Mountain and Sea Canteen - Chapter 3

“Go with you to open a shop and work to pay off the debt? No way!”

Chongming and Golden Crow spoke in unison.

Golden Crow, upon hearing such an unreasonable request, showed a faint trace of disdain in his expression: “How can the mighty Golden Crow work in a small human eatery?”

Chongming’s attitude was slightly better, but his reason was even more impeccable: “I failed the qualification exam, so I can’t go out.”

Ying Linglong’s eyes flashed with a glimmer of cunning; she needed both employees. She herself was human, and if one of Chongming or Golden Crow was missing, the non-human ratio wouldn’t exceed 50%, and the shop couldn’t open.

So she called Director Yang: “Director Yang, this is Ying Linglong. No, no, I don’t plan to sell the shop; I want to open it. I have an employee who didn’t pass the Qualification Certificate for Walking in the Human World. Could you grant him special permission to work while studying for the exam?”

“Yes, it’s Chongming Bird. I noticed he’s not in a good mental state because his live stream was banned, and he’s even been inclined to run naked in the streets. I thought if he worked in my shop, he could often interact with humans, which would surely stabilize his emotions. Plus, I could supervise him to ensure he keeps his clothes on properly.”

“No problem. Director Yang, with my supervision, he’ll pass the exam within a month.”

Ying Linglong put down her phone and winked at Chongming: “Done.”

Chongming, who really wanted to go out and see, was overjoyed upon hearing this, revealing a row of neat white teeth, with a tuft of hair on his head happily bouncing.

Golden Crow seemed like a tough nut to crack, hard to deceive and impossible to beat. He also knew Ying Linglong couldn’t do anything to him. The golden patterns on the corners of the young man’s eyes shimmered as he slightly raised his chin, saying quite arrogantly, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear such an offensive suggestion as working. I’ll pay off the debt as soon as possible.”

Ying Linglong’s mind stirred, recalling Golden Crow’s earlier threat to Chongming Bird.

– “If you don’t pay back the money, you’ll be struck by lightning, and all your feathers will fall off.”

Her gaze swept over Golden Crow with a meaningful look, making the young man feel very uncomfortable: “What are you looking at?!”

Ying Linglong showed an evil smile: “Golden Crow, you wouldn’t want other Yaoguai to know about you losing all your feathers, would you?”

As she spoke, she opened the Mountain and Sea Forum APP, ready to register and post.

Golden Crow hurriedly tried to grab her phone, completely losing his previous cocky demeanor, stuttering: “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly lose all my feathers!”

Ying Linglong: “Is that so?”

Her hands didn’t stop, already typing the title “Shocking! The Ancient Divine Bird Has Fallen to This!”

Golden Crow reached out to cover the phone screen, glaring at Ying Linglong with humiliation: “Fine… as you wish.”

“Let’s head back to Jiangyu,” Ying Linglong said cheerfully.

“Wait,” Chongming quickly interjected. “I need to bring my luggage.”

Ying Linglong asked, “Do you need help packing?”

Chongming shook his head. “I’ll call Di Jiang to come and take all three of us there.” As he spoke, he placed an order on the [Di Jiang Express] app.

No sooner had Chongming finished speaking than a strong gust of wind swept through the room, and a faceless Yaoguai, red as fire, appeared before Ying Linglong.

She glanced at the creature, then at the icon of the [Mountain and Sea Forum] app-a red pouch-like shape with six legs and four wings. It looked exactly the same.

Golden Crow explained disdainfully, “That app is sponsored by Di Jiang.”

He then urged, “Don’t you think such an ugly icon is an eyesore? You should just uninstall it.”

Ying Linglong moved the [Mountain and Sea Forum] app to her “Frequently Used” folder without looking up. “Not at all. I think it’s quite nice. I’ll be opening it often from now on.”

Golden Crow, annoyed, turned his head away.

Di Jiang, who had no mouth, spoke from his abdomen. “One hundred yuan to Jiangyu.”

Chongming began bargaining. “I don’t have that much. There’s only forty-eight yuan and seventy cents left in my card. I’ll transfer it all to you.”

Di Jiang thought for a moment, then suddenly expanded his body, enveloping the entire room and its contents-along with the three of them-like a giant pouch. When the pouch opened again, they found themselves in the Tianwu Sect’s shop in Jiangyu City.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Di Jiang disappeared quickly, leaving the three of them coughing uncontrollably in the swirling dust. The shop hadn’t been cleaned in years, and the thick layer of dust had been stirred up everywhere.

Golden Crow fluttered around like a trapped canary, only to despairingly realize there wasn’t a single clean spot in the entire space. Dust floated evenly in every inch of the air.

“Hey, open the door already!” Golden Crow cried out in frustration.

Ying Linglong weakly covered her nose and mouth. “You should call me ‘Boss.’ Next time you’re this rude, I’ll deduct it from your salary.”

She pushed the door open, and the three of them rushed outside to breathe in the fresh air.

Ying Linglong sat on the steps outside the shop, deep in thought.

What kind of shop should she open? The place had originally sold food, and she didn’t have any other skills-cooking was her forte. So, a restaurant it would have to be.

