VFGRC Chapter 58

Yu Bai didn’t have many familiar friends. During these New Year days, he visited his friends, including Yu Dong’s home, the community committee director’s house in the neighborhood, and a closer friend’s place to exchange New Year greetings.

While staying at home without going out to set up a stall and resting every day was indeed enjoyable, over time, Yu Bai also began to feel a bit uneasy.

Because he was accustomed to a busy life.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Yu Bai received a message from Hang Yuanshu.

They had signed a cooperative contract before the New Year, and Yu Bai had confirmed that there were no traps in the contract.

An investment offer this favorable, only a fool would let such an opportunity go to waste.

Yu Bai was far from being a fool.

According to the plan outlined in the proposal, after the signing of the contract between the two parties, Yu Bai would be responsible for providing the technology and recruiting personnel, while Hang Yuanshu’s side would handle the investment, store operations, and decoration. Each party had its own role to play.

On the fifth day of the New Year, Hang Yuanshu sent Yu Bai the contact information of the project manager responsible for his venture.

The project manager was a dedicated and responsible person named Chen Jing. Upon adding Chen Jing, he immediately sent several messages to Yu Bai. Having carefully selected and verified in advance, Chen Jing provided Yu Bai with a selection of suitable store addresses for opening. Yu Bai was allowed to choose his preferred location.

Yu Bai didn’t expect the efficiency of the other party to be this high.

However… when it came to choosing the location for the snack shop, Yu Bai had his own ideas.

Chen Jing had a good temperament, and when Yu Bai mentioned that he had a specific location in mind for his snack shop, Chen Jing immediately expressed willingness to listen to Yu Bai’s opinion.

[So, where is the location you’re considering?]

[Sanjiaokou, Qingqiao District…]

The address that Yu Bai favored was none other than the branch location of “Qiaozi Snack Store” at Sanjiaokou.

Due to the setbacks “Qiaozi Snack Store” experienced before the New Year, all of its branch stores in J City have been closed from New Year’s Eve until now.

The once prosperous “Qiao Group” had once acquired several shops in one go.

However, now under financial pressure, the “Qiao Group” had become quite vulnerable.

As a result, many of its shops were being put up for sale.

[Chen Jing: You’re really lucky. The shop at Sanjiaokou was bought by someone else a couple of days ago! The buyer has business dealings with our company and is considering renting out the shop at Sanjiaokou…]

[Chen Jing: However, let me say a few more words. While many of the properties I’ve recommended to you have high rental prices, they are far superior in terms of location and value compared to the shop at Sanjiaokou. And as you know, the rent is covered by our group, so you won’t need to pay a single penny…]

Yu Bai knew that the properties Chen Jing had recommended to him were top-notch.

However, in the less than two months he had been setting up his stall at Sanjiaokou, he had made more friends than ever before and created many wonderful memories.

Yu Bai wasn’t sentimental, but he was attached to Sanjiaokou.

If he hadn’t come to Sanjiaokou on the second day of setting up his stall, his life might have taken a different path.

[Yu Bai: I just prefer setting up my stall at Sanjiaokou. I’m familiar with the customers and stall owners there. For now, I don’t want to open a snack shop elsewhere.]

Chen Jing read the message from Yu Bai and felt he understood Yu Bai’s mindset.

Starting something new is always difficult.

Knowing people and a familiar place are important.

When Yu Bai’s snack shop opens, he’ll receive support from many regular customers, which will make the beginning smoother.

Chen Jing agreed with Yu Bai’s idea.

As the most experienced project manager at G Group, even if Yu Bai’s snack shop was in a remote corner, he could help turn it into a nationally renowned business.

“Manager Chen, are you here to report project funds? Which lucky boss got you to take on their project? Are you starting a chain this time or helping expand into international markets?”

Chen Jing smiled lightly, “Neither.”

“Neither? Could it be that you’re working on an even bigger project this time?”

Chen Jing replied, “No, no, this time it’s just a small project.”

“How small?”

Chen Jing answered, “Assisting a snack stall owner in opening a snack shop…”

Hearing this, the financial officer almost choked on his drink.

Oh my, did he hear it right?

Chen Jing, the leader of Project Team A is the most experienced commercial project manager. Every project he’s handled has turned into a hit, becoming the trend of the year and attracting countless followers.

Now, such a talented individual is actually taking on a project to assist a snack stall owner in opening a snack shop?

A single snack shop, and not even a chain!

Isn’t this a clear case of underutilizing his talents?

Just when the financial officer hadn’t recovered from his surprise, Chen Jing’s next sentence dropped his jaw even further.

“I’m applying for the first batch of funds… actually, just have the purchasing department buy that shop in Qingqiao District.”

“Manager Chen, you want the purchasing department to buy a shop?!”

