Chapter 37
Chapter 37 – This woman
Gao Yu Lan did not have Chen Ruo Yu’s phone number and therefore was unable to locate her . But before she had time to worry about it, she first had to settle the problem brought about by her beloved boyfriend, Chef Yin .
Chef Yin claimed his foot was injured by Gao Yu Lan and so she had to be responsible for him . Being responsible for him meant she had to personally take care of him in all aspects of his daily life .
Gao Yu Lan and Yin Ning stared at him blankly . Gao Yu Lan was thinking that with just a push, she had suddenly become a maid which is very unlucky for her . Then Yin Ning said . “Didn’t we agree that Lan Lan is to be hired once she is back? You can’t work because your foot is injured but does that also mean Lan Lan won’t be able to work since she has to take care of you?”
Gao Yu Lan did not understand . “Is there a company willing to employ me?”
Why didn’t the company call her? She gave it a serious thought but she did not give out the shop’s number to any company . Could it be Yin Ze’s friend’s company that needed someone and Yin Ze had recommended her?
Yin Ze and Yin Ning exchanged glances and then Yin Ning sat upright and said to Gao Yu Lan . “Lan Lan, I’ve something to discuss with you . ”
When she spoke so solemnly, Gao Yu Lan became nervous and sat down properly before she replied to Yin Ning . “Okay, tell me . ”
On the other side of the shop, Guo Qiu Chen and Niu Niu were playing Solitaire with cards while Mantou was making a ruckus next to them .
Yin Ning threw them a glance to confirm the baby doll or dog would not disturb them for the time being and then she said . “It’s like this . This shop has been opened for a few years but had never made any money and to carry on like this is certainly not possible . Yin Ze has been constantly putting in money to maintain the shop and I feel bad about this . ”
Gao Yu Lan nodded . The shop conditions are good so it should not be losing money and for Yin Ze to keep on maintaining this shop is not a good long-term plan .
Yin Ning continued to say . “As you know, my shop has very few customers and other than a good environment there is nothing special here . The daily amount of products that I bake is not large and there are only a few types of drinks . There are no simple meals or something similar that is available . Before this I had a waiter, however, I didn’t know how to manage this business and my business did not show any improvement even though there was an increase in staff . ”
Speaking up to here, Yin Ning paused, looked at Yin Ze, and then said . “Yin Ze told me the person I employed was of the wrong position who failed to improve consumer spending and demand . In the past, I hired a manager but the effect was not great as she was from the traditional cafe line with standard ideas . So even if we can elevate the demand for products like cakes, coffee, tea, simple meals, etc . , the number of staff would suddenly increase, . I did a calculation…… . ”
As she said up to here, she saw Yin Ze lift his eyebrows . She tightened her lips, changed her words, and said . “Well……it was Yin Ze’s who did the calculation……” Feeling unhappy, she twitched her mouth and said to Yin Ze . “But I had expressed my views and had the same thoughts as you too . ”
When Gao Yu Lan heard, she understood about seventy to eighty percent of the matter . According to Yin Ning’s temperament, to let her seriously operate a high standard café similar to the ones outside with a pastry department including running a full-time kitchen to cater to simple meals and then running around to serve customers was not viable . She was simply not up to it and on top of that, she also had to take care of Niu Niu . Therefore, for her to seriously run a profitable café with a busy business was impossible .
However, to employ a group of people to fill in the posts of a manager, chefs, and waiters, coupled with coming up with a variety of ideas on catering products and services, the entire investment would be too large . If everything depended on Yin Ze’s financial resources, it was feared he could not afford to invest such a huge amount . If he could shoulder this burden and the business makes money, that would be great but if it carries on making a loss, then it would eventually drag down his other businesses .
As expected, Yin Ning said . “In short, this investment is too large and also the profit is not guaranteed . Besides, if we follow the previous manager’s set of methods to run this business, I would be rendered useless in the shop . I’ll be bored and I won’t have a sense of career accomplishment . ”
When she said ‘a sense of career accomplishment’, Gao Yu Lan wanted to laugh but Yin Ze blatantly laughed aloud and even Guo Qiu Chen over the other side coughed a few times . It seemed he had also perked up his ears to eavesdrop .
