Chapter 278 Business
"Manager Lin, Director Hu has already rented the house next to the restaurant."
"As for the decoration, it will be according to your request and will officially start next week."
This was Lin Siqiao's specific instruction, to make sure to use the Valentine's Day time slot.
Otherwise, if the foreign guests were talking passionately while there was a buzzing sound next door, it would really ruin the atmosphere.
“How many seats in the restaurant have been reserved?”
"All of them have been pre-ordered, and more than 1,000 boxes of chocolate have been sold."
Lin Siqiao nodded and asked, "Did Director Hu solve the problem of flowers?"
Seeing Assistant Wu's embarrassed look, Lin Siqiao guessed that this matter would probably be difficult to handle.
After all, transportation was underdeveloped in that era, and it was not easy for flowers from the south to be transported to the north, and greenhouse cultivation technology in the north had not yet been fully popularized.
Coupled with policy issues in recent years, flower markets across the country have basically been banned.
That is to say, it happened that the person who came to China two years ago, and the United Nations restored China's seat.
In order to celebrate this unusual year, the Beijing City established the Public Utilities Bureau Flower Management Office.
Since last year, the flower market has been gradually recovering.
The flower markets of the era were just that the flowers they cultivated were mostly used in celebrations or diplomatic welcome events and would not necessarily be granted to Friendship Stores.
Just as Lin Siqiao was thinking about other ways out, Assistant Wu hurriedly spoke.
"Manager Lin, Director Hu has already solved the flower problem, but he's worried about it now. He hasn't gotten much sleep in the past few days."
"ah?---"
What Assistant Wu said was not an exaggeration at all. Director Hu was so worried these past few days that he not only didn't sleep well, but also lost a layer of hair.
Flowers are very delicate things. They cannot survive at too high a temperature or too low a temperature. They also cannot be exposed to the wind. They are harder to take care of than raising a child.
There is nothing to say about these, the key price is also ridiculously high.
Even though the rose is so small, it costs as much as half a pound of pork. Director Hu's heart was bleeding when he paid the money.
This thing has such a short shelf life. If it can't be sold, such a large sum of money will be wasted.
Seeing Lin Siqiao coming, Director Hu quickly took him to the warehouse where the flowers were stored.
These flowers were just picked and delivered early this morning. They have a pleasant fragrance and the buds are very fresh.
Lin Siqiao took a look and found that there were several varieties of roses here.
Flowers cultivated by the Beijing Flower Management Office in the 1980s "Director, you are amazing."
Normally, when Director Hu heard others praising him, he would agree with them, but today he really didn't feel like doing so.
"Xiao Lin, stop keeping me in suspense and tell me how to get these flowers."
Director Hu was now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He didn't care about anything else and directly revealed his cards to Lin Siqiao.
"These flowers are not cheap to buy, about 50 cents each."
"You said it's so expensive, will the foreign guests be able to afford it?"
"50 cents a flower? That's pretty expensive."
After hearing this, Lin Siqiao clicked his tongue twice. No wonder flowers were listed as capitalist hedonism. Who among the ordinary people would be willing to buy them at this price?
When Director Hu saw that Lin Siqiao said it was expensive, he became even more unsure.
"Then...what should we do?"
"Director, please don't panic!"
Lin Siqiao put her bag aside and asked Assistant Wu to get her a bucket of warm water. She also wanted a can of beer and a pair of scissors.
These Friendship Stores had ready-made items, and within a few minutes Assistant Wu delivered everything Lin Siqiao wanted.
Generally speaking, it takes at least four hours to wake up the flowers.
However, since this kind of fruit has just been picked less than a few hours ago, there is no need to worry about its freshness.
Lin Siqiao picked out some flowers that she would use later. She removed the extra leaves from them first, then used scissors to cut off a few centimeters diagonally along the roots.
After dealing with all this, Lin Siqiao opened the beer and poured some into the bucket.
Finally, put all the arranged flowers into the warm water.
When Director Hu saw this, his heart bleed again.
Wow, he’s even fed with beer. He lives a more comfortable life than him!
Just as he was looking forward to what Lin Siqiao would do next, Lin Siqiao clapped his hands.
