Volume 1 / Chapter 68: Working Sisters

Because it rained on the day they left for military training, the two sisters, Mo Xiǎoxiào and Mo Zhúyōu, didn’t ride their bikes to school. So naturally, they took the bus home after class as well.

“Finally off the bus,” Mo Zhúyōu yawned lazily. “I’ve been riding buses all day—feels like I’m gonna puke.”

“Alright, alright, quit whining. We’ve still got work to do tonight.”

“Can’t I take the night off just this once…?” she muttered under her breath.

Everyone has lazy moments—it’s human nature. The difference lies in whether one gives in to it, or bites the bullet and pushes through.

“If you don’t work, how’re you gonna eat~?”

“Just one day off, is that too much to ask?”

“Well, considering how many days we already took off thanks to military training…” Her older sister reached over to ruffle her hair. “C’mon, no more complaining. How about I buy you a Coke after our shift?”

“Oh right! We still have that leftover hundred yuan from last time!” the younger one suddenly remembered.

“Yep, but we still have to spend it wisely.”

“Mhm!”

After all, even combined, the sisters only earned between 600 to 800 yuan a month. That extra hundred? It had a lot of places it could go.

The two headed home first, dropped off their school bags and luggage, then made their way to a nearby home-style restaurant through the back door.

The place always got busiest in the evenings. With its affordable prices and tasty dishes, it had a great reputation around the neighborhood and drew in crowds—especially after work hours.

It was only around 5 p.m. now, but the kitchen was already bustling.

As the younger sister bent down to pet the orange tabby lounging by the back door, her sister’s voice called out from inside: “Hey! Stop playing with the cat and get to work!”

“I knooow——” she dragged out the words, clearly reluctant, as she stepped inside.

Before heading out earlier, the two had already changed into old clothes they didn’t mind getting dirty. Now, they layered on simple work jackets.

“You’re here?” the restaurant’s boss lady greeted them in passing. No time for small talk—she immediately began assigning tasks. “The kitchen’s still manageable for now, but the dining area’s packed. You two head out front and start taking care of the guests.”

“Got it.” The older sister nodded and grabbed her sister’s hand as they hurried to the front.

Recently, this restaurant had been drawing even more customers. Part of the reason? At night, you could see a pair of beautiful twin sisters working there. Even if people came with no ulterior motives, just watching them was a treat for the eyes.

And pretty girls, even in plain clothes, couldn’t hide their natural charm.

As the saying goes, a pretty face makes everything taste better. With a pair of fresh-faced twins serving food, even the dishes seemed more delicious.

Regulars knew these two only worked part-time after school. During the day, they were still students—so they only showed up in the evenings.

They had just stepped into the front when a customer walked in. The younger sister hurried over to greet them, while the older one quickly tidied her hair. Just as she tied it up, another guest came through the door.

It was a chubby-looking middle-aged man. His arms and legs weren’t that big, but his belly bulged out noticeably. The way he walked gave off the air of a small-time official.

“Good evening! Table for how many?” Mo Xiǎoxiào approached with a bright smile, dimples showing.

“Hmm—” The man stroked what looked like more than just a double chin before replying, “Six.”

“Would you like a private room?”

“Of course.”

“Right this way.” Just as she was about to lead him to a small private dining room, she caught sight of a familiar face walking in. “Eh—Xuěyáo?”

She looked at Mò Xuěyáo in surprise, and the feeling was mutual.

“You two know each other?” the chubby man asked.

“Uh… she’s my classmate,” Mò Xuěyáo replied, then turned to introduce him. “This is my godfather.”

“Oh, classmates, huh? Already working part-time before turning 18—earning your own keep?” Yú Liáng chuckled warmly.

“Mm… helping out with family expenses, I guess.” Mo Xiǎoxiào gave a somewhat awkward nod, sneaking a glance at Mò Xuěyáo’s reaction.

Fortunately, Xuěyáo only seemed surprised—not judgmental or condescending. That alone helped her breathe easier.

“Well then, I’ll show you to your room,” Xiǎoxiào quickly shifted back to her role as a waitress, steering the conversation toward work.

“Mm.” Yú Liáng nodded, giving her a once-over. “Helping out your family is admirable. But still, you're a student—studies should come first.”

“Well… I make sure my grades don’t slip,” she said with a slightly forced smile.

Yú Liáng caught the hesitation right away.

“Ah, yes—sometimes, life leaves us little choice.”

Xiǎoxiào understood what he meant. But standing nearby, Xuěyáo was completely lost. It felt like the two of them were having a conversation on entirely different wavelengths.

As they spoke, Xiǎoxiào pushed open the private room door and cracked the window to let in some air.

