People be released, but that doesn’t meater is over. The local police station will keep an eye on this person and help him find his hometown and family.

  The police had lifted the detention on Huang Pihu. After taking him out of the holding room, he remained calm and posed, her angry nor speaking unnecessarily.

  “rade Huang Pihu, if you run into any difficulties iure, you e find me,” said Wu Bin.

  “Thank you,” Huang Pihu nodded a.

  Back at the Yumei Hotel, Wu Yumei hadn’t bought any groceries. The chef wasn’t around, and she couldn’t hahe business on her own. Sitting in the shop absentmindedly, she perked up as soon as she saihu return. She quickly went over and asked, “So, what happened? Is everything okay? Did you clear things up?”

  “There wasn’t really anything to it. Did you buy the ingredients? How are we going to open the shop if you don’t get anything? You should hurry up ao the market. As the boss, you should know the prices. I’ll make a list for you…” Huang Pihu was quite adept at gauging people’s needs. Since Wu Yumei cared so much about him, he took charge without hesitation, not even suggesting that he buy the groceries himself, instead sending the boss to do it.

  Wu Yumei thought Huang Pihu was a solid, straightforward man. She didn’t want to make him buy bck-market goods, but she didn’t realize that truly ho people wouldn’t deal in such things even if they did buy groceries. In any case, she drove her little rickety car ao the market. The prices were a bit higher than the m market, and the produce wasn’t the freshest, but it was good enough.

  After pleting her shopping, she returo see the shop wide open, sunlight p in. Huang Pihu was sitting inside, with a cup of tea and a pack of cigarettes by his side, squinting in the sun, looking like a giant middle-aged zy cat.

  “Boss, we ’t do this alone. I suggest you hire another waiter,” Huang Pihu said. “There are always small chores that o be done.”

  Wu Yumei replied, “I ’t find a suitable persht now. The locals have high expectations and won’t work for others.”

  Huang Pihu said, “I think it’d be best t Xiaohong back. Give her another ce.”

  Wu Yumei remarked, “Has Kang Peng given up on her? I k, that girl’s really stupid. She got sold out and helped t the money for the people who sold her. Only someone as kind as me wouldn’t mind her being so dumb.”

  She cursed her out freely, but she had already guessed that Xiaohong was eavesdropping from the kit. Sure enough, after a while, Xiaohong appeared, tugging at her clothes nervously, apologizing. Wu Yumei, seeing this, accepted the apology, since Xiaohong was someone she had brought from her hometown. She didn’t want to make things difficult for her and didn’t want to expin it bae.

  With Xiaohong back to help, Huang Pihu no longer had to do any work himself. He didn’t know where he’d gotten two walnuts from, but he was now sitting there idly, pying with them while sipping tea, smoking, and basking in the sun. His feet were propped up oable, bossing the two women around. He wasn’t just the boss—he was like a king.

  A, her Wu Yumei nor Xiaohong had any pints. Initially, Wu Yumei had thought of Huang Pihu as a simple, ho middle-aged man. But after witnessing his heroic as when he saved someohe day before, her first impression transformed. He now seemed like a man with a rich, hidden past—someone who was deep and full of stories. Her sympathy turned into admiration. Xiaohong, even more so, had an admiration for him three times that of Wu Yumei’s.

  By around 11 in the m, Yi Leng was still resting when he saw his sister-in-w and her daughter arriving. He quickly got up, assuming they had e to thank him for saving Nuan Nuan.

  His guess was correct. Xiang Bihat, sihe chef had saved Nuan Nuan, they should show their gratitude in some way. The two of them had discussed the matter the previous night. Normally, they would have given gifts, perhaps sending a banner or money! But Xiang Bing still had debts on her Huabai at, and Yi Nuan Nuan didn’t have any savings. Banners seemed too tacky, and as fifts… buying tea leaves ht Treasure Pe? That wasn’t something worth showing off. In the end, Xiang Bing decided to express her thanks through taking care of business. After all, aside from her main job, she was a food blogger aaurant reviewer on Weibo.

