[Pride and Prejudice] Lady Makes Money

Manli and Jane turned their heads together.

Then I saw a gorgeous carriage parked on the opposite side of the stone road, saw them turn around, the door of the carriage was opened, and a familiar face poked out from inside.

It was Mrs. Horst.

Mrs. Horst beckoned to the two of them, and then jumped out of the car supported by a servant.

Jane and Manli greeted her quickly.

"It's really the two of you! I saw the back in the car just now, and I felt like I was not sure, so I called out tentatively. I didn't expect that I was right!"

Mrs. Horst's face was full of excitement, and her tone was full of surprise. That excitement was definitely not faked.

I can feel that she is really happy to meet the sisters here.

The Manli and sisters had a good impression of Mrs. Horst, at least compared to her unconscious sister, she was an angel.

Facing Mrs. Horst's gesture of goodwill at this moment, the two of them quickly greeted each other with smiles on their faces.

Then Jane explained that the two sisters came to visit with their uncle's family.

"We arrived last night, and nothing has been settled yet, so I didn't have time to visit the neighbors. I'm really sorry."

Hearing what Jane said, Mrs. Horst quickly waved her hands: "Why are you being polite to me? It's obvious that we should do our landlord's favor first."

As she spoke, she glanced at Mrs. Gardiner, who was still standing in front of the opposite carriage, waiting for her two nieces, and asked in a low voice, "Your aunt?"

"Yes." Jane and Mary replied at the same time.

Mrs. Horst walked towards Mrs. Gardiner without hesitation, greeted her affectionately, and introduced herself.

As the wife of a merchant, Mrs. Gardiner never expected that a noble lady would take the initiative to make friends with her, and she blushed instantly in surprise.

Fortunately, she calmed down quickly, and after returning the gift, the various greetings with Mrs. Horst could also be polite, neither humble nor overbearing, calm and generous.

So much so that even Mrs. Horst's attitude, which was just perfunctory in the past, became a little more solemn.

After making an appointment with Mrs. Gardiner to visit her in the near future, Mrs. Horst left first, and the two of them followed their aunt into the grocery store.

Manli could already see from outside the door that the grocery store in her uncle's house was much bigger than the one she had been to in Meryton before.

After walking in, she realized that it was much better than she had imagined.

Mr. Gardiner's grocery store has a complete range of products.

In addition to the indispensable eating and drinking utensils, there are all kinds of imported goods, decorations, and even the tools of craftsmen and the axle accessories of carriages.

Although there are a lot of goods, it is better to arrange them neatly.

All the goods in the store are divided by area, food, used, general necessities, more expensive imported products...all are placed in different locations.

In other words, customers who come to buy goods will never disturb each other.

No matter how naughty a child buying candy bars, he will not bump into a lady buying expensive decorations at the other end of the store.

In Manli's eyes, this looks like a large shopping mall in later generations.

Although the grades are quite different, the business philosophy is still the same.

Among them, what attracted Manli the most was still the food area with various seasonings.

Only at this moment did she realize that London is much better than the countryside!

The traffic here is developed, and guests gather here. As long as there are goods in the UK, you can find traces here.

The rice she couldn't find in Meryton before, put several bags behind the counter, and she couldn't find it, and finally got some dried chilies from Alang...

As for all kinds of dried fruits, jams, vegetable oils, dairy products, wines, and fruit vinegars, the variety almost dazzled her eyes.

Manli instantly felt like a fish in water.

She didn't even bother to talk to her aunt and sister anymore.

After obtaining Mrs. Gardiner's consent, she simply went directly into the counter, completely ignoring her ladylike demeanor, and squatted down to search for the bottles, jars, boxes and boxes in stock one by one.

Whenever she finds a seasoning or herb or plant that she thinks she will need but has never seen before, she will cheer from the heart.

Excited like a child surrounded by candy.

Mrs. Gardiner had never seen this side of Manli before, and she stood outside the counter with Jane, listening to her exclamations, and was amused by her from ear to ear.

In order to cooperate with Manli, he even ordered the clerks to go to the back warehouse to look for things that were not on the shelves at the front, and bring them all to Manli.

