Manager Liu opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
He had been in this business for many years and was well aware of the complexity of human relationships, but he also had a vague feeling that this young partner beside him was very strict and had his own unshakable principles and reasons for doing things. And when he thought about it carefully, he felt that what Lu Qingyang said was indeed reasonable.
If a hotel wants to be truly reborn, it will not be enough to just patch things up.
After a few days of vigorous and resolute action, the lax and slack atmosphere in the hotel was rectified, and various new rules were gradually implemented. It seemed that everything was developing in a good direction.
Lu Qingyang knew that for a restaurant, the kitchen is the heart and the chef is the soul.
He secretly observed for a few days and found that a very experienced chef in the kitchen had accumulated skills but extremely rigid thinking.
They are very resistant to new standards and innovative dishes, and often rely on their seniority.
Complaining constantly in the kitchen will invisibly affect the enthusiasm of other chefs.
This kind of self-satisfied "seniority" is often the biggest obstacle to reform.
Lu Qingyang did not hesitate and discussed it directly with Manager Liu.
Manager Liu came in front of him and politely transferred the old master from the core kitchen position to guard the warehouse on the grounds that "warehouse management needs experienced old comrades like you to take charge."
The vacant wok position will be filled by promoting one of the hard-working and willing-to-learn young apprentices, which can also be regarded as a hope for those who work hard.
But this is only a temporary solution.
The selection of the chef has always been the most important thing in Lu Qingyang's mind.
This position must be filled by someone whom I absolutely trust. Not only must they be highly skilled, but they must also understand innovation and management. Most importantly, they must have reliable character.
The chefs currently working in restaurants are clearly not capable or loyal enough to shoulder this responsibility.
This became another headache for him.
Just as he was thinking hard, Mr. Chen from the capital called.
The master first asked about the recent situation of the hotel with concern, and then talked about some other things. Finally, he casually mentioned that he had something small to ask him.
Lu Qingyang was worried about the lack of reliable candidates, so he took the opportunity to explain to Mr. Chen the difficulty and importance of finding a chef, emphasizing that "reliability" and "skills" are indispensable.
On the other end of the phone, Mr. Chen was silent for a moment, as if he was also considering it carefully.
He pondered and said, "Chefs... I do know a few. Some are retired from old shops, and some have been in the family for generations. Their skills are definitely no problem, but..."
The master changed the subject and spoke in a cautious tone, "Whether this person is suitable or not, and what his character is like, you can't just listen to me. Ultimately, you have to see for yourself.
Moreover, it is unknown whether they are willing to leave the capital and develop in your place.
How about this, I'll give you the contact information and addresses of two masters who I think have good character and skills. You can contact them yourself and see if you have a connection.
Remember, Qingyang, trust the people you employ, but the prerequisite is to select the right person."
Lu Qingyang was delighted and quickly thanked him: "Thank you very much, sir. You really solved my urgent need! I am naturally very confident in the person you recommended. I will personally visit and contact him as soon as possible."
After Lu Qingyang made a phone call to communicate, one of them was willing to be a chef, but he just wanted to leave Beijing and come to Nanyang, but he refused as soon as he heard it.
He was worried, Shen Mo knew what Lu Qingyang was thinking and offered her own suggestions.
"Let Aunt Zhang be the cook?" Lu Qingyang was slightly startled. This idea was indeed bold and direct. He had never thought about it in this direction before.
But after careful consideration, Shen Mo's words woke him up.
Yes, this recipe book was brought by Zhang Shufen. Her ancestors learned this from this book.
People in Suicheng can all cook to some extent and prefer special home-cooked dishes. Even someone like Zhang Shufen should be able to cook them.
"Yes." Lu Qingyang's eyes lit up, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this idea was wonderful.
But along with the excitement, practical problems also arise.
Lu Qingyang calmed down and pondered, "But... Sister Zhang's health... The labor intensity in the kitchen is very high. She has to stand for most of the day, and it's all physically demanding. I wonder if her body can handle it?"
Lu Qingyang's worries were indeed justified, but Shen Mo seemed to have more confidence in Sister Zhang.
She smiled and said, "Xiangyang, have you forgotten what Sister Zhang does for a living? She used to carry heavy bags at the textile factory! She could carry those heavy rolls of cloth by herself and walk steadily."
In terms of strength and endurance, many young men cannot compare to her.
She does have a little high blood pressure. Just be careful with it, take medicine on time, and don't get too excited. It will be fine.
For her, the physical work in the kitchen might not be as tiring as her previous job at the factory."
After hearing what Chen Mo said, Lu Qingyang thought about it carefully and realized that it was indeed the case.
Zhang Shufen has been working hard all year round, so her physique is actually very solid, and she has that kind of tenacity and strength.
Most of his worries were dispelled. "You're right, I wasn't thoughtful enough. Then... who would be more suitable to talk to Sister Zhang?"
"I'll go." Shen Mo volunteered, "I'm familiar with Sister Zhang, so we can talk about some things."
So, Shen Mo found an opportunity, brought some fruit, and went to Zhang Shufen's house.
She didn't directly state her purpose. She first chatted about family matters and expressed concern for Sister Zhang's health before slowly leading the topic to the restaurant and the cookbook.
"...Sister, your cookbook is really helpful." Shen Mo praised.
Zhang Shufen heard this and smiled with satisfaction: "It's good to be able to help. These are things passed down by our ancestors, please don't waste them."
Seeing that the time was ripe, Shen Mo carefully told her that she wanted to invite her to be the "technical chef".
However, upon hearing this, Zhang Shufen immediately shook her head like a rattle and waved her hands repeatedly: "Oh, no, no, Xiao Shen, don't make fun of me. Being a chef? How can I do that! Yes, our ancestors were chefs, but that's all old news. I... I'm a clumsy female worker who's done manual labor in the factory all my life. How can I be a chef? Standing in front of the stove is a technical job, very demanding. I can't do it, I really can't!"
Her expression was as expected, with a look of insecurity written all over her face.
In her opinion, cooking is a craft that requires years of immersion. Although she keeps the recipes, she has never really made it her career and has no idea about it.
Shen Mo had expected her to respond like this, so she was not in a hurry. She took her hand and patiently advised:
"Sister, don't be so quick to deny yourself. Think about it, is that the cookbook you are most familiar with?"
"But... I'm not sure. What if I don't do it well? Wouldn't that embarrass Xiangyang?" Zhang Shufen was still hesitant.
"How could that be? The soup you made for me later was so delicious...it was even better than any of the restaurant's chefs. Otherwise, I wouldn't have thought of you. Besides, this job pays more than a female worker."
Every word Shen Mo said touched Zhang Shufen's heart.
Seeing Zhang Shufen's expression relax, Shen Mo added fuel to the fire: "Sister, why don't you give it a try? If you really feel too tired or can't adapt, we can think of other ways. We will never force you."
These last words seemed to touch Zhang Shufen. She was silent for a moment, then finally, as if she had made a great decision, she sighed heavily:
"Ah...you girl, you're really good at talking. Okay...since you trust me so much, I'll...I'll give it a try. But I have to make a promise, if I don't do a good job, you have to find someone to replace me quickly so as not to delay the restaurant's business."
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