from where, but a large group of people appeared, setting off in their off-road vehicles in a grand manner. Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t fall behind. After a quick pack-up, they left the town. Their car didn¡¯t carry much food, just some emergency items and compressed rations. The others seemed to wish they could fill their cars to the brim. Some teams had a majestic convoy of more than a dozen vehicles, with just one person driving each, all loaded with supplies. Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was full of contempt. ¡°These guys obviously have never been to the desert before. They¡¯re packing so much stuff that they¡¯re definitely going to sink when they cross that sand sea,¡± she scoffed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything, but just smiled, resting his chin in his hand as he looked out the window at the scenery. Two hundred miles to the west from here lay the legendary uninhabited area. This place is a holy site in the hearts of many explorers, who spend their whole lives dreaming of crossing it alone with just a pack. Though their aspirations were grand, reality was harsh; to date, very few had managed to successfully traverse it. A major feature of the uninhabited area was its unpredictable terrain. Quicksand was one of the most significant geographical obstacles. Along the way, the vehicle carrying Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu seemed quite steady, and it wasn¡¯t long before they entered the uninhabited zone. But as soon as they arrived, they saw a mass of vehicles stuck in a very narrow area. Many people were seated around the vehicles, watching their slowly sinking cars with nothing they could do. As Chen Yu¡¯s vehicle passed by, a few people tried to stop them, seemingly warning that there was quicksand ahead and it was impassable. Jin Lingsu simply ignored them, pressing the gas pedal and charging ahead. Their vehicle wasn¡¯t heavily loaded, which made it particularly light and unaffected by the quicksand. Chen Yu finally understood Jin Lingsu¡¯s reasoning. Who knows how much time passed before the two reached a hill and decided to stop there¡ªit also seemed safe. They parked their vehicle to the side, and then began to build a simple campsite on its foundation. Just as the two had started a fire and were preparing to roast some meat, several other vehicles arrived, moving sporadically to the same location. They had clearly come under attack on the way, with the windows of their cars covered in wolf claw prints. ¡°Oh my God, this no-man¡¯s-land is too terrifying. We actually encountered a pack of wolves on the way. If our family hadn¡¯t accessorized our car with bulletproof glass, I¡¯m afraid we would have been done for,¡± they complained as they walked over. ¡°Bro, can we join you and build a campsite together?¡± Chen Yu and his companion had already started a good fire, and many of the basic campsite conditions were in place. These people wanted to mooch off of their efforts. Chen Yu looked at them warily and scanned their brain information through the system, wanting to ensure they had no ill intentions before he was prepared to agree. But Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t care; she simply tossed a piece of charcoal with flames to one side. ¡°Use this to start your fire, but don¡¯t get too close to us,¡± she said. The atmosphere turned somewhat awkward, and the people didn¡¯t say much more, just picking up the charcoal and moving to an open area a bit away. Chen Yu took out a map and studied it carefully; according to their current pace, it would take at least one more day to reach Dongming Canyon. The supplies they had in the car would only last them half a day. That meant they couldn¡¯t afford any accidents along the way. As Chen Yu was studying the map, a man in his twenties came over, looking a bit embarrassed. ¡°Big brother, big sister, we¡¯re running low on supplies. Could we possibly borrow some from you?¡± he asked. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 391 Norton Family Chapter 391: Chapter 391 Norton Family Chen Yu slightly furrowed his brow; they didn¡¯t have many supplies in the car to begin with. If they lent some out, he feared there wouldn¡¯t be enough for the two of them. However, he had just scanned the other party¡¯s vehicle with the system and found that they didn¡¯t carry many supplies either, apparently having lost some on the road. Just as he was about to speak, Jin Lingsu suddenly stood up and smoothly pulled out a golden spike from her body. ¡°Coming out into the desert to ask others for supplies, you apparently don¡¯t know the rules here,¡± she said. The young man was startled and hastily stepped back several paces. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I really mean no harm. Just now, when we passed that area of quicksand, we lost our water supply and some compressed food from our vehicle. Tonight, half of our group won¡¯t have anything to eat, not to mention tomorrow.¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t care about that. She stepped forward and placed the golden spike against the young man¡¯s neck. ¡°You don¡¯t get to eat, and we might not get to eat either, so beat it and don¡¯t force me to get rough,¡± she said. The young man¡¯s face showed helplessness as he had no choice but to back away. Chen Yu opened a tin of food and heated it over the fire. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too harsh? I think these young people are just here for a tour. Giving them a bit of supplies won¡¯t hurt,¡± he said. The expression on Jin Lingsu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°In this kind of environment, I don¡¯t believe in good people! The place we¡¯re heading to is Dongming Canyon, one of the most mysterious places in the world. Hardly anyone on this route is good news. These guys look harmless, but who knows what evil they¡¯re plotting,¡± she said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, ate a few bites, and then entered the tent. Their tent was secured with numerous fixing devices, and they even covered the outside with a layer of cling film. The temperature in the desert could drop sharply at night, enough to freeze a person to death. To survive in such extreme conditions, one layer of protection was not enough; several more were necessary. Jin Lingsu had even placed a couple of electronic dogs outside that would sound an alarm if anyone approached. The first half of the night passed without incident, but later, strange noises swept through the desert as a massive black sandstorm gathered not far away and began to engulf the area. Chen Yu suddenly woke up, and a map of the surrounding area appeared in his mind. He noticed that something seemed to be mixed in with the black sandstorm. ¡°We have to go, it¡¯s not safe here!¡± he said. Chen Yu pushed Jin Lingsu next to him, quickly exited the tent, and tore down all the makeshift equipment they had set up. Jin Lingsu also quickly flipped over, her senses especially sharp, and hurriedly jumped onto the nearby vehicle. Just as the two of them started their vehicle, several off-road vehicles nearby also started up. They hadn¡¯t put up tents but had slept directly in their vehicles. Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened. According to the system¡¯s scan, these people were just ordinary tourists. A group like that, without rigorous training or professional guidance, wouldn¡¯t be so alert so promptly. Yet they had woken up immediately and were able to start their vehicles right after Chen Yu, indicating these people were not ordinary. Chen Yu reopened the system¡¯s scanning function, directing it towards the vehicles behind them, but this time the scan seemed to be hindered by something. [Interference signal detected, chips have been implanted in their brains.] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. ¡°What does ¡®implanted with chips¡¯ mean? And why am I only finding this out now? What was the system doing earlier?¡± he said. [The chip in the opponent¡¯s brain is extremely high-end, and with the current state of the system, an immediate scan is impossible.] Chen Yu heaved a helpless sigh and said nothing more. Ever since he had seen the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s experimental base, he knew that there were many technologies in the world beyond his imagination. It wasn¡¯t strange that there were chips that the system couldn¡¯t scan. The car traveled nearly along the edge of the black sandstorm, as this was the safest for them. A path had long since emerged automatically in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before they could break out of the black sandstorm. The cars following behind them stuck closely to their trail, seemingly taking the same route. At this moment, Chen Yu didn¡¯t think much about it, continuously guiding Jin Lingsu beside him. After a full two hours, they finally burst out from the sandstorm and arrived at a relatively flat sandy area. ¡°There should be a small oasis ahead, stop the car there, I have something to do,¡± Chen Yu said, his voice coming off somewhat icy, with a hint of murderous intent in his eyes. Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t say anything, she floored the gas pedal and after a while, stopped the car by the side of a crescent spring. This could only be considered a small patch of greenery, with the crescent spring no bigger than two people, barely a small puddle. After the two got out of the car, Chen Yu stood firmly in the middle of the road. It wasn¡¯t long before the several cars trailing them also reached the spot, and a group of people tumbled out. The young man who had earlier borrowed supplies from Chen Yu rushed up with a smile on his face. ¡°That sandstorm was terrifying. If it weren¡¯t for you starting your car to alert us, we might have died there,¡± he said. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into a strange arc, then he suddenly stepped forward and punched the young man in the face, pressing his body down into the sand hard. ¡°Who exactly are you? Why are you following us? What is your purpose in coming here?¡± Chen Yu fired a series of questions that left the young man somewhat dazed, with a hint of panic unconsciously creeping into his eyes. Seeing this, the people behind him instinctively took a step forward, but the next moment, they forcefully restrained themselves. The young man gasped for air but still maintained his smile. ¡°Brother, we are just students traveling to the uninhabited region, with no particular purpose. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit too rough on me?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mind was flashing with a torrent of information, all stemming from the young man¡¯s head. In that instant, the chip in the young man¡¯s brain had malfunctioned, exposing a wealth of information. Although the moment was brief, the system had seized the opportunity. ¡°Sent by Keluobai, aren¡¯t you!¡± Chen Yu challenged. Upon hearing this, everyone at the scene widened their eyes, and two of them even drew their weapons. Jin Lingsu was already prepared, her spike spinning in her hand. Keluobai hailed from the Luoton Family, was one of the Knights of the Round Table, and also belonged to one of the most famous hidden families in the world. Among all the Knights of the Round Table, Keluobai was the oldest, his pursuit of immortality the most fervent, and the Norton Family had funded a large part of that biological base. Suddenly, a man in his thirties yelled and, drawing a long sword from his body, charged towards them. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 392 Chip Control Chapter 392: Chapter 392 Chip Control Chen Yu¡¯s face showed no hint of panic; instead, his extended hand emitted a blue-white light that radiated from his body. The blue-white light this time was very pronounced and lasted for a long time, startling Jin Lingsu who was nearby. The sword in the middle-aged man¡¯s hand immediately shattered into fragments, and his body fell from mid-air. In the next moment, his body temperature soared abruptly, and a copious amount of blood seeped from his mouth and nose. Seeing this, the others were struck with panic, having never witnessed such a phenomenon. Before they could react, the blue-white light from Chen Yu¡¯s body erupted instantaneously, and the violent force swept out, hurling everyone away. They only felt the chips in their heads suddenly heat up, and the scorching temperature caused their blood to boil. A few of the weaker ones fell to the ground, convulsing continuously; their skin turned soft and limp as if it were melting. ¡°Mr. Keluobai was right; there is indeed something strange about you, kid,¡± said one of them. ¡°You must have a high-end chip implanted in you.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into an odd arc, and he walked over to one of the older individuals, lifting him up. ¡°Tell me, is my entry into the Knights of the Round Table a conspiracy brewed by those old fools, aiming to use me for experiments?¡± Unexpectedly, the man was defiantly tight-lipped, not saying a word. However, fear was evident in his eyes. It seemed he also wanted to reveal everything in exchange for his life, but the chip in his head wouldn¡¯t allow it. If he spoke a word against Keluobai, the chip would detonate immediately, killing him. Chen Yu too had access to the relevant information in his mind, so he didn¡¯t ask any more questions and turned to leave the place. However, as he was leaving, he suddenly greeted someone by nodding his head toward them. He was aware that Keluobai could see everything that happened here through satellite video. And he knew that these people would be dealt with immediately after his departure. Not long after Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu left, a violent explosion sounded from behind them. Jin Lingsu, gripping the steering wheel, bore a gloomy expression. ¡°I never expected to encounter an assassination attempt as soon as we arrived. If we get to Dongming Canyon, we¡¯ll probably be eaten alive,¡± she said. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say; it seemed his joining the Knights of the Round Table had brought a great deal of trouble. Remembering Tong Ming¡¯s words, Chen Yu felt even more disdain; he really shouldn¡¯t have collaborated with the Childe Family. The car drove on for a day and a night, and as evening approached, they arrived at a desolate expanse of the Gobi Desert. All around were protruding yellow earth beams, a place that didn¡¯t look inhabited, yet the map indicated this was Dongming Canyon. Chen Yu furrowed his brows, took a few steps forward with the map in hand, and used his system to fully scan the area. Just then, he suddenly noticed an unusual stone moving in a valley not far away. ¡°Found it, over there!¡± he exclaimed excitedly, and jumped down. Jin Lingsu was startled; after making sure Chen Yu was alright, she drove the car down the mountain path. Upon reaching the entrance, Chen Yu took out the invitation he had received earlier and inserted a card from it into a small crevice in the moving stone. The next moment, the doors thunderously opened. A remarkably burly man walked out from within. The fellow stood three meters tall, an astonishing height to behold. ¡°Were you invited here?¡± The rough voice was deafening, making even Chen Yu¡¯s eardrums tremble. ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Yu handed over his invitation. The man took the invitation and checked it, then pulled out two purple-red jade tokens from his person. ¡°These are identity tokens for Dongming Gorge. After you park your car in the parking lot, someone will guide you inside. Remember not to wander off. For the next three days, you can only stay in the underground market. If you leave that area, someone will take your life.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; he hadn¡¯t expected there to be so many rules here. Following the man¡¯s directions, he parked the car in the parking area, and then a kind-looking middle-aged woman appeared nearby. ¡°Distinguished guests, welcome to Dongming Gorge. Please follow me.¡± The woman led Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu onto a sightseeing vehicle, and after passing through a long tunnel, they arrived at a place resembling a market. The layout here was similar to the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s testing ground, both built underground. But truly comparing the two, this place was much more humane than the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s facility. ¡°I would like to remind you once again, please do not wander off during the next three days. You can find anything on this street!¡± Although the statement sounded like a reminder, it also felt like a threat to some degree. Chen Yu did not say much, just nodded and then he and Jin Lingsu stepped onto the main street. Even though it was underground, the street had everything one could wish for, with a dazzling array of shops. The whole street was bustling, not at all like a dangerous place. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, then led Jin Lingsu to a nearby restaurant. The people in the shop were very down-to-earth, serving up a basin of mutton to the two as soon as they arrived. ¡°This is your first time here, so consider this our complimentary treat. May I take your order for anything else?¡± Having come all this way, Chen Yu was quite hungry, so he ordered a large variety from the menu. ¡°By the way, do you have any hotels or something like that here?¡± The owner immediately pulled out a flyer from the side. ¡°There¡¯s an inn at the end of this street, they should still have rooms available.¡± Chen Yu nodded and didn¡¯t say much more, tearing off a piece of mutton and stuffing it into his mouth. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought even such greenhorns would come here, not afraid they won¡¯t make it back,¡± said a burly man who suddenly sat down next to Chen Yu, rudely tearing off a piece of mutton. Chen Yu¡¯s face showed his displeasure. ¡°Friend, do we know each other?¡± The man took out a blood-red jade token from his person. ¡°My name¡¯s Lu Dashan, I¡¯m an old-timer in Dongming Gorge. I¡¯ve seen everyone who comes here, but many of them end up dying here. You two seem so soft and frail; I fear you won¡¯t last long.¡± With those words, laughter spread throughout the restaurant, with gazes full of teasing directed at Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu. However, most of their eyes were focused on Jin Lingsu. Such a stunning woman was the center of attention wherever she went, let alone a place like this. Lu Dashan reached out his hand, attempting to grab Jin Lingsu¡¯s cheek. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 393: Gambling on Antiques Chapter 393: Chapter 393: Gambling on Antiques Jin Lingsu¡¯s face suddenly flickered with a hint of murderous intent; the golden spikes somehow appeared in his hand and viciously stabbed into Lu Dashan¡¯s hand. A shrill scream echoed in an instant, and everyone in the restaurant widened their eyes; the noise that had been present just a moment ago fell silent. ¡°What are you doing? How dare you lay hands on me? Do you know I have a reputation here?¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t care for that, raising his hand and fiercely slapping Lu Dashan¡¯s face, sending his body crashing to the ground. Such a strong show of force stunned everyone. No one expected Jin Lingsu to be so formidable. Chen Yu ate his meat, looking as if it was all only to be expected. ¡°Alright, this place is still the Dongming Gorge, after all, and we need to follow the house rules. Let him go; we don¡¯t need any additional troubles.¡± Jin Lingsu said no more, simply retracting his sword-spikes. Lu Dashan must have been dazed by the slap; he staggered back to his original seat, took a fierce swig of wine, and dared not utter another word. Just then, a delicate figure hurried into the shop, with a dozen stout men in hot pursuit. As this group rushed in, everyone eating in the shop stood up, appearing quite fearful. Even the staff of the shop didn¡¯t dare to speak another word. Chen Yu, however, didn¡¯t care about any of that; he walked straight up to the girl. The moment the girl had rushed in, he felt he had seen this young lady somewhere before. When he cradled the girl¡¯s head, he was taken aback to discover that she was indeed Katherine. ¡°Mr. Chen!¡± Katherine too was surprised but then clung to Chen Yu¡¯s leg as if grabbing a lifeline. ¡°Mr. Chen, please save me! These people have captured Victor, and they¡¯ve slain everyone from William¡¯s family.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils trembled slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected the prominent William¡¯s family to be hunted down to such extremes here. The dozen or so stout men, seeing this, blocked the entrance. The man leading them, carrying a machete, slowly advanced. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t meddle in what doesn¡¯t concern you, or I¡¯ll kill you as well.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat bewildered; upon his arrival, he was given a handbook by the gatekeeper, the first rule being not to cause trouble. However, these folks in front of him weren¡¯t just causing trouble; they were running amok. ¡°Are you from the Dongming Gorge?¡± Chen Yu tentatively inquired. The leading man snorted coldly, ¡°The managers of Dongming Gorge only show up on the day of the big meeting; we¡­¡± Before he could finish, the sharp sound of a slap rang throughout the hall. The man collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold. Chen Yu shook his wrist lightly. ¡°Since you¡¯re not from Dongming Gorge, I see no need to be polite to you.¡± With those words, Chen Yu lifted his palm and fiercely slapped it across the faces of the others. In a moment, he had beaten those men to the ground. As he was about to deal with the last man, that man actually knelt on the ground. ¡°Do you not wish to rescue Victor?¡± Chen Yu grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him up high. ¡°Where is he?¡± The man gasped for air, ¡°At the antique shop at the end of the street, we haven¡¯t done anything to him, it¡¯s just that the old man has lost several times in a row.¡± Chen Yu immediately realized the seriousness of the situation, hastily ate a few bites, and then took Jin Lingsu and Katherine to the antique shop at the end of the street. The place was bustling with activity; for everyone who arrived at Dongming Canyon, the first thing they wanted to do was to come here for a visit. After all, it was one of the most mysterious places in the world, where many famous antiques were stored. As soon as Chen Yu entered, he saw a large crowd gathered in the side lounge. ¡°Old man, do you still want to continue playing? Don¡¯t force yourself, I have never compelled you!¡± ¡°Otherwise people might say that I lured you here because I¡¯m greedy for your William¡¯s family¡¯s assets.¡± A middle-aged man, looking suave and debonair, sat there with a smile plastered on his face, his clothes immaculately white and his mannerism extremely cultured. On the surface, he looked like a son of a scholarly family. But the words he spoke were exceedingly harsh, stirring up aversion in others. Victor sat there, his aged body trembling continuously, with several antiques placed beside him. Though these items appeared extremely exquisite and seemed to carry heavy historical weight, upon closer inspection, one would realize that they were but modern imitations. It looked like the two men were gambling on antiques. This was a new practice in the antique world, where two people would each pick out an antique they believed to be valuable in an antique shop, and then have a professional appraiser determine their prices on the spot. The winner was decided by the higher price. Victor, hailing from the West, had a limited understanding of Eastern antiques. To be dragged into such a shop to gamble was simply to bully him. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, the William family¡¯s assets are now half in your possession, isn¡¯t that enough? Let¡¯s call it a day,¡± Victor said, his body shaking, clearly not voluntarily participating in the game. Huangfu Xiong didn¡¯t care; he just picked up a Luminous Pearl, showing no intention of stopping. ¡°The Huangfu family is also a major family in Jiangnan, so why bully an old man nearly seventy years old here?¡± Chen Yu shouted out and then strode forward to sit down beside Victor. Victor was surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to come here. Huangfu Xiong played with the Luminous Pearl in his hand, a killing intent evident in his eyes. ¡°Who are you to be meddling in my business?¡± he demanded. Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, simply walking to the front shelf and casually picking up a teapot. ¡°I will play in place of Mr. Victor against you,¡± he declared. Huangfu Xiong¡¯s face was full of disdain, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who comes, if you lose, Mr. Victor will pay the bill just the same.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Victor slammed the table as if he had found a pillar of support. ¡°Mr. Chen will replace me, and if he loses, I will pay!¡± Huangfu Xiong was surprised by Victor¡¯s readiness and felt a twinge of suspicion in his heart. Before he could react, Chen Yu had placed the teapot on the table. ¡°I believe the appraisers here are quite professional. Let¡¯s let everyone decide whether your pearl is more valuable, or my teapot,¡± Chen Yu suggested. A crowd of experts gathered around, holding various instruments, ready to appraise. But just as they were about to start, Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward and turned the teapot over. ¡°I hope that during the appraisal, no one overlooks these few characters.¡± Everyone at the scene paused, giving Chen Yu weird looks. Engraved on the bottom of the teapot were the two characters for ¡°Yang Ming.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Breaking the Pot Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Breaking the Pot Wang Yangming had once been demoted to Jiangnan and served as the overseer of Jingdezhen porcelain. There, he exclusively crafted a batch of teapots, inscribing his own name on them. This particular batch consisted of only six teapots. Today, only one of them remains in circulation, still hidden away in the Imperial Capital Museum. If the one before us was also from that batch, its value could be imagined. A group of experts quickly gathered to carefully appraise it, leaving the Luminous Pearl hanging to one side. About ten minutes later, these individuals grew excited. ¡°My God, it¡¯s real. Judging by the pattern on it, it should be the work of Wang Yangming.¡± ¡°This seal is unique; there¡¯s no problem with the piece.¡± ¡­ The scene instantly boiled over; who would have thought that in such a setting, a rare treasure would be discovered. Huangfu Xiong¡¯s face turned green; he had never anticipated such an outcome. ¡°Brother, could it be that you have some research in antiques?¡± Chen Yu did not respond, but instead stepped closer to Huangfu Xiong. ¡°Since I¡¯ve won, I would ask Mr. Huangfu to hand over the wager for this round.¡± Huangfu Xiong, with a belly full of anger, could only take out an asset certificate from his person and return it. Victor immediately sighed in relief; after losing so many times, he had finally recovered a round. Chen Yu did not stop there but picked up a ruined porcelain bottle from beside Victor and placed it on the table. ¡°This time I shall use this, and please Mr. Huangfu, choose one.¡± The people present seemed to witness something amusing and burst into laughter; a few even lay on the ground, coughing from their laughter. ¡°This kid must be a monkey¡¯s hired help; all the experts have appraised it just now. It¡¯s nothing but a modern imitation, yet he still dares to put it up for competition.¡± ¡°I think he wants to lose all of William¡¯s family¡¯s assets.¡± ¡°Could this man be a shill invited by Mr. Huangfu?¡± ¡­ While the people were making various comments, Huangfu Xiong looked at Chen Yu with a strange gaze. ¡°Kid, you better have thought this through; there¡¯s no backing out in a place like this.¡± Chen Yu looked indifferent, ¡°Am I the type of person who goes back on his word?¡± Huangfu Xiong did not say much and after a careful selection, he picked a blue and white porcelain from the Yuan dynasty. This item was a treasure both in craftsmanship and condition, and most importantly, it was indeed an authentic Yuan dynasty piece. No matter how one looked at it, this round seemed to be a loss for Chen Yu. The experts beside them felt too lazy to appraise it; just when they were about to declare the result, Chen Yu suddenly raised his hand. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, I¡¯ve just arrived here and am still unfamiliar with the environment of Dongming Gorge. I would like to have a look around. Let¡¯s not waste time and decide the winner with one move! If I win, you must return all of Mr. Victor¡¯s assets; if I lose, all remaining assets of William¡¯s family will belong to you.¡± The place fell silent immediately, disbelief filling everyone¡¯s eyes. Who could have thought that Chen Yu would dare to make such a wager over a broken bottle. It was clear he was pushing the entire William¡¯s family into the fire pit. Unexpectedly, Victor stood up at once, patted Chen Yu on the shoulder and declared, ¡°From this moment on, all assets of William¡¯s family are entrusted to Mr. Chen. Whatever decision he makes, I shall keep it.¡± With those words, the surprise of those present reached its peak. Everyone was speculating about the relationship between the two men, to trust each other to such an extent. The experts beside them, however, sighed heavily, believing that Chen Yu could not possibly win. Just as they were preparing to announce the results, Chen Yu suddenly picked up a small hammer and started tapping on his own porcelain. Everyone thought that something had gone wrong with Chen Yu. Could it be that he wanted to smash his own porcelain because he was afraid of losing? While they were doubting, a crisp cracking sound emanated from the porcelain, and it wasn¡¯t long before the brown substance on the surface fell off. ¡°My God, this is Tang Sancai!¡± No one knew who shouted, and people crowded around to take a closer look. ¡°This layer of clay on the outside, it must have been fused on by a burial firing method, just to protect the porcelain inside.¡± ¡°During the Republican era, to escape the chaos of war, many people would use this method to keep their family properties safe.¡± ¡­ A group of experts immediately concluded. With that, the blue-and-white porcelain Huangfu Xiong had chosen had completely lost. Victor breathed a sigh of relief, at least the assets of William¡¯s family were preserved. Chen Yu walked straight up to Huangfu Xiong and tapped his shoulder. ¡°Mr. Huangfu, according to our agreement, please hand over all the asset proofs of William¡¯s family.¡± Huangfu Xiong¡¯s facial muscles twitched violently, his previously somewhat refined demeanor was hard to maintain. He did not say much, taking all the asset proofs out of his person and placing them on the table. Chen Yu took a deep breath, and just as he was about to leave, Huangfu Xiong suddenly blocked his path. ¡°Brother, winning and leaving just like that seems a bit inappropriate, how about you stay and we play another round?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. With the system in him, he could see through everything here in a glance. Playing with him was purely seeking death for Huangfu Xiong. ¡°Sure, but my stakes are usually quite high. Just not sure if you can afford to play.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s words were full of provocation. He then placed the Token of the Knights of the Round Table on the table. Everyone present stood up, their faces full of astonishment. Huangfu Xiong¡¯s mouth dropped open, his eyes in a daze. The Token of the Knights of the Round Table was already a priceless treasure. Just the gemstones embedded on it could make an ordinary person soar to the Forbes ranking. Not to mention having the entire Token right here. Huangfu Xiong looked at Chen Yu with a fearful gaze, ¡°Who exactly are you? How do you possess this Token?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°Who I am is none of your business. You just need to tell me whether you dare to play or not.¡± Huangfu Xiong backed down. No matter how powerful he was, he didn¡¯t dare to confront the Knights of the Round Table. Whether he won or lost this match, his fate would not be a good one. In front of the Knights of the Round Table, any family in the world was as insignificant as ants. ¡°I¡¯m also tired today, let¡¯s call it a day. We can play again some other time.¡± Huangfu Xiong bowed deeply with great respect, then stepped aside, not daring to commit the slightest impropriety. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, picked up the Token, and left directly. It must be said, the Token of the Knights of the Round Table was indeed effective. No matter where it was, it held a certain level of deterrence. No sooner had he stepped out of the antique shop than Victor went limp as if boneless. If not for Chen Yu¡¯s support, he likely would have collapsed to the ground. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Undercover for 3 Years Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Undercover for 3 Years ¡°Old sir, it¡¯s all right now, you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Chen Yu propped up Victor¡¯s body and took a seat at the nearby tea stall. Victor took a few deep breaths and guzzled a large mouthful of tea before leaning back in the chair. ¡°I thought this place was some sort of geomantic treasure site where I could make a quick fortune. I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way. Luckily, you arrived in time, or the entire William¡¯s family would¡¯ve been ruined by my hands.¡± Chen Yu patted Victor on the back a few times. ¡°I just happened to arrive at the right moment. By the way, how did you get involved with people from the Huangpu Family?¡± Victor relaxed for a moment and took out an invitation from his body. ¡°I was targeted as soon as I arrived here. The Huangpu Family is just one of them; there¡¯s a bunch of people coveting the William¡¯s family assets.¡± Chen Yu frowned, realizing that this place was essentially a den of wolves. Anyone who came here would have their skin peeled off. ¡°Old sir, let¡¯s find a place to rest properly first, and we¡¯ll talk about the rest later.¡± Victor nodded repeatedly, not daring to linger here any longer. Just as they were about to leave, Lu Dashan, who they had seen earlier, suddenly appeared nearby alongside a fierce-looking young man. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to complicate matters and, supporting Victor, headed towards the nearby inn. But just as they took a couple of steps, Lu Dashan came running over. ¡°My young master Mo heard that you have a deep understanding of antiques and would like you to take a stroll around the underground streets over there.¡± Chen Yu wanted to ignore the man and raised his hand to send him away, but to his surprise, a strong surge of electricity suddenly came from nearby. Two middle-aged men appeared behind him without his noticing, each holding a high-voltage electric baton. Mo Sanchong came over with a smile and took out a card, which he shoved into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, I mean no harm. I just want to invite you over for a drink,¡± Chen Yu glanced at the card in his hand, and a glint of recognition flashed across his eyes. ¡°Please take good care of Mr. Victor!¡± After giving the instruction, Chen Yu followed Mo Sanchong down the adjacent underground street. This place was originally a magnificent underground palace with three levels. The street they were on was just the surface level, where anyone who entered Dongming Canyon could find lodging. But getting to the two levels below was reserved for VIPs among VIPs. Chen Yu followed Mo Sanchong to the second level and immediately pulled him aside into a corner. ¡°Who exactly are you? Where did you get that card from?¡± The card Mo Sanchong had taken out was a unique VIP card from the Tong Group, one that only the very few people close to Tong Ming could obtain. Mo Sanchong looked around: ¡°Mr. Chen, I once served as Mr. Tong¡¯s private secretary. I¡¯ve been in Dongming Canyon for three years now.¡± Chen Yu was slightly taken aback. ¡°Three years? How is that possible when they say no one can enter without an invitation?¡± Mo Sanchong hurriedly pulled Chen Yu into a more secluded corner to sit down. ¡°There are several ways to enter Dongming Canyon. The invitation is just one of them. If you can obtain the special treasures needed by Dongming Canyon, you may be allowed to enter as an exception. I¡¯m a geologist by training and I found them a source of water.¡± Chen Yu had activated his system just now and scanned Mo Sanchong¡¯s brain information. Everything he said was true. After all, this is the depths of the desert, where water is the most important thing; without it, everyone in the canyon would die of thirst. ¡°So you mean, you were sent here especially under the orders of Tong Group?¡± Mo Sanchong nodded and took out a large bunch of tags from his body. ¡°I came here to look for a mysterious organization that gathers here every few years.¡± Chen Yu was aware of this, so he did not ask anything more and followed Mo Sanchong straight into the second level of the streets. This place was much more luxurious than the level above, even an ordinary stall had been lavishly decorated. ¡°Mr. Chen, this way please! Over the past few years, I¡¯ve also scraped together some ventures here, and this little shop is one of mine.¡± As soon as Chen Yu walked into the shop, he was startled; there were a large number of ancient jade artefacts on display, truly a treasure house. There were even some supreme treasures that had been missing for a thousand years. ¡°It seems you have been running your business well here. So what exactly is the matter that you urgently called me for?¡± Having scanned Mo Sanchong¡¯s brain earlier, Chen Yu knew everything. Even though he had carved out his own ventures here over the years, he had also made quite a few enemies. But since this place had no contact with the outside world, he was unable to send out any messages or call for reinforcements from outside, so he could only maintain everything he had as best as he could, while hiring people at high cost. Lu Dashan was one of the people he had hired. Unfortunately, the price he offered could only attract small fry like Lu Dashan; to find someone more capable, he would have to pay a much higher price. ¡°Mr. Chen, I previously obtained a fragment that seems to be related to the Method of Immortality. I was hoping to use it as a key to find the mysterious organization, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be stolen.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the shop across the street. ¡°They¡¯re the ones who stole it, right?¡± Mo Sanchong was somewhat surprised; he found that Chen Yu seemed to see right through him, knowing everything. ¡°That¡¯s right, it was just a bet I made with them, but I didn¡¯t expect them to take away several treasures, including the fragment.¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I understand, you want me to get those things back for you.¡± Without waiting for Mo Sanchong to speak, Chen Yu had already stood up and crossed to the other side. A middle-aged man, looking somewhat sleazy, hurried forward to greet him. ¡°Oh, dear customer, what have you taken a fancy to?¡± Chen Yu sized up the man in front of him and instantly felt a bit of disgust. The man seemed to be ill or suffering from some condition, with half of his body completely collapsed, and there were large ulcers around his waist and abdomen. Eastern Ming Canyon was built underground in the desert, and due to its geographical location, the environment was extremely harsh; it was understandable for someone to develop skin diseases over time. This man¡¯s body was covered with sores, and even his internal organs had problems. ¡°I¡¯m just looking around. I heard that you have the most valuable treasures in Eastern Ming Canyon. Could you show them to me, so I could broaden my horizons?¡± The store owner laughed heartily, generously taking out a small box from a safe next to him. A crystal-clear ink jade bead rested quietly inside, emitting a gentle glow that gave people a mysteriously comforting sensation. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Half of the Treasures Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Half of the Treasures ¡°The guest is unaware that my body has already reached the end of its strength,¡± the shopkeeper said with a hint of helplessness in his voice, which made him look very pitiful. However, Chen Yu knew that this pitiful appearance was just an act. His purpose in coming here was the pursuit of immortality, for which he had resorted to using a sinister method that exists only in legends. That was to drink the fresh blood of a young woman every day. Although this method could maintain one¡¯s youth to some extent, over time it would also cause harm to the body. Moreover, when in harmony, this man would consume a variety of messy drugs, leading to his body¡¯s extreme deterioration. Chen Yu held the ink jade bead in his hand, then took out a bank draft from his pocket and slapped it on the table. ¡°Here is ten billion, and I want half of the treasures in your shop.¡± The shopkeeper laughed uproariously as if he had heard a funny joke. ¡°The guest does not know that every single treasure here is priceless, and they are all peerless in the outside world. You think you can just offer ten billion and take away half of them? Aren¡¯t you being a bit too fanciful?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression was icy. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that in Dongming Gorge there are no fixed rules, generally, the strongest is respected. As long as I kill you, everything here can be mine.¡± The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment and instinctively stepped back several paces. ¡°This guest, some jokes should not be made lightly, as they can easily cost a person their life.¡± Chen Yu collected the bank draft he had laid on the table. ¡°Do I look like someone who jokes?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes narrowed, and the affable demeanor he had shown just moments ago had disappeared. He tapped on the counter next to him a few times, and several burly men rushed out. They were dressed in old-fashioned armor and carrying decrepit weapons, but these armors had all been specially treated and were incredibly hard. Chen Yu¡¯s face was filled with disdain, and just by taking a couple of steps forward, a blue-white light rippled around him. The next instant, the several menacing men collapsed to the ground, convulsing and unable to stand up. The shopkeeper was terrified. He had spent a lot of money on these men, and it was with their help that he managed to maintain his shop. To think that they had fallen so easily. Chen Yu did not stop his stride. He walked directly up to the shopkeeper and tapped on him lightly. A strong current instantly passed through the shopkeeper¡¯s body. However, unlike others, the shopkeeper did not collapse limply to the ground; instead he felt surprisingly refreshed. ¡°The ailment you¡¯re suffering from is not that severe; it¡¯s your own excessive worry and the search for all manner of chaotic methods of prolonging life that have led you to this state. Just now, I activated the decaying parts of your body, and it won¡¯t be long before those wounds will heal.¡± The shopkeeper became excited, never expecting that his physical ailments could still be cured in his lifetime. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Chen Yu did not answer, but instead went over to a shelf and took down a box. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. From now on, all of the items in your shop belong to me. The conditions are twenty billion and the complete cure of your ailments.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s breathing became rapid. In the past, he had sought after immortality, but in the last two years, all he wanted was to heal the wounds on his body and live a normal life. Money or no money was irrelevant to him; after all, it was impossible to sell these items through normal channels outside. If Chen Yu could take it all off his hands, he would be happy to be rid of the burden. ¡°I can give you everything here, but first you have to cure me.¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, then pulled the shopkeeper aside and pressed him into a seat. ¡°The reason your body has turned out this way is not only because of the misuse of medicine but also due to consuming raw blood! The methods of prolonging life mentioned in ancient medical texts all require the aid of specific drugs, and your indiscriminate use will only cause problems.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu controlled the electric currents in his hands, letting them flow over the man¡¯s body. The shopkeeper¡¯s previously hunched body gradually reverted to normal, and even his eyes brightened with some luster. Just then, a commotion erupted outside the door, and Mo Sanchong, somehow, got trapped by a group of people at the entrance. ¡°The other day you called me over to guard the house, and it seems you haven¡¯t settled that bill yet. Hurry up and pay up, or I¡¯ll trash your shop.¡± ¡°You still owe me for bodyguard services from a year ago, and if you don¡¯t pay up today, I¡¯m going to take you down.¡± ¡­ A large group of people surrounded the place, all seemingly there to collect money, leaving Mo Sanchong at a loss. Chen Yu frowned, feeling a bit puzzled. Mo Sanchong ran such a large shop; could it really be that he couldn¡¯t cover the cost of bodyguard fees? ¡°Hey, how much does he owe you? I¡¯ll pay!¡± Chen Yu stepped forward, taking out a promissory note from his person. But these thugs sneered at it. ¡°Around here, we only deal in Gold and goods; your money is worthless here.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; outside, promissory notes are not something an ordinary person could afford, yet here, they were as useless as dirt. Mo Sanchong sighed helplessly. ¡°Mr. Chen, if you want to stay here for a long time, you can¡¯t do without a reserve of Gold.¡± Chen Yu sighed, feeling helpless. He had come in such haste; how could he possibly have brought Gold with him? Moreover, when he had looked around Mo Sanchong¡¯s shop, aside from some Western treasures, there wasn¡¯t a single item containing Gold. ¡°Can his debt to you be deferred for three days?¡± No sooner had Chen Yu spoken than the crowd burst into laughter. ¡°Kid, he¡¯s been owing us for a long time, and today¡¯s the final deadline. You still want to delay for three days? It looks like you¡¯re tired of living!¡± One of the men was about to advance, wielding a large sabre. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and directly pulled out the Token of the Knights of the Round Table. The moment he revealed the Token, those few froze in place, one of them even dropping to his knees on the ground. ¡°Are you a Knight of the Round Table?¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected this object to be even more effective than Gold in this place. ¡°Correct. Can I defer the payment for three days with this thing?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± one of the men stepped forward respectfully. ¡°Not just three days, even three months will do! Additionally, if you require protection while here, you can come directly to us, and we won¡¯t charge you half a gram of Gold.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, merely nodding his head before letting them go. Mo Sanchong immediately breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, Chen Yu was present, otherwise his shop might not have been spared today. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 397 Robots Chapter 397: Chapter 397 Robots Chen Yu pocketed the token and pulled Mo Sanchong back to the shop. Now, it seemed that the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s token had a very strong circulation here; no matter who it was, they would recognize this small badge. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, sat down on the side, and casually poured himself a cup of tea. He still didn¡¯t understand the rules here very well, and for now, he could only move about this place with the token he had on hand. ¡°Where can we get Gold?¡± Mo Sanchong sighed helplessly. ¡°All the gold here has already been monopolized by the three major forces, and to get it, you must gamble with them.¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrows, ¡°You can sign life or death matches here? What¡¯s included?¡± Mo Sanchong cast a wary glance at the door, then leaned in close to Chen Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°Gambling with your life! It¡¯s in the arena three levels down.¡± Chen Yu instantly became interested; the content of the gambling agreement in Dongming Canyon was indeed different from the outside. But he was curious, what exactly was this so-called ¡°gambling with your life¡±? ¡°Take me to see it!¡± Mo Sanchong couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so bold. ¡°Mr. Chen, you should think this through. That place isn¡¯t for just anyone; many have lost their lives there.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, and he dragged Mo Sanchong out the door. In a way, the second level of Dongming Canyon was like a well-constructed commercial center. It was filled with a strong commercial element, only cruder compared to the outside. The people here seemed to have quick tempers, frequently breaking into fights. In just a few minutes, Chen Yu saw no less than ten shops getting smashed. The shops that were destroyed were all dealing in high-end products, hot commodities no matter where they were. But here, they were treated like trash, worthless. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay much attention; he just sighed and followed Mo Sanchong to the third level. When he arrived, he was stunned by everything before him. It was as if this place was a world from the future, filled with a sci-fi ambiance. Many electronic dogs walked on the streets, and looking around, there were service robots everywhere. Chen Yu was momentarily dumbstruck. [Interference device detected] [Photon transmission device detected] [Ion weapon detected] ¡­ A flood of alarms simultaneously appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. These things, which were still experimental and hadn¡¯t reached a practical state in any country, were actually being employed here. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s just ahead.¡± Mo Sanchong urged him on and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. Chen Yu coughed twice, easing the shock in his heart, and followed. After a short walk down the street, the two reached a very grand-looking gate. Two highly advanced intelligent robots stood at the gate, continuously scanning Chen Yu¡¯s body. Mo Sanchong quickly took out a metal badge from his body and placed it inside the chest of one of the robots. ¡°Identity verification, proceed!¡± Mo Sanchong didn¡¯t dare to linger and immediately dragged Chen Yu into the area. The decor of this place was entirely different from anywhere else, with not only a futuristic sci-fi feel but also a touch of classical elegance. Walking along a narrow corridor for quite some time, the two finally arrived at a vast hall. A burly man immediately blocked their way. ¡°Where¡¯s your invitation? Show it.¡± Mo Sanchong quickly handed over the iron Token he had just received. Chen Yu also subconsciously took out the purple-red Token he had been given when he first arrived at Dongming Gorge. The man suddenly became furious and grabbed Chen Yu by the shoulder. ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t have our exclusive identity Token; he must pay twenty taels of Gold.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly; he had thought the purple-red Token in his hand was a universal identity card. Since it was someone else¡¯s territory, Chen Yu didn¡¯t have much to say and could only start searching through his belongings. In today¡¯s world, aside from wealthy landowners and those who liked to show off, who would carry so much Gold with them on the street? Mo Sanchong felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Big brother, I come here often, and I¡¯ve never heard that one must pay twenty taels of Gold for an identity Token. Besides, my friend here is just an ordinary spectator; he could just find a place to sit down.¡± But the big man was unrelenting and took a number plaque from the side and hung it around Chen Yu¡¯s neck. ¡°What you¡¯re talking about is ancient history. Now, if you want to go in, you must bring twenty taels of Gold, and that¡¯s the lowest tier! Otherwise, you can only enter as a contestant.¡± Mo Sanchong was about to say something, but Chen Yu stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve been a contestant before. By the way, is there any reward if I win?¡± The burly man laughed loudly and looked at Chen Yu up and down with a disdainful glance. ¡°With those skinny arms and legs of yours, you¡¯d probably not even be able to wear the external battle armor.¡± After mocking him, the man handed a slip to Chen Yu. ¡°Anyone who wins on the stage will get ten taels of Gold as a prize. If you lose but are still breathing, you¡¯ll get one tael of Gold. If you die, you get nothing.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, took the slip, and walked straight into the hall. Mo Sanchong didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly followed. The two passed through the long corridor and reached a waiting area. About a dozen people were sitting on the benches nearby. These men were all huge, some with muscles so bulging it was hard to look directly at them. But these men all had one thing in common: they were covered with dense scars, and some were even handicapped. When these guys saw Chen Yu, there was a hint of mockery in their eyes. Anyone who came here to compete was either strong or had experienced boxing matches before. Like Chen Yu, who was as skinny as a monkey, there were very few who came here to compete. ¡°Kid, to risk your life for twenty taels of Gold is not worth it. Better head back now, or you might end up a pile of mush.¡± A muscular man suddenly approached Chen Yu and grabbed his shoulder. The force gradually increased, as if he intended to crush Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. The corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and he suddenly grabbed the man¡¯s arm and squeezed it hard. With a series of crackling sounds of bones breaking, Zhou Ran¡¯s body instantly collapsed on the ground, and his arm went limp as if the bones had been removed. ¡°Twenty taels of Gold? That¡¯s nothing. My goal is to win everything here and bankrupt the place.¡± Everyone present stared at Chen Yu with a look of terror, no longer daring to utter a word, with two people even falling off their chairs, lying collapsed on the ground. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Ten Consecutive Hits Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Ten Consecutive Hits ¡°Where is number 183?¡± The sudden voice startled everyone, and then they looked at the number plates of the people around them. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything, just slowly stood up, and even walked to the entrance. The person who had just shouted took a glance at the number plate on Chen Yu¡¯s chest, made a quick note, and then pointed to a warehouse nearby. ¡°Go there and put on a suit of armor!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about anything else and walked straight into the warehouse. This place seemed to be seldom managed, with dust everywhere, all kinds of armor scattered on the ground, as well as some strange human tactical skeletons. These things were made exactly according to the human body and carried various weapons; wearing them was like having an extra layer of protection. The only problem was their weight, which ordinary people could hardly bear. Chen Yu just glanced once and then turned around, heading straight for the ring. He didn¡¯t need any of those things. When Chen Yu stood on the ring, the place fell silent all of a sudden, all eyes focused on him. ¡°My God, is this kid here to die? He¡¯s not even wearing basic armor.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone tell him that if he dies, he doesn¡¯t get paid?¡± ¡°I heard that this one is a new type of robot just developed; under these circumstances, a single punch could turn this kid into a mush.¡± ¡­ People whispered among themselves; almost everyone was pessimistic about Chen Yu¡¯s chances. The next moment, a five-meter-tall behemoth of a steel robot was thrown onto the ring. Whoever hosted this ring match must have been out of their mind to come up with such a twisted kind of competition. Human physical abilities were limited and could never outmatch machines; even with armor and external tactical skeletons for protection, facing such a robot meant certain death. Chen Yu, however, appeared calm and composed, looked up at the robot in front of him, and walked slowly towards it. Not far away, the referee took out a microphone. ¡°Contestant, you have one minute before the match starts; you can still go back and put on a piece of simple armor.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of indifference, ¡°Let¡¯s start now, I don¡¯t need so much preparation work.¡± The words provoked a lot of wide-eyed stares from the audience. The competition had been held for who knows how many years, and they had never seen someone so gutsy, daring to face off against such a huge robot without any protective gear. The referee was stunned for a moment, then a fierce gleam flashed in his eyes. For him, the lives of the contestants were not important; what was important was whether the audience was excited, whether they would pay for the match. ¡°Good, the match begins!¡± At the command, the huge robot suddenly moved, its massive steel fist smashing down with ferocious force. The powerful gust of wind distorted the very air. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, staring hard at the ring, as if anticipating a scene of flesh and blood flying. But the next moment, everyone was dumbstruck. Chen Yu, with his flesh and bones, caught the steel fist steadily. Before they could react, he performed a dominating shoulder throw, smashing the robot onto the ring, creating a large crater. The place was dead silent; nobody had expected an ordinary person to burst out with such immense strength. Yet Chen Yu¡¯s vision was a bit dark; that last move had consumed too much of his strength, almost not recovering in time. In fact, when the match had started, the system had decoded the inside structure of the robot by analyzing its capabilities, shutting down all of its weapon systems and the braking system. Chen Yu took the opportunity at that instant to slam the big fellow onto the arena. After a slight pause, he directly grabbed the cover behind the robot, yanked it off fiercely, and disconnected the wires and remote braking system inside. The automatic judgment system in the arena immediately announced the result. ¡°My God! That seems to be the first human to win since the competition started.¡± ¡°In the past, at best someone could withstand the robot¡¯s attacks without dying, taking away a gold or two, but today someone is going to break that record.¡± ¡­ Under the astonished gazes of the audience, the referee, holding ten gold, respectfully approached and handed them to Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, you must be a newcomer, I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± Chen Yu nodded slightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t have the money to come as a spectator, so I had to join as a contestant.¡± The referee was stunned for a moment, laughed twice, and then pulled out a barcode from his pocket and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°Want to win some more gold?¡± Chen Yu put away the twenty gold, ¡°No one thinks money is too much, of course, I want to win more.¡± The referee immediately got excited. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our contestant wants to continue the challenge. If he can consecutively beat ten robots, he will win one thousand gold.¡± The venue fell silent for a moment, then erupted into frantic cheers. Since the competitions were established here, no one had dared to make such a challenge. It was undoubtedly a death wish. But such a competition fully aroused the passion of everyone present. Chen Yu took the microphone from the host¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s the fun in such a competition? In my opinion, why not have ten robots come at me all at once?¡± The moment he said that, the atmosphere at the scene escalated a notch further. The host was also frightened; he had never encountered such a situation before. Just then, a lady hurried over and whispered a few words in the host¡¯s ear. The host coughed twice. ¡°Please welcome the strongest ten robots in our venue to the stage.¡± As the words fell, he immediately jumped off the arena, followed by a thunderous roaring noise throughout the venue. Ten fully armed robots strode grandly out from the adjacent passage. The weapons on these guys were very advanced, taking any one of them out could cause a huge sensation. Chen Yu still appeared indifferent. He walked forward a few steps and gently tapped with his finger. An imperceptible blue-white glow instantly spread out, enveloping the robots. Following the host¡¯s command, Chen Yu dashed forward like lightning. Before the crowd could react, the robots had already fallen to the ground, sparking flames. The highly excited audience was stunned in place; they had come to see a thrilling fight but didn¡¯t expect it to be over so quickly. The host too was wide-eyed, as he didn¡¯t expect Chen Yu to defeat ten robots in such a short amount of time. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and then approached the host. ¡°For something like this, I should receive at least five thousand gold, right?¡± The host swallowed hard, not daring to agree on the spot, and after uttering some polite words to the audience, he hastily led Chen Yu backstage. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Fifty Thousand Promissory Note Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Fifty Thousand Promissory Note In an opulent office, a middle-aged fat man with a large head and ears leisurely puffed on a cigar while lounging on a sofa. Several burly men had thoroughly searched Chen Yu the moment he entered the door. ¡°Can you tell me exactly what method you used?¡± The middle-aged man squinted his eyes, piercingly fixating on Chen Yu with a strange gaze. At first, he suspected Chen Yu might have carried some device that caused the robot to lose power. Although he had dismissed that notion, his astonishment had only deepened. A mere ordinary person had dismantled ten robots in such a short span of time; it was something utterly impossible. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much, simply taking a seat on a sofa nearby and casually pouring himself a glass of wine. ¡°To be honest, I came here solely to ask you for some gold,¡±As for fighting in the arena, that was just incidental.¡± Chen Yu lifted his glass and at the same time, set the Token of the Knights of the Round Table on the table. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened, and ash from his cigar fell onto the floor. ¡°Sir, are you with the Knights of the Round Table?¡± Chen Yu leaned on the sofa, ¡°Prepare ten thousand taels of gold for me right away.¡± The tone of that order would have gotten anyone else killed already. Yet the middle-aged man dared not show the slightest negligence, immediately instructing his subordinates to carry out the order while also displaying some of his cherished jewelry. ¡°Sir, these are gifts for our first meeting. If you need anything else, I¡¯ll have someone take care of it immediately.¡± Chen Yu said nothing more, just downing the wine in his glass in one gulp. Before long, a pure gold note was laid out on the table. ¡°Such notes are considered solid currency in Dongming Canyon online; this one has a value of fifty thousand taels. If that¡¯s not enough, just give me a signal, and I¡¯ll bring more to you.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; fifty thousand taels of gold converted to wealth was quite a significant amount outside. Even within Dongming Canyon, it could exchange for many supplies. ¡°Thank you!¡± Chen Yu did not say much else, packing up the items on the table and picking up the gold note before leaving with style. Only after he left did the middle-aged man finally breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Immediately investigate where this gentleman is staying, and find a way to contact the Knights of the Round Table to ask if they have recently added any new members.¡± His subordinates didn¡¯t dare delay and promptly set about their tasks. Mo Sanchong had already been anxiously waiting outside the door. The events that had unfolded on the stage had scared him terribly; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to so easily defeat that many robots. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re finally out; I was worried sick just now.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak, simply grabbing Mo Sanchong¡¯s arm and quickly departing. Only after walking out of the underground third level did he breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the boss to be so generous, giving me fifty thousand taels of gold right off the bat, enough for us to spend quite comfortably for a while.¡± Mo Sanchong¡¯s eyes shone brightly; he had been around for so long and yet had never seen a fifty-thousand-tael gold note. ¡°Mr. Chen, with this gold, we can live comfortably here for quite some time. Should we go purchase some essential supplies first?¡± Chen Yu nodded; he didn¡¯t know how long he would have to wait for the so-called grand meeting in Dongming Canyon, so it made sense to stock up on some supplies first. The two didn¡¯t linger here, for carrying so much gold made them easy targets for others¡¯ envy. When they returned to the first floor, they suddenly discovered a large crowd gathered around the entrance of the nearby inn. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning and rushed over quickly. Jin Lingsu, wielding a pair of golden spikes, was duking it out with an extremely ugly middle-aged man. The two went back and forth, evenly matched. Just as they were locked in an inseparable battle, Chen Yu suddenly charged out and grabbed the man¡¯s arm. ¡°What in the world is going on?¡± The domineering voice startled everyone present. Jin Lingsu also sighed with relief. ¡°This guy came out of nowhere, claiming he had once been Victor¡¯s bodyguard and demanding what he called a ¡®bodyguard fee¡¯ of five hundred taels of gold.¡± The middle-aged man glared furiously, trying to break free, but found Chen Yu¡¯s grip was like iron tongs, firmly clasping his arm. ¡°That¡¯s the going rate in Dongming Canyon. If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t hire a bodyguard.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; he knew gold was the hard currency here. When Victor had fallen on hard times before, there hadn¡¯t been a single bodyguard by his side. Where did this guy come from? Victor emerged from the building, looking somewhat helpless. ¡°On my first day in Dongming Canyon, this fellow clung to me refusing to leave, insisting on being my bodyguard. But I never agreed to it.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood that there were indeed many such people in Dongming Canyon. They made a living by forcibly insisting on being someone¡¯s bodyguard to earn gold. These guys were the worst. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries, directly using force to shatter the bones in the man¡¯s arm. Immediately, chaos erupted, since many here made their livelihood as bodyguards. Now someone had failed to get paid and was beaten to this state, totally shattering their unwritten rules. Just as the group prepared to step forward and demand an explanation from Chen Yu, he pulled out the Knights of the Round Table Token. ¡°Starting today, every single one of you, if anyone dares to come within half a step of this place, I will take their life.¡± These people had made their way in Dongming Canyon and naturally were somewhat knowledgeable, with quite a few recognizing the Token. They didn¡¯t dare make the slightest false move, scattering like quails. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and directly pulled Victor into the shop. ¡°Why have you come back in? I¡¯ve already told you, if you stay in my inn, you must pay with gold. If you don¡¯t have any, please go somewhere else.¡± The innkeeper, along with a few workers, blocked their way, two of them wielding large sticks. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain as he once again lifted the Knights of the Round Table Token. The innkeeper was startled. ¡°Oh, if you have this Token, why didn¡¯t you show it earlier? Please, head upstairs.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t move immediately but instead took out that gold note. ¡°I¡¯m new here and still don¡¯t know how to use this. Could you deduct the cost of the room and return the rest to me?¡± The innkeeper¡¯s face showed amazement, seeing such a high-value gold note for the first time. ¡°How could I accept money from a Knight of the Round Table staying at my inn? Whatever you need, the establishment can provide. Please settle in with ease.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 400: Scorpion Man Chapter 400: Chapter 400: Scorpion Man Chen Yu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and had the proprietor change to the best room while also setting a table with top-grade food and drink. He hadn¡¯t actually had a proper meal since arriving here, but just as everyone was about to sit down and eat, a few noisy sounds suddenly erupted from outside. An extremely ugly man was rolling on the ground outside the inn, with many scorpion-like bugs continually burrowing out from inside his body. The diners inside were terrified and hastily ran out from their rooms, some even wielding flamethrowers intending to kill the scorpions. However, the proprietor hurried out and stopped everyone. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him, he¡¯ll be gone in two hours,¡± he exclaimed. About half of the guests were completely baffled. How could they let such a filthy man, covered in bugs, lie there and not worry about it affecting business? Yet there was still a considerable number of patrons who seemed unfazed by the sight and continued to eat and drink to their own content. When Chen Yu heard the commotion, he too stepped out, and his brows furrowed when he saw the man lying at the entrance. This kind of person, he had seen before in the laboratories of the Knights of the Round Table. It began with altering certain genetic components within the body and then introducing specific bugs that would completely transform the human body. Most of these test subjects were volunteers, primarily bodyguards from the families of the Knights of the Round Table members. These individuals were utterly devoted to their masters, would do anything asked of them, and unafraid to sacrifice their lives; hence, they were the ideal specimens for experiments. Fortunately, the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s technology was quite advanced, and those who participated in the experiments had never suffered any accidents; moreover, they each acquired varying degrees of supernatural powers. Chen Yu casually flipped the Token in his hand and walked straight over. As soon as the ugly man saw Chen Yu, he immediately leaped up from the ground and bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Chen, I was sent especially to welcome you upon hearing of your arrival,¡± he said. Chen Yu rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for quite some time, and I¡¯ve even fought in a tournament! Are you really that slow to react?¡± he asked. The man¡¯s expression did not change as he pulled out a specially made iron plate from his possession. ¡°This object is to be used in conjunction with the purple-red identity plate in your hand. Here, you can do as you wish with it,¡± he informed. Chen Yu took the plate directly without a word of thanks. ¡°Are there any other special items?¡± he asked. The man was initially stunned, then quickly produced a ticket from his person. ¡°The plate you have is already a pass for this place. Additionally, this is from Mr. Fox. He requests that you visit the underground antiques street on the third level at two o¡¯clock in the afternoon.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. The expanse of Dongming Canyon was so limited; how could they have set aside an entire street just for antique dealings? Before he could inquire further, the man had already turned and left, with the scattered scorpions also dissipating along with him. The inn¡¯s patrons breathed a sigh of relief; they had never witnessed such a scene. Chen Yu glanced at the invitation in his hand and then turned to go back to his room. He didn¡¯t have the slightest bit of fondness for the Knights of the Round Table right now, in fact quite the opposite; he felt disdain, and he didn¡¯t even want to attend the event they had invited him to. Hardly had Chen Yu sat down when Victor immediately leaned over from across the table. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to receive such treatment upon your arrival in Dongming Canyon. That antiques street is incredibly special here, and many desire to visit but can¡¯t,¡± he said, envy clearly etched on his face as he pulled out several photos. Victor had done extensive research on Dongming Canyon upon his arrival, including on that antiques street. It was said that everything sold there comprised treasures lost over centuries. It was rumored that some items sold there couldn¡¯t be found anywhere else in the outside world. Chen Yu¡¯s interest was immediately piqued; since he was free anyway, he might as well go have a look. Jin Lingsu also got excited and hastily came up to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°There¡¯s such a great place? Take me with you; maybe I can find some hidden gems!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just put the invitation aside and started eating. At two in the afternoon, Chen Yu took Jin Lingsu with him to the antique street. The so-called antique street was actually a warehouse on a corner three levels underground. This place was very secluded and even somewhat dilapidated; it would be completely missed if one didn¡¯t look carefully. When Chen Yu arrived, he was a bit frustrated by everything he saw. He had thought that an antique street would typically be splendid and elaborate, even displaying a large number of old items as decorations at the entrance. But this place had none of that; the arch marking the entrance was extremely rundown. Chen Yu frowned and slowly walked in. Jin Lingsu coughed twice, ¡°What kind of dump is this? How could there be any treasures in such a place?¡± Chen Yu looked around and walked over to a small stall. All the stalls here basically looked the same, all could be described as dirty, messy, and poor. Each stall displayed items that were genuine antiques. Just as Chen Yu crouched down and picked up a vase, a middle-aged man rushed over, snatched the vase away. ¡°Kid, where are you from? Don¡¯t you know there¡¯s a first-come, first-served rule? I¡¯ve already reserved this vase, I¡¯ve even paid the deposit, what are you blindly looking at here?¡± The man was extremely aggressive, not only taking the vase but also about to get physical. As he raised his hand, a golden spike pierced straight through his arm. A shrill scream instantly filled the air as the man staggered back several steps, leaning against a nearby concrete block. Jin Lingsu unceremoniously yanked out the golden spike, bringing with it a spray of blood. The man screamed a few times, and then a large number of figures appeared nearby. These people were all burly, each one holding a machete in their hands. ¡°You motherfuckers actually dare to lay hands on me, do you know who I am? Believe it or not, I can make it so you¡¯ll never leave this antique street!¡± As his words fell, a group of men charged forward. But just as they were about to start swinging, Chen Yu directly took out the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s token. The gang immediately stopped in their tracks, trembling. Even two of them collapsed onto the ground. ¡°Knights of the Round Table!¡± It was unclear who shouted, but the people surrounding them all looked over. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about any of that and walked directly up to the middle-aged man who had taken the vase, grabbing it from his hands. ¡°Tang dynasty tri-colored pottery from the Wu De era, if this were on the outside, it¡¯d start at least at three hundred million. You do have a good eye, but I also like this piece. How about you let me have it?¡± The middle-aged man had already been scared out of his wits and didn¡¯t dare say a word, and he even took out a promissory note from his pocket. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Brass Cat Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Brass Cat ¡°Big Brother, this is the receipt for the vase purchase, and now it¡¯s yours.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, taking the receipt directly from the middle-aged man¡¯s hand, he found that it was indeed the purchase receipt for the Tang Sancai. This thing was made to look quite authentic, acting as an identity card for the vase. It seemed the rules of Dongming Canyon were more numerous than he had imagined. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth suddenly curled into a strange arc as he grabbed the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Since the receipt is given to me, and you paid the deposit, shouldn¡¯t you also help me pay the rest?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, he had not expected Chen Yu to be so overbearing, wasn¡¯t this just like a robbery? But after all, the man was one of the Knights of the Round Table, so he didn¡¯t dare to show the slightest neglect. Hurriedly, he pulled out a gold note and presented it to the stall owner. The stall owner, all smiles, took out a specially made receipt and handed it to Chen Yu. This matched perfectly with the vase receipt the middle-aged man had produced, forming a system. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but be amazed; no wonder the stall owner wasn¡¯t the least bit flustered during the earlier argument. As long as he held that part of the receipt in his hand, the vase would not be able to be traded again. Chen Yu tossed the middle-aged man aside like trash and squatted down in front of the stall, wanting to pick a couple more treasures. But the stall owner seemed a bit dishonest, and besides the Tang Sancai and a few decent pieces of porcelain, the rest were all samples. Chen Yu immediately lost interest. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed an elderly man sitting to one side, crying his eyes out. ¡°There¡¯s not a single good person in the antique world of Dongming Canyon! This is clearly a priceless treasure, yet you all claim it¡¯s worthless!¡± A few stall owners stood by helplessly, continuously trying to calm him down. But the old man was like a child, sobbing ceaselessly and cursing all the stall owners in the vicinity. Chen Yu¡¯s interest was piqued, and he walked over. He saw that the old man was holding a brass cat. The object was made entirely of brass. The patterns on its body weren¡¯t particularly remarkable, but the eyes of the cat shone with an eerie, sea-blue glow. ¡°Old man, this is just a small brass cat, we¡¯ve already offered a very fair price,¡± said one of the stall owners. ¡°Yeah, once you leave Dongming Square, you might not even get this price for it,¡± added another. ¡°The only thing valuable about this brass cat are those eyes, the rest is just a pile of scrap metal. Even if you melt it down, no one would want it.¡± ¡­ The stall owners, one after another, spoke their pieces, trampling the brass cat into the mud. The surrounding crowd also heckled, calling the old man unappreciative. Chen Yu frowned, touched by the old man¡¯s heart-wrenching sobs, which would move anyone to pity. The system¡¯s light immediately covered the brass cat to analyze it. Before long, all of its components appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. This wasn¡¯t any brass cat, but a gold cat of the purest quality. Moreover, the cat was assembled from many individual sections. Each part contained a gemstone of incalculable value. The outer layer of brass was just to fuse these sections together. Chen Yu inhaled sharply. He had thought that those who could come to Dongming Canyon were the best of this world. To these people, antiques were just playthings, which they should be able to appraise at a glance. The brass cat was made so exquisitely, especially the layer of brass plating on the outside that was perfectly hidden. Chen Yu directly stepped forward and grabbed the brass cat. ¡°Such a treasure being treated as junk, it¡¯s really a pity.¡± It was as though they had heard the biggest joke in the world as they burst into roaring laughter, in their eyes, Chen Yu was nothing more than a bumpkin. ¡°Brother, what kind of eyes do you have? Can¡¯t you see this is just a little copper cat?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay them any mind and picked up the brass cat to inspect it thoroughly. ¡°Old man, how much do you want to sell this for?¡± The old man¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°One hundred taels of Gold will suffice.¡± Chen Yu immediately faced a dilemma, he was unclear about the monetary system of the Dongming Canyon and didn¡¯t know the purchasing power of one hundred taels of Gold. ¡°Fellow shop owners, how much do you plan to offer?¡± At those words, the stallholders laughed even harder. ¡°Kid, I advise you to just leave. It¡¯s nothing but a pile of scrap copper, useless to buy. We are only willing to offer at most sixty taels of Gold just because of the pair of Cat¡¯s Eye Gemstones!¡± Chen Yu had a figure in mind and immediately took out a banknote worth fifty thousand taels of Gold. ¡°I¡¯ll offer five hundred taels of Gold, but this banknote I have on me is far too large a denomination, I wonder who could help me break it down.¡± The stallholders present suddenly widened their eyes, a banknote of such a large denomination itself was worth over fifty thousand taels of Gold. ¡°I can!¡± One of the stallholders dashed over, holding an iron box in his hands. As soon as he opened it, the box full of Gold shone a dazzling light. ¡°I have four banknotes each worth ten thousand taels of Gold here, and the rest are assorted small pieces of Gold and smaller banknotes, I wonder if that would be acceptable to you?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother to check in detail and swiftly counted the amount of Gold before handing over his banknote. He then took out five hundred taels of Gold from the iron box and gave it to the old man. Upon receiving the Gold, the old man was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly before finally leaving. The crowd watching began to mock and sneer, in their view, Chen Yu had just suffered a big loss. With five hundred taels of Gold, one could melt and cast a golden cat¡¯s size bigger than that of the brass one. Amidst the crowd¡¯s laughter, Chen Yu suddenly slammed the brass cat onto the ground. Before they could react, the brass cat shattered into pieces. Encased within its body of pure Gold were scattered over a dozen true odd gemstones of various colors. The onlookers became unsettled, especially the previous stall owners who crowded around. ¡°My heavens, the brass was merely a facade, inside was a completely different world.¡± ¡°All these items together are worth at least twenty thousand taels of Gold.¡± ¡°This brother is impressive, turning five hundred taels of Gold into twenty thousand in an instant.¡± Everyone became excessively excited, with some even grabbing hold of Chen Yu¡¯s hand, wanting to purchase the gemstones on the spot. Chen Yu remained silent and busied himself with gathering the items. Here, all these items together might fetch twenty thousand taels of Gold, but outside, their value would be far beyond this amount. Just one of the purple gemstones alone, could sell for over a billion at any auction house out there. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 402 Heavenly Master Long Tian Chapter 402: Chapter 402 Heavenly Master Long Tian Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes were full of envy; she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to stumble upon such a windfall upon his arrival. Just as she was about to step forward and help Chen Yu gather the gemstone, she suddenly became aware of several hostile gazes fixed on their location. Jin Lingsu was instantly alert and grabbed the golden spike at her waist. Chen Yu suddenly stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s better not to start a fight in a place like this, I haven¡¯t figured out the specific rules here yet,¡± Jin Lingsu sighed heavily. She hadn¡¯t been about to act, and it seemed like there had been no issue. As they were collecting the gemstone, a figure suddenly appeared before them. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve finally arrived,¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, not having expected Fox to have already arrived here. ¡°Mr. Fox, long time no see!¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fox grabbed Chen Yu by the arm and pulled him into an alleyway. The place seemed to be just a dark, damp alley, but a few steps in revealed a whole new world. Descending a highly concealed staircase, they came upon an exceptionally vast space. Dongming Canyon actually had a fourth underground layer. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing quickened; he had previously scanned the area with his system and had only acquired a three-dimensional map of up to the third layer, having not detected the fourth layer. It seemed this place must be protected by some special magnetic field. Chen Yu subconsciously activated the system¡¯s scanning function, covering the entire fourth layer. [System alert, ionic energy magnetic field detected, unable to perform comprehensive scan] Chen Yu narrowed his eyes; it seemed this place was much more formidable than he had imagined. Before long, Fox brought Chen Yu to a great hall. Compared to the ramshackle scenery outside, this place was far more luxurious. Moreover, there was a large group of people whom Chen Yu had never seen before. They must now be from different organizations; besides the Knights of the Round Table, there were at least four other organizations. These people all wore the unique insignia of their respective organizations and communicated with each other in very niche languages. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly and found an empty seat to sit down. ¡°This must be your Knights of the Round Table¡¯s new member, isn¡¯t he too young? What merits and abilities does he have to join you all?¡± An old man of over ninety glared intensely at Chen Yu, his eyes full of resentment. Chen Yu was slightly confused; he was sure he had never seen this old man before, so why the animosity towards him? Fox let out a hearty laugh and sat down beside Chen Yu. ¡°This young fellow here is a rare genius. He has made significant achievements in the field of biological science,¡± The faces of everyone present changed at once, and a few even stood up immediately. Although these people were not from the Knights of the Round Table, they shared a common goal: the pursuit of immortality. The ordinary words ¡°biological science¡± suddenly became synonymous with immortality when spoken by Fox. Moreover, Chen Yu¡¯s recognition by the Knights of the Round Table at such a young age indicated a potential link to immortality. Two of the elderly men, on the verge of death, promptly had their assistants hand their business cards to Chen Yu. Chen Yu did not say much and simply poured himself a glass of wine. Fox placed a distinctive wooden box on the table. ¡°There are only two days left until the auction, if we want to get that item, we must make thorough preparations, and we can only cooperate.¡± Those present all nodded in agreement, and several people also took out identical wooden boxes. Eventually, five boxes were simultaneously placed on the table. When these boxes were opened, five uniquely shaped bronze keys strikingly appeared. ¡°Now, we have five keys in our hands, and the Xuanqing Sect has three. We have the numerical advantage, which greatly increases our chances of obtaining that item.¡± Everyone nodded and promptly signed a covenant. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing; it was the first time he had heard the name Xuanqing Sect. It was an organization, and moreover, one belonging to the East. Just then, a middle-aged man rushed in hurriedly. ¡°Mr. Fox, the item we prepared to auction off has been stolen.¡± Fox abruptly stood up: ¡°In this Eastern Valley, someone dares to disrespect the Knights of the Round Table.¡± He motioned to a few bodyguards nearby; these men charged out immediately. The expression on everyone¡¯s face at the scene became odd. The Eastern Valley was essentially a secret base jointly established by these top world organizations. In other words, it was like their backyard, where they could do as they pleased. Now someone dared to rob their goods. Yet Chen Yu seemed indifferent, leisurely sitting there drinking wine, and even casually poured a cup for Jin Lingsu. The two of them quickly attracted the attention of the people nearby. An oddly muscular old man suddenly stood up, holding a cane and walked up to them. ¡°You two, now that we are all in the same boat and our goods have been stolen, we all suffer a significant loss of interest. Yet you two sit here as if nothing has happened, isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± Chen Yu spread his hands: ¡°Please tell me, what should we do now?¡± This question seemed to stump the old man. It appeared that aside from waiting, there was nothing they could do. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, yet the old man still stood with his cane, wanting to reprimand Chen Yu. ¡°What a lively scene!¡± A leisurely voice suddenly came from the entrance, as a mystical old man slowly walked over. This old man was different from the others; at least the aura he emitted was incomparable to theirs. Fear filled Fox¡¯s eyes. ¡°Heavenly Master Long Tian? How did you come here?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian laughed heartily, and even suddenly became ethereal, appearing in front of Chen Yu the next moment. ¡°If you all can be here, why can¡¯t I be here?¡± As he spoke, Heavenly Master Long Tian stared intently at Chen Yu, continuously radiating an inexplicable aura. Chen Yu also looked at him warily and attempted to scan the Heavenly Master¡¯s brain information through the system. But it seemed as if the Heavenly Master¡¯s brain had set up some kind of protection, making it impossible for the system to scan. ¡°Young man, you and I have quite the fate, judging by your seat, you must be with the Knights of the Round Table. This organization is too boring, why not come with me and become a Heavenly Master instead?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he had not expected the Heavenly Master to poach members so brazenly in front of the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Heavenly Master, you are going too far, picking on us, the Knights of the Round Table! The young man is our most important knight, and you think you can take him away just like that, that¡¯s wishful thinking.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 403 Cooperation Relationship Chapter 403: Chapter 403 Cooperation Relationship Chen Yu¡¯s eyes sparkled with an unusual light, and he felt a genuine connection with this Heavenly Master Long Tian. ¡°Thank you for your high regard, Senior Heavenly Master, but I am already a Knight of the Round Table. Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit improper to join another organization?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian nonchalantly picked up the tea beside him and drank it all in one gulp. ¡°Rules are made by people; if they¡¯re not suitable, we can change them. Besides, the Xuanqing Sect has no strict rule that requires you to leave your current organization to join us.¡± Chen Yu had not expected the Xuanqing Sect to be so accommodating. For a moment, he was truly tempted. Fox stood up at once, casting a warning glance at Heavenly Master Long Tian. ¡°Senior Heavenly Master, I¡¯m still here. Please mind what you say.¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian could not care less, as he took out a small porcelain bottle from his person. ¡°The artifact of immortality you want is with me! I think there¡¯s no need to auction it off. I could hand it over to you, but my condition is that I take this young man with me.¡± All present widened their eyes in astonishment. They had not anticipated that Heavenly Master Long Tian would yield the artifact of immortality so easily, and his only condition was taking Chen Yu with him. Fox, on the other hand, was brimming with joy. When Chen Yu had joined, what he valued most was Chen Yu¡¯s ability to extend one¡¯s lifespan by ten years. If they got their hands on the artifact of immortality, Chen Yu would lose his value to them. Yet, to let Chen Yu go so easily would make them, the Knights of the Round Table, seem inconsiderate. ¡°Heavenly Master Long Tian, some matters have to be dealt with according to the rules. I say let¡¯s put it up for bidding at the auction. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re short of a few bucks.¡± With a chuckle, Heavenly Master Long Tian tucked the porcelain bottle away and turned to leave. As he reached the door, he looked back at Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, I¡¯ll wait for your decision back home.¡± Chen Yu said nothing, just leaned back and looked at the Token of the Knights of the Round Table in his hands. From Fox¡¯s tone just now, he understood that he wouldn¡¯t be a knight for much longer. After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, Chen Yu stood up. ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived here and haven¡¯t had the chance to rest properly, so I won¡¯t stay any longer. Please excuse me.¡± His voice was devoid of emotion, and even Fox was taken aback for a second. After Chen Yu had left, the smiles on the faces of those present vanished instantly. ¡°Looks like that kid has been brainwashed by the guy named Long. It won¡¯t be long before he joins the Xuanqing Sect. I say we¡¯d better kill him off while we still can.¡± ¡°Someone like him could be a great asset in our hands, but in the hands of others, he becomes our enemy.¡± ¡­ The group chattered incessantly, discussing Chen Yu¡¯s fate as if they could easily decide his life and death. Fox¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a murderous intent playing across his face. Even though Chen Yu had saved two lives from their family and there was still a cooperative relationship between the Tong Group and the Childe Family. To him, Chen Yu was nothing more than a tool to be used. If there ever came a day when Chen Yu lost his usefulness, Fox would not hesitate to get rid of him. As soon as he left the fourth underground level, Jin Lingsu clutched the spikes concealed in her embrace. ¡°Down there, I could feel the murderous intent from those guys. It seems they are going to make a move on you.¡± Chen Yu appeared indifferent. ¡°If they can kill me, what¡¯s to say I can¡¯t kill them? Besides, this is Dongming Gorge. If they die here, it won¡¯t cause much of a stir in the outside world.¡± Jin Lingsu immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s implication. She knew that those people were as good as dead. Chen Yu didn¡¯t wander aimlessly outside, but instead, he took Jin Lingsu back to the first underground layer. Compared to the other layers, this one was somewhat more peaceful. The other three were either full of deceit and trickery or outright fraud. Here, most of the businesses were small food stalls, free of that chaotic mess. Chen Yu didn¡¯t immediately go back to the inn; instead, he sat down in front of a small stall. When he first got here, he had set his sights on this stall. Although they sold only simple fried cakes, the scent wafting from the place had plunged Chen Yu into nostalgia. The stall owner used top-quality ingredients, and even added precious medicinal materials like ginseng and deer antler in the mix. After all, in the Dongming Canyon, even the simplest snacks could be transformed into a deluxe treat. A single fried cake here actually cost two liang of gold. Chen Yu didn¡¯t fuss over the price and directly bought ten. Jin Lingsu, without any hesitation, sat to one side and started eating, taking five fried cakes for herself. ¡°Really, this thing is delicious, fragrant, soft, flaky, and crisp,¡± she said. Chen Yu took a bite but frowned immediately. The taste was good indeed, but there were too many ingredients mixed in, making it a bit cluttered. For someone with a weaker constitution, just one bite would cause them to bleed from all orifices. ¡°Boss, can you make a more ordinary fried cake?¡± he asked. The stall owner¡¯s face changed dramatically, and from nowhere, he produced a pair of tongs. ¡°This young man must be here to cause trouble. My fried cakes are the best in Dongming Canyon. You ask for ordinary, are you looking down on me?¡± he protested. Chen Yu sighed and walked over to the stove. ¡°I¡¯m not here to wreck your stall; I just want to taste an ordinary fried cake. If you¡¯re unwilling to make one, then I¡¯ll have to do it myself,¡± he said. The stall owner was furious. No one else had ever touched his stove. The tongs in his hand came smashing down, aiming straight for Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. To his surprise, the tongs broke in two and fell to the ground. The stall owner¡¯s eyes bulged, unable to believe that Chen Yu¡¯s body could be so strong. Jin Lingsu stood up, her gold spike resting against the stall owner¡¯s throat. ¡°Mr. Chen is a former chef champion of the entire world. Using your stove to make some fried cakes is an honor for you. Don¡¯t be ungrateful,¡± she said. The stall owner jumped at the sudden confrontation, but upon hearing ¡®world-class chef,¡¯ he became excited. ¡°So, you are a chef too! I thought there were no other chefs left in Dongming Canyon,¡± he said. Chen Yu was slightly taken aback, interpreting from the stall owner¡¯s response that, to him, a world-class chef was just another chef. ¡°Boss, have you ever won a culinary championship yourself?¡± Chen Yu inquired. The stall owner laughed heartily, moving away the gold spike without any show of inferiority or arrogance. ¡°Thirty years ago, I was the champion at the chef competition in Frankfurt. Unfortunately, I was sabotaged afterward, lost my sense of taste, and ended up a wanderer,¡± he shared. Chen Yu was immediately intrigued and had his system scan the stall owner¡¯s brain information. [Li Dongzheng, world-class chef, went missing after participating in a chef competition years ago] [Health status poor, sense of taste malfunctioning, half of the body paralyzed] COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Fish-flavored Shredded Pork Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Fish-flavored Shredded Pork Chen Yu immediately felt admiration; he had not expected to encounter a senior figure from the culinary world here. He had once participated in the chef competition in Frankfurt, which was a hellish selection process, and it was riddled with all kinds of forces that led to a final result diluted with a lot of water. How strong must Li Dongzheng¡¯s culinary skills be to stand out in such an environment and become the champion? Without hesitating, Chen Yu grabbed Li Zhengdong¡¯s arm. ¡°Senior, may I have the honor of competing with you?¡± Li Dongzheng laughed heartily. ¡°Look at me now, even making fried rice cakes requires adding all kinds of precious medicinal herbs to enhance the flavor and taste! What could I possibly use to compete with you?¡± Chen Yu, however, appeared unfazed as he grabbed Li Dongzheng by the waist and gently kneaded it. A series of bone-crunching noises rang out, and Li Dongzheng¡¯s paralyzed half sprang back into place. ¡°If my guess is correct, your loss of taste was due to someone poisoning you, destroying your nerves. If we can activate this part of the nerves, you should be able to recover your sense of taste.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately took out paper and pen to write a prescription. Li Zhengdong looked at Chen Yu with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. ¡°You say you¡¯re a chef, but I feel like you¡¯re a doctor.¡± Chen Yu smiled: ¡°Aren¡¯t chefs and doctors inherently interconnected?¡± Li Dongzheng was stunned for a moment, a flash of indescribable emotion crossing his face. ¡°Haha, right, chefs and doctors are indeed interconnected,¡± he said. He took Chen Yu¡¯s prescription and gathered the ingredients from the shop to prepare the medicine. Li Zhengdong also had some medical knowledge; he used the ancient charcoal ash method to brew the medicine. That involved putting red-hot charcoal and the medicinal ingredients into a pan, covering it with a bowl, and then adding water from above. With the bubbling noise, a bowl of medicinal soup was ready. This method could maximize the medicinal effects. After drinking the medicinal soup, Li Zhengdong instantly felt a different kind of vigor. He immediately picked up a fried rice cake and put it into his mouth. ¡°I can taste again, it¡¯s been a very long time since I¡¯ve tasted anything.¡± Li Zhengdong, excited beyond measure, took out a small pot from the house, set it on the stove, and then retrieved some pickles that had been stored for a long time. His technique was very skilled, and in less than five minutes over high heat, he had made a pot of food. Finally, he sat down and wolfed down his meal. In the culinary world, there is such a folk remedy, that once someone regains their lost sense of taste, they must eat very strong-tasting pickles to enhance the sensation. After eating, Li Zhengdong panted heavily. To outsiders, eating such pungent food would seem unbearable, but to him, it was a delight. ¡°Young man, for curing my illness, I will agree to whatever you ask for,¡± he said. With that, he moved a stove from the house and placed it beside him. ¡°Tell me, what do you want to compete with me on?¡± Chen Yu took a spoon and drew a deep breath. He realized it had been a very long time since he last held a spoon; he had almost forgotten the feeling. ¡°Let¡¯s go with Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork.¡± Although it sounds simple, this dish is highly demanding of one¡¯s cooking skills and has many variations; there are hundreds of different methods circulating amongst the people. Every top chef incorporates their special techniques and experiences when making this dish. Therefore, this dish is the best expression of a chef¡¯s foundational skills. Li Zhengdong laughed heartily, picked up the ingredients beside him, and started chopping. Over the years, his knife skills hadn¡¯t diminished at all, his speed as swift as Chen Yu¡¯s. The mingling sounds of chopping quickly attracted a large crowd of onlookers. In their eyes, you could see a clear sense of anticipation. Located in the midst of the desert, Dongming Gorge was inherently scarce in resources, rarely treating its residents to anything delectable. Canned and fast food items were the best they usually had. The sight of someone chopping vegetables on the street was indeed a rare occasion for everyone. Unanimously, they gathered around, completely surrounding the stall. Before long, a rich and fragrant aroma began to waft through the air. ¡°My goodness, that¡¯s fish-flavored shredded pork, I haven¡¯t smelled this for so many years.¡± ¡°Boss, how much for this? I can pay a hundred taels of gold.¡± ¡­ Everyone at the scene went crazy, all wanting a taste of the fish-flavored shredded pork. Chen Yu paid them no mind, just focused on cooking, and soon, a large plate of seaweed was served. Perhaps because Li Zhengdong hadn¡¯t cooked in a long time, his skills were a bit rusty, finishing a minute later than Chen Yu. The two exchanged dishes and began tasting each other¡¯s creations. But after just one bite, Li Zhengdong sighed helplessly. ¡°I lose. I truly didn¡¯t expect someone in this world could combine hundreds of flavors of fish-flavored shredded pork to create a new taste.¡± Chen Yu shook his head. ¡°Mr. Li, you flatter me. Your fish-flavored shredded pork perfects a single taste to the utmost, which is the quality a chef should have.¡± The two exchanged compliments and then sat down. They were just about to delve into some professional topics when the surrounding crowd interrupted them. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? How much are you selling your fish-flavored shredded pork for?¡± ¡°Why bother paying? This old guy is just a deep-fried dough vendor, let¡¯s just take it by force.¡± ¡­ The crowd became frenzied, moving forward to smash the stall. Just then, a sharp scream echoed in an instant as the arm of a young man, who had rushed to the front, was impaled by Jin Lingsu¡¯s golden spikes. ¡°You lot better behave yourselves, or next time it¡¯ll be your necks getting pierced.¡± What had been a noisy scene fell into sudden silence; all eyes on Jin Lingsu were filled with terror, none expecting that a simple deep-fried dough stall would be under the protection of a martial expert. With a wary glance at the crowd, Jin Lingsu took a few steps back, then picked up some chopsticks and took a bite from each plate of fish-flavored shredded pork. Turns out, the one made by Chen Yu was indeed the better one. ¡°What are you all doing here? Move aside; can¡¯t you see my young master is coming?¡± A young man in white clothing, looking suave and debonair, slowly approached. The fellow, despite having a Western face, was dressed in oriental-styled garments. As he approached, the crowd automatically parted to create a path for him. He sat down next to the stall with an air of arrogance. ¡°It¡¯s also been a long time since I¡¯ve had fish-flavored shredded pork, thank you both for today.¡± He said politely, picking up some chopsticks, but he didn¡¯t expect Jin Lingsu to press them back down. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 405: The Old Town Master Chapter 405: Chapter 405: The Old Town Master ¡°Kid, where do you come from? Have you not noticed that this is just a competition, not a place to sell vegetables?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s voice was filled with murderous intent, startling the youth, and a nearby bodyguard immediately stepped forward to grab her arm. These guys were no match for Jin Lingsu; her hand had barely stretched out when it was pierced by gold spikes. ¡°Ah! You woman, do you want to die? Don¡¯t you know my young master is the city lord of the East Bright Canyon.¡± The bodyguard wailed ghostly, while shouting confidently. But Jin Lingsu was not scared at all. She had been here for so long and never once abided by the rules of this place. Besides, Chen Yu had a Token of the Knights of the Round Table in his hands. With this token, they could act with impunity here. ¡°No matter who your city lord is, just don¡¯t cause trouble here and beat it, or don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡± Chen Yu was full of black lines in his mind, he had not anticipated Jin Lingsu to be so domineering. But after thinking about it, maybe Jin Lingsu wasn¡¯t domineering but just cautious. The East Bright Canyon was a dangerous place to begin with. Who knew what might happen next, one careless move and you could lose your life. Ever since Jin Lingsu entered this place, she had been highly vigilant. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and took Jin Lingsu¡¯s arm away. ¡°All she wants is to taste a bit of fish-flavored shredded pork, there¡¯s no harm done.¡± The youth immediately sighed with relief and enjoyed eating a plate of fish-flavored shredded pork. After he finished eating, Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder. ¡°You just mentioned that you are the city lord of East Bright Canyon, may I know who is the lord of this place?¡± The youth stood up excitedly. ¡°Brother, your fish-flavored shredded pork is really good. I would like to invite you to cook a meal for my father, would that be possible?¡± It must be said the youth was quite adept at speaking. Although he did not directly answer Chen Yu¡¯s question, he extended an olive branch in a way. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s possible,¡± Chen Yu agreed without hesitation. The youth was immediately overjoyed, pulling Chen Yu to leave. Li Zhengdong¡¯s eyes were filled with terror. He hurried over and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Young brother, you must be careful!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; the so-called lord must be up to something. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, old senior, I will be careful.¡± Jin Lingsu was also in a hurry to follow, but Chen Yu stopped her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to come along, just wait for me at the inn.¡± Jin Lingsu was momentarily startled, unsure of what Chen Yu was planning. Not far down the street was a pavilion, which appeared exceptionally luxurious compared to other buildings. When Chen Yu entered here, he immediately felt a different atmosphere. ¡°Dad, I found a master who can make fish-flavored shredded pork in the street today, and I¡¯ve brought him back.¡± The youth went straight to the inner room and after a short while, came back out, supporting an old man with unsteady steps. The old man looked to be in his sixties or seventies, with somewhat cloudy eyes and deeply wrinkled skin. ¡°You child, how can you casually bring people into the house? East Bright Canyon is quite tense these days; what if some disreputable person gets in, then what?¡± The elderly man scolded the youth before walking up to Chen Yu and scrutinizing him from head to toe. ¡°This is not a place where just anyone can casually enter. Now that you¡¯re here, you¡¯ll have to prove your talent, or I¡¯ll have to evict you.¡± By the look of the city master, he seemed to crave the shredded pork with garlic sauce; however, due to his status, he could only speak such stern words. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with all that and went straight into the nearby kitchen. At the same time, he had the system overlay the entire loft. Aside from being a bit cleaner, there wasn¡¯t anything unusual about the place. It was just in a corner of the storeroom where several boxes of gold were stacked. Chen Yu quickly prepared a plate of shredded pork with garlic sauce and brought it up, then, as if he were at home, casually grabbed a chair and sat down. The old man couldn¡¯t help frowning; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so presumptuous. But he didn¡¯t fuss over it much, after all, a plate of delicious shredded pork with garlic sauce was before him, and he had to take a few bites first. As soon as he put a piece of meat in his mouth, the old man¡¯s pores opened instantly and his cloudy eyes became clear. ¡°This is delicious. To eat something so tasty in this confined place is indeed a life well-lived.¡± Chen Yu lay on the table, drawing circles with one hand by his side. ¡°City master, I haven¡¯t been in the Dongming Canyon for very long and I¡¯m not very familiar with this place. Could you give me an overview?¡± The city master paused, ¡°Those who have recently come here are special individuals who received invitations and should have someone to guide them.¡± Chen Yu looked up slightly, ¡°You understand what I mean, I want to know what exactly you are in charge of as the city master?¡± The city master¡¯s body stiffened and he sighed helplessly. ¡°I am just a figurehead as the city master. Dongming Canyon is managed by several of the world¡¯s top organizations working together. In the end, I¡¯m just the security guard they employ to watch the door.¡± Chen Yu nodded, took out the Token of the Knights of the Round Table, and placed it on the table. ¡°What exactly is the ¡®item of eternal life¡¯ being sold at this auction?¡± Upon seeing the Token of the Knights of the Round Table, the city master was no longer calm; he hadn¡¯t expected the Chen Yu before him to have such a status. The city master hurriedly stood up and took out a map from the side. ¡°As you are one of the Knights of the Round Table, I must disclose everything! In fact, there is no such thing as an ¡®item of eternal life¡¯ in this world; it¡¯s merely a life-extending elixir concocted by the Xuanqing Sect.¡± Chen Yu looked at the map on the table, it was a map of the nearby desert highlighted by red circles indicating several special locations, including where he was. The red circles were conspicuously connected by fine lines with the words ¡°Dongming Canyon¡± inscribed above them. It seemed that Dongming Canyon was not a fixed place, but a large area. These locations combined to form Dongming Canyon. The map also identified that aside from the aforementioned elixir, other rare items were to be auctioned. And they were said to be items of destiny in legends. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly quickened; he hadn¡¯t anticipated the existence of such a unique auction in the world. No wonder it had attracted not only the Knights of the Round Table but also elders of various top organizations. ¡°Young man, do you have any other questions?¡± Chen Yu finally came back to his senses, ¡°No, but may I keep this map?¡± The city master generously pushed the map toward him. ¡°Of course, you may.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 406 The Red Rose Organization Chapter 406: Chapter 406 The Red Rose Organization Chen Yu did not linger here; holding the map, he left the attic. No sooner had he stepped out than several figures began to follow him. ¡°How is this kid connected to the old city lord? Go check what they were talking about just now.¡± ¡°He is a Knight of the Round Table after all, isn¡¯t it a bit improper for us to investigate him like this?¡± ¡°Why bother with that? Mr. Fox has already given the order, to kill him after the auction ends.¡± ¡­ A strange curve formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth; he heard every word those people said, clear as day. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu turned into an alley. Before long, more than a dozen figures rushed in. Chen Yu neither fled nor hid, but simply sat there quietly, watching these people. ¡°You move so slowly, how do you even manage to get by? I¡¯ve been waiting here for two minutes, and you¡¯ve only just arrived.¡± The group was taken aback, and the man leading them furrowed his brow. ¡°Cut the crap, today is the day you die.¡± The group didn¡¯t bother with further talk and charged at him, but as they were about to get close, a blue-white light suddenly flashed, piercing through the bodies of these thugs. In an instant, more than a dozen men collapsed, leaving only the leader standing there, at a loss. ¡°Answer a few questions, and perhaps I can spare you.¡± The indifferent voice struck the leader like a death knell, sending shivers down his spine. ¡°What do you want?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed, and the blue-white light was released again, striking the man¡¯s leg forcefully. ¡°I¡¯m the one asking the questions! Did Fox bring you here?¡± The man clenched his teeth tightly, aware that if he betrayed Fox today, he and his family wouldn¡¯t live to see another day. Chen Yu chuckled coldly, slowly stepped forward, and placed a finger on the man¡¯s forehead. A flood of information immediately surged into his mind. These people were indeed assassins raised by the Childe Family, but they normally stayed out of sight, making them difficult to trace. Furthermore, in this man¡¯s mind, Chen Yu found an unexpected windfall of information. He did not stay there any longer. After knocking the man down, he returned to the inn. Victor sat in the room, his face full of worry. Although William¡¯s family was a top-tier family in Europe, it paled in comparison to the Childe Family. Moreover, as a royal family, they were not allowed to join any organizations, leaving him isolated and without support here. Now that Chen Yu had gone to the fourth level underground, with his life hanging by a thread, how could Victor not worry? Just then, more than a dozen burly men suddenly entered the inn and set up a table in the lobby on the first floor. ¡°We¡¯ve heard Mr. Victor of William¡¯s family is here, and we¡¯ve come specifically to meet him and play some games with him.¡± Hearing this voice, Victor¡¯s pupils dilated sharply. He was set up shortly after he arrived here, almost conned out of all of William¡¯s family assets. Now someone was looking for trouble with him again. Katherine couldn¡¯t contain her anger; the humiliations they had suffered since coming here were simply too much. Just as she was about to go down and argue with these people, Victor pulled her back. ¡°Our situation is very bad now, and since we can¡¯t use guns against them, we can only go along with them for now. Hurry and find Mr. Chen.¡± While they were talking, a voice full of rage suddenly came from the hall. Jin Lingsu had appeared out of nowhere, a golden spike thrust into the table. ¡°Your boredom is really too much, isn¡¯t it? Coming over to bully an old person for no reason¡ªif you want to die just say the word, and I¡¯ll send you to heaven right now.¡± These people were fearless, staring at Jin Lingsu with a strange look in their eyes. ¡°Beauty, it¡¯s not that we want to target Victor. Someone has paid us for his life and his property, and we have no choice but to do as they say.¡± Jin Lingsu clenched her teeth so hard they made a grating sound. Just as she was about to take action, she was stopped by Victor, who had rushed down. ¡°Miss Jin, this is a debt my William¡¯s family incurred hundreds of years ago. It seems today is the day to repay it.¡± Victor sat down helplessly to one side and picked up the deck of playing cards on the table. ¡°After all, William¡¯s family is of royal blood. I hope you can leave some dignity for my family.¡± A group of people burst into laughter for a while and did not agree. Just as the game was about to begin, Chen Yu suddenly appeared and grabbed Victor¡¯s arm. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you before? If you want to play with someone, come find me! To some extent, I suppose I can be considered part of William¡¯s family too.¡± Chen Yu made a joking remark and then sat down beside them. The group of people opposite was not pleased, and the leader glared at Chen Yu in warning. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t be ungrateful. We are from the Katola family.¡± Chen Yu adjusted his knowledge¡ªindeed, he knew of this family, which seemed to come from an organization called the Red Rose. This organization was almost on par with the Knights of the Round Table, controlling most of the world¡¯s tangible energy resources in their hands. Moreover, the origins of this organization were quite interesting¡ªthey originated in Europe but eventually settled in the Red Sea. Centuries ago, there was a war in Europe that lasted nearly a hundred years, the War of the Roses. The war began because of a conflict between two royal families, but eventually escalated into a war between two great suzerain states. The William¡¯s family was one of the main forces in the battle at that time. The Katola family was then affiliated with William¡¯s family, shedding blood and making sacrifices for them. But unexpectedly, William¡¯s family suspected the Katola family of betrayal and annihilated their entire family. Fortunately, a young person from the Katola family escaped, revitalizing the family once more. Now that they¡¯ve come back for revenge, it could hardly be considered unjust, but those were issues of past generations¡ªhow could they be compared together? Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing and directly spread out the playing cards in his hand. ¡°I remember that the ancestors of the Katola family were nothing more than coachmen. It was William¡¯s family that gave you glory and wealth! During the war back then, there were indeed traitors within your family who defected to the enemy. That much is a fact, isn¡¯t it?¡± The leader stood up abruptly and slammed his hand onto the table. ¡°Stop being annoying here. Since you want to stick your neck out for this old man, I¡¯ll indulge you. But it¡¯s your head that I¡¯m going to bet on.¡± Chen Yu laughed loudly, ¡°Fine by me, but if I win, you¡¯ll also have to offer up your head.¡± The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the innkeeper was so frightened that he was trembling, only managing to have his employees come over to serve tea. Chen Yu, not wanting to make things complicated, proposed that both sides draw a playing card¡ªthe one with the higher number wins. However, the deck of cards was to be thrown into the air, and each of them would grab a card out of thin air to compare their numbers. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 407: The Hundred-Year Snow Lotus Chapter 407: Chapter 407: The Hundred-Year Snow Lotus Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate for a second, and the instant the cards were thrown into the air, he reached out and grabbed one, slapping it down on the table. The man across from him was also quick to react, promptly taking out his own card following Chen Yu¡¯s move. Both men regarded each other with caution in their gazes, their faces full of wariness. Tong Ming Valley was unlike other places, full of deceit and victim playing at its most vivid. Who knew if these guys had some sort of high-tech or cold pudding gadget to switch the cards in their hands? Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and flipped the card over. It was actually a king of hearts! The man opposite instantly froze, looking at Chen Yu with eyes filled with horror, then shakily turned over his card. A queen of spades! Chen Yu stood up and stared intently at the man across from him. ¡°The outcome is decided,¡± he said. ¡°According to our previous agreement, shouldn¡¯t you fulfill your promise now?¡± The man¡¯s body trembled, his forehead breaking out in dense beads of sweat. A moment later, he suddenly pulled out a long knife and pointed it at Chen Yu. ¡°You little punk, you¡¯re not from William¡¯s family. There¡¯s no need for you to get involved. I¡¯m giving you one chance to get lost immediately, or else I¡¯ll chop off your head.¡± Chen Yu laughed a ¡®hehe¡¯ as if he¡¯d heard some joke, and his form suddenly flickered. A dazzling blue-white light flashed on the scene, and once the light dissipated, Chen Yu¡¯s body appeared behind the man, a dagger seemingly materializing in his hand. The man¡¯s pupils dilated dramatically, and his body shook even more violently. ¡°Are you a man or a ghost? How can you be so fast?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but instead pressed the man¡¯s head firmly down onto the table. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time to waste here,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m giving you one chance: either apologize to Mr. Victor right now or I¡¯ll kill you this instant.¡± The man was terrified, and those around him were in a panic, fearful that Chen Yu would really take action. The scene tensed up immediately, everyone¡¯s gaze focused on Chen Yu. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared at the scene. ¡°The Katola Family indeed has gone too far, throwing your weight around here, relying on the organization behind you. Do you really think nobody can handle you?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian¡¯s sudden appearance stunned everyone present; they hadn¡¯t expected this old Taoist to arrive at such a lowly inn. The Xuanqing Sect was the most mysterious organization in the world, rumored not only to be able to concoct life-extending elixirs but also to wield a tremendously powerful force. If they were willing, they could make any family in the world disappear, not excluding the likes of the Childe Family. Chen Yu immediately released the man. He and Heavenly Master Long Tian had hit it off, and it wouldn¡¯t do to kill someone in front of such a benevolent and kind-looking elder. ¡°I pay my respects to the Heavenly Master.¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian looked at Chen Yu with approval, then took a simple, unadorned wooden token from his clothes and handed it to him. ¡°I admire you,¡± he said. ¡°This is the token of the Xuanqing Sect. If one day you make up your mind, you can come to find me. The Xuanqing Sect requires no trials, only destiny.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. Wasn¡¯t this the most mysterious and powerful organization in the world? How could they be so casual? Just as he was about to ask for some details, a middle-aged man hurriedly walked in. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the black sandstorm in the desert has completely enveloped an area of several hundred miles around. It¡¯s impossible for anyone else to come now, so we have decided to move the auction to tonight,¡± he said. The middle-aged man was just there to deliver the message, and he left in a hurry as if afraid of the people in the room doing him harm. The people present all became excited; they had not expected to attend the auction so soon. Chen Yu was not interested in anything here; he had come only because Tong Ming had asked him to find a mysterious organization from the East. Victor had dodged another bullet, and his gratitude toward Chen Yu grew even stronger, wishing he could write his will right then and there and give the entire William¡¯s family to him. The crowd that had just been gathered at the door now dispersed, all preparing for the auction that evening. Chen Yu was no exception, and after exchanging a few polite words with Heavenly Master Long Tian, he returned to his room. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the third floor¡¯s plaza was filled with chairs. Most of the people from the Dongming Canyon had gathered here. In the very center of the plaza was an extremely luxurious lifting stage, on which an array of items was arrayed, and several hosts stood atop, carefully wiping the objects. When the clock on the stage struck, those hosts immediately took on a dignified posture. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, what you seek must surely be the last item of our auction, but everything sold at the Dongming Canyon auction are treasures beyond price,¡± said the host in the middle very politely in his opening speech, then had someone push a small box up onto the stage. The decoration on the outside of the box was very intricate, and the materials used were also extremely precious, likely sandalwood. After opening the box, a strange fragrance instantly spread, prompting half of the spectators to stand up. ¡°My God, it¡¯s no wonder this is Dongming Canyon, to actually get such a precious Snow Lotus.¡± ¡°Judging from the fragrance it emits, it must be at least five hundred years old.¡± ¡°Such a Snow Lotus can not only prolong life but also treat all sorts of illnesses.¡± ¡­ There was an immediate outbreak of cheers at the scene, and someone promptly made an offer. Although Chen Yu was interested, he saw the Snow Lotus as having more or less the same effect in his eyes. With some medical techniques, it was possible to extract extremely pure Snow Lotus Essence from an ordinary Snow Lotus. The medicinal value was not inferior to that of these several hundred-year-old ones before him. ¡°Young man, are you not interested in these?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian appeared beside Chen Yu at some point. Chen Yu got a fright; he had just deployed the system into its cover mode, so he should have been able to detect anyone approaching, but when this Heavenly Master Long Tian appeared, the system did not give off any alert. ¡°I¡¯ve come to Dongming Canyon only as an onlooker to broaden my horizons this time; I don¡¯t plan to buy anything.¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian stroked his beard and chuckled, then leaned back in his chair. ¡°There are still a few good things at the auction. If you like, I can buy them in the name of the Xuanqing Sect to give to you! If you¡¯re interested in the final item for extending life, I can give it to you right now.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief; he had not expected Heavenly Master Long Tian to be so generous to him. While he was still in a daze, another cart was pushed onto the stage. This time the item seemed a bit heavy, with over a dozen strong men just to push the cart. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Escape from Death Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Escape from Death ¡°This is a bronze tripod we found in the desert, made from an alloy of over a hundred metals, cast using techniques from over four thousand years ago.¡± With these words, the venue once again burst into a frenzy. Bronze artifacts of such age are rare, not to mention one that combines over a hundred different metals ¡ª it could even have been made from Meteorite from Beyond the Heavens. As the cart was uncovered, the massive bronze tripod suddenly appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Long Tian¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. ¡°This item is really quite good,¡± he said, ¡°perfect for refining medicine when I take it back.¡± Chen Yu, however, did not say much, leaning quietly and observing the auction. He did not bid on the next few items. Even though these items were priceless treasures, to him they were nothing more than a collection of scrap metal. Just then, a drab, little bead was brought up. When this item appeared, the room filled with sighs of disdain. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Bringing up a rock to deceive us, do they really think we¡¯re so easily fooled?¡± ¡°Bring out the next item quickly; otherwise, I¡¯ll smash this place up.¡± ¡­ The venue suddenly became chaotic, leaving the host at a loss. But Chen Yu immediately stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll take this item!¡± he declared. The crowd¡¯s eyes widened, and mocking glances were cast his way. At first glance, this bead was clearly an inconspicuous piece of obsidian, possibly priceless if sold elsewhere, but here it was just a worthless trinket. Chen Yu did not care about that, quickly reaching a deal with the host. It wasn¡¯t long before the bead was delivered into his hands. However, instead of putting it away, he lightly tapped on it with his finger. Those close by looked on as if viewing a fool. Time passed until a crisp cracking sound was heard from the outskirts of the table. With the shedding of an outer shell, a radiant snow-white light burst forth. ¡°Holy smokes, the Snow Soul Bead from the desert!¡± Someone exclaimed, and all eyes converged on the bead. Chen Yu, ignoring them, coughed twice and pocketed the bead. Now, everyone was unsettled. They hadn¡¯t expected the unassuming black bead to be the legendary Snow Soul Bead. Legend had it that during the third queen of the ancient kingdom of Anxi¡¯s visit to the Western Regions, she obtained a snow pearl. After letting her skilled craftsmen carefully polish it, she had it set into her crown. Unfortunately, by the time of the sixth queen, because of wars, the crown was lost, and the whereabouts of its pearls became unknown. Now, who would have imagined it hidden inside such an unimposing black bead? From then on, no one dared to underestimate the auction, striving to claim each item with all their might. Long Tian patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°I never would have thought you¡¯d have such a discerning eye,¡± he commented. Chen Yu just smiled and said nothing further. The progress of the auction went smoothly, and at two in the morning, the final item was at last brought forward. As a small wooden box was placed before them, a middle-aged man near the front suddenly stood up, placing a document verifying his assets on the table. ¡°I would like to bid all my wealth for this item,¡± he announced. The scene suddenly became chaotic as more than a dozen people laid out all their assets at once. Long Tian sighed helplessly. ¡°People¡¯s greed, anger, and foolishness are too strong¡ªfighting like this over merely a few decades of life.¡± Chen Yu adjusted his brows. Decades of life, priceless wherever you go, yet from the mouth of Long Tian, they became weightless? Representatives from other major organizations were also bidding. After purchasing this item, they wouldn¡¯t easily use it but would instead disassemble its components to achieve mass production. As the auction ended, Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. He packed up simply and was ready to leave the place. Dongming Canyon was far too dangerous, especially after the auction had ended. So many people had obtained treasures¡ªno one could guarantee that others wouldn¡¯t covet them. Chen Yu, with Victor and Mo Sanchong, packed up a large number of items and moved to the exit. There were already a large number of people at this place, all of them eager to leave. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t rush. The black sandstorm outside is very severe. If you go out now, you are likely to die in the desert,¡± a security guard urged with good intentions, but no one listened. There were even people who tried to force their way out. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing. He wasn¡¯t insistent, he simply dragged over a wooden stump and sat down. To deal with such extreme weather, the system could provide hundreds of solutions. Furthermore, he was already prepared, with a wealth of equipment and supplies enough for them to leave the desert. ¡°Let them go!¡± the old city master, leaning on his cane, shakily emerged. Although he was only a Puppet City Master, his words were still effective. Besides, he had run Dongming Canyon for so long; after every auction, he would witness people betraying and killing each other here. He really didn¡¯t want to see such a scene anymore. Seeing the old city master speak, the person at the gate didn¡¯t say anything more and directly opened the gate. Everyone rushed to the underground garage, started their desert off-road vehicles, and left in succession. Just as Chen Yu was about to leave, Fox rushed over hastily. ¡°Mr. Chen, why are you in such a hurry to leave? The Knights of the Round Table have a meeting later, and as a member, you must attend,¡± Fox said. Chen Yu stretched and yawned, ¡°The contents of the meeting can be told to me later. I have some urgent matters right now.¡± After brushing him off with a casual remark, he led his group to the underground garage. Fox felt greatly insulted at once, but he was powerless to do anything, especially with Long Tian watching him closely. Moreover, Chen Yu¡¯s strength was too great; the members they had left in Dongning Canyon were probably no match for him. The black sandstorm around the canyon¡¯s perimeter was extremely severe, forcing many of the vehicles that had just left to take refuge between nearby gullies. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that; he drove straight through the gaps next to the black sandstorm. The black sandstorm seemed formidable, but between all such storms, there were extremely fine gaps. As long as one navigated between these gaps, they would suffer no harm. After driving for I don¡¯t know how long, they finally burst out of the black sandstorm, arriving on a relatively flat Gobi desert. Victor finally exhaled a sigh of relief. If he had to continue staying in Dongming Canyon, he might have ended up with nowhere to be buried. This time, thanks to Chen Yu, he was able to leave unscathed. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, several trucks suddenly appeared on the surrounding Gobi desert. Dozens of fully armed men in black jumped off the trucks. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Desert Castle Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Desert Castle Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, as this area should still fall within the territory of Dongming Canyon. How could such a group of people brazenly appear here? Were they not afraid of Dongming Canyon? The man leading them walked up and took out a Token from his body. ¡°We are from the Desert Eagle group. Every vehicle coming from Dongming Canyon must be inspected by us. Everyone get down immediately, or else we¡¯ll kill you all.¡± It was as if Chen Yu had heard some sort of joke, and he chuckled twice before he decisively pressed the accelerator, as he had no desire to waste time with these fellows. Unexpectedly, these fellows directly laid out a blockade device on the road. ¡°Since it¡¯s the Desert Eagles, it seems our chances of getting through are not so good.¡± Jin Lingsu glanced at it and then got out of the vehicle, pulling out a golden spike from her person. ¡°Call your leader, and tell him Jin Lingsu wants to see him.¡± The gang, upon hearing Jin Lingsu¡¯s name, froze on the spot, and one of the men didn¡¯t dare to delay, hurriedly making a call. Once the call was connected, Jin Lingsu snatched the phone from his hand. ¡°Luo Sanpao, have you little brat eaten the courage of a bear and the heart of a leopard to dare block anyone¡¯s vehicle?¡± The domineering voice startled everyone present. ¡°Sister Jin? Oh my, my subordinates don¡¯t know any better. Please don¡¯t stoop to their level!¡± Jin Lingsu snorted coldly, ¡°Hurry up and get your men to clear off, or else I¡¯ll castrate them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll issue the order right away! But since you¡¯re here, would you please visit my castle? I¡¯ll get the drinks and dishes ready for you.¡± Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t refuse and simply tossed the phone to a lackey beside her before making her way back to the vehicle. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Jin Lingsu to have acquaintances in the desert. ¡°What exactly is this Desert Eagle organization? To think they would dare to rob on Dongming Canyon¡¯s turf.¡± Jin Lingsu sighed softly. ¡°They¡¯ve been inhabitants of the desert for a long time. But due to war and the natural environment, they¡¯ve been forced to retreat into some ancient castles in the desert, and over time, they¡¯ve evolved into the Desert Eagles.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more but merely followed the trucks forward. After an indeterminate amount of time, they arrived at a hill. This place seemed unremarkable at first glance, but upon approaching it became apparent that the entire hill had been transformed into a castle. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration. It must have taken hundreds of years to build such a castle. ¡°Sister Jin!¡± A robust and burly man energetically ran out from the hill. ¡°It¡¯s been ten years since we last saw each other, I¡¯m glad to see you again.¡± Yet Jin Lingsu dodged with an expression of disgust on her face. ¡°Hurry up and get some food. We¡¯ve been hungry since running out of the Black Sand Storm.¡± Luo Sanpao¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, ¡°You really made it out of the Black Sand Storm? My god, probably no one else in this world could have accomplished that.¡± Without saying much more, Jin Lingsu led everyone directly into the castle. Luo Sanpao was very enthusiastic and set up a very lavish table in the main hall. No sooner had Chen Yu sat down than a figure slowly descended from the second floor. The person was very shapely, draped in a thin veil, with pale skin peeking through. However, this woman spoke in a rather strange tone. ¡°Oh my, who do we have here, visitors I¡¯ve never seen before? Sanpao, you didn¡¯t even introduce me.¡± Luo Sanpao showed a face full of disgust. ¡°They¡¯re all good friends from my past on the streets, and you wouldn¡¯t know them even if I told you. Hurry up and serve the guests some drinks.¡± The woman rolled her eyes and didn¡¯t say anything more, leaving on her own accord. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he always felt that the woman from just now wasn¡¯t simple, as there was an extremely odd tattoo engraved on her neck. ¡°Was that woman your wife?¡± Chen Yu tentatively asked. ¡°No!¡± Luo Sanpao replied with some helplessness, ¡°I saved her from the desert, and since she knows many places there where treasures are hidden, I had her stay.¡± Chen Yu nodded, seeing that the relationship between Luo Sanpao and the woman seemed to be purely a business one. After a satisfying meal, Luo Sanpao arranged rooms for everyone. The rooms here were both luxurious and spacious, quite nice indeed. Chen Yu was just getting ready to freshen up when a rapid knocking sound came from the door. Upon opening it, he saw it was the same woman from before. Chen Yu had no desire to get entangled with this woman. ¡°Madam, what can I do for you?¡± The woman, looking around the corridor cautiously, barged straight in and then took out a Token from her person. It was a Token of the Knights of the Round Table, specially equipped for reliable people under one¡¯s command. Chen Yu showed no sign of surprise. He had already known her identity when he had scanned her personal information earlier. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The woman knelt on one knee: ¡°Sir, I have already investigated, and there is a treasure hidden beneath this castle. If you are interested, I could present it to you.¡± Chen Yu scoffed, sensing that the woman clearly wanted to claim credit before him in order to secure a better status within the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the treasure here, but since you have been here for such a long time, you must have found quite a few treasures, right? Can you show me?¡± The woman seemed slightly taken aback and hesitant, but the next moment, she solemnly agreed and led the way out of the room. Before long, she led Chen Yu to a side door in the hall. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is where treasures are usually kept in the castle; what¡¯s stored here could rival the wealth of nations.¡± Chen Yu merely stood at the door for a moment, and all the images inside appeared in his mind. ¡°It¡¯s just some gold, silver, and jewels. I thought there might be something more peculiar.¡± The woman instantly tensed up, hurriedly pulling out a wooden box from her person, and soon, the strange scent of ambergris spread throughout the hall. ¡°This is ambergris I found in a treasure cave, quite the quality item. Please accept it as a gift for our first meeting.¡± Chen Yu glanced sideways, considering this fine item would be an excellent gift for Tong Ya. ¡°The item is nice; I like it! What¡¯s your request?¡± The woman seemed to have been waiting for these words, and quickly knelt down in front of Chen Yu. ¡°I hope you will allow me to become your personal guard.¡± The request didn¡¯t seem particularly special, but on some level, it was tantamount to changing the woman¡¯s life. Once someone became a guard for the Knights of the Round Table, they would be joining the core circle of the Knights. Not only could she come into contact with realms she couldn¡¯t reach before, but she would also get access to more resources. She might even acquire things she wouldn¡¯t dare to dream of otherwise. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Chapter 410 Change Flees to the Moon Chapter 410: Chapter 410 Chang¡¯e Flees to the Moon Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the woman with an indescribable gaze for a long while before turning away. ¡°The woman who came with me today is called Jin Lingsu. How do you think your skills compare to hers?¡± The woman paused for a moment. She had heard of the great name of Jin Lingsu. With her own meager abilities, she was certainly no match for Jin Lingsu. ¡°Mr. Chen must be joking. How could I possibly be a match for her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes held a hint of scorn: ¡°With her by my side, why would I bother adding a burden to myself?¡± The woman¡¯s breathing became hurried. She had come to the desert with a treasure map in hopes of climbing the social ladder. She had thought Luo Sanpao would be her support for the rest of her life, but the guy was only interested in herding sheep and horses in the desert, completely indifferent to anything else. Now, having finally encountered Chen Yu and the opportunity to join the Knights of the Round Table, how could she possibly give up? ¡°Mr. Chen, I hope you will consider. Although I am not as strong as Jin Lingsu, the knowledge in my head will definitely interest you.¡± The woman promptly took out a tattered piece of cloth from her body and spread it out on the table beside her. It appeared to be a treasure map, but it didn¡¯t quite seem like one. All the topographical features were of the desert, with a river passing through a canyon depicted on it. It was somewhat different from the map the woman had taken out earlier. However, looking at the two maps together revealed several overlapping areas. ¡°What is this?¡± Chen Yu leaned forward, pointed at the map, and stopped at the point where the two maps connected. From the terrain, it seemed like this place was the deepest part of the Tarim Basin. It was a famously uninhabited area worldwide, rarely exited safely by anyone who ventured in. ¡°Mr. Chen, have you ever heard of the ancient kingdom of Muta?¡± Chen Yu frowned. He had no knowledge of this in his mind. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of it, actually.¡± A smug look suddenly appeared on the woman¡¯s face. She took out a small box from her body, which contained a crystal-clear bead. However, at the very center of the bead, there seemed to be a three-dimensional image of Chang¡¯e flying to the moon. Such crystal beads were already rare in the world, and with an image like this inside, it was an invaluable treasure. ¡°The ancient kingdom of Muta is a land of legend, said to have been extinct for over three thousand years. According to legend, their queen had an Art of Eternal Life.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated. Organizations around the world had a near-maniacal obsession with the Art of Eternal Life. If this information were released, countless powers would stumble over each other to enter the Tarim Basin. The woman must have known this and wanted to use it as a bargaining chip to join the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°That¡¯s just a legend. From a scientific standpoint, a person¡¯s lifespan can only reach a maximum of a little over two hundred years. The longest-lived person recorded in history was merely about two hundred and sixty years old. Eternal life is nothing more than a myth passed on with exaggerations.¡± ¡°No!¡± The woman directly placed the bead into Chen Yu¡¯s hand: ¡°I¡¯ve been to that place and seen living people, and those people are definitely the nationals of the ancient kingdom of Muta from three thousand years ago.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body trembled slightly, watching the woman¡¯s expression that didn¡¯t look like a lie, but how could there possibly be people in this world who lived for so long? He adjusted his breathing slightly, took the crystal bead, scrutinized it closely, and also activated the system¡¯s scan of the bead. This crystal bead, both in terms of material and age, was of the highest quality and would be an invaluable treasure outside. However, it seemed to contain a strange fluorescent element. ¡°` After systematic analysis, it was impossible to identify its individual elements. [The system is unable to analyze the unknown element, which may be a cosmic synthetic element] [Traces of meteorite components detected within the Crystal Bead] Chen Yu understood at once that this must be fashioned from a segment of the Meteorite from Beyond the Heavens, no wonder it was so crystal clear and translucent. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the ancient wood tower country, nor am I interested in the Art of Eternal Life, and I¡¯m even less interested in that ¡®Round Table¡¯ you¡¯re talking about!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be long before I might break away from the Knights of the Round Table, so following me would be of no use to you.¡± The blunt words made the woman¡¯s body tremble violently; she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to think this way. In this world, there are many who hope to join the Knights of the Round Table, some even at any cost, spending their whole lives in search of the Knights¡¯ traces. Yet Chen Yu, who had joined so effortlessly, was thinking about how to leave. ¡°Mr. Chen, may I know why?¡± Surprise filled the woman¡¯s eyes, but even more confusion. Chen Yu packed the box and the bottom diagram and returned them to the woman. ¡°That¡¯s no place for humans! Those old geezers¡¯ pursuit of the Art of Eternal Life has already reached a point of perversion, they even go so far as to experiment on living people.¡± ¡°If you insist on joining them, you might just end up as their test subject, and even I could become a target of their experiments.¡± The woman felt a chill in her heart; although she longed for greater power and status, she would rather give up if it meant sacrificing her body and life. ¡°So, what should I do?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes filled with a touch more confusion; in truth, she wasn¡¯t very old, if she took off her disguise, she would be just in her early twenties. At that age, no matter where she was, she was considered young and her thoughts could easily become skewed. Chen Yu sighed softly, turned, and was about to return to his room, but after just two steps he suddenly stopped. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, you could join the Xuanqing Sect, that place would actually suit you well.¡± The woman, waiting with eager eyes, quickly rushed up to grab Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Knights of the Round Table have already become an unattainable existence for me, how could I possibly enter a place like the Xuanqing Sect?¡± Chen Yu frowned involuntarily; he didn¡¯t know what to say. The woman before him wasn¡¯t a bad person¡ªwhat she sought was merely a safe haven. Otherwise, she could have easily replaced Luo Sanpao. While they were talking, a sudden explosion rocked the outside of the castle, followed by the piercing sound of an alarm. The entire castle immediately turned into a complete mess¡ªLuo Sanpao hurried out of his room in a rush. ¡°What happened?¡± Before long, a large number of people gathered in the hall, all fully armed, but everyone looked groggy and seemed to have no fighting spirit at all. The castle was situated deep in the desert and was very hidden; usually, nobody came near. It was typically they who went out to rob others; it was impossible for someone to find this place and launch an attack on them. Therefore, from Luo Sanpao down, all the men were very lethargic. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Chapter 411 Encirclement in the Desert Chapter 411: Chapter 411 Encirclement in the Desert Chen Yu also furrowed his brow as he¡¯d observed the terrain when he arrived. The surrounding mountains were overlapping and majestic, hiding the entire castle within the mountain itself. If one didn¡¯t already know there was a castle here, they would never be able to find it. In another instant, he used his system to cover the entire castle with protection and was suddenly shocked to find a large group of people in armor around the perimeter, appearing out of nowhere. These fellows wore very peculiar clothing, wielding standardized weapons, and each person had a red headband on their forehead, adorned with the pattern of camels and the sun. ¡°It¡¯s Lakato¡¯s people!¡± Chen Yu shouted and snatched a weapon from Luo Sanpao¡¯s hands before charging out. Only then did Luo Sanpao respond, immediately deploying his people to defend. Their castle was, after all, easy to defend but hard to attack, and there were a great many traps around the perimeter. It was impossible for anyone to easily enter the castle. ¡°Damn it, I don¡¯t seem to have any beef with Lakato¡¯s people. Why the hell are they coming here out of the blue?¡± Luo Sanpao grumbled angrily and pressed the defense button on the wall. A myriad of mechanical traps immediately activated, and the number of Lakato members attacking the outskirts of the castle was halved in an instant. Chen Yu directly climbed up to the battlements and took out a megaphone. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys going a bit too far? Wasn¡¯t the feud between William¡¯s family and yours settled in Dongming Gorge? Why chase us here?¡± This shout immediately attracted the attention of everyone, and Luo Sanpao was also stunned for a moment. He hadn¡¯t expected that Lakato¡¯s people came for William¡¯s family. He had some relationship with William¡¯s family; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have easily taken in Victor. ¡°Little brother, you should have told me about this earlier. I could have made preparations much sooner. This really caught us off guard,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu also climbed up to the battlements: ¡°These guys are really annoying, having chased us down here so quickly.¡± Lakato¡¯s predecessor was said to be an organization founded by someone known as the Old Man of the Mountain. This man was incredibly brutal. He used to capture little boys from nearby villages and subjected them to extremely harsh training from a young age. Once they reached a certain level, he would drug them, taking them to an exceedingly luxurious place. After the children had enjoyed themselves, they would once again be drugged and taken back to their original place. Then, they were told that the place they had visited was heaven, and that if they obeyed orders, they could go there. As a result, his followers were completely brainwashed and would sell their lives for him without hesitation. Back then, every nation and group across the desert feared them. As soon as they heard the Old Man of the Mountain¡¯s people had come, they would immediately surrender the city and offer up all their jewels and beauties. However, this man became too arrogant and eventually crossed the Mongol Empire, being wiped out by Xu Liewu during his western campaign. There was definitely a large organization involved. How could it simply vanish? A part of it withdrew from the desert and merged with some families that had come from Eastern Europe, forming what is now the Lakato Family. In this way, this family is indeed quite interesting, with the wildness of desert tribes and the gentlemanly air of the European families. But such a fusion always seemed somewhat incongruous. Chen Yu shouted several more times and both sides stopped fighting. A figure from the Lakato Family slowly walked out, holding a megaphone as well. ¡°The hatred between our ancestors and the William family can¡¯t simply be wiped out. I advise you to hand over that old man Victor, or else today we will flatten the castle.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, these guys really wouldn¡¯t listen to reason. It seemed he had no choice but to wipe them out here. After slightly adjusting his breathing, he leapt down from the ramparts and slowly walked towards the other side. Jin Lingsu was startled and quickly followed, fearing that something might happen to Chen Yu. The man leading the Lakato Family stepped forward as well and eventually stood in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re one of the Knights of the Round Table. We do not wish to fall out with you, but we must take Victor with us today.¡± Contempt flickered in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Since you know that I am one of the Knights of the Round Table, then you¡¯d better scram. Otherwise, the Lakato family will be wiped from the face of this world.¡± The leading man let out a loud laugh. ¡°Even if the Knights of the Round Table are powerful, when the other major organizations come together, they wouldn¡¯t dare to act rashly. Moreover, you Round Table have been too arrogant and overbearing in recent years. It¡¯s time to give up the position of world leader that you¡¯ve held for so long.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It appeared that the Lakato Family¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t simply about the William family; they also wanted to deal with the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to talk about.¡± Chen Yu said indifferently, then crouched down, placing a hand on the sandy soil. The man frowned, thinking that Chen Yu was going to surrender to him. Just as he was about to say something mocking, a powerful electric current burst forth from the ground. Blue and white light flickered instantly across the desert, and all the people of the Lakato family began to convulse rapidly. In less than two seconds, only the man from before was left standing. Chen Yu clapped his hands and slowly stood up. Before the man had a chance to react, Chen Yu grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Now you¡¯re the only one left here. Can you still take Mr. Victor away?¡± The man¡¯s eyes bulged wide: ¡°What exactly did you do? What was that electric current just now? Did it come from you? Could this be the legendary Supernatural Powers?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes shimmered with contempt: ¡°There are no Supernatural Powers in this world, only powers beyond your imagination! Now I¡¯m giving you a chance to live; immediately inform the Lakato family to abandon the siege on the William family, or I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± The domineering voice made the man shiver uncontrollably, aware that today¡¯s events were unlikely to end well. ¡°I don¡¯t have the final say. There are many factions within the Lakato Family, and a decision must be made collectively before a result can be given.¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly: ¡°So in other words, you¡¯re essentially worthless.¡± As his words fell, he lifted his finger and pressed it against the man¡¯s forehead. The man¡¯s body convulsed for a moment before he collapsed. Luo Sanpao had caught up by this point, and his eyes were full of shock. He hadn¡¯t seen clearly how Chen Yu had done it; these people just fell down. ¡°Young brother, are you carrying some sort of electric shock device? Show me what weapon it is that¡¯s so powerful.¡± Chen Yu did not respond but picked up the man from before and started searching through his belongings. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Chapter 412 Severe Torture Interrogation Chapter 412: Chapter 412 Severe Torture Interrogation The people in the castle had also come out at this moment, clearing the surroundings. The members of the Lakato Family had merely been stunned unconscious, not truly dead, and it was imperative to gain control over them before they awoke. After searching for a while, Chen Yu pulled out a map. The place marked on it was indeed the Muta Ancient Country. Indeed, the pursuit of Victor had just been these guys¡¯ excuse all along. ¡°Mr. Chen, what is this thing?¡± Luo Sanpao came up close, staring intently at the map. He was fairly familiar with the desert region; the entire topography of the desert was etched into his mind. But his complexion changed drastically when he saw the location marked on the map. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the deepest part of the Tarim Basin? One can¡¯t simply go there lightly; no one has ever emerged safely from there.¡± Without a word, Chen Yu silently took the map and entered the ancient castle. The woman from before followed closely behind, not leaving him by half a step. In the blink of an eye, so many people from the Lakato Family lay on the ground like dead dogs; such was true capability. No matter whether Chen Yu was a member of the Knights of the Round Table or not, staying by his side could certainly lead to a promising future. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. The woman hesitated briefly before hurrying forward, ¡°Sally!¡± Chen Yu considered for a moment, ¡°Alright, from now on, you¡¯ll follow me. However, I need you to help me locate the ancient town of Muta.¡± Sally was thrilled to the extreme; she had wandered the desert for so many years, longing to find someone to rely on, and now at last, she saw hope. ¡°Mr. Chen, from today onwards, I am your person. Whatever you ask of me, I will go through fire and water without any hesitation.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just grabbed a cup from the table and gulped down a drink. In the following days, the castle was relatively calm. All those from the Alato Family had been locked up, and Luo Sanpao specifically picked out a few for thorough interrogation, finally getting some useful information. What this group was after was not only the ancient town of Muta but also an ancient small town next to it. It was said that this small town was once a small country a long time ago. Apparently, they had migrated from the Loulan Ancient Country, but unlike Roland, they did not vanish into the annals of history but survived. Even though their numbers decreased, they had maintained the scale of a small town until now. Chen Yu spread the map out on the table, studying the route from here to the ancient town of Muta in detail. It was wisest to replenish supplies from the ancient castle before going there, and besides the castle lay the rigid Gobi desert, well-suited for a large convoy to travel on. ¡°Brother Chen, everything is ready. Let¡¯s set out now. Otherwise, if those bastards get ahead of us, it will be too late,¡± said Luo Sanpao, rushing to Chen Yu¡¯s side and stuffing the car keys into his hands. Over these days, Luo Sanpao had gotten quite familiar with Chen Yu. Plus, he was Jin Lingsu¡¯s underling, so he had great respect for Chen Yu. Stuffing the car keys into Chen Yu¡¯s hands was his way of telling him that from now on, everyone under him would follow Chen Yu¡¯s orders. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised. However, indeed, a clear leader was needed for a deep expedition into the Tarim Basin. Otherwise, this big group of people would scatter in all directions upon reaching the depths of the desert, the consequences of which were unimaginable. Chen Yu glanced at Victor sitting next to him. ¡°I saw earlier that you have a helicopter here, is it possible to send Mr. Victor and Katherine away first?¡± Luo Sanpao nodded. ¡°Of course, it just so happens that I have two professional pilots here, who wouldn¡¯t be of much use following us into the desert anyway, so let them go to Europe to look for buyers for us. Who knows, we might even find some incredible treasures in the ancient city.¡± Chen Yu walked over to Katherine and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°You must take good care of Mr. Victor during this journey.¡± Katherine nodded vigorously, then helped Victor to a clearing outside the castle. Beside the stone wall was a gate, and upon opening it, a modified helicopter slowly emerged. Victor did not linger and, after greeting Chen Yu, boarded the helicopter. Luo Sanpao ordered his men to pack up all the supplies in the castle and formed an impressive caravan. The place they were headed to was deep in the desert, and without sufficient supplies, it simply wouldn¡¯t be feasible. As their current location was the most essential waystation before reaching that destination, should others arrive here they might plunder it completely. Luo Sanpao decided not to leave anyone behind, and on departure, he set numerous traps around the outskirts of the castle. Any bold enough to launch an assault on the castle was doomed to a one-way trip. The caravan moved steadily westward, without the slightest pause, and after an indeterminate length of time, they finally reached a sizable oasis. Although not large, this place allowed them to replenish their water supply, and nearby, there were two camel caravans passing through. Luo Sanpao became alert at the sight of the camel caravans, took up arms from the vehicle, and went over to check with a couple of men. The camel caravans seemed ordinary at first glance, but closer scrutiny revealed an oddly large number of people, and the camels were carrying slightly fewer goods than expected. Anyone traversing the desert would carry as much cargo as possible. Such a rough journey with so little to ship wouldn¡¯t cover the costs at all. ¡°Where are you transporting these goods?¡± Luo Sanpao asked bluntly, pressing his weapon to the forehead of the man leading the group. That man, accustomed to the world, stood silently with an air of neither subservience nor arrogance. He then gestured to someone beside him, who quickly brought over a list of goods. It contained items like jewels and the like. Seeing the list, Luo Sanpao breathed a sigh of relief, as transporting these items through the desert was normal, with each piece being worth a fortune on its own. Just as he was about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly rushed over, grabbed the arm of the camel team leader. ¡°You lot really are persistent, we just cleared out some of your people recently, and I didn¡¯t expect you to get here so quickly.¡± This statement turned all the eyes present upon them. Before they could react, Chen Yu suddenly attacked, pinning the leader under his foot, and then a blue-white light emitted from him. ¡°Brother Chen, what¡¯s going on?¡± Chen Yu coldly stared at the two camel caravans before him. ¡°They are from the Akato Family, each one of them carrying a large amount of weapons. They were just about to kill you.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 413: Ruins of the Ancient City Chapter 413: Chapter 413: Ruins of the Ancient City ¡°` Luo Sanpao felt a wave of fear, realizing he had just narrowly escaped the jaws of death. After catching his breath, he viciously kicked the team leader¡¯s body several times. ¡°Damn it, these guys were well hidden. On the surface, you couldn¡¯t tell they were from the Akato Family.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and began searching the bodies. He indeed found many maps on them, all detailing the route to the small town. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. We must keep moving through the night!¡± Luo Sanpao was startled, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be rash. Walking in the desert at night is tantamount to seeking death.¡± Chen Yu, on the other hand, was unperturbed. He pieced together a few maps in his hand and spread them out on the ground. ¡°There¡¯s an ancient city ruin over there that should be habitable. We¡¯ll set up camp there.¡± Luo Sanpao frowned¡ªhe knew the ancient city ruins could serve as a temporary campsite, but it would take at least six hours by car to get there. Based on their current pace, they would probably arrive in the middle of the night. ¡°Brother, look, there¡¯s water and an oasis here. Can we¡­¡± Before he could finish, Chen Yu was already heading back to the convoy. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. It won¡¯t be long before the Lakato Family¡¯s men catch up. Let¡¯s keep moving forward.¡± Before leaving, Sanpao had ordered everyone to follow Chen Yu¡¯s commands. At this point, they didn¡¯t dare to disagree. With no other choice, Luo Sanpao got into the vehicle. This time he took the passenger seat next to Chen Yu, holding the map and compass to guide the way. About half an hour later, Luo Sanpao suddenly realized something and hurriedly placed the map on the windshield. ¡°Brother, have we taken a wrong turn? According to the map, we should bypass this canyon to reach the ruins!¡± Chen Yu drew a straight line on the map with his hand. ¡°We can¡¯t follow the old route anymore. Taking all those twists and turns is a waste of time. Let¡¯s go straight through here.¡± Luo Sanpao¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s not that I disagree with your plan, but I¡¯ve been through this road before¡ªit¡¯s quicksand. Trying to force our way through might bury our entire convoy.¡± A strange curve formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°With me here, the convoy will definitely get through safely.¡± Luo Sanpao was immediately panicked. Even those who had traversed the desert for decades wouldn¡¯t dare take this route lightly. While he was still in a daze, the car entered the quicksand area. This place was known as the Sea of Death¡ªmany in the older generation had attempted to cross it but none succeeded. Luo Sanpao¡¯s heart was in his throat. At this point, he didn¡¯t know whether to continue trusting Chen Yu. After gasping for air, Luo Sanpao tightened his seatbelt and gripped the armrest with his other hand. Chen Yu simply laughed and took out his walkie-talkie. ¡°From now on, all vehicles must follow directly behind me without the slightest deviation, understood?