The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

When we arrived at the state-run restaurant, it was already 4:30 p.m., an hour and a half before our agreed lunch time.

Li Kaixin was carrying two rabbits and five large crucian carp in his left hand, and a wild goat weighing about 40 to 50 pounds on his right shoulder.

As soon as Li Kaixin stepped into the restaurant, a waiter wiping tables in the lobby recognized her immediately, put down his rag, and ran to Manager Wu's office in the backyard.

When Xu Dabao, the chef at the kitchen entrance, saw that it was Li Kaixin, he smiled and went to greet her.

"Happy Brother, it's been so long since I've seen you!"

As he spoke, Xu Dabao stepped forward to help Li Kaixin remove the things he was wearing.

The relationship between the two was established when Li Kaixin came to the state-run restaurant for the second time to sell wild boar meat. At that time, they both introduced themselves.

Li Kaixin put everything down and replied with a smile, "Brother Xu, how have you been?"

Xu Dabao looked at the goods on the ground, his eyes lighting up: "Brother, are you selling these? There's quite a lot!"

"Brother Xu, you've misunderstood. These are for tonight's dinner party. I've already spoken to Manager Wu about it," Li Kaixin explained.

Xu Dabao suddenly realized, and slapped his forehead:

"No wonder! Manager Wu specifically asked me to stay for dinner tonight; so it was for you!"

Then, he affectionately punched Li Kaixin on the shoulder, "Wow, you've got quite the entourage!"

Li Kaixin smiled sheepishly: "Then I'll trouble Brother Xu to take care of it."

As they were talking, Manager Wu walked in from the backyard with a smile, his voice preceding his arrival:

"I'm so happy! You've finally arrived! I was worried you wouldn't be able to make it today!"

Li Kaixin turned around upon hearing the voice, a smile on his face: "Uncle Wu, how could I not come today?" He addressed him as Uncle Wu naturally.

During the second transaction, Manager Wu saw that Li Kaixin was able to get wild boars again, so he took the initiative to get closer to him and made Li Kaixin call him "Uncle".

Li Kaixin readily agreed, and the uncle-nephew relationship was thus established.

Manager Wu glanced at the things on the ground, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

He turned to Xu Dabao and instructed, "Dabao, quickly move all these to the back and clean them up. Tonight, you'll have to show off your skills for this banquet!"

"Don't worry, Manager!"

Xu Dabao responded loudly and deftly picked up the mountain produce and headed to the kitchen.

After Xu Dabao entered the kitchen, Manager Wu warmly put his arm around Li Kaixin's shoulder:

"Come on, Kaixin, it's still early before lunchtime. Come with Uncle to his office for a cup of tea."

Li Kaixin nodded in agreement and then followed Manager Wu to the office.

The two entered the office, and Manager Wu first gestured for Li Kaixin to sit down in a chair.

Then he went behind his desk, made tea, and sighed.

"I'm so happy! My eyes lit up when I saw the meat you brought!"

"To be honest, state-run restaurants are short of meat again!"

Then, he pushed a cup of hot tea in front of Li Kaixin and said in a low voice, "Kaixin, do you have any stock on hand lately? Could you help your uncle out?"

Li Kaixin picked up her teacup, blew on it, and quickly made a mental calculation.

There is indeed still the wild boar we killed today in the secret realm, but the meat doesn't taste good, so keeping it for myself wouldn't be of much use.

So he put down his teacup, paused for a moment, and said:

"Uncle Wu, the goods are available."

"There's a big wild boar, but the meat is coarse and has a strong gamey smell; I'm afraid it won't suit your taste."

Upon hearing this, Manager Wu's eyes lit up, and he unconsciously leaned forward:

"Yes! Definitely!"

"You wouldn't believe it, these days we're just grateful to have any meat at all! The price will be the same as before for wild boar."

Seeing Manager Wu's urgency, Li Kaixin stood up:

"Alright, Uncle Wu, please have a seat. I'll go and bring the pig over right away."

"Okay, okay! Go and come back quickly!"

Manager Wu quickly agreed and stood up as well.

In no time, Li Kaixin returned carrying a large wild boar on his back, and in his other hand he was carrying a net bag containing three bottles of Fenjiu liquor.

Manager Wu, who had been waiting, hurriedly went forward to check on the wild boar, and then quickly called over two employees to help weigh it.

Weighing and calculating were all done efficiently.

Manager Wu paid the agreed price, and then added some extra money as a service fee.

Li Kaixin couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to accept it.

After the transaction was completed, Li Kaixin did not return to his office. He only told Manager Wu that his elders should be arriving soon and he wanted to greet them.

Seeing this, Manager Wu did not insist.

As time passed, the private room in the state-run restaurant gradually became lively.

The first to arrive was Master Chen, who greeted Li Kaixin with a relieved smile.

"I'm a little early, I hope I didn't keep you from getting ready?"

"Master, what are you saying? Please have a seat."

Li Kaixin quickly stepped forward to take the cloth bag from Master Chen's hand and invited Master Chen to sit down.

A little while later, Director Wang from the neighborhood office arrived. As soon as he entered, he smiled and said, "I'm so happy! I'm not late, am I?"

Upon seeing that it was Director Wang, Li Kaixin quickly stepped forward and said, "Aunt Wang, you're being too polite."

Just as they were exchanging pleasantries, a hearty laugh came from outside the door.

Station Chief Zhao and Director Xie walked in side by side, followed by two cadres.

Li Kaixin immediately recognized Section Chief Zhang from the Housing Management Department. The two smiled at each other and nodded to one another.

Another person, Li Kaixin, felt that the face looked familiar, but couldn't remember where she had seen it before.

Director Xie patted Li Kaixin on the shoulder enthusiastically, his voice booming, "Kaixin, I've even invited Station Chief Zhao here!"

Li Kaixin first thanked Director Xie: "Uncle Xie, thank you for your hard work."

He then respectfully greeted Station Master Zhao: "Hello, Station Master, thank you for coming."

Station Master Zhao smiled amicably: "No need to be so polite, I'm just here to freeload a meal."

At this moment, Director Xie turned to the unfamiliar cadre and solemnly introduced him: "Kaixin, this is Director Li Huaide from the steel rolling mill. He is a very capable person and will soon be promoted to deputy director."

Li Kaixin's eyes lit up; she finally remembered who this person was.

It was the shrewd logistics director from the "Love Fills the Courtyard" community.

Li Kaixin quickly stepped forward and respectfully extended his hand:

"Hello, Director Li! I am Li Mingde's son, Li Kaixin. My mother's job was arranged thanks to your help back then, and our family has always remembered this kindness."

Li Huaide was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what was happening and squeezed Li Kaixin's hand back tightly:

"Oh my! It's Mingde's eldest son! He's grown so much!"

Then he turned to Director Xie and smiled:

"Old Xie, what a coincidence!"

"His father is a veteran fitter in our factory; his skills are unparalleled. I never imagined his son would be so successful!"

Director Xie smiled and said, "That's great, we're all on the same side!"

Li Huaide looked Li Kaixin up and down with a friendly expression: "I heard from Lao Xie that you got your driver's license and became a full-fledged employee in just one month? That's the first time that's happened at your transportation station!"

"It's all thanks to my mentor's excellent teaching and the station leaders' care. I still have a lot to learn!" Li Kaixin replied modestly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the restaurant started serving the dishes.