Chapter 79: Harvest Arrives Again

The two of them took the subway back to the hotel’s wedding banquet, and somehow, neither of them mentioned what they had seen today.

But it seemed no one else at the banquet was curious either. Everyone was completely absorbed in the wedding decorations and the romantic atmosphere surrounding them.

At the banquet hall, the hosts had arranged sixty tables, each paired with Moutai wedding wine and Bordeaux red wine, and every guest received an exquisitely crafted gift.

The wedding was organized by a well-known team in Shanghai, and each table was reportedly configured at several thousand per table.

Not exactly lavish by elite standards, but to this group of ordinary people, such an expense was well beyond what a typical family could afford.

At the entrance, the newlyweds looked perfectly matched, welcoming guests from all directions.

“They’re so perfectly matched, they really look like a couple!”

“Truly a perfect pair, made for each other.”

“Congratulations, wishing you a lifetime of happiness!”

The guests at the wedding showered them with sincere blessings and hefty red envelopes.

In the hall, Meng Baihan sat with her high school classmates, laughing with a few girls from her class while listening to other classmates talk about their current lives and progress. At a nearby table sat the groom’s and bride’s university friends.

The guys at that table chatted while occasionally sneaking glances at her.

Meng Baihan had long grown used to such attention and paid it no mind. Oddly, though, her thoughts kept drifting to the quietest classmate in high school and the store he had opened.

In the vast city of Shanghai, could that small shop survive? Could he and his girlfriend continue smoothly together?

She silently hoped life would treat him well.

“Chen Zhuo, I almost forgot to ask. You went over there today, right? Did you see Zhang Yang?” The class monitor, Zou Jun, suddenly remembered and asked.

“Ah? Yes, we went. I saw him too,” Chen Zhuo replied, a bit absent-mindedly, not entirely sure what he was thinking about.

“What is Zhang Yang doing now?” Zou Jun asked, chatting casually with other classmates but clearly curious.

Chen Zhuo had a ton to share about what he’d seen today, but looking around at the table, everyone was busy talking, seemingly uninterested in what he had to say.

“Same as before. His store is about to open,” he said, inexplicably keeping it brief.

“Oh, opening a store in Shanghai. Brave, and quite resourceful, but the risk is huge,” Zou Jun commented with a shake of his head and stopped asking further.

Meng Baihan glanced at Chen Zhuo and quietly said, “Chen Zhuo, send me Zhang Yang’s WeChat. I want to visit when he opens.”

“Sure,” Chen Zhuo replied, sending Zhang Yang’s WeChat over.

A moment later, Meng Baihan looked at the contact card and sent a friend request.

Late at night, in the eyes of a few classmates, Zhang Yang, who seemed to struggle under pressure in Shanghai, had just pulled down the store’s shutter, holding his Bentley keys as he approached the massive Bentley parked outside.

At that moment, he looked utterly relaxed.

That evening, Gu Jiani invited Bei Wei for a shopping trip, and Bei Jiajia, with nothing else to do, went along.

So Zhang Yang stayed in the store until now.

“Huh, someone wants to add me,” Zhang Yang muttered, looking at his phone. “M? Who is this? Using their own photo as an avatar.”

Anyone using their own photo either had confidence or was a little narcissistic.

He tapped the avatar. Though it was a semi-artistic photo, the long black hair and the innocent, first-love look could only belong to Meng Baihan.

He accepted the WeChat request and got into the Bentley.

While driving, he received a message from Meng Baihan. Stopping at a traffic light, he glanced at his phone.

“Old classmate, remember to tell me when you open. I’ll come support you,” she wrote.

She also sent a short video from the wedding, showing their table of classmates.

Driving, Zhang Yang had no time to watch carefully. Honestly, he wasn’t very interested in his high school classmates’ lives-after college and a few years out, they barely kept in touch. Any lingering classmate bond? Not really. At most, they were familiar strangers.

But since Meng Baihan had reached out, he couldn’t just ignore her.

Still driving, he set the phone down and continued toward his apartment.

Late at night, Zhang Yang finally returned to his apartment.

After washing up and taking a bath, he turned on the sound system and lay comfortably in bed, remembering a message he hadn’t replied to. He politely sent a short response.

In late May, on the eve of the soft opening, Shudu Spicy Roast Duck had its first tasting.

In the roasting oven, the duck sizzled and released a fragrant aroma. In the kitchen, the spicy, numbing scent of the chili oil spread throughout.

“Here it comes! Our store’s first bowl of spicy roast duck. Who wants to try it first?” Bei Jiajia excitedly brought out the first bowl of their signature dish and placed it on the table.

Zhang Yang and Bei Wei sat across from each other, taking in the visually appealing, aromatic bowl of roast duck, and each picked up chopsticks to taste it.

