1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 61 Cleaners, Cashiers, and Helpers

After selling the last four specialty dishes, Xu Liang looked at the now empty small restaurant in front of him.

Then, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Liang raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

The weather in early spring is quite nice, especially in the early morning and evening; the sun is only warm at noon and in the afternoon.

Even though the sun warms people's skin, Xu Liang knows that the honeycomb briquette stove he bought in the small restaurant makes him feel uncomfortable all over while he's working.

This discomfort is not because my body feels like it's being cut by a knife, nor is it like my stomach is being twisted by a knife because it's empty.

Although Xu Liang was just standing still, his clothes were already half-soaked with sweat, not to mention that he had been busy since dawn and hadn't even had a proper drink of water.

He bent down and stacked the steamers together, placing them on the storage rack in the corner.

Then, Xu Liang turned around and picked up the broom, rag, and bucket of water leaning against the door, intending to thoroughly clean the restaurant inside and out.

Xiao Liangzi Restaurant was built from scratch by him. From store decoration to daily management, he never slacked off. However, Xu Liang couldn't slack off either, because he was the owner of the restaurant.

Not only is Xu Liang the core of the small restaurant, but he also has a large following among food enthusiasts, such as diners.

After his rebirth, Xu Liang had seen a lot of the world. Even a humble roadside restaurant was always kept clean and tidy, with tables and chairs arranged neatly.

This is why diners are willing to frequently visit Xu Liang's small restaurant.

But just as Xu Liang gripped the broom tightly in his hand, his movements suddenly stopped.

He subconsciously looked up and slowly scanned the surroundings of the restaurant, but a strange sense of emptiness welled up in his heart.

It was well past lunchtime, and only two tables of regular customers remained in the shop, leisurely drinking tea and chatting.

The not-so-spacious shop seemed rather quiet, but Xu Liang knew in his heart that the emptiness he felt was never because there were few customers in the shop.

Even during peak mealtimes, when the small restaurant is packed and the noise reaches its peak, he still feels that sense of fighting alone, like a solo game.

Xu Liang thought about it carefully. His small restaurant, inside and out, from top to bottom, from beginning to end, was being supported by only him alone.

Every day before dawn, while most people are still asleep, Xu Liang would ride his old bicycle, a 28-inch model left by his father, to the small restaurant in town.

Xu Liang went straight to the small restaurant and didn't go to the market to buy any vegetables for the day.

He had already arranged with a wholesaler at the vegetable market, who would deliver the vegetables and meat he needed for the day to the door of his small restaurant well in advance.

He wanted to select the freshest and most tender ingredients just in time for the wholesale delivery personnel to arrive at the vegetable market.

This is a huge project, ranging from small items like a bunch of green vegetables and a scallion to large items like pork and fish.

However, Xu Liang had to personally select and carefully compare all of these, and he would not allow any carelessness.

After all, the quality of the dishes is the foundation of a restaurant's success.

After selecting the ingredients, Xu Liang immediately plunged into the tidy kitchen.

Xu Liang takes the vegetables delivered by the deliveryman and goes through the process of washing, picking, cutting, and preparing them.

Of course, some of them need to be marinated, and the preparation work is tedious and time-consuming.

Xu Liang was busy at the stove, chopping vegetables, stir-frying, and making the soup boil.

This busy period lasted for several hours.

When it's mealtime and guests arrive one after another, Xu Liang has to transform into a waiter, controlling the heat and cooking in the kitchen while also taking time to greet guests, hand out menus, serve dishes, and settle accounts.

He often finds himself cooking in one pot while customers are already urging him to serve their food, and someone at the counter is waiting to pay the bill.

He was so busy he barely had time to rest, shuttling back and forth between the stove and the main hall.

Moreover, given Xu Liang's current situation, he wishes he could be in two places at once.

After finally getting through the guests, it should have been time to rest, but Xu Liang still couldn't stop.

Clear the table of dishes and utensils, wipe the greasy table, sweep up the trash on the floor, carry stacks of dirty bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen, wash them clean little by little, and finally drain the water.

After that, thoroughly clean the kitchen stove, floor, and work surface to remove all grease and stains.

By the time everything is finished, it's often two or three in the afternoon, sometimes even later.

Xu Liang, however, couldn't even get a hot meal after finishing all that work. He would just eat some cold rice, rest for a bit, and then start preparing the ingredients for dinner.

He did this day after day, every single day.

365 days a year, Xu Liang basically has very little rest time. All the work, pressure and exhaustion fall on his shoulders alone.

In the beginning, he was young and strong, and with his indomitable spirit, he felt that he could grit his teeth and get through it.

But as time went on, the exhaustion seeped deep into my body.

Sometimes, even a good night's sleep can make it hard for the pain to completely disappear.

