Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 245 Motivation (Long Chapter)
On Sunday morning, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle.

The wooden signboard of Shuxiangju Restaurant swayed gently in the wind, its vermilion lacquer surface still glistening with raindrops from last night's spring rain. This Sichuan restaurant, which had only been open for a little over a month, was filled with an atmosphere of both tension and anticipation.

The restaurant lobby was spotless, with gleaming square tables neatly arranged along the walls. The staff stood in two rows in the middle of the lobby; the chefs wore clean white uniforms, and the waiters wore blue jackets. Everyone looked a little tired—it was Saturday, and they had been busy all day, not closing until after 9 p.m.

Tan Jingya stood at the front of the line, her beige knit sweater and fitted flared pants accentuating her slender figure. Her long, black hair was neatly tied up in a bun at the back of her head, revealing her smooth forehead and delicate collarbone.

Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and her red lips parted slightly as her clear voice echoed through the lobby: "It's Sunday today, and the weather is so nice. I reckon the customers will be coming in droves from noon to evening. We need to get everything ready in advance. Thank you all for your hard work, and let's all give it our all today!"

She walked up to Master Yan, her gaze falling on his chapped right hand, her eyes softening slightly: "Master Yan, first light the stove, make sure there's enough hot water, so you won't be flustered when the guests arrive. You should apply more Vaseline to your hand; the kitchen just prepared some."

Master Yan rubbed the back of his hands and replied, "It's an old problem. Thank you for your concern, Manager Tan. I'll go right away."

Turning around and seeing Master Han, Tan Jingya reverted to her capable demeanor: "Master Han, this morning we ordered an extra 5 jin of dried chili peppers and 3 jin of Sichuan peppercorns, which have just been delivered to the back door. Please take a close look at their quality; yesterday a customer said our numbing and spicy flavor wasn't authentic enough, so we need to make sure it's up to standard."

By the way, the weather's getting warmer. You mentioned last time you wanted to try some new dishes, how's the planning going?

Master Han raised his thick eyebrows and replied in a loud voice, "I've already thought it through! When I'm not busy, I'd like you and Boss Li to try the dish."

Tan Jingya nodded and turned her gaze to the waiters: "Now that the weather is warmer, everyone should take showers frequently and keep yourselves neat and tidy. Especially our work uniforms, which must be changed and washed every day, and the cuffs and collars must be clean. When customers come to eat, the first thing they see is our spirit and energy."

The words had barely left his mouth when the sound of a car engine came from outside. Everyone turned to look in unison, and a white Volga sedan was parked steadily in front of the door.

The car door opened, and Li Zhe stepped out, carrying a black briefcase. He was wearing a light gray trench coat, his posture was upright, and the sunlight shone on his angular face, making him look exceptionally energetic.

Li Zhe walked into the restaurant, his gaze sweeping gently over everyone. Tan Jingya immediately flashed a bright smile: "Mr. Li, you've arrived."

"We're having a morning meeting," Li Zhe said in a low voice, with a hint of a smile.

Tan Jingya led the applause: "Better late than early! Mr. Li, please say a few words to everyone!" Applause immediately filled the lobby.

Although Li Zhe is the major shareholder, he doesn't come to the restaurant often. The employees are a bit reserved when they see him, but they can't help being curious.

He walked to the front of the line, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone's faces: "Everyone looks pretty good. I heard Manager Tan assigning tasks to you from outside the door, but I won't go into the specifics of the division of labor."

He paused, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, "I'm here today for two reasons: first, to pay everyone's wages, and second, to have a few words from the heart."

As soon as the words "pay wages" were uttered, a buzz of discussion immediately broke out in the queue.

Han Chunyan excitedly tugged at Fang Xiaoli's sleeve, her big eyes sparkling. Fang Xiaoli, a quiet girl, couldn't help but smile.

The employees in the back row muttered to themselves, "Is it payday? So early."

"Yes, the store where I used to work only paid out at the end of the month."

"It's good if I get paid at the end of the month. The restaurant I used to work at had the boss withhold two months' wages, and he still hasn't settled them."

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, their faces beaming with joy.

Tan Jingya clapped her hands, interrupting everyone's whispers: "If anyone has something to say, stand up and speak loudly so that everyone can hear it."

