As noon approached, Chen Qingqing arrived at the entrance of the Qingshui Restaurant, where her elder brother Chen Feng worked.
Inside the main hall on the first floor, the place was already packed with diners.
The servers bustled about, rushing to and fro.
In her past life, although she had come to Qingshui Town several times to look for Chen Feng, she had never once entered the restaurant.
She would always wait outside from a distance until their father, Chen Zhanshan, called Chen Feng out through the back door so the family could exchange a few brief words.
Not wanting to make things difficult for her brother, she didn’t plan to enter through the front either.
Circling around to the back of the restaurant, she saw Chen Feng squatting on the ground, scrubbing a mountain of pots, bowls, and plates.
Nearby stood Wu Shiren, the fat and greasy shopkeeper, barking orders at the chefs who were busy stir-frying dishes over the flames.
“Get that sour soup noodles done already! The customers out front have been urging for it several times now!”
“And you—why are you so slow with those braised spare ribs? Can’t you move your hands any faster? The customers are getting impatient!”
Just then, one of the chefs cutting vegetables slipped, and a carrot fell to the floor.
Wu Shiren glared furiously. “Useless fool! You can even drop vegetables while cutting? What can you do right?”
“Shopkeeper,” the chef protested, “the handle on this knife is broken. I told you before it needed fixing, but you never did. How can I use it like this?”
“Fix, fix, fix—what, do you think I’m made of money? You people think I don’t pay to feed you? Save what can be saved, you got that?”
As soon as he finished scolding, he turned his anger toward Chen Feng, who was still quietly working.
“You worthless good-for-nothing! You’re slower than a tortoise! Hurry up! There’s still a pile of vegetables waiting to be washed!”
“Yes, Shopkeeper, right away,” Chen Feng replied, hastening his hands.
But Wu Shiren barked again, “Chen Feng! You blind fool! The fire under the stove is about to go out—add some firewood and work the bellows, now!”
Chen Feng immediately dropped the dishes, grabbed a few sticks of firewood, and fed them into the stove.
As he pulled the bellows with all his strength, ashes flew up, covering his face.
Flames roared back to life.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he didn’t even have time to wipe it away.
He had barely straightened up for a breath when Wu Shiren’s voice thundered again:
“What are you standing there for, you idiot? Don’t you want this job anymore? Pick those vegetables now! We’ll need them soon!”
Chen Feng dared not slack off for even a moment. He quickly picked up a bunch of greens and went back to work.
Watching her brother spin around like a top at other people’s commands, Chen Qingqing’s heart ached.
Not only did this man make her brother work like free labor without paying him—he even had the nerve to curse him so viciously.
This Wu Shiren was truly a beast, not a man!
She took a few steps forward and softly called, “Big Brother.”
Hearing that familiar voice, Chen Feng’s face lit up with surprise.
When he looked up and saw Chen Qingqing standing before him—chin lifted, gaze steady—he felt that his little sister seemed… very different.
Especially those big eyes—bright with confidence and wit—not timid and downcast like before.
He quickly put down his work and came over. “Little sister, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
“I’m doing fine. How’s home? Are Father and Mother well? Is Xiaohan being good?”
Chen Qingqing’s eyes rolled mischievously.
If she said Mother missed him, maybe her brother would stop serving that vile Wu Shiren.
She smiled slyly. “Everything’s fine at home. But Mother really misses you—she’s been talking about you every day lately. Why don’t you come home with me?”
“The restaurant’s too busy, and the shopkeeper hasn’t been able to hire help yet. I can’t leave for now. But once we have more hands, I’ll definitely go home to see Mother.” Chen Feng glanced nervously toward the front. “Did you come by yourself?”
“I came with Father. He went to the docks to look for work—to see if he can earn something. We’re running low on grain at home.”
Chen Feng’s eyes dimmed.
It must be because their third uncle demanded another tuition payment, and Grandfather and Grandmother had sold the family’s grain again.
That’s why Father was forced to do hard labor.
It was all his fault.
He was useless—he couldn’t help his family, and now even made Father work so hard.
What an unfilial son he was.
He looked troubled. “Little sister, I’m still just an apprentice, barely getting by with food and lodging. I don’t have money to help at home… do you blame me?”
Chen Qingqing shook her head.
Just as she was about to speak, Wu Shiren’s coarse voice roared again:
“Damn it! You haven’t finished your work and you’re gossiping already? Get your ass back here and wash those vegetables!”
“Coming!” Chen Feng said anxiously. “Little sister, I can’t talk right now. Wait here for me. Once I’m done, I’ll come find you. If there’s leftover food from the customers, I’ll bring some out for you.”
“Big brother—” Chen Qingqing wanted to say more, but Chen Feng had already dashed back to his chores.
Seeing him dawdle again, Wu Shiren’s temper exploded.
He kicked Chen Feng in the side.
“You damned pauper! You think you can become a chef someday? With your lazy bones? You’ll never finish your apprenticeship in this lifetime! Get moving—and feed the pigs in the backyard after you’re done!”
“I’m sorry, Shopkeeper, I won’t do it again,” Chen Feng stammered, not daring to fight back.
Chen Qingqing saw everything clearly.
This man was a bully—cruel, heartless, and utterly devoid of humanity.
Anger flared in her chest like a spark hitting dry grass.
She strode into the kitchen, pointed straight at Wu Shiren’s nose, and shouted:
“Shut your filthy mouth! My brother came here to learn the trade, not to be your slave! How dare you treat him like this? He’s a human being! Can’t you hire more help instead of working him to death? You selfish, cruel, stingy bastard!”
Wu Shiren froze as if a thunderbolt had struck over his head.
Someone dared to scold him—to his face—in his own restaurant?
Unbelievable!
He gritted his teeth. “Where did this wild girl come from? You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that! Do you even know who you’re talking to?”
Chen Qingqing glared back, eyes blazing. “So what if I’m scolding you? A shopkeeper as heartless as you—your business is bound to go under sooner or later!”
Veins bulged on Wu Shiren’s forehead. “Chen Feng! What are you standing there for? Lock this damn girl in the storeroom! I’ll deal with her myself later!”
Chen Feng stood frozen, stunned beyond words.
Was this really his little sister—the same timid girl who never even dared lift her head before? She had changed completely—fiery, fearless, daring to stand up for him!
Hearing his master’s roar, he scrambled to speak, “Shopkeeper, please calm down! She’s my younger sister—she’s just a child, she doesn’t understand. Don’t take it to heart.”
Then he turned to Chen Qingqing, pleading frantically, “Qing girl, please—go outside and wait for me. I’ll come find you soon.”
But Chen Qingqing didn’t move.
She raised her brows and said firmly, “Brother, this man’s cold-blooded—he’s not even human. Let’s go home. Stop working for him.”
Chen Feng stomped his foot in panic. “My dear sister, please—don’t say another word! Go wait outside, don’t make things worse for me!”