Chapter 550

Shazhu, who had become the person in charge of Bai Xu again, had no intention of immediately reopening Bai Xu; he planned to close it for a few days first, letting public opinion ferment, ferment.

Huang Shiren was fired because Bai Xu had received a large pile of IOUs.

Those customers who ate on IOUs were either unaware, or if they knew, they pretended not to know.

If Shazhu were to reopen Bai Xu, these people would still want to settle their meals with IOUs after eating—would Shazhu accept these IOUs, or not accept them?

Deputy Factory Manager

To make his future work a bit easier, Shazhu had someone post the reason for the closure and rectification on Bai Xu's door.

It was written in black and white that Bai Xu's expenditures exceeded its income, income and expenditure were out of proportion, and it would cease operations for rectification for seven days, reopening after a week.

After posting the notice of closure and rectification at the door, Shazhu met with those from Bai Xu and had a friendly chat.

Factory Director Yang

Secretary Zhou

Moreover, the incident with Bangeng arose, making them cherish the opportunity to work at Bai Xu even more; at least they still had a monthly income of twenty yuan.

Some people left, such as the three master chefs hired at high pay by Huang Shiren, whose monthly wages reached as high as two hundred yuan.

Shazhu himself came from a chef background, and his culinary skills were excellent.

Before Shazhu could even speak to dismiss them, the three master chefs voluntarily offered to resign and return to their previous workplaces; Shazhu did not stop them, settled their wages, and bade them farewell with a smile. He also paid the wages of the remaining staff, the money for which came from Yagangchang's expenditures; all the IOUs from Bai Xu's revenue last month were thus transferred to Yagangchang.

Starting this month, Bai Xu truly entered the era of self-financing and bearing its own profits and losses.

As Bai Xu's natal family, Yagangchang provided three thousand yuan, serving as the capital for Bai Xu's reopening.

Shazhu, in the name of Bai Xu, issued a IOU for three thousand yuan, specifying the repayment date and detailed purpose.

In the days that followed, he took You Li and Liu Lan to the supply and marketing cooperative, finalizing the details of material supply and signing the contract.

You Li was appointed by Shazhu as manager of Bai Xu, with full responsibility for all its affairs.

Liu Lan was the specific person in charge of the back kitchen; she was responsible for material supply and product quality.

You Fengxia was the person in charge of the second floor.

……

Time flew by in a blink.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Bai Xu also welcomed the day of its reopening.

Shazhu gradually received some unfavorable rumors.

Some stubborn people believed that IOUs and triangular debts were a necessary product of the present, arguing that since Yagangchang could owe money to our unit, why couldn't our unit owe money to Bai Xu.

They called it "using IOUs to counter IOUs."

It was said that these people did not agree with Bai Xu's shop rule of not accepting IOUs, and they intended to give Shazhu a setback on the day of Bai Xu's reopening by using IOUs.

Moreover.

Huang Shiren, who had been removed from his post, and Deputy Factory Director Li, who had been transferred away from Yagangchang, were also restless, hating Bai Xu and Shazhu, unwilling to just be dismissed like that, and they prepared to give Shazhu a hard time—after finishing their meal, they would settle directly with IOUs.

Knowing that Shazhu had a brother-in-law who was a police station chief.

There is a saying, "the law does not punish the many."

With so many people issuing IOUs together, we can't possibly haul them all to the police station; moreover, they are signing IOUs, not eating a free meal, so it's not a crime.

The incident of Bangeng eating a free meal and ending up in jail served as a warning to these people, letting them know that eating without paying would land them in detention; thus IOUs became a means of evading debt.

On the day Bai Xu opened for business.

Shazhu appeared before Secretary Zhou.

"Zhu Ge coming to see Factory Director Yang? Factory Director Yang is in a meeting now; you'll have to wait a moment."

As Factory Director Yang's secretary, he was naturally sharp, aware of the close relationship between Shazhu and Factory Director Yang, and also knew what kind of establishment Bai Xu was.

He dared not act presumptuously in front of Shazhu, and habitually called out the nickname "Zhu Ge" that could bring them closer.

Shazhu answered with a smile, casually pulled a filtered cigarette from his messenger bag, and stuffed it into Secretary Zhou's hand.

Secretary Zhou was left utterly bewildered.

He was somewhat unable to figure out his own thoughts.

"Is Shazhu here to give a gift?"

Given Shazhu's relationship with Factory Director Yang, there's really no need for him to bring a gift—first, he once saved Factory Director Yang's life; second, the current Shazhu is, in the eyes of the superiors, the specific person in charge of the experimental point, and describing him with the phrase 'pull a hair and move the whole body' is no exaggeration.

