Shao Fuguang helped unload the goods and naturally had an excuse to stay for a meal. He then called over three of his brothers, whom Li Shishan greeted and invited to sit down.
Jiaojiao began to busy herself in the kitchen, with Li Shishan assisting her.
Song Que went to pour tea. Taking advantage of this, a friend asked Shao Fuguang, “What is going on? I have never heard of you having a friend who runs a street food stall.”
“You do now,” Shao Fuguang said casually. “Hey, if you feel this place is not high-class enough, go to Starry Sky or Seaflow. Just put it on my tab; consider it my treat.”
“How could that be? We are just curious, aren’t they?”
As Song Que brought the tea over, the group immediately fell silent.
Among them was a man named Wen Liangmao. Song Que might not have known him, but he left a deep impression on Wen Liangmao. For no other reason than that Song Que was the first person so young, self-made, and holding a position as a new elite that Wen Liangmao had encountered. His father back home praised Song Que endlessly, disregarding all the gossip about him as nonsense. Consequently, Wen Liangmao had quite a good impression of Song Que.
However, that impression had been limited to Song Que’s excellent work ability, his tailored suits, and his exquisite, beautiful face that rarely smiled. But at this moment, as Song Que leaned over to set down the teacups, the icy coldness on his face faded, making him appear slightly more approachable. His lowered eyelashes made him look exceptionally good.
Song Que noticed Wen Liangmao’s gaze but felt no malice, so he said nothing.
Wen Liangmao looked away, inexplicably feeling his heart race, and then, as he looked up, he found Shao Fuguang staring at him intensely.
Wen Liangmao asked, “Fuguang?”
Song Que had just turned around, so Shao Fuguang quickly mouthed, “Stop staring!”
Wen Liangmao was confused. He had subconsciously assumed Shao Fuguang was interested in Song Que, otherwise, he would not be here helping out, but there was no sense of possessiveness in Shao Fuguang’s eyes.
Song Que sat down and raised his cup. “I will substitute tea for wine. Thank you all today. If you have any needs in the future, as long as it is within my capability, I will do my duty.”
Shao Fuguang was the first to clink his cup against Song Que’s, saying in a friendly manner, “There is no need for that. It is just a small favor. Besides, are you and Brother Ye not friends?”
At the mention of Qin Wangye, Song Que’s expression changed slightly, as if he had realized something. His eyes held a bit more warmth as he looked at Shao Fuguang.
Shao Fuguang’s internal love manual had never flipped through pages as fast as it did today. Brother Ye had warned him not to say too much for fear of scaring Song Que, but looking at Song Que now, he was clearly not repulsed. His eyes even lit up at the mention of Brother Ye.
With few customers present, Jiaojiao soon set out a table full of food, fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing—a total stimulation to the taste buds.
Shao Fuguang and his friends had originally only intended to eat a couple of bites to save face, but it turned out to be quite delicious, especially the garlic-flavored crayfish; the meat was firm and perfectly seasoned.
Seeing them eat with such gusto, Li Shishan gave an honest smile. “If it is not enough, just tell me. There is plenty.”
Shao Fuguang nodded repeatedly and even called him Brother Shishan. “Is there any beer? Let us have some.”
Li Shishan hesitated. “You are driving.”
“We will just find a designated driver,” another man replied.
Li Shishan quickly brought over a crate of beer.
Song Que did not drink, but the others drank straight from the bottles. It was rare to eat like this, and honestly, it felt quite refreshing.
The table was a mess by the end. Shao Fuguang had been chatting with Song Que the whole time, and within an hour, he had figured out the entire history between Song Que and Li Shishan. Friendships from student days were always exceptionally pure; he understood.
Gradually, the shop began to fill up.
Li Shishan and Jiaojiao greeted other customers, and the night shift staff quickly changed into their work uniforms.
