Chapter Five: The Young Boss Arrives (Thanks for the Recommendation Votes)

“Hmm… Brother, why isn’t there a little bear inside the Little Bear Drink?”
Yang Qing: (*￣m￣)
I’d like to know why there’s no wife in Wife Cakes either…

“Huh, why did you stop drinking halfway? Don’t you like it?”

“It’s delicious! Hee hee… Qiu’er wants to save the rest for tomorrow.”

Yang Qing: “…Drink up, if you want more after you finish, I’ll buy you another.”

“Hee hee… slurp.”

“Huo… Sis—ter—give Dong’er huo huo—”

Little Qiu’er: Bleh bleh bleh—

“Mmm—Brother—”

…

Night deepened, and the four little ones lay side by side under their small blankets, drifting off to sleep. Yang Qing gently closed the bedroom door, a warm smile playing on his lips.

Clutching the 525 yuan he’d earned selling jianbing guozi that night, he couldn’t help but grin in excitement.

Over five hundred in a night—if he kept this up for another eleven or twelve days, he could pay back the money he owed that kind and beautiful young woman. After that, he’d keep working hard, save up, open a small shop, and life would finally start to feel sweet.

Once life was better, he’d raise the little ones chubby and healthy, let them grow up happy and carefree. Surely, their grandmother in another world would be glad to see that.

With hope and longing for a better future, Yang Qing, exhausted from the day’s work, fell into a deep sleep.

No mobile phone, no television. There was no entertainment in his life—only earning money and supporting his family. Yet, there was a gentle warmth in it all.

Five in the morning.

Yang Qing opened his eyes, switched off the alarm, splashed his face with cold water, and went to the little vegetable garden to pick fresh greens.

After gathering the vegetables, he grabbed a small spade to clear weeds, sprinkled a little fertilizer, and gave the plants some water.

At six, Yang Qing locked the courtyard gate and headed across the alley to the Little Bai Grain and Oil Shop.

The owners were a couple, both surnamed Bai, who’d come from Sichuan to work and, after saving some money, opened this grain and oil shop. They were good people, and most importantly, their shop opened very early.

Boss Bai Zhijun was sitting on the doorstep, tucking into a big bowl of noodles. Seeing Yang Qing approach, he greeted him warmly, “Qingzi, you’re here! Had breakfast yet? Come, have some!”

Yang Qing waved him off with a smile, “No thanks, Brother Bai. I’m just here for some flour and eggs.”

“Alright!”

Bai Zhijun went to fetch the flour and eggs. Just then, a little figure darted up to Yang Qing—a cutely round head of hair swinging as she piped up in a crisp voice:

“Poopyhead! Where’s Little Qiu’er, why didn’t she come?”

Yang Qing looked at the little girl, ruffled her round head, and chuckled, “Qiu’er’s still sleeping. Why are you up so early, Little Bai?”

Little Bai huffed, swatting his hand away, her childish voice fierce, “Go away, you’re messing up my lovely hair!”

Then she glared at Yang Qing and said sternly, “You big poopyhead! Why don’t you take Qiu’er to kindergarten? Are you afraid bad kids will bully her? Don’t worry, tell Qiu’er to call me big sister—I’ll protect her. That’s my specialty!”

Hearing this, Yang Qing was taken aback, then managed a slightly bitter smile, saying nothing. At that moment, Bai Zhijun came back with the flour and eggs, and scolded Little Bai, “Scram, you little rascal! What do you know, huh? Have you finished your breakfast?”

Little Bai: “Hmph! Poopyhead!”

The little one dashed back inside to eat. Yang Qing paid, nodded with a smile, and was about to leave when Bai Zhijun stopped him.

“Here, take this. Give it to the children,” Bai Zhijun handed him a bag of food, his voice serious. “Don’t take what that kid says to heart. Everyone in the street knows it hasn’t been easy for you all these years.”

Yang Qing smiled and waved his hand, “It’s fine. Little Bai’s adorable. Thank you, Brother Bai, but there’s no need for this.”

“Take it! If you don’t, my wife will scold me again. Think of it as doing your big brother a favor.”

