Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 159 The Order Arrives (It's so annoying for a bored person to look for a book to read +7)

Seeing Xiaowei and Xia Maosheng through the window, Sister Zhang waved for them to come over. As they walked to the kitchen door, Sister Zhang said, "We've already booked three tables for lunch: one from the Labor Bureau, one from the Police Station, and one from the Propaganda Department. They asked us to prepare the dishes, so we gave them a standard amount. We called them all."

Xiao Wei asked, "You haven't ordered any food?"

Sister Zhang said, "We haven't ordered anything yet. The Labor Bureau says 500, the Police Station says 300, and the Propaganda Department said to prepare 300 first, and adjust the amount when they arrive. The drinks are extra." Sister Zhang smiled as she explained the situation to Xiao Wei. The restaurant had already received reservations on its second day of operation. The happiest people were the people working there. Good business made their jobs more stable, and nobody wanted to stay at home earning half a salary. Besides, there were bonuses too.

Xiao Wei said to Chef Zhai, "Brother Zhai, how about we prepare a few set menus? We can order some dishes and specify the price per table, then they can just quote the standard price, and everyone will know what to expect. We usually book by phone, and you can't order over the phone."

Master Zhai nodded and said, "I was just talking to Da Zhang about this. When we're free this afternoon, let's write a few examples and decide on the standards."

Xiao Wei said, "How about 150 to 800? That doesn't include drinks."

Master Zhai thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I'll try to write it this afternoon, but I don't know if I can find all the materials in the market. Expensive things are hard to buy."

Xia Maosheng said, "Just order from them. Anyway, we don't need to freeze it first, and we're not afraid it will spoil."

Chen Hui said from the side, "This is a trick I taught you. Can you not say it in front of me?" The group laughed.

Xiao Wei turned his head and said, "Oh right, Sister Zhang and Brother Zhai, this is my dad, this is my girlfriend Wang Xiaohong, and these are her parents. They came from Fengtian yesterday and came to visit today."

Sister Shang, with her long ears, ran out of the noodle-making room, a handful of noodles in her hand, shouting, "Boss, your girlfriend's here? Let me see, where is she?"

Xiao Hong was a little embarrassed, and nodded, saying, "Hello, my name is Wang Xiao Hong, you can just call me Xiao Hong."

Suddenly, Zhang's father asked from the side, "They've already sold for 1,100 yuan! How much profit can they make?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's only just opened, so we don't know yet. We'll have to settle the accounts tonight to find out. But it'll be fine later; everything will be about the same."

Liu Hongliang chimed in from the side, "Five hundred, I've calculated it. At least five hundred."

Xiao Wei asked, "How did you calculate that?"

Liu Hongliang lay on the table and grumbled, "You think you're so great? I graduated from high school, and I'm really good at math. I'll calculate the coal cost again tonight and give you a precise figure. Without adding alcohol, I estimated it based on the recipe, and the gross profit should be around 45. Brother Zhai's calculations are pretty accurate. Right now, there's no precise measurement for electricity and stuff, so it's hard to add anything. If you want accurate data, it'll take a week."

Xiao Wei looked at Liu Hongliang in surprise and said, "Wow, that's impressive! You even have this trick up your sleeve. Okay, get a number out in a week. If it's accurate, there'll be good news."

Liu Hongliang asked, "What good news?"

Xiao Wei said, "You'll find out then."

Liu Hongliang sat up, staring at Xiaowei with his bright, piercing eyes, and said, "Then how about I manage the finances? Find someone else for the odd jobs, I'll help you find one, two hundred yuan a month will definitely do." In the 90s, Hong Kong and Taiwan movies and TV dramas were all the rage in China. With pirated videotapes, Stephen Chow, Mark Gor, Andy Lau, and Leslie Cheung became idols for young people in China. Everyday vocabulary was filled with many trendy words, and "getting it done" was one of the earliest popularized Hong Kong-style Mandarin.