As soon as the sky turned dark, a group of people walked in, about six or seven of them. The leader looked rather menacing—two large flower-patterned tattoos on his arms, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his beer belly. He smiled with his teeth bared, looking inexplicably nauseating.
Li Shishan paused when he saw them but still stepped forward to serve them.
Song Que glanced over at them.
Such places were filled with all kinds of people, and there was no barrier to entry for dining.
The group occupied a long table. When the food was served, they complained it was too hot inside and demanded to move outside. Li Shishan and two young men carried the table out, sweating profusely. Everything was still considered normal up to this point, but no more than ten minutes after they started eating, there was a loud clatter. The iron tray containing the crayfish was overturned onto the floor, sending shells and sauce flying.
Song Que stood up. He heard the tattooed man cursing, his speech slightly slurred: “Really, really damn terrible. Serving this kind of stuff. Do you not know how to run a shop?”
Li Shishan had taken in a young lad who had just turned eighteen to work the night shift. He was a straight-shooter. Upon hearing this, he crouched down, picked up a whole crayfish, and popped it into his mouth. He glared at the tattooed man until he swallowed, then fiercely spat, “It tastes great!”
The tattooed man laughed. “Good or not good is up to me to decide. You little punk who has not even grown all your hair, what do you count for?”
The young man stiffened his neck and roared angrily, “You were clearly hired by the shop in front! Their business is bad and they lack skill, so what gives you the right to mess with our business?”
The more furious the young man was, the happier the tattooed man became. “Whatever you say is what it is. In any case, your food is terrible, and I overturned it. What about it?”
Li Shishan held back the young man and looked at the tattooed man. “If you think it is terrible, then I will not charge you. Please go somewhere else.”
“No, no!” The tattooed man waved a hand. “Continue serving, keep serving until I think it tastes good! Otherwise, I guarantee your shop will not last long!”
They had encountered thugs.
Shao Fuguang walked outside out of curiosity. “Oh my, it has been many years since I heard such words.”
“Are you sure about that?” Song Que’s indifferent voice rang out.
The tattooed man saw Song Que instantly. Damn, how is it that a man can be this good-looking?
The tattooed man was interested in both men and women, and the moment Li Shishan saw his look shift, he showed visible hostility. “Do not force me to call the police. Get out!”
“You call, you call then.” The tattooed man smiled cheekily. “How much for this tray of crayfish? I will pay, but if it is not good next time, I will smash it again. Guess how many times I can smash your shop?”
“If you want to solve the problem, it is simple,” the tattooed man said, glancing at Song Que. “Your brother? How about he has a drink with me? How is that?”
“Do you not have a mirror at home?” Shao Fuguang walked out with his hands in his pockets. “Damn it, I am really unlucky to have encountered someone like you while trying to enjoy a meal.”
The tattooed man asked, “Who are you talking to?”
Shao Fuguang replied, “I am talking to you!”
Shao Fuguang did not take such people seriously at all. Today he had come specifically for Song Que, but having eaten and drunk here at Li Shishan’s, he naturally could not stand by and watch.
The tattooed man hated most when others mimicked his stutter. But taking a closer look at Shao Fuguang, he noticed that the other man was dressed quite meticulously; he recognized the brand of the belt on his waist—he remembered it costing seven or eight thousand yuan.
The tattooed man’s expression sank, and he tentatively said, “I advise you to stop sticking your nose in other people’s business.”
“You listen to my advice, too,” Shao Fuguang said cheerfully, yet his posture was aloof and arrogant. “If you keep causing trouble, by the time you want to wrap things up, I might not necessarily agree to it.”
The tattooed man had met some wealthy people, just like Shao Fuguang, and the arrogance in his tone could not be faked.
The tattooed man realized that Li Shishan had backers, and it would likely be difficult to find trouble again in the future.
But he had taken the other party’s money, so he had to get the job done.
Just as the tattooed man was hesitating, a lackey behind him suddenly lunged forward. “You damn well have a big mouth!”
After speaking, he grabbed the nearest object.