Chapter 92: School Begins

Jiang Liyun had advertised Charles Hamburger Shop in advance.

Unable to afford television advertising, she utilised local newspapers and distributed numerous flyers. As a result, on the opening day, the business was exceptionally good, with countless people coming to buy the two-yuan burgers using the promotional flyers.

Compared to KFC, the two-yuan burgers were indeed very cheap, and even at this low price, they could still turn a profit.

The fried chicken in the middle of the chicken burger was made from chicken breast, which was quite inexpensive. A single chicken breast could make at least two burgers. The cost of the chicken patty, in a mass production scenario, was roughly fifty cents.

The outer bread was custom-made by Jiang Liyun with a local bakery, costing only one cent each.

As for the sauce, Jiang Liyun chose tomato ketchup, which was not expensive. Regarding lettuce, people in the South were not accustomed to eating it at this time. Jiang Liyun used a minimal amount of iceberg lettuce in the burger, and the cost could be neglected.

In short, the cost of one burger was less than one yuan. Even if she sold it for two yuan, it would still double the profit.

The profit from this shop was truly excellent!

Of course, the rent was a bit high, but given the current situation, the rent wasn’t a significant concern.

Jiang Liyun took a deep breath and continued her busy work, taking orders with the staff besides her.

Today, there were quite a lot of people, but luckily, she had hired many employees who had received sufficient training, so mistakes were rare.

Another reason they could avoid mistakes was that items like chicken cutlets, chicken legs, and chicken wings were all marinated in advance. When preparing the food, they only needed to fry them in the oil for a fixed time.

She remembered that before her rebirth, pre-prepared food was everywhere, and even fast-food chains like KFC used pre-prepared ingredients.

Pre-prepared ingredients were less likely to go wrong.

Jiang Liyun was very busy, and so was Feng Yi.

Many people were bustling in the kitchen, and he was supervising them all.

Whenever he noticed a shortage of ingredients, he would immediately contact someone to have them delivered from a nearby cold storage facility.

This delivery also included ice cubes.

They had a refrigerator in the shop, but making ice cubes themselves was too slow, so they bought ice cubes from the cold storage.

The cold storage would boil water, pour it into a special ice-making box, freeze it into ice cubes, and then deliver them. The entire process was similar to the one used by the food factories in Jiucun Town to make ice pops. If needed, they could even make it on the spot.

The shop was very busy, but those who came to eat were all very satisfied.

Chen Lanlan was a young girl in her twenties working as a nurse in a nearby hospital.

Today she had a day off and went out to play with her boyfriend.

“Lanlan, didn’t you want to eat KFC? Let’s go there,” Chen Lanlan’s boyfriend suggested.

Indeed, Chen Lanlan wanted to eat at KFC. She had tried it once before and really liked the fried chicken pieces.

However, she didn’t like the mashed potatoes; she always felt it tasted weird, not as good as braised potatoes.

But KFC was too expensive… Chen Lanlan said, “I heard that Charles Hamburger Shop is opening today. Let’s go there!”

Before, her colleagues mentioned wanting to try Charles’s burgers.

Chen Lanlan’s boyfriend had a decent income, but KFC was indeed a bit expensive. He rode a bicycle, carrying Chen Lanlan to the Charles Hamburger Shop.

By now, there was already a long queue in the shop.

“Why is the line so long?” Chen Lanlan’s boyfriend was a bit reluctant to wait; he didn’t like standing in queues!

But Chen Lanlan was different; seeing such a long line only made her more eager to eat!

Since they had nothing else to do, the two joined the back of the line.

They thought they would have to wait a long time, but the line was moving quite fast—most people were only ordering burgers, and the preparation of burgers was particularly quick.

“Too bad we don’t have a flyer; if we did, we could buy the two-yuan fried chicken burger.” Chen Lanlan sighed.

Her boyfriend comforted her, saying, “The combo meals are also very cost-effective.”

Indeed, those combo meals were cost-effective. Chen Lanlan and her boyfriend chose a nine-yuan combo for two, which included two chicken leg burgers, a pair of chicken wings, a box of fries, and two cups of iced cola.

The chicken leg burgers came in original and spicy flavors. They each chose one.

“Will the spicy one be very spicy? I can’t eat too spicy.” Chen Lanlan worried while waiting for their order.

“They said it’s not very spicy; we can share when it comes.” Her boyfriend reassured her.

Their combo was quickly ready. Chen Lanlan’s boyfriend picked up the meal, and after searching for a while, they found a place to sit together.

The two burgers were split into halves, and they started eating together.

