Chapter 51
Aside from initially releasing a mission to save He Lingfeng, the System had not issued any other tasks.
Shen Wei's kindergarten had been running steadily. A few online controversies were also handled promptly.
She now knew how to run a kindergarten.
When she heard the mechanical voice of the System issuing a task again, Shen Wei felt slightly dazed. This time, the computer issued the task: "Expand the business area and enroll up to 100 students."
Shen Wei was suddenly filled with motivation.
With the previous experience, she was gradually getting the hang of it.
To enroll students, she first needed more staff, so Shen Wei asked the System to help screen some teachers again.
Only by first preparing sufficient teachers and assistants could they start enrolling students.
Shen Wei gathered all the employees in the small conference room.
She shared her ideas about enrolling students and hiring staff.
Teacher Tang heaved a sigh of relief: "That's great!" She had really been bombarded with harassment.
Every day, dozens of people would add her on WeChat, leaving hundreds of messages.
The parents were most concerned about when Starry Sky Kindergarten would start enrolling students.
Since the kindergarten had no plans to enroll at the moment, Teacher Tang had to reject them every time.
Now that they were finally enrolling, the long-standing pressure was relieved!
The education expert, Weng Lan, couldn't help but smile: "With us enrolling, that should not be a problem. The most important thing now is to find teachers."
"Yes!" Doctor Lu chimed in, "Other places are worried about enrollment. They have to do street promotions, online marketing, sharing on WeChat Moments, and such. But many people want to come to our place and can't get in."
The school bus driver, Zhang Daming, told Shen Wei, "If there are any pick-up and drop-off tasks, just let me know!"
He had already paid off a large portion of his online loans.
His salary was high, and by the end of this year, he would be able to pay off all his debts. The kindergarten had done him a great favor.
Any task that required his service, he would gladly oblige.
Liu Chef said, "I think it's doable."
Upon hearing the news, everyone was quite happy.
Liu Chef told the group, "Let's keep this confidential for now. Although 100 spots are a lot, it's not enough to withstand any publicity."
"100 spots aren't many. Even if it were 1,000 spots, we wouldn't be afraid."
For now, being able to start enrolling was a good thing. If they caused a stir, it wouldn't be pleasant.
The others quickly agreed, "Don't worry about that, we know what to do."
The remaining task was to hire staff.
But seeing that Shen Wei seemed to have it all figured out, the others were reassured.
It's true that although Shen Wei was young, she was quite capable when it came to handling matters. Some of the so-called "old hands" might not be as good as her. Indeed, when it came to recruiting, sincerity was the killer technique.
Moreover, the high salary offered, the kindergarten's reputation, and the clincher of having Liu Chef who could cook, ensured that many people would want to come.
The kindergarten employees found that there was no need for them to get involved in this matter.
Like Zhang Daming, they said, "Just let us know if you need anything."
Shen Wei agreed, then asked everyone to return to their respective positions, keeping only Liu Chef behind.
Liu Chef was the first veteran employee at the kindergarten, and he was very responsible.
He cared about every aspect of the kindergarten's operations. With him around, managing the kindergarten became much more convenient for Shen Wei. This household couldn't do without Liu Chef!
Shen Wei said, "The amount of food being prepared daily has become too large. Why don't you hire a few more people to help you wash and cut the vegetables?"
"I'm not too familiar with the culinary world, so you can handle the hiring. You can recommend someone, and we'll offer a 10,000 yuan referral bonus. Our starting salary for kitchen staff is 10,000 yuan, for chefs it's 20,000 yuan. For a head chef, like yourself, it's 50,000 yuan. Does that work for you?"
Previously, Liu Chef only had to prepare meals for the children.
Now, with the permanent presence of Shen's parents, Gu Qingyan, Professor Liu, and Professor Gao, the workload had increased significantly.
Liu Chef's dishes were delicious, and everyone here had a big appetite.
The cooking tasks had become exceptionally demanding, so recruiting more kitchen staff had to be put on the agenda.
Liu Chef was almost speechless. This boss of theirs was great, but her biggest problem was being too generous!
He knew full well that they weren't short of money, but he had lived a frugal life for so long. Suddenly seeing Shen Wei being so lavish with money made him worry.
Liu Chef said, "Just leave this matter to me, but there's no need to give me money. Nobody's money comes from thin air, you know!"
His words were filled with the concern of an elder for a younger person.
Shen Wei said, "Thanks to your help during this period, I've noticed it all!"