Yin Ning turned around and glared at Guo Qiu Chen, then glared fiercely at Yin Ze before she turned to speak to Gao Yu Lan . “Regarding the event that you did the last time, the company had sent the money over . ”
Gao Yu Lan nodded . She was aware of this since Xiao Qing had called her earlier and told her the next month’s event would continue to be held in Suixin Yuan .
“I have reserved a portion of that money for you . I was waiting for you to come back to give it to you . ”
“Ah?” Gao Yu Lan waved her hand repeatedly . “No, no……I told you I was only helping you to bring in some business . They will still be holding activities in the future . ”
“This money will definitely be given to you and it’s all due to your contribution . You worked the hardest, so don’t argue with me . Actually what I wanted to tell you is this…… . I have discussed this matter with Yin Ze and he also said it’s a very good idea . I can’t handle the shop based on traditional café concept and running a book bar will lose money but if we combine the two and run a salon then it will suit me just fine . ”
Salon? Gao Yu Lan looked at Yin Ze and thought for a while . This location, this shop plus this place can provide the services and products…… . it is indeed a good idea .
Yin Ning continued to say . “Lan Lan, as you know, I don’t have work experience, no contact resources and I’m also relatively lazy……” When she said this, Yin Ze grinned at her . Yin Ning glared at him fiercely and slapped him on his arm .
Yin Ze raised both his hands in a gesture of surrender and Yin Ning went on to say . “So, I would like to ask you to be the manager of my shop . You will be responsible for business negotiations and I will be responsible for maintaining the shop, baking, and mixing drinks . If the workload increases then we will employ more people . ”
Gao Yu Lan was stunned . Pointing to herself, she said . “Hire me?”
“Yes, we want to hire you as the Manager here . You will plan for the shop’s business strategy and I will do whatever I can to run the shop . ”
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Gao Yu Lan thought for a long while but did not speak . In her mind, she was quickly assessing the matter to gauge whether she could handle this .
At this time, Yin Ze said . “You are aware of almost all the available resources and as your home is close-by, it will be easy for you to come to work . Compared to my sister who is a wastrel, I feel more at ease leaving the shop to you . You can think about it and see what else can be done here . I think the idea of a salon is good . As to those magazine activities, you can actually plan and hold them on your own . You should understand more clearly about that stuff that women love and I can help with marketing recruitment channels . Of course, this is just a series of ideas, you can think over this . ”
In Gao Yu Lan’s mind, she felt excitement began to rise . Disregarding everything, she could actually make full use of her knowledge and experience . She was also given a free hand and a great deal of space for her to expand her capabilities . Then she heard Yin Ze mentioned a sum as her wages . “Your salary will almost be the same as the salary you were drawing in your last company . You’ll receive a commission based on monthly performance and you’ll be given the benefits of social security, etc . You’ll also be provided with meals and if everything progresses smoothly, we will also provide accommodation……”
He said the last part with a wide grin but Gao Yu Lan did not catch his meaning . She did not pay attention to his words as she was assessing the feasibility of this matter . “You didn’t hire me for this job because you feel sympathetic that I don’t have a job right now, did you?”
“Of course not . I know you are serious about your work and I won’t use this job to play with you . If I want to support you, I can do so without you having to work in this job . There will still be a three months’ trial period when you start work and as to the magazine events that you had successfully negotiated earlier, you can continue with them . Look, when you start work, you already have a project waiting for you . There is money to be made in this shop, so how can we be sympathetic towards you to specially arrange this job for you?”
Gao Yu Lan pursed her lips and Yin Ning pulled her hand . “Lan Lan, come on! I haven’t made money for so many years, so I have to rely on you to make me proud of myself . Let’s join up together to earn more money than Yin Ze!”
“Humph… . . ” Yin Ze lifted his eyebrows . “I will show you the previous financial statements and if you can make a profit to regain the previous losses, I will secretly laugh to myself…… not to mention you want to earn more than me?”
Yin Ning lifted her head and felt unhappy . “In the past, you had said you don’t mind and now you complain about me making a loss . ”
“I didn’t expect you to make a profit in the past, so what is the use of complaining? I’ve been thinking about what to do with this shop . Since Lan Lan has given us an idea coupled with her planning and execution, I will give you another chance . ”
“Okay!” Gao Yu Lan nodded fiercely . “I accept!” She held Yin Ning’s hand and said . “The two of us will be able to make this shop turnaround and become a winner!”
