My Manor

In foreign countries, especially in the United States, among Western fast food options, few people, except for those trying to lose weight or struggling with their appetites, will choose Kaifeng dishes. McDonald's' status in the U.S. is like Coca-Cola—untouchable. However, aside from McDonald's, there are many other fast food restaurants that are just as good. Papa John's, a pizza chain, is much more popular than Pizza Hut, and Saobi, specializing in sandwiches, offers great flavors. There's also Domino's, another popular pizza restaurant, and Burger King, which Connorson has now entered.

Jiang Hai had eaten burgers from Burger King. To be honest, Burger King's burgers are far superior to McDonald's, not to mention Kaifeng cuisine. Let's not even talk about the taste of the burger itself. The ingredients alone surpass anything Kaifeng dishes can offer. Jiang Hai prefers two kinds of burgers. One is the Royal Burger, which is much larger than an average burger, with a patty that's even bigger than the bun. Double, triple, even quadruple layers of thick meat patties are stacked together, topped with pickles, lettuce, and sauces. The taste is unparalleled.

It's quite filling, too. For a big-bellied man like Jiang Hai, he's full after just two.

In addition to the Royal Burger, Jiang Hai's other favorite is the Italian all-meat burger. It has three or four layers: one layer of meat, one of cheese, another layer of meat, more cheese, and bacon on top. It's delicious. After taking a bite, all you taste is cheese and meat. Although it's a bit more expensive than Kaifeng dishes, it's really worth it.

It seemed that Connorson was quite knowledgeable and headed straight for this burger joint.

However, as soon as he entered, two waiters approached him.

"Get out, get out, you're not welcome here," they said coldly, eyeing Connorson.

Upon hearing their words, Connorson stopped in his tracks, making Jiang Hai, who had been following him, stop as well. He knew Connorson wasn't an ordinary person, and his strength was formidable. He worried these two waiters might anger Connorson, which could lead to trouble.

But what Jiang Hai feared didn't happen. After hearing the waiters' words, a flash of frustration crossed Connorson's face, but it quickly disappeared. He turned around, preparing to leave, seeming unusually obedient.

"Hey, don't leave! I'll treat you!" Jiang Hai called out, grabbing Connorson and speaking loudly.

At this, the waiters were visibly embarrassed. They couldn't say anything more, so they stepped aside, pretending nothing had happened.

"Connorson, don't be so stubborn," Jiang Hai said with a smile. The service industry is meant to serve customers. Now, both he and Connorson were paying customers. Besides, Connorson was only a little dirty—there was no smell on him other than blood. Even if someone were covered in excrement, they shouldn't be turned away, right?

With Jiang Hai's insistence, Connorson sat down at a four-person table, looking around nervously.

Jiang Hai went to buy the burgers. Though he'd already had breakfast, the smell of the burgers made him hungry again. He ordered three Royal Burgers, two large Cokes, and a bag of fries, then returned to Connorson.

Seeing the food, Connorson took a sip of his drink in silence. His large hands, like palm leaves, grabbed two Royal Burgers, unwrapped them, and stuffed them into his mouth.

Jiang Hai could fill up with two Royal Burgers, but Connorson seemed to barely fill his stomach. After a few bites, the two large burgers were gone. He grabbed Jiang Hai's remaining burger. Seeing this, Jiang Hai bought three more.

Jiang Hai took one for himself first. Sure enough, after finishing three Royal Burgers, Connorson grabbed two more—one in each hand—and ate them simultaneously. Unfortunately, five burgers still didn't satisfy him.

By the time he finished, Jiang Hai went to buy four more.

As Connorson devoured his burgers, the other diners stared in disbelief. When Connorson entered, they were uneasy, not knowing what was happening, but now, seeing him finish the Royal Burgers one by one, they were stunned. They had seen people with big appetites, but never someone who could eat this much. In total, Connorson ate eleven Royal Burgers before he stopped, satisfied.

"You're a good man," Connorson said with a grin, after finishing his last drink.

"Uh, hehe, are you full? If not, let's keep going," Jiang Hai replied, jokingly.

"If I'm full, it'll last me for three days—well, two days," Connorson said slowly, raising his head.

"Hey, boss, you're here! The minibus is ready. Let's go. Huh? Why is he here?" At that moment, the door to Burger King opened, and Moses Adams walked in. When Afra and the others came down earlier, they hadn't seen Jiang Hai and assumed he was with Moses Adams. When Moses didn't see Jiang Hai either, they were curious. Luckily, the staff had seen Jiang Hai take Connorson to the burger shop across the street.

Moses Adams approached Jiang Hai. "Do you know him?" he asked, pointing at Connorson.

"Of course! Didn't we see him when we were there?" Moses replied seriously.

"Seems like you remember. Then why was he lying on the hotel lawn? Didn't he win that day?" Jiang Hai asked curiously.

Moses Adams thought for a moment. Unlike Jiang Hai, who only visited once, Moses had gone several times to follow up on the events.

He recalled hearing about it from an old classmate.

"Oh, I heard he was seriously injured. If treated, it would cost a lot, so his accomplices cheated him and stole all his money. Afterward, they just abandoned him. I didn't expect he'd end up in front of our hotel." Moses sighed as he recalled the story.

The gray world works like that. There's no sense of law or morality, and survival is the most basic instinct. Sometimes humans are the cruelest creatures, a harsh law of nature.

"Wow, there's such a story?" Jiang Hai was a bit surprised. Honestly, he had considered many possibilities at first, but never this one.

Although Jiang Hai felt some sympathy for Connorson, he wasn't a charity case. He had done well by inviting him for a meal. After all, there was no personal connection between them. Jiang Hai had done this mainly because he was in a good mood. So, after hearing the story, he stood up, took out two hundred dollars from his wallet, and placed it on the table in front of Connorson.

"Big guy, I'm leaving. This is for food. Don't let anyone cheat you again," Jiang Hai said with a smile as he turned to leave. But before he could walk away, Connorson grabbed his arm.

Jiang Hai turned around, surprised. His first thought was, Is he trying to scam me? But it wasn't that—Connorson held Jiang Hai's arm without taking the money. Instead, he looked at him and said in a low voice, "I can't take the money."

"Huh? Why?" Jiang Hai asked, confused.

"My mother always said you can ask others for money, but money must be earned through labor," Connorson said, his speech slightly slurred as he spoke. Jiang Hai was momentarily stunned.

"Your mother is right, but this money is a reward for chatting with me. You should take it," Jiang Hai said with a smile. He didn't take the money back, instead gently encouraging Connorson.

Using his strength, Jiang Hai easily freed his arm from Connorson's grip. He turned to leave the store, but as soon as he stepped out, Connorson followed, still holding the two hundred dollars in his hand.

Jiang Hai didn't say anything more. He was just being kind, so there was no need for a lengthy conversation.

Just as they were about to cross the street toward the bus, an engine roared in the distance. An MPV came speeding around the corner.