Chapter 73: The King in the Barbeque Business

It was a cold winter night, but even in a quiet, dilapidated alley, the famous Old Liu Barbeque still had a steady stream of customers. Just a few blocks away, Xiucheng's well-known bar street buzzed with loud music and dazzling lights, a completely different world.

Lou Cheng remembered a high school acquaintance, a dandy who had dropped out of college, bragging about working as a pimp there. Lou Cheng, however, had only ever come for the barbecue, wary of the trouble that could lurk around discos and bars.

The smell of grilled meat filled the air, making Lou Cheng's stomach growl. Drinking mineral water only made him hungrier. "Fatty Jiang, have you set a date for our get-together?" he asked, trying to distract himself.

After gulping down some herbal tea, Jiang Fei wiped his mouth. "Too sweet. It tastes different in Guangnan. Anyway, our gathering is the day after tomorrow, at Spring Scenery Field Conference Villa. You can climb Xiushan and then take Nine Curves to get there."

"Spring Scenery Field Conference Villa? How fancy!" Lou Cheng was surprised.

Jiang Fei smiled. "You're confused again? It's not that expensive. We're going before the New Year, so it's only about 200 yuan each. There's ping-pong, badminton, tennis, basketball, and free karaoke. They also have mahjong and poker rooms. If none of that is your thing, you can climb the mountain for some fresh air. You can even get a room if you want. Plus, there's a spa hotel nearby with a hot spring."

"None of those events attract me. I’d rather just chat with my old friends and share some college experiences," Lou Cheng said, wiping his nose with a tissue.

"Pooh! Stop pretending. I remember you being a big fan of karaoke. You hogged the mic several times that summer after the college entrance exam," Jiang Fei exposed his lie.

Lou Cheng laughed, a little embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject. "How many classmates will show up?"

"Everyone promised to come except a few who are not in Xiushan. Haha, I can’t wait to find out whether those couples from back then have broken up or not, and how many singles have found dates," Jiang Fei said excitedly, completely forgetting that he was single.

Lou Cheng loved hanging out with the easygoing Jiang Fei and felt comfortable speaking freely with him. However, when Jiang Fei was lost in a detective fiction, he looked suspicious, and Lou Cheng would sometimes imagine him as a cold-blooded killer. But Lou Cheng had checked his mental state and knew he was just an easy-going guy who let go of anger quickly.

"How many teachers did you invite?" Lou Cheng asked.

"Just Old Wu and Mr. Xin. Other teachers are either unavailable or unwelcomed. For instance, Old Li," Jiang Fei answered with a smile.

Old Li was the math teacher Lou Cheng and Yan Zheke had complained about. Old Wu and Mr. Xin had been their head teachers.

"Haha, Old Wu is a fan of martial arts. He talked about martial arts with us every time he patrolled the class," Lou Cheng said, looking forward to seeing his senior-year head teacher.

At that moment, the waitress brought them some easily-toasted skewers topped with chopped scallions. Despite his hunger, Lou Cheng took a photo first. Instead of sending it to Yan Zheke immediately, he waited for the right moment to send them in batches.

"Done?" Jiang Fei asked with a smile.

"All done. Let's eat." Lou Cheng grabbed a streaky skewer. The meat was pre-seasoned with a secret recipe and was so tasty that Lou Cheng finished one in two or three bites. The lingering flavor made him crave more. His favorites were the skewers with a little fat, which roasted to make the meat juicy but not greasy. He could eat them one after another without stopping.

After eating about a dozen, Lou Cheng finally started to talk. They had a great time catching up on high school gossip and college experiences. When they finished their first round, the waitress brought the second, which included chicken wings, wing tips, and ribs, which took longer to cook. She also brought the specialty of Old Liu Barbeque: two trays of grilled eggplant.

The eggplant here was different. Instead of using mashed garlic, Old Liu fried a special dressing and crisp peas in hot oil. This sauce was poured over the grilled eggplant, making it taste like fish while keeping its own flavor. It was so delicious that everyone who tried it became a fan. Lou Cheng considered the grilled eggplant the king of barbecue, and even Yan Zheke, who was in the south, missed it.

When the specialty was served, Lou Cheng adjusted his phone's color balance and took a mouth-watering photo. He sent it to Yan Zheke along with the other pictures he had taken. [I am so satisfied.]

Yan Zheke immediately sent a throwing-dog emoji. [Our friendship has ended like this dead dog!]

