Old Lu wasn’t very friendly; Chen Jian could feel it. It was only because he was from the village and they were acquainted that he didn’t get the “Water-Splashing Festival” treatment like Da Li on a cold day.
Chen Jian knew everyone in the room; they were all owners of the barbecue stalls here.
Everyone’s business was basically the same: a simple storefront, including the area in front, enclosed by a wind-breaking canopy. The central area was the shared barbecue ground. When customers wanted to grill their own food, they would buy ingredients from the shops and go to the barbecue area to cook. Tools and charcoal could be rented, and customers could also bring their own ingredients for a site fee.
Logically, Da Li and the others were just renting the large space and paying enough rent. In theory, it didn’t conflict with these business owners. Chen Jian couldn’t immediately understand why they disagreed.
Right now, the people in the room were all watching Chen Jian through the lifted curtain. Chen Jian stood at the entrance. Just as Old Lu was about to drop the curtain to block him outside as a show of force, Chen Jian reached out, caught the falling curtain, and flipped it back up. He propped his hand on the door frame and greeted the people inside, “Uncles, Aunts.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” someone waved his hand. “Didn’t those guys who just came tell you when they went back?”
“They were freezing to death, they didn’t have time,” Chen Jian said. “We weren’t sure if they said something wrong, so we hurried over.”
“They’re all people of a big boss, full of confidence. What could they say wrong? Their words are as big as water vats; one sentence could crush us to death.”
“That Boss Shan, isn’t he a cripple?” Old Lu blocked the doorway, looking behind him. “How come he’s not limping anymore?”
It moved to his arm.
“He was injured before, not a cripple. The brace was just removed,” Chen Jian also glanced back.
Shan Yu had already gotten out of the car. He tucked something into the inner pocket of his jacket, then walked over while putting on his gloves.
Although he could only put on one glove, and because the helping hand was useless, he ended up pulling it on by biting the cuff with his teeth.
But that leisurely and self-assured air was exactly the kind of “crooked method” temperament that would make Da Li say such a thing. Whether his leg was broken and his hand was fine, or his hand was broken and his leg was fine, whether he was whole or half a person, oppressive aura was Shan Yu’s home turf.
He was even making his own old, worn-out long coat look like a trench coat with a hidden knife inside.
“What does he do?” Old Lu kept staring at Shan Yu.
The people in the room were also silent now, all looking in that direction.
“…He’s the boss of Dayin.” Chen Jian didn’t know how to answer this question. “He does boss things.”
After saying it, he felt it sounded very awkward, misled by Old Lu’s question, so he added, “He’s a businessman.”
“I’m not asking about his public persona,” Old Lu said in a low voice, his eyes narrowing, his expression conveying a certainty that he had already seen through Shan Yu’s true identity.
“Then I really don’t know,” Chen Jian answered honestly.
In the movies, this kind of identity isn’t easily revealed, right?
I’ll ask for you when I have time.
“The bosses are all here?” Shan Yu walked to the doorway.
“This is Uncle Lu,” Chen Jian introduced him to Shan Yu. “The people inside are all the owners here.”
He had been standing at the door without going in. Now that Shan Yu had arrived, he didn’t hold back. He squeezed past Old Lu into the room and conveniently flipped the door curtain over Old Lu’s head to make way for the seemingly hidden-identity Boss Shan.
He then introduced him to the people in the room, “This is our Dayin’s Boss Shan.”
Shan Yu ducked his head slightly and entered the room.
Only after Chen Jian lowered the curtain did Old Lu say, “It’s cold outside, come in and sit for a chat.”
“What’s there to chat about!” someone said in a loud voice. “It’s the same answer no matter who comes. What those surnamed Chen agreed to has nothing to do with us.”
Shan Yu didn’t speak. He pulled over the chair the man had his foot propped on, spun it halfway, placed it behind himself, and sat down.
Chen Jian didn’t sit. He stood beside him. In this kind of situation where an argument or even a fight could break out at any moment, he couldn’t sit still.
“I’m not here for that. I just want to understand what’s going on,” Shan Yu leaned back in his chair, biting the middle finger of his glove to pull it off. “I don’t even know how those other businesses negotiated with the village.”