  So, as she walked in, she was filming with her phone. On the s was a greasy middle-aged man’s face—the chef of the Yumei Hotel, Huang Pihu. His appearaoday was a far cry from the heroie she had witnessed yesterday when he smashed the window to rescue someooday, he looked tacky, a little sleazy, holding a cigarette and pying with walnuts, with none of the previous charm randeur.

  “Here you are,” Huang Pihu greeted them. “e in. What’s all this stuff?”

  Xiang Bing looked at the box in her hand with suspi, saying, “Oh, this is a table mp I bought for someone from Jiangbei Ikea. After eating, I’ll have to deliver it.”

  Huang Pihu didn’t feel awkward at all. He waved for them to e in and order.

  However, the menu wasn’t oable. The old menu had bee when Kang Peng was the chef. Now that it was Huang Pihu’s turn, everything had to be repced, and they hadn’t decided on the new o. But Xiang Bing, who sidered herself a food oisseur, didn’t need a menu. She waved her hand and said, “Just bring out your best, most expensive dish. Money’s not an issue.”

  Huang Pihu chuckled. “Well, if you insist, I’ll show off a little.”

  Xiang Bing took her phoo the kit to film. Upoering, she was momentarily startled. She frequently visited restaurant kits, and five-star hotels usually had and kits. But small eateries were often a different story—there could be spider webs, dirty water everywhere, and sometimes rats running about. The kits used for takeout were particurly bad. However, the kit at Yumei Hotel was much er than she expected.

  Huang Pihu put on an apron, donned a hat, and began w like a whirlwind, skillfully lifting the frying pan with fmes shooting high. The heat in the restaurant’s stove was much strohan a home gas stove, and the ingredients quickly heated up, with moisture evaporating. That’s why dishes cooked with high heat and oil always taste better—they develop that wok fvor.

  Xiang Bing filmed from various angles, satisfied with the material, and eagerly awaited the meal.

  A rge enamel basin was brought to the table. This was Huang Pihu’s first signature dish, something he had thought of after spending a night in jail. He had finally e up with this “Da Hong Pao” dish.

  It was a rge dish made with a whole chi stir-fried in a special sauce. The chi was marinated with a secret recipe, and the pan was heated with peanut oil, ginger, garlid scallions. After that, the chi was stir-fried h heat, with star anise, bay leaves, and Si peppers added. A shot of white wine oured in, followed by a generous amount of medium-hot, fragrant ntern peppers. Sugar, salt, and five-spice powder were added before the dish was finished off with sesame seeds. The bright red chili oil made it look mouthwatering.

  Jiangwei, a northern coastal city, had many workers from the northeast, Si, and Hunan regions, whose tastes were diverse. They loved spicy food, and the shipyard workers, who did heavy bor, preferred hearty, meaty dishes. This dish ecially created for them.

  Xiang Bing and Yi Nuan Nuan stared at the enormous enamel basin, both in shock.

  In Jiangbei, you couldn’t get a serving this rge. Xiang Bing picked up her chopsticks and tasted the chi. The spid numbing pepper fvor bined with a hint of sweetness, and the yers of fvor were immediately noticeable.

  “It’s delicious!” Xiang Bing excimed. “It goes perfectly with rice or wine. You wouldn’t even mind a sp in the face wheing this!”

  Huang Pihu brought over a pte of cold cucumber sad, pced a bottle of beer oable, flicked the cap off with his thumb, and Xiaohong brought over a thermos of rice. “Eat as much as you want.”

  came a non-spicy dish of shiitake mushrooms with oyster saud bok choy, followed by a dessert of deep-fried ice cream.

  Yi Nuan Nuan, who loved sweets, particurly ehis dish, where ice cream was ed in dough and deep-fried. It required precise timing, and Huang Pihu’s skill was just right.

