Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 88

Write down the date, name, quantity, price, and total price, and of course, your own name at the end.

Then, the manager handed the second bill to Wang Song and said, "I'm here today, it's the first day. From now on, Wang Song will bring the meat. We'll settle the bill at the end of the month."

“Okay, no problem,” He Yuzhu said with a smile.

After seeing the two off, He Yuzhu and Xu Huizhen exchanged a smile. Although they didn't earn much from this order, only about ten yuan, it was still a small amount considering it involved more than 200 jin of meat.

However, these are long-term customers. Earning 10 yuan a day, that's 300 yuan a month.

You know, right now a house only costs 200 yuan, and He Yuzhu rented such a big storefront, plus the backyard, for only 15 yuan a month.

He Yuzhu said in a low voice, "This kind of business is the only way to make money. Opening a workshop is just too much trouble."

"Yes, Brother Zhu, you're right. I'll listen to you from now on."

He Yuzhu asked with a smile, "You listen to me in everything?"

Xu Huizhen suddenly blushed with embarrassment, then whispered an "Mmm," and said, "Brother Zhuzi, I'll listen to you, but you can't bully me."

"Where is it?"

He Yuzhu teased Xu Huizhen for a couple of minutes, then went out to the nearby general store.

"Mr. Zhao, pick out a recliner for me."

Boss Zhao looked up and smiled, "It's Master He. Why didn't you go to Taifeng Restaurant today?"

"I won't go there anymore. I can't manage both places at the same time. I'll just stick to my little shop."

"That's great! We'll be able to enjoy Chef He's cooking from now on."

As the two were talking, He Yuzhu bought a recliner, and after returning, he found a book and lay down to read it.

Xu Huizhen was busy at the front for a while, then went into the backyard to use the toilet. Seeing He Yuzhu so leisurely, she couldn't help but say, "Why don't you go to the front to help?"

"I'm the boss, why should I do any work? Da Yong and the others are enough."

"You can't slack off here! I've been busy all day."

Previously, He Yuzhu worked at Taifenglou, and Xu Huizhen was never idle all day long, but she was in a good mood because it was her own business.

But He Yuzhu didn't go to work today; he just lay there reading, which made Xu Huizhen feel a little resentful.

"Let me finish reading this book first." He Yuzhu didn't want to get up after lying down. Although there were no martial arts novels like those of later generations at this time, there were still various storytelling performances. The Three Heroes and Five Gallants in his hand was quite interesting to read.

Xu Huizhen suddenly said, "Brother Zhu, my brother might be coming over to deliver wine today."

"What? Big Brother is coming?"

Xu Huizhen said, "That's my older brother, why are you calling him so affectionately?"

"Isn't that my older brother?" He Yuzhu asked with a grin.

"No, that's not it." Xu Huizhen's face suddenly turned red again.

He Yuzhu said, "Alright, he's your older brother for now, but one day I'll make him my older brother."

"Pah, that's indecent."

Seeing He Yuzhu get up and push his bicycle toward the back door, Xu Huizhen asked, "Hey, where did you go?"

"I'm going to buy meat and vegetables, and I'll show off my cooking skills at noon."

Although the tavern has vegetables and meat, they are all braised meats, so you still need to buy some vegetables to cook a meal.

When He Yuzhu returned from grocery shopping, Xu Huizhen's brother, Xu Hui, had already finished drinking and was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea and resting.

"Big brother's here." He Yuzhu stepped forward and greeted him politely.

"Mr. He, you're too kind," Xu Hui said, quickly standing up.

He Yuzhu smiled broadly, as if he were seeing a relative: "We're all family, don't be shy, just call me Zhuzi."

Xu Huizhen glanced at it, wondering why they were fighting over her own brother.

He Yuzhu said a few words and then went to the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

There were only three people at noon, so He Yuzhu only prepared four dishes to entertain Xu Hui.

After taking the first bite, Xu Hui praised it highly: "Zhu Zi, your cooking skills are so good, it's a real pity you don't run a restaurant."

Xu Huizhen just mentioned that He Yuzhu resigned from Taifenglou. For some reason, she also filed a complaint, saying that He Yuzhu was not doing his job and was just lying in the courtyard reading storytelling.

Now, hearing his brother talk about He Yuzhu makes him feel very proud.

She couldn't help but glance at He Yuzhu, as if to say, "Look, I have an older brother. You'd better listen to me from now on, or I'll have my brother deal with you."

He Yuzhu smiled, glared at Xu Huizhen, and then said, "I plan to start cooking in my own kitchen."

"Private kitchen? What does that mean?" Xu Huizhen asked quickly.

