Zhao Dongqi was so stumped by him that he had nothing to say, only angrily retorting, “You’ll see how amazing the world is if you go! That ‘Approaching Science’ stuff is all nonsense!”
Qu Yanning immediately looked at him with disbelief and said, “You still watch ‘Approaching Science’?”
Zhao Dongqi: …
The conversation ended abruptly on a sour note, and Zhao Dongqi, not sure if he was sulking or what, went off wandering elsewhere.
For several days straight, he didn’t come back, and even the receptionist’s smiles dwindled noticeably.
There were only two receptionists at the shop now, plus a dishwashing auntie who worked part-time, and with Qu Yanning himself, that made just four people in total.
Qu Yanning discussed with Chu Zhou about recruiting another apprentice.
“That way, even if I’m not around, the place won’t have to close immediately,” Qu Yanning said, holding the cat and eating ice cream.
The little darling had been eating too much frozen jelly these past few days and got a bit of a stomach ache, so Qu Yanning forbade him from eating anything cold.
While Qu Yanning was licking his ice cream, Xie Qi could only look on with an unhappy face.
Chu Zhou was playing games on his laptop. He’d gotten hooked on an online game recently, spending half his time either raiding dungeons or on the way to raids.
“Recruiting an apprentice is fine, but you’ve got to find someone honest,” Chu Zhou said between gaming, eyes glued to the screen.
Qu Yanning tossed the ice cream stick away and licked the white ice cream mustache around his mouth. “Then let’s post a recruitment notice first.”
Chu Zhou, wearing a headset and busy leading a team, didn’t have time to answer.
Qu Yanning lifted the cat up, kissed its furry belly, and muttered, “Addiction to games is really scary.”
Xie Qi, still upset he hadn’t gotten any ice cream, pushed Qu Yanning’s face away with his cat paws, refusing to be kissed.
Qu Yanning persisted, hugging the cat tightly and kissing him thoroughly before letting go.
When he went back to the shop, sure enough, Qu Yanning had written a recruitment notice and stuck it up at the shop entrance.
Business was booming, and once the recruitment notice went up, many people came to apply— men, women, old, young, all kinds.
Qu Yanning spent two days screening them, but no one was quite right— something was always off or not to his liking.
One morning right after opening, Qu Yanning sat behind the cashier’s counter, sighing heavily while holding the cat.
Xie Qi lay on his lap, tucking his paws and tail and sweeping them over Qu Yanning’s chest.
“Excuse me… are you still recruiting apprentices?” A young man, looking like a student, walked in through the door, asking in somewhat hesitant Mandarin.
Qu Yanning sized him up and said, “We’re recruiting, but are you of age?”
The young man scratched his head shyly. “I just turned eighteen.”
He worried Qu Yanning wouldn’t believe him, so he anxiously showed his ID card. “See? I turned eighteen this June. I’m of age now.”
Qu Yanning hesitated. The boy looked right for the job, but hiring someone just barely of age gave him a guilty feeling, like employing child labor.
The boy grew anxious when Qu Yanning didn’t say anything. Hastily, he said he didn’t need a salary. “I can endure any hardship, as long as you provide food and lodging.”
His face flushed red with urgency, and though his eyes carried a pleading look, he suppressed it. Qu Yanning hesitated but decided to give him a trial.
“But there’s no place for you to stay yet. The shop only has a Junk Room, barely enough for a person.”
The boy quickly said it didn’t matter, fearing Qu Yanning would reject him because of it. He patted his chest, saying he had even slept on the street before, so a Junk Room was plenty good.
He smiled happily as if none of it was a big deal. But Qu Yanning looked at his thin, weak frame and couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy.
He offered the initial terms: “One-month trial, 1,800 yuan salary, with food and lodging at the shop. After passing, 2,500 yuan. If you learn fast and can handle things on your own, you’ll be paid as a full chef.”
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise. His honest face lit up with joy, and he bowed to Qu Yanning, voice trembling, “Thank you, Boss.”
Qu Yanning suddenly realized he hadn’t asked his name yet and said, “What’s your name?”
The boy scratched his head and smiled brightly. “I’m Xue Li—‘Xue’ as in Xue Rengui, ‘Li’ as in separation.”
“I’m Qu Yanning. You can just call me Qu Ge from now on,” Qu Yanning told him. “Go put your things in the Junk Room. If you get settled, I’ll show you around this afternoon.”
Xue Li shouted “Qu Ge!” loudly, then sheepishly said he had no luggage.
