C14 The Shop Meeting

Hee Qingshui answered the phone and spoke into the receiver, "Mom, what's up?"

"Qingshui, your dad twisted his ankle this afternoon. It's not too serious, but the doctor insists he rest for a couple of days and stay off his feet," her mother responded.

"Oh, I see. That means I'll be all alone at the restaurant," Hee Qingshui said with a hint of anxiety.

"Yes, dear, it's going to be tough for you these next few days. I need to look after your father. I'm going to hang up now."

With a sense of resignation, Hee Qingshui ended the call and glanced at Situ Yu.

Situ Yu seemed to have overheard their conversation but hadn't yet inquired about the details.

Trying to lighten the mood, Hee Qingshui playfully said, "Um, Brother Yu, big bro Yu," drawing out her words while gently swaying Situ Yu's arm.

Situ Yu recoiled, his skin crawling with goosebumps, and quickly interjected, "Stop! Stop! Stop! Please, just talk normally."

After her cutesy act fell flat, Hee Qingshui spoke with embarrassment, "Well, my dad hurt his ankle today and has to rest for two days. I'll be by myself at the noodle shop tomorrow and the day after. I'm kind of worried, so I was hoping you could keep me company. Just for two days, is that okay?"

Situ Yu pondered for a moment. He had no other plans for the next two days and figured he could tend to his plant catalyzation at home in the evenings. Missing a day or half wouldn't be too problematic.

Considering he had helped her choose quite a few outfits earlier that day, he nodded in agreement.

Hee Qingshui beamed, "Thank you so much."

"No need to thank me. We're old classmates and fellow townsfolk, after all."

Hee Qingshui let out a slightly disappointed "Oh." Her enthusiasm for shopping had faded. They grabbed some street food and then Situ Yu escorted Hee Qingshui home before heading back to his own place.

The following morning, Situ Yu tidied himself up and set out for the noodle house to lend a hand.

The shop hadn't opened yet, and Hee Qingshui was already bustling about in the kitchen. Seeing Situ Yu arrive brought her a sense of relief. She informed him that today he just needed to help with serving and clearing the bowls and utensils. She would handle everything else.

Situ Yu remarked that such a simple task was a breeze.

Before long, customers started arriving. Situ Yu took orders outside and relayed them inside. Once the noodles were ready, he served them to the guests. The morning unfolded without a hitch.

By noon, the influx of customers dwindled. Perhaps it was the weather, or maybe everyone was busy at work. Having wrapped up their tasks, both Situ Yu and Hee Qingshui poured themselves a glass of water and settled into a conversation.

They caught up on recent events, discussing Situ Yu's new phone and computer, and how he had sold a bonsai for a small fortune. Hee Qingshui's jaw dropped in amazement—it was nearly a year's worth of income!

Just from that tiny bonsai, she had made a killing. Then, Hee Qingshui insisted on seeing Situ Yu's phone.

Unable to resist her, Situ Yu reluctantly handed it over. Hee Qingshui's eyes sparkled with excitement as she grabbed it and began to fiddle with it, snapping selfies and eventually setting one as the wallpaper.

Situ Yu protested, claiming she was assaulting his eyesight. But his objections fell on deaf ears in the face of her enthusiasm.

Resigned, he figured he'd just have to change it back later. For now, he let her bask in her moment.

The afternoon whizzed by amidst their cheerful banter.

As evening approached, the night shift was about to begin. They returned to their respective duties, ready for the night's work.

The crowd ebbed and flowed, keeping them moderately busy. Near closing time, two flamboyant youths walked in, looking like they'd stepped straight out of a circus.

They ordered two bowls of noodles and midway through their meal, they erupted in complaints: "Damn it, where's the boss? Get out here!"

Situ Yu and Hee Qingshui approached and inquired, "What seems to be the problem? Is something not to your satisfaction?"

Upon seeing Hee Qingshui, the youths' eyes brightened, clearly taken by her delicate features. But then, their demeanor soured as they berated, "What's with these noodles? Why are they so terrible? Look at this—there's a fly in them. Is this what you serve to people?!"

The two exchanged glances, then peered into each other's bowls before looking at each other again. Hee Qingshui, with an embarrassed tone, said, "I'm really sorry. This was our mistake. Let me get you new bowls."

She moved to take the bowls away, but the two diners were having none of it and swatted Hee Qingshui's hand away.

"There's no easy way out of this. You either eat it or cough up 1000 yuan for the distress you've caused. Who knows, I might even need to visit the hospital for a stomach checkup after this." With that, one of them rubbed his belly, feigning discomfort.

Situ Yu's brow furrowed upon witnessing the young man's dramatics. Noticing Hee Qingshui's bewildered expression, he stepped in and suggested, "Gentlemen, how about we go with the first option?"

