Portable Space: Little Miracle Doctor

Chapter 139 – Suggestions

Ms. Zhong glanced at Uncle Yu and said, “Uncle Yu, it is us who should be grateful. Our firewood was not selling, but you helped us twice, and Aunt Yu even treated us to lunch.”

“Mom, we’re now friends with Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu after all these interactions, so we should stop the formalities.”

Yan Xiaosi wanted to take Yan Shuyun to the Xu family’s fur shop and was afraid that Ms. Zhong would continue the formalities with Uncle Yu and his wife. She quickly interrupted her.

Uncle Yu smiled and nodded.

“The young man is right. Now that we are all friends, there’s no need for formalities. It would make us strangers.”

Yan Shuqin said, “Xiaosi, didn’t you have something to say to Aunt Yu?”

Knowing that Yan Xiaosi was a clever person who might give more improvement suggestions to their small restaurant, Uncle Yu and his wife quickly turned their eyes to Yan Xiaosi.

Yan Xiaosi thought for a while, and said, “Uncle Yu, Aunt Yu, you are now pushing the cart to the dock to sell food. This is only a temporary profit.”

Uncle Yu and his wife heard this and their faces changed immediately.

These days, Uncle Yu had been doing good business selling at the dock, and he thought it would always be this good. Yan Xiaosi’s words just now made him feel a bit uneasy.

Their family relied on this small restaurant for a living. If they couldn’t do business at the dock in the future, the small restaurant will go bankrupt. What would their family do in the future?

Mrs. Tang was even more anxious than Uncle Yu.

She anxiously asked Yan Xiaosi, “Xiaosi, you’re smart and clever. Please help think of a solution for your uncle and aunt. If this small restaurant can’t be maintained, our life will be difficult.”

Ms. Zhong also felt worried for Uncle Yu and his wife.

“Xiaosi, do you have a solution?”

Yan Xiaosi’s gaze swept over Ms. Zhong, Uncle Yu and his wife, and said, “Mom, Uncle Yu, Aunt Yu, don’t worry. Since I brought up this matter, I have naturally thought of a solution.”

Uncle Yu and his wife breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes fixed on Yan Xiaosi without blinking.

Yan Xiaosi said, “The flow of people at the dock will change with the seasons. In the autumn and summer, when grains, fruits, and vegetables are ripe, there will be more boats and your business will be good. In the cold seasons of spring and winter, there are fewer crops and less shipping traffic. Your business will be more difficult.” Especially in the western part of Chu, it begins to snow at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, covering everything in ice and it snows until the end of spring the following year. During this period, the rivers freeze, making it impossible for boats to navigate. The docks naturally shut down, and of course, no one will be there to buy Uncle Yu and his wife’s food.

Yan Xiaosi’s words made Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu deeply furrow their brows.

Both Uncle Yu and his wife were locals of Daxing Town, and they knew very well what the town was like in winter and spring every year.

It was a world of ice and snow, with not a soul in sight at the dock.

Seeing Uncle Yu and his wife frown, Yan Xiaosi continued, “This is just one of the factors that could affect your business.”

Uncle Yu and his wife felt a squeeze in their hearts.

They asked Yan Xiaosi in unison, “Xiaosi, what other reasons would there be for us to lose our business?”

Yan Xiaosi continued to analyze for them, “Uncle Yu, these past few days, you’ve been selling food at the dock, doing good business and making a good sum of money. People who see this will inevitably be jealous and imitate you by selling food at the dock. The majority of people working at the dock come from poor families. They only need food to fill their stomachs and don’t care much about the taste. Therefore, your business could easily be taken over by others.”

Yan Xiaosi’s words struck a chord with Uncle Yu.

Uncle Yu stared at Yan Xiaosi, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

Such a young man, yet he could see things so clearly. A person this smart, given time and experience, would surely become a well-known figure.

“You’re right, Xiaosi. There was a woman selling steamed buns at the dock with a bamboo basket today. Fortunately, her steamed buns were not well-made, and there were few people willing to buy them, which didn’t affect my business.”

Yan Xiaosi said, “In the future, there will surely be other people going to the dock to sell food like that woman.”

This was inevitable.

Yan Xiaosi paused, his gaze sweeping over Uncle Yu and his wife, and said, “Uncle Yu, Aunt Yu, selling food at the dock is just a transitional phase. You still have to manage your small restaurant.”

Ms. Tang looked somewhat distressed. “It’s useless to manage it if no customers come.”

Yan Xiaosi said to Uncle Yu, “It will be useful. During this time, Uncle Yu, when you go to the dock to sell food, casually mention to the customers which restaurant you’re from and how good the taste of your food is. I believe there will be customers who fall in love with the taste of your restaurant and come here specifically.”

Uncle Yu seriously took note of his words.

“Also, Uncle Yu, you need to hang a proper signboard in front of your house.”

The signboard of Uncle Yu’s restaurant was really too perfunctory, a rotten piece of wood hanging in front of the door served as the signboard. The name of the restaurant was even more casual – ‘Steamed Meat Restaurant’.

Just by this name, one would think this restaurant only sells steamed meat, and those who don’t like steamed meat wouldn’t even think of coming here.

“The name of the restaurant needs to be changed, too. Also, hang the menu at the door with the names and prices of the dishes.”

Uncle Yu’s restaurant was relatively cheap. The prices of their dishes are definitely lower than those of nearby restaurants, but the taste was not necessarily worse. Displaying the names and prices of the dishes at the entrance would allow them to win over customers by the lower price.

Uncle Yu took note of each point, but renaming his restaurant was a bit difficult for him.

He and his wife could only cook and didn’t have much education. It was precisely because of this lack of education that they casually named the restaurant ‘Steamed Meat Restaurant’.

“Xiaosi, your aunt and I are not well-educated. You’re smart. Can you give our restaurant a decent name?”

Yan Xiaosi thought for a moment and said, “Let’s call it ‘Yu Family’s Private Kitchen’.”

These words were simple and easy to remember, and ‘Private Kitchen’ reflects the standard of the restaurant very well.

“‘Yu Family’s Private Kitchen’, sounds good.”

Uncle Yu nodded in satisfaction, “This afternoon, I’ll go to a shop that makes custom signs.”

After giving advice to Uncle Yu and his wife, Yan Xiaosi called for Ms. Zhong and they left.

After they left the Yu’s restaurant and got on the ox cart, Yan Shuyun asked Ms. Zhong, “Mom, are we just going to buy some rice and vegetables and then go back?”

Ms. Zhong was about to nod when Yan Xiaosi spoke up. “Mom, third sister, let’s go buy rice and vegetables later and let’s first go to the Xu Family Fur Store first.”