CH 1.1

“Li, hey, look.”

Li Chengxiu was busy putting salt in the pot, and when he heard Manager Zhang calling him from behind, he hurriedly responded first and then turned his head back after putting the salt.

This hotel has been open only for three months now. The appliances in the kitchen are all new and bright. The luxuriant fire shines on the silver-white cabinet doors, and Li Chengxiu’s white and delicate face shines even more glitteringly. Even the fine beads of sweat on the tip of the nose also shine through the crystal.

He wiped the sweat from his face: “Manager Zhang, what happened.”

Manager Zhang pointed to the person next to him and said: “Qian, you take it.” Then he said to Li Chengxiu, “You come with me.”

Li Chengxiu hurriedly handed the spatula to Qian, turned on the faucet, washed his hands, and walked over with some anxiety.

Manager Zhang led him outside and said “Li, you are lucky this time.”

Li Chengxiu was confused and unhurriedly followed, “Manager Zhang, what’s the matter with me?”

“Mr. Liu is here today. He came here to entertain a distinguished guest, even our boss came to accompany him. As a result, the guest was full of praise for the few dishes you cooked. He is going to hold a sea party in Victoria Harbour next month. The chef of the Chinese food section has not been decided yet. He’s interested to see if you can do it.”

Li Chengxiu was taken aback. Some of the chefs he had worked with before were invited by wealthy people to prepare banquets, New Year’s Eve dinners, and so on. They were tired for a few days, but when they met generous patrons, one time would be worth several months’ salary. It is like a pie fall falling from the sky. He has never had his turn because of his low qualifications.

Today he was able to encounter such a good thing. His face flushed with joy for a while, and his heart was pounding with excitement and nervousness.

Manager Zhang smiled and looked at him: “Be happy! You are really lucky. It’s been less than a month since you transferred from the headquarters. Now, you go in and change your clothes, wash your face, and move quickly.”

Li Chengxiu nodded and lowered his head and headed to the cloakroom. Just before he was about to push the door, he thought of something, turned back and said: “Manager Zhang, thank you.”

Manager Zhang waved his hand: “go change your clothes.”

Li Chengxiu rushed in and took out the washed and slightly scented pure white chef’s uniform and changed into it, and splashed water on his face a few times. The smell of grease and smoke from the kitchen seems to have gone down a lot.

After he came out, Manager Zhang led him to the box, and he carefully asked: “Li, I know you can’t talk. If you can say less for a while, you say less. You can only answer whatever they ask.”

Li Chengxiu nodded quietly. “okay!”

“Remember, after going in, first say hello to our boss, and then to boss Liu. You may often hear of him but have never seen him. He is bald and wearing a blue shirt, say ‘Hello Mr. Liu’. Then on his left-hand side is the guest, surnamed Shao, quite young, looks like a star, say ‘Hello Mr. Shao’. Got it?”

“yes”

“Remember the order first, our boss, then Liu, then Shao. The rest are not important, you can just nod. You rarely say a few words a day. So stop talking after you finish calling unless someone asks you. Leave the rest to me, you understand?”

“Well, thank you, Manager Zhang.” Li Chengxiu nodded with gratitude. Manager Zhang doesn’t talk to him very much. He didn’t expect to take care of him. It made him a little flattered.

The two walked to a box, and Manager Zhang gently knocked on the door.

The boss’s voice came from inside: “Come in.”

Manager Zhang opened the door and led Li Chengxiu in.

When Li Chengxiu looked at the table surrounded by nearly ten people, he looked at them all at once. He only felt a blur before his eyes and his brain buzzed. There was a momentary blankness. Even with the central air conditioner blowing in the room, he is still nervous and sweaty.

He has a somewhat autistic personality and rarely speaks. This feeling of being watched by everyone makes his legs weak and his tongue becomes knotted.

Manager Zhang hurriedly nudged him.

Only then did Li Chengxiu react from dazedness. His eyes got a little focus, and he found his boss first, and cried out: “Hello, boss.” Then he followed his gaze to find Mr. Liu in the blue shirt, “Hello, Mr. Liu.” Then he kept looking for a young man who looked like a star…

Li Chengxiu felt like he was punched in the chest.

