A Visit In Five Years
Regardless of old man Shen's absence, the restaurant welcomed customers in droves. Zhi Luan multitasked the orders alone. He did about a dozen things at once, moving from one end of the kitchen to another. However, he remained composed. The burden was much on him, but he didn't complain and did everything as quickly and well as he could.
The restaurant bustled with activities until evening. Everyone carried out their duties to serve the customers politely. Old man Shen just back from City Hall and was tired. He first had to join a queue when he arrived and waited for a long time before it was finally his turn. He hadn't been in the restaurant all day, but he felt he had worked more than he would have if he had worked today.
Old man Shen didn't go inside when he arrived and watched from afar, seeing everything that happened in the restaurant through the glass windows. He took out his smoke pipe,
"The restaurant hasn't burned to the ground yet… that good."
He exhaled.
"Lee was right… it does feel good to be a full-time manager. There's still quite some time left before the restaurant closes… I should visit him."
Old man Shen glanced at the restaurant once again before departing.
~Mr. Lee's Residence~
Mr. Lee was spending time at home, drinking a can of cold beer while his wife prepared a meal. They had three children, and all three were in college abroad, so it has always been just the two of them for years.
At this time, they heard a knock on the door. Mr. Lee was a little surprised because he wasn't expecting anyone by this time.
"Dear, are you expecting anyone?"
He called out to his wife from the living room.
"No, but it might be someone important. Maybe it's the detective… please check it out."
Mr. Lee stood up and went to peek through the door's pigeon-hole, and who he saw startled him.
"Old man, what are you doing here?"
"Who is old, you bum?!"
Old man Shen almost spat fire.
"Is that any way to treat a visitor?"
"Shouldn't you be slaving away at the restaurant?"
"Why you… you want to die, punk?"
Just as Mr. Lee joked around, his wife stepped in and smacked him with a ladle.
"Elder Shen, what a pleasant surprise. Please come in," said she, with a bright smile.
"Thank you for having me, Xiang'er. And why do you still call me 'Elder', I'm not older than your husband by much."
"It's nothing. I have so much respect for you… unlike him."
Her voice turned colder toward the end of her sentence, causing Mr. Lee to laugh awkwardly.
"Don't mind her… she doesn't mean that," he said, to save face.
Old man Shen came in and Mr. Lee offered him a can of beer.
"Please be comfortable, I'll hurry things up in the kitchen."
Mrs. Lee smiled.
"I'm sorry to impose on you like this."
"It's no problem at all."
Mrs. Lee went back to the kitchen.
"How did you know it was my day off?" asked Mr. Lee.
"You kept announcing it the last time you came by the restaurant."
"So, what happened?"
Mr. Lee asked again.
"What do you mean?"
"It's been more than five years since you visited. Something must have happened to bring you here. Or did you get lost?"
"You bum! Weren't you the one who the one who convinced me to focus on being a full-time manager?"
"I did no such thing,"
Mr. Lee flatly denied it.
"I only suggested you take things easy and let others do the work. I didn't think you'd listen to me, so it's your fault for being easily convinced by a mere suggestion… it shows you're weak-minded."
"Why don't you say that again when you come begging for your special at the restaurant?"
Old man Shen was about to blow a fuse.
"You take things seriously,"
Mr. Lee laughed.
Old man Shen gulped a mouthful of beer, before speaking solemnly.
"You made a lot of sense that day about being too uptight when the restaurant was involved. But you know it's all I have left that reminds me of her. If I don't protect it, who else will?"
"I know that, my friend. You have never been an easy-going fellow, but she was a striking contrast to you. She always loved having people around… we wouldn't have been friends if not for her. And if it were up to her, she would say the same thing I said, and you know that."
Old man Shen remained silent. The two drank in silence for a while, before the food was served. Mrs. Lee noticed the gloomy atmosphere, but her husband signaled her to not say a word about it.
"It appears I've made the atmosphere stifling with my brooding… forgive me. I can't eat such a wonderful meal while being glum."
Old man Shen suddenly spoke up, smiling.
Mrs. Lee equally smiled,
"It's alright. Please don't hold back and enjoy the food."
Old man Shen and the Lee couple discussed for hours before he decided to leave.
"You have my deepest gratitude for accepting me on such notice."
"Don't mind it at all. I never get to see you outside that restaurant of yours… it was a pleasure hosting you like old times."
The Lee couple bade their farewells as old man Shen left.
It was just a few minutes till 11 pm. The restaurant had already closed for the day, but the employees wanted to rest for a bit before going home. While everyone rested, Zhi Luan tidied the kitchen.
"It's like he never runs out of energy," said John.
"After all that work today…"
Yu Lu placed her head on the table, visibly tired.
"I didn't think it'd be this active today. Maybe it's because it's Friday."
Lu Yu muttered.
While they discussed, the door to the restaurant opened old man Shen walked in with a bright smile.