192: If you don't work, it will be nothing.

Tanghuo Kungfu Spicy Hotpot.

The shop was not large, but it was compactly and warmly arranged. A quaint, large red lantern hung at the entrance, emblazoned with the four grand, calligraphic characters "Spicy Jianghu," exuding a lively, down-to-earth Qi and a unique sesame paste aroma.

Inside, the shop was bustling and steamy, with the rich, spicy scent of butter, Sichuan peppercorns, and bean paste intermingling in the air.

The walls were covered with photos of various dishes and price tags. Colorful ingredients were neatly arranged in transparent display cases, from fresh vegetables to various soy products, meats, and seafood—a dazzling array, with everything imaginable.

In the cramped space, diners sat around small square tables on high stools, some clinking glasses with a few friends, others lost in their own culinary world.

On each table, the spicy hotpot in stainless steel bowls was enticing, with a bright red broth complemented by crisp green vegetables, golden tofu skin, and snow-white fish balls.

Shen Bei picked out some ingredients, and after they were weighed, the boss tossed them into a bubbling pot. Chili, Sichuan peppercorns, and other seasonings churned in the rolling broth, imparting a spicy, fresh, and savory flavor to the ingredients.

"18 yuan," the boss said with a smile, pushing the QR code for payment forward.

"Wait, there's still someone else."

Gu Changfeng's voice came from behind Shen Bei.

Shen Bei rolled his eyes.

This Gu Changfeng was truly shameless.

He was clearly just giving him a ride, a simple press of the accelerator, yet he insisted that Shen Bei treat him to spicy hotpot. If he didn't recoup his gas money, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

"20, 22."

The boss tapped on the calculator, "Total 60."

It wasn't just Gu Changfeng; Director Zheng had also come along.

If it had only been Gu Changfeng, Shen Bei wouldn't have bothered with him.

But for Director Zheng to come down to the grassroots and eat common food, that was a truly benevolent act.

It wasn't easy…

At least it was better than eating plain cabbage.

Three steaming, thick bowls of spicy hotpot were placed on the table.

Gu Changfeng opened a can of Zhenzhen lychee soda. The bubbles burst in his mouth, and he let out a satisfied sigh, then suggested to Director Zheng, "I think we can add this drink to our budget."

Director Zheng slurped his spicy hotpot, "Then remove the salt from the procurement list and replace it with drinks."

Gu Changfeng: …

Gu Changfeng sighed, looked at Shen Bei, and said with a helpless expression, "You see how hard our lives are, right? Honestly, I'm just living off rich benefactors now."

Shen Bei: …

He's really good at feigning poverty.

Shen Bei didn't believe a single punctuation mark of what Gu Changfeng said.

Shen Bei picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a fried dough stick.

Yes.

You could cook fried dough sticks in spicy hotpot…

The fried dough stick, soaked in the rich broth, burst with flavor in one bite, utterly satisfying.

In fact, the spicy hotpot in Sichuan West had completely diverged from the definition of "spicy hotpot."

The sesame paste was added with a heavy hand.

It was called spicy hotpot, but there was only a hint of spiciness; the rest of the flavor was all sesame paste.

Some diners even liked to add sugar…

A true "Spicy Hotpot Transformation Story."

A moment later.

The three walked out of the shop.

Gu Changfeng lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said leisurely, "A cigarette after a meal is better than a living immortal."

"Thanks for the treat, little brother."

Shen Bei clicked his tongue, pointing at the receipt in his hand, "Are you still planning to expense it?"

Gu Changfeng awkwardly stuffed the receipt into his pocket, "Standard procedure, basic operation, no need to make a fuss."

Shen Bei: …

I've lost a fortune!

I paid for the meal, and you're going to pocket the reimbursement.

Shen Bei got into the car.

Gu Changfeng, quite surprised, tapped on the car window, "What are you doing?"

"Take me to the Labor Market."

"Hmm?"

"I lost a full 60 yuan; shouldn't I work to earn it back?"

This one sentence struck Director Zheng and Gu Changfeng speechless.

Their mouths twitched, their eyebrows jumped wildly, and their minds were in disarray.

Anyone who didn't know them would think two public officials were extorting a poor student.

In reality, Gu Changfeng knew perfectly well whether Shen Bei had money.

Just catching You Wuchang alone was worth a million yuan!

He's really good at feigning poverty.

…

Soon.

Shen Bei arrived at the Labor Market by car, jumped out, waved, and told Gu Changfeng to get lost.

Then, Shen Bei blended into the crowd of laborers.