Deep, handsome, imperious face, polished forehead, broad shoulders, with a rather interesting smile on his face, this person……

He dropped his head in panic, and the smiling face with scrutiny and inquiry just now kept appearing before his eyes.

This…too similar, is it him? Over ten years have passed, and he may not be able to recognize him, but his surname is Shao…

Manager Zhang is so anxious, thinking that what he had just said outside had been forgotten. He also blamed himself for expecting too much, expecting a person who usually can’t even fart to fart loudly under the eyes of everyone. It really can kill him, so he hurriedly pinched his waist from behind.

Li Chengxiu recovered, and blurted out, “Hello, Mr. Shao.”

Everyone at the table looked at him with interest.

Today, Mr. Liu is going to be the host, and he said not to talk about business, to just eat and drink. Besides political anecdotes, entertainment gossip they talked about food and drink. Since Mr. Shao started praising the authenticity of the dishes here, the topic of the people at the table shifted to talking about food, so when the cook came in, several bosses all watched as a sideshow.

The owner of the hotel felt happy. He felt that the young chef gave him a face, but he also observed that Chef Li’s face was thinner than a girl’s, so he laughed and said, “Li, the air conditioner is not enough? Look how you are blushing.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

Manager Zhang also laughed: “Our Li is good at everything. He is a talented person, a skilled cook, but he is shy and dare not speak when he meets strangers. Don’t mind him, boss.”

Boss Liu is clearly drunk. He laughed loudly and said, “Why is Master Li different from the cook I imagine. He cooks so much food every day, and his figure is still such a slim figure. How do you maintain it? Can you share what you know?”

Someone at the table laughed and Interrupted: “Yes, who’s not three years old at our age. You say they are still so thin because they are spinning in oil and salt all day long.”

Li Chengxiu blushed so much that he could bleed, and he didn’t dare to lift his head.

Seeing his unpromising appearance, Manager Zhang really couldn’t laugh or cry, and hurriedly finished the game: “Isn’t it, the girl in our hotel clamoured to lose weight all the time, and when she saw he didn’t get fat from eating, she was too jealous.”

The bosses at the bottom talked about how thin they were when they were young, how they got fat, what was wrong with their bodies now, and for a moment they removed their attention from him.

As soon as Li Chengxiu was free from the focus of attention, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, but before he could catch his breath, the young and handsome President Shao spoke, his voice full of pure masculine magnetism. It sounds good; the volume is not loud, but everyone is quiet when he speaks.

“Master Li is really young. I didn’t expect his craftsmanship to be so good.”

Manager Zhang was afraid that he would be considered inexperienced, so he quickly added: “He looks young, but he is thirty.”

Mr. Liu said, “You look like a college student, really young.”

Li Chengxiu silently corrected in his heart, twenty-eight.

Manager Zhang poked his waist with a finger from behind “Li, it was Mr. Shao who intended to ask you to be the Chinese chef of the sea party.”

Li Chengxiu hurriedly raised his head, he is inadvertently staring into his eyes and saw Mr. Shao looking at him with an inexplicable smile. My heart was flustered.

“Thank you, Mr. Shao.”

Mr. Shao smiled and asked casually: “What is Master Li’s full name?”

Li Chengxiu froze and couldn’t help wondering if he recognized him, too. When he thought of this possibility, his heart became tight and frightened.

Manager Zhang saw him like a clockwork doll, twisting a little and dealing with it a little and then he would freeze again, he was so angry at heart that he smack him with the sole of his shoes so he desperately snubbed at him “Li, Mr. Shao asked you to talk about it.”

“I…”

Mr. Shao blinked and smiled. “What did Master Li do that made you so nervous? So nervous that you’ve forgotten your name?”

Li Chengxiu forced himself to calm his mind. Looking at a pair of eyes staring at him, he said: “My name is Li Chengxiu.”

