Chapter Twenty-Five: The Grand Feast Arrives Amidst Bustling Activity

  Zhu Shijun gave him a knock on the head and scolded, "You're just a greenhorn, don't randomly chime in if you don't know what's going on, you'll offend people without even realizing it. Luckily you were talking about Third Brother, otherwise others would think you're calling the shots. When have the big shots of the gangster circle ever gone to a restaurant for dinner? That's called losing face, don't you understand? When we all gather together, it's just for a big bowl of wine and some meat, to chat and laugh and make some noise. Go to a restaurant? Sit up straight and proper like those officials, dressed up and speaking softly? Is that still the gangster way?"

  Chen Fosheng was scolded, but he didn't get angry. He finally understood where he went wrong. The water in the gang's circle is really deep, it seems that from now on, I should speak less and listen more, otherwise, if people find out that I'm not a gangster, it would be too embarrassing. Fortunately, there weren't many people today, so San Ge and the others definitely won't say anything. But who knows whether those two guys with ulterior motives will go out and gossip.

  Chen Fosheng was secretly regretting that he didn't keep his mouth shut, as a result, he lost face because of his big mouth. He was thinking about how to shut up Kang Xiaobao and Xu Xiaofei's mouths. Actually, what's so clever about him? Why would he be able to keep things hidden?

  Xu Xiaofei has a round face, and Kang Xiaobao has a square face, where do they have the appearance of being cunning and deceitful? Anyway, Chen Fosheng thinks that people who don't look good in his eyes all have "thief-like" eyebrows and "mouse-like" eyes. This is the result of him carrying forward the spirit of Dr. Zhou's writing.

  Chen Fosheng didn't know how to retort for a moment, so he lowered his head and didn't speak.

  Xue Xiangdao said, "Buddha's birth is not a sin for the ignorant. Right, there's another thing I need to trouble Buddha with." Xue Xiang indeed had something to ask Chen Fosheng for help, but it didn't have to be now. Saying it at this time was also to comfort Chen Fosheng's heart.

  Chen Fosheng saw that Xue Xiang had found a use for him and was overjoyed, patting his chest to guarantee the completion of the task. Xue Xiang said: "Fosheng, everything else is fine, but we're short on chefs. Would you mind asking your grandfather to arrange for some school cafeteria cooks to come and lend a hand?"

  "Easy, easy, what's not easy about it? The school cafeteria has so many cooks who are usually idle. It's time for them to put in some effort. I don't need to find Old Man Li, the person in charge of the cafeteria, Zhang Pangzi, is very respectful towards me. This matter can be handled directly, just call twenty cooks, that should be enough, Third Brother, if not, then call all of them over. If the students don't have dinner, let Zhang Pangzi tell outsiders that the big pot in the cafeteria broke, starving for a day won't hurt anything."

  Xue Xiangxiao said: "We won't need that many, bring ten of them. Also, ask the waiters to call some more people over. The dishes tonight are very simple, you'll see when you get here."

  Chen Fosheng nodded, thinking to himself that it seemed he still needed to strengthen his studies. Fortunately, he had finally managed to get into Third Brother's circle and becoming a qualified rogue was just around the corner.

  "Alright, now that the chef is arranged, I'm going to give you all some tasks. Xiaobai, take Watersnake and his group to the Lotus Porcelain Factory to pick up 150 ceramic basins, the kind used for washing faces at home. Also, get bowls, chopsticks, and wine cups while you're there. Take them directly to the old factory district, where Kangtong will meet you at the old wooden furniture factory. Xiaofei, take Hou Xiaochun and Ji Changfa's group to the Yu Hua Winery on the outskirts of town. I've ordered a large barrel of wine, about 700-800 pounds worth. Be extremely careful when transporting it back and forth; I'll give you two the purchase order later. Malai and Lao Zhu, you two come with me to the market to buy vegetables later. Fosheng, go arrange the chefs now, everything must be ready by 3 pm. After that, come help us carry the vegetables at the market. Xiaokang, go to the old factory district now; your uncle will send someone to deliver the tables and chairs soon."

