Chapter 352: Holy Cow, This is Too Comfortable

Chapter 352: Holy Cow, This is Too Comfortable

  "Mom, walk a bit slower, I can barely keep up with you!"

  On the way to the Five Peaks Square, a six or seven-year-old boy said to his mother, who was walking briskly.

  A woman in her fifties, who was following behind the boy, also said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Lizhen, please slow down a bit, I can barely catch up with you."

  Niu Lizhen, feeling a bit embarrassed, slowed down and said, "Mom, I'm sorry. I was just reminiscing about the flavors of the hotpot back in my hometown, and I didn't realize I was walking so fast."

  Her husband, the factory manager, who was walking beside her while holding their younger daughter, sighed, "Wife, you've really been through a lot in terms of food since you married me."

  Niu Lizhen quickly shook her head, "Husband, don't say that. The food at home is already very good. It's just that I grew up eating the dishes from my hometown, so I've become a bit picky. It's my problem."

  Her mother-in-law said, "Lizhen, if this hotpot restaurant really meets your taste, you can come here a few times every month."

  Niu Lizhen smiled, "Mom, it's fine to come here occasionally, but coming a few times every month would be too expensive."

  Her father-in-law chimed in, "Our family may not be wealthy, but we can afford to come here a few times every month."

  Hearing her in-laws' words, Niu Lizhen felt deeply moved.

  They say that the relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law is inherently adversarial, and that the conflicts between them are deeply rooted. This can be true, but it's not always the case.

  It's true for most mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships, where even if they start off well, conflicts begin to arise as they spend more time together, accumulating until they eventually erupt.

  However, it's not true for all. Some mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships can truly be harmonious.

  In her case, she had been married for seven or eight years, and her relationship with her mother-in-law was like that of a mother and daughter. They understood and respected each other, and there had never been any conflicts, and she believed there wouldn't be any in the future.

  The family continued chatting as they walked, and a few minutes later, they finally arrived at the Five Peaks Square.

  Looking at the sign on the second floor, Niu Lizhen said, "This hotpot restaurant is known for its Sichuan and Chongqing flavors, but I wonder if the taste is authentic."

  Her husband laughed, "The restaurant is called Spicy Girl, and the owner is likely from Sichuan or Chongqing, just like you, and has probably moved to Guangxi. If they have good culinary skills, they might have brought the authentic hotpot from Sichuan to Nanning. The taste should be authentic."

  Niu Lizhen nodded, "That's a reasonable analysis. I'll have to ask around and see if the owner is from my hometown."

  The boy asked, "Mom, what is a 'hometown'?"

  Niu Lizhen chuckled, "Son, before I answer your question, tell me where you are from?"

  The boy said, "I'm from Nanning!"

  Niu Lizhen said, "So, if you go to your grandmother's house and meet people from Nanning there, they would all be your fellow townspeople. Do you understand?"

  The boy seemed to understand, but he didn't ask any more questions because they had already reached the second floor.

  Seeing the family, a female server greeted them with a smile, "Welcome, esteemed guests, to Spicy Girl Hotpot."

  Niu Lizhen and her family nodded at the server and were then stunned by what they saw.

  Their feelings could be summed up in one phrase—holy cow, this hotpot restaurant is really big and beautiful!

  Perhaps her in-laws didn't feel it as strongly, as this was their first time visiting a hotpot restaurant, and they had no idea what to expect.

  But Niu Lizhen and her husband had visited hotpot restaurants in Sichuan before, and they knew what those places were like. Compared to this restaurant, the ones in Sichuan were like small, insignificant fly-by-night eateries, the difference was stark.

  The server, clearly used to this reaction, smiled and said, "Esteemed guests, please follow me."

  Niu Lizhen and her family followed the server into the restaurant and were seated at a table.

  As they walked, they couldn't help but admire the vast space of the restaurant. There weren't many customers at the moment, only a few tables, but the rich aroma of the hotpot was already filling the air.

  When they sat down, the design of the gas stove embedded in the table made them exclaim in amazement—this design was truly brilliant.

  Soon, the server handed them the menu and introduced it, "Esteemed guests, our hotpot restaurant currently offers three types of broth: spicy, clear, and sour. The spicy broth is spicy, fresh, and fragrant, and it's our signature broth. The clear broth is fresh, light, and refreshing, suitable for those who prefer a lighter taste. The sour broth is tangy and delicious, perfect for those who enjoy a sour flavor. We also have a combination broth called the 'yin-yang' broth, which combines the clear and spicy broths to cater to different tastes. One side is the light clear broth, and the other is the spicy and stimulating spicy broth. Which type of broth would you like, esteemed guests?"

