Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

"There shouldn't be any problems. I've already tested him," Zhou Zhengnan said, taking a sip of his drink. "This person, as it stands, is a righteous and courageous commoner who just wants a peaceful life. Moreover, he doesn't seem to have any ill intentions towards our Party, perhaps even..."

Zhou Zhengnan recalled the song "Successors of Socialism".

"There might even be some connections we don't know about." He took another sip of his drink. "That's one of the reasons I want you to go. As the saying goes, the darkest place is under the lamp. The most dangerous place is often the safest. Li's Restaurant is thriving, with people coming and going every day. If you blend in there, you won't easily attract the attention of the spies. Besides, the salary is indeed generous, which will greatly reduce the burden on the organization."

Two silver dollars plus four silver dollars, that's six silver dollars a month. Back then, that was enough to buy a good gun or some necessary first-aid medicine.

Old Wu nodded: "Okay! I'll follow the organization's arrangements!"

"I'll do it too!" Seeing that Old Wu had agreed, Xiao Wu could only scratch his head. "It's just waiting tables! I can earn money and have food to eat, it's not a bad deal!"

"Okay!" Zhou Zhengnan smiled. "However, before we go, I'll have to pack your things a bit."

The next day, the snowstorm subsided.

Li Ji Restaurant opens at 11 a.m., and although it's not open yet, a few onlookers have already gathered at the door, and a few others are tentatively trying to go in and ask questions.

Li Chunsheng sat at a table in the shop, a pot of tea in front of him, looking relaxed.

Yunniang said dejectedly, "Chunsheng, it's already past noon, why hasn't anyone reliable shown up yet? Those few oddballs from earlier didn't look like good people at all."

"Don't rush, sister-in-law." Li Chunsheng poured her a cup of tea. "Hiring people is like blind dating. It depends on first impressions and fate. Good things come to those who wait."

Just then, the curtain was lifted.

A middle-aged man wearing an old long gown walked in.

The man was probably in his forties, with a sallow complexion, and looked to be in poor health. He kept his left hand tucked into his sleeve, as if he was sensitive to the cold.

Meanwhile, behind the middle-aged man was a young man who looked somewhat shrewd, shaking his head. The young man was wearing a gray cotton-padded jacket. As soon as he entered the door, his eyes widened, and he swallowed hard as he smelled the aroma of braised pork.

"Greetings, shopkeeper."

The middle-aged man walked up to Li Chunsheng and bowed slightly.

"My name is Wu Fugui, and I am from Shanxi. In my younger days, I worked as a clerk in a pawnshop for several years. Later, I was caught up in the war and ended up here. Today, I saw your shop's advertisement and dared to try my luck at the job of an accountant."

Li Chunsheng stood up and returned the greeting: "Mr. Wu, please have a seat."

He sized up Wu Fugui.

"Mr. Wu, you used to be a pawnshop clerk?" Li Chunsheng asked with a smile. "Why didn't you go to the pawnshop to make a living?"

"Sigh, it's a long story." Wu Fugui sighed and said with a bitter smile, "The world is in chaos. It's good enough that I've survived. How can I dare to ask for anything else?"

"And who is this?" Li Chunsheng pointed to the young man behind him.

"Oh, this is a distant nephew of mine, named Zhao Dahu." Wu Fugui turned around and pulled the young man over. "This child lost both his parents and came to rely on me. But I'm barely able to take care of myself right now, and I happened to see that the shopkeeper was hiring a waiter, so I brought him along. This kid is very strong, and although he's a bit cunning, he's willing to work hard."

"Da Hu! Hurry up and call the manager!" Wu Fugui slapped Zhao Da Hu on the back of the head.

Zhao Dahu seemed to have just come to his senses, and hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Hello, boss! My name is Zhao Dahu! I can do anything! Just give me some food!"

Li Chunsheng gave Yunniang a wink, and Yunniang immediately took an account book from the counter.

Li Chunsheng took the ledger and handed it to Wu Fugui, saying, "Mr. Wu, thank you for your trouble."

Old Wu took the ledger, glanced at it, and immediately understood. Although the ledger was messy, every single income was clearly recorded.

He borrowed an abacus from Yunniang.

As Old Wu poked the pot, he muttered, "Eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, forty bowls of braised pork, twenty-five servings of braised pork belly, five yuan for liquor, and some leftover money..."

Before half an incense stick had burned, Old Wu stopped and pushed the abacus aside: "Manager, the accounts for this period, after deducting rent and materials, should show a net profit of fifty-two silver dollars plus thirty copper coins. However, the loss of fuel is a bit high; I'm afraid the bellows in the stove is leaking."

Yunniang listened in disbelief. She had spent two nights calculating the accounts, but Mr. Wu had cleared them in a matter of moments, even managing to deduce something as simple as a leaky bellows from the accounts.

Li Chunsheng chuckled inwardly. This clerk probably hadn't just worked in pawnshops; he'd seen all sorts of people in restaurants and other establishments in later generations. These two were clearly not as simple as they appeared on the surface, but he didn't expose them. Instead, he turned to look at Zhao Dahu.

"Big Tiger, right? You say you're strong, fine." Li Chunsheng pointed to the stone mill weighing over a hundred pounds in the corner of the backyard. "That was left by the old landlord. It's taking up space. Move it to the well."

Da Hu completed the test quickly and efficiently.

"Alright, put it down." Li Chunsheng tapped the table, already having made up his mind. In this day and age, who doesn't have a story? As long as it doesn't cause him trouble, he'll pretend he doesn't know.

"Gentlemen, I think this is a good arrangement." Li Chunsheng stood up. "Mr. Wu will be the accountant, with a monthly salary of four silver dollars; Da Hu will be the waiter, with a monthly salary of two silver dollars. Meals are included, and wages will be paid monthly. What do you think?"

Old Wu and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, then bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you so much, boss, for giving us this opportunity!"

Once the staff was hired, Li Chunsheng began to arrange the move.

"Sister-in-law, let's go back to Xiheyuan later," Li Chunsheng said to Yunniang. "From now on, we'll live in the back courtyard rooms. I'll live in the east wing, and you and Yaya will live in the west wing."

"Mr. Wu, do you have a place to stay?"

Wu Fugui shook his head. "I just arrived in Beiping not long ago and haven't found a place to stay yet."

"How about this? I have an old house in Xiheyan Alley. It's a bit run-down, but it'll keep out the wind and rain. It's only two alleys away from here. If you don't mind, you and your nephew can stay there for now. Consider it an employee perk."

Old Wu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said gratefully, "The shopkeeper is truly kind and righteous! My nephew and I were just worried about having nowhere to go tonight."

Just do it.

The group returned to the small courtyard on the west bank of the river.

It was around 9 a.m., and Aunt Zhang in the courtyard was washing clothes with a basin in her hand, her triangular eyes scanning Li Chunsheng and the two new men.

"Oh, Chunsheng, you've struck it rich? Moving away?" Aunt Zhang said sarcastically. "Yunniang is so lucky, she even moved her house because of you."

Yunniang lowered her head, not daring to reply.

Li Chunsheng said with a smile, "Aunt Zhang, you're quite well-informed. My two employees will be staying here from now on. They're both from Shanxi and have a bit of a temper. If any gossip gets back to them, I can't stop them."

Xiao Wu glared at him cooperatively. Once inside, Li Chunsheng gave him a few brief instructions.

Although the room is simple, a bed and a table are still there.

"Mr. Wu, please feel free to use anything in this room. If you need any charcoal, just go to the shop and get some." Li Chunsheng pointed to the simple memorial tablet. "This is my father's tablet. I'll take it with me later. Please take care of the rest."