Chapter 400: Meeting Li Xun Again
"This voice sounds familiar...!"
Chen Jianhai turned around and saw a middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap, dressed in outdoor travel gear, with a large travel backpack standing in the lobby.
It was none other than Li Xun!
"Boss Chen?!"
"Brother Li!!!"
Chen Jianhai excitedly walked up and gave the bewildered Li Xun a tight hug.
If there's no such thing as fate in this world, Chen Jianhai wouldn't believe it.
How else could it be explained that no matter where he was, the first customer on the opening day of his hotel was always Li Xun?
"Boss Chen, it's really you?! Weren't you in Nanjing? When did you come to Zaomen?" Li Xun stared wide-eyed, full of disbelief.
"This is the new hotel I bought in Zaomen. Today is the first day of business, come in and have a rest!" Chen Jianhai quickly took off Li Xun's backpack and handed him a bottle of mineral water.
"Boss Chen is expanding his business and opening new ventures!" Li Xun said in amazement as he sat on a small stool, looking at the hotel.
Chen Jianhai blushed and said, "Oh, it's not about opening new ventures, just trying my luck. Brother Li, are you on another cultural trip?"
Li Xun nodded, "Not really a cultural trip. This time, I'm working with the Zaomen Historical and Cultural Center to follow the historical route through Zaomen, and unexpectedly walked into your hotel again."
As they chatted, Li Xun suddenly laughed, "This reminds me of the first time I met you."
"Back then, your hotel was even shabbier than this, without even an elevator..."
"Let's not dig up old embarrassments!" Chen Jianhai laughed. "Are you staying on the first floor again this time?"
Li Xun nodded with a smile, "Yes, the first floor!"
"Got it!" Chen Jianhai laughed and walked to a room on the first floor, skillfully and thoroughly cleaning it.
Even though higher floors have better views, the surroundings here were desolate with nothing but construction sites. Moreover, aside from the three of them, there wasn't a soul in the entire hotel.
Rather than staying alone on an empty floor, it was better for the three of them to stay on the first floor, where they could look out for each other.
As a professional hotel owner, a master bed maker, and a cleaning expert, Chen Jianhai could make even an ordinary guest room feel cozy and comfortable.
While Chen Jianhai was tidying up the room, Xiao Lang prepared instant noodles for Li Xun, using hot water from a thermos left by a kind woman running a wonton stall nearby.
Xiao Lang regretfully said, "Brother Li, you came too late. There were many food stalls outside earlier. Now you'll have to make do with instant noodles."
Li Xun was deeply touched as he took the instant noodle cup, "This is already great!"
"When I first visited his hotel, forget instant noodles, there wasn't even bottled water. I had to eat the bread I brought with me..."
Saying this, Li Xun took a fork and started eating the noodles. The warm noodles instantly made him feel comfortable, easing the fatigue of the journey.
"Talking behind my back again!" Chen Jianhai's voice came from the room.
Li Xun and Xiao Lang chuckled. After about twenty minutes, Chen Jianhai came out of the room and professionally announced,
"Sir, your room is ready. You may check in anytime."
"Thank you," Li Xun replied with a smile.
Reunited with an old friend in a foreign place, Chen Jianhai and Li Xun had endless topics to talk about. The three of them sat on small stools, chatting until the early hours of the morning before finally heading to their rooms to sleep.
Opening the door, Li Xun found the curtains drawn, the bed neatly made with a corner turned down, and the bedside lamp casting a warm, sleepy glow. Despite the hotel's simple decor, it felt new as it had hardly been used since its construction.
Li Xun picked up a towel folded into an elephant on the bed and laughed to himself, "The service is quite good!"
...
The next morning, the three of them lined up early to buy three bottles of goat milk for 30 yuan, then ordered three servings of fried buns and tofu pudding from the market, and ate at a small table by the street.
"This Zaomen climate is so dry. I woke up with a parched throat," Xiao Lang complained, drinking from a bottle of mineral water.
"This water is harsh on the throat, not smooth at all."
Li Xun paused with his chopsticks, surprised, "Mineral water can be harsh on the throat?"
Xiao Lang nodded, "Yes, it can. I've tried many types of mineral water. Only Nuobao water under 3 yuan is smooth, the rest are harsh."
Li Xun opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. In all his years, he had never heard of mineral water being harsh on the throat.
Xiao Lang earnestly continued, "Brother Li, don't disbelieve it. Try a bottle of Nuobao next time, you'll see the difference in smoothness."
"...Alright, I'll give it a try."
...
After breakfast, they rechecked Squirrel Hotel, turned off the power, and locked the door from the outside, planning to explore the city.
Although Squirrel Hotel was theirs, it wasn't fit for habitation. Even with the curtains drawn, the construction site's lights and noise made it unbearable.
Chen Jianhai felt he would go crazy if he stayed another night there.
When Li Xun saw the fingerprint lock on the hotel door, he was surprised, "Boss Chen, you don't need a big iron lock for security?"
Chen Jianhai waved it off, "No need, it's very safe. By the way, Brother Li, how are you traveling?"
Seeing a taxi approaching, Chen Jianhai said, "Brother Li, why don't you hop in, we can give you a ride. This place is so remote, it's hard to find a place to rest at night."
Xiao Lang agreed, "Yes, Brother Li, let us take you wherever you need to go."
Li Xun quickly shook his head and pointed to the village cluster in the east, "I need to visit those villages for my research today, I can't go with you."
"My work requires me to follow the historical path step by step. If I take shortcuts by car, it defeats the purpose."
Chen Jianhai admired Li Xun's dedication, shook his hand tightly, and reluctantly said, "Brother Li, we'll part ways for now. When you finish your tour of Zaomen, come back to Squirrel Hotel. I promise you a surprise!"
Li Xun patted Chen Jianhai's hand, "I look forward to that day!"
After seeing Li Xun off, Chen Jianhai and Xiao Lang got into the taxi. The enthusiastic driver said,
"I knew you two would call me. No one wants to come to this remote place, even if you pay extra."
"Where to?"
Chen Jianhai casually said, "Which is the best barbecue restaurant in Zaomen?"
The driver replied, "The best barbecue in Zaomen is definitely the East Sea Dragon Palace Seafood Barbecue. Not only are the skewers delicious, but the grilled meat is top-notch, and the dipping sauce is amazing!"
Xiao Lang perked up, "Then let's go to the East Sea Dragon Palace Seafood Barbecue!"