As a Magnate, I Started Checking in at a Convenience Store - Chapter 675
Chapter 675: Encounter with Third Brother! (2)
Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Standing on the arch bridge, watching the sampans bobbing in the small river, Zhou Chao found himself looking forward to this kind of life.
After about half an hour of strolling, they finally stopped at a waterside restaurant.
“I didn’t expect there to be so many people here!” Lin Wu, watching the constant stream of people on the opposite bank, was also surprised.
After handing back the menu to the waiter who was taking orders, Zhou Chao joked, “Lin Wu, when did it become my responsibility to order every time we eat out?”
Hearing this, Lin Wu suddenly panicked and hurriedly explained, “Boss, I just don’t trust my judgment. What if I make a wrong choice?”
“Fine, maybe it’s my fault after all!” Zhou Chao said with a feigned sigh.
“No way, Boss, it’s all my fault. I’ll definitely reflect on it!” Lin Wu quickly assured.
Zhou Chao gave him a disdainful look. Reflect on what?
The restaurant’s serving speed was quite fast, and soon several dishes were presented before them.
With Tongli’s rivers and streams, abundant in river delicacies and various aquatic crops, the dining culture also exuded the style of Jiangnan water towns. So, Zhou Chao specifically ordered several famous Jiangnan dishes and local specialties.
Three-silk spring rolls, sizzling eel paste, malt pancake, Tongli champion hoof, and Taihu three whites!
Looking at the delicious food on the table, the gourmet Zhou Chao wasted no time and started tasting with his chopsticks.
They were indeed delicious.
Especially the white shrimp from Taihu three whites, which surprisingly left a hint of sweetness in the mouth, making Zhou Chao pleasantly surprised.
“Waiter, what’s going on? We were here first, why are other tables getting their food before us!”
“Sorry, your dishes will be served soon!” The waiter replied calmly.
“Don’t think just because we’re outsiders, you can bully us. We’ve been waiting for almost half an hour, and none of our dishes have arrived, while the table next to us has already received several…”
“Alright, let’s wait a bit longer and not argue with the waiter!”
Hearing the voices coming from inside the restaurant, Zhou Chao frowned slightly, feeling that the voice sounded familiar.
Zhou Chao followed the sound and saw a stout man arguing with the waiter, with a woman and a child standing beside him.
“Don’t worry, your dishes will be served soon!” The waiter said and hurried off to the kitchen.
“Why do you have to speak so loudly? Can’t you see so many people are looking?” When the waiter left, the woman complained softly.
“I’m just annoyed. We’ve been here for so long, why are others getting their food before us!”
“Alright, let’s not talk about these annoying things today. After we finish our meal, let’s go for a sampan ride!”
“Okay.” The man nodded lightly.
“Third Brother!” Zhou Chao appeared behind the stout man, who hadn’t noticed his approach.
The man heard the voice behind him and quickly stood up to look back, only to see a handsome young man staring at him.
“Hello, may I ask who you are?” the stout man asked with some confusion.
“Third Brother, it’s me, Zhou Chao!” Zhou Chao also understood that he had changed a lot, so it was normal not to be recognized. After all, they hadn’t seen each other for many years.
The man carefully scrutinized Zhou Chao and said somewhat uncertainly, “Zhou Chao? You’re Zhou Chao, the son of my cousin?”
The stout man was indeed Yang Yu, Zhou Chao’s maternal uncle’s son. Due to work reasons, their family had moved to a prefecture-level city below Suzhou.
These were all things his second uncle told him when he visited last year. After all, since his parents passed away, Zhou Chao had disappeared.
He just didn’t expect to meet him here today, which was quite a coincidence.
“Third Brother, long time no see!” Zhou Chao smiled and called out.
“Yeah, it’s been about five or six years. I didn’t expect you, kid, to grow up so handsome. Have you found a wife yet?” Yang Yu said excitedly, patting Zhou Chao’s shoulder.
Feeling the slight pain in his shoulder, Zhou Chao felt helpless. After all, he was his brother.
