Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 309: Meng Liangdong’s Return and Panpan’s Visit (2)_1

Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Meng Liangdong’s Return and Panpan’s Visit (2)_1

Among the four people in the back kitchen, the woman who was making the pastries had married into the Luo family, and since she was a widow, everyone called her Sister-in-law Luo.

The younger one, honest and not very talkative, would become especially shy when she did speak. Her mother had five daughters in a row, all in the hopes of having a son after them, so they named her Fifth Sister Bai, wishing for a younger brother to call her sister. However, after her birth, her mother never conceived again, and slowly the hope for having a son faded away.

There was also an older woman surnamed Chen, whom everyone called Aunt Chen. Although her work wasn’t very good, she was obviously strong from living in the village, so Lin Yuan planned to assign her the physically demanding task of preparing fillings. Moreover, this woman spoke in a loud and clear manner, with not a hint of scheming, quite forthright indeed.

Finally, there was the old man. While others might eagerly share everything about themselves, even the exceedingly shy Fifth Sister Bai had said quite a few words, but this old man only muttered his surname, Wang, and then said nothing else.

Lin Yuan guessed that was just his temperament, so she didn’t force him. She simply called him Uncle Wang to show her respect. Uncle Wang was a man with rare and skillful hands, and of course, he would stay in the kitchen to help her make pastries.

All the staff for the shop had been hired, except for a bookkeeper. Lin Yuan had originally set her sights on Meng Liangdong, but nearly half a month had passed, and there was still no sign of him, suggesting he might be content at the academy.

Although Lin Yuan felt somewhat disappointed at the loss of such talent, she sincerely hoped he could stay at the academy happily and fulfill his dreams.

Just as she hadn’t completely given up on the idea, a few days before Rice Flower Fragrance was set to open, a disheveled Meng Liangdong appeared at the storefront.

Liuzi was inspecting goods delivered by a partner shop when he casually glanced at the entrance. Honestly, at first glance, he didn’t even recognize Meng Liangdong. He thought it was just another curious passerby who came to see the commotion.

But on second look, he was stunned. Was this really the Mr. Meng he had just seen a few days ago?

Liuzi knew that Lin Yuan had been planning to keep Meng Liangdong as the bookkeeper. Seeing him standing at the doorway with a small bundle on his back, Liuzi understood everything. He swiftly invited Meng Liangdong into the front hall and then rushed to the storeroom to call Lin Yuan out.

Even though Liuzi had warned her in advance, Lin Yuan still got a shock when she saw Meng Liangdong.

At that moment, Meng Liangdong was sitting in a chair, his hair in utter disarray, and his eyes void of any spark. He was wearing the same robe he had been in when they parted ways half a month before, only now it was dirtier and more wrinkled. The cuffs, though neatly folded as per his custom, were marred by a blotch of black ink, presumably.

There he sat, more restrained than at their first meeting, his body stiff as if ready to face an imminent threat, even while in the shop he once called his own.

"Mr. Meng?" Lin Yuan softly called out. Her voice was not loud, but it still startled him.

Upon recognizing Lin Yuan, Meng Liangdong’s wary eyes slowly calmed down. He quickly stood up and gave her a formal bow: "Miss Lin, oh no, Boss Lin."

Seeing his deeply bowed spine and even more apprehensive expression, a wave of compassion rose within Lin Yuan.

"Mr. Meng is too kind, please have a seat." Lin Yuan, fearing he would be too embarrassed to sit, took the chair opposite where he had been sitting. She chose not to sit next to him, knowing that Meng Liangdong was like a startled bird at this moment, and maintaining a safe distance would prevent him from feeling frightened.