Who would still be a social slave when they are so rich?

When Dong Shiying got out of the car, she was still in shock. After all, there were no other restaurants or hotels nearby besides Linjiang Banquet.

"Xiao Chen, are we really eating here?" Seeing Dong Shiying's outburst, Yang Lan realized that this private restaurant was not as simple as she thought.

"Yes, sister-in-law!" Su Chen nodded with a smile. He was quite satisfied with their reactions. He then gave Chen Fei a look, signaling him to go and knock on the door.

It's important to know that private restaurants like Linjiang Banquet, which require reservations and are considered top-tier, are generally closed. This is partly to maintain their mystique and partly to prevent unsuspecting customers from entering and disturbing other diners.

Although Su Chen confirmed it, Yang Lan and Dong Shiying still couldn't accept it for a while, especially Dong Shiying. Before, when she saw that the license plate of the Land Rover was from Qiqihar, she thought that Su Chen was just showing off in front of Yang Lan, pretending to be rich, and deliberately renting a nice car.

But now that they've come to Linjiang Banquet, if Su Chen is still concerned about saving face, then isn't this going a bit too far?

Even these face-conscious Northeasterners wouldn't do something like this, right?
Under the watchful eyes of the two men, Chen Fei slowly stepped forward and rhythmically knocked a few times on the seemingly simple but actually heavy wooden door that exuded the sense of time.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet environment.

The door was pulled open a crack almost immediately from the inside, and a middle-aged man wearing a well-tailored, exquisitely made Chinese uniform with his hair neatly combed leaned out. His sharp gaze swept over Su Chen and the others outside the door with impeccable manners, finally landing precisely on Su Chen.

"Mr. Su?!" The man bowed slightly and asked tentatively.

As the manager in charge of the reception, he naturally knew how much influence the person who could cut in line at the last minute and book their entire Linjiang Banquet room had, so he couldn't afford to take them lightly.

Su Chen was used to this, and nodded in response with a faint smile on his lips.

"Mr. Su, please come in! The 'Listening Wind Pavilion' has been prepared for you!" After receiving confirmation, the reception manager quickly opened the two heavy wooden doors completely, bowed, and gestured for him to enter. The eagerness on his face left Yang Lan and Dong Shiying speechless.

There was no way around it; the change from initial seriousness to later attentiveness was just too fast. Even for them, who had worked in the service industry for many years, they couldn't make such a smooth transition.

But soon, Yang Lan and Dong Shiying's attention was drawn to the scene inside the door.

It truly appears unassuming and secluded from the outside, but inside lies a hidden paradise.

Stepping through the gate, the first thing that catches the eye is a secluded corridor, with meticulously crafted miniature landscapes on both sides. The sound of flowing water is faint and almost imperceptible, and the air is filled with a subtle and refreshing blend of sandalwood and tea fragrance.

The soft lighting perfectly outlined the space, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere. Beautiful women in cheongsams greeted the passersby respectfully, making them feel as if they had stepped from the bustling city into a lavish banquet.

Dong Shiying instinctively gripped her bag strap, overwhelmed with shock.

This grandeur and poise are beyond what can be described as a "high-end restaurant." It truly deserves its reputation as one of the top private kitchens in Harbin.

Her previous speculation about "renting a car to save face" now seemed utterly ridiculous and narrow-minded. Would someone who could calmly face a place like this really need to rent a car to make an impression?
Thinking of this, Dong Shiying felt her face getting hot.

Yang Lan also held her breath and carefully followed Su Chen inside, making her footsteps very light, afraid that her footsteps would break the tranquility of the place.

She secretly tugged at Su Chen's sleeve, lowered her voice, and asked incredulously, "Xiao Chen, how much does a meal cost here?"

Su Chen slowed his pace slightly and replied with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about how much it costs. Just enjoy your meal. I've booked the whole place. Just tell me what you want to eat!"

"You...you've got the package?" Yang Lan's voice suddenly rose, but she immediately realized she had lost her composure, quickly covered her mouth, and stared wide-eyed as if she had heard something unbelievable.

She looked around the exquisite and spacious courtyard, which resembled an ancient royal palace, and couldn't even imagine the astonishing wealth and connections required to book this place.

All of this was refreshing her understanding, and it couldn't be connected with the Su family she remembered, who were struggling to make ends meet. Keep in mind that she had only been divorced for less than a year, and it felt like the Su family had undergone a complete upheaval.

