Chapter 56: Is running a restaurant in the capital a recipe for disaster?
Li Qin'er got the answer. She immediately thought of a few dishes and asked, "Have you ever eaten Ants Climbing a Tree, Fried Chicken Legs, Sweet and Sour Pineapple Pork, or Braised Pig's Trotters?"
Hearing these dish names, Nian An and Nian Ning were both dizzy. "Young Master Qin, we servants have never heard of any of these dishes before."
Shen Pingjin, standing beside her, frowned and said, "These dish names are truly unheard of, unseen, and never heard of before."
Li Qin'er thought there might be a few dishes they would recognize, but surprisingly, none of them had ever heard of them.
With this in mind, Li Qin'er had a general idea of what was going on.
Because there weren't many customers, the dishes ordered by Shen Pingjin and the others were quickly served by the waiter.
Looking at the delicious-looking and fragrant beef knife-cut noodles in front of her, Nian An and Nian Ning's mouths were watering.
Shen Pingjin also ordered a bowl of beef knife-cut noodles. She likes cilantro and scallions, and she prefers to add some spicy broth. When she saw that there was none in this bowl, she specially asked the waiter to add some more.
The stir-fried green peppers and pork that Li Qin'er ordered were ready. Looking at the stir-fried green peppers and pork in front of her, she thought to herself that it looked no different from what they had made at home before.
After everyone was seated, they all started eating with gusto.
Shen Pingjin had been craving this flavor for a long time. She suppressed her longing and slowly slurped up a mouthful of the knife-cut noodles soaking in chili oil.
In an instant, the tangy and refreshing taste filled her mouth, and that familiar deliciousness blossomed on her taste buds and tongue. Shen Pingjin felt as if tears were about to flow from the deliciousness.
This beef noodles at this small restaurant are just as good as the beef knife-cut noodles at Zuixianglou!
Li Qin'er was not unaware of Shen Pingjin's reaction. She hesitated for a moment, glanced at the shredded green peppers and pork in front of her, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece, and put it in her mouth.
Li Qin'er's pupils dilated in shock!
This is much tastier than she imagined.
Shen Pingjin said, "I didn't expect that the beef knife-cut noodles from other restaurants would taste just as good as those from Zuixianglou."
Li Qin'er nodded in agreement, "This is my first time here, and the taste is truly astonishing."
Shen Pingjin was somewhat surprised, "Young Master Qin, you haven't even tried food from other restaurants before?"
Li Qin'er was a little embarrassed. Since she came to this world, every time she ate, she either cooked for herself or went to Zuixianglou. She really had never been to any other place.
She said shyly, "Your Highness, I have indeed eaten at other places."
Shen Pingjin smiled. It turned out that everyone was the same.
Seeing the shocked expressions on their faces, the waiter felt a little pleased. "Gentlemen, isn't our restaurant quite good?"
Looking at the proud and self-satisfied expression on the waiter's face, Shen Pingjin found it amusing.
She nodded in agreement, saying, "It really is delicious!"
The waiter patted his chest, his eyes suddenly reddening. "Sigh, I just realized that just having good taste isn't enough. It can't compare to established brands. After all, the best dishes here are just as good as those at Zui Xiang Lou."
That's absolutely right.
If two restaurants taste exactly the same, people will naturally gravitate towards the one with the better reputation.
Shen Pingjin seemed to realize the problem as well. She looked at Li Qin'er beside her, her brows furrowed deeply.
"Young Master Qin, do you think we might encounter a situation like this restaurant?"
Before Li Qin'er could speak, the waiter next to her heard this and spoke up first.
He seemed quite surprised. "Gentlemen, you're opening a restaurant too?"
Shen Pingjin felt there was nothing to hide, "Yes, we plan to start a restaurant business in the capital."
The waiter's expression was complicated. "Gentlemen, have you come to the capital from out of town to make your fortune?"
Shen Pingjin shook her head. "We are not from out of town. On the contrary, I grew up in the capital."
The waiter was surprised. "Then you should know the status of Zuixianglou in the restaurant business?"
When he saw the two people nod, Xiao Er's shock reached its peak.
He simply couldn't believe that someone was like them before, refusing to believe in this superstition and wanting to start a restaurant business in the capital!
The restaurant owner, like these customers, had previously opened another restaurant in the capital despite knowing about the existence of Zuixianglou.
And guess what? It's only been a short time since they opened, and even though they've lowered the price of every dish to the bare minimum, hardly any customers are willing to patronize their restaurant.
They still went to Zuixianglou.
But this restaurant was the result of their boss's hard work, and their boss was a stubborn person who still didn't believe that no one in the capital would come to eat their food.
As a result, Zuixianglou taught them a harsh lesson.
They witnessed firsthand how their boss started out full of vigor and how he later became decadent and degenerate.
Even later, their boss wanted to sell the shop and leave, but he still considered the loyal and honest assistants and couldn't bring himself to do it.
The waiter looked at the customers before him with deep sadness in his eyes. He didn't mean to discourage them, but rather that it was simply impossible for him to succeed in the restaurant business in the capital and to be on par with Zuixianglou.
He silently shut his mouth, picked up the handkerchief on the table, and continued wiping the table and chairs.
Shen Pingjin was an extremely shrewd person. Seeing the waiter's expression, what could she not understand?
Shen Pingjin looked at Li Qin'er and asked with a smile, "Young Master Qin, it seems that no one thinks we can make a name for ourselves in the capital."
Li Qin'er had been rejected countless times before, but she said calmly, "Your Highness, it's normal, it's normal. After all, Zuixianglou is indeed a long-established brand that can't be compared to overnight."
Chen Pingjin seemed to be deep in thought. "In that case, does Young Master Qin have any good ideas?"
Li Qin'er didn't know how many days and nights images of her doing business had flashed through her mind.
She began, "Your Highness, do you still remember those dishes I just mentioned that none of you have ever heard of?"
Chen Pingjin frowned slightly. "I remember, you don't mean to..."
Li Qin'er nodded and said, "That's right, just as Your Highness thought. I plan to put all the delicacies I just mentioned on the menu, which will be divided into five sections."
Under Shen Pingjin's questioning gaze, Li Qin'er explained, "These five sections are: traditional breakfast, appetizing snacks, light and healthy drinks, nutritionally balanced lunch, and dinner that's perfect for weight loss."
Li Qin'er looked at Chen Pingjin and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Your Highness, isn't this menu quite novel?"
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