Chapter 136
Qin Chao wasn’t finished yet. He continued to brainwash Qi Xin with his own experiences: “Back in China, I worked part-time during vacations. At that time, I hadn’t graduated from university, so I couldn’t earn much. The highest pay was tutoring, around twenty or thirty yuan per lesson, and I could only teach one or two lessons a week. After coming to B Country, working illegally washing dishes at five dollars an hour, working five or six hours, I could earn three to four hundred dollars a night. Some white-collar workers in China don’t even make that much! That’s why so many international students are willing to do such jobs. At first, it didn’t feel tiring at all. Every time I got paid, I felt incredibly refreshed!”
Su Bin: “By comparison, washing dishes does seem quite profitable.”
Qin Chao: “Haha, but since I have pursuits, I won’t be satisfied with just that amount of money. At that time, my only thought was to graduate quickly and find a respectable job with social status. After all, no one wants to wash dishes for their whole life. Don’t you agree? But I didn’t expect my luck to be so good. Last year, while washing dishes, I met this foolish kid,” Qin Chao glanced at Su Bin, “This year, he opened his own store and hired me. Now my hourly wage has gone from five dollars to eight dollars, which is only the level of a supervisor in the Chinese restaurants in M City!”
Qi Xin thought about the ten dollars Su Bin secretly gave him last night and felt a bit odd.
…Thinking about how excited Qin Chao was, he decided not to dampen his enthusiasm.
Qin Chao: “The money I used to make working my fingers to the bone for two and a half days now only takes two to three hours during peak times, and this job gives me a sense of accomplishment and respect I’ve never felt before… I really feel incredibly happy!”
Qin Chao’s excitement moved Su Bin as well. Since “Boss Su” started, Su Bin had also noticed a significant change in his life. Seeing the international students’ love for the restaurant and foreigners being conquered by Chinese cuisine, Su Bin felt his self-worth was fully realized…
Su Bin: “Qin Chao, what are your plans after graduation?”
Qin Chao studied architecture and will graduate with a master’s degree in June. Previously, Su Bin heard that if Qin Chao returned to China, he could find a very good job in a big city. However, staying in B Country would be challenging since B Country is a developed nation with its construction industry nearing saturation, and Qin Chao’s grades weren’t outstanding, so there were limited prospects.
But Su Bin really didn’t want Qin Chao to return to China. Among these partners, Qin Chao’s enthusiasm for “Boss Su” was the most touching for Su Bin.
Qin Chao: “After graduation, I’ll look for a job. Unless you keep me here?”
Su Bin felt uncomfortable asking him to stay, after all, working at a restaurant didn’t sound as glamorous as being an architect, and it was a job with less technical content…
Seeing Su Bin’s eager and expectant expression, Qin Chao asked, “Don’t you want to keep me?”
Su Bin urgently replied, “Of course I do!”
Qin Chao smiled: “Then I’ll stay as a full-time employee.”
Su Bin’s eyes lit up instantly: “Are you serious?”
“Didn’t I already pledge my loyalty and say I wanted to stick with you? Why do you always think I’d leave?” Qin Chao teased Su Bin, “Look at your pitiful expression just now, you looked like a little dog that might be abandoned, haha. Do you have abandonment issues?”
Su Bin was speechless: “Don’t joke with me. I didn’t take your earlier words seriously. I thought you were joking.”
Qin Chao: “Why wouldn’t you take it seriously?”
Dani interjected with a smile: “Maybe Su Bin thinks keeping you would be wasting talent. This kid once told me he was afraid of mistreating me.”
Su Bin, who was hit on the head by Dani’s insight, nodded repeatedly: “Yes, after you graduate, you’re a high-achiever with a formal master’s degree from M University. How could you lower yourself to work as a laborer for me?”
Qin Chao: “Why not? Even Peking University graduates can return home to slaughter pigs! Everyone’s pursuits are different.”
Su Bin: “What’s your pursuit? Is working here fulfilling it for you?”
Qin Chao thought for a moment and said, “Su Bin, let me tell you my inner thoughts.”
Su Bin: “Speak!”