Chen Lanlan took a bite of the spicy chicken leg burger. With the first bite, she was amazed: “This spicy chicken leg burger isn’t very spicy; it’s so delicious!”

Her boyfriend took a bite too and agreed, “It’s really good!”

Chen Lanlan especially loved hamburgers and found them very delicious. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, didn’t like the lettuce in the burgers and picked it out before continuing to eat.

Even if he didn’t like lettuce, the fried chicken in the burgers was still very tasty!

However, the half portion of the combo in the double combo wasn’t enough for him, as a man, to feel full.

But coming to a place like this was mainly to taste the flavours; he didn’t expect to get full.

“The food in this shop is not only cheap but also very delicious.”

“Yeah! Eating so much at KFC would cost at least fifteen yuan; here it’s much cheaper.”

“Next time, when it’s my birthday, we can come again.”

“Sure, did you see that? Over there, someone is eating pizza. Next time, we can order a pizza.”

…

The couple chatted and laughed, and around them, those who were having their meals were also very satisfied with Charles.

Not everyone liked hamburgers, but for people at this time, it was a novelty. Coupled with the comparison to KFC, Charles became synonymous with affordability and good quality.

Today was Wednesday; many people had to go to work, but many others didn’t.

Moreover, it was still summer vacation at this time.

People crowded the Charles Hamburger Shop, attracting even more customers. Some people don’t like to queue, but seeing a long line makes them curious—they must be making something delicious with so many people waiting!

Qiao’s mother has already left the hamburger shop with Qiao Mingze. She has two hamburgers with her and decides to bring them to her parents’ place.

Qiao’s grandparents are retired workers, living in a narrow lane. Despite their old age, their comfortable life is supported by their pension.

When Qiao’s mother arrives, the elderly couple is sitting in bamboo chairs in a shaded area, chatting with neighbours.

Coincidentally, they are discussing foreign countries.

In recent years, many people have gone abroad, some for studying and others for work. No matter the purpose, they are deeply impressed after going abroad.

For people at this time, foreign countries seem too prosperous!

“I heard they can earn several thousand a month over there.”

“That’s too much!”

“Yeah, I heard meat is especially cheap there, and the country even provides free food for the poor.”

“That’s so good?”

“Do you know that expensive KFC? Many poor people eat it abroad!”

“Poor people eat fried chicken?”

“Their lives are too good!”

“I haven’t eaten KFC yet!”

“Me neither; I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to eat it.”

…

As they talk, Qiao’s mother arrives, saying, “Dad, Mum!”

Qiao’s grandmother curiously asks her daughter, “Why did you come?”

Qiao’s mother replies, “Mum, I bought a few hamburgers today, thinking you guys probably haven’t tried them, so I brought two for you.”

Saying this, she takes out two paper-wrapped hamburgers and hands one to each of her parents.

Qiao’s grandmother and grandfather are pleasantly surprised. “Why did you buy this for us? It’s too expensive!”

Someone nearby asks curiously, “What is this?”

Others help explain, “This is foreign fast food! It’s like KFC!”

Other elderly people present envy them. “You have a good daughter; she even bought you KFC!”

“You’re eating something foreigners eat!”

“This thing must be expensive, right?”

…

Qiao’s mother explains, “It’s not KFC; it’s from a place called Charles. Their food is cheaper than KFC, but it tastes the same.”

“Charles? That sounds like a foreign name.”

“Even if it’s cheaper, it’s still not cheap enough.”

“People like you are the best, thinking of your parents. My kids at home don’t care about me at all.”

…

Qiao’s mother felt especially good hearing these praises.

Meanwhile, Qiao’s grandparents had already started eating. Despite their not-so-good teeth, hamburgers aren’t too difficult to chew.

“This is delicious.”

“So fragrant.”

“It’s not cheap, though. Don’t buy this for us again in the future.”

…

Although they said not to buy it again, Qiao’s grandparents were delighted. Qiao’s grandmother even took out the malted milk she had prepared for herself and gave it to Qiao Mingze to take away: “This is what Xiaoze likes the most!”

Qiao Mingze does like malted milk, but it’s no longer his absolute favorite. Currently, he loves drinking ice-cold cola the most! A sip of cold cola on a hot summer day is incredibly refreshing!

Charles Hamburger Shop has tentative operating hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jiang Liyun hired many employees, organising them into two shifts.

The first shift, known as the morning shift, works from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second shift, known as the evening shift, works from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..

In the beginning, they were worried about being too busy, so they didn’t have shifts, and all employees worked from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m..

