Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 76.2 Tavern Expansion

Shen Shaoguang was intrigued by Shao Jie's proposal, but purchasing a large tavern in East Market would be prohibitively expensive, and her current funds were insufficient. Moreover, running a luxury restaurant required a different approach, something she needed to learn and explore. To ensure stability and profitability, Shen Shaoguang conceived an alternative plan: to find a lane where the residents were considered mid-high class and open a branch that replicated her current store entirely.

Shao Jie frowned thoughtfully. "I'm listening, Miss."

Indeed, the East and West Markets were teeming with small eateries and stalls, but these small storefronts had limited capacity. Moreover, the markets only operated from wǔ-shí (11am-1pm) until just before sunset, meaning they were restricted to serving only one main meal a day. Given the high land prices and the amount of labor and energy required, the cost-effectiveness was unappealing.

How could Shao Jie, a savvy businessman, not recognize this issue? This is precisely why he initially proposed opening a 'large tavern'—one that could attract many customers, exude luxury, and establish a distinguished reputation.

In this era, there was a strong emphasis on ‘old brands’. Few businesses opened branches within the same city, yet many aspired to establish themselves in the prestigious East and West Markets as a testament to their strength. For numerous merchants, setting up shop in these markets was a coveted dream. Shao Jie, constrained by the conventional wisdom of the times, shared this ambition. However, upon hearing Shen Shaoguang's plan to replicate her current store in another similar Lane like Chongxian, he suddenly experienced a moment of clarity.

The advantages of this strategy were evident. With one hundred and eight Lanes in Chang'an, selecting ten strategic districts to open branches would yield far greater profits than a single large tavern in the East or West Market.

"But how can you ensure that all the taverns can replicate the success of this one, Miss?" Shao Jie inquired.

The quality consistency across branches is indeed a significant challenge, even in the modern catering industry. However, there are solutions, such as standardization.

"The menus at each tavern will be identical. The procedures and recipes for various dishes will be meticulously formalized and standardized. With proper training, hundreds of chefs can replicate the same dishes and flavors, ensuring that every meal feels as if it were prepared by a single chef."

Shao Jie narrowed his eyes and smiled, pointing at Shen Shaoguang. "Hundreds? Miss truly has grand aspirations."

Shen Shaoguang's imagination soared even higher. "If this plan succeeds, I'll expand further into Luoyang Prefecture, Bian Prefecture, and North City. By then, even hundreds might not suffice."

Shao Jie laughed heartily. It was truly a pleasure to converse with such a visionary.

However, he raised a concern. "Miss, with such a plan, won't there be a risk of the recipes being easily leaked?"

"Certain items, such as sauces, seasonings, pickled and cured products, and even semi-finished dishes, can be prepared uniformly and sent to each branch daily," Shen Shaoguang explained, touching upon the concept of a central kitchen from later generations. However, she acknowledged the limitations of the time. There was no cold chain, transportation wasn't as convenient, and the nightly curfew posed additional challenges.

"You can also implement a division of labor," Shen Shaoguang continued. "The vegetable cutter would only be responsible for cutting vegetables, the meat fryer for frying meat, and the stuffing mixer for mixing stuffing. This way, even if there is any leakage, it will be limited and manageable."

In fact, the system at that time was highly conducive to maintaining confidentiality—most of the chefs in the taverns were not hired employees, but rather slaves belonging to the master's household. In an era where ‘slaves were considered cheap commodities, legally no more than livestock,’ any slave caught betraying their master or stealing from them faced severe punishment. Some were even beaten to death by their masters without any involvement of the government. According to the <Tang Code>, masters had the authority to "decide to execute their slaves without needing government approval," making betrayal a significant risk for slaves during that period.

The two enjoyed their tea and conversation, bonding over their shared interests. Shao Jie, with his astute business acumen, contributed practical suggestions that gradually shaped a detailed plan for opening a new branch of the tavern.

During their conversation, it became evident that the only obstacles standing in the way of Shen Indelible expanding with branches throughout the city were time and financial resources.

Shen Shaoguang leisurely sipped her rose tea and smiled. "Where there's life, there's opportunity. There's no need to rush to amass a fortune."

Shao Jie chuckled again at Shen Shaoguang's demeanor. After pondering for a moment, he voiced his proposal with sincerity, "What would you think if my family invests in a partnership with you, Miss?" Shao Jie firmly believed in transparency and integrity in business. He held that honesty should prevail among friends and partners. Cheating for petty gains would betray the essence of true friendship and partnership, which, in his view, went against the principles of honorable living.

"I recognize the potential for profit in your business, so I propose a partnership. However, my family lacks expertise in the tavern industry, so you, Miss, would continue to manage the taverns. Our role would be to provide investment and share in the profits."

Shen Shaoguang admired the ancient man's astuteness. A joint-stock system—a concept ahead of its time.

Shen Shaoguang appreciated Shao Jie's prudent approach to business and was inclined to collaborate with him. However, she realized the need for caution when dealing with substantial funds and committing to long-term partnerships, so shared her considerations with him.

Shao Jie smiled and responded, "Even if you were to agree immediately, Miss, I wouldn't be able to provide the funds right away. Such matters require approval from my paternal grandfather." During those times, the idea of ‘no private property while parents are alive’ remained paramount, and any joint business venture necessitated approval from the family patriarch and elders.

Shao Jie sighed wistfully, "Miss, you seem to have more means than I do. Just the other day, I encountered a splendid ancient sword that tempted me greatly. Despite my hesitation, I ultimately couldn't bring myself to make the purchase."

Shen Shaoguang responded with a smile.

Shao Jie suddenly recalled that Shen Shaoguang had no parents, and his previous words seemed a bit sharp. With a rare moment of hesitation, he quickly amended, "Please forgive me if I spoke out of turn. Sometimes I tend to say things without much thought."

Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but laugh heartily this time. Shao Jie's openness, sincerity, and occasional cunning ways was quite cute.