Chapter 148: Chapter 118: Ah, What This Life Lacks Is a Benefactor
The post-show farewells lasted for nearly half an hour before finally ending.
Once most of the people had left, Yu Qian led Old Guo and the De Yun Society’s pillar, Xiao Yueyue, straight to Private Room No. 1.
"We’ve kept Mr. Su waiting for so long. I hope he isn’t angry," Yu Qian said anxiously as he walked in the lead.
He hadn’t expected the audience to be so fired up after the show. They had to have Old Guo lead them in a short song before they would reluctantly leave.
Old Guo was also feeling apprehensive. He hadn’t even met his potential benefactor yet, and he’d already slighted him.
He had scraped and clawed his way up from the bottom to his current position, a journey that would have been impossible without the help of benefactors. As the saying goes: "A single step with a benefactor’s help is worth more than ten years on your own."
It was precisely because of his benefactors’ help that he had managed to endure so many hardships.
The De Yun Society was now at a turning point. If they could clear this hurdle, the road ahead would be smooth. If they couldn’t, Old Guo didn’t know what would happen.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the door of the private room. Just as Yu Qian was about to knock, the door opened.
"Mr. Yu, Mr. Guo, please come in!" Chen Fei said, holding the door open as a gesture of courtesy.
The two men were momentarily stunned. They nodded at Chen Fei and walked inside. Xiao Yueyue, who was trailing behind, saw the deferential posture of his master and Uncle Qian, swallowed nervously, and followed them in.
Xiao Yueyue felt more nervous at this moment than he did performing crosstalk in front of ten thousand people.
"Mr. Su, I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting," Yu Qian said proactively the moment he entered the room.
Old Guo, who was right behind him, saw Su Chen sitting on the sofa. His youthful appearance sent a jolt through him. ’He’s way too young!’
If Yu Qian weren’t his long-time partner, he would never have believed this young man was a "benefactor."
"Mr. Su!" Old Guo also took two steps forward and greeted him with a respectful tone.
Su Chen’s calm gaze fell upon Old Guo, and an amused thought surfaced in his mind. ’He really is a short, dark fatty!’
"Sit." Su Chen gestured with his left hand, inviting the two to sit down.
Once they were seated, Su Chen spoke. "Today’s crosstalk was brilliant. I’ve never heard anything like it before. It was a real eye-opener."
Hearing this, Old Guo’s face instantly broke into a smile, and his earlier nervousness vanished.
"Mr. Su, you’re too kind! To receive your approval is an honor for all the crosstalk comedians of the De Yun Society!"
At these words, the corners of Su Chen’s mouth curled up slightly. He gave Old Guo a meaningful look. ’This short, dark fatty really knows how to talk. Putting me on such a pedestal, and even including all the crosstalk actors of the De Yun Society... tsk, tsk, I like what I’m hearing!’
Yu Qian glanced at the time. It was already past eleven at night. He then suggested, "Mr. Su, Old Guo, why don’t we find another place for a late-night snack and chat at our leisure?"
Old Guo shot his old partner a grateful look. He was always looking out for him. In a setting like this, it was difficult to speak freely about certain things.
But if they moved to the dinner table, a few drinks would bring everyone closer, making it easier to talk.
"Mr. Su, what do you think?" Old Guo asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Su Chen nodded slightly. "Sure. I ate dinner early and I’m a bit hungry now. You guys can pick the place. I’m not too familiar with the area."
The group consisted of five people. Su Chen, of course, took his own car. Old Guo had wanted to brazenly ride with him, but Yu Qian pulled him back, advising him not to be too hasty. He added that Su Chen was a very good person; all you had to do was be sincere with him.
There was basically no nightlife in the north, and the Imperial Capital was no exception. Aside from a few bar streets, ninety percent of the shops were closed.
Perhaps it was also because the weather had turned cold.
The place Old Guo and the others found wasn’t far from the North Exhibition Theater, less than a ten-minute drive away. However, when Su Chen followed Yu Qian and Old Guo into a shop with no sign, he was stunned by the scene inside.
The main hall was completely empty. If it weren’t for the fact that Yu Qian’s group had brought him here, that the lights were brightly lit, and that several people who looked like employees were present, Su Chen would have asked what was going on.
Yu Qian explained the situation at just the right moment. "Mr. Su, this is a bit presumptuous of me today. This is a restaurant I’m preparing to open. The private rooms are all ready, but the layout of the main hall still needs to be done."
Su Chen nodded upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected Yu Qian to move so quickly. He figured Yu Qian must have found an existing instant-boiled mutton restaurant and taken over the lease directly. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to get this far in just a few days.
Led by Yu Qian, they entered a private room.
Su Chen took the seat of honor without any hesitation. Old Guo and Yu Qian flanked him on his left and right. It was clear from their formation that they intended to drink until Su Chen was happy.
As for Chen Fei and Xiao Yueyue, they consciously sat in the seats closest to the door.
"Let’s get this straight first," Su Chen said, having noticed their intentions. "We’ll drink in moderation. A little bit of alcohol is enough to set the mood." He directly set the tone for the evening.
Hearing this, Old Guo and Yu Qian could only nod obediently, especially Yu Qian, who had been hoping for a good round of drinks.
