Before entering the shop.

Both Old Qin and Lao Liu noticed the recruitment notice posted at the entrance.

As soon as they entered, Lao Liu said with a look of relief: "Boss Huang, you're finally hiring! With more staff, we should have an easier time buying those pan-fried buns in the future. Lately, getting one has been like going to war; I almost couldn't snag any."

He's usually quite leisurely.

If he came early, he could manage to buy some.

But if something came up at home and he came later, he definitely wouldn't get any.

There's only so much sold each time.

The more people, the smaller the chance of buying.

He's happy that his favorite shop is liked by more people, yet saddened that he now has to queue up for buns and might still not get any.

If he can hire people and increase the food supply later, everyone would be happy!

"I will, I will. Hope we can hire someone soon." Huang Tao smiled as he kept working.

But Old Qin's focus was elsewhere.

Exactly.

He was eyeing the recruitment notice.

To be precise.

He was eyeing the "three meals included" on the notice.

He eagerly asked, "Boss Huang, how about hiring me?"

Huang Tao: (^_^)?

Lao Liu: ∠(°ゝ°）

What's going on?

Neither Huang Tao nor Lao Liu understood Old Qin's intention, so they were puzzled.

Huang Tao curiously asked, "Qin, what do you mean by that?"

"Isn't your shop hiring? Do you think I'm good for the job?" Old Qin leisurely waved his fan with a cheerful smile, but there was an undetectable hope in his eyes.

Huh?

Applying for a job?!

You're the former head chef of a five-star hotel, and you're applying here?!

Lao Liu's mouth dropped wide open, big enough to fit a duck egg!

Old Qin, you're... surely being sly!

If you apply, who will play chess with me in the future?

By the way, can he still apply now?

"You?"

Huang Tao looked Old Qin up and down carefully.

In a neat Zhongshan suit, holding a folding fan, looking very dignified.

His hair was meticulously combed, without a strand out of place, yet each silver strand stood out clearly among the few black ones.

His eyebrows and beard had a hint of gray, but his face remained a healthy reddish-purple, looking energetic.

Moreover, he had heard that before retiring, Old Qin was the head chef of a five-star hotel.

The former head chef of a five-star hotel working for him?

Isn't that a bit degrading??

In his heart, he immediately dismissed the idea.

It's not that he couldn't afford it, after all, the salary and benefits were laid out.

And Old Qin couldn't possibly be applying for the job just for that salary.

The main issue is, could such a wealthy and famous person wash vegetables?

Could he get the pans cleaned properly?

Even if he could!

But he's a bit too old...

Seeing Huang Tao remain silent, Old Qin thought Huang Tao worried about his ability, and recommended himself again: "I have 20 years of experience as head chef at a five-star hotel, definitely capable of being an assistant chef."

"Boss Huang, I have 30 years of management experience; I can also handle an assistant chef position," Lao Liu, also recommending himself.

Huang Tao: "..."

Liu, what are you doing causing more confusion...?

Furthermore, is an assistant chef position really worth such competition?

Old Qin, hearing this, got so mad that his mustache bristled: "Lao... Lao Liu, is that polite? You're even competing with me for a job?!"

"Old Qin, we have to discuss this, what do you mean by competing with you for the job? This is like only allowing officials to set fires, not citizens to light lamps. Is only Old Qin allowed to apply, and not me, Lao Liu!" Lao Liu argued with a stiff neck.

"You... and you're applying for the same position as me? Let me ask you, can you handle the duties of an assistant chef? Can you chop vegetables? Can you cook dishes?

"No, but I can wash vegetables! At worst, I'll just apply for a regular staff position."

Lao Liu said the most cowardly thing in the toughest tone.

"Fine, you apply for the regular position, I'll apply for assistant chef, and we can still be together."

"Yes, yes!"

Huang Tao: ???

These two old men, just a couple of sentences and they've decided on these positions for themselves?

Are you both really that bold?

Are you ignoring my existence as the boss?

Huang Tao looked at this pair of happy adversaries, shook his head helplessly, and politely refused: "Qin, Liu, I'm looking to hire employees between 20 and 50 years old. And your ages clearly don't fit, so, sorry."