The most handsome is Chow Yun-fat, the most beautiful is Xia Jie, the most dashing is Xing Xing, the most sexy is Ti Jie, the most alluring is Min Min, the most innocent is Hui Min... there are too many to list.

Around the same time, another popular line was: "You're cold-hearted, ruthless, and unreasonable. Who are you calling cold-hearted, ruthless, and unreasonable?"

Xiao Wei carefully examined Liu Hongliang, then turned to Sister Zhang and asked, "Sister Zhang, who's this guy sitting outside? Do you know him?"

Sister Zhang chuckled, glanced at Li Bing, and said, "Not familiar with her? Ask Bingbing, she's from Bingbing's family."

Xiao Wei said, "Oh. Li Bing, please be careful next time. Don't let it happen again. You can't bring pets to work. Keep an eye on him."

Li Bing's face turned bright red, and she gritted her teeth as she shouted, "Liu Hongliang, what are you showing off for now? Go smash some coal in the back."

Liu Hongliang: "..."

Li Gengsheng came downstairs and stood on the second-floor landing, saying, "Boss, I'm out of money. I'll cover 260 today."

Xiao Wei asked, "Do you have any money left?"

Li Gengsheng thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "There's still a little."

Xiao Wei said, "Then pay for it first. When you get paid for the meal, just take it back and write the bill clearly."

Li Gengsheng thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay. I'm going to the market then." He started walking downstairs. Xiao Wei asked, "Aren't you done buying the groceries? What are you going to do next?"

Li Gengsheng said, "There's some money that hasn't been paid yet. I know someone who owes it on credit. You asked me to cover it, and I'll go pay it."

Xiao Wei said, "Can you pay for it all at once when you buy groceries tomorrow? Did you really make a special trip?"

Li Gengsheng stopped, looked at Xiao Wei and said, "I told someone I would deliver it today."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, you have to keep your word. Go ahead. By the way, for those companies you can work with long-term, talk to them about monthly payments. They can settle the payment once a month. Bring a booklet and have them sign it every day."

Li Gengsheng thought for a moment and said, "No."

Xiao Wei was taken aback, and everyone else was also stunned. They all stared at Li Gengsheng. Li Gengsheng scratched his head, thought for a few seconds, and said, "Then we'll be at a disadvantage. If we buy from one place a day, we can buy from whoever is more popular and negotiate the price. If we order from one place and they delay payment, it's not good to buy from others, and we'll have to listen to their prices."

Xiao Wei thought about it and realized it was true. Although it seemed convenient on the surface, it was indeed as Li Gengsheng said, and he would definitely suffer some losses. He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. You handle this."

Li Gengsheng nodded and smiled happily. Liu Hongliang rolled his eyes at Li Gengsheng and whispered, "Silly guy."

Li Gengsheng had sharp ears and heard it. He turned around and looked at Liu Hongliang, saying, "Even if I'm stupid, I'm better than you. I don't need to break coal or clean sewers." Everyone laughed. Li Gengsheng was a bit slow, but not stupid. He was just easily nervous. He was a little slow to react when talking to Xiaowei because he needed to organize his thoughts. But when he was arguing with Liu Hongliang, he was always quick and to the point.

Master Zhai smiled and said, "Hey, Gengsheng, you can go and ask if they have these items. If not, order them and tell them to hurry." He handed a list he had just written to Li Gengsheng. Xiao Wei was worried that just talking would make people disobedient in the long run, so he asked everyone to write down these things, not only to avoid mistakes but also to keep evidence.

Li Gengsheng glanced at the list and said, "They're all here. I saw these this morning, except for these two. Boss, can Liu Hongliang come with me? I can't carry them all by myself." Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Okay, you two go ahead." Li Gengsheng waved to Liu Hongliang and raised an eyebrow.

Liu Hongliang reluctantly stood up and followed Li Gengsheng out the door. As soon as they were outside the back door, everyone heard Li Gengsheng say, "You always call me stupid. From now on, whenever we buy something dirty, I'll ask you to fetch it. Let's see if the boss listens to me or you." Then the two of them ran off into the distance.

(End of this chapter)