Chapter 150: The Zhou Family Father and Daughter

Shen Guodong did not dwell on his wandering thoughts for long. After climbing several flights of stairs, he arrived at the third floor of the Xiaoyuan Building.

As soon as he stepped onto the third floor, the decor—starkly different from the ground floor—greeted his eyes. A vibrant red carpet covered the floor, accented by golden trimmings, and each private room was marked with an intricately carved wooden plaque. Shen Guodong was momentarily stunned by the opulence; he hadn't expected such a high-end interior from a building that looked so ordinary on the outside. It was no wonder they charged ten or twenty yuan per room. The decor upstairs was completely out of sync with the humble atmosphere downstairs.

Having experienced top-tier restaurants in his past life, Shen Guodong had seen his fair share of luxury. His shock quickly faded, and he regained his composure. Zhou Meiniang, however, was visiting for the first time. Staring at the lavish surroundings, she was momentarily speechless. "Wow, isn't this place too luxurious?" she whispered, her body stiffening slightly.

Shen Guodong naturally reached out and slipped an arm around her waist. "Why are you stopping? Let's go," he murmured in her ear, ushering her forward.

The service in this building was impressive. As soon as they stepped onto the red carpet, a young man in a suit approached them. "Good day, sir. This is our VIP area. May I ask if you have reserved a room in advance?"

Shen Guodong stepped into character, nodding calmly. "Room Number One, Heaven Wing."

Seeing Shen Guodong transform so seamlessly, Zhou Meiniang looked on in awe. The manager checked his folder and nodded. "Room Number One, Heaven Wing, right this way."

As the waiter led the way, Shen Guodong maintained a detached expression, one hand still resting on Zhou Meiniang’s waist while the other pulled out a cigarette. He strode forward with the air of a man arriving to close a business deal. The waiter didn't dare say a word; anyone booking Room Number One for a mere lunch was clearly no ordinary person.

Reaching the entrance of the room, Shen Guodong noticed two gilded stone lions guarding the door. The other rooms he had passed were plain, but Room Number One was distinguished by these golden figures. "Good heavens, this is extravagant," he remarked.

The waiter remained silent, politely pushing the door open. "We have arrived, sir. Please, go ahead."

Shen Guodong nodded, his hand quietly slipping from Zhou Meiniang’s waist. Stepping inside, he took a quick survey of the room. It was about thirty or forty square meters, dominated by a large round table where several people were already seated. A row of wine cabinets lined the wall, filled with what appeared to be vintage spirits. A screen obscured part of the room, but Shen Guodong guessed it hid a mahjong table—a common feature in such private rooms, where business deals were often followed by games after a hearty meal. In his past life, these settings were second nature to him.

As they entered, Zhou Meiniang spotted her cousin. Seeing her relatives, she hurried forward. "Aunt, Uncle, you're already here."

The middle-aged couple stood up. Shen Guodong observed the man in the suit; though he had a bit of a middle-aged paunch, his height gave him a sturdy appearance. The woman wore a red shirt paired with black dress pants; both looked prosperous.

"Meiniang, why are you so late?" the man asked. "We've been waiting for quite a while."

"There was some trouble at the factory," Zhou Meiniang explained, shaking her head. "We came as soon as we were finished. I didn't realize it would take so long to get here."

The cousin chimed in, "Oh, it's alright, it's alright. We're just here to eat, and it's the perfect time for lunch anyway." She gestured for Shen Guodong and Zhou Meiniang to take their seats.

The middle-aged man turned to Shen Guodong. "You must be Factory Director Shen. Please, come sit here. You are our guest of honor today—you take the head seat."

Shen Guodong chuckled and shook his head. "Mr. Ai, don't say that. I'm just here as a guest today. Honestly, there was no need for such luxury or to book the number one room for such a small matter. This meal must be quite expensive."

The middle-aged man let out a hearty laugh. "Nonsense, this is mere pocket change. Being able to get to know Director Shen is worth far more than this."

Shen Guodong smiled at the empty flattery. "Isn't that an exaggeration? I'm just a director of a small machine tool factory. Why would anyone want to get to know me?"

The middle-aged woman spoke up, "Oh, a director is a director! Meiniang is working as your assistant, after all. If there are any design projects in the future, we hope you’ll look after our daughter."

Shen Guodong nodded. "Of course, you can rest assured. Her design work is excellent. If any future design issues arise, I certainly won't forget Little Ai. She does a wonderful job."

Shen Guodong knew how to play the game of diplomatic pleasantries as well as anyone, and he responded with practiced politeness. After the formalities, Little Ai stood up. "Director Shen, why don't you take a look at the menu and let's order?"

Shen Guodong glanced through the list. "I've never eaten here before. What are the house specialties?"

"The Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish is the most famous," Little Ai suggested. "We also have shrimp fried noodles, egg drop soup, and a bear paw and chicken stew."

Shen Guodong flipped through the menu and found it quite lavish, even featuring some wild game. "Let’s start with the chicken stew, the Squirrel Mandarin Fish, some braised pork belly, and the shrimp fried rice. That’s all for now—why don't you all take a look and see what else you'd like?"

The middle-aged man took the menu. "Let me see. Since I'm lucky enough to make a friend like Director Shen today, I can't let this meal be anything less than perfect."