"Big Brother Da, aren't you going a bit too far with that..." Jiang Tang hesitated, wondering whether she should run after her.
"Isn't this the mess you stirred up?" Ning Chen gave her a sideways glance.
"Sigh, you two really are natural-born enemies." Jiang Tang shook her head helplessly and hurried off to catch up with Xu Shuyan.
Glad for some peace and quiet, Ning Chen strolled all the way to the library.
The two-day school sports meeting quickly came to an end.
The name Ning Chen soon spread like wildfire both inside and outside the school.
Many students guessed whether he was a retired national second-tier athlete.
Oddly enough, the school administration never came looking for "trouble" with him, and this big piece of news remained confined to the student body.
The weekend finally arrived.
Ning Chen was just preparing to hole up in his room and read novels all day.
Unexpectedly, a knock sounded at the door, and Qiao Jing's voice drifted in.
"Xiaochen, are you in there?"
"Aunt Qiao, what's up?"
"Hurry up and get ready. Aunt Qiao is taking you kids out for a meal today."
Ning Chen didn't actually feel much like going out.
But upon hearing that they were heading to Qingzhou's most famous restaurant, he immediately got up.
Xu Shuyan and Jiang Tang were already dressed and made up, sitting in the living room watching TV.
Seeing him come out, Xu Shuyan turned away her exquisite, snow-white face, looking as though she was still angry.
"Xiaochen, you've been in Qingzhou for half a month now. Aunt Qiao has been busy with work and hasn't had a chance to treat you to a proper meal yet."
Qiao Jing smiled bitterly. "Last time at the InterContinental Hotel, who could have predicted that kind of trouble would happen? Sigh..."
"What's done is done."
As he put on his clothes, Ning Chen smiled. "By the way, Aunt Qiao, what's the word on that last business?"
"We haven't been able to get anything out of them yet. Professional assassins' mouths are just too tight."
Qiao Jing shook her head. "The weather's nice today, let's not talk about that. Hurry up and get ready, we're heading out to eat."
"You got it!"
Peach Blossom Spring Hotel.
The most famous local hotel in Qingzhou, packed to capacity every night, with even the main hall seats usually requiring reservations a month in advance.
Xu Jingshan had to pull strings using the Xu Family's connections just to barely secure a private dining room.
However, he had a meeting this noon, so he couldn't come.
The Audi A8 drove north all the way, and half an hour later, entered Qingzhou's Baoshi Mountain Scenic Area.
The Peach Blossom Spring Hotel sat right at the foot of Baoshi Mountain, where peach trees were planted in vast groves. Peach blossoms bloomed in brilliant shades of red, surrounded by throngs of tourists—a truly delightful sight.
As the car pulled into the hotel grounds, Ning Chen suddenly sensed something. His eyes, which had been fixed on his phone screen, drifted toward the peach grove outside.
"Xiaotang, I don't know why, but every time I come to the Peach Blossom Spring Hotel, I feel like the air here is so fresh, and it puts me in such a good mood."
From the back seat came Xu Shuyan's voice.
"Really, Shuyan? You feel that too?"
Jiang Tang said in surprise, "Me too! Every time I come to Peach Blossom Spring, the air feels so crisp. If it weren't so far from campus, I'd want to live here."
Hearing the two girls talking, Qiao Jing smiled faintly.
The Peach Blossom Spring Group had only been established five years ago, yet its customer return rate kept hitting record highs, primarily due to the hotel's environment.
Anyone who visited had this exact impression: stepping out of the bustling city into a utopia.
A professional team had once evaluated the air quality at the Peach Blossom Spring Hotel and concluded that it surpassed even a 5A-level scenic area!
No one knew how the Peach Blossom Spring Group pulled it off.
This was also the reason why the group's stock price kept climbing nonstop.
Ning Chen, however, had seen through the mystery the moment he stepped inside.
"A Spirit-Gathering Array!"
"The foundation of this hotel is actually a large-scale Spirit-Gathering Array?"
Surprise flickered in Ning Chen's eyes as he looked around.
