Chương 82: Chapter 83 This restaurant can't function without you!

"Yes, I bought them for you." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"Look at your shoes, they're all worn out. You should wear a new pair to the banquet tomorrow."

"Wow, leather shoes! They're so beautiful, they must be very expensive, right?" Zhao Hong had already come closer and exclaimed in a low voice.

"Why would I wear leather shoes? I prefer cloth shoes, they're so soft." Aunt Zhao's eyes immediately welled up with tears, but she said with some disdain, "Why waste this money? Go back and return them now."

"I can't return them. The shopkeeper said I can exchange them for different sizes, but I can't return them. Hurry up and try them on to see if they fit. If they don't, go exchange them. If the shopkeeper runs away, you won't be able to exchange them." Zhou Yan smiled and stuffed the shoes into her hands, then took out two other pairs of shoes from the bicycle basket: "I also bought a pair of three-piece leather shoes for my father and a pair of tiger-head cloth shoes for Momo."

"Zhou Yan is so filial, Fourth Aunt, you are so lucky." Zhao Hong looked envious and urged with a smile, "Just try them on, they're so beautiful, you'll look like you're walking on air in them."

"Then I'll try them on." Aunt Zhao sat down on the stool, took off her cloth shoes, and carefully put on the leather shoes. She stepped on the cloth shoes and couldn't help but exclaim, "Hmm? Leather shoes are so different! They're soft, comfortable, and the size is just right."

"They look good, stylish and fashionable." Zhao Hong nodded.

"When I have some money at the end of the year, I'll buy a pair to wear for the New Year."

"How did you know my size? How much did these shoes cost?" Aunt Zhao looked up at Zhou Yan, her smile showing a hint of surprise.

"I'm your son, of course I know. If the size is right, I won't exchange them." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Don't worry about the price, just wear them." It was clear that Aunt Zhao liked them very much, but she was just reluctant to spend the money. But isn't the meaning of making money to spend it on the most important people in your life, so that they can share this happiness? Zhou Yan felt that was the case. All the money that lay in his account in his previous life, he didn't even get to spend on it himself.

That was truly a mess. Aunt Zhao put on the other shoe, looking at it from left to right, increasingly satisfied and happy, her eyes welling up with tears. She never imagined she would one day wear leather shoes her son had bought for her.

"Honey, what about mine? Does Momo have one too?" Zhou Momo ran in from outside, her little hands covered in sand.

"Yes, look at the little shoes I bought for you." Zhou Yan held up the tiger-head shoes and shook them.

"Wow! So pretty!" Zhou Momo's eyes lit up, and she rushed over to pounce on Zhou Yan.

"Wait a minute, wash your hands first." Zhou Yan quickly stopped her, took her to the door to wash her hands, and brushed the sand off her body outside. After taking off both shoes, which were half full of sand, and cleaning her little feet, he brought them back and slipped the tiger-head shoes on her. They were a little too big, with about a finger and a half of room to spare. Aunt Zhao peeked inside and nodded, "They fit perfectly; you can wear them until next spring."

"Woof! I'm a little tiger!" Zhou Momo was overjoyed, shaking her head and playing for a while before turning and jumping into Zhou Yan's arms, looking up at him, "Brother! I love these tiger shoes so much! I love you the most!"

"Good girl," Zhou Yan smiled and patted her head. Eighty cents a pair of tiger shoes, and Zhou Momo was jumping for joy. What a worthwhile investment! Aunt Zhao had already taken off her leather shoes and changed back into cloth shoes, turning her face away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, and then wrapped them up again in oiled paper. She got up and went outside to vigorously pat Zhou Momo's cloth shoes under the tree, cleaning out the sand inside.

She came back in, picked Zhou Momo up, and placed her on her lap, smiling, "Come on, wear the old ones today, and the new ones tomorrow. That way everyone will say your shoes are so cute."

"Okay, okay!" Zhou Momo nodded her little head in agreement. Aunt Zhao then looked at Old Zhou's leather shoes, her eyes lighting up: "They're from the '83 generation! I saw them at the department store last year during the Spring Festival. I wanted to buy them for your father, but he wouldn't try them on. In the end, he bought me a dress instead."

"Are they suitable?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

"Good taste, just like me." Aunt Zhao nodded, carefully carrying the three pairs of shoes behind the counter and hiding them away. As they spoke, the factory closed for the day, and the workers came in for dinner. The three of them quickly washed their hands, put on aprons, and started working. Today, the textile factory had three big news stories, sending the workers' hearts soaring to the heavens and plummeting to the depths of despair. You could be reading stolen content.

