Spring Festival is not a legal holiday in America, so there's no day off.
Although Chinese people celebrate the New Year, it's ultimately different from back home.
Will snorted, "It's fine if he gets it. Chef Li and his wife went back to China for the New Year this year, so we're suddenly two people short at the restaurant. If I quit too, it'll just be him and my mom in the store.
Even if he wants to work, he can't handle it."
Li Zhaofeng said, "With Chef Li going back to China for the New Year, he won't be back for a while. The restaurant won't have enough staff when we reopen on the second day after the New Year."
"There aren't enough people, but other places open on the second day too. My dad can't sit still at home either.
According to him, we should serve however many tables we can. I can help out then, running between the kitchen and the dining room. If it gets too busy, we can hire two temporary workers." Will showed some reluctance on his face.
Luke thought he understood now. These days, doing anything isn't easy. Being a cop is tough, but at least he gets plenty of time off.
As long as the overtime pay isn't an issue, it's quite carefree.
Running a restaurant, there's no rest all year round. "Not even a break at Christmas?"
The time around Christmas is the busiest for restaurants in Chinatown. A week before Christmas, the restaurant is already full of people, with reservations two to three times the usual amount.
Even on Christmas Day, we have to hire temporary workers, otherwise, we can't manage at all. Many foreigners come with their families to eat."
As Will's voice fell, four Asian guests at the big round table by the door stood up, looking like they had finished eating and were about to leave.
Luke had noticed that table earlier; they were loud, drinking and playing drinking games, appearing not particularly well-mannered.
Though he'd never run a restaurant himself, Luke knew restaurant owners loathed customers like them.
Will stood up, walked to the round table near the door, and smiled, "Did you enjoy the meal? Would you like to pack anything to go?"
A blue-haired Asian man snorted, "Pack what? As if your portions are that big."
The smile disappeared from Will's face, "That's one hundred and fifty US Dollars in total."
The bald man in the leather jacket next to him said, "Put it on my tab, we'll settle it later."
Will's face darkened further, "Boss Zhang, every time you come, you say to put it on your tab. The New Year is almost here, and our restaurant will be closed tomorrow.
Shouldn't you settle your bill?"
"Settle your @#￥%... I was being polite to you." The blue-haired man pointed at Will's nose, spitting as he spoke.
Luke listened to this familiar curse, feeling quite... nostalgic.
It'd been a while since he heard it, and he really wanted to smack the blue-haired guy.
Luke walked up as well, not saying a word, but prepared to jump into action.
Among the four, the bald guy seemed to be the leader. If a fight broke out, he should be dealt with first...
Li Zhaofeng quickly walked over and grabbed Will's arm, "Let's not get angry, guys, he's just a kid and doesn't know how to talk."
Li Zhaonian heard the commotion and rushed out from the back kitchen, "Boss Zhang, what's going on here? Why the argument? Let's have a cigarette and cool down."
Li Zhaonian hastily took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one for the bald man.
The bald man took a drag and asked Li Zhaonian, "Boss Li, we didn't bring money today, is it okay to put it on the tab?"
"We don't give credit from our store, others definitely can't do it. But for you, I'll make an exception.
Besides, we're fellow townsmen, you wouldn't stiff me on food money."
"It's precisely because we're fellow townsmen that I give you business; I don't even like going to other places."
I'll have this kid apologize to you."
"Alright, you get busy, I'll head out first."
After walking a couple of steps, the bald man turned and said to Will, "Kid, Chinatown has its own rules. Learn them well from your dad. It's no easy task for him to run this business, don't ruin it."
Will was both angry and frustrated, caught by Li Zhaofeng and helpless, he could only watch as the freeloaders swaggered out.
After that scene, the other two tables of guests also lost interest in eating.
Li Zhaonian hurriedly apologized and even gave discounts to the other two tables.
Once the guests were gone and there were no outsiders left, Li Zhaonian sat down heavily on a chair, face darkened, "I've told you so many times, we're in business, if we're friendly, people are willing to come. If you clash with those people, can we still keep this business going?"
Will retorted, "So we're just going to let him eat and drink for free? If he came alone, fine, but every time he brings a group.
How much has he eaten over the year? If everyone was like him, the restaurant would go under too.
Rather than let them eat us out of business, we might as well stop sooner."
Li Zhaonian waved his hand weakly, "You don't need to worry about this. I know what I'm doing. You don't need to take on the boss's burdens when you're just working as a server."
Li Zhaofeng advised, "Zhaonian, say no more, Will means well too."
Yao Xin pushed her husband, "Alright, the boy's grown up, say fewer words.
Let's clean up, we should eat too."
Li Zhaonian nodded. With his older brother's family around, he couldn't say much more, so he glared at Will, "Don't just stand there, go help me in the kitchen."
"Find whoever you want, I'm done!" Will's eyes turned red as he threw down a sentence and ran out.
Luke was ready to chase after him, but Li Zhaonian waved dismissively in anger, "Leave him be, let him go.
Raised him all these years for nothing, a few words and he explodes.
Where did he pick up such bad habits?"
"You father and son both have a bad temper!" Yao Xin hurried to the door, but her son was nowhere in sight.