  The chef came out, grinning, and asked how the two dies were enjoying the food.

  “Absolutely amazing,” Xiang Bing said, giving a thumbs-up. “You didn’t skimp on the ingredients. I tell—it’s home-raised, free-range chi, no older than six months.”

  Huang Pihu also gave a thumbs-up. “You know your stuff!”

  He looked at his daughter and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. It was Saturday, and Nuan Nuan wasn’t in her school uniform. The clothes she was wearing were ohat Xiang Mo used to wear—too big and hanging loosely on her.

  His sister-in-w wasn’t dressed much better. She wore cheap Taobao clothes and didn’t even have a pr—just a random vas tote.

  "If she hadn't been imprisoned, if Xiang Mo hadn't had the act, Nuan Nuan wouldn't be so lonely and helpless, with no oo rely on."

  After finishing their meal, Xiang Bio pay, but the brother-in-w wouldn't take his money. Xiang Bing said, "If you don't take it, I won't e again."

  Wu Yumei spoke up, "Don't argue about it, just give it a 10% dist."

  Xiang Bing ughed, "As expected, the boss dy is straightforward." He paid the bill and pulled Yi Nuan Nuan along. "Let's go, boss."

  It was as though they had all bee a family with Huang Pihu and Wu Yumei. Wu Yumei didn't correct him and cheerfully saw them off, "e again."

  At the shipyard workers' teen, Qin Deg appeared in the food li was a on practice for the previous party secretary to eat with the workers, but Qin Deg wasn't as down-to-earth. He wasn't the type to eat with the on folk but also wasn't one of those leaders who were so detached from the people. As a top leader, his time recious, and in his view, waiting in lio get food was just for show.

  However, some shows had to be made. After the fire i, Qin Deg keenly sehe u and sed discipline. He was fortuhat the fire happened outside the factory area, or if it had been in a key workshop, the losses and impact would have been much greater.

  No one dared to sit at the same table with Qin Deg, so he simply carried his tray and sat o some workers, who were still talking animatedly. They hadn't noticed him sitting beside them.

  They were discussing the fire rescue at the i cafe, with one eyewitness excitedly saying, "If those people hadn’t helped, who knows how many would have died."

  "Really? That’s definitely an heroic deed worth reizing," a strange voice suddenly interjected.

  One of the workers wiped the saliva from the er of his mouth and said, "Of course," before turning around and realizing something was off. The man's work clothes were too , and when he looked closer, it was her than Qin Deg, the top leader. He was startled and nearly jumped up.

  "Sit down," Qin Deg said, pressing his hand on the worker’s shoulder to keep him seated. He asked iail about the situation, and the worker expined again. Someone had pried opei-theft window, and someone else had pushed a rge truck over to act as a cushion. Qin Deg sighed deeply. The public had a strong sense of self-preservation, and it was a good thing someone had helped; otherwise, the death toll would have been shog.

  Qin Deg immediately called his assistant, instrug him te for a mission to find the rescuers and award them reition to promote positive energy.

  The assistant passed the task on to the administratioment, which sent it to the publicity se. The publicity se didn’t have a head but had a deputy head named Mei Yuliang, who was handling things. Due to yesterday's fire, the entire administrative department was w overtime to manage public opinion.

  Handling such delicate matters was something Mei Yuliang was quite familiar with. He called in the new recruit, Jian Xiaotian, and assigned him the task of interviewing the heroes of the fire rescue, writing an article.

  Jian Xiaotian had graduated from the ese department of Huaimen Normal Uy. Though his uy was not prestigious, he was clever and well-versed in the rules of the shipyard. He was good at fttering people, and his actual skills weren’t bad either. So, despite there being over ten people in the publicity se, all the work was left to him uhe guise of "training newers."

  After accepting the task, Jian Xiaotia out iernoon to interview. He asked around the shops he fire se, and everyone khat it was the new chef from Yumei Restaurant who had pried open the window, and it was a well-known local ruffian, Rou Mingrui, who had pushed the truck over.

