Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

Li Chunsheng's smile faded.

"Sir!" He looked around and lowered his voice, "You can't just say things like that! We ordinary folks don't know anything about ideologies. To me, it doesn't matter who's president, as long as they don't ruin my business or steal my money, that's a good world."

He pointed to the braised pork in front of him: "You said this braised pork is like the common people, and I think you're quite right. But what the common people want is just a hot meal, isn't it? As for the rest, that's for the big shots to worry about. As for me, I just want to run this restaurant well, earn a couple more dollars, find a wife, and have a big, healthy son. That's enough for me!"

These words, though extremely vulgar, are also extremely true.

This is the most basic philosophy of survival for ordinary people at the bottom of Chinese society for thousands of years.

After listening, Zhou Zhengnan remained silent for a moment.

He looked at the young boss in front of him, and the sparkle in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a faint sense of loss.

It seems I was overthinking things.

This Li Chunsheng was just a commoner with a little courage, some skills, and a couple of years of schooling. As for that song, he probably heard it from some student who had studied abroad.

"Hahahaha!" Zhou Zhengnan suddenly laughed, raising his glass. "Boss Li is right! When it comes to life, having enough to eat and wear is the most important thing! I was being old-fashioned. Come on, let me toast you!"

Li Chunsheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly picked up his teacup: "Sir, you flatter me. I'll offer you this tea instead of wine!"

After a glass of wine, Zhou Zhengnan regained his refined and easygoing demeanor and began chatting with Li Chunsheng about food. Only then did Li Chunsheng realize that this Mr. Zhou was also a gourmet with profound knowledge of food.

The two hit it off as they chatted, developing a close friendship despite their age difference.

Just then, the thick cotton curtain at the door was lifted, and a gust of cold wind mixed with noisy voices rushed in.

"Brother! This is the place! I heard the drinks are free!"

"Seriously, is this for real? Let's go!"

Five or six burly men with fierce faces barged in. Judging from their attire, they looked like martial arts practitioners from the Tianqiao area or idlers who frequented the streets. They all reeked of alcohol, clearly having already had a round of drinks elsewhere.

Li Chunsheng frowned slightly.

Restaurant owners are most afraid of drunkards who have had too much to drink, as they are prone to causing trouble.

But he immediately put on a smile and went to greet them: "Gentlemen, please come in! There are seats available!"

"Boss!" A burly man with a full beard, who was leading the group, plopped down on the table in the middle and slammed his fist on it, shouting, "I heard you don't charge for alcohol here? Bring me the wine jar! And five bowls of braised pork buns, extra garlic, extra buns!! Hurry up!"

"Okay! Please wait a moment!"

Li Chunsheng gave Yunniang a wink, signaling her to go to the kitchen to get the dishes, while he went to pour wine for the guests. He didn't want Yunniang to deal with such uncouth people, lest she be taken advantage of.

But in this world, what you fear most often comes to pass.

Yunniang carried the braised pork buns out of the kitchen, head down, intending to quickly put them on the table and leave.

"The braised pork and wheat cakes are here!" Yunniang put down the plate and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, the burly man with the thick beard stretched out a large, hairy hand and grabbed Yunniang's wrist.

Yunniang cried out in fright, "What are you doing! Let go!"

"Hey! This little wench's hands are pretty smooth!" The burly man with a thick beard, emboldened by alcohol, slurred Yunniang into his arms, his cloudy eyes scanning her up and down.

Zhou Zhengnan put down his wine glass, his brows furrowed, and his hand reached for the briefcase beside him.

Li Chunsheng's face darkened, and he was about to rush over.

Suddenly, as if he had discovered a new continent, the burly man with the thick beard moved closer to Yunniang's face, stared at it for two seconds, and then burst into a lewd laugh.

"Hahaha! No wonder it looked so familiar!"

The burly man pointed at Yunniang's terrified face and shouted, "Brothers! Look! Isn't that the prostitute from Xiheyan? What's her name again? Right! Her name is something like Yunniang! Yes, yes, that's Yunniang!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the men around the big man immediately focused on Yunniang.

Those gazes contained surprise, disdain, curiosity, and even a hint of schadenfreude, as if they were watching a good show.

Yunniang's body stiffened instantly. Her worst nightmare had descended upon her without warning, just days after this new life had begun.

"You...you've mistaken me for someone else!" Yunniang's voice trembled as she desperately tried to break free from the big man's grasp.

"Admit your mistake? How could I possibly admit my mistake!" The burly man grinned lewdly, not letting go but gripping even tighter. "Last month I even spent thirty copper coins to patronize your business! What's wrong? You're pretending not to know me just because you're dressed as a respectable woman? What kind of upright person are you pretending to be!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected this restaurant to look so respectable, but it turns out they're hiding this kind of scum inside!"

"Boss! Is this woman for sale? How much for a night?"

"It's cheap! Brothers, let's treat ourselves to something fancy tonight!"

The other men also joined in the commotion, spewing vulgarities.

Yunniang felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown into the street; the shame made her want to smash her head against a pillar and die immediately.

She closed her eyes in despair.

It's over, it's over.

Her new life, her dignity, her self-respect were shattered in that moment.

Just as Yunniang was about to collapse, a hand suddenly reached out and gripped the wrist of the bearded man tightly.

"Let go."

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness.

Yunniang opened her eyes.

Li Chunsheng was already standing by the table, his face expressionless, but his eyes, which were usually filled with a friendly smile, now seemed to be filled with icy coldness.

Li Chunsheng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight in the restaurant.

He simply held the big man's hand.

However, reality is not a martial arts novel. Li Chunsheng is just a cook, but the bearded man in front of him must be a tough guy who has practiced martial arts in Tianqiao and has been working in the streets for many years.

That body of flesh wasn't for nothing; his arms were thicker than Li Chunsheng's calves.

The bearded man was taken aback at first, then, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, he grinned and flipped his wrist, almost causing Li Chunsheng to stumble with his brute strength.

"Oh ho? Pretty boy trying to be a hero and save the damsel in distress?"

The bearded man didn't let go; instead, he pulled Yunniang even closer to him, his breath reeking of alcohol: "What's wrong, Manager Li? Feeling sorry for her? I was wondering why this woman had stopped working lately. Turns out she's climbed the social ladder by getting close to you? What? She's been serving you quite well tonight?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The hooligans who came with him immediately burst into laughter, their words becoming even more unrestrained.

"Brother, maybe she's the boss's wife! If we do this, Boss Li definitely won't be happy!"

"What boss lady? I think she's just a worn-out shoe with gold trim, pretending to be a respectable person!"