Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 100 - 098 Penthouse Restaurant monthly ticket plus update at 240 votes

Chapter 100: 098 Penthouse Restaurant monthly ticket plus update at 240 votes

After lunch, Qin Xi slung her bag across her back and went out. Qin Zhen was sent off to sleep, while Li Xianglu began to sort through the contents of the chest. There were quite a few little surprises, and she even discovered a hidden compartment in the center of the small camphor wood box.

However, there was no treasure inside, just a letter from ten years ago.

But Li Xianglu felt that this letter would make Grandpa happier than any treasure. Mr. Li’s mood fluctuated greatly throughout the afternoon, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing. Originally planning to go out, Li Xianglu didn’t dare to move and could only stay in the next room, rushing over to check on him at any sound.

Finally, before dinner, Qin Xi returned, without the backpack of gold, now replaced by a bulging package of banknotes.

After dinner, Li Xianglu counted for a long time; it was exactly twenty thousand yuan, which was two thousand yuan more than what one would get from the bank. This confirmed to her that Qin Xi was definitely not as simple as she appeared on the surface. But that wasn’t a bad thing— in this day and age, without some skills and connections, life was hard.

The next morning, Qin Xi first took a ride according to Mr. Li’s wishes and visited An Chenggang’s house, delivering what was said to be five thousand dollars from an old friend of Old Sir An’s, urging An Chenggang to pick himself up, take care of his wife and children, and not revealing the truth.

Coincidentally, after Qin Xi had left that morning, An Chenggang received a note from the Post Office saying there was a package for him.

When he went to pick it up, An Chenggang was shocked – the parcel weighed over fifty pounds, and strangely it was wrapped in brand new blue khaki cloth, causing the post office workers to mutter in disdain: Who would be so clueless at life?

It was quite a struggle to bring it home, but upon opening it, the whole family was astonished. The children jumped with joy; it was full of foodstuff – refined rice, wheat flour, soybeans, black rice, and a big bag of peanuts. Oddly, there was also a lady’s wool sweater, nearly new, and even a military cotton-padded jacket for men.

The children hugged the peanuts, thrilled – they even tasted salty and savory!

Xu Hui, stroking the wool sweater, instinctively thought of Uncle Li’s granddaughter and asked with some confusion.

An Chenggang gave a gentle smile, holding his wife’s frail shoulders, "I think that five thousand yuan was also sent by Uncle Li, and this food is probably from him too."

Xu Hui’s mouth dropped open in surprise – it was so much.

An Chenggang sighed, "When you have too many lice, you’re not afraid of itching – let’s owe it for now and repay it ever we get the chance!"

Tears of joy streamed down Xu Hui’s face. For many years, it didn’t matter if she had to skip a meal or wear less – she could put up with it. But the children, they were still young, unable to resist envying others’ food, and she couldn’t blame anyone but had to persevere. Even the strongest heart tires, and on many nights she’d ask herself how much longer she could hold on.

This help arrived so timely, she thought. Whether it seemed opportunistic or for her children’s sake, she accepted it.

Wiping away her tears, Xu Hui picked up a maroon long sweater and joyously told her children, "Mom will unravel this sweater and knit two new ones for you, then you can wear new clothes for the New Year!"

The children immediately jumped up in delight.

While the An family of four was overjoyed, Mr. Li grandly took three children to the entrance of ’Shanghai First State-owned International Hotel’, which was the precursor to ’Shanghai International Hotel’ ten years later.

The group of four stood in front of this twenty-four-story building, overwhelmed by the towering structure.

Qin Zhen couldn’t resist exclaiming, "You could probably touch the clouds."

His words drew disdainful looks and gentle snickers from passersby.

But who was Qin Zhen? The bully of Li Family Village. Hearing someone laugh at him, he instantly scowled and glared fiercely, "You dare to laugh at your grandpa!"

The people of Shanghai, who prefer to avoid trouble, hurriedly scuttled away.

Mr. Li laughed and shook his head, generously saying, "Come on, let’s go to the top floor and see if we can touch the clouds!"

High-end revolving door, after a few people entered, a polite receptionist asked, "Please show your work evidence."

Mr. Li leisurely took out a green booklet from his pocket, which the receptionist received with a puzzled look, then politely said, "Please wait a moment, I’ll check with my supervisor."

Qin Zhen looked at the person disdainfully, his eyes sparkling as he observed things he had never seen before around him—a vase as tall as a person, leather sofas, female servers dressed in black suits looking pretty, and so on, even foreigners with high noses and blue eyes!

Qin Zhen stared unabashedly until the person felt uncomfortable and left.

Qin Xi slapped her brother impatiently, "Behave yourself!"

Qin Zhen patted his chest with an exaggeratedly frightened expression, "I thought that Old Maozi was going to suck human blood!"

Li Xianglu shook her head; this guy was obviously a living gem.

The receptionist came back quickly, now with a respectful and polite expression, "Please head to the elevator."

The four of them took the elevator directly to the top floor.

The top floor featured a restaurant surrounded by glass, offering a panoramic view of the entire Shanghai.

The four were led to a seat near the glass. Qin Zhen stuck himself against the glass and, after looking down, quickly squatted on the ground in fear, patting his chest.

Li Xianglu was at a loss for words; had it not been for the server’s accustomed demeanor, she would’ve immediately cut ties with this character.

The old man took the menu, looked at it briefly, and said, "One ginger scallion crab, one braised pork." Then he handed it to Qin Xi, "You pick two dishes per person."

Qin Xi didn’t pick but instead handed the menu to Li Xianglu with a pampering tone, "Come, pick some of your favorite dishes."

Qin Zhen, who had regained his composure, heard his brother’s words and immediately pouted, "Humph, if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was your real sister."

Qin Xi didn’t respond but instead smiled and said, "We owe it to Grandpa Li; otherwise, we wouldn’t be qualified to come here."

Not qualified? Li Xianglu raised her eyebrows in confusion.

Qin Xi explained, "To dine at the rooftop restaurant, one has to be above Level 13 and can only bring one guest."

Li Xianglu opened her mouth slightly in surprise. So there were restrictions. She glanced at the menu, her eyes lit up, "One steamed mandarin fish, then a lotus leaf chicken, crab roe trotters, and for the vegetable dish, black fungus stir-fried with yam." She then blinked and added, "For the soup, take a black chicken stewed with three blanc." Afterward, she put down the menu a bit shyly; she had checked the prices just now—even that vegetable dish was 8 yuan, not to mention the meat dishes.

Mr. Li laughed, "Keep ordering, there’s one more."

Li Xianglu’s eyes widened, what did he mean by one more?

Qin Xi explained with a smile, "Each person is limited to two dishes, the four of us can order eight in total, and we can take home what we can’t finish."

Upon hearing there was one last dish to pick, Qin Zhen grabbed the menu—humph, he hadn’t ordered yet!

ps: There is one more update, coming a bit more than an hour from now.

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