Chen Jian could see it now. There was no other reason for him to put on and take off the glove on this short three-and-a-half-step walk, it was purely for show.
“You’re kidding,” Old Lu said. “You’re all partners in this, how could you not know?”
Shan Yu didn’t speak, just tilted his head slightly.
“He really doesn’t know,” Chen Jian said. “We were just notified.”
Old Lu exchanged a look with the others in the room.
“Then you’ve been screwed over,” said the owner who had been speaking loudly. He was the youngest one here. Chen Jian wasn’t familiar with him, only knew his surname was Wang, and everyone called him Da Wang Ba.
“Is that so,” Shan Yu smiled.
“They’re taking advantage of Boss Shan’s lack of experience,” Old Lu opportunistically fanned the flames and tried to gather some information. “What business were you in before?”
“I wasn’t in business,” Shan Yu said, reaching into his clothes to take out the thing he had stuffed in when he got out of the car. He handed it back to Chen Jian.
Chen Jian took it and saw it was a carton of cigarettes.
He knew nothing about cigarettes, but from Old Lu’s expression, it was a good brand.
Chen Jian opened the carton and placed it on the small table in the middle.
Da Wang Ba laughed, immediately reached for a pack, and said while opening it, “Without some business background, how could you have the capital to take over such a big guesthouse.”
“I just got out of prison,” Shan Yu said. “It didn’t cost me any money to take over this guesthouse.”
That was a very skillful statement.
Chen Jian gave Shan Yu a mental round of applause. As expected, when conversation failed, the bluffing began.
The effect was immediate. Da Wang Ba’s smile froze on his face, and his action of opening the cigarette pack paused.
There was a brief silence in the room.
Although these bosses were usually difficult to deal with and would grab weapons at the slightest conflict, there were still limits. Never mind Shan Yu, who was released from prison and might have used some means to snatch someone’s guesthouse, they would even be intimidated by someone like Chen Dahu who was merely detained.
Chen Jian seized the opportunity of the successful posturing by the formerly-crippled-leg-now-crippled-arm Boss Shan—who just got out of prison, took in the entire Pigsty Gang, and used high-tech to send Chen Dahu to jail—to bring the conversation to the main point: “Why are we against them using the barbecue area? Logically, if people come, everyone’s business should improve.”
“The people will all be drawn outside,” Old Lu came to his senses and also took a pack of cigarettes to open. “Who would still come into the shops to eat! How much are you paying to rent the venue, and how much am I losing in customers you’ve pulled away?”
“Nice one, you spend a little on rent and snatch all the business. Is that how you operate?” Da Wang Ba said. “That’s unreasonable. Boss Shan, you’ve been on the streets, you should understand what I mean.”
What do you mean, been on the streets?
Chen Jian looked at Da Wang Ba. To cooperate with Shan Yu, he could only maintain a stern face.
“Let’s put it this way,” Shan Yu leaned back against the chair, “this bonfire festival, whether you agree or not, it’s definitely going to happen…”
Everyone’s expression immediately darkened.
But Shan Yu didn’t even look at them, just at his own hand, speaking slowly and unhurriedly, “The event has been registered, and it’s been promoted. It’s considered an event for the small town. If there’s trouble when the time comes, it’s you who will suffer. So there’s no point in blocking it. It’s better to discuss how to proceed.”
“Why should we be the ones to suffer!” Old Lu lit a cigarette and shouted.
“It’s been registered. Whoever causes trouble will be arrested,” Chen Jian added, not knowing if he was just making it up, but he said it with great certainty.
Learning from the boss.
Perhaps thinking of Chen Dahu, who had avoided jail for years in Xiehang Township but was put away as soon as Shan Yu arrived… Old Lu fell silent again.
Da Wang Ba was more flexible, looking at Shan Yu, “Then do you have any solution that benefits us?”
“It depends on how you define ‘benefit.’ There are two ways,” Shan Yu glanced back at the distant barbecue area. “One is to divide the area. Since it’s shared, no one can occupy the whole thing, so we divide it by zones. They can be in their zone…”
“Isn’t that nonsense!” Old Lu said.
