The Emperor’s Pavilion is located in the bustling district of Earth Sea, visible from the roadside. It’s an ancient-styled building with carved beams and painted rafters, its eaves raised high, exuding classical charm with red lacquered hardwood and enal green paintings. In the middle, three gilded characters read ’Emperor’s Pavilion’.
Boss Zhou is a bald, middle-aged man, around fifty, with a kind face. Upon seeing Ouyang Jiahui, he quickly ca over, beaming with a smile, "Jiahui, how is your father’s health? Didn’t he co with you?"
"Hello, Uncle Zhou. My dad is in good health. He’s busy at the company every day and doesn’t have ti to go out to eat with . I brought a few friends from Jiangcheng here to try your signature seafood beef balls."
Upon hearing Ouyang Jiahui ntion the seafood beef balls, Boss Zhou’s smile turned a bit awkward, "What a pity, the seafood beef balls haven’t been made for quite a while, but we have all the other dishes."
Hearing there’s no seafood beef balls, Ouyang Jiahui was a bit disappointed but quickly regained her smile, "That’s okay, your other dishes are also delicious."
Seeing Ouyang Jiahui close to Xu Xiangbei, Boss Zhou enthusiastically extended his hand to Xu Xiangbei, asking Ouyang Jiahui, "Is this your boyfriend? He’s very handso, what’s his na?"
Knowing Boss Zhou misunderstood, Ouyang Jiahui’s face blushed slightly, "Uncle Zhou, you’re mistaken, he’s just a friend."
Xu Xiangbei smiled and shook hands with Boss Zhou, feeling that Boss Zhou was very polite, which added to his good impression, "Hello, Boss Zhou, my na is Xu Xiangbei, I’m a small doctor, you can just call Dr. Xu."
"Dr. Xu is not from Earth Sea, right? I hear a bit of a southern accent."
"Good ears, Boss Zhou, I’m from Yangzhou."
Boss Zhou’s eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily, "Oh, so you’re a fellow townsman, I’m also from Yangzhou, though I ca to Earth Sea for business a long ti ago and haven’t returned in over twenty years, we’re really fated to et."
Realizing they were fellow townsn, the saying "when fellow townsn et, eyes flood with tears," although not exaggerated, added to Xu Xiangbei’s feeling of warmth towards Boss Zhou.
He smiled, "Yeah, I didn’t expect to et a fellow townsman here."
Boss Zhou generously laughed, "Feel free to order whatever you want today, it’s on the house, everything is free."
Hearing it was on the house, Xu Xiangbei was delighted, "Thank you, Boss Zhou, oh, no, thank you, fellow townsman."
Boss Zhou went to attend to other guests. Ouyang Jiahui pulled Xu Xiangbei to a corner, pounded Xu Xiangbei’s shoulder, and said coquettishly, "It’s your first ti eting Uncle Zhou, and you have the nerve to accept a free al? Last ti at the Crown KTV, having Xiao Lin’s fans pay was already too much. This ti, Uncle Zhou is being polite to you, and you take it seriously? Are you short of these few hundred bucks?"
Xu Xiangbei grinned cheekily, "Niece, it’s not about that. We need to promote the excellent revolutionary tradition of the older generation, the virtues of thrift and frugality, save every penny we can, don’t waste money. Besides, it wasn’t taking advantage, he offered the free al, I didn’t force him. Boss Zhou, running such a big restaurant, is not short a few hundred bucks from . If you’re worried about your Uncle Zhou losing out, then you pay the bill."
Ouyang Jiahui stared blankly at Xu Xiangbei, rendered speechless by his stream of reasoning and unable to rebut at the mont.
Seeing how he rendered the senior editor of a major magazine speechless, Xu Xiangbei felt very pleased as he followed the waiter into the restaurant.
However, there was a situation that made Xu Xiangbei and Sun Jiajia sowhat puzzled. In the more than two hundred square ters, resplendently decorated hall, there were only a few guests, not the bustling full house scene described by Ouyang Jiahui.
Ouyang Jiahui also noticed the anomaly. Sotis there are more guests, sotis fewer, which is not unheard of, so she didn’t think much of it.
The Emperor’s Pavilion looks imposing outside, and the interior is equally resplendent, giving off a luxurious and noble feeling.
Liu Ningyan and Chen Xin soon arrived at the Emperor’s Pavilion by taxi.
When the ladies t each other, they chatted like sparrows, chirping and laughing.
Three won make a play, and four won make a play within a play.
They conversed enthusiastically, discussing topics of their utmost interest, like discounted yet exquisite clothes, the most effective costics, and the latest fashion trends.
When it cos to fashion and beauty, they exude a certain vitality, tirelessly energetic. Xu Xiangbei couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
Xu Xiangbei wanted to smoke a cigarette. Just as he took out the cigarette pack from his pocket, before even lighting one, the four ladies collectively expelled him from the private room to smoke in the hallway.
Then he heard a noisy commotion from the hall. Curiously, Xu Xiangbei glanced over, but from a distance, he couldn’t hear what they were arguing about.
He saw Boss Zhou surrounded by three burly n, one of them grabbing Boss Zhou by the collar, raising a fist nacingly, seemingly ready to strike.
Xu Xiangbei quickly approached.
Although surrounded by three strong n and about to be beaten, Boss Zhou showed no fear but was full of anger, holding a piece of paper, desperately trying to explain sothing to them.
However, the n didn’t listen at all, and the raised fist was about to hit Boss Zhou’s face.
Swoosh, Xu Xiangbei grabbed the man’s wrist, said coldly, "If you have sothing to say, speak properly, don’t resort to violence."
Instinctively, Boss Zhou covered his head with his hands but didn’t feel the punch land. Surprised, he looked up to find that Xu Xiangbei had saved him, looking worried, "Dr. Xu, it’s better not to get involved. I’m reasoning with them."
Boss Zhou’s intentions were good, but these n were not the reasoning type.
The man whose wrist was caught by Xu Xiangbei cursed angrily, "Who the hell are you..."
Seeing the man speak rudely, even before he finished cursing, Xu Xiangbei’s face turned cold, and his fingers gently applied pressure.
The man tried to pull his arm out of Xu Xiangbei’s grasp but felt the other’s fingers as hard as iron clamps. A force hit him, making his wrist feel excruciatingly painful as if it would break.
With the pain shooting through him, the man’s entire body trembled, his legs went weak, and he knelt in front of Xu Xiangbei with a thud, crying miserably, "So painful, let go, please, my hand is going to break."
Xu Xiangbei sneered, "It’s not even New Year, and you’re already asking for a red envelope."
The other two n, seeing their companion in agony, one of them with a sinister sneer on his face, picked up a chair and smashed it towards Xu Xiangbei’s back. The guests and waiters in the hall exclaid in shock, holding their breath in worry for Xu Xiangbei.
Boss Zhou shouted, "Dr. Xu, watch your back."
It was as if Xu Xiangbei had eyes on his back; he suddenly kicked fiercely, striking the chest of the man with the chair. The force sent him flying as if he were a stone, landing far away.
The man crashed to the ground heavily, the chair thrown aside, a pain burst from his chest and abdon, spreading through his body, making him hold his chest and roll on the ground.
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