"Zhu Ge, what is this?"

"It's a gift."

Secretary Zhou, speechless, bit his lower lip—one dared to ask, one dared to answer, and especially the one answering was so confident and justified.

"Zhu Ge, regarding your relationship with Factory Director Yang, you should go see him directly; it's not appropriate for me to relay messages in between. Besides, you know Factory Director Yang's temper—he's not that kind of person."

"Who said I was giving a gift to Factory Director Yang? I'm giving this gift to you, Secretary Zhou."

Secretary Zhou was frightened.

What the heck?

"You're giving me a gift?"

"You, a lifesaver of Factory Director Yang, are giving a gift to me, his secretary—you're doing this on purpose to harm me, aren't you?"

He hurriedly declined, saying, "Zhu Ge, I can't accept this."

"I'm just joking with you—I'm not giving this to you for free; you help me with something, and I'll pay you. You probably wouldn't want it for nothing, but I heard your future father-in-law likes to smoke, that old-brand cigarette—I had someone track it down especially for you. You helping me can't be for nothing, right?"

"Zhu Ge!" Seeing that Shazhu's words were reasonable, Secretary Zhou also indeed needed this cigarette—one glance showed it was a local southern smoke—"Just tell me what you need me to do, but I'll say it up front: I won't do anything wrong."

"Secretary Zhou, even if you don't mention it, I couldn't let you do something wrong. Here's the thing: today Bai Xu is supposed to reopen, and I've heard some…."

Shazhu then explained his purpose to Secretary Zhou in full.

Since those people intend to cause trouble at Bai Xu's reopening tonight by using IOUs to give Shazhu a setback, he has no choice but to seek outside help.

A very old-fashioned method.

Fox borrowing tiger's might.

Have Secretary Zhou, tonight or in the coming evenings, find time to swing by Bai Xu; as Secretary Yang's secretary, certain troublemakers definitely know Secretary Zhou, so if Secretary Zhou tells those people a lie—that the higher-ups greatly value Bai Xu, and Secretary Yang heard the wind and said the higher-ups will send people in these days to covertly inspect whether Bai Xu will refuse IOUs and whether those people will settle with IOUs.

It was expected that those people would not dare to go confront the higher-ups directly.

Out of consideration for their own futures, these people also dare not sign arbitrarily; they will surely settle in cash.

Thus.

Thus the IOU crisis at Bai Xu was also resolved.

Of course.

This method cannot be used indefinitely; there will surely be a limit. As long as we create the image that Bai Xu does not accept IOUs and customers do not give Bai Xu IOUs, those people will no longer use IOUs to deal with Shazhu.

In fact, it is akin to the emperor's new clothes—something that breaks at a single poke.

Except that no one dares to take the lead.

When Shazhu finished explaining his purpose, Secretary Zhou readily agreed, told Shazhu not to do this again, and saw him off.

As he was about to leave, Shazhu suddenly turned his head and whispered something to Secretary Zhou.

"Secretary Zhou, if you treat someone to a meal, as your brother I will definitely give you a free meal."

"Brother Zhu, that's not allowed; take your leave, I will definitely go tonight."

"See you later."

Shazhu left laughing.

Secretary Zhou is also considered a big fish.

Based on those memory fragments from his previous life, this guy served as Secretary Yang's secretary for two years; after Secretary Yang's promotion, Secretary Zhou served for a time as the deputy factory manager in charge of publicity at the steel mill, then later as the deputy factory manager in charge of production, and finally as factory manager.

In his previous life, because of certain matters, he also blamed Shazhu for having been poisoned by Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai; after Lou Xiaoe returned with her son, taking the money Lou Xiaoe gave him, he single-mindedly pondered opening a siheyuan nursing home to provide for Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Jia Zhangshi, etc., in their old age and burial.

He never had a deep relationship with someone like Secretary Zhou from beginning to end.

He lived another life.

Besides making up for the regrets of his previous life, he also wanted to live wonderfully.

Having a deep relationship with Secretary Zhou is one of those.

What Shazhu did not know was that, after he left, Secretary Zhou told Yang Factory Director that Shazhu had come to ask for help and had also sent him a pack of cigarettes.

Factory Director Yang told Secretary Zhou to boldly accept Shazhu's cigarettes, praised Shazhu a few times, and said that if Shazhu achieved results at Bai Xu, he would very likely stand on equal footing with the head of the steel mill.

Secretary Zhou kept those words firmly in mind.

……

Seven o'clock in the evening.

The Bai Xu restaurant with fifty tables was already full of diners; some latecomers, seeing no tables, threw a tantrum.

