Chapter 502: Grand Opening

Chapter 502: Chapter 502: Grand Opening

"Of course you can. It’s up to you. Anyway, as long as a customer places an order, the food will be served automatically. You don’t have to manage much. You can sit back there, play on your Light Brain, or sleep. Just make sure nothing goes wrong." Lily Hart shrugged, stating it as if it were obvious.

Cynthia Whittaker overheard and leaned in. "That’s right. Restaurants like ours are super easy to manage. You basically don’t have to do anything. I suggest you add instructions on how to scan the code to order."

As a fellow restaurant owner, she was quite experienced in this area.

When she first started, she didn’t get it. New customers would always ask how to order and why they couldn’t see a kitchen.

She had to explain it at length every single time. Eventually, she just made a sign with all the instructions and hung it on the wall.

If anyone asked, she’d just point to the wall. ’Go read it yourself. My mouth is dry from talking so much!’

Zoe Corbin humbly accepted the advice, deciding to ask more questions and observe carefully in the future. These women were seasoned veterans.

The three of them gathered and chatted a while longer about their experiences running a business, and Zoe Corbin’s confidence soared.

She decided to open for business immediately!

Lily Hart was naturally supportive. She even immediately shooed away Frost Shaw and the others, telling them not to hog the table.

Frost Shaw and the others returned to their respective shops. After Lily Hart paid, the leftovers, bowls, chopsticks, used napkins, and all other trash on the table vanished completely.

Even the grease splatters, chili flakes, Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise were gone. The entire table looked brand new.

She explained, "You have to let the customers pay after they’ve finished eating. That triggers the one-touch cleanup function. See? Good as new."

Zoe Corbin took the lesson to heart. She had been wondering how the dishes would be washed and where the trash would go without a kitchen. ’Could I even handle all that by myself?’

It was just as Manager Whittaker and Boss Hart had said. She didn’t need to do anything herself; she could just sit around and relax.

Customers come in, scan the code to order, eat, pay after they’re done, and even the table gets cleared for them.

Zoe Corbin was finally able to relax completely. She glanced around the first-floor dining hall—there were dozens of tables.

’Oh, right. I haven’t been to the second or third floors yet.’

The moment she said it, Lily Hart grabbed Cynthia Whittaker with one hand and her with the other, and the three of them went up to the second floor together.

It had the same layout as the first floor. The third floor had private rooms and a main dining area. ’Not bad, it’s pretty similar to the hot pot restaurant.’

The three of them toured the entire Sichuan restaurant. When they returned to the first floor, Lily Hart gave Zoe Corbin a little push.

She was signaling for her to open the main doors and welcome the customers.

Zoe Corbin took a few deep breaths to steel herself, then solemnly stepped forward and opened the doors.

It was around two in the afternoon. There were a lot of customers coming for the scratch-off lottery, and many more going to the market next door.

In short, the place was crowded.

People had long been curious about what was inside the giant chili pepper, but with the doors tightly shut, no one dared to act rashly.

Now that the doors were open, a bolder person called out, "What’s this new shop?"

Zoe Corbin took a deep breath, collecting her energy, and announced loudly, "Sichuan Restaurant! Everyone is welcome to come have a taste! Grand opening, 12% off!"

This was something she had just discussed with Boss Hart. A new shop ought to have some kind of grand opening special, after all.

Back in the civilized era, you did this to attract customers. Now, it was purely to benefit the people.

After all, there was no need to attract anyone; once the doors opened, customers would come on their own.

Hearing that it was a Sichuan restaurant, many customers outside felt their DNA stir.

Their legs moved on their own, running over as they asked again in disbelief, "A Sichuan restaurant? As in, they serve Sichuan food?"

After asking, they turned to the person next to them and said excitedly, "Did you hear that? It’s a Sichuan restaurant! A Sichuan restaurant!"

Zoe Corbin confirmed, "Yes, a Sichuan restaurant!" She made sure to emphasize the "Sichuan" part.

