Table For Two - Chapter 246：The Challenge (21)

The article was written by a Sylvia Xu. When Xiu Ling saw that name, everything just clicked in her mind. She pulled out her phone to give Sylvia a call. Sylvia was at work but she could spare a little time for her Aunt Xiu Ling.

“Sylvia, that is very nice of you but you shouldn’t have,” Xiu Ling said apropos to nothing.

However, Sylvia was clever enough to understand what she was referring to. It helped that her editor told her the piece was going to release in that day’s paper. “Auntie Xiu Ling, you’re welcome. Mom told me to do it after she realized you did not have any advertisement so of course I was glad to help. I hope it has not created any trouble.”

“Of course not, I’m calling to thank you.” Xiu Ling paused before continuing, “Wait, you said this is Joann’s idea?”

There was a trace of confusion in Sylvia’s voice. “Wait, mom didn’t tell you this? Perhaps she has forgotten. But yea, this is her idea.”

Xiu Ling felt warmed by her best friend’s kind gesture. Joann noticed something lacking in her plan and she helped her fix it. Of course, Xiu Ling also had Sylvia to thank for it. Then she asked, “By the way, Sylvia, aren’t you on the entertainment beat? How did you manage to release a feature in the lifestyle section?”

Sylvia explained matter-of-factly, “I called in a favour to sneak a piece in.”

“Thank you again, Sylvia, I’m so sorry if that has created any trouble for you.”

“There’s no trouble. Auntie Xiu Ling, I have to go. I’m running on a deadline here, I’ll talk to you later. Good luck!”

Then the call ended.

…

This was the fourth day of the week, there were only 3 days left until the one week limit of the challenge was over. Things were moving smoothly. The numbers were looking positive but there was one thing that had been worrying Xiu Ling.

That day, Xiu Ling was cooking inside the kitchen next to her mother. Out of the corner of her eyes, Xiu Ling noticed there were dark circles under her mom’s eyes and there was a sluggishness in her movement that was not there before.

The night before, Xiu Ling did visit her mother’s room to chat. She noticed how tired her mother was looking and Xiu Ling told Mrs. Xiu to rest. However, Mrs. Xiu denied that, saying she would be revitalized the next morning.

Xiu Ling understood this was because her mother did not want to disappoint her. Mrs. Xiu was the main chef at Jia Jia and if she took a break, then how was the restaurant going to survive? However, Xiu Ling also felt so guilty for allowing her mother to continue working. Her heart pained watching her mother in this state. It made Xiu Ling feel that she had been an unlawful daughter and that was not a good feeling to have.

Xiu Ling wrestled in the kitchen for about a few more minutes when she finally decided she had to say something to her mother. She could not allow Mrs. Xiu to exhaust herself like this anymore. Xiu Ling could fail her challenge but she could never fail her mother. She was not going to let her mother fall sick because of something she had done. Xiu Ling would never forgive herself if that happened.

Xiu Ling put the pan away and was about to approach her mother when there was a loud sound coming from outside. It sounded like glass shattering. Mrs. Xiu’s attention was pulled towards it as well and she told Xiu Ling, “Xiu Ling, quickly go and see what’s happening?!”

Xiu Ling was thus pushed out of the kitchen. She felt bad for not getting the chance to talk to her mother but Mrs. Xiu was right, she was needed to deal with something more important. Xiu Ling turned to look and she saw one of her waiters bowing and apologizing profusely to one of their customers.

The customer who was a middle-aged man who came alone was berating the poor waiter. Due to the loud scolding of the man, most of the customers had stopped eating and turned to see what was unfolding. The waiter had his head lowered and allowed the man to step all over him.

Xiu Ling quickly walked over to assess the situation. She found out that her staff had accidentally slipped and splashed some drinks over the man’s pants. Since this was her staff’s mistake, there was nothing she could do but apologize sincerely to the customer.

Xiu Ling asked for the man’s forgiveness and promised would provide the necessary compensation. Perhaps because Xiu Ling was a member of the opposite sex, when she came forward with an apology, the man was more willing to accept it. After that was settled, Xiu Ling pulled her waiter away and asked the other waitress to come clean up the mess.

Xiu Ling was about to give her staff a stern lecture when she saw the heavy lines on the young man’s face. Then, she realized the waiter probably made that mistake because they were too tired.

Xiu Ling looked around the room and the place was packed. There was still people lining up outside. The waitress who picked up the mess had to go to calm the line of people who was waiting. Xiu Ling realized her staff’s condition was similar to Mrs. Xiu. When they opened the restaurant, they did not expect such a big turnout. Thanks to the combination advertisement effect of Sylvia’s newspaper article and Lee Mu’s advertisement, they had a lot of new customers and that was on top of the employees from Lin Corps. It was little wonder why her staff had been slipping up, they were operating under such stress.

Xiu Ling sighed and told the waiter, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you all have been so overworked. Thank you for everything. Please get back into work for now. I’ll try to relieve everyone’s workload somehow.”

The waiter who expected a lecture was surprised. Actually he was already considering quitting but Xiu Ling’s kindness compelled him to stay. He got back to work immediately.

Xiu Ling thought back to her promise but how was she going to go about doing that?