Maximize Interest, My Money Grows Infinitely-Chapter 3 - Willow Tree Fruit

"Grandpa owed debts before he passed and even selling Wanbao Hall wasn't enough." Chen Cheng couldn't mention his scheme of using borrowed resources to produce profits, so he said, "This past year, I've almost cleared them all. Just this last bit left, thinking of settling it for good."

Feng Biao let out a long sigh, "You're handling things openly. But it's tough!"

"Once it's tough, it gets sweet," Chen Cheng smiled.

"Alright, I'll ask around at work tomorrow," Feng Biao chose to trust Chen Cheng, "Your days, what a rough patch you're in!"

Chen Cheng looked at him gratefully, "Thanks, Biao Zi."

"We brothers don't need to mention it." Feng Biao took out his mobile phone, "Open your payment code."

"What's up?"

Feng Biao said, "I'll transfer you three thousand first! Use it for now."

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"You still have a secret stash?" Chen Cheng asked in surprise.

"Just got a bonus today!" Feng Biao insisted, "I was planning to save it for some good cigarettes, but now it'll have to wait for your sake!"

Chen Cheng joked, "Then I'm really tearing you apart ha!"

"Fuck off, you're gonna repay it!"

Chen Cheng laughed and opened his payment code, Feng Biao quickly scanned it and transferred three thousand.

The two continued drinking and chatting, talking about work, life, and future plans.

They talked until late at night, only leaving the bar in the last moment before closing.

"I say, just come sleep at my place!" Feng Biao invited again.

Chen Cheng waved his hand, "Forget it, Yingzi has already called three times. I don't want to witness a drama of an emperor kneeling at the keyboard."

"Me, Lord Biao, afraid of her? As soon as I step in, even the water I wash my feet with has to be 38.5 degrees!"

Chen Cheng hailed a cab for him, helped Feng Biao into the back seat, then scanned 50 to the driver, "Driver, please, Zinan Home."

"Take it slow! Give me a call when you get there." Chen Cheng closed the car door.

"Got it! See you!"

The taxi took Feng Biao away, and Chen Cheng stood there, exhaling deeply.

He looked again at the panel in his mind.

[Current Funds: 6,476]

[Current Interest Rate: 5%]

[Expenses: 50/100,000]

Checking the time, it was almost midnight.

"Let's call it a night!" he walked towards the parked cars, murmuring, "Where shall I crash tonight?"

"Xiao Cheng? Is that really you?"

A sudden voice interrupted Chen Cheng's thoughts.

Turning around, he saw Xiao Meier, a year older than himself, smiling at him.

"Sister Meier?"

"Hahaha! Did you go drinking with Shu Biao again?!" Xiao Meier laughed heartily, her laughter as melodious as silver bells.

Xiao Meier had just turned thirty.

By rights, she should be considered mature, but she appeared in front of him like a juicy watermelon, one bite and a mouthful of sweet juice.

However, in stark contrast to her sweet appearance, was the typical fiery and straightforwardness of a Sichuan woman in her bones.

"Just had a little."

Chen Cheng looked at Xiao Meier, bolstered by alcohol, and joked: "Sister Meier, what are you doing wandering around so late at night? Don't tell me you were waiting specifically for me to come back?"

Xiao Meier burst into an even brighter laughter when she heard that.

She raised her hand, pretending to hit Chen Cheng, "You kiddo, your mouth is still so relentless. When do I have the spare time to wait for you? I just packed up my stall and was about to head back to the shop when I bumped into you."

"Stall?" Chen Cheng asked, puzzled.

Xiao Meier explained, "Recently, the streets have been promoting the so-called street vendor economy. Since the noodle shop doesn't do much business at night, I thought I'd sell some braised dishes."

She squinted her eyes with a smile, leaned closer to Chen Cheng, and sniffed, "You haven't had a little drink, have you? Want something to eat to sober up?"

Chen Cheng nodded promptly, "Sure."

"Come on, I'll make something for you back at my place."

Under the streetlight, there were two overlapping shadows.

Xiao Meier led the way, pulling a cart with unsold braised dishes and drinks.

Chen Cheng silently pushed from behind, now and then glancing at her shapely, twisting rear, reminiscing about the first time he met Sister E.

Willow Tree Fruit, aptly named.

At seventeen, Chen Cheng witnessed Xiao Meier arriving here alone, taking over a shop, and starting her noodle business.

That year, she was just eighteen, bright and smooth, in the prime of her youth.

Coupled with her great cooking skills, she quickly became the talk of the entire market.

Men from Big Willow Tree, young and old, liked to gather at Xiao Meier's noodle shop, tasting her hand-made noodles while chatting about everything under the sun, though their eyes would wander, checking if the moon on the fifteenth was as round as it should be.

Chen Cheng during his green years, along with his close buddies, were no exception.

He still remembered being deeply attracted by Xiao Meier's beauty and warmth during his first visit to the noodle shop.

Now, seeing Xiao Meier again, Chen Cheng felt as if he had returned to his youthful days.

"Xiao Cheng, how's work lately? Busy?" Xiao Meier asked.

"Got fired."

Xiao Meier seemed astonished, recalling that Chen Cheng had a respectable job, dressing in suits and ties, working in high-end office buildings.

"Got fired? What happened? Wasn't your job good?"

"The company downsized, and I was on the list. Besides, with AI developing so fast, quantitative trading models are also becoming mature..."

Xiao Meier clearly disapproved of the news, "What's all this AI and quantitative stuff."

The fire inside her surged, and her tight short T-shirt clung even more attractively as her chest heaved, just like the eruption of the Eyjafjalla Volcano, a spectacular sight.

"You've been working there for four or five years, right? A senior employee! Those foreigners didn't even consider your contributions, didn't they have any human feelings?"

Chen Cheng felt somewhat bitter, "Human feelings aren't valued in foreign companies."

"Such a good employee like you, and they didn't want you; that's just unreasonable!"

Chen Cheng was amused by Sister E's candidness, "If only you were my boss."

"My noodle shop couldn't afford a talent like you!"

Xiao Meier suddenly thought, "Are you drinking so much today because of this?"

Chen Cheng shook his head, "No."

Chen Cheng shared the reasons with Xiao Meier.

Upon hearing it, Xiao Meier exclaimed, "They are so shameless! How could they talk about your grandpa like that! It's good you broke up before the wedding! Just find someone else! They really are blind!"

"I don't want to look anymore; I have no money and no energy now, I don't want to be a burden to someone else."

Xiao Meier said with a laugh, her tone full of pride and approval for Chen Cheng, "You were the best student at Denghua Middle School!"

"That's all in the past."

Xiao Meier didn't see it that way, her eyes determinedly fixed on Chen Cheng, she said slowly and emphatically, "The past still counts! You've always been my pride!"