Chapter 67: Soup Dumplings Are Truly the Best

Seven-thirty in the morning.

The bustling little shop, and the owner stealing a moment from his busy schedule to check the intelligence feed.

[Ingredient Express: Affected by rainfall in the Guangming District of Seaside City over the next two days, vegetable prices will experience a slight increase.]

Chen Zhou: ......

If you want to act as a weather forecast, please add a separate piece of intelligence for it.

However, this time, the intelligence offered much more usable content for him.

When running a street stall, encountering rain meant simply holing up at home.

Now that Chen Zhou ran a brick-and-mortar shop, he indeed had to consider a few more things.

As for ingredients, aside from pork every day, he now had to purchase some vegetables. He really could stock up a bit in advance this time, provided that old Zhang's pork delivery would still arrive on schedule.

With a proper shop, although he and his customers wouldn't get soaked, business would inevitably be affected to some extent. He should prepare a little less, just in case.

Chen Zhou glanced into the shop.

Right now, the customers filled every seat, and the small shop's capacity was truly limited.

If it started raining, customers opening and closing umbrellas might create a rather chaotic scene.

Over the next two days, he should think about adding a temporary small canopy outside—the retractable kind. In case of rain or snow, it could provide customers with a temporary shelter from the elements.

Opening and closing umbrellas in a more spacious spot at the entrance wouldn't inconvenience others.

Oh right, Chen Zhou remembered his ride. He could dismantle the canopy from his electric food cart first.

Chen Zhou remembered those disposable raincoats; he had seen children wearing them last time when he was hanging out by the community water feature.

He could prepare a few of those too. The cost was negligible, just a few cents or a dime, but it could really help out anyone who forgot to bring an umbrella in a pinch.

Second piece of intelligence—

[Diner Dynamics (Rare): Auntie Zheng Xiufang, 52 years old this year, originally from Bianliang, once worked for ten years at a local soup dumpling shop and is currently looking after her grandson in Sunshine City Residential Community. She is thoroughly skilled in making soup dumplings and will come to the shop to dine with her grandson in the next few days. Have a chat with her; she will be very happy to talk to you about how soup dumplings are made. Auntie Zheng is top-notch!]

Top-notch, this intelligence is truly top-notch, and the soup dumplings are top-notch too!

Although many customers who consumed at his shop were from the Sunshine City Residential Community, given that she would be dining with her grandson, coupled with her age, it should be quite easy to identify her.

What's more, he even knew her name was Zheng Xiufang. He could get in touch with this auntie either through the community group chat or via the property management office.

Auntie Zheng probably wouldn't be leaving Sunshine City Residential Community anytime soon anyway.

Auntie Zheng would be happy to share... When the time came, he could earnestly consult her about the technique of making soup dumplings. His little shop could then add a brand new category.

At the same time, Chen Zhou considered whether there might be an opportunity to recruit this auntie to his shop to help out on a temporary or long-term basis.

As for waitstaff, for now, the junior martial sister alone was enough. She could help out a little in the back kitchen, but asking her to take charge of making steamed buns would require training and practice.

Having a seasoned veteran master would really be wonderful.

However, the intelligence also mentioned that this auntie was looking after her grandson, so she might not necessarily have the time. He would just have to chat with her and find out first.

All in all, To-Do List +1.

Finally—

[Market News: The owner of the neighboring tobacco and liquor store is about to purchase the storefront he currently rents.]

Chen Zhou remembered that a few days ago, when Sister-in-law Meng from next door came over to bring him a watermelon, she had also mentioned that everyone should get together for a sit-down when they had time.

Buying out this new shop was indeed a reason to properly celebrate. This couple had been running their tobacco and liquor business for about ten years, so they still had some financial backing.

...

When the morning rush died down a bit, Chen Zhou drove his food cart over to the shop's entrance.

He parked it right by the community, not far away, leaving the junior martial sister to look after the shop temporarily.

Seeing Chen Zhou ride over, Old Meng came up and spoke a few words, and the three of them worked together to set up the small canopy right in front of the shop's entrance.

Placing it horizontally fit just right, matching the stove setup at the door.

Because Chen Zhou could stand inside it back then, the height was sufficient. Now, with the four-sided frame detached and re-secured on the ground, it was more than tall enough for someone of average height.

The base was further reinforced with stone piers to ensure no safety hazards, and it would definitely do the job of blocking the rain.

Crude? It was certainly a bit crude.

But circumstances were limited.

Meng Da remarked, "Setting up a small stall is great for blocking the sun. Being a south-facing storefront on the ground floor, it really bakes in the summer."

Old Meng also had a small umbrella and a small table in front of his door, and today, he had even placed a pot of flowers out.

Chen Zhou reminded him, "It might rain over the next couple of days."

"Rain?"

Upon hearing this, Old Meng and the junior martial sister each checked their phones.

The junior martial sister chimed in, chattering away:

"It really does say so, light rain tomorrow. If I leave early enough, I should beat the rain. If it pours, I'll take the subway, but then I might not have time to cook the porridge. I just learned how and really wanted to practice..."

Chen Zhou comforted her, "If it rains heavily, don't come. There probably won't be much business anyway, I can handle it myself."

Yet the junior martial sister wanted to come; she loved her job.

"Come if you'd like."

Once she grew up, she had her own ideas.

Meanwhile, Old Meng looked at his phone with a puzzled expression:

"Why does mine show sunny?"

Real-life weather forecasts might not be all that accurate; switching phones or apps often yielded different results.

People often joked: Just wait until raindrops actually fall and then temporarily adjust the forecast. The initial report is just a rough guess anyway—

Anyway, "careful of rain" meant light rain. "Likely to rain" meant heavy rain.

It all depended on how one interpreted it.

The three of them walked back into the shop and started chatting idly.

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "You've got quite an atmospheric setup going on at your entrance. Is the deal finalized?"

Old Meng looked rather proud: "Didn't we negotiate with the landlord a while ago, wanting to buy this storefront? They asked for a higher price at first, but this time we've really hammered it out. 1.2 million, a price both sides can accept."

An old saying goes: "Argue with a man and shorten his life; haggle over goods and add to the price."

Chen Zhou was happy to share the previous intelligence with Old Meng at this moment.

"You got a very fair price this time. When I was renting my place, I also asked around at the leasing center, and that's pretty much the going rate. Since your place already comes with renovations, it saves you the trouble of moving. It's a great deal."

"Ha, I just love coming over to your place to hang out!"

Old Meng laughed. "Once we get this completely sorted out, we'll treat everyone to a proper meal."

"Congratulations in advance, Brother Meng."

Old Meng stood up, retrieved two bottles of sparkling water from his own shop, and brought them over.

"Newly arrived stock, have a taste."

Old Meng felt that ever since Chen Zhou opened his breakfast shop, his own tobacco and liquor business had also improved.

Ground-floor storefronts in a row like this—once foot traffic increased, everyone's business would pick up a little bit.

He said to Chen Zhou, "I reckon in a year or two, you'll be able to buy this storefront too."

"From your lips to God's ears."

Chen Zhou smiled, taking a big gulp that left the bubbles fizzing playfully in his mouth.

Old Meng emphasized, "I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I'm not just flattering you."

He genuinely believed Chen Zhou's breakfast shop had that kind of potential.