Chapter 612 High Walls
"Qi Tongwei nodded. It's not that he hadn't considered it, but he was just immersed in the warmth of the moment and put his worries aside for the time being. Everyone talked about everything from expanding chain possibilities to introducing smart catering concepts, from integrating tourism catering planning to strengthening the cultural catering core. Every word touched the heart, and the past campus research atmosphere was rekindled, adding a heavy sense of reality.
Late at night, when his classmates left, Qi Tongwei sat alone in the accounting office. The numbers in the account book were blurred, but the future picture gradually became clear. He decided to plan for the long-term development of the restaurant, and the next day he rushed to explore. He visited emerging business districts to investigate the flow of people and consumption trends; attended catering summits to absorb cutting-edge concepts and management essentials; sat with cultural scholars to dig deep into the local food customs and inject soul into the dishes. Although he was running around and tired, his steps were firm and powerful, because he knew that protecting fireworks requires wisdom and courage, and not fearing new challenges, so as to continue to write legends, rather than being trapped in past disputes and drunken questioning, and to dance out the unique restaurant style on the crest of the times.
In a few months, the restaurant has quietly transformed. The introduction of smart ordering has greatly improved efficiency. The kitchen has already collected the order and prepared the dishes the moment the diners place their orders. The decoration has added folk murals and retro ornaments, which exude cultural charm. The newly created "City Memory Set Meal", which includes an improved version of old street snacks, has attracted many tourists and has become a new name card for the city's food.
Hou Liangping came to apologize after sobering up. The two sat opposite each other in the backyard, with the aroma of tea wafting in the air. "Qi Tongwei, I was the jerk that day. I'm impressed by the restaurant's current glory." Hou Liangping was full of shame. Qi Tongwei handed over the tea with a smile: "Liangping, I didn't say that, and I haven't changed now. We are still old classmates. Let's see the long road ahead together." The two shook hands, the estrangement disappeared, and looked at the restaurant. The diners were bustling, the fireworks were flourishing, and the future was a long journey, with thorns but also hope. The restaurant is no longer just a safe haven, but a dream ark sailing towards the vast ocean, full of friendship and aspirations, fearlessly breaking through the waves.
After the transformation, the restaurant is glittering, the smart ordering screen is flickering, the data is like a smart note, playing an efficient melody; the order reminder sounds in the back kitchen are one after another, the chefs are nimble, the ingredients jump between the pots and stoves, and turn into delicacies in an instant. In the folk murals, the old street scenes and traditional festivals seem to break through the wall and tell the past; the retro ornaments touch the texture of the years, and diners shuttle through them, as if walking in the corridor of time. The "City Memory Set Meal" is served, the old taste is refurbished, the fried cakes are crispy and wrapped with new sweet fillings, and the stewed food is fragrant and soaked in secret sauce. Every bite is the soul of the city, attracting tourists' cameras to flash frequently, and the travel notes are full of praise. The restaurant is famous and has become the heart of the city and the yearning of travelers.
Hou Liangping reentered the restaurant with a look of amazement. He followed Qi Tongwei into the backyard. The aroma of tea was thick, just like a bridge to repair friendship. The two drank together, and the past quarrels drifted away with the water vapor. "Qi Tongwei, look at this restaurant, it has really become a paradise. My drunken words almost ruined this good scene." Hou Liangping shook his head and smiled bitterly, feeling guilty. Qi Tongwei patted his shoulder and comforted him: "Liangping, don't mention it. How can you break the waves without troubles? I still have to think about the future of the restaurant." After he finished speaking, his eyes drifted to the front hall of the restaurant. There was a surge of thoughts in the bustle. Behind this prosperity, there were hidden worries.
