Chapter 587 - Stay and Work  

As usual, during mealtimes, the competition for the food was fierce. There was no mercy at all.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone touched their round bellies and praised, “It’s really delicious.

“We had the best noodles last night, and this is the best meal we’ve ever eaten.

“Although these dishes are ordinary, they have the best appearance, aroma, and taste. Even those big hotels can’t compare to them.”

“These dishes are really delicious.”

“They look beautiful, smell fragrant, and taste delicious. The taste is simply superb!”

“Boss Xiao, it seems that Auntie’s cooking skills can also become one of the attractions in Taoyuan Village,” Someone looked at Xiao Lingyu and joked.

As soon as he said this, many people immediately agreed, “I think it’s possible. Auntie’s cooking can definitely draw people here.”

At this point, he seemed to have thought of something and looked at Xiao Lingyu and asked, “Speaking of which, boss Xiao, how do you charge for food and accommodation here?”

It was not that he wanted to be calculative about the money, but he had to ask clearly about the matter of money. He didn’t want to be scammed.

Xiao Lingyu smiled and said, “There’s no accommodation fee. But the cost of the meal this morning is 188 RMB per table.” There were eight to nine people per table. On average, a person only needed to spend around 20 RMB. It was not expensive at all.

“188 RMB?”An Xiaohui and the others were clearly shocked when they heard the price.

Xiao Lingyu raised his eyebrows and asked, “Is 188 RMB too expensive?” She didn’t think it was. If she compared it to the food at the hotel in Xing Yin county, the same food would cost at least 388 RMB.

“No, no…” Ye Feifei and the others shook their heads. “It was not expensive. On the contrary, we think it was a little cheap.”

At least in her opinion, a table of such dishes would cost at least 300. Plus, the food was even more delicious than the expensive hotel food.

Xiao Lingyu smiled and said, “It seems like I have to raise the price.”

“No, no, this price is just right!” Ye Feifei and the others immediately shook their heads. Even if they had money, they wouldn’t spend it casually.

Xiao Lingyu said again, “The price of noodles is eight RMB per bowl, and the meal is 188 RMB per table. As for the accommodation, I’ll consider it as borrowing you a hostel to stay in. In the future, I might charge but not this time.”

“That’s great!” The tourists cheered. They were glad to have saved money.

“Grandma, your wine is too delicious.” The tourists who had tasted the wine said with some doubt, “But why can I taste the fragrance of peach blossoms in this wine?”

Grandma Xiao said with a smile, “We brewed them with the peach blossoms. How is it? Does it taste okay?”

“It’s amazing. The fragrance of the peach blossom and the mellow fragrance of the wine is really intoxicating!”

“This wine is really fragrant! Grandma, is this wine for sale? I plan to buy some back home.” They were reminded of them when they ate the bowls of noodles. They had been out for two to three months already. It was about time to go home. Their parents were not getting younger.

Grandma Xiao smiled and said, “Of course, you can. However, the wine is stored in jars. You all came here by bike, so how are you going to carry all the jars?”

Glass wine jars were really not easy to carry.

An Xiaohui said, “Grandma, can this wine be stored in plastic bottles? For example, mineral water bottles?”

Grandma Xiao said, “Yes, but it’s best to store them in wine jars, so the taste won’t be affected. If you use plastic bottles, the taste will be influenced.”

“I don’t think it matters if the influence is small.” someone immediately said. “I just want to bring it home for my dad to taste.”

“Yes, it’s also more convenient. Otherwise, we might break the wine jars once we run into bumps.”

Grandma Xiao thought for a moment and said, “Alright then. Since you guys have no problem with it, I’ll go and start preparing it.”

Someone asked again, “Then grandma, how much is this wine?”

Grandma Xiao said, “One wine jar can only hold about two catties of wine. Well, let’s use an auspicious number. It’s 16 RMB per catty.”

16 RMB per catty? So cheap!

Generally speaking, the prices of the things or specialties sold in tourist areas were ridiculously high.

But here, it seemed to be ridiculously cheap.

However, they thought of something very quickly. Taoyuan Village hadn’t been developed into a tourist destination yet. Technically, this was still an ordinary village. So the things there were naturally cheap.

…

After eating and drinking their fill in the afternoon, they rested for a while. In the afternoon, everyone went out to play, including the reservoir where Xiao Lingyu raised fish.

These tourists spent three days playing just like that. However, eventually, they started to miss home. Even though they were reluctant to part with it, most of them seemed to be eager to return. They suddenly missed their parents, their brothers, and sisters at home. Some of them were even married and had children. Naturally, they also missed their wives and children.

When they paid the bill, they realized each of them had spent less than 200 RMB on food for three days.