Head to the original site for the genuine story. The good news was that Wang Defa had been reported by name, and although his transfer had been approved, he was still detained by the security department. The bad news was that the report alleged that Wang Defa had purchased large quantities of diseased pork from Wang Qi for the canteen over the past two years. The workers were devastated. The factory canteen! The canteen where they ate every day, and it was using diseased pork!

And for two years, in large quantities! Upon hearing this, the workers almost stormed into the security department and beat Wang Defa up. Today, the canteen was completely empty. There was also more news: the canteen's undisputed head chef, considered the man who could save the canteen after Wang Defa's downfall—Master Xiao—had resigned. There were confirmed reports that he was the one who reported Wang Defa. To avoid affecting Zhou Yan's business, he chose to resign rather than continue as head chef.

What a loyal and devoted master and apprentice! But for the workers, it was a devastating blow. Many customers who had to work the night shift didn't want to eat at the canteen and flocked to Zhou Erwa's restaurant, engaging in a "revenge spending" spree, doubling the number of customers compared to before. Zhou Yan never expected so many customers today; the prepared dishes sold out in just over half an hour.

"Sorry, all the dishes for today are sold out. Please come again next Monday," Aunt Zhao explained with a smile. Customers who couldn't get a meal had no choice but to flock to other vendors at the factory gate. This delighted the vendors. Zhou Yan gleaned from the workers' gossip about Xiao Lei's resignation, and it touched him. His master had an attachment to the textile factory canteen; he started as an apprentice at fifteen, worked there for thirty years, and took over as head chef for fifteen years.

If Zhou Yan just nodded, he could be reinstated as head chef and even promoted to deputy director. He could work for another ten years or so, retire comfortably at the textile factory, and maybe even become a director by then. And yet, he resigned without hesitation. Zhou Yan will definitely find a chance to repay this kindness. Lin Zhiqiang arrived relatively early and got to eat the braised beef, but he wasn't early enough, as he didn't get to pack the braised pork ribs.

"Uncle Lin, I won't be going for a run tonight. My brother's getting married tomorrow, so I'm going back to my place tonight," Zhou Yan said, bringing out the dishes and greeting Lin Zhiqiang.

"Okay," Lin Zhiqiang nodded, then casually asked, "How's your master doing? Where's he planning to go for a job?" See, even the deputy factory director in charge of technology can't resist gossip.

"He's doing well, hasn't decided where yet," Zhou Yan replied with a smile. It seemed like he answered, but then again, he didn't. After closing time, Zhao Hong and Aunt Zhao cleared the tables and washed the dishes. Zhou Yan counted the money, taking out seven yuan and fifteen yuan. After the two finished their work, Zhou Yan smiled and called Zhao Hong over, "Sister-in-law, today is the first, I've paid your wages."

"Payment on the first? I didn't work many days last month." Zhao Hong walked over and said with a smile, "Why don't we start counting from this month? We're family."

"You came here to work, not to play around. I'll pay you for every day you work." Zhou Yan smiled and handed her seven yuan.

"You worked ten days last month, so I'll give you seven yuan, and the change will be your bonus."

"So much?" Zhao Hong looked at the money in Zhou Yan's hand, hesitant to take it.

"Here, this is the money you earned working so hard from dawn till dusk." Aunt Zhao came over and stuffed the money into her hand, smiling as she said, "You need to earn money so you can save up to buy leather shoes at the end of the year."

"Okay." Zhao Hong happily clutched her wages, took off her apron, and walked towards the door.

"Then I'll go back first. Your brother is waiting for me outside. I'm going back to cook for the two kids."

"Aunt Zhao, this is your wages." After Zhao Hong left, Zhou Yan handed the remaining fifteen yuan to Aunt Zhao.

"What kind of salary would I get!" Aunt Zhao rolled her eyes at him.

"You should save it carefully and not squander it. You still need to get married in the future."

"Here, this is the money you earned working hard from dawn till dusk." Zhou Yan smiled and stuffed the money into her hand, saying seriously, "You're not only the lobby manager, but also the person in charge of Qiaojiao Beef. I'll calculate your salary at thirty yuan a month. Starting this month, your commission will be calculated as 20% of Qiaojiao Beef's net profit."

"This restaurant can't function without you!"

"Keep it safe, let's go for a feast tomorrow!" Aunt Zhao held the money, her eyes welling up with tears again.

"Feast! I want a feast!" Zhou Momo came over, raising her little hand: "Brother, let's go now! My tummy is so hungry." (End of this chapter)