Chapter 024

Chapter 024

Chen Jian couldn't quite understand what Shan Yu was thanking him for, but he caught a whiff of alcohol, and his attention was instantly diverted. There was baijiu in Shan Yu's cup.

"I thought you couldn't drink?" He took the cup and sniffed it again, confirming it was baijiu.

Luckily, it was a small cup. If it had been the teacup that Chen Erhu was holding, Shan Yu might have dropped dead on the spot after drinking it.

"I didn't take my medication today," Shan Yu said.

"There should be at least a day's gap in between!" Chen Jian whispered, pulling out his phone to check.

A fight in the morning during the opening, and then the boss drinking himself into a stupor in the evening...

"I haven't taken any medication for a while," Shan Yu said.

Chen Jian's rapidly tapping hand on the screen stopped, and he turned to look at him. "You're not going to take medication for a leg injury this severe?"

"It's been over a month since I got the stent," Shan Yu said, "Who takes anti-inflammatory medication for this long?"

"Then you're..." Chen Jian didn't finish his sentence when an arm stretched between him and Shan Yu.

"I knew it," Chen Erhu, holding a cup with a flushed face, said, "Boss Shan, you lied to me..."

Chen Jian was startled. Was his voice that low, and yet he heard it? Such good hearing?

"Weren't you just drinking baijiu!" Chen Erhu pointed at the small cup, "Weren't you!"

Guess it was good eyesight.

"Haven't taken any medication these past few days," Shan Yu took the cup, poured some wine into it, clinked it with Chen Erhu's, "Thanks for your hard work, Boss Chen."

Chen Erhu seemed quite drunk, his emotions were running high, tears welling up in his eyes. "It's not about the hard work, but I consider you a brother, and you..."

"Boss Chen," Chen Jian grabbed his arm, stood up, and pulled Chen Erhu, who was almost falling onto Shan Yu, back up, then reached out and took the cup filled with wine from Shan Yu's hand, shoving it in front of Chen Erhu, "Do you still consider me a brother? Do you want to drink this cup or not?"

"Drink!" Chen Erhu nodded forcefully, "Brother!"

After drinking that cup, Chen Erhu's legs started to go weak, and Lao Si and Lao Wu came over with San Bing to help him to the guest room, the same room where Chen DaHu had napped for two minutes. Chen Jian had left it uncleaned, just in case someone drank too much and needed to be tossed in there.

Chen Jian breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.

"Really a hassle, Boss Chen," Shan Yu said.

You're not happy because I took your wine away, huh.

"You really shouldn't drink. I saw a bunch of medication under your coffee table," Chen Jian said, "Even without anti-inflammatory drugs, you should still drink less. You shouldn't drink with an injury."

Shan Yu sighed and didn't say anything more, just took a sip of the cola next to him.

Chen Jian was silent for a moment before finally recalling the previous topic.

"You said thanks earlier..." He still felt a twinge in his nose thinking about that thank you, even though the topic had regretfully slipped away, he still rewound a bit, "No need to be so... polite."

"Chen Jian," Shan Yu leaned back in his chair, turned his head to look at him, "You're really..."

"Hmm?" Chen Jian looked at him.

"It's nothing. Go attend to the guests," Shan Yu lifted his chin, "It's just Hu Pan running around."

"Oh." Chen Jian stood up.

There were a lot of people today, and they were all quite familiar. Everyone was eating very relaxed. After the kids were full, they ran off to play, with the adults shouting after them.

Even Xiao Dou'er, Chen Jian had a feeling of New Year's, back when he worked at a restaurant, New Year's was all about kids running around and adults chasing after them...

After making the rounds and greeting everyone, he was about to return to his table to eat when he suddenly noticed Shan Yu was no longer in his seat, and the wheelchair that had been next to him was gone too.

Just as he was about to go ask Xiao Dou'er's grandfather, Tang Rui came over with some wine. "I didn't get to chat with you properly earlier."

"Rui Ge." Chen Jian smiled.

"Don't drink anymore, I saw you had quite a bit just now," Tang Rui drank the wine in his cup, "I'll drink for you."

"Did you drive here?" Chen Jian asked.

"I'm not going back to the shop today," Tang Rui patted his shoulder, a bit emotional, "Chen Jian, you've really made something of yourself. I've only been here once before to deliver a car and didn't even come in. I didn't know it was this beautiful inside. Such a nice place, it's all under your care now, you've got to do a good job!"

"Rui Ge, it's not under my care." Chen Jian smiled.

"It's under your management," Tang Rui patted him on the back, quite excited, "I'm really happy for you! Both of us are!"

"Thanks, Rui Ge." Chen Jian said.

After Chen Xiaohu pulled Tang Rui away, Chen Jian walked over to Xiao Dou'er's grandfather and asked, "Grandfather, did you see where our boss went?"

"He said he was going upstairs to rest for a bit," the grandfather said, "Probably tired from all the work with the opening. His leg's not good either."

It's not that he's tired.

He's not tired if he's too lazy to even turn on his walkie-talkie.

I'm the tired one.

"I see," Chen Jian nodded, "I'll go check on him. If you're leaving, just let me know, and I'll see you off."

