The next day, Saturday.
After finishing her morning reading, He Wenlin took Xu Haibo and He Wenhua to Hengling for a stroll.
Hearing that they were going to inspect a location today, Xia Lijuan insisted on going along.
Yang Gangyong happened to be delivering goods here, so He Wenlin and the others hitched a ride.
The vegetable market here faces a bridge, and there are three garment factories on the other side of the bridge.
He Wenlin had inquired with Guo Dali and learned that the three factories together had nearly two hundred workers.
He Wenlin currently doesn't have any available chefs; otherwise, she could open a fast-food restaurant here that primarily focuses on takeout.
When they arrived, it was exactly seven o'clock, and there were quite a few people coming and going.
“There’s a stall in the market that sells wontons and noodle soup, as well as fried dough sticks and soy milk. They’re doing pretty good business,” He Wenlin said. “Come on, let’s go try them out and see what our competitors are up to.”
Although it was only seven o'clock, the breakfast shops in the vegetable market were already crowded. This is mainly because factory workers usually start work at seven-thirty, and the vegetable market also opens early, with vegetable vendors having breakfast here.
We bought some wontons, noodles, soy milk, and fried dough sticks, and the four of us sat in the shop to eat.
"It seems like they don't sell steamed dumplings or xiaolongbao around here," Xia Lijuan said happily. "We can sell steamed dumplings and xiaolongbao here."
"Don't be in such a hurry, let's take a look first and observe for a while longer," He Wenlin said. "After we finish eating, let's walk a bit further ahead, there should be another breakfast stall there."
He Wenhua said, "I don't know how to make xiaolongbao or steamed dumplings at all."
Xu Haibo: "This probably won't be easy to learn. I doubt I could learn it in a few days."
“It’s a bit more difficult than the others,” He Wenlin said. “Don’t rush, take your time. Brother Bo, if you’re alone, it might not be possible to sell rice balls and steamed dumplings and xiaolongbao at the same time, because rice balls need to be made fresh. Brother, you and your wife are two people, so one of you can sell xiaolongbao and steamed dumplings, and the other can sell rice balls.”
"Linlin, what do you think about opening a fast food restaurant like yours over here? I see there are three factories across the street," Xia Lijuan asked.
He Wenlin: "Sure, renting a house, like the kind my family used to do, should work. If you're really interested, you'll need to practice your cooking skills. At the very least, you should be able to cook common dishes, and make them taste good."
“I think selling breakfast is fine. Opening a fast food restaurant requires high cooking skills, so forget it, I’m not good at it.” He Wenhua thinks selling breakfast is fine.
Xia Lijuan glared at him, thinking he was too unambitious.
After breakfast, it was already 7:20, and there were even more people.
Moreover, there are more people at the farmers' market now.
He Wenlin stood there with them for a while. At eight o'clock, the bridge was still bustling with people.
He Wenlin and three others walked east along the main road in front of the vegetable market. After walking about 400 meters, they came to a three-way intersection.
There are several breakfast stalls at this intersection, selling soy milk and fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and steamed dumplings; it's quite lively.
After wandering around the three-way intersection, I returned the way I came and happened to run into Zheng Juan and Wang Daqiang.
"Uncle Wang, Aunt Zheng, what a coincidence!" He Wenlin stepped forward to greet them.
"Young Master He, it's been a long time," Zheng Juan said with a smile. "Are you planning to go take a look at your factory?"
"We just came here to wander around."
After He Wenlin finished speaking, she looked at Zheng Juan, then at the row of mud-brick houses in front of her, and said, "You all go ahead with your work, we'll contact you later."
"Okay, I'll contact you later."
"Linlin, who is this?" Xia Lijuan asked.
“She’s the owner of a real estate agency,” He Wenlin said. “If you save money in the future and want to buy a house or land, you can go to her. Land is cheap now, and it will appreciate in value later. If you have money, hoard houses and land.”
Having said that, Xia Lijuan quickly added, "Let's forget about buying a house here. We want to build one in our hometown. Linlin, you'll have to help me and your older brother out financially then."
"That's natural."
Xia Lijuan was overjoyed: "Are you serious?"
"Of course it's true, but it has to be within the limits of what I borrowed and what you repay."
He Wenlin didn't want to be taken advantage of.
Xia Lijuan was somewhat unhappy upon hearing this, feeling that He Wenlin was implying that she wouldn't repay the money.
However, they still needed He Wenlin's help, so Xia Lijuan was unhappy but didn't say anything.
"Linlin, do you think this place is worth selling?" Xu Haibo asked at this moment.
"If you ask me, I think you could try selling breakfast. The cost of setting up a stall is not high, and you won't lose much. There are many workers going to work and people coming and going to buy vegetables at this intersection by the bridge, so you can give it a try."
This place is quite remote. Renting a place nearby would cost no more than 60 yuan a month for utilities. Selling just 50 rice balls a day would bring in 75 yuan in revenue, with a daily profit of at least 45 yuan. That's easily more than working a regular job. However, to run a business, you have to be charming and the food has to be delicious, otherwise you won't get repeat customers.
This place isn't a tourist area or a bustling downtown area, so business relies solely on repeat customers.
"Wenhua, are you going to set up a stall here?" Xu Haibo said. "If you do set up a stall here, I'll look for another place. We definitely can't sell in one place."
“If you want to sell, then go ahead…” Before He Wenhua could finish speaking, Xia Lijuan nudged him and then said with a smile, “We’ll think about it.”
After saying that, Xia Lijuan asked He Wenlin, "Linlin, if we were to open a fast food restaurant here, how much would we need to invest?"
"A freezer costs 1,500 yuan, you need at least one, then three gas cylinders, filled with gas, cost 1,000 yuan, then an insulated cart, a wok, a stove, a rice cooker, etc., it costs about 5,000 to 6,000 yuan. If you also want to buy an air conditioner, it will cost an additional 2,000 yuan."
If you're going to open a business, you'll at least need to learn the skills for a while. I don't think you need to take such big steps at the beginning. You could start by selling breakfast, or set up a stall outside a factory to stir-fry noodles, and accumulate experience first.
He Wenlin has lived several decades longer, so at the very least, she has more social experience and a broader perspective than them.
"Six months?" Xia Lijuan was not satisfied with this timeframe. She felt that six months was too long and that starting a business sooner would allow her to make money earlier.
Xia Lijuan added, "I heard that Xiaojun was able to work independently after only two months of training."
“He didn’t learn many dishes before he went to the No. 2 store. Back then, the No. 2 store didn’t have as many dishes as it does now. A few dishes and porridge were added later. If you only wanted to learn those six or seven dishes, you could learn them in two months.”
"Then let's learn for two months and then open a fast food restaurant!"
In Xia Lijuan's opinion, opening a shop will definitely earn more than setting up a stall!
Open early and make money early!
"Sister-in-law, brother, I suggest you reconsider..."
"We've thought it through. We'll learn those few home-style dishes, as well as wontons, rice balls, and fried noodles with egg, and so on." Xia Lijuan believed that she had mastered everything about He Wenlin's fast food restaurant.
She felt that as long as He Wenhua learned to cook, the business would definitely be fine!
Then she'll be able to buy a car, a mobile phone, and a gold bracelet!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
