Lu Ruyai, sweating profusely, finally arrived at Yiming Pavilion after cycling.
By then, Yiming Pavilion was already packed with guests.
Since he hadn't reserved a table beforehand, he could only wait on a small stool by the entrance.
Fortunately, he was supposed to be waiting for someone that afternoon anyway, so arriving a bit late for dinner wasn't a big deal.
However, the food at Yiming Pavilion smelled incredibly delicious.
It made his mouth water uncontrollably.
Lu Ruyai grew hungrier and hungrier. Looking at the dishes being served from the kitchen, he felt immense resentment, wishing he could pounce and snatch a plate.
What could he do?
Helpless, Lu Ruyai closed his eyes.
But even without seeing, the aroma still lingered around his nose.
Lu Ruyai truly understood what it meant for time to pass like years.
He waited on the small stool by the entrance for over an hour before a seat finally became available.
His stomach rumbling from the enticing aromas of Yiming Pavilion's food, Lu Ruyai quickly ordered one meat dish and one vegetable dish, along with two large bowls of rice.
He felt like he was starving to death.
At that moment, he could have eaten a whole cow!
Yiming Pavilion's service was not slow. Soon, the two dishes, one meat and one vegetable, along with the two large bowls of rice, were served.
Lu Ruyai abandoned all pretense of decorum and began eating heartily, lifting his bowl.
Halfway through his meal, Lu Ruyai looked up and saw the same elderly man he had seen at Yiming Pavilion the day before.
The old man exuded an air of wisdom and appeared very energetic.
He was busy eating and didn't pay much attention to the old man.
However, he then heard the old man greeting Grandpa Su familiarly!
Grandpa Su was also very enthusiastic towards the old man, and they started conversing animatedly.
Lu Ruyai thought it was amusing that the old man would come to Yiming Pavilion just to chat instead of eating.
But before he could swallow a mouthful of rice, he heard Grandpa Su speak.
"Old Chi, look, that person over there is looking for you!"
This old man was actually the esteemed Elder Chi Ge?
Lu Ruyai was so astonished that the chopsticks in his hand clattered onto the table.
Yesterday afternoon, this old man had been sitting at the table next to him, sipping tea.
In fact, they had been sitting opposite each other for the entire afternoon!
Lu Ruyai posed the soul-searching question: what had he missed yesterday?
Director Lu was almost in tears. The person he had been desperately searching for had been sitting right next to him yesterday, yet they hadn't exchanged a single word.
Remembering the purpose of his visit today, Lu Ruyai abandoned his meal and rushed over, excitedly asking Chi Ge,
"Are you Elder Chi?"
"If the Elder Chi you're referring to is Chi Ge, then you've come to the right place!" Chi Ge said leisurely, holding a cup of tea.
Su family's tea was getting better and better. He wondered when they had changed the tea leaves.
In reality, it wasn't that the Su family had changed the tea leaves; it was Chi Ge himself who had changed his mood.
Since arriving in the capital, the absence of harsh winds and biting swords had significantly improved Chi Ge's mood.
Especially in the past few days, Chi Ge had even received news about his children abroad, which had made him even happier.
As a result, even the tea he previously disdained now tasted three parts better.
Lu Ruyai was unaware of Chi Ge's thoughts.
However, seeing the smile in Chi Ge's eyes, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
"Hello, Elder Chi, I am the deputy director of the Qili Silk Factory..."
Before Deputy Director Lu could finish his introduction, Chi Ge interrupted him with a cold expression.
"Wait a moment, you said you're from which factory?"
Lu Ruyai, not understanding the reason, still introduced himself earnestly to Chi Ge.
"Elder Chi, I am from the Qili Silk Factory..."
"From the Qili Silk Factory! You don't need to say anything else." Chi Ge directly refused.
Director Lu was stunned. Why wouldn't Elder Chi let him finish speaking?
"Elder Chi, I haven't even said..."
"No need to say more. I, Chi Ge, am not worthy of the people from the Qili Silk Factory!" Chi Ge's voice remained cold.
Although he had lived in the northwest for a few years, his inherent pride was still present.
Lu Ruyai had expected Chi Ge to be difficult to deal with, but he hadn't anticipated such an attitude.
