PCJ – Chapter 483 Haunted House

Wu Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. Although the chubby man appeared thick-skinned, he was actually quite shy, especially since there was a beautiful woman standing in front of him. “Actually, the reason my dishes taste so good is mainly because of Dr. Zhang’s seasoning. Although my cooking isn’t bad, once I add Dr. Zhang’s seasoning, the flavor becomes extraordinary.”

“Really? This is the first time I’ve heard of such magical seasoning,” Fu Cha Liu Feng said with a smile.

“It’s not the first time for me. Back in Meishan, I already tasted Dr. Zhang’s cooking,” Fu Cha Hao Yue said, savoring the food.

“Fatty, aren’t you jobless right now? Why don’t you partner with Dr. Zhang to open a restaurant? Dr. Zhang can supply the seasoning, and you do the work. Aren’t chain restaurants all the rage these days? Dr. Zhang could totally start a chain restaurant using his seasoning, opening branches all over the country. It’s got great potential!” Fu Cha Liu Feng suggested with a smile.

Everyone’s eyes lit up. The idea was not bad—old age brings wisdom, after all. Wu Yuan didn’t have a stable job and couldn’t just keep following Zhang Jiaohua forever.

“Fatty, what do you think? I think the old man’s idea is solid. If you’re interested, you’d better act quickly,” Zeng Lei urged.

Wu Yuan scratched his head hard, feeling tempted but also hesitant, worrying about potential risks. “I can’t do it. I’ve never worked as a chef. Cooking for myself is just passable, but I’m far from being a professional chef.”

“You idiot! With Dr. Zhang’s seasoning, do you think you won’t make money? If your cooking isn’t good enough, just hire chefs who are skilled. As long as you have the seasoning, you’re guaranteed to make a profit,” Zeng Lei said.

Wu Yuan said with a bitter expression, “But where would I get the money to open a restaurant?”

“Dr. Zhang, if Fatty wants to open a restaurant, would you allow him to use your seasoning?” Fu Cha Liu Feng asked.

Zeng Lei scratched his head. His father’s suggestion was a bit premature—none of this could happen without Zhang Jiaohua’s consent.

Everyone looked at Zhang Jiaohua with anticipation.

Zhang Jiaohua smiled. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind. Why would I object to earning easy money?”

“That settles it. Fatty, I can lend you the money to invest in the restaurant. When you make money, just pay me back.”

“Huh?”

Everyone gasped in surprise. No one had expected Fu Cha Liu Feng to be so generous in helping Wu Yuan.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s just an investment. I believe that as long as Fatty is willing to work hard, he’ll succeed. He has the qualities needed. This morning, when Dr. Zhang was forcing Fatty to practice martial arts with a stick, although Fatty wanted to slack off, he gritted his teeth and persevered. If he didn’t want to change, no matter how hard Dr. Zhang hit him, he could’ve just stayed lying on the ground. From this, I can see that Fatty is different from the average person,” Fu Cha Liu Feng said.

Zhang Jiaohua suddenly spoke. “No need for that. If Fatty truly wants to open a restaurant, I’ll provide the money.”

Everyone was shocked again, doubting whether Zhang Jiaohua had the capability. He was so young—where would he get such a large amount of money?

“You’re Zhang Jiaohua! I know who you are!” Zeng Lei suddenly exclaimed loudly.

Everyone turned to Zeng Lei.

“About a year ago, our bureau received a notice about an investigation. The son of Zhang Youping, the boss of Bi Yu Xian Yin, went missing. I remember that child was named Zhang Jiaohua. At first, I didn’t connect you with the missing child, but when you just spoke, it hit me. Who would’ve thought the son of a big tea merchant is also a highly skilled doctor?” Zeng Lei said, suddenly realizing Zhang Jiaohua’s identity.

“You ran away from home?” Fu Cha Hao Yue looked at Zhang Jiaohua in surprise.

Zhang Jiaohua smiled. “Officer, your news is outdated. I returned home months ago. This time, I left with my parents’ permission.”

Zhang Jiaohua felt helpless; he had been recognized after all.

“Fatty, it’s all on you now,” Zeng Lei said with a laugh.

Wu Yuan thought about it, as if facing the most difficult decision of his life. Finally, he made up his mind. “Alright, I’ll do it!”

