Chapter 83: This Restaurant Can’t Run Without You!

“Yes, I bought them for you.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. “Look, your shoes are all worn out. We are going to a wedding feast tomorrow, you should wear a new pair of shoes.”

“Oh my, leather shoes! They are so pretty, they must be expensive, right?” Zhao Hong had already come closer and whispered in amazement.

“What leather shoes would I wear? I just like wearing cloth shoes, they are soft.” Auntie Zhao’s eyes instantly turned red, but she said with some dislike, “What a waste of money. Take them back and return them now.”

“They can’t be returned. The boss said they can be exchanged for a different size, but not returned. Quickly try them on and see if they fit. If they do not fit we will go change them. If the boss runs off we will not be able to change them.” Zhou Yan smiled as he shoved the shoes into her hands, then took the other two pairs from the bike basket. “I also bought a pair of three-strap leather shoes for the old man, and a pair of tiger head cloth shoes for Mo Mo.”

“Zhou Yan is so filial. Fourth Aunt, you are really blessed.” Zhao Hong looked full of envy and urged her with a smile, “Just try them on. Such pretty leather shoes, once you put them on you will walk with the wind.”

“Then I will try them.” Only then did Auntie Zhao sit down on the stool, take off her cloth shoes, unbuckle the straps and carefully put on the leather shoes. She stepped on her cloth shoes a couple of times, then could not help exclaiming, “Hmm? Real leather shoes do feel different. Soft and comfortable. The size is just right.”

“They look good, elegant and stylish.” Zhao Hong nodded. “When I have some money at the end of the year, I will buy a pair to wear for the new year too.”

“How did you know my size? How much did these shoes cost?” Auntie Zhao looked up at Zhou Yan, surprise written across her smiling face.

“I am your son, of course I know. If the size fits, we will not change them.” Zhou Yan said with a smile, “Don’t worry about how much they cost, just wear them in peace.”

It was clear that Auntie Zhao really liked them; she just could not bear spending the money.

But what is the point of earning money, if not to spend it on the most important people and let them share in that happiness?

Zhou Yan felt that way.

The money lying in his accounts in his past life ended up not even being spent by him. That was what was truly messed up.

Auntie Zhao put on the other shoe as well, standing on her cloth shoes, looking left and right. The more she looked, the more satisfied and happy she was, and yet her eyes were a little wet.

She had not expected that one day she would wear leather shoes bought by her son.

“Pot Pot, what about mine? Does Mo Mo have some too?” Zhou Mo Mo ran in from outside, both little hands full of sand.

“Mm, look at the little shoes I bought for you.” Zhou Yan picked up the pair of tiger head shoes and shook them.

“Wow! So pretty!” Zhou Mo Mo’s eyes lit up. She rushed over, about to throw herself into Zhou Yan’s arms.

“Wait a sec, go wash your hands first.” Zhou Yan hurriedly stopped her, carried her to the doorway to wash her hands, and patted the sand off her clothes outside the door.

He took off her shoes; inside each was half a shoe full of sand. Her little feet were also covered in sand. Only after cleaning them up did he carry her back and slip her feet into the tiger head shoes.

They were just a little big, with about half a finger’s length of extra room.

Auntie Zhao leaned over to take a look and nodded. “They fit. She can wear them until next spring.”

“Oh woo! I am a little tiger!” Zhou Mo Mo was immensely proud. After shaking her head and playing for a while, she turned and threw herself into Zhou Yan’s arms, tilted her head up at him, and said, “Pot Pot! I really like these tiger shoes! I like you the most!”

“Good girl.” Zhou Yan smiled and patted her head.

A pair of tiger head shoes costing eighty cents was enough to make Zhou Mo Mo jump with happiness.

This money was truly well spent.

Auntie Zhao had already taken off the leather shoes and put her cloth shoes back on. She turned away to wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes, then wrapped the shoes up again in oiled paper.

She got up and went out to shake Zhou Mo Mo’s cloth shoes hard under the tree, knocking out all the sand inside, then came back, lifted Zhou Mo Mo onto her lap, and said with a smile, “Come on, wear the old ones today, and wear the new ones tomorrow. That way everyone will say your shoes are so nice.”

“Okay, okay!” Zhou Mo Mo nodded her little head in agreement.

Auntie Zhao looked at Comrade Old Zhou’s pair of leather shoes again, her eyes lighting up. “They are style eighty-three shoes. I saw them at the department store last new year. I wanted to buy a pair for your old man, but he refused to try them on, and in the end he bought me some clothes instead.”

“Do they fit well?” Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

“You have good taste, takes after me.” Auntie Zhao nodded. Treating them like treasures, she carried the three pairs of shoes to hide behind the counter.

As they spoke, it was factory shift end, and the workers came one after another to eat.

The three of them quickly washed their hands, put on their aprons, and started working.

Today, there were three big news items at the textile factory that sent the workers’ hearts soaring to the sky and then plunging into hell.

