The Humble Noodle House, Part Three

“You have a younger brother?” Su Man’s gaze softened as she looked at him. “Has your brother ever eaten here before?”

The man’s eyes darted away nervously. It was his brother who had first brought him here for free meals, but how could he possibly admit that? He denied it repeatedly. “No, it’s just me.”

Su Man gave him a meaningful glance but didn’t call him out. “Then have your brother come too.”

“How do I get a message to him? Want me to help?”

Since they were both cleaning up at the same time, maybe they could make a little money.

The man wanted to say he would go back and get money from his brother, but seeing Su Man’s sharp gaze, he swallowed hard. If he dared say that, Su Man might just tear him apart.

So, just as the words were about to escape, he changed his mind. “My brother’s nearby. You guys just find him and tell him I sent you.”

Su Man led the group out of the restroom, where they saw Youyou, Dashan, and Xiaoshan all gathered outside, their faces filled with nervous excitement. “Boss, did you get the money back?”

“No.” Su Man shook her head. Before the three could feel too disappointed, she added, “He said his brother has money. Now, one of you needs to go find him. Who’s willing?”

Xiaoshan immediately raised his hand. “I’ll go!”

They were all locals here, so none of them were afraid.

After Xiaoshan left, Sun Li carried the man back to their seats to wait.

Su Man looked at the dishes that were already cooling and called out to the man, “Eat. It’s already on your tab.”

The man had no appetite left and hurriedly refused, “I’m not eating, I’m full.”

Su Man’s face turned cold. “Eat! Weren’t you just complaining that it wasn’t enough?”

If it were truly hard for him, Su Man would be more lenient. But this Pu Song was just too much—no money, yet he ordered so much and still acted like a tyrant here.

She couldn’t think about it any longer; the more she thought, the angrier she became. The more she looked at Pu Song, the more displeased she felt. If all of them were like this, there was no way she could reach the sales target in three days, let alone thirty.

“Still not eating? Want me to feed you?”

Su Man spoke, signaling Sun Li to pry open Pu Song’s mouth. Pu Song immediately shuddered, “I’ll eat, I’ll eat!”

But whether from fear or what, his appetite was really bad today. Out of four dishes and one soup, three dishes were left untouched—he simply couldn’t eat anymore.

Yet, under Su Man’s watchful eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say those three words: I can’t eat. Holding back tears, he forced down three dishes. The lesson of eating for free this time would haunt him forever. In his heart, he grumbled, “Why hasn’t my brother brought the money to save me yet?”

Dashan and Youyou watched nearby, feeling thoroughly vindicated. They even thought, even if the money wasn’t recovered, just teaching these bullies a lesson was worth it.

Moreover, they no longer looked at Su Man with the initial disdain. They didn’t know what had happened in that tiny restroom, but even this notorious freeloader seemed cowed after going in.

Almost as if timed perfectly, just as Pu Song swallowed the last bite, Xiaoshan hurried back with the younger brother.

The younger brother was completely different from the elder. He looked malnourished but had a restless gleam in his eyes—clearly not someone who played by the rules.

“Brother!” The younger brother called out immediately upon arrival.

The elder brother was nearly in tears. Without wasting words, he rushed over and grabbed his brother. “Hurry up, let’s settle the bill and leave! I never want to eat here again.”

“Five hundred, right?” The elder brother snatched the younger’s ID card to swipe payment.

Su Man smiled sweetly. “Eight hundred.”

“You said five hundred before!” The difference between five hundred and eight hundred was three hundred—a significant sum for them. Even though Su Man’s words hit a nerve, the man couldn’t help but speak up.

“Five hundred was before, but since you can sell it for eight hundred, the extra three hundred is your ‘buying your life’ fee,” Su Man explained calmly. “The choice is yours.”

The man felt like he was having the worst luck of his life. Gritting his teeth, he swiped for eight hundred. “Can I leave now?”

“No.” Su Man’s two short words nearly pushed Pu Song over the edge.

“Why not?” He wanted to shout but dared not. His voice dropped anxiously, “I already paid!”

Su Man nodded. “You paid, but the person behind you didn’t.”

As she spoke, Youyou had already fetched another bill and handed it over.

Su Man glanced at it. “Hmm, his isn’t much, just fifty Pu coins. Pay it all together.”

Of course, the younger brother knew he had eaten for free here, but since a few days had passed, he wasn’t eager to pay.

He wanted to argue with Su Man but was stopped by his elder brother. They had already paid eight hundred; fifty more wouldn’t make a difference. More importantly, he feared Su Man might later claim his brother owed hundreds of Pu coins, and then it wouldn’t stop at just fifty.

In the end, they paid the fifty as well and finally left the shop in one piece.

[850/10,000] Su Man felt hopeful about the mission.

Outside the shop, Pu Song glanced back at the signboard, the words “Delicious Fast Food” slowly twisting in his vision into “Heartless Fast Food.” He shook his head, swearing never to eat here again for the rest of his life.

After the two left, Youyou, feeling relieved but somewhat worried, said, “Boss, they probably won’t come back to eat again.”

They were a fast-food place; if customers stopped coming, it would be over.

“If they don’t come, they don’t come. They weren’t going to bring us any profit anyway,” Su Man was indifferent. Such customers weren’t really customers, and she didn’t welcome them.

Seeing Youyou about to say more, Su Man asked a couple of questions. “Before this fast-food place had an owner, did those two ever eat here? Did they pay?”

Youyou shook her head. They’d only arrived in the last few days.

Su Man nodded. “That’s it. People like that will never be our customers. Whether one more or one less doesn’t matter.”

Hearing this, Youyou seemed to agree and brightened up again.

Dashan and Xiaoshan, seeing that Su Man was capable, went back with renewed energy to continue preparing. Maybe Su Man, as the manager, could really save this shop.

Youyou quickly cleaned up the leftover trash on the table and, during a lull between customers, told Su Man about the shop’s original revenue and clientele.

Most of the customers were locals nearby—generally easy to get along with and rarely causing trouble. But after the restaurant became ownerless, troublemakers increased, and the regulars stopped coming for the time being.

If Su Man could steady the shop, those old customers would likely return.

Su Man nodded. In that case, this place really was a decent spot.

As they talked, the second customer arrived.

It wasn’t just one, but two—one tall and thin like a bamboo pole, the other small and plump like a rice ball.

Su Man glanced at Youyou without showing any emotion. Youyou shook her head—new customers.

The man sat down holding the child’s hand and was about to order. Suddenly, the child broke free and threw himself against Su Man’s leg.

“Pretty sister, save me!”