¡± Only after receiving responses from all the vehicles did Chen Yu put down the walkie-talkie, then he floored the accelerator. The place seemed very calm, but the slightest inattention would result in sinking into quicksand. Chen Yu seemed extremely familiar with it, turning the car this way and that, and actually managed to avoid all the quicksand steadily. ¡°` After about half an hour of travel, they miraculously made it through the Sea of Death. Luo Sanpao was thrilled to the extreme, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s arm in excitement. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re truly a godsend. How did you know the route just now? Have you been through here before?¡± Chen Yu pointed to the map beside him. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it mark all the routes? We just need to follow them step by step! And as for the quicksand, anyone with a bit of desert experience could spot it and simply walk around it.¡± Luo Sanpao was stunned for a moment; that had sounded too easy. The quicksand in the desert was not so easy to spot. Dunes, Gobi, sinkholes¡ªthese things were intertwined with the yellow sand and extremely difficult to distinguish. Even someone with decades of desert experience couldn¡¯t have identified them so quickly, especially since they had just sped through the Sea of Death at full throttle. Luo Sanpao did not continue to ask but instead looked at Chen Yu with admiration. Initially, it was only out of respect for Jin Lingsu that he had handed over command to Chen Yu, but now he genuinely regarded Chen Yu as his leader. The caravan drove for nearly another hour until they finally reached the ruins. They had shaved a full four hours off the originally scheduled time. This place was a small kingdom over two thousand years ago, thriving due to its location on the Silk Road. Unfortunately, after the An Lushan Rebellion, it gradually declined and ultimately left only the ruins before them. Chen Yu scanned the ruins with his system and quickly found several safe spots. He called everyone over, divided them into several teams, and dispersed them to the locations he had marked. ¡°We are now deep in the desert, and no one can guarantee what dangers the night might bring. Everyone must stay alert, and we cannot skip the three-shifts sentry duty!¡± These men were Luo Sanpao¡¯s subordinates, some having lived in the desert since childhood, familiar with the rules of the desert. Without Chen Yu¡¯s reminder, they already knew what to do. It wasn¡¯t long before the camp was set up neatly by the group. Chen Yu made his way to a cavern. The ruins were constructed using a composite binding structure, which made them quite sturdy in some ways. Even now, as ruins covered by yellow sand, they still remained habitable. Chen Yu arranged his bedding and was about to settle down to sleep when suddenly he turned over. At that moment, the system had transmitted the entire three-dimensional layout of the ruins into his mind, and he was surprised to discover an underground palace beneath the ruins. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jin Lingsu was also alert, thinking Chen Yu might have sensed something amiss. ¡°There¡¯s something below!¡± Chen Yu responded and then grabbed a shovel from nearby, digging fiercely into a spot. Soon enough, he uncovered a small hole just big enough for one person. Jin Lingsu was also astonished; she had not expected such a secret to lie beneath a place abandoned for two thousand years. Chen Yu said nothing more and went straight down. The two slid down along the small opening and after a while reached a fairly spacious underground palace. A dazzling golden light burst forth instantly; the place was actually filled with a tremendous amount of gold, and the murals on the walls were also painted with copious amounts of gold powder, making it look splendid and majestic. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Chapter 414 Fluorescent Coatings Chapter 414: Chapter 414 Fluorescent Coatings Jin Lingsu¡¯s mouth gaped open in amazement as she stared at everything before her. ¡°I never thought we¡¯d have such an unexpected find this time, if we can move these items out, they¡¯ll be worth a fortune.¡± Chen Yu immediately rolled his eyes. Speaking of which, with Jin Lingsu¡¯s current assets ranked globally, how could she still be so obsessed with wealth? He didn¡¯t ask any further questions but simply followed a narrow path forward for a few steps, and soon he came upon a large door. Jin Lingsu caught up as well. ¡°Could there be more treasures behind the door? Can it be opened?¡± Chen Yu nodded, as the system had already downloaded all the mechanisms in the area into his mind when he entered. The large door in front of them employed a spiral mechanism, concealing numerous crossbows, any careless move might result in being shot to death. Chen Yu was not afraid of these; he simply pressed lightly on the walls nearby, and the large door slowly opened. Inside there were no treasures, but a multitude of coffins, and next to each coffin were several small chests filled with gold and jewels. Jin Lingsu immediately became excited and was about to move a chest. ¡°Don¡¯t touch anything, all these items are coated with poison. Just one touch, and you¡¯ll die on the spot.¡± Jin Lingsu immediately stepped back several paces, her face growing dark. ¡°Those guys really, even in death they claim these treasures, not leaving anything for the living.¡± Chen Yu looked around and then pulled Jin Lingsu out of the hall. ¡°This place was designed with two layers, the gold set out on the outside is meant to bribe those who come later, to take the gold and leave, not touching the things inside.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded again and again, grabbed handfuls of gold, and walked toward the entrance. Luo Sanpao was distributing food outside with several people, but when it came to Jin Lingsu¡¯s turn, he found the tunnel empty, except for a smaller hole nearby. ¡°Sister Jin, Brother Chen, where have you gone?¡± Luo Sanpao shouted and was about to crawl into the small hole. ¡°What are you shouting for?¡± Jin Lingsu emerged from the small hole somewhat impatiently, scattering the gold in her hands on the ground. ¡°Seal this place up, make a mark, and we¡¯ll dig out the gold inside when we come back from the ancient city of Mutuo.¡± Luo Sanpao couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; he hadn¡¯t expected a seemingly inconspicuous ruin to hide a treasure beneath. ¡°My God, there¡¯s gold inside? How much?¡± Chen Yu followed out of the small hole: ¡°Enough for you to build another castle anywhere in the desert.¡± Luo Sanpao was thrilled, such a find was truly unexpected. As they were talking, a sudden, tremendous noise came from outside. Luo Sanpao¡¯s eyes widened, and he hurriedly rushed out. For some reason, a large number of troops were moving around the outskirts of the ruins, but it was unknown to whom they belonged. This ruin was exceedingly hidden, and to reach it, one would either have to take a long detour or travel through the Sea of Death. ¡°What in blazes, where did these people come from?¡± Luo Sanpao was utterly bewildered. However, he didn¡¯t dwell on it and immediately ordered his men to take positions. Chen Yu crouched there with his eyes slightly narrowed. When he had come, he had scouted all the paths, and there were no other teams at all, unless they had followed them here along the Sea of Death. The route in that place was calculated by him through the system, outsiders couldn¡¯t possibly know it. That is to say, there was a traitor among the team! Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly, and immediately, a blue-white glow was released from his body, and the brain information of everyone present instantly appeared in his mind. Before long, he locked onto a thin man. This guy had an extremely wicked appearance, so just by looking at him, one knew he was no good, and while everyone else was energetically unobstructed, he was actually hiding behind a small hillock, holding a signal transmitter, ready to release it at any moment. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he directly followed to the small slope. The man was startled when he saw Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you come here?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled up slightly, and after sizing the man up, he stepped forward and directly grabbed his collar, ripping it violently. A large amount of secret fluorescent paint fell off the man¡¯s body. This stuff was not ordinary paint, once on the ground, it could last a very long time. Even in sandy terrain, it could ensure it wouldn¡¯t immediately deform. ¡°I remember telling everyone to carry a large amount of food when we set off, why do you have so much fluorescent paint?¡± The man was scared out of his wits: ¡°It¡¯s easy to get lost in the desert, sometimes you have to make marks, this is what Brother Sanpao taught us.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he directly pressed the man to the ground and pulled a communication device from his waist. The frequency set on it was three more than the frequency used by the motorcade, it was obviously used for contacting the outside world. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, and he directly tore off the communication device, then, grabbing the man by the back of his head, he brought him in front of Luo Sanpao. ¡°We have a traitor in our team, this guy has been in contact with the Lakato Family all along!¡± When Luo Sanpao saw the man, he was stunned, this guy had been loyally following him since he was a child, and such a person had actually betrayed him. After taking a moment to regulate his breath, Luo Sanpao directly grabbed the man¡¯s collar. ¡°You little rascal, I raised you with my own hands, why would you betray me?¡± The man¡¯s breathing became extremely rapid. ¡°Luo Sanpao, you have so much wealth in your hands, why not go to the big cities? Why must you nest in the desert? Do you want your brothers to spend their whole lives in this godforsaken place?¡± Luo Sanpao was taken aback, he was not interested in the outside world, nor did he like those flashy places, they only blinded people¡¯s eyes. He had thought that these children who grew up in the desert deeply loved the land beneath their feet, but unexpectedly, they were still enamored with the outside world. ¡°It seems someone has promised you something!¡± Luo Sanpao sighed deeply, then grabbed the man and threw him out. The man didn¡¯t falter, raised his hands high, and ran towards the other side. As he ran, he was still shouting the slogans they had agreed upon. But he hadn¡¯t expected that the people of the Lakato Family didn¡¯t care about his life and death at all, and a car came crashing over, sending him flying with a single blow. Then, a middle-aged man with a very distinctive outfit got out of the car, took off his gloves, raised his hands, and slowly walked towards the ruins. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Chapter 415 Under My Control Chapter 415: Chapter 415 Under My Control ¡°Mr. Luo, I am Snow from the Lakato Family, I¡¯ve come to discuss cooperation with you!¡± This call sounded quite sincere, and since the fellow carried no weapons, it immediately put Luo Sanpao at ease. However, he did not immediately come out of hiding. ¡°How do you wish to cooperate?¡± Snow took out some metallic objects from his person and laid them on the ground. ¡°The ancient city of Mutu isn¡¯t just a branch of the Roland Clan; it also houses assassins who escaped from the hands of the elder in the mountains, and there are some ties with our Lakato Family as well. Without our help, you won¡¯t be able to enter the ancient city.¡± Luo Sanpao was stunned for a moment. Mutu ancient city, located at the heart of the desert, was incredibly dangerous, and no one could guarantee what kind of mechanisms lay there. If his people barged in like headless flies, they might all meet their end. As he pondered, Chen Yu suddenly stood up. ¡°Mr. Snow, the tokens you¡¯re using as a bargaining chip are nothing more than these keys to the mechanisms. Do you really think we can¡¯t solve the city¡¯s puzzles?¡± Snow was taken aback, ¡°So Mr. Chen is also part of the team, meaning that Mr. Luo has already reached an agreement with your Knights of the Round Table!¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu took a confident step forward and grabbed Snow by the throat. ¡°I have a strong dislike for people from your Lakato Family, and my relationship with Mr. Victor is very good. If necessary, I will find a way to eliminate your family! Do not test my limits, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Snow¡¯s breathing became rapid; he had not expected Chen Yu¡¯s hostility towards him to be so profound. ¡°Sir, please be calm. The incident with William¡¯s family was an accident. There are many factions within the Lakato Family as well. After returning, we will try to resolve the internal conflicts and cease the pursuit of William¡¯s family.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow; this Snow was indeed much more amiable compared to the Lakato Family members he had encountered before. However, this fellow was also ruthless. The man who had sent them the message just now had been rammed to death by him. ¡°Are you trying to make a deal with me?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice was ice-cold, causing Snow to shiver involuntarily. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it. As long as Mr. Chen agrees to cooperate with our Lakato Family, from today onwards we will never lay a hand on William¡¯s family.¡± Chen Yu glanced over the people Snow had brought with him and then took a step back. In comparison, the number of people from the Lakato Family that had arrived here was not large, just a third of Luo Sanpao¡¯s team. Although uncertain whether they had other forces hidden in the shadows, as long as these people followed beside the team, they would always remain under Chen Yu¡¯s surveillance, preventing them from stirring up trouble. ¡°I can strike a deal with you, but once we enter the ancient city of Mutu, everyone must follow my command.¡± Snow nodded repeatedly and took out a token from his body, handing it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is my personal token. From now on, everyone behind me will follow your orders.¡± Chen Yu said no more but instructed Luo Sanpao to allocate a few caves for Snow¡¯s men to rest in first. Still, he remained cautious, specifically arranging some men to patrol outside these caves. Even though they had reached an agreement, one must always guard against others, for who knew what tricks these people might pull. The night passed without incident, and the next morning everyone packed up their belongings and set off en masse. ¡°Mr. Chen, is it really alright to bring these people along? Might they turn against us en route?¡± Luo Sanpao was somewhat worried. Although Snow was carrying a significant number of metal keys that could save them a great deal of effort once they entered the ancient city, the power was in their hands. If they used the keys to set traps for them upon reaching the city, there would be no place left for them to even cry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, cooperating with them is just to ensure the safety of William¡¯s family. Moreover, once we enter the ancient city, we don¡¯t necessarily need the key in their hands.¡± Luo Sanpao, reminded of how easily Chen Yu had found the underground chamber beneath the ruins, felt much more at ease. Having found such a secluded place, cracking the mechanism to open the ancient city would be a piece of cake. The caravan moved smoothly forward, and after an entire day¡¯s journey, they finally arrived at the small town in the rumors. The place did not resemble the dilapidated state of legend. Although all the buildings were made of old wood and mud, everything looked quite imposing. Moreover, a large number of vehicles had already stopped at the town¡¯s entrance, suggesting that some people had arrived before them. After getting out of the car, Chen Yu went directly to a guesthouse in the center of town. This was almost the busiest spot in the entire town, with over a dozen small vendors just outside the entrance. As he walked in, several flamboyantly dressed waitresses immediately came up to greet him. ¡°Would you like to stay at our guesthouse, sir? Would you like something to eat as well?¡± Without responding immediately, Chen Yu just squinted his eyes and look around. It didn¡¯t take long for him to fix his gaze on a table. He didn¡¯t bother with formalities, walking straight over and sitting down beside it, pouring himself a drink from a cup on the table. A few burly men, startled by Chen Yu¡¯s bold entrance, hurriedly got to their feet. ¡°Mr. Chen, what brings you here?¡± The men before him were subordinates of the Childe Family, and could be considered Fox¡¯s personal bodyguards. Clearly, their presence here was under orders from Fox. ¡°Are you few here representing the Childe Family or the Knights of the Round Table?¡± The burly men exchanged confused glances. Soon, the leader respectfully approached Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, we are here to search for the ancient city of Mutuo on behalf of the Childe Family. Everyone gathered in this town shares the same goal as us! Right now, we are planning how to find the city before the others do. ¡± Chen Yu picked up some mutton from the table and took a big bite. ¡°Good, I also want to go to Mutuo ancient city. From now on, you guys will follow my orders.¡± The men exchanged looks but hesitated to respond. Although Chen Yu was an honorary director of the Childe Family and a member of the Knights of the Round Table, he could not represent Fox. Their orders had come directly from Fox, and to cede complete control to Chen Yu here would be tantamount to betrayal. ¡°Mr. Chen, we need to consult Mr. Fox about this! Please, understand.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, just waved his hand dismissively and leaned back in his chair, continuing to eat his mutton. The leading man immediately took out a satellite phone to contact Fox. Just then, a loud explosion suddenly echoed through the hall. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: Chapter 416: Area Damage Chapter 416: Chapter 416: Area Damage In the very center of the hall, there always sat four individuals with somewhat odd builds. Ever since they had entered, they had been sitting there, exuding an aura of deep secrecy, not ordering food or speaking to each other, just watching one another like robots. The waitstaff had approached them a few times to ask, but they avoided conversation with simple language, as if they were incapable of saying anything else. When the explosion occurred, Chen Yu¡¯s system immediately sounded an alarm, and he dodged to the side in time to avoid being hit by the shrapnel from the blast. Those who had not managed to escape in time suffered greatly, some even had several gaping holes frozen through them. ¡°The smart robots were covered with a layer of human skin, and the programs operating within them were the most rare ionic energy programs.¡± The voice from the system stirred up a storm inside Chen Yu¡¯s heart; he had not expected to encounter such high-tech here. However, those who could create machines of this caliber were usually from super organizations. The expressions of the Childe Family bodyguards nearby made it clear that these robots weren¡¯t sent here by the Knights of the Round Table. Chen Yu immediately maxed out his system¡¯s scanning function to cover the entire store and found that apart from these four robots, there were three more upstairs. Only one of the four robots had exploded; the remaining three had also initiated their self-destruct mechanisms. Basing on the power of the blast just now, if these three were to explode at once, they would reduce the entire store to ashes. Chen Yu¡¯s body flickered, and in a blink, he was in front of the three. Before anyone else could react, his fingers had already pressed against the chests of the three robots in succession. A series of crackling noises came from their bodies, and then they collapsed onto the ground. Without a moment to catch his breath, Chen Yu dashed upstairs. The second floor seemed to be a VIP area, and at this time, there were not many people. The three individuals were sitting in the very middle. Sensing the blast from below, they emitted a dazzling flame-like radiance. Chen Yu charged forward immediately, releasing a burst of blue and white light, directly neutralizing their self-destruct mechanisms. He only breathed a sigh of relief after all three of them lay fallen on the ground. The restaurant staff rushed out in panic, and without hesitation, they advanced toward Chen Yu to seize him when they saw him standing there. After all, a man who easily subdued six robots definitely wasn¡¯t ordinary, and he seemed all too familiar with these robots. Anyone would think of the possibility that Chen Yu was the creator of the robots, or at the very least, that he had brought them there. Chen Yu furrowed his brow, indifferent to what these people thought. A glow suddenly radiated from his body, sending them flying with a shockwave, and then he walked up to a man who looked worn and even a bit disheveled. ¡°Boss, I just happen to know where the switch on these robots is, nothing more. I¡¯m not involved with them in any way.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened in alarm as he quickly stood up. He had been here for many years and no one had ever penetrated his disguise. This town was a vital pass-through for discussions among various organizations, and he had always disguised himself like this, sitting by a pillar to observe every person passing by. Yet today, Chen Yu had identified him with such ease. He didn¡¯t dare to linger here any longer, hastily pulling Chen Yu up to a small room on the third floor. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but your technique is just too skilled. For safety reasons, I must have you restrained.¡± Chen Yu could understand this point. He didn¡¯t say much, just sat down on the side, picked up a wine glass, and gulped down two mouthfuls. It had to be said, the white wine in the owner¡¯s room was really delicious. The bottle on the table alone had aged for forty years. ¡°What a fine wine!¡± Chen Yu exclaimed, then turned to the owner. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too cautious, dressing up like this?¡± The owner sighed helplessly, sat down opposite Chen Yu, and poured himself a glass of wine. ¡°I have no choice. You know, the location of our small town is extremely sensitive. To enter the nearby ancient cities, one must resupply here. Sometimes, a group of unreasonable guys comes along. They don¡¯t pay at all; they just rob the store. Many owners have been killed this way.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and he leaned in excitedly toward the owner. ¡°Are you saying there¡¯s more than one ancient city around here?¡± The owner didn¡¯t hide anything: ¡°That¡¯s right, Mutuo Ancient City is just one of them. There are several other small cities built by the descendants of the ancient Western Regions¡¯ thirty-six countries, and they too contain a great deal of treasure.¡± Chen Yu sucked in a breath of cold air. He had only wanted to see for himself what the so-called ¡°elixir of life¡± in Mutuo Ancient City was all about, but he hadn¡¯t expected to find such a windfall. As the two were talking, a middle-aged man rushed into the room hurriedly. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s terrible, our people have suffered heavy casualties. If they don¡¯t get treated soon, I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t survive.¡± The owner immediately stood up and rushed downstairs in a flurry. The recent explosion had damaged many items in the first-floor shop, and the resulting fragments had injured quite a few people. At least thirty people were lying on the ground, crying and calling for their parents. This place was already deep in the desert, lacking even basic necessities, let alone finding a doctor. The few doctors that the shop regularly had on hand were nothing more than quacks who, at most, could bandage a wound. They were helpless when it came to injuries of this severity. The owner was so anxious he was pacing in circles. If only one or two people died during normal times, it wouldn¡¯t matter much since they were deep in the desert and no one would come to bother him. But in recent days, the world¡¯s top organizations and families had convened here. If these people started causing trouble, both he and his shop might disappear from this world. Chen Yu saw the dilemma the owner was facing. Without saying much, he went downstairs to an injured man, lifted his hand, lightly tapped a few times on the man¡¯s chest and then grabbed a piece of cloth to stop the bleeding. The owner¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he had not expected Chen Yu could heal people. Chen Yu had only just arrived here, and the owner hadn¡¯t had time to collect information about him. He only knew from some simple media information that Chen Yu was a chef. He hesitated for a moment, not daring to doubt any longer, and immediately called down all the employees in the shop to help out. It wasn¡¯t long before the people injured in the explosion stabilized. Just as Chen Yu was preparing to provide further treatment, several stiff-bodied guys suddenly burst in. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: Chapter 417 Buying a Map Chapter 417: Chapter 417 Buying a Map All those present became vigilant. These individuals were strangely rigid-bodied, almost identical to the robots from before. Some even glanced over and charged at them, trying to hack these individuals to death. But when their weapons struck these people, they only sparked, failing to cause any damage. At this, the shop¡¯s occupants were tense to the extreme, their eyes filled with horror. Chen Yu, however, didn¡¯t care for that, walking straight up and taking out the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s Token. ¡°May I ask which organization you are from? Could you please state your name?¡± The robots remained silent, just scattered to either side, making way for a path, and then a man dressed quite modernly walked out with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that the new member of the Knights of the Round Table is very young. I thought you¡¯d be about my age, but it turns out you¡¯re nearly thirty.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man also took out a token from his body, except that his token was purely white, and there was a distinct mechanical whirring sound coming from it. ¡°Sky Language Deep Blue, Bai Menglong!¡± At this name, everyone present was startled; some even turned tail and ran as if they had seen something terrifying. Chen Yu, on the other hand, appeared calm. He had indeed heard about this organization from Fox; it was said to be the only super organization established by a single family dynasty. The Bai Family built their fortune through maritime Silk Road centuries ago and later settled in Nanyang. In modern times, they followed the model of other organizations, gathering their family members to create an organization. The foresight of this family was incredibly advanced; the premise of their organization¡¯s creation was technology, and to this day, the Bai Family¡¯s technology nearly leads the world. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°So, it¡¯s the Bai Family¡¯s young master Bai. But isn¡¯t it a bit too much to explode robots on someone else¡¯s turf without reason? After all, they are running a business here. Who will compensate for the losses?¡± Bai Menglong laughed heartily, then took out a banknote bill and placed it on the table. ¡°I was merely testing the blast radius and lethality of my robots. I had already adjusted the explosive damage to one percent, which certainly won¡¯t cause too much harm. Consider this money my compensation.¡± A banknote with a face value of one hundred million indeed showed sincerity, but exploding someone¡¯s place and simply offsetting it with money seemed a bit high-handed. The shopkeeper didn¡¯t care, quickly stepped forward to take the banknote, and said thanks twice. For him, this was the best outcome. If they didn¡¯t let the matter drop at this point, who knew what chaos it might cause. Chen Yu did not say anything more and continued his treatment of the injured. Bai Menglong, on the other hand, led several robots straight to a private room on the second floor. The shop, bustling just moments ago, suddenly became silent, with fear on everyone¡¯s faces. If just one percent of a robot¡¯s self-destruction power is this terrifying, what would it be like if it were fully unleashed? Members of major organizations whispered among themselves and contacted their superiors immediately, wishing to acquire all information on the Bai Family in the shortest time possible. After Chen Yu had settled all the injured, he left the shop with Jin Lingsu and started to roam the small town. The place had a certain exotic charm; the pedestrians, though few, were very ethnically diverse. ¡°We originally thought we were the first to arrive. Didn¡¯t expect so many would come!¡± Jin Lingsu sighed helplessly and peeled a peanut before popping it into her mouth. Chen Yu also displayed a gloomy face. He had never wanted to get caught up in the conflicts between the major organizations, but ever since he arrived at Dongming Canyon, it seemed like he had lost control of his fate. ¡°Maps for sale! Maps covering a six-hundred-mile radius!¡± A shout suddenly came from a small stall not too far away, and Chen Yu¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. The area within several hundred miles was all desert, with numerous subterranean rivers and quicksand. Just figuring out the terrain was a challenge, so having a map would be quite helpful. Without giving it much thought, he made a beeline for the stall. The vendor was a boy of about ten, who became excited when he saw Chen Yu approaching. ¡°Sir, buy a map, just for a hundred thousand.¡± Jin Lingsu immediately showed her dissatisfaction, ¡°Are you trying to rob us, kid?¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more. He simply pulled out a banknote worth a hundred thousand and tossed it onto the stall, then picked up a map. In such extreme conditions, two things were most valuable: one was water and food, the other was a map. No matter how high the price for these items, there would always be buyers. The boy immediately beamed with joy, selecting a relatively complete map to hand over. Chen Yu unfolded the map and found that the depicted terrain and landmarks were very detailed, marking nearly all the significant buildings nearby, including the Muda ancient city. This was far more detailed than any map they had obtained before. ¡°Sir, when you buy a map, we also have some bonuses.¡± With that shout, the boy took out a big bunch of metal keys and stuffed them over. These were the same keys Snow had brought out earlier, even the material was identical. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened; he hadn¡¯t expected these items to be given away for free here. Among the items the boy gifted were also several jade pendants emitting a pale blue glow. They seemed to be intended for use in combination with the keys. ¡°Are these items common around here?¡± Chen Yu asked subconsciously. The boy shook his head, ¡°Not many, even my little stall only has a few copies.¡± Chen Yu gaped. If that was the case, selling them for a hundred thousand seemed too cheap. Just as he was about to ask for more details, two burly men approached the stall. ¡°Kid, give me a map.¡± The two brutes were big and strong-looking, with intimidating scars on their faces that would have scared anyone half to death, but the boy stood his ground, staring them down with a resolute gaze. ¡°Five hundred thousand!¡± Hearing the price, the two men flew into a rage. One of them lifted his machete to the boy¡¯s neck. ¡°Kid, I came to buy a map, doing you a favor and you still have the nerve to ask for money? Looks like you¡¯re tired of living, tired of living indeed. Today I¡¯ll let you taste what it¡¯s like to have your head chopped off.¡± As his words fell, he raised the machete. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Chapter 418 Detailed Map Chapter 418: Chapter 418 Detailed Map Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning, these two guys were too domineering, always ready to kill at the drop of a hat. But just as he was about to step forward to intervene, an arrow suddenly shot out from a house behind him. The man holding the large saber had his neck pierced in an instant and fell down, while the other burly man¡¯s eyes widened dramatically, and before he could react, two more arrows were shot out. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected this seemingly harmless little boy to have such a trick up his sleeve. The next moment, two men rushed out from the house behind, disposed of the two strong men¡¯s corpses, and took all of their belongings. Chen Yu immediately understood the business model of this shop. Even if the map was sold at a high price, how much could they really earn? What they sold was perhaps a degree of respect. If someone like Chen Yu threw down money generously, they would not only hand over the map with both hands but also provide some key items. But if someone was as unreasonable and overbearing as those two big men, wanting to kill for the map, then they would end up with nothing, neither money nor lives. Jin Lingsu was stunned by this series of actions. She had mixed in the underworld too, but even she was not as ruthless and decisive as this little boy. Chen Yu raised his eyebrows and returned to the stall. ¡°Kid, this map only marks the macro coordinates and lacks detailed annotations, do you have a more accurate one, like an internal structural diagram of the ancient city of Mutuo?¡± As soon as he asked this, Jin Lingsu froze. Chen Yu was plainly courting death. The ancient city of Mutuo was one of the most famous ancient cities in the world, and both the legends about it and its internal structure were extremely mysterious. It was impossible for anyone in this world to have access to its internal structural diagrams. Unless they were descendants of the ancient city. But those people had been extinct since the last century. Even if such structural diagrams existed, they would be extremely precious, not something that could be handed over so easily. Jin Lingsu subconsciously looked beside Chen Yu, her hand gripping the golden spike at her waist, ready to act at the first sign of trouble. To her surprise, the little boy¡¯s face broke into a radiant smile, and he took out an exquisite leather scroll from his body. ¡°Of course, there is! But the price is a bit steep, big brother can make an offer, but if it doesn¡¯t meet our standards, then you will have to die here.¡± Chen Yu laughed heartily, seeming completely oblivious to the threat in the boy¡¯s words. ¡°The team I¡¯ve assembled this time is very large, and should be able to enter the ancient city of Mutuo smoothly. If you¡¯re willing, you can follow me, and take whatever you want from inside.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes lit up with no hesitation, and he handed the leather scroll over immediately. ¡°Then let¡¯s consider this a deal, but you need to leave something with me as security. In case we don¡¯t find what we want, it wouldn¡¯t be right to give away a map for nothing, would it?¡± Chen Yu nodded and took out a banknote with a face value of one hundred million from his body and placed it on the table. ¡°This should be enough, shouldn¡¯t it?¡± The boy examined the banknote, ¡°Enough!¡± Chen Yu grabbed the leather scroll and opened it to look. What was recorded on it was the detailed labyrinth map of the ancient city of Mutuo. With this, the entire ancient city was in the palm of his hand. The little boy collected the map from the stall and immediately blew a whistle. Behind him, more than a dozen strongly built men walked out of the room. These men were dressed in ethnic attire and were all very tall, averaging over two meters in height, with the tallest one reaching three meters. Chen Yu inhaled sharply, relieved that he had not looked for trouble with the little boy like the previous two men had. With such a lineup, he feared that even he would be no match for them. Without saying much more, Chen Yu found a relatively spacious farmhouse outside, and then settled everyone there. The inn was a jumble of good and bad elements, gathering so many forces. There was bound to be some enmity between them, especially Bai Menglong. That guy¡¯s purpose here was probably not only for the treasures in the ancient city but also to test his robots. If he went mad and randomly detonated the robots in his hand, who knows how many people would die. As night fell, the whole town quieted down. Although caravans continued to arrive here, they did not cause too much commotion. Chen Yu lay in bed, covering the entire town with the system so that he would be the first to know if there were any disturbances. Just as he was preparing to sleep, a figure in black suddenly appeared at the doorway. The man was very strange, his face twisted to the extreme as if it had been soaked in sulfuric acid. Chen Yu jumped out of bed with caution and made his way to the door. ¡°Is this the place?¡± The sulfuric-acid-faced man¡¯s voice was very hoarse and carried an intensely thick murderous intent. Another man in a black robe slowly walked out from a small alley beside them. ¡°This is it. We saw with our own eyes that kid getting the detailed map of the ancient city¡¯s underground palace during the day. If we don¡¯t grab it soon, the things inside the palace will be out of our reach.¡± The two men discussed some details and then directly rushed into the courtyard. But as soon as they entered, a blue-white light flashed, and their bodies began to contort rapidly before they fell to the ground. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were full of disdain, but he was still slightly frightened¡ªsomeone had tried to assassinate him right after he had obtained the map. If news of him getting the map spread by tomorrow, there was no telling how many people would come here looking for trouble. ¡°Old Luo!¡± Chen Yu shouted loudly, ¡°Tell the brothers not to sleep anymore; we leave tonight.¡± Luo Sanpao rolled out of bed in a tumbling manner. Having come this far, he had no doubt about Chen Yu¡¯s orders. He immediately ordered everyone to be woken up. Before long, they set out from the town gate in a grand procession. Snow had just arrived here today and had begun collecting supplies, and his caravan included many empty vehicles. Enough to carry away the extra people and resources. Everyone was very cautious, with some even muffling their mouths with cloth strips to prevent making noise. In less than half an hour, the caravan set off majestically. Only after traveling several dozen miles did Luo Sanpao finally breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Brother Chen, do we need to be this cautious? Could those guys really chase after us in the dark?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed, his face full of vigilance. ¡°That¡¯s hard to say. The things inside the ancient city are enough to drive everyone mad.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Chapter 419: The Green Slate Chapter 419: Chapter 419: The Green Slate The caravan dared not stop at all along the way and, guided by the map, quickly reached a fairly flat basin. Although driving at night in the desert was dangerous, with the ¡°System¡± by his side, Chen Yu didn¡¯t find it too troublesome. However, the magnetic field in this place was so strange that sometimes even the ¡°System¡± was affected. Therefore, they had no choice but to set up camp in this basin first. In some ways, this place was very remote and not far from the ancient city of Muda; it would only take a day to get there. Moreover, there was an underground watercourse flowing past the edge of the basin, which meant they could easily solve their water source problem. ¡°Brother Chen, you don¡¯t think those guys will chase us here, do you?¡± Luo Sanpao was somewhat worried. The journey so far had truly scared him. All sorts of dangers were endless, even for a seasoned veteran like him who could hardly defend against them all. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu by his side, he probably would have died several times over. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and picked up some firewood to toss into the nearby fire. ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that, the small town gathers too many forces, some of which might have already chosen to move toward the ancient city. They just don¡¯t dare to travel rashly at night; maybe we can still buy some time.¡± Luo Sanpao nodded, took a piece of mutton from the pot, took a bite, and then went down to arrange for his men to keep night watch. The Lakato Family¡¯s people didn¡¯t dare be careless. They informed Luo Sanpao of all their personnel, weapons, and equipment, and the two sides cooperated seamlessly. Chen Yu sighed deeply and retrieved a sleeping bag to lie down against a sand dune. This was an open basin with no caves or anywhere to hide, so they could only set up tents in the open air. This made it easy to give away their position, and if someone was really coming up from behind, they would be in danger. Chen Yu slapped his head and called out Ling Ling¡¯s name several times, but there was no response at all. The ¡°System¡± had been disrupted since entering this basin, often failing to make accurate scanning judgments. It had now entered a dormant state. Chen Yu was somewhat frustrated, but there was nothing more he could say, so he rested for a while. The night passed without disturbance, and at the break of dawn the next day, Luo Sanpao, along with a few of his trusted followers, began packing up the camp. The Lakato Family¡¯s members drove their trucks from the perimeter to the site. Just as everyone was preparing to leave, a great cloud of dust arose in the distance, and a vast fleet of vehicles approached, with many helicopters circling in the sky. No one knew how those guys managed to bring helicopters to this place. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed, clear in his mind that they could no longer stay in this place. ¡°Everyone, depart immediately!¡± He issued a command, jumped into the lead vehicle, and led everyone toward the direction of the ancient city. The closer they got to the ancient city, the more severe the magnetic disturbance became. All of the caravan¡¯s instrument panels and electromagnetic equipment lost their functions, and Chen Yu¡¯s ¡°System¡± remained unresponsive. At that moment, a series of explosions came from behind them. The helicopters that had been circling in the sky lost their bearings due to the magnetic interference, and the weapons they carried detonated out of control. The once orderly and majestic caravan was suddenly thrown into chaos. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that but had the person in the rear seat running a megaphone, shouting to the caravan to be careful. After an indeterminable amount of time, they finally arrived at some ruins. According to the markings on the map, this place is the legendary Mutuo ancient city. But a great number of ruins lay scattered before them, instilling an inexplicable sense of grief and indignation. It didn¡¯t resemble a location that would hold treasures, and the extent of the destruction was curious. The ruins Chen Yu and his team had encountered before were a hundred times better than this place. Luo Sanpao scratched his head. ¡°This is the famous Mutuo ancient city? Why does it look like this?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say and casually took a sandboard from nearby and slid down. After entering the ruins, he immediately spread out all the leather scrolls they had obtained on the ground. The maps were extremely detailed, from macro to micro, and by comparing them, the entrance to the underground palace was easily noticeable. But when Chen Yu pinpointed the entrance, he encountered a problem. In front of him stood a towering earthen wall pillar, which did not seem like an entrance at all. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Snow hurried over in a rush. This time, he represented the honor of the entire Lakato family, where no mistakes could be afforded. Moreover, promising Chen Yu not to pursue William¡¯s family had already broken some of the Lakato family¡¯s principles. If they left here empty-handed, he really didn¡¯t know how he would explain it to his people. Chen Yu frowned slightly and then raised his hand, pointing towards the pillar in front of him. ¡°The entrance to the ancient city is right there, but this place is too thick. Without a powerful enough explosive device, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be possible to blow it open.¡± Snow stood up and waved to several of his men behind him. ¡°Bring all the explosive devices from the car.¡± The strong men immediately went into action, carrying a huge pile of gunpowder towards them, and without waiting for Snow¡¯s order, they buried these items below the earthen wall and stone pillars. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and immediately got up and retreated dozens of meters, hiding behind an earthen wall. Following a thunderous explosion, that section of the earthen wall and stone pillars were swiftly reduced to rubble. But as expected, the entrance did not appear. Instead, an extremely hard stone slab emerged. The material of this thing was very similar to that of concrete and was incredibly hard. The powerful explosive had not managed to blast it open. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed. According to the map, this was indeed the entrance, but such a hard stone slab left him at a loss. ¡°Let me do this!¡± The little boy who had sold Chen Yu the map came over with two strong men; they took out several brightly colored metal keys and fumbled with them on the stone slab. Before long, they uncovered a small cap in a narrow area. Upon opening it, to their surprise, there were four keyholes inside. Chen Yu stared, wide-eyed. He had not expected these people to be so familiar with this place. Before he could speak, the four keys were already inserted, and afterward, the heavy stone slab slowly opened to both sides. The boy clapped his hands. ¡°Big brother, consider this an extra gift to you. But as for the mechanisms ahead, you¡¯ll have to rely on yourselves. We only have the internal layout of the underground palace, but we do not have a master chart of the mechanisms.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Chapter 420 Breaking into the Underground Palace Chapter 420: Chapter 420 Breaking into the Underground Palace Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much either, he patted the little boy on the shoulder and then led the way down. The people following behind were also clear-cut, they organized their equipment swiftly and marched down imposingly, but still leaving half their team outside on alert. The people trailing behind drew closer with each step and would soon reach the ancient city. Those remaining outside could only use their vehicles to encircle the edge of the ancient city and also set up sandbags on the spot. If those guys wanted to force their way in, they would have no choice but to engage. The underground palace turned out to be much more complicated than imagined, and Chen Yu felt somewhat overwhelmed as soon as he descended. Although his mind now contained all knowledge within human cognition, he was still unfamiliar with some of the mechanisms here. He could only rely on the knowledge in his mind to deduce backwards and barely managed to dismantle a few traps. But just these few traps left him dizzy and covered with sweat on his forehead, fearing that if he continued, he might faint. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect Mr. Chen to be so familiar with this place, with you here, we will soon be able to reach the depths of the underground palace.¡± Snow spoke without any discomfort of his own, even though he had long noticed the sweat beads on Chen Yu¡¯s forehead, he still chose to offer these flattering words, not wanting Chen Yu to stop. ¡°Kid, we¡¯ve given you enough respect already!¡± Jin Lingsu directly drew the golden spike from her waist. ¡°You¡¯d better stand there quietly, don¡¯t talk, or else I¡¯ll stab you to death.¡± Snow certainly understood the importance of Chen Yu, and since Jin Lingsu and Luo Sanpao were experts, he didn¡¯t dare act rashly, only able to squat by the wall and wait quietly. [System adaptive capability activated] [Synchronization with host¡¯s brain commencing] [Degree of fusion 60%¡­ 80%¡­ 100%] A nimble voice suddenly rang in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, stirring excitement within him. The next moment, blue and white light rippled out, instantly covering the entire underground palace, revealing all its traps and secret passages within his mind. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing slightly and then stood up, leaning against the wall. By this moment, the system¡¯s autonomous medical function had been activated, rapidly restoring his body. After several evolutions, the system now seemed like a human being with its consciousness. Within its protective functions, not only did it have defensive capabilities, but also medical ones, and it could even control the consumption of nutrients inside Chen Yu¡¯s body when necessary, helping to maintain his stamina. Seeing Chen Yu suddenly as if transformed into another person, Snow¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Mr. Chen, hadn¡¯t your strength completely depleted just now? How did you recover so quickly?¡± Jin Lingsu was not pleased, she immediately placed the golden spike against Snow¡¯s neck. ¡°Are you really serious about cooperating with us, or do you want to see our people get into trouble?¡± Startled, Snow quickly retreated several steps back. Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t say anything else; after all, they were in a cooperative relationship for now. If they were to start a conflict, both sides might immediately come to blows. In such a narrow place full of traps, if they were to fight, neither side would benefit. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much either, just kept walking deeper into the place by himself. After navigating several bends, they finally reached a large hall. This place looked extremely luxurious, with a vast amount of jewels piling up the entire room. Considering the scale of the treasures here, even if all those present worked for three days and nights, they might not be able to move out all the treasures. Chen Yu had no interest in these things and walked straight to a wall. He fiddled with the wall with his hand a few times, and the wall made a rumbling sound. Soon, a door appeared before them. Snow suddenly rushed in like a madman. ¡°This is it! We¡¯ve finally found it.¡± In the dark room, there was a spot filled with strange light. Snow headed straight for the light, then grabbed a glass bead placed on a high platform. The item was about the size of a baby¡¯s head, with a crystal-clear exterior, and it looked mystical on the inside, emitting a light that had a sacred aura. [Biological composite material can alter the structure of human cells, potentially extending life to some degree, but ninety-nine percent of people can¡¯t withstand the changes brought by this substance.] Chen Yu instantly understood everything, his face twisting into a curious arc, then he turned and left the place. Jin Lingsu was full of confusion, ¡°Are we not going in to take that bead with us?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°That item doesn¡¯t belong to us; we take as much of these treasures as we can carry.¡± The boy who sold the map appeared to have grasped the principle early on. He directly had the dozen or so strong men that came with him fill the prepared snake-skin bags with the treasures. Luo Sanpao was not to be outdone, filling his backpack to the brim with his own hands. At that moment, a large group of people charged grandly into the underground palace. They seemed to have a detailed map as well and quickly found this place, but their objective was clear¡ªthey only cared about the pillar on the high platform and nothing else. Chen didn¡¯t bother with much, as after everyone¡¯s backpacks were full, he led them out of the place. The guards outside deliberately opened a pathway, letting the outsiders in. When Chen Yu had entered, he had told them that if too many people came, they shouldn¡¯t entangle with the opposition, just letting them through would be enough. Most of those who arrived were from major organizations with the goal of eternal life; they had no interest in the gold and jewels on the side. Unfortunately, there was only one bead, which inevitably led to a struggle between them. Meanwhile, Chen Yu and his team could carry the gold and jewels out with peace of mind. A member of the Lakato family approached Chen Yu in a hurry. ¡°Where is Lord Snow?¡± Chen Yu pointed in the direction of the underground palace, ¡°He¡¯s still inside. But at this time, he¡¯s probably fighting with people from other organizations. Go take a look quickly.¡± All of the Lakato family members didn¡¯t dare to delay and rushed towards the palace. Chen Yu shook his head and didn¡¯t bother with the rest, instructing his people to load the gold and jewels onto vehicles before leaving the site with grandiosity. Not long after they left, the underground palace behind them erupted in a violent explosion. Chen Yu laughed heartily, his face filled with disdain. ¡°What a bunch of daydreamers, that bead isn¡¯t something just anyone can use. To exchange their lives for such a thing in a broken palace, it¡¯s beyond me what they were thinking.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: Chapter 421: The Merger of the Family Chapter 421: Chapter 421: The Merger of the Family The ancient city of Muto was situated at the extreme western end, and when Chen Yu and his group rushed out, they also headed west at full speed. In the struggle for the so-called elixir of immortality, various factions would certainly fight tooth and nail, and a deadly brawl in the ancient city was inevitable. Yet they managed to leave the place unscathed, which would undoubtedly fuel wild speculation, so they couldn¡¯t double back east but had to cross the border westward, heading straight for Europe. Snow might not be able to obtain what he wanted from among the various factions and would surely be furiously ashamed afterward. By then he would definitely rally the entire family¡¯s strength to strike at William¡¯s family out of spite. What Chen Yu needed to do now was to reach William¡¯s family in the shortest possible time. When they arrived at a small town at the far western end of the desert, several vehicles stopped. The boy selling maps got out of the vehicle and handed Chen Yu a crystal-clear gemstone. ¡°We¡¯ve collaborated with many people before, but either they stab us in the back halfway or abandon us on the road, only you have harbored no ulterior motives from beginning to end. Consider this a testament to our cooperation, and next time you have a matter, you can come directly to me with this.¡± Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected the boy to be so mature. About to speak, the burly man respectfully approached the boy. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve wasted too much time here; we must hurry back, or the old lady will get angry.¡± The boy nodded, then cast a teasing look at Chen Yu. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m thirty years old this year, I just have dwarfism, so my body will never grow!¡± With an optimistic explanation, the little boy then drove away with his men. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, he hadn¡¯t seen it coming. Jin Lingsu pulled Luo Sanpao to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve got what you wanted, there¡¯s no need to keep following us anymore. Take your people and find a place nearby to settle down.¡± Luo Sanpao was somewhat reluctant; while he loved the desert, he couldn¡¯t possibly stay there forever. ¡°Sis! Let me go with you, Brother Chen is practically a deity. If I can stay by his side, my future will be boundless!¡± Jin Lingsu gave Luo Sanpao a thump on the head. ¡°What are you thinking, can¡¯t you see the kind of people we¡¯re dealing with? No matter how powerful he is, can he protect you for a lifetime? You just stay here and build something for yourself. Who knows, we might need a place to stay one day, and we¡¯ll come to you for shelter.¡± Luo Sanpao chuckled, clearly touched by her words. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay here, but you all have to remember to come back and visit me.¡± Without another word, Jin Lingsu drove to the nearest airport with Chen Yu. Sally was standing not too far away, quietly watching the scene unfold. Back in the ancient city of Muto, Chen Yu had a heart-to-heart talk with her. He detailed the conflicts between the major organizations and what they were seeking to her. The girl was no fool; although she was keen on finding a strong backer for her later life, she was still able to distinguish right from wrong. Chen Yu¡¯s personal capabilities were beyond any organization, and as long as she waited here obediently, she would still be considered one of Chen Yu¡¯s people. Moreover, with Luo Sanpao¡¯s connection, sooner or later, Chen Yu would return to the desert to take her away. William¡¯s estate in Frankfurt. Victor could say he had walked through the gates of hell and survived, returning only to seclude himself behind closed doors. In the vast room, several elders of William¡¯s family sat with faces full of worry, while Victor lay in bed coughing incessantly. ¡°The Lakato Family is simply too powerful, their influence almost spans the entire world. Thinking of opposing them is like a fool dreaming.¡± ¡°It has been centuries, how can these guys still not let go?¡± ¡°The matter of our ancestors was long closed, yet now that they have the power, they have gone back on their word.¡± ¡°Just when we had a respite from the Edward Family stirring trouble, now we have to confront the Lakato Family. Is this God¡¯s punishment upon us?¡± ¡­ The few elders were extremely anxious, as William¡¯s family had indeed not reached this point easily. Moreover, several recent mishaps had already caused problems within William¡¯s family. If struck by the Lakato Family now, the entire clan might face absolute ruin. After coughing a few times, Victor sat up. ¡°No more talk, everything has come to this point. Immediately notify all of William¡¯s family to cease all internal strife, and from now on, focus solely on external affairs.¡± The elders did not say anything more, and immediately made phone calls, but more than half of the calls they made went unanswered. If the Lakato Family had chosen to deal with them, they would surely have already bribed members within the family. Up until now, the only family members Victor could truly rally were likely just the few elders present. Just as they were speaking, sudden urgent horn sounds erupted from the castle¡¯s perimeter. Victor frowned helplessly and got out of bed. In the open space outside the castle, there was a golf course that used to be where William¡¯s family entertained distinguished guests. But now, due to lack of care, it was overgrown with weeds. A somewhat tall middle-aged man, cigar in mouth, trod over the lawn looking around. ¡°I had long heard that William¡¯s family was descended from European royalty, and their ancient castle truly lives up to its reputation. Seeing it today confirms this, but such a building is wasted in the hands of such people.¡± The man¡¯s voice was deliberately loud, as if to ensure the William¡¯s family members following him heard him clearly. Katherine, in charge of reception, had already clenched the dagger at her waist. ¡°Mr. Ino, it¡¯s been quite some time since we¡¯ve seen each other, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Victor greeted warmly as he hurried over with his cane, but before he could reach him, he stumbled. Had it not been for the person beside him, he might have fallen to the ground. Ino laughed out loud with contempt as he approached, casually tossing his cigar on the ground. ¡°Mr. Victor, you¡¯re already so old, still worrying about William¡¯s family affairs, if I were you, I¡¯d retire and hand over William¡¯s family to me. I¡¯d manage it, give you some shares annually, and that would be enough.¡± Victor¡¯s breathing became labored immediately; he had not expected Ino to be so shameless. After all, William¡¯s family had once been royal, and even were masters of the Lakato Family. Centuries ago, the Lakato Family would have had to bow and pay respects upon seeing William¡¯s family. Unexpectedly, now there had been such a drastic turn, and William¡¯s family had to watch the faces of the Lakato Family in their actions. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: Chapter 422 Shooting the Corundum Chapter 422: Chapter 422 Shooting the Corundum Victor coughed violently a few times before sitting down on the bench beside him. ¡°Mr. Ino,¡± he began, ¡°I remember a long time ago, our two families had an agreement. Why are you going back on your word after so many centuries? Has the William family somehow wronged you?¡± Ino stood there looking down at Victor, then took a document from his person and threw it over. ¡°I found this thing in our family¡¯s old mansion a few years ago. It appears to be a promise from the William family. Today I¡¯m here to ask Mr. Victor to fulfill the terms written on it,¡± he said. Victor opened the document with trembling hands, and when he saw its content, he froze completely. At that time, the Lakato family was a knight under the command of the William family, with illustrious military achievements, and thus a castle was granted to them by the William family. However, due to a sudden tragedy, the Lakato family was annihilated, and the matter was left unresolved. Now, by bringing out such a promissory document, Ino was undoubtedly looking for trouble with Victor. ¡°Mr. Ino, these are promises made centuries ago; how can they possibly be honored today?¡± Victor asked. Ino¡¯s face was full of scorn. ¡°If the promises of this document cannot be fulfilled, then there is no need for us to adhere to the so-called peace agreement between our families,¡± he declared. Victor¡¯s body shook violently. In the past, this estate was heavily guarded by many people, but now, the number of guards had been reduced by eighty percent. Even fewer people remained to work here. By contrast, Ino had brought a force of over a thousand today, who had already surrounded the entire castle early on. If Victor refused to agree to the terms on the document, these people would barge in; they might even kill him. With no other options, Victor could only pick up a quill, preparing to sign the document. ¡°The estate is quite lively today, surrounded by so many people outside. Could it be that they are all here to celebrate Victor¡¯s birthday?¡± A clear voice suddenly rang out from nearby as Chen Yu, accompanied by Jin Lingsu, walked in slowly. The people of the William family, as if grasping at a lifeline, all rushed to meet them. Katherine¡¯s face was also full of smiles; every time the William family faced a grave crisis, Chen Yu¡¯s arrival would help them pull through. Chen Yu, with a smile on his face, walked directly up to Victor and helped him up. ¡°Old sir, how come there isn¡¯t even a cake prepared? Have you forgotten that today is your birthday?¡± he asked. Victor slapped his forehead, realizing that with everything that had been going on, he had indeed forgotten his own birthday. But in such a situation, how could he feel like celebrating his birthday? Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about all that and took out a bead from his person and stuffed it into Victor¡¯s hands. It was something he had acquired in the ancient city of Muto, and among the pile of treasures, this bead was the most valuable. Victor instantly became excited; he¡¯d lived more than half his life and had never seen such a rare item. ¡°Thank you so much! However, the William family has matters to attend to today, so I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t invite you to stay for a meal,¡± Victor said. Chen Yu, however, appeared nonchalant and went straight to Ino. ¡°In a sense, I¡¯m also a member of the William family. Everyone who came here today is a guest of the family; how can we neglect our duties as hosts?¡± he stated. Ino narrowed his eyes, sizing up Chen Yu with a careful look. Just then, an assistant named Ji hurried over and handed him a tablet computer. ¡°This is the message young master Snow sent from the desert earlier.¡± Ino glanced at the basic information on the computer, his entire person petrified. ¡°I never expected to encounter a member of the Knights of the Round Table here, but does William¡¯s family even have the right to be protected by them?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°Whether or not they have the right isn¡¯t for you to say, is it for me to say?¡± Ino forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart. ¡°Even if there are Knights of the Round Table present today, it¡¯s time our grievance with William¡¯s family comes to an end. This is a private matter, it seems unrelated to the Knights of the Round Table, right?¡± Chen Yu took out a bead from his body and threw it fiercely, embedding it in a large tree a hundred meters away. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t plan to talk to you in the way of the Knights of the Round Table. Let¡¯s handle this according to our families¡¯ rules.¡± Ino immediately realized that Chen Yu wanted to resolve the dispute between the families in the ancient way of knightly duel. In the Middle Ages, if two families bore hatred or unresolved issues, members from both families would solve them through an archery contest. If no direct members of the two families were willing to participate, then knights from both families would have to duel instead. ¡°Fine, since Mr. Chen has already set the stage, it would somewhat damage the Lakato family¡¯s dignity if I didn¡¯t accept.¡± Ino didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, and immediately had someone bring two bows and arrows. Chen Yu casually lifted the bow and arrow, ¡°The bead I threw just now is made from the world¡¯s toughest diamond ruby. What we¡¯re competing in is not just who can hit it, but who can shatter that bead into powder with one shot.¡± Ino¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; the material of diamond ruby was even stronger than the toughest reinforced concrete. How could mere human strength and bows and arrows possibly shatter it? ¡°Mr. Chen must be joking; unless using some other weapon, it would be impossible with a bow and arrow.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, then pulled the bowstring back to its full extent. ¡°Then let me give it a try. If I can shatter this diamond ruby bead, then the grievances between our two families will be wiped clean,¡± he said. Ino was startled for a moment, then took two steps back, a taunting look on his face. He didn¡¯t believe that anyone in this world could actually shatter a diamond ruby. ¡°Then please, go ahead!¡± A strange expression flickered across Chen Yu¡¯s face. He had no ounce of trust left for the Lakato family, after reaching an agreement with Snow in the desert. But that guy hadn¡¯t kept the agreement; instead, he had sent his personal information to Ino. And moreover, had tried to put him to death in the ancient city. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, as a flood of data appeared in his mind. The system had already calculated the wind direction and force, as well as the weakest point of the diamond ruby for him. Accompanied by the sound of whistling through the air, the crisp sound of shattering followed immediately. Everyone present widened their eyes; they couldn¡¯t believe that the legendary toughest diamond ruby could be shot into powder so easily and effortlessly. Ino still couldn¡¯t believe it and rushed over at once. The diamond ruby bead had been completely reduced to powder, even finer than pearl powder. ¡°This doesn¡¯t count!¡± A middle-aged man suddenly shouted: ¡°You were the one who took out the bead, who knows if you tampered with it? It might be a trick to deceive our young master!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: Chapter 423 Desert Jade Chapter 423: Chapter 423 Desert Jade Chen Yu had already guessed this, casually tossing the bow and arrows aside and helping Victor to his feet. ¡°If the old man is celebrating a birthday, then let¡¯s make it a joyous occasion. Why don¡¯t we call everyone out from the castle and throw a wine party?¡± This carefree manner of his immediately enraged the Lakato family to the point of seething anger. They had already surrounded the entire manor tightly, with their people inside and out; if anyone wanted to hold a wine party here, they would have to ask for their permission first. The middle-aged man who had shouted earlier charged over, intending to pull Chen Yu away. But as he approached, a golden spike pierced directly through his shoulder. ¡°Jumping jack, what business do you have when the master speaks?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was full of murderous intent, but as he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Ino, as if to say, control your own dog. Ino managed to force a smile. He had inspected those powders and there was absolutely nothing wrong with them. This meant that Chen Yu had shattered the ruby all by himself, relying on his own strength. ¡°Since it¡¯s the old man¡¯s birthday, then a wine party must be held. Today, my Lakato family is willing to put aside past quarrels to celebrate the old man¡¯s birthday,¡± he declared. The Lakato family members present looked at Ino with strange gazes. They clearly had the upper hand, so why the sudden softening? However, once Ino had made the decision, it wasn¡¯t their place to say more. They could only follow orders, cooperating with William¡¯s family to set up the castle. With over a thousand people acting in unison, efficiency was extremely high; in less than three hours, the entire castle had been decorated for Christmas. Inside the grand hall, leaders from both sides gathered together, appearing amiable and harmonious. Ino¡¯s eyes were filled with suppressed rage, as he held a glass of wine to himself, leaning in a corner and staring intently at Victor. It seemed that if given the chance, he would make his move. Chen Yu stuck close to Victor¡¯s side the entire time, not giving Ino any opportunity. ¡°Mr. Chen, such a wine party is too dull. How about we find something fun to do?¡± Ino, swaying his wine glass, approached Chen Yu, holding a stone in his hand. Such stones are exceedingly rare worldwide, only found deep in the desert. Most people treat these stones as jade, unaware that once split open, a marvelous array of colorful patterns is revealed inside. Chen Yu immediately understood Ino¡¯s intention upon seeing the stone. ¡°Is Mr. Ino proposing to compare our luck?¡± Ino laughed heartily and, not waiting for Chen Yu¡¯s consent, immediately summoned his subordinates to bring over a large number of identical stones. Just one of these stones was already hard to find, and it was surprising that Ino had brought out so many. Any other family might have gone bankrupt because of this. Desert jade was inherently scarce and valuable. Many people would treasure it as a precious collectible as soon as they found it. Such a whole stone would start at at least fifty million on the market. Although splitting it in half to reveal the internal patterns could double its value, many people dared not do so. If it contained more than two colors, it could still fetch a good price, but if it only had a single color, then it would be a loss, only sellable as ordinary jade. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with all that and simply brought over a chair to sit beside it. ¡°Mr. Ino, why don¡¯t you explain how we¡¯re going to play?¡± Ino burst into hearty laughter and immediately picked up a stone and placed it beside him. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. Each of us will choose a stone, then split it open. Whoever¡¯s stone contains more colors is the winner! However, the loser must meet one condition set forth by the winner.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, this guy was clearly setting a trap for him, twisting the situation to find a legitimate reason to wipe out the William family. Today was Victor¡¯s birthday. If he could completely engulf William¡¯s family on such a special day, then his place within the Lakato family would shine as bright as the sun at noon. Chen Yu just smiled and casually grabbed a stone, placing it on the table. This game was child¡¯s play to him. Not to mention he had all the knowledge about gemstones in his head, just a bit of analysis with the system would allow him to win easily. Ino chuckled softly. He had had all the stones here appraised and marked specially beforehand. Any stone he picked was guaranteed to contain at least three colors. All he had to do was select the one determined to have the most colors. After both had chosen their stones, a professional master stepped forward and began to split them open in front of them. ¡°Mr. Chen, if you concede defeat now, I might still concede a point in respect of your status as one of the Knights of the Round Table. If you continue to insist, you might damage the Knights¡¯ reputation.¡± Chen Yu tilted his head indifferently. ¡°In this world, there is no instrument that can easily see through the structure inside a stone. Even if Mr. Ino made prior markings, he may not necessarily win.¡± Ino¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and his hatred for Chen Yu deepened. This game had been very popular since the age of the mountain hermits and was a way for the family to gamble on luck. Whenever there was a significant decision to be made, they would use this method to decide the outcome. With the development of appraisal techniques and the accumulation of experience, many within their ranks had devised a set of skills for evaluating stones. This enabled them to choose, with a high probability, stones containing more colors. However, due to the unpredictability of these stones, even with their skills, they couldn¡¯t completely ascertain what was inside. Therefore, it remained a decisive game within the Lakato family. Ino didn¡¯t say much more, just leaned back and took a sip of wine, quietly waiting for the result. Desert jade was extremely hard, so splitting it took more effort than usual. After half an hour, the two stones were finally presented again. To everyone¡¯s shock, the stone Chen Yu had chosen contained five colors, while the one Ino chose had only four. Such a situation was extremely rare even within the Lakato family. The colors within the stone were alternating and progressive, dazzling in their splendor. Out in the market, that stone would start at a minimum of five hundred million. But Ino was not pleased. He could never have dreamed that he would lose at the stone game he had played all his life. And all these stones had been marked by him. The ones not marked either had a single color or couldn¡¯t be detected at all. If such a result were to occur in the Lakato family, probably everyone would consider it a sign from the gods, and some might even see Chen Yu as the god of luck. Ino suddenly stood up: ¡°This game doesn¡¯t count. Let¡¯s play another round!¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Wipe Out a Few Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Wipe Out a Few Chen Yu chuckled twice, grabbing Ino¡¯s hand and pressing it onto the table. ¡°Mr. Ino, we had just agreed that whoever won could make a demand, and even if you want to play again, we still need to discuss the terms of this round.¡± Ino appeared somewhat bewildered, ¡°What do you want?¡± Chen Yu collected both stones, regarding them as priceless treasures no matter where they were placed. ¡°The Lakato Family has been a vassal to William¡¯s family for centuries, in my opinion, you should stop wandering outside and return to serve under William¡¯s family starting from today.¡± Ino rose up furiously, standing up abruptly. ¡°What are you implying? Our ancestors went through immense struggles to escape from here, and now you¡¯re asking me to return, which is clearly sending us back into the suffering of centuries ago.¡± Chen Yu appeared indifferent. ¡°We have already agreed, and my condition is this, irrevocable unless you kill me right now.¡± Ino clenched his teeth but didn¡¯t dare make any sudden moves. Chen Yu was a member of the Knights of the Round Table, and Ino still didn¡¯t understand the exact relationship between William¡¯s family and the Knights of the Round Table. If he acted rashly today and the Knights decided to settle the score later, the Lakato Family wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the consequences. ¡°Our family also has its bottom line, and we absolutely cannot agree to this condition. Please propose another.¡± A sly smile pulled at the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. He wasn¡¯t insistent but lifted another stone from the pile. ¡°How about this? Let¡¯s have another round. If you lose again, you agree to my earlier condition.¡± Ino agreed without a second thought. ¡°If I win, you must withdraw that condition, and I get to propose another.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Chen Yu agreed promptly. Without hesitation, Ino stepped forward and picked out a stone. However, as he was selecting, a few elders beside him kept making meaningful glances at him. It seemed the stone he chose was arguably the finest one in the lot. Chen Yu said nothing, simply summoning a professional to split the stone. The hall fell silent in an instant, everyone¡¯s gaze concentrated on the two men. Their competition would determine the fate of the William and Lakato Families. Many hearts raced, anticipating the final outcome. The half-hour wait was agonizing, with Victor seated there, sweating profusely, even the red wine in his hand no longer appealing. When the two stones were laid out on the table again, the atmosphere at the scene ignited. This time, Chen Yu¡¯s stone revealed eight colors. While Ino¡¯s had merely six. Who won and who lost was clear at a glance! Ino¡¯s mouth hung open, his face filled with disbelief. He could never have dreamed of such a result. Within the Lakato Family, any stone that revealed seven colors would be revered as a divine stone and enshrined. The person who uncovered such a stone would also gain an exceedingly high status within the family, even potentially being appointed as the next family head. ¡°Impossible, this simply can¡¯t be! Did you use some special method to discern the inner structure of the stones?¡± Everyone present knew that although desert jade appeared crystal clear on the outside, its internal structure couldn¡¯t be seen from the exterior. Ino¡¯s behavior was completely irrational and obnoxious. Chen Yu just laughed, not saying a word; indeed, he had seen through the internal structure of the stone, but even if he said so, no one would believe him. ¡°Mr. Ino, we had just reached an agreement, and everyone present can attest to it. I hope you will honor our recent deal.¡± Ino became furious with embarrassment. If he actually did what was agreed, he would become a traitor to the entire Lakato family. ¡°It must be that you¡¯ve used some inhuman means; I¡¯m done playing this game with you. Someone, kill everyone here for me.¡± However, as soon as he gave the order, a blue-white light started flashing on the scene. All the people from the Lakato family twitched as if they were electrocuted, even those hiding in the shadows fell down, shocked to the ground. In the end, only Ino was left standing. Chen Yu approached Ino nonchalantly and placed his hand on Ino¡¯s shoulder. ¡°The Lakato family is nothing but a second-rate clan not worth mentioning in my eyes. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so arrogant. Since that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were cold, and he slowly applied pressure on his hand, the sound of breaking bones crackling loudly. Ino endured the excruciating pain, ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Chen Yu leaned in close to his face, ¡°I don¡¯t want much, just for you to keep your promise.¡± Ino¡¯s breathing became rapid; at this point, he didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°You¡¯re forcing me!¡± ¡°So what if I am?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed a hint of inexplicable excitement, ¡°Some things come with a cost.¡± The blue-white light suddenly flashed, and Ino fainted. Victor hurried over to Chen Yu¡¯s side. Although he didn¡¯t understand how Chen Yu managed to electrocute so many people at once, he didn¡¯t ask any questions. ¡°Young man, what should we do now? So many people from the Lakato family are unconscious in the manor. They will definitely send someone to look for them.¡± Chen Yu looked indifferent, ¡°There are simply too many super organizations in this world. If we don¡¯t eliminate one or two, the world seems overly chaotic.¡± Victor immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s intent. He didn¡¯t say anything else, only ordering his subordinates to contact the members of William¡¯s family to come for a meeting at the castle; those who didn¡¯t show up were to be expelled from the family. Several elders responded heavily and went to make the calls. With Chen Yu here, they felt an endless surge of confidence. There was an old castle in the southern part of Frankfurt, long abandoned. This place was designated as a natural reserve by the authorities, usually off-limits, yet today, for some reason, it was crowded with people. Snow stood on the mountaintop, looking at the people before him. ¡°Those guys have gone too far, killing so many of us, especially that Chen Yu who agreed to an alliance and then ran off partway! We can¡¯t let them off; notify all of the Lakato Family to carry out a comprehensive hunt for that man immediately.¡± The people there looked at one another, none daring to issue the order. After all, Chen Yu was one of the Knights of the Round Table. If they sent out this order, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Knights of the Round Table. At that time, it would be outright hostility between the two sides. Moreover, other organizations might take advantage of the situation to kick the Lakato Family while they were down, completely dividing them up. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Chapter 425 Augustus Divine Mountain Chapter 425: Chapter 425 Augustus Divine Mountain ¡°What is the meaning of this? Have my words lost their power? Hurry down and relay the orders.¡± Snow was fuming, unable to believe that his subordinates would dare to defy his command. ¡°Young master, we¡¯ve fled through the desert to get here, suffering heavy losses, and the split within the family is too severe, we can¡¯t gather our forces together.¡± ¡°Young master Ino has also taken some of the elite with him to William¡¯s family, we¡¯re now completely isolated.¡± ¡°If the Knights of the Round Table come down on us, then¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Enough!¡± Although Snow was enraged, he understood the reasoning. ¡°Since big brother has gone to William¡¯s family, then there¡¯s no need for us to stay here. Let¡¯s head north.¡± The crowd cheered in unison and quickly fixed up the old off-road vehicle, setting off in a grand procession. In their eyes, going to William¡¯s family was a trip to resupply provisions. At this moment, William¡¯s family had regrouped, with those who were previously wavering hurrying to the castle. It wasn¡¯t that they¡¯d had a change of heart, but rather they had heard that Chen Yu had arrived and even captured the young master of the Lakato family. They immediately saw hope. Those who previously had ties with the Lakato family, now completely let go of that slight ambiguity. Chen Yu had rescued William¡¯s family from peril more than once, and now he also bore the title of Knight of the Round Table. Just this title alone could ensure their safety and security. Inside the castle¡¯s meeting room, all the heads of William¡¯s family with some status had gathered. Even at the peak of William¡¯s family¡¯s prosperity, these people had never been so fully assembled. Chen Yu did not get involved in their family affairs, simply leaning outside the door, indulging in wine to himself. William¡¯s family¡¯s wine cellar was world-renowned, where one could taste white wine from more than eight hundred years ago. The rich and fragrant taste was something even Chen Yu could not refuse. ¡°What are you doing here? The William family is having a meeting, shouldn¡¯t you be listening in?¡± Jin Lingsu swayed with a glass of red wine, leaning to one side. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in their family matters.¡± After all, the life and death of William¡¯s family was not directly related to him, it was just a matter of the European business chain taking a hit. But if the Lakato family were not eliminated, they would head directly east to trouble him. Now, Ino was to be used as bait, to draw the members of the Lakato family here and eliminate them on this ground. If the family members could not be completely destroyed in the end, then a trip to the August Mountain was inevitable. That place was once the site where the Old Man in the Mountains founded his sect; it was also the holy land in the minds of the Lakato family. Similarly, it was also the headquarters of the Lakato family. Jin Lingsu drained the wine from her glass, then pulled out a small and exquisite stone from her person. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect the Lakato family to be so generous. To casually bet away such a fine jade from the desert.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, about to speak, when a rush of alert tones resounded in his mind. [Detection of a large number of Lakato family members approaching] ¡°Have everyone in the castle prepare.¡± No sooner had Chen Yu shouted than alarms blared outside. Snow¡¯s convoy brazenly breached into the estate. ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m here. Have you already taken this place for yourself?¡± The excitement in his voice suggested he had already come to regard this place as his own home. Chen Yu¡¯s lips twitched with a cold smirk as he dragged Ino out of an adjacent room, bringing him to the outskirts of the castle. Snow froze at the sight before him. ¡°Mr. Chen, what is the meaning of this? We had an agreement, and you dare lay a hand on a member of the Lakato family?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression gradually turned icy. ¡°Our agreement was null and void the moment your brother set foot in this estate. From now on, the Lakato family is my enemy.¡± Snow¡¯s breathing became rapid; he had not anticipated things turning out like this. Ino had come here with a thousand elite members of their family, how could they fail to take down William¡¯s family? After taking a moment to steady his breath, Snow reached for the weapon at his waist. But unexpectedly, Chen Yu moved with the speed of lightning to face him. ¡°Your Lakato family members are quite interesting, insisting on acting separately. If you had joined forces, I might have been dead by now.¡± The people following Snow immediately raised their weapons. Just as they were about to take action, a burst of blue and white light suddenly flickered, and they collapsed to the ground. All the members of William¡¯s family on the battlements cheered. In their eyes, the Lakato family was an insurmountable mountain, yet in the face of Chen Yu, they were like a group of children. Just as the people from William¡¯s family jubilantly dragged these foes into the castle, Chen Yu¡¯s face was etched with worry. According to his calculations, the Lakato family had three teams outside. One in Dongming Gorge, and the other two were here. But these did not seem to be the core of the Lakato family. It appeared that in order to truly eliminate them, he still needed to make a trip to Mount Augustus. As night fell, several bonfires were lit within the estate, and all members of William¡¯s family sang and danced as if it were the day of their rebirth. ¡°Mr. Chen, William¡¯s family owes its success to you. From today onwards¡­¡± Victor had not finished speaking when Chen Yu interrupted him. ¡°Old man, do with those Lakato family members as you see fit, but make sure it¡¯s clean. I¡¯m setting off for Mount Augustus tomorrow to completely remove any threats.¡± Victor¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to that place?¡± The crowd, which had been cheering just moments ago, fell silent, their eyes unanimously focused on Chen Yu. Mount Augustus might sound like a holy place, but those who knew understood that it was nothing short of hell. It was said that few of those who entered there ever came out alive, and even if they did leave, they were driven mad. Chen Yu showed no concern on his face, ¡°Since I¡¯m already involved, it¡¯s either you die or I die. Besides, I¡¯d like to see for myself what this legendary Mount Augustus is really like?¡± Victor had no idea what to say. After all, it was because of him that all this happened. If he hadn¡¯t been trapped by the Lakato family¡¯s people in Dongming Gorge, Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t be facing this situation. Chen Yu said no more, raised his glass, downed his drink, and then retired to his room. The next morning, he packed his things and reached the castle gates. Just as he was about to leave, Victor arrived with a large entourage bustling behind him. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Wolf Pack Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Wolf Pack ¡°Little brother, you must come back safely!¡± Victor grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand and shook it continuously while handing over a small wooden token. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, disliking the melodramatic farewell. ¡°Sir, you should keep this kind of protection charm for yourself,¡± he said. Victor was displeased, ¡°This is not just any protection charm, but a very rare kind of wood. Everyone who has come back alive from the Augustus Divine Mountain did so because they had a charm made of this wood.¡± Interest sparked in Chen Yu, and he said no more, simply pocketing the small token. ¡°Old man, just wait here for my news,¡± he assured. After exchanging a few comforting words, Chen Yu got into a car with Jin Lingsu. The two of them drove eastward, planning to cross the Caucasus Mountains and enter Augustus Divine Mountain directly. ¡°You¡¯ve already got so much treasure in Mutuo Ancient City, why are you still following me? Augustus Divine Mountain is not a place for treasure hunting,¡± Chen Yu said. Jin Lingsu leaned on the passenger seat, playing with two pieces of colorful desert stones she had cut open. ¡°That is Augustus Divine Mountain, after all. How can the Lakato Family¡¯s stronghold not have treasure, and besides, there are also the treasures of the old man of the mountain in legend,¡± she argued. Chen Yu shook his head helplessly. The old man of the mountain had indeed amassed an extremely hefty fortune in his heyday roaming the Western Regions. But hardly any of it was found during the time at Xu Liewu Fort, proving that the cunning old man must have hidden his treasure somewhere. In fact, Chen Yu understood that although Jin Lingsu spoke of caring about the treasure, she was truly concerned about his safety. The two had been through so many adventures together that they shared a bond thicker than blood. Moreover, Chen Yu had saved Jin Lingsu¡¯s life more than once. Along the way, the two chatted on and off, not realizing how much time had passed until the cold wind outside the windows made them shiver. Jin Lingsu hurriedly took out a prepared coat and threw one to Chen Yu. Just a bit further, and they would reach the Caucasus Mountains, a place of extreme altitude and frighteningly low temperatures. Many had tried to drive across this terrain but ended up stopping mid-way. As the light faded, they parked the car on an open stretch of land and set up their tent against the mountainside. Chen Yu shivered, sprinkling the alcohol from the car over the firewood. [Alert: danger is approaching] Chen Yu was immediately on alert, ¡°Be careful!¡± Jin Lingsu was startled; in this icy and snowy environment, her perceptive abilities were at their lowest. But since Chen Yu had spoken up, it meant there was definitely danger nearby. He tossed aside the firewood that he had collected, and smoothly pulled out a spike. Before long, a large pack of wolves appeared not too far away. Jin Lingsu gasped, seeing such a large wolf pack for the first time, the alpha wolf in the lead looking unusually robust. It had a terrifying scar over one eye, presumably inflicted by a hunter when it was very young. Its thick silver fur shone brilliantly under the moonlight. Chen Yu took a deep breath and discreetly drew his short knife. Just as they braced for combat, a shout came abruptly from not far away as two burly men, wrapped up tightly, approached with hearty laughter. ¡°Haha, these two guys are actually afraid of the wolf pack!¡± ¡°We made a bet just now. If they¡¯re afraid, that woman is mine.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown as a flood of data appeared in his mind. The wolf pack in front of them was plainly raised by these two men, who had committed who knows how many misdeeds in these woods with the help of the wolves. And now they were even betting on him and Jin Lingsu. The two men, brandishing their weapons, began to slowly close in with the wolf pack under their control. ¡°Kid, judging by the state of your car, you must have loaded it with lots of good stuff, just unload it and hand it over to us. And this woman, we can take care of her for you. As for you, just jump off the cliff.¡± Chen Yu seemed to hear a joke, chuckled twice, and then prepared to deal with these two goons. Just as he was about to make a move, Jin Lingsu¡¯s figure flashed and in the blink of an eye, she was riding on a man¡¯s neck, her spike viciously stabbing down. The man didn¡¯t even let out a scream before he became a corpse. The remaining guy was scared out of his wits; he hadn¡¯t expected Jin Lingsu to be so quick. Before he could react, Chen Yu approached him, pressed a spot on his forehead, and the blue-white glow of the electric current produced stunned him into unconsciousness. The surrounding wolf pack, seeing their owners incapacitated, began to crowd around. Jin Lingsu clenched her teeth, crouched halfway, ready to fight to the death. Chen Yu, however, walked over to her nonchalantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re just beasts. Scare them off and it will do!¡± He then took a horn from the car, played the sound of a strange bear, and threw it aside. On hearing such a sound, the wolf pack dared not linger any longer and scattered in fright. Only then did Jin Lingsu breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I never thought that in the Caucasus Mountains there would actually be people driving a wolf pack to rob others.¡± Chen Yu too looked quite vexed; he hadn¡¯t anticipated this sort of thing either. They made do and stayed there for the night, and the next morning they continued on their way. The roads in the Caucasus Mountains were not easy to travel. It took a whole day before they finally crossed the mountains and arrived at a Gobi Desert. According to the map, they only needed three hours to reach Mount Augustus. Chen Yu was indeed tired; since leaving the Caucasus Mountains, he had been driving for twenty-five hours straight. If he kept this up, he feared he would die from exhaustion. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before a small town appeared in front of them. Chen Yu immediately perked up, parked the car at the entrance of the town, and ran in with Jin Lingsu. The town seemed very prosperous, with dozens of vendors at the entrance alone, though their faces looked numb. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that, he went directly to a stall and ordered two glasses of pomegranate juice. The town had a distinctly exotic charm, with rich fragrances drifting through the streets and alleys. Dishes like jar-cooked meat and stewed lamb head were everywhere to be seen. Having driven for so long, Chen Yu was tired and simply ordered two lamb heads from a nearby stall. After just one bite, several men dressed in white robes approached him. ¡°You¡¯re from out of town, aren¡¯t you? Do you know the rules here? Everyone who arrives must pay a hundred taels of gold for the freedom to move around the town. You¡¯ve broken the rules, and now you can only die.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 427: The Masked Elder Chapter 427: Chapter 427: The Masked Elder Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, as he hadn¡¯t expected such bizarre rules to exist here. Ignoring these fellows, he simply tore off the sheep¡¯s head and began to eat by himself. Jin Lingsu also provocatively sat next to Chen Yu, chewing hungrily on the pot meat. Those guys were truly enraged, drawing their horse-cutting sabers from their waists. ¡°Damn it, these two don¡¯t take us seriously at all, let¡¯s chop them up and go back for a reward.¡± Just as they were about to make a move, Chen Yu suddenly stood up, releasing a blue and white glow that shocked these men to the ground. He took a moment to catch his breath, then walked up to the sheep¡¯s head vendor. ¡°Boss, what place is this? Why do I have to pay to come in?¡± The vendor raised his head, his eyes appearing hollow. ¡°This is the entrance to the Sacred Mountain of Augustus, and all who arrive here must show reverence to the gods. However, it doesn¡¯t have to be gold, it can also be a sheep¡¯s head.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the people on the ground: ¡°Then what¡¯s their deal?¡± ¡°They are the lowest warriors of the Sacred Mountain of Augustus, they just wanted to extort some money from you!¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt like cursing; he hadn¡¯t expected these guys to have come to shake him down. After finishing the sheep¡¯s head in his hands, Chen Yu parked the vehicle on an empty space and brought Jin Lingsu toward the direction of the Sacred Mountain of Augustus. This place was not as terrifying as the legends suggested. Although everyone¡¯s expression in the outer town was very stiff, they were still warm and hospitable. Moreover, along the way from the town to the Sacred Mountain of Augustus, many people were there on pilgrimage. Chen Yu didn¡¯t let down his guard, carefully observing everything around him. After about half an hour, the two of them finally arrived at the foot of the Sacred Mountain of Augustus. Speaking of which, this place was not really a mountain, but rather a huge castle built on a mound. Just then, two figures in white robes slowly walked down from the castle. ¡°Are you here for a pilgrimage?¡± Their authoritative inquiry could have made an ordinary person kneel in fear. Chen Yu smiled and took out the Token of the Knights of the Round Table from his clothing. ¡°I¡¯ve got some disputes to settle with your family, and I¡¯ve come today to resolve them!¡± Upon seeing the Token, the person¡¯s eyes widened, and he rushed back into the castle in a fluster. Not long after, an elder with white hair hurried out. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect someone from the Knights of the Round Table to come to our Sacred Mountain. Please come inside, the mountain elder has already started preparing the meal.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, as the mountain elder had been a legend and supposedly died a thousand years ago, yet was apparently still around. He didn¡¯t say much, just followed the person into the castle. The place was truly resplendent, with almost all the decorations carved out of pure gold. Chen Yu entered a great hall and casually pulled over a chair to sit down. Before long, an old man wearing a mask came out carrying a large basin of mutton. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that the Knights of the Round Table had a young and newly appointed knight. I¡¯m finally seeing one today.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, just picked up a piece of mutton and placed it near his mouth. Jin Lingsu quickly grabbed his wrist, signaling him to be cautious. Chen Yu shook his head: ¡°Go ahead and eat.¡± Before Jin Lingsu could react, Chen Yu had already bitten off a large chunk of mutton. Fortunately, the mutton had not been tampered with, and Chen Yu was safe and sound. The masked old man chuckled twice, sitting with his legs crossed, staring at Chen Yu with a kind gaze. If it had been someone else, they would have been conquered by such a look long ago. But Chen Yu just kept his head down and ate on his own. He knew very well that the old man in front of him had known all of his information for a long time, even the matter of the Snow and Ino brothers. The reason he still maintained such a courteous attitude was nothing more than to offer a carrot before the stick. Chen Yu didn¡¯t beat around the bush after stuffing his mouth with two bites of mutton, he leaned back in his chair. ¡°Old sir, I¡¯m here today to completely obliterate the Lakato Family, so you don¡¯t need to be so polite to me.¡± The masked old man¡¯s body shuddered, and several attendants by his side also became vigilant, drawing the weapons from their waists. ¡°Haha, Mr. Chen is truly straightforward. Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t hold back or hide anything! As long as you can help me remove the other powers within the family, from now on, the Lakato Family will hold you in the highest regard!¡± Chen Yu was slightly stunned, immediately scanning everyone¡¯s brain information with his system overlay. Even before this, he knew that the Lakato Family was internally fragmented, each acting on their own. But he did not expect them to be so scattered. The old man in the mask had inherited the title of the Old Man of the Mountain many years ago. Logically, his status should have been the most noble, and the entire Lakato Family should have heeded his command. However, he didn¡¯t expect the other factions within the family to be completely rebellious, exploiting many past grievances to gradually split away. Take the brothers Snow and Ino, for example, their ancestors were originally from Europe and were slaves of William¡¯s family. Therefore, they had always wanted to swallow William¡¯s family and return to Europe. Yet another part of the family were direct descendants of the Old Man of the Mountain, who simply wanted to stay and manage their bastion here. These two sides were already at loggerheads, and outside of them, many more factions had broken off. This caused the already loose Lakato Family to become even more fragmented. After obtaining this information, Chen Yu pondered for a moment and then readily agreed. ¡°I can help you, but what¡¯s in it for me?¡± The old man, brimming with excitement, directly took a sealed box from the side and placed it on the table. ¡°This is the most treasured possession of the first Old Man of the Mountain, said to be a gift from a deity.¡± The moment the box opened, a dazzling light instantly illuminated the entire room, causing even Chen Yu to widen his eyes in astonishment. ¡°The Desert Pearl!¡± Jin Lingsu exclaimed in surprise. This was a legendary priceless treasure. It was said that Xu Liewu decided to send troops to annihilate the Old Man of the Mountain largely for this pearl, but in the end, he failed to find it. Who would have thought it would have been passed down. Chen Yu immediately analyzed the composition of the pearl and found that it contained a mixed element not found on Earth. This object must have been a meteorite from outer space that fell to Earth, shaped and moved by the earth¡¯s crust over the years until it formed such a pearl. It could be said that such an object was unique in the entire world. To take out something so precious as a reward showed the masked old man¡¯s sincerity. Chen Yu could not even think of a reason to refuse. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: Chapter 428: The Real Master Chapter 428: Chapter 428: The Real Master ¡°Cooperation is fine, but I don¡¯t want my identity exposed, and furthermore, I want all the core data of your Lakato Family.¡± Chen Yu fiddled with the Desert Pearl, his words laced with amusement. The conditions he proposed were extremely demanding, to the point of impossibility for any organization to hand over their core data, as it related to their very survival. ¡°Mr. Chen, isn¡¯t this a bit excessive? The core data is¡­¡± Before the masked elder could finish, Chen Yu tossed the pearl onto the table and turned to leave. ¡°Mr. Chen, please wait!¡± The masked elder became anxious. His current situation was very bad, and without the intervention of a substantial external force, his life would likely be lost. ¡°You can have the data, but how can you guarantee my safety?¡± The corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth lifted slightly as he placed the wooden token given to him by the Heavenly Master on the table. ¡°Knights of the Round Table joined with the Xuanqing Sect, can they not guarantee your life?¡± This statement had a double meaning, both a promise to the masked elder and a threat. When the masked elder saw the wooden token, he froze completely. He never dreamed that Chen Yu would also have this identity. This moment left him with no room for choice. Possessing membership in two super-organizations, eradicating the rest of the Lakato Family¡¯s forces, or even wiping out their entire family, was not out of the question. The sole purpose of the core data was to ensure that Chen Yu, in eliminating other forces, would not harm his own people by mistake. ¡°Mr. Chen is truly exceptional, I am saved!¡± The masked elder said no more, promptly handing over a USB drive to Chen Yu: ¡°Here is all the data of the entire Lakato Family, including all of their networks of relations!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t hold back, taking it and plugging it into a nearby computer. The Lakato Family was not only internally fragmented, but the various forces within it were also scattered all over the place. Centered around Mount Augustus, within a two thousand kilometer radius of the desert, their powers were spread out. Upon seeing these data, even Chen Yu was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected the mighty Lakato Family to be in such a state internally. Other families, no matter how fragmented internally, still have some level of cooperation between each other. But the Lakato Family was purely a collection of independent forces, with the majority of smaller powers being extremely autonomous, almost separate entities from the family. Chen Yu took a moment to steady his breath, realizing that eradicating these guys would be easier than he had imagined. ¡°Old gentleman, from what I see in the data, some places have merely twenty or thirty people. With your strength, you ought to be able to wipe them out.¡± The masked elder sighed helplessly. ¡°I won¡¯t hide from Mr. Chen, I really don¡¯t have many men at my disposal, only a few personal guards.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood that this old fellow before him was nothing more than a figurehead. Bringing him in to help was partly to use his identity to pressure other forces. On the other hand, it was also to get Chen Yu to eliminate the leaders of the other small forces. Chen Yu scanned all the data from the computer into his brain and then stood up. ¡°There¡¯s Black Hat Mountain about four hundred kilometers from here, probably the strongest force besides the Lakato Family¡¯s main house. Let¡¯s start with them.¡± The masked old man was startled, the leader in charge of that location was named Ural, who was the Lakato Family¡¯s top expert. This guy¡¯s body was inexplicably enormous, standing at a full three meters tall, with divine power that allowed him to shatter a small hill with a single punch. In the face of such an existence, even the smaller statures of Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu probably wouldn¡¯t be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth. ¡°The two of you, perhaps we should proceed step by step and pick a weaker target first!¡± Chen Yu disagreed, ¡°If we¡¯re going to make a move, we should take out the strongest first. The weaker ones will then cower. If we take out a weak one, the rest might even band together.¡± The old man didn¡¯t know what to say and could only take a short sword from the side. ¡°This is a symbol of the power granted by the Lakato Family to the elders in the mountains. Now I give it to you, maybe it will be of some help.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, took the short sword, and went on his way with Jin Lingsu. Driving in the desert was extremely comfortable without any hindrance. Chen Yu was speeding all the way to Black Hat Mountain. By the time they arrived there, it was already evening, with the sunset in the distance a blood-red color, quite beautiful. Like Mount Augustus, there was a small town on the outskirts of this mountain too. However, the scale of the town was somewhat smaller than that of Mount Augustus. As the two entered, they were drawn over by a peddler selling goods at the side, who seemed much more cheerful compared to the expressionless faces of the people in the town around Mount Augustus. Just as they were about to step into a small shop to buy some food, the shopkeeper suddenly pulled out a knife and walked up behind them. ¡°Who are you? Why have you come here?¡± It seemed like an inquiry, yet the shopkeeper and his assistants continued to stare at them strangely, one of them even reaching towards Chen Yu¡¯s waist, seemingly to probe for any valuables. The others kept their eyes fixed on Jin Lingsu¡¯s face, clearly harboring lecherous thoughts. Chen Yu furrowed his brow, these guys appeared friendly on the surface, how could they be so shameless? In comparison, the people of the Mount Augustus town, aside from their lack of expression, seemed pretty decent. ¡°We are from Mount Augustus, acting on the orders of the elder in the mountain, to meet with Mr. Ural.¡± Clearly, the men didn¡¯t believe them, or rather, they simply didn¡¯t care about any elder in the mountain and continued to search them recklessly. Jin Lingsu became thoroughly enraged, swiftly drawing the golden spike from her waist and fiercely stabbing it into the hands of two assistants. Chen Yu also didn¡¯t indulge them by stretching out his hand, he grabbed the shopkeeper by the neck, and slammed him against the wall. ¡°How dare you ignore the orders of the elder from the mountain, do you not want to live?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to actually make a move. In the past, when the emissary of the mountain elder came to deliver orders, they would always act very reverently and sometimes even bring loads of gifts. But this time, not only did Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu bring nothing, they actually had weapons on them and even attacked them. ¡°What¡¯s the elder from the mountain? Our master should be the ruler of the entire Lakato Family. I¡¯d advise you to let us go, otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to walk out of here alive.¡± Chen Yu seemed to hear a joke, chuckled twice, then suddenly launched a fierce punch directly at the shopkeeper¡¯s shoulder blade. Along with the cracking sound of bones, the shopkeeper curled up on the ground, continuously screaming in agony. The other diners at the side were also startled, quickly squeezing into a corner. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Replicating the Divine Mountain Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Replicating the Divine Mountain Chen Yu also didn¡¯t bother with these people and casually took some pieces of lamb from the pot to share with Jin Lingsu before heading directly towards the nearby mountain. The architectural style of this place was far too similar to August Sacred Mountain; it seemed like it was recreated in the image of the holy mountain, only on a slightly smaller scale. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into an odd smile¡ªit looked like Ural already had his sights set on the Mountain Elder¡¯s position. When the two of them reached the base of the mountain, they were stopped by several men who drew the weapons from their waists. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re from, you rascals? Don¡¯t you know the rules here? You dare to approach the Sacred Mountain.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback. These men¡¯s ambitions knew no bounds; they straight-up called the place they were in Sacred Mountain. What did that make August Sacred Mountain? Jin Lingsu had long since run out of patience with these unreasonable folks and pulled out a spike, ready to start a big fight. Chen Yu stopped her and then took out the short sword that the Mountain Elder had given him. ¡°I am here on orders from above, with important business to discuss with Mr. Ural.¡± But these men didn¡¯t care at all; two of them came forward to frisk them and even demanded that they kneel. Chen Yu, struck by a sudden idea, raised the short sword high in his hand. ¡°I am here today to deal with significant matters. Who knows, by the end of the day, the owner of this short sword might just be Mr. Ural. Are you ready to be held accountable for the grand scheme of things?¡± Upon hearing this, the men became excited. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Please, come inside.¡± Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief; he hadn¡¯t expected everything to go so smoothly. He didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and, escorted by a group of people, swaggered into the castle. When he entered the main hall, he immediately felt nauseous. The masked elder had told him before that Ural was the strongest warrior of the Lakato family. But the man before him was clearly a fat pig. Being three meters tall was impressive, and being robust wasn¡¯t bad either, but this was a bit too robust. The massive, obese body nearly filled half the room, and the table in front of him was extraordinarily wide, covered with all sorts of delicacies. The man had no regard for appearances, grabbing a leg of lamb with one hand and tearing into it fiercely. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you dogs? Bringing strangers here, can¡¯t you see I¡¯m eating?¡± Two subordinates quickly approached and hovered beside Ural. ¡°My lord, these two folks were sent by the Mountain Elder. It seems they¡¯re here to hand over the short sword that symbolizes supreme authority to you.¡± Ural immediately perked up: ¡°Is that so? That old man agrees to give up power.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and respectfully stepped forward with the short sword in hand. Ural, either out of a broken mind or some other reason, didn¡¯t show the slightest doubt and stepped forward to take the short sword. Chen Yu seized the opportunity, touching Ural with one finger, and a blue-white light instantly radiated out. The smell of char spread throughout the room at that moment. Chen Yu frowned and swiftly took several steps back. Originally, he had thought that due to the guy¡¯s large size, it might take a stronger electric current to shock him, but when the current was released, he realized that there was just too much fat on this fellow. Before long, the fat inside and outside his organs began to resonate and ignite spontaneously. The subordinates standing by had never dreamed that their boss would suddenly burst into flames without any apparent reason. Chen Yu¡¯s movements just now had been very discreet, and besides, the blue-white light was only visible to Chen Yu when it wasn¡¯t very strong. ¡°Hurry up and put out the fire!¡± No one knew who shouted, but only then did everyone react, and the guards outside hurried in with water. But this type of spontaneous combustion usually starts inside the body, burning the body¡¯s own fat and muscle. Once it begins, it doesn¡¯t stop until all the fat on the body is consumed. So pouring water over it is basically useless. Moreover, this guy had so much fat that once it caught fire, it became uncontrollable, and in the blink of an eye, he collapsed to the ground, motionless. ¡°We must leave, this is a punishment sent from heaven. His body will probably continue to burn for three days and three nights, and the entire castle won¡¯t be spared.¡± Chen Yu shouted, then grabbed Jin Lingsu and was the first to run out of the castle. Seeing their boss dead, the others did not linger and fled as well. Not long after everyone had escaped the castle, the whole mountain began to blaze. Ural¡¯s size was simply too large, and combined with the large amounts of fine wine stored in the castle, the fire would not stop for three days and nights. The people who had escaped immediately panicked, having lived in the desert from a young age with devotion to the mountain elder, they had come here. It then transformed into personal worship of Ural. Therefore, most of them were uneducated and lacked any concept of spontaneous human combustion. Moreover, confronted with such a situation, they were at a loss, each standing there with a vacant look in their eyes. Chen Yu glanced at the expressions of the people, coughed twice, then found a platform to stand upon. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I was ordered by the mountain elder to deliver this short sword, which symbolizes authority, to Mr. Ural. However, I did not expect that he could not bear the divine will. It seems that I must find the next person.¡± In any other place, such nonsense would probably be dismissed, but here it was as if guided by the hand of a deity. One of them, who was dressed like a wizard, hurriedly stepped forward. ¡°Many years ago, the first mountain elder left a prophecy stating that only someone who can bear the power bestowed by heaven can truly command the Lakato Family. It seems Mr. Ural was not the chosen one.¡± The people present nodded in agreement, even treating it as gospel truth. Some even saw Chen Yu holding the short sword without any issues and immediately knelt down, wanting to recognize him as their new boss. ¡°Everyone, for many years now, Mount Augustus has been the sacred land in the hearts of our Lakato Family. Yet Ural has come to this place for no reason to build a castle, clearly wanting to remove us from the protection of the gods. In my opinion, we should relocate to Mount Augustus.¡± Not a single person opposed, and some were already eager to go home and pack their belongings. Chen Yu said no more and directly pulled over the wizard who had just spoken and two others who looked more reliable. ¡°I leave these children of the deities in your care. You must lead them safely to Mount Augustus with all your heart and effort, or else you will face divine punishment.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Chapter 430 Kadoge Chapter 430: Chapter 430 Kadoge Wizards inherently believed wholeheartedly in such matters, and now that Chen Yu had spoken as well, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent and actually knelt on the ground to kowtow several times with great force. ¡°Rest assured, I will definitely bring them to safety. I do not know where you plan to go next, though.¡± Chen Yu immediately put on a helpless expression. ¡°The current Lakato Family is like loose sand. The reigning elder of the mountain cannot bear to watch the family become like this, so he wants to hand over his authority. It¡¯s just that apart from him, it¡¯s hard to say who else in the family can bear the divine right granted from above.¡± His words were extremely sincere and moved the wizard directly. He looked at Chen Yu with a gaze akin to that of a pilgrim, then took a Jade Pendant from his person. ¡°This is the personal belonging of all wizards of the Lakato Family. If you go to other castles, just show this and find the local wizard there; they will take care of you.¡± Chen Yu was rather surprised, as he had thought wizards were just a special product of this castle; he did not expect that every place had one. Thinking back carefully, he remembered that there seemed to be a wizard at the side of the elder with the mask on Mount Augustus. That said, for an organization with such a strong religious atmosphere like the Lakato Family to set up the position of a wizard was not really unexpected. After everyone had left, Chen Yu went to a shop. Although the people here had left, the wizard had instructed them to leave some food behind before they did. Most of the people from Black Hat Mountain were native desert dwellers, very familiar with the terrain and landforms of this area, and they had no obstacles traveling to Mount Augustus at night. But Chen Yu was not the same. The next place they were heading to was a thousand kilometers away from here, and they had to cross a vast expanse of quicksand. If they set out at night, they might encounter danger, so they could only stay here for the night. The food left for them by the shopkeeper was extremely abundant, with not only prepared beef and mutton but also a great variety of desert specialties. Chen Yu sat down, tore off a large chunk of mutton, and stuffed it into his mouth. ¡°This is much easier than I had imagined!¡± Jin Lingsu was a bit puzzled, ¡°That fat man you spoke of, how did he just spontaneously combust?¡± Chen Yu took a sip of fruit wine, ¡°There have been many instances of spontaneous human combustion throughout history, and moreover, that guy had so much visceral fat, it was bound to be out of control once it started burning.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded without asking further. Such incidents were indeed numerous, and even in today¡¯s world, they were not uncommon. After the two of them had eaten and drunk to their content and confirmed their route for the next day, they prepared to rest. ¡°Damn it, where have all the people here gone to?¡± A rough voice suddenly came from not far away. Several burly men, who had not been there before and each holding a shiny broadsword, had arrived. At their chest location, there was an emblem of the Lakato Family, but beside it, there was also a tree-shaped blue badge. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stood up to greet them. ¡°Where are you from? Is there a problem?¡± The leading strong man curled his lip, walked up to the table, grabbed a piece of mutton, and stuffed it into his mouth. ¡°We are guards under Kadoge¡¯s command. We¡¯re here to inform your master that the selection event for the elder of the mountain will be held in one month.¡± Chen Yu was slightly startled, he did not expect this man to be so brazen. However, after searching through his mind for information on Kadoge, Chen Yu let it go. This guy, just like Ural, is also one of the more powerful presences within the Lakatoga organization. Moreover, they have coveted the position of the old man in the mountains for a long time and have proposed more than once to hold a re-election. It seems that Kadoge is still unaware of the situation here. Chen Yu forced out a thin smile and dragged several strong men over to the table. ¡°Your master is finally making a move. My master has considered this for a long time but just doesn¡¯t know how to reach out to the various castle owners!¡± Kadoge and other powers are somewhat different, this guy is not a native of the desert, but comes from the grasslands, rumored to be a descendant of Genghis Khan. They don¡¯t reside in castles but live nomadically, moving their camps depending on the water and grass availability. If they didn¡¯t take the initiative to contact the outside world, I¡¯m afraid no one would be able to find out where they really are. Speaking of which, Kadoge¡¯s faction was originally quite excluded within the Lakato Family. The Mongolian Empire was the first to eliminate the old man in the mountains, and as their descendants, the two were as incompatible as fire and water. However, Kadoge¡¯s direct ancestors belonged to the Golden Horde, and they did not directly participate in the war that exterminated the old man in the mountains. Moreover, during the Golden Horde¡¯s era, they even helped the descendants of the old man in the mountains gradually rebuild the organization. After the fall of the Horde, this group of people joined the forces of the old man in the mountains, and later, they became members of the Lakato Family. Yet that inherent bloodline exclusion still made them wander on the fringes of the Lakato Family. By Kadoge¡¯s generation, they had become gradually stronger and thus harbored the desire to completely break away from the Lakato Family. The strong men, seeing Chen Yu in such a fashion, didn¡¯t say much and just sat at the table to eat and drink heartily. The leading man surveyed the surroundings. ¡°Did something happen here? When I came in just now, I didn¡¯t see a single person, and there was an unpleasant burnt smell?¡± Chen Yu chuckled and then led the man out of the shop, pointing to the distant castle. ¡°Our master, due to immense psychological pressure, committed self-immolation, so the matter of cooperation might have to wait.¡± The man¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated as he stared at Chen Yu with a strange look. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth suddenly curved into a bizarre arc, and he forcefully slapped the man¡¯s shoulder. Jin Lingsu also made her move at this moment, taking out the few people in the house. After a search, they found a large number of jewels and a handwritten letter in these people¡¯s bundles. The writing on it was very peculiar, appearing to be the folk script of the Caucasus region, indecipherable even to Chen Yu. Fortunately, these characters bore some resemblance to ancient Turkic, so he could barely discern some simplistic information. It was nothing more than Kadoge wanting to join forces with Ural to attack Mount Augustus and force the man with the mask to abdicate, then to elect a new old man from the mountains. Chen Yu packed up the items and turned back to the shop. ¡°No wonder the old fellow from Mount Augustus is so anxious; it turns out his subordinates are already plotting to rebel against him.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s face showed a hint of worry. ¡°Should we still continue to wade into these troubled waters? After all, it¡¯s their internal affairs, and getting involved seems a bit inappropriate, doesn¡¯t it?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 431 - Chapter 431 The Meadow Chapter 431 The Meadow Chen Yu sighed deeply and, to be honest, he was not interested in the internal conflicts of the Lakato Family. However, a faction within that family was eyeing William¡¯s family with covetous intent. Only by completely eliminating that faction could he feel secure. If he stuck to his original plan to completely wipe out the entire Lakato Family, it was clearly unrealistic. Only by utilizing the masked elder could he regain power within the Lakato Family and genuinely eliminate that opposing force. ¡°No matter what, we are already in the thick of it and can¡¯t extricate ourselves now; we can only follow this dark path to the end! Rest up, and we¡¯ll hit the road tomorrow.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded and then returned to her own room. Nights in the desert were very short; it took less than five hours for daylight to break. The small town at this moment appeared desolate; not a person could be seen as far as the eye could reach, and even the castle not too far away had been burned to ruins, the air filled with the stench of char. Chen Yu quickly packed and then joined Jin Lingsu in the car. The road was fraught with quicksand; had Chen Yu not constantly kept the system on, their car would have likely been trapped in the desert. Not knowing how much time had passed, they finally saw a meadow, though the pasture seemed sparse, probably because it had recently been grazed. Chen Yu immediately got out of the car, walked to the middle of the meadow, and picked up a handful of soil to examine it. By the looks of it, a large herd of cattle and sheep must have just passed through. He hurriedly took out a map and checked it, only to find that the marked Kadoge encampment was nearby. Jin Lingsu got out of the car with a look of frustration and approached Chen Yu. ¡°Did we get the wrong place?¡± Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing and then sat down and closed his eyes. The system¡¯s scanning feature was fully activated, and soon it covered an area of more than a dozen kilometers. This was the maximum range the system could achieve, but within this scope, there was no sign of human habitation. Chen Yu gritted his teeth and forced the scanning range to expand. [System Warning: Forcibly increasing the scanning range will greatly consume the host¡¯s energy and bodily nutrients.] ¡°Continue!¡± Chen Yu commanded in his mind, and the scanning range quickly increased to over thirty kilometers. His complexion turned pale, sweat beaded densely on his forehead, and his body began to tremble. The degree of exhaustion was beyond his expectations, and if he continued, even his body might not be able to take it. Jin Lingsu noticed something was wrong, but not knowing what Chen Yu was doing, she dared not approach carelessly. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing became more rapid, clearly reaching his limit. Just as he was about to give up, a campsite flickered into his mind. After confirming the direction, he quickly turned off the scanning feature, took a few deep breaths, and staggered to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s in the northwest direction, keep going for thirty-five kilometers and we¡¯ll get there.¡± Jin Lingsu gasped in shock; she had always been unaware of how Chen Yu determined their direction. There had been a few similar incidents in the past, and she never questioned them, assuming Chen Yu had some sort of positioning system on him. But this time it seemed outrageous; Chen Yu appeared to be using his own body to search. And such a long distance, even the world¡¯s most advanced detection tools might not be able to reach that far, unless it was with a long-range unmanned aircraft. Just as she was about to ask, Chen Yu promptly pulled her into the car. But before he could start the car, Chen Yu unexpectedly lay down in the passenger seat, dozing off. ¡°I¡¯ll rest for a while, remember to call me when we get there,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu¡¯s face showed helpless resignation, but she didn¡¯t say much and started the car smoothly. The thirty-five-kilometer journey took Jin Lingsu a whole hour, indicating how slow she was driving. When they neared the edge of a meadow, she stopped the car. This place could truly be called a paradise, with herds of cattle and sheep bustling around and a large number of herdsmen grazing peacefully. Every few steps, one could see a yurt, and in the very center of all the yurts was a massive tent. Numerous guards armed with weapons stood watch at the entrance to the tent. Jin Lingsu dared not make any rash moves, so she just turned her head and looked at Chen Yu helplessly. Just then, a large group of guards suddenly surrounded them. ¡°Who are you? Who let you drive up here? Get out of here now,¡± they demanded. Jin Lingsu frowned involuntarily; Chen Yu was still asleep, and she didn¡¯t know how to handle the situation. Discover hidden stories at empire With no other choice, she took a short sword and a wizard¡¯s jade token from Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°We are here on orders to discuss the candidacy for the next Elder of the Mountain! This is the short sword symbolizing authority, and I would like to meet the wizard of this place,¡± she said. Upon seeing these two items and hearing her claim, the rear guard immediately became excited. They led the car to a location near the large tent. Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in very peculiar attire hurried out of the tent. ¡°Where is the jade token?¡± he asked. Jin Lingsu stepped out of the car and handed over the jade token directly. ¡°Wizard of Black Hat Mountain, we were instructed to come straight to you upon our arrival,¡± she said. The middle-aged man examined the jade token for a long time, trembling with excitement. ¡°After so many years, at last, the wizards of Lakato Family can unify,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu¡¯s head was filled with question marks as she hadn¡¯t expected that a mere jade token could make the other party so thoroughly convinced. ¡°We encountered some accidents while crossing the desert, and my friend has fainted from dehydration. Could you please treat him first?¡± she asked. The middle-aged man didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately calling over several strong men to carry Chen Yu into a small house next to the tent. ¡°Your timing is truly unfortunate, Lord Kadoge and some of the clan members have gone out hunting and won¡¯t be back for five days. You¡¯ll have to stay here and wait in the meantime,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t have much more to say and simply sat down on the side. The middle-aged man took a blood-red jade token from his person and stuffed it into Jin Lingsu¡¯s hand. ¡°This is my identity token in this place. With it, you can move around freely without any hindrance,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu was somewhat surprised, as she really hadn¡¯t expected such treatment in this place. Speaking of which, her purpose for coming here was to completely eradicate this power. Yet the wizard¡¯s warm attitude made her feel somewhat embarrassed. While they were talking, Chen Yu lethargically turned over. He had exhausted himself too much earlier, and his body was at the peak of weakness. Just as he sat up, his stomach made a rumbling noise. The wizard nearby didn¡¯t miss a beat, immediately having a large amount of food brought in. Chapter 432 - Chapter 432 Wuliang Sea Chapter 432 Wuliang Sea Chen Yu didn¡¯t care so much, he just grabbed a cup of milk tea and gulped it down. [Nutrient absorption function activated automatically] The system immediately kicked into operation, and in the blink of an eye, it dispersed all the nutrients from the milk tea into various parts of Chen Yu¡¯s body. His weakened body visibly recovered at a rapid pace, and color returned to his pale face. The wizard watched everything in front of him with amazement. The existence of their profession was to study religious issues and supernatural powers, but what Chen Yu showed had already surpassed what he understood. The human body needs at least a couple of hours to absorb nutrients, yet Chen Yu had evidently absorbed the milk tea into his body in less than two seconds. After his moment of surprise, he stepped forward to inquire but was stopped by Chen Yu grasping his wrist. ¡°We can¡¯t waste too much time here, can I see Mr. Kadoge as soon as possible?¡± Without any hesitation, the wizard nodded again and again. He knew in his heart that choosinng the old man in the mountains again was something that could not be delayed and had to be done as quickly as possible. He pulled out a satellite phone from his pocket, dialed a number, but after a long time, there was no connection. The wizard seemed to remember something and slapped his own head. ¡°Oh, what a pig¡¯s brain I am, Lord Kadoge, this hunting ground is in the Wuliang Sea, there¡¯s no signal there at all, even satellite phones can¡¯t get through, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to go there in person to find him.¡± Chen Yu immediately pinpointed the location of the Wuliang Sea in his mind. It was an extremely mysterious place, said to be the burial site of a Mongolian prince, with a large amount of treasure. In the past, many people rushed to that place at all costs to enter it. But the magnetic anomalies there were too odd; many people got lost after entering and never made it out in their lifetime. Chen Yu stuffed down several pieces of pure cheese: ¡°Lord Kadoge really is a brave soul with extraordinary skills, daring to venture into that place.¡± The wizard laughed heartily: ¡°He¡¯s very familiar with that place, he used to follow the older generation there as a child and knows a secret path in and out!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t ask anything else, just wolfed down the food, and in no time, he had cleaned out all the food on the table. The wizard watched, dumbfounded, as the food he had just served, meant for five people, was completely devoured. Surprised, he looked at Chen Yu¡¯s stomach and felt a bit scared. After eating so much, Chen Yu¡¯s stomach was still flat, without any sign of change. The wizard quickly waved to a few people outside the door, signaling them to bring more food over. Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, his eyes suddenly showing a hint of difference. ¡°If we leave out Kadoge, could you be the master of everyone here?¡± The wizard was startled for a moment, then looked at his subordinates beside him. ¡°My influence here isn¡¯t very high, but it is effortless to command everyone in the camp.¡± The moment Chen Yu¡¯s physical strength was restored, he began analyzing the wizard¡¯s brain information. To some extent, it was the wizards of the Katola Family who were the core of all scattered forces. It was because of their existence that the Katola Family had not truly split up. And these wizards contacted each other in secret, hoping to use the authority they had to truly unify the Lakato Family once again. Unfortunately, the leaders among the various forces were too powerful, making them afraid to take any action. Chen Yu dared to ask such a question only after seeing through the thoughts inside this guy¡¯s head. ¡°Very well, if Kadoge dies out there, can you lead everyone here back to the Mountain of Augustus?¡± The wizard was stunned for a moment before he excitedly stood up. ¡°Of course! And I can also contact all the Lakato Family forces scattered across the grasslands, to go together to the deep mountains of Augustus.¡± Chen Yu nodded and stuffed the two jade tokens from Jin Lingsu¡¯s hand into the wizard¡¯s. ¡°These two items are both entrusted to you. With them, it will be much simpler for you to command the major forces on the grasslands.¡± The wizard¡¯s breathing became rapid. He hurriedly got up, checked the surroundings outside the hut, and then returned. ¡°This matter is too significant. I cannot give you an immediate response unless I can see Kadoge¡¯s head.¡± Chen Yu grabbed a leg of lamb, ¡°Of course. It takes two days to travel to and from the Wuliang Sea, so I will give you a response after two days.¡± Chen Yu ate some more food, stretched lazily, and then stood up to leave. Jin Lingsu was somewhat dazed, plotting to kill the host while on their own territory, in front of their wizard. It was disrespectful no matter where it was. Yet, unexpectedly, the wizard agreed straight away and even reached cooperation. Without explaining much, Chen Yu packed some food and then took Jin Lingsu to the carriage. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you are becoming more and more miraculous. Wherever you go, everything goes so smoothly,¡± Jin Lingsu said with a hint of probing in her voice. She had always felt that Chen Yu must have some secret, but she couldn¡¯t detect it. Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond directly but took a syringe from his body. ¡°This is a special antidote used to prevent the poison miasma of the Wuliang Sea. Inject it into your body before entering!¡± Jin Lingsu took the syringe and didn¡¯t say much else. She leaned back in the passenger seat and closed her eyes. Chen Yu drove very fiercely, yet very steadily. He drove along a meadow for an unknown amount of time, eventually finding a fairly even dirt road. This place was probably built by Kadoge for easy access to and from the Wuliang Sea. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much and just drove directly onto the dirt road. As he entered, the car suddenly jolted as if caught in a trap. Discover hidden content at empire Jin Lingsu, who had been sleeping next to him, was also alerted and hurriedly got out of the car. ¡°Who are you?¡± Two fully armed strong men suddenly jumped out from the bushes nearby. Without hesitation, Chen Yu drew the short sword from his body. ¡°Sent on an errand to find Mister Kadoge, to transfer the authority of the elder in the mountains.¡± Upon hearing that, the two men immediately froze, full of disbelief. It had been thirty years since the last elder of the mountains was chosen, and that old fellow had never thought about relinquishing power. Why would he suddenly decide to hand it over? And to make such a long journey to place it in Kadoge¡¯s hands. If such a situation occurred, there was only one possibility: the previous elder of the mountains was already dead. The two men simply made a subjective judgment and immediately contacted Kadoge. Chapter 433 - Chapter 433: At the Foot of the Divine Mountain Chapter 433: At the Foot of the Divine Mountain This place was like a secret base, everywhere wired telephones were installed, and there was even a dedicated base station. When Chen Yu entered here, he discovered that his mobile phone had a signal. After the two had finished their call, a strange sound suddenly arose from the depths of the Wuliang Sea forest, followed by a torrent of birds and beasts rushing out. Blue-white light flickered in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, which quickly covered everything, and it wasn¡¯t long before he saw a middle-aged man riding a horse. The man was exceptionally burly, and although not as tall as Ural, his body fat percentage was reduced to the lowest. There were at least twenty people following him, each carrying a large number of weapons. It would be nearly impossible for an ordinary person to kill Kadoge under these circumstances. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and walked straight over. ¡°Did the old man of the last generation die?¡± Kadoge shouted and rode his horse up to Chen Yu, his eyes filled with excitement. Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but simply pulled out a short sword, making a respectful gesture and presented it to Kadoge. Kadoge¡¯s breathing became hurried, and he went forward to take the short sword directly. Just as he got close, his body started convulsing. The guards by his side rushed over when they saw their lord¡¯s condition, but they too fell to the ground as soon as they dismounted. Chen Yu didn¡¯t pay attention to the others; he gave Kadoge an electric shock on the neck and then forcibly dragged him into the car. Jin Lingsu was dazed for a moment; everything happened too quickly, far beyond his imagination. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°What else did you expect? To chop this guy into pieces? It¡¯s better to leave the killing to his own people. We should stay out of their internal disputes!¡± Jin Lingsu smiled sheepishly, embarrassed; those were the words he had told Chen Yu before. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire He hadn¡¯t expected them to come back to him so soon. Without lingering around, the two hurriedly left in the car. The journey from the Wuliang Sea to the camp was extremely smooth, and with Chen Yu¡¯s skills, they returned to camp in less than half a day. Others would never dare to do this; even if the road was smooth, it was still in the desert, and the danger of driving at night was too great. But Chen Yu was different; for a while, he even let the system take control of his body to drive. When they returned to camp, it was the early morning of the next day, and the Wizard was leading a few people in slaughtering sheep just outside the camp. Upon seeing the car, the Wizard also stood there stunned, his muscles tensed, tiptoeing and peering over to see who was sitting inside. When Chen Yu dragged Kadoge out of the car like a dead dog, the stone in the Wizard¡¯s heart instantly fell. He excitedly ran up to Chen Yu, with an added layer of flattery in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s only been a day and a half, and you¡¯ve already returned? That was too fast!¡± Chen Yu threw Kadoge to the ground: ¡°Now this man is your responsibility. It¡¯s up to you to make a choice!¡± This was akin to throwing a hot potato into the Wizard¡¯s lap. ¡°` If he truly sided with Chen Yu, he would¡¯ve killed Kadoge without hesitation. However, if he feared Kadoge and dared not betray him, he would turn around and strike at Chen Yu instead. Whatever choice the wizard made, it didn¡¯t matter to Chen Yu. At worst, he could just kill both the wizard and Kadoge and then, using the jade token and short sword in his hand, lead everyone here back to Mount Augus. The wizard only hesitated for a moment before pulling out the short dagger from his waist and stabbing Kadoge fiercely in the chest. ¡°You traitor of our clan, leading us to such a desolate place, even wanting to break away from Mount Augus¨Ctoday I shall kill you in the name of the true God.¡± He looked so vicious, as if there was a huge grudge between them, which made even Chen Yu shake his head in disbelief. It seemed that the wizard had already taken care of the entire camp. With Kadoge dead, everyone came out, cheering and not showing the slightest sadness for the loss of their leader, as if they were welcoming some kind of rebirth. After scanning the thoughts of everyone present, Chen Yu walked straight into the tent. This period had been exhausting for him, constantly running between desert and grassland. Even if his physical fitness had reached the human limit, he would still feel tired. Given the current situation, the two strongest forces within the Lakato Family had already chosen to align with Mount Augus. The rest would follow suit. After all, they were once part of the Lakato Family; it was only due to some events that they chose to disperse. Kadoge¡¯s tent was extremely luxurious. Although it was just a huge tent fixed in place, the interior decoration was no less opulent than a palace. Chen Yu stretched lazily and then laid down directly on the bed. The entire camp suddenly became very lively, with everyone packing up their tents onto ox carts. It seemed they were preparing to relocate. A long line of trucks were also queued up on the perimeter of the camp, loading up everyone¡¯s important belongings. It appeared that the wizard had everything prepared, and now that Kadoge was confirmed dead, he swiftly mobilized all the preparations. Chen Yu rested for a few days, helping the herders load their belongings, then followed them on their journey to Mount Augus. ¡°You really are at ease! According to the plan, we can¡¯t stay here long; we need to move to the next place! Why do you still want to go back to Mount Augus with them? Is our business here done?¡± Chen Yu lay on the truck with a straw in his mouth. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s basically done. Before leaving, through that wizard, I sent a message to all the wizards of the Lakato Family, detailing our situation here. It won¡¯t be long before these wizards lead the members of their respective factions to Mount Augus.¡± Although Jin Lingsu understood some of the key points, he didn¡¯t quite grasp why Chen Yu was doing this. ¡°Are you so certain that all the wizards will obediently follow through?¡± Chen Yu laughed twice but said nothing more. In his view, all the wizards were, to some extent, brainwashed by religious culture, always intending to truly unite the entire Lakato Family in the name of the Old Man of the Mountain. Now that there was such an opportunity, how could they possibly let it slip by? The convoy traveled for ten days and finally arrived at the foot of Mount Augus. But when they got there, they found that some modified off-road vehicles had been added around the perimeter of the sacred mountain. Each vehicle was equipped with huge weapons, and a large number of people were gathered in the small town outside the mountain. Moreover, at the foot of Mount Augus, an extremely strange flag had been planted. ¡°` Chapter 434 - Chapter 434 Leprosy Chapter 434 Leprosy Chen Yu hurriedly scrambled off the truck, simultaneously using the system to overlay the small town in front of him. When he left, this place should have been completely under the old man¡¯s control. How come, after a round outside, other forces have appeared here? Inside the castle, the masked elder and several figures shrouded in black robes were confronting each other. ¡°You¡¯ve been the master here for a long time, it¡¯s about time you handed over the power,¡± said the lead black-robed figure. The lead black-robed figure was quite aggressive, holding a strange scepter in his hand, engraved with numerous, densely packed runes. The masked elder was still composed, sitting there without saying a word, merely tapping on the table. In this period, more and more people were gathering at Mount Augustus, among them quite a few supporters of his. The black-robed individuals across from him were people of the Snow brothers¡¯ clan. Though they suffered heavy losses in William¡¯s family, they remained the strongest force within the Lakato Family. They came here today intending to merge the entire Lakato Family and then declare war on William¡¯s family in full scale. This clearly contravened the interests advocated by the masked elder. ¡°Nan Nuo, think carefully about what you¡¯re doing today; it¡¯s no different from betrayal,¡± the masked elder said. The black-robed figure laughed heartily. ¡°So what? The current Lakato Family has long since lost its original flavor; the position of the Elder of the Mountain is nothing but a burden! I, Nan Nuo, am determined to change the existing rules.¡± The pupils of the masked elder suddenly dilated; he hadn¡¯t expected Nan Nuo to be so audacious. As the standoff continued, Chen Yu suddenly entered, handing the short sword to the masked elder right in front of Nan Nuo¡¯s face. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve completed the task you entrusted to me, and now the item is returned to its original owner,¡± Chen Yu said. The masked elder was momentarily taken aback. The entire Mount Augustus had been surrounded by Nan Nuo¡¯s people, and here Chen Yu was, strolling in as if nothing was amiss! In a panic, Nan Nuo stood up and looked outside through the window. He saw that the guards at the door had all fallen, twitching all over, some foaming at the mouth. ¡°Who are you? What have you done to my men?¡± asked Nan Nuo. Chen Yu ignored him, simply taking a seat by himself. He spread out a map in front of the masked elder, with many places marked in red. ¡°On my way back, I¡¯ve contacted the forces in these areas, and they¡¯ve all agreed to submit to Mount Augustus,¡± Chen Yu reported. The masked elder immediately became excited, judging from the area marked, over ninety percent of the Lakato Family¡¯s forces recognized his authority. Nan Nuo also lost color in his face upon seeing the map. This way, the fate of the men under his command was more likely to be dire than favourable. ¡°Impossible, this map must be fake!¡± exclaimed Nan Nuo. Nan Nuo drew a dagger from somewhere and plunged it fiercely into the map. Chen Yu leaned back in his chair, a playful look in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Nan Nuo, if I¡¯m not mistaken, both your brothers must have fallen into William¡¯s family¡¯s hands by now. I wonder, what exactly gives you the confidence to come here?¡± Chen Yu questioned. The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned weird, and the expression on Nan Nuo¡¯s face gradually contorted. The reason he came here in such a hurry was because the elite of their lineage had been decimated; he had to take advantage of the gap in information and quickly seize the Elder of the Mountain¡¯s position using the power he still had. Unexpectedly, Chen Yu emerged halfway. ¡°Where did this wild boy come from, spouting nonsense here? We and William¡¯s family had reached a settlement many years ago. Why would I go and find them for no reason?¡± Chen Yu chuckled twice, then suddenly stood up and grabbed Nan Nuo¡¯s shoulders. ¡°In that case, please, Mr. Nan Nuo, call your two younger brothers and see if they¡¯ll answer!¡± Nan Nuo¡¯s breathing became rapid; he hadn¡¯t expected to be caught in a trap. The masked elder immediately felt reassured, pulling out a dagger from the table. ¡°How dare you, Nan Nuo, to come here and make a fool of me! Men, seize him!¡± A large group of subordinates rushed in and pinned Nan Nuo to the ground. Without saying anything more, Chen Yu simply stretched and left the castle. The wizards from all over, upon receiving the call, immediately consulted with their leaders and brought a substantial number of people here. At this moment, Mount Augustus was bustling with excitement, crowded with people as far as the eye could see. Upon arriving, they didn¡¯t idle but started construction sites on the outskirts of the town, with numerous houses quickly rising from the ground. In no time at all, the outskirts of the town would expand by double. The masked elder also followed out and looked at the scene before him with great satisfaction. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really didn¡¯t expect that you could bring together the scattered forces of the Lakato Family in such a short time. From today onward, you are our family¡¯s honorary consultant,¡± he said. Chen Yu smiled slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need for the title of honorary consultant. I just hope that elder can fulfill the promise you made to me!¡± The masked elder laughed heartily, ¡°Rest assured, I will completely obliterate that branch. From now on, William¡¯s family will not face any threats.¡± Chen Yu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s for the best. If I find out that William¡¯s family is under threat from the Lakato Family, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡± His eyes filled with murderous intent and ferocity, sent a chill through the masked elder. Chen Yu had helped him reunite the Lakato Family in such a short time, and he could just as quickly destroy his family. After a slight movement of his throat, the masked elder took off his mask. A wrinkled and unsightly face was revealed before Chen Yu. ¡°Actually, Mr. Chen, you can rest assured. The promise I made will definitely be kept! Moreover, I will also share with you the greatest secret of the Lakato Family today,¡± he said. Chen Yu instinctively took a step back. It wasn¡¯t the old man¡¯s face that scared him, but the wrinkles on his face, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the symptoms of leprosy. Although this disease would not directly transmit, the pus and blood that oozed from the face still posed a strong risk of contagion. Furthermore, those afflicted with this disease could not possibly live past thirty years of age. Despite the old man¡¯s outward appearance suggesting he was seventy or eighty years old, his true bone age was only twenty-two. The first time he saw him, Chen Yu had scanned his entire body¡¯s information through the system. At first, he thought the man was wearing a mask to hide his true identity and pretended to be old and decrepit. Now, it seemed, he had no choice. ¡°Is the secret you¡¯re talking about this leprosy?¡± The masked elder nodded helplessly. Stay updated with empire ¡°Actually, all the elders in the mountains have this disease, but the Lakato Family has never mentioned it to outsiders.¡± Chapter 435 - Chapter 435: 435 Chapter 435: 435 The masked elder revealed everything about cannabis illness, leaving Chen Yu dumbfounded. Their ancestors were part of the Red Cross Crusade that journeyed to this place. In a way, they could be considered royal. But after leaving their original environment, their bodies underwent a change, and nearly the entire family was afflicted with this disease. However, with disaster comes fortune, for although they contracted this incurable illness, it caused a genetic mutation within them. All family members became highly intelligent and to some extent, could see through people¡¯s hearts. Over time, they used these abilities, derived from the disease, to seize immense power. In the end, they even became the heads of the Lakatoga tribe. Even though they had power, they were heartbroken over the disease within them. But this illness was a variant of leprosy, with no cure in the world. ¡°Mr. Chen, if the common folk of our family were to see my face, the image they hold of the old man in the mountains would crumble instantly, you must understand what I mean.¡± Explore more at empire This was tantamount to entrusting Chen Yu with everything. If Chen Yu wished, he just needed to disclose this secret publicly, and all members of the Lakato family would abandon the elder and leave to fend for themselves. After all, such an image would be overturning in everyone¡¯s mind. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, but stepped forward and grabbed the masked elder¡¯s wrist. Though there was no cure for the cannabis illness, according to the medical knowledge in his mind, he could find a prescription to suppress the spread of the virus. While it might not be a complete cure, it could help prolong life by a few years. After carefully examining the elder¡¯s pulse, a prescription formed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. [System prompt: Current points can be spent to heal the mutation] Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, as in his understanding, this was an incurable disease. If the system had a method, then there was no need for him to bother. Without a second thought, he spent ten thousand points. Since the change in the points system, it had become increasingly difficult for him to accumulate points, and the ten thousand points he had saved up were all he had. ¡°Do you have a quieter place here?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. The masked elder was taken aback for a moment, then immediately led Chen Yu to a room on the side. ¡°This is one of my secret chambers, absolutely quiet.¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, it seemed the elder had misunderstood his intent; he merely wanted to find a secluded place to treat the illness. Without saying more, Chen Yu pulled the masked elder to one side. ¡°Close your eyes, and from now on, no matter what happens, do not move.¡± The masked elder hesitated for a moment, then sat there without speaking again. He had seen Chen Yu¡¯s capabilities before, if Chen Yu had wanted to harm him, he would have done so already, not waiting until now. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, placing a finger on the elder¡¯s forehead, immediately a blue-white light flickered, and his body began to tremble slightly. The face, full of wrinkles and covered in pus, began to tighten rapidly. Afterward, the elder¡¯s body visibly recovered at a swift pace, and in just five minutes time, his aged face transformed to look as if he were in his twenties. Chen Yu was also full of surprise; he had not expected the system¡¯s power to be so formidable. ¡°` Patients with leprosy were generally in a state of cellular necrosis, making it impossible to repair their cells. But unexpectedly, the system not only restored them but also activated the vitality they had long since lost. When the masked elder opened his eyes, he was so excited that he couldn¡¯t speak. Having remained in that state for who knows how many years, suddenly returning to this appearance gave him a sense of rebirth. ¡°Mr. Chen, how on earth did you do it? I have sought the help of many doctors before, even the world¡¯s top medical teams, and they all said the damage to my body was irreversible.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°There are good and bad expert teams in this world, you may have just met some quacks, that¡¯s all.¡± Chen Yu yawned casually and left the room. The crowd around the castle was growing, and the number of shops on the streets had doubled compared to before. Though the population had increased, so had many problems. So many people suddenly arriving here caused a shortage of supplies, and some fought over food. Jin Lingsu was also among the crowd, seemingly in a conflict with a merchant caravan. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that and jumped straight down from the castle. The masked elder was just about to come out to thank Chen Yu when he saw this scene and hurried down from the castle with several people. The merchants weren¡¯t from the Lakato family but a common caravan that had come from another desert. This group was very rude, with dozens of strong men armed with a lot of weapons. Jin Lingsu clenched a golden scepter in her hand, staring fiercely at these fellows. ¡°This scepter was originally mine; it only got lost during an operation, and now it¡¯s simply returning to its rightful owner.¡± The man leading the caravan was not pleased, drawing a long knife from somewhere and pointing it at Jin Lingsu. ¡°You dumb bitch, we went through hell and high water to get this treasure. What proof do you have that it¡¯s yours now?¡± The two sides were at a standoff, and it looked as though they were about to come to blows. Chen Yu ran over in a panic, stopping Jin Lingsu. ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Jin Lingsu shook the golden scepter in her hand, ¡°You should remember this object, you helped me buy it back in Frankfurt.¡± Chen Yu observed the scepter, the runes engraved on it were extremely neat, indeed the kind used by Egyptian pharaohs. Indeed, it had been bought at an auction in Frankfurt. Chen Yu frowned, ¡°I remember your scepter was supposed to be in the Strait of Magellan, how did it end up here?¡± Jin Lingsu gnashed her teeth and glared at the merchant caravan beside her. She had a private treasury in the Strait of Magellan, where the golden scepter was kept. Now that it had appeared in the hands of these people, it meant that her private treasury had definitely been robbed. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, then walked up to the man in charge. ¡°This golden scepter is indeed ours, may I ask where did you acquire it from?¡± Chen Yu was polite enough, considering that the private treasury might have been robbed by these very people. The man leading the caravan suppressed the anger in his heart. ¡°My name is Macallan! I¡¯m a legitimate businessman. This golden scepter, along with many other treasures, were acquired through legitimate channels. There¡¯s no reason for this lady to slander us.¡± ¡°` Chapter 436 - Chapter 436 Bian Que Sect Chapter 436 Bian Que Sect Chen Yu immediately activated the system and scanned the brain information of the man before him. Macallan had not lied; the Gold scepter had indeed been acquired through legitimate channels, though the person who sold them the scepter seemed rather sleazy. However, it appeared that Macallan suffered from some kind of memory disease, as many of his memories were very vague. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and could only take out a banknote to buy back the Gold scepter. To his surprise, Macallan pressed down on his wrist. ¡°Sir, you are mistaken. We are here to participate in the art exhibition, and all the items will be awarded as prizes, not for sale,¡± he said. Chen Yu was taken aback; even though he had stayed on Mount Augustus for such a long time, he never knew there was an art exhibition. Just then, the old man in a mask hurried over with several guards. ¡°Mr. Chen, today is indeed our annual art exhibition. Anyone who wins the championship will receive a prize!¡± This piqued Chen Yu¡¯s interest; one way or another, he had to get his hands on that Gold scepter. The crowd that had gathered around just now also dispersed. Macallan and a few businessmen cleared a large space and set up a stage there. A great number of murals and calligraphy were placed on the stage. Before long, a flapper stood up with a microphone. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, these works come from various auction houses as well as many ancient sites. We are not very clear about the value of these paintings, and if anyone here can guess the origin and the content of these items, we will give a corresponding reward,¡± she announced. Chen Yu immediately understood; these folks were essentially here to find a free appraiser. Looking at their group, with many refined individuals, they were likely experts who had initially made rough appraisals of the paintings. However, they had not agreed on many of the details and were randomly looking for professional talent here. Macallan and a few businessmen placed a large amount of gold and silver jewelry on the stage. At that moment, a middle-aged man confidently walked onto the stage. ¡°You have the nerve to bring these worthless things here for appraisal!¡± he exclaimed. He immediately reached out, grabbed an ink wash landscape painting, and lifted it high. ¡°If I am not mistaken, this painting should be a drawing of medicinal plants by the divine physician Bian Que! On this mountain beside us, at least three hundred kinds of herbs are drawn,¡± he declared. His words immediately resonated with everyone on the scene, and several experts hurried over, taking out magnifying glasses to study it closely. These experts were not pushovers; although they had not been able to identify the specific origins of the paintings when together, if someone could give a rough idea, they would be able to make an accurate judgment based on that. ¡°You¡¯re right, these are indeed shapes of various medicinal herbs, but this painting should be from the Tang Dynasty, while Bian Que was from the Spring and Autumn period,¡± one of the experts stated. ¡°This painting has no artist¡¯s seal; we cannot determine who drew it, but we can ascertain the era,¡± another added. ¡°Sir, perhaps you have mistaken, could you take a closer look?¡± ¡­ The middle-aged man¡¯s face showed a touch of anger. In his opinion, he had identified all the details, yet these experts were still nitpicking. As he was about to retort, Chen Yu walked straight onto the stage. ¡°If I may say so, this gentleman is not mistaken, and the experts are not wrong either. This painting is indeed from the Tang Dynasty, and it is also from the hand of Bian Que,¡± he said. This remark elicited a burst of laughter from the crowd. Everyone knew that Bian Que was a famous physician from the Spring and Autumn period, which was basic common sense. Could it be that Bian Que had time-traveled to the Tang dynasty to create this painting? Find your next adventure on empire Chen Yu paid no mind to the crowd as he walked over to the painting and lightly tapped it. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, do you truly understand the historical Bian Que?¡± This question suddenly silenced the room. Over the years, with the advancement of archaeological work, a vast amount of evidence has proven that Bian Que was not an individual, but a school. For instance, the records of Bian Que in the Spring and Autumn period span several hundred years. People from that era had a very short lifespan, and even if Bian Que were a divine physician, he couldn¡¯t possibly have lived that long. Moreover, records of Bian Que¡¯s medical practices across different eras show considerable differences, becoming more refined in later periods. Previously, many believed these to be later annotations and detailed discussions by successors of Bian Que¡¯s medical knowledge. However, now it seems there are many new elements, even ones independent of the original Bian Que¡¯s medical practices. The crowd began to discuss animatedly, and for a time, the experts on stage were unable to make a definitive conclusion. Chen Yu picked up a magnifying glass from the side. ¡°Beyond the mountain depicted in this painting are medicinal herbs; other buildings and rivers conceal numerous prescriptions. I recommend that you all use more sophisticated, cutting-edge instruments to observe.¡± Without any hesitation, the experts immediately had several devices brought in and placed to the side. After some time, one of the experts suddenly sprang up, visibly excited. ¡°This gentleman is correct. There are indeed a great number of prescriptions recorded here, and the medicinal materials on the side correspond to the herbs listed in the prescriptions!¡± The onlookers also began to murmur among themselves, as this discovery seemed to overturn their preconceived notions. Following the confirmation from the experts, everyone started to give Chen Yu a thumbs-up. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, heading straight to the side to pick up a gold scepter and several pieces of jewelry, all of which appeared to be from Jin Lingsu¡¯s private treasury. But when Jin Lingsu received these items, her face was still marked with anger. She had put in so much hard work and spent a great deal of money to set up a private vault, only to have it raided, and its contents brought here as prizes. Chen Yu patted her shoulder. ¡°There, there. These are just from one of your many vaults, aren¡¯t they? Besides, aren¡¯t these items now returned to their rightful owner?