Chapter 123: The Establishment of the Training Center

Chen Huajiang laughed, speaking with reason.

“People’s labor value per unit of time is not the same. Take factory workers, for example: why can an eighth-level master worker earn sixty or seventy yuan a month, a status comparable to a department-level leader, while ordinary workers only get twenty yuan a month?”

“You don’t think I’m going to personally buy a brick and spend time repairing this place, do you? It’s like when I buy a house—I pay several times the price to save time. Naturally, repairs would be done by paying two hundred yuan directly to have someone fix it.”

“So don’t use your own time value to measure mine. Of course—” Chen Huajiang raised a finger, shaking it slightly with a smile.

The reasoning was simple, especially since Chen Huajiang had just demonstrated it by buying two houses at high prices.

Unconsciously, the surrounding crowd nodded subtly, agreeing with Chen Huajiang’s argument.

“But what?” Liu Xiangyang and Ma Liangping’s faces darkened. Though the logic stood, they would not accept it.

“Whoever breaks it must repair it. She stepped on my floor tile and damaged it; naturally, she must be responsible for fixing it.”

“Either compensate with money or repair it. I think this is straightforward and everyone agrees with it, right?” Chen Huajiang said with crossed arms, glancing at Gao Yun.

“This is a fair principle. After all, it was Miss Gao who damaged it and should get it repaired.”

“If it’s just a repair, it’s a minor matter—just get some quicklime bricks and cement; it can be done in an hour.”

“Chen the boss is a straightforward man who knows reason. If he were to do it himself, he’d definitely hire someone to fix it. The cost would surely be different.”

The crowd nodded vigorously. Chen Huajiang’s two options were reasonable and not unfair.

If she was willing to pay, she wouldn’t have to repair it herself; if not, she would have to do the repair.

Liu Xiangyang and Ma Liangping could only look at Gao Yun, feeling the logic was sound.

Gao Yun bit her lip and glared fiercely at Chen Huajiang, hating him deeply.

But she was unwilling to spend two hundred yuan—and she didn’t have it.

“I’ll fix it for you tomorrow!” Gao Yun gritted her teeth and said before turning away.

Back at the bone-setting clinic, the angrier Gao Yun grew the more she cursed Chen Huajiang.

Gao Datong was giving a guest a bone-setting treatment but only glanced at his granddaughter without saying a word.

One guest who was there reassured Gao Yun somewhat, easing her frustration.

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In this way, Chen Huajiang acquired two neighboring courtyard houses beside the Gao family’s bone-setting clinic and had them connected into one.

At the same time, he brought fruits and gifts to see Old Master Gao, hoping to apprentice under him.

“I’m no longer taking apprentices, and at your age, you’re not suited to martial arts,” Old Master Gao said, glancing at Chen Huajiang and waving him off.

“Master Gao, I don’t intend to learn martial arts, just some health-strengthening exercises and basic combat techniques,” Chen Huajiang persisted, explaining his purpose.

But Old Master Gao shook his head, continued massaging the guest, and ignored Chen Huajiang.

“Hmph, you want to learn from my grandfather?”

“Chen Huajiang, I’m telling you, it’s impossible—never in your life!” Gao Yun arrogantly said, looking at Chen Huajiang with disdain.

Chen Huajiang naturally ignored her; she was not the one he sought to apprentice under.

“Master Gao, I’m willing to contribute two thousand yuan to renovate the Gao family bone-setting clinic as a token of apprenticeship. If that’s not enough, I can add more. I guarantee it will satisfy you,” Chen Huajiang said without giving up.

Hearing this, Gao Yun and others looked utterly contemptuous.

“This isn’t about money—it’s that I simply don’t intend to take apprentices anymore.”

“Xiangyang, please see Mr. Chen out,” Old Master Gao said without hesitation, motioning his disciple to escort the guest.

“Mr. Chen, this way please,” Liu Xiangyang said coldly, pointing toward the door.

“That’s really a pity,” Chen Huajiang shrugged and left.

But this small setback didn’t bother him; he quickly returned to the courtyard to direct workers.

After one, two, three days, the two courtyard houses Chen Huajiang bought were connected into a larger courtyard, outfitted with several coal stoves and cooking ranges.

“I wonder what he’s up to?”

“Spent four thousand five hundred on two old houses—he must be crazy.”

“I heard he wanted to apprentice at the Gao family clinic but was completely ignored.”

Neighbors in the alley gathered in groups, curious and gossiping about Chen Huajiang, the outsider who was making major renovations.

At that moment, Chen Huajiang had two workers hang a wooden sign at the courtyard gate.

Curious neighbors crowded around to see the sign read: “Kunlun Catering Free Training Center.”

“What does this mean? A free training center? Is it for real?”

“That guy wanted to apprentice at the Gao clinic, now he’s running a training center?”

“I don’t believe in free training centers. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

The crowd murmured skeptically, not believing Chen Huajiang would offer free training.

Gao Yun naturally learned about this immediately and sneered mockingly.

“Big Brother, Second Brother, I’ll tell you, this is surely a scam.”

“That guy giving free training? Hmph, it’s all a front—he’s definitely charging plenty somewhere.”

“And I’m sure someone will soon expose his trick. Does he really think we’re all fools here?”

Gao Yun spoke confidently, sneering continuously with disdain.

No free lunch existed; she couldn’t believe a ‘capitalist’ like Chen Huajiang would do business at a loss.

That day, Zhang Bao and three others came to the training center to learn while making fires in the courtyard.

Chen Huajiang did not train all four the same way but divided them into two groups.

Zhang Bao and Lian Chengye learned how to make skewers; An Hongbing and Ma Dashu learned teppanyaki.

When they questioned him, Chen Huajiang explained his plan: to develop a clustered food street in this area.

The four were indifferent to Chen Huajiang’s “retaliation,” not taking it seriously.

Days passed, and some curious onlookers joined the training center—some hoping to learn something for free, others seeking to uncover and expose Chen Huajiang’s scheme.

Chen Huajiang taught without discrimination, regardless of their intentions, teaching all who came.

Because the more people engaged in snacks, the faster the food street would form and achieve scale.

Meanwhile, Wu De, Feng Weizhi, and Wolfdog dined together in the northern district, all in high spirits.