“No one left at home, no luggage. One person eating enough means the whole family doesn’t go hungry.” Xue Li scratched the back of his head with a goofy smile.
“No luggage, that’s fine.” Qu Yanning poured him a glass of water. “I’ll take you to the Junk Room to tidy up. I’ll get you a bed— you can stay here for now.”
“We have work uniforms at the shop; I’ll get you two sets to wear for now.”
Xue Li listened carefully as Qu Yanning finished speaking. Then Qu Yanning told Sister Zhang to give him some basic instructions.
Xue Li was smart and picked things up quickly. When it wasn’t busy, he was already serving dishes smoothly.
After closing, Qu Yanning took Xue Li to buy a folding bed and bedding. The Junk Room was cramped but clean. They placed a single bed against the wall. It wasn’t spacious but enough for resting at night.
Qu Yanning felt a bit guilty making someone stay in the Junk Room, but Xue Li looked very happy and said it had been a long time since he’d slept on a soft bed.
Qu Yanning—
Xie Qi was yawning half-asleep in his arms. Since returning from Yisheng Province, Qu Yanning had pampered him with good food and rest for several days, and the cat had put on the lost weight.
He was soft and fluffy, making him feel even better to pet.
Back at home, Chu Zhou was still addicted to his game. Qu Yanning snacked on sunflower seeds placed on a small plate, while Xie Qi lay beside it lazily licking his lips.
The living room was set with this scene.
Chu Zhou: “Fuyou skill combo, one-two-three jump, good. Keep moving forward, heading to point three…”
Xie Qi lazily munched on sunflower seeds.
After Chu Zhou finally finished the dungeon, and Qu Yanning polished off a bag of seeds, he gulped down a glass of water, feeling like his lips might crack from all the seeds.
Chu Zhou said, “Get me a drink too, I’m nearly hoarse from shouting.”
Qu Yanning silently handed him a glass of water. Chu Zhou gulped it down, sighed with relief, and relaxed on the sofa, eyes half-closed, glancing sideways at Qu Yanning. “Got anything to tell me?”
“Yeah,” Qu Yanning said, “The apprentice I told you about got hired, but the kid’s pretty young. I’m not sure if I should keep him.”
He explained the situation: hardworking, clever, but just barely of age. “Feels like hiring child labor.”
Chu Zhou rolled his eyes at him. “He’s of age, so it’s not child labor. That kid’s family’s probably not well off, barely eighteen, and can’t find work anywhere. If you fire him now, he’ll probably end up homeless.”
“If he’s decent, just keep him. Being younger means he’s more innocent, less scheming.”
Qu Yanning thought about it and realized Chu Zhou was right. He wouldn’t dwell on it. If the one-month trial went well, he’d keep him.
******
About twenty days into Xue Li’s trial period, Zhao Dongqi— who had disappeared for a while—showed up at the shop.
He held two Invitation Letters, shouting for Qu Yanning as he walked in.
Qu Yanning didn’t shout back, but drowsy Xie Qi was awakened by the noise. The cat stretched lazily, baring his sharp teeth.
Zhao Dongqi dodged the cat’s glare, raising both hands and yelling, “Xiao Qu, help! Your cat’s about to scratch someone!”
Qu Yanning hurried out and saw Xie Qi yawn wide and settle down again.
Zhao Dongqi was stuck against the wall: “…”
Qu Yanning stroked the obedient cat and looked at Zhao Dongqi. “My darling’s very good, he won’t scratch anyone.”
Xie Qi cooperatively flicked his tail and let out a soft meow.
Zhao Dongqi: …Damn! Such a scheming cat!
Qu Yanning hugged the cat and asked why he was here.
Zhao Dongqi suddenly remembered his purpose, proudly waving the invitations. “Look what I got!”
“What’s that?” Qu Yanning looked at him, puzzled.
Zhao Dongqi beamed and leaned closer. “The Invitation Letters for the Feng Shui Conference I told you about last time.”
Xie Qi’s ears twitched, eyes narrowing toward Zhao Dongqi.
Qu Yanning took the Invitation Letter and examined it. The black-and-silver embossed card was exquisitely made, with an Eight Trigrams emblem on it, making it look like a group of very high-class con artists.
Zhao Dongqi, in a microbusiness sales pitch tone, hyped it up. “The Feng Shui Conference is held at sea. The organizers arrange cruise ships to pick everyone up. Rumor has it the Qu Family lives on an isolated island. Ordinary people can’t even find the island without an invitation.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.