Su Ziji did not answer the barbaric Taoist's words first, but simply asked: "Mr. Lu, how much is the expenditure of our government?"
"Your Majesty, in the first month, 23 households will spend 500 taels according to the household fee. In addition to weapons, leather armor, carts, cattle, coal, candles, sweeps and other items, the one-time purchase will cost about 1,400 taels of silver.
, the total is two thousand taels.”
"After this month, the monthly ration, food, clothing, and salary can be reduced to about 300 taels per month, but including the main household expenses, it may still be 500 taels per month, not counting favors, rewards, and family sacrifices.
"
"Every year, the Hou Mansion requires at least six thousand taels of silver to operate." At this point, the wild Taoist took a breath.
"So, we must open up the source of money." Su Ziji said with a smile. Seeing that the wild Taoist had something to say, he waved his hand: "I am only asking about manpower now, not about expenses. Do you have enough manpower?"
"We are full of people," said the Ye Taoist. He took over the Juyuan Building and renovated it. He also changed the name. The business is not bad. It is considered a relatively stable business to make money among the properties he currently owns.
People who have learned their skills, learned experience, and trained in the business of this restaurant can be sent to new restaurants in a steady stream, including shopkeepers and assistants. There is no shortage of these.
"However, the most we can do is open three or five more stores."
"I know, I only want to open three or five stores." Su Ziji smiled slightly, indicating that he understood.
Many people think that chain stores are an invention of the founding era. In fact, this model of opening branches has existed since ancient times.
There are only two points. In ancient times, due to underdeveloped communications, it was impossible to manage across counties. Therefore, branches could not be chained outside the county. There is no solution to this.
If we insist on chaining up, no matter how good the system is, it will be hollowed out and eaten up.
Secondly, even if you open a store, it doesn't matter if it is small. If it is big, you must have a backend and pay a part of the profits. Otherwise, you will learn how to be a good person sooner or later. Fortunately, the Hou Mansion can already support a certain stage. If the store is not too big, it can be self-sufficient.
Zeng Nianzhen listened quietly and did not speak. These things actually had little to do with him. Zeng Nianzhen came here, firstly, as a confidant to observe the important decisions in the Daihou Mansion, and secondly, to receive some money from here.
While listening, there were several knocks on the door, and a woman said: "Master, someone in the house is looking for Mr. Zeng. Madam asked me to come and ask."
"Come in and answer." The voices in the room stopped, and Su Ziji said loudly.
As soon as the door opened, the mother-in-law came in and reported to Su Ziji that Axiu was looking for someone in the house.
Zeng Ninzhen, who was listening, was surprised and happy, and turned his head to cover up.
"So it's your peach blossom debt? You said, you are a decent man, but you want a woman to come all the way to find you. This is not okay." When Su Ziji saw this, he immediately laughed at him.
After Su Ziji finished laughing, he looked at the snow outside with sharp eyes. He said nothing for a while. He didn't speak, and the others naturally didn't speak either. They all listened to the rustling snow outside the window.
After a long time, Su Ziji said: "Besides, if you do things for me, who said you will be single? If you have friendship with others, you can make good arrangements later. Don't let others wait any longer, you know?"
He said to the old woman: "Go back and tell Madam that you can arrange for Miss Axiu to live in the house. Mr. Zeng will go back to see her after finishing his work."
The mother-in-law took the order and went out. Su Ziji then said to Zeng Ninzhen: "I will give you three thousand taels first, and you can take it with you when you leave. You don't have to worry about money. I will bear all the financial expenses, and the subsequent supply will not be cut off.
"
The wild Taoist then handed over a small box, and Su Ziji motioned to Zeng Nianzhen to take it.
"There are some pieces of silver in it, and the rest are banknotes. You can exchange them slowly on the way."
Zeng Niazhen immediately knelt down on one knee and kowtowed: "My lord has so much trust in me that if you leave such a matter to me, I will definitely do my best to handle this matter for my lord!"
"It's not a matter of urgency. You go and settle down. Go and see that girl Axiu. It won't be too late to leave Beijing."
"Yes!" Although Zeng Nianzhen was a little embarrassed, he still responded in a low voice. It was obvious that Axiu had come all the way to the capital to find him, so he could no longer refuse.
After Zeng Nianzhen left with the banknotes, the wild Taoist people came forward and said to Su Ziji: "Your Majesty, five hundred people, even if they are paid according to the border army's salary of twenty taels per person, they will need ten thousand taels of silver a year.
Not counting weapons, food, and clothing, I'm afraid it will cost thirty thousand taels in the first year."
"Just to maintain the expenses of these five hundred people, I'm afraid it won't be possible to rely on one or two restaurants."
"Of course it's impossible to recruit five hundred people directly. I have already given him the charter."
"First recruit 50 people for training, and then recruit 200 people after they are mature. The third batch of 500 people will be recruited. It will take at least two years to complete, and the expenses will not be paid all at once."
Su Ziji was still in no hurry: "How is the matter of buying the restaurant going? Have you found a suitable chef?"
The wild Taoist is an astute person. After listening to the speculation, he felt that there was something profound in Su Ziji's words, but he couldn't figure it out for a moment. He smiled and said: "The place is easy to talk about, because you don't ask for it to be like Juyuan Tower.
If we open one or two more businesses, we can actually find suitable locations. But apart from the shopkeepers, we can train the assistants, but the chefs will be a bit difficult. I’m afraid I won’t be able to hire the first-class ones.”
If you want to become a chef, you need many years of basic skills, and you are looking for a master chef or head chef instead of a helper, which makes it even more difficult.
Waiters and shopkeepers can also be hired from other places or trained by themselves. As soon as talents like first-class chefs come out, restaurants will rush to grab them, and they will never fall into the hands of newcomers.
Su Ziji didn't have to be a first-class chef, and mused: "A second-rate chef will do. The business of Juyuan Restaurant has been stable, so it's not easy to take risks, but the new restaurant can sell some unique food..."
The wild Taoist thought for a moment and said: "In the capital, it is not easy to win by the taste of the dishes. In fact, Juyuanlou can only operate because it took in the previous chef and retained the old customers."
"When a new restaurant is opened, it needs to be better. Firstly, is the location good? Secondly, the chef's skill is good. Secondly, it's okay if he can sell a unique portion. Is the master planning to win with raw materials?"
Su Ziji laughed: "Those who know me will meet the clouds along the way."
"I know you have a heavy burden, so you are worried, but these are actually not problems. I will take you to solve them."
After saying that, he stood up and said to the wild Taoist: "We have almost eaten, and we are working quickly. I have contacted the ship. Let's go to the dock and go to sea."
"The most powerful thing of the previous dynasty, Wei Shizu, was to open up an entrance to the sea based on the canal, which could directly reach the ocean at the dock, which is equivalent to three transportation lines: land, lake and sea."
"I am a member of the clan. Although I cannot move around casually, I can move within the boundaries of Zhili. And there is a sea in Zhili. The boat can reach the mouth of the sea overnight. Let's go to the dock first!"
As soon as he left, Su Ziji directly asked a soldier to go back and tell Ye Buhui. He took the wild Taoist and several soldiers and took an ox cart to the dock.