  Xue Xiang finished arranging everything, and Chen Fosheng, Kang Xiaobao, and Xu Xiaofei immediately set off in different directions. Xue Xiang went to Li Hongjun's house and drove out his three-wheeled motorcycle. Kang Tong, Lei Xiaotian, and Zhu Shijun jumped on board. Xue Xiang first took Kang Tong to the old factory area on Hubao Bridge South Road. When they arrived at the entrance, several large trucks were already unloading tables and chairs inside. It turned out that Ma Liang, Sun Qianjin's uncle, was personally directing the operation. Ma Liang, in his forties, was short and stout with a round face and a big bun on his head, looking very much like an official. Xue Xiang got off the motorcycle, walked over to shake hands with Ma Liang, and handed him a pack of unopened Wonton cigarettes, saying: "Thanks, Uncle Ma, we really owe you one this time."

  Ma Liang waved his hand and smiled, "Little Xue, you're still being formal with me? Don't you know what kind of relationship we have? He can join the army all thanks to you, saying thank you is not enough, it's like he doesn't recognize me as Uncle Ma." Ma Liang knew that Xue Xiang was not just a poor child who had lost both parents and whose uncle was in prison. He was well aware of Xue Xiang's influence and the roots of Xue An Yuan, otherwise he wouldn't have personally taken care of this matter. Although Sun Qianjin was his own relative, it wasn't worth troubling himself to take action, this small matter could be handled by sending someone else. Now that he had finally met with Xue Xiang, he said hello and mentioned there was another meeting to attend, then yelled at the lead worker to do a good job before shaking his large body and walking away in an official gait.

  Xue Xiang left Kang Tong to receive the table and chairs, and then started the motorcycle with Zhu Shijun and Lei Xiaotian rushing to the vegetable market. When passing by Renmin Avenue, he got off the car and greeted Shi Qiang, saying that the dinner was set at 6 o'clock at Lao Hua Lian Muqi Factory, asking him to inform others to arrive early, and the banquet would start on time at 6 o'clock, no latecomers. Shi Qiang was the red-faced young man from the ice rink last time, he had known that Xue Xiang was hosting a dinner tonight, but didn't know the time and place, for a moment, thought that San Ge (Xue Xiang) had forgotten him, feeling unhappy in his heart. Now seeing Xue Xiang notifying himself first, immediately felt that he still had a position in San Ge's mind, and promised to inform all of the four cities and eight districts.

  When they arrived at the vegetable market, Ding Weidong was already waiting at the door. When he saw Xue Xiang approaching, he quickly went to greet him. A week ago, Xue Xiang had made an appointment with Ding Weidong to reserve some good meat and ribs for him.

  Xue handed over a red paper bag to Juanzi and Fan'er, which was filled with chocolates. The two girls opened it and were immediately delighted, their faces flushing red as they looked at Xue. They didn't dare look at him again and instead busied themselves packing things for Xue.

  This time, Xue had bought an enormous amount of groceries: 300 kilograms of fatty and lean meat, 200 kilograms of pork ribs, 160 fat chickens, 10 large winter melons, 100 kilograms of rice noodles, and countless onions, ginger, and garlic. The two girls spent half an hour packing everything, sweating profusely, before calling over three strong men to help them finish the task.

  Juanzi calculated the total cost for half a day, using her abacus, and was shocked by the result: 846.35 yuan. At first, Juanzi thought Xue had bought a lot of things, but she had no idea there were so many meats and chickens, which added up to such an enormous sum - equivalent to a year and a half's salary for an average dual-income family.

  This didn't even include the meat coupons, which must have been purchased on the black market. An ordinary family was allocated only 0.5 kilograms of meat per person per month, and Xue had spent all their coupons in one go.

  Xue handed over 850 yuan and a handful of meat coupons, which Juanzi took with trembling hands. She counted them repeatedly for half an hour before preparing to make change. Just then, Xue asked her to help him buy cigarettes as a thank you gift for the three porters.

  Ding Weidong arranged for a small truck at the vegetable market to load all the purchased vegetables at once. Xue Xiangle asked Ding Weidong and Zhu Shijun to follow the car ahead, where they would set up the dining area with Kang Tong and prepare to welcome the guests. Ding Weidong nodded excitedly in agreement, and indeed, Third Brother understood people's hearts and was being considerate.

