One had lost a son, the other had lost both parents, as if a red thread of fate had tied the two together.
Delicious food, pleasant conversation. During the meal, their demeanor was like that of a mother and son. Xie Baolian couldn't stop picking up food for Li Haochen, as if trying to make up for the ten years she had missed. A large bowl, piled high like a small mountain, and after serving the food, she quietly watched Li Haochen eat.
Li Haochen, like a wanderer who had been studying away from home for a long time and had just returned, couldn't help but devour the table full of food filled with love.
One served, one ate, a heartwarming scene!
On the way back, Xie Baolian's chatter never stopped, constantly babbling.
Li Haochen actually liked the feeling, "I haven't heard that in a long time."
"Auntie Lian, I'm going back first!"
"Mm, be careful on the way. Send me a message when you get back." Xie Baolian sat in the car and watched until Li Haochen's figure disappeared before she nodded with satisfaction and drove home.
At the branch store on the other side, the three people who had been waiting there early were pacing back and forth inside the store, the smoldering smoke almost turning into smog.
He checked the time, it was half-past eight in the evening.
"Still waiting?"
"We've been stood up, what are we waiting for?"
"Let's go for a late-night snack."
"Creak~!"
Li Haochen pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing the three of them about to leave, he looked embarrassed, "Sorry, sorry, I was just held up by something."
"You must be hungry, let's go for a late-night snack."
As the saying goes, it's better late than never. Since Li Haochen had arrived, they had to give him some face, as their wages hadn't come in yet. Of course, they all had some grievances in their hearts; who wouldn't be a little resentful if they were kept waiting for half the time?
Li Haochen and the others went to the "Never-Night Sky," where they had been before. It was the same as usual; before the appointed time, only the four of them were there.
Li Haochen ordered a large table of barbecue and a dozen beers.
"It was my fault just now, I'll penalize myself with three drinks."
After saying that, Li Haochen picked up the wine glass and gulped it down.
After the three drinks, Xiao Nian and the others felt much better and also raised their glasses to drink.
After a few rounds of drinks, Li Haochen took out three envelopes from his pocket and placed them in front of them. Looking at the envelopes with a hint of emotion, they knew these must be their wages.
"This is your salary. We might be opening in a couple of days. I hope you three will help me out a lot."
The three picked up the envelopes and weighed them, filled with joy. If Li Haochen hadn't been there, they would have opened them on the spot and licked their fingers to count them.
Li Haochen guessed their thoughts, drank a glass of wine, and excused himself to go to the restroom.
Seeing Li Haochen walk into the restroom, their excited anticipation could no longer be contained. They eagerly tore open the seals.
"One, two... 3500?"
Counting again...
The three looked at each other, brimming with excitement, "It's 500 more than before."
"The boss is really great."
"Yeah, much better than Zhao Ergou."
Money is indeed a good thing. Looking at the expressions on their faces, any dissatisfaction they had with Li Haochen earlier had long since vanished. The minor issue of his lateness had completely disappeared.
With 500 yuan and a barbecue meal, their hearts were completely won over.
Because he had drunk some alcohol, Li Haochen didn't go to the shop. Murong Yanran knew it was a social occasion and didn't say anything. It was a bit scary to go back alone late at night, so she decided to go back to the dormitory with Ruan Shanshan for the night.
The next morning, Li Haochen's biological clock was once again disrupted, and he didn't wake up until past eight o'clock.
When he woke up, he saw steaming hot white porridge and egg bread on the table.
Murong Yanran took off her apron, wiped her hands, and walked out.
"Yanran, didn't you sleep at school last night? Why did you come back?"
"Came back to check up, hehe!"
"Anything discovered?"
"Not bad."
"..."
"Eat quickly, or it'll get cold."
"You cooked it?"
"Mm!" Murong Yanran rested her chin on her hand, her big eyes blinking at Li Haochen.
Looking at the small bowl of porridge and fried egg, Li Haochen couldn't help but recall the last "dark cuisine" and felt a little apprehensive.
He took a cautious sip. Well... the rice wasn't fully cooked, and the center was still a bit hard, but it wasn't inedible. It was much better than last time.
He took a bite of the fried egg. The medium-cooked yolk squeezed out from between his teeth. It had no strong flavor, just a light taste, much better than the sweet egg last time.
Due to his family background, he had developed the habit of cherishing food since childhood, unless he truly couldn't eat it.
Perhaps it was due to the alcohol from last night, but his stomach was empty. After a large bowl of hot porridge, his entire body felt refreshed.
Li Haochen alternated between white porridge and fried egg, and soon finished all the breakfast on the table, still feeling a little unsatisfied.
Murong Yanran's eyes crinkled into smiles as her efforts were recognized.
"How was it?"
"Truth or lie?"
"Lie..."
"Well, isn't it obvious?" Li Haochen smiled and pointed at the clean plates on the table.
Murong Yanran was very satisfied, so satisfied that her eyes narrowed again.
"You didn't eat?"
"I didn't dare to eat..." Murong Yanran blushed and stuck out her tongue.
Li Haochen's expression turned grim, "So, I was the guinea pig?"
"What? You're not willing?" Murong Yanran put her hands on her hips, pouting, annoyed.
Li Haochen smiled and didn't answer, taking the empty plates into the kitchen.
"Hey, you didn't answer me!"
Murong Yanran was a little displeased and followed him in. She playfully leaned against the kitchen door, peeking her head in.
Li Haochen stopped washing the dishes, letting the running water flow through his fingertips. Looking at the water, he smiled slightly, "I'm willing to be your guinea pig for a lifetime."
Murong Yanran trembled, her heart racing. Then, she smiled slyly, "I can't hear you, say it again!"
In fact, she had heard him clearly, but she just wanted Li Haochen to say it again.
"If you can't hear it, then forget it!"
Li Haochen smiled, wiped his hands, and walked out.
"So stingy, saying it again won't make you lose a piece of meat," Murong Yanran pouted, muttering.
Li Haochen had no classes that morning, so he first sent Murong Yanran back to school. The entire journey was a torment to his ears...
"Say it again!"
"..."
Li Haochen arrived at the branch store. Xiao Nian and the others had not yet arrived, which was Li Haochen's intentional arrangement. He gave them a day off, and they would officially start work tomorrow.
At the branch store, only Li Haochen could access the surveillance cameras. This was one of the reasons he rented the place, so he wouldn't have to sneak back home every day to pick coconuts from the space and deliver them.
Of course, he had to put on a show, otherwise, if there were goods for sale without a delivery process, that wouldn't do.
Therefore, Li Haochen had specially installed an arched canopy at the back door of the branch store. While it was meant to shelter from the rain, its actual purpose was to block the surveillance cameras of the neighboring shops. The three-wheeled vehicle had also been modified with a small shed, covered with red, white, and blue fabric, so no one would know what was inside.