“…Alright, thank you.”

…

Back at the little courtyard, Yang Qing saw two small figures busy in the kitchen—Yang Chun and Yang Xia.

“Chun’er, Xia’er…”

He greeted the two softly. After all these years, they had gotten used to rising early and working late.

“Brother, you’re back! I’ve boiled the eggs—five in total. You have two!” Little Xia’s smoke-blackened face beamed with a grin.

Yang Qing: “Mm, go wash your face—you look like a little kitten. Chun’er, the water’s cold, don’t wash the vegetables, let me do it.”

He handed over the bag of food from Bai Zhijun, “Go eat with Xia’er, then bring your lunchboxes over. By the way, what do you want for lunch today?”

“Jianbing guozi!”

Little Xia chirped, “Brother, I want jianbing guozi! Crispy and fragrant!”

“Alright. Chun’er, do you want the same?”

“Yes, thank you, brother.”

“Haha… Then jianbing guozi it is—two each, how’s that?”

“Great—”

…

At eight o’clock, Wang Ke’er stood by the deserted stall, stamping her feet in frustration.

“Hmph! Liar! Promised to be here by eight, and where is he? You really can’t trust men’s words!”

She glanced into the distance, didn’t spot that familiar figure, and, her stomach rumbling, muttered darkly to herself.

“Eh, the young boss isn’t here yet?”

“Yeah, he’s not punctual. It’s eight already. I have to be at work by half past eight!”

“…”

Gradually, a small crowd gathered at the empty stall—returning customers from last night.

The stall had yet to arrive, but the customers were already waiting.

This sight made the other nearby stall owners gnash their teeth in envy.

Damn! We’re all just trying to make a living—why are your pancakes so popular?

Jealousy knows no time, place, method, or person.

“He’s here! The young boss is here!”

At 8:10, as the crowd waited anxiously, Yang Qing emerged, pushing his jianbing guozi tricycle, with a lively little girl hopping beside him, her braids swinging like willow branches in early summer.

“Clatter, clatter…”

As Yang Qing pushed the cart, chatting idly with Qiu’er, suddenly a group rushed over and, without a word, helped him push the cart quickly to the stall.

Yang Qing: ╭(๐_๐)╮

Qiu’er, stunned: “Wow! Brother! Our cart! They took our cart!”

“Waaah…”

And in the cart’s front basket, little Dong’er, who had been sleeping sweetly, was startled awake and burst into tears.

Everyone: ╭(°A°`)╮

“Ahem, what are you all…”

Luckily, Yang Qing scooped up Qiu’er and hurried over. Seeing the faces full of awkwardness and barely concealed excitement, he shook his head in disbelief.

“Qiu’er, quick, comfort Dong’er.”

“And everyone… um, don’t worry—I’ve already made thirty jianbing guozi in advance and they’re still warm. Those in a hurry for work can buy first.”

“If you don’t get any and you’re not in a rush, I’ll make more on the spot, how’s that?”

Everyone nodded eagerly, “Great!”

And so, a fierce scramble ensued…

“Young boss, I’ve got to be at work by 8:30—twenty minutes left! I want ten!”

“What the hell! If you get ten, what about the rest of us? Can you even eat that many?”

“Mind your own business! I’m gifting them to my boss—isn’t that allowed?”

“You… show-off! Young boss, I want twenty—for my future mother-in-law!”

“Get lost! Damn it! There are only thirty, if you all take them, what am I supposed to give my girlfriend? I skipped class for this!”

“Oh yeah? Wu Hai! Your girlfriend’s right here—who are you really giving them to, huh?”

Everyone: …

Yang Qing: …

Qiu’er: Dong’er, don’t cry—look, that pretty big sister is beating up the bad guy…

Nearby, Wang Ke’er had secretly started livestreaming from the best angle and was dumbfounded by the scene. Her chat exploded:

“What the hell! Poisoning us this early? Ke’er, you’re too much! Where is this jianbing guozi stall?!”

“Pfft! Haha, these are all geniuses—giving jianbing guozi to your boss, are you trying to get fired faster? And the one for the mother-in-law, how badly do you want to kneel on durian?!”