The flavor was a perfect balance of numbing, spicy, and savory, extremely appetizing.

A traditional taste from Rongcheng, it stimulated the taste buds without being greasy-truly a dish that went perfectly with rice.

“Hmm, tastes just like back in Rongcheng,” Zhang Yang said, nodding in approval. He looked to Bei Wei for her judgment.

Being a native of Rongcheng, her opinion carried weight.

“Not bad, perfect,” Bei Wei nodded, wiping her mouth with a napkin, giving a sincere evaluation.

“See!” Bei Jiajia beamed. Finally receiving a satisfactory response, she felt overjoyed.

She had handled everything for this store-from planning to training-and now the result was recognized. She was happier than anyone.

“Glad you’re satisfied. All my hard work…,” she paused mid-sentence, staring at the shopping card Zhang Yang handed her.

“A mall gift card, not a huge amount-100,000. Go spend it,” Zhang Yang said, passing it while enjoying the roast duck.

As a wealthy person, he didn’t dwell on money.

Some small amounts were meant to be spent and appreciated; they weren’t lost forever.

“Whoa! 100,000?!” Bei Jiajia’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Zhang Yang, thank you, handsome Zhang, thank you, brother-in-law.”

She kissed the card several times.

“Here, one for you too,” Zhang Yang said, handing Bei Wei another card. He didn’t specify the amount, not wanting to make Bei Jiajia competitive.

Bei Wei accepted it with a smile.

“How much is on it, sis? Let’s go shopping this afternoon, you show me,” Bei Jiajia peeked curiously.

“What’s there to be curious about?” Bei Wei held the card protectively, dodging her sister’s fingers.

Sitting in the store, Zhang Yang watched the two of them happily, taking in the fully prepared shop, a deep sense of accomplishment filling him.

From nothing to this, a small store was finally about to open.

For operations, the store had accounts and short videos ready, laying the groundwork for a sales boom.

He had considered inviting online influencers, but realized they would just drain money, and major influencers didn’t do paid visits.

Decidedly, he gave up.

He would appear in the store’s promotional videos himself.

Though hands-on, it was necessary to create a highlight, and his looks would attract unsuspecting viewers to stop and comment.

Will the boss be in the store? I want to try it.

Try what? The spicy duck or the boss?

How old is the boss? I mean… his age…

When’s the opening? Let me get the boss’s WeChat first so I can contact him ahead.

Comments like these kept coming.

Zhang Yang thought silently… he never expected a viral opening. He just focused on doing what needed to be done and let time take care of the rest.

The outcome wasn’t important. Really, it wasn’t.

“At least when it opens, I’ll start earning points. Making a hundred thousand a day is already within reach,” he thought.

This was the real purpose of opening the store.

As the end of the month approached, Shudu Spicy Roast Duck finally reached its official opening day.

Zhang Yang had imagined countless times what the opening might look like: flower baskets lining the entrance, every seat filled, guests pouring in.

But he knew clearly that such a spectacle wouldn’t happen at Shudu Spicy Roast Duck.

The Shanghai flagship opening was intentionally low-key. Even the flower baskets were just a few from friends and companies involved: neighbors, the renovation company, and a few from Beitianfu Catering Co., plus some from former colleagues. Nothing more.

This was obvious.

After all, Zhang Yang hadn’t yet entered any social circles in Shanghai. Busy with the store, he had no time to join a Porsche or Bentley car club to make friends.

“Zhang Yang, I’m a little nervous,” Bei Wei said, wearing the Shudu apron, holding his hand tightly.

“Don’t worry, sis. We’ve already sold plenty of online vouchers,” Bei Jiajia reassured her.

“Yeah, the business outcome isn’t important; we’ve already enjoyed the process,” Zhang Yang said, gently stroking Bei Wei’s hair.

Outside, a taxi hurriedly stopped.

“Zhang Yang, Bei Wei, congratulations on your new store! Wishing you prosperity,” Gu Jiani said, stepping out with a flower basket, smiling.

“Thanks, Jiani, come in,” Bei Wei greeted her warmly.

For the store opening, every visitor was treated as a guest, and she welcomed each one wholeheartedly.

“I have a few things to do, so I won’t sit, but don’t worry-I’ll bring a bunch of classmates to support you and promote the store later. Everyone knows I’m loyal,” Gu Jiani said, patting her chest.

Zhang Yang glanced briefly at the scene and then looked away.

This Gu Jiani really had a striking figure.

Just as Bei Wei had escorted Gu Jiani out, a delivery guy from the florist arrived outside with another flower basket.

“Who is Mr. Zhang Yang?” the florist asked, holding the basket.

“That’s me,” Zhang Yang stepped forward.

“This is a flower basket from Mr. Chen Zhuo for you. Please sign for it,” the florist said, handing it over.

