Chapter 28: Jiang Chen Becomes a Sandwich Cookie
The Fat Big Sister at the front desk was cracking melon seeds and watching television. Seeing Jiang Chen come down, she didn't even lift her eyelids: "No more rooms available, stop asking."
"Sister, I'm not looking for a room." Jiang Chen leaned on the counter, pulled out a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket, placed it on the tabletop covered in melon seed shells, and pushed it over.
The Fat Big Sister stopped cracking melon seeds, lifted her eyelids just a crack, revealing a shrewd look: "Then what is this for?"
"I want to ask where in town I can buy an electric heater? An oil-filled radiator with high power would be best. Also, I want to get two new quilts, they must be pure cotton and weigh eight catties. Down-filled ones are okay too, as long as they are clean and warm."
The Fat Big Sister inconspicuously tucked the hundred yuan into her sleeve, pursed her lips: "Young man, what are you thinking? It's this late, the town shops closed hours ago. Besides, with the mountain sealed by heavy snow, who has spares to give you?"
Jiang Chen didn't speak, then pulled out two more red bills and stacked them in the same spot as the first.
"Sister, I know you definitely have connections. Look at the three female comrades in our room; it would be terrible if they got frozen. Please trouble yourself to help me think of a way? As long as the things are good, the price is not an issue."
The Fat Big Sister looked at the two hundred yuan, and her throat bobbed.
"Fine, I see you're someone who cares for his wife." The Fat Big Sister wiped away the melon seed shells, stood up, "I have an oil radiator. I use it in my own room; it's nine-tenths new. If you don't mind, you can take it. As for the quilts... there are a few newly filled cotton quilts in the back warehouse. Those were prepared for my son's wedding, never used."
"That would be wonderful." Jiang Chen smiled harmlessly, "How much will it cost, Sister? You name the price."
The Fat Big Sister's eyes darted around, and she held out one hand: "A flat price, including rent and purchase, five hundred."
Actually, that oil radiator was second-hand, and the quilts were just ordinary cotton ones; together they wouldn't be worth more than two hundred yuan. But this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fleece a customer.
Jiang Chen shook his head.
"Sister, you look down on me too much with that price."
The Fat Big Sister was stunned: "You think it's too expensive?"
"It's not that it's too expensive, it's that the items aren't enough." Jiang Chen pointed outside, "I want you to help me get some food too. It doesn't have to be too fancy—a whole stewed chicken for soup, and some hot meals. Preferably, get a copper pot for shabu-shabu, and the meat must be freshly sliced. Plus those quilts and the heater..."
Jiang Chen directly took out his wallet, counted the money, pulled out a thick stack—about two thousand yuan—and slapped it onto the counter.
"Is this enough?"
The Fat Big Sister's eyes instantly went wide.
In her entire life, she had never seen such a foolish... oh no, such a generous God of Wealth.
"Enough! More than enough!" The Fat Big Sister was so excited that the flesh on her face trembled, "My husband is a butcher, and there happens to be fresh mutton rolls in the backyard! I have a copper pot too! I'll go arrange it for you right now!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister. Also..." Jiang Chen pulled out a few more bills from his pocket, "Could you help me knock on the door of the town pharmacy? I need some safflower oil, hand warmers, and the best ginger tea they have."
"No problem! Leave it to Sister!" The Fat Big Sister snatched the money and rushed toward the backyard in a flurry, moving faster than Liu Xiang.
Jiang Chen leaned against the counter, listening to the howling wind outside, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Problems that could be solved with money were currently not problems for him.
Half an hour later.
The door to Room 302 was knocked on.
Chen Man, wrapped in a bath towel, was sitting on the bed applying body lotion when the knock startled her: "Who is it?"
"Room service," Jiang Chen's voice.
Lin Wan quickly went to open the door.
When the door opened, a rich aroma of meat rushed in first, followed closely by Jiang Chen's face, which was a bit red from the cold, and the two stout men dressed like service staff behind him, carrying large and small bags.
"This... what is this?" Lin Wan's eyes widened.
"Move aside, careful it's hot." Jiang Chen directed the two men to bring the items in.
The originally cramped room was instantly filled to capacity.
A brand new, high-power oil radiator was plugged in, its orange indicator light turned on, and waves of heat rolled in.
Two large, bright red wedding quilts, looking thick and soft, were spread over the originally thin large bed, raising the entire mattress height by a section.
The most exaggerated item was the small round table by the window.
An old-fashioned purple copper hot pot was set up on top, the charcoal fire burning brightly. The clear broth inside was bubbling, and next to it were plates piled high with red and white mutton rolls, emerald green cabbage, frozen tofu, and even a steaming pot of old hen soup.
The three women were completely stunned.
"Little brother, did you rob a bank or buy this guesthouse?" Chen Man, almost letting her bath towel slip, stared at the plate of mutton with shining eyes.
Su Qingge, having just finished showering, sat in the corner of the bed wearing her slightly loose white shirt, her hair still dripping water. She watched Jiang Chen busy arranging bowls and chopsticks, her expression complicated.
In a place where one had to walk to the end of the corridor just to get boiling water, how did he manage to procure a hot pot meal?
"Didn't I say I have my own clever ways?" Jiang Chen placed the newly bought safflower oil in front of Su Qingge, handed a box of hand warmers to Lin Wan, and finally passed the ginger tea to Chen Man.
