Chapter 66 He's Picasso, it's not that he didn't think things through...

Yesterday, we received a lot of useful suggestions. An Fusheng spent an afternoon and an evening revising the original sales plan. Finally, with the unanimous agreement of everyone at the welfare home, the overall price of the meals was increased by 50%.

With the price set, the next step is packaging.

“Our dishes are not priced high to begin with. Even if the unit price is increased by 50%, the profit margin will not be large. As for packaging costs, I think it’s best not to exceed three yuan,” Xu Sannian said, looking at the data he had just calculated.

“Hmm,” An Fusheng said, “I compared the common packaging materials on the market. Within this price range, we can choose non-woven fabric thickened aluminum foil insulated bags for the outer packaging. These bags can keep the temperature warm for about two hours, which is more than enough. The average cost is about 50 cents.”

For takeout boxes, I recommend choosing natural materials such as bamboo pulp, sugarcane, and corn starch. These are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, strong, and water-resistant, and cost around 50 cents each.

Choosing good quality chopsticks and spoons would cost around 50 cents each. A set meal includes rice and soup, and the packaging cost should be under three yuan, with decent quality. What do you think?

"Hmm, that's fine," Xu Sannian said thoughtfully.

An Fusheng continued, "The prices I calculated for these packaging materials are based on the minimum purchase quantity. If our demand increases later, we may be able to get a discount."

Xu Sannian nodded.

An Fusheng: "I've seen many packaging bag vendors say they offer free custom designs. Should we do that?"

Xu Sannian: "Yes, yes, yes! If we want to operate in the long term, we must have our own unique style and cultural identity, so that it will be easier for others to remember us."

An Fusheng: "So, do we need to find someone to design the pattern? Won't the design fee be very expensive?"

Xu Sannian: "Good designs are definitely not cheap, but these are all necessary expenses."

An Fusheng fell into thought. There were too many necessary expenses, but the welfare home had no money.

"Hey!"

"ah!"

"What's wrong?" An Fusheng looked down at Wen Xinglan, who was sitting on the ground patting the back of her feet, and asked, "Why did you hit me?"

"You moved your foot, which is affecting people's painting, hahaha." Xu Sannian turned his head to look at Wen Xinglan, who was sitting next to An Fusheng's feet, holding her drawing board and looking at An Fusheng's feet angrily.

"You have a table, but you insist on putting the drawing board on my feet instead," An Fusheng grumbled, moving his feet back to their original position.

Wen Xinglan continued to place his erasable drawing board on An Fusheng's instep and continued to write and draw without distraction.

"Your posture is quite impressive; I would have thought you were a great painter." An Fusheng chuckled and teased Wen Xinglan. "Little painter, when did you learn to paint? Why don't you paint for us?"

"That's amazing!" Xu Sannian exclaimed in delight. "You're a true genius!"

"What?" An Fusheng looked at Xu Sannian, who had suddenly become excited for no reason, with confusion.

"Let him draw it for us!"

"Huh?" An Fusheng pointed to the drawing board on the instep. "Are you sure?"

Xu Sannian nodded emphatically, "Yes!"

An Fusheng picked up the easel and showed Xu Sannian the messy lines Wen Xinglan had drawn. "Even Picasso wouldn't dare call this a painting, would he?"

"That's not what I meant." Xu Sannian asked, "Did you ever buy class uniforms when you were in school?"

An Fusheng nodded.

Xu Sannian said, "Class uniforms are usually just a white T-shirt with the class name printed on the chest as an identifier. Isn't that pretty ordinary?"

An Fusheng nodded: "It was indeed very ordinary, and no one liked it. If it weren't for the school organizing an event and the teachers requiring us to wear it, we wouldn't have worn it at all. After graduation, no one would force us to wear it anymore, and that piece of clothing disappeared for no reason."

Xu Sannian continued, "But if every classmate prints their handprint or signs their name on your class T-shirt when you graduate, is it still a T-shirt that will disappear for no reason?"

"I understand!" An Fusheng exclaimed with delight. "The handprints and signatures of the students give this class uniform a special meaning. It is no longer an ordinary class uniform; it carries the memories of studying together and the deep friendship between the students!"

"That's right!" Xu Sannian said, "Our restaurant is operated by a welfare home, and the profits go to the welfare home and to the development of the national children's welfare cause. Our packaging bags are part of the development of welfare, which is very meaningful."

Just like this class uniform, it accompanied you through your student days and witnessed the friendship between you, your classmates, and your teachers. It has meaning in itself, but because it has no symbol to express it, you overlook it and think it is just an ordinary and not very good-looking piece of clothing. But when everyone marks it by signing or pressing their handprints, its meaning is awakened.

Therefore, just like signing and pressing handprints on class uniforms, we should use the drawings the children make on them to visualize their meaning.

By printing the children's drawings on the packaging, we can express our gratitude to our diners for their support of children's welfare, and also deeply instill the vitality and philanthropic culture of our restaurant in their hearts.

“Now that you mention it, our food does seem to have changed, but doesn’t that mean we’re exploiting children?” An Fusheng asked.

"No, our food is delicious, and people feel it's worth the price, isn't that enough? Besides, we're not using this to go around advertising and playing the victim. We're just using this method to convey its special meaning, so that one day when people realize it, they'll think, 'Oh, I've also contributed to welfare.'"

