Chapter 36: Hiring Employees and Launching the Online Store!

Zhang Manzhu, who had been inactive for several months, unexpectedly posted an update, drawing attention from all corners of the culinary world.

Everyone’s focus was on Taotie Delicacies, the restaurant he recommended. This establishment had no historical legacy and had suddenly emerged not long ago. It started as a small pancake stall, and within a short period, it had not only made a name for itself in Xinan City, famous for its cuisine, but was also exceptionally recommended by Zhang Manzhu, thus entering the radar of restaurateurs nationwide.

The Greedy Charm production team quickly capitalized on the buzz, releasing behind-the-scenes footage of Zhang Manzhu during his recording of the show.

In the video, Zhong Yichen interviewed the old gentleman: “Mr. Zhang, we didn’t have high hopes when we invited you, but we didn’t expect you to give us this opportunity. May I ask why you changed your mind?”

Zhang Manzhu wiped his glasses, put them on, and said slowly, “As everyone knows, I’ve been out of work for a long time due to illness, and my sense of smell and taste have almost completely failed. This was a huge blow for a chef. When I received your invitation, I wasn’t ready to face it all again.”

“One day, I unintentionally came across your live broadcast visiting Taotie Delicacies. Coincidentally, I saw an old friend of mine on screen. Out of curiosity, I watched the entire broadcast. I was moved by your earnest attitude in promoting Xinan cuisine, and the young chefs at Taotie Delicacies also rekindled my initial passion for choosing this profession. So, I proactively contacted you again.”

“Later, I went to Taotie Delicacies for a barbecue meal and actually experienced the flavors again. My sense of smell and taste have recovered quite well recently. The young Ms. Xiao Fang at Taotie Delicacies is very young but has mastered superb barbecue skills. This generation of young chefs is truly surpassing their predecessors!”

“I personally highly recommend the grilled pork skin and pear soup at Taotie Delicacies. I encourage everyone to try it.”

Zhang Manzhu’s first time discussing his reasons for stopping work and revealing the story behind it naturally generated significant buzz. Consequently, the grilled pork skin and pear soup he recommended became popular recipes in the food community.

To replicate the grilled pork skin and pear soup from Taotie Delicacies, food bloggers with the means arranged visits to the restaurant one after another.

The old gentleman Zhang Manzhu, who had sparked a culinary trend, remained modest about his achievements. After finishing the recording of the food show, he invited two old friends to go fishing at a camping base.

They were regulars here and had fixed fishing spots. The three sat in a row by the lake, fishing quietly.

After waiting for a long time without any fish biting, his old friend Old Hu couldn’t stand the silence and casually chatted, “Old Zhang, you’ve been quite the sensation since you returned to work. Even my daughter mentioned the restaurant you recommended.”

Zhang Manzhu smiled. “I’m just an old man, what kind of sensation can I cause? It’s those vibrant young people who are truly dazzling.”

Old Hu said, “Our family is having a get-together next week, and my daughter wants to eat at that restaurant. A place you recommended must have great taste. But I took a look, and the shop really seems a bit small.”

Zhang Manzhu unscrewed his thermos and took a sip of water, shaking his head in disagreement. “What flavor can you find eating barbecue in a five-star hotel? If you want to taste the essence of ordinary life, you have to go to that old street personally, sit on that rooftop, and put down your bossy airs.”

Zhang Manzhu recalled the scenery he had seen that day and the faint floral fragrance in the twilight, and smiled. “Besides, the environment there is much better than you imagine.”

Old Hu also laughed. “Old Zhang, that’s insightful. Alright, I’ll go along with my daughter’s wishes and choose that restaurant.”

Zhang Manzhu said, “Then you have to go early. Their business is booming, if you go late, you might not even get a table. Remember to order a grilled pork skin. The grilled kidney slices are also very special. The pear soup I drank was complimentary, so it might not be available every day, but the pear soup at Taotie Delicacies is truly amazing, I couldn’t even replicate it.”

Old Chen listened, his mouth watering. “You two have made me hungry! I absolutely have to try the grilled pork skin at that shop. I heard their cold fish skin salad is also particularly flavorful.”

