Chapter 116: You're Told to Open a Food Shop, But You Operate at 3 AM

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

"Part-time?" Lu Feng's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Hu Xiaoyun and asked, "Are you a university student from nearby?"

"Mhm, I study at Jiangcheng University next door, just started my freshman year this year."

Hu Xiaoyun nodded somewhat nervously, fingers clutching the hem of her clothes tightly.

Lu Feng looked at Hu Xiaoyun's face, and that familiar feeling rose in his heart once again.

He tilted his head and thought for a while, but still couldn't recall where he had seen this girl before, so he simply shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

Seeing him shake his head, Hu Xiaoyun thought Lu Feng meant to refuse, and a disappointed expression appeared on her face.

But she still wasn't quite willing to give up, and couldn't help adding, "Boss, we have summer break in half a month. During the break I can come every day; my home is in Jiang City."

Lu Feng listened, then rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment.

The system's required business hours each week are not fixed; this week's hours are fine, but who knows when next week's will be.

The girl before him is still a student and has classes every day; if next week's business hours are during the day, they might conflict with her class schedule.

He can't exactly force the girl to skip classes and come work for him, can he?

If possible, he'd still prefer to hire a full-time waiter.

Lu Feng was just about to open his mouth and refuse, but seeing the girl looking at him with a pitiful, pleading gaze, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Seeing that the sky outside had already darkened, he had waited in the shop this long without a single interested person showing up, and this girl before him looked like she fit the waiter image he wanted fairly well.

He couldn't help but fall into deep thought again.

This week's business hours happen to be in the evening, which shouldn't conflict with her class time.

If next week's hours are during the day, he should be able to handle a week on his own.

After all, the previous two weeks' business were both completed by him alone.

In another two weeks, when the girl starts summer break, he will also have completed five weekly missions; according to the system's rules, he can then decide daily business hours himself.

That way, the girl doing part-time isn't impossible.

Thinking up to here, Lu Feng spoke up and asked, "Do you have a health certificate?"

After all, this is the food and beverage industry; to ensure clean and hygienic food for diners, a health certificate is mandatory.

"Yes, yes." Hu Xiaoyun hurriedly nodded and said, "I've done part-time at a milk tea shop before, got a health certificate, and it hasn't expired yet."

Lu Feng nodded after hearing this, then asked another question: "I don't provide meals here; can you accept that?"

"I can accept it. I can eat at school, and during summer break I'll eat at home."

Hearing Lu Feng's words, Hu Xiaoyun hurriedly nodded and said.

Lu Feng listened, then looked at the girl and asked, "Do you have any questions?"

"Boss, working here, is it really a hundred per hour?"

Hu Xiaoyun hesitated for a moment, then asked haltingly.

"That's right." Lu Feng replied, then asked somewhat uncertainly, "Does it feel a bit low?"

The recruitment notice had been posted for half a day with no one inquiring; he himself was starting to suspect whether others thought the wages were too low.

Hearing Lu Feng's words, Hu Xiaoyun hurriedly shook her head vigorously: "No, no! I actually think it's a bit high! Hard to believe."

When Hu Xiaoyun worked part-time at a supermarket before, it was only twenty yuan an hour.

A part-time job paying a hundred an hour — this was the first time she had encountered one.

"Alright then, come by before six tomorrow evening and try for an hour first; if it works out, you stay."

Lu Feng didn't want to drag things out, so he made the decision cleanly and directly.

Hu Xiaoyun hadn't expected Lu Feng to agree to let her try out so quickly; a delighted expression instantly appeared on her face, and she nodded repeatedly, saying, "Okay, Boss, I'll definitely be on time tomorrow!"

Today, after she and Lin Meimei had eaten at Lu Feng's shop, they strolled around the nearby shopping mall.

On the way back, passing Food Street, Hu Xiaoyun spotted the recruitment notice Lu Feng had posted at the door at a glance.

It's very close to school, the boss looks like a good person too; if she could do part-time here, it'd be way better than her previous supermarket gig.

Hu Xiaoyun had Lin Meimei go back to school first, while she herself, holding a give-it-a-try attitude, came in to ask.

She hadn't expected things to go this smoothly; the boss readily agreed to her request to work part-time here.

"Mhm, you head back first. When you come tomorrow, bring your ID card and health certificate, and also — don't be late."

Lu Feng smiled and nodded at Hu Xiaoyun.

Hu Xiaoyun answered cheerfully and happily left Lu Feng's shop.

After Hu Xiaoyun left, Lu Feng suddenly realized he seemed to have forgotten to ask her name.

But that wasn't important to him anyway; asking when she comes tomorrow would be just as fine.

Thinking that things would be easier from now on, Lu Feng felt a sweet satisfaction in his heart.

…………

Meanwhile, inside the Hong An Restaurant in the center of Jiang City, everyone was busy tensely.

The restaurant hall's floor had been mopped three times already, and several waiters were vigorously wiping tables and chairs that were already very clean.

The manager stood in the hall with a stern face, directing everyone's work.

"Manager, the private rooms on the second floor have been cleaned; do you want to go take a look?"

A waiter jogged up to the manager, expression respectful, and said.

The manager nodded, and led by the waiter, went to the VIP private room on the second floor.

Every corner of the private room had been scrubbed spotless, the tables and chairs neatly arranged, and the tableware was new.

The Manager carefully inspected the private room once, then pointed at the flower arrangement decorating the center of the table and said to the Waiter, "These flowers aren't fresh anymore. Go get a new bouquet, one without any scent. There can't be any other smell in this room."

Hearing this, the Waiter nodded quickly, picked up the flower arrangement on the table, and hurriedly left the private room.

After the flower arrangement was replaced, the Manager inspected the private room carefully once more, and finally nodded in satisfaction.

Tonight An Liang would come to their Fan Dian to taste the dishes, and Boss Li Hong'an had personally gone to Ji Chang to meet him, repeatedly urging him before leaving to make sure everything was prepared properly.

The Manager knew well the importance of this tasting. An Liang was a somewhat well-known Food Critic in the culinary world, and if they could satisfy him this time, their Fan Dian's business would rise to a new level in the future.

After inspecting the private room, the Manager asked the Waiter, "How are the preparations in the back kitchen?"

"The Kitchen has been preparing since early this morning; it should be about done," the Waiter replied softly.

"Take me to see the back kitchen."

Although the back kitchen was Liang Da Chu's responsibility, the Manager was still uneasy. To ensure that entertaining An Liang went off without a hitch, he still decided to go take a look himself.

The Waiter nodded, then led the Manager to the Fan Dian's back kitchen.

The back kitchen's hygiene had also been cleaned up; the Stove and pots were wiped until they shone brightly, the prep area was filled with fresh Ingredients, and several Chefs were busy preparing dishes.

The Manager made a round of the back kitchen and found that many dishes needing stir-frying had not yet been started. He was about to speak up to urge them when he suddenly noticed that Liang Da Chu was nowhere to be seen.