"Let's have the yin-yang broth."

"What level of spiciness do you want for the spicy broth?"

"What levels of spiciness do you have?"

"We have four levels of spiciness: mild, medium, extra spicy, and extreme spicy."

"Then give me the extra spicy!"

After saying this, Niu Lizhen handed the menu to her mother-in-law and said, "Mom, you pick the side dishes!"

Her mother-in-law didn't take the menu and pushed it back, saying, "Lizhen, I don't know about these things, you pick them!"

Niu Lizhen didn't hesitate, as she already knew what her in-laws liked to eat. She started ordering based on everyone's preferences, selecting several meat dishes and several vegetable dishes before stopping.

The prices of all the dishes were clearly marked, so the person ordering had a good idea of how much they would spend.

After the server left with the menu, her mother-in-law remarked, "This hotpot restaurant is really huge; I've never seen a bigger restaurant in Nanning."

Her father-in-law also praised, "And the decoration is really beautiful. Lizhen, are the hotpot restaurants in your hometown like this?"

Niu Lizhen smiled bitterly, "The hotpot restaurants in my hometown are just a few dozen square meters. The largest one I've seen was no more than two hundred square meters. This is the first time I've seen a hotpot restaurant as big as Spicy Girl."

Her husband, the factory manager, said, "The dining environment is indeed much better than the hotpot restaurants in your hometown!"

Not just their table, but all the other customers were also amazed. While waiting for their broth and side dishes, they all praised the restaurant's decor and the surprisingly large space.

Since Niu Lizhen and her family arrived relatively early, they didn't have to wait long. As soon as they had prepared their dipping sauces, their yin-yang broth and various side dishes were brought to the table.

The moment Niu Lizhen saw the spicy broth in the yin-yang pot, her brain started releasing dopamine. Her eyes revealed a desire that rivaled a person in the desert suddenly finding water.

The server lit the gas stove, gave some instructions, and then left.

Her mother-in-law exclaimed, "My goodness, so many chilies, how can anyone eat this?"

Niu Lizhen, while looking at the spicy broth and swallowing, replied, "Mom, this is the best way to enjoy it. In my hometown, both adults and children can eat it."

Her mother-in-law sighed again, "Lizhen, no wonder you still can't get used to the food here after all these years. If I were to live in your hometown, I doubt I could get used to this kind of taste even in thirty years!"

The broth was already hot, and with the gas stove heating it, it started boiling again in less than a minute.

Niu Lizhen, who had been waiting with anticipation, said eagerly, "We can start cooking now!"

Then, she and her husband taught her in-laws how to cook the meat. It was easy to understand, so her in-laws quickly got the hang of it.

However, with children to take care of, it wasn't practical to cook each piece of meat one by one. They had to cook more at once, take it out when it was done, and then put more in to cook, to manage the situation.

Only Niu Lizhen, who had the spicy broth to herself, could leisurely cook each piece of meat one by one.

As she took the first cooked piece of meat into her mouth, she chewed excitedly and said, "This is the real deal, so authentic. It's definitely the flavor from our hometown. The owner must be from there."

Her husband laughed, "We'll ask after we finish eating. If they are from your hometown, we can get to know them and make some friends."

Soon, the meat in the clear broth was also cooked, and everyone dipped it in the dipping sauce and enjoyed it. The taste was excellent.

Niu Lizhen alternated between cooking classic side dishes like ox tripe, duck intestines, and yellow throat in the spicy broth, savoring each bite. It was especially satisfying to enjoy the authentic flavors of her hometown in Nanning. It was truly a delightful experience!

As Niu Lizhen and her family started eating, more customers kept arriving at the hotpot restaurant.

The smell of the hotpot was indeed strong, but fortunately, Deng Shirong had considered this issue when he hired the Nanning Architecture Design Institute. Now, each floor of Five Peaks Square has its own external staircase, and the spaces on each floor are completely isolated.

Thus, the smell from the second floor did not reach the first-floor supermarket.

It was already noon, and Deng Shirong and his family were also enjoying the hotpot. They chose the spicy broth, and while they might not be able to handle the extra spicy, they could manage the medium spicy.

As the family leisurely cooked their hotpot, they observed the customers' reactions.

The success of the hotpot restaurant depended heavily on the customers' reactions. As long as the taste met their satisfaction, the restaurant's reputation would quickly spread through word of mouth.

On the other hand, if the taste doesn't satisfy the customers, then it will be difficult to make the business thrive.

