Chapter 183: Varied States

Naturally, Chen Shi was willing to involve Chen Ming in the business.

With Chen Ming, it was akin to having Chen Feng. With Chen Feng, there were great ideas and the backing of the General’s Mansion, alongside skilled chefs and managers. There was no way the business wouldn’t prosper.

The reason Chen Feng wanted to open the restaurant was because she had heard that when Yang Mingyuan mortgaged the tavern, the original manager, Xu, and several chefs and attendants were reluctant to leave home. The new owner said he was willing to keep them, and so they stayed. However, the new staff brought in later clashed with the original team, causing a lot of friction.

Chen Feng had a positive impression of the previous Xile Restaurant’s manager, Xu, and the staff, so she wanted to invite them to the new restaurant through Yang Mingyuan. Dingzhou Prefecture was only a few dozen miles from Sanqing County, so they should be willing to come. With Chen Shi’s wisdom, the restaurant’s business should be good.

It would be best to discuss with Yang Mingyuan whether he could “sell” the Nine Spice Marinated Delicacies and Golden Series back to them as signature dishes for the new restaurant, as he mainly operated a hotpot business now.

Chen Feng called Chen Ming over, and they discussed the matter with others.

After finishing lunch, they continued to discuss the issue.

Chen San’s braised skewers business will be entrusted to Chen Yu and remained an independent venture of the third branch. Chen Shi will manage the restaurant operation as the main proprietor, while Chen Ming was the second-in-command…

On the side, Chen Ye, feeling envious, exclaimed, “Our family will also invest. We’ll put in one hundred taels, no, one hundred and fifty taels of silver!”

Mrs. Hu, nearly shocked, exclaimed, “Why speak so grandly? Where would our family get so much silver?”

Chen Ye scolded, “When have I spoken grandly? We have fifty or so taels of stored silver, and if we sell another twenty mu of land, we can gather enough.”

Mrs. Hu, feeling as if her heart had been ripped out, burst into tears, saying, “What if it fails? We women will be left with nothing…”

Her crying and uproar left both Chen Ming’s and Chen Shi’s families exasperated. It was not pleasant to witness someone crying loudly in someone else’s home during the Lunar New Year, nor was it agreeable to hear someone saying that the business would incur losses during the festive season.

Furthermore, although everyone did not want to leave the main branch out and have the second and third branch profit, they were also hesitant about how to proceed.

Seeing Mrs. Hu crying and lamenting, Chen Ye wanted to scold her but was held back, causing a commotion. Chen Feng suggested, “Uncle, don’t be angry, Auntie, don’t cry. Here’s what we’ll do, my father and third uncle will contribute an equal sum to operate the restaurant, each holding forty percent of the shares. Uncle’s family won’t have to put in a single penny, they will receive ten percent of the profits as a gift from my father and third uncle. We’ll also give ten percent of silent shares to Steward Luo. With him, the tavern can attract more customers, and we won’t have to worry about competition in the city. Moreover, by bringing him in, both Uncle and my father will have more influence in the countryside.”

After Chen Feng’s proposal, everyone agreed. Chen Ye rubbed his hands and said happily, “My family won’t contribute a single penny, nor will we contribute any effort. How can we take silent shares?”

Mrs. Hu, with tears still in her eyes, was already smiling and quickly said, “There’s nothing to feel awkward about. It was the head of the family who raised the two younger siblings, supported them in their education…” and so on, with a long-winded, familiar story.

Chen Ming asked Chen Feng, “A share to Steward Luo, not to Lord Chu?”

Chen Feng smiled and replied, “It’s just a small restaurant, the Chu family doesn’t need to go involve.”

The group continued to discuss. The restaurant was positioned as a mid-range establishment. Including the rental of the premises, renovations, legal documentation, purchasing ingredients, and paying salaries, they would need a total of five hundred taels of silver initially. This meant that Chen Ming and Chen Shi would each have to contribute two hundred and fifty taels of silver.

Chen Shi had not been in the braised skewered business for long time and had only saved a little over a hundred taels of silver so far. He mentioned that he would borrow from his father-in-law. Chen Ming also looked troubled as he didn’t have that much money. He had thought that a little over a hundred taels of silver would be enough and had planned to use the ninety taels of saved silver and borrow some from Chen Feng.

Chen Feng reassured, “Father, don’t worry about the silver, I’ll cover it for you.”

Chen Ming then said, “Since it’s your money, the shares should be in your name.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye and grandma Chen disagreed.

Chen Ye quickly said, “Second Brother, A’Feng is a good girl. She’s offering it to you, if you don’t accept, she will be upset.”

Grandma Chen’s face turned red with urgency, and she also said, “Yes, this is A’Feng’s filial piety. You must accept it.”

Chen Ming became stubborn and refused, stating that Chen Feng had already built such a large house for him, and he felt embarrassed to take advantage of her again. Chen Ye and grandma Chen were extremely anxious, afraid that Chen Feng would write her own name if given the opportunity. They scolded and scolded, and in her frustration, grandma Chen even poked Chen Ming’s head with her finger.

Seeing this scene, Chen Feng sighed inwardly. No matter how filial she was, it would never be enough if she wasn’t a blood relative. Although the restaurant was her idea, her connections, and her money, as soon as it involved profits, she was afraid of taking too much and her own family not getting any benefit.

Fortunately, she wasn’t really a fifteen-year-old girl, and she wasn’t hurt to the core. Having lived to the age of thirty-two in her previous life as an orphan, she had seen a variety of human experiences…

The behavior of grandma Chen and Chen Ye was also human nature, the usual reactions of most people. On the other hand, Chen Ming’s father was honest and straightforward, and he likely considered his feelings…

She said, “Dad, just accept it. You know your daughter is capable, and I have other ways.”

Finally, Chen Ming nodded, but insisted on drawing up a promissory note and promised to repay her once he made money.

Grandma Chen was furious and scolded, “Fool, two hundred and fifty taels of silver, how long will it take to earn that? A’Feng is the daughter you raised, she isn’t short of money. She’s showing filial piety to you, why can’t you accept it?”

Chen Shi also advised, “Second Brother, just accept it. A’Feng is capable and won’t care about that money. Based on the bond between you, you don’t necessarily have to put it in writing. If we make an extraordinary profit in the future, you can give her a five hundred-tael red packet.”

Chen Shi also advised Chen Ming to accept, and with his persuasive words, not only did Chen Ming agree with a smile, but Chen Feng also didn’t mind.

Smart people are different.

Before dinner, she had Lu bring Dabao to invite Steward Luo and his son.

Upon hearing about the matter, they both accepted with a smile. In Dingzhou City, a mid-range restaurant, even if they were given a ten percent silent share, the Master wouldn’t be interested. Since the Master wouldn’t have interest and they were familiar with the Chen family and trusted Chen Shi and Chen Feng’s character, they accepted.