Ling Dapeng couldn't possibly go to the restaurant to ask about this; he was still sulking every day! But the fact that everyone at Zhaixinglou worked six days a week and had one day off spread like snowflakes, as if it were a groundbreaking initiative, and many people were talking about it.
"Now that you mention it, I'm thinking of working at Zhaixinglou too. I wonder if they need any waiters!" Even the waiters at Ziyanglou were sighing.
Within the Chamber of Commerce, Zhao Changgui of Ziyanglou Restaurant, representing the restaurants in the capital, joined forces with other restaurant owners to file a complaint against Zhaixinglou Restaurant in conjunction with Jin Danyang.
"President Jin, what Zhaixinglou is doing is a slap in the face to all our restaurants! It's making our staff want to rest too," Zhao Changgui said indignantly. "Throughout history, which restaurant has ever had its staff working six days a week and only getting one day off?"
"Exactly! What do you mean by 'no pay deduction for rest'? Zhaixinglou is rich and powerful, and they're just being nice. We don't have such good business. If we do less work, do you think we'll get the same pay?"
Listening to the complaints of several restaurant owners, Jin Danyang pondered for a moment and then asked, "So, what you all mean is, to have a talk with that person from the Star-Picking Tower?"
“We all know that this restaurant is owned by the Prince Rui’s mansion, but we also know that the people in the mansion certainly won’t concern themselves with these trivial matters. So, when will you arrange to meet with the two managers of Zhaixing Tower, Chairman Jin?”
Jin Danyang still remembered what the Prince Rui had said, and he was somewhat hesitant about the suggestions from the other restaurant owners.
“Zhaixinglou is so busy, it’s unlikely you can get both managers out here,” Jin Danyang said. “How about we all go and try the food at Zhaixinglou? I’ve been there, and it’s pretty good!”
Zhao Changgui wasn't so magnanimous as to patronize his rival's business, but since Jin Danyang had spoken up, he agreed, knowing his enemy and himself.
Jin Danyang, accompanied by several shopkeepers, went to Zhaixing Tower and requested a private room.
Lu Neng recognized the people and felt that such a group of people coming here might not be a good thing. After calming them down, he went to the kitchen and told Tao Wanniang.
"What? The head of the Chamber of Commerce brought a bunch of restaurant managers to our Zhaixinglou Restaurant for a meal?" Tao Wanniang was in charge of the kitchen, so she didn't know anything about the Chamber of Commerce. But upon hearing the name, she also felt that this was no ordinary matter.
"They can't be here to see us, can they? Let's serve them the food first. I don't believe that food can't shut them up!" Tao Wan's mother paused for a moment and then immediately started cooking.
"Manager Tao, I think their dinner is just a pretense; they might have other intentions," Lu Neng warned.
"You handle this for now. If it really doesn't work, I'll come over," Tao Wanniang said.
Seeing how busy the kitchen was, Luneng didn't want to disturb them for too long, so they went to the living room.
Inside the private room, Jin Danyang couldn't even remember why he had come. As the dishes were served one after another, he looked at them with a festive air and ate to his heart's content!
"That's all there is to it. My Ziyanglou's sweet and sour fish is just as good." Zhao Changgui took a bite, frowned, and said, but his hand seemed to move on its own, picking up another piece of fish and eating it with a look of disgust.
"Not bad, right? Who's this chef? We should check him out." Another shopkeeper picked up a piece of braised pork. It was similar to his own, but the color of the braised pork from Zhaixinglou was a bit better.
"This chicken can be roasted like this?" The manager of Fuyunlou Restaurant was somewhat shocked as he looked at the chicken standing upright on the table, pierced with an iron needle and still on fire.
"Hmm, it must have been coated with wine. The chef at Zhaixinglou is quite quick-witted."
"The fire's out. Come on, this Phoenix of Fire has a wonderful meaning. I wonder how it tastes!"
Shandong Luneng listened to the commotion inside from the doorway. It seemed that he was still preoccupied with the food and didn't take the initiative to chat. Instead, he went to attend to other matters.
Despite their initial skepticism, they were ultimately won over. At the table in the private room, they complained, but they ate with great relish.
"President Jin, we've almost finished eating. Shouldn't we call the manager over?" Zhao Changgui said to Jin Danyang, letting out a burp.
"I'll come. I really want to see what kind of person this manager is. It would be best if the cook also came to take a look. I wonder how much Zhaixinglou pays us. Our Wangyuelou is not bad either."
Hearing that someone was already thinking of poaching his employees, Jin Danyang chuckled and stood up, saying, "I'll do it, waiter. Tell your manager, Mr. Lu, that a customer is looking for us."
Shandong Luneng was waiting, and when the waiter came to say it, they gladly came.
"President Jin, esteemed managers, what brings you all here today? How was the food? Are you all satisfied?"
"Manager Lu, it's been a long time! Today I've brought several senior managers with me, and everyone thinks it's great, really great!" Jin Danyang said cheerfully.
"President Jin, you are rare guests. We welcome all who come, and it is our restaurant's honor if you are satisfied," Lu Neng said with a smile, though he wouldn't bring it up himself.
"Manager Lu, let's not beat around the bush. I've come today to talk to you about your six-day work week," Zhao Changgui said first. "The head managers of all the restaurants in the capital are here. What are we supposed to do if you keep doing this?"
Lu Neng was taken aback for a moment, but still smiled and said, "This must be the manager of Ziyanglou Restaurant. He looks very kind. This six-day work week with one day off is Manager Tao's way of showing consideration for the hard work of the restaurant staff. It doesn't conflict with the work of the other managers, does it?"
"You're so considerate of our staff's hard work, all the staff in our restaurant want to come work for you! Manager Lu, you're doing us a disservice!"
Luneng smiled and said politely, "It's not that bad. You are all seniors. Zhaixinglou is a rising star and cannot compare to you."
"Manager Lu, was it Manager Tao who suggested this break?" Chairman Jin asked. "We know that you, Zhaixing Tower, have two managers, but we've never met Manager Tao before!"
"Manager Tao is in charge of the kitchen. All the new dishes here were created by Manager Tao. She's very busy," Lu Neng explained.
“We’re all in the same industry, and we’re bound to meet again in the future,” Jin Danyang said. “Today, we would like to invite Manager Tao to meet us.”
After thinking about it, Shandong Luneng agreed. It would be more appropriate for Manager Tao to handle the rest arrangements more comprehensively.
With Zhao Yongsheng around, Tao Wanniang was finally able to steal a moment of leisure. When Lu Neng came to see her and told her what those people meant, she decided to go and take a look.
What business is it of theirs if she provides benefits to her own employees?
Tao Wanniang's appearance startled the restaurant managers, who then remembered that the head chef of Zhaixing Tower was a woman. It was somewhat plausible for a female cook to be in charge, but it seemed rather odd that a female cook was the manager of the restaurant!
“I remember you. You were the owner of the small farmhouse restaurant before?” One of the owners looked at Tao Wanniang and said as if he had just realized her.
“Yes, it’s me. You look unfamiliar, but you have a good memory. What’s wrong? Am I bothering you by taking care of the staff at my restaurant?” Tao Wanniang glanced around the room and spoke calmly.
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