Chapter 100

The most important issue of ingredients has been solved.

Chuxia and Tang Haikuan then began to formally carry out other preparations.

Tang Haikuan had enough experience in running restaurants. He took a look around and made a list of what was needed for his restaurant.

It's not difficult to buy the things you need according to the list.

Among the preparations, the most important and unambiguous thing is what dishes the restaurant will cook.

Tang Haikuan knew that Chuxia was a good cook, so he naturally discussed the decision with Chuxia.

However, they did not rush to open the restaurant right after deciding on the dishes. Instead, they each listed their specialties first, then bought a small amount of ingredients, and thought about improving the taste of each dish, striving to make each dish taste the best before officially opening the restaurant.

In fact, it was mainly because Chuxia taught Tang Haikuan in detail all the tricks she had figured out, allowing him to make the dishes he already knew how to cook even more delicious.

Chuxia and Tang Haikuan tried the cooking process, temperature and ingredients on the stove and wrote them all down bit by bit.

Every time she decides on a dish, she will write a very detailed recipe.

This process is more like a father and daughter developing a recipe together.

When Tang Haikuan was young and an apprentice with his father, he had never been so meticulous and dedicated.

Every time Chuxia and Tang Haikuan were cooking in the kitchen, the yard would be filled with the aroma of vegetables.

Neighbors who came to visit from the alley couldn't resist the temptation of the aroma and always swallowed their saliva several times. Some even stood outside the Tang family's kitchen and stretched their heads to look inside eagerly.

Through practical experience, Chuxia and Tang Haikuan finalized the tested dishes one by one.

After finalizing the menu, in addition to rice, Chuxia naturally added his specialty, fried noodles with soybean paste, which is also the favorite dish of Beijingers.

Making the noodle sauce takes time, so they use this time to do other preparations.

***

West half empty.

The sun gradually hid behind the cotton-like white clouds.

Tang Haikuan climbed up the ladder and hung the newly made plaque on the door lintel.

Chuxia was helping him check whether it was hung straight, and some neighbors who were watching the fun also helped.

After hanging it up, Tang Haikuan came down from the ladder.

He also stood far away to take a look, and said with satisfaction: "Okay."

The name of the hotel on the plaque is still its previous name - Zhengyang Hotel.

This name was given by Chuxia's grandfather, and neither she nor Tang Haikuan intends to change it.

Now that the plaque has been hung, the restaurant looks revitalized.

An old man with a white beard who was watching the fun nearby asked, "When will your restaurant open?"

Tang Haikuan looked at him and said, "Uncle, it's almost done. The preparations are almost done."

The only thing missing is the sauce for the noodles with soybean paste. Once the sauce is ready, we can open for business immediately.

They don't have to do any publicity for the opening.

His family's affairs have been reported in newspapers so many times, and reporters have been following the news. It is the most watched news in recent times, and everyone is paying close attention to it.

The old man with the white beard added: "I never thought that I would be able to see a private restaurant open again in this lifetime."

The old man next to him continued, "Isn't it? This is so new."

From the first time I heard about it until now, it still feels fresh.

Tang Haikuan didn't speak to them again.

He went over and got the ladder, preparing to put it back in the yard.

But just as he touched the ladder and hadn't lifted it up, he suddenly saw two more men in uniform coming into the alley.

Seeing the people in uniform, the onlookers naturally gave way.

It looked like they were heading for the restaurant, so Tang Haikuan and Chu Xia hurriedly greeted them politely.

After Chu Xia and Tang Haikuan greeted each other, the man in uniform said, "We are from the Health and Epidemic Prevention Station. We heard that your restaurant is about to open, so we came to take a look."

This is also something you should watch.

Tang Haikuan and Chu Xia hurriedly brought people into the restaurant and asked them to check it inside and out.

The onlookers were of course also aware of the situation. They did not go into the restaurant to disturb the work of the people in uniform. They just stood outside the restaurant door, sticking their heads inside to continue watching the fun.

Anyway, everyone is interested in anything related to this restaurant.

The staff from the health and epidemic prevention station checked the restaurant inside and out.

One of them said, "There's nothing wrong with the rest, but do you have a refrigerator?"

Tang Haikuan was stunned when he heard this, and subconsciously asked: "Refrigerator?"

The staff nodded and said, "Yes, a restaurant must have a refrigerator, otherwise it does not comply with regulations."

After hearing this, Tang Haikuan and Chu Xia turned to look at each other.

Another staff member said, "Once you have solved the refrigerator problem, we will come and take a look. If there is no problem, you can open for business."

The people watching outside naturally heard it, and they all said:

"Do we need to buy a refrigerator? That thing must be very expensive, right?"

"Whoever has used this thing must have been expensive."