"Eat quickly, this charcoal won't last long."
Just as Jiang Chen sat down, the pleasant voice sounded in his mind.
"Mission Complete!"
"Current consumption amount: 5200 Yuan."
"Crit hit cashback triggered! Current cashback multiplier: 20 times!"
"Cashback amount of 104,000 Yuan has been transferred to the Host's account."
One hundred thousand yuan.
Jiang Chen's hand holding the chopsticks tightened slightly; he felt incredibly satisfied.
Eating hot pot, singing songs, and earning a hundred thousand yuan on the side—he wouldn't trade this life for a god's.
"Come, let's have a toast." Chen Man somehow found several disposable paper cups and filled them with the bulk white liquor the Fat Big Sister had provided, "A toast to our 'Logistics Minister,' Jiang Chen!"
"Cheers to Little Jiang," Lin Wan raised her cup, her eyes as gentle as water.
Su Qingge didn't drink. She held the steaming bowl of chicken soup and said softly, "Thank you."
Steam billowed up, blurring the faces of the four people.
In this world isolated by snow and wind, this pot of rolling mutton, and the big boy beside them who could always create miracles, became their only reliance.
After three rounds of drinks, the temperature in the room had become almost uncomfortably hot.
Chen Man had drunk some white liquor, her face flushed, and the thin bath towel couldn't conceal her proud curves at all.
She casually tucked her legs up onto the chair and gently kicked Jiang Chen's calf with her toe.
"Little brother, you're so good at taking care of people. Whoever marries you in the future will be incredibly happy, won't they?"
Jiang Chen was busy blanching meat when he heard this and smiled, "If Sister Man wants to marry, I could consider it."
"Get out of here, daring to take advantage of your older sister." Chen Man laughed and cursed, but she didn't pull her foot back; instead, it slid up Jiang Chen's pant leg.
Under the table, an undercurrent surged.
Lin Wan, sitting opposite, took in the entire scene.
She didn't speak, just silently picked up the best piece of blanched mutton from her bowl and placed it into Jiang Chen's bowl.
"Eat more meat to replenish yourself," Lin Wan said meaningfully.
Su Qingge kept her head down drinking soup, seemingly oblivious to everything around her.
But only Jiang Chen knew that when he bent down to pick up chopsticks earlier, he had accidentally touched Su Qingge's injured foot.
She hadn't pulled away.
She had even gently stepped on him.
That step was very light; rather than being a punishment, it felt more like coquetry.
The meal concluded with everyone having different thoughts, yet it was exceptionally harmonious.
After eating their fill, the charcoal fire gradually died down.
Jiang Chen was responsible for cleaning up the remnants, stacking the pots and bowls outside the door.
When he returned to the room, the three women had already burrowed into the two newly bought thick quilts.
"Little Jiang, come quickly." Lin Wan patted the empty space next to her, which she had intentionally left for him, "It's warm in the quilt."
The originally quite spacious large bed was now squeezed with three women, leaving very little space.
Su Qingge slept on the innermost side, her back to everyone, and it was unclear if she was asleep.
Chen Man slept in the middle, sprawled out in a star shape, occupying most of the territory. Lin Wan huddled on the outermost side.
The spot left for Jiang Chen was exactly wedged between Lin Wan and Chen Man.
In other words, he was the so-called "sandwich cookie."
Jiang Chen took off his jacket, wearing only a tank top and shorts, and slipped into the quilt.
In that instant, the hot air in the quilt, mixed with the scent of body wash and the women's natural fragrance, almost made him dizzy.
On his left was the gentle and watery Lin Wan; on his right was the fiery and passionate Chen Man.
The three women were clearly testing his self-control.
"Turn off the light," Su Qingge's muffled voice came from under the covers.
"Click."
The light went out.
Only the oil radiator emitted a faint orange glow, illuminating the mottled plaster on the ceiling.
In the darkness, the senses were infinitely magnified.
Jiang Chen could clearly hear Lin Wan's slightly rapid breathing beside him, as well as the rustling sound of Chen Man's quilt as she turned over.
Suddenly, a hand quietly reached out from under the quilt and grabbed Jiang Chen's hand.
The palm of that hand was a bit damp, and the finger pads were soft.
It was Lin Wan.
She didn't speak, just held his hand tightly, fingers interlocked, as if trying to transfer all her anxiety to him.
Jiang Chen gripped her hand back, his thumb gently stroking her hand to comfort her.
However, in the next second, his other hand was also grabbed.
That hand was bolder, carrying the heat from a bit of alcohol, sliding directly up his arm until it stopped and squeezed his firm biceps.
It was Chen Man.
"Little brother, you've trained your body well," Chen Man leaned close to his ear and whispered, "It's hard."
Jiang Chen's whole body stiffened.
This fortune of having an embrace on both sides was something an ordinary person truly couldn't handle.
Just then, Su Qingge, who hadn't moved, suddenly rolled over.
She opened her eyes in the darkness, and using that faint light, she caught sight of Jiang Chen's awkward appearance being squeezed by the two women.
"None of you are sleepy, are you?" Su Qingge spoke coldly, "We have to get up early tomorrow. If you don't sleep now, I'll kick you all out."
Chen Man's hand immediately retracted, and she obediently closed her mouth.
Lin Wan also let go of his hand and shifted to the side.
The room finally became quiet.
Jiang Chen let out a sigh of relief, but the fire in his heart could not be suppressed.