Old Qin: ╭(╯^╰)╮

Liu: ┐（─__─）┌

Ah!

They can't change the issue of age.

Oh well~

They can only let it pass~

Just as the two were feeling sad, their eyes fell on Huang Tao's stove through the kitchen glass.

Their eyes both lit up.

They weren't sad anymore, nor upset.

Joy immediately appeared on their faces, and they both said at the same time:

"Boss Huang, is there a new filling for lunch?"

"Boss Huang, are you releasing a new dish for lunch?"

Huang Tao nodded: "Yes, planning to release three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried buns and a new lotus leaf sticky rice steamed ribs. You two can come back later to try them?"

"Sure, we'll definitely try it."

While happy, Old Qin was also a bit worried: "Boss Huang, you keep coming up with new fillings and new products; won't it reduce the other filled pan-fried buns, and the century egg and lean meat porridge, braised pig's trotters?"

People,

Such a tangled species.

Wanting to taste the new flavors, yet not wanting to give up the previously filled pan-fried buns, century egg and lean meat porridge, and braised pig's trotters.

So conflicted!

Huang Tao smiled: "Don't worry, every meal will be based on the original offerings, and we'll also make some three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried buns and lotus leaf sticky rice steamed ribs."

Hearing this, smiles appeared on the faces of Liu and Old Qin.

"That's great! If Old Jiang and the others find out, they'll be absolutely delighted."

"Then what are we waiting for, hurry up and send messages to share this good news with them and let them be happy too…"

Liu took out his phone and sent WeChat messages to his close neighborhood friends.

After sending the messages, the two waited in the store.

"Boss Huang, if you need any help, just say the word! Anyway, us two old guys are just idling around."

"Yeah! Need me to chop some vegetables or clean up the store?"

Old Qin and Liu, eager to try the pan-fried buns made by Huang Tao, were willing to use their old limbs to offer free labor to him.

"Thanks, no need, I've almost done everything myself, we'll start selling at 11." Huang Tao smiled and declined.

"Okay, we'll just sit and wait."

Liu and Old Qin sat in the shop, eagerly waiting.

Huang Tao continued busying himself in the kitchen, wrapping the buns.

And at this moment.

Upon receiving the news, Old Jiang and other neighbors rushed over.

"Go, go, go, Boss Huang is selling three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried buns and lotus leaf sticky rice steamed ribs; we have to go early to get a spot, lest we arrive late and can't buy any."

"Exactly, exactly, I heard the number of three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried buns and sticky rice steamed ribs isn't much…"

A moment later.

The news that Huang Tao was making three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried buns spread to West City Old Street.

Zheng Fugui also heard about the news.

He was a bit anxious: "What? You say Huang Tao is releasing a new filling at noon?"

"Yes, I heard it's a three-ingredient vegetarian filling." Lin Xiue nodded.

"Is he sincerely trying to compete with me?" Zheng Fugui was worried.

The chef beside him, however, wasn't worried at all and felt quite confident.

"Boss Huang definitely intends to retaliate against us by temporarily introducing a three-ingredient vegetarian pan-fried bun, but actually, boss, there's no need to worry. The three-ingredient vegetarian filling is very difficult to master, and if not done well, it could affect the overall taste."

"Indeed, this three-ingredient vegetarian filling is difficult to master, or else we wouldn't have given up on three-ingredient vegetarian and chosen three-ingredient shrimp."

"Yes, our three-ingredient shrimp pan-fried buns are the result of years of constant improvement. His temporary creation can't possibly compare to our three-ingredient shrimp filling, and vegetarian flavors can't match meat flavors."

They instinctively felt.

Huang Tao felt they had taken his business, and in haste, decided to launch a new filling bun.

The aim is to take down Zheng's and steal its business.

But Zheng's had been in business for decades here, and the taste of their three-ingredient shrimp pan-fried buns was exceptional, attracting many people who had moved away to come back and eat a dozen or so.

He had confidence in his three-ingredient shrimp pan-fried buns!

Zheng Fugui's heart also relaxed: "If it's truly as you say, then I'm not so worried anymore."

"Everyone, stop loafing around, get prepared, we need to open before him…"

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