"Just like us, we're being watched."
Ruan Meng frankly admitted.
A hint of admiration flashed across He Cong's brows.
The corners of his lips remained upturned throughout his speech.
People who are so pleasing to the eye and have such a cheerful face are very easy to please.
"What do you think should be done, young lady?"
The implication is that this matter is not over.
Ruan Yi had no choice but to give He Cong a serious look.
Ruan Meng remained composed and asked in return, "Is Young Master He testing me?"
He Cong smiled and said, "I just think the young lady is smart and might be able to offer better advice."
Ruan Meng smiled slightly, but did not believe her.
Turning to Manager Yu, he said, "Perfect timing, I wanted to ask Manager Yu about today's events..."
"Please feel free to ask, young lady."
"Manager Yu, according to Xiao Kai, there are quite a few restaurants and eateries in the city that are imitating these restaurants, selling seafood in a 'laozi' (a type of dipping sauce) style. What are their prices?"
"I've just arrived in the city and haven't had a chance to inquire yet."
Manager Yu said honestly, "A plate costs ten coins, which is half the price of He Family Restaurant."
Ruan Meng then asked, "What about their quality?"
Manager Yu explained, "They're worlds apart. The broth we use is delivered fresh to the girls every day and then brought back directly from there."
"The seafood, whether from Fengjia Village or supplied from the city, is all freshly caught that day."
“I once asked Xiao Kai to buy seafood from other stores, but the freshness of the seafood, the freshness of the soup, and the taste were all incomparable to ours.”
"We use fresh seafood, while they use scraps and offal. Regular seafood is much cheaper."
"Wouldn't that mean the He Family Restaurant is at a huge disadvantage?"
Manager Yu did not deny it; although it wasn't exactly a loss, it was close enough to be a poor business, just empty talk.
Fortunately, Ruan Meng's soup was consistently good. Regular customers of He Family Restaurant who weren't greedy for cheap deals could still taste the difference in flavor and distinguish the seafood.
Thanks to the other seafood menu items provided by Ruan Meng, Hejia Restaurant can also benefit from them, so the business of making laozhi (a type of seafood dish) has not stopped for the time being.
Besides maintaining the partnership with Ruan Meng, Manager Yu thought that although the profits would be small, it would improve the lives of the villagers in Fengjia Village...
Even if it's just a cheap promotion, it still proves the quality of He Family Restaurant. However, Manager Yu doesn't plan to remove this dish until the restaurant incurs losses.
Ruan Meng had previously told him why she didn't sell the recipe but only the dipping sauce, which left a deep impression on Manager Yu.
When the young master asked, he explained in detail.
Although the young master didn't say anything, Manager Yu felt that, based on his understanding of the young master, he also appreciated Ruan Meng.
Just as Ruan Meng said, the young master's question was a consideration based on future cooperation.
Even so, those who passed the young master's test received a rare opportunity.
For example, the master delegated authority to the young master to select some of the merchants on the island who supplied goods to the He family.
As it turns out, these people are indeed reliable.
Ruan Meng was unaware of what Manager Yu was thinking and was waiting for his answer.
Manager Yu replied with a smile, "You flatter me, young lady! The profits from the seafood stew have indeed decreased considerably..."
"But it also expanded the customer base for He Family Restaurant, and the new dishes they developed were still profitable. So it's not a loss."
Manager Yu was honest. Although he didn't say it outright, he sent a horse-drawn carriage to the village every day to pick up goods. Considering the manpower and resources involved, his profits might not even be as good as the villagers digging for seafood.
He Cong listened patiently to their conversation and spoke up at the right moment, "Is that why you're asking, young lady? Aren't you afraid that He Family Restaurant will withdraw its seafood hotpot business?"
Ruan Meng's expression shifted slightly. "I was just about to suggest that, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly."
Ruan Yi was in a bit of a hurry, and Manager Yu also started to do the same.
He Cong revealed an expression of great interest.
Ruan Meng explained, "As Manager Yu introduced, He Family Restaurant will not skimp on ingredients or materials to ensure quality."
"This way, we can guarantee that the price won't come down."
"On the contrary, if this price difference continues, it will inevitably be detrimental to He Family Restaurant."
"Young Master He, why do you think the seafood in broth became such a hit at He Family Restaurant?"
Ruan Meng smiled faintly, "You want to test me? I'll test you in return."
I want to see if you're qualified to be my partner!
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