"Okay, let it soak like this for now."
"Soaking?"
"Well, soak for two hours."
Although he knew that Director Hu was confused, Lin Siqiao still said the same old thing.
"Director Hu, don't be anxious. You won't be able to eat hot tofu if you are impatient. You will know in two hours."
It’s not that Lin Siqiao wanted to keep it a secret, she’s also anxious!
But if the flowers are not awakened in advance, they will wilt after a while when they are wrapped.
By then, not to mention selling it, it would be difficult to even give it as a gift, and materials would be needed to wrap the bouquet.
Lin Siqiao had mentioned this to Director Hu before. She needed some old newspapers, kraft paper, the kind of shiny colored paper used to wrap candies, and ribbons.
This is not difficult. Director Hu has prepared it early in the morning.
"Let's go, Director Hu, we'll come back later."
Lin Siqiao pulled the person to the lobby on the first floor. She also needed some other things.
"Director, I want some chocolate, little dolls, and White Rabbit candy."
"Please find me some more skilled helpers."
There are so many flowers that she can’t pack them all by herself.
"OK--"
Director Hu nodded resignedly. He was now in a situation where he had no other choice but to trust Lin Siqiao.
Two hours passed quickly, and at the urging of Director Hu, Lin Siqiao led everyone to the flower warehouse.
The petals of the awakened flowers have a silky luster and even the fragrance becomes more intense.
Lin Siqiao later learned flower arrangement.
In addition, she owns her own flower shop, so she is quite experienced in flower arrangement and packaging.
Lin Siqiao demonstrated using a rose, and explained the details to everyone while bandaging it.
The people Director Hu chose to help were all veteran employees from the pastry and candy sections, and packing was not a difficult task for them.
The difficulty lies in how to combine these flowers and plants together.
And these are the key points that Lin Siqiao talked about.
After a while, a bunch of beautiful roses appeared in front of everyone.
The fiery red color paired with the retro yellowish kraft paper looks surprisingly harmonious.
Next, Lin Siqiao used White Rabbit milk candy and dolls as examples and packaged two special flower bouquets, which were specially prepared for children.
In every era, the easiest way to make money is from women and children.
So the price of the bouquet naturally cannot be cheap.
Lin Siqiao took a look at the bouquet of roses in his hand. The cost of 11 roses was almost 6 yuan.
Taking into account the loss issue, Lin Siqiao suggested that it should be at least tripled, otherwise it would be meaningless.
Finally, she emphasized to everyone that no matter which bouquet of flowers you pack, you must be careful to avoid the number 13.
Just as Chinese people don't like the number 4, Westerners also have numbers they hate.
In their eyes, 13 is a symbol of bad luck.
Lin Siqiao did not ask Director Hu whether he was satisfied with this question, because the corners of his mouth had already given the answer.
After explaining all the details, Lin Siqiao picked up the bouquet that had just been wrapped.
Assistant Wu also brought over the custom-made clothes for Mrs. Kawanda.
They had agreed last time to meet at the cafe on the second floor of Friendship Restaurant this afternoon.
When Lin Siqiao arrived at the embassy area, he happened to see Mr. Kawanda helping his wife get out of the car.
"Ms. Monita, long time no see"
"Yeah, long time no see, Translator Lin."
The moment Monita greeted him, her eyes were unconsciously attracted to the bouquet of roses in Lin Siqiao's arms.
Is this a flower? The packaging is so special!
Their country has spring all year round, and flowers and fruits are among the most common things.
However, when she came here, the winter seemed to be particularly long, and she could not remember when was the last time she received flowers.
While Monita was distracted, Lin Siqiao handed the roses and the packaged clothes in her hand to Mr. Kawanda.
Without saying anything, he blinked quickly and left the time for this loving couple.
Mr. Kawanda understood what Lin Siqiao meant and couldn't help laughing in his heart. This translator Lin's business acumen was really amazing!
More than ten minutes later, Monita walked into the embassy restaurant shyly, holding a rose.
Looking at the envious eyes of the ladies present, Lin Siqiao nodded to Assistant Wu.
It's time to put up the flower reservation posters.
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