Chapter 368: Dumbfounded Again, Jiang Da's Past (Part 1)
Jiang Da was used to it, and greeted with a smile: "Running errands for the hotel again?"
"Yeah, after finishing this order, I can take a break today."
It turned out that this person was the Li Tuan guy, who always ran errands to buy pancakes for two five-star hotels in the city center at this time.
Because there are so many of them, I always take the initiative to queue up at the end.
Usually, when Jiang Da and Han Yunru finish their order, it is almost closing time.
"Then go in and sit for a while, conservatively estimated, an hour."
"Hey, thank you, Brother Jiang!" The young man walked into the store with ease, and Han Yunru brought him a cup of herbal tea and placed it on the table.
“Thank you, Madam!”
"You're welcome."
"Oh, are you hiring new people in the store?" The young man couldn't help but feel curious as he looked at the six busy men.
Han Yunru: "A friend came to help."
"Is that so...then your business must be booming." Even with six people helping out, they were still barely able to handle the work.
"It's okay, it's passable."
Fifty minutes later, the meal was ready and the errand boy carried several heavy large plastic bags and put them into the trunk.
"Brother Jiang, I'm leaving now!"
"Be careful on the road."
"Okay!"
By this time, it was already 10:15 in the evening.
Jiang Da wiped his hands, took off his mask, and prepared to close the stall.
Then he remembered that several of his fellow apprentices were still there. After all, they had put in most of the day's effort. He slowed down his tone and asked, "Where are you guys planning to stay tonight?"
The six of them looked at each other, a little confused.
They rushed here straight after getting off the high-speed train and didn't have time to book a hotel.
Jiang Da sighed, remembering that everyone hadn't eaten dinner yet: "Okay, if you don't have a place to stay, come to my house and I'll make you some side dishes."
Sanpang'er's eyes lit up: "That would be great!"
He was worried that he would not have the chance to persuade his senior brother.
but……
Looking at the business in the store today, it’s no wonder that the eldest brother is not interested in going back to Cao Ji.
But no matter how good the business is, it’s just a small shop. How can you make big money from workshop-style production?
Only a chain restaurant like Cao Ji, a big brand, can make it!
So, I can still struggle a bit and try to persuade him again.
…
After closing the store, Jiang Da and Han Yunru usually rode electric bikes home, but today there were six more people, so it was obviously not feasible.
Han Yunru: "I heard Yueyue say before that if it's after 10pm and the distance is within five kilometers, the property management can send a car to pick you up."
Jiang Da remembered this incident and said, "Okay, I'll call the property management."
"Big Brother, where do you live? Is it far? How do we get there? Take a taxi or the bus?"
Jiang Da had just finished the call when he heard: "Wait another ten minutes, the car will be here soon."
"Wait here?"
"Um."
Sanpanger looked around and thought: Why doesn't this bus stop have a sign? Is this a Linhuai specialty?
Before he could mutter for too long, two black Mercedes-Benz cars pulled up in front of the store. The drivers rolled down their windows and politely asked, "Is this Mr. Jiang Dajiang?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Please get in the car."
Sanpang'er and his companions got into the Mercedes-Benz in a daze, and were taken into the residential area in a daze. Finally, they came to their senses when they found themselves in a gorgeous and exquisite villa.
"...Big Brother, is this your home?"
"Yes, you're welcome, just sit down and I'll go to the kitchen to make some dishes." He rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen.
Han Yunru went over to help.
Sanpang'er felt a little dizzy. The house was obviously very spacious, the light from the crystal chandelier was soft and not irritating at all, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of mint, but he couldn't help feeling dizzy.
He staggered back half a step and fell onto the sofa.
The soft sitting feeling immediately spread over my whole body, which was more comfortable than the sofa set in my master's wife's villa.
It is said that the sofa set that my master's wife bought costs about 500,000 yuan!
What about this set?
Sanpang'er couldn't help but tremble.
Others were equally shocked by what they saw.
A single-family villa, beautifully decorated, with a courtyard in front and a garden in the back, and a Mercedes-Benz shuttle, this...
Fuman: "Second Brother, shouldn't we... come?"
Sanpang'er was speechless.
Da Zhuang looked around, becoming more and more excited. "I didn't expect Senior Brother to be doing so well, even living in a villa! This is much nicer than Master's wife's!"
A Biao: "How much does it cost?"
Xiangqing: "At least eight figures."
"Shh... so expensive?! Seeing that the eldest brother was running a small shop, I thought he didn't make much money, but now he lives in a villa. Will he still be willing to go back with us?"