Jiang Liyun was initially concerned about the employees’ reactions, but she quickly realised she was overthinking. The workers she hired were all from rural areas, born in the 1960s or early 1970s. They were hardworking and used to labour from a young age.

Jiang Liyun offered overtime pay, and they were more than happy to work all day to earn a bit more!

Seeing their enthusiasm, Jiang Liyun remembered the factories of this time. Some private factories not only employed child labour but also made workers work overtime for a duration similar to their shop’s operating hours, and their wages were even lower.

Labour wasn’t valued much during this time.

Anyway, since the workers had no objections and were willing to work longer, they could continue working hard for a few days!

The daytime business was already bustling, and by noon, there were no empty seats in the shop. In the evening, more people arrived!

Many people came after finishing work, attracted by the shop’s reputation. The place was almost packed.

Jiang Liyun initially planned to close at 9 p.m., but there were still people waiting in line. She had to go to the door, advise new customers not to wait, and then ask the kitchen staff to work overtime to fulfil the orders.

By the time they finished, it was already 9:30 p.m., the official closing time.

After storing the remaining ingredients in the refrigerator, Jiang Liyun said to the employees, “In addition to the scheduled overtime pay, I’ll give each of you a bonus of five yuan today. Go home, take a shower, and get some rest. Come back before 7 a.m. tomorrow.”

“Thank you, boss!” These female workers were overjoyed.

Jiang Liyun’s original wages were not low, and with the added overtime pay and bonus, they could earn a considerable amount!

For lunch and dinner today, these workers also had hamburgers and chicken wraps!

They never expected that one day they would be able to eat such delicious and expensive food!

Jiang Liyun rented accommodation for the female workers, which was very close to the shop. She and Feng Yi also lived nearby.

After returning home, a quick wash, and Jiang Liyun lay down to sleep. The next morning, she got up at 6 a.m. and hurriedly made her way to the shop.

The employees arrived at 7 a.m., cleaned the shop, prepared the kitchen for the day’s work, and even started making hamburgers in advance.

At 8 a.m., Charles Hamburger Shop opened its doors on time, attracting a new wave of customers, many of whom were children who were currently on summer vacation.

Word-of-mouth from their friends about the delicious hamburgers made these kids pester their parents to bring them for a taste. Given the one-child policy in place, most of these children were pampered at home. Even though hamburgers were expensive, parents were willing to buy one for their kids to try.

For those who didn’t want to pay the full price for a hamburger without a coupon, they opted for a combo, which was more cost-effective.

The first three days after the grand opening were incredibly lively, but even after that initial surge, business remained decent. Although the hamburgers were pricier, they were still cheaper than KFC.

To attract more customers, the shop ran a promotion in its first month, giving away a free portion of boneless chicken tenders for purchases exceeding ten yuan. KFC charged a premium for these, but here they were given for free!

Many customers, initially planning just to sample a small amount, ended up buying more to reach the ten-yuan threshold. Some even collaborated with others to place joint orders, enjoying the complimentary boneless chicken tenders together.

As for Jiang Liyun and her team…

Initially planning for two shifts, the overwhelming business forced the employees to work overtime every day. Surprisingly, the workers didn’t mind at all; in fact, after calculating the overtime pay, they realised they could earn six hundred yuan a month. This thrilled them beyond measure.

Earning six hundred yuan a month was an income they wouldn’t have dared to dream of before!

Meals for the employees were divided into shifts. Initially, the staff enjoyed the shop’s hamburgers as part of their meals, but Jiang Liyun, unable to eat them every day, eventually arranged for a local fast-food restaurant to provide their employee meals.

As for the shop’s items, employees couldn’t help themselves without permission. However, if they wanted to eat, they could purchase items at half price.

Even though the employees had to work overtime, Jiang Liyun and Feng Yi weren’t as busy as they were initially.

The kitchen had a small resting area, and now the two of them sat there having lunch.

The fast-food meals cost only two yuan each, including a braised chicken wing, a marinated egg, and two vegetable sides. The taste was average, but it was reassuring to know that the food was prepared by the owner and not some mass-produced product.

“The new batch of ingredients has been delivered; we don’t have to worry about the supply.” Feng Yi brought up the topic of ingredients.

Their business was booming, and there were a few occasions when they almost ran out of ingredients!

They have their own farm, and the food factory acquired by Jiang Liyun has hired some workers specifically for marinating chicken.

“After this month, our shop will be on track,” Jiang Liyun said.

Opening the first store is the most challenging, but after a month, it should be on the right track.

By then, she can even try to train more staff and open new stores.

In the 1990s, with rapid economic development, the catering industry became increasingly profitable. She aims to lay a solid foundation in this era.

