Li Laosan said, "The academy originally had a canteen, but the food was so bad that the students didn't like it. Headmaster Zhou's idea is to give us the canteen's tables, chairs, pots, pans, and other utensils for one hundred taels of silver."
"Of course, from now on, we will purchase rice, flour, cooking oil, vegetables, meat, and eggs ourselves to ensure that the students eat well and are full. However, the prices of the meals cannot be too high."
"After all, this is a place for teaching and nurturing people, not a commercial street for making money. Moreover, many students do not come from wealthy families, and Headmaster Zhou does not want to add burden to the students."
Grandma Li nodded, thought for a moment and said, "Headmaster Zhou is still taking good care of our family. We can't afford so many things with just one hundred taels of silver."
"Most importantly, our family doesn't need to set up a shop, which saves a lot of money. And with all the students staying at the academy for lunch, we're guaranteed half of our daily business..."
“Yes, Mother,” Li Laosan said, “I also felt like I got a great deal, so I hesitated a bit, otherwise I would have agreed right then and there.”
Zhao Yuru, being a woman, was both meticulous and timid. She interjected, "Also, Mother, since our family has taken over the academy's canteen, the business of all the other food stalls outside will definitely be taken away. I'm afraid that some people will be jealous and try to sabotage us."
"Not to mention that our family bought thirty acres of land and a courtyard, there are several children in the academy. If something happens to the children, no amount of money can make up for it."
Old Mrs. Li frowned. Her third daughter-in-law's concerns were valid. She couldn't think of any good ideas for the moment, so she said, "Why don't you stay at home tonight? We can discuss it together when your eldest brother and the others come back."
As Jiayin munched on her snacks and listened to the elders talk, she began to ponder the matter.
The academy's dining hall is similar to the university dining hall in my previous life.
It's just that universities often have thousands of students, while academies only have a few hundred.
If we take over, the thirty acres of land that my third uncle bought can be used to grow vegetables, which will be enough to achieve self-production and self-sales.
Rice, flour, and cooking oil can also be purchased in bulk to reduce costs.
As for the menu, it will follow the original set meal model of the shop, which will make it easier to arrange daily tasks, save manpower, and give students the freedom to choose.
If there are not enough people, some students can be recruited to work and study.
As for how to arrange things for the rest of our colleagues, of course we'll give them special treatment.
If the students want a different flavor, they are welcome to buy it. However, if the taste is not good and the students do not like it, it has nothing to do with the Li family.
Moreover, their private kitchen service in the cafeteria wasn't free; they had to pay rent, which was an extra source of income for the Li family...
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had no choice but to take the snack box and run to the west room where her second uncle lived. She found the writing set and started writing while eating.
Grandma Li was afraid that her granddaughter would get stuck in a rut and stay indoors for several more days, so she secretly peeked through the door and guessed that her granddaughter had come up with a good idea before she was relieved.
Sure enough, Jiayin called her third uncle in very soon, and the two of them whispered to each other for a good half hour.
Finally, when Li Laosan came out, he was holding several pieces of paper in his hand, grinning from ear to ear...
At dusk, Li Laoda, Li Laoer, and Tao Hongying all returned.
During the day, Li Laosan passed through the city and visited Xiankelai, so everyone knew they were at home.
Everyone sat in a circle, and seeing Jiayin holding her special little bowl, her little mouth greasy from eating, they all smiled.
The chubby girl is the family's precious darling and source of joy. These past few days, without seeing her, everyone has been losing their appetite and sleep.
But they tried many methods, whether it was sending money or buying delicious food and fun things, but nothing worked. Unexpectedly, when the third son and his wife returned, the chubby girl had recovered completely.
Everyone was overjoyed.
He stuffed a spare rib into this bowl, then a meatball into that bowl, and in the blink of an eye, Jiayin's little bowl was overflowing.
Grandma Li, worried that her granddaughter might overeat, quickly started a conversation, "Jiayi and Liu Yang have been gone for over a month, shouldn't they be back soon?"
Ever since the two boys brought back several boatloads of seafood before the Lunar New Year, they've been unable to contain it anymore.
After the New Year, the fleet sailed down to Quanzhou again, but they ran away again under the pretext of dealing with Zhang Jin.
Li Zhensheng calculated the days and said with a smile, "Mother, don't worry, they should be back in seven or eight days."
Li Laosan received many good suggestions from his little niece and couldn't contain his excitement. He laughed and said to Tao Hongying, "Sister-in-law, after we finish eating, help your sister-in-law and me think of a menu. We want to take over the academy's canteen!"
Tao Hongying was surprised to hear this, but even more happy for her brother and sister-in-law. She quickly replied, "Okay, Third Brother, let's have a good talk after dinner."
Li Lao Er was also happy for his younger brother, jokingly saying, "Our third brother's business has grown big. If he really takes over the academy's canteen, wouldn't hundreds of people eat there every day? If you think about it that way, it'll be even more lively than Cyclamen."
Li Zhensheng laughed heartily, "That's right, I'm always very careful when I run my restaurant, afraid of ruining my reputation and losing customers."
"The third brother's canteen is different. Whether the food is good or not, students have to eat there, otherwise they'll go hungry. This business is really great!"
But after saying that, he gave his younger brother a few more instructions, "However, the third brother still needs to be careful. The academy is full of students who study. It's better to have slightly worse food than to make it too clean, so that no one gets sick and their studies are delayed."
"In addition, we should give up more of the profits. After all, we are in the academy. It would be bad to leave a reputation for being greedy. In the future, our children will need to take the imperial examinations, and these classmates in the academy are our connections."
"Of course, you've worked hard to run the business, so you can't not make money. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you five hundred taels every year from now on..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru quickly waved their hands to stop him.
Li Laosan quickly said, "No, brother, we don't want your money. We bought thirty acres of land and grow our own vegetables, which has already saved us a lot of money. Even if the canteen's profit is a little lower, it's enough."
Zhao Yuru chimed in, "Yes, and with so many students at the academy, we can make a lot of money with small profits, so it won't be too bad."
Li Zhensheng nodded and said nothing more, but he had his own plans in mind.
Since his younger brother doesn't want money, he can send fish, shrimp, and dried seafood to the academy to add some new dishes for the students, which will also save costs...
As everyone ate and talked, once they were full, the table was cleared away, and Li Lao Er took out paper and pen to help with the copying.
Li Zhensheng and Tao Hongying, along with Li Laosan and his wife, chatted animatedly and discussed the matter.
Soon, most of the menu was finalized.
Regarding the matter of inviting food stalls outside the academy to open special kitchens in the academy's dining hall, Li Zhensheng offered some suggestions.
The rent should be set at the same high level as outside, but it can be paid monthly.
This gives those in the same industry a chance to try, and whether they succeed or not, they will have no reason to blame the Li family.
Furthermore, these people will be subject to supervision once they enter the cafeteria.
If they refuse to use genuine ingredients, or use inferior ones, or if any student has a problem eating their food, the Li family has the right to kick them out.
In short, it's best to be cautious first and establish clear rules and regulations beforehand; this way, you'll be in a strong position no matter what problems arise!
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