Chapter 354: Site Selection

"Zhuzi, you? Why do you also want to jump into the sea of business?"

"Hehe, Zhang Shu, you, a big Director, said you'd quit and you just quit. What does my Deputy Section Chief count for? Dad, what do you think?"

"Hmm... you and your wife discuss it and see what you want to do," He Daqing said after hesitating for a moment.

After all, Shazhu was already over forty years old and even had a grandson; it wasn't easy for him to interfere too much anymore.

Besides, working in a factory nowadays mostly meant cooking mass-produced meals; apart from entertaining guests, there were very few opportunities to practice stir-frying, unless, of course, it was during the era of Li Huaide's rule.

"Alright, Zhang Shu, what do you think?"

"I have no objections, but before you want to resign, you still need to arrange your work at the factory in advance."

"That's no problem. Now, the chefs in the factory basically all know how to cook mass-produced meals, and there isn't much difference in taste. I'll go tell Factory Director Yang tomorrow."

"Zhuzi, there's no rush. The selection of the restaurant site and the renovation all take time. You can tell Factory Director Yang now; it just so happens to give him time to scout for a new Director. I'd say it'll be good if we can open by the end of the year."

"Got it, then I understand."

It was still a bit difficult for Zhang Ping'an to scout for an abandoned Siheyuan or wasteland that was large enough and faced the street.

According to Zhang Ping'an's idea, he wanted to build a three-story hotel: the first floor would be the lobby and kitchen, the second floor would be private rooms, and the third floor would be guest rooms.

The next day, Zhang Ping'an drove around Dongcheng and Xicheng in Sijiucheng for the whole morning but didn't find any particularly suitable places. The ones facing the street were basically intact Siheyuan, and they weren't very large in area either.

Even if there were dilapidated courtyards, there were still people living inside. He couldn't just drive people away for the sake of building a hotel, could he?

Returning home in the evening, Li Aihua learned that Zhang Ping'an was looking for a suitable place to build a restaurant, and she immediately thought of an abandoned Siheyuan near Shichahai.

"I looked at that place too, but it's still too small and not suitable for building a three-story structure, and it would also affect other people's lighting."

"Oh my, why was I so stupid? I can do a private kitchen restaurant!" Zhang Ping'an then slapped his forehead.

In his past life, there were too many private kitchen restaurants of this type, and they were all membership-based. In his past life, he had the good fortune to tag along with his boss for a meal; although the food was delicious, it was also truly expensive—a single dish could cost you a month's salary.

"What's wrong?"

"Hehe, nothing. I was just stuck in a rut. Luckily you reminded me. I'll reward you well tonight."

"Oh, you're going to be the death of me!"

Li Aihua punched Zhang Ping'an. Over these years, following Zhang Ping'an, she could instantly understand some of his remarks.

At thirty-one, she had both the figure of a young girl and the feeling of a young matron, and Zhang Ping'an was equally unable to keep his hands off her.

After eating, Zhang Ping'an went excitedly to He Daqing's home. A private kitchen restaurant was suitable for someone like He Daqing, while the hotel Zhang Ping'an proposed would need Shazhu to shoulder the burden.

"A private kitchen restaurant?"

"Yes."

Zhang Ping'an briefly explained to He Daqing the operating model of private kitchen restaurants from his past life.

He Daqing's eyes lit up slightly. It was indeed a good idea. He was already over sixty; he wasn't suited for fast-paced catering services, and this private kitchen restaurant was quite good.

He could just bring along his youngest son, He Yuliang, and if that didn't work, he could pull in his second younger brother, Cai Quanwu, and find a few more people for kitchen prep; that would be perfectly enough.

"Done, this is a good idea."

"Zhang Shu, then what about me?"

"Zhuzi, you are still young and are the main force. I plan to build a three-story hotel covering five mu of land. You will be the Head Chef then."

"Five mu of land? And three stories? This, this..."

"So, Zhuzi, during this time, look for your fellow apprentices more. The kitchen will be under your control then."

"Hehehe."

"..." He Daqing had black lines on his forehead. The hotel hadn't even been built yet, and this silly son was already daydreaming.

