I Build a Top-tier Fishing Destination

Chapter 25: Chapter 26: Bosses, Time to Eat

It wasn’t even noon yet, and his aunt had already finished cooking.

Eight dishes in total — four meat, four vegetable.

His dad called right on cue to say everything was ready and asked how Chen Yuan wanted to handle it.

Chen Yuan went straight to the group chat to ask.

”Done already? That was fast.”

”Could you have Boss Chen bring it over? It’s so nice and cool under the sun umbrella I really don’t want to move. I’ll take the braised pork and the spicy chicken — just throw in whatever veggies.”

”Honestly, first time in my life a summer afternoon has felt this cool. Boss Chen, send mine down too — I want the garlic shoot stir-fry and the spicy chicken.”

”Just eat at the fishing ground, I want...”

The life vests and sun umbrellas were something else — none of the anglers felt the heat at all, and not a single one wanted to leave their spot. Any other fishing ground and nobody would have lasted this long at this hour.

Mr. Qin and Ye Huan both asked for their food to be delivered to the fishing ground as well.

”Box it all up. Delivering everything to the fishing ground.”

Chen Yuan posted the message in the group chat and started sorting the orders according to what everyone had chosen.

He had to admit, his aunt had a real knack for portions. Eight dishes, twenty box lunches — barely any leftovers, and that was without any planning ahead.

If they worked out a set menu in advance, she’d probably nail it down to the last bite.

Chen Yuan made a mental note of that. Once things settled down, he’d come back and iron out these little details properly.

”We’re a little short on the spicy chicken. Who knew everyone was going to want it — should’ve made more and cut back on the other stuff.”

His aunt wasn’t entirely satisfied.

”There’s plenty, Auntie. Sure, it’s not like ordering a full plate at a restaurant, but compared to any takeout box you’d get outside, the portions are easily double.”

There was an honest generosity to country folk that you just didn’t find in those penny-pinching city vendors. The spicy chicken she’d cooked — stretch it a little with some extra ingredients and you could easily get five or six restaurant-sized portions out of it.

”Why don’t we send the rest over to the fishing ground too, just in case anyone doesn’t have enough?”

Chen Kingdom eyed what was left in the bowl and suggested.

”With what we’ve got here, there’d be plenty even for that chubby Qin Fen.”

Chen Yuan snapped the lids onto the takeout boxes while his aunt found two clean large bags.

”Take those leftover dishes over to our place. I’ll have my mom throw together one more dish — we’ll make do for lunch and have something proper tonight.”

Chen Yuan loaded the boxes into the bags, grabbed one in each hand, and jogged home.

”Mom, are you guys done over there?”

He set the box lunches and side dishes in the three-wheeler and dashed into the kitchen.

”Almost.”

The two of them had already seen the messages in the group chat and had divided up the work.

Chen Jun was scooping rice into takeout boxes while Tang Ying portioned out the side dishes from both tables, their movements quick and efficient. Before long, the kitchen counter was packed with neatly filled box lunches.

Chen Yuan did a quick count, satisfied that nothing was missing, then started loading the boxes onto the three-wheeler. Chen Jun followed behind, helping carry them out.

”I’ll go grab some cardboard.”

Tang Ying ran off and came back with a few pieces of cardboard — she was worried about the food getting dirty, and it could be used as lining on the bottom of the cart.

”Take it easy with that one — there’s chicken soup in there. Don’t burn yourself.”

Chen Jun set a dish of hot food into the cargo bed and blew on his hands as he said it.

”Got it. There are still some leftovers at my uncle’s place — I’ll have them bring it over. If it’s not enough I’ll have someone fry up another dish. You two go ahead and eat. I’ll get this delivered first.”

Chen Yuan called out as he hopped on the three-wheeler and slowly headed toward the fishing pond.

He’d barely arrived when he saw a crowd of anglers already gathered under the last batch of sun umbrellas he’d set up, clearly excited about what Boss Chen’s kitchen had to offer.

”Alright everyone, lunch is served!”

