Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 55: Looking Ahead

Hearing Chen Dafu’s question, Liu Changqing was momentarily dazed.

He had thought about this extensively.

Compared to his previous world, this one lagged significantly in technology and entertainment. The internet was still largely undeveloped.

If he had enough capital, Liu Changqing would’ve dived in immediately. He was confident that even a single idea from his past life, while not guaranteed to succeed or reach the same heights, would at least ensure a comfortable, modest wealth.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the money.

Even if he took out a loan and used the old house as collateral, the initial funds wouldn’t suffice.

Thankfully, real estate prices in this world hadn’t skyrocketed yet.

Much like his previous life, property value here was destined to rise. Worst case scenario, if his entrepreneurial efforts failed, he could still buy up properties and ensure a worry-free life.

But that was the fallback plan.

Liu Changqing took another cigarette from his pack, lit it, and smiled.

“It’s simple, really. I just want to leave something for my kids.”

He exhaled smoke, maintaining his grin.

“My son is fifteen now. If I don’t start preparing a foundation for him, how will he manage when it’s time to get married? Buying a storefront will at least give them something to lean on, even if they don’t do well in school. Isn’t that reasonable?”

“That’s it?”

“What else would it be?”

Chen Dafu felt an inexplicable disappointment in Liu Changqing’s response. Though he suspected it wasn’t the whole truth, he couldn’t figure out what Liu Changqing planned to do with the property.

It didn’t seem like it could generate much money...

Then his mind wandered to Liu Changqing’s life, raising two children alone.

After a moment of thought, Chen Dafu nodded. He was about to inherit his family business anyway.

“Fine. Do you just want the one storefront?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you’re serious about buying, I can sell you the one next door too. I’d planned to open a snack shop there, but even managing one bookstore wore me out.”

As he spoke, Chen Dafu sighed deeply, looking utterly exhausted.

Worn out? You had one of the laziest jobs imaginable! Liu Changqing thought to himself but kept a polite, smiling face.

“How much are you asking?”

“Hmm…”

Chen Dafu glanced at Liu Changqing, held up a hand with all five fingers spread, then clenched it into a fist.

Liu Changqing’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.

Fifty thousand?!

“Ten thousand,” Chen Dafu said calmly. “Ten thousand per storefront. What do you think?”

He took another sip of tea, his face serene.

“That’s already a bargain.”

“...”

Liu Changqing was left speechless. He stared at Chen Dafu, his face a mix of shock and disbelief.

Is this guy some kind of money-giving deity?

“It’s nothing personal. I just think you’re a decent guy,” Chen Dafu added with a faint smile, setting his cup down.

“To be honest, when you first applied to the bookstore, I didn’t think much of you. Especially after hearing about your situation—divorced, with two kids. I figured even if you weren’t aiming for a high-paying job, you’d at least try to be a bit more ambitious. But instead, you came here, ready to coast through life working for me.”

Chen Dafu spoke with a mix of truth and jest. While he still suspected Liu Changqing wasn’t being entirely honest, he wasn’t overly concerned about the man’s intentions.

Still, part of him was curious to see if Liu Changqing could stir up some trouble for that woman.

For now, he decided to just sit back and enjoy the show.

Looking at Liu Changqing, a glimmer of anticipation sparked in Chen Dafu’s eyes.

After listening to him, Liu Changqing chuckled.

“Brother, the moment I saw you, I felt a deep sense of familiarity—like we were destined to get along!”

Grinning, Liu Changqing handed Chen Dafu another cigarette.

“Well then, I won’t hold back. I’ll take both storefronts. But as for the money... I might need a few days.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“The royalties from my novel come in at the end of the month. It won’t take long. That okay with you?”

“No problem. I thought you’d been bluffing about having money!”

“Ha! How could I?”

Liu Changqing laughed, then suddenly had an idea.

“No drinks today?”

“I drove here—I can’t drink.”

“Then stick around for the day. I’ll get you a hotel room later!”

“Huh? What for?”

“Let’s grab some drinks later, then head to a bathhouse I know. The service there is top-notch!” Liu Changqing winked suggestively.

For some reason, Chen Dafu found his expression oddly sleazy at that moment.

---

Liu Changqing’s familiarity with bathhouses wasn’t due to personal indulgence. Back when he ran a factory, hosting clients often required such outings, and over time, he became familiar with the best spots.

He never engaged in anything improper—his eyes back then had only been for Li Wanran.

By the time they left the bathhouse, it was already evening.

After helping Chen Dafu get settled in a hotel room and chatting for a bit, Liu Changqing noticed his pale, exhausted expression. Not wanting to overstay, he found an excuse to leave.

Rather than taking a cab, Liu Changqing opted to walk.

With his belly full of baijiu, he feared he might end up vomiting in the car.

It had been a while since he’d had a drink...

Thinking about securing two storefronts for such a low price, Liu Changqing couldn’t suppress a grin.

Twenty thousand yuan to seal the deal? It felt like a dream.

However, he didn’t plan to keep the bookstore running.

Initially, Liu Changqing considered turning it into an internet café. Proximity to schools guaranteed good business, but the outdated computers and scarce games of this world posed a problem.

There was no League of Legends, no Dungeon Fighter Online, no KartRider—not even Audition Online!

The gaming scene was barren, and kids were still stuck playing knockoff Tetris on clunky handheld consoles.

Ultimately, he abandoned the idea of an internet café.

Instead, another plan began to take shape in his mind—something better.

Once he saved enough seed money, he intended to start attracting investors, following the footsteps of a certain entrepreneurial legend from his previous life.

And no, not the one nicknamed Pony...

The first time Liu Changqing discovered this world had a BallChat app, he thought that particular figure might’ve reincarnated here too.

Thankfully, the app’s login page featured not a penguin in a scarf but a duck in a red one.

Walking along the streets, hands in his pockets, Liu Changqing’s plump face carried a look of hopeful anticipation for the future.