They were persuaded to leave by Yu Li's kind words.

Some people refused to leave, so Yu Li directed a few waiters to bring stools to the doorway for them to sit and wait.

Shazhu, busy cooking in the back kitchen, learned of this from Liu Lan.

His thoughts suddenly stirred.

In his previous life.

Yu Li's restaurant business was already good; she even hired me at high pay as head chef, because Shazhu's monthly salary of over two thousand caused her to replace him with a fat guy, since Shazhu kept a trick up his sleeve with seasonings, Yu Li's restaurant eventually headed toward closure, and she had no choice but to ask Shazhu to return as head chef.

Shazhu said this time he would offer five thousand, but he himself would not go, and the restaurant ultimately came to nothing.

That shop was subsequently changed by Yu Li into a hot‑pot restaurant, instantly ruining Shazhu's calculations.

Shazhu originally intended to play Yu Li and her husband, letting them know that the Horse King has three eyes, and even prepared to lion‑heartedly demand double the dishes.

He did not expect them to directly turn it into a hot‑pot shop.

Shazhu was unemployed at home.

Xu Daming also ought to be a show‑off, using a big‑brother‑style phone and wearing a Pierre Cardin suit.

Bangeng, in front of Yi Zhonghai and the others, said that this time Shazhu had become the most miserable person messing around in the siheyuan; Qin Huairu took the chance to persuade Shazhu, telling him not to see things the same way as Yu Li and her crowd, saying what is junior, and urging Shazhu to keep cooking at Yu Li's restaurant; Shazhu held his breath inside but did not agree.

Seeing that Shazhu did not heed her, Qin Huairu, over the following days, praised Yu Li in every way, saying her hot‑pot restaurant was this and that, saying the Yan family had become the siheyuan's foremost wealthy household, all living in apartment buildings where you need not go out to use the toilet, and saying that switching to hot‑pot was Yu Li's idea.

From this we can see.

Yu Li truly possesses an innate business sense.

Taking advantage of the back kitchen's lull, Shazhu went outside especially to look, and Yu Li was even pouring tea for those waiting.

This wife.

Worth it.

Yu Li saw Shazhu and asked a question.

"How did you come out?"

"I heard someone came to cause trouble, so I went out to check the situation; as it turned out, your capable wife stepped out and arranged everything neatly."

"Don't flatter me; you don't know, just now I was scared stiff."

"Isn't it that nothing happened?"

Is the back kitchen not busy?

"Thus: Thus: Mahua is busy; I, after all, am also a master chef—I can't possibly stir‑fry every dish myself."

"You."

Yu Li, who had glared at Shazhu, saw someone finish eating and pick his teeth with a toothpick; she hurriedly went over, settled the bill, saw the guest off, and called the waiters to clear the used bowls and plates.

The customers waiting at the doorway, seeing someone come out, guessed that a seat had opened up inside and swarmed toward the door.

All were thinking, 'I'll grab a seat and eat first.'

They suddenly crowded the doorway, trading insults and were about to come to blows.

Yu Li stepped forward to break it up, but was shoved to the ground; distressed, Shazhu didn't know what to say and shouted.

"Everyone, stop!"

A sudden voice.

It caused the crowded crowd to gradually calm down.

Their gaze fell on Shazhu.

Shazhu pointed at Yu Li, then at the half-body ceramic statue of an elderly person placed on the counter by the door.

"Smash the statue, and you want to go in and eat prison food?"

A large hat instantly suppressed those restless people; seeing the one-meter-tall ceramic statue on the counter, they all felt a bit panicked.

"We close at 9:30; it's only 7:50 now. I guarantee everyone will get to eat our Bai Xu's food, but tables need to be cleared one by one, meals eaten bite by bite. You're all jammed at the doorway, nobody yielding—how long will this standoff last? Be considerate of others, and you'll be considerate of yourself."

The people waiting in line.

Five families in total.

Just a moment ago, during the disturbance, another four families had finished their meals.

A few servers, after bustling for five or six minutes, finally seated everyone one by one.

Watching Yu Li rub her butt with her hand, Shazhu threw her a concerned glance.

"I'm fine."

"Really fine?"

"Really fine."

"It's good that you're okay." Shazhu sighed, looking at the empty doorway, recalling the surging crowd just moments ago, and suddenly realized he might have missed a step.

Security, huh.

Just now I came out; if I hadn't, things would really have gotten out of hand.

Tomorrow I'll look for Jianguo.

That is, Yushui's husband.

He served in the military; through him I can find two retired soldiers, solving their employment issues and also Bai Xu's security problem.

The problem of the crowded customers also needs to be resolved.