Liu Xiaohua glanced at him, wiping the other table deftly, and said in a light tone:
"Look at you. You're a student, and such a great student, and you're Qingyang's classmate, but why are you so clumsy at work?"
Zhao Rui could accept being busy and clumsy, but the only thing he couldn't accept was being told to his face that he was not as good as Lu Qingyang, especially by a girl who looked several years younger than him and worked in a restaurant!
A surge of anger suddenly shot up at him, and he was so angry that he almost threw the rag in his hand to the ground.
His face turned red instantly, and even his ears felt hot.
"Who is not doing it well!" Zhao Rui almost gritted his teeth and squeezed out these words.
놛 suddenly bent down, no longer doing it perfunctorily as before, but wiping it vigorously almost as if to vent his anger.
He gripped the rag tightly as he wiped the oil and sauce stains on the table, as if they were not stains, but the pent-up resentment and anger he felt at the moment, and he was determined to wipe them clean.
The amplitude of movement has changed, but the efficiency has been visibly improved.
Although it was still not very skillful and elegant, at least the table was quickly polished to a shine, even the corners and crevices were not spared.
Liu Xiaohua was busy with her work when she saw Zhao Rui struggling with the table from the corner of her eye, and the corners of her mouth curved up almost imperceptibly.
While serving food at the kitchen door, she said quickly with a hint of pride, "Brother Qingyang, you see, you have to use provocation to win people over."
Hearing this, Lu Qingyang raised his eyes from the menu and looked at Zhao Rui, who was hunched over and arguing with the man at the next table not far away. He smiled knowingly, said nothing, but shook his head slightly, then lowered his head and continued to busy himself.
Zhao Rui held his breath and worked hard.
After wiping the table, without waiting for Liu Xiaohua's instructions, he moved to clean up the dishes on the table next to him. Although he was still clumsy and the plates were stacked crookedly, his speed was indeed much faster.
Sweat slid down his forehead, and he didn't even bother to wipe it off. There was one thought in his mind: I can't let people look down on me, especially not worse than Lu Qingyang!
This energy supported me and even helped me get through the busiest period.
When the peak of customer flow gradually passed and the restaurant was finally no longer so crowded, Zhao Rui straightened his aching waist, panting, and looked at the tables that he had wiped clean. Only then did the inexplicable anger in his heart subside a little.
At this moment, a bottle of orange-flavored soda was suddenly handed to him.
Zhao Rui was stunned and looked in the direction of the hand holding the soda. It was Liu Xiaohua.
The little girl's face was still flushed from being busy, but her expression was no longer as tense as before, and she even had a little bit of... barely friendly look?
"Here, for you." Liu Xiaohua's voice was still not particularly enthusiastic. "You seem to be working quite hard. Your throat must be smoking, right? Have something to moisten it up."
Zhao Rui was flattered.
He took the bottle of ice-cold soda blankly.
Just now, this little girl was rudely confronting 놛, but now 놇 is actually giving 놛 a soda?
I was a little bit at a loss, and even wondered if I had heard it wrong.
"Thank you...thank you." He thanked her dryly and took a sip.
Liu Xiaohua curled her lips at the look on his face, but still added, "You're doing okay, but it was a bit slow at the beginning. You'll get better with more practice."
Zhao Rui listened to this awkward encouragement, and the anger that had been ignited in his heart because he was told that he was not as good as Lu Qingyang subsided a lot without him noticing.
놛 took another sip of soda sullenly and said nothing.
At this time, Lu Qingyang finished his work and walked over. He smiled and asked, "How is it, Mr. Zhao, you have experienced the busyness of our restaurant. How do you feel?"
Zhao Rui opened his mouth and felt like he had a lot to say - tired, messy, noisy.
Also, isn't your intention too kind?
But the words went around in his throat for a while, and finally turned into a hard sentence: "It's... it's okay."
Lu Qingyang seemed to have expected this and didn't mind, continuing the conversation naturally. "I see you've adapted pretty quickly. How about coming over and helping out during your spare time? I'd like to help with the two busiest hours during mealtime, clearing tables, preparing dishes, and maintaining order. The pay is by the hour, and while it's not much, it's definitely a good deal for a full meal."
Come to work? Fight? Zhao Rui's first reaction was to frown and refuse.
Are you kidding? I have to focus on my studies!
It was purely accidental that I came here today, and I was provoked to help. How could I really stay to serve dishes and wipe the table?
If this gets out...
The words "reject" were already on the tip of my tongue.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Lu Qingyang added slowly, his tone persuading him: "Our staff meals are prepared by Mr. Chen himself, and the ingredients are the same as those sold outside. For example, now..."
Before he could finish his words, the kitchen door curtain was opened with a "rustle", and Liu Dong came out holding a huge tray. On the tray were several pots of steaming hot dishes, obviously preparing dinner for the staff.
Zhao Rui's attention was instantly attracted to it.
The pot of braised pork in the middle and the pot of stir-fried seasonal vegetables are shiny and green, and look refreshing.
There was even a small bowl of golden, crispy fat residue! It was obviously left over from refining the lard, sprinkled with a little salt, and it was ridiculously fragrant!
The food is a pile of steaming white flour buns!
This... this is the staff meal?
This size, this quantity, this aroma!
The words of refusal were instantly stuck in my throat, and my saliva began to flow uncontrollably.
Zhao Rui's eyes were almost glued to the pot of braised pork with noodles, and he couldn't move away.
Two villains were fighting fiercely in my head: one was shouting, "Don't lower yourself!"
Another yelled, "But that meat is so delicious!"
Lu Qingyang looked at Zhao Rui's staring eyes, a knowing smile appeared on his lips, and he added fuel to the fire at the right time:
"What do you think, Zhao? Consider it? I'll pay for your tuition and provide you with enough food. Just think of it as... studying hard and frugally, and experiencing life."
The words "experience life" seemed to give Zhao Rui a perfect way out.
놛 pretended to be calm: "Okay! I'll do it! When does it start?"
After saying that, he added, trying to hide his mistake, "Well... I think it's good to participate in social practice in addition to studying..."
Lu Qingyang suppressed his laughter and nodded: "Then it's settled. Can you come over tomorrow at 5 pm?"
"Yes." Zhao Rui answered firmly.
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