From Wage Slave to Tycoon

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: This Isn’t Illegal to Eat, Is It

"The main course is here!"

With a loud call, Yu Qian entered, leading four young men who were carrying two barbecue racks.

"Huh? Is this... a crocodile?" Sicong recognized it instantly.

He had tried it before while traveling abroad, and it was delicious. Charcoal-grilled and paired with a bit of wine, the flavor... was simply to die for!

Meanwhile, Su Chen’s gaze fell upon the other grill. He studied it for a while but couldn’t make out what it was.

"What’s this? It looks like a lamb."

Sicong glanced over as well, staring at it for a moment before looking up at Yu Qian. "Uncle Qian," he asked, "don’t tell me this thing is wild-caught, is it?"

"How could it be wild? I’m a foodie, but I’m not a monster. I raised these myself. You all saw them on the estate this afternoon!" Yu Qian explained with a laugh.

Sicong thought back to their tour of the horse farm that afternoon. He vaguely recalled seeing something like it on the grounds.

Su Chen, however, was completely baffled. He had no idea what riddle the two of them were talking about. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Instead, it was Wu Jing, sitting beside Su Chen, who cleared up the mystery for him.

"Mr. Su, that’s a sika deer. Old Yu raised it himself!"

"A sika deer?" Su Chen’s face was also filled with astonishment. He never would have guessed.

The sika deer is a Class I protected species in China, and nearly every part of it is considered a treasure. Its meat is known for being low in cholesterol and having anti-carcinogenic properties. It’s highly effective for strengthening the body, and its nutrients are easily absorbed. The purported restorative and virility-boosting properties of its antlers and blood, in particular, have naturally drawn a lot of attention.

Because of these traits, the sika deer farming industry has gradually emerged in recent years, with farms popping up in many places.

But even with so many farms, it’s still not something the average person can afford to eat.

"Come on, eat! It won’t be good if it gets cold!"

As he spoke, Yu Qian picked up a knife and began carving the crocodile and sika deer meat.

As the charred skin was sliced open, the savory aroma of the meat wafted through the air, and Su Chen couldn’t help but swallow.

Yu Qian carved off several of the most tender pieces of crocodile and deer, placing them on Su Chen’s and Sicong’s plates.

Su Chen didn’t stand on ceremony. He pulled on a pair of gloves and dug right in.

"Mmm~ This crocodile meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It has a faint taste of lemon and a hint of honey. It’s really delicious!"

After his brief commentary, Su Chen picked up a piece of venison and examined it...

The venison had very little connective tissue and a low fat content, which was even lower after being charcoal-grilled. The entire cut looked like pure lean meat.

One bite brought immense satisfaction!

Sicong was also feeling warm from the food. Remembering the Maotai that Su Chen had brought, his eyes lit up. "Wu Jing, how can we just eat meat without drinking? Why don’t you bring out that bottle of Maotai Old Su brought for you!"

A flash of regret crossed Wu Jing’s face. He’d taken a moment that afternoon to examine the bottle of Maotai from Su Chen and had been stunned. ’Holy cow, it’s a top-tier vintage!’ For a man who loved alcohol as much as life itself, it was a true treasure. Without a second thought, he had stashed the bottle in his room. freewebnovel.cσ๓

’I can’t believe Sicong is still thinking about this bottle,’ he thought. ’If I’d known, I would’ve just let Yu Qian serve his own Maotai. What a blunder!’

"Haha! You guys keep eating, I’ll go get it right now!" Wu Jing said before heading upstairs.

"Tsk, tsk. Did you guys see the look on his face when I told him to get the Maotai? That reluctance! He wanted to hide it and drink it all himself. Not a chance!" Sicong said with a wicked grin.

"You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?" Su Chen said, exasperated. "I gave that to him as a gift, and you just had to go and make him open it!"

Yu Qian, listening from the side, was a bit confused. ’Could that bottle of Maotai from Su Chen be something special?’ he wondered.

Soon, Wu Jing returned carrying a gift bag, his eyes filled with reluctance.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Yu Qian snatched the bag from him. The moment he pulled the bottle out, he froze.

He blinked a few times, then turned to Su Chen and Sicong. "This is a top-tier vintage Maotai," he asked, "at least twenty years old, right? And we’re just... going to drink it?"

Yu Qian had three great passions in life: smoking, drinking, and getting his hair permed. He often gathered with a few good friends to drink. As a man with a net worth of over a hundred million, he typically drank Maotai as well.

But the Maotai he usually drank was nothing compared to this bottle. Not even in the same league.

"Drink it," Sicong said. "That’s what it’s for!" He knew what Yu Qian was thinking—he just wanted to save it to show off later.

Yu Qian and Wu Jing exchanged a look, each seeing the same reluctance in the other’s eyes.

Reluctant or not, the bottle had to be opened.

Gritting his teeth, Yu Qian opened the bottle. The rich aroma of the liquor instantly filled the air.

Wu Jing and Yu Qian, two seasoned drinkers, took deep, appreciative sniffs of the fragrance.

"Mmm... Pure, fragrant, and rich. What a fine vintage!" Wu Jing sighed in admiration.

"You think this is good? Old Su has even rarer stuff in his private collection at home—bottles you can’t even find on the market. You two should visit him more often. Who knows, if he’s in a good mood one day, he might just pull one out!" Sicong shamelessly sold out his friend.