"No need," the grandfather waved, "Chen Jiali is taking us back with his cousin's wife. We're all staying in the village tonight with the kids, it's on the way, don't worry about us."

Chen Jian glanced at San Bing, and Chen Jiali, the only sober member under Boss Chen, nodded at him with a smile, quite dignified.

What?

......Not necessarily sober either.

Chen Jian glanced at the people in the restaurant again, walked to the elevator entrance, and saw that the floor indicator showed the elevator was on the fourth floor. It really had gone up.

He hesitated for a moment, then pressed the button. When the elevator came down, he stepped inside.

As he was pressing the floor number, he paused, looked at the panel reflected on the opposite metal plate, and stabbed backward.

Missed.

He aimed again and stabbed once more.

He hit the third floor, and the elevator started to ascend.

Forget it, he sighed, and pressed the fourth floor again.

As the sounds outside gradually faded, he realized he must have drunk quite a bit today. Leaning against the wall, he felt a bit dizzy.

He usually only drank with Tang Rui occasionally, and he had never had such a heavy drinking session before.

But fortunately, he was still speaking and walking normally.

The office light was on, and the door was half-open.

Chen Jian knocked on the door but heard no response. He poked his head in and saw Shan Yu lying on the sofa, his arm covering his eyes, with a stack of cushions under his legs.

"Boss Shan," he called softly.

Shan Yu had trouble sleeping and probably wouldn't have fallen asleep so early, nor would he be drunk from such a small cup of alcohol...

It was unusual for him to be lying there motionless. Especially since Shan Yu hadn't said goodbye before leaving.

"It's Chen Jian," he said as he entered the office, "I'm coming in, are you okay?"

Shan Yu was silent and didn't move, just lying there quietly.

"Shan Yu?" Chen Jian panicked a little. Was it because of the alcohol? His mind was unusually active, and he felt an inexplicable worry.

He walked over to observe but couldn't figure anything out.

"Shan Yu?" he called again softly, bending down to listen for his breathing.

It was almost inaudible. Even Xiao Dou'er had heavier breathing when she slept. After the commotion downstairs, his ears were still ringing, and he couldn't hear anything else.

Just as he was about to straighten up, Shan Yu's arm lifted slightly, and he said, "Turn off the light."

"Ah," Chen Jian's breath hitched, a strong and awkward sense of guilt washing over him. As he tried to step back, he tripped over a protruding cushion corner and knelt in front of the sofa. "Okay."

Shan Yu moved his arm and looked at him. "It's just 14,000, stand up."

"...I might have had a bit too much to drink," Chen Jian said, pushing himself up from the coffee table. "Were you awake or did I wake you up?"

"I've never fallen asleep before 9 PM in my life," Shan Yu replied.

"Then why didn't you respond when I called you?" Chen Jian was shocked. "I thought something was... wrong with you."

"Wrong?" Shan Yu smiled. "Dead?"

Who knows? Drinking too much makes your mind race.

"Rest well. I heard from Xiao Dou'er's grandfather that you left, so I came up to check, thinking something might have happened," Chen Jian said as he quickly walked toward the door. "You should go to the bedroom to sleep; it's getting chilly tonight, don't catch a cold."

Before Shan Yu could say anything, Chen Jian had already left the office and gently closed the door.

"Hey!" Shan Yu called from inside, followed by a short whistle.

Forgot to turn off the light.

Chen Jian quickly went back, opened the door, slapped the switch on the wall, and closed the door again.

When he returned downstairs, many guests had started to leave. Hu Pan and San Bing were greeting people at the door. The lights in the yard and the entrance were all on, making the area brightly lit and lively.

Chen Jian stood on the small path outside for a while and looked inside. A few people were sitting in the pavilion, smoking. They were employees from the guesthouse.

After the guests left, the employees, with unsteady steps, returned to the restaurant and began cleaning up.

"My ears are ringing," Hu Pan said, pressing his ears.

"With all the shouting just to talk and the music playing, no wonder we have ringing ears," Zhao Fangfang said as she swiftly collected the dishes.

"Sister Zhao, we'll clean up. You should go settle your daughter," Hu Pan said.

Tonight, Zhao Fangfang's daughter was staying with her in the employee dormitory on the fourth floor.

"Don't worry about her. She's always taken care of herself," Zhao Fangfang smiled. "With our situation, we usually don't have much time for her. Some bosses don't even allow a half-hour break after working for ten hours."

"I've met plenty of bosses like that," Hu Pan waved his hand. "That's why Boss Shan is so good. I've never met a boss like him before."

"Bosses are mostly the same," Chen Erhu, who had just woken up from a nap and was now sitting on a chair with his legs stretched out and head tilted back, said.

"Not really," Zhao Fangfang replied. "Boss Shan is genuinely good. The previous boss, Qian, was both stingy and fierce."

Chen Erhu chuckled. "Shan Yu knows how to be a boss, knows how to win people over."

Chen Jian, who was sweeping the floor with a broom, glanced at him. He couldn't tell if Chen Erhu was drunk or if his brother had strangled some sense out of him.

