Phi-Fic Chapter 18 Lamb Patties
Chapter 18 Lamb Patties
Today, Min Xi had earned enough face for Fernando. After the baron sent the guests away, he happily gave Min Xi 1 reais as a reward. He earned so much from a meal, which was quite a reward.
Before leaving, Min Xi took the opportunity to make a request, hoping to visit the Baron's glass greenhouse another day.
The glass greenhouse was the Baron's pride. He couldn't wait to show off his greenhouse to everyone. Hearing that Min Xi, a foreigner, was also interested, he was naturally even more proud: "No problem, you can come and visit whenever you are free. Just ask Jody."
The butler Jody on the side hurriedly said, "It's a pleasure to serve you." Jody was a shrewd man. He did not look down on Min Xi just because he was a cook. He knew that the Baron admired Min Xi very much, and Min Xi was a Chinese, so he treated Min Xi with courtesy.
On the way back, Min Xi told Yun Ji that Colonel Ed also wanted to hire him as a cook.
Yun Ji said, "Your cooking skills are comparable to those of the famous chefs in the Beijing restaurant. If you have a complete set of sauces and spices, it will definitely be even better. It's only natural that they think it tastes good."
"Is this true? Brother Seventh, are you kidding me?" Min Xi said with a smile.
"How could Seventh Brother fool you? Seventh Brother has even tasted the cooking of the imperial chef, and everything he said is true." Yun Ji said seriously.
Min Xi smiled and said, "Okay, I believe it. Brother Qi, I think we should open a restaurant and set the prices higher so that no one will come to eat."
"I think so too. The cost is not enough. Can we borrow some from Sanvis? He can give us some money." Yun Ji said.
Min Xi smiled and said, "You and I are thinking the same thing. But we may not be able to borrow from Sanvis. He wants to buy a galleon in partnership with others, so he may not have much spare money. There should be some loan sharks here, but we are foreigners, without any foundation, so we can't borrow money. We need to find a guarantor. I wonder if Sanvis can be our guarantor."
Yun Ji said: "Then let's first understand the market situation and see how much money it takes to open a restaurant."
"Okay." Min Xi thought that if he was going to do it, he should do it on a big scale. Otherwise, selling dumplings every day would make him exhausted. The profit was not low, but the price was there. Even if he and Yun Ji worked themselves to death, they would not earn enough to go home.
Today they had 4 pounds more flour than yesterday, and earned 150 more riels, which was only 380 riels. Even if they worked for two or three days, they would not earn as much as preparing a banquet for the baron. But the baron would not hold banquets every day, and he was not willing to be a private chef for others, so at least before opening a restaurant, this stall had to be set up.
After returning, they still knead the dough and roll out the dumpling skins, using 10 pounds of flour as usual, and will decide whether to increase the amount after figuring out the customer flow.
From that day on, they got up early and went to bed late, selling dumplings. When they had time, they would go to the city to get familiar with the city environment and then decide where to open the store. Sometimes Diego would accompany them, but if Diego was not available, they would go by themselves.
After seven or eight days, they finally figured out the general situation and told Sanvis about their decision to open a store.
When Sanvis heard that they were going to open a shop, his eyes widened with fear: "You want to open a restaurant? Didn't you say you were going to follow Reis's ship back to China?"
"We are still unsure when we can go back. We want to earn more money so that we can have money for the trip back," Min Xi said. "We don't know how much money it will cost to open a store."
Sanvis said: "For a pub like mine, the rent is about 15 reais a year. If it's in a busy area like King Street, the rent is at least 50 reais a year, and a larger one costs hundreds. The decoration and furnishings depend on the level. For a low-end one, to reais is enough, and for a high-end one, it may cost dozens or even hundreds of reais."
The area of Sanvis Tavern is very small, with a storefront of about 40 to 50 square meters. If it is a small restaurant, this area is enough, but Min Xi wants to open a high-end restaurant, which requires at least 100 square meters, preferably with two floors, and private rooms upstairs, so that guests can have their own privacy. The decoration must also be the best, otherwise it can't be sold at a high price.
According to a rough estimate, the rent for a store like this in a good location would be at least 10 reais a year, and the renovation would cost another reais. However, after spending all their money, they did not have even reais left.
