Chapter 167

Dong Xu grabbed and pulled down the transmission lever, the machine gave a clang and stopped. He squatted down to feel that shaft, his finger brushed a bit of oil stain, he frowned and said: "The bearing is off again."

Zhao Jianguo walked over, said nothing, just shoved the steamed bun in his pocket, bent over to look at the gear set. He reached out and nudged the pulley, finding it loose by a turn.

"We'll replace the belt tomorrow." He said, "Let's knock off for today."

The two returned the tools to their places and covered them with a dust cloth. Before leaving, Dong Xu glanced back at the sorting machine and said quietly: "If we could make a few more of these, the commune would save at least twenty able-bodied workers."

Zhao Jianguo nodded: "No rush, let's finalize the drawing first."

The next noon, at the gate of the Steel Rolling Factory cafeteria, a small table was set up. Zhao Jianguo took out a stack of paper from his bag, using an enamel jar to weigh down the corners. The paper bore a few large characters: "Manual for the Operation and Management of Sha Zhu's Chain Catering Outlets."

Workers walked by holding their lunch boxes; someone glanced and read aloud: "Uniform rice portions? Transparent pricing? And 'service terms'?"

"Jianguo, who is this written for?" an old worker asked, cigarette dangling from his lips. "Sha Zhu has been cooking for decades—do you really need to teach him how to serve rice?"

Zhao Jianguo flipped to the first page, pointing at a hand-drawn diagram: "This isn't teaching Sha Zhu how to cook; it's to make the three outlets serve rice that tastes the same and brings in the same revenue."

"Three? We only have two so far."

"The third opens this afternoon," Zhao Jianguo said, looking up at the courtyard gate.

Sha Zhu walked in holding a spatula, green onion flecks still on his apron. He stood by the table and shouted loudly: "Listen up! From now on, Old He's cafeteria is no longer called the 'Steel Rolling Factory mess hall'; it's called 'Sha Zhu's Chain Catering Outlets'."

The crowd froze for two seconds, then burst into laughter.

"A chain? You even came up with that term!"

"Do we have to issue membership cards now?"

"I gave an extra spoonful of rice yesterday with my meal; can I get a discount today?"

Sha Zhu wasn't annoyed; instead he straightened his back: "Want to buy in? First learn to say 'Welcome.'"

The laughter cut off abruptly.

"What did you say?"

"The first words upon entering must be 'Welcome.'" Sha Zhu said seriously, "If you don't say that, you're not allowed into the back kitchen."

Zhao Jianguo handed over the manual: "Have a look—these are our Rules Sign."

Sha Zhu took the booklet, flipped two pages, his brow tightening: "It says here 'each bowl of rice must be exactly four taels, error no more than half a coin'? I don't even have a scale."

"I'll get you one." Zhao Jianguo produced a small scale from his bag, "plus a thermometer. Soup leaving the pot must not fall below seventy degrees, and leftover vegetables must be logged without omission."

The old worker beside him shook his head: "With all this fuss, will the food still taste good?"

"We used to eat by favor." Zhao Jianguo stood on a stool, raising his voice, "Now we must rely on standards. Since Dong Xu can build a sorting machine, we can turn this little matter of eating into a big undertaking."

The crowd fell silent.

Dong Xu stood in the corner, still holding the sketch of the insulated box he had just finished. He glanced at Zhao Jianguo, said nothing, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

The lunch break ended with a bell; people dispersed. Sha Zhu hugged the manual and walked with Zhao Jianguo toward the siheyuan.

"Are we really opening a third outlet?" he asked on the way.

"It's that empty shop west of the factory." Zhao Jianguo said, "Today's the ribbon‑cutting; you'll be in charge."

Sha Zhu's steps halted: "Manager… what does that entail?"

"It means boss, server, and inspector all in one." Zhao Jianguo patted his shoulder, "You have to lead by shouting 'Welcome.'"

"You want me, a grown man, to say that to everyone I meet?" Sha Zhu grinned, "I'll die of embarrassment."

"You'll feel awkward for a bit, but after that you'll be dignified for decades." Zhao Jianguo said, "From now on, when people mention you, they won't say 'that's Sha Zhu the cook,' they'll say 'that's He Zong, the head of the chain cafeteria.'"

Sha Zhu didn't speak again, but he clenched the manual tighter.

At three in the afternoon, gongs and drums rang loudly outside the west gate of the factory.

A red cloth banner was hung on the wall reading "Sha Zhu's Chain Catering Outlets·Third Branch". The firecrackers had finished, smoke still lingering, when San Daye arrived leaning on his cane.

He stood at the doorway, looking left and right, finally fixing his gaze on the sign and muttering: "Chain… there isn't even a lock, what is it chaining?"

Zhao Jianguo went up to him: "San Daye, you said you wanted to buy in, didn't you? Did you bring the contract?"

San Daye pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket, unfolded it to see the words "Shareholding Agreement" written crookedly, with a red thumbprint below.

