Chapter 625: Chapter 193: Taking an Urgent Order
Chapter 193: [Taking an Urgent Order] (Happy Dragon Boat Festival!)
After hanging up the phone with Chu Keqing, Chen Yan didn’t really think much about it—Luo Qing’s matter was just a minor episode for him.
For Chen Yan, the clues he got from Lu Xiuting were the core focus of his recent efforts.
The problem is...
It seems like there’s been a gain, but at the same time, it seems like there’s no gain.
The secrets of Lu Xiuting’s past, the voice in that piece of jade, whether it’s some kind of magical treasure or some kind of fiend.
That thing has already disappeared.
Lu Xiuting relied on it to achieve a reversal in her life—but it was just the story of a village girl marrying into a wealthy family.
The issue Chen Yan cared most about, regarding Lu Sisi, didn’t seem to have been resolved.
Of course, there are still many doubts about this matter.
For example, the so-called "Ancient Tomb" that Chen Yan went to see was not actually a tomb for burying people, but rather some kind of suppression array.
The voice in the jade, what Lu Xiuting called the jade womb, should be something suppressed inside that was dug out and brought out by Lu Xiuting’s father.
However, these things don’t have direct connections to the strangeness occurring with Lu Sisi.
·
Ding!
A message notification from WeChat, Chen Yan picked up his phone and took a look.
The sender’s ID was "Toad."
Ah, it’s that divorce expert, the toad spirit.
The message from this guy was simple: "Reporting to the Immortal Official, the young one has successfully joined a matchmaking platform."
There was also a photo attached of an employee ID from a dating platform.
Chen Yan casually replied with a "Good luck" emoji pack and was about to throw away the phone.
He hoped this toad spirit would put in the effort and contribute more merit cultivation for him.
But just as he was about to put the phone down, another WeChat message arrived.
This time, the message was from Zhao Shanhe, President Zhao.
"Chen Yan, are you free? Let’s go out for a drink."
Chen Yan chuckled. He was not indifferent to the only friend he had in college for four years. He quickly replied: "Time and place."
Soon, Xiaozhao sent an address.
·
Lao Wang’s Barbecue.
This is a barbecue shop located on a food street outside the west gate of Chen Yan’s alma mater at University City.
The owner and his wife moved from the neighboring Hui Province to do business in Jinling Prefecture. The owner was excellent at grilling meat, especially grilled cartilage, perfectly crispy and tender. Whenever Chen Yan and Xiaozhao went to eat, they ordered dozens of skewers each time.
The owner’s wife was very business-savvy, versatile, good at bookkeeping, and personable. With a few words, she could make customers beam with joy, so there were many repeat customers.
When Chen Yan arrived at Lao Wang’s Barbecue, it was past nine in the evening, the busiest time.
The seats in the barbecue shop were already full. A few tables and several plastic stools were placed by the boss on the roadside, conducting business right there on the street.
Chen Yan walked over, greeted the boss who was busy grilling skewers behind the smoky barbecue stove, then glanced and saw Zhao Shanhe sitting in front of a table by the roadside.
President Zhao was in a dirty T-shirt, with a case of Snow Beer "Courage Beyond Mountains" by his feet and a pile of skewers on the table in front of him.
But Chen Yan noted something off about this guy’s expression, drinking alone with a certain look on his face...
Let’s put it this way, whenever a man has that kind of look, he’s either unemployed or heartbroken.
Considering President Zhao was known as the king of part-time jobs in the student circle, unemployment was unlikely for him.
So, is it a heartbreak?
Chen Yan went over, sat down facing Zhao Shanhe, took a bottle of beer for himself, popped the cap off with his thumb, took a couple of swigs, then patted Zhao Shanhe: "What’s up with you?"
"Chen Yan, you’re here." Zhao Shanhe seemed to notice Chen Yan only at that moment, with a helpless smile on his face, picked up a bottle and clinked it with Chen Yan’s, guzzling a few sips. But he drank a bit too eagerly, causing the beer foam to overflow from the corner of his mouth, spraying everywhere.
"...If you can’t do it, don’t show off." Chen Yan sighed, good-naturedly patting his friend’s back to help him catch his breath: "What’s going on? Cheated out of money, or cheated on love?"
"I’m so unwilling, damn it!" Zhao Shanhe put on a tragic look, gazing up at the sky with a long sigh, like a hero unable to stretch his abilities.
"If you want to talk, speak human language." Chen Yan shook his head: "Don’t act like a drama queen, just speak frankly, what’s the matter."
"I..." Zhao Shanhe looked pitifully at Chen Yan: "I watched the girl I like throw herself into another’s arms..."
"Stop! Don’t hit me with these clichéd melodrama scripts, have you been binge-watching too many female-oriented novels lately?" Chen Yan glanced at Zhao Shanhe: "Tell me, what’s the exact situation?"
"Just, just... I like a girl, but she doesn’t like me."
"Mm, and then?"
"Then she likes a jerk... I, I hate it!!!"
Alright, Chen Yan understood now, this guy was already drunk and his speech was slurred, just crying to himself theatrically.
Chen Yan decided not to question him further—since he wanted to drink, let him drink to his heart’s content for now.
Subsequently, Chen Yan ordered another fifty skewers of grilled cartilage from the boss, eating while pouring drinks for this guy.
After a few bottles of beer, Zhao Shanhe started vomiting it all out, and Chen Yan grabbed him by the collar, dragged him into an alley nearby, and let him puke his guts out against the wall.
After settling the bill, Chen Yan carried him away and found a small inn near the school, rented a twin room, tossed Xiaozhao onto one of the beds, then lay on the other bed himself and pulled out his phone to browse short videos.