Chapter 38: Just Give a Smile and Let It Go

When Wang Can pushed open the glass door of the chicken cutlet shop, Fang Fei had already changed into a snow-white chef’s uniform. She was standing beside the two veteran cooks, Guan Guoqing and Liu Xiuying, focused on learning the techniques for deep-frying chicken cutlets.

She leaned forward slightly, her posture radiating earnestness, her bobbed hair swaying gently with her movements. Wang Can thought this clean, sharp-looking girl had a real spark; she might just be molded into a capable assistant.

"Boss, you're here." Sensing Wang Can’s arrival, Fang Fei immediately turned around to greet him.

Wang Can nodded at her and took the opportunity to say hello to the two masters. Liu Xiuying grinned warmly, while Guan Guoqing, busy at the fryer, let out a grunt without lifting his head.

Since the student part-timers were allowed to leave a little early, there were few people in the canteen at the moment. However, staff from the surrounding stalls kept glancing over, their eyes filled with curiosity. Chicken cutlets were not rare, but the store name "Hao Dada Chicken Cutlet" certainly felt a bit... "crude."

"Why are you two standing there like you’re at military drill?" Wang Can, having changed into his work uniform, couldn't help but laugh as he looked at Zhang Bailan, who stood ramrod straight, and the slightly stiff Fang Fei in front of the stall.

"Brother Can, this is my first job ever. Isn't it normal to be nervous?" Zhang Bailan’s voice trembled slightly, his fingers twitching.

Although Fang Fei wasn't as dramatic, her tense shoulders and rigid spine betrayed her nerves.

"Boss, it’s not exactly nervousness," she said, biting her lip. "It’s mostly that I’m worried the flyers we handed out won't be effective, and your money will have been wasted for nothing."

While checking the ingredients in the freezer, Wang Can laughed nonchalantly. "Even if they really aren't effective, haven't you at least gotten some practice?"

"Huh?" Fang Fei was momentarily speechless, her eyes wide. *The boss spends money without caring about results just so I can get practice? Boss, you’re kind of a fool... but alright.* *This future... oh, I guess I'll just laugh it off.*

Seeing through her thoughts, Wang Can patted her shoulder meaningfully. "You'll understand later."

With that, he pulled four red envelopes from his pocket and handed one to Fang Fei first. "Best of luck with the opening!"

Fang Fei’s eyes lit up, and she beamed instantly. "Best of luck with the opening!"

Wang Can turned to Zhang Bailan. "Bailan, your turn."

"Best of luck with the opening!" Zhang Bailan excitedly took the envelope and peeked at a corner, his mouth stretching to his ears when he saw the crisp hundred-yuan note inside.

The last two envelopes went to Liu Xiuying and Guan Guoqing. Wang Can didn't insist on them reciting the slogan. Each of the four envelopes contained one hundred yuan, but he had reported eight hundred to Xia Kewe’s accounts. As for the four-hundred-yuan discrepancy... well, adults shouldn't let children ask too many questions.

As the noon bell rang, the first wave of hungry students rushed through the canteen doors like arrows released from a bow, scattering toward the various stalls in the blink of an eye.

However, it was regrettable that Wang Can’s shop, tucked away in an inconspicuous spot, did not attract much attention. A full ten minutes passed, and only one student paused to look for a moment before turning away.

"Boss, is it possible that... nobody will come?" Fang Fei bit her lower lip, her tone laced with anxiety.

Zhang Bailan, standing nearby, was equally unsettled. His feelings were conflicting; he was afraid of people coming, yet afraid of no one coming.

"What's the rush? Good food is worth the wait." Wang Can leaned against the counter, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface.

This wave of students had come hungry, having already decided what to eat; it was normal for them not to want to try a new place. The next wave would be the true test.

...

...

Xiao Ge and Xixi were sophomores in the School of Applied Mathematics at Shenhai University. Sharing a dorm, they had become inseparable best friends shortly after enrollment due to their shared love for food.

