Hua Qingqing noticed that the state - owned restaurant was unusually quiet today.
There were a dozen or so tables inside, but only four or five were occupied by customers. The usual hustle and bustle was nowhere to be seen, only the enticing aroma of dishes filled the air.
Looking up at the blackboard, there were braised beef, shredded pork with green peppers, braised pork, and three - fresh soup... It was already this late, and these dishes still hadn't sold out.
When the lanky male waiter came over with the plain noodles and braised pork, Hua Qingqing couldn't help but ask,
"Why are there so few people in the restaurant today?"
The waiter immediately turned his head and glared at her.
Hua Qingqing: "..."
Seeing that she was just genuinely curious and not being sarcastic, Yang Wang slung the towel over his shoulder, pulled over the long bench from an empty table nearby, sat down, and pointed outside.
"On the street outside, there's a new state - owned restaurant called the Peace Restaurant. People have been flocking there these days. That's why it's so empty here."
Hua Qingqing saw the annoyed look on his face, as if he was bothered by the loss of customers. She said in a tone of someone with experience, "Don't worry. People love new things. Your restaurant has been open for so long. You must have loyal fans. Once the excitement about the Peace Restaurant dies down in a few days, more people will come back here."
As she said this, Hua Qingqing was secretly thinking that she must go and check out the Peace Restaurant later and find a chance to have a meal there. Hehe.
"What do you mean by 'loyal fans'?"
"It means people who support your restaurant and only love the food here."
Yang Wang found her words quite pleasant to hear. Since business was slow at the moment, he got in the mood to chat.
"Are you a loyal fan of our restaurant?"
Hua Qingqing nodded without a hint of guilt.
"Of course I am. Look how many times I've been here! I just love the food in your restaurant. I heard that your chef is really good at making roast duck. He even went to the capital to learn the skill. But your restaurant only makes it once a month. Alas, every time I come here, it's just to eat this. I've never managed to get it."
As Hua Qingqing was talking, she even smacked her lips, looking extremely hungry.
Then Yang Wang believed her.
Yang Wang whispered, "Come next Saturday. You'll definitely be able to eat it!"
Hua Qingqing was skeptical. "Really?"
Yang Wang glared at her, looking a bit unhappy. "Why wouldn't it be true? Chef Yang is my dad. Can't I just ask him to make roast duck next Saturday?"
Hua Qingqing was greatly shocked and then showed a genuine smile.
"I'll definitely come next Saturday. You have to save some for me. Hey, Brother Yang, my name is Hua Qingqing. I'm from the Five - Star Production Brigade."
"My name is Yang Wang. You're from the Five - Star Production Brigade? That's quite far. Now I believe you're a loyal fan of our restaurant. You come all the way here to eat, rain or shine. Wait a minute. I'll get you a steamed bun."
Hua Qingqing quickly stopped him.
"No, no, no. I don't need it. If I want to eat steamed buns, I can buy them myself. I have plenty of food stamps! Actually, coming to the county to eat at your restaurant is just one of the reasons I'm here."
Yang Wang sat back down and asked curiously, "What's the other reason?"
Hua Qingqing sighed.
"I have a cousin who has repeated his senior high school for two years. This is his third time taking the college entrance examination. The whole family has high hopes for him. But some people said that my cousin didn't study hard at school. He took his living expenses and went to play in a place with small balls..."
Hua Qingqing looked a bit confused, as if she didn't know what that place was.
Yang Wang's eyes widened in surprise and he blurted out,
"Pool?!"
Hua Qingqing suddenly realized. "Yes, yes, yes. That's it. Hey, you know about it?"
Yang Wang looked like he had something to say but hesitated.
"I'd better tell you. Ask your cousin not to go there. It's not a good place. It's not the balls that are bad there, but the people. You know what I mean. They don't just play pool there. They do other things too."
Hua Qingqing pressed further. "What things?" What could make Yang Wang look so scared?
Yang Wang shook his head.
"I only know a little. I'm not sure about the rest. But that pool hall has someone backing it up. Ordinary people can't fight against them."
Hua Qingqing smiled and stopped asking about this. Instead, she asked about something else.
"I have another question. Brother Yang, do you know a person named Xu Guangzong?"
She saw that Yang Wang worked in a state - owned restaurant but even knew about such a hidden place as the pool hall. So she thought he must be an extraordinary person. Maybe working in the restaurant, taking orders and serving dishes, had made him good at picking up all kinds of information. Well, just kidding.
When Yang Wang heard this name, he immediately frowned.
Hua Qingqing squinted her eyes. It seemed that he knew this person and didn't have a good impression of him.
Yang Wang didn't answer her right away. Instead, he asked why she was asking about this.
Hua Qingqing said that a relative's daughter was going to have a blind date with Xu Guangzong.
From what had happened just now, it could be seen that Yang Wang was a kind - hearted person. If Xu Guangzong really had some problems, Yang Wang definitely wouldn't stand by and watch an innocent girl fall into this trap.
Yang Wang: "..." Your relatives always seem to run into such bad luck."
Hua Qingqing shook her head and spread her hands.
How would she know?
It must be Yu Jianshan, Feng Xiang, Old Lady Fang, and Old Man Yu who had done something bad!
Yang Wang: "If the Xu Guangzong you're talking about is the one I know, he's not a good person. Tell your relative to give up. There's no saving this guy."
Hua Qingqing was a bit speechless. This was like saying nothing. She needed to know what terrible things Xu Guangzong had done. Otherwise, how could she tell Yu Linxiu?
Just as she was about to ask further, some customers came into the restaurant, and Yang Wang went to attend to them.
After Hua Qingqing finished her meal, before leaving, she asked Yang Wang where the place to buy second - hand books was. Yang Wang asked her to wait a while. When someone came to relieve him, he would take her there.
The two of them turned several alleys and came to a very hidden place. There were many people standing or squatting inside. Some people were holding things in their hands, and some were walking around looking. Although it was a bustling place, it was a bit quiet.
Hua Qingqing realized that she had come to the legendary black market.
Actually, after the reform and opening - up, small businesses were already allowed. But most people were afraid of policy changes and didn't dare to take that step.
Hua Qingqing guessed that some people in the south had already taken that step.
Once the policy was further determined, this area in Nan County would probably really start to develop.
Yang Wang took her to a small stall. The stall owner had laid a board on the ground, and there were many books on it, such as *A History of Soviet Literature* and *On *Dream of the Red Chamber*.*
The boss asked them what they wanted.
Hua Qingqing: "I want books for senior one and senior two."
She thought she could master the knowledge of these two stages. As for the rest, she would buy them after she finished reading these.
The boss didn't say much. He took out a few books and put them in front of her.
"Two yuan."
Yang Wang started to bargain, and finally got the books for one yuan and fifty cents.
After buying the books, Yang Wang left.
Hua Qingqing watched his back and sighed. How could Yu Jianshan and Feng Xiang have such bad judgment? Nan County was so big. There were young men like Yang Wang who were willing to help others, but they had to choose Xu Guangzong.