¡± Jin Lingsu let out a breath of relief and said no more. ¡°Sir, may I challenge you to another contest?¡± The middle-aged man from before seemed somewhat unconvinced. The previous painting did mingle some obscure historical knowledge, and he felt his loss was a bit unjust. However, in such scholarly competitions, no one would admit to being inferior to others. Chen Yu chuckled lightly; he didn¡¯t say much, simply stepping onto the stage¡ªafter all, he found this kind of competition quite meaningful. No sooner had he stepped up than the middle-aged man took a tablet from the side and shoved it into his hands. Chapter 437 - Chapter 437: The Ashes of the Old Man in the Mountain Chapter 437: The Ashes of the Old Man in the Mountain Before Chen Yu could react, that guy picked up another slate from the side. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, these should be from the same mural, depicting content from the early Eastern Han Dynasty! Let¡¯s compete with this mural and see if we can describe the entire content through just one small piece of it,¡± he challenged. Chen Yu immediately became interested, not expecting the middle-aged man to have such an idea. ¡°Of course we can, please, you go first!¡± The middle-aged man didn¡¯t hesitate and carefully examined the piece of mural in his hand before facing the crowd. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, if I¡¯m not mistaken, this painting describes a war. Judging by its era, it could possibly depict the campaign of General Fubo, Ma Yuan, in the Western Regions.¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly and walked up beside the middle-aged man. Explore hidden tales at empire ¡°The era is somewhat off, it should be a bit later! In my guess, this must be the scene of the bloody battle at Shule City,¡± Chen Yu suggested. The competition on the platform immediately intensified, with neither of them willing to concede as they each picked up another piece of the mural. The middle-aged man still firmly believed in his own hypothesis, insisting that the story, as depicted on the mural, definitely took place in the Western Regions. And the only noteworthy campaign from that era in the Western Regions was led by General Fubo, Ma Yuan. Chen Yu did not compromise either. The two men continued adding slate pieces, and as the majority was pieced together, the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. The background of the mural was indeed in the Western Regions, but after being assembled, it revealed several figures standing side by side. They were wearing tattered clothes, holding old weapons, and covered with scars all over their bodies. Seeing this scene, there was little doubt left. After the bloody battle at Shule City, only thirteen brave warriors remained, who then traveled from Shule City back to the Yumen Pass. Chen Yu also fitted his own piece of slate into place, and when the two had assembled all the slates, a mural depicting the thirteen brave warriors of Shule City appeared before everyone. All those present became excited, as records of that battle had become scarce in the market. As a mural that had survived over time, its value was surely incalculable. No one expected Chen Yu to be able to deduce the entire content of the mural from just a small piece. The middle-aged man reluctantly lowered his head, as he hadn¡¯t expected to find a contender for his learning here. The two experts standing nearby approached Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, would you be able to identify the specific era of this mural?¡± Being able to deduce the narrative structure of a mural was one thing, but if someone could determine its era, that person would be considered exceptional. Many murals were made with preservative materials that could be preserved for a long time. Moreover, various external environmental impacts could cause discrepancies in dating the age of murals. Chen Yu gently caressed the mural. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be a mural from the city of Han Fu in the Western Regions, created during the construction of the Buddhist grottoes by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty!¡± The crowd was astounded once again, as nobody had expected Chen Yu to be so adept. Macallan and a group of merchants said no more, promptly displaying the items they had collected. ¡°Mr. Chen, could you please help us appraise these items? As long as you¡¯re accurate, all of our prizes are yours to claim, and additionally, you can make other conditions as well.¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit shortchanged. The items they brought out were each a priceless treasure, any one of them could start bidding at ten billion when casually put out in the market. Yet the so-called prizes laid out here amounted to only about ten billion in total. However, he didn¡¯t say much more and went on to appraise all the calligraphy, paintings, and murals on the platform. Even the masks standing below the platform were repeatedly praised by the elderly man. Jin Lingsu¡¯s initially cold face suddenly became excited. She understood that with Chen Yu¡¯s character, the prizes he won would definitely be shared with her. It would just cover the losses of her private gold reserve. Time passed without knowing how long, the sky gradually dimmed, and the lively scenes on the streets slowly dispersed. Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu were arranged by the masked elder to stay inside the castle. At night, the masked elder brought a plate of specially prepared roast meat to Chen Yu¡¯s room. ¡°Mr. Chen, there are some things I would like to ask your advice on!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had already said all he needed to during the day, and what could require consultation at his room at this hour? But seeing the aromatic roast meat on the table, Chen Yu also put aside his doubts. He grabbed a piece of roast meat, bit into it, and his eyes immediately sparkled. ¡°What is this meat? It¡¯s so delicious!¡± The masked elder chuckled, ¡°This is a camel raised in a special way on Mount Augustus; it tastes very fresh and delicious.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about anything else and began eating heartily. The masked elder took out a gold foldbook from his body and placed it on the table. ¡°Seeing Mr. Chen¡¯s elegance today, I greatly admire you, so there is another matter I¡¯d like to trouble you with.¡± Chen Yu glanced and noticed that the gold foldbook seemed to be engraved with a map. In some places on it were marked symbols resembling Buddha statues. Linking the map together, it could be found that all the marked places were ancient Buddhist grottoes. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of having me steal from these Buddhist grottoes, are you?¡± The masked elder waved his hands repeatedly. ¡°How could I ask you to do something so sleazy? I merely want you to take out a Buddha¡¯s bone relic.¡± Chen Yu immediately furrowed his brows. The religious beliefs of Mount Augustus didn¡¯t belong to Buddhism, so what would they want with a Shariputra without any reason? Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s confusion, the masked elder quickly took out a letter from the side. ¡°Actually, that Shariputra was originally from Mount Augustus, but it was borrowed by the Buddhist grottoes. Unfortunately, the people who made the deal have all passed away! Including myself, no one has ever seen that Shariputra and can¡¯t distinguish whether it¡¯s genuine¡­¡± Chen Yu instantly understood; they wanted him to authenticate the Shariputra incidentally. ¡°I can certainly agree to this, but even if the Buddha¡¯s bone relics were originally yours, taking them back seems to be of no use to you.¡± The masked elder sighed in resignation. ¡°Mr. Chen may not know, but this Shariputra actually belongs to the first generation of elders from the mountains!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; he had never dreamed it would be like this. If that was the case, then it shouldn¡¯t be called Shariputra, but remains instead. Chapter 438 - Chapter 438 The Elos Clan Chapter 438 The Elos Clan Thirty miles north of Mount Argus, there lies an abandoned Buddhist grotto, deserted for who knows how many years. Yet even such a dilapidated place is still guarded by a few monks. When Chen Yu arrived, what met his eyes was a vast expanse of ruins. He took a moment to adjust his breathing, then went straight in. An older monk, advanced in years, quickly got up to greet him, looking exceptionally surprised. This place had not been visited by anyone in a long time; even the arrival of a mouse, it seemed, would have prompted these monks to celebrate with a banquet. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire However, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t understand a word the old monk was saying, and even the system didn¡¯t provide a translation immediately. For quite a while, the two of them stared at each other in a standoff before the system gradually kicked into gear. [Ancient Sanskrit, one of the world¡¯s oldest language systems, identifying¡­] That language system was difficult to master in any era, and very few people could become proficient in it. Even the system took a full five minutes to completely decode and transfer the language structure into Chen Yu¡¯s mind. ¡°Young man, where do you come from? Are you here to worship the Buddha?¡± Finally understanding the old monk¡¯s question, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly took out an old envelope from his pocket and handed it to the old monk. ¡°I¡¯m here to retrieve Buddha¡¯s bone relics.¡± Although he knew they were ashes, since they had both agreed to call them Shariputra, it wasn¡¯t his place to say more. The old monk, taking the envelope, became visibly excited. ¡°It¡¯s been many years, and finally, someone has come to fetch them!¡± He hurried to a Buddha statue and picked up a porcelain-white jar from the offering table. The patterns carved on it were very strange and did not belong to Buddhist designs. However, it was clear that the monks maintained these items daily; they were spotless and clean. The old monk handed the jar to Chen Yu with great respect. ¡°After taking the relics, you should leave quickly; I won¡¯t keep you for a meal.¡± Chen Yu found this odd; after traveling for such a long time to arrive, the least he expected was a meal. The surrounding area was all desert, without a shop in sight. On his journey, he could only eat the compressed biscuits he brought with him. He had thought he would at least get a meal at the temple, but the old monk seemed intent on driving him away on purpose. ¡°Master, on my way here, I heard that your vegetarian meals are unmatched; could I trouble you for a few bites?¡± The old monk seemed anxious; his expression was indecipherable, showing neither agreement nor refusal, but he kept urging Chen Yu to leave quickly. As the two were going back and forth, a group of people barged into the temple. ¡°Old man, we¡¯ve told you so many times, this place belongs to the Elos Clan; why haven¡¯t you moved out yet?¡± The old monk was startled and hurried forward to meet them. ¡°Gentlemen, there is no issue under the heavens that cannot be discussed reason. We have guarded this Buddhist grotto for so long and never heard it belonged to any family! Your Elos Clan seems to be newcomers, too; since when did this become your territory?¡± The young man leading the group shoved the old monk aside. ¡°Out of the way, old man; I¡¯ve already given you plenty of time. Today, either all of you leave or I¡¯ll kill every last one of you.¡± Such a tyrannical attitude left even Chen Yu momentarily stunned. He finally understood why the old monk was so anxious to drive him away, it turned out he was trying to save his life. According to the temperament of this group of people, they would probably kill him along with the others. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Chen Yu suddenly shouted, walking straight up to the group of people. ¡°This place is nothing more than a dilapidated Buddhist grotto, merely a dwelling for these monks. Why are you so intent on seizing it? What exactly are you after?¡± The question was blunt, even a bit foolish. The members of the Elos Clan burst into laughter as if they were looking at an idiot. ¡°Where did this kid come from? He even dares to meddle in our affairs! Take him down!¡± At the command, a few robust men charged forward, trying to subdue Chen Yu, but as they got close, a blue-white light suddenly flashed and the men collapsed to the ground unconscious. The young leader¡¯s eyes went wide; he hadn¡¯t seen how his men had fallen. While he was still puzzled, Chen Yu suddenly appeared in front of him, grabbing his neck. ¡°I¡¯ve been polite to you! Since you struck first, don¡¯t blame me for being rude. From now on, I¡¯ll ask a question, you answer¡ªif not, I¡¯ll twist your head off.¡± The young man trembled all over with fear. ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Chen Yu slapped him across the face, pinning him down to the ground. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to ask me questions! Where does your clan come from? Why do you want to occupy these Buddhist grottoes?¡± The young man had already been scared witless and did not dare delay in his response. ¡°We migrated here from the north, having heard that there were heirlooms left behind, so we wanted to come and take a look. There¡¯s no other meaning behind it. These masters can continue to stay here if they like, as long as they agree to let us search for treasures.¡± Chen Yu frowned; when he arrived, he had scanned the entire grotto with his system and had found nothing but a few broken Buddha statues¡ªlet alone any treasure. ¡°Who told you this?¡± The young man gasped for breath: ¡°It was the elders of my family who told me. It¡¯s not my fault.¡± Chen Yu kicked him hard in the lower back. ¡°You have one day to bring your elders here!¡± The young man dared not linger any longer and hastily led his men away. The old monk by his side appeared somewhat at a loss. ¡°Young man, you should not have provoked them! You¡¯d better leave quickly. Once their main force arrives, you won¡¯t be able to get away.¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and simply took hold of the old monk¡¯s hand. ¡°But I¡¯ve already smelled the aroma of the meal. Can I eat my fill before we talk about leaving?¡± With no other choice, the old monk sighed helplessly and took Chen Yu to the kitchen. There were only eight people in the entire grotto, including the old monk, with the youngest being only eight years old. Their food was very simple¡ªa coarse-looking bowl of rice paired with some pickled vegetables of unknown origin. Although it did not look appealing, the fragrance that wafted over instantly won Chen Yu over. This type of pure, original food was the healthiest thing in the world. He promptly devoured a bowl of rice, feasting heartily as he sat there. Yet the other monks simply stood by quietly, watching him without moving their chopsticks. Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: 439 Chapter 439: 439 Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t just stand there watching me eat! Let¡¯s all share.¡± Who knew that the few monks simply sat there with their eyes closed, chanting sutras, while the elderly monk also let out two awkward chuckles. ¡°You are our guest, we should of course let you eat your fill first, and then think about ourselves.¡± Only then did Chen Yu realize the situation, he quickly looked around and discovered that the food supply here was not very abundant; all the monks had fixed rations. The pot of rice and pickles, I¡¯m afraid, was their food for the entire day. By that calculation, the bowl of rice Chen Yu had just served himself was enough for one person for five days. He hadn¡¯t expected these monks to live such an austere life. He sighed softly, put down the bowl, and suddenly grabbed the old monk¡¯s wrist. ¡°Master, there¡¯s nothing here, and sticking around is pointless. Why don¡¯t you leave? I can pay to have a temple built for you elsewhere.¡± The old monk was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. ¡°We have our reasons to remain here. This is also the command passed down by the ancestors of the Buddhist grottoes!¡± Chen Yu immediately furrowed his brows. In his view, these monks were just a bunch of stubborn fools. A dilapidated Buddhist grotto could provide shelter only in a few tumbledown caves; the only thing of historical value was the reclining Buddha statue in the middle of the main hall. One could simply find someone to move the reclining Buddha statue; there was no need to leave these eight monks here to endure hardship. Just as he was about to continue persuading, a disorderly noise suddenly erupted outside. ¡°Listen up, those inside, hand over the treasures here quietly, or else I¡¯ll level this place.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was reeling with disbelief. What kind of treasures could this broken place have, worthy of such a fuss from these people? The old monk sighed helplessly and got up to go out. Chen Yu quickly stopped him: ¡°Master, leave this situation to me!¡± As Chen Yu prepared to step out, the old monk suddenly stopped him. ¡°Young man, you are here to retrieve something on behalf of the Lakato Family. By rights, we should treat you as one of us, but we absolutely must not drag you into this murky situation. It¡¯s best if you leave this place soon.¡± Chen Yu immediately sensed something was amiss. He turned around and swept the eight monks present with a strange look. ¡°Could it be that this broken place actually has some sort of treasure?¡± The old monk hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The other monks too looked helplessly, and at the old monk¡¯s signal, they gently tapped the earth wall to the side. The seemingly solid earth wall immediately parted several doors, revealing the scene within. A heap of Buddhist scriptures piled up inside like a small hill. Chen Yu¡¯s face showed no fluctuation; he had seen these scriptures before when the system had scanned earlier. To say that the monks were willing to stay behind and sacrifice their lives for these scriptures was understandable. But a group of nothing-to-lose ruffians concentrating their efforts on seizing these scriptures here was something that no one would believe. While he was still puzzled, the old monk personally opened a secret compartment and took out a small box from inside. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes and immediately activated the system scan, but unexpectedly, there seemed to be a natural barrier around the object, and the system couldn¡¯t grasp what was inside. The elderly monk didn¡¯t say much, opening the small box with great reverence. The box was divided into several layers, and with each layer that was opened, the elderly monk would kneel on the ground and pay his respects with a bow. When the last layer was opened, Chen Yu was suddenly dumbstruck. A dazzling light instantly spread, illuminating the entire room, and an aura of sanctity rose, that even Chen Yu instinctively wanted to worship. The elderly monk¡¯s breathing became rapid, ¡°We have been guarding this place generation after generation just to protect this Buddha¡¯s bone relic!¡± Chen Yu took a sharp breath in surprise and hurried over. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire From the patterns and the condition of the Shariputra, he could tell it was the relic of the ancient Buddha Dipankara. He had never dreamed that in such a dilapidated place, he would encounter such a precious Buddhist relic. ¡°I understand!¡± Chen Yu adjusted his breathing, ¡°Master, I drove a car here, which should be able to take away the Buddha¡¯s bone relics and half of the scriptures from here. We can come back for the rest later, would that be all right?¡± The elderly monk sighed helplessly, now that it had come to this first step, he had no choice but to go. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and walked out of the Buddhist grottoes on his own. A dozen all-terrain vehicles were parked not far away, and a man of extreme muscular build approached Chen Yu with eyes full of scorn. ¡°Kid, do you know what place this is? Do you know who I am? How dare you act so recklessly here, it looks like you¡¯re tired of living.¡± Chen Yu remained silent; then suddenly, with a jolt, he was in front of the man, lightly tapping on his forehead. The man¡¯s body immediately convulsed and fell straight down. The others, seeing what happened, were startled and hurriedly raised their weapons, but as they were about to act, Chen Yu suddenly appeared among them, pressing a hand on the ground. A blue and white light instantly enveloped them, their bodies convulsing uncontrollably, and before long, they all fainted away. Chen Yu clapped his hands and was about to go back to help the elderly monk with the scriptures when he suddenly saw that the group had arrived in trucks. ¡¯Ling Ling, immediately design a semi-trailer plan for me, I want to take all the scriptures inside.¡¯ [To fit two engine units into a modified off-road vehicle, but to ensure that all items are carried away, two more engine units must be added.] Before long, the system, based on the existing conditions at hand, came up with a plan. Chen Yu wasted no time, directly taking out the engine units from two off-road vehicles and installing them onto his modified vehicle. He also disassembled the cargo compartment of a truck and attached it behind the off-road vehicle. At the same time, he raised the vehicle¡¯s chassis and tires. All these modifications were a breeze for him, and when the vehicle was ready, eight monks also came out of the Buddhist grottoes, carrying scriptures on their backs. Chen Yu hurried forward to help. The elderly monk was stunned by the scene before him. ¡°Young man, how did you manage to do all this? In just a few minutes, you¡¯ve killed so many people? Such wanton slaughter is¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master!¡± Chen Yu took the scriptures from the elderly monk, ¡°I¡¯ve just put them to sleep, that¡¯s all.¡± The elderly monk finally relaxed, murmured an Amitabha, and went back to moving the scriptures. It took most of the day to load all the scriptures and necessary items onto the vehicle. Chapter 440 - Chapter 440 Buddha’s Relics Chapter 440 Buddha¡¯s Relics The modified vehicle could take everything here away, but the fuel consumption was huge. With less than thirty kilometers left to Mount Augustus, the fuel on board was almost depleted. Just then, a vast convoy chased up from behind. ¡°Where the hell did you come from, kid? We¡¯ve been watching the Buddhist grottoes for so long, and you just swooped in.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, the guy in front of him seemed to be from a different group than the Elos Clan. It looked like they weren¡¯t the only ones after the Buddha¡¯s bone relics. The old monk was also getting scared and hurriedly crowded next to Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, this guy is even more vicious than the Elos Clan. Should we avoid him for now?¡± The fact that a monk would say such a thing showed just how terrifying the opponent was. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and went straight over. After the convoy stopped, a dozen men walked over quite arrogantly. ¡°Kid, hand over those monks and everything on the vehicle immediately, or else¡­¡± Chen Yu¡¯s figure flickered, and he was instantly beside the lead man, slapping his face. A flash of blue and white light illuminated briefly, and several big men around them dropped to the ground. Before the others could react, he walked over to the supply vehicle and took down two barrels of gasoline. The rest were frightened, staring at Chen Yu with dull eyes. The old monk was also stunned by the scene, having no idea how Chen Yu had managed to knock these guys down in an instant. ¡°Master, we should be going now!¡± With a shout from Chen Yu, he filled up with gasoline and without another look at the dazed bunch, he drove away. Desert nights come very late, and by the time Chen Yu neared Mount Augustus, it was already dark. However, the town at the foot of the holy mountain was still bustling. The masked old man and Jin Lingsu hurried out to meet him. The old monk was very excited to see the masked old man as well; the two seemed to have met a long time ago. Chen Yu didn¡¯t disturb them and just found a small restaurant in the town with Jin Lingsu to sit down. ¡°Since we¡¯ve almost finished our business here, we should visit William¡¯s family and take care of things there.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded, though the place was nice and exotic, she didn¡¯t want to stay here forever. Besides, the so-called delicacies here can become tiring after a while. ¡°Then let¡¯s set off early tomorrow. I¡¯ve also modified a motorhome here, so we can take more things with us when we leave.¡± Find exclusive stories on Novgo.com Chen Yu was somewhat helpless; it seemed that Jin Lingsu had plundered quite a few treasures in this place. It wasn¡¯t long before the masked old man came looking for him in a rush. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really can¡¯t thank you enough. We¡¯ve asked the master to come several times before, and he was reluctant, but you went just once and transported all the Buddhist scriptures here. Now we no longer have to worry about these things being robbed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just what I happened to be doing!¡± Chen Yu responded with a smile. The masked old man didn¡¯t think so and quickly took a bill out of his pocket, handing it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is a gold bill that can be exchanged at any bank in the world. Consider it a token of my gratitude.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the amount on the bill and his eyes widened instantly¡ªit was a bill for five tons of gold. He didn¡¯t put on any airs and simply tucked the bill away. The masked old man looked around before leaning in close to Chen Yu. ¡°Recently, a lot of people from other forces have infiltrated this place. If Mr. Chen doesn¡¯t have any urgent business, I suggest you leave here soon to avoid any trouble.¡± Chen Yu had already sensed many unusual presences when he arrived. Spies from the top organizations of the major worlds had all been dispatched here. Previously, the scattered Lakato Family was not a threat, but now that the entire family had united, their power could even rival that of the Knights of the Round Table. If others knew that all of this was Chen Yu¡¯s doing, they would likely join forces against him. Chen Yu certainly understood the masked old man¡¯s implication and didn¡¯t say much, merely nodding his head. After discussing a few more details, the masked old man hurriedly left. After Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu finished their meal, they immediately found their RV and left Mount Augustus. William¡¯s family manor. Victor sat in the seat of honor, staring intently at Snow and Ino standing below. These two had been locked up in the manor for quite some time, yet to date, they still exhibited an unyielding attitude. In their view, William¡¯s family had only managed to capture them by relying on Chen Yu, and they were unwilling to submit. ¡°Gentlemen, although your people have all been detained, I haven¡¯t mistreated them, ensuring they¡¯ve been well fed and taken care of. If you continue to be obstinate, don¡¯t blame me for not being courteous.¡± Victor¡¯s words were laced with threats and warnings, but unexpectedly, the two brothers lie down on the ground outright. Snow snorted coldly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s not waste words. I want to see just what you, an old man, can really do.¡± Victor¡¯s brow furrowed; he hadn¡¯t expected these two to act so shamelessly here. Just as he prepared to persuade them further, a middle-aged man surrounded by several bodyguards walked in. ¡°Mr. Victor, treating people from the Lakato Family like this seems inappropriate. Why don¡¯t you let me take them away?¡± The middle-aged man took out a token from his person. Victor was stunned on the spot¡ªthat token was a Token of the Knights of the Round Table. He hurriedly stood up to welcome the man. ¡°Sir, it was Mr. Chen Yu of the Knights of the Round Table who locked them up here. If you want me to release people, I can only wait for Mr. Chen to return.¡± The middle-aged man, however, didn¡¯t care for that and went straight over to Snow and Ino, intending to set them free. Victor grew anxious; he didn¡¯t know what kind of background these two had and didn¡¯t dare to get tough with them. He immediately got someone to call Chen Yu. Just as the middle-aged man was about to take the two away, Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu strode into the hall. ¡°Where are you from? Who gave you the permission to come here and take people away?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression was icy as he stepped forward and grabbed the middle-aged man¡¯s shoulder. The man was taken aback upon seeing Chen Yu and hurriedly knelt on the ground. ¡°Mr. Chen, I am here under the orders of Lord Fox. I do hope you can grant me this convenience.¡± Chen Yu looked utterly indifferent, simply pushing the middle-aged man aside. ¡°Carrying a forged token and daring to use Lord Fox¡¯s name, I think you¡¯re tired of living.¡± Chapter 441 - Chapter 441 Ordinary Cabin Chapter 441 Ordinary Cabin ¡°` The middle-aged man¡¯s face was filled with terror, as he hastily brought the token up to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, my token is real, and you have seen me at the base of the Knights of the Round Table.¡± Chen Yu, of course, knew this, but at this time he absolutely could not admit it. Experience new stories on Novgo.com He snatched the token from the man¡¯s hand and kicked him hard on the shoulder. ¡°Stop trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Lately, there have been too many like you, posing as Knights of the Round Table and coming to me. Do you really think that just because I¡¯ve only recently joined, I don¡¯t know the rules within the organization?¡± Before the man could react, Jin Lingsu stepped forward and pierced his chest with a spike. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. If this guy were to get away and tell Fox about what had happened here, then he would be forced to oppose the Knights of the Round Table. Not just him, but Tong Group would suffer the consequences as well. Victor hurriedly came forward. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you sure this is alright? I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before the Knights of the Round Table come looking for trouble with us.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak and just sat down, casually picking up a cup of wine and draining it in one gulp. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The current Knights of the Round Table are nothing but paper tigers. As long as we deliver the Snow and Ino brothers back to the Lakato family, then we can gain a powerful ally.¡± Victor immediately became excited, ¡°You mean the Lakato family is willing to let go of their feud with William¡¯s family?¡± Chen Yu put down his wine glass. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s very simple. It¡¯s just a matter of eradicating the particular branch that harbors a grudge against you.¡± Victor finally felt a weight lift from his heart, as the issue that had troubled his family for centuries was resolved. Chen Yu took out a pass from his person and handed it to Victor. ¡°This is a pass from the Lakato family. With this, you can safely enter Mount Augustus. Remember, you must hand over the brothers to the elder in the mountains and not let them be intercepted en route.¡± Victor nodded repeatedly and immediately ordered his subordinates to carry out the task. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more. After staying with William¡¯s family for a few days and personally supervising the brothers¡¯ departure, he then left Frankfurt. Jin Lingsu didn¡¯t leave with him but stayed with William¡¯s family instead. She was also tired from keeping watch and wanted to rest properly with William¡¯s family for a while. Chen Yu didn¡¯t take a plane but chose a luxurious cruise ship instead. This cruise ship was named the Atlantis, renowned throughout the world. The designers were among the most elite teams in the world, reputedly responsible for more than ninety percent of the large cruise ships on the market today. The reason he chose a cruise ship for his return journey was partly to clear his mind and also because there was an appraisal event taking place on the ship. Chen Yu had missed the ticket selling period and could only purchase a standard ticket at the dock. This kind of ticket only allowed him to stay in the ship¡¯s lowest cabins. When he entered the cabin, a foul stench hit him, nearly making him vomit. The so-called standard ticket apparently meant bunking with a large group of animals. Moreover, it seemed these tickets had been added at the last moment before sailing. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and sought out the management staff. ¡°If I pay a bit more, can I get upgraded?¡± The manager sized up Chen Yu, ¡°It¡¯s possible, but the amount you¡¯ll need to spend isn¡¯t small. Can you afford it?¡± ¡°` Chen Yu couldn¡¯t bother with too much, and directly took out a gold bar from his pocket and stuffed it into the hands of the manager. ¡°Arrange a seat for me as soon as possible.¡± The manager¡¯s face brightened with a smile, and he immediately took Chen Yu upstairs. ¡°Sir, this is as far as I can take you, the rest is up to you!¡± Chen Yu frowned tightly; this manager really knew his business¡ªa gold bar only got him upstairs. Had he known, he would have come up by himself. With a light sigh, he began to wander around the cabin, and soon found himself in a rather spacious hall. In the corner not far away, a large group of people were gesticulating about a painting. The painting was quite distinctive, it looked like a product of religion but somehow not quite. ¡°I¡¯ve already said this, the painting must have been painted by the hands of the Pope from the medieval era.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not right; although the era is correct, the artist is not. How could the Pope of the Catholic Church possibly paint something Jewish?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense; if you ask me, this painting was just copied from the murals of Jerusalem.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu suddenly scowled; he hadn¡¯t expected such an ordinary painting to provoke such a large dispute. He walked straight up and tore the painting off the wall. ¡°Gentlemen, have none of you realized that this is nothing more than the random doodling of children playing together?¡± The scene instantly quieted down, and everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on the painting. A few who looked like experts studied it closely, then angrily threw their magnifying glasses on the ground. ¡°Damn unlucky, making us study it for so long.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always said this painting is worthless, yet you all speculate about its style.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines; this bunch was really quick to shift the blame. He hung the painting back up, then turned around to continue looking for a seat. ¡°Sir, please wait!¡± A man with a full beard suddenly blocked Chen Yu¡¯s path. ¡°I have a painting over there I hope you can help me appraise.¡± Chen Yu agreed without hesitation, feeling quite refreshed, since he couldn¡¯t find a place to sit anyway; he might as well lend a hand. Maybe he could even manage to snag a seat in the process. Soon, the two of them came to a small room. The passengers on this deck were all ordinary merchants, each with a room like this. Although not very large, it was fully equipped with all the necessary facilities. One could tell, the owner of the room must be an enthusiast of calligraphy and paintings, with the small walls adorned with various styles covering all cultures of the world. The bearded man took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Chen Yu with due respect. ¡°My name is Mengluos, a merchant from Wellore.¡± Chen Yu received the business card politely and told the other party his name. Mengluos did not hesitate to open a large box and carefully took out a painting. The overall tone of this painting was very simple, with only a stack of hay bales and an orange-red sun drawn in the upper left corner. Chen Yu¡¯s face showed surprise, and he raised his hand to gently touch the frame of the painting. But the next moment, his expression turned to one of disappointment. Chapter 442 - Chapter 442: Sunflower Chapter 442: Sunflower ¡°This painting is an excellent imitation, almost identical to the original, and the aging techniques used are also very sophisticated. If it weren¡¯t for a professional to appraise it, it would be hard to tell it¡¯s a fake.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s assessment was quite fair, as he had almost subconsciously believed it to be an authentic piece when he first saw the painting. Mengluos laughed heartily. ¡°Mr. Chen, you have quite the eye. I¡¯ve had this painting for ten years and only last year did I discover that it was a forgery.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, Mengluos¡¯s mindset was truly extraordinary. If others found out that a collection they¡¯d cherished for ten years was fake, they would probably be devastated, yet he seemed so nonchalant about it. ¡°Mr. Mengluos, I don¡¯t mean to offend, but don¡¯t you think you should dispose of this painting first?¡± Mengluos waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Mr. Chen, what you don¡¯t know is that this ¡¯Dusk Haystack¡¯ was crafted by a famous thief! This guy once sneaked into a museum to steal both ¡¯Morning Haystack¡¯ and ¡¯Dusk Haystack¡¯. Therefore, he created two imitations, but alas, his plan was eventually exposed and these two forgeries ended up lost to the world.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s interest was piqued; such paintings with legendary stories were also very valuable. Even as forgeries, they could still fetch a considerable sum. Mengluos currently only had one, but if he could collect both the morning and dusk versions, their value might increase several times over. Afterwards, Mengluos brought out several more paintings from his collection for Chen Yu to appreciate, but these too were almost all fake. It seemed that in this room, apart from a modern painting hung on the wall, the rest were all imitations. Mengluos didn¡¯t seem to care, and continued to show Chen Yu his collection, one by one. As the two were studying the artworks, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. ¡°Mengluos, the painting you sold me last time is fake! Come out here; you must compensate me tenfold.¡± Mengluos jumped with fright and quickly opened the door. There stood a rather sleazy-looking man holding a sunflower painting. Chen Yu also stopped in his tracks when he stepped out. This guy either had a purpose or was out of his mind. Van Gogh¡¯s sunflowers were still in museums; the painting in front of him was obviously fake. Mengluos was also seething with anger. ¡°Cardos, I reminded you when we made the deal that this painting was a reproduction from the start. Now you come to me claiming it¡¯s fake; what is this all about?¡± Cardos snorted coldly and marched into the center of the hall, slamming the painting onto the table. ¡°Everyone, come see; this man has no integrity, he sold me a fake painting!¡± The crowd present immediately gathered around. All of Van Gogh¡¯s sunflowers were in museums; any that appeared outside could almost certainly be declared fake. Many of those present had been dealing in antique paintings for years and could see through Cardos¡¯s plot at a glance. However, they still came over, eager to watch the excitement unfold. Mengluos was livid and hurried forward to seize the painting. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far, we did have a contract when we made the deal.¡± Cardos laughed loudly, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you produce the contract?¡± Mengluos was suddenly at a loss; when the two of them conducted the transaction, they had destroyed the contract and payment records to show good faith. ¡°` Moreover, this painting was fake to begin with, so if it were to sell for such a price, it would certainly alarm the relevant departments once the news spread. However, now Cardos had brought out this painting in front of a large audience, clearly intending to embarrass him. Although Chen Yu could destroy the contract and bill of sale, denying that he sold the painting, from that day on, his reputation in the industry would be completely lost. ¡°According to the rules, selling fakes requires compensating ten times the price, I¡¯m not sure what price was agreed upon at the time of your transaction.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. Even Cardos was taken aback for a moment. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying you¡¯re going to pay ten times the price on behalf of Mengluos?¡± Chen Yu nodded, stepped forward, and took the Sunflowers in his hands. ¡°That¡¯s right, and I¡¯m also going to buy this painting.¡± All those present widened their eyes, knowing well that it was a fake yet still wanting to buy it¡ªsurely that was madness. But Cardos was excited. He had come here with the intention of scamming money and now that someone was willing to play the fool, he was happy to oblige. ¡°Good, this painting originally sold for two hundred thousand, so if you want to take it, you need to pay two million, plus my cost totaling two million two hundred thousand.¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu took out a cashier¡¯s check for five million. ¡°Then make the change!¡± Cardos was initially stunned, then he took out his phone and transferred two million eight hundred thousand. After the transaction was completed, everyone was abuzz with discussion, thinking Chen Yu had taken a huge loss. Even Mengluos felt embarrassed, as if it weren¡¯t for him, Chen Yu probably wouldn¡¯t have taken this big of a hit. But little did they know, Chen Yu stood up on a table with the painting in hand. Enjoy exclusive adventures from Novgo ¡°In my hometown, there is a technique where a fake painting is plastered onto a real one. Would you all like to see?¡± The interest of everyone present was immediately piqued, and they surrounded him, looking at Chen Yu with eager anticipation. Many had heard of this technique, but had never witnessed it in person. Moreover, by the looks of it, Chen Yu didn¡¯t seem like someone with a screw loose, unlikely to spend such a large sum on a fake painting without reason. With a smile on his face, Chen Yu took out a small knife, pried the frame apart, and then pulled out a silk thread. This thread was the key that connected the entire artwork. Under the expectant gaze of the crowd, Chen Yu split the painting in two. The top one was indeed a fake Sunflowers, but the one underneath was a neatly crafted ship engineering blueprint. The crowd, who had been filled with anticipation moments before, now looked disappointed. A torn engineering blueprint was hardly something exciting. Just as they were about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly shouted. ¡°An engineering blueprint from when Archimedes built ships, now up for public auction right here, starting at one hundred million.¡± The room fell silent for a moment, then everyone surged forward. Those who were close took out magnifying glasses and scrutinized the blueprint carefully, discovering a signature in ancient Greek at the bottom. After some research, they confirmed it was indeed Archimedes¡¯s signature. ¡°` Chapter 443 - Chapter 443 Rose Flower Chapter 443 Rose Flower The scene suddenly erupted into excitement, and everyone cheered jubilantly. Archimedes was a person from ancient Greece, and his construction blueprints were absolutely invaluable treasures. Not to mention one billion, even ten billion would find buyers to collect them. ¡°I bid two billion!¡± Experience new stories on Novgo.com As soon as the first person made an offer, the scene instantly became lively. Cardos stood there, eyes wide, suddenly at a loss. Just moments ago, he had held this priceless treasure in his hands, and he had sold it for just over two million. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Cardos rushed over, interrupting the transaction. ¡°This drawing is mine. We didn¡¯t sign any contract during our deal, so I don¡¯t acknowledge the transaction just now.¡± The crowd cast disdainful glances at him. Whether the deal counted or not, the transaction between them was about a fake Sunflower, but what appeared before everyone now were Archimedes¡¯ construction blueprints. This had nothing to do with Cardos, contract or no contract. Mengluos promptly stepped forward and pushed Cardos away. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Mr. Chen¡¯s auction!¡± He promptly expelled him from the center of the hall. The merchants on this floor, though not considered top-tier tycoons, still held astronomical amounts of assets in their hands. Before long, the drawing was sold for eighteen billion. Mengluos was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Chen Yu. He had thought that Cardos would swindle him severely, but not only had he recouped his losses, he had made so much more. Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Chen Yu suddenly took out the promissory notes he had just acquired, counting out eight billion for Mengluos. ¡°The origin of that painting was with you, so you deserve a share of the money from its sale.¡± Mengluos¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so generous. ¡°Mr. Chen, I can¡¯t take this money!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with that and directly stuffed the promissory notes into Mengluos¡¯s hands. ¡°Take it. It must be fate that we¡¯ve met.¡± As they were talking, two staff members rushed over in a hurry. ¡°Are you two the ones who found Archimedes¡¯ blueprints? Could you please come with us? Our master would like to meet you.¡± Chen Yu frowned immediately; these two looked like they were staff from the ship. Could it be the captain wanted to see him? But he was currently worried about not having a proper place; meeting the captain might even land him a ship ticket. Just as he was about to follow the two, Mengluos beside him suddenly stopped him. ¡°Mr. Chen, these men are from the Dracula Family; don¡¯t go with them.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. The Dracula Family was an ancient lineage, rumored to be the ancestors of vampires. In fact, this family was a royal family in the West during the Middle Ages, although the territory they controlled was too small, and they were soon exterminated. However, when this family held power, they amassed a great amount of wealth, all hidden deep in the mountains; after their nation fell, they hid in the mountains, living a secluded life. Up to this generation, although they were not a very famous family, they were still wealthy merchants. ¡°Why can¡¯t I go? Could this family really be vampires?¡± Mengluos didn¡¯t know how to explain, he leaned in close to Chen Yu and stuffed a badge into his hand. ¡°Mr. Chen, I won¡¯t be accompanying you. If they mean you any harm, just show them this badge.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of question marks, and he immediately scanned Mengluos¡¯s brain information with his system. After all that, it turned out that this guy had once been duped by the Dracula Family. It wasn¡¯t entirely their fault, as all the items Mengluos collected were fakes, which naturally required some explanation when brought there. As for that badge, it was given to him by the Dracula Family. It was akin to an ancient indulgence. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, just fiddled with the badge for a bit and then followed the two staff members up to the third deck of the ship. By comparison, this cabin was even more luxurious. Various decorations were dazzling to the eye, and each passenger had their own private room. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu was brought to a reasonably spacious area. A pale middle-aged man sat there, swirling his glass of red wine. ¡°Mr. Chen! It really is you!¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°Do we know each other?¡± ¡°My name is Hansis Dracula. I attended a banquet at William¡¯s family and once had the honor of witnessing Mr. Chen¡¯s elegance.¡± Chen Yu nodded, symbolically shook hands with the other party, and then sat down aside. ¡°May I ask why Mr. Hansis has sought me out?¡± Hansis didn¡¯t say much, and directly took out a painting, only the size of a palm, from the safe. This painting was sealed in a beautifully crafted frame, additionally protected by two layers of bulletproof glass. ¡°I had just boarded the ship when I attended an appraisal event and purchased this rose painting! However, my staff told me it¡¯s a forgery and I would like Mr. Chen¡¯s help to take a look.¡± Chen Yu took the painting and looked it over carefully. Even by content alone, this painting would be considered a rare treasure, but the oil paints and style of the painting seemed out of place. It did seem a bit like a forgery. However, looking at the paper material, there was no sign of artificial aging, and it possessed a strong sense of historical depth. ¡°Mr. Hansis, from a professional standpoint, this painting does indeed have the suspicion of being a forgery, but from another level, it is undoubtedly genuine.¡± Hansis looked puzzled, ¡°Mr. Chen, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± Chen Yu proceeded to dismantle the frame and the glass. ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve protected the painting too well. The appraisal must have been done through the frame and the protective glass, and so it appeared slightly distorted! You just need to remove these unnecessary things.¡± Only when the painting inside was exposed to the air did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. This was indeed genuine. ¡°Impossible! My appraisal skills can never be wrong. Even through a frame and protective glass, there wouldn¡¯t be a mistake.¡± A scholarly looking middle-aged man with glasses stood nearby. At first glance, this person really seemed like a literary figure, but upon closer inspection, one would find something sleazy about him. Hansis quickly stood up, ¡°This is Mr. Doro, my chief appraiser. He has identified hundreds of world-famous paintings.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then ignored him, going about his business, reassembling the frame and protective glass on the rose painting. Doro, as if greatly insulted, stepped forward and seized Chen Yu by the shoulder. Chapter 444 - Chapter 444: Appraisal Meeting Chapter 444: Appraisal Meeting Find your next read at Novgo ¡°Mr. Chen, I won¡¯t argue with you about this painting. If you have the skills, let¡¯s appraise the other paintings!¡± This statement was an admission that the rose painting was authentic. But he didn¡¯t want to lose face in front of Hansis, and he also wanted to keep making a living in the field of art appraisal in the future. Chen Yu had no desire to engage, as he saw this man as simply looking for trouble without cause. Who would have thought Doro, like a madman, somehow produced another painting and placed it in front of Chen Yu. ¡°If you can tell the origin of this painting, I¡¯ll acknowledge your superiority!¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh, truly not expecting this man to be so aggressively confrontational. Clearly, he wanted to prove himself in front of Hansis but insisted on dragging him down, too. ¡°Mr. Doro, some contests are better left unfought, lest we all end up looking bad if you lose.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s words carried a hint of warning. But Doro didn¡¯t care about that, directly offering the painting to him. ¡°Please, Mr. Chen, have a look!¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly and took the painting into his hands. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this is not a paper painting but a fresco that has been rubbed off the walls of Notre-Dame Cathedral.¡± Doro was dumbstruck. The painting was indeed his masterpiece, a classic image he had specially copied from the wall of Notre-Dame Cathedral. He then aged it using unique methods, so that at a glance, it seemed like an ancient painting from the medieval period. He had deceived countless top-level art connoisseurs with this painting, but to his shock, Chen Yu saw through it at a glance. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, I¡¯ve taken all details into consideration, whether it¡¯s the paper or the changes in the pigments. I¡¯ve refined them thoroughly. You only glanced at it, how could you see through it?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly and without saying much more, returned the painting to Doro. ¡°If your study of art appraisal is just for competition with others, then I suggest you better leave this circle.¡± With these cold words, he prepared to leave. Hansis hurried to stop Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t be angry. Later on this level, we are hosting a large-scale painting appraisal event. It¡¯d be a shame if a master appraiser like you didn¡¯t attend.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, ¡°When I got on board, the tickets were sold out; I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not qualified to participate.¡± Hansis quickly pulled out a golden ticket from his person. ¡°As it happens, I have one spare ticket here. Please, Mr. Chen, accept it.¡± Chen Yu was inwardly pleased, regardless, he now had a ticket. Hansis didn¡¯t say much more, promptly leading Chen Yu and Doro to the nearby restaurant. After the incident just now, Doro felt disgraced and recognized that Chen Yu¡¯s appraisal skills were indeed superior to his own. ¡°Mr. Chen, I was offensive just now, and I hope you can forgive me! Also, I have another painting. If you like it, I can give it to you,¡± he said as he took out a well-preserved small painting from his pocket. The object was only the size of a palm, but it perfectly depicted an entire city. In some ways, this is already considered a micro-engraved painting. Setting aside the chemical aspect, its artistic value alone could fetch at least a hundred thousand. Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Such treasures are rare to come by; better to keep it for yourself! Besides, having chosen to be an appraiser, you need to keep your emotions in check. If you really feel like you¡¯ve caused offense, just treat me to a meal.¡± Doro was taken aback and then chuckled twice, promptly running off to the top-notch kitchen to order a serving of tuna. It was at this moment that two transparent iron cars suddenly appeared in the dining room, each loaded with world-renowned works of art. All the people present stood up, their eyes filled with amazement. Even at top-tier auction conferences, they wouldn¡¯t likely see so many famous paintings on display together. Chen Yu, however, furrowed his brow. Although the paintings before him looked very realistic, there were unmistakable faults in some of them. ¡°Mr. Chen, the appraisal session is about to begin, each person only has three minutes to choose; can you take a look at which painting we should buy?¡± Hansis was filled with anticipation, seeming to place all his bets on Chen Yu. This was called an appraisal session, but in some ways, it was an auction. The only difference was the rigorous test for individuals; one misstep could lead to a significant loss. Chen Yu quickly scanned the pieces and gave Hansis a few numbers. Three minutes later, a staff member suddenly appeared in the center of the hall. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the auction will now commence. Please call out the numbers of the paintings you are interested in. If there is a conflict between bidders, the highest offer prevails!¡± It must be said, this was a completely novel method of auctioning. If a person was interested in a painting and no one else contested it, they would only need to pay a tenth of the original price to secure the piece. However, if two or more people were interested in the same painting, a bidding war would ensue, and the final selling price could skyrocket. The most fiercely contested work was a splash-ink landscape painting. The sheer size of the scroll, coupled with the vivid landscape depiction within, made it hard not to admire. Most importantly, it was signed Wu Daozi. When Chen Yu first saw this painting, he was somewhat mesmerized too; the forgery was executed extremely well, with every detail, down to the signature, taken into account. Unfortunately for the forger, they overlooked one crucial historical reality. This painting was supposedly created by Wu Daozi in the third year of Tianbao, a time when his right hand was injured, leaving him only able to paint with his left. As a result, the direction of the strokes deviated from the usual. Yet this painting was still produced right-handed, definitely a counterfeit. After all the paintings were sold, the real appraisal segment began. All the buyers, through their own appraisers¡¯ assessments, would determine the authenticity and price of a painting, then could bring it out for a second auction. However, other appraisers could raise doubts during the auction. If all appraisers agreed the work was genuine, its value could be multiplied several times over, and it might even become an unparalleled treasure. But if the majority of appraisers considered the painting a forgery, its value would be halved right there and then. Chen Yu suddenly found himself intrigued; this was the first time he had seen such an auction. The middle-aged man who had just bought the Wu Daozi landscape nonchalantly walked to the middle of the hall, instructing his subordinates to carefully unroll the scroll and display it before everyone. Chapter 445 - Chapter 445 Martin Nolan Chapter 445 Martin Nolan ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I know many of you desire this painting, and now I am bringing it out for a public auction. If someone can offer a price that satisfies me, be it money or other items, I am willing to part with it.¡± No sooner had these words been spoken than the room erupted into excitement. Wu Daozi himself is a painting sage from the East, and without exception, everything he creates is a masterpiece among masterpieces. Hansis, being a collector himself, held a particular fondness for such ink wash landscape paintings and immediately wanted to raise his bidding paddle. Chen Yu quickly held down his wrist. ¡°This landscape painting isn¡¯t worth buying. If you¡¯re really interested in paintings of this type, you should consider other options.¡± Find your next read at Novgo Hansis looked completely baffled, his gaze somewhat vacant. ¡°Mr. Chen, so many people say this painting is authentic, it must be right. Why can¡¯t I buy it?¡± Chen Yu leaned in close to Hansis¡¯s ear, ¡°Trust me, this is a forgery!¡± Hansis¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, hardly able to believe his own ears. How could a painting so fervently contested by so many be a fake? At this moment, the scene had already descended into chaos, with the price soaring to over three billion. A few people were crowding forward as if they had gone mad. In the end, the painting was bought by a rather thin-looking middle-aged man for an astronomical price of forty-eight billion. The guy was sitting in a power wheelchair, emanating a strange aura as if he had been injected with some kind of medical substance. Chen Yu tilted his head, observing the man closely. He noticed that the muscle structure of the man¡¯s legs wasn¡¯t quite normal, severely atrophied. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s that guy again!¡± Hansis said with displeasure, ¡°Relying on the backing of the Knights of the Round Table, he struts around here like he owns the place.¡± Chen Yu looked puzzled, ¡°What did you say? He¡¯s related to the Knights of the Round Table?¡± Hansis nodded, ¡°His name is Marco Nolan. He was born with a disability and was supposed to die at the age of six, but his family is under the protection of the Knights of the Round Table, so he received a special medicine that extended his life.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood that this guy was basically a test subject for the Knights of the Round Table. He was indeed fortunate that the reaction of the medicine in his body was deemed a success, ensuring his survival until today, though it couldn¡¯t repair his necrotic muscles. Given his current physical condition, he could live at most another two years. Chen Yu now felt an almost instinctual loathing towards the Knights of the Round Table, yet he was not ready to openly break with them just yet. Although he greatly disliked Marco Nolan¡¯s arrogant demeanor, he didn¡¯t want to stoop to his level. ¡°I came to this ship to obtain only the best. No matter how valuable it is, as long as it¡¯s a treasure of the world, I will add it to my collection, which is different from the purpose of the rest of you here.¡± His flippant manner and mocking voice seemed to suggest that, in his eyes, everyone else on the ship was merely a lowly figure trying to pick up bargains. The atmosphere in the room immediately escalated, with palpable anger visible in everyone¡¯s eyes. Hansis was fuming as well. Although he currently held the status of a wealthy businessman, his ancestors were royalty after all. Chen Yu squinted his eyes¡ªin his view, the guy was simply courting death. After taking a moment to regulate his breathing, he pushed through the crowd and approached. ¡°Mr. Martin, if I¡¯m not mistaken, the painting you have there is a fake, isn¡¯t it?¡± Martin Nolan looked at Chen Yu with the kind of gaze one uses to regard a fool. ¡°Where did this lunatic come from? Does he have any discernment? This painting is an authentic work by Wu Daozi.¡± The crowd suddenly fell silent, and a considerable number of people cast their gazes on Chen Yu. They really couldn¡¯t stand Martin Nolan¡¯s arrogant attitude, and if someone could prove that this painting was fake, it would alleviate the frustration in their hearts. ¡°I must say, the craftsmanship of this painting is incredibly delicate; it must be the result of the most advanced silk gauze techniques in the trade, which is why it¡¯s so difficult to determine!¡± As he spoke, he had already approached the painting, raising his finger to point at the signature. ¡°As is well-known, Eastern emperors have posthumous names, but these posthumous names are only to be used after their deaths! This painting was made in the third year of Tianbao, and the name that should appear is ¡¯Holy Emperor,¡¯ not ¡¯Emperor Xuanzong¡¯!¡± The people on site crowded forward and truly, at the signature at the end, there were the words ¡°respectfully presented to Emperor Xuanzong.¡± Martin Nolan stood there stunned. He knew this common knowledge, but the painting was made so realistically that not just he, but even his top appraisers had been tricked. Paying 4.8 billion for such trash, no matter how wealthy, would be painful. Someone in the crowd finally couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into loud laughter. ¡°Mr. Martin, I thought it was really a treasure. It turns out it¡¯s just junk after all these grand gestures.¡± ¡°Your appraisers are too careless. How could they have missed such a detail?¡± ¡­ Those people were simply armchair critics; the appraisers under them likely hadn¡¯t noticed such details either. Martin Nolan¡¯s breathing became rapid, and he grabbed the painting and tore it to shreds. ¡°You have quite the skill, sir. Would you like to come and work as an appraiser under me?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, simply walking to the side and pouring himself a glass of wine. This ship was specially prepared to host the appraisal event and would sail for over one hundred thirty days, until every painting on board was auctioned off. And such specialized appraisal vessels were rarely launched, so the so-called appraiser job lasted only about a hundred days. Not to mention whether he was willing to work as an appraiser for this man, just in terms of identity, he couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°Me, work as your appraiser? How many heads do you have?¡± The cold voice made Martin Nolan¡¯s body tremble violently, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu drained the wine in his glass and then uttered a string of extremely strange words. The people around were all confused, thinking Chen Yu was talking nonsense; unexpectedly, Martin Nolan actually climbed down from his wheelchair and knelt on the ground with a thud. ¡°Could you be Chen Yu, Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu gazed down at Martin Nolan with a look of disdain. ¡°I will not take offense at your disrespect earlier, but while the death penalty may be spared, you cannot escape the living penalty. You should know what to do.¡± Martin Nolan gasped heavily and reached for a knife from the side, raising it high. He was about to chop off his own right hand. The onlookers were completely dumbstruck; the previously haughty Martin Nolan was now kneeling submissively like a quail, not even daring to make eye contact with Chen Yu. Anyone with a bit of sense could infer that Chen Yu was no ordinary person. Chapter 446 - Chapter 446: 7 Crystal Balls Chapter 446: 7 Crystal Balls Everyone at the scene looked on with great interest, fixing their eyes on Martin Nolan, waiting for the knife in his hand to fall. Chen Yu sighed with resignation and stepped forward to grab Martin Nolan¡¯s arm. ¡°Enough, I¡¯ll be on this ship for quite a while, from now on, you¡¯ll be in charge of arranging my meals and accommodations.¡± Martin Nolan was immediately excited, not because Chen Yu had spared him, but because it was a great honor for their dependent families to serve the Knights of the Round Table. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened, no one expected the usually arrogant and domineering Martin Nolan to become like this. While everyone was puzzled, Chen Yu took out a painting that Hansis had bought. ¡°This painting is from the Ming dynasty¡¯s Wanli era, painted by a court artist!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the scene once again erupted. Chen Yu did not stay there long; he liked this mode of auction, but the environment seemed stuffy. The space on the ship was already limited, and it was a restaurant here, with many inexplicable odors mixed together, which made it oppressive. Just as he walked out of the restaurant, intending to go to the deck to clear his mind, a sharp scream suddenly came from behind him. A rather beautiful-looking waitress ran out of a room in a panic. ¡°It¡¯s terrible, someone¡¯s been killed!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; this was a high-end ship, how could a murder happen out of nowhere? Even if someone had malicious intentions, the ship¡¯s security system would issue an alert immediately with the help of the surveillance. Chen Yu hurriedly approached: ¡°What happened?¡± The waitress gasped for air: ¡°The guest in that room, I don¡¯t know what happened, he just died, and there¡¯s a pile of shattered crystal shards beside him.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s interest was piqued, and he quickly went to investigate. The room wasn¡¯t very large, but it was quite spacious relatively speaking. The deceased was a male, around forty years old, lying on the bed draped in a towel, with a very peaceful expression on his face, showing no signs of suffering before death. Moreover, there were no visible wounds on his body, at first glance, it looked like natural death. The crystal shards beside him looked very scattered, as if someone had left them there on purpose. Chen Yu crouched down and examined the crystal shards carefully, they seemed normal. Just then, the ship¡¯s security personnel hurriedly arrived at the scene. When they saw Chen Yu, they immediately became respectful. Even someone like Martin Nolan treated him with the utmost respect, how could they dare to be presumptuous? ¡°Mr. Chen, what¡¯s this?¡± the security chief asked with some confusion. Chen Yu directly took out a certificate from his person. ¡°I¡¯m a detective, after all, is there a problem with me checking out the scene?¡± The security chief was immediately excited and hurriedly handed the certificate back. ¡°Mr. Chen, have you found any clues?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Not at the moment, could you help me check the identity information of the deceased?¡± At this moment Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; he had tried to probe the deceased¡¯s brain information using the system but received no response. According to the system¡¯s explanation, it was because the other person had already died, and their brain waves couldn¡¯t show any activity. The security captain acted swiftly, and it wasn¡¯t long before he had all the passenger¡¯s information in hand. This guy¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t anything special; he was just an ordinary jewel merchant. Chen Yu momentarily ran out of leads. Nothing was missing from the room; it didn¡¯t seem like a robbery-murder case, and the victim didn¡¯t have any obvious wounds, which was unlike suicide. After ruling out all theories, only natural death remained as an option. But no one would believe that a forty-something, physically robust man could just suddenly die of natural causes. Chen Yu propped his chin and contemplated for a long time, but couldn¡¯t come to a conclusion, so he had to leave the room. He took a moment to regulate his breathing and used the system to cover the entire ship, attempting to scan everyone¡¯s brain information. However, the ship was covered with an extremely powerful satellite signal, causing severe interference. Chen Yu could only capture parts of the brain information, none of which was related to the man at hand. Exhaling a murky breath, he could only temporarily leave. Hansis hurriedly ran out of the bustling dining room and bumped into Chen Yu face to face. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re truly amazing. The painting you chose for me just now sold at a high price. I¡¯ve made at least six billion this time, and according to the rules here, I owe you three billion.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°You don¡¯t need to give me the money. Can you help me investigate if the person in that room has any other identities?¡± Hansis tilted his head and his face suddenly changed dramatically. ¡°Oy, that guy, well, he¡¯s quite a famous explorer in the circles, but he¡¯s engaged in the business of grave robbing! Many of the precious jewels he owns were obtained through such means.¡± Chen Yu became somewhat distracted. Most people involved in this kind of business end up dying unexpectedly ¨C maybe this guy had been poisoned by some strange curse. He didn¡¯t dwell on it too much and went with Hansis to the next hall for a drink at the bar. The auction in the dining room was now over, and most of the people had gathered there to relax. The recent murder case had spread, causing widespread panic. ¡°Did you hear about Luckne? He¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°No surprise there; he had apparently found an ancient ruin a while back and emptied its treasure. Said place was rumored to be cursed.¡± ¡°Ruins from the Ramses Dynasty, which one isn¡¯t cursed? I don¡¯t know what gave him the nerve to tamper with that place.¡± Read exclusive adventures at Novgo ¡°It¡¯s said the curse is about seven Crystal Balls. The seven who entered the ruins will be killed by these seven Crystal Balls.¡± ¡°Yikes, I heard that there were pieces of a Crystal Ball in Luckne¡¯s room.¡± ¡­ The more these people talked, the more mysterious it got; if one were to connect their stories, you might write a novel out of it. But the term ¡°Crystal Ball¡± still piqued Chen Yu¡¯s interest. He immediately ran into the crowd, asking about the Crystal Ball. Legend had it that Ramses III, at the time of his death, placed seven magical Crystal Balls around his tomb. These objects were meant to accompany Ramses III to heaven. If someone were to plunder his tomb and ruins, he would return with the seven Crystal Balls for revenge! According to the legend in the story, it seemed Ramses III knew before he died that seven people would open his legacy, and he had prepared seven Crystal Balls specifically for these seven people. Chen Yu certainly didn¡¯t believe such a far-fetched tale. Chapter 447 - Chapter 447: Consecutive Murders Chapter 447: Consecutive Murders The noise in the hall was too chaotic, making it difficult for Chen Yu to settle his mind and think. When he was in Suzhou City, he had dealt with a similar case. At that time, there were very obvious clues, and the real culprit was quickly found, but this case before him was elusive. Besides the mass of crystal fragments at the scene, there were only some ethereal legends, making it impossible to seek the truth from an objective perspective. Chen Yu swirled his wine glass, one hand propping up his chin, his face full of melancholy. Just then, a shrill scream suddenly exploded, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. In the middle of the hall, a middle-aged man lay at some unknown point, surrounded by a large number of crystal fragments as well. The man¡¯s figure was slightly frail, and his manner of death was almost identical to Luckne¡¯s, very peaceful. ¡°My God, what happened? This man was standing here just fine a moment ago, how could he have suddenly died?¡± ¡°I think I saw a shadow flash by, and then this man fell to the ground, next to him a large chunk of the Crystal Ball shattered.¡± ¡°Heavens, the curse of the Crystal Ball has come true, everybody run!¡± ¡­ The scene immediately descended into chaos, and half the people in the hall ran out, some even rushing straight to the deck, demanding the crew to lower the lifeboats to escape. But now they were in the vast sea, far from port, and letting people off at this time was no different than murder. The crew had no choice but to try to persuade them earnestly, but to no avail, as more and more people demanded to disembark, and conflicts even arose. Chen Yu, on the contrary, remained calm, swaying his wine glass as he walked over to the deceased. He didn¡¯t believe in any curse; if those so-called curses really came true, not a single tomb raider from ancient times to the present day could have died a good death. Yet many archaeologists are still alive and well. He reached out and touched the dead man¡¯s cheek, feeling the residual warmth of his body. He was almost certain the man had died within the last ten minutes, only to be deliberately moved here to create the false appearance of a sudden death. That is to say, the murderer was mingling in the crowd just now, causing chaos deliberately, then shedding suspicion. Chen Yu immediately used his system to cover the entire hall. The people gathered here hadn¡¯t run far, so it should have been easy to find the culprit. But unexpectedly, after the system scanned the brain information of everyone present, it failed to find any trace of a clue. The power of the system was beyond doubt; it was impossible for there to be an oversight, unless the killer wasn¡¯t here. The head of security had rushed over in a hurry and squatted beside Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, how is it? Have you found any clues?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, now also somewhat puzzled, not knowing where to start his investigation. Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly noticed what seemed like a white cloth in the pocket of the dead man¡¯s clothing. He immediately asked the security chief for a pair of white gloves and took out the white cloth. The cloth was quite ordinary, with nothing on it, except it seemed a bit damp. Chen Yu suddenly thought of something and immediately asked the system to scan the chemical composition on the white cloth. Find exclusive stories on Novgo.com [Ether glycolate] Seeing this compound, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes. This substance is a very powerful sedative; just one drop can knock out a dozen elephants. Chen Yu immediately placed his palm on the abdomen of the deceased. ¡°I understand, it was double the adrenaline!¡± The security captain was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood. The amount of hormones that the human body can withstand is limited; one dose of adrenaline can enable a dying person to regain physiological function, but double the adrenaline can cause hormonal imbalance or even collapse. Moreover, hormonal substances like adrenaline are rapidly metabolized once they enter the human body. Additionally, the victim had been dead for nearly ten minutes; those substances would have already transformed into microscopic molecules, undetectable by tests. New n????vel chapters are published on Novgo.c¦Ò?. ¡°Mr. Chen, should we search the whole ship to see who has a large quantity of adrenaline?¡± The security captain immediately made a decision to conduct a widespread search, but was stopped by Chen Yu. ¡°Searching now will only startle the snake, and there¡¯s no need to hide adrenaline; it can be extracted from the bodies of marine fish!¡± The security captain sighed helplessly; there was already widespread chaos on the ship. If they couldn¡¯t catch the murderer soon, the passengers might riot, and the consequences of that were unthinkable. ¡°Mr. Chen, what should we do now?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond immediately, instead staring at the fragments of the Crystal Ball on the ground. The cause of the victim¡¯s death had been found, but how did the murderer inject the victim with adrenaline? Both Luckne from earlier and the current victim had no apparent needle marks on their bodies. There was only one explanation: someone had forced the victim to drink a large amount of adrenaline. However, this substance usually has a pungent odor; even if the murderer and victim knew each other, the victim wouldn¡¯t willingly drink something so foul-smelling. As the two were examining the scene, another crisp sound of shattering came from not far away. A sleazy-looking middle-aged man was standing on the deck. His eyes were dull, and large amounts of Crystal Ball fragments scattered around him, his body also gradually stiffening. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly, and he rushed over. Before he could reach him, the man had already collapsed to the ground, breathless. Sharp screams followed; several passengers nearby, chilled to the bone, scattered in terror. They hadn¡¯t seen what happened at all; they only heard the sound of a Crystal Ball shattering, then the man fell down. Such a bizarre scene could be explained only one way: a curse! Chen Yu¡¯s forehead was practically knotted with worry; how could there be one death after another like this? According to normal criminal psychology, in a confined space, a murderer would not commit multiple crimes in quick succession; doing so would only increase the risk of exposure. Unless, the person was intent on dying. By the time Chen Yu got to the deck, the man had utterly lost all signs of life, having died in the same manner as the previous two individuals. Just as he was at a loss, he suddenly noticed a faint purplish-red mark on the neck of the corpse. This mark rapidly faded in front of his eyes and eventually disappeared completely. Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; he had figured it out all at once. The real murder weapon was the Crystal Ball! There must have been a dose of adrenaline hidden inside the Crystal Ball, and before coming into contact with the Crystal Ball, the victim¡¯s body must have already contained a dose! Chapter 448 - Chapter 448 Case Closed Chapter 448 Case Closed Chen Yu immediately stood still and analyzed the death scenes of the three victims. Apart from a piece of white cloth in the pocket of the second victim, there was nothing on the others. After synthesizing all the details, Chen Yu realized that the second victim had been drugged in advance and brought to the scene. And his death served the purpose of causing chaos, allowing the murderer to kill the third person. Now that three people had died in succession, the entire ship was plunged into extreme panic, so in this chaos, the murderer would definitely try to kill the remaining four people in the shortest amount of time. Thinking this, Chen Yu¡¯s mind became somewhat muddled. If the murderer was so eager to die, what was his reason for seeking death? Suddenly, Chen Yu thought of something and immediately grabbed the arm of the security chief. ¡°A total of seven people entered the tomb of Ramses III; can you help me find the list of these seven people?¡± The security chief nodded and immediately contacted the captain. Soon, the captain¡¯s voice came over the loudspeaker. He actually read out the names of four people, asking them to report to the captain¡¯s room. Chen Yu inwardly cursed, sensing trouble. Discover more stories at Novgo According to his analysis, the murderer should be among these seven people. Now by calling the remaining people to the captain¡¯s room, wasn¡¯t this giving the murderer the chance to kill all the remaining people? He didn¡¯t dare to delay and hurried to the captain¡¯s room. The security chief, not understanding what Chen Yu wanted to do, quickly followed him. When the two arrived at the captain¡¯s room, one after the other, the room was already filled with a large amount of white fog. Chen Yu quickly covered his nose and rushed forward, finding the captain and four other people already collapsed on the ground, with two of them convulsing all over, clearly experiencing an excess of adrenaline. He immediately extended his finger, pressing at a point on the chests of the people. The captain was the first to regain consciousness; he quickly took a handkerchief from the table and covered his mouth and nose. ¡°This is outrageous; someone has released toxins here. Conduct a thorough search of the ship; I¡¯m going to catch the murderer,¡± the captain exclaimed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, immediately opening the ventilation system. When most of the white smoke in the room had dispersed, he walked over to a middle-aged man lying on the ground. While the others were showing signs of breathing, this guy lay there motionless, as if he were dead. ¡°Mr. Le Ming, if I¡¯m not mistaken, those three people outside were killed by you. You came here to find the opportunity to kill the remaining three and then, by faking your death, take all the treasures that the seven of you brought out of the tomb for yourself,¡± Chen Yu said. At these words, the captain and the security chief were both stunned, unable to speak. They couldn¡¯t figure out this layer despite racking their brains. Le Ming still lay on the ground, as if he really had passed away. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care; he directly grabbed Le Ming¡¯s neck, lifting him up. ¡°Mr. Le, if you don¡¯t open your eyes soon, I will really kill you,¡± Chen Yu warned. The pressure on his hand slowly increased, and Le Ming¡¯s face turned ashen before he began to cough violently. ¡°Who exactly are you? Why do you meddle in other people¡¯s business?¡± Le Ming managed to ask. Chen Yu threw Le Ming aside and casually moved a chair to sit down. ¡°Let me guess, after you seven opened the ruins, you must have found a sizable treasure, but there was a disagreement over how to distribute it! Then you planned to swallow the treasure whole, using the curse of the seven Crystal Balls to kill the remaining six.¡± Le Ming¡¯s breathing instantly became hurried, he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to see right through him. Because there had been signal interference on the ship earlier, Chen Yu had been unable to scan the other person¡¯s brain information and had to rely on reasoning. After some analysis, he had confirmed the guy¡¯s modus operandi and now, being able to scan his brain information from close range, he knew everything. Le Ming¡¯s body suddenly went limp and collapsed in a corner. The three people beside him wobbled to their feet, standing close to the captain. Fear was written all over their faces, they never dreamed Le Ming would be capable of murder. The seven of them had grown up together as playmates, always sticking together in everything. When they discovered the ruins, none of the seven told anyone else, and as explorers, they found the entrance to the ruins. When they found the treasure, none of the seven had any disputes, they had all agreed on the distribution of the treasure beforehand. But unexpectedly, Le Ming had betrayed them. ¡°That¡¯s right, I did all of this!¡± Le Ming suddenly became frantic: ¡°I discovered these ruins, all the preparatory work was mine to do. I deserved a larger share, but you all ignored me, giving me the least.¡± The three stood there sighing heavily, not knowing what to say. In their eyes, Le Ming had always been an honest person, never arguing over the treasure, which is why they habitually gave him a smaller share. Little did they know how dark his heart really was. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing a little and gradually stood up. Now that the case was solved, there was no need for him to stay, so he simply explained the details to the captain and left on his own. The captain and the security chief looked on in admiration, they hadn¡¯t expected such a difficult case to be cracked so easily. The ship¡¯s loudspeaker once again blared the captain¡¯s voice, as he clearly recounted the whole process of the case. The previously chaotic situation was instantly brought under control. Martin Nolan was already waiting in the middle of the hall. When Chen Yu came out, he immediately greeted him. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you alright?¡± Chen Yu waved him off: ¡°I¡¯m fine. You must have been waiting here specially for me, is there something you need?¡± Martin Nolan seemed a bit embarrassed, reaching into his pocket and handing Chen Yu a small box. ¡°I found this in a corner of the ship, it seems to be part of the treasure that seven people had found.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes immediately widened, he hurriedly opened the small box, and saw a colorful zircon lying quietly inside! This kind of thing is common nowadays, easily synthesized with zirconium dioxide. Yet even so, it¡¯s impossible to replicate the brilliant colors of natural zircon. The zircon before him emitted a spectrum of seven colors even under the light, let alone in the dark. No matter where it was placed, it was an unparalleled treasure. ¡°Where was this found?¡± Chen Yu suddenly became excited. Martin Nolan glanced around and then, pulling Chen Yu, they maneuvered the wheelchair towards a room. Chapter 449 - Chapter 449: Seal of Solomon Chapter 449: Seal of Solomon The room wasn¡¯t very large, and the items within were haphazardly placed and covered with a thick layer of dust, likely the storeroom of this level of the cabin. When the chaos erupted earlier, Ding Nolan had his men search the area and finally, they discovered this place. At the very back of the storeroom were three large chests, all treasures of the third Ramses. When Chen Yu opened the chests, he was utterly astonished, especially by one of the gold scepters inside. Every pharaoh of the Ramses Dynasty would possess their own unique gold scepter, varying only in size. The one that Jin Lingsu held was already quite significant, but this one was twice as large as that one. Ding Nolan had two subordinates guard the door while he maneuvered his wheelchair to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Mr. Chen, according to my analysis, there should be other chests in the cabin. Shall I have my men search again?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t quite know what to say; the seven men had gone through so much trouble to transport the treasures from the ruins, schemed against each other for so long, and three lives had been lost in the process. In the end, the treasures were just carelessly discarded here. ¡°The remaining treasures should all be hidden in the warehouses on each floor. After you find them, do not make it known; concentrate them in one place.¡± Once his subordinates received the order, they immediately set to work, and before long, they brought back several large chests. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but feel excited, he hadn¡¯t expected this accidental windfall from the expedition. Just then, a commotion erupted in the hall. An elderly man, clasping a wooden box, lay half-reclined in the center of the hall, muttering incomprehensible words. A few burly men were continuously assaulting him, seemingly trying to snatch the wooden box away. Chen Yu frowned, thinking that even at sea, there should be some rules. Robbing someone in broad daylight, what kind of behavior was this? Ding Nolan immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s sentiments and sent two men to intervene. But those ruffians were incredibly overbearing and did not take Ding Nolan seriously at all. Chen Yu¡¯s frown deepened as he strode forward. ¡°Gentlemen, the old man is advanced in years, you shouldn¡¯t bully him like this.¡± The ruffians sized up Chen Yu and one of them raised his fist, ready to strike. Chen Yu was not one to indulge them, he launched a powerful punch and sent the fellow flying. The rest of them stood frozen on the spot, not daring to make another move. ¡°Who is it that dares to lay hands on my men?¡± A very haughty-looking young man, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, slowly emerged. Ding Nolan¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. ¡°Calon! It¡¯s you, I should have known. Who else would dare to be so presumptuous as to bully an elder on board the ship.¡± Calon was also taken aback upon seeing Ding Nolan. ¡°You¡¯re already crippled like this and you still dare meddle in my business? Do you want your upper body to end up disabled here as well?¡± Ding Nolan was seething with rage, controlling his wheelchair as he slowly advanced. ¡°Do you have any idea that this Mr. Chen is a true Knights of the Round Table member? To provoke him, do you think your life is too long?¡± Calon¡¯s body shuddered violently, his eyes filled with terror as he stared fixedly at Chen Yu. ¡°The Knights of the Round Table would actually come to sit on a boat like this?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to deal with the guy, so he squatted down, helped the old man up, and took the box from his hand at the same time. ¡°Old man, what exactly happened?¡± The old man was holding the box and sobbing bitterly. ¡°I just took my family¡¯s heirloom to him for an appraisal, I never thought these people would insist it belonged to their family and falsely accuse me of being a thief.¡± Chen Yu frowned and opened the box directly, discovering a square, ink-black seal inside. The object looked simple and unadorned, but there were some very strange characters engraved at the bottom of the seal. Chen Yu took a quick look and found that the characters were actually Cybele script. ¡°This is the Seal of Solomon!¡± Calon burst out laughing, ¡°It seems that this gentleman¡¯s origins must be extraordinary, to recognize at a glance that this is the Seal of Solomon.¡± Martin Nolan sighed softly and stepped closer to Chen Yu, lowering his voice. ¡°This guy is a descendant of Solomon!¡± Chen Yu exhaled lightly, if that were indeed the case, calling the old man a thief might not be too much of a stretch. But the Solomon Empire was an ancient country from over three thousand years ago, and many things had since been lost. Maybe this object had been passed down in the old man¡¯s family for generations. Chen Yu had dealt with cases concerning the ownership of ancient artifacts before, and most of them ended unresolved. ¡°Judging from the quality of the seal, it is undoubtedly authentic! Moreover, its luster indicates that the old man has preserved it very well.¡± After admiring the seal for a moment, Chen Yu went straight to Calon. ¡°Since you are a descendant of the Solomon Empire, the ownership of this seal is beyond doubt! However, since the old gentleman has preserved it for such a long time, shouldn¡¯t he be properly compensated?¡± Calon was momentarily stunned. If Chen Yu were anyone else, Calon would never agree to such a suggestion, but if Chen Yu were truly a Knight of the Round Table, he couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Our ancestor¡¯s treasures have always been passed down within our family. This old geezer doesn¡¯t even have the surname Solomon, yet he has our precious seal. Isn¡¯t that theft?¡± Calon defended himself again and took out a token from his person. Martin Nolan was also stunned when he saw the token, not having expected that Calon had connections with the Lakato Family. The current Lakato Family was united and as powerful as the Knights of the Round Table. Indeed, in such a case, Chen Yu really couldn¡¯t handle this guy. But what neither of them expected was for Chen Yu to directly take out a master token of the Lakato family from his person. There were only two such tokens within the Lakato family, one of which was in the hands of the old man in the mountains, and the other had been given to the family¡¯s second-in-command. Calon¡¯s breathing became hasty, ¡°How is this possible? If you¡¯re a Knight of the Round Table, how did you also join the Lakato family as their second-in-command?¡± Chen Yu immediately put on an arrogant manner and took out another token from the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°It¡¯s mainly because my charm is too great, all the powers are crying and begging me to join them, especially the Lakato family, who appointed me as the Grand Sorcerer the moment I joined! It¡¯s nearly driven me mad.¡± In the Lakato Family, the most important position is that of the Wizard, and the title of Grand Sorcerer is almost a position above the old man in the mountains, allowing for easy control of all of the Lakato family¡¯s resources. For such an existence, killing a Calon would be as easy as pie! Chapter 450 - Chapter 450 Various Techniques Chapter 450 Various Techniques The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became subtle when the people around Calon saw the Token again, their gazes started to wander, with even two of them dropping to their knees immediately. Especially when the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s insignia appeared, Calon and Ding Nolan¡¯s mouths simultaneously dropped open. The Knights of the Round Table and the Lakato Family were already top organizations in the world; to be able to join both and also hold a high position was something beyond the wildest dreams of everyone. Little did they expect Chen Yu to also have a Xuanqing Sect¡¯s insignia in his hand, and judging by the insignia¡¯s quality, his identity within the Xuanqing Sect was no ordinary one. Little did they know that the Token was actually the Heavenly Master Long Tian¡¯s own. It was just that when they met Chen Yu, he had no proof of his membership in the Xuanqing Sect, so he had to give his own Token to Chen Yu. Calon swallowed his saliva and reluctantly knelt on the ground. ¡°Mr. Chen, I was blind not to recognize Mount Tai. How do you want this to be handled? I won¡¯t have any second words,¡± Chen Yu was very satisfied and nodded before putting away the Token in his hand. ¡°Give this old man thirty million as compensation for keeping the seal safe for you.¡± Calon dared not delay and immediately had his subordinates bring out three bank drafts. The old man was very grateful, kowtowed twice to Chen Yu, and then hurried off with the bank drafts. This scene in the hall made everyone passing by stop in their tracks. They didn¡¯t know what had happened, but with the presence of Calon and Martin Nolan gathered around Chen Yu at the same time, they were extremely curious, all speculating about what kind of person Chen Yu really was. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our special event set up on the deck, the gourmet competition, is about to start. Please join the banquet on the deck,¡± The entire ship immediately became excited. Actually, the biggest selling point of this ship was not the auction appreciation meeting but the gourmet competitions that took place every now and then. The ship gathered nearly a hundred world-class chefs from all over the world, and every time there was a gourmet competition, they would make a large number of dishes for the crew to taste. Such gastronomic desires were almost irresistible. Chen Yu patted his belly; after being busy for such a long time, he too was hungry. ¡°Let¡¯s go over and take a look!¡± With a shout, he led the two groups of people grandly towards the deck. The topmost deck was designed to be very spacious from the beginning, large enough to accommodate thousands of people. Hundreds of makeshift kitchens were lined up on the deck, and the rich aroma had already filled the entire deck. Chen Yu found a seat near the front and sat down, and it wasn¡¯t long before a large array of dishes was placed in front of him. But when he saw these dishes, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. Although the deck was the site of a gourmet competition, he could tell these chefs were very perfunctory, simply cooking without bringing out their real skills. Speaking of which, this atmosphere wasn¡¯t really a competition. The chefs were merely invited by the organizers to enhance the entertainment program. Moreover, these people¡¯s culinary skills had already reached a breathtaking level; anything they casually made was very delicious. Chen Yu used his chopsticks to poke at the dishes in front of him and stood up dissatisfied. ¡°Food is meant to be eaten, and eating is not just about the taste, it¡¯s also about whether the chef has put in their heart! Fellow chefs, with such perfunctory attitudes, would you eat the food that you make?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know whether it was intentional or what, but when he spoke, he happened to pick up a megaphone. Suddenly, quiet fell over the scene, and all eyes were on him. Especially the chefs, with the anger in their eyes looking like it was about to burst forth. ¡°` ¡°What do you mean?¡± A portly middle-aged man holding a kitchen knife came directly over, ¡°Do you realize that there are many special-class chefs here?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and went straight up, snatched the kitchen knife from the middle-aged man¡¯s hand, and headed to his mobile kitchen. Before the man could react, Chen Yu was already chopping away. The knife skills were dazzling; in less than two minutes, he had cut the heaps of meat and vegetables on the table into dices, and then started stir-frying them in a pan. The entire set of movements was as smooth as flowing water, countless times faster than any chef on the scene. It wasn¡¯t long before a large pot of delicious borscht was presented in front of everyone. A few chefs nearby couldn¡¯t help themselves and came forward to serve a bowl each. ¡°Sir, may I ask, who exactly are you? This level of borscht is not something an ordinary person can make.¡± ¡°We also have world-class chefs here, but there are only a few with your exceptional knife skills.¡± ¡°Judging by your skills, you must be a world-class chef as well.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just took out a certificate and threw it on the table. ¡°I have only participated in a few world-class competitions and earned the title of a top chef, that¡¯s all.¡± These humble words instantly stirred up the crowd. Many had seen Chen Yu help the captain solve the case of the seven Crystal Balls. And he had also shone brightly at the appraisal event. Now, he had come here, causing a group of special-class chefs to admire him greatly. For someone to be so excellent, it left no room for envy. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, put away the certificate, and slowly sat back down in his seat. ¡°Since it¡¯s a gourmet food competition, I hope no one takes this as an afterthought, please put effort into your cooking!¡± Every chef present seemed to be motivated by these words, as they returned to their mobile kitchens and seriously started cooking. Before long, a fragrance a hundred times richer than before began to spread. The people at the event formed a line, full of anticipation. Many of them had been on board for dozens of days, but had never tasted food as delicious as what was offered today. The captain came up to Chen Yu excitedly. ¡°Mr. Chen, I truly thank you. Since these chefs boarded the ship, they have been giving me attitude, and would not listen to me about cooking properly. Today, finally, someone could give them a good lesson!¡± Chen Yu leaned there in silence, just staring at the group of chefs in front of him. These people all came from different schools, with cooking techniques that were strange and varied. Although Chen Yu had all the world¡¯s culinary methods in his mind, the actual processes of these cuisines were not all alike. Each school had its own unique way of handling things. He had only acted to evoke these chefs¡¯ competitive spirit, so they would bring out their best skills. That way, he could see more cooking techniques, which he could use to perfect the knowledge in his mind. Just then, he suddenly saw a man in his thirties, carefully working with fondant. ¡°` Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: 451 Chapter 451: 451 The man looked extremely frail, exuding a sickly aura all over. One of his shoulders was slumped, while the other was covered in strange tattoos. Chen Yu was immediately drawn to this guy and stood up to walk over. Upon closer inspection, one would realize that the tattoos on the man¡¯s shoulders were actually a form of artistry, hiding several recipes within them. However, the tattoos were in an ancient script that was incomprehensible to most people. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes flickered with a blue and white light, and he quickly deciphered the recipes. As he approached, the man became instantly alert and paused in his movements. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the man asked, full of wariness. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much but simply walked to the side, picked up a piece of sugar syrup, and began to knead it quickly in his hands. Soon, a lifelike little figure was presented in front of everyone. The man was taken aback for a moment. He had been learning sugar candy crafting for many years and had never been able to mold a figure in such a short time. Undoubtedly Chen Yu¡¯s behavior was a challenge to him. After a moment of stunned silence, the man, imitating Chen Yu, quickly grabbed a piece of sugar syrup and started to knead. It took a whole half-hour for him to make a sugar figure roughly the same size as Chen Yu¡¯s. The man heaved a few heavy breaths, resignedly tossed the sugar figure aside, and then ripped off his chef¡¯s jacket. ¡°My master was right; I am ultimately still an apprentice and have not grasped the essence of it. Today, I¡¯ve seen a true master,¡± he said. After he finished speaking, the man prepared to leave. Chen Yu quickly stepped forward to stop him, ¡°Your technique is already very impressive; it¡¯s just some details that are limiting your speed.¡± A look of yearning immediately appeared in the man¡¯s eyes as he moved closer to Chen Yu. ¡°Please enlighten me, sir.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply raised his finger, placed it on the man¡¯s tattooed shoulder, and swiftly traced over it. The patterns he drew may have been unintelligible to others, but the man could clearly feel that the lines and his tattoos represented a form of writing. Once Chen Yu withdrew his finger, the man suddenly kneeled on the ground. ¡°Have you also studied in that place?¡± he asked. Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°We may have learned similar things, but I have not been to the place you¡¯re talking about.¡± The man didn¡¯t say anything more and got up to return to his mobile kitchen to continue his sugar crafting. In the following month, Chen Yu led a comfortable life. People like Ding Nolan and Calon were always by his side, making him the most respected person on the entire ship. It was during their passage through a strait that a large number of ships suddenly surrounded their steamer. The alarm inside the cabin emitted a piercing sound, and everyone became tense. Some even pulled out lifebuoys, ready to jump into the sea and flee. But the attackers were so fast that in no time, they had taken complete control of the whole steamer, with the leading man and his entourage swaggering onto the ship. Armed with standard weapons, they quickly occupied the entire ship. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯re here for no other reason than to borrow some money to spend. As long as you cooperate, I can assure you no one will get hurt,¡± he threatened domineeringly, before pulling up a chair and sitting down. Subsequently, his subordinates gathered all the people in the cabin and had them line up to pay. When Chen Yu heard the alarm, he lazily walked out of his room. He never expected that someone would dare to hijack this kind of ship. Anyone who could board this ship had extremely powerful forces backing them. Even if these people compromised today, their powerful supporters would seek revenge on these thugs in the future. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much about that, he simply moved a chair and sat down opposite the leader of the men on his own. Everyone present widened their eyes, they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to show such disregard for the opposite party. Martin Nolan maneuvered his wheelchair frantically to the side. ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t lower yourself to his level, this man is named Hai Kui, he kills without blinking an eye, we should pay the money first and talk later.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he moved his chair forward two more steps and sat directly in front of Hai Kui. ¡°Your face doesn¡¯t look too good, your brow is a bit dark, you might encounter a bloody disaster in the next few days. Why don¡¯t you call home now and check if something happened?¡± These messy words, heard by anyone, would be taken as a provocation, especially in front of Hai Kui. ¡°Motherfucker, you¡¯re asking to die, aren¡¯t you!¡± Hai Kui directly took out a weapon intending to attack, but as he was just getting up, Chen Yu¡¯s finger jabbed into his belly button. A blue-white light flashed instantly, and Hai Kui collapsed on the ground, twitching all over. All the onlookers were stunned, they couldn¡¯t fathom how Chen Yu had taken down Hai Kui so swiftly. However, silence on the ship lasted only a moment before chaos ensued, as Hai Kui¡¯s subordinates immediately went berserk, trying to blow up the entire ship. But as they were about to act, Chen Yu¡¯s body suddenly turned into a silhouette and began moving swiftly around the ship. Not long after, these thugs one by one fell to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Before, passengers had merely thought Chen Yu was someone of no ordinary status, but now he seemed like a godlike being. Especially what had just happened, it overturned their understanding. No person could be that fast, nor could they continuously emit such strange glows from their body. Before the crowd could react, Chen Yu walked over to Hai Kui, picked him up, and leaned him hard against the railing. The intense pain brought Hai Kui back to consciousness, but his eyes were already filled with fear. ¡°Who the hell are you? What do you really want?¡± Chen Yu gave Hai Kui a sharp slap. ¡°I should be the one asking you that, shouldn¡¯t I? You brought people onto the ship for no reason, gathered us all together, and you¡¯re asking me what I want to do?¡± Hai Kui froze, realizing he had hit a snag today and needed to retreat quickly. But no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn¡¯t break free from Chen Yu¡¯s grasp, as if his clothes were caught in the jaws of a vise. As he stood dazed, Chen Yu suddenly threw him onto the deck. ¡°Leaving here is simple, let¡¯s play a game. If you win, I¡¯ll let you go, but if you lose, then I¡¯ll have to hand you and your men over to the people on the ship to deal with.¡± Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Sending a Signal Chapter 452: Sending a Signal Hai Kui¡¯s mind suddenly became hazy. He had come aboard with the intention of killing everyone and looting all their possessions. If he were handed over to these people, they would tear him to pieces! Swallowing hard, Hai Kui¡¯s gaze involuntarily swept over everyone on the ship, with one hand moving toward his waist. ¡°Who do you think you are? Just because you want to play, I have to play along?¡± He directly pulled out a small red ball from his waist and threw it into the sky, where it exploded, and then something like fireworks shot up into the air. Martin Nolan became tense immediately and hurried to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯d better hurry. This guy is calling for reinforcements. Once his people arrive, we will really be powerless.¡± But Chen Yu looked unconcerned, walking straight up to Hai Kui. ¡°The rules of the game are simple, an arm wrestle!¡± The panic on Hai Kui¡¯s face vanished, replaced by a hint of scorn as he looked at Chen Yu. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see my signal going off? It won¡¯t be long before my men arrive. A word of advice, beat it if you can, or you won¡¯t even know how you die.¡± Chen Yu sneered, brought over a table and two chairs, and forcibly seated Hai Kui in the chair opposite. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether your men come or not, the contest between us must go on. Otherwise, I will kill you before your people feel their way here.¡± Hai Kui was startled. His men were already lying around like dead dogs; now he was the only one left. He would probably have to compromise before the others arrived. ¡°Fine, I will give you the game you want!¡± He slammed his arm onto the table, ready to fight tooth and nail. A sinister smile played around Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he grabbed Hai Kui¡¯s hand. The moment they touched, Hai Kui immediately put his strength into it, hoping to win the match quickly. But to his surprise, Chen Yu was incredibly strong and forcefully smashed Hai Kui¡¯s arm onto the table. Hai Kui¡¯s pupils dilated in shock. He thought himself strong and believed handling Chen Yu, with his skinny arms and legs, would require little effort. Who would have thought that Chen Yu¡¯s strength was completely disproportional to his build? ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready just now. Let¡¯s go again!¡± Hai Kui put his arm back on the table. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say a word and also lifted his arm. They went through several rounds, but the result was always the same, until numerous small boats started to appear on the sea. Hai Kui became frantic, standing up and retreating several steps, his eyes fixed on Chen Yu. ¡°So what if you¡¯re strong, kid? This sea is my turf. I can make you disappear without a trace.¡± Chen Yu still wore a look of indifference. As those fellows stepped onto the deck, he pointed a finger to the ground. A blue-white light spread out instantly, and the group that had boarded the ship with such ferocity fell to the deck, their bodies convulsing. Chen Yu placed his arm on the table again. ¡°Our contest isn¡¯t over yet! Continue, come on!¡± The words, like an executioner¡¯s call, made Hai Kui tremble violently. He never dreamt of such an outcome¡ªhow could his men just inexplicably fall to the ground? Before he could comprehend what was happening, Chen Yu was right in front of him, grabbing his arm and squeezing fiercely. A powerful force transmitted instantly, shattering all the bones in his arm. A piercing scream erupted as Hai Kui collapsed to the ground. ¡°Who the heck are you?¡± Hai Kui felt like crying but had no tears; he simply didn¡¯t know what to do. Chen Yu clapped his hands and yawned. ¡°What I am doesn¡¯t matter, what matters is you disturbed my sleep!¡± With those words, he turned and went back to his own room. The captain and the security chief breathed a sigh of relief, immediately ordering their subordinates to capture this bunch of troublemakers. After an unknown period of time, the ship finally docked at the port of Jinmen. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there and even left without bidding farewell to Martin Nolan and his group. After what happened at Mount Augustus, he feared he had become a thorn in the side of the Knights of the Round Table. A complete fallout with the Childe Family was likely inevitable. He walked along the dock for a while until he reached an underground parking garage, where, with practiced ease, he got into a car and sped off towards the capital. At the Tong Family¡¯s villa in the northern suburbs. People from the two major business districts, the capital and the Magic Capital, had gathered here. On the big screen was the information of all the families that were members of the Knights of the Round Table. Tong Ming sat at the head place with a heavy heart. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± he said, ¡°the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s capital has already penetrated into our core assets. If we don¡¯t act now, we might be completely devoured by them.¡± The atmosphere among those present was somber, each with a stack of documents in front of them. They had begun to feel the financial pressure a month ago. The Childe Family had somehow obtained a large amount of capital support and was pressing them hard. Had it not been for Tong Ming¡¯s thorough preparation, their assets would have likely been swallowed up by now. As everyone was discussing countermeasures, a person dressed like a Daoist priest suddenly burst into the office. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± he announced, ¡°by the command of our Heavenly Master, I¡¯ve come to deliver something to you all!¡± Before the others could react, the young priest tossed a pile of wooden tokens onto the table. The people present stared at the young Daoist with odd looks, some thinking he was the type of swindler who peddled blessed trinkets. Chu Jianghe seemed to realize something and hastily stood up. ¡°Are you from the Xuanqing Sect?¡± The young monk nodded: ¡°Our Heavenly Master has a deep friendship with Mr. Chen Yu, and his visit this time is in consideration of Mr. Chen Yu.¡± The people gathered there widened their eyes in astonishment; no one had expected Chen Yu to wield such influence to be able to call upon someone from the Xuanqing Sect. Not even the Childe Family, let alone the Knights of the Round Table as a whole, would be a concern for them anymore. Just as everyone became excited, Chen Yu suddenly rushed in, flustered and frantic. Tong Ming was about to greet him when the young Daoist priest stepped forward and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve finally found you; our Heavenly Master requests your presence at Tianhu Mountain!¡± Chen Yu looked puzzled: ¡°Tianhu Mountain, what would I be doing in that place?¡± The young priest didn¡¯t bother with explanations, handing him one of the wooden tokens. ¡°Of course, there is a very important matter to entrust to Mr. Chen, as for the matters here, leave them to me.¡± Chen Yu looked at the Xuanqing Sect token in his hand and seemed to understand. Tong Ming also understood; right now, associating with the Xuanqing Sect was more important than anything else. ¡°Chen Yu, you should go with him,¡± he said, ¡°don¡¯t worry about the situation here.¡± Chapter 453 - Chapter 453 Tianhu Mountain Chapter 453 Tianhu Mountain Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected the Xuanqing Sect to descend the mountain and directly involve themselves in secular affairs. Back at the Dongming Canyon, the Heavenly Master Long Tian had already extended an olive branch to him. Now they were openly helping him against the Knights of the Round Table. It seemed the Xuanqing Sect was truly keen on getting him to join. Chen Yu glanced at the large screen in the conference room, which had already listed all the families of the Knights of the Round Table. It looked like Tong Ming had also done a lot of preparation during this time. With the Xuanqing Sect as an external support, dealing with the Knights of the Round Table had become much easier. His presence here surely wouldn¡¯t be of much help; it might even cause trouble. After all, it wasn¡¯t just the Knights of the Round Table who bore a grudge against him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much. He simply bowed deeply and left the place with the young Daoist. The two did not linger in the imperial capital for long, opting instead to board an enclosed RV. ¡°Mr. Chen, you can take a good sleep here, and when you wake up, we¡¯ll have arrived at Tianhu Mountain,¡± The vehicle was equipped with a full set of bedding. Upon lying down, Chen Yu felt a soft embrace, and an odd fragrance wafted through the space. After taking a light sniff, Chen Yu knew it was a kind of sedative. Thinking about it, it had been a very long time since he had slept properly. Since the Xuanqing Sect had arranged everything, he should not disappoint their good intentions! He took a deep breath and fell straight into sleep. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when the vehicle¡¯s door reopened, and they had already arrived at the foot of a mountain. Chen Yu had never heard of Tianhu Mountain before, nor did he know what it really was. He only saw that the great mountain before his eyes was shrouded in mist, appearing like a land of immortals, with a mirror-like vast lake at its base. The lake¡¯s surface was tranquil and clear to the bottom. The lotuses and duckweeds growing on the water were motionless as if they were fixed in place. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Heavenly Masters are waiting for you on the mountain. Please follow me!¡± Chen Yu nodded and followed the young Daoist up the mountain. As they reached halfway up the mountain, a cacophony of loud noises reached his ears. ¡°Sweet and silky tofu pudding here!¡± ¡°Mutton soup!¡± ¡°Antiques and calligraphy, don¡¯t miss out as you pass by!¡± ¡­ Chen Yu frowned in confusion. Did this seem like a market? The young Daoist suddenly stopped and respectfully performed a Daoist salutation. ¡°Mr. Chen, please rest here for a while and have some food. I will come back to fetch you later!¡± Chen Yu nodded and walked directly to a mutton stall. ¡°Boss, give me a sheep¡¯s head!¡± The stall owner, a man in his forties wearing a Daoist hat and dressed in a disheveled manner. He wore a string of Copper Coins tied together with red thread around his neck. The boss cheerfully responded and promptly served up two dismantled sheep heads. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s your first time up the mountain, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chen Yu smiled and replied, ¡°Boss, judging by your attire, you should also be a Daoist, right? Why are you selling mutton here?¡± The boss laughed heartily. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve let worldly irritations cloud your eyes! Who says a Taoist can¡¯t buy mutton? Besides, we of the Zhengyi Sect don¡¯t abstain from meat and fish!¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed; he had indeed thought too much. The boss patted his shoulder and then sat down beside him. ¡°I know you, Long Tian, the Heavenly Master, previously brought back your portrait, and all of us have taken the time to match faces with you.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment: ¡°Match faces?¡± A long time ago, the knowledge system the system rewarded him with included the Metaphysics System. But to him, these things were merely knowledge in his head, never deeply researched. So when he heard the word ¡°match faces,¡± he was quite surprised. The boss immediately grabbed his cheek and slowly traced upwards. ¡°Young man, not only is your facial structure remarkable, your bone structure is one in ten thousand as well! You¡¯re definitely qualified to join our Xuanqing Sect.¡± Chen Yu was in a bit of pain from the boss¡¯s grip. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a little girl hastily run over, dumping a pile of calligraphy and paintings on the ground. ¡°Cheap sale! Would any kind-hearted people buy a couple?¡± All the vendors and passersby around them swarmed over, and the mutton-selling uncle also ran to the front, without even looking, he picked up two paintings and was ready to pay. Chen Yu was full of questions. Doing business here seemed too easy¡ªpeople were giving money with just a few shouts? As he was pondering, a middle-aged man surrounded by a throng of bodyguards walked over with an arrogant air. The health balls he spun in his hand collided and chimed continuously, creating a clear sound. Yet, this sound, to the listeners¡¯ ears, brought a dizzying sensation. Chen Yu slowly stood up and carefully observed the middle-aged man, noticing that the health balls in his hand were engraved with a multitude of strange runes. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect the Xuanqing Sect to still look like this, no wonder you can¡¯t compete with other organizations!¡± The man¡¯s voice was exceptionally scornful, causing displeasure among the crowd. Two of them were even about to step forward and confront him physically. The man didn¡¯t care about that, he pushed through the crowd, squatted in front of the little girl, and casually picked up a painting to look at. ¡°I thought it was something precious, but after all this fuss, they¡¯re just modern replicas. With such stuff, you dare to sell them here! Take them all away,¡± he commanded. His bodyguards immediately stepped forward, about to take away all the calligraphy and paintings the girl had brought. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t stand by and watch any longer; he flashed forward, shielding the girl. ¡°My friend, this girl has come all the way here to sell her paintings with great effort. Isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡± The man sized up Chen Yu from head to toe: ¡°What are you? Daring to meddle in my business? Get out of the way now, or I¡¯ll throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves.¡± The people around them, upon hearing these words, immediately stepped forward and surrounded the man tightly. Chen Yu was someone the old Heavenly Master on the mountain specifically instructed them to protect; they couldn¡¯t let any misfortune befall him. The middle-aged man realized that something was amiss and hurriedly backed away a few steps. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Is this how the Xuanqing Sect treats a guest?¡± he asked. The mutton-selling uncle rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve tolerated you for a long time. You come here every so often, and when failing to become a disciple, you slander our Xuanqing Sect! Disrespecting the sect like this, we should¡¯ve dumped you in the lake long ago.¡± These words immediately resonated with the bystanders, who started reproaching the middle-aged man. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out this way. ¡°Everyone! I shouldn¡¯t interfere with the dispute between this man and the Xuanqing Sect, but since I have intervened in the matter between him and this young girl, I must see it through. Please grant me some space,¡± he requested. Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately made way, clearing a large area. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate, spreading out all the calligraphy and paintings the girl had brought on the ground, arranging them in order. Chapter 454 - Chapter 454: The Small Town at the Foot of the Mountain Chapter 454: The Small Town at the Foot of the Mountain ¡°Inscriptions personally penned by Gu Kaizhi at the end of the Ming and beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Zuo Zongtang¡¯s vast desert mountain and river map from the late Qing period, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty¡¯s own painting of vibrant springtime¡­¡± Enjoy new stories from Novgo Chen Yu listed every piece of calligraphy and painting, then fixed the middle-aged man with a threatening gaze. ¡°I just want to know which one of these paintings is a fake? If you can point out one today, not only can you take all the paintings here, but I¡¯ll also pay you ten billion.¡± The middle-aged man was stunned and couldn¡¯t utter a word. He was, of course, aware that all these paintings were authentic; his coming here to cause trouble was purely deliberate, with the intention of taking all the paintings away. Chen Yu didn¡¯t indulge him, but immediately stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder. ¡°But if you can¡¯t pick one out, then you¡¯ll have to buy them at the market price outside.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s breathing became rapid, and the bodyguards who followed him had already been controlled by the people present. ¡°Fine, today is just my bad luck!¡± The man was generous, counting out a number of bank drafts and handing them over to Chen Yu. Carrying so many bank drafts and being able to appear on Tianhu Mountain was enough to prove this middle-aged man¡¯s extraordinary identity. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that; it was this guy who had bullied a young girl. ¡°Brother, those calligraphy and paintings are indeed fake, drawn by my father¡¯s own hand, not ancient originals!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present widened their eyes, especially the middle-aged man, who glared at Chen Yu with a furious gaze. In fact, the moment Chen Yu first saw those paintings, he had already known their authenticity; he just wanted to fleece the man extensively. Who would have thought that the young girl would be so honest and reveal the truth? The middle-aged man was instantly enraged and pulled out a dagger from somewhere. ¡°Alright, you little brat, daring to scam my money, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Just as he was about to make a move, the surrounding crowd encircled him once more, and his bodyguards were also firmly restrained. With no other choice, the man sighed helplessly, ¡°Fine, you guys are ruthless. Next time I come, I¡¯m definitely going to smash Tianhu Mountain!¡± Only after the man had left did Chen Yu finally breathe a sigh of relief and turned to pat the young girl¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Little sister, did you rush here to sell the paintings to get money for your father¡¯s treatment?¡± Chen Yu had taken advantage of the brief interlude to scan the young girl¡¯s brain with the system. Tears almost seeped from the girl¡¯s eyes: ¡°My father suddenly became immobile, and we don¡¯t know what illness he has.¡± Chen Yu touched the girl¡¯s little head: ¡°Take brother to see him!¡± At the foot of Tianhu Mountain¡¯s side, there is a small town where many ordinary people live. Located at the foot of a fairyland mountain, the place was imbued with a unique aura, and every person was glowing with health. However, the people here seemed somewhat disconnected from the outside world, wearing many old clothes, still from the Republic of China period. Chen Yu quickly followed the young girl to a rundown wooden house. A man, frail and with a dark complexion, continually coughed as he leaned on the bed. ¡°Daddy, I brought a brother back with me; he said he can cure your illness.¡± As soon as the girl entered the room, she picked up the water on the table and brought it to the man. Chen Yu didn¡¯t immediately ask about the illness but looked around the room instead. He noticed that the walls were filled with famous paintings from various dynasties, obviously all fake! However, on some paintings at the bottom, you could see Liu Zhongxiang¡¯s signature. That must be the young girl¡¯s father¡¯s name. However, based on the workmanship and the techniques used to age the paintings, Liu Zhongxiang must be a master. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing before stepping forward to grab Liu Zhongxiang¡¯s wrist directly. ¡°Your body seems to be poisoned. It must have been the mercury during the painting and calligraphy work!¡± Liu Zhongxiang let out a chuckle. ¡°I know my own body, and besides, I¡¯ve made so many fake paintings, it¡¯s only karma from the heavens.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t see it that way, even if the poisoning was during the process of making the paintings, it shouldn¡¯t be so severe. Someone must be out to harm him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and took out paper and pen to write a prescription. Just as he was about to leave to collect the medicine, a group of burly men suddenly burst through the door. These men, fierce-looking as demons, held large pieces of lumber, and stood blocking the entrance. ¡°Liu, get out here, the stuff you sold us last time wasn¡¯t right and we¡¯ve had it returned. You¡¯re going to repay us tenfold according to the rules.¡± Chen Yu frowned. The man was already in such a state, yet these brutes still had the audacity to come demanding debts, utterly inhumane. Liu Zhongxiang coughed a few times and struggled out of bed, preparing to go outside. Chen Yu immediately patted his shoulder, ¡°Stay here, I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Liu Zhongxiang¡¯s eyes widened. He and Chen Yu were neither relatives nor close friends; he was just someone his daughter had brought home for medical treatment. Yet he cared so much! This shouldn¡¯t be! Besides, Chen Yu seemed to know nothing! To Liu Zhongxiang¡¯s surprise, as soon as Chen Yu reached the doorway, he pointed at the thugs and shouted. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Guokai? Get him out here!¡± Liu Zhongxiang was stunned; he never expected Chen Yu to know Li Guokai. Soon, a portly, round man emerged from the crowd. ¡°Who the hell are you? Where¡¯s Liu Zhongxiang? Tell him to come out.¡± Chen Yu eyed Li Guokai from top to bottom and took two steps forward. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking responsibility for his matters, and besides, I already have evidence of you poisoning him! You have two options, take your men and scram, or I¡¯ll go to Tianhu Mountain and call the Heavenly Master to deal with this.¡± Li Guokai¡¯s eyes bulged, not expecting Chen Yu to be aware of this. ¡°Kid, a word of advice, don¡¯t meddle in what doesn¡¯t concern you, otherwise, you won¡¯t leave here alive!¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly; he had already scanned the brains of these people. In other words, he held the advantage. ¡°Liu Zhong might make fake paintings, but he never sold them as real ones. But you, you not only stole his work and put it on display at the exhibition, you also wanted to silence him by killing him!¡± Li Guokai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, fear creeping into his eyes. He couldn¡¯t fathom how an outsider knew so much about his deeds. Before he had time to react, Chen Yu advanced closer, tapped his shoulder with a finger. The portly body lay twitching on the ground. ¡°All of you, wait here for me. No one dares to leave or let anyone into this room until I come back, or his fate will be yours.¡± These men were just hired goons paid by Li Guokai, they had never seen such a display and were already scared out of their wits. They naturally split into two groups to guard the door, daring not to relax for even a moment. Chapter 455 - Chapter 455: System Evolution Chapter 455: System Evolution When Chen Yu returned with the medicine, everyone was still there, quietly waiting for him, and not a single person dared to leave. Liu Zhongxiang felt somewhat dazed; he had been selling paintings here for many years and no one had ever treated him like this before. Even the locals either came to haggle over one or two paintings or to hurl insults at him. In their eyes, it seemed he was nothing more than a pedantic scholar. Chen Yu¡¯s behavior was completely beyond his comprehension, as if Heaven had opened its eyes and specifically sent someone to his rescue. After drinking the medicine, Liu Zhongxiang clearly felt much lighter in his body. ¡°Young brother, I really can¡¯t thank you enough. May I have your honorable name and where you reside? I must repay your kindness in the future.¡± Just as Chen Yu was about to demur, the young Taoist who had received him rushed over in a hurry. ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you end up here? The Heavenly Master and the others are all anxiously waiting for you.¡± The young Taoist shouted this and, without further ado, grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm and hurried away. The people present were immediately stunned. They had seen many who had been invited to Tianhu Mountain, but generally, these people were older than Chen Yu. They either gained worldly success or were extraordinary in some way, but Chen Yu didn¡¯t seem to fit any of these categories. If it came down to it, it seemed all he could do was treat illnesses. By the time they came to their senses, Chen Yu had already been led away by the young Taoist. Atop Tianhu Mountain, on a vast square, a large number of Taoist-looking people were sitting on the ground, neatly arrayed at this spot. The Heavenly Master Long Tian, whom they had seen earlier, was sitting on a dais in the center, expounding on the Tao. Chen Yu did not disturb him; after arriving at the square, he found a place to sit down by himself. At that moment, a burly Taoist suddenly stood up and knelt in front of Heavenly Master Long Tian. ¡°Master, I really don¡¯t understand why you randomly picked up a wild boy from the outside to be your Closed-door Disciple! And even handled his worldly affairs, this violates the rules of the Xuanqing Sect.¡± The gazes of everyone present focused on the center of the square. In their eyes, one could see clear dissatisfaction; it seemed they all had prejudices against Chen Yu. Chen Yu too was a bit confused; it seemed from beginning to end that it wasn¡¯t by his own will that he joined the Xuanqing Sect, and he¡¯d been invited here moreover. Looking at these people, it seemed as if he was relentlessly begging to be admitted into the Xuanqing Sect. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breath, slowly stood up, just about to speak, when suddenly an individual next to him stood up. ¡°Brother Chen! Since you were personally invited by the Master to come up the mountain, you must certainly be extraordinary. I would like to test your skills.¡± Chen Yu frowned, as the Taoist who was speaking seemed very polite, but the hint of rejection in his eyes made Chen Yu feel rather helpless. Without waiting for his reply, the guy already had a short knife in his hand and charged at him. The two immediately tangled with each other. Chen Yu¡¯s body had reached the limits of human capability, and to some extent, he possessed extremely strong muscle memory. In less than ten moves, he had the other man on the ground. The people there were momentarily bewildered; they had never dreamed that Chen Yu could be so formidable. Heavenly Master Long Tian had been silent from beginning to end, which seemed like a tacit permission for this group¡¯s rudeness. Chen Yu understood; this might have been some sort of test by Heavenly Master Long Tian. The dozen or so Taoists who were seated there until just a moment ago suddenly rose, each holding various kinds of weapons as they charged over. Chen Yu took a step back, his muscles tense to the extreme. These Taoist priests practiced on the mountain every day, possessing exceptionally strong physical constitutions; a few had even reached the limits of human capabilities. Chen Yu was not sure he could defeat so many people at once. Just as they were about to make a move, Heavenly Master Long Tian suddenly stood up. ¡°Enough, stop the commotion and stand down!¡± No one dared to say much else, quickly backing away. The reluctance in their eyes was unmistakable, and although they did not wish to dismember Chen Yu completely, there was still an impulse to give him a thorough beating. Chen Yu gave a light cough and approached Heavenly Master Long Tian, kneeling before him. ¡°Heavenly Master, for what purpose have you summoned me?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian stepped forward and immediately grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s wrist. ¡°You indeed carry something within you that sets you apart from ordinary people. It seems I have made the right choice. From today on, you are my Closed-door Disciple.¡± Without regard for whether the others agreed, Heavenly Master Long Tian pulled Chen Yu toward the back mountain. All the people in the square sighed deeply, looking pained; some even knelt and kept kowtowing, their eyes brimming with tears, as if they had just lost their own father. Chen Yu happened to see this scene as he left and immediately found it strange. Upon reaching the back mountain, he activated his system immediately, wanting to scan Heavenly Master Long Tian¡¯s brain information, but to his surprise, the Heavenly Master exuded a strange aura that could block the system. Chen Yu tried several times, but to no avail. Heavenly Master Long Tian took two steps forward and lightly clapped his hands. The lush woods in front of him sprang to life, opening up to reveal a path. This path led directly to a small, emerald-green lake deep within the forest. ¡°Child, follow me!¡± Chen Yu suppressed his emotions and followed Heavenly Master Long Tian to the emerald-green lake. A strange mist emanated from the lake. A slight whiff was enough to tell that the mist was mixed with the essences of tens of thousands of medicinal herbs. Chen Yu immediately felt refreshed, but his mind seemed to be under some control, making him subconsciously want to jump into the small lake. Your next chapter awaits on Novgo.com After biting hard on the tip of his tongue, Chen Yu was able to suppress this urge, but he had already reached the edge of the lake, with one foot poised to step in. Heavenly Master Long Tian nodded with satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re quite remarkable. The first time I came here, half of my foot was already in the water! My master said my concentration was insufficient to reach the state of unity with heaven and earth mentioned in the legends of Xuanqing Sect. But you are different; you can certainly inherit the essence of the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat bewildered, not understanding what Heavenly Master Long Tian meant. Before he could react, Heavenly Master Long Tian¡¯s finger touched his forehead, and a brutally powerful force surged into his body. [Alert, foreign energy infusing into the body] [Autonomous protection function activated] [Host¡¯s physical abilities enhanced, combining with foreign energy, alert dismissed] The system seemed somewhat flustered throughout the process but quickly adapted to the forceful energy. Part of it entered Chen Yu¡¯s body, transforming his muscles and breaking through the limits of humanity; even the many incomprehensible bits of knowledge in his head began to connect. The other part was converted by the system in a special way and entered a purification state autonomously. Inside his mind, Chen Yu could observe the entire process of the system¡¯s evolution. Chapter 456 - Chapter 456: 456 Chapter 456: 456 Chen Yu had no idea how long it had been when that formidable force suddenly vanished, leaving his body feeling an unfathomable emptiness. Long Tian, the Heavenly Master, took several deep breaths and stepped back, his originally black hair now streaked with white. ¡°You¡¯re truly remarkable to have absorbed all that power, there¡¯s probably no second person on Tianhu Mountain who could do the same.¡± Read the latest on Novgo.com Chen Yu was still completely clueless, having no idea what had just happened. Long Tian glanced at the clear green lake in front of him. ¡°In a week, the grand ceremony of Tianhu Mountain will take place, and many will come here! In the following week, roam around this area and see if there¡¯s anything you can do.¡± With those words, Long Tian turned and vanished into the mountains. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing, then hurriedly ran to a large tree and sat down beneath it. He started patting the acupuncture points on his body nonstop in the manner of medical practices he remembered, trying to figure out just what that power that had entered his body was. Ling Ling was also floating mid-air at the moment. [Through acupoint resonance, that elder transferred the Qi Force from his body into yours.] Chen Yu was full of confusion, ¡°Is this considered a transference of power?¡± [In the understanding of this world, it can be considered as such.] [But from a more scientific perspective, it is a type of energy resonance.] Chen Yu almost understood, but he felt that his body hadn¡¯t changed from before, only that his physical fitness had increased several times over. After adjusting his breathing slightly, he raised his fist and smashed it hard against a nearby rock. The hard greenstone was immediately turned to ash by his blow. Looking at his unscathed fist, Chen Yu suddenly became excited. That meant his body had reached an invulnerable state. Without lingering there any longer, he followed the path pointed out by Long Tian and arrived at the town at the foot of the mountain. Upon arriving, he immediately saw Liu Zhongxiang shopping for vegetables on the street with his daughter. The little girl was extraordinarily excited to see Chen Yu and bounced over to him. ¡°Big brother, your medicine is really amazing; my daddy could get out of bed in just two hours.¡± Chen Yu affectionately ruffled the little girl¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll make up a few more prescriptions for you in a moment, and your dad should be able to recover fully.¡± Liu Zhongxiang also approached with warmth, perhaps because he had been bedridden for so long, he was somewhat unsteady on his feet. ¡°We just inquired and found out that you are Mr. Chen invited by the Heavenly Master Long Tian to the mountain! The folks from the Xuanqing Sect have already informed the towns below, saying that we should treat you as an honored guest whenever we see you.¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, he hadn¡¯t expected the Xuanqing Sect to issue such an order. Just then, a person dressed as a Daoist, holding a banner, came over from the distance. ¡°Come take a look, see for yourself, the divine medicine from Tianhu Mountain, just one pill can make you live a hundred years.¡± As the man shouted, a large crowd gathered around him; most of these people had come from outside to attend the grand event. Liu Zhongxiang frowned. ¡°This guy comes here every day to swindle people, who knows how many have been tricked by him, yet the elder of the mountain does nothing, letting him act recklessly here!¡± Chen Yu glanced sidelong; most people in this small town weren¡¯t very wealthy, and many could barely scrape by with the money they earned. The Xuanqing Sect seemed indifferent to this place, as if leaving the town to fend for itself. Although he didn¡¯t quite understand, Chen Yu felt he still needed to intervene now that he had stumbled upon the situation. After analysis, the system discovered that the pills laid out in front of the fake Taoist were all made from leftover medicine dregs. While they wouldn¡¯t cause harm if ingested, they also had no effect whatsoever. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with niceties and went straight over, but as he approached, an elderly person suddenly collapsed to the ground with violent convulsions. The startled charlatan gaped as the elderly man chewed on the pill he had just handed out. ¡°Everyone saw him, he must have had some illness the moment he stuffed the pill into his mouth!¡± This explanation was very far-fetched, and not something most people would believe, especially since the old man had already swallowed most of the pill¡ªit couldn¡¯t possibly be unrelated. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, advanced, and grabbed the old man¡¯s pulse, discerning that the spasms were due to a medical stress reaction from the medication. He pressed a few acupoints on the man¡¯s body, tapped them gently, and soon eased the spasms. Then he walked straight up to the fake Taoist. ¡°Where exactly did you come from, and why are you impersonating a Taoist from Tianhu Mountain?¡± The charlatan paused for a moment, then stood up and adopted the air of a profound and accomplished person. ¡°I am a disciple of Heavenly Master Long Tian; how could I be an impostor? Young man, do not spout nonsense.¡± Chen Yu scoffed, reached out, and grabbed the charlatan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Since you claim to be a disciple of Heavenly Master Long Tian, you must be skilled in medicine. Why not have us both examine a patient, and test our skills?¡± As he spoke, two people hobbled their way over. They appeared to be a couple, covered in strange pustules from head to toe. It seemed they had come here to buy some medicine. Chen Yu immediately went up to check their pulses and found that both of their bodily functions were in severe disarray, with a small tumor even forming at their hearts. He was suddenly puzzled; the foothills of Tianhu Mountain were akin to a paradisiacal land, where the air and water were many times cleaner than elsewhere. How could tumors possibly develop? As he was lost in thought, the fake Taoist suddenly stepped forward and grabbed one of their pulses. ¡°I thought it was some serious illness, but it turns out to be nothing more than the ¡¯black soybean disease¡¯ here! A little medication is all that¡¯s needed to heal.¡± The charlatan carelessly pulled out a packet of pills from inside his robe and stuffed it into their hands. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated; such myocardial tumors were extremely dangerous, no matter where they occurred. Yet, to this man, they seemed insignificant. Just as Chen Yu was about to take back the medicine, the couple, as if they had received some divine boon, frantically stuffed the pills into their mouths, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed in thanks. The crowd gathered around sang praises to the charlatan, claiming he had saved lives from imminent danger. Liu Zhongxiang hurriedly stepped forward to pull Chen Yu away from the throng. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is no place to stay for long. Come with me first, and we can discuss this later.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless; he simply could not grasp what exactly was going on with this small town. Why was someone using the name of a Taoist from Tianhu Mountain to swindle here? And why did it seem as if the Heavenly Master atop the mountain turned a blind eye? Moreover, the physical state of the townspeople contrasted starkly with that of the Taoists of the mountain, as if these people were deliberately left to endure trials and tribulations. Chapter 457 - Chapter 457 Humanity’s Afflictions Chapter 457 Humanity¡¯s Afflictions In the dilapidated house, Liu Zhongxiang poured a cup of tea for Chen Yu and casually took out a booklet from nearby. ¡°Mr. Chen, you might not be aware of our situation here!¡± Chen Yu received the booklet with some confusion and discovered that it contained records about the entire town. But after reading through all the content, he suddenly became agitated and abruptly stood up. ¡°All of your ancestors were prisoners?¡± Liu Zhongxiang sighed helplessly, ¡°Yes, they were all utterly unforgivable! Some had ancestors who were generals responsible for slaughtering entire cities.¡± Chen Yu inhaled sharply; he finally understood that, after all the trouble, these people were seeking redemption for their ancestors¡¯ sins. Unlike other schools of thought, Daoism does not emphasize the next life; what it seeks is only in this lifetime. Therefore, the mistakes made by these people¡¯s ancestors could only be atoned for by them. Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say; if he chose to help these people today, he would unwittingly bear their karmic consequences. Yet if he ignored them, his conscience wouldn¡¯t allow it. As he was in a daze, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door. Li Guokai, who had been there in the morning, hurried back with a group of people. Chen Yu was just stewing in his own frustration when he walked out, and Li Guokai knelt on the ground, holding a stick made of pure gold. ¡°Mr. Chen, I heard you were back, so I came especially to apologize. This treasure has been passed down in my family from generation to generation, and today, I present it to you as a gift for our meeting.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. Every household in this small town was so poor, and even someone like Li Guokai wasn¡¯t very wealthy. Where had he gotten such a large gold stick? Just as he was about to inquire, Li Guokai took out a piece of yellow paper from his person and handed it over. ¡°Mr. Chen, could you please take a look at the life-chart written on this paper and see if my generation can clear our ancestors¡¯ sins?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback; although his mind held some knowledge of metaphysics, he was utterly baffled when it actually came to interpreting these things. Metaphysics is systematic and entirely separate from human existing knowledge. The only connection was the recently researched concept of quantum entanglement. But this concept had not yet been accepted by most people, and to completely integrate it would be extremely difficult. Chen Yu took the yellow paper and coughed a few times. ¡°I really can¡¯t read this; you¡¯d better go up the mountain and find a genuine Heavenly Master.¡± Li Guokai quickly knelt down a few steps forward and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s thigh. ¡°Word has already spread here that you are Long Tian¡¯s Closed-door Disciple and must have received his authentic teachings. Please, for the sake of the gold stick, just take a look for me.¡± Frustration mounted on Chen Yu¡¯s face. The identity of a Closed-door Disciple was real, but he hadn¡¯t learned anything yet; he had only received an extremely powerful Qi Force from the Heavenly Master. Liu Zhongxiang leaned in and whispered to Chen Yu, ¡°Mr. Chen, you can just say anything.¡± Chen Yu heaved a sigh and handed the yellow paper back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, all of the sins will definitely be cleared in your generation.¡± Li Guokai was thrilled to the core, laughing wildly while clutching the yellow paper. ¡°Now my son can escape suffering. From today on, us Lis will stop meddling in those messy affairs!¡± After yelling a few more times, he stuffed the gold stick into Chen Yu¡¯s hands and hurried off with his bodyguards. Liu Zhongxiang shook his head, his face showing no less resignation than Chen Yu¡¯s. ¡°The greatest wish of everyone in this town is to completely break free from the sins of their ancestors, but some families have been passing down this legacy for hundreds of years. Seeing no hope, some have given in to despair and turned to evil deeds.¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt that Liu Zhongxiang seemed different from the others in the town. This man¡¯s craftsmanship was no worse than any professional outside the town; the things he made were almost indistinguishably fake, yet he never took them out to swindle and boast. When he was sick, he just had his daughter set up a stall on Tianhu Mountain and sold paintings at a fair price. To say he was atoning might be somewhat true, but it did seem a bit much. Even if one were atoning, one shouldn¡¯t joke with one¡¯s own life! ¡°Mr. Liu, if I may be so bold to ask, what exactly is your role in this town?¡± Liu Zhongxiang suddenly chuckled a few times. ¡°Actually, we are fellow disciples from the same sect!¡± Chen Yu was stunned, never in his dreams had he imagined Liu Zhongxiang would have such an identity. ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Stay updated via Novgo.com Liu Zhongxiang sighed, ¡°Actually, I was given the same test as you, but alas, I fell here, not only carrying the sins of the entire town but also the bad karma I had sown myself!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, as this was something he had never expected. Moreover, when scanning the other person¡¯s memory, he had not uncovered this information either. ¡°Then I should call you senior brother!¡± Liu Zhongxiang waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°No need for that, I just hope you can pass the test and not end up trapped here like me.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say, as he had never been in such a situation. And up to now, he still didn¡¯t know what the test given by Long Tian was exactly. Chen Yu sighed softly and asked no further questions, simply returning to the house and taking a seat. He briefly checked the Gold stick in his hand and found that it was still solid. Just then, two men stumbled up to the door. One of them was extremely emaciated and upon arriving, he collapsed on the ground. ¡°Old Liu, can you give us a painting to sell for some money?¡± Without any hesitation, Liu Zhongxiang took down a rather decent painting from the wall and handed it to the two men. The men thanked him several times over, then headed to the pawnshop nearby with the painting. In fact, many people in the town knew Liu Zhongxiang was an expert counterfeiter, but the pawnshops here still recognized his goods because these paintings would definitely sell for a good price outside. The two men from before seemed to be suffering from severe malnutrition, a condition beyond even Chen Yu¡¯s ability to cure; at most, he could prescribe some nutritional supplements to help them recover. Watching these people, a spark suddenly flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind ¨C perhaps Long Tian had sent him here not merely for a test, but to witness the true hardships of humanity. As he pondered, a noisy commotion suddenly arose from the main street. Out of nowhere, two merchants had boldly set up a stage in the middle of the square. A large billboard quickly attracted many onlookers who brought out all sorts of things from their homes to gather around, with some even bringing out their own porcelain bowls. Stepping out to take a look, Chen Yu found that these two merchants were actually buying antiques. Chapter 458 - Chapter 458 Communicating with the Outside World Chapter 458 Communicating with the Outside World Chen Yu immediately frowned, for he had not expected the people here to have fallen to such a degree. Although he hadn¡¯t properly walked around the small town, he had gained a general understanding of the situation. The town was in a completely enclosed state, having existed since ancient times, which meant there were many intact old relics. Even the bowls the villagers ate from were many genuine Huizhou Ruyao pieces. But the two wealthy merchants were offering incredibly low prices, almost those of scrap collectors. Despite that, many people were willing to sell their old relics. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t stand by any longer and walked directly into the middle of the square. ¡°Gentlemen, where do you plan to take these old relics you¡¯re buying from here?¡± The two merchants were taken aback for a moment, then stared at Chen Yu with an odd look. ¡°Where we sell them is none of your business. Got any old relics? If so, put them down; if not, beat it.¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, turned around, and took a wooden lump from the hands of a nearby villager. The item looked unremarkable, seemingly fit for crushing garlic. ¡°This piece is a root carving from the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, made from genuine Agarwood. It would start at no less than half a million outside. May I ask, how much are you offering for this?¡± The two merchants¡¯ mouths fell open. They weren¡¯t surprised that there was someone knowledgeable here; what shocked them was that someone dared to resist during this collection trip! Many years ago, they discovered this place, and since then, they had come every year. The items they picked up here always allowed them to make a fortune outside. Moreover, they knew the villagers could not leave the town, as anyone who tried to reach its edge would die there. To date, tens of thousands of graves surrounded the town within a ten-kilometer radius. With this advantage, they could unscrupulously buy old relics here and sell outside goods at high prices to the villagers. In this way, they essentially took the old relics from the villagers for nothing. ¡°Kid, sticking your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong, huh? Think my price is too low, you can buy it yourself! To tell you the truth, these people don¡¯t care how much money they get; as long as they can buy goods from outside, they are fully satisfied.¡± One of the merchants stepped back a few paces and patted the rice sacks stacked on the stage. Chen Yu snorted coldly and threw the gold stick he had just mentioned onto the platform. ¡°This item, according to the market price outside, can buy all the goods you brought! Now I¡¯m giving you a choice, either leave the goods and scram, or die here.¡± The two men laughed as if they had heard the funniest thing in the world. They had already thoroughly scouted the town. The people here were serving penance, and even if they committed some misdeeds, they dared not do anything too outrageous. This was precisely why these two could act without any fear here. But as they laughed, Chen Yu suddenly approached, flicked his finger on their necks. The two immediately experienced unprecedented pain and went limp, convulsing continuously, yet their minds remained lucidly aware. This acute pain would instill fear in anyone. Chen Yu stepped forward and slapped a hand on the rice sacks. ¡°Today, I¡¯m taking charge, and all the goods will be evenly distributed to everyone. Any trouble, I¡¯ll take the blame.¡± The crowd instantly became excited, yet they didn¡¯t rush the stage. Instead, they lined up orderly, waiting to receive the goods. Liu Zhongxiang hurried over from not far away. He had witnessed Chen Yu¡¯s methods. Exchanging gold for rice wasn¡¯t against the rules; it was merely a fair trade. Distributing the rice to the villagers was an act of charity, also a test from Heavenly Master Long Tian. This might have been the optimal solution. When he originally came down the mountain, he saw only the suffering of the human world but lacked any concrete solutions. Simply giving money to these people, after running out of all his possessions, he started making fake paintings to sell. In the long run, he became deeper and deeper entrenched, his body ending up in the state it was now. Chen Yu was different; he chose to act as an intermediary between the villagers and the outside world, negotiating directly with outsiders. Perhaps from now on, the villagers¡¯ items would be sold through him, and he would bring them a wealth of goods at fair market prices. Liu Zhongxiang sighed deeply. In the beginning, he was different from the villagers and didn¡¯t suffer from the town¡¯s karma, free to come and go. He could have used the same method, but unfortunately, he did not. Instead, he became one of the town¡¯s natives and could no longer leave. The goods brought by the two merchants were not abundant and were soon completely distributed. Chen Yu picked them up and stuffed the gold stick back into their hands. ¡°The goods I took were bought through the proper channels, so don¡¯t say I robbed you!¡± After saying this with a hint of sarcasm, Chen Yu drove them out of the town. The villagers instantly became ecstatic and began to worship Chen Yu as if he were a deity. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t bear such adulation, so he didn¡¯t linger and followed the two merchants out of town. The town lay at the foot of Tianhu Mountain, surrounded by endless mountains. Not a single decent-sized city could be seen within a hundred miles. Chen Yu had come all the way here sleeping, so he wasn¡¯t very familiar with the surrounding terrain. Moreover, after arriving, due to the limiting magnetic field of the area, his scanning system couldn¡¯t cover such a wide distance, and he couldn¡¯t find a way out. Now, with two out-of-towners present, how could he let such an opportunity slip by? The two merchants, scared as well, got into their car as soon as they left the town and hurried to leave. But as they got into the car, Chen Yu suddenly teleported into it. ¡°Gentlemen, since you¡¯re here, don¡¯t rush off. I have many things to ask you. Moreover, the town needs more goods, so I¡¯ll trouble you with that.¡± The two merchants were on the verge of tears. The fear that Chen Yu had instilled in them when he brought them to the ground was still tormenting them. Now, with Chen Yu sitting beside them, anyone would be afraid. ¡°Big brother, we¡¯re just decent merchants picking up a little slack here. You wouldn¡¯t kill us over this, right?¡± Chen Yu patted their shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you obediently follow my orders from now on, I won¡¯t harm you. In fact, I¡¯ll make sure you make a fortune.¡± Chapter 459 - Chapter 459: A Small Town Beyond the Border Chapter 459: A Small Town Beyond the Border The two of them were somewhat panicked, their bodies trembling involuntarily. The car drove along a remote dirt road for an indeterminate length of time, finally emerging from the jungle. The roads here were really convoluted, and the surrounding magnetic field was so strong that even Chen Yu might not have been able to navigate through it. Entering the small town from the outside required a bit of luck. After driving for about half an hour, the car finally reached a small city. Judging by the local customs and architectural style, it should be in the Central Plains area. No sooner had the three of them arrived when a dozen or so burly men came out to meet them. The previous two men, as if grasping at straws, hurried over. ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s take this kid down!¡± With a loud shout, over a dozen people surrounded them, and someone even picked up a weapon from nearby. Chen Yu appeared unconcerned, his body flickered, and he was soon beside the two men. ¡°You two really have short memories, forgetting the pain once the wound heals. Have you forgotten how I caught you?¡± One of the men swallowed and turning around with a forced smile, looked at Chen Yu. ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s our fault, we got a bit impulsive just now! This place is also our turf, please move inside a bit, we¡¯ll arrange a welcome feast right away.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and walked straight inside. The dozen or so men stood there, eyes full of astonishment. They had no idea how Chen Yu had gotten there, only seeing a streak of light flash by. Inside the modestly bustling inn, Chen Yu sat steadily. The two men from before hastily sat down beside him. ¡°Sir, what exactly did you mean by ¡¯making a fortune¡¯ just now? Can you give us some hints?¡± Chen Yu picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one gulp. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the items you collection from the town are sold through a fixed channel, and the profits you get to keep are minimal!¡± The two men froze, staring at Chen Yu with an indescribable look. Every trade they made was recorded in their personal accounts, things like fixed channels and profits couldn¡¯t be known unless one had seen their ledger. As they puzzled over this, two business cards suddenly appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°I must say you two are quite lucky to have found such a lucrative spot, but in the ordinary world, you¡¯re just small fry, utterly unable to maximize the value.¡± The two men stood up abruptly, each grabbing one of Chen Yu¡¯s arms. ¡°Sir, you understand us so well, please enlighten us.¡± Although they were visibly excited on the surface, inside they were terrified to the extreme. The business cards Chen Yu was holding had always been kept in the innermost pocket of their clothing. If he could so easily produce the business cards, he could just as easily take their lives. At this point, they had no other choice but to obediently follow Chen Yu¡¯s instructions. ¡°There¡¯s a marketplace in the city!¡± Chen Yu put down the business cards, ¡°After we eat, you¡¯ll have to take me there.¡± Zhang Hu and Li Si were utterly bewildered. Chen Yu seemed to have never been to this place before, yet he knew about the existence of the trading market. This place was incredibly secret; ever since its establishment, it had always been underground. Any treasures coming into the small town could only be traded there. After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zhang Hu immediately instructed the boy outside to serve the food. By evening, the three of them arrived at an unfinished building on the east side of the city. On the surface, it looked shabby and broken-down, but if one observed carefully, one would discover a colorful lantern at each entrance. The three individuals came to an entrance where Li Si verified his fingerprint under the colorful lantern. Then a door slowly opened, and the thick scent of fireworks instantly assailed their nostrils. Chen Yu was choked by the smell, coughing violently as he instinctively covered his nose and mouth. Zhang Hu smiled apologetically, ¡°I forgot to tell you that not only is this an underground trading market, it¡¯s also an underground shopping mall! Inside, there are many specialty foods. We¡¯ll take you to try some right away.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply scanned the situation ahead with the system, and then headed straight down. Before long, the trio arrived in front of an antique stall that looked rather old. An old man, well over fifty, sat in front of the stall, engrossed in a book, seemingly unconcerned with the passersby around him. Even when Chen Yu crouched down, the old man maintained the same posture. ¡°Old sir, we have some goods we would like to dispose of here. I wonder what price you can offer.¡± The old man flipped a page in his book, ¡°That depends on what you¡¯ve brought. If it¡¯s through regular channels, sell at the original price. If you can¡¯t even explain the provenance, then I can only buy and sell at one-tenth of the price.¡± Before coming here, Chen Yu had already scanned the brain information of Zhang Hu and Li Si through the system and knew the rules of this place. The previous question was just to confirm. Actually, every time Zhang Hu and Li Si came here to trade, they were always incredibly submissive. They wouldn¡¯t dare tell others about the existence of the town, or their windfall would be cut off. A smile on his face, Chen Yu took out a golden turtle and placed it on the stall. ¡°A Prefecture Governor¡¯s Turtle-Shaped Seal from the early Eastern Han Dynasty! I wonder what it¡¯s worth here?¡± Only then did the old man close his book and examined the golden turtle carefully. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve seen such a rare item! I¡¯ve already told you the rules here, you must clarify the origin of this item.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled slightly upward, ¡°Family heirloom!¡± The old man¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, clearly disbelieving. He extended his hand to hold the golden turtle, scrutinizing it carefully, then set it back down. ¡°The item is indeed nice, but I can only offer you one-tenth of the price unless you can produce a certificate for this object!¡± Chen Yu almost laughed. It was common knowledge that more than ninety percent of antique transactions couldn¡¯t possibly come with certificates unless it was at a formal auction. The old man clearly wanted to take advantage of him. ¡°Old man, do you really think I don¡¯t understand the rules here? You might be able to deceive these two simpletons! I took a quick look just now, there are at least ten buyers like you. If you¡¯re unwilling to buy, I can easily go to another stall.¡± The old man suddenly burst into loud laughter. ¡°Didn¡¯t they tell you? Everyone on this street working a stall is under me. If you deal with them, you¡¯ll get even less money.¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not talking about them, but the woman standing over there at the counter, drinking milk tea!¡± The old man¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, glancing in that direction instinctively, his complexion turning anxious. Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Lord Tiger Chapter 460: Lord Tiger ¡°` While speaking just now, Chen Yu had already scanned all the information in the old man¡¯s mind. The woman on the other side was clad in red, her figure exceptionally graceful and enticing, a unique charm that rendered anyone unable to look away. Although she was full of allure, she was the real boss here, and everyone called her Zhang Hu. The old man¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, for although he managed all the antique stalls here, he also had to abide by the rules of this place. Zhang Hu¡¯s identity was a taboo that no one could touch. No matter how Chen Yu had learned of Zhang Hu¡¯s identity, walking out of his stall and speaking directly to Zhang Hu would confirm his guilt. Chen Yu could naturally detect the old man¡¯s psychological activities and he stood up, ready to find Zhang Hu. ¡°Young brother!