Chapter 400 A Mind Map

April 26th, Tuesday.

In the office, Pei Qian was trying to create a simple mind map on his computer.

The content of the mind map was simple: all of Tengda's departments that could potentially generate profits, as well as some auxiliary and administrative departments.

The relationships between these departments were very complex, and their natures were also different.

Some made a lot of money, some made a little, and some made no money at all.

Some departments had clear hierarchical or collaborative relationships, while others were not so closely connected.

The relationship between profit-generating departments and administrative departments also seemed to be different.

A mind map, simply put, is to write various key pieces of information in small boxes and then connect them with various lines, indicating the relationships between them.

Pei Qian decided to use different colors and lines to represent the status of each department and the relationships between them.

Red boxes represented departments that were already profitable.

Blue boxes represented departments that were not yet profitable but were relatively optimistic.

Black lines represented connections that already existed between two departments, such as Lazy Kitchen Takeaway actually providing fitness meals to the shared gym, or ROF E-Sports Assembly and Upwind Logistics being essentially Siamese twins.

Red lines represented connections that had not yet occurred between two departments but were possible.

Pei Qian's idea was simple: to streamline his thoughts through this mind map and anticipate possible departmental collaborations in advance.

However, after a preliminary sorting, Pei Qian quickly realized that the situation did not seem optimistic.

Judging from the map, it was mostly red, with only a few departments such as Lazy Kitchen Takeaway, Upwind Logistics, and the TPDB website maintaining a non-profitable blue.

Moreover, the workload was much larger than he had imagined!

Various black lines were intricate and complex. After sorting them out, he realized that the connections between certain departments were far more complicated than he had previously thought.

What's more, there was the bug that was Otto Technologies, which was connected to almost all existing departments...

The dense black lines, representing the relationships between departments that had already occurred and were beyond saving, turned the entire map into a net, coupled with small explanatory words, making it look very headache-inducing.

Pei Qian tried to draw red lines between two relatively unrelated departments, predicting the special relationships that might exist between them, but he collapsed after drawing a few lines.

Because it seemed that all departments had the theoretical possibility of collaboration!

Pei Qian could only try to imagine the worst-case scenario after the collaboration of two departments and mark it with a red line.

If there were some ambiguous or vague connections, he would not mark them, because there were already too many lines, and drawing them indiscriminately would only disrupt his vision.

Pei Qian looked at the departmental relationship map that he had spent two hours sorting out, and couldn't help but lean back in his chair, supporting his forehead with his hand.

"How did things develop into this..."

"Has my company's situation unknowingly become so bad?"

"Now I can't even fully understand the complex relationships between these departments under my command."

If there were only three or five departments, their relationships would be very simple and could be sorted out quickly.

But now there were more than a dozen departments, and who knew which two of them would have some inexplicable collaboration?

Pei Qian couldn't possibly ask the department heads to report everything to him for a decision. In that case, CEO Pei wouldn't have any normal rest and entertainment time, and he would only be busy dealing with these trivial matters every day.

The current situation was that he could only focus on the big picture and keep a close eye on a few key departments.

"Looking at it optimistically, the situation is actually okay. I already lost money in the last cycle, and I have slowly figured out the knack for losing money. It should get smoother and smoother in the future."

"The Guān Péi Shēng (Loss Coverage Trainees) should have already entered the various departments yesterday. I'll call them together next Saturday to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation of all departments."

"Using the intelligence from the departments gathered by the Guān Péi Shēng, I can improve this map and at least complete a preliminary understanding and early warning of all departments. Compared to before, it's considered a good control of the risk..."

"There's too much content in this map. There's no use in rushing it. Let's improve it slowly."

Pei Qian carefully saved and backed up the map so that he could view it at any time, constantly reflect on it, and prevent possible dangers.

He couldn't help but sigh, creating losses seemed to be becoming more and more of a technical skill...

Just as he closed the mind map and was about to watch a show to relax, there was a knock on the door.

After receiving permission to "enter," Lin Canrong cautiously pushed the door open and entered.

Pei Qian was a little surprised.

Why was Chef Lin here?

Lin Canrong was the manager of Ming Yun Private Kitchen. Whether he was working at Lazy Bones Internet Cafe before or transferred to Ming Yun Private Kitchen later, he had been working diligently in his position and had never been to Tengda's headquarters.

When he had something to report to CEO Pei, he would basically call or wait until CEO Pei went to Ming Yun Private Kitchen to eat.

What was going on today that he came to the office?

"Is there anything going on at Ming Yun Private Kitchen?" Pei Qian couldn't help but feel a little expectant.

Pei Qian was resistant to most of the profitable departments reporting to him.

Because these departments were mostly asking CEO Pei how to spend money, which was very annoying.

But Ming Yun Private Kitchen was different.

Because, so far, Ming Yun Private Kitchen had no room for improvement!

It was fully booked every day, and the seats were already reserved for next month. Although it made money every month, there were only so many seats, and the income had long been fixed. There was no possibility of increasing it.

That's why Pei Qian felt that Manager Lin was here this time because something had gone wrong with Ming Yun Private Kitchen, and its profitability was not good?

That was truly something to look forward to!

Lin Canrong hesitated slightly, paused for a moment, and then said, "CEO Pei, you seem to have separated Lazy Kitchen Takeaway and encouraged it to open branches and expand. You also established a special 'Food Laboratory' to research new dishes?"

The matter of Lazy Kitchen Takeaway had been arranged two weeks ago. Pei Qian was considering allowing Lazy Kitchen Takeaway to open more stores and lose more money, so he encouraged Lazy Kitchen Takeaway to expand.