Old Hu laughed heartily. “I’m hungry too. I haven’t caught a single fish all day. I’m still waiting to eat the fish head casserole Old Zhang makes!”

Zhang Manzhu said, “It’s so noisy, no fish will bite.”

Old Chen said, “Then let’s stop talking. The bait I gave you is specially prepared, it’ll definitely catch fish.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Manzhu’s fishing float suddenly sank. A big fish had taken the bait!

Old Chen exclaimed excitedly, “See! I told you we’d catch fish!”

Zhang Manzhu immediately stood up, waited for the right moment, and jerked his rod, preparing to fight the big fish. Before he could exert any strength, he was suddenly pulled forward by the fish and stumbled, falling into the lake. The big fish instantly dragged him far away!

“Old Zhang!” Old Chen reached out to grab him, but missed. He was sweating with anxiety. “Damn it, Old Zhang can’t swim! Quick, save him!”

Several assistants who were good swimmers immediately rushed over, ready to jump into the water to save him, but they saw Zhang Manzhu calmly floating to the surface. “Don’t worry, I’m fine!”

The assistants quickly got into the water and pulled the old gentleman ashore. As soon as Zhang Manzhu was on land, the assistants wrapped him in a large, dry towel.

The manager of the camping base rushed over with lifeguards, out of breath, and asked, “Mr. Zhang, are you alright?”

A group of people swarmed around him, and many tourists also came when they heard the commotion. Zhang Manzhu wiped the water off himself and waved his hand. “It’s nothing, I didn’t choke on any water and wasn’t frightened. It’s a hot summer day, so I won’t catch a cold. I just need to change my clothes. I didn’t expect there to be such a big fish in the camp’s lake.”

The manager looked apologetic. “It’s our negligence. I’ll have the kitchen prepare ginger tea for you and send it over in a moment. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.”

Zhang Manzhu went to his tent to change clothes. The manager reported the situation to the big boss, arranged for a safety check of the camping base, and breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, nothing serious happened. Otherwise, he would have been in big trouble.

The big fish that had caused Zhang Manzhu to fall into the water had already escaped. The fishing rod was also retrieved. After this accident, everyone was no longer in the mood to continue fishing. They asked the kitchen to prepare dinner, and they drank tea and ate pastries in the tea room.

Old Hu and Old Chen saw that Zhang Manzhu’s expression was normal and that he was truly alright, so they asked about what had happened.

“Old Zhang, weren’t you a landlubber? When did you learn to swim?”

“That was such a fierce fish, it’s the first time I’ve seen one like that. It’s a pity it got away. Are you sure you’re not injured?”

Zhang Manzhu took a sip of the ginger tea the manager had sent. “I’m really not injured. I did learn to swim for a while before, but I hadn’t mastered it yet. When I fell into the water, I was also shocked, thinking I’d wait for you guys to save me. Unexpectedly, as soon as I plunged into the water, I had a very comfortable and light feeling. I learned to dive and swim without a teacher, as if I were a fish myself.”

His two old friends were so surprised that they were speechless.

Old Hu said, “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Have you had any strange encounters recently?”

Zhang Manzhu had been thinking about it all the way and had already guessed most of it. “Related to water, the only thing I can think of is the Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea jam from Taotie Delicacies. As you know, this is my zodiac year, and I have indeed been a bit unlucky. This incident happened suddenly, but in fact, it was inevitable. However, I didn’t get hurt at all, which should be related to the Auspicious Turn-of-Fortune Little Heavenly Dog cookies.”

Old Hu: ?

Old Chen: What are all these strange things? I’ve never heard of any of them!

Zhang Manzhu introduced them one by one. After listening, the two were both surprised and amazed, and they decided to visit Taotie Delicacies to buy a box of Little Heavenly Dog cookies to ward off evil spirits at home!

---

The barbecue area at Taotie Delicacies was very popular. The evening air was cool, and the temperature there was even lower, allowing people to enjoy their barbecue without being bothered by the heat. Dining on the rooftop also provided a special ambiance.

