An enthusiastic middle-aged man brought a few people to show support, Xie Qian went to greet them.
Many pegged Xie Qian as aloof at first glance, he just didn’t bother with small talk. While others climbed their way to Rome, Xie Qian was born there. He rarely needed to curry favor, people flocked to him instead. Add his good looks, even the usually arrogant Wang Shuang instinctively felt Xie Qian deserved special treatment. You could imagine the kind of world Xie Qian grew up in.
But in the gritty night market strip, aloofness was useless.
The stall owners didn’t know any “Young Master Xie,” nor would they hand over turf just because he was handsome!
Wen Ying watched Xie Qian step up, feeling like her idol was making a big sacrifice. She hurried over, only to find him chatting with the middle-aged man, his tone perfectly measured, not groveling like some social climber, the man lapped it up.
“Director Lü, this is Wen Ying. The work-study idea was hers,” Xie Qian said, introducing them.
Wen Ying had no clue what “Director Lü” directed, she knew basic etiquette. With Xie Qian and Lü steering the show, she played the polite sidekick.
“Nice to meet you, Director Lü! Thanks for coming. Please give us some honest feedback later, we’d love to improve.”
Business was slow, that was the truth, Wen Ying didn’t hide it.
Director Lü seemed pleased with her candor. Dealing with students was refreshing, no adult slickness.
Li Mengjiao nudged Wang Shuang, “What’s going on?”
If Xie Qian could rope in acquaintances to spend, she could too!
But they’d agreed to rely on themselves, not family ties, so she was confused.
Wang Shuang swatted her hand away, “Quit yapping. Help the guests, ask Xie Qian later when the director’s gone.”
No need to wait, Director Lü’s arrival stirred the nearby stall owners, who dropped their work to greet him, clearly eager to host him at their spots. Turns out, he was the street office director, the night market fell under his jurisdiction.
Though Lü seemed approachable, the owners didn’t dare slack off.
He kept it casual, treating every greeting stall owner the same, when they tried to lure him away, he declined, “We’re all old pals, these kids are different. They’re working hard over the summer, I’ve got to support them.”
Really?
Work-study students weren’t rare here, dishwashers and waiters often doubled as part-timers, Lü hadn’t made personal visits before.
What made this crayfish stall special?
The owners were stumped.
Wen Ying glanced at Xie Qian.
Lü wasn’t here for “work-study,” it was Xie Qian’s pull.
Xie Qian’s face gave nothing away. Wen Ying dropped her stray thoughts, focused on being a proper chef.
Lü brought a few staff from the street office, men and women, all younger than him. The youngest, a recent college grad, raved about the crayfish.
Sure enough, younger folks were the crayfish fans.
Lü’s group wasn’t wild about Wen Ying’s braised crayfish, they praised the other braised dishes. For a makeshift stall, the food held up against the strip’s regulars.
Noticing the stall sold drinks, Lü cautioned Xie Qian, “You’re students, watch your image. Don’t let guests overdrink.”
Drunk night snackers could get rowdy, Lü worried Xie Qian’s crew couldn’t handle it.
Right then, the barbecue stall owner across the street seized his moment, “I’ll keep an eye on their stall.”
Lü nodded, satisfied.
For this order, Lü insisted on paying. Wen Ying didn’t force a freebie, just rounded off the change. Lü was notably pleased.
If Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng looked like planted shills, Lü’s group were legit customers. Their visit sparked a trickle of new patrons.
After Lü left, the barbecue owner sized Wen Ying up, then spotted Qin Jiao. He remembered Wen Ying, students like these setting up here could stir trouble!
Ah well, watching out for them’s just a good deed.
He pointed to his shop, “Your crayfish, mind sending some over for my guests? Call it me mooching off you.”
Wen Ying’s eyes lit up, “Big Bro, that’s too kind! We’re the ones mooching.”
It looked like the barbecue owner was using her crayfish for brownie points, really, he was letting her tap into his customer flow. Maybe to impress Lü, or just to help out. Crayfish didn’t clash with his barbecue, it boosted his menu while aiding Wen Ying’s crew.
She hadn’t been flattering aimlessly earlier, this guy knew how to play the game. No wonder he thrived!
His place was hopping. Wen Ying thought the hundred-plus pounds Wang Shuang washed would have leftovers, with his help, they sold out fast.
Other stall owners wanted in too, Wen Ying shook her head, “Sorry, we start at 6 p.m. and close at 10. We braise fresh daily, once it’s gone, it’s gone!”
The noodle stall owner half-joked, half-serious, “Then braise dozens more pounds tomorrow! Don’t worry about sales, I’ll take the rest and sell it at my place.”
Wang Shuang’s fists itched.
Ugly mug, big dreams, greedy much?
Xie Qian said coolly, “No problem. Tell us how much, retail’s 15 yuan a pound, neighbors get 14.”
Wen Ying whipped out a notebook and pen to lock in the order.
The noodle guy huffed, “Who pays? You give it free to others, charge me? Think I’m beneath you?”
Yeah, pretty much.
Barbecue folks vibed with crayfish.
Noodle customers? Old timers or kids, who’d want crayfish?
Wen Ying and Xie Qian couldn’t be bothered to argue. She tucked the notebook away, tilting her head at Xie Qian, “Think Lü’ll come back tomorrow? I like guests like him, no freeloading.”
At Lü’s name, the noodle owner slinked off, classic bully-the-weak, fear-the-strong.
Thanks to the barbecue owner’s generosity, they wrapped up before 10, sending off the last table. Wen Ying called it a night.
Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng had hustled all evening as unpaid waiters. Li Mengjiao and Qin Jiao kept their heads down, working quietly. Someone had asked for Qin Jiao’s number earlier, Li Mengjiao shut it down.
Though the crayfish were gone, Day 1 taught them all how tough earning money was, even Wen Ying.
Reborn or not, what?
Without Xie Qian roping in Lü, tonight could’ve been grim.
No wonder self-made tycoons pushed their kids to study, only experience showed how brutal business could be!
But how’d Xie Qian snag Lü? Wen Ying was dying to know.
He wasn’t from Rongcheng, did he lean on the Jiangs or Teacher Lin?
