Chapter 2114: Visit from Fellow Villagers....
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Since Li Gui already had a plan, Qiao Mei started working on it immediately. An opportunity to earn money did not come by often. If they did not grab it, they would miss the boat. Once other people discovered this business opportunity, they would end up earning less money. Qiao Mei did not want to run into such a situation.
She bought a shop near the school where Zhang Chao and Zhang Qin were studying. The shop space was considered medium-sized and could accommodate around 80 people at the same time. There should be no issue catering to the diners during the peak timings of the students’ lunchtime at noon and also the hours after school. They also specially built a few private rooms on the second floor. Given that there were many residential neighborhoods nearby, there would be many customers during the winter and summer holidays.
Qiao Mei also specially created a staff lounge on the second floor with four bunk beds inside, so that the chef and the waitstaff could take a rest there. The shop would not be very busy when classes were in session and the staff could take a short nap in the lounge during that time.
Li Gui went around to look at the interior design and was very satisfied. She was already looking forward to seeing what it would be like when the restaurant opened in a week’s time. Qiao Mei had asked Zhang Chao and Zhang Qin to inform the other students and also to give the students some discount coupons to use during the opening period.
The shop was bought in Qiao Mei’s name as Li Gui did not have a household register in the capital. Although it was not an issue for her to buy a house, she was unable to do business in the capital or buy a shop or land here. Qiao Mei’s household register had been transferred to the capital when she married Xia Zhe, so it was more convenient for the business to be registered in her name.
Li Gui insisted on paying rent to Qiao Mei but Qiao Mei did not know what an appropriate amount should be. She had no experience with such small businesses and did not know the market rent in the vicinity. In the end, the two of them agreed that Li Gui would give Qiao Mei 5% of the profits every month as rent. Qiao Mei was more than happy to accept this proposal.
A few years ago, Li Gui had taken Qiao Mei’s advice and bought a few houses in many good neighborhoods in the capital. Those houses were all rented out after some simple renovations. She could make more than 5,000 dollars a year just from the rent!
They had already posted notices outside the shop to recruit chefs and waitstaff. There were many people coming for interviews one after another. Qiao Mei did not get involved with these things. Other than helping Li Gui with the real estate matter and the renovations, she left everything else to Li Gui. This could also be considered her way to train Li Gui’s ability to read people.
Qiao Mei could not shelter Li Gui forever. Otherwise, Li Gui would never be able to achieve anything. Li Gui needed to amass more experience.
“Mei Mei, why don’t you have lunch here? I’ve asked the new chef to make a table full of dishes. Let’s taste his cooking,” Li Gui said.
“Alright, let’s go to the private room upstairs then. The lower floor is still under renovation and there’s a lot of dust.” After saying that, Qiao Mei brought Li Gui to the largest private room on the second floor.
The chef made a total of 16 dishes and all in small portions. The two of them could comfortably finish all the food. Qiao Mei tasted each dish carefully. It did not taste as good as Li Gui’s cooking, but it was considered not too bad. As long as Li Gui gave the chef some pointers in the future, he would definitely improve. She felt that they could keep this chef.
“Sister Li, there’s a group of people looking for you downstairs. They say that they’re your relatives and fellow villagers and they’re clamoring to see you,” a waitstaff came upstairs and told them.
“Fellow villagers? What fellow villagers?” Li Gui said in puzzlement.
“Since they’re villagers from your hometown, then let them come up,” Qiao Mei said.
Li Gui did not know anyone in the capital. She only knew the Xia family members and her neighbors. In the beginning, she had felt very lonely in the capital and looked forward to meeting people from her hometown. However, these people in front of her were not the ones she looked forward to seeing.
Zhang Qian and Zhang Cong had brought Old Madam Li and the other brothers of the Li family to the capital. This was the first time these people had left home on a long trip. They had actually gone to the house where Li Gui and Qiao Mei were staying in at first. They had never seen such a beautiful courtyard house. In the past, only the nouveau riche could afford such a grand house.
After getting directions from the neighbors in the alley, Zhang Qian and the others found their way here. Zhang Qian walked up to Li Gui excitedly and said, “Is this your shop?”
Li Gui immediately thought of those tough days she had gone through in the past. She looked at Zhang Qian and said with a smile, “It’s my shop and it’s still under renovation. Doesn’t it look nice?”
“Yes! It looks really nice! I have already gone to your house. It’s so much more grand than this place!” Zhang Qian said excitedly.