Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 124 Self-cooked

Beijing.

Hougou Hutong.

Director Han pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, greeting his neighbors who were busy cooking as he walked toward his own house.

Aunt Liu from the west wing came out of the room carrying a thermos, and the two women came face to face. Aunt Liu greeted her with a smile, "Aunt Han, I saw Qinghe come home today?"

"Oh dear, then I won't be able to rest tonight either." Director Han thought to himself what dishes he had at home, trying to figure out what his daughter would like to eat.

But when she reached her front door, she stopped abruptly. In her small kitchen, a shadowy figure was bustling about. She rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things. "Wow! Did the sun rise in the west today? Our Zhou Qinghe is actually cooking!"

Zhou Qinghe greeted him with a smile: "Oh, Director Han is back? Hurry up and put the car down, come inside and wash your hands before we eat."

Director Han put down her bicycle, her heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed: "Qinghe, tell your mother the truth. Did you get into some trouble outside? Or is the school running out of money?"

"Mom, what are you thinking? I just saw you're always so busy, and I felt sorry for you, so I made you a nice meal!" Zhou Qinghe said while serving rice, "Go wash your hands quickly, the food will get cold soon."

Director Han glanced at the dining table and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "Good heavens! So many dishes? Spinach and vermicelli, stir-fried green peppers and eggs, stir-fried sliced ​​meat and mushrooms, smashed cucumber..."

"Qinghe, where did you find these vegetables?"

"Mom, don't ask that yet. You should try them and see which of these four dishes tastes the most authentic," Zhou Qinghe changed the subject.

Director Han was in no mood to appreciate the food right now. These vegetables were nowhere to be found in the entire Chongwenmen market! Where did her daughter get them? Did her school grow them themselves? That couldn't be possible. The school only has one greenhouse; it's impossible for them to grow so many varieties. Even if they did, her daughter wouldn't be able to bring them home.

To say you bought it? That doesn't quite add up. Aside from the fact that vegetable prices are incredibly high during this lean season, the real problem is you have no connections; even with the money, there's nowhere to buy it!
Director Han was filled with anxiety, and suddenly a possibility occurred to her: "Daughter, tell Mom the truth, is someone trying to ask me for a favor, and they're indirectly asking you for help?"

Zhou Qinghe laughed when she heard this: "Mom, what are you talking about? Your imagination is too rich! You are able to eat all this because of your own abilities, it has nothing to do with your title of deputy director!"

Director Han looked incredulous: "Oh? Then tell me, why would they give you such good food for free?"

"Alright, I'll tell you the truth." Zhou Qinghe waved his hand: "Look, I grew these mushrooms myself! As for the rest of the vegetables, I didn't spend any money on them at all. They were damaged during planting or jostled during transport, so they didn't look good and we kept them for ourselves."

These dishes, your daughter doesn't eat them every meal, but they're common, nothing special anymore. Only you still treat them like treasures.

Director Han was even more confused: "What does this have to do with anything? Qinghe, explain it to your mother, what exactly happened?"

Finally, Zhou Qinghe told his mother the whole story about how he secretly went to Li's vegetable greenhouse in Daying Village to grow mushrooms.

Upon hearing this, Director Han almost jumped up: "Oh my god! You've got some nerve, girl! You actually sneaked out of Beijing behind my back? Aren't you afraid of running into a kidnapper and getting abducted?"

"Mom, don't worry about it." Zhou Qinghe said nonchalantly, "Your daughter isn't stupid. Can't she tell the difference between good and bad people? The people in Daying Village are all very honest and polite to me, a college student. Besides, there are trucks transporting vegetables to Beijing every day, so it's easy for me to come back. Don't worry about it."

Director Han was at a loss for words. Zhou Qinghe had learned about Li Zhe's vegetable greenhouse through her, and had even mentioned wanting to grow mushrooms. But Director Han hadn't facilitated it. Later, her daughter didn't bring it up again, and she assumed the matter was dropped. Who knew this girl was so determined, quietly running off to grow mushrooms?

"Mom, try the mushrooms your daughter grew." Zhou Qinghe proudly placed a piece of mushroom on her mother's plate.

Director Han reluctantly put it in his mouth, his eyebrows immediately furrowing into a knot, his expression so complicated it was unbearable to look at.

"Mom? It's not good?" Zhou Qinghe was a little puzzled. She picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, she spat it out onto the table with a "pfft": "Ugh, it's so salty! It's so salty it's bitter."

Zhou Qinghe quickly tried to cover it up: "Mom...actually...my mushrooms grew really well. It's just...my hand slipped, and I put in too much salt..."