“The other way is to rent the barbecue area to them as planned, and the event goes on,” Shan Yu said. “But you will provide a free barbecue set and two bottles of beer to tourists who don’t want to play outside in the wind…”
“What the hell?” Da Wang Ba was stunned. He spat the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground and was about to stand up.
At the same time, Chen Jian glanced back at the table he was leaning on. There was a bottle of black vinegar on it, which he could grab with a backhand motion.
“Dayin will provide it, but it’s limited,” Shan Yu was completely unaffected by his aggressive posture, continuing unhurriedly, “Most people won’t just leave after eating the free food. They’ll definitely order more while they drink and chat.”
The people in the room fell silent, seemingly finding his point reasonable.
Da Wang Ba picked up the cigarette from the ground and put it back in his mouth.
“What if they just eat the free stuff and leave?” Old Lu’s wife, who had been leaning against the door listening, asked at this moment.
“Sister,” Shan Yu glanced at her, “I’ve brought the customer flow to you. It’s definitely much larger than your usual traffic. Whether you can keep them depends on your food’s taste. You wouldn’t hold me responsible if your usual customers eat more or less, would you?”
Chen Jian looked at Shan Yu.
Boss, I call Old Lu’s wife ‘Aunt’.
“There will definitely be more events like this in the future,” Shan Yu took out Yao Yi’s conference pass from his pocket and said while looking at it, “There was a conference a while ago, called something like…”
“Provincial Tourism and Culture Work Conference,” Chen Jian quickly stated the name of the conference, afraid that if he were too slow, they would snatch the pass and see Yao Yi’s photo on the other side.
“Right, they discussed these things at the meeting…” Shan Yu put the pass back in his pocket.
The people in the room exchanged another round of glances.
“Will Dayin be the only one providing the free barbecue?” Old Lu asked.
“You don’t need to worry about how I talk to them. If there’s anything, just contact Chen Jian,” Shan Yu said.
“What if their people come to us? Who has the final say among you?” Da Wang Ba was still quite clear-headed.
“Whoever you think can get things done for everyone, they have the final say,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Alright,” Da Wang Ba pointed at Shan Yu. “I’ll deal with you, the boss. You’re not someone who makes empty promises.”
“Then you guys discuss it first,” Shan Yu stood up and glanced at Chen Jian. “You stay in contact with the bosses.”
“Okay,” Chen Jian held up the curtain for Shan Yu. After Shan Yu went out, he let the curtain fall and looked at Old Lu. “Uncle Lu, will you let me know when you’ve finished your discussion? Then we can confirm the specifics?”
“Sure,” Old Lu nodded, then glanced at the lowered curtain, as if looking at Shan Yu through it. “Your boss… what was he in for?”
“He wouldn’t tell me something like that,” Chen Jian said. “I’m just an employee.”
Old Lu was silent for a moment, then nodded. “True. You’re just a kid, you wouldn’t understand.”
Coming out of Old Lu’s shop, Chen Jian let out a long breath. Looking at Shan Yu, who was already in the driver’s seat, he felt a strange sense of relief.
He walked to the driver’s side and knocked on the window.
“What?” Shan Yu rolled down the window. “You want to drive without a license?”
“Boss, you’re awesome,” Chen Jian said.
“Won’t the boss still be awesome if you say it after getting in the car?” Shan Yu asked.
“I just wanted to say it now,” Chen Jian said as he walked around the front of the car and got in. “I was afraid they were going to hit you just now.”
“Were you about to grab that bottle to fight?” Shan Yu turned the car around and drove back.
“You saw that bottle?” Chen Jian turned to look at him.
“I saw it as soon as I entered,” Shan Yu said.
“No wonder Old Lu asked me what you used to do,” Chen Jian said.
“Just messing around, never did anything serious,” Shan Yu said.
“Really?” Chen Jian was still looking at him. “Then where did you learn all these negotiation tricks? I still don’t get it, and the matter is already settled.”
“First, you suppress their momentum, then give them some benefits to show sincerity, then analyze the pros and cons, and provide a solution,” Shan Yu said. “That’s how you negotiate.”
“What if you can’t reach an agreement?” Chen Jian asked.
“Whether you curse, argue, or even fight, it’s all about fighting for benefits. If you can offer them benefits, you can negotiate,” Shan Yu said. “If it exceeds your limit, then you give up.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak, just kept his head turned to look at Shan Yu… good thing he wasn’t driving.
