At a quarter past twelve noon, it is the busiest time at the "Tan Palace" restaurant.
Today, the tour guide from the Overseas Chinese Travel Agency in Beijing brought a large port city tour group of 53 people.
As a result, the restaurant, which was supposed to have an occupancy rate of 80%, was instantly overcrowded.
And because customers in Hong Kong City have different preferences for Chinese food than European and American customers, they only eat at private tables.
The kitchen was overloaded and was in full swing like never before.
I saw flames billowing on the kitchen stove.
Just listen to the clashing sounds of pots, spoons and various stainless steel utensils.
As for the waiters responsible for delivering food, there must be at least a dozen gathered here, waiting anxiously for their food.
Some people were even impatiently crowding in front of the serving table, begging the chef.
"Master Cheng, please order the dishes from our 'Ruanqiu' first. I'm quick! They are all soup dishes..."
"I'm sorry, Master Jiang, we can't wait any longer at the tables at the Kagura Department. Those people seem to be starving and don't have much patience. Why don't we order the two noodles first..."
"Master Chang, are your rock sugar turtles and peach blossoms ready? The guests at the 'Qigu Tan' are anxious and really want to complain..."
"Master Ai, how long will it take for the roast duck to be ready? Yes, my five are all from the 'Seventy-two Connected Rooms'. Okay, I'll prepare the tray right away..."
Along with the names of various dishes, the various scenic spots in Temple of Heaven Park are also mentioned in the mouth at the same time.
This is not surprising, because this month, Ning Weimin took the advice of Du Huiti, deputy manager of the administrative department.
All private rooms in the "Tan Palace" are no longer distinguished by numbers. They are all distinguished by plaques hung according to the main scenery of the Temple of Heaven Park.
At this time, the restaurant manager Pan Long also hurried into the kitchen, his voice was urgent.
"Has the main course of the official banquet at the 'Huangqian Palace' come out? I've been waiting for a long time."
The chef responsible for batching dishes responded quickly.
"Not yet. There are still a few orders in between. Brother Pan, you see how busy we are here. I'm afraid we have to wait a few more minutes..."
Pan Long ignored that and gave a somewhat domineering order.
"No, it has to be done right away! Move the other orders back and give me the dishes in advance..."
One of the waiters had probably been waiting for too long and was really a little anxious.
He actually fought with reason regardless of the gap between superiors and subordinates.
"Then what should I do? Manager Pan, my guests are also anxious..."
Pan Long refuted him without a doubt, and the reasons for censorship were quite sufficient.
"Please let it go first! This is a special situation for me. Today, the 'Huangqian Palace' entertains guests from the Tourism Bureau and the Garden Bureau. How can we not wait for you? Don't we want a brand that is a designated tourist destination..."
So neither the waiter waiting for the dishes nor the chef waiting for the dishes had anything to say.
After a while, two large dishes and four stew bowls were freshly baked.
The chef responsible for batching the dishes shouted loudly, "Crab meat and sea cucumber, it's like honey, the main dish of Huangqian Palace! Brother Pan..."
Pan Long didn't waste any time and immediately put the dishes on two large trays, holding them high with each hand.
Then he quickly walked out of the kitchen carrying these things and got into the elevator with several other waiters carrying dishes.
After arriving on the second floor, he walked along the elegantly decorated corridor until he came to the private room with the plaque "Huangqian Palace" hanging on it.
After the waiter guarding the door opened the bead curtain at the door, he walked in.
The atmosphere in the private room was completely different, comfortable, leisurely, and harmonious.
The seven or eight people sitting at the table were either sipping wine or blowing smoke, and did not delay in taking down their chopsticks.
"...Don't worry, no problem. Our bureau has already held a meeting on your project. In order to build the first modern amusement park in the country, our tourism bureau has decided to fully support it. Reform means daring to be the first in the world. That's it. Regarding site selection, is it really appropriate to place it in the south of the city?"
