Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country

Chapter 483 - 481: Life or Death

Wang Fan did not leave on his own; most of the chef "heaven group" who had successfully completed their tasks left together.

Only Chen Menglong and a few others planned to stay in Huaxia for a while longer, using the momentum Wang Fan had created to promote Chinese cuisine well, so those foreigners wouldn’t constantly judge through tinted glasses.

The two of them first returned to Harbin after getting off the plane, rested a bit, and then headed straight for Nanjing.

Wang Fan was driving, contemplating how humane his system was, unlike systems in other novels that issued tasks forcefully, with the consequence of death if not completed.

His own was so obedient; he used to be rebellious, but after completing that rebellious task, it mainly issued tasks he set himself.

Just like now, he hadn’t decided whether to stay at Red Mountain Forest Park, so the task hasn’t been issued yet.

...

At this moment, Director Liu was indeed at his wit’s end.

The reason, naturally, was because of unpaid salaries.

After all, not paying wages for three months was really unbearable for ordinary people.

Salaries were not high in the first place, and most just managed to save a bit for emergencies after eating and drinking each month. Not being paid for three months meant they couldn’t make ends meet.

Zhang Chunming was an old employee there, and being an animal keeper wasn’t easy, with low pay. His wife and kids were relying on him, and three months without a paycheck meant even taking his kid out for a meal was tough.

He was a grown man, and this situation was utterly embarrassing.

"Director Liu, I’m laying it out here: if we don’t get paid today, we’re really quitting! Have you ever experienced not being able to afford a roast chicken your son wants? I’ve lost all face in front of him!"

His words resonated with the other employees, who chimed in: "Exactly, I even had to borrow my son’s tutoring fees from my dad. Just thinking about it makes me embarrassed!"

"I might not have kids, but I have to ask my parents for meal money now. They think I’m just playing games in the rental every day."

"Really, Director Liu, please have mercy on us, we have the elderly and young to care for; we can’t hold on any longer."

"We love animals, but we have to survive, right?"

Does Director Liu understand the difficulties and circumstances of these employees?

Of course he does, because all the zoo’s funds have been used to buy food for the animals. Not only have the employees not been paid, but he hasn’t received his salary for several months either.

He himself had no savings, and much of the later food was paid for out of his own pocket; now his bank balance was nearly zero.

"I know your difficulties, but I can’t just watch these animals starve to death, can I? Believe in me one more time, I must revive our forest zoo!"

Director Liu also knew his words were empty, but given the situation, it was all he could say, though even he wasn’t sure a chance for revival would come.

Previously they had hired an internet celebrity to promote, a dance blogger with millions of followers, but she was hard to deal with, constantly throwing tantrums.

This zoo promoted harmonious coexistence between humans and animals, where animals should have their privacy, but when she couldn’t see animals, she threw fits, turning a good promotion into a fiasco, a reverse publicity stunt.

This made him lose the initial confidence he had in Wang Fan’s arrival.

"Just one more month, believe in me for the last month!"

Director Liu vowed fiercely, "If we can’t pay wages next month, I’ll sell my house to pay you!"

Zhang Chunming looked at the exhausted Director Liu with some pity: "Director Liu, we don’t mean anything else, but we really hit rock bottom at home, leading to this situation. You’re a good leader, and we appreciate your dreams and love for the animals; but... sigh, we don’t want to force you to sell your house, but at least give us a reason? A convincing reason.

We’re about to end summer vacation, soon it’ll be the off-season for tourism, what reason do we have to believe our zoo can come back to life?"

"Yeah, we didn’t have many visitors during the peak season, and what good can the off-season bring?"

"Selling the house is your own proposal; it’s not our doing."

"I think, you should hand the zoo over as soon as possible, or let someone from above take over, run it like other zoos; at least you could barely make a living."

Director Liu held up a finger: "Give me one last month, just one month!"

Zhang Chunming gestured for everyone to stop speaking, took a step forward and said: "One month is okay, but still, give us a reason!"

"Yes, we need a reason."

"That’s right, anyone can talk nonsense, it’s useless."

Director Liu sighed internally, realizing he couldn’t fool them today, but they couldn’t leave. The zoo spanned 0.68 square kilometers, with over 260 species and 3,000 animals. Even if he wore his shoes out, even if he worked to death, it was impossible to take care of all the animals’ needs.

"I’ve invited someone to help us with the promotion, they’re nearly here."

Zhang Chunming sneered: "Director, I can’t believe you’d fall into the same trap twice, did you invite another internet celebrity? You know what happened the last time we tightened our belts for one, and you’re still betting on them? Or is it a big star this time?"

"Director, I suggest we not wait until next month, let’s settle this now. My mother is still in the hospital waiting for medical fees, can we part ways amicably?"

Everyone was almost entirely disappointed with Director Liu’s words.

They no longer believed an internet celebrity alone could revive the zoo.

If the internet was a bubble, the internet celebrity economy was even more of a bubble than computers.

Zhang Chunming sighed: "Who did you hire this time?"

Director Liu sat in his chair dejectedly, looking at the dusty tips of his shoes: "Wang Fan."

There was no longer the initial confidence in his words, instead a hint of resignation, as if he was resigned to fate.

"Who?"

Zhang Chunming looked at Director Liu in surprise: "Which Wang Fan?"

Director Liu sighed: "The one who cooks, hasn’t been active recently."

His voice grew weaker as he spoke.

He had been too preoccupied with funding issues to follow the news recently; it was always borrowing money or on the way to borrow money.

"The strongest wild boss?"

"That random refresh one?"

"The one who recently made a big splash at Michelin?"

"The director is already so broke, he can even hire him?"

"Hiss..."

The staff exchanged glances, all too shocked to speak.

Director Liu took out his phone and opened Weibo, showing them his conversation with Wang Fan: "Here, it’s him."

Everyone looked at the avatar, wasn’t it Boss Wang with his food truck?

"What the hell? Really?"

"Director Liu is so broke, did he make some unspeakable deal?"

Director Liu was surprised to see everyone suddenly change their attitude as if full of confidence.

Just moments ago, they were so skeptical, how did they suddenly become so confident?

Zhang Chunming licked his lips: "Shall we go back to work first?"

Damn?

Director Liu widened his eyes at him: "What’s going on?"