From the police station, Bai Xuemei glanced at Lu Fan, surprised that this guy had managed to get into the station and call her to bail him out.
"Lu Fan! If you want to buy a car, just buy it with your own money. Stop trying to get things for free! You're young, don't always think of crooked ways!" Bai Xuemei almost said that if this happened again, she wouldn't bail him out.
"Sister Xuemei! I do want to buy a car with money. But I didn't expect to run into those two scumbags who wanted to extort me! They first asked me for a thousand yuan, and then when they saw I had money on my phone, they wanted me to treat them to a meal! Hmph! I just wanted to teach them a lesson, so I used a little trick." Lu Fan said nonchalantly.
He didn't want to take advantage of others, but if an opportunity presented itself, why not take it! He just didn't expect to involve the police.
"Alright! It's past noon now, you haven't eaten yet, have you? How about I treat you to a meal!?" Bai Xuemei didn't take it too seriously. After all, her relationship with Lu Fan was purely business. How he conducted himself wasn't her concern. But as a business partner, it was polite to offer a meal! Especially since the quality of his matsutake mushrooms was unparalleled.
"Thank you, Sister Xuemei! I am indeed hungry!" Lu Fan said directly, without any pretense.
Bai Xuemei drove a BMW, and it was Lu Fan's first time riding in a car of this caliber. He found it incredibly comfortable. But before he could enjoy it for two minutes, they had already arrived at the entrance of Bai Xuemei's restaurant. Lu Fan suddenly felt... this county town, this tiny place, was too damn small.
At the entrance of Yixiangyuan, as Bai Xuemei and Lu Fan got out of the car, they saw a blue Porsche parked outside the restaurant. A well-dressed, distinguished-looking man stepped out of the Porsche. When he saw Bai Xuemei alight from her car, a hint of surprise flashed across his face. However, upon seeing Lu Fan emerge from the car afterward, his expression immediately soured.
"Xuemei! I've been waiting for you for a while," Lin Quan said with a hint of displeasure.
"Young Master Lin!? Is there something you need from me?" Bai Xuemei asked with a slight frown, her tone indifferent.
"Nothing in particular, I just came specifically to see you!" Lin Quan's eyes flickered over Lu Fan before he spoke.
"Oh! If there's nothing else, and you've seen me, then Young Master Lin, please be on your way! I have other guests, so I can't entertain you further!" Bai Xuemei said, nodded at Lu Fan, and directly led him into the hotel.
"You..." Watching Bai Xuemei and Lu Fan enter the hotel, Lin Quan's eyes blazed with anger. He took a deep breath and turned to get back into his car. However, after sitting in the car for a few seconds, he angrily got out again and stormed into the hotel.
Bai Xuemei had intended to let Lu Fan find a place to eat something casually, but as she called over a waitress, she saw Lin Quan storming into the restaurant again. Her brow furrowed immediately.
"Caixia! Please prepare private room number 222, I'm treating a friend to a meal," Bai Xuemei said to the waitress, a young woman named Caixia.
"Alright! Sister Xuemei!" Caixia responded and hurried off to tidy up the room on the second floor.
"Lu Fan! Let's go upstairs!" Bai Xuemei gestured for Lu Fan to follow and led him upstairs.
Lu Fan rubbed his nose and glanced back at Lin Quan, who had just stormed in and was glaring at them. He suddenly felt like he was being used as a human shield.
Inside the private room, a few small dishes were placed in front of Lu Fan. Bai Xuemei sat opposite him, looking preoccupied.
"Sister Xuemei! When you treat someone to a meal, don't you ask if they want to drink?" Lu Fan stared at the small dishes, which were indeed appealing in color, aroma, and taste. However, the only drawback was the lack of alcohol with such good food. Even a couple of bottles of beverages would have been nice! Hmph!
"Oh! My apologies, I'll go get some..." Bai Xuemei seemed completely lost in thought and hastily got up to fetch the wine.
