“I’m determined to open this restaurant, but I’ll only be cooking, so I need two waiters, a cashier, and people to wash vegetables and dishes in the kitchen. You can decide whether you want to work for me or find your own jobs!” Tao Wan’s mother said to everyone in the family with a stern face.
“Mother, we can’t do the debt collection job, but Da Peng and I can definitely run the waiters,” Ling Da Hu immediately said.
"Mother, I can help with the kitchen work, but Rui'er and Xiao Feng still need someone to look after them. If we could take them to the restaurant..." Wang Hongyu asked tentatively, she really wanted to help!
“No, we can’t take the child to a restaurant. There’s a danger of open flames in the kitchen. Besides, even if we go outside, it’s not good for the child to run around if there are guests,” Tao Wan’s mother immediately objected.
"The waiter's wage is three qian of silver a month, the kitchen helper's is two qian of silver, and the accountant's is two liang of silver. I won't suppress you or pay you more just because you're family. If you don't want to work, I'll pay the same amount to anyone I hire from outside," Tao Wanniang said seriously.
Three coins equals three hundred cash. Ling Dahu and Ling Dapeng calculated in their minds that this was more than what they could earn working as long-term laborers! Ling Dahu glanced at Wang Hongyu; if his wife worked with him, they could earn five hundred cash a month…
"Mother, can we think about this?" Ling Dahu said. "Dapeng and I are definitely going to do this, it's just a matter of the child..."
"There's still some time, so you can figure it out yourselves. If the accounting really isn't working out, I can do it myself, which will save money!" Tao Wanniang said. "Also, I need to find a tutor for you. It's really embarrassing for the whole family to be illiterate!"
As Tao Wanniang spoke, she glanced at her son and daughter-in-law with disdain.
The Ling brothers scratched their heads sheepishly. No one in Lingjia Village had ever taught them to read since they were little, hadn't they?
"Sister Tao, what can I do?" Bai Yumei asked eagerly. She couldn't just eat and not work! "I do know how to keep accounts, but my face..."
"Yu Mei, it would be best if you were willing to go out. Wearing a gauze hat all day is cumbersome. I'll make you a mask to cover half your face!" Tao Wanniang said with delight. A ready-made accountant! It's so good to know her inside and out!
"Alright, everything's settled. Come on, Qiao'er, Yumei, let's go for a walk." She had found the shop through a broker a few days ago and bought it without telling anyone else. She even had the broker hire workers to renovate the entire shop.
Wearing a gauze hat, Bai Yumei was slender and graceful. A gust of autumn wind blew her skirt, giving her an ethereal air. Walking along the long streets of the capital, she attracted many admiring glances.
"Sister Tao, I... this won't do!" Bai Yumei felt very uncomfortable feeling the gazes of others.
“A few days ago, I was strolling around the streets and saw a craftsman who had made a lot of masks. I asked him, ‘Since half of your face is unharmed, you can show it. You can make a mask to cover the other half.’” Tao Wan’s mother had already thought it through; Bai Yumei couldn’t stay at home all day.
"Sister Tao, thank you!" Bai Yumei was touched. It was so rare for Tao Wanniang to think of this for her, as a complete stranger.
Soon, they arrived at the craftsman Tao Wanniang had mentioned. After examining Bai Yumei's condition, the shopkeeper said, "This mask can be made, but it will cost two taels of silver. Will you pay that?"
"Here you go, shopkeeper. How about we make another one? You can always replace it, right?" Tao Wanniang said playfully.
What was originally an awkward and sad situation became quite amusing after Tao Wanniang's teasing words. The shopkeeper, who had never seen anything like this before, smiled and said, "Alright, add another tael of silver and I'll make you a replacement. Would you like to choose a style of mask? I have a catalog here, take a look yourself."
When Bai Yumei saw her injured face at the shopkeeper, she felt embarrassed, but after Tao Wanniang's words and the shopkeeper's lack of any unusual remarks, the gloom in her heart was dispelled.
"Let's go with these two then. I can't wait to see them ready!"
Tao Wanniang gave the money, said a few words to the shopkeeper, and then left with Bai Yumei and Xiao Qiao'er.
The shop I bought wasn't on the main street, but it was at a small intersection, so it was easy to spot. And as for restaurants, the aroma of the food is quite appealing.
The walls in the shop were repainted white, and the counter was the original one, but Tao Wanniang insisted that everything be repainted with tung oil, as well as the tables and chairs, because she wanted the whole shop to look very clean.
"Master Tao, the work is almost finished, but we've run into a bit of trouble..." The foreman looked troubled when he saw Tao Wanniang coming over. Just as he was about to speak, some unfriendly words came from outside.
"It's them, they've come to demand protection money!" the foreman whispered.
Protection fee, what is that? Tao Wan raised an eyebrow. She had paid for the shop, signed a contract with the brokerage firm, and registered with the government. She would pay the fees she was owed, but who would collect the protection fee?
"I'll go out and take a look," Tao Wanniang said to Bai Yumei and Xiao Qiao'er. "You two stay inside."
"Who's in charge? Come out here right now. Do you know the rules when you're doing business on our turf?" When Tao Wanniang came out, she saw several slovenly young men shouting.
Really... there are people like this everywhere! Tao Wan's mother picked up a wooden stick from the doorway.
“I’m the boss. What’s wrong with you? You’re bullying people in my shop. I haven’t even opened for business yet and you’re already demanding protection money. What kind of protection money are you collecting? Who are you protecting?” Tao Wanniang pointed at one of the men in front of her with a wooden stick and said fiercely.
The thugs were stunned; this woman was incredibly fierce!
"What kind of woman are you? Stop joking around. Call the men in your family out here!" the thug said dismissively, his words laced with sarcasm.
"My husband... has been dead for over ten years. Do you want to see him?" Tao Wanniang said bluntly. Even if she couldn't gain the upper hand in a fight, she couldn't afford to lose at the beginning. If she lost her momentum, she would be at the mercy of others in the future.
The thug was speechless for a moment after being rebuked by Tao Wanniang's words, and then looked her up and down with ill intent.
"You're past your prime, huh? Still have some charm? What's this? Didn't you ask around before coming here to do business?" The local thug stroked his chin, leering at Tao Wanniang.
Tao Wanniang snorted coldly and swung the stick at the thug.
"A middle-aged woman? I'll beat you up, you ill-mannered brat. My son is older than you. You think you can protect me when it comes to collecting protection money?"
"Ouch, you actually hit me, brothers... Ouch, help, help..."
Tao Wan was incredibly brave, wielding a wooden stick and beating them one by one. In no time, the cries of agony from the thugs echoed throughout the street, drawing the attention of every shopkeeper.
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