"It's going to cost a lot of money to open this restaurant."

"So, opening a private store is not as easy as it sounds. The government only grants licenses and grain and oil, but you still have to pay for the goods yourself, right?"

"Who can come up with so much money all at once?"

"Even if we can take it out, I'm afraid we won't be able to get back the money we put in."

…

They were just following the regulations, so Chu Xia and Tang Haikuan naturally didn't say anything.

After a moment, Chu Xia nodded to the staff and said, "Okay, come and have a look when our refrigerator is in place."

After finishing their work, the staff of the health and epidemic prevention station left.

Chuxia and Tang Haikuan sent them to the alley. After watching them walk away, Tang Haikuan continued to carry the ladder back to the yard.

Chuxia locked the door of the restaurant and entered the front yard through the inside door.

After locking the inner door, she went to Tang Haikuan and said, "Dad, let's go check the refrigerator now."

Tang Haikuan said nothing, put down the ladder and clapped his hands, "Okay, I'll go wash my hands."

He went into the inner courtyard to wash his hands, while Chuxia went into the house to get her schoolbag and locked the door of the main house.

When the father and daughter pushed their bicycles out of the gate again, the people who had come to watch the fun had almost dispersed in the alley. They each found a place to cool off, play chess, do needlework, or gossip.

Tang Haikuan took Chuxia out of the alley on a bike.

The two went to a place selling home appliances, looked at the refrigerator, and asked about the price.

***

In the evening, every family in the yard was having dinner.

In the east room, Han Ting is at home now, and there are eight people crowded around his dining table.

Wang Cuiying suddenly looked at Han Lei and asked, "How much does it cost to buy a refrigerator?"

Han Lei was puzzled when he heard this, and instead of answering, he asked, "Why are you asking this suddenly?"

Wang Cuiying gestured to the north room and said, "Today, staff from the Health and Epidemic Prevention Station came and checked his restaurant. They asked him to buy a refrigerator, saying that the restaurant would not be allowed to open if he did not buy one."

Han Lei was stunned. "This should be at least a thousand, maybe even two thousand."

Wang Cuiying was horrified just by hearing this number. She usually only dealt with cents. She said with a shocked look, "Who can afford this much money? What did I say? It's impossible for a private restaurant to be opened."

Han Qingtian said while eating, "Don't say anything. You said they couldn't get a license, but they got it. You said they couldn't solve the problem of grain and oil, but they solved it. They have everything ready now, except for a refrigerator. Can you just forget about it?"

Wang Cuiying looked at Han Qingtian. "Before, it was just a matter of the leaders saying something. Now it's different. We have to pay real money. Who can come up with so much money at once? The country can't just give them money, right? If the country pays, then it belongs to the country. How can it be considered private? This is not something that ordinary people like us can do."

Hearing this, Han Ting suddenly said, "Why don't we lend some money to his family and give them a hand."

Before anyone else could say anything, Su Yun whispered, "What does this have to do with you?"

Han Ting said: "Neighbors should help each other when they are in trouble. Isn't this what we should do?"

Li Lan cleared her throat and lowered her head to drink her porridge.

Han Lei said again: "We can barely afford to eat, how can we lend money to others? Even if we can squeeze out three or five dollars, what good will it do?"

Without letting Han Ting speak, Wang Cuiying continued, "You didn't pay attention to his family when you should have, and now you are concerned about them again. Don't say that we don't have the ability to help. Even if we have the ability to help, we will never touch this matter. Just wait and see who dares to lend money to his family."

Han Ting: “…”

Well, he stopped talking.

***

In the west room.

The Jiang family ate their meal in a light and elegant manner.

Xu Lihua asked Jiang Jianping: "Can you apply for a house in your company?"

Jiang Jianping shook his head: "We already have this house allocated by the state, so we don't meet the conditions for applying for another house. I have asked the leaders several times, but they always said no. If I am approved, then people with the same situation as our family will have to be approved. There are not so many public houses."

Xu Lihua felt depressed after hearing this.

She exhaled lightly and couldn't speak anymore.

Ever since Tang Haikuan said those nasty things to her in the morning, she felt hurt both physically and mentally. She felt very uncomfortable and was particularly unwilling to live here anymore. She wanted to move out immediately.

But Jiang Jianping's unit refused to approve a house for them, and they had nowhere to move out. They had no choice but to continue living here. They were shorter than the Tang family, and the more they thought about it, the more aggrieved they felt.

After feeling aggrieved for a while, she thought of something else and suddenly changed the subject, saying, "By the way, if Tang Haikuan asks you to borrow money these days, you are not allowed to lend him a single cent. He has offended me, so he will definitely not come to me to ask."