¡± The old man panicked, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you the original price for your items, how about that?¡± A hint of mockery appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face, ¡°I think it¡¯s better to talk directly with Zhang Hu. Maybe she¡¯ll take all the items I have, and perhaps offer a nice price.¡± The old man became utterly frantic, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder with a near begging tone. ¡°Young brother, then what price do you want?¡± As the two were struggling, Zhang Hu walked over, drinking milk tea. ¡°Young brother, do you know me?¡± The old man was so scared that he practically lost his soul, hastily retreating to one side. ¡°Zhang Hu, I didn¡¯t say anything, he guessed your identity on his own!¡± Zhang Hu¡¯s face showed an intelligent smile as she slowly moved closer to Chen Yu. ¡°Young brother, the rules here have been set a long time ago, don¡¯t you want to follow them?¡± Chen Yu took a step back and moved a chair from the side to sit down. This woman was not simple at all, seemingly drinking milk tea there, but in reality, she was all ears in every direction. Her ears were extraordinary, capable of hearing sounds ordinary people couldn¡¯t. And just now, people had been constantly passing by her side, likely relaying internal information of the trading market to her. Chen Yu had intentionally raised his voice when speaking earlier, precisely to let the woman hear. ¡°Zhang Hu, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t abide by the rules, but my two brothers have traded here far too many times, and in the long run, that¡¯s a significant loss of money!¡± Zhang Hu tossed the empty milk tea cup into the trash can nearby. ¡°Old Han, if I remember correctly, there¡¯s a rule here that any large transaction exceeding ten times must be reported to me. How come I¡¯ve never heard you mention their trades?¡± Old Han¡¯s body trembled violently, and he knelt on the ground with a thump. ¡°Zhang Hu, I really need the money urgently, and I still have a bunch of brothers to support. Without this money, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Zhang Hu lifted her long leg, placing it on the old man¡¯s shoulder. The ten-centimeter-high heel pierced into his flesh. ¡°What does your urgent need for money have to do with me? The rules here cannot be broken! If word gets out, others might think it was I who broke the rules.¡± Suddenly, two burly men rushed out from a corner and dragged the old man away. Having witnessed this scene, Chen Yu pulled a box over from the side, opened it in front of Zhang Hu. ¡°All the items here are top quality. As long as the price is right, I can continue to deliver them to you without end!¡± Zhang Hu¡¯s body stiffened slightly. ¡°` She was a worldly person, ordinary treasures simply could not catch her eye, but the items that Chen Yu brought over in the case, just the artifacts from the Han Dynasty numbered over a hundred. Among them were not only local governors and country officials¡¯ private items, but even things from the imperial palace. Every item was exquisitely delicate, yet invaluable. Zhang Hu couldn¡¯t help but crouch down and casually pick up a jade hook. ¡°Early Western Han dynasty, a product of the Chu King, this item is already rare to find. If placed outside, it would start at no less than thirty million. Are you sure you want to sell it here?¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°The auction process is too complicated, and I have too many items on hand. If I were to put all of them up for auction, I¡¯m afraid it would take hundreds of years to sell everything.¡± Zhang Hu¡¯s beautiful eyes widened slightly, she of course understood what Chen Yu meant. No matter who it was, if they had too many items, they would not go to an auction house but would look for a private trade market like hers. Every day, tens of thousands of items went out from here. She had to have her own channels to sell so many items at once. Chen Yu was interested in her channels. ¡°You¡¯re a straightforward guy. Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t beat around the bush! I¡¯ll take all the items at sixty percent of the market price, you¡¯ve got to let me make some profit, right?¡± Chen Yu did a rough calculation in his mind. The price Zhang Hu offered was fairly reasonable, after all, they still had to manage the channels, smooth things over up and down, and even go to specialized organizations for authentication. All in all, they were going for thin profit margins but high volume. ¡°Alright,¡± Chen Yu stood up. ¡°There¡¯s a truck outside, its contents are all part of today¡¯s deal. Please have someone unload it, Zhang Hu.¡± Zhang Hu was somewhat surprised; she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to bring so many items. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send people over right now! Just, I wonder if you could join me for a drink?¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°Are you asking me to join you for milk tea?¡± The witty tone also made Zhang Hu laugh. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t eat, then milk tea it is!¡± The two walked into a shop nearby, one after the other. Zhang Hu and Li Si, on the other hand, waited outside, not even daring to breathe heavily. Having traded here so many times, they naturally knew of Zhang Hu¡¯s reputation, but they had never dreamed that Zhang Hu was actually a woman. What surprised them even more was that Chen Yu could find Zhang Hu directly on his first trade here. It seemed Zhang Hu¡¯s men only saw them as Chen Yu¡¯s subordinates, promptly pulling them aside to drink outside. In a room of moderate size, Chen Yu and Zhang Hu sat facing each other, with two cups of specially made milk tea on the table. Chen Yu quickly scanned the tea with his system and found that it contained over twenty types of medicinal herbs, and some of the fruits in it were even ones he had never seen before. Zhang Hu picked up the milk tea and took a sip with great enjoyment. ¡°Have a taste. In your cup, I¡¯ve added a few special ingredients.¡± As she spoke, the corners of Zhang Hu¡¯s eyes seemed somewhat mischievous. Anyone else might suspect that the milk tea was poisoned. Chen Yu just laughed softly, removed the lid, and took a big gulp. ¡°Indeed, not bad, this cup alone seems like it could keep one alert and clear-headed for several days. Zhang Hu, do you maintain such a perfect figure because you drink this?¡± Chapter 461 - Chapter 461 Fang Family of Jiang Province Chapter 461 Fang Family of Jiang Province Tiger Master was flattered and immediately snapped her fingers to summon a nearby server. ¡°Go and fetch our specially made medicinal pills, and give one to Mr. Chen.¡± The server hesitated, giving Tiger Master an uncertain look. ¡°What are you dawdling for, hurry up and go.¡± With a scolding from Tiger Master, the server dashed out the door. Before long, he placed an exquisitely crafted box on the table, with a rich fragrance immediately spreading through the air. Chen Yu took a deep breath and then opened the box. A transparent and shiny little pill lay quietly inside. The system immediately provided an analysis, listing all the medicinal ingredients within the pill. A look of surprise appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. The pill was very mild in nature, and it had many benefits, even capable of treating many chronic diseases. If this were released to the public and patented, who knows how much money it could earn. ¡°Tiger Master, I really shouldn¡¯t accept such a precious thing.¡± Tiger Master covered her mouth and chuckled, ¡°We¡¯re acquainted now, so let¡¯s not keep calling me Tiger Master. My name is Qin Mingxue!¡± Chen Yu adjusted his brows, not expecting that a woman with such a domineering nickname would have such a delicate name. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Miss Qin!¡± As they spoke, a woman in her twenties rushed in, flustered. ¡°Tiger Master, there¡¯s trouble. Those guys have come over again, and this time it seems they¡¯ve brought porcelain!¡± Qin Mingxue¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she stood up abruptly. ¡°These guys are too much, once or twice is fine, but this is endless! Do they really think I¡¯m a soft tomato to squash? Get those freeloaders up for me, we¡¯re going over together.¡± Chen Yu leaned back, his expression unchanging regardless of what was happening ¨C it was an internal affair of others and had nothing to do with him. ¡°I have some matters to attend to here, please wait here a moment.¡± Having said this politely, Qin Mingxue turned and left. Chen Yu sighed quietly, ¡°Fine, I might as well go with Miss Qin. Staying here by myself is too boring.¡± Without saying much more, Qin Mingxue led Chen Yu to a plaza in the trading market. Although underground, the space was vast. The plaza was already filled with people, with private conversations rising and falling, creating a noisy environment. ¡°How come the Fang Family has come again? Didn¡¯t Tiger Master already make concessions last time?¡± ¡°That guy¡¯s influence is much greater than Tiger Master¡¯s; can¡¯t he come whenever he wants without giving advance notice?¡± ¡°After all, Tiger Master is just a weak woman; she can only shrink in these underground spaces, how can she compete with them?¡± ¡°The Fang Family is one of the top families in Jiang Province; an underground force like Tiger Master¡¯s is just a reptile in their eyes.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu also paused when he heard these remarks. It was already not easy for a woman to manage an underground trading market of such scale, and yet these people were still gossiping about her behind her back. Especially Fang Zhanbo, who sat in the middle of the plaza. The guy seemed only in his twenties or thirties, but he had an air of an old snob about him. He was decked in bead necklaces and fiddled with a health ball in his hand. But his sleazy appearance was off-putting. As soon as Qin Mingxue arrived, Fang Zhanbo stood up like a fawning dog. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re finally here, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for such a long time! This time let¡¯s do the bottle dismantling challenge. If your side wins, I won¡¯t come here anymore. But if I win, you have to marry me.¡± As soon as these words were said, everyone at the scene burst into laughter. Fang Zhanbo had been here more than once, and every time it was the same condition. Although in the end Qin Mingxue always won, this guy just wouldn¡¯t accept it, and after a few days, he would shamelessly show up again. Looking at the people he brought this time, you could tell he had come fully prepared. Qin Mingxue, with a face full of helplessness, pulled over a chair and sat down. ¡°Fang Zhanbo, although this place is within Jiang Province¡¯s borders, it¡¯s not under the Fang Family¡¯s domain! If you continue with such an aggressive attitude, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡± Fang Zhanbo let out a large laugh: ¡°That¡¯s great, I was hoping you¡¯d be impolite to me.¡± The brazenness in his words was so apparent that even Chen Yu felt a bit disgusted. Qin Mingxue didn¡¯t say much else and simply picked a vase and placed it in the center. The contest between the two sides was also straightforward, each sending a representative to appraise items. The method of appraisal, however, was quite special; all items were completely wrapped up, allowing only the shape to be used for appraisal. At first glance, the vase in front of them appeared to be a shape of a Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain, but judging by the relief pattern on the wrapping paper, it didn¡¯t seem like Yuan Dynasty blue and white. ¡°Boss Hu, if I¡¯m not wrong, this should be a Yuan Dynasty¡­¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Chen Yu suddenly stood up, interrupting the Appraiser. ¡°I¡¯ll take Boss Hu¡¯s place in today¡¯s contest!¡± The room went silent for a moment, followed by an outburst of laughter. ¡°This young guy looks only to be in his twenties, how can he compare with those appraisers in their sixties or seventies?¡± ¡°Did he learn how to appraise from inside his mother¡¯s womb?¡± ¡°Such an ignorant kid, doesn¡¯t he realize what a contest between Boss Hu and Young Master Fang signifies?¡± ¡­ All eyes had already turned to Chen Yu, and many of them held a hint of pity. It was as if Chen Yu was going to die after this competition. Without waiting for the crowd¡¯s reaction, Chen Yu already walked up to the vase and gently touched the wrapping paper. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be a ¡¯Four Dragons Playing with a Pearl¡¯ vase from the Ming Dynasty¡¯s Jingtai era!¡± Find adventures at Novgo At these words, Fang Zhanbo was instantly stunned. He had brought these vases and had naturally seen them before wrapping. Being able to identify them as Yuan Dynasty blue and white would already qualify someone as a pretty good appraising master under these conditions. But Chen Yu was able to accurately name it and pinpoint the era of its creation. Qin Mingxue was also frozen for a moment; she herself was a decent appraiser and knew how difficult it was to make such a judgment in this situation. She quickly stepped forward and tugged at Chen Yu¡¯s clothes. ¡°Young man, you can¡¯t just say things carelessly!¡± Chen Yu just smiled and directly tore off the vase¡¯s wrapping paper. Indeed it was a ¡¯Four Dragons Playing with a Pearl¡¯ vase, and judging by the color and marks, it was indeed made in the third year of the Jingtai era. Qin Mingxue held her breath, eyes filled with disbelief. Although she had always won the previous competitions, it had never been as easy as today. Fang Zhanbo clapped his hands and slowly stood up. ¡°Young man, you are quite impressive. May I know your esteemed name?¡± Chapter 462 - Chapter 462: Private Consultant Chapter 462: Private Consultant Chen Yu didn¡¯t like this guy, his face instantly showing more disgust. ¡°I am Chen Yu, the personal advisor to Master Hu!¡± As soon as these words came out, they caused a great uproar on the scene. Everyone was discussing, when did Master Hu get a personal advisor? Qin Mingxue felt an inexplicable sense of relief in her heart. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Chen is the advisor I¡¯ve just hired, and he is fully in charge of this competition.¡± The scene immediately became chaotic, as many of those present had been following Qin Mingxue closely and had never seen Chen Yu. Fang Zhanbo twirled the health balls in his hand and then leaned back in his seat. ¡°No matter who you bring in as an advisor today, it¡¯s useless! The people I have here are professional experts invited by the Imperial Capital Antique Association.¡± Chen Yu sized up the few elderly men behind Fang Zhanbo. Their demeanor was completely different from the thuggish fellows nearby, and their clothing also had the distinctive air of masters. No wonder this guy was so confident, it turns out he had these veterans backing him. Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak, but moved a chair over and sat down next to Qin Mingxue. During his earlier observation of the surroundings, he noticed that Fang Zhanbo had many experts around him. Although it was normal to bring a few bodyguards to such an event, the bloodthirst coming off these men put Chen Yu on high alert. Who knew what kind of outrageous things this guy might do. Fang Zhanbo waved to someone beside him, and then six vases were placed on the table. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you have taken on this competition, I will have to up the ante! If you guess wrong even once about the six vases, you lose.¡± Qin Mingxue immediately stood up, ¡°Fang, don¡¯t be excessive. Even with the vases covered like this, it¡¯s not certain that top experts could identify them, you are clearly trying to make things difficult for us.¡± Chen Yu, however, was completely unconcerned, reassuring Qin Mingxue briefly before moving forward. ¡°These six vases from left to right are, respectively, a Jun ware teapot from the Southern Song Emperor Gaozong period, a Tang Dynasty Tianbao fourth year colored pottery horse, a Ming Dynasty Xuande third year Linzhu porcelain, a Wanli twelfth year cloisonn¨¦, a Northern Song Renzong period Huizhou ink porcelain, and a Qing Dynasty Yongzheng period Xiajiang bowl!¡± The crowd gaped, having never seen such quick appraisal. Find adventures on Novgo.com Even without the outer wrapping, it would take at least half an hour to identify them, and Chen Yu had even named their eras. Fang Zhanbo sucked in a breath of cold air; he had personally wrapped these porcelains and naturally knew what was inside. But laid out so casually, he had forgotten the exact order himself. ¡°Hurry up and open them to see!¡± He called out hastily, and two bodyguards stepped forward to tear off all the wrapping from the ceramics. The atmosphere at the scene changed again as everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the six pieces of porcelain. To their amazement, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t gotten a single one incorrect! Qin Mingxue was stunned too. It was the first time she had seen someone like Chen Yu. She steadied her emotions and walked to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Fang Zhanbo, it seems I have won today¡¯s competition as well! I hope you will abide by our previous agreement and not come here anymore.¡± But Fang Zhanbo didn¡¯t care about any of that and walked straight up to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, my Fang Family is currently in need of talents. If you don¡¯t mind, you could join our household, with an annual salary of at least five million.¡± An appraiser of Chen Yu¡¯s caliber would be highly sought after by countless families. If he were to join the Fang Family, it would surely bring with it immense wealth. Chen Yu glanced sideways, ¡°I already said it before, I am Tiger¡¯s personal adviser. Why on earth would I go with you without any reason?¡± Qin Mingxue¡¯s face immediately brightened with joy. She hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to say something like that. The five million offered by the Fang Family wasn¡¯t just a superficial amount; it included all sorts of benefits. Had it been anyone else, they would have agreed by now. Fang Zhanbo felt somewhat enraged and humiliated. He glared at Chen Yu and then at Qin Mingxue beside him. ¡°It seems you prefer punishment over a toast!¡± ¡°Master Hu!¡± He shouted loudly, and a burly man with a huge frame stepped out from the crowd, wielding a massive sledgehammer. Chen Yu was shocked too, as this was the first time he had seen someone so monstrously muscular. Master Hu didn¡¯t care for anything else and lifted the sledgehammer before smashing it down furiously. Chen Yu quickly raised his hand and, in full view of everyone, caught the hammer with his bare hands before squeezing it fiercely, crushing the pure steel sledgehammer flat. The crowd was dumbstruck, unable to believe that Chen Yu could be so powerful. Before people could react, Chen Yu¡¯s hand had already struck Master Hu¡¯s chest. A dull sound echoed, and Master Hu¡¯s towering figure was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground and smashing several stone railings into powder. Fang Zhanbo immediately froze, not daring to even breathe. Chen Yu brushed off his palms and slowly walked up to Fang Zhanbo. ¡°Who would have thought that Young Master Fang had such a formidable person under his command? Unfortunately, he was too frail; I only gave him one palm strike, and he ended up like this! I hope Young Master Fang won¡¯t blame me?¡± Fang Zhanbo swallowed his saliva and lost all of his previous arrogance. He chuckled dryly a couple of times, not daring to linger any longer, and hurriedly left with one of his followers. As he was leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to take the porcelain vase he had brought for the competition. Chen Yu sighed, ¡°How could that guy be like this? Claiming to like Tiger, yet he didn¡¯t even think to leave those porcelain vases as gifts.¡± The people at the scene laughed briefly before dispersing. They didn¡¯t dare stay there any longer. The power Qin Mingxue held in that place was enough to make them obedient, and now with Chen Yu there as well, they were even more fearful. When everyone had gone, Qin Mingxue quickly pulled Chen Yu back to the shop they had been in before. ¡°Mr. Chen, wasn¡¯t that a bit too showy? Causing such a huge commotion on your first day here at my place!¡± Chen Yu had a full head of black lines, ¡°It seems like I was helping Miss Qin, wasn¡¯t I?¡± Qin Mingxue also felt somewhat embarrassed. She looked around and then leaned in close to Chen Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°Here, many people are spies sent by Fang Zhanbo. If you want to stay here longer, you can¡¯t just wander around! Those people are ruthless and may attack you in the shadows.¡± Chen Yu seemed nonchalant. ¡°I came here only to deal with Miss Qin. I don¡¯t care about the rest. This time, I helped purely because I couldn¡¯t stand that Mr. Fang¡¯s attitude! Besides, I don¡¯t even consider the Fang Family of Jiang Province worth noticing.¡± Chapter 463 - Chapter 463: The Grand Triad Convention Chapter 463: The Grand Triad Convention Qin Mingxue¡¯s expression subtly changed. In the local area, the Fang Family could be described as covering the sky with one hand, and even she didn¡¯t dare to offend them. Otherwise, for someone as insatiable as Fang Zhanbo, she would have taken action a long time ago. Yet, with Chen Yu here, the Fang Family seemed like an insignificant existence. Suddenly, Qin Mingxue became curious about Chen Yu, ¡°By the way, Mr. Chen, I still don¡¯t know where exactly you come from?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer. He stretched his limbs and stood up. ¡°I haven¡¯t had much rest during this period. I¡¯d like to rest for a few days within your territory, could you help arrange that?¡± Without saying much, Qin Mingxue immediately ordered her people to prepare. Before long, Chen Yu was brought to a fairly decent hotel. Experience tales with Novgo He didn¡¯t care about the details, and went straight to bed for a deep sleep, leaving the matters of the trade to Zhang Hu and Li Qiang. The scale of the underground trade market was incredibly large, and in some ways, it was like a small city. All facilities were available here, and even if it were isolated from the outside world, it could operate normally for a year. But compared to Dongming Gorge, this place wasn¡¯t anything special at all. Qin Mingxue sat in the living room, swinging her milk tea in her hand, her complexion somewhat gloomy. On the table in front of her lay an invitation, on which was written a Triple Alliance Meeting! This kind of meeting was the highest-level conference among local powers in Jiang Province. It was generally used to mitigate the contradictions between various forces. However, someone of Qin Mingxue¡¯s level wouldn¡¯t normally qualify to attend such a meeting. The sudden invitation made their hidden agenda quite obvious. ¡°What exactly does the Fang Family want to do? Do they really think they can do something to me?¡± Everyone in the inn was shivering with fear, and nobody dared to utter a word. Just then, a man rushed in quickly. ¡°Lord Hu, your car has arrived. The people there said, please be sure to bring Mr. Chen with you.¡± Qin Mingxue¡¯s breathing became rapid; Chen Yu¡¯s identity as her personal advisor had been put out there, and everyone outside knew about it. If she sent Chen Yu out because of the Fang Family, how could she continue to operate here? ¡°Tell them to get lost! Tell Fang Zhanbo not to try to intimidate me with the Triple Alliance Meeting. I¡¯m not buying it!¡± The people present froze, not knowing what to do. They couldn¡¯t afford to provoke the Fang Family, nor did they dare to irritate Qin Mingxue. At that moment, Chen Yu wandered into the shop, still groggy from sleep. ¡°Just woke up and I heard all this noise in your place, what¡¯s happened?¡± Qin Mingxue sat down, somewhat helplessly. ¡°Fang Zhanbo is coercing us with the Triple Alliance Meeting, he wants both of us to go there.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°Then let¡¯s go! I also want to see what kind of people Jiang Province has.¡± Qin Mingxue didn¡¯t know what to say; she knew all too well that Fang Zhanbo¡¯s intentions certainly weren¡¯t limited to this. Chen Yu asked a shop clerk for a towel, quickly wiped his face, and left with Qin Mingxue. Zhang Hu and Li Qiang had completed the transaction, but they didn¡¯t leave, choosing instead to obediently wait in the square. According to Chen Yu¡¯s request, they had converted 60 percent of their profits entirely into materials, and once they left here, they would immediately transport them to the small town. Excitement filled the faces of the two men. Although only 30 percent of the profits remained in their hands, it was still double what they had made on previous trips to do business here. Seeing Chen Yu approaching, the two men eagerly went up to greet him. ¡°Mr. Chen, the money and goods are all settled. When do we depart?¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°I won¡¯t be going with you! Just come back here to pick me up after you¡¯ve delivered the materials.¡± The two men¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. Chen Yu¡¯s words meant they could continue to collect vintage items in the town. After expressing their thanks several times, the two hurriedly left the underground trading market. Chen Yu and Qin Mingxue exited through another door, where a dozen or so business cars were neatly lined up waiting for them. ¡°This must be Mr. Chen!¡± A rather sleazy-looking man walked up with great excitement. Without a word, Chen Yu nodded and directly boarded the nearest car. Qin Mingxue hurriedly followed suit. Apart from her keen hearing, she didn¡¯t have any particular talents. Once away from the underground trading market, she was just an ordinary woman. With someone like Chen Yu by her side, she could feel a bit more secure. The car drove for an unknown amount of time and finally stopped in front of a church. From the outside, this place appeared to be a holy religious site, with a vast and majestic church and countless believers inside. An elderly priest stood on an elevated platform, preaching from the Bible. When Chen Yu first saw this scene, he thought it was a proper church. However, after activating the system scan, he realized this place was more than meets the eye. There was a tunnel under the platform behind the church, where dozens of bosses had already gathered underground. Each one wore a badge on their chest, which seemed to be a unique emblem of Jiang Province. Two people dressed as nuns led them through the church and directly to the back, down into the tunnel. Upon entering, Chen Yu immediately grabbed a chair and sat down in the principal seat. The roomful of people instantly widened their eyes in shock¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so brazen. An old man slapped the table outright. ¡°You really have the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard, kid. Do you know where you are? How dare you be so arrogant!¡± Chen Yu picked up a glass of red wine from the table and downed it in one gulp. ¡°Seems like you invited me here, didn¡¯t you? So, can¡¯t I take the principal seat?¡± These words infuriated the old man, who became so livid and breathless that one of his bodyguards immediately drew a long knife and charged at Chen Yu. As the guy got close, a blue-white light suddenly flickered, and his large body collapsed to the ground. The place immediately fell silent, no one able to grasp what just happened. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about their reactions. He lifted his finger and gently tapped on the table. ¡°I have no interest in your crap meeting. I agreed to come here only to offer personal protection to Ms. Qin! But now I¡¯ve changed my mind. Everyone here must pay me five billion as compensation, or you all die.¡± This sudden extortion startled everyone present. These were influential figures in Jiang Province, and although they conducted shady dealings in private, they were always the ones doing the extorting. Now, a young man in his twenties or thirties sat brazenly in front of them, demanding each hand over five billion, a bold challenge to their authority. The elderly man immediately picked up his cane and shakily approached Chen Yu. Chapter 464 - Chapter 464 Hearing Impaired People Chapter 464 Hearing Impaired People ¡°Mr. Huang, please don¡¯t act rashly!¡± The people nearby hurriedly stopped the old man. Huang Wenyue was a venerable figure in Jiangsu Province, and if anything were to happen to him, no one present could bear the responsibility. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that at all. He directly took out a sheet of A4 paper from next to him, put it on the table, and wrote down some terms for everyone to see. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t be arrogant in front of me. The whole Jiangsu City means nothing to me, and since I¡¯m here today, the rules here need to change!¡± The combination of his disdainful attitude and the terms on the table infuriated everyone present to the extreme. But they were unsure of Chen Yu¡¯s true identity and didn¡¯t dare say much. A few people had already started discussing privately and were even searching for information on Chen Yu. However, the signal at the scene had been blocked by Chen Yu¡¯s system; they couldn¡¯t find out anything. Chen Yu slowly stood up, ¡°I will be waiting for your news in Jiangxi for the next few days. If the final answer you give me is not satisfactory, there will be only one outcome for everyone here.¡± After dropping such a statement, he took Qin Mingxue directly out of the conference room, without giving a second thought to the group of elders. Once the two of them had left the building, they went their way. They didn¡¯t stop until they reached a small alley, where Qin Mingxue breathed heavily. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone dare to talk to those elders like that!¡± Admiration filled Qin Mingxue¡¯s eyes. She had never dreamed that Chen Yu could be so daring. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything, just waved his hand, and walked over to a nearby snack street. Although this place was hidden between several buildings, the aroma drifting from it was incredibly tempting, even to someone like Chen Yu. He walked a few steps down the street and sat down at a wonton stall. He had been busy with various trivial matters recently and hadn¡¯t eaten properly. The street food here reminded him of the days when he had a shop in Suzhou City. Qin Mingxue followed him and sat down as well. Even though she ran a vast underground market, she was extremely interested in the existence of such snack streets. Each ordered a bowl of wontons and some appetizers. After a few bites, a middle-aged woman of mixed build came over and flipped the wonton stall. ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, this is my territory. If you don¡¯t pay the placement fee, don¡¯t even think about setting up here,¡± she said authoritatively, but no one nearby dared to step forward. When they saw the woman, they trembled as if they had seen a tiger, and two even hid inside the shop, too scared to come out. The wonton stall was run by a couple who seemed to have been married not long ago, and they communicated entirely through sign language. When Chen Yu went over to order, they simply showed him a menu to make his selections and then pointed to them. The couple couldn¡¯t understand what the woman was saying, simply nodding repeatedly and making apologetic signs with their hands. Qin Mingxue was immediately angered; she hadn¡¯t expected such bullying to exist in this place. But just as she was about to take action, Chen Yu stopped her. ¡°You can help them once, but not for a lifetime. This whole street is probably that woman¡¯s property, and this couple will still want to set up their stall here in the future.¡± Qin Mingxue ran an underground market herself and, of course, understood such principles, but she would not treat her people with such crassness. If anyone failed to pay rent or encountered any difficulties, she would offer help. Only if someone broke the rules would she ruthlessly take action. ¡°So we just let them get bullied here?¡± The corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth slightly curled up, ¡°If you feel sorry for them, you can bring them to the underground market, and I see that this street has a lot of nice street food, you could take them all with you.¡± Qin Mingxue immediately became interested, her underground market already had a specialty food street, which included chefs from all over the world, but it lacked the kind of street food with local flair. If she could move the street food from here to there, then her food street might see an even better turnout. ¡°Good idea, in a couple of days I¡¯ll have someone come over, pick a few with good flavors, and take them all away.¡± Just as they were speaking, the fat woman from before somehow procured a pair of tongs and brutally struck the couple with them. Chen Yu swiftly dodged and rushed over, grabbed the tongs, and with a hard pull, he threw the fat woman to the ground. ¡°That¡¯s enough, don¡¯t you know that the hearing-impaired community is protected by law?¡± The fat woman didn¡¯t care, she struggled to get up from the ground and pointed at Chen Yu, cursing loudly. ¡°F*cking hell, where did this brat come from? Do you know where this is? Daring to meddle in my business, seems like you¡¯re tired of living.¡± As she spoke, she picked up a rock from the side and smashed it down at Chen Yu¡¯s head. To her astonishment, the rock shattered into pieces, yet Chen Yu was unharmed. The fat woman panicked, as she had never seen such a scene before. How could a person¡¯s head be harder than a rock? Chen Yu had no desire to deal with her any further, turned around, approached the couple, and began to sign with his hands. The couple was stunned for a moment, but then they started to communicate with Chen Yu through sign language. The surrounding merchants also crowded around, gesturing and making signs in front of Chen Yu. Only then did he realize that more than ninety percent of the people on this street were part of the hearing-impaired community. After communicating with them, Chen Yu suddenly felt a rising anger within him, and then he activated his system to scan the brain information of everyone present. The fat woman¡¯s name was Ma Xiulan, and the property rights of this street were indeed hers, but the location was so remote that it was usually deserted. She had opened a food street, but there were very few patrons. Therefore, she came up with a method, specifically recruiting some hearing-impaired individuals, under the guise of providing them with livelihoods, allowing them to have food to eat. According to the normal process, these people should sign a lease agreement with Ma Xiulan, then complete all the necessary documents, and start their business. But instead, Ma Xiulan had signed employment agreements with them, and everything on the street was acquired from the second-hand market, which she also owned. By doing this, she could apply for two types of documents: one to provide job positions for the hearing-impaired, and another to fund entrepreneurial ventures for the hearing-impaired. And the subsidies provided by the relevant departments for these two aspects were very substantial. As long as these people were here, regardless of whether they made money or not, Ma Xiulan could claim a subsidy per person from the relevant departments. Chapter 465 - Chapter 465: Collecting the Store Chapter 465: Collecting the Store After understanding the whole context of the incident, Chen Yu turned and walked over to Ma Xiulan. ¡°Ms. Ma, I greatly admire your intellect, but I must say you are truly ruthless, calling over so many hearing-impaired people to be your cash cows.¡± Ma Xiulan¡¯s eyes widened, and she instinctively took several steps back. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about. Scram, and don¡¯t block the business on my street!¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, casually grabbed a handful of dice from the side, and placed them on the table. He then picked up two boxes. ¡°I heard you¡¯re very good at this, so let¡¯s compete in what you do best! We¡¯ll use the property deeds of the shops on this street as stakes!¡± Ma Xiulan got excited; she directly took one box and sat down. ¡°My shops are worth a lot. What will you use as stakes?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a strange arc as he directly took out a promissory note from his body and slapped it on the table. ¡°Here are my stakes. Before you lose all your shops to me, if you win against me just once, this promissory note is yours, and I won¡¯t want a single shop of yours.¡± Such a huge temptation was irresistible to anyone. ¡°Fine, it¡¯s a deal! But don¡¯t you back out later,¡± she agreed. Chen Yu also picked up a box and sat down opposite Ma Xiulan. They divided the dice equally, agreed on the rules, and then started shaking their boxes. When they stopped, Chen Yu pushed his box forward. ¡°Six fives!¡± Ma Xiulan immediately burst into wild laughter. They each had six dice, and she had only one five on her side, meaning Chen Yu would need at least five fives to win. The odds of that were very small! ¡°I¡¯ll open yours!¡± Ma Xiulan shouted excitedly. Chen Yu chuckled lightly, and casually opened the box. Inside, there were precisely five fives! Ma Xiulan¡¯s eyes widened; she had not expected to lose the first round so thoroughly. ¡°Again!¡± Just as she was about to shake the box, Chen Yu suddenly stopped her. ¡°I guessed the exact number correct. According to the rules, those three shops are now mine. Please write up a contract immediately,¡± he insisted. Ma Xiulan was somewhat reluctant: ¡°What if I win the next round? There¡¯s no need for this formality!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes instantly flashed with a murderous intent. He took a piece of paper from the side, wrote down the transfer contract, and then pressed his thumbprint on it. Before Ma Xiulan could react, Chen Yu pulled her finger to press it down as well. The two of them had reached an agreement; if they stopped now, those three shops would belong to Chen Yu. Ma Xiulan was filled with resentment but was helpless. She had just felt as if her body wasn¡¯t under her control, and then the contract was signed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. He directly put away the contract and then took the box in front of him, shaking it quickly. Ma Xiulan, containing her fury, naturally didn¡¯t want to fall behind. After they stopped, Chen Yu immediately declared, ¡°Eight threes!¡± Ma Xiulan looked at her own box, which had only two threes inside. That meant if Chen Yu guessed correctly this time, all six of the dice in his box would have to be threes. Ma Xiulan bit her lip, hesitated for a long while, then suddenly, a crazy glint in her eyes, she stared at Chen Yu. ¡°I¡¯ll open yours!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curved into a strange arc as he directly opened his own box. Ma Xiulan was instantly dumbstruck. Inside Chen Yu¡¯s box, all the dice showed threes! ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve won again! Why do I feel like you¡¯re letting me win on purpose? How about we up the ante a bit?¡± As Chen Yu spoke, he drew up an agreement and placed it on the table, then forced Ma Xiulan to press her handprint using the same method as before. Ma Xiulan panicked. There were twenty-seven shops on the street, and six were already lost. At this rate, all the shops would be gone. ¡°Let¡¯s change the game!¡± Ma Xiulan suddenly stood up, taking out two decks of playing cards from beside her. ¡°This dice game is too childish. How about we play cards instead, each of us draws one to compare sizes? What do you say?¡± Chen Yu found it amusing. Playing cards in this way seemed even more childish. ¡°Playing round by round like this is just too much hassle. How about this? We decide it in one round, and I¡¯ll add one more promissory note.¡± Greed shone in Ma Xiulan¡¯s eyes to the extreme; she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so generous. Without thinking, she agreed, then placed the deck of cards in the middle of the table. Chen Yu was no less decisive, writing an agreement and placing it on the table. After signing and stamping, they immediately began. After the first two contests, Ma Xiulan was already flustered. She carefully held the cards, fumbling for a long time before drawing one out. Chen Yu, not having the same psychological pressure as her, casually drew a card and laid it on the table. Ma Xiulan froze like a statue, petrified in place. Her card was a mere three, while Chen Yu had drawn a seven. Chen Yu scoffed contemptuously, then directly picked up the transfer contracts, planning to go collect the properties. But Ma Xiulan, furious and embarrassed, grabbed a nearby fire poker and was about to ruthlessly attack. Chen Yu turned and lightly pushed her, sending Ma Xiulan tumbling to the ground, then delivered the contracts to Qin Mingxue. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, your underground market should have someone specifically responsible for debt collection, right? The rest is up to you.¡± Qin Mingxue nodded emphatically, more familiar with this than anyone else. Chen Yu then informed the nearby vendors of the situation, asking them to tidy up and wait for someone to come and take over. Qin Mingxue also made a phone call to her factory, sending two teams out; one to handle Ma Xiulan and the other to bring all the vendors back. The two then ate a bowl of wontons before leaving on their own. But as they left the alley, a large group of people in suits suddenly approached from a distance. Although they looked decent, a deadly aura emanated from them, a clear sign that they were from the underworld. Chen Yu frowned, the system immediately deployed, quickly capturing the brain information of these men; they were from the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce. ¡°Looks like we won¡¯t be able to leave today. The Jiang family¡¯s lot can¡¯t win against us at the negotiation table, so they resort to these despicable tactics behind our backs.¡± Qin Mingxue immediately tensed up. If this were the underground market, she would fear nothing, but outside, with no support, if these people really went for the kill, there was nothing she could do. But Chen Yu appeared relaxed. He just walked a few steps forward, then crouched down, his hand pressing on the ground, and a light instantly spread out. Chapter 466 - Chapter 466 Gymnast Chapter 466 Gymnast The group of people who just now were so aggressive had, like frost-stricken eggplants, fallen to the ground one after another. Qin Mingxue stood there in a daze, as she had never witnessed such a miraculous scene before. Before she could even react, Chen Yu directly grabbed her and slowly left the scene via the pedestrian walkway. ¡°Damn it, what the hell did you do? How come my guys are all lying on the ground?¡± Fang Zhanbo came running over in a hurry with a few others and blocked Chen Yu¡¯s path. This guy was holding a long knife and had the look of a man prepared to fight to the death. Chen Yu¡¯s face was filled with mockery; Fang Zhanbo holding that long knife was indeed hilarious. ¡°You saw it just now, I didn¡¯t touch your men, they fell over on their own. Don¡¯t try to frame me.¡± Fang Zhanbo didn¡¯t care about that, he raised his long knife and chopped down towards him. But the knife, upon contacting Chen Yu, inexplicably broke into several pieces. Fang Zhanbo was also sent flying at that moment, smashing hard against a streetlight. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste time here and directly took Qin Mingxue to a nearby hotel. After they booked separate rooms, Chen Yu went alone to the rooftop. But when he got there, he saw a young man in his twenties, utilizing the rooftop¡¯s rudimentary equipment to perform gymnastics exercises. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; anyone training here in the middle of the night was either sick or truly determined. He walked forward a few steps to the young man¡¯s side. ¡°There¡¯s a problem with those movements, if you continue like this, it will cause irreversible damage to your waist.¡± The young man immediately jumped down, clapped his hands, and approached Chen Yu. ¡°Are you a gymnastics coach?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯m more of a doctor.¡± The young man uttered an ¡°oh¡± and then continued his routine on the makeshift horizontal bar. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and jumped onto an adjacent frame. Before the young man could react, he had already spun around it twenty times, including several transitions to more difficult moves. The spectacle left the young man dumbfounded; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so capable. Even if not a fitness coach, he had reached the level of a second-tier athlete. ¡°Mister, who exactly are you?¡± The young man¡¯s demeanor immediately turned respectful, and he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over. Chen Yu took the business card and glanced at it, then started to scan this person¡¯s identity information through the system. To his surprise, he found out that this young man was actually a professional gymnast and had even won a silver medal in the Jiang City athletic competition. However, during a previous competition, he had been sabotaged and injured, and from then on, he was unable to compete again. Chen Yu was somewhat taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected this young man to be so inspiring. Already seriously injured, he was still training alone here. ¡°` He went forward and grabbed the young man¡¯s arm, gently stroking it. After examining it, he discovered that the injury on the young man¡¯s arm was an irreversible necrotic wound; even he could not treat it. He adjusted his breathing slightly and then began to check other parts of the young man¡¯s body, only to find that it had been thoroughly corroded by drugs. Now, the young man could only perform some simple gymnastics movements. Anything slightly difficult was impossible for him to execute. Chen Yu immediately felt pity. With the young man¡¯s physical condition, normal training would surely make him an excellent gymnast. It¡¯s just a pity that he had offended someone he shouldn¡¯t have, and that¡¯s why he ended up in this condition. ¡°Li Qingfeng! I know you¡¯re a very famous gymnast, but I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t do these movements anymore, so I suggest you¡­¡± ¡°I know!¡± Li Qingfeng took a deep breath, ¡°I really hate those people. Why do they have to treat me like this? I just wanted to win a medal. Don¡¯t I even deserve that much?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t know what to say, but at that moment, he suddenly noticed three words on Li Qingfeng¡¯s business card. That is to say, the competition Li Qingfeng was participating in was organized by those so-called big shots from Jiang City. Chen Yu¡¯s heart immediately surged with nameless anger; he had not expected these guys to be so lawless, not even sparing a passionate young gymnast. ¡°I might not be able to help you recover your body, but I can take your place in the competition.¡± Li Qingfeng was stunned. He had just witnessed Chen Yu¡¯s skill, and with such gymnastic prowess, scoring a place in the competition would be a piece of cake. Moreover, according to Jiang City¡¯s competition rules, if a participant cannot take part in the competition due to force majeure, someone else may take their place. The only strict condition is that the substitute cannot be a professional gymnast. Conveniently, Chen Yu just happened to meet this rule. ¡°But I¡¯ve only just met you, and in Jiang City, crossing those people means only one thing¡ªdeath. You¡¯ve seen what became of me.¡± Chen Yu laughed, ¡°Heh, it seems this young man knows exactly what kind of people he¡¯s offended.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I just happen to have a few debts to settle with them. If you don¡¯t mind, transfer your entry qualification to me.¡± Li Qingfeng hesitated. How much he wanted to stand on that stage and win just once, with honor. But now, he indeed had no such opportunity. If Chen Yu took his place in the competition and won a medal, both of them would have a share, able to stand together on the podium. ¡°Okay, I agree! But after the competition ends, no matter the result, you must leave Jiang City as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they won¡¯t let you off.¡± Chen Yu just laughed twice and then took Li Qingfeng down from the rooftop, back to his room. Tomorrow would be Jiang City¡¯s gymnastics competition, and he was now one of the athletes; hence, the organizers had arranged a room for him. Only, his room was in a cluttered compartment on the very top floor. Such living conditions were simply not conducive to a good rest, and with his broken body, how could he possibly participate in the competition? Chen Yu gave his bed to Li Qingfeng and slept on the sofa outside himself. Possibly due to sheer exhaustion, Chen Yu fell asleep as soon as he touched the sofa. Li Qingfeng, feeling embarrassed, continued to lie in bed. The next day, as dawn barely broke, hurried knocking sounds came from the door. ¡°Li Qingfeng, don¡¯t think you can hide here and we won¡¯t be able to find you! It¡¯s almost time to leave. If you don¡¯t move quickly, we¡¯ll contact the organizers and cancel your entry qualification.¡± ¡°` Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Perfect Action Chapter 467: Perfect Action Chen Yu was abruptly awakened by some inexplicable noise, immediately feeling a surge of anger. The system had already scanned the information of all the people outside. These guys turned out to be people from the gymnastics competition organizing committee. Logically speaking, Li Qingfeng was the candidate sent by the organizers, and as long as he could achieve a ranking in the competition, the organizers would also gain a certain amount of honor. However, these people were actually monitoring Li Qingfeng in real time and had come early in the morning to knock on the door regardless of anything else, which was enough to prove their attitude. Chen Yu angrily opened the door only to see several people standing at the doorway with a menacing presence, holding tools for catching dogs. It seemed they intended to forcibly drag Li Qingfeng to the competition venue. To them, whether Li Qingfeng participated in the competition or not, as long as he could get to the venue, their mission would be considered complete. Afterward, how the media would write and how public opinion would change was beyond their care. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Qingfeng?¡± The leader shouted, raising his tool to push Chen Yu aside. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Li Qingfeng ran out of the room and handed a substitute competitor certification to the men. The few men were momentarily stunned, they hadn¡¯t expected Li Qingfeng to come up with such a method. Chen Yu immediately became a thorn in their side. According to the organizer¡¯s wishes, Li Qingfeng had to die, and if someone elected to compete in his stead, their fate would be the same. ¡°Qingfeng, you really are tough. But, you¡¯ve caused someone¡¯s death out of the blue! Enough talk, pack up and come with us quickly, the competition is about to start.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, put on a jacket, and went downstairs with Li Qingfeng. As they were leaving through the main entrance, they encountered Qin Mingxue carrying breakfast. ¡°Mr. Chen, where are you heading?¡± Chen Yu directly stuffed a competition card into Qin Mingxue¡¯s hand. ¡°There¡¯s a gymnastics competition happening here in two hours. If you¡¯re interested, come and watch, I¡¯ll be competing!¡± Qin Mingxue was somewhat surprised, she hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to participate in a gymnastics competition. ¡°Of course I¡¯m interested, I¡¯ll go with you guys.¡± The location of the competition wasn¡¯t far from here, just half an hour away. Read latest stories on Novgo.com The site was already swarming with people, the spectator stands packed full, but a closer look would reveal that a large part of them were shills brought by the organizers. They would hold flags prepared by the organizers and sit in a fixed place. As soon as a specific individual appeared, they would wave their flags and shout. Chen Yu didn¡¯t worry about all that; after completing all the formalities with Li Qingfeng, he went straight to the competition floor to wait for the start. But the organizers had temporarily changed the competition rules, and Chen Yu¡¯s turn was scheduled for last. Any seasoned competitor would know that patience is key in gymnastics. If the turn is at the very end, it can greatly affect the psychological state of the athlete. Especially in such a large competition, with at least a hundred participants and only one venue planned. By the time it was Chen Yu¡¯s turn, it was already the afternoon. But he didn¡¯t care about these things at all, he simply found a few mats, put them together, and fell asleep without a second thought. The athletes nearby were all stunned. No matter what, these people would obediently line up and wait their turn, occasionally moving around to maintain muscle vitality. Chen Yu, however, simply lay down there as soon as he arrived, adopting such a defeatist attitude that truly disheartened others. The organizers were convinced that Chen Yu must have felt he couldn¡¯t win, which is why he displayed such a posture. Liu Qingfeng also sat anxiously on the competition stage, unsure what to do. Qin Mingxue, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care much, directly renting a VIP stand from the staff and sprawling on the couch. If Chen Yu was sleeping now, then there must be a reason for it. Moreover, Qin Mingxue had come here just to watch Chen Yu¡¯s competition, not caring about anyone else. The competition that day was incredibly fierce, with almost everyone giving their all. Only a few guys seemed to have taken a shortcut, merely walking through the motions on the field before leaving. By evening, the final contestants received a notification and got up one after another to the entrance of the competition. And like clockwork, Chen Yu suddenly sprang to his feet. After the previous contestants had finished, he jumped up on the spot. No one expected him to jump so far. He immediately grabbed the horizontal bar and began performing extremely complex, highly difficult moves. When he finished his entire routine, everyone in the audience stood up. Whether they were shills hired by the organizers or spectators who had paid their own way, they were astounded. Chen Yu¡¯s movements, from start to finish, were exceptionally smooth, and some even surpassed human limits. If he were to participate in the world-class Olympics, he would definitely achieve a higher ranking. Even the judges in the stands looked at Chen Yu in disbelief. A good number of them had been bribed by the organizers, so they could only vote for the designated competitors, but still, a portion gave Chen Yu high scores. When the competition ended, all the athletes stood on the field, calmly waiting for the results. But unexpectedly, there was turmoil among the judges in the stands. They seemed to be discussing something. Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into a strange arc. His system had copied all the behaviors and brain information of the judges. It seemed the Fang Family was troubled because Chen Yu¡¯s performance was too perfect, and they were trying to coordinate the scoring. Many judges had given high scores, and these scores combined would make the winner. But if that were the case, where would that leave the organizer¡¯s face? Just as they were discussing, the organizers panicked. A rather stern-looking middle-aged man ran up to the judges¡¯ stand and took their scoreboards. ¡°What on earth is going on here? Weren¡¯t all the names planned in advance? What are you hesitating for?¡± The judges immediately showed distress. Although they had already agreed earlier, the audience was not blind, and a significant portion of the reporters on site were not under their control. If they could find even the slightest flaw in Chen Yu¡¯s performance, they would be able to work with that, but with such a flawless and difficult routine, how could they give a low score? The judges immediately turned off the reluctant microphone and began to explain. They all spoke over each other, unable to clarify, some of them not even knowing what they were saying. Chen Yu¡¯s lips twisted into a wicked smile as he flicked his finger and turned their silenced microphones back on. Chapter 468 - Chapter 468 Retirement Qualification Chapter 468 Retirement Qualification The sounds of discussion among these people immediately spread throughout the entire competition venue. Audiences, reporters, and even the contestants themselves were dumbfounded. They all knew that there was some degree of foul play in the competition, but they hadn¡¯t expected it to be this serious. The scene suddenly turned chaotic, with many reporters charging straight toward the stands, demanding an explanation from the judges. The spectators also started to riot. They had paid to watch the competition and were naturally angry now that they had learned so much about the inside story. Could it be that they had spent all that money just to watch a rigged game? The judges finally realized what was happening and scrambled to turn off the loudspeakers. But it was too late, the furious spectators had already surged forward, causing mayhem. Chen Yu let out a cold laugh as he promptly left the scene. Qin Mingxue, however, sat there with interest, using a telescope to watch the scene on the field through the window. She was enjoying the view when suddenly, Chen Yu entered the room. ¡°What are you still watching? Let¡¯s get going. It won¡¯t be long before those guys come to block our way.¡± It was only then that Qin Mingxue realized the situation and quickly grabbed her telescope and ran out with Chen Yu. Unexpectedly, they had barely reached the entrance of the stadium when several cars blocked their path. Fang Zhanbo jumped out from one of the cars, furious as he approached Chen Yu. ¡°What do you mean by this? Coming here to mess with our sports meet!¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°What kind of sports meet is this? It¡¯s nothing but a scam. How many of those spectators do you have in your pocket? Don¡¯t you know that yourself?¡± Clenching his teeth, Fang Zhanbo¡¯s breathing became rapid, and his body started to shake violently. He didn¡¯t dare do anything to Chen Yu, let alone lay a hand on him. In the past few days, he had checked out Chen Yu¡¯s background and was thoroughly frightened by it. Such status and identity were not something he, a spoiled rich kid from Jiang City, could shake. ¡°Mr. Chen, I have no intention of making an enemy of you, but Jiang City has its own rules. Isn¡¯t it a bit too much for you to disrupt matters like this?¡± Disdain filled Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he was about to speak, Li Qingfeng rushed out in a hurry. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s bad, we need to run.¡± But Chen Yu just grabbed hold of him. ¡°Why so nervous? From today onwards, your status in the Jiang City gymnastics world is restored!¡± Li Qingfeng¡¯s eyes widened, and when he saw Fang Zhanbo, his face showed even more shock. In Jiang City, the Fang Family nearly ruled supreme, and Fang Zhanbo was notoriously tyrannical. After today, he feared an all-out pursuit against him. ¡°Brother, are you joking with me?¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°I never joke. If you don¡¯t believe me, ask Young Master Fang!¡± Fang Zhanbo took a deep breath, ¡°Any grievances between us are wiped clean as of today!¡± Li Qingfeng¡¯s eyes widened as he stood there, stunned. He had been framed because he had offended Fang Zhanbo. Now, with Fang Zhanbo making such a promise, it meant he was really out of trouble. Li Qingfeng glanced at Chen Yu instinctively. He knew that what had happened here must have something to do with Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else and simply stepped forward to pat Li Qingfeng on the shoulder. ¡°From now on, you will enjoy the benefits of a retired athlete, and the second half of your life will be carefree,¡± Chen Yu said. Having said that, Chen Yu turned his head and glanced at Fang Zhanbo. ¡°Young Master Fang, my proposal isn¡¯t excessive, is it?¡± Fang Zhanbo didn¡¯t care about these things at all. Even if this gymnastics competition was ruined, he didn¡¯t care. He just hoped Chen Yu would go back with him to discuss the agreement from before in detail. ¡°Certainly not excessive. Tomorrow morning I will have my people assist Mr. Li with his retirement arrangements, and there happens to be a school in need of a PE teacher. Tomorrow afternoon he can take up the position,¡± Fang Zhanbo replied. Chen Yu nodded, patted Li Qingfeng on the shoulder, and then he and Qin Mingxue got into the car. In the vast hall, the big guns of Jiang City were gathered here, but this time everyone wore a look of sighs and laments. ¡°Who would have thought that kid had such powerful connections? Didn¡¯t any of you do a background check beforehand?¡± ¡°That day, for some reason, all our phones were blocked, and we couldn¡¯t search for any information!¡± ¡°Had I known this, I would have signed the agreement that day for a mere fifty billion. It would have been better than offending the Tong Family.¡± ¡­ The people at the scene were full of regret, and some were even trying to remember if they had said anything offensive to Chen Yu that day. ¡°Quite lively in here, isn¡¯t it!¡± Chen Yu strode in and casually grabbed a chair to sit down. The meeting room, moments ago bustling with noise, instantly fell silent, with all eyes focused on Chen Yu. Huang Wenyue, trembling, put on a smile and slowly stood up. ¡°Mr. Chen, we were blind to your stature before. Please let us atone for our mistake. Today¡¯s meeting is to discuss the compensation issue with you,¡± Huang Wenyue said. Qin Mingxue, who had come in with Chen Yu, was completely stunned. She could never have dreamed that in just one day, the big shots of Jiang City would show such respect to Chen Yu. Chen Yu tossed yesterday¡¯s contract onto the table. ¡°I still expect you to comply with the terms quickly. If I don¡¯t see the money by tomorrow morning, then I¡¯ll have to use other methods,¡± Chen Yu declared. Everyone¡¯s breathing quickened at those words. Having researched so much information, of course, they knew about Chen Yu¡¯s methods. Once, the Zhao Family, one of the four biggest families in the capital, had been wiped out by Chen Yu using mere financial tactics. They didn¡¯t believe their family assets and power were stronger than the Zhao Family¡¯s. ¡°Why wait until tomorrow?¡± Huang Wenyue immediately signaled to his assistant, ¡°Transfer fifty billion from the company¡¯s account right now!¡± Enjoy exclusive chapters from Novgo This statement caused an immediate stir among the others, who hadn¡¯t expected Huang Wenyue to capitulate so easily. As one of the elder veterans in Jiang City, he should at least have some concern for his own reputation. Who would have thought that this old guy would behave like a lackey now? None of the others dared to delay and quickly transferred the money. This group controlled the economic lifeline of an industry, with each person having assets worth at least tens of billions. Taking out fifty billion was an easy matter for them. However, some people didn¡¯t have enough liquid funds on hand and had to transfer their assets to comply. Chen Yu accepted everything they offered without politeness. After everyone had finished transferring their funds, Chen Yu stood up and left without looking back. The Jiang City group collectively sighed with relief. Some even slumped into their chairs as if they had escaped from death. Only Fang Zhanbo, standing in the corner, still wore an unsatisfied look. Chapter 469 - Chapter 469: Top-Level Desserts Chapter 469: Top-Level Desserts Chen Yu left the building and directly returned to the underground market with Qin Mingxue. Although he wasn¡¯t afraid of those guys from Jiang City, he was still an outsider after all. If those guys became desperate and resorted to drastic measures, he was afraid even he might not be able to handle it. The only option was to head back here! Moreover, based on his calculations, Zhang Hu and Li Si should be arriving here tomorrow with a truckload of old items. Yesterday¡¯s deaf individuals had already found their place in the food street, an area extremely suitable for them. Qin Mingxue had already established rules that everyone must follow, and the hearing-impaired individuals were the most rule-abiding group. After all, besides working honestly, they hardly had any other intentions. When Chen Yu arrived at the food street, those hearing-impaired individuals immediately gathered around, gesticulating incessantly in front of him. Your next read is at Novgo When they were with Ma Xiulan before, they could hardly earn a few yuan a day, and even on the busiest days, they would make at most a hundred yuan. But just by setting up a stall here for one day, they had easily made a few hundred yuan, and some had even earned over a thousand. Now, they regarded Chen Yu as their deity, wanting to give him half of their earnings as a thank you. Chen Yu waved his hands in refusal and just sat down at a fried skewer stall, asking the owner to fry him something to eat. Seeing this scene, Qin Mingxue was completely enchanted by Chen Yu. She had never imagined a man¡¯s charm could be so overwhelming. In Jiang City, she had roughly learned some information about Chen Yu but didn¡¯t understand it clearly. Therefore, on her way back, she immediately sent a message to her subordinates in the intelligence department, instructing them to find out everything about Chen Yu in the shortest possible time. At this moment, her tablet already had some bits and pieces of information about Chen Yu. Any of those identities would be enough to make one worship him. Most importantly, Chen Yu was already married and even had a daughter. This shattered the beautiful fantasies she had in her mind, but she still maintained her admiration for Chen Yu. She even thought about staying by Chen Yu¡¯s side as a subordinate! Just then, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared in the center of the food street. He took off his jacket and walked straight to a stall selling shrimp cakes. ¡°Your method of making these shrimp cakes is wrong. When mixing the shrimp paste, you should add some crab powder to maintain the texture. The way you¡¯re doing it will only make the shrimp cakes tough.¡± This guy, for some reason, spoke very loudly as if he wanted to attract attention. Unfortunately, most people nearby were deaf and couldn¡¯t hear him, and the old lady selling shrimp cakes didn¡¯t even bother to lift her head. ¡°Did you not hear what I said? Is this the kind of service attitude you have?¡± Chen Yu stuffed the fried skewer in his mouth and immediately walked over. ¡°Sir, all the vendors on this street are hearing-impaired individuals. Please respect them.¡± The man didn¡¯t care at all, raising his palm and slamming it down hard on the table. ¡°Do hearing-impaired people have the right to act recklessly and serve this kind of trash to customers?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, although their techniques weren¡¯t very professional, they took every task seriously, and the food they made, though not top-notch delicacies, was a hundred times better than ordinary fare. And it was obvious that this guy had come here looking for trouble. Chen Yu immediately used the system to scan the other party¡¯s brain information and, sure enough, the guy had been sent by Fang Zhanbo. So, this underground market was a relatively independent entity, but to some extent, it was still subject to regulation by the relevant departments. Fang Zhanbo probably intended to pick at Qin Mingxue¡¯s food safety issues. ¡°If I remember correctly, you must be Mr. Zhou Pinghu!¡± Zhou Pinghu paused, he had won the world culinary championship thirty years ago but had to lie low for various reasons. Now, few in the culinary world knew him, unless they were seasoned gourmets. But Chen Yu looked to be under thirty¡ªhow could he be connected to gourmets? Just as he was feeling perplexed, his phone suddenly rang. Chen Yu had already surveilled all the electronic devices on the guy, so he knew the information immediately. Fang Zhanbo hadn¡¯t revealed Chen Yu¡¯s true identity when he sent Zhou Pinghu over. Upon learning that Chen Yu had won world-class culinary competitions more than once, he wanted to message Zhou Pinghu with a warning. Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t let his opponent succeed; he stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Pinghu¡¯s arm, pulling him to a stall. ¡°I heard that Mr. Zhou made a dessert back in the day that no one has surpassed to this day, I wonder how you managed that?¡± A sense of superiority instantly surged in Zhou Pinghu¡¯s heart, and he disregarded the message on his phone; instead, he rolled up his sleeves and pushed aside the disabled person next to him. ¡°It¡¯s hard to find a young man like you with such discernment these days. Well, if that¡¯s the case, I will make an exception today!¡± A sly smile stretched across Chen Yu¡¯s lips, and he quickly stepped forward to stop Zhou Pinghu. ¡°Mr. Zhou, don¡¯t you find such plain cooking a bit too dull? Why don¡¯t we have a contest, using that very dessert you made back then as the subject?¡± Zhou Pinghu laughed as if he had heard an incredible joke. ¡°Do you know that I spent a whole three years researching that dessert? I went over the recipe and ingredients several times¡ªare you sure you want to challenge me on this?¡± Chen Yu nodded firmly. ¡°It¡¯s my way of seeking guidance from my senior; naturally, I should choose something you excel at, otherwise, people might say that I¡¯m taking advantage of your age!¡± These words immediately kindled Zhou Pinghu¡¯s competitive spirit. Without further ado, he took a few steps back to clear a space, indicating that he wanted Chen Yu to compete with him on the same food truck. Chen Yu chuckled twice and walked over to the food truck where he had been eating fried skewers. ¡°Mr. Zhou, though I¡¯m making the same dessert as you, I¡¯ve also made my own unique modifications to it, and there are some differences in the process, so I can¡¯t just compete on the same food truck as you.¡± Zhou Pinghu sneered: ¡°No matter what method you use, my dessert is still the best in the world, there¡¯s no way you can surpass it.¡± He said arrogantly and then put on disposable gloves to get busy. Meanwhile, Chen Yu looked indifferent, picked up a fried skewer from nearby, and started to eat it on his own. Chapter 470 - Chapter 470 Homemade Recipes Chapter 470 Homemade Recipes The scene quickly became crowded, and even people from the auction street followed suit. Qin Mingxue, like a little fan girl, brought a stool over to sit beside, resting her chin in her hands, staring intently at Chen Yu. Zhou Pinghu might not have been seen for thirty years, but his culinary skills have never fallen behind. His techniques were so lifelike, probably unmatched by many of the master-level figures today. Before long, enticing aromas began wafting from his stall. Only then did Chen Yu start to make his move. His hands were moving more than twice as fast as Zhou Pinghu¡¯s. The crowd of onlookers could only see the afterimages of his hands. ¡°Wow, Mr. Chen¡¯s techniques are really magical!¡± ¡°Mr. Chen can actually cook too, I always thought he was just an appraiser.¡± ¡°Oh my god, a man who can make money and cook is just too perfect.¡± ¡­ The crowd of spectators immediately boiled over with excitement, and some even wanted to push forward to see what exactly Chen Yu was doing. Qin Mingxue¡¯s heart was racing, her pretty face as red as blood. It wasn¡¯t long before the desserts of the two competitors were finished almost at the same time. When presented, the rich fragrance instantly filled the entire underground market. After arranging his plate, Chen Yu walked directly over to Zhou Pinghu holding the dish. ¡°Old Master Zhou, this is a dessert I have modified based on the one you made originally. Please have a taste and see if I have made any mistakes,¡± Chen Yu said. Zhou Pinghu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to invite him to taste the dessert first after making it. In culinary competitions, there is an unwritten rule that chefs are not supposed to taste each other¡¯s food. Especially in Chen Yu¡¯s case, asking one¡¯s own rival to judge their food was a serious breach of etiquette. If Zhou Pinghu were to harbor any bias, he could simply finish the dessert, declare it unpalatable, and Chen Yu would be at a loss. Zhou Pinghu took a deep breath, then brought his own dessert over to Chen Yu. After trying each other¡¯s creations, Zhou Pinghu¡¯s body began to shake violently. ¡°This is impossible. My recipe was the best in the world. What method did you use? How could you balance the flavors to this extent?¡± he exclaimed. Zhou Pinghu never imagined that the unique recipe he had created had so much room for improvement. Chen Yu smiled slightly and moved a chair over to sit down beside Zhou Pinghu. ¡°Old Master, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you must have been used as a pawn!¡± Chen Yu said. Zhou Pinghu suddenly looked up, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chen Yu took out a top-tier chef¡¯s certificate from his person and laid it on the table. ¡°The person who invited you here should be Fang Zhanbo. He claimed that this place violated food safety regulations and wanted you to come sort things out,¡± explained Chen Yu. Experience tales at Novgo Zhou Pinghu was taken aback; those were the exact words Fang Zhanbo had said to him in private, and Chen Yu had managed to repeat them word for word. Moreover, the top-tier chef certificate on the table sent shockwaves through Zhou Pinghu. He had never dreamed that Chen Yu at such a young age could achieve such a feat. Although he had won the championship at the World Culinary Competition with that dessert, he was just an advanced chef back then and had not reached the top-tier level. Chen Yu¡¯s achievements truly made him envious. ¡°What I hate most in my life are those who add all sorts of nonsensical things to food. However, this time I was indeed rash. That Fang fellow dared to play me for a fool,¡± Zhou Pinghu acknowledged. With a long sigh, Zhou Pinghu took out a cookbook from his person. ¡°Although I have been living in seclusion all these years, my cooking skills have not fallen behind. This is a cookbook I compiled myself, and I have always been looking for a successor. It seems that you are the most suitable one!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had not expected Zhou Pinghu to give him something so important. A cookbook, especially one painstakingly compiled, is the lifeblood of every chef. Giving it away clearly involved a great deal of inner struggle. Chen Yu did not refuse and reached out with both hands to take it. ¡°In that case, I would be disrespectful to refuse.¡± Zhou Pinghu patted Chen Yu on the shoulder, then turned and left, apparently heading to settle accounts with Fang Zhanbo. The people present all came up to Chen Yu, showering him with words of admiration. Chen Yu was spoken to the point of embarrassment. Just then, Zhang Hu and Li Qiang squeezed through the crowd and hurried over. ¡°Mr. Chen, something has happened!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed without delay, and he quickly followed the two to the plaza near the marketplace. The vast square was piled with a large number of old objects, and a robust middle-aged man was standing there as well. His face was full of flesh, staring intently at the old objects laid out there. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s this guy here. We ran into him on the road, but he claims that the old objects we loaded onto the vehicle were pre-ordered by him and demanded that we hand them all over to him.¡± Chen Yu was briefly stunned. Apart from Zhang Hu and Li Qiang, it was unlikely that anyone from the outside knew about the existence of the town, nor could they have taken the objects out of it. It was clear that this man was trying to rob them outright. Chen Yu was about to go over and argue with this man when Qin Mingxue suddenly ran out. ¡°Wang Daming! What¡¯s the matter with you? Why are you causing trouble here again? How many of my clients have you driven away, don¡¯t you have any idea?¡± Wang Daming laughed heartily, ¡°Qin, this place of yours has never been quite proper to begin with. I am here to completely take it down!¡± Qin Mingxue was beside herself with anger. This underground market was a legacy passed down to her from the older generation. When she first took over, out of respect for the old Qin family, many people from the underworld would patronize the business. But as time went on, malice began to emerge. Leaving aside individuals like Fang Zhanbo who came every so often to court and cause trouble, many others deliberately sought to cause disturbances, coming up with various reasons to create chaos here. Wang Daming was one of them. The Wang family and the Qin family were old friends, and this underground market was jointly managed by both families. But later, the Wang family reneged and went their separate way, leaving the Qin family to run it alone. A few years later, when the Wang family went bankrupt, they wanted to return and share in the profits of the underground market. The Qin family could not possibly agree to such an impudent request. Wang Daming then began to cause trouble here from time to time, sometimes even more than twenty times a month. Although Qin Mingxue always had a strategy to cope, anyone would become annoyed over time. ¡°Wang Daming, I am giving you a chance to leave immediately! Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for not considering the past relationship between the Wang family and the Qin family!¡± Chapter 471 - Chapter 471 Friendship between Two Families Chapter 471 Friendship between Two Families The scene immediately became tense as Wang Daming¡¯s men stepped forward and surrounded everyone. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense. What the hell do you think the Qin family is? Don¡¯t you have any idea?¡± Wang Daming was somewhat emotional; in his eyes, it had been the Qin family who had screwed over the Wang family in the past. Qin Mingxue was furious and at a loss for words. The two families had been very close in the past, not considering too much when doing business together, always splitting the profits evenly, regardless of how much each had invested. It was unexpected that things had changed to this extent. Just as the two sides were at a standoff, Chen Yu suddenly walked between them. ¡°You¡¯ve been dragging out the business between your two families for so many years. Why not drag it out a bit longer? Can we resolve my issue first?¡± Wang Daming¡¯s face was full of disdain; to him, Chen Yu was nothing more than a small-time merchant here to do business. ¡°Who the hell are you? I hijacked your goods because I thought you were worth it. These antiques of yours wouldn¡¯t sell for much in your hands, but in mine, I could help you make a fortune.¡± Chen Yu was suddenly furious. He had wanted to talk nicely with the other party, but this guy was being so audacious. ¡°Wang, I had ten trucks of goods when they arrived, and now there are only two left. I won¡¯t quibble with you about the eight trucks. Let¡¯s settle for a hundred billion yuan,¡± Chen Yu said. Wang Daming¡¯s eyes widened as he snatched a long knife from his subordinate¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense here, kid. What ten trucks of antiques? When I came across them, there were only two trucks.¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, raised his palm, grabbed Wang Daming¡¯s long knife, and suddenly exerted force. The stainless steel knife shattered into pieces. Chen Daming was startled and took several steps back. He had not expected that there would be someone in the world who could crush knife blades with their bare hands. Before he could react, Chen Yu¡¯s palm had already grabbed his neck. ¡°It¡¯s not your turn to speak here. If I say there are, there are!¡± Your next journey awaits at Novgo The chilling voice spread across the square, startling the onlookers. However, almost everyone in the underground market sided with Chen Yu. Wang Daming had caused trouble here more than once, turning the place upside down every time and even preventing many partners from doing business. Most people had had enough of him. Wang Daming also realized something was wrong and struggled to break free of Chen Yu¡¯s grip, retreating several steps. ¡°What are you idiots standing there for? Kill him for me!¡± he ordered. At the command, his men surged forward, brandishing knives, but just as they were about to close in on Chen Yu, they suddenly froze in place and then began convulsing as if electrified. Chen Yu simply snapped his fingers, and these men fell to the ground, unable to get up. Wang Daming stood there, stunned, not understanding what had just happened. Chen Yu took a couple of steps forward and grabbed Wang Daming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You should be running a financial company in Jiang City now, correct?¡± These words once again set off a storm in Wang Daming¡¯s heart. The only people who knew that he ran a financial company there were a few of his closest associates. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Chen Yu took out a business card from his pocket. ¡°Your financial company¡¯s registered capital isn¡¯t high, and the funds you can operate now are precisely ten billion, just enough to match the value of those eight carts of antiques. From now on, I will target your company comprehensively until I flush out all of those ten billion.¡± Wang Daming trembled to the extreme when he saw the contents of the business card. The name Chen Yu had already become a commercial legend in the capital. With his own strength, he used purely financial tactics to annihilate the Zhao Family of the capital. Several hundred billion in assets disappeared in ash and smoke so quickly, not to mention his mere ten billion in operational funds. ¡°Mr. Chen, I really didn¡¯t realize what I was up against, and I accidentally offended you. I hope you can be magnanimous and let it pass like a fart! I will definitely make it up to you when I return.¡± Chen Yu lifted his hand and patted Wang Daming¡¯s face. ¡°With my abilities, I can acquire that ten billion within a day, so why should I wait for you to give me some paltry sum?¡± Wang Daming was terrified to the extreme and knelt on the ground, knocking his head repeatedly. ¡°Mr. Chen, please let me go, I won¡¯t dare to do it again, I swear, from now on I will never harass Miss Qin, and I¡¯ll erase all the past grudges between the Qin and Wang families.¡± Chen Yu thought about how this guy was actually spineless. The arrogance he had when he entered the door had completely vanished. Qin Mingxue was also stunned; she had not expected Chen Yu to completely overwhelm Wang Daming with just his presence. ¡°Mr. Chen, since he knows he was wrong, let¡¯s just leave it at that. My parents always told me before they passed away that if the Wang family¡¯s descendants were in need, the Qin family should extend a helping hand. I don¡¯t want to go against my parents¡¯ wishes.¡± Wang Daming, as if grasping a lifeline, nodded repeatedly. ¡°Yes, our two families are old friends, and our elders worked together for so long, we¡¯re practically family.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s forehead was filled with black lines. Just moments ago, Wang Daming wanted to settle old scores with Qin Mingxue, and now the two families were ¡¯practically family¡¯? Chen Yu wasn¡¯t going to easily let go of such a fickle person. ¡°Miss Qin, I don¡¯t want to meddle in your family matters! As I said, I just want him to spit out my eight carts of goods.¡± As he finished speaking, Chen Yu dialed a number directly. A significant portion of Tong Group¡¯s power was in his hands, especially in the financial department, where he could mobilize over eighty percent of the funds. With orders given, Chen Yu looked at Wang Daming with a judgmental gaze. ¡°Right now is the most active time of the day for the stock market, and your financial company is in operation, just in time for you to witness what real finance is.¡± Wang Daming¡¯s face turned ashen, hurriedly taking out his phone to check the stock price fluctuations of his company. As expected, in just a moment, the stock price had soared by a whole hundred percent. This proved that a large amount of capital was pouring in, aggressively buying up the active stocks of his company. Seeing this trend, his company¡¯s partners were also buying and selling shares in large quantities. If more than eighty percent of the shares were bought by the Tong Group in a few days, they would cash out at the peak and then dump all the stocks at once. Such a massive sell-off would plunge the stock price of Wang Daming¡¯s financial company to rock bottom. At that time, his company would have no choice but to declare bankruptcy. ¡°Mr. Chen, please have mercy, I really know I was wrong!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, continuing to communicate with the Group¡¯s financial department. As soon as they projected that it was possible to cash out ten billion, he ordered them to sell off all the shares. Chapter 472 - Chapter 472 Martial Arts Champion Chapter 472 Martial Arts Champion From start to finish, the entire process took less than ten minutes, and Wang Daming¡¯s company became nothing but a fleeting dream. Chen Yu lifted his foot and firmly stamped on Wang Daming¡¯s shoulder. Stay updated via Novgo.com ¡°Alright, our debts to each other are now settled, but from this moment on, you¡¯ll be marked as a target by Tong Group. You won¡¯t be able to open a regular company anymore. You can only rent a small stall and sell snacks or something. I think Miss Qin can help you with that.¡± Qin Mingxue could never have imagined that Chen Yu would be so decisive, tidying up the opponent in the blink of an eye. And he even provided the opponent with a so-called way out. Wang Daming was filled with regret. If only he had looked into Chen Yu¡¯s background earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a state. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and turned away, sitting down by himself. Wang Daming, who knew the times, was clear about his situation. He couldn¡¯t possibly run a company now, and could only look for a place to set up a stall¡ªand Qin Mingxue¡¯s offer was the best choice. After all, it was an underground trading market, with a large flow of people and many eating there; casually setting up a small stall in the food street could earn him a few hundred a day. After a slight hesitation, Wang Daming immediately threw himself at Qin Mingxue¡¯s feet and knelt down. ¡°Mingxue, we grew up together as kids. Let¡¯s just say that I was wrong before, but you can¡¯t ignore me! Could you let me set up a stall here? I swear I¡¯ll never cause trouble again.¡± Qin Mingxue found herself in a difficult position¡ªshe had many complaints against Wang Daming. Moreover, the man was unscrupulous, and if she let him stay, it would be unpredictable what kind of trouble he might stir up. ¡°I can¡¯t let you stay here. I can only give you some money and some equipment, and you can set up a stall somewhere else.¡± Wang Daming¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He had been spoiled since childhood, and even after his family went bankrupt, he still had assets worth several billion. Now, suddenly being asked to squat outside and sell snacks, he couldn¡¯t adjust to that kind of life right away. ¡°Mingxue, you can¡¯t treat me like this. Do you have any idea how fierce the competition is out there? Dozens of people are fighting over a single stall.¡± Qin Mingxue took a deep breath. She had no desire to waste words with this man, and directly called over two of her subordinates to chase Wang Daming out. Zhang Hu and Li Qiang came to Chen Yu¡¯s side and presented the details of the acquired old items and the distribution list of supplies. Chen Yu took a quick look and then handed the list back. ¡°Sell off the old items we have gathered as soon as possible; we¡¯re going back to the town together.¡± The two did not dare to delay and immediately proceeded with Qin Mingxue¡¯s authorization to start an auction in the trading market. Before long, all of the old items were sold out. ¡°Miss Qin, thank you for your hospitality these past few days. I need to go back with them, but our collaboration on future deals will be even closer.¡± Chen Yu greeted her briefly and then prepared to leave. Suddenly, Qin Mixue called out and stopped him, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay for a few more days? I¡¯ll be having a special medicinal herb auction here in a couple of days, and you might find something you need.¡± At the mention of this, Chen Yu paused, then reflected carefully. It seemed as though there were no pharmacies or anything similar in the entire underground market, just a simple clinic. He had thought that Qin Mixue didn¡¯t consider including a hospital facility in her plans, yet there was going to be a special medicinal herb auction. Just as he was about to agree, a middle-aged man hurried over in a rush. ¡°Miss Qin, Mr. Fang has arrived; he¡¯s at the door and says he wants to see Mr. Chen alone.¡± Qin Mingxue frowned involuntarily. ¡°What does he want to do, do I not know? Tell him Mr. Chen has already left, and tell him to get lost.¡± The middle-aged man hesitated and quickly leaned into Qin Mingxue¡¯s ear. ¡°Mr. Fang is holding half of the property deeds from our place, saying that if Mr. Chen doesn¡¯t go out, according to the agreement, he can take back half of the operating rights of the underground market.¡± Qin Mingxue¡¯s chest heaved violently, and anger rose up within her. ¡°Go tell that guy, I¡¯m not afraid of his threats! Tell him to piss off as far as he can! The corporate entity of the underground market is mine, everything rightfully belongs to me. Don¡¯t think just because he has half the property deeds, he can threaten me!¡± The middle-aged man started, suddenly unsure of what to do. He was just hired help, to put it bluntly there just to make a living. Today he might be with Qin Mingxue, tomorrow he might have to go to Fang Zhanbo. Therefore, he didn¡¯t dare to offend either party. ¡°No worries, since they¡¯ve specifically asked to see me, I¡¯ll go and take a look!¡± Chen Yu was very composed, gave a few instructions to Zhang Hu and Li Qiang, and then he headed straight out of the underground market. Fang Zhanbo was twirling health balls in his hand, pacing back and forth. Behind him stood four big men with their upper bodies bare. The physiques of these four guys were exceptionally robust, particularly the color of their skin, which seemed as if it had been coated in metal. When Chen Yu came out, Fang Zhanbo immediately approached him. ¡°Mr. Chen, you have gone too far. I kindly invited a world-famous chef over to guide you, and you dared to meddle in the relationship between him and myself!¡± Chen Yu almost wanted to laugh; this guy really had the nerve, making it sound like Chen Yu was in the wrong. ¡°Young Master Fang, if you have something to say, speak up quickly. Don¡¯t waste my time!¡± Fang Zhanbo¡¯s teeth clenched with a cracking sound; he had not expected Chen Yu to completely ignore his question. ¡°Since Mr. Chen is so forthright, then I won¡¯t beat around the bush! I¡¯ve heard Mr. Chen is highly skilled in martial arts; my men are all martial arts champions, and I hope you can give them some guidance.¡± Chen Yu knitted his brows; he realized that this guy truly had no shame. Bringing four guys to his door as if they were just there for a few tips. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother saying anything and simply walked towards those four guys. As if their blood had been ignited, the four started limbering up and then charged at him. It seemed like a clash was imminent when Chen Yu casually lifted his fists and rapidly unleashed four punches. The crisp sounds of breaking bones instantly rang out, and the four who were like armored vehicles just moments ago now lay on the ground, unable to move. Chen Yu shook his palms and walked up to Fang Zhanbo. ¡°Young Master Fang, what did you just say these four were?¡± Fang Zhanbo¡¯s eyes bulged and the health balls in his hand dropped to the ground. He truly hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so formidable that four martial arts champions combined were no match for him. Moreover, judging by how relaxed Chen Yu was, he hardly exerted any effort at all. Chapter 473 - Chapter 473: 473 Chapter 473: 473 Fang Zhanbo¡¯s breathing became rapid all of a sudden. Originally, he just wanted to bring people here to awe Chen Yu, to let him know who really controlled Jiang City. But now the situation had completely exceeded his expectations. ¡°Mr. Chen, it was I who have offended you. From now on in Jiang City, if you need anything, just call me, and I will manage it for you, whether in the mountains or through flames.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, turned around, and returned to the underground market. Qin Mingxue had been leaning against the door, watching from afar and had also called a few bodyguards to follow behind him. If something unexpected happened, they would go out and snatch Chen Yu back. But she had not seen clearly what happened, and Chen Yu returned swaggeringly, while Fang Zhanbo still had the face of an eggplant. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you alright?¡± Qin Mingxue hurriedly stepped forward to ask. Chen Yu shook his head, chuckled lightly, and then stepped down from the stairs. Zhang Hu and Liu Zhongxiang had already completed all the transactions, and even had their accounts sorted out, sitting there waiting for Chen Yu, not daring to go anywhere else. This time, they both had made a good profit. formerly, when they used to traffic old items from the small town, they would casually find a place to sell them off in bulk at very low prices. But now, by systematically and on a larger scale purchasing, not only had their income increased two to three times but they had also become extremely popular in the small town. Before, when they sold supplies in the small town, there were always some complaints, and some even called them robbers outright. But this trip, everyone treated them as saviors, continually thanking them as they received the supplies, some even kneeling on the ground to kowtow to them. This made them feel an unprecedented respect and sense of accomplishment. When Chen Yu came over, the two of them immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Chen, the vehicles are ready. Shall we set off now?¡± Chen Yu nodded, turned to say a few words to Qin Mingxue, and then left directly. The two trucks were packed full, carrying nothing but supplies, so they were very careful on their way back. A large part of the route was mountainous roads, and any mishap, like a vehicle rollover, could have spoiled the hard-earned supplies they were bringing back. After travelling for the better part of a day, they finally made it back to the town just before darkness fell. All the villagers were neatly waiting at the entrance of the town, eagerly looking forward to the supplies. However, behind the villagers, on an empty space, a large crowd gathered, looking very anxious. ¡°Doctor Ma, do you really know what you¡¯re doing? You aren¡¯t going to treat this person to death, are you?¡± ¡°Doctor, what medicine did you use? Why hasn¡¯t the person woken up after so long?¡± ¡°Ma Gensheng, you are the only doctor on this bench, can¡¯t you even cure a common cold?¡± ¡­ Read exclusive content at Novgo The shouts soon attracted many onlookers, and even the villagers waiting in line to collect supplies came over to see. Chen Yu just got out of the vehicle when he saw this scene. He frowned, pushed through the crowd and walked over, only to see a teenager lying on the ground gasping for air. His body was covered in pustules, his complexion deathly pale, showing no sign of blood color. Chen Yu was shocked and quickly squatted down to grab the boy¡¯s pulse. Ma Gensheng was not pleased. As the only doctor in the village, he had to protect his reputation and absolutely could not allow others to come and treat patients. ¡°Kid, can you stop causing trouble here? If you kill a patient, will you take responsibility?¡± Those words stirred discontent among the bystanders. Many of them had seen Chen Yu and all of the supplies they were now receiving were thanks to him. ¡°Ma Gensheng, stop spouting nonsense. Mr. Chen here is our town¡¯s great benefactor. Apologize to him right now.¡± Liu Zhongxiang scolded and then came over with his daughter. Still full of arrogance, Ma Gensheng retorted, ¡°Liu, don¡¯t you forget that it¡¯s my medicine that cured your ailment! Why are you bending the elbow the wrong way?¡± Liu Zhongxiang rolled his eyes; he wasn¡¯t exactly fond of the medicine Ma Gensheng had provided. If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yu¡¯s timely arrival, he might well have been tortured to death by Ma Gensheng¡¯s treatment. He didn¡¯t say much, but sat down next to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, this child has lost his entire family and is the only one left. Can you find a way to save his life?¡± Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air, ¡°It¡¯s too early to say. I can only first make him regain consciousness. Whether his life can be saved depends on whether we can get the medicine.¡± As if he had heard a joke, Ma Gensheng suddenly burst into laughter, clutching his belly. ¡°Young man, you are boasting without any basis. Look at the state he¡¯s in! How can you possibly know? It would be impressive enough if you could simply reduce the sores on his body.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, thinking that the town¡¯s public facilities really needed some serious reform. With people like Ma Gensheng causing chaos, it¡¯s likely that many people would suffer. ¡°Mr. Ma, how about we make a bet? If I can cure this child, from now on you cannot practice medicine in the town anymore! You will have to obediently work as a pharmacy assistant.¡± Ma Gensheng¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re far too arrogant. Do you even know where you are to talk like that? I am the only doctor here, and my medical skills are hereditary.¡± Chen Yu did not want to waste any more words with him. ¡°He simply took a silver needle from his body and was about to pierce it.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Ma Gensheng suddenly stopped him, ¡°What if you can¡¯t cure him?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°If I can¡¯t cure him, then I will leave and never set foot here again.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Ma Gensheng agreed emphatically, ¡°Everyone, bear witness for me!¡± As soon as those words were spoken, the silver needle in Chen Yu¡¯s hand had already made its descent. After three needles, the child suddenly sat up, spurting out a mouthful of black blood. His formerly ashen face gradually regained color, and the child¡¯s breathing became steady. This stunned those around them, especially Ma Gensheng. He couldn¡¯t have dreamed that Chen Yu, with just three needles, could bring someone back from the brink of death. He had previously diagnosed the child, whose condition was not only severe but most of his tissue had necrotized, and there were more than a dozen types of fungi in the sores on his body. Under such circumstances, even Hua Tuo, if alive, wouldn¡¯t have been able to treat him. Most importantly, there was absolutely no medicine for related diseases in the town! Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and simply pressed gently with his palms on the child¡¯s chest and abdomen. As mouthful after mouthful of black blood was spit out, the child¡¯s complexion underwent a dramatic change. Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: The Meat of Tai Sui Chapter 474: The Meat of Tai Sui ¡°` Ma Gensheng stood by, dumbfounded, never in his wildest dreams did he think someone on the brink of death could be cured just like that. ¡°This is impossible, I¡¯ve also manipulated the three acupuncture points you checked just now, and they didn¡¯t have any effect,¡± he said. Chen Yu rolled up his sleeves, picked up the boy, and laid him flat on a millstone. ¡°That¡¯s because your skills are not yet up to par,¡± Chen Yu said with a trace of disdain, then turned and walked over to the truck. When he had returned, he had looked over the list of supplies, which included some medicinal herbs. However, due to the hurried nature of this trip and the limited space on the truck, they were unable to bring back more medicinal herbs. After rummaging through a few times, he took out some Chinese medicine powders and a few packets of Western medicine. He crushed these items and mixed them together, then applied the mixture to the pus sores on the young man¡¯s body. Indeed, the environment was to blame for the young man¡¯s condition. Although the air here was good, certain places were too damp. Given the boy¡¯s inherently weak constitution and the long-term erosion by the damp, his body had accumulated too much phlegm. Coupled with the environmental influence, it caused an inflammation outbreak in his body. All that was needed was to force the blocked toxins from his body and then restore his normal physiological cycle, and he could be cured. Perhaps Ma Gensheng, during his diagnosis, only saw how severe the boy¡¯s illness was, failing to grasp the nature of the illness itself. The onlookers stood there stunned; they never imagined Chen Yu¡¯s medical skills could be so profound. Liu Zhongxiang seemed to have thought of something and grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, Li Guokai also has two sick people in his home, with exactly the same condition. If you have time, you might want to take a look,¡± he said. Chen Yu was surprised; there had been a long-standing feud between Liu Zhongxiang and Li Guokai, and yet Liu Zhongxiang still showed concern for the other party. After all, as a Taoist priest who came down from the mountains to save all beings, Liu Zhongxiang¡¯s attitude was understandable to Chen Yu. Without saying much more, Chen Yu took some medicine and followed Liu Zhongxiang straight to Li Guokai¡¯s house. Due to his ancestors, Li Guokai¡¯s family had accumulated who knows how many old belongings; there was even a warehouse full of items made entirely of gold. It is said that this was what remained after selling off two warehouses full. Upon arriving, Chen Yu immediately smelled a foul stench. He saw that a room was tightly sealed, with outsiders unable to discern the situation inside. When Li Guokai heard the front door being pushed open, he hurried out. Upon seeing Chen Yu, he became excited. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re back!¡± Chen Yu simply smiled and nodded, then entered the house directly. The situation on the beds made him frown; two middle-aged men lay there, barely alive, their bodies covered in sores, exactly like the young boy¡¯s condition. But there were additional symptoms on these two men. Chen Yu immediately became cautious. If one person showed these symptoms, it might be a special case, but the appearance of the same symptoms in so many people meant the disease was contagious. However, when he had just treated the boy, he had checked all the symptoms and found nothing that was contagious. Thus, it could only be due to environmental factors. Taking a mask from the side, Chen Yu put it on and crouched beside one of the middle-aged men, grasping his pulse. After a brief examination, his face suddenly changed drastically. ¡°` The man had a bizarre tumor in the left side of his abdomen. It can¡¯t be called a tumor, nor a nodule; it seemed like some sort of living organism parasitizing the human body. Its composition was somewhat like that of a lazurite, but it was riddled with a large quantity of fungus. Chen Yu didn¡¯t hesitate; he quickly took out a silver needle and punctured the man¡¯s chest. The treatment method was similar to that of the young boy earlier, first to expel the toxins from the body, and then to treat the sore. After he had applied the medicinal powder on the man, he took a scalpel from the side and sliced through the man¡¯s abdominal cavity. When he had been applying the medicine, he had already mixed in an anesthetic, so at this moment, the patient¡¯s body was completely anesthetized. Find more to read on Novgo.com Before long, Chen Yu extracted a black object the size of a baby from the patient¡¯s body. This thing was still wriggling when removed, a sight horrifying enough to make one¡¯s skin crawl. Li Guokai¡¯s eyes were wide with shock. ¡°Mr. Chen, what on earth is this? How could it be in my cousin¡¯s stomach?¡± Chen Yu held the dark mass for a while, observing it, but couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. ¡°Build a fire in the yard and burn this thing!¡± Li Guokai did not dare to delay, quickly wrapping the object in plastic and taking it to the yard. Chen Yu used the same method and extracted similar objects from another middle-aged man¡¯s stomach. Only this time, he put a small piece into a test tube as a sample. ¡°Mr. Li, have you noticed any abnormalities with these two cousins lately? Or have they eaten anything strange?¡± Li Guokai¡¯s eyebrows knotted in thought. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that, but lately, there¡¯s been someone in town selling lazurite meat; many people are scrambling to buy it.¡± ¡°Lazurite meat!¡± Chen Yu was instantly alert, ¡°Where is it sold? Take me there quickly!¡± Without any hesitation, Li Guokai immediately led Chen Yu and Liu Zhongxiang to a shed at the back of the town. There was a melon field in this place, and every summer, Old Man Wang would bring his son to sell melons here. But this father and son were very shrewd, and extremely greedy. They not only set the price of watermelons very high but also demanded antiques in exchange. One year when the town was short of water, only their watermelons could help the people of the town, but unexpectedly, they would rather let the watermelons rot in the field than bring them out to save people. It was Liu Zhongxiang who, after much pleading, exchanged his own calligraphy and painting for fifty watermelons, which prevented a few extra deaths in the town. When Chen Yu and his party arrived, the father and son were lying under the melon shed, comfortably eating roasted meat. Watermelon is a seasonal fruit that is extremely inconvenient to transport. The materials Chen Yu brought back were mostly what the town needed right now, and he wouldn¡¯t bring back such fruits. It seemed that someone had already traded goods for watermelons with them. ¡°Old Man Wang!¡± Liu Zhongxiang stepped forward, ¡°This is Mr. Chen from our village, a lifesaver. He has come to inquire about lazurite.¡± Old Man Wang did not even look up, stuffing a large piece of roasted meat into his mouth. ¡°If you want information, one piece of Gold per tidbit. If you¡¯re buying lazurite meat, then you need five antiques. It would be better if you could exchange materials, preferably medicinal herbs.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth dropped open at the man¡¯s blatant greed! Chapter 475 - Chapter 475: Hiding the Tai Sui Chapter 475: Hiding the Tai Sui ¡°Old Master Wang, we were just inquiring about some news, there¡¯s no need for you to take it so seriously. Besides, Mr. Chen is the savior of our entire town. The supplies we are eating right now were brought back from outside by him.¡± Liu Zhongxiang was somewhat indignant, his hand subconsciously lifting, ready to start a fight. Li Guokai, beside him, was even more enraged, drawing a short knife from behind him. Old Man Wang¡¯s son immediately stood up, seemingly pulling out two chain hammers from nowhere. In the town, Wang Sanhu was known as a little overlord. No one knew how his muscle-bound body grew so strong, leaving others in awe. It was also because of this son that Old Man Wang could bully others in the village. Liu Zhongxiang and Li Guokai had no choice but to suppress their anger and take two steps back. Chen Yu, however, was not afraid of these threats. He walked right up next to Old Man Wang and, with his bare hands, grabbed a piece of grilled meat from the furnace and stuffed it into his mouth. ¡°Old sir, so many people in the town have contracted a strange illness, which might be related to the revered meat you sell. If you don¡¯t mind, could you let me have a look at the revered meat?¡± Old Man Wang licked his lips. He had heard about Chen Yu¡¯s deeds recently and knew that a divine figure had come to town. But as far as he was concerned, it didn¡¯t matter who came; it was all irrelevant to him. His family had been trapped here for several hundred years and could never leave the town. Unless an outsider could take him away from this cursed place, he would do whatever was asked of him. Old Man Wang spat out the bone in his mouth. ¡°Young man, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to tell you, but the revered meat is too precious. It took a lot of effort for my son and me to obtain it. You can¡¯t just waltz in and expect to see it that easily.¡± Chen Yu ate a few more bites of meat and then stretched lazily, standing up. ¡°There¡¯s a well to the northeast of the watermelon field, where the revered meat is hidden. Since the old sir is unwilling to tell me, I will have to go get it myself.¡± Old Man Wang¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he had not expected Chen Yu to know even this. That well was his secret, typically used to cool watermelons and, when necessary, the well water was sold. Only he and his son from the Wang Family knew about this. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already made his way to the northeastern corner of the melon field and was crouching by the well. Startled, Old Man Wang quickly rushed over with his son. But by the time they got there, Chen Yu had already hoisted out a large piece of the revered meat. Wang Sanhu could not care less, swinging the chain hammers in his hands down in an attack. However, to his surprise, Chen Yu simply and casually raised his hand to catch the chain hammers. With a gentle squeeze, he crushed the hammers into pieces. ¡°Your toy can¡¯t hurt me!¡± A surge of unnamed fury rose in Chen Yu¡¯s heart, and he slapped his palm onto Wang Sanhu¡¯s shoulder. The overmuscular body immediately flew backwards, harshly crashing into the melon field. Old Man Wang swallowed hard, not daring to let out a breath. His biggest support had been his son, and his son¡¯s intimidation was why he could be so arrogant and domineering. Now that his son had been sent flying, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with them any further; he compared the sample he had extracted from the patient¡¯s body with the revered meat. Although there were some similarities in the composition, there were still many differences. The substance in the patient¡¯s body was teeming with a large amount of fungi and viruses, resembling some kind of hybrid. But the Tai Sui in front of him was purely fungal, with most of its content being purely natural proteins. Continue reading on Novgo.com [System warning, mutated protein chain end detected] [Once combined with the human body, it will absorb the surrounding environment and mutate] The system¡¯s prompt sounded in an instant, and made a specific analysis of the Tai Sui flesh in front of him and the sample next to it. That was not any ordinary Tai Sui meat, but a protein mutant that had accumulated over the years. If people were to consume this, it would mutate within their bodies and eventually kill them. Chen Yu was immediately enraged, turned around, grabbed old Wang by the collar, and lifted him high. ¡°Do you know what this is? You even dare to sell it at a high price here. If the people in the town eat this Tai Sui of yours, it wouldn¡¯t take long before they would all die.¡± Old Wang was scared out of his wits. Trapped in the town for so long, where had he ever seen a real Tai Sui? The first time he found this stuff, he simply identified it against the books left by his ancestors and then cut off a part of it to sell. The townspeople had never seen such a thing either, but once they heard it was Tai Sui meat, they scrambled to purchase it. To them, this was a rare and precious commodity. Most of the townspeople were in poor health, with many suffering from malnutrition. If they could eat a bite of Tai Sui meat, it would be a significant tonic for them. ¡°What has that got to do with me? It¡¯s they who insisted on coming here to buy.¡± Old Wang argued and struggled to break free from Chen Yu¡¯s grasp. But Chen Yu¡¯s grip was like iron pliers, impossible to escape. ¡°Old man, I don¡¯t want to waste words with you. This thing is highly harmful to human bodies. You¡¯d better recall carefully, just how many people have bought this stuff?¡± Old Wang¡¯s breathing became extremely rapid, and he pointed to a melon shed not far away. ¡°There is a ledger there. I¡¯ve recorded clearly who bought what and how much.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he dragged the old man over directly. According to the ledger, no less than fifty people had eaten Tai Sui meat. After recording the contents of the ledger, Chen Yu handed it over to Liu Zhongxiang and Li Guokai. ¡°You two, hurry to these people¡¯s homes. If they haven¡¯t eaten it yet, you must stop them. If they have eaten it, gather them together. I will come later to treat them.¡± Both had seen what became of those who ate Tai Sui and dared not delay, immediately setting out to do the task. Chen Yu stayed behind, using the system to cover the entire melon field. It didn¡¯t take long before he discovered more than a dozen pieces of Tai Sui beneath the melon field. Most of these Tai Sui had been dug out and hidden in one place. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked back coldly at the father and son, then went to a hiding spot and set a fire. Old Wang¡¯s mouth fell open wide, and he collapsed to the ground, limp. He felt as if Chen Yu were like a deity, knowledgeable about everything in the melon field, even what he was thinking in his head. ¡°Old man, all these things are harmful. Today, I¡¯ll cleanse them for you! If I hadn¡¯t come today, you probably would have eaten Tai Sui too. If you feel something is wrong with your body, come and find me immediately.¡± Chapter 476 - Chapter 476: Herbal Medicine Auction Special Chapter 476: Herbal Medicine Auction Special Watching the raging fire in front of him, Old Man Wang almost collapsed. He had painstakingly hidden these ginseng roots together to fetch a good price, and now, they had been burned to ashes. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about such things. He only left after confirming that all the ginseng roots had been completely burned. The town square was bustling. The supplies brought by Zhang Hu and Li Qiang had also been distributed, and everyone was showing happy expressions. However, some were crying and cursing the father and son of the Wang family. Several dozen beds had been set up in the middle of the square, and the patients lying on them looked identical to the boy from before. Chen Yu saw many people kneeling on the ground, continuously kowtowing and begging him to save their family members. It was apparent that these people were extremely anxious; many of the fallen were pillars of their households, while others were the sole hope of their families. In a small town like this, the mainstay of a family and the future heir were extremely important. Once these people were gone, a family would be shattered. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing before approaching the patients and scanning their bodies with the system. Just as he had analyzed before, although these people seemed to have similar symptoms on the surface, their bodies each had different pathological changes. It appeared that the ginseng flesh had mutated under specific conditions and taken root within these people¡¯s bodies. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry. I will cure all the patients. Please remain quiet,¡± he said. As these words were spoken, the scene instantly became silent, and all eyes were filled with hope as they looked at Chen Yu. The initial steps were the same for all, to expel the toxins from the patients¡¯ bodies and then apply a plaster to treat their unique conditions, followed by the surgical stage. This was the more difficult process, as some had vital locations affected by pathological changes, and any carelessness could be fatal. Chen Yu took an entire day to perform surgeries on the forty-eight patients. Even with his physical condition, he felt somewhat fatigued. However, these people hadn¡¯t been completely rid of the disease¡¯s root; they needed some special medicinal herbs for a full recovery. After suturing the last patient¡¯s wound, Chen Yu stood on the high platform in the middle of the square. ¡°Everyone, the initial treatment of your family members has ended. You should take them home and take good care of them. Remember, don¡¯t eat any of the previously mentioned ginseng meat! Also, don¡¯t give them any medicine, and wait for my return.¡± The people present nodded, not daring to be negligent. After Chen Yu gave a few more instructions, he got into the truck parked beside. Zhang Hu immediately went to the driver¡¯s seat, a look of concern on his face. ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t you want to rest a bit before leaving?¡± He had been there the whole day, looking after the patients and helping record the supplies the townspeople needed. Such an overload of work would have left most people flat on their backs by now. Chen Yu shook his head: ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just sleep a bit in the car. Drive slowly. As long as we make it on time, we¡¯ll be fine for the medicinal herb auction.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Zhang Hu started the vehicle, moving forward slowly. He had had a good day¡¯s sleep and was feeling quite refreshed. When Chen Yu woke up again, they had already arrived at the underground market¡¯s parking garage. Qin Mingxue had arranged for someone to be here early to meet them. ¡°Mr. Chen, Miss Qin has been waiting for a long time. She said to go straight to the VIP hall once you arrived.¡± Chen Yu nodded and asked Zhang Hu to go purchase the supplies first, while he followed the person to the underground market. Qin Mingxue always took each medicinal herb auction very seriously. She had specially selected an area and combined it with the original auction venue, even arranging for dozens of herbal medicine experts. At the corner of the third floor was a fairly well-decorated room. Qin Mingxue had been waiting there early. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve finally arrived. If you were one more day late, you would have missed the auction.¡± Chen Yu offered a slight smile and sat down next to her, casually pouring himself a glass of white wine. Even though he had driven slowly on the way here, the car still jolted terribly. He hadn¡¯t slept well and still looked worse for wear. Qin Mingxue didn¡¯t say much but blushed and sat down close to Chen Yu. Soon after, an old man dressed in ancient-style clothing walked in slowly. ¡°Great-niece, after attending so many medicinal herb appreciation conferences, it¡¯s only your events that can pique my interest! What good herbs do you have this time?¡± Enjoy new adventures at Novgo Qin Mingxue quickly rose to her feet, ¡°For this auction, I¡¯ve put in a lot of effort, inviting people from far and wide, and I¡¯ve also brought back a lot of herbs.¡± The old man chuckled, just about to sit down when he noticed Chen Yu sitting there. ¡°Who is this young man? Why is he in your room? I remember this room is for your exclusive use; you never allow outsiders in.¡± Qin Mingxue hurriedly pulled the old man over to Chen Yu. ¡°Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Chen Yu. It was he who helped me get rid of that bastard Fang Zhanbo.¡± The old man was somewhat surprised; Fang Zhanbo had enormous influence in Jiang City, and nobody dared to oppose him openly. Being able to get rid of Fang Zhanbo was enough to show Chen Yu¡¯s extraordinary capabilities. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is my distant uncle, Qin Tianfeng, who is also the president of the Medical Association of the Southeastern five provinces.¡± Chen Yu nodded and politely extended his hand. Unexpectedly, Qin Tianfeng had no intention of shaking hands and just harrumphed before sitting to the side. ¡°Young man, this is a special session for the medicinal herb auction. No matter how impressive you are in other areas, it does not qualify you to participate in this auction.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected Qin Tianfeng to be so condescending. He did not say much more, simply leaning back in his chair, looking through the one-way glass at the podium. A large LCD screen hung on the left side of the room, showing a clear view of what was happening on the podium. Qin Mingxue was clearly a bit embarrassed, caught between her distant uncle and Chen Yu. She had intended to introduce the two men to each other, and it had not crossed her mind that it would turn out like this, but, upon reflection, Qin Tianfeng was indeed being rather unreasonable. Qin Mingxue instinctively moved to sit by Chen Yu, wanting to say a few words of comfort. Just at that moment, Qin Tianfeng suddenly stood up excitedly. On the LCD screen, a palm-sized fire-colored Lingzhi appeared. ¡°My heavens, I haven¡¯t seen a fire Lingzhi of such pure quality for many years. Great-niece, you¡¯re amazing! Even something like this you managed to acquire, this auction is sure to be a success!¡± Chapter 477 - Chapter 477 Fire Lingzhi Chapter 477 Fire Lingzhi Qin Mingxue had a smile on her face. Indeed, this time she had invested heavily, putting to use the connections and capital she had amassed in the underground trading market over decades. It was all because she had found out that Chen Yu was a doctor and had even established a medicinal herb processing park. Although the Fire Lingzhi was precious, it was nothing extraordinary among all the medicinal herbs. Qin Tianfeng strode up to the television, observing all the details of the Fire Lingzhi carefully. ¡°Niece, I just happen to need this item. Could you cancel the auction and just give it to me?¡± Qin Mingxue found herself in a tight spot. She understood her uncle¡¯s nature¡ªhe was one to take advantage of any opportunity. However, his expertise in appraising medicinal herbs was top-notch in the industry, which meant he had to be invited to an auction of this level. ¡°Uncle, this is only the first item in the auction. If we rashly withdraw it now, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to continue with the rest of the auction,¡± she said. Qin Tianfeng didn¡¯t care about that at all¡ªhis greedy eyes were revolting. Chen Yu swirled the wine in his glass. ¡°Mr. Qin, may I ask what level of master in medicinal herb appraisal you are?¡± Qin Tianfeng turned his head with disdain, ¡°My level? A junior like you has no right to know.¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this Fire Lingzhi seems to be pieced together¡ªonly half of it is real; the other half is just ordinary Lingzhi.¡± Qin Tianfeng jerked his body and leaned forward, nearly pressing his face against the screen to observe. Indeed, there was a crack in the middle of the Lingzhi that was barely noticeable to the naked eye. He suddenly felt angry and found it hard to save face. Even after observing so closely for so long, he had failed to spot the flaw, whereas Chen Yu had merely glanced at it and saw everything clearly. After coughing a few times to ease the embarrassment on his face, Qin Tianfeng put on an elder¡¯s air and returned to his seat on the sofa. ¡°Niece, this is where you¡¯re wrong. A good auction, and you put a fake Lingzhi up for sale?¡± Qin Mingxue pursed her lips, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s already stated very clearly in the brief that this is a pieced-together Fire Lingzhi. Didn¡¯t you see it?¡± Qin Tianfeng paused, hastily adjusting his glasses to look at the brief next to him. All the information was indeed clearly stated there. The awkwardness on his face intensified, and he grabbed the teacup to gulp down a mouthful with a vengeance. But Chen Yu felt it strange¡ªa master in medicinal herb appraisal couldn¡¯t possibly miss such an obvious flaw, could he? After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu immediately used the system to scan the other person¡¯s brain information. Sure enough, the man was a fraud! He had merely obtained an ancient medical book and, with its rare medicinal herb introductions, infiltrated the Medical Association. Then he had bought a fake diploma to climb to his current position. Chen Yu frowned, curious about the medical book. What kind of book was it that could help a worthless man climb so high? Discover hidden stories at Novgo The next auction item was a turmeric root! This item was very rare, said to be the ancestor of ginger, usually found in deep mountains and forests. Under certain specific conditions, it was even more powerful than ginseng and could even resurrect the dead. Such a large piece, if placed in an outside auction, would start at no less than five million. Chen Yu¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. The people in the town were still suffering from lingering illness, some with diseases that had penetrated deep into their bones, beyond the reach of common herbs. If he could take this item back, it would certainly bring significant benefits. He immediately waved over a server, signaling them to place a bid. Qin Tianfeng, however, hesitated. Having suffered a great loss on the Lingzhi, he had become extremely cautious, no longer daring to speak rashly. Subconsciously, he glanced at the brief introduction beside him. A hundred-year-old turmeric, a treasure wherever it might be, he licked his lips, and greed instantly surfaced in his eyes. Just as he was about to ask Qin Mingxue to let him have it, the auctioneer on the stage suddenly brought down the hammer. It turned out that Chen Yu had snapped up the turmeric for eight million. Qin Tianfeng itched with hatred, feeling an impulse to tear Chen Yu into shreds. When the next auction item was presented, Chen Yu once again stood up, waving over a server. Without a second thought, Qin Tianfeng promptly stood up as well. ¡°Niece, how about you let me have this item? I¡¯ll buy it with cash!¡± Qin Mingxue was taken aback, ¡°Uncle, are you sure you want to buy this?¡± Qin Tianfeng had already become somewhat irrational. Chen Yu had called over a server earlier and had bought the precious turmeric. If he was making a move again, that must mean this item was definitely not ordinary. ¡°Of course, just name your price!¡± Qin Mingxue suddenly felt a little embarrassed, ¡°Since Uncle really wants to buy it, I¡¯ll let it go for two hundred thousand.¡± Qin Tianfeng transferred the money without hesitation. Before long, a server came reverently into the room with a small box in hand. Qin Tianfeng quickly rotated the beads in his hand and eagerly opened the box, only to discover that it contained some secret-recipe Western Ointment. At first glance, one could tell that it was made using ancient methods, though complex, in the end, it was still Western Ointment with no significant difference in efficacy. In other words, he had spent two hundred thousand on a box of fire-relieving goods. Not ¡°Niece, this is a bit unkind of you, isn¡¯t it? This kind of Western Ointment can be found everywhere on the streets, and yet you¡¯re selling it for two hundred thousand.¡± Qin Mingxue spread her hands, ¡°Uncle, the selling point of this product is its craftsmanship, and the starting bid was four hundred thousand. I already gave you a fifty percent discount.¡± Qin Tianfeng felt like crying but had no tears; no matter how special the craftsmanship of the Western Ointment was, the end product was only slightly more effective at best. He knew dozens of methods to make Western Ointment. Bought, this thing was essentially useless to him. Subconsciously, he looked up and saw that Chen Yu had only requested some snacks from the server. Qin Tianfeng took several deep breaths, angrily slammed the Western Ointment on the floor, and continued to gaze at the large screen. The subsequent auction items were very ordinary, mainly in terms of quantity. Moreover, Qin Tianfeng also became wary and was not willing to bid rashly. During this time, Chen Yu frequently asked servers for more food. After completing surgery in the small town and arriving at the marketplace, he hadn¡¯t eaten a single meal and was truly hungry. Distressed, Qin Tianfeng stopped observing Chen Yu on purpose. Just as his gaze returned to the large screen, a server approached Chen Yu with a translucent blood-colored fruit in hand. The rich aroma instantly spread, and it was actually a supremely pure Lingzhi fruit! Chapter 478 - Chapter 478: The Hundred Spirits Fruit Chapter 478: The Hundred Spirits Fruit In the Spring and Autumn period, there were already records and legends of the Bai Ling Fruit, and it was said that the divine doctor, Bian Que, once used it to revive Duke Cai Ling, who was on the brink of death. Find more to read at Novgo One can say that it is a treasure beyond price. When looking at the auction list, Qin Tianfeng had already noticed it and intended to provide support during the auction to take it away. But, having lost focus for a moment, the item ended up in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°Chen, aren¡¯t you going too far?¡± Qin Tianfeng suddenly stood up and approached Chen Yu, ¡°It was bad enough you bought a century-old turmeric, but now you also want to take this? This is my grandniece¡¯s treasured asset.¡± A surge of nameless rage instantly rose in Chen Yu¡¯s heart. ¡°This is an auction, where everyone can participate in the bidding. Besides, I¡¯ve already had the server go and make an offer, is there a problem?¡± Qin Mingxue quickly stood up to stop Qin Tianfeng. ¡°Uncle, Mr. Chen did indeed buy it with his own money, and it was the highest bid in the room. Didn¡¯t you see the big screen just now?¡± Qin Tianfeng didn¡¯t know what to do for a moment; all his attention had been on Chen Yu, not the big screen. Suddenly, the social event descended into chaos. A security staff member rushed into the room in a flurry. ¡°Boss Hu, there¡¯s been an incident. A VIP suddenly fainted in the hall. It looks like acute heart disease, and they¡¯re barely hanging on.¡± Qin Mingxue immediately tensed up, ¡°Send the doctor we¡¯ve invited here right away. We must save the person.¡± In a market like this underground trading venue, the occasional death is hardly anything unusual, but under such special circumstances, not a single mishap can be afforded. The ones who attend these auctions are all big shots; should anyone of them encounter an incident, the underground market would face endless trouble. Chen Yu shoved the food on the table into his mouth and took a sip of white wine before hurriedly descending the stairs. He had already scanned the situation in the hall with his system; although the person was suffering from acute heart disease, it wasn¡¯t serious. With emergency treatment within five minutes, there was still a glimmer of hope for survival. No sooner had he reached the bottom of the stairs than Qin Tianfeng hurried into the hall in a panic. This was the perfect moment for him to demonstrate his abilities. Even though many of his certificates were bought, the book he carried didn¡¯t only contain knowledge of medicinal materials but also some secret medical recipes. It was by relying on these recipes that he had secured his current status. And as for cases of acute heart disease, he had dealt with quite a few. Chen Yu saw Qin Tianfeng¡¯s flustered figure and couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. He had already scanned this guy¡¯s brain information, knowing him like the back of his hand. The patient in the hall had a heart slightly different from a normal person¡¯s; a slight deviation meant that if treated with the knowledge in Qin Tianfeng¡¯s head, it wouldn¡¯t cure the illness and could even result in the patient¡¯s death. Without saying much, Chen Yu just moved a chair and sat near the patient. For this auction, Qin Mingxue had exhausted much effort; the venue was fully equipped with all necessary devices, even the on-site emergency doctor was an expert from the city center hospital. Qin Tianfeng went straight to the scene and pushed the two experts aside. ¡°You two, do you even know how to treat a patient? How can you use such basic emergency treatment on someone with acute heart disease?¡± This scolding left the two doctors stunned on the spot. After all, they were experts who had handled similar cases many times over. Could they really be wrong? With an air of arrogance, Qin Tianfeng took out a certification from his person and handed it over. The two experts immediately looked at each other with respect on their faces. ¡°So it¡¯s the esteemed Mr. Qin. Since you¡¯re here, we won¡¯t show off our mediocre skills in your presence. Please, sir, treat the patient quickly.¡± Qin Tianfeng held his head high, rolling up his sleeves in a showy manner, and placed one hand on the patient¡¯s chest cavity. ¡°Bring the needles!¡± The doctor beside him quickly passed over a set of needles. Qin Tianfeng made some gestures over the patient¡¯s body and then stuck two silver needles into the left side of the chest cavity. If it were a normal case of acute heart disease, this treatment method wouldn¡¯t be incorrect. Just two more needles below the left side of the chest, and the patient would wake up. Unfortunately, this time it was beyond Qin Tianfeng¡¯s knowledge. As he inserted the needles, the patient¡¯s body suddenly began convulsing violently, spitting out mouthfuls of blood. The people present immediately became chaotic, even Qin Tianfeng¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He had saved many patients with this method; why wasn¡¯t it working now? ¡°Mr. Qin, you really have the guts to practice medicine outside with just a medical book as your guide!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s languid voice made Qin Tianfeng¡¯s body tremble violently. No one besides himself knew about that medical book he carried on him. Before he could speak, Chen Yu had already pushed him aside, squatted down, pulled out the four needles from the patient, and then fiercely pressed a finger on the patient¡¯s neck. The patient, who had just been convulsing, immediately calmed down. ¡°Sir, curing a disease is not about one trick working for everything! You have to change your methods according to the foundation of the pathology and the changes in the patient¡¯s body!¡± These words were a blatant lesson, making Qin Tianfeng¡¯s face turn crimson with embarrassment. Still, he tried his best to maintain his master¡¯s demeanor. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. This patient is at death¡¯s door, and most of his cardiac functions have necrotized and cannot work normally. Even if a more capable doctor came, his death would be certain.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than the patient suddenly sat up, gasping for air. ¡°You old fool are the one talking nonsense; I was conscious just now! Those needles you stuck almost killed me. If it weren¡¯t for this young master¡¯s timely treatment, I would have been done in by you.¡± All those present widened their eyes, staring at Qin Tianfeng with strange looks. They had all heard stories about this medical predecessor; there were many legends about him in the Medical Association. But now, a significant blunder had occurred. And the young man beside him seemed to be far more skilled in medicine. A few journalists immediately surrounded them. ¡°Mr. Qin, can you explain what happened just now? Was it a decline in your medical skills, or is the younger generation too formidable?¡± ¡°Young master, where did you learn your medical skills?¡± ¡°Young master, what did you mean by saying ¡¯Mr. Qin resorting to the same trick¡¯? Could you elaborate?¡± ¡­ The scene immediately became chaotic, and Qin Tianfeng didn¡¯t know how to respond, so he hurriedly pushed through the crowd back to the room on the third floor. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer; continuing would only hinder the progress of the auction. Chapter 479 - Chapter 479: Fake Credentials Chapter 479: Fake Credentials The small interlude added even more excitement to the auction, especially with the appearance of Chen Yu which thrilled everyone present. It wasn¡¯t because they knew Chen Yu¡¯s true identity, but having such a renowned physician on site at least ensured their safety. Before long, the organizer¡¯s auction ended, and it was time for the guest auction. The format of this auction wasn¡¯t simply Qin Mingxue and her party auctioning items off. Guests who came to the auction brought a variety of items, taking advantage of this platform to sell them. The atmosphere in the room on the third floor was somewhat awkward. Qin Tianfeng glared at Chen Yu, breathing heavily. Qin Mingxue, on the other hand, sat there leisurely sipping her milk tea. She had always found her distant uncle displeasing, always looking to take some treasures with her everytime she visited. Considering they were relatives, it wouldn¡¯t have been appropriate to say much, but this time Chen Yu had avenged her in a satisfying way. ¡°Young man, just who exactly are you?¡± Qin Tianfeng¡¯s tone became gentle, as he knew that Chen Yu¡¯s identity must be extraordinary. Chen Yu, however, had no desire to engage and just sat there, minding his own business and eating. Qin Mingxue coughed twice and put down her milk tea. ¡°I forgot to give you a detailed introduction. This Mr. Chen is the designated heir of the Tong Group in the imperial capital, and also an honorary director of the Childe Family.¡± The string of beads in Qin Tianfeng¡¯s hand clattered to the ground. He had never dreamed that Chen Yu would have such an identity. Before he could recover from his shock, Qin Mingxue approached Chen Yu with some embarrassment. ¡°Mr. Chen, could you please show your medical practitioner¡¯s license, or any other identification, to my uncle?¡± Chen Yu was not pretentious, pulling out a bunch of certificates from his person and tossing them onto the table. Honorary President of the Imperial Capital Medical Association, Certificate of Special-Grade Physician, Certificate of Special-Grade Chef, Extra-Departmental Personnel Certificate of Related Departments¡­ A variety of certificates dazzled onlookers. Qin Tianfeng¡¯s body trembled violently, and it seemed he had a sudden realization as he hurried in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Recently, the youngest honorary president was appointed in the Medical Association, could that be you?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I am merely filling in the position temporarily for a few senior gentlemen, when they return I will hand it back to them.¡± Qin Tianfeng gasped, utterly surprised that the Chen Yu sitting before him was actually his superior. ¡°President Chen, I never expected to meet you here. This is my card, from now on I hope you can enlighten me.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious. ¡°Mr. Qin, the Medical Association isn¡¯t somewhere anyone can just muddle through. I¡¯m giving you three months to take and pass the relevant certification exams; otherwise, I¡¯ll have no choice but to kick you out.¡± Qin Tianfeng tried to play dumb. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean? Aren¡¯t my certificates good enough as I¡¯ve been in the field for a long time? Do I still need to take exams?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°You know full well how you got your certificates, and besides, that book of yours has many inaccuracies. Relying solely on the information in that book for practicing medicine, it will only be a matter of time before a big problem occurs.¡± Qin Tianfeng felt a pang of alarm in his heart; he understood that Chen Yu knew everything. ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely get all the necessary proofs ready in the shortest possible time.¡± Seeing Qin Tianfeng in such a state made Qin Mingxue secretly laugh to herself. Somebody was finally going to teach this old-timer a lesson. The auction was quite a success, and by the time it ended, Qin Mingxue had already had the medicinal ingredients Chen Yu needed loaded onto the truck and even managed to sell all the antiques brought over. After a brief rest here, Chen Yu was ready to head back. However, as he and Qin Mingxue just left the underground market, they saw Fang Zhanbo with several trucks waiting not far away. Find adventures on Novgo.com ¡°Miss Qin, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve gone too far? Holding such a large auction and not informing the Fang Family! Moreover, there¡¯s also a rule that thirty percent of the profits from the auction must be transported by our Fang Family. Are you prepared for that?¡± Qin Mingxue was momentarily stunned; indeed, there had once been such a rule, but it was abolished after the last agreement between Chen Yu and Fang Zhanbo. She didn¡¯t expect this guy to come here demanding profits again. ¡°Fang, didn¡¯t we already sign an agreement before? How can you go back on your word?¡± Fang Zhanbo didn¡¯t care about that; he started moving forward with his men to forcibly unload the medicinal ingredients. ¡°Young Master Fang, we meet again!¡± Chen Yu jumped down from the truck, his eyes filled with dominance, making Fang Zhanbo¡¯s body suddenly tremble. ¡°Mr. Chen, you haven¡¯t left yet?¡± Fang Zhanbo was surprised; their lookout had clearly sent back information that Chen Yu had already left! ¡°I have business dealings with Miss Qin. Just because I left, doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t come back, does it?¡± Fang Zhanbo¡¯s breathing suddenly quickened; he had planned to take advantage of Chen Yu¡¯s absence to extort a large sum from Qin Mingxue, but to his surprise, he ran into Chen Yu the moment he arrived. ¡°Mr. Chen, that¡¯s really not cool of you. I helped you solve such a big problem before, yet you don¡¯t even do a few deals with me.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly. The matter with Li Qingfeng wasn¡¯t really a problem; in other places, he would have been treated as a retired athlete by now. Fang Zhanbo was actually trying to morally blackmail him over it. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t having any of it. He stepped forward and grabbed Fang Zhanbo by the shoulder. ¡°I have things to do and don¡¯t want to waste time here! But I still need to tell Young Master Fang, if I want your Fang Family to go bankrupt, it would only take two days. It¡¯s best that you don¡¯t come here to disturb Miss Qin in the future, or don¡¯t blame me for not warning you.¡± Fang Zhanbo felt his heart lurch with fear, knowing full well what Chen Yu was capable of. Just a few days ago, he bankrupted Wang Daming in less than ten minutes, making a hundred billion in funds vanish instantly. The Fang Family¡¯s entire assets didn¡¯t even reach nine hundred billion, nowhere near enough to withstand Chen Yu¡¯s play. ¡°Mr. Chen is joking, of course. I came here to discuss a partnership with Miss Qin and buy some medicinal ingredients from her!¡± The sudden change in tone took even Qin Mingxue by surprise. She never thought that Fang Zhanbo, who acted lawlessly in Jiang City, would one day be as docile as a quail. Chen Yu patted Fang Zhanbo¡¯s shoulder, then pointed two fingers to his own eyes. That meant he was telling Fang Zhanbo, he would be watching him closely in the shadows. Fang Zhanbo¡¯s body shook involuntarily, and he quickly nodded several times before giving way. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger any longer and drove away in the truck, off into the distance. Chapter 480 - Chapter 480: 480 Chapter 480: 480 The small town had stood at the foot of Tianhu Mountain for so many years, yet it had never been as joyful as today. Every household hung up big red lanterns, and the aroma of braised meat filled the entire town. For the past several hundred years, almost everyone had subsisted on chaff and vegetables, with some even starving to death. Now, at last, someone was able to bring them a large amount of supplies and was gradually improving their living facilities. At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the town to become a modernized small city. Liu Zhongxiang and Li Guokai sat anxiously on the high platform in the square, waiting. Although Chen Yu had cured those forty-eight patients, he had not removed the root cause of their illnesses. Only a few hours had passed, and some of those patients were showing signs of relapse¡ªsome writhing in pain, even contemplating suicide. They were all waiting for Chen Yu to bring back the medicine that would completely heal them. No one knew how much time had passed, but two trucks finally arrived at the square. Liu Zhongxiang and Li Guokai hurriedly went to meet them. ¡°Mr. Chen, have you brought back the medicine?¡± Chen Yu nodded and carried a bundle to the middle of the square. ¡°You two, set up a large pot here immediately, then have the families of the patients come to get the medicine.¡± The two of them didn¡¯t dare to delay and immediately went to do as instructed. Before long, a pot was set up in the middle of the square. Chen Yu dumped all the herbs from the bundle into the pot, and a rich medicinal fragrance began to waft across the square. Soon, the families of the patients rushed over in a flurry. Chen Yu adjusted the flame and, after simmering for a full two hours, began to distribute the medicinal soup. Once all the patients had taken the medicine, he ran to each of their homes to check on them, making sure everyone was alright before finally sitting down in the square again. Liu Zhongxiang sat beside him. ¡°Brother Chen, I truly never imagined you could do things I wouldn¡¯t have even dared to dream of.¡± Chen Yu lay back, watching the sky. ¡°Truth be told, I still don¡¯t know what the test given by Heavenly Master Long Tian really is, but at least I can ensure that the people here have a full meal.¡± Liu Zhongxiang chuckled twice and lay down beside Chen Yu in a similar fashion. Just then, Ma Gensheng came running over in a panic. ¡°Disaster has struck! Wang Sanhu caught some illness and is randomly killing innocents with a hammer on the east side of town.¡± Chen Yu sprang to his feet in a panic, having forgotten about that guy. When he left earlier, he had only knocked him out and hadn¡¯t done anything else to him. After so much time, Wang Sanhu must have regained consciousness, and this greedy and cunning father and son pair were definitely going to recover their previous losses from the townspeople. By the time Chen Yu and Liu Zhongxiang arrived on the east side of town, Wang Sanhu stood there bloodied like an asura from hell, surrounded by a dozen or so people sprawled in various positions. These people weren¡¯t dead, but they had been seriously injured. When Chen Yu had knocked Wang Sanhu out earlier, he had broken several of his meridians. This had halved his strength. Otherwise, who knows how many innocent lives would have been lost. ¡°Wang Sanhu, put down the hammer immediately, surrender without a fuss, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± Chen Yu shouted and slowly walked over. He didn¡¯t dare to act rashly, since this guy was in a crazed state now and there was no telling if he would actually kill someone if provoked. Wang Sanhu didn¡¯t care about that and kept swinging the chain hammer in his hands, looking like he was ready to go on a killing spree. ¡°You burned my family¡¯s effigy, cut off our livelihood, and today, if I don¡¯t smash your heads, I am not Wang Sanhu.¡± This guy clearly had a screw loose, holding the hammers in both hands and charging over recklessly. Chen Yu slightly frowned, his eyes full of disdain as he raised his hand and struck out directly. The powerful force between the two erupted, literally sending Wang Sanhu flying. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stop moving; he dashed forward to grab Wang Sanhu and slammed him hard onto the ground. ¡°Everyone in this town is atoning for their sins, yet you and your father have been committing evils. Do you really plan to never leave this town in your lifetime?¡± Wang Sanhu, gasping for breath, said, ¡°My dad said that no matter where we are, our family has to be the leader! Even if we¡¯re trapped in this town for life, we still have to be the bosses here.¡± Chen Yu opened his mouth wide, shocked by this mindset. It seemed he couldn¡¯t leave this father and son in the town any longer. Just then, Old Man Wang came over from not far away, holding a bundle of explosives in his hand. ¡°Let go of my son right now, or I¡¯ll blow up the entire town.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open; he hadn¡¯t expected this old guy to be so vicious. Liu Zhongxiang also became anxious. This town hid the fortunes of Tianhu Mountain, and if it were to be blown up, the consequences would be unthinkable. ¡°Old Man Wang, I advise you not to act recklessly, or the Heavenly Master from the mountain won¡¯t let you off!¡± Old Man Wang gave Liu Zhongxiang a cold look. ¡°My ancestors were just tossed a few graves, and they were captured by those Heavenly Masters and brought here. They never intended to spare the Wang Family! If the Heavenly Masters from the mountain come down, it¡¯s the perfect time for me to demand an explanation from them.¡± Chen Yu was speechless; this was the first time he had encountered such a totally unrepentant rascal who spouted such blatant righteousness. ¡°Old Man Wang, what you have there is just some yellow powder; it doesn¡¯t have enough power to blow up the whole town. Put it down nicely, and I guarantee your son¡¯s safety.¡± Old Man Wang suddenly broke into maniacal laughter. ¡°Since we¡¯re never leaving this town anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter if we both die here. I¡¯m not afraid to tell you, I¡¯ve already planted explosives in every corner of the town. The moment I set off the one in my hand, it¡¯ll trigger a chain reaction.¡± Chen Yu laughed as well. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any sense? With the humidity here, the stuff you¡¯ve bought has already been soaked and won¡¯t work. If you don¡¯t believe me, try lighting it. I¡¯ll wait right here!¡± Old Man Wang was stunned at first, then he subconsciously glanced at the corner. Discover more stories at Novgo.com Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Chen Yu¡¯s figure flashed over, snatched the explosives from his hand, and pressed another hand down on his shoulder, pinning him firmly to the ground. Liu Zhongxiang and Ma Gensheng quickly came forward to move the seriously injured villagers to safety. Old Man Wang regained his senses. ¡°You little scoundrel, you actually dare to trick me! Just wait, one day, I will twist off your head and kick it like a ball.¡± Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air and pressed on Old Man Wang¡¯s back, knocking him out cold. At that moment, a young Taoist arrived in a flurry. ¡°Mr. Chen, Heavenly Master Long Tian requests your presence on the mountain!¡± Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: The New Sect Leader Chapter 481: The New Sect Leader Tianhu Mountain was inexplicably draped in white canvases from its foot to its peak. As Chen Yu ascended the mountain, he found many people kneeling at the roadside, weeping. He asked the little Daoist by his side several times, but the other didn¡¯t respond, simply urging him to hurry up the mountain. Beneath the Sanqing Hall on the mountain summit, numerous disciples of the Xuanqing Sect knelt in reverence, reciting Taoist Scriptures. When Chen Yu entered the great hall, he saw Heavenly Master Long Tian sitting on a cushion, his face adorned with a faint smile. ¡°Heavenly Master!¡± Chen Yu called out, then approached Long Tian. ¡°Child, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± Long Tian appeared extremely weak as he lifted a finger and touched Chen Yu¡¯s forehead. ¡°What you did in the village was very good, you have passed my test, and from now on, you are the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Chen Yu felt bewildered; since he had arrived at Tianhu Mountain, he had stayed in the village and seemed to have done nothing¡ªyet he had become the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s Sect Leader just like that! Before he could gather his thoughts, the disciples kneeling outside the Sanqing Hall began to shout in unison. ¡°Greetings to the Sect Leader!¡± Those disciples who had troubled him earlier now bore faces full of respect, showing not the slightest dissent. Chen Yu adjusted his breathing, ¡°Heavenly Master, I¡¯m just an outsider, isn¡¯t it inappropriate for me to become the Sect Leader?¡± Heavenly Master Long Tian laughed heartily. ¡°You are no outsider, in my eyes, you are a man of the Dao! Although I do not know the secrets you carry, I do know that the Xuanqing Sect will have a brighter future under your leadership.¡± Before Chen Yu could react, a specially made jade Token was thrust into his hand. ¡°After I ascend to heaven, the Xuanqing Sect will be yours!¡± Read latest stories on Novgo.com As the words fell, the radiance on Long Tian¡¯s face quickly faded, his body shriveled, and in the end, he turned into dust and disappeared without a trace. Two elderly Heavenly Masters at his side immediately stepped forward to drape Long Tian¡¯s purple Taoist robe over Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader, if I may be so bold, what is your first decree after becoming Sect Leader?¡± Chen Yu was still in a daze, everything in front of him felt like a dream; he had become the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s Sect Leader without any preparation. The two ever-high-and-mighty Heavenly Masters were now respectfully asking him what his decree was. Shaking his head, Chen Yu tried to remain composed. ¡°Then, let¡¯s lift the punishment for Liu Zhongxiang and allow him to return to the Xuanqing Sect!¡± The two Heavenly Masters showed no hesitation and immediately sent someone to carry out the order. Chen Yu took a deep breath, feeling an indescribable sensation of power rise within him. A single sentence from him could determine someone¡¯s fate. However, he didn¡¯t wallow in it and quickly suppressed the feeling. ¡°Please assist me in arranging Heavenly Master Long Tian¡¯s funeral at the earliest convenience.¡± All present answered affirmatively, and then the two Heavenly Masters helped Chen Yu to the back of the great hall. ¡°Sect Leader, please rest here for a while. Tomorrow, the Sect Leaders of various branches of the Xuanqing Sect will come here to attend the funeral. Those folks have been away from Tianhu Mountain for too long and are quite arrogant and overbearing. It would be best for the Sect Leader to avoid them as much as possible tomorrow.¡± Chen Yu frowned involuntarily. He was now the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect; could those branch Sect Leaders really be so presumptuous in front of him? As he was about to inquire further, the two Heavenly Masters got up and left the place. With a face full of frustration, Chen Yu could only sit down on a chair beside him. Just as he was about to take a rest, he suddenly discovered something hidden within the armrest. He quickly turned the armrest down and found a letter left behind. By the signature, it seemed to be from Long Tian, the Heavenly Master. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but get excited, thinking it was some instructions left by Long Tian, the Heavenly Master, for dealing with the funeral tomorrow. But when he opened it, he was surprised to find that it was actually a set of succession rules for the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect. Aside from the direct disciples of the Sect Leader, the sect branch leaders also had the right to succeed the position. Chen Yu immediately understood the intentions of those two Heavenly Masters from earlier. It looked like tomorrow¡¯s funeral would not go smoothly, as the branch Sect Leaders probably intended to vie for the Grandmaster position. A wry smile crossed Chen Yu¡¯s face as he tucked away the letter, then leaned back and began to sleep. At this time in the early morning, the entire Tianhu Mountain was bustling with activity as the residents at the foot of the mountain rushed up to send off Heavenly Master Long Tian. The branch Sect Leaders, who were often away from the main sect, gathered their disciples and crowded into Tianhu Mountain. Chen Yu sat loftily in the main seat, listlessly watching the people in the square. These people had dark looks on their faces, and as soon as they reached the square, they sat down cross-legged with an air of arrogance. ¡°Who would have thought the position of Grandmaster would fall into the hands of a wet behind the ears kid!¡± ¡°Who knows what was going through Long Tian, the Heavenly Master¡¯s mind, hastily picking an outsider to be the Sect Leader. How is that supposed to convince anyone?¡± ¡°In any case, we have to stir up some trouble for him. I want to see just what abilities this new Sect Leader has.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve brought along some new tricks this time, enough to give the new Sect Leader a run for his money!¡± ¡­ These guys didn¡¯t bother to disguise their voices; it seemed like they intentionally wanted to be overheard. Chen Yu, with a look of frustration on his face, sat in his chair. Yesterday, he had experienced the pleasure of being a Sect Leader, but today, he felt like a duck being roasted over a fire. ¡°The funeral ceremony for the old Sect Leader now begins!¡± The presiding Heavenly Master shouted, and the venue instantly fell silent. Everyone stood up, closed their eyes, and respectfully recited the Taoist Scriptures. The Taoist funeral ceremony was very simple. For someone of Long Tian¡¯s stature, once returned to heaven, the physical body would dissipate, returning to dust, thus requiring no coffin or excessive rituals. After the ceremony, a tall Heavenly Master jumped directly into the middle of the square. ¡°To be the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, you¡¯ve got to have some skills. I am Liu Daotong, the branch Sect Leader from Dongyue! I¡¯ve come to test the skills of the new Sect Leader.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t expected these guys to act so soon. With no other choice, he also rose from his seat. ¡°Heavenly Master Liu, I¡¯ve only learned a few basic skills. Please show mercy,¡± Chen Yu said. Liu Daotong laughed heartily: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we are fellow sect members after all. I won¡¯t hurt you. But if you lose, you¡¯ll have to relinquish your position as Sect Leader.¡± Without a second thought, Chen Yu immediately agreed. Liu Daotong became instantly excited. He already had the right to inherit the position of Grandmaster, and now, with Chen Yu agreeing to the duel, the Sect Leader position seemed within easy reach. After all, what could a twenty-something-year-old chap amount to? ¡°Then, please be careful, new Sect Leader!¡± Liu Daotong shouted and rushed forward. Chapter 482 - Chapter 482: Shangri-La Chapter 482: Shangri-La The crowd on site immediately became excited and stood up to watch. What surprised them was that Liu Daotong fell to the ground and started convulsing the moment he came into contact with Chen Yu, as if he had been electrocuted. The several Sect Leaders looked on in disbelief. Liu Daotong was the most skilled in martial arts among them, and his physical fitness had even reached the human limit. They had not expected him to be defeated so easily! ¡°No, this kid must have cheated!¡± Someone shouted, and all the Sect Leaders sprang up, leaping into the center of the plaza. Without regard to rank, they ran directly to Chen Yu and started searching him. But after a long search, they found nothing. Chen Yu sighed lightly and took two steps back. ¡°Since you all have come up, why not come at me together, to save trouble!¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes widened in shock; they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to dare such a provocation. A few were so enraged that they charged at him all together. The Sect Leaders of the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s branches were all being cultivated as potential future Grandmasters. Every one of them had reached the peak of human physical fitness without exception, and to a certain extent, they could even perform some supernatural feats. The so-called experts of the Knights of the Round Table were no match for them at all. This time, Chen Yu didn¡¯t use his system¡¯s electric current but assumed a stance, ready to fight them fair and square. After several system upgrades, his body had long surpassed human limits. Now was the perfect time to test just how powerful he had become against these Sect Leaders. When the two sides collided, the sound of metal clanging, as if their bodies were made of steel, rang out. Under the gaze of the crowd, Chen Yu held his own, and at times, he even gained the upper hand. As time passed, all the Sect Leaders grew increasingly alarmed; they could never have imagined that someone in their twenties or thirties could be so powerful. As two Heavenly Masters became exhausted and were flung away by Chen Yu, the rest retreated in unison and stopped there. By now, they were thoroughly convinced. Physical fitness is the foundation of a Sect Leader; without it, one would not be qualified to lead. The rest of the Daoist scriptures could be learned slowly over time. The various Sect Leaders exchanged glances and then knelt down respectfully. ¡°We pay homage to the Sect Leader!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he had thought that after the commotion, these people would come up with various ways to embarrass him. He did not expect that after just one fight, they would acknowledge him. ¡°Please rise!¡± Chen Yu quickly went forward to help them up: ¡°I am still young and not very familiar with the rules within the Xuanqing Sect. I will need the help of my seniors in the future.¡± The crowd was taken aback, as they had not expected Chen Yu to be so modest. The Xuanqing Sect was the top-ranking mysterious organization in the world, and it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal for its Sect Leader to be a bit arrogant. But Chen Yu seemed to have no such inclination. When the assembly concluded, many of the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s elders gathered together, and Chen Yu naturally took the principal seat. ¡°Grandmaster, we received an invitation the day before yesterday. It¡¯s a banquet hosted by the Knights of the Round Table, and many organizations will attend. The Xuanqing Sect is no exception. How would you like to arrange things?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, as such a banquet was the most high-end gathering in the world, and many people would never have the chance to appear at the venue in their entire lives. ¡°Would any of you like to accompany me?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present stared at Chen Yu with a strange look. Liu Daotong respectfully stood up, ¡°Sect Leader, matters of this mundane nature are usually handled personally by the grandmasters, never bringing anyone with them. This is the rule of the Xuanqing Sect.¡± It was then that Chen Yu remembered, back in the Eastern Ming Gorge, it seemed that he had only seen Heavenly Master Long Tian alone. Your journey continues with Novgo.com ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll go alone.¡± Liu Daotong extended his hand again, ¡°Please select a few people to accompany you, Sect Leader. We will not enter the banquet with you, but we must deploy outside to ensure your safety.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°No need, I can ensure my own safety! Moreover, if so many of us go together, what if we¡¯re all taken out in one swoop?¡± The others didn¡¯t know what to say, just exchanged glances and fell silent. Since Chen Yu had made up his mind, they could only comply. There is a mysterious sea area in the eastern hemisphere, where the magnetic fields and terrain are extremely peculiar, causing ships and planes passing through mysteriously to disappear. In the center of this area, there was an archipelago. All the small islands were connected, and the architecture on them was magnificently imposing, looking like a small kingdom from afar. This was the secret base of the Knights of the Round Table. However, they did not conduct any experiments here, instead, this place served as an upscale venue for hosting guests and gatherings. The banquet this time was held here. After leaving Tianhu Mountain, Chen Yu was taken to the seaside and boarded a very special ship. More precisely, a submarine. The people responsible for greeting Chen Yu stood stunned upon seeing him. After several confirmations, they welcomed Chen Yu into the cabin. ¡°Mr. Chen, aren¡¯t you one of the Knights of the Round Table? Since when did you become the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect?¡± A middle-aged man, rather sycophantic, sat next to Chen Yu. This guy was also considered a core member of the Knights of the Round Table, but when compared to Chen Yu, he was nothing. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem to concern you!¡± Chen Yu swirled his wine glass, his face showing disdain. The man chuckled twice. ¡°I mean no offense, but someone like you, joining the Xuanqing Sect while being a member of the Knights of the Round Table and even becoming the Sect Leader, would be considered a traitor by the Knights! Come back to attend the banquet as the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect¡ªisn¡¯t that courting death?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips curled into a strange arc, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± The man waved his hands frantically, ¡°You can¡¯t say it like that. If word gets out, the people of the Xuanqing Sect won¡¯t let me go.¡± Not daring to say another word, the man hastily returned to his position in the cockpit. The submarine was very fast, and it reached the piers outside the islands in less than a day. When Chen Yu set foot on this land, his eyes were filled with astonishment; he had never dreamt that there could be such a place in the world. Buildings of different styles appeared on the small island at the same time, with various subtropical plants and expanses of lavender everywhere. From a distance, this place seemed like a utopian island. Chapter 483 - Chapter 483 Gemstone Scam Chapter 483 Gemstone Scam ¡°Little brother!¡± Fox ran over excitedly from the side and hugged Chen Yu tightly. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for so long, what have you been busy with? You¡¯ve lost weight!¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, he didn¡¯t believe for a second that this old fox hadn¡¯t arranged for someone to investigate his whereabouts. He probably even knew about him becoming the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect. But the old man just loved to feign ignorance, he looked around and then took two steps toward the dock. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that the revered Sect Leader from Xuanqing Sect would also land here? How come I haven¡¯t seen him? Could my people have made a mistake?¡± Chen Yu directly took out the specially made invitation and handed it over to Fox. ¡°Old sir, there¡¯s no need to look any further, I¡¯m the new Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect!¡± Fox pretended to be surprised. ¡°Oh my, you really bring glory to us Knights of the Round Table, to think that you¡¯ve really become the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect!¡± Discover stories with Novgo.com He reached out and gripped Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, enthusiastically guiding him into the venue nearby. The place was extremely spacious, with people from many world-class organizations arriving there, discussing various business affairs with each other. Suddenly, Chen Yu spotted Jin Lingsu in the crowd. She was probably representing the Lakato Family, surrounded by several people dressed like wizards. Jin Lingsu also saw Chen Yu and immediately came over with her wine glass. