25: Chapter 25 is all about quick answering questions.

In the morning, You Li told him that the manager of the General Affairs Department had been recruited. His name is Ouyang Xintian, a 39-year-old local from Jianning.

At this moment, Yang Shiguang was checking the operating status of Shuicifang in the work group chat.

Li Zi: "Young Master Yang, yesterday all stores added lunch service for the first time, and the results were quite good. The turnover rate for Hejia Branch increased to 11.5 per day, Tianxin Branch to 8.1 per day, and Qiaodong Branch to 9.7 per day."

Li Zi: "Binjiang Branch opened yesterday for the first time, and it was more popular than expected, with a turnover rate reaching 6.9. Although the turnover rate is not as high as the other regular stores, Binjiang Branch is larger and has a higher average customer spend, reaching 388.6 yuan, while the average customer spend for regular stores is 208.5 yuan."

Li Zi: "The explosive popularity of Binjiang Branch also led to a shortage of manpower; yesterday, Miaomiao and You Ge also went to help out."

Stallone: "Young Master Shi, I have already found two suitable locations for storefronts in Lusongnan and Lu County. Currently, I am having my subordinates survey the population of the surrounding residential areas and calculate the foot traffic."

New Horizons: "Young Master Yang, the office on the third floor of Binjiang Branch is almost finished with renovations. It is expected that you can move in the day you return."

Screenname: "Mm, thank you all for your hard work. @Everyone"

Screenname: "@New Horizons Brother Tian, the new office needs to add an area for workstations. I have decided to establish a Procurement Department, responsible for coordinating with Boss Nian and ensuring the supply of Hunan cuisine ingredients and beverages."

New Horizons: "Understood, Young Master Yang."

Screenname: "@Li Zi Sister Li, please take on the role of Procurement Department manager concurrently for now. Find fixed suppliers. The beverages must be diverse in variety and complete in specifications to ensure that we can provide whatever normal drinks guests might want."

Li Zi: "Understood, Young Master Yang, I will handle it immediately."

Screenname: "@Qi Xuanwang Brother Wang, please recruit a Procurement Department manager and procurement staff immediately. Tentatively, one manager and two staff members. The manager will enjoy virtual equity just like you all, and staff will follow the standard system. Also, fill the personnel gap at Binjiang Branch as soon as possible."

Qi Xuanwang: "Understood, Young Master Yang. Our Shuicifang is already quite famous in Jianning now, making recruitment easier. I will complete it as soon as possible."

Screenname: "@Stallone Ah Long, besides foot traffic and permanent population, please also try your best to survey the consumption level of the surrounding area. A rough estimate will do."

Stallone: "Understood, Young Master Shi."

Screenname: "@Yao Sister Liu, please cooperate with Ah Long to complete the sales forecast and cost estimation for the new locations."

Yao: "Understood, Young Master Yang."

Screenname: "@Nuonuo Small Tangyuan Give your brother a smile."

Nuonuo Small Tangyuan: "(｡＞∀＜｡)"

Screenname: "@Feitian You Ge Go cool off somewhere."

System Message: "Feitian You Ge" has been muted for 24 hours by administrator "Nuonuo Small Tangyuan".

Yang Shiguang closed his laptop and laughed, "The little girl is not bad, she's even learned to buzz in."

Not long after, a knock sounded at the door.

Yang Shiguang opened the door, and the beautiful figure at the door made him slightly dazed.

Bai Mengxi was wearing a white dress, the spaghetti strap design revealing her flawless, fair shoulders and lotus-root-like arms. Her tall figure allowed a glimpse of her fair calves beneath the long skirt, and she was wearing short white socks with little white shoes.

Her waist-length hair, like a waterfall, hung behind her, with the left side still slightly tied up by that wisteria-shaped hair accessory, draping down to her chest. Her face, devoid of makeup, had eyes that shimmered with emotion, ethereal and pure like a lotus rising from clear water.

