The food and wine on the table immediately attracted the attention of the two men. If Zhang Guodong hadn't been present, the three of them would have lost their composure. Upon seeing the delicious food, which was no less impressive than that of the restaurants in the Plant Cultivation Realm, Ouyang Sheng, Ji Hong, and Hei Xuming all twitched their noses, seemingly showing expressions of ecstasy on their faces.
Zhang Guodong found it amusing and poured a glass of wine for each of the three men, saying, "Brother Ouyang, Brother Ji, Brother Ming, let's have a drink first. I thank you three for speaking up for me!"
The three of them quickly raised their glasses, saying they were too kind and that Lei Hui was a real scoundrel.
After a sip, Zhang Guodong had grown accustomed to the fruit wine. The three, however, were truly intoxicated, their faces beaming with excitement. Plant cultivators could go for long periods without food, but they couldn't live without fine wine. Now, having not tasted such high-quality wine for so long, they were incredibly thirsty.
Nostalgia! Yes, that's exactly the feeling I miss!
"Lanterns and wine!" the three exclaimed almost simultaneously.
Zhang Guodong smiled slightly. He thought to himself, "This is good wine? I haven't brought out any truly good wine yet. For example, that vintage monkey wine, mixed with other liquors, is still being brewed. There are also some wines with added precious medicinal herbs. I'll just leave them in the 3000x fermentation zone and drink them later. Then they'll be even better quality wines."
Manager Zhang
“Brother Ouyang, let’s not use the word ‘manager’ anymore. Just call me Guodong, or Brother Zhang, it’s fine! It’ll make us sound more familiar!” Zhang Guodong interrupted Ouyang Sheng, feigning displeasure.
"Haha, I was being pretentious. Alright! I'll call you Brother Zhang. The three of us are probably much older than you. May I ask how old you are, Brother Zhang?" Ouyang Sheng laughed heartily.
"Twenty-eight!"
“I think Brother Zhang is from out of town, right? I’m forty-eight, from a minor sect in Jingming City, and now I’m considered a rogue cultivator in the outside world!” Ji Hong said from the side. This was a self-introduction.
"Brother Ji guessed correctly, I am indeed from the outside world, and my cultivation has only been three years," Zhang Guodong said with a slight smile. He added two more years, otherwise it would have frightened the three of them.
"Hiss!" Sure enough, Ouyang Sheng, Ji Hong, and Hei Xuming gasped, looking at Zhang Guodong as if he were a monster.
Zhang Guodong was both amused and exasperated, saying, "I just have a good master who values me highly, so he spent a lot of crystals and pills on me. I'm only level nineteen now, which is nothing to brag about."
The three of them then looked at each other with a sense of understanding. Unless one had an abundance of crystals and pills, it was simply impossible for an ordinary person to grow into a level nineteen cultivator within three years.
"May I ask who your master is?" Hei Xuming asked tentatively.
Zhang Guodong said seriously, with a somewhat ashamed tone, "My master was a rogue cultivator who only had two disciples in his life: my eldest brother and me. He didn't like my eldest brother and me using his name, so he forbade me to."
"Haha, it's nothing. Your master must be an absolute master!" Ouyang Sheng said at this moment. Ji Hong and Hei Xuming nodded in agreement. Only an absolute master could train a disciple so disregarding the cost.
After easing the tension, the four began discussing various matters related to plant cultivation. These included people from the plant cultivation community, those from the outside world, and even those from the nearby Southwest Market.
Time flew by as they chatted. The little devil came up once, and seeing the three of them, handed them a bag of crystals from the stairs. Afterwards, Zhang Guodong continued drinking and chatting.
Around 3 PM, the four of them finally came to an end with their drinking session. Apparently, the three of them saw that Zhang Guodong was too busy and didn't want to delay the business of Wanxian Restaurant, so after each of them had drunk a few jugs of wine, they said their goodbyes.
But Zhang Guodong had something to say yet, and he didn't want to let the three of them go so easily.
So he asked, "Brother Ouyang, Brother Ji, Brother Hei Xu, do the three of you have a place to stay? Do you have any other plans after the transaction is completed?"
The three were taken aback. Ouyang Sheng said directly, "Brother Zhang, just tell us what you need. We won't refuse to help if we can!"
Zhang Guodong blushed, a rare occurrence for him. Did his thoughts seem a bit too vulgar?
“I do have something I need your help with, gentlemen. I would like to invite you three to be my retainers at the Wanxian Restaurant. You are free to come and go as you please when you have nothing to do, and you can also cultivate in the backyard. Although the spiritual energy concentration in this southwestern city is not very high, it is still four or five times that of the outside. In addition, the annual salary is two hundred crystal stones,” Zhang Guodong said with a serious expression.
worship?
All three were taken aback. Two hundred crystal stones a year, with the freedom to come and go as they pleased—that wasn't a bad deal. After all, this was the outside world! Besides, the food and wine at the Wanxian Restaurant were top-notch; wouldn't that mean they could enjoy them for free every day? Crystal stones couldn't compare to that fine wine.
The three were greatly intrigued. To be honest, they had nowhere else to go besides the Southwest City. Outside, the spiritual energy was scarce and dangerous, and they couldn't enjoy any of it. Furthermore, the City was actually the most concentrated and fastest place for cultivators to exchange information; any news could be obtained immediately.
"this"
"Perhaps you three gentlemen find the pay too low? We can certainly raise it," Zhang Yindong said. He thought to himself, "The pay isn't low at all; in fact, it's quite high. If you really think the pay is too low, then maybe Zhang Guodong will change his mind and realize he misjudged us."
