Chapter 001: Life Naturally Brings Many Trials

Upon hearing the rent, Zhang Sheng immediately felt disheartened. Two individuals with no business experience, in a moment of impulsiveness, decided to open a restaurant right by the back gate of the medical school. While there were quite a few students, the food offered was quite simple, at most a plate of fried noodles and a serving of shredded potatoes. It only became lively during sports events, when the students would sit until the end of the game, each with a bowl of noodles.

Guo Pangzi fell silent for a moment and said: "Shengzi, I have actually been calculating that our restaurant is definitely not going to make a profit. I heard that the medical school is going to open a second hospital by the end of the year, which will transfer a batch of students. By then, it will be even worse, don't you think?"

Zhang Sheng is one of the owners of this small restaurant, while the other owner is Guo Panzai Guo Yixing, who is currently dozing off inside. Both of them were originally employees of the Sanxing Printing Factory. When the factory was merged by foreign investors and underwent significant layoffs, both of them lost their jobs. Consequently, they used their severance pay to partner and open this small restaurant

Dressed in expensive attire, with a Parker pen tucked into the pocket of his jacket and a paper fan adorned with copper coins in hand, the disparity in their statuses appears quite pronounced.

In contrast, Zhang Sheng is entirely different. The first step must be to jump the position, and the second step must be to deploy the horse. Even if the opponent's army has already invaded the main camp, he may not have a single piece crossed the river yet, but his own side is certainly arranged meticulously, with defenses extremely tight, and only then does he advance step by step, gradually launching a counterattack

"Oh, thank you, Director!" Zhang Sheng quickly took it with both hands: "This cigarette of mine is not good, it's from Jiqing, I didn't feel right offering it to you, haha, and I even smoked your cigarette, thank you, Director, thank you, Director"

Ye Zhiqiu set down the large brick, cast a disdainful glance at the two pitiful creatures, ran his fingers through his hair a few times, covering his forehead that seemed to be glowing, then picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of nine-turn fatty intestines, and tossed it into his mouth, followed by a sip of fifty-six-degree sorghum liquor, and continued to eat on his own

He raised his wrist to look at the Omega gold watch and said, "Oh dear, I can't go any lower. I need to head to the front stock exchange to check the market trends, and then I have to hurry back to the office"

During the layoffs at the factory, Zhang Sheng had considered following Director Xu's example, hoping it might help him retain his position. However, upon reflection, he realized that aside from playing chess with Director Xu, he did not have a deeper relationship with him. It was unlikely that Director Xu would prioritize a low-level worker like him. At that time, Zhang Sheng was shy and overly sensitive about his pride, unlike now, when he has matured through life's struggles and the rigors of reading. Thus, he naturally became a laid-off worker.

Yes, I am here as well. Here’s the situation: the two guys who rented my house want to breach the contract and back out. You understand legal matters better than I do, right! That’s exactly it. Alright, I will wait for you

Zhang Sheng's playing style is completely opposite to that of Director Xu. Zhang Sheng belongs to the type of person who considers defeat before victory, while Director Xu's confidence is evidently much stronger than his. At this moment, Director Xu's artillery has already approached his old commander, but Zhang Sheng has also secretly laid a trap for an ambush

Even if Director Xu saw that move, he did not believe that Zhang Sheng had figured it out himself. Underestimating the enemy can sometimes lead to grave mistakes. When Director Xu prepared to advance his troops, he finally experienced the consequences of underestimating the opponent. A single cavalry horse, a pawn crossing the river, and a submarine cannon—no matter how many troops he had, it was too late for rescue.

Zhang Sheng sighed and asked, "Brother Guo, let's speak frankly, what are your plans?"

He took the cigarette, sniffed it, and tucked it behind his ear, continuing to play chess with the old factory director. The two were chess friends; when they were at the same factory, Director Xu would often pull him over to play a game whenever he had some free time, and they had become quite familiar with each other.

Zhang Sheng looked at that face, which was smug with wealth, and suddenly felt an impulse to smash it into a braised lion's head with a single punch

Guo Pangzi has a corpulent and bulky physique. Despite his wide and stout appearance, he is a man of deep emotions. He suffers from poor health, with his heart often stopping unexpectedly. According to him, there are times in the middle of the night when his heart stops, and he suddenly wakes up, gazing at the faint moonlight, imagining that if he were to fall into an eternal sleep, his beloved wife would remarry, and his cherished chubby son would be bullied by a stepfather. He often finds himself lost in such thoughts, leading him to shed tears of sorrow. Although this man does not weep at the sight of flowers or feel a pang of sorrow at parting like Lin Daiyu, he is nonetheless quite sensitive for a man. The thought of potentially never waking again, of his wife remarrying, and of his dear son being mistreated by a stepfather frequently brings him to tears.

When will this place be able to make a profit from the restaurant? Thinking of the current predicament, both of them wore expressions of worry.

Alas, for a three-bedroom apartment, the rent alone is 2,000. The chef costs 1,200, the water bill is 800, and the two waitstaff each earn 500. After six months of operation, when the accounts are settled each month, the profits barely cover these expenses, meaning the two are essentially working for free.

