It wasn't long before everyone fishing in the river had a catch. Lin Feng caught five or six fish, mostly palm-sized black carp, which was more than enough to make soup for the babies.

"I'll go to the kitchen to make the fish soup for the babies," he announced.

Jiang Anmin hadn't really come to fish with Lin Feng; he was looking for an investment opportunity. He followed Lin Feng into the kitchen and watched, amazed, as his friend worked. With deft, swift movements, Lin Feng scaled and gutted the fish. He then pan-fried the pieces until they were golden brown on both sides before setting them to boil in bubbling water. Next, Jiang Anmin witnessed something even more incredible: Lin Feng took a live fish weighing around three pounds and, in less than a minute, sliced it into paper-thin fillets.

Jiang Anmin watched, completely stunned. He was in absolute awe. Suddenly, he looked at Lin Feng with the eyes of someone who had just discovered a hidden treasure.

"Lin Feng, come outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with you."

After washing his hands, Lin Feng joined Jiang Anmin on the deck. Jiang Anmin pulled out a cigarette and offered it to him before retracting it. "Ah, I forgot, you don't smoke." He took a deep drag himself, his expression growing exceptionally serious.

"Lin Feng, I've talked it over with my family," he began. "I'm going to take a temporary leave from my studies to try starting a business here in Mei City. They've given me three hundred thousand in start-up capital—money that was originally for a down payment on a house.

"I came to you today to ask if you have any good advice. If you know of a suitable project, we could partner up and invest together."

He turned, gazing intently at Lin Feng.

"I've never really known what I wanted to do, but just now, watching you prepare that fish, I realized you're a master chef. What do you think about us opening a fish hotpot restaurant together? I have a hunch that we'd definitely make a lot of money!"

This feeling grew stronger and stronger.

Faced with Jiang Anmin's excitement, Lin Feng's reaction was very calm. "Let me think about it."

The eager flame in Jiang Anmin's eyes gradually faded. "Okay, take your time to think."

Lin Feng isn't short on money, so what could he be considering? Of course, it must be whether I can be trusted. After all, we've only just reunited after so many years. It wouldn't be surprising if he didn't trust me.

Lin Feng smiled. "Isn't your aunt a real estate agent? Why don't you ask her if there are any suitable storefronts available?"

Jiang Anmin's face lit up. "I'll call and ask her right now!"

Lin Feng's response meant there was a real chance!

While Jiang Anmin was on the phone, Lin Feng approached Lin Dashan. "Dad, come with me for a moment. I have something to talk to you about."

Lin Dashan had been standing nearby and had already overheard everything.

In the bedroom, Lin Feng explained that he wanted to bring one of his cousins from the Lin Family into the partnership. "Dad, who do you think would be a good fit?" he asked, referring to Feng Yong, Lin Rui, and Lin Jiajun.

Lin Dashan rubbed his chin, his expression serious. "Your cousin Rui won't work. If you partner with him, you'll constantly have to cater to his moods, and your friend certainly won't appreciate that. Feng Yong is a bit passive, and with Lin Xiaolan in the picture, you'd be asking for endless disputes. That only leaves Lin Jiajun..."

Lin Dashan thought for a moment. "He might be worth a try. You've seen how much he's changed these past few days. Compared to the person he used to be, he's corrected so many of his bad habits. At the end of the day, he was just spoiled by your third uncle and aunt; his fundamental character is still good. He likes to have fun, but he's never been reckless or caused trouble. He knows his limits."

Lin Dashan's thoughts mirrored Lin Feng's. The other day, when they went to buy things for the dry pot, Lin Jiajun had spoken with him. He didn't want to work on construction sites anymore and was looking for a real career. Whether he made a name for himself or not, he wanted to use his youth to strive for something. His two sons had given him a sense of urgency. He felt that once his second son was born, even if he had the ambition to make something of himself, he wouldn't have the time or money. That's why he was so desperate for an opportunity.

When Lin Feng came out of the bedroom, Yu Zheng, Sun Rou, and Zhang Yuxi had already started the barbecue. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, enough to make anyone's stomach rumble.

The small hotpot setup was much simpler. The side dishes were all prepared, so all they had to do was let the soup base simmer for a bit before they could start cooking and eating. Zhao Lizhen and Zhou Cuilan were busy feeding the babies the creamy white fish soup, which smelled incredibly fragrant.

Lin Feng called Lin Jiajun. "Come over, I have something to tell you."

Lin Jiajun was silent for a second before replying, "On my way!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Anmin had already arranged with his aunt to view some properties tomorrow.

Lin Feng smiled at everyone. "Let's eat first. We've got hotpot and barbecue, so take your pick."

Jiang Anmin knew that the partnership for the hotpot restaurant was more or less a done deal. He just couldn't figure out what other plans Lin Feng might have.

Everyone moved about, grabbing a bite from the hotpot here and a piece of barbecue there. The Second Aunt, who normally never touched barbecue, was like someone who had discovered a new continent.

"Oh my, these grilled chicken wings are delicious! The cauliflower is great, too..." She simply couldn't stop eating. "No wonder you young people love barbecue so much. It really is tasty."

Everyone laughed. "So much for never eating barbecue!"

Just as they were finishing up, Lin Jiajun arrived. The Second Aunt teased him, "Perfect timing! There are still leftovers. Come try your older cousin's barbecue; it's really good. There are still vegetables for the hotpot, too, so cook whatever you like."

Lin Jiajun grinned. "No wonder I could smell it from so far away! Good thing I got here when I did, or it would have all been gone."

After finishing the remaining barbecue, Lin Jiajun moved over to the hotpot.

"What do you want to eat? I'll cook it for you," Lin Feng offered as he sat down.

"No, no, I can do it myself."

Lin Feng then turned to Jiang Anmin. "Want some more?"

Understanding Lin Feng's intention, Jiang Anmin sat down and began cooking a few potato slices for himself. It was obvious the three of them had something to discuss. The others tactfully moved away, leaving the main living space to them.

Lin Feng smiled. "This is my high school classmate, Jiang Anmin. And this is my cousin, Lin Jiajun."

Jiang Anmin greeted him. "Good to meet you, Jiajun." The original's address terms felt more natural to just switch to first names here.

Lin Jiajun put down his chopsticks. "Likewise. Call me Jiajun."

"Then you can call me Anmin."

Once the introductions were out of the way, Lin Feng got down to business. "Anmin told me he wants to invest three hundred thousand to open a fish hotpot restaurant with me. As you know, I'm based in Yangcheng, so I can't be a completely hands-off owner. That's why I was hoping you would join us."

Lin Jiajun's face lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "I'm in!"

He was well aware of Lin Feng's culinary skills. He also knew that Lin Feng was the one who had taught An Lan the recipes for her restaurant, which was now bringing in tens of thousands in business every day.

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