The news about the cooperation between Tian Dongliu and Chen Baoxiang spread like wildfire, and it quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of the city.
In less than three days, seven or eight groups of people came to visit Chen Baoxiang, trying to establish relationships and discuss cooperation with Chen Baoxiang. In short, overnight, Chen Baoxiang truly rose from a cook who ran a rice shop to a respectable "Boss Chen".
On the afternoon of the third day, Uncle Miao from Gaodusi Lane came, followed by Mr. Zhang from the straw bun shop.
Speaking of the Miao family in Gaodusi Lane, their status in Jinan City is very important.
According to the county annals, during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, Jinan's money industry set up the Fude Guild Hall in Gaodusi Lane. Banks such as Sanheheng, Qingtaichang, Xiejutai, Dadetong, and Dadeheng sent people here every day to exchange information.
To carry out transactions, it is commonly known as "Shangguan". In 1906, Han Shili of the German Lihe & Co., Ltd. came to Ji and established the Jinan branch of Lihe & Co., Ltd. in Gaodusi Lane. This was the first foreign bank established in Ji'nan.
The Miao family is deeply rooted and has a great business. Among the high-ranking officials and nobles in Gaodu Sixiang, they are second to none.
There were a total of twelve disciples in the family who went to Southeast Asia and France. Their business was spread across rivers and seas, and they were as rich as anyone in the country.
Uncle Miao's visit is a top priority for Chen's Rice Shop.
There are only a few people in Jinan City who are worthy of Uncle Miao's personal visit.
Boss Zhang followed Uncle Miao, holding two snacks in his hand, and handed them to Chen Baoxiang respectfully, one for him and one for Uncle Miao.
"Boss Chen, business has been good recently. I heard that they are preparing to open a restaurant in the Grand View Garden. Whose chef did you hire?"
Uncle Miao sat down, took out his cigarette case, slowly took one in his mouth, and then handed out cigarettes to Chen Baoxiang and Mr. Zhang.
Chen Baoxiang quickly thanked him, and Boss Zhang did not dare to take the cigarette. He took out a match and respectfully lit a cigarette for Uncle Miao.
"It's just that a friend mentioned this matter, but he didn't say anything about it."
"Haha, this is a good thing. Our food circle in Jinan City has always been about letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contending. As the saying goes, one flower blooming alone is not spring, but a hundred flowers blooming is spring. Is that right, Boss Zhang?"
"Yes, yes, Uncle Miao is right."
"I came here today to talk about cooperation with Boss Chen. There are so many things about opening a restaurant, the front store and the back kitchen, red and white cases, accounting at the counter, waiters, store signs, personal connections...
To name a few. Although we don't open restaurants, the Miao family's descendants are spread all over the world. I have several cousins who opened restaurants from Nanyang to Paris, and from Paris to Chinatown in Los Angeles... They can do foreign business.
, can you still do business with Chinese people?"
Chen Baoxiang listened respectfully. These old faces and old Jianghu's words are true to every word. If you listen carefully, you will always benefit.
Mr. Zhang nodded happily: "Yes, Uncle Miao, you have traveled all over the country and eaten at people I met. I asked you to come here because I want to talk to Boss Chen. Can you take care of the buns on me?"
Jinan people love to eat steamed buns, and northerners all love to eat steamed buns..."
These few words made the two people's intentions clear.
Restaurants account for half of their business, especially in the north, where there are a wide variety of pastas, and the dim sum in high-end restaurants is their signature.
Caobao Baozi Pu is also considered a famous food in Jinan. Former officials Zhang and Han liked to eat it.
Eat the steamed buns while they are hot. Commander Zhang's adjutant rides a war horse to buy the steamed buns. When the steamed buns come out of the pot, they are immediately wrapped in lotus leaves and sent to Zhang's house at full speed.
People from Tianqiao Bookstore wrote two poems about this matter - "A horse is riding fast and the lotus leaves are fragrant, and the wives and concubines are busy eating and drinking in groups."
"Boss Chen, we Jinan people should be like Boss Zhang, quick to talk to others. How about you open a shop in Grand View Garden and hand over the business case to Boss Zhang?"
Chen Baoxiang felt angry that the other party had such a big appetite, and his face didn't look very good.
Boss Zhang asked Uncle Miao to come forward, and he was very courageous: "Boss Chen, you are a rice cooker, and you are not familiar with Bai An. It will be too laborious to hire a Bai An master. You can give me Bai An, and I will give it to you."
How about you take a commission, and on the side of the benefactor, you can earn whatever you want, and you can get two back and forth, how about it?"
Chen Baoxiang snorted, picked up the teapot, and poured tea for Uncle Miao.
Since the other party is Lao Jianghu, he cannot break up with him no matter what. Otherwise, if he offends the Miao family, he will not be able to survive in Jinan City.
The three of them were chatting when someone came in from outside, and it turned out to be Bi Gong and Bi Jing.
Last time, Bi Jing was stabbed in the chest by Gu Lanchun who was pretending to be Bi Gong. The injury was serious. Now his chest is bulging and there should be a bandage inside.
The two came in, looked at Chen Baoxiang, and sat down at the table at the door.
Chen Baoxiang walked over with a teapot, opened two tea bowls, and poured tea for them.
Uncle Miao looked at these two people and snorted twice.
"Boss Chen, are you talking about something? That's it. We have something to ask."
Bi Gong looked at Chen Baoxiang, his attitude was much more relaxed than before.
The two brothers have long been famous. Something happened to Chen Baoxiang, and he laughed at him. Now that they meet, they can certainly not forgive it.
"Yes, yes, please have some tea first."
Chen Baoxiang quickly agreed, not daring to offend.
"Boss Chen, Lao Chen... your place is a mess. Why the hell are all the birds coming in to drink tea? I'm just telling you, the more you drink this tea, the less it tastes. It turns out that it's a popular product that anyone can drink!"
Uncle Miao saw what Chen Baoxiang was thinking. He was invited by Boss Zhang to be a lobbyist, and the matter could not be discussed. He lost face and refused to talk about it. He was too embarrassed to accept the tea fee given by Boss Zhang, which was a waste of time.
Chen Baoxiang came back quickly and poured tea for Uncle Miao.
"No more. Give this tea to the traffickers and lackeys! Otherwise, you can drink it from the donkey...Old Chen, please think about what happened to Boss Zhang just now. If you have money, we can all make it together. As for me, all over China and the whole world."
I will introduce some friends to you, come over for a meal, give you face, and your reputation will be established... Remember, my Miao family's business is booming all over the world, and its wealth reaches Sanjiang.
I have carried a sedan chair for others, and you are the first one——"
Uncle Miao got up and walked out. Boss Zhang felt something was wrong, glanced at Chen Baoxiang, and quickly followed.
When he arrived at the door, Uncle Miao snorted again, apparently wanting to take his anger out on Bi Gong and Bi Jing.
The clothes of these two people were very ordinary, no different from the common people in Jinan City, and they had no valuable and eye-catching decorations, so Uncle Miao misjudged them and thought they were kind and could be deceived.
"Hey, hey, uncle Miao, please walk slowly and be careful of the steps!"
Chen Baoxiang ran over quickly, raised the door curtain with one hand, and blocked Bi Gong and Bi Jing.
He knew that Uncle Miao couldn't afford to offend these two people, and he was afraid that he would be killed if he attacked rashly.
Uncle Miao went out with his head held high, took Boss Zhang and walked away.
"Boss Chen, tell me, who leaked the news that night here? Someone actually cheated on me and went to Luoyuan Mansion to cause trouble?"