Chapter 75: Stability

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Mei nodded, her weariness belied by her upbeat demeanor. She smiled and remarked, “We’ve been getting a lot of regular customers lately, and our daily revenue is pretty consistent. Many fans have been raving about my braised meat. I’m thinking about adding it as a separate item on the menu.”

Wen Nian pondered for a moment before replying, “We could sell it as a standalone dish, but we can’t offer it at this noodle shop. We’ll need to open a separate shop for that!”

Zhou Mei’s eyes widened slightly. “Do we really need to do that? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay here and save on rent? If customers come for the noodles, we could simply sell them a portion of braised meat to take away.”

As Wen Nian pondered the suggestion, she became increasingly convinced of its feasibility. She clasped Zhou Mei’s arm affectionately and said, “Mom, you’ll see. It’ll work out. Let’s discuss it further over dinner.”

Zhou Mei cast a glance at Wen Nian’s delicate and enigmatic demeanor and replied with a smile, “Sure, but why don’t you sit outside at the cash register? The kitchen is full of the smell of oil and smoke, so it’s best to stay away.”

As the day progressed, Wen Yu finished school and the noodle shop grew increasingly busy. It wasn’t until 8:30 p.m. that the Wen family finally had a chance to sit down and enjoy their own meal.

Wen Yu also shared the timing of his upcoming competition. “The teacher announced today that the preliminary round is scheduled for December 26th, followed by the semi-finals the next day. The candidates from across the province will convene in Hai City, and No. 1 High School will be one of the examination venues.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Xing smiled with satisfaction. “Work hard and aim to make it to the finals.”

Zhou Mei was also very confident in her son and inquired about the timing of the finals.

Wen Yu replied, “The national finals will take place in the capital, but the exact date and time have yet to be decided. It will be determined after the semi-finals.”

When Wen Nian heard this, she exclaimed, “That should be in January! I might have already joined the production team and be in the capital by then.”

Since Wen Nian’s recent brainwashing, the Wen couple was less resistant to the idea of their daughter going to the capital to film a movie.

Zhou Mei also smiled and said, “Then our family can gather in the capital! It will be my first time going there. When the time comes, we should visit the capital square to watch the flag-raising ceremony and share the experience on our Moments. My older sisters will be so envious!”

Wen Nian noticed that Zhou Mei was fully committed to joining the production team with her, and knew she had to quickly find a way to change the subject. If her mom closed her shop for two months to go to the capital, she would lose many customers.

Wen Nian changed the subject to braised meat. “Mom, I don’t think you and Dad can continue like this. You wake up at 5 am to buy groceries and open the shop at 7 am. You don’t return home until 10 pm, and you only get a few hours of sleep each night. I’ve noticed how exhausted you both look every day. Just a few nights ago, I woke up to use the bathroom and heard your loud snoring coming from the living room where you sleep. You should consider hiring someone to help you out. I’ve been wanting to bring this up for a while now.”

Wen Nian didn’t want her parents to stay in the restaurant all the time, even if there weren’t many customers. Running a restaurant was a demanding business. It could be very profitable, but also exhausting.

When Zhou Mei heard this, she shook her head vigorously and rejected the idea without much thought. “It’s only been a month since we opened the restaurant, and it hasn’t fully stabilized yet. Hiring another person will increase our costs. Will it even be profitable?”

Wen Nian pouted. “I wonder who told me in the kitchen earlier that our daily operating income has stabilized.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mei coughed lightly but remained silent.

Zhou Mei was primarily responsible for cooking on the stove, standing there for most of the day. As a result, her calves were starting to show varicose veins.

Meanwhile, Wen Xing was responsible for cleaning up the noodle shop, spending the entire day bent over washing dishes. Each night, as he closed up shop and headed home, his waist felt like it was about to snap. This job was even more uncomfortable than standing at the stove, as Zhou Mei did.

Last week, Wen Xing suggested hiring someone to help with the noodle shop to his wife, but she rejected the idea and suggested waiting until after Wen Nian finished filming and if they observe the same customer flow.

The idea of waiting another month was overwhelming for Wen Xing, and he couldn’t help but feel like crying at the thought of enduring the physical strain and long hours for much longer.

Fortunately, Wen Nian had raised the idea now. Wen Xing was grateful to have such a considerate daughter, unlike Wen Yu who was less discreet with her thoughts and feelings.

Wen Nian continued, “Dad, don’t worry about the cost. The shop has already made a profit, and even if it doesn’t, it’s more important to take care of your health. We’ll hire a helper to work in the morning, and you can come in to work in the afternoon. That way, both of you can take a break and take turns to rest. The business won’t be affected, and your health won’t be affected either..”

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