lerbook Chapter 353 Oh, what a coincidence!
Chapter 353 Oh, what a coincidence!
Chapter 353 Oh, what a coincidence!
Yu Huan gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands and slowly drove the BMW into the parking lot of the Morning Post building.
The drizzle mixed with small ice pellets had just stopped when snowflakes began to fall heavily from the gray sky.
Yu Huan turned off the engine, gently tightened the warm scarf around her neck, and then opened the car door.
A cold wind suddenly howled into the car, instantly dispelling the slight warmth created by the air conditioner.
My feet sank into the ground, making a soft "crunching" sound. Looking down, I saw that the ground was covered with a thin layer of pale frost.
Yu Huan had his left hand in his pocket and his right hand tucked into his sleeve as he closed the car door.
A biting cold swept over him, making Yu Huan shiver involuntarily. He quickly wrapped his coat tighter around himself and jogged toward the building entrance with a creaking sound.
The frost on the ground sank slightly under his feet, leaving shallow footprints that were quickly filled in by newly fallen snowflakes.
The light snow came quickly and went quickly; in less than two hours, the snowflakes in the sky became increasingly sparse until they stopped completely.
The gloomy sky began to brighten, as if the snow had washed away the dust.
Yu Huan stood by the office window, gently rubbing her temples as she sorted out her thoughts while looking down at the square in front of the Morning Post building.
Upon closer inspection, one can vaguely see some white residue remaining on the green plants and flower beds.
From his perspective, the rooftops of the low-rise buildings on the street a little further away were also covered with a thin blanket of snow.
Apart from that, the snow left few traces and is expected to disappear soon.
Mondays are always busy, with a ton of things to do.
Yu Huan stretched his body, which had been sitting for a long time, and soon returned to his desk, put his finger on the mouse, and began to approve the news content.
The central air conditioning system blows warm air, making the place feel like springtime, but staying there for a long time makes one feel thirsty and parched.
Yu Huan's gaze remained fixed on the computer screen, her thoughts wandering in the light.
After licking his dry lips, he casually picked up his mug and took a big gulp of cooled boiled water.
The liquid slid down my throat instantly, and a cool sensation brought a slight sense of relief.
Just as Yu Huan put down her cup, her phone on the side of the mousepad suddenly vibrated, the sudden ringtone breaking the silence.
With his wife's beautiful singing voice still lingering in his ears, Yu Huan picked up his phone and saw that it was an unfamiliar local number.
He answered the phone at a leisurely pace.
"Hello, is this Mr. Yu Huan, the owner of No. 37 Xiangchun Road?" A rather mature female voice came from the other end of the phone.
Yu Huan's heart skipped a beat, and she replied with a hint of doubt, "It's me. What can I do for you?"
"I work for an appraisal agency, mainly responsible for the demolition appraisal work on Xiangchun Road. We noticed that your shop is closed. Due to the special circumstances here, we plan to conduct a preliminary on-site investigation. Would today be a convenient time for you?"
The other person was very polite, which made me feel like I was bathed in a spring breeze.
Upon hearing this, Yu Huan pondered for a moment.
The four storefronts were combined into one large shop, and he holds four property ownership certificates, making his situation quite unique.
However, judging from what they said, it seems to be just an investigation, not a formal assessment?
He quickly gathered his thoughts and replied, "I'm quite busy at work today, so I only have time from noon to 1 p.m. or after 5 p.m. How long does it typically take you to conduct a survey?"
Say it.
A faint murmur came through the receiver; the other party was clearly discussing something with someone.
Not a moment.
The mature woman's voice was clear as she asked, "We just need to understand the actual condition of the house and take some photos to provide a basis for the subsequent evaluation. It won't take long. If your time permits, we would like to conduct an on-site inspection around noon, is that alright?"
Yu Huan glanced at the bottom right corner of the computer screen. It was 11:20, almost noon.
Although time is limited, it's still possible to turn things around.
He immediately replied, "Okay, I'll be at the shop at 12:15."
After exchanging a few more polite words and hanging up the phone, Yu Huan felt a surge of anticipation.
As for being a recipient of land expropriation compensation, it was a completely new experience for him, like a young woman getting married for the first time. Overall, it was quite a novel experience.
Yu Huan put down her phone and sped up the process of approving news content.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye under his complete concentration.
The work is coming to an end, and there are only about ten minutes left before lunch break.
Without any delay, Yu Huan logged off the computer with a crisp click of the mouse.
