Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Boss Jiang, Could You Use a Server?
"You’re a cheapskate. But having you is enough for me."
He sent two messages.
Jiang Liu glanced at the time: 11:41 AM.
The buns were all wrapped, and the steamer was currently steaming five hundred of them.
Then, he went out again in his car to pick up some cups and disposable takeout containers.
He also bought sixty deep, white porcelain plates while he was out.
When he got back to the shop, the customers once again enthusiastically helped him.
A single stack of plates looked like it needed ten people to carry it.
Jiang Liu could only give a helpless smile.
He went into the kitchen, put all the plates into the sink, and soaked them to sterilize them.
He then put them in the sterilizer cabinet.
Jiang Liu frowned as he looked at the rust-spotted sterilizer.
’This sterilizer is a bit old. Since I’ve bought the shop, I’ll have to replace it with a high-end one soon.’
He scanned the tables and utensils in the room, feeling more and more dissatisfied the longer he looked.
’I need to put a computer out front... Hmm, if I can buy the shop next door, I could pay a premium for some better-quality wooden tables...’
At noon, Jun Xinghe and his driver, along with Guo Dapao, were about thirtieth in line.
The driver stood under the sun, looking like the world’s biggest sucker.
Originally, Jun Xinghe had planned to wait until the official opening time before getting out of his air-conditioned car.
But he saw the old-timers setting up chessboards, while others brought tables and stools to play cards, crack melon seeds, and shoot the breeze.
The two of them yearned for that kind of atmosphere, so they came early to line up in person.
Enduring the stuffy breeze and the scorching sun felt surprisingly pleasant.
「Kitchen.」
Jiang Liu was getting a little hungry, so he popped a few shrimp buns into his mouth.
With every bite, the tender, crisp shrimp burst with savory, shrimpy juices.
He took out his phone and glanced at it.
12:20.
’Time to get ready to open!’
’Wait a little longer. I said thirty, so it has to be thirty...’
Jiang Liu opened WeChat.
He refreshed the app and saw that Jun Qingmeng had replied.
Jun Qingmeng: "I am not a cheapskate!"
"I just had lunch with our daughter. Tongtong was very obedient and well-behaved, but we’re both still craving your beef!"
"(Kiss kiss)"
"(Pinch your cheek)"
"(Image)"
Jiang Liu smiled and tapped on the image.
It was a selfie of Jun Qingmeng pouting and Tongtong making a heart shape with her hands for him.
They both looked beautiful, with fair skin and clear, large eyes—very photogenic.
Jiang Liu replied: "If you want to eat, let’s have it together tonight. I’ll be waiting for you on Yangzhai Street."
Suddenly, a text from an unknown number popped up.
"Jiang Liu, busy? I guess we’re in the same business now. My shop just opened, and sales were great this morning. I sold over five thousand yuan worth. I’m confident that with my management, it’s going to be a huge hit."
’Shouldn’t have opened this...’ Jiang Liu felt a little sick to his stomach.
Genuinely sick.
Judging by the tone, which barely concealed its boastfulness behind a veneer of modesty, he could have guessed it was that Yang woman even with his eyes closed.
Jiang Liu proceeded to block the number.
He had already blocked several. Was this ever going to end?
’If this keeps up, I’ll just have to change my number. Out of sight, out of mind!’
At that moment, the customers outside were getting anxious.
It was almost twelve-thirty, so why wasn’t Boss Jiang open yet?
They were starving!
If he waited any longer, they were really going to get cranky.
「Meanwhile.」
Yang Yixue refreshed her messages a few times. She knew Jiang Liu wouldn’t reply.
She was just holding on to an unrealistic fantasy.
Putting down her phone, Yang Yixue listened to the chime of the cash register in her shop.
A huge smile bloomed on her face, her lips curling upward.
Her shop now offered not only buns but also a large variety of self-serve side dishes, all-you-can-eat for just ten yuan.
