Ray watched as all the shopkeepers happily left with the compensation they had received.
The chief took center stage again and announced that the next three days would be a holiday for all the workers in the street shops. He asked them to go back to their homes after submitting their resumes, which should include their home address, work experience, salary expectations, and current salary, all written on a piece of paper.
The workers who were present at the scene quickly returned to their workspace and saw their previous owners packing their belongings and preparing to leave.
So, they promptly requested their owed pay and collected it for their work up to that point. Then, they prepared a resume as per the chief's request, checked the shop one last time, and handed over the resumes and shop keys to the chief before leaving.
Within minutes, the entire street became vacant, and except for the sparse pedestrians, no other person was seen on the main street.
Ray immediately turned to the chief and said, "Chief, I'll send the decoration workers once I've hired them. In the meantime, please visit the vacant shops, clean them with the help of temporary workers after hiring them, and note the details of the shops that need renovation and any damages they have."
The chief agreed to Ray's request and immediately left to see through the work.
Ray then turned to Mike and asked him to introduce the decor shop in the inner city so he could make a deal with them to renovate the street.
For a quick renovation of the shops on the street, Ray decided to contact cultivators instead of mortals, as the work would be completed quickly as long as money was available.
Mike agreed, and after Ray got seated inside the carriage, he started driving it to the inner city. Within a few minutes, they reached a large shop displaying various items such as flowerpots, vases, sofas, and other goods.
Ray got down and noticed that the workers here were the same ones who had come to decorate his villa.
Many workers came near him and greeted him respectfully, remembering such a generous customer.
While Ray was talking with the workers, the owner of the shop came forward and invited Mike and Ray into the shop reception. Room.
Ray followed the shopkeeper's lead into the shop reception and got seated.
"Hello sir, we still remember you as our latest big customer. Is there any problem with the house decoration?" the shopkeeper asked tensely while watching Mike, who was sitting beside Ray.
"No, everything is good, and I'm satisfied with the work you have done. I'm here today to discuss a renovation project that I would like your shop to handle for me," Ray replied.
The shopkeeper was relieved to hear there were no issues with their work and happily began asking about the renovation project.
"You see, I've acquired the managing rights for one of the streets in the outer city, and I plan to renovate it to accommodate low-level qi cultivators who have recently arrived in the city and those who will come for the next auction. So, I'm here to ask if your shop could accept my request to renovate accordingly," Ray proposed his deal.
The shopkeeper thought for a moment and asked, "When are you expecting it to be ready sir,"
"I want it ready in three days. I know time is tight, but I will pay extra for your hard work. I want the highest quality of work," Ray said.
"If you are ready to pay the money on time, we will serve you and complete the work in three days, sir," the shopkeeper agreed.
"We will visit the site right away to assess the renovation costs and let you know by tomorrow morning at your villa," the shopkeeper promised.
Ray then thanked the shopkeeper and left the shop with Mike on the carriage.
Ray went straight back to the villa and picked up Lily, who was taking care of the house, and invited Mike to have dinner with them as a thank-you gift.
Mike initially refused but eventually agreed after Ray said he would complain to John.
Ray took him to his regular dining spot, and the waiter, who instantly recognized Ray, led them to an available table and inquired about their order for the day.
"Please bring today's chef special for the three of us," Ray said after glancing at the menu.
The waiter quickly took his orders and headed to the kitchen to inform the chef.
In the meantime, Ray started talking with Mike about the daily affairs of the city, which he heard from customers in the restaurant. He learned that most of them were true, and the outskirts of the city had experienced many battles in the past few days.
While they were chatting, the chef emerged from the kitchen and personally served them the food.
Mike was flattered by the chef's arrival. As a well-known culinary master in the city, he never expected him to come and serve them.
Then he saw the chef chatting with Ray like a friend, asked him to enjoy the food, and returned to the kitchen.
"Sir, do you know the chef here personally?" Mike asked Ray.
"Personally, no, I'm just a regular customer who comes here daily to eat, and I got acquainted with him through my regular visits," Ray explained.
"Regular visit? Sir, did you visit the restaurant daily to eat here?" Mike asked back.
"Yes, the chef's food is too good, so every day I will have the dinner that he has prepared in the restaurant," Ray explained.
Mike was shocked when he realized that dining here for one day could cost him a month's salary.
He quickly began eating, his mind racing with various thoughts, but he enjoyed every bite thoroughly.
As Ray paid the bill, Mike was astonished by the amount and stood there in disbelief as Ray said goodbye and walked away with Lily.
Mike gradually regained his senses after Ray vanished from sight. He then boarded the carriage and directed it back to the city mansion.