Qin Chao: “I never think a person has to do a glamorous job to match their education. On my first day working here, I saw the potential of this restaurant and enjoyed the atmosphere here. And, I really like you as a boss because…”
Su Bin eagerly awaited the reason, but Qin Chao said, “Because you’re a ‘fool.’”
Everyone: “Pfft!”
Su Bin: “……” (Q皿Q) Are you sure you’re complimenting me and not insulting me?
Ignoring Su Bin’s puzzled expression, Qin Chao asked, “Su Bin, do you have dreams?”
Su Bin was stunned, suddenly unsure how to answer…
He had ideas about the future but they didn’t reach the level of “dreams,” meaning he had a vague direction but no concrete plans.
Seeing Su Bin unable to answer, Qin Chao continued: “So what kind of expectations do you have for ‘Boss Su’?”
Su Bin: “Open more branches, and hopefully, free international students in B Country from hamburgers and fries, so they can eat our Chinese food.”
Qin Chao clapped his hands excitedly: “Yes, that’s it! Anything else?”
Su Bin thought for a moment and said, “To promote Chinese food in B Country, a land of dark cuisine, making foreigners addicted and fall in love with Chinese food.”
Qin Chao kept pressing: “Anything else?”
Su Bin glanced at everyone and said, “I want every international student who tastes Boss Su’s food to feel the warmth of home and remember their own country…”
Qin Chao stopped asking, and the restaurant fell silent.
Su Bin wondered if he had said something wrong and quickly said, “Did I maybe say too much, not practical enough?”
But when he turned his head, he saw Qin Chao looking at him with misty eyes, Dani with reddened corners of her eyes, but everyone else’s mouths were curving up.
… Is this, being moved?
The longer Su Bin knew Qin Chao, the more he could confirm Qin Chao’s thoughts—yes, this guy was a rare fool. From the time he worked for his ex-girlfriend to buy a ring, his foolishness was evident. Besides, he had no guard against people and always faced others with a soft and kind side.
They say there’s no business without deceit. Su Bin, as a businessman, Qin Chao had never been optimistic, always thinking that Su Bin might one day fall victim to schemers and get seriously hurt.
But foolish people often have good fortune. Qin Chao later learned that behind “Boss Su” was other forces supporting him, and those forces protected Su Bin so well that he almost never encountered any dark side of society. Since “Boss Su” opened, they hadn’t faced any substantial problems. Everything had gone smoothly, as if in a fictional world.
That’s why Su Bin could indulge in the game of running a restaurant while maintaining his purity.
Moreover, although he was the nominal boss, he never acted bossy. The store was located on the campus, and everyone who had time would come to help. Qin Chao would often come to the restaurant, chatting with Dani over a free milk tea when he had nothing to do.
No one minded. The atmosphere here was as harmonious as a family.
Qin Chao took a deep breath and said, “Su Bin, that’s why I want to stay, because I share the same thoughts as you.”
Su Bin: “……”
Qin Chao: “From the day I came to B Country, I always felt like an outsider, not belonging here, and I’d eventually return to my own country… Until I worked at your restaurant. When I handed out dumplings and meat sandwiches to those students, and saw their excited and tearful expressions, I suddenly felt a sense of belonging.”
Dani nodded, reflecting: “I had the same feeling. Last year, I felt very lonely in M City. After starting this job, my husband says I’ve come alive. Haha, it’s all thanks to ‘Boss Su’s’ influence.”
Su Bin was a bit at a loss after hearing these two speak: “The restaurant’s success is also thanks to your efforts. I couldn’t have done it alone!”
Qin Chao said, “Since you’ve put it that way, we have no reason not to keep you.”
Dani added, “Qin’s right. For ordinary people like us, if we can’t be the best in our field, it doesn’t matter what we do. What’s most important is being happy!”
Qin Chao gave Dani a thumbs-up: “Dan Jie, you really get it. You’re truly someone who’s been through it!”
Su Bin was so touched that he felt his heart might melt. This… must be what it feels like to be like-minded.
