Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Raking in the Profits
Loss?
Today’s "Flower Garden Ode" was packed, how could it be a loss?
Anyone with a business mind could roughly calculate that today’s "Flower Garden Ode" made a huge profit.
A cup of milk tea costs fifty copper coins, and every guest received a cup, which seemed like a lot of consumption, but after deducting the costs, it wasn’t much.
Then, based on the dishes ordered by everyone, each table averaged about twenty taels of silver, and considering the total number of tables, the revenue was sky-high.
By now, the cost of the milk teas given away had already been recovered.
Besides, only one cup of milk tea was given for free; the second, third, or the five, six, seven, eight cups taken home were all charged at normal rates. The orders that the Second Miss saw were all paid for by the guests.
Moreover, the taste of the milk tea was quite good. Those noble guests came out to enjoy themselves, and fifty copper coins were nothing to them. They wouldn’t be stingy about it.
So, in total, today’s revenue, after deducting labor costs, food costs, etc., left a net profit that was the highest since the "Flower Garden Ode" restaurant opened.
Not to mention "Flower Garden Ode," even other nearby restaurants probably couldn’t compare.
Who could have imagined that the "Zhaoying Building" was deserted before today, and now, with a new name, it was completely full?
But whether "Flower Garden Ode" was making or losing money had nothing to do with the Second Miss. Qu Fulan wasn’t working for her, so there was no need to explain to her.
Qu Fulan just smiled and said, "Second Miss, I’ve already reported the numbers to the Heir. Today’s ’Flower Garden Ode’ will not incur any loss. The Heir is well aware."
She only mentioned there would be no loss, and as for whether there was a profit or how much, she didn’t say.
As the saying goes, quiet wealth is the key to making a big fortune. Being low-key and not flaunting wealth is the prudent way.
Otherwise, given the Second Miss’s disposition, if she knew "Flower Garden Ode" had made a huge profit, she’d surely be jealous. Although she couldn’t do anything to "Flower Garden Ode," if she went around blabbering, it would cause a lot of trouble.
It’s better to avoid unnecessary complications.
How could the Second Miss not sense the perfunctory response? It was indeed laughable that she was being fobbed off by a mere maid.
Just as she was about to erupt, the old lady spoke up, "Everyone, be quiet, don’t disturb my storytelling."
The Second Miss was completely stifled, her expression filled with frustration.
After Qu Fulan ensured everything was in order on the third floor, she whispered to the old lady that she was going to attend to some matters, and the old lady nodded. However, as if remembering something, she asked Qu Fulan, "Is there someone here named Yinhua? Where is she now?"
Qu Fulan suddenly remembered the last time the old lady told the Heir to take care of Yinhua and said, "She’s washing dishes in the back kitchen."
The old lady said, "Why is she washing dishes? That kind of work should be done by middle-aged women."
Younger girls have tender hands; keeping them in water all day is a shame.
Qu Fulan smiled, "Yinhua is introverted and doesn’t like interacting with others, so she asked to wash dishes in the back kitchen herself."
The old lady frowned, such a personality?
"When serving dishes later, let her come along. I want to see what she’s like."
"Understood, old lady."
Meanwhile, in the backyard, Yinhua was pouring water at the back door and happened to witness Huang’s mother and daughter being tied up and thrown onto a cattle cart, which scared her. She rushed over and asked, "What’s going on? Why are they being tied up?"
It was rather coincidental. Earlier, Yinhua went to use the toilet, so she missed the big drama of the Heir holding someone accountable.
The rag in Lianhua’s mouth wasn’t tight, and she spat it out with effort and quickly said to Yinhua, "These people want to drive us to the estate to do hard labor. It must be because I offended Miss Qu. But you saw what I did today; I just wanted to make some special dishes for the Heir. Yinhua, go and plead on our behalf to the Heir. No matter what, let us come back. We are sisters after all. Remember this."
It was evident that Lianhua was very adept at seeking self-benefit and avoiding harm. She deliberately didn’t mention it was the Heir’s order, then utilized her usual relationship with Yinhua to make her mistakenly believe it was Qu Fulan’s personal decision. Then she could go and plead with the Heir, who would definitely grant her request because of her father’s merits.
Yinhua’s father lost an arm to protect the Old Marquis, a favor the Heir couldn’t ignore.
The servant woman saw she could still speak and moved to block her mouth again, while Lianhua struggled and urged Yinhua, "Remember... um... remember..."
Yinhua was taken aback, scared, and watched as Lianhua and her mother were taken away.
Things not witnessed firsthand, even if told by others later, had an air of hearsay and lacked a sense of reality.
Yinhua wanted to ask her parents about the matter, but today was busy, so she could only keep it in her heart to discuss later.
Up front, "Journey to the West" had already reached the part where Tang Seng was enlightened by the Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, traveled from the Eastern Tang of China to the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures, and freed Sun Wukong along the way at the Five Finger Mountain.
For them, 81 challenges awaited.
The specifics of the first challenge were yet unknown.
It kept people on tenterhooks.
Today’s storytelling ended here.
The listeners were left wanting more and eagerly booked seats for the next day.
The old lady finally met Yinhua and asked her a few questions, to which Yinhua responded very shyly, showing a reserved demeanor.
The old lady said nothing more and left.
Qu Fulan naturally wouldn’t leave so early, as others were still finishing up their meals.
After leaving the venue, acquaintances continued to discuss the exciting plot of "Journey to the West."
She remained busy until the early morning, and only then did she catch a breath.
Starting out is always the hardest. It’s just that during the first few days of opening, she needed to supervise. Once things stabilized, she wouldn’t need to oversee everything constantly.
Qu Fulan thought the Heir had already left, after all, he had his own duties, and she had the four guards for safety, so there was no concern.
As Qu Fulan walked out of "Flower Garden Ode," she noticed that except for some all-night taverns still lit up, most places were beginning to wrap up for the day. The bustling streets during the day were now quiet. While there were street lamps, the lanterns didn’t illuminate very far.
Suddenly, she saw a tall and elegant figure walking toward her; upon closer inspection, who else could it be but Heir Pei?
"Why is the Heir still here?" Qu Fulan was surprised.
Pei Ji’an smiled at her, "A distinguished guest wishes to see you, let’s go."
Qu Fulan, puzzled, followed him to a carriage.
"Master Huideng was originally supposed to leave today, but after hearing ’Journey to the West,’ he was so moved that he wished to see you before departing."
For this reason, Master Huideng waited patiently until Qu Fulan had finished her work.
After hearing Heir Pei’s words, Qu Fulan felt a jolt in her heart, unable to react before the carriage curtain was lifted.
A Taoist monk stepped out.
"Amitabha."
Qu Fulan suddenly felt enveloped by a mysterious force and then lost consciousness, falling to the ground.