I was also afraid that the shop assistants would miss something, so I repeatedly told: "Look carefully, don't miss anything!"

Jane was annoyed and funny when she heard it.

She couldn't help but said to Mrs. Gardiner: "Auntie, don't spoil her. This girl is very obsessed with food. If you let her torment like this, she will choose the food when you go back that night. The wagon cannot be pulled even if it is full."

"Then what are you afraid of? How much are these things worth? My niece wants some seasoning, so I can't afford it?"

As she said that, she laughed herself: "If I knew that Manli liked this thing, I would have pulled a cart for her when I went to your house before. Look at this poor thing, a little vanilla can make her happy like this .”

The two of them chatted lively outside, but Manli didn't pay attention at all.

Later, she even asked the clerk to bring her a pen and paper, and while thinking about it, she made a dense list on the paper.

Jane felt like her head was covered!

I am a silly little sister, I am afraid that I will be crazy about it, right? !

Even uncles and aunts are honest and generous, and they didn't make a list to ask others for things, did they? !

It was the first time that Jane lost her composure, and she didn't care about her aunt watching. Following Manli's example, she got behind the counter and squatted beside her.

She poked Manli's arm hard.

When her eyes finally focused, she said in a low voice, with a slight threat: "You can restrain yourself! If you dare to ask uncle and aunt to buy things for you, I will dare to beat someone I have to tell my dad again when I get home!"

Manli blinked.

I looked at the eldest sister in a daze, and didn't understand what she meant for a while.

The two sisters looked at me, I looked at you, and stared at each other for a long time before Manli finally came to her senses.

She laughed all of a sudden.

"What are you thinking? You underestimate me too much!" As she spoke, she pinched the tenderest part of the eldest sister's arm with her backhand.

Although she didn't make any effort, Jane was so scared that she almost cried out.

Jane was about to knock Manli on the head with her backhand, but she reacted very quickly, and before Jane could stand up, she had already hunched over and ran out of the counter.

"Aunt, here you are!"

She smiled sweetly, and handed the paper to Mrs. Gardiner.

At the same time, he didn't forget to turn his head and make a provocative face at Jane.

Jane blushed with anger.

Mrs. Gardiner watched the two sisters quarreling with a smile, with deep pampering and indulgence in her eyes.

It wasn't until Manli handed the paper to her that she looked away, and asked with a look of surprise, "What is written here?"

"The name of the dish!"

Manli looked smug.

"This is a new dish I came up with after looking at the seasonings in your store. I haven't made any of them before. Auntie, take a look. If there is anything you particularly want to eat, you can pick it out first and ask someone to prepare the ingredients. I will go back Make it for you and uncle!"

What Manli said made Mrs. Gardiner a little unable to believe her ears.

She stared at Manli for a while, and then asked tentatively: "You mean, you just came up with the dishes on this paper? Just because you saw these seasonings?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the long row of display cabinets in her house again, and then she still held up the piece of paper in disbelief and shook it in front of Man Li's eyes.

"Well. You choose!"

When talking about her expertise, and in front of her favorite relatives, Manli was not pretentious, she answered crisply, with deep determination in her eyes.

"My God!" Mrs. Gardiner put her hands on her chest and whispered in her mouth.

I ate the dishes made by Manli and Kitty at my eldest sister's house for several days, and the delicious Mrs. Gardiner wanted to cry.

When she thought that she would never be able to eat that kind of food after returning home, she felt that she might be depressed.

They even began to think about how to encourage their husband to buy a manor in Hertfordshire, so that when they had the opportunity, they could go to the eldest sister's house for a few more meals.

But she never thought of——

Manli actually listed the names of the dishes on such a sheet of paper, and said that the husband and wife should order two!vegetable!

At this moment, Mrs. Gardiner felt so happy that she almost fainted.

Fortunately, she still has the last shred of reason.

She folded the piece of paper, carefully put it into the pocket of her skirt, and then calmly said to Manli: "I'll take it home to show your uncle at night, and see what he wants to eat."

Naturally, Manli did not refuse.