Zhang Sheng sat under the shade of a tree, playing chess with a middle-aged man across from him. Zhang Sheng was dressed simply, his top resembling a worn-out electrician's uniform. His hair was relatively long, standing up stubbornly in tufts. He had a handsome appearance, but unfortunately, his attire and hairstyle obscured this sole advantage, making the twenty-four-year-old young man appear somewhat disheveled

The landlord, Ye Zhiqiu, is around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, of short stature, with a thin and bony appearance. His hair is sparse on his forehead, with only a few strands of long hair swept from the side to cover his rosy scalp, making even the roots of his hair invisible. He takes a sip of wine and a bite of food, eating quite heartily, but regardless of how pitiful the two are in their conversation, he remains unyielding.

Guo, with a troubled expression, shook his head: "We are just two naive fools. How could we have been so foolish as to be misled by others back then? Now, we are stuck with this, and it's impossible to get rid of it. Every time I think about it, I become anxious and restless. We put up a notice for the exchange shop two months ago, but we still can't sell it. Those in business are quite shrewd; they sent family members to observe our customers, noting what they eat and calculating the daily transaction volume. We invited relatives and friends to act as customers, but they could see through it. I am at my wit's end."

He slapped his thigh and said: "If the store doesn't sell, operating it will only lead to losses. We have been working all day without going home, but this can't go on. I reckon... why don't we close the business and sell off the goods? As long as we can break even, that will suffice."

"That won't do! Let's be clear, my two younger brothers, I am not trying to make things difficult for you. We are like family, and we should settle accounts fairly, right? The contract we signed is for two years, and you have only completed half a year. You can't just decide to stop working. What am I supposed to do with this shop? If you can find someone to take over, then pay me the rent according to the original contract, and I won't say a word. But if you stop operations... no, that won't do!" If you can find someone to take over, then pay me the rent according to the original contract, and I won't say a word. But if you stop operations... no, that won't do!"

"Go ahead, kid!" Director Xu burst into laughter, saying, "I fell for it, I fell for it, I was completely fooled by you, kid. You are quite cunning, pretending so convincingly that even I was deceived. Hahaha..."

But your attitude is such that you are throwing a tantrum at me; this is your lack of virtue, and it is no wonder that I act unjustly. To be frank, a single phone call from my sister-in-law can have the industrial and commercial bureau come and seal your shop's door. Just look at your deceitful expressions; if you weren't evading taxes, who would believe it?

He glanced at the two of them while leaning on the table and said: "You two may not know, but my sister-in-law is a government official and has studied law in the past. This contract was drafted with her assistance, ensuring that it is reasonable and legally sound without any loopholes. If you have any grievances, go ahead and sue; let's see who wins"

He sat there for a long time, sighed, and said: "Actually, I have thought about it too. Sigh, the more I think, the more discouraged I become. How about... in the afternoon, we invite the landlord over, cook a few dishes, have some drinks, and discuss it with him? We... should quit!"

He stood up, walked over to open the car door, and turned back to say: "Xiao Zhang, I'm leaving first, haha, just wait and see how I deal with you next time!"

Zhang Sheng immediately jumped up and pursued fiercely

Director Xu clearly did not notice this crisis, or rather, he was too eager to attack. In Zhang Sheng's half of the territory, he could at least employ four exquisite combinations to defeat Zhang Sheng's old general. This game was too exhilarating; he was focused on how to win this round beautifully while manipulating the pieces.

The landlord said, picking up the large, black brick-like mobile phone, pressed a few numbers, and warmly said: "Yan Yan, it's your brother-in-law, hi! How many brother-in-laws can you have? It's Ye Zhiqiu, right, right, where are you now? Oh? You need to go to the city government for business, where are you now? That's great, swing by the old house shop, someone is looking for trouble."

Damn, you have to pay the rent for this month all by yourself! Guo Fatty has played his trump card

The loudspeaker at the entrance of the hair salon across the street incessantly questions every passerby, while the pedestrians, like eggplants struck by frost, hurry by without stopping to respond.

Life is like walking through a maze; you never know what will happen next, just as you do not know if you will ultimately find your way out of the maze, or if the maze has no exit at all. Fate is akin to a game of chess; if it has reached a stalemate, what else can one do but concede and start anew? For these two unfortunate companions, they are currently in a deadlock.

The weather is exceedingly hot, and the two tall poplar trees along the road are listlessly drooping their leaves. Occasionally, a slight breeze passes by, causing them to lazily sway a few times. This is the summer of 1995, and this year's summer feels unusually sultry.

"Here, have a cigarette!" Director Xu said with a smile as he handed him a Seven Wolves cigarette.

Zhang Sheng remained silent, observing coldly from the side, trying to ascertain the landlord's bottom line, hoping to persuade him to terminate the contract as much as possible. However, the landlord's words made his heart sink. This landlord... is not an easy person to deal with, is he? He did not say anything else, going around in circles, only referring to that one contract, completely disregarding any sense of personal relations. How can we negotiate under such circumstances?

