Chapter 140：New Rules

Ye Jiayao was cursing herself. Why did she trust Shopkeeper Li so much and did not ask him for a contract? Forget the money, all the stipulations about duties and responsibilities in the contract would drive her to an early grave!

"So how is it? Head Chef Li?" Manager Zhao asked with a smile.

Ye Jiayao said melancholically, "I want to quit."

Now that Shopkeeper Li has left, she wouldn't be able to enjoy herself. Leaving would be a better choice. Based on her popularity right now, it wouldn't be hard for her to get a new job.

Manager Zhao's smile never changed. "Sure."

Ye Jiayao was flabbergasted. Was he actually just going to let her go that easy?

"Let's go according to the rules. If a head chef wants to terminate a contract prematurely, he needs to compensate the restaurant for its losses. Now that the restaurant's profit is around 6000 taels every day, a normal chef would have to compensate six taels per day. As for Head Chef Li, it has to be at least 600 taels of compensation. Your contract bounds you to the restaurant for three years, and it has only been barely two months. You do the math, Head Chef Li. If you can fork out the money, I'll let you go," Manager Zhao said slowly.

What the f*ck? Ye Jiayao could almost feel the blood draining from her face. 600,000 taels? She wouldn't be able to get that money unless she robs the Da Tong Bank and that heartless man damn well knew it.

Ye Jiayao tried hard to mask her fury. "Manager Zhao, if you do this, aren't you afraid that I will leave immediately after my contract expires?"

Manager Zhao just laughed. "Head Chef Li, if you stay in Heavenly Residence for three years, I would earn enough. The restaurant might even shut down after that three years!"

"Then aren't you afraid that I will slack off?"

"That is actually the new rule that I am going to announce. We will use this month's profit as the basic amount. If we cannot meet our target, the wages will be docked. As the head chef, the overall in charge of the kitchen, we would have to dock more of your pay. If we exceed our target, there will similarly be rewards."

Ye Jiayao was completely defeated. For the past days, she had thought that she was actually climbing the ranks, becoming quite a respectable figure. Now, she was suddenly reminded of her true status. She was ultimately just a small cook, open to oppression and exploitation.

She doesn't have any choice. She would just have to take this as a learning curve. She would definitely be more cutthroat the next time.

Ye Jiayao picked the pen up resentfully, signing her name on the contract. She pressed down hard on it to leave her thumbprint, imagining that the paper was Manager Zhao's head. Gaaah! I wish I could just bash your head in!

Manager Zhao took the contract laughingly. "There will be more changes after a while. I'll put it up by the entrance of the kitchen. Now, Head Chef Li, gather the staff and tell them everything."

Ye Jiayao walked out wordlessly.

She started flipping out as soon as she entered the kitchen.

"What's wrong Brother Yao?"

Everyone gathered around, concerned. They were surprised by the change of owner. Shopkeeper Li didn't tell them anything and when the new manager came in today, he also kept mum.

"We are going to face hard times from now on," she began.

Everyone tensed. "Why? Are we getting a pay cut?"

Ye Jiayao told them about everything that the new manager said.

Deng Haichuan was the first to speak up. "What rights does he have to use this month's profit as the baseline? If not for the mooncakes, we wouldn't have made so much this month."

"That's right! It is not like we can sell mooncakes all year round," Wang Mingde raged.

"F*ck, Brother Yao! Let's all just quit. We will follow you," Cui Dongpeng said indignantly, throwing his apron to the ground.

Ye Jiayao snarled. "Manager Zhao said that the second class helpers like you would have to pay 60 taels per day for compensation if you quit. Go do the maths. How long do you have until your contract is up?"

Up until then, everyone thought that they could still find a way out. When Li Yao had told them the new condition, they felt their hopes die completely.

"Then who would be able to leave? I knew that I have to compensate for quitting but I have never heard of such large amount," Zhong Xiang said, depressed.

"Who is this new inhuman owner?" 

"We will find out sooner or later." Ye Jiayao was determined to get to the bottom of this.

The only person she knew who would be this diabolical was Liu Li. She knew that that spoiled brat wouldn't let her off so easily!

"Go back to work. I will look for Li Erniang to find out what's going on," she told them. This matter was weighing too much on her mind. If she doesn't shed some light on this, she wouldn't be able to eat and sleep in peace.

