Chapter 441 - 215: My Sister is So Cute

Chapter 441: Chapter 215: My Sister is So Cute

Zhou Yan’s original plan was to tear everything down and rebuild. He only needed the foundation; then he would construct a new building to his own specifications, one that could serve as both a restaurant and a home.

But Mrs. Qiu had given him far too much. That cabinet of ancient books was priceless. The Huanghuali wood Eight Immortals table would be sold by weight in later eras. The large, mother-of-pearl inlaid wardrobe and the complete set of mahogany chairs were also incredibly valuable.

’This old house must have a very special meaning to her.’

So when Mrs. Qiu looked at him and asked her question, Zhou Yan hesitated. He said uncertainly, "I might need some time to work out a plan. This old house must be quite meaningful to you, and the furniture is arranged so harmoniously. If it were possible to preserve it..."

"You’re mistaken," Mrs. Qiu said with a laugh. "From the moment I agreed to give you this old house, it ceased to have any meaning for me."

"Huh?" Zhou Yan was taken aback.

"You’re a very perceptive and kind person. If my reunion with Wang Yu was a stroke of luck, then helping those overseas Chinese successfully find their families was thanks to your sharp instincts and meticulous nature," Mrs. Qiu said with a gentle smile.

"I chose to live here partly because I wanted to wait for him, but also because it was a convenient spot for going out to eat and play cards.

Now that I’ve seen him and am preparing to live in Xiangjiang for a while, this old house holds no more attachments or meaning for me. ℯ𝓵.

I may be stubborn, but I’m also a free spirit by nature. I’ve never cared much for material possessions. Only people are worth holding onto.

Yuyan told me you wanted this property for its location, that you plan to open a restaurant here in Jiazhou."

Mrs. Qiu’s words made Zhou Yan feel as if he were seeing her as she once was: the young Miss Qiu who, after bitterly honoring a three-year promise, had decisively thrown herself into a marriage with Duan Xingbang. She was truly a free-spirited and clear-headed woman.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. I was drawn to this location because it’s near the docks, with plenty of merchants and tourists passing through. My plan was to save up enough money, rebuild the courtyard, and move my restaurant here to pursue better growth."

"That’s a fine idea. ’Man seeks to rise, just as water flows to the sea.’ The Jiazhou Textile Factory is profitable, but it still only has three thousand workers. There’s a clear ceiling, one that’s hard to break. Jiazhou City, on the other hand, is full of people. And in the last couple of years, more and more tourists from all over the country have been coming to see the Great Buddha. As long as you build a good reputation, your business is guaranteed to reach a new level," Mrs. Qiu looked at him with a broad smile.

"I’m sure you’ve already figured all this out yourself. To open a restaurant in the city, you need a larger space, more presentable dining halls, and private rooms. That means this old house has to be torn down and rebuilt.

So what are you hesitating for? If all this furniture is becoming a burden, I’ll have someone haul it all away tomorrow."

"You’re right, and that was my original plan. It’s just... after touring the courtyard with you today, it feels like a shame to tear it all down," Zhou Yan admitted, nodding sheepishly.

"Ten thousand yuan is no small sum. Your family works from dawn to dusk every day; imagine how much effort it takes to save that much. If you just wanted to buy an old courtyard in the city, why would you spend that kind of money on this little rundown place?

When the Qiu Family built this house, it was because we could no longer stay in Rongcheng. We sold our home there and retreated to Jiazhou. The foundation is only three or four hundred square meters; only the gatehouse was built to look grand. There are bigger and better old family estates in Jiazhou. You could take your pick of them, and it wouldn’t even cost you ten thousand yuan," Mrs. Qiu smiled and shook her head.

Zhou Yan was speechless.

The old woman was so blunt that, for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

Mrs. Qiu continued, "And look at this layout. It’s so gloomy, with the rooms all crowded around this little courtyard. No amount of renovation could meet your needs for both a home and a restaurant. You have to tear it down and start over.

Besides, it’s not comfortable to live in as it is. You’d be afraid of burning the place down just by running a new electrical wire. Jiazhou City is upgrading its sewer lines, so when you rebuild, you can get rid of the outhouse. That will make the restaurant much cleaner and more sanitary.

Everyone’s on a more equal footing these days, which means no one has much money in their pockets. If you want to make a profit with a restaurant, you have to rely on low margins and high volume—cater to the masses.

Feiyan Restaurant and Le Ming Restaurant used to cater exclusively to wealthy families, but now they can only sell a plate of Twice-Cooked Pork for three yuan. If you think you can get rich just by having a few private dining rooms, you’ve missed the boat."

Zhou Yan nodded repeatedly as he listened. It was clear Mrs. Qiu wasn’t exactly pleased with her living experience in the old house. He smiled and said, "You’re right. I’ve actually been thinking about tearing it down and rebuilding. I’d demolish everything and put up a new building. The first floor would be one large dining hall that could fit thirty tables, plus a large kitchen. The second floor would be our living quarters. That way, the business and living areas would be completely separate."

"That’s a good arrangement," Mrs. Qiu nodded. She thought for a moment before adding, "If you could build three stories, you could put a few private dining rooms on the second floor for banquets and special events. You could meet the needs of even more customers that way, following Feiyan Restaurant’s model."

Hearing this, Zhou Yan gave it some serious thought and nodded. "I’ll think it over."

’The final plan will have to be based on the restaurant’s needs, of course, but Mrs. Qiu’s suggestion is definitely worth considering. Private dining rooms on the second floor could capture a portion of the high-end banquet market.’

’I could even create a special banquet menu then. Certain dishes that aren’t suited for à la carte orders could become signature offerings for the private rooms, like Snowflake Chicken Porridge.’

’If I’m moving the restaurant from the textile factory gates into Jiazhou City, I definitely can’t keep doing things the exact same way.’