Deng Yunzhu, after observing the customers, said excitedly, "Dad, look at the reactions of these customers. They seem to be quite satisfied with our hotpot, don't you think?"

Deng Shirong smiled, "It's normal for the customers to be satisfied. The taste is good even to me. If it can't satisfy other customers, I wouldn't believe it."

Zhang Xiuping, who had just cooked a piece of ox tripe for her father-in-law, added with a smile, "Yunzhu, you can now rest assured. Once the customers are satisfied, the reputation of the hotpot restaurant will be established. As the good word spreads, you won't have to worry about a lack of business!"

Deng Yunzhu beamed, "It seems that opening a profitable hotpot restaurant isn't that difficult after all!"

Deng YunTai glanced at his slightly overconfident younger sister and said, "Look at what you're saying. If it weren't for Dad preparing everything for you and teaching you how to run the business step by step, even if you had a million yuan in cash, you probably couldn't set up a decent hotpot restaurant."

Deng Yunzhu rolled her eyes at her older brother, "Big brother, you're so mean. Can't you let me be proud for just three minutes?"

Zhang Xiuping chimed in, "Exactly. Although Dad helped Yunzhu set up the hotpot restaurant, she has just graduated from school and managed to run it well following Dad's guidance. That's quite an achievement, and she has every right to be proud."

Deng Yunzhu picked up a cooked duck intestine and placed it in her sister-in-law's bowl, saying contentedly, "Only you understand me, sister-in-law."

...

Niu Lizhen finished the last piece of oil tofu, patted her round, full belly, and said with satisfaction, "This hotpot is truly so comfortable to eat!"

Her in-laws and family members also smiled contentedly. The hotpot, which could please the whole nation, indeed had its reasons.

When they settled the bill, their table had spent a total of 35.8 yuan. After using a discount coupon, they paid 28.64 yuan.

This amount was indeed not low, especially considering that many people who had just started working earned less than this in a month. They had spent at least a month's salary on a single meal, and people without a solid financial background truly couldn't afford this hotpot.

After settling the bill, Niu Lizhen asked, "Excuse me, I'd like to ask if your boss is from Sichuan?"

The female cashier smiled and replied, "No, our boss is from Yulin, Guangxi."

Niu Lizhen was a bit surprised. She had assumed that such authentic Sichuan and Chongqing flavors would mean the boss was from that region, but she was wrong.

The cashier, clearly understanding her question, added, "However, the chefs who make the spicy broth are all specially hired from Sichuan and Chongqing."

Niu Lizhen nodded in understanding, "I see, that's why your hotpot can have such authentic Sichuan and Chongqing flavors."

The cashier smiled, "If you are satisfied, we hope you will come again."

Niu Lizhen nodded, "I will definitely come back."

...

At another table.

The daughter smiled at her mother, "Mom, what do you think? I didn't lie to you, did I? Does the taste suit your palate?"

The mother scolded her playfully, "You naughty girl, if you had told me you were treating me to spicy hotpot for lunch, I wouldn't have doubted your words at all!"

The daughter giggled and asked, "Mom, how does the hotpot taste? Can you give me a review?"

The mother laughed and shook her head, "How can I review it? But this spicy hotpot is indeed as described on the menu—spicy, fresh, and fragrant, and the more you eat, the more you crave it."

The daughter sighed, "It's just a bit expensive."

...

Spicy Girl Hotpot didn't launch a massive marketing campaign. They simply used Yongjia Supermarket to distribute discount coupons, which helped attract some customers. The overall effect was quite good, with 32 tables being occupied during the lunch rush.

If this had been a small, fly-by-night eatery, it would have been packed to the brim.

However, for Spicy Girl Hotpot, these 32 tables were just a small fraction of the restaurant's capacity, representing less than 8% occupancy, which was not significant.

In the afternoon, even more people came to eat hotpot.

As customer feedback accumulated, the overall evaluation of the hotpot's taste was positive, with the only complaint being the slightly higher price.

After the day's operations ended, the total revenue was quickly calculated and was slightly higher than Deng Shirong's prediction, reaching 2239.6 yuan.

This revenue was calculated even after customers used discount coupons.

Deng Yunzhu said excitedly, "That's great! If we can maintain this level of revenue, I'll be making a fortune!"

It's no wonder she said this, as the hotpot restaurant was set up with a target gross profit margin of 70%. However, the net profit was harder to estimate and depended on the revenue. If the daily revenue was only a few hundred yuan, even a 70% gross profit margin wouldn't be enough to avoid a loss.

