After moving to the backyard of the restaurant, there were still two days before the restaurant opened, so Li Hehua sent Shulin to the academy first. Shulin had already missed almost half a month's classes this time and could not be delayed any longer.
Li Hehua got up early in the morning, prepared a rich lunch for the two little guys, Shulin and Gu Jinzhao, plus freshly made desserts, and packed them together in a lunch box. Then he woke Shulin up, helped him wash up, put a small school box on his back, and took him out to school.
As soon as they walked out of the door, they saw a tall figure standing by the door. When he saw them come out, he smiled slightly.
Li Hehua was surprised, "Zhang Tieshan, why are you here so early in the morning?"
Zhang Tieshan replied calmly: "I will accompany you to send Shulin to school."
Li Hehua frowned upon hearing this and shook his head in disapproval, "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Why are you running around instead of staying at home to recover? I can take Shulin there myself, you go home."
Zhang Tieshan said, "I know about my own injuries. It's okay. It's just a matter of walking to send Shulin to school. I can't stay at home, so let me go with you." As he said that, he took the lunch box from Li Hehua's hand and carried it.
Li Hehua had no way to deal with him, and since it was really nothing to just take a walk, he agreed. So, Li Hehua walked in front holding Shulin's hand, and Zhang Tieshan followed behind the mother and daughter with a food box to protect them.
When I arrived at the school, I saw Gu Zhijin standing at the door welcoming students from afar, with the little guy Gu Jinzhao beside him.
Gu Jinzhao had sharp eyes and spotted them immediately. He immediately ignored everything and rushed over in surprise, shouting, "Ah - Shulin, you're back!"
Before he could finish his words, he rushed over, hugged Shulin tightly, and even picked him up and spun him around several times. Poor Shulin was dizzy when he was put down.
Gu Zhijin also walked over quickly, touched Shulin's head, and with obvious joy in his eyes, he looked at Li Hehua and said, "You guys are back? Have you dealt with the family affairs?"
Li Hehua nodded, "It's been handled, so Shulin was sent back to class."
Gu Zhijin looked at Li Hehua from head to toe inconspicuously and found that nothing was wrong with her. Except for being a little thinner, she was still in good spirits. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, hesitated, and said: "Well... if you encounter any problems in the future and need my help, don't be polite. How about I... I am also Shulin's teacher." She and Shulin disappeared for so many days at once, just saying that there was something going on at home. He didn't know the details. He couldn't let it go in his heart, and became more and more anxious day by day. Now that he saw them back, his heart returned to its original place, but he didn't want to wait without knowing anything next time.
Li Hehua thought he was being polite and thanked him, "Master Gu, thank you. This time, it's alright. If there's something wrong next time, I will definitely not be polite to you."
Gu Zhijin pursed his lips and nodded. He should have said goodbye to Shulin and went in, but for some reason, he didn't want to go in. After thinking for a while, he asked, "How is your business? Are you still setting up a stall?"
Li Hehua was about to talk about the restaurant, but Zhang Tieshan got there first. He suddenly came up from a long distance behind and stood next to him.
Li Hehua said, "I'm not going to run the stall anymore. I'm going to open a restaurant. The restaurant will open in two days. If Master Gu is free, you can go and show your support."
Zhang Tieshan's words clearly divided the three people into two camps. He and Li Hehua were a family, and he was being polite to an outsider like Gu Zhijin. Except for the two children, the three adults present all heard it.
Li Hehua was unnatural. Zhang Tieshan's words clearly exposed their relationship, and there was also a sense of showing off their affection. Doing this in front of Shulin's teacher made people feel inexplicably embarrassed.
Gu Zhijin's pupils shrank slightly, and the smile on his lips almost couldn't be maintained. He looked at Li Hehua and Zhang Tieshan and found that the two people were very close, almost no distance between them, unlike before when they were far away. It was obvious that a huge change had taken place.
In an instant, it was as if a cool breeze had flowed into his heart. For the first time, Gu Zhijin felt at a loss and didn't know what to say.
Zhang Tieshan curled the corners of his mouth, suddenly grabbed Li Hehua's hand, and said to Gu Zhijin: "Master Gu, I'm sorry to trouble you to take care of Shulin. We will go back first, and his mother and I will come to pick him up later." After that, he patted Shulin's little head and walked back with Li Hehua. His words and actions were completely like a loving couple.
Li Hehua struggled slightly uncomfortably. There were so many people on the street, and it was not right to do this in front of Shulin and others. But Zhang Tieshan held her tightly and refused to let go.
Only after they had walked a long way, so far that they could no longer see the academy behind them, did Li Hehua say, "Zhang Tieshan, why don't you let go!"
Zhang Tieshan touched his nose and finally relaxed.
Li Hehua pursed her lips. Even a fool would know that Zhang Tieshan did it on purpose, deliberately acting like this in front of Master Gu, as if he was declaring ownership.