"Although it's the most rudimentary kind of Spirit-Gathering Array, it certainly serves to concentrate Spiritual Qi. No wonder this hotel is so popular..."
Places where heaven and earth's Spiritual Qi converges are naturally blessed spots for geomancy.
Fresh air was merely the most basic manifestation; if the concentration of Spiritual Qi rose further, a person's physical body would undergo a transformation—becoming strong and robust, sharp of hearing and vision, quick-witted, and even living a longer life!
Unfortunately, the Spirit-Gathering Array foundation used by this hotel was still far from capable of extending life; at best, it kept guests who stayed there long-term in good health.
"The person pulling the strings behind the Peach Blossom Spring Group must be a cultivator."
Ning Chen thought to himself.
After getting out of the car, he followed Aunt Qiao all the way up to the sixth floor.
The interior decor of the hotel leaned toward a pastoral style, giving people a sense of returning to nature.
"Shuyan?"
As the group walked and chatted, a pleasant voice suddenly called out.
Xu Shuyan turned her head and saw, to her surprise, Chen Zhihao!
Ning Chen also recognized the first rich heir he had stepped on since arriving in Qingzhou.
"Shuyan, what a coincidence, you're here to eat at Peach Blossom Spring too? Haha, Qingzhou is so big, we really must have a connection!"
Beaming, Chen Zhihao abandoned his friends and strode over.
Seeing that Qiao Jing was also there, he hurriedly greeted her, "Hello, Aunt Qiao, I... Ah! It's you!"
Chapter 36: Bring Out Everything on the Menu!
Discovering that Ning Chen was also present, Chen Zhihao almost raised his fists and charged right at him.
Over half a month ago, this brat had shoved his head into a bowl of crucian carp soup and nearly drowned him. He had been looking to settle that score ever since.
"Xiaochen, you know Zhihao?"
Qiao Jing frowned and asked Ning Chen.
Chen Zhihao was a high school classmate of Shuyan's, a good-for-nothing playboy; she certainly didn't want Ning Chen hanging out with that sort.
"Ran into him once, wouldn't call us acquainted." Ning Chen answered truthfully.
"Oh." Qiao Jing finally relaxed.
"Aunt Qiao, I've booked a private room here and invited some friends. Would you like to join us for dinner?"
Chen Zhihao put away the annoyance in his eyes and switched to a smiling face instead.
"No need, we've already booked a room."
Without a second thought, Qiao Jing flatly refused, then led the three of them away.
The Chen family, much like the Xu family, were in real estate, and their relations were only lukewarm at best.
She had heard from Xu Jingshan that Chen Yaozu and Chen Zhihao—father and son—were no good, and furthermore had deep ties with underworld gangs.
Rejected, Chen Zhihao felt a bit awkward and disappointed.
He had wanted to use the opportunity to show off his family's wealth so Xu Shuyan's mother could see, and incidentally put down this little punk named Ning Chen.
Just when he thought he had missed his chance for the day, a turning point appeared—
"I'm so sorry, President Qiao! Little Liu is new here and just too careless!"
"On behalf of the hotel, I apologize to you!"
A middle-aged man in a tailored suit was standing outside a sixth-floor private room, repeatedly apologizing to Qiao Jing.
A front desk clerk stood beside him, her face paler than paper because she had mixed up the reservations for the "Peony Room."
This had resulted in Qiao Jing and another guest arriving at the exact same time, yet there was only one room available.
"What is wrong with you people!"
Furious, Qiao Jing reprimanded loudly, "Such a large hotel, making such low-level mistakes?"
"I am truly sorry, President Qiao! This is entirely our fault!"
The middle-aged manager and the front desk clerk bowed at ninety-degree angles, their faces full of remorse.
Trying to salvage the situation, the middle-aged manager said, "President Qiao, how about you wait just a moment? As compensation, I can give you a fifty percent discount on this meal, what do you say..."
"Who cares about your discounts?"
Xu Shuyan was equally displeased. "Does the Xu Family lack that little bit of money? Who do you think you're looking down on!"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes..."
