A Master Dishwasher

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Qiao Shishi blinked in confusion, unable to understand why Fei Qingyu was here too.

Seeing the bewilderment on her face, Wen Jiu promptly explained, “He’ll be working at Window Eighteen from now on.”

After hearing this, Qiao Shishi greeted Fei Qingyu amicably.

The other boy did not seem to appreciate it, however. He merely gave an awkward snort and lowered his head.

Qiao Shishi had always been even-tempered and did not take his behavior to heart. She simply walked over to Wen Jiu and whispered, “Is he the new worker? He doesn’t look like someone who knows how to work.”

She had already seen Fei Qingyu in combat class. Coming from a well-off family herself, she could tell at a glance that his outfit was extremely expensive.

The academy did not actually require students to wear uniforms, so quite a few students from affluent families chose to wear clothes they had bought themselves.

“He probably is. I’ll send Teacher Li a message later to confirm,” Wen Jiu replied as she continued with the task at hand. “If he doesn’t know how to work, he can learn. He can’t come here expecting to be treated like some young master.”

Although Wen Jiu did not know much about designer clothing, she could tell from the fact that Fei Qingyu did not even know how to peel a potato, as well as from his usual arrogant manner, that his family was certainly wealthy. Otherwise, he could never have developed such a temperament.

“Since he’s peeling potatoes, help me enter the menu into the panel outside,” Wen Jiu said.

Afterward, Qiao Shishi went outside.

The work in the kitchen appeared to be limited, but it was actually quite demanding.

Fei Qingyu, however, learned very quickly. Most tasks only had to be demonstrated to him once or twice before he could pick them up, and he soon adapted to working in the kitchen.

Wen Jiu therefore had him assist her, while Qiao Shishi handled taking and delivering orders.

The three of them worked in the kitchen in an orderly fashion until the lunch service ended.

“I forgot to tell you—we were hiring a dishwasher this time.”

Wen Jiu came in carrying a large box filled with used dishes and utensils, then set it down in front of Fei Qingyu.

“But since this is your first day working, we’ll wash the dishes with you before we leave.”

She and Qiao Shishi expertly tipped the dishes into the sink, then handed Fei Qingyu a brand-new pair of gloves and a dishcloth.

Fei Qingyu was thrown into disarray when he heard that he was expected to work as a dishwasher. He had yet to recover from the shock and could only stare blankly at the things Wen Jiu had handed him.

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“Put the gloves on.” Seeing that he still had not reacted, Wen Jiu held them out a little farther. “Let’s hurry and finish the dishes. We can still go back and take a nap for more than an hour.”

Only after she spoke again did Fei Qingyu come back to himself. With trembling hands, he accepted the items.

“You never said you were hiring a dishwasher,” he said, watching Wen Jiu and Qiao Shishi begin washing the dishes. “Besides, don’t we have dishwashing robots? And if that’s not possible, there’s still an automatic dishwasher.”

“Our monthly revenue hasn’t reached the required threshold yet, so we can’t apply for a robot.”

Wen Jiu and Qiao Shishi answered in unison. The kitchen-specific robots could only be requested once the monthly revenue requirement had been met.

Window Eighteen had only opened a few days ago. Even if its revenue reached the required level, they would still have to wait until the following month at the earliest.

“Can’t we just buy one ourselves?”

Fei Qingyu tightened his grip on the dishcloth, yet refused to take even a single step toward the sink.

“Kid, you’re still too young,” Wen Jiu said, giving him a sideways glance. “If we buy a robot now and use it for a while, what are we supposed to do with it after graduation?”

“Besides, do I look like someone who can afford a robot?”

After she said this, Fei Qingyu looked Wen Jiu up and down, then fell silent for a moment.

He eventually began moving slowly toward the sink. The distance was barely a meter, yet it took him five or six minutes to cross, and he wore an inexplicable expression of someone marching toward his doom.

Then he stood before the sink and pondered for a long while before finally making up his mind to put on the gloves and pick up a bowl covered in grease.

His face was practically written with disgust.

“Come on,” Wen Jiu urged, efficiently squeezing a lump of dish soap onto his cloth. “We still have to get back and rest.”

One must not let minor hardships disrupt a greater plan.

Fei Qingyu worked hard to brainwash himself. He had to endure this humiliation and remain by Wen Jiu’s side so that he could defeat her as soon as possible.

Thus, he sighed, held his breath, dampened the dishcloth beneath the faucet, and then began washing the dirty bowls and plates as quickly as he could.

Many hands make light work. Before long, the entire box of dirty dishes had been scrubbed spotless.

“Time to wrap up.”

Wen Jiu was the first to remove her gloves and apron. Then she patted Fei Qingyu on the shoulder. “I didn’t expect you to adapt so well.”

The sudden praise made Fei Qingyu forget the ordeal he had just endured. He lifted his chin proudly and said, “Naturally. Just look at—”

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Before he could finish, Wen Jiu gave his shoulder another heavy pat.

“In that case, you’re officially the full-time dishwasher at Window Eighteen from now on!”

Fei Qingyu’s thin lips parted slightly. He was just about to say that he had no intention of being a dishwasher when Wen Jiu continued in the same admiring tone, “I can tell from your slender, graceful fingers that you’re a natural-born dishwasher. I’m sure every bowl here will come out looking brand-new after passing through your hands!”

“But I…”

Seeing that Fei Qingyu was about to speak again, Wen Jiu hurriedly waved her hand.

“Ah, young man. Is washing dishes not a form of cultivation? Repeating such tedious work day after day is an excellent test of one’s patience.”

“Anyone who can persevere through such monotonous work is destined for greatness! I believe you can keep it up and comprehend the truth of life through washing dishes!”

Wen Jiu’s stream of persuasion was so convincing that even Qiao Shishi was beginning to believe it. She joined Wen Jiu in looking toward the silent Fei Qingyu, waiting for his response.

Unexpectedly, Fei Qingyu suddenly burst into laughter three times, then swept a hand through his slightly wavy brown hair.

“This young master will certainly become a great man! It’s only washing dishes. What’s the big deal?”

With a mysterious smile, Wen Jiu patted him on the shoulder again in encouragement, then pulled Qiao Shishi out of the cafeteria at a brisk pace.

“Seriously… he actually believed you?”

Qiao Shishi looked back at Fei Qingyu in disbelief. The boy seemed to be in an excellent mood, holding his head high like a kitten that had just caught a mouse.

“We were hiring a dishwasher in the first place.”

Wen Jiu casually pinched the bridge of her nose. “Since he chose to come here, he’ll do whatever job he’s assigned.”

Besides, she had to pay this obviously pampered young master a salary. She certainly had to make sure he earned it.

“Come on, let’s get back quickly and take a nap. We still have classes this afternoon.”

Wen Jiu grabbed Qiao Shishi, who was still looking back at him, and quickened her pace toward the dormitories.

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