IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 58

Chapter 58 Joining

Lin Yan took a deep breath, refocusing his attention on Mu Luo. He handed the knife to Mu Luo and placed a potato on the cutting board, “Slice this.”

While cutting embroidery-ball tofu required superb skill, slicing potato shreds was something even a newbie could try, though the results would vary.

Mu Luo timidly took the knife, peeled off the outer skin in a few strokes, revealing the golden interior. He neatly cut the potato in half, holding one half firmly on the cutting board. The knife seemed to come alive in his hands, colliding with the cutting board and emitting a “da-da-da” sound. Each slice was precise and quick, producing potato shreds of even thickness, each one distinct, as if measured with a ruler.

Lin Yan, watching the potato shreds disperse in the water, sincerely praised, “Your skill is quite good.”

Mu Luo hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping, finally opening his mouth to advise, “Your Highness, you are a good person, I cannot watch you suffer a loss.”

“What?”

Mu Luo glanced towards the kitchen, took a deep breath, seemingly making a great decision before speaking those words, “My brother has been in the back kitchen for so long, most likely… he’s been secretly learning the recipes. Your Highness should still…”

“He doesn’t have time to worry about that.” Lin Yan’s mind conjured up the scene of Manager Luo making ninety-nine eighty-one cups of lemon tea in a row, developing unicorn arms.

Lin Yan didn’t plan to share these words with Mu Luo, he had a more mature reason, “If First-Class House wants to franchise, the store name, decoration, and dishes all have to follow Hunan flavor standards. There’s nothing wrong with him learning some in advance.”

The smile on Mu Luo’s face instantly disappeared, reverting to his previous timid appearance. He cautiously asked, “Are you planning to acquire First-Class House?”

Lin Yan wagged his finger, “Not acquire, franchise.”

Mu Luo turned the two words over in his mind eight times but still didn’t understand the difference. He gave Lin Yan a simple smile and turned to walk towards the kitchen, “I’ll replace my brother, and let him come and discuss the details with you.”

“Wait, I have something else to say to you.” Lin Yan stopped him, then turned and cupped his fist at the waiter who had just entered, “Brother, thank you for making the trip.”

Manager Luo, who felt he had been played, instantly beamed with joy when he heard that Lin Yan wanted First-Class House to franchise.

Those just now were merely his own tests. It was only right that he should be able to rely on the tree that was Prince An.

Facing his future master, Manager Luo’s attitude became even more respectful, his waist almost bent into an acute angle, “As long as Your Highness is willing to take in First-Class House, whatever Your Highness says is what it is.”

“Is that so?” Lin Yan stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over Mu Luo twice before finally opening his mouth, “This younger brother of yours is quite good, his knife skills are excellent, and he’s honest. I think…”

The manager immediately understood, hurriedly expressing his loyalty, “It’s his fortune if Your Highness wants to keep him as a servant, I’ll immediately draw up the contract of indenture…”

Mu Luo, who had been sitting with his head lowered, suddenly stood up, looking at his brother in disbelief.

The status of merchants in Great Zhou was not high, and it would indeed take some effort to take the imperial exam route. Usually, many pedantic old folks would gossip. But even so, he was a free citizen, and there was a world of difference between him and the maids and servants who had signed contracts of indenture and entered the register of slaves. To take a step back, even if his brother wanted to curry favor with Prince An, signing an employment contract would be enough, there was no need to sign a contract of indenture.

Once a contract of indenture was signed, one would be a slave for generations.

He couldn’t sign it, nor could he stay here any longer.

Mu Luo grabbed Manager Luo and walked out.

“What are you doing? No manners.” Manager Luo pushed Mu Luo’s hand away, smiling apologetically, “It’s his blessing to serve in the Prince’s residence, perhaps he’s too excited with his current behavior, Your Highness…”

“I’m not going.” Mu Luo took two steps back but was blocked. He looked back and realized that blocking him was the kitchen range, the knife he had just used to cut potatoes was within reach.

He froze for a moment, reaching out to grab it, but someone took the knife before him.

Lin Yan casually twirled the knife, then tossed it aside, smiling, “Who said I wanted him to enter the Prince’s residence? I just think that First-Class House lacks someone who understands things, Mu Luo couldn’t be more suitable as the manager.”

The smile on Manager Luo’s face instantly froze. He didn’t dare to do anything to Lin Yan, so he could only look at Mu Luo with resentment.

The ups and downs of life were too stimulating, Mu Luo directly crashed. He stared blankly at Lin Yan, as if he hadn’t realized how things had developed into this.

Mu Luo’s appearance was just right to give Manager Luo a reason. Manager Luo took a deep breath, and put on a smiling face again, “Your Highness is joking, how could his brain understand the affairs of First-Class House.”

Lin Yan didn’t say anything, just looked at Manager Luo with a smile. Manager Luo felt a little nervous from the look. He chuckled awkwardly, secretly kicked Mu Luo and threatened fiercely, “Say something.”

Mu Luo finally recovered from his dazed state, “Your Highness, I…”

Mu Luo had been suppressed for a long time, and inferiority had almost become an ingrained trait.

At this time, threats were more useful than encouragement.

Lin Yan was still smiling, gently laying out the two options in front of Mu Luo, “If you don’t want to be the manager, then go to the Prince’s residence as a servant, choose yourself.”

“I…” Mu Luo’s eyes gradually became firm, and for the first time, he retorted to his feared brother, “Your Highness said, my knife skills are very good, and I can learn about managing accounts.”

“But…”

“That’s not a problem.” Lin Yan snapped his fingers, interrupting Manager Luo’s words, and settled the matter like that.

Manager Luo glanced at Mu Luo resentfully, then turned to Lin Yan with a helpless and pitiful look, “If he becomes the manager, then what about me?”

“Naturally, we won’t leave the manager alone.”

A glimmer of hope ignited in Manager Luo’s eyes, but Lin Yan’s next sentence directly extinguished it.

“The manager can go to First-Class House and be a waiter.”

“What?”

Cheng Que happened to bring over the franchise contract. Lin Yan casually flipped through it and handed it to Manager Luo, “Manager Luo, take a look at this, are there any problems?”

Looking at the paper in his hand, Manager Luo’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a flattering smile reappeared on his face, “No, no, Your Highness’s arrangements are all excellent.”

Cheng Que made a gesture of invitation, “The two of you, this way please, I’ll discuss the details with you.”

Manager Luo glanced at Mu Luo sideways, followed Cheng Que and walked out.

Cheng Que snatched the form from Manager Luo’s hand and handed it directly to Mu Luo, politely saying, “Manager Luo, please take care of us in the future.”

The ignored Manager Luo was a little dazed. Just as he was about to explode, he saw Lin Yan, who was smiling noncommittally, so he could only swallow the broken teeth into his stomach and retreated submissively.

Lin Yan, having completed a major event, was in a very good mood. He hummed a little tune, making small calculations in his heart.

The income from Hunan flavor, the money from opening franchise stores, the new Emperor’s reward, plus the dowry for marrying into the Prince’s residence… oh, the last one was a prop and couldn’t be counted. But the first two items alone were a considerable fortune.

The big black cat, having just finished its business, turned in from the door. Lin Yan took the opportunity to scoop up the cat and spin it around, “We have money now, in the future, we can eat one dried fish, throw one away, and then take another one to pad the nest!”

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