The market is like a magic trick, and the trend changes instantly. A new food city opened in the next block, with dazzling neon lights and novel gimmicks, diverting a lot of customers; the food supplier frequently encountered problems, and some dishes were forced to be removed from the shelves due to source pollution, and the complaints of diners hurt Qi Tongwei's heart; the emerging catering concept "healthy light food trend" came roaring, and the traditional recipes seemed heavy, and the pressure for transformation dropped sharply. This journey just set sail and encountered reefs. Qi Tongwei couldn't sleep day and night, knowing that the decision at this moment was about life and death, and the responsibility was heavier than Mount Tai. It was not a matter of one person's gain or loss, but about the livelihood of the staff, the attachment of diners, and the sustenance of the community.
He decided to explore new paths and left Hou Liangping to be his advisor. He went to the food market early in the morning to dig deep into niche fresh goods. He encountered mountain people selling wild mushrooms, which were strange in shape and delicious in taste. He quickly signed an exclusive supply agreement with the farmers and developed a "mountain treasure feast" with wild fragrance. He visited nutritionists to study dietary balance, improved the traditional oil and salt ratio of vegetables, added seasonal vegetables and coarse grains to create creative combinations, and launched the "Healthy Old Flavor" series, attracting diners who pay attention to health. He sought talents from technology companies, upgraded the intelligent system, and implanted diners' preference algorithms. Exclusive recommendations appeared when ordering, and the "intimate menu" kept regular customers.
Hou Liangping is not sitting idle either. He uses his connections to invite food bloggers to visit the restaurant. The live camera sweeps over the exquisite dishes and the bustling kitchen, with comments flying and traffic soaring. He organizes a "Foodie Creativity Challenge", in which the winners' dishes are introduced to the restaurant, and novel combinations activate menu inspiration. He also co-organizes a "Food Culture Month" with the community. The restaurant sets up lectures to teach children how to cook home-cooked meals, passing on traditional culture. The strong neighborly love becomes the foundation of the customer base, and the restaurant is like an old tree sprouting new branches, blooming against the trend.
However, there is no smooth road. The plan to expand branches encountered a funding bottleneck, bank loan approval was strict, and negotiations with partners were tortuous. Qi Tongwei ran between high-rise buildings, encountered countless setbacks, and looked at the hustle and bustle of the city, full of anxiety, but did not give up. One day, Hou Liangping came and held a contract: "Qi Tongwei, several old friends are willing to invest a small amount, value the future of the restaurant, and get through this difficult time!" Qi Tongwei's eyes were hot, and his hands trembled slightly when he took it. It was a helping hand in distress and a token of friendship.
The branch broke ground and was located in a new park in the suburbs, taking into account both office workers and residents. The design was revised again and again, integrating office dining areas and family dining rooms, with a modern and simple style without losing the warmth of fireworks; during the decoration, Qi Tongwei stayed at the construction site, supervised the progress and checked the quality, his face was tanned by the scorching sun, and his clothes were wet by mud and water, just to open on schedule. Hou Liangping shuttled between the two ends, keeping the old store running steadily and passing on experience to the new store, and the tacit understanding between classmates became an indestructible sharp sword.
The grand opening was auspicious, with firecrackers blasting and flower baskets everywhere. The new store was bright and spacious, with diners pouring in. The smart food delivery robots shuttled around, attracting attention. The dishes were diverse, with both business meals adapted to the park, exquisitely presented and efficiently served, and large dishes for family gatherings, with generous portions and friendly tastes. The guys were energetic and smiling, busy but orderly, old customers came to congratulate, the community art troupe performed to cheer, and laughter filled the space. At this moment, the hard work turned into sweet fruits, the sweat condensed into medals, and a new starting point was established.
However, the market game continues, new rivals covet and imitators emerge one after another. Qi Tongwei and Hou Liangping can't sleep at night, reviewing the strategy, and determined to "deepen the service" and "deepen the culture" in parallel. Train waiters to observe words and expressions, provide meticulous services to warm people's hearts, and provide exclusive care for special diners. Pregnant women meals, children's play areas and other thoughtful things are also taken care of; local endangered snacks are discovered, cultural heritage is rescued, and an "Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Festival" is held. Craftsmen make them on site, scholars talk about the history of inheritance, and the media focuses on it. The restaurant has become a cultural landmark, public welfare and reputation are promoted together, and the barriers are high and difficult for others to cross.