"What are you giggling about?"

"Nothing, nothing, I'm just happy."

"Brother He, the private kitchen will focus on Lu Cuisine and be called Lu Cuisine Garden. Zhuzi's will focus on Sichuan Cuisine and be called Sichuan Cuisine Garden."

"Good, good, good, this works."

He Daqing originally inherited Lu Cuisine, and he had learned Tan Family Cuisine halfway through, although it was already perfect now.

He Daqing was already a First-Grade Chef; as long as this brand was put out there, he believed many people would be willing to pay a high price to try something new.

Cai Quanwu, Zhuzi, and Nan Yi were all third-grade, and Yan Jiecheng was slightly weaker, already at fourth-grade. They also had their own apprentices, hovering around the sixth or seventh grade.

As for Nan Yi, Zhang Ping'an planned to win him over after He Daqing's Lu Cuisine Garden opened. Now, his family of four were all chefs.

Moreover, his housing was tight, and he believed he wouldn't be able to refuse the salary Zhang Ping'an would offer.

Early the next morning, Zhang Ping'an went to the Street Office and secured the ruins of that three-courtyard Siheyuan, and he contacted Style Lei immediately.

"The overall style should match the surrounding Siheyuan, but I plan to use this place as a restaurant. It needs to have a lobby, kitchen, private rooms, and other designs."

"Understood."

Style Lei brushed out the preliminary sketch according to Zhang Ping'an's requirements. He was worthy of being a descendant of palace craftsmanship; he was much better than him, who only knew how to sketch.

"Good, just do it according to this. As long as I can open before the end of the year."

"No problem."

Most of Style Lei's employees were helping his younger brother build a house, but it would be soon; it would be finished by mid-August at the latest. Now, just sending a few people over here to clean up and renovate would suffice.

"Master Lei, there is one more thing. I want to build a three-story one, and it also needs to be antique..."

"Good."

Style Lei was so happy that he gave Zhang Ping'an another sketch on the spot. One had to know that since the Reform and Opening-up, the jobs he had taken were mostly simple house repairs; only here at Zhang Ping'an's did he receive a big order.

"Not bad, not bad. This isn't very urgent for now. I'll call you when I find a place."

"Director Zhang, I do know of a place that can meet your requirements, but it's a bit remote."

"Oh? Where?"

"Right across diagonally to the north of De'an Automobile City. There are many collapsed and dilapidated Siheyuan there, and they all belong to the Street Office now."

Zhang Ping'an thought carefully, but he had no impression of it. It seemed it must be quite a distance north of the Automobile City.

"Alright, wait for me to go over and take a look. Many thanks, Master Lei."

"Hey, I'm just looking to pick up some more work."

"Hahaha, you're honest."

That afternoon, Zhang Ping'an drove to the place Master Lei mentioned. It was indeed quite remote, but compared to the Outer City, this place was considered decent and still belonged to the Dongcheng District.

This entire area was filled with collapsed Siheyuan; it looked like deep pits left behind after a bombardment, so it was no wonder no one had ever rebuilt them.

This was also for the best; there were no residents nearby, so there was no need to worry about affecting anyone's natural light.

Eastern City Branch, Li Baoguo's office.

"You're saying you want to build a hotel on that ruin?" Li Baoguo asked with a strange expression.

"Yes, what's wrong, Uncle Li?"

"Nothing. Don't people usually open restaurants in places with high foot traffic? Why are you going against the grain?"

"Hehe, it's not really that remote. It will definitely appreciate in value in the future."

"Fine, suit yourself. In any case, you and Huaide have both made quite a bit of money. I'll take you to the Street Office."

"Alright, Uncle Li. Do I need to prepare anything?"

"No need. We're all comrades-in-arms; I'll just treat him to a drink."

"That works. I still have a few packs of special supply in my car, you take them."

Li Baoguo's mouth twitched, and his face darkened. These were all his father's special supplies that Li Aihua had swindled back home, and now Zhang Ping'an was using them to curry favor.

"Hmm."

"Hehe, Uncle Li, look at you being serious again."

"..."