Chapter 374: Strategizing and Planning

Mei Wu gave Wu An a phone call.

Wu An learned the situation, felt a bit surprised but also happy, and said, "I'm at home now; you can come over anytime."

"Did you bring a big goose?"

"Well… okay, then we'll stew the big goose in an iron pot tonight."

"Bring Xiaoxiao along to have fun, too."

He hung up.

Mei Donghai went himself to catch the geese; the two geese were plump and were each packed into a Snake Skin Bag. Before Xiaoxiao was called, Xiaoxiao heard they were going to Wu An's house and started clamoring to come along and play.

They arrived at the Wu family.

Wu An was the first to step forward, fetched the iron stove from the warehouse, which he had originally bought with his New Year's money; it had only been used once and then stored away.

Now back in action, it finally proved useful.

Wu An thought that this thing might be taken out frequently in the future; when he was young and naive, even if he wanted to enjoy it, he lacked the means, but things would be different now.

Delicious food, good drinks, fun activities—he now had the capability to arrange all of them.

He exchanged greetings.

Wu An looked at the big goose in the Snake Skin Bag, pointed to the tumor on its head, and said, "This is the lion‑head goose, right?"

"Yes." Mei Wu patted the goose, almost getting bitten, but dodged quickly, and said, "My dad has been raising it for four or five years."

"We only eat one or two during the New Year."

"My dad said there's room now, so he can catch goslings and keep raising them."

Lion‑head goose.

Its head is huge, its body also massive; it is one of the largest geese in the country, even the world, named for the lion‑like shape of its head—the tumor on its skull.

Wu An lifted it a bit; wow, it was very heavy, weighing about twenty‑to‑thirty jin.

Just this one goose, even with so many people at home, might not be finished; they also prepared plenty of seafood—salt‑baked baby sea dragons, spicy crabs, and other snacks.

Wu An, craving badly, said, "It's been many years since I last ate this."

Mei Wu glanced at him and said, "Look how hungry you are. In the winter of senior year, didn't the family slaughter one? That was only a year or two ago."

Wu An smiled.

Not just a year or two.

Counting the previous generation, it's been over ten years!

Mei Wu brought two; they'd eat one tonight. Wu An and his big brother tallied it up, and when Mei Wu left, they returned one as a gift.

After all, a lion‑head goose like this wasn't just painstakingly raised by Old Master Mei for years; it's also pricey on the market—such a large lion‑head goose can fetch a few thousand yuan each.

Mei Yueqin handled the lion‑head goose; Wu An originally offered to help, but Mei Yueqin asked him to stay and chat.

Mei Wu and Mei Wen came over; they indeed had business.

The group entered the main hall and sat down.

Regarding the Mei brothers' partnership to open a shop, Wu An naturally supported it.

Mei Wen asked, "Will a fast‑food shop work? What about a small restaurant?"

Wu An replied, "How can a small restaurant compete with establishments that have been around for years and have loyal customers? Unless you add something extra, you can't be much tastier than them."

Mei Wen chuckled and shook his head; his food was good, but he wouldn't dare claim a big difference from other restaurants.

"Fast‑food shops differ from those restaurants…" Wu An recounted his earlier explanation of the fast‑food business model, this time in more detail.

"Location is crucial."

Mei Wen asked, "How important is it?"

Wu An said, "Whether a fast‑food shop succeeds or makes money depends on its location!"

Mei Wen fell silent.

A fast‑food shop relies on economic affordability and low‑margin, high‑volume sales; of course taste matters, but diners won't obsess over flavor.

Wu An said, "The timing is perfect; our town is about to develop rapidly."

"With roads expanding and the dock enlarging, future foot traffic will certainly be abundant."

"Once people arrive, a fast‑food shop will inevitably get business."

Wu Yingwei was also there, smoking, and asked, "A An, how do you still know this? Insider information?"

Wu An shrugged, "I guess so."

Actually.

Some situations he knew himself; others he read from Father's notes.

Mei Wen and Mei Wu listened to Wu An, growing more excited, and said, "So if we open a fast‑food shop, it'll definitely make money."

Wu An replied, "Half‑and‑half, I'd say."

After discussing the outlook, they turned to reality; Mei Wu produced one hundred thousand yuan, which should suffice as start‑up capital. As for rent, they'd lease for a year; the initial shop needn't be huge—seventy or eighty square meters is enough. In a decent spot in town, annual rent is only twenty‑to‑thirty thousand yuan.

Then comes renovation, equipment, etc., about forty‑to‑fifty thousand yuan.

Besides that, labor costs must be included; early‑stage investment is unavoidable, and they need to set aside at least another forty‑to‑fifty thousand yuan as working capital for initial operations.

With that total, Mei Wen said, "I can put up fifty thousand yuan without issue."

"What about the shares…?"

Wu An said, "Half and half. But one condition: Mei Wu only receives dividends and won't take part in day‑to‑day management. Brother Wen, the fast‑food shop is still yours to run."

Mei Wu nodded, without objection. He had originally thrown the money in on a whim; frankly, he didn't care whether it made profit. As long as his big brother earned money and gave him the hundred‑thousand‑yuan principal, he would gladly return the shares to his brother without hesitation.

Since accompanying Wu An on a sea trip, he truly felt that being a fisherman was nice.

Mei Wen said, "A An, you've helped me, planning and strategizing, and you've supplied most of this information; logically…"

Wu An waved his hand, "I'm just basking in the glory of having an iron‑pot stewed goose meal."

Brother Wen, since you've decided to do it, then get started as soon as possible.

For the next two days, let's first look for a shop; as long as we don't go out to sea, I can also help check things out.

Wu Yingwei watched Wu An speaking eloquently, the smile on his face growing even broader—not only could he support the family and establish a household, but this could also bring prosperity to the whole family.

This kid...

Could it really be true, as the village rumors say, that A An was enlightened by the Goddess Mazu?

Otherwise.

How could he suddenly become so capable?

Wu An was gulping water frantically until his sister-in-law called from the courtyard to eat; he hurriedly stood up, the aroma wafting in the courtyard, and he smelled it and gulped down saliva.

In the iron pot, besides the big goose, there were potatoes, onions, various seasonings, slowly simmering a big pot.

Pour the wine.

Mei Wen toasted Wu Yingwei, and especially toasted Wu An: "A An, whether the fast-food shop succeeds or not, Brother, I'm grateful to you; you've helped me with such dedication, treating us like family, so I won't say polite words—Brother, I toast you."

Wu An also raised his cup; neither of them would raise theirs higher.

Next door.

Duan Dajie smelled the aroma of the stewed goose, her mouth watering with craving; fortunately she's no longer a child, otherwise she'd be crying from hunger, listening to the cheerful sounds coming from next door.

"The Wu family's life is getting more prosperous by the day, eating well and drinking spicy every night," Duan Dajie's husband couldn't help but sigh.

Duan Dajie flung her chopsticks: "What do you mean, are you looking down on our coarse vegetable soup?"

Her husband panicked: "I didn't mean that."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I don't mean anything."

"Fine, you're just placating me."

"I don't."

"You still say you don't?"

……