The middle-aged manager nodded and scraped.
Jiang Tang let out a soft sigh and glanced sideways at Ning Chen. The latter was staring at the scenery outside the corridor, quietly deep in thought.
Right at that moment, four wealthy heirs decked out in designer labels came laughing and chatting down the hallway.
One of them was Chen Zhihao.
Seeing the situation outside the private room, he froze for a split second before slapping his thigh in sheer delight.
"That front desk girl really did me a massive favor, I'm definitely tipping her after we eat, haha!"
Delighted inwardly, Chen Zhihao put on a facade and said, "Aunt Qiao, why don't we just combine tables? There's only four of us anyway, we won't fill it up."
"This..."
Qiao Jing glanced at Chen Zhihao and his three wealthy friends, then looked hesitatingly at Xu Shuyan.
"Is that the campus belle of Municipal No. 1 High, Xu Shuyan?"
"What Municipal No. 1 High, she's the Qing University campus belle now, your intel is outdated, Old Yang."
"No wonder Zhihao keeps babbling about her in our ears every few days—she is drop-dead gorgeous, a total goddess..."
The three wealthy heirs—two men and a woman—couldn't tear their eyes away from Xu Shuyan.
Especially the other female, who had spent three hours putting on makeup that morning, yet Xu Shuyan completely eclipsed her bare-faced.
"This..."
Xu Shuyan was quite hesitant too.
She certainly didn't want to sit at the same table as Chen Zhihao.
Yet she had been craving Peach Blossom Spring's "West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy" and "Longjing Shrimp" for a long time.
At that moment, she glanced at Ning Chen, thinking: Doesn't Ning Chen have a feud with Chen Zhihao? Why not use this opportunity to make him thoroughly embarrass himself and let him mock my bad taste in food!
Having made up her mind, Xu Shuyan lifted her chin and smiled at Qiao Jing, "Mommy, it's almost noon, let's just eat here! I want to taste their fish in vinegar gravy. What do you think, Xiaotang?"
Jiang Tang immediately chimed in, "I want braised spring bamboo shoots!"
"Alright then."
Nodding, Qiao Jing walked into the private room.
She didn't make a fuss about the trouble, seeing as she had spent tens of thousands just to book this room in the first place.
Who knew how long she'd have to wait in line next time.
"Phew..." The middle-aged manager breathed a sigh of relief as well.
"Nailed it!"
Behind them, Chen Zhihao clenched his fists and whispered secretly to his three fox-friends:
"Yuna, Xiaoxing, Liangping, did you guys see the punk walking behind Xu Shuyan?"
All three rich kids nodded. "What about him?"
"I've got a score to settle with that guy! Once we're inside, follow my lead and step on him for all you're worth. I'm going to make him lose face so badly today his ancestors will feel it!" Chen Zhihao said viciously.
The three wealthy heirs indicated there was no problem at all.
Stepping on people and crushing egos was second nature to them.
Walking into the Peony Room.
A massive table capable of seating twenty people stood in the center, flanked by a sofa, a coffee table, a smoking room, and two restrooms.
"Waiter, bring over the menu!"
The moment he sat down, Chen Zhihao barked out the order.
Two decently-proportioned waitresses hurriedly stepped forward.
Taking the book-like, exquisitely crafted menu, Chen Zhihao smiled and handed it to Qiao Jing. "Aunt Qiao, you're the elder, you order first."
"You're too polite, Zhihao."
Qiao Jing smiled, thinking that this Chen boy was actually quite well-mannered.
"Aunt Qiao, order whatever you like, this meal is on me today." Chen Zhihao patted his chest.
"No, no, I couldn't possibly..." Qiao Jing wanted to decline.
*'We're going to be family soon anyway, you're basically my mom, what's there to be embarrassed about!'*
Chen Zhihao chuckled inwardly, but out loud he said, "It's nothing, Aunt Qiao, just order to your heart's content..."
Before he could finish, Ning Chen's voice cut in:
"Waiter, bring one of everything on the menu."