The good news was that Wang Defa had been reported in real name. Although a transfer order had already come down, he was still detained by the Security Section.

The bad news: the report said that in the past two years, Wang Defa had allegedly purchased large quantities of diseased pig meat from Wang Qi for the canteen.

When the workers heard this, it was as if the sky had fallen.

The factory canteen!

The factory canteen they ate at every day had actually been using diseased pig meat!

And it had been used in large quantities over a long period for the past two years.

When the workers heard this news, they almost stormed into the Security Section to beat up Wang Defa.

Today, not a single person went to eat at the canteen.

There was another piece of news: the canteen’s publicly acknowledged number one head chef, the man regarded as the one who could save the factory canteen after Wang Defa’s downfall—Master Xiao—had resigned.

The reliable news was that he was the one who had reported Wang Defa.

In order not to affect Zhou Yan’s business and unwilling to be head chef, he chose to resign.

They were truly a master and disciple of deep feeling and righteousness.

But for the workers, it was like the end of the world.

Many customers who had to work the night shift did not want to eat at the canteen, and all flocked to Zhou Er Wa Restaurant for retaliatory spending. The customer flow was double what it had been before.

Zhou Yan had never expected there would be so many customers today, and the prepared dishes were sold out in just over half an hour.

“Sorry, all our dishes are sold out for today. Please come back next Monday.” Auntie Zhao explained to everyone with a squinting smile.

The customers who did not get to eat could only rush to the other vendors at the factory entrance.

The vendors were delighted.

From the gossip among the workers, Zhou Yan caught the scoop about Xiao Lei’s resignation and felt a bit moved.

Master had feelings for the textile factory cafeteria. He had entered the canteen as an apprentice at fifteen, had thirty years of service, and had taken over as head chef from the grandmaster, working in that role for fifteen years. As long as he nodded, he could have his head chef position restored and even be promoted to deputy director.

If he worked another ten-plus years, he could retire steadily at the textile factory, maybe even as director by then.

And yet he resigned like that, without a trace of hesitation.

Zhou Yan was determined to find an opportunity to repay this kindness.

Lin Zhiqiang came comparatively early and managed to eat Qiao Jiao Beef, but not early enough to get any braised pork ribs to take away.

“Uncle Lin, I will not be going for a run tonight. My brother’s wedding is tomorrow, so I am going home to stay tonight.” Zhou Yan brought out the dishes and greeted Lin Zhiqiang.

“Okay.” Lin Zhiqiang nodded, then casually asked, “How is your master now? Where is he planning to move on to?”

See, even the deputy factory director in charge of technique could not resist a juicy bit of gossip.

“He is doing well. He has not decided where to go yet.” Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

It sounded like an answer, and yet not quite an answer.

After business operations ended that night, Zhao Hong and Auntie Zhao cleared the tables and washed the dishes.

Zhou Yan counted the money, then set aside seven yuan and fifteen yuan.

When the two finished their work, Zhou Yan smiled and called Zhao Hong over. “Sister-in-law, it is the first of the month today. I will give you your salary.”

“Paying salary on the first? I did not work many days last month.” Zhao Hong walked over and said with a smile, “Why not start counting from this month? We are family.”

“You are here to work, not to hang out. If you work a single day, I have to count it for you.” Zhou Yan smiled and handed her seven yuan. “You worked ten days last month. I am counting seven yuan for you, rounding up as a bonus.”

“So much?” Zhao Hong looked at the money in Zhou Yan’s hand, hesitating and not daring to take it.

“Take it. This is the money you earn from getting up early and working hard.” Auntie Zhao came over, directly stuffed the money into her hand, and said with a smile, “You need to earn money so you can save up to buy leather shoes at the end of the year.”

“Alright then.” Hearing this, Zhao Hong happily gripped her salary, took off her apron, and walked toward the doorway. “Then I will head back first. Your brother is waiting outside. I am going home to cook for the two children.”

“Auntie Zhao, this is your salary.” After Zhao Hong went out, Zhou Yan handed the other fifteen yuan to Auntie Zhao.

“What salary would I take?” Auntie Zhao rolled her eyes at him. “You should save it properly and not spend money carelessly. You still need to get married in the future.”

“Take it. This is the money you earn from getting up early and working hard.” Zhou Yan smiled and shoved the money into her hand, then said very seriously, “You are not only the lobby manager, you are also responsible for Qiao Jiao Beef. I am paying you thirty yuan a month. Starting this month, your commission will be twenty percent of the net profit from Qiao Jiao Beef.”

“This restaurant cannot do without you.”

“Keep it safe. Tomorrow we are going to the wedding feast.”

Holding the money, Auntie Zhao’s eyes grew wet again.

“Wedding feast! I want to go to the feast!” Zhou Mo Mo came over, raising her little hand. “Pot Pot, let’s go now! My tummy is so hungry.”

——

PS: Fourth update delivered! Asking for monthly votes, please, dear readers!

Fourth update!

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