Chapter 221: Revenue
Chapter 221: Revenue
Before long, the first customer was followed by more, arriving in groups of three or five.
No matter the era, there are always wealthy people. Even state-owned restaurants in the commune never lack for customers, and the county town has even more affluent individuals. With the grand opening of the Suifeng Restaurant, it was no surprise that it attracted a few high-end diners.
In just over half an hour, the restaurant welcomed seven tables of guests. Some came alone, like the first customer, while others came in groups of five or six. Given the large size of the Suifeng Restaurant, these seven tables weren’t particularly noticeable, but they did mark a good start.
The two waitstaff were busy serving tea, taking orders, setting the tableware, and bringing out dishes.
Of course, with Deng Shirong’s numerous children and daughters-in-law on hand, there was no shortage of help, so they weren’t overwhelmed.
Deng Shirong himself didn’t get involved much, preferring to sit and chat with Zhang Guangzong over a drink.
People are strange that way. If it’s just a meal, even the slowest eater won’t take an hour. But with drinks, one can easily go from morning to night without a problem.
As the clock struck twelve, another guest walked in.
It was a middle-aged man in his forties. The moment Deng Shirong saw him, he greeted him with a surprised and delighted expression, warmly inviting him in. "Leader, you’re here! Come in, take a seat. Aiping, get the best tea ready."
This man was none other than the second-in-command of Bobai County.
The second-in-command was a staunch reformer. When Deng Shirong approached him, he had subtly revealed some of his future business plans and the significant investment he intended to make. This convinced the second-in-command to approve the land for him.
The second-in-command smiled. "Mr. Deng, don’t be so formal. I just came by out of curiosity after seeing the grand opening of your restaurant."
Deng Shirong guided the leader to a seat, smiling. "Well, when a restaurant opens, you have to make sure people know about it. So I had some people do a bit of promotion. I hope you find it amusing."
The second-in-command sat down and nodded in approval. "I think your promotional methods are quite effective. After today, I’m sure the entire county will remember your restaurant. That’s already better than many others."
At that moment, Zhang Xiuping brought over the tea, her face beaming. "Leader, please enjoy your tea."
The second-in-command thanked her and then quietly surveyed the restaurant’s interior.
Deng Shirong asked, "Leader, what dishes would you like? I’ll have the master chef prepare them for you."
The second-in-command waved his hand. "No need, I’ve already eaten at the canteen. I just came to take a look."
Deng Shirong exchanged a few pleasantries, but seeing that the second-in-command had indeed eaten, he didn’t press further.
The second-in-command then said, "Your restaurant is quite large, but the number of tables occupied is just a fraction of the capacity. Making a profit will be tough. You’ll need several times more customers to turn a profit."
Deng Shirong nodded. "That’s true. With the current customer flow, we’re definitely in the red. But the restaurant just opened, and things will improve over time."
The second-in-command pondered for a moment. "I’ll put in a good word. If there are any official receptions, I’ll arrange them here."
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t have bothered. But Deng Shirong held a special place in his heart. From their half-hour discussion a few months ago, he could see that Deng Shirong had a broad vision and could likely make a name for himself in this rapidly changing era.
Of course, if that were all, he would merely admire Deng Shirong as a forward-thinking businessman and wouldn’t be overly concerned.
After conducting some investigations, Deng Shirong learned that his second son was actually studying at Peking University. This news greatly increased the leader's respect for him.
Deng Shirong, though unaware of the leader's thoughts, naturally wouldn't refuse such care and attention. He thanked the leader, saying, "Thank you for your care, sir."
The leader didn't stay long at the restaurant. After drinking a couple of cups of tea and chatting with Deng Shirong for a few minutes, he left with his hands behind his back.
...
While the county town wasn't as large as it would be in the future, walking around it once at a normal pace still took over an hour. The nine temporary employees Deng Shirong had hired walked around the town three times, taking nearly four hours in total.
Earning this money was no easy task, especially for the eight women holding up the advertising boards, whose hands ached from the effort.
However, the effort seemed negligible compared to their earnings. Once they completed their task and received their five yuan from Deng Shirong, they were all invigorated, as if they had been given a shot of adrenaline.
Deng Shirong also provided them with a meal, ensuring they were well-fed before they left, satisfied and content.
...
At seven o'clock in the evening, the restaurant closed.
Back at the two-story building on the main street, Zhang Xiuping began tallying up the day's earnings.
They had served eight tables at lunch and thirteen tables in the afternoon.
In total, they served twenty-one tables, generating a revenue of 86.5 yuan.
Even with a 20% discount, the restaurant's profit exceeded 50 yuan.
Of course, this was the gross profit. If they factored in labor costs, they would have definitely lost money.
After all, just the advertising expenses for the nine people promoting the restaurant amounted to 45 yuan. Including labor costs, they would have lost at least ten to twenty yuan.
Seeing the accounts his daughter-in-law had compiled, Deng Shirong smiled and said, "This is better than we expected. Tomorrow, we won't have to spend the extra advertising costs. Even if the number of customers is lower, we should break even."
Deng Yunzhen added, "Chef Zhang's skills are quite good. The customers who came today were all very satisfied. If we keep this up, we'll eventually start making a profit."
Deng Yuntai, now more confident, nodded and said, "Today was a good start. I hope we can keep up the momentum."
Bu Dashen, Chen Bangguo, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Chen Bangli and Chen Bangfeng, the cousins who had been in the county town for several days, were greatly relieved. Life in the county town was much more comfortable than in the countryside, and they hoped that their uncle's business would thrive so they could continue working there.
Seeing that it was getting late, Deng Shirong instructed everyone to start taking turns for their baths.
The two-story building, being brick and wood, had only one bathroom on the ground floor. With over ten people taking turns, even if each person only took a few minutes, it would still take more than an hour for everyone to bathe, which was quite inconvenient.
Deng Shirong thought to himself that he should look for another suitable house nearby and buy it to make things more convenient.
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Chapter 3 delivered. The first day's 6,000-word task is complete. I will continue writing and update the first chapter of tomorrow at midnight. For those who can't wait, you can read it when you wake up tomorrow. Speaking of monthly votes, everyone, I don't believe you only have this many votes. Don't hold back; let's use them all!
(End of Chapter)
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