Chapter 1520: Hot Pot Partners
Bennett huddled in a corner of the prison cell on the icy-cold floor. He was covered in wounds, so he had no idea which parts of him were in pain and which parts were intact.
However, he was already numb to this pain. His heart was as cold as his body. That fear of losing everything even covered the pain from his body.
He’d never thought he would end up in this pathetic state. He only wanted to get a hot pot recipe from a small restaurant’s employee.
But he had lost his gambling dens and brothels because of that, and even got himself imprisoned.
The Gray Temple knew everything—those fellows who were buried in the backyard and the forbidden magical drugs that were sold in the past years. All the previous deeds were dug up, and the testimonies were all written down in black and white, which he had to confess to.
Those subordinates who always acted loyal and trustworthy all loosened their lips at the hands of the Gray Temple.
He most likely was never going to get out of here. His reputation was already tarnished, and that big brother of his had to be deliberating how to strike off his name from the Marquis Family’s genealogical record.
Bennett was a little dazed, and he couldn’t help thinking about Mag.
All these things were obviously caused by him. His employees and his connection with the Gray Temple all gave him a shock.
He was even a little regretful. If only he hadn’t been so greedy to have designs on Mamy Restaurant and its prosperous hot pot business, or had stopped his actions when Mag came to look for him that day, all these wouldn’t have happened.
“Bastard…”
Bennett’s hoarse roar reverberated in the cell, and all it got was a stern warning.
***
Mag had a good sleep. He turned off the alarm clock, and went downstairs to make breakfast.
There was a knock on the door soon. Mag opened the door, and besides Firis and Camilla who came to prepare the ingredients early, Rena was also standing at the door.
Mag stepped aside to let them in. After greeting Firis and Camilla, feeling rather surprised, he asked Rena, “Rena, why are you here so early too?”
“I have something to discuss with you, so I come early,” Rena smilingly said. She looked rather good.
“Sure, take a seat over there first,” Mag said.
“Alright.” Rena nodded, and went to sit down near the door.
Mag went into the kitchen to get a glass of warm water. He placed it in front of Rena and smiled. “Did you sleep well last night?”
“Mm-hmm. I slept with my mother, and I slept very well.” Rena nodded. The baddies were all arrested, and she did indeed have a good sleep in her mother’s arms.
“What do you have to tell me early in the morning?” Mag asked.
“Hmm, I have an immature idea…” Rena looked at Mag with hesitation.
Mag encouraged, “Just tell me whatever idea you have. I’m willing to listen.”
Rena looked at Mag’s warm smile, and gathered up her courage. “I am thinking… maybe we could set up a new hot pot restaurant away from Mamy Restaurant?”
“Set up a new hot pot restaurant?” Mag was staring at Rena, feeling a little shocked. After pondering, he said, “Judging from the restaurant’s current situation, I’m afraid it can’t be done easily. Why do you want to open another hot pot restaurant?”
“I think that hot pot is a very great invention. It has a special cooking and eating method and a unique ambience. At the same time, it’s very delicious. However, it is a little expensive for normal people to come to our restaurant to eat hot pot now. The per capita consumption is over 1,000, which is unaffordable for most people. I know you always use the best spices and ingredients to create extreme scrumptiousness. I hope to open an affordable hot pot restaurant by lowering the ingredients’ standard so more ordinary people can taste the authentic hot pot,” Rena asked Mag with a sincere expression.
Mag pondered briefly before nodding at Rena, who looked nervous and expectant. “This is quite a good idea. Do you have a concrete plan?”
“Did you agree?” Rena was obviously taken aback.
“I agree with your idea, but I still need to listen to your plan on how to implement it.” Mag wasn’t in a hurry to agree.
“I am very familiar with the market in the north of the city. Every morning at 3 am, we can get very good and fresh pork bones from the vendor at a very cheap price to make the bone broth. We can also get fresh tripes and other ingredients at the market too. Through selecting the suppliers, we could obtain good quality ingredients that are fairly priced.
“As for the spices, I can find replacements for the majority of them. There may be a slight difference in the taste and texture, but the taste will still be above the passing grade. Just that I will have to get a few of the spices from you.
“Spending about 100 copper coins per person will be enough for the normal customers to fill their stomachs. After my calculations, after deducting the cost of the ingredients and manpower, we still have more than half of the profit margin. If we have a high volume of customers every day, we should be able to obtain a very good profit,” Rena explained clearly.
“This is indeed a very good idea and is very operable.” Mag looked at Rena, impressed. He’d indeed made the right choice then. If Bennett had managed to poach her, she would have definitely been an excellent manager and partner.
The hot pot was the general population’s favorite. Mag had never intended to price it out of reach. Expensive-and-out-of-reach wasn’t compatible with the hot pot at all.
However, Mamy Restaurant was already busy enough, and there was plenty of other stuff. He simply didn’t have the luxury of time to consider the normal people’s feelings.
Just as Rena said, the ingredients that he bought from the system were naturally expensive because they were of excellent quality.
Doing as Rena suggested, they could find local suppliers, and then use normal ingredients for the hot pot to greatly lower the cost, making it affordable for the common people.
“This is just a bit of my immature thinking.” Rena blushed. She thought her suggestion would be seriously rejected by Mag. She didn’t expect to get his approval.
Mag smiled at Rena. “This idea is quite good. The idea of opening a hot pot restaurant and taking the middle-to-lower-end market is also very commercialized. Furthermore, that market is big enough. However, I don’t have the time to manage that currently, and you are already in charge of the designated hot pot area now, so do you still have the energy to open another new hot pot restaurant?”
“Our restaurant only supplies the hot pot in the evening, so I’m quite free in the morning. But…” Rena looked at Mag as she hemmed and hawed.
“For the new hot pot restaurant, I will give you 2,000,000 copper coins as the start-up fund. You will be the manager, and will be responsible for every aspect of this restaurant from the ground up. We will no longer be superior and subordinate, but partners. I will not get involved in any matters or decisions of this hot pot restaurant. You will have half of the equity of this hot pot restaurant, and I will only be in charge of supplying you with the funds and receiving the dividends in the future.” Mag smiled at Rena. “Are you confident enough to do it?”