He then turned around, picked up the jacket from the back of the chair, quickly put it on, and then took out a cotton mask from his pocket and carefully put it on.
Then he stood up and walked out of the office.
Inside the workspace, the scene was busy yet orderly. Everyone was focused on their own tasks, with the constant clatter of keyboards filling the air.
Yu Huan looked around before turning her gaze away, nodded slightly, and strode to the elevator, pressing the down button.
The elevator wasn't busy at the moment, and after a few moments, Yu Huan walked out of the Zaobao building in two quick steps.
The sky was bright, there was no rain or snow, only a gentle breeze brushing against my forehead.
Yu Huan didn't stop walking; she turned and headed towards the parking lot.
Suddenly, he remembered that his electric scooter had been parked in the bike shed for quite some time without being started...
Looking up, the sky was a clear blue without a trace of clouds, and the wind was not strong; the weather had improved considerably.
Seeing this, Yu Huan had an idea and decided to take it for a walk anyway.
With this thought in mind, he strode quickly toward the bicycle shed.
When I arrived in the morning, the ground crunched underfoot, but the light frost had long since disappeared, leaving only some dampness.
Yu Huan stopped and looked at the sticker above the license plate on the back of the electric scooter that read "Don't chase me, I'm married," and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Unlock the U-lock, open the seat box, and take out the helmet and gloves.
After getting dressed, Yu Huan slowly pushed the electric scooter out and then lightly straddled it.
He gently turned the handle, and the electric scooter started smoothly. With a soft "humming" sound, everything in his field of vision began to slowly recede.
Yu Huan's stomach was empty at this moment, and the feeling of hunger made him particularly focused.
Through the helmet visor, he kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, skillfully maneuvering his electric scooter, sometimes accelerating, sometimes decelerating, cleverly avoiding cars and pedestrians.
Before long, Yu Huan saw the road sign for Xiangchun Road.
After passing a traffic light, the familiar streets and shops came into view. He rode his electric scooter directly onto the sidewalk and leaned against the side of the shop entrance.
He glanced around but didn't see anyone who looked like an assessment agency, then took out his phone from his pocket to check the time. It was only a little past twelve.
Yu Huan took off his helmet and hung it on the handlebars. He looked back at the noodle shop across the street and decided to slurp up a bowl of noodles to appease his hunger.
He had been to this old shop many times. The floor was covered with gray glazed tiles that were relatively resistant to oil stains, and nearly twenty wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged in three rows. The overall area was quite large.
At this time, the restaurant was more than half full, and business was doing well. The sounds of diners talking and clinking bowls and chopsticks mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.
Next to the cashier, there is a huge glass counter displaying a variety of delicious braised dishes and snacks.
The rich aroma wafted through the gaps in his mask, gently wafting into Yu Huan's nostrils and instantly triggering a rumbling in his stomach.
While waiting in line, Yu Huan couldn't help but swallow, genuinely feeling a bit hungry.
After the young couple in front of him finished ordering and moved aside, Yu Huan stepped forward and said loudly to the cashier, "Miss, give me a bowl of spicy beef rice noodles."
"Okay." The young woman nodded, looked him over carefully, and then operated the cash register for a while.
Yu Huan paused, then continued with great enthusiasm, "Double the code and a fried egg! And give me an order of braised chicken feet too."
He's about to become a recipient of compensation for his land expropriation, so he has to be extravagant this time.
"Okay," the younger sister replied quickly.
Yu Huan counted out three bills from his wallet and handed them to the younger sister. Taking the number she gave him, he walked to the innermost side without thinking and sat down facing the wall.
An old man at the next table held a bowl in both hands, occasionally making a soft slurping sound, then quickly put down the bowl, got up and left.
Yu Huan keenly noticed that her phone vibrated in her pocket, and then took it out to look at it.
Upon seeing the text message reminding me of my phone bill balance, I opened the Taobao app without thinking and found a top-up service that only offers discounts of 85% these days. I chose the 100 yuan denomination and cleverly saved 15 yuan.
Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly caught someone silently placing something on the table.
Yu Huan looked up and saw that it was the waiter who brought him a small plate of braised chicken feet. He quickly smiled and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Before the waiter finished speaking, he turned around, picked up the bowl and chopsticks from the next table, and quickly walked away.
Yu Huan took off her mask and put it back in her pocket. She then reached into the chopstick holder next to her and pulled out a pair of chopsticks wrapped in paper.
