Chapter 51

There are indeed too many women! This is probably a bad habit I've had since I wrote "Sea of Emotions" over ten years ago! I really want to write them well, to capture their essence, but I always fall short, so it's inevitable that I end up making a fool of myself! I'll try to focus more on the plot from now on! This is the third update! There will be another one at midnight for tomorrow! Please give me a thumbs up!

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Seeing her mother's unusual expression, Ye Lin gave an awkward smile and asked in a low voice, "Mom, aren't you going out to help?"

Ding Hui also replied in a low voice, "I have something to ask your friend!" Ye Lin's expression became even more awkward, but he didn't want to say anything in front of his friend. Ding Hui, who sensed her concern for Song Chen, also found it inappropriate to show it.

After Zhao Lin and Zhang Ruoxi indulged in the food, exclaiming how delicious it was, Ding Hui asked kindly, "Xiao Chen, this is your first time here, how do you find the taste?"

Although he didn't particularly like fish ball noodles, he still thought the taste of this place was quite good, much better than the noodles that cost over ten to twenty yuan a bowl in the future! So he nodded and smiled, "It's great! Very delicious! I didn't use to like fish ball noodles much, but I really enjoy the ones Auntie makes!"

"Xiao Chen, you're so sweet!" Ding Hui beamed, and then, with Ye Lin's bitter smile, she got to the point, "It's like this, this house belongs to Alin's grandparents. Later, they opened this fish ball shop downstairs. Once the business improved, our family moved out! Two years ago, Alin's grandfather passed away. His uncles, who were in the real estate business with my husband, looked down on this small shop that only made a few ten thousand yuan a year! Alin's uncle only thought about renting out the shop and selling the house when its value increased! I couldn't bear to see my father's hard work shut down, so I had to take over the management myself!"

That's a typical Dongou person!

Even though he had a sense of it, Song Chen still felt more and more awkward as he listened, and even Zhang Ruoxi's face gradually showed a hint of dissatisfaction. In her view, no matter how talented Song Chen was, he shouldn't be so presumptuous. If everyone came to him for advice, what kind of situation would that be? Of course, at that moment, Zhang Ruoxi had forgotten that her father had also received help from Song Chen. Perhaps in her heart, Song Chen was her man and also a son-in-law to the Zhang family, so it was only natural for a son-in-law to help his father-in-law, especially since Song Chen had offered to help.

Ding Hui, who had lived for over forty years and had more life experience than Zhang Ruoxi, naturally saw the stiff smile on Zhang Ruoxi's face. A cunning look flashed in her gentle eyes, "My son mentioned you to my husband, saying you are a rare genius! Since we met you today, I thought I'd ask you for some advice! To help guide us, of course, if you don't want to..."

"Mom!" Ye Lin interrupted Ding Hui's retreat strategy with a bitter smile. In the bar, Yang De and others had privately evaluated Song Chen, saying he was not only talented and broad-minded but also a man with deep thoughts. So even Liu Jun, who didn't know Song Chen well, had said that Song Chen was hard to deceive. Now, with his mother saying such things in front of him, he had to step in.

Song Chen didn't mind the seemingly kind but actually smooth Ding Hui asking for advice. After all, many of the ideas in his head couldn't bring him any benefits, and he was well aware of the lesson that greed leads to failure. So even if he couldn't get any tangible benefits, it would be nice to do a favor. So he said with a smile, "Auntie, don't say that. Although I've only known Ye Lin for a short time, we are good friends! Since you are Ye Lin's mother and my elder, I can share some small tricks for you to consider! But before that, I want to ask Aunt Ding, are you taking over this shop just to keep the 'Old Ding Fish Ball Noodles' brand alive... or do you hope to have a business of your own?"

Ding Hui was taken aback, Ye Lin was speechless, Zhao Lin was confused, Zhang Ruoxi was curious, and Song Chen was calm.

Ding Hui looked around, puzzled, "What's the difference? If 'Old Ding Fish Ball Noodles' does well, won't I have my own business?"

"It seems I didn't explain it clearly!" Song Chen smiled apologetically and said, "To put it simply, the former is about maintaining the business, while the latter is about advancing it! The two have a significant impact on the fate of a brand!"

Everyone except Song Chen looked thoughtful.

"If you're just maintaining the business you inherited from your elders, it's simple! If you have the capital, you can lease a larger space nearby, with appropriate interior design and reasonable soft advertising, along with your skills and the brand's appeal! Soon, 'Old Ding Fish Ball Noodles' will stand out in the Dongou food scene!" Song Chen took a spoonful of fish ball soup and smiled, "Even if it's not the most profitable, it will definitely be a restaurant with unique cultural characteristics in Dongou!"

Ding Hui's eyes lit up, but she soon hesitated. After all, she wasn't alone; she had a son, a daughter, and a loving husband! She couldn't balance both public and private interests, and this position determined that she couldn't go too far in her business, or there would eventually be a big problem on one side.

Ye Lin also understood his mother's dilemma. Although he was very interested in Song Chen's ambitious plan, he didn't want his mother to neglect her family for her business, which would make the family very uncomfortable. So he clapped his hands and said, "Mom, this is a good idea. When the time comes, you can be like Song Chen and be a hands-off boss, just checking the accounts! This is good! Mom, the business is so busy outside, don't be lazy as the boss, go on!"

"Eh?... What are you pushing for! I know, I know! Thank you, Xiao Chen! Next time you come to eat here, it's on the house! Remember that!"

Even though she couldn't go too far in her business, Ding Hui still wanted to hear Song Chen's other suggestions. But her son was unwilling and urged her, so she had no choice but to look at Song Chen, say thank you, and be "escorted" out of the private room by her son.

After sending his mother away, Ye Lin complained, "I don't know whether to blame you or thank you. You've stirred up my mother to do business, and if no one tidies up our family, how tragic would that be!"

Song Chen shrugged innocently, but before he could complain, Zhang Ruoxi glared at Ye Lin fiercely and shouted, "It's not like Song Chen wanted to. We haven't even asked for a consultation fee from you!"

Zhao Lin, seeing Zhang Ruoxi's aggressive behavior, had an ambiguous expression and said with a smile, "In school, you didn't do anything, but after Song Chen took a leave of absence, you two became inseparable... It seems your relationship has progressed rapidly! But, Ruoxi, what are you afraid of?"

Her friend's words were pointed, and Zhang Ruoxi, whose heart was touched, looked unnatural, her face buried in Song Chen's chest, and she pouted, "I don't understand what you're saying!"

"Hehe!" Ye Lin smiled, understanding, and said to Song Chen, "No matter what, you've done a great favor for our Ye family this time! If you need help in the future, don't hesitate to ask me!"

At this moment, Song Chen smiled at Zhao Lin and said, "You study art, right? How good are you?"

"What for?" Zhao Lin looked at Song Chen with suspicion.

"Can you draw a penguin for me?"

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