Chapter 6: Focusing Our Strengths on Major Undertakings

“Why wouldn’t I be willing? I’d love to go to Grandma’s house!” Chen Sheng couldn’t help but burst into laughter, recalling the three of them’s dismal state the night before, and he laughed heartily, “When I get home tonight, the first thing I’ll do is set up a memorial tablet for Fatty Zhu! If it weren’t for him, how would I have met you three talents?”

Hearing this, Jiang Butong and his two companions couldn’t hold back and joined in the laughter. After a while, Jiang Dazhuang cheerfully handed all the money in his pocket to Chen Sheng.

“Well then, I’ll find someone to draft that... what did you call it last night? That equity agreement or whatever. From now on, when the restaurant makes money, us brothers will all share in it!”

As Chen Sheng accepted the money pushed toward him by the three, he seemed a little embarrassed.

Suddenly, Jiang Butong recalled something, and looked at him seriously, “A partnership is a partnership, but Brother Sheng, even among brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Let’s get the ugly words out first.”

Chen Sheng was momentarily stunned, but waved his hand indifferently, “You know me, how about this? If we turn a profit, I’ll shamelessly take forty percent, and the remaining sixty percent, you three brothers each take a share?”

Jiang Yuan and Jiang Dazhuang exchanged glances, their faces flushing slightly.

Jiang Butong was surprised, then chuckled and shook his head, “Who splits things like that?”

Chen Sheng paused, clearly a bit embarrassed by his own unfair division.

But then, what Jiang Butong said next left him with mixed feelings.

“Look, Brother Sheng, I might be less involved with the restaurant’s daily affairs from now on. I’ll just oversee the general direction and some business details. Then Yuan and Sheng, you’ll be helping out in the restaurant, handling things with you.”

As he spoke, Jiang Butong’s face reddened slightly. He glanced at Jiang Yuan and Jiang Dazhuang, but both looked calm, showing not a trace of surprise.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Butong raised a few fingers, made a gesture, and spoke decisively, “You take seventy percent. We brothers, wages and shares combined, only take thirty.”

Chen Sheng was dumbfounded, but seeing the normal expressions on Jiang Yuan and Jiang Dazhuang’s faces, he gritted his teeth.

“Alright then, I’ll thicken my face and take advantage of you all this once.”

But after a while, something occurred to Chen Sheng. He frowned and looked curiously at Jiang Butong.

“Butong, if you’re not going to be at the restaurant, what do you plan to do with your time?”

Jiang Yuan and Jiang Dazhuang were both curious.

Jiang Butong smiled slightly and pointed toward Chen Pan’er, who was watching their conversation with interest. “Me? I’m going to help Sister Chen with her street stall!”

Chen Sheng and Jiang Yuan glanced at the stunned Chen Pan’er, exchanged a look, and both gave Jiang Butong a knowing smile.

Jiang Dazhuang scratched his head and asked, “Butong, can you make a lot of money running a stall?”

“You blockhead, if you don’t understand, don’t ask stupid questions!” Jiang Yuan grinned and rolled his eyes at Jiang Dazhuang.

Jiang Butong could only look at the three of them with helplessness. Aside from Jiang Dazhuang’s simple honesty, Chen Sheng and Jiang Yuan clearly thought he was driven by lust...

“Well, Butong, I just remembered there’s something I need to handle at the restaurant, so I’ll head back now…” After looking back and forth between Jiang Butong and Chen Pan’er, Chen Sheng suddenly got up with a grin to take his leave.

Jiang Yuan hurried after him, dragging Jiang Dazhuang along as he went.

“Aren’t we here to keep Butong company? Why are we leaving in such a hurry?”

“Oh, shut up, you big oaf. Can’t you see Butong doesn’t need us around right now?”

Listening to their banter from the hallway, Jiang Butong could only feel exhausted.

“Freshly peeled tangerine, want some?” Unaware of the others’ odd behavior, Chen Pan’er lifted the segments in her hand and offered them to Jiang Butong.

“…I do!”

…

In the days that followed, perhaps because Chen’s Restaurant was bustling with business, Chen Sheng and his companions hardly visited. Only Jiang Dazhuang, not nearly as sly as Chen Sheng or Jiang Yuan, would drop by every so often to check in on Jiang Butong.

