28: Section 28

One thousand taels.

On Earth, that would be a huge sum of over ten million yuan in purchasing power!

He never expected Madam Huang to trust him so much, directly giving him such a large sum of money.

However, he had no experience running a restaurant.

Even if he managed to open a restaurant by chance, he would be completely clueless about its operation.

Su Mo then tried to recall some miscellaneous books and videos he had watched before his Transmigration.

Now, with greatly increased mental faculties,

He could recall some details.

For example, he once watched a professor explain the functions of various buildings in the Along the River During the Qingming Festival painting in a video.

A main establishment, or large restaurant, in it would require an investment of about six hundred to one thousand taels.

Additionally, to earn more profit, one would need to obtain brewing rights from the government.

After obtaining brewing rights, beverage income would account for over 60% of the total profit.

If exclusive alcoholic beverages were developed, they would attract even more customers.

Other entertainment services (storytelling and singing) and takeout services were not urgent to launch yet.

The most troublesome part was dealing with the government.

However, the Zhenyuan General Manor was like an uncrowned king in Linjiang City; being far from Kyoto, it was practically a one-man show, and the Linjiang County Magistrate had almost no say.

With the Zhenyuan General Manor as his backing, and Madam Huang providing the funds, the most troublesome issue was easily resolved.

General Guo was stationed at the border year-round and simply had no time to return.

One could say,

In Linjiang City, the highest-ranking person was Madam Huang, the head of the household.

After opening the restaurant, there would be no need to curry favor with those officials.

Just thinking about it felt great.

Carefully placing the silver notes into his inner jacket pocket, Su Mo prepared to find Butler Guo to inform him of Madam's decision.

Now that he was going out to open a restaurant,

Then the position of Catering Manager (Dietary Steward) would naturally no longer be necessary.

However, as he was going to find Butler Guo, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl with a graceful figure, flanked by two maidservants, walked towards Su Mo.

Seeing this, Su Mo quickly lowered his head and stepped aside.

The girl was wearing a red jacket with snow-white fox fur sewn onto the cuffs and collar, and the jacket surface was embroidered with intricate patterns in gold thread.

A jade pendant hung from her waist, tinkling softly as she walked.

She exuded an air of nobility.

It was none other than Second Miss Guo Lin of the Generals Residence.

Guo Lin had curved brows and almond eyes, and was delicately beautiful, but compared to Madam Huang, she seemed a bit lacking.

Now that the Eldest Miss had married the Prime Minister Young Master of the current dynasty, only Second Miss Guo Lin remained unmarried in the residence, holding an extraordinary status.

However, in a previous simulation, Huang Qingwan had mentioned that Guo Lin was not her biological daughter, but rather the daughter of General Guo and another woman. That woman died in childbirth, so Guo Lin was entrusted to her to raise. For so many years, she had treated Guo Lin as her own, with no difference from a biological mother and daughter.

Just as Su Mo was about to wait for Second Miss to leave before going to find Butler Guo,

A childish voice came.

“You, you seem to be the new Dietary Steward.”

Guo Lin stopped and looked at the tall, handsome man in front of her.

From the maidservants, she had learned that her mother had called Su Mo to the inner courtyard several times. Coupled with seeing Su Mo's tall and handsome appearance, Guo Lin felt a little uncomfortable from the bottom of her heart.

Even though she knew her mother would not do anything to betray her father, she still felt a bit disgusted.

“Yes, Second Miss.”

Su Mo vaguely sensed a hint of unfriendliness in Guo Lin's tone, unsure what had gone wrong to make Guo Lin notice him.

“I heard Mother often seeks you out?”

“It is because Madam Huang found my cooking skills good, so I made a few desserts for Madam Huang to taste.”

“Lying!”

Guo Lin suddenly raised her leg and kicked Su Mo's calf.

As the General's daughter, Guo Lin had practiced martial arts since childhood, and her kick caused a sharp pain in Su Mo's calf.

If it weren't for the blessing of his Ox-Like Strength talent, he would probably be lying on the ground by now!

A hint of anger flashed in Su Mo's eyes.

Anyone would get angry if they were kicked for no reason.

“Huh?”

