Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle -
Chapter 354 - 210: Overtime_3
Chapter 354: Chapter 210: Overtime_3
Zheng Da:?
"Get to work." Huang Shengli said succinctly.
Zheng Da: "...Doing what?"
Zheng Da knew that now was not the time to slack off.
Failing to develop the Mixed Fruit Filling and asking Zhiwei Restaurant for help, only to be exposed by his son on the spot, was embarrassing enough. If he didn’t roll up his sleeves and shine this time, it would be difficult to advance from Bo Le to master.
Zheng Da thought he could let Huang Shengli take the Bo Le title and he would just be the master.
"I’ll tell you specifically what to do after I’ve had a meeting with Xiao Qin and Xiao Cao. For now... don’t just stand around, start kneading the dough."
Zheng Da:?
Did he become an assistant?
"Your Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns aren’t bad, help Xiao Qin with them first, we will have a meeting to decide on the new menu."
"Let’s go, Xiao Qin, we’ll have a meeting upstairs." Huang Shengli said with a smile.
Qin Huai nodded and followed Huang Shengli upstairs into Private Room 111.
Inside the room, Team leader Cao had been prepared for a while, ready with paper and pen to take meeting notes, with a bowl of unfinished Four Happiness glutinous rice beside them.
It was clear Team leader Cao really wanted to eat breakfast, but was too excited and currently not in the mood to eat.
"Xiao Cao, you go first."
Huang Shengli and Qin Huai sat down.
"Got it!" Team leader Cao stood up energetically, seeming ten years younger, "I’ll start by talking about the most pressing issue we face at Huang Ji."
"The queue!"
"I read the article on ’Taste’ 18 times this morning. Over half of the food descriptions were Guo’er’s recommendations. It’s a completely new snack for most diners, Master Huang, do you remember when you launched the Three Heads Banquet after taking over the State Owned Restaurant?"
"I remember." Huang Shengli replied.
"Although our peak business was the last time ’Taste’ featured us, I believe the Three Heads Banquet era was Huang Ji’s pivotal moment."
"Back then, State Owned Restaurant was collapsing, while several newly opened restaurants became the most famous in Gusu. No one had faith when you took over, because you were the master chef there and yet it still closed."
"Everyone knew its closure was due to management issues, not your skills. That manager was seriously misguided, having so many good dishes not on the menu because they were reserved for serving leaders. At that point, what leader would still dine there? To many, a closed old restaurant couldn’t compare to a rising star."
"Initially, Huang Ji’s business was indeed mediocre. Even with an updated menu, many old customers saw Huang Ji as just the same State Owned Restaurant with a different boss and name. It seemed less classy than the luxurious new venues."
"So you launched the Three Heads Banquet."
"That was Huang Ji’s fundamental establishment."
Huang Shengli nodded slightly: "Indeed, when I took over Huang Ji Restaurant, most of the renovation costs came from Gong Liang. He said it was a partnership but I saw it as a debt, putting immense pressure on me, causing me to work non-stop to pay it off with the Three Heads Banquet."
"Even now, Gong Liang occasionally jokes that I’ve forgotten my roots after making money, saying it used to be easy to have the banquet, but now you need a reason like marriage or divorce."
Team leader Cao brought the topic back: "Now, Guo’er is our new Three Heads Banquet."
"Back then, it was the Three Heads Banquet that helped reverse the past image of the State Owned Restaurant, attracting countless visitors from out of town, and many business people who specified Huang Ji for the banquet when visiting Gusu. It was Huang Ji’s authentic, unique signature dish. At that time, in Gusu and even neighboring cities, no other place could match Huang Ji’s banquet in quality and presentation."
"And Guo’er is the same."
"’Taste’ massively advertised for Guo’er, it’s even newer and more mysterious than the Three Heads Banquet. Recently, guests queuing might be influenced by Xu Cheng’s Weibo, eager to taste Master Qin’s craft, without knowing exactly what they want, just eager to try whatever he offers. But starting today, visitors are specifically here for Guo’er."
"Today, every customer querying over the phone wants to try this particular snack."
"Master Huang, we need to limit this snack." Team leader Cao looked at Huang Shengli, "It can’t be available just by queuing like Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Three Meat Buns, lest Huang Ji has 24-hour queues starting today."
Huang Shengli knew Team leader Cao wasn’t exaggerating, having seen how guests drawn by ’Taste’ willingly waited in line many years ago.
Huang Shengli thought for a moment: "Let’s make Guo’er dine-in only."
"Limit per person, one per guest, it’s pretty hefty at about half a pound, sufficient for a meal."
"What about the price?" Team leader Cao asked.
"The price shouldn’t be too high; keep it under three digits. Decide on a fair price, Xiao Cao."
"As for membership cards, bundled purchases, and pre-orders, forget about them. Aside from necessary pre-order dishes like Braised Pig’s Head, Huang Ji doesn’t do those complicated things."
"The membership card remains as before, automatic upgrade after spending 80,000 cumulatively, no pre-paid promotions."
Huang Ji’s membership card wasn’t particularly useful, as it lacked promotions like prepaid discounts. It was initially introduced for convenience for regular customers while ordering.
Huang Ji’s card upgrades to advanced level once reaching 80,000 in spending, offering advanced members no discounts but priority access to reservations and privileges.
Regular members can only reserve same-day private rooms.
Team leader Cao nodded.
Qin Huai listened quietly on the side.
He couldn’t interject; Qin Huai was just here to exchange ideas, not being a shareholder of Huang Ji; he couldn’t meddle in such matters.
"Xiao Qin, you might have to work hard during this period, temporarily setting aside Fire Control and Mixed Fruit Filling." Huang Shengli looked at Qin Huai, "Adjust your schedule, no need to arrive so early, 9:30 is fine."
"Correspondingly, the evenings might be busier, given Guo’er is dine-in only, meaning all-day availability, not just lunch."
Qin Huai understood he needed to adjust his working hours to align with everyone else.
"Alright?" Huang Shengli asked.
"Of course." Qin Huai readily agreed, "Special times call for special measures. Making Guo’er is also practice. Guests come from afar; I can’t let them leave completely disappointed."
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