Shen Huaimin, hearing his sister speak, also became excited.
If there were levels to operating a restaurant, then private dining would undoubtedly be at the very top.
However, likewise, their location, although vigorously developing tourism, hadn't seen significant results, with larger crowds only appearing during holidays.
"Isn't it too risky?" Shen Huaimin was hesitant. Private dining might not even be as profitable as their current farm-to-table restaurant.
Seeing her elder brother's indecision, Shen Yao said, "Big brother, what are you afraid of? Our farm-to-table restaurant makes money every day. Even if private dining doesn't make a profit, at worst, we can just go back to being the head chef at the farm-to-table restaurant."
Because he was the eldest brother, Shen Huaimin always thought more than others. He couldn't be as carefree as his younger siblings.
He was the eldest brother and naturally had to bear the responsibilities of an elder sibling.
Shen Huaimin gritted his teeth, "Alright! I'll listen to you!"
Just as his younger sister had said, if it didn't work out, he would consider it an experience, a form of tempering. At worst, he'd return to where he started.
And besides, his starting point was already a dream destination for many.
"Exactly, these two mu of vegetable land were specifically set aside for you. Using these for cooking, are you still afraid of not attracting customers? Moreover, big brother, you need to have confidence in your culinary skills!"
Shen Yao comforted Shen Huaimin. It wasn't that she was bragging, but her elder brother was extraordinarily gifted when it came to cooking.
Even without the vegetables irrigated by the spirit spring water, the dishes he made were already a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate! The spirit spring water-irrigated vegetables had merely added the finishing touch to his already exceptional craft.
A significant reason for his restaurant's struggles was the establishment opposite them. People were always seeking novelty. Their family already ate Southern cuisine daily, making other distinct cuisines more popular.
For instance, if you ate similar cuisine at home every day and then decided to dine out, you'd naturally opt for something different.
However, by venturing into private dining, they would be excluding a large portion of ordinary customers.
Those willing to patronize private dining establishments were typically those who valued quality over cost and were discerning diners, rendering specific cuisine types less of a primary concern.
No sooner said than done, Shen Yao had already planted the vegetable seeds, awaiting the opening of Shen Huaimin's private dining restaurant.
The first thing Shen Huaimin did upon returning was to share his ideas with his master.
As Shen Huaimin's master, Master Wang naturally approved.
"Huaimin, your sister is right. Your culinary skills have truly reached mastery. There's nothing more I can teach you. I wish you swift success!"
Master Wang was truly good to Shen Huaimin, otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to help him.
Master Wang had already been working as a head chef at a restaurant in the county. Upon hearing that Shen Huaimin needed assistance, he resigned and came over.
Shen Huaimin also told Master Wang, "Master, I will do a good job and absolutely not bring you shame!"
///
The private dining restaurant would be located at the previous restaurant's site, requiring only a renovation.
Shen Huaimin intended to renovate the restaurant in a style similar to the farm-to-table establishment, adopting a retro aesthetic, so that customers would immediately associate it with the same establishment.
When it came to renovations of this nature, Shen Huaichuan's good friend, Gao Yang, was the most skilled.
Thanks to Shen Yao's farm-to-table restaurant, Gao Yang's business had been booming, expanding from a small team of six to a larger group of over twenty.
When Shen Huaimin called, Gao Yang, upon hearing that they wanted to renovate a private dining restaurant, immediately put down his current work and came over.
Upon arrival, Gao Yang grabbed Shen Huaimin and began to converse.
Gao Yang's gratitude towards the Shen family was evident. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Shen family was his benefactor; rather, Shen Yao was his true benefactor.
"By the way, Big Brother Shen, isn't Sister Shen here?"
Shen Huaimin replied, "No, my sister is resting at home. Is there something you need from her?"
Gao Yang's face immediately lit up, "I wanted to share some good news with sister. Shanshan has given birth, a son! This is all thanks to sister."
If it weren't for the moxibustion treatment Shen Yao had given Shanshan, both Shanshan and the baby could have been in danger.
After staying at the Shen family's for more than ten days, upon returning for a check-up, the baby's position had already corrected itself. Even the doctor called it a miracle and asked if they had consulted a renowned expert.
"Really? Congratulations." Shen Huaimin was also very happy for Gao Yang, as his own experience as a first-time father hadn't been much better than Gao Yang's.
"Ah, I originally planned to inform you right after the birth, but due to being so busy, I completely forgot. I was planning to send out invitations for the full moon celebration!"
Gao Yang wasn't lying. After Gao Shanshan gave birth, he had initially planned to take some time off to be with Gao Shanshan during her confinement.
However, there were simply too many orders, and they were urgent. In the end, it was their parents from both families, and Gao Shanshan herself, who urged him to focus on his work that he was able to leave.
"That's wonderful, we can have a grand feast then," Shen Huaichuan said with a smile.
"That's absolutely no problem. You must take the chief seats!"
After chatting for a while longer, the two finally got down to business.
This time, Gao Yang brought five people with him, the same individuals who had worked with him on renovating the farm-to-table restaurant.
These individuals possessed the best skills and the most experience among all the workers. The other team members were currently occupied with other projects.
Shen Huaimin took out a drawing that Shen Yao had sketched for him a few days prior. "Can we renovate it according to this design?"
Gao Yang took the design draft and, upon seeing the drawings, was utterly amazed.
"This design is definitely Sister's, it's so beautiful!" Gao Yang praised sincerely.
"Yes, my sister said this design is both aesthetically pleasing and elegant!" Shen Huaimin had always trusted Shen Yao's aesthetic sense.
"Alright, then we will design according to the provided blueprints. Big Brother Shen, please review it yourself and let us know if any adjustments are needed." Gao Yang said.
"Okay!"
With the design plan in hand, Gao Yang immediately instructed his team to procure the materials.
As their reputation grew, many building material store owners approached them for collaborations.
Gao Yang had already established partnerships with some of these businesses, making it incredibly convenient to source any material they needed, and most importantly, at unbeatable value.
However, because Shen Yao's design incorporated many vintage and uncommon elements, finding the materials proved to be quite challenging.
It was fortunate that they knew many people; otherwise, gathering so many materials would have required considerable effort.
"Big Brother Shen, we have all the materials ready. We can start construction tomorrow. Do you think tomorrow is a suitable day?"