Chapter 1188: Buying

"What are you talking about..." Jiang Jiang was a little confused. "If we leave, what will happen to the shop? Our family depends on it for our livelihood... Besides, I haven't finished my studies yet."

Ying Fu didn't answer. He simply glanced at the small lobster restaurant, took out his phone to send a message, and then walked towards the end of the street.

"Hey... are you leaving already? You ordered so much and haven't finished it, that's such a waste!" Jiang Jiang couldn't help but exclaim, looking at the half-eaten crayfish.

"I have something else to do."

Ying Fu said without looking back.

As Ying Fu walked further away from the lobster restaurant, about ten minutes later, Fu Kun and Zheng Zhiqin came rushing from a distance!

"Your Ma... Boss, what's going on?"

Zheng Zhiqin wiped the sweat from her forehead. She instinctively started to say "Your Majesty," but remembering Ying Fu's instruction to call him "Boss" when others were present, she quickly corrected herself.

Ying Fu glanced at them.

"Which of you two is wealthier?"

Almost simultaneously, Fu Kun and Zheng Zhiqin both raised their hands and pointed at each other!

"Him! (Her!)"

Ying Fu didn't bother to ask for details. He simply told Fu Kun, "Do you see that lobster restaurant? Go buy it."

Fu Kun: ???

"Huh??" Fu Kun stared blankly at the dilapidated small restaurant in the distance, his expression utterly bewildered. "No, Boss... why are we buying this? Are we going to develop the late-night food industry in Wushan now?"

Ying Fu glanced at him again.

"...Yes, I understand," Fu Kun reluctantly replied.

"Remember, pay generously."

Having been in business for so many years, this was the first time Fu Kun had heard such a request.

"After you buy it, make sure that father and daughter leave Wushan quickly... ideally tonight."

"Uh... alright, I'll go take care of it."

Although Fu Kun couldn't understand what Ying Fu was thinking, he obediently walked towards the lobster restaurant. Meanwhile, Ying Fu turned to look at Zheng Zhiqin.

"Give me the list."

Zheng Zhiqin immediately took out the list she had prepared earlier. "Your Majesty, are we starting tonight? Won't that be too rushed?"

Ying Fu's gaze swept over the highlighted names one by one. He said calmly:

"We don't have much time left."

As the last performance concluded, the banquet drew to a close amidst enthusiastic applause.

By this time, Han Xiang was sprawled on the table, his face flushed, as if completely drunk... Sun Bumian, meanwhile, was still clutching his neck, and quietly spoke between burps:

"Little Han... just one more drink, one more... your grandfather could hold his liquor much better than you."

Chen Ling returned to his seat. He absently sampled the dishes, still pondering the meaning of Ying Fu's last words.

Just then, Sun Zhongliang slowly rose from his seat, glass in hand.

As the Director stood, everyone immediately quieted down. All eyes turned to him, knowing it was time for the banquet's closing remarks. Sun Zhongliang had drunk a lot; his cheeks were flushed. His gaze swept over the crowd, a complex emotion flashing in the depths of his eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is a banquet, not for business... The most important thing is that everyone eats and drinks well."

"Tomorrow, you might need to get up early and arrive at the Mid-Mountain Hotel before noon. We'll have a meeting there punctually... The specific meeting agenda has already been distributed to everyone in advance."

"Here, I'll just emphasize one last thing: please be punctual and arrive as early as possible..."

"Everyone, get some rest!"

After speaking, Sun Zhongliang, clearly intoxicated, walked out of the banquet hall with the help of staff members.

No one seemed to have expected Sun Zhongliang's speech to be so brief. But frankly, no one really cared what the banquet summary contained; less formality was better for everyone.

Soon, the guests began to depart, amidst lively conversations and laughter.

Sun Bumian glanced at the unconscious Han Xiang on the table, clicked his tongue, then got up and headed out of the hall. Chen Ling followed silently behind him.

"Hey, what's the meeting agenda?" Chen Ling asked.

"Hmm... it seems to be about discussing how, under the new international situation, we, as those who wield cultural power, should act to preserve culture and promote it globally... That's probably about it," Sun Bumian said uncertainly.

"Oh, well, the theme of these conferences is always the same every year; there's nothing special about it."

"Oh..."

Chen Ling had thought the Wushan Conference would gather so many people to discuss serious and confidential topics. After hearing Sun Bumian's description, he immediately lost interest.

"So, tomorrow, should I use the same trick to get you in?"

"No need. My objective has been achieved, and attending the meeting would be pointless."

Chen Ling had rushed to the Wushan Conference to reclaim Chu Changqing and disrupt Ying Fu's plan, preventing him from acquiring a large number of retainers through the imperial examination here. Now that Chu Changqing was secure, Ying Fu would certainly not make a move publicly at the meeting. He would most likely choose the evening or early morning, striking when guests were isolated...

Given that, it wasn't important whether he attended the meeting or not.

"Oh, right, don't forget to pay me!" Sun Bumian immediately added.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

"Alright, alright... By the way, where's Shen Nan?"

"He went to find Sun Zhongliang privately to ask about the death qi in Wushan."

"So, where are we going now?"

Chen Ling didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked back towards the banquet hall...

Han Xiang, who had supposedly been drunk and sprawled on the table, was already gone. It was as if his profound intoxication had merely been an act; he had swiftly departed the moment everyone else left.

"I need to go see someone," Chen Ling said.

"Who?"

"Chu Changqing."

The clock ticked on the cottage wall.

Lu Xun, Yang Xiao, Su Zhiwei, and Chu Changqing sat around an octagonal table, occasionally glancing out the window and at the clock on the wall, appearing quite uneasy...

"So, when is the person you mentioned arriving?" Chu Changqing couldn't help but ask.

Yang Xiao glanced at his phone. "Soon, he just messaged that the banquet is over, so he should be on his way now."

Chu Changqing nodded, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"I'm still very curious what kind of person could earn the trust of all three of you simultaneously..."

"You'll know when you meet him," Lu Xun said with a slight smile. "What we can guarantee is that he harbors no ill will towards us. Without him, our fates would likely be far worse than they are now..."

Just as they were speaking, the owner of the Lotus Inn hurried out of the kitchen, carrying several plates of hot dishes.

"Come, come, eat while it's hot! Make yourselves at home, don't be shy!"