Dong Shiying, standing beside him, was equally incredulous. When she heard Su Chen say that he had booked the entire place, she gasped in shock, her hand trembling so much that she almost dropped her bag.

A private banquet by the river?! Is this even human language? It's all Chinese characters, but why does it feel so unfamiliar when she puts them together?

She had thought that just being able to dine at Linjiang Banquet was already an incredible honor, but Su Chen had cleared the entire venue. Now, not only did her face flush, but her heart skipped a beat, and she stared at Su Chen's retreating figure with an incredulous curiosity.

Dong Shiying glanced at Yang Lan beside her, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Lanlan, what's the deal with your cousin? Didn't you say his family wasn't doing so well? He seems more like a rich kid now!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lan immediately gave Dong Shiying a look that said, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" If anyone was wondering what was going on, it should be Yang Lan herself. She even had the illusion that her memory was playing tricks on her.

Soon the group arrived at a waterside pavilion with the three powerful characters "Tingfeng Pavilion" on the plaque. Two beautiful women in cheongsams stood at the entrance, and each of them opened a door to the side when they saw Su Chen and his group arrive.

Stepping inside, one finds the space exceptionally spacious and decorated with exquisite elegance. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning view of the shimmering Songhua River, with the sunset painting the sky and water a vibrant orange-red, a breathtaking sight.

Even Su Chen, who had seen many beautiful sights, was slightly stunned by such a view, while Yang Lan and Dong Shiying were already completely captivated by the scenery.

"The view is quite nice, and it matches the room's decor perfectly, like a beautiful painting. It seems a lot of thought was put into it!" Su Chen said calmly.

"Mr. Su, you flatter me. These were all made by our boss himself!" the reception manager replied with a smile.

The conversation between the two brought Yang Lan and Dong Shiying, who were somewhat stunned, back to their senses. They both tried to appear natural, looking left and right to cover up their earlier lapse in composure.

After everyone was seated, the reception manager immediately handed the menu to Su Chen. Su Chen glanced at it and then passed it to Yang Lan, saying, "Sister-in-law, Miss Dong, take a look and see what you like to eat. Order whatever you like, don't worry about saving money for me!" "Ah~" Yang Lan didn't expect such a heavy responsibility to fall into her hands. However, when she saw that the prices on the menu were mostly in the four figures, she instantly felt that the menu in her hand was a hot potato. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

Dong Shiying assumed Yang Lan was embarrassed to order expensive food because she hadn't seen Su Chen in a long time, so she immediately reached for the menu, muttering, "What's there to be embarrassed about? Didn't your cousin tell you to order whatever you want, no need to worry..."

Before she could finish speaking, Dong Shiying's gaze fell on the menu. When she saw the prices, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence, unable to say anything more.

Many of the dishes had fancy names, and she wasn't sure which Sichuan dish they were adapted from, but there were some she recognized. When she saw the price tag of 3688 next to the twice-cooked pork on the menu, Dong Shiying looked at the reception manager next to her in a daze and asked, "Is all your pork air-freighted? A dish of twice-cooked pork costs more than three thousand?"

Upon hearing this, the reception manager did not show any unusual expression. On the contrary, he explained with a smile and a respectful attitude: "Madam, the pork used in this dish is the finest pork belly from free-range Chinese black pigs. Its price can even range from 1,600 to 3,000 yuan per 500 grams!"

The reception manager's meaning was quite clear: live pigs alone could sell for two or three thousand yuan, so their twice-cooked pork was already considered very cheap at three thousand six hundred and eighty-eight yuan.

Dong Shiying understood the meaning behind the reception manager's words. She opened her mouth but couldn't find any reason to refute it. However, when it came to ordering food, she didn't know how to start.

"You should order for yourself!" Dong Shiying handed the menu back to Yang Lan, then picked up her teacup and began to drink tea as if nothing had happened.

Yang Lan didn't expect this hot potato to be back in her hands. After hesitating for a moment, she handed the potato to Su Chen: "Xiao Chen, why don't you do some? Shi Ying and I don't have any dietary restrictions."

Su Chen took the menu without even glancing at it, then handed it to the reception manager and ordered, "Bring one of each of your signature dishes."

"Yes, Mr. Su!" the reception manager replied respectfully, slowly leaving the room and making sure to close the door behind him.

He didn't spoil the mood by mentioning that their restaurant had over a dozen signature dishes, because he knew Su Chen wasn't short of money; he was just enjoying the experience.

