Chapter 1841

There were two people at each table in the shop, with about five or six tables and over a dozen people in total. When they saw the Chairman and the Mayor come in to eat, they toasted them, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

As for the Party Secretary, Chen Wenqi, he had only inspected the Group and the new factory once since taking office, so most of the employees didn't recognize him, let alone those on the old factory side.

But they knew in their hearts that at this hour, anyone who could come to eat with the Chairman and the Mayor must be a high-ranking city official, besides having a good relationship with them.

Their luck today was simply unparalleled. Coming out for a drink at this time, they actually ran into the Chairman and the Mayor, along with two other leaders, and were even toasted by them—this was enough for them to brag about for a lifetime.

Then, these employees began to toast Zhou Andong, Deng Zhangli, and the others. Of course, they didn't dare to ask the Chairman and the Mayor to finish their drinks; they were satisfied just by having them take a symbolic sip.

Zhou Andong came out of the kitchen carrying a basin of mutton soup and placed it on the table: "Dongzi, this is the new mutton soup at our shop. Try it and see how it is?"

"You're serving mutton soup now?"

Zhou Andong picked up a ladle and scooped inside; it was truly packed with solid ingredients.

"Did you add extra specifically for us, or do you sell it like this normally?"

"We sell it like this normally," Zhou Anlei said earnestly. "Fatty Sister says that most of the people who come to eat at our place are brewery employees, and they all come because of you; I can't lose face for you."

"It must be made with real ingredients, and the portions must be large and sufficient. We have to make everyone who comes to eat satisfied, let them eat and drink well, so that we can live up to you."

Zhou Andong smiled and took a sip: "Hmm, not bad."

Zhou Anlei also chuckled along: "Every day, guests ask if we have mutton soup or mutton offal soup. Fatty Sister started serving it two days ago, and the response has been very good. Many guests say it's tastier than the Muslim one next door."

"Bring us two steamers of small steamed buns first." Zhou Andong picked up the wine bottle and filled the glasses in front of Chen Wenqi and Deng Zhangli.

"Okay!" Zhou Anlei turned and went back into the kitchen.

Liu Jiang asked curiously: "You're very close with the shop owner, aren't you?"

"My cousin, named Zhou Anlei," Zhou Andong said. "The second son of my eldest uncle. There's also an eldest one, who went inside because of the fake liquor case last year."

This matter was very sensational, and Liu Jiang naturally understood: "I know now."

Chen Wenqi didn't know, so he asked: "What happened?"

Liu Jiang briefly explained the matter: "It was still a case of suffering from a lack of education; he didn't understand anything and was tricked by others."

"This has nothing to do with being educated or not; it can only be said that he was stupid," Zhou Andong snorted. "As for Zhou Anlei, he was also stupid to the point of despair."

"He went to the south to work, didn't earn a single cent, was tricked into gambling, lost everything, owed a mountain of high-interest debt, and even had his legs broken by others, forcing him to beg."

"Last October, I went to Yangcheng to attend an entrepreneur forum and ran into him, and that was when I saved him..."

Zhou Andong talked about Zhou Anlei's situation, his face full of emotion: "However, it can be considered a blessing in disguise. After this series of events, this kid seems to have grown up overnight, like a different person."

"A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold!" Chen Wenqi was also very moved: "No matter what mistakes were made in the past, as long as one knows they are wrong and can change, that is the greatest good."

Zhou Anlei came out carrying the steaming small steamed buns: "Leaders, I'm sorry, the small steamed buns are wrapped and steamed to order, so it took a bit of time."

"Let me introduce you," Zhou Andong said. "This is Party Secretary Chen Wenqi of the Municipal Committee, this is Mayor Deng Zhangli, and this is Director Liu Jiang of the Investment Promotion Bureau."

"Secretary Chen, Mayor Deng, Director Liu!" Zhou Anlei hurriedly wiped his hands on his clothes and then shook hands with the leaders: "Leaders, please drink slowly, I'll go see if the mixed vegetables are ready."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm!"

Liu Jiang picked up a small steamed bun, put it in his mouth, and took a bite; the soup flowed out immediately.

"Delicious, truly delicious. Secretary, Mayor, you should hurry and taste them while they're hot; if they get cold in a while, the taste will definitely be worse."

"Is it really that delicious?"

Deng Zhangli was very skeptical; Liu Jiang was simply too exaggerated, and this old guy must be buttering up Zhou Andong.

"It's really delicious." Liu Jiang picked up another one.

"The taste is really not bad." Chen Wenqi ate one and nodded in agreement.

This time Deng Zhangli no longer doubted; after eating one, he also nodded along.

"Indeed not bad."

Zhou Anlei came out of the kitchen with the mixed vegetables: "How are the buns?"

"Delicious!" Liu Jiang gave a thumbs up: "You're too far from the Investment Promotion Bureau; if you were closer, I would definitely support your business."

Zhou Andong asked: "How is the chain store business going?"

Zhou Anlei shook his head and answered honestly: "Fatty Sister is the one contacting General Manager An; I don't manage it."

"You're right not to manage it," Zhou Andong smiled. "What is Fatty Sister still busy with? Let her come over and eat something with us."

At this moment, Fatty Sister came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of braised beef.

"Chairman Zhou, leaders, hello."

"Hello!" Chen Wenqi praised: "Boss lady, your craftsmanship is quite good."

Fatty Sister looked a bit nervous, but upon receiving praise from the city's high-ranking leaders, she couldn't help but show a smile on her face.

"Thank you for the praise, leaders."

Zhou Andong said: "Sit down and eat something together."

"I've finished eating." Fatty Sister shook her head, refusing no matter what.

Zhou Andong was very helpless; he wanted to use this opportunity to let Fatty Sister have contact with the city leaders to lay a good foundation for the future.

But looking at it now, for him to cultivate Fatty Sister to be able to stand on her own, the road is still long and the burden is heavy; it will take time.

"How is the chain store business going?"

Mentioning the opening of chain stores, Fatty Sister's face glowed: "The contract has already been signed. General Manager An has already arranged for people to select sites in eight cities: Fengjing, Jingcheng, Jinmen, Shanghu, Yangcheng, Guancheng, and Shencheng, and they will open simultaneously in June."

Zhou Andong asked curiously: "What about Jiangzhou?"

Fatty Sister said: "General Manager An said that Jiangzhou City is left for us to operate independently."

Regarding this matter, Zhou Andong didn't say anything: "I asked you to go to Qiaonan to buy a storefront building; have you looked at it?"

"I have!" Fatty Sister nodded: "But I'm still not sure how large an area to buy, so I was thinking of asking you when you returned."

"I remember there's a floor plan of over three hundred square meters," Zhou Andong thought for a moment. "For opening a bun shop, this size is just right, not too big and not too small."

Liu Jiang looked at Zhou Andong: "Opening a bun shop in a storefront of over three hundred square meters, and it's still not—not too big?"

Zhou Andong smiled: "Fatty Sister's Bun Shop is a chain, it can't be like this place, just painting the walls and setting up a few tables. The decoration must be exquisite, just like Dicos, having a comfortable dining environment so that customers will eat happily."