Chapter 57 Selection

With Ah Fu's communication, the children of the Orphanage stood neatly outside the door of Wanglaiju early the next morning. Wang Ting was shocked when he opened the door, and he almost asked Si Li if she had kidnapped the children.

Fortunately, Si Li heard the noise and rushed over in time, thus avoiding a misunderstanding.

"Afu, bring your friends in." Si Li invited them in.

The five children, four boys and one girl, were all wearing washed-out clothes, and each of them had a bit of nervousness on their faces. After hearing what Si Li said, they all looked at Ah Fu and said in unison, "Hello, Manager Si."

They all looked like teenagers. Si Li took them to the backyard. In the kitchen, Meng Taotao and Xiao Que had already started preparing for the business. The morning business could not be sloppy, so there was no time for the children to try and waste time. Si Li asked them to introduce themselves, and both sides had a preliminary understanding.

The oldest of the children was fourteen years old, and the youngest was a girl named Ah Xiang, who had just turned eleven. If they were in the past or present, they would still be in school. Their eyes were filled with expectation and trust, which made Si Li feel a little bit uncomfortable to say the selection. It seemed that it would be hurtful to keep anyone and send anyone away.

Seeing that Si Li was not going to take them into the kitchen, everyone was a little anxious. The oldest boy, Ah Sheng, was obviously impatient. He rolled up his thin cotton coat and rushed to the side. He used both hands to pick up the improved stone mill in the yard. His face flushed, "Boss, you think I have enough strength, so why don't you keep us?"

"I can make a fire!"

"I can sweep the floor and wash the dishes!"

The children nearby also started to shout, stretching their hands towards Si Li, causing a great commotion.

"Put it down, you put it down first!" Si Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I don't know if Ah Fu told you that you will be a laborer in Wanglaiju first, and then if you are suitable, you will be an apprentice to learn the skills. You will only work twice a day, morning and evening, about three hours a day, and you will be paid four cents, including a dinner. Labor means washing vegetables, cutting vegetables, wiping the table, serving dishes, and selling food. You have to do all the work when you are needed. It may be very tiring and hard. If you can't accept it, forget it."

"No, we all do!"

No one offered to give up, Si Li felt a little reluctant, but Wanglaiju really didn't need so many people right now, so she said, "I only need two people this time. You can talk about your strengths. When the kitchen is free later, I can let you try one by one, and I will decide who to keep."

The children who were competing to perform just now looked at each other, pushing each other, and now no one was willing to step forward.

Ah Xiang whispered, "Shopkeeper, I'm sorry, I don't have the strength, let's just forget it..."

She said that, but her eyes were filled with desire and expectation. Si Li pursed her lips and said, "Since you are all here, just give it a try."

Ah Sheng was the first to nod, "It doesn't matter if the shopkeeper is not chosen. We are all brothers and sisters. It doesn't matter who is chosen!" He smiled with his white teeth, and the children around him also laughed with him.

After giving them some hot water to drink, Si Li went into the kitchen to prepare the final step of ice jelly and other ingredients. In fact, Meng Taotao can now cook all the dishes in the store, but Si Li has a system bonus, and she can always come here to get achievement points and add a good mood effect to the dishes, which is also one of the characteristics of Wanglaiju.

Soon, it was morning business time. Meng Taotao and the others went to the front hall. Si Li pulled out a basket of potatoes and said, "The test is divided into four types: washing vegetables, peeling, cooking, and naming dishes. Those who cook well can stand out first and I will arrange another test for you."

No one stepped forward, so Si Li announced the start of the test.

The children were able to do all four tests, but their skills varied. Si Li watched and took note. After the last child quickly reported the current menu and prices of Wanglaiju, Si Li announced, "Ah Sheng and Ah Zhuang cook very quickly and well. If you don't know how to cook, they will stay."

