Chapter 242: Is There Really No One Backing Her?

Boss Jin inwardly cursed, ’Useless trash.’ But his smile was warm and friendly. "I can’t agree with that. Everyone knows you two are some of the wealthiest members of our Lower City District Chamber of Commerce, aren’t you?"

Mr. Sun scoffed under his breath. He and General Manager Chen only ran a few restaurants and eateries, where the profit margin was 60% at best. How could they compare to Boss Jin, whose businesses were all clubs and flesh houses? His profit margins were a good 90%.

’Isn’t the only reason he’s the president of the Commerce Association because he’s loaded?’

’How dare he say *we’re* the ones with deep pockets.’

General Manager Chen sighed. "Even if we have money, we can’t just burn through it like this. The sandstorm season is about to start, and ingredient prices are rising. Mr. Jin, how about you help us out with some funds?"

General Manager Chen was very direct, asking for money right away.

Boss Jin chuckled dryly. "You’re joking, General Manager Chen. I’d love to help, but I have two clubs that need renovating right now. I really don’t have any spare cash."

It was true that his clubs were being renovated, but the part about having no spare cash was a lie.

’Old bastard!’

Mr. Sun gritted his teeth and cursed silently. By this point, if he still couldn’t see through Boss Jin’s petty scheme, he’d have lived all his years for nothing.

’Then again, I only have myself to blame. How did I let Boss Jin lead me by the nose like that?’

’It’s not like I didn’t know he was a piece of work.’

Mr. Sun sighed and rubbed his face. "Well, if that’s the case, Old Chen and I will just have to pull out."

Boss Jin was not happy. His expression darkened. "Whoever heard of a price war lasting less than a month? You’re retreating after just half a month. Are you trying to become a laughingstock?!"

’The mysterious ingredient supplier hasn’t been rooted out, and Shen Lu hasn’t been backed into a corner. My goal hasn’t been met, so how can they stop now?’

’I won’t allow it.’

General Manager Chen backed up Mr. Sun perfectly. "The timing is just awful. Mr. Jin, you’re not in the restaurant business, so you wouldn’t know that the sandstorm and winter seasons are our off-season. We’re lucky to break even. We only really make a profit in the spring and rainy seasons."

Once the sandstorm season begins, vegetable prices go up, and shortages become common. People don’t go out as much, delivery fees are high, and business becomes pretty bleak.

Boss Jin truly didn’t understand. The people who patronized his clubs made their money regardless of the weather. In fact, the worse the weather, the easier it was for them to earn.

And once they had money, they’d come to live a life of debauchery. For him, these two seasons were actually when he made a killing.

"No matter what, you will finish the month," Boss Jin said, looking at the two of them. "I can provide some financial support."

"We don’t need much. How about 500,000 Star Coins, Mr. Jin?" Mr. Sun interjected immediately, as if afraid Boss Jin would take back his offer.

Boss Jin nearly leaped up to slap him. ’He thinks he can get 500,000 Star Coins just by playing the victim with me?’

’Does he really think my money grows on trees?’

When General Manager Chen saw Boss Jin’s face darken, he discreetly kicked Mr. Sun and tried to smooth things over. "Old Sun, what are you doing? How can you joke at a time like this? We don’t need 500,000 Star Coins. 300,000 would be plenty."

But Mr. Sun seemed resolute. He pulled out a piece of paper that recorded the daily expenses for several of their restaurants. He read them out to Boss Jin item by item, calculating a daily loss of nearly 40,000 Star Coins.

Of course, some of the figures were inflated, but Mr. Sun wasn’t the least bit ashamed. ’In business, who doesn’t cook the books?’

The two sides haggled back and forth for a while, each playing the victim and crying poor. In the end, Boss Jin gave them 200,000 Star Coins.

"I hope you two don’t disappoint me, and don’t disappoint the Commerce Association," Boss Jin said with a sinister tone.

"We will certainly do our best," Mr. Sun and General Manager Chen promised readily. After leaving the villa, the two of them decided they would keep up the charade for two more days before raising their prices back to normal.

As for whether Boss Jin would be angry?

Mr. Sun and General Manager Chen no longer cared. He was the one who’d schemed against them first, after all.

Even with the 200,000 Star Coins from Boss Jin, it wasn’t nearly enough to cover their losses.

When Boss Jin was annoyed, he craved a cigarette—the cheapest, harshest, lowest-quality kind. The cigars he usually smoked were just for show, to make him look more sophisticated.

Shen Lu’s resilience surprised him. ’She’s just a girl, not even eighteen,’ he thought. ’A pampered little miss who fell from grace. If not for a bit of luck, she would’ve been devoured, with not even bones left to show for it.’

’Is there really no one backing her?’

Boss Jin fell into thought. Based on what he knew, either the person backing Shen Lu was extremely well-hidden, or they didn’t exist at all.

’Do I really have to handle this myself?’

Boss Jin steeled his resolve. He decided that if Mr. Sun and General Manager Chen’s tactics failed, he would have Shen Lu kidnapped and use more forceful, bloody methods.

The only thing was, doing so might offend certain people.

But it couldn’t be helped. As long as he got the contact information for the mysterious ingredient supplier, he would become an honored guest of the elite. Forget the likes of Xue Can and Bai Wanwan; even the major families would have to treat him with respect.

"Where’s Jin San?" Boss Jin asked suddenly.

His assistant replied, "Third Brother went out. It seems he’s meeting a friend."

"Meeting a friend again?" Boss Jin frowned, displeased. Jin San had been spending very little time training recently, just slacking off and loafing about all day.

Boss Jin took a harsh drag from his cigarette. "When he gets back, tell him to come see me."

"Understood," the assistant said.

...

"Here are 50 Star Coins, and here are three steamed buns. Take them."

Shen Lu handed the Star Coins and steamed buns to the Wang sisters and Fang Ming. The three children’s eyes sparkled as they took the items with both hands, thanking her sweetly.

"Thank you, Miss Boss Shen."

"Thank you, Boss Shen."

The Wang sisters had wanted the steamed buns, while Fang Ming took the Star Coins. The three children carefully put away their rewards and waited for Wang Daguo to arrive so they could all head home together.

Shen Lu was about to turn and go back inside when Yang Jing and Liu Qiang frantically called out to her.

"Little Deer, wait!"

Shen Lu froze at the sound of the voice.

She hadn’t seen them for several days. It seemed that after renting a room from Granny Jin, the Liu Family had finally decided to behave.

Just when Shen Lu had nearly forgotten about them, Yang Jing and Liu Qiang had popped up again.

Shen Lu turned to see the pair approaching, each carrying a large bag.

The bags appeared to be heavy. The two of them were panting as they hurried over to Shen Lu.

"Little Deer, take a look." Liu Qiang held open one of the bags for her. "Is this what you wanted?"

Shen Lu glanced down. The bag was filled with scrap metal. She looked back up. "What is this?"

"Those three kids." Liu Qiang pointed at the distant figures of the Wang siblings and Fang Ming. "They come here every day to sell what they’ve scavenged, right? How much can a few children really gather? Your mom and I collected way more than they did."

"How did you know about this?"

"We just saw them," Liu Qiang said plainly. "I’ve seen them several times. I ran into them at the dump today, so I asked them about it."