Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Your boss is really great
Xu Haitang really started rehearsing the program in a hurry. She picked ten waiters from the restaurant, of course on a voluntary basis, and trained for one and a half hours each in the morning and afternoon.
Since some people needed to rehearse, those who didn't naturally had more work to do. So Xu Haitang and Liu Mianmian applied for a subsidy bonus, giving everyone an extra dollar a day. While one dollar might not sound like much, an extra ten dollars for ten days of rehearsal was a significant sum in those days, so everyone was happy.
The young people rehearsing were all lively, cheerful and loved to perform. Some of them even said that they had heard that the dance hall was bustling and had been thinking of going dancing during the holidays. Now not only could they go dancing, but they could also earn money, so they were definitely very enthusiastic!
Before the New Year, many families have already started preparing for the New Year, but the flame of struggle has been rekindled in the Western restaurant. Even if you are not participating in the performance, you will come and learn a few tricks when you have nothing to do.
The dance hall is so popular, maybe I'll have a chance to show off there?
Liu Mianmian naturally didn't have to worry about the New Year's goods at home. She chose a sunny day, came to the restaurant a few times, and gave everyone some suggestions.
Although she wasn't much of a dancer, those short videos she'd watched in her past life weren't in vain. When she traveled through time, group streaming was all the rage online, and the allure of long legs filling the screen was well-documented online.
The girls and boys in the Western restaurant had never seen this before. Those movements felt a bit embarrassing, but they were neat and uniform, and looked pretty good, even quite fashionable.
As a mature boss, Liu Mianmian gradually mastered the art of brainwashing: "We are a Western restaurant from Hong Kong. Everything in the restaurant is based on foreign models. We must be ahead of the trend in every aspect. If you think it's fashionable, it's right. We are definitely the most fashionable in South City."
The girls and boys smiled shyly, but when they actually danced, they danced more happily and relaxedly.
After a few days, Xu Haitang, who was originally worried, began to be full of confidence. The Nancheng Song and Dance Troupe could not dance as fashionable as theirs.
The dance hall should pay them performance fees for such a good show.
On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Haitang led ten people from the restaurant to the dance hall in a heroic and high-spirited manner.
Wu Heng was grilling meat with the staff of the dance hall in the open space behind the dance hall. The north wind was howling, and a whole leg of lamb was placed on the stone, grilling with a sizzling sound.
His hair is always messy. That day it was like a chicken coop, but today it sticks up on the left and right.
Seeing Xu Haitang and the others, he was happy: "Oh, you guys are lucky! My lamb leg is almost done roasting."
Xu Haitang and his team were in the catering business, and the steaks they cooked were incredibly sizzling and fragrant. However, they only cooked slices at a time, so Wu Heng's roasting of a whole leg of lamb still surprised everyone in the restaurant.
The owner of this dance hall is different. In such a cold day with northwest wind blowing, he led everyone to roast lamb legs.
After Wu Heng greeted them, he hurriedly sprinkled seasoning on the lamb leg. Then he took a knife and cut off a large piece of meat, put it on a plate and handed it to Xu Haitang: "It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Since we met, let's eat together."
Xu Haitang hesitated, and Wu Heng directly shoved the plate into her hands: "I baked this freshly, it's not poisonous, don't worry about eating it, and we'll talk about it after you finish it."
Xu Haitang hesitated for a moment, then gave the plate to a young man next to him and asked him to help divide it.
In the end, everyone tore off a little, leaving Xu Haitang with a large piece of meat. Xu Haitang looked at his hands.
Forget it, it won’t make you sick if you eat something unclean.
She pinched it between two fingers.
It smells delicious and tastes delicious, with just the right amount of saltiness and a strong flavor of seasoning.
To be honest, Xu Haitang preferred the roast lamb to the steak in their restaurant. Steak was the Western way, half-cooked, with a knife and fork, only to see tiny slivers of red blood. The roast lamb was the flavor familiar to Chinese people, with its smoky, scorching aroma.
Wu Heng also started eating and cut another piece to give to Xu Haitang. This time Xu Haitang firmly refused. She came to discuss business and could not accept the other party's sugar-coated bullets again and again, otherwise it would be difficult to speak up when discussing the performance fee.