Mr. Shao let out a long “Oh”, and Li Chengxiu was frightened.

Li Chengxiu tried his best to comfort himself. It has been 13 or 14 years. It’s all about the time. He may not be Shao Qun. Even if he is, he may not remember him. Even if he does, what is his guilty conscience and nervousness? It’s not him who did bad things.

Thinking about it this way, he felt a lot of peace in his heart. It’s just that the work at the sea party really makes him worry.

He doesn’t want to give up on such a good job, but if this person is really Shao Qun, he really doesn’t want to go.

The feeling this person gives him is no different from that time. His whole body exudes superior grandeur, but when he was young, he was arrogant. Now he is coated with a shell called self-cultivation and courtesy. Although it is not offensive, one can always see the arrogance in the bones. So it is equally difficult for people to approach and avoid him.

Mr. Shao smiled: “I’m surprised that Master Li is so young, but it’s okay. You need to set the menu in advance for this party and take part in the purchase for better results. You will be very busy on that day. I was originally afraid old people couldn’t bear it. But you don’t have to be burdened. Your boss promised to lend me a few more people, and they will be available for your dispatch when the time comes.”

Li Chengxiu twisted his hands awkwardly, and Mr. Shao’s tone was particularly determined as if he gave no room for rejection. He wanted to get rid of the matter very much, but with so many eyes watching, he knew he would make mistakes when he talked more. He will be disgraced, and if he disgraces his boss, the trouble would be serious.

Boss Chen from their hotel echoed: “Okay, Li hurry and thank Mr. Shao.”

Li Chengxiu peeked at him and said, “Thank you, Mr. Shao.”

Boss Chen wrinkled slightly. He immediately said with a somewhat flattering smile: “Mr. Shao, it’s just because of you, otherwise our hotel master wouldn’t be lent so easily. But we are brothers, let’s say, you can just use him. It is our master Li. When the environment is not very good, he will be a little autistic in speech. But, in fact, it affects nothing. Cooking is his best skill and will not give you any trouble regarding that.”

Mr. Shao nodded with a smile, his eyes never leaving Li Chengxiu: “It’s not a problem, as a chef it’s okay to just be able to taste it with your tongue.”

The tone of the word “Taste” when heard in Li Chengxiu’s ears felt a little Weird, it made him uncomfortable.

Boss Chen waved his hand and gestured to Manager Zhang and lifted his chin: “That’s it, you can go back and work.”

Manager Zhang and Li Chengxiu both turned around and left after they were pardoned.

President Shao suddenly shouted behind him: “Master Li.”

Li Chengxiu paused and turned around stiffly.

Mr. Shao smiled and looked at him: “Master Li, then I will pick you up in a few days, and we will discuss it carefully.”

Li Chengxiu felt that his heart was shaking.

Li Chengxiu looked at Manager Zhang’s tall and thick back, hesitated all the way from the box, endured and endured, and finally couldn’t help shouting: “Manager Zhang.”

Manager Zhang frowned and turned back.

He rarely has contact with Li Chengxiu, and he can’t say that he is disgusted, but he really wants to say that he just looks down on him a little.

A man in his late thirties, who is as thin as a high school student, how to describe it, he can’t help but feel weak. A man looks so weak, can someone still save him? His low tone of voice and lowered eyes. He is just like a girl who wears a skirt and no one

He knows that there are some young workers in their hotel who love to learn his way of talking and walking posture secretly, and they also need to have an extra orchid finger hanging on the eyebrows or something. He knew that he was just a bit of a mother, and he wouldn’t be as arrogant as some inconsistent people in the society, but it was this awkwardness that was enough to make Manager Zhang twisted.

His performance today was worse than he thought. He didn’t even say a complete sentence when he went in, he only looked down at his feet. Those who came today were all familiar customers of the boss. If he(LC) really did upset the guests, then he(MZ) would be the one to clean up all the mess.

Thinking about it, Manager Zhang’s so-so look at him escalated a bit, and his tone was not very good: “What?”