“Haha, look at that playboy—his face is all scratched up!”

“Hmph! Cut him loose! What use is a scumbag like that—his essence is probably all water by now!”

Netizens: …

You’re going way too far!

…

The little commotion didn’t matter. Yang Qing got busy, while Qiu’er, her little face full of excitement, collected the money.

As for little Dong’er… she sat contentedly on her small stool, munching on bread.

She’d take a bite, then turn her little head to glance at the pretty big sister who’d been watching her all along.

Hmm… Scared…

She scooted her stool closer to Qiu’er and reached out to clutch her cousin’s sleeve.

Gradually, the initial crowd of customers left. Yang Qing barely had a sip of water before getting back to work.

And the next rush arrived…

“Young boss! Cutie! We’re back! Quick, a set of jianbing guozi, please!”

At noon, just as Qiu’er and Dong’er were sharing bread for lunch, an excited voice called out.

Qiu’er looked up, and immediately her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Wow! Brother, it’s that pretty big sister! And she’s brought so many more pretty sisters!”

Yang Qing looked at the crowd of long, fair legs running his way and felt a little dizzy.

“Ahem, what’s going on…”

He looked in confusion at the radiant girl leading the group—he remembered she’d been his first customer last night and had brought four other girls over.

“Hee hee… Young boss, are you excited? We’re students at Sun City University. Last night, your jianbing guozi caused a war in our dorm!”

Two of the four girls who’d come last night chimed in:

“Yeah! You have no idea—the moment we brought your jianbing guozi back, the aroma wafted for miles! Our dorm building went into an uproar; our room was besieged by this gang of dazzling beauties!”

“Exactly! We’re still traumatized. So today, at the end of class, we rallied all the dorm monitors from Building One!”

Yang Qing looked at the sea of long, pale legs and stammered, “…The… whole… whole dorm building?”

“Yes!” The leading girl nodded proudly. “Young boss, let’s get acquainted—I’m Ma Ting, third-year student and president of the student council at Sun City University!”

“Ahem, President Ma… Hello. How many are you? Do… do you all want jianbing guozi?”

Ma Ting declared boldly, “Yes! Every single one of us—five each! There are a hundred and twenty of us!”

“One hundred and twenty people! Five each!”

Yang Qing was utterly stunned.

This… Come on! That’s impossible!

“Ahem, well… You’re a little late. I’m almost out of supplies. At most, I can make another…”

“A ton!”

Before he could finish, four people stepped forward, laying out flour, eggs, sausages, lettuce, and other ingredients in front of him.

Yang Qing: ??!!

He turned to see Wang Ke’er paying the four porters—and suddenly, she didn’t seem pretty at all.

Ugly! Hideously ugly!

Damn! Sure, I need to make money to support my little ones, but I’m still human!

If this continues, I’ll probably drop dead a second time before long!

Wang Ke’er, having settled up, met Yang Qing’s haunted gaze, smiled sweetly, and said, “No need to thank me. Good luck! I believe in you. You’re definitely selling a thousand jianbing guozi today!”

Good luck? Good luck, my foot!

A thousand? Are you kidding me?

Each jianbing guozi takes about three min—uh, no, right now I can do one in two minutes. But a thousand would still be two thousand minutes!

Two thousand minutes… How many hours is that again…

Yang Qing’s sad math skills failed him—after all, he’d never finished primary school.

He was on the verge of tears, but with customers waiting, there was no choice but to keep working.

Everything for the sake of RMB…

“Ding!”

Just as he was channeling his helplessness into making pancakes, a sudden system chime rang in his mind, startling him.

“Ding! Congratulations, you have achieved the ‘Small Notoriety’ achievement. Achievement points +1!”

“Ding! Achievement System activated. Lottery feature unlocked!”

Achievement points! Lot… Lottery!

Yang Qing’s heart leapt, and his hand shook—an egg slipped and fell.

“Mmm—brother—”

At his feet, on little Dong’er’s head, a yolk slid down. She looked up at him, pitiful and teary-eyed.

“Ahem, sweetie, what are you doing here… Uh, this egg… well… it didn’t want to be eaten…”