Zhou Chao looked at the man and the child beside Yang Yu, already knowing who they were. “Third Brother, is this your wife and daughter?”
“Yes, this is your sister-in-law!” Yang Yu said solemnly as he embraced his wife.
“Hello, sister-in-law!” Zhou Chao greeted with a smile.
“Hello!” Perhaps because it was their first meeting, she seemed a bit shy.
“Tongtong, say hello to Uncle!” Yang Yu lifted his daughter, who was sitting on a stool.
“Uncle!” Tongtong shyly called out and nestled in Yang Yu’s arms.
Zhou Chao smiled and responded before turning to Yang Yu. “Third Brother, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ve just started, let’s eat together!”
Yang Yu readily agreed without much thought and followed Zhou Chao with his wife and daughter.
Meanwhile, Lin Wu, who was sitting, watched as the boss walked out with three people. He stood up quickly, but before he could greet them, Zhou Chao signaled him with his eyes to stop.
“Who’s this?” Yang Yu asked curiously, looking at Lin Wu.
“Brother, he’s a friend of mine, one of us. Lin Wu, why don’t you add a few more dishes!”
After seating Yang Yu and the others, Zhou Chao turned to Lin Wu and walked quickly back into the restaurant.
“Xiao Chao, where have you been these past few years? Why haven’t we heard from you at all?” Yang Yu asked as soon as they sat down.
“I’ve been in Modu these past few years. I went back home last year during the Lunar New Year, and it was only then that I heard from my second uncle that you had all moved to Suzhou!”
Yang Yu glanced at him calmly upon hearing this and replied, “Because of some work reasons, we all moved here!”
Zhou Chao could read everything from Third Brother’s expression and probably understood what was going on. He didn’t delve deeper into the matter.
Zhou Chao changed the subject casually, “Aren’t you busy with work lately?”
“Not too busy. Your sister-in-law and I have a small factory making molds. We have to find a lot of business ourselves, and the market hasn’t been good recently, so I brought your sister-in-law out to relax and unwind!”
Yang Yu also felt a bit melancholic. It was tough with the current market conditions for their small workshop!
“What about you? What are you doing now?” Yang Yu asked curiously.
“I’m more or less the same, been hustling in Modu for so many years and started my own small company!”
Zhou Chao didn’t elaborate directly, mainly because he was afraid Third Brother might not accept it right away.
“It seems like you’re the most successful among us brothers!” Yang Yu said with some satisfaction, looking at Zhou Chao.
“It’s not too bad, just a little lucky!” After all, having a system was indeed quite lucky.
Yang Yu didn’t probe further. After all, he had been in business for so many years and knew that there were some topics better left untouched, even among relatives.
Lin Wu was quite efficient. By the time he came out, there were two waiters carrying dishes beside him.
As they ate, Zhou Chao and the others chatted about the past.
When they heard about Zhou Chao almost drowning in the pond when he was a child, Lin Wu nearly choked with laughter. It wasn’t until Zhou Chao gave him a stern look that he stopped.
After finishing their meal, Young Master Zhou arranged for Lin Wu to settle the bill while he and Yang Yu wandered around with Yang Yu’s wife.
Zhou Chao quite liked his nearly five-year-old niece, even though she was a bit mischievous.
“Uncle, I want candied hawthorns!”
“Get them!”
“Uncle, I want this!”
“Get it!”
“Uncle, I want to play!”
“Play!”
Soon, under Zhou Chao’s indulgence, Tangtang became close to him, holding his hand and looking around.
Yang Yu and his wife, following behind them, were somewhat surprised. They hadn’t expected their relationship to become so close in less than half an hour.
The group played until half past five in the afternoon, reluctantly ending their trip for the day.
“Third Brother, you’re not going back today, are you? Stay at my place for the night and go back tomorrow!”
Yang Yu glanced at his wife beside him and, seeing no objection from her, nodded in agreement.
“Alright, I’ll trouble you then!”
“Don’t need to be polite.. Let’s go, we’ll have dinner first!”
