0047##Chapter 47

##Ms. Floral casually moved a chair over and sat down. She took out an account book, and flipped through it while she said, "You haven't paid for this month, right?"

Ben showed a bright smile. "I just opened this restaurant not long ago. We also agreed that I would start to pay next month."

Ms. Floral frowned slightly. "Next month? Haha! You can open the restaurant next month then. Close it now."

"No! Ms. Floral, we can talk about this. Please don't close my restaurant. Don't you just want the protection fee? I'll give it to you. How much do you want?"

Ms. Floral flipped through the account book. "The protection fee is 6,000 dollars per month. Your restaurant just opened this month, so I'll give you a 20% discount. You can just give me 4,800 dollars."

"Ms. Flora, there are less than five days remaining in this month. Isn't that too much?"

"Why? Are you bargaining with me?"

"No, I wouldn't dare."

Ben immediately went to the counter, took the money, and passed it to Ms. Floral. He dared not say anything else. Janice saw the whole situation.

However, Janice did not say anything. He just drank the beer indifferently and ate the dishes.

Ms. Floral kept the money before she flipped through her account book and said, "I have something else to tell you. Recently, the area hasn't been so safe, so it's quite troublesome to manage. The cost of human resources has increased, so we have to increase the management fee.

"There are two parts to the management fee. The first part is the fixed cost of 3,200 dollars every month, and the second part is 20% of every shop's monthly sales.

"You should know that the bigger the shop is, the more troublesome the management. There are more areas we have to take care of, so we can't avoid taking in more.

"This is also an encouragement for you. The more you pay, the more you earn."

Ben's expression turned pale.

Was she kidding? Every month, he had to pay 6,000 dollars for the protection fee, 3,200 dollars for the manpower fee, and even had to pay her 20% of his sales. Could his restaurant still earn money?

"Ms. Floral, I just opened my restaurant, so my business isn't very good now. You're asking for too much money. Could you please reduce it a little?"

Ms. Floral stared at him coldly. "Uncle Ben, don't be so ungrateful. Do you know how much management fee we have to bear for you when you're running a restaurant here? We have so many staff members. Don't they need to eat?"

"I know, but this is really too much."

"How dare you refuse me? Do you still want to run your restaurant here?"

"Yes, of course."

"If you want to run it, be honest! Pay the 3,200 costs first today. As for the 20% sales, I'll come and get it on time next month."

Ben lowered his head and got so angry that he trembled. Yet, he dared not say anything.

"Why aren't you going?"

Ben sighed, turned around, and walked to the counter.

When Ben walked halfway, Thomas reached out to drag him over and sit beside him. "Uncle Ben, we're drinking so happily. Why do you suddenly have to leave? Come here and drink with me."

Ben looked depressed. "No, I still have things to do."

"No way. You have to drink with me."

Janice dragged Ben over and did not let him go. Ben naturally knew what Thomas was trying to do, so he whispered, "Young Lady, don't interfere. It's not easy to deal with this woman. We'll get over it if we just bear with it. We mustn't get into trouble."

Janice sneered.

"If I don't see it, I can ignore it.

"But since I know about it, I have to worry about it.

"Uncle Ben, listen to me. Please sit down and enjoy the meal. She will not be able to take a cent today!"