"Thank you very much. Regarding the issue of site selection, we have done sufficient planning and research. The original intention was mainly to change the lack of parks in the south of Beijing. Moreover, high-end restaurants in Chongwen District have opened one after another this year, and the number of tourists in the Temple of Heaven Park has also increased significantly. So we are very confident that this amusement park project will be launched in Nancheng. Even without destroying the green space, it will definitely improve the quality of life of citizens and increase tax revenue for the country..."
"Yes, yes, Chongwen's economic development has been really good in recent years. This district government seems to be very ambitious. I heard that the district is still planning a modern residential area. Judging from this, it may not take long , Chongwen can catch up with Dongcheng and Xicheng. If location selection is not a problem, then how to solve these modern amusement equipment? We cannot provide it domestically. How do you consider this aspect? "
"Our initial idea was to cooperate with American companies to import. After all, the park called Di is famous all over the world. But a retired veteran cadre of our bureau met many Japanese businessmen during calligraphy and painting collection activities. He put forward an opinion that Japan The equipment is much cheaper than that in the United States. It seems that if we cooperate with Japanese businessmen, we can save a lot of foreign exchange. At present, our bureau means the United States and Japan. We'd better go and see them all and conduct on-site inspections..."
"Yes, the United States and Japan each have their own advantages. We have to go to them all so that we can choose. Let's see whether Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck is suitable, or Astro Boy is more cost-effective. This matter We support it, absolutely support it. The relevant expenses can be borne by both of us... Hey, the food is served, hurry up, everyone can eat it while it's hot..."
Pan Long moved the tray around the dining table, and another waiter in the private room brought the dishes in the tray to the dining table one by one, and also changed the bone plates.
At this time, Pan Long saw that there seemed to be a man in a suit standing outside the bead curtain of the private room and looking in.
After following him, he recognized his backer, deputy administrative manager Du Hui.
So he immediately understood and walked out of the private room by carrying away the bone plate.
The two of them walked three or four meters away in a tacit understanding before talking in a low voice in the relatively quiet corridor.
"Brother Du, what's wrong with you?"
"I'll just come over and take a look. Are you okay with this? Are the leaders of the Tourism Bureau and Garden Bureau satisfied?"
"Fortunately, I really appreciate the dishes and taste. But I almost missed the main course just now. Today our restaurant is full for the first time, and the kitchen is really busy. Especially the two tables in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. It's purely sincere. I made trouble and was delayed for half an hour, just in time for the tourist group to arrive. Otherwise, the situation could have been better..."
"Well, we are all rushing together today. If the dishes from Huangqian Palace are not served in time, forget it. When you leave, just bring some palace pastry gift boxes to the leaders. Remember, we are going to Houchuqian today. Don’t fight for food with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Just give in if you can. Manager Zhang is guarding over there. Don’t mess with him and hit the muzzle yourself..."
These words surprised Pan Long, who expressed his displeasure.
"Ah? Isn't there a celebration banquet for the winner of the costume contest over at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests? We are the Tourism Bureau and the Garden Bureau here, not to mention that they are the ones responsible for the losses in the first place? I? Let him?"
Du Hui said with a serious face, "Look, I knew you were confused. You don't even think about it, why did Mr. Ning give the best private room over there? And also asked the kitchen to prepare ice sculptures? Mr. Ning is not here today. Manager Zhang went to receive the reception in person, and even presented a bottle of real French champagne on behalf of Manager Ning. What does this mean? In Mr. Ning’s heart, is there any need to say where he is? We are not Mr. Ning’s confidants, so we have to A little wink, and you know your position clearly. You can’t do anything without doing anything, and you will be exhausted to no avail..."
"Oh..." Pan Long opened his mouth, his mind turned around, but his expression was quite negative.
Du Hui couldn't help but shake his head.
"Don't be so naive. I know he attacked you today and you are not happy. But if someone punches you, do you have to hit you back immediately? The future is long and you have to look at the long term. Besides, nepotism is the same everywhere. Otherwise, why should I have to fight you? Transferred here? The most important thing is to fight and pay attention to methods and strategies."