Li Chengxiu gave him a somewhat timid look and hesitantly said, “Manager Zhang, can….can I not go.”

Manager Zhang squinted his eyes and brought his ears close to him: “What are you talking about? Speak louder.”

“Well, the sea, the party, can I? Can I not go?”

Manager Zhang heard clearly this time. “Not go! Why?”

Li Chengxiu lowered his head. He could not think of any excuses, and repeated it again: “Can I not go?”

Manager Zhang’s face turned ugly: “Not go? What do you think, ah? That Mr. Shao looks young, but do you know how big his background is? His family is directly connected to that.” Manager Zhang did not say clearly but pointed to the upper middle of the Lightbox in the corner of Zhongnan Sea wine. “If you don’t want to go, then can you miss this number?” Manager Zhang stretched out the hand in front of his eyes again, but this time spread out five fingers, “You cannot save this amount even if you work hard for two months, what’s wrong with you, why don’t you go?”

Li Chengxiu’s face blushed, and he suddenly asked something that surprised Manager Zhang. “He, his full name, what is it?”

“What?”

“Full name, Shao, Shao What?”

Manager Zhang frowned his eyes stern: “You are a cook. What are you prying about this for?”

“I…”

“You just cook honestly, don’t think about things you shouldn’t. Let me tell you Li, that kind of person is not something you can climb onto even if you want.”

“I’m not…”

“I really don’t know what you want. The boss personally agreed with this matter. It is impossible to change it. You need to have that ability, behave well, and let Mr. Shao give you more. But you can’t disgrace our boss. Our boss has the best face, and his temper is up. If you are open and are open-minded. You have been working in our hotel for several years, including the time in the General Store, and then if you mix for a few more years, you might be the head chef. Don’t blame me for not reminding you, be down-to-earth, do a good job, or else when you miss the opportunity, you can’t blame others.”

Manager Zhang’s words are reasonable, and Li Chengxiu can’t refute a word.

After speaking, he just left.

Li Chengxiu silently looked at the empty promenade of the hotel. The bright yellow lights stretched to the end one by one. In the end, mirrors covering almost the entire wall reflected the promenade into an infinitely extending space. It looked magnificent, but also empty and scary. It is obviously a warm-toned layout, but it is decorated with cold and hard marble floors, and Li Chengxiu’s thin figure is so abruptly dotted in the empty scene.

He went back to change the clean clothes and put on the dirty ones again before returning to the kitchen.

When he went in, those who were handling spoons, serving dishes and carving flowers all stopped moving and looked at him with a bit of gloating, inquiring eyes.

Li Chengxiu knew that he was not well-liked here.

In the past, in fact, there has never been such a thing as human contact. His way of doing things has always been to wrap himself tightly, not to talk if he can, not to communicate if he can. Only when everyone forgets about him did he feel at ease.

People like him can easily be offended, so it’s better to minimize your presence and be safe instead.

He is used to treating people with silence, and others naturally treat him with silence.

It’s just that this place is different. He felt that some people’s attitude towards him was somewhat hostile besides contempt.

He has been in Shenzhen for ten years. He started as an apprentice as a handyman, and later entered this hotel with a master, who treated him better.

Three months ago, the boss opened this new hotel. Because it is a sea view hotel, the environment is good, and the salary is high. The first batch of employees transferred will definitely have better development in the future.

When deciding on the personnel, everyone also grabbed their heads. He had been working under their General Manager Chen for five years and had been performing well, so he was transferred here to take on the role of sous chef together with another colleague. (T/N sous chef is the top assistant in a professional kitchen under the head chef)

In the previous environment, everyone was accustomed to his silent nature. But in the new environment, with many new colleagues, in the first familiarity period, he was isolated from their world, and it was difficult not to attract criticism.

Also, if he can be a sous chef with his qualifications, some people will inevitably be dissatisfied. If it weren’t for the urgent shortage of staff in this new hotel, it would certainly not be his turn.

Everyone knows that the manager called him out while he was cooking, that too in such a hurry, it probably isn’t anything good.