Guo Lin didn't expect her powerful kick to fail to knock Su Mo down.

“Your body is quite good.”

“But I heard Qiu Xing say that you somehow managed to talk to my mother, which made my mother notice you.”

Su Mo suppressed his anger.

“Replying to Second Miss, this is absolutely not true. If you don't believe me, you can ask Madam's personal maidservants, Chun Zhu and Shaoyao.”

“All of this is because Madam found the desserts I made delicious.”

Guo Lin pouted.

“So, I misunderstood you?”

“Alright, I'll go ask Mother now.”

“Let's see what's going on. If you're lying, you can pack your bags and leave today!”

With that, Guo Lin left with her two maidservants.

Su Mo pulled up his pant leg and saw that his left calf was already bruised.

Damn it.

This girl, her hand was too heavy.

Watching Guo Lin's receding back, Su Mo directly summoned love affair life and focused on Guo Lin.

“Now using the opportunity to designate a real-life love affair life character!”

“Designating.”

“Designated target, Second Miss Guo Lin of the Zhenyuan General Manor, confirm?”

“Confirm!”

“Binding successful. In the next life simulation, the fixed target will be Second Miss Guo Lin of the Zhenyuan General Manor!”

As the binding succeeded, a surge of satisfaction welled up in Su Mo's heart.

Although he knew it was a simulation, it still allowed him to vent his anger!

Tonight.

Just wait until I make you cry!

Chapter 34: The Beginning of My Identity, Talent Food God

When he arrived at Butler Guo's place, Butler Guo was just eating, and Xiao Wang next to him was also picking at the sorghum rice in his bowl.

The main dishes on the table were just a plate of salted vegetables and two bowls of salty soup.

Seeing Su Mo approach, Butler Guo quickly greeted him.

“Xiao Su is here. Have you eaten?”

Su Mo chuckled.

He sat down next to Butler Guo.

“Butler Guo, I'm here to see you about something.”

“What is it?”

“Madam was impressed by my cooking skills, so she plans to invest in me to open a restaurant in Linjiang City.”

Upon hearing Su Mo's words, Butler Guo was somewhat incredulous.

“There's such a thing?”

“How much money is Madam giving you?”

“She didn't specify, but I imagine it should be a few hundred taels.”

Su Mo didn't tell the truth, because he felt that the thousand taels in his pocket were Madam Huang's private funds.

Butler Guo nodded, finished his sorghum rice, and then drank the salty soup on the table in one gulp.

He let out a long sigh.

“Since Madam thinks highly of you, there's nothing more I can say.”

“It's just that the position of Dietary Steward will be vacant for a while.”

“Haha, then Butler Guo, you'll have to find another candidate.”

After some pleasantries, Su Mo left Butler Guo's residence.

Su Mo hadn't thought about why Butler Guo would inexplicably make him the Dietary Steward.

When he saw Butler Guo's nephew, everything became clear.

Butler Guo's nephew had just arrived at the Generals Residence.

To avoid gossip, he could only start as a household servant.

Butler Guo would never hand over the position of Dietary Steward to the old servants in the residence; once these old servants took on the position, it would be difficult to reclaim it.

But the position of Dietary Steward couldn't be left empty either.

So he simply gave it to himself.

He had no background, no relatives, no connections.

Plus, the purchasing power and the keys to the cellar and icehouse were all in Butler Guo's hands.

Everything would be easy to manage then.

Of course,

It's best to know but not say.

Su Mo had also been thinking about ways to break the situation before.

But now, being favored by Madam Huang,

He could leave the Generals Residence and open his own restaurant.

It was absolutely a stroke of incredible luck that had fallen upon him.

So there was no need to rack his brains trying to contend for this small position of Dietary Steward.

...

Perhaps it was Madam Huang's urging, or perhaps the Generals Residence's efficiency was high,

Su Mo received a notification from Butler Guo in the afternoon.

He could stay in the Generals Residence for one more night, and early tomorrow morning, he could take his belongings to a two-story building near the East Gate of Linjiang City.

That place was originally a teahouse in Linjiang City, but it closed down because the original owner managed it poorly.

However, the geographical location was excellent.