After a while longer at the grocer, Mrs. Gardiner offered to take the two of them home for a little refreshment.

Manli looked at the sky outside, then thought about the carriage that hurt her butt, and couldn't help but suggest: "Aunt, don't we have to go to the tailor shop later? It's a bit troublesome to come out after going home. I don't know What do you usually eat if you are in the store, or can we just eat something?"

Jane also nodded quickly after hearing this.

Mrs. Gardiner was a little embarrassed when she heard Manli say that she wanted to eat whatever she wanted.

"If your uncle usually stays in the store, he usually brings a piece of bread from home in the morning, and prepares a few pieces of bacon for him to eat when he's hungry. But today he didn't prepare..."

Speaking of this, she seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly her eyes lit up!

"Or, I'll take you to a restaurant to eat!"

"Go to a restaurant?" Manli and Jane repeated in unison.

Manli didn't expect that there were already restaurants in London at this time, but Jane didn't know what a restaurant meant at all.

"Yes, there is a newly opened restaurant on the corner of the street. Usually, if there are any important guests who want to eat together, your uncle will take them there. I haven't been there either. Let's eat there today!" Gardiner said As the wife said, there was a bit of excitement on her face.

Hearing that even Mrs. Gardiner hadn't been there, Mary and Jane hesitated instead.

The two looked at each other, and they both saw worry in each other's eyes.

Will it be too expensive?

Is it appropriate to let the elders spend money on themselves?

They were about to refuse aloud, but Mrs. Gardiner seemed to see their embarrassment, and stretched out her hand to push the shoulders of the two girls: "Okay, okay, don't think so much, today Think of it as going with me, let's go see something new."

Now that my aunt said so, it was hard for the two of them to refuse, so the three of them walked to the restaurant that was only one block away.

It was a white house.Like other surrounding buildings, it has an arched single door, and the four windows that are definitely not bright enough are tightly closed.If it wasn't for the iron signboard above the door, Manli felt that she might have regarded it as an ordinary resident.

This is the restaurant where uncle treats guests to dinner?

She glanced at her sister beside her, and it was obvious that Jane thought the same thing as her, but Mrs. Gardiner looked very interested.

Not wanting to disappoint their aunt, the two of them walked in obediently with Mrs. Gardiner.

It's dark inside.

Only two thicker candles were lit near the innermost bar.

Seeing customers coming in, an uncle waiter who looked about 30 years old took out a ceramic platter with a candle fixed from under the counter, lit it and walked towards them.

"Sit here."

The uncle took the three of them to a table that was closer to the inside, put the candle in the center of the table, then went back and took a hard cardboard with the name of the dish on it and walked back again.

"Order, what you like." Mrs. Gardiner handed the menu to the two of them.

With the candlelight not very bright, Manli glanced at the menu, and was immediately shocked by the prices of the dishes on it!

Fifty shillings for a roast?Twelve shillings for a green salad? !

What kind of killing place is this? !

If it wasn't for her aunt's unsightly face, Manli would have stood up immediately and left!

Looking at such vegetable prices, Jane was also terrified.

Not to mention ordering, I didn't even dare to look at it. I pushed the menu back to Mrs. Gardiner, and said with a forced smile: "Auntie, we are a little tired, why don't we go home and have a rest first?"

The aunt glanced at Jane, then at the menu, and immediately understood what the two girls were thinking.

She brought the menu back to her, and gave them a reproachful look: "It's all here, let's go after eating."

With that said, he started to order food.

Mrs. Gardiner ordered vegetable soup, a platter of bacon and roast, herring jelly and mashed potatoes with green salad, and a whole loaf of wholemeal bread.

She wanted to order some more desserts, but was stopped by the two girls.

The food came quickly.

The dishes here are a bit like Manli and the others eating at home, they are all served in large plates, and then they can share the meals by themselves or the uncle waiter.

Of course they chose to allocate themselves.

Just as Mary thought.

The bacon and roast meat were cold, and the fat part was still stained with white oil, which did not look very appetizing.

The herring jelly had a stale fishy smell, and the vegetable salad only tasted of salt and beer vinegar.

