pjbooks Chapter 43: [Everyone Has Their Own Path]
Chapter 43: [Everyone Has Their Own Path]
"Go and talk to the owners of those stalls over there. Be polite, but don't be too subservient."
Liu Zhuohao sat on the curb, his voice hoarse from the aftermath, and said to Huang Weixiong beside him:
"Remember, this night market is full of stalls, but our street-side steak is currently one of a kind."
"They're different; there are four or five barbecue stalls on this street alone."
"We've attracted customers, and those who set up stalls next to us will benefit to some extent. Let's leave it at that; don't overstate it, and don't let people think we're showing off... You understand the nuances?"
"I know," Huang Weixiong replied readily, but his hand unconsciously reached into his pocket and pulled out an empty cigarette pack.
He squeezed his hand, a little embarrassed: "Well... Boss, I've finished my cigarette, and I need to offer one to someone later, so I don't have any left."
"I still have half a pack left." Liu Zhuohao tossed his half-full pack of cigarettes over. "If you encounter anything you're unsure about while we're talking, don't force yourself. Just come back and ask."
"clear!"
Huang Weixiong took the cigarette, stuffed it into his pocket, and seemed more relaxed and tactful than when he first arrived.
He nodded to Cai Jiahao, who was also wearing a sweaty short-sleeved shirt and had a buzz cut, standing next to him.
The two looked about the same age and dressed similarly, but the latter clearly looked like a student.
After exchanging greetings, Huang Weixiong turned and walked towards the few stalls at the other end of the night market that were still lit up. His footsteps echoed clearly on the empty road.
Liu Zhuohao watched his figure disappear into the interplay of light and shadow, then turned his gaze to Cai Jiahao, who had been sitting down beside him without saying a word, and asked:
"How's it going? Studying? I heard you even went to tutoring classes."
Cai Jiahao was still staring in the direction Huang Weixiong had left when he paused for a moment before turning back and saying, "It's...it's alright."
He subconsciously touched his buzz cut. "Actually, I've wanted to come and see this for a while, but my parents are very strict. They don't let me go anywhere except for school and tutoring classes."
He paused, then lowered his voice: "I went to celebrate my grandma's birthday today, and I just stopped by on my way home."
After that incident, it was indeed not easy for Cai Jiahao to contact him.
Liu Zhuohao nodded, said nothing more, and simply replied with four words: "Business is good."
Cai Jiahao opened his mouth upon hearing this, but no words came out.
The two sat there under the streetlights, the faint sounds of people from the still-lingering night market drifting in from afar, making their place seem exceptionally quiet.
After a while, Liu Zhuohao stood up, dusted off his pants, and said, "That thousand yuan..."
He walked to the stall, counted out ten red bills from the money jar, walked back, and handed them to Cai Jiahao.
"I did alright this month, I'll pay it back first."
He estimated that by the end of the month, the two stalls together would earn him a profit of fifty to sixty thousand yuan.
Moreover, this is net profit after deducting all costs.
In addition, the money borrowed from my parents can be put aside for now, and I don't need to rush to pay it back. With enough money in hand, I can start doing many things.
But before that, Liu Zhuohao naturally hoped to clear up his debts first. He was neither someone who wanted others to owe him money, nor did he like owing others money.
"No, no rush..." Cai Jiahao quickly said, without reaching for the money, "I'm not here for money. I'm going to repeat a year of high school, so I don't need much money on a regular basis."
"I know you're not here for money, but I'm able to pay it back now, so I'll definitely pay it back first," Liu Zhuohao replied. "As for Acong's share, he's coming to talk to me about the video tomorrow, and I'll pay that back too."
Even Zhuang Zicong's share would be paid off. Cai Jiahao hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the money.
"Study hard." Liu Zhuohao looked at him. "Since you've chosen to repeat a year, take it seriously."
Cai Jiahao nodded, carefully folded the money, and stuffed it into his pocket.
Liu Zhuohao didn't say anything more.