Here were the existing conditions: two unreliable employees, a dirty and rundown shop of over a hundred square meters, a skilled and kind-hearted boss, and a starting capital of five thousand yuan.

Except for the third point, which was somewhat encouraging, everything else sounded like a recipe for a bleak future.

Ying Linglong wasn’t discouraged. She got up and ducked into the nearby Fuduo Supermarket, emerging shortly after with a bucket, mop, towels, and a bunch of other cleaning supplies in hand.

She set the items down in front of Golden Crow and Chongming. “What are you standing around for? Start cleaning up the shop.”

Chongming took the bucket, while Golden Crow took a step back.

Ying Linglong drawled, “Golden Crow, you wouldn’t want other Yaoguai to…”

The young man hastily snatched the rag from her hand. “Fine, I get it!”

As she watched the two laborers efficiently clean the shop, which was covered in dust and years of grease, Ying Linglong propped her chin on her hand, sitting on a clean chair she’d borrowed from Fuduo Supermarket, and began discussing the terms of their employment.

“Do you know about a group of humans called college students? Humans have an average lifespan of less than eighty years, but these college students spend nearly twenty years studying. They’re the most educated group among humans and are highly respected.”

Chongming, who was vigorously mopping the floor, chimed in, “I know!” His live stream audience had once asked if he had a college degree, as if humans placed great importance on such things.

“I’ve spoken with Boss Jia from the supermarket next door. After graduating, a college student can be hired for just three or four thousand yuan. You two haven’t even spent a day in school, but considering you’re joining me in this startup, I’ll pay you according to this standard. Pretty generous, right?”

Ying Linglong wore an expression that screamed, “I’m such a kind and benevolent soul.”

Boss Jia had also told her that if she was good at “painting a rosy picture,” she could lower the wages even further. Unfortunately, Ying Linglong was better at making pancakes than painting them.

Golden Crow was wiping the counter, and if one looked closely, they’d notice that his hand seemed to hover just above the grimy, grease-stained rag, never actually touching it.

He pretended not to be interested, but his ears were perked up.

Then Ying Linglong continued, “Chongming, since you haven’t passed the Qualification Certificate for Walking in the Human World yet, you’ll be considered in a probationary period until you get the certificate. Your salary during probation will be 2,500 yuan, and after you’re officially hired, it’ll be 3,000.”

Chongming thought this was much better than what he earned from live streaming. Being a risqué male streamer wasn’t easy, and he wasn’t exactly popular. Even after streaming day and night, wearing that deep V-neck bodysuit with the least amount of fabric, he only earned a little over a hundred yuan in gifts per night-and half of that was taken by the platform.

But he quickly realized that this salary wouldn’t actually be paid to him. He still owed Ying Lingling over 70,000 yuan! It would take him more than two years of work to pay it all off.

He looked at Ying Linglong with pitiful eyes, like a bird drenched in the rain. “You’re not going to give me a single penny? I do like to have a drink now and then.”

Ying Linglong replied coldly, “The shop provides food and lodging. Your salary will go toward paying off your debt first.”

Chongming hung his head, the tuft of hair on his crown drooping dejectedly as he continued to mop the floor.

“However,” Ying Linglong added, her tone shifting, “if you perform well, there will be a bonus every month. That money will be yours.”

Chongming’s face lit up instantly.

“As for Golden Crow,” she said thoughtfully, “his salary will be four thousand.”

“Why?” Chongming protested loudly, feeling the injustice.

Golden Crow suppressed the corners of his lips, pretending to be indifferent. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just mundane money.”

Ying Linglong explained, “The restaurant is too big for me to handle alone as the only chef. I’ll be too busy. I plan to train Golden Crow to become a skilled barbecue master. There’s always a slight difference in pay between a master and an assistant, Chongming. Don’t get worked up.”

She whispered to Chongming, “Golden Crow owes me two hundred thousand yuan. It’ll take him over four years to pay it off. By the time you start receiving your salary in two years, he won’t have gotten a single penny yet. Still think it’s unfair?”

Chongming thought about it and, realizing it was true, instantly felt better.

Golden Crow, on the other hand, was quite satisfied to find that his salary was over a thousand yuan higher than Chongming’s. He didn’t even mind Ying Linglong’s somewhat offensive term of “barbecue master.”

With the employees now settled, Ying Linglong felt quite pleased. A good boss knows how to soothe each employee’s feelings, motivating them to work hard for their future cars, mansions, and villas!

A cloud of dust suddenly blew into her face, snapping her out of her daydream. She dragged a small table outside and had the Cave Mirror spit out a blank sheet of paper, ready to start planning the shop’s development.

Director Yang had assured her that he would handle the business license and other formalities, so Ying Linglong didn’t need to worry about that. What she was thinking about were other details, like replacing the shop’s signboard for the grand opening and perhaps placing a promotional standee at the entrance.

Ying Linglong had inspected the shop inside and out several times. The previous owner had divided it into seven stalls, much like the food court windows in a school cafeteria. Each stall sold different types of food-ready-to-eat dishes, fried snacks, pastries, home-style meals, and so on.

