CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39 FROM NOW ON, THE BOSS

Zhang Jingdong followed the other person inside to take a look, then paid the bill, and carried the sign out of the shop himself.

Since it was only three characters, the sign was quite wide but not very long, so Zhang Jingdong laid it slanted on the back seat of the car.

He started the car and drove leisurely back to the restaurant.

When everyone nearly finished their tasks in the shop, Zhang Jingdong gathered everyone at the entrance.

Then, amid applause and cheering from the crowd, he personally, along with two servers, hung the sign up.

After coming down, Zhang Jingdong stood back and took a good look.

Hmm... Not bad!

Though not many words, it carried an imposing air.

Around 6 o’clock, suddenly a uniquely styled small truck drove into Self-Reliance Road and finally stopped at the shop’s entrance.

Following that, two individuals got out, opened the truck, and delivered 3 whole roasted lambs and 20 cases of chilled beer into the shop, one by one.

Zhang Jingdong watched as everyone showed a face full of incredulous joy, and he generously declared, "Everyone worked hard today, so I ordered whole roasted lambs to reward you all!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a round of applause and cheers erupted immediately.

"Boss is generous!"

"Boss is awesome!"

At this time, Yuan Mei said half-jokingly, "Boss, everyone hasn’t had too much to drink yet; why don’t you say a few words first?"

Zhang Jingdong paused for a moment and said, "All right, then I will just say a couple of things."

"First, everybody work hard, and as long as our restaurant’s business gets better and better, I will make sure that everyone earns more and more, and that we can have roasted lamb every week!"

As soon as his words ended, everyone couldn’t help but burst into applause and shouts.

Mainly because these words were truly winning people’s hearts.

After everyone quieted down, Zhang Jingdong continued, "Second, eat well and drink well tonight, don’t return until you’re drunk. Okay, let’s get started!"

Everyone obviously hadn’t expected that Zhang Jingdong’s "say a couple of things" would be literally just that, and were immediately amused.

At the same time, they were all moved by Zhang Jingdong’s pragmatic and humorous character, once again offering a tremendous round of applause and cheers for their boss.

Afterward, as a role model, Zhang Jingdong tore off a large chunk of meat and then grabbed a bottle of ice-cold Dawusu, starting to chug.

Others followed suit, and in no time, everyone began eating and drinking, smiles beaming on everyone’s faces. Even the usually reserved and elegant Yuan Mei let loose, blowing directly into the bottle.

While they were eating, a male server timidly approached Zhang Jingdong, speaking with a genuine Shandong accent, "Boss, I...I’d like to toast to you...I’ll finish mine, and you just need to take a sip!"

Zhang Jingdong immediately laughed, "I know you Shandong folks can drink, but I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll match you with one!"

Saying so, he turned around to grab a full bottle, clinked it with the server’s, then began to drink.

The other party obviously didn’t expect Zhang Jingdong to be so bold, chuckled huskily, and started to chug as well.

Both men drank quickly and finished their bottles in just three to five seconds.

People around them immediately cheered for both.

And with this precedent, other employees started to toast to Zhang Jingdong one after another, and eventually, even a queue formed.

Seeing this, Yuan Mei hurriedly said, "There are so many of you; if it’s a bottle per person, how many bottles would our boss have to drink? Switch to cups!"

Upon hearing this, everyone obediently went to get cups.

Zhang Jingdong quietly breathed a sigh of relief and gave Yuan Mei an approving look.

Fortunately, he found such a perceptive and capable manager; otherwise, he might have collapsed here today.

But even with cups, it was still no easy feat given the number of people.

And the reputation of the deadly Dawusu was not unfounded.

After drinking through more than a dozen bottles, Zhang Jingdong also felt a slight dizziness.

Luckily, by then, he had already drunk with everyone.

At this moment, Yuan Mei brought him a plate of shredded lamb, which Zhang Jingdong took and devoured in one go, feeling much better immediately.

By around 9 o’clock, people gradually started leaving the shop.

Zhang Jingdong, a bit drunk, was hurriedly urged by Yuan Mei, so he left early.

After stepping out of the shop and walking a distance, he turned around and glanced at the sign over the door.

Suddenly, a wave of inexplicable satisfaction washed over him.

Tsk tsk, from now on, I’m officially a boss!

He stood there for a while before turning and walking away.

When he got back to Spring Breeze Garden, just as he opened the door, his phone rang.

He looked at it; it was a call from An Lu.

He immediately answered: "Hello..."

"Where... where were you just now? Why didn’t you reply to my message? I thought you..."

Worry filled An Lu’s voice.

Zhang Jingdong instantly understood and quickly said, "Don’t worry, I’m fine. Everything at the shop was sorted today. I just had roasted whole sheep with the staff and drank a little."

"There were a lot of people, and it was noisy, so I didn’t hear it... Sorry!"

"Is that so... Alright... are you... did you drink too much?"

"Not too bad, just over a dozen bottles of big Wusu."

"That much! Are you... do you need to go to the hospital to sober up? Don’t get alcohol poisoning!"

"Don’t worry, I can hold my liquor. I walked back on my own, it’s something like seven or eight hundred meters from the restaurant to here!"

"Okay, then you... get some rest early."

Zhang Jingdong felt the sincere concern coming from this girl and said warmly, "No rush, did you need me for something?"

"I... No, it’s nothing. I just... got back home and had nothing to do, so I thought... I wanted to ask what... what you were doing."

Zhang Jingdong’s heart skipped a beat: "Oh... so you were thinking of me..."

"What... what are you talking about? I... I wasn’t! I... I was just curious about what you were doing, that’s all!"

Knowing the girl was shy, Zhang Jingdong said: "Alright, so that’s the case. Then I wasn’t wrong just now, you wanting to know what I’m doing, in short, means you’re thinking of me!"

"You... you really are drunk, I... I won’t chat with you anymore, you better go sleep, I’m going to rest too, goodbye!"

"Wait a minute..."

"What?"

Trying to stifle his laughter, Zhang Jingdong said, "Next time you want to know what I’m doing, don’t text, just call me directly. Even if someone’s holding a knife to me, I’ll definitely answer your call!"

An Lu couldn’t help but laugh: "Aren’t you exaggerating a bit too much!"

Zhang Jingdong said calmly: "What’s important is the sentiment that I want to answer your call, you get it?"

An Lu felt a warmth in her heart: "Alright... I got it! Go wash up and rest. Leave a glass of water by the bed; you might get thirsty in the night after drinking... goodbye!"

Mid-sentence, the girl seemingly felt she had said too much and hastily hung up.

Zhang Jingdong stood there, staring at the phone for a full ten seconds before sighing: "Weird... after chatting this much, I still didn’t gain any goodwill!"

"Alright, seems like I have to go deeper and turn up the heat!"

He laughed at himself, then headed to the bathroom.

After freshening up, he stared at the mirror for another ten minutes.

Murmuring, "My skin seems a bit better, and my nose seems a bit straighter..."

"Huh?" Zhang Jingdong suddenly had a glint in his eye: "If my nose is getting straighter, then could that part get bigger as well?"

He quickly looked down.

"It doesn’t seem like it..."

"But whatever, mine is already big enough. If it got any bigger, I might have to find a girlfriend in a European or American country in the future!"

Zhang Jingdong smirked, then contentedly went back to his bedroom.