This was a warm big family.

Shen Bei felt extremely comfortable.

The people here spoke so nicely.

"Little Shen, haven't seen you in days, quite impressive, aren't you?"

"Good heavens, coming to work in a police car, you must be the boss."

"You scared me, I thought my underwear-stealing incident from yesterday was exposed."

"Holy moly, stay away from this underwear pervert."

"Just kidding."

…

Shen Bei squatted among the crowd, hands tucked into his sleeves, and chuckled, "This is called riding a bicycle to a bar—save where you can, spend where you should. It was on the way, so I just took the car."

Shen Bei hadn't been to the Labor Market for quite some time.

Many faces were unfamiliar.

Perhaps some had found better jobs, some might have returned to their hometowns, and some had secured long-term employment.

And it was also possible… they had died in some unknown corner.

In short, the Labor Market was a giant leek-cultivating base.

One crop of people after another replaced them.

It had gotten to the point where Shen Bei had become one of the seasoned veterans here.

A moment later.

A refined boss got out of his car and called out.

Shen Bei and the others swarmed around him.

The boss was not old, in the prime of his middle age.

He gestured with his hand, quieting the noisy crowd.

"Looking for two temporary workers, not many requirements, just need to know how to swim."

At these words, all the laborers rolled their eyes and returned to their spots to wait for work.

For northerners,

this was no longer "not many requirements."

It was like a bicycle repairman needing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.

It was purely designed to exclude people.

Northerners were not good swimmers.

They could capsize a Dragon Boat, which says a lot…

So, most of the laborers present couldn't swim, and the few who could weren't interested in this job.

No need to think much; it definitely involved going into the water.

No one wanted to get themselves soaking wet.

Thus, all the laborers, whether they could swim or not, retreated to their positions.

Only Shen Bei remained standing nearby.

The boss blinked, "You can swim?"

Shen Bei really wanted to tell him how he had escaped by crossing the great sea in the underground cave.

But Shen Bei merely nodded and asked, "What kind of job requires going into the water?"

"Simple," the boss briefly explained, "It's at the city's swimming pool. Today, it's been booked by a company for its female clients. Just keep an eye on them so they don't drown."

"Of course, there's another task: if a female client can't swim, you need to go into the water and teach them. If you can't teach, that's fine too; just muddle through."

Shen Bei's eyes immediately lit up, as if he saw many beautiful women.

"How much?"

"Until closing time, 200."

Shen Bei pulled out 200 yuan and placed it in the boss's hand, "I'll go!"

Boss: ???

This scene utterly dumbfounded the boss.

He stared at the 200 yuan in his hand, his eyes wide.

With a bewildered and utterly confused expression, he asked, "You, why are you giving me money?"

Shen Bei let out an "Ah," and pulled the money back, "Sorry, got a bit too excited."

The boss twitched his lips, "I understand now. You might be trying to take advantage—"

"Nonsense!" Shen Bei said earnestly, "I graduated from Harvard. How could I be so filthy and lewd?"

"Hiss~~, quite the high academic background."

"You misunderstood. I meant Harbin Buddhist Academy. We cultivate Zen; we don't indulge in female beauty, nor do we have the bone-chilling blade."

Boss: …

Alright, alright.

I didn't expect you to be a "Great Master."

The boss waved, leading Shen Bei to the car.

They drove to the swimming pool.

On the way.

The boss still earnestly cautioned, "Great Master, we cannot break our vows. If it affects my business, we'll have to have a serious talk about it."

Shen Bei: …

Shen Bei said, "If you don't trust my professional ethics, don't you trust the Patrol Bureau?"

The boss nodded knowingly, "Do you know Gu Changfeng? Actually, Gu Changfeng and I were primary school classmates."

Shen Bei: …

What a coincidence, I'm Gu Changfeng's creditor. He owes me 42 yuan for spicy hotpot.

Of course, in Shen Bei's understanding, Gu Changfeng would definitely not acknowledge this debt.

Upon arriving at the swimming pool.

The first thing that caught their eye was the wide, mirror-like calm pool. The water was clear and blue, like a giant sapphire embedded in the ground.

The faint smell of chlorine permeated the air.

Soon.

A group of beautiful female clients emerged giggling from the changing area.

They lined up along the neat white tiles on both sides of the pool, doing warm-up stretches, like a stage curtain awaiting dynamic figures.

Shen Bei felt a little dizzy, swaying a few times. If the boss hadn't supported him, he would have almost fallen to the ground.

Good heavens!

What an eye-opener, a true eye-opener!

It was truly thrilling!