Chapter 73: The Dominant Third Uncle!

Baixi Foods—Lu Yuanqiu remembered that name. Back in the 1990s, the instant noodles produced by this company were renowned, but later it gradually declined, as consumers began to complain that the taste of the noodles had changed drastically from before.

Simply put, they had become unpalatable.

Now that he thought about it... Wasn't it around the time Uncle Bai was betrayed that Baixi's noodles lost their flavor? Did these two things happen simultaneously?

What Lu Yuanqiu hadn't expected was that the branch company managed by his second uncle now faced its fiercest competition from none other than Baixi Foods.

And Baixi Foods had been single-handedly established by Uncle Overalls, but the current person in charge was no longer him...

The world truly comes full circle.

Around and around, it all connects in the end.

What a coincidence, truly.

Just then, his second uncle came over, patted Lu Yuanqiu on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Your first uncle and I have discussed it. As long as you get into college, my branch company will be handed directly to you. You'll be the boss and take on Baixi Foods head-to-head. Do you have the confidence?"

Lu Yuanqiu's mouth opened slightly, but for a moment, no words came out.

This wasn't a question of confidence...

Was it because he didn't get into university in his previous life that his uncles didn't give him a company back then?

If he could have become a boss right away, why on earth did he start that measly poultry business in his past life?

If only they'd told him sooner—if only he'd known, he would have studied harder last time.

He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly do you and Baixi compete on?"

His second uncle took a deep breath. "Still instant noodles. It's all about sales. Although Baixi's noodles aren't as popular as they were in the nineties, their sales still far surpass our Lu's Instant Noodles. Brand effect, you know."

At this, his first uncle glanced at Bai Songzhe—Uncle Overalls—and whispered to his nephew, "Yuanqiu, let me tell you something. There's a rumor that the secret recipe behind Baixi's explosive success back in the day was held by Bai Songzhe. As soon as he left, Baixi Foods started to decline."

Lu Yuanqiu had suspected that Baixi's downfall coincided with Uncle Overalls' departure, but he hadn't imagined there was talk of a "secret recipe" involved!

He blurted out, "Then with Uncle Overalls here, doesn't that mean we have the secret recipe from back then in our hands?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the ward fell into silence—except for Uncle Overalls' silly, innocent laughter.

Lu Yuanqiu tugged at the corner of his mouth. Of course... Uncle Overalls had lost his wits now. How could they hope to get any secret recipe from him?

In truth, Uncle Overalls was pitiful. Betrayed by his company's second-in-command, his hard-built enterprise was taken from him. The wildly successful Baixi noodles were likely his life's work, and now the brand itself had been ruined by that traitor, and scorned as inedible by the masses.

Worse still, Uncle Overalls lost everything in the fallout. His wife and son died one after the other, leaving only a daughter behind.

Just then, there was a commotion at the ward door.

Everyone turned to see four or five people entering, led by a middle-aged man with a square jaw and thick, dark brows—a commanding presence that needed no anger to inspire awe.

He wore a black jacket, followed by a bespectacled young man who looked like a secretary, a bald-headed man, and two burly fellows.

"Third Brother's here."

"Third Brother."

For some reason, the atmosphere in the ward shifted instantly upon Third Uncle's arrival. Until then, First and Second Uncle had held the dominant positions, but the moment Third Uncle appeared, deference appeared on their faces. Lu Tian, especially, shrank into a corner, turning his face to the wall.

It was clear that, compared to his elder brothers, Lu Tian was truly afraid of his third brother.

"Third Uncle," Lu Yuanqiu greeted with a smile.

"Ah, Qiu'er," Third Uncle's stern face warmed into a smile as he strode over.

The secretary started to hand over a stool, but the bald man, quick to read the room, rushed to provide it first.

"That head of yours is wrapped up so tight—does it hurt?" Third Uncle asked, gently touching Lu Yuanqiu's forehead, his rough exterior showing a rare tenderness.

Lu Yuanqiu shook his head with a grin, "It doesn’t hurt when I see you, Third Uncle."

"You rascal, you," Third Uncle laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "You've made great progress in your studies, Qiu'er. I'm proud of you—well done."

"Heh heh," Lu Yuanqiu replied.

Third Uncle's name was Lu Yuan. In recent years, he'd risen through the ranks, and while much was left unsaid, Lu Yuanqiu respected him deeply.

Lu Yuan then turned slightly, his expression returning to its usual gravity. "Xiao Song," he called.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The bald man, wiping sweat from his forehead, hurried over, bowing obsequiously.

Lu Yuan's calm eyes settled on him. "Should I address you as Chief Song?"

"Please, no! No need! You really didn't have to trouble yourself to come in person. A word from you would have sufficed!"

The bald man was terrified, bowing even lower.

Third Uncle snorted coldly, then turned to Lu Yuanqiu, "Qiu’er, this is your Uncle Song, the chief of Baoyuan District Police Station. If you need anything, just let him know."

Uncle Song immediately put on a smile, bent double and reached out to shake Lu Yuanqiu’s hand, "Hello, hello, Yuanqiu, right? Just look at this kid—so handsome! No wonder you’re Mr. Lu’s—cough—Mr. Lu’s nephew."

Catching himself glancing at the still-open door, Uncle Song quickly changed his form of address.

"Hello, Uncle Song," Lu Yuanqiu replied.

He recalled the details and spoke up: "The one who attacked me is Sun Qiangsheng. I hear he's quite notorious around Ningguo Road. You should be able to find him easily. A few days ago, his sister bullied a classmate, and I—disciplined her a bit..."

Before he could finish, Uncle Song hurriedly cut him off: "No need for reasons! We just need to know who attacked you."

Lu Yuan, Third Uncle, spoke: "How can you not mention the reason? But from what my nephew just said, that sister was involved as well, wasn't she?"

Lu Yuanqiu closed his mouth, his expression complex.

Lu Yuan turned to his secretary, "This kind of bullying at school is serious. Go find a time to talk with the principal. What's the student's name?"

Lu Yuanqiu replied, "Sun Ruofei, Senior Three, Class 11."

Lu Yuan nodded. "Right, let’s have her sent home as soon as possible. Make a note in her record—nothing too light; bullying is no small matter."

The young secretary nodded promptly, "Yes, sir."

Having settled the student matter, Lu Yuan looked at Uncle Song. "Xiao Song, how are you planning to deal with this Sun Qiangsheng?"

Uncle Song ventured cautiously, "What do you wish, sir?"

Lu Yuan chuckled, "What do I wish? What could I wish for? This is a society ruled by law—anyone who breaks the law must be severely punished."

Uncle Song nodded immediately, "Yes, severely punished!"

Lu Yuan continued, "But if he goes in and then comes out and commits more crimes, what then? Do you have any good solutions, Xiao Song?"

Uncle Song gazed into Lu Yuan's deep eyes, momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.

Lu Yuan laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Relax, I was just asking."

Uncle Song forced a smile, his grin more pained than pleasant.

At once, Lu Yuan's smile vanished. "Is something funny?"

Uncle Song's smile disappeared instantly, and he shook his head, "Not at all. Not funny."

Lu Yuan glanced at his watch. "It's five thirty now. Before nine tonight, I want to see this Sun Qiangsheng brought to this ward. I have to leave by nine thirty, so there’s not much time."

At these words, Uncle Song swallowed hard, spun around, and waved his hand briskly. "Quickly! Go find him on Ningguo Road!"

The two burly men behind him immediately charged out of the ward.

(End of this chapter)