’Back in the civilized era,’ she thought, ’this person was probably from my hometown, from the Sichuan-Chongqing region.’

’Why else would they get so excited just from hearing the words ’Sichuan food’?’

’Natives seeing their native cuisine... it brings tears to the eyes.’

Zoe Corbin stepped aside to let everyone in more easily. "Please, come in! You can scan the code on your table to order, or you can circle what you want on the menu and drop it in the drawer at the side of your table."

People swarmed in, and in less than half an hour, the entire first-floor dining hall was full.

Seeing this, Zoe Corbin began directing people to the second and third floors. She had been worried it wouldn’t fill up.

But now, she was worried there wouldn’t be enough seats. Anyone with a few Crystal Cores on them wanted to come in and try the food.

She had looked at the prices, too. A person could eat their fill for just five Crystal Cores.

The average price was about five Crystal Cores per person, similar to the hot pot restaurant.

In fact, all of Lily Hart’s shops had such affordable prices, striving to let everyone enjoy good food and good fun.

When it was just her, Boss Hart, and Manager Whittaker in the shop earlier, she had asked if they would lose money with prices so low.

Lily Hart had puffed out her chest and promised, "Don’t worry. Not only will we not lose money, we’ll actually make a profit. I’m not a philanthropist; why would I run a business at a loss?"

Only then did Zoe Corbin feel relieved. ’As long as it’s not losing money, it’s fine.’

At that thought, Zoe Corbin shouted enthusiastically, "Come and eat! Everyone, hurry, come and eat!"

An hour later, the first, second, and third floors were all packed.

There wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

Lily Hart, Cynthia Whittaker, and Zoe Corbin leaned against the front counter, looking out with satisfaction at the packed first-floor dining hall.

Zoe Corbin was filled with an immense sense of satisfaction. ’I can’t believe it filled up so quickly.’

Cynthia Whittaker shifted her elbow to the left, nudging Zoe Corbin. "Time for an interview. How are you feeling right now?"

She even held out a hand, balled into a fist like a microphone, and held it to Zoe’s mouth, really selling the bit.

Lily Hart was on the end with Cynthia Whittaker in the middle, and she craned her neck to watch curiously as well.

Zoe Corbin blinked, cleared her throat twice, and played along. "Happy, excited, and I’ll definitely make it bigger and stronger!"

She didn’t forget to suck up a little, and Lily Hart loved it. Reaching across Cynthia Whittaker, she patted Zoe’s shoulder. "Keep up the good work~"

Zoe Corbin smiled, pressing her lips together. A moment later, it dawned on Cynthia Whittaker, who also patted her. "I’m gonna make it bigger and stronger too!"

Lily Hart laughed at her. "Alright, you keep up the good work too." She also reached out and patted her shoulder.

The three of them met each other’s gazes and simultaneously doubled over with laughter.

Lily Hart watched things at the Sichuan restaurant for a while longer. The process was running smoothly, and everyone was enjoying their food.

So, feeling reassured, she left.

She saw the market and couldn’t resist heading inside. ’A little browsing should be fun, right?’

But when she came out, her hands were full of bags, big and small, and her face wore a look of satisfaction.

’Indeed, spending money is the simplest way to find happiness, no matter the amount.’

Lily Hart returned to the lottery shop and threw herself onto the sofa. She hadn’t been lying there for long when she got a call from Elder Shaw.

"Boss Hart, has anyone scratched off a bank yet?" Elder Shaw asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"Not yet. Don’t be impatient, it’ll happen sooner or later," Lily Hart said, placating him perfunctorily.

Then she added, "But a new Sichuan restaurant just opened. How about I treat you all to a meal?"

Elder Shaw agreed in a flash, as if afraid that Lily Hart would regret it if he waited even a second longer. "Alrighty then, see you tonight!"

’I’m starting to suspect Elder Shaw had an ulterior motive for this call.’

That evening, Elder Shaw arrived with Logan Holland, Yancy Sharp, Patrick Lowell, and Elliot Chapman (the director of the research institute).