Chapter 2
Let`s forget my stupid French name.
Mathild is a dedicated sales director at a wine company and has extensive knowledge of the industry. Usually we will have a cafe together and chat a little bit or I will visit his family apartment in Xin tian di. Tea or coffee. Then I picked up my wine from him directly. His family is from HK.They are friendly people and his boy likes me and my boy. He is friendly without alcohol.
I also drink. Sometimes I will join his wine dinner. Sometimes I will drink high ball with him in different bars. Its dangerous that you drink too much. I laugh at myself that I drink for others problems, but he drinks to sell his wine.That`s different.
Unfortunately, he struggles with alcoholism as part of his job-related challenges. When he messaged me about his traffic accident, I was shocked and immediately went to visit him at No.9 hospital with two cream cakes. Seeing him in bed, dealing with back pain, was really difficult for me as a friend. However, when I gave him the cream cakes, he laughed because he had developed lactose intolerance. It’s evident that the accident has brought significant changes for both himself and his family - it’s a concerning situation.
Another day after years, he keeps drinking after dinner with me. Then I have to search for him in different shops because his family believes that he is still drinking with me. It gives me a lesson that you don`t drink if you can.
I reached out to Mathild and Gentleman Charlie for a new project, explaining that it’s time to focus on the delivery business post-Covid. Charlie, who is starting a new chapter in Lisbon, simply said ‘yes’ and transferred 100k to my account at the airport without signing a contract, based on our long-standing connection since bocado time. Our mutual friend Afeil was his landlord back then.
Mathild agreed to join us and prepared a contract for our investment. It’s his first time investing in a restaurant concept and he is very careful to prepare the contract, like checking details of concepts including shop size. unit price of rental. environment of that area etc. Once I signed the agreement, he transferred his capital as his word.
Our chef Steven, along with his supportive wife, played a crucial role by delivering our set dinner to China’s top online company Pinduoduo - truly amazing! Our tiny concept is quite busy at the beginning.
Neighbors like us because we bring something special in that area, like seafood bowl.sabanoodle.dumpling.but later we realize that we made a mistake, which is not star products to track people back. We change too much, which means we have high food costs plus clients feel confused about what we can offer.
Unfortunately, due to the decrease in foot traffic during Covid, we had to close as per our contract with the landlord whose original plan was for a hotel and offices upstairs. The landlord abandoned his original plan and without foot traffic, it became difficult for our shop to stay open. Additionally, our location on a main road made it uncomfortable for a restaurant due to the busy traffic. People prefer walking along quiet streets, so imagine too many cars passing by - you would quickly want to leave.
It’s always difficult to lose a talented chef like Steven who values contracts so much. However, he has found a new job at Yi Li Food Group - that’s just how life goes; you play by the rules and deal with the outcomes. Then you can start fresh or choose to leave the game.I followed our contract to clean the payment. it’s painful, but you need to follow your words.
After this incident, Mathild has shown more trust in me because I have faithfully followed our agreement to repay all of his investments, even in the face of business failure, without any complaints from me.