Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

At the restaurant entrance, a red banner fluttered in the wind, with the four large characters "Grand Opening" standing out prominently.

Several pots of blooming flowers were placed in front of the door, their vibrant colors adding a touch of life to the festive atmosphere.

Jiang Man stood at the door, carefully checking the signboard to ensure that every word was clear and correct; Wang Xiu was inside the shop, arranging the tables and chairs neatly and wiping them spotless.

As time went by, more and more pedestrians appeared on the street. People were attracted by the lively scene in front of the restaurant and stopped to watch.

Some curious passersby went inside and praised the restaurant's ambiance and dishes.

"The decor looks really bright and spacious, so the food must taste pretty good too."

An old man said with a smile.

As noon approached, the restaurant welcomed its first customers since opening. A group of young people walked in, chatting and laughing, and shouted, "Boss, let's order!"

Jiang Man greeted them warmly, handed them the menu, and said with a smile, "We serve home-style dishes here, I guarantee they'll suit your taste."

The guests looked at the menu, chattering amongst themselves, and ordered several of the restaurant's signature dishes.

In the kitchen, Wang Xiu, wearing an apron, busily and methodically prepared the ingredients. The flames on the stove roared as she skillfully stir-fried the dishes in the pan, releasing fragrant aromas from time to time.

The vegetable preparer worked seamlessly alongside her, handing the chopped vegetables and meat to Wang Xiu.

Soon, one steaming dish after another was served. The braised pork belly was a glossy red, rich but not greasy, and melted in your mouth; the shredded pork with garlic sauce was tangy and spicy, the pork was tender, and the side dishes were plentiful; and the stir-fried seasonal vegetables were vibrant green and refreshing. The guests ate with gusto, praising the taste of the dishes highly.

"This tastes just like my mom's cooking, it's so delicious!" a young man exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up.

As the lunch rush arrived, the restaurant became increasingly crowded, almost completely full. Jiang Man bustled about in the lobby, busy greeting guests, refilling their tea and water, her face always beaming with a warm smile.

Wang Xiu was busy in the kitchen, her back soaked with sweat, but her eyes were full of satisfaction.

As the afternoon wore on, the number of customers gradually decreased, giving Jiang Man and Wang Xiucai a short break. They sat in a corner, drank some water, and looked at the bustling restaurant, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

"I didn't expect business to be so good today. It seems our efforts have paid off."

Jiang Man said with a smile. Wang Xiu nodded, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said, "Yes, I hope every day can be like this."

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the restaurant walls, draping the entire restaurant in a golden veil.

Another group of customers entered the restaurant. They were office workers who had finished their day's work and wanted to relax and enjoy a delicious dinner. Jiang Man and Wang Xiu got busy again, warmly welcoming each customer.

This time, the atmosphere in the restaurant was even more lively. Guests enjoyed their food while chatting about interesting things in their work and lives.

Some people were sharing their small achievements at work that day, while others were complaining about the troubles they encountered. Laughter and cheerful voices echoed throughout the restaurant.

As the last group of customers left, the restaurant finally quieted down. Jiang Man and Wang Xiu sat at the table, exhausted but excited, ready to count the day's revenue.

They laid out their day's earnings on the table: crisp banknotes, crumpled change, and some coins. Jiang Man and Wang Xiu began to carefully count the money. They first sorted the banknotes by denomination: ten yuan, five yuan, and one yuan, stacking them neatly together.

When they counted the hundred-yuan bills, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes. After counting each stack, they carefully wrote it down.

Then they began counting the coins, which made a crisp sound on the table, as if playing a cheerful melody for their day's harvest.

After counting all the money, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy.

Their sales today exceeded expectations, which is undoubtedly a huge success for a newly opened restaurant.

"Wow, I didn't expect to make so much money on the first day! This is a great omen!"

"Jiang Man said excitedly. Wang Xiu also smiled happily and said, "This is all thanks to our hard work and the support of our customers. We will continue to work hard and make the restaurant better and better."

Night fell like a giant black silk ribbon, gently enveloping the town. Jiang Man and Wang Xiu finished their busy first day at the restaurant and dragged their tired but excited bodies home.

Along the way, they reminisced about the lively scene in the restaurant, and the corners of their mouths unconsciously turned up.

As they opened the door, a warm aroma of food wafted out. Qin Yishen and Xu Laosan were walking out of the kitchen, smiles on their faces.

Qin Yishen said gently, "You're finally back. You must be exhausted after a long day. Dinner is ready, so wash your hands and eat."

Jiang Man and Wang Xiu walked into the kitchen and saw that the dining table was full of their favorite dishes.

There was braised pork, its bright red color inviting, each piece seemingly telling the story of home; there were also stir-fried seasonal vegetables, their emerald green leaves shimmering under the light, their refreshing aroma making one's mouth water; in the center was a large bowl of steaming tomato and egg soup, the golden egg flowers and bright red tomatoes complementing each other, emitting an enticing fragrance.

Looking at the table full of food, Jiang Man's eyes welled up with tears. She said with emotion, "How did you two know we were so tired today, and you still prepared such a sumptuous dinner?"

Old Xu scratched his head and said with a simple smile, "You guys work so hard running a restaurant, so we thought we'd cook something nice to reward you."

The four sat around the dining table and began to enjoy their dinner. Jiang Man picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth. The meat melted in her mouth, and the familiar taste instantly spread across her tongue. The fatigue of the day seemed to disappear in that moment.

"Hmm, this tastes just as good as what I make at restaurants. Yi Shen, your cooking skills have improved a lot," Jiang Man praised with a smile.

Qin Yishen smiled and said, "In order to make this delicious meal, Lao San and I studied the recipe for a long time."

Wang Xiu also tasted the dish and nodded repeatedly: "It's really delicious. Thank you both for your hard work. Today is the restaurant's opening day, and we have a lot of customers. Everyone is very satisfied with our food, and the turnover has exceeded our expectations."

Xu Laosan said excitedly, "That's great! I knew your restaurant would be successful. You put so much effort into it, and the food is so delicious. Your business will definitely flourish in the future."

As they ate, everyone shared their joy. Qin Yishen and Xu Laosan listened to Jiang Man and Wang Xiu recount the amusing stories from the restaurant, frequently bursting into laughter.

"We had a particularly interesting customer today. He hesitated for a long time when ordering, but in the end, he ordered one of every one of their signature dishes. (End of Chapter)"