Liu Chef smiled warmly and waved his hand, saying, "Hey, it's nothing. You're younger than my son, and since I have the energy, I'll take care of you a bit more. Ever since I started working here, spending every day tending to the little vegetable garden and playing with the kids, even my wife says I've become younger than before. I would work at this place even if you didn't pay me."
Shen Wei said, "But I still have to pay you. When the year-end comes, you'll be the first one I'll give a raise to."
Liu Chef said, "Alright, thank you, young lady." Calling her "boss" was too formal, and calling her "little Shen" was too casual, so he came up with this way of addressing her.
Liu Chef varied his cooking styles every day, and the kindergarten's meals were designed with even more care than grand banquets.
It was a case of using sincerity to earn sincerity.
Other workplaces had bosses who only cared about exploiting their employees, but here, they were worried that you might be working too hard and would immediately compensate you financially.
It was truly fortunate to have such a boss, and one felt compelled to give 200% effort to this kindergarten.
If he couldn't work hard at a job like this, he would slap himself in the face.
After getting off work, Liu Chef told his wife, "I won't be coming home yet," and then went somewhere with a bottle of wine.
He wasn't looking for anyone else, but Chef Chen.
The two of them used to be fellow disciples under the same master.
To be honest, Liu Chef was not as skilled as Chef Chen.
But Liu Chef had a more amiable personality. In their complex relationship, even if he suffered a bit, he would just let bygones be bygones.
Chef Chen, on the other hand, had a sharp temper.
In the past, those old gourmets who accepted money to slander him were brutally scolded by him online.
In the industry, people both loved and hated him - they loved his delicious food but hated his sharp tongue.
Chef Chen now ran a private kitchen restaurant.
It was just as disorganized as he was.
He would open for a couple of days when he felt like it, and he decided what dishes to serve on his own whim.
When unhappy, Chef Chen shut himself in, wandering from place to place.
Many people came specifically to him but couldn't get a meal.
Gradually, he was branded as a "poison tumor" within the industry.
Criticism poured in endlessly. Chef Chen became even more reclusive, cooking for himself every day, drinking a bit of wine, as he had made enough money before!
Liu Chef came over and saw Chef Chen humming Beijing opera while sitting in a rocking chair.
Outsiders only knew they were master and disciple.
But they didn't know these two were actually relatives.
Years ago, Chef Chen took Liu Chef's mother as his godmother.
Although they didn't talk about it openly, they kept in touch secretly over the years.
"Oh, why are you here?" Chef Chen said as he stood up.
Liu Chef said, "Came to see you!"
Chef Chen said, "I know about you. You're at a kindergarten now, right? I think that's better than when you were at Jiangbei Grand Restaurant. With your skills, you were underappreciated there, earning just a few bucks."
He even knew about Liu Chef being betrayed by his disciple.
There were no secrets in this industry.
Chef Chen was indignant on Liu Chef's behalf, saying, "You didn't give that little beast a beating."
Liu Chef smiled and said, "That's all in the past, why bring it up?" Now that little disciple of his was fired.
Without him, the little disciple was nothing. Now he regretted it, calling Liu Chef constantly until Liu Chef got annoyed and blocked him.
Chef Chen grunted angrily, "I'm indignant for you, but you don't care."
Thus, Chef Chen's temper was unmanageable, getting into 10 fights a day otherwise.
Liu Chef said, "You're getting old these years. It's pointless to keep being so unrestrained. Have you thought about doing something else?"
Chef Chen said, "I've thought about it, but with my bad reputation these years, no one will want to hire me if I try to work somewhere else. If I open my own restaurant, people will look for trouble. I'll just live on my retirement pension in a few years."
Liu Chef said, "Have you considered coming to our kindergarten?"
He then went on enthusiastically about how great the kindergarten was.
Since coming here, the little vegetable garden was thriving.
On top of that, the kids loved his cooking, calling him "grandpa" adoringly. Just thinking about it made him beam with joy.
Chef Chen laughed, "No wonder you came to me, to be a recruiter. Tell me, what's the monthly salary?"
Liu Chef said, "50,000, plus a 10,000 bonus for referrals, which I'll also give to you."
Liu Chef didn't need the money, he just wanted his master's skills to be truly renowned.
Now they had live streaming, so if Chef Chen cooked well, he could become famous quickly.
In his youth, his master was just a bit scattered, but never had any real black marks.
Now, cooped up at home, his talent couldn't be expressed, which was truly a pity.
Chef Chen knew Liu Chef sincerely wanted to help him.
His heart warmed, as he hadn't wasted his life when even amidst all the hatred and cursing, someone was there to support him at a crucial time.
"Since you say that kindergarten is so good, I really should go and see what makes it so special."