Chapter 369 - 369: Looking at You in a New Light

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Binglan had taught Lin Zheng, Li Shi, and Zhou Shan martial arts, Arabic numerals, calculation, and accounting. She did that to train them as managers. She felt more at ease with them in charge.

When Zhou Shan heard Su Binglan’s words, he became excited, “Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll study hard and make you proud.

Lin Zheng said, ‘Zhou Shan is excellent at accounting now, Master. He’s also swift at it. Li Shi is the same. He studies for a long time every day when the shop closes.”

Li Shi started to feel embarrassed. “Boss, Lin Zheng is the fastest learner here.

He would teach us everything he knew whenever we asked him about something we didn’t understand. That’s why we can learn so quickly.”

Zhou Shan added thoughtfully, “Yes, Boss. You taught us Arabic numerals, which makes our accounting much more efficient.”

“That’s right. I told my bookkeeper, and he was so excited,” Lin Zheng echoed, “He can rest early every day when he finishes his work. It took a long time to do accounts in the past.

“He even thanked me and mentioned my name to my parents. My mother and father were in disbelief.”

He had changed a lot. Therefore his parents were happy and emotional. If he were to go home early one day, his parents would think he did not do his job well.

Even when Lin Zheng returned home for dinner, he would still practice the kung fu skills Su Binglan had taught him. After all, he had to keep training to get stronger.

“By the way, Master, you asked your third brother to tell me about the hotpot restaurant in the east, right? I found a few lots for you. Wenwu came this morning and told me you chose this one.” Lin Zheng revealed a piece of paper as he spoke. It was the blueprint of the shop Su Binglan was interested in.

She nodded. “That’s the one. I came here mainly to take a look at this shop. After I buy it, I’ll be busy with the renovation.”

Lin Zheng said, “I’ll take you there, Master.”

“Yes, let’s go.” Then she looked at Zhou Shan and said, “You should help at the hotpot restaurant. I’ve already spoken to Wenwu, so you can head over now. He’ll get you settled in. Li Shi, you look after the dessert shop.”

Zhou Shan nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, Boss.”

Li Shi could not help but listen to Su Binglan, “Yes, Boss.”

They had grown accustomed to listening to Su Binglan’s arrangements. That was because they trusted Su Binglan and felt grateful to her. If not for her, the trio would still be hooligans people looked down on.

However, things had changed for the better, and people respected them now. Everyone was envious because they knew the trio worked for Su Binglan. Even their relatives who previously looked down on the trio now looked at them in a new light.

Moreover, the trio had worked hard for their boss and received many bonuses. They could now return to their villages and repair their old houses. The trio believed they could earn more and live better lives if they followed their boss.

Su Binglan and Lin Zheng went to the town’s east-side shop. The shop was more significant in size than the one in the west, with two floors and a backyard.

Su Binglan raised her brows. “This only cost three silver taels? Are you sure?”

Uncle Wang was in charge of selling and renting houses or shops. He said respectfully, “Yes, Miss Su. It only costs three silver taels a month to rent. This shop has two floors, is quite extensive, and even has a backyard.

“The street before us is wide, and the landlord is easy to talk to. Don’t worry. There won’t be any problems. The people from the east also hoped you would open a hotpot restaurant or something here. It would be more convenient for everyone to have your hotpot since we won’t have to travel so far. After all, your hotpot is delicious.”

Uncle Wang started drooling at the mention of hotpot. It was not even nighttime, and he wondered why he was so hungry. He wanted to do more

business and earn more so that he could go and try Su’s Hotpot.

“Miss Su, some people want to imitate your restaurant’s hotpot but can’t get the seasoning right. The key to your barbeque skewers is the seasoning and chili. No one knows where to find chili or how to make chili sauce.

“Also, you guys use charcoal. The cost will be too high for others if they use that. They won’t be able to compete with you for the price?’

The corner of Lin Zheng’s mouth twitched when he saw Uncle Wang’s expression.

‘Shouldn’t he be selling and renting houses or shops? Why is he talking about food? Uncle Wang is just like a foodie seeing that he’s talking non-stop.’

Lin Zheng remembered first talking to Uncle Wang about the shop and bargaining. Uncle Wang looked highly reluctant then.

Uncle Wang said there was no bargaining allowed. Still, when Lin Zheng mentioned that Su Binglan wanted to use the shop to open a hotpot restaurant, Uncle Wang immediately gave in to Lin Zheng’s bargain and even persuaded the young man to rent the shop.

With that scene in mind, Lin Zheng felt that he could finally understand Uncle Wang. Lin Zheng playfully thought it was his master’s fault for making such delicious food.

After receiving their pay and bonuses this month, he, Li Shi, and Zhou Shan immediately went to the hotpot restaurant. The trio had a great time eating there.

Su Binglan could not help but smile whenever she heard others talking about the food in her shop. “Our town will have much more delicious food in the future, Uncle Wang.”

“Oh my, it’s because of your ability to research and develop many delicacies that everyone in town knows your name, Miss Su. That spicy chicken and sour and spicy potato pancake from Drunken Cloud are their signature dishes because of you.”

Su Binglan saw no issues with the shop and paid half a year’s rent. After that, she told Lin Zheng to return to the dessert shop while she prepared to head to Blue Mountain Academy.

Luo Jin’an had been studying at the academy over the past few days. Su Binglan wondered how he was doing, so she decided to check on him. However, she could not go empty-handed.

She went back to the dessert shop and gathered some dessert. She also prepared to bring some for Mr. Kong. If she was Princess Lan Ruobing in the past, then she was the one who built Blue Mountain Academy.

Therefore, she should be the one who hired Mr. Kong to be the academy’s principal. Hence, Su Binglan could not be stingy and knew to bring Mr. Kong some food.

She was about to go to Su Wenzhe’s shop to get some haggis soup and sesame buns. However, she discovered someone had rented and opened the shop next to Su Wenzhe’s. It was a duck blood vermicelli shop.

Su Binglan saw many people going in and out of the shop. She wondered if Liu Yinyin’s parents were the ones who rented the shop.

When Su Binglan entered, she looked at Liu Yinyin and asked, “Sister-in-law, is the duck blood vermicelli shop next door your parents’?”

Liu Yinyin was especially happy about this. “Yes, my parents, eldest brother, and his wife set up their shop there to sell their food since the weather is getting colder. After all, the customers wouldn’t want to eat outside because of the cold.

“I told my parents to rent a shop since they made money selling their duck blood vermicelli and soup dumplings. The rent here is so cheap. My parents wanted to rent a shop nearby so that I could see them more often, and we could watch out for each other..”