Ali was busy arranging the front hall with his team when the smell of date cake and mung bean cake made his mouth water.
"Shopkeeper, what delicious thing is the young master making with the kitchen maids that smells so good?"
"Yes, Shopkeeper, I have never smelled anything so fragrant, it's making me hungry."
Ali, who had been promoted from a waiter to a shopkeeper, laughed and said, "Do your jobs well, and you'll have a chance to taste the goodies."
While the group was joking and laughing, two kitchen maids came out from the kitchen in the back yard, carrying two plates of mung bean cakes, two plates of date cakes, a bowl of apricot preserves, and a bowl of peach preserves.
One of the kitchen maids, who loved to joke, said, "Shopkeeper, the young master saw how hard you all are working and specially told us to bring some snacks for you to try and also take a break."
Hearing this, the men put down their tools and happily crowded around.