VFGRC Chapter 60

As the New Year passed, it wasn’t long before the day arrived when schools in the Sanjiaokou area would start their classes.

These days, the vendors of Sanjiaokou’s street food stalls and snack shops saw news of the closure of the “Qiaozi Snack Store” online or on TV.

During the opening days of “Qiaozi Snack Store” in Sanjiaokou, money was spent on marketing like water flowing. While it attracted many customers, it also seriously affected the businesses of surrounding shops, leaving the vendors and shop owners of Sanjiaokou in great distress.

Now, after enduring the closure of “Qiaozi Snack Store,” they returned to Sanjiaokou only to find that the shop “Qiaozi Snack Store” had been replaced by another snack shop.

The name of this new snack shop seemed unfamiliar, called “Galaxy Snack Shop.”

They had spent their entire lives in City J, yet they had never heard of a “Galaxy Snack Shop.”

This “Galaxy Snack Shop” certainly didn’t seem to have the same level of fame as “Qiaozi Snack Store.” They speculated that it probably wasn’t a chain store but rather a privately-owned snack shop.

Well, private shops naturally wouldn’t have the deep pockets of chain stores to invest in lavish marketing.

On both sides of the streets in Sanjiaokou, there had been many lesser-known private snack shops before. But when it came to snacks, craftsmanship was the key factor.

The snacks from small, privately-owned shops would likely taste no different from the common ones found on the market. How could they stand out and break through the fierce competition in Sanjiaokou?

“Who says the taste of private snack shops is the same as what’s available on the market? There was a teppanyaki stall opened here before the New Year, and its taste was simply unbeatable by all of us…”

“I’ve been in Sanjiaokou for over a decade, and there’s only one teppanyaki stall owner like that, who can make the taste of snacks impeccable… Do you think such snack stalls are everywhere? Don’t kid around!”

The snack stall owner was retorted by the snack shop owner and mumbled a few words under his breath.

“Though these kinds of shops are rare, they do exist… Yu Dong, isn’t that right?”

Besides the candied hawthorn snack cart in Sanjiaokou, Yu Dong listened to the conversation of the two people next to him, and his expression became somewhat intriguing.

Well… As the only person in Sanjiaokou who knew the truth at the moment, should he tell the two people next to him that the owner of the “Galaxy Snack Shop” they were talking about was actually the owner of the teppanyaki snack stall – Yu Bai?

Even if he were to reveal this now, the two people by his side probably wouldn’t believe it.

Just like when he initially heard Yu Bai claiming to have received an investment from a large investment group and that they had given Yu Bai extremely favorable terms, Yu Dong didn’t believe it either. He even thought Yu Bai had fallen for a scam.

It wasn’t until Yu Bai explained the situation thoroughly that Yu Dong understood it was true.

To be honest, Yu Dong was envious of Yu Bai because he had such a great opportunity at such a young age. As long as Yu Bai seized this opportunity firmly, he would undoubtedly soar to new heights.

But envy aside, there wasn’t a hint of jealousy in Yu Dong’s heart towards Yu Bai.

Because this opportunity was well-deserved for Yu Bai.

With Yu Bai’s culinary skills, even if he didn’t set up a stall in Sanjiaokou, he would still have a bright future ahead.

Seeing that Yu Dong didn’t respond to his words, the snack stall owner’s expression turned slightly displeased.

People with excellent culinary skills like the teppanyaki stall owner who chose to run a stall were a rare sight! Could he possibly be mistaken?

Just then, a commotion sounded ahead.

“The shop is open, it’s open.”

“Let me see…”

“Oh my, the owner is him?”

They were just opening a new shop, right? Why were the shop owners and stall owners near “Galaxy Snack Shop” so surprised?

The snack stall owner and the snack shop owner both turned their gaze toward the direction of “Galaxy Snack Shop.”

The sunlight was gently warm.

Behind the glass door of “Galaxy Snack Shop,” stood a young man they were all familiar with.

He wore a simple and stylish turtleneck sweater, with the collar folded up to meet his slightly pointed chin. On that young and handsome face, his round eyes curved, and his lips lifted to reveal a warm, jade-like smile.

Yu Bai: “Long time no see.”

Before Yu Bai’s words could settle, a crisp voice sounded beside him.

“Welcome… welcome!”

There were so many people gathered at the entrance of the shop! It seemed like there were even more than the customers who used to line up to buy Dad’s teppanyaki!

Seeing so many unfamiliar faces at once, Xing Xing felt a bit timid.

Xing Xing tightly held onto the corner of Yu Bai’s clothes, mustering up the courage to say, “Welcome.”

By the time Yu Bai reached out to open the door, Xing Xing had already shrunk behind him, becoming Yu Bai’s true “little tail.”

—

While Yu Bai was finalizing with Yun He, Chen Jing had already completed the training for the salespeople at various snack windows selling cooked food and braised snacks.

According to Yu Bai’s request, the employees chosen by Chen Jing weren’t the common young and pretty female shop assistants found in stores, but women in their forties to mid-fifties who hadn’t yet retired.

As for why this age group was chosen…

Yu Bai’s answer was straightforward: “They’re cheaper.”

Young and attractive female shop assistants actually lacked the experience that these older women had. The only advantage the young ones had was their appearance, but their monthly salaries were significantly higher than those of the older women.

Yu Bai knew well that he was running a snack shop, and the customers’ attention should be on the snacks he was selling. If all the customers’ attention were focused on the staff, it would be a misunderstanding of priorities.

These older women had pleasant features and ample sales experience, and they demanded lower average salaries. Naturally, Yu Bai preferred them.

