Chapter 82: "Hello? You there? Time to get to work!
It was already past four o’clock, and only a few people lingered in front of the stall.
Cai Su looked at her with some concern. "Boss Shen, we still have a lot of things left to sell today."
Noon was usually the stall’s busiest time, when they would go through nearly two-thirds of their ingredients. The customers who left at lunchtime today had a pretty bad impact on business.
Standing to the side, Wang Daguo lowered his head guiltily. If it weren’t for him, business wouldn’t have been this slow.
"It’s fine. It’s only temporary."
Hearing her say that made Wang Daguo feel even more guilty. "Boss Shen, maybe I should just quit. As long as I leave, they’ll come back to eat."
"I don’t want to hear that from you again," Shen Lu said in a serious tone. "Is there anything wrong with earning money to support your family with your own two hands? Since there’s nothing wrong, you shouldn’t doubt yourself because of their one-sided accusations. Wang Daguo, lift your head and puff out your chest. I’ll say it one last time: you did nothing wrong."
Wang Daguo was so moved by Shen Lu’s words he almost burst into tears. In his twenty-plus years of life, it was the first time anyone had ever affirmed him like that.
Even though he was Shen Lu’s employee, he felt truly and deeply respected.
"Yes!" Wang Daguo held back his tears and straightened his back forcefully. "Boss Shen, I’ll definitely work hard!"
"Alright, it’s getting late. Sister Cai, go pick up your child. Brother Wang and I can handle things here. Oh, right, both of you come to my place tonight. We’ll have dinner together."
Since there were leftover ingredients, they might as well use them for everyone’s dinner.
Cai Su was already used to her generous boss, who loved treating everyone to meals, so she accepted the invitation without a second thought. Wang Daguo puffed up his cheeks, but swallowed the words of refusal on his lips when he saw Shen Lu’s knowing yet disapproving gaze.
After closing up the stall, Shen Lu stir-fried all the leftover rice at her doorstep. Since they were eating it themselves, she added extra diced ham and pickled vegetables.
The fragrant aroma wafted through the air, causing many residents to poke their heads out to look. A few of the more shameless ones with sharp tongues directly shouted for Shen Lu to give them a serving.
"Boss Shen, you make so much money in a day. How about you give me a serving?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Shen Lu ignored them and had Wang Daguo carry the two large basins of fried rice inside. She then ladled all the remaining malatang into a huge bowl, adding a generous amount of toppings.
Since Xiao Lang and Fu Cheng could both open their eyes now, their diet could be varied a little. Shen Lu prepared two bowls of mee sua paste for them.
Just as she finished, Cai Su returned, holding her child.
"Perfect timing. You can feed the mee sua paste to Xiao Lang. You can’t let it sit for too long, or it’ll thicken up." While telling Wang Daguo to bring the dishes over, Shen Lu instructed Cai Su, then went to invite Granny Jin over herself before hastily feeding Fu Cheng.
Fu Cheng was always cooperative when it was time to eat, and today was no exception. However, his gaze kept unconsciously drifting to Wang Daguo.
He had guessed that Wang Daguo would be working for Shen Lu from now on, as her employee.
’But he was still very unaccustomed to suddenly having another man in the house.’
After feeding Fu Cheng, Shen Lu carefully wiped his mouth before finally sitting down at the table.
Granny Jin had already filled a bowl of rice for her, so Shen Lu could eat as soon as she sat down.
Xiao Lang was small and had a small mouth, so Cai Su had to feed him more slowly. Once everyone was seated at the table, Shen Lu announced that they were moving tomorrow.
"Grandma Jin, my rent isn’t up for a few more days, so you don’t need to give me a refund. If you really want to give me something, how about you come and show your support on my shop’s opening day? What do you think?"
It was less than 20 Star Coins, and Shen Lu didn’t want to take it. But she also knew Granny Jin was an old woman of principle, so she proposed a compromise.
Granny Jin thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright. When do you open? I’ll send you a flower basket."
’A basket of real flowers was definitely unaffordable. The flower baskets here were usually made of electronic flowers, costing 50 Star Coins each. They had to be returned after use, or the deposit wouldn’t be refunded.’
’She couldn’t really refuse this. Sending a flower basket was a kind gesture, and if she rejected it, Granny Jin would definitely get angry.’
"It’ll be another two or three days. I need to do some prep work for the opening. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely let you know a day in advance."
Since Shen Lu was moving, Cai Su would be moving with her.
Cai Su already owed Granny Jin money, so naturally, she was too embarrassed to ask for the prorated rent back.
"Grandma Jin, I will definitely pay back the money I owe you. It’s just... I need a little more time. I’ve taken the last two months’ salary as an advance for Xiao Lang’s treatment. I’m so sorry. I’ve troubled you for so long, and now I’m moving out while still owing you money I can’t repay right away."
Granny Jin knew her situation and didn’t really mind.
"Once Xiao Lang is better, just bring him over to visit me often."
Cai Su nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Wang Daguo was a man of few words and rarely joined the conversation. Besides, the food was so fragrant that his attention was focused entirely on eating.
After the meal, Cai Su and Wang Daguo scrambled to clean up. Shen Lu walked Granny Jin back to her room, and by the time she returned to her own rental unit, Cai Su was coming out with her child in her arms.
"Boss Shen, Wang Daguo and I have finished cleaning up inside. You can just go ahead and rest."
Shen Lu nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
"It was no trouble. I’ll be heading back now."
Cai Su went upstairs holding her child, and Wang Daguo came out as well.
"So, should I still come over at seven in the morning tomorrow?"
"Yes."
After watching Wang Daguo leave, Shen Lu locked the door and went out too.
Inside the room, Fu Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. ’It’s already dark outside. Shen Lu isn’t staying home, so where is she going?’
’Nights in the Lower City District are very unsafe. How can a young woman like her be running around outside so late at night?’
Fu Cheng desperately wished he could jump out of bed, drag her back, and give her a good scolding. Unfortunately, aside from his left hand, he couldn’t move any other part of his body.
Shen Lu put on a mask and hunched her shoulders slightly, trying her best to look inconspicuous.
She already had a self-defense baton clutched in her palm. If anyone with ill intentions got close, she could immediately strike them with it.
She walked out of the alley and turned onto Gold Street. The long street was bustling with traffic and people, a lively scene. Neon lights of all colors flickered, staining the night sky. A cacophony of music, raucous laughter, hawkers’ cries, and impatient honking rose and fell, creating a unique kind of clamor.
Shen Lu knew Gold Street was lively at night, but she had never expected it to be this bustling. The adjacent Seventeenth District felt like a pool of stagnant water in comparison, completely untouched by the commotion here.
Shen Lu wasn’t here for fun. She dodged the hands of the touts and walked forward in silence.
All sorts of strange people came to Gold Street, so someone like her wasn’t an exception and didn’t attract any attention.
The boisterous atmosphere faded the closer she got to the end of the street.
At the very end of the street, there were only a few casinos with poor business. Shen Lu quickened her pace and finally arrived at the unfinished building.
Entering the ground floor, Shen Lu found a hidden corner and awakened the system.
Shen Lu: "Yo? You there? Time to get to work!"
[Yes, Host. Would you like to enter the shop module editing interface now?]