"He's seen the world and speaks in such a sincere manner, treating everyone as equals," Chen Erhu said, twisting his mouth. "Just look at yourselves. Who here has ever been treated so well? The moment you feel at home, you become completely devoted."

"Brother Erhu, Brother Erhu," San Bing walked over and handed him a glass of water. "Have some water."

"Look at Chen Jian," Chen Erhu pointed at Chen Jian. "What was he like before?"

"He's always been like this," San Bing glanced at Chen Jian.

"What is he like now!" Chen Erhu raised his voice.

"Uh... still the same," San Bing said.

"He's completely devoted to Shan Yu, completely devoted!" Chen Erhu patted his thigh in anguish. "Was he ever like this with Qian Yu?"

"Chen Jian is the store manager now," Lao Wu couldn't help but interject. "He wasn't the manager before!"

Chen Jian sighed.

He had also given money.

There were indeed a lot of things to handle, but the money paid was also substantial.

Chen Jian gestured to San Bing to take Chen Erhu back inside.

"Shan Yu is too good at winning people's hearts," Chen Erhu said sorrowfully, his face contorted. "Too good at winning people's hearts..."

San Bing dragged Chen Erhu back inside, and as the door closed, Chen Jian heard Chen Erhu's sobbing.

"How much has he had to drink!" Hu Pan frowned. "What kind of nonsense is he talking?"

"Panpan, watch your words," Lao Si looked at her. "We're still sitting here."

"So what if you're sitting here? I'd say the same even if you were standing," Hu Pan said. "What, is it bad for a boss to have no airs?"

There was still an air, and it was quite substantial.

"Isn't it good for a boss to be sincere?" Hu Pan said. "Never seen a boss like this before, does that mean such a boss is a bad person?"

"That's true," Lao Wu said.

Lao Si glanced at Lao Wu.

"I have no idea what Brother Erhu was really trying to say," Lao Wu said. "I didn't understand if he was praising or criticizing."

"He was praising, definitely not criticizing," San Bing pulled Chen Jian aside and whispered. "I've been hanging out with him for years. I feel like he's convinced but also very unconvinced."

Chen Jian looked at San Bing. "You dropped out after junior high, right?"

"How should I put it," San Bing said, "I dropped out in my second year of high school."

Chen Jian remained silent.

"What I mean is, he's very unconvinced about being convinced by Boss Shan," San Bing sighed. "He dreams of being a boss like that, someone who can speak well, handle things well, and have people completely devoted to him..."

"Go get some rest," Chen Jian patted San Bing's shoulder. "We're all tired today."

"I still need to do a round of inspection," San Bing said.

"I'll do the inspection around the yard," Chen Jian said. "I could use some fresh air to sober up anyway."

After San Bing went back inside, Chen Jian took a flashlight and walked around the outside road, then circled the yard before stopping at the stone table in the northeast corner.

Leaning against the stone table for a while, Chen Jian lay down on the nearby long chair.

From this position, he could see the fourth-floor office and the huge moon hanging in the night sky.

Completely devoted.

When Chen Erhu said those four words, Chen Jian felt a moment of discomfort.

A sudden realization.

What does it mean to be completely devoted?

Where does this complete devotion come from?

He had indeed worked very hard, to ensure the grand opening and smooth operation of the business. He wanted to stay here for a stable and quite good income...

That's what he thought before Chen Erhu said those four words.

But now he felt a bit shaken.

"I don't care what his reasons are," Shan Yu said slowly while pacing around the office on the phone. "I'll give him a month. Either he deals with Chen DaHu, or I deal with him."

"What are you going to do, break his arm or leg?" Yue Lang said.

"Bro, we're in a society ruled by law," Shan Yu said.

"Alright, alright, a society ruled by law," Yue Lang laughed. "So what's the plan?"

"Do you think he can't handle Chen DaHu?" Shan Yu asked, pulling the curtain aside and looking out through a small gap.

"He's not the type to actively seek trouble. Making Chen DaHu disappear is his way of dealing with him," Yue Lang said. "He's just a small-time troublemaker. Would he dare to cause more trouble?"

"Not for now, but as long as there's money to be made here, he won't give up. It's annoying," Shan Yu said. "You first..."

"What?" Yue Lang asked.

Shan Yu didn't answer, opened the window slightly, saw Chen Jian lying on the long chair below, and clicked his tongue.

"Finish speaking before you make that tutting sound," Yue Lang said.

"Help me find some kind of bottle, jar, or something else like a decorative piece. Not too small, something that’s hard to hide," Shan Yu said. "Around 10,000, with a clear price and a proper receipt, and have it delivered here."

"What for?" Yue Lang asked.

"To eat," Shan Yu said.

"You’re going to eat a decorative piece, huh," Yue Lang said.

"You knew it was a decorative piece, so why ask," Shan Yu said.

Yue Lang laughed. "Alright, I’ll give you one."

"I’ll buy it," Shan Yu said, grabbing the handle on the window and pushing it open with a sudden force.

Chen Jian, who had been lying on the long chair, shot up as if kicked by a donkey and vanished in an instant.

Whoa, that speed.