"My granddaughter wrote it." He said proudly, "She says this is a legal document."

Zhao Jianguo took a look, nodded: "Fine, five thousand yuan for a ten percent stake."

"Hold on!" San Daye suddenly raised his hand, "You price a bowl of rice at five mao; I think that's steep. Back when I worked at the grain station, three mao six was enough for a day's meals."

Before Zhao Jianguo could speak, Sha Zhu stood up.

He was wearing a freshly starched white coat, a towel draped over his neck, and held a printed price list.

"San Daye," he said, "rice, coal, and labor costs have all gone up. Our figures show that five mao breaks even, while five mao five yields a profit."

"You can't just impose a flat rate!" San Daye insisted, "Old Li has high blood pressure and needs less salt—could you knock off two fen for him?"

"No." Sha Zhu shook his head, "Flavor can be adjusted, but the price cannot change. This is the Rules Sign."

San Daye glared: "You little brat, dare to defy me?"

"I'm not defying you." Sha Zhu straightened his back, "If you want to join, you must observe three rules: first, say 'Welcome' upon entering; second, give change only after counting it out face‑to‑face; third, record any leftover rice or vegetables in the ledger—don't just toss them."

The crowd gathered in a circle, listening quietly.

San Daye's beard trembled with anger: "I'm seventy and nobody's ever taught me how to do business!"

"Nobody's taught you." Zhao Jianguo took over, "But today we're establishing a new rule: this isn't just a restaurant, it's the first brand we've set up ourselves in the siheyuan. From now on, when the kids write essays, they can say 'My uncle opened three cafeterias.'"

The crowd burst out laughing.

Sha Zhu turned and walked to the steamer, lifted the lid. Hot air whooshed up, white mist swirling, he raised his spatula and shouted loudly: "Mealtime! Welcome!"

Everyone froze for a second, then broke into applause.

San Daye stood where he was, his lips moving as he whispered: "Wel…come…light…come…"

No one heard him.

He Yushui walked in with three girls in blue cloth. She pointed to the flowchart on the wall: "See? From order to dish, it's done in seven minutes. Accounts are posted daily, and customer feedback is logged in a notebook."

A bespectacled girl flipped through the register, looked up and asked: "Who compiles these data?"

Take turns. He Yushui said, "When I and Dong Xu were on night shift, we also handled this area."

The girl nodded, her gaze sweeping over the kitchen, then suddenly stopped.

Dong Xu was squatting beside the meal cart, holding a wrench, adjusting the insulation box's bracket. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing his sturdy forearms.

The girl stared at him for a long time.

"He… does this every day?" she asked softly.

"Mm." He Yushui followed her gaze, "He attends classes at night and modifies equipment during the day. That sorting machine has already been sent to Shunyi Commune for trial use."

The girl didn't speak again, just clenched the notebook in her hand a little tighter.

The dishes were served, aroma filling the air. The female students ate quietly, occasionally whispering.

"I thought workers just tightened screws…"

"They can also handle management?"

"This is far more regulated than our school cafeteria."

After the meal, He Yushui led them away. Reaching the door, she glanced back.

Dong Xu was still beside the cart, head down tightening screws; sunlight caught a bead of sweat on the back of his neck, flashing.

Sha Zhu saw off the last batch of guests, took off his apron, and plopped down on the stool.

"I'm exhausted." He gulped some cool tea, "Just now I shouted 'Welcome' thirty‑seven times."

Zhao Jianguo smiled and handed over a pen: "Training for new staff starts tomorrow. Chapter two of the manual—you'll give the lecture."

"Me lecture?" Sha Zhu glared, "I can't even recognize all the characters!"

"You're speaking from experience." Zhao Jianguo said, "How to get the heat just right, how to greet people, how to make customers want to come back after they finish eating—these things aren't written in the book."

Sha Zhu scratched his head: "Then… can I speak in dialect?"

"Of course." Zhao Jianguo closed the manual, "As long as you speak the truth, any way of speaking is fine."

The sky grew dark, and the central courtyard of the siheyuan was brightly lit.

Zhao Jianguo sat on a small stool, opened the revision page of the manual, and marked a few spots with his pen. Beside him lay the physics lesson plan for tomorrow's lecture, its corners fluttering in the breeze.

Sha Zhu leaned against the wall, dozing, muttering: "Welcome… oh watch out for burns… five mao five…"

San Daye walked by holding a lantern, practicing as he went: "Wel…come…light…come…"

At the courtyard gate, He Yushui saw off her classmates; turning around, she saw Dong Xu pushing the meal cart back. He lifted his head to wipe sweat, their eyes met, she smiled, and he nodded.

Zhao Jianguo lowered his head and wrote the final revision note: "The third branch operates normally; tomorrow we will launch the staff rotation training plan."

The pen tip scraped the paper, making a rustling sound.

Dong Xu parked the cart, squatted to check the wheels. He picked up the wrench and tightened a loose bolt.