After Shen Yao and the others left, Xiao Jun remained unresponsive. Luo Yunping, remembering Shen Yao's mention of lunch, decided to take Xiao Jun to try it later.
He knew that Farmhouse 888 provided full board and lodging, but their group had brought their own chef and hadn't intended to eat the farmhouse's food. They had chosen it specifically because the Shen family's farmhouse allowed guests to cook their own meals, and its environment and decor were also very pleasing.
However, since Shen Yao had suggested it, they decided to give it a try. If it wasn't good, they could always cook for themselves.
Precisely at mealtime, the dining hall was immediately filled with people. By the time Luo Yunping and his group arrived, they were among the last. As they smelled the enticing aromas, they finally understood why Shen Yao had suggested they eat in the restaurant.
When Luo Yunping and his group arrived, several dishes were already gone. "Hello, may we order from the menu?" asked Luo Yunping.
The waiter quickly responded, "Yes, but you'll have to pay extra. Also, our head chef decides the dishes. If you don't have anything specific in mind, we don't recommend ordering separately, as our restaurant's food is very delicious and prepared fresh by our chef."
Luo Yunping and his companions waved their hands. "Thank you, but we'd still like to order." If it were just the four of them, rough fellows as they were, it wouldn't matter what they ate. But with Xiao Jun present, it was different. Xiao Jun was extremely resistant to anything that others had touched. He had been by his side for several years before Xiao Jun slowly began to accept him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone from being a special assistant to a full-time nanny!
Seeing their demeanor, the waiter realized they were wealthy and understood their request. He then went to the kitchen to inform the chef about guests wanting to order.
Shen Huaimin and his companions had been playfully causing a stir all morning and were now processing ingredients for the afternoon. "Boss, there are guests who want to order."
Shen Huaimin stood up. "Understood, we'll serve them shortly." He looked at the available ingredients and then prepared small stir-fried celery with beef, stir-fried pork with green peppers, steamed perch, stir-fried arrowhead, two vegetable dishes, and a mustard green soup with tofu fish. His culinary mentor also got up to help, and together they quickly prepared six dishes and one soup.
As soon as the dishes were served, Luo Yunping, suppressing his saliva, began to serve Xiao Jun. Uncharacteristically, Xiao Jun picked up a spoon and started eating. Perhaps because he hadn't eaten for a long time, he only took two bites of each dish.
Seeing that Xiao Jun had stopped eating, Luo Yunping and the three accompanying him began to eat themselves. Their speed was such that it could be described as a whirlwind devouring the food. After finishing the last spoonful of soup with rice, Luo Yunping and his companions were so full they leaned back in their chairs, unwilling to move. He swore he had never eaten anything so delicious, nor had he ever been so full! The six dishes and one soup, a table full of food, were completely finished by the four of them, not even a drop of the soup was left.
After the meal, Luo Yunping pushed Xiao Jun back to the small suite. He shared the same suite with Xiao Jun for easier care, while the other three each had their own room. Luo Yunping pushed Xiao Jun back into the room and carefully placed him on the bed, then returned to the smaller room within the suite.
Luo Yunping opened his laptop and made a video call. It rang twice before being answered quickly. On the screen appeared a man who resembled Xiao Jun by about five or six parts, looking only two or three years older. However, unlike Xiao Jun, the man had a cold expression. If you were to describe him in modern slang, he would be a perfect "puppy dog" type. But if you assumed he was a puppy dog just based on his looks, you would be gravely mistaken, for he could be ruthless enough to even harm himself!
"Boss." Luo Yunping called out respectfully.
"Speak."
Luo Yunping didn't dare to delay. "Today, I brought Xiao Jun to stay at a farmhouse in a small village in Puhe County. I have already sent you the information about the farmhouse. Also, Xiao Jun's state was unusual today. When I pushed Xiao Jun to the pavilion, there was a man, a woman, and a child there. The guests here said they were the children of the farmhouse owner. When that girl was making tea, she handed a cup to me and Xiao Jun. Then, Xiao Jun actually drank the tea. Moreover, Xiao Jun actually responded to what that girl said! He even ate wild fruits that the girl handed him and ate in the restaurant. Although he didn't eat much, this is a huge change."
Luo Yunping reported the day's events with excitement. The man on the other side of the video was seen twirling a jade thumb ring. "Oh? Is there anything special about that girl?"
"I don't know if it's special. That girl is incredibly beautiful, more so than TV stars. And the entire family of that girl is top-notch in appearance. Most importantly, the owner of the farmhouse and his wife are said to be almost 60 years old, but they look less than 40."
Luo Yunping told the man all the information they had gathered that day. These people had a habit: wherever they went, they always sought firsthand information about the place to ensure they wouldn't fall into any difficult situations.
"Boss, do you think that girl might be able to help Xiao Jun?" Luo Yunping voiced his inner thoughts to the man.
The man raised his eyes. "Keep a close watch on that girl. Report any developments to me."
"Yes!" Luo Yunping quickly agreed. The boss's reaction clearly indicated that he also found the girl to be not simple.
After hanging up, Luo Yunping took out his laptop and sent the information about the farmhouse to his boss, including all details about the Shen family.
Meanwhile
The location for Xia Chao's beauty salon had been chosen. It was not within the Third Ring Road of the capital but outside the Fourth Ring Road, next to a large shopping mall. The shop was previously a beauty salon that had struggled due to intense competition. Their salon offered only basic skincare and therapy, unlike other beauty salons equipped with various instruments. It was popular for a while, but its business gradually declined. Therefore, when Xia Chao expressed interest in taking over their beauty salon, they agreed without hesitation and even contacted the landlord for Xia Chao.
Although this beauty salon was not within the Third Ring Road, its location was excellent, being adjacent to a large shopping mall. The shop itself was a three-story building, so the asking price was not cheap, costing 500,000 yuan per year. After Xia Chao's negotiation, the annual rent was settled at 450,000 yuan, but a three-year contract was required, and the rent had to be paid upfront. Xia Chao agreed immediately and included a clause in the contract stating that if the landlord breached the contract, they must compensate the tenant three times the annual rent. It also stipulated that if the landlord was unwilling to renew the lease after its expiration, they must provide the tenant with six months' notice. The landlord did not pay much attention to these clauses and signed the contract, believing that as long as he did not breach the contract, those clauses would be mere decorations.