Xu Baoming was also in trouble at the time. His wife had gotten involved with another man, leaving behind a five-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. During the divorce proceedings, he got the house but had to pay his ex-wife fifty thousand yuan in cash. Xu Baosheng had no money, so he had to mortgage his house and took out a loan of sixty thousand yuan.
Of this sixty thousand yuan, fifty thousand was given to his ex-wife. He kept forty thousand to support his two children, and then gave the remaining six thousand to Ye Shaodong.
When Ye Shaodong received the six thousand yuan, tears welled up, and he didn't know what to say to express his gratitude. At that moment, Xu Baosheng simply patted his shoulder and said, "Shaodong, when you're dead, you face upwards. If you don't die, you'll live forever. We brothers can definitely turn things around!"
"Brother Sheng, you seem to have had quite a bit to drink," Ye Tian said with a smile.
Xu Baosheng chuckled, "Seeing that your brother can stand up again and marry the woman he liked before, I'm happy for him!"
Ye Tian sat down next to Xu Baosheng and asked, "Brother Sheng, who's looking after the children at home?"
Xu Baosheng replied, "The older one is already in primary school, and my father picks her up and drops her off. The younger one is still in kindergarten, and I pick him up every day."
Ye Tian said, "Brother Sheng, it's not easy for you either. Is that small shop still open?"
Xu Baosheng had opened a small restaurant. The business wasn't great, nor was it bad; it was barely enough to support the family.
Xu Baosheng smiled, "It's still open. Business hasn't been good these past two years, just managing to get by."
Ye Tian asked, "Brother Sheng, have you ever eaten at the Imperial Cuisine Hall?"
Xu Baosheng shook his head, "That place is high-end, how could your Brother Sheng afford to go? But I've heard the food there is excellent."
Ye Tian then said, "I'm the owner of the Imperial Cuisine Hall now and plan to open a branch in the provincial capital. To open a branch, I'll need staff. I wonder if you'd be willing to manage this branch for me, Brother Sheng?"
Xu Baosheng was stunned. He quickly said, "Xiao Tian, I'm just a small restaurant owner, I probably can't do that, can I?"
Ye Tian smiled, "It's alright. You can work at the Hai City branch for a few months first. Once you're familiar with it, we'll get the branch up and running."
At this moment, someone immediately stood up and said loudly, "Xiao Tian, I also own a restaurant. You can find me to help!"
This was a tall man with a bald head, who said with a smile.
Ye Tian glanced at him and said, "Brother Liu, you're too tall, not suitable to be a store manager."
The tall man was taken aback. Too tall?
Ye Tian continued to Xu Baosheng, "Brother Sheng, once the branch opens, if you do a good job, I'll give you a twenty percent stake in the branch's profits."
Xu Baosheng quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I can't accept a stake!"
Ye Tian said, "Brother Sheng, not only will I give you a stake, but I'll also give you a monthly base salary of twenty thousand. I need people to know that the Ye family is loyal and repays kindness."
Ye Shaodong smiled, "Brother Sheng, don't be so polite. With our friendship, this is nothing."
Xu Baosheng nodded vigorously, "Shaodong, I understand how you feel. I can be the manager of the branch, but I really can't accept the equity, otherwise, it would be too greedy."
Ye Shaodong smiled, "Alright, if you don't want it, then don't. I'll have Xiao Tian give you more bonuses then."
Xu Baosheng understood that Ye Shaodong was helping him. He hadn't had an easy time over the years, exhausted both mentally and physically. If it weren't for his young children, he might not have even wanted to live.
He sighed softly and patted Ye Shaodong's hand forcefully, "Shaodong, thank you!"
At this moment, the others at the table had complex expressions. When they first heard that Ye Shaodong had gotten into trouble, their first thought was to distance themselves from the Ye family. So when Ye Shaodong called for help, they chose not to answer.
Ye Shaodong was actually quite philosophical about this. Others helping him was a favor, and not helping was their right. But precisely because of this, Xu Baosheng and Yang Yong's actions seemed particularly loyal and righteous, something Ye Shaodong would never forget.
Ye Tian went around the tables, and almost everyone at the table was drunk.
Ye Tian let out a burp, hot air steaming from his head. The alcohol quickly dissipated, and he went to toast other tables.