Siheyuan: Tathagata's Palm suppresses the entire courtyard!

In the night, Xu Mingjie gradually fell asleep, but in his half-dream and half-awake state, the chilly feeling still lingered around him, as if it was an invisible warning, reminding him not to take it lightly. This feeling made him feel a little cold, but at the same time it also aroused the unwillingness and fighting spirit deep in his heart. He knew that he had to face these emotions and find the real balance point in order to continue on the road of culinary art.

The first rays of sunlight in the morning shone through the curtains into the room. Xu Mingjie opened his eyes and felt that the fatigue of his body seemed to be relieved a little by the alcohol and sleep last night. But the chill was still there, as if reminding him that a new challenge was coming.

After waking up, Xu Mingjie washed up in the morning light and thought about today's work. However, the chill in his heart had not completely subsided. He forced himself to suppress this uncomfortable feeling and decided to focus on today's task. After all, the world of the kitchen does not allow for the slightest distraction.

After changing into work clothes and preparing to go out, he habitually took out his wallet from the drawer and opened it to check the balance. When he saw the pitiful amount of cash in his wallet, his heart tightened, and a feeling of helplessness and anxiety instantly surged into his heart.

"How can I spend so quickly?" He said to himself, frowning. His recent spending was indeed a bit out of control. He rarely paid attention to specific expenditures, but when he saw the state of his wallet today, he had to admit that he had indeed been a bit too extravagant these days.

He recalled his spending in recent weeks. He bought a lot of fresh ingredients, seasonings, and some kitchen tools for experiments. Although these things helped improve his cooking skills, the accumulated expenses obviously exceeded his expectations. In addition, he occasionally invited friends to dinner and went to the pub to relax. It seemed that every expense was reasonable, but it made his savings shrink rapidly.

Xu Mingjie stood at the door, holding his wallet, feeling uneasy. He had never been a spendthrift, but had always been very frugal. However, he was always willing to spend money on his pursuit of cooking. However, the current situation forced him to face a problem - if he continued like this, he might face financial difficulties.

"I have to control my spending." He decided secretly in his heart. Although he was a little reluctant, he had to readjust his spending habits for the sake of future plans. He knew that he could no longer spend money as he pleased as before, especially those unnecessary expenses, which had to be strictly controlled.

Xu Mingjie walked out of his house with a heavy heart and headed for the restaurant. The streets were bustling with people, and the daily hustle and bustle seemed to have nothing to do with him. His mind was all focused on how to solve the economic problems at hand.

Walking into the restaurant, Xu Mingjie put these worries aside temporarily and threw himself into his busy work. However, the feeling of uneasiness in his heart was always with him. Whenever he saw some expensive ingredients in the kitchen, he would involuntarily calculate the cost of the dish and wonder if he could afford such an expense.

During lunch time, Xu Mingjie and other chefs were very busy. Despite this, his thoughts still drifted back to the state of his wallet from time to time, and he couldn't help sighing in his heart. This kind of anxiety and pressure made him feel a little tired, as if the whole person was suffocated by an invisible burden. "Mingjie, the new dishes you made recently are very popular, and customers have specifically requested them. Today's turnover is expected to set a new record, you must do your best!"

The boss's words eased Xu Mingjie's mood a little, but the joy could not completely dispel the worries in his heart. He knew that although the restaurant's business was getting better and better and his cooking skills were gradually recognized by more people, these could not immediately solve the financial problems he faced.

"Thank you, boss. I will continue to work hard." Xu Mingjie responded with a smile, but he was thinking about his next plan. He knew that it was almost impossible to relieve the financial pressure in a short period of time with the current income alone. Maybe he needed to consider some additional sources of income or re-plan his living expenses.

In the evening, Xu Mingjie finished a day's work and returned home exhausted. He opened the refrigerator and found only some simple ingredients. Looking at the pitiful inventory, Xu Mingjie felt even more powerless. He knew that he had to go shopping again tomorrow, but this time, he had to strictly control his budget and could no longer spend money recklessly like before.

Sitting at the dining table, Xu Mingjie ate his dinner casually, thinking about his next plan. He wondered if he should temporarily slow down the development of new dishes and focus on improving existing dishes. This would not only reduce unnecessary food waste, but also save money.

But this thought made Xu Mingjie feel lost. He had always believed that the pursuit of culinary skills was endless, and innovation and trying new things were his greatest motivation and source of passion. But now, reality forced him to compromise in these aspects.

"Does this really have to happen?" Xu Mingjie asked himself silently. He understood that this might be the most rational choice at this stage, but his inner desire for innovation and challenges made it difficult for him to fully accept this decision.

After dinner, Xu Mingjie sat on the sofa, took out his mobile phone, opened the bank app, and checked his account balance. The number on it made his heart tighten again. Although it was not to the point of being penniless, it was obviously far below the safety line in his mind.

"I have to find a solution quickly." He told himself that he couldn't delay any longer and had to take action immediately. He began to consider the possibility of some part-time jobs, or taking some private jobs without affecting his main job. At the same time, he also decided to reduce his expenses outside the restaurant as much as possible from tomorrow, and temporarily give up some unnecessary social activities and entertainment expenses.

That night, Xu Mingjie tossed and turned in bed, with various possible solutions constantly emerging in his mind. But no matter how he thought, he felt that the road ahead was difficult. He knew that the days ahead might be more tense and stressful, but he was unwilling to give up. After all, cooking was his lifelong pursuit, and the current difficulties were just an obstacle he had to overcome.

As the night deepened, the streets outside the window gradually became quiet. Xu Mingjie finally closed his eyes, still silently thinking about tomorrow's plan. No matter how difficult it was, he would persist and find a way to solve the problem. Even if the balance in his wallet was decreasing, his belief and pursuit would not be shaken.