"Alright, we'll do as Manager Wan suggests," Liu Yifeng nodded.
"Good, I'll have the kitchen staff come over to move the produce into the kitchen. I'll settle the payment with you shortly.
However, from now on, we'll likely need to switch to weekly settlements. Our hotel has too many operations, and daily settlements would be too time-consuming.
But rest assured, I won't short you a single cent. We can sign a contract," Wan Hui said hastily.
Du Ziheng, standing nearby, added, "You can be assured of that, Brother Liu. I've been cooperating with Manager Wan for four to five years, and we settle weekly. There have never been any issues with delayed payments or underpayments."
Since Du Ziheng had vouched for it, Liu Yifeng had no further objections, though a contract was still necessary.
With everything in writing, it would serve as a guarantee for both parties in case of any future issues.
Wan Hui then called for the kitchen staff to move the produce into the kitchen.
While hotel servers could start at 9:30 AM, the kitchen staff had to start earlier.
They needed to wash and prepare the vegetables, tasks that had to be done in advance to avoid being overwhelmed later.
After weighing the produce, excluding the baskets, the total came to 412 jin. Wan Hui promptly gave Liu Yifeng five thousand yuan.
The extra eighty yuan was considered a fuel allowance for Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it with a thank you.
"I won't keep you two any longer. I still need to discuss with the chefs how to turn these ordinary vegetables into specialty dishes. I've got a lot to do."
"Please go ahead, Manager Wan. We need to head back too.
If you need vegetables tomorrow, please message me in the afternoon so I can start preparing," Liu Yifeng reminded him.
Wan Hui nodded. "Understood. I'll be in touch."
With that, he hurried off to the kitchen.
He had taken it upon himself to purchase Liu Yifeng's vegetables at such a high price.
He had to show some results for it, otherwise, if the boss found out, he wouldn't be able to keep his general manager position.
"Brother Du, have you had breakfast?" Liu Yifeng asked, patting his rumbling stomach as they exited the hotel.
"Not yet. I know a breakfast spot nearby with excellent food. I'll take you," Du Ziheng had spent half an hour selling vegetables at the market that morning before coming to the hotel to wait for Liu Yifeng.
He was quite hungry by now.
They drove to a nearby breakfast shop. It was peak commuting time, and the breakfast places were all packed.
One particular shop selling noodle soup was doing the best business, with a long queue forming outside.
Despite the wait, many people were willing to stand in line.
"This is the place I was telling you about. Their noodle soup and steamed buns are both incredibly delicious," Du Ziheng said, leading Liu Yifeng over.
Seeing the dozen or so people waiting, Liu Yifeng clicked his tongue. "These people are really willing to wait just for breakfast."
If it were him, he would be too lazy to queue. Breakfast was breakfast, as long as it filled his stomach.
Du Ziheng saw Liu Yifeng's expression and smiled. "Once you've tried their breakfast, you'll understand why these people are so persistent."
The two of them joined the queue. After about twenty minutes, it was finally their turn.
Du Ziheng ordered his breakfast like a regular, clearly a frequent customer.
Liu Yifeng, eating there for the first time, had no idea what was good, so he followed Du Ziheng's order.
Just as he was about to pay, Du Ziheng had already settled the bill.
Seeing this, Liu Yifeng quietly put his money back into his pocket. He'd treat next time!
It was just over ten yuan for breakfast; there was no need to fight over it, it would look rather undignified.
"There are two seats over there. Let's hurry and grab them before someone else takes them," Du Ziheng said, moving briskly.
The shop had a history of over twenty years and a very simple decor, lacking any real class.
However, the shop had built its reputation on its food, so they didn't need to invest in decor to retain customers.
They sat at a table by the wall. Soon, the steamed buns were served.
Du Ziheng took a small bowl and poured some chili oil and vinegar into it. "Steamed buns are best dipped in vinegar and chili oil. Try them quickly."
He then eagerly picked up a steamed bun and began to eat.
Liu Yifeng was also curious. How good could their breakfast be to make so many people willing to wait?
After dipping it in vinegar and chili oil, he took a large bite. The taste was indeed different from the steamed buns he usually ate.
These steamed buns were not only thin-skinned and filled with meat, but the meat seemed to melt in his mouth, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.
Dipped in vinegar and chili oil, it was simply a perfect combination.
"How was it? Didn't I tell you?" Du Ziheng asked, watching Liu Yifeng eat with relish.
Liu Yifeng nodded without hesitation. "It's quite good!"
"Do you know how much this breakfast shop makes a month?" Du Ziheng asked in a low, mysterious tone.
"How much?" Liu Yifeng couldn't guess.
But judging by the crowd, it was at least twenty to thirty thousand a month.
To his surprise, Du Ziheng held up one finger. "Each month, at least fifty thousand, and sometimes seventy to eighty thousand."
"What? That much?" Liu Yifeng found it hard to believe. A breakfast shop of only about thirty square meters could earn so much in a month.
Calculating it, it could earn enough for several apartments a year. He was starting to feel tempted.
"To be honest, I've been thinking about entering the catering industry for a long time. But this industry is highly competitive. If you can't create a unique flavor, you won't be able to retain customers.
The reason I frequent this breakfast shop isn't just because of the delicious taste; it's also because I want to discern the ingredients from the flavor and learn to replicate it.
I've tried making it myself seven or eight times based on their taste, but the flavor is always quite different. I don't know where the problem lies," Du Ziheng said dejectedly.
"I didn't expect Brother Du to have such a charming side. We're not gourmet chefs, how can we guess someone's recipe just by tasting?
Even if you figure out the ingredients, you don't know the proportions. If the proportions are wrong, the taste will also be significantly different," Liu Yifeng chuckled softly, unable to suppress his amusement.
Du Ziheng sighed. "I know that too, but seeing how profitable their breakfast shop is makes me feel restless.
Actually, I have another way to make money, but I'm not sure what Brother Liu thinks." This was the real reason for Du Ziheng's breakfast invitation.
Liu Yifeng took a bite of a steamed bun, indicating for him to speak his mind.
"Actually, I think we could partner up and open a farm-to-table restaurant in your area. You could grow your own vegetables, so you wouldn't need to buy them from elsewhere.
As for meat dishes, I think we could also raise our own chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep.
Then, we could be self-sufficient, which would greatly reduce our costs.
If we raise enough, we could even sell them to customers to take home and prepare themselves."
"But in our area, besides the spring and autumn seasons when some tourists visit, there are very few tourists at other times. We wouldn't make much money." Liu Yifeng had actually considered this problem a long time ago.
But reality quickly dashed that idea.
Du Ziheng, however, had a different perspective. "If there are no tourists, we'll find a way to attract them. We can create a parent-child interactive park.
Parents nowadays are busy with work and neglect their children, so during the weekends, they try to make up for it.
Our parent-child interactive park would not only strengthen the bond between parents and children but also provide a unique experience.
When they're tired from playing, they can eat at our farm-to-table restaurant, and business will come naturally."
After hearing Du Ziheng's suggestion, Liu Yifeng's eyes lit up. "Brother Du, that's quite a good idea.
But what kind of activities would this parent-child interactive park involve?"
"For example, catching fish in the fields, catching crayfish...
And then creating some challenge projects that require adults to guide their children, as well as various relaxation and game activities.
In short, projects that allow adults and children to experience different kinds of fun.
Then, we can do some good advertising, and it will definitely attract many people."