The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 202 Opportunity, Choice
The technicians looked at each other, staring at the confident old man in front of them, then at their own empty shop, where there wasn't even a manager in sight.

After stammering for a while, they could only helplessly say that the store had not officially opened yet, the manager was not there, and they really could not settle the bill.

Old Gu wasn't annoyed by their embarrassed looks. He simply wiped his hands slowly and strolled back to his wonton stall.

The wonton stall was actually just a small storefront with a few brand-new tables inside.

At this moment, a few customers were sitting in the shop eating breakfast.

One of them was a young man in uniform from the Fatou Police Station. He took a sip of soy milk and casually asked, "Uncle Gu, you used to be able to get this kind of cooking at the Fatou Police Station canteen. Why did you open such a small shop? Did you think the food at the station was bad, or do you want to be your own boss?"

Old Gu glanced at him sideways: "Don't you know why I came out?"

After the relationship between Fatou Police Station and Zhao Xiaochui became distant, Lao Gu, who could no longer enjoy special services, retired to prepare for his retirement. Unexpectedly, he was summoned by Xiaochui to continue his service.

The young man in uniform chuckled: "So what if you're out? You're not short of money, why did you open a breakfast shop? It's the most tiring job."

Old Gu said with a smile, "Making breakfast or dinner is tiring, but I don't have to do any work. It's mainly the apprentices who have come to join me who do it."

"Apprentices? How many? At this breakfast shop?"

Old Gu: "Of course, we can't afford to support a breakfast shop, but we can support a food court related to the health industry."

"By the way, the breakfast shop will be closed to the public after three days of trial operation. Kid, hurry up and eat if you want."

As he said this, Old Gu looked proud and ignored the young man in uniform, walking straight into the kitchen.

Compared to the cramped storefront, the kitchen is a completely different world, where several young chefs are working enthusiastically.

The freshly prepared ingredients, packed in large boxes, will be transported to a relaxed and slow-moving area, as well as several construction sites.

"Son, what's your decision?"

Old Gu approached a young man who was taking notes and asked him softly.

Xiao Gu turned his head, looked at the notebook, and said with a complicated expression: "Dad, this breakfast cost a lot. Not to mention the specially supplied ingredients, there are four third-level chef apprentices that you called in."

Old Gu nodded proudly, "This old man has students all over the world, I could easily invite three more."

He wasn't exaggerating. The current economic environment is not good, and the catering industry is the first to be affected. It is indeed relatively easy to recruit senior chefs, but it is another matter if he is willing to call them "apprentices".

"Can that young man sustain such a huge expenditure?"

Xiao Gu is a graduating doctoral student at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her master's degree is in Food Hygiene and Nutrition, and her doctoral degree is in Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutrition and Diet Therapy.

Although his career options are not very broad, with his education and abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to find a decent job.

After learning about the benefits of the relaxed and leisurely lifestyle, he still hesitated. After all, working at a massage and wellness shop, even if it was nominally a private club, didn't have a good reputation in the outside world.

Old Gu shook his head in disappointment. He had begged for this opportunity with all his might, but his son didn't care. What could he do?

The benefits at Relaxing & Slow Travel are indeed generous: several senior chefs have received the highest salaries in the industry, and the welfare benefits are excellent. Contracts have been signed, and each person received an 8,000 yuan settlement allowance on the spot.

All food purchases are paid for on the spot. When the suppliers deliver the food in the morning, they treat him like royalty—literally, some suppliers actually call him their ancestor.

As for whether the small hammer can support such a large expense?
Not to mention that the storefront property where he is temporarily staying is his own, not to mention the rumored exorbitant service fees on the second floor.

He also heard that wealthy and powerful people need to pay hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to resolve a chronic illness.