Just as she stepped out, Little Lu came over to put up the new rules.

"1. Everyone has to start work on time at 8 AM every day. Every night, no one is to knock off until all the customers are gone. Late coming and early leaving would amount to a deduction of 50 coppers each time.

"2. All workers can't go out during working hours. If one has to go out, he has to ask Manager Zhao for permission. Only with consent can he leave. If this rule is broken, 50 coppers would be deducted each time.

"3. Every month, there is an allowance of a half day leave and only with Manager Zhao's consent. This does not affect wages."

"4. No one should be found slacking during working hours. If found, 50 coppers would be deducted every time."

"5. There is a reward at the end of the year for those who have never been late or have left early, didn't leave the shop, and didn't receive any punishments. According to status, a normal worker would receive 10 taels, third class worker 20 taels, second class worker 30 taels…"

"Though these rules are harsh, we are eating and staying in the restaurant so it's not like it matters much," someone said.

"The rewards seem to be quite generous."

"If we can reach the target every month, there will be an annual bonus. I wonder how much it will be."

"The reward can reach a few tens of taels! This is something that other restaurants don't have."

They were discussing with each other as though they have quickly accepted the new rules.

The year-end bonus and rewards do not mean a thing to Ye Jiayao. However, for the others, that was already a huge amount.

Ye Jiayao has a feeling that these rules were set because of her. Among the workers, she has the most freedom. Shopkeeper Li has never been demanding towards her. 

Again, she has no choice but to bear with it. Until she understands what was going on, she would have to play by the book.

There were a few customers today who had a drop too much and refused to leave. The whole gang of chefs could only sit in the kitchen and wait.

When Helian Jing arrived and realized that Yaoyao couldn't leave until the customers don't, he rushed in to chase everyone. Luckily, those people recognized Little Jing and obediently left.

"When did the shop start such stupid rules? If you meet some drunkard who drinks until the middle of the night, you guys have to stay, too?" Little Jing asked angrily.

"What other choice do we have? The new manager has already set the rules," 

Helian Jing was shocked. "New manager? You mean Heavenly Residence changed owners?"

"Yeah! We have no idea who it is."

"Why haven't I heard of that? If I knew Shopkeeper Li was willing to sell the restaurant, I would have bought it."

Helian Jing was feeling regretful. If he has bothered to ask around, he could've been the one to buy the place. Now, because of his lack of vigilance, Yaoyao was going to lose her freedom.

Ye Jiayao was feeling a bit of regret, too. When Little Jing and Chunfeng suggested buying the restaurant, she stopped them because she thought that it would be too much. If she had known that this would happen, she wouldn't have done that. Perhaps then, she could've been a shareholder, ensuring that Little Jing and Chunfeng would earn a mountain of money.

Ay… it's too late to say anything now.

"Yaoyao, if you are unhappy working here, quit. I have the money to open a new restaurant. We will split the shares and earn money together, isn't that good?" Helian Jing offered. Working together would definitely give them more chance to be close to each other.

Ye Jiayao huffed indignantly. "He said that if I were to quit, I have to come out with 600, 000 taels to pay for the breach of contract."

"What?" Helian Jing spluttered. "Who the f*ck is so bloody cold-hearted? That is even worse than the brothel madams!"

The mention of brothels just made her more miserable as she remembered Liu Yiyi.

"When I find out who that bastard is, I will make him suffer," Helian Jing said resolutely.

Ye Jiayao said, "I am going to go to Laifu Inn to ask Manager Du and Li Erniang. Perhaps they would know what's going on. I think that... I think that Liu Li is the one behind all this.

Helian Jing grimaced. That little she-devil.

"What? My brother sold the restaurant?" Li Erniang was in shock.

"Are you sure? Heavenly Residence is brother-in-law's life!" Shopkeeper Du exclaimed, equally disbelieving.

Well, there goes my lead. Ye Jiayao sighed.

"It was a surprise to us, too. We were afraid that Shopkeeper Li might have met with some difficulties so we came over to find out," Ye Jiayao explained.

Li Erniang responded, "I will go to my brother's house tomorrow morning. He would usually come and discuss such big things like this with us but he hasn't said anything at all!"