The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: "Hello? You there? Time to get to work!

It was already past four o’clock, and only a few people lingered in front of the stall.

Cai Su looked at her with some concern. "Boss Shen, we still have a lot of things left to sell today."

Noon was usually the stall’s busiest time, when they would go through nearly two-thirds of their ingredients. The customers who left at lunchtime today had a pretty bad impact on business.

Standing to the side, Wang Daguo lowered his head guiltily. If it weren’t for him, business wouldn’t have been this slow.

"It’s fine. It’s only temporary."

Hearing her say that made Wang Daguo feel even more guilty. "Boss Shen, maybe I should just quit. As long as I leave, they’ll come back to eat."

"I don’t want to hear that from you again," Shen Lu said in a serious tone. "Is there anything wrong with earning money to support your family with your own two hands? Since there’s nothing wrong, you shouldn’t doubt yourself because of their one-sided accusations. Wang Daguo, lift your head and puff out your chest. I’ll say it one last time: you did nothing wrong."

Wang Daguo was so moved by Shen Lu’s words he almost burst into tears. In his twenty-plus years of life, it was the first time anyone had ever affirmed him like that.

Even though he was Shen Lu’s employee, he felt truly and deeply respected.

"Yes!" Wang Daguo held back his tears and straightened his back forcefully. "Boss Shen, I’ll definitely work hard!"

"Alright, it’s getting late. Sister Cai, go pick up your child. Brother Wang and I can handle things here. Oh, right, both of you come to my place tonight. We’ll have dinner together."

Since there were leftover ingredients, they might as well use them for everyone’s dinner.

Cai Su was already used to her generous boss, who loved treating everyone to meals, so she accepted the invitation without a second thought. Wang Daguo puffed up his cheeks, but swallowed the words of refusal on his lips when he saw Shen Lu’s knowing yet disapproving gaze.

After closing up the stall, Shen Lu stir-fried all the leftover rice at her doorstep. Since they were eating it themselves, she added extra diced ham and pickled vegetables.

The fragrant aroma wafted through the air, causing many residents to poke their heads out to look. A few of the more shameless ones with sharp tongues directly shouted for Shen Lu to give them a serving.

"Boss Shen, you make so much money in a day. How about you give me a serving?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Shen Lu ignored them and had Wang Daguo carry the two large basins of fried rice inside. She then ladled all the remaining malatang into a huge bowl, adding a generous amount of toppings.

Since Xiao Lang and Fu Cheng could both open their eyes now, their diet could be varied a little. Shen Lu prepared two bowls of mee sua paste for them.

Just as she finished, Cai Su returned, holding her child.

"Perfect timing. You can feed the mee sua paste to Xiao Lang. You can’t let it sit for too long, or it’ll thicken up." While telling Wang Daguo to bring the dishes over, Shen Lu instructed Cai Su, then went to invite Granny Jin over herself before hastily feeding Fu Cheng.

Fu Cheng was always cooperative when it was time to eat, and today was no exception. However, his gaze kept unconsciously drifting to Wang Daguo.

He had guessed that Wang Daguo would be working for Shen Lu from now on, as her employee.

’But he was still very unaccustomed to suddenly having another man in the house.’

After feeding Fu Cheng, Shen Lu carefully wiped his mouth before finally sitting down at the table.

Granny Jin had already filled a bowl of rice for her, so Shen Lu could eat as soon as she sat down.

Xiao Lang was small and had a small mouth, so Cai Su had to feed him more slowly. Once everyone was seated at the table, Shen Lu announced that they were moving tomorrow.

"Grandma Jin, my rent isn’t up for a few more days, so you don’t need to give me a refund. If you really want to give me something, how about you come and show your support on my shop’s opening day? What do you think?"

It was less than 20 Star Coins, and Shen Lu didn’t want to take it. But she also knew Granny Jin was an old woman of principle, so she proposed a compromise.

Granny Jin thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright. When do you open? I’ll send you a flower basket."

’A basket of real flowers was definitely unaffordable. The flower baskets here were usually made of electronic flowers, costing 50 Star Coins each. They had to be returned after use, or the deposit wouldn’t be refunded.’

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