Chapter 51: Moving to the New Shop
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That afternoon, Chen Zhou came to the shop with two renovation workers to take a look.
There was only a bit of minor work to do.
The previous cake shop had evidently invested a great deal in its renovation, and the interior was already quite well done. Just inside the entrance, to the left, stood a row of display cases that had been perfect for cakes.
In a breakfast shop, however, they took up a little too much space.
Auntie had not been willing to throw them away, so she had later used them to store all the fillings for her flatbreads.
Chen Zhou did not have that many varieties for the time being.
He thought that clearing out this area would make the route from the kitchen to the front much more practical, while giving the seated customers considerably more room.
The shop was small, but as a matter of principle, he still wanted his customers to feel as comfortable as possible.
The renovation workers said that the frame of the display cases could be put to simple use in the kitchen. Along with repairing the countertop, everything could be finished in a day or two.
The result would look something like this:
After that came the dish sterilizer.
Chen Zhou had bought a complete set online, including the tableware, and had it delivered straight to the shop. Together with the two workers, he carried everything inside.
The workers fussed with the equipment, figuring out how to run the wires and arrange the plugs so they would look neat.
Chen Zhou began unpacking the tableware.
The chopsticks were smooth, rounded, single-piece designs, free of burrs and with enough friction to pick up food easily.
The small spoons were ceramic. They were more prone to breaking, but at least they would not scrape against one’s mouth like plastic spoons.
The plates and bowls were made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, with double-layer insulation. There was not much more to say about them.
He still needed napkins, condiment containers, and small dishes for chili oil and vinegar. He would have to remember to get everything within the next couple of days.
As for the cooking equipment, Chen Zhou already had a steamer in his little vehicle. Once he brought that in and combined it with the kitchen’s steam cabinet, he would have more than enough capacity for steaming buns.
For cooking porridge, Old Feng’s large clay pot could finally be put to good use as well. All he needed was an insulated pot.
That old clay pot probably had more work experience than he did.
Meanwhile, the two renovation workers had already placed the sterilizer where Chen Zhou had instructed.
They suggested running a longer extension cord from the back so that no one would trip over it.
The two men exclaimed, “This little thing was incredibly heavy when we moved it. The materials must be solid, and it couldn’t have been cheap, right?”
“Tell me about it.” Chen Zhou handed them some drinks. “Two thousand five hundred. And this single-sided cabinet is already the smallest model.”
After accepting their iced tea, the two workers were happy to praise it a little more.
“Money well spent.”
Chen Zhou modestly replied, “You can’t cut corners when you’re running a business.”
The tableware had to be pleasant to use, and people had to feel assured using it.
First clean, then wash, then disinfect.
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This was money that, like the money spent on ingredients, absolutely could not be saved.
As far as the hardware was concerned, apart from the shop’s interior, he still needed a sign outside.
He certainly could not hang up Auntie’s Breakfast sign again.
The junior apprentice said that once she went to work, she could first use a computer at the company’s design institute to make several preliminary drafts. After finishing them, she would resign.
She was, in a way, serving one camp while her heart belonged to another.
On the administrative side, there were two important certificates: a business license and a food-service permit.
The last time, Chen Zhou had applied for a permit as a small street vendor. Now that the business had been upgraded to a shop, he needed to upgrade the paperwork as well.
Once those two matters were settled, the new employees could also obtain their health certificates free of charge.
Besides redeeming practical business tips, Chen Zhou also planned to exchange ideas with Comrade Wang Meng. Ideally, he wanted Wang Meng to come over and take a look first.
After all, Wang Meng had so many blind dates that making one more trip certainly would not hurt.
So Chen Zhou sent him a message:
“Captain Wang, I need your help with something.”
Wang Meng apparently had not worked overtime that day. Before Chen Zhou could send a second message, he immediately replied:
“What is it? Did someone impound your vehicle? I’ll rescue the buns first.”
...If that really happened, shouldn’t we rescue Chef Chen first?
Jokes aside, Wang Meng seemed to be doing quite well at work. The last time, he had even brought his superior along to eat buns.
Laughing, Chen Zhou sent the second message he had originally intended to send:
“It wasn’t impounded. I’m opening a shop and wanted you to come over and give me some guidance.”
Wang Meng replied, “Something this important and you didn’t even tell me? You’re really something, Chef Chen! [Angry] Send me the address.”
After receiving the location, Wang Meng said, “Isn’t this the place where you used to set up your stall?”
Chen Zhou replied, “I took over the breakfast shop in the residential compound.”
“You really are something, Chef Chen! I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon. You’ll be at the shop, right?”
“I’ll be there, Captain Wang. I live nearby, after all. I’ll be waiting to receive you.”
...
After moving into Auntie’s Breakfast, the tobacco and liquor shop next door had become Chen Zhou’s nearest neighbor.
Meng Da naturally heard the commotion next door.
When he came over to visit, he told Chen Zhou that if he needed any help, he should not hesitate to ask. Now that they were neighbors, they ought to look after one another.
Chen Zhou thanked him politely. They would certainly have plenty of dealings with each other in the future.
As luck would have it, Tony from the shop next door came out to fetch a towel.
Seeing the two men discussing the move, he also offered to come over and help.
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“Brother, business is a little busy for me this weekend. I’ll come over later.”
“Thanks so much! Take care of your own business first. I’ll be fine here.”
The two neighbors were remarkably friendly. Chen Zhou could not help sighing inwardly. These friendships had all been earned with buns.
Meng Da was somewhat more familiar with Tony and immediately began teasing him.
“All right, you’re not exactly built for heavy work. I’ll keep an eye on things.”
Tony gave his towel a shake. “You’re such a nuisance!”
Old Meng then turned to Chen Zhou and complained with a laugh, “Now that you’ve moved in, I think Tony is the happiest of all. Look, even his fingers are sticking up.”
Chen Zhou could only reply, “That’s just a professional barber’s gesture.”
“Fair enough.” Old Meng took the cigarette from his hand and put it away. “I keep wanting to offer people one whenever I see them. I forgot you don’t smoke, didn’t I?”
Chen Zhou waved his hand. “It’s fine. You and your wife can come eat buns at my shop. You two haven’t gotten tired of them yet, have you?”
Old Meng smiled. “Now that you mention it, one day I brought some buns home, and my son ate every last one that evening. He likes them too. This is perfect—the shop is right next door now.”
With two renovation workers already there, there was indeed nothing Old Meng needed to help with.
The two men chatted for a few minutes before returning to their respective shops.
Chen Zhou was already going in and out of the breakfast shop, and some familiar customers had begun stopping by to ask questions.
“Boss, when are you opening?”
“Soon. We’ll have a trial opening next week. Come by and give us a try.”
...
A little later, Mrs. Lin returned after taking the junior apprentice home.
The whole family sat together inside the shop.
Peachy Chen looked around curiously.
She found it hard to believe that only a few days ago, they had needed to spend money to eat here, whereas now she could eat whatever she wanted.
The little girl tilted her face up and asked, “Is this my home too from now on?”
Chen Zhou patted her head. “Yes, little lady boss.”
The shop had not even opened yet, but Chen Zhou’s sense of himself as its owner was growing stronger by the moment.
He said to his wife, “I’m feeling a little excited too.”
Mrs. Lin smiled faintly and recalled the past. “It’s just like when we moved into our new home.”
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