Chapter 188: You Can’t Rush Some Things
Chapter 188: Chapter 188: You Can’t Rush Some Things
The moment Master Luo saw Boss Jin, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, completely losing his backbone.
His back was slightly hunched, and a fawning smile was plastered on his face.
"B-Boss Jin, I... I’ll definitely pay back the money I owe, don’t you worry."
A gambler’s promises were meant to be broken. Boss Jin treated Old Luo’s words as nothing but hot air, smirking mockingly as he exhaled a large cloud of white smoke.
"Old Luo, what are you talking about? I didn’t come looking for you today over that little bit of money. Sit down."
’Not for the money?’
Master Luo’s heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly started to pour down.
But he didn’t dare run, so he could only obediently do as he was told and sit down.
"You said before that you could plant someone inside Little Deer Cuisine. It’s been a few days now. Have you heard anything from them?"
Boss Jin couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
Hearing it was about this, Master Luo breathed a sigh of relief. "My apprentice has already started the job. He’s only been there for three or four days, so he hasn’t sent any news back yet."
"Three or four days, and he hasn’t told you a single thing?" Boss Jin laughed. "Old Luo, you’ve really done a fine job here."
"N-no, that’s not it. I... I’ve been sending him messages, but he’s not replying." Master Luo stammered out an explanation. "And I don’t dare go to his house to find him. I’m afraid someone will see me and it’ll get back to his boss."
"Brother, I don’t think that so-called informant of yours gives a damn about what you told him to do. Shen Lu changing her ingredients is a huge deal, and he didn’t say a word. He probably can’t find out Shen Lu’s supply channels either."
Jin San shot Boss Jin a look. The meaning was clear: this guy was useless, a good-for-nothing. If they were going to get rid of him, now was the time.
Boss Jin wasn’t as hot-tempered as Jin San. Compared to just killing someone, he preferred to squeeze them dry of all their value.
’Everyone has their use; it’s just that some are more valuable than others.’
’Master Luo, for example, could be sent to the mines.’
Master Luo was also street-smart. One look at Jin San’s eyes and he knew what he was thinking, and he immediately grew anxious.
Suddenly, the Communication Device on his wrist flashed.
Master Luo glanced at the sender’s name and shouted excitedly, "My apprentice just messaged me!"
’This isn’t just a message, it’s a lifeline!’
Master Luo quickly showed the message to Boss Jin.
Boss Jin first looked with disdain at Master Luo’s battered old Communication Device, then deigned to take a look.
Apprentice: Little Deer Cuisine bought a batch of ingredients from a local supplier. They’re mixing good ingredients with poor ones and have lowered their prices accordingly.
’That’s it? Just this?’
Boss Jin was somewhat disappointed. This was all useless information.
"Boss Jin, please give my apprentice a little time. To get important secrets, you have to become a trusted confidant first, right?" Master Luo said cautiously.
He wasn’t wrong. Anyone with a brain wouldn’t spill important secrets to someone they’d only known for a few days.
Boss Jin thought for a few minutes, then said, "Alright, you can go."
As if granted amnesty, Master Luo bowed repeatedly as he backed away, leaving the private room like a man who had just survived a disaster.
"Brother!" Jin San frowned, dissatisfied. "Dragging our feet like this, when are we ever going to get results?!"
"Then what do you suggest? You lead a group to storm the restaurant, grab Shen Lu, and force her to tell you where she gets the ingredients that can soothe the Spiritual Sea?" Boss Jin stubbed out his cigarette. "Jin San, if you want to achieve great things, you have to be patient. Some things can’t be rushed."
Jin San irritably reached up to run his hands through his hair, only remembering when his fingers met a smooth scalp that Xue Can had burned his hair off earlier, so he had simply shaved his head.
For one, he thought the burned hair looked ugly. For another, it was a reminder of the humiliation he had suffered.
Xue Can.
Every time he thought of that name, Jin San felt a deep-seated hatred.
But he couldn’t beat him and didn’t have the power to rival him. For now, all he could do was swallow his pride.
Jin San stood up and started walking out, fuming.
"Jin San, where are you going?"
Seeing his brother was filled with pent-up rage, Boss Jin called him back. "Come sit down. Keep me company for a bit."
He had to keep his volatile, short-fused brother in check, lest he ruin his plans.
Jin San didn’t even turn his head. "I’m not interested in this stuff."
"Get over here." Boss Jin’s tone grew heavy. "You’re not going anywhere today."
"Brother!" Jin San roared.
Boss Jin ignored him and had the madam call in a couple of clever and charming girls to keep them company.
Jin San let out a long breath and sat down, suppressing his temper.
’Forget it. When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. He still relied on his older brother to get by. If he had to entertain them, then so be it. He’d just treat it like he was with a client.’
...
At four in the afternoon, Cai Su went to the hospital to pick up Xiao Lang’s medical report.
She read it line by line. All the values were normal.
The report proved that Xiao Lang’s body was very healthy, with no problems at all. It was highly likely that his awakening this time wouldn’t have the same issues as the last.
This allowed Cai Su to feel mostly relieved, but she didn’t dare let her guard down completely. Awakening was a mysterious thing; just because all the numbers were normal didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any accidents.
Whether it was successful or not would depend on the final outcome.
Shen Lu patted Xiao Lang’s head. "How about we hire Mr. Xue to stand guard for a few days?"
Cai Su’s eyes lit up, then immediately dimmed. "But we’re not related to Mr. Xue or anything..."
"We can just hire him with money." Shen Lu looked up and smiled. "If you agree, I’ll go talk to Mr. Xue about the price. If you think it’s reasonable, we’ll hire him."
Cai Su bit her lip. Xiao Lang, ever so sensible, shook his head. "Mom, Sister Shen, you don’t need to spend money. I’ll be fine, really. Brother Xue said that as long as I train hard and build a good foundation, my second awakening will go without a hitch!"
The children here mostly matured early, and Xiao Lang was no exception. He had felt a pang of guilt that morning during the check-up, watching his mother spend her Star Coins. That was her hard-earned money.
Unfortunately, his words carried no weight, and his mother didn’t listen to him at all.
’Sister Shen is different from Mom,’ Xiao Lang thought. ’She’ll listen to what I have to say.’
Shen Lu just ruffled Xiao Lang’s hair and looked at Cai Su. "Sister Cai, you and Xiao Lang should discuss this between yourselves. Just let me know the result when you have one."
’I’m just an outsider. I can offer suggestions at most, but I would never get involved in another family’s decisions.’
"Okay, Xiao Lang and I will talk it over." Cai Su didn’t give a final answer. She really needed to think about it.
In the evening, the Wang Family Sisters came by to deliver the metal materials.
As usual, Shen Lu had the system scan them, accepting the ones that passed and returning those that didn’t.
Today, the two sisters asked for Star Coins again. As Shen Lu paid them, she asked curiously, "How come you don’t want steamed buns anymore?"
Before, she had offered them Star Coins, but Wang Xiaoci had wanted steamed buns instead. Now that she had prepared a bunch, they didn’t want any at all.
’Could it be that my steamed buns aren’t any good?’
’No, that can’t be. They had them twice, and they tasted great.’