"Boss, another grilled fish, extra spicy!"
"Coming right up! Just a moment, it'll be ready soon!"
In the kitchen, Cao Yu swiftly gutted the fish, and Huo Yuhao placed each cleaned fish on the grill.
The heat rising from the burning charcoal brought beads of sweat to his forehead.
He brushed oil over the grilled fish again and again, then added salt, cumin, MSG, chili powder, and perilla leaves, stuffing them all into the fish's belly.
The cooked fish were placed at the serving window, giving off an enticing aroma that made many customers swallow when they saw them.
"Table one, your fish is ready!" Huo Yuhao rang the bell and called from the window.
A burly, heavyset man stood up, beaming as he said, "Hahaha! My fish is finally ready! I'm so damn hungry I can hardly stand it. I've got to eat my fill this time."
"Boss, here's your money."
Cao Yu nodded. "Enjoy your meal. There's boiled water outside the counter. We didn't stock enough alcohol, so please forgive us."
The heavyset man laughed heartily. "Then remember to have some good booze ready next time, boss. I'm the sort who can't enjoy himself without a drink! Hahahaha!"
"Of course." The customer was God, so Cao Yu naturally did his best to meet their requests.
Since this was the shop's first day of business, nobody minded that it was missing quite a few things. The customers simply laughed it off. As traveling merchants, they had at least that much tolerance.
"It's been ages since I had grilled fish this delicious. I've gotten tired of eating the same meals every day."
"Exactly! Trying something fresh has a flavor all its own!"
"Come on, Brother Li, cheers!"
"Hahaha, we'll have to toast with water instead of wine today."
"No matter, no matter. As long as we enjoy the meal."
The clinking of drinking bowls rang out incessantly. It seemed they had even found the taste of wine in their water.
Only after preparing all the ingredients did Cao Yu have time to come out. A moment later, he spoke.
"Dear customers, our shop urgently needs several servers and kitchen staff. Let me know if you're interested. The wages will be a few thousand above the going rate."
Someone called out, "Boss, once I get back, I'll tell all my aunts and relatives. They'll definitely come."
"We'll help spread the word too, boss."
"Boss, can I start work tomorrow, then?"
Cao Yu replied with a smile, "Sure! Thank you all. Anyone who wants to work here should come tomorrow evening. We're only open in the evenings for now."
A woman in her thirties asked, "Boss, aren't you opening during the day?"
"Not for now."
"But I wanted to eat here during the day too." Hearing Cao Yu's definite answer, everyone sighed in disappointment.
To think there was someone in this day and age who didn't want to make money. How strange.
After seeing off the first batch of customers, Cao Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
He cleaned away the leftover food, but before he could take a break, more people followed the aroma of grilled fish inside. This time, however, there were familiar faces among them.
"Little Yu, you opened a shop here?"
"Why didn't you tell your big sisters?"
Tang Ya, Ning Tian, and Jiang Nannan, along with a group of female students behind them, looked around curiously with wide eyes.
Jiang Nannan greeted him with a smile. "Young master."
Cao Yu nodded. "Hey! Little Ya, Ning Tian, Nannan, come sit down. The grilled fish will be ready soon. Have some water first."
"And you beauties in the back, don't just stand there. There are empty seats over there. Sit wherever you like."
After Cao Yu left, the female students looked curiously at Tang Ya and the other two, teasing them as they asked questions.
"The owner looks so handsome."
"Sister Little Ya, what's your relationship with these owners? You seem so close."
"Yeah, don't tell me he's your little brother?"
Tang Ya's face reddened slightly. "Yes and no."
To the female students, those words carried the scent of gossip. Wasn't Tang Ya's answer a denial? At the very least, the shop's owner definitely wasn't related to any of them by blood.
One of the female students joked.
"Little Ya, don't tell me he's your sweetheart? He's so handsome, after all. No wonder you've never gotten a boyfriend. Did I guess right? Hahaha!"
Then someone else voiced her confusion. "But Little Tian and Sister Nan haven't found boyfriends either. How do you explain that?"
"Then whose sweetheart is this owner, exactly?"
Everyone thought of the same possibility and exclaimed in surprise, "Gasp! Don't tell me all three of you like him?"
"Is this the legendary love triangle?"
A rather pretty female student spoke up. "No, you're all wrong. This is a love square!"
Ning Tian suddenly stood up. "Oh, stop being so nosy, or we won't bring you here again."
Beside her, Jiang Nannan tugged at the hem of her clothes, signaling her not to get so worked up, or she would give the game away.
But they had already seen it all. Everyone laughed and teased, "Little Tian, you've confessed without even being questioned! Hahaha!"
"You... you lot! Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore."
Their words made Ning Tian's face flush. Her mind was a jumble, and she had no desire to explain any further. Without another word, she sat sulking in her chair.
Tang Ya stood up and said, "All right, all right. Little Tian's embarrassed now. Stop teasing her."
Then she sat down, stroked Ning Tian's head, and comforted her. "There, don't take it to heart. Otherwise, Little Yu will worry about you again if he sees."
Ning Tian pouted. "I'm just angry with myself. To think I fell into those old aunties' trap. Damn it!"
Several female students sneezed. It seemed someone was cursing them.
Before long, Cao Yu rang the bell at the serving window. He let Tang Ya and her group take a few portions first before serving those behind them.
"Thank you, boss. Thanks for your hard work." The female students paid with smiles before taking their grilled fish.
After using up all the fish, Cao Yu told Huo Yuhao to tidy up first, then left the kitchen and sat with Tang Ya and the others.
Once he sat down, a small, warm hand reached over and took his. He turned to look and discovered Ning Tian smiling at him.
Cao Yu couldn't help tightening his grip, then chatted with them as he ate his grilled fish.
After a while, he suddenly felt a tickle around his foot.
Something was touching his leg. He thought Ning Tian was up to mischief, since that was just the sort of person she was.
But when he looked down-good heavens, white... stockings?
He didn't remember Ning Tian wearing those. Then he carefully traced the direction and discovered that the foot actually belonged to Jiang Nannan!
How did she dare? She dared to tea... tease this young master!
Yet she pretended to eat her grilled fish primly, as though nothing had happened. Aside from a slight blush, she gave nothing else away.
Still unaware, Tang Ya and Ning Tian chatted happily and ate their grilled fish, laughing and giggling.
They ate a piece of fish with each bite, their cheeks puffed out, making them look especially adorable.
(End of chapter)