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you for ages, wasn¡¯t it said that the banquet was hosted by the Knights of the Round Table? Why didn¡¯t you arrive earlier?¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°Today, I¡¯m not here on behalf of the Knights of the Round Table, but as the representative of Xuanqing Sect!¡± Jin Lingsu seemed surprised; she often mingled among various organizations and was aware of some of their strange rules. For example, when participating in any banquet, the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect would always attend alone. If Chen Yu was here on behalf of Xuanqing Sect, then it proved that he had indeed become the Sect Leader. Immediately, Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes turned complex, filled much more with killing intent. It wasn¡¯t directed at Chen Yu, but rather at Fox standing next to him. ¡°Mr. Fox, Chen and I go way back. Could you give us some privacy?¡± The threat in her voice surprised Fox. Though he represented the Knights of the Round Table, behind Jin Lingsu stood the wizards of the Lakato Family. Ever since the Lakato Family had really unified, their potential had far exceeded that of the Knights of the Round Table. In some ways, they even overshadowed the Knights of the Round Table. Fox immediately released Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder and stepped back. ¡°Of course! Oh, by the way, there will be an appraisal event happening over there later; if you¡¯re interested, you might want to check it out.¡± Fox¡¯s face was filled with smiles, but as he turned around, his expression became laced with murderous intent. Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°You¡¯re now bold enough to confront the Knights of the Round Table!¡± Jin Lingsu took out a badge from her person. ¡°I¡¯m now an honorary wizard of the Lakato Family, eligible to compete for the title of ¡¯Elder of the Mountains¡¯.¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Jin Lingsu to climb so high in the ranks of the Lakato Family after such a long time apart. While they were talking, two young men surreptitiously passed by, each of them hiding a giant glass container in their arms. Inside was a palm-sized Blood Gemstone. ¡°Stop!¡± Jin Lingsu directly intercepted the two men, ¡°Whose subordinates are you? Where did this gemstone come from?¡± The two were startled and hurriedly took out the gemstone. ¡°We just thought the gemstone was beautiful and wanted to take it back, that¡¯s all.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, a gemstone of this quality would be worth at least five hundred million on the market. She was about to speak when the security personnel outside hurried in, took control of the two men, and confiscated the gemstone. Everything seemed fine, but Chen Yu always felt that something was amiss. When he first saw the gemstone, he noticed a strange protective film on its surface, meaning the gemstone was likely fake. Jin Lingsu, with her chin in her hand, walked over to Chen Yu, ¡°Why do I feel like there is a problem here?¡± Chen Yu directly extended the system¡¯s coverage to scan the brain information of the two young men they just encountered. However, to his surprise, the magnetic field was so strong that it interfered with the system¡¯s analysis. As he felt helpless, several bells suddenly rang nearby. The crowd that had been chatting in the hall immediately stood up and moved to the adjoining room. Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu followed them. When they entered, they were immediately stunned by what they saw. The place was embedded with all kinds of gemstones, each cut with extreme precision. Gathering all the world¡¯s gemstones together probably wouldn¡¯t yield so many of uniformly equal size. While everyone marveled, Fox suddenly appeared on the stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, are you dazzled by our gemstones?¡± After stoking the atmosphere a bit, he picked up a palm-sized gemstone from the table. ¡°This is a gemstone that we, the Knights of the Round Table, have just developed. As everyone suspects, it is counterfeit! But I guarantee that even the top jewelry experts wouldn¡¯t be able to discern its authenticity.¡± Chen Yu stood there, stunned; in that moment, he understood everything. Perhaps this so-called banquet was not just a gathering but an attempt to unite all organizations, establish rules, and then divide the world¡¯s riches. The biggest scam in the world is the diamond scam, where a few Western families hold all of the world¡¯s diamond mines in their hands and then create fake news to drive up diamond prices. With such a simple trick, they have deceived humanity for a whole century. Now, Fox wanted to upgrade this scam. In today¡¯s world, people are aware of the diamond scam, causing sales of diamonds to plummet. However, the prices for colored gemstones remain strong. These items are rare treasures produced by the earth¡¯s crust over millions of years. Just one appearance can command a starting price of several hundred million! If today¡¯s meeting is successful, Fox will mass-produce these colored gemstones and flood the market with them to harvest wealth. Considering this, the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth turned up in a cold smile. All members of the Knights of the Round Table were among the world¡¯s top affluent families; they already possessed incomparable wealth, and yet they were here scheming to make money with no bottom line. Fox was now incessantly expounding on the future commercial plans for gemstones from the stage. Members of some organizations immediately signed contracts. Chapter 484 - Chapter 484 Playing Cards Chapter 484 Playing Cards With a sense of resignation, Chen Yu heaved a sigh. He didn¡¯t want to participate in this kind of gathering, but he couldn¡¯t stop it; he had no choice but to turn around and leave the venue. ¡°Mr. Chen, please wait!¡± Fox suddenly shouted and, holding two gemstones, hurriedly approached Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, you are an expert in gemstone appraisal. I have two gemstones here, one is real and one is fake. Can you tell any differences?¡± Chen Yu lifted his finger, pointing to the one on the left. ¡°Actually, synthetic gemstones still have many flaws. If Mr. Fox plans to put such gemstones into the market in large quantities, I¡¯m afraid there will be problems.¡± Fox didn¡¯t care about that. He just chuckled twice and returned to the podium. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, don¡¯t be surprised. This Mr. Chen is not only a member of the Knights of the Round Table but also the newly appointed Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect! It¡¯s not surprising that he could spot the difference, but I can assure you¡­¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to listen to this guy¡¯s nonsense and turned to leave the hall. Just then, a middle-aged man with a somewhat strange appearance, along with several others, entered the venue with a domineering attitude. As soon as he came in, he locked his eyes on Chen Yu. ¡°Are you Chen Yu, Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°Yes, I am. And you are?¡± The man took out something resembling a compass from his person. ¡°I am Luo Qing, the young master of the Luo Hai Organization! We met before in the Dongming Gorge, but at that time, Mr. Chen may not have thought much of me.¡± Chen Yu wasn¡¯t surprised. Back in Dongming Gorge, his system was restricted, and he couldn¡¯t fully utilize his power. It was quite normal that he hadn¡¯t seen this guy. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Chen Yu asked with a smile, but his eyes were already more vigilant. ¡°Nothing in particular. I just heard that Mr. Chen is particularly lucky, so I thought I¡¯d gamble on luck with you.¡± Luo Qing directly had his subordinates bring over two tables and then scattered some cards on the tables. The compass in his hand was placed on the southeast corner of one table. After joining the Xuanqing Sect, Chen Yu had gained an understanding of matters related to luck. This guy placed the compass in the southeast corner to gather luck for himself, which could increase his fortune. Chen Yu scoffed at these little tricks; they were nothing to him. As the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, he was the locus of the energy of heaven and earth. ¡°Then tell me, how do you want to gamble on luck with me?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s words were tinged with mockery. Although his system was affected by magnetic interference, it could still be used at such close range. Luo Qing chuckled softly. Stay connected through Novgo.com ¡°These playing cards have all been specially treated. They won¡¯t retain fingerprints nor leave any trace! Mr. Chen can pick any card he likes. If the number on the card you pick is higher than mine, then I¡¯ll consider myself the loser.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes became even more wary. He had heard of the Luo Hai Organization, a purely family-based enterprise ranked sixth among major organizations. These guys were unscrupulous in their dealings and were notorious for being ruthless and cunning. Each member of the family was known for their sneaky and dangerous reputation. Luo Qing suddenly seeking him out was definitely not just for a simple card game. ¡°Young Master Luo, this game seems too simple. Surely there must be some condition, right?¡± Chen Yu had already scanned all the cards in front of him, ensuring there was nothing wrong with them. However, Luo Qing wore a Bluetooth earpiece on his ear, which seemed to emit some kind of electric current, shielding him from the system¡¯s probe. ¡°Of course, there are conditions!¡± Luo Qing¡¯s mouth curled into a strange arc, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Chen has become the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, and I want that Water Spirit Pearl!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, as the Water Spirit Pearl was a supreme gemstone within the Xuanqing Sect. Although it didn¡¯t have much use, it was a symbol of the sect. This family wanted to take that thing away as soon as they arrived; it seemed they wanted to strike at the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°Young Master Luo has quite the audacity, but to win that bead from my hands, I¡¯m afraid you might not have the capability,¡± Chen Yu retorted. Luo Qing burst into a hearty laugh, ¡°Whether I have the ability or not can be set aside for now, today I just want to see how powerful the new Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect really is?¡± As he spoke, he took out a blood-red bead from his bosom and placed it on the table. ¡°This is my stake, I hope Mr. Chen will give me an opportunity.¡± Chen Yu immediately sat down, raised his hand, and casually drew a playing card. Luo Qing closed his eyes, mumbling a bunch of gibberish, and then drew a card as well. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and flipped his card over directly. When Luo Qing saw the number on the card in Chen Yu¡¯s hand, he was instantly stunned. He had used all the tricks he could, yet he still couldn¡¯t beat Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I should accept my loss according to the rules, and hand over the bead to you! But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to go back on my word today,¡± Luo Qing suddenly stood up, smashed the bead in his hand fiercely, then sprawled onto the ground. ¡°Violence! The Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect is unreasonable!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment; he never dreamed this guy would resort to such shameless tactics. Even Jin Lingsu beside him was dumbstruck. The people from the adjacent hall participating in the gemstone planning were also attracted by the noise here and ran over. When they saw the scene before them, they were immediately stunned. The young master of the Luo Hai family had always been arrogant and domineering, but today he lay on the ground like a hooligan. When they saw Chen Yu, they understood. A member of the Knights of the Round Table, an honored guest of the Lakato Family, and now also the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect. Any of these identities alone were of the highest esteem; Luo Qing was in no position to compare. Fox, too, hurriedly rushed out. ¡°Mr. Chen, Young Master Luo, what exactly is going on here?¡± Luo Qing, as if grasping at a lifeline, clung to Fox¡¯s legs. ¡°Fox, you must seek justice for me! Mr. Chen, taking advantage of his exalted status, has beaten me up! I was only playing cards with him, thinking of taking the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s Water Spirit Pearl, but he smashed our family¡¯s Treasure Bead and said I was unworthy to play with him.¡± This pitiful appearance arouse sympathy in everyone present, even Fox could not help but be moved. In his impression, Chen Yu was not such an overbearing person! ¡°You are talking utter nonsense!¡± Jin Lingsu immediately stepped forward, ¡°It was you who came out of nowhere wanting to play cards, and now that you¡¯ve lost, you¡¯re lying on the ground playing the rogue.¡± The crowd on the scene didn¡¯t know what to do, as both sides held their ground with reasonable arguments. However, on the face of it, Luo Qing did seem more pitiable, with the heirloom Treasure Bead of the Luo Hai organization already shattered beside him. Chapter 485 - Chapter 485: Seeking Medical Help Chapter 485: Seeking Medical Help Chen Yu really wanted to go give this guy a couple of slaps; as a young master of note, shouldn¡¯t he have at least a bit of shame? How could he stoop to such pettiness? The people on the scene were all staring at the two parties with strange looks, none daring to make any rash moves. Not to mention the prestigious status of the two individuals, the families supporting them had already lined up into two rows. As soon as either party spoke a word, both sides would immediately move to action. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and walked straight up to Luo Qing. He grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up. ¡°Young Master Luo, I don¡¯t recall ever offending you. What exactly are you trying to do today?¡± Not a trace of fear appeared on Luo Qing¡¯s face; instead, he even pulled a strange smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I merely wish to borrow Xuanqing Sect¡¯s Water Spirit Pearl for a moment. I hope Mr. Chen will oblige.¡± His voice was kept low as he spoke, for fear of being overheard by others. Chen Yu frowned, looking at Luo Qing, who seemed to be really in urgent need of the Water Spirit Pearl. That object, though the treasured artifact of Xuanqing Sect, wasn¡¯t impossible to bring out. From generation to generation, Sect Leaders would carry the object to use it for healing. It is said that the Water Spirit Pearl had been soaked and refined with over a thousand types of medicinal herbs and possessed extremely strong medicinal properties. It could cure all kinds of temperatures in the world and treat all kinds of complicated diseases. In certain special circumstances, it could even bring people back from the dead. ¡°I can agree to your request, but today, but you also need to give me an explanation. If this continues, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± Seeing that Chen Yu agreed, Luo Qing breathed a sigh of relief. He raised his arm and called out a few times. ¡°Everyone, I was just joking around with Mr. Chen here, nothing serious. Go about your business as usual, don¡¯t mind us.¡± The moment these words were uttered, the crowd cast reproachful glances their way. They had rushed here eagerly to watch the excitement, only to find it was just two people messing around. But they dared not say much, muttered a few complaints, and then returned to the adjacent hall. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much either. After leaving contact information with Luo Qing, he went to a nearby restaurant. Jin Lingsu still wore a look of caution, and before leaving, she stared intently at Luo Qing for a good while. All the facilities here were considered among the world¡¯s top-notch, and anyone who came here probably felt a sense of not wanting to return home. Chen Yu played around here for a day and arrived at a garden as evening approached. Although he seemed to be wandering aimlessly, he was actually deliberately looking for a place with minimal interference. Only this place had the least interference all day, but the system¡¯s range of use was only about ten meters or so. Just as he was tuning the system, a shadow suddenly appeared not far from him. This individual was holding a unique weapon, fixedly staring at him. Chen Yu frowned and immediately covered the area with his system, only to find that this person was actually beyond the system¡¯s coverage. The shadow observed for a moment then charged directly towards Chen Yu. In his hands were what looked like knives, but they emitted a faint purple light, suggesting they could be some kind of laser weapon. Chen Yu appeared calm and collected, just standing there, giving outsiders the impression he might have been scared stiff. But Chen Yu knew that only by standing there could he use the system¡¯s functions. As the assailant drew near, a burst of blue-white light suddenly flickered, and a forceful current passed straight through the other¡¯s body. However, to his surprise, this seemed to have little effect on him; it merely destroyed several of the conversion devices on his body. Chen Yu was somewhat astonished. Although the scope of the system was limited, its intensity hadn¡¯t weakened at all. Such a strong electric current actually couldn¡¯t hurt the other party. He took a step back and agilely dodged the guy¡¯s attack before circling behind him and releasing an electric current again. This time, he completely destroyed all the conversion devices on the other party¡¯s body in an instant. Only then did Chen Yu realize that this guy was wearing a special layer of blocking device. He didn¡¯t hold back anymore and lifted his fist to smash down hard, shattering the blocking function on his back into pieces. The electric current was released at the damaged part of his backside, electrocuting the guy until he collapsed on the ground. Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief and began to search the guy¡¯s body. Soon enough, he found the mark of the Childe Family. This method of electric current attack, Chen Yu had used several times in front of Fox, and only Fox had the ability to make a targeted defense against it. A murderous look appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. Although he had long suspected that Fox would make a move against him, he hadn¡¯t expected the guy to be in such a hurry. After adjusting his breathing for a bit, Chen Yu slowly stood up and went straight to Luo Qing¡¯s residence. The Luo Hai organization was most particular about ostentation, and even attending a banquet required bringing dozens of people along. Luo Qing¡¯s place could be described as being protected inside and out, secure on all sides. When they saw Chen Yu, they were stunned for a moment; they hadn¡¯t expected him to come at this time and thought he was here to settle accounts with Luo Qing, quickly stepping forward to stop him. ¡°Mr. Chen, our young master has already gone to sleep. If you have any matters, please come back tomorrow!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about these objections and pushed past the people directly into the room. Luo Qing was holding a glass of red wine, applying a facial mask, and wearing a headband full of girlish charm. At the sight of Chen Yu, he froze on the spot. Indeed, he had some personal little quirks, but he had always kept these quirks strictly hidden. If the minor quirks of the young master of the Luo Hai were to spread, it would likely cause quite a stir. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you need something?¡± Luo Qing hurriedly tore off the mask and headband and rushed over to Chen Yu. Chen Yu coughed twice and then sat down on the side. ¡°During the day, you acted like a rascal in front of me; now it¡¯s time you come clean about it.¡± Continue reading at Novgo Luo Qing was greatly excited, quickly grabbing a small stool and sitting on it obediently like a child. ¡°It¡¯s like this, my father, Luo Ming, has contracted a strange illness, and many doctors have been unable to cure it. It¡¯s said that only the Water Spirit Pearl from the Xuanqing Sect can cure him. I had no choice but to resort to such measures. Please forgive me, Mr. Chen.¡± Chen Yu nodded, poured himself a glass of wine, and drained it in one gulp. ¡°In that case, I will certainly lend the Water Spirit Pearl, and I will personally make a trip. However, in exchange, the Luo Hai must also do me a favor.¡± Luo Qing stood up very excitedly, ¡°Just tell me what you need, the entire Luo Hai will do it at the cost of our lives.¡± Chen Yu put down his glass and stared at Luo Qing with an odd look. ¡°Help me divide the Knights of the Round Table!¡± Chapter 486 - Chapter 486: 486 Chapter 486: 486 Luo Qing stiffened in place, his mind hadn¡¯t entertained the possibility that Chen Yu would make such a demand. The Knights of the Round Table were the strongest organization besides the Xuanqing Sect, with influence spreading across the world. Although Luo Hai also ranked among the world¡¯s top ten organizations, they paled in comparison to the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Mr. Chen, it goes without saying that since you agreed to treat my father, I should unconditionally comply with all your requests. But taking on the Knights of the Round Table is too difficult; I fear it would drag the entirety of Luo Hai into jeopardy!¡± As he said this, Luo Qing hesitated, as if weighing his words. A moment later, he pulled out a token from his body and handed it over. ¡°No matter what, if Mr. Chen needs me, I will go through fire and water. However, to involve Luo Hai in a confrontation with the Knights of the Round Table would require my father¡¯s approval, which can only be given after his recovery, to provide you with a response,¡± he said. Continue reading at Novgo Chen Yu didn¡¯t reach out to take the token: ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait until your father¡¯s disease is cured before we discuss this.¡± Luo Qing immediately breathed a sigh of relief; he had feared that Chen Yu would press him relentlessly. ¡°Thank you very much, Mr. Chen!¡± Chen Yu nodded and then stood up to walk over to the nearby surveillance screen. ¡°Does the invitation you received specify what exactly this banquet is about?¡± Luo Qing sighed softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know. My father told me when I came here not to agree to any requests made at the banquet, no matter what they were. As for the specifics, I am also unaware.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly; he suddenly had a bad premonition. Just then, several sneaky figures appeared on the surveillance screen, approaching their location. It looked like Fox intended to make a move on Luo Qing. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, they plan to use this opportunity to redraw the rules and ensnare everyone who has landed on the island in one fell swoop.¡± Luo Qing also saw the footage on the surveillance screen and quickly grabbed a coat to drape over himself. ¡°Tell the people outside to defend immediately!¡± A loud shout and the bodyguards outside responsible for the watch immediately became alert. Each of them was equipped with the world¡¯s most advanced gear, which in theory should enable them to detect anyone within a hundred-meter radius, yet these intruders had nearly got in their faces without being noticed. If not for Luo Qing¡¯s warning, they might all have been wiped out by now. Chaos instantly erupted outside, with loud shouts and killing noises. Chen Yu pushed open the door and walked straight out, taking a token of the Knights of the Round Table from his body. ¡°Listen up, all of you, I¡¯m still a member of the Knights of the Round Table! Those who obey the command, drop your weapons immediately, or I¡¯ll kill you all right now,¡± he declared. The assassins who had rushed over hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. They had come here on the orders of the Knights of the Round Table. Now that a token of the Knights of the Round Table had emerged, it could also command them. After exchanging glances, the group of assassins retreated one by one. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were slightly narrowed; he knew it was time to make a move against the Childe Family. Luo Qing was panting heavily: ¡°I didn¡¯t think that the Knights of the Round Table would actually dare to strike at other organizations. Aren¡¯t they afraid that the remaining organizations will band together against them?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they have already made thorough preparations!¡± The Knights of the Round Table consisted of the thirteen most powerful families in the world, their power extending throughout the various lands. If they had decided to take this step, it showed that they must have accumulated enough strength in their hands. Luo Qing clenched his teeth tightly, his breathing becoming more rapid. ¡°I don¡¯t have many people with me, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t get out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a sly grin as he took out a golden sphere from his body and threw it into the sky. The sphere exploded in the sky, releasing a dazzling light, and then a thunderous cheering erupted throughout the archipelago. A moment later, a large crowd ran out from the buildings on each island and rushed towards the largest dock. Luo Qing was stunned, ¡°Mr. Chen, had you already prepared a contingency plan?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but simply pulled him towards the direction of the dock and ran. There were several large ships docked at the pier, and under Jin Lingsu¡¯s organization, everyone hurried aboard. By the time Chen Yu arrived, the steamer was about to leave the shore. Jin Lingsu quickly stepped forward, grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s arm, and directly pulled him onto the ship. ¡°How about it? Everything was done according to your instructions!¡± Chen Yu patted Jin Lingsu on the shoulder. ¡°Not bad, let¡¯s get moving.¡± In the afternoon, Chen Yu had felt that something was off about this place and had Jin Lingsu activate the Lakato Family¡¯s relations to make arrangements with everyone. As soon as Chen Yu released the signal, they were to rush to the dock and leave this place immediately. So far, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Just then, a burly man with a pale face suddenly sprinted from the middle of the archipelago. His height of five meters and his unnaturally robust body shocked everyone. They had never seen anyone this tall in the world before. His physical quality and jumping ability were extraordinary as well; with a light leap, he reached mid-air, looking like he was about to crash onto the deck. Chen Yu immediately took two steps forward and then jumped up, throwing a punch at the giant man. A thunderous sound erupted in the sky; the man was flung backward and smashed heavily onto the dock. Chen Yu landed on the deck as if nothing had happened. All eyes were on Chen Yu, everyone seemingly could not believe how powerful he was. ¡°What are you standing around for? Let¡¯s go!¡± Chen Yu shouted, then ran straight to the helm. The giant man who had attacked earlier had come from the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s laboratory and possessed incredible strength. Although Chen Yu appeared to be unharmed, his body trembled violently after exchanging a punch with that man. Furthermore, there were unquestionably more men like this one in the laboratory. If they didn¡¯t leave quickly, the ship might be capsized. They had just left the dock not more than two hundred meters away when urgent shouts erupted from the dock. ¡°Mr. Chen, after all, you are one of our Knights of the Round Table, and some matters should still be discussed internally. Please bring the ship back.¡± Upon hearing the voice, Chen Yu knew it was Fox¡¯s, but he was not foolish enough to obediently bring the ship back. He took a megaphone from the helm, walked onto the deck, and turned the volume up to the maximum. ¡°Mr. Fox, let¡¯s part ways here. As for that damned Knights of the Round Table, I quit! Your pursuit to kill me, I¡¯ll note it for now. Sooner or later, I will erase the Knights of the Round Table from this world completely.¡± Chapter 487 - Chapter 487 There is a Spy Chapter 487 There is a Spy Fox stood on the dock, his face had turned the color of an eggplant, he never expected today¡¯s plan to be so brutally thwarted. In order to gather everyone together, he didn¡¯t know how much effort he had put into it, even going so far as to create a fake gemstone conference at great cost. Only when the boat had traveled far away did Fox finally start to recover. ¡°Issue the order, tell all the industries under the Knights of the Round Table to immediately commence a full-scale hunt for Chen Yu!¡± The people present were momentarily stunned, seemingly hesitant. One of his subordinates approached Fox. ¡°Sir, after all, Chen Yu is a member of the Knights of the Round Table, and all of his industries have already been linked to the Knights of the Round Table, trying to hunt him is like hunting ourselves.¡± Fox suddenly turned around and lifted the speaker high into the air. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it, I want results in three days! In five days, I want Chen Yu¡¯s head on my desk.¡± The man was scared half to death and nodded repeatedly. After leaving the archipelago with his group, Chen Yu followed Luo Qing straight to Luo Hai¡¯s territory. The others had verbally agreed with Chen Yu and then left on their own. These people represented various major organizations and, to some extent, could represent their respective organizations, but Chen Yu couldn¡¯t possibly pin all his hopes on them. Apart from those organizations that truly had a stake with him, the rest were fair-weather friends. It¡¯s possible that these people might immediately throw themselves into the embrace of the Knights of the Round Table as soon as they left. Compared to other organizations, the Luo Hai organization was relatively independent, residing on an island in the southern hemisphere. It had a very strong ethnic character, and many people had come here to seek refuge. When he landed on the island, Chen Yu was captivated by the scenery here. That kind of beautiful tropical scenery would mesmerize anyone who saw it. ¡°Mr. Chen! My father is right ahead in that mansion.¡± Luo Qing¡¯s voice was thick with worry. He knew that Chen Yu had arrived in a hurry, without any Water Spirit Pearls on him, and he didn¡¯t know if he would be able to cure his father. Chen Yu didn¡¯t think too much and strode towards the mansion. The Luo family had a tradition of passing down its lineage from father to only son, and Luo Ming only had one son, Luo Qing, who was also borne late in life. It was said that at fifty, with no children, Luo Ming sought a child through his early connections with the Xuanqing Sect. At that time, the Heavenly Master Long Tian gave him a medicinal pill, and after returning, he indeed had a child. Unfortunately, this medical quest used up their favors with the Xuanqing Sect. This time, to treat Luo Ming, Luo Qing took the risk to bother Chen Yu. In the vast room, Luo Ming lay on the bed, barely clinging to life, his aged cheeks full of wrinkles and dark spots, seemingly at death¡¯s door. Considering that Luo Ming was nearly eighty years old, if he died at that age, it would be a natural death from old age. In this case, preserving Luo Ming¡¯s life indeed seemed like defying heaven. Chen Yu crouched by the bed, grasped Luo Ming¡¯s pulse, and after gently probing for a moment, suddenly stood up. ¡°Has your father been to any strange place recently, or eaten anything unusual?¡± This question stumped Luo Qing, who hesitated for a moment before immediately summoning a servant to his side. A group of people were all talking at once, saying a great deal, until eventually, a mute old mother pulled Chen Yu¡¯s hand and pointed out the window, gesticulating for quite a while. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t understand very well and could only scan the other party¡¯s brain for information. ¡°Are you talking about the black flower that¡¯s planted in the middle of the yard¡¯s garden?¡± The old mother nodded her head vigorously, and once again started gesticulating a great deal. Chen Yu ran straight outside to the yard and picked a black flower. Pure black flowers are not common in this world, and many people call this kind of flower ¡°Hell Flower.¡± Legend has it that if you¡¯re lucky and eat this thing, you can live forever; if you¡¯re unlucky, you¡¯ll drop dead! Chen Yu, of course, didn¡¯t believe such nonsense and immediately started to analyze it with the system. The reason this flower was pure black was merely because of its growing environment, and moreover, it contained a strange toxin that could somewhat alter a person¡¯s genetic factors. After quickly analyzing the toxin¡¯s components, Chen Yu went directly inside the house, took out acupuncture needles, and started to apply them to Luo Ming. Luo Qing approached with some worry. ¡°Mr. Chen, I have consulted many famous doctors before, and they all said that only the Water Spirit Pearl from the Xuanqing Sect can truly cure him. Are you sure this will heal my father?¡± Chen Yu did not answer and just focused on inserting the needles. ¡°Mr. Luo, if you want your father to survive, don¡¯t disturb him. Just wait quietly over there,¡± Chen Yu said. Jin Lingsu directly went forward to pull Luo Qing aside. Minutes and seconds passed, and there was no movement from Luo Ming, whose body was already full of needles, looking like a hedgehog. Just when Luo Qing was becoming extremely anxious, Luo Ming suddenly sat up and violently spat out a mouthful of black blood. Chen Yu immediately relaxed, walked over to the side, wrote out a prescription, and handed it to Luo Qing. ¡°Immediately fetch three portions of these herbs according to the prescription. The medicinal soup must be ready within an hour,¡± Chen Yu instructed. Luo Qing dared not delay, and the small island even had a pharmacy that stocked all sorts of medicinal herbs from around the world. Read exclusive adventures at Novgo In less than an hour, his subordinates had already prepared the medicinal soup and brought it before him. Chen Yu did not have Luo Ming drink the soup; instead, he soaked a towel in the medicinal soup and began to wipe it over Luo Ming¡¯s body. After doing all this, Chen Yu suddenly pulled Luo Qing aside into the yard. ¡°Your father¡¯s condition isn¡¯t simply due to eating the flower from the yard; someone has poisoned him. I suspect that among the Luo Hai, there is a mole,¡± Chen Yu revealed. Luo Qing froze on the spot. The Luo Family¡¯s organization was isolated overseas, and this place was also quite secretive, beyond the reach of ordinary people. For someone to infiltrate here and silently poison Luo Ming, the person¡¯s backing organization must surely be one of the top ten. ¡°It must be those sons of bitches from the Knights of the Round Table, damn them for going too far!¡± Luo Qing gritted his teeth, wishing he could immediately wipe out the Knights of the Round Table completely. Chen Yu patted his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. I will write another prescription for you. For the next half a month, follow the prescription when taking medicine. Not only will your father recover, but his bodily functions will also return to the state they were in ten years ago. At that point, we can discuss revenge,¡± Chen Yu advised. Luo Qing nodded repeatedly, just as he was about to say a few words of thanks, a slight sound suddenly came from a corner. Before he could react, Chen Yu¡¯s figure had already flashed over, and after a short while, he dragged out a young girl in her twenties. Chapter 488 - Chapter 488 The Real Luo Hai Chapter 488 The Real Luo Hai Luo Qing was stunned when he saw the little girl, for she was none other than Luo Ming¡¯s personal maid. Originally, the girl was not one of Luo Hai¡¯s people; Luo Ming had brought her back from an outing. It was precisely because she was so adept at looking after people that Luo Ming made an exception and kept her by his side. ¡°You were sent by the Knights of the Round Table!¡± Luo Qing immediately became agitated and grabbed the little girl by the collar. The little girl instantly began to cry, then suddenly knelt on the ground. ¡°My family is in their hands, I have no choice but to follow their orders! But Mr. Luo Ming has been so kind to me, I couldn¡¯t bear to harm him, so each time I administered poison, I only used half the dose.¡± ¡°So it was you who poisoned him!¡± Luo Qing didn¡¯t care about that, gripping the girl¡¯s shoulders, he was about to kill her. Chen Yu quickly stopped him. ¡°Young Master Luo, don¡¯t be impulsive. This little girl was also threatened by the Knights of the Round Table. If you kill her now, I¡¯m afraid her family won¡¯t survive either! Besides, I see she doesn¡¯t have any malicious intentions. Why not keep her, let her make amends, and use her as a valuable piece against the Knights of the Round Table in the future?¡± After pondering for a moment, Luo Qing released the girl. Honestly, had the girl not halved the dose, Luo Ming would have died long ago. ¡°I will spare you this time in Mr. Chen¡¯s honor, but if you dare try anything again, I will kill you.¡± The little girl knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, and didn¡¯t dare to utter a single word. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more. After writing a prescription and handing it to Luo Qing, he went off by himself to the courtyard. Jin Lingsu somehow found a bottle of yellow wine and approached Chen Yu from behind. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Chen Yu let out a small sigh, ¡°It¡¯s unlikely we can take down the Knights of the Round Table quickly; our only option is to find a way to cause internal strife!¡± After taking a big gulp of wine, Jin Lingsu said, ¡°So you have a plan?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s teeth clenched with a crunch. ¡°The Milore Family! They are one of the members of the Knights of the Round Table and the second most powerful force after the Childe Family. If we can pit them against the Childe Family, the Knights of the Round Table will fall apart without us having to attack.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea indeed, but it¡¯s too risky!¡± Jin Lingsu threw the empty wine bottle aside; ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work out, the Milore Family won¡¯t hesitate to tear you to pieces.¡± Chen Yu snorted, ¡°But as far as I know, there¡¯s an irreconcilable dispute over interests between the Milore Family and the Childe Family. If we can exploit this, things will be a lot simpler.¡± At that moment, Luo Qing also came over. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you planning to take action against the Knights of the Round Table?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Arrange a boat for me, I plan to make a trip to the Milore Family.¡± Luo Qing seemed panicked, ¡°Are you going alone? It¡¯s too dangerous; I will send some capable hands to accompany you.¡± Chen Yu shook his head, ¡°Too many people would be a hindrance; I can manage on my own.¡± Jin Lingsu pulled Luo Qing aside, ¡°His decisions are not open to change by anyone! Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll call us if he needs to.¡± Luo Qing didn¡¯t know what else to say. After all, Chen Yu was the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, and being the leader of the world¡¯s foremost organization, Chen Yu certainly had his own methods. The next morning, Chen Yu walked alone on the streets of the small island. Although he had reached cooperation with the Luo Hai organization, he couldn¡¯t guarantee that the organization wouldn¡¯t renege on their agreement. After all, the Luo Hai organization had pirate origins long ago, with an inherent savagery and penchant for plundering that had never really changed. Now that he had arrived at their headquarters, it was time to wander around and observe the local customs and get a real sense of Luo Hai¡¯s situation. After strolling for half a day, he sat down at an authentic dessert stall. The ancestors of the Luo Family had come from the South Seas, so the desserts here were extremely authentic. Chen Yu had just ordered a cup when two groups suddenly appeared on the street. These guys, barefaced, didn¡¯t even exchange words before they collided, and the sound of metal striking metal instantly reverberated through the street. The shopkeepers on the street seemed to have seen it all before and calmly continued with their business, while the people drinking dessert nearby simply held their bowls and leaned against the pillars, watching the commotion. Curious, Chen Yu too held his dessert and moved closer. ¡°So many people fighting here, aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± The young man beside him gulped down his dessert and said, ¡°Afraid of what? Scenes like this happen several times a day; we¡¯re used to it.¡± ¡°Used to it?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone care?¡± ¡°Who would care?¡± the youth wiped his mouth: ¡°Although the Luo Hai organization is dominated by the Luo Family, there are many other families from outside under them. Conflicts between these people are beyond anyone¡¯s control, but they all know their limits and won¡¯t kill anyone.¡± No sooner had he finished than a figure flew out from the crowd, crashed onto the roadside, and vomited blood profusely. Chen Yu instinctively wanted to go forward to help, but several doctors rushed out from a nearby shop, put the person on a stretcher, and hurriedly left. Chen Yu was left in amazement, realizing that even medical teams were on standby at the side. After collecting himself, he released his system to scan the brain information of every individual present. The island where the Luo Hai organization was located was the largest in the southern hemisphere. Because it was isolated at sea and far from other continents, it was considered a haven from the outside world. In the last century, many people fled here to escape war and lived in peace and contentment. The Luo Family also arrived at that time. They quickly gathered all the powers under their influence and established order with their strength. Later families and powers entering this place either directly pledged allegiance to the Luo Family or cooperated with them, securing a small piece of land on the island as their own domain. As time progressed, the entire island nation formally became an organization, known as Luo Hai. However, the smaller powers held significant authority and had substantial conflicts among themselves. Continue your adventure at Novgo Because of the initial agreements between all the power-holders, the Luo Family lacked the authority or power to restrain or resolve these conflicts, and so let them create chaos as they pleased. Yet, these powers gave the Luo Family enough respect that every time they clashed, they took care to avoid fatalities, at most leaving a few crippled. Chen Yu was utterly bewildered; he had thought that for the Luo Hai organization to be counted among the world¡¯s top ten organizations with a single family at the helm, the Luo Family¡¯s strength must be above that of the Childe Family. He didn¡¯t expect it to function in such a manner. If this was the case, it was unlikely that Luo Hai could unite all its forces to stand with him against the Knights of the Round Table. No wonder Luo Qing hesitated so much when they discussed it initially¡ªthere were reasons for that hesitation after all. Chapter 489 - Chapter 489: 489 Chapter Creating Chaos Chapter 489: 489 Chapter Creating Chaos The scene before him was truly boring; the two sides seemed to have deep grudges against each other, fighting fiercely, but it all looked like child¡¯s play. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and wanted to find a quiet place. Just as he was about to leave, he saw two guys sneaking out of the crowd. Looking at their clothes, they seemed to belong to two different powers. The fact that they were simultaneously retreating from the crowd, and seemed to be on good terms, struck Chen Yu as abnormal. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much and followed them directly. The two took several turns in the alley and finally arrived at an open space. There stood an extremely tall man, holding two gold ingots in his hand. ¡°You two have done well. Just like this, go to the major organizations to create conflicts. You must stir up a war between them, and it would be best if a person or two died.¡± The two gladly bit the gold ingots with their teeth. ¡°We¡¯ve done this many times before, always successfully, but these fellows know how to control themselves when they get violent; at most they cause injuries, but they definitely don¡¯t make fatal moves.¡± The tall man immediately furrowed his brows, ¡°Can¡¯t you two quietly kill one or two people?¡± The two exchanged glances, their faces full of helplessness. They had thought about and even attempted this before, but they had never succeeded. All organizations under Luo Hai were issued extremely strict orders. Everyone watched each other, and if anyone committed murder, the people beside them would also be punished. Experience more tales on Novgo Therefore, every time they went out, they were watched closely by those around them and never had the opportunity to make a move. Just as they were about to explain, Chen Yu suddenly rushed out, releasing electricity from his body and stunning all three people. He ripped open the clothes of these three guys, and sure enough, he saw the emblem of the Knights of the Round Table on their chests. Chen Yu gasped in shock; he hadn¡¯t expected the Knights of the Round Table to have sent spies here. Just as he was about to take these three guys away, several merchants nearby suddenly appeared. ¡°Hey, what are you doing? Nobody can break Luo Hai¡¯s internal rules. Either you fight openly on the main street, or you go to Luo Ming for justice. What skill is there in a sneak attack?¡± With a shout, the crowd surrounded him and tried to take control of Chen Yu. Chen Yu was also helpless and could only take out the token given to him by Luo Qing. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood; I am a friend of your young master and have been commanded to search for spies. These three guys are people from the Knights of the Round Table.¡± The crowd then stopped in their tracks, hurried forward to check, and indeed saw the mark of the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Damn, these guys have been eyeing our Luo for more than a day or two. Now they even dare to send spies here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let me catch people from the Knights of the Round Table, or I¡¯ll tear them limb from limb.¡± ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make them pay.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected the people here to have such a strong opinion of the Knights of the Round Table. Only after scanning the brain information of these people did he learn that the Knights of the Round Table once sent a large fleet here, blocking the coastline and causing the entire Luo Hai organization to lose three years of sea trade rights. That was the most difficult time for these merchants. If not for the Luo Family taking out their reserve resources, they probably would have starved to death. Without waiting for Chen Yu to speak, these people spontaneously tied up the three guys, ready to hand them over to Luo Ming. Luo Qing sat in the main seat of the Luo Family¡¯s reception hall, his face full of murderous intent. ¡°According to those three, the Knights of the Round Table have been infiltrating this place for many years, at least several hundred people.¡± These people were scattered in various places, stirring up trouble every day, intending to split the Luo Hai organization from within. Fortunately, when Luo Hai was established, a series of rules had already been set in place, which prevented them from causing complete chaos. Luo Qing took a moment to steady his breathing before he walked up to a man and lifted him high. ¡°Where¡¯s the list? Where¡¯s the list of people who have infiltrated here?¡± The guy was startled. ¡°I don¡¯t know, sir. Once we arrived here, we broke off contact with each other, no one knows anyone else¡¯s identity. I was just in charge of those two.¡± Luo Qing clenched his teeth. Luo Ming had not yet fully recovered, and the entire weight of Luo Hai rested on his shoulders. If this matter were not handled well, it could lead to disaster. ¡°Someone get all the people on the island together, check them for the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s mark.¡± It was a good idea, but a bit clumsy. There were at least ten million people on the island, the size of a small country. It would indeed be difficult to find a few hundred people in such a vast population. After pondering for a moment, Chen Yu approached Luo Qing. ¡°I think it¡¯s unnecessary to find all these people. Keeping them here might actually be useful to us.¡± Without a second thought, Luo Qing agreed. Right now, Chen Yu was the only person he could rely on. With so many Knights of the Round Table already on the island, he couldn¡¯t ensure they hadn¡¯t infiltrated the upper ranks. ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you plan to do with them?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet!¡± Chen Yu stretched his arms and yawned, ¡°But we could start by releasing a few false messages, let them take those back to the Knights of the Round Table to mislead them.¡± Luo Qing nodded repeatedly, ¡°That¡¯s good, we must delay time before my father regains consciousness! So what are your plans, Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu narrowed his eyes, ¡°Following the previous plan, I need to visit the Milore Family and instigate conflict between them and the Childe Family.¡± Luo Qing said no more and called for a plane. He had already understood the situation at Luo Hai, Chen Yu didn¡¯t need to stay any longer. He needed to incite internal conflict within the Knights of the Round Table before they made their move. Chen Yu flew the plane straight to the northern hemisphere, with Jin Lingsu in tow. The Milore Family¡¯s location in the far north had always been concealed; it was truly not easy to find them. Within the Arctic Circle, ice and snow covered everything. The plane circled in mid-air for a long time, unable to find a suitable landing spot. After an indeterminable amount of time, they finally found a relatively stable snowfield. Chen Yu controlled the plane as it dove, gliding and skidding for a few hundred meters before coming to a halt. Jin Lingsu clutched her heart; she had been genuinely afraid of being thrown from the plane. No sooner had the two stepped off the plane than a large crowd came rushing at them, shouting loudly. These people were dressed in animal skins, bundled up tightly from head to toe, wielding primitive and simple weapons, appearing like the indigenous people of the area. Chapter 490 - Chapter 490 The True Master Chapter 490 The True Master Chen Yu was startled, instinctively stepping back several paces. Jin Lingsu even drew out her golden spike, ready for action. Chen Yu hastily blocked her, sensing that these wild people bore them no ill will; it was just their sudden appearance that had made the others tense. Sure enough, a rather robust man emerged from the crowd, approaching Chen Yu with a simple wooden spear waved in his hand. ¡°Who are you? Where do you come from? What are you doing here?¡± A barrage of questions left Chen Yu somewhat bemused, as if this man were looking for a criminal. ¡°Why waste words with them? There¡¯s equipment on the plane; we might as well just finish them off.¡± Jin Lingsu became impatient, about to act without thinking. Chen Yu, somewhat helpless, quickly pulled Jin Lingsu back and then approached the man. ¡°Excuse me, is this the territory of the Milore Family? The man first froze, then stared at Chen Yu with a strange gaze, and the wild people around him began to draw closer, a mysterious hatred appearing in their eyes. ¡°Are you from the Milore Family?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of frustration¡ªshouldn¡¯t he be the one asking that question? Just as he was about to speak, a helicopter suddenly appeared nearby. A massive amount of explosives fell from the aircraft, blasting numerous holes into the ice field. The wild people who initially had not helped became like soldiers facing an enemy, running in all directions, and a few accidentally fell into the ice holes. Chen Yu furrowed his brow; he had just arrived and was still unclear about the situation. Moreover, the magnetic field here was too chaotic for the system to function. Under such circumstances, he could not simply watch as those wild people drowned alive in the ice holes. Without further thought, he jumped into one of the ice holes. Relying on his exceptional physical fitness, he began to toss the people who had fallen in back onto solid ground, one after another. The leading man was stunned; he simply could not discern whether Chen Yu was friend or foe. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, the man waved at Chen Yu. ¡°Quick, come over here!¡± Chen Yu, without hesitation and breathing heavily, followed with Jin Lingsu in tow. It wasn¡¯t long before the group arrived at a cave that seemed very well-hidden. This place appeared to be in a visual blind spot, and after circling above in the sky, the helicopter left. Chen Yu had just heaved a sigh of relief when the man who had spoken earlier once again pressed the wooden spear to his neck. ¡°Who are you, really? Are you a scout sent by the Milore family?¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly; had he been a scout, he would have provided coordinates to the helicopter by then. Just as he was about to speak, a violent coughing fit suddenly echoed from deep within the cave. The people present immediately tensed, even the leader ran over. ¡°Chief, how are you feeling?¡± From a distance, Chen Yu caught a glimpse of a very delicate-looking young girl lying in a corner of the cave. She seemed to be at most in her early twenties. Just by hearing those coughs, Chen Yu knew the girl was seriously ill, and because of long-term malnutrition, her body had suffered irreversible damage inside. ¡°Hey, I can cure your leader¡¯s illness!¡± The moment those words were uttered, the space fell silent, all eyes fixed on Chen Yu. The man from before hurriedly ran over, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder in a panic. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, pushed the man aside with a shove, and his body flashed straight to the depths of the cave. This display of skill startled everyone; they had never seen such speed. By the time they gathered themselves, Chen Yu had already taken the girl¡¯s pulse. ¡°This young girl must¡¯ve been poisoned with lead, causing her flesh and blood to rapidly deteriorate! Do you have any fresh Ulin grass here? With this, I¡¯m confident I can cure your leader within three days.¡± To everyone¡¯s surprise, upon hearing this request, they all stood there dejected, heads down. Even the man from before sighed heavily. ¡°Sir, if it were possible to obtain fresh herbs, we wouldn¡¯t have let our leader get to this state.¡± Chen Yu frowned, ¡°When I came I noticed there was a big mountain about three miles away, shouldn¡¯t there be fresh herbs there?¡± The man¡¯s face was filled with helplessness. ¡°You probably aren¡¯t aware of our situation here. Within hundreds of miles, all resources are controlled by the Milore Family, and we can¡¯t get any herbs at all.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in disbelief; he hadn¡¯t expected the Milore Family to be so domineering. Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu approached the man. Stay tuned to Novgo ¡°Then who exactly are you people?¡± There was a spark of anger in the man¡¯s eyes, ¡°Put it this way, we are the original inhabitants of this place! When the Milore Family first came here, we welcomed them warmly, but we never expected¡­¡± ¡°I see!¡± There was a strange emotion flickering in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. He knew all too well the ways of the Knights of the Round Table. It boiled down to the Milore Family forcibly taking over the natives¡¯ territory, restricting their movements, and stripping away all their resources. Chen Yu briefly readjusted his breathing and pulled the lead man aside. ¡°If I am not mistaken, there must be some kind of resource exchange between you and the Milore Family; can you tell me where this takes place?¡± The man was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to understand the situation here so well. ¡°Yes, we do have an exchange market. We can only trade some wild game there for their goods! To exchange for the kind of herbs you¡¯re talking about, you¡¯d probably need ten large carts of fish at least.¡± A slight smile formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he patted the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s no need for so much, you just have to tell me where this exchange market is.¡± The man seemed to be in a daze. To get access to the exchange market, they needed at least a cart of fish to secure an entry, and even then, the materials they exchanged for were extremely scarce. Now, with Chen Yu empty-handed, how could he possibly get in? ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve saved up some spare fish over time. Why don¡¯t you take these with you? Maybe you can exchange them for some supplies.¡± Chen Yu shook his head and took a map from the man¡¯s hands. ¡°Jin Lingsu, wait here for me. I¡¯ll be back in no time!¡± Jin Lingsu immediately understood Chen Yu¡¯s intention, moving silently to the bedside and subtly placing a golden spike next to the female leader¡¯s pillow. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger any longer, taking the map and swiftly exiting the cave. He carefully made his way along the adjacent path to a desolate plain. Just as he arrived, a loud boom suddenly came from not far away. Chapter 491 - Chapter 491: Little Castle Chapter 491: Little Castle The heavily modified armored vehicle emerged from a cave, its weapons pointed directly at Chen Yu. ¡°You don¡¯t look like a savage! Where do you come from?¡± A slightly sleazy-looking middle-aged man stood atop the armored vehicle, looking down at Chen Yu from a superior position. This guy was decked out in various badges, indicating a not insignificant status within the Milore Family. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with small talk and took out the Token of the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°You ask where I come from!¡± The man became excited instantly, hurriedly jumped down from the armored vehicle, and walked up to Chen Yu with great respect. ¡°Oh my, I didn¡¯t expect to meet a noble knight from the Knights of the Round Table! Are you here to find our family head?¡± Chen Yu put away the Token. ¡°No need for that, why would I need to see him? My plane crashed while passing by here, and I was hoping to get another one from you.¡± The man was momentarily stunned. They had previously deployed a large number of helicopters because they detected a plane entering their airspace. Initially, they thought it was a plane colluded with by those primitive people and the outside world, not expecting it to be Chen Yu¡¯s. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. Please come this way, you can easily get a plane on the trade market.¡± Chen Yu nodded and strode into the cave. Upon arriving here, Chen Yu was surprised to find that the system had returned to normal. He immediately extended the system¡¯s coverage, and before long, a three-dimensional map of the entire underground world appeared in his mind. The Milore Family had actually built a huge underground world here. They also took advantage of the geographical environment common to the Arctic Circle and dug out a hot spring underground. Following the map in his mind, Chen Yu quickly arrived at a square. It was only when he saw the buildings here that he understood the place was built by the Milore Family based on the model of the Eastern Ming Canyon. There was a lot of quicksand in the desert. Building a city underground was extremely difficult. But this place was different, buried beneath the ground were not only solid ice but also permafrost layers sealed for ten thousand years. These were much harder than quicksand! Moreover, they could also use other technologies, such as submarines, to create an elevator that leads directly to the underwater world. Compared to the Eastern Ming Canyon, this place was bigger, with a whopping eight levels. Chen Yu stood in the center plaza of the first level, as if he had entered a large city. ¡°Get out of the way! Don¡¯t block my path!¡± An arrogant shout suddenly came from not far away, as a man in his thirties came racing over in a carriage. It looked as though the two horses had been spooked! Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, stepped forward, grabbed the head of one of the horses, and yanked it hard, overturning the carriage. The young man was thrown to the ground, face full of anger. ¡°Motherfucker, do you want to die? How dare you flip my beloved horse!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste time here; he was in a hurry to find the special herb, Wulin Grass. To his surprise, the young man was relentless and blocked his path. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, have you gone mute?¡± A murderous intent flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Move aside!¡± The young man was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to dare speak to him in such a manner. ¡°Kid,¡± I am Dolan Mirrol, the person in charge of this commercial street. By speaking to me like that, you¡¯re challenging the authority of the Milore Family!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately scanned the other¡¯s brain information with the system. This guy turned out to be the Milore Family¡¯s eldest young master, no wonder he was so arrogant and domineering. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words, and directly took out the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s token from his possession. The Knights of the Round Table¡¯s token might deceive the guards outside, but it wouldn¡¯t work so well in front of this guy. After all, being the Milore Family¡¯s eldest young master, he definitely knew something about the inner workings of the Knights of the Round Table. Moreover, since he had completely fallen out with the Childe Family, even if he brought out the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s token, it would be of no use. Dolan was stunned when he saw the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s token, taking quite a while to react. ¡°You are Chen Yu, the newly appointed Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect.¡± Chen Yu did not avoid affirmation, ¡°Correct! I came here looking for some medicinal ingredients and hope the young master can facilitate this for me.¡± Dolan¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, and the arrogance and presumption he had shown earlier vanished without a trace. ¡°So it is Mr. Chen who graces us, my apologies for not having welcomed you from afar!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; this guy was also considered a member of the Knights of the Round Table, yet he showed such respect toward him, a traitor to the Knights. Out of curiosity, he immediately conducted a deep scan of Dolan¡¯s brain information with the system. After piecing together the fragmented memories, he learned that the Milore Family and the Childe Family had developed irreconcilable differences long ago. Originally, both families held similar wealth, but after forming the Knights of the Round Table, the Childe Family began to suppress the Milore Family for various reasons. Ultimately, the Milore Family was exiled to this frigid, snowy place. If not for the close business relations between the Knights of the Round Table and the Milore Family¡¯s need for the economic support of other families, they might have already fallen out with the Childe Family. Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Young master¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Dolan suddenly grabbed his arm. ¡°I heard that Mr. Chen is skilled in medicine. I wonder if you could cure the strange illness in one¡¯s brain.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice; when he had scanned Dolan¡¯s brain information earlier, he knew that the current patriarch of the Milore Family suffered from a strange illness. It was as if something peculiar had grown inside the head, and, despite consulting many doctors, there was no cure to be found. ¡°I¡¯ve never treated a strange illness in the brain before, but I wouldn¡¯t dare draw conclusions before I try when others have failed.¡± Dolan immediately waved to the bodyguards beside him. ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry and invite Mr. Chen into the castle.¡± Everyone hurried without the slightest delay and immediately carried over a very luxurious sedan chair from the side. Chen Yu suddenly felt unexpectedly honored; he hadn¡¯t expected the Milore Family to treat him like this. Were it not for the system in his body, allowing him to scan the brain information in real-time, he might have suspected that these people were harboring ill intentions. Before long, Chen Yu was carried in front of a luxurious five-story building. The building was adorned with numerous crystal devices, making it look like a crystal palace from a distance. Chen Yu took a sharp breath; he had never seen such a unique and luxurious castle. Dolan hurried forward and respectfully made a gesture of invitation. ¡°Mr. Chen, let¡¯s hurry up. As for the medicinal ingredients you mentioned, just write me a list, and I will arrange to get them for you immediately!¡± Discover hidden stories at Novgo Chapter 492 - Chapter 492 Artificial Worm Chapter 492 Artificial Worm Chen Yu had not expected Dolan to be so anxious. Since the other party had spoken to this extent, there was no need for him to be coy. Guided by Dolan, he quickly ascended the stairs. In a room on the third floor, Marco Milore lay as still as a corpse. Chen Yu had heard of the old man a long time ago, his deeds could very well be described as a legend in the business world. The Milore family had been tremendously wealthy for a long time, but internal strife had never ceased. Many excellent family members had been ostracized in such disputes and, having no choice, became outcasts. Marco was one of them! However, he did not become disheartened but quickly amassed his first pot of gold with his own intelligence and then used this wealth to swiftly build his own business empire. Eventually, he regained the recognition of the Milore family with the power of his fortune. Afterward, he completely reformed the Milore family with his iron-fisted approach. Even a world-class figure like him could not escape the vicissitudes of life and death. Chen Yu sighed inwardly, then sat by the bed and grabbed Marco¡¯s pulse. As soon as he felt the pulse, Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. There was a living worm inside Marco¡¯s head. This creature seemed to have been cultivated using some special technique, specifically to destroy Marco¡¯s brain neurons. ¡°Mr. Dolan, I need to perform a surgical operation here. Could you clear everyone out?¡± Continue your story on Novgo Dolan hesitated, as many people in the room were professional doctors of the Milore family, and it seemed somewhat inappropriate to ask them to leave. Besides, these people were experts in the field of surgery and could be helpful if they stayed. ¡°Mr. Chen, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary¡­¡± Before he could finish, Chen Yu suddenly leaned in close to his ear. ¡°I suspect there are spies from the Childe family here, and whatever is in Mr. Marco¡¯s head is likely their doing.¡± Dolan gasped sharply and dared not delay any longer, immediately ordering everyone in the room to be cleared out. But there was an elderly doctor who absolutely refused to leave, gesticulating with a scalpel in front of him. ¡°You whippersnapper, I was treating patients before you were even born, and you have the gall to ask me to leave! I¡¯ve always been in charge of Mr. Marco¡¯s illness, and you want to drive us out without even looking at his case history¡ªthere must be something fishy!¡± Dolan quickly stepped in front of the old doctor: ¡°Mr. Stoke! It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust your medical skills, but Mr. Chen has some secret techniques when diagnosing, which are proprietary, so it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for you to stay.¡± ¡°What secret technique?¡± Stoke was relentless: ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by others, Dolan. Haven¡¯t there been enough charlatan doctors coming here lately?¡± Dolan sighed helplessly and hurriedly approached Stoke. ¡°Sir, he is the current Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect. I believe he can definitely cure my father¡¯s illness. Please just step out for a moment! If he can¡¯t cure it, it won¡¯t be too late to deal with him then.¡± Stoke¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily, he stared at Chen Yu with a strange look for a long time before leaving. Once everyone had left, Chen Yu sat down beside Marco and extended a finger to his forehead. A scorching heat mixed with a current spread instantly throughout Marco¡¯s body, and the worm in his head was disturbed. At this moment, Chen Yu already had a three-dimensional CT image of Marco¡¯s brain in his mind. He carefully manipulated the electric current, wrapping around the insect¡¯s body, and pulled it out through Marco¡¯s nose. After extracting the thing, Chen Yu immediately began analyzing its composition. Some of the ingredients were patented by the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s laboratory. It seemed that the people from the Childe Family were the ones who had harmed Marco. Chen Yu did not stop there but continued to release the electric current, trying to reactivate Marco¡¯s necrotic neurons. Time passed, and suddenly, Marco coughed twice and sat up abruptly. ¡°Who on earth is trying to harm me?¡± This shout startled everyone waiting outside; they rushed into the room without hesitation. At the sight of Marco, everyone froze. Marco had been in a comatose state for a full half-year, and all the doctors who came to treat him were at their wits¡¯ end, yet Chen Yu had only been there for about ten minutes and Marco had actually regained consciousness. ¡°Mr. Marco, your body is still very weak, you need to rest well, and please try not to experience any severe emotional fluctuation.¡± As he spoke, Chen Yu pressed a few points on Marco¡¯s chest, causing him to faint. Dolan hurried to the bedside: ¡°Mr. Chen, how is my father now?¡± Chen Yu presented the extracted insect to Dolan. ¡°Young Master Dolan, immediately take this insect to the laboratory and study it carefully. Also, from today on, make sure no one gets near your father.¡± Dolan nodded repeatedly. Just then, Stoke suddenly rushed to Marco¡¯s side, crazed, with a scalpel in his hand. Chen Yu was shocked and quickly intervened to stop the old man. ¡°Old sir, Mr. Marco has just woken up with great difficulty, what are you doing?¡± Stoke¡¯s eyes were vacant, his body trembled rapidly for no apparent reason, and he was making some unclear sounds from his mouth. Chen Yu frowned, having never seen this condition before. In a flash, he noticed a small black dot on Stoke¡¯s neck. Without time to think, he quickly reached out and removed the black dot. Stoke then returned to normal, but he had no memory of his recent actions and was puzzled as to how he ended up there. Chen Yu analyzed the black dot in his hand and realized it was a miniature pulse robot. Once attached to the human body, it could control a person by bombarding their brain with specific pulse frequencies. Chen Yu immediately crushed the pulse robot in his hand and then covered the entire room with a system. He only relaxed after confirming there were no other black dots. However, the creation of such miniature robots was extremely complex, requiring particularly rare materials. Managing to make one was already quite an achievement; mass production was impossible. Dolan was somewhat agitated, shaking Stoke¡¯s shoulder non-stop. ¡°Old sir, the Milore Family has never wronged you, how could you do this to my father? That insect wasn¡¯t also placed in my father¡¯s brain by you, was it?¡± The scene immediately became chaotic, a few bodyguards promptly stepped forward and surrounded Stoke. Chapter 493 - Chapter 493 Inheritance Contest Chapter 493 Inheritance Contest Chen Yu hurriedly went forward to stop everyone. ¡°Everyone, please calm down. Mr. Stoke was just being controlled. The priority is to find the spy hidden within the Milore Family.¡± Dolan was reasonably rational and immediately calmed down. At this moment, Stoke had an innocent look with his pale face, standing there like a statue, seemingly unaware of what had just happened. And he had been good friends with Marco for many years, how could he possibly do such a thing? Dolan scolded the bodyguards that rushed up and then had two people with abilities help Stoke down. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Childe Family has gone too far, and my father has long considered leaving the Knights of the Round Table! Once he comes to his senses, I will persuade him to join the Xuanqing Sect.¡± Chen Yu saw black lines full of his head. If truth be told, the Xuanqing Sect was just a traditional Taoist sect and would never accept worldly powers. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this later. Those medicinal ingredients that I wanted, are they all gathered?¡± Dolan didn¡¯t dare to slack off and immediately signaled to his subordinates nearby. Before long, six burly men hurriedly brought several large boxes into the house. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t expected Dolan to be so generous, finding several times the amount of medicinal ingredients he had asked for all at once. He walked over to the boxes and casually grabbed a handful of the wrapped medications. ¡°This is plenty! Besides, this place originally belongs to those native residents. Your Milore Family has taken over this area, so you should at least leave a place for them to live, right?¡± Dolan was taken aback, ¡°Native residents? There are native residents in this place?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of confusion, ¡°They live just to the east of here, not ten miles away. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Dolan shook his head, ¡°When we first arrived here, there indeed were some native residents, but later my cousin said that they had contracted a highly contagious plague and that they had all died, their bodies even disposed of!¡± Chen Yu immediately understood that perhaps the grudge between the Milore Family and the native residents was intentionally fabricated by someone. ¡°Then could you do me a favor, Master Dolan, and prepare a separate courtyard here for me? I have a few hundred subordinates who will be coming with me.¡± Without a second thought, Dolan agreed. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there any longer, and with the medicinal ingredients in hand, prepared to leave. But just as he was about to reach the exit, more than a dozen figures suddenly blocked his path. ¡°Mr. Chen, I heard that you cured my father¡¯s illness. May I ask what method you used, and if you could take a look at me too?¡± Chen Yu frowned and sized up the man who spoke, noticing a resemblance to Dolan. After scanning the man¡¯s brain information, he realized that this was Dolan¡¯s own younger brother, Demons! ¡°Your father had an extra worm in his brain. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve also got a worm crawling in there?¡± Anger suddenly flashed in Demons¡¯s eyes as he stared intently at Chen Yu. After who knows how long, the tension suddenly eased, and he burst into hearty laughter. ¡°Mr. Chen is really joking. How could there be worms in my head? I just wanted to witness Mr. Chen¡¯s medical skills.¡± He gestured to two of his subordinates, who came forward, intending to restrain Chen Yu. Demons also took out a token from his person and handed it over in a polite manner. ¡°Mr. Chen, my castle is on the third level, east side. It only takes three minutes by elevator to get there. Would you do me the honor of visiting my place?¡± All the thoughts in this guy¡¯s head were now fully reflected in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. The Milore Family was also in utter chaos internally, ever since they had joined the Knights of the Round Table, all the heirs had set their sights on the title of knight. According to Western culture and inheritance system, there could be as many as forty heirs within the Milore Family eligible for the knighthood. Demons was one of them. Moreover, he had a group of supporters within his family, who had colluded with the Childe Family in secret, planting bugs in Marco¡¯s head; though it wasn¡¯t he who did it, it was certainly related to him. Find exclusive content at Novgo ¡°Thank you, Lord Demons, for the honor, but I have some urgent matters and will not be able to visit,¡± Chen Yu declined politely, then immediately emitted a blue and white light from his body, stunning the two burly men beside him to the ground. Before Demons could react, Chen Yu had already flickered out of the cave. The speed of his departure caused everyone present to freeze for a moment, especially Demons, who wore an expression of disbelief. ¡°Truly worthy of being the new Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect. Inform our people right away to come to the third level for the meeting.¡± Once Chen Yu had left the underground palace and dashed straight for the cave, he found that the wild men had long since lost their patience. They had been waiting for too long, and some of them were even aiming primitive weapons at Jin Lingsu beside the bed. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Jin Lingsu had been treated by their chief, they might have made a move long ago. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chen Yu rebuked sternly, parting the crowd to approach the bedside. The crowd settled down at that, though some still looked on with suspicion. The people of their tribe had to pay a great price to get even the slightest amount of supplies from the Milore Family, so naturally, they were suspicious of Chen Yu who went into the underground palace empty-handed and returned with so many herbs. Anyone would suspect that he had colluded with the Milore Family. ¡°We must not let this man administer medicine to our chief, what he brought back is definitely poison.¡± ¡°Are we really going to entrust our chief¡¯s life to a foreigner?¡± ¡°He brought back the medicine so quickly, it must have been prearranged with the Milore Family to harm us!¡± ¡­ The not-so-large cave suddenly became chaotic, everyone accusing Chen Yu, as if urging him to wipe them all out. ¡°All of you shut up!¡± Chen Yu shouted, the blue and white light flaring up and knocking a dozen nearby people away. ¡°Everyone wait outside, if in ten minutes your chief hasn¡¯t awakened, I¡¯ll let you deal with me however you see fit.¡± Such intimidating and enigmatic force frightened everyone, prompting them to exit the cave hastily, not daring to utter another word. Chen Yu said no more, crushing the herbs into powder and mixing them with water for the young girl to drink. It wasn¡¯t long before the girl struggled to open her eyes, but her body was too weak to move. ¡°Where am I?¡± Though the girl¡¯s voice was feeble, it sent a wave of excitement through everyone in the cave. Chapter 494 - Chapter 494: The Largest Pharmacy Chapter 494: The Largest Pharmacy The group of people who had been causing a commotion in the cave a moment ago were now completely silent, looking at Chen Yu with a look of reverence. In the culture of their tribe, anyone who could revive a key figure among them could be worshipped as a god. Some of them immediately knelt on the ground and started kowtowing. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste too much time here. His recent healing of Marco had already spread throughout the Milore Family, and by now, various forces should have started to take action. Especially that Demons, who had been wanting to overthrow Marco and take the position of the head of the Milore Family, could not allow Marco to be healed. It was time to consider how to make a move. ¡°From now on, everyone must listen to me! Gather your belongings, and follow me to the Milore Family¡¯s territory. I have secured a piece of land for you there,¡± he said. His words excited those present, to varying degrees. Some even agreed on the spot. Ever since their territory had been seized, they had been wandering everywhere, and their people were often slain. Now, only a little more than two hundred of them remained, cramped in such a narrow cave. If things continued this way, the few that were left would probably die here. Many among them had thought about seeking refuge with the Milore Family, but to the Milores, they had absolutely no value. Now, with someone willing to lead them to a better life, they could not wish for more. As for the ancestral enmity with the Milore Family, it had long been forgotten to the winds. In such a harsh environment of freezing snow and earth, survival was all that mattered, and they were willing to do anything to live. Besides, of the chief¡¯s lineage, only a little girl remained, and she was a half-dead invalid¡ªwhat future could she offer them? Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected these people to agree so easily. If it weren¡¯t for the chaotic magnetic field here that prevented the use of his system, he really would have liked to see what these people were truly thinking. First floor of the Milore Family¡¯s underground castle. When Dolan saw the natives following behind Chen Yu, he was immediately astounded. In his memory, all the natives should have been dead. The sudden appearance of more than two hundred additional people was truly surprising. ¡°Mr. Chen, what is going on? Where did you find these people?¡± he asked. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother explaining; he just asked Dolan to quickly arrange a place for them and to have them change into modern clothes. After setting up these people, he went to a secluded spot with Dolan. ¡°Master Dolan, there should be no grudge between these people and you. You might as well put them to good use,¡± Chen Yu suggested. Dolan looked at the natives who had changed their clothes from a distance. The physical fitness of these people was many times stronger than that of an average person. Just equip them with modern weapons, and they would immediately become a formidable force. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you saying that you¡¯re giving these people to me?¡± he asked. Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Of course, why else would I bring them here?¡± Dolan became excited. Although he was the heir of the Milore Family with considerable power, the number of people he could actually command was very limited. These two hundred plus people were like timely assistance. ¡°This is fantastic. With their help, it won¡¯t take long to suppress those rebellious fellows,¡± he said, excited. Enjoy exclusive content from Novgo Chen Yu frowned slightly: ¡°The Milore Family already has rebels?¡± Dolan sighed helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s always been there, but with these people around, they don¡¯t dare to cause trouble openly!¡± Chen Yu patted Dolan on the shoulder, ¡°I need to go to the pharmacy on the third floor to get some herbs. Take care of that young girl for me, please.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Chen Yu went straight to the nearby elevator. The scale of the underground palace was unimaginably large, especially the third floor, which was practically an independent kingdom. Just as he stepped out, Chen Yu was stunned by the opulence before him. He hadn¡¯t expected an underground world to be so prosperous, with just this one level surpassing the size of Dongming Canyon. While he was still in shock, Demons slowly approached from not too far away. ¡°Mr. Chen, so you¡¯ve come to my third floor after all! Come, please, inside!¡± Chen Yu had no desire to engage and continued straight towards a pharmacy. He had already used the system to check that the third floor had the largest pharmacy in the entire underground palace. The underground palace seemed to have undergone some special modifications; its magnetic field was completely different from the outside world. In the outside world, Chen Yu¡¯s system would be interfered with and unusable, but here it was like being at home, all details appearing in his mind without any omissions. Demons was burning with anger. He had been extremely patient, but Chen Yu was disregarding him completely. ¡°Mr. Chen, aren¡¯t you going a bit too far? You might be the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, but this is the Milore Family¡¯s territory, and I won¡¯t tolerate your reckless behavior here.¡± As if he hadn¡¯t heard anything, Chen Yu proceeded to the entrance of the pharmacy and was about to enter when Demons rushed over. ¡°Stop right there. I won¡¯t let you leave today until we¡¯ve made things clear!¡± Chen Yu, somewhat impatient, grabbed Demons by the shoulder with a backhand, yanked him hard, and threw him flying out, where he landed heavily in the middle of the road. The surrounding people were all stunned; none had expected someone to dare to lay hands on Demons. However, many had looks of schadenfreude on their faces. They were not strangers to suffering at the hands of Demons, and now, finally, someone had given them a taste of their own medicine, and they were too excited to bother hiding it. Demons lay on the ground, his face full of shock; he had never dreamed he would be treated like this one day. After loosening his muscles, he climbed up from the ground with effort and once again charged into the pharmacy. Chen Yu handed several medicinal recipes to the proprietor, asking him to prepare the medicines as prescribed. The proprietor dared not delay, knowing he had a token from Dolan in his hand. ¡°Wait a moment, this man is an enemy of the Milore Family, and you¡¯re not to sell him any medicine.¡± The proprietor was confused and hastily produced Dolan¡¯s token. ¡°Young Master Demons, this gentleman was sent by Mr. Dolan; how could he possibly be an enemy?¡± Demons didn¡¯t care about any of that and went straight for Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are; you¡¯re not leaving here alive today, no matter what!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of annoyance; as far as he was concerned, the guy was simply asking for death. By now, he had figured out the internal power divisions of the entire Milore Family. This Demons had extremely close ties with the Childe Family. Dolan had long been aware of this guy¡¯s movements and had always wanted to get rid of him once and for all. Now, even if he killed Demons, no one would utter another word. Chapter 495 - Chapter 495: Preemptive Recuperation Chapter 495: Preemptive Recuperation ¡°Master Demons, I advise you to speak courteously, otherwise you won¡¯t even know how you died,¡± the slightly murderous and overbearing voice made Demons shudder involuntarily. He drew a knife from his body and raised it high. But just as his hand was about to come down, he encountered a sudden flickering of blue and white light, which directly stunned him to the ground. The pharmacy owner was scared to death and hurriedly went forward to shake Demons¡¯ body. Chen Yu did not care about that. After getting the medicine, he left on his own accord. Just as he reached the door, the pharmacy owner caught up to him. ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t leave. If Master Demons is dead or alive, I can¡¯t take that responsibility if you just walk away like this,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that either, and simply pushed the pharmacy owner aside and walked out the door. ¡°Disaster! Murder! Someone dared to harm a core member of the Milore Family.¡± At once, the entire street burst into chaos. Passersby, vendors, and the patrolling guards all ran over and quickly surrounded Chen Yu in the middle. ¡°Who are you? How dare you strike Master Demons, it seems you¡¯re tired of living,¡± ¡°Never mind who he is, just tie him up and take him to the first layer to be dealt with by the head of the family.¡± ¡°If you ask me, just kill him and be done with it, why create such a fuss?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu immediately frowned; it seemed to these people he was just a lamb awaiting slaughter. Just as the crowd was about to make their move, Chen Yu¡¯s body suddenly turned into a blue and white light and darted through the crowd. By the time they reacted, Chen Yu had already disappeared without a trace. At the elevator entrance on the third floor, Chen Yu leaned against the wall and swiped it with a token he had acquired. Just as he was waiting for the elevator, a shadow suddenly appeared nearby. ¡°Mr. Chen, what a skillful display!¡± The lingering voice, as if coming from hell, made Chen Yu become alert. Discover stories with Novgo A burly man with a full beard stood beside him, his body rippling with muscles, and even the flesh on his face wouldn¡¯t stop quivering. Chen Yu instinctively covered himself with the system, but surprisingly, the man was carrying a special jammer that prevented scanning his brain information. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Yu clenched his fists, ready to take action if this fellow dared to make a wrong move. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Mr. Chen has developed an extraordinary martial art that allows him to move ten times faster than an ordinary person. Seeing it today proves the rumors were true.¡± Chen Yu was stunned, he hadn¡¯t expected a legend about him to spread so quickly. While he was still in shock, the man swung his massive fists, like sandbags, down at him. The power released by this punch was incredibly terrifying; if it were an ordinary person, their head would probably be smashed to pieces. Chen Yu felt not a trace of fear, raised his palm, and effortlessly caught the man¡¯s fist. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you must be from the Childe Family! I¡¯m surprised you dare to make a move here. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being discovered by the Milore Family?¡± The man clenched his teeth, his face filled with excitement. ¡°To have a fight with the newly appointed Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, even if they found out, what about it?¡± Chen Yu had nothing but question marks over his head, this fellow was simply a madman. He had no intention of getting entangled with the other party here. He used all his strength to strike fiercely at the chest of the guy, sending him flying before quickly diving into the elevator. The entire underground palace¡¯s alarm blared loudly as the news of Demons¡¯s own attack spread rapidly, and the security personnel became instantly tense. Chen Yu easily returned to the first level and handed a packet of medicine to Dolan. A flash of doubt crossed Dolan¡¯s face as he took the medicine. He had seen all these medicines before; they were all tonics. ¡°Mr. Chen, I have given these tonics to my father before, and they didn¡¯t seem to benefit his illness,¡± he said. Chen Yu naturally knew what Dolan was thinking and managed to force a smile, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Mark¡¯s condition is indeed too frail. To cure him, he needs a powerful medicine, but before that, we must first nourish his body, or else he won¡¯t be able to sustain the treatment later on,¡± he said. Dolan nodded with mixed feelings of doubt and belief, then ordered someone to go prepare the medicine. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing before walking into a relatively secluded room. Jin Lingsu was sitting at the bedside, holding a bowl of porridge, feeding the leader of the natives. Chen Yu went up and directly mixed the medicine into powder and put it into the porridge. ¡°You¡¯re called Polaris, right?¡± he asked. The young girl on the bed instantly widened her eyes. ¡°You know my name!¡± she exclaimed. Chen Yu laughed and sat down by the bed, taking Polaris¡¯s pulse. In fact, upon entering the underground palace, Chen Yu had scanned the brain information of all the natives with his system. He could now easily call out all their names. ¡°Your body is still very weak and needs to recover. You should just lie here obediently for a while, and this sister here will take care of you,¡± he explained. Jin Lingsu was somewhat unhappy; having finally made it into the Milore Family¡¯s interior, according to her temperament, she should be out shopping for treasures to take with her. Staying here obediently to act as a nanny was a first for her. Just then, two Milore Family patrollers suddenly walked in. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯ve heard that you injured someone on the third level. We must take you to understand the details of the situation,¡± they said. Chen Yu looked coldly at the two. ¡°I am the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect. Here, I should be treated as an honored guest. Demons was disrespectful to me, and I merely knocked him out. To treat me this way, do you want to make an enemy out of Xuanqing Sect?¡± he asked. The two men were immediately frightened; they were only ordinary patrollers and dared not take on such a responsibility. ¡°But, Mr. Chen, some things still need to be accounted for. After all, Demons is a core member of the Milore Family,¡± one protested. ¡°What does that have to do with us!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly burst out. ¡°What is the Milore Family worth? It¡¯s not just about injuring a core member¡ªso what if one is killed?¡± The two were too scared to utter another word, standing there trembling. ¡°What are you two doing here? Get out at once!¡± she commanded. Dolan entered the room with some pastries. Seeing Dolan, the men¡¯s faces showed an added difficulty. ¡°Young Master Dolan, young master Demons is still in a coma. If we don¡¯t take Mr. Chen back with us, we can¡¯t settle this matter,¡± they explained. Dolan snorted coldly and suddenly stepped forward, slapping both men across the face. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I am the first in line to inherit the Milore Family. With father sick and Zhang Gang out of power, the power of the Milore Family is in my hands! Demons is nothing,¡± he declared. Chapter 496 - Chapter 496: The 6th Layer Chapter 496: The 6th Layer Although the two were patrol officers, they belonged to the third tier and were directly governed by the Demons. Their purpose for coming here was nothing more than to take Chen Yu down with them. Now, seeing how firm Dolan¡¯s stance was, they also did not dare act rashly and could only leave in a dispirited manner. ¡°The Demons are becoming more and more rampant. If we continue to let them mess around like this, I¡¯m afraid the entire Milore Family will be brought to its knees,¡± he said. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not just that, I¡¯m afraid this guy¡¯s goal is to merge the Milore Family with the Childe Family.¡± Dolan wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised, indicating he had known some relevant information early on. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you have any way to wake my father up as soon as possible? Otherwise, the Milore Family will really fall apart,¡± he said. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown; he wanted to wake Marco up in the shortest time possible as well. But Marco had been unconscious for too long, and the damage to his brain was irreversible. At the very least, it would take a week for him to regain consciousness. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. However, before that, no matter what happens to the Milore Family, I will stand by your side. If you wish, I can help you eliminate the other competitors, allowing you to truly become the master of the Milore Family!¡± Dolan was stunned for a moment. This was exactly what he had been dreaming of. However, there was one taboo in his heart: as long as Marco was alive, he wouldn¡¯t really be able to seize power completely. Chen Yu had seen right through this, which is why he decided to help him. If it were someone else, the moment they got the power, they would immediately harm Marco and even sell out the interests of the Milore Family to the Childe Family instantly. ¡°If Mr. Chen could truly lend his powerful support, once the deed is done, I will lead the whole family to join the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat helpless. He had already said many times that the Xuanqing Sect does not allow worldly families to join. But on second thought, he was now the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect. Perhaps some rules could be amended, like setting up an external branch to accommodate worldly families and powers. Stay connected via Novgo The Xuanqing Sect is considered a religious force to some extent, maintaining a semi-closed stance on both business and international relations. While it does own some enterprises, the wealth generated every year is extremely limited and cannot support the entire sect¡¯s expenses. If worldly powers could be included, allowing them to integrate with the Sect¡¯s original commercial structure, it might just solve this problem. Without speaking, Chen Yu just patted Dolan on the shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s put the rest aside for now and deal with the matters here first!¡± As they were speaking, a middle-aged man barged in, in great haste. This man looked absolutely terrified, and as soon as he entered the room, he knelt at the feet of Dolan. ¡°It¡¯s terrible, Young Master Dolan. Young Master Khaled has sent a team over, saying they want to invite Mr. Chen to speak on the sixth level,¡± he said. A sharp glint of killing intent flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. He knew this Khaled; he was the cousin Dolan had spoken of, responsible for the clearance of the indigenous people. This man was ruthless and acted without considering the consequences. However, his power in the Milore Family was immense, and he was also one of the heirs in line for succession. Chen Yu had been eager to meet this individual. ¡°Since Young Master Khaled has personally sent someone to invite me, it would be quite disrespectful not to go. Moreover, I¡¯ve heard that the sixth level has the Milore Family¡¯s largest arena. It would be great to experience that,¡± he said. Just then, Polaris arrived in front of Chen Yu, dragging an extremely weak body. ¡°Mr. Chen, can I come with you too?¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning. With the girl in such a frail state, what could she possibly do if she went? However, Polaris seemed to possess an extremely strange force field. This force could completely exclude the system from its influence. When they were outside before, due to the magnetic field, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t detect anything, but after entering the underground castle, he was still unable to fully scan Polaris¡¯s brain information. Only at her weakest moment did he manage to detect a sliver of information. As her body recovered, that force field gradually emerged, not only blocking the system but also, to some extent, able to conduct counter-scanning. Chen Yu harbored suspicions about this child. Perhaps there was a system inside this little girl¡¯s body as well. Dolan suddenly laughed a few times. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is. The sixth floor is like hell itself for our Milore Family, and if you go there, you¡¯ll be eaten alive.¡± Polaris¡¯s face was resolute. ¡°Mr. Dolan, I know that the Milore Family is not entirely bad. It¡¯s Khaled who has been massacring my people all these years! I want to see for myself what my enemy looks like.¡± Dolan was taken aback. Although he found the reason unconvincing, Polaris was, after all, the indigenous leader. If he spread her words, the indigenous people who came with him would become his loyal followers. But he dared not agree to let Polaris go to the sixth floor. He knew all too well what his cousin was like. Chen Yu suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Polaris¡¯s small hand. ¡°Since you want to go, then let¡¯s go and take a look together!¡± Dolan was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to stop them. ¡°Mr. Chen, isn¡¯t this inappropriate? She¡¯s just a child. What if something happens?¡± Chen Yu appeared unconcerned. ¡°She¡¯s the indigenous leader. What could happen to her?¡± Without waiting for Dolan to respond, he directly pulled Polaris out of the door. Jin Lingsu was also looking excited. Having come to such an interesting place, it would be a waste not to take a look around. At the door stood several fierce-looking men, who appeared to be sent by Kaylo. They didn¡¯t show a trace of panic in their eyes, as they casually strolled into the midst of the group. ¡°What are you waiting for? Let¡¯s go now. Don¡¯t keep your young master waiting!¡± The men dared not show any negligence and swiftly escorted Chen Yu and the two others to the elevator. Chen Yu had already figured out the entire layout of the underground castle through the system. The lower levels they went, the larger the area became, and the more spacious and chaotic the space. The sixth floor was the most chaotic of all, reeking of blood and violence, with arenas visible everywhere. Anyone with money could buy a fighter here to compete in the ring until the fighter¡¯s death. Chen Yu had just arrived and was already shocked by the bloody spectacle before him. On the huge platform above, more than a dozen fighters were brawling; half of them were already dead, but the spectators below didn¡¯t care at all, continuously throwing gold, silver, and jewels onto a placard. It seemed that only the last man standing would receive this wealth. Chapter 497 - Chapter 497: The Arena Competition Chapter 497: The Arena Competition All of this was shocking, and Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected this place to be in such chaos. ¡°Mr. Chen, our young master is waiting over there. Please go on your own; we won¡¯t accompany you,¡± they said. Experience tales with Novgo Chen Yu looked toward the place not far away and indeed saw a bulky middle-aged man standing on a platform. The man¡¯s face had several scars from cuts, making him look extremely terrifying, and there was a stench of blood coming off him intermittently. Chen Yu immediately frowned and covered the area with his system scan. All the brain data of the man, along with the various elements contained in his body, were analyzed. When Chen Yu saw the components, his composure slipped away. Khaled was actually consuming pills made from condensed human blood. He had seen this thing before in the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s laboratory; it was specifically developed by those people in search of immortality. To make one pill, it would take the lives of at least a hundred people. Chen Yu took a deep breath; he had already harbored murderous intent toward Khaled. ¡°It¡¯s them!¡± Polaris suddenly pointed at the dozen or so guards around Khaled. ¡°I remember clearly, it was them who slaughtered my clan members.¡± Chen Yu suddenly felt the system reach peak chaos, detecting that the magnetic field emitting from Polaris had intensified dozens of times in an instant. Jin Lingsu was also affected by the magnetic field, feeling dizzy and disoriented. Chen Yu thought of something, squatted down, and grabbed Polaris¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Polaris, do you want to kill them to avenge your clan?¡± he asked. Polaris nodded emphatically. ¡°Brother, is there a way for me to fight those people on the leitai? I have a way to kill them in a very short time,¡± she requested. Chen Yu looked at the seemingly frail girl in front of him, and his expression gradually became strange; Polaris was perhaps not as weak as she appeared on the surface. ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to say anything later, leave everything to me,¡± he assured her. Chen Yu immediately took Polaris and Jin Lingsu up onto the platform. Kenord let out a hearty laugh and then removed the cigar from his mouth. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve long admired your reputation. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here.¡± Chen Yu was unwilling to have any conversation with him and simply moved a chair to sit on the side. ¡°Young Master Kaylo really knows how to enjoy himself, organizing so many leitai here. I just don¡¯t know what kind of rules you play by here; I want to have a go too,¡± he stated. Kaylo¡¯s interest was immediately piqued, ¡°Actually, there are no fixed rules. There are only two modes: the single challenge and the melee. Which one would Mr. Chen like to try?¡± Chen Yu raised his hand and pointed at the guards beside Kaylo. ¡°The people by your side seem pretty solid. How about they come down and have a melee fight with me?¡± Kaylo laughed as if he had heard a huge joke. ¡°Mr. Chen, I mean no disrespect, but my subordinates are all battle-hardened experts. Whoever has fought them in a melee has died on the leitai!¡± Chen Yu appeared unconcerned, simply pushing Polaris forward. ¡°I never said I was going to fight on the leitai. It¡¯s my little sister here who wants to see how formidable these people are,¡± he clarified. Khaled¡¯s laughter came to an abrupt halt, his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you? This young girl, with her slender arms and legs, will probably be smashed into pulp within two moves.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that at all, he just picked up an A4 paper from the side and wrote down a contract. ¡°Let¡¯s make an agreement right here, I¡¯ll send this little sister of mine up there, you send all your guards up, and we won¡¯t consider their life or death! Only the outcome matters. If my sister stands till the end, I hope Master Khaled would transfer the entire sixth level¡¯s management rights to me.¡± Khaled was dumbfounded. In his view, Chen Yu was either looking for death or out of his mind. The management rights to the sixth level were his lifeline and he would never give them up, no matter what. Moreover, no matter what happened, he wouldn¡¯t use the management rights for this level as a bargaining chip. But now, Chen Yu had put forward a young girl to compete. No matter how he looked at it, this competition was his to win. There was no reason not to take advantage of this. ¡°Mr. Chen, the profit from this level every year is astronomical. If I am to use the management rights as a bargaining chip, you must provide something of equal value.¡± Chen Yu burst into laughter. ¡°What I¡¯m offering is something you cannot refuse, and that is the entire Milore Family¡¯s ruling power.¡± Khaled stood up abruptly, trembling as he looked at Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, you can¡¯t be joking with me. As long as my uncle is alive, this power can¡¯t be handed over to me, and there¡¯s also a Dolan on the first level.¡± Chen Yu handed the A4 paper directly to him. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? Don¡¯t forget, I am the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, and Marco¡¯s life is now in my hands. He dies if I wish it, and when necessary, I won¡¯t spare Dolan either.¡± Khaled suddenly became excited, his fists crushing the paper into bits. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s have a written test! But if you lose, not only will that girl¡¯s death be on you, but I¡¯ll also hand over this agreement to my uncle, and then your fate will have nothing to do with me.¡± Chen Yu had anticipated this. In fact, this entire scheme was a bet against himself. Betting that Polaris could take down those guards in a short period of time. As for that agreement, it was just a piece of paper. Even if Polaris lost, he would not let that agreement appear before Dolan. ¡°Master Khaled is quite cautious in his actions. Since both of our stakes are now settled, let¡¯s begin without wasting any more time.¡± Khaled walked up to the dozens of guards. ¡°Listen up, all of you. You¡¯re only facing a little girl who¡¯s not yet of age. Tear her to shreds once you¡¯re up there. If you haven¡¯t concluded the fight within a minute, you¡¯re all dead.¡± Those guards glanced at Polaris in unison, filled with confidence. A frail young girl like her was even simpler to handle than crushing an ant for them. Following that, everyone proceeded to climb onto the nearest platform. Polaris took a deep breath and slowly walked up, her pure eyes filled with murderous intent. Khaled sat on the high stand, legs crossed, watching the competition scene indifferently. For him, the outcome of the match was already decided; all that was left was to take the agreement and hold Chen Yu accountable afterwards. But just when he was feeling smug, the dozens of strong men on the stage suddenly stood still, unmoving, as if controlled by something. Chapter 498 - Chapter 498: Mysterious Magnetic Field Chapter 498: Mysterious Magnetic Field Herold also felt something was amiss and picked up a megaphone nearby. ¡°What are you doing over there? Why aren¡¯t you taking action against a little girl? What¡¯s the dilly-dallying for?¡± No sooner had he shouted out these words than those dozens of men seemed to undergo some excruciating torment, their bodies rapidly withering away. In the blink of an eye, these men had horrifyingly transformed into rolling meatballs on the stage, their blood oozing out and instantly covering the entire platform. Such a terrifying scene would cause panic in anyone who saw it. Khaled¡¯s mouth hung open, and he instinctively stumbled several steps backward, falling to the ground. ¡°Impossible, this little wench must have cheated; she¡¯s got some weapon on her.¡± Chen Yu let out a cold laugh and directly took an A4 paper by his side. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve won today¡¯s match, so I¡¯ll be taking the management rights of the sixth level without further ado.¡± Only then did Khaled come to his senses, hastily stepping forward to grab Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Chen, this is unfair. You definitely used some weapon; otherwise, a little girl couldn¡¯t possibly kill dozens of my experts! I suggest we have another match.¡± Chen Yu feigned a troubled look. ¡°If I remember correctly, those men just now were your most formidable guards, and even they were no match for my sister. Do you have anyone else to call on?¡± Keno slapped the table heedlessly. ¡°Mr. Chen, why can¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying? I demand that the girl be searched; she must be carrying some kind of weapon on her.¡± Chen Yu spread his hands, putting on a helpless expression. ¡°Polaris, come here, please. Mr. Kaylo would like to check if you have any weapons on you.¡± Polaris, without a word, obediently walked up to the high platform. Kaylo immediately picked up an instrument and scanned Polaris¡¯s body several times from head to toe. ¡°This is strange; how exactly did you do that just now?¡± Polaris still didn¡¯t speak but stepped back to stand behind Chen Yu. ¡°Young Master Kaylo, please keep your voice down. Polaris is still just a child. What if you scare her?¡± Kaylo pursed his lips. Polaris was just a bit small in stature, but anyone with a bit of experience could tell she was at least twenty years old. ¡°I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s a child or not, the competition must go on. Someone, call those guys out for me.¡± Before long, eight giants, each standing five meters tall, walked out from a gate. Chen Yu also froze for a moment when he saw these figures; he clearly remembered that these beings were bred in the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s laboratory, and he hadn¡¯t expected them to be here. Strictly speaking, these beings were not human at all, but rather an assembly of animal tissues brought together and transformed into this form by a special hormone. Chen Yu suddenly regretted it; these creatures had been imbued with certain supernatural powers when they were created. Facing them, Polaris probably didn¡¯t stand the slightest chance. As he was preparing to stall for time, Polaris unexpectedly stepped onto the stage on her own, while the eight behemoths also appeared in the center of the platform simultaneously. Chen Yu could only sigh helplessly; at times like this, all he could do was sit and wait. Jin Lingsu, however, looked worried: ¡°Maybe we should just call it off. I don¡¯t think Polaris has any chance against those creatures.¡± Chen Yu shook his head; right now, it was impossible to explain the magnetic field around Polaris. He wanted to use the system to scan her, but he was blocked from access. But just when he was worried, something unbelievable happened on the competition stage. Eight guys looking incredibly sturdy suddenly floated mid-air, dense golden patterns appearing on their bodies. Before he could react, these eight guys actually exploded. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened as Polaris simply stood there, two matches in a row, without moving an inch. It was as if her opponents were too fragile to withstand a single hit! Chen Yu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, waved at Polaris on the stage, and then turned to grab Khaled¡¯s arm. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect Lord Khaled to be so generous. Did you tell your men before the match started not to hurt my little sister at all? It seems you intentionally wanted to hand over the management rights of the sixth floor to me.¡± Khaled wished he could tear Chen Yu into pieces. How could he possibly intend to give away such a precious place? ¡°Mr. Chen, may I know what exactly is the relationship between this young lady and you?¡± Chen Yu directly grabbed Polaris who had walked onto the stage. ¡°She is with my Xuanqing Sect!¡± Explore stories at Novgo That single sentence was enough to deter Khaled. Moreover, the Xuanqing Sect was already the world¡¯s most mysterious force capable of defeating his subordinates so effortlessly and strangely. ¡°Mr. Chen, I concede today, but I cannot give you the management rights of the sixth floor no matter what. If you¡¯d like, I can give you some treasures instead.¡± Chen Yu was not really interested in the management rights of that floor in the first place; he only wanted to find an opportunity to avenge Polaris. Besides, pushing Khaled too hard might lead to a rebellion, plunging the Milore Family into instant chaos. ¡°Alright, I wonder what Lord Khaled intends to give me?¡± Seeing Chen Yu agree, Khaled instantly relaxed. ¡°What¡¯s most famous on this sixth floor is not these messy internal badges but a jewelry auction house with the most precious treasures from around the world.¡± Kenord enthusiastically grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand, leading him down from the stage. Soon after, the group arrived at an extremely luxurious hall. Compared to the bloody scene outside, this place was simply a civilized world. Many people in suits and dresses sat in the hall, seemingly conversing about something. In the middle of these people were all kinds of antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and jewelry. Jin Lingsu¡¯s interest was piqued at the sight, who ran straight into the middle of some people and casually took a seat. Chen Yu was also quite satisfied and nodded. ¡°This place isn¡¯t bad, it¡¯s just what I need to buy some jewelry for my sister who must be tired from fighting in the ring.¡± Kaylo didn¡¯t dare to neglect and immediately pointed towards a row of shops in the distance. ¡°That place has the finest jewelry of the entire Milore Family. You might want to take a look.¡± Without much consideration, Chen Yu led Polaris straight over there. Kaylo watched Chen Yu¡¯s departure, his breathing suddenly quickened. He had never dreamed of being defeated so miserably one day. ¡°Notify everyone on the sixth floor. I don¡¯t care by what means, but they must kill this guy.¡± Chapter 499 - Chapter 499 Fang Zhihe Chapter 499 Fang Zhihe Chen Yu, carrying Polaris, walked into a jewelry store on his own accord. As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper greeted him enthusiastically. ¡°What would the two of you like to purchase?¡± Before Chen Yu could even sit down, a middle-aged man hurriedly barged in and slammed a large crystal ball onto the ground with force. The object, like a lump of iron, created a large dent on the floor. ¡°This is outrageous, boss, how dare you sell fake goods here? Be careful or I¡¯ll tell young master Khaled to shut down your shop.¡± The shopkeeper immediately put on an innocent face. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you before, and we sell gold and silver jewelry here; it¡¯s impossible that we would sell such crystal balls! Besides, your crystal ball is nothing more than an iron sphere coated with a layer of fluorescent powder on the outside.¡± The man instantly became infuriated and pulled out a bill from his body, slapping it onto the table. ¡°Open your damn eyes and take a good look, isn¡¯t this the receipt your store gave me?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s face still wore a smile as he calmly picked up the bill and then suddenly tore it to shreds. ¡°You just said you have a bill from our store, may I ask where is the bill?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, not expecting the shopkeeper to shamelessly play dumb. Chen Yu was beginning to find this spectacle unbearable, and as he was about to reason with the shopkeeper, he suddenly received information from the brains of the two men. It appeared that the shopkeeper was not at fault; the crystal ball had not been sold by him, but was forged by the middle-aged man. The bill that was presented just now was also fake. Chen Yu immediately became intrigued and continued to scan the brain information of the middle-aged man. This man was called Fang Zhihe, an expert forger. Many years ago, he was deceived by Khaled into coming here and has since been ordered to create fake items for a huge profit. Khaled also signed a contract with Fang Zhihe, promising him freedom once he forged ten thousand fake items. However, when Fang Zhihe had fulfilled his contract, Khaled went back on his word and locked Fang Zhihe on the sixth floor, preventing him from leaving. Having no other choice, Fang Zhihe could only make some fake items and sell them in various shops to scrape together some money. At first, he made a large sum, but as time passed, the shopkeepers started to realize what was happening and united against him. Whenever they saw Fang Zhihe come to a store to return an item, they would immediately destroy the bill in his hands. As the two sides argued incessantly, Chen Yu suddenly rose to his feet and patted Fang Zhihe on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Fang, there¡¯s no point in causing a scene here. Even if your counterfeiting skills are high, you¡¯re bound to leave some flaws! I¡¯ve looked at that bill just now and it has at least twenty defects.¡± Fang Zhihe looked at Chen Yu with a strange gaze. Continue reading at Novgo ¡°Sir, you have a keen eye to spot the flaws on my bill! But you seem unfamiliar, not from around here, are you?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°I¡¯m a guest who has been invited here. Moreover, Mr. Khaled just lost a match to me in an arena, and I can make any request to him¡ªperhaps even take Mr. Fang away.¡± Fang Zhihe instantly became excited; he had been trapped here for many years, always hoping to leave. ¡°That is truly great, may I know your honored name, sir!¡± Chen Yu was about to speak when two fierce-looking fellows suddenly burst into the shop. ¡°Boss, is the batch of goods we left with you still here? We want to redeem it now.¡± The shopkeeper let out a helpless sigh and could only go to the back room to pull out a large trunk. Chen Yu frowned slightly; he had seen these two men before, seemingly in one of the arena fights. Fighters here had no rights whatsoever, and it was impossible for them to hold much wealth in their hands. Yet the box was filled with Gold. The two didn¡¯t care about that, grabbing the box and attempting to leave. But, as they reached the doorway, several of Khaled¡¯s guards suddenly appeared. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but fighters here, and yet you think of leaving? You must be tired of living.¡± The two fellows immediately knelt on the ground. ¡°Master Khaled promised us that as long as we fought ten thousand matches on the stage, he would let us leave!¡± The guards didn¡¯t care about that at all; with blades in their hands, they quickly slew the two at the doorstep of the shop. The shop owner, however, became excited and immediately stepped forward to take more than half of the gold out of the box. ¡°Gentlemen, according to the rules, seventy percent of the wealth here must be handed over to Young Master Khaled.¡± The guards didn¡¯t concern themselves with that, taking out a leather band and bundling up the gold. ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve been cooperative. We¡¯ll say a few good words about you in the marketplace. Who knows, in a little while, the two shops next door may both be yours.¡± After a few more words, the guards turned and left. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth hung open in disbelief; he had not expected that Khaled would collude with the local merchants to exploit the fighters. Many of those fighting outside had been deceived into coming here, others were simply kidnapped. Their only thought was to save enough money to leave, not realizing it was all a scam. From the moment they stepped into the ring, death was waiting for them. They would die either on the stage or be killed upon leaving. Chen Yu sighed helplessly. This was something he could not ¡ª and had no means to ¡ª control. Only by pulling Khaled down from his position could the people here gain their freedom. After the owner had collected the gold, he approached Chen Yu with a smile again. ¡°Sir, do you need me to recommend something? We¡¯ve gotten quite a few good items recently.¡± Disgust appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°No need, I¡¯m not interested in anything here.¡± With that said, he prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, just as he reached the entrance, the two guards from before returned. ¡°You¡¯re Chen Yu, right?¡± Chen Yu was taken aback and looked at the two men with an inquiring gaze. ¡°Yes, I am. What do you want to do?¡± The two men suddenly became excited, drawing their large swords in an abrupt motion to chop down at him. Chen Yu stepped back, extending his hands to firmly grasp the swords. ¡°I am a distinguished guest of your Young Master Khaled. Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll kill you for treating me this way?¡± Their faces were full of scorn, and the force in their hands increased. It seemed they would not stop until they had finished off Chen Yu. Just then, two golden spikes suddenly appeared and pierced the backs of their skulls. Chapter 500 - Chapter 500 No Chance Chapter 500 No Chance Jin Lingsu had, unbeknownst to the others, appeared behind the two of them and directly ended their lives. The shop owner was terrified. According to the rules of the sixth level, no one is allowed to resort to violence within the market. Unless they had special permission from Kenord. Almost subconsciously, he ran to the counter next door, picked up the phone, and was about to notify Khaled. Jin Lingsu, with quick reflexes, threw a spike that ruined the telephone. Chen Yu could only sigh helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re too impulsive, we haven¡¯t even finished what we came here to do, and you¡¯ve already taken action?¡± Jin Lingsu pouted, ¡°Please, I just saved your life.¡± Chen Yu said no more, leading his group away from there, heading straight for the elevator. Fang Zhihe was the most excited among them, trapped here for many years because he lacked identity authorization and could not use the elevators or leave the place. Now he finally had the opportunity. But just as they reached the elevator, a large group of people suddenly rushed out of a nearby corner and surrounded them, led by Kaylo. ¡°Chen, you¡¯ve gone too far, daring to kill my people. Today I¡¯m going to tear you to pieces.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face remained calm as he patted Polaris on the shoulder. ¡°Polaris, the mastermind behind the murder of your tribesmen is this guy. Now you can kill him.¡± Murderous intent in Polaris¡¯s eyes gradually thickened, and her black hair turned snow white. A strong and mysterious magnetic field, emanating from her as the center, enveloped everyone present. Chen Yu stood there, forcing the system to analyze this magnetic field. He eventually discovered what seemed like a stone-like object in Polaris¡¯s body. Combined with the genetic factors in her blood, she could unleash a powerful human magnetic field. It could be considered a supernatural ability to some extent, though still within the scope of science. However, trying to analyze Polaris under such a strong magnetic field turned Chen Yu¡¯s face quickly pale. Jin Lingsu, thinking something had happened to him, hurried forward to check. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing, then turned around and swiped his identity tag at the elevator. Kaylo and his guards were now floating mid-air, bodies tumbling like balloons. Before long, these men turned into meatballs that fell to the ground. Polaris had unleashed all the anger in her heart, not sparing a single person who followed Kaylo. However, such prolonged use of the magnetic field caused her complexion to turn rapidly pale, and she eventually collapsed into Chen Yu¡¯s arms. The elevator arrived just in time. The group went in and headed straight for the first level. The entire sixth level was thrown into chaos as Khaled¡¯s death left it without management. After returning to the first level, Chen Yu reported the situation of the sixth level to Dolan. After understanding the whole situation, Dolan stood there in shock. He seldom visited the sixth level and had no idea just how chaotic it was. But what shocked him even more was that Kaylo had died like that. That guy had controlled the sixth level, possessing immense power within the Milore Family, and was his biggest competitor. Now that this fellow is dead, there is no one in the Milore Family who can contend with him. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve really helped me out, and you¡¯ve also removed a great worry from my father.¡± Chen Yu patted Doran¡¯s shoulder and drew Polaris to his side. ¡°By the way, I just found a way that might help your father wake up sooner.¡± Without asking further, Doran immediately pulled Chen Yu into Mark¡¯s room. Ever since they found the bug in Mark¡¯s brain, everyone in the room had been cleared out. The spacious room seemed extremely empty. Chen Yu brought Polaris to the bedside. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the magnetic field emanating from your body should be able to heal some irreversible injuries. Could you help repair the neurons in his brain?¡± Polaris hesitated. She had known from a young age about the unique power within her, but due to years of malnutrition, she had never been able to properly unleash that power. The sixth floor was the first time she had freely used this power without restraint. Now, being asked to use it to save someone made her nervous. ¡°Can I really do this? I¡¯ve never done it before.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t dwell on her concerns and immediately took Polaris¡¯s hands, placing them on Mark¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t feel so pressured. Just follow your instincts, locate the damaged neurons in his brain and repair them.¡± Find your next read on Novgo Polaris immediately calmed down, closed her eyes slowly, and released her magnetic field, which covered Mark¡¯s brain. Before long, her rapidly beating heart began to slow down. Subsequently, Mark¡¯s body visibly started to recover at a rapid pace. In less than half an hour, Mark opened his eyes. When he came to, Doran was stunned on the spot; he did not expect the young girl to actually be capable of healing Mark. And judging by Mark¡¯s complexion, he seemed even healthier than before falling ill. ¡°Father!¡± Doran immediately threw himself forward. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake. You have no idea how much has happened to the Milore Family during this time. I really couldn¡¯t hold on any longer.¡± Mark took a few deep breaths. Although he had been in a coma, he was acutely aware of everything that had happened in the outside world. ¡°Where is that beast Khaled? Bring him to me.¡± Chen Yu quickly stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Mark, I accidentally killed that man.¡± Mark was momentarily stunned, then he took another look at Chen Yu. ¡°Since Mr. Chen has already killed him, I won¡¯t say more. That scoundrel actually conspired with the Childe Family to plant a bug in my brain. Did he really think I wouldn¡¯t know?¡± Doran was also taken aback. Although he knew Khaled harbored thoughts of rebellion, he never imagined that the man would poison Mark. After all, he had always stayed on the sixth floor and rarely came up, so he didn¡¯t have the opportunity. But now that Khaled was dead, talking about it was of no use. Doran hurriedly fetched a bowl of medicine and brought it to Mark. ¡°Father, this is a tonic specially prepared for you by Mr. Chen!¡± Mark didn¡¯t say much; he simply took the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp. In recent times, people had constantly been feeding him such medicine, and he had grown accustomed to it. Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: The Little Town on the Ice Plain Chapter 501: The Little Town on the Ice Plain Mark gasped for breath before setting the medicine bowl aside. ¡°That guy is utterly detestable, daring to collude with outsiders to harm me. Good riddance! Now I won¡¯t have to deal with his unpleasantness anymore!¡± Anyone who saw the gritted teeth would think Kaylo and Mark were not close as uncle and nephew. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and handed over the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days to Mark. ¡°Mr. Mark, I have documented all the details of the Milore Family here, hoping it could be of use to you.¡± When Mark took the intelligence, he was immediately stunned. It provided a detailed analysis of everyone, which faction each person belonged to, and when they arrived at the Milore Family, all recorded clearly. It even specifically listed the spies that had infiltrated the family. Even as the family head, he probably couldn¡¯t describe these people¡¯s situations as clearly. ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you obtain this intelligence?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t explain, simply let out a sigh and stood up. ¡°Since the elder has woken up, there¡¯s nothing more for me to do here! There are some urgent matters to deal with at the Xuanqing Sect, so I can¡¯t stay any longer.¡± Mark suddenly became anxious and quickly jumped out of bed. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ve just come to my senses and haven¡¯t had the chance to properly entertain you yet. You can¡¯t just leave like this. If word gets out, people will say the Milore Family doesn¡¯t know how to treat guests.¡± Chen Yu chuckled. ¡°Elder, I really do have urgent matters! With the Childe Family now targeting the Xuanqing Sect and even plotting to destroy other organizations, if I don¡¯t return soon, chaos will ensue.¡± Mark slammed his fist down on the table. ¡°The Childe Family is going too far! When the Knights of the Round Table were established, they wanted to swallow all our families. Now, they¡¯re causing all sorts of trouble again.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ll say it right now if needed, I can mobilize the full strength of my clan to oppose the Childe Family.¡± A cunning smile crept over Chen Yu¡¯s lips, which was exactly the result he wanted. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take this opportunity to thank the elder!¡± After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Yu left the Milore Family. As he departed, he also took Polaris and Ma Zhihe with him. If Polaris¡¯s powerful magnetic field were exposed, it could bring her danger. The Milore Family was currently too preoccupied with their own troubles to protect her, so she had to be placed in the care of the Xuanqing Sect. Ma Zhihe was a master at forging documents, but keeping him here by force would only waste his talent; taking him back might allow him to come up with something new with Liu Zhongxiang. Tolengrad is a small city located within the Arctic Circle, a legendary place purportedly built by the Eskimos. Over time, many were attracted by its fame, and a mix of different ethnicities ended up settling together, ultimately creating this small city. Chen Yu and his companions traveled by snowmobile across the ice field for two days and two nights before they arrived there. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going back to the Xuanqing Sect? Why have you come to this small city instead?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was full of reproach, as she had been looking forward to seeing what the famed Xuanqing Sect was really like. Chen Yu sighed lightly, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? After I finish up the business here, I will definitely take you there.¡± The group chatted and laughed as they quickly reached Tolengrad. This city could be said to have been built upon snow and ice; as soon as one entered through the city gates, they would see a multitude of ice sculptures standing erect there. Chen Yu had no such interest in admiring the ice sculptures, and he immediately used the system overlay to cover the entire city. ¡°You all go and look around, I have some things to take care of!¡± After dropping this line, he went straight to a shop in the eastern part of the city. The architecture of this place was slightly out of place, holding a certain Taoist charm. As soon as Chen Yu walked in, a series of jingling wind chime sounds rang from the side. The shopkeeper nonchalantly reclined on a lounge chair. ¡°All items are marked with a price, just leave the money on the table.¡± This laissez-faire approach to business was indeed an eye-opener. Chen Yu chuckled lightly and directly walked over to the counter, pulling over a chair to sit down. ¡°As a Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect branch, shouldn¡¯t you be out greeting the Grandmasters?¡± The shopkeeper took the Taoist scripture off his face and hurriedly put on his glasses. Continue your journey with Novgo ¡°Oh dear, Sect Leader, what brings you to a place like this?¡± Chen Yu chuckled again and pulled out a large pile of tokens from his person. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t I come to such a place?¡± Xu Chenguang laughed awkwardly. In this freezing cold place, besides people like him who voluntarily came here, nobody else would. As he saw the large pile of tokens on the table, his smile immediately vanished from his face. ¡°Where did you get so many tokens? And they are the core tokens of the major families.¡± Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air, ¡°Could you help me tidy these up and see if you can replicate them?¡± Xu Chenguang showed a troubled expression. The tokens of the major families were made in unique ways and with rare materials; even if one had a sample, they could not be replicated. The token of the Xuanqing Sect might look like an ordinary wooden plaque, but the material used was the unique thousand-year-old pine and cypress found only on the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s mountain. ¡°Sect Leader, tidying them up is not an issue, but I¡¯m afraid replication is out of the question.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and got up to walk to the nearby shelves. ¡°It seems life isn¡¯t easy for you here, with not even a disciple at hand to help you out.¡± Xu Chenguang sighed helplessly, ¡°I¡¯m only here to establish a branch for the Xuanqing Sect. The thought of taking in disciples is too much to hope for, given the circumstances!¡± When Chen Yu had entered the city, he had already ascertained the situation within. The largest building in the city was a church, but the deeds performed inside were of the unsavory sort. At that moment, a young girl around ten years old hurried into the shop. ¡°Mr. Xu, could you help me prepare a dose of medicine? My mother is unwell again!¡± Xu Chenguang didn¡¯t ask for details and directly picked up an oilcloth from the nearby shelf, skillfully making up a dose of medicine. ¡°Little Qin, when you go back, you must tell your mother to stop eating what the church gives out! Otherwise, even the medicine from here will be of no use!¡± Tears filled Little Qin¡¯s eyes as she lowered her head, her face expressing grievance, and her frail body began to tremble uncontrollably. ¡°I¡¯ve said it many times already, but my mother just won¡¯t listen. The aunt from our neighbor¡¯s home died after consuming that stuff. They insist on saying that it¡¯s because she touched the heavens, and that God took her to paradise to enjoy bliss.¡± Chapter 502 - Chapter 502 Hidden Assets Chapter 502 Hidden Assets Xu Chenguang didn¡¯t know what to say, he just sighed several times, and grabbed several more prescriptions, just like he had done before. ¡°If possible, distribute these medicines to your neighbors.¡± Xiaoqin was a bit troubled, but she still agreed and left the room with the medicines in her arms. ¡°Is there a disaster happening here?¡± Chen Yu suddenly asked. Xu Chenguang sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s the people from the church, they¡¯ve deceived the locals into buying some kind of holy relic, claiming it can bless them to heaven, but in reality, it¡¯s just flour mixed with poison.¡± Chen Yu took the map off the wall, laid it on the table, and casually drew several circles on it. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go to the church to stop it?¡± Xu Chenguang¡¯s face was full of shame, ¡°I won¡¯t lie to the Sect Leader, I¡¯ve been there several times, but they have more people and more power, and they beat me back each time. Fortunately, there¡¯s still some children willing to listen to me, who often come here to get medicine.¡± Chen Yu pushed the map he¡¯d drawn on towards Xu Chenguang. ¡°These places should be their food processing factories, we¡¯ll blow them up tonight when it gets dark.¡± Xu Chenguang¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Sect Leader, this doesn¡¯t seem to be in accordance with the rules of the Xuanqing Sect, does it?¡± Chen Yu laughed loudly a few times, ¡°Now I¡¯m the head of Xuanqing Sect, my rules are the rules!¡± A sudden excitement appeared on Xu Chenguang¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s right, the Sect Leader¡¯s rules are the rules! Those outdated provisions should have been revised long ago.¡± While they were speaking, the young girl who had just bought medicine stumbled into the room, followed by two men in strange attire who barged in. ¡°Xu, we¡¯ve already been very tolerant by allowing you to open a shop here. To think you would go so far as to give away medicine for free, do you have a death wish?¡± Xu Chenguang had been repressing his anger for a long time and quickly went forward to help Xiaoqin up. ¡°You guys are going too far, how can you treat a child this way?¡± The two men were unfazed and even burst into laughter. ¡°Every person in this city is nothing but a dog raised by our Sect Leader. They live if he tells them to live, they die if he tells them to die, what¡¯s a child worth?¡± Xu Chenguang immediately drew a precious sword from nearby and was about to act. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Chen Yu suddenly stopped him, ¡°Gentlemen, may I ask if it is possible for you to take me to meet your Sect Leader?¡± The two men looked Chen Yu up and down. ¡°You must be new here, you probably don¡¯t know our rules. If you want to meet the Sect Leader, you must prepare a hundred Gold Coins.¡± Chen Yu immediately found it amusing, in this day and age, almost every religion that asks for money is deceiving people. Besides, a hundred Gold Coins is not a small amount; not just anyone can come up with it on a whim. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and directly took out a gold note. With it, one can directly withdraw gold from major banks around the world. The two men¡¯s eyes bulged when they saw the note. This note could actually be used to draw ten thousand Gold Coins. ¡°It seems that this gentleman is a devout follower of our Sect Leader, we will take you to meet his holiness right away.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then immediately followed them. Xu Chenguang was momentarily at a loss, uncertain of what Chen Yu intended to do. Just as he was about to speak, Chen Yu raised his hand to interrupt him. ¡°Mr. Xu, just stay here and remember what I just told you,¡± Chen Yu said. Xu Chenguang nodded without saying anything more. The church in the center of the small city seemed extremely magnificent, with outer decorations so splendid, they appeared palatial from a distance. When Chen Yu entered, he was immediately staggered by the opulence before him. This place was even more spectacular than the first level of the Milore Family. The two men didn¡¯t give him time to attend the church services and directly took him to a small cottage. As soon as Chen Yu entered the door, he saw an exceptionally tall man sitting there. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? I told you not to bring anyone over during this time. Why have you brought someone here?¡± he demanded. The two men, not daring to show the slightest neglect, hurriedly presented the Gold bill. When the man saw the denomination on the bill, his eyes widened and he quickly verified its authenticity. Once confirmed to be genuine, he stood up excitedly and approached Chen Yu. ¡°Young brother, you have quite the innate wisdom. Have you considered joining our Heavenly Dragon Sect?¡± he asked. Chen Yu was stunned there and then, whether it was the church outside or the buildings inside as well as the scriptures the believers recited, all were in the style of Christianity. Yet here, it had become something called the Heavenly Dragon Sect. ¡°Sect Leader, may I ask where our sect comes from?¡± Chen Yu queried. The man immediately put on an unfathomable look. ¡°We come from the distant Divine Realm to this place. Our purpose is to enlighten these ignorant humans! To make them abandon their vulgar thoughts and fully join us.¡± Seizing the moment, Chen Yu had already scanned the man¡¯s brain information with his system. This guy was nothing but a fisherman who had come across a book by sheer coincidence and then came here to swindle and deceive. His method was simple: he first wrapped himself in some of the doctrines of Christianity, then put on an air of a hermit, exhorting the townspeople to give up all their Gold and wealth. In name, it was to rid themselves of worldly temptations. In plain terms, it was to swindle people out of their assets and then poison them to death. Such vile tactics were now being used by many organizations, and it was unexpected to find someone utilizing them in this remote place. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing and walked directly in front of the Sect Leader. ¡°Sect Leader, I have a lot of Gold. If I give it all to you, can I go to heaven?¡± he inquired. The man nodded again and again: ¡°Of course, where is your Gold? Take me there immediately.¡± Chen Yu let out a sly smile and pointed in the direction outside the city. ¡°Actually, I am an adventurer. I came here three years ago and discovered many Gold Coins buried on a small hillside outside the city. At that time, I didn¡¯t have enough manpower to take them away, so now I can offer them to the Sect Leader,¡± he claimed. The man was over the moon and immediately ordered someone to gather all the churchgoers, who then marched grandly out of the church. Chen Yu led them out of the city with a mischievous grin on his face. Just as everyone arrived at an open wilderness, Chen Yu suddenly turned around and shouted loudly. Continue your saga on Novgo His voice echoed through the surrounding mountains, and at that moment, a thunderous sound came from nearby. ¡°Run! The mountain god is angry, an avalanche is coming!¡± he exclaimed. Chapter 503 - Chapter 503 Mutated Magnetic Field Chapter 503 Mutated Magnetic Field Chen Yu¡¯s eyes held a ruthless glint. From a young age, he detested those who harmed others, especially those who exploited the name of the divine to rob and kill. When he had arrived here, he had already scoped out the surrounding environment. From this position, all he needed to do was to shout, and he could trigger an avalanche. The moment the mountain began to collapse, Chen Yu charged out of the crowd and dashed toward the city gate. The huge commotion attracted everyone from the city. Taking advantage of the chaos, Chen Yu quietly climbed the city walls and then stood atop the tallest tower. ¡°These people have been masquerading under the guise of deities to swindle and deceive. Now, the gods have sent down punishment and have wiped them out.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the city¡¯s residents widened their eyes, their faces filled with shock. They had long been brainwashed, utterly convinced by these deceits. Now Chen Yu had stepped forward to reveal that it was all false, shattering their beliefs. However, in their minds, avalanches were a display of Supernatural Powers that only deities could wield. Now that those outsiders had been buried by the avalanche, it proved beyond doubt they were impostors. The breathing of the crowd became rapid. They knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Chen Yu. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there. While the residents were distracted, he leaped from the side of the city wall, heading directly to Xu Chenguang¡¯s shop. Although he had lured those few goons out to be buried under the snow, there was still one individual in the city ¨C the core of that group. When entering the city earlier, Chen Yu had used the system to scan all conditions within the city and discovered a young man sitting beneath the church. This person emitted a very strange magnetic field; though not as strong as the Polestar, this magnetic field could, to some extent, control the human brain. ¡°Sect Leader, as per your instructions, everything has been prepared. We can proceed with the plan tonight!¡± Chen Yu nodded, casually picked up a bowl of tea from the table, and gulped it down. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands!¡± With that, Chen Yu left the shop. At this moment, the church was already deserted, save for a few truly devout worshippers at the front hall, ceaselessly praying. Chen Yu returned there and saw the young man from the basement standing on the platform with arms outstretched, muttering something under his breath. ¡°You¡¯re quite impressive, amassing such a vast fortune through these means. Aren¡¯t you afraid of divine retribution?¡± Anger laced Chen Yu¡¯s words. He wished he could tear the young man before him into pieces. But the young man, as if possessed, suddenly leaped down from the platform, electricity crackling between his hands. Upon closer inspection, one could see a strange device on his chest, apparently converting something into electricity. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, then charged forward. A flash of blue-white light suddenly sparked, striking the other¡¯s chest. The young man¡¯s face showed no surprise as he fiercely released the electricity from his chest. The moment the two currents collided in mid-air, they unleashed an incredibly powerful force that spread out, shattering the nearby chairs into dust and even cracking the columns not far away. ¡°That¡¯s right, you and I are the same, both products of human evolution. We don¡¯t need to live among the common folk. Join me, and we can become rulers of this world.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow, this guy was really insane. The so-called Supernatural Powers were nothing more than changes in the body¡¯s magnetic field, manifesting abilities different from normal people. This guy actually regarded it as a sign of evolution. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste any more words, his body flashed, and in an instant he was beside the youth, intending to tear off the device on his chest. But it seemed like the guy could lock onto Chen Yu¡¯s movements at any time, dodging away a second in advance. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your effort, I know what you¡¯re thinking in your head, and I can even control your actions. If you keep this up, I won¡¯t be polite anymore!¡± Chen Yu felt somewhat bewildered; he had indeed sensed a strange energy field passing through his body, seemingly making a circuit through his brain. This guy actually possessed an ability similar to his system, able to scan other people¡¯s brain information. It seemed he couldn¡¯t get any precise results, only able to predict others¡¯ movements. Just as Chen Yu was about to make his move, the magnetic field around the guy exploded outward. The several followers nearby, as if controlled, crazily lunged at Chen Yu. A fierce expression appeared on the youth¡¯s face. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to drink a toast, you¡¯ll have to drink a penalty. Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just have to make you die.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a blue-white radiance erupted from him. The system also transformed a massive amount of electric current into a magnetic field and covered the area with it. The youth¡¯s complexion changed drastically; he must have felt his magnetic field being interfered with. While he was still in shock, Chen Yu had already reached in front of him, grabbing his neck in one go. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone as deluded as you! Since you rely on the Supernatural Powers to survive, then I shall disable it.¡± As the words fell, the blue-white light surged, rushing into the youth¡¯s body and completely destroying the neurons in his head. The reason he could release a magnetic field different from ordinary people¡¯s was due to the chaos among the microscopic particles between neurons. This chaos, from a medical standpoint, is a kind of disease, but under certain circumstances, it can grant abilities beyond the understanding of normal humans. The youth¡¯s eyes were wide open, his complexion ashen as if he were dead. His body fell stiffly, convulsing continuously. From now on, his so-called Supernatural Powers were no more. Chen Yu heaved a sigh of relief and tapped the youth on the forehead. After confirming that the guy¡¯s neurons would not revert to their previous state, he left immediately. Xu Chenguang had driven a large truck to the middle of the street. ¡°I am here on the orders of the Heavenly God to bring everyone food. Come and get it.¡± The city¡¯s residents, many of whom had long been starving, rushed out at the news of free food. Their once-held faith had collapsed completely with the avalanche outside the city; Xu Chenguang¡¯s appearance was like a lifesaving straw to them. Chen Yu walked out of the church and sat down on the steps nearby, his face full of relief. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared not far from him. Chapter 504 - Chapter 504: Assassin’s Task Chapter 504: Assassin¡¯s Task Chen Yu immediately became alert and stood up abruptly. That figure was completely shrouded in a black robe, and his face was indiscernible. Even when the system was used, it was disrupted by some magnetic field. The guy had stood there for quite a while before finally taking off his hat. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯ve gone too far. We finally built up a base here, and you destroyed it as soon as you arrived. Is this how the Xuanqing Sect handles things?¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. The man in front of him wore the badge of the Knights of the Round Table on his chest; he seemed to be a subordinate of the Childe Family. ¡°Those guys are nothing but swindlers. I simply destroyed their den. Is that also wrong?¡± The man clenched his teeth so hard they made a cracking sound. The reason they chose Tulingrade as their base was that it was near the Arctic Circle, desolate, and the residents were either rich or noble. However, these people had all fled here from various parts of the world and had very low cognition. As long as they created a deity for them, they would willingly hand over their life¡¯s savings. In this way, they could plunder wealth here without limit. Now, everything here had been destroyed by Chen Yu, and the treasure beneath the church was also in his hands. ¡°Mr. Chen, no matter what, you were once a member of the Knights of the Round Table. As the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, have you forgotten past kindness?¡± Chen Yu almost laughed; he really couldn¡¯t recall any kindness from the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Get lost, you won¡¯t get any wealth from here! Go back and tell Fox that before long, the Childe Family will vanish from this world.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at Chen Yu with a horrified gaze. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you openly declaring war on the Knights of the Round Table?¡± Chen Yu took out a Token of the Knights of the Round Table from his body and threw it over. ¡°Take this back to Mr. Fox and tell him to clean his neck and wait obediently at home.¡± The man gasped heavily and, not daring to say more, quickly picked up the Token and left in a hurry. A cold smirk appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. From this moment on, he had completely broken with the Knights of the Round Table. Jin Lingsu also hurried to Chen Yu¡¯s side at this moment. ¡°What exactly happened in the city?¡± Chen Yu patted the dust off his clothes and pointed to Xu Chenguang not far away. ¡°You stay here. In a few days, Sect Leader Xu will take you to the Xuanqing Sect.¡± Jin Lingsu was displeased. ¡°What does this mean? Don¡¯t you want me to continue following you?¡± Chen Yu let out a sigh, ¡°I have to go somewhere, and I must go alone! Once I¡¯ve sorted things out, we¡¯ll meet at the Childe Family.¡± Jin Lingsu immediately understood that Chen Yu was preparing to go to war with the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Alright, waiting for you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say any more, mounted the snowmobile that had been prepared earlier, and sped away. The far north, though desolate and uninhabited, was favored by major organizations as a place to establish bases. Unbeknownst to many, a number of small cities had been built here. A few hours later, Chen Yu arrived at a city that seemed very dilapidated. Compared to Tulingrade, this place seemed somewhat slack. There wasn¡¯t a single person guarding the gate, and the streets were full of ragged figures, looking very deserted. The only busy place was a pub not far away. Chen Yu carelessly tossed the snowmobile aside and headed straight for the pub. Just as he approached the entrance, two burly men blocked his path. ¡°Entering the tavern costs ten taels of gold.¡± Chen Yu showed no surprise and directly took out a small piece of gold and tossed it over. The two burly men immediately became respectful. ¡°Sir, please come inside. If you need anything, just give us a shout.¡± Chen Yu sneered and walked straight into the tavern, taking a seat right in the center. Everyone drinking here had a murderous look on their faces. Each of them had at least a dozen lives on their hands. The bartender behind the counter looked extremely frail, but he sat back in his lounge chair with an air of calm indifference. It wasn¡¯t long before he took a satellite phone call, after which he posted a flyer on a pillar nearby. The people in the tavern immediately became agitated, crowding around to see. It seemed to be an assassination order with a reward of one thousand taels of gold. ¡°Damn, Ma Jinhong! That guy is a traitor from the Childe Family, and rumor has it, his skills are extraordinary. Catching him is not gonna be easy.¡± ¡°For someone of his caliber, the bounty is only one thousand taels of gold? Who would be willing to take that on?¡± ¡°Boss, if you raise the reward to two thousand taels of gold, I¡¯ll take the job.¡± ¡­ The crowd seemed very reluctant; Ma Jinhong¡¯s notoriety was well-known, and taking him down would be no easy task. The bounty was indeed too little. Chen Yu drained his glass of wine and slammed the table hard. ¡°I, however, have a task here, and I wonder if anyone would be interested?¡± With those words, the people around him quickly gathered closer. All outlaws, they relied on such jobs to survive. As long as the price was right, they would not spare even their own mothers. ¡°Young brother, our rates are not cheap. Who do you want to kill?¡± Chen Yu looked up at the speaker and laid out the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s Sect Master¡¯s token. Everyone present froze, well aware of the kind of existence the Xuanqing Sect was. Although this place was situated in the far northern lands, they heard news of the Xuanqing Sect daily. Upon seeing the token, someone took out a tablet and started comparing it with Chen Yu. Soon, a look of surprise appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°It turns out to be the newly-appointed Sect Leader! However, the Xuanqing Sect wouldn¡¯t need to come all the way here to issue a task, would it?¡± Chen Yu casually poured himself another glass of wine. ¡°What I¡¯m here for is not just to issue a task but to redeem you!¡± Interest piqued, a couple of them even sat down next to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you mean by that?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t beat around the bush and took out a bundle from his person, revealing a handful of bronze rings. ¡°The Xuanqing Sect is about to establish a new outer sect, and anyone in this world can join this outer sect after passing an assessment, becoming a member of our Xuanqing Sect! This bronze ring is the token of faith.¡± The room fell silent at once, everyone¡¯s gaze fixed on the bronze rings. If nothing unexpected happened, these people would live the rest of their lives in exile, barely scraping by as assassins. If they could join the Xuanqing Sect, they would have a formal identity, no longer needing to live these messy, chaotic lives. Chapter 505 - Chapter 505: The Bronze Ring Chapter 505: The Bronze Ring ¡°Mr. Chen, do you want to kill someone? Just give me a ring, and I can kill for you for free.¡± Someone shouted, and the tavern instantly erupted into chaos, even those outside who couldn¡¯t afford the ten pieces of gold were struggling to get in to see. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a smirk, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that I plan to annihilate the Knights of the Round Table, and I need many hands. If you can join, feel free to take a ring from the table.¡± The room fell silent at once; they all knew what the Knights of the Round Table represented. Among them, many were chased here by the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Xuanqing Sect has always kept out of worldly conflicts. Why do you suddenly want to move against the Knights of the Round Table?¡± ¡°The thirteen families within the Knights of the Round Table, each more formidable than the last, it¡¯s probably impossible to wipe them all out.¡± ¡°If we join, can you guarantee our safety?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu did not answer their questions but just leisurely sipped his wine. Only after the noise of the inquiries had died down did he put down his wine glass. ¡°I can¡¯t promise you anything, but what I offer is a way out. Whether you take it or not is up to you! I¡¯m leaving the rings here; anyone who takes a ring starts hunting the Knights of the Round Table right away. Bring back their identity tokens to the Xuanqing Sect to register.¡± After dropping this statement, Chen Yu promptly walked out of the tavern, not before treating everyone in the place to a drink before he left. In fact, in the northernmost lands, there were many such small towns, and Chen Yu had travelled through more than a dozen cities without stopping, dispersing thousands of bronze rings alone. Though these people were desperados, they still had strength. They could be considered as an unexpected force against the Knights of the Round Table. Chen Yu did not linger in the northernmost lands; after distributing all the rings he had, he traveled to an island. This place also served as a neutral club independent of the major organizations. It was established by a remarkable person long ago. It was said that he was once a Knight of the Round Table who came here after falling out with the Childe Family. As soon as Chen Yu set foot on the island, he was stopped by the patrolling personnel. ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t you know that outsiders are not allowed to enter this place randomly?¡± These guys were equipped with some of the world¡¯s top gear, and even carried powerful magnetic interference with them. As soon as any electronic information weapon reached here, they would sense it immediately. Even Chen Yu¡¯s system couldn¡¯t accurately scan their brain information. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Mr. Wu Chen!¡± The patrolling personnel seemed to have heard some joke, and burst out laughing. ¡°This kid must have the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard to dare to call Mr. Wu by his name so casually.¡± ¡°He must be out of his mind to come here looking for trouble.¡± ¡°Kid, take my advice and leave fast. Our Mr. Wu doesn¡¯t see visitors.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu paused to adjust his breathing slightly, then took a step forward. His body shot forward like lightning through the middle of the men, and by the time they reacted, Chen Yu had already traveled several hundred meters. ¡°My God, am I seeing things? How did that kid move so fast?¡± ¡°What are you waiting for? Stop him quick, he might be here to assassinate Mr. Wu.¡± ¡­ The crowd immediately panicked, rushing forward in a flurry. But it was too late, Chen Yu had already reached the castle at the very center of the island. This place was built in the style of Western medieval architecture, with a touch of Chinese architectural charm. Although it looked a bit awkward, it was still imposing and majestic. Chen Yu didn¡¯t have the mindset to appreciate the architectural style; he pushed open the door and walked in. The security personnel in the foyer all turned their gaze towards him, raising their weapons at the same time. In the center of the hall, an extremely burly man was leisurely and comfortably eating a steak. Chen Yu frowned, thinking this guy must have been scared by the Knights of the Round Table; even while eating, he had to have so many people around for protection. ¡°Mr. Wu, isn¡¯t this a bit exaggerated? Why have you deployed so many security personnel on the island? And you even dismantled the previous transaction venue.¡± Wu Chen squinted his eyes, staring intently at Chen Yu with a peculiar gaze. ¡°Who are you? What do you want to do?¡± Chen Yu directly took out a token from the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°I just wanted to take a look around your trading market, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be closed off. Seems like your fear of the Knights of the Round Table has grown uncontrollable! I truly shouldn¡¯t have come.¡± The mockery in his words immediately enraged Wu Chen, who leapt from his chair. ¡°You brat, you came here just to humiliate me, didn¡¯t you!¡± Ignoring the security personnel nearby, Chen Yu walked directly up to Wu Chen and sat down next to him, casually taking a large piece of braised meat from the table for himself. ¡°Back then, you were driven out by the Knights of the Round Table, and they even sent people after you. Don¡¯t you want to settle this score with them?¡± The look in Wu Chen¡¯s eyes softened, he wiped his mouth and leaned back in his chair, pulling out a token from the Knights of the Round Table. ¡°How can I not want to avenge such a deep hatred? You¡¯re not here to pull me into a fight against the Knights of the Round Table, are you?¡± Chen Yu tore off a piece of steak and chewed it in his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s right. The first command as the new Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect is to annihilate the Knights of the Round Table. Mr. Wu, would you like to join me?¡± Wu Chen¡¯s face was filled with shock. Although the Xuanqing Sect was the largest organization in the world, they never casually provoked other organizations. From the first Heavenly Master until now, they have always been in a state of seclusion. Chen Yu had just become the Sect Leader and was acting so ostentatiously. Was he not afraid of ending up in a mutually destructive struggle with the Knights and leaving an opening for other organizations to exploit? A storm of shock and consternation surged in Wu Chen¡¯s heart, but just as he was about to ask questions, Chen Yu suddenly took out a plaque and handed it over. ¡°Mr. Wu, I know what you¡¯re worried about, but rest assured, before we act, I will arrange everything. Plus, I¡¯ve already united several major organizations; no one will be able to stab me in the back.¡± Wu Chen swallowed hard, realizing that all his defenses were laid bare in front of Chen Yu. And the plaque that Chen Yu had taken out shocked him even more; it was Luo Hai¡¯s core token. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but I have a rule. If you win in my game rules, you can ask anything of me!¡± A strange arc formed at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°That¡¯s easy, once I¡¯ve had my fill, let¡¯s go to your place and have a good time!¡± Chapter 506 - Chapter 506: Childish Chapter 506: Childish Wu Chen had two great loves in his life, one was gourmet food, and the other was gaming. He came from a highly noble birth, his ancestors once traded in the South Seas, and the wealth they accumulated was enough to rival countries. When the Knights of the Round Table were updating, they had invited his family multiple times. However, due to cultural reasons, the Wu Family had never agreed. It wasn¡¯t until Wu Chen¡¯s generation that, due to some practical considerations, he agreed to join the Knights of the Round Table. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that the Knights of the Round Table were incredibly corrupt, always getting involved in all sorts of unsavory dealings. They even tried to limit Wu Chen¡¯s hobbies. What was even more excessive was that they demanded Wu Chen to dedicate all of the Wu Family¡¯s assets unconditionally to the Knights of the Round Table. In plain terms, they wanted to swallow up the priceless assets in this manner, then kick Wu Chen out afterward. It was because he saw through this that Wu Chen resolutely left the Knights of the Round Table. From then on, he faced the ceaseless assassination attempts by the Knights of the Round Table. Luckily, the wealth and power in his hands were enough to help him dominate a region, thus he established a kingdom on this small island. In the beginning, the island was rather prosperous, and various powers and organizations would come to visit from time to time. But to have become so desolate now shows how Wu Chen had been living over the years. After finishing the meal, Chen Yu went with Wu Chen to a hall next door. This place had all sorts of entertainment facilities available that Chen Yu found somewhat dazzling to look at. Wu Chen didn¡¯t say much and went straight to the billiards table beside them. ¡°You know I¡¯m obsessed with all sorts of games, and billiards is one of my favorites. If you can beat me at this, whatever you say goes!¡± Chen Yu raised his eyebrows. He had been a good student since childhood and had no interest in many entertainment activities. Especially something like billiards, which he had never even touched. After a moment of adjusting his breathing, he let the system search for all the rules and techniques of billiards. As soon as all this information was in his brain, he stepped forward and picked up a cue stick. ¡°Mr. Wu, are we playing a single game for the outcome, or best two out of three?