SES Chapter 65 Part 1

Chapter 65

Luo Ren opened his eyes.

It was Pingting’s voice, softly muttering the same phrase over and over: “Little Knife brother…”

Just like when they were kids, when she was his little shadow, chattering all day long:
— “Little Knife brother, I’ve got candy for you.”
— “Little Knife brother, buy me a handkerchief, will you?”
— “Little Knife brother, take me out to play!”

The mulberry silk mattress beneath him was soft and comforting, warm from a night of intimacy—like the embrace of a lover. Luo Ren felt no urge to get up. He lay there lazily, listening to the faint sounds of Pingting drifting in from time to time.

She sounded irritated. Probably because Yi Wansan was clumsy again.

“Little Knife brother, why are you so dumb…”

Luo Ren almost laughed.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

It was Uncle Zheng’s voice: “Luo Xiaodao? Luo Xiaodao?”

Uncle Zheng had come to let Luo Ren know that he was heading out with a real estate agent to check out a few storefronts that morning.

Previously, Luo Ren had suggested that the dry climate in Xiao Shanghe wasn’t suitable for recovery and convalescence. He hoped Pingting would stay in Lijiang for the time being.

Uncle Zheng was a distant relative of the Luo family. Pingting’s mother had passed away early, and Luo Wenmiao was often away lecturing, so the household needed someone reliable to manage things. Naturally, Uncle Zheng was chosen. He’d watched Pingting grow up, and his care for her easily rivaled—and likely exceeded—that of her absentee father.

So naturally, wherever Pingting went, Uncle Zheng followed.

But since they were planning to stay a while, they needed to think long-term. They couldn’t just sit around and burn through savings. Uncle Zheng told Luo Ren he was thinking of opening a small restaurant nearby.

More specifically, a Northwest-style eatery.

Uncle Zheng had always been a good cook—his roasted lamb leg had left a deep impression on Yi Wansan. Starting a restaurant played to his strengths and seemed like a perfect fit.

Uncle Zheng admitted he didn’t have much money on hand and hoped Luo Ren would invest and become the silent partner.

— “I’m old. I’m not doing this for the money, just want to keep busy. When you have something to focus on, you age more slowly, and maybe I can spend a few more years with Pingting. If we make money, it’s all yours. I’ll just work for you.”

That was exactly what Luo Ren wanted to hear. He had plenty of cash, but money that just sat around was dead money—it would only shrink. He needed to find a way to make it grow.

When he casually brought up the idea at the bar, he got full support from Cao Yanhua.

“A restaurant’s a great idea, a great idea!” Cao’s eyes lit up like searchlights—so bright that Luo Ren felt a little uneasy. Fatty Cao looked like he was determined to eat the place into bankruptcy.

But as the conversation continued, Luo Ren realized he had misunderstood.

“Don’t just do Northwest food—add Sichuan and Chongqing dishes too! Hotpot upstairs, roasted lamb downstairs, spicy chicken, poached fish, skewers, maoxuewang…”

Luo Ren gave him a look. Was he trying to work Uncle Zheng to death? The man was nearly sixty—Luo Ren wasn’t about to exploit his labor.

Suddenly, Cao had a thought: “I want to invest too! I’ll buy in!”

Yi Wansan leaned over the bar, staring at him like he’d seen a ghost. “Brother Cao, do you even have money?”

“Pearls!” Cao Yanhua was practically spitting with excitement. “Wansan, me, you, Little Master Sister, Red Sand Sister—we all have pearls! We’ll invest them and make this our joint business. We’ll call it ‘Phoenix Soars to the Ninth Heaven’!”

He spread his arms wide and paused after every word, as if daring the heavens not to let the phoenix soar.

Yi Wansan scoffed. Cao’s naming sense was no better than Yan Hongsand’s.

Surprisingly, the usually quiet Mu Dai spoke up: “I think it’s doable. Sounds good.”

She was leaning on the table with her elbow, chin resting in her hand, voice low—as if seeking Luo Ren’s approval.

Luo Ren put an arm around her: “Alright. When dividends come in, you’ll get double.”

Cao Yanhua, green with jealousy, asked, “And if the restaurant loses money?”

Luo Ren replied, “Then Mu Dai still gets a share—I’ll cover the losses.”

Unfair! Cao grumbled to himself: I want a boyfriend too…

Since most of the group supported the idea, Yi Wansan had to take it seriously. “Fine. Diversify the risk. Have the rich lady invest more—she’s got the money.”

“The rich lady” was his nickname for Yan Hongsand after he was roped into the group chat “Phoenix Strike Force.”

Cao had once told Wansan to be nicer to her, even asking, “Isn’t your dream to marry a rich beauty? Why are you so mean to Red Sand Sister?”

Wansan’s reply: “If I’d known she was rich back then, of course I’d have been nice. But I didn’t. If I suck up now, she’ll just look down on me. Might as well stay like this. If I can’t date a rich beauty, stepping on one is the next best thing.”

…

In short, the restaurant was originally just Uncle Zheng’s idea, but after a few rounds of discussion, it was officially happening.

Uncle Zheng showed Luo Ren a few listings from the agent. The locations were all decent. Luo Ren trusted him completely and handed over full decision-making power: “Whatever you decide is fine.”

As they talked, Luo Ren stepped outside and stretched. The whole courtyard was in view. He couldn’t tell what Pingting and Yi Wansan were playing, but Wansan was standing frozen like a statue.

Luo Ren murmured, “Strange… Why does Pingting call Wansan ‘Little Knife brother’?”

Uncle Zheng snorted. “Because even someone not all there still knows who truly cares for them. Whoever’s good to her—that’s her ‘Little Knife brother.’ You used to be so kind to her. Now? Who knows where your heart’s wandered off to.”

He had always regretted failing to pair up Luo Ren and Pingting. “Haven’t seen Mu Dai these past few days—did you two fight?”

He looked delighted at the idea.

Such a childish old man. Luo Ren couldn’t help but laugh. “She went to Kunming to collect her salary.”

A few simple steps online and the salary would’ve been in her account—but she insisted on traveling to Kunming to collect it in person.