But she had already explained to him that her previous statement of liking Master Gu was just a pretense to reject him, and she didn't have any feelings towards Master Gu at all. This guy obviously knew all this, so why was he still doing this in front of Master Gu as if he was marking his territory? And it was obviously targeting Master Gu, making him seem like he had some feelings towards her. How embarrassing! Maybe Master Gu was laughing at the two of them in his heart right now.
Li Hehua pouted, stopped and faced Zhang Tieshan, "Zhang Tieshan, what did you do just now? Didn't I explain everything to you? Why are you acting like that? Master Gu knows nothing from beginning to end. Isn't it weird for you to act like that? What do you think he will think?"
Zhang Tieshan felt helpless and fortunate at this moment. He was helpless because his wife was slow-witted and could not see through other men's minds, but he was also fortunate that she knew nothing. Since his wife didn't know, he certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to bring it up himself.
Zhang Tieshan pinched Li Hehua's nose and admitted his mistake straightforwardly, "I was wrong just now. I just remembered what you said before about liking him, and I felt uncomfortable. I couldn't help but want to tell him that you are mine. Gaogao, I'm sorry, I won't do this next time." Anyway, Gu Zhijin already knew.
Li Hehua had no idea of Zhang Tieshan's deep thoughts. Seeing him apologize so sincerely and promise not to do it again next time, the little unhappiness in her heart disappeared, and she said, "Okay, then you can't do it again next time."
A smile flashed in Zhang Tieshan's eyes and he nodded. Seeing that Li Hehua didn't care, he followed her to the restaurant.
The restaurant was almost finished with decoration, and Li Hehua was generally satisfied. The decoration workers had already been paid and left, and all that was left was to clean up. Li Hehua picked up a broom and rag and started cleaning. Zhang Tieshan stepped forward and took the broom from Li Hehua, "I'll sweep, you just wipe the table."
Li Hehua shook his head and glared at him. "No, no, go sit over there. The wound on your body has just scabbed over. You can't move too much. Otherwise, what if the wound splits? I'll clean the floor."
Zhang Tieshan felt helpless and heartbroken. She treated him like fragile porcelain now. He couldn't do this or that. She wished he could lie in bed all day to recuperate. In fact, his injuries were almost healed now, so there was no need to be so careful. But seeing how worried she was about him, he felt indescribably warm in his heart and wished he could hold her in his arms.
Zhang Tieshan had no choice but to tell her again: "It's okay, my injuries are almost healed, as long as I don't run or jump, sweeping the floor and doing simple things is fine, I'm a grown man, how can I be so weak."
Li Hehua refused to listen to him and said firmly: "No, go sit over there. If you don't listen to me, I won't let you stay here..."
Zhang Tieshan was really threatened. It was a rare chance for him to be alone, and he would be so depressed if he was driven out by her. So, he had no choice but to sit aside obediently, not even daring to stretch out his hand.
Li Hehua was satisfied. She picked up the broom and started cleaning. While cleaning, she asked Zhang Tieshan, "Zhang Tieshan, now that you have moved to the town, you won't go hunting again, right?" In fact, Li Hehua wanted to forbid him to go hunting again. Hunting is a very dangerous thing. This incident almost cost him his life. She really didn't want him to do such a dangerous thing again.
Zhang Tieshan frowned and shook his head, "I won't go hunting anymore." This was the decision he made after he was injured. It would be inconvenient to go back to the mountains to hunt now. Besides, if he went hunting, he would not be able to take care of Li Hehua and Shu Lin if something happened. Most importantly, he didn't want to take risks anymore. He wanted to live a good life and always be with the most important people in his life.
When Li Hehua heard this, his eyes flashed with obvious joy. Then he remembered his own plan and asked tentatively, "What are your plans for the future?"
Zhang Tieshan said, "I found a job. The boss of a gambling house knows me and wants to invite me to watch the place. I plan to go." In fact, after Zhang Tieshan came back, the gambling house owner found him. The boss knew Zhang Tieshan before and admired Zhang Tieshan's character and valued his skills. He wanted to invite Zhang Tieshan to watch the place for him again and again, but Zhang Tieshan was worried about the mixed people in the gambling house. If he got involved, he would inevitably be unable to get away, so he was unwilling to agree. Now that he was injured and no longer hunted, and moved to the town, he had to have a profitable business to support his family, so Zhang Tieshan planned to accept the job.
Li Hehua rejected the suggestion immediately, "No, Zhang Tieshan, don't go to the gambling house. It's full of gamblers and it's very chaotic. Watching the place is no safer than hunting. If you get into trouble, you'll be in a lot of trouble."
Zhang Tieshan pursed his lips and said, "It's not as serious as you say. Just take people to patrol the place and prevent people from causing trouble. It's usually nothing serious."
Li Hehua didn't even bother sweeping the floor, and walked straight to Zhang Tieshan and sat down. "That won't work either. It's very dangerous in there, and it's inevitable that something bad will happen. What if there's fighting and killing? So, you're not allowed to go."