Director Han picked up another piece of green pepper: "This taste... is alright." But after only two bites, he crunched a piece of eggshell out of the egg and immediately lost his appetite. "Hey, you little brat, you've ruined a whole table of food."

Zhou Qinghe chuckled sheepishly, "Mom, isn't it true that 'practice makes perfect'? Everyone has a first time. I'll practice more, and I'm sure I'll succeed!"

"Then why don't you practice on cabbage and potatoes instead of wasting these precious and rare vegetables? In the dead of winter..." Director Han looked at the table full of rare and delicious dishes, his heart aching with worry.

"Mom, don't worry about it. I'll definitely bring you more next time I come back." Zhou Qinghe picked up a piece of smashed cucumber: "Hmm, this tastes alright. Would you like to try this?"

Director Han thought to himself: If you can even mess up smashing cucumbers, you might as well quit university and just drop out.

"Mom, there's something else I'd like to discuss with you." Zhou Qinghe put down her chopsticks.

"So, what are you thinking about now?" Director Han took a bite of spinach and vermicelli: "Hmm, this one looks pretty good."

"Mom, have you ever thought about opening a vegetable store that caters only to overseas Chinese and foreigners, and only accepts foreign exchange certificates?"

Director Han immediately realized what was going on: "Was it Li Zhe who asked you to ask that?"

"Mom, it's really not like that. They're currently supplying vegetables to hotels catering to foreign guests, and the demand for those vegetables is so high that they can't afford to take care of your business. This idea was mine. You've been the deputy director for quite a while now, don't you want to get a promotion?"

"Heh, you little rascal, instead of studying properly, you're thinking about my future?" Director Han frowned slightly, seemingly weighing something in his mind.

Zhou Qinghe continued to persuade, "Look at what you're saying. You're my only mother. If I don't think about things for you, who will?"

"If this vegetable store catering to foreigners really goes ahead, it will be more than just a good thing. It will also bring some benefits to the employees of our Chongwenmen vegetable market. Who won't remember your kindness then? Maybe you can even get rid of this 'assistant' title."

Director Han pondered for a while. It would be a lie to say she didn't want to be promoted. There was a significant difference in status between a deputy director and a director. She was genuinely tempted.

“How about this,” Director Han said, reassuringly, “I’ll sound out the higher-ups first. If it works out, I’ll talk to Li Zhe in person.”

……

The next day, at the Mona Lisa Restaurant. Shen Yanan sat on the second floor, resting her chin on her hand and staring blankly out the window. She was currently on a diet, and a lone cup of black coffee sat on the table.

Just then, a waitress came over and said, "Manager, Mr. Li, the supplier of the vegetables, has arrived."

As soon as Shen Yanan stood up, Li Zhe came up the stairs, smiling and greeting her, "Brother Li, please sit down. What would you like to drink? Don't be shy."

"I'll have a latte." Li Zhe sat down opposite Shen Yanan. "My cousin told me you needed to talk to me?"

Shen Yanan didn't respond to the question, but instead asked, "Mr. Li, how old are you this year?"

Li Zhe's heart skipped a beat: What does this mean? Is this an invitation to introduce me to someone? He kept a straight face: "I'm twenty this year, and you're asking this because..."

“I’m two years older than you, twenty-two this year. If you don’t mind, I’ll take the liberty of calling you ‘Brother Li’ from now on?” Shen Yanan asked with a smile.

"Okay, call me whatever you like." Li Zhe wasn't sure what the other person was up to, but it was just a form of address, so he didn't think much of it. He then asked, "So, what exactly brought you here today...?"

“Brother Li, I’d like to ask you for a favor this time.” Shen Yanan started to speak, but then stopped when she saw the waitress bringing over the latte. After the waitress put down the cup and left, she lowered her voice and continued, “Business at my restaurant hasn’t been very good lately. I’d like you to help me figure things out and give me some ideas.”

Li Zhe wasn't surprised that the restaurant wasn't doing well. But why would they ask him for advice? That was something he couldn't quite figure out.

“Manager Shen…” Li Zhe began.

"Call me Second Sister," Shen Yanan corrected.

Li Zhe: "..."

This guy is way too familiar! We've only met a few times.

Shen Yanan urged, "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Li Zhe smiled wryly: "Second sister, it's not that I don't want to help. I really have no experience running a restaurant. Why don't you find someone knowledgeable to give me some advice?"

“Brother Li, let me be frank with you.” Shen Yanan also sighed: “I asked a manager of an international restaurant to take a look before, but I feel that his method is not right for me.”

Li Zhe asked curiously, "What advice did he give you?"

Shen Yanan held up one finger, looking helpless: "Just one rule—from now on, whoever comes to eat must pay in cash. Don't make it so easy for people to put their bills on your tab anymore."