Only the whole-wheat bread looked good, because it was freshly baked, exuding the unique wheat aroma of flour, and because it was buttered, it also had a milky aroma.

Manli took a deep breath, picked up a piece and took a big bite!

Then...it got stuck in my throat, and I couldn't get down and down.

"salty!"

After a long time, she finally choked out a sentence.

More than just salty?It was dry and salty at all!

It tastes like sawdust mixed with salt, it's stinging and throat-stinging!

"Have a quick drink of soup."

Mrs. Gardiner quickly picked up the soup bowl containing vegetable soup in front of Manli and handed it over.

She was not polite, picked it up and took several sips before flushing down the bread stuck in her throat.

She immediately concluded that this bowl of bland vegetable soup was the most delicious of today's meal!

"Why is the bread so salty?!" Manli finally couldn't hold back and complained.

As a self-proclaimed cook, Manli can accept unpalatable dishes due to lack of seasoning or lack of mastery of cooking skills, but she absolutely cannot accept reckless waste.

Didn't she never eat the bread made by Martha?

Even if you don't talk about Martha, she has eaten meals from her uncle's house and aunt's house!

Whose bread is not so bad!

Isn't this a waste of food?

It's still so expensive!

But my aunt had a normal expression on her face, obviously she thought it was quite understandable.

"If the bread is not made salty, it will go bad easily. Like those who run a restaurant, no one can guarantee that the bread made can be sold out on the same day? So put more salt, and it can be stored for several days after it is made."

Manli: "..."

So, not only is it expensive, but also give us the leftovers? !

The meal was not very comfortable for the three of them, even Mrs. Gardiner thought she could understand it, but when she finally realized that she had to pay five pounds for such cold, hard and not full food, Still a little sore.

After the meal, the few people didn't stay long and went directly to the clothing store in the west of the city. After arriving here, Manli and the others knew that this store was actually the dowry of their aunt.

According to Manli's understanding, in this era, women actually have no rights to talk about.

Even the dowry given by the parents basically belongs to the husband after marriage.

It was the first time she had heard that like her aunt, she could use the dowry to own a store after marriage and run it by herself.

"Your uncle is a very nice person. He said he believed in my ability and that I could run the store well. So for so many years, I have been managing the store, and I will pass it on to my daughter as a dowry in the future. "

When she said this, Mrs. Gardiner's eyes were full of tenderness, and it could be seen that she was full of love for her uncle.

It can also be seen that the couple respect and support each other.

Such feelings made both Jane and Manli envious.

"Auntie, woohoo, are you telling us this so that we won't be able to get married for the rest of our lives? Where do you want us to find a peerless man like uncle?"

After listening to Mrs. Gardiner's words, Manli buried her head on her shoulder half-truthfully and pretended to cry.

It made my aunt laugh like drinking honey.

Mrs. Gardiner thought Mary was joking, but she didn't know that there was more truth in what she said.

What's more, the daughters of my eldest sister's family, after hearing her story, really regard finding a man who can understand and support each other as their husband as the minimum standard for marriage.

Mrs. Gardiner's clothing store is not big, but it is very luxuriously decorated.The dresses displayed in the store are also luxurious and exquisite.It looks like it's made of high-end ready-to-wear.

And the street where the store is located looks much wider than the grocery store, and the ground is much smoother.

Even if Manli didn't know her, she could still guess that this place should be in a neighborhood where rich people lived.

She couldn't help but glanced at her aunt admiringly, and became interested in this store.

Manli heard from her mother before that the conditions of her aunt's family were also very ordinary, and the dowry should not be as much as her mother back then.

But she can spend a lot of money, starting from high-end ready-to-wear. This kind of courage is very admirable.

"Come on, don't stand there, come and pick out a suit. I'm going to have a small party at home in a few days and introduce you to some of my friends. By then, you'll all be dressed up for me .”

As Mrs. Gardiner spoke, she beckoned the clerk to come out and serve them.

The two girls still wanted to decline, but Mrs. Gardiner didn't give them this chance at all. She walked to the window by herself, pointed to the green brocade dress in the most conspicuous position and said to the clerk: "Take this Take it off and give it to my big niece to try."