He remembered that in his previous life, Cai Jiahao also repeated a grade, but he didn't work as hard as he did and didn't attend tutoring classes.
At that time, I was in a third-tier university, while Zhuang Zicong was in a junior college and was repeating a year of high school.
The three of them often played games together until they were almost sophomores in college. When they learned about their family's difficulties, they started setting up a hand-pulled pancake stall on campus, and that's when things calmed down.
But by then, Cai Jiahao had already finished his exams.
Of course, I didn't pass the exam, so I chose to join the army.
This time, maybe it will be different?
The night breeze carried the last embers of the barbecue stalls in the distance.
Liu Zhuohao didn't think any further. He simply stood up and patted Cai Jiahao on the shoulder: "It's getting late. Hurry back and don't let your family worry."
"..."
Cai Jiahao also stood up, but his feet didn't move.
"That day..."
After a long while, he finally spoke in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry about my mother."
This was the first time the two had faced each other since that day.
Liu Zhuohao waved his hand: "Didn't we already talk about it on QQ? It's okay, you are you, and she is her."
Cai Jiahao wanted to say something, his lips moved, but in the end no sound came out.
He nodded, turned and walked away, his shadow stretching long and short under the streetlights.
Liu Zhuohao watched him walk away, and roughly understood what was going on.
This kid didn't make this trip for that thousand yuan, of course.
We've been friends for so many years, but we haven't seen each other since what happened that day.
He came over probably not just to apologize in person.
But I had already said everything I needed to say on QQ that day.
In retrospect, those words seem to have had no effect.
Liu Zhuohao reached for his cigarette case, but found nothing. He then remembered that he had given half a pack of cigarettes to Huang Weixiong earlier.
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and thought, "Never mind, everyone has their own path."
……
……
On the second day, a new face appeared at the breakfast stall.
—Li Zekai.
Four people came for the interview that day.
The first one was quick-witted, observant, and the fastest.
The second one is Huang Weixiong, who has a loud voice and is a proper chef.
The third one is Li Zekai. Amidst the noisy crowd, he stood next to Liu Zhuohao like a broken record, repeating whatever dishes others were calling out.
The fourth one didn't get any work to do at all and was stuck at the very back the whole time.
After Huang Weixiong was recruited, Liu Zhuohao created a small group chat for the other three who were not selected and left their contact information.
Now that business is booming and they urgently need manpower, the second person he thought of was this "repeater" Li Zekai.
As for the first one, the most clever one, he has already entered the factory within the past month.
It seems there's considerable economic pressure, and simply no extra time to wait.
"Since you're new here, there's not much for you to do. You'll mainly be helping to serve dishes and greet guests."
As Huang Weixiong deftly spread the pancakes on the hot plate, he muttered like a seasoned chef, "But remember, don't rush! This is a scorching hot plate. If you flip it over, you'll get big blisters, and you'll definitely suffer moderate to severe burns, so..."
He drew out the words, his hands moving non-stop, "Steady is more important than fast."
Li Zekai nodded silently, looking somewhat awkward under everyone's gaze.
What about Liu Zhuohao?
He wasn't standing in the main seat today, but rather assisting from the side, handing out eggs, adding lettuce, and packaging, while occasionally listening to Huang Weixiong instructing the newcomers.
He needs to gradually let his old customers and his fans become familiar with and accept Huang Weixiong's face, and recognize his skills.
Liu Zhuohao knew in his heart that he couldn't stay at this breakfast stall forever.
Once everything else has been set up and the business is on track, this initial starting point will either stop, be handed over to a trustworthy person, or continue operating in another way.
This scene attracted many customers to stop at the stall. They were all students who were curious about how people face work after graduation.
They didn't leave until the school bell rang.
As soon as the crowd dispersed and the stall became empty, Liu Zhuohao's phone started buzzing in his pocket.
He took it out and saw the name "Liu Zhuoyue" flashing on the screen.
"Hey, Brother Yue."
He glanced at Huang Weixiong, nodded, and walked aside to answer the phone.