The short Spring Festival holiday has passed by in a hurry, and the businesses in Shigu Alley have opened their doors one after another, returning to their usual busyness.
At noon, Wu Mao, wearing a gray suit, was making rounds in the lobby on the first floor of Wuji Ramen House. After the holiday, the number of guests increased a lot, and the occupancy rate in the lobby and private rooms returned to about 50%, but this did not make him feel happy.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass shop door, there is still the familiar and annoying long queue outside. It blocks the door of my shop every day, because I am afraid of offending the customers, so I dare not say anything.
"Damn it!" Wu Mao gritted his teeth and cursed secretly in his heart.
Several guests appeared at the entrance of the stairs. They had come down from the private room on the second floor. Wu Mao recognized them and hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.
"Mr. Huang, are you satisfied with today's food?" Wu Mao asked with a smile on his face.
"Well, it turns out to be Manager Wu. It's not bad. The hot pot in your store is more delicious than before, and it's quite enjoyable." A middle-aged man with a bald head and protruding belly turned red, and answered while burping from wine.
Several other people around me also nodded in agreement. They have been here twice in a row recently, and their faces are hot, their hearts are beating, and their bodies are sweating every time they eat. It is really comfortable and enjoyable in the winter.
"Come here often after you eat well, and I'll give you a discount. Go slowly." Wu Mao respectfully sent the guests out.
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Master Chen came to the door of the sun room at the south end of the second floor with a gloomy face. He hesitated and knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Boss Wu's voice came from the room.
Master Chen unscrewed the copper handle, pushed the door open, and saw Boss Wu wearing a long white coat sitting at the root-carved tea table drinking tea.
"It's Lao Chen, come on, sit down, sit down." Boss Wu smiled and extended his hand to signal.
Master Chen nodded and sat on the sofa opposite Boss Wu.
"Come, have a drink, the finest West Lake Longjing."
Master Chen quickly waved his hand and rejected Boss Wu's kindness.
"Boss Wu, I have something to ask you. I'm not here to drink tea."
"Well, tell me." Boss Wu stopped making tea.
"Boss Wu, do you know? Wu Mao added large tobacco shell residue to the old soup pot and hot pot base behind your back. I just did it yesterday.
Found it." Master Chen said in a deep voice.
"Oh, this bastard!" A trace of surprise and anger flashed in Boss Wu's eyes, but then he stood up, walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the long queue downstairs, and fell silent for a moment.
After several minutes, Boss Wu let out a long sigh.
"Oh, maybe this is also a helpless move."
Master Chen suddenly stood up, his voice obviously amplified.
"Boss Wu, this is illegal. If found out, Wu Ji will be finished!"
Boss Wu shook his head, his voice sounded a little old.
"Then what should we do? Lao Chen, you know the current situation in the store. The loss of customers is so serious that even discounts are ineffective. Do you have any better ideas?"
Master Chen and Boss Wu looked at each other for a moment, and a feeling of frustration came over him. He shook his head and gave up persuasion.
"Forget it, I understand, then let's do it." Master Chen turned around and walked out.
Boss Wu looked at Master Chen's back and opened his mouth, but finally said nothing.
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On the second floor of Baozi Shop, the original warehouse was emptied and divided into two single rooms, one serving as Gu Weiwei’s financial room and the other serving as
Li Youran's office and reception room. New office furniture, a sofa coffee table, a safe and two desktop computers were just purchased the day before yesterday.
In the evening, the reception room welcomed its first guest.
"Boss Li, I met you on the day your store opened. You are young and promising. Let me introduce you. I am Chen Chuanzhong, a chef at Yaoyuelou in the north of the city. During this time, I have been entrusted by the boss to help Wu Ji who is next to you."
Master Chen sat on the sofa and introduced himself.
Li Youran looked at the red-faced middle-aged man in front of him who was wearing ordinary clothes, had some bald hair, and was slightly fat. Although he didn't know the purpose of his visit, his calm and neither humble nor overbearing demeanor still won him some favor.
"Master Chen, what are you doing here today?" Li Youran asked.
"It's like this. There's something wrong with Wuji Ramen Restaurant. I'm planning to leave and go back to Yaoyuelou. There's one thing I can't let go of before I leave. I want to ask Boss Li for advice."
"You're welcome, Master Chen. You can just call me Xiao Li. If you have anything to say, just say it."
"I have tasted the steamed buns in your store, and they are really rare and delicious in pasta. I don't know what kind of cabbage and radish ingredients are in them. I seem to have never seen them before. Can you satisfy my wish? It's a bit presumptuous. If it's inconvenient,
Forget it." Master Chen clasped his hands together and made up his mind to tell his purpose. As a chef who pursues delicious food and skills all his life, he is really curious when he sees good ingredients.
"Haha, it's a trivial matter. Master Chen, please wait a moment." Li Youran saw the pure sincerity and enthusiasm in the other person's eyes, and intuitively told him that this was a real chef.
Li Youran got up and went out, and returned after a while. He held a big cabbage and a white radish in his hands and placed them on the coffee table.
"Master Chen, this is it. Take your time and take a look."
Master Chen caressed the handicraft-like vegetables in front of him, his eyes full of surprises. The white and emerald green without any variegation, the pure moistness of the whole body, and the natural and fresh fragrance.
"It's such a good variety, it's a natural thing in the world." Master Chen admired sincerely.
"Xiao Li, what new variety is this? Can you recommend me to buy some and take them back to Yaoyuelou?" Master Chen only came to his senses after a while, raised his head and asked.
"Master Chen, these vegetables don't have specific variety names yet. They are new varieties that a fellow villager of mine chose a good piece of land in the mountains and tried to plant. Farm fertilizers are used to prevent pests and biological control methods are used. No pesticides are used.
Irrigation is done by using local mountain spring water. The current production is very small, and I don't even have enough here, so I really can't take it out. As for the specifics, it is a commercial secret. I hope you can understand." Li Youran replied with a smile.
Master Chen was slightly disappointed, but still nodded to express his understanding.
Li Youran brewed two cups of tea and handed one to Master Chen. The tea brewing method was too crude and it was a bit embarrassing that the tea was not brought out. This person must be too honest, but he still humbly asked Master Chen for tea brewing skills.
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Putting down the business, the two chatted easily. Master Chen talked about his understanding of food and cooking skills, as well as the taste requirements of different customer groups. This opened Li Youran's eyes and benefited a lot, and he gradually became addicted to it.
After we chatted, I actually felt like recruiting him. But then I secretly smiled bitterly. The other party was a third-level chef. How could I hire someone for my own small shop that sells simple pasta? Unless it becomes bigger in the future.
It wasn't until eight o'clock in the evening that Master Chen said goodbye to the bun shop. Before leaving, the two exchanged contact information. Li Youran watched Master Chen leave and stood in front of the shop for a long time without moving.