Just now, a young chef Qian who took over his task came up and asked him, “Brother Li, what did Manager Zhang tell you to do?”

Li Chengxiu said truthfully: “There are guests, throwing a party, he told me to go.”

Qian showed his disbelief. He opened his mouth and looked at him for a while, and then smiled: “Okay, Brother Li, a good thing.”

Zhao, who was preparing the cold dish, deliberately sighed. “Brother Li is lucky. If you weren’t on duty today, you wouldn’t encounter such a good thing.”

The implication is that if the head chef or the other sous chef is here today, it will not be his turn.

The others followed suit and echoed a few words, then said congratulations without missing a beat.

Li Chengxiu nodded and said nothing. He looked at the dishes ordered by the customer displayed on the electronic page, washed his hands, lifted his sleeves, and started to work.

The crowd saw that he had no reaction, and they wondered how to be so boring. One worker took a few exaggerated steps behind him, twisting his waist, and everyone else laughed.

Li Chengxiu’s right ear is weak at the hearing, and it is difficult to distinguish multiple sounds in a noisy environment, but the laughter with sarcasm can still penetrate the eardrum and is clearly sent into the brain.

He buried his head in the crab tofu in his hands, his heart gradually calmed down.

After returning home with a tired body at night, Li Chengxiu threw herself on the faded carpet.

He always loves cleanliness, and if the smell of oily smoke is not cleaned, he will never touch the bed.

He rolled over and lay on his back on the carpet, resting, with his eyes closed and breathing heavily.

Shenzhen in July is as hot as a big steamer. When he got off work at night, they still crowded the bus with people sweating. A trip home from work is like a sticky bath, so much that people inside and outside are nauseated.

The company originally arranged accommodation, but after moving to the new hotel, the dormitory was not ready yet. For his level, he was given a monthly accommodation allowance of 1000 every month, so that they could find a house outside first.

Li Chengxiu thinks this is good, even if the dormitory is set up in the future, he doesn’t want to live in it. He would rather take the accommodation allowance and take the bus for more than half an hour a day, rather than live with strangers.

He took out the phone in his pocket to see what time it was.

He turned off the phone during working hours, and just after he turned it on, several notifications popped up, all of which were missed calls.

There are numbers that he knows and those that he doesn’t.

Li Chengxiu looked at the familiar number, frowned lightly, pursed his lips, hesitated for a while and finally dialled back.

“Hello…”

“Oh, why are you calling back now?” On the other side is a high-pitched female voice.

“Si gu, I’m at work.” (T/N si gu 四姑 means the fourth aunt)

“Working until now? That’s really hard. Xiu ah, did you pay this month’s money?”

“No, tomorrow I will.”

“Then you hurry up. Everyone else is a bit anxious. Also, for Si gu’s money this month, you pay a thousand more. Next month, your brother will bring his girlfriend back. I want to buy an air conditioner.”

“ok..”

“Xiu ah, Si gu also knows that you are in difficulties and are tired, but when you are young, you should work harder. Otherwise, when will you pay off the money you owe? It’s not that you will carry debts for the rest of your life, right?“

“Yes.“

“So be it, long-distance charges can be expensive. In the future, you have to pay the money on time, Si gu will not call you. Try to be on time. You’re so far away, there’s no way for us to find you if you ran away, don’t you think so? I know you’re not that kind of person, but I’m not the only one you owe. It’s difficult for everyone, so think about us, okay?”

“Okay.”

Li Chengxiu hung up the phone, just to feel his body tired and falling apart

He struggled to get up, took a simple shower, sat on his bed and took out an old passbook that was turned upside down under the pillow, and stared at the numbers on it.

Suddenly, his phone rang again, startling him. His body moved, and the bed squeaked.

He quickly took the phone, looked at the unfamiliar number on it, and gently pressed the call button.

“Hello?”

A few soft breaths came from over there, and then tentatively asked, “Li Chengxiu?”

Li Chengxiu’s hand shook, and the phone almost fell.

He remembered this voice. He had just heard it today. It was ‘President Shao’.