Rebirth: Starting from the Cafeteria

Chapter 163 I Bought This Yard
"The problem now is that we have a large number of employees and the pressure on salary costs is very high. Master Dong, Tingting, Jianjun, do you have any good suggestions?"

After becoming the contractor, Du Shaojie convened a meeting, with participants including Dong Jun, Huang Tingting, Xiao Jianjun and others.

"I think we can add new varieties, such as meat buns, bone soup, hemp garden, etc. for breakfast."

Xiao Jianjun is mainly responsible for breakfast, so he suggested enriching the variety of breakfast and then making adjustments based on sales over a period of time.

"The lunch snacks are a bit monotonous. Can we add some variety? In addition to the [big plate of chicken belt noodles], we can also consider adding [braised pork with rice], [fish-flavored shredded pork with rice], etc."

What Dong Jun proposed was actually the concept of fast food.

It's just that he had a vague idea and didn't consider it maturely.

"I suggest that in addition to selling [Spicy Chicken], we can also add [Texas Braised Chicken]. Of course, this requires Manager Du to provide a secret recipe spice package."

Huang Tingting first thought of [Dezhou Braised Chicken]. She had witnessed with her own eyes how busy Su Dapeng was, so it must be making money.

She brought it up for Du Shaojie to weigh and she didn't say anything extra.

"Everyone's suggestions are good, but we have to do things one by one. Jianjun, I agree to enrich the variety of breakfast. You guys try it first and go for it. I'll supervise you."

Du Shaojie affirmed the suggestions made by several people and decided to increase the variety of breakfast first and then consider the lunch fast food.

As for [Dezhou Braised Chicken], he thought about it and felt that there was no need to make it.

Sometimes having too many varieties is not necessarily a good thing. It is better to focus on making [Pepper and Spicy Chicken] and never ruin your own brand.

After the meeting.

Du Shaojie asked people to prepare the ingredients and personally cooked a pot of [braised pork]. The portion of this pot was not large, so it was brought to the front at mealtime and sold by the portion with rice.

"Braised pork with rice! There's a new variety. Come on, give me one portion to try."

Customers came one after another, and everyone saw the changes today.

The braised pork looks soft and tender, and the smell alone can arouse people's appetite. A customer immediately ordered one and exclaimed that it was very delicious after eating it. This is what it means to eat meat.

The small pot of [braised pork] served with rice was sold out quickly and received unanimous praise.

One customer even specifically asked: "Will you still make [braised pork] tomorrow? If so, I can bring more people to eat."

Dong Jun turned his head and looked at Du Shaojie. Du Shaojie nodded, and he gave the other party an affirmative answer.

The customer left happily, and the news that the snack bar had added "braised pork rice" spread.

"Manager Du, your moves are truly extraordinary."

Dong Jun watched Du Shaojie cook the braised pork from beginning to end and also tasted it. This compliment was not just flattery.

"Master Dong, after today, make this amount every day, and then increase it gradually based on the effect. Also, I'm afraid you still have to make the [Braised Pork], I can help you make it for a few days."

Afterwards, Du Shaojie handed the preparation of this dish over to Dong Jun.

It doesn't matter if Dong Jun can't do it well, I can give him some pointers. In this industry, in addition to qualifications, the key is still the level of personal skills. As the saying goes, the master is the teacher, and no one thinks there is anything wrong with this.

"Okay, okay, please give me more advice, Manager Du."

Dong Jun was very happy. Generally speaking, no one would teach skills to someone unless they were a master and apprentice.

Du Shaojie's ability was there, and he was convinced. If he could learn how to cook a few more dishes from the other party, it would be of great benefit to him.

One is willing to teach, the other is willing to learn, and the two hit it off.

Before leaving get off work in the evening, the finance department checked today's accounts. Du Shaojie went over to take a look and saw that the total turnover for the day was 1600 yuan, which was quite good.

After all, prices are low now, so the price of [Big Plate of Chicken Belt Noodles] has increased a little to 1 yuan per serving, and the price of [Braised Pork with Rice] is also 8 yuan. Even if 1 servings are sold, the sales revenue is only 8 yuan.

The gross profit margins of snacks and fast food are higher, reaching 60%-70% on average.

Gross profit is the amount after deducting costs from revenue. Costs only include various ingredients, auxiliary materials and fuel costs. Gross profit divided by total revenue is the gross profit margin.

But the biggest expense for catering companies is employee salaries. For example, in a snack bar, there are 48 employees in total, and the average monthly salary is 50 yuan, so the monthly expenditure is 2400 yuan.

Therefore, after deducting the three expenses (operating expenses, administrative expenses, and financial expenses), the profit is not high.

"Manager Du, if we can achieve today's turnover every day, then the total turnover for a month will be 4.8 yuan. The gross profit is about 2.88 yuan. After deducting the three expenses, the profit should be 1.9 yuan."

The finance department did some calculations and Du Shaojie was very excited after hearing it.

However, this figure has not yet deducted taxes and fees, because the snack bar is applying for a one-year tax exemption, which is not expected to be a problem. In the past two years, the policy has encouraged various units to actively absorb unemployed young people and have tax reduction and exemption benefits.

In addition, the contract fee paid to the bureau has not been calculated. If spread out to each month, the profit is about 1.8 yuan.

