Food: Starting with Wonton Noodles

Zhou Yu continued, "We haven't even factored in the other odds and ends yet. Let's sell it for 10 yuan a bowl for now. After all, there's not much rent cost for a street stall. But if we open a shop later, we'll definitely have to raise the price."

"Then you also need to factor in the costs of the kitchenware you bought and the labor you paid," Zhou's father said.

"I know that if we sell it for 10 yuan, after factoring in labor and other miscellaneous costs, we can only say that we break even. My main idea is to just break even and prepare for opening a store later."

Actually, it's also to be able to reach more customers' wishes and tasks more quickly, so that I can run the store more easily once I have more recipes.

However, Zhou Yu did not voice this idea.

"Just make your own plans," Cao Xuezhen nodded.

She still trusted Zhou Yu quite a bit. Although Zhou Yu seemed carefree and irresponsible, he was never sloppy when it came to serious matters.

Zhou Yu had already made an appointment with several salted fish vendors in the afternoon and was preparing to go there.

Before he could even set off, he received a call from Lin Wenhui: "Are you planning to set up a stall in Jiangbin Park?"

"Yes, didn't I tell you yesterday?" Zhou Yu said.

"Uncle He asked me to ask you if you want to set up a shop near Ocean University."

"What?" Zhou Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Uncle He's relative had a stall on the street over there, and someone just happened to move out."

"But I don't need to open a shop right now."

"It's not a shop, it's a stall," Lin Wenhui explained.

It turns out that He Jiafu's relative runs a convenience store on the street opposite the Ocean University. Right next to it is a whole street lined with food stalls.

Although it's located near a university, the convenience store's business is only so-so. After all, students aren't going to go out of the university just to buy a bottle of water.

So he has always cooperated with street vendors to earn some extra revenue. He provides water and electricity and some food storage, and charges 50 yuan a day for the stall.

Compared to other vendors, the difference is that they have more convenience, a fixed stall, and are not afraid of being driven away by the urban management officers.

"However, if we set up a stall there, we probably can't sell at too high a price, since if we're mainly doing business with students, their spending power isn't that high," Lin Wenhui continued.

Ocean University is actually right next to Jiangbin Park.

Despite being very close, there is still a noticeable difference in passenger flow between the two locations.

The riverside park is mainly frequented by residents of nearby communities who take evening walks.

Zhou Yu's original plan was the same: to make small portions of traditional thin and delicate noodles, targeting the surrounding neighborhoods for late-night snacks after a walk.

The food streets near university gates mainly cater to students who don't want to eat in the cafeteria, offering good quality food at low prices.

The portion size of my own nine-qian noodles is actually quite suitable for the appetites of students who don't want to eat in the cafeteria, especially since my own price of ten yuan also meets the needs of students.

Don't ask why students don't need large portions, because male students with large appetites will mostly eat in the cafeteria, while female students are the ones who refuse to eat in the cafeteria.

Besides, if they want to eat, they can order two portions. The more Zhou Yu thought about it, the more suitable Ocean University seemed.

I hadn't considered setting up a stall at Ocean University before, mainly because I felt there wasn't enough space. Unlike a park, there aren't many places to set up a stall near the entrance of a university.

But since there's an empty spot now, Zhou Yu said, "Sure, I'll go take a look."

"Okay, Uncle He is over there now, at the Haojiaxuan convenience store opposite the main gate of Ocean University. Just call Uncle He when you get there."

After saying that, Lin Wenhui sent He Jiafu's phone number to Zhou Yu.

......

When Zhou Yu arrived at Ocean University, he found the Haojiaxuan convenience store and happened to see He Jiafu smoking at the store entrance.

"Uncle He!" Zhou Yu greeted He Jiafu.

He Jiafu, who had been frowning, relaxed his brows and walked toward Zhou Yu upon seeing him.

"Do you think this side is suitable?" After greeting Zhou Yu, He Jiafu didn't waste any more words.

"This location is pretty good. Although it's not directly opposite the school gate, it's not exactly remote. If you're interested, I can talk to the owner with you."

Zhou Yu looked at it and thought it was indeed good. Today was Sunday, and although it was only two o'clock in the afternoon, there were still quite a few students eating at the street vendor stalls nearby.

There is an empty stall in front of the Haojiaxuan convenience store. Although it is not the best location, it is not the worst location either.

"Is no one going to renew the lease now?" Zhou Yu asked.

"The person who rented it before used to make soup noodles, but there was an accident in his hometown, so he had to go back and quit. I think you can take over the stall he left behind. It was originally a soup noodle stall, so you can switch to wonton noodles without much problem."

Zhou Yu nodded. Indeed, the complicated process of making wonton noodles mainly lies in making the dough; once it's finished, it's very simple to cook.

"As for others, it's not that no one has inquired. Firstly, the street vendors here have already marked out their areas, and they're used to not needing rent, so they have no demand. As for outsiders, some have inquired, but the boss wants to rent to longer-term tenants, so he's still considering it."

"But I probably won't do it for very long. I'll probably open another shop later." After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Yu still didn't hide it from He Jiafu.

"I know, it's not a big problem. The boss is my sister-in-law's husband. As long as you want to rent it, I'll just tell the boss." He Jiafu didn't care at all.

"There are fewer and fewer people who still know how to make traditional bamboo-pressed noodles and are willing to stick to the traditional craft. I can see that you have the heart to do this, so I will definitely help you if I can."

"Uncle He, thank you." Zhou Yu was a little touched.

Then he asked, "By the way, Uncle He, aren't you opening your shop today?"

"Sigh, tomorrow is Monday. My daughter insisted on coming home early today because of some school event, so I brought her here early. Anyway, everyone at the shop is a long-time employee, so it won't matter if I'm not here for a day or two."

"So I happened to be chatting with the shop owner and found out he was going to rent out a stall, and that's when I thought of you."

"Uncle He, how is your daughter's appetite now?" Zhou Yu asked rather presumptuously.

He knew it was somewhat inappropriate to ask such a question so suddenly, but he asked anyway, because He Jiafu had really helped him a lot this time.

This time, even without the mission reward, he still wanted to fulfill He Jiafu's wish.

"Yes, I don't know why, but yesterday I cooked all her favorite dishes, and she still didn't want to eat them."

He Jiafu didn't mind Zhou Yu's abruptness, but when he talked about his daughter, Uncle He looked worried.

"Hey handsome, how's it? Not bad, right? Want to reserve it? If not, I'll give it to someone else." At this moment, a thin, dark-skinned middle-aged man, around fifty years old, also walked over.

He offered a cigarette to He Jiafu and Zhou Yu respectively.