Chapter Forty: This Woman Is Simply Too Greedy

Next Door Kitchen.

After putting on a look of seriousness and caution, Li Can finally managed to convince Boss Ma and the others that he truly understood how dangerous the eagle was. Only then did they leave, reassured.

To this, Li Can could only swallow his grievances in silence.

“Shouldn’t it be the eagle who needs to be careful...?”

“Two orders of scallion beef, one bowl of signature bone and meat soup, and three servings of the special atypical sauce!”

Su Rui hurried into the kitchen, grinning as she stuck three sticky notes on the wall. Then, humming a tune, she returned to greet the guests.

“Alright!”

Unable to hold back a laugh, Li Can called out and quickly got the stove going again, diving back into his busy work.

…

A little after three in the afternoon, the restaurant closed on schedule.

Su Rui stood at the cashier’s desk, carefully counting the day’s takings—over and over, counting again and again, always feeling as if a few yuan, maybe ten or so, were missing.

If Boss Ma and the others ever found out that the restaurant had made over seven thousand yuan just during the lunch rush—almost as much as their own earnings for ten days straight—they might just spit blood in disbelief!

Over seven thousand, yet she still fussed over a few missing coins? This woman was simply too greedy!

“Yesterday at lunch we made over two thousand, in the evening over three thousand, so altogether more than five thousand. I wonder if that silver-haired uncle from yesterday ended up paying for his meal. Even if he wanted to, with Li Can’s generous nature, I doubt he would’ve accepted. What a pity, truly a pity.”

While Su Rui was fretting over Wei Zhong’s bill, she happened to see Li Can coming out of the kitchen, picking up a cup of cooled tea and gulping it down in one go.

Then she stared, dumbfounded, as Li Can, seemingly bothered by a drop of water left on the rim, insisted on licking the cup clean with his tongue before setting it down with satisfaction.

“His obsessive-compulsive disorder is really severe—he can’t even let a teacup go.”

“What are you muttering about?” Li Can walked over with a relaxed air, though the bloodshot veins in his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.

“Nothing, nothing.” Su Rui felt a twinge of guilt, as if every time he emerged from the kitchen, she was caught red-handed counting money.

So damaging to her image.

“Li Can, a lot of customers at lunch were complaining that our restaurant is too small. I was thinking of buying a few tables to put outside this afternoon. Also, I’d like to find some time to renovate the place. The atmosphere really doesn’t match the price of our food anymore. And, well, we should switch to prettier tableware—maybe we could even raise prices a bit… And, we might need to hire a server—I think Aunt Luo would be a good fit…”

“You decide on those things,” Li Can rubbed his eyes, sounding almost sleepy.

Su Rui didn’t notice and continued, “Should we get you an assistant in the kitchen? Just to help out a bit?”

“No need in the kitchen for now, I can handle it myself.” Li Can turned her down outright. The kitchen was already small—another person would just make it crowded.

“If you’re going out shopping later, buy me ten catties of the best sorghum liquor, and five catties of fresh Chinese bayberries.”

“For making bayberry wine? How do you plan to sell it?”

“It’s just for fun.”

“What?” Su Rui was taken aback.

“I’m going to get some sleep. Didn’t rest well last night.” Li Can looked helpless, seizing the chance to make his escape.

“Alright, go ahead, I’ll take care of it,” Su Rui quickly agreed, her tone full of concern.

The only thing uncertain was whether she felt sorry for Li Can or for the money. Perhaps, by nature, the money weighed just a bit more in her heart...

…

At six in the evening, the restaurant opened right on time.

But to Su Rui’s surprise, the first wave of customers wasn’t the familiar neighbors, but a group of young strangers, men and women alike, most of whom seemed quite well-off. Each of them ordered all three dishes on the menu without hesitation.

During casual conversation, she learned they’d all found the place thanks to a streamer named Tanya.

Immediately, Su Rui thought of the young girl at lunch—the first brave one to try the “crab.” No wonder she’d been fiddling with her phone the whole time.

Once these guests left, perfectly satisfied, the old neighborhood crowd suddenly realized that living nearby didn’t actually give them any edge!

From now on, they’d have to time the restaurant’s hours precisely—or risk arriving late and watching others eat with longing. The feeling was far from pleasant.

At ten that night, business closed. Once again, Li Can caught Su Rui secretly counting money at the cashier’s desk—though the joy of the afternoon was missing.

“Why so down while counting money? That’s not like you,” Li Can teased.

She sighed, putting on a pitiful face. “I thought tonight’s takings would break ten thousand, but it’s nearly a thousand less than lunchtime—just over six thousand.”

If anyone overheard that “just,” they’d probably want to hit her.

Li Can rubbed his nose. “That’s to be expected—most of the neighbors already ate at lunch. They can’t possibly eat as much again at dinner.”

“There are more residents on this street than that,” Su Rui muttered.

“But not everyone is willing to spend so much on food, are they?” Li Can comforted her, amused. “If you weren’t the boss, would you spend several hundred a day eating out?”

“Of course I would,” Su Rui replied with a perfectly straight face.

Li Can nearly choked on his tea.

You? Su Rui? Willing? What a joke! Only if the sun rose in the west, maybe.

“Li Can, how about we pay a big streamer or influencer to promote us? Loads of restaurants do it now.” Su Rui spoke with great earnestness. “Remember that young girl at lunch? She’s a streamer, and look, her fans came tonight. That’s the power of publicity, you see...”

“No need,” Li Can refused flatly.

“Why not? Don’t want to spend the money?” Su Rui was puzzled.

“That’s not it.” Li Can shook his head. “Hired publicity will never compare to the genuine kind.”

He understood that hiring people for publicity would speed up their rise to fame, but it would also mean that guests came not for the food, but for the streamer or influencer they admired. It was a kind of affection by association.

This was Li Can’s hang-up—just like the water spot on a cup. If it wasn’t wiped away, it would always nag at him, keeping him awake at night.

If guests came on their own, then what they loved by association would at least be his food—no psychological barrier there.

Perhaps this was the so-called pride of the strong.

More likely, just plain arrogance.

Seeing the slight tilt of his chin, Su Rui had to bite her tongue to stop herself from saying it out loud.

Fortunately, Li Can had reason to be proud, so she didn’t press the issue.

“We’re almost out of ingredients for the special sauce. Are you going to have your mysterious friend deliver them, or should I go buy some?”

“Let my friend deliver.”

“What exactly are these ingredients? If they sell them at the market, we could buy them ourselves—might even turn a profit,” Su Rui said seriously.

Li Can forced a smile, feeling a headache coming on.

Su Rui was wonderful in every way, except for her obsession with money. Half of everything she said was about saving or making it.

To put it kindly, she was thrifty. Less kindly, miserly.

“Tight-fisted, that’s what she is.”

“Su Rui, just let my friend deliver them. You can’t find these ingredients at the market.”

“Are they expensive?”

Li Can: “...”

“Not at all, just a few hundred yuan.”

“What, only a few hundred? Then let him deliver.”

As Su Rui breathed a sigh of relief, Li Can secretly wiped the sweat from his brow.

He was certain that if he’d missed the word “not,” Su Rui would keep digging for the truth!

“I’m heading out,” Su Rui slung her bag over her shoulder. “Oh, if you see Brother Liu, let him know his cousin stopped by. He’s not answering his phone, and there’s no one at home.”

“Cousin?” Li Can’s eyes widened.

Damn it, even monsters have relatives?

(To be continued...)

PS: Those with reading lists, isn’t it time to act? Otherwise, I’ll have to write you all in as monsters. (Hahaha...)