Not only could I not sleep at night, but sitting in the break room of the small restaurant, my whole body ached and I didn't even have the strength to lift my arm.

Xu Liang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

After being reborn, I don't have a strong body. Is this a lie?

In the past, when he was busy, he was so focused on his work that he was pushed forward by all sorts of trivial matters, and he had no time or inclination to think about these things.

But now, looking at this small restaurant that he had poured all his heart and soul into and that he had built up from scratch, it seemed that something was missing.

After a while, he belatedly realized a fact that had been overlooked all along.

Xu Liang is not made of iron after all!

He is not a robot that works 24 hours a day.

No matter how much energy or perseverance a person has, there will always be times when they are too tired to keep going.

Working continuously for long periods of time not only takes a toll on the body, but also inevitably leads to neglecting other aspects of work.

Xu Liang sometimes felt guilty because he was late serving food to guests while cooking in the kitchen or didn't have time to clear the table in time, making the guests wait.

He thought for a moment, if he could find a few people to lend a hand, wouldn't he be able to relax a lot?

Besides, his small restaurant is already making a lot of money, so it's time to consider hiring new staff.

The thought suddenly burst forth in Xu Liang's mind and could no longer be suppressed.

He leaned against the wall, his hand holding the broom slowly falling to his sides, his eyes gradually hardening as he began to seriously consider things in his mind.

Because this restaurant is small, it doesn't need many staff, but several key positions are indispensable.

First of all, the daily cleaning, tidying up tables and chairs, and sorting dishes in the store are numerous and tedious tasks, so one person must be specifically responsible for them.

Previously, he did all of this by himself, which took up a lot of Xu Liang's time and energy.

If we could hire a meticulous and diligent cleaner to take care of the store's hygiene.

Xu Liang can save a lot of time and concentrate on cooking in the kitchen.

Secondly, there's the issue of the cashier.

This is what gives him the biggest headache. Every time the restaurant gets busy, he can't leave the kitchen. After the customers finish eating, they often have to wait a long time to pay the bill, which not only wastes the customers' time but also affects the efficiency of the restaurant.

Moreover, he was so focused on cooking that he didn't have the energy to keep detailed accounts, which sometimes resulted in unclear accounts.

Therefore, a reliable, meticulous cashier who is clear about the accounts is also indispensable.

But the most crucial thing is his method.

The head chef is the core of a small restaurant. If he can't handle everything by himself during peak hours, he needs to find a sous chef to help Xu Liang with things like chopping, washing, and packing vegetables.

When necessary, the dishes also need to be served to the diners.

Xu Liang was in charge of cooking all by himself, and he also had to take care of miscellaneous tasks such as chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients. He was so busy that he had no extra energy to improve the taste of the dishes.

A capable assistant to help him prepare ingredients in the kitchen.

He can then concentrate on controlling the heat of the dishes, making each dish the best it can be, and still have time to think about new dishes.

There are three positions: cleaner, cashier, and helper.

This would allow him to share all the tasks in the store, avoiding both overstaffing and completely resolving his predicament of running the store alone.

But who should I turn to?

Xu Liang slowly walked to an empty dining table and sat down, his fingertips lightly tapping the smooth surface. He seemed lost in thought, and familiar faces gradually surfaced in his mind.

He didn't want to go to the town's labor market to find strangers, firstly because strangers' intentions were hard to fathom.

Xu Liang wasn't comfortable entrusting the store's accounts and daily operations to the other party.

However, Xu Liang had an idea within a quarter of an hour.

It can help out acquaintances around you.

After all, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Friends and neighbors you know well are easier to get along with.

As for the relationship aspect, there's no need to elaborate.

The first people that came to Xu Liang's mind were several aunties from his neighborhood.

Aunt Lu, who lives in the unit next to the restaurant, and Aunt Bai, who lives diagonally across the hall, are both housewives who have nothing to do at home on weekdays.

Now that my children have all grown up and started their own families, I don't have any burdens at home, and I feel bored spending all day at home.

Xu Liang knew these two aunties very well; they were elders who had watched him grow up.

They are hardworking and down-to-earth, meticulous and patient, and also very nimble.

She keeps everything in perfect order, both at home and outside, and is warm-hearted and easy-going.

On ordinary days, they would often bring relatives and friends to Xu Liang's small restaurant to support the business, and they would take special care of him.

Xu Liang saw and remembered their character, temperament, and work attitude.

Hiring them to work as cleaners in the store, responsible for daily cleaning, wiping tables and chairs, and tidying up dishes and utensils, is the perfect solution.

They are meticulous in their work, so there's no need to worry about them being lazy or shirking their duties; they also get along well with each other.

As long as I pay them a fair wage, I can not only help them find some work and supplement their household income, but also solve my own problems.

Kill two birds with one stone!

