Xu's Fast Food Restaurant.
At 10:30, Xu's Fast Food Restaurant officially opens for business. At this time, both braised dishes and rice dishes are ready and waiting for customers to come and enjoy them.
A hunched old man dressed in a cotton-linen Tang suit slowly walked towards Xu's Fast Food Restaurant. He stopped a short distance from the entrance of the No. 1 store, put on his reading glasses, and observed for a while. After confirming that he did not see the boy, he slowly walked to the entrance of the fast food restaurant.
The first thing the old man saw was the braised food displayed on the left side of the fast food restaurant entrance. The aroma was rich and strong, making him a little tempted.
But in the end, he just smacked his lips twice, suppressed the impulse in his heart, and stepped into the store.
At this time of day, there weren't many customers in the store, only two or three people.
Through the glass window in front of the kitchen, you can see all the equipment and people inside. There is only one middle-aged man working in the kitchen.
Didn't they say that all eight members of Liu Daxi's team worked at Xu's Fast Food Restaurant? How come there's only one chef there?
Just as the old woman was about to go to the kitchen to find out what was going on, she heard the sound of a bicycle bell outside. Turning her head, she saw two teenagers get off their bicycles and walk briskly into the store. They said in unison to the old woman sitting behind the cashier, "Good morning, Grandma Xu."
After exchanging greetings, the two picked up the tray to get their food, but after taking a couple of steps, they noticed the elderly man staring at them.
They looked a bit unfamiliar, probably new customers. Judging from their appearance, they probably didn't know how to dine here.
Old Han immediately and enthusiastically led the old man to Grandma Xu's place to pay the bill, get a tray, and get food from the hot food counter. He then pulled the old man to sit at the same table with them for a meal, making sure the old man was well taken care of.
"Are you regulars at this restaurant?" the old man asked curiously after sitting down at the table and tearing open a pair of disposable chopsticks.
"No, no." Old Han exchanged a glance with his roommate, his tone full of doubt: "Shouldn't we be considered as employees of the store?"
The old man's curiosity was immediately piqued by the conflicted expression, the questioning look in his eyes, and the uncertain tone of his voice.
How can someone not even know if they are an employee of the store?
A possibility popped into his mind: could these two be working illegally for Xu's Fast Food Restaurant?
"You guys don't even know if you're working for a boss? You haven't signed a contract?" the old man asked, suppressing his displeasure.
"No contract was signed."
"You have to leave your ID card before you go to work."
There is no base salary either.
With each sentence the two exchanged, the old man's face darkened further, and the disposable wooden chopsticks in his hands began to creak under the sudden pressure.
"What are your responsibilities in the store? How many hours do you work each day? How much do you earn? Are you tired? When are you paid? Are you paid on time?" A series of questions came from the old man's mouth.
In that instant, the old man gave Lao Han and his companion the feeling of a dignified old professor in school, as if if they said another joke, he would fail them.
The two quickly stopped joking and said seriously, "We're delivery riders for Xu's Fast Food Restaurant. We only work for about two hours a day around noon. Our income is sometimes as low as forty or fifty yuan, and sometimes as high as ninety or more. It's not tiring at all, and it's actually quite fun."
As the two answered, a bewildered look appeared in the old man's eyes.
Working more than two hours a day, earning at least forty-five yuan? And meals included? And what kind of job is a delivery rider? I've never heard of it before. Countless questions flooded the old man's mind.
The old man wasn't one to mince words; he directly voiced his doubts, and Lao Han and the other man answered every question.
After several rounds of questioning and answering, the old man finally understood.
The two people in front of me are college students who are currently working part-time at Xu's Fast Food Restaurant, so it is quite common for them not to have signed a contract.
As for leaving ID cards as collateral, that's a thing of the past. Now, most orders are paid online, so there's no fear of riders absconding with the money. Except for new employees' first week, no one else needs to leave their ID cards.
Riders, online food ordering, online payment, and delivery to your doorstep
All of these were new things; it was the first time the old man had heard these terms in the city.
Young people are quick-witted and daring to think and act!
Just as the old man was sighing, the two teenagers sitting opposite him had already finished eating and left. At this moment, a lot of customers with many stains on their clothes poured in, filling the not-so-small shop to the brim.
Others, carrying their food, stood at the door, looking around for any available seats.
Seeing this, the old man quickly drank the last mouthful of soup in his bowl, took a tissue to wipe his mouth, then got up and walked out of the shop towards the No. 1 shop next door.
As soon as they reached the door, they heard Liu Daxi directing the others in a hoarse yet sharp voice. The work was busy but orderly, showing the same style as before.
The old man recognized Liu Daxi at a glance. Although the last time they met was five years ago, Liu Daxi had not changed much in appearance or figure except for his face looking a bit older. He looked exactly the same as he did back then.
Perhaps it was because the old man's gaze was too direct and undisguised that Liu Daxi quickly noticed the stranger standing outside the shop looking him up and down.
"Sir, are you coming in for a meal?" Liu Daxi asked as he stepped forward.
"I just ate next door. I heard this is the same shop, so I came to check it out," the old man said with a smile and a wave of his hand. Then, as if casually asking, "I just saw several employees gesturing to each other, but they weren't saying anything. Who are they?"
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