Wu Heng held up a shiny knife, smiled, and said, "Have you finished rehearsing? Then dance."
Xu Haitang looked around and asked, "Is it here?"
Wu Heng nodded and said, "Let's do it here. It's nice to dance here, and it will look even better when the lights are on inside."
This dance is their secret weapon. Xu Haitang is still aware of confidentiality. She did not bring an accompaniment tape today, and she did not plan to play music or dance the whole show. She only planned to let everyone dance for a short section.
So it doesn’t really matter where you jump.
Moreover, she was confident in their dance. As Wu Heng said, they would look good dancing outside, and it would look even better when the lights were on.
Xu Haitang nodded: "Okay."
She glanced at Tian Miaomiao and stepped aside. Tian Miaomiao took a step forward. The other four girls stood on both sides of Tian Miaomiao, and the remaining five boys stood in the back row.
All ten of them raised their hands and snapped their fingers. Their expressions suddenly became arrogant, as if they were looking down on everything. Then they began to count in unison: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight..."
It was obviously a funny scene, but the people present were stunned by the dance before them.
By the end of the demonstration, the people in the ballroom were stunned for a long time. Wu Heng was the first to react. He clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Your thing looks quite realistic."
Xu Haitang said solemnly, "Boss Wu, we are preparing very seriously!"
Wu Heng cleared his throat and said, "Okay, okay, okay. I know you're preparing very seriously. Let them play here first, and we'll go to the office to discuss it."
The office was in a secluded corner far away from the dance floor. Inside was a large table, two chairs, a cabinet, and a long sofa with a blanket on it.
Wu Heng rubbed the quilt casually and threw it into the cabinet, then said, "Sit anywhere."
Xu Haitang didn't even look at the sofa. He just dragged the chair in front of the desk outward and sat down.
"We're planning to perform for a week, starting at nine every night." Xu Haitang went straight to the point. "I wonder how much Mr. Wu is willing to pay for the performance?"
Wu Heng found an enamel cup and poured a glass of water for Xu Haitang, placing it in front of her. He turned around and sat down behind the desk before slowly asking, "How much do you want?"
Xu Haitang always had an inexplicable fear of Wu Heng, especially when they were alone in a closed and empty space. Xu Haitang inexplicably didn't dare to look directly into his somewhat aggressive eyes.
However, she remained straight-backed and controlled her expression as she looked at him and said, "Our restaurant won't charge anything for this. The performance fees are earned on behalf of the performers. Our boss said that this dance we choreographed is unique in South City. This alone will help your dance hall secure its top spot during the Spring Festival. From now on, the citizens of South City will undoubtedly regard 'Disco Together' as the most fashionable and stylish dance hall in South City."
"Our boss said, just for being able to put the Metropolitan Ballroom under his feet, how much performance fee does Boss Wu think it's worth?"
Wu Heng: “…”
I think, I think your boss is really great.
When it comes to fooling people, he's just like a department store selling suits one after another.
But he had to admit that what the other party said was true. This strange dance could really make his dance hall popular again and make that grandson of the Metropolitan Museum so angry that he would grit his teeth but be helpless.
Similarly, if their cooperation fails and the other party goes to the Metropolitan Ballroom, he will be the one who is gritting his teeth in anger and helpless.
This is just holding him up!
Wu Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Will your boss come on the third day of the Lunar New Year? I'm really curious." This man was so mean that it really made him curious.
Xu Haitang nodded: "Yes, she is. The boss said she would bring her friends to show her support."
She then asked, "So, our performance fee?"
Wu Heng said speechlessly: "Ten dollars per person per day, ten dollars is fine, I'll give one hundred dollars a day to ten people."
That week, each person could receive 70 yuan in performance fees.
Very good.
It was much higher than the base price she had originally planned. She had originally planned to get at least five dollars per person per day for everyone, but this was doubled.
Xu Haitang immediately smiled and complimented: "Boss Wu is very generous."
Wu Heng waved his hand. "Don't try that on me. Your smile isn't fake enough. But let's be clear, since you're cooperating with me, don't even think about going to the Metropolitan Museum to cause trouble. I'm not someone you can easily talk to."
