Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 907 The Difficult Sutra

Shan Hongmei said, "What if they don't want to do it? Some trainees come from wealthy families and can support themselves."

Xiao Wei said, "We don't force this. For these trainees, we don't participate in anything like store selection. We only provide equipment and initial technical guidance. That's all. They have to choose their own store name and can't use our brand. We only supply materials later on."

Shan Hongmei said, "How can it be good? We're all students from the same group. If it works here, it won't work there. Is that okay? Actually, we don't make much money over three years."

Xiao Wei said, "Is this about money? What difference does it make to us whether they don't open any stores or everyone does? Using our brand represents our image, understand? We have to obey regulations, and the store location, decoration, equipment, and everything else have to be standardized. Very few private individuals can afford this kind of money."

Moreover, it's uncertain whether I can even recoup my costs in three years. I'm in this for the sake of making money. These three years are for getting him used to our model, whether it's service quality, hygiene, or finances. After three years, we'll still need to provide guidance and inspections, and supply him with things he can't do on his own or that are too costly to do, allowing him to benefit from our technological updates.

Shan Hongmei said, "Then we still have to collect management fees, right?"

Chen Hui said, "How much is the management fee a year? Our food and supplies don't cost anything, do they?"

Xiao Wei said to Chen Hui, "We should find a packaging company to discuss cooperation. We have more and more products, and it's not cost-effective to buy them individually like before. We need to have one or two packaging companies design a batch of our own generic packaging, and then their stores can just buy them directly. We won't worry about that."

Chen Hui said, "Can't we just deliver them together during the delivery process?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's too much trouble. Forget it, let's just designate the manufacturer and let them handle it themselves. Will you charge extra if they bring it over? How much is reasonable? Who will bear the increased costs?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Let's go to the city, or even the province, like Fengtian Xidu Ice City, and then buy from there. Adding a little extra is normal; we can't just sell at a loss, can we?"

Xiao Wei said, "You're the school principal, why don't you discuss it with Master Li? Anyway, that's roughly our idea. We'd like to have the shop opened under your school's jurisdiction, as a kind of after-sales service, okay?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Isn't this the business scope of Zhongjie? Opening a store, distributing goods, management guidance, how did it get dragged into me again? I was just helping to investigate the intentions. I'm not doing it, you're bullying a pregnant woman."

Xiao Wei scratched his head and said, "Oh dear, this is a headache. Who should manage this stall? Master Li is skilled and can teach apprentices, but management isn't his forte."

Chen Hui said, "Actually, both Li Bing and Xiao Liwen are fine. You suggested that Li Bing be put in charge of food, but you said that Xiao Liwen is too young."

Xiao Wei rubbed his chin and said, "Last time I said I'd have Li Bing take charge of this, but now, don't you have to wait until she gives birth and finishes her postpartum confinement? That'll take at least six months, right? The key question is, who's in charge now?"

Chen Hui said, "Hongmei is pregnant too, though a little early."

Xiao Wei leaned back on the sofa, looking miserable, and said, "Thank goodness Li Na and Sister Jin didn't join in the fun. Oh dear, where are the people? Where are the people? We're so short of people!"

Shan Hongmei said, "Li Bing is pregnant too? Hehehe, let Li Na make a schedule so that those of us who want children can discuss it and schedule it differently, so that all the baby's one-month celebrations don't fall on the same day."

Chen Hui said, "To be honest, I was just thinking about whether or not to do this. This is really a big deal. It seems like all the people we have are women?"

Xiao Wei said, "Forget it, I'll take care of the romance for now. As for Hongmei, well, let either Zuo Hong or An Lihua help me out."

Chen Hui said, "I think we should let Li Wen come and give it a try. You can be the manager. That girl is energetic and smart enough."

Xiao Wei said, "Would her family agree? Probably not."

Chen Hui said, "Why not give it a try? She'll have to get out eventually, right? Is her mother going to take care of her her whole life? How can she work here? Besides, Huang Laowu is coming over too, isn't he? They're neighbors, so we should feel more at ease with him around, right?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Is that the shop manager of Longcheng Cake Shop?"

Chen Hui said, "Yes, it's her. She's not young at all, she's older than Xiao Wei, hahaha."

Shan Hongmei exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Older than Xiaowei?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's a matter of personality. Her parents have always raised her like a child. She's alright in her work, quite easygoing."

Chen Hui said, "That little thing has an exceptionally strong sense of ambition and self-esteem, and she even snapped a knife. I feel that giving her this job is the right thing to do."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "To be honest, I've never really considered her an adult. It feels a little awkward to say this. Why don't you ask her? It would be best if Huang Laowu could talk to her mother. If it works out, that would be great. I think she's quite capable."

Shan Hongmei asked, "What about Zuo Hong and the other two? Will they stay at the school from now on?"

Xiao Wei said, "You all need to work hard, and you'll all find suitable places in the future. I'm not comfortable letting Zuo Hong have this piece of cake now."

Chen Hui said, "We have a lot going on here right now, and we're constantly short-staffed, especially capable people. But you have to be trustworthy, right? You have to recognize their abilities, right? Like Yu Qiu, I thought he was capable, but this guy didn't come back, and he left you here with your big belly. That's not fair."

Xiao Wei said, "Hongmei, you need to start thinking about taking over the business now. You'll be due to give birth in a few months. Also, could your parents come and help you?"

Shan Hongmei said, "I didn't think about it that much before, but with Yu Qiu around, I really don't know what to do now."

Chen Hui said, "Have your parents come over. If they can't stay, arrange a class for them. Is your sister going to school or working?"

Shan Hongmei said, "I dragged my feet and finished high school, then stayed at home. I didn't want to work in society and wanted to get a government job, but government jobs aren't that easy to get into. My dad used up all his connections, and I'm still just a student who was sent to work in the countryside."

Chen Hui asked, "Your dad works at the Longcheng Labor Bureau?"

Shan Hongmei shook her head and said, "My dad is a driver. He used to work in the city's car fleet, but now he basically stays at home. Anyway, he gets a monthly salary, so he won't starve even if he doesn't make a fortune. My mom doesn't work."

Chen Hui glanced at Xiao Wei and said to Shan Hongmei, "Why don't you move your family here? Your dad can continue driving, and if your mom can't stay idle, she can help out at the factory canteen. As for your sister, we don't have the final say on whether she gets a job at the company. Can you really agree to that?"

Xiao Wei didn't say anything. Shan Hongmei said, "Let me discuss it with my mom. I don't dare to agree just like that. I'm also worried about my younger sister. Maybe she's too young. Let's see how it goes in a few years."

Chen Hui sighed, "Every family has its own problems."

(End of this chapter)