Bloodline (First Update)
Liu Chang'an continued making rice noodles, and as he expected, business was very good. Many people who came for lunch yesterday also chose Liu Chang'an's rice noodles for breakfast.
Relatively speaking, Zhou Shuling sold fewer breakfast items, which freed up her hands to help Liu Chang'an.
"I used to think you were really all alone," Zhou Shuling said with some relief. Whether it was her cousin or the wealthy lady who had come to patronize her business for two consecutive days, it was clear that they were both rich and powerful.
Having wealthy relatives and friends is useless; what matters is that wealthy and powerful relatives and friends are willing to associate with you. There is no doubt that Liu Chang'an's powerful relatives and friends do not have any intention of disliking or estranged from their poor relatives. It is said that Liu Chang'an's cousin would often cook meals for Liu Chang'an. This kind of care is definitely not a distant or ordinary relationship.
Just like Zhou Shuling and Zhou Dongdong's family, they have some interactions and care for many neighbors in the community, but the only one they have who would invite them to their home for a meal or make some late-night snacks and deliver them is Liu Chang'an.
Zhou Shuling felt that if Liu Chang'an's relatives could help him in the same way Liu Chang'an took care of Zhou Dongdong, it would be a great help to Liu Chang'an... Although she was used to being self-sufficient, it was ultimately a helpless state of life, and naturally she hoped that Liu Chang'an's life was better than hers.
"I've always been alone and helpless. Even if I had any needs, it was only because I've given before; I've never taken advantage of anyone." Liu Chang'an understood Zhou Shuling's meaning. "Besides, I don't have anyone to rely on right now."
Liu Chang'an did not explain his analysis and speculations to Zhou Shuling in detail, as that would frighten the poor young mother or make her think he was telling her a story.
"It's better to be a man. Men feel proud when they are independent, while women can only rely on themselves and always feel sorry for themselves." Zhou Shuling sighed with a smile.
"This is the best era for women. On the one hand, some people favor sons over daughters, and on the other hand, men bear greater responsibility and pressure. Men don't understand women's suffering, and women don't understand men's burdens. I once discussed with someone whether females and males in the animal kingdom should be considered two different species, but without a doubt, such a discussion is just idle chatter, without any scientific significance or support. We are more willing to support the idea that men and women are different species, interdependent, yet possessing a gene for destruction and confrontation..."
Zhou Shuling stared blankly at Liu Chang'an, then took a bite of the egg she had just fried.
Liu Chang'an smiled.
"I'm going to a class reunion today. I'll cook the bone broth and spicy rooster in a bit, and you can ask someone to help me with it tomorrow morning," Liu Chang'an said to Zhou Shuling.
"Okay, go ahead." Zhou Shuling nodded.
Liu Chang'an was about to leave when he saw another group of people approaching, so he stopped. Sure enough, they had all come to eat rice noodles.
This group of people included men and women of all shapes and sizes, but judging from their clothing and demeanor, they were clearly used to working in an office with central air conditioning. Several of the women were even carrying their coats.
"Ten bowls, all with eggs," a man with a small mustache said politely with a smile.
"Okay." Liu Chang'an got to work.
"Would you like some soy milk?" Zhou Shuling asked casually, trying to sell it to her.
"Ten of them, please."
After the man paid, he sat back down, and someone helped pull out the table and chairs. A woman next to him took out tissues and carefully wiped the table off him.
"Ask them how they like it later?" Zhou Shuling had some insight. These people were definitely not as wealthy as the Third Mistress, but they undoubtedly had a higher standard of living when it came to food and drink. If they were satisfied, then Liu Chang'an's noodles would be even more appealing in the Baolong Center.
Liu Chang'an nodded.
After finishing their noodles, the man who had paid came over again, handing them a business card with both hands, and said with a smile, "I'm Zhang Wenshui, in charge of leasing at Baolong Center. We currently have very attractive leasing incentives. I wonder if you'd be interested in setting up shop in Baolong Center?"
"Huh?" Zhou Shuling was taken aback and involuntarily tugged at Liu Chang'an's sleeve. She felt that if she and Liu Chang'an really wanted to open a store in Baolong Center, they would have to find connections or meet some hard requirements. After all, such high-end consumer venues have requirements for the brands that move in.
"We'll consider it." Liu Chang'an took the business card and nodded.
After finishing their noodles, the group left. Liu Chang'an handed the business card to Zhou Shuling, Zhou Shuling looked at it with some confusion. "We should be contacting the food center's investment promotion department, right? This leader's position is a bit too high. What's his title again? Director, I think?"
"It's precisely because of his high position that he has the need to pay attention to the boss, and that someone would carefully report the boss's movements to him." Liu Chang'an didn't care. Since he wouldn't be complacent, he certainly wouldn't look down on others. If ordinary people want to be proactive, in addition to their own work that demonstrates their abilities, paying attention to the boss and doing things that are convenient and pleasing to the boss is itself a way of showing satisfaction and positivity towards their company.
"Who is his boss?" Zhou Shuling assumed Liu Chang'an knew the people who had just come to eat noodles.
"The lady who's been eating noodles these past few days... She has a daughter named Zhu Juntang. She's come to see me a few times, and I even took Zhou Dongdong to Zhu Juntang's house to play. Unfortunately, Zhu Juntang wasn't willing to let Zhou Dongdong eat the fish she raised. They're the owners of Baolong Center... Someone probably reported the whereabouts of the lady and her daughter to this gentleman. Regardless of how he views my relationship with the lady and her daughter, his attempt to be friendly can't hurt," Liu Chang'an explained.
Zhou Shuling turned her head and looked at the Baolong Center that pierced the clouds. Let alone the money from selling breakfast, she was afraid that she could not build an identical building even in several lifetimes if she used steamed buns, soy milk, and rice noodles.
How could these people be so rich? Zhou Shuling couldn't figure it out, but she didn't feel too much disappointment or resentment about the unfairness caused by the stark contrast.
"Liu Chang'an, are you the illegitimate son of some important person?" Zhou Shuling asked in a low voice. "If we weren't close, I wouldn't dare ask you. Don't take it to heart."
Zhou Shuling couldn't help but ask, "To deprive women of their gossipy nature is just as serious as to castrate men."
"Perhaps I am of divine blood," Liu Chang'an said with a smile.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it." Zhou Shuling wasn't too bothered. Everyone has private matters they don't want to talk about, especially someone else's background.
Liu Chang'an tidied up the dishes and went home to change his clothes. Today was the day of the class reunion organized by Bai Hui and An Nuan. An Nuan still had a competition today and went straight there after it ended in the morning. Since Liu Chang'an was walking, he had to start before noon, so he missed lunch. He ate a bowl of noodles to fill his stomach. Dinner was at Gao Dewei's house, and he would cook it himself. Bai Hui, Miao Yingying, and Gao Dewei had all eaten Liu Chang'an's chicken last time, so they naturally highly recommended it.