As a Magnate, I Started Checking in at a Convenience Store

Chapter 501: Scheming Guy

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

After three rounds of drinks and a five-course meal, Zhou Chao had a rare day of indulgence. Not only did he drink, but he also managed to outdrink Lao Ma. Consequently, he decided to stay at the State Guest House. Meanwhile, Jiang Li joined the female volleyball players for more celebrations.

“Young Master Zhou, I really want to thank you today!” Coach Jiao finally found the words as she accompanied Zhou Chao and Jiang Li to the door.

Zhou Chao waved his hand modestly, “No need to thank me. You deserve it. You’ve brought honor to our country, and we entrepreneurs have only provided a small amount of help. In the future, work even harder and bring home more gold medals.”

Coach Jiao nodded confidently. “Yes, you can trust us. We’ll work even harder!”

“Coach Jiao, you don’t have to see us off. We’ll be on our way.”

“Young Master Zhou, take care!”

Zhou Chao nodded and led Jiang Li to the parking lot.

On the way back to the hotel, Jiang Li drove while Zhou Chao, who had consumed alcohol, sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the scenery.

“Brother Chao, are you sure Lao Ma won’t be angry or hold a grudge against you for today?”

“Don’t worry. Lao Ma isn’t that kind of person. At most, I made him spend a bit more money today. Besides, he gained some goodwill from this event too. Even though he says he doesn’t mind, you can see from the group photo that Coach Jiao displayed the check.” Zhou Chao didn’t expect Lao Ma to be so shrewd.

“Then why didn’t you join the group photo? You could’ve gained some fame too, you know?” Jiang Li glanced at Zhou Chao curiously.

“I’d rather avoid that kind of exposure. Besides, today’s spotlight was on Lao Ma. If I had joined, it would have stolen his spotlight!”

Jiang Li nodded thoughtfully. “I see. I didn’t realize there were so many intricacies involved.”

“Lao Ma is quite sharp, and 1 don’t know if he was really drunk earlier or just acting. Maybe he’s having tea in the hotel right now!” Zhou Chao couldn’t help but wonder how Lao Ma, known for his cunning, could get drunk so easily.

In a room at the State Guest House, Lao Ma sat on the sofa, rubbing his temples, and muttered to himself, “Zhou Chao, 1 didn’t expect you to become so crafty after just a year. If 1 hadn’t been quick-witted, 1 might have really ended up losing to you.”

“Director Ma, this Zhou Chao is the founder of Dragonfly Group. He’s so young!” Xiao Li, the young assistant, entered with a bowl of hangover soup. “That kid is full of surprises. I’ve heard that he started a tech company in Peng City, and now he’s making significant achievements. His machine tool technology has reached the world’s most advanced level. This is just what we know, and given how cunning he is, who knows what other industries he’s involved in? Maybe this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Lao Ma said as he accepted the hangover soup and drank it all in one gulp.

“Will he have any impact on our company?” Xiao Li expressed her concerns.

“No, it won’t affect us. This young man’s businesses are all in the industrial sector, unrelated to us. Xiao Li, you should learn more. Look at how he started from scratch and built a conglomerate worth billions. I don’t expect much from you, but you should still strive to learn more.”

“I understand, Uncle.”

If Zhou Chao were here, he would probably be shocked to learn that Lao Ma’s assistant was his relative.

When Zhou Chao returned to the hotel, he took a shower and lay down on the bed. Although he didn’t feel particularly drunk, he did have a slight headache.

“All Li, I’m going to take a nap. We can go to the night market later.”

“Okay, go ahead and rest,” Jiang Li replied without lifting her head, engrossed in her mobile phone.

It was six o’clock in the evening when Zhou Chao finally emerged from the bedroom, still half-asleep. He saw Jiang Li sitting on the couch, engrossed in her phone.

“What are you playing? You seem so focused.”

“Argh! I’m so frustrated. This little game is driving me crazy. I’ve been playing for hours and can’t even pass the second level.” After losing another game, Jiang Li complained in annoyance, tossing her phone onto the couch.

Hearing Jiang Li’s frustration, Zhou Chao’s spirits lifted. He rubbed his face and walked over to sit beside her.

“Oh, what game is this, and why is it so difficult?”

“Here, take a look. It’s this game where you raise a sheep, but it’s really annoying.” Jiang Li picked up her phone from the couch and handed it to Zhou Chao.

“Let me see what’s so challenging about this game,” Zhou Chao said as he tapped the screen to start over.

The game seemed simple, a match-three puzzle game. However, by the time Zhou Chao reached the second level, he realized it wasn’t as straightforward as it appeared, and he quickly lost the game.

“Is this game really that difficult? It’s not meant to be enjoyable!” Jiang Li felt discouraged seeing Zhou Chao also failing to pass.

Zhou Chao pondered for a moment before explaining, “This game has a bit of a problem. It’s advertised as free, but it’s cleverly designed to trigger your competitive nature. It makes you feel like you’re just one step away from winning. Every time you watch an ad, the game designer earns money. That’s why the second level is so challenging. The leaderboard is also quite addictive. It seems like the designer has a deep understanding of human psychology.” “Brother Chao, are you saying the game designer did this intentionally?”