Zhang Yang placed the basket sent by his high school classmate Chen Zhuo at the entrance and quickly sent him a message to thank him.

“No need to thank me. I just hope your store thrives and prospers,” Chen Zhuo replied with his blessing.

Bei Wei happily adjusted the ribbon on the basket, stepped back a few paces, and took a photo.

“What are you taking a photo for?” Zhang Yang leaned over. “Do we need to share a small flower basket?”

“Of course we do,” Bei Wei said, linking her arm with his. “This is a moment worth remembering. Come, Zhang Yang… look here.”

Zhang Yang, slightly confused, looked over.

Bei Wei captured the moment perfectly and happily shared it online.

A moment later, Zhang Yang’s slightly puzzled but handsome face appeared in Bei Wei’s new social media post. Beside her, wearing the Shudu Spicy Roast Duck apron, Bei Wei smiled mischievously. The photo radiated a cozy, lived-in feeling.

Just as Zhang Yang was about to enter the store, he turned and saw a tall figure smiling from a short distance away, seemingly having watched for a while.

“Meng Baihan? What a rare guest,” Zhang Yang said with a smile as he approached her.

Her visit genuinely surprised him. A few days ago, he thought Meng Baihan had just been polite, and he hadn’t expected her to actually come.

“Congratulations on your new store. Wishing you great success,” she said, handing over a flower basket and nodding at Bei Wei with a smile.

“Zhang Yang, why don’t you come in for a seat?” Bei Wei warmly invited.

“I’ll pass. My brother is waiting for me to return to Yinghai together,” Meng Baihan smiled politely.

Zhang Yang glanced nearby; beside a Range Rover, a tall figure leaned against the car, smoking, occasionally observing.

That must be her brother.

After a brief greeting, Meng Baihan left. Zhang Yang watched her get into the Range Rover as it disappeared down the road.

“Who was that? The class beauty from your high school?” Bei Wei asked, tilting her head and smiling. “Her aura feels like first love. Even if she wasn’t the class beauty, she must have been someone’s crush.”

“Class beauty? That concept didn’t exist back then,” Zhang Yang chuckled.

“Then… Zhang Yang, did you have a crush in high school? Or was she your crush?” Bei Wei asked with a playful sparkle in her eyes.

“Crush? Not really. At most, it was just appreciation for something beautiful… like a flower, a cloud, a mountain…” Zhang Yang started, then realized he sounded a bit poetic.

“Looks like the appraisal is high. Can I interpret it that way-a flower in your heart, a cloud above your head, a mountain you want to climb?” Bei Wei lightly tapped her chin, her eyes playful.

“Zhang Yang, honestly… do you want to… climb that mountain?”

“Ha! Are you teasing me?” Zhang Yang immediately played along.

Bei Wei laughed and lightly dodged him, moving away.

By noon, the store gradually started receiving customers.

All the staff, including Zhang Yang himself, were busy. On opening day, even the boss couldn’t stay idle, even if he was the one paying the salaries.

Wearing an apron, his short sleeves revealing strong, boyfriend-like arms, the female staff couldn’t help glancing and whispering among themselves.

Outside, nearby office workers finishing lunch slowly drifted in, curious to see.

“It’s spicy roast duck. I had it while traveling in Rongcheng. Wonder if it’s authentic,” a few female employees whispered.

Bei Wei smiled and greeted them in Rongcheng dialect. “Please come in! Our Shudu Spicy Roast Duck is authentic Rongcheng flavor, absolutely genuine.”

After all, it wasn’t a high-priced meal-two people could eat well and be full for a few dozen yuan.

The female employees, seeing the fair-skinned, slender girl welcoming them, instantly liked her and sat down in the store.

The first order was placed.

Soon, the second, third, and by noon, the store gradually filled with customers-it was packed to capacity.

Everyone in the store, including Zhang Yang, was fully engaged.

On opening day, Zhang Yang, the boss, became a general helper, moving wherever needed, busy both inside and out.

Ding!

Amidst the hustle, a pleasant system notification sounded in Zhang Yang’s mind, and a bright excitement lit his eyes.

The third-stage task was finally complete!

After all this effort, Zhang Yang had devoted so much energy to this store. Earning money was secondary; the main goal was to complete the task and gain points.

Including these ten points, he was now just five experience points away from leveling up.

These five points were easy to acquire.

Since it was the end of the month, after midnight, the monthly body fat long-term goal would grant another five experience points.

That meant he could level up tomorrow!

Hundred thousand a day!

The leap from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand daily income doubled his earnings, from under twenty million annually to thirty-six and a half million.

Time to celebrate!

In just half a month’s cashback, his cash had already exceeded seven million.

After earning hundred thousand a day from returns, breaking ten million in total savings was just around the corner.