"Outhouse! I need an outhouse quick!" Chen Jinyou exclaimed after vomiting. A sudden bout of diarrhea struck him, and he grabbed his servant's arm, disregarding the sour vomit staining his robe, signaling the servant to lead him to a restroom.
Little did he expect that the servant had also overeaten and joined Chen Jinyou in uncontrollable vomiting.
Delayed by this, Chen Jinyou could no longer hold it and soiled himself from behind, losing not only his lunch... but also his dignity.
The onlookers pinched their noses and backed away.
Even Qi Huan, sitting in the opposite noodle shop, could smell the odor.
Seeing her retreating a few steps, Mr. Xu thought she was bothered by the stench and stood up to shut the door.
In this moment, Qi Huan told the system in her mind, "Retrieve montmorillonite powder, oral rehydration salts, and probiotics from the medicine cabinet."
Soon, the required medications appeared in her hands.
She then tore off a blue floral tablecloth from the counter and approached the entrance of Ruyi Restaurant with the medicines.
Chen Jinyou and his servant were squatting on the ground, covering their faces, while others kept their distance.
Going against the crowd, Qi Huan walked up and handed them the tablecloth, "Cover yourselves first, then hurry home and change clothes. The vomiting and diarrhea could be caused by eating something unclean, triggering acute gastroenteritis. Here are some medicines to help. You should also see a doctor."
After she finished speaking, Chen Jinyou peeked through his fingers, snatched the tablecloth, and swiftly climbed into his carriage.
The servant took the medicines and followed suit.
As the commotion subsided, the onlookers praised Qi Huan.
"Miss Qi, you're so kind."
"Miss Qi, indeed the daughter of Doctor Qi, with a compassionate heart befitting a physician. Even giving out free medicines."
"That man is the county magistrate's son. He's not short on money, so Miss Qi should have charged him for the medicines. He used to collect 'protection fees' from us."
Qi Huan raised her brows slightly, surprised that the man was the county magistrate's son.
He had never collected 'protection fees' from Qi's Noodle Shop, though it might be because her shop had just opened.
Regardless of his identity, she helped him simply because she felt sorry for his embarrassing situation, doing a random act of kindness.
Qi Huan soon forgot about the incident until the system reminded her, "Good deed +2, points +2."
She then realized the county magistrate's son and his servant must have recovered.
She thought the matter was over, but a few days later, she witnessed another commotion outside her shop.
Chen Jinyou, dressed in a green brocade robe with a cloud-patterned jade hairpin adorning his topknot, looked every bit the wealthy young master.
If not for the grimacing mask covering his face, he would have appeared even more dashing.
Chen Jinyou adjusted his mask. After the previous incident, he had lost face in Mo County and could only show himself wearing a mask.
He kicked open the doors of Ruyi Restaurant and bellowed, "Where is that scoundrel Chen Shu? Get out here!"
The doctor said he fell ill from eating something unclean, so someone had to take responsibility. He was here to collect his debt!
Chen Jinyou disliked studying and martial arts but loved money above all.
Today, if Chen Shu didn't compensate him to the point of bankruptcy, then Chen Jinyou wasn't surnamed Chen!
With a wave of his hand, his servants began smashing and ransacking the restaurant.
The manager, seeing the situation escalating, quickly sent someone to fetch Chen Shu from the gambling den.
Upon returning and witnessing the chaos, Chen Shu tried to flee but was caught by Chen Jinyou's servants.
"You little rascal, still trying to run? When I got sick from your restaurant, you think you can get away without an explanation?"
"Wh-what explanation, sir?"
Seeing Chen Shu's cowardice, Chen Jinyou waved five fingers in front of his face.
"Alright, alright, we can afford fifty taels for medical fees."
Chen Shu smiled obsequiously, signaling Ding Accountant to bring the money.
However, Chen Shu was then slapped across the face.
Chen Jinyou fumed, "You think my dignity is worth so little? No less than five hundred taels will settle this!"
Nursing his cheek, Chen Shu dared not protest. The other party's father was the county magistrate, while his own father was a prisoner under the magistrate's authority. Who could he reason with? Moreover, Ding Accountant had admitted their mistake.
Ding Accountant explained that after Chen Shu spent the five hundred taels, the restaurant couldn't afford quality ingredients, resulting in this mishap.
However, Chen Shu had already lost four hundred of those five hundred taels gambling. Where could he get the remaining hundred?
After tearfully explaining his situation... Chen Shu received another slap.
"Fork over the four hundred taels first. As for the remaining hundred, even if you have to sell every pot and pan, you'd better pay me in full!"
After issuing this harsh warning, Chen Jinyou led his servants in storming into Qi's Noodle Shop.
Inside, the puzzled Qi Huan asked, "Would you like noodles or spicy snacks?"
"Thank you for last time." Chen Jinyou's voice held a hint of embarrassment from behind his mask as he slapped a hundred-tael banknote on the counter and gruffly said, "Compensation!"
His servant immediately tugged his sleeve, reminding him, "Young Master, why are you acting like a spendthrift? Besides, we haven't collected 'protection fees' from this newly opened noodle shop."
Though the servant whispered in his ear, his voice was loud enough for Qi Huan to hear.
As Qi Huan considered how to respond, she saw Chen Jinyou smack his servant before turning to leave.
Holding the hundred taels, she watched them depart, smiling slightly. This young master did have a sense of right and wrong.
Then she noticed that the Ruyi Restaurant across the street had hung a 'for sale' sign.
Upon closer inspection, the asking price was precisely one hundred taels.
Qi Huan clutched the banknote, found a money broker to serve as the middleman, and soon owned a restaurant.
The restaurant was still registered under the name Li Shuchen.
After completing the paperwork at the county office, Qi Huan shared the story with Li Shuchen.
"So, Li Shuchen, would you say I'm lucky? With just a simple gesture, I obtained a restaurant for free."
Seeing the slight smugness in her expression, Li Shuchen smiled faintly and said, "If you need anything for renovations, just let me know."
"Then I won't be polite! Li Shuchen, please make a new signboard for me, with the words 'Qi's Restaurant.'"
"Sure."
Apart from the signboard, Ruyi Restaurant's original decor was quite elegant, so Qi Huan kept it as is.
As for staff, she only retained the waiters.
Ding Accountant and other confidants of the former owner Chen Shu were all dismissed.
Qi Huan posted job advertisements and soon filled all vacancies, as her offered salaries were generous, with the sixth day of each month as a day off.
After hiring new staff, she called over everyone from Qi's Noodle Shop.
"I never expected to open a restaurant so quickly. Restaurants have higher revenues but also more demanding work. I wanted to ask if any of you would like to transfer to the restaurant? The pay is better there but the work is also more tiring."
Upon hearing this, everyone was both surprised and delighted.
Tao Su was the first to stand and accept, "I'm willing! My mother always said, 'People should strive upwards, and water flows downwards.' A little more hard work is no problem as long as it's a better opportunity."
"I'm willing too!"
...
In the end, all the veteran employees from the noodle shop transferred to the new restaurant, while Qi Huan hired new people to fill the vacant positions at the noodle shop.
This way, Qi Huan felt more at ease.
After all, the restaurant involved much more money, so she felt safer with her own trusted staff.
After handling these matters, she began studying recipe books in the kitchen.
