Siheyuan's Silly Pillar has been replaced by someone else

"Dad, I've been working all day and I'm exhausted. Why are you calling me again?"

Yan Jiecheng entered Yan Bugui's room with a grumbling expression.

Ever since he made money, he has been wary of Yan Bugui.

Because he knew perfectly well that Yan Bugui had never given up on scheming to take advantage of the money he had earned.

As Yan Bugui's son, he was all too aware of Yan Bugui's scheming abilities.

If you're not careful, you might fall into his trap and be schemed against.

To avoid being taken advantage of, Yan Jie learned a trick from He Yuzhu: ignore him.

If you stay far away from Yan Bugui, you won't be schemed against.

Yan Bugui glared at him with a dark face: "I'm your father, can't I even say a few words to you?"

Yan Jiecheng's personality is very similar to Yan Bugui's, even more so.

Yan Bugui is cautious, while Yan Jiecheng is cowardly.

Seeing Yan Bugui lose his temper, he dared not argue back.

Hao Min stepped forward: "Dad, we didn't say you can't talk to us."

But you need to choose a good time.

We've been busy at the restaurant all day, and we'll be back early tomorrow morning.

We simply don't have the energy to care about trivial matters.

I'll say something you won't like to hear: When you keep us chatting, you're just hindering our ability to make money.

The rules of this household were set by you: "Eating won't make you poor, dressing won't make you poor, but if you don't plan ahead, you will."

With someone stepping forward, Yan Jiecheng became bolder and spoke up behind Hao Min.

"That's exactly what I mean. Dad, you don't do business, so you don't know how hard it is."

We work from dawn till dusk to earn that meager meager salary. Do you think it's easy for us?

We don't need your help, we just ask that you don't hold us back.

Yan Bugui was so angry with the two that he couldn't speak.

The three women immediately stepped forward: "We have important business with you. How did it become that we're holding you back?"

Old man, don't stoop to their level. They'll regret it once they suffer the consequences.

Yan Jiecheng and Hao Min exchanged a glance, sensing that something was amiss.

"Dad, I admit I was wrong, okay? Just tell me what's wrong, I'm listening."

There were things he didn't say aloud, but everyone understood.

If Yan Bugui's words are unreasonable, he will pretend not to hear them.

Yan Bugui paused for a moment before speaking: "I'm asking you, is your restaurant still in partnership with Yu Li?"

“Yes, we did sign an agreement back then,” Yan Jiecheng said.

Yan Bugui nodded: "They still take the lion's share?"

"Dad, what exactly do you want to ask? Let's get this straight, how much money you make is a trade secret, don't ask, and I won't tell you even if you do."

If you don't understand this principle, go ask your second uncle. He's a businessman; he'll definitely know about this.

Yan Bugui said angrily, "What are you babbling about? I'm just asking you, does their family take the lion's share? Just say yes or no."

Don't tell me anything else.

Yan Jiecheng said timidly, "Didn't I tell you? The agreement we signed back then stipulated that they would take the lion's share."

Yan Bugui continued to ask, "You two have neglected your family and devoted yourself entirely to the restaurant business."

You've vented so much anger, and you only get so little in return? Are you really satisfied with that?

"No, what do you mean?" Yan Jiecheng didn't react for a moment.

The aunt explained, "What your dad meant was that he wanted to ask you if you had any plans to start your own businesses."

Now that you're making money and know how to run a restaurant, why are you still teaming up with Yu Li and letting her family take the lion's share?

Those who know, you're doing business together; those who don't, would think you two are working for her.

Yan Jiecheng and his wife did discuss this issue.

Seeing Yu Li take so much money every month, they had long harbored resentment in their hearts.

They had considered ousting Yu Li, but Yu Li wasn't stupid, and they were no match for her. "Dad, just tell me straight, what do you want?" Yan Jiecheng couldn't figure it out, so he didn't want to waste his energy.

Yan Bugui said directly, "What I mean is, it's not about who you partner with in business, but why do you have to do it with Yu Li?"

You could easily oust Yu Li and open your own restaurant.

Yan Jiecheng asked, "You make it sound so easy. Restaurants make so much money, why should Yu Li listen to me?"

Yan Bugui said smugly, "I've already thought of that for you."

The most important thing in a restaurant is its chef. With a good chef, even if you open a restaurant in a remote corner, people will still go to eat there.

"If you can win over the restaurant's chefs and take them to negotiate with Yu Li, she'll have no choice but to back out."

The idea is good, and Yan Jiecheng also intends to adopt it.

However, he did not intend to join forces with Yan Bugui.

They've been running the restaurant for so long, they're already very familiar with how to operate it.

You could say that if you give them a restaurant, they're guaranteed to make money.

Since he earns money through his own abilities, why should he let Yan Bugui benefit from it?

Yan Jiecheng chuckled: "Dad, you're being a bit too presumptuous."

The restaurant's head chef and Yu Li have been colleagues for over ten years; they both came from the same place with Yu Li.

They're Yu Li's confidants, how could they possibly listen to me?

You'd better not give me any bad advice.

I understand what you wanted to say. If there's nothing else, we'll go back and rest.

Yan Jiecheng and his wife got up at the same time and went back to their room.

Yan Bugui pointed at their backs and said angrily, "What do they mean by this? I was trying to give them advice out of kindness, and they didn't appreciate it at all."

The three women were also a little angry. Yan Jiecheng couldn't see through such a good opportunity to make money.

"What else is there to ask? They don't want to take us with them. Do you think they really will be unfilial in the future, just like Old Yi said?"

Yan Bugui neither knew nor dared to think about this question.

He was genuinely scared; everything Yi Zhonghai said was true.

Yan Jiecheng and his wife went back into the house, exchanged a glance, and understood each other's thoughts.

Yan Jiecheng asked impatiently, "How confident do you think we are, based on what Dad said?"

Hao Min thought about it seriously: "Our restaurant has two head chefs. Chef Gu and Yu Li have a good relationship. They have worked in the same canteen for many years."

It's very difficult to win him over.

I think we should focus our attention on Master Chen.

Master Chen's skills are no less than Master Gu's.

Yan Jiecheng thought about it carefully for a moment and added, "It's not enough to just win over Master Chen alone. We also need to win over other people."

Only when we have more supporters will we have the confidence to confront Yu Li.

"Not just chefs, but also waiters, purchasing staff..."

The two discussed it for more than an hour, taking into account almost every detail.

Apart from a few people who were particularly close to Yu Li and whom they didn't intend to win over, the restaurant didn't let go of anyone else.

According to their plan, with this team in place, their restaurant can continue operating without being affected at all.

"There's one last problem: the location for the restaurant. We have to find a way to get it from Yu Li."

This is the most difficult part. Even if there are people, without a place, they can't open a restaurant.

Yan Jiecheng thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we talk to the landlord and discuss raising the rent?"

“It will cost a lot of money. We signed a five-year contract with him. It’s only been a few years.” Hao Min said with some heartache.

Yan Jiecheng gritted his teeth and said, "That's still better than us finding a new place."

"We'll rent a place elsewhere, but the rent won't be cheap, and renovations will take time..."

"Then it's up to you."

Hao Min quickly figured out the costs and benefits and knew which option to choose. (End of Chapter)