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When talking about that girl, Jiang Ci’s mother’s words were filled with regret.
Jiang Ci herself was stunned for a long time. A wave of immense sadness and fear had suddenly swept over her, slowly causing her eyes eyes.
That day the girl had spoken to her, perhaps it was a cry for help. Even now, whenever Jiang Ci thought of her, she always slightly blamed herself.
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Jiang Ci patted the girl’s head and said, “Don’t be afraid. If you ever encounter someone like that again, just jump up and smash their head off.”
The girl pursed her lips and smiled softly, finally feeling a little less tense.
“Boss Jiang, I can help out in the store today. I won’t feel at ease staying here without doing something,” Dong Xingyu said.
“That works,” Jiang Ci replied after a moment of thought. She had been worrying about the lack of manpower, so she nodded in agreement. “You can have lunch with the other staff, and then bring some food over for your daughter.”
“No need, Boss Jiang,” Dong Xingyu quickly said. “Staying here is already causing you enough trouble.”
“Then how about this? Little Ye can help out with some tasks too, okay?” Jiang Ci bent down and spoke to Dong Ye, who was standing nearby.
The nickname “Little Ye” made Dong Ye feel a sense of familiarity, bring them closer, so she nodded involuntarily.
“Then you can help me bag the potatoes,” Jiang Ci said to Dong Ye after a moment of thought.
Although Jiang Ci had mentioned selling potatoes yesterday, she still hadn’t had time to bag them yet. This simple, non-technical task was perfect for Dong Ye.
Dong Xingyu’s eyes began to well up again. He lowered his head, holding back his tears, and decided to keep Boss Jiang’s kindness in his heart, vowing to repay her someday.
Jiang Ci brought the potatoes and bags to the open area in front of the room where they were staying. After demonstrating how to bag the potatoes, she left the task to Dong Ye.
There was no rush, so Dong Ye could take her time.
Dong Ye looked serious as she stared at the potatoes and bags, meticulously following Jiang Ci’s instructions to bag each potato one by one.
Since she now had this opportunity, she also wanted to share some of the burden with her father.
After settling Dong Xingyu and his daughter, Jiang Ci finally went to the front. Dong Xingyu followed behind her, determined to lend a hand today.
When they arrived, Song Jinchuan had already opened the main gate, and all the staff were in place.
Once everyone had gathered, Jiang Ci didn’t rush to open the doors. Instead, she first informed them about the barbecue shop’s upcoming event and introduced Dong Xingyu in passing.
“This is Dong Xingyu, an employee from our factory. He’ll be helping out at the shop for the next few days. His daughter is also helping with packing vegetables. Qiao Ran, remember to order two extra meals when you place the lunch order,” Jiang Ci explained to everyone.
Qiao Ran nodded. Ordering meals was her responsibility now, so it wasn’t a hassle for her.
Jiang Ci had already moved the tables provided by the system to the warehouse earlier. Now, she instructed the survivors to set up the tables outside the barbecue shop.
Everyone went to the warehouse to carry out the tables and chairs, arranging them neatly outside.
Upon seeing this, the waiting survivors outside eagerly asked what was going on.
When they learned that the store was hosting an event where two fourth-level crystal cores would grant them unlimited eating for two hours, the crowd immediately buzzed with excitement.
“Only two fourth-level crystal cores? It’s a bit pricey, but being able to eat as much as you want makes it worth it.”
“Let’s go line up now, or it’ll get crowded later.”
Some hesitated, thinking it was too expensive, while others immediately went ahead to queue up. Despite all this, everyone still adhered to the rules Jiang Ci had previously set, and the scene wasn’t chaotic.
Once the preparations were complete, the staff returned to their respective posts, and the barbecue shop’s first-ever “two fourth-level crystal cores for AYCE buffet” event officially began.
Although the barbecue shop had been open for a while, this event still felt fresh and exciting to the survivors.
Jiang Ci glanced at the long, winding line and gritted her teeth. This was definitely going to be a busy day.
The first batch of survivors took their seats, and Jiang Ci handed each of them a piece of paper and a pen, instructing them to write down their table number and what they needed.
She was in charge of collecting the slips in the dining area. If someone forgot to write their table number, she would add it to the slip herself.
Meanwhile, the other staff in the kitchen were working hard to slice meat and vegetables. Pan Cheng and Yang Ting from the neighboring hotpot restaurant had even been loaned over to the barbecue store to help out.
As Jiang Ci collected the orders, she noticed that most of them were for meat, with the quantities for each item rarely falling below double digits.
Once the orders were submitted, plates of meat were quickly brought out from the kitchen. Soon, the sizzling sounds of grilling filled the air, and the aroma began to spread throughout the area.
Despite the large number of people, the quick service ensured that everyone’s mouths were almost constantly busy.
Two hours might not seem like a long time, but it was enough for them to eat quite a lot.
The tables and chairs in the courtyard were completely full, and the lively atmosphere attracted many onlookers.
When the first two hours were up, the survivors, now full and satisfied, reluctantly left their tables, making way for the next batch of diners.
At noon, they had to eat in shifts. When it was Dong Xingyu’s turn, he took his meal to the backyard to find Dong Ye.