Every night, it was fully packed.

At the shop entrance, the fox demon Little Red, in human form, blew a bubble and made a call to Lin Xiao.

After the call connected, she poked the bubble with her sharp teeth: “Lin Xiao, I’m at your shop, but there are no seats. Where are you?”

Lin Xiao: “I’m in the kitchen. Did you skip work?”

Little Red: “The zoo is closed for the day. I left an avatar there, it won’t delay anything.”

“Alright, go up to the rooftop and find the little boss. He sits at his small dining table. I’ll come up to find you when I’m done.”

At this time, Yun Fenghe also noticed Little Red. He was sure he had never seen this young lady before, yet she felt strangely familiar. He smiled and nodded.

“Little brother, don’t you remember me?” Little Red put her hands on her head, making ear gestures. “We met at the zoo. I’m Lin Xiao’s fellow villager.”

Yun Fenghe recognized her now. “Sister Little Red!”

Little Red was the boss in the fox enclosure. Her human form was also very mature and sophisticated, with long, wavy hair. Every frown and smile was full of charm, attracting many admiring glances.

Yun Fenghe led Little Red to the rooftop. Seeing Yun Tao’s small dining table, Little Red chuckled.

Yun Tao moved a small stool for her. “Sister Red, sit down!”

Little Red wasn’t too particular. She bent her long legs and sat down. “Thank you, Taotao.”

Yun Tao said generously, “Sister Red, order anything you like, it’s on me!”

Little Red glanced at the barbecue chef with a strong aura and didn’t dare to order casually. She neatly spat out her chewing gum, and her voice lowered a couple of degrees. “Actually, I came after eating, so I’m not very hungry. A bowl of pear soup would be fine.”

Lin Jiuyuan happened to bring Yun Tao a grilled chicken leg. Yun Tao said regretfully, “You should have come on an empty stomach. Sister Fang’s barbecue is so delicious. So you probably can’t eat this grilled chicken leg either, what a pity.”

Yun Tao picked up a grilled chicken leg, blew on it to cool it, and then took a big bite. This grilled chicken leg looked tender and juicy, with the juices dripping into his small bowl.

Little Red couldn’t stand the smell of the grilled chicken leg. The dinner at the zoo seemed to have been digested in an instant.

She said, “I think I can still manage to eat one.”

Yun Tao: “Eat!”

Little Red didn’t stand on ceremony and picked up a grilled chicken leg, taking a bite. With just one bite, she knew this wasn’t ordinary chicken; it was spirit fowl meat!

This barbecue chef was indeed no ordinary person, able to control the heat so well that all the spiritual energy was locked inside the chicken. One bite, and there was a sensation of spiritual energy bursting with juice – a truly satisfying experience.

Yun Tao hadn’t finished his chicken leg when the mission suddenly refreshed!

[Level 6 Mission: Recruit at least two employees.

Reward: 400 Shanhai Points, 400 Shanhai Coins, 1 Shanhai Coupon, and unlock one employee dormitory.

Penalty: 24 hours of volunteer work in a random plane.]

The barbecue area was booming, and the bakery was also getting a bit overwhelmed. Coincidentally, Wind Rabbit and Lin Jiuyuan had been very busy recently, and their part-time hours were becoming increasingly shorter. Yun Tao had also been planning to hire more employees.

After all, the employee card pool had just released a UR card, so it probably wouldn’t be easy to pull another one recently.

Yun Tao quickly finished his chicken leg and looked at Little Red: “Sister Red, have you thought about what I mentioned to you last time?”

Little Red tilted her head. “What thing?”

“Staying to work here?” Yun Tao said, “We provide room and board!”

The aroma of barbecue kept wafting into her nose. The food here was indeed better than at the zoo. Little Red was very tempted. “I can’t give you an immediate answer…”

Ding! Lin Xiao arrived on the rooftop via the elevator, bringing a steaming fish fillet congee and ginger scallion chicken to Little Red. “The little boss ordered this for you. Eat more, it’s good for increasing your cultivation. Thanks to the good food at work, I was able to break through a realm in such a short time.”

