"There's a note inside the kraft paper envelope that reads, 'Amidst the mountains and rivers, doubts arise about the path ahead. In the dimness, another village appears. If a person doesn't die, there will always be a day to turn things around.' In addition, I've put a thousand yuan inside."
After listening to Chen Yuanshan's account, my lingering doubts were completely dispelled.
"I feel like your note wasn't very useful. It was the thousand yuan that did the trick," I remarked to Chen Yuanshan.
"I think the money is secondary. It's the note written by Master Uncle that had an effect, inspiring him to strive harder," Xu Yan expressed her opinion.
"Both of you are wrong. The note and the money are secondary; his personal thoughts are what matters," Chen Yuanshan explained, stroking his beard.
At that moment, Chen Yuanshan brought over a plate of boiled peanuts, a plate of boiled edamame, and a plate of smashed cucumber, placing them on my table.
"Master Chen, these small dishes are complimentary. Do you want some beer? Our locally brewed beer is excellent," the waiter suggested.
"I drove here, so I won't be drinking. Just get us three bottles of soda," Chen Yuanshan said to He Gang, keeping an eye on the nearby beer barrel and even licking his lips.
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"If Master Uncle wants to drink, go ahead. I'll drive your car back for you," Xu Yan suggested, noticing Chen Yuanshan's desire for beer.
"I think that works. Bring me two large draft beers first," Chen Yuanshan instructed He Gang.
"Alright," He Gang replied with a smile. He then poured two large draft beers and placed them on our table.
These two large beer mugs could be described with the words "especially large." Their capacity was five times that of regular beer mugs.
Chen Yuanshan pushed one mug towards me. He held the other and took a big sip, finishing about a third of it.
I took a big gulp from the large mug. The aroma of the draft beer was strong and indeed delightful.
After a short while, He Gang brought some freshly grilled skewers to our table.
Smelling the aroma of the skewers, I licked my lips. I couldn't remember the last time I had a barbecue, and at that moment, I had completely forgotten about the encounter with the female ghost.
"Enjoy," Chen Yuanshan said, pointing to the skewers and gesturing for Xu Yan and me to eat.
Just as Xu Yan and I were about to put a skewer into our mouths, one of the four young men sitting at the adjacent table, a young guy with a shaved head, stood up. He casually picked up an empty beer bottle and smashed it at He Gang's feet, startling him.
Seeing the shaved-headed young man throw a beer bottle at his feet, He Gang's eyes flashed with a hint of anger.
"Little brother, what are you doing?" Suppressing his anger, He Gang walked over to the shaved-headed guy, wearing a forced smile as he inquired.
At this moment, Chen Yuanshan, Xu Yan, and I put down our skewers and looked over at the nearby table.
Chen Yuanshan gazed at the four young men, his expression turning serious.
"Your barbecue here is so damn salty, how are we supposed to eat it?" The shaved-headed young man pointed at the skewers on the table, complaining to He Gang.