"Let me tell you, I used to be straight-forward. I just kept working hard and suffered a lot. Otherwise, I didn't get promoted to the first level in the service bureau for three years. If I hadn't been lucky this time, I met someone like 'Tan Gong' It’s a beautiful job that is treated as a chore, and I will never get the chance to take it up.”
"Pan Zi, I treat you as a brother, that's why I'm telling you this. You have to think this way, Mr. Ning may not always be able to trust Mr. Ning as much as he does now. And our restaurant is good, but don't think so. At present, it’s only one in Nancheng, so it’s actually nothing.”
"In comparison, Beishen Kitchen is thousands of square meters! If it really opens over there, it's in our hands. Then you won't have to wear this gray coat, you'll just change into a suit. Don't be so blind!"
Now Pan Long really understood, and his tone was filled with excitement.
"Hey, don't worry. I understand, getting fat first is not fat..."
At this time, in the "Tan Palace" restaurant, the most luxurious and spacious "Pray for Good Harvest Hall" private room, there was another scene.
Two large round tables filled with hot and cold dishes were covered with the most gorgeous brocade tablecloths.
And there is a big basket of flowers in the middle of the table.
All the chopsticks used at the two banquet tables were also made of silver.
A large bottle of authentic French champagne that has been opened is placed in an ice bowl sprinkled with flower petals, waiting for the guests' call.
There is also an ice sculpture of a phoenix at least one meter long and sixty centimeters high, placed on the partition between the two banquet tables.
Not only was there a thick smoke, but it was also dripping with water into the ice tray below like water being poured over it.
But even with such a grand feast, the atmosphere was really weird.
If not for anything else, it was because Qu Xiao’s father put on a smile and tried his best to serve his relatives with wine and food.
Even Qu Xiao's mother came to the model team's table to arrange things, so that Qu Xiao's little sisters would eat and drink well.
But Qu Xiao himself sat in his seat like a wooden person with his head bowed and silent.
From the fact that she didn't touch the chopsticks at all and didn't pay much attention to anyone, we could see how depressed she really was.
So how can today’s guests be happy?
Everyone's response to Qu Xiao's parents was naturally not very positive. They were all indifferent and perfunctory.
This scene even made Zhang Shihui, who personally organized the celebration banquet, feel embarrassed.
He didn't want to mess up this matter, so he thought about it in his mind and simply found an opportunity to call Qu Xiao out.
Rely on the friendship and advice that we know each other well.
"Xiaoqu, everyone is here to celebrate you today. What's going on with you? I'm really afraid that you might cry on the spot, and that would be embarrassing for everyone. Can't you be happy?
?”
"Brother Zhang, you are laughing at me. I also want to be happy, but I can't do it. It's not like you don't know that Brother Ning and Xiao Shitou didn't come today. They obviously promised me..."
"Didn't I explain it to you? Weimin went to the head office for a meeting today. Mr. Pierre-Cardton will return to China soon. As the big boss, he must have a lot of things to give orders. There is nothing I can do. He is carrying people's bowls.
, you have to obey others. Besides, he has been thinking about you, and this hall was specially prepared for you. You are currently the only person who can enjoy the ice sculptures and champagne treatment here..."
"I know, I'm very grateful to Brother Ning, and I don't blame him. But Xiao Shitou, she...she is my best friend...how could she? How could she not come? How could she not keep her word?
She is angry with me, and she no longer considers me a friend. If she had known, I would not have participated in this competition..."
As he said that, Qu Xiao's eye circles turned really red, and tears began to gather in his eye sockets.
Zhang Shihui couldn't help but sigh.
"Xiaoqu, we are old colleagues and we joined the model team together. I witnessed with my own eyes how hard you worked to achieve today's good results. So I kept calling me 'Brother Zhang' and 'Brother Zhang' to you. I
I have to give you some good advice."
"Girl, don't say angry words. In fact, who doesn't want to win the championship? To become famous in one fell swoop and attract millions of people's attention is your luck and your blessing. How many people want to be you. But there is only one champion.
, if you hold it, others will not have it. Naturally, they will be jealous of you, even the best friends will be the same."
"In fact, many friends are like this. They can often accompany you when you are mediocre. That is because they need people who are not as good as them to set off their excellence. But when you achieve results that greatly exceed them, they will be attracted by your excellence.
