Over the next few days, all the gang members plunged into a frenzy of activity. Zhou Hongbiao led his crew down to the second-hand electric scooter market and spared no expense to procure one hundred electric scooters.
The subordinates gasped in amazement. "Brother Biao, Brother Chen is really going all out! These one hundred scooters must have cost a pretty penny!"
Zhou Hongbiao waved a hand grandly, his voice brimming with bravado. "Brother Chen said it best: 'An artisan must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well.' If we are going to deliver food, we need top-notch transportation. These scooters are our sharpest weapons for making money!"
"As expected, only Brother Biao truly understands Brother Chen. Following Brother Chen makes life worthwhile!"
"Of course! Who is Brother Chen? He's a dragon among men! Come on, brothers, let's go test drive them!"
*Vrooom—*
One hundred brand-new electric scooters surged forward in a neat line, cutting through the quiet Yanjing afternoon like a silver bolt of lightning.
"Haha, this speed is incredible!" roared a subordinate with a pompadour hairstyle excitedly. He twisted the throttle, and his scooter shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Brother Biao, look at me! Am I cool or what?" Another subordinate deliberately showed off his driving skills right in front of Zhou Hongbiao, executing a flawless drift.
Watching his men brimming with youthful vigor, Zhou Hongbiao wore a gratified smile. "All of you, watch your safety! Don't go barrelling around recklessly!"
"Got it, Brother Biao!" the subordinates chorused back, their voices charged with excitement and thrill.
They wove through the alleyways and grand avenues of Yanjing, the sunlight washing over their youthful faces as if plating them in a layer of gold.
In their hearts, they were the sharpest dudes on the entire street!
"We used to be looked down upon as street punks, but now we're food delivery men!"
"So what if we deliver food? You can deliver yourself right into a bright future!"
"Following Brother Chen, we're bound to make something of ourselves sooner or later!"
They were full of soaring ambition and high fighting spirit. They believed that under Chu Chen's leadership, they would undoubtedly forge their own path to glory!
Blondie, meanwhile, skipped the test drive today to focus entirely on the task Chu Chen had entrusted to him.
Clutching the work schedule, Blondie frowned deeply, muttering to himself, "One hundred brothers, split into three shifts, and I have to factor in everyone's delivery zones..."
"Blondie, is that schedule ready yet? The brothers are all waiting to get to work!"
Without even lifting his head, Blondie's fingers flew across the spreadsheet. "Don't rush me. Scheduling is a technical art! I have to make sure every single brother can make money while keeping delivery efficiency high..."
"All right, all right. We trust you and the way you handle things! Brother Chen said it himself—you're the strategist of Chentuan Delivery!"
Blondie's lips curled up slightly in a smug grin. "Naturally! Brother Chen has an eye for talent. I, Blondie, might not have many skills, but my brain gets the job done!"
Seeing his crew working up such a fierce momentum, Chu Chen figured he couldn't just sit around either.
There was someone he needed to see.
Heading to the Chu Design Academy teaching building, he found the person he was looking for inside a classroom—Liu Piaopiao.
Liu Piaopiao sat at her desk, completely engrossed in drafting blueprints.
Sunlight streamed through the window, striking her profile and outlining her delicate features.
She wore her long, glossy black hair falling loosely over her shoulders. A few mischievous strands had slipped free, accentuating her skin, which was whiter than snow and seemed delicate enough to break at a touch.
Beneath willow-leaf eyebrows, a pair of clear, bright eyes seemed capable of speech, shimmering with intelligence.
Her dainty, straight nose sat above cherry-red lips, and a slight smile revealed two shallow dimples, rendering her irresistibly sweet and charming.
She wore a simple white shirt that traced the exquisite curves of her figure, paired with a black hip-skimming skirt that made her long, straight legs look even more slender.
Liu Piaopiao was Chu Chen's senior and a prominent figure at the Design Academy. She had won numerous design awards and would later become a renowned designer, bagging plenty of international accolades.
To be honest, Chu Chen felt that having her design trendy merchandise was a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"Senior Piaopiao, long time no see." Chu Chen greeted her with a smile.
Liu Piaopiao looked up and registered surprise upon seeing him. "Chu Chen? What brings you here? Do you need something?"
She knew who Chu Chen was, given that he was a celebrity not only in the school but across the entire University Town.
In truth, however, the two of them had never crossed paths before.
"Yeah, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with," Chu Chen nodded.
"What is it? Go ahead. As long as it's something I can help with, I'm on board," Liu Piaopiao replied readily.
"It's like this..." Chu Chen laid out his idea to Liu Piaopiao.
He wanted to hire her to design some trendy merchandise, such as phone cases, T-shirts, and hats featuring the likenesses of popular Korean wave stars.
Having heard him out, Liu Piaopiao's jaw dropped in astonishment. "You've got to be kidding me? You want *me* to design this kind of stuff? You're the dignified young master of the Chu Family—how can you be interested in such small-scale business? Besides, isn't this exact area... don't guys like you utterly despise those sissy-looking Korean entertainment stars?"
Chu Chen chuckled. "A business that makes money has no size. If I can use their popularity to make money, what right do I have to despise them? Besides, they're earning an honest living and haven't taken any money out of my pocket, so why should I hate them?"
Never expecting Chu Chen to come out with such a perspective, Liu Piaopiao felt a surge of genuine surprise. "You completely upend my past impressions of you. I honestly thought you'd be like all the other guys who bash, belittle, or even insult and curse these so-called Korean wave stars just because girls are obsessed with them."
Chu Chen smiled. "Since Senior holds such a high opinion of me, how about helping me design some merchandise lines?"
He added with a reassuring note: "Don't worry, I'll pay you."
Liu Piaopiao pondered for a moment before saying, "Fine then, head back and wait. I'll have the design drafts ready for you by next Monday."
The two exchanged contact information.
Leaving the school grounds, Chu Chen was in high spirits.
He believed Liu Piaopiao's designs wouldn't disappoint him. With these trendy products, his Chen Gang would be able to rake in even more cash, bringing him one step closer to his ultimate goal—leading his subordinates down the righteous path and earning far more money than he had in his past life!