Chapter 3 Part 1

The fire under the large iron wok was turned up to maximum, and the stir-fried dishes erupted with a robust wok hei. Once the ingredients went in, the aroma wafted out in waves.

Zhong Nian’s eyes lit up as he clapped vigorously while the man flipped the wok. “That’s amazing!!”

The man lifted his chin proudly. “Not bad.”

He then performed a couple more wok flips for show.

“Do you like soup? I wouldn’t mind making you another one.”

“Yes! Yes!” Zhong Nian nodded eagerly.

Afterward, the man led him to a corner at the stern of the deck, where Zhong Nian enjoyed a hearty meal of five dishes, one soup, and even some little pastries and a small dessert.

“I might not be able to finish all this.” He mumbled around a mouthful of rice, his words unclear.

“No worries, nothing will go to waste.” The man held a cheap cigarette between his fingertips as he leaned against the railing, watching Zhong Nian spoon rice into his mouth one bite at a time. His cheeks bulged out like a hamster’s.

He took a slow drag of the harsh smoke, his eyes narrowing slightly, an expression of genuine enjoyment on his face.

He hadn’t realized it before, but as a chef, seeing someone devour your food with such relish truly brought a sense of accomplishment.

It even sparked an impulse to cook for the other person for a lifetime.

When Zhong Nian wiped his mouth and let out a burp, the man walked over, naturally took the plates, picked up the used spoon, and shoveled the leftovers into his mouth in just a few bites, polishing them off.

Zhong Nian paused for a moment, then smiled.

“You’re actually a pretty good guy.”

He cooked for him and even cleaned up the scraps. His mouth was a bit foul, but that was no big deal.

The man raised an eyebrow noncommittally.

“What’s your name? I’m Zhong Nian.” Zhong Nian took the initiative.

“Zhan Lu.”

“Zhan Lu, let me ask you something.” Zhong Nian shifted his feet and scooted closer.

The man, who had been scraping the last grains of rice from the plate with the spoon, froze. He caught the unidentified fragrance drifting from the young man, and his gaze darkened.

His hand gripping the spoon tightened unconsciously, veins bulging as the metal handle bent slightly.

“What?” Dazed, he hadn’t caught the young man’s words and asked in a low, husky voice.

Zhong Nian patiently repeated himself. “Do you know Sheng Chu?”

In an instant, Zhan Lu composed himself, his eyes narrowing as he stared deeply at the young man. “Why are you asking about him?”

Zhong Nian cupped his face in his hands. “I ran into them, and there was this Qian guy too. Then I overheard them mention someone surnamed Zong who seems really powerful.”

“You ran into them?” Zhan Lu’s expression suddenly turned grave. He grabbed Zhong Nian’s shoulders. “Did something happen?”

The uncharacteristic reaction gave Zhong Nian pause. He blinked and said lightly, “Nah, nothing. I was just curious. They seemed so impressive and rich.”

Zhan Lu’s eyebrow twitched. “Don’t get curious about them. Messing with them brings no good, especially for someone like you… It’s best if they never lay eyes on you.”

Seeing that Zhan Lu knew something, Zhong Nian’s eyes brightened. “What’s up? Aren’t they good people?”

Zhan Lu sneered. “On this ship, there aren’t many good ones, especially the rich ones.”

Zhan Lu’s features already leaned toward the wild side, and his mocking smirk was somewhat intimidating, with sparks seeming to ignite in his eyes.

Zhong Nian fell silent, furrowing his brow as he scrutinized Zhan Lu.

After a moment, he came to a conclusion. “Zhan Lu, you’re jealous of the rich, aren’t you?”

Zhan Lu’s eye twitched. “…No.”

“But you look like you really hate them.” Zhong Nian placed a hand on Zhan Lu’s shoulder, cutting him off as he tried to speak. “Hey, it’s fine. I understand. No need to say more.”

Zhan Lu: “…Think what you want, but don’t take my warning lightly. They look all shiny on the surface, but who knows how disgusting and filthy their private games are.”

Zhong Nian nodded. “Got it. Time to get back to work.”

Though he hadn’t gotten much out of Zhan Lu, once he returned to his post, he asked around a few others and smoothly gathered some information.

Jie Wen, who had joined several parades, proved the most helpful.

In summary, the ship’s primary owner was the Zong Family, with several other investors, including the Sheng and Qian families.

But partnering didn’t mean they were equals. Class distinctions were stark even among the wealthy. The Qian Family was filthy rich and unattainable to ordinary folk, but there were people beyond people—the Qian Family was nothing compared to the Sheng Family, and the Zong Family’s power blotted out the skies.

The closer the classes, the tighter the bonds, naturally forming cliques for mutual benefit, collusion, and shared interests.

“Qian Shao was notorious for not discriminating between meat or veggies, and his methods for playing were…” Jie Wen frowned, sparing the young man’s ears. “Anyway, he’s the lowest of the low. If he saw you, he’d stop at nothing to get you. You have to stay far away!”

Zhong Nian didn’t mention that he’d already crossed paths with him. Instead, he asked, “What about the others?”

“That Sheng Family one… His reputation is decent. He doesn’t touch the stuff the others play with, but he’s not to be trifled with. His status in the circle is exceptional—he’s the family’s only son, the destined heir, and incredibly capable.

“Most of the young masters and ladies on this ship are lazy good-for-nothings. Few are like Sheng Chu, who’s taken on a big share of family power at such a young age. Even the Zong Family Eldest Young Master on board has to give him some respect.