Chapter 346: "Boss Shen, what do you think?

Deng Ying’s words were unacceptable to Sang Yue. She had meant well, trying to help the sisters resolve their conflict. ’How did I end up in the line of fire?’

Feeling wronged, Sang Yue pouted deeply.

Deng Ying couldn’t be bothered with her and dragged her little sister into the room.

After closing the door firmly, Deng Ying told her sister to stop crying, her expression serious.

"I don’t want you to be a child who can’t tell right from wrong, Deng Xuan. I’m asking you one last time: would you rather go home and suffer, or would you rather stay with me? If you choose the former, I can ask Boss Shen to send you back. If you choose the latter, I will take care of you until you’re grown up."

Deng Xuan had thrown a tantrum and now had no energy left to cry or shout. She sat on the edge of the bed, her small hands twisting together.

She looked plaintively at Deng Ying. "Sister, why do we have to be separated? Can’t we live together as a family, just like before?"

Deng Ying sighed in disappointment. ’Maybe she’ll understand when she’s a little older.’

Her sister was only six years old; it was hard for a child to understand her reasoning. Besides, this wasn’t the first or second time their family had treated her this way—she was already used to it.

"Okay, I understand." Deng Ying patted her sister’s head. "I’ll send you back in a couple of days."

’I’ll let her rest and build up her strength for a couple more days. Once she’s back home, she won’t have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear. Life will be very hard.’

"Okay!" Deng Xuan was overjoyed. ’I really miss Mom. It’s so comfortable here, and I get to eat delicious food every day, but Mom isn’t here.’

"Sister, it would be great if Mom could live here too."

Deng Ying glanced at her sister but said nothing.

’I will absolutely not bring Mrs. Deng to live here. Knowing her personality, she wouldn’t last a day before she’d be grumbling and demanding that I bring Father Deng and our brother to live here too.’

’How would that even be possible? This restaurant isn’t mine. I’m just an employee. By what right could I let my noisy family live in the staff dorms?’

’And who knows, Father Deng, Mrs. Deng, and my brother might even get some inappropriate ideas. If that happened, I’d be too ashamed to continue working at the restaurant.’

Deng Ying washed her sister’s face and let her go out to play, while she herself went to the kitchen to help Shen Lu.

When Sang Yue saw Deng Xuan come out, she waved at her. "Xiao Xuan."

Deng Xuan ran over. PATTER PATTER PATTER. "Sister Xiao Yue."

"Did your sister scold you again?"

"Nope."

"That’s good." Sang Yue let out a soft breath. "Next time your sister scolds you, just come find me."

’What does a child know, anyway?’

’As a guardian, you should be patient and teach them. Hitting and scolding them on a whim is no way to raise a child.’

"Okay!"

Shen Lu had just placed the beef shank into the braising liquid when the Light Brain on her wrist began flashing insistently.

’Who could be in such a hurry to reach me?’

"First, bring it to a boil over high heat with the lid off for a bit. If any scum floats to the top, skim it off. Once there’s no more scum, turn it down to low heat and put the lid on."

After giving Deng Ying the instructions, Shen Lu walked out of the somewhat noisy kitchen and answered the call.

"Hello, am I speaking with Boss Shen from Little Deer Cuisine?"

"Speaking. And you are?"

"I am the president of the Commerce Association, Pan Dao Yong."

’Oh, so it’s that new Commerce Association president. The one who got drenched and had a fish shoved in his hands.’

"Ah, hello. Is there something I can help you with, President Pan?"

’I don’t know Pan Dao Yong, so there’s no need for small talk. Best to just get straight to the point.’

"Boss Shen, you’re very straightforward. In that case, I won’t beat around the bush. I heard that you have a military armored vehicle?"

"I do have one, but it’s borrowed. I have to return it in the spring."

"Is that so? You’re quite capable, Boss Shen, to be able to borrow a military armored vehicle. Do you perhaps have relatives in the military?"

"I’m not sure about that myself. A friend helped me out."

Hearing her say this, Pan Dao Yong was a little disappointed. He had thought Shen Lu bought the vehicle. A borrowed vehicle would be very inconvenient to use.

"It’s like this, Boss Shen. I have a rather big favor to ask. Business is bad for everyone during the sandstorm season and winter, largely because customers can’t go out. The former president set up a delivery platform, and the app is almost done, but we’re stuck on the logistics part..."

Shen Lu raised an eyebrow. ’So he really is after my armored vehicle.’

Pan Dao Yong babbled on and on, but the main idea was for Shen Lu to "dedicate" her vehicle for everyone to use, to achieve a "win-win" situation.

Pan Dao Yong felt like his mouth was going dry, but Shen Lu on the other end of the line was completely silent, as if she had pressed a mute button.

"Boss Shen, what are your thoughts?"

"President Pan, I’m truly moved by your consideration for everyone, and I really want to support you." Shen Lu’s tone was as sincere as could be. "But the vehicle isn’t mine. I didn’t even borrow it from the military myself. What right do I have to decide what to do with it? I’m just a citizen of the Lower City District; I can’t make such a big decision. How about this: President Pan, you have a lot of influence and know many people. Why don’t you ask the military? If they agree, I won’t say another word. I’ll drive the vehicle straight to the Commerce Association’s doorstep."

"This..."

"President Pan, I’m busy right now. We can talk in more detail when I have a moment."

Shen Lu calmly hung up the phone and snorted coldly.

’Trying to take advantage of me?’

’In your dreams.’

Pan Dao Yong was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t expected Shen Lu to hang up so decisively. It was a bit of a slap in the face.

He had personally made the call, and he was actually rejected?!

Pan Dao Yong couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

After becoming the president of the Commerce Association, aside from being set up at that one banquet, everything he did had gone exceptionally smoothly—so smoothly it made him question reality.

So much so that before he asked Shen Lu for the vehicle, he had never even considered the possibility of failure.

His attitude had been so amiable, his wording so polite, yet this young lady named Shen Lu was not moved in the slightest.

Pan Dao Yong suddenly remembered that Old Zhuang had warned him that Shen Lu had a bit of a temper and wasn’t so easy to persuade.

At the time, he had dismissed it, thinking that if he handled it personally, it would surely go off without a hitch.

"Dad, have an orange slice." Pan Junru took a slice of orange and stuffed it into Pan Dao Yong’s mouth.

Pan Dao Yong ate the sweet and sour orange slice and came back to his senses. "Junru, Dad has been busy lately. I haven’t even asked if you’re getting used to your new school."

"It’s so-so." Pan Junru pouted. "Luckily I have Xiao Lan, otherwise I wouldn’t even want to go."

Pan Dao Yong laughed. HAHA. ’Such a childish temper.’ "I heard you’re planning to open a shop in the Upper City District?"

"Yeah! All the paperwork is done, the shop is renovated, and the sign is up. We’re just waiting for good weather to open!" Speaking of her shop, Pan Junru was bursting with pride. "Dad, you don’t know this, but Li Zexing is coming to the ribbon-cutting ceremony on opening day! The Li Zexing who plays Dog Hero!"

"Really? You managed to invite such a big star?"

Pan Dao Yong had only heard a passing mention from his subordinates about his daughter opening a shop, but he didn’t know the details. Now, hearing his daughter talk about it, he was truly surprised.

As a boss himself who ran factories, sold products, and hired spokespeople for advertising, he knew this was standard procedure.

When Dog Hero was a huge hit, he had tried to contact Li Zexing’s agent, but unfortunately, they looked down on him and wouldn’t even grant him a meeting.

Who would have thought that the little shop his own daughter was messing around with could actually get Li Zexing for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.