Chapter 35 — Edges of the Map
The delivery truck rumbled out of the city at dawn, its refrigerated trailer humming like a deep-throated promise. Li Ming stood beside the loading dock, hands in pockets, watching the driver navigate the curve toward the highway.
That truck wasn't just delivering ingredients — it was carrying Patriot Burger and La Tavola's reach farther than ever before.
A Step Past Comfort
The new outlet in Nanhe County was the farthest either chain had ventured. The locals eyed the Italian menu with polite suspicion, but the burgers were an instant hit.
Li Ming had expected higher costs this far from the capital. In fact, he counted on it. But the integrated cold storage network kept deliveries running smoother than he liked. That irritated him. Smooth meant efficient. Efficient meant not losing enough.
The Inspection That Ate a Week
A week into Nanhe's opening, the phone rang in procurement.
"Government inspectors," the supplier's voice said, nervous. "Food safety audit. Temporary closure."
The "temporary" turned into eight days. No bread, no buns, no fresh rolls for the Italian chain.
Li Ming didn't even blink.
"Fine," he said. "We'll source from Jinchuan. Triple the freight if we have to. And if they complain, pay them more."
To his managers, this looked like iron-willed crisis management. To Li Ming, it was just another good excuse to bleed cash.
One More on the Ledger
Two days later, he toured a weathered three-story brick building by the Nanhe bus depot. The ground floor faced a bustling commuter street. The second and third floors smelled faintly of wood and rain.
"It's been on the market for eight months," the agent said. "You could lease it for—"
"Buy," Li Ming interrupted. "Full payment. Add 10% so the owner signs today."
The deed was in his hands by sundown. To him, it was another sinkhole for cash. To his staff, it was a strategic outpost at the provincial edge.
The Whisper at the Border
At the Nanhe outlet's soft opening, two regional managers clinked glasses of soy milk in the corner.
"You realize," one said, "if we keep this pace, we'll cross into the next province by year's end."
The other smiled. "We already have the infrastructure. Cold storage, logistics, supply lines… boss built a machine that doesn't care where the stores are."
They didn't say "national contender," but it hung in the air between them.
That night, Li Ming reviewed the month's expenses, frowning when the numbers didn't look bad enough. He made a note in the margin: Consider doubling marketing budget.
Somewhere deep down, a part of him wondered why expansion felt so easy lately. He quickly buried the thought — after all, losing money was supposed to be simple.