novelzi Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Jiang Zhou drafted the contract, specifying that each of them would contribute 150 taels to buy the tea house, and the costs of opening and operating the tea house would be shared equally. Jiang Zhou would focus on innovating the hot pot restaurant, while Lu Dalang would handle daily operations.
During the process, Jiang Zhou explained, “There are several kinds of soup bases in this hot pot restaurant: chicken soup base, big bone soup base, river shrimp soup base, clear soup pot base, and there’s also a spicy pot. However, the pepper production is not enough, and the varieties are not complete. It will have to be delayed before we can produce a pure spicy pot base.”
Lu Dalang nodded and reassured, “Actually, there is no need to worry; our decoration will still take time. It will be almost ready once the decoration is completed.”
Jiang Zhou estimated, and it seemed it was indeed true.
Lu Dalang added, “I can provide raw materials for most meats. I also have merchants who are familiar with river shrimps. I just need to contact those vegetable suppliers.”
Jiang Zhou thought for a while and realized that his father-in-law Wen Yuanxing also had some contacts. Wen Yuanxing, being a businessman, would have acquaintances in the vegetable trade, so he mentioned it to Lu Dalang.
Previously, when Jiang Zhou ran the shop alone, he didn’t need to explain so much. However, now that he was collaborating with Lu Dalang, these details were essential.
Lu Dalang, understanding the situation, asked, “What about your small shop? If you open a hot pot restaurant, can you manage both?”
Jiang Zhou acknowledged the challenge, “I can’t do both. If I have to take care of the hot pot restaurant, I won’t be able to manage the small shop. I’ll need to hire two new cooks.”
He explained further, “The dishes in my small restaurant change daily, relying on novelty, but that’s not the case in hot pot restaurants. There are fixed pot bases, and the taste remains the same. It only needs two cooks to handle it. I’ll be in the restaurants for the next few days, and the new cooks will take over after learning from me.”
Jiang Zhou took a sip of water and continued, “Additionally, we’ll need cooks or chefs with good knife skills, a dishwasher, and a butcher – You should have butchers there, mainly those who handle chickens. We’ll also need waiters and a shopkeeper.”
He documented all these requirements on a large piece of paper filled with black ink.
Lu Dalang suggested, “Then let’s head to the slave market later?”
“Yes, I have to check my restaurant first.”
.
After sharing a meal, Jiang Zhou checked the situation at the restaurant, seeing that business was still booming, and left it in capable hands.
The slave market was located on West Street, with hired workers under contracts to live and work there. Lu Dalang asked the shopkeeper to gather people for selection, and soon the entire yard was filled with potential candidates.
Jiang Zhou observed the group of potential candidates and halted Lu Dalang’s consideration of purchasing those who had signed the death contract.
Though he was a pure ancient man and was accustomed to such practices, the memories from the time traveler had influenced him. In that era, equality prevailed, and buying and selling people was deemed illegal.
While he was not entirely swayed by these modern sentiments, Jiang Zhou felt a slight discomfort with the idea of buying individuals.
“Anyone among you skilled in cooking, step forward.”@@@@
The crowd remained silent, exchanging glances.
Jiang Zhou repeated, “No?”
After a pause, a middle-aged man with a foreign accent stepped forward, admitting, “I know a little bit.”
Jiang Zhou glanced at him—a man with a square face, notably more robust than the others.
He suddenly felt a little panicked.
Although Jiang Zhou had explained that he wasn’t himself in that year and had learned from the memory of a time traveler, Wen Yan had no specific concept.
However, looking at Jiang Zhou now, he inevitably felt a sense of panic.
The current Jiang Zhou was the one he is familiar with, but his skilled abilities and innovative ideas made Wen Yan felt a bit strange.
This feeling wasn’t apparent at first, but as time passed, it accumulated, filling Wen Yan’s heart with strange emotions.
They grew up together, knowing each other’s every move and look. Suddenly, one day, he couldn’t fathom Jiang Zhou’s thoughts. He didn’t know what Jiang Zhou was going to do next.
He didn’t feel safe not knowing his husband’s mind.
Jiang Zhou clearly felt Wen Yan’s anxiety.
He held Wen Yan’s face and asked him to look up at him: “Why do you think so much?”
Wen Yan’s eyes were already a little wet.
Jiang Zhou stared into his eyes: “Tell me, what are you thinking about, hm?”
Wen Yan wanted to turn his head away, but Jiang Zhou held it again and forced him to face him: “Tell me, what are you thinking about?”
He didn’t put much strength, and Wen Yan could easily break away, but he didn’t move. He pressed himself closer to Jiang Zhou, saying, “I feel we are more like strangers than before. How could it be like this? What do you think?”
Jiang Zhou touched his head and kissed his forehead, “I have always been your Zhou-ge.”
Wen Yan said nothing.
Jiang Zhou looked directly into his eyes, trying to see himself clearly. “Is it because I have been too busy recently, and we haven’t spent much time together?”
Reflecting on himself, it seemed that he was indeed spending less time with Wen Yan now. More than a year ago, no matter how busy Jiang Zhou was, he would have dropped everything to be with Wen Yan every night after dark. Even if they didn’t speak, he would always be by Wen Yan’s side.
But now, he was busy with business, either in the restaurant or collecting materials during the day. He only goes back when it was dark at night, preparing things for the next day.
Most of the time, the moon was no longer visible in the sky and it was only in the darkness, he found time to say a few words to Wen Yan.
Wen Yan didn’t bother him, staying quietly, finding something to do, and when tired, lying down to rest.
But it was true; they hadn’t talked much in a long time.
No wonder Wen Yan thought so much.
Jiang Zhou touched his face and held him in his arms: “Ah Yan, don’t think so much, okay? I will always be with you, and you will always be my favorite person.”
He thought again and said, “When the hot pot restaurant is on the right track, I will find a young apprentice and teach him how to cook. I will stay with you from now on, okay?”
Wen Yan, held in his arms, smelled the familiar scent and closed his eyes: “Okay.”