The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 449 The Problematic Waiter

At noon, at Hai Ba Wang Restaurant.

It was the peak season for the catering industry, with a constant stream of customers in the restaurant, and the waiters were so busy that their shoes were practically sparking.

One of the waiters, taking a break from his busy schedule, grabbed a damp towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Looking at the crowded lobby, a genuine joy appeared in his eyes. "Deputy Manager Song really knows how to handle things."

"That's right!" Another waiter passing by heard this and couldn't help but laugh and reply, "Just a few days ago, our Haibaowang restaurant was so short of ingredients that customers didn't want to come."

"It's only been a few days, and the restaurant has already turned a profit and is packed with customers again." The waiter paused slightly at this point. "If you ask me, the assistant manager is much more capable than the manager. I don't know what headquarters is thinking."

"Shh!" The waiter who had been wiping his sweat earlier quickly gestured for the latter to stop, glanced around nervously, and then rolled his eyes. "Even though the manager is temporarily away on a business trip, you can't just say things like that!"

"Mine, mine." Realizing his slip of the tongue, the latter quickly covered his mouth.

"What are you two doing here?" A voice came from behind them; it was a female greeter.

"Ah...we...let's have some water and rest for a bit." One of the waiters said with a forced laugh, and the other quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, we just had a drink of water, but we didn't slack off or chat."

"I don't care if you're slacking off or not." The female greeter rolled her eyes. "Four new guests have arrived. Someone go and greet them."

She paused for a moment after speaking.

"Among the guests is a royal chef; please take him to a private room."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the two waiters instantly turned serious, as if they were about to fight a difficult battle. Finally, the waiter wiping his sweat showed a look of resignation and said, "I'll go."

"Look at you!" The female greeter couldn't help but roll her eyes again. "Just remember what Deputy Manager Song said."

"No matter what happens, you must be sincere!"
-
"Dongdong, this is a little different from what Uncle Cao said."

At the entrance of Haibawang Restaurant, Zhao Qian looked curiously at the crowded lobby inside. "Business seems pretty good. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong."

"Indeed." Qin Lang nodded slightly, his expression agreeing. "From the current perspective, there seems to be no problem with this restaurant."

"But since Uncle Cao asked us to come, it must be out of nowhere. Things may seem normal on the surface, but the problem may be hidden somewhere we can't see."

"Who cares? Let's just pretend to be normal customers and have a meal first," Cao Dongdong said casually, then looked impatiently in the direction the female greeter had left. "Why hasn't anyone led us to our seats yet?"

"Don't worry, they're here, aren't they?" Qin Lang nodded slightly as he looked at the female greeter and a smiling waiter approaching from afar.

"Sister Tang Yu, you can just pretend to be a customer with us."

“No need to pretend, I am a customer.” Tang Yu said in a daze.

Qin Lang slapped his forehead, only then remembering that Tang Yu used to be a member of the Dongxia City Public Security Management Team, so he didn't need to remind him of this.

"Four distinguished guests, I apologize for keeping you waiting while I was cleaning the private room." The waiter stepped forward, his gaze lingering briefly on the two food spirits beside Qin Lang before his smile deepened. "Please follow me, distinguished guests."

"Wait a minute." Cao Dongdong raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't we just say we wanted to eat in the lobby?"

They weren't just here to eat; they were here to investigate the problems at Haibawang. With so many people in the main hall, it would be easier to find the issues. "It's like this, esteemed guest," the waiter patiently explained, "Our main hall is full, and the remaining seats are all reserved. We only have one small private room that just became available."

After saying that, the waiter added, "Normally, our private rooms have a minimum charge, but because of the special circumstances this time, we can let the four VIPs pay the same as the main dining room charge. Is that alright with you?"

"Alright then." Cao Dongdong nodded.

The other party spoke so smoothly that it seemed as if they had gotten a good deal, so the group didn't think much of it and followed the waiter into the private room.

"The food here is indeed quite expensive." After sitting down and opening the menu on the table, Zhao Qian couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Several signature dishes cost over ten thousand yuan, and even the cheapest dishes cost over five hundred yuan."

"Please forgive us, guests." The waiter still smiled. "Our restaurant specializes in high-end seafood. Although the prices are indeed high, you get what you pay for. We use only the best ingredients."

"The ingredients used in each dish on the menu are marked in small print, which you can use as a reference."

“Indeed, the ingredients are not simple.” Qin Lang glanced at it briefly, and an expression of agreement immediately appeared in his eyes. “According to the ingredient descriptions on the menu, the gross profit margin of this restaurant’s dishes is probably less than 20%.”

The higher the level of a restaurant, the higher its profit margin, which is similar to the luxury goods industry. A 20% gross profit margin for a high-end restaurant is already considered very reasonable.

"Let's order whatever we want, since a tycoon is paying today." Qin Lang patted Cao Dongdong on the shoulder with a smile, and then ordered all the expensive signature dishes on the menu.

"You rascal," Cao Dongdong said, looking annoyed, but still saying, "Is one serving enough? How about four servings of each?"

"That's enough, that's enough!" Before Qin Lang could speak, the waiter hurriedly spoke up. He felt like crying inside, but his face was still full of smiles. "The portions of our restaurant's signature dishes are all quite good."

"If it's not enough, we can add other dishes."

"One serving will do, and we'll order some other dishes as well." Qin Lang nodded, but couldn't help glancing at the waiter again.

A waiter who proactively reminds customers that the portions are sufficient and considers their budget is a rare find.

After Zhao Qian and Tang Yu each ordered a few dishes, Qin Lang handed the menu to the waiter, saying, "That's all for now."

"Ok."

The waiter accepted the gift with a smile, then tiptoed out of the private room, closing the door behind him as he left—every step was impeccable.

Once only Qin Lang and his three companions remained in the private room, Qin Lang couldn't help but ask, "So far, have you noticed anything amiss?"

“No.” Cao Dongdong shook his head. “To be honest, this Haibawang Restaurant is much better than I expected.”

"It feels like if things continue like this, Old Deng will make a lot of money."

"Now I finally understand why Uncle Cao always wants to beat you up." Zhao Qian couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I didn't see anything wrong with it either."

"Um..." Tang Yu suddenly spoke up, "Can I tell you?"

"Of course!" Qin Lang nodded. "Did you notice anything, Sister Tang Yu?"

"Hmm..." Tang Yu paused, "There's something wrong with the waiter."

(End of this chapter)