“Here we are. Let me know what you’d like to order—menus are on the table too.”

Watching her classmate play the role of a restaurant Waitress, Xuěyáo felt a strange sensation in her chest.

It was as if, without realizing it, the two of them now stood on opposite sides of a social divide.

Had they been alone, it probably wouldn’t have felt this stark. But with a grown-up like Yú Liáng around, that invisible gap became much harder to ignore.

Xiǎoxiào felt it too.

It was like the moment they stepped into different roles, they forgot how to talk to each other.

“So, Xuěyáo, what do you want to eat?” Yú Liáng plopped down into a chair. “How about sizzling bass?”

“Anything’s fine. I’m not picky,” Xuěyáo replied. She was one word short of just saying “whatever.”

“Sizzling bass it is,” Xiǎoxiào replied smoothly, smiling as she jotted it down.

“Let’s throw in some Japanese-style tofu too. Really? Nothing else you’re craving?”

“Nope.” Xuěyáo looked over at her and, trying to ease the awkwardness, spoke more warmly than before. “Xiàoxiào, is working here hard?”

“Work~ is always tiring.” Xiǎoxiào smiled even brighter at her friend’s affectionate tone. “We work pretty late every night.”

“What about your homework?”

“Do it at school, of course.”

“No wonder you’re always rushing to finish it, huh…”

“Oh right, don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

“Ah… yeah.” Xuěyáo nodded with a knowing look.

Even though she didn’t find it shameful in the least, there were always those who did—who’d look down on the sisters just for being “poor.”

“It’s not what you think~” Xiǎoxiào brushed her hair back. “It’s mainly because the school doesn’t allow students to work part-time.”

“Ohh… got it.” Xuěyáo gave an awkward little laugh. “Well… there’s nothing wrong with working for your own living.”

“I’m really happy you think that way, Xuěyáo.”

“Eh?”

“You two seem really close,” Yú Liáng laughed heartily. “Want to invite your classmate to eat with us?”

“No need for that~ We’ve still got work to do,” Xiǎoxiào bowed slightly. “Thank you, though.”

Afterward, Yú Liáng ordered seven or eight dishes in quick succession—more than enough for six people.

Restaurants back then always served pretty generous portions.

Once Xiǎoxiào handed the order slip to the kitchen and returned to the front, she saw Mo Zhúyōu completely swamped.

More customers had come in—some ordering, others wanting to pay, still others asking for takeout...

The phone at the counter was ringing nonstop.

“Jiejie! Finally! Pick up the phone for me!” her younger sister shouted frantically.

“Mm-mm, I’m on it~” Xiǎoxiào rushed over and answered the call. “Hello? Oh—you’d like to order delivery? May I have your address? Yes, that location is within our range. It’ll take about thirty minutes. Alright, go ahead.”

Back then, phone-in delivery orders were common, and the restaurant staff handled deliveries themselves.

They didn’t assign anyone specifically—it just depended on who was free. Sometimes it was the two sisters, other times it was the guy who chopped vegetables in the back...

“Where did you go just now?” Zhúyōu finally caught her breath and muttered. “I was drowning up here.”

“Xuěyáo dropped by. Didn’t you see?”

“Eh? When? I didn’t even notice…” She fiddled with her earlobe, suddenly worried. “Wait—do you think Xuěyáo will tell the school?”

“Of course not. Xuěyáo’s not like that.”

“That’s a relief… but still, she probably thinks we’re poor, huh.”

“We are poor.”

“That’s not the point!” the younger one grumbled.

“It’s fine. Xuěyáo doesn’t care about stuff like that. You’re just being too sensitive.”

“Tch… It’s not like stuff like that didn’t happen in middle school.”

“Mm. But someone like that would never be Xuěyáo~”

“Fine, fine… Anyway, should I do the delivery later?”

“Yeah, you go. I’ll handle things here.”

“Whew, during rush hour, delivery’s actually easier,” Zhúyōu said as she handed off an order slip to the kitchen.

“Just don’t slack off out there. Unless you want me to die of exhaustion~”

“No way I’d let my sister drop dead! I’d be so lonely…”

“Waitress! Two bottles of beer!” someone at a table called out, raising a hand.

“Coming~” the older sister replied cheerfully. “Want it chilled? Xīhú, Snow Beer, or Qiāndǎohú?”

“Not chilled. I’ll take Qiāndǎohú.”

“Alrighty, coming right up~”

“Waitress, I’ll take a bowl of rice! Big one!”

“Got it, coming…” the younger one chimed in, and just like that, the sisters got swept back into the rhythm of their night.