Little Red: “Boss, I can start tomorrow.”

Her job at the zoo was initiated by the Bureau of Monster Management, so resigning would be convenient.

Operation “Dig Up the Zoo’s Foundation” – Success!

Yun Tao’s smile was radiant. “Welcome to the Taotie Delicacies family, Sister. My hands are dirty, so I won’t shake your hand.”

Little Red nodded with a smile.

“Sister, do you have any friends looking for work? I still need to hire a pastry chef.”

Little Red thought for a moment. “I have a little sister who used to work at the aquarium. She quit last year to go surfing. She’s quite good at making desserts and seems to be looking for a job recently. I’ll ask her.”

Yun Tao: “That’s great, thank you, Sister Red!”

The next day, Little Red indeed arrived with her luggage to start work.

After the discussion, Little Red moved into the master bedroom in the basement because Bifang almost always lived in the tree, and the room had been vacant.

In the afternoon, Little Red’s sister came to Feifei’s Bakery for an interview.

She pushed open the door, and a cool breeze instantly filled the glass room, carrying a fresh scent of the sea.

Smelling the familiar scent, Wind Rabbit, who was making coffee, perked up one ear. He turned his head, and his cheeks instantly flushed red. “Hai Xi, what are you doing here?”

Hai Xi’s lips curved into a smile. “Wind Rabbit, what a coincidence. I’m here for an interview.”

Yun Tao looked at Wind Rabbit and then at Hai Xi, seeming to understand.

Hai Xi was the dolphin sister that Wind Rabbit had confessed to and had been rejected by!

What a small world.

Indeed, the adult world was very complicated.

After the interview, Feifei was very satisfied with Hai Xi. “Welcome to join us anytime.”

Yun Tao: “Before the new dormitory is ready, would you mind staying with Sister Red for a while?”

Hai Xi nodded. “No problem.”

Hai Xi offered to stay and familiarize herself with the work environment. Yun Tao handed her a clean apron and whispered, “Sister Xi, our workplace doesn’t forbid employees from dating.”

Hai Xi couldn’t help but smile, her dimples deepening, and gave him an OK sign.

They worked peacefully together for an afternoon. Hai Xi became quite familiar with everything and even mastered the making of Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea. She tiptoed to reach for a cup on a high shelf, but a slender hand reached it before her and placed it on the table.

Wind Rabbit looked down at her eyes, his tone calm. “I haven’t had a chance to say it yet, welcome.”

He was very composed, but his ears were redder than the evening glow outside the window.

---

At the end of the day’s work, Lin Xiao sat down at his desk to write a letter to his master in the deep mountains.

“Master, I am now thoroughly familiar with this job and can even expertly flip the wok. The leader of my previous company saw me on the food show and contacted me a few days ago, hoping I could return to my old position. They even raised my annual salary to 600,000, but I refused without hesitation.

“By the way, do you still remember Little Red from the neighboring mountain? She heard about my rapid progress here, resigned from her job at the zoo, and became my colleague. She’s now a barbecue apprentice.

“There’s also a very coincidental thing. The new pastry chef in the shop is a dolphin demon, the one the lop-eared rabbit employee confessed to and was rejected by some time ago. Unexpectedly, they became colleagues! Hahahaha, I’m so wicked, I’ll laugh first ^^”

Lin Xiao put the letter in the Azure Bird’s window. His master received it not long after.

Lin Xiao’s master ate the melon from afar, feeling very happy and eager to know the follow-up. But when he turned the page, it was over!

That’s it? What’s next? Did the lop-eared rabbit and the dolphin develop a cross-species romance?

Lin Xiao’s master: Urgent, urgent, urgent! Does this old one have to go down the mountain to get the scoop personally?!

---

After the employee recruitment mission was completed, the system rewarded Yun Tao with a new employee dormitory.

Coincidentally, this dormitory was right next to Lin Jiuyuan’s rented apartment, at No. 17 Shanhai Street.

The layout of this building differed slightly from that of No. 12. It had a U-shape, formed by three buildings enclosing a spacious courtyard. The corridors on the second and third floors faced the courtyard.

