During the meal, Lin Wan asked a few waiters to introduce their warm drinks to the customers more.
Sure enough, the beverages that were not selling well before improved again over the last two days.
"Lin Sister, I didn’t expect drinks to sell so well in your store even when it’s cold. In previous years, at this time of season, our family business would have already shut down. It’s because of your restaurant’s situation that my mom still opens our store every day." Li Congnan was happy. Just the profits from Lin Wan’s shop alone rivaled those of a factory worker, earning over thirty a month. Their family only did beverage business in spring and summer, practically half-shutdown in winter when drinks were less in demand. The beverage business started only in the past two years and has just made their family slightly better off than ordinary families.
And the money earned was his own private stash, so of course, he was happy.
"Brother Li... does your family only do beverage business in the summer?"
"Isn’t that obvious? Who drinks ice-cold drinks in the dead of winter?" Li Congnan shot her a glance but then caught sight of someone with a drink at a table in the hall, which made him internally scoff at his own words.
Lin Wan covered her mouth and chuckled quietly.
Coming from a family in business, Li Congnan, accustomed to the trade since childhood, indeed had a knack for business. Seeing how well Lin Sister’s shop was doing, other restaurants could surely sell too, he mused happily and patted the table, "Lin Sister, you are truly my good luck charm. Thank you for the reminder today. By the way, a friend of mine is hosting a gathering and asked me to book a private room for tomorrow noon. Can you do me a favor and waive the deposit?"
"Alright, Brother Li’s friend certainly deserves special treatment. Leave it with me; I’ll hold it for you." There were quite a few bookings for private rooms these days; even two people from the government came yesterday.
The trend is promising; people like to come to their hotpot restaurant to discuss business, proving their shop’s level is quite high.
It suddenly started snowing heavily that day. The temperature dropped significantly, and Lin Wan knew winter had arrived. She layered up inside with thermal wear and bundled in a cotton jacket and pants, looking like a big bear. After winter set in, it had snowed several times.
Whenever it snowed, Lin Wan couldn’t ride the tricycle, so she had Mom make a thick quilt to sleep at the store. The weather was too cold today, and an unexpected wind started up. Not long after the wind stopped, it began to snow again. Lin Yinghui, concerned about his sister, considered hiring someone to handle grocery shopping.
But Lin Wan refused. "Brother, there’s only half a month until the break, let’s talk about it next year."
Business was good lately, and every day she sold a cartload of vegetables. One tricycle couldn’t carry all of it. She arranged with the noodle seller at the market to deliver her daily orders directly to the store. Some veggies were also directly delivered per her arrangements, so her trips to the market weren’t yielding much.
"Go home early today; I’ll sleep here tonight." Lin Yinghui looked outside at the heavy snow and thought few people would come to eat today.
Lin Wan didn’t object. She told her brother which family she bought vegetables from recently, reassuredly put on a military coat, and with a wool hat and scarf, bundled up tightly and headed to Grandma’s house.
She was too busy with business recently to buy groceries.
Since she was out early today, she might as well buy groceries and visit her grandma.
Sure enough, as soon as winter arrived, Grandma’s old cold leg trouble acted up. As soon as Lin Wan entered, before shaking off the snow, she saw Grandma lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
"What’s wrong?" Lin Wan couldn’t care about the cold on her body; she hurried to her side to help her up.
Grandma’s face was pale and drenched in sweat; Lin Wan didn’t know how long she’d been lying there, and it pained her heart.
In winter here, everyone hangs thick curtains over the doors for warmth. It was snowing, and there were barely any people on the road. If she hadn’t come over, Grandma might have faced grave danger.