This time, the children all looked at the same person. Ah Xiang shrank back and didn't move. Ah Zhuang got anxious and took two steps to grab her sleeve, "Don't you know how to do it? Why are you not as good as the two of us? Tell the shopkeeper!"

Si Li stared at her for a while. Ah Xiang lowered her head. Ah Sheng and Ah Zhuang pushed her forward to make her admit it, but Ah Xiang remained silent. Ah Sheng stamped his feet and said, "If you're like this, I won't go either!"

"Brother Sheng, don't." Ah Xiang said weakly, "I can make some porridge and steamed bread, but the shopkeeper won't like it."

"You haven't even tried it, how do you know I don't like it?" Si Li clapped her hands, "Ah Sheng and Ah Xiang stay here. If I need someone else later, I'll look for Ah Zhuang first. Do you think that's okay?"

A Zhuang nodded and hugged A Sheng, "A Sheng, you guys do your best, I'm leaving now!"

Si Li sent away the three children who failed to be selected and Ah Fu, put a pot of steamed mashed potatoes into the pot, and heated oil in another pot. The peeled potatoes were cut into thin strips under her hands and divided into two portions. "You two come and try it. When the oil is hot, I tell you to pour it in and scoop it out when I tell you to. Be careful with your hands and don't burn it."

The most popular items sold at Wanglaiju are still French fries and popcorn, which are both very simple dishes. Although they are hiring a handyman this time, if they can find someone with a talent for cooking, they can train him in advance to avoid delays later.

However, Si Li's plan went wrong. Ah Xiang was better, following the instructions one by one, and the finished fries were not much different from those made by Si Li herself. Ah Sheng was in a bad situation, because he was too slow when he was frying the oil pan at the end, and the remaining quarter of the fries were all burnt, black and yellow, and even the oil gave off a bitter smell.

Ah Sheng's face turned pale immediately. He no longer looked like a big brother. His face was pale and his shoulders were hunched. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. "Boss, boss..." He was extremely upset. He knew he had done something wrong and was about to cry.

The failure of the finished product was expected. Lian Si Li had had burnt pots before, so she didn't blame him. Seeing Ah Sheng like this, she just waved her hand and said, "It's okay. It's good that the people are fine. There aren't many people. Be careful next time." She picked up the spatula and shoveled the oil pot. A piece of black burnt foam floated from the bottom of the pot. The oil was no longer usable. "Take it away. It can't be eaten. There is a swill bucket over there."

Ah Sheng, who was standing in the kitchen with his head hunched, was stunned for a moment. He felt her kindness and gained some courage. He asked cautiously, "Can we take it back?"

He was pulled by Ah Xiang's clothes, but he still stood up and waited for an answer. He knew Ah Xiang was afraid that he would be scolded. Before coming to work, they had heard that in other restaurants, spoiled food and leftover food would rather be poured out than be taken away by the waiters. Although this young shopkeeper looked good, he probably would not agree to such an unreasonable request. Thinking about it, Ah Sheng lowered his head.

It must be so greasy that it tastes terrible... Si Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded when she saw their white collars. To her, it was just oil that had gone bad, but to these kids, it was still edible. Although most people in Daning can eat a full meal now, oil and sugar are still expensive, so they naturally treasure them given their background.

However, there is no order without rules. If they can take away spoiled items and it becomes a habit, then if someone deliberately messes up the dishes in the future, the loss to the store will be huge.

After a moment's silence, Si Li said, "Today is the first day. You can take away the things you did wrong. After that, there will be a fixed quota every day. I will tell you the specific amount. If it exceeds this limit, I will use your salary to make up for it. Remember?"

Ah Sheng and Ah Xiang's faces lit up. They had never expected her to be so relaxed. They kept saying, "I remember, I remember. Thank you, shopkeeper!"

The sincerity of the children made Si Li smile softly. She turned around and saw Meng Taotao outside the door. She saw the same heartache and expectation in her eyes as she did. The days in Wanglaiju were getting better and better, and she thought that these children were the same.