Manli saw that dress when she entered the door just now.

Whether it is material or decoration, it can be said to be the most expensive in this store.

Especially the hand-embroidered lace around the skirt shows its price even more.

"Aunt, don't!" Jane also saw it, and quickly refused.

Mrs. Gardiner couldn't help but took her arm and walked into the fitting room: "Go and try it, I think you will look good in it."

While walking, she didn't forget to tell Manli: "You pick the ones yourself first, and let the shop assistant take the ones you like."

Manli nodded in agreement.

After my aunt and elder sister entered, the store became quiet again.

The clerk was very winking, seeing that Manli hadn't picked anyone, and he didn't urge her. Instead, he stood far away, waiting quietly, without putting pressure on anyone.

Manli walked around the store in a leisurely manner, looking like she was just casually scanning, but in fact, she saw the overall appearance of the store in her eyes.

"You take that off and show me."

Walking to the display rack in the farthest corner, Manli pointed to a very inconspicuous purple dress hanging at the farthest end and said to the clerk.

The clerk quickly agreed to come over, but he hesitated when he saw the skirt.

"Miss, this...may not be suitable for you." She thought about it for a while, but said in a tangled voice.

"I know, you take it off." Manli nodded calmly.

The clerk took the skirt off.

It was a dark purple dress with a golden cape. It was supposed to be a gorgeous color scheme, but it looked a bit old-fashioned because the printing and dyeing of purple and gold were not up to standard and not bright enough.

Young people can't hold back that dull color, and older people will look bad when they wear it.

It is estimated that there is even a layer of floating dust on the cloak because it has been left unsold.

"Wrap this up for me." Manli instructed the clerk.

"Miss, this is really not suitable for you!" The clerk said with a look of surprise.

"What's not suitable for her?" Before Manli could speak, the aunt had already stepped out of the room and answered the clerk's words directly.

The clerk hastily pointed out the dress to Mrs. Gardiner.

"This is no good, it's not for girls." Mrs. Gardiner frowned and said the same veto.

"It's not for wearing. I'll take it back and change it." Manli then explained aloud.

Mrs. Gardiner was startled, glanced at the skirt, and then at Manli.

She probably remembered the drawing on the carriage before, and her eyes became enthusiastic again: "How do you want to change it?"

Manli pointed to the cloak on the skirt with her finger: "I don't want this one, just change it to a white fur collar, a rabbit fur one is fine, it doesn't need to be too expensive. Then cut the skirt short and cut it here." She said on the skirt I made a gesture.

"wait!"

"Go get Suzie out," Mrs. Gardiner told the clerk.

The clerk went away in response, and she explained to Manli: "Where do you want you to take it back and change it? I have weavers here, just tell them and let them do as you say."

While talking, a woman who looked to be in her early twenties had followed the clerk out, and at the same time took out a pen and paper very thoughtfully.

Manli took the pen and paper, and while gesturing on the skirt, she drew a picture on the paper and explained it to the weaver, telling her to remove the dark gold cloak and replace it with a white rabbit fur collar.

Then cut the bottom skirt and replace it with lace.

The lace is not the most popular wide lace, but white thin edge.

In the middle of the two layers of lace, sew a wide piece of purple fabric with the same material as the clothes, and embroider white patterns on it.

"Choose this pattern for the pattern."

As Manli said, she quickly sketched a pattern of finely divided flowers on the paper. The pattern is very simple, no advanced embroidery is required at all, and beginners can quickly master it.

But the flowers were arranged in a patchwork by her, and they looked like edelweiss blossoms, light and mischievous.

Although the clothes hadn't been modified yet, just by Manli's words and gestures, Mrs. Gardiner seemed to have seen the real thing in front of her eyes.

She knew that after changing it, this unsalable item that had been on sale for two full seasons would most likely become the best-selling item in their store in no time!

Manli didn't know her appreciation. Seeing that her aunt hadn't said a word, she thought Mrs. Gardiner had concerns, so she explained a few more words: "Auntie, it doesn't cost much to replace these things, but it will make the skirt Brighten the color by a few degrees. You can try it, I guess it should be sold after the replacement.”

