Chapter 36:
The two were just talking when the waiter Xiao Zheng from earlier came running down thump thump thump, shouting to her with a face full of joy!
“Luo Niangzi, Shopkeeper Zhu asked me to take you upstairs.”
“Good.”
Luo Zhi’er removed the apron she had just tied on, smoothed out the wrinkled hem of her clothes and her hair, followed the waiter up the stairs, and was led by him to the doorway of a room, which should be Shopkeeper Zhu’s usual office.
“Shopkeeper, Luo Niangzi is here!”
“Mm, bring her in.”
As soon as Luo Zhi’er entered, Shopkeeper Zhu and Chef Xie both turned to look at her.
“Xiao Zheng, go down and brew a pot of tea and bring it up.”
“Yes.”
“Luo Niangzi, please sit!”
Chef Li didn’t even glance at her…
As soon as Luo Zhi’er came in, her eyes swept over the table; there was grease at the corner of Shopkeeper Zhu’s mouth, and he wiped it with a handkerchief.
The fish-fragrant shredded pork rice bowl on the plate: clean plate.
The dry-mixed rice and dry-mixed noodles were also empty!
A smile appeared in Chef Xie’s eyes, while Chef Li’s face darkened…
A trace of joy rose in Luo Zhi’er’s heart, but her face remained calm.
Shopkeeper Zhu spoke first: “Luo Niangzi, please sit first!”
“Shopkeeper Zhu, you’re too polite.”
Luo Zhi’er sat down boldly and confidently, smiling calmly as she spoke,
“I wonder why Shopkeeper Zhu called this little woman upstairs…”
Shopkeeper Zhu looked at her amusedly; this Luo Niangzi was pretending not to know, “What do you think?”
“What do I think? It should be that the fish-fragrant shredded pork rice bowl I made is very delicious, and you all can’t get enough of it!”
Chef Li sneered contemptuously, “Overestimating yourself.”
Luo Zhi’er knew what was what; couldn’t an empty plate prove it? She let his words go in one ear and out the other; she wouldn’t accept his deliberate attack.
She said sweetly again, “Then, Shopkeeper Zhu, what do you think of the taste of this termite mushroom oil mixed noodles and mixed rice?”
Shopkeeper Zhu stroked his mustache and nodded slightly, “Not bad; after the three of us tasted it, we think your termite mushroom oil is a good thing, and Yumian Tower can keep you for now!”
Chef Li chimed in, “Indeed, the taste is good, and it doesn’t take much effort.”
Luo Zhi’er took in their actions; this was just a process of bargaining.
You know, termite mushroom oil was a nationwide sensation in the modern era; some went to great lengths to buy just one jar. Why had everyone’s tastes changed here?
But… not bad? That didn’t make sense; she believed that anyone who tasted it had no reason not to buy it.
Even if they didn’t buy it, they would fear it spreading and becoming a competitor!
Luo Zhi’er said confidently, “Shopkeeper Zhu is joking; with my foresight, this termite mushroom oil mixed rice, mixed noodles, and mixed vermicelli will surely cause a sensation in Taoyuan Town once launched…”
“Yumian Tower will go from its current cold doorway to bustling with customers, packed with no empty seats…”
“What?”
Shopkeeper Zhu trembled slightly, excitement in his eyes; she was so confident? Would it really be like that?
“That’s right, just like that. Doesn’t Shopkeeper Zhu think so?”
Chef Li sneered contemptuously: “Cause a sensation? Just with your termite mushroom oil? I, Li Changshun, have been a chef in Taoyuan Town for a full thirty years; when I was head chef, you fat woman were still wearing diaper pants!”
“Have you seen the fiery opening scene of Yumian Tower back then?”
He said excitedly,
“Ignorant fat woman!!! Treating a chicken feather as an arrow, I don’t even know how good this thing of yours is yet, so don’t speak so soon or so boldly! A restaurant losing money requires taking responsibility!”
Luo Zhi’er calmly waited for him to vent, her clear black-and-white eyes looking at him,
“Then, in Chef Li’s view, how will this termite mushroom oil develop in the future?”