Although Li Zhe is a big boss, he always comes with a smile and never scolds anyone, so people aren't really afraid of him. But Tan Jingya is different. Despite her pretty appearance, she can be quite stern and intimidating when she puts on a stern face.

Li Zhe continued, "Although our restaurant attracts customers with off-season vegetables, we still need to rely on the quality of the food and service to retain them. If customers feel safe and comfortable eating there, they will come back again. When our restaurant does well, everyone will not only get paid early, but also receive extra bonuses."

"Don't worry, boss!" Han Chunyan immediately replied cheerfully, "We will definitely provide excellent service to our guests!"

Li Zhe smiled and looked at her: "Serving guests well isn't just about words; it requires action. First of all, you have to remember the restaurant's rules and regulations. Han Chunyan, have you done all of that?"

"I can!" Han Chunyan puffed out her chest and answered confidently. Li Zhe nodded: "Okay, let's play a little game. If you can meet the restaurant's rules and regulations, I'll give you a bonus on the spot."

"Even something as simple as appearance and grooming comes into direct contact with customers. Today I'm checking the appearance and grooming of the servers. Those who pass will receive a five-yuan bonus."

"Five yuan?" someone exclaimed softly. In those days when the average monthly wage was only a few dozen yuan, five yuan was enough to buy two jin of meat or three jin of eggs. Han Chunyan immediately stepped forward: "Boss, please check me first!"

Li Zhe walked over and gestured for her to extend her hand.

The young girl stretched out her hands, then suddenly became a little nervous, as if she had remembered something. Li Zhe examined her carefully; her hair was neatly combed, the collar of her blue jacket was tied meticulously, and her nails were short and clean—she was completely different from the young girl with black dirt under her nails when she applied for the job.

"Good, keep it up." Li Zhe took out a brand new five-yuan bill from his wallet and handed it to her.

Han Chunyan accepted the gift with both hands and bowed deeply with excitement: "Thank you, boss!" Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her big eyes smiled like crescent moons.

Li Zhe walked to the first waitress in the front row. She looked to be in her early twenties, a little thin, and quite shy.

Li Zhe looked her up and down, his gaze settling on her shoes: "Fang Xiaoli, what are the requirements for shoes in our restaurant?"

Fang Xiaoli was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Li Zhe to call her by name, and her eyes showed some panic: "I...I..."

There are indeed regulations regarding shoes, but there are so many, how could she possibly remember them all? Her palms were sweating with anxiety.

"The bonus is gone." Li Zhe shook his head and turned to the crowd. "Does anyone remember?"

"I know!" Han Chunyan answered loudly immediately, her chin slightly raised with a hint of pride. "During work, you must wear black non-slip leather shoes or cloth shoes, with clean and undamaged uppers and tightly tied laces; women should not wear open-toed shoes, and the heels should not exceed 5 centimeters to avoid affecting movement."

Everyone looked at the usually unremarkable girl in surprise, not expecting her to remember the rules and regulations so clearly.

Li Zhe nodded approvingly, then took out two yuan and handed it to her: "Not bad, this is a reward for you."

Han Chunyan happily took it, carefully stacked it with the five yuan she had just received, and put it in her pocket.

During the subsequent inspection, Li Zhe accurately called out the names of each waiter and pointed out their problems: Liu Suzhen's long hair was not tied up, Zhang Hongmei's nails were too long, Wang Zhiqiang's pants were the wrong color, Zhao Jianguo's beard was not trimmed... Only Zhang Hongqi met all the requirements and received a five-yuan bonus.

"Six out of eight people failed. I wanted to pay you guys, but you won't give me the chance," Li Zhe said with a smile, shaking his head as he turned his gaze to the kitchen helpers.

A kitchen helper in a white uniform immediately raised his hand: "Boss, could you check us out too?" Li Zhe recognized him as Guo Yongjiu and deliberately put on a stern face: "Guo Yongjiu, you want to earn a bonus too?"

"Yes!" Guo Yongjiu answered loudly, his eyes sparkling.

"Then tell me, what did you do at the restaurant today?" Li Zhe asked.

Guo Yongjiu immediately replied, "Check the ingredients, wash the vegetables, and take the meat out of the refrigerator to thaw."