Two weeks had passed, and it should already be in full swing, right?

Lin Canrong had previously been the head of Lazy Kitchen Takeaway, and was Rui Yuchen's former superior. Naturally, he knew the situation of Lazy Kitchen Takeaway very well.

But... Lin Canrong was now in charge of Ming Yun Private Kitchen, and he made a special trip here because of Lazy Kitchen Takeaway? What did that mean?

Pei Qian nodded, a little puzzled. "That's right, so what?"

Lin Canrong's expression seemed to carry some small emotions: "CEO Pei, this is not fair!"

"I know that Lazy Kitchen Takeaway is an important part of the group's industry. The temporary losses are to occupy the market and cultivate customers' consumption habits, for greater profitability... I have no objection to this expansion of Lazy Kitchen Takeaway. But..."

Lin Canrong stopped halfway through his words, and the corners of Pei Qian's mouth twitched slightly.

What did he mean, "The temporary losses are to occupy the market and cultivate customers' consumption habits, for greater profitability!"

Don't overthink it!

Lin Canrong continued, "But Ming Yun Private Kitchen is also just as important! Why is Lazy Kitchen Takeaway constantly losing money, and yet it can quickly open so many branches, while Ming Yun Private Kitchen is constantly making money, and seats are always in short supply, but there are no plans to open any branches?"

"The quality of Mingfu Family Banquet is not as good as Ming Yun Private Kitchen, but it has also made a lot of money. This is enough to show that the consumption needs of high-end diners have not been fully met, and there is still room for profit!"

"Moreover, I think that Ming Yun Private Kitchen should also establish a food laboratory!"

"Lazy Kitchen Takeaway needs to think about how to better satisfy the tastes of the masses, but Ming Yun Private Kitchen also needs to think about how to satisfy the tastes of high-end diners!"

"So... I have two requests this time."

"First, make good use of the 'Nameless Restaurant' brand, ensure quality, and plan the location again to open a branch."

"Second, also establish a food laboratory dedicated to providing better dishes for diners."

Pei Qian was silent.

What a waste of excitement.

So he was proposing a money-making plan!

Manager Lin, if you make such a request, then I definitely can't agree to it...

Your analysis is too accurate.

Mingfu Family Banquet can make money, and Ming Yun Private Kitchen needs to be booked in advance, which shows that the consumption needs of high-end diners have not been fully met.

But Lazy Kitchen Takeaway can expand because it doesn't make money!

Ming Yun Private Kitchen is already making so much money with this one store, and you want me to open another one and continue to make money?

Give me a break, please!

In fact, Pei Qian was also very distressed. Ever since Ming Yun Private Kitchen became popular, he could only eat there at the scheduled times.

He could only eat in the largest private room once a week, and he could only book the entire place once a month on the 20th.

But Pei Qian would rather wait in line than open another store to make more money.

Now he actually wanted to open a branch? You're thinking too much, it's impossible!

A food laboratory was also out of the question.

Lazy Kitchen Takeaway was aimed at the tastes of the masses, and the ingredients were relatively cheap. Most people didn't pursue those fancy dishes, so opening a food laboratory would have very little improvement.

But Ming Yun Private Kitchen was aimed at high-end diners. If he really let those skilled chefs create a food laboratory and research metaphysical dishes such as "fried air," it would definitely become more famous and out of control!

Therefore, Pei Qian was very resistant to these two requests and could not agree to them.

Of course, Lin Canrong's suggestion to open a food laboratory for Ming Yun Private Kitchen was reasonable, and it was not good to refuse it bluntly. He could only find a way to decline it tactfully.

He thought for a moment and said, "The implication of opening a branch is, do you think Ming Yun Private Kitchen has reached its limit?"

Lin Canrong was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

Had he reached his limit?

If he really thought so, then he was obviously arrogant and complacent, because it was impossible to reach the limit in this industry.

But if he said he hadn't reached his limit?

Lin Canrong felt that Ming Yun Private Kitchen's service was already better than most high-end restaurants. It couldn't be said that there was no room for improvement at all, but the cost-effectiveness of going further was very low.

After repeated consideration, Lin Canrong said, "It can't be said that we've reached the limit, but opening a branch and a food laboratory can also be considered a direction to pursue the limit, right?"

Pei Qian: "..."

It seemed to make sense.

No, he couldn't be persuaded, being persuaded meant making more money!

Pei Qian cleared his throat twice: "You can freely dispose of the money earned by Ming Yun Private Kitchen, but you can't open a branch."

"As for the food laboratory... it's impossible to do it with Ming Yun Private Kitchen's current size. The chefs have to cook for the guests every day, where would they have the extra energy to do research?"

"Your first goal is definitely to ensure the dining experience of the customers. It would be cutting off your nose to spite your face to affect the chefs' energy and reduce the quality of the dishes in order to research new dishes. Don't be too ambitious."

"At most, you can use the research results of the Lazy Kitchen Takeaway food laboratory."

Pei Qian had now learned a very good way to refuse.

For those questions that he could think of a reason to refuse, he would give a reason, even if it was a bit far-fetched.

For those that he couldn't think of a reason for, he would enforce it.

Anyway, everyone's brainwashing level was so high now that even if CEO Pei made an unreasonable request, everyone would think that it had another meaning, and if they screwed it up, they would only think that they didn't understand it enough.

It could be considered an unexpected harvest left over after being misinterpreted so many times...

Sure enough, the expression on Lin Canrong's face changed. He seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, he silently swallowed it back and turned it into a sentence: "Okay, CEO Pei."