Everyone was silent.
Sanpanger jumped out and said: "You won't know until you try. It's not completely hopeless."
"Yes, we have to try."
Cao Dou shook his head secretly.
Jiang Da had already made his attitude clear: he would not return to the Cao family and would not compete with the mother and son.
Now this villa is just telling them in disguise that it is impossible to interfere, but several brothers don’t seem to understand, or... they are deceiving themselves?
Jiang Fuyue and Jiang Xiaodi heard the noise and left the bedroom, standing on the second floor and looking towards the living room.
"Sister, it's Uncle Sanpang'er and the others."
"Um."
"Why haven't I seen them before?"
Jiang Fuyue: "There was no need to meet before."
Jiang Xiaodi: "Is it necessary now?"
"Maybe."
“…Oh.” He seemed to understand but not quite.
After a while, Jiang Da finished cooking and invited them to the dining room.
When the six people walked around the isolation wall and turned into the dining room, they were once again shocked by the luxury and exquisiteness before them.
That dining table, those chairs, and that chandelier all look expensive.
Jiang Da: "Sit down."
"Yeah." Sanpanger nodded hesitantly.
After the meal, everyone felt bland.
Han Yunru cleaned up several guest rooms and prepared new toiletries for them before going upstairs.
After a while, Jiang Da also caught up, but ran into a pair of children at the stairs.
Jiang Xiaodi: "Dad!"
Jiang Fuyue leaned against the railing, looking relaxed and as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Meeting his daughter's gaze, Jiang Da laughed awkwardly.
Next, Jiang Fuyue, Jiang Xiaodi, and Han Yunru heard a rather melodramatic story...
Thirty-three years ago, Jiang Da was fifteen years old. His family was so poor that he could not even afford to eat. After finishing junior high school, he was sent to learn cooking from Master Cao in the next village.
Master Cao's real name is Cao Dayong. Three generations of his ancestors were chefs. It is said that his ancestor even cooked for the last emperor. He himself runs a small stall, selling rice noodles in the morning and cooking stir-fried dishes at noon and in the evening.
Business is booming due to its good taste and large portions.
He has a childhood sweetheart, but she suffers from polio and her legs and feet are not very flexible. They were a young couple and had a good relationship, but they had no children.
Jiang Da is an apprentice who has kowtowed to his master. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, and is particularly likable.
Cao Dayong drank a cup of tea as a token of his apprenticeship, which was considered as his recognition of the child, and he also began to take good care of the Jiang family.
From then on, Jiang Da officially moved into the Cao family and followed Cao Dayong to learn how to wash pots and stir fry woks, and then to make fire and cook. He also helped his master's wife to work in the fields and do handicrafts, working diligently.
Over time, the couple treated him as half their own son.
At that time, the small restaurant was already called "Cao Ji". It was said that it was a name passed down from ancestors, but it did not have a proper signboard. It simply put up a wooden board with these two words written on it with white chalk, and a menu was attached below, with dishes such as stir-fried kidney, squirrel mandarin fish, candied potatoes, etc.
The second year that Jiang Da learned cooking was Cao Dayong’s “lucky year”.
He opened the shop as usual. The first customer that day was a foreigner who spoke unstandard Mandarin but was very talkative.
However, by the time he finished cooking a bowl of noodles, he had fully understood the business model and profit returns of Cao Dayong's small restaurant.
"A small business is still a business. The key is how to grow it from small to big."
That morning, Cao Dayong stopped doing business. He half-closed the rolling door and listened to what the man said. He felt that he had found an opportunity.
A month later, Cao Dayong used the money he had originally intended for building a new house to rent a two-story storefront in the town. After half a month of renovation, "Cao Ji" officially opened for business, specializing in local cuisine.
This time, we finally have a decent signboard.
Three months later, the store was making losses and facing bankruptcy. Cao Dayong couldn't sleep all night and his temper became increasingly irritable.
At that time, Jiang Da had been apprenticing for two years and was helping in the kitchen.
He looked at his master's anxious look and wanted to help, but he was powerless. He could only secretly use the remaining ingredients to make "big buns" as gifts to attract customers.
Some people even came in just for the "big package" offer, but after trying the food, they couldn't help but shake their heads: "It's just average, no different from any other restaurant. But your pancakes are pretty good, can you give me two more?"
Jiang Da then realized that people outside called their "big buns" "jianbing".
Cao Dayong overheard this comment and suddenly had an idea...
First update, 3,000 words.
The second and third updates will be together at 12 o'clock.
(End of this chapter)
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