Tao Wanniang figured she couldn't get into the palace anyway, so she could only wait for Zhao Zhe to come to her. It was the New Year, and she had nowhere to pay New Year's visits, so she simply stayed at home and did nothing.
Shen Lian went back to her own home. Although only an old servant was at home to look after the house during the Lunar New Year, she still had to go home to pay respects to her ancestors.
In the warm afternoon sun, Tao Wanniang was basking in the sun in her own courtyard, with Bai Yumei talking to her beside her and Xiao Qiao'er peeling melons and fruits for her. She was very content.
"Yu Mei, where is Chen Liansheng?" Tao Wanniang asked belatedly. "Wasn't the restaurant already closed?"
“There has to be someone watching over the restaurant, right? Brother Sheng works there,” Bai Yumei said. “Sister Tao, yes, Brother Sheng is planning to buy a house so he can bring me into the family.”
"That's a good thing! Is there enough money?" Tao Wanniang asked happily. Didn't she suggest that the two of them get married before she went to Youzhou?
“I sold my jade pendant and gold jewelry, and Brother Sheng has also found a house, but I would like you, Sister Tao, to take a look. After all, Brother Sheng and I are from out of town, and I’m afraid something might go wrong,” Bai Yumei said gently.
Upon hearing that Bai Yumei had sold those things, Tao Wanniang couldn't help but glance at Bai Yumei again. Could one say that Bai Yumei was foolish? But this was a matter between the two of them.
"Which one have you chosen? How big is the house? How much does it cost?" Tao Wanniang couldn't help but ask.
"It's about half an hour away from the restaurant. I went to check it out; it's a small, square courtyard, and it costs about two hundred taels of silver," Bai Yumei said. "Houses in the capital are too expensive."
It was still half an hour away from the restaurant. Tao Wanniang estimated in her mind that it was really not in a bustling area.
“Then I’ll consider myself part of your family. I’ll help you with your dowry as you get married,” Tao Wanniang said. “Wait a minute, I’ll go get some things.”
Bai Yumei was somewhat flattered. She was about to say that there was no need to trouble herself with the dowry when Tao Wanniang got up.
Before long, Tao Wanniang came out with the deeds to three houses.
“Yu Mei, come here, choose one of these three small houses as your dowry.”
"This... Sister Tao, how can this be? We will buy our own house." Bai Yumei immediately refused. She and Chen Liansheng were able to gain a foothold in the capital thanks to Tao Wanniang.
"I didn't tell you not to buy houses!" Tao Wan's mother laughed. "One house for your own residence, and one house for rent. That way, you can supplement your household income. Isn't that better?"
“But…” Bai Yumei still felt it was inappropriate.
"Don't say 'but' anymore. Back in Shanhai Prefecture, you helped me so much. Now I'm repaying you with a house. Yumei, just pick one!" Tao Wanniang said with a kind smile. "Little Qiao'er, what do you say about repaying a small kindness?"
"A drop of water in need should be repaid with a spring of water." Little Qiao'er responded in a clear and melodious voice.
"Sister Tao!" Bai Yumei exclaimed excitedly.
“Also, I forgot to tell you, I saw Huang Youdao in Wangjing,” Tao Wanniang added. “He looked old and down on his luck, not at all like a lord. How does that make you feel a little smug?”
Bai Yumei was taken aback; she would have forgotten about this person if he hadn't been mentioned.
"Sister Tao, thank you!" Bai Yumei said gratefully. "I will definitely work hard at the restaurant to repay you!"
"Yes, I'm satisfied with what you said. Go ahead and choose. I've looked at all three houses. Whether it's the location or anything else, you can rent them out or sell them later."
Seeing Tao Wanniang's insistence, Bai Yumei took a deep breath and casually picked up a land deed. "Sister Tao, thank you!"
"We're family, no need to thank me." Having given away one set, I should probably buy a few more. Sigh, I wonder when the emperor will arrive!
Tao Wanniang didn't have anyone to visit, but on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Luneng and Liu Yueniang came to pay their respects.
"Manager Tao, your departure has really given me a lot of trouble!" Lu Neng couldn't help but exclaim. "It's also exhausted Chef Yang, and there's that picky customer who said the taste wasn't the same unless it was your cooking. Sigh, Manager Tao, you can't leave again like this!"
Tao Wanniang, however, didn't seem to care much and said, "But I heard from Yumei that after I left, the revenue wasn't any less than before!"
“That’s right, they’re all Tao’s top students, so they can’t be that different.” Lu Neng said happily, “I came here today to tell you that Zheng De from that fake Zhaixinglou in Wangjing has been here. His point is that he thinks his shop is full of his people and he doesn’t want that to change.”
"But you also think it's great to ride on the coattails of our Star-Picking Pavilion, right?" Tao Wanniang smiled. "You also want to learn from our Star-Picking Pavilion, preferably with the same dishes and pastries, right?"
Luneng nodded and then said, "We're all businessmen, and we haven't really fallen out. After all, there's no rule that says if we open Zhaixinglou, Zheng De can't open it."
Tao Wanniang nodded in agreement. That made sense, but Zheng De couldn't use the name of the Star-Picking Tower in the capital!
"And in the end, the talks broke down?" Tao Wanniang asked.
"No, in the end, he chose what you mentioned, franchising. Yes, franchising, and then he'll come over again when you come back to discuss the franchise fee," Luneng said.
“Alright, once we open the market, I’ll write him a letter saying I’m back, and also tell him that Youzhou has the Star-Picking Tower, and Sifang City will have one too,” Tao Wanniang said calmly. “This time I didn’t really go out just to catch my breath.”
Shandong Luneng's eyes lit up, but they were immediately troubled again.
"Manager Tao, Youzhou is far away, it's too inconvenient to travel back and forth, what will we do then?"
“There’s nothing we can do. Our Zhaixinglou in the capital will serve as the headquarters. We’ll train some key personnel, each of whom can handle things independently. If someone is willing to go there, that would be the best. Even if they can’t stay for long, they can still teach the people there.” Tao Wanniang said slowly. “I will also work with Chef Yang to compile the Zhaixinglou’s menu. All Zhaixinglou restaurants in the world will use this menu. That’s the unique feature of our Zhaixinglou.”
Tao Wanniang explained her entire plan, which lasted for nearly half an hour, leaving Lu Neng and Liu Yueniang stunned but also somewhat excited.
"Manager Tao, in the future, will I also be able to inspect other Zhaixinglou stores, and as you said, supervise and regulate their daily operations?"
Luneng chuckled and said that he felt like a high-ranking official inspecting a local area.
"Pretty much. Also, I brought some things back from Youzhou this time. There's plenty of time. Our Zhaixinglou in the capital city wants to be unique because all the Zhaixinglou in the entire Yue Kingdom will have to get their supplies from us," Tao Wanniang said. She had a long-term vision; Zhaixinglou was to become a chain restaurant throughout the entire country!
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