Chapter 48: You're Told to Open a Food Shop, But You Operate at 3 AM

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

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The first thought Ma Wenliang had upon seeing that notice was whether Lu Boss had gone mad.

Open for business at 3 AM?

What kind of freakish business hours are these?

Ma Wenliang looked at the crowd around him; there were quite a few familiar faces, all diners who had come here last week to eat xiaolongbao.

The expressions on those people's faces were the same as his, filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Has Lu Boss's brain gone a bit abnormal from resting these past two days? Opening at 3 AM — is this a joke?"

"Right, who would not sleep in the middle of the night and run to Food Street to eat?"

"Lu Boss must have some special kink, liking to watch people be tortured, right?"

"Only Lu Boss would dare do this; could it be that people with good culinary skills have thoughts in their heads different from us normal people?"

The diners voiced their opinions on this week's bizarre business hours, one after another.

But not a single person shouted out tough words like never coming again.

Because diners who had tasted Lu Feng's culinary skill knew in their hearts that his skill was practically irreplaceable.

Ma Wenliang spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

Three or four meters away from him, Wang Zhiqiang was staring at the notice on the door with furrowed brows, seemingly thinking about something.

"Eldest Brother, what a coincidence?"

Ma Wenliang walked up and greeted him.

Wang Zhiqiang snapped back to attention, saw Ma Wenliang, nodded, and asked, "Wenliang, those xiaolongbao you had last week — you bought them at this shop, right?"

"Yeah, but last week the business hours were 9 PM; don't know what's going on this week, changed to 3 AM." Ma Wenliang nodded in reply.

"Open at 3 AM... this boss is a bit interesting." Wang Zhiqiang stroked his chin, looking thoughtful.

After eating lunch, Ma Wenliang returned to the Company; after a short midday rest, he continued tapping away at code.

"Wenliang, come here a moment."

Wang Zhiqiang walked out of the Office and called out to Ma Wenliang.

Ma Wenliang acknowledged, stood up, and went to Wang Zhiqiang's Office.

"Close the door." Wang Zhiqiang said to Ma Wenliang.

Ma Wenliang's originally calm heart grew a bit nervous.

Normally when Manager Wang had a task to assign, he would just say it with the door open.

Only when reprimanding subordinates would he require the door closed.

Ma Wenliang closed the door uneasily and sat obediently on the chair before Wang Zhiqiang.

"Wenliang, you've been at the Company for a while now; do you have any thoughts on your personal development?"

Wang Zhiqiang picked up Ma Wenliang's resume from the Table, stared at him, and asked.

Ma Wenliang's heart tightened; he remembered when he had just graduated, the internship Company's Supervisor had said something similar before firing him.

What followed was: I feel with your personal ability, you'll definitely have better prospects after leaving the Company, and such.

Ma Wenliang raised his head to look at Wang Zhiqiang, and said with difficulty: "Eldest Brother, I know my ability isn't outstanding enough; I'll keep striving to improve in the future, can you..."

Seeing Ma Wenliang seemed to have misunderstood, Wang Zhiqiang cut him off and continued: "After this Project ends, I plan to promote one Project Supervisor from among you; I think you have quite a bit of potential — any interest in taking this position?"

Ma Wenliang froze, feeling like a pie had fallen from the sky and hit him on the head.

Immediately a huge joy rose from the bottom of his heart; he hurriedly promised: "Eldest Brother, rest assured, I'll definitely work hard, absolutely won't disappoint your expectations of me!"

"Good." Wang Zhiqiang nodded satisfied, then said: "After this Project ends, if you perform well, the Project Supervisor position is yours; during this period you might have to work a bit harder — any problem?"

"No problem!" Ma Wenliang replied very confidently.

"Then for the coming week, your schedule needs adjusting."

"Because the Project progress is being urged from above, later we might need to run 24 hours straight to catch up."

"I plan to assign you the night shift, midnight to 9 AM the next day — are you willing?"

Wang Zhiqiang looked at Ma Wenliang, his eyes carrying a few parts expectation.

"Willing!" Ma Wenliang answered without a shred of hesitation.

Get through this period, wait for the Project to complete, and he'll be management; compared to this, what's an all-nighter overtime?

"Mm, there's one more thing, counts as a personal private request of mine." Wang Zhiqiang paused slightly here, seemingly thinking how best to say it.

"Eldest Brother, whatever orders you have just say them, I'll definitely get it done!" Seeing Wang Zhiqiang's difficult expression, Ma Wenliang hurriedly smacked his chest in guarantee.

"It's just... while you're on night shift this week, help me go to the Shop where you bought xiaolongbao before, buy one portion of xiaolongbao and Fried Noodles, put them on my office desk; I'll transfer the money to you in advance." Wang Zhiqiang said a bit embarrassedly.

Ma Wenliang's face couldn't help showing a surprised expression; he couldn't help asking: "Eldest Brother, you want to eat that shop's xiaolongbao and Fried Noodles?"

Wang Zhiqiang nodded; ever since last time he ate xiaolongbao once from Ma Wenliang, he'd been unable to forget that Taste/Flavor.

It's just that he's usually very busy with work, simply has no time to go there and slowly Queue to buy.

Today he happened to pass by that Shop, saw this week's Business Hours, and an idea formed in his heart.

The promise of the Supervisor position to Ma Wenliang, he had actually long since decided; after all, as Project Manager, he knew the work ability of everyone under him very well.

Originally he planned to tell him after the Project ended; happened to run into Ma Wenliang at Food Street at noon today, so this thought came up temporarily.

So he decided, might as well tell him the news in advance, arrange him on night shift this week, and conveniently have him run an errand for himself.

After finishing his instructions to Ma Wenliang, Wang Zhiqiang let him get off work early.

Ma Wenliang still has to pull an all-nighter overtime tonight; he can't be made to work a whole day.

When seeing Ma Wenliang out, Wang Zhiqiang instructed him again not to let anyone know after he goes out.

Ma Wenliang smacked his chest and guaranteed he would absolutely do a good job keeping it confidential.

The surrounding colleagues who were working, watching Ma Wenliang pack his things and go home with a beaming face, each revealed a puzzled look.

How come he left before getting off work? Was he fired?

That's not right; if he was fired, why is he so happy?

……

Lu Feng slept a full sleep and woke up; it was already 5:30 in the afternoon.

After getting up and washing up a bit, he felt his whole person had recovered his spirit.

He gave Hu Daye a call, notified him to deliver the needed vegetables to Food Street, then Lu Feng went out the door.

Arriving at Food Street, Lu Feng looked one glance toward the direction of his own shop from afar.

Fortunately, there was no one at the door now; Lu Feng quietly walked toward the shop.

Just like that he sneaked into the shop; Lu Feng waited inside a while, Hu Daye called saying he had already arrived.

Lu Feng hung up the phone and opened the shop door a crack, saw Hu Daye standing right at the door, and hurriedly called him in softly.

"What's wrong, Young Man? Did you get into some trouble?"

After Hu Daye came in he wiped his sweat, looking at Lu Feng with a worried face and asked.