eurekapd Chapter 194 Watching the show is fine, but joining in is not.
Chapter 194 Watching the show is fine, but joining in is not.
Seeing that Lou Xiao'e still insisted, Lin Zhou pondered for a moment, looked up at her, and said in a more serious tone:
"Sister Lou, although I can't work with you, there's something I still want to remind you of."
"You want to hire Sha Zhu as the head chef, which is a good intention, but don't forget that Sha Zhu is now married to Qin Huairu, and he has the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai in the courtyard by his side."
"These guys are no pushovers. Especially that Yi Zhonghai, who's been manipulating Sha Zhu for half his life just to secure his retirement!"
Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e's expression changed slightly. She frowned and said:
"I've inquired about some of what you've mentioned, but I'm not entirely clear on the specifics."
"When I lived in this courtyard before, I thought Yi Zhonghai was a good person! What? Is there something else going on here?"
Lin Zhou nodded and slowly said:
"The last time I went back to Beijing, I made a point of coming to this courtyard under the guise of being your friend, and I also chatted with Sha Zhu for a bit."
"I pointed it out directly at the time: Qin Huairu was not following him sincerely at all; she was only interested in his cooking skills and wanted to rely on him to support the entire Jia family."
"They wouldn't even let him have children, for fear that if they had their own children, they would take away the benefits from the Jia family's children."
He paused, recalling Sha Zhu's reaction at the time, and couldn't help but shake his head:
"I made myself perfectly clear back then, and Sha Zhu probably understood perfectly well. It's just that he's too straightforward and values relationships too much, and he's also been brainwashed by Yi Zhonghai."
"That Yi Zhonghai is obsessed with having Sha Zhu take care of him in his old age. He always favors Qin Huairu and instigates Sha Zhu to take care of the Jia family, keeping Sha Zhu completely under his control."
"Judging from his appearance at the time, I'm afraid he never intended to divorce Qin Huairu; he just wanted to use this greasy hair as an excuse to cause trouble."
Lou Xiao'e's face darkened completely upon hearing this. She smoothed the hair behind her ears, suppressed her anger, and said:
"Such a thing could happen? Qin Huairu has gone too far! And Yi Zhonghai, at his age, how can he do such heartless things! And Sha Zhu too, how can he be so foolish, being sold out and still helping count the money!"
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Back then, when she saw Sha Zhu, she thought that although he was a bit talkative, he was kind-hearted and honest, a trustworthy person. How could he have ended up like this, being led by the nose by Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai, unable to even live his own life properly?
Looking at Lou Xiao'e's angry expression, Lin Zhou said calmly:
"This is Sha Zhu's fate, and it's also his own choice. He values relationships, remembering Yi Zhonghai's care for him since childhood, and Qin Huairu's hardship in raising the child, but he forgets himself and forgets to care for himself."
"His life may seem stable now, but in reality he is just being used as a cash cow by the Jia family and as a source of support for Yi Zhonghai in his old age."
At this point, Lin Zhou looked at Lou Xiao'e, his tone becoming serious once again:
"So, Sister Lou, if you really want to hire Sha Zhu as the head chef at your restaurant, there's one thing you must remember. It's best to establish a rule that no one from the Jia family should work at the restaurant, and it's best to keep them away from even getting close."
Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e immediately nodded and said:
"I've got your words in mind. It's not that I'm worried they'll come to work and take advantage of me, it's just that I'm afraid they'll ruin my business."
"Qin Huairu looks weak, but she is very shrewd. The Jia family's children have also been taught to be cunning. If they were to enter the restaurant, who knows what they might do? Not only would the restaurant's business be affected, but even Sha Zhu would probably be entangled by them. You wouldn't be able to shake them off then."
Having been in the business world for many years, she has improved her judgment of people and things. After Lin Zhou gave her some pointers, she immediately understood the key point.
She opened the restaurant to repay a debt of gratitude and to do business, not to support the entire Jia family. If they got involved, the restaurant would become the Jia family's ATM, which would be a huge loss.
Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Lin Zhou's face showed a hint of relief, and he said:
"It's good that you understand. Sha Zhu's cooking skills are absolutely top-notch. With him around, your restaurant business will definitely be good."
"But the premise is that he must be kept away from the troubles of the Jia family, so that he can cook in peace without being bothered by the trivial matters at home."
"Otherwise, his mind will be unsettled, and the taste of the food will suffer. Moreover, once the Jia family gets entangled with the restaurant, it will only bring endless trouble."
"Furthermore," Lin Zhou added, "it's a good thing that you're paying Sha Zhu a high salary, but it must be clear and transparent. It's best to sign a contract that clearly states the salary, benefits, and leave."
"This way, we can both protect Sha Zhu and prevent the Jia family from coming over to cause trouble, saying that you have mistreated Sha Zhu and that they want to take advantage of you."
Lou Xiao'e nodded repeatedly and said:
"You're absolutely right. I really hadn't considered those details. You've thought of everything. I'll draft a contract later and write everything down clearly to avoid any trouble later."
"Furthermore, I will make it clear to Sha Zhu that the rules of the restaurant must be strictly followed, and no one can be given special treatment, not even his family members."
Lin Zhou smiled and said, "That's right. Sister Lou, you have the resources and vision, and Sha Zhu has the cooking skills and expertise. As long as you two work together well and avoid those unpleasant things, this restaurant will definitely make a name for itself in Beijing."
Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e's worried expression dissipated considerably, replaced by a look of confidence. She extended her right hand and gestured to Lin Zhou, saying, "Thank you for your kind words! Lin Zhou, I'm so grateful for your reminder this time, otherwise I'm afraid I would have really stumbled."
"I'll remember this favor. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know, and I'll do my best without hesitation."
Lin Zhou extended his right hand and shook hands with Lou Xiao'e, saying, "Sister Lou, you're too kind. It was just a few words."
"I also hope that Sha Zhu can have a good ending. After all, he is a loyal and righteous person and deserves to be treated well. I also hope that your restaurant will have a smooth run and prosperous business."
Lou Xiao'e looked at Lin Zhou in front of her with admiration. She knew that Lin Zhou's achievements were by no means accidental. His vision, his mind, and his overall perspective were far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.
And since I was able to receive some guidance from Lin Zhou during my return to Beijing, it was a worthwhile trip.
Looking at Lou Xiao'e's confident appearance, Lin Zhou secretly pondered that Sha Zhu's life had been quite bumpy. If he could take advantage of Lou Xiao'e's support, he could break free from the Jia family's entanglements.
Earning a decent life through one's culinary skills is a worthwhile achievement.
Ultimately, it all depends on Sha Zhu's own choice. If he remains stubborn and is manipulated by Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, then no one can help him.
So Lin Zhou decided to go with Lou Xiao'e to watch this scene!