  Xue Xianggang was about to start the car when Chen Fosheng arrived, followed by a big fat man. The fat man looked like he was in his thirties, with a parting in his hair and a shiny, oily scalp. His face seemed to be bursting with flesh, and he wore a large "Dikang" shirt, sweating profusely as he walked. Chen Fosheng grabbed Xue's hand and said, "Third Brother, everything is arranged. There are ten chefs, twenty waiters, and we've brought our own cooking utensils. They've already left. The fat man behind me is Zhang Puchang, the head of the logistics department in charge of the cafeteria. He insisted on coming to meet you, saying he wanted to get to know the big brothers in Beijing's underworld. I told him that our underworld business has nothing to do with him, but he said he had long admired you and wouldn't let me go until I brought him along. I think this kid did help us out this time, so we can't disappoint him. That's why I brought him along." Chen Fosheng had already considered himself a qualified member of the underworld circle and was eager to show off his connections to others. Zhang Puchang had also heard about Xue's abilities and influence from Chen Fosheng's boasts, which is why he was so keen to meet him.

  Zhang Pangzi stretched out his meaty palms from a distance, smiling and saying: "Xue San's great name I have admired for a long time, today finally saw the real person, really handsome and elegant, dignified and majestic, seeing him makes one forget the world." Xue Xianggang shook hands with his fat palm, but was caught by Zhang Pangzi's two hands together, Zhang Pangzi shaking vigorously, smiling all over his face.

  Xue Xiangxiao said, "Thanks to Director Zhang's strong support this time, otherwise today would not have ended well. Why don't you come with me tonight and have a few drinks? I believe there are many people who would be delighted to see you."

  Zhang Pangzi was overjoyed, he had long known that there were many high-ranking officials among the gang leaders. If he could make friends with one or two of them, it might be very helpful for his future career. Zhang Pangzi laughed even more happily, grabbing Xue Xiang's hand and shaking it even faster: "Third Brother, you're being too polite, calling me Director Zhang, just call me Zhang Pangzi, everyone calls me that. If you need my help in the future, Third Brother, just let me know. I'll definitely come tonight, right? Is the chef enough? If not, I can transfer a few more over. I don't have any other skills, I can only help with this small matter." Zhang Pangzi was climbing up the social ladder, and now he even omitted Xue's surname, directly calling him Third Brother, without caring that he was more than ten years older than Xue Xiang. People like him were most at ease in official circles.

  Xue Xiangdao: "Director Zhang, you are a high-ranking public servant. I shouldn't be so presumptuous as to address you by your nickname. Although we're close in private, it's only proper that we show respect for our public servants in public. The chef is already here, and I'm grateful for that. Welcome, Director Zhang, I'll have Fosheng come pick you up tonight."

  Xue Xiangdao knew better than to fall for this trick. Some people might let you call them by a nickname as a sign of closeness, but in reality, they're secretly resentful. Who knows when they'll turn on you and demand an explanation? Xue Xiangdao had worked in the government before becoming a university professor, and although he hadn't achieved much in his bureaucratic career, he was familiar with this kind of behavior.

  Zhang Pangzi only then seriously sized up the person in front of him, and began to listen to Sun Fosheng say that he was a big brother in the Beijing gangster circle, but thought it was just a second-generation ancestor with a good family background. At this time, seeing Xue's response to Zhang was measured and effortless, it was clear that he was a very capable and ruthless character, far surpassing Chen Fosheng's level. With such a person paired with an extraordinary family background, their future achievements would be boundless. Thinking of this, Zhang Pangzi became even more courteous, smiling and saying: "I wouldn't dare ask Fosheng to come pick me up, nor would I say anything about arriving, I'll just go there myself at 6 o'clock, at the old Hualian wooden factory on Bao Fang Bridge. That place is familiar to me, and when the time comes, I'll be a troublesome guest bothering Third Brother."

  The two chatted for a while before Zhang left. Xue invited Chen Fosheng to get on the motorcycle, accelerated and headed towards the restaurant.

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