“Okay, this is settled . ” Yin Ze immediately said . “While I am recuperating these few days, Lan Lan, you’ll take care of me and don’t need to work . Make use of this time to come up with a Business Planning Report and let me have a look . ”
Before Gao Yu Lan could speak, Yin Ning said . “Business Planning Report? What is that? Why must it be done?”
“Without such a report, how do I know how much more money I have to invest in this shop? What sort of resources should I allocate? What kind of manpower do I need to hire?”
“Oh… . . it’s like that . ” Yin Ning stopped talking and anyway she had never done that before .
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Gao Yu Lan nodded . “Okay, I’ll come up with a copy in a few days but I’ve to know more about the situation of Food Restaurant and the Farm to see what resources I can use . ”
“Okay, but the resources are not for free . Both these operations are independent businesses with separate financial reserves . Whatever you want to do, you will have to apply in advance and you will have to bear whatever commitments that you should rightfully bear . ”
As soon as Yin Ze finished speaking, Yin Ning said . “So petty!”
Gao Yu Lan nodded and said . “Okay!”
Yin Ning looked at Gao Yu Lan and saw she was full of confidence, so she also raised her chest and said . “Lan Lan, then we will rely entirely on you . Together, both of us must make this happen and let me have a taste of making money . ”
Gao Yu Lan laughed . “Okay, let’s do our best!”
“Okay, okay, now the serious discussion is over, I feel tired . Everyone should go back home and go back to their loved ones . ” Yin Ze stretched his body lazily .
“Then you should go back . Be careful not to hurt your foot and don’t forget to apply some medicine before going to bed . Do you understand?” Gao Yu Lan quickly reminded him .
Yin Ze stared at her . “Where do you think I’m going? I want to stay in your house . ”
“What?” Gao Yu Lan was shocked . “Why do you want to stay in my house?”
“If I don’t go to your house, how are you going to personally take care of me?”
“Don’t over exaggerate, you only sprained your foot! Every day just apply the medicine and take care not to hurt your foot again, it will be fine . Dr . Meng Gu had said a few days of rest will do and every day I will go over to see you, okay?”
“That’s not good . My foot is hurt, how can I climb up and down the stairs?”
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“There’s a lift . ” Gao Yu Lan felt it was not a problem .
“My house is a duplex and I stay upstairs . I can’t climb up . ”
“How can that be? You can still crawl up the stairs . ” Gao Yu Lan had just finished speaking when Yin Ze glared at her . She quickly changed her words and said . “Otherwise, you can still hop up, you still have a good foot . ”
“Hey, hey, this woman, how can you be so cruel?!” Yin Ze was not satisfied and yelled . He reached out, pulled her over, and pinched her cheek .
“Okay, okay, I’ll send you back first . I’ll make sure you’re settled down and apply medicine on your foot before I go home . Then I’ll come back again tomorrow early in the morning to see you, okay?”
“No need . ” Yin Ze turned his head away . “You don’t have to send me home, I’ll go back on my own . Then I won’t let you see me and make you feel sad!”
Gao Yu Lan was somewhat stunned and turned to Yin Ning . “He is thirty not thirteen, right?”
Yin Ning smiled and did not answer . Yin Ze covered his heart and said sadly . “She despised me for being old, then mentioned about my age and also mock me for being childish!”
He did not wait for Gao Yu Lan to answer and got up from the chair while supporting himself with the table . “I feel so sad and my foot hurts like hell . Let’s go home, go home . Niu Niu my precious, Mantou my precious, let’s go back . ”
Gao Yu Lan hurried over to support him and Yin Ze put his whole body weight onto her while he muttered . “Huh… . . I don’t want your help . You won’t take me in, I will ignore you . ”
Gao Yu Lan did not take his words to heart and with the help of Yin Ning, both of them helped him out of the shop . Then Guo Qiu Chen took the initiative to offer to drive them home . Yin Ning locked up the shop and led the two small ones along . As a result, in the car, Yin Ze decided to show his childish temper . He said to Gao Yu Lan . “If you are willing to take me home with you then only will I let you follow us . ”
Gao Yu Lan pursed her lips and felt she felt wronged . How can naivety be taken as interesting? She thought for a while and replied . “Then you have to be careful and remember to apply medicine . When going up the stairs, pay careful and don’t fall . ” After she finished speaking, she took her small travel bag with her and waved goodbye to them .
Yin Ze sat fuming in the car and glared at her .
This woman!……this woman!…… .