The new dormitory was very spacious, but it had been vacant for too long. The pond in the courtyard was cracked and overgrown with weeds. In contrast, the interior was much better. Most of the furniture and appliances were well-preserved, but some of the floors and walls were damp, with some mildew and bulging.

Yun Tao now had money in his account. With a wave of his little hand, he upgraded the cleaning system and included the entire No. 17 in the cleaning scope.

The moment the in-app purchase was completed, No. 17 became clean and tidy. The weeds were gone, the garbage had disappeared, all the mildew on the floors and walls had vanished, and even the air had become much fresher.

Yun Tao also purchased a “basic house repair” package from the mall, repairing the floors, walls, and roof.

After replacing the hard mattress with new bedding and carpets, and replacing the small bathtub with a large bathtub that aquatic creatures would love, the new pastry chef’s dormitory was ready!

After taking a tour of No. 17, Lin Jiuyuan looked envious. “Little boss, can part-timers move in? My short-term rental contract is about to expire. If part-timers don’t include accommodation, I can pay rent.”

“Of course, you can.” Yun Tao pointed to the opposite building. “That building is the male employee dormitory. I’ve reserved a room and a studio for you.”

Lin Jiuyuan was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, little boss!”

The employees moved into the new dormitory one after another, and Lin Xiao also quickly moved in. That day, he was so excited that he wrote a letter to his master: Master, I finally don’t have to sleep in the upper bunk of a big shot anymore!

Lin Xiao’s master: Is this what I wanted to see? Did the lop-eared rabbit move in? How is he and the dolphin doing??

Lin Xiao didn’t write another letter. He was busy decorating the new dormitory! Poor master, every time he tried to get the scoop, there was no follow-up, and he could only curse in his heart: This disciple is incorrigible!

---

After the dormitory issue was resolved, the system refreshed the final Level 6 mission.

[Level 6 Mission: The Shanhai online shop has been unlocked. Please list at least two products.

Reward: 400 Shanhai Points, 400 Shanhai Coins, 1 Shanhai Coupon, unlock Hot Pot Restaurant.

Penalty: 24 hours of volunteer work in a random plane.]

The system had already registered the online shop, so Yun Tao didn’t need to manage these complex procedures. The system had plenty of energy recently and could also serve as online shop customer service.

As for the online shop products…

“Many netizens have been urging us to open an online shop, all wanting to buy Little Heavenly Dog cookies and Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea jam. Let’s add these two items to our list.”

[Received. The Auspicious Turn-of-Fortune Little Heavenly Dog cookies and Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea jam have been listed for you.]

Yun Tao opened the online shop’s homepage and saw the two products. The system directly used new copywriting and photos from a certain red app to edit the product details. He had to admit, it looked quite professional.

Yun Tao: “Okay, let’s officially announce the online shop.”

He officially announced the Shanhai online shop on his social media and other platforms. Although it was a low-key announcement, the response was unexpectedly enthusiastic.

[What did I just see! The online shop for Taotie Delicacies! Finally, I can buy Little Heavenly Dog cookies!]

[Boss, are you releasing merchandise? Can you add the Worry-Relief Cake? I mainly want the Little Taotie and Little Feifei plushies!]

[I keep seeing the Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea, it’s making me so hungry! I’m placing an order right away!]

Fans from other places weren’t just talking. The Shanhai online shop received hundreds of orders overnight.

Yun Tao had to start limiting quantities. They didn’t have much stock in the shop, as everything was handmade, and they also had to attend to the shop’s business. They really couldn’t make too much!

The delivery issue was easily resolved by accessing the Azure Bird’s window directly, ensuring fast logistics and preventing lost packages.

---

Ye Qiushui was a fan of Taotie Delicacies. Unfortunately, she was currently in Jing City, more than 200 kilometers away from Xinan City, and her work was busy, so she hadn’t found time to visit.

After seeing the news that Taotie Delicacies had opened an online shop, she didn’t hesitate to place an order, buying two jars of Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea jam and two packs of Little Heavenly Dog cookies!

