Urban Hardened All-area System

East Street — the most prosperous commercial district of Anming County — had many well-known enterprises that set up shop there.    

    

Compared to the bustling East Street, the street where Midnight Snack was located seemed like a slum.    

    

Each month, the rent in East Street would already amount between ten to twenty thousand Yan Region yuan, let alone buying out a store.    

    

To think that Cai Jiannan actually wanted to give such an valuable store directly to Ye Hong as a gift.    

    

What they didn't expect was that Ye Hong actually shook his head and refused: "Uncle Cai, you've already dug me out from the previous incident. Thus, I have no reason to accept another gift of yours."    

    

Saying that he was not interested in the offer would be a straight-up lie.    

    

However, he was not a person who liked to owe favors to others. After all, favors could sometimes be very troublesome.    

    

"You really are my silly son!"    

    

Ann Xiaoying — in her moment of anxiousness — felt the urge to step forward and agree on behalf of Ye Hong.    

    

However, Cai Jiannan shook his head and said, "With the favor of saving Xian'er, not to mention one store, even ten stores wouldn't be enough to fully express my gratitude."    

    

Seeing the hesitation in Ye Hong's eyes, he held himself back and proposed another option: "How about this? I'll rent that store to you with the exemption of the first fifty years of rent."    

    

"If you don't agree, you're simply not giving Uncle Cai any face!"    

    

Cai Jiannan pretended to be angry, but Ye Hong had no choice but to agree.    

    

Ann Xiaoying burst in excitement. Fifty years of rent exempted? What was the difference between that and giving the store away directly?!    

    

"Then, this matter is settled. As for the details, I'll get Secretary Jiang to contact you later on."    

    

"Oh right, it will take some time for us to move away the items currently in the store. Do you mind waiting for a while?"    

    

"I certainly don't mind!" Ann Xiaoying answered before Ye Hong could.    

    

Everyone was stunned for a moment before bursting out in laughter.    

    

From the corner of his eyes, Ye Hong noticed that Cai Heng's hands were constantly placed on his waist. Furthermore, his brows would occasionally tighten as he revealed a pained expression.    

    

Thus, he could not help but ask out of concern, "Elder Cai, are you alright?"    

    

*Sigh* "I only have a sliver of my young self left in me. As a person ages, they would naturally be more prone to sickness. For me, my high blood pressure has resulted in constant pain in my waist."    

    

"Moreover, I was pushed into the ground by one of those kidnappers yesterday, which made the pain even worse."    

    

"Looks like I'll have to find a doctor to massage and relieve the pain my waist today."    

    

High blood pressure?    

    

Ye Hong felt a slight tremble in his heart as he gently handed Xian'er to Cai Jiannan and told everyone to wait in the living room for a moment while he ran into the kitchen like a wisp of smoke.    

    

After a moment, he took out a bamboo steamer under the puzzled gaze of the crowd.    

    

Along with it, a thick waxy fragrance instantly wafted through the hall.    

    

"Hmm...?"    

    

Xian'er slowly opened her eyes. With her index finger in her mouth, she said with a half-asleep voice, "What smells so nice?"    

    

Ye Hong then smiled and opened the bamboo steamer.    

    

As expected, the Premium Osmanthus Red Bean Cake's elegant appearance immediately caused everyone to gasp in awe.    

    

Especially Zhang Xuewei and the other girls in the room, they were unable to shift their gazes away from the pastry.    

    

The pastries — having been kept in the bamboo steamer since this morning — were still in a warm and fresh state, as if it had just come out from the oven.    

    

Breaking off a small piece of the pastry, Ye Hong blew on it to cool it down and handed it to Xian'er: "Here, have a taste of big brother's latest creation."    

    

Xian'er took the slice of pastry and put it directly into her mouth.    

    

Before she even had the chance to chew on it, her big eyes suddenly squinted into a slit with happiness as she exclaimed "Delicious! Xian'er wants more!"    

    

Ye Hong also cut a piece for Cai Heng: "Elder Cai, please try it. This pastry may be quite helpful in lowering blood pressure."    

    

Cai Heng let out a gentle smile and took the pastries, intending to taste them out of courtesy.    

    

In his heart, he did not take Ye Hong's words too seriously. After all, it's not like he had never eaten Red Bean Cake before.    

    

However, the moment he bit down on the pastry, his eyes widened as light beamed out from within.