Chapter 6795
We are all friends
Looking at the proprietress and Zhang Fei, Liu Jianming continued, "You two don't need to be nervous."
Mr. Xiao sent us here. He said you are his friends and that he feels safe eating here…
He emphasized the word "friends" in his voice, which was deep and powerful, conveying a sense of intimacy and sincerity, as if he were conveying trust and friendliness to them.
Mr. Xiao?
friend?
The proprietress and Zhang Fei became even more confused upon hearing these two words.
Their brows were furrowed, and their eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
They had never met any "Mr." with the surname Xiao in their entire lives.
They are the lowest-level people in this alley, busy and struggling to make a living every day, living ordinary and trivial lives.
They usually deal with people like Aunt Wang who sells vegetables or Old Li who collects recyclables—people living at the bottom of society just like them.
How could I possibly know such an important person who drives a luxury car and has a powerful aura?
The proprietress even began to wonder if she had Alzheimer's disease and if she had forgotten someone important at some point.
She patted her head hard, trying to recall, but her mind was still blank, with no memory of this Mr. Xiao whatsoever.
Suddenly, Zhang Fei felt as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind, instantly illuminating his chaotic thoughts.
He seemed to have been electrocuted, and slapped his thigh hard. The movement was so sudden and violent that his voice changed, becoming sharp and shrill, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "No...no way, this Mr. Xiao is that young man surnamed Xiao, right?"
His eyes were wide open, like two copper bells hanging on his face, and his mouth was wide open, big enough to fit an egg. His saliva almost dripped uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth, making him look very comical.
The proprietress was nervously watching Liu Jianming's reaction when she heard Zhang Fei's sudden shout, and she was immediately furious.
She glared at him fiercely, her gaze sharp as a knife, as if she could see right through Zhang Fei.
Then, without hesitation, she reached out and pinched Zhang Fei's arm hard, the pinch was heavy and vicious.
Zhang Fei hissed in pain, his facial muscles contorting, and his body involuntarily shrank back.
"what are you thinking?"
The proprietress lowered her voice and said through gritted teeth, her tone full of reproach and dissatisfaction.
"That young man is just a teenager, he looks to be under twenty, thin and frail, and dressed very plainly. How could he be the gentleman this boss is talking about?"
Don't embarrass yourself here and make a fool of yourself!
As she spoke, she quickly turned around, her face instantly plastered with a fawning smile. The smile was so obsequious that the wrinkles on her face were all knitted together, like a withered chrysanthemum. She smiled apologetically at Liu Jianming, saying, "I'm so sorry, my son is confused and talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart..."
Liu Jianming was listening quietly to the conversation between the mother and son when he heard the words "young man surnamed Xiao". His eyes suddenly lit up, and his eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation, as if he had found a long-lost key.
He quickly spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable certainty: "Gentlemen, the Mr. Xiao I mentioned is indeed a young man..."
His voice was like a thunderclap, booming in the minds of the landlady and Zhang Fei, making their heads buzz.
Holy crap! Is it really...?
The two looked at each other, both seeing shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.
When did that young man become a teacher?
How could someone who drives a luxury car and exudes a powerful aura address him as "sir"?
This is simply unbelievable, like a huge pie suddenly falling from the sky and landing right on their heads.
The key question is: are these the very people he invited?
Zhang Fei couldn't help but wonder if that kid had lost his mind, actually inviting such a rich person to eat at their shabby restaurant.
He looked around; the environment in the store was absolutely terrible.
There wasn't even air conditioning. In the summer, it was as hot as a steamer, with sweat constantly pouring from your forehead and your clothes getting soaked. In the winter, it was as cold as an icebox, with the cold wind penetrating to your bones and making you shiver.
Then look at those tables. The legs are uneven, and they need to be placed on cardboard to keep them level, otherwise they will wobble.
These pampered rich people usually live in luxurious villas, eat delicacies, and enjoy all kinds of high-end services. How could they possibly tolerate the environment of this shabby shop?
The proprietress also looked worried, her brows furrowed tightly together, as if she could trap a fly.
Even though the proprietress and Zhang Fei had a million questions swirling in their minds, like a bunch of headless flies, they didn't have time to think about it anymore.
After all, these guests, who seemed to be of high status, were waiting to be accommodated. If they were not treated well, it might cause some trouble.
The proprietress quickly turned around, hurried to the door, and with great effort dragged out two stools from behind the door.
Although the two stools looked very old, with the wood panels dull and the edges worn, they were kept quite clean.
The stool legs were wrapped with layers of tape, which the proprietress had applied to reinforce the legs and prevent them from falling apart.
Even so, the stool still wobbled constantly, as if it would fall apart at any moment, making people feel a little scared to sit on it.
Zhang Fei rushed to the door and forcefully ripped off the plastic curtain hanging there.
The curtain was originally transparent, but it had turned yellowish and was covered with stains due to long-term use.
After pulling down the curtain, he forced a smile onto his face, but the smile looked worse than a grimace, like bitter melon juice squeezed out forcibly: "Come, come, come in and sit down!"
"Our place is a bit chaotic, it's like heaven and earth compared to the upscale places you usually go, so please don't be offended..."
"Since he's Mr. Xiao's friend, then he's family!"
"Don't be shy, there's a small cubicle inside. It's not big, but it's clean enough. Please sit there!"
As he spoke, he hurriedly wiped the table vigorously with his sleeve.
The table is an old-fashioned wooden table with many scratches and stains on the surface, but the proprietress cleans it frequently, so although the place is shabby, it is still relatively clean overall.
"It's troublesome."
Liu Jianming nodded politely, maintaining a gentle smile on his face.
His gaze slowly swept across the shop's surroundings. The wallpaper on the walls was peeling at the edges, like an old man's withered lips, revealing the bare walls beneath, making the place look extremely dilapidated. (End of Chapter)