The buns were also sold at a high price, making them very profitable.
In just one morning, she had made several thousand in profit. At this rate, she’d make at least ten thousand a day!
Once the drinks arrived, she would definitely earn even more!
’Isn’t this so much better than the beauty industry?’
She had been in the beauty industry for so long, and even with so many salons, she was only making just over a million a month. Business had been slow lately, and her total daily revenue had even dropped below twenty thousand.
The more Yang Yixue thought about it, the more excited she became. She felt a flush of heat, the veins on her hands bulged, and her heart felt like it was stuffed with cash, so heavy she could barely breathe.
「Additionally.」
She planned to use her entire fortune to open branch stores. She would also mortgage everything she could from her beauty business and invest it all in the restaurant industry. When the time came, she would absolutely crush Jiang Liu in one fell swoop!
Of course, Yang Yixue had her reasons for doing this. She had not only consulted industry experts but also meticulously calculated everything.
If one shop could bring in twenty thousand a day, then ten shops would bring in two hundred thousand a day!!
And with her beauty business on top of that, making several million a month would be a breeze!...
In the back kitchen, Old Xiang was busy and irritable, but today’s exorbitant profits had filled him with confidence.
’If my side dishes weren’t so delicious, the buns definitely wouldn’t be selling this well!’
Old Xiang had also heard from Yang Yixue that she was planning to open ten branch stores!
As the head chef in charge, wouldn’t that mean he was about to strike it rich?!
It was too exciting!!!
As Old Xiang fantasized about his bright future, he couldn’t be bothered to supervise anymore. He handed all his work over to his apprentice, sat down in the kitchen, and played games on his phone with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Master, we’re almost out of eggs and chives. And Master, the beef for the beef buns is almost gone too."
The apprentice approached respectfully and also lit a cigarette.
The beef bun was Old Xiang’s own invention. It tasted decent enough, but sales were just average.
Old Xiang exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "I know. I’ll go buy more in a bit. We’ll buy a three-day supply."
"A three-day supply? Master, won’t the flavor be off if it sits for that long?"
"Huh?!" Old Xiang’s eyes widened. "Are you the boss, or am I the boss? Get back to work!"
Watching his apprentice leave, trembling, Old Xiang snorted with satisfaction.
Procuring ingredients was a cushy gig. Yang Yixue’s budget was very generous, and he planned to skim some kickbacks for himself. Average-quality ingredients would be just fine; why buy the good stuff? A little extra MSG was more effective than anything, he figured.
...
「12:30 PM.」
Jiang Liu announced the official opening.
"Finally, we can eat!"
"Hurry up, hurry up! Fuck! Don’t push me!"
"You stepped on my toes!!"
A swarm of customers rushed into the shop as if they hadn’t eaten in a hundred years.
This scene stunned the clueless passersby.
"Brother Jiang, hurry, hurry! I’m dying over here! Please give me one plate of beef, five buns, and a bottle of juice, to go!"
"Fifteen buns, one bottle of juice, and one order of tuna!"
"Fuck, don’t fucking pull me! Let me order first!"
"I came in first! I’m Table Three! What right do you, from Table Five, have to be in front of me?"
A fight nearly broke out among those handwriting their orders at the counter.
Jiang Liu had to step in to calm things down.
His words were very effective; the customers were willing to listen to him.
He started packing orders.
Jiang Liu was completely swamped.
"Hey, Uncle Li, your buns... what, lamb? I don’t have lamb here, I have beef."
Uncle Li waved his hand. "I don’t care what meat it is! Just pack it up for me. We trust anything you make."
"Ma’am, don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon. Let me just finish serving the dine-in orders, it’ll be two minutes!"
An idea flashed in the aunty’s mind. "I’m telling you, Boss Jiang, you should hire someone! Aren’t you tired working all by yourself? What about me? I’m nimble and can carry five plates at once. How about it?"
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I don’t have any plans for that at the moment."
Jiang Liu refused.