Hearing this, both Wu Jing and Yu Qian’s eyes lit up as they looked at Su Chen. But just as quickly, a thought seemed to strike them, and they averted their gazes.

After all, this was the first time they had met Su Chen. They were acquaintances, at best. Why would he bring out a collector’s-grade bottle for them?

Both felt a twinge of regret, but then they remembered they were about to drink a top-tier vintage Maotai right now, which was still a wonderful thing.

With Su Chen’s bottle on the table, Yu Qian didn’t bother bringing out his own, which would only pale in comparison.

Besides, Su Chen’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t very high, so everyone tacitly agreed to drink less and eat more.

Paired with the Maotai, the sika deer venison seemed to invigorate them. The more they ate, the more spirited they became, a pleasant warmth spreading through their bodies.

After many rounds of drinks and courses, the feast wound down.

Stuffed, they all leaned back in their chairs, unwilling to move. The four of them had picked an entire crocodile and sika deer clean, leaving nothing but bones on the table.

Chewing on a toothpick, Sicong looked at Wu Jing, who was rubbing his full belly opposite him. "Old Wu, when are you filming the second Wolf Warrior? Need any investors?"

’Old Wu...’ Wu Jing’s brow twitched when he heard the nickname. ’I’m only forty-one, still in my prime,’ he thought. ’I’m not old yet, am I...’

Wu Jing mulled it over for a moment before replying, "I’m planning to start preparations at the end of the year. As for investment..."

He glanced at Sicong, then at the equally stuffed Su Chen beside him. "Of course we’re short on investment! I’m planning to film the sequel abroad, so funding will definitely be tight!"

Sicong nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Su Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed. "Old Su, any interest in investing? I have a lot of faith in Wu Jing!"

Su Chen slowly opened his eyes. He’d been listening to their conversation. He was also optimistic about Wu Jing’s next film, especially given his recent success. However, Su Chen felt that just dabbling with a single investment was a bit boring.

"Why don’t we form a film investment company?"

Su Chen’s words struck them like a bolt of lightning.

It went without saying for Wu Jing; he was all for it, no questions asked. Though he didn’t know Su Chen’s background, he could tell from Sicong’s behavior that afternoon that Su Chen’s power and connections surpassed even Sicong’s.

Sicong, however, began to ponder the idea. He knew investing wasn’t just about forking over cash; you had to consider profitability and future growth.

"I think it’s a great idea!" Sicong quickly came to a decision. ’It doesn’t matter if it makes money,’ he thought. ’What matters is Su Chen.’

"I agree, too!" Wu Jing quickly chimed in.

Seeing his chance, Yu Qian, who had been watching from the sidelines, swallowed his pride and asked tentatively, "I wonder... could I get in on this?"

"Of course," Su Chen said with a smile and a nod.

The four of them immediately began discussing their respective investment shares.

They ultimately decided to capitalize the company at one hundred million. Su Chen would take the majority share at 50%, investing fifty million. Sicong would contribute twenty-five million for a 25% stake.

Wu Jing and Yu Qian would jointly provide the remaining twenty-five million, sharing the final 25% stake.

All future operations of the company would be managed by Wu Jing and Yu Qian. Su Chen and Sicong would be silent partners.

After all, Wu Jing and Yu Qian were both veterans of the entertainment industry, each with their own networks and resources. It was best to leave professional matters to the professionals.

Of course, if the company ran into any trouble they couldn’t handle, Su Chen and Sicong would be expected to step in and resolve it.

As for the company’s name, all four had their own ideas, but Su Chen made the final call. He named it "Apex Entertainment," signifying their ambition for the company to reach the apex of the film industry.

The company’s first project would naturally be *Wolf Warrior 2*, which Wu Jing was already preparing to film.

None of them could have known that this film investment company, formed so casually over drinks, would go on to storm the entertainment world in the years to come, bulldozing its way to the top and becoming a true industry titan—living up to the name "Apex."

......

"This doesn’t feel right. It’s one thing for me to freeload a meal, but now I’m taking stuff home with me too!"

Su Chen looked at the packaged sika deer and crocodile meat in front of him, feeling a little embarrassed.

"What’s there to be embarrassed about? If you don’t want it, give it to me. I’ve been feeling a bit run-down lately and could use the nourishment!" Sicong said, starting to step forward to grab the packaged venison.

"Get lost! Shoo! This is a gift for me. What are you trying to pull?"

’Only an idiot passes up a freebie.’ Su Chen wasn’t actually that modest; he was just making polite noises.

Yu Qian waved his hand, signaling his apprentice to load the packaged meat into the car.

"It’s getting late, so we’ll head out now," Su Chen said, glancing at the time. It was already past nine in the evening. By the time they got back to the city, it would be close to eleven or midnight.

Since Su Chen and Sicong had both been drinking, Yu Qian had his senior apprentice act as their driver.

"Mr. Su, President Wang, take care!" Wu Jing said, waving from beside the car.

Watching the car drive off into the distance, Yu Qian turned to Wu Jing. "Now the real work begins for you. Whether you can solidify your position in the industry all depends on your *Wolf Warrior 2*!"

Wu Jing watched the taillights disappear from view and said with utmost confidence, "Don’t worry. This time, I’ll definitely win. And it’s going to be a big win."