Shenjing Province had four great clans, Lin, Bai, Su, and Yang. The businesses of these four clans combined represented half of Shenjing Province’s economy.
The Lin clan was a pharmaceutical company, while the Bai clan had a private hospital. The two had a good relationship. One produced what the other sold.
The Su clan had too many to count. Antiques, real estate, electronics, catering, and so on and so forth. And the Yang clan mainly focused on providing medicinal ingredients. But the Lin and Yang clans were always hostile with each other, thus the Yang clan never supplied the Lin clan.
Of the four clans, the Bai clan had always been aloof. It may be unremarkable, but it had the longest history. That was because the Bai clan in Shenjing Province was a branch of the Bai clan from the capital.
The most flamboyant of them all was the Su clan. Their spread in every domain was a testament to their ambition. Their current head, Su Mingyuan, exceeded their previous heads by far. In ten years, he grew the Su clan to be the first clan in Shenjing Province. Now, in his eighth year, the Su clan rose to the second clan in Shenjing Province, after the Lin clan.
Besides the great four, there were two more clans worth mentioning, the Li and Qin clans.
Shenjing Province’s Qin clan was’ Qin Zhen’s, and the Li clan was Li Mo’s.
The Qin clan’s fame came from their much longer history than the four clan’s. But Qin Zhen never liked rankings and his clan was classified as less than the four clans, while as illustrious as them.
Twenty years ago, Shenjing Province’s four clans didn’t include the Bais, but the Li clan. Over the recent years, Li clan met with constant setbacks and had their fortune cut down to size, leaving room for the outsider Bai clan to take its place.
The Li clan’s business was only one, food. Ranging from 5-star restaurants to fast-food chains. If anyone asked what was the most famous food in Shenjing Province, it would be Li clan’s without a doubt.
Shenjing Province was filled with their restaurants and joints. The golden plaque with Li Ji(T/N: it means memorable, worthy of mention) inscribed on it showed how grand the Li clan was.
This plaque was made three decades ago by a high official himself. It had a deep meaning and the Li clan treated it as their emblem, hanging it above their shops.
Li Mo was in a Li Ji shop on Xici Street. He was eating the reputable noddles in broth with a frown.
The noddles in broth of ten years ago was totally different from today. In other words, the one of today was lacking. In such a big bowl, there was only half the amount of noodles as it used too and the taste dropped sharply in quality.
Looking around the shop, it was hardly cleaned. And despite being noon, there were only two more customers except Li Mo.
It would be fishy if it were famous.
Li Mo sighed and threw ten RMB on the table. The waiter came and said, “Sir, the price is 30.”
Li Mo was startled but paid the rest.
Li Mo asked, “I remember there was a chef by the name of Yu here who made great noodles. Is he still here?”
“You mean boss Yu. He stopped five years ago.”
“Is it because of health? Chef Yu should only be 50 this year.”
“Not health, but changed jobs. He has lived for over twenty years but never got a raise. He now works in a Qin clan’s shop and is the head chef there. He earns tens of thousands RMB a month. “
“Chef Yu is so skilled so why didn’t he receive better pay?”
The waiter smiled, “When had Li Ji ever given raise?”
Li Mo frowned.
Li Mo saw the waiter going to the counter and only placing a part of the money inside.
Li Mo left the Li Ji shop and walked until he saw the sign Qin Ji Noodles.
The place was packed, with more than ten people waiting in like for a table. It was a sharp contrast to the Li clan’s shop.
There was not a speck of dust inside and each waiter had a mask, cap, and gloves.
Despite being only a shop, it felt no different from being in a top-class restaurant.
Li Mo stood in line and received a table ten minutes later.
The menu on the wall clearly said the noodles in broth was 10 RMB.
The fragrant meal arrived and was even accompanied by a cup of barley tea.
Li Mo took one mouthful of the food and it was the same taste he enjoyed ten years ago.
The only difference was that before was Li and now was Qin.
“E-eldest young master?”
While Li Mo was enjoying his meal, a neat man passed by him. He recognized him in an instant.
“Uncle Yu.” Li Mo stood up with a start.
Yu Yonggui was exactly the man Li Mo asked for before, chef Yu.
“Eldest young master, when did you return? Why didn’t you call? Ah, how forgetful I am, I changed my number.
“Eldest young master, you haven’t changed a bit even after ten years.”
Li Mo smiled, “Don’t call me eldest young master. I have long stopped being the eldest young master of the Li clan. And you, Uncle Yu, you’re no longer from the Li clan.”
Yu Yonggui was feeling awkward, “Eldest young master, I left the Li clan because…”
“No need to say it. I saw it for myself. You made the right choice.”
Yu Yonggui’s eyes were firm, “Eldest young master, I don’t care what others say, but if you tell me to quit right now, I will do it in a heartbeat!”
“Without the eldest young master’s mother, I would’ve long suffered miserably. How could I not want to help you when twenty years ago she gave me two million to cure my mother? I was only a waiter then and could only make 300 a month. I have never managed to repay her for such kindness.”
“There’s no need to mention it. Uncle Yu, what of Yu Dali?”
Yu Yonggui’s face was scrunched in anger, “That bastard ran away ten years ago.”
“Ah? He ran?”
“Just days after you left the clan, that bastard was acting weird saying he wanted to learn martial arts and never saw him since.
“Just forget about him. That bastard sends a letter every few months and, from his picture, he looks strong and healthy. He never got a cold in his life, just that he was a damn nuisance and never listened. I scolded him, went soft on him, but nothing worked to get him back. All these years he never asked about me and only called to hear about you. But I didn’t know anything about you either…”
“As long as he’s all right.”
“Eldest young master, let’s sit outside. It’s too crowded here.”
“Uncle Yu, don’t call me eldest young master. Just call me by my name.”
“Understood, eldest young master.”