It was from him that Jiang Butong learned about the restaurant’s expansion and hiring of new staff. Apart from Jiang Dazhuang, the only people Jiang Butong interacted with were the nurses and Chen Pan’er. Thanks to the absence of mobile phones in this era, their relationship quickly grew closer—so much so that outsiders would say they were already flirting openly.

…

“How could your cat possibly get into the den to eat my mouse from so far away?!”

“Can’t handle losing, so you’re cheating?”

“No, no, please—have mercy, my lady, I was wrong, let go…”

One afternoon, the two were playing a game of Jungle Chess made by Jiang Butong himself when a dispute broke out.

Just then, the nurse came in to inform Jiang Butong he was being discharged, only to witness Chen Pan’er stubbornly biting Jiang Butong’s arm.

She hastily let go, cheeks flushed, when she saw the nurse enter.

“Jiang Butong, time to remove the cast and get discharged.”

With a knowing smile, the nurse ticked a box in the chart.

“Huh? I’m being discharged this soon?” Jiang Butong flexed his arm in surprise.

“It wasn’t a serious injury to begin with. But if you want to stay a few more days, I personally have no objection…” The nurse glanced at Chen Pan’er, a smile on her lips.

“Uh, if I’m healed, there’s no point staying. Thank you, nurse, please call the doctor to remove my cast.”

As the nurse looked at Chen Pan’er, her expression turned oddly complex, but she took a deep breath and left.

The doctor came soon after, and with little effort, removed the cast from Jiang Butong’s foot.

Testing his weight on it, walking a few circles, and finding nothing amiss, Jiang Butong finally relaxed.

Noticing Chen Pan’er suddenly downcast, Jiang Butong thought for a moment, strode over to her bed, borrowed a pen from the nurse, and carefully wrote down the address of Chen’s Restaurant, handing it to her.

“Don’t be sad. If I remember right, you’re being discharged in a couple of days too, aren’t you?” Jiang Butong tilted her chin up.

In the past few days, he’d lost count of how many times he’d had such intimate moments with Chen Pan’er.

“What’s there to be happy about? Once you leave, I’ll be alone again.” Chen Pan’er dodged his hand, replying gloomily.

“It’s only a couple of days. No big deal,” Jiang Butong insisted, pushing the slip of paper into her hand. “Remember, you must come find me.”

“What for?” Chen Pan’er shot him a sidelong glance.

“If you don’t, who am I supposed to run a stall with?” Jiang Butong smiled, waving as he turned to leave. “Keep it safe. My future depends on you!”

“Bah!” Watching his figure disappear through the door, Chen Pan’er spat softly, her eyes inexplicably reddening, yet she clung tightly to the slip of paper in her hand.

…

Jiang Butong arrived at Chen’s Restaurant around noon. Seeing the brand-new gilded sign and the line of customers waiting at the door, he almost thought he’d come to the wrong place.

He skirted the queue and walked into the expanded main hall, now opened up into the neighboring shop.

“Who are you? Cutting in line like that, can’t you see how many people are waiting?” A hot-tempered man at the front couldn’t help but protest.

A skinny waiter hurried over to smooth things over, smiling nervously at Jiang Butong, “Sir, if you don’t have a reservation, please join the queue at the back…”

Before Jiang Butong could reply, Jiang Yuan caught sight of the commotion and strode over. Without a word, he rapped the waiter on the head and scolded, “Open your eyes! Don’t you recognize our restaurant’s co-owner?”

After rebuking the waiter, Jiang Yuan gave Jiang Butong a bear hug and led him to an empty seat.

The irate customer was left for the bewildered waiter to pacify.

Once they’d caught up on the restaurant’s booming business, Chen Sheng and Jiang Dazhuang arrived and greeted Jiang Butong with hearty hugs.

After some pleasantries, Jiang Butong managed to talk Chen Sheng out of closing the restaurant for a welcome banquet, and instead, followed Jiang Yuan—who now served as something like a floor manager—to learn about the current operations.

Days passed in a busy blur. That noon, just as Jiang Yuan finished discussing a merger with the shop next door, Chen Pan’er arrived at Chen’s Restaurant, dressed in a pristine white dress.