Pfft!
Xu Shuyan and Jiang Tang were rinsing their mouths and nearly spat out their water!
"Are you out of your mind?"
Chen Zhihao glared at Ning Chen. "Ordering that many dishes, can you possibly eat all that?"
"Rest assured, I can." Ning Chen gave him a sideways glance.
"There are over a hundred dishes on the menu, and you can eat all of them? Were you born in the year of the pig?"
The female among the wealthy heirs gave Ning Chen a look of utter disgust.
Her name was Lin Yuna, a five out of ten in looks at best, maybe a six with makeup. She was decked out in Gucci from head to toe, and her handbag was a limited-edition Hermès.
"What a bumpkin, never had a meal before?"
"People told President Qiao to order freely, did anyone speak to you? Hilarious."
The other two rich kids, Yang Xiaoxing and Ye Liangping, also started mocking Ning Chen.
Ning Chen didn't blow a fuse; he just quietly watched the four of them.
If a few playboys could easily ruffle his feathers, then his two millennia of cultivation would have truly gone down the drain.
"Xiaochen is my godson!"
At that moment, Qiao Jing spoke up, her gaze cold. "You kids watch your mouths."
Chapter 37: 1982 Flying Fairy Moutai
Hearing this, Chen Zhihao and his group instantly quieted down, looking at each other in dismay.
Qiao Jing was Xu Jingshan's legal wife and had her own career in Qingzhou. In recent years, with Xu Jingshan's backing, her business had been thriving; ordinary people wouldn't dare provoke her.
"This stinking punk really hit the jackpot, actually getting Qiao Jing to be his godmother!"
Jealousy flared in Chen Zhihao's heart.
If that was the case, didn't it make Ning Chen and Xu Shuyan unrelated brother and sister or something? Damn it, that was dangerous!
Was Qiao Jing planning to play matchmaker between Ning Chen and Xu Shuyan?
At that moment, Qiao Jing turned to Ning Chen and said, "Xiaochen, whatever you want to eat, order it. Aunt Qiao will treat this time."
With that, Qiao Jing even affectionately stroked the back of Ning Chen's head.
"Aunt Qiao, look at you, we already agreed I'd treat..." Chen Zhihao stood up.
Interrupting him, Ning Chen said, "Like I said just now, bring one of everything on the menu, I want to try all of it."
"You..."
Chen Zhihao looked ready to blow, glaring at Ning Chen.
Qiao Jing glared right back at him.
He had no choice but to squeeze a smile onto his face and persuade Ning Chen, "Brother, it's not that I'm cheap, but if you order so many dishes and can't finish them, isn't that a waste? Nowadays everyone's promoting the Clean Plate Campaign; we've got to be frugal, you know."
"Frugal? What are you talking about? That jacket you're wearing must cost at least eight to ten thousand, right?"
A trace of a smile flickered across Ning Chen's face. "If you don't have the money, don't play host."
"I don't have money?"
Pointing at himself, Chen Zhihao immediately fished his wallet out of his pocket, pulled out a black card, and slammed it onto the table. "Zhongshang Black Card, five-million credit limit, see that!"
Ning Chen nodded. "Saw it. When's the food coming?"
Chen Zhihao glared at him, teeth grinding slightly. "Fine! Since you want to eat so badly, for Aunt Qiao and Shuyan's sake, I'll treat you today! But don't regret it..."
"Waiter, bring one of everything on the menu!"
The waiter was already bewildered. "Al-alcohol included?"
"Of course included!"
Ning Chen grinned broadly. "What's the most expensive alcohol you have here?"
The waiter replied, "1982 Flying Fairy Moutai."
Ning Chen waved his hand grandly. "Bring it!"
Enraged, Chen Zhihao cursed, "Damn it!"
Ning Chen put on a puzzled expression. "What's wrong, Young Master Chen? Can't afford to pay?"
This time, Chen Zhihao didn't act on impulse.