As she said that, she looked around the store again, walked to the display stand and took a certain style of ordinary felt wide-brimmed women's hat, and took a white feather scarf, and wrapped it around it.

Then he pointed to the silk flower on the other hat, and said to Susie who was standing beside him, "Add a similar flower here."

After speaking, he seemed to be afraid that Susie would not be able to understand, so he simply drew another detailed drawing of the hat on the paper.

"Sell it with a skirt at that time, and it should be able to sell for a big price."

Mrs. Gardiner was at a loss for words.

She felt that she had dug a treasure.

Her excited heart was beating wildly, and the eager eyes she looked at Manli could melt people.

An idea that had been vaguely formed before was fully realized at this moment!

She has made up her mind that she will think carefully when she goes back today, and discuss it with her husband. No matter what method is used, she must keep this niece!

Because of the stimulation, no matter how the two sisters stopped, Mrs. Gardiner's excited heart could not be stopped.

Stuffing the things in the store into the arms of the two girls as if they didn't need money, the carriage almost couldn't hold it.

When we got home, Mr. Gardiner was back.

And the aroma from the kitchen can also tell that the home has prepared rich dishes.

The four cousins ​​had already grown impatient for waiting. Seeing them, they were no longer restrained as yesterday, and wished they could all stick to the two of them.

"Don't bother your cousin, eat first."

Seeing this scene, Mr. Gardiner scolded seriously.

Children love to play, but they are still afraid of strict fathers.After hearing Mr. Gardiner's words, they all ran to wash their hands obediently, and walked back to the restaurant obediently to prepare for dinner.

Manli and Jane were also seated together, and they couldn't help swallowing when they saw the browned and crispy bread on the table, as well as the rich and fragrant broth.

So that when eating, the frequency of spoons entering the mouth is faster than usual.

Seeing them like this, Mr. Gardiner raised his eyebrows and looked at his wife: "Did you have lunch?"

In his impression, there was a regular meal at noon at the brother-in-law's house. Could it be that the wife neglected it and left the two nieces hungry?

"It's because I haven't eaten, I'm not full. Let alone them, I'm hungry too." Mrs. Gardiner said helplessly.

As she spoke, she told her husband about taking the two of them to a restaurant for dinner at noon.

"It doesn't matter if the price is a bit expensive, but the taste of those dishes is really average."

"It's really average." Mr. Gardiner agreed.

"But there is only one family around, so there is no choice if there is any distinguished guest to entertain."

"Then why don't you open more?" Manli asked curiously.

"Because there are still a small number of people who actually go out to eat."

That street is full of shops, and customers don't linger there for long, let alone eat there.

And how many people who do business around are willing to eat out every day?

Not to mention it's so expensive.

That one is already saturated.

"Uncle, I want to know if the owners and staff of those stores usually eat in the store?" Manli asked thoughtfully.

"Yes." Mr. Gardiner nodded.

"The work in the store is still very hard. You have to run around every day, and sometimes you have to move and unload the goods. No one can bear it without eating for a day, so under normal circumstances, everyone will bring some dry food, and eat a little in between. Fill your hunger."

"Then, Uncle, can you find an empty bunk around? It doesn't have to be too big, and it doesn't have to be too close to the street, but it must be in a commercial area, preferably a place where merchants gather. Will the rent for such a house be very expensive?"

Hearing that Manli was looking for a shop, Mr. Gardiner was stunned.

His first reaction was to look at his wife, as if he was asking her, "What happened today?"

You must know that before he offered to do tofu business with Manli, she rejected it.

This is to... open a shop by yourself?

Thinking of his niece actually having the idea of ​​opening a shop, Mr. Gardiner's complexion suddenly became ugly.

Mrs. Gardiner was dumbfounded by her husband's stare. How did she know what Manli was going to do?

What does she want a bunk for?

If you want to cooperate in business, run a clothing store with yourself, you don't need to contribute money, you don't need to come out, you just need to help out with some design drawings, isn't that delicious?

