Chapter 114: With One More Person, We’d Have an Eighty Percent Chance

At the school gate, the three of them discussed where to have dinner.

Fang Yueqing pointed toward the east and suggested, "There is a small eatery just ahead. Let’s go there."

Zhang Ziyan had no objections. She was already famished, and although the Teochew restaurant ahead had mediocre food, she knew Fang Yueqing was trying to save Wang Qiang money, so she didn't mind settling for a simple meal.

To her surprise, however, Wang Qiang said, "When I was taking the taxi here, I saw a place called the Yanjing Restaurant that looked good. How about we eat there instead?"

Zhang Ziyan was stunned. She was well aware of the Yanjing Restaurant next to Sea World in Shekou; it was quite expensive. Didn't Wang Qiang know that?

Of course, Wang Qiang knew. In fact, he hadn't seen it on the way; he had asked a local during his ride. He knew the Yanjing Restaurant was one of the most famous in the Nanshan District and that a meal there would cost a pretty penny. However, he wanted to win Zhang Ziyan over to help him crack arcade boards. Regardless of whether she could succeed, he wanted to show his sincerity. Besides, having arrived so late and misremembering her name earlier, it felt inappropriate not to make a grand gesture. Moreover, since Fang Yueqing had made the introduction, he couldn't possibly take them to a roadside stall.

Fang Yueqing hesitated, saying, "Brother Qiang, the Yanjing Restaurant is very expensive. I think..."

Wang Qiang smiled and interrupted her, "If it's expensive, so be it. It’s rare to treat you both to a meal, so we should enjoy it."

Despite a few more attempts by Fang Yueqing to dissuade him, Wang Qiang insisted on treating them to a good dinner, and she eventually agreed.

Zhang Ziyan, who had been quiet until now, looked at Wang Qiang with a hint of surprise. For the first time, her impression of this "generous" man shifted. Wang Qiang took the matter of treating them to dinner very seriously and was not stingy in the least. After deciding on the location, the three of them hailed a taxi and headed straight to their destination.

***

Shekou.

On the way, Wang Qiang had curiously spotted a massive cruise ship with the words "Sea World" written on it. It was only after the driver explained that he realized it was a genuine luxury liner. Sea World was divided into two main parts: the Minghua ship and the Sea World Plaza. It was a high-end area, and the restaurants and entertainment venues within were frequented only by the wealthy and elite.

After that fleeting glimpse, the car slowly pulled away from Sea World, and before long, they arrived at the Yanjing Restaurant.

After paying the fare and getting out, Wang Qiang looked up to see the entrance adorned with large red lanterns. The parking lot was filled with all sorts of cars, ranging from Santanas to the true luxury vehicles of the era, such as Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs.

Zhang Ziyan looked at her own worn-out clothes and felt a bit intimidated. "Wang Qiang, are we really going to eat at such a fancy place?"

Fang Yueqing, however, appeared quite calm. "We're already here, let's just go in."

"Right," Wang Qiang agreed, taking the lead.

Inside, the restaurant was bustling with noise, nearly every table packed. Near the entrance, a group of three or four men were laughing and urging each other to drink.

"President Lu, you must finish this glass."

"The roast duck is excellent; it tastes just like the one from Bianyifang in Beijing."

"Come, come, cheers!"

As they crossed the threshold, the aroma of food and wine, along with the roar of the crowd, washed over them. A waitress immediately approached to greet them, leading the trio to a small table by the window before presenting the menu.

At the table, Wang Qiang handed the menu to Fang Yueqing and Zhang Ziyan. "Ladies first, please order."

Zhang Ziyan took the menu, scanned it, and secretly gasped. *Goodness, this is so expensive!* She began to feel uneasy, thinking that eating at such an extravagant place might be a bit excessive. She whispered, "Why don't we go somewhere else?"

Wang Qiang chuckled, "We are already here, so let's stay. Please, order whatever you like—don't worry about saving me money." Though he said this, his heart was bleeding; he had just noticed that a single roast duck cost dozens of yuan. This meal would likely cost over a hundred. But he understood that one must give to receive; when asking for help, one had to show proper hospitality.

"I'll order," Fang Yueqing said, taking the menu and picking a few of the cheaper dishes.

She showed them to Wang Qiang for approval: shredded pork in bean sauce, a stir-fried vegetable medley, traditional Beijing stir-fried liver, and a white fungus soup. He looked at Fang Yueqing without making a scene; he knew she was trying to spare his wallet. While forty or fifty yuan was more than a worker's daily wage at the time, it wasn't much for a high-end restaurant. However, Wang Qiang had prepared himself for a "bloodletting." These few dishes didn't seem enough to show his sincerity. Just then, he caught Zhang Ziyan swallowing hard as she stared at the picture of the Beijing roast duck on the menu.

"Let's add the Beijing roast duck," Wang Qiang said. "I've never had it, let's give it a try."

Zhang Ziyan felt her mouth water at the mention. *Fang's friend is so generous,* she thought.

The waitress nearby smiled. "Sir, you have excellent taste. We only started serving roast duck last year, and they are all specially fed ducks air-freighted from Beijing. It tastes wonderful. You’ll see in a moment." She took the menu and left.