According to the contracting plan formulated by Du Shaojie, a bonus will be issued if the profit reaches 1 yuan. The bonus standard is implemented according to the plan of the bureau, but the level is slightly adjusted.

He is in the first tier, 50 yuan per month. Dong Jun is in the second tier, 35 yuan per month. Xiao Jianjun and Huang Tingting are in the third tier, 25 yuan per month. Others are in the fourth tier, 15 yuan per month.

The total prize money added up is 795 yuan.

Based on 1 yuan as the base, the bonus will increase by 1% for every additional 20 yuan in profit, with no upper limit.

"Not bad, not bad. I'll calculate it in detail after this month is over."

Du Shaojie then left the snack bar with a few people, ending a day's work. It was the peak time for getting off work, and the streets were busy with cars and people. The snack bar did not serve dinner, and the closing time was much earlier than the Chinese restaurant.

He got on his bike and headed straight for Chunfeng Lane.

Wang Yuxiu lived in the old house for a long time because she had to help make [Dezhou Braised Chicken]. Xiaoya rested in the new house at noon, and often had lunch at the snack bar, but usually went to accompany her mother in the evening.

When she got home, Wang Yuxiu had already prepared dinner.

After dinner she will start cooking the chicken, and several stoves will be occupied.

"Xiao Jie, before you came back, Uncle Sun from next door came over to sit for a while. As you know, he is the only one living here, and his son works in another place. He is going to live with his son soon, so he wants to sell his small yard. Can you help ask him?"

After dinner, Du Shaojie and Wang Yuxiu were busy in the kitchen together.

Wang Yuxiu told him something, saying that Uncle Sun next door was planning to sell his house and move to another place.

The real estate market has not yet taken shape, and most people live in public housing, paying a small amount of rent every month. There are also some private properties, such as Du Shaojie's old house, which is private property.

Privately owned houses can now be traded, but it is a bit troublesome.

In the past two years, the policy has been relaxed to allow private housing construction, but the approval locations are relatively remote.

"How much is Uncle Sun's yard going to sell for?"

"He said he would sell it for 1,000 yuan. I guess the price is negotiable."

"For that shabby house of his, one thousand yuan is a bit expensive, eight hundred yuan is about right. I'll go take a look later."

Du Shaojie had an idea. Sun Bo's house was right next to the wall of his own backyard. If it was connected, the two yards would immediately become one.

Now the kitchen at home seems a little small, and the yard is a little cramped.

After stewing the chicken, Wang Yuxiu watched the fire at home while Du Shaojie went out to visit Uncle Sun.

"Uncle Sun, are you home?"

Du Shaojie knocked on the gate several times, but he didn't dare to use too much force for fear of breaking it apart.

Sun Bo's house looks dilapidated even when standing at the door.

"Come on, who is it? Oh, it's Shaojie, come in quickly."

Sun Bo is in his sixties and looks older than his actual age. He is retired and earns a meager salary, so he is not well off financially.

Fortunately, his son has become successful and is willing to take him in to live with him in his old age, otherwise it would be difficult for him to live alone.

"Uncle Sun, I heard that you want to sell this yard? Don't mind me telling you the truth, but your yard is really shabby and not worth a thousand dollars."

Du Shaojie followed the other person in, looked around the house, and couldn't help shaking his head.

The old man lives alone and is probably reluctant to spend money on repairs. The house, courtyard wall, etc. are almost in the state of being dilapidated.

Therefore, he did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Then how much do you think is appropriate?"

"Eight hundred dollars at most."

"Shaojie, let's not joke, are you serious about buying it?"

Uncle Sun seemed a little anxious. Instead of asking whether the price was okay or not, he asked another question.

Du Shaojie nodded and said, "Of course I'm buying it sincerely, otherwise why would I come here?"

"Okay! Eight hundred is eight hundred, deal!"

Du Shaojie thought there would be some discussion, but unexpectedly, Uncle Sun agreed to the price immediately.

He had nothing to say, and then made an appointment with the other party to go to the street office to register and file the documents tomorrow, and then he had to go to several departments.

Starting in 1978, high-level officials and theorists raised the issue of "housing reform," marking the beginning of housing commercialization. But for many years afterwards, it was only in the preparation stage, and full implementation had to wait until the late s.

Today's real estate transactions are still very irregular, but they can still be handled.

After leaving Sun Bo's yard, Du Shaojie went to see Liang Meiqin.

After he signed a three-year contract with the bureau, he had a lot more free time. Occasionally, when the weather was good, he would push Mikoto outside for a walk.

"Shaojie, you have contracted the snack bar, are you afraid of losing money?"

Liang Meiqin fumbled to help Du Shaojie peel an orange. She could do many things now, and her eyes could sense faint light, no longer pitch black.

Her parents planned to take her to Beijing for eye treatment after the spring. After all, there was a glimmer of hope now.

"It's impossible to lose money. I've been doing this since I was a teenager, so I won't fall into the trap. But how much money I can make is uncertain, so I'll just go with the flow."

The two chatted casually, and Du Shaojie sat there for almost an hour before leaving.

On the way home, I suddenly saw Huang Tingting. She was riding a bicycle and getting farther and farther away. It seemed that she had just come out of Su Dapeng's house.

(End of this chapter)