As you grow up, you will feel inferior and start to stay away from you. This is normal."
"If you pay close attention, you will definitely find that your life has changed a long time ago. Since you became a full-time model, have any of our colleagues at Chongwenmen Hotel contacted you? Think about it again, when we joined the model team,
How many of those old acquaintances are left now? This is the price of fame! Growing pains!"
Zhang Shihui's words were very effective, and the tears that Qu Xiao was about to shed just now completely disappeared.
But what was replaced by it was inexplicable shock and an expression of not knowing how to respond.
It took him a long time to say, "Brother Zhang, Xiao Shitou shouldn't be that kind of person. She really cares about me...I...I don't know what to say. Anyway, if I have a choice, as long as we can be the same as before.
I would rather give up the championship to Xiao Shitou, I won't be jealous of her anyway..."
Qu Xiao's somewhat anxious explanation made Zhang Shihui feel funny and relieved at the same time.
This feeling is actually a bit contradictory.
It's almost like seeing a colorful bubble floating in the air.
I hope that this kind of beauty can last forever, but I also know that it is impossible.
Smiling and shaking his head, Zhang Shihui continued to persuade from another angle.
"Xiao Qu, you are a very innocent girl, which is particularly attractive. But you are almost twenty years old, and you must not be childish anymore. The reality is that whether you want it or not, you are already the champion. This change
No. And you didn’t make any mistakes in this matter, so there’s absolutely no need for you to blame yourself for it.”
"It is mediocre not to be envied by others. It is normal for outstanding people to have different friends at different stages of life. If you cannot understand this, then you will not be able to continue on this road. The same goes for Shi Kaili, if she
If she can't accept the reality, she won't be able to move on, and she doesn't deserve to be your friend anymore."
"Maybe you think my words are a bit cruel, but this is the adult world. Each of us will always have to grow and change, constantly looking for our own suitable position and adapting to new situations, rather than letting others and the environment adapt to us. And
As you go up the level, you will find that it becomes more and more difficult to make true friends."
"If you don't believe it, if you walk out of the Altar Palace now and look across the road, you will find that when your model friends are here to celebrate you, their boyfriends can only push their bicycles and wait outside pitifully.
.In fact, during the model training, they also waited in the Drum Tower, but they rarely showed up."
"Isn't this kind of thing ridiculous? Obviously you don't mind, right? But all of your model friends are very concerned about it and don't want to let these men show up. Why? Because you models have both fame and wealth.
Quickly, it’s hard for any man to catch up with you. Those men waiting outside are actually destined to be given up in their minds, but these men still don’t know it, or they know it clearly.
But they dare not face reality.”
"If you still don't believe it, just take a look at Wei Min and I. Even if we always get along harmoniously, can our relationship remain the same and not change? I'm not afraid to tell you that he and I are not equal now. I just
Being able to follow in his footsteps. Of course, I don't want to complain, but I am grateful. This is the main reason why he and I can continue to be friends. We have both adapted to our new roles and positions."
"In other words, if Xiao Shitou really cherishes you as a friend, then after a while, she may adjust her mentality. Just like Weimin and I are proud of you. You just need to wait quietly for her to make a decision.
Just choose.”
"Finally, I would like to advise you again, you have to think about your parents. For you to have come this far, how much worry and pressure they have to bear, and how much gossip they have to listen to. Now it's finally time to be proud of you.
As a result, you are like this again. Is it difficult not to let them do it? Can you bear to see your parents making excuses for you? "
"Cheer up, girl, you should go back like a real champion now. Don't let everyone down, don't embarrass your parents, this is your most important responsibility..."
In this way, Qu Xiao finally changed from Lin Daiyu's same sadness and became a little more cheerful.
But Zhang Shihui, who had spent a long time spitting, was thinking when looking at Qu Xiao's back:
This girl is completely unprepared to step into the Vanity Fair and face utilitarianism and snobbery.
If that kid Ning Weimin knew about it, I wonder if he would feel like he was trying to undermine his efforts?