Harry Potter: Charlie's Candy Factory

Chapter 118 In the afternoon, with Dab who came suddenly

At noon, there are still plain biscuits and jam, paired with a cup of steaming coffee, just like Charlie's daily life in the past, without any change.

The only special thing is that today Russell is really busy because of the candy vending machine.So for the first time there was no waiting for Charlie to finish his meal.

After delivering the food to him in person, he left with Charlie's permission, and dealt with related matters again.

Fortunately, Charlie is not alone - there is Vivien with him.

Since returning from the American magic world, his daily life has returned to the original state.But he didn't mind it, instead he enjoyed it.

After all, one can only understand after experiencing a series of various events that the most inconspicuous plainness is often the truly precious one.

There is no fight, no accident, no intrigue, no intrigue... There is only the leisure and comfort brought by the sunshine at noon.

On his desk, Vivien was also soundly asleep.

I don't know if it's his own quirk, but when he sleeps, he never sleeps like other owls, standing on a small tree branch or other places that can support him, closing his eyes and then resting.Instead, he shrunk his whole body into a ball, then buried his head completely in the fluffy feathers, retracted his paws into it, and fell into a deep sleep like this.

Even when he was sleeping soundly, the "owl ball" made of feathers would rise and fall with his breathing, and at the same time make a continuous and weak unconscious cry similar to "cuckoo cluck".

Charlie was in the right mood, and put down the half-eaten biscuit in his hand. His heart moved, he couldn't help stretching out his hand, and patted Vivien's retracted head.

"Goo-"

The little bird on the table poked its head out angrily, half-opened one eye, glanced at Charlie, and called out twice.

Then, like a motor that was suddenly started, he shook the feathers on his body vigorously, and after shaking off the biscuit crumbs that Charlie had just held, he fell asleep again.

And looking at Charlie in a blink of an eye, he looked like a child who had achieved a prank, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Just when Charlie was about to tease Vivien again, suddenly, a familiar knock on the door came from outside the office, but he stopped the evil hand he was about to extend.

Almost without thinking, he knew who it was.

"Come in, Russell."

He shouted casually, then retracted his hand regretfully, and wiped the corner of his mouth.

The door opened, and Russell walked in first, just as Charlie expected.

However, what he didn't expect was that behind Russell, a little guy who was a little shorter also walked in.The visitor was none other than Dabu.

At this moment, after a period of practice, he can already skillfully use the wooden leg used as a prosthesis. Except for the somewhat weird posture when walking, he is almost the same as before in terms of speed and flexibility. No difference.

Even if he didn't see it with his own eyes, Charlie could probably imagine how much effort the child had put in in such a short period of time in order to achieve this step. . . . .

"Good afternoon, my great and honorable Master Charlie."

Russell still used the same set of rhetoric every day, and he didn't feel at all uncomfortable because Dab was following behind him now.

Even faintly in front of others, he acted a little more seriously.Can't find any faults.

Dab's eyes were clear and shining. He raised his head, looked at Russell, and then at Charlie. It seemed that it was because he came to this office for the first time. At this moment, he was not the same as when Charlie saw him outside. As lively and jumpy as before, but with a kind of nervousness and shyness.

"Good afternoon, great and honorable... Mr. Black."

Hearing Russell's greeting, he hurriedly imitated the other party and said good afternoon to Charlie.

Seeing Dab's completely different appearance, Charlie couldn't help laughing for a moment.

"Good afternoon, Russell. Good afternoon, Dub."

After responding to the two elves one after another, he moved his eyes to Russell rather curiously, and asked involuntarily.
"Has Dab been on duty so soon to be your little assistant? I thought you would ask him to rest for a while."

Hearing Charlie's words, Russell's expression couldn't help but be a bit strange. He first looked back at Dab who was timidly following behind him.After a short pause, he explained

"Actually... I didn't ask Little Dab over here."

"Didn't you call me?" The curiosity in Charlie's eyes turned into surprise.

He raised his eyebrows, and at the same time turned his attention back to Dab.

At this moment, Dab was lowering his head and clasping his hands intently, seeming to be a bit entangled.