The young man paused, aghast. Was he suggesting someone actually eat the fly? His throat felt queasy at the thought, relieved it wasn't him.

Situ Yu gave a sly grin, plucked the fly from the bowl, and forced it into one of the young men's mouths.

He repeated the process with the second young man, ensuring he too got a taste of the unsavory fly feast.

The two were stunned, bending over in a futile attempt to spit it out. They frantically gulped water, trying to rinse their mouths and cleanse their stomachs.

Hee Qingshui stood to the side, watching the commotion unfold, her mind struggling to keep up with the sudden turn of events.

Situ Yu, with a cold laugh, addressed the young men, "You two fools really think everyone's as brainless as you? Each bowl had one fly. What, did they come here for a group outing? And look around, do you see any flies in this restaurant? The only things resembling flies here are you two, with your garish get-ups. Come back and cause trouble again, and I'll make sure you leave horizontally."

After drinking copious amounts of water and feeling somewhat relieved, the two stood up, cursing, "Damn it, you scammed us!" In a fit of rage, they grabbed their stools and hurled them at Situ Yu's forehead.

Hee Qingshui gasped in shock, stumbling backward with a startled "Ah!"

Situ Yu swiftly delivered a kick to the adversary's stomach. The two young men let out agonized screams as they hit the ground, writhing in pain. Chairs and tables toppled in the chaos.

Situ Yu advanced and landed another blow. "Try me again. Next time I catch you around here, you'd better take the long way around. Got it?!" he growled at them.

These two had been loitering around for ages, never encountering someone as fierce as Situ Yu. Usually, the local bosses would plead for leniency, pampering them with fine smokes and liquor. But Situ Yu? He didn't hesitate to get physical—no, to be precise, he used both feet and fists. His approach was anything but conventional.

Outmatched, the young men knew when to fold. Ignoring their aching bellies, they bolted, eager to put as much distance as possible between themselves and this force of nature.

Situ Yu made his way to the doorway, watching the pair disappear into the distance. He let them go, then smacked his forehead in realization. "Damn, I forgot to collect their cash."

After righting the fallen furniture, Situ Yu turned to Hee Qingshui, who seemed lost in thought, and teased with a grin, "Overwhelmed by my commanding presence? Impressed by my stature?" He struck a couple of playful, boastful poses.

Hee Qingshui burst into laughter. The sudden shift from tension to humor caught her off guard, and she couldn't contain her mirth. As the laughter dissolved the earlier tension, she glanced at Situ Yu, recalling his swift intervention. Clearly, those muscles weren't just for show, and she felt her cheeks flush with warmth.

Checking the time, she said, "That's enough for today; let's close up. I'll need your help again tomorrow."

"No worries, we're all from the same community, and helping out is what neighbors do. Plus, we go way back as classmates. This little favor is nothing. I'll head home now. You've had a long day; close up and get some rest." With that, he stepped out of the noodle shop and made his way home.

Hee Qingshui watched as Situ Yu's retreating figure disappeared from the shop's entrance. She silently turned, closed the door, and headed home to rest.

Situ Yu arrived home, took a refreshing shower, and spent some time online before turning in early for the night.

Upon waking the next morning, Situ Yu checked on the ginseng and orchids in his yard, pleased to find them thriving. The orchids would be ready to sell in a couple of days, while the ginseng needed just five or six more days.

After tending to the plants, Situ Yu freshened up and had breakfast. Before heading out, he packed some vegetables to bring to the noodle shop, planning to treat himself to an extra meal at lunch.

The noodle shop was just as it had been the day before. In the kitchen, a slender figure bustled about. Situ Yu quietly approached and playfully slid his hand down her spine.

Startled, Hee Qingshui nearly hurled the kitchen knife she was holding. Situ Yu, equally startled, quickly grabbed her hand to prevent any mishaps.

Recognizing Situ Yu, Hee Qingshui relaxed but warned him sternly, "Try that again next time." She brandished the knife meaningfully, her gesture saying it all. Situ Yu hastily apologized.

He thought to himself that he hadn't expected her to be so easily frightened and resolved to be more careful in the future. A thrown knife could lead to serious trouble.

He then handed her the vegetables he had brought. "For an extra meal at noon."

Hee Qingshui eyed the vegetables curiously. Vegetables like these, at this time of year? From a greenhouse? But it was summer. Unable to figure it out, she set the question aside and they both fell into the rhythm of their work from the day before.

The day went by without incident, devoid of the previous day's melodrama. In the evening, Uncle He, balancing on one foot, expressed his gratitude to Situ Yu, encouraging him to visit often with a smile.

Situ Yu couldn't help but feel there was something odd about that smile as he made his way back home.