CHAPTER 592: CHAPTER 592: EMPRESS XIA MAN

Ji You very principledly accepted the bribe from the hotpot restaurant owner and promised to give Liu Fufeng a bit of special attention from among the classmates.

Hearing her response, the hotpot restaurant owner was overjoyed inside, and directly smiled beamingly: "Classmate Ji You really has a warm heart. Our young master is truly lucky to have you as a classmate."

Ji You lifted her hand to scratch her head, revealing a simple and honest smile: "Hehe..."

As for being lucky or whatever, that’s all good as long as you, boss, don’t forget the matter of eating for free.

Ahem...

Of course, these words are not appropriate to say directly.

After Ji You had eaten her fill and also coaxed (tricked) Mengmeng into eating grass, she thought it was time to hurry up and clean the rabbit shed. Thus, she stood up, ready to bid farewell, when suddenly, she saw the hotpot restaurant owner looking at her with a hesitant expression.

Ji You: "???"

The corners of the hotpot restaurant owner’s lips turned up into a smile as he said: "There are a few words, I’m not sure if I should say them."

Ji You, who is straightforward and dislikes beating around the bush, signaled: "Boss, just say whatever you have to say. However, there is one thing, if it’s about borrowing money, then please don’t start."

Hotpot restaurant owner: "..."

Hotpot restaurant owner: "Cough cough... Classmate Ji You really knows how to joke."

Ji You seriously said: "Although you and Liu Fufeng seem to come from a wealthy and big family, there could be some hidden issues, like owing lots of external debts. It’s quite normal to borrow money, isn’t it?"

What’s more, didn’t your little master just borrow points from me a few days ago?

Cough cough...

People should always leave room for mercy, so it’s better not to mention Liu Fufeng’s embarrassing matters anymore.

After hearing this, the smile in the hotpot restaurant owner’s eyes deepened. He lifted a hand lightly over his face to stop his laughter and with a serious face said: "Classmate Ji You, you really don’t need to worry about such things. Our young master’s status, as you all probably know, is such that his net worth is enough for him to have no worries for several lifetimes, and he has not a single debt. As for me? I’ve been operating the hotpot restaurant here for over 150 years. Although I’m not enormously wealthy, maintaining my living is not a problem."

Ji You: "Huh?"

She really was shocked: "Boss, you’ve been operating a store here for over 150 years?"

The hotpot restaurant owner smiled and said: "Yes."

With just two simple words, his tone was filled with profound memories.

Ji You couldn’t help asking: "Boss, may I ask how old you are this year?"

The hotpot restaurant owner didn’t look old, around in his forties or fifties, but since human genes have been strengthened nowadays, lifespans typically reached around 300 years old. Many people in their two-hundreds still maintained the appearance of someone in their forties or fifties, so it was not easy to directly judge someone’s age by their appearance.

Upon hearing the question, the hotpot restaurant owner smiled slightly and said: "I am 250 years old this year."

Ji You: "Boss, I think you look very young."

"Ha ha~"

"I’m old."

"I’m old," the hotpot restaurant owner raised his hand, rubbed his face, and said with a smile: "I can’t compare to you kids anymore." While saying this, he suddenly paused, then continued: "Classmate Ji You, actually, what I want to tell you is about the relationship between me and our young master."

Ji You raised her head, silently looking at him without interrupting, but showing a listening attitude.

The hotpot restaurant owner said with a smile: "Actually, this is a private matter between the young master and myself, and it’s not really suitable to bother you with it. But considering that you are the young master’s classmate and given the young master’s status, I, an old fellow, am always worried that he will feel ostracized at the Military Academy or fail to fit in with the group. That’s why I was hoping you could take extra care of the young master."

Ji You continued to listen.

The hotpot restaurant owner went on: "Actually, I used to be the cook and butler for Miss Xia Man, the young master’s mother. Later, when Miss Xia Man married the Emperor of the Galaxy Empire, she intended to bring me along, but I missed my homeland and didn’t want to leave. Although Miss Xia Man was reluctant, she still let me go. Moreover, Miss Xia Man was worried about my livelihood, so she gave me this hotpot restaurant location. You might not imagine it, but the Lanyue Star Military Academy used to occupy only one-third of its current size. Everything from the commercial street, your first-year Combat Department, Mechanical Manufacturing System, Material Department, canteen, and all of this large area, was owned by Miss Xia Man’s family. About 140 years ago, when Lanyue Star Military Academy faced a crisis due to insufficient educational land, Miss Xia Man, at that time already the Queen of the Empire, personally decided to donate this land to the Military Academy for expansion..."

"This matter was properly handled by the old dean of the academy, Miss Xia Man’s Affiliated Officer team, the Alliance Notary Office... several parties working together."

"Besides our Lanyue Star Military Academy, the neighboring Agricultural College also received a lot of benefaction from the Xia Family, with half of the college’s land being donated by them. As to why there is no one left from the Xia Family..."

At this point, the hotpot restaurant owner suddenly sighed and said with a sad tone: "My employer’s family, the Xia Family, was a very respectable family. The young and strong members of their lineage were valiant warriors. Unfortunately, in the Beast Tide a hundred years ago, they perished while defending against the Beast Tide’s invasion."

Having said that, the hotpot restaurant owner’s tears quietly slid down; he turned his back slightly, wiping his tears, and said: "I’m making you see a joke."

Hearing about the inside story, Ji You felt as if a heavy rock was pressing on her chest and she couldn’t catch her breath. She put on a stern face and said solemnly: "Boss, there is nothing funny about this. I will forever hold the highest respect for Lady Xia Man and all members of the Xia Family!"

The hotpot restaurant owner suddenly said: "Although I no longer have the official title of employer and employee with the miss and the young master, I will always identify as an employee of the Xia Family. So, I’ve never changed my way of addressing him, still calling him ’young master.’ I hope you don’t think I’m old-fashioned, sticking to outdated ideas."

Ji You’s eyes, bright and clear, nodded in agreement: "The Xia Family is worthy of your commitment."

The hotpot restaurant owner let out a slight sigh and said: "Ever since my employer Miss Xia Man learned about the family tragedy, her health has been poor for over a hundred years. She has a personality of only sharing good news and not the troubles. Whether her life in the Empire is good or bad, we don’t have a clue. Since her departure, the young master rarely returns to Lanyue Star, and I also don’t get to know about the young master’s condition..."

"But after reflecting on the Empire’s decision to appoint a new Crown Prince, I presume things might not be so good."

Upon reaching this point, the hotpot restaurant owner began to stealthily wipe his tears again, "Our young master has been physically weak since childhood. He suffers from a very serious..." The hotpot restaurant owner suddenly stopped, looking apologetically at Ji You and said: "This is the young master’s private matter, and it’s not right for me to disclose it."

Ji You nodded her head, expressing understanding.

Based on previous gossip among her classmates, Ji You guessed that it probably involved a genetic disease.