Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Renting a Shop

"Boss Chen, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and give me ten fried cakes!"

Chen Yu then snapped back to reality and quickly packed the order for the customer.

All morning, Chen Yu noticed that the several new faces that had come in the morning returned a few more times, each time buying every kind of fried cake and vegetable pastry on offer. Searᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Chen Yu didn't mind, he just busied himself with his own work.

Fortunately, he had prepared enough semi-finished products in the morning; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been confident in handling the morning rush.

However, by ten o'clock in the morning, the stream of people abruptly stopped.

After all, it was Monday, and once the rush hour for work had passed, there weren't many people around.

Chen Yu, as usual, checked the remaining raw materials.

There were still half of the vegetable pastries left, but the fried cakes had been consumed quite a bit.

After all, in comparison, fried cakes were cheaper, and many people liked to eat something sweet in the morning.

Afterward, Chen Yu hurriedly moved a chair and seized the opportunity to prepare more semi-finished products!

At noon, an elderly lady with white hair, leaning on a cane, knocked on the food cart's door, looking quite cheerful.

Chen Yu quickly put down what he was working on and stepped out of the food cart.

"Are you the one looking to rent a house?"

"Yes! Yes!" Chen Yu quickly responded and was ready to wash his hands.

Unexpectedly, the old lady grabbed Chen Yu's hand.

"Zhang Fan told me this morning, and I didn't believe it. It turns out the person renting my house is really you!"

Chen Yu was slightly stunned, "You know me?"

"Know you? I eat your fried cakes and vegetable pasties every day. But it's inconvenient for me to come over, so my daughter buys them for me!"

Saying so, the old woman took out the rental agreement from her bag.

"The agreed rent was twelve thousand, but since it's you renting it, I'll charge you seventy thousand for half a year, though utilities are not included, eh!"

Chen Yu was a bit surprised, he hadn't expected the old lady to be so straightforward.

He hurriedly helped the old lady sit down at the table beside them.

"If that's really the case, then that's wonderful!"

The old lady's face was brimming with a smile, "I like you young people, so full of energy and vigor! And you, you're a handsome young man. I heard you're divorced? Do you have someone else?"

Chen Yu was at a loss for words for a moment, "I don't have any plans to remarry just yet. After all, with a child to take care of, I also want to make more money while I'm young to give my child a future!"

"That's good, that's very responsible!"

After praising him, the old lady then took out a pen and changed the price on the rental agreement!

"This seventy thousand, you don't have to pay me all at once. If times are tough for you, just give me ten thousand for now, and the rest can wait another month or two – no rush!"

"How can I accept that? You've already given me a discount on the rent, I'm very grateful!"

The old lady grandly waved it off, "Just as long as I can eat your fried cakes and vegetable pastries every day!"

Chen Yu nodded repeatedly, "Definitely, for sure!"

After the old lady made the changes to the contract, she handed it to Chen Yu.

"Take a look, is there anything else that needs to be added?"

"Auntie, this is already very good!"

"What 'auntie'? That's too formal! My surname is Li, just call me Aunt Lee!"

With that, Aunt Lee took back the contract, "They're moving out right now, and they should be done by the afternoon. Once you close up shop in the evening, Aunt Lee will take you to see the house. If you're not satisfied, I won't force you!"

"No! No! No! I'm very satisfied!"

Aunt Lee's genuine enthusiasm left Chen Yu somewhat overwhelmed.

"Then I won't keep you from your work! I'll come over this evening!"

After tidying up the contract, Aunt Lee left happily, leaning on her cane.

Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief, having settled both the shop and his living situation.

Stretching lazily, Chen Yu returned to the food cart to keep bustling about.

By three in the afternoon, Chen Yu had finished preparing all the remaining semi-prepared items.

Just as he stepped down from the food cart, ready to stretch his limbs a bit, he suddenly heard the sound of a loudspeaker in the distance.

"Authentic fried cakes, authentic vegetable pastries, new products on sale, buy three get one free!"

Chen Yu frowned slightly, realizing it was just as Zhang Fan had said; these people were indeed playing underhanded tricks.

They had bought his fried cakes and vegetable pastries and turned around to make their own versions!

However, Chen Yu just smiled and paid no attention.

Nearly all breakfast stalls have their own discussion groups and even offer delivery services.

Yet, until now, Chen Yu had neither started a discussion group nor offered a delivery service.

Even so, his business had already become incredibly popular.

Therefore, he didn't care about these people trying to steal his techniques!

After all, the techniques he used for making vegetable pastries and fried cakes were provided by his system, unique in the entire world!

At four in the afternoon, the groups of seniors dancing in the square came to support him as usual.

But some were intercepted halfway by the breakfast storefronts.

"Come in and try, seniors, our shop has launched new products! They're just like the ones from the cart over there, but with bigger portions, and you get one free when you buy three!"

"Like the ones over there? Then why should I eat yours, when Boss Chen's are so delicious?"

Nevertheless, some seniors couldn't resist the temptation and bought a fried cake symbolically.

But after taking a bite, they spat it out on the ground.

"What is this stuff? Compared to Boss Chen, this is trash! The ones I make at home taste better than this! Refund my money!"

...

From inside the food cart, Chen Yu could see the scene unfold in the distance.

These breakfast shops were located along the street, and anyone who wanted to come to Chen Yu's place had to pass by them.

But no one paid any heed to their calls; they all headed straight for the food cart.

Even after some of the seniors had a taste, even fewer people visited those stores!

Chen Yu simply glanced up before returning his attention to his work.

"Young Chen! Those shops next to you are going too far, it's like they're trying to steal your livelihood!"

"Yes, young Chen! You have to be careful, I reckon these people would do anything for money!"

"This kid is handsome, kind-hearted, and sincere, how can he guard against those old hands?"

"I say, from now on, we should stick with young Chen and not buy from them anymore!"

...

Chen Yu felt warmth in his heart as he listened.

These past few days, these elderly folks had taken great care of him, not only bringing their whole families to eat his fried cakes and pastries but also inviting everyone from their apartment complex.

As Chen Yu worked, he politely responded.

"Thank you, uncles and aunties! By the way, I've already found a place across the street. I might move there tomorrow, and then you all won't have to stand and eat like this!"

"Oh, that would be wonderful! Young Chen, you should have done this much earlier!"

"With your food cart business being so good, it's about time to expand!"

"And you should set up an access control at the door, beating out any sneaky-looking characters who come in!"

"Is it the restaurant that used to be across the street?"

"Then I need to go back and spread the word for you!"

...