She filled in her company’s address. The next day, the Taotie Delicacies delivery arrived.

The Sand Pear Dragon Well Tea jam took a long time to make, so Taotie Delicacies sent her the cookies first.

It was lunchtime, and Ye Qiushui brewed a cup of coffee, eagerly opening the delivery box.

The packaging of the cookies was exquisite, with a picture of a little Heavenly Dog tilting its head printed on it. The font was also adorable. She was a bit reluctant to open it and took a photo as a memento.

“Auspicious Turn-of-Fortune Little Heavenly Dog cookies?” Her colleague Liu Cai stopped beside her workstation and smiled subtly. “Little Ye, you still believe in these consumer traps? Food with such fancy packaging usually doesn’t taste delicious, but sells for a fortune. Little Ye, your taste isn’t great, you need to open your eyes.”

Ye Qiushui felt a bit uncomfortable but still said calmly, “Zhang Manzhu recommends this shop, and it has an outstanding reputation.”

Liu Cai shrugged, showing a disdainful expression. “I know, I know this shop. They’ve made up a lot of product stories, and it’s obvious they’ve spent a lot of money on marketing. My girlfriend also falls for this kind of thing. I secretly canceled her order while she was sleeping yesterday.”

Ye Qiushui: “…” I really hope Taotie Delicacies opens a branch here. I’ll order your girlfriend a portion of the Reality-Check Ginger Scallion Chicken.

Ye Qiushui was too lazy to pay him any attention and opened the packaging. A sweet aroma instantly filled the air.

Liu Cai’s incessantly chattering mouth closed, and he reached out for a cookie. Ye Qiushui moved the cookies away and smiled. “Since Brother Liu looks down on them so much, maybe you shouldn’t eat them.”

Liu Cai awkwardly retracted his hand. “Little Ye, you’re being stingy.”

Ye Qiushui was really annoyed by him. The two of them had recently been competing for a project, and this guy would come to her and make sarcastic remarks several times a day, always looking for trouble.

Ye Qiushui: “Ah, yes, yes, yes, Brother Liu is so generous that he secretly canceled his girlfriend’s snack order in the middle of the night!”

Nearby colleagues all glanced over. Liu Cai left a sentence, “Single dogs wouldn’t understand,” and walked away angrily.

Two colleagues, holding coffee, came over to gossip and asked Ye Qiushui, “Oh my god, is he really that awful?”

Ye Qiushui broke off a piece of cookie, raising an eyebrow. “He said it himself, I’m not making it up.”

Smelling the aroma of the cookies, the two colleagues’ gossiping souls instantly turned into foodie souls.

“Where did you buy these cookies? They smell so good!”

Ye Qiushui immediately recommended, “The online shop for Taotie Delicacies! The taste is amazing, you guys should try some.”

The two colleagues each took a pack of cookies and gave Ye Qiushui some other small snacks in return.

The two colleagues had only taken one bite of the cookies when they showed surprised expressions.

“Can I place an order right away?!”

“Seriously, I’ve never had cookies with such a great texture! The little dog shape is also adorable, my kids will definitely love it!”

Ye Qiushui said proudly, “Didn’t I make a good recommendation? The little boss of this shop is like my anime little brother, super cute. Let me show you some photos.”

After seeing Yun Tao’s photos, the two colleagues were completely charmed and instantly became fans.

Today, she had to work overtime temporarily. It was almost seven o’clock, and Ye Qiushui hadn’t had dinner yet. Luckily, she had the Little Heavenly Dog cookies. She ate two and carefully kept the stickers in her pocket.

After work, several colleagues who were close to each other went out for dinner together. No one invited Liu Cai, but he was always shameless and followed them anyway.

Entering a restaurant in the mall, they didn’t need a waiter to lead them; they went to find empty seats by the window with ease.

Overtime made everyone feel listless, except for Liu Cai’s incessant chatter, which kept everyone quiet.

Ye Qiushui walked and rotated her tired neck. Just then, the customers at a nearby table suddenly started arguing. Before she knew what had happened, a wine bottle suddenly flew towards her!