"Sister Xuemei! Actually, I don't drink!" Lu Fan shook his head slightly and added, "Was that Young Master Lin just now your boyfriend? Hehe! Did you have a disagreement?"
"That's none of your business. Eat quickly. We'll leave after you're done," Bai Xuemei suddenly came to her senses, gave Lu Fan a sideways glance, and said.
"Hehe! Alright! Since I'm being used as a shield, I might as well eat! By the way, this food looks so appetizing, I think I'll need another bowl of rice." Lu Fan chuckled, picked up his chopsticks, and began to devour the food with gusto.
Beside him, Bai Xuemei's face instantly flushed. It turned out this kid had figured out she was using him as a shield. But she couldn't help it. Sigh! Alright! Another bowl of rice for you!
"Sister Xuemei! Is a BMW car really that good?" Lu Fan, eating heartily, suddenly remembered something and asked, looking up.
"BMW is a well-known brand, and in a way, it's also a symbol of status. Why are you asking? Do you want to buy a car too?" Bai Xuemei asked in surprise. Having just earned tens of thousands, buying a BMW seemed a bit out of reach!
"I don't want to buy a car! I was just thinking... shouldn't my products also have a brand! Hehe! Will my future farms and cultivated wild mushrooms and mountain vegetables also become well-known brands like BMW! Hehe!" Lu Fan said, laughing.
"Your brand?" Bai Xuemei looked astonished. This kid's thoughts were quite... fanciful! Is it that easy to build a brand? However, seeing the earnest look on his face, she decided not to discourage him.
"You really want to build your own brand!? That's a good thing!" Bai Xuemei said with a faint smile.
"Of course! Look at my farm, hehe! Has it started to take shape!" Lu Fan excitedly took out his phone and found some photos. These were pictures of the pheasants, rabbits, wild boars, and piglets he was raising.
"You... you've really raised so many things!?" Bai Xuemei was stunned by the photos on Lu Fan's phone. The last time this kid mentioned going into farming, she hadn't taken it seriously at all. She never expected him to actually be doing these things.
"Of course, it's true! I've already discussed it with our beautiful village chief. I'm going to contract a piece of mountain for farming and mountain vegetable cultivation. Soon, my wild game series will be on the market! But don't worry, Sister Xuemei, your restaurant will be my primary supplier! Or... perhaps in the future, your restaurant can be my exclusive supplier in the county. I want to make your restaurant a truly unique establishment in the entire county! Hehe!" Lu Fan said excitedly.
"Hehe! Well... then I should thank you in advance! I'll visit your farm when I have time," Bai Xuemei said with a chuckle.
"Of course, you're welcome! However, the dishes at my place might not be as delicious as those made at your restaurant! Hehe!" Lu Fan immediately replied.
Two bowls of rice and a few small dishes were quickly consumed by Lu Fan, who then happily left the Yixiangyuan Grand Hotel.
However, Lu Fan was unaware that just as he left, Lin Quan stormed into Bai Xuemei's office.
"Bai Xuemei! Aren't you going too far! I came all the way from the provincial capital to see you, and you're leaving me waiting while you eat with some country bumpkin!" Lin Quan roared angrily as soon as he entered.
"Lin Quan! This is my office, please don't raise your voice! Besides, I didn't invite you!" Bai Xuemei said, her expression darkening.
"Hmph! Bai Xuemei! I'm your fiancé! Do I need your invitation to come here?" Lin Quan said agitatedly.
"Lin Quan! I never agreed to this marriage!"
"Hmph! This matter might not be up to you to agree or not! Even though your family has retreated to this small county town, in the Bai family, you will never have a say! If you treat me like this now, you'll regret it in the future!" Lin Quan gave Bai Xuemei a cold look and turned to leave.
Bang... After Lin Quan left, Bai Xuemei angrily slammed her hand on the table, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.