Chapter 30: Welcome to the Family

Lin Fan led Xiao Yu and his two timid sisters through the wooden double doors into the quiet warmth of the teahouse kitchen. The air inside was rich with the comforting scents of toasted grain, fresh butter, and simmering mountain herbs.

At the central prep station, Sect Master Lu stood with flour-dusted sleeves, meticulously shaping dough into delicate pastries. Hearing footsteps, Lu turned around with a warm greeting on his lips, but the words died in his throat the moment his eyes landed on the three small figures standing behind Lin Fan.

Xiao Yu instinctively shifted forward, shielding his little sisters. Xiao Ling and Xiao Mei peeked out from behind his faded tunic, clutching his sleeves tightly while staring nervously at the imposing, flour-covered former sect leader.

"Lu," Lin Fan said, resting a hand on Xiao Yu’s shoulder. "Meet our new front-of-house staff. This is Xiao Yu, and his younger sisters, Xiao Ling and Xiao Mei. Xiao Yu will be helping with table service and customer reception. The girls will help with lighter tasks."

Sect Master Lu stared at the children. His sharp, cultivator-honed eyes instantly detected their hollow cheeks, frayed garments, and the subtle traces of long-standing hunger. A visible tremor shook his broad shoulders. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks and leaving clear tracks in the white flour covering his face.

"Tragic..." Lu gasped, clutching his chest. "To live in a realm blessed with grand immortals, yet allow its most innocent children to suffer empty bellies! This is an absolute failure of the world's hospitality!"

Lu spun toward the stone oven in a blur of motion. Channeling a controlled burst of fire qi into the hearth, he raised the temperature to flawless perfection. Within moments, he set a wicker basket overflowing with golden, honey-glazed butter rolls onto the counter.

"Eat, young ones!" Lu urged softly, sliding the basket forward alongside three mugs of warm, sweet milk. "Replenish your spirit and know that under this roof, hunger has no domain!"

Xiao Ling and Xiao Mei looked up at Lin Fan for permission. Receiving a nod, the girls picked up the warm rolls and took their first bites. Their eyes lit up in absolute delight. Xiao Yu took a slow bite himself, fighting back tears as the rich, sweet bread melted on his tongue.

Before the children could finish, the rear entrance creaked open. Scartail and four members of the Dishwasher Guild stepped into the kitchen, carrying tall wooden buckets and scrub brushes. Their scarred arms and rugged leather aprons gave them the intimidating appearance of hardened mountain brigands.

Xiao Yu tensed again, but Scartail stopped in his tracks, his single eye locking onto the three children. The four ex-bandits behind him froze as well, their tough expressions melting into looks of quiet surprise.

"Chief," Scartail said, setting his bucket down without his usual loud shouting. "Who are the little ones?"

"Our new staff," Lin Fan replied. "They used to work down at the Golden Jade Teahouse before it closed. They’ve had a difficult few weeks."

Scartail crossed his arms and walked over, crouching until his scarred face was level with Xiao Yu's.

"You carried trays down in the lower market, kid?"

Xiao Yu held his ground and straightened his back.

"Yes, sir. I took care of my sisters."

A rough, genuine grin split Scartail’s face. He reached out and patted the boy’s head with a heavy, protective hand.

"Good kid. You've got spine. Listen to me—out in that dining hall, you'll see plenty of arrogant cultivators with fancy robes and loud voices. If any of them ever raises a hand or starts causing trouble, you let us know. The Dishwasher Guild will handle it."

Iron Bear, a towering ex-bandit standing behind Scartail, nodded fiercely.

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"That's right! Nobody disrespects the people who keep this shop running!"

Lin Fan gave Scartail a warning glance.

"Remember the rules, Scartail. No starting brawls with paying guests."

"Understood, Chief," Scartail grunted, giving a sharp nod. "We’ll just escort them out peacefully."

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes.

"Peacefully."

Scartail cleared his throat.

"Very peacefully."

Crimson emerged silently from the shadowed corridor near the courtyard, his red eyes assessing the scene. As the head of security, he immediately recognized the operational value of the arrangement. Having dedicated, competent mortal servers meant he no longer had to handle table orders, allowing him to concentrate entirely on monitoring the shop's perimeter.