Jiang Jianping said: "Why would he ask me to borrow money? It's not like his family is poor."

Xu Lihua then told the Tang family about how the health and epidemic prevention station came to their house today and asked them to buy a refrigerator.

Jiang Jianping listened and said, "Who would dare to lend this money? Can you earn back this much money? If you borrow it, you will never get it back. Even if you don't tell me, I won't lend it to you."

Xu Lihua said: "He said it himself. It has nothing to do with us. We can't ask even a single question out of kindness."

***

After dinner.

In the north room.

Chuxia, Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei sat around the desk counting money.

After counting, all three of them said, "Five hundred and eighty-three."

This was their family’s savings, and of course also included the money they earned in the countryside before early summer.

Wu Xuemei said: "A refrigerator costs 1,500 yuan, and we still need more than 900 yuan."

Tang Haikuan continued, "I can't spend all of the 500 yuan. I still have to save some money for buying groceries."

Rice, flour, and other food items have already been bought, so there is no need to spend any more money.

After the people from the health and epidemic prevention station left in the afternoon, Chuxia started thinking about this problem.

It is definitely not possible to ask others to borrow money. Right now, everyone is not optimistic about her restaurant. Most people think it is impossible to really open it. They certainly will not be willing to lend her money, and they can't lend that much.

She said to Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei, "My father and I will go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau tomorrow and ask them to guarantee us. Let's see if they can let us get a refrigerator for 500 yuan, and we can pay the rest later. If not, we can go to the bank for a loan."

Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei had no other choice.

They listened to Chu Xia and nodded, "Okay, let's do it this way."

Things have come to this point. They don't say discouraging words, nor do they back down. They will continue to do it to the end.

After the matter was settled, Wu Xuemei collected all the money on the desk.

Chu Xia did not stay in Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei's room any longer. She stood up and stretched her body lazily, saying, "Mom and Dad, you don't have to think too much. It's time to go to sleep. Things will work out when the time comes."

Wu Xuemei smiled and said: "The previous problems have been solved, and this one can definitely be solved smoothly as well."

Chu Xia said with great ambition in her voice: "When family members are united, they can break any obstacle!"

Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei laughed together.

After seeing Chuxia leave, they went to bed and prepared to relax and sleep.

Wu Xuemei leaned against the head of the bed and said with emotion: "Our Xia Xia is really amazing."

Tang Haikuan responded, "Isn't it? You asked me to handle this from beginning to end. I tell you I can't handle it. I really can't eat or sleep."

Wu Xuemei: "So let's not say anything, just listen to Xia Xia and run the restaurant well."

Tang Haikuan nodded, "Well, drive well and clear this road."

***

When you encounter difficulties, solve them as quickly as possible.

Chuxia didn't waste any time and went to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau with Tang Haikuan after breakfast the next morning.

They went to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to meet with the leader and told him about the difficulties they had encountered. After listening, the leader agreed to act as a guarantor for them, issued a guarantee letter with the official seal, and arranged for someone to go with them to buy a refrigerator.

The person who went to buy a refrigerator with Chuxia and Tang Haikuan was Sister Zhou, who was the one Chuxia was most familiar with.

The three of them went to the place where the refrigerator was sold. Sister Zhou, wearing the Industrial and Commercial Bureau uniform and holding a guarantee letter issued by the Bureau, negotiated with the salesperson about a down payment of 500 yuan to buy the refrigerator.

The sales staff couldn't make the decision, so they called in the sales manager.

It is known to everyone that a restaurant is going to be opened at No. 8 Tianxianan.

The sales manager naturally knew about this, so Chuxia didn't need to explain anything to him. He was also a straightforward person, and after reading the letter of guarantee, he agreed without a word.

After agreeing, he asked again, "Do you have no tickets either?"

Chu Xia smiled and said embarrassedly: "Indeed, there are no tickets."

So the sales manager took a red pen and drew a red cross on the packaging of a refrigerator, then said to Chu Xia with a smile, "Okay, we'll give you the defective products here."

Chu Xia's face brightened and she smiled, and she quickly bowed to the sales manager: "Thank you."

Tang Haikuan was stunned for a while. After he came to his senses, he hurriedly thanked the manager again and again.

The sales manager not only sold the refrigerator to Chu Xia and Tang Haikuan, he also arranged for someone to deliver the refrigerator to their homes, for fear that they would bump into it themselves.

Sister Zhou did not go to Tianxian Temple with Chuxia again. When they parted ways on the road, she said, "Now that I've done my job, I'm going back to work. I'll come over when your restaurant opens."

Chu Xia waved to her, "Thank you, Sister Zhou, thank you for your trouble!"

Sister Zhou smiled and replied: "It's not a problem, it's for serving the people!"