Chapter Forty-Seven: Don’t Go Too Far

Summer dawns early, and before five in the morning, I got up and drove to the seafood market.

Familiar with the route, I found Zhou Chao’s storefront and saw him and a few shop assistants carrying boxes to the street stall outside. I stepped forward to lend a hand.

"Brother Jiang, you’re really early. It’s just past five, and I’m still unloading the stock. Give me a moment."

"No worries, I’m in no rush."

After helping finish unloading, Zhou Chao led me inside and pointed to a large fish tank equipped with an oxygen pump.

"Red Jiluo, take a look! What magnificent quality!"

"Truly impressive. You don't see fish of this caliber every day. How did you manage to source it?"

Seafood stalls wouldn't procure high-grade fish like this without a reason, especially since it would spell a heavy loss if it failed to sell. Usually, regular customers placed a deposit and specifically requested them to source such items.

Zhou Chao smiled, scooped the Red Jiluo out with a landing net, and placed it on the chopping board. The fish, removed from the water, thrashed desperately before Zhou Chao knocked it unconscious with a few swift blows of a wooden mallet.

"A regular customer wanted to use this fish to entertain some distinguished guests, but before he could use it, he got himself locked up."

"I figured it was going to end up a loss on my hands, but then you happened to contact me. Given our brotherhood, I won't overcharge you—just cost price."

"Fifteen thousand for you, how's that? How do you want it prepared, steamed or something else?"

Getting a discount of over five thousand on a fish worth more than twenty thousand was already a fantastic deal, let alone for such a rare catch. Even if he hadn't sold it to me, given Zhou Chao's connections, he could easily have offloaded it at a high price.

"Thanks, Brother Chao. I'll treat you to a meal when I have some time."

"Ha, what are you being so polite for?"

Zhou Chao called over a few assistants to help me fillet half of the Red Jiluo and turn the other half into fish balls. The rest of the seafood was also properly prepped, packed in thermal boxes layered with crushed ice, and handed over to me.

"I've transferred the money to you. I'll be heading off now."

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Zhou Chao waved at me. "Give my best to your sister-in-law!"

When I returned to Bijiang Grand Mansion, Ji Leqing had not yet emerged from her room, presumably still asleep. Fortunately, the soundproofing of this apartment was exceptional; otherwise, I wouldn't dare cook in such an open-plan kitchen at the crack of dawn.

The ingredients had all been prepped and processed in advance, so I only needed to add them to the clay pot in order and let them simmer. However, because this clay pot was newly purchased, I had to sit right beside it, guarding it closely for fear that it might suddenly malfunction and either boil over or crack.

I scrolled through short videos to pass the time and noticed that the official media account I had previously direct-messaged had followed me back and sent me a video.

Changshui Village had not been affected by the landslide and had fortunately escaped disaster, though it would still take a few days for electricity and communication to be fully restored.

Now that the village was safe, I could finally set my mind at ease and focus entirely on the predicament at hand.

Ji Leqing walked into the living room wearing her pajamas, rubbing her sleep-heavy eyes and yawning.

"Are you cooking porridge? It smells quite fragrant."

"Yeah, just started it not long ago. It needs to simmer for about two more hours. If you're hungry, I can whip up something else for you first."

Still half-asleep and in a daze, Ji Leqing nodded vaguely. "Sorry to trouble you today then, I'm going to go back to sleep for a bit."

Once the porridge was ready, I pulled out my phone and called Little Zhu.

Little Zhu sounded quite surprised when he answered. "Brother Jiang, what made you think of calling me?"

"Where is Xu Zhihex right now?"

"President Xu is currently in the meeting room holding a meeting. Do you have something you need her for, Brother Jiang?"

"Yes, I cooked some seafood porridge and will be dropping it off at the company for her shortly. I also have some business matters to discuss with her."

"Alright, give me a call when you arrive."

I scooped out two bowls, then retrieved the pre-insulated container I had prepared in advance and packed the remaining seafood porridge inside it.

I knocked on Ji Leqing's bedroom door. "Leqing, breakfast is ready. Are you awake?"

A moment later, Ji Leqing opened the door and stepped out. She had already changed into fresh clothes, looking exquisite and proper.

Walking over to the dining room and catching sight of the seafood porridge on the table, she looked at me with a hint of surprise.

"Isn't this what you cooked for Xu Zhihe? You're actually willing to let me have some?"

"Who cooks a pot of porridge for just one person? It wouldn't even be worth the trouble of turning on the stove. Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Ji Leqing sat down. As she lowered her head, she reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair falling beside her temple behind her ear. Taking a tentative sip, her eyes lit up with delight.

Immediately afterward, she took several more spoonfuls in succession, apparently finding it very much to her liking.

She ate quickly, and before I could even sit down, a little over half the bowl was gone. She usually ate with slow, deliberate bites; seeing her like this was a rare sight indeed.

"These fish slices and fish balls... are those made from Red Jiluo?"

She looked up at me, her tone certain.

The seafood porridge contained various mushrooms, seafood, ham, and greens, creating a complex blend of flavors. Yet Ji Leqing had been able to accurately pick out the taste of Red Jiluo—truly beyond my expectations.

"You have quite the palate, don't you?"

Ji Leqing didn't dwell on my question. "You really spared no expense. There are this many fish slices and fish balls in just a single bowl—the Red Jiluo you used for the whole pot must have weighed at least over ten jin."

I didn't deny it. If not to increase my chances of winning, I wouldn't have bought that Red Jiluo. I had bought Red Jiluo before, but those were only a few jin in weight and far inferior in quality to this one.

Ji Leqing suddenly let out a soft laugh. "I suppose I have Xu Zhihe to thank for this, otherwise I'd never get to eat such wonderful seafood porridge."

"Let's not talk about her. If you like it, let me know a day in advance, and I'll make it for you."

I placed the other reserved bowl into the steamer to keep it warm.

"Isn't that the one you set aside for yourself?"

"I saved that for Lin Xingfan. I got sick of seafood porridge a long time ago."

In the past, whenever I cooked for Xu Zhihe, she would spit out a mouthful the moment she was dissatisfied, leaving me to finish the entire remaining pot. I had grown thoroughly nauseated by it long ago.

"So you're going to starve in the morning again?"

"I made a sandwich. Don't worry about me. I'm heading out now."

Carrying the insulated container, I drove Ji Leqing's car straight to the building where Xu Zhihe's company was located.

Xu Zhihe had originally started as a department manager within the Xu Group to gain experience, during which time everyone in the company called her Junior President Xu. Later, driven by a desire for revenge against me, she founded a company of the same type as Jianxia and broke away from the Xu Group, taking several loyal confidants with her.

Xu Zhihe's company was named Zhaohui, just like her—proud and dazzling like the sun.

"Good morning, sir. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering. Do you have an appointment?"

The security guard at the company entrance blocked my path. Beneath the brim of his cap was a completely unfamiliar face.

"I am Jiang Jian, here to see President Xu. Didn't Assistant Zhu give you a heads-up?"

With a haughty expression, the guard looked me up and down before shaking his head. "Is President Xu someone anyone can just see whenever they want? Unless you have Assistant Zhu come down to escort you, you're not getting in!"

Today I was dressed in low-key, unpretentious casual sportswear, and indeed didn't look like a major client coming to negotiate business.

It was just unexpected that even Zhaohui's security guards would look down on people like dogs. Who on earth hired them? Their attitude was abysmal.

I had originally intended to just flash my face and walk in, but now I had no choice but to call Little Zhu.