My College Teacher i Chapter 90: Business is Booming!

From noon until two in the afternoon, Lin Feng and Xiong Xiaolong were busy without a break. Finally, they had a mont to rest.

"You've worked so hard, Director Lin!" An Lan brought over a stool, fawningly inviting Lin Feng to sit down.

"We really owe it all to Director Lin today," she said. "Otherwise, the custors would definitely have gotten angry and left. It seems we'll need to hire a few more cooks for the restaurant."

Lin Feng nodded in agreent. He had initially thought that Xiong Xiaolong, along with two assistants, would be enough. But now, it seed they would have to hire two more full cooks.

At this thought, An Lan beca sowhat troubled. The restaurant desperately needed staff these next few days, but Director Lin also had to take care of his children. What are we going to do?

"Forget it, let's put this aside for now," An Lan said, changing the subject. "A little while ago, a custor asked if we had cold dishes and braised ats. I was so happy taking their money that I got carried away and said we'd have them tonight. I told them to co by after work!" She looked panicked. "What do we do now? Should we go buy braised at from sowhere else to serve them?"

Xiong Xiaolong stepped forward. "No need. We can make them ourselves, which will also save on costs."

An Lan had the sa idea, but she was worried they wouldn't have enough ti. "They get off work at six. If we aim for that, we only have four hours. Is that enough ti?"

Xiong Xiaolong puffed out his chest. "It's enough! As long as we start simring the brine while we go out to buy the at, there won't be any problem at all!"

An Lan glanced at Lin Feng, a bit too embarrassed to ask him for more help. Lin Feng was only here to help out for the day. Besides, he was the restaurant's largest shareholder; it wasn't right to let An Lan handle everything.

He stood up and said, "I'll make the brine. You two go buy the ingredients."

"I'll go buy them. You guys should eat first," Xiong Xiaolong volunteered.

While Lin Feng prepared the brine in the kitchen, he took a mont to eat. Soon after, Xiong Xiaolong returned, carrying bags of at and vegetables. As soon as he slled the aroma of the simring liquid, he couldn't help but exclaim, "That slls amazing!"

Because the brine hadn't been cooking for long, its color was still quite light, but the fragrance was incredibly rich. Lin Feng turned down the fla, getting ready to add the ingredients. "You go eat. I'll handle this."

"No, no, Director Lin, you should rest."

"Hurry up and eat so you'll have energy for tonight!"

Seeing Lin Feng's firm attitude, Xiong Xiaolong had no choice but to obediently go out and eat.

Lin Feng picked up the bags and dumped all their contents—pork, beef, chicken wings, chicken legs, pig trotters—into the large pot. A cloud of white steam instantly billowed up as the varied assortnt of ingredients hit the hot liquid.

For tougher cuts like the pork head, Lin Feng first scrubbed it with a brush, then poked it all over with a steel pin to help it absorb the flavors. Next, he blanched the at before finally placing it in the brine to simr. After adding all the ingredients, the only thing left to do was wait for ti to work its magic.

Just as Lin Feng was finishing up, Xiong Xiaolong walked back in. "Director Lin, I'm done eating. Let

take over."

Lin Feng didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded and said, "Alright. I'll go check on the kids then."

Taking off his apron, Lin Feng left the kitchen and headed to the staff lounge in the back. He saw Zhang Yuxi and the babies sleeping soundly. Not wanting to disturb them, he returned to the main part of the restaurant.

At that mont, An Lan returned from outside with so kelp and dried tofu she had bought. She added them to the pot as well, letting everything stew together.

An Lan was so tired her legs were trembling. "Making money is a real bitch!" she sighed. But the feeling of earning it through her own hard work? That's still pretty great!

She checked the ti. There was still an hour until six in the evening. The braised dishes would definitely be ready. Taking advantage of the lull, An Lan called her dad and asked him to send more people over. If things continued like this, she'd literally work herself to death.

Just then, Liu Bo, having finished his own work, arrived at the restaurant.

"Boss An, congratulations on the grand opening!"

An Lan grinned. "You ca at the perfect ti. We're short-staffed, so I'll be counting on you later!"

"No problem! Just tell

what to do!" Liu Bo said with an honest smile.

…

By evening, there were even more custors than there had been at noon. It seed the bustling crowd had created a buzz, and many new faces were showing up after hearing about the place. Before seven, the restaurant was completely full, with a line of people outside taking numbers and waiting for a table. Business was booming.

"Boss, are the braised dishes ready?"

"Boss, a dozen beers over here!"

"Boss, another plate of the sauced beef!"

An Lan smiled as she responded to the custors, "Okay, okay, coming right up!"

Many people passing by saw An Lan at the door trying to attract business. They would peer inside, but upon seeing the sea of people, they could only shake their heads and leave. There was nothing An Lan could do. If there had been even one empty seat, she would never have let them walk away.

The custors only began to trickle out around ten o'clock at night. An Lan finally breathed a sigh of relief, having served the last of the patrons. She couldn't wait to tally up the day's earnings. With business being so good, the turnover was bound to be astonishing.

Lin Feng ca over. "An Lan, we're heading out now."

"Alright. Thank you, Director Lin."

"I'll co by again tomorrow at noon."

An Lan hesitated for a mont before refusing. "There's no need, Director Lin. I've already asked my dad to send over a few chefs. They should arrive in Yangcheng tonight and can start work tomorrow."

Lin Feng nodded. "Okay. Well, if you need , just give

a call."

An Lan couldn't possibly bring herself to call him; Director Lin was a busy man himself. Taking care of four babies was exhausting enough, and a crowded restaurant wasn't a good environnt for them anyway. She definitely wasn't going to ask him to co over.

But she smiled and said, "Sure, I'll let you know if anything cos up!" Then she added, "By the way, Director Lin, could you write down the brine recipe for

later?"

"Sure." ???????? ????????s?? ??????????????s ???? nove??fire

In the car, Zhang Yuxi rested her chin in her hand, gazing at the scenery outside. She couldn't help but laugh softly. "An Lan probably never imagined she'd settle down in Yangcheng and open a restaurant."

Originally, her friend had just co to visit her. "After the babies' half-year celebration, she told

she wanted to go abroad to clear her head. She said that once she felt calm, she would think about her future life plans!"

Lin Feng listened quietly, holding Zhang Yuxi's hand tightly, as if silently acknowledging the unpredictability of life she spoke of.

Outside, the wind was picking up, and the weather was gradually turning colder. After her last cold, Zhang Yuxi was paying special attention to changes in the weather to avoid getting sick again. Tang Xiufen had said it was a lingering ailnt from her postpartum confinent, so she'd have to be more careful from now on.

Actually… she had just been too busy those days, and that, coupled with the cold weather, was why she'd caught a cold.