1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 293: Price is Right, Everything is Negotiable! (Bonus Chapter 1085 for Monthly Tickets)

Xia Yao didn't need to be involved in the signing process, so she came to the door for some fresh air, planning to sneak back to the office to relax for a while, and then go to Zhou Yan's shop for dinner after work to share this happy news with him.

Unexpectedly, Yao Licheng also came out and bluntly proposed to recruit her.

Xia Yao was a little confused, but her mind worked quickly.

Licheng Group is a well-known and leading company in the apparel industry. Its brands are very successful, with exclusive stores in major shopping malls in Hong Kong.

Their teacher even used it as a case study in class to analyze its brand building process and its trend of expanding into the mainland.

Her ability to handle Yao Licheng so well today is partly due to her attentive listening in class.

The ability to grasp the other party's psychology is quite accurate.

Yao Licheng offered very favorable terms: a monthly salary of 10,000 yuan, even if it was in Hong Kong dollars, was something that mainland workers could not imagine.

His father is the manager of a bank in Hangzhou, and his monthly salary is only 350 yuan.

Her mother's paintings have seen a surge in price in recent years, becoming the family's main source of income.

Meanwhile, their seniors who graduated from the same major a year ago are currently working in design institutes or companies, with salaries generally around sixty.

Ten thousand yuan, that's an astronomical price.

No matter how high the salary is in a foreign company, it shouldn't be paying such a high salary to a fresh graduate next year.

The ten thousand yuan salary did not make her ecstatic, but rather made her somewhat suspicious and more wary.

Xia Yao looked at Yao Licheng and asked in a humble yet assertive manner, "Mr. Yao, I am just a college student who has not yet graduated. Why would you offer me a high salary of 10,000 yuan a month?"

Yao Licheng smiled and said, "This is the salary for your work. Although you haven't graduated yet, your work is already at a high level. I think your work matches the style of our group's brands, which is commendable."

You don't need to worry that I have ulterior motives. I rarely participate in the company's day-to-day operations now. Our Licheng Group is a very legitimate company. Our Yangcheng factory has been established for four years and is now a major taxpayer and a star enterprise in the local area.

Is 10,000 yuan a month a lot?
High indeed.

The highest monthly salary for a senior executive at the Licheng Group's Guangzhou factory is only one thousand yuan.

However, senior designers dispatched from Hong Kong to the Guangzhou factory earn more than 10,000 yuan a month, and the design director's salary exceeds 30,000 yuan.

The brands produced by their Licheng Group are mostly high-end, mainly sold to Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea, especially the silk series, with prices ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan.

In Xia Yao's works, Yao Licheng saw inspiration and even more possibilities.

She may not be mature enough yet, but her potential is very high.

An intern who has only been working for a little over two weeks has already mastered the basic skills of ready-to-wear design through self-study. During this time, she has also compiled the historical background of Jiading silk, prepared a brand design plan, and drawn design sketches for the Jiading silk series.

She clearly has the talent to be an artist.

To be honest, he hadn't seen such a talented young person in many years.

Twenty-six years ago, he met someone who helped him build half of the Licheng Group, and now that person is the company's vice president.

Is a salary of 10,000 yuan too high for her?

Yao Licheng felt it wasn't high.

Given Xia Yao's abilities and way of handling things, if she were to enter the system, she would inevitably rise through the ranks.

If she gets a job at the company, as long as the company isn't stupid, she'll definitely be treated like a treasure.

If he misses this opportunity today, he'll have a very hard time finding another job after she enters the job market.

In fact, once this deal is signed, Jiaozhou Textile Factory will probably do everything they can to get Xia Yao to work there after graduation.

Of course, he also had to consider the relationship between Xia Yao and Zhou Yan, the young couple.

If Xia Yao were to work in Guangzhou or Hong Kong, they would have to start a long-distance relationship, which would probably not be an easy thing for young people of their age.

If Zhou Yan were a poor young man, he probably would have gone to Guangzhou with him.

But Zhou Yan is a successful restaurant owner; he earns 10,000 yuan a month in Suji through his own abilities.

He had talked to Lao Zhuang and found that Zhou Yan's eloquence, execution ability, and willpower were all top-notch. He was an outstanding chef and also a very capable restaurant owner.

His food preparation efficiency was incredibly high. He was the only chef in the kitchen, but he served food so quickly that it seemed like there were two other chefs hiding there. He had seen many people like him, and they had all become leaders in their respective fields.

Therefore, this 10,000 yuan was Yao Licheng's way of increasing their emotional bond.

Otherwise, Xia Yao might actually have come to work at Jiaozhou Textile Factory after graduation because of Zhou Yan.

Xia Yao understood a little after listening. The other party valued not only her current abilities, but also her potential talent in the future.

For her, this was indeed a very valuable opportunity.

If she submits her resume herself, even if she gets a job at Licheng Group's Yangcheng factory, her salary will be based on that of a local designer, and it probably won't exceed 1,000 yuan.

