Chapter 444 - 228: Chance Encounter at a Quiet Bar

Chapter 444: Chapter 228: Chance Encounter at a Quiet Bar

After leaving the car dealership, Su Chen and his group drove around the city for about ten minutes before finally stopping in front of a Northeastern Chinese restaurant.

There were certainly plenty of restaurants in downtown Irkutsk, but none were the large, high-end, star-rated establishments you’d find back home. Most were just ordinary local eateries.

Su Chen and the others didn’t know which of the local Russian restaurants were any good. To play it safe, they opted for something they were all familiar with: a Northeastern restaurant that served iron pot stewed goose.

"It’s already May. Why does it still feel so chilly here in Irkutsk?" A cold gust of wind hit Su Chen as he got out of the car, and he couldn’t help but shiver.

"What did you expect? Why do you think Siberia has such a tiny population for its massive size? It’s because the weather here is brutal," Xiao Chen, walking behind him, immediately chimed in. "There are very few habitable areas, and it’s only warm for about four or five months a year. Even then, ’warm’ means just over ten degrees."

Su Chen glanced at the surrounding streets. There were pitifully few pedestrians. Combined with the squat, old buildings, it looked not much different from his hometown back in Fuzhou—if not for the distinct architectural style.

It was already two or three in the afternoon. When Su Chen’s group walked into the restaurant, they saw several people stretched out on chairs, taking an afternoon nap.

A somewhat rugged-looking man sitting at the front counter froze for a moment when he saw Su Chen’s group.

"Boss, are you still serving?" Chen Fei asked before the owner could even snap out of his daze.

As both bodyguard and driver, it was his job to handle such minor details. He couldn’t very well let Su Chen be the one to ask—Chen Fei was at least that self-aware.

"Oh! Food... yes, of course! This way, please, come on in!" The owner, snapping back to reality, immediately put on a welcoming smile. He was the very picture of hospitality.

Hearing the noise, the other employees also sat up from their chairs, every one of them frowning with a dark expression.

But when they saw that Su Chen’s party consisted of seven men, they all sobered up instantly. The gloomy looks vanished, replaced by faint smiles.

Su Chen noticed the staff’s reaction but didn’t find it odd. ’He understood. No restaurant wants to deal with new customers during their afternoon break.’

’After a busy lunch rush that lasts until one or two, you finally eat your own meal and get a moment to rest. Then, suddenly, more customers show up, triggering another flurry of activity. By the time they’ve eaten and you’ve cleaned up, it’s already four or five, and it’s time to start prepping for dinner. Who wouldn’t be in a bad mood?’

If it had just been two or three tourists, the owner probably would have just told them they were closed for a break and to come back later. But Su Chen had brought a group of seven. And aside from Su Chen himself, the others looked like they weren’t to be trifled with.

Their imposing physiques and sharp gazes told the owner, a man who’d been running a business abroad for years, everything he needed to know. He could tell at a glance that these people were not to be taken lightly, which explained his sudden surge of enthusiasm.

The owner even went out of his way to arrange a private room for them. It was quite spacious, with a large, round dining table and a small lounge area for brewing tea or coffee.

He glanced at the menu, which was surprisingly comprehensive. "Boss, let’s start with two orders of the Iron Pot Stewed Goose. And we’ll also have the Guo Bao Rou, Chicken Stew with Mushrooms, Sautéed Pork Slices, Braised Pork Bones..."

Su Chen rattled off more than a dozen dishes, ordering nearly every meat option on the menu.

The owner didn’t try to warn them they were ordering too much. It was obvious Su Chen’s group wasn’t short on cash. Besides, ’since my nap was ruined anyway, what’s the harm in making a little extra money?’

As if the kitchen had timed it perfectly, just as the two iron pots of stewed goose were ready to be eaten, all the other meat dishes Su Chen had ordered arrived at the table.

The billowing steam showed they were fresh from the kitchen.

The group was already famished. As soon as Su Chen and Xiao Chen picked up their chopsticks, everyone else dug in as well.

Even though they were all the way in Irkutsk, the iron pot stewed goose tasted no different from what you’d get back in Northeast China. It was completely authentic.

The portions hadn’t been scaled down for being in a foreign country, either; every plate was piled high. After more than a dozen dishes, Su Chen and his group of seven were thoroughly satisfied.

Even the owner was shocked by their appetites. Logically, there was no way seven people could finish two entire pots of stewed goose plus a dozen other side dishes. Yet in the end, every plate was wiped clean, leaving nothing but a bit of broth in the bottom of the pots.

By the time Su Chen’s group left the restaurant, it was already after four, nearly five in the afternoon. Unexpectedly, the sky was already beginning to darken.

Seeing this, Xiao Chen’s eyes flickered. He shot a meaningful glance at Chen Fei. Having followed Xiao Chen for years, Chen Fei understood his meaning in an instant. ℴ𝗆

"Sir, it’s already getting dark," Chen Fei said promptly. "Why don’t we find a hotel and settle in for the night? We can head to the farm tomorrow. Traveling at night could lead to unexpected trouble."

Su Chen knew Chen Fei had a point. Once they left the city limits of Irkutsk, they would be driving through the vast, endless forests of Siberia. The road to the farm cut right through that wilderness, and who knew what kind of beasts might be roaming about after dark.