Chapter 398: Fingerprint Lock?!

Xiao Lang didn't say this out loud, but his eyes betrayed him.

Although Chen Jianhai had mentally prepared himself, he still needed a moment to process the sight of the large market in front of him.

"This place is nice..."

Chen Jianhai's voice was a bit dry. "You step outside and there's food everywhere, even fruit. It's bustling and the market is thriving."

As if to underscore his words, they heard someone shout nearby, "Fresh goat milk, 10 yuan a bottle!"

"Baaa...!"

The three of them turned towards the sound, seeing a middle-aged man in a black jacket holding a mineral water bottle in one hand and milking a goat with the other. There were four more goats bleating beside his cart, and at least twenty people queuing with bottles.

"Fresh goat milk, 10 yuan a bottle. First come, first served!" the man called out, handing a bottle to someone in line.

"Wow, 10 yuan for a bottle of goat milk!"

"That's so cheap!"

Xiao Lang's eyes lit up. "Bro, I've never had such fresh goat milk!"

Chen Jianhai was excited too. "Neither have I! When we get to the hotel, let's grab some bottles and buy some milk!"

The driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror with a look of amused pity.

"We're here. This is Squirrel Hotel."

The taxi stopped in front of a six-story building. "Here's my card. If you can't find a ride back to the city, call me and I'll pick you up."

Chen Jianhai took the driver's card and glanced at the meter.

"Uncle, I've transferred the fare to you. Please accept it."

After saying this, Chen Jianhai and Xiao Lang opened the car doors, but after a few steps, the driver rolled down the window.

"You've paid too much! I don't need this much!" The driver, holding up his phone with the payment record, called out anxiously. "Show me your code, and I'll refund you the extra."

Chen Jianhai waved his hand. "Keep it, Uncle. I can't let you come here for nothing. Besides, I'll need your service again next time. You shouldn't lose out."

Chen Jianhai was sincere, but the driver wouldn't agree. He insisted on charging only what was on the meter and even got out of the car to stop Chen Jianhai from entering the hotel until the extra money was returned.

"This amount is just too much. If it were an extra 2 or 5 yuan, I'd accept it. But I can't take this," the driver said seriously.

In the end, Chen Jianhai had no choice but to open his payment code and take back the extra money. Only then did the driver relax, waving goodbye as he drove away.

"This uncle is really nice. If it were me, I'd have kept it," Xiao Lang remarked.

"Exactly. Who returns money that's already in their pocket?" Chen Jianhai added.

Then, he quickly said, "Oh crap, let's get some water. The goat milk might be gone soon!"

When Chen Jianhai and Xiao Lang, now with full stomachs from drinking water, reached the goat milk stall, the middle-aged man regretfully told them that he had sold out for the day.

If they wanted some, they'd have to queue early the next morning.

"Geez, we should've queued first and then drank water," Xiao Lang said, patting his slightly swollen stomach and letting out a burp.

"Tell me about it!" Chen Jianhai felt uncomfortable too from all the water.

He wanted to throw away the water bottles but then remembered they'd need them for the goat milk the next day, so he held onto them as they headed to the Squirrel Hotel.

Standing in front of the hotel again, Chen Jianhai looked up and examined his lucky prize from the system.

Compared to the shabby houses around it, the Squirrel Hotel looked quite out of place.

The hotel's exterior was similar to the modern hotels in the city center, with a contemporary look and new bricks, as if it was built in the last couple of years.

After a careful inspection, Chen Jianhai suddenly exclaimed, "You know what, this hotel's location isn't bad at all!"

Xiao Lang rolled his eyes. "What's so good about it?"

Chen Jianhai, with a mysterious look, explained, "Look, there's a shaomai stall to the left, a wonton stall to the right, mountain goods sold across the street, and a construction site at the back. What does this tell you?"

Xiao Lang frowned and shook his head.

Chen Jianhai, frustrated, said, "Shaomai is fire, wontons are water, mountain goods are wood, and the construction site is earth. Fire, water, earth, and wood surround the hotel. Doesn't that make it gold?"

"This means the hotel is in a prime spot, destined for wealth and prosperity!"

Chen Jianhai's analysis was so detailed he was almost spitting.

"Heh."

Xiao Lang smirked, "Bro, sometimes I think you're wasting your talent not working as a real estate agent."

"All the same," Chen Jianhai laughed wryly, then, to Xiao Lang's surprise, knocked on the door.

He had no choice; the system gave him the hotel but not the keys. The door was firmly shut, so he had to try knocking.

After knocking for a while, Xiao Lang couldn't hold back, "Bro, it's your hotel. Don't you have the key?"

Chen Jianhai, embarrassed, said, "Of course, I do."

Instinctively, he put his hand on the door handle.

Suddenly, a series of mechanical sounds came from the door, like something out of a TV show where a tomb's mechanism is unlocked or a treasure is claimed by blood.

The hotel door slowly opened under Chen Jianhai's hand.

A musty smell, indicating long-term vacancy, wafted from the door.

The hotel's interior was dark, with no lights on.

Chen Jianhai was stunned. The door opened just like that? There couldn't be anything inside, right?

He cautiously peered through the crack, ready for anything that might jump out.

Xiao Lang watched with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"This is a first for me."

"I've never seen a hotel door locked with a fingerprint lock before!"

Xiao Lang looked at Chen Jianhai, unsure whether to praise him or call him foolish.

Even if you don't use a traditional lock, an iron chain and padlock would be better than an electronic lock... Seriously!

All in all, it was a complicated feeling.

"There are more firsts to come!"

Chen Jianhai blushed, maintaining a stubborn pride as he pushed the door open. "Come on, let's go in and see more firsts!"