Guo Pangzi was furious, panting with anger: "I said, Brother Ye, isn't what you're saying too unreasonable? Have you any idea that the two of us have been working for you for the past six months for nothing? We have suffered significant losses, and we also have wives and children to support. This house is still yours; what loss do you have? One shouldn't be so ruthless in dealing with others"

One of his artillery pieces was positioned next to the old commander, keeping watch on one side, with the front aimed at the enemy. Only one horse and a pawn had crossed the river. However, Director Xu was eager to attack, and his defense line had many vulnerabilities. If he pressed forward instead of tightening his rear defense, then Zhang Sheng, the undercover general, could force out his old commander, at which point that pawn that had crossed the river would play a decisive role

Zhang Sheng has experienced numerous setbacks in life and is no longer as naive and impulsive as he once was. He had long anticipated the predicament of the small restaurant, but until the very last moment, he always held onto a glimmer of hope, wishing to transfer the business and minimize his losses. However, the notice for the transfer has been posted for two months with no inquiries at all, which has instead adversely affected the business. He truly finds himself at a loss.

Guo Pangzi exclaimed in exasperation: "Is there anyone like you? Oh, so my brother and I must work for two years at a loss, just to work for you for free? I refuse to do it; is it acceptable for me to give you my house? Where is the logic in this world? Aren't you forcing good people into a corner?"

Zhang Sheng said with a smile, "I can't pretend to be something I'm not; the factory director plays too well. If I don't resort to sneak attacks, I won't be able to win."

The middle-aged man opposite Zhang Sheng is named Xu Haisheng, the deputy factory director in charge of finance at the Sanxing Printing Factory. The Santana parked nearby is his vehicle. Today, while on official business, he passed by here, saw an old chess friend, and got out of the car to catch up and play a game.

He saw Zhang Sheng jump up and tease him, and quickly laughed, "Don't mess around, don't mess around, I'm sweating profusely just standing here, I can't take it!"

Speaking of which, in terms of interpersonal skills and social experience, how can the two of them compare to others? If they had even half of the landlord's shrewdness, they wouldn't have been so easily deceived by that person surnamed Ye when they first became unemployed, fearing that others would snatch away the prime rental opportunity and hastily signing the lease.

Next door is a small restaurant. On this hot day, there are no customers arriving. A balding, overweight man sits inside the door, carelessly spreading his legs and swatting at flies with a dazed expression, as if he is on the verge of dozing off. Inside, there is a young girl wearing an apron, clearly from the countryside, with dark skin and a face that always carries a healthy flush of deep red. She holds a small mirror in her hand, pressing and poking at her face.

How many good sisters do you have, and why does each sister look so haggard? How many good sisters do you have, ah—why has each sister married tears? Ah—my brother, who do you truly love in your heart ... ...

The two individuals have been playing chess for a long time, and they are both familiar with each other's strategies. Director Xu prefers an aggressive style of play, characterized by bold and sweeping moves, akin to a mountain pressing down or a lion hunting a rabbit, with a fierce offensive. Whenever he makes a move, he invariably opens with both cannons, excelling in attack.

Zhang Sheng laughed and said: "No, those who offend my chrysanthemum shall be punished, no matter how far they are!"

Ye Zhiqiu cast a disdainful glance at the two and said lightly: "We brothers usually see each other often, and over the past six months, we have developed some camaraderie. I truly cannot bring myself to say anything too heartless.

Guo Pangzi yawned, lifted the curtain, and walked out. Zhang Sheng was there picking up the chess pieces, and Guo Pangzi kicked him on the backside.

Director Xu smiled and waved his hand, saying: "One must accept the outcome of the gamble, one must accept the outcome of the gamble"

Guo Pangzi sat down abruptly after being in a daze for a long time, causing the chair to creak under his weight. He turned to the side and, in a defiant manner, said: "Brother Ye, don't use these matters to pressure me. I just can't continue any longer; do as you please!"

Perhaps Zhang Sheng had already seen that lethal move, for he noticed that his opponent's gaze had once lingered on his seemingly isolated and harmless knight. Yet, in the end, he merely smiled and shifted his gaze away. Zhang Sheng had never once looked at that knight; he furrowed his brows, fixated on the chessboard before him, as if he were deeply contemplating a way to extricate himself from the predicament.

Ye Zhiqiu snapped a stack of chopsticks and coldly remarked, "Gentlemen, I am not forcing you. Our contract is clearly written in black and white. If you truly wish to cease operations, that is beyond my control. However, the rent must still be paid; otherwise, it would constitute a breach of contract, and you would owe me a penalty of 10,000 yuan. This was agreed upon long ago"

Ye Zhiqiu smiled faintly, showing no concern for Guo Panzai's attitude, and calmly stated: "What principle? We will handle everything according to the law and in accordance with the contract; that is the principle!"

The middle-aged man across is in his forties, tall and well-built, with a slicked-back hairstyle, exuding the aura of a successful middle-aged gentleman

Sure, the factory director is welcome to visit whenever he has time" Zhang Sheng politely stood up to bid farewell