Setting Sail

This Bentley must be collected from the designated Bentley dealership in the Magic City.

Although he could hardly wait to get his hands on the car, he had to force himself to suppress his excitement for the moment.

It's only a few days anyway, I can wait, Zhang Yang thought.

With the Bentley on the horizon, the Porsche Cayenne didn't seem quite as appealing, but it didn't matter. If he felt like keeping it later, he would; if not, he could sell it or let his old man drive it.

After the excitement subsided, it was nearly one in the morning. Zhang Yang hurried to lie down, seizing the time to fall into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, the family of three headed out together, ready to finalize the plans for opening their restaurant.

On the outskirts of a newly completed residential complex in the northeast of Yinghai City.

Zhang Yang drove the Porsche, carrying his parents, and parked outside the street-level storefronts.

"Son, what do you think of this place?" Zhang Zhaohai asked after stepping out of the car, smoothing out his clothes.

Zhang Yang looked around. Along the way, he had already spotted several construction sites, with engineering vehicles constantly passing by. Even now, workers in hard hats could be seen every so often, and carts selling boxed lunches and breakfast items were visible every few steps.

"Dad, where is the shop you picked out?" Zhang Yang asked, pulling his gaze back.

"It's that one right ahead." Zhang Zhaohai pointed to an empty storefront.

"Your father has been here several times already; he's incredibly satisfied," Song Wenqin added with a smile. "He's already planned out where the tables go and how the kitchen should be set up."

Zhang Yang inspected the shop with his parents.

The white walls had been plastered and the plumbing and electricity were all set. Once the kitchen equipment was installed, tables and chairs moved in, and the sign hung, the small restaurant could open immediately.

The landlord stood to the side, eyeing the brand-new Porsche Cayenne not far away. Not daring to underestimate them, he introduced the property with great enthusiasm.

The shop had two floors; the ground floor could accommodate walk-in customers, while the private rooms upstairs could be used for group dinners.

There wasn't much to critique about the space, and the rent was at market rate.

There was no reason to hesitate.

"Let's take it, Dad," Zhang Yang said, making the decision for Zhang Zhaohai.

A home-style stir-fry menu would work well here, and business shouldn't be bad; after all, food, clothing, housing, and transportation are the fundamental necessities of life.

With so many construction workers in the area and the proximity to this newly occupied residential complex, the future potential was truly significant.

"Then it's settled!" Zhang Zhaohai said decisively.

With his son backing him up, there was nothing to hesitate about.

On the spot, Zhang Zhaohai signed the lease with the landlord for two years.

"We'll call it Haiqin Snack Bar." Zhang Zhaohai put his arm around his wife, taking one character from each of their names to name the shop. Although it was just a small eatery, his eyes were filled with ambition.

"Later, we can call it Haiqin Restaurant, and further down the line, Haiqin Grand Hotel," Zhang Yang added. "Eventually, we can go all out and make it the Haiqin Banquet Center, a one-stop shop for weddings and celebrations."

"You brat, you've got quite the long-term vision!" Zhang Zhaohai laughed, his heart filled with comfort and exhilaration.

Song Wenqin couldn't help but purse her lips to hide a smile.

Neither of them took Zhang Yang's words literally, but from the elderly to the young, who doesn't have dreams? At the very least, in this moment, the future grand restaurant they envisioned had set sail.

Watching his parents' joyful expressions, a smile appeared on Zhang Yang's face.

When he was young, his parents were his entire world; now, he finally had the ability to help them fulfill a dream.

Zhang Yang transferred five hundred thousand to Zhang Zhaohai as startup capital for the shop.

Of course, opening a small restaurant wouldn't cost nearly that much, but the rest was for his parents to spend on themselves—there was no need to be overly frugal with things they shouldn't skimp on.

At noon, Zhang Yang drove the couple to Haidilao.

The Haidilao restaurant was packed during the lunch rush.

The family of three sat at a table, ordered a clear oil spicy and tomato broth base, and piled the table with lamb rolls, tripe, duck intestines, chicken gizzards, and other hotpot staples.

As Zhang Zhaohai sipped his plum juice and looked at the bustling Haidilao, he sighed, "To reach this level in the catering industry, they've truly reached the pinnacle."

A passing waiter noticed Zhang Zhaohai's glass was more than half empty and immediately stopped to refill it.

"Oh, thank you, thank you." Zhang Zhaohai felt embarrassed to drink too quickly; the enthusiasm of the Haidilao staff was something this middle-aged man, who was used to doing everything himself, wasn't quite accustomed to.

Song Wenqin sat to the side, blanching tripe while chatting away about this and that.

Both of them were the type of people who adapted well to circumstances. When times were tight, they knew how to save, but when they were better off, they didn't waste money, yet they weren't the type to fret over the cost of a hotpot meal.

That would be pedantic and ruin the mood.

Sometimes, you just have to eat, drink, and enjoy the time together as a family.

Every May Day, there was a routine gathering at Grandma's house, and this year was no exception.

Besides their family, there were the families of Song Wenqin's eldest and second sisters, and of course, the ever-present family of her younger brother, Song Wenbo.

"Mom, Dad, after we finish eating, let's go get you some new outfits," Zhang Yang said, setting down the tomato, celery, and beef soup that the waitress had personally prepared for him.

In the past, their family was always the most plain at these dinners, while his uncle's family was always the most smug.

But today, it was their turn to shine, wasn't it?

It wasn't about showing off on purpose; in this life, people sometimes compete for these very things. No one is truly above it.

"We're going to Grandma's house, isn't this outfit enough?" Song Wenqin looked down at her clothes in surprise, not seeing anything wrong with what she was wearing.

She felt her attire was perfectly appropriate.

"Why are you overthinking it?" Zhang Zhaohai laughed. "Our son wants to buy them for us, so we'll wear them. It's not that complicated."

That afternoon, Zhang Yang took his parents for a thorough tour of the shopping mall.

His eye for fashion and styling ability were no longer what they used to be. After spending ten thousand yuan, the couple was instantly transformed, looking like a well-to-do family.

Song Wenqin, in particular, now wore a bracelet worth over a hundred thousand yuan on her wrist.

Her aura and presence soared as a result.

Zhang Yang glanced at Zhang Zhaohai's empty wrist, thinking that for his father's next birthday, he would definitely have to get him a luxury watch.

As evening approached, the family prepared to head to Grandma's house.

Before getting into the car, Zhang Zhaohai specifically grabbed a pack of Sky Leaf to keep on him, intending to hand them out.

"Dad, Uncle might not be satisfied with just one cigarette," Zhang Yang whispered to his father while his mother walked ahead.

"Not satisfied with one? Does he want the whole pack?" Zhang Zhaohai's eyes widened.

A pack cost over a thousand yuan; was he crazy enough to give an entire pack to Song Wenbo?