Chapter 340: "So, what do you have to do with me?
At this thought, Shen Lu was absolutely ecstatic.
She even started designing the menu layout.
After a moment’s thought, she rejected the idea of paper menus.
‘My menu will be updated frequently. For convenience, it’s better to go with an electronic menu.’
‘After all, the prices for these dishes will definitely be set very high. There’s no way the people who come to eat won’t have a Light Brain. When the time comes, I’ll just have to send the electronic menu to their Light Brains.’
She quickly found a template she liked, tweaked a few dishes, and finalized the first draft of her menu.
Just as she was feeling pleased with herself, she remembered another important matter.
‘If I focus on the booth seating, the fast-food section will be short one cook.’
‘No, not just one. I’ll need at least one person to assist me, which means we’ll be short two people.’
It was clear that hiring new staff was imperative.
‘But with this god-awful weather, even if I put out a hiring ad, no one would apply.’
‘And even if someone did get hired, how would they get to work during a severe sandstorm?’
‘If they can’t come to work, how will the team gel? How will they improve their cooking skills?’
As these thoughts ran through her head, Shen Lu’s expression gradually fell.
Sigh…
Shen Lu opened the System Mall and looked greedily at the kitchen robots.
A kitchen robot cost 200,000 popularity value. It was the same upgradable model as Little Mantis.
Shen Lu glanced at her own popularity value: less than one hundred thousand. Not even enough for half a robot.
Shen Lu whimpered, biting the corner of her blanket. ‘Turns out I’m still so poor.’
‘If only Star Coins could be used in the System Mall… I could buy five robots just like Little Mantis.’
But her ambition to open the booth seating area was irrepressible. After thinking it over, Shen Lu realized the only way was to reduce the number of tables she served.
From eight to three.
‘Serving three tables a day… I should be able to handle that, right?’
…
The next morning, Shen Lu woke to an unnatural, dark red glow on the horizon.
Then again, this was typical for a severe sandstorm.
Shen Lu found it abnormal, but perhaps she just hadn’t seen enough of them. By the end of this sandstorm season, she would probably be used to it.
When Wang Daguo entered the shop that day, he staggered, then plopped right onto the floor once he was sure he was safe. Tearing off his helmet, he gasped for air.
“What happened?” Shen Lu walked over and patted Wang Daguo’s shoulder. “Did you have an accident on the way? Are you hurt?”
“There was a bit of an incident.” Wang Daguo took the water Cai Su handed him and took a big gulp. “I saw a kid suddenly run out and get swept away by the wind.”
“How could that happen?” Cai Su frowned. “Why would a child be outside in this weather?”
Wang Daguo shook his head. “I don’t know. I panicked, jumped up, and grabbed the kid. I was almost blown away myself. Luckily, I managed to grab onto a utility pole. Barely made it out alive.”
As he spoke, he held out his hand, revealing several bloody gashes on his wide palm.
Sang Yue, who had fetched the first-aid kit at some point, gently placed it beside Wang Daguo. She praised him with genuine sincerity, “Wang Daguo, you’re a really good person.”
Wang Daguo scratched the back of his head, a bashful, good-natured smile on his face.
Seeing that Wang Daguo’s injuries weren’t serious, Shen Lu made way for Cai Su. “Sister Cai, please take care of Wang Daguo’s wounds.”
Sang Yue looked at her pleadingly. “Can I be the one to bandage him?”
“Sure. If you’re not sure about anything, just ask Sister Cai.”
It was a simple task that anyone could handle. After giving her instructions, Shen Lu picked up a bowl of congee and headed for the sheet metal house. She had promised to bring Yang Jing breakfast today.
Sang Yue watched Shen Lu’s retreating back, pursing her lips.
‘How could she just abandon Wang Daguo so easily?’
‘He almost died just trying to get to work. Shouldn’t she be the one to treat his wounds personally?’
‘And who is that living in the sheet metal house out back?’
‘Why am I not allowed inside that greenhouse?’
Sang Yue had so many questions, so much she didn’t understand.
But she wouldn’t ask Shen Lu.
She had already discovered that Shen Lu was far from being as approachable as she had first appeared. When it came to certain things, she was almost cold and ruthless.
Shen Lu crossed through the greenhouse and pushed open the door to the sheet metal house.
The smell inside was still awful. Shen Lu shut her eyes in disgust. “Can’t the two of you clean this place up? It’s a pigsty. If this continues, you can find somewhere else to live!”
“Don’t be angry, Sis. It’s just because Mom’s sick. Once she’s better, we’ll get it spotless, I promise,” Liu Yaozu explained hurriedly.
Liu Qiang cleared his throat. “It’s just a little messy. What’s the big deal?”
“How big is this room, anyway? Can’t you and Liu Yaozu do a simple cleanup?” Shen Lu shot back, unable to listen to any more of it.
Liu Qiang frowned. “How can a man do housework?”
‘That’s a woman’s job!’
Shen Lu laughed, exasperated. “Then what do you think men *should* do, Dad?”
“Earn money and support the family, of course,” Liu Qiang said, full of righteous conviction. “It’s always been this way: men work outside, women manage the household. Housework is a woman’s job.”
“So, have you and Liu Yaozu earned any money?” Shen Lu retorted sarcastically. “If you’re not earning money, why aren’t you doing housework?”
“Hey, Sis, these are just minor issues.” Seeing that Shen Lu and Liu Qiang were about to start fighting, Liu Yaozu quickly cut in. “Sis, did you bring us breakfast?”
Shen Lu squatted down, holding the bowl. “There is breakfast, but only for Mom.”
“Why?” Liu Yaozu failed to suppress his temper, his voice rising. Realizing his mistake, he quickly lowered it again. “Sis, you can’t play favorites. We’re your family, too.”
“So what if I play favorites? What are you going to do about it?” Shen Lu’s wide, almond-shaped eyes were full of scorn. “It’s my food. I’ll give it to whomever I please.”
Liu Yaozu’s hands, hidden under the blanket, clenched into tight fists. Yet he couldn’t say a word and had to force a smile.
“Sis… you’re so mischievous.”
‘Fucking hell, what is she showing off for?’
‘When I make it big someday, I’ll make Shen Lu kneel and lick my boots!’
Shen Lu fed Yang Jing the shredded chicken congee one spoonful at a time. It was a small bowl, same as always, and she finished every last drop.
Looking at the empty bowl, Shen Lu gave Yang Jing a speculative look. But she said nothing, simply taking the empty bowl and leaving.
The moment she was gone, Liu Yaozu lashed out.
“You drank it all again?!”
“Yang Jing, were you a starving ghost in your past life or something?”
“This is outrageous! Do you even deserve to be called a mother?!”
Liu Qiang’s face was grim. “Yaozu’s mother, is that how a mother should act?”
Yang Jing was in much better spirits today. Although she was still bedridden, she had no trouble speaking.
“Or what?” Her tone was soft, just like it used to be. “The two of you have already stopped treating me like a mother and a wife, haven’t you? So why should I keep thinking about you all the time?”
Liu Qiang’s brow furrowed so deeply you could have crushed a fly in it. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!”
“The paperwork hasn’t been filed, but in my heart, I’ve already divorced you. And Liu Yaozu wouldn’t want a useless mother like me anyway.” Yang Jing’s eyes were like pools of stagnant water, dark and lifeless. “So, what do either of you have to do with me?”