Chapter 16 — Thirty Million And One Man's Worth

The second month, orders from Hoa Ngoc doubled, to 760,000, plus retail sales at the store of about 150,000, totaling 910,000, only 90,000 away from the goal of one million. The third month forced me to speed up, I opened the notebook, wrote a very clear line - opening a second store, then immediately called the landlord to ask the price of the space next door, not where Minh Vien's noodle shop was, but the space next door. The second "Khom Nho" store opened at the beginning of the third month, located at the other end of the commercial street, right near the train station exit, the area is twice the size of the first store, total 160 square meters, divided into retail and experience areas. The experience area is the key point, guests can make their own cakes, To Dinh teaches live classes, this idea is not to make money from the class - each session only charges 68 yuan, the profit is not worth much - but to attract customers. Visitors came to experience, take photos, post on social networks, it naturally became free advertising, as expected, the first week of opening was full, a local lifestyle KOL came to try it out, posted a video, in three days it reached eight hundred thousand views, the comments section all asked for the address. The third month's results—two stores plus Hoa Ngoc menu—total revenue was 1,230,000, neatly exceeding the target. I printed the report and sent it directly to Tran Ngoc Hoa, and in less than a day she called back.

"You won, the joint venture will start next week."

“Thank you, Mr. Tran.”

“Don't thank me, you are more interesting than the product.”

I hung up the phone, To Dinh stood in front of the operation desk, looking at the revenue numbers like looking at an unawakened dream.

“1,230,000… before, I worked as a hired laborer for 4,500 each month…”

“It's different now.”

“Yes, it's really different.”

She wiped her eyes and turned to look at me.

“Does Minh Vien know?”

“He knew I was 'working for hire', he didn't know this was mine.”

“You still haven't said anything?”

“I've already said what I need to say, he knows about winning the prize, and about the store—”

“Are you afraid of pressure from him?”

“Yes, he is a traditional man who always thinks he has to be the one to support the family. If he knew his wife earned more than a million a month, he would feel useless.”

“But you can't hide forever.”

“I know, when his noodle shop runs well, I'll tell you.”

In the fourth month, the noodle shop was completed. Sixty square meters, simple Japanese style, eight-seat long wooden counter, open kitchen looking straight out, clean, neat, warm. The day Minh Vien walked in, he stood at the door for nearly three minutes without saying anything, as if afraid that if he took one more step, the dream would end.

“This… is yours?”

“My noodle shop.”

He went in, touched each thing, the table top, the stove, the faucet, opening and closing it, as if checking every detail of something that belonged to him.

“The kitchen is good, the exhaust system is strong enough, the freezer has two doors, enough for a whole week…”

“How much money?”

“Both renovations and equipment are 150,000, yearly rent is 80,000, I pay.”

“Understanding—”

"Don't be polite, if your noodles are good, you can earn them back in a year."

He stood with his back to me, his shoulders shaking slightly, I walked over and hugged him from behind.

“What are you crying for?”

“Don't cry.”

His voice was gone but he still spoke without crying.

“If you don't cry then come back.”

“No filming.”

“If you don't film, why look at the menu?”

He wiped his eyes and turned around, eyes red.

"Menu?"

I gave him the printed paper.

“‘Lao Chu minced meat noodles’—special dish 18 yuan, water noodles Sour 15, mixed noodles 16, linguine 12, plus bottled heirloom chili oil 28 yuan a bottle.”

He looked for a long time.

"My father's last name is Chu, and my last name is also Chu. That's just right."

His voice was very light.

“But you haven't quit your job yet.”

"Try it first, when you come to work on the weekend, I've hired an assistant, on weekdays they help take care of it."

“Have you arranged everything?”

“So you just need to cook noodles?”

“Yes, you just need to do what you do best.”

He put down the menu.

“Zhu Xiaoxiao.”

“How many more things do you keep from me?”

“…not much.”

"Really?"

“Probably… so.”

He looked at me for three seconds, then exhaled.

“Well, I'll believe whatever you say, anyway, you're smarter than me.”

“I like this sentence.”

"Don't rush, wait until the noodle shop makes money, you don't have to work anymore."

He still thinks I'm working as a hired worker. Well, let's wait until the shop is okay and then we'll figure it out.