Gui Xiang Lou and Yan Shi Ge are respectively located at the two corners of this long street, facing each other. They are similar in scale and cuisine. So, ever since they opened, the two restaurants have been in a competitive relationship.
Shang Hongbo and the manager of Yan Shi Ge don't get along well. Every time they meet, it's like a battle of titans, vowing to outdo each other!
Gui Xiang Lou has finally managed to outshine Yan Shi Ge in recent years and become the number - one restaurant in the town. Now, with the New Year approaching, the demand for fish and meat in all food stalls is extremely high.
If Qi Lixiao and Li Zhichen really sold these fat fish to others and let that old guy from Yan Shi Ge take advantage, Shang Hongbo would probably wake up in the middle of the night and slap himself out of anger!
Thinking of this, Shang Hongbo's tone suddenly softened, and his attitude became more sincere.
“...... Everything is negotiable.”
He turned to the waiter and shouted with a glare, “Look at the tea you've served the guests! Hurry up and bring out the Longjing tea I've been collecting!”
The waiter forced a smile and bowed repeatedly as he went to make the tea, but in his heart, he cursed Shang Hongbo up and down.
It was clearly Shang Hongbo's instruction to serve the tea made of tea dust just now. Now that the situation had changed, he shifted all the blame onto the waiter. He really changed his attitude faster than turning the pages of a book!
A moment later, the tea was brought. Shang Hongbo got up laboriously to take it. First, he moved the cold, inferior tea far away. Then, he washed his hands carefully and personally poured a cup of good tea for Qi Lixiao.
“Sir, we're all in the business world. It's better to make money together. How about this? From today until the ice on the river melts after the New Year, I'll take all the fresh river fish you can provide! I'll pay a hundred wen per catty. You just need to deliver twenty fish every month. What do you two think?”
Li Zhichen quickly made an estimate. It was now December, and there were still three full months until the ice melted.
Shang Hongbo was offering a hundred wen per catty. A ten - catty big fish could be sold for one tael of silver.
In this way, they could earn twenty taels of silver a month, and sixty taels in three months! That was exactly sixty points!!
Qi Lixiao thought for a while and felt that the price was reasonable. So he turned to look at Li Zhichen, only to unexpectedly meet her bright eyes.
At the moment their eyes met, Li Zhichen gave a charming smile. Her beautiful almond eyes seemed to suddenly burst into several dazzling fireworks, like a whirlpool that could draw people in, with ripples spreading layer by layer, making people unconsciously sink.
This look was charming and vivid. It made Qi Lixiao suddenly stunned, and his cold expression softened immediately.
In this bustling lobby, there seemed to be something indescribable spreading in his heart.
Qi Lixiao swallowed hard and quietly averted his gaze.
“Deal.”
Seeing Qi Lixiao's agreement, Shang Hongbo immediately let out a sigh of relief and exclaimed, “Great! It's really great!”
After saying that, as if he was afraid that Qi Lixiao would go back on his word, he turned around and rummaged through a cabinet. He took out a bag of silver and handed it to Qi Lixiao with a big smile and both hands.
“This is the deposit. Please take it.”
Qi Lixiao estimated that there were about ten taels of silver in the bag. Shang Hongbo was indeed showing some sincerity.
He nodded at Li Zhichen, indicating for her to take it.
Li Zhichen was overjoyed. Her delicate face was radiant, and there was a smile on every corner of her eyes and brows!
The system also cheered and prompted, [It is detected that the host's influence in this world has increased. Reward: 10 points!]
Li Zhichen raised her eyebrows and asked in surprise, “How much has my influence increased?”
The system pondered for a moment and replied seriously, [It has grown from the size of an ant to the size of a leech.]
Li Zhichen:.........
Well, a leech is a leech. Everything has to start small.
Now that this deal was made, it was a win - win situation. Shang Hongbo looked amiable. He turned to the waiter and said,
“First, move these fish to the kitchen.”
The waiter responded. Remembering that Li Zhichen had been able to lift the wooden barrel with one hand just now, he thought it couldn't be very heavy.
He reached out one hand to grab the handle and lifted it suddenly. As a result, not only did he fail to lift it, but he almost sprained his back!
The waiter's face immediately turned ugly, and there was a hint of confusion in his eyes.
He had been working as a waiter for a long time and was much stronger than ordinary people. With several big fish and the water in the barrel, it must weigh at least a hundred catties. Even he, a grown man, found it difficult to lift it. How on earth did Li Zhichen manage to lift it just now?
Li Zhichen was in a great mood at this time. Seeing the waiter staggering and struggling, she quickly put away the silver, rolled up her sleeves, walked up to him, and took the wooden barrel with one hand effortlessly.
“Lead the way.”
The onlookers around immediately let out an “Ooh” and jeered.
“Why are you not as strong as a girl?”
The waiter's face immediately turned red. He thought to himself, “If you have the guts, let this girl punch you too!”
He was now both in awe and fear of Li Zhichen. The place where he had been beaten by Li Zhichen was still aching faintly. So he didn't dare to retort when mocked by others. He trembled as he led the way for her.
Shang Hongbo watched Li Zhichen's departing back and couldn't help but sigh, “This girl is really amazing. I wonder if she's married.”
He paused for a moment and then asked Qi Lixiao curiously, “May I ask what her relationship is with you, sir?”
Qi Lixiao lowered his eyes, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed his knee. For a moment, he harbored a bit of selfishness and said slowly, “She is my wife.”
[It is detected that the task target has triggered an affectionate nickname. Congratulations to the host. Your life - value has increased by 2 hours!]
Li Zhichen, who had just reached the kitchen, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her expression was extremely strange.
This damn system had rewarded her life - value twice without any tasks. It couldn't be a coincidence!
It had just said “task target”. Could it be that Qi Lixiao had triggered some key words and unlocked a hidden task?
Li Zhichen immediately put down the wooden barrel and returned to the lobby. In front of the confused gazes of Qi Lixiao and Shang Hongbo, she stepped forward quickly.
She reached out and grabbed Qi Lixiao's arm. Her eyes were sincere, “What did you just say? Could you please repeat it?”
Qi Lixiao was stunned for a moment but still obediently repeated, “I said, you are my... ” He paused for a moment. In front of Li Zhichen, he just couldn't bring himself to say it. So he changed the subject, “friend.”
Li Zhichen waited for two seconds. Seeing that the system didn't give any response, she was extremely puzzled.
Could it be that the stupid system was really broken?
Just then, Shang Hongbo immediately waved his hand and cheerfully reminded, “Sir, that's not what you said just now!”
Li Zhichen immediately frowned and gently poked Qi Lixiao's arm. Her cheeks puffed up slightly, “Just say it exactly as you did before. Don't change a single word!”
Qi Lixiao:.........
He closed his eyes. The veins on his forehead throbbed. For a moment, he really wanted to swallow Shang Hongbo alive!
Why hadn't he noticed before that this guy was so talkative?
Under Li Zhichen's urging, Qi Lixiao took a deep breath and said as if he was going to his execution, “This lady is my... wife.”
[Life - value increased by 2 hours!]
Li Zhichen:!!!
So the affectionate nickname was a permanent task! As long as Qi Lixiao called her his wife, her life - value would increase!
Li Zhichen's eyes immediately lit up, “Say it ten more times!”
Shang Hongbo:.....?
Qi Lixiao, who had been calm during the negotiation just now, now blushed terribly and couldn't help but retort,
“We're still in public. Stop being naughty.”