Xu Haitang gave a dry laugh and insisted on continuing the compliment: "We are seeking cooperation because we believe in Boss Wu's ability. We will definitely not do such a thing."
Wu Heng twitched his lips.
Okay.
The two of them wrote a simple agreement. Wu Heng flicked the agreement with his fingers, glanced at the delicate handwriting, and suddenly said, "Why doesn't Manager Xu lead by example?"
Xu Haitang was carefully folding the agreement and putting it in the handbag she had brought with her. Upon hearing this, she looked up at Wu Heng in surprise: "What do you mean by not setting an example?"
Wu Heng leaned on the edge of his desk, looking at her with his dark eyes, and raised the corner of his lip: "Dancing is an example, and Manager Xu should also look good in that dance."
Xu Haitang felt a surge of heat rushing to his head, his face suddenly burning with shame and anger. Without thinking, he raised his foot and kicked Wu Heng. After the kick, he took several steps back. He was a little scared after realizing it, and pretended to be calm and said, "I'm sorry, Boss Wu, I was careless and didn't stand firmly. But please be polite when you speak. See you on the third day of the new year."
After speaking rapidly, he turned around and ran out.
Wu Heng looked at the fleeing figure and laughed even more happily. After a while, he bent down and rubbed his kicked calf, and clicked his tongue with a smile.
On that day, Liu Mianmian, who was staying at home reading novels, received a work report from Manager Xu, and the performance during the Spring Festival had been negotiated.
However, Liu Mianmian felt a little strange. Since the performance was negotiated and the dance hall also offered a pretty good price, things seemed to be going well. But why did she feel that Manager Xu seemed a little upset?
Since Xu Haitang didn't say it on her own initiative, Liu Mianmian naturally wouldn't ask.
People still need to have some sense of boundaries. If Xu Haitang is willing to talk, she can listen, but if she is not willing to talk, there is no need to act like she cares about her. Sometimes excessive care is also a burden.
Just like Liu Mianmian actually knew from Aunt Liu that Xu Haitang and Sun Laoer had divorced, but if Xu Haitang didn't mention it herself, Liu Mianmian wouldn't ask.
According to the Sun family, Xu Haitang's father, relying on his status as a factory master and his good relationship with factory leaders, deliberately pressured Sun Laoer to divorce Xu Haitang. Sun Laoer did not want to divorce, but was forced into it out of desperation.
However, Liu Mianmian guessed that after Xu Haitang completed the resignation procedures, the Sun family knew that the situation was hopeless and they could no longer gain any advantage from Xu Haitang, so they simply went with the flow.
After all, it was said that in order to get a divorce, Xu Haitang did not ask the Sun family for the rest of her dowry, except for the gold and silver jewelry that she had already taken away with her to prevent her mother-in-law from stealing, and some clothes.
The Sun family didn't give any betrothal gifts at the beginning, but they got some dowry for free, so it was a profit no matter how you look at it.
I don't know what Sun Laoer thinks, but at least the rest of the Sun family should be happy to see this happen. With a daughter-in-law who is so determined to protect the interests of her own family, what if Sun Laoer is persuaded to ignore everyone else? It would be better for them to get divorced.
This was of course Liu Mianmian's guess, but it was almost right, because Aunt Liu said that Boss Sun's wife was not careful with her mouth outside and had said something similar.
The Sun family did their best to save face, but the neighbors weren't buying it. After all, everyone knew what life Xu Haitang had led when she was at the Sun family's. Add to that Aunt Liu's whispers about some of their family's ways, and even the stingy Aunt Cao scolded Aunt Sun for being a nobody.
The restaurant business was average in the days before the New Year, so Liu Mianmian simply decided to take a holiday early.
The legal holiday for the Spring Festival is actually only three days, from the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year. However, private restaurants don't have to be so rigid. Since everyone is immersed in the atmosphere of the traditional festival and doesn't like to eat Western food, they simply give a few more days off.
The comrades in the restaurant will be even busier next year, so let them have a good rest for a few days before the New Year.
Liu Mianmian has already spotted an empty store at the entrance of the alley leading to Zhijiang Road from the Western restaurant, and she plans to open a Western fast food restaurant there.
