ROSGT ## Chapter 143: A Bowl of Wontons
# Volume 1
## Chapter 143: A Bowl of Wontons
Ye Cui explained the business model of Lucky Wontons to Chen Lao'er.
Chen Lao'er's wontons were actually quite delicious, on par with the fresh and tasty ones from Lucky Wontons. However, he lacked business experience and only operated a small street stall. Ye Cui was confident that if Chen Lao'er dared to take a risk and open a shop, the business would be a huge success. But Chen Lao'er was a simple man with a family and was unwilling to take such risks. Understanding this, Ye Cui offered him a fixed salary of ten thousand yuan per month, ensuring he would have peace of mind while running the shop.
Ye Cui then began explaining to Chen Lao'er how to manage the wonton shop, wanting to wrap things up quickly as he didn't have much time to oversee everything. Fang Nan sat nearby, resting her chin on her hands, watching Ye Cui with a look of admiration. Chen Lao'er found it hard to reconcile this image with the tough girl who had just declared she could fight ten people.
Just then, a customer approached the wonton stall. "Excuse me, may I have a bowl of soup?"
The voice was thick and honest. Ye Cui turned to see a tall and sturdy man, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, at least 1.9 meters tall. His clothes looked worn, and he had a kind smile on his face. When Ye Cui looked at him, he smiled broadly. "I'm out of money and very thirsty. Could I please have a bowl of water?"
Chen Lao'er, being kind-hearted, immediately stood up. "Sure, wait a moment, I'll get you some soup."
"Boss," Ye Cui interrupted, "give him a large bowl of wontons."
He then looked at the tall man. "The wontons here are delicious. If you only drink the soup and miss out on the wontons, it would be a pity."
The tall man hesitated for a moment. He didn't like being pitied, even though there were reasons for his current state. But he didn't want to accept anyone's charity. However, seeing Ye Cui's sincere eyes, he realized this stranger wasn't pitying him but genuinely believed the wontons were too good to miss. So he smiled at Ye Cui. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Ye Cui smiled back. He genuinely thought it would be a shame if someone didn't try the delicious wontons.
Chen Lao'er quickly prepared a bowl of shrimp wontons and served it to the tall man, who began eating voraciously, a simple smile on his honest face. He agreed with Ye Cui—the wontons were indeed delicious. Ye Cui smiled back as if to say, "See, I told you so," and continued discussing the wonton shop with Chen Lao'er.
That bowl of wontons was the first encounter between Ye Cui and the tall man, and it would later save Ye Cui's life many times.
...
"Lin Xin, we're not taking this job anymore," Skull Tang said irritably over the holo-comm.
On the other end of the line was the scheming Lin Xin. She was shocked. "We had a deal. You help me chase away that wonton stall, and I'll pay you five thousand yuan. Why are you backing out now? Don't you want the money?"
"Of course we want the money, but the situation has escalated," Skull Tang replied angrily. "Today, we ran into a tough woman who beat us all up in no time. She must be trained in martial arts!"
In reality, Fang Nan had taken Skull Tang down with just one punch, but he exaggerated to make her seem like a terrifying opponent.
"Where did this tough woman come from?" Lin Xin was surprised.
"We don't know, but she was with a guy in a wheelchair."
"A wheelchair!?" Lin Xin exclaimed, immediately connecting the dots to Ye Cui and Fang Nan. "So it's them!"
"You know them?" Skull Tang was curious. "That woman is really something. She must be important."
"They're just ordinary people," Lin Xin spat venomously. "Are they still there?"
"Probably, Lin Xin. What are you planning?"
"I'll give you twenty thousand yuan. Gather as many people as you can and beat them up, especially that cripple. Make sure it's as brutal as possible!" Lin Xin hissed. "This is a great deal, right? Twenty thousand yuan. When do you get such a big score?"
Skull Tang was tempted. Despite how intimidating Fang Nan was, the money was too good to pass up. After some hesitation, he said, "Alright, I'll contact our boss and round up thirty or forty guys. Let's see if that woman can handle us then!"
"Hurry up before they leave, and make sure to take photos afterward!" Lin Xin urged.
"Heh, I got it. Don't worry, you'll be satisfied!" Skull Tang ended the call.
In her luxurious mansion, Lin Xin turned off her holo-comm, her face twisted with malice. "Ye Cui, and your meddling girlfriend! You dared to interfere with my plans? You’re out of luck now!"
Lin Xin had orchestrated the harassment of the wonton stall. After encountering Ye Cui there half a month ago and being rebuffed, she had been furious. Seeing Ye Cui and Fang Nan eating together had only made her angrier. Women could be irrationally jealous sometimes.
Back in university, Ye Cui and Lin Xin often visited the stall, which held a special significance. Now, seeing Ye Cui with a prettier girl at the same place was unbearable for Lin Xin. She contacted Skull Tang, a local thug, to chase the stall away, offering five thousand yuan for the job. Skull Tang eagerly accepted.
"If I'm not with you, no other woman will eat at that stall with you. No one will replace me!" was Lin Xin's twisted logic.
After talking to Skull Tang, Lin Xin felt a great sense of relief. She imagined Ye Cui and Fang Nan getting beaten up, and her mood improved significantly. Recently, she had been very unhappy, and it was all because of Ye Cui!
Cao Kang, who had accidentally charged two million yuan into a game, had been staying home playing cards in frustration. Wanting to spend the money quickly, he only ended up winning more. His account balance had increased instead of decreasing, leaving him irritable. He hadn’t touched Lin Xin for days and constantly snapped at her, and Lin Xin blamed Ye Cui for this situation.
...
Back at the wonton stall, Ye Cui and Chen Lao'er finalized the details of the wonton shop and signed an electronic contract. "In this digital age, things are so convenient," Ye Cui remarked.
"You should start looking for a shop and create a menu based on your skills. Preparation is key," Ye Cui advised.
"Yes, I'll make sure to prepare well," Chen Lao'er agreed eagerly.
The tall man, having heard their entire conversation, had just finished his bowl of wontons, not leaving a single drop of soup. He was evidently frugal and did not waste food.
"Oh, right," Ye Cui suddenly thought of something and told Chen Lao'er, "You’ll need help running the shop. It's best to find an assistant."
Hearing this, the tall man perked up and walked over to Ye Cui.
Ye Cui looked at him curiously, wondering what he wanted.
Chen Lao'er suddenly turned pale and pointed behind Ye Cui. A group of about thirty to forty men, led by Skull Tang, was approaching menacingly.
Ye Cui frowned, instinctively shielding Fang Nan. He had been confident Fang Nan could handle a few thugs, but this many was another matter. His expression turned cold.
In this tense moment, the tall man spoke again, his voice steady. "I heard you’re opening a wonton shop and need an assistant."
Ye Cui and Fang Nan looked at him, puzzled by his timing. The tall man smiled warmly, despite the roughness of his face. "Do you think I'd be a good fit?"