txolops Chapter 18 was one step too late.
Chapter 18 was one step too late.
"It's right on the edge of the plaza downstairs from our building."
Secretary Chen answered truthfully, with a hint of surprise in his voice, "A young tricycle owner is selling them."
Ninety-nine yuan a serving.
Without any hesitation, Su Qingxue stood up.
"Walk."
"Take me down."
"what?"
Secretary Chen was stunned. "President Su, are you going down there personally?"
"You're still feeling weak, I'll go queue up and buy you another one!"
"I'll go myself."
Su Qingxue's tone left no room for argument.
She knows her anorexia all too well. When she finally comes across a food that she can eat and that even the smell of makes her feel at ease, she doesn't want to wait a minute longer.
Waiting even a second longer made the empty, cramping feeling in her stomach feel unbearable.
Secretary Chen dared not persuade her any further. She quickly picked up her phone, put on her high heels, and followed Su Qingxue out of the president's office.
"Ding—" The private elevator went down to the lobby on the first floor.
At this moment, a faint aroma of scallions and eggs still lingered in the air of the lobby on the first floor of the building.
Several white-collar workers who hadn't managed to get any fried rice were gathered not far away, looking out and sighing.
"This is unbelievable! Over eighty portions, and they were all sold out in less than an hour?"
"I was one of the last in line, and I watched helplessly as the boss packed up the pots. I was so angry."
"Tomorrow, I'll come down and squat at five o'clock tomorrow!"
Hearing these comments, Su Qingxue quickened her pace involuntarily.
The two walked out of the building's glass sensor doors and arrived at the edge of the plaza.
At this moment, the afterglow of the evening sun shines on the square.
The long queue had dispersed.
A parked tricycle.
Wang Hai was sweating profusely as he folded up the small folding table and carried it into the truck bed.
As he moved the load, he grinned foolishly and kept muttering to himself.
"Brother Chen, more than eighty portions!"
In less than an hour, it was completely sold out!
That's nearly eight thousand yuan in transaction volume!
Wang Hai tossed the last plastic chair onto the truck, excitedly dusting off his hands. "Including yesterday's, our capital has already multiplied many times over!"
"Uncle Fatty, Daddy's the best!"
Sitting on a small stool, Tangtang held her chin in her two little hands, her big eyes smiling like crescent moons.
"That's right, your father's skill is absolutely unique in our area!"
Wang Hai laughed heartily.
Lin Chen ignored Wang Hai's agitation.
He was bowing his head slightly, his left hand on the stove, and his right hand holding a clean rag, wiping the stove.
The pot was still quite hot, and the lingering steam mixed with a faint aroma of rice drifted through the air.
"Boss."
A cool, clear voice rang out beside the tricycle.
Lin Chen didn't stop what he was doing; he simply raised his head calmly.
Standing in front of the stall was a woman wearing a white silk shirt with an extremely cold demeanor.
Her face was noticeably sickly pale, but her features were exquisitely beautiful.
A familiar face was also with her; it was the female secretary who had just bought a takeout box.
"Sold out."
Lin Chen glanced at Su Qingxue, his tone calm, showing no emotional fluctuation despite her outstanding temperament and appearance.
Upon hearing these three words, Su Qingxue frowned slightly.
She glanced at the two large stainless steel insulated buckets in the back of the tricycle.
The lid was open, and the inside was spotless; not a single grain of rice was left.
The egg tray next to it was also empty.
It's really sold out.
Su Qingxue's stomach contracted again.
The contrast between her newly awakened appetite and its abrupt cessation made her feel a sense of unease and anxiety.
She didn't want to go back to enduring the dizziness from low blood sugar, and she didn't want to face those expensive Western meals that made her nauseous again.
"Are the rice and eggs gone?"
Su Qingxue looked at Lin Chen, her voice still maintaining the coldness of a CEO, "There are large supermarkets nearby. I can have my secretary buy the best rice and ingredients and send them over immediately."
"No."
Lin Chen put the cleaned iron pot back in its original place. "I'll only use the rice I prepared in advance."
Freshly bought rice can't achieve that dry texture.
That's all for today.
Su Qingxue took a deep breath as she looked at Lin Chen's calm and unyielding demeanor.
As the head of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, she believes that nothing in the business world is off-limits.
If so, then the price wasn't high enough.
