Richest Rag-picker

Chapter 507: Chapter 479: Brother Xiaoma’s Request

But there was nothing he could do. After all, this was the standard for a state banquet. Every dish was exquisite, but the portions were also extremely small.

It seemed only this could accentuate the prestige of the dishes.

And only this could accentuate the high status of those who came to eat them.

That’s just how modern society was; it seemed this was the only way to display one’s identity and status.

"Alright, alright. Just leave the dishes here. We can serve ourselves."

Brother Xiaoma could tell Fang Chenyi wasn’t fond of such occasions, so he waved his hand, had the servers put down the dishes, and dismissed them.

After the servers withdrew, Brother Xiaoma personally began to introduce the dishes to Fang Chenyi:

"Come, come, little brother, try this. This is their signature dish, Chrysanthemum Tofu! It’s one of the more famous state banquet dishes, and their version is simply peerless."

Fang Chenyi followed Brother Xiaoma’s finger and looked at a white porcelain bowl in front of him, instantly amazed.

"This is tofu?"

In the bottom of the bowl floated a white, chrysanthemum-shaped object with strands finer than a silk hair, swaying with the movement of the broth. It was quite beautiful.

This was just Fang Chenyi’s personality—he never pretended to know something he didn’t. If he hadn’t seen it before, he hadn’t seen it. Unafraid of being laughed at, he just asked directly.

Brother Xiaoma smiled, nodded, and explained to Fang Chenyi:

"That’s right, it’s tofu. A single small block of tofu is sliced 108 times, both horizontally and vertically. It’s a true test of a chef’s knife skills. Come on, hurry and try it. This dish is a Jingcheng specialty."

...

As Brother Xiaoma explained each dish, Fang Chenyi and the others began to eat. It had to be said, while the portions were a bit small, the flavors were truly excellent. ’Even though I have a top-tier team of chefs at home, I’ve never had state banquet cuisine like this. I wonder if those guys know how to make it. Looks like I’ll have to ask them when I get back.’

Brother Xiaoma was fine, but both Fang Chenyi and Qi Xiaotian had physiques that were far from ordinary. After eating a full state banquet meal, they weren’t even half full.

In the end, Fang Chenyi had to call a server over and order two large bowls of noodles for himself and Qi Xiaotian to finally feel full.

This scene made Brother Xiaoma a bit embarrassed. Inviting someone to a meal where they didn’t even get full was rather awkward.

Fang Chenyi, however, didn’t think anything of it. After finishing the large bowl of noodles in front of him, he wiped his mouth, looked up at Brother Xiaoma, and asked with a smile:

"Haha, I was so focused on eating just now that I haven’t even asked. Brother Ma, you must have been looking for me about something, right?"

Brother Xiaoma didn’t hide anything. There was no one else around, and through their meal, he had learned that Fang Chenyi wasn’t one to beat around the bush. So, he spoke directly.

"Hah, I can tell you’re a straightforward person too, little brother. In that case, I’ll be direct.

It’s like this: your Solar System commercial district has made quite a name for itself, and I’m incredibly envious.

I went to check it out before, thinking I’d move my Penguin Headquarters there. But when I went, I was given the cold shoulder—I couldn’t even get in the door.

They told me the area was reserved for your own use and that there were no plans to sell to outsiders. That’s why I had to come directly to you, the boss."

’So that’s what this is about,’ Fang Chenyi thought. ’No wonder Brother Xiaoma came to me directly. Wei Yilong must have been the one who turned him away.’

In his opinion, however, Wei Yilong hadn’t done anything wrong. The commercial district was originally built for his own companies, so it was perfectly normal for it not to be open to the public.

Besides, the nine skyscrapers currently under construction within the district held a great many trade secrets.

For that very reason, security there was now exceptionally tight. Aside from the 50 crew members he had brought with him, all the other returning crew members had also been stationed there.

Brother Xiaoma was a man of the world; there was no type of person he hadn’t met. Seeing Fang Chenyi’s calm expression after he finished speaking, he knew the person from before had been telling the truth—they really might not have any intention of selling to outsiders.

Still, he was unwilling to give up. He was very clear about what that place would become in the future.

He could say with absolute certainty that in no time at all, it would become the core of all of Huaxia.

It was for this very reason that he wanted to move his Penguin Headquarters there.

After all, the world’s most advanced scientific and research forces were bound to gather there in the future.

Brother Xiaoma was very well-informed. He had even faintly sensed some otherwise unknown secrets.

For example, Apple Inc. seemed to have a connection to this commercial district.

For another, Huawei Company was already preparing to relocate its headquarters.

And it wasn’t just them; many other well-known domestic and international corporations were making the same preparations.

This point alone was enough for him to be certain of the commercial district’s future status.

And now, Brother Xiaoma once again caught a hint of something unusual.

When he had gone to the commercial district before, he had been stopped by the person in charge, who told him the district was reserved for their own use.

Combined with Fang Chenyi’s nonchalant expression now, Brother Xiaoma couldn’t help but connect the dots to a frightening possibility.

’Could it be that all those companies are his own?’

’If not, why would they be moving into a commercial district that was reserved for its owner’s use?’

"Heh, I never thought my humble little commercial district would catch your eye, Brother. I suppose that’s an honor for me. But I’ll be honest with you, Brother, I really didn’t have any plans to sell to outsiders before."

Hearing this only made Brother Xiaoma more certain of the thought that had just crossed his mind.

The shock in his heart was now beyond words. Putting aside whether those major corporations were actually Fang Chenyi’s, just the sheer scale of the commercial district—the number of companies and corporate groups it could house...

’Could Fang Chenyi possibly have that many corporate groups under his control?’

He believed that since Fang Chenyi had said as much, he must be able to fill the entire place with his own groups. He definitely wouldn’t build it only to leave it as a ghost town.

This only strengthened Brother Xiaoma’s resolve to secure a new headquarters for his Penguin Group within that district.

"Little brother, what you’re saying makes me feel ashamed. If yours is just a ’little’ commercial district, then my Penguin Group must be a third-rate little company."

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