14: Chapter 14 Potato Hero

Li Ming became a hit.

Not because he was good at peeling potatoes.

It was because of a TikTok video.

That day, a customer was filming a video and happened to catch Li Ming behind the cash register, standing on tiptoes to hand fried chicken to a tall customer.

Video title: "The cashier at this fried chicken shop looks like he's only fifteen."

Views: Two million.

Comment section:

"Wait, isn't this the boy who was standing at the entrance before?"

"He was still peeling potatoes when I went last time, and now he's already working the cash register?"

"What kind of magical place is this shop? Does it specialize in taking in unlucky people?"

"He looks so good when he smiles, there's a light in his eyes."

"Does anyone know his background?"

Lin Feng was scrolling through the comments, and when he reached "there's a light in his eyes," he paused for a moment.

He looked up and glanced at Li Ming, who was busy at the cash register.

There was indeed a light.

Not the kind that's very bright, but the kind—that was about to go out, but is now slowly brightening up again.

He remembered the first time he met Li Ming, that boy standing at the door with his head down, whose emotional value was only 2.3.

Looking at him now, busy working the register and occasionally chatting with customers.

Lin Feng bit down on his straw, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

---

The Mexican Guy leaned over and whispered: "Boss, look at the comment section. Someone is asking if Li Ming is a child laborer raised by our shop."

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow: "And then?"

The Mexican Guy handed over his phone: "Look at this one."

[The owner of this shop is Lin Feng, that 'Boss is more miserable than you' psycho. He only recruits miserable people; this boy must have a story too.]

Lin Feng stared at that comment and was silent for three seconds.

Then he said: "This person is right."

The Mexican Guy was stunned: "Right about what?"

Lin Feng stood up, brushed off his pants, and walked over to Li Ming.

"After you finish with this rush, come outside with me."

---

Li Ming followed Lin Feng and squatted at the entrance.

"Boss, what is it?"

Lin Feng looked across the street and said slowly: "You're a hit."

Li Ming was stunned: "What?"

Lin Feng handed him the phone.

Li Ming stared at the video with two million views, his eyes widening.

"This... is this me?"

Lin Feng nodded.

Li Ming scrolled down to read the comments.

When he saw the comment "this boy must have a story too," his hand paused.

He looked up at Lin Feng: "They want to know my story."

Lin Feng nodded.

Li Ming was silent for three seconds, then asked: "Should I tell them?"

Lin Feng turned to look at him: "Do you want to tell them?"

Li Ming thought for a moment and said seriously: "No."

Lin Feng smiled: "Then don't."

Li Ming was stunned: "But they want to know—"

Lin Feng interrupted him: "They want to know, that's their business. Whether you want to tell them, that's your business. The first rule of this shop—"

He pointed to the sign at the entrance:

[Boss is more miserable than you]

"—means that things here are decided by the people here. As for people outside, let them guess whatever they want."

Li Ming stared at the sign for a long time.

Then he smiled.

The kind of smile that welled up from the depths of his eyes.

---

But the story got out anyway.

It wasn't Li Ming who told it.

It was the Bald Strong Man.

One night after closing, a few of them were drinking beer in the shop. The Bald Strong Man had too much to drink and started bragging.

"Do you guys know the background of that kid Li Ming?"

The Mexican Guy shook his head.

The Bald Strong Man lowered his voice: "His mom is gone. He's all alone."

Maria frowned: "How do you know?"

The Bald Strong Man waved his hand: "I was smoking at the door that day and heard him talking to the boss."

Everyone went silent.

Lily put down her paintbrush and asked softly: "What about his dad?"

The Bald Strong Man shook his head: "Don't know. Never heard him mention it."

The old man took a slow sip of his drink: "Then he doesn't have one either."

Another silence fell.

Maria stood up, walked into the kitchen, and prepared an extra basket of potatoes for the next day.

The Mexican Guy watched her and whispered: "Sis Maria, what are you doing?"

Maria didn't even turn her head: "That kid is coming tomorrow, let him peel a bit more. If he's busy, he won't have time to think about those things."

---

The next day, when Li Ming arrived at the shop, he found that there were twice as many potatoes as usual.

He was stunned: "Is business that good today?"