“In my estimation, just so-so, neither hot nor cold, not much use to the restaurant, just wasting silver in vain…”
Li Changshun got so angry he stood up abruptly.
“This…”
Shopkeeper Zhu was at a loss, utterly perplexed; Chef Li was deeply respected by him, but perhaps due to age or deep seniority, he was becoming more and more stubborn…
He had the waiter bring Luo Zhi’er to the kitchen precisely because he was worried about this; Luo Zhi’er’s temperament surprised him. Anyone else would have stormed off in a huff or run over aggrieved to complain…
But her? He heard she had just wielded a saber in the kitchen for a while; Chef Li came up red-faced and thick-necked, full of grievance. It was the first time he had seen such a thing…
Luo Zhi’er calmly took a sip of tea, set down the cup, “Chef Li, I don’t know why you have such hostility toward me. To put it bluntly, you’ve been head chef for over thirty years, but so what?”
“My one dish can be extended into many others: mixed noodles, mixed rice, mixed vermicelli… fish-fragrant shredded pork rice bowl can also turn into vinegar stir-fried cabbage, shredded potatoes, stir-fried shredded meat, kung pao chicken rice bowl, braised meat rice, clay pot rice…”
Shock appeared in their eyes… it was really like that… they became curious about how exactly she made those she mentioned.
“Since your culinary skills are exquisite and your dishes taste excellent, why is Yumian Tower’s business getting worse and worse? Even on the verge of closing down. As head chef, shouldn’t you take responsibility?”
Chef Xie nearby felt the same, his face embarrassed as he lowered his head…
Li Shun only instantly felt offended by her, “What? You ignorant fat woman, casually hearing some dish names somewhere and coming here to boast! Who do you think you are? If you’re so great, why are you unknown? What gives you the right to point out my faults…”
Luo Zhi’er looked at him with calm eyes, a slight hook at the corner of her mouth as she mercilessly exposed his shortcomings,
“Not daring to boldly try introducing new dishes, sticking to your so-called old brand; I know you’re afraid of being replaced, but Taoyuan Town is only so big, and the town only has those same dishes coming and going. You can make them, others can too, not to mention Hongyun Tower.”
“They boldly innovate, with low prices, variety, luxurious restaurants, good dining experience for customers; you? Can’t accept new ideas, and explode in rage as soon as they’re mentioned!”
“Others might fear you, but I don’t; anyway, I don’t owe you silver, and I can cook myself. People regard food as heaven; for someone like me who has requirements for food, if I were a customer, coming in just this once would be enough, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to come back next time…”
“What?”
Shopkeeper Zhu hadn’t realized customer experience had reached this point?
“Anyway, in no more than a month, if Yumian Tower keeps insisting like this, I’m afraid your owner will have to close down too, and you old brand employees, heh…”
“Don’t you feel guilty? Because of your stubbornness?”
Chef Li looked defeated, dejected, slumping into his chair, feeling extremely upset inside…
“This…”
Shopkeeper Zhu felt embarrassed; he hadn’t expected her to see the problem at a glance.
They had always stuck to the old brand; every time a new recipe or dish or innovation was sent to the door, it was rejected outright by the stubborn Chef Li…
They were actually hesitating, conflicted, wanting to make changes but lacking good methods or opportunities…
Outside the door, the feet of a man wearing high boots suddenly stopped; the man had distinct facial features, exuding an elegant and reserved aura as he stood in the doorway.
“Young Master…”
The waiter was about to greet him but was lightly stopped by his raised hand…
“Luo Niangzi, are you sure this termite mushroom oil can bring Yumian Tower back to life?”
Then he heard that crisp voice from inside ring out again, “Just termite mushroom oil alone of course not, but… I have a way oh…”
Shopkeeper Zhu’s eyes lit up…
“I’d like to hear the details…”
“As long as Shopkeeper Zhu intends to change the current situation and doesn’t mind this little woman meddling, I will naturally rack my brains to help you think of a way…”
“Of course.”
“That’s good.”
After a pause, the lazy casual voice,
“Actually, I came today not just to sell this termite mushroom oil; I have a few exclusive recipes, and a few beverages, summer smoothies I’d like to share with Shopkeeper Zhu.”