Qi Xin, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, went from initial disdain, to confusion, and now, he even felt a bit of longing. The expressions on Qin Chao and Dani’s faces as they talked about their experiences, thoughts, and dreams were something Qi Xin couldn’t understand. Yet, Qin Chao’s “lack of a sense of belonging” and Dani’s “loneliness” were feelings Qi Xin was experiencing himself at that moment.
What does it feel like to have ambitions? What is the state of having dreams? Is it really that moving?
… But it seems like there’s no place for him in their circle!
“Xiao Xin, come to the kitchen later and I’ll teach you how to make meat sandwiches!” Su Bin suddenly called out.
Qi Xin: “……” (=_=)
Su Bin: “Oh, it’s already been an hour and a half. Do you have anything to do later? If not, stay a bit longer. I’ll go back with you later.”
Qi Xin: “……” He felt that Su Bin had a strangely irresistible force.
The meat filling for the meat sandwiches was pre-prepared and chopped by Chef Wang. During busy times at the restaurant, part-time workers only needed to help put the meat into the sliced bread.
Su Bin demonstrated once, and Qi Xin followed suit, doing a pretty good job.
“Very good!” Su Bin praised without reservation. “You can have this one.”
Qi Xin took a bite and asked Su Bin, “Did you invent these?”
Su Bin: “I didn’t invent them. This is traditional Chinese food, a product of our country’s collective wisdom.”
Qi Xin: “The meat sandwiches I had before didn’t have braised eggs or lettuce.”
Su Bin: “These are modified. How does it taste?”
Qi Xin: “It’s alright.”
“Cheng Ge likes meat sandwiches a lot,” Su Bin said with a smile, handing Qi Xin his pay. For an hour and a half of work, Su Bin took fifteen dollars and reminded, “Don’t let Cheng Ge know!”
“No need,” Qi Xin refused, even snorting, “Hmph, this money isn’t enough to buy a pack of cigarettes.”
Su Bin: “……”
Soon, Qi Xin finished the meat sandwich and packed another one, waving it in his hand, “Let this be my pay.”
That night, as Su Bin lay in bed, he was still thinking about what happened during the day. Qin Chao and Dani’s words had thoroughly encouraged him, and Qi Xin seemed to show signs of change. Su Bin felt optimistic about the future.
“What are you thinking about, so happy?” Ellen asked, hugging him.
Su Bin: “Thinking about the restaurant.”
Ellen narrowed his eyes: “You seem to be spending more and more time there lately.”
Su Bin’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly hugged Ellen: “I’ve been a bit busy lately. School just started, and I’m also helping Qi Xin… Don’t be angry.”
Ellen: “I’m not angry.”
Su Bin wanted to say, “Don’t be jealous,” but feared it might sound self-centered, so he swallowed the words and showed his care for Ellen through actions. After a round of kissing and hugging, Ellen’s mood improved.
Su Bin thought to himself, “You said you’re not angry, see, it’s all better now…” He chuckled inwardly, pleased with how he was learning to handle Ellen.
“I said I’m not angry,” Ellen said, holding Su Bin’s head, their noses touching. “If the restaurant makes you happy, I won’t interfere. But I need to remind you to take care of yourself. If I find you overworking, I’ll limit the time and energy you put into it. Understand?”
“Understood!” Su Bin hurriedly replied, and after another round of affection, he fell asleep on Ellen’s shoulder.
In the dark, Ellen’s gaze fixed on Su Bin’s face, filled with an indescribable emotion.
—Mu, don’t give me a chance to lock you up completely.
—I really wish no one else could see you but me.
In the following days, Su Bin introduced Qi Xin to Lily and Sun Yujie, and Qi Xin showed no signs of resistance. He was also increasingly cooperative at work.
“Has he skipped classes?” Su Bin asked Yang Chengzhe.
Yang Chengzhe: “He’s been performing well recently. Oh, by the way, did you ask him to bring me a meat sandwich yesterday? Thanks!”
Su Bin was taken aback, about to ask “What meat sandwich?” but then remembered Qi Xin had packed an extra one that day: “Ahem, that’s something he brought for you himself.”
Yang Chengzhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: “This kid…”