¡± As Chen Yu spoke, he deliberately brought some provocation into his tone, instantly arousing Wu Chen¡¯s competitive spirit. ¡°Best two out of three? How boring, of course, it¡¯s a single game for the outcome.¡± Wu Chen said magnanimously and then took a seat to the side, cue stick in hand. ¡°Guests first, you break.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice and then picked up the cue stick to deliver a fierce strike. The force generated by the cue ball was tremendous, and the power that erupted seemed deliberately controlled. All the balls scattered in every direction upon the cue ball¡¯s impact. Before Wu Chen could react, all of the balls had dropped into the pockets. Wu Chen¡¯s mouth hung open in shock. Although he could perform this trick, he could only succeed once in ten attempts. ¡°Mr. Wu, I assure you, my playing method is the fastest in the world, and even you can¡¯t surpass it! Isn¡¯t it time to honor the promise you made earlier?¡± Wu Chen finally came to his senses, tossing the cue stick he held to the side. ¡°It doesn¡¯t count! It doesn¡¯t count! As the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, you must be familiar with the Yin Yang Technique. You must have used some supernatural powers while playing just now. Let¡¯s switch to a more ordinary game.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was filled with black lines as the guy shamelessly came up with such a far-fetched excuse. ¡°Since Mr. Wu put it that way, let¡¯s switch to a different game!¡± Wu Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief, looked around, and found a power tester. This device had been specially modified and was tens of thousands of times stronger than a normal tester. Wu Chen walked over excitedly, then turned his head and sized up Chen Yu from top to bottom. Their physiques were entirely disproportionate, with Chen Yu looking as frail as a chick, seemingly incapable of trussing up a chicken. Explore more stories with Novgo On the other hand, Wu Chen was all sinew and muscle, with an exoskeleton device on his arm, potent enough to kill two elephants with a single punch. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you¡¯re the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, you must have some skills. Let¡¯s play with this tester¡ªwhichever one of us gets the higher value wins, how about that?¡± Chen Yu coughed twice; this guy was indeed shamelessly excessive. He said nothing more but made a ¡¯please go ahead¡¯ gesture. Wu Chen chuckled twice, activated the exoskeleton device on his arm, and then punched down hard. The numbers on the machine instantly maxed out, emitting a gentle sound, about to break under the force. Wu Chen looked at the numbers with satisfaction, then finally stared at Chen Yu with a disdainful look. ¡°Mr. Chen, there aren¡¯t many in this world who can reach my numbers. You don¡¯t have to force yourself; conceding is fine, and I won¡¯t blame you. As for our collaboration, we can discuss it further.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth curled into a sly smile; he flashed forward to the machine and threw a light punch. The numbers on the machine sped up like mad, quickly hitting peak value. The next moment, the modified super machine actually exploded on the spot. That proved Chen Yu¡¯s punch was at least five times more powerful than Wu Chen¡¯s. Wu Chen¡¯s eyes were wide with incredulity as he couldn¡¯t believe such a frail-looking man could possess such incredible strength. ¡°Mr. Wu, to be honest, all this is child¡¯s play. Can we perhaps play something more suited for adults?¡± Wu Chen took a deep breath and moved a chair over to sit down. ¡°Mr. Chen, I won¡¯t hide it from you, my biggest wish in life is to live alone in a secluded place and live out my days in peace! Even joining the Knights of the Round Table had its reasons. Now you¡¯re asking me to join you in annihilating them, I really don¡¯t want to go.¡± Chen Yu sighed lightly, not knowing how to persuade him. Although Wu Chen seemed childish, what he yearned for was a state of desirelessness. Nevertheless, to contend against the Knights of the Round Table, Wu Chen¡¯s strength was indispensable. ¡°Mr. Wu, I happen to have a solution. If you¡¯re willing to help out, I could set aside a manor just for you at the foot of Tianhu Mountain in the Xuanqing Sect. How does that sound?¡± Wu Chen¡¯s eyes lit up, his face full of astonishment. To everyone in the Xuanqing Sect, Tianhu Mountain was a sacred place, unreachable by mere mortals in their entire lives. Now, Chen Yu was actually offering to set up an estate for him there. ¡°Mr. Chen, are you serious?¡± Chen Yu nodded: ¡°Would I, the Sect Leader, go back on my word?¡± Wu Chen immediately became extremely excited and pulled out a token from his possession, stuffing it into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°This is the Token of the Wu Family. From now on, you can command my people as you see fit.¡± Chapter 507 - Chapter 507: The Oil Thief Chapter 507: The Oil Thief Chen Yu didn¡¯t go to fetch it but instead stuffed a piece of paper into Wu Chen¡¯s hand. ¡°The time of the operation is on here. When it comes, whether or not you receive my message, immediately take action and strike at the Childe Family!¡± Wu Chen was immediately stunned, as this undeniably increased his risk. The opponent was the world¡¯s second-ranked super organization, the Knights of the Round Table! To attack rashly without any information, if the others held back, wouldn¡¯t he be the fool? Chen Yu naturally knew Wu Chen¡¯s concerns, and without speaking, he simply smiled softly and then extended a finger, touching it to Wu Chen¡¯s forehead. The next moment, Wu Chen¡¯s mind suddenly heard Chen Yu¡¯s voice. ¡°This is a secret operation, any contact between us could be discovered by others!¡± Shock filled Wu Chen¡¯s eyes; he had never dreamt that someone could transmit what they wanted to say directly into his brain. ¡°Mr. Chen, how on earth did you do that?¡± Chen Yu patted Wu Chen¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Remember the time we agreed upon!¡± Wu Chen nodded heavily. Other things aside, just the technology to send a voice into someone else¡¯s head, the Childe Family probably couldn¡¯t manage. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and left straight away. At the same moment, everyone on the island received Wu Chen¡¯s order, not stopping Chen Yu and even preparing a cargo ship bound for Paraguay for him. Ships like this came and went from the island dozens of times a day, specifically charged with transporting supplies to the island. Chen Yu told Wu Chen he was leaving for Paraguay to unite with the Ghana Family. Without another word, Wu Chen arranged a luxurious room on the cargo ship especially for Chen Yu. Chen Yu sat on the sofa, spreading a blueprint in front of him. The families he had united, to a certain degree, had already surrounded the Knights of the Round Table. But this encirclement still seemed somewhat frail. If he could also unite the Ghana Family, then the Knights of the Round Table would inevitably be annihilated! Just as he was drawing on the map, a faint noise suddenly came from not far away. Chen Yu sprang to his feet, immediately releasing the system. At the tail of the cargo ship, two shady-looking individuals, carrying special drills, were fiddling near the fuel tank. Chen Yu frowned slightly; these two seemed like they should be crew members, but what were they doing tinkering with the fuel tank in the dead of night¡ªwere they stealing fuel? He immediately put down the blueprint in his hand, got up, and left the room, just in time to see the first officer. ¡°Mr. Chen, still not resting at this late hour? Is there something wrong?¡± Chen Yu immediately leaned in towards the first officer¡¯s ear and pointed in the direction of the stern. ¡°First Officer Han, I heard what seems like the sound of a drill from over there. Could something have gone wrong?¡± First Officer Han was initially stunned and then looked at Chen Yu with a firm gaze. ¡°Mr. Chen must be joking. That is the location of the fuel tank. All the screws there are integrated. It¡¯s impossible to repair, let alone the sound of a drill.¡± No sooner had he spoken than First Officer Han seemed to realize something; the smile on his face vanished in an instant. Without further ado, he ran directly towards the stern. Chen Yu also followed suit. As the two approached the stern, they indeed heard the distinct sound of a drill. However, the drill being used had been specially processed to be inaudible beyond five meters. Filled with hatred, First Mate Han bit his teeth fiercely and leapt to the side, grabbing the two men by the napes of their necks. ¡°What are you two doing? Do you not know this is the lifeline of the entire ship? If it leaks oil, we¡¯ll all be buried at sea.¡± The two men were startled and looked at First Mate Han with eyes full of terror, they hadn¡¯t expected their covert operation to be discovered. Discover stories with Novgo After a brief moment of shock, the two men immediately sprang up, their drills thrusting directly at First Mate Han. Chen Yu instantly flashed over, grabbed their wrists, and blue-white light flickered, shocking them into unconsciousness. First Mate Han immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t expected these two to attack with the intent to kill. If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yu, he might have lost his life right there and then. ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯m glad you were here; otherwise, those two might have doomed everyone on board.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t speak. He simply crouched down and placed his fingers on the men¡¯s foreheads, scanning their brain information. As suspected, these two were sent by the Childe Family, aiming to sabotage the ship. ¡°First Mate Han, is there something important on this ship?¡± First Mate Han couldn¡¯t help frowning. ¡°Nothing much, just some ordinary silk fabrics intended for trading in South America for some food supplies.¡± Chen Yu, with his chin propped up, looked distressed. The Childe Family had gone through great trouble to get two men on board just to destroy some fabric? ¡°Could you take me to see those fabrics?¡± Without any hesitation, First Mate Han first summoned a few crew members to take the two men away, then led Chen Yu down to the nearby warehouse. This warehouse wasn¡¯t very large, but it was piled high with goods. Most of the boxes contained fabric, with only a small amount of gold and silver. In some parts of South America, cash was of no use; people only recognized precious metals, so carrying some gold and silver was not unusual. Chen Yu continued walking in, while using the system to cover the entire warehouse. That¡¯s when he noticed a very inconspicuous safe in the corner. ¡°First Mate Han, can this be opened?¡± Without any hesitation, First Mate Han stepped forward and entered the password. When Wu Chen had assigned them, he made it clear that, if necessary, everyone must obey Chen Yu¡¯s commands. The moment the safe was opened, a purplish-red jade Guanyin statue suddenly appeared before them. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but stare; he hadn¡¯t expected such an item aboard the ship. Pure purple jadeite was already rare, and a piece that combined purple and red hues like this was even more scarce. A single piece could be worth hundreds of millions, and such a large jade Guanyin statue was valued at least thirty billion or could even be considered priceless. ¡°Mr. Chen, this jade Guanyin is the biggest secret on our ship. Mr. Wu wants us to use it to exchange for an advanced biotechnology in Paraguay! This technology could significantly speed up seawater desalination.¡± Chen Yu nodded. Wu Chen had always been situated on an island, and the environment there was very harsh, with barren land and no fresh water. The only way to sustain so many people was to use seawater desalination technology. Chapter 508 - Chapter 508 The Ghana Family Chapter 508 The Ghana Family ¡°` All existing seawater desalination technologies in the world have their limitations and shortcomings. Either the process takes too long, or the level of desalination isn¡¯t high enough. In order for the island to operate normally, Wu Chen must find a more efficient seawater desalination technology. The two guys from the Childe Family didn¡¯t come just to steal oil, they came to destroy the entire ship, letting the amethyst Guanyin sink into the sea so that Wu Chen couldn¡¯t buy back the technology. In doing so, everything Wu Chen had painstakingly managed would be lost. ¡°First Mate Han, this item is too important, one safe might not be enough, we should add another layer of security,¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed more worry, what concerned him the most now was whether there were still people from the Childe Family on the ship. First Mate Han sighed helplessly. ¡°Mr. Chen, you might not know this, but our ship is essentially a cargo ship and simply doesn¡¯t have that much space to place too many safes! Moreover, even with the best protection, if the ship can¡¯t be secured, the jade Guanyin won¡¯t be either,¡± Chen Yu nodded slightly and didn¡¯t say much more; after closing the safe, the two of them went up to the deck. The night sea was very quiet, only occasionally broken by the sound of the waves. At that moment, the captain rushed over with several people. ¡°What the hell happened, Old Han? Someone actually stole oil on the ship?¡± First Mate Han dared not delay and quickly recounted what had just happened to the captain. The captain was also somewhat helpless; he understood the situation on the island better than anyone, and now they needed to acquire the seawater desalination technology as soon as possible. ¡°It looks like we need to speed up and get to Paraguay as soon as possible,¡± Without saying much more, the captain immediately woke up the sleeping crew members and implemented a double-shift system to make full speed towards Paraguay. Chen Yu then went to the captain¡¯s side to integrate the system with the sonar and electromagnetic equipment on the ship, immediately sending out the signal. Before long, the brain information of everyone on board appeared in his mind. After a simple search, he effortlessly locked onto six individuals. After dealing with the affairs on the ship, the captain rushed over to find Chen Yu hunched over a desk, in what seemed to be deep concentration, which puzzled him. ¡°Mr. Chen, what¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± Chen Yu suddenly opened his eyes and wrote down six names with a pen. ¡°Captain, all these six people are spies sent by the Childe Family. Arrest them immediately.¡± The captain was incredulous; in such a short time, and it seemed that Chen Yu had just closed his eyes by the captain¡¯s side for a while, he was able to precisely write down the names of the spies. If it hadn¡¯t been for Wu Chen¡¯s stern instructions before departure, telling them to trust Chen Yu unconditionally, the captain might have suspected that something was amiss with Chen Yu. After a slight hesitation, the captain immediately sent out the list he held in his hands. Soon, the six culprits were brought up to the deck, where a satellite communication device was indeed found in their resting spot. The journey that followed was smooth, and roughly a week later, they arrived at the docks in Paraguay. Chen Yu didn¡¯t stay any longer than necessary and hailed a taxi by the roadside, heading straight for the city center. ¡°` The Ghana Family also ranks within the Knights of the Round Table, but they are at the very bottom. They control an extremely large amount of mineral resources, which all the major families of the Knights draw from without exception. It is precisely because of this that they have a stable position within the Knights of the Round Table. Frankly speaking, the Ghana Family isn¡¯t very strong, and the entire family is very relaxed about life, routinely abstaining from internal meetings of the Knights. Their relationship with the other families of the Knights of the Round Table is more like a pure business association. Chen Yu came here to persuade the head of the Ghana Family to withdraw from the Knights of the Round Table, or at least to stop providing mineral resources to the other families. Continue your adventure with Novgo The urban construction of this place isn¡¯t great, and it¡¯s even somewhat behind the times with taxis from the 1990s still running on the streets. Even the traffic lights on the main road are broken. Chen Yu stood on the sidewalk and waited for a while, just about to cross the road when a piercing sound suddenly rang in his ears. That was followed by a thunderous crashing noise. The orderly intersection just moments ago suddenly turned chaotic, with large crowds gathering to see what had happened. Chen Yu furrowed his brow immediately, as he sensed a clear smell of blood. Under the encirclement of the crowd, he involuntarily made his way to the front and saw an extremely luxurious, small red sports car crushed in the middle by a dozen other vehicles. From the looks of it, the sports car seemed custom-made, with an extremely sturdy exterior shell. With so many cars hitting it simultaneously, it surprisingly didn¡¯t sustain any significant damage. However, the right side of the car was somewhat deformed, and a young girl in her twenties was trapped inside it, with a piece of steel that had emerged from somewhere piercing through her lung, dripping blood continuously. The other cars were in an even more horrific state, with several of them stacked on top of each other, surely leaving the people inside beyond hope. If he observed carefully, he would have noticed that these cars seemed to have deliberately struck the red sports car. Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing and instinctively rushed forward, forcefully moving the few vehicles that were blocking the red sports car¡¯s path. At that moment, the system also spread out, and the brain information of all the drivers involved in the crash flooded into his mind. What he didn¡¯t expect was that the girl in the red sports car turned out to be the Ghana Family¡¯s only little princess, Elisa! Some of the other drivers were assassins from the Childe Family, and the rest were all desperados purchased locally. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and directly dismantled the door of the red sports car, then snapped the steel bar off the girl¡¯s body. This young girl¡¯s body was suddenly compressed into such a narrow space that the difference in pressure inside and outside her body was drastically high. If he recklessly pulled out the steel bar or immediately rescued the girl from the car, it would only cause her body¡¯s pressure balance to be disrupted, leading to instant death. If it had been in the past, Chen Yu would have had to open the girl¡¯s chest cavity to release the pressure difference, but now there was no need. He lifted his finger and gently tapped on the girl¡¯s forehead. A blue-white light spread out instantly, straightening the girl¡¯s body and simultaneously administering an electric shock treatment. The girl slowly opened her eyes, looking at Chen Yu with some confusion. Before she could react, the pain spreading from her body made her cry out in shock. Just then, over a dozen burly men wielding steel knives suddenly leaped out from the crowd and charged straight towards Chen Yu. Chapter 509 - Chapter 509 The Sole Heir Chapter 509 The Sole Heir Chen Yu immediately became alert and casually grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw them out. These stones were very sharp and they flew at an incredible speed, piercing through the bodies of those goons just like bullets. ¡°It¡¯s those guys again, they were also after me in the mall just now.¡± With difficulty, Elisa spoke these words, her eyes filled with resentment. Chen Yu could not care less, he clicked once again on Elisa¡¯s body and then carried her out of the car. Unexpectedly, there were still a number of hidden assassins in the crowd, as dozens of people rushed out from it. Chen Yu did not want to get entangled with these people, so he directly bypassed them and arrived at a nearby alley. ¡°Sir, I have a house over there, it¡¯s very secret, they won¡¯t discover me if you hide me there.¡± Chen Yu nodded, and ran swiftly through the alleys. Before long, the two arrived in front of a very exquisite small villa. This place was indeed very secluded, with all the surrounding buildings being residential houses, making the area look quite disordered. Such a conspicuous little villa would surely attract the attention of passersby. Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of black lines, but at this point, he could not worry about that and had to carry Elisa into the villa. He quickly treated Elisa¡¯s wounds and casually pulled out the steel bar from her body. ¡°Thank you so much, sir. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I probably would have died on the streets today.¡± Chen Yu had already scanned Elisa¡¯s brain information and knew everything, but he still pretended as if he knew nothing. ¡°Who are those people? How could a young girl like you attract so many enemies?¡± Elisa suddenly became agitated. ¡°They are all shameless people wanting to take over our family¡¯s mining interests!¡± At this, Elisa couldn¡¯t help but cough a few times. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, just walked to the side and poured himself a glass of white wine. ¡°The Ghana Family is indeed facing a critical moment of survival now. Your elders are gone, and you are the sole heir. If anything were to happen to you, then as a member family of the Knights of the Round Table, all of the Ghana Family¡¯s assets would be automatically integrated into the Knights of the Round Table.¡± Elisa¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Who on earth are you? How do you know so much about my family¡¯s affairs!¡± Chen Yu drained the wine in his glass in one gulp. ¡°Who I am is not important. The urgent matter is to find a safe place. It¡¯s no longer safe here.¡± Elisa couldn¡¯t help but laugh. This small villa was a secret construction she had built without her family¡¯s knowledge, in an exceedingly remote location. How could it be unsafe? Just as she was about to speak, a knocking sound suddenly came from the door. Elisa immediately turned on the nearby surveillance screen. She saw a few individuals dressed as delivery personnel standing outside. ¡°Hello, Miss Elisa, we are delivery men, please open the door.¡± Elisa was completely baffled; she had not ordered any delivery. The place was very secluded, and these individuals were dressed like delivery personnel from the city area. Elisa, with no guard up, thought they had the wrong delivery and since she was hungry, decided to let them bring in the food. She could always pay them more if needed. Chen Yu immediately pressed down on Elisa¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t you think these guys are assassins sent by the Childe Family?¡± Elisa¡¯s clear eyes appeared incredibly innocent. In her view, these people were just there to deliver takeout, and they definitely could not be harboring any ill intentions. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too nervous? And I haven¡¯t yet figured out who you are. What if you¡¯re also a bad guy?¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than a violent noise suddenly came from the doorway. Several deliverymen brazenly charged in, brandishing a large amount of automatic weapons, ready to head upstairs. Elisa was terrified. Before she had time to react, Chen Yu suddenly wrapped his arms around her and jumped out the back door. Chen Yu was extremely familiar with the layout of this place, as if it were his own home, and he directly headed to the garage and rode off on an off-road motorcycle. The two fled, and it wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at a relatively secluded bar. This place was a secret stronghold of the Ghana Family in the city, unknown to anyone besides the core members of the family. Elisa stared at Chen Yu with an indescribable gaze. ¡°How do you know about this place? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever told you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t worry about that and, with familiarity, entered the password at the entrance and walked in. Elisa suddenly began to doubt her life. The password was set by her personally, and no one aside from her knew it. As soon as Chen Yu stepped into the bar, a group of people surged out from the dark corners, aiming all sorts of weapons at his head. ¡°Who are you? We don¡¯t seem to ever have met you!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was extremely calm as he retrieved the Token of the Xuanqing Sect from his body. ¡°The new Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, Chen Yu. I¡¯ve come to deal with the grievances between you and the Knights of the Round Table.¡± When the crowd saw the Token, they were all startled for a moment. They didn¡¯t know whether the token in Chen Yu¡¯s hand was real or fake, but the reputation of the Xuanqing Sect still made them flinch. Elisa hurriedly ran over, grabbed the Token from Chen Yu¡¯s hand, and inspected it carefully. ¡°Oh my god, you really are the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Chen Yu put away the Token and pulled Elisa to sit down at the bar next to him. ¡°I had heard about the animosity between you and the Knights of the Round Table before coming here. I hadn¡¯t expected it to be so severe. If I¡¯m not wrong, the elders in your family were assassinated by people sent by the Childe Family.¡± Elisa let out a helpless sigh. ¡°My family is part of the Knights of the Round Table, but not very powerful. They are only interested in the resources we control. And for so many years, they have bound us tightly to the Knights of the Round Table with a bondage of benefits!¡± Chen Yu was aware of all these circumstances. He did not say much more and directly took out a contract from his body. ¡°If you are willing, you can sign an agreement with the Xuanqing Sect right now. From this day forward, you will exist as an external branch of the Xuanqing Sect. But don¡¯t worry, I will absolutely not restrict the freedom of your family.¡± Explore more at Novgo Elisa looked at Chen Yu with surprise. The situation of the Ghana Family was extremely critical at the moment; if she died, the family would be finished. Now, the Xuanqing Sect suddenly stepped in to offer their protection and without any additional conditions. ¡°Mr. Chen, I don¡¯t quite understand the rules of the Xuanqing Sect. Could you tell me what you are really doing this for?¡± Chen Yu did not beat around the bush. ¡°I want to erase the Knights of the Round Table from this world and also exterminate the Childe Family.¡± Chapter 510 - Chapter 510 Merging the Family Chapter 510 Merging the Family Elisa stood there, stiff as a board. She had considered this matter hundreds of times a day in her head, but she never dared to voice it out loud, much less take any action. Now, in front of so many people, Chen Yu had boldly declared it, which truly shocked her. However, upon closer consideration, he was the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect; if he wanted, he could obliterate any organization in the world. ¡°Mr. Chen, although the Xuanqing Sect is the foremost organization in the world, the strength of the Knights of the Round Table is not weak, and in some aspects even surpasses the Xuanqing Sect. Are you truly confident that you can eliminate them?¡± Chen Yu directly spread a map out on the counter. ¡°All the families marked with circles on this are already on my side. I came to seek the Lakato Family not to necessarily recruit you, but because your position is ideal to form an encirclement around the Childe Family.¡± Elisa hurriedly examined the map and saw that it was indeed as Chen Yu had described. The Lakato Family, Luo Hai, the Milore Family, and a hundred other powers, large and small, around the world, had already started to isolate the major families of the Knights of the Round Table while tightly encircling the Childe Family. Read exclusive adventures at Novgo Adding the Ghana Family would indeed perfect this encirclement. ¡°Mr. Chen, when do you plan to take action? I will definitely lead the entire family to support you.¡± Elisa had long despised the Knights of the Round Table, especially the Childe Family, who, as the leading family of the Knights, relentlessly suppressed the other families. Even a few years ago, they had tried to buy out the Ghana Family through despicable means. Now, to finally have someone stand up and unite with them to eradicate the Childe Family was beyond joyous for her. Just as Chen Yu was about to detail some specific plans, two burly men suddenly stepped forward ¡°Miss, we still don¡¯t know where this man comes from, nor can we be sure if the Token he holds is genuine or fake. Isn¡¯t it a bit too hasty to trust him so easily?¡± Elisa¡¯s face immediately darkened. ¡°I personally experienced that Token; do you not even trust me?¡± Instead of addressing her question, the two men directly positioned themselves behind Chen Yu. ¡°Kid, who the hell are you? Are you here to bewitch our young lady?¡± Chen Yu chuckled twice, then suddenly turned around, grabbed the badges at the waists of these men, and forcefully tore them off. ¡°The Childe Family is really something, to be able to plant spies right at the core of the Ghana Family.¡± The two men¡¯s eyes widened in shock; they had not expected Chen Yu to be so fast as to pull out badges hidden under their clothes. Elisa too was taken aback as she immediately recognized the origin of the Token. ¡°Well, well, you two actually ambushed me. If I don¡¯t kill you today, I¡¯m no longer a member of the Ghana Family.¡± But just as she uttered these words, the people around her took a step back, each drawing their weapons and aiming at both her and Chen Yu. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t blame us. The Childe Family offered us too much.¡± ¡°Mr. Fox already promised us that if we bring back your head, he would give each of us a mine.¡± ¡°Following the Ghana leads nowhere!¡± ¡­ A crowd of voices clamored, seemingly cementing their resolve to betray the Ghana. Elisa¡¯s mouth gaped open; this bar was a secret stronghold of the Ghana Family, where only the most trusted members of the family were dispatched for assignments. If even the most trusted people by her side had now sided with the Childe Family, the Ghana would be nothing but an empty shell. ¡°You¡¯re going too far. Haven¡¯t I treated you well?¡± Elisa screamed in agony and grabbed a wine bottle from beside her, smashing it fiercely, ready to fight these bastards to the end. Chen Yu stepped forward and snatched the broken bottle from her. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s no need to stoop to their level, they¡¯ve long been bought off.¡± A group of people glared at Chen Yu with a hateful gaze. If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Yu¡¯s sudden appearance today, they would not have exposed their identities so soon. Just as they were about to make their move, Chen Yu suddenly squatted down, touching the ground with one finger, and a blue-white light flickered abruptly. Caught off guard, the group¡¯s bodies twitched, and they all collapsed to the floor in unison. Chen Yu clapped his hands, ¡°Miss, we need to head back to the Ghana headquarters. Otherwise, the whole family will truly be swallowed up by the Childe.¡± Elisa took a few deep breaths. When even such a secret stronghold had been infiltrated, not to mention the headquarters. However, she was still curious: how did these people just fall to the ground as if they had been electrocuted? Before she could ask, Chen Yu forcefully pulled her out the door. In the southern part of Paraguay, there is a small city called Zanya, which is also the stronghold of the Ghana Family. In its very center stands a building as majestic as a palace. Above the grand hall, dozens of people sat in a circle, chattering and arguing nonstop. ¡°The Ghana Family has fallen to this state today entirely because of the erroneous decisions made by many core family members!¡± ¡°Nowadays, the main core members are down to that young girl, who simply does not have the capability to control the family. I say, just strip her of her inheritance rights.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, such a large family can¡¯t possibly be dictated by a young girl.¡± ¡°The Childe Family has already offered a suitable price. We can¡¯t be ungrateful, and at the very least, we would retain our seats within the Knights of the Round Table.¡± ¡­ The sentiment at the scene was overwhelmingly in favor of merging with the Childe Family. Only a very few people supported Elisa¡¯s succession. Their voices were soon drowned out. In the midst of the endless quarrel, Chen Yu and Elisa walked in through the main entrance. ¡°Senior members, what are you all arguing about?¡± The delicate voice suddenly quieted the room, and most looked at Elisa with terrified gazes. They had already conspired with the Childe Family to stage a car accident in the center of the northern port city to kill Elisa in a supposed accident. Nobody had expected that the young girl would be standing before them, completely unscathed. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve finally returned.¡± A middle-aged man hurriedly came forward, taking Elisa¡¯s arm and respectfully helped her to the principal seat. He was the steward of the Ghana Family and one of the few at the scene who supported Elisa. During the debate with the others earlier, he had already had a premonition. These rascals surely must have taken action against Elisa in secret; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be so brazenly discussing their defection to the Childe Family here. Chapter 511 - Chapter 511 McQueen Chapter 511 McQueen ¡°This little girl is an impostor!¡± No one knew who shouted, but upon hearing it, the crowd on site rose to their feet, and their accompanying bodyguards closed in as well. It seemed they were looking for any excuse to finish off Elisa. However, such a reason was indeed clumsy. There she was, standing alive and well, yet they had the audacity to claim she was a fake! But at this point, the reason no longer mattered. As long as they killed her and handed over the entire Ghana Family to Childe, nothing else was of concern. The butler hurriedly shielded Elisa behind him, ready to fight these thugs to the death. Chen Yu sighed helplessly, as the assailants had clearly come prepared, dozens of them specially trained bodyguards! Explore more at Novgo Even if the butler was superhuman, he couldn¡¯t possibly beat so many men. Just as the thugs were about to charge, Chen Yu¡¯s body suddenly flashed like lightning into the thick of the crowd, followed by a sudden burst of blue and white light. The mob that had just been bristling with aggression was instantly struck by an electric shock, collapsing to the ground like cut wheat. The unexpected turn of events had everyone in attendance widening their eyes in shock, those who had been chatting leisurely by the sofa stood up, their faces filled with disbelief. They could never have dreamed that their own top fighters would be felled in an instant like chives to the ground. Chen Yu shook his hand dismissively, a look of disdain in his eyes. ¡°You bunch really are shameless, ganging up on a young girl like this. Is her legitimate right of inheritance for you to question?¡± The high-ranking members of the Ghana Family were suddenly flustered, and an elderly man, trembling, walked unstably towards Chen Yu. ¡°Who exactly are you? Why are you meddling in our family affairs?¡± Without the slightest courtesy, Chen Yu took out the Token of the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect. ¡°I am Chen Yu, the new Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect. I am here today to take over the Ghana Family.¡± As soon as the three words ¡®Xuanqing Sect¡¯ were mentioned, everyone, without exception, shuddered. Though the Childe Family was powerful, they were merely members of the Knights of the Round Table, whereas Xuanqing Sect was an entirely intact organization, incomparable to the Childe Family. ¡°Does Xuanqing Sect also want to swallow our family whole?¡± A clueless individual suddenly stood up, appearing rather confrontational. It seemed the fallen bodyguards hadn¡¯t frightened him. Chen Yu glanced at the man, then snapped his fingers. Instantly, a blue and white fireball formed, blazing upon his shoulder. ¡°I did not come here to negotiate with you, but to command. From now on, Elisa is the head of the Ghana Family. The only thing you must do now is to completely cut off all the resources needed by the Childe Family.¡± No one dared utter a single word of protest; the power Chen Yu had displayed was too extraordinary, and he was the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect! Just that status alone could easily make any family submit. One of the veteran members exchanged glances and then knelt down one by one, paying homage to the new family head. Elisa adjusted her breathing and slowly took her place at the head. She pulled out a long list from her person and spread it across the table. ¡°The names I call out, please hand over all your rights and roll out of this room.¡± The people present all stared at Elisa with a strange gaze, not expecting this young lady to initiate such a drastic cleansing of the family upon her ascension to power. Just as someone was about to stand up and object, Chen Yu stood by Elisa¡¯s side, pointing a finger at the table, where a blue and white light spread across the entire surface. The room instantly fell silent, and everyone sat there obediently waiting for Elisa to read out their names. Half an hour later, the hall was left with only a scattering of individuals. It seemed to Elisa that those who had been cleared out wouldn¡¯t last long before ending up as corpses on the streets. These internal family matters were of no concern to Chen Yu; he only needed the support of the Ghana Family. ¡°Miss Elisa, now that you have taken the position of family head, there¡¯s no need for me to stay any longer!¡± Chen Yu very politely made his intent to leave known. All preparations had already been made; he just needed to return to Xuanqing Sect, and with one order, he could annihilate the entire Childe Family. Elisa quickly stood up to stop him. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you¡¯ve helped me ascend to the position of family head, why don¡¯t you do a good deed to the end and help me completely cleanse the other powers within the family?¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°Haven¡¯t all those guys been driven out by you? What enemies are left?¡± Elisa sighed heavily and took out a photo from her person, handing it to Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I won¡¯t hide it from you; even though our family controls all the mineral resources in South America, there¡¯s still a very powerful opponent! The Childe Family has been in touch with them, intending to use them to replace us.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, for he was aware of this situation. In any given place, even if only one family power exists, numerous smaller factions would inevitably break off within. This was an inevitable outcome! Furthermore, with such rich mineral resources in this area, even if the Ghana Family was powerful, it couldn¡¯t completely suppress the other organizations. Chen Yu glanced briefly at the photo and recognized it as McQueen, the head of Chang Hai Mining! This ruthless man controlled dozens of mines, always doing business with the major families, and their power was so extensive that they were a formidable force, more than capable of challenging the Ghana Family. In truth, Elisa was no match for McQueen. The young lady could only take this opportunity to have Chen Yu help her eliminate McQueen once and for all. ¡°I can do you this favor, but in exchange, from now on, the Ghana Family must serve as a vassal to Xuanqing Sect.¡± Without hesitation, Elisa immediately agreed. The Ghana Family had long been in decline, and now they were splintered within; only by aligning with a powerful organization could they hope to survive. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, pocketed the photo, and prepared to leave. Just as he reached the door, a dozen burly men barged in rudely, each carrying various weapons in their hands. ¡°Your Ghana Family is overstepping, we agreed to split that mine fifty-fifty, how come you¡¯ve gone digging on our side again, get your people out of there right now, or I swear I¡¯ll kill them all,¡± one of the men barked threateningly. The domineering voice startled Elisa, and almost instinctively, she hid behind Chen Yu. Chapter 512 - Chapter 512 Press Conference Chapter 512 Press Conference The speaker was a burly man with a grotesque tumor on his shoulder, extremely ugly to behold. When Chen Yu saw this guy, he involuntarily frowned, astonished that someone bearing such a hideous growth dared to wander about in public. The tumor was a light pink color, probably connected to blood vessels inside the body, so any jolting or heavy blows could potentially tug at nerves within. ¡°Why are you speaking so loudly? Aren¡¯t you afraid of dropping dead on the spot!¡± Chen Yu stepped forward and grabbed the man¡¯s shoulder. The man felt a blur before his eyes and his body stiffened, unable to move an inch. Even though the tumor on his shoulder was unsightly and threatening to his life, it was, in a sense, his leverage. Strutting around the streets with such an appendage, if anyone dared touch him, he would collapse to the ground and extort from them. Relying on such shameless behavior, he actually emerged as the leader of the local forces and even secured employment by McQueen! He came here today to carry out McQueen¡¯s orders, aiming to drag the Ghana Family into a maelstrom of public opinion. Outside, reporters and some related personnel were already prepared; if the commotion here escalated, they would burst in. Chen Yu had seen through all of this, as the system had transmitted the entire condition of the tumor to his brain. To a regular doctor, this thing couldn¡¯t be surgically removed due to its connections to vessels and nerves, but to Chen Yu, it was nothing short of trivial. Merely lifting his finger and gently touching the tumor, a blue-white light flickered in an instant, and then the mass shrank at a visible rate, ultimately turning into a desiccated lump that fell to the ground. ¡°McQueen is truly despicable; you¡¯re so ill, yet he doesn¡¯t care! Coming here to make troubles, do you think it¡¯s worth it to continue serving such a master?¡± The words were spoken in an exceedingly gentle tone, but anyone with a bit of sense could detect the mockery in his voice. The man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the dried-up flesh on the floor. He had sought help from countless hospitals, but no one could remove it, and some even predicted he would only live to thirty. And now, it had been effortlessly removed. The man¡¯s initial excitement was abruptly replaced by a sudden realization, and he hastily retreated several steps back. Though the tumor was gone and his life spared, the thing he had depended on was now lost. Chen Yu cast a cold glance at him, took hold of his collar, and led him outside. The reporters and related personnel laying in ambush at the door rushed out, their cameras flashing incessantly, submerging Chen Yu. But the scene everyone expected did not occur; instead, the tumor on the man¡¯s shoulder had vanished without a trace. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the Ghana Family is quite humane. This fellow almost fainted in the hall, so we promptly found the world¡¯s best doctor to remove the tumor from his shoulder,¡± explained Chen Yu. With that, the scene became abuzz instantly. Nobody had heard of such a miraculous doctor within the Ghana Family. As they buzzed with speculation, Chen Yu suddenly produced an exquisitely delicate purple jade pendant from his person. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Mr. McQueen has always been eager to collaborate with the Ghana Family. Now presents the best opportunity. I hope that Mr. McQueen can come to the Chongyang Restaurant at six o¡¯clock this afternoon to discuss the details of the partnership,¡± Chen Yu announced. What was initially a setup to corner the Ghana Family became a press conference orchestrated by Chen Yu. Elisa followed closely and stepped out the door, taking a long breath of relief. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu being here, she really wouldn¡¯t have known what to do. However, her face still wore some worry. ¡°Mr. Chen, the Chongyang Restaurant is McQueen¡¯s turf; aren¡¯t we walking right into his hands by going there to negotiate?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of disdain: ¡°Well, he¡¯d have to be capable of swallowing us first.¡± Within a rather luxurious estate, McQueen sat in the master¡¯s seat with a gloomy face. He grabbed a handful of mutton, bit into it fiercely, then carelessly threw the bones away. ¡°You lot are useless. I spent so much money, and you, what did you do? You went and held a press conference for others!¡± ¡°Especially you, didn¡¯t you say that the tumor on your shoulder alone could bankrupt the Ghana Family? How come someone has gone and removed the tumor?¡± Everyone present hung their heads low, not daring to utter a word, their eyes filled with terror. McQueen took a few heavy breaths, stuffed several more pieces of mutton into his mouth, downed a big gulp of liquor, and then stood up. His body was robust, yet remarkably proportionate, the muscles bursting forth as though they belonged to a man in his twenties. He walked to the side, picked up a snow-white Luminous Pearl from the table. ¡°Tell all the news media, they don¡¯t need to follow tonight; let them stay cool somewhere else.¡± After dropping such a harsh statement, McQueen wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth and headed straight out the door. Chongyang Restaurant was considered the biggest restaurant here, where only the wealthy and noble gathered, hence the place was filled with extremely luxurious private rooms. Explore hidden tales at Novgo Chen Yu had booked a room here half an hour earlier and was waiting. However, by the time McQueen arrived, there was nothing left on the big table but dish soup. Chen Yu belched, picked up a toothpick, and cleaned his teeth. ¡°Mr. McQueen, it seems you¡¯ve arrived a bit late. If you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s order another table of dishes.¡± McQueen¡¯s teeth gnashed with a crack, clearly taking this as a sign of disrespect. In this city, his reputation was well known; everyone was aware of his love for eating, and no matter who it was, unless they were hosting the meal, no one would start eating before he arrived. Yet Chen Yu had broken this rule. McQueen forced out a thin smile and sat down opposite Chen Yu. ¡°I presume this must be Mr. Chen! I have a question, you were a member of the Knights of the Round Table, and now you¡¯re the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, why are you helping the insignificant Ghana Family?¡± Chen Yu picked up the cup of liquor beside him and took a swig. ¡°Mr. McQueen, that¡¯s a bit of an underestimate! The Ghana Family has never been insignificant. They are one of the thirteen great families of the Knights of the Round Table, and they also control the largest mining conglomerate on these lands.¡± McQueen¡¯s body jerked suddenly, as the mining resources he controlled paled in comparison to the Ghana Family¡¯s. Chen Yu¡¯s words seemed to be suggesting that he should hand over all his mining resources. ¡°Mr. Chen, what do you mean by this? Are the mining businesses of the Ghana Family larger than mine?¡± Chen Yu said nothing further, simply reaching to the side, taking a map, and spreading it out on the table. Chapter 513 - Chapter 513 Robber Behavior Chapter 513 Robber Behavior This map was clearly carefully arranged, detailing all the mineral resources in South America, including the type of mineral reserves and their quantities, all clearly marked. What shocked McQueen even more was that part of his own private mining properties was marked on it. These mining properties had always been deliberately kept secret, never exposed to the public, with only him and his two secretaries in the know. Chen Yu glanced at McQueen¡¯s expression and a strange arc flashed at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve gone over the distribution of all the mineral resources here, and most of them are still in the hands of the Ghana Family. The part you hold is merely some precious metal mines. While highly valued, they¡¯re not as practically useful as the Gana Family¡¯s mines. In my opinion, it would be better to merge all of them together!¡± McQueen¡¯s eyes widened, and he slammed the table vehemently, standing up abruptly with a murderous glare fixed on Chen Yu. ¡°What do you mean by this? Should I just give away the family business I¡¯ve toiled so hard for, just like that?¡± Chen Yu casually collected the map and pulled out the Sect Leader¡¯s Token of the Xuanqing Sect from his person. ¡°Now that the Ghana Family has become an outer branch of my Xuanqing Sect, in order to expand our outer branch¡¯s influence, I, on behalf of the Xuanqing Sect, declare that all the mining properties under your name will be transferred to the Xuanqing Sect effective immediately. If you refuse, I will have no choice but to use force.¡± McQueen laughed in extreme anger, looking as if he wanted to tear Chen Yu to pieces. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, if you dare to run wild on this land, you¡¯re not far from death!¡± As soon as these words fell, he drew a long knife from his body, and on the blade, one could clearly see the reflection of a dark light¡ªobviously, the blade was coated with a deadly poison. Chen Yu did not care for that. He simply raised his finger and lightly tapped, and a blue-white light burst forth instantly, enveloping McQueen within. ¡°Brandishing a knife in front of me, it seems you no longer cherish your life!¡± After mocking him, Chen Yu took out a contract he had prepared in advance and slapped it down on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, since Mr. McQueen is unwilling to cooperate voluntarily, then we¡¯ll have no choice but to forcibly sign a contract!¡± Upon finishing these words, two burly men entered through the door and pinned McQueen to the table. ¡°Chen, even as Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, how can you be so shameless, resorting to such bandit-like methods!¡± Your journey continues on Novgo Chen Yu appeared indifferent, grabbed McQueen¡¯s hand, signed his name on the contract, and even stamped it with his handprint. ¡°If I remember correctly, Mr. McQueen, you once forced countless small mine owners to transfer their properties to you using this method. Now I am simply doing unto you as you have done unto others, so how am I the shameless one?¡± McQueen wanted to cry but had no tears. That blue-white light that had entered his body seemed to carve a deep memory into him from inside out. Now he was utterly immobile, like a sheep ready for slaughter. Once all the contracts were signed, Chen Yu withdrew the blue-white light from McQueen¡¯s body. But by then, it was already too late, and he could only sit there like a beaten dog. ¡°Mr. McQueen, our business is concluded. You may leave now!¡± No sooner had Chen Yu finished speaking when McQueen, like a madman, pounced forward, pulling out a small sphere from his body. This object was clearly some kind of explosive device. If he managed to pull the pin, the whole of the Chongyang Building would be blown up. No trace of panic showed on Chen Yu¡¯s face, he merely raised his finger and gently tapped, causing the small sphere to immediately disintegrate into fine sand on the ground. McQueen¡¯s body visibly shriveled up at a rapid pace, ending up as an old man in the blink of an eye. Elisa, who had been sitting quietly by the side watching everything, suddenly burst into laughter. She never dreamed that the once unstoppable McQueen would one day become like this. Chen Yu glanced coldly at McQueen and then handed the contract to the subordinate beside him. ¡°Take immediate action according to the contents of the contract and take over all the mining companies under McQueen¡¯s control before he regrets it.¡± These subordinates felt as if they were dreaming as well; they were merely Elisa¡¯s bodyguards before, tending to trivial tasks like serving tea and pouring water. It was only because there was no one left in the Ghana Family that their status was slightly elevated. To think that upon taking their new positions, they would be able to take over all of McQueen¡¯s companies. The group of people hurriedly agreed and then excitedly left the room. A hint of excitement also appeared on Elisa¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Chen, thank you so much. From now on, the Ghana Family will follow the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s orders.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much; he just walked up to McQueen, hoisted him over his shoulder, rushed downstairs, and casually threw him onto the side of a beggar. The current McQueen had none of his former splendor; his body was incredibly thin, and his clothes were ragged beyond recognition, making him look even worse than a beggar. The beggars nearby rushed over to McQueen the moment they saw him, stripping him of his remaining clothes. This guy¡¯s bodily functions had all been stripped away; there was no need to kill him. Just leaving him here to fend for himself would suffice. Just then, a middle-aged man and dozens of strong men hurriedly arrived at the foot of the Reyang Building. ¡°Mr. McQueen, the Childe Family has sent someone, they said you should hurry over to discuss how to take over the Ghana Family.¡± Chen Yu turned his head and saw this group, all of whom were McQueen¡¯s trusted followers. He didn¡¯t bother with much else and walked straight over. ¡°Mr. McQueen is a bit busy, so he left me in full charge to negotiate with the Childe Family on his behalf. Let¡¯s go now.¡± The middle-aged man sized up Chen Yu with a look of suspicion on his face. ¡°Who are you? I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± Chen Yu pretended to be familiar, stepping forward to clap the middle-aged man on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m from the Childe Family, of course you haven¡¯t seen me! Hurry up, if you delay the negotiations between the two families, you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Although the middle-aged man was suspicious, he didn¡¯t dare to show any disrespect and could only hasten away with Chen Yu. No sooner had they left than Elisa walked out from the entrance. She certainly understood what Chen Yu intended to do, which was nothing more than to completely sever the connection between the Childe Family and McQueen. ¡°Come, follow them immediately; we must ensure Mr. Chen¡¯s safety.¡± The few people who had been waiting at the entrance immediately started a car and drove after them. After an indeterminate amount of time, Chen Yu followed this group to a manor. From a distance, they could see a tall man standing in the middle of the courtyard. Chapter 514 - Chapter 514 Freight Terminal Chapter 514 Freight Terminal Chen Yu¡¯s eyes grew more cautious as his system simultaneously enveloped the area. In the middle of the courtyard stood a man radiating a strange magnetic field, his body covered in red electric light. This guy, like Polaris, had undergone some kind of mutation to the extent that he could be considered a supernatural power wielder. However, it seemed that this fellow¡¯s abilities were superior to those of Polaris. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing and then got out of the car, walking straight toward the middle-aged man. Upon seeing Chen Yu, the man also froze for a moment. ¡°Mr. Chen, what are you doing here?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face bore a smile, ¡°Is there a rule saying I can¡¯t be here?¡± The man¡¯s face gradually darkened as he took a few steps back and pulled out a delicate little box from his person. ¡°Since I¡¯ve encountered Mr. Chen here, that saves me the trouble! I just don¡¯t know if the Xuanqing Sect has prepared a coffin for Mr. Chen?¡± Perhaps due to the magnetic field surrounding the man, Chen Yu hadn¡¯t been able to scan his brain information from the car, but getting closer, partial information from his head was still revealed. He was a supernatural power wielder from a secret organization under the Childe Family¡¯s umbrella. The Childe Family had been running this organization for many years, amassing over a thousand supernatural power wielders. Yet their abilities varied in strength; the strong ones were like the man before him, capable of converting their magnetic fields into some form of energy release, while the weaker ones could only use their own traits to change others¡¯ emotions or manipulate simple objects. The man seemed to sense something! He hastily retreated a few steps and stared at Chen Yu with an odd gaze. The system¡¯s brain scanning would also generate a magnetic field that, when colliding with an existing one, could produce slight fluctuations to some extent. However, such fluctuations were negligible, imperceptible to the average person. It appeared that the man¡¯s magnetic field mutation was now on a par with the system. ¡°Mr. Chen, it seems Mr. Childe was right, you indeed are a supernatural power wielder.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words, he just raised his palm and blue-white electric light surged between his arms. ¡°I can spare your life. Go back and tell Fox that I¡¯ve claimed this place as my territory! Now get lost.¡± The man swallowed, as he had come here on a mission, and returning disheveled and defeated would likely mean death, even for one of the strongest supernatural power wielders. ¡°You¡¯re pushing me too far, Chen, I swear I¡¯ll kill you today!¡± As his voice fell, he threw the box in his hand. It appeared to be a specially made electromagnetic device containing a large amount of compressed explosives. The explosion¡¯s force was enough to blow up the entire mansion beneath their feet. [System alert, danger detected] [Autonomous defense function activated, bomb diffusion procedure initiated] [Diffusion complete, danger neutralized] As a series of notifications rang in Chen Yu¡¯s mind, the formidable explosive device shattered into several pieces and fell to the ground. The man¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief; that device was a top-tier explosive developed by the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s secret laboratory after many years of research. Unexpectedly, it had scattered into fragments mid-air. Before he could even react, Chen Yu had already reached him, grabbing his shoulder, followed by an extremely strong magnetic field mixed with blue-white light surging into his body. ¡°Your body has merely undergone some changes, but you are still human at your core. It¡¯s just a pity that you guys start thinking of yourselves as gods.¡± With a scoff, he released a powerful current of electricity, completely destroying the man¡¯s body. The magnetic field he was so proud of was now utterly gone, reducing him to a crippled state from that moment on. Your next read awaits at Novgo Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there any longer, turning around to leave. ¡°Stop! Where is Mr. McQueen?¡± This place was, after all, McQueen¡¯s territory, and just now they had brought Chen Yu here. Now that they knew Chen Yu¡¯s true identity, and seeing the negotiator from the Childe Family half-dead on the ground, they immediately realized that something was amiss. Chen Yu had no desire to waste words with them. He simply squatted down and lightly tapped the ground, releasing an instant burst of blue-white light, causing the group to collapse unconscious on the ground. Just then, several vans hurriedly burst into the estate, with Elisa leading about a dozen people who jumped out of the vehicles. But when they saw the scene before them, they were immediately stunned. McQueen¡¯s estate was known for its impregnable defenses, and many of his subordinates were highly trained specialists. Yet, unexpectedly, these men now lay on the ground like dead dogs, completely motionless! Chen Yu casually clapped his hands with ease. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± It took a moment for Elisa to regain her composure, ¡°I was worried something might happen to you, so I brought some people to check on you.¡± Chen Yu looked over the estate in front of him. ¡°From now on, this estate is yours too. Better have someone take over quickly, to avoid any mishaps.¡± Elisa¡¯s throat moved slightly. This estate was much larger than the Ghana Family¡¯s estate and was the largest garden in Paraguay. The entire South America didn¡¯t know how many people coveted this estate, yet none had the guts to make a move. And with just a casual remark, Chen Yu had transferred the ownership to her. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you?¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± Elisa immediately became excited and instructed her people to get on with the takeover. Just then, an assistant rushed over, anxiously handing a cell phone to Elisa. As soon as the call ended, Elisa¡¯s emotions erupted, and she smashed the cell phone to the ground. ¡°These assholes are so shameless, they actually blocked our shipping docks!¡± Chen Yu had just caught the content of the call through the system. The Childe Family must have known the situation here by now. On one hand, they sent people directly here to see if they could save McQueen, while on the other hand, they blocked the export docks of Paraguay, attempting to strangle the Ghana Family. Chen Yu flicked his wrist, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Childe Family to act so swiftly! It seems I¡¯ll have to make a trip there myself.¡± Elisa suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. Chen Yu had already done so much for the family, and now he was going to help them clear the shipping routes. ¡°Mr. Chen, I still have some men at my disposal, why don¡¯t you take them all with you?¡± Chen Yu gestured dismissively, ¡°No need, just let them stay here to take over McQueen¡¯s assets.¡± Chapter 515 - Chapter 515 Wharf Chaos Chapter 515 Wharf Chaos The dock in the northern part of Paraguay, the largest dock in South America, sees no fewer than ten thousand cargo ships coming and going daily. It is also the only export outlet for mineral resources to the north. The Knights of the Round Table took control of this dock long ago to ensure a steady flow of these resources to their headquarters. When Chen Yu arrived, the dock was already in chaos. Not only were the Gana Family¡¯s ships trapped here, but so were other merchant ships. The Childe Family had taken over the entire dock, seemingly intending to package up and take away all the ships here. Chen Yu cast his system outward and quickly detected several supernatural power wielders on the dock. The magnetic fields they emitted were incredibly strong; combined, they could even control the behaviors of everyone on the dock. This explained why many merchant ships willingly sailed their vessels into the Childe Family¡¯s dockyards. Following the direction of the magnetic fields, Chen Yu quickly located an extremely crude iron ship. Eight people were sitting around, blending their magnetic fields together before releasing them. ¡°So you really are here!¡± Chen Yu jumped directly into the cabin, and a blue-white glow was released with him. The eight individuals hurriedly stood up, and when they saw that the newcomer was Chen Yu, their faces were filled with fear. As the most unique member of the Knights of the Round Table and currently the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, they of course recognized Chen Yu¡¯s profile. The youngest Knight of the Round Table and also the current Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect ¨C facing such a being, how could they not be afraid? Chen Yu casually picked up a chair from the side and sat down. ¡°No need to be nervous, I¡¯m just here to discuss some practical matters with you!¡± The eight relaxed a bit seeing Chen Yu sitting there but still didn¡¯t dare get too close. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked a relatively handsome man in his twenties, tentatively. Chen Yu took out a token from his person and placed it on the table. ¡°You are the darlings of this world, possessing powers beyond its scope. Why must you work to the bone for others?¡± ¡°You should find a place to quietly develop your innate talents to their fullest.¡± The eight exchanged glances and, with some uncertainty, the man who had spoken earlier stepped forward and picked up the token. It was a Sect Token of the Xuanqing Sect, which would grant unhindered access to Tianhu Mountain. ¡°Are you suggesting that we join the Xuanqing Sect?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t deny it and simply pushed the token towards him. ¡°Whatever the Knights of the Round Table can offer, the Xuanqing Sect can too, and I can give you something they cannot.¡± Looking at the token before them, the eight were visibly swayed. The first time they joined the Knights of the Round Table, they were placed in laboratories as experimental subjects. Due to their standout abilities, they were granted special privileges. Even so, after completing their tasks, they still had to return to that cage to endure endless experiments. ¡°Can you give us freedom?¡± The youngest girl suddenly stood up. ¡°And after joining the Xuanqing Sect, can you guarantee that the Knights of the Round Table won¡¯t come after us?¡± Chen Yu chuckled twice. ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily want you to join the Xuanqing Sect, I¡¯m just providing a place for you to develop your potential. As for the Knights of the Round Table, it won¡¯t be long before they disappear from this world and stop bothering you.¡± The emotions of the eight individuals gradually relaxed. Wasn¡¯t this what they had been dreaming of? While they were speaking, two middle-aged men barged in arrogantly. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you guys? Why did the magnetic field cut out again? Do you have any idea that those bastards could take control and reclaim the dock if we¡¯re not careful?¡± They had just shouted when they saw Chen Yu sitting there. ¡°Who are you? How did you get in here?¡± Enjoy new stories from Novgo Chen Yu¡¯s lips formed a strange curve, and his eyes turned icy cold. ¡°I¡¯m also a supernatural ability user. Is it strange for me to be here?¡± The two men immediately sensed that something was amiss and pressed their hands to the weapons at their waists, but before they could act, a blue-white light flashed over, knocking them both unconscious. Chen Yu flicked his wrist and walked over to the eight people. ¡°There¡¯s a small plane on the dock¡¯s airstrip about to take off. With your abilities, you should be able to control it! After leaving, whether you choose to go to the Xuanqing Sect or someplace else, that¡¯s up to you. I¡¯ll handle things here.¡± The eight individuals had longed to escape that cage-like life, and now that they could leave, they couldn¡¯t have asked for more. Packing away the Token Chen Yu had given them, they happily left the dockyard. Without the production of the magnetic field, the dock became even more chaotic. Many were baffled as to how their ships ended up in the Childe Family¡¯s dockyard for no apparent reason, and some were inexplicably carrying large bags on the dock. In a moment, various forces clashed together in utter disarray. A few members of the Childe Family stood on the control tower, angrily watching the scene unfold before them. ¡°What the hell is happening? Send someone to check if those beasts are slacking off. Why does the magnetic field keep cutting out?¡± They had barely raised the alarm when Chen Yu appeared at the top of the tower, slowly walking towards them. ¡°First of all, those kids aren¡¯t beasts, and secondly, they¡¯ve already left. There will never be a magnetic field on the docks again.¡± The sudden voice startled the group, and the man in the lead instantly drew his long sword. ¡°You are Chen Yu?¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, and the blue-white light emanated from him, shocking those people into unconsciousness. Though the dock seemed in extreme chaos, this situation wouldn¡¯t last long. It would soon revert to its previous order. After all, these people were here to do business, with no time to waste. Even if they were puzzled by their mysterious displacement, they wouldn¡¯t dwell on it for too long. Many of the merchant ships carried perishable goods, which would be ruined if they stayed too long at the dock. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger there. He also didn¡¯t return to the Ghana Family but instead found a small plane at the airport, planning to head directly to the Childe Family. But just as he was about to board the plane, a middle-aged man wearing a mask suddenly appeared behind him. The man was enveloped in an extremely strong magnetic field and a surge of purple electricity. He wore the emblem of the Childe Family on his chest and was incredibly fast, reaching Chen Yu in the blink of an eye. Chapter 516 - Chapter 516: Meeting Alone Chapter 516: Meeting Alone ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re going too far. After all, you and Mr. Fox used to be friends. How come you¡¯re now going against him on purpose?¡± The languid voice was incredibly gloomy, as if coming from hell itself. Chen Yu instinctively took a few steps back, his hand sparking with blue and white light. The magnetic field erupting from the figure before him was the strongest he had ever seen among the supernatural humans. It could even cause a certain degree of distortion in the system¡¯s probing. ¡°It seems like he has been the one opposing me all along!¡± Chen Yu replied coldly and then pressed his palm outwards. The opponent¡¯s purple electricity also burst forth at that moment, and the two instantly collided. ¡°Mr. Chen, you truly are a supernatural human! Given that, you should be standing with us, not acting recklessly on the outside.¡± Chen Yu frowned deeply, wondering if this person was foolish or something, to make such a statement. As if the Childe Family was the ultimate destination for supernatural humans. Just as Chen Yu was about to retort, he noticed that the magnetic field around the person was highly unstable, as if it was constantly dissipating outward. He immediately concentrated the blue and white lightning around his body and released it, forcing the person back several steps, and then he quickly stepped forward to grab his shoulder. The system simultaneously enveloped him, completely wrapping the person up. Chen Yu suddenly discovered that in the location of this person¡¯s heart, there was something resembling an electromagnetic coil, apparently the source of his body¡¯s magnetic field. ¡°Installing a coil in yourself and thinking you can become a supernatural human, you¡¯re really deluded.¡± Chen Yu scoffed coldly, his palm striking the heart area, causing the coil to receive a shock and instantly split in two. ¡°This is impossible, this device is a new weapon recently developed by the Knights of the Round Table lab. How could you possibly know its location and take it out?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words with this person and turned to board the plane. Without the electromagnetic coil, that person was just an ordinary human; there was no need to waste time on him. Inside the Childe Family¡¯s estate, chaos had already ensued. Representatives of the major families within the Knights of the Round Table had gathered there just to demand an explanation from Fox. During this period, the assets of the major families had more or less shrunk, with the Milore and Gana families even declaring their withdrawal from the Knights of the Round Table. Capitals from the East and Europe had miraculously united, determined to crush all the families under the Knights of the Round Table. Among them were many organizations ranked in the top fifty in the world. This was nothing short of a catastrophe for them, and if it continued, the entire Knights of the Round Table might well fall apart. Fox sat at the head seat, supporting his chin with both hands, his face filled with gloom. He could never have dreamed that the situation would get so out of control. The Childe Family, as one of the leading capitalist dynasties in the world, had astronomical capital at its disposal. In alliance with the other families of the Knights of the Round Table, they could even change the economic direction of the world. But now, almost all the capital in the world had united against the families of the Knights of the Round Table. Even with all the capital they controlled, they could not withstand such an onslaught. The conference room¡¯s large screen displayed a photograph, prominently showing Tong Ya. This time, the mastermind behind the major capitals was her. ¡°Mr. Fox, a lot of our funds are tied up and we just can¡¯t withdraw them. Please think of something.¡± ¡°Could the Knights of the Round Table really be destroyed by such a young girl?¡± ¡°What the hell is going on with the Milore Family? Why would they betray us at such a critical moment?¡± ¡°The Lakatos Family has restricted our energy¡­¡± ¡­ Everyone present seemed to be experiencing the end of the world, each one visibly panicked. Just as everyone was arguing, an assistant hurriedly ran up to Fox. ¡°Mr. Fox, Chen Yu is here!¡± Fox abruptly stood up, ¡°Who did you say, Chen Yu?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the scene immediately quieted down, and all eyes focused on the assistant, startling the young girl. ¡°Yes, that Mr. Chen. He said he has something he wants to discuss with you alone.¡± The heads of the major families were suddenly restless. ¡°What do you mean by ¡¯discuss alone¡¯? Mr. Fox, could it be that you have already arranged something with Chen Yu?¡± ¡°Did you sell us out to the Tong Group, or do you have some secret contract with them?¡± Experience exclusive tales on Novgo ¡­ It was a sensitive moment; it wouldn¡¯t take long for these people¡¯s wealth to vanish, and the slightest word could arouse their suspicions. Especially regarding the topic of Chen Yu! Everyone knew that Tong Ya was Chen Yu¡¯s wife; Tong Ya was leading the major capitals in besieging them. With Chen Yu appearing at this time and requesting a private talk with Fox, anyone would be suspicious. Fox was somewhat panicked; in these perilous times, he still needed the support of the major families. ¡°Tell Chen Yu I won¡¯t see him alone. Whatever he has to say, he can say it in front of everyone!¡± The assistant didn¡¯t dare delay and rushed out of the hall. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu walked into the hall with large strides. ¡°Mr. Fox, I just wanted to see you alone and catch up, but I didn¡¯t expect you wouldn¡¯t even afford me that courtesy!¡± Fox¡¯s face was grim. The Knights of the Round Table were in such a state, what courtesy could he give? ¡°Mr. Chen, let¡¯s not talk about the past! You are well aware of the assets controlled by the Knights of the Round Table. Should the wealth of our families disappear, the entire world would be thrown into chaos!¡± Chen Yu sat down in a chair he¡¯d pulled up next to him, appearing utterly unconcerned. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a stretch. It¡¯s only your families that would disappear, not the wealth; it would simply transfer!¡± ¡°The Lakato Family, the Milore Family, even families like William¡¯s and Charlie¡¯s, could fully take over your fortunes.¡± Fox slammed his hand on the table hard. ¡°Mr. Chen, do you really want to push us to the brink? Don¡¯t forget, the Knights of the Round Table possess not only assets but also the world¡¯s strongest technological power. Push us too far, and destroying the world is not out of the question!¡± Chen Yu laughed as if he¡¯d heard a funny joke. ¡°Mr. Fox, can¡¯t you read a map? All the families around us now stand with me. The Childe Family has been surrounded, and no matter how strong your technological power might be, what can you do?¡± Fox¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and his body slumped down. Chapter 517 - Chapter 517 Wealth Transfer Chapter 517 Wealth Transfer ¡°` All present were as clear in their hearts as if they were looking into a mirror; they had already known all the information when they came here to meet. The Childe Family was now meat on the chopping block, and if Chen Yu were willing, he could make them disappear in an extremely short amount of time. As for the remaining families of the Knights of the Round Table, it goes without saying that once the Childe Family was dealt with, they would have no choice but to be at others¡¯ mercy. Fox gasped for breath and pulled out a Token from his person. ¡°Mr. Chen, I can give you all of the Childe Family¡¯s wealth, just ensure the safety of my family, please?¡± Despite being a capital magnate, Fox had run the Childe Family¡¯s operations for so long that he clearly saw all the rules of the world. From the moment Tong Group made its move, the capital of the entire world aligned together. Though the process had taken a very short amount of time, Fox understood that it was nothing short of an encirclement and suppression of the Knights of the Round Table. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the Knights of the Round Table vanished from this world, and all their current actions were nothing but death throes. Chen Yu still looked disdainfully at the Token. ¡°I said that today I came only to catch up with Mr. Fox, and I¡¯m not in charge of any other matters. Besides, those supernaturals from your lab¡ªI¡¯ll have to take them with me!¡± Having laid down these words, Chen Yu then walked straight out the door. ¡°Mr. Chen, don¡¯t you even plan to leave us a way out?¡± Fox shouted weakly, his tone almost a plea. Chen Yu paid no heed whatsoever; he had been planning for so long for this day, and if he allowed this old man to catch his breath, with the capital in his hands, he would soon rise again, and by then, he might be even more formidable than before. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger at the location. After finding the supernaturals, he left immediately with them on the plane that had been prepared in advance. In the following week, the world¡¯s capital structure underwent a tremendous change. Originally holed up in Europe, the three major families¡ªWilliam, Charlie, and Edward¡ªgradually took over a vast amount of assets in the West, with their wealth growing several times over from before. The assets of Tong Group and the Chu Family from Modu also grew by several geometric scales. Now the world¡¯s notable organizations also underwent a major reshuffle. The Knights of the Round Table disappeared completely, and the families that had split off from them were thoroughly eradicated. Many organizations, after absorbing the assets of these families, turned around and joined Xuanqing Sect, becoming its external branches. Chen Yu now stood in the Hall of the Three Pure Ones at Xuanqing Sect, burning incense as was customary. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so powerful, you actually wiped out the Knights of the Round Table.¡± Jin Lingsu sat lazily by his side, constantly playing with a golden spike in her hand. This time, she too had gained a lot, becoming the permanent number two person in the Lakato Family. Moreover, by decisively taking action at a crucial moment, she had doubled the wealth of the Lakato Family. ¡°I simply replaced their wealth; it¡¯s not as if I wiped them out! Their families still exist; they¡¯re just reduced to commoners.¡± Stay tuned to Novgo Jin Lingsu took a sip: ¡°These guys were always so high and mighty, bullying others; it¡¯s about time they suffered a bit.¡± Chen Yu sighed lightly; his greatest concern now was building the external branches of Xuanqing Sect. Suddenly absorbing so many secular individuals had made it difficult to govern them at once but enforcing the rules of Xuanqing Sect on them directly could easily alienate these people. ¡°` They could only draft a set of laws in the shortest time and release them to the outer disciples. ¡°Right!¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly stood up, ¡°Everything has been settled, don¡¯t you want to go home and see your wife and daughter?¡± Chen Yu shrugged, ¡°Tong Group is at a critical moment right now, and we still have to integrate the assets that have just been merged. Going back now would only cause chaos.¡± While they were talking, an extremely oddly dressed man suddenly appeared outside the grand hall. His speed was very fast, and his body seemed somewhat ethereal; the young Taoist standing nearby didn¡¯t even see him. Chen Yu frowned and immediately walked over. ¡°Who are you, sir, to dare intrude into the sacred ground of Xuanqing Sect uninvited!¡± The man narrowed his eyes and took out a scroll from his body. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re implementing a great purge in the secular world with such a high profile, have you forgotten that you are the Sect Leader of a Taoist sect?¡± Chen Yu had a full head of black lines¡ªhow come this guy started off with a lecturing tone? ¡°Sir, have we met before?¡± The man did not answer but merely stuffed the scroll into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°There are three thousand Taoist sects, and as the Sect Leader of one, you should abide by the Taoist laws. There is an assembly at Sacred Mountain in ten days, and I hope you can arrive on time.¡± As the words fell, the man turned and walked away, his steps fading into the ether. Chen Yu opened the scroll in his hand with a gloomy face; it was densely inscribed with strange runes, which appeared to be Taoist script. ¡°What is Sacred Mountain? What does that guy want you to do?¡± Jin Lingsu moved closer, full of curiosity. The man who had just been there was incredibly powerful; he had come to the grand hall of Xuanqing Sect without a sound and left just as quietly, and it seemed like the Taoist nearby had no idea anything had happened here. Chen Yu closed the scroll. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard Heavenly Master Long Tian mention before that Xuanqing Sect is just one of the Taoist orders, and sometimes we have to follow the Taoist laws. It seems something has happened, and they want to gather all the Taoist sects together.¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly lost interest. She was only captivated by gold and treasures; to her, matters between sects were the most boring of all. ¡°Right, I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s going to be an auction at the foot of Tianhu Mountain, specifically auctioning the exotic treasures collected by the families of the Knights of the Round Table. Could you get me a VIP pass? I want to see it.¡± Chen Yu had a full head of black lines, ¡°Why don¡¯t I talk to people downstairs and have them send the treasures directly to you?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes shone, ¡°That would be great! Then I wouldn¡¯t have to spend any money!¡± Chen Yu shook his head helplessly. ¡°Those are treasures that the families fought fiercely to obtain, not something I can just give away with a word! I¡¯ve got nothing better to do anyway, so I might as well come with you for a look.¡± Jin Lingsu immediately became excited, as she had long set her sights on these items. The treasures accumulated by the Knights of the Round Table were no ordinary items; in addition to being vast in number, each was a rare and precious gem. Aside from the Milore and Gana families, the partial fixed assets from the remaining eleven families were all transported to Tianhu Mountain. Transporting these items used a total of three hundred large trucks. Chapter 518 - Chapter 518 Hidden Items Chapter 518 Hidden Items The small town at the foot of Tianhu Mountain was the venue for this auction. Ever since the seal on the town was lifted, it had undergone earth-shattering changes. First, half of the dilapidated buildings were demolished, and then Chen Yu dispatched several engineering teams to systematically develop the area. The goal was to build a new-type city on the foundation of the town¡¯s original ancient-style architecture. Although the town hadn¡¯t been completely transformed yet, its size was already sufficient to hold a medium-scale auction. At this moment, the town was bustling with people, and the streets and alleys were filled with all sorts of vendors. Many merchants had traveled from far and wide to come here. They rented out a large number of unfinished shops, initiated their own construction and decoration, and even some people obtained the city¡¯s construction plans and paid for the construction of buildings alongside their own. It was likely that, after the auction, the town would become a complete small city. Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu made their way through the crowd to the central venue of the city. The venue was actually quite simple, just a makeshift canopy erected on the original town square. Even so, all the seats were sold out, creating a scenario where tickets were hard to find. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care much about that and casually found a place to sit down. Just then, he suddenly sensed a very strange magnetic field not far away. Turning to look, he saw a middle-aged man sitting steadily there, eyes intently fixed on the auction stage. Chen Yu frowned slightly. Since he had wiped out the Childe Family, he had rarely seen supernatural power users. The only other time was when people from the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s headquarters came. The magnetic field of this person wasn¡¯t very strong, but it could be released in linear fashion, and it seemed that his target was the auction stage. Chen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, stood up, and moved closer, while extending his system¡¯s coverage. On the surface, the man seemed no different from a normal person, and there was no emblem on his body, which suggested he wasn¡¯t part of any organization. However, like most supernatural power users, the system couldn¡¯t scan his brain information. The auction had already started. Compared with other large auctions, this one was rather rudimentary. To save time, the auctioneer simply displayed a large number of auction items on stage with their prices listed. If someone took a fancy to an item, they could simply call out its number and then shout their price. Of course, it was also possible to choose and bid on multiple items at the same time. In the most central area of the auction scene hung a huge screen, displaying the latest bids for each item. As the auctioneer announced the start of the auction, the venue instantly boiled with excitement as all the items¡¯ prices changed at the same time. Chen Yu wasn¡¯t particularly interested in these items. After all, the Sect of Xuanqing would receive 60% of the auction¡¯s profits, which meant these items were effectively his private assets. However, many of the items at this auction had caught his attention. The Knights of the Round Table were, after all, the second-ranked super organization, and every item in their family collections was extraordinary. Moreover, among these items, many were hidden treasures. Those fellows had been brawling in the marketplace for so many years. They always had tricks up their sleeves. When their assets were confiscated, they used an extremely secretive method to hide the real treasures among the junk and then sought to buy them back from the market, a tactic to safeguard some of their wealth. Chen Yu was naturally aware of some insider information, but at that time, they had uprooted these families with a blitzkrieg strategy, so they couldn¡¯t have hidden much, and therefore he didn¡¯t take it too seriously. But today, when these auction items were presented, Chen Yu realized he had been naive. Of the first batch of a hundred items on display, as many as eighty were fakes. Just as Chen Yu was about to buy these items, he suddenly noticed that the person sitting next to him had precisely identified them. A strange smirk played on the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. He then directly added those eighty items to his own valuation system. The prices suddenly shot up, causing that person to panic a little. At first glance, these eighty-some items appeared to be ordinary porcelain or imitation calligraphy and paintings, but Chen Yu could immediately spot the deception. It was nothing more than applying a new glaze to the exterior of the porcelain or wrapping a fake painting around the outside of a genuine one. Moreover, the craftsmanship of the forgeries was very skillful, likely beyond the ability of an average appraiser to detect. As a result, no one else was vying for these eighty-some items. The remaining dozen or so items were quickly sold, with the rest still in a state of bidding war, and the prices climbing higher and higher. The spectators in the stands were suddenly unrestful, and some even pulled out telescopes to see if they had missed any hidden treasures in these items. But no matter how they looked, they seemed to be ordinary items. ¡°What on earth is going on? There are only two people left bidding, but I don¡¯t know who these two clueless people are.¡± ¡°They¡¯re just some junk, you could just buy it with a little money. Is it necessary to keep raising the price here?¡± ¡°Perhaps these two guys have their own unique views on collecting and want to buy fakes to motivate themselves by having them displayed at home.¡± ¡­ The venue was abuzz with discussion, and even the auctioneer couldn¡¯t maintain order. When the price reached a certain point and suddenly stopped, the auctioneer was relieved. Just as he was about to bring down the hammer, Chen Yu suddenly stood up. All eyes in the venue were drawn to him, and when people recognized Chen Yu, they became excited. No one had expected the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect to attend the auction in person. But just as people wanted to go up and greet him, Chen Yu walked straight to the man sitting beside him and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°I only caught a glimpse of some of your brain information just now. You must be Cao Yu, correct? It seems we were fated to meet; our names are quite similar. With your abilities, I could make an exception and invite you to join the Xuanqing Sect. But your undying commitment to serving the Knights of the Round Table, that doesn¡¯t please me,¡± Chen Yu said. Cao Yu¡¯s eyes bulged. When he was with the Knights of the Round Table, he had seen Chen Yu¡¯s dossier and vaguely knew some of Chen Yu¡¯s abilities, including scanning brain information. Therefore, during the auction, he deliberately wore a device that interfered with magnetic fields, not expecting to still be scanned by Chen Yu. Before he could react, Chen Yu walked up to the podium. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I have to call a halt to the auction. The standard of this event should be elevated!¡± Chapter 519 - Chapter 519 Krellan Island Chapter 519 Krellan Island The scene suddenly quieted down, and everyone¡¯s gaze focused on the podium. They had no idea what Chen Yu was about to do; they even thought he was going to remove the junk and replace it with a batch of high-quality treasures. Just as they waited with anticipation, Chen Yu suddenly picked up a small hammer and started tapping on a piece of porcelain. The people in the front rows immediately became tense: although the item wasn¡¯t genuine, its craftsmanship was still passable. Taking it to market, it could easily fetch tens of thousands of yuan¡ªat least. Smashing it like this seemed such a pity, didn¡¯t it? Just when someone was about to step forward to stop him, they saw the outer shell of the porcelain fall off, revealing an incredibly smooth and snow-white glazed body underneath. ¡°My God, Jun porcelain from the Southern Song dynasty!¡± No one knew who exclaimed it, but everyone suddenly became excited. The previously stagnant prices soared in an instant. Without pausing, Chen Yu handled the other calligraphy, porcelain, and various rare treasures in a simple manner. Every item here was an unparalleled treasure; any one of them taken outside would start at prices above a million. When over eighty items were all displayed before everyone, the atmosphere on-site immediately reached a fever pitch. Cao Yu stood in the auditorium, his eyes filled with stupor. His mission was to acquire these hidden items at extremely low prices and bring them back. Now, it seemed his mission had failed. Chen Yu threw aside the small hammer and returned to the seats, casually sitting down next to Cao Yu. ¡°I must say, you are talented. The magnetic field around you should be able to change your retina, giving you a kind of x-ray vision that surpasses ordinary people. Too bad I have a similar ability!¡± Cao Yu¡¯s face turned ashen. He didn¡¯t resist but merely sighed deeply and raised his hands as if ready to be taken without a fight. ¡°Mr. Chen, I know how formidable you are, but my girlfriend is in their hands. If I don¡¯t take these items back¡­¡± Chen Yu raised his hand to interrupt him. ¡°There are actually many people like you at the Round Table, and most of them have already gone to Xuanqing Sect. You might as well stay here. As for your girlfriend, I can equally rescue her! But you¡¯ll have to tell me where those guys are hiding.¡± Without any hesitation, Cao Yu took an electromagnetic blocking device from his chest and twisted it in half with force. ¡°Krielan Island!¡± At that moment, Chen Yu scanned Cao Yu¡¯s brain information without any obstruction and learned everything about Krielan Island. It was originally a Childe Family¡¯s overseas warehouse used for storing essential supplies and occasionally for maritime trade transshipment. At the same time, this place was also the biggest secret and backup energy source of the Childe Family. Chen Yu gave Cao Yu a pat on the shoulder, then called over a few Daoist priests to take him back to Tianhu Mountain. Although this auction was conducted quite simply, it was extremely successful by any measure. Chen Yu had revealed all the hidden items, bringing the auction to a climax. When the auction ended, it was already evening. After leaving the town, Chen Yu went directly to the temporary airport at the foot of Tianhu Mountain. Krielan Island was in the core area of the Western Ocean, a place already forbidden to humans. Huge, strange creatures often appeared here, and ordinary ocean-going vessels dared not approach this area. Fox stood atop a tower, looking at the waves crashing nearby, his face full of melancholy. ¡°` He never dreamed that everything he painstakingly managed would vanish overnight, and even the minor assets in his name were confiscated down to the last penny. If he had not set up this Creeland Island early on in case of an emergency, he would probably have nowhere to take refuge. What he found most detestable was that all his children chose to betray him unanimously. Just then, an extremely enchanting woman slowly walked up. ¡°Mr. Fox, everything is ready, are you really sure you want to participate in the experiment yourself?¡± Mr. Fox clenched his teeth, seemingly making a momentous decision. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, do I have any other choice? Make sure everything is fully prepared, and if the experiment fails, rescue me immediately.¡± The woman nodded and then led Fox down from the control tower into an underground facility. The entire Creeland Island was in a state of extreme alertness, with a large number of security personnel guarding near the island, and many strange weapons being deployed. With such tight security, it was virtually impossible for the average person to set foot on the island. Chen Yu piloted a small plane and quickly reached the airspace above Creeland Island, but he had covered the exterior of the aircraft with a magnetic field using his system, which, in conjunction with the original stealth materials, went undetected by the radar systems below. However, this state could not last long, and it would be easy for the radar network to locate him after it re-calibrated. But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that and dove straight down in the plane. When he reached a certain altitude, he jumped right out of the plane. For him, a descent from such a height was trivial, and once he landed steadily, he found a place to hide. Most of the island¡¯s security personnel were now distracted by the plane that had landed. Once Chen Yu was sure of his safety, he used the system to cover the entire island and quickly found Fox¡¯s location. Just as he was about to head over there, suddenly there was no trace of Fox in his head. There seemed to be an extremely strong magnetic field at the other¡¯s location, impervious even to his system¡¯s scans. Chen Yu¡¯s expression altered drastically when he learned from Cao Yu that Fox appeared to be conducting a very dangerous experiment that could give a normal person tremendous strength if it were successful. It seemed that the guy had already started the experiment. After adjusting his breathing slightly, Chen Yu ran towards the last place where Fox had disappeared, and before long, he saw a bunker with solid protection. As he was about to rush in, alarms suddenly sounded, and an enchanting woman, accompanied by a group of security personnel, rushed out and surrounded Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, I didn¡¯t expect you to dare to come here alone!¡± The woman¡¯s voice was extremely seductive, but her tone was filled with extreme danger. She lifted her palm, gave a slight wave, and the surrounding security personnel charged at him. Chen Yu raised his hand, and a blue-white glow encircled his palm before pressing it to the ground. But when the electric current surged out, the security personnel remained unaffected. ¡°` Chapter 520 - Chapter 520: I love you Chapter 520: I love you Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, as the electric current was released through the operation of the magnetic field by the system, immensely powerful, so powerful that even if they were wearing protective gear, it was impossible that they would be unscathed. The enchanting woman suddenly burst into laughter. ¡°Mr. Chen, we have long since collected all your information. We¡¯ve also analyzed the abilities you¡¯ve shown, and now we can counter them specifically! None of the people on this island fear the electricity you release, nor are they afraid that you can scan their brain information.¡± Chen Yu was also somewhat surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected these guys to have studied him so thoroughly. However, there was no sign of panic on his face, only a nonchalant flick of his palm. ¡°I think your research on me has only scratched the surface. Did you really study me as if I were a supernatural being?¡± He said contemptuously, and then Chen Yu¡¯s legs bent slightly before he rocketed out like lightning. Supernatural beings simply possess abilities beyond those of normal humans due to some magnetic fields in their bodies. What Chen Yu possessed, however, was a system that transcended the understanding of this world. His physical fitness had long surpassed human limits; with one punch, even pure steel could be shattered into pieces by him. The only reason he had often used blue-white electric light was because it was convenient. If that was no longer an option, then fists would have to suffice. All the security personnel on-site were startled; they hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu¡¯s speed to be so fast. Piercing screams followed promptly as the protective gear worn by those security personnel was smashed into pieces, and some were even sent flying, crashing harshly into nearby buildings. In less than two minutes, dozens of security personnel lay on the ground, immobile like dead dogs. The enchanting woman stood by, her eyes wide as saucers, unable to believe that the physical quality of a person could be so formidable. Those security personnel were wearing clothing made from titanium alloy fiber, which was impervious to attacks of any strength and could even allow them to survive for some time in a vacuum based on the air trapped within their suits. And yet, these incredible garments were ripped apart like rags in Chen Yu¡¯s hands. After taking care of the security personnel, Chen Yu walked up to the woman and seized her shoulders with his hand. ¡°You must be the chief designer here, responsible for the constructions on the island and even the design of this underground laboratory. I truly don¡¯t understand, how can a top-tier scientist like you be content being used by Fox?¡± The woman¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; she was purely a scientific researcher. Without the stuff in her head, she was just an ordinary person, and for Chen Yu, killing her would be far too easy. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m willing to be used by Fox, but rather that my research was not recognized! When I was driven out of the research institute, it was the Childe Family that took me in, and they even spent a huge amount of money specifically to set up a laboratory for me. For this alone, what does it matter if they use me?¡± Your journey continues on Novgo Chen Yu let out a short laugh, ¡°If you take a closer look, you¡¯ll surely discover that the research institute that expelled you was also controlled by the Childe Family.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes widened; she had actually thought of this before, but she didn¡¯t want to believe it. Many of her research theories were incredibly advanced, and it was unthinkable that the academy would cast a talent like her aside. Moreover, the interval between her expulsion and her recruitment by the Childe Family was too short, less than one day, inevitably raising suspicions. However, the specialized laboratory and the full financial support made her overlook this fact. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, simply turning around and walking towards the bunker. ¡°The entire underground castle was built with special materials, without a password, you wouldn¡¯t be able to get in at all.¡± The woman suddenly spoke, then walked over to a rather inconspicuous stone. All she did was raise her hand to touch the stone, pressed down, and an interface appeared before her. After swiftly entering the password, the castle doors slowly opened. ¡°Fox is down there, and the experiment must have already started by now. If we don¡¯t stop him within three minutes, I don¡¯t know what will happen!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help admiring the woman; she really had guts, daring to develop such a system when even she didn¡¯t know what could happen. After taking a brief moment to catch his breath, Chen Yu jumped straight down the stairs. Before long, he saw a huge transparent ring, with Fox standing in the middle, being bombarded with a material similar to lightning. These substances seemed to be changing Fox¡¯s physiology to some extent, making his muscles firmer, and even reversing the aging of his body. The old, decrepit appearance he had before was gone, now replaced by the likeness of a man in his thirties, and he seemed to be getting younger still. It looked like this was the Rebirth System Fox had kept hidden, attempting to achieve eternal life through it. Just as Chen Yu was about to return to the device, a rapid alert began to sound off in his head. [Detecting Dark Matter Forces, Gamma Rays, Katomer Radiation Blast Energy] Chen Yu frowned slightly; these terms were only familiar to him from physics, and he didn¡¯t have a deep understanding of them. But before he could react, a blue and white glow suddenly swept out from his body, connecting with the device. Ling Ling also appeared at this moment, sitting on Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. [Who would have thought that universal level energy radiation could be encountered here] [The host can use this power to upgrade the system again] Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Since the point system had changed, his rate of accumulating points had plummeted. Up until now, he only had a few hundred points. Those were far from enough to sustain the huge number of points needed for a system upgrade. He had not expected the energy before him to aid in its evolution. Chen Yu got excited, stepped forward, and grabbed the transparent ring. Then, a powerful force surged into his body like a tidal wave. At the same time, he could clearly feel the system evolving. Fox noticed something was off and hurriedly opened his eyes. When he saw the power he had worked so hard to create flowing incessantly toward Chen Yu, he was instantly filled with rage. ¡°Chen Yu! You¡¯ve gone too far. You¡¯ve destroyed everything I had, and now you won¡¯t even spare this bit of power?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond, he just kept his palm over the ring, rapidly siphoning the power from within it. Meanwhile, Fox¡¯s body, which had been rejuvenated, began aging once again. Chapter 521 - Chapter 521: I love you Chapter 521: I love you ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this!¡± Fox shouted, then deliberately manipulated the nearby forces to blast towards Chen Yu, but these things were like a tonic to Chen Yu. As the forces touched his skin, they directly seeped into his body and disappeared. All the power in the entire bunker continuously flowed into Chen Yu¡¯s body until even its electrical system couldn¡¯t supply power, and the transparent ring emitted a crackling explosion noise. A few minutes later, the lights in the whole bunker dimmed, the ring exploded completely, and Fox fell to the ground, looking even older than before, with all of his bodily functions rapidly declining. The powers themselves had a certain level of radiation; although they were specially treated and to some extent could reverse aging, the arrival of Chen Yu destroyed this balance, causing Fox to lose the possibility of reversing aging, and instead damaged his bodily functions. [Congratulations, Host, the system has successfully evolved] [Awarding the host physical attributes beyond human limits by double] [Awarding the host cognitive capabilities beyond human limits by double] The long-missed voice echoed in Chen Yu¡¯s mind; it had been a long time since he had received a reward from the system. Now his physical condition could be said to be the strongest among humans; even being at the heart of nuclear radiation couldn¡¯t harm his body. Even his appearance had become several years younger. Fox lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with unwillingness at Chen Yu¡¯s transformation. ¡°Impossible, clearly I was the one at the center of energy; how did these powers end up on you?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to answer, he simply stepped forward and tapped on Fox¡¯s forehead. Fox¡¯s body had already suffered irreversible damage, no one could save him, and taking the wrong medicine was just to alleviate the pain in his body, allowing him to die a bit more peacefully. ¡°Mr. Fox, from the first moment I saw you, I didn¡¯t like you. You¡¯re too greedy; having unmatched wealth, why still touch those things that don¡¯t belong to you?¡± After dropping such a remark, Chen Yu turned and walked out of the bunker. The Knights of the Round Table families who had escaped to Cardelan Island were now running out. The whole island¡¯s power system had been destroyed, and their safe houses were no longer secure, forcing them to run to the surface. A middle-aged man with a fierce look suddenly rushed in front of a female scientist, grabbed her by the collar. ¡°Cardelan! What on earth is going on? Weren¡¯t you supposed to ensure the island¡¯s power system was working fine? Do you know I was only halfway through my game?¡± Cardelan coldly looked at the man before her and suddenly found it somewhat amusing. She had fought tooth and nail for this island, and yet this man was coming to her with accusations because his game was interrupted. At this point, she finally understood that these people would never be truly loyal to her; they merely saw her as a dog. ¡°You¡¯re just here to seek refuge, yet you still think about playing games. Whether you can even survive today is in question.¡± The unexpectedly stern reply startled the middle-aged man, causing him without thinking to release Cardelan¡¯s collar and step back. The few people who had run out with him hadn¡¯t expected Cardelan to speak up like this and surrounded her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? How dare you talk to us like that? Don¡¯t forget who gave you the money to set up a lab here.¡± ¡°If the power supply system on the island can¡¯t be guaranteed, we¡¯ll throw you into the sea to feed the sharks.¡± ¡°Mr. Fox trusted you so much, is this how you repay his trust?¡± ¡­ The incessant scolding caused Cardelan to completely explode. Without saying much more, she retreated to the entrance of the bunker. The recent blast and the malfunction of the entire island¡¯s convenience systems led her to guess that something unexpected had occurred below. Although she didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened inside, she was prepared to take a gamble. If Chen Yu came out, she might embrace a new life, but if Fox came out, she was ready to face death. While she was conflicted, the heavily guarded door slowly opened, and Chen Yu, moving his limbs leisurely, strolled out. Everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. ¡°Chen Yu? This is impossible, how did he break through the island¡¯s defense system?¡± ¡°My God, how can this person be here? Didn¡¯t the radar detect him?¡± ¡°How could he be in Mr. Fox¡¯s room? Could it be that Mr. Fox has been harmed?¡± ¡­ As they were amazed, Chen Yu suddenly lifted his palm, and a massive sphere of lightning remarkably appeared between his hands. The sensation of surpassing human limits by twice was indeed different; now he could effortlessly hold the lightning sphere in his hand. ¡°I bet hiding all over the place isn¡¯t pleasant, is it? Why not come back to Xuanqing Sect with me and properly repent for your sins!¡± As soon as his words fell, he smacked the lightning sphere onto the ground. The formidable electric current spread instantly, shocking all those people to the ground. Cardelan watched Chen Yu with excitement, her eyes full of anticipation. ¡°Mr. Chen, you seem different from before. Could it be that all the power from my device has transferred into you?¡± Of course, Chen Yu knew what Cardelan was anticipating. As a scientist, she certainly hoped her research would be successful. In truth, the device that Cardelan had created had already surpassed human understanding, especially the Radiation Power that was captured and compressed to a controllable state. Just on this point alone, Cardelan was already at the forefront of human science. Unfortunately, there was still a slight flaw in the entire device. Chen Yu had already examined the device. Even if Fox could have successfully transformed the power inside, the outcome would ultimately be failure. The device placed too much emphasis on external force, neglecting the human body¡¯s capacity to endure. Although it could reverse Fox¡¯s physical condition to some extent, it also disrupted some mechanisms within his body, rendering him unable to withstand those external forces. Chen Yu was different; he already had a system within him, and he simply drew the innate power from the device, without actually using it. Your next chapter is on Novgo However, Chen Yu did not tell her the whole truth, just smiled and nodded slightly. ¡°Your device is impressive, am I not the best example?¡± Cardelan instantly became excited. She took out a notebook from her person and handed it to Chen Yu. To her, this was the best possible outcome. ¡°This is all my experimental data, now I¡¯m entrusting it all to you!¡± Chapter 522 - Chapter 522: 522 Chapter 522: 522 Cardelan was actually clear about it; the experiment was designed solely to satisfy Fox¡¯s private desires and was never meant to be replicated. Moreover, the conditions necessary to achieve the experiment were so costly. There weren¡¯t many people in the world who, like Fox, could bring out so many resources for Cardelan to squander. Furthermore, the powers extracted during the experiment were too dangerous, and countless people had died in order to obtain them. Now, by handing over the experimental data, she was indicating to Chen Yu that she would never conduct such experiments again. Chen Yu simply laughed and pushed the notebook back to her. ¡°This is what you¡¯ve worked so hard to research. I¡¯m not entitled to keep it, rest assured, I¡¯ll continue to support your experiments, but some aspects need to be modified. It would be best if they could benefit humanity.¡± Cardelan nodded firmly; in fact, during the experiment, she had discovered an extremely clean and sustainable power resource, which, if promoted, could allow a large city to not worry about electricity for ten years with very little energy. ¡°Mr. Chen, rest assured, I will certainly not let you down.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, sent a message to the people of the Xuanqing Sect, and then took Cardelan and left the place. Stay connected with Novgo Before coming to Clerland Island, Chen Yu had already foreseen a lot of danger, so he didn¡¯t bring anyone with him. Now that all the dangers had been eliminated, it was time to take all the guys from here away. In a grand hall at the foot of Sacred Mountain. A dozen people dressed in strange attire sat there, their facial expressions extremely gloomy. ¡°I never expected the Heavenly Master Long Tian would find such an excellent successor who would wipe out the Knights of the Round Table right off the bat.¡± ¡°This youngster is a bit too much. Without our consent, he dares to meddle in mortal affairs; he¡¯s clearly disrupting the balance of the world.¡± ¡°I heard he changed the rules of the Xuanqing Sect and built an external gateway at the foot of Tianhu Mountain, allowing the secular people to run amok.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to teach this kid some rules, otherwise, he won¡¯t realize that he¡¯s one of the Daoists.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already sent out the invitations. He will surely come to the great council meeting of Sacred Mountain in a few days.¡± ¡­ The person sitting in the seat of honor suddenly stood up, took out a transparent bead the size of a human head. The brilliant light that emanated from it instantly illuminated the entire hall. ¡°Heavenly Master Long Tian is one of us with the deepest knowledge of Daoist teachings; he wouldn¡¯t carelessly choose a successor. I believe this youngster must have something extraordinary about him; everyone, let¡¯s not act rashly.¡± The room immediately fell silent, everyone looking at the person on the seat of honor with a gaze full of respect. Yet one middle-aged man¡¯s face was filled with discontent. After the meeting ended, he left the hall furiously and headed to a temporary airfield. ¡°Heavenly Master Luo, the council meeting at Sacred Mountain is about to begin; where are you heading?¡± Heavenly Master Luo turned his head and saw a Daoist Boy sweeping the floor not far from where he was. His countenance immediately softened. ¡°There are still some affairs to take care of in my Daoist temple. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± He dismissed the boy perfunctorily and boarded the helicopter. Imperial Capital, Nanfeng Square. Tong Ya, along with Tuan Tuan each holding a cup of milk tea, was walking cheerfully down the street. Tong Ya had been busy with the affairs of the Knights of the Round Table¡¯s assets and didn¡¯t have time to properly accompany Tuan Tuan. Today, finally having a chance, she took the little girl out for some fun. ¡°Mommy, it seems like Dad hasn¡¯t come back to visit us for a long time. Is he really that busy?¡± Tong Ya gently stroked Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°Of course, Tuan Tuan, you must always believe in Daddy ¨C he is always working hard for our future.¡± Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously and then took a big gulp of her milk tea. Just at that moment, a car suddenly stopped in front of the two of them. Before they could react, two burly men rushed out, grabbed them, and shoved them into the vehicle. Not far away, the bodyguard secretly in charge of protecting Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya was frightened out of his wits and hurried over. But the kidnappers moved so quickly that by the time they arrived, the van had vanished without a trace. ¡°Miss Tong, we mean no harm!¡± a ferocious-looking man pressed a knife to Tong Ya¡¯s neck, ¡°We just want to invite Mr. Chen out to discuss some matters; you¡¯ll have to trouble yourself to give him a call!¡± Tong Ya held Tuan Tuan in her arms, her expression exceedingly calm. ¡°Who are you?¡± The heiress¡¯s overbearing demeanor scared the kidnappers; even the fierce-looking man couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. ¡°Miss Tong, don¡¯t worry about who we are. Just call Mr. Chen immediately and have him come to Pier 12 to save you!¡± Tong Ya was no easy prey; her gaze was icy cold. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me who you are, I¡¯m not calling my husband over!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Tuan Tuan also looked defiantly brave, ¡°Kidnapping us and not even daring to reveal your identities? Dreaming if you think my dad will come!¡± The group of burly men were momentarily stunned; they hadn¡¯t expected the mother and daughter to be so tough. The stalemate continued for an indeterminable period until the car finally stopped, and a man wearing a mask opened the car door. Tong Ya was very cautious, gripping Tuan Tuan tightly in her arms, her eyes ferociously glaring at the masked man. ¡°Miss Tong, it is indeed a great fortune to see you. Please come inside. I have some matters I¡¯d like to discuss with you in detail.¡± Tong Ya made no move to get out of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, if you don¡¯t tell me who you are, there¡¯s nothing to talk about!¡± The masked man paused, evidently not expecting Tong Ya to be so difficult. ¡°Miss Tong, I hope you understand that you are now my hostage, and if I am displeased, I can kill you at any moment! Miss Tong might not fear death, but don¡¯t you care about your daughter¡¯s life?¡± Tuan Tuan immediately pouted, displaying a dignified yet unbowed demeanor. ¡°Mommy isn¡¯t afraid, and I¡¯m not either! If you have the guts, just kill us.¡± The masked man visibly trembled; he hadn¡¯t expected this outcome either. Clenching his teeth, he took out a knife and placed it in front of Tuan Tuan. ¡°Little girl, you might not be afraid of death, but your mommy is very afraid of you dying.¡± Though the words were directed at Tuan Tuan, it was a threat aimed at Tong Ya. ¡°Stop scaring the child!¡± Tong Ya hugged Tuan Tuan tighter: ¡°You¡¯re kidnapping us for money, just name your price. As long as I can afford it, I will pay!¡± The masked man chuckled, ¡°We aren¡¯t here for the money, we have something we need to clear up with Mr. Chen!¡± Chapter 523 - Chapter 523: Luo Zhenjia Chapter 523: Luo Zhenjia Tong Ya let out a faint breath; it seemed that these people were not after money but Chen Yu. Without saying much more, she carried Tuan Tuan out of the car and headed straight to a warehouse. The place appeared very deserted, and in the vast warehouse, there were only a few masked individuals standing. They were extremely polite to Tong Ya, having prepared a sofa especially for her. ¡°Miss Tong, inviting you here is a necessary resort, not an intentional kidnapping,¡± one of them said. ¡°After all, we and Mr. Chen belong to the same Daoist circles. We simply want to clarify some matters with him; there are no other intentions.¡± Disdain filled Tong Ya¡¯s eyes. ¡°You have the nerve to call yourselves members of the Daoist sects? Since when do Daoists become kidnappers in the secular world?¡± The masked people stood there, dumbfounded; they hadn¡¯t wanted to do such deeds initially, but the Sect Leader had commanded, and they had to obey. Just then, a middle-aged man walked slowly into the room. Although his clothes were odd, they were indeed those of the Daoist tradition. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of Miss Tong¡¯s decisive manner, and seeing it today, it¡¯s indeed formidable!¡± he remarked. Tong Ya instinctively shielded Tuan Tuan behind her. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re the mastermind behind this! At this point, don¡¯t you have the courage to reveal your true identity to me?¡± she challenged. The middle-aged man chuckled lightly and took out a token from his garments. ¡°My name is Luo Zhenjia, the Sect Leader of the Luo Tian Sect! Within the Daoist community, we are on equal footing with the Xuanqing Sect.¡± Tong Ya looked at Luo Zhenjia coldly. ¡°You think you¡¯re on par with my husband? You¡¯re hardly qualified for that! Speak, what do you want with my husband?¡± Seeing that Tong Ya wasn¡¯t going to be easily swayed, Luo Zhenjia no longer said much and directly picked up the phone to make a call. After dealing with the matters on Kirin Island, Chen Yu arrived in the imperial capital. He had planned to take Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan with him to visit the Sacred Mountain for a grand gathering. In his view, the Daoist congress was no different from a temple fair, and it was the perfect opportunity to show his wife and child a bit of the world. But as soon as he got out of the airport, his phone began to ring. ¡°Mr. Chen, both your wife and daughter are in my hands. There are some matters that we need to talk about face-to-face. Could you come to Dock Twelve?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated dramatically. ¡°Who are you?¡± No more sounds came from the other end of the phone! Chen Yu tried to keep himself calm, hailed a taxi on the roadside, and rushed straight towards Dock Twelve. As he was nearing his destination, he let his system spread out over the area. Unexpectedly, this time the range of the system¡¯s coverage extended over half of the imperial capital. Within this scope, everything was completely revealed to his mind. If he wished, he could see everything he desired. In the past, such a scenario would have startled him out of his wits. Back then, although his physical fitness had reached the limits of humanity, his brain¡¯s capacity was no different from the average person¡¯s and couldn¡¯t handle so much information. Now, his brain capacity and intelligence had both surpassed human limits by twice as much. Not to mention the current data provided by the system, even if it were expanded further, he could still handle it. Before long, he had pinpointed the abandoned warehouse at Dock Twelve. The place was quite remote and indeed hard for people to find. After having the taxi driver stop not too far away, he took a side path and circled around to approach. In the warehouse, Luo Zhenjia sat quietly on a sofa, waiting. Read exclusive chapters at Novgo Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan both maintained an air of dignified calm, staring intently at Luo Zhenjia. When Chen Yu saw his wife and child were unharmed, he instantly breathed a sigh of relief and flashed into the warehouse. Luo Zhenjia was startled. Although the members of the Taoist sects all practiced physical techniques and were much stronger than the average person, he had never seen such speed before. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you¡¯ve finally arrived!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Chen Yu¡¯s fist was upon him. Taken completely by surprise, Luo Zhenjia was sent flying. The man in the mask beside him was so scared that he froze in place. Luo Zhenjia was known as the Heavenly Master, and also the Sect Leader of the Luo Tian Sect, yet he was so easily knocked to the ground. Chen Yu lifted his head and looked coldly at the gang. ¡°You just wanted to test my strength, right? You even dared to kidnap my wife and child, I think you are truly tired of living!¡± Chen Yu said coldly, then picked up Tuan Tuan, and also grabbed Tong Ya¡¯s hand. Just as he was about to leave, Luo Zhenjia staggered to his feet. ¡°Wait! I have some questions that need to be cleared up. You, as the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, why are you meddling in worldly affairs? Why are you building an external branch under Tianhu Mountain? You¡¯ve set this precedent, what are we other Taoist sects supposed to do?¡± Chen Yu found him laughable. During his eradication of the Knights of the Round Table, he had discovered that many in the Taoist sects were connected with the knights¡¯ families, even entrusting them with their assets for management. Especially the Luo Zhenjia before him. This guy had somehow acquired eighty billion yuan, placed in the financial institutions of the Childe Family, from which he could make billions in net profit every year. The real reason he kidnapped Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan was not the justice he spoke of, but rather to demand an explanation from Chen Yu and perhaps, if possible, net a few billion for himself. ¡°Heavenly Master Luo, if all of your deeds were to be revealed, I¡¯m afraid even the Taoist community wouldn¡¯t tolerate you. I¡¯ll overlook what happened today, but if there¡¯s a next time, believe it or not, I¡¯ll raze your Luo Tian Sect to the ground.¡± Luo Zhenjia glared with wide eyes; he had a guilty conscience and naturally dared not confront Chen Yu directly. But just then, a burly young man suddenly leapt forward. ¡°Chen, don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, you can disrespect my master. His position is equivalent to yours!¡± Chen Yu slowly turned his head, surprised to find that this young man had physical capabilities that were the pinnacle of human achievement. Moreover, his brain was emitting a faint magnetic field, allowing him some degree of control over the actions of others. Luo Zhenjia suddenly toughened up. ¡°Shan Tong! You saw Mr. Chen¡¯s speed just now. Opportunities to learn from such experts are rare. Why don¡¯t you ask Mr. Chen to teach you a few moves?¡± Shan Tong held a very high position in the Luo Tian Sect, second only to Luo Zhenjia, and was Luo Zhenjia¡¯s biggest support. The rage in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes reached its limit; he didn¡¯t expect Luo Zhenjia to still dare oppose him. Shan Tong dashed forward a couple of steps and then swung his fist down ferociously. There was not the slightest fear on Chen Yu¡¯s face. With one hand holding Tuan Tuan and the other raised effortlessly, he caught the incoming fist steadily. Chapter 524 - Chapter 524 Consolidation of Companies Chapter 524 Consolidation of Companies ¡°Shan Tong, back off now, and I can pretend that nothing happened today.¡± Chen Yu was really angry, his grip on Shan Tong¡¯s hand kept tightening, and the sound of bones cracking and popping could be heard instantly between their fists and palms. Shan Tong¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he could never have dreamed that there was someone this strong in the world, someone who could not only catch his fist but also crush his bones with their strength. What he found most unbelievable was how at ease Chen Yu appeared, even while holding a little girl in his arms. ¡°This is impossible, how can a person¡¯s strength be this overwhelming?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, ¡°If you also want to possess such power, then come to Xuanqing Sect, I can give it to you!¡± Shan Tong was in extreme pain, feeling a powerful electric current entering his body, continuously ravaging his nervous system. It wasn¡¯t long before he passed out. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer than necessary, taking Tuan Tuan and Tong Ya and leaving directly. After Tong Group had taken over most of the assets from the original knights, it immediately became a giant power in the east, making many groups in the capital, which could once contend with it, lose their luster in an instant. Fear sprouted in the hearts of these people, afraid that Tong Group, with such vast financial strength, would eventually take them over as well. In the office of the Tong Group skyscraper, dozens of representatives sat timidly, holding reports in their hands with unease on their faces. Tong Ming sat in the primary seat, his face full of an authoritative air. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, since you¡¯ve come here, speak your minds, what does sitting in silence mean?¡± At these words, everyone present trembled, their heads bowed even lower. In the past, they might have dared to speak up in front of Tong Ming, but now, they didn¡¯t even have the courage to speak. The wealth that Tong Group now possessed was tenfold more than all their enterprises combined. How could they face such a behemoth? Finally, one person stood up shakily, handing up his report. ¡°Mr. Tong, our company is in the food industry, owning a moderately sized factory in the southern suburbs. We used to collaborate with overseas companies, but now those companies are gone, and I honestly don¡¯t know whom to work with. I can only turn to you for help.¡± Tong Ming took a sip of tea, ¡°I have already said that since I¡¯ve taken over so much overseas capital, I have also assumed their contracts with domestic firms, you can confidently handle the original orders to me!¡± As soon as he said this, a sigh of relief swept through the room, and half of the people immediately stood up, stacking their reports in front of Tong Ming. For him, these contracts were a small matter, requiring just a signature and a stamp of approval. Who knew that these small businesses would get so worked up. After sending most of the people away, the office was left with only Tong Ming and four middle-aged men. These men represented the largest four enterprises in the capital and had always maintained a close cooperative relationship with Tong Group. But now, they sensed an immense crisis. One of the men stood up, walked unsteadily toward Tong Ming. ¡°Mr. Tong, forgive me for saying what you might not like to hear, but the competitive relationship between us no longer exists. With your current scale, absorbing us is just a matter of time, and our CEO sent me to ask if you have any intention in this regard?¡± Tong Ming frowned, it seemed like the man was putting his enterprise at Tong Ming¡¯s disposal for acquisition. ¡°Why would I want to acquire you guys for nothing?¡± Chen Yu suddenly entered the office, ¡°Rest assured, not only will we not acquire, but we will also provide sufficient funds for you to grow.¡± The middle-aged man stared at Chen Yu with big eyes and a strange look. Tong Ming also stood up, ¡°Son-in-law, when did you come back?¡± Chen Yu smiled, ¡°I came back to see my wife and child.¡± He didn¡¯t mention the kidnapping of Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, as that would only cause Tong Ming to worry. Tong Ming was visibly excited, patting Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder; the group¡¯s significant development this time was all thanks to Chen Yu. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re back, I have a pile of issues here, need your advice on how we should handle them.¡± Chen Yu glanced at the four middle-aged men in front of him. ¡°Gentlemen, what Tong Group holds now are merely assets, as well as some overseas companies, with no operational abilities!¡± ¡°You, on the other hand, not only have operational capabilities but also ready staff. Transferring these assets and companies to your businesses will maximize their value.¡± The four middle-aged men¡¯s eyes widened at once; this was like multiplying the assets of their companies several times over. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re not deceiving us, are you? And, can you really make such decisions?¡± Tong Ming laughed heartily, ¡°Of course, my son-in-law can decide! Moreover, tell your CEOs not to be so anxious every day, I have no interest in taking them over.¡± At this, the four men became excited, they did not linger and quickly left with their documents, presumably to draft a cooperation agreement. ¡°Son-in-law, how long do you plan to stay this time?¡± Chen Yu coughed lightly, ¡°In a few days, I plan to take Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to Sacred Mountain to visit the temple fair.¡± Tong Ming patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s right, you haven¡¯t seen each other for so long, it¡¯s time to enjoy yourselves.¡± As they were talking, a security officer burst in, panic-stricken. ¡°Mr. Tong, it¡¯s bad, that guy has come again!¡± No sooner had the voice faded than a very tall middle-aged man forced his way into the office, placing a huge dumbbell on the desk. ¡°Mr. Tong, I¡¯ve said it many times, I¡¯m the only one in this world qualified to be your bodyguard, please let me stay.¡± Chen Yu was startled; he had not expected someone to apply for a bodyguard position in such a manner. At first glance, the muscles of the man in front of him were indeed solid, if he stayed with Tong Ming, perhaps he would make a competent bodyguard. But when Chen Yu accessed the information of this man¡¯s brain, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. Discover exclusive content at Novgo This guy used to run a security company, but due to poor management and the unprofessional nature of their employed staff, the company was shut down by relevant authorities. Yet for some reason, this man was convinced that it was Tong Ming, using his capital influence, who had caused his company to collapse. Therefore, he kept showing up every day, trying to make Tong Ming compensate him by working as a bodyguard. Chapter 525 - Chapter 525: The Three Falcon Gate Chapter 525: The Three Falcon Gate It¡¯d be more accurate to say that he was looking for an excuse to stick close to Tong Ming rather than really wanting to be his bodyguard, with the ultimate goal of wheedling some investment out of Tong Ming to get the company up and running again. Chen Yu¡¯s brows were deeply furrowed, it seemed that Tong Ming really didn¡¯t want to lower himself to deal with this guy, and this fellow truly wasn¡¯t easy to handle, capable of anything if pushed too far. After a brief moment of thought, Chen Yu stepped forward and grabbed the man¡¯s shoulder, taking out a bank card from his pocket and stuffing it into the man¡¯s hands. ¡°The truth is, you know best that you¡¯re not cut out for business, you are only suited for being a bodyguard. There¡¯s three hundred thousand yuan on this card, consider it your salary for one year. From now on, you are the security head of this building.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened in surprise; he had only hoped to bluff some money out of Tong Ming by this ruse, but now not only had Chen Yu given him three hundred thousand yuan, but he had also entrusted him with the security of the building. In this way, he had both money and a job. ¡°Brother, you get me!¡± The man became excited, wanting to lift Chen Yu in his arms, but the moment he touched Chen Yu¡¯s body, he experienced a jolt as if shocked by electricity and quickly stepped back. ¡°But let me be clear, if the security system of this building shows even the slightest discrepancy, I¡¯ll have no choice but to hand you over to the relevant authorities.¡± The man nodded repeatedly and left the office in high spirits with the bank card in hand. Tong Ming also heaved a sigh of relief; he was fed up with the guy pestering him daily. ¡°Son-in-law, next month I¡¯ll be hosting a banquet in the Kalaman Islands, when representatives of all major families worldwide will come. Don¡¯t forget to be there!¡± Chen Yu roughly figured that right after the grand event of Sacred Mountain ended, he would be able to make it to the Kalaman Islands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely be there! By the way, I¡¯ve arranged a plane downstairs, I¡¯m going to take Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan to Sacred Mountain now.¡± Tong Ming patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Go ahead, and then head straight to the Kalaman Islands when it¡¯s time!¡± Chen Yu nodded and went straight out the door. The location of Sacred Mountain was near the equator, which made it extremely hot. As soon as the plane got close to Sacred Mountain, Chen Yu felt a wave of heat and had to take off his jacket. This place was an important cultural heritage site for Taoism, where every piece of land within hundreds of miles was steeped in cultural artifacts. Even the houses of the surrounding residents were built in the style of Taoist temples. ¡°Dad, this place is so beautiful! Those houses are like ancient architecture, it feels like we¡¯ve traveled back in time.¡± As soon as they got off the plane, Tuan Tuan started hopping around excitedly, looking around with great curiosity. Chen Yu affectionately ruffled Tuan Tuan¡¯s little head. ¡°There are a lot of people here, so don¡¯t run around, okay? You must stay close to mom and dad.¡± Tuan Tuan obediently nodded her little head and held both Chen Yu¡¯s and Tong Ya¡¯s hands. Just then, a menacing-looking middle-aged man appeared not too far away. He glanced at Chen Yu¡¯s family of three and walked directly toward them. Given the man¡¯s attire, he seemed to be from the Taoist community, but the aura he exuded was starkly different from that of the Taoists. Discover hidden tales at Novgo Tuan Tuan was startled by the man and quickly hid behind Chen Yu. Chen Tian also frowned, his eyes filled with wariness. ¡°I presume you must be Mr. Chen. I am here under my master¡¯s orders to wait for you; we wish to discuss some matters with you!¡± Chen Yu released his system immediately and scanned the man¡¯s brain for information. Chen Yu hadn¡¯t expected that the person before him was actually a supernatural power wielder, and no matter what, the system was unable to penetrate his brain. ¡°Which sect does your master belong to?¡± After Chen Yu asked the question, he took a few steps forward, positioning himself in front of Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. A strange expression flickered across the man¡¯s face as his eyes stared straight at Tong Ya. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you know if you went there yourself?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and a blue-white glow had already begun to emerge in his hands. ¡°Lead the way ahead!¡± The man chuckled a few times, then turned and walked toward the forest not far away. Chen Yu didn¡¯t concern himself with the details and directly followed, confident in his current ability to protect Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan without the slightest problem. Even if the person before him was a supernatural power wielder, he was sure that he could take him down in a single move. After walking through the forest for an unknown length of time, they finally came upon a crude altar. It was nothing more than a construction of a few bluestone slabs and some broken bricks and tiles. In the very center sat a short man, but he looked extremely sleazy. Although he was draped in a Daoist robe, he bore no resemblance to a Taoist. Chen Yu took a couple of steps forward and performed a token gesture of Taoist courtesy. ¡°Who might you be? And why have you brought me here?¡± The short man opened his eyes, his face full of excitement. ¡°Mr. Chen, you truly are worthy of being the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, arriving so swiftly! I was wondering if you would come at all.¡± He offered a taunting remark, then hopped down from the altar, walking straight up to Chen Yu and waving the whisk in his hand. ¡°I too am a member of the Taoist community, though I established my own sect a long time ago! I am Wu Sanqi of the Three Hawks Sect!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated; he had heard of this sect and also of Wu Sanqi. This man was also a member of the Taoist community, and in some respects, his status was comparable to Chen Yu¡¯s. However, this man was notoriously cruel and cold-blooded, daring to defy all and use the sinister practice of Yin Yang Union for Artifact Refining. Chen Yu¡¯s attitude towards this man was to eliminate him quickly! ¡°So it¡¯s Sect Leader Wu! Since you¡¯ve revealed your identity and sect, I think there¡¯s no need for further talk. I take my leave!¡± Just as he was about to leave, the sleazy man blocked his path, and dozens of people suddenly leaped out from the forest around them. Wu Sanqi burst into laughter. ¡°Mr. Chen, to speak frankly, the purpose of this year¡¯s Sacred Mountain conference is to elect a true leader of the Taoist community. I feel you are qualified, and am willing to support you. How about we collaborate?¡± Chen Yu let out a cold laugh, ¡°Sect Leader Wu, I have no interest in cooperating with you. Besides, you can¡¯t be counted within the household system. Even if I kill you now, no one would blame me.¡± Wu Sanqi suddenly erupted into wild laughter. ¡°Mr. Chen, no offense, but with your ability, you are simply no match for me, especially since you have brought your wife and child along! Why not just listen to me and cooperate? Otherwise, I might dishonorably target your wife and child. By then, it would be too late for you to seek a partnership!¡± Chapter 526 - Chapter 526 The Daoist Helmsman Chapter 526 The Daoist Helmsman Chen Yu¡¯s eyes brimmed with a cold murderous intent. He hadn¡¯t expected this fellow to dare utter such words, especially here in the Taoist Holy Land¡ªfor him to act so recklessly in this place! ¡°Sect Leader Wu, let me advise you, don¡¯t provoke my wrath!¡± Wu Sanqi pulled out a Demon-Subduing Pestle from within his robes and hoisted it high above his head. A powerful magnetic field quickly infused the Pestle, and a peculiar light burst forth in an instant. ¡°Since Mr. Chen is adamant about not cooperating, I have no choice but to kill you.¡± Find more to read at Novgo Chen Yu let out a cold snort, raised his palm, and a large amount of blue-white light was released in a flash. Before Wu Sanqi could react, his men had fallen to the ground, bodies twitching uncontrollably. And the Demon-Subduing Pestle in his hand had also turned into fragments. ¡°This cannot be, I have been guided by the heavens and attained supreme Divine Power, this object was forged from special materials, how could it shatter so easily?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with disdain as he took two steps forward, placing a finger on Wu Sanqi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You simply possess a strange magnetic field which altered certain functions of your body. Did you truly believe it was a power bestowed by the heavens?¡± As soon as the words were spoken, the blue-white light surged, instantly destroying the magnetic field structure within Wu Sanqi¡¯s body. Just as he was about to leave, a young Taoist who looked to be about in his teens suddenly appeared nearby. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s already taken care of! Mr. Chen really has impressive skills; I was afraid I might be too late.¡± The murderous aura on Chen Yu¡¯s face immediately dissipated. Though the young Taoist before him appeared extremely youthful, he emanated an aura of stern righteousness, a stark contrast to Wu Sanqi. ¡°Little master, you know me?¡± ¡°Of course, I do!¡± The Taoist took out a green-white jade token from his possession and placed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect! This token is for entering the market on Sacred Mountain. Since we¡¯ve met here, I¡¯ll give it to you now!¡± Chen Yu weighed the jade token in his hand, realizing the material was extremely special, containing jade from the southern mountains and several types of precious gemstones. Moreover, there was a peculiar essence flowing within it, and if one were to absorb it through the skin¡¯s surface, it gave a sensation of crisp and refreshing clarity. ¡°Entrance token for the market? What¡¯s it for?¡± The young Taoist gestured towards a direction not far off. ¡°Over there is a market on Sacred Mountain. Outsiders can go there to rest. Mr. Chen, you can settle your wife and child in that place.¡± Chen Yu nodded and immediately headed in that direction with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan in tow. The young Taoist then took out a whistle and blew it. Soon after, a large group of people dressed like Taoists emerged from the forest and began to clean up the scene. This gathering on Sacred Mountain was the most bustling Taoist event in centuries. All the Sect Leaders of the various Taoist branches had almost all arrived here. When Chen Yu reached the market, he too was stunned by the scene before him. This was simply a lavish commercial street. ¡°Daddy, look! Someone is making sugar figures over there!¡± Tuan Tuan exclaimed joyfully and hopped and skipped towards the place. Chen Yu hurriedly followed. Although this was a sacred Taoist site, one could never guarantee that no one would cause trouble here. Tong Ya was also captivated by everything around her. Having lived in the city since childhood, this was her first time seeing such a Taoist market. Although similar to the commercial streets outside, there was a fundamental difference. ¡°Miss Tong, we meet again!¡± An annoying voice rang out from not too far away as Luo Zhenjia, followed by several Taoists, blocked Tong Ya¡¯s path. Tong Ya was startled and quickly ran behind Chen Yu. Seeing Luo Zhenjia, Chen Yu was also infuriated, not expecting this man to dare show up before him. ¡°Sect Leader Luo, have you come looking for revenge?¡± Luo Zhenjia waved his hands repeatedly, his face filled with fear. ¡°You must be joking, Sect Leader Chen. I¡¯m no match for you, how could I dare seek revenge! I just want to discuss some matters with you.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°If you have something to say, then say it.¡± Luo Zhenjia looked around cautiously before sneaking up closer to Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, the purpose of this grand meeting is to determine who will helm the Taoist factions for the next few decades! Do you have any candidate in mind, any Sect Leader you plan to endorse?¡± With a helpless sigh, Chen Yu realized that these people had gathered at Sacred Mountain for just this reason. ¡°What are the benefits of being the helm of the Taoist factions?¡± Luo Zhenjia¡¯s face suddenly lit up with excitement, ¡°The benefits are plentiful! We can regulate at will, and we can also enter the Divine Realm behind Sacred Mountain¡¯s back mountain.¡± ¡°The Divine Realm?¡± Chen Yu was full of confusion. ¡°Exactly!¡± Luo Zhenjia became more and more agitated as he spoke, ¡°You must have heard of Xie Ziran from the Tang dynasty! She ascended to immortality there.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s head was full of question marks, realizing that after all the trouble, these people were after the so-called ascension to immortality. He found such an illusory goal laughable upon hearing it. However, history indeed had its share of unexplainable events. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that helmsman position. I came here just to take my wife and child out for relaxation. If you all want to compete for it, go ahead. Even if I were to vote, I¡¯d cast an abstention.¡± With a disgruntled declaration, Chen Yu quickly left with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan. Once the family of three was far away, several Taoists from different factions gathered around Luo Zhenjia. ¡°Sect Leader Luo, what does Sect Leader Chen mean? Whose vote does he want to cast?¡± ¡°Does Sect Leader Chen also want to be the helmsman? If he does, we could all cast our votes for him, but it¡¯s unclear what benefits he could offer us.¡± ¡°Sect Leader Luo, you have the highest prestige among us. You must have some advice for us.¡± ¡­ The chirping voices made Luo Zhenjia extremely irritated. ¡°Enough! He simply doesn¡¯t care about the position of helmsman. Let¡¯s stop flattering ourselves and find some of the older, more experienced seniors.¡± The crowd was suddenly stunned, the position of Taoist helmsman carrying no small advantages, an aspiration for them all their lives, yet there were still those who looked down upon it. Luo Zhenjia didn¡¯t say anything more and turned around to leave directly. Those left behind were in uproar, unsure of what Chen Yu meant. Currently, Xuanqing Sect was the most powerful among all Taoist factions, and as its Sect Leader, Chen Yu had significant influence. His single vote was equivalent to two or even three votes from other factions. Now, those older Sect Leaders were trying their best to curry favor with Chen Yu, aiming to secure the votes from Xuanqing Sect. Chapter 527 - Chapter 527: 527 Chapter 527: 527 Chen Yu was completely uninterested in those things and soon he, along with Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, found themselves on a snack street. This place was much more interesting than other areas, not only offering the culinary delights of the secular world below the mountain but also Daoist-themed specialty foods. One shop in particular was very intriguing; it seemed to be run by the Taoists from Sacred Mountain themselves. They made fried rice in various animal shapes and placed a large amount of secret sauce on the side. Chen Yu sniffed curiously and became interested. He immediately took a seat in front of the stall. Discover more content at Novgo ¡°Boss, three servings for us!¡± The cook was a middle-aged man dressed like a Daoist, only his robe was a bit strange, as it was black. If it weren¡¯t for the Daoist insignia on it, Chen Yu would have thought the boss was just masquerading as a Daoist. ¡°Alright! Choose any shape you like.¡± Tuan Tuan immediately clapped her hands and said, ¡°I want the one shaped like a little bunny!¡± The boss smiled amiably, readied the plate with rice, and poured some sauce next to it. ¡°You¡¯re so cute, little friend. Uncle gave you the children¡¯s sauce, with no spicy seasonings. If it doesn¡¯t suit your taste, just tell uncle, and I¡¯ll add more for you!¡± Tuan Tuan politely thanked him and took the plate, eagerly taking a bite. ¡°Daddy, this sauce tastes so good, even better than the one you make!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. Tuan Tuan grew up eating the meals he cooked, and now, right in front of him, she was saying someone else¡¯s cooking was better. This sparked an inexplicable competitive spirit within him. The boss quickly made two more portions and served them. Chen Yu hurriedly took a bite. The moment the rice mixed with the sauce touched his mouth, Chen Yu was instantly stunned. On the surface, it seemed to be just ordinary sauce mixed with rice, but when he tasted it, he realized it was like a delicacy from heaven. Turning coarse rice into something so tenderly sweet was a significant challenge for many chefs. Coarse rice isn¡¯t like ordinary rice; it¡¯s unhulled grain. It requires more water for cooking, but too much water can make it overly mushy, losing its original flavor. Yet, if too little water is used, it¡¯s hard. Mastering the right amount takes at least a decade of experience cooking coarse rice, and even then, mistakes can often be made. As for the sauce, the tiny dish of sauce contained at least a hundred ingredients, some of which even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t identify. ¡°Boss, how exactly did you make this rice?¡± Chen Yu was thoroughly impressed, instantly standing up and humbly asking for advice. The boss just sheepishly scratched his head. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t make this rice. It¡¯s the handiwork of our sect leader from Sacred Mountain! Every day, he cooks several pots of rice and some sauce on the mountain, and then has it sent down here for sale to subsidize the sect¡¯s expenses.¡± Chen Yu was instantly taken aback. The esteemed sect leader of Sacred Mountain was actually making sauce and rice to help finance the sect! This place was, after all, a sacred site for Daoists. Logically, other sects should be paying substantial fees here every year. When Chen Yu was in charge of the Xuanqing Sect, he had seen the accounts; every year, they would allocate tens of millions to this place. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling me, are you? Is Sacred Mountain really that short on money?¡± The boss nodded, his face full of helplessness. ¡°That¡¯s right! Although Sacred Mountain is a holy land for Daoists, many people no longer take it seriously. Nowadays, aside from Xuanqing Sect and a few others that pay their dues each year, most sects don¡¯t even ask. Moreover, the sect leader uses the dues collected every year for disaster relief, often not sparing a single penny.¡± Chen Yu immediately felt a surge of respect. ¡°Compared to those who want to vie for the position of the patriarch of my family, the Head Master of Sacred Mountain is the real ¡¯True Person¡¯!¡± Chen Yu, filled with reverence, finished the sauced rice bowl cleanly. Just at that moment, a childish voice suddenly came from not far away. The young Taoist, whom he had encountered earlier in the forest, came hurrying over with a steamer basket clutched in his arms. ¡°Brother Jing Shan, this is the last pot for today. Master said as soon as you sell it out, you should hurry back, he has urgent matters to discuss with you.¡± Jing Shan quickly picked up an apple and stuffed it into the young Taoist¡¯s hands. ¡°Okay, put it down and hurry back. Master should not be left without someone to attend to him.¡± The youngster nodded his head, then turned and scurried up the mountain. ¡°You¡¯re a disciple of the Great Master of Sacred Mountain?¡± Chen Yu asked, full of shock. Jing Shan nodded: ¡°I am the Head Master¡¯s senior disciple, and the one just now was my junior brother, Jing Mu!¡± Chen Yu stood there, stunned, as if turned to stone. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined that the disciples of the Great Master of Sacred Mountain would be selling rice here. Right at that moment, a large group of people suddenly arrived at the stall and rudely took their seats beside it. ¡°I¡¯m starving to death, hurry up and serve the food!¡± These folks were quite unreasonable, and they all carried weapons; even Chen Yu became infuriated upon seeing them. Yet, Jing Shan remained remarkably calm, quickly serving out more than a dozen plates of food. The group ate in a very uncouth manner, wolfing down the food ferociously, and each person consumed at least ten plates. Chen Yu subconsciously unleashed his system, scanning these people¡¯s brain information only to discover they weren¡¯t there to attend the conference of Daoist practitioners but were a group of assassins. Their aim seemed to be after the Heavenly Luminance Pearl on Sacred Mountain! It was said to be a sacred object that could grant eternal life. Chen Yu instantly furrowed his brow¡ªshould this group ascend the mountain, the Head Master of Sacred Mountain would be in danger. After they had eaten their fill, the group callously threw their bowls and chopsticks aside and were about to leave. Jing Shan swiftly stepped in front of the group, blocking their path. ¡°Excuse me, you have not paid yet!¡± The leader of the group burst into laughter as if hearing a joke. ¡°Stupid Taoist, you have no idea who we are and you dare demand payment!¡± Jing Shan was as calm as ever: ¡°Who you are doesn¡¯t concern me. It¡¯s only right to pay for what you eat. If you don¡¯t pay today, none of you will be leaving.¡± The faces of the group instantly darkened as they drew their weapons, ready to strike. The leader of the group was even more aggressive, wielding a large saber that he fiercely slashed downward. But to his surprise, just as the blade was brought down, Jing Shan caught it with his bare hands. ¡°I said, if you¡¯ve eaten, you need to pay! Otherwise, you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± As the words fell, Jing Shan simply snapped the finely crafted steel saber in two. The group was instantly struck dumb, standing motionless. Chen Yu also rushed out and stood beside Jing Shan, his palms glowing at that moment with a dazzling blue-white light. Chapter 528 - Chapter 528 Selection Contest Chapter 528 Selection Contest ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, eating and then leaving immediately, isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate? Besides,¡± you¡¯re bringing so many weapons up the mountain, what is it that you intend to do?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice carried a certain authority, effectively silencing these fellows. Their purpose for going up the mountain was unspeakable, and if they continued to linger here, who knew what kind of accident might occur. The leading man thought for a moment, then took out a stack of money and placed it on the table, preparing to leave with his followers. Just as they took a few steps, Chen Yu blocked their path. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question yet. Why are you bringing so many weapons up the mountain?¡± The group was getting restless, and the leading man even pulled out a dagger from his waist and aimed it at Chen Yu¡¯s throat. ¡°Does it concern you how I go up the mountain? Step aside, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Jing Shan immediately stepped forward and grabbed the man¡¯s dagger. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to on the mountain. Let me give you some advice, hurry down the mountain. If my master gets angry, none of you will live.¡± The group suddenly looked at Jing Shan with a strange gaze, and then they all drew their weapons from their waists. ¡°Damn it, the news has leaked, we can¡¯t wait any longer, let¡¯s storm up the mountain!¡± The bunch of them suddenly became frenzied. Jing Shan casually grabbed a handful of pepper powder and threw it, then his body dashed out like lightning. The sound of piercing screams followed; in front of Jing Shan, these fellows had no chance to resist, and before long, they were all lying on the ground. Jing Shan didn¡¯t bother to be polite with them. After clapping his hands towards the nearby woods, a group of Daoists rushed out, tossing these people onto a garbage truck as if they were trash. ¡°Sect Leader Chen! The master was right, you indeed came here for a meal. He¡¯s been waiting on the mountain for a long time. Follow me!¡± Chen Yu was surprised. Could it be that the Sect Leader on Sacred Mountain could foresee the future? But on the other hand, there were many with supernatural abilities in this world, and possessing the ability to foresee the future wasn¡¯t something out of the ordinary, especially for someone who was the Sect Leader of Sacred Mountain. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, responding with a nod, he prepared to follow up the mountain. However, he didn¡¯t expect Jing Shan to stop Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan who were behind him. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, please leave your wife and child here; our people will take care of them.¡± Chen Yu frowned. Although this place was a Taoist holy land, such a large-scale gathering attracted all sorts of people to the mountain, and he wasn¡¯t willing to leave his wife and child here carelessly. ¡°Daoist Jing Shan, could you make an exception? They are not familiar with this place, and I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± ¡°There is no need to worry!¡± Jing Shan signaled towards the nearby woods, then took out a token and handed it to Tong Ya. ¡°Miss Tong, this is a token from Sacred Mountain. With it, you can move freely on the mountain. Our master has invited Sect Leader Chen to the mountain to discuss certain secrets of the Taoist path, and we hope you will understand.¡± Immediately, dozens of Daoists emerged from the woods, encircling Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan, clearly aiming to protect their safety. Tong Ya was a sensible person. She took the token and waved to Chen Yu. ¡°Go ahead without worries; with so many Daoists protecting us, we will be fine!¡± Chen Yu said no more and followed Jing Shan up the mountain. At the summit of Sacred Mountain was a grand hall, within which sat more than a dozen Taoist priests in purple and yellow robes, calmly seated as if waiting for something. As Chen Yu entered the room, all the Daoists present rose to their feet. The leading elderly Heavenly Master, with a youthful appearance despite his white hair, excitedly came down from his seat. ¡°Are you the one chosen by Heavenly Master Long Tian?¡± Chen Yu immediately performed a ritual salute of the Daoist sect, ¡°I pay my respects to the Sect Leader!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities!¡± The old Heavenly Master said with a smile as he patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You really are young. With you here, our Daoist way will prosper for at least another hundred years!¡± Chen Yu was taken aback, failing to understand what the old Heavenly Master meant. He released his system but was unable to scan the other¡¯s brain information. ¡°I am slow-witted, please enlighten me, Sect Leader!¡± The old Heavenly Master waved his hand. ¡°You are of equal status to me, there¡¯s no need for this. I am merely acting as the helmsman of the Taoist sect!¡± Before Chen Yu could react, the old Heavenly Master took out a small, crystal-clear jade bead from his person and handed it over. ¡°Since you¡¯re the one chosen by Heavenly Master Long Tian, you are the Taoist helmsman from now on!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he had no desire to become the Taoist helmsman. He didn¡¯t even want to be the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect and planned to find someone upright and hardworking to succeed him in a few years! ¡°Elder Heavenly Master, you¡¯re really putting me on the spot here! Moreover, there are so many Sect Leaders gathered here for the Sacred Mountain Convention, it¡¯s not my turn by any means.¡± The old Heavenly Master suddenly became very solemn. ¡°Indeed, this matter requires careful consideration. Let¡¯s have a symbolic competition then, although the result is already predetermined.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in amazement; it seemed the old Heavenly Master was determined to make him the Taoist helmsman. Discover exclusive content at Novgo ¡°If it¡¯s predetermined, wouldn¡¯t that be unfair to the others? Please reconsider, Elder Heavenly Master.¡± The old Heavenly Master let out a hearty laugh and took out a map from his person. ¡°In fact, the selection for the Taoist helmsman has always been fixed. Whoever can destroy the Divine Eagle Sect can become the helmsman without any selection process!¡± Chen Yu opened the map and glanced at it. It seemed to be just a small sect located on the fringes of the southern border. Within the Taoist community, there were many who could eliminate such a sect. ¡°Then, please ask the Elder Heavenly Master to release this task so that there can be fair competition.¡± The old Heavenly Master was taken aback and gave Chen Yu a strange look. ¡°Are you sure you want me to release the task, with no regrets?¡± Chen Yu nodded repeatedly, ¡°In any case, we must still compete fairly!¡± The surrounding Daoists also looked at him with extremely odd expressions, but they said nothing, instead simultaneously taking out their phones as if they were sending messages. It wasn¡¯t long before the grand hall on the mountain became lively. Heads of various sects who were attending the convention gathered here. The Elder Heavenly Master excitedly pulled Chen Yu¡¯s arm and walked out. ¡°Presumably, all of you have received the news. You are all aware of the content of this year¡¯s helmsman selection. Now, I only ask you this, does anyone wish to participate?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the many Sect Leaders at the scene knelt down one after another. ¡°We are willing to forgo the competition!¡± Chen Yu stood on the podium, dumbstruck; he had not expected such an outcome at all. Chapter 529 - Chapter 529 Peer Into Human Hearts Chapter 529 Peer Into Human Hearts The Heavenly Master turned his head and thrust the map into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°Young man, it seems the future of our Daoist sect rests in your hands.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of frustration. It was just about exterminating a minor sect, why had everyone else given up? He subconsciously extended his system¡¯s overlay. Although many people on the mountain were supernaturally gifted, most Sect Leaders were just ordinary people, and scanning their brain information was quite easy. ¡°Who would have thought that after so many years, the test is still the same, clearly not wanting us to become helmsmen.¡± ¡°That place is incredibly dangerous, whoever goes dies!¡± ¡°The southern border is rife with poisonous miasmas; who would be foolish enough to risk their life for the position of helmsman?¡± ¡°Divine Eagle Sect is not to be trifled with; their Sect Leader has killed who knows how many of our Daoist Sect Leaders?¡± ¡­ Chen Yu suddenly understood why the Heavenly Master had agreed so readily to release the test; it turned out that no one dared to go. Jing Shan, who had been standing by the side, stepped forward and presented a kirin seal. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, this is the helmsman¡¯s seal. If you can complete the mission within a month, this seal will be yours!¡± Chen Yu was extremely frustrated; this was absolutely like forcing a duck onto a perch. Enjoy new tales from Novgo Just as he was considering how to refuse, the Heavenly Master and all the Daoist elders suddenly knelt down. ¡°Young man, Divine Eagle Sect is the greatest cancer in this world, even more detestable than the Knights of the Round Table. The Daoist sect has long wished to eradicate them, but we can¡¯t even get into the outskirts of their town.¡± A look of doubt crossed Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! With all the experts among the Daoists, how can they not break through a mere small town?¡± The Heavenly Master sighed helplessly. ¡°That place is protected by a Formation, and with the local favorable conditions, a poison gas is released. Anyone who enters the town falls into the Illusory Realm. If they can¡¯t break through that layer of illusion, they can only wait for death!¡± Chen Yu took a moment to regulate his breathing. His physical constitution had already surpassed human limits by twice, and something like poison gas couldn¡¯t hurt him at all. Truth be told, he really was the prime candidate for this task. Looking at the kneeling Heavenly Masters before him, Chen Yu was moved by compassion. If he didn¡¯t agree now, these old men might well kneel to death right here. ¡°Alright then, I agree. I¡¯ll set out after I¡¯ve made arrangements for my wife and children.¡± The Heavenly Master stood up excitedly, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°There¡¯s no time! You must depart as soon as possible. As for your wife and children, we¡¯ll arrange things for them.¡± No sooner had his words fallen than a helicopter descended from the sky, landing in the plaza. Chen Yu suddenly felt he had been bamboozled, as if everything had been prearranged. But at this point, it would be hard to refuse, so he could only board the aircraft. Sacred Mountain was already situated in the south, not far from the southern rivers. The helicopter was in the southern border in less than three hours, but as it hovered over a small town, the helicopter suddenly stopped. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, there¡¯s no place to land below, so you¡¯ll have to trouble yourself to jump down from here!¡± Chen Yu immediately wanted to curse; from such a height, even someone trained in dance from a young age would crash terribly. ¡°What do you mean by this? Are you trying to get me killed?¡± The pilot grinned, chuckling twice. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you must be joking. Many Sect Leaders in the Daoist sect can safely descend from such heights! You were chosen by the elders, such a height is nothing to you.¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, as he still felt a bellyful of frustration boiling inside him. Without fussing further, he opened the helicopter door and leapt out. After landing steadily, the helicopter took off into the distance. Chen Yu simply looked up, before making his way into the small town. The small towns in the southern borderlands each had their own unique features, and this city was a typical tourist city. Built against a mountain, with picturesque scenery, a small river flowed slowly along the mountain range. An array of guest houses lined the riverbank, and distinctive cuisine could be seen everywhere you turned; the rich aromas nearly filled the entire city. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with the details and casually sat down at a food stall, ordering two bowls of brain flowers. It had to be said that the pig brain delicacy here was unparalleled; Chen Yu had caught its fragrance while on the helicopter. Just as he was wolfing down his meal, he suddenly noticed a young girl of about ten standing by the roadside, shaking a tin can that clearly jingled with the sound of coins. Chen Yu frowned, wondering how in this day and age there were still people begging in the streets. However, the girl¡¯s clothes were neat and didn¡¯t really fit the image of a beggar. He unconsciously extended his system¡¯s coverage, only to have it repelled by a magnetic field. Chen Yu felt somewhat helpless; ever since he had discovered the existence of individuals with supernatural powers in this world, he had encountered quite a few of them. The magnetic field emanating from the little girl standing before him was overwhelmingly powerful. His system, now upgraded, still couldn¡¯t penetrate it. After quickly finishing his brain flowers, Chen Yu curiously walked over. ¡°Little sister, what are you doing here?¡± The girl lifted her head, her watery eyes appearing extremely pure. ¡°Big brother, do you want your fortune told? Just one Gold Coin, and I can answer any question you have.¡± Only then did Chen Yu realize that the bowl in the girl¡¯s hands was filled with pure gold coins. Each one was quite heavy, the smallest weighing at least ten grams. Having no gold with him, Chen Yu placed a gold-embossed jade medallion into her bowl. The next moment, an extremely powerful magnetic field enveloped them. [System alert: Detected an unidentified magnetic field.] [Autonomous defense function activated, magnetic field has been blocked.] [Anti-surveillance feature launched, scanning the other party¡¯s brain information.] [Unable to penetrate the magnetic field barrier of the opposing side.] As the system alert sounded, the girl also seemed startled and unconsciously took a couple of steps back. ¡°Big brother, do you possess the same abilities as me?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t try to hide it and reached out to ruffle the little girl¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯m curious, if you have such abilities, why are you reading fortunes on the street? Is someone forcing you?¡± The girl¡¯s body quivered slightly, her gaze beginning to shift evasively. She seemed hesitant about something but lacked the resolve to decide. After a moment, she clutched her gold coins and fled in panic. Chen Yu frowned; although he couldn¡¯t see through the young girl¡¯s heart, he was certain that she was under someone¡¯s control. Without thinking too much, he immediately gave chase. Chapter 530 - Chapter 530: 530 Chapter 530: 530 In a rather luxurious courtyard, more than a dozen teenagers stood, each holding a stainless steel basin in their hands. In their basins, there were varying amounts of money, but only one little girl had basins full of gold coins. A fat man, who wobbled with every third step like a pig, emerged from the house and made his way to the little girl first. ¡°Xiao Chun ah! You really are my treasure, always bringing back so much money! Who do you want to exchange for this time?¡± Xiao Chun lifted her hand and pointed to a boy leaning against the corner of the wall. ¡°Him!¡± The boy¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Xiao Chun, these people are simply deceiving you, they are just threatening you with us who came down from the mountain! Get away quickly, don¡¯t worry about us.¡± The fat man kicked the boy to the ground. ¡°Shut up! If I tell you to scram, you better scram.¡± Xiao Chun let out a long sigh of relief, then handed over the stainless steel basin she was holding. The fat man joyfully cradled the basin, jingling the gold coins inside. ¡°Oh, and if you want to exchange for someone from me again, it will cost you double the gold coins.¡± Chen Yu was on a nearby rooftop, exactly witnessing this scene. At this moment, the system had already spread out, with the brain information of everyone in the courtyard appearing in his mind. Besides the fat man, there were eight other men inside the house, all burly and strong with excellent physical condition. Two of them even had supernatural abilities. These people seemed to be from the Divine Eagle Sect, and they were stationed here to capture those who had escaped from the mountain and then bring them back. But obviously, they hadn¡¯t done so. This courtyard¡¯s children tallied up to twenty-four in total, all having escaped from the great mountain to the south. This bunch didn¡¯t send the children back; instead, they used Xiao Chun¡¯s abilities to make money for them, having this little girl earn gold coins every day to exchange for the children¡¯s freedom. As for the other useless children, they were sent out to beg on the streets. Knowing all this, Chen Yu became enraged and was about to rush down to take out those big men. But just as he was preparing to take action, a thin, tall man suddenly burst out of the house, casually picked up a stone from the side, and threw it toward the rooftop. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly. His hiding had been done so perfectly that he even released a disruption field in the vicinity, so it was impossible for an ordinary person to detect him. Regulating his breathing slightly, he leapt up. The stone that had just been thrown landed where he had been hiding, creating a big pit on impact. No sooner had Chen Yu landed on the ground than the nine men in the courtyard charged straight at him. The thin man and another with a red birthmark on his head stared at Chen Yu with a strange intensity. ¡°Kid, hiding on the rooftop, what were you trying to do?¡± Stay connected with Novgo Chen Yu was about to speak when Xiao Chun, anxious and panicked, ran over. ¡°He¡¯s my friend, don¡¯t hurt him, I can use gold coins to exchange for his freedom!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment; although the little girl possessed the ability everyone dreamed of, she was too naive. With just the ability to see what¡¯s inside others¡¯ heads, she could go anywhere in the world, needless to waste her time here. Besides, these people didn¡¯t have anything to control her freedom, to begin with. But just as Chen Yu was about to let Xiaochun go first, a strange current suddenly emanated from little Chen¡¯s chest. The little girl immediately became so tormented with pain that she collapsed to the ground. Chen Yu quickly crouched down and discovered that a tiny electrical device had been implanted under Xiaochun¡¯s skin. If someone controlled it from the outside, it could release an extremely powerful electric current. Chen Yu was immediately furious. After all this time, this was how they controlled Xiaochun. He lifted his finger, and a blue-white light burst forth instantly, pulverizing the miniature electrical device into dust. The device was small to begin with, so once shattered, it could be expelled from the body through the circulatory system. Xiaochun immediately felt an immense relief and quickly stood up. The gaunt man suddenly sensed something was wrong and hurriedly pressed the controller in his hand, but there was no response. ¡°You little bastard, what did you do?¡± The gaunt man flew into a rage, charging forward with fists swinging. The man with a red birthmark on his head also leapt up, his body quickly expanding until he turned into a large meatball. With one above and one below, they formed a pincer attack on Chen Yu. Both men were supernatural ability holders. Once they used the magnetic fields within their bodies, they could undergo strange transformations and become incredibly hard. Any ordinary person would likely just stand there, waiting to be squashed by them. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with disdain as he lightly lifted his hand. The blue-white light flared instantly, directly hitting both men. The powerful electric current completely dispersed their magnetic fields, causing them to drop hard to the ground. The seven others who wanted to step forward and help were immediately felled by the electric current and passed out. ¡°You two are with the Divine Eagle Sect, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chen Yu crouched down and directly inquired. The pupils of the two men dilated abruptly. Only those from the Taoist clans knew of the Divine Eagle Sect in this world. ¡°Are you from the Taoist clan?¡± The gaunt man¡¯s body trembled violently. Although the people of the Divine Eagle Sect didn¡¯t hold the Taoist clan in high regard, the two of them were just emissaries, and besides, the power Chen Yu had shown was too formidable for them not to be frightened. ¡°Who I am is none of your business. I¡¯ll give you a chance to live. Take me to the Divine Eagle Sect right now, or I¡¯ll kill you both.¡± The breathing of the two men became rapid. The Divine Eagle Sect was completely isolated from the world, and people only came out at fixed times. If these emissaries brought an outsider in, they would have only a dead end. The two men didn¡¯t speak, exchanged glances, then smashed their heads violently on the ground. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected the members of the Divine Eagle Sect to be so ruthless, sparing not even themselves. With a sigh of resignation, he turned to look at the children in the courtyard. ¡°The bad guys here have been dealt with. You are free now. Go wherever you need to go!¡± But to his surprise, the group of children showed no sign of leaving; they hung their heads, their faces lost and bewildered. Xiaochun approached Chen Yu, her doll-like little face full of an age-inappropriate helplessness. ¡°Big brother, you don¡¯t know, we actually escaped from the Divine Eagle Sect! Although we are truly free now, we have no idea where to go.¡± Chen Yu naturally knew these things, but he was now on his way to the Divine Eagle Sect and simply had no time to care for these children. Chapter 531 - Chapter 531: 531 Chapter 531: 531 Chen Yu pondered for a moment, then took out a cellphone from his person and stuffed it into Xiao Chun¡¯s hands. ¡°Take this cellphone with you and lead the children to an open space outside the small town. Then dial this number, and someone will definitely come to pick you up within two hours.¡± Xiao Chun hesitated briefly before handing the cellphone to an older boy next to her. ¡°You guys go quickly, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll stay behind to help big brother.¡± The group of children was suddenly at a loss. Xiao Chun had become their pillar of support to some extent, and now they were reluctant to part ways all of a sudden. However, the decisions made by Xiao Chun were almost always right. Her telling them to go now must have been after careful consideration. The children exchanged glances without lingering and took the cellphone out of the yard. After everyone left, Xiao Chun walked up to Chen Yu. ¡°Big brother, if I¡¯m not mistaken, you must be planning to go to the Divine Eagle Sect. I escaped from there, and I can show you the way.¡± Chen Yu furrowed his brows slightly. This little girl was a supernatural being who could see through everyone¡¯s thoughts. However, he had just set up a magnetic field around his body, so even if the little girl¡¯s powers were strong, she shouldn¡¯t have been able to see through his thoughts. ¡°Did you guess this?¡± Xiao Chun nodded obediently. ¡°Kind of. Very few people come to such a remote place, and since big brother has the same powers as I do, you¡¯re definitely not here just to travel.¡± Chen Yu patted Xiao Chun¡¯s head gently. ¡°You¡¯re very clever, but it wasn¡¯t easy to escape from that place. Aren¡¯t you scared to go back?¡± Xiao Chun shook her head. ¡°There was trouble within the Divine Eagle Sect. Several elders fought each other for the position of Sect Leader, and we took advantage of the chaos to escape.¡± Excitement flickered in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. If that was the case, things would be much simpler. ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a small town outside the Divine Eagle Sect, and it seems very difficult to get through.¡± Xiao Chun covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°Actually, that¡¯s just rumors from outside. As long as you cover your mouth and nose with ordinary licorice, you can get through that town.¡± Without lingering, Chen Yu and Xiao Chun bought a great amount of licorice and headed straight towards the Divine Eagle Sect. After leaving the small city, the two traveled along a rugged mountain road for an unknown amount of time until they finally saw a small town. They immediately put some licorice powder in their mouths and headed straight for the town. ¡°Stop right there, where are you from?¡± At the outskirts of the town, in the drumming ground, a burly middle-aged man sat with a huge Wolf Fang Club in his hand, watching the approaching pair coldly. Chen Yu¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he walked straight up to him. ¡°We are tourists who got lost, and it¡¯s getting dark. Could we possibly stay in your town for the night?¡± The burly man narrowed his eyes warily as he regarded them. ¡°Lost? You dare to trespass without knowing what this place is? Let me give you a piece of advice: go back where you came from, or my Wolf Fang Club won¡¯t be so welcoming!¡± Chen Yu exhaled a turbid breath and in a flash, he was beside the man, one hand gripping his shoulder. The formidable strength crushed the man¡¯s shoulder blade into dust. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, besides you, there are twenty-seven people in this town! You actually don¡¯t want to work for the Divine Eagle Sect, you¡¯re just symbolically guarding here. Why be so serious? Turn a blind eye and let us in.¡± The man¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. Despite the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s higher-ups no longer caring, this place was still top-secret, and the number of guards and their specific positions changed daily. But Chen Yu had only glanced at the town¡¯s entrance and managed to state the exact number of people, highlighting his skill. ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s mouth twitched into a sly smile, ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter, what¡¯s important is whether you want to live or not?¡± The man sighed helplessly, he had long since lost the desire to serve the Divine Eagle Sect. That bunch of people were only concerned about their own power, fighting amongst themselves, turning a perfectly good sect into a place shrouded in dark smoke and poison. ¡°Of course, I want to live!¡± The man endured the severe pain on his shoulder and responded, then threw the Wolf Fang Club onto the ground. Chen Yu smiled with satisfaction, then grabbed his shoulder blade and gently smoothed it over; the bones that had been crushed earlier miraculously healed back to their original state. ¡°Then call out the people playing mahjong in those rooms, I want to have a talk with them!¡± A hint of shock deepened in the man¡¯s eyes; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to know that there were people playing mahjong inside the rooms. However, he did not ask further, just picked up a few stones from the ground and threw them. ¡°Come on out, stop playing around!¡± Eight people hurriedly ran out, two of them with papers stuck to their faces. ¡°Damn, where did these two guys come from?¡± ¡°Heavens, there¡¯s actually an outsider standing amidst poisonous substances, completely unaffected. Could it be that our poison fog formula has been leaked?¡± ¡­ When this group of people came out, they didn¡¯t even have weapons. Seeing Chen Yu and Xiao Chun, they were merely surprised and showed no intention of fighting. Stay connected through Novgo The initial tension in Chen Yu¡¯s heart completely dissipated. Previously, he thought that wiping out the Divine Eagle Sect would be an arduous task, but now it seemed that they could be disintegrated from the inside. ¡°Hu Sanlang, are you willing to take me to the Divine Eagle Sect?¡± The man whose shoulder blade Chen Yu had crushed earlier had terror in his eyes to the extreme. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s hand once again rested on his shoulder, ¡°You just need to tell me whether you¡¯re willing or not.¡± Hu Sanlang picked up the Wolf Fang Club from the ground. ¡°Today, those stationed in the town are my brothers. Give them a shout, and you can get through, but taking you to the Divine Eagle Sect, I can¡¯t do that! After all, I am a member of the Divine Eagle Sect. If I took you there, wouldn¡¯t I become a traitor?¡± This unyielding attitude took Chen Yu by surprise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll kill you?¡± Hu Sanlang turned his head, ¡°If one¡¯s skills are inferior, dying is deserved. There¡¯s no question of fear.¡± Chen Yu scanned the brain information of the twenty-seven people in the town. He discovered that most of them shared the same sentiment. Unwilling to continue serving the Divine Eagle Sect, yet not eager to betray it easily. It must be said, even among the current Taoist sects, few would possess such spirit. ¡°Then forget about it, but at least you could point me to a path up the mountain, couldn¡¯t you?¡± Hu Sanlang hesitated slightly, then raised his hand and pointed to a small mountain peak not far away. Chapter 532 - Chapter 532: 532 Chapter 532: 532 ¡°Beneath that mountain lies a gold-dissipating den of the Divine Eagle Sect. More than eighty percent of the Divine Eagle Sect disciples, as well as visitors, indulge themselves there. If you can leave there safely, perhaps you can directly reach the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s main altar.¡± After uttering these words, Hu Sanlang suddenly regretted it. After all, he was a disciple of the Divine Eagle Sect; although he had not led Chen Yu up the mountain himself, pointing out the way was, to some extent, an act of betrayal. With a helpless sigh, he tossed a jade token to Chen Yu, then picked up his Wolf Fang Club and sat back down in his original spot. ¡°Today I¡¯ll pretend you¡¯ve never been here. Hurry up and leave. In ten minutes, I might end up regretting this.¡± Chen Yu did not say anything more and, along with Xiao Chun, directly crossed through the town. The hill was not actually far, but the path up the mountain was too steep. Chen Yu and Xiao Chun walked for nearly two hours before they found a narrow entrance. It was completely dark by now, and the light filtering out from the entrance could be clearly seen. Chen Yu stepped forward and gave the stone door several firm knocks. The door opened in response, and a middle-aged man came out looking quite indolent. ¡°Where are you from? Do you have a token?¡± Chen Yu promptly handed over the jade token given by Hu Sanlang. The man checked it and then opened both gates. ¡°Why did you bring a little girl with you? Are you planning to lose everything and then trade this girl for money?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, pulling Xiao Chun along and following the passage straight ahead. At this moment, the system had already enveloped the entire hill, and the interior conditions were imprinted in Chen Yu¡¯s mind. The entire hill had been hollowed out, including some underground facilities, turning this place into an underground fortress. ¡°Big brother, we escaped from here originally!¡± Xiao Chun¡¯s face showed some fear. It looked like she must have suffered some inhuman torment here; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have run away. Chen Yu surveyed his surroundings and quickly found an inn. He was already exhausted from all the trouble he had experienced throughout the day. Besides, overthrowing the Divine Eagle Sect was not something that could be achieved overnight; it wouldn¡¯t delay his sleep. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s rest a bit first, and have something to eat while we¡¯re at it.¡± Xiao Chun couldn¡¯t help but touch her little stomach¡ªshe realized she hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in a long time. The two of them passed through the bustling street and arrived at an inn, which seemed quite decent. The structure of the small establishment was simple: a dining hall on the first floor, with lodgings on the second and third. Chen Yu found an empty table and sat down, casually picking up a menu. Perhaps because it was in the southern borderlands, the ingredients here were somewhat peculiar, presenting a bizarre array of food from various creatures. More than half of the items on the menu were made from insects. Chen Yu handed the menu to Xiao Chun. ¡°Take a look, is there anything you like to eat?¡± Xiao Chun took the menu and immediately became excited. ¡°Big brother, can I order anything I want?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Of course, you can. I¡¯ll cover all the expenses here.¡± Without any hesitation, Xiao Chun called the waiter and asked him to serve one of each dish on the menu. Chen Yu also paused, ¡°Did you order everything on the menu for both of us?¡± Xiao Chun was a bit embarrassed and shook her head. ¡°Actually, I have never been full since I was born, and today I just want to have a good meal! This amount of food is really only half of my usual intake.¡± Chen Yu wasn¡¯t surprised at all. People born with supernatural abilities like hers always required several times the nutrition of an ordinary person, so it wasn¡¯t strange for her to eat more. With his current physical condition, even if he ordered everything on the menu in ten portions, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for him. ¡°Bring me fifteen portions of everything on the menu!¡± The server was stunned, his eyes wide open. He had already been surprised when Xiao Chun ordered one of each item, but now Chen Yu wanted fifteen portions of all the dishes. ¡°Sirs, I must say this upfront¡ªour establishment doesn¡¯t allow waste, and we certainly don¡¯t extend credit! If I bring out all the dishes and you don¡¯t finish them, or you can¡¯t pay after you have eaten, then you¡¯ll have to leave your lives here.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected a mere waiter to be so arrogant. Without much ado, he flung out a note worth one billion from his person. ¡°This should be enough, right? If it¡¯s not, I have more!¡± The waiter¡¯s shock intensified; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to casually produce such a high-denomination note. ¡°Sir, it was my mistake to underestimate you! However, what I said still stands¡ªyou must eat whatever you order.¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°Stop barking and just bring the food!¡± The waiter didn¡¯t say anything more and immediately informed the kitchen. At this time, almost everyone from the eastern underground castle was playing in the various factories, leaving few people dining here. The nearby servers simply pushed all the surrounding tables together. It didn¡¯t take long for the tables to be filled with a variety of food. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about the specifics, he rolled up his sleeves, tore off a roast lamb leg, and took a fierce bite. Xiao Chun, seeing so much food laid out before her for the first time, became excited and started devouring it like a little gourmand. The eating speed of the two astonished everyone present. The servers, who initially watched with an attitude ready to laugh, now had faces full of shock. Experience tales at Novgo Chen Yu, being an adult, devouring two whole roasted sheep was still within their reluctant acceptance, but Xiao Chun, a young girl, had incredibly polished off two large pots of bullfrogs. Passersby on the street outside, witnessing the scene, couldn¡¯t help but stop in their tracks and watch from the doorway. Before long, the narrow street was blocked by dozens of people. Chen Yu and Xiao Chun were like live-stream eating show hosts, performing a mukbang show for the crowd! By the time Chen Yu was on his seventh sheep, a corpulent middle-aged man hurriedly ran down from upstairs. He gestured to one of the waiters nearby. ¡°Where did these two come from? They can eat so much?¡± The waiter wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve never seen them before, they seem to come from out of town! Speaking of which, should we intervene? Even if they can¡¯t finish eating, we can¡¯t really take their lives. It wouldn¡¯t be good for our restaurant¡¯s reputation if they were to die here from overeating.¡± The boss crouched at the handrail of the stairs, sneakily observing Chen Yu and Xiao Chun. He saw that neither of them showed any signs of being full, and with so much food gone down, it was unclear where it all went¡ªthey didn¡¯t even have swollen bellies. Chapter 533 - Chapter 533: 533 Chapter 533: 533 The empty plates on the table were replaced batch after batch, with the two having devoured over half of the fifteen dishes, yet they still appeared to be unsatisfied. The onlookers who had been watching from the side had long been scared witless, wondering if these two were even human. The restaurant owner could no longer sit still and hurried over to Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, if you really can¡¯t eat anymore, just stop eating. What my waiter said earlier was just said in the heat of the moment! How about I give you a 50% discount on today¡¯s meal?¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°This might not even be enough for us. Take a look to see if the restaurant has any staple food that can fill us up. If there is any, bring it all over.¡± The owner was stunned: ¡°Sir, can you really eat it all?¡± Chen Yu chuckled lightly, ¡°Just bring it, we can eat it!¡± The owner hesitated for a moment, then instructed the wait staff beside him to bring out all the purple rice from the kitchen. The crowd gathered at the entrance was growing larger, and many people who were in a hurry to get to the marketplace stopped at the entrance, endlessly swallowing their saliva. They had never seen anyone who could eat like this before. Some time had passed before Chen Yu and Xiao Chun finally patted their bellies in satisfaction and stood up. Their table was extremely neat, with all the empty bowls and plates licked clean and stacked together. The owner was dumbfounded by everything he was seeing and was at a loss for words. In his life, he had never seen anyone like Chen Yu. ¡°Owner, arrange a room for us!¡± The owner didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly led the two up to the third floor. As soon as Xiao Chun entered the room, she hopped onto the bed, patting her little belly contentedly. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve eaten so much!¡± Chen Yu looked at Xiao Chun and suddenly had the thought of taking this young girl back to the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°Xiao Chun, do you want to eat like this every day?¡± Xiao Chun immediately sat up, ¡°Really?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Of course, as long as you come back to the Xuanqing Sect with me, I can guarantee you¡¯ll be full every meal.¡± Xiao Chun became excited at once. ¡°As long as I can fill my stomach, I don¡¯t care where I go. Besides, big brother is a good person, he definitely won¡¯t deceive me.¡± Chen Yu smiled and sat down opposite Xiao Chun. ¡°You¡¯ve made up your mind so easily? You can¡¯t scan my brain, you know!¡± Xiao Chun pouted, ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll first retract my ability so big brother can see what¡¯s in my head, then big brother also has to retract his ability and let me see what¡¯s in his head!¡± Chen Yu hesitated for a moment, this girl had an extremely strong magnetic field around her; if he really opened his mind to her, the system might be exposed. [Please rest assured, host. The system can alter the magnetic field, even if the other party has strong abilities, they can only see what the system wants them to see.] Chen Yu suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. Here was a young girl laying her thoughts bare without any reservations, and yet he still had to rely on the system to hide everything. While he was hesitating, Xiao Chun had already closed her eyes and withdrawn the magnetic field in her brain. Chen Yu shook his head, stopped overthinking it, and let the system cover it up. It wasn¡¯t long before all the girl¡¯s memories surged forth. The ability to see through others¡¯ thoughts allowed Xiao Chun¡¯s memories in her mind to grow geometrically, with a considerable portion coming from others, making the contents of her head appear complicated and intertwined. Even Chen Yu felt somewhat frustrated, but fortunately, the system could autonomously filter out Xiao Chun¡¯s own memories. The little girl¡¯s background was also pitiful; she was captured by the Divine Eagle Sect and taken to the mountain to work as a child laborer right after she was born. Fortunately, she was a natural supernatural being who could see through people¡¯s minds, so she didn¡¯t suffer too much while working there, except for being exploited too harshly. Moreover, inside this little girl¡¯s mind was detailed information on all the locations of this underground castle. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve seen enough; now it¡¯s my turn!¡± Chen Yu immediately removed the magnetic field around his body. Xiao Chun didn¡¯t hesitate and took a direct look. The system immediately altered part of the magnetic field, presenting the memories to erase from the system in front of Xiao Chun. ¡°Wow, big brother, you¡¯re so amazing, having participated in so many competitions and even being the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect; no wonder you dare to venture alone into the territory of the Divine Eagle Sect.¡± Chen Yu smiled and flipped over, lying down on the bed. ¡°Since you¡¯ve brought me inside the Divine Eagle Sect, naturally I should also help you take some revenge. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll go to the places you¡¯ve worked and challenge them one by one!¡± Xiao Chun was somewhat surprised, ¡°But big brother, those people are relatives of the inner elders of the Divine Eagle Sect. Provoking them would be the same as provoking the higher-ups of the Divine Eagle Sect; wouldn¡¯t your plan to destroy the Divine Eagle Sect be exposed too soon?¡± Chen Yu appeared nonchalant. ¡°The internal workings of the Divine Eagle Sect are already fragmented; causing a commotion here might even hasten their demise. Do you want me to charge directly into their headquarters and fight with the Sect Leader of the Divine Eagle Sect?¡± Xiao Chun didn¡¯t quite understand the intricacies, but what Chen Yu said seemed to make some sense. ¡°That¡¯s great; finally, I can properly teach those guys a lesson!¡± The next morning, the entire underground castle became unusually lively. Many people were discussing Chen Yu and Xiao Chun. Other than some of the higher-ups inside the Divine Eagle Sect, they had never seen anyone who could eat so much. Within an ice skating rink, a few young fellows sat together chattering endlessly. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes yesterday; those two really can eat, ordering a total of fifteen dishes and devouring them all.¡± Experience more content on Novgo ¡°I heard there are some natural-born supernatural beings within the Divine Eagle Sect; these people are different from ordinary folks and naturally eat a lot. Could those two also be such beings?¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never heard of such two people among the Divine Eagles; they must be outsiders.¡± ¡°What are such formidable people doing coming to the Divine Eagle Sect? They wouldn¡¯t be harboring ulterior motives, would they?¡± ¡°With so many elders competing against each other, perhaps they¡¯re foreign reinforcements invited from the outside.¡± ¡­ As they were in a heated discussion, the door was rudely kicked open, and Chen Yu stepped in with Xiao Chun walking in boldly. ¡°Is there someone here called Da Chun?¡± The domineering voice instantly intimidated everyone present. One of the men hastily stood up, subconsciously grabbing a steel pipe from the side. ¡°Who the fuck are you? Do you know whose turf this is? You dare to barge in here so early in the morning.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, pulled Xiao Chun forward, and took a few more steps. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again, who¡¯s Da Chun, come out right now!¡± Chapter 534 - Chapter 534 Backing Out on the Spot Chapter 534 Backing Out on the Spot The slightly troublesome sound instantly frightened everyone present. From the small cabin nearby, there suddenly came a clanking and clanging sound, followed by a somewhat sleazy middle-aged man stumbling out. ¡°Who¡¯s yelling over there? Want to die?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes immediately filled with indignation, he knew the guy before him was Da Chun. The system had already searched out all his information. Turns out this guy was even the great-nephew of the third elder of the Divine Eagle Sect. ¡°So you¡¯re Da Chun!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, and directly picked up a cue from the side, walking over to the billiard table. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you once forced my little sister to play a few rounds of billiards with you! Shameless, aren¡¯t you? Such a small child, let alone whether she can play billiards, with her skinny arms and legs, can she even handle a cue stick?¡± Da Chun looked Chen Yu up and down, then glanced at Tuan Tuan beside him. ¡°I thought it was who knows who, turns out it¡¯s you, the losing bet! I kindly called you over to work as a waiter, gave you a meal to eat, and not only did you run away, but today you even dare to bring people here to wreck the place.¡± Tuan Tuan couldn¡¯t contain her anger when she heard this. ¡°What do you mean you gave me a meal to eat? Clearly, you captured several of us kids begging on the streets, forced us to clean the floor for you! You also forced us to play billiards with you, and if we lost, we would get beaten by you¡­¡± Tuan Tuan got quite emotional; on the way here, Chen Yu had not seen her talk so much. Da Chun became furiously angry, picking up a cue beside him, ready to strike. Chen Yu immediately stepped forward and grabbed Da Chun¡¯s wrist. Right and wrong, he already saw through clearly through the mental information of both individuals. ¡°I came here today with no other intention, just to play a round with you. If I win, you have to chop off one of your own hands, but if you win, I¡¯ll let you do with me as you please!¡± Da Chun immediately became excited. ¡°Kid, that¡¯s what you said, no regrets!¡± Chen Yu chuckled softly, ¡°I¡¯m right here, if I regret it, you can have your brothers kill me.¡± Seeing Chen Yu speak with such decisiveness, Da Chun¡¯s face filled with even more excitement. Although he was the third elder¡¯s nephew, his status in the Divine Eagle Sect wasn¡¯t high, only managing to oversee places like this entertainment venue. However, he was extremely talented when it came to eating, drinking, and having fun; whether it was billiards or any other activity, he excelled to the point of being outstanding. The venue before him was something he had won purely by betting with others. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s decide the winner with one round!¡± Da Chun immediately had people set up a pool table and then started to chalk up his cue. Once the pool table was set up by the staff, Chen Yu wasted no time in picking up the cue and striking the white ball. The powerful impact instantly scattered all the balls, and what¡¯s more, they continued to sink into the pockets at extremely tricky angles. With just a single strike, he cleared all the balls from the table, a feat very few could achieve. Da Chun was full of disbelief; he knew that there was no point in continuing this match, he had already lost. Yet if this got out, his reputation at this underground castle¡¯s entrance would take a serious hit, and he might even lose this venue he held in his hands. ¡°Brother, you really do have some skill. How about this: stay and work for me, I¡¯ll give you twenty thousand a month. If there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll even introduce you to the Divine Eagle Sect to do some chores. Maybe some elder will take a liking to you and take you on as a Closed-door Disciple.¡± Chen Yu laughed twice, as he had long seen through Da Chun¡¯s intentions in his head. This guy simply wanted to renege on the deal and was planning to keep him here to find an opportunity to do him in. ¡°Da Chun, I know you¡¯re the big nephew of the third elder of the Divine Eagle Sect, but a loss is a loss. You have to pay a price. Just chop off one of your arms to compensate.¡± Da Chun became furiously embarrassed and snapped his pool cue in half. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t push your luck. I¡¯m already making the biggest concession by letting you stay. If you don¡¯t appreciate it, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be walking out that door today.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than several burly men, armed with all sorts of weapons, rushed out and surrounded Chen Yu and Tuan Tuan. Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of disdain, and instead, he crouched down and grabbed Tuan Tuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go on, tell me, what do these guys want to do?¡± Tuan Tuan closed his eyes, a mischievous smile on his face. ¡°Those three guys are planning to rush from the left and hit our heads, and the other two want to chop our legs with knives!¡± The burly men beside them suddenly widened their eyes; this was their trick, which never failed. First hit the head, then chop the legs. They couldn¡¯t believe Tuan Tuan knew their plan so well. ¡°What are you standing there for, attack! Wipe them out for me!¡± Enjoy new stories from Novgo Da Chun commanded furiously, and the few big men immediately charged forward. Chen Yu, however, stood up leisurely, raised his hand, and casually snapped his fingers. A strong current spread out instantly, and the group of men fell to the ground like dead pigs. Da Chun looked on in horror. Most of his workers were retired experts from the Divine Eagle Sect. Now, with just a snap of Chen Yu¡¯s fingers, all of them lay on the ground as though they were as powerless as clay figures. Chen Yu wore an extremely strange smile on his face, walked over to Da Chun, and lifted his hand to grip his shoulder. ¡°How you bullied my little sister back then, today I¡¯ll make sure you pay back in the same manner.¡± As the words fell, Chen Yu somehow found a hemp rope to tie up Da Chun¡¯s hands and feet, hanging him from the ceiling beam, while the others were tied to the columns beside. Da Chun had never been treated like this, squirming around in mid-air. ¡°Do you know this is Divine Eagle Sect territory? I advise you to let me down now, or I¡¯ll make it so you have no grave to be buried in.¡± Chen Yu sneered coldly, no longer paying attention, and walked out of the shop with Tuan Tuan, swinging arms wide. The recent screams had attracted many people to the door, where they peered inside, sidelong. When they saw Chen Yu and Tuan Tuan emerge, they were momentarily stunned. Two people who were usually close to Da Chun rushed anxiously into the shop. ¡°Oh my god, Boss Da Chun has been hung up, we need to notify the patrol team quickly!¡± Someone shouted out, causing an instant uproar at the scene, and half of the people immediately took off. Some even ran into the nearest shops to hide in corners, shivering. It seemed Da Chun indeed had some influence, or else people wouldn¡¯t be this afraid. Chapter 535 - Chapter 535 Antique Shop Chapter 535 Antique Shop ¡°Big brother, are you really not afraid?¡± Xiao Chun¡¯s eyes held a trace of anxiety. In this place, few people dared to strike against the scions of the Divine Eagle Sect, for that would only bring relentless retaliation. Yet Chen Yu was the picture of composure, ¡°You should know, my purpose for coming here is to destroy the Divine Eagle Sect. How could I possibly be afraid?¡± Xiao Chun giggled and said no more. So, one after the other, the two merrily made their way to a barbecue restaurant. The owner of this establishment had quite the background too. It was said he was a minor leader who came from the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s main temple and had opened this barbecue restaurant here, simply because he had no connections. However, he was a born supernatural, capable of controlling others¡¯ thoughts to a certain extent. Anyone who ate in his restaurant was basically attracted by the magnetic field emanating from his head. Even the staff working in the shop were there voluntarily because of his ability, without taking a single penny in wages. When Xiao Chun¡¯s supernatural abilities were not yet fully developed, she was controlled by the owner and brought into the shop, along with a few other children. However, she managed to rescue all those people. When the two appeared at the entrance, the owner was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the rebellious little girl! Now that you¡¯re back, just obediently work for me.¡± A strange, golden glimmer flickered in the owner¡¯s eyes, indicating he intended to control Xiao Chun once again. Just as he was about to release his magnetic field, Chen Yu suddenly extended a finger and touched his shoulder. A blue-white light radiated, enveloping the owner¡¯s body on the spot. The owner¡¯s pupils dilated abruptly, and his body went limp, collapsing to the ground. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer, but instead, stepping on the owner¡¯s shoulder, he entered the restaurant with Xiao Chun In the vast restaurant, all the customers and workers ate and toiled like the walking dead, a layer of golden sheen veiling their eyes. Chen Yu glanced around the place and then snapped his fingers. The crowd that had been bustling just moments ago suddenly snapped awake, shaking their heads. ¡°Damn it, how did I end up eating here?¡± ¡°Shit, why is there less money in my wallet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be here for business. Why am I working as a waiter?¡± ¡°What place is this? How did I get here?¡± ¡­ All the people, as they came to their senses, widened their eyes in shock, completely unaware of what had happened, nor why they were there. Chen Yu found an empty table and stood on it. ¡°Everyone, your minds have all been controlled by that guy. It¡¯s he who deceived you to work for him and to come to his restaurant to eat!¡± With this revelation, the place erupted into chaos. Several burly men immediately rushed over to the owner, hoisted him up, and started hitting him with their fists and feet. Xiao Chun clearly felt vindicated and stood aside, laughing out loud. Chen Yu watched the owner being beaten by the crowd at the entrance with a cold gaze and then sat down at a table, grabbing a lamb leg from it and biting into it fiercely. The barbecue here was unexpectedly good, likely due to some secret recipe, which Chen Yu found a bit elusive. Just then, a middle-aged man rushed in with dozens of patrol members, hurriedly securing the chaotic scene. He then walked straight up to Chen Yu. ¡°Who exactly are you? What¡¯s your purpose for coming here? Why are you creating one disruption after another in this place?¡± Chen Yu tossed the bone from his hand. ¡°Are you the highest-ranking person here?¡± The man was taken aback, ¡°To see the highest-ranking person here, you¡¯re not qualified yet.¡± Chen Yu laughed lightly and raised his finger to touch the man¡¯s shoulder. A strong current blasted the man¡¯s clothes into powder, causing him to faint. ¡°If you¡¯re not the highest-ranking person, you¡¯re not qualified to talk to me either!¡± Mockingly uttering that, Chen Yu then took Xiaochun¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll try the next place!¡± Your next chapter is on Novgo The patrolling guards standing at the door were all dumbfounded, as even their captain had been subdued by Chen Yu with a single move; they dared not make any rash actions, thus allowing Chen Yu and Xiaochun to leave. The places where Xiaochun had worked totaleled three, and without exception, the owners of these places had bullied the poor girl. The last one was an antique shop! Compared to the first two stores, this one seemed fairly normal. The owner was a benign-looking old man, but somewhat slow-witted, always fondling a blood-red Buddha¡¯s head. The one really in control of the shop was a woman in her thirties. ¡°Sister Hong, do you recognize me?¡± As she entered, Xiaochun greeted her very politely. Chen Yu unceremoniously sat down to the side, picked up the teacup from the table, and took a sip. Sister Hong was also startled when she saw Xiaochun. ¡°My goodness, you little girl, why have you come back? Didn¡¯t the patrol team say you¡¯d escaped?¡± Xiaochun ignored her and walked straight to the old man, bowing respectfully. ¡°Everything here is the same as before, yet it seems like your power, Sister Hong, has grown. You can now decide on the sale of all the items in the shop!¡± Sister Hong was slightly stunned and then angrily grabbed Xiaochun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You little wretch, what exactly do you want by coming back? Trying to undermine me?¡± A look of hatred appeared in Xiaochun¡¯s eyes. ¡°I thought that after I left, you wouldn¡¯t poison Grandfather anymore. But it turns out, you¡¯ve doubled the dose.¡± Sister Hong turned pale with shock, trying to cover Xiaochun¡¯s mouth, but Chen Yu grabbed her arm. ¡°Sister, if I¡¯m not mistaken, this old man is your biological father. How can you be so cruel to your own dad?¡± Sister Hong immediately became annoyed. ¡°Who are you to meddle in our family¡¯s affairs? I think you¡¯re tired of living.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, golden lightning suddenly appeared on Sister Hong, and Chen Yu realized she was wearing an electromagnetic device on her shoulder. It could release electric currents by altering her own magnetic field, similar to an electric baton, but in a different form. This level of electric current couldn¡¯t harm Chen Yu at all; he slightly exerted force in his hand, flinging Sister Hong out and turning her clothes into shreds, leaving only a shred of fabric for modesty. Xiaochun approached the old man, gently patting his shoulder. ¡°The poison in Grandfather Gu is too deep. I¡¯m afraid he might never wake up again!¡± Chen Yu smiled faintly, stepped forward, and grabbed the old man¡¯s pulse. Chapter 536 - Chapter 536 Mr. Gu Chapter 536 Mr. Gu The old man¡¯s condition was so dire that his body was not only riddled with a massive amount of toxins, but many of his vital functions also suffered irreversible damage. From a conventional medical perspective, the old man couldn¡¯t live past a month. But in Chen Yu¡¯s view, the old man¡¯s body was merely damaged by the medication he had taken; the hematopoietic stem cells and other regenerative tissues were still present¡ªdetoxifying the accumulated toxins could possibly give him a glimmer of hope for recovery. ¡°No worries, I can cure the old gentleman!¡± Big Sister Hong sprang up from the ground and, throwing caution to the wind, ripped off the last piece of her modesty, and rushed to grab Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with you? Why the hell are you butting into other people¡¯s family affairs? The old man¡¯s already lived over a hundred years, can¡¯t you just let him die in peace?¡± Chen Yu was annoyed and flung Big Sister Hong away. By now, a large crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the door, including the patrol personnel from the barbecue restaurant who had arrived at the entrance. Having witnessed Chen Yu¡¯s prowess before, they all stood there, not daring to step forward. Moreover, Big Sister Hong¡¯s figure was renowned in the nearby streets; her alluring charm had left countless men salivating. Now that her clothes had been burst apart by Chen Yu, those men were too busy feasting their eyes to step forward and intervene. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about the commotion; he pulled out several silver needles and pierced them into Mr. Gu¡¯s neck. He then placed a finger on the old man¡¯s forehead and slowly released an electric current, unblocking the meridians inside his body. Before long, the old man began to cough violently and coughed up a large amount of black liquid. The thick, fishy stench spread, and the people standing at the doorway immediately covered their noses and mouths. Big Sister Hong¡¯s eyes were wide with shock; if Mr. Gu regained consciousness, she would be doomed! ¡°What have you done to my dad?¡± Shouting abruptly, Big Sister Hong charged forward again but was repelled by the electric current emanating from Chen Yu¡¯s body, slamming into the entranceway. By the time she regained consciousness, Mr. Gu had regained his, and his old body had turned younger. ¡°Little Chun! When did you come back?¡± The old man excitedly grabbed Little Chun¡¯s hand, then stuffed the Buddha¡¯s head into it. ¡°Child, this was the gift I promised to give you, but you ran off before I could! Grandpa was wrong; here, take it now.¡± Little Chun was not surprised at all; she could clearly see the old man¡¯s brain information. Even when he was unconscious earlier, he kept muttering about Little Chun in his mind. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve never coveted these things. I only wanted to take good care of you and repay your kindness for saving my life. Yet, I couldn¡¯t even manage this small task, failing to prevent someone from poisoning your food.¡± Mr. Gu was very appeased, and with a few chuckles, he ruffled Little Chun¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not your fault!¡± Big Sister Hong was completely stunned by the scene before her. The poison she had used was the strongest in the world, impossible for ordinary people to neutralize. Yet, with just a few manipulations, Chen Yu had revived a man who was close to death. Mr. Gu trembled slightly as he stood up and walked over to Sister Hong. ¡°You child, really, although you are not my biological daughter, I have raised you as my own since you were young! Moreover, this store was going to be given to you anyway, why are you in such a hurry?¡± Sister Hong clenched her teeth, her eyes full of resentment. ¡°Enough, I¡¯m just a dog you raised at home, you scold me when you are angry and feed me when you¡¯re pleased. Do you really think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind? You just want to raise me and then dominate me as your bride.¡± The old man sighed helplessly; he had never had such thoughts. It was only because Sister Hong was fiery by nature, and sometimes he had no choice but to scold her. He never expected Sister Hong to harbor such thoughts. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t force you. Take whatever you like from this store, but you can only take away ten items!¡± Sister Hong¡¯s eyes immediately widened. The antiques here were different from those found elsewhere; every item was authentic. Just displaying one would be of immense value. Mr. Gu generously allowed her to take ten items, which truly showed his magnanimity. Sister Hong was momentarily at a loss. It was then she suddenly realized she was not wearing any clothes and that the group of lechers outside were staring straight at her body. ¡°What are you looking at, get out, all of you!¡± Sister Hong quickly grabbed a coat to drape over herself. Just as she was about to continue her berating, a somewhat handsome young man appeared at the door. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect would be here causing trouble! Are all Taoists like you?¡± Chen Yu turned his head, and at the same time, the system was released. The man¡¯s brain information flashed instantly into his mind. Li Bo¡¯an, the son of the fifth elder of the Divine Eagle Sect, was also the chief security officer of this underground fortress. Explore stories on Novgo This man was also a supernatural being, with a very strange magnetic field around his body that could change the temperature in his vicinity. By wearing items like lighters or carrying water, he could produce fire and ice out of thin air. To ordinary people, this ability was no different from superpowers, hence he was often regarded as a deity within this underground fortress. ¡°Knowing my identity, it seems your status here is not ordinary!¡± Chen Yu looked at Li Bo¡¯an with interest, then pulled up a chair and sat down. Li Bo¡¯an also sat opposite Chen Yu, taking out a jade token. ¡°This is the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s Token. If Sect Leader Chen is interested, you can enjoy yourself here, but I hope you will not cause trouble. Otherwise, we won¡¯t care whether you are the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect or not!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t beat around the bush, taking the Token directly. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, all the expenses I incur here will be charged to your account, right?¡± Li Bo¡¯an¡¯s pupils dilated slightly. He had not expected Chen Yu to make such an exorbitant demand. The level of consumption at this place was high enough to rank globally. Although he had a certain degree of complimentary privileges here, the allowance was not very large and could in no way sustain Chen Yu¡¯s unrestrained spending. But to ensure that Chen Yu would not cause trouble, he had no choice but to agree through gritted teeth. ¡°However, let me be clear upfront. I hope Sect Leader Chen can behave himself. If you alarm the elders at the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s main hall, they won¡¯t be as polite as I am! They might just throw you off a cliff to feed the dogs!¡± Chapter 537 - Chapter 537 The Second Elder Chapter 537 The Second Elder Chen Yu, however, was full of indifference. ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point, I came here to meet the elders of the Divine Eagle Sect. If they don¡¯t show up, I might just turn this place upside down.¡± Li Bo¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his face full of murderous intent, and the temperature around him dropped suddenly as a large chunk of ice appeared in his hand. ¡°Refuse the toast only to drink the forfeit, since it¡¯s like that, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± Chen Yu suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into loud laughter. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re impolite to me? You just hid some water on your body and then changed the temperature of the water with your own magnetic field, do you really think this is some kind of natural superpower?¡± Li Bo¡¯an¡¯s eyes widened, aware that his so-called abilities were merely for show, intimidating at best. If it really came down to a fight, the outcome was uncertain. Before he could react, Chen Yu reached out, grabbed the ice in his hand, crushed it into powder, and then threw a punch that sent him flying out. All the onlookers¡¯ eyes widened as they speculated about Chen Yu¡¯s true identity. ¡°Who is this kid? He doesn¡¯t even take someone like Li Bo¡¯an seriously.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear Li Bo¡¯an call him Sect Leader? He must be a big shot from some organization out there.¡± ¡°This man clearly came here to cause trouble. Don¡¯t the people up at the main temple have any reaction?¡± ¡­ Li Bo¡¯an staggered to his feet and spat out a mouthful of blood. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so formidable, and moreover, to attack him, the person in charge, so openly was undoubtedly challenging the Divine Eagle Sect. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, must you do this?¡± Chen Yu played with the jade token in his hand and a strange smile crept over his lips. ¡°It¡¯s not that I must do this, but rather you¡¯ve gone too far! Wasn¡¯t I just treating the shop owner¡¯s illness? You, leading a group of people, came over for no reason and attacked me¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Li Bo¡¯an¡¯s eyes went wide as he realized that seemed to be the case. However, as soon as this thought surfaced in his mind, he suppressed it. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, stop making trouble out of nothing, or else¡­¡± Chen Yu¡¯s body flickered like lightning in front of Li Bo¡¯an, grasping his shoulder firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some time to report the situation here to those old fellows at the main temple of the Divine Eagle Sect. They are the only ones qualified to negotiate with me.¡± Li Bo¡¯an¡¯s body trembled violently, his eyes filled with extreme fear. He had not expected Chen Yu to be so fast. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you wouldn¡¯t have come here on purpose to pick a fight and instigate conflict between the Xuanqing Sect and the Divine Eagle Sect, would you?¡± A mischievous smirk played across Chen Yu¡¯s lips, ¡°Since you¡¯ve guessed it, you¡¯d better hurry back and report. If you¡¯re too late, I might just completely destroy this place.¡± Li Bo¡¯an didn¡¯t dare linger any longer. He hastily retreated a few steps and then, along with the patrol team, beat a hasty retreat. Everyone present was stunned! In their eyes, Li Bo¡¯an was like a deity, yet now he had been frightened into fleeing by Chen Yu. For a moment, no one dared to utter another word, even Sister Hong who had been shouting in the antique shop now sat quietly like a quail. Chen Yu returned to the shop with a smile, picked up pen and paper, and wrote down a prescription. ¡°Old sir, take the medicine listed here once a day, and after ten days, all the toxins in your body will be cleared. In the future, be more careful with what you eat.¡± Red Sister stood in the middle of the hall, her breathing extremely rapid. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s gaze suddenly turned icy. ¡°You¡¯re not qualified to know who I am, but if I find out you¡¯ve poisoned Mr. Gu again, I will come for your life.¡± Red Sister dared not say another word, only nodding repeatedly there. Chen Yu gave a few more instructions and then left the place with Xiao Chun. ¡°Big Brother, we¡¯ve already caused an uproar in the city; we two are being watched!¡± Chen Yu stopped and looked back. Several sneaky men hurriedly found a place to hide. ¡°If they like to follow, let them follow; it won¡¯t disrupt our eating, drinking, and having fun!¡± Chen Yu swayed a bit, and he entered a decent restaurant with the jade token and Xiao Chun. After an unknown amount of time, an old man dressed in black Taoist robes rushed into the restaurant, led hurriedly by Li Bo¡¯an. Upon seeing Chen Yu, his face was full of surprise. The Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect was here in person, and he had only one purpose: to carry out the mission to destroy their Divine Eagle Sect. Over the years, countless Taoist practitioners had come to carry out this mission, including Sect Leaders. But those people couldn¡¯t even make it into the surrounding town, and even if they did, they¡¯d fall in this underground fortress. Even if by some fluke they made it to the Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s headquarters, they would only find a dead end! Considering that, it had been many years since any Taoist sect had sent people, let alone someone as high-ranking as a Sect Leader from the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, I am the second elder of the Divine Eagle Sect, Tuoba Qingfeng! May I ask if the purpose of your visit is the same as those before you?¡± Chen Yu did not avoid the topic, ¡°Since Elder Tuoba is so straightforward, I won¡¯t beat around the bush. Indeed, I am here to carry out the mission to destroy the Divine Eagle Sect.¡± Tuoba Qingfeng was slightly stunned, and then instructed Li Bo¡¯an to clear everyone from the restaurant. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you must have heard about the strife within our Divine Eagle Sect. Now is a tumultuous time for us. Isn¡¯t your carrying out this mission now somewhat opportunistic?¡± Chen Yu picked up his cup of wine and gulped it down. ¡°Your internal strife is none of my business! Are you suggesting that I should show some noble spirit and wait for you to resolve your internal issues before I come?¡± Tuoba Qingfeng let out a helpless sigh, his face then filled with a bit more ferocity. ¡°Indeed, now is the best moment to annihilate my Divine Eagle Sect! But don¡¯t forget, you are just one person! Just by myself, I can kill you.¡± Stay tuned for updates on Novgo Chen Yu laughed with a ¡¯hehe¡¯ sound. Tuoba Qingfeng¡¯s thoughts had long been copied by him. He even knew the route to the headquarters. ¡°Elder Tuoba, you think too highly of yourself!¡± As soon as the words fell, Chen Yu placed a finger on the table; blue-white lightning instantly released, directly spreading to Tuoba Qingfeng. The powerful burst of electrical energy made Tuoba Qingfeng¡¯s body tremble violently. It must be said, this guy¡¯s physical condition was indeed strong. Most people would have fainted from such a current, but he was able to withstand it, even maintain consciousness. On his body, there were only some signs of scorching. Chapter 538 - Chapter 538: Lightning Mechanism Chapter 538: Lightning Mechanism ¡°Sect Leader Chen,¡± sneered Tuoba Qingshan, ¡°no wonder you dared to intrude upon our Divine Eagle Sect¡¯s territory alone. After all this commotion, turns out you¡¯re a supernatural being! But do you really think that with those powers you can act unbridled here?¡± Clenching his teeth, Tuoba Qingfeng¡¯s hand now held a fire-red bead from which a crackling sound continuously emitted. It seemed that the lightning Chen Yu had released a moment ago had been absorbed by this bead. ¡°Elder Tuoba, you don¡¯t really think a mere bead can keep me trapped here, do you?¡± The atmosphere between the two grew tense instantly, and their eyes were filled with murderous intent. Just as they were about to clash, a figure suddenly rushed in from the entrance. ¡°Second Elder, our leader commands a meeting with Sect Leader Chen!¡± Tuoba Qingfeng frowned involuntarily. For years, conflicts between the Xuanqing Sect and the Divine Eagle Sect had been relentless, escalating to a life-and-death situation. Every so often, the Divine Eagle Sect would send a group to stir trouble within the Xuanqing Sect. In response, the Xuanqing Sect would dispatch people, aiming to annihilate the Divine Eagle Sect. Now, the leader of the Divine Eagle Sect actually wanted to meet with the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, an unprecedented event. ¡°Are you certain of these orders?¡± Tuoba Qingfeng, full of disbelief, grabbed the messenger¡¯s shoulder and shook him. The young messenger, startled, quickly pulled out a blood-red token from his person. ¡°This is a direct command from the Holy Master. I would never dare to relay false information.¡± Chen Yu, too, was taken aback, but the command played right into his hands. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯m eager to see what manner of existence the Holy Master of the Divine Eagle Sect truly is.¡± Unable to say much, Tuoba Qingfeng could only lead Chen Yu out of the shop personally. Within the Divine Eagle Sect, there were in total three such underground fortresses, each surrounding the main altar from three different directions, nestled between extremely narrow mountain ravines. This layout appeared very secretive; it was impossible to pinpoint the main altar¡¯s location, whether from the sky or any other angle. Following Tuoba Qingfeng, Chen Yu took a mountain cable car and quickly arrived at a plaza on the mountaintop. Several elders in black Daoist robes sat in a neat circle at the center of the plaza. The elder in the middle looked emaciated, his body so thin and withered that he hardly looked human, with his skin so crinkled and terrifying to behold. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he immediately released his system to scan the brains of these people, but unexpectedly, an extremely strong magnetic field forcibly blocked the system. ¡°Such youth! Who would have imagined Xuanqing Sect would be able to elect such an exemplary Sect Leader. Give you a few decades, and I fear the Divine Eagle Sect would cease to exist,¡± said the elder in the middle as he slowly stood up, his voice ominous as though emerging from the depths of hell. When he opened his eyes, a deep blue light suddenly spread out, even causing Chen Yu to unconsciously feel dazzled for a moment. ¡°You must be the leader of the Divine Eagle Sect, Tuoba Qingshan, the senior,¡± said Chen Yu. The old man nodded, taking out a sapphire blue bead. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside to talk,¡± he said. The elder made a welcoming gesture, then threw the bead onto the ground. A brilliant azure light instantly covered the entire plaza. Chen Yu only felt a very strong magnetic field spreading out, swiftly penetrating his body, as if attempting to scan all his information. Fortunately, the system had already set up a layer of protection around him in advance. Tuoba Qingshan was clearly stunned for a moment, but he quickly concealed the surprise on his face and led Chen Yu into the great hall. ¡°Speaking of which, the Divine Eagle Sect was once a member of the Taoist community as well! It¡¯s just that due to different ideologies, we eventually parted ways, in reality, there¡¯s no need for our two sides to have escalated to this point.¡± As Tuoba Qingshan spoke, his tone seemed laden with profound meaning, resembling a sage. However, Chen Yu could clearly detect murderous intent in his tone! ¡°I also think it¡¯s unnecessary, so why doesn¡¯t the elder simply declare that from now on the Divine Eagle Sect will be completely integrated into the Taoist community? Then there really would be no enmity between us! I could even ask the elder for some pointers on the ways to extend one¡¯s life span.¡± Tuoba Qingshan¡¯s body visibly trembled for a moment, forcing out a smile with great effort. ¡°This is the most sacred place of the Divine Eagle Sect. As long as one sits in that position, one can undergo a baptism and truly comprehend the Tao.¡± Chen Yu glanced subconsciously at the high platform in the middle of the great hall. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary meditation spot, but hidden within was a massive Lightning Attraction System. This place was already located atop a high mountain, surrounded by clouds everywhere; thunder and lightning were common occurrences. Installing a Lightning Attraction System here, in conjunction with the nearby devices, could attract and gather thunder and lightning, forming an extremely powerful force. Anyone who sat there would be affected by the thunder and lightning. If the intensity was low, it might even strengthen the body, but if the strength was turned to the maximum, one could be instantly reduced to ashes by the electric strike. Tuoba Qingshan¡¯s eyes rolled a few times before he took Chen Yu by the arm and brought him to the high platform. ¡°You are the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, you should know how important comprehending the Tao is to a Taoist! Today I will give you a chance. As long as you comprehend the Tao here, you will surely become the helmsman of the entire Taoist community upon your return.¡± Chen Yu almost wanted to laugh; this cunning old fox merely wanted to trick him onto the platform and then kill him with the power of lightning. Just as he was thinking of a reason to rebut, suddenly the system¡¯s prompt sounded in his mind. [The device here is extremely sophisticated and can help the system upgrade again while also enhancing the host¡¯s physical capabilities] Your next read is at Novgo Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, as the device before him seemed more like an execution ground. According to his analysis, the electricity that could be brought down in one go would be enough to blast him to pieces within two minutes. However, since the system had made its judgment, there was no need for him to hesitate. ¡°The elder is too kind. My mission here was to annihilate the Divine Eagle Sect, and not only do you not blame me, but you¡¯re also so generous to let me use such a treasure! I don¡¯t know how to thank you, elder.¡± Excitement appeared in Tuoba Qingfeng¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve already said, we originally came from the same school, there¡¯s no need for formalities. Go on up quickly, and I¡¯ll start the device for you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and directly sat on the high platform. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t go up there, they¡¯re deceiving you!¡± Little Pure hurriedly approached, trying to pull Chen Yu down. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Little Pure, wait for me outside obediently, big brother will be fine!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little girl, it will be fine!¡± Tuoba Qingshan grabbed Little Pure¡¯s shoulder, gestured to two guys outside the door, and had them take Little Pure away. Then, he fumbled on the wall beside him for a while, quickly activating the mechanism. Chapter 539 - Chapter 539: The Daoist Orders Chapter 539: The Daoist Orders Little Pure was extremely anxious, struggling with all her might. Although this place was filled with magnetic fields, making it impossible for her to see through others¡¯ hearts, she could discern the looks in their eyes. She could tell at a glance that Tuoba Qingshan harbored ill intent and wanted to consign Chen Yu to death. Just as the young girl was exerting all her strength to rush into the grand hall, a sudden thunderclap sounded in the sky, followed by a torrential downpour of lightning that converged within the hall through its intricate mechanism, gathering upon Chen Yu¡¯s body. [Detection of ionized power] [System integration in progress] [Absorption complete] [Next round of ionized power reception in preparation] With the system¡¯s notification sounds ringing out one after another, Chen Yu felt an incredibly surging power coursing through his body. Not only were his blood vessels and meridians affected, but even his bones had become several times stronger than before. Round after round of thunder and lightning worked upon him, imparting endless strength. However, most of this power was now converging upon the system. When Ling Ling had previously taken form, it was merely a virtual electronic image, but now it was nearing physical reality. If the thunder and lightning power here was strong enough, Ling Ling would undoubtedly use it to coalesce into a physical entity. The high platform at this moment had been enveloped in a thick haze of smoke and dust, and the situation with Chen Yu was completely obscured. But with such immense power at play, it would be unlikely for anyone to come out unscathed. Tuoba Qingshan began to cackle wildly outside the grand hall. ¡°I thought the people from the Daoist sect had chosen a strong character, but who would have expected them to put a naive youngster in charge, and he just obediently took the seat!¡± Tuoba Qingfeng also came over, ¡°Your Excellency, after killing this guy, can we then announce the opening of the Divine Eagle Sect and declare war on the Daoist sect?¡± Tuoba Qingshan nodded, ¡°Of course, after so many years, our wishes can finally be fulfilled!¡± ¡°Your Excellency!¡± a subordinate, clearly annoyed, grabbed hold of Little Pure, ¡°What about this little girl? Should we get rid of her right here and now?¡± Tuoba Qingshan was somewhat impatient. ¡°Is such a trivial matter even worth reporting? Throw her down the mountain!¡± No sooner had this order been given than the high platform in the center of the great hall suddenly exploded, and along with half of the hall, it turned to ruins. Tuoba Qingshan was ecstatic, thinking to himself that Chen Yu was certainly dead beyond doubt. Just as he was about to go up and check, a swath of the ruins suddenly exploded, and Chen Yu leapt out from within. Before he could react, Chen Yu moved like lightning to Little Pure¡¯s side and rescued her. ¡°The old master really didn¡¯t lie to me! The feeling of the Thunder & Lightning Tempering is just exhilarating, I¡¯ve already got a sense of enlightenment!¡± Everyone from the Divine Eagle Sect stared at Chen Yu with a gaze full of terror. They all knew that the high platform was a trap designed to kill Chen Yu. But now, not only was he not dead, but he also seemed to have become far more formidable than before he took his seat. Little Pure also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly grabbed onto Chen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Big brother, don¡¯t let them deceive you! They just admitted that they were plotting to kill you.¡± Chen Yu rolled his eyes on purpose. ¡°You little girl, what do you know? This is the benevolence of these seniors! Besides, if they sent me for the Thunder & Lightning Tempering, wouldn¡¯t they want to go themselves?¡± Chen Yu went straight to Tuoba Qingshan. ¡°The sensation just now was incredibly exhilarating. If you could take a few hits there, I guarantee that all your old injuries would heal instantly, and you might even become fifty years younger!¡± Tuoba Qingshan was somewhat dazed; he had no idea what method Chen Yu had used to survive such a thunderstrike. But he knew that if it were him, the only outcome would have been to be reduced to dust and bones. ¡°Sect Leader Chen is extremely insightful and naturally can attain enlightenment that way. I, a old man on the verge of death, simply cannot do it. Let¡¯s forget about it!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that much; he suddenly exerted force and pushed Tuoba Qingshan directly into the middle of the ruins. Although this place was destroyed by the thunder, the mechanism was still active. Before Tuoba Qingshan could react, Chen Yu promptly triggered the mechanism. Powerful thunder fell from the sky and instantly enveloped Tuoba Qingshan. The elders of the Divine Eagle Sect were stunned. Everything had happened too quickly; they hadn¡¯t had time to react. By the time they went forward to rescue, Tuoba Qingshan had already turned into a handful of dust, settling among the ruins. Tuoba Qingfeng turned his head furiously. ¡°Chen, you really don¡¯t appreciate favors. Our Sect Leader kindly helped you find the path of enlightenment, and you killed him.¡± Chen Yu put on an innocent face. ¡°You can¡¯t blame me; I went in there too, and came out just fine, didn¡¯t I? Why did it not work for your Sect Leader? Could it be that you intended to put me to death from the start?¡± The elders stood there looking at each other, unsure of what to do. At that moment, a remarkably strong current was released from Chen Yu¡¯s body, knocking these fellows unconscious. Only then did Ling Ling understand, ¡°Big brother, did you plan all of this from the beginning?¡± Chen Yu rubbed Ling Ling¡¯s head, ¡°You could say that!¡± The two of them didn¡¯t linger there too long and made their way back to the underground castle along the path they arrived. With Tuoba Qingshan dead, and the other elders of the Divine Eagle Sect all knocked out on the mountain, all that was needed was to send a message to the people of the Taoist sect, asking them to send someone to take over the Divine Eagle Sect. When the Sect Leader of Sacred Mountain arrived there, Chen Yu and Ling Ling were sitting in a shop, enjoying their barbecue in comfort. ¡°Young brother!¡± The Sect Leader rushed up excitedly, grabbing Chen Yu¡¯s arm and shaking it non-stop. ¡°For centuries, I never imagined that the Divine Eagle Sect would fall at your hands! From now on, you are the helmsman of the Taoist¡­¡± Before he could finish, Chen Yu immediately stood up. ¡°Sect Leader, I truly have no interest in that position, and besides, it wasn¡¯t me who annihilated the Divine Eagle Sect. That Tuoba Qingshan just accidentally got struck to death by lightning during his practice! It¡¯s better to find someone more senior, a Heavenly Master, to take on this helmsman role.¡± Continue reading on Novgo After making a few perfunctory excuses, Chen Yu pulled Ling Ling and prepared to leave. Just as they stepped out, a few Taoists blocked their way. ¡°No one has ever dared to be so insolent in front of the real Sect Leader. Chen Yu, you¡¯d better kneel down and kowtow to apologize, or else we¡¯ll immediately execute the Taoist law on you!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, as blue-white electric light flashed all around his body, and an unprecedented power pressed out. ¡°Step aside, or don¡¯t blame me for not honoring the fellowship of our sect!¡± The several Taoists were immediately intimidated and involuntarily retreated. Chapter 540 - Chapter 540 Bring Friends Along Chapter 540 Bring Friends Along The leader of the sect sighed helplessly. He understood that Chen Yu simply had no desire to be the helmsman of the Daoist sect. Moreover, today marked the great day of the annihilation of the Divine Eagle Sect, and he didn¡¯t want to make things too rigid. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s put aside the matter of the helmsman for now! We should first consider taking over the assets of the Divine Eagle Sect.¡± This statement gave everyone a way to step down, and they retreated one after another. Chen Yu also turned around and, with great respect, performed a Daoist etiquette, then left with Xiao Chun. After descending the mountain, the two arrived in the small town on the outskirts. Although all the children had been sent away before, there were still some friends of Xiao Chun in the town. She wanted to take them all with her before leaving. Although the small town was not large, the residents were rich merchants with business dealings with the Divine Eagle Sect. Many of the basic constructions were funded and built by these merchants. Thus, the small town appeared quite prosperous, and there was even an Antiquity Street. Rushed and panicked, Xiao Chun led Chen Yu to a somewhat dilapidated slum area. In the large shanty, there was only an elderly man leaning against a wooden stump, constantly coughing. ¡°Grandpa Huang!¡± Xiao Chun hurriedly ran over. The old man struggled to lift his head, his dry eyes covered with a layer of white crystalline mist, seemingly a sign of cataracts. ¡°Xiao Chun!¡± exclaimed the old man, somewhat surprised, ¡°You escaped?¡± Xiao Chun nodded, ¡°Why are you alone here? Where is Xiao Xue? And where did the others go?¡± The old man sighed helplessly. ¡°We, in such a place, cannot survive; many people have left!¡± ¡°Xiao Xue went to the Antiquity Street to get us some food, saying she was going to sell the family heirloom heaven bead!¡± Xiao Chun immediately became anxious and hurriedly ran towards the street not far away. Chen Yu quickly followed her! Upon arriving at Antiquity Street, they saw a large crowd of people gathered around a small stall, bustling with noise. ¡°Looks like this young lady is in trouble today! The smashed items won¡¯t cost less than one or two hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Such a young age with such a temper, if something is wrong, she wrecks the seller¡¯s merchandise. Why on earth did she have to flip over the stall?¡± ¡°This peddler is not a good man either; he might indeed have cheated the young girl.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu and Xiao Chun hurriedly ran over and squeezed into the crowd. A girl looking around ten years old was half-lying on the ground, her face full of grievance, her fair arms covered with wounds, likely from being cut by the broken porcelain. Continue your adventure with Novgo The stall owner, an extremely sleazy middle-aged man, was grabbing the girl¡¯s collar, refusing to let go. ¡°Little sister, I won¡¯t hold the other damaged items against you, but this jade is my family treasure. If you don¡¯t give me an explanation, we can¡¯t settle this matter today!¡± Chen Yu glanced at the so-called family treasure in the middle-aged man¡¯s hand and his face immediately filled with a trace of mockery. It was nothing more than a piece of inferior jade made of synthetic zirconium dioxide. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s enough, no need to be so petty with a child!¡± Chen Yu lightly pulled the stall owner¡¯s hand away and smoothly handed Xiao Xue over to Xiao Chun¡¯s side. The vendor was displeased and casually pulled out a large ring-eyed saber from nearby. ¡°You little punk, want to play the hero, don¡¯t you? Well then, that Jade Pendant plus everything on my stall comes to seventy-eight million. Pay up!¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Buddy, not a single item on your stall is genuine. Altogether they¡¯re not even worth five hundred¡­¡± ¡°Do you have no respect for the rules!¡± the vendor immediately interrupted Chen Yu, ¡°What do you mean not a single real thing? My stall was personally certified by Tang Wuye, how could there be fakes?¡± As soon as the name Tang Wuye was mentioned, the crowd around them fell silent in an instant. Chen Yu immediately deployed his system and in the blink of an eye, Tang Wuye¡¯s personal information appeared in his mind. Turns out this guy had some background, once a hall master of the Divine Eagle Sect. After offending Tuoba Qingfeng, however, he had been relegated here. But this fellow had some real ability; before long he had become a big shot in the city, even holding the entire antique street in his grip! Yet Chen Yu¡¯s face showed nothing but disdain. He had already wiped out the Divine Eagle Sect, and for a former hall master of theirs, how could he be significant? ¡°I see this Mr. Tang is nothing special either! To pass off a pile of junk as treasures, let him come out here. I want to ask him myself how he did the certification.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s looking for me?¡± A leisurely voice came from not too far away. A chubby uncle with a shaved head, wearing simple white Hanfu and holding a pair of white jade health balls, came over, surrounded by several bodyguards. This man looked somewhat endearing, and even Chen Yu couldn¡¯t muster any animosity towards him. From the analysis of his brain information, Tang Wuye wasn¡¯t an utterly evil person. Moreover, the genuine items certified by him on this street were actually few and far between, so naturally, a small stall set up on the street couldn¡¯t have possibly received his certification. Twirling his health balls, Tang Wuye approached the vendor with a somber face. ¡°I don¡¯t seem to recall certifying your stall!¡± The vendor was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, his soul nearly flying out of his body. ¡°Wuye, spare my life, I was just trying to scrape a living, so I borrowed your name. You are a big man, please don¡¯t remember the faults of a little man, just spare me this once!¡± Tang Wuye had no intention of dealing with this guy, instead, he took a keen interest in approaching Chen Yu. ¡°Little brother, it seems like you look down on me! On this street, I am the best antique appraiser, every treasure that appears here has to pass through my hands¡­¡± Chen Yu became impatient; the Divine Eagle Sect had already been taken over by the Dao Sect, and he didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer, let alone discuss treasure appraisal with the bald fat man before him. ¡°Mr. Tang, I have some matters to attend to, I must take my leave now.¡± He said politely, as Chen Yu prepared to leave, carrying Xiao Xue on his back. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Tang Wuye was persistent, ¡°You¡¯re pretty bold, kid, thinking you can just come and go as you please?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed, initially he had thought the bald fat man was a reasonable person, but it turned out he was just another pest. ¡°So, what do you want?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s voice suddenly became low and stern, and a blue-white glow of electric current appeared between the palms of his hands. Tang Wuye was about to speak when several figures dressed in black Daoist robes came running over. ¡°Old Wu, what are you still doing here? Notify everyone immediately, from today onward, this small town belongs to the Dao Sect!¡± Tang Wuye¡¯s face was full of shock, this place was an outer barrier of the Divine Eagle Sect, how could it be handed over to the Dao Sect? Before he could react, those in the black Daoist robes suddenly knelt before Chen Yu. Chapter 541 - Chapter 541 Trick into the Door Chapter 541 Trick into the Door ¡°Sect Leader Chen!¡± Most of the people in black Taoist robes were high-ranking members of the Divine Eagle Sect, and they seldom appeared in such peripheral towns, let alone kneel to someone so casually. All eyes were dull with shock, and the vendor from before looked as if his father had just died. Uncle Tang¡¯s breathing also became rapid, staring at Chen Yu with a strange gaze. ¡°Enough, go back to your business!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand impatiently, and those black-robed figures hurriedly stood up, then they called over the town¡¯s patrol team to spread the news. ¡°Sect Leader Chen!¡± Uncle Tang approached Chen Yu, ¡°Are you a Daoist practitioner?¡± After all, having mixed in the secular world for so long, he was somewhat intelligent and quickly guessed something. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer and, with a cold glance at Uncle Tang and the nearby vendors, he left the small town quickly with Xiao Xue and Xiao Chun on his back. The town at the foot of Tianhu Mountain had developed over this period into a city of no small scale. All the external branches of the Xuanqing Sect had set up offices here. As the city grew, the population surged quickly, attracting many unscrupulous people. On the noisy streets, two people dressed as Daoist priests set up a stall, banging drums and gongs, creating quite a spectacle. ¡°Come take a look, come see, authentic Daoist magic! We can predict fortunes, determine good and bad luck, bring children and blessings, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t do!¡± With their nonsensical shouting, they quickly gathered a large crowd of onlookers, and Jin Lingsu was among them. ¡°I say, this isn¡¯t some sort of scam, is it?¡± Jin Lingsu wore a face full of suspicion. Having traveled far and wide over the years, she had seen plenty of odd things, including those with supernatural abilities on a daily basis. One of the tall and thin Daoist priests stood up and clasped a piece of yellow paper in his hand. ¡°Beautiful lady, we are genuine cultivators, how could we possibly deceive people? I will now perform for you a Five Elements Technique!¡± The tall and thin Daoist priest shook the yellow paper in mid-air and began muttering under his breath. Before long, flames suddenly burst from the piece of paper. The gathered crowd¡¯s eyes widened in amazement; they had never seen such a miraculous thing. Jin Lingsu was startled too and quickly stepped aside, trying to find the trick behind it. However, after observing for a while, she found nothing. The Daoist priest beside him coughed twice and then stood up. ¡°To perform the Five Elements Technique, we must communicate with the heavens, which may reduce our lifespan! We kindly ask for some money as compensation for our efforts.¡± The onlooking crowd immediately became excited and began tossing money over to them. Jin Lingsu was still somewhat skeptical, but she felt an urge to throw some money as well. ¡°You don¡¯t actually believe this stuff, do you?¡± This sudden voice startled Jin Lingsu, and turning to look, she realized it was Chen Yu. ¡°Oh, when did you come back?¡± ¡°Just arrived!¡± she replied instinctively, and Chen Yu stepped forward to grab the tall Thin Daoist by the wrist. ¡°Did you really think no one would notice you hiding sulphur in your sleeve?¡± The tall and thin Daoist¡¯s pupils dilated, and he stepped back hastily. ¡°What do you mean? We are true disciples of the Daoist path, how could we engage in such filthy acts?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly, grabbed the skinny Daoist¡¯s sleeve, and yanked it fiercely, scattering a great amount of sulfur in an instant. The crowd gathered at the scene suddenly exploded into an uproar; they had never dreamed that someone would dare to impersonate a Daoist and scam others right in front of the Xuanqing Sect¡¯s gates. The two scammers, infuriated and embarrassed, immediately pulled out weapons from their baggage. ¡°You little brat, we brothers have no past grudges with you, nor recent quarrels. Why do you block our way of making a living?¡± Chen Yu was somewhat baffled; after all, this was his territory, and he had not yet held these two guys accountable for scamming here, yet they were now casting blame on him first. Discover more stories at Novgo ¡°Get lost before I get angry, or face the consequences!¡± The two fake Daoists¡¯ eyes widened; in their view, Chen Yu was deliberately making trouble for them. ¡°Dammit, if I don¡¯t teach you a lesson today, you won¡¯t realize how many eyes the Horse King has!¡± The fatter one shouted loudly and raised his broadsword to chop down. Chen Yu merely raised his finger lightly and gave a gentle flick. A flash of blue and white light burst out with extreme violence, accompanied by lightning, sending the fat Daoist flying away. The skinny Daoist¡¯s eyes went wide with astonishment, and he froze on the spot. ¡°Help, help!¡± Jin Lingsu called out to the nearby patrolling team: ¡°Someone here is showing disrespect to the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, quickly arrest them.¡± The onlookers at the scene were taken aback for a moment, and they began to scrutinize Chen Yu more closely. ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s really the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Someone shouted out, and the place immediately erupted into excitement, with a few civilians even kneeling on the ground. Chen Yu did not wish to make such a spectacle, and, pulling Jin Lingsu with him, he quickly left without looking back until they reached halfway up the mountain. ¡°Hey, where did these two little girls come from?¡± It was only then that Jin Lingsu noticed the two young girls who had been following behind Chen Yu. ¡°They were rescued from the Divine Eagle Sect!¡± Chen Yu pushed Xiao Chun and Xiao Xue towards Jin Lingsu: ¡°I have some matters to attend to on the mountain, please look after them for a while.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Chen Yu hurriedly headed up the mountain. In front of the Sanqing Hall, an old Daoist with an imposing demeanor paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. ¡°Where is your Sect Leader? Why has he not returned? Is he perhaps afraid?¡± The surrounding elders of the Xuanqing Sect stared at the old Daoist with looks of disdain. This fellow was the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Bright Sect, Ouyang Shan! After the Sacred Mountain Conference had ended, he had been clamoring to have a bout with Chen Yu. Even when Chen Yu was at the Divine Eagle Sect, Ouyang Shan had incessantly sent messages, challenging him. Ouyang Shan stood atop the great hall, hurling insults continuously, almost cursing all the elders of the Xuanqing Sect. But ever since Chen Yu became the Sect Leader, these elders had become unusually Zen-like. They let Ouyang Shan prattle on without uttering a word in response; one Heavenly Master even handed a cup of tea to Ouyang Shan. Time passed indeterminably before Chen Yu finally walked slowly onto the square. ¡°Sect Leader Ouyang, you are really annoying! If you really want to measure up against me, why didn¡¯t you oppose me when we were accepting tasks at Sacred Mountain? What¡¯s the meaning of coming here and causing a ruckus?¡± Chen Yu was clearly impatient, simply wanting to send this man away as quickly as possible. ¡°Chen, no matter what, I just don¡¯t accept you!¡± Shouting loudly, Ouyang Shan charged forward, brandishing his long sword. Chapter 542 - Chapter 542 Minor Dialects Chapter 542 Minor Dialects Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of gloom. Why were these people, who were already Sect Leaders of various Daoist factions, still so competitive? He didn¡¯t want to get entangled any further and immediately gathered a large cluster of electric light in his hands and released it. Unexpectedly, when Ouyang Shan¡¯s sword came into contact with the electric light, it emitted a strange glow and directly absorbed the electricity. Chen Yu then realized that the sword seemed to be made of some sort of magnet. ¡°Haha! Chen Yu, I¡¯ve long mastered your abilities¡ªyou just rely on your supernatural power to release lightning. My sword is specially crafted to counteract your electricity.¡± Ouyang Shan was wildly arrogant, and he drew another short sword from his body. The two weapons were made of the same material, seemingly crafted especially to deal with Chen Yu. Chen Yu immediately retreated a few steps to dodge Ouyang Shan¡¯s long sword and then, with a flicker, appeared at Ouyang Shan¡¯s side, raising his hand to chop fiercely at his neck. The powerful blow knocked Ouyang Shan out cold! The many elders present from Xuanqing Sect seemed to have anticipated this outcome, simply intoned ¡°Immeasurable Heaven¡¯s Honor,¡± and had people carry Ouyang Shan away. Chen Yu sighed helplessly and walked to the center of the Hall of the Three Pure Ones. ¡°I announce that from now on, Xuanqing Sect will enter a state of mountain seal; apart from our own sect members, no one is allowed to enter or leave at will.¡± Not a single person opposed his command, and they immediately went down to prepare. It wasn¡¯t that Chen Yu was afraid of challenges; it¡¯s just that such endless challenges would be unbearable for anyone. After making some arrangements, Chen Yu went to the mountainside. This place was the boundary between the inner and outer gates of Xuanqing Sect. He planned to set up a checkpoint here to conduct strict inspections. From now on, even people from the outer gate would not be allowed to ascend the mountain without cause. ¡°I heard the mountain is going to be sealed. Does that mean even I won¡¯t be able to go up there in the future?¡± Jin Lingsu suddenly appeared behind Chen Yu, her face expressing a touch of wistfulness. Chen Yu patted his head; there were many people like Jin Lingsu within Xuanqing Sect. They were not from Xuanqing Sect but had close relationships with it. Surely they couldn¡¯t just keep all these people outside the mountain gate. ¡°There¡¯s always an exception to the rule. In a few days, I¡¯ll have some Tokens made, and I¡¯ll give you one then!¡± Jin Lingsu chuckled lightly, not making a big deal out of it, and casually took out an invitation letter from her clothes. ¡°Aren¡¯t those Daoists quite annoying? If you want to avoid them, you can go here to have some fun.¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned when he saw the invitation. The location indicated on it was at the heart of the Sahara Desert, a place known as the Corner of Death. Anyone who entered rarely came out alive. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re inviting me to relax?¡± Jin Lingsu nodded: ¡°There¡¯s a sand cave there. I visited it five years ago; it¡¯s truly a unique den of iniquity in this world. I guarantee you¡¯ll linger and forget to return.¡± Chen Yu pocketed the invitation. Right now, he indeed needed to find a quiet place to rest and recover for a while. A place deep in the desert like this seemed like a good choice. ¡°Oh, right. Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan are still at Sacred Mountain. I need to send them back to the imperial capital!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Jin Lingsu patted Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sacred Mountain has sent several experts to personally escort your wife and child back, and they¡¯ve also promised to protect Tong Group¡¯s business.¡± Chen Yu was surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected Sacred Mountain to go to such lengths. Jin Lingsu then took out another invitation. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get going quickly, or else someone else will come up looking to duel with you!¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly and hurried with Jin Lingsu to the airport. The Sahara Desert is not only the largest desert in the world but also home to the most death zones. The quicksand and bizarre magnetic fields that infest the area have snatched away countless lives, and the very mention of it changes many a face. Yet every year, numerous expeditions travel from afar to tackle these extreme conditions. However, a significant number of these people come for the legend of treasures said to be hidden within the desert. Outside the Giza Airport at a car rental, Chen Yu and Jin Lingsu were picking out a vehicle. To cross the desert, they needed a specially modified vehicle. But within dozens of miles, this was the only rental that could provide such modified vehicles. ¡°I¡¯ve told you two already, the price I¡¯m offering is definitely the most reasonable, and our vehicles have a very good reputation!¡± The owner rattled on about his cars in the local dialect. Jin Lingsu stood there dumbfounded, not knowing how to bargain with the other party. Catching the language barrier, the owner simply wrote down the price on a blackboard, and told them there would be no bargaining. ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you being a bit unreasonable? Are you taking advantage of us because we¡¯re from out of town?¡± Chen Yu suddenly spoke the local dialect fluently, startling the owner, and even Jin Lingsu couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes. This dialect was known as one of the most difficult languages in the world, and few could master it; a foreigner like Chen Yu who spoke it so authentically was unheard of. ¡°Sir, you didn¡¯t grow up around here, did you?¡± The owner grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hand as if he had encountered a fellow townsman, shaking it vigorously. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the car,¡± Chen Yu withdrew his hand and walked over to a very imposing desert off-road vehicle. ¡°This vehicle, don¡¯t talk to me about a deposit or rental fee, I¡¯ll buy it outright. Give me a reasonable price.¡± The owner hesitated. The car in front of him was the best-modified vehicle in his shop; he had intended to keep it there to fleece a few unsuspecting foreigners for a hefty sum. But he had not expected Chen Yu to speak their language, and so fluently at that. The locals had an inexplicable faith in their language; anyone who could speak it was treated like family. ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t ask for much, give me four million and it¡¯s yours!¡± Without much ado, Chen Yu pulled out a bank draft and handed it over. The owner quickly pushed the keys to Chen Yu. ¡°Friend, you must come back to my place after you leave the desert. I¡¯ll treat you to a drink.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries with them, Chen Yu drove off in the vehicle. All the way, Jin Lingsu stared at Chen Yu with a look of surprise. ¡°I never would have thought that you could even speak such a niche language!¡± Chen Yu shifted the steering wheel, ¡°I just have an interest in languages and such.¡± As they were talking, a modified truck suddenly burst out from the side of the road, followed by several cars, blocking the narrow road completely tight. Chapter 543 - Chapter 543: The Sand Hole Chapter 543: The Sand Hole Chen Yu abruptly brought the car to a screeching halt and simultaneously unleashed the system. In front of them were dozens of people, but the majority were ordinary and not worth worrying about. However, there was one young man in his twenties whose body continuously emitted a strong magnetic field, allowing him to easily manipulate steel. After getting a clear understanding of the opponent¡¯s situation, Chen Yu immediately jumped out of the car and walked over without any fear. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± A man in his fifties stepped out of the car opposite, holding a very ancient-looking curved knife in his hand. ¡°Not much, just want to borrow some money from you! If you¡¯re sensible, leave your car and all the valuables on you; otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± Chen Yu ignored the guy completely and walked straight up to the young man. ¡°You¡¯re Tadole, right?¡± The young man suddenly looked up and involuntarily stepped back a few paces. He was a born supernatural, with an innate ability to sense danger, and he could feel how terrifying Chen Yu was. ¡°How do you know?¡± Chen Yu laughed lightly. ¡°I not only know your name but also know that you¡¯re actually the leader of this group! That old guy there, shouting and yelling, is nothing.¡± A smile unaccountably spread across Tadole¡¯s face. The middle-aged man beside him immediately took offense and drew his curved knife, charging forward. But as he approached, a golden spike suddenly pierced through his shoulder, nailing him harshly to the ground. Jin Lingsu had also gotten out of the car at this point, waving a golden spike with a vigilant expression on her face. The people around her were infuriated and drew their weapons. Just as they were about to make a move, Chen Yu suddenly snapped his fingers, and a blue-white light spread out instantly, sending a powerful current that electrocuted the thugs to the ground. Tadole¡¯s breathing became rapid as his eyes filled with alertness. ¡°Who the heck are you?¡± ¡°Someone like you!¡± Chen Yu stretched lazily. ¡°Someone like you shouldn¡¯t be mingling with these thugs. Come with me, I¡¯ll give you a better future.¡± Tadole glanced at the people lying on the ground, his eyes filling with disgust. He had been an orphan since childhood, and although these people had raised him, they only cared about his ability to manipulate metal. If he were to lose that power one day, then these thugs would not hesitate to take him out. ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± Tadole was very cautious; after all, he had grown up in such an environment and had always been wary. Chen Yu took a few steps back. ¡°Simply because I¡¯m stronger than you!¡± The competitive spirit in Tadole¡¯s heart was immediately aroused. He raised both hands, and all the metallic objects around him began to float in midair, under his control, and then they smashed down toward Chen Yu. Jin Lingsu had never seen such a scene before and was instantly panic-stricken. She rushed forward to try to pull Chen Yu out of there. But Chen Yu remained nonchalant, casually lifting his palm and gently clenching it. Massive thunder and lightning suddenly released, shattering the metal into pieces. Tadole¡¯s eyes were full of shock, having never seen someone as powerful as Chen Yu before. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and directly led Tadole to the car. Jin Lingsu still held the golden spike in her hand, maintaining a defensive posture. Supernatural beings who could manipulate metal like this were truly terrifying, for they could potentially take control of their vehicle and lead them astray at any moment. Fortunately, no mishaps had occurred along the way, and Chen Yu, with his incredible physical endurance, had driven nonstop for a day and a night, finally arriving at the ruins of an ancient city. According to the location marked on the invitation, the Sandy Hollow was right here. As soon as they arrived, Chen Yu released the system, completely covering the ancient city. Sure enough, there was a vast underground space beneath the ground. Just as Chen Yu was about to get out of the car, two brawny men charged out from the ruins nearby. ¡°Where did you come from? Do you have an invitation?¡± The physical strength of these two individuals was extremely formidable, their muscles appearing as hard as rock. Furthermore, these two guys emitted peculiar magnetic fields from time to time, indicating that they were probably natural-born supernatural beings. Having such individuals guard the gate was enough to show how powerful the owner of Sandy Hollow was. Without saying much, Chen Yu handed over his and Jin Lingsu¡¯s invitations. After examining them for a while, the two men returned the invitations. ¡°And this person, why doesn¡¯t he have an invitation?¡± Jin Lingsu quickly got out of the car, took out two gold bars from her person, and stuffed one into each of the burly men¡¯s hands. ¡°This one is our younger brother, just here to have some fun. Unfortunately, we only have two invitations. Please, make an exception! Don¡¯t worry, we have plenty of money.¡± After a brief exchange and without any further conversation, they simply registered them and then guided them to drive the vehicle into a massive earthen wall. This wall, to the eye, seemed like the remnant of an ancient city wall. But only upon getting closer did one realize that it was in fact a mechanized gate. Behind the door lay a huge underground garage. After parking the car, the three followed the signs next to them and made their way down. Upon reaching the spot, Chen Yu frowned. There stood a giant at the entrance, an extremely tall figure with muscles solid all over. Next to this fellow, there was a large sign that said to pass, one either had to defeat him or pay a toll of a hundred taels of Gold. This place was indeed a true gold-dissolving den. Having already spent two gold bars for entry, now they were faced with a toll of three hundred taels of Gold. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say more, unfastening a pouch from around his waist and tossing it over. This was a collection of gold beans he¡¯d casually taken from the Divine Eagle Sect, amounting to exactly five hundred taels. ¡°Big guy, according to the rules here, is there a hidden surprise if one pays extra Gold?¡± The brawny man was taken aback for a moment. Rarely did anyone pay extra when entering, so this hidden surprise had never been triggered. It seemed that Chen Yu was visiting for the first time and could not have known about this hidden surprise. Without further inquiry, the brawny man pulled out three tags from his person and passed them over. ¡°With these, you can get a twenty percent discount on certain expenses inside! However, there are some fixed costs that cannot be discounted, so don¡¯t be too pushy.¡± Chen Yu took the tags, thanked the man, and then led Jin Lingsu and Tadole in with a swagger. Chapter 544 - Chapter 544: Exploiting Loopholes Chapter 544: Exploiting Loopholes Three people carrying signboards quickly arrived at an inn. Chen Yu had been driving for a full day and night, and even with his excellent physical condition, he was a bit tired. Just as the three of them were about to enter the inn, a particularly sleazy-looking man suddenly appeared and blocked their path. ¡°This must be your first time here! You may not know the local rules, but if you want to stay at the inn, you have to play a game with me. Win, and you can go in; lose, and you must satisfy any condition I propose.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help frowning, this guy was clearly a street hustler. Having gambled away all his money to others, he came here to look for some new faces, trying to extort them. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to stoop to the man¡¯s level, and raised his hand to push him away. But as soon as he raised his hand, the man fell to the ground and began howling in pain. ¡°What a disaster, someone¡¯s beating me up! I kindly wanted to show them around, and they hit me instead, outrageous, is there no one to intervene?¡± This shout immediately attracted the surrounding crowd, and security personnel on the street also hurried over. The person in charge, without asking for details, walked straight up to Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, according to our regulations, you must take responsibility for this and compensate him one hundred taels of gold,¡± said the chief. Before Chen Yu could speak, Jin Lingsu couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Do you all have eyes? It¡¯s obvious this guy is lying on the ground trying to scam us, why should we pay him?¡± Chen Yu raised his hand to stop Jin Lingsu. ¡°Since it¡¯s the local rule, then I have nothing to say. However, I don¡¯t have much gold on me, would it be okay to exchange something else of equal value?¡± The person in charge didn¡¯t say much and just nodded. Chen Yu took out a small jade bead from his person, tossed it to the man, and then entered the shop with Jin Lingsu and Tadole. After the man received the jade bead, he was ecstatic. The value of the bead was worth much more than one hundred taels of gold, and if sold at an antique shop, it could possibly fetch six hundred taels of gold. The person in charge looked at the man with disgust. ¡°Li Dongsheng, you¡¯ve already exploited our loopholes to swindle money several times. I¡¯m warning you now, if there¡¯s a next time, don¡¯t blame us for not being polite.¡± Li Dongsheng laughed heartily, completely unconcerned. ¡°I¡¯ve thoroughly studied the rules of Sandhole. As long as I have a penny on me, you can¡¯t just kick me out! Besides, I haven¡¯t violated any of your rules, so why shouldn¡¯t I be impolite?¡± The brazen attitude even made the onlookers gossip amongst themselves, but Li Dongsheng didn¡¯t care at all, swinging the jade bead in his hand as he walked towards the antique street. As soon as Chen Yu sat down in the shop, Jin Lingsu slammed the table fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re so foolish, that guy was clearly scamming us, so why did you give him money? And you gave him such a fine jade bead!¡± Chen Yu sighed helplessly, having just scanned the person in charge¡¯s brain information, he understood all the rules of Sandhole. Although Li Dongsheng¡¯s behavior was indeed shameless, according to the local rules, if a conflict occurs and one party falls, the one who remains standing has to pay. Initially, these rules were designed to protect the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, but it was unexpected that someone like Li Dongsheng would exploit them to the fullest. If Chen Yu hadn¡¯t paid, they would have been kicked out for breaking the rules. ¡°Sis Jin, Brother Chen probably understood the rules here, that¡¯s why he paid!¡± No sooner had Taleduo spoken to mediate, Jin Lingsu exploded. ¡°What kind of crappy rule is that? If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have come.¡± The shop owner hurriedly placed two roasted pigs on the table. ¡°This honored guest must not criticize the rules of the Sand Hole; otherwise, even our small shop could be implicated.¡± Jin Lingsu let out a long sigh and said nothing more, but sliced off a pork leg with vigor. Chen Yu loosened his muscles a bit. ¡°Eat well and rest up. I¡¯ll go settle the score with that Li Dongsheng afterwards.¡± Although Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was filled with indignation, she didn¡¯t say more and went upstairs after finishing her meal. The Sand Hole and the East Ming Canyon had somewhat similar structures, but to some extent, the Sand Hole was much more sophisticated. Its size was at least eight times larger than that of East Ming Canyon, and it could truly be called an underground city. The population it could accommodate reached several hundred thousand! Most importantly, there were extremely strict rules here. No matter who it was, violating the rules meant being expelled. After Chen Yu had had enough sleep, he yawned as he walked downstairs, only to find Jin Lingsu and Taleduo had already been waiting at the door for a while. ¡°I¡¯ve had my meal and my sleep, let¡¯s hurry up and find that Li Dongsheng, or else I won¡¯t be able to swallow this anger!¡± Chen Yu laughed helplessly, walked straight out the door, and spread his system¡¯s coverage, quickly locating Li Dongsheng. In a fairly luxurious workshop, Li Dongsheng was sitting next to a table, incessantly shaking a box of dice. ¡°I¡¯m really lucky today, I¡¯ve already won ten rounds straight. It won¡¯t be long before I win back everything I lost.¡± As he shouted out loud, Li Dongsheng placed the dice on the table. When he opened it to look, there were three sixes! The crowd watching immediately became unsettled, unheard of someone winning eleven rounds in a row here. Li Dongsheng appeared a bit too excited, and grabbed a handful of chips from the table and threw them out. ¡°I¡¯m finally turning the tables!¡± No sooner had he shouted this out than Chen Yu suddenly walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Li, we meet again! It seems we really are fated. How about we play a game?¡± Li Dongsheng was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to find him so quickly. However, he appeared very calm. After all, cheating and deceiving were not new to him, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of the victims showing up. ¡°Sure, but my luck is strong right now. If you really want to play with me, you¡¯d better be ready to go broke.¡± Chen Yu looked indifferent, casually shook the dice box in his hand. Li Dongsheng was not the least bit intimidated, his lips curved in a strange smile as he stared intently at Chen Yu. Just as the two were about to reveal the results, the boss of the place hurried over. ¡°Gentlemen, according to our rules here, if someone wins ten rounds in a row, we have to change the tools on the table. I hope you two can understand.¡± Li Dongsheng was immediately anxious; he was on a winning streak, and changing the tools would break his lucky streak, wouldn¡¯t it? ¡°I disagree! Are you just trying to mess with me because you see me winning too much?¡± Chapter 545 - Chapter 545: Cheating Chapter 545: Cheating Chen Yu toyed with the dice in his hand, leaning back in the chair and watching silently; to him, it didn¡¯t matter whether they switched tools or not. In the end, he could see the results clearly, and if needed, he could even change the numbers. Li Dongsheng was different, being an ordinary person, if he wanted to win money, he had to rely either on pure luck or on cheating. During the game he had just played, he had already replaced half of the equipment on the table. If I wanted to continue winning money, I couldn¡¯t let the staff change the equipment at will. While the two sides were arguing, the security personnel in the venue had already moved closer slowly, looking like they intended to forcibly search the tools on the table. Chen Yu suddenly raised his hand, ¡°Since this gentleman is so lucky, let¡¯s not dismantle them. Let¡¯s continue playing with these tools. Otherwise, people might say I¡¯ve colluded with your casino in advance!¡± The staff members by the side immediately frowned, one of the servers leaned in close to Chen Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°Sir, you might not know this, but anyone who wins more than ten rounds in a row here is suspicious. We must check the equipment; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to you.¡± Chen Yu chuckled, ¡°Coming here to play, absolute fairness, how else can I showcase my luck?¡± The server didn¡¯t know what to do and glanced at the person in charge nearby. Seeing Chen Yu¡¯s firm stance, nobody said anything more. Instead, they moved the other players to another table. Now the large green table was left with just Chen Yu and Li Dongsheng. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that much, picked up the dice cup, and started shaking it. ¡°Let¡¯s continue playing by the rules we were using. Whoever rolls the higher number wins, how about that?¡± Li Dongsheng¡¯s face showed extreme sleaziness as he excitedly picked up the dice cup. ¡°Fine by me, I don¡¯t want to change the rules at random either. Let¡¯s do this.¡± All the dice on the table had been tampered with by him, and he could roll whatever number he wanted, but when other people rolled these dice, because they didn¡¯t do it properly, they would only get the opposite numbers. When the two put their cups on the table, the crowd nearby surged closer. ¡°Mr. Li has already won eleven rounds. His luck is incredible; I believe he will win this one too.¡± ¡°Right, compared to him, that other gentleman is too young. He is far behind Mr. Li in experience.¡± ¡°No one in this casino has won ten rounds in a row. If Mr. Li can win twelve, I¡¯ll acknowledge him as my master.¡± Read exclusive chapters at Novgo ¡­ The atmosphere on site boiled up instantly, with everyone discussing the outcome, but nobody was optimistic about Chen Yu; they all believed that Li Dongsheng was the only possible winner. Under everyone¡¯s expectant gazes, the two opened their cups. ¡°Mr. Chen scores eighteen, Mr. Li scores twelve. Mr. Chen wins!¡± As the server announced the result, everyone¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Damn, the luck really turned around!¡± Who knows who yelled out, but everyone crowded around Chen Yu, wanting to see if he really scored eighteen points. Li Dongsheng looked at the result before him, his eyes full of shock. Most of the tools on this table had been replaced by him, and according to his technique just now, he should have rolled three sixes. How did it become three fours? While he was feeling frustrated, Chen Yu slapped the cup down on the table again. ¡°Mr. Li, shall we continue?¡± Li Dongsheng eventually came to his senses, quickly consoled himself a few times, and then shook the cup again. In the following rounds, Chen Yu maintained an easy and carefree demeanor, and every time, he rolled higher numbers than Li Dongsheng. Li Dongsheng had just lost nearly all the money he¡¯d won to Chen Yu! ¡°This is impossible, you must be cheating!¡± Li Dongsheng suddenly yelled out, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the room. However, there was a hint of contempt in everyone¡¯s eyes. When Li Dongsheng won eleven rounds in a row just now, no one accused him of cheating. Now, with Chen Yu only having won seven times, his slander seemed utterly shameless. Moreover, from the beginning, Chen Yu had called over several staff members to stand on either side of him. He had also asked two of the casino¡¯s cameramen to specifically stand behind him to film. If Chen Yu had been cheating, the staff would have noticed much earlier. The person in charge of the venue stood nearby with arms crossed. ¡°Mr. Li, do you think our staff have been negligent?¡± Li Dongsheng¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. All the props on the table had been switched by him. If they were to be inspected, he couldn¡¯t escape responsibility. And with so many staff members around Chen Yu, there was simply no opportunity to cheat. ¡°Mr. Li, do you wish to continue the game?¡± Chen Yu picked up the box and shook it a few times, his eyes filled with provocation. Li Dongsheng swallowed, not daring to play any longer. He only had two gold bars left of the money he¡¯d won earlier. If he lost even these, he truly didn¡¯t know how he would survive the following days. The Sand Cave was in itself a gold-digging pit, and two gold bars would probably only be enough for one meal. ¡°Mr. Chen, I concede defeat. Let¡¯s end it here for today and play another day!¡± A sly smile suddenly appeared at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s not postpone it to another day. Yesterday, when you fell to the ground, I had to pay a sum of money! At that time, I truly had something urgent and didn¡¯t want to stoop to your level, but today, I should at least get back the money I paid for no reason, right?¡± Li Dongsheng gritted his teeth, at a loss for what to do. Most of the onlookers held Li Dongsheng in contempt. This guy had swindled countless people in the Sand Cave, if not thousands, then hundreds at least, usually targeting newcomers. Many people wanted to take their revenge on him, but due to the rules of the Sand Cave, they couldn¡¯t lay their hands on him and could only swallow their anger. Seeing him at a disadvantage against Chen Yu today brought a sense of inexplicable excitement to them. The manager of the venue was smiling, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two men. ¡°Gentlemen, shall we leave it at that for today? We can continue tomorrow?¡± Chen Yu, however, seemed unrelenting. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mr. Li still have two gold bars and his clothes? I will wager these for this round. If I lose, I¡¯ll give him three million just the same!¡± Li Dongsheng immediately perked up, the prospect of winning three million with just two gold bars and a set of old clothes seemed like an extremely good deal. ¡°Fine! I hope Mr. Chen won¡¯t regret it!¡± Chen Yu said nothing more, grabbing the box and starting to shake it. Li Dongsheng hugged his box, kissing it several times and muttering all sorts of nonsensical things before he too began to shake it. As both men¡¯s boxes hit the ground, everyone present tensed up. Chapter 546 - Chapter 546 Core Tower Chapter 546 Core Tower Chen Yu stared at Li Dongsheng with a bizarre look in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Li, if you¡¯re regretting it now, there¡¯s still time, otherwise being stripped by force later will be regretted beyond reach.¡± Li Dongsheng gritted his teeth, he had already been warned by the local patrol team that if indeed he didn¡¯t have a penny on him, he would likely be driven out of the Sand Caves. He didn¡¯t want to leave a place that was like heaven to him. No matter what, he had to take a gamble! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t regret it, but I hope Mr. Chen has the three million ready.¡± Chen Yu chuckled and directly opened the box, the three dice were still showing three sixes! Li Dongsheng took a deep breath and also opened his box, but his expression immediately stiffened; inside were only three fours. Since he and Chen Yu started playing, it had been eight rounds, and every time his dice showed three fours. If it had been once or twice, he could have accepted it, but now it had been eight times, that definitely meant there was foul play. ¡°This kid must be cheating, it¡¯s statistically impossible for him to roll three sixes every time!¡± Chen Yu slowly stood up. ¡°From the moment I came in, none of the tools on the table have been changed. If someone¡¯s cheating, it¡¯s you! Dare you check the surveillance records? If you slow it down, you should be able to see the evidence of you switching the dice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Li Dongsheng jumped up: ¡°There were so many staff members around me just now, how could I have had the chance to switch the dice!¡± Chen Yu gestured to the staff members nearby. ¡°Mr. Li has lost, you can take his clothes. I guarantee there¡¯ll be a surprise in them that you didn¡¯t expect.¡± The manager had already run out of patience with Li Dongsheng, immediately instructing the staff to rush forward, pin him against the table, and forcefully strip off his clothes. With a rustling sound, a large number of dice tumbled to the ground. All the dice bore the unique mark of this establishment, obviously their specialized items. The manager immediately realized something, picked up the tools on the table, and then called for a hoe. He struck hard at those dice several times. When they cracked open, lead water flowed out from inside. ¡°Well, well, daring to play these little tricks here, seems like you¡¯re tired of living. Take him and hand him over to the patrol team for disposal.¡± Li Dongsheng was terrified out of his wits, being thrown out for exploiting loopholes in the rules of the place to scam some cash was one thing. But cheating, that could get you beaten to death! Li Dongsheng fell to his knees in front of the manager, repeatedly kowtowing. ¡°I know I was wrong, please, don¡¯t hand me over to the patrol team, I¡¯ll do anything!¡± The manager snorted coldly and kicked Li Dongsheng away. ¡°I¡¯ve been tired of you for a long time, to think you¡¯d want me to keep you here, dream on!¡± It wasn¡¯t long before the patrol team rushed in and took Li Dongsheng away. Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief, feeling refreshed, and called the manager over, pushing half of his winnings towards him. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand the rules here, but the dice we used for our games were fakes, so I¡¯m only taking half of this money!¡± The manager was momentarily stunned; Chen Yu had helped him get rid of Li Dongsheng, he was too grateful to even think about taking money. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already left with Jin Lingsu and Tadole. ¡°This really is a fascinating place!¡± Chen Yu stood in a square, stretching contentedly. Just then, a somewhat odd-looking middle-aged man suddenly approached and grabbed Tadole¡¯s shoulder as soon as he arrived. ¡°A natural-born supernatural! I thought people with powers like yours had all been sent to the Core Tower in Sand Hole. You must be new here, right?¡± A look of wariness immediately appeared on Tadole¡¯s face, and he hastily stepped back a few paces. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Yu also turned around, and his system instantly activated, but he hadn¡¯t expected that this fellow was surrounded by an exceptionally thick magnetic field, making it momentarily impossible to scan the man¡¯s brain information. The man¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as he sized up Tadole. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be wandering around here. Follow me to my Core Tower immediately. There, you will gain wealth and power like never before.¡± Tadole¡¯s palm flexed slightly, and all the metallic objects nearby emitted a loud buzzing sound. Chen Yu also moved forward two steps, positioning himself in front of Tadole. ¡°Friend, what are you trying to do?¡± The man immediately took out a business card from his pocket. ¡°I am an elder of the Core Tower in Sand Hole. This child is different from ordinary people. Keeping him by your side won¡¯t give him a future. You might as well let me take him away; only there will he truly belong.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. When he had arrived here, he had scanned the entire underground structure of Sand Hole and noticed an area that the system couldn¡¯t penetrate. That must be the Core Tower the man was talking about. ¡°Where he belongs is not for you to define here!¡± Having dropped this cold remark, Chen Yu pulled Tadole and prepared to leave. The man was persistent, reaching for Chen Yu¡¯s shoulder, but as soon as his palm was about to touch Chen Yu, he felt an extremely strong electric current spread throughout his body. ¡°You¡¯re also a natural-born supernatural?¡± The man¡¯s face was filled with shock, and the magnetic field around him erupted at that moment, neutralizing the electric current. Chen Yu didn¡¯t respond and quickly went back to their place with Jin Lingsu and Tadole. Sand Hole was always bustling with people, so news spread rapidly. As soon as Chen Yu entered the lobby, a group of people surrounded him. ¡°Mr. Chen, I heard that you helped the patrol team chase away that Li Dongsheng. Impressive!¡± Explore stories on Novgo ¡°That guy has mooched off us for so many meals, and now he¡¯s finally gone.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, you haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? Order whatever you want, it¡¯s all on me.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu managed a perfunctory smile and quickly went upstairs. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve become quite the celebrity around here!¡± Jin Lingsu teased, then took out a pair of binoculars and stood by the window. ¡°The people from the Core Tower are Sand Hole¡¯s rulers, and now that we¡¯ve caught their attention, we have to leave as soon as possible!¡± Chen Yu poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down. Those from the Core Tower referred to supernaturals as natural-born supernatural individuals, proving that they had discovered the immense power within these people and were exploiting it, forming some kind of system. The man earlier was able to use the magnetic field around him to completely neutralize and convert the electric current released by Chen Yu. Chapter 547 - Chapter 547 The Landlord’s Friendship Chapter 547 The Landlord¡¯s Friendship ¡°Core Hole!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face took on a strange expression, ¡°This place really exceeds my imagination!¡± He set down his teacup and walked to the window. On the street not far away, several men with bizarre expressions had appeared at some point. Each of these men exuded a powerful magnetic field. Jin Lingsu also spotted those men, she put down her telescope, drew a golden spike from her person, and was about to go down to deal with them. ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± Chen Yu stopped her, ¡°You¡¯re no match for them.¡± Grinding her teeth, Jin Lingsu had to admit that after all, she was just an ordinary person. In the face of these naturally gifted individuals with extraordinary abilities, she was as insignificant as an ant. ¡°Then what do we do? Just let them surveil us like this?¡± Chen Yu let out a slight breath, ¡°We¡¯re here to have fun, there¡¯s no need to conflict with them. Besides, isn¡¯t it good to have a group of people with such abilities protecting us by our side?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s face was filled with worry. Being in such an unfamiliar place, followed closely by a group of naturally gifted individuals was truly uncomfortable. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Chen Yu conjured a blue-white orb in his hand before opening the door. The middle-aged man they had encountered in the square stood at the door, respectful and polite. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I am one of the administrators of Core Tower, Lin Chuhe! I¡¯ve come to discuss the matter of joining the Core Tower.¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly and directly took out a Token of the Xuanqing Sect and threw it over. ¡°I am the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, Chen Yu! I believe you¡¯ve heard this name before. If you¡¯ve got no business, then don¡¯t bother me.¡± Lin Chuhe was slightly taken aback and quickly checked the Token in his hand. After verifying its authenticity, he immediately returned it. ¡°So you are the Sect Leader Chen of Xuanqing Sect! No wonder you possess such great strength. It was my oversight. In that case, please come to Core Tower, and let us extend our hospitality.¡± A strong blue-white light suddenly flashed in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes. In that brief moment, the magnetic field around Lin Chuhe weakened slightly, and Chen Yu used this opportunity to scan the other man¡¯s brain for information. This guy bore no ill will; he simply wanted to invite him over for a meal. Moreover, Core Tower was a place similar to a sanctuary. In this world, many naturally gifted individuals with superpowers were viewed as heretics. Once discovered, many would face mortal danger. Core Tower did its best to gather these outcast individuals with innate abilities from the outside world. The wariness on Chen Yu¡¯s face dissipated slightly, and he dispersed the blue-white orb that had been condensed in his hand. ¡°Alright then, just curious if the meals at Core Tower will suit my taste?¡± Lin Chuhe burst into a hearty laugh. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, don¡¯t forget, this is Core Hole, you can find replicas of all the world¡¯s delicacies here!¡± Jin Lingsu was immediately taken aback, unaware of why Chen Yu had suddenly changed his mind. However, he was aware that simply by virtue of his identity as the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, the other party would not dare to do much. Without further ado, Lin Chuhe led the three straight to Core Tower. Speaking of which, the location of Core Tower was more like the main supporting pillar of the entire Core Hole. The massive columnar structure nearly extended through all the floors of the sandy cave. Inside, the space was vast, with various laboratories visible everywhere, where a large number of natural superpower users gathered in one training room after another, continuously testing their powers. Chen Yu was soon overwhelmed by everything he saw. The Xuanqing Sect also had many natural superpower users, but they did not provide systematic training for these individuals. Explore stories on Novgo Here, both the quantity and quality far surpassed the sect by many times over. If these people were determined to declare war on the sect, the Xuanqing Sect would probably not stand a chance. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, the dining hall is on the floor above. Please follow me!¡± Without saying much, Chen Yu followed directly, and before long, they reached a rather luxurious hall. This must be the dining hall of the Core Tower, with a variety of specialty dishes laid out, many from the Core Tower walking around with their plates. Chen Yu unapologetically selected a few items to eat and sat down at a side table. Lin Chuhe also took a seat across from Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, how come you didn¡¯t notify us before coming here?¡± Chen Yu drank a beverage: ¡°I merely wanted to take a stroll here, there was no need to trouble you all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right!¡± Lin Chuhe suddenly became excited, ¡°Although our place is one of the most famous ¡¯gold-dissolving dens¡¯ in the world, it is ultimately located in the midst of a desert, largely disconnected from the outside world. For a person of your standing to come here is a huge joy for us.¡± Chen Yu showed no surprise; he had already captured this information from Lin Chuhe¡¯s brain. Even though this place had vast revenues each year, most of the natural superpower users in the Core Tower could not go out. Their most likely outcome was, at best, serving as a patrol officer in the sandy cave. Chen Yu glanced at several natural superpower users who were eating not far away. ¡°What if I wanted to take all these people back with me to join the Xuanqing Sect, would you agree?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Lin Chuhe immediately stood up, ¡°The sandy cave itself is just a place for entertainment, unable to provide many opportunities. If they could join the sect, it would be like finding them a home.¡± Chen Yu nodded and then got up and walked to a nearby glass window. From this spot, he could clearly see the natural superpower users training around. Just as he was preparing to release his system and scan the brain information of these people, a figure suddenly appeared behind him. ¡°Lin Chuhe, why have you brought an outsider here again? Have you forgotten our rules?¡± Chen Yu turned sharply and discovered an old man with a somewhat sleazy appearance, standing there holding a cane. ¡°Mr. Ma!¡± Lin Chuhe hurried over, ¡°Let me introduce you, this is the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, Chen Yu. He has come here to¡­¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Ma Chengfei interrupted Lin Chuhe directly, ¡°How could the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect appear here so suddenly, without any reason? Even if he was to come, he would have to notify us in advance.¡± A surge of nameless anger instantly rose in Chen Yu¡¯s heart; this old fellow seemed quite set in his ways. The few natural superpower users who had been eating in the dining hall immediately stood up and hurried over. It seemed they didn¡¯t like Ma Chengfei but still had to obey his orders. They all picked up weapons and surrounded Chen Yu in the middle. Chapter 548 - Chapter 548: Shooting Blindly Chapter 548: Shooting Blindly Chu He quickly stepped forward, blocking in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Ma, isn¡¯t this a bit too much? I have already verified it, and Mr. Chen is indeed the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, there is no doubt about it.¡± Ma Chengfei didn¡¯t care about that, taking out a dagger from his person and aiming it at Chen Yu. ¡°This kid appeared in the Core Tower for no reason, he must have ulterior motives! Seize him immediately, or our Sand Hollow will be destroyed by him.¡± Frustrated, Chu He always felt that Ma Chengfei acted arrogantly because of his status in the Core Tower, and now he was being unreasonable in front of Chen Yu. This could likely cause conflict between Sand Hollow and the Sect. Chen Yu chuckled, his body suddenly flickered, appearing in front of Ma Chengfei, and lightly tapped his shoulder. A strong current was immediately released, knocking Ma Chengfei to the ground, while the other Core Tower members were stunned, their gazes turning to Chu He. ¡°Mr. Ma has passed out, everyone listen to my command, disperse immediately, and go back to your duties!¡± The people promptly dropped their weapons: those who should eat, ate; those who should patrol, patrolled, as if nothing had happened. Chu He sighed deeply, had someone carry Ma Chengfei away, and then sat down in an empty spot with Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you see, my words don¡¯t carry much weight here. Besides Ma Chengfei, there are a few old men, they are the elders of the Core Tower! So, I can only take you on a simple tour of a few floors, please forgive me!¡± Chen Yu waved his hand, ¡°No matter, a casual look will suffice!¡± Chu He immediately felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly handed a metal card to Chen Yu. ¡°This is a ticket to the bottom three floors of the Core Tower. With this, you can move freely within them! As for the other floors, I¡¯ll discuss it with the elders in the tower.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, as he had already roughly scanned the layout of the place with his system, and by just visiting the bottom three floors, he could virtually reconstruct everything inside the tower in his mind. Continue reading at Novgo After eating something simple, Chen Yu took Jin Lingsu and others to the very bottom layer of the Core Tower. This level had very few people, just several relatively young individuals with innate superpowers sitting at the workbenches, examining some antique jade wares. This place looked like a giant collection center, filled with various treasures, dazzling to the eye, akin to a world-class museum. The moment he entered, Chen Yu was stunned by everything here; just the two vases placed at the entrance were imperial tributes from the Qianlong era. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A girl looking to be in her twenties suddenly jumped out, blocking Chen Yu¡¯s path. ¡°This is a restricted area of the Core Tower; outsiders are not allowed in without permission. Leave immediately, or don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡± Her candy-fierce demeanor made Chen Yu find it somewhat amusing; he directly took out the metal card Chu He gave him. Upon seeing the card, the girl immediately became respectful and let Chen Yu in. Jin Lingsu rushed to a display case, her face full of excitement. ¡°Wow, all the treasures here have been lost for years, if they were all taken out, they¡¯d be worth at least several billion!¡± Upon hearing this, the girl quickly ran over. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Everything here has been painstakingly collected by us; you¡¯re not taking a single item.¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes darted back and forth. ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t be so tense! Loosen up a bit. These things are useless lying around here, why not let sister take them out and trade them for money, and then we¡¯ll split it eighty-twenty¡­¡± ¡°No way!¡± The little girl spread her arms in front of the shelf, ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t think about taking these things away.¡± Chen Yu coughed twice, ¡°Alright, stop joking around with her. We¡¯re just here to have a look. If we really wanted to take anything from here, we would need the Core Tower¡¯s owner¡¯s permission.¡± Jin Lingsu smiled awkwardly and then patted the little girl¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really are dedicated, little sister. Why don¡¯t you come work in my collection room, I¡¯ll start you off with a salary of a hundred thousand a month!¡± The little girl did not answer but continued to stare down Jin Lingsu, looking fierce yet adorable. Chen Yu shook his head helplessly and took a few steps deeper into the room, when he suddenly discovered something resembling a marble placed in a corner. The patterns on it seemed to be from the Tang Dynasty¡¯s Tianbao era, but woven between these patterns were some text in the style of the early Southern Song Dynasty. Chen Yu immediately became interested and crouched down to take a closer look. ¡°Sir, do you like this item?¡± The little girl, who just a moment ago had been confronting Jin Lingsu, hurried over to Chen Yu¡¯s side. It looked as though she was worried that Chen Yu might steal something here. ¡°I just find it odd. The age of the item shouldn¡¯t be a problem, but the patterns span over several dynasties.¡± The little girl also nodded. ¡°This item has been here for many years, and we¡¯ve conducted a lot of related research. However, we just can¡¯t determine its real age or purpose.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly and immediately began scanning it with the system. It wasn¡¯t long before all the derivative information about the altar appeared in his mind. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be a sacrificial altar from the fourteenth year of Tianbao, around the time when An Lushan started the rebellion.¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes widened, and she scrambled closer to take a closer examination. They had conducted a lot of related research and had already narrowed the years down to between the tenth and fifteenth year of Tianbao and the function to a major ceremony for heaven worship. But because there were no clear inscriptions and no records in the historical documents, they couldn¡¯t identify the specific user. Yet Chen Yu, after just one glance, was able to determine its age and even link it to An Lushan, which was indeed surprising. ¡°Sir, are you sure?¡± Chen Yu gently stroked the inscription. ¡°This must be carved by Zhao Gou, the founding Emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, using what later generations called ¡¯riddle script¡¯ tadpole text! No one in this world can understand this writing anymore, so it¡¯s normal that you spent so much time without deciphering it.¡± The little girl became excited and took out her special camera to snap photos of the inscriptions on the outside of the altar. As they were speaking, an elderly man suddenly ran over and snatched the camera from the little girl¡¯s hands. ¡°Who allowed you to take pictures here?¡± Chapter 549 - Chapter 549 Playing at Expertise Chapter 549 Playing at Expertise The young lady was startled and hastily stepped back several times, repeatedly bowing and apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Professor Wang, I was just too excited! This object has been with us for many years and now that it¡¯s finally being deciphered, I wanted to take a picture of the inscription to study it closely.¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this nonsense?¡± Professor Wang looked coldly at the young lady, then turned his head toward Chen Yu. ¡°Where did you come from, you greenhorn? Do you know that dozens of experts have been studying this jar for decades without figuring out its use? Do you think you can see through it at a glance? Or do you believe your experience surpasses that of all of us seasoned experts?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words with this guy and simply took out a metallic card. ¡°I¡¯m just here for a visit, and what I said was merely a suggestion!¡± Professor Wang looked at the card in Chen Yu¡¯s hand with disdain. ¡°Although Lin Chuhe is one of the heads of Core Tower, he doesn¡¯t have the authority to manage our affairs on this floor! You may visit here, but don¡¯t spout nonsense, or I have the right to kick you out.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, scanned the other¡¯s brain information, and discovered that the fellow didn¡¯t have much in his head; moreover, his abilities were among the lower echelons within the entire Core Tower. He wasn¡¯t even a natural-born superpower user. He was merely bossing people around by virtue of his status as one of the senior members. Any of the young people on this floor could outdo this old man in terms of appraisal ability by a factor of several times. Not wanting to argue with him further, Chen Yu put away his card and walked toward another counter. Professor Wang didn¡¯t say much else, snorted coldly, and left on his own. The young lady from before pursed her lips at Professor Wang¡¯s retreating back, then quickly caught up to Chen Yu. ¡°Mister, did you notice anything else about that jar?¡± Chen Yu immediately cast an approving glance her way. This young lady had a deep, soulful passion for antiques. ¡°Your name is Wu Aiai, right?¡± The young lady looked up, full of confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve told you my name!¡± Chen Yu raised a finger to his temple. ¡°I¡¯m also a born superpower user who can hear the voices in people¡¯s minds.¡± Wu Aiai wasn¡¯t the slightest bit surprised; after all, Core Tower was filled with natural-born superpower users. ¡°So that¡¯s it. No wonder Mr. Lin handed you his card!¡± Chen Yu turned around and took a small incense burner from a nearby shelf. ¡°I took a quick look earlier, and there are a total of a dozen or so items that match up with that jar, but they¡¯ve been dispersed across different shelves. By researching these objects together, we can determine their exact age and the historical events they¡¯re associated with.¡± Wu Aiai quickly took the incense burner from Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°This little thing is related to that jar?¡± Chen Yu nodded. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be an incense burner used to worship the heavens during Yue Fei¡¯s northern campaigns, and the main object for the ceremony was that jar!¡± Being a genius in this field, Wu Aiai immediately understood as soon as Chen Yu explained. ¡°So, it means the original altar was used by An Lushan when he staged his rebellion as a sacrificial object to Heaven, and for some reason, it reappeared during the Southern Song Dynasty and was then used in high school history classes to teach the tadpole script for Northern Expedition sacrificial ceremonies.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face showed even more appreciation; this young girl really got it with just a little hint. While they were speaking, Professor Wang came over from the shelves next door. ¡°Sir, why are you confusing our researchers again?¡± An additional layer of disgust appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face; this old man was the type who had no real talent of his own yet was jealous of those who did. He had more than once claimed others¡¯ research reports as his own, and he also restricted the researchers here from conducting their projects independently. ¡°Professor Wang, I have a question. This jade ring should date back to the Yuan Dynasty, so why does it say here it was made during the Yongle era, crafted by the imperial jade workshop?¡± Professor Wang glanced sideways and noticed that he was the researcher for this finger ring, and all the information had been personally written by him. ¡°Nonsense! Whether it¡¯s the era or the crafting style of the jade, this piece is clearly from the Ming Dynasty, how could it possibly have been made during the Mongol Yuan period?¡± Wu Aiai by his side immediately pouted. ¡°Professor, we¡¯ve already discussed this with you several times that the date for this ring is wrong, but you just wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± Professor Wang suddenly felt embarrassed; even he didn¡¯t know the exact dating of the ring, but he insisted on perpetuating his mistake to maintain his credibility on this floor. When Chen Yu perceived Professor Wang¡¯s psychological state, he almost wanted to laugh; wasn¡¯t this a typical case of calling a deer a horse? ¡°Core Tower really lives up to its reputation! Even someone like Professor Wang could be recruited. It¡¯s hard to tell how many impostors there are here.¡± Chen Yu might have done it on purpose; he raised his voice so high while speaking that it nearly reached every corner of the floor. Not long after, several older experts came storming over with great momentum. ¡°Who was talking just now? What do you mean by ¡¯impostors¡¯? We¡¯re officially recognized experts and professors, validated by the relevant departments outside!¡± Just as they were about to confront the speaker, they noticed Professor Wang standing there, and their anger subsided significantly, a flush of embarrassment appearing almost simultaneously on their faces. For the moment, no one pursued Chen Yu any further, instead preparing to return to their respective workstations. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Professor Wang shouted, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you all? Didn¡¯t you hear that guy insulting you?¡± Your journey continues at Novgo The crowd turned away, not uttering a word. If it wasn¡¯t for Professor Wang¡¯s status, they would have probably spoken their minds by now. Seeing the silence of the crowd, a surge of nameless anger welled up in Professor Wang, and he walked straight over to Chen Yu. ¡°Little brat, since you claim that what I¡¯ve verified is incorrect, I¡¯m going to test you! There are dozens of unappraised items on that shelf over there. If you can identify all of them, I¡¯ll accept defeat.¡± Chen Yu chuckled and walked directly to the nearby shelf without saying much else. It must be said that the collection of treasures on the first floor of Core Tower was indeed of high quality¡ªthe items whose value hadn¡¯t been determined were all rare treasures, hard to come by in a thousand years. Chen Yu inwardly marveled for a moment before picking up an object carved from yellow and white jade. Both its material and the patina on the outside reached the standard of fine jade ware. Just as he was about to take a closer look, Professor Wang suddenly came over. ¡°Then tell us, what¡¯s the provenance of this item?¡± Chapter 550 - Chapter 550: Gastric Bezoar Chapter 550: Gastric Bezoar Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of disdain, not knowing where Professor Wang got the confidence to test him. ¡°The King of Yue¡¯s Nine Dragons Cup! It must have been a treasure offered to him by his subordinates after Gou Jian destroyed the Wu state!¡± Professor Wang laughed heartily, directly pulling over a sign from beside him. ¡°This thing has been appraised by me personally, it¡¯s a treasure from the Chu state during the Warring States period. You¡¯ve got both the era and the country wrong, and you still¡­¡± ¡°Young man, you are truly an expert!¡± An elderly man hurried over: ¡°We¡¯ve studied it many times before, and judging from the patina on the jade, it indeed seems to be an item from the Wu Yue region during the Spring and Autumn period.¡± The other researchers also crowded around Chen Yu, leaving Professor Wang out in the cold. ¡°Although the scripts of Wu and Yue are similar, there are differences, and the inscriptions carved on this clearly belong to Yue!¡± ¡°Clearly a relic of the Spring and Autumn period, how did it become Warring States?¡± ¡­ The scene suddenly became lively, and although these people were discussing the Nine Dragons Cup, their words were tinged with mockery of Professor Wang. A cunning smile flickered at the corner of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth, and he then took down an irregular black crystal from the shelf. ¡°Who placed this thing here? Why isn¡¯t there a protective layer around it?¡± Wu Aiai hurried over, her large eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°We¡¯ve studied this before, it seems to be a piece of ambergris, but after the analysis, we found the composition wasn¡¯t quite right!¡± Chen Yu took a small hammer from the side and gently tapped the crystal¡¯s outer black shell, which fell off just like thin crisp. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this isn¡¯t pure ambergris, but an unformed bezoar from a sperm whale¡¯s stomach!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone present became excited. If this truly was a bezoar from a sperm whale¡¯s stomach, then it would be a unique treasure in the world. Now even more people crowded around, and Professor Wang was pushed to the fringe. In less than an hour, Chen Yu had appraised every item on the shelves. Nearly a hundred items, and he identified more than thirty exceptional treasures. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yu¡¯s visit today, these items would likely have remained dust-covered on the shelves. Professor Wang, pushed into a corner, was furious and grabbed a megaphone from somewhere. ¡°What are you all doing? How can you believe a stranger so casually? I am the authority of the Core Tower! Only the appraisal reports signed by me are valid, disperse immediately, gathering here like this is unseemly!¡± Everyone fell silent for just a moment, then continued to crowd around Chen Yu, discussing the treasures on the shelves. Professor Wang¡¯s eyes bulged, in the past a simple shout from him would have the researchers on this floor scurrying like quails, obediently following his directions, but now his words seemed to have no effect. A profound sense of crisis suddenly rose within him. After several deep breaths of anger, he rushed to the elevator entrance nearby and picked up the emergency phone. Wu Aiai had been watching Professor Wang, and seeing this scene, she quickly tugged at Chen Yu. ¡°This is bad, Professor Wang is calling the Deputy Tower Master! You better leave quickly, our Fortuna Tower Master is very fierce.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was still full of disdain as he just gave Jin Lingsu a signal with his eyes. Two golden spikes were shot out, embedding themselves right beside Professor Wang. Jin Lingsu even took to the air, grabbing one of the golden spikes and placing it horizontally against Professor Wang¡¯s neck. ¡°Professor Wang, have you finished your call?¡± The cold voice, filled with a murderous aura, made Professor Wang¡¯s body tremble violently, and he dropped the phone on the ground. ¡°What do you want to do? This is the Core Tower, and I¡¯m an elder here!¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s eyes were full of disdain, ¡°Besides that title, what else can you do?¡± Professor Wang, in extreme terror, turned his head to seek help from the research staff on this floor, but not a single person was willing to pay him any attention. Chen Yu chuckled lightly, casually continuing his discussion about the treasures on the shelves with the others. ¡°Mr. Chen, you should leave quickly, Aiai was right, our deputy tower leader¡¯s power is second only to the tower leader, and he¡¯s a natural superhuman!¡± ¡°The deputy tower leader is Professor Wang¡¯s nephew, and just as unreasonable as Professor Wang. If he comes, he definitely won¡¯t let you off.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu glanced at the research personnel in front of him. Without exception, they were geniuses among geniuses, and the majority were natural superhumans. Not only did they have extremely profound experience and ability in appraising antiques, but their knowledge in chemistry and physics had long surpassed that of most scientists. Take Wu Aiai for example, this young girl could simply use chemical methods to restore bamboo slips that had carbonized over thousands of years, a skill not just anyone could learn. Chen Yu suddenly had the thought to bring all these people back to Xuanqing Sect, at least so mediocre people like Professor Wang couldn¡¯t bully them. ¡°I really want to see just how formidable this deputy tower leader is!¡± Just then, a rumbling noise came from the elevator, and a somewhat handsome middle-aged man quickly stepped off it. However, the aura emanating from this man was extremely sinister and didn¡¯t match his face at all. Moreover, the magnetic field that spread from his body was incredibly strong, so much so that even Chen Yu¡¯s system couldn¡¯t scan his brain information. Most shockingly, some of the magnetic fields on him seemed to be artificially created. Chen Yu, with a smile on his face, walked straight up to the middle-aged man. ¡°Are you the deputy tower leader of the Core Tower?¡± The man sized up Chen Yu and anger rose in his eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re the one who¡¯s been giving my uncle trouble?¡± Chen Yu chuckled and reached out to grab the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Not only do I intend to give your uncle trouble, but I also intend to give you trouble!¡± His words were extremely domineering, causing the man¡¯s body to shudder involuntarily. In that moment, the magnetic fields around him surged out, attempting to shake off Chen Yu. But to his surprise, the magnetic field he had just released spiraled out of his control, frantically converging towards his heart through his capillaries. An unprecedented pain caused his pupils to dilate several times over, and he hastily retreated several steps. ¡°Are you also a natural superhuman?¡± Chen Yu did not respond, merely flicked his wrist, and a blue-white light gathered in his hand, turning into a raging thunderbolt. Read new adventures at Novgo The deputy tower leader, refusing to show weakness, quickly slapped his palm, and his skin showed dense patterns of magma, emitting an extremely scorching temperature. Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; it was his first time seeing someone able to transform magnetic fields into magma energy and wield it with such ease. Chapter 551 - Chapter 551 Tower Master Chapter 551 Tower Master In the astonished gazes of everyone, Chen Yu collided with the Vice Tower Master. Blue-white electric light intertwined with the power of magma, instantly erupting in an extremely terrifying force. Fortunately, there were protective shields everywhere in this place, otherwise, the entire floor would have been completely destroyed by this power. Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of surprise, he had encountered many innate superpower users, but never one as formidable as the one before him. While he was still in shock, a large amount of metal objects converged in midair and smashed towards the opponent. Tadole appeared nearby, unexpectedly controlling all the metal objects on this level. The Vice Tower Master hastily retreated, dodging the metal objects with a look of vigilance in his eyes. [Detection of artificial synthetic magnetic field, Gamma Rays] [Opponent¡¯s magnetic field strength is showing an exponential decline] [Detection of brain information, commencing comprehensive analysis] Chen Yu was somewhat surprised; the Vice Tower Master¡¯s magnetic field seemed to be synthetically acquired, and even that miraculous magma power had been injected into his body through micro-genetic injections. As the system analysis deepened, Chen Yu discovered that most of the stuff on this individual was artificial. Moreover, there was a magnetic field converter inside his body which could provide him with power to the greatest extent. In other words, the power inside this guy would run out. A sly smile crept onto Chen Yu¡¯s face as he charged forward once again. The blue-white light in his hands blossomed with strong power, enveloping the Vice Tower Master in a relentless assault. The Vice Tower Master¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated, and he quickly mobilized all the magnetic fields in his body. This time, the Vice Tower Master appeared extremely panicked and fell to the ground after only a minute of confronting Chen Yu. ¡°What a joke your Core Tower is, how come all those in power are mere ordinary people?¡± Experience new stories on Novgo Upon hearing this, the Vice Tower Master immediately widened his eyes. In reality, he was well aware of the origin of his power; at the top level of the Core Tower was a magnetic field converter. It could transform a massive amount of magnetic field power into the bodies of ordinary people, granting them temporary super abilities. The Vice Tower Master before him was naturally a superpower user with a very sensitive perception of magnetic fields, needing only an additional device to gain formidable power. Chen Yu stepped forward and pressed his foot directly onto the Vice Tower Master¡¯s shoulder. ¡°How many people like you are there in the Core Tower? Surely not everyone is the same as you?¡± The Vice Tower Master¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid; they felt how strong the electric currents released by Chen Yu were. Should he make any sudden move, these currents would explode from the inside out. ¡°Who exactly are you? Why do you know so much about our situation here?¡± Chen Yu glanced at Professor Wang who had collapsed nearby. ¡°Didn¡¯t this guy tell you that I am the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect?¡± The Vice Tower Master¡¯s body stiffened noticeably. The Xuanqing Sect was a top-notch organization among the Taoist sects. Although there were a multitude of innate superpower users in their Core Tower, he knew best how these people came to be. If they truly confronted the Xuanqing Sect, they would die a miserable death. ¡°It turns out to be Sect Leader Chen! Forgive my poor eyesight, I did not recognize you at first, but why do you have time to visit the Sand Caves?¡± Chen Yu did not want to waste words with this guy, so he reached out his hand, pressed it against his chest, and yanked outwards. A glowing small cylindrical device appeared in Chen Yu¡¯s hand¡ªit was the magnetic field converter hidden inside the vice tower leader. [Built-in crystal chip converter, biological intelligence connection] [Magnetic field to bioenergy conversion] A torrent of information suddenly filled Chen Yu¡¯s mind. The Core Tower was indeed very powerful, but its strength was mainly manifested in artificial technology. They could study the magnetic fields of natural superpower beings, then create their own artificial powers, and transfer those to ordinary people. In terms of this technology, no one in the world could compare. ¡°I¡¯m very interested in some of the technology here. Would it be possible for you to take me to the top floor for a visit?¡± The vice tower leader¡¯s eyes bulged. He had not expected Chen Yu to make such a request. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, the top floor is our highest secret. I cannot possibly take you up there.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, he lifted his foot and placed it directly on the vice tower leader¡¯s neck. ¡°Your highest secrets are no secret to me. Moreover, by imprisoning so many natural superpower beings here, you have already violated the rules of my sect!¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± The vice tower leader immediately grew anxious: ¡°These people were all brought back from various places, raised here from a young age, how can that be considered imprisonment?¡± Chen Yu snorted coldly and dragged the vice tower leader to the elevator. Just as he was about to open the elevator, the door suddenly opened, and a rather robust middle-aged man stepped out. However, the man¡¯s face was marred with horizontal flesh and a scar that spread from the corner of his eye to his neck. He wore a very special black jade plaque on his chest, with the three characters for Xu Linjun written on it. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, since you entered the Sand Caves, I have always treated you as a distinguished guest. Why do you treat my men like this?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately released the system aiming to scan the man¡¯s brain information. Unexpectedly, the man¡¯s magnetic field was also formidable, but judging from his magnetic field, it seemed his powers were innate. Furthermore, from the brain information of the vice tower leader, it was deduced that Xu Linjun was the core column of the Core Tower and the true master of the Sand Caves. ¡°I just feel it¡¯s unfair for you to lock those natural superpower beings here, and I wanted to ask you for an explanation!¡± Xu Linjun immediately became displeased. He had put so much effort into bringing these natural superpower beings here, and now Chen Yu was demanding justice for them, which was clearly a slap in his face. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, are you trying to meddle in the internal affairs here?¡± Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, and a blue-white light burst out from him instantly. Xu Linjun also appeared wary, a strong magnetic field emanating from his body. As the two were about to clash, Lin Chuhe rushed down anxiously from the stairwell. ¡°Hold on, there must be some misunderstanding! Let¡¯s all sit down and discuss this calmly.¡± Xu Linjun suddenly burst into laughter. ¡°Chu He, you¡¯re right, the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect is indeed a real man.¡± Chen Yu frowned, and before he could react, Xu Linjun suddenly struck the vice sect leader on the shoulder, knocking him unconscious with a heavy blow. ¡°I¡¯ve long wanted to teach those conceited fools a lesson, and now I finally have the chance.¡± Chapter 552 - Chapter 552: The Grace of Upbringing Chapter 552: The Grace of Upbringing Chen Yu was somewhat befuddled, unsure of what Xu Linjun really meant. Just then, the elevator suddenly entered an emergency stop mode, and not long after, two men who looked like thugs hurriedly scrambled out. ¡°Xu, you¡¯ve gone too far, have you forgotten who allowed you to take the position of tower master?¡± Xu Linjun let out a wild laugh, and suddenly retreated next to Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, today I will use you to help me wipe out these beasts in human clothing.¡± Before Chen Yu could react, Xu Linjun¡¯s magnetic field power quickly concentrated, forming a massive fireball, and charged straight at the two thugs. Lin Chuhe also seemed to think of something, immediately pulling out two spherical explosive devices from his body and flinging them out. The two thugs, caught off guard as they walked out of the elevator, were directly blown away by the fireball and explosive devices, slamming hard into a stone pillar. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t bother with anything else, and directly stepped forward to pin the two thugs to the ground, as a blue and white light instantly entered their bodies. ¡°Sect Leader Xu, if I¡¯m not mistaken, these two are also the Deputy Hall Masters of your core card, how could you strike your own people?¡± Rage filled Xu Linjun¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not one of them! Since Sect Leader Chen has asked, I will no longer conceal the truth.¡± Xu Linjun took out a palm-sized cylindrical object from his body and threw it on the ground. ¡°The reason those fellows wanted me to be the tower master is because the Core Tower needs someone with innate abilities to be its master, so they can unscrupulously research transformation devices here.¡± Chen Yu immediately understood what Xu Linjun meant. And he also scanned information from the minds of the two fallen Deputy Hall Masters. Put plainly, Xu Linjun was nothing more than a puppet of these Deputy Hall Masters, with no say in the daily affairs here. When necessary, even he, the tower master, might become a subject of research. Chen Yu patted Xu Linjun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If you are willing, I can help you eliminate these Deputy Hall Masters, then take all the Core Tower¡¯s innate superpower users to the Xuanqing Sect, which is where you truly belong.¡± Xu Linjun became excited immediately; he had long harbored an endless yearning for the sects of the Dao. However, there were many sects within the Dao, and he had previously been rejected by some when he reached out for an invitation. Now that the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect had personally invited him, he couldn¡¯t be happier. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, I thank you right here!¡± Lin Chuhe hurriedly stepped forward. ¡°There¡¯s no need for courtesy between you two here. It¡¯s not good for us to stay here now; the remaining Deputy Hall Masters might be on their way here.¡± Xu Linjun didn¡¯t care about that, drawing a card from his person. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Can¡¯t the three of us together beat the remaining ones? Let¡¯s head to the top floor now, and show them what real innate superpower users are like.¡± As his words fell, he directly swiped open the adjacent backup elevator, and the three unhesitatingly stepped inside. Jin Lingsu also wanted to go up but was stopped by Chen Yu. This was a battle between innate superpower users, and Jin Lingsu simply couldn¡¯t participate. The elevator quickly reached the top floor, and as the three stepped out, the remaining eight Deputy Hall Masters were already seated in the main hall. The middle-aged man at the forefront stood up, a broadsword with a ring pommel suddenly appearing in his hand. ¡°Xu Linjun, you really are a traitor through and through, to think you would bring outsiders and rebel against us.