Chen Jing remained composed, “Yes, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just…” The financial officer hesitated for a while before asking, “The shop must be expensive, right? How can the purchasing department approve so much funding?”

Land in J City is scarce and valuable. A small shop holds significant value. Even though their company is a top player in the industry and financially well-off, business decisions still need to consider the return on investment.

The company spending such a high price to invest in an uncertain future snack stall, how could it possibly pay off?

Moreover, due to the recent trend, many people have been visiting Qingqiao District to take photos and upload them online.

Qingqiao District has already become a well-known food street. The prices of the shops there have skyrocketed, haven’t they?

“Well, I have my ways.” Chen Jing smiled. “Regardless, this shop will eventually be bought.”

At first, the financial officer thought Chen Jing was just joking. However, after a while, when he held the purchasing department’s expense list and saw a line that read “Cost of Purchasing Qingqiao District Shop,” he was shocked once again.

The purchasing department had actually agreed to Chen Jing’s request and bought the shop in Qingqiao District!

—

With the location chosen, the contract signed, and the initial preparations complete, it was time for renovations.

Renovations didn’t require much of Yu Bai’s attention, as Chen Jing handled them according to Yu Bai’s requirements.

The only thing Yu Bai needed to consider was what kind of snacks to introduce in the snack shop, how many helpers to hire, and similar questions.

As soon as he started thinking about the food aspect, Yu Bai’s culinary inspiration flowed like a fountain.

Operating a snack shop allows for a much wider range of snacks compared to a food stall, and Yu Bai had to diversify the offerings beyond just the teppanyaki series.

In these days of rest at home, Yu Bai tried making various snacks with different flavors.

Among the snacks were milk dates, boneless chicken feet, spicy sauce chicken feet, soy sauce-flavored chicken feet, crispy pineapple pastries, and more.

These snacks could be prepared in advance by Yu Bai, and some were easy for people who were experienced in snack making to learn.

Yu Bai planned to have them ready in the shop before opening, so even if the made-to-order snacks ran out or required a queue, customers would have time and opportunity to buy other non-made-to-order snacks.

This was one of the solutions Yu Bai came up with after witnessing the displeasure of customers due to long queues at “Qiaozi Snack Store.”

“Dad, what are we eating today?”

Xing Xing patted his increasingly round belly, and his round eyes were filled with anticipation.

During these days when he stayed at home with his dad, his dad cooked a lot of delicious food for him, and he ate a lot of yummy things. Every day was filled with immense happiness.

“Today?” Yu Bai patted Xing Xing’s little head.

Ever since Yu Bai was discharged from the hospital and recalled his culinary skills from his past life, his cooking abilities had been improving. And just as rapidly, Xing Xing was growing up.

In the past, Xing Xing had been as thin as a little bamboo shoot, but now he had transformed into a plump dumpling.

If he continued eating like this, he might end up with a double chin!

Yu Bai said, “You’ve eaten quite a lot these days. Starting from today, let’s eat a little less.”

Being too chubby as a child wouldn’t be good for his health. Xing Xing was just the right level of “round” at the moment.

Xing Xing’s round eyes immediately widened.

What? Dad wants him to eat less?!

But… but he hadn’t eaten that much these days, had he? He had just eaten a little more meat, candy, and cake than usual…

Sitting on the sofa, Xing Xing lowered his little head and carefully examined his belly.

A flicker of shock appeared in Xing Xing’s round eyes.

Oh no! When he sat down, his belly had only been soft, but now it had become a big belly with two layers!

If this continued… would he turn into a chubby child?!

No way! A slightly chubby child was cute, but if he became too chubby, he wouldn’t be cute anymore.

Xing Xing pursed his lips, determination shining in his round eyes.

“Alright! Then… then I’ll eat less!” Xing Xing declared, “What are we eating today? It’s already afternoon…”

A hint of anticipation for “eating” lingered in his eyes.

After Xing Xing’s daily nap, Yu Bai would prepare afternoon tea for him—various kinds of snacks.

Yu Bai said, “Since you can’t eat too much, I’ll have to make less for you.”

This time, Yu Bai prepared freshly-made snacks for Xing Xing’s afternoon tea.

Before Xing Xing could even finish building a block tower, Yu Bai had already walked out with the snacks.

The sweet aroma mixed with the scent of roasting wafted into Xing Xing’s nose, instantly capturing his attention.

Without even thinking about his blocks, Xing Xing turned his head and looked in the direction of the tantalizing smell.

Such an enticing aroma! His mouth had already started watering!

“Dad, Dad, what did you make?” Xing Xing looked at Yu Bai with his sparkling eyes.

“I made crispy rice cakes,” Yu Bai replied.

 

Author’s Note:

PS: All the nearby markets and supermarkets are closed.

I’m off to fight for groceries on the app!!!