Chapter 144: Meeting
Translator: Lonelytree
Yan Siming drove for a whole day and arrived at Xing Yin County around nighttime. He found a hotel to settle down. It was the Gu Family Hotel.
He rested for a while and felt hungry, so he went down to the restaurant to eat. But when he arrived at the restaurant, he was stunned. The restaurant was filled with people.
‘What is wrong with these people? They don’t have any table manners at all. Men are fighting with women, and women are fighting with children…’ He looked around and noticed there was no empty table. If he wanted to eat, he would have to share a table with others. He was confused. ‘Is the food here so delicious?’
But no matter what, he didn’t like sharing a table with strangers. “Waiter, do you have any empty tables or private rooms?” Yan Siming asked.
The waiter answered politely, “Sir, I’m sorry, but we don’t have any empty rooms. If you’re not in a hurry, you can return to the room to wait. When there is an available table or booth, we’ll call Sir. Is that okay?” Then, the waiter added, “If Sir is in a hurry, we apologize, but you’ll have to share a table with other guests.”
Yan Siming thought for a while and said, “I’ll go to my room to rest then. Call me when there’s a booth available. I am in Room 8888.”
“Yes, Sir! But, Sir,” The waiter answered respectfully, “If you plan to wait, you might not get to taste our hotel’s specialty dishes.”
Yan Siming raised his eyebrows and asked, “Specialty dishes?”
The waiter said, “That’s right, our hotel serves vegetarian dishes as a specialty. They are different from normal vegetarian food. I promise you have not had our kind of vegetarian dishes before.”
Yan Siming looked around, and every table had vegetarian dishes, and they were the ones people fought over. Yan Siming was confused. He had no idea vegetables would be so popular. Wouldn’t the most popular dishes at big hotels be expensive ingredients like sea cucumber and abalone?
Yan Siming’s face revealed a bewitching smile as he said, “Oh, that’s interesting. However, there is no problem with them, right? I heard that some restaurants have resorted to using poppy shells as a seasoning to attract business.”
The waiter said very politely, “Sir, don’t worry. The Gu Family Hotel has been operating in Xing Yin County for thirty years already, and we have a clean reputation. However, many guests have similar questions as yours, but after they have a taste, they know the truth.”
After all, poppy shells had no fragrance.
The waiter politely asked again, “Sir, would you like to have a taste of our specialty?”
Yan Siming said, “Alright, let me see how special your hotel’s specialty dishes are! Prepare some and bring them to my room!”
The waiter smiled, “Alright. Sir, please take a seat and make your order.” The waiter led Yan Siming to the lounge and handed him a menu.
When Yan Siming opened the menu, he saw that all the specialty dishes were indeed vegetables. However, the price was ridiculously high, even higher than the five-star hotel in City Z.
Yan Siming looked at the menu, “Stir-fried cabbage is 88 RMB, braised eggplant is 98 RMB, stir-fried meat with chili is 108 RMB, … and tomato salad is 68 RMB…”
‘Is this hotel trying to rob people? These vegetables cost more than meat!’
In a five-star hotel in City Z, stir-fried cabbage went for 40 to 50 RMB, but here it was almost double as expensive.
‘Are the dishes really that delicious?’
Yan Siming was interested. The man had many interests. Food was one of them. Since the restaurant had such good business despite the prices, then the food had to be good.
Yan Siming ordered all the vegetarian dishes, but the waiter told him that most of them had already sold out.
Yan Siming’s face darkened, and he said unhappily, “What’s wrong with your hotel? Shouldn’t you buy more ingredients to prevent something like this?”
The waiter said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Sir. We have a limited source of vegetables. Therefore, our dishes are also limited in quantity.”
This intrigued Yan Siming again, “There’s a limitation to the vegetable source? This is the first time I’ve heard something like that!”
The waiter explained, “It’s because the vegetables are not ordinary and the farmer has limited supply!” At least that was what President Gu told them.
Yan Siming put down the menu and said, “Alright, then bring me the dishes that you have.”
“Okay, Sir. Please go back to your room and wait.” The waiter left.
Soon after Yan Siming returned to his room, the waiter delivered the dishes.
