Chapter 130: The Association Needs a System

The Coconut Palm Hotel Industry Association is located at 3 Linhai Road, Nanjiang City. It's an eight-story old building nearly 20 years old, situated in the old city center. 

Surrounded by pharmacies, fruit shops, and mobile phone stores, the area is bustling with activity. 

On the way there, Chen Jianhai saw at least five Pikachus, three Transformers, and seven little dinosaurs handing out colorful flyers. Perhaps it was the heat, but one of the "Pikachus" had taken off the headpiece, revealing an old face, looking either tired or sleepy. Though her hand was still raised, her eyes were about to close. 

People continuously moved around, no one taking the flyers, and no one noticing her. This scene lasted only a moment before Xiao Gao, the doorman, pressed the gas pedal and drove Chen Jianhai away from the mobile phone market.

"Why do people of such age come out to work? Isn't it better to rest at home? If they tire themselves out and need medical treatment, the money they earn won't be enough," Xiao Gao, the doorman, sighed.

Chen Jianhai thought for a moment and said, "Anyone who has shoes wouldn't go barefoot. Everyone has their struggles."

...

Indeed...

Everyone has their struggles! Things are rarely smooth sailing for anyone!

Who would have thought that the prestigious Coconut Palm Hotel Industry Association in Nanjiang City didn't even have a parking lot...

"Do other hotel owners take the bus here?" Chen Jianhai stood on the street, looking at the bright bus stop sign for route 63 and the cars occupying two sections of the road. He was speechless.

"If I knew it was this hard to park here, I would have taken bus 63."

If he remembered correctly, there was a stop for bus 63 just 200 meters in front of his hotel.

Xiao Gao, the doorman, had just driven him around this street, only to find there was nowhere to park. 

Left with no choice, Chen Jianhai got out of the car and asked Xiao Gao to find a parking spot. He would call Xiao Gao to pick him up after getting the plaque.

Standing on the street, looking at another pair of Snow Kings across the street, a fried chicken shop at the corner, and a fresh produce store nearby, the area had a simple and bustling charm.

If he didn't know this was the hotel association, he might have thought he was at the Nanjiang City Culinary Arts and Dessert Association.

...

The air conditioning inside the building was very strong. As soon as he walked in, Chen Jianhai shivered.

This hotel… the decor seemed familiar!

Looking at the association, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia, as if he were seeing his initial Lang Ai Hotel again. The lobby's decor exuded a decayed sense of luxury. The chandelier was clean, and the fixtures looked exquisite, but somehow it still appeared old and the lighting was dim.

On the left upon entering was a reception room. Inside, an old man in a cotton vest was drinking ginseng and goji berry tea from a thermos. One might think this was in the northeast.

"This association needs a system…" An inexplicable thought popped into Chen Jianhai's head.

"System?!" Chen Jianhai called out in his mind, but there was no response.

"System?" Still no response.

Alright! Maybe the system is only useful for the hotel.

Perhaps Chen Jianhai looked too young; the old man at the reception thought he was just a runner from the hotel. He spoke rudely, barely lifting his eyelids, and casually told Chen Jianhai a room number before burying himself back in his phone.

...

Although this place was an association, to Chen Jianhai, it felt more like a formal office building. Each floor had about ten offices, all with open doors. Inside, people were either copying documents, working on computers, or sticking invoices with glue. Everyone seemed very busy.

On the fourth floor of the association, Chen Jianhai walked to an office, knocked on the door, and asked, "Hello, is this where I collect the plaque and certificate?"

Inside the office, a girl in a blue sleeveless dress was quickly writing something at the desk. On the table next to her were small stacks of certificates and plaques.

Hearing the voice, the girl looked up and asked, "Which hotel are you from?"

"Lang Ai Hotel," Chen Jianhai replied.

He really wanted to proudly and confidently announce that he was the owner of Lang Ai Hotel, like in TV shows and novels, and make a low-key show of it. But the atmosphere and environment of the office made it hard for him to act that way. Moreover, as the owner of a hotel, personally coming to collect the plaque and certificate seemed a bit embarrassing. It felt more natural to hide his true identity.

"Sign here," the girl handed him a form. Then, she turned and grabbed the top two items from the stack of certificates and plaques, giving them to Chen Jianhai.

Chen Jianhai signed the form and took the certificate and plaque, feeling dazed. There was a thin layer of dust on the plaque. 

"Is that it?"

"What else do you want?" the girl replied bluntly.

In his impression, getting a five-star hotel rating was a significant achievement. Even if there wasn't an award ceremony, it should be handed over by the association president, like at the Olympics, right?

He looked down at the certificate and plaque, with the same words, names, and handwriting… Clearly mass-produced, with no special or unique touch.

Instantly, Chen Jianhai's excitement was doused with cold water.

"I worry day and night, can't eat or sleep."

"My employees work tirelessly, day and night."

"And in the end, it's all for this shabby plaque and piece of paper??"

Chen Jianhai found it laughable. To him, the Coconut Palm Hotel Industry Association and a five-star hotel were dreams and ideals inherited from his father, like dreams at the end of the sea, distant and beautiful. But when he finally arrived, he found it to be nothing special!

Chen Jianhai couldn't articulate his feelings. Just as he was about to leave, the girl glanced at his signature and suddenly exclaimed, "Chen Jianhai... Are you Boss Chen?"

Seeing Chen Jianhai nod affirmatively and awkwardly, the girl became excited and flustered.

"I didn't expect you to come in person! Please, have a seat, I'll get you some tea!"

"Usually, only assistants come to pick these up. No hotel owner has ever come personally."

"I've watched videos of your hotel online. I really, really like your hotel!"

"Oh my gosh… Why did you come in person!"