The Shan Yu who was negotiating felt completely different from the Shan Yu who lay on the office sofa. Both were… very charming.
Shan Yu hesitated for a moment and added, “My mom taught me.”
“Ah,” Chen Jian was stunned.
Actually, now that Shan Yu said it, it wasn’t hard to imagine. The experience of answering Shan Yu’s mother’s call was still vivid in Chen Jian’s memory. But perhaps because Shan Yu rarely mentioned his parents, he hadn’t made the connection at all.
“I’ll tell you slowly when we have time,” Shan Yu said. “Did you schedule your subject one exam for today?”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian nodded. “It’s scheduled for two-thirty in the afternoon.”
“Are you taking it in the old town? How are you getting there?” Shan Yu asked.
“Riding the motorcycle,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu glanced at him.
A thought stirred in Chen Jian’s mind, and without thinking, he asked, “Are you going on a business trip?”
The moment he asked, he felt like an idiot.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu laughed. “I’m going on a business trip.”
“…Then the shuttle bus?” Chen Jian asked tentatively.
“No!” Shan Yu immediately refused.
“Then… let’s go to Brother Rui’s place first, borrow his car, and then…” Chen Jian started laughing himself as he spoke, “and then you drive.”
What boss has it this tough?
Tang Rui’s car was parked at the repair shop, but he wasn’t there, only Chen Xiaohu was.
While Chen Jian was talking to her, Shan Yu walked over to the freezer and looked inside.
The freezer was the same as when he first passed by here, with just a few bottles of water. But on the bottom layer, he saw something magical.
Two ice cream bars with four rings.
“They still have this stuff?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“Those are the last two,” Chen Xiaohu said. “Chen Jian bought ten a few days ago when he came over, and he ate them all.”
While he was on his business trip, Manager Chen would rather buy ice cream and come here to eat it than send him a single message.
Awesome.
He lifted the freezer lid and took out the two ice cream bars.
“You’re eating it now?” Chen Jian came over with the car keys.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu handed one to him.
“I don’t want to eat it right now,” Chen Jian took the ice cream.
“Is there something toxic about two people eating this together?” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian laughed, lowered his head, unwrapped the packaging, and bit into the ice cream.
Shan Yu didn’t know why, but he probably just wanted to experience what it felt like for Chen Jian to sit here alone, eating ice cream.
The two of them, against the cold wind and under Chen Xiaohu’s baffled gaze, finished all eight rings of ice cream.
They were frozen from the inside out.
Driving to the old town was faster than taking the motorcycle or the shuttle bus, perhaps psychologically. After all, it was warm, and there were no crowds of people and small animals.
However, Chen Jian didn’t sleep on the way. He kept swiping through practice questions on his phone. He had gone through them twice since scheduling the exam, and he didn’t know if he could pass.
He glanced over at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu was looking ahead.
He had passed the mock exams both times he tried them before, though.
Might as well review a bit more during the drive.
He glanced over at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu was looking ahead.
There should still be some time when they get to the test center, so he could review a few more times…
He glanced over at Shan Yu.
Shan Yu was looking at him.
“Hey,” Chen Jian was a bit embarrassed. “Watch the road.”
“I am,” Shan Yu turned back to look at the road.
At the test center, there weren’t many people waiting. But it was still half an hour until Chen Jian’s turn, so they didn’t get out of the car and waited inside.
“I’m a little nervous,” Chen Jian said, spinning his phone in his hand. “I haven’t taken an exam in a long time.”
“Want to review the questions one more time to calm down?” Shan Yu said.
“No, my head feels cluttered looking at them,” Chen Jian was still spinning his phone. “I wasn’t nervous at all, but I started to panic when I got here.”
Shan Yu reached out and pressed down on his hand that was constantly spinning the phone. “If you don’t pass, you just retake it. What’s there to panic about?”
Chen Jian looked at his hand.
Because of the bandage, he could only feel Shan Yu’s fingertips, warm and clearly pressing into his palm.
The warmth was pumped bit by bit along his pulse to his wrist, his arm…
He turned to look at Shan Yu, tightened his hand, and held Shan Yu’s hand.