"I just finished dealing with the matter at hand, and I was planning to come over to report something to you, but... I ran into this little guy on the way here. He seemed to want to come and talk to you, but because I don't know where your office is , I got stuck at the fork in the stairs and didn’t know which way to go.”

Speaking of this, even Russell couldn't help laughing.He raised his hand and rubbed Dab's head lovingly.

Russell simply loves this child beside him very much. Because of watching him grow up, coupled with the particularity of the elf's ethnic group, in a sense, he treats Dab as if he treats his own child generally.

"Um... yes, Mr. Black." Dab finally raised his head, scratched his head in embarrassment, and then continued with Russell's words just now.

"Actually... I have some small matters that I want to discuss with you." After finishing speaking, he raised his head and looked at Russell beside him. He seemed to have thought of something, and quickly added, "Of course, it's not very important." Anxious things, if you and Uncle Russell have important things to talk about, I can go out first and come in later."

Hearing this, Russell and Charlie looked at each other, and then smiled at each other in a tacit understanding. Although they didn't say anything, the satisfaction in their eyes was not concealed much.

"No need, they are all my own children, so I can't hear anything."

Charlie shook his head with a smile, waved his hand, and rejected Dab's proposal.

"Besides, I'm about to become an adult and take charge of my own affairs... It's also good to hear more about what's going on in the factory."

Seeing what he said, Dabu didn't insist anymore. After nodding obediently, he took two steps back and stood quietly at the door.

"All right………"

Not bothering Dab any more, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief, changed to a more comfortable sitting position, and started his daily conversation with Russell.

"The most important thing in the factory recently is the candy vending machine."

Russell quickly entered the state, took out the notebook and held it in his hand, and reported with Charlie.

"How is it? If I remember correctly, as of today, the fifteen machines we are going to try out should have all been installed at Hogwarts, right?"

Charlie understood, and nodded while sorting out the thoughts in his mind.

"Yes, that's right!" Russell's voice was a little excited.

"Dada just sent me a message not long ago, let's make a second replenishment as soon as possible! All the candies that the factory prepared at the beginning have been sold out!
Originally we calculated that each machine would last a week's supply.As a result, within half a day at the latest, all these candies were sold out! ! "

As he said that, Russell looked down at the notebook again, took a deep breath of excitement, and his eyes were burning brightly, as if he had already seen the future of the factory 50 years from now just relying on this candy vending machine plan.

"At this rate, after all the candy vending machines are installed, within half a year, the factory's income can be doubled!!!"

Hearing Russell's words, even Dab, who was originally regarded as a little transparent in the back, couldn't help but widen his eyes, and the expression on his face was full of surprise, as if he was already imagining what kind of concept it would be to double the amount .

Although he has not directly participated in the actual operation of the factory, as the son of Chafcha, he watched his father sitting in the office every day, helping Uncle Russell to deal with the factory's capital flow.

Under the influence of ears and eyes, it is natural to understand what kind of money-absorbing monster the factory run by Mr. Black is.

Take the simplest example. .Before Charlie founded the candy factory, most of the candy production and sales in the entire British wizarding world were still self-produced and sold like family workshops, and there was never a further concept.

However, when he really succeeded in erecting the factory impressively in front of everyone, no matter how stubborn the confectionery shop is, it can only bow its head, reform the original family workshop, and become a retailer. .

After all, scattered family workshops cannot face such a behemoth as a factory.Whether it is price, taste, or even quantity, it can almost form a dimensionality reduction type of crushing.Forcing them to compromise and surrender.

Only a guy who is as skilled as Honeydukes and can indeed surpass the factory to a certain extent can barely keep his products alive in the world.

But in addition to this, there is still an extra shelf dedicated to displaying Charlie's candies.

It is such a leader that can almost unify the dessert market in the British magic world.Russell even said that its income can be doubled within half a year!From this, one can imagine how shocked Dab was.

However, facing Russell's words, Charlie shook his head noncommittally.

"It's not that simple. The hot sale of candies at the moment is just because Hogwarts is a small market that is still half-developed. In addition, the new model of candy vending machines will make people curious in a short time. sense, and promote the enthusiasm for consumption.”

