Thinking he was indebted to the hotel owner, he didn't want to cause trouble or affect his business, so he voluntarily moved aside.
"Hmph, at least you're sensible, kid. Get out of the car and keep your eyes open. Don't bring such a beat-up car out to embarrass yourself," the man surnamed Gao said, before leaving with his companion's arm around his waist.
Liu Yifeng glanced at the van. It was indeed worn out, but he didn't feel ashamed. He hadn't stolen or robbed anyone.
So what if he drove a broken car? It was still earned by his own hands.
Just as he was about to find another parking spot, the security guard called out to him, "What are you here for? Our hotel is for high-end consumers. Did you come to the wrong place?"
He had been working as a security guard here for several years, but he had never seen anyone drive such a shabby car to dine.
The cheapest car here cost over a hundred thousand yuan, but this van was probably not worth three thousand yuan.
If the engine wasn't still functional, it would have been scrapped long ago.
"Does driving a broken car mean I can't come to your hotel to eat? Or does your hotel have a rule that people who drive broken cars are not fit to eat here?" Liu Yifeng asked unhappily.
He had already backed down, but judging by the security guard's tone, he didn't seem willing to let him in.
The security guard immediately shook his head, "Sir, please don't misunderstand. We just need to confirm if you have a reservation before we can let you in."
"I'm sorry, I was invited here for a meal and didn't make a reservation in advance," Liu Yifeng replied truthfully.
"Then please call your friend and ask if they have a reservation!" The security guard dared not let Liu Yifeng in, fearing he was there to dine and dash or cause trouble.
Liu Yifeng hadn't expected it to be so troublesome to get in for a meal. He took out his phone from his pocket and immediately dialed Wan Hui's number.
However, it kept going unanswered. Liu Yifeng became a little anxious. Why couldn't he reach someone at crucial moments?
Seeing this, the security guard was convinced that Liu Yifeng was not there to dine. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he couldn't be reached at this time?
"Sir, perhaps you could wait until your friend arrives and come in together? Please drive your car away first. Our parking spaces are not open to the public."
Liu Yifeng felt annoyed. He was just trying to have a meal, and there were so many complications.
He took out his phone again and called Wan Hui.
This time, it finally connected. "Director Wan, you are truly a busy man."
"My apologies, Brother Liu. I was busy just now. Have you arrived?"
Liu Yifeng smiled mockingly. "I'm here but not allowed in. What's the difference between being here and not being here?"
"What? Someone's not letting you in? Brother Liu, wait for me outside for a moment. I'll be right there." Wan Hui's expression immediately turned serious.
He had been so swamped today that he had forgotten to inform his subordinates, and now this had happened.
After hanging up the phone, Liu Yifeng didn't leave in a hurry. He waited where he was for a while.
Just as the security guard was about to drive him away again, he preemptively silenced him, "My friend will be here soon."
"Alright, then please park your car quickly and don't block the road," the security guard urged.
Liu Yifeng said nothing. He got back into the car and found another spot to park.
As he was parking, Wan Hui arrived at the open-air parking lot outside the hotel and couldn't see Liu Yifeng.
However, the security guard saw him and immediately ran over, "Director Wan, what can I do for you?"
"I have a friend coming over for dinner. He said he was stopped and not allowed in. Do you know about this?" Wan Hui asked.
Upon hearing this, the security guard's heart sank. He couldn't help but think of the young man he had just stopped.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Director Wan, is the friend you're referring to the one driving the van?"
Just as Wan Hui was about to speak, he saw someone getting out of a parking spot not far away. He stopped bothering with the security guard and smiled warmly, "Brother Liu, it's my fault for the poor hospitality. Such a thing happened. I hope you don't take it to heart.
Don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation for this."
After speaking, he turned to the security guard who had followed him and said displeasantly, "You're fired. You don't need to come here anymore."
"Director Wan, I have elderly parents and young children. Please give me a chance. I didn't know he was your friend. Otherwise, even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare to stop him!" the security guard pleaded.
"Whether he is my friend or not, as a hotel staff member, you cannot stop any customer. Don't you know our hotel's service motto?" Wan Hui had no intention of letting the security guard off easily.
"Sir, it was all my fault just now. I shouldn't have judged you by your appearance. I sincerely apologize to you.
I hope you can be magnanimous and put in a good word for me with Director Wan. I still have elders and children to support at home, and I can't lose this job!" The security guard knew that the manager attached great importance to this young man.
Therefore, he would listen to what he said.
Liu Yifeng didn't want the hotel to fire an employee because of his matter. "Director Wan, let's just let this go.
However, your hotel's behavior of rejecting customers because they are dressed ordinarily and don't drive luxury cars is very wrong.
Some people are naturally low-key, and you shouldn't judge anyone based on their outward appearance."
"Brother Liu is right. It's our hotel's poor management that led to this mistake, which should never have happened.
I will definitely strengthen our management in the future and ensure that similar incidents do not occur." Wan Hui nodded repeatedly.
After speaking, he put on a stern face and said to the security guard, "What are you standing there for? Thank Mr. Liu quickly. If he hadn't pleaded for you, I would be packing my things and leaving right now."
"Thank you, Mr. Liu. I realize my mistake and promise not to judge people with prejudice in the future." The security guard looked at Liu Yifeng gratefully and made his promise.
"Never underestimate anyone. Keep up the good work!" Liu Yifeng said, then ignored him and entered the hotel with Wan Hui.
The security guard looked at Liu Yifeng's retreating back, still feeling a lingering fear.
He never imagined that the friend he had dismissed was actually the general manager, and he had almost lost his job.
It seemed that in the future, he truly couldn't judge people by their outward appearance, or he might offend a big shot one day.
Today's incident served as a wake-up call.
Upon entering the lobby, the hall was full of guests, and the waiters were extremely busy.
Liu Yifeng noticed that almost every table had his family's vegetables, and many tables had ordered every kind of vegetable.
It was evident that these people had come specifically for his vegetables.
"Brother Liu, please follow me to the private room on the second floor. The main hall on the first floor is too crowded and noisy for discussing business!" Wan Hui gestured.
Liu Yifeng nodded and followed him upstairs.
Upon entering the private room, Wan Hui said, "Brother Liu, please have a seat here for a moment. I'll go get our boss."
"Okay, go ahead!" Liu Yifeng gestured.
A moment later, Wan Hui led his boss, Tan Jiming, over.
He introduced them to each other, "Brother Liu, this is Mr. Tan, the owner of our hotel.
Mr. Tan, this is Mr. Liu Yifeng, the gentleman I mentioned earlier. He supplies all the new vegetables for our hotel."
Liu Yifeng extended his hands first, "Mr. Tan, hello. I've heard of your name for a long time. Meeting you today, I see you truly live up to your reputation."
Although these were polite words, they didn't sound insincere coming from Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng had indeed heard of the owner of Longteng Grand Hotel. In Hai City, everyone knew about Longteng Grand Hotel.
But very few people had seen the owner of this hotel. This boss was also different from what Liu Yifeng had imagined.
He had expected the boss to be portly and have the air of a nouveau riche.
But that was not the case. On the contrary, he looked very refined and scholarly. He was not portly either; his physique was excellent, clearly indicating he had worked out regularly.
Therefore, what he had just said was not flattery, but his genuine thoughts.
"Mr. Liu is too kind. It's truly rare to find someone like you, who can grow such delicious and nutritious vegetables at such a young age!"
Although Tan Jiming knew Liu Yifeng was young, he didn't expect him to be so young. Moreover, he appeared to be calm and reserved, which made Tan Jiming quite fond of him.