Hard work after winning the lottery

Especially on weekends, the small roast lamb restaurant is bustling with people and every seat is taken.

The large oven in the kitchen, capable of roasting three sheep at a time, was running almost non-stop from noon to night.

On the busiest day, Li Ye and his apprentices roasted a total of six sheep.

That domineering yet tempting aroma of roasted meat, mixed with the unique fragrance of spices, has almost become a new landmark flavor of Baixi Village.

It drifted with the gentle lake breeze to every corner of the village, becoming a sweet trap that no passing tourist could resist.

Li Ye became the busiest person in the entire roast lamb restaurant.

He gets up before dawn every day to personally select the most suitable lambs from the sheepfold.

Marinate, skewer, grill... he does every step personally, not allowing the slightest mistake.

By the end of the day, he was so exhausted that he could barely straighten his back, and his pristine white chef's uniform was soaked through with sweat countless times.

After finishing work in the evening, he would often sit alone on the steps in the back kitchen, silently smoking, his eyes showing exhaustion.

But when he saw the satisfied smiles on the guests' faces and heard their heartfelt praises, all his fatigue vanished.

It's a craftsman's pride, a tremendous sense of satisfaction from having their value recognized.

He stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, rubbed his lower back, and gave Hua Yun a simple, honest smile. Full of energy, he said:

"Yun'er, I think this oven is too small. I'll contact the manufacturer again tomorrow to see if they have one that can bake ten at a time!"

Hua Yun looked at her uncle's face, which was blackened by the charcoal fire, and his eyes, which were bloodshot but still bright. She felt a surge of emotion, but also a pang of heartache.

The next day, she posted a job advertisement on the village bulletin board.

Instead of hiring outsiders, she wanted to create two more jobs for the village.

Soon, two quick-witted and hardworking women from the village, Aunt Li and another woman named Sister Lin, came to the door.

Hua Yun's task for them was simple: they didn't need to get involved in the core baking techniques, but were only responsible for preparing side dishes, cleaning, and packing delivery orders during peak hours.

The wages are fair, much higher than what they earn doing odd jobs outside.

Aunt Li and Sister Lin were naturally overjoyed and worked even harder.

With their help, Li Ye's pressure was greatly reduced, and he was finally able to escape from the trivial matters and focus on roasting lamb.

Hua Yun was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, standing in front of her own roast lamb restaurant, looking at the bustling scene before her.

The lake shimmered and sparkled, attracting throngs of tourists.

The charcoal fire in the oven was burning brightly.

Every weekend and holiday, the parking lot is always packed with license plates from all over the country, like a mini car show.

As night falls, Baixi Village is no longer as silent and dark as it used to be.

Along the lakeside boardwalk, rows of uniquely designed solar-powered landscape lights will light up on time.

The soft light outlined the contours of the lake and illuminated the relaxed faces of the visitors.

A bright orange bonfire often burns on the lawn not far away.

There are always a few young people carrying guitars, sitting together, strumming the strings, and softly singing folk songs.

The song, carried by the lake breeze, drifted far, far away.

The villagers' houses are no longer just places to live.

One after another, distinctive guesthouses have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Some have filled their yards with fruits and vegetables, creating a rural picking experience.

Some have built slides and sandpits in their backyards, turning them into family playgrounds that specifically attract families with children.

The neighbor diagonally opposite Hua Yun's house used to be the most ordinary two-story building in the village.

Now, his family has transformed the entire second floor into lake-view rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and business is so booming that reservations need to be made half a month in advance.

The usually taciturn uncle next door would always grin and show a kind smile whenever he saw Hua Yun on the street.

"Yun girl, it's all thanks to the aroma of your roast lamb that I've attracted so many customers!"

His words were half a joke, and half the truth.

The small shop at the village entrance has long since been upgraded.

The owner expanded the store and upgraded it into a bright and clean small supermarket.

The shelves not only have local specialties, but also a variety of imported snacks and drinks, and there is even a special refrigerated display case containing Häagen-Dazs, which is only available in the city.

The resourceful villagers even spontaneously organized new tourism projects.

Some people cleaned up their fishing boats and started a boating business on Baixi Lake.

Some people have also contracted the long-abandoned orchard on the back hill and started picking fruit all year round.

Pick strawberries in spring, peaches in summer, and chestnuts in autumn.

The entire Baixi Village was filled with an unprecedented, thriving atmosphere.

The most obvious change is that there are more young people in the village now.

Many of the young people who once desperately wanted to escape their villages and make their way in big cities have now chosen to return.

They either help run homestays at home or open milk tea shops and cafes in tourist areas, bringing back new ideas they learned from outside to the land that nurtured them.

Hua Yun would often stand with her arms crossed on the second-floor terrace of her family's roast lamb restaurant, quietly watching all of this.

Looking at the wide road with cars coming and going.

Watching the tourists laughing and chatting by the lake.

Looking at the warm lights that lit up the village.

An indescribable warmth would well up in her heart.

It was a deep-rooted sense of belonging and a sense of pride in having personally changed one's hometown.

She was grateful, extremely grateful for her seemingly impulsive decision back then.

Staying was the right thing to do.

Riding this wave of opportunity, Xishan Muyun Roasted Whole Lamb's business has already entered a very stable phase.

It no longer needs to rely on opening discounts to attract customers; the reputation of "must-try food in Baixi Village" alone is enough to draw diners to the area.

Li Ye recruited two more apprentices, one of whom was Li Yang, the boy in the baseball cap who was initially drawn in by the aroma. He quit his job in the city and was determined to learn the craft.

Nowadays, Li Ye no longer needs to do everything himself. Most of the time, he walks around the kitchen with his hands behind his back, occasionally giving his apprentices pointers on controlling the heat.

Hua Yun, on the other hand, focused more of her energy on her three four-year-old sons who were about to start kindergarten.

Growing up in such an open and lively environment, the three little ones have become even more cheerful and outgoing than Hua Yun had expected.

They are not shy and are used to tourists from all over the world. They can even give directions in broken Mandarin in a childish voice.

"Uncle, are you going to the lake? Just walk straight from here until you see the biggest willow tree, and you'll be there!"

"Auntie, our whole roasted lamb is the best! My great-uncle roasted it!"