Chapter 6784
That was actually a vegetable market
He bought this jade thumb ring at a high price at an auction many years ago and has worn it ever since, making it a symbol of his status and position.
At this moment, he said no more and his gaze fell back on his daughter's phone in his hand.
"Chengnan Food Street? Which hotel's address is that? Is there such a hotel in the ancient city?"
Liu Jianming brought the phone closer, carefully examining the writing on it in the soft light of the car's interior ceiling light.
His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of doubt in them.
He has lived in the ancient city for most of his life, from a street vendor who braved wind and rain every day, haggling with customers for a few cents of profit; to the CEO of a group, sitting in a spacious and bright office, controlling a huge business empire. He has traveled to almost every street and alley, and while he may not have visited every restaurant, he has at least heard of them.
But he had never even heard of this "South City Food Street" before; it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, which made him wonder.
"Yulian, do you know where this food street in the south of the city is?"
Liu Jianming turned slightly to the side, raised his head, and cast an inquiring glance at his daughter beside him.
These past few days, he has been working tirelessly on the family business and matters related to Xiao Chen. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes have deepened due to his hard work, as if they were carved in with a chisel, each line filled with fatigue and worry.
He remembered that his daughter liked to go to trendy places with her friends, places that often had many little-known, off-the-beaten-path spots. Perhaps his daughter knew something he didn't, and could unravel the mystery of the address in front of him.
Upon hearing her father's words, Liu Yulian quickly leaned closer, her hair swaying gently with her movements. The delicate scent of perfume mingled with the high-end fragrance in the car, drifting into Liu Jianming's nostrils. The mixed aroma eased his tense nerves slightly.
She carefully examined the address written on the note in her father's hand, her delicate brows furrowing tightly, and several shallow lines appeared on her originally fair forehead due to her frown.
She gently shook her head and said, "I've never heard of this place either. Could it be outside the ancient city..."
She was also filled with doubts, like a tangled mess that she couldn't untangle no matter what she did.
She lightly tapped her chin with her fingertips, her eyes somewhat unfocused, as if trying to recall places she had been before. "The Tianchengyuan we went to for the last class reunion does have a few distinctive streets and alleys. The environment there is elegant, and there are many delicious foods. Everyone had a great time. But I've never heard of a place called 'Chengnan Food Street'."
Xiao Chen was going to treat them to dinner, so why would he choose a place with such an unfamiliar name?
Was it a deliberate test for them?
Or does this place have some special meaning?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but none of them had a reasonable explanation.
Just as the father and daughter were both looking at the address with a blank expression, as if they were in a fog and couldn't find a way out, the driver, Xiao Wang, hesitated for a long time.
He repeatedly rubbed his hands on the steering wheel, the smooth leather surface making a soft rubbing sound under his fingertips, leaving faint marks where his fingertips touched, just like the conflicted emotions in his heart at that moment.
His eyes would occasionally dart through the rearview mirror to the father and daughter in the back seat, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Finally, he mustered his courage, cleared his throat, and said in a low voice, "Mr. Liu... I think I know where this Chengnan Food Street is..."
His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke, and his voice trembled slightly with nervousness, like a leaf shaking in the wind. He was worried that he might say something wrong and leave a bad impression on General Manager Liu, but he didn't want to miss this opportunity to prove himself.
Upon hearing this, Liu Jianming's furrowed brows, which had been furrowed due to the unknown address, instantly relaxed. He seemed to have grasped a lifeline, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.
The worry on his face seemed to be blown away by a gust of wind, and his previously dull complexion became rosy.
He slapped his thigh hard, the "smack" sounding particularly crisp in the quiet car, and laughed heartily, "It's great that you know! Then let's go early tomorrow, we can't keep Mr. Xiao waiting and be impolite. Mr. Xiao is a very capable man, it's a great thing for us to befriend him, we must be sure to time it right."
As he spoke, he raised his hand to look at his watch, a valuable gold timepiece with an exquisite dial and a subtle, precise ticking sound from the hands.
The gold dial gleamed under the car's interior lights, as if reminding him of the preciousness of time.
"Go home first, make some preparations, and bring a few bottles of my treasured wines. For a distinguished guest like Mr. Xiao, ordinary wines are not enough; we must use my fine wines that I have treasured for many years to show our sincerity."
As Liu Jianming spoke, he was already planning everything he would need to prepare when he got home, his eyes full of anticipation.
"But……"
Upon hearing Liu Jianming's words, Xiao Wang's face showed a troubled expression, and his already somewhat tense expression became even more conflicted.
His lips moved, as if he had a lot to say, but he swallowed the words back, looking hesitant and unsure of what to say.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and he occasionally caught glimpses of Liu Yulian's gaze in the rearview mirror.
The look in his eyes was filled with doubt and expectation, as if urging him to speak clearly. This made him feel even more pressured, as if there was something unspeakable stuck in his throat, unable to come up or down.
"But what? Has this place already been demolished and gone?"
Liu Jianming's smile froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place, replaced by a look of surprise and tension.
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the back of Xiao Wang's head, as if he could get the answer from Xiao Wang's reaction.
My heart skipped a beat, and I wondered to myself, could it really be such a bad coincidence?
If this food street in the south of the city really disappears, then my dinner with Mr. Xiao tomorrow will be canceled.
Moreover, Xiao Chen specifically chose this place. If it's gone, it will seem like the father and daughter don't care about the people. How can they maintain a good relationship with Mr. Xiao in the future?
Thinking of this, Liu Jianming frowned again, his eyes filled with worry.
Xiao Wang slowly shook his head, his expression turning somewhat strange, as if he had been weighing the options in his mind for a long time and had finally made a difficult decision.
He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Mr. Liu, if I remember correctly, this Chengnan Food Street... is actually just a rather inconspicuous vegetable market around here." (End of Chapter)