Li Zhe nodded: "Yeah, you've done a lot of work, but let me ask you, since you've already been in the kitchen today, why weren't you wearing a hood?"

Guo Yongjiu was stunned for a moment, scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "Boss, I usually only wear it when I'm cooking."

Tan Jingya, who was standing next to her, immediately corrected: "Chefs wear head coverings to prevent hair, dandruff, or other debris from falling into the food and to ensure food safety. They have to wear them as soon as they enter the kitchen area, not just when they are cooking."

Guo Yongjiu lowered his head: "I understand, I will definitely pay attention in the future."

Li Zhe glanced at his watch: "Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone, go upstairs and collect your wages."

The employees immediately cheered and rushed to go up to the second floor.

"Don't panic," Tan Jingya called out to everyone. "I'll call out names in a bit, one by one in order. Manager Wang, please go upstairs first."

The three entered the private room, and Li Zhe took out paper, pen, and a stack of money tied with a rubber band from his briefcase.

Wang Jianjun followed the two into the private room. Li Zhe said, "Manager Wang, your salary is 150, and your bonus is 80, for a total of 230."

Wang Jianjun took the 23 ten-yuan bills and put them in his pocket. Besides the restaurant business, Wang Jianjun also helped Li Zhe manage other business matters, and Li Zhe would give him an extra salary.

Li Zhe continued, "Manager Wang, you've done a great job lately. You can't let your guard down in the future; you must ensure the quality of the dishes."

"I know, don't worry," Wang Jianjun assured him, patting his chest. "I go to the market every morning to keep an eye on things; they're absolutely fresh!"

Li Zhe nodded in satisfaction: "Also, I've discussed it with Manager Tan. If business is good this year, we might open a new restaurant in the second half of the year, and we'll need a new store manager then. During this time, you should learn from Manager Tan and help her out as much as possible."

Wang Jianjun's eyes widened in surprise, and after a long while, he nodded emphatically: "Okay! I understand! I will definitely study hard!"

Tan Jingya smiled and said, "Manager Wang, I will take one day off every week from now on. Please take good care of the store's business then."

Wang Jianjun immediately felt the pressure and quickly said, "Manager Tan, you'll have to teach me properly. I'm a rough guy, what do I know about management?"

“No problem, we can learn from each other.” Tan Jingya made a mark on her notebook, “When you go out, call Fang Xiaoli in.”

A moment later, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Fang Xiaoli walked in looking particularly flustered, her hands nervously twisting together: "Mr. Li, Manager Tan."

Li Zhe gestured for her to sit down and said gently, "You had perfect attendance last month without taking any extra leave, so your full attendance bonus is 70. Overall, your performance during this period has been good, so you'll get a bonus of 20."

"Huh?" Fang Xiaoli looked up in surprise, thinking she had misheard. "I... I get a bonus too?" She had failed the check earlier and thought she would have her pay docked.

Li Zhe capped his pen and said seriously, "Our restaurant pays slightly more than other restaurants, but we also have higher expectations for our employees. I know some employees are dissatisfied with us, feeling that Manager Tan and I are too demanding and troublesome."

But I still maintain that good customer service is something customers will feel and be more willing to spend more money on their meals. The better the restaurant's business, the higher everyone's bonuses will be.

Fang Xiaoli nodded vigorously, clutching the money tightly in her hands, her eyes a little red: "Thank you, boss. I will definitely work hard this month and memorize all the rules and regulations!"

"Go and call Han Chunyan in." Tan Jingya wrote in her notebook.

One by one, the employees entered the private room. Li Zhe personally distributed the money, and everyone received their March salary, as well as bonuses of varying amounts based on their performance.

Han Chunyan jumped up excitedly after receiving her salary. Her salary and bonus for the month had exceeded one hundred yuan. If her parents knew, they would be overjoyed.

When Guo Yongjiu received his bonus, he scratched his head sheepishly, while Zhang Hongqi carefully folded the money and put it into his inner pocket...

Li Zhe could clearly feel the joy of his employees when they received extra bonuses. This money brought not only material satisfaction but also recognition of their work, which would turn into even greater motivation.

It was already past nine in the morning after payday, and the restaurant was making final preparations for opening. Li Zhe said goodbye to Tan Jingya and drove away.