After the reception manager left, Su Chen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Yang Lan, saying earnestly, "Sister-in-law, what are your plans for the future? Are you planning to stay in Northeast China forever?"

Before Yang Lan could react, Dong Shiying, who was standing to the side, exploded, "What? Do you want Lanlan to go back to serving that gambling ex-husband? They say gambling addicts never have a good end. Do you think he can change his ways?"

"As Lanlan's cousin, you must know what their life was like before. Do you think they can go back to what they were like?"

"Just tell me... what exactly is your purpose today?"

Dong Shiying's words were direct and even a bit harsh, with the straightforwardness and protectiveness typical of Northeastern girls. She completely forgot the shock Su Chen had given her before, and now all she wanted to do was stand up for her best friend.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense because of Dong Shiying's words. Yang Lan quickly tugged at her best friend's sleeve, signaling her not to be so nervous.

"Shiying, don't be anxious. Listen to what my cousin has to say, okay?" Yang Lan looked at Dong Shiying with a pleading look in her eyes.

Seeing Yang Lan's expression, Dong Shiying's heart softened instantly. She mumbled something unintelligible and obediently shut her mouth, but her eyes remained fixed on Su Chen, as if waiting for him to say something next.

Su Chen was not angry at all when Dong Shiying questioned him so bluntly. On the contrary, he even felt a little gratified. After all, he was very lucky to have met such a good friend who dared to stand up for him.

But Su Chen also suppressed his smile, his expression becoming slightly serious. "Old habits die hard. In order to help my cousin get rid of his gambling addiction, I sent him to Africa for training!"

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, both Yang Lan and Dong Shiying stared at Su Chen in astonishment, wondering if they had misheard!
"Xiao Chen, you just said you sent Chen... Chen Fan to Africa?" Yang Lan's brows furrowed with a hint of nervousness. After all, it was impossible for them not to have feelings for each other after sharing a bed for so many years.

Su Chen naturally noticed Yang Lan's change in expression and couldn't help but feel a little regretful. Why didn't his damn cousin look like this when he talked about his cousin's wife?

“That’s right, I sent it to a plantation in Mozambique, Africa.” Su Chen slowly recounted the whole story, from his trip to Suzhou to see his third cousin, to learning that his eldest cousin had divorced due to gambling, and then dealing with the children. He explained everything in detail.

When Yang Lan heard that Chen Fan had abandoned his family and fled abroad to escape debt, she burst into tears, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry to my child."

Dong Shiying glared at Su Chen, then quickly tried to comfort Yang Lan. However, she knew this was a hurdle she would have to overcome sooner or later. As Yang Lan's good friend, she had often heard Yang Lan mention her child, but only because of Chen Fan…

With Dong Shiying's comforting words, Yang Lan's emotions gradually calmed down. Seeing this, Su Chen continued to speak, his voice steady and carrying a convincing power: "Sister-in-law, I've told you about the children before, so you don't need to worry. I've already brought them back to our hometown and arranged for them to go to school. My mother has also resolved the debt issue. The two children are very sensible in our hometown; they just miss you a lot."

Hearing this, Yang Lan's crying gradually stopped. She raised her head, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Su Chen, her eyes brimming with gratitude: "Thank you, Xiao Chen!"

"It's alright, sister-in-law!" Su Chen waved his hand calmly. "The most important thing right now is your future. You can't stay in Northeast China forever. You still have your children and relatives back home who care about you. As for your cousin, let him suffer in Africa and temper his character. Let's see what fate has in store for him."

After a pause, Su Chen's tone became more serious: "But your life cannot remain stagnant because of his past mistakes!"

Dong Shiying also fell silent at this moment, looking at Su Chen with a complicated expression.

She originally thought Su Chen had come to mediate or had other motives, but she didn't expect him to be so efficient and decisive. He not only resolved the debt and child issues, but also sent that scumbag to Africa.

This tactic... even made this self-proclaimed feisty Northeastern girl secretly marvel, but at the same time, she felt inexplicably... somewhat proud.

"I...I..." Yang Lan couldn't make a decision for a moment.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the reception manager walked in with several waiters. Upon seeing this, Su Chen said to Yang Lan, "Sister-in-law, let's eat first, and we'll talk after we finish eating!"

Su Chen was giving Yang Lan some time to think; sometimes, pushing too hard isn't a good thing. (End of Chapter)