"They are designated as protected members of this establishment," Crimson stated in his flat, precise tone. "Any threat directed toward them will be addressed immediately."

Little Xiao Ling looked up at the tall, hooded figure without fear. She reached into the basket, broke off a piece of her butter roll, and held it up with a small smile.

"Do you want some?"

Crimson stared at the tiny piece of bread for a moment.

Then, to everyone's surprise, he stooped slightly, accepted it with two fingers, and ate it.

His face remained completely stoic.

"Quality is optimal. Your gesture is acknowledged."

Xiao Ling smiled proudly.

An hour later, the front doors were unlocked, and the afternoon rush began. The atmosphere in the dining room transformed almost immediately.

Instead of facing Crimson's terrifying gaze or Scartail's booming announcements, arriving guests were greeted at the door by Xiao Yu, who welcomed them with a practiced, polite bow.

"Welcome to the Lin Fan Teahouse," Xiao Yu said smoothly. "Table for two? Please follow me."

He guided a pair of nervous cultivators to a window table, presented them with clean wooden menus, and pulled out their chairs with natural grace.

A moment later, Xiao Mei walked over carrying a small basket of neatly folded linen napkins. She carefully placed two on the table before hurrying back toward the counter with a quiet smile.

The two cultivators sat in stunned silence, staring at the neatly arranged table.

"No spiritual pressure... no terrifying threats," one whispered to his companion in disbelief. "Just polite, efficient service."

"It feels... relaxing," the other admitted, settling back into his seat with a sigh of relief.

Throughout the dining room, Xiao Yu managed the floor with remarkable skill. He memorized complex tea orders effortlessly, carried loaded trays with steady precision, and handled every patron with unshakable composure.

Xiao Ling and Xiao Mei helped with simple tasks—placing napkins, greeting guests, carrying empty cups one at a time, and bringing small order slips back to the counter. Their cheerful presence softened the tension that often filled a room full of armed martial artists.

At one table, a notoriously hot-tempered sword cultivator accidentally dropped his wooden spoon.

Before he could grow frustrated, Xiao Ling was already beside him, holding out a clean replacement.

"Here you go, sir! Enjoy your tea!"

The sword cultivator, who had been on the verge of complaining about the delay in his order, paused.

He looked down at the clean spoon, then at the cheerful girl.

His annoyance disappeared.

After a moment, he reached into his pouch, pulled out two copper coins, and placed them quietly on the edge of the table.

Xiao Ling stared at the coins.

Then she looked toward Xiao Yu.

Her brother gave her a small nod.

Her face lit up.

"Thank you, sir!"

The cultivator awkwardly looked away.

"Hm. Your service is acceptable."

From behind the counter, Lin Fan watched the seamless operation unfold.

For the first time since opening the teahouse, he didn't need to step out to resolve a customer misunderstanding or stop one of his staff members from intimidating the guests.

The floor ran like a well-oiled machine, filled with the soft clinking of teacups, pleasant chatter, and genuine warmth.

Even Scartail had somehow managed to remain quiet for nearly twenty minutes.

That alone felt like a miracle.

Suddenly, a crisp golden interface materialized before Lin Fan's eyes.

[System Alert: Operational Bottleneck Resolved!]

Front-of-House Efficiency: Significantly Increased

Customer Satisfaction: Greatly Increased

Reward: +500 Hospitality Points

New Sub-Menu Unlocked: Staff Uniforms

Facility Upgrade Available: Upgraded Kitchen Range

Lin Fan read the notification twice.

Then his eyes stopped on one particular line.

Staff uniforms?

A slow grin spread across his face.

Finally.

No more mismatched robes, bloodstained bandit aprons, or ancient demon lords standing beside tables looking as though they were preparing to collect souls instead of orders.

He dismissed the notification with a subtle wave of his hand and looked across the dining room.

Xiao Yu was calmly taking another order.

Xiao Mei was arranging fresh napkins.

Xiao Ling was proudly guarding the two copper coins she had received like they were priceless treasures.

Scartail and his men worked in the back.

Sect Master Lu prepared food in the kitchen.

And Crimson stood near the wall, silently watching over all of them.

The teahouse was no longer just a strange shop run by an improbable mix of reformed bandits, powerful cultivators, and one terrifying ancient demon lord.

For the first time, it was beginning to feel like a real home.