As two seasoned foodies, they knew the campus's six canteens like the back of their hands. They kept a clear mental ledger of which stalls had the most authentic dishes and the best value for money.

Today, as their first day back from summer break, the two coincidentally chose their favorite, Canteen No. 2. It was not only affordable but also featured several snacks they had been craving.

"Huh? 'Hao Dada Chicken Cutlet'? That’s an interesting name." Xixi suddenly stopped, pointing at a nearby stall.

Xiao Ge followed her gaze and spotted the newly opened chicken cutlet shop in the corner of the canteen. She suddenly remembered something and pulled a crumpled flyer from her bag. "I got a flyer for them yesterday. It says they have an opening special: buy a chicken cutlet, get a free milk tea."

"Free milk tea?" Xixi raised an eyebrow. "The wool comes from the sheep; how expensive must the cutlet be?"

"Look, it says it right here on the flyer: nine yuan, including a free drink," Xiao Ge said, unfolding the flyer for Xixi to see.

"That's great value!" Xixi’s eyes brightened. "Then I have to see just how 'big' this 'Hao Dada' really is."

As they neared the stall, they found several students already gathered, all eyeing the new shop with curiosity. Xiao Ge didn't hesitate to ask, "Hey, how big is the chicken cutlet here? Can we see it?"

"Of course," Wang Can, standing behind the stall, answered readily. He turned and retrieved a chicken cutlet from the warmer that was a full 15 centimeters long, thick and plump.

For a moment, not only Xiao Ge and Xixi, but all the surrounding students widened their eyes in unison.

*That’s huge!*

Xiao Ge subconsciously measured the size of the cutlet with her palm, comparing it to her own face, and asked in disbelief, "Hey, are you saying this cutlet—which is bigger than my face—is only nine yuan, and it comes with a 500ml milk tea?"

"That’s right," Wang Can nodded with a smile.

Xiao Ge pointed to the flyer again. "And if I collect ten points cards for purchases over ten yuan, I can exchange them for a free chicken cutlet set?"

"Correct," Wang Can confirmed again.

Xiao Ge’s gaze fell on the drumsticks displayed at the stall, and she shook the crumpled flyer in her hand. "And I can use this flyer to get one of these drumsticks for free?"

"That’s right," Wang Can added. "Limited to 100 per day, while supplies last."

The scene fell silent for a fleeting moment before erupting into waves of exclamations.

"Oh my god! Is your boss running a charity?" Xiao Ge’s voice trembled with excitement. "It would be a sin not to take advantage of this! Give me two!"

In Shenhai University, the average lunch cost for a student was between 12 and 15 yuan. Yet, this face-sized chicken cutlet, paired with a milk tea, was only nine yuan.

Nine yuan for a lunch with both a drink and meat! Not to mention the drumstick, which was the size of a toddler’s fist, available for free with a single flyer. It was an absolute steal!

Following Xiao Ge’s lead, the surrounding students couldn't hold back anymore.

"I want one too! Me too!"

"Did you bring the flyer you got at Canteen No. 1 the other day?"

"Call Third Brother! I have four flyers on my desk, tell him to bring them over, quick!"

"Oh no! I have flyers in my dorm, but it's too far to go back now..."

"Ask others if they have any on them; we can pay them back later."

Amidst the clamor, someone had already pulled out their phone to call friends: "Hey, Zhan Bo, guess what I just saw?"

...

Just over ten minutes later, the thin line in front of the "Hao Dada Chicken Cutlet" stall had spiraled into a massive queue.

More and more students were drawn by the unusual commotion and stopped to watch. When they saw the attractive prices on the promotional posters, their eyes lit up, and they joined the waiting line one after another.

Fang Fei and Zhang Bailan looked at the surging crowd and shivered in unison, feeling as if they were trapped in a zombie apocalypse.

"What are you standing there for? Start packing, processing payments, and handing out queue numbers!" Wang Can’s urging brought them back to reality.

"Oh! Right away!"