(Bai Mengxi's character design art has been posted in the Author's Note)

Seeing the young man staring at her blankly, Bai Mengxi became shy: "I don't look strange, do I... I don't have many clothes, this dress is probably the only one that looks decent..."

Yang Shiguang snapped out of it, feeling slightly awkward: "It looks great, though you would probably look good in anything."

Hearing this, the girl became even shyer, her cheeks turning a rosy red.

...

It was already noon when they went out, and Yang Shiguang decided to go eat first.

They found a restaurant specializing in Xizhou cuisine near the inn and sat down in a corner.

Yang Shiguang flipped through the menu and waved his hand, ordering five dishes. Seeing this, Bai Mengxi tried to stop him: "Ordering so much is a waste of money, and we won't be able to finish it..."

Yang Shiguang knew that this frugal girl must always be pinching pennies when it came to eating, which was why she was malnourished and so thin.

He wasn't actually a spendthrift; ordering so much was purely to supplement Bai Mengxi's nutrition.

"Don't worry about whether we can finish it, you must eat until you're full. Look at how thin you've become."

After saying that, he added, "Why care so much about eating? The person who eats is the king of heaven, and he who eats food is a hero."

Bai Mengxi was stunned after hearing this; the words made no sense.

"Is that how that phrase is used?"

Yang Shiguang started spouting nonsense with a straight face. First, he pointed to his mouth: "Eat." Then he pointed to the peanuts on the table: "Food." Then he pointed at Bai Mengxi: "Are the heroes."

Bai Mengxi suddenly understood and then let out a laugh as ethereal and melodious as a nightingale.

At this moment, two men at the next table heard the sound and looked over. Upon seeing Bai Mengxi, they immediately cast burning gazes at her.

However, Bai Mengxi was extremely sensitive to people's gazes and expressions. She noticed it before long and felt a wave of discomfort, so she could only turn her head away, leaving the back of her head to those two men.

Seeing this, Yang Shiguang could only shake his head. This girl was too sensitive; living like this would really be exhausting.

He stood up, sat down next to Bai Mengxi, and even moved his chair slightly, turning his body to block the two men's gazes with his broad back.

He could even notice this... that's so nice... He could always notice the details related to her.

Seeing Yang Shiguang's actions, the sense of security in Bai Mengxi's heart soared again. Her clear eyes lowered slightly, and she revealed a faint smile: "Thank you."

Yang Shiguang sighed slightly. "Aren't you tired living like this?"

"I... I don't want to either."

"Can you notice every single stare?"

"Not entirely, it's just that many men... their gazes... make me uncomfortable."

Yang Shiguang suddenly chuckled and said, "What about me then? Didn't I stare at you when we first met? And this morning too."

"You... no, you are different from them. You didn't make me uncomfortable. This morning's... was even a little... warm."

After speaking, Bai Mengxi became shy again, lowering her head slightly to cover her pretty face with her hair.

And the heartless Yang Shiguang laughed out loud on the side.

Soon the dishes were served: blood duck, stir-fried cured meat with scallions, Miao-style fish, spicy chicken, and a vegetable dish.

These dishes were not unfamiliar to Bai Mengxi; she used to eat them often, though only as leftovers.

For Yang Shiguang, they were quite fresh.

Yang Shiguang kept putting food into Bai Mengxi's bowl, which never stayed empty.

Bai Mengxi looked at this young man, who was a bit strange while eating.

When he put food in her bowl, he showed gentleness, concern, and the mischievous expression he usually wore. But once he ate the food himself, he displayed a calm, serious, and focused expression.

Bai Mengxi was a bit puzzled but could only explain it as Yang Shiguang having never eaten Xizhou specialties before, so he was carefully savoring them.

However, Young Master Yang, who was chewing on the blood duck at this moment, was thinking: "Hmm, this uses tea oil."

"Dried chili, young ginger, star anise, bay leaf..."

"Hmm? This sweetness is... sweet bean sauce?"

"This ester aroma... hmm, definitely yellow wine."

"Good, I'll add this to the Shuicifang menu when I go back."

"Specialty dish +1"