Furthermore, after Yu Bai’s interactions with these women over the past few days, the enthusiastic older women had used their past experiences to provide Yu Bai with many valuable suggestions and insights into selling snacks.

In the days leading up to the grand opening, the relationship between Yu Bai and his son and the older female employees had grown increasingly harmonious.

On the eve of the shop’s opening, Yu Bai picked up the apron draped over a chair and put it on.

While adjusting the apron, Yu Bai walked over to the freshly-made sales window.

“Yun He, could you help me tie the apron, please?”

The tall and thin figure, slouching in a nearby armchair, stirred.

With a barely audible response, Yun He moved like a tortoise, slowly getting up from the armchair.

The atmosphere in the shop was amicable, but Yu Bai could sense that the new chef he hired, Yun He, didn’t quite fit into the surroundings.

While the older women chatted with Yun He, he seemed to only listen, rarely offering a reply. Over time, they stopped trying to engage him.

Xing Xing, on the other hand, preferred the enthusiastic older women and showed no interest in the lethargic uncle who liked to nap in the armchair all day during breaks.

As a result, Yun He would only respond reluctantly with one or two sentences when Yu Bai talked to him.

Yu Bai could tell that Yun He’s dissonance with the shop’s atmosphere persisted. If this continued, it might lead to conflicts within the shop.

Moreover, Yun He seemed to have some concerns weighing on his mind, which was like a ticking time bomb. It was uncertain when it might explode, and if he happened to think about the business in the shop, it could be problematic.

After all, Yun He was the only chef Yu Bai had carefully selected, the only one who somewhat met his requirements.

Therefore, Yu Bai continuously tried various methods, attempting to make Yun He more active and integrated into the shop’s environment.

However, Yun He wasn’t very receptive to these efforts.

Before Yun He’s fingers could touch the apron’s strings on Yu Bai’s pocket, another pair of hands, faster than his, reached out.

Yun He looked calmly toward the direction of the extending hands, his slender eyebrows involuntarily furrowing.

It was a man he had never seen before, a stranger exuding a dangerous aura.

The man’s narrow eyes squinted, resembling snake-like pupils emanating a chilly, dangerous, and suppressed intensity.

The hand that grabbed Yun He’s wrist seemed to exert full force, causing Yun He to feel like his wrist was about to break.

A chef’s most precious possession is their hands.

Yun He quickly took a step back, and as the man’s grip loosened, Yun He moved his hands away.

Fortunately, he retreated swiftly, or else his wrist would have surely been crushed by the other person.

Yun He’s eyebrows furrowed so intensely that it seemed like he was trying to crush a mosquito.

“Who are you?”

So annoying.

Before Yun He could hear the man’s response, Yu Bai, standing in front of him, asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Yu Bai, let me help you tie the apron.”

Ji Rongyu spoke up, his tone affectionate as he naturally grasped the waistband of the apron behind Yu Bai.

Seeing someone help Yu Bai with his apron, there was no need to trouble himself. So, Yun He silently returned to his own window.

However…

Yun He glanced once more in Yu Bai’s direction.

After Ji Rongyu finished tying Yu Bai’s apron, his right arm wrapped around Yu Bai’s shoulder.

From Yun He’s perspective, it looked as if Ji Rongyu was embracing Yu Bai.

Ji Rongyu seemed to sense Yun He’s gaze, and he slightly tightened the hand resting on Yu Bai.

Yun He: “…”

How can grown adults be so childish? What’s with this immaturity?

Yu Bai pushed Ji Rongyu away.

“Why are you here?”

Ji Rongyu: “It’s your first day opening the shop today. Of course, I had to come and support you. Don’t you want me to come?”

Ji Rongyu pursed his lips, tilting his head slightly, appearing somewhat pitiful.

Yu Bai helplessly said, “Do I look like I can stop you from coming?”

Ji Rongyu blinked, “As long as you don’t tell me not to come, I won’t.”

As Ji Rongyu spoke, he gently nuzzled Yu Bai’s neck with his chin, like a golden retriever.

“But… I guess you probably wouldn’t stop me from coming, right? You haven’t let me visit the shop these past few days. I’ve been really looking forward to your new shop!”

After the New Year, Ji Rongyu had more work affairs to attend to and couldn’t delegate them to his subordinates.

In the past two weeks, Ji Rongyu had been on a short business trip to another city, but he always stayed updated about Yu Bai’s activities from Hang Yuanshu and Chen Jing.

He heard that Yu Bai had recently hired a new chef, a good-looking guy. This news inexplicably triggered a sense of crisis within him.

What made Ji Rongyu even more uneasy was that Chen Jing and Hang Yuanshu mentioned how Yu Bai was especially attentive to the new chef, actively engaging in conversations with him!

Knowing Yu Bai for so long, their chat history was almost always initiated by him.

Except for that one time when he disappeared for no reason, Yu Bai had never initiated a conversation with him.

Thinking about this, Ji Rongyu’s heart felt like it had eaten a lemon, becoming sour and bitter.

On the first day of Yu Bai’s business, Ji Rongyu took advantage of his busy schedule and flew to City J overnight.

He wanted to see Yu Bai.

He also wanted to see just how good-looking the new chef Yu Bai had hired. Was he more handsome than him?

Ji Rongyu turned his head, directing a gaze at Yun He as if it could shoot out sharp blades.

Yun He lifted his gaze.

Their eyes met.

Ji Rongyu: Hmph, nothing more than this.

Yun He: Oh, this person is both childish and annoying.