Chapter 136: Time for the Banquet

When Lin Jiayin returned home that evening, she was in low spirits; to be precise, she had been sullen and dejected ever since Wu Lei left. Chen Huajiang tried to comfort her several times, but it was to no avail, and he could only persuade her to force a smile.

"Huajiang, why don't we just close the factory's storefront? We aren't counting on it for profit anyway, and keeping it open only gives the workers something to gossip about." Once home, Lin Jiayin finally made her decision, speaking to Chen Huajiang with a heavy heart.

Chen Huajiang shook his head with a smile. "Closing the store on our own terms and being forced to close it by others are two completely different things; the former is proactive, while the latter is reactive."

"This is no longer just about revenue; it’s about face and reputation. In business, you don't fear a lack of money; you fear people knowing you lack money."

"If this escalates, the reputation of Kunlun Catering will be tarnished. People might even think we can no longer afford to run our business, which would be disastrous."

Seeing him put it this way, Lin Jiayin had nothing more to say, so she rose to prepare dinner in the kitchen.

Chen Huajiang helped Huanhuan with her homework—which, in reality, meant watching her draw. He didn't believe a kindergartner needed to study anything; at this stage, happiness was paramount. Only happiness could foster good learning habits and build a solid foundation for the future. Besides, even if Huanhuan were a poor student, living in this era, Chen Huajiang truly didn't place much value on academic performance.

"What is this?" Chen Huajiang asked, noticing his daughter had drawn several circles, slathering them in thick paint, with only faint suggestions of noses and eyes visible.

"That's Daddy, that's Mommy, and that's me," Huanhuan said with grave seriousness, pointing at the three paint-smothered circles. Chen Huajiang’s mouth twitched, but he feigned admiration: "It’s absolutely beautiful."

"Are you two coming out to wash your hands and eat yet?" his wife called out from the other room. Chen Huajiang picked up his daughter.

After washing up, they sat at the dining table. Dinner was the usual fare: one meat dish, two vegetables, a soup, and a glass of milk for Chen Huajiang and Huanhuan. Ever since Chen Huajiang established the rule about drinking milk, Lin Jiayin would ensure Huanhuan had it with both breakfast and dinner, no matter how busy she was. As for lunch, since the girl ate at kindergarten, Lin Jiayin didn't want to make a special fuss. She herself disliked milk, often feeling nauseated by it—Chen Huajiang knew this was due to lactose intolerance and could only let it be.

"Huanhuan, if Mommy and Daddy both fell into the water, and you knew how to swim, who would you save first?" Lin Jiayin suddenly asked her daughter at the table. After speaking, she cast a deliberate glance at Chen Huajiang, looking at her daughter expectantly.

Chen Huajiang rolled his eyes. This wasn't the first time this question had come up; last time, it had been about whether she would save him or his mother. He didn't know when this question had first appeared, but it was certainly popular among all women. Even before he had crossed over into this era, many women would ask it, and there were even online guides on how to handle it.

However, this time, Lin Jiayin had obviously modified the original version, hoping to show off that their daughter was closer to her. Despite himself, Chen Huajiang felt a flicker of anticipation, watching Huanhuan with a coaxing smile. He hoped to hear his daughter say she would save him first, but reality proved contrary to his wishes.

Huanhuan tilted her head, hesitating for a moment, before pointing at Lin Jiayin, then quickly pointing at Chen Huajiang. Although she didn't say it aloud, the sequence was clear enough. Lin Jiayin looked like a victorious peacock, lifting her chin toward Chen Huajiang with a triumphant expression. Given the changes in her husband lately, the family atmosphere had grown increasingly harmonious, and they often joked with one another. She knew a small matter like this wouldn't stir his anger.

Chen Huajiang naturally wouldn't lose his temper over such a trifle. His eyes darted, and he thought of a way to handle his wife.

"Huanhuan, wait a moment before you start eating." Chen Huajiang stood up, ran to the kitchen, and grabbed an apple and an orange, placing them on the table in front of her.

"The apple is on the left, the orange is on the right. If Mommy fell into the water, would you eat the apple first or the orange first?" Chen Huajiang asked with a smile, glancing at Lin Jiayin.

Lin Jiayin was stunned, clearly not expecting Chen Huajiang to twist the question like this. She quickly caught on and glared at her husband, feeling annoyed—this was practically cheating! An adult would quickly realize the goal was to save someone, not to be limited to a choice of what to eat. But a child would likely be trapped into choosing between the two snacks. No matter whether Huanhuan chose the apple or the orange first, Chen Huajiang would win back a point.

However, she soon burst into laughter, feeling that her husband's cheating was just a sign of his reluctance to lose, which still proved she had won the round. Yet, the situation unfolded in a way neither had expected.

"Does that mean it's time for the funeral feast?" Huanhuan asked, looking up curiously.

*Time... for the... funeral feast...*

Lin Jiayin felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her face a mask of utter bewilderment.

"Hahahaha!" Chen Huajiang laughed uncontrollably; it was a god-tier response.

"You little troublemaker!" Lin Jiayin, both angry and embarrassed, stood up, intending to spank Huanhuan. She was genuinely stung—what did she mean by "time for the funeral feast"? Wasn't that as good as saying she had drowned?

"Alright, alright, children say the darndest things, let it blow over," Chen Huajiang said, pulling his wife back and comforting Huanhuan. "You, really—why would you ask such questions at the dinner table? Huanhuan, don't be afraid, the apple and the orange are yours. But you have to eat your dinner first."

Days went by. Chen Huajiang spent his time at home with his wife and daughter, jogging and practicing martial arts to keep fit. That was the nature of business; the beginning was incredibly difficult, requiring constant groveling and endless exhaustion. But once the business was on the right track, the rest was just a matter of following the routine. Eventually, the boss only needed to manage the finances and reap the rewards.

Zhang Hao, on the other hand, was in a miserable state. If you ask people for help, don't you have to provide food, drink, and cigarettes? For every day Chen Huajiang didn't show his face, Zhang Hao had to keep Zhang Hao and his brothers entertained with constant food, drink, and entertainment. This drained his already dwindling assets, and he even had to borrow money from several cronies just to survive. If Chen Huajiang didn't appear soon, he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

Fortunately, Chen Huajiang had finally spent enough time with his family and, feeling a bit bored, appeared once again at Anrong Alley.

"He's here! He's back!"

"Everyone, get ready! Ambush him when he leaves!"

Having received word of Chen Huajiang’s return, Zhang Hao ran home, breathless, to tell Zhang Hao and the others the news.

"Damn it, he's finally back. I thought our plan had hit a snag. Everyone, get to work!" Zhang Hao slammed the table, stood up, and stretched, his face filled with excitement. There was no money to be squeezed out of his cousin, and these last few days had been stifling.

The henchmen also stood up, faces flushed with anticipation, and pulled various weapons from under the tables—mostly machetes, along with a few tri-edged daggers and iron pipes.