“Xiaohui, why aren’t you packing up and leaving?” In the dormitory, everyone was packing up and preparing to leave. They either went to the next destination or went home.

However, Ye Feifei, who was in the same dormitory as An Xiaohui, noticed that An Xiaohui seemed to be absent-minded.

An Xiaohui’s brows were slightly lowered, and her forehead was slightly furrowed. She seemed to be deep in thought and was in a dilemma. Therefore, she didn’t hear Ye Feifei.

Ye Feifei put down her hand and waved a hand in front of An Xiaohui. There was still no reaction.

Ye Feifei suddenly felt a little strange. She patted An Xiaohui’s shoulder, and An Xiaohui immediately woke up. She looked at Ye Feifei in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

Ye Feifei said in amusement, “Are you asking me that? I should be the one asking you what’s wrong. Everyone is packing up. Why aren’t you moving? What are you thinking about?”

An Xiaohui looked at Ye Feifei and opened her mouth, but she didn’t say anything. Then, she seemed to have made up her mind. She turned and ran away.

Ye Feifei, “…” Is An Xiaohui alright? What’s wrong with her? Is she possessed or something?

An Xiaohui ran out of the dormitory and went straight to the Xiao residence.

When she arrived at the Xiao residence, she saw Grandma Xiao arranging some vegetables in the courtyard.

An Xiaohui asked anxiously, “Grandma, I’m looking for boss Xiao. where is she?”

Grandma Xiao saw An Xiaohui’s anxious expression and immediately put down her work. She asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Miss? My Yu ‘Er went to city z this morning. If there’s anything, you can tell me first. If you’re in a hurry, I can call Yu’er.”

‘Boss Xiao went to City Z?’ An Xiaohui suddenly felt anxious, helpless, and disappointed.

An Xiaohui weighed the options in her mind, looking at Grandma Xiao.

Grandma Xiao looked at An Xiaohui’s hesitant look and said with a smile and amiability, “Miss, if there’s anything you need, you can tell me directly. If I can help you solve it, I’ll definitely help you solve it.”

An Xiaohui thought for a moment and finally opened her mouth to say, “Grandma, didn’t boss Xiao open a company? I want to stay and work. I majored in human resources management at South University.”

Grandma Xiao smiled and said, “Haha, so it’s about that. My Yu ‘Er’s company is lacking people. Since you’re interested, you can stay.”

An Xiaohui asked hesitantly, “Grandma, don’t you want to ask boss Xiao first?”

Grandma Xiao shook her head and said, “There’s no need. Yu ‘Er said that the company is recruiting a large number of talents. With so many positions, there must be one suitable for you. But Miss, do you really plan to stay and work? Have you thought it through?”

An Xiaohui said, “Grandma, I’ve thought it through. However, I just graduated from university. I hadn’t found a suitable job yet, so I went on a backpacking trip to unwind. But I’m a newbie with no work experience. Will Boss Xiao take me?”

“My Yu ‘Er’s company is new too.” Grandma Xiao continued with a smile, “Plus, those experienced veterans also start from being rookies. If you’re good at your job, it doesn’t matter what your work experience is. Work experience can be gained after all.”

An Xiaohui’s eyes immediately lit up, and she said with a smile, “Grandma, what you said seems to make sense.”

Grandma Xiao said, “That’s because it does make sense.”

An Xiaohui, “…”

…

When An Xiaohui returned to the dormitory, Ye Feifei’s luggage had already been packed.

Seeing that An Xiaohui had returned, Ye Feifei asked with concern, “Xiaohui, what happened to you? Why did you suddenly run away without packing your luggage?”

An Xiaohui shook her head and said, “Feifei, I’m not packing for the time being. I plan to stay here and work.”

“What?” Ye Feifei was very surprised. Then, she reacted and said loudly, “An Xiaohui, are you crazy?

“You graduated from a prestigious university. If you want to find a job, you should go to a big company in a big city. Why would you stay at this poor and remote place to work? Humans should always aim higher, but you do the complete opposite.”

An Xiaohui, however, said very seriously, “Feifei, although this place is a little remote, I’m very optimistic about boss Xiao’s company.”

When Ye Feifei heard this, a disdainful and cold smile appeared on her face. Then, she said, “Optimistic? Are you serious?

“We’ve also been to her company. It’s just a very ordinary residential building. Moreover, it’s just an empty shell. There aren’t many people working there at all. It sounds better as a company, but it’s not even a real company.”

At this point, Ye Feifei continued to persuade her. “Xiaohui, you’d fare better to go back to the big city.

“If you really can’t find any job, I’ll tell my dad, and you can work at my dad’s company.”

An Xiaohui knew Ye Feifei meant well, but her words really made her uncomfortable.

An Xiaohui said firmly, “Feifei, I’ve decided to stay. Also, thank you for your kindness.”