Chapter 255: Another Small Gold Mine

The next day, after spending some time in Southampton, Xia Yu and his companions found a Chinese-run restaurant and headed towards the entrance.

Just as they arrived at the door, a small boy suddenly ran out from inside the restaurant. His mother's voice could be heard from inside, telling him not to run, but it was too late. The boy didn't notice the people at the door and ran straight into Xia Yu, letting out a surprised cry. Fortunately, Xia Yu was quick and caught him in time, preventing him from falling.

"Sorry, sir!" The boy's mother hurried over and apologized to Xia Yu.

"Patrick, apologize quickly!" The foreign woman with blonde hair and blue eyes scolded the boy.

"Sorry, it's my fault for running too fast without watching where I was going. Please forgive me!" The boy named Patrick lowered his head and said apologetically.

"It's alright. Just be more careful next time. Safety is the most important thing!" Xia Yu wasn't going to be upset with a small child. After all, every kid bumps into people when they're young. Moreover, the boy seemed very polite and had apologized, so there was no reason to be upset.

Xia Yu smiled, patted the boy on the head, and said gently, "I promise I won't run around anymore. I swear!"

"Oh, no, there won't be a next time." The boy immediately nodded in assurance and then realized his mistake, correcting himself, which made his mother smile.

"Thank you!" The boy's mother expressed her gratitude to Xia Yu.

"That must be yours. Hold on to it tightly, don't let it drop!" At that moment, Yan Shining picked up an item from the ground and handed it to Xia Yu. Xia Yu recalled that it had fallen from the boy's hand when he bumped into him.

Seeing the boy's pitiful expression, Xia Yu smiled and handed the item back to him. The boy's face lit up with joy as he politely said, "Thank you!"

At that moment, Xia Yu took another look at the item in the boy's hand and realized it seemed familiar. On closer inspection, it was a Rubik's Cube, specifically the original 2x2 version, not the more common 3x3 version.

Suddenly, Xia Yu had a flash of inspiration. It seemed that the Rubik's Cube was still in its early stage, with only the 2x2 version available and the 3x3 cube not yet invented. The thought of the Rubik's Cube, which had become a global sensation with millions of sales, made Xia Yu's heart race.

This was a small gold mine that had only just begun to open and hadn't attracted much attention yet! As long as he could get his hands on the Rubik's Cube, it would not only make him money but also provide a significant boost to his newly established toy company. A Rubik's Cube toy could lead to an entire series, from 2x2 to 3x3, 4x4, and even up to 13x13, including various variants like mirror cubes, spherical cubes, and more. This would cover everything from low-end to high-end, ensuring the company's long-term success. The strategic significance was immense!

Discovering this gold mine, Xia Yu certainly wouldn't let it slip away. He hadn't yet researched who invented the Rubik's Cube or its current development status. The best course of action was to find an entry point through the boy in front of him.

With this in mind, Xia Yu smiled warmly and asked the boy Patrick, "Boy, what is the name of the toy you're holding? It looks quite strange, and I've never seen one before. Can you tell me where I can buy it?"

"Sir, this is a Rubik's Cube. My dad bought it for me from a toy store in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It's so much fun and very magical. Look!" 

When Xia Yu asked about the Rubik's Cube, the boy Patrick's eyes lit up with excitement. He spoke energetically, with a touch of pride, and started twisting the 2x2 cube quickly. In no time, all six sides had turned to the same color.

Xia Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. It seemed Patrick was very skilled at handling the cube. Even though it was just the basic 2x2 version, his quick restoration of the cube indicated that he had good memory and cognitive skills.

"It looks quite complex. Ordinary people probably wouldn't be able to solve it. You're very impressive, and the Rubik's Cube is fascinating!" Xia Yu complimented with a smile.

Seeing Xia Yu praise Patrick, the foreign woman standing beside him smiled.

"Hehe!" Little Patrick scratched his head shyly, but his smile showed he was very happy.

"I'm planning to write a book on how to solve the Rubik's Cube quickly," Patrick said somewhat shyly, with a glimmer of aspiration in his eyes.

Xia Yu showed surprise and encouraged him with a smile, "Keep it up! I believe you will succeed!"

"Thank you!" Patrick, greatly encouraged, said gratefully.

At that moment, seeing people coming out of the restaurant and blocking the entrance, Xia Yu and his group quickly moved aside.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Xia Yu didn't waste any more time. He nodded to Patrick's mother and said to the boy, "We're going to eat now. Lastly, I believe you can do it! Keep going!"

With that, Xia Yu gave the boy a thumbs-up gesture.

"Thank you, I will definitely work hard!" Patrick replied, also making a thumbs-up gesture with a determined expression.

"This gentleman, my husband said that the Rubik's Cube was invented by Professor Ernő Rubik from the Budapest Institute of Technology. You might want to visit there," Patrick's mother said, possibly sensing Xia Yu's interest in the Rubik's Cube and wanting to thank him for encouraging her son.

"Thank you!" Xia Yu felt pleased to learn more detailed information. He thanked Patrick's mother and then led his group into the restaurant.

"Patrick, your mom also believes in you. You can definitely do it!" Patrick's mother patted her son's head lovingly.

"Yes! Mom, I will definitely work hard!" Patrick nodded solemnly.

"Let's go home now!" The mother took her son's hand and said, preparing to leave.

Holding his mother's hand, Patrick looked at Xia Yu's back and then glanced at the restored Rubik's Cube in his hand, his eyes filled with determination.

---

As they walked into the restaurant, Li Xi leaned close to Xia Yu and said quietly, "Xia Yu, that little boy is so young and already thinking about writing a book. It's amazing. Do you think your words inspired him to write?"

Xia Yu chuckled. He didn't know if his words had any impact, so he just smiled and said, "He probably had his own ideas. The boy seems very smart."

In fact, Xia Yu was right. The boy named Patrick, full name Patrick Pöseth, in history, did write a book titled *You Can Solve the Rubik's Cube Too*, which sold nearly 1.5 million copies. This book greatly increased the Rubik's Cube's sales and influence in the UK.

But Xia Yu wouldn't have known or remembered such details.

Not dwelling on this small incident, Xia Yu quickly ordered the dishes, and the group relaxed and chatted in their private dining room.