How could he possibly continue the conversation?
He suddenly realized a crucial point: could Elder Chi be treating him this way due to some misunderstanding?
At that moment, Lu Ruyai instinctively thought of Ma Wanguo.
Ma Wanguo had met Elder Chi, and had failed to persuade Elder Chi.
This was what Director Hu had implied.
But was that truly the case at the time?
Something flashed through Lu Ruyai's mind like lightning.
Ma Wanguo was certainly not someone who would say anything pleasant. He might have already thoroughly offended Elder Chi.
"Elder Chi, do you have some misunderstanding about our factory?" Lu Ruyai quickly asked.
This had to be the reason. After all, he had met Elder Chi yesterday, and Elder Chi had shown him a kind smile.
Chi Ge glanced at him indifferently and then said, "Boss Su, I think Yiming Pavilion should not allow people from the Qili Silk Factory to enter from now on!"
Lu Ruyai was on the verge of tears. What did this mean?
Why was he being barred from entry with just a single sentence?
Damn Ma Wanguo, how much effort did he put into offending people, and such a prominent figure at that.
"Elder Chi, if you have any misunderstandings, please let me explain first!" Lu Ruyai didn't want to give up and was still trying to plead his case.
Factory Director Shi Yuliang rushed over. When he finally found Yiming Pavilion, he happened to witness all of this.
He didn't know the reason, but he instinctively felt that Chi Ge was not the type of person to make enemies casually.
There must be a misunderstanding for him to say such things, and it was likely a significant one.
However, he believed that the silk factory he managed had been doing quite well over the years.
He had also consistently disciplined the factory workers, requiring them to be kind to others when outside the factory.
How could this lead to such a negative impression of Elder Chi?
"Explanation is concealment!" Chi Ge said calmly.
This clearly meant he refused to listen to any explanation.
Although Shi Yuliang respected Chi Ge, seeing him refuse to listen to even a single explanation, his mood soured.
Just then, he heard Lu Ruyai speak again.
"Elder Chi, did our factory's Deputy Director Ma say something unpleasant that caused your misunderstanding?"
Chi Ge's lips curved into a sarcastic smile as Lu Ruyai's words hit the mark.
"Your Qili Silk Factory is a place that earns foreign exchange for the country. We common folk naturally dare not presume to associate with you!"
At this, not only Lu Ruyai but also Shi Yuliang understood.
Shi Yuliang clenched his fists.
What was this Ma Wanguo doing all day, not doing anything good, but only busy digging pits?
If he was going to dig pits, why didn't he bury himself in them?
"Elder Chi, Deputy Director Ma is Deputy Director Ma, and the silk factory is our silk factory. Please do not look down upon the silk factory because of one person's actions!"
Lu Ruyai almost pleaded with tears. If crying could solve problems, he wouldn't mind crying!
Chi Ge glanced indifferently at Lu Ruyai, remaining silent, his gaze as cold as ever.
Lu Ruyai grew more anxious. He had come today with the intention of securing his goal.
He had never imagined it would be so difficult. What should he do?
"Elder Chi, please, for the sake of my sincere intentions, could you give me a chance to say a few words?"
Lu Ruyai was a very patient and persistent person. Even when met with coldness, he maintained a smiling demeanor.
"Speak, I'll give you three minutes!"
Perhaps it was Lu Ruyai's persistence that moved Chi Ge, as he actually agreed.
Three minutes?
Deputy Director Lu was taken aback. He agreed so easily?
He quickly put on a smile, but then realized that three minutes was too short a time.
However, he dared not voice this concern and could only try to organize his thoughts.
"Elder Chi, I am sincerely asking for your help for our factory today. I know that someone of your stature... In short, Elder Chi, this business deal is very important to our silk factory."
Lu Ruyai spoke for three minutes without pause, truly for exactly three minutes.
He spoke very sincerely, without trying to pressure Elder Chi with grand pronouncements, unlike Ma Wanguo had done initially.
However, he subtly conveyed the difficulties the silk factory was currently facing.
When the three minutes were up, Lu Ruyai concluded his statement and fell silent.
His approach, in contrast, earned him a measure of approval from Chi Ge.