Chapter 2
The Xuhui shop is located on Xingeng road, and it’s situated inside a lovely mall.
Our first challenge is that we are required 3 sinks for the preparation area, our current design does not meet all the requirements for an FDA license. Adding 3 sinks to the kitchen area would make it cramped for staff during busy hours. My suggestion is to prioritize obtaining an FDA license first and then consider downsizing to smaller sinks later. This may increase costs, but it’s important for us to open with an FDA license. They agreed with my proposal.
Then we encounter the second issue. If we strictly adhere to FDA regulations in our cold kitchen without making any design changes, we would have to replace our beautiful sliding window with an unattractive one, similar to those found in Chinese delis inside supermarkets. This is not in line with the high standards of a French restaurant. I have begun reaching out to friends in the Xuhui area using my Chinese networking skills after receiving Monsieur An`s approval.
I recently organized a dinner with some friends through an old friend. I brought along a box of wine and shared some details about the wine with everyone, like checking the years and sharing memories for fun. Unfortunately, I ended up falling asleep at the table after having too much to drink. It’s important to remember that moderation is key when it comes to alcohol, as it can have negative effects on your liver.
In the end, I had to take care of the bill and then asked Monsieur An for reimbursement before calling my wife to arrange for a driver to take me home.
The third issue will arise soon. We encountered a similar situation when we had to move a custom-made sofa into the fire exit area, which ended up blocking the fire exit door. Fortunately, with the help of some kind individuals, everything was successfully resolved.
The government here has a positive attitude towards allowing businesses to operate. We need to make them believe that our actions are for the benefit of our business. They will support in the end.
Xuhui shop has finally started operating. It’s been very busy since we opened, so every time I visit, I have to wait on the side. Joy always brings me mint tea to help me relax - she’s super nice to me, like I’m one of her cats. Meanwhile, they also need to manage their Donghu shop and Gubei shop.
I recently finished a part-time job with Les Cafe guys. One of their former staff members asked me for a one-day part-time job in the Xuhui area. I immediately asked Monsieur An to help her out, and he agreed without any hesitation. However, Helen only worked for one night before resigning because her boyfriend from Ukraine didn’t feel comfortable with it.
It’s funny that after Helen mentioned working at Monsieur An’s place, the guys from Les Café guys came to ask about it and if there was something going on between them. It seems like they used to have a relationship or something. I’m not sure why they did that; maybe they just want more gossip after hearing it from Olivia. Monsieur An noticed that the old French gentleman is very eager to prove that I took away the lover from this rich kid. Amazing. Thankfully, it’s not me involved in this gossip.
Monsieur mentioned that he had previously met this elderly French gentleman at restaurant Raw. They were seated next to Monsieur An. Monsieur An overheard the old French gentleman gossiping about his young boss being too inexperienced for business.He was hired by the father of a wealthy individual. his last job was in Godiva Asia, and unfortunately, he was let go from his previous job by a woman from Taiwan. That`s why he is very sensitive to me. May God bless him and give him peace.
Everything seemed fine at first, but Monsieur An realized after the second month that it was not the right location. They started to increase their promotions and strictly manage the business. The area wasn’t as good for business as they had thought. They put in a lot of effort.
Then their shop in Donghu got reported to the police by a neighbor who lived on the second floor of a local market across the street. It was quite ridiculous when we arrived at the police station.
However, the police officer was very nice and understood that it was actually the noisy market causing issues, not our shop. After several hours of negotiation, we were able to walk out of the police station with no more issues - what a great neighbor!
You need be tough in this business or they kick your ass anytime.No matter that old French gentleman or local neighbor.Be nice.