The center of the shop was also designed to mimic a cafeteria, filled with matching tables and chairs, mostly four-seaters and six-seaters. Ying Linglong looked at the tables and chairs Golden Crow had cleaned. They weren’t too old-the tables were off-white, while the chairs alternated between mint green, pure white, and lemon yellow. The overall look was fresh and clean.

The floor tiles hadn’t been replaced in over a decade. Many of the edges were chipped, and the color had faded to a dull gray. If she could replace the tiles, tear down some of the grimy stalls, and repaint the remaining ones in vibrant colors, adding small decorative touches, greenery, and food display light boards, paired with soft lighting, the entire shop could look presentable in no time.

But that was just the decor. Next came the tableware, kitchenware, refrigerators, sterilization cabinets…

By the time Ying Linglong got to this point in her planning, she realized something was wrong-she didn’t have enough money! All she had was the 5,000 yuan she’d just collected from Golden Crow.

So she immediately called Director Yang. “Director Yang, since I’m actively hiring non-human employees, are there any support policies available?”

Director Yang’s cheerful voice came through the phone. “Of course! According to the Yaoguai Employment Promotion Act, if the proportion of non-human employees exceeds 60%, you’ll qualify for tax reductions and exemptions from administrative fees. Head Ying, since your shop is self-owned and doesn’t have rent expenses, and you’re not paying taxes yet, you’re on the fast track to making a fortune!”

Ying Linglong wasn’t interested in flattery. She shamelessly asked, “What about special loans?”

Director Yang’s tone turned hesitant. “Well, there used to be such loans, but most Yaoguai ventures end up struggling. Too many bad debts were issued and never recovered, so the Employment Office is out of funds.”

Ying Linglong’s eyes narrowed as she played the sympathy card. “Ah, Director Yang, you have no idea how much I’ve sacrificed to gather these two non-human employees. Neither Golden Crow nor Chongming is easy to manage. Now the shop is facing financial difficulties-I can’t even afford the equipment needed to open. It looks like we won’t be able to launch after all. Maybe I should just return to Liqiu Mountain. My paralyzed Martial Uncle is still waiting for me to take care of him.”

She made as if to hang up the phone.

Director Yang couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. After all, Ying Linglong was the first boss willing to start a business with Yaoguai, employing two non-human employees-a significant contribution to social stability. Not only would this reflect well on the Yaoguai Management Bureau where he worked, but it would also boost the political achievements of his wife, who worked at the Yaoguai Employment Office.

“Head Ying, don’t hang up yet!” Director Yang hurriedly said. “There are other forms of support!”

He seemed to exchange a few words with someone before returning to the phone. “I heard you’re planning to open a restaurant? The Yaoguai Employment Office has some nearly brand-new catering equipment left behind by Yaoguai who went bankrupt and used it to settle their debts. We’ll sponsor it all to you!”

Before Ying Linglong could respond, Director Yang continued offering advice: “Didn’t I download the [Mountain and Sea Mall] app on your phone? There are many online shops run by Yaoguai who are starting their own businesses. The prices are affordable and much cheaper than buying from outside.”

Ying Linglong’s interest was piqued. She had been so busy chasing debts all day that she hadn’t had time to check out the apps Director Yang had downloaded for her.

However, recalling what Director Yang had said earlier, she asked with confusion, “From what you’re saying, these Yaoguai entrepreneurs offer high-quality goods at low prices. So why do they keep going bankrupt?”

Director Yang sighed. “There are regulations that prohibit Yaoguai from selling products with supernatural effects to the human market. Things like Shatang Fruit, Huai Papaya, and Chinese spurge sap are all local specialties from their homeland, but they come with side effects! Effects like ‘eating it eliminates hunger’ or ‘eating it removes worries’-how could we dare sell those to humans?

Most of these products are only allowed to be sold among Yaoguai. The market is too small, so it’s easy for them to go bankrupt. Head Ying, if you buy these things on the Mountain and Sea Mall, make sure you don’t add them to the food you sell to humans. Just try them yourself.”

In short, anything sold to ordinary humans must not make them feel anything unusual. Eating a fruit and thinking it tastes good is perfectly reasonable. But if eating the fruit also cures back pain, leg pain, and even a years-long brain thrombosis, allowing a bedridden patient to get up and run-anyone would know something’s off.

Even without Director Yang’s warning, Ying Linglong wouldn’t do such a thing. How much money could she make selling food to humans? Adding these ingredients would only lead to losses.

Director Yang’s words inspired Ying Linglong. Since Yaoguai had the ingredients and she had the culinary skills, she could open a shop on the Mountain and Sea Mall, offering customized meals for Yaoguai.

She shared this idea with Director Yang, who praised her plan enthusiastically. Golden Crow, who had just come out to rinse the rag, overheard and snorted disdainfully, “They’re all a bunch of paupers.” How could she expect to make money off them?

Ying Linglong retorted, “Di Jiang even sponsored the app. Clearly, there are Yaoguai who know how to do business.”

But then it occurred to her-Di Jiang didn’t even have a mouth.

Sad news-another big customer was off the list.