I heard that place was originally a pastry shop, state-owned, with mediocre taste. It couldn't compete with another privately owned shop nearby, so it went bankrupt. Somehow, the shop has been vacant ever since. Liu Mianmian planned to find a way to buy it at the beginning of the new year.
When I think about it, there are still a lot of things to do next year, such as opening a fast food restaurant, buying a wholesale stall, opening a clothing factory, setting up a video hall, and oh, yes, there is also Li Yaoming.
After Li Yaoming returned to Hong Kong, Liu Mianmian spoke to him on the phone several times, reminding him not to invest recklessly. As long as he listened to her advice, filming of "Liu Niang and the Scholar" should start soon.
Liu Mianmian made a few careful notes in her little notebook.
Although she is a lazy person, she is also a lazy person who can be diligent intermittently. If she continues like this, it will be just around the corner for her to achieve her small goal... but that is still a bit far away.
Let’s make five million first.
This feeling shouldn't be far away.
The Western restaurant will be closed from the 28th day of the 12th lunar month until the 6th day of the 1st lunar month.
After the evening market closed on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, Liu Mianmian personally distributed year-end bonuses and New Year benefits to everyone.
The bonus was increased by half compared to last year's standard. The New Year benefits included fish and peanut oil shipped from Qianjin Township, as well as pork and apples obtained by Xu Haitang through the procurement channels he had accumulated. The four gifts were all quite large and quite rich.
The bonuses and holiday gifts are more than last year, and the holidays are three times more than last year. Everyone in the restaurant is overjoyed.
Their restaurant is well-known for its good wages and benefits. I was worried that the salary would decrease after the change of boss, but to my surprise, it didn't happen at all. Instead, it increased.
It seems that I will be the envy of my neighbors, relatives and friends again this year.
Xu Haitang worked for a short time, but her bonus was quite a bit. After Liu Mianmian handed her the red envelope containing the bonus, she told her about her plan to open a fast food restaurant next year.
The two sides are not far from each other. The Western fast food only serves fried chicken, French fries and hamburgers, and not many staff are needed. Liu Mianmian initially planned to let Xu Haitang take on the management role.
If you want to open a branch in another place, you can choose the person to manage the store.
Xu Haitang didn't feel any resentment at all about her boss assigning her next year's work before the holiday. Instead, she was full of fighting spirit and clenched her fist to express her determination: "Boss, I will work harder."
Liu Mianmian: “…”
That’s great. As a common person, she felt relieved when she saw her employees being so enthusiastic.
After paying the wages of the western restaurant, Jiang Hongmei and Liu Anmin came in a hurry the next day to deliver the money.
The money earned before was gradually invested back into the goods, which meant that little money was divided. These few days at the end of the year were actually very busy, but it would definitely not work without dividing the money, so Jiang Hongmei and Liu Anmin still squeezed out half a day to come to Qiuzhi Lane to reconcile the accounts and divide the money.
The accounts are all clear and the profits are indeed high. However, since we plan to buy a stall and open a clothing factory next year, we have to set aside this money first, so in the end each person only got three to five thousand yuan as a token of appreciation.
"We are rich now, so we can say that three to five thousand is just a token of our appreciation," Jiang Hongmei sighed.
Liu Anmin rubbed his face and said, "Then we are still far from those rich people in Guangcheng."
"They've been doing this for years, and we're just getting started. We'll definitely catch up in the future." Jiang Hongmei sighed, "Last year, I never would have dreamed of making this much money."
"Let's work hard next year to expand our garment factory!" said Liu Anmin.
"Yes, expand it and make a lot of money!" Jiang Hongmei raised her fist and waved it.
Liu Mianmian glanced at them and felt that one of them had "struggle" written on his face, while the other had "effort" written on his face.
That’s great. As a humble person, she felt warm and at ease when she saw her partner was so motivated.
The occasional sound of firecrackers in the alley gradually became more frequent, the aroma of food in the air became stronger, and the laughter of children seemed to become clearer and clearer as New Year's Eve approached... The New Year atmosphere gradually became stronger in this silent and quiet change.
New Year's Eve arrives quietly amid the sound of firecrackers.
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