Chapter 185: Business is Booming
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“You’ll know when you come for lunch.”
Even after all this business in the morning, there were still people coming to buy food at noon.
After all, steamed buns could be eaten anytime.
The kitchen was already preparing lunch.
Braised tofu, braised pig’s blood, braised radish, braised pork, braised pork ribs, braised pork ribs with radish, braised pork trotters with soybeans, stir-fried vegetables, braised pork liver, braised chicken, braised duck, braised large intestine, braised pork head.
Braised bamboo shoots, pork braised bamboo shoots, and stir-fried bamboo shoots with bacon.
Cold salad, broken ears, stewed eggs.
These were the main dishes.
The soaked radishes and pickled vegetables were side dishes, and they could be served on a small plate for free.
The fragrance wafted out of the restaurant, making the passersby drool.
Lunch was not just rice, but also steamed buns, mantou, and noodles.
Steak noodles, pork trotter noodles, braised pork noodles.
Business was even better during lunch.
Smelling the fragrance, people entered the restaurant and walked out with their hands on the wall. They were stuffed.
There were very few people who ate noodles, but everyone had just to take a bite.
Han Qiao even got someone to make egg-fried rice.
Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant had many seats, was clean, and served food quickly. When you sat down, someone would bring you a cup of hot tea.
There was also free soup.
Han Qiao’s business was good, Yihe Restaurant, on the other hand, was turning for the worse.
Except for those who had no interest in eating at Yihe Restaurant, those who wanted to eat delicious food came to Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant.
The price was affordable and the dishes tasted good.
Some of the customers would praise the restaurant to everyone they met, while others would recommend it to their friends.
When evening came, more people decided to try the food.
Those who had some money knew that the food here was cheap. It was more cost-effective to buy some to bring them home than to cook them themselves.
They order a bowl of braised bamboo shoots, a bowl of braised tofu, and a bowl of braised pork. The meal was even more delicious than the New Year.
Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant’s steamed buns were bigger than those sold in ordinary shops, and it was worth one copper each, which was quite cheap.
Moreover, Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant not only sold white steamed buns but also steamed buns made of various grains.
The meals were very affordable.
The same couldn’t be said for their rival. Yihe Restaurant didn’t have much business for lunch and even less business at night.
Zhao Huan sat by the window on the second floor and looked at Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant not far away. Her eyes were red with jealousy as she watched the people entering and leaving the restaurant.
“Don’t worry, their food is cheap. It won’t last for a few days.” Zhen Niang comforted her.
Zhao Huan could only comfort herself with those words.
The sky was already dark, but the shop was still open.
Some people were still eating and drinking.
The wine in Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant was even more fragrant and pure than the wine in Yihe Restaurant. Although the price was a few coppers per catty, anyone who knew how to drink could taste it. This wine could not be bought outside.
In the study room, Shopkeeper Zhu was calculating their profit.
There was a lot of money on the plate beside her.
The money was divided into silver notes, ten copper coins, fifty copper coins, and a hundred copper coins.
Han Chi counted them into a small pile.
Han Qiao sat at the side and waited for a while.
The dining rooms had been cleaned up, and the fried dishes had been sold out. If there were customers, a few exhausted chefs would get up and cook a plate.
Not for anything else, just for the opening of the restaurant today, and for them to give the restaurant some face.
“Madam, guess how much we earned today?”
Han Qiao sat up straight.
She glanced at the plates of money, “There should be at least a hundred taels.”
“We earned a total of one hundred and thirty-five taels of silver and sixty-two copper.”
Han Qiao took a deep breath, “That’s enough.”
They had been busy since four o’clock in the morning. The twenty of them had been busy for a day without touching the ground. At this moment, everyone sat down and rested for a while.
However, there were still people busy in the kitchen.
When the others heard the news, they were ecstatic.
Even if the capital was deducted, 10% or 20% of the silver would be worth a few taels of silver. That would be more than 100 taels of silver a month.
Thinking of this, everyone suddenly felt no longer tired.
On the contrary, they all became full of energy.
