"Have you eaten?" Lin Xu asked Wei Qian.
"Not yet. I had the morning shift today and came straight here after work."
"Then hurry up and sit down to eat. Dundun, bring a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of rice for your Brother Qian."
"Right away! Brother Qian, come and eat. I’ll get you some rice."
A warmth spread through Wei Qian’s heart.
This is the difference. If only the kitchen staff at Building One were this personable, it would be great. But unfortunately...
After sitting down, he realized they were having Steamed Rice Flour Meat today.
I’ve never seen this dish in the restaurant before. Could this be a new item?
He remembered Dundun once saying that the staff meals were always new dishes that hadn’t been served yet, which made the customers drool with envy. Every day, people would ask online what the staff were eating.
Wei Qian had always thought it was a joke.
Now, looking at the Steamed Rice Flour Meat on the table, he understood that Dundun had been telling the truth.
Trying out new dishes on the staff first; no wonder the business is doing so well. Lin Xu really knows how to read people.
Thinking about this, he picked up a slice of Steamed Rice Flour Meat with the chopsticks Dundun handed him and tasted it.
Mmm, the flavor was good. The pork was thoroughly marinated and slightly salty, but this saltiness was balanced by the Steamed Meat Powder on the outside. The taste was not too salty nor too bland—just perfect.
I never expected Lin Xu to make Steamed Rice Flour Meat this delicious.
He ate, marveling at the taste.
He took the bowl of rice Dundun served him and began eating at the staff table.
Lin Xu brought Wei Qian a bowl of Nori Egg Drop Soup. "Have some soup to settle your stomach. In a couple of days, I’ll start working at Fishing Platform. When you want to find me then, just come directly to Building Two."
Wei Qian tasted the egg drop soup and raised his eyebrows. "Damn! This is so flavorful! I saw you preparing this soup last time I was here. I thought since it was only six yuan a bowl, it must be average, but who knew it’d be this savory... Why didn’t you set the price higher?"
Lin Xu smiled. "This isn’t Fishing Platform. Who would come if the prices were high?"
However, once the new restaurant opens, the prices of these dishes will be readjusted. A small eatery has its pricing standards, and a large restaurant also has its own pricing principles; they can’t be treated the same.
Each person finished a small bowl of Nori Egg Drop Soup.
Geng Lishan stood up to take his leave. "I’ve eaten and drunk my fill, so I won’t impose any longer. Young friend Lin, when you’re not busy, come over to my place. I’ll personally write a piece of calligraphy for you. For such delicious food, I feel I owe you something in return."
"You’re too kind, Mr. Lishan."
A meal isn’t worth much, but a piece of Geng Lishan’s calligraphy is valuable enough to buy half a house in Beijing. The two simply can’t be compared.
After seeing Geng Lishan and Professor Xu off, the restaurant welcomed its first wave of evening customers.
Lin Xu returned to the kitchen and began the night’s work.
He had wanted to chat with Wei Qian about job-hopping, but he felt the timing wasn’t right. It would be better to wait until he started working at Fishing Platform. Then, he could inquire about Wei Qian’s situation in Building One. If it really wasn’t good, he would poach the guy, saving him from being constantly ostracized by the chefs there.
The number of customers in the restaurant was increasing.
Wei Qian, who had originally come to hang out with Lin Xu, put on an apron and got so busy he was practically running off his feet.
He liked the atmosphere here, and he liked the people.
Everything felt so good.
So, after his shift, he didn’t go back to the dorm to rest but rode a shared electric bike straight to Yingchun Street.
Tonight, the customers didn’t ask about the renovations anymore. Instead, while eating, they couldn’t help but take out their phones to snap a few photos. They photographed the dishes on their tables, the semi-open kitchen not far away, Dundun lying on the cash register, and everything else in the little shop.
This cozy little restaurant would soon be replaced by a large establishment and would be gone forever.
Although Lin Ji’s Food had been open for less than a month at most, and these particular customers had been dining there for an even shorter time, they still felt a touch of sadness upon learning it was going to be demolished and renovated.
"Mr. Lin, have you decided on the closing date?"
"Not yet, but it will be soon," Lin Xu replied, rolling out dough in the kitchen while answering customers’ questions. "I saw the draft designs today, and we might get the final renderings tomorrow. If there are no changes needed, we could close as early as the day after tomorrow."
"It’s quite a shame. I hope when it reopens, the restaurant will still have this warm feeling. I love the atmosphere here so much."
"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make you feel like you’re coming home."
They were busy until 8:20 p.m. By then, all the food in the shop that could be sold was completely gone, and only then did the customers reluctantly leave.
"Your customers are insane," Wei Qian said, wiping sweat from his forehead. Last time they were this busy, there was still leftover Sour Plum Soup to drink. Today, however, even the Sour Plum Soup had sold out completely.
A business was truly enviable.
Lin Xu said, "They came to say goodbye. This place holds their laughter and their memories of sharing tables while dining."
As everyone started cleaning the kitchen, Wei Qian said, "You guys carry on; I’m going to ride back. Might as well enjoy the breeze and cool down."
He was just about to walk out.
Lin Xu pulled out the key to the big G from the cash register drawer. "Let me drive you. It’s not safe to ride a bike this late at night." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NoveI(F)ire.net
"Holy crap! That ’Big Bro’ outside is yours? When I first got here, I even took a picture of it, planning to use it as my phone wallpaper!"
Lin Xu was speechless. ’Big Bro’? What a traditional term for it.
"Well, I’m about to start working at Fishing Platform, right? My father-in-law lent me his car to use for a while. I’ll return it once the new restaurant is renovated."