The three sat and chatted casually. Before long, the dishes began to arrive. They were all hungry, and Zhang Ziyan, dropping all pretense, began to eat voraciously, as if she hadn't eaten for days. Fang Yueqing, however, remained mindful of her manners, taking small, dainty bites even though she was starving.

After a while, the roast duck arrived. Zhang Ziyan looked at the lotus leaf pancakes, scallions, cucumber strips, and sweet bean sauce, unsure of how to proceed.

The observant Wang Qiang noticed this. He feigned a casual tone. "The roast duck is here. I won't stand on ceremony!" Using his chopsticks, he spread a bit of sweet bean sauce on a pancake, added a strip of scallion, a piece of cucumber, and a slice of crispy duck skin and meat. He rolled it up, took a bite, and sighed—the flavor was rich, savory, and not at all greasy. It was authentic.

Across from him, Fang Yueqing was eating in a ladylike fashion.

After watching Wang Qiang, Zhang Ziyan clumsily attempted to assemble her own roll. As a self-proclaimed foodie, she fell in love with the taste after just one bite. She became so engrossed in her meal that she nearly forgot Wang Qiang and Fang Yueqing were even there.

After a while, Zhang Ziyan noticed that the other two had already set down their chopsticks. She asked, puzzled, "Why aren't you eating?"

Fang Yueqing patted her stomach. "I have a small appetite; I'm full."

Wang Qiang followed up, "I'm full as well."

*But you were the one who ordered the duck,* Zhang Ziyan thought. *You said you wanted to try it, so why did you only have two pieces?*

She paused, suddenly realizing the truth: Wang Qiang hadn't ordered the duck for himself; he had noticed she wanted it, and his deliberate demonstration of how to roll the pancake was likely meant to help her save face.

Her gaze toward Wang Qiang changed. This generous yet thoughtful man wasn't annoying at all. Even though it was just one meal, she felt that spending time with him was quite pleasant.

*Is this his natural charm?* she wondered. *No wonder Fang Yueqing values him so much.*

Zhang Ziyan’s perspective on Wang Qiang shifted. Her earlier annoyance at having to wait for over an hour had vanished; instead, she had started to like him—not in a romantic sense, but in the way one appreciates a good friend.

"By the way, Brother Qiang," Fang Yueqing said, "didn't you ask me specifically to bring Xiao Yan out? Tell her what you need."

*This meal was specifically to treat me?* Zhang Ziyan looked at Wang Qiang curiously. "Brother Qiang, what is it?" She hadn't even noticed that her form of address had changed.

Wang Qiang smiled and got to the point. "Well, it's like this, Xiao Yan. I heard from Xiao Qing that you know how to crack game cartridges?"

Zhang Ziyan nodded. "I do."

"Do you know how to crack arcade boards?" Wang Qiang asked.

"Which kind of arcade boards? BIOS-based or system-integrated boards?" Zhang Ziyan countered.

Wang Qiang blinked. "Is there a difference?"

When it came to professional knowledge, Zhang Ziyan’s expression transformed; she became vibrant and enthusiastic. "Early arcade games didn't have operating systems; they usually consisted of a BIOS board with basic functions and a game ROM. Modern arcade boards often use hardware interchangeable with home consoles..." She rattled off a string of technical jargon.

She mentioned names like System 246, System 256, NAOMI, NAOMI 2, and System SP. Wang Qiang didn't understand a word of it. The more she spoke, the more he broke into a cold sweat. *Is it really that complicated?*

After she finished, Zhang Ziyan added, "There are many types, but if it's a BIOS-based board, I have a fifty or sixty percent chance of success. If it's one with an operating system, that's much harder. Also, to crack a board, I need a legitimate original board to work with. As far as I know, an original Japanese board costs over twenty thousand yuan."

Twenty thousand yuan per board wasn't a problem. Wang Qiang believed that with his ideas, as long as he could crack them, he could recoup the costs in no time. But Zhang Ziyan only had a fifty or sixty percent success rate. If he failed, he would lose twenty thousand yuan.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Only fifty or sixty percent?"

Zhang Ziyan’s attitude remained helpful. She smiled, "I only have those odds if I work alone. If I can find a partner who understands this, I could have an eighty percent chance."

*Eighty percent?* That was enough for him to take the gamble.

"Do you know anyone who understands this stuff?" Wang Qiang asked immediately. "If so, could you invite them? I can pay you both to crack these arcade boards."

Zhang Ziyan shook her head, saying generously, "I won't charge you for helping with the cracking, but I really don't know anyone else who can."

Suddenly, Fang Yueqing interjected, "There are so many upperclassmen in our school's computer department. Surely some of them know how to do this? We can ask around later."

"Right, right, there must be," Zhang Ziyan said, tapping her head. "I forgot about those brilliant seniors at our school."

Wang Qiang immediately urged, "Then please ask. If you find someone suitable, let me know."

"Sure!" Zhang Ziyan said. "Leave your phone number, and I'll call you if I find anyone."

*Ugh, the phone number issue again.* Wang Qiang realized he really needed to get a mobile communication device. It was fine for now, but as his business grew, it would be highly inconvenient to go without one. Since he didn't have one, he left the phone number for Old Zhu's inn instead.