“I have to go and see if the things I need tomorrow are ready.”
“I have to buy more radishes tomorrow.”
With a sore waist, they went back to their work.
Even Han Qiao was delighted by this number.
The capital was about 30 to 40 taels, or a little more. She also had to calculate every one’s wages. Compared to the 20% bonus, wages were nothing.
No matter what, it was a good start.
“That’s all for today. 1 have to go back. If I don’t come over tomorrow, you can discuss with Shopkeeper Zhu if you have any matters. We still need to work hard. 1 hope that business will be this good every day, and everyone will be able to buy houses and land to live a good life in a year.”
On the 21st, Puyi County opened another market day.
There were many people selling things, so Han Qiao did not go out to join in the fun.
However, the fast-food restaurant’s business was even better.
It was almost too late to cook. After the dishes were stir-fried and placed on a plate, they were all served.
Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant had become very popular in Puyi County.
It was so popular that many people were proud to have eaten the food of Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant.
The news of Heng Yi killing Tu Wansan had already spread back.
The common people hated the mountain bandits who went around different towns raping, pillaging, and murdering the most. So when they learned that Heng Yi was the owner of Qiaoyi’s fast food restaurant, they all came to express their gratitude.
They came to buy anything on sale.
Qiaoyi’s fast food business was booming, and Yihe Restaurant’s business was deserted.
Qiaoyi Restaurant, their other restaurant, also posted a notice that it would open for business on the 27th day of the first lunar month.
On the opening day, all dishes and drinks were 12% off.
Some people don’t understand what 12% means.
“A 12% discount means that if the original cost one or two taels of silver, you’ll only need to pay 880 copper.”
“Oh, 1 understand.”
Qiaoyi Restaurant’s main dishes were grilled fish and hot pot.
The price was naturally not cheap.
Coincidentally, Yihe Restaurant and Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant were sandwiched in the middle of the busy street.
Han Qiao had already thought that once Qiaoyi Restaurant opened, Zhao Huan’s and Zhen Ninag’s restaurants would probably lose their business.
At night, Shopkeeper Zhu returned with the account book.
“Madam, today’s business is better than yesterday’s. This is the total profit.”
Han Qiao took the account book and looked at the amount.
“More than 180 taels.”
“Everyone is so enthusiastic,” Shopkeeper Zhu laughed.
“Is everyone too busy? Do you need to find a few more people?” Han Qiao asked.
“There’s no need for that at the moment, Madam. We can wait and see.”
“I’m afraid that everyone will work too hard for the silver that they will fall ill.” Han Qiao pondered for a moment and said, “We can get someone from their family to replace them. One comes today, and another comes tomorrow. This way, the salary will be the same, and the workers could relax.”
“For now, this is fine. They’re not afraid of losing their jobs.”
Han Qiao’s suggestion indeed made the people in the restaurant heave a sigh of relief.
They didn’t want Han Qiao to recruit more people. They were all here to split the money, so they had to bear the burden themselves even if they were tired to death.
In order to earn more money, they even brought their younger siblings who could work at home to work for free.
Everyone was looking forward to the first month’s payment.
Han Qiao asked Shopkeeper Zhu to tell them that they would be given out once at the end of the month.
It was more or less a gesture of goodwill.
From now on, their paycheck would be distributed on the same day as the end of the month.
Qiaoyi Fast Food Restaurant’s business was good. The waiters and chefs didn’t earn much, but they could get 20% of the net profit.
Once this news spread, many people were jealous of the employees working there, especially those who went to Yihe Restaurant. They regretted it so much that their intestines turned green.
On the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, Han Qiao bought ten men and two women who knew how to farm and sent them to work in the village.
On the twenty-fifth day, Heng Yi and the others were coming back.
County Magistrate Wu decided to bring the people from the government office and the commoners to the front door to welcome them.
Han Qiao had already prepared herself. She wanted to see Heng Yi as soon as possible, and she also wanted to bring the four children along to witness their father’s glorious moment as a hero.
Set an example in their hearts..
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