"Nephew! The proprietress is asking you a question?"
Li Qian looked at Yi Xiaofei, who appeared dumbfounded, thinking that now was the time to show some smarts so that the proprietress might take him in.
"Proprietress! My name is Yi Xiaofei, and I'm twenty years old this year!"
Yi Xiaofei offered a slight smile, but once he finished his introduction, he spoke again, "Proprietress, I noticed when you were walking over just now that your leg seemed a bit stiff. I am a physician, perhaps I could have a look for you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Qian became a bit anxious. Was his nephew out of his mind? What physician? He's nothing more than a village quack. It's different in the big city. If things go wrong, even a healthy person could be treated poorly.
"Li Qian, your nephew knows medicine? Don't boast here! The proprietress's foot has already been seen at the hospital. It'll take a week to heal!"
The middle-aged man who liked to snitch looked at Yi Xiaofei with scorn. Decked out in cheap attire, what could this sort of guy be capable of? He's probably just blowing hot air!
Yet, Yi Xiaofei merely cast a glance towards the middle-aged man, "What if I could heal the proprietress's foot within ten minutes?"
This statement took the proprietress by surprise, since the twist in her foot had been torturing her; of course, she wanted to recover sooner.
"Hmph...keep bragging, so young and yet so unrealistic! If you hurt the proprietress, I'll make sure you regret it!"
Healing the proprietress's foot injury in ten minutes was utterly unrealistic, which drew the other kitchen staff around to watch the spectacle.
"What are you looking at! You're getting paid to work, not to gawk! Scatter!"
The proprietress glared at the surrounding people, but her gaze turned to one of interest when she looked at Yi Xiaofei.
"Xiaofei! If you really can heal my foot injury, I'll take you in. I'll provide you with good food and comfortable living! And the work will be easy. Of course, you'd better seize this opportunity!"
The proprietress smiled at Yi Xiaofei. Regardless of anything else, the young man in front of her was quite pleasing to the eye, so she decided to give him a chance.
Let's see if he's a mule or a horse when led out for a stroll!
"Thank you, proprietress!"
Yi Xiaofei smiled brightly, and the proprietress sat down on a nearby stool. Yi Xiaofei promptly took off her shoes, though her black stockings remained. However, this did not hinder Yi Xiaofei. He took out the silver needles he carried with him.
Li Qian was extremely nervous about the whole situation. If things went poorly, he could lose his job because of his distant nephew.
Although the surrounding people had dispersed, they still glanced over occasionally, especially the men. Watching the proprietress's long legs presented quite a view.
Yi Xiaofei quickly began the acupuncture. As the silver needles pierced her skin, and after inserting them all, Yi Xiaofei's hands began massaging around her ankle with varying pressure. This sort of massage was something the proprietress had never experienced before.
Just two words could describe it: "comfortable." She hadn't felt such a technique even in the beauty salons she frequented.
It was tingling! Especially since the previous pain started to dissipate gradually—it was miraculous.
"Ouch!"
But the next moment, Yi Xiaofei's hand, applying considerable force, caused the proprietress to cry out in pain. However, after that cry, Yi Xiaofei quickly removed the silver needles from the proprietress's calf.
"You scoundrel! Look what you've done, you've hurt the proprietress! Li Qian, your nephew, at such a young age, looks like nothing more than a quack! Are the two of you in cahoots, trying to harm the proprietress?"
"Proprietress! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! My nephew is still young, I hope you're not... hurt!"
By this time, Li Qian deeply regretted not stopping Yi Xiaofei from taking action.
But the proprietress wasn't paying any attention to the two men. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on Yi Xiaofei. "What's wrong? You took off my shoes but you aren't going to help me put them back on?"
With a slight extension of her leg, from Yi Xiaofei's perspective, it was a perfect curve.
The proprietress's words were, however, rather suggestive.
Yet Yi Xiaofei didn't mind at all and helped the proprietress put on her shoes. After she stood up, the proprietress felt a lightness in her previously injured right foot. She took a few steps and felt completely normal again. This outcome left the snitching man with his mouth agape, unable to believe what he'd just witnessed.
"Not bad! Not bad at all! You've really got skill! Xiaofei, from now on, you'll work here at Fate Restaurant. Oh, and the name of your boss, that's me, is Ye Mengyan!"
At this moment, Proprietress Ye Mengyan was clearly very happy, directly telling Yi Xiaofei her name.
And what was most important was the look in Ye Mengyan's eyes as she gazed at Yi Xiaofei, which was somewhat different. After all, she hadn't expected this sunny young man to be so capable.
"Haha! Proprietress! This is my nephew, and he's quite remarkable! In our village, he's known as the Divine Doctor! And some people only know how to look down on others!"
At this point, Li Qian began to exaggerate. With so many people present in the kitchen, it was a good time to sing Yi Xiaofei's praises, which also gave him some face. The snitching man, upon hearing Li Qian's words, looked quite displeased but found it not the right time to say anything.
"Bald Li! Since Xiaofei is your nephew, arrange for him to stay in your dormitory then! Oh, and Xiaofei, if there's anything you need, tell me, and I'll take care of it for you?"
Proprietress Ye Mengyan was obviously in high spirits, especially since she would not have to endure a week of pain, all thanks to Yi Xiaofei.
This turn of events made the onlookers somewhat envious. It was apparent that this newcomer had already formed a good relationship with the proprietress and would certainly be favored by her.
"Thank you! Proprietress!"
Yi Xiaofei nodded, and the proprietress said nothing more before leaving the kitchen with a sway of her hips.
"Nephew! Still looking? The proprietress is a swan, out of reach for folks like us. But tell me, isn't the proprietress quite a catch?"
Li Qian looked at Yi Xiaofei, who was gazing at Proprietress Ye Mengyan's retreating figure, and nudged him.
"Great-uncle! Not to boast, but the one I slept with last night was even more stunning than the proprietress!"
Yi Xiaofei pursed his lips, only to be met with Li Qian's disdainful gaze.