Stretching out his hand, he gently stroked Vivien's head a few times, and continued
"Besides, the shelf life of those candies is not short. It will take a long time for the little wizards who bought them in large quantities to eat them all. Therefore, it won't take long for the sales volume of those fifteen candy vending machines to increase. Back to normal—that’s the one-week supply we set out to do in the first place.”

After listening to Charlie's words, Russell also regained his composure from the excitement brought about by the huge benefits in front of him.

He nodded, then picked up the pen, and began to record in his notebook "shuashuashua". However, after all the records were completed, he couldn't help but sighed faintly, whispering to himself, "white It was a joy."

"Actually, it's not in vain... There will definitely be growth, but it's not as high as you imagined. After all, the factory has already reached this point, and it's impossible to double it several times from time to time like it just started. of."

Charlie smiled and comforted Russell.Without wasting too much thought on this question, he quickly asked Russell to continue talking about the following things.

"Except for the candy vending machine..."

Russell flipped through the notebook, his eyes moved up and down, and after quickly integrating the above data in his mind, he said with some hesitation
"The other thing is that our manpower... seems to be a little insufficient."

Charlie listened, his eyes narrowed.Then he raised his eyebrows, but he didn't say anything, but waited for what Russell would say next.

"First of all, the new candy, snow lemon and violet candy will be put into production in the near future. As the main products in the new quarter, it is necessary to consume three to four more production lines than the production line of ordinary products to specifically ensure their production. Supply. Secondly, the preparations in the United States have been almost completed not long ago, and the wine-style Bingmei Sweet Candy is expected to take up a lot of manpower after it goes on sale. Plus the candy vending machine..."

Russell didn't continue, but looked at Charlie with a slight frown, the meaning of which was self-evident.

To be precise, this is actually a good thing, after all, everyone wants to sell their products better.Reaching the current situation where the supply is in short supply is also the proof of the hot sales of Charlie's candies.

Charlie still didn't speak, he seemed to be thinking about something, and his eyebrows were slightly frowned, with a little hesitation.

"Maybe we can reduce the production of some other candies first, and gather a few production lines for other products?"

Russell looked at Charlie, who had a low eyebrow and said nothing, and carefully suggested that

"...No need." Charlie shook his head, as if he had made some decision, and his slightly frowning brows relaxed again.

In fact, he had considered this issue before doing this series of actions.

The number of elves in the factory is not endless. If you want to continue to develop, the number will be stretched sooner or later.Turned out to be a fatal flaw that limited Charlie's Candy.

And Charlie's original idea was the same as Russell's, to give up a part of the market share that originally belonged to other candies, to those individual candy brands, and to iterate with new products on his own side.

Although it is a helpless move, it is actually the most feasible way to ensure quality and improve benefits so far.

However, in the short ten days in the American magic world, a new idea suddenly appeared in his mind...

"How much stock do we have in our warehouse?" Charlie asked immediately
"Eh... if all of them are released, it will be enough to meet the supply of goods before Christmas." After a pause, Russell quickly gave the answer.

"But after Christmas..."

"Enough." Charlie raised his hand, interrupting what he was going to say next.The expression on the face already brought out the unfathomable similar to what Russell saw before...

.......................................

Russell left, and after reporting what he needed to report to Charlie, he left the office with the dinner plate that Charlie had eaten, and started to deal with the afternoon's affairs.

"Okay, Dub."

And so far, Charlie has relaxed.He smiled, put his eyes on Dabu, and shouted in a warm voice.

"Russell's matter has been dealt with... It's up to you next, what do you need to find me?"

Hearing the call, Dabu, who was concentrating on studying at the door, seemed to realize the purpose of his trip, and instantly returned to his original tension and entanglement.

He took small steps forward little by little, and stopped at the position where Russell was standing just now.

"………I"

Dab raised his head, looked at Charlie in front of him, opened his mouth, but only said "I", and then he didn't continue.

Charlie was not in a hurry, just smiled and continued to wait patiently, while guessing why the kid in front of him came here.

Not long after, finally, as Dab took a deep breath, he straightened his back.

Only then did he pluck up the courage to tell Charlie the purpose of his trip.

"Mr. Black! I...I want to apply for a transfer to Hogwarts to manage the batch of candy vending machines!"

(End of this chapter)