With the cleaning staff confirmed, Xu Liang felt a little relieved.

Then, he started thinking about the cashier's position.

Cashiers need to handle money and keep accounts, so it's essential to find someone reliable, honest, and knowledgeable about the accounts. This is a job that cannot be taken lightly.

He searched through his memories, carefully filtering through his familiar neighbors and friends.

Xu Liang quickly identified someone.

My childhood friend Chen Yang, who lives on the same street.

Chen Yang is two years younger than Xu Liang. He is calm and reserved, meticulous in his work, and quick-witted. Back in school, he was one of the top students in math and never made a mistake when it came to numbers or calculations.

Moreover, Chen Yang had worked as a cashier at a nearby supermarket, so he was familiar with the cashier and accounting process. Most importantly, he was honest, upright, and never greedy for small gains.

He is thorough and reliable, which makes people feel very at ease with him.

When Chen Yang resigned, he knew that Xu Liang was going to open a small restaurant and asked him if he needed any help.

At the time, Xu Liang felt he could manage on his own, so he didn't want to trouble others.

But now that I think about it, Chen Yang was undoubtedly the best candidate for cashier.

With the cashier job handed over to Chen Yang, Xu Liang could finally relax and no longer worry about accounting errors or lost money.

Chen Yang is reliable and steady, so he will definitely be able to handle the front desk cashier duties, bookkeeping, and customer service perfectly.

Finally, and most importantly, is the actual execution.

This position requires working in the kitchen year-round, working alongside Xu Liang. The work is hard and involves a lot of oil and smoke, so we need to find someone who can endure hardship, is willing to put in the effort, and trusts each other.

Xu Liang hesitated for a moment, then decided on the most suitable candidate.

His closest brother, Sun Zhonglei, with whom he grew up together.

Xu Liang and Sun Zhonglei were childhood friends who grew up together, inseparable from elementary school to junior high.

They went to school together, played together, and got into mischief together; their bond was even stronger than that of blood brothers.

Later, they dropped out of school and entered society. Although they were busy with their own lives, they always kept in touch and would get together to drink and chat whenever they had free time. Their friendship never faded.

A few days ago, Xu Liang heard about it from other friends.

It was said that the factory where Sun Zhonglei worked was not doing well and was short of funds, so it had already declared bankruptcy. As a result, Zhao Lei lost his job and was unemployed at home.

Sun Zhonglei didn't have a high level of education and could only make a living through manual labor. Suddenly, he lost his job.

He has a wife and children to support, and he spends his days at home looking worried and anxious, asking around for jobs, but he hasn't been able to find a suitable livelihood.

Right now, he's extremely worried and stressed.

Xu Liang knew Sun Zhonglei very well; the two had grown up together and knew each other inside and out.

Sun Zhonglei is honest, kind, hardworking, and reliable. He is also loyal and trustworthy.

It would be perfect to have him work in the kitchen as an assistant, helping with food preparation, chopping vegetables, cooking, and cleaning utensils, thus relieving him of the heavy workload.

Firstly, Sun Zhonglei is hardworking and can definitely handle tough work. Secondly, the two trust each other and will not have any conflicts when working together, and their cooperation will be very smooth. Thirdly, it can also help Zhao Lei solve his current livelihood problems, so that he can have a stable job and a stable income and no longer have to worry at home.

Compared to finding a stranger, Xu Liang felt more at ease and comfortable using his most trusted brother.

With a cleaning lady, cashier, and kitchen helper all in place, Xu Liang's eyes gradually lit up. The fatigue and frustration he had felt earlier vanished instantly, replaced by anticipation.

He stood up abruptly, but instead of rushing to clean, he quickly began to plan his next move.

Once the store was completely closed and he finished the final cleanup, he immediately contacted each of these people one by one.

First, go to the aunties and grandmas in the neighborhood and discuss with them the start time, job duties, and salary for working at the store. Then, go to Chen Yang and explain the cashier job details to him.

Finally, I made a special trip to see my brother Sun Zhonglei and had a good talk with him, asking him to come and help out at the store.

Thinking of this, Xu Liang was filled with energy. He gripped the broom and quickly swept the ground, his movements swift and light.

He swept the lobby floor clean, then carefully wiped down every table and chair, and straightened out any tables and chairs that were slightly crooked.

Then he carried a bucket of water and cleaned the glass windows until they were sparkling clean.

After working for more than half an hour, the entire restaurant was transformed and looked brand new.

As the two tables of regular diners were leaving, they smiled and praised Xu Liang for making the restaurant cleaner and cleaner.

Xu Liang smiled and thanked him.

After seeing off the last table of guests, Xu Liang tidied up the kitchen briefly.

After preparing the ingredients in advance and locking the shop door, I hurriedly headed to my neighbors' homes.