An '82 Moutai already counted as one of the Peach Blossom Spring Hotel's bottom-of-the-chest treasures, costing at least fifty to sixty thousand a bottle.
"Brother Zhihao, are you too poor to buy this bottle of wine?"
Just as he was hesitating, Jiang Tang suddenly spoke up, looking at Chen Zhihao with feigned suspicion. "But I just heard Shuyan say she wanted to taste what an '82 Moutai tastes like."
"Xiaotang, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I..."
Xu Shuyan softly reproached her best friend.
"Shuyan's interested?"
Chen Zhihao's eyes lit up. He immediately told the waiter, "Have your manager bring out that bottle of '82 Moutai, I'll take it!"
"Alright, alright, sir." The waiter nodded repeatedly and turned to leave.
"Such a sucker!" Jiang Tang chuckled inwardly.
"..." Xu Shuyan was utterly speechless; this guy must be a fool.
Lin Yuna, Yang Xiaoxing, and Ye Liangping exchanged glances, all thinking that Chen Zhihao was bleeding heavily for this meal—over a hundred dishes plus a bottle of '82 Flying Fairy Moutai would cost well over a hundred thousand at least!
Yet Chen Zhihao's father had specifically told him:
When chasing a girl like Xu Shuyan, you must be willing to spend money.
The Xu family was already a wealthy powerhouse in Qingzhou, and Xu Shuyan had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth; her family lacked nothing. If you wanted to pursue such an ultra-rich belle, how could you do it without bleeding a fortune?
"Aunt Qiao, Shuyan, I'm going to check on the food. Excuse me for a moment."
Shortly after ordering, Chen Zhihao slipped out looking mysterious.
Ning Chen caught a glimpse of scheming in his eyes, guessing the guy was up to no good, so he also stood up and said, "Aunt Qiao, I need to use the restroom."
With that, he walked toward the private room's bathroom, locked the door, and vaulted straight out the window.
Channeling true qi, he landed firmly on the exterior wall, walking as steadily as if on flat ground.
If anyone had witnessed this scene, their jaws would have dropped wide open, shouting Spider-Man!
Before taking two steps, Ning Chen overheard Chen Zhihao's voice.
"Director Chen, time to call upon our veteran actor again, haha!"
"Manager Wang, the packaging is all done, right?"
"Rest assured, practice makes perfect. There's definitely no flaw visible on the packaging; I had it made by a specialized craftsman."
"And the wine?"
"Unless you're a professional sommelier, you won't be able to tell the difference at all."
"Good!"
Inside an office, Chen Zhihao was grinning broadly.
On the table before him sat a bottle of Flying Fairy Moutai, its exterior wrapped in tattered, aged cotton paper.
According to historical records, after the founding of the state-run Moutai Distillery, cotton paper was used for packaging to prevent bottle abrasion. By the late 1960s, to make the packaging more aesthetically pleasing, Moutai began adopting more refined packaging boxes for export...
"A genuine '82 Grand Flying Fairy costs over fifty thousand a bottle, and you can't even find them on the market. People buy them just to collect, who would randomly open one to drink?"
"Ordinary people can't taste the difference anyway, hahaha..."
Hugging the fake bottle of wine in his hands, Chen Zhihao wore a beaming smile.
The people in the private room thought he was a sucker, but he was actually sly as a fox!
By the time he returned to the private room, Ning Chen had just stepped out of the restroom and nonchalantly slipped back into his seat.
Soon, cold dishes were served first: crystal duck tongues, shredded pork ears with scallions, abalone in fermented black bean sauce, drunken prawns in Shanghai style...
A dazzling array, full of color, aroma, and flavor.
Xu Shuyan and Jiang Tang had their appetites thoroughly whetted, picking up food and popping it into their mouths while showering praise on the deliciousness.
In contrast, Ning Chen's eating manners were far less refined; he picked up entire plates to eat straight from them, throwing decorum to the wind, making even Qiao Jing feel slightly embarrassed.
"Reincarnated starving ghost."
"Never had a meal before? Eating so fast, aren't you afraid of choking to death?"