Chen Yuan had barely parked before the anglers swarmed the cart, each grabbing their box lunch and rushing back to their fishing spots — not one of them bothered to pick up the napkins.

”Damn, look at these portions. That’s Boss Chen for you.”

One flip of the lid and the packed-to-the-brim box alone was worth a thumbs-up.

Then came the first bite.

”Oh man, this is incredible~”

Maybe not a five-star meal, but every flavor was there, and it was absolutely delicious.

”Guys, look at these portions — and it smells absolutely insane. I’m not even kidding, I’m becoming a regular at Chen Yuan Fishing Ground.”

”No question. Getting a membership. Permanent resident.”

The anglers were already snapping photos and posting them in the group chat, raving about the food. The ones who hadn’t shown up were green with envy and immediately declared they’d be there tomorrow.

”Well, look at you guys — you really came prepared. Folding table and stools and everything.”

After handing out the last of the box lunches, Chen Yuan rode over to where Ye Huan and the others were sitting. He found a folding table and small stools already set up under the sun umbrella, and his eyes went wide.

”We’re into camping.”

Ye Huan smiled and lit a cigarette.

”I get it. Honestly, I’m a little jealous.”

Roaming the mountains and rivers, taking in the beauty of the country, stopping wherever the scenery caught your eye — and then as the evening glow faded, cracking open a few drinks with a handful of good friends.

That was living.

”Let me get the food out first.”

Chen Yuan tucked the cigarette behind his ear and started laying out the dishes, introducing each one as he set it down.

”Boss Chen, are you sure all of this is ours?”

God of Wealth and the other five stared at the small table completely covered in food, all of them visibly stunned.

They’d figured three hundred yuan might get them six dishes and a soup if they were lucky. A generous boss might do three meat and three vegetable. A stingy one might push it to two meat and four vegetable, and that would still be considered normal.

But this — a full table of four meat dishes and five vegetable dishes, including serious mains like free-range chicken and spare ribs, and every single one piled generously high — this had to be way more than three hundred yuan’s worth.

”Ha, it’s all home cooking — can’t compete with the chefs at a proper restaurant. But since we’re making it at home, there’s no rent or overhead, so the margins are actually pretty healthy.”

Chen Yuan set down the six box lunches, wearing the easy, satisfied smile of someone who’d just made good money. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

It was probably the first time any of them had heard a business owner openly talk about his profit margin to their face — and yet somehow, rather than feeling put off, Ye Huan and the others found it oddly refreshing.

This was what Chen Yuan called a win-win.

The customers felt like they’d gotten a steal. And he walked away with a solid profit.

”This is genuinely incredible. I never would’ve guessed three hundred yuan could get us something like this. Thank you so much, Boss Chen — this place is going to blow up, I’m telling you.”

Ye Huan beamed and stood up to offer another cigarette.

Chen Yuan took it without hesitation. A customer’s gratitude was something worth accepting.

”Boss Chen, take a couple of the dishes back with you,” said Ye Zhi, looking up. ”You gave us way more than we expected. The six of us genuinely can’t finish all this — it’ll just go to waste.”

”Seriously, the portions are massive. We can’t eat all of this. Boss Chen, go ahead and take the veggie dishes back — but the meat ones stay, okay?”

”Haha, listen to you, you absolute glutton.”

”Honestly, I don’t even know if we can finish all four meat dishes. Boss Chen, you’re way too generous.”

They all chimed in, and before Chen Yuan could object, they’d already started loading the vegetable dishes back into the cargo bed. He couldn’t argue his way out of it, so he gave in and took them back.

They weren’t wrong, honestly. One look at these six and it was clear they came from comfortable backgrounds — the type who dined out for the experience and the taste, not the quantity. Their appetites were never going to be that big.

And his mom never held back on portions — everything she made was easily double what a restaurant would serve. Six people really couldn’t put a dent in it.

”Well, I’ll take it then. That’s another few dozen yuan straight into my pocket.”

Chen Yuan fired off a quick message to his mom telling her not to bother with any extra dishes, then pocketed his phone and thanked them. All six of them burst out laughing, declaring that Boss Chen was one of a kind.