He ripped off the paper cover and tossed it onto the table. He picked up a chicken foot with the tip of his chopsticks and took a few bites. A slight spiciness stimulated his taste buds, instantly making his mouth water.
Just as Yu Huan was enjoying his meal, he suddenly noticed a portly, middle-aged man sitting at the next table in his direction.
With thick eyebrows, a broad face, and a cigarette dangling from his lips, he exuded a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) vibe.
As soon as this person appeared, Yu Huan felt that he looked somewhat familiar.
He couldn't help but slightly turn his head, scrutinizing the overweight middle-aged man for a few more seconds—
do not know.
Yu Huan savored the tender yet chewy chicken feet, and just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly noticed that two more figures had taken their seats opposite the middle-aged man who had gained weight.
He couldn't help but turn his head to look, and in that instant, he met a gaze full of surprise.
"Yu Huan!" The other person greeted him with surprise, his mouth slightly open, the cigarette in his mouth seemingly teetering on the verge of falling.
Yu Huan was taken aback, her gaze slowly focusing on the face of the young man with the buzz cut.
He was wearing a simple gray down jacket, and there were no earrings on his ears, which was somewhat different from the image of the little tyrant in our memory.
Yu Huan responded with some surprise, "Hey, what a coincidence."
"What a coincidence! I've been to your house several times during holidays, but I haven't run into you!" The surprise on Little Tyrant's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of great joy.
Upon hearing this, Yu Huan nodded slightly and smiled in response.
Noticing the gazes of the three people at the next table, all staring at her, Yu Huan finally understood why the overweight middle-aged man looked familiar.
It turns out that the thugs he met while fishing with President Xu were Little Tyrant's "big brothers".
Furthermore, a significant conflict erupted between the two sides, with this overweight middle-aged man always at the forefront of the attack.
No wonder he found it so familiar.
Yu Huan thought for a moment, then looked back at the stack of chicken feet on the plate.
"Teacher Yu told me you've been very busy lately, you haven't even had time to go home," the little tyrant said with a loud laugh, acting as if the two were very familiar with each other.
Yu Huan's eyes were calm, without much emotional fluctuation, and she slowly said, "The end of the year is indeed quite busy."
Although his tone was indifferent, Xiao Bawang felt a push on his shoulder from his older brother. After a moment of surprise, he quickly got up with a warm expression and sat down opposite Yu Huan.
He grinned broadly, leaned against the wall, glanced around the room, lowered his voice, and tried to get closer, saying, "Yu Huan, you're so famous now! I bet wherever you go, people will recognize you!"
"Really?" Yu Huan replied casually, clearly knowing that Xiao Bawang knew he was 'Boss Brother'.
"of course!"
As soon as Xiao Bawang replied, the overweight middle-aged man also got up and walked to the side of the table.
With a beaming smile, he pulled a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, offered them to Yu Huan, and said, "Brother, what a coincidence! We've become acquainted through a bit of a misunderstanding. Last time it was me—"
"Thank you, I don't smoke." Yu Huan quickly waved her left hand.
He lowered his head and spat out the bone fragments, then slowly picked up a chicken foot from the plate.
The middle-aged man, who had gained weight, was abruptly interrupted before he could finish speaking, and was momentarily taken aback.
Seeing that he wasn't paying much attention to him, he took a puff of his cigarette, put the Zhonghua cigarette back in his pocket, and pondered for a moment.
Realizing that the so-called "no fight, no friendship" was his doing, Brother Wu gave him a good scolding...
While exhaling smoke, he laughed heartily and said, "It's good that you don't smoke! Brother, that's a good habit of yours. I'm really sorry about what happened last time. I was blind and didn't recognize your talent. I was a bit reckless."
Hearing this, Yu Huan sucked on her chicken feet, recalling the handprint she saw on the face when the Little Tyrant gave her a gift last time, and couldn't help but chuckle and say, "What's past is past, there's nothing to talk about."
The words fell.
The waiter returned with a large soup bowl.
Upon seeing this, the overweight middle-aged man quickly stepped aside.
Yu Huan saw the steaming hot spicy beef noodles placed in front of her, looked up and smiled at the waiter, then said to the two men, "I need to finish my noodles quickly so I can take care of some important things. I won't chat with you any longer."
Upon hearing this, the overweight middle-aged man was slightly taken aback, but then a smile returned to his face.
He quickly waved his hand and said, "It's fate that we met today. Brother, you go ahead and eat. We won't bother you any longer."
Say it.
He winked at the little tyrant sitting opposite Yu Huan.
(End of this chapter)