The wages for just one employee are quite high in a month, and combined with rent, the monthly expenses exceed three hundred.
My brother took too many days off this month, and I’m afraid I won’t catch up on the courses. I’m the only one left to handle everything.
I spent two days training everyone. Lin Wan originally wanted to have a uniform for everyone, but she was too busy to manage alone, so she had to wait until after the opening.
She launched a promotional event, offering a two-yuan discount on ten-yuan purchases and a one-yuan discount on five-yuan purchases. For the past few days, four waiters have been distributing homemade flyers by the roadside and near the factory. On the opening day, Lin Wan went to the market early in the morning to buy all the ingredients needed for the day. Without a vehicle, Lin Wan made two trips, one for meat and one for vegetables. Her frail body struggled with carrying a sack each time, but she had no choice. She inquired about the pedicab outside, and one handmade bike costs over three hundred, which she couldn’t afford.
The event was launched, and curious people wanted to come and try the Southern-style hotpot.
Some people just wanted a good deal. Ten-yuan with a two-yuan discount is quite significant.
On the opening day, Liang Hongmei took a break to come and have a look. Seeing the siblings open such a big restaurant made her smile.
In her lifetime, Liang Hongmei never thought this day would come.
Lin Yinghui even set off a big firecracker, and Lin Wan chose the auspicious day for the opening.
In business, such things can’t be ignored.
For the hotpot base, there’s a clear soup and a spicy pot. The base was prepared at home by Lin Wan and Mom the night before. Simmer it at night, and it solidifies into blocks by the next day.
Every day, Lin Wan brings enough for the day and specifically instructs Aunt Gui and Sister-in-law Liu on the required quantities. Lin Wan spent a day at the kitchenware market and finally found a yingyang pot. It cost one yuan, made of aluminum.
Two yuan for the clear soup base, one yuan for the spicy pot, and one yuan for the yingyang pot.
Lin Wan calculated that for two people, with usual dishes, it would generally cost three to four yuan.
Considering the local consumption level, it’s not high.
On the opening day, many people came, indeed attracted by the discounts.
"Manager, our restaurant is really doing well," said Xiao Yu, a waiter at the restaurant. It was a bustling noon, and she witnessed it—so many tables downstairs, not a single one vacant.
"That’s common when we first open; in a few days, the customers will start dwindling," Lin Wan replied, holding a calculator, checking the customer’s bill to see if there were any mistakes.
"Oh, it’ll decrease? But our hotpot is delicious."
"Customers are just seeking some novelty now. Hurry and get back to work."
After Xiao Yu left, Lin Wan took a quick glance at the bustling hall, filled with smoke, a sight that was quite appealing.
If only the restaurant could be every day, thought Lin Wan.
Lin Wan initially thought there were already many customers at noon, but there were even more in the evening.
It’s understandable, as workers and government employees are off work by then, making it the best time to unwind.
That day, my brother was either upstairs or downstairs, busy cleaning up tables.
The hotpot restaurant remained busy until nine in the evening, and finally, the crowd dwindled.
Lin Wan asked Aunt Gui and Aunt Liu to set up a yingyang pot, and about ten people sat together for a simple dinner, then asked them to quickly go home and rest.
"Manager, there’s still quite a lot of leftover vegetables and meat today. If these aren’t taken care of, they’ll spoil by tomorrow," said Aunt Gui as she left with two bags of sorted leftovers.
When hiring Aunt Gui, she mentioned that she had worked in a government canteen for a few years, so her cooking skills were quite good. Although Aunt Liu had never worked in a restaurant, she handled all the cooking for a large family of ten at home. She’s not just thrifty but also a skilled cook, with a few special dishes she’s particularly good at.