"Brother Zhang, what are you saying? This treatment is quite generous. But one shouldn't accept something for nothing. Just taking benefits without doing any work, hehe," Ji Hong said with an embarrassed smile.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guodong felt relieved and very happy.
“Looking after the Wanxian Restaurant in your spare time and occasionally giving guidance to the disciples there is no small matter, you three brothers. I think it’s settled then!” Zhang Guodong said, seizing the opportunity.
The three of them quickly agreed. They didn't even need to go far; they went directly to the backyard to choose a house and settled in.
There was something to do. The three of them were also easily convinced. Otherwise, they would do nothing. "Stagnation. Four salaries, very uncomfortable."
Having settled things with the three men, Zhang Guodong was in a good mood. He told Xiao Gui and Wei Yan, who had just returned from recruiting temporary laborers, about the matter, and Xiao Gui and Wei Yan were overjoyed.
The general rule is that they can practice their skills after the restaurant closes for the evening.
If someone gives you guidance, you can avoid taking many detours.
Meanwhile, in the backyard, in a room, a little girl was pacing around boredly. This little girl was Li Jing, and she showed no signs of discomfort or stomachache. She was clearly slacking off.
"So boring!"
"No way, I can't possibly serve people. At the very least, I should be the third manager!" Li Jing muttered to herself.
The thought of Zhang Guodong's harmless face made Li Jing a little annoyed. A mere level nineteen cultivator, yet he'd become the owner of a grand restaurant. And that brat Zhang Xiaohu, only level eleven, was the second manager.
Li Jing, who had originally just been passing by, decided to stay at the Wanxian Restaurant for a while. Besides, all he saw outside was business; there seemed to be nothing interesting to do. He might even be caught by the law enforcement disciples on the street and taken back.
Having made up her mind, Li Jing walked straight out of the courtyard and headed towards the restaurant.
She wanted to make a deal with Zhang Guodong.
Upon reaching the first floor, Li Jing, with her keen sense of smell, detected the aroma of the dishes, followed by a rich fluctuation of spiritual energy. The direction from which the energy emanated was from the plates of food and the jugs of wine on the table.
"Huh?"
"Li Jing, what are you sneaking around for? Come here quickly! Everyone's very busy right now. Since your stomach doesn't hurt anymore, go to the back and serve the food and drinks to the guests!" Unfortunately, Li Jing sneaked in, only to be spotted by Wei Yan at a glance.
"Oh," Li Jing reluctantly straightened up and walked over. "Sister Yan, I'm looking for Zhang, that boss!"
"What do you want with the boss?" Wei Yan asked, puzzled. This little girl was clever, but unreliable. She knew perfectly well that Li Jing had slacked off earlier, but hadn't pointed it out. If it happened again, she wouldn't protect her this time.
"I have something important to tell my boss! Where is he?"
"On the fifth floor, sigh."
Before Wei Yan could finish speaking, Li Jing dashed upwards in a flash. Wei Yan was utterly astonished. Was this the speed of a level three plant cultivator? She remembered that she didn't have that kind of speed at all!
But I didn't think much of it. The restaurant was doing very well, and everyone was busy. How could they have time to think about anything else?
On the fifth floor, Zhang Guodong was studying the teleportation array diagram. Beside him was a pot of wine, but not the kind sold downstairs. This was for his own consumption. In his hand, he held a piece of white jade, inside which was recorded the structure of the teleportation array diagram, all contained within a small memory talisman, a vast amount of information.
Zhang Guodong, who had absolutely no background in formations, could only study this formation by understanding its teleportation principles and practicing the inscription of these runes. That was what he had done before, setting himself at that level of mastery. As for understanding the meaning of these runes, that was impossible. He didn't even know what language these runes were; he even doubted whether anyone in the entire cultivation world, including those practicing plant cultivation, understood this language.
His fingers unconsciously traced lines in the air. Immersed in this state, Zhang Guodong's days were far from empty.
As he was studying it, Zhang Guodong frowned. He put away the memory talisman and looked towards the stairwell.
A slender figure quickly stood on the fifth-floor entrance. Upon arriving, he curiously surveyed his surroundings. Seeing nothing there, he immediately became disdainful. Only then did he notice the clearly displeased Zhang Guodong.
"Li Jing, what are you doing up here when things are busy downstairs?" Zhang Guodong said coldly. He could tell from the moment he hired this girl that she wasn't someone to be trifled with. Wei Yan had said before that Li Jing wasn't feeling well, but Zhang Guodong hadn't pursued the matter. Now, however, she was bouncing around here, looking at him without any restraint, which made him a little angry.
A servant should act like a servant. Li Jing is clearly still immersed in her status as a young lady? This won't do!
Li Jing was startled by Zhang Guodong's cold voice. She stroked her not-so-ample chest with a small hand and said sweetly, "Ah, it's you, Boss. I have something to discuss with you!"
What?
Discuss something? You're just a menial disciple, what do you have to discuss with me? Zhang Guodong was practically furious. She needs to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, with this attitude, no manners whatsoever, no experience whatsoever, she might face certain death when she goes out into the world. Zhang Guodong felt it was his duty to teach this little girl a lesson.
He suppressed his anger and forced a smile, saying, "Oh? What do you want to discuss? Tell me."
"I want to be the second-in-command!" Li Jing said proudly.
Zhang Guodong's smile froze on his face. Then he immediately said, "What? No way! Don't even think about it!"
"Then the Third Manager is fine too! Otherwise, let me serve those stinky men, hmph!" Li Jing pouted and said hastily.
Zhang Guodong was immediately amused by the little girl. Good heavens, such an amazing handyman disciple? She can't just ask for the second manager position, but instead she's asking for the third manager position? Do you even understand your place?
What followed was Zhang Guodong's anger: "Give me a reason to convince me, or else, hehe!"
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