Zhang Tieshan was softened by Li Hehua's coquettish tone while commanding, and gave up his original plan because of her words. If Gaogao really didn't like him working in the gambling house, then he would listen to her and not go, and find another job.
Zhang Tieshan nodded and said, "Okay, then I won't go. Can I find another job?"
Li Hehua was delighted. He grabbed one of Zhang Tieshan's fingers and shook it. "Then you don't have to look for other work. I have a job for you. Do you want to do it?"
Zhang Tieshan raised his eyebrows and motioned Li Hehua to speak out.
Li Hehua pointed at the restaurant and said, "My restaurant is in need of a janitor. You can watch over others, so you can't watch over me, right? I will pay you, and I promise it will not be less than what the gambling house owner pays you!"
Zhang Tieshan said "Oh" and asked with interest: "Then Boss Gaogao, how much do you plan to pay me to look after your place?"
Li Hehua spread out his five fingers and said, "I'll give you five taels of silver a month as wages, and I'll give you a New Year's bonus at the end of the year, is that okay?"
Zhang Tieshan laughed, "Boss Gaogao is so generous to me that he only pays me five taels of silver a month? Don't you think it's a loss?"
Li Hehua knew he was teasing her on purpose, so she asked, "Do you agree or not? Give me a definite answer." After she finished speaking, she was afraid that he would disagree, so she immediately added unreasonably, "No matter what, you are not allowed to disagree, you must agree."
Zhang Tieshan was amused by her arrogant and coquettish manner and said quickly: "You are so fierce, how dare I disagree? Well, then I will be the lookout for my Gao Gao from now on, and I will rely on you to give me a living."
Li Hehua raised his lips and said, "Okay, okay, I'll do my best in the future!"
The two men agreed on this matter in a half-joking manner, and Li Hehua then became serious and said, "Zhang Tieshan, I really need your help. After the restaurant opens, Xiaoqing and Xiaohong and I are busy in the kitchen, and Dahe and Xiaoyuan need to be waiters. I think the two of them are not enough. The restaurant is still short of a shopkeeper. If you don't come to help me, I have to go out and find a shopkeeper who can handle all kinds of things. Such a person is not easy to find, so only you can come."
Zhang Tieshan heard this and thought about it carefully. It was true. The position of a restaurant owner was very important. In addition to being able to calculate accounts and collect money, he must also be able to settle various matters. With so many guests coming and going in the restaurant, various things were bound to happen. If no one came forward at that time, Gao Gao, a weak woman, would have to step forward, and he couldn't bear to let her do that.
It seems that this is something that really needs to be done by him, and he doesn't feel comfortable with someone else doing it.
He had never thought about this before, he just wanted to find a job to support his family. Now it seems that he really has to make a living from his Gao Gao. As for the wages, apart from the living expenses for his mother and Qingshan, he will give the rest to her.
Zhang Tieshan began to think about the restaurant's affairs. Thinking of what Li Hehua had just said, Dahe and Xiaoyuan were not enough waiters, he asked, "Are you going to hire more people?"
Li Hehua nodded, "Yes, the business in the future will definitely be much busier than the stall. We didn't have enough manpower before, and we will have even less in the future. Dahe and Xiaoyuan can't handle it alone, so we have to hire another one. As for the kitchen, it won't work if Sister Xie does all the odd jobs alone, so we have to hire someone to do odd jobs in the kitchen. But it's really hard to find such a person right away, so we have to slowly select someone who is suitable in terms of character and ability."
Zhang Tieshan heard this, thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll recommend two to you, would you like to hear them?"
Li Hehua nodded. "It would be great if you have a suitable one. Tell me about it."
The first person Zhang Tieshan recommended was Luo Er. "What do you think of Luo Er? You've met him recently. He's a good person and a good worker. He's busy at work and carries bags at the docks all the time. If you think he can do it, why not let him come here and work."
Li Hehua thought of Luo Er. She had always wanted to treat Luo Er to a meal. Luo Er had been helping with the renovations during this period, which was a great help. She believed in Luo Er's character, and if Zhang Tieshan said he could do it, then he must be able to do it. However...
"I'd definitely love to have you here, but would Brother Luo be willing to come? The job of a waiter isn't easy, and the pay isn't high, only twenty-five cents a day."
Zhang Tieshan smiled and simply pulled Li Hehua over to sit on his lap. "Silly cake, Luo Er works very hard at the dock and only gets paid about 20 cents a day, and that doesn't include food. Although your work here is not easy, it's much easier than carrying bags at the dock, and it also includes food and drink. Who wouldn't want to do such a good job? If you go to the village to recruit people, everyone will definitely rush to do the job."
Li Hehua scratched his head and said, "Well, if that's the case, let's go ask Brother Luo. If he's willing, let him come to work the day after tomorrow."
Zhang Tieshan said: "Okay, I'll take care of this."
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