"Opening a bottle costs two yuan," I said offhand.
The restaurant had not hired new people, which led to a severe shortage of staff.
Thus, this rule was established.
When business was good, it wasn't unusual to have groups of fifteen or twenty people all wanting a whole case of beer opened at once.
If we didn't charge, Xiao Li and I would need do nothing else but open bottles for the guests at the tables.
Li Xing, who was big and fat, was particularly stingy and slapped the table discontentedly, "The place isn't big, but you've got plenty of reasons to charge money. In City B, opening bottles is free everywhere."
"Why the shouting? Open it yourself if you don't want to pay. Is popping a bottle that hard?" Xiao Li always stood up for what she believed in and rushed over to stand in front of me.
Li Xing rolled up his sleeves, his fat cheeks quivering, "The customer is God, and you do what God tells you!"
"Xiao Li, let it go, let's not cause trouble," I thought it was best to keep business peaceful, and pulling at Xiao Li, I offered a placating smile, "You look unfamiliar, this must be your first time here, so we'll waive the bottle opening fee this meal."
I grabbed the bottle opener and within two seconds had expertly popped open two bottles of beer.
"See, it's easy, and yet you charge two yuan just to lift a finger, business shouldn't be so unscrupulous."
The thin Duan Hong had just grabbed a beer to drink and recognized me, "Little sister, didn't we meet on the plane? I recognize that belly! What is it, four or five months now? It's quite noticeable!"
"Yes, I was sitting in the row behind you two," I nodded politely, not avoiding Duan Hong's comment.
Duan Hong looked exactly like one of those veteran paparazzi, with tons of professional experience and a nose keener than a bloodhound's. He quickly grabbed my wrist and asked suspiciously,
"You wouldn't happen to be from the Northern Entertainment sent to track us and scoop the news, right?"
"This customer, please behave and let go! I've always been a waitress at this restaurant... Iā¦" I believed I could clear things up, as many of the regular diners around surely would vouch for me.
But before I could finish, a fist slammed into Duan Hong's face.
It knocked his nose askew and blood began to flow.
I looked closely, and to my surprise, it was the usually good-natured Chen Decheng.
Chen Decheng now looked fierce, his temper flaring, "Stay away from my employee, or I'll kill you."
"Uh..." It was the first time I'd seen Chen Decheng throw a punch, and it was quite an eye-opener.
Xiao Li, never one to shun drama, exclaimed, "Boss is mighty! Simply my superhero."
"You... you dare to hit someone! Is this some kind of rogue operation?" Li Xing supported Duan Hong, shouting loud with fear sweating on his brow, "Someone come over; look at this, a rogue restaurant owner hitting a customer!"
The nighttime diners were mostly regulars.
Not one nearby customer supported them; instead, they stood by Chen Decheng,
"Sheesh, you bullied the waitress first and now you're playing the victim."
"Two outsiders come to Spring Wind Town trying to throw their weight around, go back where you came from."
"Picking on a pregnant woman, our Master Chen is not someone you can bully! She's our Belle of the Town..."
The local custom here is notoriously tough and not so welcoming to outsiders.
These two troublemaking paparazzi naturally found no sympathy here.
I scratched my head, my cheeks blushing.
The supportive comments were all well and good, but what's this about being the Belle of the Town?
Really... it's kind of embarrassing...
Li Xing and Duan Hong, two paparazzi who came to Foreign Land to secretly photograph a female celebrity, had a rough start.
They had hardly settled down nor had done anything.
And they were nearly drowned out by the local's spit.
Li Xing was originally shouting to call the police, but Duan Hong, sensing the tough local atmosphere and fearing they really would be driven out of town, grabbed Li Xing, conceded bad luck to himself, and went to the hospital.
Apart from that small episode, everything else that evening went smoothly.
I stretched and went to the kitchen to find Yu Longting, whispering timidly, "Yu Longting, have we forgotten something?"