The news that two new assistants had arrived at Wanglaiju soon reached the ears of the shopkeepers of the old shops in Beijing. In Wuweilou, Wu You doubted his own ears for a moment when he heard the news from his assistants.

"Yuyingtang?" Wu You sneered, "Those guys have been stealing for more than once or twice, how come anyone still dares to employ them? Miss Si is still young and doesn't know much about people."

He waved his hand and said, "Go, tell Miss Si what these little guys in the Nursery Hall have done, so that if something goes wrong in the future, others will blame me, an old senior, for not giving advice."

The clerk agreed and was about to leave, but Wu You stopped him again, "Take a look and see if the Prince of Yue and the Princess are in her backyard."

"I'll go right here."

Wuweilou and Wanglaiju were not far from each other, both in the East Market, and the waiter walked into Wanglaiju in a few steps. It was past lunchtime, and there were only a few diners sitting in the lobby, eating ice jelly and sipping milk tea leisurely. The waiter shook off Ah Sheng who was blocking the way and went straight to the backyard, with no disdain or contempt on his face, "My shopkeeper Wu wants to talk to you shopkeepers about something, don't delay things!"

Ah Sheng remembered Si Li's previous words that customers were not allowed to enter the backyard. Although he was worried that something was wrong, he still blocked the waiter. The waiter rushed in too fast, and only Ah Sheng reacted. After being blocked for a while, Meng Taotao frowned and came over, "Which shopkeeper Wu?"

When the waiter saw someone who seemed to be able to talk to him, he pushed Ah Sheng away, patted his sleeves in annoyance, and walked towards the backyard while proudly saying, "Wuweilou."

There was a commotion in the front hall. Before he even got close to the small door, Si Li heard the sound coming out. She lifted the curtain and frowned, "Who is it?"

The waiter took advantage of the moment when the curtain was lifted and looked behind it, with intention written all over his face. Si Li raised an eyebrow, "Want to meet the prince?"

"How could that be? My shopkeeper asked me to come to you." The courtyard behind the door was blocked by her and Ah Sheng standing in front of the clerk. The clerk saw nothing. He smiled and pointed at Ah Sheng. His face instantly turned furious. "Young shopkeeper Si, you don't know how hateful this guy is! My shopkeeper heard that you were cheated by these little liars and is very worried!"

Generally speaking, a word like "liar" that is so specific would not be easily applied to a child unless there is a connection. Si Li glanced at Ah Sheng, and the boy turned pale, turned his head and looked at her, his eyes full of pleading.

Si Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Manager Wu."

Ah Sheng's arms were shaking as he stood up to hold the waiter. The waiter pushed him but failed to move. "Get out of the way! Didn't you see I was talking to Xiao Si, the shopkeeper? If I were you, I wouldn't have dared to go out a long time ago! I've never seen someone so self-righteous after cheating someone!"

"Shut up."

The waiter was stunned for a moment, and only realized it was Si Li who was talking when he saw Ah Sheng's tightly pursed lips. Si Li smiled as usual, "However, no matter what the shopkeeper Wu wants to say, I don't want to listen. This is my waiter and my store, Ah Sheng, Xiao Que, show him out."

"You! You'll regret it!"

The waiter's shouting could be heard from far away, causing the diners sitting in the lobby to look over here frequently. Ah Xiang had just finished washing the dishes and had already heard most of the conversation. She looked at Si Li nervously, but couldn't say a word.

"Ah Fu is a good man, I believe him." Si Li said softly. Ah Sheng, who had "sent" the Wuweilou waiter out, strode back, his steps becoming slower and slower as he got closer, even moving, "Boss, I, we really didn't..."

"So what's the matter? Do you want to talk about it?"

They looked unwilling, afraid and expectant, but neither of them said anything. Si Li smiled, "Forget it, just get to work. I believe you won't let me and Ah Fu down."

Everyone has secrets, and the two small workers can't affect the residents, so Si Li is willing to give them a chance.