C15 The Allocation of Money

On that day, aside from a minor hiccup with Gold Tooth, the Lin family's roast chicken business ran like clockwork.

By the end of the day, Lin Ke'er and her colleagues had taken in so much money that their hands were practically numb.

In the evening, a modest celebration was held in the Lin family courtyard.

Seeing that Yang Zhiming was exhausted from the day's work, Lin Ke'er took the initiative to cook dinner.

After the meal, Yang Zhiming and Gold Tooth exchanged a few words.

Confronting a visibly uneasy Gold Tooth, Yang Zhiming expressed his disappointment, "Gold Tooth, you've really let me down today. I was ready to entrust you with the responsibility of purchasing ingredients, but it looks like you'll need a few more days of scrutiny."

Gold Tooth was filled with regret upon hearing this. If only he hadn't been swayed by that underling's bad advice, he thought, lamenting his choice to chase small gains at the cost of a larger loss.

Reflecting further, Gold Tooth realized he hadn't even secured the small gains; he hadn't reaped any benefits and had been chastised by Bai Lang to boot.

With a heavy heart, Gold Tooth addressed the stern Yang Zhiming, "Boss, maybe you should keep me on the food procurement task. You know I'm not one for sitting around."

Gold Tooth was fed up with the monotonous task of sitting and collecting money, especially since it wasn't even going into his own pocket but had to be turned over.

Yang Zhiming could tell that Gold Tooth was not taking this well, but considering his repeated mistakes, a lesson was in order. Without it, Gold Tooth was bound to slip up again given his nature.

Patting Gold Tooth on the shoulder, Yang Zhiming said firmly, "Mistakes must be met with consequences. As the leader of this crew, you need to set a good example. Don't bother trying to get Bai Lang to intercede; we made this decision together."

With those words, Gold Tooth's hopes were dashed, leaving him disheartened as if he had suffered a significant setback.

Yang Zhiming wasn't the type to exploit his workers, though. He pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to Gold Tooth, saying, "I can't have you losing face in front of your juniors. This is your earnings for today. I've decided to give you all a little extra. Distribute it among your team."

Thankfully, cash was still a viable currency on Mars. Yang Zhiming, accustomed to mobile payments since the Earth Era, couldn't deny the thrill of holding physical money.

Gold Tooth, aware that he wasn't the right person to handle food purchases, accepted the cash from Yang Zhiming.

As they were about to part ways, Gold Tooth turned back and said, "About last night, I didn't mean any harm. I was upset and Lin Ke'er had given me a hard time, so I lost my cool and just wanted to give her a scare."

He had been careful to avoid hitting Lin Ke'er, but when Yang Zhiming unexpectedly stepped in front of her, Gold Tooth couldn't pull his punch in time and ended up hitting him instead.

With his underling by his side, backing down wasn't an option without losing face, so he felt compelled to keep up the aggression.

Yang Zhiming didn't dwell on the incident. He was taken aback by Gold Tooth's admission, not having pegged him as someone who would be so hung up on the matter.

Gold Tooth, known for his brash and volatile demeanor, didn't seem like the type to consider others' feelings.

Yang Zhiming was about to suggest they move past it and focus on making the roast chicken restaurant a success, but Gold Tooth had already walked away. It appeared that Gold Tooth simply needed to voice his thoughts, not seeking forgiveness.

Shaking his head, Yang Zhiming realized he had been overly concerned about Gold Tooth feeling guilty.

Once Gold Tooth had departed, Yang Zhiming approached Lin Ke'er's room.

The task of purchasing food was crucial, and he trusted Lin Ke'er with the responsibility. The roast chicken restaurant, after all, was established to settle the Lin family's debts, and he knew Lin Ke'er would handle it with dedication.

Moreover, Lin Ke'er was reliable and not likely to embezzle funds as Gold Tooth might.

He knocked and waited. Eventually, Lin Ke'er answered the door, her hair still damp and her attire hastily thrown on, revealing a glimpse of her shoulders. "Mr. Yang, I apologize for keeping you waiting; I was just taking a bath," she said with a hint of urgency.

Yang Zhiming was standing very close to Lin Ke'er, close enough to catch the scent of daisies from her. He surmised it was the fragrance of her body wash.

Before he could speak, Lin Ke'er inquired, "Is there something you need from me, Mr. Yang? Would you like to come in and sit? We can talk more comfortably seated."

Aware of his own weaknesses, Yang Zhiming knew that being alone with her in a room could lead to complications. He hastily declined, "No need, I just have one thing to discuss. We can talk right here at the door."

He then handed Lin Ke'er all the money he had made from selling roast chicken that day, saying, "You've worked hard today. If I were wealthy, I would never ask you to continue working. But you're aware of our current predicament."

Noticing a hint of embarrassment on Yang Zhiming's face, Lin Ke'er quickly grasped his hand, "Why say such things, Mr. Yang? You wouldn't have to work this hard if it weren't for my family's situation."

Yang Zhiming tensed at her touch, "Ke'er, knowing you understand my struggles means a lot. I have another important task for you, one I can trust only to you."

To succeed with the roast chicken restaurant, one must possess Yang Zhiming's culinary skills and ensure the ingredients are fresh and wholesome.

Yang Zhiming went on, "We have enough food for now, but with the business booming, we'll soon need to restock. Waiting until we run out would be too late. I'd like you to handle the purchasing tomorrow."

Having researched the Martian food procurement process, he knew suppliers would deliver. This reassured him enough to entrust the task to a young woman.

Still, the idea of her carrying a large sum of money was unsettling, so he added a precaution, "Tomorrow, one of Gold Tooth's men will accompany you. Convert the cash to virtual currency first; it's safer that way."

Lin Ke'er felt a warmth in her heart after hearing this. "Thank you for your concern, Brother Lin. I'll make sure everything is taken care of perfectly. Don't worry about a thing."

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