The server was very efficient, quickly bringing out plates of sliced lamb, sesame paste, and other condiments. The broth was simple clear water with a few goji berries and red dates. As soon as it boiled, they started dipping the lamb slices.
Yu Qian produced a bottle of Maotai from somewhere and poured a small measure for Su Chen and Old Guo each.
"Mr. Su, thank you for gracing us with your presence today. Your visit is the greatest support for us!" Old Guo stood up, ready to propose a toast.
Seeing this, Su Chen quickly waved his hand. "You and Old Yu are long-time partners. There’s no need for such formalities. Be more casual."
Old Guo stood there holding his glass, momentarily at a loss. He cast a pleading look at Yu Qian.
"Mr. Su is right. Old Guo, you’re being too formal. Come on, let’s all raise our glasses together!" Yu Qian decided to have everyone drink the first glass together, saving the short, dark fatty from his awkward position.
Su Chen also raised his glass at this, clinked it against the others’, and downed it in one go.
"Eat, eat!" Su Chen put down his glass and picked up his chopsticks to cook some slices of lamb.
At the dinner table, Old Guo proved to be a great conversationalist. The chat with him never faltered, and he’d occasionally tell an off-color joke that made Su Chen laugh nonstop.
The dinner lasted until around one in the morning. Old Guo and Yu Qian enthusiastically saw Su Chen off to his Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Only after the car had driven far away did the two of them turn and go back inside the restaurant.
"I wonder what kind of impression that Mr. Su has of me," Old Guo muttered, slumping into a chair with a worried expression.
Yu Qian knew his old friend had been especially anxious recently. Many rival crosstalk factions were trying to corner them, hoping to trap the De Yun Society in the Imperial Capital and slowly crush them.
Old Guo had been racking his brains trying to find a way to break through the predicament.
Yu Qian patted Old Guo on the back. "Don’t you worry. The fact that Mr. Su was willing to have dinner with you tonight shows that he has a pretty good impression of you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come out to eat instant-boiled mutton with you in the middle of the night."
"Mr. Su has already made his attitude clear!"
It was a classic case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. With Yu Qian’s prompting, Old Guo instantly understood.
"Old Yu, you’re right! It looks like I need to maintain this relationship well. I believe that one day, Mr. Su will become my ’benefactor’!" Old Guo said, his face full of fighting spirit.
Seeing this, Yu Qian and Xiao Yueyue, who was standing to the side, also broke into smiles.
"It’s getting late. Everyone’s been tired lately, so let’s get some good rest," Yu Qian said. He was sighing internally. ’Man, you just can’t fight old age. I used to be able to pull all-nighters for days on end, but now I can’t even stay up past midnight.’
Old Guo was about to stand up when he thought of something. He quickly asked, "Old Yu, do you think I could get in on this instant-boiled mutton restaurant?"
While eating earlier, Old Guo had noticed the lamb was exceptionally delicious. He had been so focused on chatting with Su Chen that he had almost forgotten about it.
Yu Qian looked at Old Guo in surprise, his eyes screaming, ’I treat you like a brother, and you’re trying to poach from me!’
"Ahem! Don’t look at me like that, it’s creeping me out!" Old Guo knew he hadn’t been clear and that Old Yu had misunderstood.
"I can let it slide when you’re always thinking about my wife, but now you’re after my golden goose, too? Don’t even think about it!" Yu Qian was half-joking, but his meaning was clear: this wasn’t something he could decide.
It would depend on whether Mr. Su gave the nod, and it would also require getting through the project manager’s screening.
He remembered how his group had flown to Xilinhot, talked for hours with the manager named Zong Xinyao, and made numerous promises just to get in on it.
For Old Guo to join now would be incredibly difficult.
After all, the cake was only so big. Zong Xinyao had the largest slice, and the rest of them each had their own portion. Old Guo joining would mean snatching cake from their hands...
He himself didn’t mind much—as long as he had enough money to live on, he was content. But the other partners were different. They were all gearing up to make a big move and grow this project into something huge.
Thinking about the backgrounds of those other partners, Yu Qian couldn’t help but shake his head.
’It’ll be too hard for Old Guo to join!’
Old Guo noticed the change in Yu Qian’s expression, and his heart tightened. ’Did I say something out of line just now?’
"Uncle Qian, I was just kidding earlier. Don’t take it to heart!" Old Guo even changed how he addressed him, not wanting his old partner to feel any resentment.
Unexpectedly, Yu Qian just rolled his eyes at him. "You think I’m petty like you? I was just thinking about what you said. The more I think about it, the more difficult it seems. If you really want to join, the only way would be for the two of us to cooperate as a single entity."
An embarrassed look flashed across Old Guo’s face, but his expression turned serious the next second.
He had heard from Yu Qian that the lamb restaurant was a venture led by a big shot to sell Wuzhumuqin lamb from Inner Mongolia in first and second-tier cities, but he didn’t know there were several other partners like Yu Qian, each one a formidable figure.
"Forget it. I was just curious. Let’s go, time to head back and rest."
Yu Qian breathed a sigh of relief at these words. If Old Guo had really insisted on joining, given their many years of friendship, he truly wouldn’t have known how to handle it.
The three of them got in the car and left the lamb restaurant. What Old Guo never expected was that this moment of hesitation would become a source of regret for the rest of his life.
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