The Poor School Heartthrob Was Secretly a Financial Titan - Chapter 11

The can rolled away with a clatter, startling a stray cat that leaped onto the wall.

Wei Tao followed behind, his face also dark: “Look at him, saying ‘Raise the stakes, you guys are betting too low,’ I wanted to punch him as soon as I heard that!”

“If it weren’t for the fact that he has some money,” Huang Xiaolong gritted his teeth, “I wouldn’t even bother with someone like him. What kind of person is he!”

Zhou Cheng walked ahead without saying a word, but slowed his pace.

“Xiaolong, how much money do you think this guy surnamed Liu actually has?”

Huang Xiaolong pondered, “I’m guessing he was one of the earliest middlemen to run the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau trade. Back then, range hoods were in high demand here, and you could make several thousand yuan in one trip. Over the years…”

“It should be several hundred thousand,” Zhou Cheng nodded.

Wei Tao leaned closer: “Then…should we close the net ahead of schedule?”

Huang Xiaolong frowned: “He’s only been raised for two days, and you’re already taking him in? Isn’t that too early? What if we startle him…”

“But we can’t keep losing hundreds of yuan every day like this!” Wei Tao said with a bitter face. “Today, the three of us lost more than a thousand yuan together. The New Year’s money my grandpa gave me, all I’ve saved up since I was a child, is only enough to lose for half a month!”

Upon hearing this, the three men’s faces darkened even further.

After a while, Wei Tao and Huang Xiaolong both looked at Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng’s father is the presiding judge of the criminal court, making him the highest-ranking of the three. He usually makes the decisions.

Zhou Cheng was silent for a few seconds before speaking: “Let him play for a few more days. We’ll close the net this weekend. We’ll increase the stakes these next couple of days, let him win big, and then we’ll take all his winnings back, including the profits.”

Huang Xiaolong and Wei Tao exchanged a glance.

“His several hundred thousand…” Zhou Cheng’s lips curled into a smile, “After we go to university, the three of us can each have a car, that’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Huang Xiaolong’s eyes lit up.

Wei Tao swallowed hard: “A car…driving on campus?”

“What, it’s not okay?” Zhou Cheng looked at him.

“Great! Absolutely fantastic!” Wei Tao rubbed his hands together. “That would be so cool!”

The three of them smiled at each other, and most of the unpleasantness from before dissipated.

“It’s settled then,” Zhou Cheng said. “We’ll close the net this weekend.”

…

It was a little after 8 p.m. at Li Man’s house.

The TV was on in the living room. Li Man was curled up on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the screen, but she couldn’t concentrate on anything.

She held the remote control in her hand, changing the channel every now and then.

Gu Aizhi came out of the kitchen carrying a sliced ​​apple. Seeing her daughter’s expression, she was a little puzzled.

“What’s wrong with you?” She placed the fruit plate on the coffee table. “Like someone owes you eight hundred yuan?”

Li Man didn’t say anything and changed the channel.

Gu Aizhi sat down beside her and glanced at her twice.

“Oh, right,” she suddenly remembered, “your Aunt Liu asked you today if you wanted to go on a trip together.”

Li Man was taken aback: “Aunt Liu? Which Aunt Liu?”

“It’s Uncle Zhou’s family from the court,” Gu Aizhi said. “Zhou Jianguo, the judge, and his wife, surnamed Liu, is the principal of No. 3 Middle School. Their son is in the same grade as you, also a senior in high school, and he’s visited our house before.”

Li Man thought for a moment, then said “Oh,” and added, “I think I have a vague recollection of that.”

Actually, she didn’t remember anything. She then threw down the remote control, grabbed Gu Aizhi’s arm, and said, “I don’t want to go. I’m going to university soon, and I want to stay home and spend more time with you all.”

Gu Aizhi laughed: “When we go on vacation, aren’t you the one accompanying your mother?”

“But Dad can’t go,” Li Man said. “I can stay home and keep you two company.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Li Jiquan pushed the door open and came in, looking around as he changed his shoes: “Who wants to keep me company?”

“Dad!” Li Man jumped up from the sofa and ran over without even putting on her slippers properly. “You’re back!”

Li Jiquan changed his shoes, reached out and touched his daughter’s head with a smile. He was usually stern and unsmiling at work, but he was unusually gentle with his daughter at home.

“I heard you say you wanted to keep me company when I was at the door,” he said. “What for?”

“I’ll stay home with you,” Li Man said, pulling his arm toward the living room. “Mom said she’s going to take me on a trip, but I don’t want to go. I want to stay home with you.”

Li Jiquan smiled, all the seriousness he had brought back from his work vanishing completely.

“Sure,” he said, sitting down on the sofa. “Since my daughter is so filial, then I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow.”

“Going out for dinner?”

“Yes, let’s go to a restaurant,” Li Jiquan said. “Dad will treat you to Western food.”

Li Man blinked, then suddenly remembered something, and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

“Oh dear,” she deliberately drew out, “the upright and honest Secretary Li, actually hosted a dinner party?”

Li Jiquan laughed and reached out to tap her forehead.

“It’s only right that I ask my precious daughter for help!”

…

Li Jiquan chose the Chunmei Hotel as his destination.

It’s not because this place is particularly upscale, but mainly because my wife and kids love Western food.

Gu Aizhi developed this hobby while studying in another city when she was young. Li Man grew up with her mother and also enjoys it. In recent years, the only decent Western restaurant in Donglin City is Chunmei Restaurant, so they always go there.

The college entrance exam was over, and the results weren’t out yet, but Li Jiquan had a good idea of ​​what was going on. For three years of high school, his daughter had consistently ranked first in her grade, no matter the exam. This meal was a way of celebrating in advance. Since work wasn’t too busy these past few days, he took the opportunity to bring his wife and daughter out for a meal.

On the sixth floor, in the Western restaurant, they found a quiet booth by the window. The waiter handed them the menu, and Li Man and Gu Aizhi huddled together to order, while Li Jiquan sat opposite them, watching with a smile.

“Dad, what do you want to eat?” Li Man asked, looking up.

“You guys order, I’ll take anything.”

“How about I order you a steak, medium-rare?”

“OK.”

After ordering the food, Li Jiquan also ordered a bottle of red wine. The waiter read out the wine list, and he picked one at random—he didn’t drink much of this stuff, but his wife liked it, and his daughter was an adult, so a little wouldn’t hurt.

The dishes were served one by one: steak, pasta, salad, and cream of mushroom soup.

Finally, a young man carrying a tray came up. He was wearing a gray uniform and a white mask. He took the wine bottle off the tray, placed it on the table, picked up the corkscrew, and deftly opened the bottle.

Next comes pouring the wine.

He first took three chilled glasses—a thin layer of water droplets condensed on the sides of the glasses—then tilted the glasses, and the red wine flowed slowly down the sides without making a sound. After pouring all three glasses, he put the bottle down, the whole process as smooth as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

Li Jiquan was stunned.

He had been to Chunmei Restaurant many times before, and he had seen many waiters there, but he had never seen anyone pour red wine like that before.

“Young man,” he couldn’t help but ask, “you pour the wine really well. Did you receive special training in another city?”

The waiter looked up, about to speak—

“Han Xuetao?!”

Li Man’s voice suddenly rang out, sharp and urgent, startling the guests at the next table who turned to look.

Li Jiquan was taken aback and looked at his daughter.

Li Man stared at the waiter, her eyes wide open. Even through the mask, she recognized those eyes.

“You…” she pointed at Han Xuetao, “What are you doing here?”