Lou Cheng smiled and quickly typed a reply.

Jiang Fei picked up some eggplant and put it in his mouth. He looked at Lou Cheng with a mischievous smile. "Cheng, look at you! You're picking up a hot chick. Once you get the girl, introduce her to us. I wanna know who she is that makes you so into her."

You already know her, and we just talked about her... Lou Cheng teased silently. He put down his phone while dipping some eggplant in the gravy. "Sure, if I can make it happen." As he ate the eggplant, he was deeply moved by the flavor he had been longing for. His chopsticks moved faster.

Jiang Fei picked up his herbal tea. "I wish you great success. If I have a dream girl one day, I might consult with you. Oh, right, does my sister-in-law have any besties? I get dibs on them. Don't forget!"

"Sister-in-law," good call! Lou Cheng praised him silently, then teased him. "You have to lose weight first..."

Jiang Fei rolled his eyes and then, like a paparazzi, asked for more details. "How did you meet? Is she your classmate from college?"

"Nope, we met in the Songcheng University Martial Arts Club." Lou Cheng told no lies but wasn't entirely truthful. It was actually you who took me to Class Three to check out beauties where I met Yan Zheke for the first time. Lou Cheng decided not to share any information until he and Yan Zheke were officially dating. It would be too awkward since they went to the same high school and shared the same social circle. More importantly, he believed Yan Zheke didn't like people gossiping about her.

"Holy crap! That's why you have been arduously practicing your martial arts!" Jiang Fei suddenly realized, as if solving a problem he had been afraid to ask about. "Never judge a book by its cover, now I finally get it. Cheng, I never thought you would go to such great lengths to avoid being single!"

They talked and laughed while eating eggplant and wing tips. Finally, the grilled fish arrived. It was cooked similarly to the eggplant but tasted no better in Lou Cheng’s heart.

They ordered more after finishing the fish. Jiang Fei was astonished at Lou Cheng’s appetite. "Cheng, will I eat so much if I start to exercise? Then how can I lose weight with such a big appetite?"

"Do you see me getting fat?" Lou Cheng asked, pulling out his wallet to pay. He felt powerful and energetic again, as though he had been brought back to life. His cold symptoms were relieved, too.

"Nope." Jiang Fei took a careful look at Lou Cheng.

"Then it is all good. Don't be afraid!" Lou Cheng said with confidence.

When Old Liu brought the bill, Jiang Fei took out his wallet. "Eh, Cheng, let me pay. I'm the one who should treat you to a welcome dinner. How could I let you pay?"

"Haha, I recently participated in a martial arts competition and made some extra cash. You don’t have to feel sorry for this." Lou Cheng answered with pride.

Jiang Fei was shocked. "You made money in a martial arts competition? How long have you been practicing? I see, this competition was exclusive to pupils, and you were there to bully them."

"Get lost!" Lou Cheng replied, paying the bill. The meal was less than 500 yuan. Although each skewer was smaller than in other places, it was still a good deal.

Seeing that Lou Cheng was serious, Jiang Fei let him pay. He rubbed his belly. "How about we go for a walk? It’s good for digestion. Living in Xiushan is a bargain. We could never afford so many skewers and a grilled fish in Guangnan for under 400 yuan."

Lou Cheng nodded and seriously asked the boss when they would reopen after the New Year. Old Liu Barbeque would close the day after tomorrow. When he heard they would reopen on the eighth day of the lunar month, Lou Cheng looked satisfied. He had already ordered a small vacuum machine and a thermal container online, and they would be delivered after the New Year. Being rich is awesome!

In the cold, windy night, the two of them walked in the alley, talking about all sorts of things. They subconsciously walked in the opposite direction of the bar street. When they turned a corner, the back street was completely dark, with only weak light from the surrounding houses.

"Let's turn back. Who knows what we'll encounter in such darkness," Jiang Fei said, buttoning his jacket.

Lou Cheng was about to respond when he saw several people appear in front of them. One man was running desperately, and three others were chasing him, their knives glinting under the weak lights. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the cold, dark alley.

"Holy crap, the mobs are killing! Let's hide somewhere. Don't get dragged into this mess," Jiang Fei said, shivering with fear.

Lou Cheng didn't want to get into trouble either, so he pulled Jiang Fei back into the shadows. Just then, the running man stepped into a patch of light.

Wang Xu!

It was Wang Xu, his childhood friend, the man he had just seen before dinner. He was bleeding and desperate.