This way, when entering the 21st century, she can earn a lot!

She can even create other catering brands, not just burgers.

As for the uncertainties in the future of the catering industry, as long as she doesn’t expand blindly, she doesn’t have to worry too much.

“Mmm,” Feng Yi smiled.

After finishing their meal, a car arrived to deliver ingredients for them.

Feng Yi, upon seeing it, quickly went out to help with unloading the ingredients.

The delivery vehicle stopped behind Charles Burger, and while Feng Yi was carrying things, he encountered the young man who had spoken to the carpenter before.

Seeing Feng Yi in Charles’ employee uniform, Qiao Ming asked, “Are you a Charles employee?”

Feng Yi looked up at him and replied, “Yes.”

It turns out this person is a Charles employee; no wonder he worked so hard back then.

Qiao Ming likes Charles’ burgers a lot; he had them once with his mother and once with classmates.

However, he still looks down on the employees at Charles Burger.

With that thought, Qiao Ming left with his head held high.

Feng Yi didn’t pay much attention to this incident.

In early September, the burger shop had already stabilised, and even if he and Jiang Liyun didn’t keep a constant eye on it, it could run well. At this time, Feng Yi’s enrolment at H University began.

Feng Yi had received the admission notice long ago, but he only started preparing for school the day before it began.

During this period, some people heading to college would carry a lot of belongings, including bedding and kitchenware.

Transportation was inconvenient at this time, and buying things was expensive, so those with less fortunate financial situations had to try to bring everything they needed for the school year during the opening days.

But Feng Yi was different.

Charles Burger was not far from his school, and the house he and Jiang Liyun rented was also close to the university he was attending.

He had already decided that he would go home on weekends in the future!

Therefore, when he initially went to school, he didn’t need to bring much.

Feng Yi packed his things briefly, fitting them into a backpack and a small parcel.

Jiang Liyun checked Feng Yi’s belongings and said, “Feng Yi, let’s go out for a bit and buy you some clothes.”

During this summer vacation, she was too busy to buy clothes for herself or for Feng Yi. Feng Yi has been wearing clothes from the past two summers during his busy renovation period.

She hadn’t bought many clothes for Feng Yi before; in two years, she had only bought five sets. This year, while Feng Yi was busy with renovations, he continued to wear these few sets of clothes, making them look quite worn.

The summers in the south are long, from May to October, allowing for constant short-sleeved attire.

Many people nowadays can’t afford new clothes, and while it’s okay for Feng Yi to wear old clothes to school, there’s really no need for it. Considering her successful business, she could easily buy Feng Yi some new clothes.

“I don’t need them; I have plenty of clothes to wear.”

Jiang Liyun said, “You’ve been wearing these few pieces for two or three years. Come on, let’s buy new ones, and you can also get a haircut!”

She was determined to give Feng Yi a handsome makeover!

Jiang Liyun took Feng Yi to the mall. Although the clothes in the mall were expensive, they were of high quality. Feng Yi is used to rotating through a few clothes, so they decided to buy a few good sets.

Jiang Liyun picked three short-sleeved shirts, three different pairs of pants, a thin jacket, and a pair of sneakers for Feng Yi. She wanted to buy more, but Feng Yi declined.

“Let’s buy those next time.” Jiang Liyun didn’t insist.

While Feng Yi was trying on clothes, she already had an idea of his size. Feng Yi had a standard body shape, and anything he wore looked good. In the future, she’d just buy clothes for him on her own.

Feng Yi’s wardrobe was now complete, and he could start university tomorrow. Jiang Liyun also remembered something from her past life.

She never had the chance to go to school, and she had a longing for schools, especially universities. When her son got into college, she wanted to visit the campus with him, but he refused. She could guess why—maybe he felt embarrassed to have a disabled mother.

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to school. I want to see your campus,” Jiang Liyun said.

Feng Yi asked, “Sister Liyun, do you want to go to school?” Jiang Liyun, who valued education, also wanted to go to school.

Jiang Liyun smiled. “I don’t want to go to school; I want to make money.”

Upon careful thought, Feng Yi realised that she indeed had a strong desire for money.

The next day, they rode their bicycles together to H.I. On the way, they encountered others heading to school, some carrying bags and bedding, resembling migrant workers coming to the city. They also saw students getting off cars, some surrounded by family, while others walked alone with empty hands.

Arriving at the school gate, they saw students who seemed local and affluent. Feng Yi stood at the entrance, looking up at the school gate, feeling a bit surreal.

He hadn’t expected that he would really be going to college.