NOVEL NEXT Chapter 506: Opening a Restaurant
"What are your plans for the renovation?" In truth, Qin Xiangnuan did not particularly care about this matter. After all, that place would soon be under his name, which meant it would be his. The location of the place was not bad, and the main store belonged to him. Even if he was to rent it out, there would be rent to collect, so he would not be losing money anyway.
"I think..." Dongsheng hurriedly took a sip of water to moisten his throat and to give himself a bit of courage.
"Most of the stalls there sell snacks and the like, with no slightly larger places suitable for gatherings. I'm thinking since our shop is quite spacious, and we could potentially open up the second floor to create a two-story establishment, making it a relatively upscale venue. We could host banquets, social gatherings, and even accommodate small wedding parties. Plus, our place is near many universities, and many students are picky eaters. There are a lot of people from the Southern regions who like to eat rice, so they don't eat as much of the noodle-based food. As for the chef, I'm thinking of learning myself, to be the chef." As he spoke, his face turned a little shy, "I used to think I was only fit for hard labor, but I've found that I actually quite enjoy cooking. There are master chefs now who teach cooking, and I'd like to learn from them so I can use the skills in our shop, and also be able to help out with cooking when we have guests over at home." And as he continued talking, his eyes started to shine brighter with the thought that he had a purpose and was no longer useless. He hadn't been at the shop for long, but when he first arrived, he learned how to make hot and sour rice noodles and flatbread from Granny Lu. In less than a month, he had mastered these dishes. Granny Lu took care of collecting the money and other things, so her workload was much lighter. Through his own observation, he felt that if they switched to Sichuan cuisine, the business might do better, but he was unsure about how to broach the subject.
Even though the shop was in his name now, it was, after all, Qin Xiangnuan's, and he felt awkward about making changes to it without consultation. That's why he hesitated to speak up. But after having said his piece, the pent-up frustration in his chest had finally dissipated, and he felt much more at ease.
He watched Qin Xiangnuan's expression carefully, and seeing no sign of anger, he felt reassured. She wasn't angry, and that was good.
Qin Xiangnuan picked up her cup and brought it to her lips, the warm water soothing her throat, bringing a warm and comfortable feeling that even seemed to settle her stomach.
"When are you planning to start the renovation, Brother Dongsheng?"
She put down her cup, her upturned lips indicating her good mood.
Dongsheng was startled for a moment, then his lips stretched into a wide smile.
"Nuannuan, does this mean you agree?"
"Of course I agree," Qin Xiangnuan caressed the cup in her hand, "Your idea is very good. It shows, Brother Dongsheng, that you are a capable person. Since the shop is in your name, however you decide to renovate it is up to you. As for hiring a master chef, don't worry about it, I'll have Brother Jian keep an eye out for you, find a master to train you. You can't do this alone. The catering business is very hard work, and although you are young, you must not overuse your strength."
"As for the renovation costs..."
"I can cover that," Dongsheng quickly interjected, "Granny gave me the money before, saying it was for me to find a wife." He lowered his head in embarrassment, feeling uneasy holding the money that Granny had given to him, rather than to Qin Xiangyang and his siblings.
"Cousin, you're overthinking it. My brother and I aren't short of money. You should keep the money that Granny left for you. Otherwise, it would make her uneasy." Qin Xiangnuan leaned back in her chair, stretching her legs, feeling the heaviness of her body. She turned her face to the side, her gaze falling on Dongsheng's apologetic eyes, and saw the clear sense of guilt in them.
"Let's settle it then," she declared with a firm gesture, "I'll take care of the renovation costs..." Hmm, she thought for a moment, her slender, good-looking fingers lightly tapping on the table, "Once the students go on holiday and business generally becomes a bit slower, we'll start the renovations. If we're going to renovate, we might as well do a good job of it."
Dongsheng actually felt the same way; a more upscale renovation might bring in more revenue. He had visited other restaurants recently and had a pretty good idea of what he wanted, but he was worried that Qin Xiangnuan might not agree.
However, he had really thought too much. Qin Xiangnuan was more than happy that Dongsheng had his own ideas, rather than just stubbornly sticking to business without understanding the need to adapt.
When Jian Zhiqing returned, Qin Xiangnuan briefly mentioned Dongsheng's plans to her.
"That's good," Jian Zhiqing had no objections, "It's just right, you've also given birth, and Granny can take a break to help with the children. One child might be manageable, but with two, an extra pair of hands is needed. Plus, while the shop is undergoing renovation, everyone can have a bit of a breather."
Jian Zhiqing was always one to spring into action. Once she agreed, she would make it happen.
The next day, she found people to help Dongsheng set the renovation plans in motion. These were experienced contractors, well-versed in their trade. A small shop was nothing for them to handle. They planned to turn the first floor into a lobby and the second floor into private rooms, with the kitchen in the back. In truth, if both floors were fully utilized, the place was big enough to operate as a sizeable restaurant. It was just that previously, they were selling breakfast, and people lived upstairs, so a lot of the available space was simply wasted.
With a proper renovation, it would be considered a decent restaurant in the area.
As for hiring a master chef, Qin Xiangnuan was already on the lookout. Although master chefs usually start their apprentices from menial tasks and don't let them cook right away, Qin Xiangnuan believed in the saying 'money talks'.
For the right price, she didn't believe there wouldn't be a master willing to teach.
And indeed, it was so, thanks to the help of the aunt from the Jian family, Jian Li. She happened to know someone from a family that had been in the catering business for generations. But because of unfortunate circumstances in his generation, he had suffered setbacks and now had no children to pass on his skills.
Jian Li introduced Dongsheng to the old man, who took a liking to him. Although Dongsheng was disabled, he had a kind and positive spirit, utterly devoid of any negative energy. Upon meeting him, one could see he was an enlightened and honest boy. So before discussing any monetary compensation, the old man already liked Dongsheng. It goes to show that personal chemistry is very important.
The old man feared his culinary skills might die with him, but being advanced in age, he couldn't go to large restaurants to teach, so he set up a small food stall near his home. The business was doing well, enough for him to sustain his own living.