The moment the waiter opened the lid, a light fragrance assailed his nostrils. Yan Siming sniffed and was immediately attracted by this light fragrance.
There were three dishes, stir-fried cabbage, tomato salad, and stir-fried pork belly with garlic sprouts.
The waiter said very politely, “Sir, here are all your orders. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Yan Siming shook his head and said, “No, thank you!”
After the waiter left, Yan Siming picked up a piece of cabbage with the chopsticks and tried it. Then, he looked very surprised and sighed, “This tastes amazing! No wonder it is sold at such a high price.”
Soon, Yan Siming finished all the dishes. The three plates emptied. He put down the chopsticks and burped. He finished three dishes and two bowls of rice. This was the best meal he had eaten in a long time.
Yan Siming felt his lethargy disappear. He was in great spirit. Yan Siming didn’t have any friends in this small town, so he didn’t plan to go anywhere. He had the waiter bring him a few books. Soon, he fell asleep.
Yan Siming had the habit of waking up early to exercise.
When the sky was still slightly bright, he got up and wore his sportswear to go for a run.
However, when he came downstairs, he immediately narrowed his eyes.
‘Is that… Xiao Lingyu? Why is she here?’
Yan Siming took a few steps forward and then heard someone talking.
“Miss Xiao, you should have asked me to get the vegetables. I can’t trouble you to bring them here.” Manager Wang said, “It’s so early in the morning, and this is quite a large load. It must be tiring for a girl.”
Xiao Lingyu smiled. “I’m not as weak as I look. Plus, I need to rush back home, so I came to deliver the vegetables myself.” Yesterday, they planted a lot of peanuts, soybeans, and vegetables. She had to go back to water them with the spring water.
Manager Wang said, “Regardless, you should have called me. I could go there early to grab the vegetables.”
Xiao Lingyu laughed and chatted some more before she turned to leave.
“Xiao Lingyu!” She heard someone call her and the voice was very familiar. Xiao Lingyu was shocked. ‘No way! Has he followed me here?!” Xiao Lingyu pretended not to hear anything and walked away. Yan Siming shouted again, “Xiao Lingyu, don’t you dare take another step!”
Manager Wang turned around and saw a very handsome but somewhat evil man walking over.
Manager Wang was a discerning man. He noticed that Xiao Lingyu didn’t want to talk to this man, so he immediately stopped in front of Yan Siming and said, “Sir, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person.”
Yan Siming didn’t care about him at all. He told Wang Zhimin coldly, “Get out of my way!”
Xiao Lingyu took a deep breath, then turned around and said with a smile, “Mr. Yan, what a coincidence! Why did you come to Xing Yin County?”
Yan Siming said with an evil smile, “Xiao Lingyu, why ask something you already know? I came here especially for you!”
Manager Wang, who was standing next to him, was surprised when he heard that. He was slightly curious and guessed, ‘Is this man Miss Xiao’s boyfriend? He is… very handsome!’
Xiao Lingyu immediately said, “Mr. Yan, I’m flattered. But there are many women waiting for your favor in City Z. I’m just a simple country girl. Why waste so much time on me?”
Yan Siming smiled brighter, but this time, it had a hint of mockery. “Actually, I’m here looking for you because I want to watch a show.”
Xiao Lingyu was embarrassed. But she quickly calmed down.
“Watch a show?” Xiao Lingyu didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
Yan Siming said, “You don’t know yet? Your ex-boyfriend, Chen Ran, is back!”
“What?” Xiao Lingyu was really shocked this time. She just heard from Auntie Chen that Chen Ran was paralyzed. How could he return so soon?
“Surprised?” Yan Siming said with glee. “His surgery was successful, but he didn’t receive a blood transfusion in time. His pituitary gland bled out, and he went into shock. It was how he was paralyzed. His parents stayed at the hospital entrance to cause trouble every day. They laid Chen Ran out like a beggar. Yesterday, Chen Dahua received a phone call. They immediately packed up their things, bought train tickets, and left.”
Xiao Lingyu couldn’t believe her ears, especially when she heard Chen Ran’s parents had used him as a prop. How could they use their paralyzed son as a begging tool?
“I heard they came back in a hurry because they received news that you have contracted some land and bought a car.”
“What?!” Xiao Lingyu was shocked.