Chapter 168: Business is booming, Wan Lao Si is in a good position
It was almost noon at this time. The workers who were building the commercial center next door heard that a restaurant had opened here. The rich men with some money wanted to come and take a look. They didn't provide food on the construction site, but the wages were high, fifty cents a day. This was also the reason why Qiu Shi hired so many workers at a high price in order to meet the deadline.
The wages are high, so the work is not easy. We start at the construction site before dawn to lay the foundation and erect the frame, and leave after dark. We work six hours a day, and there is no food provided. The people hired must be strong men who can work and eat.
These days they had been eating dry food that they brought from home. It was cold and hard, and when the cold wind blew, they had to swallow it along with the chilly wind, and it tasted really sour.
There are restaurants and hotels on the street, but they are far from here. It takes them half an hour to eat. After a long trip back and forth, they are hungry before they can start working.
Wan's shop is doing a great job. Finally, everyone can have a hot meal.
Mrs. Wan San had just finished cooking half of the dishes for the mayor and his entourage in the kitchen when she heard Mr. Wan Lao Si in front of her repeatedly announcing that there were customers ordering dishes.
Mrs. Wan San and Mrs. Wan Er were so anxious that they were sweating.
Seeing this, Shen quickly called for Grandma Wan to help with the fire. She also helped out by picking, washing, and cutting vegetables. Shen worked efficiently.
Zhao also wanted to follow in, but was persuaded to go back by Old Lady Wan. After all, Zhao couldn't help much here, so it was better not to stay here and wait.
Mrs. Wan was lighting a fire under the stove and said to her two daughters-in-law and Shen, "Oh, it's the first day of business and we have quite a few customers. I thought we would have to wait ten days or half a month before we could have any business, but we didn't expect that the business would be so hot on the first day."
Mrs. Wan San had a white sweat towel hanging around her neck. She was sweating profusely in the cold wind outside. She was wearing a padded jacket and had taken off her outer coat long ago. She had a smile on her face, her hands kept moving, and she responded to Mrs. Wan without raising her head.
"Mom, isn't it because you know how to choose an auspicious time? Today is the right day to open the business. Our business will surely be prosperous in the future. Just sit back and enjoy the good life."
Wan Ersao and Shen, one was washing vegetables and the other was cutting vegetables. They both laughed when they heard what was said. The kitchen was filled with the smell of life and laughter.
In the shop in front, Wan Laosi was too busy to handle it, so he quickly asked Wan Wen to call for help.
"Wan Wen, go and ask your father and Third Uncle to come to the front to help. Tell them that there are many customers and Fourth Uncle can't handle it alone."
Wan Lao Si patted Wan Wen's butt, smiled and gave him a push, and Wan Wen responded happily, "Okay, Fourth Uncle."
The man had already run across the porch to the backyard.
"Hey, shopkeeper, what delicious food do you have? Tell us brothers, we are in a hurry."
A group of four or five big men started shouting at the top of their lungs as soon as they entered the door.
Wan Lao Si had just poured some hot water for the guests who had just come in, and said with a smile, "Excuse me, please wait a moment, the food will be here soon."
Then he trotted to the door and welcomed them in with a smile.
"Hey, gentlemen, please come in and have some hot tea to warm yourself up. How about I introduce the food in our restaurant to you?"
The big man took a look at Wan Laosi, nodded, and followed Wan Laosi towards the table inside.
Wan Lao Si swiftly picked up the kettle and poured water, smiling attentively, "Gentlemen, our store has chicken, duck, mutton, dim sum, rice and noodles. I wonder if you would like to eat some meat or vegetarian food?"
"What's the signature of your restaurant? Tell me about it. We don't need to go to all that trouble. As long as it's affordable and filling, and the food is hot, we'll come here often. There are a lot of brothers on the construction site over there. We're here to lead the way. Your food is delicious and plentiful, and the brothers are happy to come and show their support, don't you agree?"
The big man looked up at Wan Laosi with a meaningful smile on his lips.
Wan Lao Si lowered his eyes and smiled, "Brother, our shop is small, and the things we sell are affordable. For example, this braised pork with rice is only 15 cents a bowl. I guarantee you will eat it with your mouth full of oil, and you will come again next time. Besides, the braised pork in my shop is something you can't find in the whole town even if you search with a lantern. Would you like to try it, my guests? I guarantee you will be full, and you can also get a bowl of hot bone soup."
When the big man heard this, he thought that a bowl of braised pork with rice was only fifteen cents, which was indeed not expensive. But he wondered if it really tasted as good as the shopkeeper said?
"Okay, let's have a bowl first. If it doesn't taste good, I won't pay you. I'm a picky person."
"Brother Hu, don't worry. If you don't like the meal, I'll treat you. What do you think?"
Wan Laosi was good at observing people's expressions and after talking to the big man for a few words, he found that Hu Da was a man with a generous personality and did not like to be coy, so he simply responded to him generously.
As expected, this remark hit the spot with Hu Da's temper. He slapped the table and laughed, "Okay, little brother, you are straightforward. I, Hu Lao Er, will pay you for being my brother. Go serve the food first. We are all starving. Just look at how many people there are. Serve some braised pork with rice. Be quick. We are on a deadline."
Wan Laosi had a happy face. About ten people had come just now, but he only sold two servings of braised pork with rice. Others ordered vegetable rice, which cost only eight cents a bowl.
He sold five bowls of braised pork with rice at once, which cost him seventy-five cents.
Wan Lao Si immediately responded, "Okay, wait a moment, five servings of braised pork with rice!"
Wan Laosi shouted at the back kitchen at the top of his voice. There was a square hole between the back kitchen and the front shop, which was specially used for serving meals. It was convenient and hygienic.
Today is the first day of opening, and Wan Sansao did not dare to prepare too much braised pork. It takes a lot of time to cook braised pork on the spot, so Wan Sansao prepared it early in the morning and kept it simmering in a clay pot. If a customer orders food, she can directly serve a bowl of rice, scoop a big spoonful of braised pork from the pot and cover the rice, and then pour half a spoonful of soup on it. It is simply amazing.
As soon as Wan Laosi finished speaking, Wan Ersao quickly put down the work in her hands, filled the wooden barrel with five large bowls of white rice, and then skillfully opened the jar, covered each bowl of rice with braised pork, and poured the soup on it.
Soon the sound of Wan Ersao pulling the bell was heard.
This was also an idea that Wan Sansao came up with. She felt that the people in the kitchen were all women and it was not appropriate to shout like that, so she used a bell to convey the message so that the people in the front could hear it and hurry over to get the food.
When Wan Lao Si heard the sound of the bell, he hurried over. At this time, Wan Lao Er and Wan Lao San also hurried over from the backyard.
"Old Four, why are there so many guests at this time?"
When Wan Laosan came in and saw so many people, he got a little nervous.
"Third brother, I don't know either, but I heard that they are all workers from the construction site next door. They want to have a hot meal. Hurry up and help. Don't just stand there. Isn't it good to have more customers?"
After saying this, Wan Lao Si handed the two bowls of braised pork in his hand to Wan Lao San and pointed at Hu Da's table and said, "These five bowls of braised pork are for the guests over there. Deliver them to them quickly."
Wan Laosan quickly took it and walked forward at the speed of the wind.
Wan Laoer also quickly brought two bowls, but he was not used to meeting so many strangers and was a little shy. After all, he had been dealing with crops all his life and now temporarily became a waiter. He was a little shy, so he walked forward with his head down.
"Oh, are you blind? You soiled my new clothes. Can you afford to pay for it?"
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