Li Zhe secretly thought the idea was quite effective. But since Shen Yanan had said it wasn't working, he couldn't bring it up again. He changed the subject and asked, "Second Sister, be honest with me, what exactly are you after when you opened this restaurant?"

"Hey, I just love making friends." Shen Yanan perked up: "Initially, I just wanted to find a place where everyone could get together, have some fun, eat, chat, and hear about new things. I didn't really care too much about making money, as long as I didn't invest too much."

Li Zhe then asked, "So now... are the losses severe?"

"It's not that bad, I can handle it for now," Shen Yanan waved her hand.

Li Zhe took a sip of his latte and tentatively said, "Winter vegetables are expensive and costly. How about... I stop supplying you with vegetables for now? Saving on this expense might help us break even."

"That won't do!" Shen Yanan exclaimed anxiously. "If you're going to run a restaurant, it has to be top-notch. If we don't serve your dishes, won't we be overshadowed by other restaurants? Yesterday, my girlfriends came over and raved about your strawberries. They ate several plates of them. They were like little pigs, grunting and puffing as they ate."

She quickly added, "Don't worry, Brother Li, I promise I won't let you lose money on the food. I just want you to give me some advice on how to attract more foreigners to our restaurant so we can make a little more money. As long as we break even, I'll be satisfied."

Li Zhe countered, "You have so many friends around you, but not one of them can give you any advice?"

“Yes, of course. How could there not be?” Shen Yanan pursed her lips. “There are a few who have never done business before and just give bad advice.” She lowered her voice even further. “There are also a few who have family wealth and have built their businesses with the help of friends. They can’t really be considered business people. The only person around me who really knows how to do business is you, my little brother.”

She didn't say one more thing: the restaurant's meager profits all went to Li Zhe to pay for the food. That guy, with his shrewd business acumen, made more money than her entire restaurant combined. Someone this shrewd in business is one of the best in the whole capital. Who else would we turn to but you?

“Second Sister, I want to help you too. But I really have no experience running a restaurant,” Li Zhe said frankly. He had thought about opening a restaurant before, but his business ideas were clearly different from Shen Yanan’s approach of “focusing on making friends.” He didn’t intend to persuade Shen Yanan to change her habit of keeping accounts receivable; everyone has their own way of life. He didn’t agree with her, but he couldn’t say she was wrong.

“Brother Li, your second sister can’t let you work for nothing.” Shen Yanan said, picking up a rather exquisite bag from the stool next to her and handing it to Li Zhe: “Here, a sister gave this to me yesterday. She only gave me four in total. I kept one for myself, gave two to friends, and this black one was specially reserved for you.”

Li Zhe opened the bag and looked inside. It was a sturdy cardboard box with simple and elegant packaging. The Motorola logo and a pager image were printed on it.

These days, pagers are a rarity; there aren't many on the market, and only the very elite can afford them. Widespread adoption didn't happen until the 1990s. Now, even if you have the money, you don't have the connections to buy one.

"Second sister, this is far too valuable, I can't accept it." Li Zhe quickly pushed the bag back.

"What do you mean by valuable or not valuable?" Shen Yanan shoved the bag back into Li Zhe's hands. "It's all a gift from a friend, it didn't cost any money. Just fill out an application form, write down all the information clearly, and I'll have my friend activate it for you, and that'll be all. We're not short of money, and if you keep acting all lovey-dovey, your second sister will get angry!"

"Well... alright then, I'll accept the things first." Li Zhe had no choice but to take them: "But I have to say this first, I really have no experience in opening a restaurant. But since you trust me, I'm happy to help you figure it out. But whether this will work out or not, I can't guarantee it."

“Brother, with your words, everything is settled.” Shen Yanan slammed her hand on the table: “Just keep thinking about it. Even if it doesn’t work, your second sister will still appreciate your kindness. If it really doesn’t work, I’ll think of another way.”

"Alright, please give me some time, I'll think about it carefully," Li Zhe agreed. He had never run a restaurant before, but with his decades of experience in his previous life, he had seen the world go by, even if he hadn't eaten pork himself.

I'll just treat it as practice for opening my own restaurant.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Zhe got up to take his leave. He hadn't even come up with a plan yet, and he'd already left behind a pager. He was genuinely unsure whether this trip had been a gain or a loss.

Compared to the pager, Li Zhe valued Shen Yanan more as a person. To be honest, the two were not from the same background or social class, so Li Zhe hadn't expected her to be so courteous. From a long-term perspective, he also needed a friend like Shen Yanan...

It's good for Li Zhe that this Western restaurant can continue to operate.

(End of this chapter)