Chapter 227 Morale is High
Suifeng Restaurant.
After hearing Boss Deng Shirong's introduction, Wang Yong felt that Suifeng Restaurant truly lived up to its reputation as the largest restaurant in the county. Its professionalism was evident. He quickly asked, "Boss Deng, what dishes are included in the 18-yuan-per-table regular set meal? And what about the 28-yuan medium set meal, the 38-yuan high-end set meal, and the 68-yuan luxury set meal?"
The dishes in these set meals had all been decided by Deng Shirong himself, so he immediately explained, "The regular set meal includes nine dishes and one soup: boiled chicken, braised pork, egg rolls, meatballs, glutinous rice, pork stir-fried with celery and garlic, bamboo shoots, potato strips, green vegetables, and lotus root soup stewed with pork bones.
The medium set meal consists of 13 dishes and two soups, including...
The high-end set meal includes 18 dishes and three soups, such as...
The luxury set meal features 24 dishes and three soups, which are..."
Wang Yong listened carefully and felt that the prices and dishes offered by Suifeng Restaurant were very reasonable. While it might be an exaggeration to call them a great bargain, they were certainly not overpriced. For example, the 18-yuan regular set meal offered dishes of a similar standard to what one might expect at a home-cooked wedding banquet, though the portions might be slightly smaller.
The other set meals, while more expensive, added a significant number of main dishes, making the overall pricing acceptable.
After Deng Shirong finished his explanation, Wang Yong hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I'll go with the 38-yuan high-end set meal per table."
Although he could afford the luxury set meal given his financial situation, he felt it wasn't necessary. Hosting relatives and friends at such a large restaurant was already prestigious enough, and the dishes in the high-end set meal were more than sufficient to impress.
Deng Shirong smiled and asked, "Great. How many tables would you like to reserve, Boss Wang?"
Wang Yong had already prepared the guest list and replied, "I'd like to reserve 16 tables."
Deng Shirong asked further, "When is the banquet scheduled? What time will it start?"
Wang Yong said, "On the sixteenth day of the sixth lunar month, the banquet will start between 10:30 and 11:00 in the morning. Is that okay?"
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Of course, no problem."
Next, the two discussed some details of the banquet. Finally, Wang Yong paid the deposit and left satisfied.
After watching Wang Yong leave, Deng Yuntai, who had been sitting at the next table listening, stood up excitedly and said, "This is fantastic! Sixteen tables of high-end set meals—this is the biggest order our restaurant has received since opening!"
Zhang Xiuping, who had already collected the deposit, was also thrilled.
Although business had been good since the restaurant opened a week ago, with the current turnover, the monthly profit was estimated to be at least 800 to 900 yuan, if not 1,000 yuan. For rural folks, this kind of income was truly remarkable.
However, Zhang Xiuping couldn't forget that her father-in-law had invested over 300,000 yuan in the restaurant. Based on the current profit, it would take a long time to recoup the investment.
These days, Zhang Xiuping had been feeling anxious.
It wasn't until now that she finally felt relieved, as she saw hope that the restaurant could eventually break even.
When her father-in-law had designed the banquet packages, he had carefully calculated the costs. For the 18-yuan regular set meal, the cost per table was about 12 yuan. If more tables were ordered, the cost could drop further, potentially to around 10 yuan for over 10 tables.
The 28-yuan medium set meal cost about 18 yuan per table, with the cost dropping to 15 to 16 yuan for over 10 tables.
The 38-yuan high-end set meal cost about 24 yuan per table, with the cost reducing to 20 to 21 yuan for over 10 tables.
The 68-yuan luxury set meal cost about 40 yuan per table, with the cost dropping to 35 to 36 yuan for over 10 tables.
Now, with Wang Yong ordering 16 tables of high-end set meals, the banquet would bring the restaurant a profit of nearly 300 yuan.
More importantly, this banquet set a precedent for the restaurant. If one customer held a banquet here, others would surely follow. As more guests came to host banquets, the restaurant's profits would far exceed a few hundred yuan a month.
That was a reason to celebrate.
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "This banquet is a milestone for the restaurant. We must ensure it's a resounding success!"
Deng Yuntai nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, it must be done beautifully. Boss Wang must feel that his money was well spent."
The other employees of the restaurant also heard the news and were equally excited. They enjoyed good salaries and a pleasant working environment here. As the largest restaurant in the county, it was a source of pride to work here. Naturally, they hoped the restaurant's business would continue to thrive, ensuring the boss made money and they didn't have to worry about losing their jobs.
Even Zhang Guangzong felt that the wine tasted better than before.
In short, Wang Yong's reservation of 16 banquet tables had significantly boosted the morale of the restaurant staff.
Originally, Deng Shirong had planned to take his school-going children back to their hometown the next day. But now, with this full-month banquet on the horizon, he felt a bit uneasy and decided to stay and oversee the preparations. He could only return home with peace of mind after the banquet was successfully held.
After all, the children could study in the second-floor building and come over for meals at mealtime. There was no need for them to study in the noisy environment of the restaurant.
As for buying or renting a house in Temple Lotus, there was no rush. That could be done in a single day. It wouldn't be too late to return after the banquet preparations were complete.
Soon, it was dinner time. Diners began arriving in groups, and the employees got busy.
Deng Yunheng also brought his senior from Peking University, Song Yu, back for dinner.
The day after Deng Yunheng returned, Senior Sister Song had started coming to the restaurant for meals. Over time, she became familiar with Deng Shirong's family.
Deng Shirong learned from his second son that Song Yu's father was the third-ranking leader in the county. Naturally, he encouraged his son to maintain this connection. This was a ready-made network of contacts, and they needed to hold onto it. With their restaurant in the county town, having such a relationship would be invaluable in case of any issues.
Of course, this was just a precaution. Since their restaurant was favored by the county's second-ranking leader, no department would dare cause trouble.
"Uncle Deng, Grandpa Zhang!"
Having visited the restaurant frequently, the cheerful Song Yu sat at Deng Shirong's table.
Deng Shirong responded warmly, "Little Song, if there's anything you'd like to eat, just ask Yunheng to tell the kitchen."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Deng."
"You're welcome. Treat this place like your own home and make yourself comfortable."
Song Yu smiled and nodded. She had a very good impression of Uncle Deng. He carried himself with the demeanor of a respected elder, which was why she had been willing to come over for dinner several days in a row.
(End of this chapter)