But if the revenue reaches 1,000 yuan, the net profit would be at least 50% or more.

  Today, with a revenue of 2,239.6 yuan, excluding the discount coupons, the net profit would be at least 60% or more.

  In short, the higher the revenue, the higher the net profit, and they are directly proportional.

  Zhang Xiuping said with a smile, "Ahzhu, you've just opened one store. As Dad said, it's just the first step of a long journey. When you can achieve what Dad mentioned, opening hotpot restaurants throughout Guangxi and even nationwide, then you can truly consider yourself wealthy."

  Deng Yunzhu said with determination, "I will definitely work hard to achieve this great goal."

  Deng Shirong looked at his spirited youngest daughter and said, "Ahzhu, now that the hotpot restaurant has had a good start, I've already told you everything else. The last thing I want to emphasize is safety. Gas is a dangerous item, and no matter how much emphasis we place on it, it's never too much. If there's any negligence and an accident occurs, the consequences will be extremely severe.

  So, you must have professionals conduct minor inspections every three days and major inspections every five days to ensure the safety of the gas usage in the hotpot restaurant."

  Deng Yunzhu nodded, "Dad, I understand. I will strictly follow what you said. Safety first, making money second."

  ...

  Afternoon.

  County Town.

  Bobei Town Kindergarten.

  Zhang's mother came to pick up her grandson and granddaughter.

  Now that her daughter and son-in-law have moved to Nanning and their business is growing, she naturally feels proud as a mother.

  Because she has been picking up and dropping off the children every day, she has become familiar with many other parents. When she arrived, she saw a familiar parent and greeted them to chat for a bit.

  After a couple of minutes, a young woman with a ponytail caught Zhang's mother's attention.

  The young woman looked to be around 20 years old, tall, with a graceful figure, clear features, and a healthy complexion, exuding a lot of vitality.

  The more Zhang's mother looked, the more she liked her. She has five children: her eldest son and second son are already married with grown children.

  Her daughter has been married for several years, but her third son and youngest son are still single.

  Especially her third son, who is already 24 years old and well past the age for marriage. However, in the past few years, they haven't found a suitable match for him in the surrounding area, which is why it has been delayed until now.

  This matter has been on Zhang's mother's mind all along.

  Now, while picking up her granddaughter and grandson from school, she encountered a young woman who left a good impression on her. What a coincidence!

  But she wonders if the young woman has a boyfriend yet.

  With this thought, Zhang's mother took action and approached the young woman, saying, "Young lady, hello!"

  The young woman responded, "Auntie, hello!"

  Zhang's mother smiled, "You look familiar, but I don't think I've seen you before."

  The young woman smiled, "This is my first time picking someone up, so it's normal that you find me unfamiliar."

  Zhang's mother realized, "I see, who are you picking up?"

  The young woman said, "I'm picking up my nephew."

  Zhang's mother nodded, "Which class is your nephew in?"

  The young woman replied, "He's in the middle class."

  Zhang's mother excitedly said, "What a coincidence! My grandson is also in the middle class, and they are classmates!"

  The young woman was surprised, "That is quite a coincidence. What's your grandson's name, Auntie?"

  Zhang's mother said, "My grandson's name is Deng Changdong. What's your nephew's name?"

  The young woman said, "My nephew's name is Chen Guosheng."

  At this moment, the Ou sisters also came to pick up their children. Seeing Zhang's mother, they greeted her, "Auntie Zhang."

  Zhang's mother nodded at them.

  The kindergarten started to dismiss, and the young woman said, "Auntie, you can chat, I'll go pick up my nephew!"

  Zhang's mother, although wanting to chat more, couldn't force it at the wrong time, so she nodded, "Alright."

  Ou Guohua noticed Zhang's mother's gaze and asked, "Auntie Zhang, you're not thinking of introducing this young lady to Xiao Jun as a wife, are you?"

  Zhang's mother laughed, "You really can't hide anything from you, this mischievous girl. What do you think of her?"

  With Zhang's mother's approval, the Ou sisters immediately became interested.

  Ou Guofang said, "Auntie Zhang, you have good taste. This young lady is tall and beautiful, and she would be a good match for Xiao Jun."

  Ou Guohua said, "She looks nice. I overheard that she is Chen Guosheng's aunt."

  Zhang's mother nodded, "That's what she said. I'll have to find someone to contact Chen Guosheng's mother and learn more about her sister."

  ...

  PS: Dear readers, please follow and support the story. Your support is the greatest motivation for the author. Recently, due to illness, my updates have been fewer, and the number of followers has slightly declined. (╥﹏╥)

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end