Seeing that An Fusheng still seemed to have some doubts, Xu Sannian said, "Moreover, my suggestion is not only based on this aspect. Don't underestimate children's paintings. Their hearts are pure and they are free to do as they please. The paintings they create are often free and healing. Picasso once said, 'There is only one kind of person in the world who can paint, and that is children.'"

An Fusheng glanced at the drawing board in his hand again, still unable to discern anything, and sighed inwardly, "Cultural people are just good at talking big!"

"Ahhh!" Wen Xinglan tried to climb onto An Fusheng to get her drawing board back, but her body was too short and she couldn't even reach it on tiptoe.

"No swearing!" An Fusheng handed the drawing board back to him.

"Are we really going to ask him to paint?" An Fusheng asked uncertainly.

Xu Sannian nodded firmly, "Yes."

An Fusheng also consulted Wen Min about having the children draw.

“Sure, I think it’s very meaningful too,” Wen Min said.

Today is Sunday, and all the children are home. An Fusheng used a few crispy sausages to lure all the children over.

"Big brother, is there anything good to eat?" Bai Mangmang was the first to run over, chattering away.

“Yes.” An Fusheng handed her a sausage. “I’d like to ask you for help.”

"What favor?" Bai Mangmang took a bite of the crispy sausage. First, she felt the crispy casing, then a "crunch" sound came from between her teeth. The fresh, juicy, and salty flavor instantly burst into her mouth. After a few chews, there was a slight sweetness. The more she chewed, the more fragrant it became. It was so delicious that it made her scalp tingle. Bai Mangmang felt that her soul had been controlled. She was willing to do anything her older brother asked her to do.

Other children arrived one after another.

"Big brother, what do you want to eat? I want some too!"

An Fusheng handed out the sausages to them, saying, "We need to print designs on the packaging bags for our restaurant, and we'd like to ask you to help us with the artwork. Is that alright?"

"Yes, I can draw!"

"I can do that too."

"I can too!"

...

Xu Sannian took out a box of colored pencils and a piece of white paper from the children's corner, spread them on the small desk, and let everyone draw their favorite things on it.

"I'll go first, I'll go first!" Bai Mangmang raised her hand. She was the first to eat the grilled sausage, so she had to be the first to draw.

“Okay, then Mangmang will go first,” Xu Sannian said.

"My favorite thing is, of course, delicious food." Bai Mangmang drew a few simple foods on the paper with an orange pen.

"I can only draw dumplings, fish, and sausages, hehe." Bai Mangmang said with an embarrassed smile after finishing her drawing.

Xu Sannian: "Sure."

When Wen Xinglan saw others drawing, he immediately joined in the fun. Bai Mangmang handed him a pen, and he held it in his little fist, drawing horizontal lines, vertical lines, circles, and half circles on the white paper. He was very serious and didn't even want to let go.

"Little brother, hurry up, it's our turn." Wen Xingmou tried to snatch Wen Xinglan's pen, but Wen Xinglan cursed and refused to give it up.

"Haha, let him draw for a while longer. Let's eat first and not disturb him from earning money for baby formula." Xu Sannian laughed heartily.

"Is he really not just scribbling?" An Fusheng frowned as he looked at the crooked lines Wen Xinglan had drawn.

“Sure, that’s how Picasso painted.” Xu Sannian said, munching on a grilled sausage.

An Fusheng: "He's Picasso, not someone who doesn't think things through."

Wen Xinglan, without hesitation, finally finished drawing. He threw down his paintbrush and ran to An Fusheng, hugging his leg and asking for a grilled sausage.

The others were finally able to draw in an orderly fashion. An Fusheng watched them, each one eager and full of confidence, and thought they would all draw very well. However, the drawings they produced were more and more abstract than the last.

An Fusheng: So it was all done without thinking!

"Hey, Miaomiao's not bad." Xu Sannian watched with great interest as Bai Miaomiao filled in everyone's messy drawings one by one.

The final result was a picture of many children grabbing things, some eating by themselves, some fighting with others, and some drooling over their food. Although it still looked quite abstract, with the little figures in the picture not even as big as some of the food, there was a kind of fun in the abstraction, and even the messy colors became a lively backdrop.

Bai Miaomiao usually lives at school. When she comes back on weekends, she either quietly helps with chores or goes back to her room to do her homework. An Fusheng didn't even know that she could draw.

"Miaomiao is amazing!" An Fusheng exclaimed. "She looks so good!"

Bai Miaomiao felt a little embarrassed by the praise, her slightly flushed face revealing her barely concealed excitement.

Xu Sannian then asked Bai Miaomiao to draw a plump star in the upper left corner.

"Not bad, this star is obviously from when we ate too much of our delicious food, hahaha." Xu Sannian took a picture with the painting. "Once we confirm the vendor, we'll send them the digital version and then we can print it."

An Fusheng: "I have already placed orders for samples from several companies. Once the samples arrive, I will immediately begin custom manufacturing."

"Okay." Xu Sannian put away his phone, then found a file folder and carefully put the painting inside. "Keep this painting for now. When we open the shop, we'll frame it and put it in the most prominent place in the lobby, hehe."

An Fusheng: "Okay."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Some parts of the dialogue had too many words, and it looked too cramped if I put them all in one paragraph, so I cut them up.

That's all for today's update. I'll make up for yesterday's missed chapter tomorrow.