As for Liu Yu, who came to recommend himself, Xu Ran began to seriously think about this question, whether to use him or not.
Xu Ran had his own plans. This neighbor, Liu Family had quite an influence nearby, thus, Liu family was also classified by him as one of the families worth associating. If he agrees to Liu Yu’s demand of acting as a waiter in the hotpot restaurant, Liu family would owe him a favor, which would be useful in the future.
But the precondition was that Liu Yu could handle it. If Liu Yu couldn’t, then it would be troublesome.
He reckoned that if he recruited Liu Yu, and dismissed him after he worked several days without being qualified for the job, it was very probable that Liu Family would hold a grudge against him.
The better result was that Liu Family were alienated from them. The bad one would be that they turned against him. If Liu Family were gossipy, then not only their family would not be able to live here anymore, but also the Red Mansion would be implicated. Xu Ran did not want such a thing to happen.
It was not his fault for thinking too much. After all, he had witnessed the similar things, which was why he became more attentive.
Xu Ran thought about it for a long time, and Liu Yu was already anxious. Whenever he asked for help from others, he was easy to get nervous. At this time, as he saw that Xu Ran was hesitating to give him an answer and even frowned from time to time, Liu Yu felt that there was no hope for it and was about to leave.
Xu Ran just came back to his senses when he was leaving. Seeing that he was about to leave, he hurriedly pulled him back. “What are you doing? You’re leaving before I have said yes or no. Don’t you want to listen to my reply?”
Liu Yu shook his head and said, “If you disagree, you’d better not tell me! I’m afraid I’ll feel uncomfortable listening.”
Xu Ran laughed softly and said, “How do you know that I will disagree?”
When he heard this, Liu Yu immediately looked back at Xu Ran. “You mean that you agree?”
Xu Ran nodded and shook his head, which confused Liu Yu. He stroked the back of his head and didn’t know what Xu Ran meant.
Xu Ran said, “Going to Red Mansion to be be a waiter, is it your idea or your Daddy’s?”
Liu Yu hesitated for a moment and told the truth, “It was Daddy who asked me to ask. Daddy urged me to get married, and urged me to go out to find a job to make money, saying that I can’t always let my brother support me. I felt bad at the words so I went out to look for a job myself, but none of the shops wanted me. Yesterday, when you came to my house, saying that you were the boss of Red Mansion, my Daddy thought that as Red Mansion’s business was so booming, you must need staffs, so I was sent here to inquire about it.”
After hearing what he said, Xu Ran said in his mind that the child was so honest, and said everything without any holding back. Was he clumsy in speaking or in thinking?
But it would be convenient for him to deal with this. After all, Daddy Liu proposed it himself. He should know what kind of person his son was. Xu Ran also decided that he could accept this person, but whether he could do it for a long time would be up to him.
Xu Ran said to Liu Yu, “Well, come to my house later after you have lunch with your Daddy. Let’s have a good talk. If it’s done, you’ll be a waiter when Red Mansion opens the door this year.”
At Xu Ran’s words, Liu Yu lighted up with pleasure, and the smile immediately climbed onto his face.
Xu Ran said, “Don’t be so happy first. I have to tell your Daddy about this, or you can let your Dad or elder brother come over.”
Liu Yu shook his head. “No, just tell my Daddy. Dad and brother don’t care about me. As long as Daddy agrees, there will be no problem. Daddy will definitely not harm me.”
This childish tone was spoken from the mouth of Liu Yu, a man of more than 20. Xu Ran felt that it was a little weird and even began to doubt whether Liu Yu was telling the truth.
However, it was just a flashing idea, after all, Liu Yu looked quite honest.
After Xu Ran finished talking to Liu Yu, Liu Yu returned happily, and the brothers chatted until noon before going back to their separate home to cook.
During lunch, Xu Ran told everyone about Liu Yu coming to him in the morning. As to employing the staff, it was under Xu Ran’s sole charge, and everyone else would not interfere. So he was just informing everyone that Liu Yu might be the staff of Red Mansion in the future. As for the other opinions, no one put forward any.
Xu Ran also talked about his concerns. Liu Tong took the words as soon as Xu Ran finished speaking. He said, “Daddy Liu is quite good. We just have to talk with him. It shouldn’t be so serious. However, if you are really troubled, you can refuse him.”