Today is Sunday, and he invited Wang Ting to go for a spring outing.

A white Volga sedan drove into the residential compound of the Beijing Television Factory.

Li Zhe got out of the car, the warm sunshine on his body made it a perfect day for a day of fun.

He had just parked his car for less than two minutes when the iron gate on the first floor creaked open.

Aunt Feng came out carrying a shopping basket. When she saw this handsome young man she didn't recognize, she squinted and looked him up and down: "Young man, which unit are you from? Who are you looking for?"

Her loud voice startled the two sparrows on the windowsill into flying away.

Just as Li Zhe was about to speak, light footsteps came from the second floor.

Wang Ting ran down wearing a pale yellow dress, her long, black hair flying with her movements, carrying a faint scent of perfume: "Aunt Feng, he's looking for me."

She ran to Li Zhe's side, naturally taking his arm, her fair cheeks flushed in the sunlight.

Aunt Feng's eyes widened, and the vegetable basket in her hand wobbled: "Xiao Ting? This... what's this?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she recalled what Wang Ting's mother had said last year when she wanted to introduce her nephew to Wang Ting: "The girl already has a boyfriend." At the time, she had thought it was just an excuse.

“My boyfriend, Li Zhe.” Wang Ting looked up at Li Zhe, her smile barely concealed.

Li Zhe nodded politely to Aunt Feng: "Hello, Auntie."

Aunt Feng looked at the brand-new Volga, then glanced at Li Zhe's crisp trench coat, her lips moved but she didn't say anything.

Her nephew's family was still crammed into two single-story houses in a large courtyard, with seven or eight people sharing one coal stove. Compared to this young man, they were far worse off.

Even after the car engine started, Aunt Feng remained rooted to the spot, secretly admiring Wang Ting's excellent taste.

Li Zhe turned the steering wheel and left the residential compound: "Tour guide Wang, where are you taking me today?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"I've been so busy in the capital that I haven't had a moment to spare. I haven't been anywhere. I'll listen to you."

Wang Ting thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go to the Summer Palace. It's not too hot or too cold at this time of year, and all the flowers in the garden are in bloom. The scenery is just right."

"You lead the way." These days there's no GPS, and Li Zhe had never been there before, so he really needed to find a local to guide him.

Outside the car window, bicycles flowed like a colorful river, while workers in blue overalls, students in military caps, and old ladies carrying baskets shuttled along the roadside.

As they passed Xisi Archway, Wang Ting pointed to the Xinhua Bookstore on the street corner: "I often go there to buy foreign books." Li Zhe lightly turned the steering wheel, and the car drove across the tram tracks, making a soft "clang" sound, which attracted several children on the roadside to chase after the car.

"Turn left ahead and you'll reach Chang'an Avenue." Wang Ting peered out the car window, watching the Chinese scholar trees along the street sprout new green leaves. "We're almost there." Wang Ting pointed to the distant, rolling Longevity Hill, with the Fragrant Buddha Pavilion faintly visible among the green trees.

As the car turned onto Yiheyuan Road, the pine and cypress trees on both sides became increasingly lush, and the air was filled with the fragrance of soil and flowers.

Upon arriving at the East Palace Gate, Li Zhe parked his car in the parking lot, got out with his camera, and just as he locked the car door, he saw an old man selling candied hawthorns pushing his cart past. The bright red hawthorns, coated with glistening sugar, looked especially tempting in the sunlight.

Li Zhe asked with a smile, "Want to eat?"

"No need, I brought my own food." Wang Ting walked ahead in line to buy tickets.

Upon entering the park, the first thing that catches the eye is the bronze lion in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity. Wang Ting pulled Li Zhe to stand next to the lion's paw: "It is said that touching the lion's paw can bring good fortune."

She had just placed her hand on the bronze lion's paw when she was startled by the icy touch and withdrew her hand, which made Li Zhe chuckle.

Passing through Paiyun Gate, the view suddenly opens up, with Kunming Lake like a giant sapphire spread out before you. The peach blossoms on the shore are in full bloom, and the pink and white petals fall with the wind, covering the bluestone path like a flower carpet.