The subsequent matters became more complicated—finding a storefront, renovation, profit-sharing agreements, and so on. Zhang Jiaohua couldn’t be bothered with the details. He only stepped in when money was needed, taking out his bank card for withdrawals.

Meanwhile, Fu Cha Liu Feng’s condition improved significantly. Within a week, his legs were in the best possible state, and further treatment was unnecessary. Zhang Jiaohua sent him home.

Although Fu Cha Liu Feng left, Fu Cha Hao Yue continued to visit, but her visits were not for Zhang Jiaohua—they were for Zeng Lei. The two had grown up together, sharing a deep childhood bond that had only strengthened over time. However, the disparity in family status between the Fu Cha family and Zeng Lei created an insurmountable barrier. If it weren’t for this opportunity to treat Fu Cha Liu Feng, the two might have eventually drifted apart, unable to overcome reality.

“Hao Yue, here to see Zeng?” Zhang Jiaohua teased.

“Who said that? Today, I’m here to see you,” Fu Cha Hao Yue replied playfully.

“Really? That’s hard to believe,” Zhang Jiaohua said skeptically.

“It’s true. Zhao Jue and the others want to get together, and Jiaying and Xiaobin insisted on treating you as a way to thank you for saving their lives,” Hao Yue explained. She had already shared Zhang Jiaohua’s story with Zhao Jue and the others, but due to their busy schedules, it had taken time for everyone to find a suitable moment.

“Alright,” Zhang Jiaohua agreed.

That weekend, Zhao Jue arrived at Guluba Hutong in an off-road vehicle to pick up Zhang Jiaohua.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, Zhao Jue shouted, “Jiaohua! Let’s go!”

Hearing Zhao Jue’s voice, Zhang Jiaohua felt a sense of familiarity, as if his old friends were calling him. He quickly came out.

Zhao Jue hugged him excitedly. “You rascal! As soon as you got off the train, you disappeared, leaving us worried. We’ve been looking everywhere for you. And look at you, living better than any of us. We’ve been exhausted lately.”

Zhang Jiaohua glanced into the car and only saw Fu Cha Hao Yue. None of the others were there.

“Don’t look. They’re already at the venue, waiting for you,” Zhao Jue said with a smile.

The gathering was held at a private club. Sure enough, Wei Jun, Wang Xiaobin, and Liu Jiaying were all there, but He Dongsheng was absent, supposedly too busy.

Wei Jun seemed displeased with He Dongsheng, but Zhao Jue skillfully changed the topic whenever he was mentioned.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t mind. He had no strong impression of He Dongsheng, and their paths were unlikely to cross much in the future. A person of little significance wasn’t worth caring about.

Wang Xiaobin and Liu Jiaying, however, expressed their gratitude to Zhang Jiaohua repeatedly.

“You don’t need to keep thanking me. Otherwise, I’ll just leave,” Zhang Jiaohua joked.

“Don’t! Otherwise, they’ll scold me to death. It was my idea to go hiking, and it ended up dragging them down. If we hadn’t met you, we would’ve been in big trouble. By the time we ran into you, we were already out of food,” Liu Jiaying said.

“Yes, it’s all Jiaying’s fault for accidentally dropping some supplies off a cliff,” Wei Jun added, still holding a grudge over her mistake.

“Enough, Wei Jun. That’s all in the past. Why keep bringing it up? By the way, Jiaohua, we’re planning to visit a haunted house tomorrow. Are you interested in joining us?” Zhao Jue asked, quickly changing the topic.

“Haunted house?” Zhang Jiaohua asked in surprise.

Zhao Jue nodded. “It’s a famous haunted house in Beijing. This year, the city was planning to demolish it, but people died during the process. After several fatalities, no one dared to touch the place anymore. Local elders say it’s an ominous site with a long, dark history…”

“Since it’s so dangerous, why would you risk going there?” Zhang Jiaohua asked, baffled by their enthusiasm.

“That’s what makes it exciting!” Wei Jun said, unfazed.

“I’m not going,” Liu Jiaying quickly said.

“Me neither,” Wang Xiaobin added, shaking his head.

“What about you, Hao Yue?” Zhao Jue asked.

“If you want to go, go without Jiaohua. That place is too dangerous. I don’t understand why you boys are always drawn to risky things. What if something happens?” Fu Cha Hao Yue said, clearly concerned.