Recruitment was simple.
These days, everything was in short supply, except for job seekers.
Lin Xu knew this all too well. His entire senior year had been an endless cycle of interviewing, getting rejected, then interviewing again, and being rejected again.
Although Lin Ji's Food couldn't offer any lofty job positions, as long as the pay was good, there were still plenty of people applying.
Now, Lin Xu's dilemma wasn't about recruiting. It was about this so-called value system of Lin Ji's Food. Without understanding it, he really didn't dare to recruit recklessly. If the system judged it as inconsistent, it would be a missed opportunity to draw a cold dish. He needed to be careful!
As night fell, business in the shop got better and better. The line of people waiting to eat noodles stretched from the kitchen door all the way outside the main door, to the point where even beverages started running low.
"Boss, we're out of cola!"
"North Pole's gone too!"
"Boss, you don't have to come over, just tell me where the beverages are, and I'll restock the fridge for you."
"Yeah, yeah, keep making noodles; all these people are waiting."
...
Lin Xu said apologetically to the customers who were helping out, "I really appreciate your help. I'll recruit someone soon. I can't always have you doing the work; otherwise, I'd feel guilty taking your money for the meal."
The customers laughed heartily. "No need to feel guilty, just don't let us end up halfway through a meal with nothing to eat."
Since last night until noon today, the shop had sold out twice in a row. Many customers tried to come as early as possible, fearing they'd be too late and everything would be gone again. But the inevitable moment finally arrived.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Lin Xu's apologetic voice came from the kitchen once more, "Sorry, everyone, the noodles and toppings are all sold out. Please come back tomorrow. We'll have a new topping then, and you can all give it a try."
A few customers queued up at the kitchen door let out a groan of dismay.
"Boss, can't you make some more? It's only eight o'clock."
"Yeah, make some more! I'm a Lin Ji boy."
"And me, I'm a Lin Ji girl! We're family here."
Lin Xu was speechless. This had nothing to do with whether or not they were 'family.' The shop had sold out of everything: tomatoes, greens, eggs, and some seasonings. Even if he were to make some now, he would need to go shopping for ingredients first. There simply wasn't enough time.
He waved his hands and said to everyone, "All the ingredients in the shop are gone. I'd like to make more, but I can't. I'm really sorry, folks."
People around who were eating noodles raised their phones, capturing the scene, and then posted it under the #LinJi'sFood topic.
"Guys, #LinJi'sFood# has sold out again! Don't bother coming if you haven't already. The boss said there will be a new flavor topping tomorrow. See you at noon!"
The topic wasn't very popular, with only a few hundred people participating. Almost all were customers of Lin Ji's Food, and a small number were just there for the hype. They didn't continuously boost the topic's popularity but used it as a discussion group for Lin Ji's Food.
No sooner had the topic been posted than everyone started discussing it eagerly.
Topic host [Panda Brother] even opened a betting pool to wager on the flavor of tomorrow's new topping. The bet was simple: whoever won would be treated to noodles by him.
"Panda Brother, are you using treating us as a pretext to find a date? [Funny][Funny][Funny]"
"It sure looks like it!"
"@Panda Brother, are you serious about the bet? Lin Ji people can't lie to Lin Ji people!"
"Right, Lin Ji people can't lie to Lin Ji people!"
...
Panda looked at the discussion below the topic, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. Why the hell would I look for a damn date when I'm a perfectly good single guy!
He immediately posted a new update under the topic: "#LinJi'sFood# Whoever's betting, sign up! Lin Ji people don't lie to Lin Ji people, and anyone who lies will never get to eat Boss Lin's food for the rest of their lives!"
For others, this curse was somewhat inexplicable. But for those following the topic, it was seriously concerning.
Everyone stopped making fun of Panda Bro and started to discuss what tomorrow's topping would be.
Panda Bro: Insider information! Tomorrow's topping is meat. Everyone, try to guess meat toppings!
Genius Girl Loves Food: Noodles With Black Bean Sauce, I guess. I like Noodles With Black Bean Sauce.
Saving Hard for Hair Transplant: I think Chicken with Mushrooms is delicious. Braised Beef is also good.
Eighteen-Year-Old White-Haired Youngster: Can't it be Minced Meat with Tofu?
Lin Ji Boy Yue Liyue: When are we going to have rice? Us Southerners aren't used to Northern noodles. I super miss our Guangdong Claypot Rice.
Genius Girl Loves Food: Excuse me, Little Yueyue, does Claypot Rice really contain children?
Everyone: ...
Inside Lin Ji's Food restaurant, after the customers dispersed in twos and threes, Lin Xu, as usual, checked the revenue.
Tonight, a total of 207 bowls of Tomato Egg Noodles were sold: 140 large bowls and 67 small bowls, totaling 5,595 yuan. Adding the alcohol and beverages sold, tonight's revenue reached 6,497 yuan. Combined with the 4,460 yuan from the afternoon, the day's total revenue was 10,957 yuan. Lin Xu found this figure hard to believe.
"Damn! Over ten thousand?" he exclaimed.
Not counting yesterday afternoon's trial operation, today was only the first official day of business! And it's already over ten thousand?
He had made over two hundred bowls of Tomato Egg Noodles tonight and was already dead tired. But at this moment, seeing that figure—10,957 yuan—he suddenly felt full of strength. All his fatigue and soreness vanished in an instant.
Just yesterday, while submitting resumes everywhere, he hadn't even dared to hope for a monthly salary over ten thousand. He never imagined he'd reach the point of earning over ten thousand in a single day! Although after deducting costs, the profit was only a few thousand yuan, that was still very good. Many people worked harder and longer than him every day without earning a few thousand yuan.
Lin Xu rested for a while, then tidied up the shop, took the clothes he had changed out of, and took the metro back to school to rest.
「At four forty in the morning.」
Lin Xu appeared at Spring Breeze Market. He had to purchase many ingredients today. In addition to the regular tomatoes, eggs, baby bok choy, scallions, ginger, and garlic, he also needed to buy eggplants, pork belly, and ingredients for making stock, such as large pork bones, chicken carcasses, and old hens.
The shared electric scooter wouldn't be able to carry all that; he'd have to hire a tricycle again.
The ingredients in the market were all very fresh; many of the vegetables even glistened with dewdrops.
As Lin Xu was looking around at the ingredients, a vendor in his forties greeted him, "Buying ingredients, Boss Lin?"
Lin Xu looked at the vendor with some confusion. So enthusiastic. Do we know each other?
The vendor said with a smile, "Don't you remember me? Last night when you were making soup noodles for that Kung Fu Panda, I also got a bowl. You even added some chicken oil for me..."
Lin Xu then remembered. He was surprised to run into one of his customers here.
The vendor said, "Boss Lin, pick whatever you want from my stall. I guarantee it'll be cheaper than other stalls."
Lin Xu felt a bit embarrassed. "That wouldn't be right, would it?"
The vendor slapped his chest. "Don't mind my age, I'm a Lin Ji boy too! How could I not give a discount to one of our own?"
Lin Xu was speechless. Holy moly! Have the shop's fans really grown to this extent?