CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: REWARD

"Lao Jiang, limiting the sale of fifty portions of the mouth-watering chicken each meal; isn’t it a bit too few?"

Li Yue and Shen Deqing, new to the shop, have become more adept at their roles. Now, Zhihai hardly needs to intervene, just staying near the card machine, managing the cash register, and occasionally lending a hand as needed.

Because of this arrangement, amidst a busy noon, Zhihai was the most relaxed among everyone in the shop. Once everyone took a break, Zhihai approached Jiang Yu and asked, puzzled,

"Could it be that you’re concerned about earning too much?"

"Of course, it’s not more than what you earn at home."

Jiang Yu glanced at him and replied jokingly, then turned serious,

"Fifty portions are already quite a lot, and with so many people lining up, how much can be considered enough? Right now, we sell at least 300 dumplings with soup each meal, yet there are still people who can’t get any."

"It’s because the shop is too small, and there aren’t enough staff."

Zhihai scanned the shop and shook his head,

"By the way, is Teacher Xiong from the Student Affairs Office certain he can secure a larger booth for us? Let’s hope he doesn’t find us a spot in an out-of-the-way cafeteria. That wouldn’t be better than here!"

"We’ll see whether it’s certain or not when the time comes. Let’s not hold too high hopes. Having this small shop is already satisfying."

Jiang Yu seemed indifferent. Providing dining rewards for the new students’ military training was not something he expected to profit from. If Teacher Xiong could get a larger booth, it would be great; if not, it didn’t matter—there would be opportunities in the future.

Perhaps, a year after his graduation, whether he would continue with a shop in the school cafeteria was still uncertain.

He picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, smacked his lips, and stood up from his seat. As he walked towards the stove, he smiled and said,

"If Teacher Xiong truly manages to get a large booth, do you think, given our current situation, we’d even care if the location is remote?"

Zhihai was initially stunned, then quickly reacted and laughed along,

"I misunderstood. I thought we would worry about not having clientele, but with our delicious dumplings, hot and sour soup, especially our new mouth-watering chicken—no matter if we go to a remote location, these students will still come flocking!"

"Alright, everyone should hurry and eat. We’ve been busy half the day."

Jiang Yu said, beckoning to everyone, then added,

"After eating, take a break. Xiaoyan, you all, if there are classes in the afternoon, go attend them. If you can come back during the dinner rush, do so; if not, it’s fine. We have plenty of people to manage."

Zhihai supplemented with a comment,

"If you can’t make it back, don’t come mooching food. The mouth-watering chicken is already limited, and if you don’t come, I can eat more!"

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

...

The scorching sun hung overhead; the ground was like an oven.

On the expansive school playground, freshmen dressed in camouflage uniforms lined up in neat formation, standing still under the blazing sun.

Even though it’s just been less than half a day of training, their cheeks have started to redden from sun exposure, with their clothing turning damp and dry repeatedly, sticking uncomfortably to their bodies.

Sweat trickled from their foreheads, down strands of hair, onto their eyebrows, and into their eyes, stinging so much they could hardly open them.

"Don’t move your head! Keep your eyes fixed front, no looking around!"

"Relax your shoulders! Keep both shoulders level!"

The instructor, also in camouflage, held a baton and loudly checked the freshmen’s military posture while shouting,

"You! Yes, you! Stop looking around; what are your eyes wandering for?!"

"And you! Tuck in your stomach! You’re not pregnant, what’s with the belly?!"

"You! Precisely you! What are you laughing at? Keep laughing, and I’ll throw you out!"

"..."

Despite the instructor’s sharp shouts ringing in her ears, Liu Sili stood persistently, enduring a sore back and shaky legs, yet she gritted her teeth and stayed determined, always remembering the essential points of standing at attention the instructor taught earlier, keeping her body straight and firm.

She was inherently a gentle but resolute girl who only grew more determined in the face of difficulty.

Back when she was in high school, her poor English-speaking skills once got her mocked by Cheng Jiayi, much to her distress.

Since then, she diligently rose at 4:30 every morning, making her way to the lakeside pavilion at the school to loudly read English texts, even spending leftover meal money to buy English tapes to correct her pronunciation...

After more than a year of persevering, her English-speaking skills became impeccable without a hint of accent. Her teachers endlessly praised her, and she even won first prize in the city’s Mid-School English Speech Contest.

Back then, Cheng Jiayi, who mocked her, couldn’t even make it to the semi-finals of the English Speech Contest.

Compared to this, what is a mere half-month of military training?

Much time passed, and just as Liu Sili felt her endurance might falter, the instructor’s voice finally rang in her ears,

"Alright, everyone relax and rest in place, no sitting on the ground!

"This afternoon, most of you trained earnestly. Despite some flaws in your movements, for a first attempt achieving this level is commendable. Continue striving in the future.

Within our formation, a girl stands out for her diligence and standard posture. That girl is Liu Sili!

This is something everyone should learn from!

Especially you boys, aren’t you ashamed? Is your face flushed from losing to a girl in standing at attention?! I feel embarrassed for you!"

The instructor lectured everyone for a while, and seeing the time was about up, he continued by saying,

"Liu Sili, come forward!"

"Yes!"

Liu Sili promptly responded, briskly stepped out, and stood firmly before the instructor.

"You’re the best student in this formation for this afternoon, here’s your reward, keep it up!"

"Thank you, Instructor!"

Liu Sili took a deep breath, accepted a small envelope from the instructor, clutching it tightly. She didn’t open it immediately, choosing instead to take it back into the formation.

After Liu Sili returned and stood well in formation, the instructor clapped his hands and said,

"Alright, that’s all for this afternoon’s practice, you’re dismissed!"

"Whoosh," the tired freshmen could no longer bear it, one after another slumped to the ground, breathing heavily.

Liu Sili did not sit down. She had already opened the small envelope and was holding a meal voucher stamped with the Student Affairs Office’s seal, clearly stating: one item.

Alongside were small print details: One item includes a basket of dumplings with soup and a portion of hot and sour soup, sponsored for free by the Jiang Family Dumpling Shop at the Second Cafeteria.

Looking at the voucher in hand, Liu Sili was thrilled:

She truly received a military training reward!

Tonight, she can savor dumplings with soup and hot and sour soup!