Min Xi said to Yun Ji: "Our money is far from enough."
Yun Ji said, "According to the level of the restaurant you mentioned, you should prepare at least 100 reais."
"I'm afraid 100 reais isn't enough," said Min Xi.
Yun Ji nodded: "Yes."
Min Xi smiled bitterly, then looked at Sanvis: "Sanvis, if we want to borrow money from the bank, do you think we can get it?"
Sanvis shook his head: "Impossible, you are from outside the city and you don't even have an ID. The bank won't lend you money."
"What if I ask you to guarantee it?" Min Xi said.
Sanvis's beard twitched. "I'm afraid not. I'm borrowing money from the bank myself, and I've even asked Baron Fernando to be my guarantor. How much do you want to borrow?"
Min Si said: "At least 100 reais."
Sanvis said: "Have you ever thought about how long it will take to get your money back on such an investment?"
This question stumped Min Xi. Yes, how long will it take to get my investment back?
Yun Ji saw that he was stunned, so he asked, "What did he say?"
“He asked how long it would take us to get our money back,” Min Xi said.
Yun Ji quickly calculated: "The most optimistic estimate is that it will take about half a year to get back the investment."
Min Xi was shocked: "So long!"
Yun Ji said: "But since we are the sole operator and have no competitors, we can set the price as we like, and maybe the time will be shorter. But we also have to consider the source of customers. Does Lisbon really have enough customers?"
Min Xi said: "If there is no store in Lisbon, then there is only one in Madrid, Greater Luzon. We will be returning to China in two or three months, so there is no need to open a store."
"Then let's just set up a stall?" Yun Ji said.
Min Xi's shoulders slumped. "Let's make fewer dumplings tomorrow. Let's go to the Baron's house. I want to take a look at his greenhouse."
Yun Ji had heard him talk about the greenhouse more than once, saying that there might be unique crops brought from the New World inside: "Okay, I'll go with you."
The next afternoon, Min Xi packed a stack of meat patties in a lunch box and carried them to the baron's manor. The meat was mutton, because pork was too fishy and could not be removed without adding spices. Although mutton was also a bit fishy, it was much better than uncastrated pork.
They had baked the meat patties before they went out, and they also had them for lunch, taking them to the Baron's Palace while they were still hot.
The servant who received them said that the Baron was taking a nap at the moment, so he led them to find the butler Jody.
The servant stretched out his hand and wanted to take the food box from Min Xi.
Min Xi said, "I'd better leave it to Qiao Di."
When Jody saw Min Si coming, he couldn't help but quicken his pace, because the Baron had mentioned Min Si several times and even sent someone to the dock to buy fried dumplings. Why did the Baron know that Min Si was selling dumplings at the dock? It was because the two Chinese were so special, and the food they sold was unique in Lisbon.
Min Xi saw Jody and said with a smile, "Mr. Jody, we came uninvited to visit the Baron's greenhouse. I hope we didn't cause you too much trouble."
"Mr. Min, welcome. The Baron has mentioned you several times. I knew you were busy and didn't dare to disturb you. You finally came today." Jody had a friendly smile on his face.
Min Xi handed over the food box in his hand: "Mr. Jody, this is the mutton pie I brought for His Excellency the Baron. The one on the top is for you. It should still be warm, so it's best to eat it while it's hot."
"Me too?" Jody was delighted. "Thank you very much for your generosity. Please take a seat, Julian, and serve the guests tea. I will take the things to the Baron first. I will show you the greenhouse myself later."
Jody took the food box and went to the kitchen first, took out his own cake and put it aside, then took out the master's cake, put it on a plate, and took it upstairs. Jody hesitated for a moment and knocked on the baron's bedroom door.
Baron Fernando always had trouble sleeping. Just when he was a little sleepy, he was awakened by a knock on the door. He immediately became extremely angry: "Who is disturbing my sleep? You better be in trouble!"
Jody quickly opened the door and said, "Excuse me, Your Excellency the Baron, it's the Chinese chef who's here. He brought you some freshly made lamb patties and said they should be eaten while they're hot. I have no choice but to disturb you."
Baron Fernando's mood instantly turned from stormy to sunny: "Quick, quick, quick, bring it in to me!"