Good girl, why do you have to show yourself?

"What do you want a shop for?" asked Mr. Gardiner sullenly.

"Help you open a fast food restaurant." Manli replied without hesitation.

"Help me open a shop?" Mr. Gardiner was dumbfounded by his niece's words.

"Yeah, if I don't drive it for you, my dad won't agree to drive it myself!" Manli shrugged her shoulders with a helpless expression on her face.

"Don't talk about your father, I won't agree." Mr. Gardiner said with a cold snort.

"So I'll open it for you. I don't want you to share my shares, I just..." I just feel like a bastard who has money but doesn't make money!

Manli felt that the place she traveled through was really too tempting to swear.She thought that she was clearly a born businessman, but she was in such a place where people had to shy away.

Just going around today, Manli already felt that there are business opportunities everywhere, and if she wants to make money, anyone with a bit of brain and dedication can do it.

But she suffers from not being able to do it herself.

In this case, she decided to teach her uncle these money-making ideas in line with the purpose of not letting the money go to outsiders.

Manli didn't think about cooperation or anything like that. After all, she couldn't stay here for a long time, and the final management still had to be done by her uncle.

If you move your mouth, the uncle will break his leg, and then divide the money...

This is obviously too unkind!

Hearing that his niece wanted each share, but the meaning inside and outside the words clearly showed that the business was sure to make money, Mr. Gardiner raised his eyebrows.

He was noncommittal, and did not answer Manli's words, but instead asked, "Are you full?"

"Uh, I'm full." Manli looked at the empty plate in front of her, and was surprised to find that she had eaten so much without knowing it!

"Come with me to the study," said Mr. Gardiner, who stood up first.

Manli quickly followed.

In the study, Manli told her uncle the plan she had been pondering for most of the day.

For Manli, this idea really has no technical content.It is similar to the fast food restaurants of later generations, and also provides food delivery services.

"I looked at the prices in the grocery store today. Overall, it's about [-]% more expensive than Hertfordshire. But even so, the prices in that restaurant are too outrageous."

Seeing that her uncle was about to speak, she gestured with her hand, expressing that she understood: "I know you want to say that their cost is too high due to the lack of customers, so we should take the route of small profits but high sales!"

"Small profits but quick turnover?" repeated Mr. Gardiner, frowning.

"Yes, small profits but quick turnover!" Manli nodded firmly.

"The surrounding merchants have to eat. The weather is getting colder and colder. The bread and bacon brought in the morning are already cold by the time they are eaten. The taste must not be much better. If you can have a mouthful of hot soup at this time There are even people who deliver rice to your door, and the price is not much different from cooking at home...Uncle, would you refuse if it was you?"

Hearing Manli's words, Mr. Gardiner's mind became active.

"...you tell me in detail."

"Do you still remember the Chinese dishes you ate at my house before? Many of them can be made into big pots and simmered on the fire. If guests want them, they are served out now. There are soups and vegetables. The meat is still hot. It can be served with the staple food we sell or the bread you bring from home. If the business in the store is too busy, you can order food in advance and let the staff deliver it to the store. Uncle, you If you run a grocery store, you should understand that the cost of those dishes is not very high, as long as the rent is not too expensive, this business can be done.”

"No rent."

Mr. Gardiner quickly said: "There is a temporary warehouse behind the grocery store. The area is not small, and it just faces the street. When the time comes, it can be used directly after tidying up."

"Haha! Then what's the cost? That's a steady profit!" Manli clapped her hands excitedly.

Mr. Gardiner also had a smile in his eyes.

In order to maintain his mature and prudent elder posture, Mr. Gardiner tried his best to maintain a calm face even though his heart was already jumping with joy.

He said to Manli: "Tomorrow, make some of the dishes you mentioned and show me. I'll talk about it after I read it."

"Okay!" Of course Manli did not disagree.

Now that the matter was settled, Manli wanted to go back to her room, but her uncle stopped her again.

"wait."

Mr. Gardiner said, picked up an envelope from the desk, and handed it to her: "I received it this afternoon. Campbell