After breaking up with Luh Kai, Cheng Su returned to the small restaurant. It was already time to prepare for the evening service. Noticing her preoccupied look, Qiulan rarely teased her, asking whether she was already missing Commander Qi who had just left.
Qiulan was now also diligently studying the books recommended by Cheng Su and had become the supervisor, which brightened her personality a lot.
Cheng Su spat in jest and asked her to tell the kitchen to make her a bowl of noodles. She herself sat at the counter, still thinking about the shop Luh Kai had introduced to her.
There was no denying that the location of that shop was top-notch. If it were a clean shop, the business would definitely be booming.
The problem was that someone had died in that shop. The diners would be none the wiser if they didn’t know, but if they learned the truth, who knew whether they would still come in to eat!
Even if outsiders didn’t speak of it, it was inevitable that the shop’s staff would find out. Whether it would sit right with them was another matter entirely.
A place where someone had died was bound to be taboo to many.
But having looked around, she really couldn’t find any other good shops up for transfer. If she were to really go through with it and take over Luh Kai’s uncle’s shop, the business should be promising.
"Ah!" Cheng Su leaned on the counter, somewhat dejected.
There were indeed some things you just couldn’t have both ways. A good shop had to be the one where someone had died, while a poor shop wouldn’t bring in any business, and taking it over would be just wasted effort.
And Taiguo was not around, depriving her of someone to discuss this with.
"What’s the problem you’ve run into this time?"
Old Song personally brought over a tray, on which there was a bowl of noodles topped with two sunny-side-up eggs, accompanied by a few strips of green vegetables, and next to it was a plate of sour and spicy appetizers.
"You should have let them bring it over. Why did you bring it yourself?" Cheng Su quickly stood up to retrieve the tray.
"They are all busy!" Old Song lifted the notebook in his hand, saying, "I saw you come in, so I thought I’d talk to you about this winter’s hot pot menu."
"Sure, let’s talk!" Cheng Su grabbed her chopsticks and started eating the noodles.
It was cold, and she got hungry fast, but winter was when it was easiest to gain weight, so she didn’t dare to eat too much and had only asked for a bowl of noodles.
Old Song suggested a whole lamb hot pot, to be sourced from Zhang Zikou. He had a relative who raised sheep on the mountains—excellent quality meat, delicious flavor, and fairly priced. He was asking for Cheng Su’s opinion.
"Nothing better than lamb in the winter. If you decide, just tell Xiao Jiang to handle the purchase," Cheng Su said after swallowing the egg in her mouth.
Old Song was confident the proposal would pass, but he was afraid Cheng Su might overthink it, so he reiterated that the sheep were from his own relative’s farm. The price was fair indeed, although slightly higher than the market rate.
"But I guarantee the quality of the meat is much tenderer than what you get from other farm markets, and it has less of that mutton smell." Old Song declared.
Cheng Su laughed and put down her chopsticks, "Old Song, are you afraid I’ll accuse you and your son of nepotism?"
Old Song looked a bit embarrassed and said, "Well, it’s better to be clear about these things."
"Since I entrusted you with the head chef’s position and let Xiao Jiang handle the purchasing, it’s out of trust. ’Do not employ those you suspect, and do not suspect those you employ.’ If I were doubtful of you two, I wouldn’t have put you in these positions!" Cheng Su said with a smile, picking up her chopsticks again, "Moreover, Old Song, would you really deceive me?"
"Of course not!" Old Song immediately replied.
"There you go," Cheng Su mused, "I know there’s a lot of ins and outs to these matters. I’m not encouraging any kind of trickery, just don’t go overboard or cross my line, that’s all."
Old Song’s expression changed slightly, and he opened his mouth as if to speak.
Cheng Su waved her hand and said, "Old Song, as someone in a higher-up position, turning a blind eye helps better control below. Don’t worry. Actually, I have an issue, and I need your advice on it?"