“Mr. Yao, thank you for your recognition. Licheng Group is indeed a leader in the industry, and it is an honor to join Licheng Group.” Xia Yao smiled at Yao Licheng. “However, my first job is very important to me, and I need some time to think it over carefully. I have your business card. Can I call you again after I have thought it through?”

“No problem, this is indeed something that needs to be seriously considered. You should go back and discuss it with Boss Zhou. Don’t let me affect your relationship, or I’ll become the sinner.” Yao Licheng laughed heartily. “He even treated me to the big fish that Momo caught for lunch today. Actually, with his cooking skills and abilities, if he went to Hong Kong, he should be able to establish himself in the Hong Kong catering industry very quickly. You can ask him to consider it as well.”

"Hmm?" Xia Yao was slightly taken aback, a blush rose on her face, and she nodded in response.

"Mr. Yao, we need your signature here." Lin Qing's voice rang out from the office.

"Okay," Yao Licheng replied, turning and entering his office.

Xia Yao's mind went blank, and her face flushed. Did Yao Licheng think she and Zhou Yan were a couple?

So, he deserves some credit for that 10,000 yuan salary.

Xia Yao's lips curled up slightly, but the thought of going to Guangzhou, which was over a thousand kilometers away from Jiaozhou, made her a little hesitant.

What about Hong Kong?
Will Zhou Yan go?
Not long after the restaurant was on track, at the peak of its reputation and popularity, he had just bought a house in Jiaozhou. Last week, they even went to Jiaozhou together to imagine what the courtyard and the new restaurant would look like after they were completed.

Back then, when I looked at him, he had a smile on his face and his eyes were shining with anticipation for the future.

Aunt Zhao, Uncle Zhou, Momo, and Grandma—he must find it hard to part with them, right?

Distance is such a troublesome thing.

Shaking her head, Xia Yao took the sketchbook back to her office, intending to draw some more.

The contract was signed smoothly, and Yao Licheng also became interested in the textile factory's other products. Lin Zhiqiang then personally took him to the workshop to visit the production line.

Zhuang Huayu wasn't interested in this. After watching them sign the contract, he strolled out of the textile factory and headed straight for Zhou Erwa's restaurant. He saw Zhou Yanzheng, the old lady, and Zhou Momo warming themselves by the fire at the entrance and went up to them with a smile: "Warming yourself by the fire?"

“Mr. Zhuang.” Zhou Yan stood up, handed Zhuang Huayu a stool, and said with a smile, “This is how we keep warm in the countryside. There are sweet potatoes roasting in the brazier. You can try one later.”

"I've managed to catch this opportunity." Zhuang Huayu sat down, close to the brazier, and his legs quickly warmed up. He looked at Zhou Yan and said, "Boss Zhou, how about you seriously reconsider going to Hong Kong? I can offer you the head chef position at one of my restaurants, with a monthly salary of 10,000 yuan plus commission. Or we can open a Sichuan restaurant together, with you as the head chef. In addition to the 10,000 yuan salary, you'll also receive a year-end bonus."

"Mr. Zhuang gave me another raise." Zhou Yan smiled. The conditions Zhuang Huayu offered today were even more favorable than yesterday, and he even gave the option of opening a Sichuan restaurant together.

It seems that today's meal has brought out his value in the united front.

A monthly salary of over ten thousand is considered high in Hong Kong today, and with commissions included, it's in line with the salary level of a head chef in a high-end restaurant in Hong Kong.

But it still doesn't hold much appeal for him. Although life is tough now, it's full of hope.

"I was presumptuous yesterday. Given Mr. Zhou's abilities and income, it's normal that he wouldn't be interested," Zhuang Huayu said with a smile.

Zhou Yan smiled and shook his head: "It's not that I look down on it, I appreciate Mr. Zhuang's kindness, but I prefer to stay in Jiaozhou and continue to learn and accumulate knowledge with my seniors. It's not too late to consider going to an international metropolis like Hong Kong after my skills have improved further, so as not to lose face for the Confucian school."

"Boss Zhou, you're setting your standards too high. Any one of these dishes could be a signature dish at another restaurant." Zhuang Huayu sighed. He was rejected for the second time, and although he had expected it, he was still a little disappointed.

What a talented person! He's even already figured out how to promote his new restaurant in the newspapers.

Invite a few more well-known gourmets to dine at the restaurant, promote it on TV, retain customers with the taste, and build a good reputation. That's how you open your seventh restaurant.

Everyone has their own aspirations, and you can't force them to.

Zhuang Huayu looked at Zhou Yan and pondered, "Mr. Zhou, since you don't want to go to Hong Kong, would you be willing to sell your braised food recipe? I am very interested in your braised food recipe."

"A recipe for braised food?" Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised and subconsciously looked at the old lady sitting next to him.

Zhuang Huayu followed his gaze to the old lady and said with a smile, "Grandma, it seems that this matter still needs your approval. I wonder what your thoughts are?"

The old lady leaned back in her recliner, looked at Zhuang Huayu and smiled, saying, "Selling braised food is to make money, and selling recipes can also make money. Whether I sell or not depends on what price you offer. If the price is right, everything is negotiable."

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(End of this chapter)