Chapter 281 Opening a Grand Hotel

The verdict on Banggeng came out very quickly. Neither Zhan Shixiang nor Banggeng trusted each other. When they were interrogated separately, they both confessed to the crime they committed together.

However, both of them were clever and did not tell anyone about the crimes they had committed alone. The comrades at the police station did not have enough time to investigate the details, and in accordance with the instructions of strict punishment, they were sentenced to five years in prison respectively and fined 3,000 yuan.

This was a bit of a blow to Qin Huairu's family, but fortunately, Sha Zhu had earned a lot of money in Yan Jiecheng's restaurant before, so he could still afford the fine.

After Banggeng was sentenced, both Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu had some opinions about Shazhu. They both believed that it was Shazhu's lack of dedication that led to Banggeng's imprisonment.

Sha Zhu didn't have any good solution either, these two people were indeed unreasonable.

Time passed quickly and it was September. The weather was hot and it was finally the day for Li Chengzhi to start school. Li Shengli specially sent his eldest son to university on this day.

Li Shengli calculated his savings and found that it was not enough to open a big restaurant. Besides, his master Wang Defu was old. Although he was still in good health, he could not cook for a long time. He could only teach others how to cook.

Li Shengli was reluctant to let the old man work hard, and he himself did not want to cook from morning to night every day, which would be so tiring. Besides, a restaurant is so small that even if the business is good, how much profit can it make? The most profitable thing would be to wait until next year to do business in the south.

However, Li Shengli did not plan to waste this period of time. During this period, Li Shengli thought that if he brought his senior brother Wang Zhenbang and his master Wang Defu to look after him, they could open a big restaurant with the combined strength of the two families.

Li Shengli is unwilling to waste his whole life in the kitchen, but for Wang Zhenbang and Wang Defu, they cannot live without the kitchen for the rest of their lives.

So Li Shengli came to Wang Defu's house.

"Master, the time has almost come. While you are still in good health, let's open a big restaurant together." Li Shengli looked at his master Wang Defu, who was still in good spirits, and offered his suggestion.

"Are you ready, kid?" Li Shengli had greeted Wang Defu a long time ago.

"Yes, Master. I plan to ask you and my brother to go with me. I will feel more at ease if you and my brother are there to take charge."

"From what you said, you don't plan to work in the kitchen?" Wang Defu also understood the meaning of Li Shengli's words.

"Master, I want to do something else. I feel relieved to have you and my brothers in the restaurant." Li Shengli had no intention of hiding anything from Wang Defu.

"Is that so? Then you can discuss it with your senior brother. I don't mind." Wang Defu nodded. Li Shengli still has some drive. He is in his forties and still plans to do other things.

"Okay, Master, I'll go discuss it with Brother Zhenbang." Li Shengli stood up and said goodbye to his master. Then Li Shengli came to the small restaurant opened by Wang Zhenbang and met Wang Zhenbang.

"Hey, Shengli, why did you think of coming to see me?" Wang Zhenbang walked out of the kitchen and asked in surprise when he saw Li Shengli sitting on a chair. "Brother Zhenbang, I came here to do business with you." Li Shengli and Wang Zhenbang were also very familiar with each other and told him his purpose directly. Small restaurants still have certain limitations. Li Shengli plans to open a large restaurant like Quanjude first.

"Going into business together? I'm just a cook. I really don't have the brains to do business." Wang Zhenbang touched his head and was about to refuse Li Shengli. He was very self-aware. For Wang Zhenbang, being a good cook had already taken up all his energy. Doing business really had nothing to do with him.

"Brother Zhenbang, I asked you to come here because I want to open a restaurant with you." Li Shengli did not keep him in suspense. For people like Wang Defu and Wang Zhenbang who have been cooking all their lives, opening a restaurant of their own is their dream.

"Opening a restaurant in partnership? Shengli, I'm not saying that other people's restaurants are enough to keep me busy." Wang Zhenbang has also experienced the baptism of other restaurants. A small restaurant of this size is just enough for him to handle by himself.

"Brother Zhenbang, don't you think this restaurant is a little small? I plan to invite you to come over and we can open a big restaurant together. Take a look at Quanjude, that's a real restaurant." Li Shengli made an analogy. Everyone who has eaten at Quanjude has seen the decoration inside.

Wang Zhenbang listened to Li Shengli's words and thought deeply. Indeed, the kitchen of this small restaurant was very small, and it was not very convenient to cook. If he could work in a big restaurant, Wang Zhenbang was tempted when he thought of this.

"Shengli, how do we define our partnership?" Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly. Wang Zhenbang wanted to hear what Li Shengli thought.

"Brother Zhenbang, this is very simple. Let's take out a total of 100,000 yuan, I'll take 60,000, and then you, Brother Zhenbang, will be the head chef in the kitchen, and the master will be a consultant. In this way, you and the master will own 45% of the restaurant's shares, and I'll own 55%. What do you think?" Li Shengli said a method he had thought of a long time ago.

This method is equivalent to Wang Zhenbang and Wang Defu investing in technology and then holding half of the shares. Wang Defu does not need to cook, but just goes to the kitchen occasionally to give instructions. Li Shengli can also use Wang Defu's talent to recruit some chefs.

"I have to go back and discuss this with my dad." Wang Zhenbang did not agree immediately. After all, this matter concerned his father, and he could not make the decision for him.

"No problem. I've already informed the chef. I'll close my own small restaurant and send the people to the hotel kitchen." Since I'm planning to open a big restaurant, the current small restaurant is of no use. But it's been open for so long and if it doesn't work out, I can turn it into a hotpot restaurant.

"Okay, I'll go back and tell my dad first, and then I'll come to you after we've discussed it." Wang Zhenbang saw that Li Shengli was very determined and had already made a decision in his heart.

"Okay, you go ahead and do your work. I'll go back first." Li Shengli nodded to show his understanding and then came to his own shop.

Li Shengli told the four people in the small shop that he was going to open a big restaurant. This time there was no problem and the two apprentices were quite happy. After all, Li Shengli taught them some home cooking and then taught them other things occasionally when he was free. They could learn a lot in the big restaurant, and their salary would also increase a lot.

The two receptionists were also very satisfied. With more people, they might be able to become foremen. If they go one step further, they might even be able to become restaurant managers.

Two days later, Wang Zhenbang told Li Shengli that he agreed to Li Shengli's invitation. Li Shengli found an excellent location, and then Li Shengli went to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to apply for a business license and opened the restaurant.

The name of the restaurant is 'Xin Yue Xuan', and the restaurant's signature dishes are not only Sichuan cuisine, but also include other cuisines.

(End of this chapter)