Xu Ran shook his head and said, “I still want Liu Yu to try it out first. After all, we have to recruit hands anyway. If Liu Yu can work, we can rest assured. After all, his family is here, we can find him when needed.”
Liu Tong thought about Xu Ran’s words and did not refute him. He nodded and said, “Ran, it was up to you. Later, after Daddy Liu comes, if you feel ill at ease to talk with him, I will do.”
Xu Ran thought about it. It was really difficult for him to talk to Daddy Liu. It would be better to let Liu Tong talk about it. Not to mention that they were all brothers, after this half day’s time, Liu Tong had been familiar with Daddy Liu.
Xu Ran told Liu Tong what he was going to say and Liu Tong took it down seriously.
……
Not long after Xu Ran had lunch, Liu Yu and his Daddy came over. Xu Ran took Liu Yu away and let Liu Tong talk to Daddy Liu.
Liu Tong told Daddy Liu what Xu Ran had said to him. Daddy Liu Tao was not an unreasonable person. Hearing what Liu Tong said, he agreed without thinking.
“Liu Tong, I know what kind of person my son is. Were it not that he couldn’t find any work, we wouldn’t have asked favor from your family. After all, this is New Year period.” After saying that, Daddy Liu sighed and looked helpless.
Liu Tong comforted him, “Daddy Liu, Liu Yu is still young. When he gets married in a few years, having his husband and kids, he will definitely know better. Daddy Liu, you don’t have to worry about it.”
Liu Tao sighed and said, “Alas! How can I not worry? As you said, he’s in his twenties, hasn’t gotten married yet, and can’t find a job. I’m old now, and I can’t take care of him for a lot more years. I’m worried about his future!”
Liu Tong said, “Daddy Liu, children can take care of themselves when they grow up. Rather than overthinking by yourself, you should ask Liu Yu what’s in his mind. I don’t think he is not a motivated person, but he didn’t find a chance. Ran also told me that if Liu Yu can do the job of a waiter, let him be a waiter in the Red Mansion. As long as our hotpot restaurant opens, he won’t be chased away.”
Daddy Liu wiped his face and said, “Liu Tong, thank you a lot. If he doesn’t qualify, you can send him back! There is no need to mind me. I will definitely teach him a lesson.”
Liu Tong said, “Daddy Liu, we will find out about it after Liu Yu goes to work. If he really can’t do it, we will not keep him. Daddy Liu, when you go back, talk with Liu Yu, let him be more courageous, and practice his speaking skills. It will work only when guests are satisfied.”
“Okay, this won’t be a problem. I’ll let him practice when we go back,” Liu Tao happily agreed.
And on Xu Ran’s side, Xu Ran told Liu Yu the similar words. He said it frankly in front of Liu Yu. Whether he could stay or not, it would be decided by him.
It was simple to make him satisfied, which was the guests needed to be satisfied first.
Xu Ran also told Liu Yu some aspects to change. When Liu Yu heard that Xu Ran was willing to give him a chance, he was overjoyed. After all, he really wanted this opportunity.
Xu Ran didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm, so he told him everything he needed to pay attention to. As to how much he could understand, it was his own business.
In short, both conversations went on quite pleasantly.
As for Liu Yu’s position, which was improvised by Xu Ran, which did not affect his original plan.
The first day of the first month in the lunar year passed in the blink of an eye. On the second day, Xu Ran family went to greet King Yan.
According to the customs, King Yan’s residence was supposed to be the liveliest today because there were too many people going to pay the new year call on King Yan, but this year’s King Yan residence seemed a little desolate–only several people were at the gate of King Yan’s residence.
Some of them came empty-handed, and some carried a few things. However, it was King Yan who came out to greet them personally.
Many people around remembered. Two months ago, when a carriage stopped at the entrance of King Yan’s residence, King Yan came out to greet them in person too. Many people had recognized Xu Ran and the others.
They began to discuss in whisper with each other who Xu Ran and the rest were and King Yan would personally greet them. Many people recognized Xu Ran as the boss of Red Mansion, the rest were his children and husband. As for Gao Quan and Shao Yu, not many people knew them.
Some people with acute eyesight saw that Liu Tong and King Yan looked somewhat similar, but because Liu Tong wiped the ointment made by Lu Qi before going out, they only looked a little similar, so that no one doubted anything.
King Yan wished these onlookers happy new year, and then asked them to mind their own business, and have fun during the festival. Then he quickly let Xu Ran and the others enter the house.