Maria nodded: "Yeah, just preparing."

Li Ming didn't think much of it and started peeling.

As he peeled, he suddenly paused.

He remembered that today was his mother's birthday.

He lowered his head and continued peeling.

But his movements slowed down.

Lin Feng was squatting at the entrance, glancing at his skill panel.

[Target: Li Ming]

[Current emotional value: 6.2 -> 5.1]

[Emotion type: Sadness Retrospection]

Lin Feng stood up, walked into the kitchen, and squatted next to Li Ming.

"What's wrong today?"

Li Ming didn't look up: "Nothing."

Lin Feng was silent for a second, then said: "Your mom's birthday?"

Li Ming's hand froze.

He turned to look at Lin Feng, his eyes red.

"How did you know?"

Lin Feng blinked: "I'm the boss. The boss knows everything."

Li Ming stared at him for three seconds, then lowered his head and continued peeling potatoes.

As he peeled, he suddenly spoke:

"My mom used to love peeling potatoes too. When she ran the steamed bun shop, she would get up at four in the morning every day to peel them."

Lin Feng listened.

"She said that when peeling potatoes, you don't have to think about anything. Your hands are moving, and your mind goes blank."

Lin Feng nodded: "She was a wise woman."

Li Ming was silent for a second, then said:

"The day she left, I was arguing with her. Because I didn't want to eat steamed buns."

Lin Feng didn't speak.

Li Ming's voice trembled a little: "I didn't answer her last call. I thought she would call again."

Tears fell onto the potato.

He wiped them away and continued peeling.

Lin Feng squatted beside him, not moving.

After a long time, he spoke:

"Does your mom know you're here?"

Li Ming was stunned: "What do you mean?"

Lin Feng said: "You're here, there's someone to keep you company while you peel potatoes, someone to pay you, and someone waiting for you to come after school every day. Does your mom know about these things?"

Li Ming was silent.

Lin Feng continued: "I don't know if she knows or not. But I know one thing—"

He paused and said seriously:

"You're not alone here. You can't change the past. But you can choose your future."

Li Ming stared at the potato in his hand for a long time.

Then he looked up at Lin Feng:

"What do I choose?"

Lin Feng smiled: "Choose to keep peeling potatoes. Or—choose something else."

Li Ming was stunned: "Something else like what?"

Lin Feng thought for a moment and said: "For example, become a Potato Hero."

Li Ming: "...What?"

Lin Feng pointed to the basket of potatoes: "Look, you peel better than the Mexican Guy, faster than Sis Maria, and more carefully than the Bald Strong Man. In the potato department of this shop, you're already the champion."

Li Ming stared at the basket of potatoes, then at Lin Feng, looking confused.

Lin Feng continued: "A champion can't just peel potatoes. A champion has to train apprentices."

Li Ming: "...Train apprentices?"

Lin Feng nodded: "Yes. From now on, when new people come, you teach them how to peel potatoes. You are the Minister of the Potato Department."

Li Ming was silent for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

That kind of smile, not faked, but one that welled up from the depths of his eyes.

"Boss, you really are a psycho."

Lin Feng nodded: "I know."

---

After that day, there was a new position in the shop: Minister of the Potato Department.

On his first day in office, Li Ming took on an apprentice—a new Mexican Guy, younger than the previous one, who had just been laid off and was squatting at the door crying.

Li Ming squatted beside him, imitating Lin Feng, and handed him a cola.

"Do you want to work after you finish crying?"

The new guy was stunned.

Li Ming pointed to the kitchen: "Plenty of potatoes. I'll teach you."

The new guy stared at him for three seconds, then smiled.

Lin Feng was squatting at the entrance, watching this scene, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.

His phone vibrated.

[Ding—Congratulations to the host for triggering a hidden achievement—]

[Achievement Name: Letting those who have been seen learn to see others]

[Achievement Reward: None. But—you know, this is worth more than a reward.]

Lin Feng stared at that "you know," and smiled.

He put his phone back in his pocket and continued squatting, watching the scenery across the street.

The sunshine was nice.

The breeze was quite warm too.

Laughter drifted out from the shop in waves.

He suddenly felt that, in this life, he seemed to have gained something worthwhile.

[Chapter 14 End]