1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 13 Business License

"Factory manager, I'd like to forgo the fancy meal."

Jiang Haiping was completely dumbfounded when he heard Xu Liang say all this.

"No, you are Jiang Wan's savior, you deserve the best service."

"The matter of expressing gratitude cannot be delayed!"

After saying that, Jiang Haiping insisted on pulling Xu Liang onto the back of his old bicycle.

Then, Xu Liang struggled with all his might.

"I know you quit your job and opened this small restaurant, but it's not famous yet! Come on, let's go to that grilled fish restaurant in town."

Jiang Haiping was telling Xu Liang about the must-try restaurants in town, but not because he had already eaten lunch, nor because he owned this small restaurant.

However, the business license is urgently needed.

"Factory manager, listen to me. I have my own reasons for refusing this feast."

"What reason? Does a savior need a reason?"

Xu Liang could no longer hide it.

"Um, I haven't gotten my restaurant's business license yet, so I'm thinking of forgoing your offer to treat me to a big meal and asking you to help me out instead..."

Before Xu Liang could finish speaking, Jiang Haiping already knew what he was going to say next.

"You want to use my connections to help you get a business license, right?"

"That's right, the factory manager is smart."

Jiang Haiping acted as if helping Xu Liang get a business license was a piece of cake.

"Leave this to me. Let's go have a big meal first, and we'll talk about the business license tomorrow."

What do you mean by "we'll talk about it tomorrow"? Tomorrow is when the restaurant will be open again.

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang immediately said to Jiang Haiping, "The big meal can be rescheduled, but I really need my business license urgently."

"Hey, food is essential for life; you'll get hungry if you skip a meal. Everything else can wait until after a meal!"

"That won't do! This is urgent and can't be delayed any longer."

Since his daughter's savior had made repeated requests, Jiang Haiping couldn't say anything more and had no choice but to agree to help him get a business license.

Jiang Haiping said to Xu Liang, "Okay, let's talk about how to get a business license first, and what materials you need to provide, Liangwazi."

Afterwards, Xu Liang happily pulled Factory Director Jiang Haiping along and said, "It's not convenient here, let's go into my little restaurant and sit down to talk."

"Okay."

In Xu Liang's small restaurant, the two sat at the same table.

Jiang Haiping spoke first: "Do you know what types of business licenses there are?"

"I don't know, I've never heard of that before."

Before his rebirth, Xu Liang was just a cook working for a hotel, and he had the basic skills to make a decent dish.

However, if it were up to him to run the business, he would be completely clueless about it, since he had never been involved in anything like opening a shop before.

"Business licenses are divided into five types: individual businesses, private enterprises, collective enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and retail stores."

"Besides, you can't get a business license in town; you can only get one from the Administration for Industry and Commerce in the city. But don't worry, I have connections at the Administration for Industry and Commerce in the city."

Xu Liang listened as Jiang Haiping explained things to him clearly, but he was also considering a question himself.

His small restaurant can only be considered a sole proprietorship, so the corresponding procedures should be relatively simple.

"Factory manager, I'd like to ask, are the procedures for obtaining a business license complicated?"

"It depends. Your small restaurant is small and can only be considered a sole proprietorship. The procedures for obtaining a business license for sole proprietorships are arguably the simplest among the five categories."

And sure enough, Xu Liang guessed right.

Xu Liang smiled knowingly to himself, and then asked the factory manager, "What procedures are needed to apply for a business license for an individual business? Do I need an ID card, a household registration book, or any other documents?"

"Yes, that's necessary. All you need to prepare is your ID card, your family's household registration book, and a one-inch photo of yourself."

Xu Liang listened attentively. While the factory manager was speaking, Xu Liang was also busy. He pulled out a blank sheet from the counter menu and wrote on it with neutral notes.

"Okay, factory manager, when should I hand these over to you?"

Jiang Haiping, who had just rescued Xu Liang's daughter from the fire at his house, was now relaxed after the major incident and the brief tension. He joked with Xu Liang.

"You're our daughter's savior. Whenever you say we'll hold it, then we'll hold it whenever we want!"

Xu Liang thought about it briefly in his mind, and considering that he didn't have any of these things on him at the moment, he could only say helplessly.

"Then let's do it tomorrow, tomorrow morning. You'll be at work then, so I'll leave it with you for now and deal with it after you get off work."

Xu Liang was naturally savvy in dealing with people and situations. Jiang Haiping worked day and night, and besides, he managed such a large factory while also needing to take care of his own family.

Including his daughter and wife.

"Liangwa, it's settled then."

Jiang Haiping seemed to have more to say. He paused for a moment and then said to Xu Liang, "Actually, to get a business license through someone, I need to go into the city, and I also need a certificate from my factory, as well as my personal stamp and signature."

"The procedures don't seem very simple; they're quite complicated. In addition, you'll need a business registration certificate for individual businesses and a pre-approval permit."

"Most importantly, the health bureau needs to review and issue your food safety certificate."

After saying this, Jiang Haiping patted his chest and said confidently, "With me, Jiang Haiping, I'll definitely get these things sorted out perfectly for you."

After saying that, Xu Liang slapped the table with joy.

"Okay, that's settled then. I like the factory manager; he's such a straightforward person."

Jiang Haiping smiled at Xu Liang, his eyebrows curving into a smile.

"However, whether your little restaurant can stay open in the long run is your own problem."

"I can't help you with running a restaurant, Liangwa. Of course, if one day your restaurant goes out of business and you want to come back to work at my factory, I'll welcome you anytime."

Jiang Haiping had heard from his neighborhood and the general public that Xu Liang had risked a fire to save his daughter, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

This greatly changed my perception of Xu Liang.

"Factory manager, that's not the case. I'm only around twenty years old. I haven't even started yet. Thinking about bankruptcy is just too unrealistic."

Jiang Haiping smiled again and said, "Indeed, you are young, have great potential, and your future is limitless."

Then, Xu Liang asked, "Factory manager, what do you think of the food in the factory canteen?"

"Sigh, don't even mention those people. The food is awful, they're hard to review, and they're impossible to manage. Everyone's complaining now. I've fired a lot of them, but more and more people keep coming in. I just can't control them!"

Xu Liang felt that if the factory continued like this, it would definitely cause a big problem.

He thought, why not take this opportunity?

This is a good opportunity to promote the food at Xiaoliangzi Restaurant.

Since that's the case, the factory manager is the highest-ranking official in the factory. If we can get him on our side, what can his employees say?

Then, wouldn't the small restaurant attract more customers?