"Let's take a walk in the corridor first." Wang Ting took Li Zhe's arm and stepped into the corridor with its white marble railings. The painted beams were brightly colored in the sunlight.

She pointed to the paintings on the beam: "This is the Three Battles with the White Bone Demon from 'Journey to the West,' that's the Oath of the Peach Garden from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'; this is Daiyu burying flowers from 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' that's Hongniang delivering the letter from 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'..."

Li Zhe was a little surprised. He didn't expect that the Summer Palace would contain content from "Dream of the Red Chamber." In his impression, the literary inquisitions during the Qing Dynasty were quite severe, so there shouldn't be anything like this.

Wang Ting suddenly stopped and pointed at the beauty in the painting, laughing: "Look at this lady, doesn't she have two dimples just like me?"

Li Zhe snapped out of his daze, raised his camera, and snapped a picture: "You look better than in the painting."

Wang Ting's cheeks flushed slightly as she turned and ran towards the lake, her skirt tracing a beautiful arc in the spring breeze. Li Zhe raised his camera and pressed the shutter several times.

When they reached the vicinity of the Stone Boat, Wang Ting pointed to the Fragrant Buddha Pavilion in the distance: "That is the tallest building in the entire park. Standing on it, you can see half of Beijing."

She suddenly remembered something and took an apple out of her bag: "I washed it this morning, let me give you something to eat first." Li Zhe took the apple, took a bite, and then handed it to Wang Ting for a bite.

After walking a short distance, Wang Ting looked at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge on the other side of the lake, which was gleaming white in the sunlight, and tugged at Li Zhe's arm: "Let's take a group photo too, it can't be just me looking beautiful."

As they were talking, they saw a middle-aged woman wearing glasses carrying a camera. The camera bag hanging around her neck had the words "Beijing Tourism" embroidered on it. Li Zhe immediately smiled and went up to her: "Hello, ma'am, could you please take a picture for us?"

The aunt readily agreed, glancing at Wang Ting and Li Zhe: "No problem! You young people are a perfect match." She took the camera, checked it, and pointed to the peach trees by the lake, saying, "It looks good to stand there and take pictures; the flowers make for a festive background."

Wang Ting quickly pulled Li Zhe to stand under the peach tree.

"Closer, closer." The aunt took two steps back while holding the camera, squinting as she adjusted the angle. "Young man, put your hand on the girl's shoulder, be natural."

Li Zhe naturally put his arm around Wang Ting's waist, and Wang Ting leaned her head slightly against his shoulder.

The spring breeze rustled the peach blossoms, and a few pink and white petals landed in Wang Ting's hair. The shutter clicked.

The aunt changed the angle again: "One more picture, young man, look at the camera!" She took two more pictures, handed the camera back to Li Zhe, and said with a smile: "This girl is so pretty, young man, you should treat her well."

Li Zhe thanked her repeatedly, and Wang Ting couldn't wait to look at the photos on the camera. In the photos, her head was gently resting on Li Zhe's shoulder, and the peach petals in her hair were clearly visible. Both the scenery and the person were beautiful.

"Auntie's technique is amazing!" Wang Ting excitedly shook Li Zhe's arm. "Give me a copy when it's developed, I want to put it in my textbook."

“Okay, let’s bring our cameras with us when we go out to play from now on.” Li Zhe didn’t have the chance in his past life, but he wants to record the beautiful moments of his youth in this life.

As the sun set, the two sat on a bench by the lake.

Li Zhe suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, I forgot to buy a VCR when we bought home appliances last time. Shall we go to the department store together tonight?"

Wang Ting shook her head: "It's too late, I have class tomorrow."

Li Zhe held her hand: "It's late, come stay at my place. I'll drive you to school tomorrow, it's faster than taking the bus."

She gave a coquettish laugh: "What are you thinking? If my mom finds out, she'll definitely come to your house and drag me away tonight." Her cheeks flushed slightly. "My family has strict rules; you can't stay out overnight if you're not married."

Li Zhe joked, "You're really letting me go home alone so late at night? Aren't you afraid I'll get kidnapped?"

Wang Ting laughed and said, "If you really get kidnapped, I'll call the police right away—and the charge will be 'stealing a Class I protected animal'!"

Li Zhe: "..."

(End of this chapter)