Especially when dealing with a small business owner who sets up a stall on the roadside with a tricycle.
"Secretary Chen."
Su Qingxue didn't waste any more words and simply turned her head slightly.
"Yes, Mr. Su."
Secretary Chen quickly stepped forward.
"Scan the QR code."
Su Qingxue looked calmly at Lin Chen and said, "Transfer 10,000 yuan to him."
Upon hearing this, Wang Hai, who was about to hug Tangtang, stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
"Ten...ten thousand?!"
Wang Hai stared wide-eyed at the cold and beautiful woman in front of him in disbelief.
A serving of fried rice that costs ninety-nine yuan is worth a hundred times more in this woman's mouth!
Ten thousand yuan for a plate of fried rice?
"Is this insane?!" Tangtang also opened her eyes wide with curiosity and looked at Su Qingxue: "Pretty auntie, why did you give Daddy so much money?"
Daddy's rice is only 99 yuan!
Su Qingxue glanced at Tangtang but didn't say anything. She simply refocused her gaze on Lin Chen.
"Ten thousand dollars for a freshly made fried rice from you."
Su Qingxue's tone was very calm, as if the 10,000 yuan was just a piece of waste paper to her. "If that's not enough, I can add up to 20,000."
I can accept that the ingredients I buy are not as good as they used to be.
"Just fire now."
Secretary Chen had already taken out his phone, skillfully opened the scan function, and scanned the QR code on the tricycle. He was just waiting for the boss to nod, and the huge sum of money would be deposited into his account immediately.
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Wang Hai held his breath; his heart was pounding like a drum.
Ten thousand yuan! Frying a pot of rice takes less than three minutes, this is practically a windfall!
He desperately tried to signal to Lin Chen with his eyes, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
However, Lin Chen simply folded the rag in his hand and placed it aside.
He raised his head, his clear and calm gaze meeting Su Qingxue's aloof eyes that held a hint of condescension.
There was no excitement. No thrill. Not even a hint of surprise.
"This lady."
Lin Chen spoke calmly and respectfully, "This is not about money."
Once the ingredients are gone, that's it.
I won't cook rice that doesn't taste good, as that would tarnish my reputation.
Su Qingxue was stunned.
She looked at Lin Chen, a look of extreme astonishment flashing in her eyes.
She has seen countless people bow down for money, and she has also seen countless people who try their best to pretend to be noble in the face of money.
But the young boss in front of me had such innocent eyes.
That calmness wasn't feigned; it stemmed from a strong confidence and self-assurance in his own craft.
"Daddy is right."
Tangtang sat on a small stool, her two little hands obediently placed on her knees, and echoed in her childish voice, "Daddy is the most serious when cooking. He won't turn on the stove if there isn't good rice."
Lin Chen turned around, bent down and picked up Tangtang, holding her steadily in his arms.
He glanced at Su Qingxue, who was still in a daze, nodded slightly, and said in a completely calm tone, "Sold out."
Please come early tomorrow.
After saying that, Lin Chen turned around and walked to the passenger seat, where he sat down.
"Fatty, drive. Home."
Lin Chen gave a casual instruction.
"Huh? Oh... Oh! Okay!"
Wang Hai swallowed hard. Although he felt a pang of heartache over the ten thousand yuan, he blindly obeyed Lin Chen's decision.
He climbed into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition.
"Squeak—" The tricycle emitted a dull motor sound and, under the watchful eyes of Su Qingxue and Secretary Chen, slowly drove away from the edge of the square and merged into the city's traffic.
Su Qingxue stood there, the evening breeze lifting the hem of her silk shirt.
She watched the tricycle drive away, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.
She, the female CEO of the prestigious Yintai Group with assets exceeding 100 billion yuan, voluntarily went downstairs and threw out 10,000 yuan to buy a plate of fried rice from a roadside stall.
I was rejected? And rejected so decisively, so casually.
"President Su..."
Secretary Chen stood awkwardly to the side, phone in hand. "Should we... still buy it?"
Su Qingxue withdrew her gaze.
The emptiness in her stomach continued to torment her, but the calm look in the young boss's eyes lingered in her mind.
"Please come early tomorrow..."
Su Qingxue softly repeated the last four words Lin Chen had left behind.
She took a deep breath, turned and walked towards the building, leaving behind only one sentence.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Come down and queue up half an hour early."