Min Congda finished the steamed dumplings, shrimp dumplings, chicken feet and peanuts in front of him, without waiting for Ada's uncle Christopher.
Ada, who was sitting opposite, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. She and Min Congda had been waiting at this Chinatown restaurant at 5:20, and the agreed time was 5:30.
It's now six o'clock, and uncle Christopher still hasn't shown up. He made several calls in a row, but his cell phone was turned off.
Min Congda was not in a hurry, so he ordered a lot of food when he was hungry. He also reminded Ada that any receipts from merchants would be reimbursed.
"Sorry Mr. Smart, my uncle is always punctual, and he really takes this matter seriously, but I don't know what happened, but his phone is still turned off."
Min Congda wiped his mouth and said: "It doesn't matter Ada, most of life is actually waiting, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for a person, waiting for glory, waiting for death. People who don't wait will not have success... Another barbecued pork."
Ada nodded, knowing that if it had been anyone else, such as Olshey or Rosser, the meeting would have been over.
In a business society like the United States, the concept of time is very important, and being late for business meetings is the most intolerable thing.
Especially for people like Mr. Smart who have a very strong sense of time. She still remembers that he always brings an alarm clock with him when he stays in a hotel.
Now he didn't care that his uncle was late. He didn't know whether he was sincere or just to save face for himself.
Ada felt even more sorry. She couldn't sit still and ran outside the restaurant to take a look. After a while, she saw Uncle Christopher's car parked on the side of the road.
She hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, and Christopher got out of the car, looking quite embarrassed.
He was wearing a dusty jacket, his hair was messy, there was dust on his trousers, and the toe of his leather shoes was scratched.
There was a small wound on his face and a small piece of swelling on his cheekbone. It looked like something had happened.
Ada said hurriedly: "Uncle Christopher, what happened? You are late. Mr. Smart has been waiting for you for more than half an hour."
Christopher rubbed his nose and said, "Humph, I encountered a little thing and was delayed. I'm really sorry. Let's go. Later... later... let's go first."
Ada was full of doubts, but since the person was here, she should hurry in and don't let Mr. Smart wait.
Min Congda had already finished the barbecued pork that had just been served. When he saw Christopher coming in with Ada, he could tell at a glance that they were a family and they looked so much alike.
The high nose bridge, narrow face, deep eye sockets and thick eyebrows are all carved from the same mold.
Christopher was also surprised to see Min Congda and said in Italian: "You never told me that Mr. Smart is Chinese."
Ada did not reply in Italian. She knew it was rude and said in English: "Mr. Smart is from China and is the current general manager and president of the Clippers. He promoted me to a full-time employee. Mr. Smart , this is my uncle, Christopher Andolini, I'm sorry, he has been delayed by something."
Min Congda looked up and down at this old man who was over 50 years old. He could see that he was very strong when he was young, but now his figure was out of shape and he was a little rickety.
His eyes were dull and unfocused, his clothes were ordinary and even rustic, and he was not well-dressed. There were scars and bruises on his face. Could it be that he had been in a fight with someone?
At this age, you are still fighting with people. In business, you need to be harmonious to make money. If you opened a restaurant and had a fight with customers and destroyed the store... Hehe, that's great, but wouldn't it be a complete loss?
Min Congda had already imagined a scenario in which an old and stubborn old man like Christopher would get into a fight with a young customer over taste or service and beat him up.
Min Congda has seen this kind of stubborn old man many times before. He won't listen to anything he says and will get angry at you if he doesn't comply. No one wants to do business with such a person.
"He is also Ada's uncle. He engages in nepotism. Once a unit starts to engage in nepotism and brings in seven aunts and eight aunts, the unit's performance will probably be ruined."
"If you let a person like this open a restaurant, there's a good chance he'll be a pornographic person. I'm pretty good at judging people."
After just one face-to-face meeting, Min Congda made a judgment that Ada's uncle was the partner he wanted to find!
This way, it doesn't look very reliable at first glance. He is so old, but he is still late for important things, and he looks dull. If you leave the restaurant to him, it will probably be ruined. It's just a matter of time.
Christopher also looked at Min Congda. He didn't have a good impression of Asians, especially Chinese.
In Los Angeles, Chinese gangs have always been cunning and have deep estrangements from local gangs, and they have had many conflicts with each other.
But Christopher didn't want to give up this opportunity. He thought about it and said, "Hello Mr. Smart, I'm Christopher Andolini. I have some experience in the catering industry."
Min Congda finished the bowl of wontons in front of him, wiped his mouth, interrupted Christopher, and said: "Mr. Andolini, you don't have to say anything, I have already made a decision in my heart. I'm full and ready to go back to rest. , Ada, you can eat something here with your uncle, the money will be recorded in the team's account, and it will be considered as customer entertainment."
After speaking, Min Congda stood up to leave. When Ada saw this, she thought there was no chance, but who made her uncle late.
Mr. Smart is so busy, it would be a great honor for him to wait until his uncle comes.
Seeing that Min Congda was leaving, Christopher also thought that this time he had failed again and that all dreams were bullshit.
You are over 50 years old, what else do you think about? Once you embark on that path, there is no turning back.
I want to change my ways and start over, is that possible? Time is not forgiving, and youth will never come again.
"Oh, by the way, Ada, tomorrow you and Rosser will take your uncle to Staples Center to look at the store and rent the most expensive one. Remember, rent the most expensive one, not the best one. Do you understand?"
Min Congda added before leaving.
Ada and Christopher both had expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Ada hurriedly said: "Uh, Mr. Smart, is this the decision? Let my uncle do this?"
Min Congda nodded and said: "Of course, Mr. Andolini is a down-to-earth and reliable person at first glance. I feel relieved to leave it to him. If you have any problems later, please report to me in time. Especially if you are short of money, you must let me know." ?"
After saying that, Min Congda left with brisk steps.
Uncle and nephew Ada and Christopher were left sitting in the dining room looking at each other.
"What? This...does this mean you agree to me being a partner?"
Christopher thought he was dreaming, so this was a dream.
How can it be such a simple thing? Without a single word of communication, you can agree to hand over a large amount of business to an unfamiliar person in just one meeting.
"This is the way Mr. Smart does things. He is vigorous and resolute, never hesitant or hesitant. Moreover, he has a very accurate eye for people, and he never makes a mistake."
Ada spoke of Min Congda with a sense of admiration in her tone and eyes.
Christopher seemed to notice something, with a relaxed smile on his face.
He, who seemed a little dull just now, suddenly became much more alert.
"By the way, uncle, what happened to you just now? What happened to you... and why were you so late?"
"I encountered robbers at a convenience store. I originally planned to give them the money and hurry up to the appointment. But they insisted on my suit, tore my clothes, and broke my mobile phone. So... …I blew the two people’s heads with a beer bottle and went back to change clothes, which wasted a lot of time.”
Christopher said it lightly, as if he just kicked away a biting dog on the side of the road.
But Ada knew that if she was not careful, her uncle might not be able to come to dinner and die in the convenience store.
"Uncle, why don't you move to my dad's place? Lower City is too dangerous."
"No, no, you don't understand Ada..." Christopher smiled and refused, thinking, don't you know, your father is more dangerous.
(End of chapter)