  Jian Xiaotian walked into Yumei Restaurant and saw a man sitting with his legs crossed, resting his eyes while crag walnuts. He asked a few questions, but the maher firmed nor de. He only said that anyone who saw such a situation wouldn't stand by, but he didn't want to say more or accept an interview or have his photo taken.

  Indeed, some people didn’t like to show off. Jian Xiaotian had no choice but to return to the office. After rag his brain, he wrote an article titled "The Everyday Heroes Around Us." He thought it was good enough to score 95 points, and happily took it to Mei Yuliang for review.

  Mei Yuliang frowned as he looked at the article. It was clear he wasn't satisfied.

  Jian Xiaotian asked, "Mr. Mei, do you wao revise it?"

  Mei Yuliang replied, "It's not about revising. It's about the nature of the article. Look, the fire at the i cafe—it's the chef and the street ruffian who went to save people. Where were our factory workers?"

  Jian Xiaotian replied, "They were probably eating and drinking."

  Mei Yuliang almost ughed in frustration. "Xiaotian, you first o uand ohing. Who is publicity for? Is it for roup pany or for those outsiders?"

  Jian Xiaotian uood instantly. The group’s publicity se was not like the media outside; they were on the factory’s payroll. Everything was for the purpose of promoting the positive energy of the shipyard. Once he grasped that, the task became much easier.

  "Alright, I’ll go find a few more typical examples," Jian Xiaotian said.

  "Good. Think it through," Mei Yuliang said, handing the article ba and pag up to leave. He had two dinner appois that evening and o rush to the one.

  The first dinner was at Shunfeng Hotel, one of the most upscale hotels in the shipyard area. A friend had ihe t to dinner, and as per the rules, a few local iial figures had been invited as well, including Mei Yuliang. The dinner hadn't started yet, and everyone was gambling in the private room. Mei Yuliang saw Yin Bingsong, a friend of over twenty years, with whom he had a good retionship. Both of them had daughters in the same css at the local sedary school, so their families were quite close.

  The fire i was widely discussed on TV, and Yin Bingsong’s daughter had been injured in it. Mei Yuliang casually asked about it, and Yin Bingsong replied that he had been at the se when the fire broke out.

  Mei Yuliang had a thought. Since Yin Bingsong worked in the factory and had bee at the se, why not give him the honor of being reized as a hero? After all, the reward should stay within the family. When he shared the idea, everyone appuded, and Yin Bingsong grinned with pleasure.

  No one questioned whether the story might fall apart. Mei Yuliang had worked in publicity for years, expertly using tricks and tactics, and there was no risk of mistakes. Besides, the only people who might be affected were outsiders, and they were no threat.

  "Is there a bonus?" Yin Bingsong joked. "If there’s no bonus, I’m not ied. If there is, we all drink to it."

  At Yumei Restaurant, the two tables of guests had just left, and Xiao Hong was ing up. Wu Yumei, seizing a rare break, ehe kit and said to Huang Pihu, "Old Huang, e stay at my pce tonight."

  Huang Pihu hesitated, "Boss, don't you think things are moving a bit too fast?"

  Wu Yumei’s expression darkened. "Old Huang, what are you thinking? Are y to take advantage of me?"

  Huang Pihu quickly expined, "Boss, I mean that you're already arranging a pce to stay so soon. It's moving too fast, and the probation period hasn’t even passed yet."

  Wu Yumei replied, "Fast or not, I decide that."

  "Alright, I’ll follow the boss’s orders," Huang Pihu said.

  Wu Yumei snorted a with a swish of the curtain.

  Then Xiao Hong saw the boss, while tapping on the calcutor, swaying her hips and singing, "Don’t let me look around anymore, don’t make me guess every day, you’re my groom, and I’m your bride, awoo~~~"

  [--------------------------------------------]

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