Chang’an Small Restaurant

Chapter 87.2 Shaoguang's Business

Entering the reception hall, Shen Shaoguang quickly sketched out the framework structure for their expanding business.

As she looked at the neatly organized structure and considered the current number of people they have on board, Shen Shaoguang couldn't help but swallow. "Sir Shao, by the time we manage to fill up this entire framework, your esteemed son might be old enough to help with the housework, right?"

The thought of his yet-to-exist bride and this ambitious plan made Shao Jie feel slightly embarrassed. "That’s not necessarily true..."

Shen Shaoguang burst into laughter. They both knew that progress comes one step at a time, just as a meal must be eaten one bite at a time. For now, they could set aside the grand framework. What they needed to focus on was allocating the talents for key roles—those who would oversee operations, financial affairs, procurement, and the like.

Shao Jie glanced around at Shen Shaoguang's modest hall and the additional building in the courtyard. With more staff and the increasing need for storage space for meat, grain, and vegetables, the space was becoming cramped. "You really should consider buying a larger residence. You're the owner of a dozen taverns now, and living in such a simple place isn't suitable for someone of your status..." It wouldn't be appropriate to marry Deputy Magistrate Lin and have him fetch you from a place like this.

Shen Shaoguang: "...What do you mean by a dozen?"

Shao Jie grinned confidently. "If everything goes well next year, won't there be at least a dozen?"

Shen Shaoguang: "..." 

"Are you saying that these dozen or so businesses don't all belong to you, Miss Shen? But I already live in a big mansion..."

Shen Shaoguang was momentarily swept up in Shao Jie's unusual logic, and despite herself, found that... it somehow made sense.

Feigning a pitiful expression, she sighed dramatically, "Alas, Sir Shao, actually I have my eyes on a certain house—"

Shao Jie’s curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell! Do tell! I’m always looking at storefronts and I know all the property intermediaries. I can help you inspect it. Buying a house is a big deal; it’s best not to settle for a wretched place."

Shen Shaoguang: "...It is exactly a wretched house."

Shao Jie: "!!!"

Shen Shaoguang continued happily, "It is the one on the front of the street in this Lane, a three-courtyard estate. The original owner was a southern merchant, and the house is barely ten years old. From the outside, it’s quite elegant, akin to the Jiāngnan's graceful waters. I heard that there are ponds, gardens, verandas, reception halls, mansions, and terraces—all complete, and the whole scenery is quite presentable. That merchant—"

She coughed, avoiding the finer details. "Well… he was a bit lascivious and died in Pingkang Lane.Then, the next owner was an itinerant trader who was unfortunately ambushed by bandits in Youzhou Province. But no one actually died in the house, so it can’t really be called wretched."

"This isn’t considered wretched?" Shao Jie asked incredulously.

Shen Shaoguang whispered back, "How can it be considered wretched? Countless people died in Daming Palace, Taiji Palace, and Xingqing Palace—are those wretched?"

Shao Jie: "..."

Shen Shaoguang cited Bai Juyi’s perspective, "Zhou Dynasty and Qin Dynasty were both located in Yaohan (Mount Xiao and Hangu Pass). One lasted for 800 years, while the other barely lasted two generations. Just look at us compared to the former Sui Dynasty... Ultimately, 'men and not their homes are wretched[1]'!"

Shao Jie pondered this and realized there was truth in her words. After all, what place could be more dangerous than the imperial palace? Yet, His Majesty still lived there. If he followed the rules too strictly, he wouldn’t get along with Shen Shaoguang as well as he did. He set aside his concerns about the so-called ‘wretched houses’ and asked, "So, why not buy it? Why continue living so modestly?"

Shen Shaoguang, reverting to her indifferent demeanor, replied, "In truth, this small residence with its thatched cottages, a peach and plum tree in front of the hall, the fragrance of onions and leeks by the wall, and the hens with their chicks... It's quite charming in its own way."

Shao Jie: "Tsk—"

In truth, if the branches hadn't expanded so rapidly, Shen Shaoguang would have been close to saving enough for her desired home. However, personal expenditure had to take a backseat to business investments for the time being.

Shen Shaoguang knew that once the branches stabilized next year and she no longer needed to buy chicks but could simply wait for the chickens to lay eggs, she would soon be able to afford her dream residence.

Determined to achieve this goal as quickly as possible, Shen Shaoguang intensified the training of new employees and aimed to open new stores as soon as they were decorated and fully equipped. Additionally, she assembled a special performance team with Xu Four, Zhang Two, and A’Dou to perform in their stores.

However, two shows alone wouldn't suffice. Shen Shaoguang decided that Zhang Two's established persona as a greedy, stingy, and gluttonous character should remain consistent. To build on this, she developed a "series of plays" featuring this persona. Since finding a specialized screenwriter was challenging, she took on the task herself, drawing on familiar store jokes and mining her memory for humorous material—such as the risqué jokes from <Collection of Classic Chinese Jokes(笑林广记)>.

Shen Shaoguang harbored an array of nasty humor in her mind, though she kept most of it concealed, revealing it only in private moments—such as when teasing Deputy Magistrate Lin.

She envisioned provoking Deputy Magistrate Lin until his face blazed crimson. The thought of his countenance, caught between vexation and mirth, tickled her heart greatly.

Regrettably, now that Lidong had passed, the approach of the Chinese New Year loomed. The foreign envoys who came to Chang'an to pay homage had arrived one after another, and the tributes from various prefectures had also arrived. There were many festivals in winter, and the grand Winter Solstice celebration was approaching. The autumn tax and commercial tax also needed to be collected in one or two months... Unlike the prefecture government repositories, the capital city's government repository not only handles the usual duties like census management, taxation, legal cases, promoting agriculture and sericulture, and overseeing educational examinations, but also assists the imperial divisions in dealing with the capital's special arrangements. At this time of year, Deputy Magistrate Lin was particularly overwhelmed with duties. Shen Shaoguang was also swamped, leaving little time for the two of them to converse peacefully. Thus, Shen Shaoguang's teasing remained a figment of her imagination.

In the open space before the hall, Zhang Two was relishing the ‘fried quail’ with evident gusto and remarked as he chewed, "Sir Dou, why are you abstaining from this feast?"

A’Dou responded in a subdued tone, "There were four quails. You have consumed three. It is only fitting that you partake in the final one, lest we break up the pairs. It would be quite lamentable."

Shen Shaoguang grinned, noting that A’Dou's present demeanor was quite similar to Princess Yu San.

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Footnote:

[1] men and not their homes are wretched (人凶非宅凶) - This is again, quoted from Bai Juyi’s poem, ‘Wretched Houses’. And again, I just directly copied this wonderful person’s (Hei Fengcong /黑瘋驄) translation of the poem XD