¡± Xu Linjun snorted coldly without saying much. The magnetic field around him immediately stirred into action, and a large amount of fire appeared around him. Eight middle-aged men rose to their feet at the same time, their eyes changing into various colors, their powers erupting forth in full force at this moment. Chen Yu could tell at a glance what these guys were up to, all the magnetic field power in their bodies came directly from a box in the center of the hall. It seemed like some sort of magnetic field conversion device was installed here. Just as both parties were about to clash, Chen Yu¡¯s body suddenly shot out like lightning, directly to the center of the hall, raising his palm and viciously smashing it down. A thunderous crashing sound immediately arose, and the huge box instantly turned to powder, while the magnetic fields of the eight Deputy Hall Masters also disappeared in an instant. All eight men¡¯s eyes widened in shock, their faces filled with rage. ¡°What the hell did you do, you little brat?¡± ¡°How did you know about the stuff in the box?¡± ¡°Damn kid, are you choosing to be an enemy of the Core Tower?¡± ¡­ The eight men were emotionally charged, cursing loudly, yet not one dared to make a move. Xu Linjun also charged forth, grabbing an old man and lifting him up. ¡°Jin Sanhuai, when the Core Tower was established, you told me to gather all naturally-born superhumans with no place to call home from around the world and bring them here, so they could peacefully live out the rest of their lives! Why has it come to this?¡± Jin Sanhuai¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. When he had created the Core Tower, he did it coveting the unparalleled power these people possessed. Simply wanting to transfer that power to his own body, he lured those naturally-born superhumans here, using their genetics for his research. ¡°Xu Linjun! Now that you¡¯ve captured me, if you want to kill or flay me, it¡¯s your prerogative, but I won¡¯t be telling you anything else! However, I hope you remember that I was the one who picked you up from the desert.¡± This statement was somewhat of a moral hijacking. Back when Xu Linjun was stranded in the desert at the age of six, it was Jin Sanhuai who had picked him up, raised him, and even made him a tower master of the Core Tower. Such a favor was considered an immense grace by any standard. Xu Linjun suddenly hesitated, not truly knowing how to repay years of nurture and favor. Chen Yu suddenly appeared between the two, pushing Jin Sanhuai to the ground with a shove. ¡°You brought him back just because you coveted the power he had, didn¡¯t you? Cut the crap about raising and granting great favor; you are not worthy at all.¡± Xu Linjun finally realized and raised his foot, stomping down hard on Jin Sanhuai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s right, had you not detected the anomaly in my magnetic field, you probably wouldn¡¯t have brought me back and would rather have left me in the desert to be devoured by wolves.¡± Actually, he was well aware of Jin Sanhuai¡¯s true intentions in bringing him back. Now, many ordinary people within the Core Tower had superhuman abilities that were extracted from his genes, a replication of the Fire Ability. He had long since become intolerable of this. Read new adventures at Novgo At that moment, a thunderous rumble suddenly came from outside, and the impregnable Core Tower actually began to shake. Through the windows, one could see the city not far away collapsing, as if something was trying to burrow up from the ground. Chapter 553 - Chapter 553: Monster Chapter 553: Monster Jin Sanhuai burst into a haughty laughter, his face showing an extra touch of wild arrogance. ¡°Xu Linjun, do you really think that after all these years of research at the Core Tower, we¡¯ve only managed to produce some mediocre superpowered individuals?¡± Xu Linjun seemed to have realized something and abruptly stepped forward, seizing Jin Sanhuai¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Did you really bring that thing into existence? Do you have any idea that it has the capacity to destroy an entire city?¡± Jin Sanhuai snorted coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve already betrayed us; these matters are no longer your concern. I advise you to let me go, otherwise, I¡¯ll have that creature tear you to shreds.¡± Chen Yu, holding a telescope, peered out the window and could vaguely make out a huge head emerging from the ground. At first, he had been shocked by this thing, but when he saw its head, he felt it was rather dull. In the laboratories of the Knights of the Round Table, such creatures were a dime a dozen. They were essentially constructed by combining the flesh and blood of various animals and then cultivating them with hormones into unconscious monsters. Find your next adventure on Novgo The Knights of the Round Table would implant chips in the heads of these creatures or cultivate nerves in their bodies to grant them autonomous consciousness. By comparison, the big fellow before him seemed rather crude, nothing more than a monster cobbled together from a massive skeleton, supplemented with patches of leather. However, this thing wasn¡¯t entirely useless; it was fitted with a huge magnetic field converter and stored genetic extracts from many natural-born superpowered individuals. When these two elements were combined, they allowed the creature to unleash some supernatural powers. But in Chen Yu¡¯s view, it was just a large, shoddy assemblage. ¡°That thing, Mr. Jin, is this your trump card?¡± Jin Sanhuai looked at Chen Yu coldly. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, I can assure you that creature only obeys my commands. If you dare lay a hand on me, the only outcome for you is being torn to pieces.¡± Chen Yu laughed as if he had heard a joke and chuckled twice. ¡°When it comes to research in genetics, Core Tower definitely ranks amongst the world¡¯s elite, but you are far behind in machinery! As for this big fella, I only need half an hour to take it down.¡± Jin Sanhuai gritted his teeth: ¡°Sect Leader Chen, this creature is the result of decades of our research; it¡¯s not something you can dismiss simply by talking.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were full of contempt. ¡°Then just watch how the thing you created is obliterated.¡± With that, Chen Yu jumped straight out of the nearby window. The location where the monster appeared wasn¡¯t far from Core Tower; Chen Yu sprinted for a few minutes and reached the monster¡¯s presence. The creature towered over him at a height of more than ten meters, and its body, wrapped in iron sheets and entangled with dense wires, looked incredibly bizarre. Chen Yu quickly made it to the base of the monster and raised his palm to strike it fiercely. Blue-white electric light surged directly into the monster¡¯s body, wildly ravaging its internal magnetic field converter. In less than two minutes, a series of explosions took place within the monster, and then it collapsed to the ground. At the top floor of Core Tower, everyone was astounded beyond belief; they had not anticipated Chen Yu to take down the monster in such a short time. Jin Sanhuai¡¯s face was filled with incredulity. ¡°This is impossible; the armor was made from the best materials available. How could it be so easily dismantled?¡± Xu Linjun lifted his foot and stepped directly on Jin Sanhuai¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯ve said it long ago, the things you make are all trash! Now, what else do you have to say?¡± Jin Sanhuai¡¯s face turned ashen, all his last resorts had been dismantled, and he didn¡¯t know what to do. It wasn¡¯t long before Chen Yu took the elevator up to the top floor. However, when he came up, he also brought up all the researchers from the first floor. These people were basically natural superpower users, constantly oppressed by that bunch, and they just wanted to come up and see what the fate of the Deputy Tower Masters would be. Xu Linjun was not a man of indecision; he directly captured all the Deputy Tower Masters and those bullying bastards from the Core Tower. Internal matters of others, Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to get involved too much. After dealing with the monster, he took Jin Lingsu and Tadole to a restaurant. Compared to other places, the gourmet food here had an extremely unique flavor. Especially the sand rabbit barbecue! When you bit into it, it was spicy mixed with sweet, sweet mixed with salty, and within the saltiness, there was also a hint of sour. Although the taste was a bit strange, it gave a truly different sensation in the mouth. While Chen Yu was grabbing a piece of rabbit meat and chewing voraciously, a few people hurried into the shop, carrying a large box. ¡°Boss, we just brought this back from the market over there. Are you interested in taking a look at this?¡± Seeing these few people, the boss¡¯s face immediately turned pale, and his body started to tremble uncontrollably. He only gave the box a symbolic look and then shook his head. ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯re a restaurant and we don¡¯t deal with all that mess. You should try another place.¡± The several burly men immediately became unhappy and slammed the box onto the counter, opening it in front of the boss. A foul stench instantly wafted out of it. ¡°This is a rare treasure, you can¡¯t find much in the entire Sand Hole. If you made it into barbecue, you have no idea how popular it would be, and you dare to refuse! A fixed price, five hundred taels of Gold.¡± Chen Yu frowned, glanced from afar, and realized that the box actually contained the remains of the monster from earlier. The thing was nothing but synthetic leather and animal flesh, completely inedible! He had just killed that monster, and now someone was dragging pieces of its body here to scam money. It seemed that the local customs in the Sand Hole weren¡¯t very good. Putting down the piece of rabbit meat, Chen Yu walked straight over. ¡°I say, you guys bringing such a broken thing into a restaurant, isn¡¯t that a bit too much? Since you think it¡¯s edible, why don¡¯t you take it home and eat it?¡± The burly men turned their heads and stared at Chen Yu. ¡°Who is this brat? Daring to meddle in our business, seems you¡¯re tired of living.¡± One of the burly men directly pulled out a short knife from his body and pressed it against Chen Yu¡¯s neck. Just as he was about to act, a powerful blue-white light suddenly burst forth. The burly man felt his entire body go numb, and the knife in his hand dropped to the ground. ¡°Are you a natural superpower user?¡± The burly man¡¯s voice trembled slightly. In the Sand Hole, natural superpower users held an incomparable status to some extent. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste his breath and took out the jade token Lin Chuhe had given him. Chapter 554 - Chapter 554 Sky Sand City Chapter 554 Sky Sand City The burly man who was extremely frightened just a moment ago suddenly became unrestrained, picking up the knife that had fallen to the ground and once again confronting Chen Yu. ¡°I thought you were someone important, but it turns out you¡¯re just one of Lin¡¯s men. If that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t show any mercy,¡± he said. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, noticing that Lin Chuhe apparently didn¡¯t hold much status here. ¡°If I remember correctly, Lin Chuhe should be your supervisor, yet you¡¯re so disrespectful towards him. Have you grown the courage of a bear and a leopard?¡± The burly man burst out laughing. ¡°What we do here is authorized by several Deputy Tower Masters themselves, no one else has the right to interfere. Lin Chuhe is just a minor manager, you think you can control us with his Token, do you have a death wish?¡± Chen Yu almost laughed his core out. All his Deputy Tower Masters had already been taken down by him, and the entire Sky Sand Cave was now under Xu Linjun¡¯s control. It seemed that these fellows in front of him were still unaware of what had happened with the new tower. A sly smile flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s face, and then he stood up straight away, releasing a burst of blue and white light. The burly man in front of him fainted on the spot. The others froze there, not expecting Chen Yu to actually make a move. Just as they were about to call for help, the patrol team rushed into the shop and pinned the burly men to the ground. ¡°The order from the Tower Master is to eliminate all forces associated with the Deputy Tower Masters within the Sky Sand Cave, and you few are on the list for purging!¡± The burly men¡¯s eyes widened in shock. In their view, the Deputy Tower Masters were the true power cores in Sky Sand Cave, and the so-called Tower Master was nothing more than a puppet. ¡°You¡¯re truly rebelling! Release us quickly, or you will end up with no place to bury your corpses.¡± The patrol team didn¡¯t care about their shouting and dragged the burly men straight out of the shop. The shopkeeper watched in disbelief. He had run his shop here for many years, and the subordinates of the Deputy Tower Masters were accustomed to throwing their weight around because the Tower Master of the Core Tower never dared to utter an extra word. But now, the Tower Master had ordered the patrol team to arrest these people, which meant the Tower Master had reclaimed the actual power. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more, just went back to his seat to continue eating. ¡°Are you really going to take all the natural-born superpower users here back to Xuanqing Sect?¡± Jin Lingsu was somewhat worried. Everything in the Sky Sand Cave was built around the natural-born superpower users. If all these people were taken back to Xuanqing Sect, then the Sky Sand Cave would no longer exist. Chen Yu spread his hands out, ¡°Why must we take them back? We might as well set up a branch of Xuanqing Sect here and manage Sky Sand Cave together with them. After all, Xuanqing Sect already has many branches around the world. One more won¡¯t make a difference.¡± Jin Lingsu nodded, giving Chen Yu a strange look. ¡°Then, can I also have a spot set up for me here?¡± she asked. Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. Jin Lingsu wanting a spot was clearly because she had her eye on those precious antiques and treasures. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until everything is settled before we talk about it. It¡¯s indeed a bit too early to give you a spot now,¡± he said. Jin Lingsu was slightly dissatisfied but didn¡¯t say anything more. Before long, the entire Sky Sand Cave had descended into chaos. Those who had previously relied on the various deputy tower masters for business had been uprooted by the patrol teams. Their assets, along with all kinds of equipment they possessed, were also confiscated; even some of the naturally gifted superpowered individuals who worked for them had their magnetic fields forcibly stripped away, turning them into ordinary people. Once the streets had become peaceful once more, Lin Chuhe quickly scrambled to find Chen Yu with two people in tow. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, the rebellion within the city has been completely quelled. Our tower master wishes to invite you over to discuss the specifics,¡± Lin Chuhe said urgently. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much and followed Lin Chuhe back up the Core Tower. In less than half a day, a revolutionary change had taken place: the protective nets between the floors had been dismantled, and even the protective shields had disappeared without a trace. The superpowered individuals, who had previously been confined like prisoners, were now afforded corresponding freedom. Only some special researchers still had to stay within closed environments. When Chen Yu arrived at the top floor, Xu Linjun had already been waiting there for a long time. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, I¡¯m terribly sorry for the alarm! From now on, I am the true master here, with the authority to decide the fate of everyone. I have a document here that I hope you will sign,¡± Xu Linjun said apologetically. Chen Yu took the document and glanced over it, only to find it was the deed for the merger of all assets of Sand Point into the Xuanqing Sect. According to the terms of the contract, Sand Point would cease to exist from then on, and all personnel here would be under Xuanqing Sect¡¯s command. Chen Yu exhaled a heavy breath and handed the contract back. ¡°These terms are too unfair for you. I think Sand Point doesn¡¯t need to merge into the Xuanqing Sect completely¡ªwe could just sign a mutual cooperation agreement instead,¡± he suggested. Xu Linjun appeared somewhat helpless and quickly pulled Chen Yu aside. ¡°Sect Leader Chen may not be aware that there is a Sky Sand City sixty kilometers from here which has always maintained economic interactions with Sand Point. To some extent, a lot of Sand Point¡¯s industries¡¯ operational rights lie there,¡± he explained. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; it seemed the former deputy tower masters had sold out quite a few of Sand Point¡¯s industries for their own benefit. If the Xuanqing Sect were to cooperate directly with Sand Point, they couldn¡¯t avoid dealings with Sky Sand City. What Xu Linjun could do was hand over all the industries of Sand Point he could control, to Chen Yu. In this way, they could use the influence of the Xuanqing Sect to confront Sky Sand City. ¡°I¡¯m aware of that place. It¡¯s said to be the largest private city in the Sahara Desert!¡± Chen Yu mentioned nonchalantly, seemingly undisturbed by the city¡¯s reputation. Surprise showed on Xu Linjun¡¯s face: ¡°Sect Leader Chen, please do not underestimate that city. Their strength is even greater than the Knights of the Round Table we faced before,¡± he warned. Chen Yu nodded, taking out a pen and paper from nearby and writing down a series of numbers. ¡°After I leave, you call this number. Someone from Xuanqing Sect will come to handle the handover. My two friends will stay here for now,¡± he instructed. Stay updated with Novgo Xu Linjun¡¯s eyes widened in shock: ¡°Where are you planning to go?¡± ¡°To Sky Sand City,¡± Chen Yu replied, his expression extraordinarily calm, as if he were referring to a trivial destination. Before the others could react, his figure had already flickered out of the Core Tower. Everyone present was terrified; they knew exactly what kind of place Sky Sand City was, and Chen Yu¡¯s abrupt departure could mean danger. Not daring to delay, Xu Linjun hurriedly dialed the number Chen Yu had left behind. Chapter 555 - Chapter 555 Ambush on the Way Chapter 555 Ambush on the Way Across the boundless desert, Chen Yu was driving his car, listening to music with a look of complete contentment on his face. On the car¡¯s computer screen in front of him, information related to Sky Sand City was continuously being displayed. It was said that this city had existed for over a thousand years, having been built by the nobles of the Ma Empire who migrated there. Because it¡¯s located in the heart of the desert, they seldom had any disturbances and were able to prosper for a thousand years. However, in recent years, the people there had become a bit overbearing, not only robbing passing merchants but also extending their reach into the surrounding cities. Many cities and powers had reportedly had a large portion of their assets seized by the people of Sky Sand City. Chen Yu was engrossed in the material when he suddenly felt like he had hit something. He hurriedly pressed the brake, got out to check, and saw a human-shaped object lying not far away! Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, could he have hit a person? He immediately released the system to scan and discovered that what lay there was nothing more than a scarecrow made of straw. Just as he was about to get back into the car, a sudden shout of war cries erupted from around him. A large group of people riding sand bikes rapidly approached and soon surrounded him completely. ¡°This kid really has the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard to dare wander around near our Sky Sand City. He must not want to live!¡± ¡°Hey, kid, leave all the valuable things you have in the car, and perhaps we can spare your life.¡± ¡°Better leave the car itself too!¡± ¡­ A group of men burst into hearty laughter, believing that Chen Yu was like a lamb to the slaughter, ready for them to carve up at will. At the front of the group, a burly man jumped off his sand bike, holding a large knife and walked straight up to Chen Yu. ¡°Young man, I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for you. Just do as we say, and maybe you can keep your life!¡± Chen Yu glanced at the gang in front of him and noticed they indeed were well-equipped. If he were an ordinary person, he would probably end up dead right there. Moreover, the big leader was incredibly muscular, his muscles looking as solid as rocks. Just as Chen Yu was planning to deal with them, he suddenly spotted an exceptionally beautiful jade token on the leader¡¯s body. ¡°Is that token an entry pass to Sky Sand City?¡± The leader glanced at the token at his waist and then burst into laughter. ¡°That¡¯s right, with this token, one can freely enjoy themselves in Sky Sand City. Are you interested in it?¡± Chen Yu nodded and suddenly closed the distance to the big man, grabbing his shoulder. The surrounding people, seeing this move, became tense, and they all gathered around with their weapons at the ready. But as they drew near, a blue-white electric light suddenly flashed by, shocking and stunning them to the ground. Chen Yu smoothly took the token from the leader¡¯s waist. ¡°Just what I needed. I was planning on visiting Sky Sand City for a couple of days. Thanks a lot!¡± Before the leader could react, Chen Yu tapped him on the forehead. After the bulky man fainted, Chen Yu took several key items from him, put them on himself, and strolled towards Sky Sand City. Less than an hour later, Chen Yu was outside Sky Sand City. The place was a bit different from what he had imagined, the outer walls were tall and thick, resembling ancient fortifications, and were reinforced with an additional layer of steel-reinforced concrete. Even some of today¡¯s heavy weaponry might not necessarily be able to break through it. The walls were bustling with people, signifying that the number of personnel responsible for defense was far from few. Chen Yu was driving his car when he was abruptly stopped as he reached the city gates. Read exclusive chapters at Novgo ¡°Halt, didn¡¯t you see what place this is, daring to charge in recklessly! Do you have an identity token? Do you have an invitation?¡± Chen Yu nonchalantly tossed out the jade token he had taken from the big man earlier. The person looked at the jade token and quickly returned it with respect. ¡°So it¡¯s a brother from the patrols outside,¡± welcome, come on in!¡± Without a word, Chen Yu pocketed the jade token and drove straight into the city. Just after finding a place to park his car, several sleazy-looking men approached him, one of them directly holding out a broken bowl to Chen Yu. ¡°Bro, you must¡¯ve gotten your hands on some nice stuff, coming back from outside. Let¡¯s split half of what you¡¯ve got¡ªfork some over!¡± The others also closed in, shaking the bowls in their hands. Chen Yu frowned and immediately scanned the brains of these thugs for information. Indeed, these men were nothing but local ruffians living by swindling and deceiving. However, their sources were remarkably well-informed; they knew about everything that happened inside or outside the city as soon as it happened. With this advantage, they often conducted trades with the patrolling teams. They came over with iron bowls, intending to exchange the news in their heads for some of Chen Yu¡¯s money. Unfortunately for them, Chen Yu had already scanned all the information in their brains. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Chen Yu stepped forward and slapped the leader¡¯s face, knocking him to the ground. The man was instantly dazed, and the others stood frozen in place. Their alliance with the patrol teams was supposed to be unbreakable, and now the other side had attacked them. ¡°Are you trying to ruin the relationship between us? Don¡¯t forget, your boss Tang Hu and I are sworn brothers,¡± the man retorted. Chen Yu didn¡¯t care for that and slapped him again. ¡°I¡¯m hitting you with our leader¡¯s permission today. Scram or I¡¯ll wipe you all out,¡± he threatened. The crowd didn¡¯t dare stay any longer and scurried away in a panic. A sly smile flickered across Chen Yu¡¯s lips. His purpose for coming here was to create chaos in this city and ideally take it under his control. Now inside, he needed to think of ways to cause as much turmoil as possible. He didn¡¯t linger, but walked towards an inn, swaying the jade token in his hand. As he passed an antique shop, he felt a chill breeze by his ear and hastily took several steps back. A young man in his twenties was thrown out of the shop, crashing heavily onto the ground while gripping a long, rectangular box. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ve told you before, your junk isn¡¯t worth anything, don¡¯t bring it here again! If you come back, I¡¯ll burn this thing of yours!¡± the shopkeeper shouted. The young man sat on the ground, clutching the box, and burst into tears. ¡°You came to my door claiming this painting was worth eight hundred thousand, so why do you say it¡¯s only worth eight hundred when I bring it here? Isn¡¯t this a scam?¡± he wailed. The shop owner rolled up his sleeves and walked out. ¡°Ah, you want to play tough here! Get lost, or I¡¯ll skin you alive,¡± he threatened. The surrounding crowd quickly gathered, blocking the road completely. Chen Yu was also caught in the throng of people, unable to move, and could only stand there and watch. At that moment, the antique shop owner came out wielding an iron rod, looking menacing and ferocious. Chapter 556 - Chapter 556: The 500 Million Bet Chapter 556: The 500 Million Bet ¡°` Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown. That stick weighed at least a hundred jin, and if it were to come down, that young man would surely be killed. He quickly stepped forward to stop the boss. ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you being a bit too impulsive? How can you be sure that the young man¡¯s item is fake?¡± The boss harrumphed. ¡°My shop has several appraisal experts. They¡¯ve all seen it, and what¡¯s in that box is nothing but a recent counterfeit painting. Giving him eight hundred yuan is already merciful. He even dared to ask me for eight hundred thousand.¡± Chen Yu turned to look at the young man and instantly scanned the information in his brain. It turned out this young man was indeed pitiful. His family had all passed away, leaving only himself and his sister to rely on each other. But his sister was suffering from gray spinal inflammation, which required a special medicine costing seven hundred thousand yuan a dose every month to keep her alive. Their home was already in financial distress and could only survive by selling the treasures passed down from their ancestors. ¡°Boss, you must know about his family situation. Even if what he¡¯s holding is indeed a fake, can¡¯t you organize a charity sale for him? Surely it could sell for a few thousand yuan.¡± The boss looked at Chen Yu coldly, as if he¡¯d heard a joke. ¡°Who are you to come here and tell me what to do? This is an antique shop, not a place for charity. If you¡¯re willing to buy it, why don¡¯t you offer him a high price and buy it yourself!¡± Chen Yu¡¯s lips suddenly curved into a strange arc, and then he took out a promissory note with a face value of one hundred million from his person and handed it to the young man. ¡°The smallest bill I carry is this big, and now this painting is mine.¡± Continue reading at Novgo The onlooking crowd widened their eyes, and the antique shop owner¡¯s face was full of disbelief. ¡°Has this kid lost his mind, spending a billion on such junk?¡± ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s from some major family, throwing out a billion as if it¡¯s worthless paper?¡± ¡°Probably just another one with an overflow of sympathy. In Sky Sand City, you can¡¯t survive with even a hint of compassion.¡± ¡°I think this young man is also a swindler, taking a fake painting to the antique shop. When the owner spotted the forgery, he just sat here crying.¡± ¡­ The surrounding crowd was buzzing with all sorts of comments. Chen Yu didn¡¯t listen to them, just went ahead and made the deal with the young man. ¡°Sir, my painting is not worth this much. Aren¡¯t you taking a loss by spending so much?¡± Chen Yu laughed, immediately stuffing the promissory note into the young man¡¯s hands. ¡°Trust me, your item is worth far more than this price! Wait here for me, and consider the rest of the surplus as my fee for treating your sister¡¯s illness.¡± The young man¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°How did you know my sister is sick?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t reply, simply took the box, and approached the antique shop owner. ¡°Boss Li, how about we make a bet? If the total value of the item I hold exceeds five billion, not only do you have to buy it, but you also owe me two billion! If its value is less than five billion, then I will compensate you five billion.¡± With those words, the scene erupted into commotion, everyone staring at Chen Yu as if he were a fool. The antique shop owner became even more excited. When he saw Chen Yu hand over the hundred-million-value promissory note so readily earlier, he figured that Chen Yu must be a naive rich young master. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re so straightforward, I won¡¯t say much! But first, you need to put up five billion as a guarantee. Otherwise, how can I believe you¡¯re not just joking with me?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, directly taking out five promissory notes and waving them in his hand. ¡°` ¡°Boss Li, according to our agreement, you need to put seven billion yuan here as well, otherwise wouldn¡¯t I be at a disadvantage?¡± Boss Li burst into laughter, ¡°You haven¡¯t even asked around, who has the most cash flow in Sky Sand City?¡± With that, he gestured to the shop assistant and had them bring out a large stack of banknotes and Gold drafts, which together totaled exactly seven billion yuan. ¡°Boss Li is indeed forthright!¡± Chen Yu made a perfunctory compliment and then placed the box on the ground, but Boss Li realized something. ¡°Hold on, we seem to have never met before, how do you know my last name is Li?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer, but instead, he controlled his strength and lightly tapped the surface of the box a few times. The black lacquer on the outside of the wooden box immediately emitted a clear cracking sound, and then a layer of primer fell to the ground. Shortly thereafter, a rich fragrance spread out, instantly exciting everyone present. ¡°My God, this is top-quality ambergris wood!¡± ¡°Wow, this scent is truly authentic. I was fortunate enough to see a small piece of ambergris wood thirty years ago; I never thought I¡¯d see it again in my lifetime!¡± ¡°This is a divine item that is sought after but seldom found. I¡¯ve heard of a piece of ambergris that was auctioned off for a sky-high price of three million yuan.¡± ¡°Such a large piece of ambergris carved into such a beautiful box, it must be worth several billion yuan at least, right?¡± ¡­ Boss Li¡¯s eyes suddenly bulged, filled with disbelief. When the young man came to his shop earlier, he only cared about the painting inside the box and didn¡¯t have anyone verify the box itself, unaware that this item was the true treasure. He hurriedly stepped forward to take a closer look, all the while calculating in his mind. After a moment, he let out a sigh of relief, his face showing a hint of smugness. ¡°Young man, I just made a rough calculation, and if this box were to be sold entirely, it would fetch only four billion. It¡¯s still one billion short of the five billion you mentioned.¡± The onlookers immediately cursed Boss Li in their minds for being shameless. Such fine ambergris wood would surely sell for over five billion yuan at an auction outside. Yet he dared to calculate it by its weight! Chen Yu, however, appeared unconcerned. ¡°Boss Li, we are not done yet, we have yet to look at the painting inside the box.¡± A hint of contempt appeared in Boss Li¡¯s eyes. ¡°No need to look. I¡¯ve had that painting appraised by experts several times¡ªit¡¯s simply a fake, not worth much money. You better just compensate me the five billion yuan.¡± As he spoke, Boss Li moved to grab the banknotes from Chen Yu¡¯s hand. Chen Yu stepped back and grabbed Boss Li¡¯s shoulder with one hand, exerting a gentle force, and the crisp sound of bones cracking instantly echoed. Boss Li¡¯s body immediately stiffened, and his eyes filled with a touch of fear; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so strong. ¡°Young man, we had an agreement earlier, don¡¯t tell me you intend to go back on it?¡± Chen Yu gave a gentle push, moving Boss Li to the side. He then embraced the box, casually took out the painting inside, and unfolded it in his hands. Chapter 557 - Chapter 557: Chapter 557: Grey Spine Inflammation Chapter 557: Chapter 557: Grey Spine Inflammation ¡°Boss Li! You¡¯re too anxious,¡± said Chen Yu gently tapped on the scroll. The pine wood scroll, which was of poor quality, instantly cracked. He then slowly tore it open from the seam, and before long, one painting became two. On the surface, it indeed was a Han Dynasty banquet scene, a replica from the Republican era, but the one beneath it was the genuine ¡°Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,¡± evident from the seal at the corner, likely hand-drawn by Emperor Huizong, Zhao Ji. ¡°My heavens, isn¡¯t that the lost painting?¡± someone exclaimed. ¡°They said it was destroyed during the Jingkang Incident. I never thought I¡¯d see it in my lifetime,¡± another voice joined in. ¡°The craftsmanship is exquisite, truly Emperor Huizong¡¯s own hand. Such a priceless treasure would start at at least a hundred million at an outside auction,¡± commented another. ¡°Looks like Boss Li has lost the bet!¡± yet another concluded. ¡­ The scene boiled over with excitement, and all eyes were on Boss Li. With a box made of Dragon Xiang wood and a painting by Emperor Huizong himself, these two items could fetch at least half a billion if put up for sale. Chen Yu stuffed the items into Boss Li¡¯s hands, then proceeded to shove the prepared banknotes and gold drafts into his bag. ¡°Boss Li, our business is settled. Until next time!¡± Chen Yu said before Boss Li could react. Without waiting for a response, Chen Yu took the young man back to the garage, started the car, and drove to the outskirts of the city¡¯s south side. Though Sky Sand City stood affluent at the heart of the desert, there were clear social divisions. The truly rich were the high and mighty administrators, while most ordinary citizens struggled for basic sustenance. The young man¡¯s home was located in a slum, where not even parking space was available; Chen Yu found an empty spot near a garbage dump to park the car. As he followed the young man into the slum, a mix of strange smells hit him so strongly that even he almost vomited. After winding through countless turns, they finally arrived at a dilapidated little house. The place lacked doors and windows and was breezy all around. In the desert, where the weather is unpredictable¡ªscorching by day and freezing at night¡ªsurvival in such a ramshackle dwelling was fortunate. In a makeshift bed made of bricks and planks lay a girl with a slightly hunched figure. Severe kyphosis had already twisted her body, and her complexion was extremely pale. When Chen Yu saw the girl, his brows furrowed in concern. Not only did she suffer from kyphosis, but she was also afflicted with at least thirty complications. If these complications erupted at the same time, the girl wouldn¡¯t survive a day. Chen Yu surveyed the surroundings and looked at the girl lying in the bed, exhaling deeply. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a hospital in such a big city?¡± he asked. The young man didn¡¯t know how to respond. All the medical facilities in the city were essentially for the wealthy. For slum dwellers like them, even setting foot inside was out of the question. For mundane illnesses, they had to rely on local quacks. Chen Yu immediately caught the thoughts in the young man¡¯s head. Without saying another word, he patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, then pulled over a stool and sat down by the bed. Ankylosing spondylitis was indeed a formidable disease for modern medicine; once contracted, it caused irreversible damage to the body. It could only be managed with a special medication administered through a monthly injection. That might be feasible for wealthy families, but how could an ordinary family like the one before him afford seven hundred thousand a month? However, for Chen Yu, this disease was actually not too much trouble, as he had cured similar cases before. He took out several silver needles from his person and inserted them into the girl¡¯s back along the acupoints, one by one. Before long, the girl¡¯s back was filled with densely packed silver needles. Chen Yu then raised his finger to the back of the girl¡¯s head, and a large amount of blue-white electric light surged into her. The girl, who had been curled up, seemed to come to life, gradually stretching out, and even her wrinkled skin regained its color. The young man standing beside became immediately excited, his eyes brimming with hope. After removing all the silver needles, Chen Yu wiped the sweat from his brow and wrote out a prescription. ¡°If you want your sister to recover fully, she must take these medicines in addition to the treatment!¡± When the young man received the prescription, his complexion immediately turned ugly. The medications listed were all expensive, with each costing several thousand; he simply couldn¡¯t afford them. Chen Yu frowned and patted his shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, kid? Didn¡¯t I just give you a billion-dollar note? What, are you reluctant to spend it?¡± The young man then realized what had happened. Just about to leave to fill the prescription, he suddenly stopped, looking at Chen Yu with a strange expression. ¡°Sir, are you a natural superpower? How do I feel like you can see right through my thoughts?¡± Chen Yu did not explain anything but urged the young man to hurry and fill the prescription. No sooner had the young man left when a group of raggedly dressed children surrounded the entrance. ¡°Are you the doctor Ba Wan hired?¡± Chen Yu looked up, covered all the people in front of him with the system, then nodded. ¡°It is a doctor! Did you cure Ba Xiu¡¯s sister¡¯s illness?¡± Chen Yu nodded and waved to the children in front of him. ¡°It seems you all have the same illness. Come in, let me take a look at you.¡± The children all seemed shy and hesitant to go in first. Only a boy around seventeen or eighteen years old walked in without hesitation and stretched out his wrist to Chen Yu. Chen Yu gently checked his pulse and found an artificial toxin in the boy¡¯s body. He stood up and took the pulses of the other children one by one, discovering the same toxin present in all of them. After a brief moment of contemplation, Chen Yu suddenly had an idea. ¡°Where do you usually drink water from?¡± All the children raised their arms together, pointing towards a water tower not far away. Chen Yu went to take a look. The water tower seemed to be a community-built facility in the shantytown, with three sources of water: rainwater, nearby river water, and an underground stream that ran close by. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 558 - Chapter 558: Chapter 558: Stealing Medicine Chapter 558: Chapter 558: Stealing Medicine Chen Yu directly overrode the system and went out to analyze the water sources from the three sides. The rainwater and river water were fine; it seemed there was a problem with the groundwater. Just as he was preparing to get closer to investigate, several children suddenly ran over in panic from not far away. ¡°This place absolutely reeks, I really don¡¯t understand how these guys manage to live in such a place.¡± ¡°The order from above has been given, to destroy this place in the shortest time possible. Better not complain so much, let¡¯s just carry out the order quickly.¡± ¡°If you ask me, we should just burn it all down. These lowlifes don¡¯t deserve to live!¡± ¡­ A group of people wearing thick protective suits came from not far away, their weapons in hand, evicting people from house to house. Chen Yu frowned, he hadn¡¯t expected these guys to be so excessive. He adjusted his breathing slightly and walked directly towards them. ¡°Where are you from? Whose orders are you executing?¡± The people were also taken aback when they saw Chen Yu. ¡°We¡¯re from the patrol team, executing the City Lord¡¯s orders. And who might you be?¡± Chen Yu directly took out the Token he had with him. ¡°I¡¯m also from the patrol team, and from now on, I¡¯m in charge of this area. You may leave.¡± The leader¡¯s face was full of suspicion, ¡°The City Lord would never issue orders to two groups at the same time. Who exactly are you?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s expression changed slightly; he hadn¡¯t expected the City Lord here to be so cautious. It seemed that the only option was to take out these guys in front of him, but just as he was preparing to make a move, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded nearby. The group, as if hearing some terrifying sound, dispersed quickly. As they retreated, the leader took out a wooden Token from his body and stuffed it into Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°I knew it, the City Lord would never issue two orders at the same time. Turns out there¡¯s an emergency. Brother, I¡¯ll leave this place in your hands.¡± Chen Yu was momentarily stunned, regretting that he hadn¡¯t scanned the brains of these guys. Maybe he could have found some useful information. Without dwelling on it, he turned and went back inside the dilapidated house. After an indeterminate amount of time, Ba Wan hurried back to the shanty area. He was covered in wounds, looking as though he had been bullied. Clutched tightly in his arms was a large bundle, full of medicinal herbs. ¡°Sir, I have bought all the herbs you mentioned. Can I use them for my sister now?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed; the images from Ba Wan¡¯s mind were now projected into his own. At the hospital, when purchasing medicines, Ba Wan¡¯s banknotes were forcibly taken away. These herbs were also stolen from the warehouse by Ba Wan. If he hadn¡¯t run fast, it would have been more than just coming back with a few injuries. Chen Yu was incensed. ¡°What on earth is going on? The hospitals here are robbing patients of their money?¡± Ba Wan hung his head, not knowing what to say, merely handing the medicine to Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, my sister¡¯s illness can¡¯t wait. Could you please administer the medicine?¡± Chen Yu forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart, gathered the medicinal herbs together, all the Western medicines were ground into powder, mixed with Chinese medicinal ingredients, along with some syrup, and dissolved in water. It was his uniquely formulated concoction, and also the only oral medication in the world that could treat Gray Spine Inflammation. Its efficacy was significantly stronger than those injectable drugs, and upon entering the body, it also helped to clear the blood vessels, even capable of awakening the patient¡¯s hematopoietic stem cells, breathing new life into them. Indeed, after drinking a bowl of the medicine, Ba Xiu¡¯s body miraculously began to recover, and it wasn¡¯t long before she could walk on the ground. After confirming the young girl was all right, Chen Yu prepared to go to the hospital to seek justice for Ba Wan. But just as he was about to leave, the group of children from before, along with their families, surrounded the outside of the house. ¡°Divine physician! If you can cure Ba Xiu¡¯s disease, you can surely cure ours, please save us!¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, his purpose in coming here was to bring the entire Sky Sand City into his fold, not expecting the city to be in such a state. After taking a moment to adjust his breathing, he pulled up a small stool and sat down. ¡°The illnesses you all have are basic ailments and not severe. As long as you take the medicine on time, there¡¯s a chance of recovery! But I don¡¯t have that much medicine to give you.¡± A look of helplessness appeared on everyone¡¯s faces. They were well aware that all the medicine and supplies in the city were under control, and people like them at the bottom couldn¡¯t get any medicine. Everyone present felt very desperate, with a few even getting up to leave. Chen Yu suddenly thought of something. ¡°Everyone, if you trust me, I can get you the medicine, but I¡¯ll need your cooperation.¡± The group that had been in despair suddenly filled with hope. An older person knelt directly at Chen Yu¡¯s feet. ¡°As long as we can get the medicine, we¡¯ll do anything, our worthless lives here aren¡¯t worth a dime anyway!¡± Chen Yu helped the elder to his feet. He didn¡¯t say much but pulled over a piece of torn cloth and drew a map of Sky Sand City on it. After giving a few instructions, he took Ba Wan with him to the hospital. There was only one hospital in the whole Sky Sand City, and it was quite large in scale. As soon as they entered the hospital lobby, Chen Yu even felt like he had entered a royal palace. ¡°Come here, the little thief who stole the medicine is back!¡± Someone shouted, and the hospital¡¯s security officers rushed up, and surrounded Chen Yu and Ba Wan. Afterward, a man in his fifties or sixties wearing a white coat walked over with a look of disgust. ¡°Humph, you filthy kid from the slums, stole money and medicine, and now you even dare to bring people here to cause trouble, I think you¡¯re tired of living!¡± Ba Wan clenched his teeth, staring fiercely at the man. ¡°Director Zhou, don¡¯t spout nonsense, that promissory note was the money I earned by selling the antique in my house, it wasn¡¯t stolen!¡± Zhou Wutong didn¡¯t care about the details. In his eyes, what could a wild child from the slums possibly have in terms of antiques, and even if there were any, they would just be broken old things that couldn¡¯t possibly sell for a billion. ¡°Hey, you little brat even dare to curse at me! If I don¡¯t hand you over to the patrolling team as an example of civil disobedience today, my name isn¡¯t Zhou!¡± With that, he signaled to the security staff beside him, wanting to forcibly take Ba Wan away. Chen Yu quickly shielded Ba Wan behind him and took out the Token he had from earlier. ¡°Director Zhou, casually seizing people in front of me, aren¡¯t you a little too dismissive of me?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 559 - Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Return My 500 Million Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Return My 500 Million Zhou Wutong was also startled when he saw the Token, hastily adjusting his glasses to take a closer look at Chen Yu. ¡°This gentleman looks somewhat unfamiliar. I know all the members of the patrol team; how come I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± Chen Yu did not respond, but pocketed the Token and walked straight up to Zhou Wutong. ¡°The antiques from the Ba Wan family, I witnessed being sold to the owner of the antique shop, Mr. Li. How can you say his money was stolen? Return that promissory note immediately, or else I can take you back for questioning right now.¡± Zhou Wutong panicked at once. In Sky Sand City, members of the patrol team hold absolute power, with the authority over the life and death of all its citizens. Although he had never met Chen Yu, the Token was authentic. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, but we have already accounted for and handed over that promissory note; it¡¯s not possible to produce it now! If you must see it, why not report to the city lord, and let his elder decide.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly; this guy really was an old fox, trying to deliberately escalate the situation. ¡°Dean Zhou might not be a real doctor, might he!¡± The sudden inquiry gave Zhou Wutong a start. He had become the dean thanks to his connections, and his medical skills alone wouldn¡¯t qualify him for the title. But to say he wasn¡¯t a real doctor was a bit of an understatement¡ªhe did, after all, graduate from a legitimate medical university. ¡°What do you mean by that? Being the dean of a hospital in this city proves my medical skills. How could I not be a real doctor?¡± The doctors nearby were either silent or covering their mouths, trying hard not to laugh. They all knew Zhou Wutong¡¯s capabilities; to be honest, he was mediocre. He could only handle minor illnesses. If he had to operate or treat a serious patient, he would immediately find ways to pass the case to another doctor. A sly smile flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s mouth. He had already scanned Zhou Wutong¡¯s brain and knew his background. The remarks he had made were intended to provoke him. ¡°Since that is the case, I would like to have a contest with Dean Zhou!¡± Zhou Wutong sized up Chen Yu and almost laughed. In Sky Sand City, patrol team members were mostly desperadoes recruited from the outside, with a small portion being natural superpowered individuals. Although these people were strong, they knew nothing about medicine. Moreover, in this profession, one would feel embarrassed claiming to be an expert without three to four decades of experience. Zhou Wutong might have been mediocre, but he had at least decades of experience in treating patients, not enough to be frightened by a youngster. ¡°Challenging me on my turf? That¡¯s like a direct provocation! You¡¯ve got to put up something as a stake. I, the esteemed dean, can¡¯t just compete with you for nothing.¡± Chen Yu directly took out two promissory notes with a face value of one billion each. ¡°Let¡¯s use this as the stake. If I lose, I will give you these two billion with both hands. But if I win, Dean Zhou not only has to return the billion you grabbed before but also has to give me two billion.¡± Zhou Wutong rolled up his sleeves: ¡°Fine, today I¡¯ll let this youngster see what a real doctor is! Now tell me, how shall we compare.¡± When Chen Yu came in, he had already scanned the entire hospital¡¯s layout. He had pinpointed the location early on. ¡°Third floor, starting from the right, the twentieth room¡ªwe each choose ten rooms, and heal the patients inside in the shortest time possible.¡± The scene instantly fell silent, everyone¡¯s gaze focused on Chen Yu. ¡°Has this guy lost his mind? That¡¯s our intensive care unit, where everyone is waiting for death, with no possibility of being cured!¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s clearly here to cause trouble. How could those people¡¯s illnesses possibly be cured?¡± ¡°I wonder if the Dean dare accept the challenge?¡± ¡­ The crowd was there quietly discussing, seemingly harboring an inexplicable fear of the intensive care ward on the third floor. Zhou Wutong was also stunned, staring at Chen Yu with an incredulous gaze. ¡°The patients in these wards are beyond treatment, you might as well choose some others!¡± Chen Yu, however, didn¡¯t care and flicked his wrist, heading towards the third floor. ¡°Dean Zhou, if you¡¯re scared now, give me three billion right away!¡± Zhou Wutong clenched his teeth so hard they made a clicking sound, realizing he might have fallen into Chen Yu¡¯s trap. ¡°Stop rambling. As for those patients on the third floor, let alone curing ten, even if you cure one, I¡¯ll give you five billion on the spot.¡± A sly smile flitted across Chen Yu¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s what you said; I didn¡¯t force you!¡± Zhou Wutong was instantly dumbfounded, looking at Chen Yu¡¯s posture, it seemed he might really be able to cure the patient upstairs. ¡°Hmph, you ignorant brat, you don¡¯t know how high the sky is. If you can¡¯t cure them, you have to give me five billion back!¡± Chen Yu agreed without hesitation and went straight to the third floor. The doctors in the hall were immediately intrigued and followed Zhou Wutong up the stairs. By the time everyone reached the third floor, Chen Yu had already entered the first room on the right. ¡°My God, that kid really took a gamble, the patient in that ward seems to have cerebral atrophy! It is said that their brain can no longer receive any messages and they will be declared brain-dead in a couple of days.¡± ¡°That kind of disease, even if the world¡¯s top medical experts came, it would be impossible to cure. I don¡¯t know what this kid is thinking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, I thought someone would come here to teach Dean Zhou, nicknamed ¡®Ba Wan¡¯, a lesson, and didn¡¯t expect it to be a naive kid here to hand over the money.¡± ¡­ The corridor suddenly became noisy, with a few younger doctors squeezing forward and peering into the ward through the doorway. ¡°What are you crowding around here for? Move aside!¡± Zhou Wutong scolded loudly and went straight into the ward. Chen Yu had already taken out several silver needles and inserted them into the patient¡¯s head, meanwhile unplugging all the electronic devices around the bed. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what the doctors here do for a living, the patient¡¯s body is already so weak, and you¡¯ve stuck so many tubes into them. Aren¡¯t you just hastening their death?¡± Suddenly insulted, Zhou Wutong was steaming with anger and was about to retort when he suddenly noticed the patient on the bed twitched. Chen Yu¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop moving, continuing to insert needles into the patient and controlling blue and white electric arcs to enter the patient¡¯s body, trying to clear the meridians as much as possible. In fact, cerebral atrophy to a certain extent, is caused by blockages in the brain¡¯s connections with the body and blood circulation. If the obstructions could be cleared as much as possible, the patient might have a chance of recovery. Zhou Wutong swallowed unconsciously, he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu¡¯s medical skills to reach such a level, being able to revive someone nearly declared dead. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 560 - Chapter 560: Chapter 560: Scorpion Enters the City Chapter 560: Chapter 560: Scorpion Enters the City Chen Yu reconnected some essential breathing and life detection equipment back to the patient¡¯s body. Immediately, various sets of data appeared on the screen. The group of doctors blocking the door were left dumbfounded; they had never imagined that someone in this world could actually cure a cerebral palsy patient. Before this, they had even invited several individuals with innate superpowers over, yet even they couldn¡¯t manage it. As they were struck with astonishment, Chen Yu left the room and went straight to the ward next door. The patient in this room had been infected with an unknown radiation virus, which had been rampaging through his body for thirty days. From a medical standpoint, this patient had only half a month left to live, and a large number of protective devices were set up around his ward, for fear that the radiation virus on him would spread. The nurses and doctors in the hospital were reluctant to enter this ward, to the extent that once they heard the patient had only a few days left, they even stopped delivering his meals. However, Chen Yu appeared indifferent to the radiation virus and swaggered into the room. Although curious, no one dared to approach the ward. As they waited anxiously outside, the monitoring equipment in the room suddenly made a sound. ¡°The radiation virus is rapidly weakening and has reached normal levels.¡± The onlookers outside the ward were immediately astounded. They knew all too well how formidable the radiation virus in the room was, so much so that even with protective measures in place, when they occasionally went in to deliver meals, they would wear layers of protective gear. Chen Yu had entered without any protection, and now the radiation virus inside had dropped to normal levels. A few of the braver young doctors craned their necks to look inside and saw that the patient, who had been at death¡¯s door, was now sitting up, clutching Chen Yu¡¯s hand and waving it about, seemingly expressing his thanks. ¡°My God, how did he do it just now?¡± ¡°To enter a room with such serious radiation virus and come out without any issues¡­¡± ¡°Who on earth is this guy? Could he be someone sent down from above for inspection?¡± ¡°This medical skill is incredible; he alone is worth an entire hospital!¡± ¡­ While everyone was marveling, Zhou Wutong entered the room reluctantly. When he saw the equipment showing that everything was normal, he stiffened up like a stone. ¡°Dean Zhou, we agreed earlier that if I cured one patient, you would pay me five billion. Now that I¡¯ve cured two, according to our agreement, you owe me ten billion.¡± Zhou Wutong finally came to his senses, ¡°Who exactly are you? I haven¡¯t heard of you in the patrol team.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more and directly reached into Zhou Wutong¡¯s coat pocket, pulling out three banknotes. The fellow was indeed wealthy, carrying three billion on his person. ¡°Dean Zhou, you still owe me seven billion. How about we use the medicine from the hospital¡¯s warehouse to settle the debt?¡± Zhou Wutong¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid. This was the desert region, where medicine was as precious as water sources. The stash in the warehouse was what Sky Sand City had accumulated over more than twenty years; how could he possibly let someone take it away? ¡°Kid, don¡¯t even think about it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting you take the medicine from the warehouse! But your identity is worth identifying. I¡¯m going to call the city lord right now and find out if there¡¯s someone like you in Sky Sand City.¡± With that, Zhou Wutong picked up the phone, but just as he was about to dial, Chen Yu stepped forward and grabbed his neck. ¡°Director Zhou, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so shameless,¡± Chen Yu said. ¡°We had just agreed on this, are you going back on your word?¡± Zhou Wutong¡¯s eyes widened with anger: ¡°You are definitely not from the patrol team.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Chen Yu said with an indifferent expression, ¡°Right now, load the medicine from the warehouse onto the truck; I am taking it away.¡± Zhou Wutong gritted his teeth: ¡°Dream on, I¡¯ll never hand the medicine over to you!¡± Chen Yu turned his gaze directly to the doctors outside the door. ¡°Do it now, as I said, or I will kill your director.¡± The doctors immediately panicked, as the relationship between the director and the City Lord was no ordinary one; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have become the director with his mediocre medical skills. They immediately called the warehouse to have a truck filled with medical supplies packed up. Without lingering any longer, Chen Yu took Zhou Wutong as his hostage and walked toward the warehouse. When going up to the third floor, Chen Yu had already instructed Ba Wan to go to the warehouse in advance and wait there. At this moment, a truck was being hastily loaded with medicine by the anxious workers inside the warehouse, and Ba Wan had already climbed into the truck¡¯s co-driver seat early on. By the time Chen Yu and Zhou Wutong arrived, the truck was fully loaded. ¡°Director Zhou, thank you so much,¡± Chen Yu said. ¡°This batch of medicine is exactly what I urgently need.¡± After patting Zhou Wutong¡¯s shoulder, Chen Yu jumped onto the truck and drove off into the distance. Zhou Wutong was so angry he clenched his teeth and rushed into the warehouse. The truck that had just been taken was the largest one they had, capable of moving an eighth of the warehouse¡¯s medicines. Indeed, large empty spaces now appeared in the once fully stocked warehouse. ¡°What the hell are you guys good for? Had I not come here, would you dare to load the medicine?¡± The several workers who were loading the truck were utterly confused by the scolding; the person who came to give the orders earlier had used Director Zhou¡¯s name, or else they wouldn¡¯t have dared to load the truck. Now, they were being blamed for it. Just as Zhou Wutong was about to call the City Lord to report the situation, a piercing alarm sounded in the sky. ¡°Urgent notice, scorpions have entered the city; people, secure your doors and windows, activate the defenses, Sky Sand City is going into lockdown.¡± Fear reached an extreme on Zhou Wutong¡¯s face; he hurriedly hung up the phone, ordered the warehouse doors to be closed, and activated the perimeter defenses himself before he frantically returned to the hospital. Upon hearing the broadcast, Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. ¡°Scorpions? Is that someone¡¯s code name? How terrifying.¡± Ba Wan¡¯s breathing also became rapid, his face showing a hint of horror. ¡°It¡¯s the Myriad Poison Scorpion from the desert! Just one drop of its venom can kill more than forty strong men at once!¡± Chen Yu was startled; he had heard of such creatures in the desert, known for their extremely potent venom. But even then, it seemed impossible for it to kill more than forty people at once. He shook his head, dismissing the thought without dwelling on it, and floored the gas pedal to drive the truck back to the shantytown. Chen Yu¡¯s brow furrowed deeply; a mere scorpion managed to scare the people in the city like this; it seemed this creature was definitely not simple. Just as he was about to call out to the people here to receive the medicine, a whizzing sound suddenly came from not far away. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 561 - Chapter 561: Chapter 561 Urgent Rescue Chapter 561: Chapter 561 Urgent Rescue Chen Yu became tense all of a sudden, subconsciously letting the system out. Several palm-sized scorpions suddenly appeared in his mind. In his memory, scorpions were never this big. What shocked him the most was that these scorpions could fly. [Detected radiation genes, S-grade synthetic venom] A storm of shock surged in Chen Yu¡¯s heart; this meant that the scorpions flying in the sky were artificially synthesized, and even the toxins in their bodies had been injected by humans. ¡°Tell everyone to hide and stay still, don¡¯t move!¡± After quickly giving the instructions, he ran directly out of the shanty area. Ba Wan¡¯s eyes were wide with sheer panic. ¡°Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t go, these scorpions are very dangerous. If they bite you, you¡¯ll turn into pus and blood immediately,¡± Although Ba Wan was shouting at the top of his lungs, Chen Yu¡¯s figure had already disappeared into the night. The residents of the shanty town were all startled and began sticking their heads out to see what was happening outside. When they saw Ba Wan, they instantly became tense. ¡°What are you still doing outside? Hurry up and come in. Do you want to be bitten to death by those scorpions?¡± Ba Wan didn¡¯t know what to do, his fear had reached its peak, yet he worried about Chen Yu¡¯s safety. Just then, the sky suddenly shimmered with a vast expanse of blue and white light, followed by the smell of burning. Before the crowd could react, a heap of scorpion corpses rained down from the sky, and Chen Yu also descended. ¡°This area is safe now. Notify everyone to come out, and hurry to distribute the medicine,¡± Ba Wan watched, dumbfounded. It was the first time he had seen someone take down the scorpions so effortlessly. These creatures were extremely tricky, with strong venom and powerful attacks, and even their shells were bulletproof. The city patrols had tried countless methods, but to no avail. They could only let the scorpions roam freely. In the years when scorpions entered the city, everyone would go into a defensive mode, hiding obediently at home. Chen Yu patted Ba Wan on the shoulder. ¡°What are you staring for? Go on, hurry up. I just cleared the scorpions in this area. It won¡¯t be long before others from different places come over!¡± Not daring to delay any further, Ba Wan quickly gathered the people of the shanty town to come out and collect herbs by the truck. Chen Yu didn¡¯t idle either. He found some simple bottles and started collecting the scorpions that had fallen to the ground. These creatures were indeed difficult to deal with; Chen Yu had just stunned them with electricity, and killing them was not an easy task. After taking the scorpions back, Chen Yu took one out and placed it on the table. He touched its back shell with a finger, releasing a blue and white light continuously. Although the outer shell was extremely hard, it also conducted electricity, making it easy to release electric light into its body. Before long, the room was filled with an extremely strong burnt smell. Ba Xiu was shivering, hiding to one side. ¡°These things are very dangerous. Before, people in the shanty area were bitten to death because they didn¡¯t secure their doors and windows properly,¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he simply tore the scorpion in half. The prolonged electric shock had damaged the scorpion¡¯s internal structure and even its external shell had become extremely fragile. After briefly analyzing the scorpion¡¯s internal toxins with the system, Chen Yu abruptly stood up, suddenly recalling the radiation poisoning he had seen in the hospital. He was almost certain that this type of scorpion had been released within Sky Sand City. At that moment, the few scorpions that had just been captured showed signs of reviving. Chen Yu immediately extended his finger to release a blue-white arc of electricity, completely enveloping the scorpions and utterly destroying their internal structure. The medicinal herbs that had been pulled in had all been distributed, and the residents of the shantytown had gathered at the entrance of Ba Wan¡¯s house. ¡°Mr. Chen, how should we use these medicinal herbs?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, he simply took a packet of herbs from a pouch he was holding. ¡°These have already been dried by the wind. All you need to do is take them home, grind them into a powder, and eat it dissolved in water,¡± he said. The people present trusted him implicitly and dared not delay, hurrying back to their homes. Chen Yu took the few packets of medicine he had set aside, crushed them into a powder, and climbed up to the nearby water tower, tossing the packets into it. Judging by the health of all the residents, there must have been a problem with the drinking water. In the desert, finding the source of an underground water vein was extremely difficult, so he could only solve the issue with the water in the tower for the time being. After taking the medicine, everyone¡¯s health improved, but in this kind of environment, many people had some chronic underlying illnesses. Chen Yu could only go from house to house treating them, busying himself until the next morning. ¡°Quick, search the entire area, call our people out and then burn this damned place down.¡± Sudden commotion arose from not far away; Sky Sand City¡¯s patrol team had already surrounded the entire shantytown. After making sure an old man was settled, Chen Yu hurried out. The two patrol members he had seen the day before, upon seeing Chen Yu, tried to take him away. ¡°Damn, brother, you spent a whole night in this hellhole and you¡¯re still alive? You¡¯re one lucky guy! Hurry up, we¡¯re about to burn this place down soon.¡± Chen Yu frowned, and with the situation at hand, he no longer needed to hide. Raising his palm, he released a burst of blue-white electric light, instantly knocking the two men to the ground. The other patrol members nearby were stunned by this scene. Before they could react, Chen Yu¡¯s body moved towards them like a bolt of lightning. In the open area outside the shantytown, several modified off-road vehicles were parked, with a great number of patrol members gathered around, carrying flamethrowers in their hands. A burly man with a full beard, looking somewhat fierce and ferocious, sat in one of the vehicles, his legs propped on the steering wheel, lazily puffing on a cigar. ¡°The people inside are taking too damn long, aren¡¯t they? It¡¯s been half a day; why haven¡¯t they sent up a signal yet?¡± A person beside him approached obsequiously. ¡°Captain, don¡¯t you worry. The scorpions caused such a ruckus last night, maybe everyone inside is already dead, and the boys are just dealing with the bodies,¡± they said. ¡°Do they even need to bother with that?¡± the big man jumped down from the vehicle, ¡°In my eyes, there¡¯s no living person in this place. It would be simpler to burn it all down, why even bother searching inside!¡± While they were talking, several yellow signal flares soared up from the center of the shantytown, exploding one after another. All the patrol members present immediately tensed up¡ªthis was an emergency distress signal! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 562 - Chapter 562: Chapter 562 Opportunities to Exploit Chapter 562: Chapter 562 Opportunities to Exploit The burly leader hopped off the vehicle in a hurry and rushed into the slum. The others didn¡¯t hesitate at all and followed him in, but when they entered the slum they found it eerily deserted, with even those they had previously followed in nowhere to be found. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are the brothers from before? Get in there and search.¡± After giving the order, the leading brute headed straight for the center of the slum. But he didn¡¯t get far before a figure suddenly appeared in front of him and tapped his head. Then a strong magnetic field enveloped him in an instant. ¡°Zheng Kaishan! Such a domineering name, but alas, your time has come!¡± Chen Yu was ice cold as he spoke, then slapped him on the shoulder. Having obtained the other¡¯s brain information, this guy was of no further use to him. Therefore, the electric current he released was enough to be lethal. But just as he knocked the man down, the fellow got back up again. ¡°Never expected to find a natural superpower user here, no wonder my brothers have vanished without a trace.¡± Flames suddenly gathered in both of Zheng Kaishan¡¯s hands. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated sharply, as he had just scanned the other¡¯s brain information and not detected any unusual magnetic field on him. In his urgency, he once again gathered up blue-white electric light and threw it out. The powers of the two men collided in mid-air, rippled outward, and reduced the surrounding houses to dust. Only then did Chen Yu sense that within the other¡¯s cells, there seemed to be a strange poison that had altered the genetic operation within his body, thereby granting him superpowers. Almost subconsciously, he released his system, covering Zheng Kaishan¡¯s entire body, and instantly displayed the nervous system and vein images in his own mind. This special connection between nerves and veins was exactly the same as the scorpion captured last night. It seemed that the laboratories in Sky Sand City¡¯s purpose in studying these scorpions was to create natural superpower users. Moreover, some of the experimental data must have come from Core Tower. While Chen Yu was lost in thought, Zheng Kaishan bore down on him like a towering mountain. ¡°Your superpower is nothing but a postnatal transplant, it can¡¯t last for long. Beg for mercy now, and I might let you live.¡± Chen Yu spoke with a hint of disdain. Zheng Kaishan, as if hearing some joke, burst into a maniacal laugh, and his huge fist came thundering down. It was covered in wildly violent flames, looking like molten lava, and one would likely be reduced to ashes immediately if hit by it. Chen Yu snorted coldly, his physical fitness now several times beyond human limits, showing not the slightest bit of fear on his face. He just raised his hand and lightly slapped it out, making contact with Zheng Kaishan¡¯s fist. This time Zheng Kaishan¡¯s power was clearly insufficient, and he was directly slapped away. Chen Yu wouldn¡¯t give him any chance to catch his breath, his figure flashed to the forefront in an instant, raising his hand and grabbing his neck. ¡°I said, you¡¯re nothing but an ant in my eyes. Now you have one more chance to beg for mercy!¡± Zheng Kaishan¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. He was a super soldier, handpicked from thousands, and it was precisely because of the formidable strength he exuded that he had become the team leader. Yet, in front of Chen Yu, he was like a quail, utterly powerless. ¡°Who exactly are you? What are you doing in Sky Sand City?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words with him, so he simply twisted his neck slightly, knocking him unconscious. Follow-up forces continued to rush into the slum, but as soon as they set foot on this land, they fell into traps. In less than five minutes, everyone was caught in the pre-dug pitfalls. The residents of the slum had always lived in humiliation. The patrol team would come here every now and then, either to snatch people or to take money. Driven to desperation, the people had no choice but to dig traps around the area. Chen Yu, building on what was already there, linked all the traps together to form a massive trap network. Ba Wan came over, elated. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯ve captured all of them; what do you suggest we do now?¡± Chen Yu stroked his chin, pondering for a moment. ¡°Catching these guys is tantamount to declaring war on Sky Sand City. Are you really not afraid?¡± Ba Wan grimaced, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°Those people control all the resources in the city, driving us to this barren place with no medicine, no water, and even restricting our food supply. We¡¯re fed up! What do we have to fear if it comes down to death?¡± The surrounding residents also started to gather, their rage ignited when they heard Ba Wan¡¯s words. ¡°Exactly, the people of Sky Sand City, relying on their noble ancestry, have been oppressing us without restraint. It¡¯s about time they paid the price.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, if you can subdue the formidable scorpion, you can surely help us!¡± ¡­ A wave of excitement surged through the crowd; they couldn¡¯t wait to storm into the heart of Sky Sand City and tear the detested city lord to pieces. Chen Yu raised his hand to calm them momentarily. Just as he was about to share his plan, a voice sounded from outside the slums. ¡°To the divine healer inside, I am the head of the Sky Sand City Medical Association. I¡¯ve heard you cured two very difficult patients, and I would like to invite you to the hospital in my capacity as the president of the association to treat a few more patients.¡± Although the voice came through a loudspeaker, it clearly conveyed a hint of pleading. Ba Wan paused, taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s President Huang of the Medical Association; what brings him here?¡± The crowd present began to stir with excitement. Huang Qingyang was different from the others; as president of the Medical Association, he truly embodied a doctor¡¯s benevolence. He would often come to the slums with professional doctors and a large supply of medicine to treat the people there, all free of charge. Chen Yu immediately captured the brainwave information of everyone present and, after some analysis, discovered that this President Huang was indeed one of the few good people around. If he wanted to completely win over Sky Sand City, relying solely on the residents of the slums wouldn¡¯t be enough; he needed to ally with other forces. The Medical Association was a good choice, as they at least controlled the medical lifeline of the city. ¡°Since it¡¯s President Huang¡¯s invitation, I shall accompany him. You all stay here and wait for my return; remember to keep expanding the traps outside. We cannot afford to give the patrol team any opportunities to exploit.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 563 - Chapter 563: Chapter 563 Collective Therapy Chapter 563: Chapter 563 Collective Therapy The people in the slum had a bone-deep trust in Chen Yu. They did not say much, immediately escorting Chen Yu out of the slum. An elderly man in a white lab coat, megaphone in hand, was shouting hoarsely there. The patrol team that had been surrounding the area had already been brought under control by the Medical Association. It seemed the Medical Association¡¯s influence was not small, actually having a squad of pure-born superpower users in their hands. Their power was very pure, beyond what those patrol members could match. Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, coming to a halt in front of Huang Qingyang. ¡°Are you the president of the Medical Association here?¡± Huang Qingyang coughed twice, excitedly stepping forward to grasp Chen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°Finally found you, I had some business yesterday, was not at the hospital, and missed out on meeting a divine doctor like yourself.¡± Chen Yu was suddenly frightened, Huang Qingyang seemed excessively excited. ¡°Mr. Huang, if you have something you need from me, just say it directly.¡± Huang Qingyang dispensed with the pleasantries, immediately pulling out a large bunch of medical records and stuffing them into Chen Yu¡¯s hands. ¡°You must be aware of the radiation toxin issue! There are not a few in the city who have been afflicted by this toxin. Since you could cure one, you must have your own experience and methods. Can you help me?¡± During the treatment of that patient, Chen Yu had already guessed something; such a radiation virus could not appear out of nowhere, it had to be man-made. His aim was to take over Sky Sand City, but if the city were completely destroyed by the radiation virus, it would all be meaningless. ¡°Since the elder trusts me, then let¡¯s go now, we can¡¯t keep the patients waiting too long.¡± Huang Qingyang nodded repeatedly, hastily pulling Chen Yu into the car, then ordered a portion of his squad to enter the slum to protect the residents there. The motorcade quickly arrived at a large building in the center of the city. The place looked somewhat dilapidated, were it not for the Medical Association¡¯s sign hanging outside, it would be difficult to associate it with the Medical Association. Upon arriving, Chen Yu released his system, replicating all the details of the entire building in his mind. There was no difference between this and other buildings, except the basement was sealed up very tightly. Huang Qingyang led Chen Yu to a small room just outside the basement. ¡°This is the entrance to the basement, the radiation virus is everywhere in there, we should put on protective suits first.¡± Chen Yu, however, waved his hand. ¡°I do not need a protective suit. Elder Huang, you only need to wait here for an hour, and I am confident I can cure all the patients.¡± Huang Qingyang¡¯s eyes widened; he had been to the basement and knew how severe the situation was there. A common person would be infected after just a minute inside. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already stepped into the elevator. Huang Qingyang immediately became anxious; they could not afford to have anything happen to the divine doctor they had finally brought back. ¡°Someone, bring up all the surveillance from below.¡± The person beside him dared not delay, immediately concentrating all the surveillance onto one large screen. Once Chen Yu entered the basement, his system started operating, forming invisible vortices around his body. Since the system evolved, all the energy in this world had become its nourishment. The radiation virus might be a deadly threat to others, but for Chen Yu, it was a tonic. It not only helped his system to evolve but also further tempered his body. There was not the slightest hint of fear on his face as he walked into a ward on his own. The patient here had been infected for over fifty days and, according to normal predictions, had less than ten days left to live. In such cases, no medicine was of use. Chen Yu simply placed a fingertip on the patient¡¯s forehead, and afterward, all the radiation virus within him was drawn out. Then, Chen Yu inserted silver needles all over the patient¡¯s body. To other doctors, this might have been an incurable disease, but to Chen Yu, it was exceedingly simple. He only needed to extract the radiation virus and then clear the patient¡¯s meridians, followed by healing the external injuries caused by the radiation, and recovery would be possible. After removing the silver needles from the patient, Chen Yu wrote out a prescription and held it up to the camera. ¡°Mr. Huang, have your staff immediately prepare the ingredients on the prescription, and wait for my instructions to bring them down in an hour.¡± Huang Qingyang, in front of the monitor, didn¡¯t dare to delay and immediately had his people prepare the ingredients. An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Chen Yu had healed most of the patients. Moreover, the radiation virus in the basement had disappeared without a trace. After several rounds of tests, Huang Qingyang immediately instructed his staff to take the ingredients to the basement. These workers were still somewhat afraid, donning layers of protection inside and out before going down. Huang Qingyang didn¡¯t care about that; he didn¡¯t wear any protection and went straight to the ward where Chen Yu was. ¡°The divine doctor truly is a miracle worker. How did you manage to clear the radiation virus here so quickly?¡± Chen Yu did not hide the truth. ¡°Mr. Huang, you must have realized by now, I am a born super-powered individual. My ability is able to suppress the radiation virus to some extent, so as soon as I arrived, the virus immediately vanished.¡± Huang Qingyang excitedly grabbed Chen Yu¡¯s hands, shaking them vigorously. ¡°This is fantastic, Sky Sand City is saved!¡± Chen Yu took a pause to adjust his breathing, then picked up some powdered medicine next to him, turned it into a paste, and fed it to the patient. ¡°By the way, Mr. Huang, may I know the source of these radiation viruses?¡± Huang Qingyang sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s all that damned Sha Tongtian¡¯s fault! Relying on his status as the city lord, he never cared for the lives of others, insisting on conducting all sorts of chaotic experiments, and as a result, turned the whole Sky Sand City into a mess.¡± Chen Yu immediately leaned in closer, ¡°Who exactly is this Sha Tongtian? I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s a noble descendant!¡± ¡°What noble!¡± Huang Qingyang said with disdain, ¡°He¡¯s nothing more than a street thug from the desert. After becoming the city lord, he had people fabricate a grand backstory for himself!¡± Seeing Huang Qingyang¡¯s attitude, Chen Yu immediately formulated a plan in his heart. ¡°It seems Mr. Huang has quite a few grievances against this Sha Tongtian.¡± Huang Qingyang snorted coldly. ¡°More than grievances! This man plays favorites, ruining a perfectly good city! We from the Medical Association have already agreed that if a suitable person appears, we would support them to take over the city lord¡¯s position.¡± Surprise appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face; he had not expected Huang Qingyang to think this way. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 564 - Chapter 564: Chapter 564 Xu Sanhe Chapter 564: Chapter 564 Xu Sanhe While the two were talking, a middle-aged man rushed in flustered and exasperated. ¡°President Huang, something terrible has happened. The patrol team has shown up at the association¡¯s entrance claiming that we have captured their people, demanding that we hand them over.¡± Huang Qingyang could no longer contain his anger and stood up furiously. ¡°This bunch has really gone too far, daring to come to my turf to cause trouble. Gather our teams together; I must teach them a lesson they won¡¯t forget.¡± The middle-aged man nodded and immediately ran out. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth in shock; he had not expected Huang Qingyang to be so hot-tempered. ¡°President Huang, shouldn¡¯t we think this over a bit? There¡¯s no need to be so impulsive.¡± Huang Qingyang didn¡¯t care about that and casually grabbed a scalpel from the side. ¡°Things have already escalated to this level; I don¡¯t need to tolerate them anymore! These bastards have made the city filthy, abandoned so many patients here, and we at the Medical Association are thoroughly fed up.¡± With those words, he charged out of the basement. Chen Yu¡¯s mouth hung open in amazement. Over the past few days, he had thoroughly understood the situation in the city. Sha Tongtian¡¯s control over the forces was extremely formidable, and a mere Medical Association likely couldn¡¯t compete with him. However, seeing Huang Qingyang so agitated, it seemed he had been pushed to a certain limit. Chen Yu hurriedly followed, but by the time he reached the entrance of the Medical Association, its members were already clashing with the patrol team. Although the members of the Medical Association had extremely pure magnetic fields, the power they could unleash was not very strong. They quickly fell into a disadvantage after just a short engagement, and the patrol team had some extremely advanced laser weapons; the Medical Association¡¯s people were no match for them. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing, hunched down, one hand pressing against the ground, as blue and white light bursts forth from his body. Under his control, this light quickly surged into the bodies of the Medical Association¡¯s members, fully activating their magnetic fields. The situation on the field immediately turned around, all the members of the Medical Association seemed as if energized, suddenly releasing an immensely powerful force, and in moments, they had floored the patrol team, even shattering their laser weapons into pieces. Huang Qingyang had calmed down by this time, but he too was stunned by the scene before him. Originally, he had gathered these naturally born superpowered individuals at the Medical Association to protect them. Moreover, he was very clear about the power within these people. But now, the scene before him had overturned his understanding. ¡°Humph, if that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s capture Sha Tongtian.¡± Someone from the Medical Association shouted, and they all became agitated. Just as they were preparing to charge, Chen Yu quickly stopped them. ¡°Mr. Huang, I merely used the electrical current in my body to stimulate your potential just now. If a real fight breaks out, you¡¯re probably no match for them. It¡¯s better for everyone to stay calm first.¡± With those words, everyone was drenched in cold sweat, realizing that without Chen Yu there, they might have been finished. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say anything more and quickly pulled Huang Qingyang into the building. ¡°Mr. Huang, the patients here still need some time to recuperate before they¡¯re fully healed. If possible, let¡¯s not complicate matters any further. We¡¯ll take good care of these patients, and leave all other matters to me.¡± Huang Qingyang suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. Originally, he had just wanted to bring Chen Yu over to treat the ill but had instead dragged him into a conflict. ¡°By the way, Mr. Xu had called earlier asking for you to treat him.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly, ¡°Mr. Xu?¡± Huang Qingyang nodded, ¡°Yes, the city¡¯s largest merchant! He holds half of Sky Sand City¡¯s economic lifelines in his hands.¡± Chen Yu was immediately interested, as such individuals were precisely the targets for alliance. ¡°May I know where this gentleman is now and could you take me to see him?¡± Huang Qingyang did not hesitate and made a phone call directly. Before long, an extremely luxurious car stopped at the entrance of the Medical Association. The car was clearly modified, with just the exterior bulletproof equipment costing millions. A person who looked like a butler hurriedly got out of the car. ¡°Which one of you is Mr. Chen?¡± Chen Yu cleared his throat and got into the car. ¡°I am. Let¡¯s hurry, I reckon Mr. Xu doesn¡¯t have much time left.¡± The butler did not dare to delay and immediately instructed the driver to start the car. Xu Sanhe was indeed a very influential household in Sky Sand City. Originally just a small merchant working under Fan Yushi in the north, he later came to Sky Sand City by chance and started a business in supplies. It was also because of his arrival that the city gradually became prosperous. After a short while, the car stopped in front of a villa. However, the entrance was tightly sealed by a large group of patrollers. ¡°Captain Luo, what are you doing here?¡± The butler stepped out of the car and questioned a middle-aged man. Captain Luo snorted coldly, ¡°We¡¯ve discovered that Mr. Xu has suspicions of colluding with outsiders, so we¡¯ve come to investigate! From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave at will.¡± The butler immediately became anxious; this was just an excuse to let Xu Sanhe die in his bed. ¡°Captain Luo, don¡¯t forget this is Xu Family¡¯s territory. Move aside immediately, or don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡± Captain Luo laughed out loud, ¡°Xu Family¡¯s territory? The entire Sky Sand City is the private property of the City Lord. Your Xu Family is just a small merchant, that¡¯s all!¡± Chen Yu frowned; he had not expected Sha Tongtian¡¯s patrol team to be so overbearing. ¡°Butler, in that case, I¡¯ll head up myself!¡± He said lightly, and Chen Yu¡¯s figure suddenly turned into lightning, vanishing on the spot. Captain Luo¡¯s eyes widened in shock; he had not imagined that such speed existed in the world. ¡°Damn it, daring to take advantage of me. Men, kill him!¡± The villa had long been surrounded by the patrol team, and upon hearing the orders, those inside immediately sprang into action. But Chen Yu was too fast; they could not catch him at all. By the time they reacted, Chen Yu had already entered Xu Sanhe¡¯s sickroom. ¡°Mr. Xu, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m the person President Huang invited to treat you.¡± No sooner had these words fallen, the patrol team burst in. ¡°You brat, you must have a death wish, daring to go against us.¡± The leader shouted, and a group of people charged at him. Chen Yu¡¯s face showed not a hint of fear; he simply turned around and flicked his finger lightly. A blue-white arc of electricity swept out instantly, blasting these people away. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 565 - Chapter 565: Chapter 565 Sha Tongtian Chapter 565: Chapter 565 Sha Tongtian Xu Sanhe watched, dumbstruck, as he hadn¡¯t expected the young man before him to be so formidable. ¡°Are you sent by Huang Qingyang?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t answer but walked straight to Xu Sanhe¡¯s side, grabbed his pulse, glanced it over briefly, and then suddenly seized his neck. ¡°Mr. Xu, you may have been poisoned, and I must expel all the toxins from your body. No matter what happens next, please trust me completely,¡± Chen Yu said. Xu Sanhe hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Without saying anything else, just by looking at the patrolling team members collapsed beside him, it was clear that Chen Yu was a friend, not a foe. Without hesitation, Chen Yu started patting Xu Sanhe¡¯s body and before long, Xu Sanhe felt his stomach churn tumultuously, then he leaned over the bed and began retching violently. Just then, the patrol team outside burst in again. Chen Yu didn¡¯t even bother with them, just continued treating Xu Sanhe. Captain Luo was instantly enraged at the scene before him. They had been ordered to assassinate Xu Sanhe, had managed to poison his food, and had laid him low; now, Chen Yu was forcing out all the toxins. What was worst, a whole group of patrol team members lay beside them. ¡°You meddlesome brat, go to hell!¡± Captain Luo shouted as a massive amount of magnetic field energy suddenly appeared around him. Just as he was about to charge over, Chen Yu suddenly appeared before him and with a light tap of the finger, sent him flying. ¡°Mr. Xu, I¡¯ve removed the poison from your body. Stand up and move around a bit for now; I¡¯ll go take care of these annoying pests outside,¡± Chen Yu said. Xu Sanhe had long harbored deep hatred for the patrol team members; he couldn¡¯t believe that they had actually dared to poison him. The entire villa plunged into chaos as the patrolling team members guarding the place were knocked to the ground one after another. When Chen Yu appeared at the entrance of the villa, there was no longer a single patrol team member in sight. The newly returned butler stood at the door, dumbfounded, staring incredulously at Chen Yu. ¡°Mr. Chen, since you¡¯ve dealt with everyone, please hurry and attend to my master¡¯s illness. He might not live much longer,¡± the butler said. Chen Yu flicked his wrist, ¡°I¡¯ve already cured Mr. Xu, no need to worry.¡± The butler¡¯s mouth hung open wide, in disbelief that Chen Yu had resolved everything in less than ten minutes. Before he could react, Chen Yu had already pulled him into the villa and straight to Xu Sanhe¡¯s bedside. The Xu Family¡¯s security personnel, who had previously been restrained, had now been released; after tying up the patrol team members, they stood guard at Xu Sanhe¡¯s door. Chen Yu took some medicine from the nearby pharmacy and placed it in front of the bed. ¡°Mr. Xu, I¡¯m curious; since this city provides more than half of the wealth, why would the city lord move against you?¡± Chen Yu asked solemnly. Though the question was asked in earnest, anyone with a bit of sense could hear that Chen Yu was asking deliberately. Xu Sanhe clenched his teeth so hard they made a grinding sound. ¡°In Sha Tongtian¡¯s eyes, the entire Sky Sand City is his! To him, we are less than dogs; he¡¯s now eagerly starting to settle accounts with us,¡± Xu Sanhe replied angrily. Chen Yu nodded and then stood up. ¡°If you need help, Mr. Xu, I will offer my full support, including taking down Sha Tongtian,¡± Chen Yu declared. Xu Sanhe stood up excitedly. ¡°If you could lend a hand, that would be fantastic. Everyone in Sky Sand City will see you as their benefactor.¡± Chen Yu just smiled, said nothing more, and left the villa directly. Inside a building in the main urban area of Sky Sand City. A particularly ugly middle-aged man sat there, gasping heavily with numerous tubes inserted into his body. The other ends of the tubes were connected to a variety of strange liquids. In front of him knelt several leaders of the patrol teams, trembling ceaselessly. ¡°Lord of the city, we really did our best, but recently a strange kid came to the city. He seems to be a natural-born superpowered person, and the power he unleashed is extremely formidable! All of our plans have been disrupted by him.¡± Sha Tongtian slowly opened his eyes and tugged at the tubes on his body. ¡°Just a natural-born superpowered person, and you¡¯re reduced to such a sorry state? Have I been feeding you all for nothing?¡± The group became more anxious, and one of them even fainted from fear. Sha Tongtian took a crystal bottle from the side and threw it onto the ground. ¡°The substance inside this bottle can enhance your magnetic field power to the maximum! You have three hours to kill that guy, or you¡¯ll have to bring your own heads to me.¡± The leaders didn¡¯t dare to linger and quickly picked up the bottle while dragging out the person who had passed out. In the quiet hall, only Sha Tongtian remained. He suddenly took a few rapid breaths, then clutched at his chest. ¡°Why, after all the effort I¡¯ve made, can¡¯t the magnetic field in my body naturally operate? Could it be that those natural-born superpowered people are truly the favored children of the heavens?¡± With a roar, the power within him burst forth, instantly blowing several nearby pillars to dust. After leaving the Xu Family villa, Chen Yu went straight back to the shantytown. The residents had already dismantled most of the houses to set up traps, and they had gathered in the very center of the shantytown. When Chen Yu returned, they excitedly came out to greet him. ¡°Mr. Chen, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Ba Wan grasped Chen Yu¡¯s hand with excitement. Just as Chen Yu was about to speak, the ground suddenly rumbled. Everyone became alert, their gazes fixed on the entrance to the shantytown. ¡°These bastards, why have they come again?¡± ¡°Sha Tongtian is really too much. Who knows why he¡¯s so set on burning our place to the ground.¡± ¡°If you ask me, we should just storm the city lord¡¯s mansion and finish off that bastard.¡± ¡­ All the people were enraged, and some even picked up weapons, ready to rush out. Chen Yu hurriedly stopped them. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. Let¡¯s stay right here!¡± After comforting them briefly, Chen Yu instantly moved to the entrance using Flash. There weren¡¯t many people this time, just three. But the magnetic field power these three displayed was immensely powerful. Chen Yu immediately let loose his system, attempting to scan the brain information of the three, but unexpectedly, they had an invisible magnetic field barrier around them, blocking the system. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 566 - Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Radiation Power Chapter 566: Chapter 566: Radiation Power ¡°Who the hell are you? Why do you keep screwing up our plans?¡± The leader asked a question, and a huge energy ball immediately appeared in his hand. This object was emitting an extremely dense Radiation Power. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown, it looked like those radiation viruses really had spread from the City Lord¡¯s residence. However, these guys were really asking for trouble by using this kind of energy against him. After absorbing so much radiation poison in the basement earlier, the system clearly showed signs of evolving. Looking at the power radiating from these three guys, there must be a large amount of Radiation Power. If he could absorb this pure power, the system might evolve again. A sly smile flashed across Chen Yu¡¯s lips, and he charged directly at them. The three men immediately got excited and concentrated all their power, blasting it out. The Radiation Power they had mustered, upon making contact with Chen Yu¡¯s body, disappeared rapidly. Before they had time to react, Chen Yu had already grabbed one of them by the neck. A terrifying suction burst forth, and all the Radiation Power in that person¡¯s body disappeared instantly. The remaining two stood there dumbfounded, hastily retreating backward, but Chen Yu had no intention of letting them go. With a flash, he had already grabbed both of their shoulders. In almost the time it took to turn around, the power in these two guys was also sucked away, leaving nothing behind. [Congratulations, Host. The system is entering an evolution state.] [Physical strength has increased by twenty percent on the original basis.] [Brain capacity and intelligence have increased by twenty percent on the original basis.] The series of prompts made Chen Yu feel an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. In the past few days, his body had accumulated a lot of radiation poison. After the system eliminated those toxins, it left behind pure Radiation Power. He hadn¡¯t expected that this energy would let the system evolve so easily. The three men clutched their chests, their faces filled with disbelief. ¡°What exactly are you? Why can your body transform Radiation Power?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to waste words with these guys. He went straight up and stepped on one of their shoulders. ¡°Go back and tell your City Lord that the thing he has painstakingly researched all his life will eventually be taken by me. Tell him to clean his neck and wait for my visit.¡± The three of them were immediately frightened out of their wits, not daring to stay any longer, and fled in a scramble. Chen Yu looked at his own palms, a newfound confidence in his eyes. If what Sha Tongtian has been researching is this kind of power, then he really wasn¡¯t afraid of him. Just at that moment, the residents of the slum area rushed out with various homemade weapons. ¡°Mr. Chen, we¡¯re here to help you!¡± But when they got there, they only saw Chen Yu alone. ¡°Mr. Chen, where are the patrols?¡± Ba Wan asked with a look of surprise. Chen Yu spread his hands out casually. ¡°I¡¯ve driven them all away! By the way, everyone pack up, we can¡¯t stay here anymore. I¡¯ll find you a new place to live.¡± Everyone immediately became excited. The living conditions here are simply too poor, people are starving to death almost every day. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much more, he directly called Xu Sanhe and asked him to clear out a roughly suitable residential area. Xu Sanhe was equally forthright, immediately vacating a deserted neighborhood in the southern part of the city. In fact, Xu Sanhe had his own schemes. After Chen Yu left, he called Huang Qingyang, and the two agreed to join forces against Sha Tongtian. Once successful, the resources of Sky Sand City would be redistributed, and Xu Sanhe would surely reap considerable profits. At the very least, the land of that shantytown would fall into his hands. Now that Chen Yu had made such a request, it was like moving the residents out in advance for him. After settling those residents, Chen Yu went to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion alone. The three men from before were likely senior officers of the patrol team, and from their minds, Chen Yu had obtained some astonishing news. If that information was true, Huang Qingyang and Xu Sanhe must not be allowed to get involved in the struggle against Sha Tongtian. These ordinary people, once they entered the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, would be immediately corroded by the radiation toxin inside and die on the spot. When Chen Yu stood in the plaza outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, the entire city instantly erupted. Huang Qingyang and Xu Sanhe had long arranged for people to monitor him closely, to keep tabs on his movements. Now that he was outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, both sides were bound to be on edge. Chen Yu didn¡¯t bother with them and strutted in boldly. A large number of patrol team members rushed out from all corners of the building to block Chen Yu¡¯s path. ¡°Brave kid, truly bold as brass, not even checking where you are before barging in.¡± Chen Yu simply ignored them, his body flashed and he charged straight in, heading directly into a large hall. Sha Tongtian was seated there at that very moment, one hand propping his chin, while the liquid in the jars around him kept bubbling with noise. ¡°You must be Chen Yu?¡± Chen Yu casually moved a chair and sat down. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the nonsense, my only purpose here is to take over Sky Sand City. Sign the agreement now, hand over the city to me, and maybe you can save your life.¡± Sha Tongtian laughed as if he had just heard a great joke. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re talking to? In my eyes, you¡¯re just a clown with special abilities, I could crush you with just a flick of my finger.¡± The corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth twisted into a strange arc. ¡°In that case, we have nothing to discuss!¡± He stood up and extended his palm straight out. Terrifying sharpness erupted in an instant, and the thick radiation toxin in the room surged towards him. Sha Tongtian¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated. The three men he had sent out earlier couldn¡¯t come back because they¡¯d lost their magnetic field power. He knew nothing about Chen Yu. ¡°This is impossible, even a natural superhuman couldn¡¯t withstand such immense radiation power. Who exactly are you?¡± While Chen Yu absorbed the pure energy of this place, he moved closer to Sha Tong. Simultaneously, the blue-white electric light released from his body formed an extremely terrifying oppressive force, immobilizing Sha Tongtian. Before long, Chen Yu¡¯s finger touched the other¡¯s forehead. Sha Tongtian cried out in agony, now completely unable to resist like a lamb to the slaughter. ¡°This is impossible. Dozens of supernatural genes were injected into my body to withstand these powers. Why can you do it so effortlessly?¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 567 - Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Guardians of Generations Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Guardians of Generations Chen Yu wore an expression of enjoyment, continuously absorbing the energy surrounding him. ¡°I originally thought that taking over Sky Sand City would be difficult, but had I known it was this easy, I would have come directly to you.¡± Sha Tongtian could distinctly feel the power draining from his body, and his once robust frame had now withered away. [Congratulations to the host, the system has entered enhancement loading status.] [Evolution values are being recalculated.] Chen Yu had never experienced such immense power before. Radiation Power is an inherently contradictory force in this world; the energy it unleashes can benefit mankind or just as easily destroy it. Moreover, human bodies simply cannot withstand the impact of this kind of power. But Chen Yu was different, he had the system, and most forms of power were purified by the system before being transmitted into his body. For this reason, he could absorb this power without end. Time passed, and finally, Sha Tongtian¡¯s body was completely withered, and the surrounding liquids dried up at a pace visible to the naked eye. In the end, not a trace of Radiation Power could be detected in the room. Chen Yu assessed his own physical condition and, following the system¡¯s prompt, he found that his physical quality and brain capacity and wisdom had all surpassed human limits by five times. From a human perspective, he had acquired a divine stature. Just then, chaos suddenly erupted outside the door. Xu Sanhe and Huang Qingyang, along with all their subordinates, rushed into the city lord¡¯s mansion in a swarm. They did not want Chen Yu to suffer any mishaps. But when they burst in, they were immediately dumbfounded. The once mighty and superior Sha Tongtian was now lying on the ground like a dried-up corpse, motionless. ¡°Mr. Chen, how did you do this? How did you turn Sha Tongtian into this?¡± Chen Yu did not elaborate. ¡°Now that Sha Tongtian is dead, we should talk about the ownership of this city! I propose we divide the city into three parts, one for each of us. How about that?¡± Chen Yu did not want to stay here longer than necessary; the sooner they settled the division of the city, the sooner he could leave. Huang Qingyang and Xu Sanhe were somewhat surprised; according to their original plan, they intended to give half of the city¡¯s assets to Chen Yu, while the two of them would split the remaining half. They did not expect Chen Yu to be so generous. ¡°Mr. Chen, there¡¯s no rush for this kind of thing. Let¡¯s sit down and discuss it slowly, and draft a contract together.¡± Xu Sanhe quickly interjected, trying to reassure him. His life had been saved by Chen Yu, and he did not want Chen Yu to settle for so little of the assets. Moreover, in his view, managing such a vast wealth alone would at least require Chen Yu to establish his own force locally. Chen Yu knew what they meant but simply took out a wooden Token and passed it over. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before someone calls you. Just negotiate directly.¡± With those words, Chen Yu left without looking back. Only then did the two react, hastily examining the Token. ¡°Xuanqing Sect? Could Mr. Chen be the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect?¡± All those present were stunned; the Xuanqing Sect was a supremely exalted existence in this world. If Chen Yu really was the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect, they had found a powerful backer. Above the boundless desert, Chen Yu was leisurely driving his car. After the system upgrade, he discovered he could control the car purely with his consciousness, and even manipulate the computer to some extent. While he was conducting experiments, he suddenly perceived a hint of danger. There were more than a dozen people lying in the sand not far away. Chen Yu couldn¡¯t help but frown and immediately stopped the car. Just as he was about to check it out, those people suddenly jumped up from the sand, shouting and encircling him in the middle. ¡°Who are you? Are you a spy sent by Duan Tiande?¡± Chen Yu ignored them and directly took a backpack from the car and threw it over. ¡°I don¡¯t know any Duan Tiande, but judging by your looks, you haven¡¯t eaten for several days, right? There¡¯s food in the bag, enough for you to eat for one day.¡± A younger one immediately widened his eyes and rushed over to open the backpack. Inside, indeed, there were some compressed biscuits and water. The middle-aged man leading them hurriedly pulled the children back. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled, this guy might have poisoned the food.¡± Chen Yu, who had kindly given them food, was being slandered like this. Just as he was about to react, the sound of an aircraft¡¯s propellers suddenly came from not too far away. A very robust figure jumped down from the airplane, casually pulling out a knife. ¡°Duo Geli! I didn¡¯t expect you to hide with these little bugs in this place, no wonder I couldn¡¯t find you. Hand over that thing quickly, or I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hey, there should be some order here, I haven¡¯t settled things with them yet, what are you butting in for?¡± The man suddenly turned his head and sized up Chen Yu from head to toe. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re not one of them, but it doesn¡¯t make a difference to me. Hand over everything valuable you have, or I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face was full of annoyance, he still didn¡¯t know what exactly was happening, and this guy was trying to rob him. Taking a breath to compose himself, he stretched out his finger and lightly flicked it. A white flash of electricity sparkled, flipping the man to the ground. Duo Geli next to him was frightened out of his wits. Although he understood Chen Yu wasn¡¯t with the other party, he felt an inexplicable fear towards Chen Yu. Several more people jumped down from the helicopter. As soon as they landed, they charged at Chen Yu, brandishing knives. Before they could get close, the sand next to them came to life, trapping their bodies and burying them in the ground. Chen Yu suddenly looked up, his finger lightly flicked, and a powerful blue-white electric light surged out instantly, bringing down the helicopter. He then covered the system outwards, scanning the brain information of everyone present. Duo Geli had some reputation in this desert, his organization roamed the desert, seemingly guarding something. To protect such a thing, Duo Geli¡¯s family had lived in the desert for generations. Those who came on the helicopter were there to snatch this treasure. Chen Yu suddenly became interested; a thing that could make a family guard it for generations must not be ordinary. Duo Geli suddenly knelt down in front of Chen Yu. ¡°Sir, I misunderstood you just now, thank you for saving our lives.¡± COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 568 - Chapter 568: Chapter 568: 10,000,000 Each Person Chapter 568: Chapter 568: 10,000,000 Each Person Chen Yu directly helped him up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, being extra cautious in such an environment is not a mistake!¡± Duo Geli quickly got up and took out a small bead from his body, handing it to Chen Yu. ¡°This is my payment to you!¡± Chen Yu was somewhat surprised, as the bead was of excellent quality, and it happened to be a rare Luminous Pearl. Outside, it could sell for at least several million, yet this guy just gave it to him as a reward so readily. However, Chen Yu¡¯s expression quickly returned to calm. When he had probed Duo Geli¡¯s brain, he found that what he was guarding was a treasure. Just then, billowing black smoke appeared not far away; clearly, a large group of people was approaching rapidly. Duo Geli¡¯s breathing suddenly became rapid, and he hurriedly ordered his subordinates to go and intercept them. Chen Yu patted his shoulder. ¡°You have too few people, it¡¯s impossible to stop them. Get on my car first, and I¡¯ll take you away.¡± Duo Geli clenched his teeth, clearly aware of the situation. After a brief moment of thought, he led his people into Chen Yu¡¯s vehicle. This vehicle had been modified, with a semi-trailer added to the back, enough to take all these people aboard. No sooner had they driven off than Duo Geli pointed to a place filled with quicksand beside them. ¡°Go this way!¡± Chen Yu frowned at that. Places with so much quicksand would immediately swallow a vehicle as soon as it passed over. But when he used his system to check, he discovered a huge underground tunnel beneath the quicksand. Without asking further questions, he directly drove the vehicle into it. Once the vehicle entered the quicksand, the outside sand immediately gathered there, burying the entrance. Chen Yu was amazed. ¡°I never expected that such an ingenious mechanism could be built in a quicksand area like this.¡± Duo Geli sighed helplessly. ¡°We had no choice!¡± After an indeterminate amount of time, the vehicle entered an extremely spacious underground plaza. The place looked somewhat dilapidated, and the people wandering about were dressed in rags. Seeing a vehicle coming in, everyone became alert. Duo Geli hurriedly got out of the car. ¡°Everyone, the people in the car are our saviors; there¡¯s no need to be nervous.¡± But the faces of those present remained vigilant. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much either. He simply took all the supplies from the car and brought them down. Most of the people here hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Seeing the supplies, they hurriedly rushed over. ¡°Duo Geli, I don¡¯t care who this person is, bringing strangers here is breaking the rules, and we must accept punishment.¡± This righteous-looking middle-aged man suddenly broke through the crowd and came rushing over, grabbing Duo Geli¡¯s clothes. Those who had been scrambling for supplies a moment ago suddenly fell silent, their gazes all focused on Duo Geli and the man. ¡°Uncle Barto, this gentleman truly saved our lives, and he has brought so many supplies. Doesn¡¯t that make him our friend?¡± Duo Geli argued with reason, but Barto simply wouldn¡¯t listen, making a raucous scene to drive Chen Yu out. A wicked smile played upon the corners of Chen Yu¡¯s mouth as he stepped forward and pushed Barto to the ground. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you want to drive Duo Geli out and then monopolize the treasures here, right?¡± Barto¡¯s gaze suddenly became evasive. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Our generations¡¯ duty has been to guard everything here; how could I possibly claim it for my own?¡± Chen Yu looked on disdainfully, casting a cold gaze over everyone present. ¡°Most of you here have had such thoughts, guarding a mound of treasure but not being able to spend it! Having to constantly face outsiders¡¯ coveting, you all must be fed up, aren¡¯t you?¡± These words struck right into the hearts of the people, many of whom bowed their heads. They had all entertained the thought, even if just sneaking a little out. But this place was all too well known; the moment they left here with the treasures, they¡¯d immediately face pursuit. At this moment, Chen Yu had already spread his system out, and everything here was laid bare in his mind. There was an ancient city underneath this desert, filled with copious amounts of gold and jewels. If all these things were dug out, it would be enough to buy a country. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I know you¡¯ve had a hard time here. I can now offer you an opportunity; if you abandon your duty guarding the treasure and leave this place, I will give each of you ten million!¡± The scene immediately erupted into commotion, everyone staring at Chen Yu with a strange look, their gazes still wavering between Duo Geli and Barto, as if seeking consent. Barto¡¯s breathing became rapid, and he looked at Chen Yu with eager eyes. ¡°Can you really give each of us ten million?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much, simply taking out a stack of banknotes from his person. ¡°These banknotes are of various denominations; you can discuss among yourselves who takes which. I guarantee these can be used anywhere.¡± Immediately, more than half of the people there put down their weapons and rushed to Chen Yu¡¯s side. Seeing this, Duo Geli became agitated, stepping forward and seizing Chen Yu¡¯s shoulders. ¡°What are you trying to do? We¡¯ve protected this place for so many years, do you want to scatter us?¡± Chen Yu¡¯s face bore a smile, ¡°If these people¡¯s hearts are not in it, do you think it¡¯s of any use to forcibly keep them here? It¡¯s better to give them some money and let them go.¡± Duo Geli sighed helplessly; he understood the situation here all too well. Long ago, he had wanted to dismiss those who were unwilling to stay, but according to the rules passed down by ancestors, they couldn¡¯t easily use the treasures from the underground palace, only allowed to pick up some small items from the edges to ensure survival. After receiving the money, these people left the place through a secret passage next to them. In the end, only eight people remained in the vast square. Duo Geli looked at his brothers with satisfaction, yet the last line of defense within him completely crumbled. ¡°Forget it, you¡¯ve already spent so many tough years here, no need to spend your lives here, let¡¯s go.¡± Chen Yu still stepped forward cooperatively, taking out a banknote with a face value of one hundred million. To his surprise, the eight men had a strong sense of pride and knelt on the ground. ¡°Big brother, we can¡¯t leave. If even we go, who will honor our ancestors¡¯ promise?¡± ¡°Right, what we are guarding is not the treasure but the credibility of generations.¡± ¡°Anyway, before my dad left, he told me to stay here all my life, never to leave.¡± ¡­ COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 569 - Chapter 569: Chapter 569: Dark Matter Power Chapter 569: Chapter 569: Dark Matter Power Duo Geli didn¡¯t expect so many people were still willing to follow him, and his face showed a touch of emotion. Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, just walked toward the inner depths of the underground palace on his own. Duo Geli immediately became nervous, as the depths of the underground palace were riddled with traps¡ªChen Yu walking into it alone would undoubtedly lead to death. ¡°Wait a minute, outsiders are not allowed to enter there willy-nilly!¡± But Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that, his figure flashed, and he went directly into the depths of the underground palace. Duo Geli was scared witless, Chen Yu was their savior; he absolutely couldn¡¯t let him die in the underground palace like this. He quickly called on the people around him, and they rushed into the underground palace. But when they entered, they found Chen Yu standing unharmed atop a pile of gold. ¡°You people are really too conservative! The empire that your ancestors guarded has long since perished, and the treasures they left behind belong to no one. If I were you, I would move everything out of here instead of guarding it like beggars.¡± Duo Geli sighed helplessly, they were living by the promises handed down from their ancestors, and they wouldn¡¯t abandon those promises unless they were killed. Just as he was about to speak, the entire underground palace suddenly began to shake. Chen Yu¡¯s face showed no surprise at all; when he entered the underground palace, he had detected that more than a dozen forces were moving in this direction, seemingly for the gold and gemstones here. The reason he had sent the palace¡¯s guardians away was that he didn¡¯t want them to make meaningless sacrifices. Duo Geli also became tense, the piercing alarm sounding made it hard for him to breathe. The eight people who stayed behind also instinctively drew the weapons they carried. ¡°Why can¡¯t these guys just leave us alone?¡± Duo Geli¡¯s teeth clenched with a crunching sound; now, just with these people, it was impossible to resist the dozen or so outside forces. Chen Yu shook his wrist, ¡°Men die in pursuit of wealth, as birds perish in quest for food; these people are after riches, and the items here are enough to make them pay any price.¡± Duo Geli felt somewhat helpless, and he suddenly felt relieved that those people had left, or else they would have only one path¡ªdeath. ¡°Mr. Chen, you should go too, we can¡¯t let you lose your life here!¡± Chen Yu, however, appeared indifferent. ¡°How about a bet? If I can get rid of those guys outside, you all have to leave with me. And you also have to take all the gold, gemstones, and treasures from the underground palace!¡± Duo Geli hesitated; he looked at the mountain of gold and silver treasures in front of him, then at the eight scruffily dressed brothers behind him. They had paid too much for these external things, and staying here was just a waste of time. ¡°Alright, I agree! But how could you possibly¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yu¡¯s figure suddenly vanished like lightning from the spot. Duo Geli¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Could this Mr. Chen be a deity sent by the heavens to save us?¡± The eight beside him were also dumbfounded, having never seen anyone move so quickly before. Not long after, several people came to their senses and quickly chased out of the underground palace. By this time, Chen Yu had already reached the Gobi Desert outside the underground palace. Dozens of teams from more than ten towns converged here, driving hundreds of modified off-road vehicles, among which were several dozen large trucks. From the look of it, they seemed determined to obtain the treasures hidden within the underground palace. ¡°Hey, when did the guardian of the underground palace change? Where did Duo Geli go? Why did they leave such a pretty boy in charge?¡± Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, took a few slow steps forward, and then retrieved the Sect Leader¡¯s Token from the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°I am Chen Yu, Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect! Those who leave now, I can offer you a chance to live, but if you choose to stay, then you¡¯ll be buried in these yellow sands forever.¡± The domineering voice mixed with the magnetic field spread rapidly, quickly reaching everyone¡¯s ears. The previously noisy Gobi Desert suddenly became quiet. ¡°My God, the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect! That¡¯s someone we can¡¯t afford to provoke, shouldn¡¯t we retreat?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been chasing this treasure for so many years; we can¡¯t just give up because of his one sentence.¡± ¡°The Xuanqing Sect is just a branch of the Daoist schools, not such a powerful force in this world. I don¡¯t believe he can do anything to us!¡± ¡°If you ask me, we might as well take this kid out now, to prevent news of this from spreading!¡± ¡­ The scene suddenly burst into discussion, but every word they said was collected into Chen Yu¡¯s mind. It seemed that most people here were unwilling to leave. After all, there was a fortune buried under the ground; who would want to give up on that? Chen Yu took a deep breath, then raised his palm and placed it on the ground. The overpowering blue-white electric light instantly spread out, causing the people who had been discussing animatedly just moments ago to faint, and even their vehicles lost power under the strong flashes of electric light. However, among these people, there were some naturally born superpower users who were not affected by the blue-white electric light, and they stood perfectly fine. One particularly burly middle-aged man jumped down from his vehicle. ¡°To possess such formidable power, you are indeed the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect! However, I¡¯m not a vegetarian either. Today, I must take a portion of this treasure.¡± The middle-aged man took out a special metal rod from his waist, then yelled and charged at Chen Yu. A tremendous amount of magnetic field energy emitted from his body and converged on the metal rod, forming an extraordinary power that spread out. [Detecting Dark Matter Energy] [Giant Light Energy Ion Synthesis in Progress] [Detecting Black Hole Substance] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated; he¡¯d seen many naturally born superpowered individuals display their abilities, which were nothing more than natural forces. But the man before him was actually able to create a black hole out of thin air, and the power generated from his magnetic field was the extremely rare Dark Matter Energy. This was no longer within the realm of the supernatural, but purely Cosmic Energy. Chen Yu refused to be outdone, concentrating all the power in his body into his hands, and a gigantic blue-white light sphere appeared instantaneously, which he then hurled fiercely. A terrifying explosion rippled between the two of them, with desert sands soaring into the air, a large number of sand grains having their molecular structures shattered and recombined. When the powers of the two men had completely canceled each other out, the once desolate desert surprisingly revealed a multitude of colorful crystals emitting strange glows. Those were actually gemstones! COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 570 - Chapter 570: Chapter 570: Luo Shengtian Chapter 570: Chapter 570: Luo Shengtian Chen Yu was momentarily stunned when he saw the gemstones, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised. It was a natural phenomenon in physics! The blue-white electric light he had released was, to some extent, a form of photonic energy, which was the exact opposite of Dark Matter Energy. When two extremely opposing forces collided, they would produce a black and white hole effect. When a black hole and a white hole appeared at the same time and canceled each other out, they could compress matter down to the atomic level, breaking it apart and reassembling it. Since sand naturally contains silicon elements, it wasn¡¯t strange for them to be reassembled into gemstones after atomic recombination. The middle-aged man opposite clearly didn¡¯t understand this physics knowledge and became extremely excited. He knelt on the ground, lifted a pile of gemstones, and shouted. ¡°My God! These are really colored gemstones, with so many I could make a few billion.¡± Chen Yu frowned slightly. Dark Matter Energy was extremely dangerous in the universe. Although the middle-aged man¡¯s control over it wasn¡¯t adept, the power he unleashed was still terrifying. Allowing such a person to roam freely in the world could potentially bring about great disasters. ¡°You¡¯re very impressive!¡± Chen Yu flickered and appeared in front of the middle-aged man. ¡°Are you interested in coming with me to the Xuanqing Sect? You can have as many of these colored gemstones as you want!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes shone, and he stared intently at Chen Yu with a strange look. ¡°Are you saying that someone like me can join the Xuanqing Sect?¡± Chen Yu nodded, ¡°Everyone in this world can join the Xuanqing Sect, as long as you wish to!¡± While they were talking, several other individuals with natural superpowers also gathered around, but they were all stunned when they heard Chen Yu¡¯s conversation with the middle-aged man. ¡°What about us? Can we join too?¡± In this world, those born with superpowers were actually the loneliest. From childhood, they were viewed as different by ordinary people, not only isolated but also bullied and ridiculed. As a result, many individuals with natural superpowers suffered, to some extent, from mental health issues. Others came here in search of treasure, perhaps out of sheer greed, but these individuals came purely to find solace for their souls. They too hoped that some organization would truly accept them. Chen Yu undoubtedly gave them hope. ¡°Of course, you can! Just come back to the Xuanqing Sect with me, and I will let you join. But before we return, we need to transport the treasures from here and dispel the worldly desires.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became distressed. There were only thirteen natural superpowered individuals here. Although they were powerful, some possessing immense strength, it was impossible for them alone to move all the treasure from the underground palace. Chen Yu, however, appeared nonchalant and called Duo Geli¡¯s group on the other side of the sand cave. By the time Duo Geli and his group climbed up, Chen Yu had already taken care of everything. Looking at the thousands of people lying on the yellow sand, Duo Geli was incredulous; he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to take down more than a dozen forces all by himself. Before long, more than a dozen helicopters appeared in the sky, and Jin Lingsu leaped in front of Chen Yu down the rope ladder. ¡°Where is the treasure?¡± Jin Lingsu¡¯s greedy appearance made Chen Yu somewhat helpless. ¡°There¡¯s plenty inside. However, I¡¯m afraid these helicopters alone won¡¯t be able to carry away the treasures inside.¡± Jin Lingsu waved her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are still over a hundred desert trucks coming up behind us, more than enough.¡± When Xu Linjun received Chen Yu¡¯s call, he had almost every available person who could operate in the sand dispatched over. In just one day, they had moved all the treasures from the underground palace to the sand cave. After being busy for several days, Chen Yu was tired. He was just about to find a place to rest when Xu Linjun called him to the highest level of the Core Tower. The newly appointed deputy tower masters were basically natural superhuman powerhouses from within the Core Tower itself. However, their complexions looked extremely unpleasant! There was also a somewhat feminine-looking young man sitting at the office desk. On the surface, this person seemed harmless, but the magnetic field fluctuations emanating from him were so powerful that they provoked caution. When Chen Yu released his system, it not only met with resistance, but it seemed like his system¡¯s magnetic field was captured by the other party. [System detects energy that cannot be analyzed] The system¡¯s notification made Chen Yu¡¯s expression grow solemn, indicating that the person in front of him was extremely dangerous. ¡°So you¡¯re the Sect Leader of Xuanqing Sect, huh? I didn¡¯t expect you to extend your reach all the way to the Sahara Desert. Taking control of forces like the sand cave, Sky Sand City, under Xuanqing Sect, isn¡¯t that going a bit too far?¡± Chen Yu casually pulled over a chair and sat down, ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± The young man took out a pitch-black badge from his body and placed it on the table. ¡°A descendant of Caesar, the lord of Luo Shengtian, Di Ming!¡± Upon hearing this name, Chen Yu¡¯s body visibly shuddered. During his time in Xuanqing Sect, he had heard of Luo Shengtian, said to be a mysterious and powerful organization. Their leader possessed a truly magical power that could communicate with heaven and earth, thereby obtaining a terrifying power that transcended this world. The Di Ming before him exuded an exceptionally strange power. Since Chen Yu had entered the room, the other party had been trying to capture the power of his system. Chen Yu feigned composure, leaning back in his chair. ¡°This desert has been masterless since ancient times, and moreover, these people have already chosen Xuanqing Sect. Now that you, Luo Shengtian, are standing up, isn¡¯t that a bit against the rules?¡± Di Ming¡¯s mouth curved into a sinister smile. ¡°Rules? In this desert, my rules are the rules! Leave immediately, or else, I will let you experience what true death is like.¡± Chen Yu¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, his face showing not a hint of fear. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Luo Shengtian¡¯s punishments are learned from ancient myths. Do you also want to dig out my heart to weigh it against a feather on a scale?¡± Di Ming¡¯s magnetic field began to sweep out, enveloping the entire hall. ¡°If you fancy that kind of punishment, I wouldn¡¯t mind using it on you!¡± Blue-white sparks of electricity also emanated from Chen Yu, standing toe to toe with Di Ming. The clash of formidable forces produced shockwaves that imposed an unprecedented pressure on the people around, even Xu Linjun was struggling to cope. ¡°Both of you, let¡¯s sit down and talk this over. There¡¯s no need to make the relationship so strained! Besides, Xuanqing Sect and Luo Shengtian are among the top organizations in this world, why can¡¯t the two join forces?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the anger in Di Ming¡¯s eyes intensified. A mass of dark light suddenly appeared in his hand, and he was about to strike down at Xu Linjun. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 571 - Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Primitive Tribe Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Primitive Tribe Chen Yu¡¯s magnetic field suddenly released, directly crushing the power in Di Ming¡¯s hands. ¡°Now, this matter is between you and me, and has nothing to do with the Sand Cave! I don¡¯t think we need to fight here. Why not find a secluded place for a private showdown?¡± Now the entire Sand Cave was considered the private property of the Xuanqing Sect, and destroying it would be a great loss for Chen Yu. Di Ming¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his face showing extreme viciousness as he adjusted his breathing and stepped back a few steps. ¡°Fine, you¡¯ve got guts! If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± As he spoke, Di Ming took out a token that resembled sandy soil and handed it to Chen Yu. ¡°With this token, you can directly enter Luo Shengtian¡¯s mysterious domain! I will be waiting for you at the headquarters. If you can get there unharmed, I won¡¯t hold the Sand Cave incident against you!¡± Chen Yu took the token, his eyes full of contempt. ¡°If I can reach the headquarters and defeat you, then from today onwards, Luo Shengtian will be merged into Xuanqing Sect.¡± Di Ming laughed as if he had heard a great joke. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ve raised the stakes, I can¡¯t be stingy! If you win over Luo Shengtian, it¡¯s nothing for me to give it to you. But if you lose, from today onwards, the Xuanqing Sect, as well as the entire Cultivation sects, will only be a branch of Luo Shengtian.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t even think twice before readily agreeing. Di Ming didn¡¯t linger any longer, and after reaching an agreement with Chen Yu, he turned and left. The whole Core Tower immediately quieted down, and while everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they stared at Chen Yu with strange looks. Xu Linjun hurried forward to Chen Yu¡¯s side. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you¡¯re too impulsive. Luo Shengtian is more terrifying than hell itself; no one has ever reached the headquarters! If you go like this, I¡¯m afraid the odds are against you.¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. In his view, if Luo Shengtian wasn¡¯t dealt with, the Sand Cave would always be a problem. After resting in the straightforward Sand Cave for two days, he then drove a modified off-road vehicle southward. Luo Shengtian¡¯s location was extremely mysterious, with its outskirts¡¯ primal jungle filled with endless fear. No one who approached this region ever survived. Chen Yu drove for two days and two nights before reaching the outer edge of the jungle as described by Di Ming. As soon as he arrived, a group of strangely dressed people stopped his car. ¡°Who goes there? Get down quickly!¡± The strange language made Chen Yu frown. After searching in his mind for a while, he managed to identify a language similar to the native dialect. Clearly, these people¡¯s language had undergone some kind of fusion and evolved into a very small language subset. Even Chen Yu found it quite challenging to decipher their language. He threw out the token given by Di Ming. ¡°I am a chief guest invited by Luo Shengtian!¡± At these words, everyone present was momentarily stunned. They were not only surprised that Chen Yu could speak their language but also amazed that the Chieftain of Luo Shengtian would actually invite guests to this place. ¡°The entrance period has already passed for today; you should stay in our tribe for the night!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say much else, driving his car and following the group until they arrived at a tribe with a sizable camp. As soon as he got there, he saw several tribespeople grilling five crocodiles. The rich aroma permeated the entire tribe, and even he was somewhat intoxicated by it, as it seemed they had added some extremely special spices to the crocodile meat. [System warning, the host has entered a dangerous range, enter self-defense mode?] Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated slightly. How could there be any danger when these people seemed to be just a primitive tribe and furthermore, they were preparing dinner for him? While he was feeling perplexed, a list of ingredients suddenly appeared in his mind. The seasoning these people had sprinkled on the fish contained thirteen kinds of poison, and the scents emanating from their barbecue were deadly. ¡®Filter out the poison gas and toxins, I¡¯ll wait and see what tricks these guys can play.¡¯ After giving the order, Chen Yu went straight into a tent and lay down. After traveling for two days and nights, he was indeed very tired. While he was resting, the system covered the entire tribe, and everything happened in real-time within his brain. Two hours later, the scent of crocodile meat drifted into the tent, and Chen Yu woke up. Everyone in the tribe was gathered around the fire, dancing a strange dance as if praying for something, but if you looked closely, you would notice something resembling an altar placed at their center. Chen Yu immediately scanned the tribespeople¡¯s brain information and discovered that they were planning a ceremony, and the sacrificial offering was to be him. No wonder they had seasoned the crocodile meat with spices; it turned out they wanted to poison him to death and then use him as a sacrifice. Chen Yu stretched lazily and then walked straight out of the tent. When he appeared before the crowd, everyone was startled, especially the Chieftain, who stared at him with a look of terror. ¡°This is impossible, how are you still alive?¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t say a word and just walked up to the barbecue grill, tore off a crocodile tail, and took a big bite. ¡°Aren¡¯t I your guest? Why are you so keen on seeing me dead?¡± The people were rendered speechless, and in the gap of their silence, Chen Yu had already devoured two crocodiles. As he was about to reach for a third crocodile, the tribespeople, armed with various primitive weapons, charged at him with shouts and cries. But as they neared, a powerful electric current suddenly spread out, knocking everyone unconscious, leaving only the Chieftain standing. Chen Yu, holding a crocodile leg, sauntered over to the Chieftain. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, it must be your Lord Di Ming who sent you to intercept me, right?¡± The Chieftain was too frightened to speak, and his axe made a wavering noise in his hand. Chen Yu didn¡¯t waste more words with him; he just scanned his brain information and turned to head deep into the jungle. This was undoubtedly one of the most pristine primitive jungles in the world, and after walking only a short distance, Chen Yu had already seen over a hundred species of plants and animals declared extinct. Yet such places are also the most dangerous, as no one knows whether the creatures here harbor deadly toxins. Chen Yu maintained the system¡¯s outward state almost constantly, analyzing every species that appeared in his mind and mapping the surrounding terrain in his memory. He didn¡¯t know how long he had walked before he saw a structure resembling a pyramid. It was about five meters high, fully covered with moss, surrounded by various totems and stone pillars. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 572 - Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Judgement Scale Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Judgement Scale Chen Yu slightly adjusted his breathing, then walked straight in. As soon as he entered, a foul smell hit his face. It could be confirmed that the place was highly toxic. Chen Yu¡¯s physical condition had long since surpassed human limits multiple times. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the poisons and, after dissipating them, he arrived deep inside the pyramid. There was actually a hole in the ground. He immediately released the system into the ground, but to his surprise, there was an extremely strong magnetic field below that could shield against the system¡¯s probe. Although Chen Yu couldn¡¯t see what was beneath, he saw the surveillance equipment hanging nearby. It looked like Di Ming had been monitoring him all along. After greeting the camera, Chen Yu walked down directly. The dark tunnel looked extremely eerie and terrifying. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been walking when he suddenly heard rushing water. He immediately stopped in his tracks and carefully observed his surroundings. Only at this moment did he realize that the path under his feet could only accommodate two people side by side. The man-made canals on either side, and the walls all around were damp, with no place to get a hold. The canals on either side were also very broad, with the water rushing so fiercely that if he slipped here, he would be swept away. As he was observing the surroundings, a strange noise suddenly came from the canals on both sides, and in the next moment, two creatures that looked like crocodiles leapt out of the water, landing on the path. [Synthetic species, seven types of DNA detected, extremely dangerous] A look of disdain appeared on Chen Yu¡¯s face. It seemed Luo Shengtian also liked to create some weird things. He raised his palm and blue-white strong electric light spread out from where he touched the ground. With water everywhere, the conductivity was extremely strong. In the time it took to turn around, those two strange creatures began to emit a scorched smell. In the canals on both sides, a large number of creatures began to float to the surface. Chen Yu didn¡¯t linger here any longer and rapidly slid forward along the passage. But just as he was about to traverse the tunnel, he suddenly found that in front of him was a solid wall, with a passage on both the left and right sides. Chen Yu frowned slightly. The emergence of these two paths was too sudden, and even he didn¡¯t know which way to turn. The system rapidly analyzed the passages on both sides in this instant and ultimately chose the right side. In a spacious hall, Di Ming sat in the main seat, intently staring at the surveillance video in front of him. ¡°What in the world is going on? It¡¯s one thing for him to survive the primitive tribe¡¯s poison, but how could he enter the underground palace so effortlessly?¡± The black-clothed men on both sides knelt on the ground, trembling. They, too, were clueless about how Chen Yu could precisely find every trap¡¯s mechanism, as if he had been here before. ¡°Master, could it be that someone here leaked the map and this guy saw our trap layout beforehand?¡± Di Ming¡¯s teeth clenched with a crunch. Of course, he knew such a thing was impossible! Luo Shengtian itself was one of the most mysterious organizations in the world. The traps here according to tradition, were personally designed and constructed by the masters of Luo Shengtian over the generations. After completion, the artisans involved in the construction would be killed, making it impossible for outsiders to know. Di Ming didn¡¯t ask any further, but just propped himself up with one hand, fixated on the surveillance screen. Chen Yu had already smoothly passed through the maze and entered into the underground palace. The maze just now had indeed left him with lingering fears; if it weren¡¯t for the system, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to find his way out on his own. The underground palace utilized layout methods from all times and places, combined in an extremely complex manner. Even if one were to fill their mind with all the knowledge in the world, it would not guarantee an escape. Upon reaching the underground palace, Chen Yu took a long breath as if still haunted by the maze he had just encountered. Just as he was preparing to move forward, the adjacent stone wall suddenly started moving rapidly. It wasn¡¯t long before a group of figures wearing dog-head masks emerged from the wall. Each of these figures emitted an exceptionally strong magnetic field, seemingly innate superpower users. Each person held a weapon similar to a spear, from which a strange energy field continuously emanated. He couldn¡¯t help but be startled by the sight of these individuals. The energy fields radiating from these people were almost identical, and when interwoven, they could produce a powerfully strong Dark Matter Energy. He had previously fought a naturally gifted superpower user who possessed Dark Matter Energy and was quite formidable. Now, to see so many of them appear before him was truly astounding. Even if he were extremely capable, he could not confront such potent Dark Matter Energy all at once. All the dog-headed figures wielded their spears, continuously striking the ground, each strike enhancing the converging Dark Matter Energy. Moments later, stones in the center of the plaza levitated and rapidly assembled, and before long, they formed a scale. In ancient Egyptian legends, Death God Anubis would use the Judgement Scale to determine the fate of souls. He would carve out the heart of the deceased and place it on one side of the scale and place the Feather of Maat, symbolizing purity, on the other side. If the heart was heavier than the feather, it would descend into hell, and the heart would be devoured by the beast with a lion¡¯s head and a crocodile¡¯s body, condemned to never reincarnate! Only if the heart was lighter than, or equal to, the feather could one ascend to heaven. These dog-headed innate superpower users represented Anubis, and the stone mechanism that formed the scale was the Judgement Scale. It seemed that they intended to judge him. Chen Yu snorted coldly; he did not believe in these ancient myths. Everything before his eyes was merely a set of mechanisms. He immediately used the system to cover everything in the vicinity, seeking to find a flaw. But just when he had released the system, an eerie energy field suddenly enveloped him, and a piercing pain surged continuously into his brain. For an instant, he felt dizzy, his body growing inexplicably light. By the time he realized what was happening, he had already levitated into the air. Chen Yu¡¯s pupils dilated in shock; he struggled, only to discover that he couldn¡¯t control his body, which floated involuntarily to one end of the scale. Then, a hatch opened above and a large white feather gently descended. Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief; the replication of the mechanism was too realistic! Coupled with those impersonating Anubis, it was as though he was truly in hell. Most importantly, Chen Yu¡¯s body was controlled by some unknown magnetic field, rendering him completely immobilized. The Judgement Scale tipped the moment it was activated, and without a doubt, his body was heavier than that feather. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 573 - Chapter 573: Chapter 573 Jormungandr Chapter 573: Chapter 573 Jormungandr From a scientific perspective, his body¡¯s density was undoubtedly much greater than that of the feather; no matter what, the scale would incline towards his side. The so-called trial was simply nonsense, just a pretense to set a trap to kill him there. Chen Yu struggled fiercely, continuously using system analysis to decipher the peculiar magnetic fields around him, eager to free himself as soon as possible. He could clearly see a dark hole beneath the scale, which might very well conceal a monster with the head of a lion and the body of a crocodile. Just as his body was about to slide off, the system finally clarified the surrounding magnetic field power. He immediately jumped off the scale, his body darting towards those Anubis like lightning. These fellows swung their long spears incessantly, and the formidable Dark Matter Energy formed by the converging magnetic Fields quickly spread out, creating a vast web-like structure, Chen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly as blue-white electric light suddenly released, colliding with the dark matter net in the sky. The terrifying energy abruptly dispersed, and, as expected, a black hole and a white hole formed simultaneously. The opposing forces devoured and neutralized each other, and before long, the colliding energies vanished without a trace. Just as those Anubis prepared to release more magnetic fields, Chen Yu¡¯s body disappeared without a trace. Di Ming, who was watching this scene on the monitoring screen, stood up immediately. ¡°How is this possible? Even the Judgement Scale couldn¡¯t deal with him! What kind of being is this man?¡± Everyone on site was deathly silent, not daring to utter a single word. The Judgement Scale was the most powerful mechanism there, also meticulously engineered by generations of Luo Shengtian¡¯s rulers. The natural superpower holders guarding it each possessed the same power, and the magnetic fields they emitted had already reached cosmic energy levels. Just gathering these people together had taken an unknown amount of time. But now, this mechanism, like a paper tiger, was easily breached by Chen Yu. ¡°Issue the order, release Jormungandr immediately!¡± Everyone present lifted their heads, staring at Di Ming with a look of fright. ¡°Your Majesty, Jormungandr is still in the experimental phase; if we rashly release it, it might completely destroy Luo Shengtian.¡± Di Ming slammed the armrest of his chair in anger, a formidable magnetic field power bursting from within him, leaving two ravines on the ground. ¡°Enough with the nonsense, if that fellow reaches here, I¡¯ll have to hand over Luo Shengtian in its entirety.¡± The crowd dared not speak another word, and two middle-aged men hurriedly ran to a side chamber. After passing through the underground palace, Chen Yu arrived in a very spacious room. The place seemed somewhat dark, filled with the dampness everywhere. [System alert, danger is approaching, the autonomous defense function is activated in sync] A layer of blue-white light barrier condensed around Chen Yu. He braced himself for a desperate struggle. The issuance of such an alert by the system meant that the danger had reached a certain level. As he was in a daze, the surrounding walls suddenly began to rumble, and then a wall slid open to both sides. A rustling, strange sound came from behind the wall, and Chen Yu suddenly saw a gigantic python appear before him. Rather than calling it a python, it was more like a dragon with wings. The body of the creature was immense, with strange liquids constantly dripping from it. These fluids presumably carried an extremely potent corrosive property, as before long the ground was pitted with countless large holes. What was even more shocking was that the creature was emitting a very strong magnetic field. Jormungandr! The name flashed through Chen Yu¡¯s mind instantly. A mythical beast from Norse mythology that lived symbiotically with Hela and was said to be capable of swallowing the Divine King, Odin, in one gulp. The giant serpent in front of him was a perfect replication of the mythical Jormungandr, even the two fleshy wings on its back had been reproduced. It had to be said that Luo Shengtian sure had an imagination. He had already replicated the Judgement Scale from the ancient Egyptian mythological system, and now he had brought to life Yemengjardi from Norse mythology. The technological content of these things was so overwhelming that each one could shock the world. Chen Yu took a moment to adjust his breathing. His formidable blue and white electric mist wafted out, ceaselessly striking Jormungandr¡¯s body. But the creature was thick-skinned, and even the blue and white lightning could not inflict any harm on it. Instead, it was Chen Yu who needed to constantly dodge the venom released from its body. Once touched by these fluids, one would immediately turn to pus and blood. Chen Yu didn¡¯t want to get entangled here; if this continued, he might really meet his end in this place. ¡°Ling Ling, is there a way to take down this big guy?¡± [Yes, you only need to concentrate all your power on me, and then throw me like a weapon. That will knock the opponent unconscious.] [However, I will not be able to provide magnetic field power for the next half an hour.] At this point, Chen Yu could not afford to think too much. He immediately gathered all his power onto Ling Ling and threw her out. A huge blue and white orb forcefully struck Jormungandr, making crackling noises. Afterward, the massive creature fell to the ground, never to rise again. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, but now he received no feedback from the system whatsoever. After a quick survey of the surrounding terrain, he dashed out through the entrance from which Jormungandr had appeared. He walked along a narrow passageway, not knowing how long it took, but finally arrived at a spacious hall. All eyes in the hall immediately turned to Chen Yu, some filled with shock. ¡°Heavens, how did this guy do it? Not even Jormungandr could stop him.¡± ¡°Our traps here have existed for so many years, and never has anyone managed to break in from the outside; he¡¯s the first!¡± ¡°It seems that our lord has some sort of bet with him. Looks like from now on, Luo Shengtian will belong to the Xuanqing Sect.¡± ¡°Who knows what our lord is thinking, why would he make a wager with someone like this?¡± As everyone was buzzing with discussion, Di Ming slowly stood up from his chair. ¡°You are very impressive. I truly didn¡¯t expect you to make it here, even Jormungandr has been brought down by you! Next is you, my last bet. Do you dare to continue?¡± Chen Yu stretched his muscles and walked straight towards Di Ming. ¡°Is it just you coming, or will everyone here join in?¡± Di Ming¡¯s facial muscles twitched violently, he hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yu to be so arrogant. COMMENT 0 comment Vote 3 left SEND GIFT Chapter 574 - Chapter 574: 574 Chapter 574: 574 ¡°No need for anyone else to step in, this bet is between the two of us!¡± Di Ming bellowed, directly drawing out a long saber from the side. Chen Yu let out a slight breath of murky air; he truly had to rely on his own skills to compete with Di Ming now. He flicked his wrist and drew a knight¡¯s longsword from beside him, gripping it with both hands. ¡°Then bring it on!¡± The two exchanged glances and then, after a burst of acceleration, they charged to the center of the hall. The sounds of their swords clashing were crisp and forceful, the power generated causing the surrounding air to buzz ominously. Everyone present backed away, not daring to get too close for fear of being hurt by the energies released by the two fighters. Without the help of the system, Chen Yu felt no strain whatsoever. His physical condition had long since surpassed human limits by several times. Moreover, after several evolutionary feedbacks from the system, his body had a magnetic field similar to that of a born possessor of Supernatural Powers. He could also release blue and white arcs of electricity thanks to the operation of the magnetic field. The two bodies constantly interweaved in the center of the square, their speed and strength matched so that there was no clear victor for a time. After another powerful collision, both men pushed off from each other, panting and scrutinizing their opponent. ¡°Something¡¯s not right; you¡¯re not using your full strength!¡± Di Ming gritted his teeth, ¡°The power you used when you took down Yemengade was much stronger than now.¡± Chen Yu certainly wouldn¡¯t reveal the fact that he had the system. He simply flicked the longsword in his hand and stared at Di Ming with a dismissive look. ¡°I don¡¯t need to use that much power to deal with you!¡± Di Ming suddenly felt deeply insulted. He raised his saber and roared, drawing a vast amount of black lightning swiftly to himself, wrapping around his body. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far. Today I¡¯ll take your life!¡± In that moment, an enormous power burst forth, and Di Ming¡¯s body became translucent. Chen Yu, too, felt unprecedented pressure at this moment, but his physical condition allowed him to just manage it. He took a deep breath and mobilized all of the magnetic field he could summon around his longsword. Blue and white electric light quickly spread around him. The two powerful forces filled the entire hall rapidly, and the people who had been standing and resisting were now leaving, with some even hiding behind covers. Di Ming¡¯s power reached its limit; he bore his physical agony and released all of his power in one burst. Chen Yu refused to be outdone and hacked down fiercely with his longsword. At the moment of impact, the two powerful forces clashed, sending out a terrifyingly fierce shockwave; pillars and even the ceiling of the hall shattered one after another. When the powers of the two had dissipated, Di Ming was already lying limply on the ground, while Chen Yu still stood tall. His physical condition had been fortified several times; such a clash only caused his muscles to feel sore. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve won. From now on, the entire Luo Shengtian will belong to the Xuanqing Sect!¡± Di Ming, teeth clenched, forcibly propped up his body to stand. ¡°This is impossible; I am the most powerful person in this world, I can¡¯t lose to you!¡± Chen Yu didn¡¯t care about that. He walked straight to Di Ming and grabbed his shoulder. ¡°Are you thinking of going back on your word?¡± Di Ming suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say. His ability to set up so many mechanisms from ancient legends in Luo Shengtian proved that he truly believed in certain Supernatural Powers. ¡°` He would absolutely not go back on a bet or an oath. ¡°Since I lost, I willingly accept defeat! From now on, everything that belongs to Luo Shengtian is yours. However, I hope you won¡¯t disrupt its existing mechanisms and balance,¡± Chen Yu said, letting out a weary sigh. Right now, he really didn¡¯t have much strength left. If Di Ming insisted on another confrontation, the outcome remained uncertain. ¡°Then come back with me to the Core Tower now. Let¡¯s sign the necessary papers,¡± Di Ming reluctantly nodded. At the top floor of the Core Tower, Jin Lingsu sat with a gloomy expression on her face. ¡°What kind of place is Luo Shengtian? Don¡¯t you people know? Couldn¡¯t you have stopped him when he left?¡± Xu Linjun didn¡¯t know how to respond and seemed somewhat lost. Luo Shengtian was the most powerful entity on their continent, one that no one dared to defy. They had witnessed the extent of Chen Yu¡¯s strength, enough to challenge Di Ming of Luo Shengtian equally. It was after much deliberation that they had allowed Chen Yu to go. But now, they felt regret; the headquarters of Luo Shengtian bristled with dangers, and it was uncertain if anyone could come out alive. Although Chen Yu was powerful, it didn¡¯t mean he could overcome all the mechanisms there. Just as everyone was worried, a shrill alarm suddenly rang outside. Xu Linjun quickly stood up and grabbed the emergency phone on the table. ¡°What¡¯s happened outside? Why the alarm?¡± ¡°Reporting to the Sect Leader!¡± a hurried voice came through the phone: ¡°Sect Leader Chen has returned!¡± Everyone in the room sighed with relief, yet their eyes were filled with shock. No one had expected that Chen Yu could return entirely unscathed from Luo Shengtian. Just as they prepared to go down to greet him, the voice on the phone spoke again. ¡°The master of Luo Shengtian is also following Sect Leader Chen.¡± Now everyone was panicking; they didn¡¯t know what the master of Luo Shengtian intended by coming here. Before they could react, the Core Tower¡¯s elevator was activated, and soon after, Chen Yu and Di Ming appeared before them. Xu Linjun hurriedly stepped forward: ¡°What brings you two here?¡± Di Ming sighed resignedly: ¡°From now on, all of Luo Shengtian belongs to the Xuanqing Sect, and I am a member of the Xuanqing Sect as well.¡± All present widened their eyes in disbelief. Di Ming, the haughty master of Luo Shengtian, was now willingly acknowledging himself as a member of the Xuanqing Sect. This confirmed that the bet between the two men had been won by Chen Yu. Chen Yu pulled over a chair and sat down. ¡°Could you please draft the contract between us two, and make it as comprehensive as possible?¡± Xu Linjun finally came to his senses and hurriedly took some A4 paper from the side. Jin Lingsu also approached Chen Yu. ¡°You finally made it back in one piece. Otherwise, your significant other would have flayed me alive,¡± she said. Chen Yu laughed: ¡°From now on, all organizations with Supernatural Powers in the world are in my hands.¡± Not one person present dared to speak. Luo Shengtian was the only organization in the world that could contend with the Dao Sects. Now that such an entity was under Chen Yu¡¯s control, the rest of the organizations paled in significance. ¡°` Chapter 575 - Chapter 575: Chapter 575 Happy Life Chapter 575: Chapter 575 Happy Life After signing all the agreements at Shazi Cave, Chen Yu gathered the key figures and prepared to take them to Tianhu Mountain to sign a more detailed covenant. The Xuanqing Sect¡¯s location, Tianhu Mountain, had suddenly become bustling during this period. Almost all of the Dao leaders had arrived here, wanting to nominate Chen Yu as the helmsman of the Dao. However, Chen Yu had been absent for this time, appointing Polaris as the temporary representative. This made all of our leaders quite frustrated. They had been discussing here for many days now, but Chen Yu still had not returned. Did they really have to treat Polaris, this young girl, as the helmsman of the Dao? Just when everyone was feeling dispirited, Chen Yu arrived at Tianhu Mountain in a grand procession with a group of people. As soon as he arrived, the information from all the brains on the mountain flooded his mind. He was already tired of being the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect; if he were to take on the role of helmsman for the entire Dao, the sheer amount of trivial rules would crush him. Therefore, after sending these people up the mountain, he went straight to the great hall. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I have no interest in being the helmsman of the Dao, and from now on, I don¡¯t plan to continue as the Sect Leader of the Xuanqing Sect either. Polaris will succeed me.¡± As soon as he said this, everyone present widened their eyes¡ª they were here to persuade Chen Yu to take charge. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, this won¡¯t do. In the entire Dao, only you have the qualifications to be the helmsman!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t take on the role of helmsman, where will we find a suitable candidate?¡± ¡°You were handpicked by Heavenly Master Long Tian, you can¡¯t just drop the burden like this.¡± ¡­ A group of old Daoists chattered ceaselessly, causing Chen Yu to become annoyed and restless. ¡°How about this! If after three years, you still can¡¯t find a suitable helmsman, I will agree!¡± The people present immediately became excited. Three years was nothing; even in thirty years, they wouldn¡¯t be able to find a more perfect helmsman than Chen Yu. ¡°Sect Leader Chen, you said it yourself. When the time comes for us to fetch you, you must not back out.¡± Chen Yu couldn¡¯t say much more and could only agree. He then instructed these people to transfer over the property contracts from Luo Shengtian¡¯s side. After arranging all the matters here, he went to the airport and boarded a helicopter flying directly to the capital. Now that almost all the powerful organizations around the world had been integrated under the Dao, the remaining minor organizations would also submit before long, and there was no need for him to continue staying at the Xuanqing Sect. As for taking on the role of helmsman of the Dao, that was a matter for three years later. Upon landing at the capital¡¯s airport, he went straight to the Tong Family estate. But as soon as he entered, he saw a large group of medical personnel surrounding the house tightly; among them were some Daoist healers from the Xuanqing Sect. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chen Yu frowned, this scene clearly meant that someone at home had fallen seriously ill, and yet he had no knowledge of such a serious matter. Tong Ya stood there, wiping her tears. ¡°It¡¯s my father! He suddenly began to experience rapid aging and shrinkage of his body¡¯s organs recently. We¡¯ve had several hospital checks, but nothing was diagnosed.¡± A flicker of guilt crossed Chen Yu¡¯s face; he had been running around outside all this time and had neglected his family¡¯s affairs. Taking a deep breath, he rushed into the house. Tong Ming was already emaciated to the bone, lying on the bed, barely hanging on to life. Chen Yu felt his pulse and after examining it, his expression drastically changed. This kind of irreversible tissue atrophy had no known medical cure in the world, and with such a disease, one could only lie in bed and wait for death. The doctors nearby sighed one after another. ¡°Mr. Chen, there¡¯s no need to strain yourself any further; we¡¯ve all seen it, and existing medical science can¡¯t even name this disease.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Chen, you should hurry and prepare for the inevitable.¡± ¡°We really have tried our best, please accept our condolences and adapt to the circumstances.¡± ¡­ Chen Yu didn¡¯t listen at all, only asking Tong Ya to usher these people out. Once everyone in the room had left, Chen Yu placed his fingertip on Tong Ming¡¯s forehead. To others, this illness might be incurable, but to him, it was nothing of the sort. With all the knowledge in the world gathered in his mind and the help of the system, he was confident he could cure it. Blue and white sparks rapidly converged, and under Chen Yu¡¯s control, they flowed into Tong Ming¡¯s body, reaching every limb and bone. As time passed, the once extremely frail body began to fill out, and the dead tissues and cells were revitalized. Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn¡¯t stop there; instead, he increased the current. It was not until Tong Ming¡¯s hematopoietic stem cells and regenerative tissues within the body were repaired that he ceased. After all was done, Chen Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and left the room. ¡°Don¡¯t you people ever tell me again that there¡¯s an incurable disease in this world. Now you can go in and tend to him properly.¡± The doctors on-site stared with widened eyes. They had previously determined that Tong Ming was on the brink of death, beyond the help of even a divine being. However, upon hearing Chen Yu¡¯s words, they rushed into the room. When they saw the data displayed on the monitor next to them, they were dumbstruck. A person on the edge of death had been brought back to life. Without saying much more, the doctors immediately started prescribing medication. Chen Yu didn¡¯t wish to linger in the room any longer, taking Tong Ya and Tuan Tuan out onto the balcony. ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t leave; I will stay by your side.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s eyes, dark as polished jade, trembled slightly. Chen Yu¡¯s current status and position made it impossible for him to remain at home all the time. ¡°Stop joking!¡± Tong Ya, with a giggling smile, wrapped her arms around Chen Yu¡¯s neck: ¡°No matter what you do, I¡¯ll support you.¡± Chen Yu, caressing Tong Ya¡¯s cheek, said, ¡°This time I¡¯m not joking. The matters with the Xuanqing Sect have been settled, and the family business can run on its own. I can truly stay by your side and accompany you now.¡± Tong Ya¡¯s breathing became rapid; she had not expected Chen Yu to have such deep feelings. By her side, Tuan Tuan clapped his little hands excitedly. ¡°Daddy, are you really telling the truth?¡± Chen Yu picked up Tuan Tuan with one hand. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true!¡± Tong Ya, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged Chen Yu tightly. She had always longed to live a simple life with Chen Yu. ¡­ Several days later, Tong Ming had recovered. Chen Yu took his family on a trip around the world. New book ¡°Shocking the Net! Is This What You Call a Psychologist?¡±