And what happened to him? While at the Fatou police station, he secretly packed some pig's head meat for Xiaochuizi, and the child slapped him twice. And just like that, all the occupational chronic diseases he'd accumulated over his life disappeared!
This was a great opportunity for my son; the job would be easy and comfortable, guaranteeing him a secure future and good health. Unfortunately, I've said everything I could, but he won't listen or believe me.

Old Gu sighed deeply:
"Supervisor Cheng Jin, who always takes things easy, has only given you one day to consider. If you've made up your mind, go home and study." "The future economic environment isn't good, so taking the civil service exam is a kind of security."

"It's just that all those years of schooling have been wasted."

"Learning by doing...learning by doing...ha~"

Xiao Gu lowered his head, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. He understood his father's good intentions and was well aware of the immense potential that "taking it easy and slow" could offer.

As a doctoral student at Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he deeply understands the value of TCM nutrition and diet therapy, and has dreamed of applying what he has learned to practice and benefit more people.

However, when he thought of the "relaxed and leisurely" label that "relaxed and leisurely" was presented to the outside world, as well as the inherent prejudice in society against such places, a shadow fell over his mind.

Even though her father emphasized that it was a "private club" that provided services to the powerful and wealthy, the reputation was still not good.

What's more, he has a girlfriend. She has mentioned to him more than once the various advantages of being a civil servant: stability, respectability, and high social status.

Both families were well-off and wealthy; what they lacked was the kind of "stability" that would ensure a worry-free future. He didn't need to take risks or pursue a seemingly glamorous but potentially controversial "career."

All he wanted was a stable future.

With this in mind, Xiao Gu's gaze gradually hardened.

He handed the notebook to his father with a look of shame on his face and said softly, "Dad, I understand what you're saying. Our family isn't bad off, and my girlfriend's family owns several properties. We don't want to be rich and powerful; we just want stability. Taking the civil service exam will at least provide some security for our future."

Old Gu looked at his son, his lips moved, but in the end he only let out a long sigh. He knew his son had made his choice, and saying anything more would be pointless. He waved his hand, signaling that young Gu could leave.

Xiao Gu silently turned around, walked out of the kitchen, and passed through the storefront of the breakfast shop.

As soon as he stepped out of the shop, the cool morning breeze hit him. He took a deep breath and was about to head home when he saw a familiar figure walking towards him.

"Xiao Gu? What a coincidence, you're having breakfast here too?"

The visitor was none other than his classmate and fellow doctoral graduate, Li Ming. Like him, Li Ming was an outstanding student and a frequent recipient of scholarships.

The only difference is that Li Ming is not a native of Beijing, and the issue of his household registration has always been a heavy burden on his mind.

When Li Ming saw Xiao Gu, a hint of barely concealed excitement crossed his face. He was carrying a briefcase, clearly not there for breakfast.

"I just came from the Relaxing and Slow Travel area, and I've already signed it."

Li Ming's tone was relaxed, yet carried a sense of relief that everything had settled. He pointed to the breakfast shop behind him, then to the dark gray building not far away, "The benefits they offer are indeed good, and... they'll resolve your Beijing residency issue within three years, or they'll pay an exorbitant penalty."

Xiao Gu was stunned.

Looking at the glint in Li Ming's eyes, and recalling the decision he had just made, he felt a mix of emotions. Both were applying their knowledge and pursuing a better future, but the paths they had chosen were completely different.

Li Ming didn't notice Xiao Gu's unusual behavior. He simply patted Xiao Gu on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Didn't you go to the interview too? How did it go? Want to come along?"

Xiao Gu forced a smile: "I...I'll think about it some more."

Li Ming didn't think much of it, just nodded and walked straight into the back kitchen of the breakfast shop.

Xiao Gu stood there, watching Li Ming's figure disappear behind the door, and then looked at the small two-story building in the distance that read "Relaxed Stroll".

The morning sunlight shone on him, but it could not dispel the complex emotions in his heart.

He knew that what he had just given up might be an opportunity that others were dreaming of.

(End of this chapter)