He Yuzhu said, "Downstairs we'll still sell wine and braised meat, that won't change. The three private rooms upstairs will be used for business, and from now on it will all be by reservation. We'll only have three tables of customers at noon and in the evening."

Making braised meat is actually more profitable than running a hotel, and it doesn't require much effort; as long as you control the heat, there won't be any problems.

Therefore, He Yuzhu does not plan to make any major changes. The three rooms upstairs have already been renovated into three private rooms. He Yuzhu plans to adopt a reservation system in the future, providing only three tables for lunch and dinner. All guests will make reservations in advance and prepare their menus. He Yuzhu will then only prepare food and drinks for these three tables.

This way you can hone your skills, gain more experience, and gradually build your reputation.

Preparing only three tables of food at a time is easy and not tiring, and the price can actually be slightly higher than that of a restaurant.

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui nodded: "Your idea is good."

Xu Huizhen couldn't help but say, "But you didn't tell me this morning either?"

“But you didn’t ask either?” He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Xu Huizhen couldn't help but say a few words to He Yuzhu, mostly complaining, but He Yuzhu just smiled and didn't take it seriously.

Watching the two bickering, Xu Hui suddenly had an epiphany. Now he understood why He Yuzhu had dragged Xu Huizhen into opening a tavern together.

As I savored the delicious food, my mood suddenly brightened.

My silly little sister seems to be still confused, but all of this is just my guess, and it's not the time for me to talk nonsense.

As Xu Hui was leaving in the afternoon, he couldn't help but say to his younger sister, "You need to control your temper in the future, and you can't bully Zhu Zi, okay?"

"No way! He's the one who bullies me," Xu Huizhen said shyly.

Xu Hui didn't say anything more, after all, the two were still young.

The next morning, while exercising by the moat, He Yuzhu revealed that he had resigned from his job.

Tie Dan asked, "Have you decided which restaurant to go to?"

"No, I don't plan to work with anyone else. I'll open a private restaurant upstairs from my house, mainly serving Sichuan and Huaiyang cuisine."

"You also know Huaiyang cuisine?" Tian Zao asked.

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "My favorite cuisine is Sichuan cuisine, followed by Huaiyang cuisine and my family's traditional Tan family cuisine."

As for Beijing cuisine and Shandong cuisine, He Yuzhu is currently accumulating experience points at a low level, so his dishes don't taste good. It would be better to launch them after he levels up.

Today, I mainly spoke to them to spread the word that we could entertain the Sichuan people in the Military Control Commission, since half of them are from there.

Tian Zao nodded: "Okay, I'll introduce them to you later."

"Thank you, Sister Zao."

"Don't mention it. Tell me about the agreement."

He Yuzhu explained the process to them, letting them let others know how he was doing it.

"Okay, I'll let you know in advance if there's any hospitality in the future."

He Yuzhu left the moat just before going to work. After entering Dongzhimen, he saw a familiar figure suddenly appear not far away on the street.

Upon closer inspection, it was Qin Huairu, with a basket hanging from her elbow and a pair of shoes in her hand, selling them to passersby.

He Yuzhu was quite surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he walked up to her and slowed down his pace.

Qin Huairu didn't pay much attention and held up a pair of cloth shoes, saying, "Comrade, these are excellent shoes with multi-layered soles. Take a look, they're not expensive at all."

He Yuzhu asked, "How much are they? Do you have size 43?"

"Yes, I'll get it for you."

Find a pair of size 43 shoes in the basket and hand them over.

Qin Huairu recognized the voice and looked up to identify it before exclaiming in surprise, "It's you?"

Then he reached out and snatched the cloth shoes back from He Yuzhu's hand, gritting his teeth and saying, "I won't sell you my shoes."

"No way!" He Yuzhu reached out and snatched it back, examining it closely: "The workmanship is not bad."

"Give it to me now," Qin Huairu said angrily, then reached out to snatch it.

"I'll try it on and see if I can wear it."

As He Yuzhu spoke, he turned around so that Qin Huairu couldn't reach him. Then, he held onto the tree with one hand, took off his shoes, and put on brand-new ones.

"Give it to me now!" Qin Huairu was even more furious. "I told you I wouldn't sell it to you even if I had the shoes."

"Why?" He Yuzhu stomped his foot on the ground, feeling that the shoes were quite comfortable.

"If it weren't for you, Dongxu, he wouldn't have gone to jail."

"It's only a year and a half, he'll be out soon. Don't rush it. You haven't consummated your marriage yet, have you? It's not too late to consummate it after he comes out."