“Yes, otherwise, how would they make money? It’s ail based on people like you who are determined to keep trying.”

“I’m so frustrated. Not only can’t I pass the game, but I’m also working for the game designer for free. I’m done with it!” Jiang Li exited the game in frustration.

Zhou Chao affectionately ruffled Jiang Li’s hair and said, “Alright, don’t be upset anymore. Do you want to pass the level?”

As soon as she heard the word “pass,” Jiang Li immediately perked up. She looked at Zhou Chao with wide eyes and asked, “Brother Chao, do you have a solution?”

“It’s quite simple. I can create a plugin program for you, and you can install it directly.”

“This isn’t cheating?”

“The game itself has some bugs. If you play hundreds of rounds, the system might arrange for you to pass the level!”

Jiang Li contemplated for a moment and then said, “Forget it, 1 won’t play anymore. Even if I pass the level, it’s not worth it.”

“Alright then, I’ll freshen up, and we can go out later,” Zhou Chao said as he got up and headed to the bathroom.

In less than five minutes, Zhou Chao had finished freshening up, changed his clothes, and came out looking much more refreshed.

“Let’s go, it’s getting late.”

“Here I am!” Jiang Li grabbed her bag and quickly walked over, wrapping her arm around Zhou Chao’s.

“Brother Chao, where are we going to have fun?” Jiang Li asked eagerly after fastening her seatbelt.

“How about Huafang Street at the foot of Wushan Mountain? There are many time-honored shops there, and it’s also a historical and cultural district with good scenery. We can spend an hour or two there.”

“Sounds good, let’s go!” Jiang Li raised her eyebrows, signaling Zhou Chao to start the car.

Huafang Street was part of Qinghe Alley and belonged to the old city area of Hangzhou. In the past, it was known as the “Four Corners of Qinghe Alley” where four famous shops were located at each corner. Over time, it became a renowned area.

Apart from Hu Xueyan’s former residence and the bronze sculpture museum, there were also many unique snacks, making it one of the must-visit food streets in Hangzhou.

Zhou Chao’s place was indeed close to Huafang Street, just a short drive of less than five minutes, and they arrived at the street.

“Brother Chao, why does this food street look different from the one we visited before? There are antique shops, jewelry stores, and such. It seems more like a commercial street. Beneath the ancient-style buildings, there are quite a few non-food shops, and there are quite a few of them.”

“Yeah, it seems that way. Let’s go in and take a look. I’ve heard many tourists come here when they visit.”

Jiang Li nodded and followed Zhou Chao as they entered Huafang Street.

Just a few steps in, Jiang Li spotted a stall specializing in stinky tofu.

“Brother Chao, let’s check it out. I wonder if their stinky tofu tastes good!” Zhou Chao already knew what Jiang Li meant she wanted to try it. After all, she didn’t get a chance to taste it back in Xingcheng, so now that she saw it, there was no way they could pass it up. Before he could react, Jiang Li had already led him to the stinky tofu stall.

“Boss, is your stinky tofu delicious?” Jiang Li asked the busy stall owner.

The owner pointed to the free samples of stinky tofu and said, “It’s definitely delicious. I’ve been running this stall for over ten years, and it’s authentic Xingcheng stinky tofu. You can try it for free, and if you don’t like it, it’s on the house.”

Jiang Li took a skewer of stinky tofu and tasted it directly, finding it quite delicious. She exclaimed, “It’s really good! I want one!”

The owner worked quickly and prepared a serving within two minutes. After enjoying her portion, Jiang Li turned to Zhou Chao, nodded her head towards the stall, and said, “Come on, try it! You can’t just eat and make me pay for it.” “You’re only getting one bite!” Jiang Li picked up a piece of stinky tofu and fed it to Zhou Chao, making the owner uncomfortable.

“It’s really not bad. Boss, how much is this stinky tofu?”

“$12!”

Zhou Chao nodded and made a mobile payment. When he turned around, Jiang Li had moved to the next stall, enjoying her stinky tofu while asking the owner about the taste.

Huafang Street wasn’t very long, measuring only about 1800 meters. By the time they finished exploring, it was already 7:30 in the evening. They had tried a few snacks, including stinky tofu, Ding Sheng cake, and scallion bun stew, but they weren’t particularly interested in the others. They also visited an antique store, but most of the items there were from the recent past.

As night fell, the lights on Huafang Street lit up, adding a warm ambiance to the ancient and traditional atmosphere.

“What’s wrong? You seem a bit down,” Zhou Chao asked as he drove away from Huafang Street, noticing Jiang Li’s gloomy expression.

“I thought it would be similar to the night markets in Xingcheng, but it was quite disappointing.”

“Alright, don’t worry. How about we find a good restaurant to make up for it?”

“Sure, after a few hours of walking, I’m getting hungry. But I want something with strong flavors!” Jiang Li perked up when she heard the mention of food.

“Okay, it’s your choice!” Zhou Chao smiled and agreed.

The car quickly merged into traffic and headed towards a place known for its culinary delights..