The diners ate with gusto, their mouths glistening with oil, praising the food endlessly. Some were even so full that they clung to their stomachs, still calling out, "Another bowl, please!"
Ganli was overjoyed to see the lively scene. This was much more interesting than being a food blogger in modern society, dryly introducing food to the camera.
Before they knew it, night had fallen, and the number of customers at Shiweitian Restaurant only increased, but Old Man Gan began to worry.
The problem wasn't the constant stream of customers, but rather that the ingredients they had prepared were gone very early!
He quickly sent his son out to tell Ganli the news and let her make a decision.
Ganli was a little surprised to hear that the ingredients were gone, but she was mostly happy.
She had expected the business to be booming on the first day of opening, so she prepared quite a lot of ingredients. But now, the evening has only just begun, and the ingredients are already sold out. Doesn't that mean the business is even more booming than she thought?
Seeing that she remained silent, Gan Mingyi suggested, "Little sister, why don't we get ready now..."
"That's fine, let's leave it at that for today."
Gan Li shook her head, and under the puzzled gazes of everyone, she explained:
"No matter what it is, if it's plentiful and you can eat your fill, it's not special. It's better to be 'almost' like that. Those who haven't had enough or haven't eaten enough will always be thinking about that one bite."
Upon hearing this, Gan Mingyi lowered his head and pondered silently for a long time. Finally, he slapped his thigh and praised:
"Isn't that exactly right? That's why I say my little sister has always been so clever!"
Gan Li: "..." This wasn't her idea. People from modern society, how could they not understand scarcity marketing?
Faced with Gan Mingyi's praise, she chuckled and guiltily changed the subject:
"Serve all these dishes, and then tell everyone that we're out of ingredients and we're not accepting new customers."
Upon hearing this, Gan Mingyi hurriedly went to the front to deliver the news. Those who had already sat down and ordered their food were relieved—thankfully they had arrived early!
Those who were waiting couldn't help but complain: "That's it? What kind of restaurant would leave its customers without food?"
Gan Mingyi apologized with a smile: "It's all thanks to the patronage of our guests that we ran out of ingredients so early... We'll prepare more tomorrow, please come early tomorrow!"
Although the customer was still unhappy, he thought to himself, "Isn't this just proof that the food is really good, which is why it sells out so quickly?"
They took a deep breath of the aroma of the food in the air, left reluctantly, and vowed to come earlier the next day.
...
After seeing off the last customer, Ganli announced that the store was closing.
After closing the shop door, the family worked together to clean up the tables, chairs, and kitchen. Old Man Gan started serving the dishes from the back, and the family sat around the table to eat dinner.
After dinner, after clearing away the dishes, Ganli called out to everyone, "Come on, everyone, let's settle the accounts today!"
Gan Mingyi and Gan Mingli followed closely behind, and the two brothers worked together to lift a basket onto the table.
With a clang, the sound of copper coins colliding with broken silver rang out from inside, filling everyone with joy. They felt that this sound was more melodious than any musical instrument.
Old Gan had been working hard all day and was still feeling a bit sore all over, but now, seeing the basket full of money, he felt much lighter.
However, he only glanced at it before urging his daughter:
"Alright, alright, we've already looked at it. You should put it away now. You, as the manager, should handle the accounts. We're just helpers; what do we need to know about these things?"
Others echoed this sentiment, and Zhao even made a joke:
"I've checked, and knowing you have the money to pay our wages puts my mind at ease!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ganli smiled, but after smiling, she said seriously:
"I certainly put in the most effort to open this restaurant, but to be honest, it wouldn't have been possible to open it on my own."
"Father, Mother, elder brothers, do you still remember what I said last time?"
The members of the Gan family exchanged glances, then asked in unison, "What did you say?"
Gan Li said, "Just like I said last time, once this restaurant opens, our family members will all get a share of the profits."
Gan Mingyi was shocked to hear this: "Wasn't that just something you said to trick Sun Shi?"
“It was indeed to deceive the Sun family, but that’s what I really thought,” Gan Li said.
She didn't say it on a whim; she had thought about it for a long time.
Along the way, she went from being penniless to owning this restaurant. Although most of the success was due to her money-making methods, the help from the Gan family was also indispensable.
Especially the elderly couple from the Gan family, and the two brothers from the Gan family, who have always fully supported her no matter what she does. If it weren't for them, she probably wouldn't have been able to reach this position so quickly.
Moreover, she had considered this before making the decision. The Gan family was sincere and treated her exceptionally well. Therefore, she didn't mind sharing some of the profits with them so that they could live a better life.
Of course, she hadn't been unaware that people's hearts are fickle, and that perhaps in the future, driven by self-interest, the Gan family might harbor some inappropriate thoughts. Therefore, Gan Li had a backup plan.
First, they hold the largest share and control the narrative.
Secondly, if other methods fail, she can simply leave. Without those seasonings, even if she keeps the recipes, the taste will be greatly diminished, and the restaurant will be half dead.
Third, this profit-sharing system only applies to this restaurant. If branches are opened later, the outcome will depend on the Gan family's situation. Of course, if their performance is unsatisfactory, then only this small restaurant will suffer the loss.
She used those few hundred taels of silver to see the true colors of the family, so she didn't lose out.
Gan Li had considered everything thoroughly, which was why she felt a little guilty when she saw the Gan family declining the offer... but it also strengthened her resolve.
She coughed lightly, interrupting the argument among the Gan family members, and said in an unquestionable tone:
"Stop talking, I've made up my mind, do as I say! Otherwise, none of you can work at the restaurant anymore..."
"But since you've all left, this restaurant won't be long before it closes. Let those several hundred taels of silver go down the drain!"
"Oh dear, you child!" Old Mrs. Gan was both anxious and touched, and didn't know what to say.
Old Gan glanced at his daughter. He knew that once this girl became stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull her back!
He thought for a moment, sighed, and said to his two sons:
“Your sister means well, so just listen to her. If you feel bad, then help her with more chores in the future.”
Upon hearing this, the Gan brothers reluctantly nodded.
Ganli then brought up the matter of profit sharing: "If the restaurant's profits are divided into ten shares, I'll take fifty percent, and the remaining fifty percent will be split equally between you two, eldest brother and second brother..."
"That won't do!"
Before she could finish speaking, Gan Mingyi interrupted her.
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