Dong Ye was still diligently packing potatoes, her movements quite efficient. The once towering pile of potatoes had now flattened considerably, and she had almost finished packing them all.
Only when Dong Xingyu handed her the meal did she realize it was time for lunch. Putting down the potato in her hand, Dong Ye wiped the dirt off her hands and then took the lunchbox from Dong Xingyu.
The lunchbox was still warm, and when she opened it, the aroma of food wafted out, instantly making Dong Ye feel hungry.
The meal was simple home-style food. Since everyone had been busy today, they had just ordered individual portions.
The set meal was filled to the brim with vegetables and meat, so abundant that both father and daughter were momentarily stunned.
After eating, they continued their work. Throughout the day, Jiang Ci and Song Jinchuan had been helping out at the barbecue shop.
By the end of the day, everyone was unusually exhausted.
Jiang Ci waved her hand decisively, giving them a day off to rest at home. There were still two more events like this coming up, and she couldn’t afford to completely wear out her employees.
Returning to the courtyard, she acknowledged Dong Xingyu and Dong Ye’s repeated thanks before heading to her room and collapsing into bed.
*
pls do not share this anywhere or u will always stub ur toe when u walk past a door frame !! this translation has been stolen from mioscorner.com, pls only read there i’m begging u :kneels:
The next day, all her stores were closed for the day. Jiang Ci simply moved her small table outside to sell potatoes.
A few survivors, having learned through various channels that she had wheelchairs for sale, came specifically to inquire, bringing gold with them. Seeing the gleaming gold bars in front of her, Jiang Ci naturally became very enthusiastic and brought out the wheelchair from the backyard, receiving a pile of heavy gold bars in return.
She carried the gold bars into her room and took out a box from her space. This box was filled with all the gold she had recently received. Jiang Ci neatly arranged the newly received gold bars inside, the golden glow making her feel jubilant. Indeed, the feeling of making money was truly intoxicating.
Dong Xingyu and Dong Ye were also helping out today. Dong Ye continued packing potatoes, Song Jinchuan collected crystal cores, and Dong Xingyu handed out the potatoes. Jiang Ci, aside from occasionally selling bottled water, found herself with little to do. She squatted beside Dong Ye, helping to pack potatoes while chatting quietly. Suddenly, she noticed a change in Dong Ye’s expression, her face filled with a mix of anger and fear.
Following Dong Ye’s gaze, Jiang Ci saw two men standing by the small table. One of them, a portly man, had an unmistakably odd expression when he saw Dong Xingyu.
Jiang Ci quickly figured it out—this man must be the logistics director who had driven Dong Xingyu and Dong Ye out of the base.
She took Dong Ye’s hand and stood up, stopping Song Jinchuan from collecting crystal cores.
The man standing next to the logistics director was likely the base leader. He had just mentioned wanting to buy a truckload of bottled water to take back.
“Boss Jiang, what’s the meaning of this?” the base leader asked, puzzled but also careful enough not to offend Jiang Ci.
“You should ask your logistics director. He’s quite the character, driving my employees out of the base in the middle of the night without a second thought. I dare not sell anything to you,” Jiang Ci said with a smile, waving them off and calling over the next survivor.
The base leader didn’t dare to cause any trouble for her either. He dragged the logistics director aside and asked somewhat angrily, “What exactly is going on?!”
The logistics director was the base leader’s younger cousin, and it was because of this relationship that he had gotten the position. He was used to throwing his weight around in the base, and the base leader usually turned a blind eye to his antics. But now that it concerned the base’s interests, he couldn’t afford to be deaf and dumb to his actions anymore.
The logistics director understood the seriousness of the matter and didn’t dare to hide anything. He explained everything in detail. However, he still refused to recognize his own mistake and instead felt that Dong Xingyu and his daughter were making a mountain out of a molehill.
“It was just the kids playing around, yet he went and kicked my son so hard. Kicking him out was me being lenient toward them,” the logistics director continued to fume in his anger.
“Enough!” The base leader glanced towards Jiang Ci. “What do you think this place is? Boss Jiang has made it clear she’s protecting her employees. Of all people, why did you have to offend him? And just at that girl’s face—it’s obvious your son was the one who went too far. Don’t think I don’t know his behavior!”
“You go and apologize to that man. No matter what it takes, whether you have to kneel or kowtow, you have to fix this. Otherwise, you and your son can get out of the base,” the base leader said coldly.
The logistics director widened his eyes in disbelief. “Brother, but I’m your younger cousin!”
“Even if you were my younger brother, if Boss Jiang blacklists the base, even my own son would have to get the hell out!”
Seeing the base leader in such a rage, the logistics director didn’t dare to say anything more. Gritting his teeth, he obediently went to apologize to Dong Xingyu.
But to his surprise, Dong Xingyu completely ignored him. When he tried to approach, Dong Xingyu even told him not to disturb Boss Jiang’s business.
The logistics director then tried to approach Dong Ye, but found he couldn’t even get close to her. Not only was Dong Xingyu blocking him, but the man sitting on the wooden chair gave him a glance that froze him in place, making him feel an immense pressure weighing down on him.
the translator has nothing to add ◡̈
