In early June in Beijing, the heat of summer has quietly approached.
After a full month of intense construction, the restaurant was renovated both inside and outside. According to the old photos provided by Lao Jiu, the door followed the Chinese style of New York's "Mianwangfu", with a row of doors supported by the wall and four red pillars.
Building, there is still a pair of pure copper-plated couplets on the two pillars on the inside. The right couplet reads "A thousand pieces of gold and a spoonful of marinade" and the left couplet "Wan Guan Yi Tang". The signboard is still gold characters on a black background: Jiuwu Gangzi Noodles. Above the signboard
It is the neon sign of "Jiuwu Gangzi Noodles".
Since the production of semi-finished products is separated from the restaurant, the original kitchen area was greatly compressed and expanded into two large restaurants. The original general manager's office and accounting room were retained on the second floor, and the private rooms were eliminated and expanded into a large restaurant.
Restaurant. The interior of the restaurant is made of khaki floor tiles and mahogany-colored dado. The walls and roof are made of off-white with a slight hint of yellow. The solid wood tables and chairs are all made of mahogany color that is slightly different from the dado. They are neatly arranged in three rows.
Beautiful and spectacular. The hardware part of the decoration has basically been completed. Overall, it still follows the style of "Mianwangfu", highlighting the clear and bright vision in a warm tone. The restaurant still has some time to go before it opens, and the doors and glass windows are all covered with stickers.
"Interior Renovation" notice.
There are two offices on the second floor. Fang Di and Lao Jiu share one. The sign reads: Chairman, General Manager. The other one is shared by Shi Tianyou and the accountant. The sign reads: Manager, Accountant. Fang Di’s office is large.
Some of them have better facilities. In addition to desks, there are sofas and TVs. The office corridor has two exits, one leading to the restaurant and the other leading to the outside on the first floor.
Fang Di's desk is filled with bills waiting for her to sign, including draft restaurant service specifications, draft kitchen job responsibilities, tableware purchase lists, production base training tutorials... She has to review each one, or approve it, or put forward suggestions for disposal. At this time in the corridor
There were footsteps, and then someone knocked on the door.
Fang Di still lowered his head to deal with the affairs, and just said: "Please come in."
Manager Shi came in, wearing a summer restaurant uniform, black trousers, white short sleeves, and a red tie. This is the manager's uniform, and it is the smallest one in this batch of customized restaurant uniforms. Manager Shi said: "Mr. Fang, the uniforms are all
It’s been replaced.”
Fang Di said: "Oh, is there a problem?"
Manager Shi said: "No, they are all very good. I would like to invite you to take a look and say a few words to everyone."
Fang Di said: "The store is under your control. It's not good if I stretch my hand too far. It will make the employees confused."
Manager Shi said: "I didn't ask for it, it was those girls. They said you are beautiful and capable, and they want to hear what you have to say."
Fang Di smiled and said, "A woman can't stand such a bribe. Okay, I'll go and I'll take these things home to deal with." She put the bills and documents on the table into her bag and went downstairs with Manager Shi.
In the large restaurant, many girls and boys stood neatly in two rows, with girls in the front row and boys in the back. The kitchen foreman and front desk foreman stood in front of the two rows respectively. The waitress uniform is red, with a streamlined placket and blue and white
The cloth lapel and black buttons, the small red apron and a decorative and practical bag, paired with black pants, give people the virtuous and gentle look of a traditional cook. The uniform style of the front desk foreman is similar to that of women
The waiters are the same, but the difference is that the color is different, it is dark red. The kitchen foreman's uniform is also different from the uniforms of ordinary kitchen operators. Although they are both white, the kitchen foreman's uniform has an extra gold border on the collar and sleeves. The difference
The larger one is Chuancaisheng's uniform, which is red, with a straight placket, collar, sleeves and placket all black. Everyone was nervous but happy to see the general manager coming.
Fang Di looked at it carefully and said with a smile: "Oh, it's so beautiful! Everyone, please sit down, everyone, don't take advantage of it."
Everyone turned their attention to Manager Shi, who said, "Sit down."
After Manager Shi spoke, everyone found chairs and sat down.
Fang Di put her bag on the dining table, but she didn't sit down. She stood and said, "The restaurant is Manager Shi's work scope. I'm not supposed to speak. If I say it and he says it, everyone will be at a loss. Then I
Let’s just talk about something principled, so that it doesn’t conflict with Manager Shi’s work. Let’s just chat. We don’t have to have a topic, okay?”
Everyone said: "Okay."
Fang Di said: "Let me ask you a question first. What do you think is the last word when opening a restaurant?"
A young man immediately raised his hand and stood up and said: "It is delicious."
Another young man also stood up and said: "Benefits are the last word."
A girl stood up and said: "Comfort is the last word."
Fang Di said: "Very good. In fact, everyone knows this, but it is difficult to do. If it is not difficult, there will not be so many bankruptcies. Our company also wants to do this, and the company will work hard to do it."
We have done it, but no matter how hard the company works, it will ultimately be passed on to the customers through your hands. In this sense, both the company and I personally have to rely on you, so I will bow to everyone first.
, please!”
Fang Di bowed to everyone.
I don't know who clapped twice, but everyone applauded together.
Fang Di said: "Have you noticed that the noodle cooking pot in our kitchen is not one big pot, but two rectangular fence pots, which can cook four bowls of noodles independently at the same time. Each noodle cooking compartment is also equipped with a timer.
Can anyone tell me why?"
The kitchen foreman raised his hand and stood up and said, "I worked as a waiter in a noodle shop, I know."
Fang Di said: "Okay, you say."
The kitchen foreman said: "The noodles that come out first are cooked, and the ones that come out later are soaked. Only the ones in the middle are delicious. The chef of the big pot noodles has to rush to catch them, and the portioning is not standard. Sometimes the smaller bowls are better than the larger bowls.
There are more, sometimes the big bowl is less than the small bowl. Also, it all depends on the weighing. If you add too much, take it aside and wait for it to heat up before serving. Twice-cooked noodles are the most unpalatable. Our cooking pot is
With a single bowl, timing and rationing, the above problems will definitely not occur."
Fang Di said: "That's very good, but even so, there will inevitably be mistakes. For example, if you read the wrong ticket and ordered an extra bowl of noodles, it is forbidden to cook it again in our store. What should I do if I make a mistake?
?The company's principle is: remind you, remind you again, until you prove that you are not suitable for this job. However, if someone spreads the consequences of making a mistake to the customer, once, just once, you can go home, because the customer takes
You can't help it, but you can help the restaurant. He won't come next time. He is here to give me money. Without him, I will starve to death. You have ruined my job. Why should I be polite to you..."
At this time, the phone at the bar suddenly rang, interrupting Fang Di's speech. The restaurant was empty and quiet, which made the phone ring extra loud. Manager Shi stood beside Fang Di and hurried to answer the phone.
After a while, Manager Shi came over and said: "Mr. Fang, the chairman invites you to come over."
Fang Di said to everyone: "There is something going on in the workshop, so let's stop talking here today. Let's talk again when we have the opportunity." Manager Shi said: "Let's finish talking. It only takes a few minutes. Everyone is willing to listen."
Fang Di thought for a while and said: "Okay, let me say a few more words. There is a famous saying in the service industry: The customer is God. I have never believed it. We can't even regard our own mother as God, so how can we regard customers as God?"
Where is God?
It's impossible. Besides, God is almighty and doesn't need you to do anything, so don't say that you don't even believe in ghosts. We are not smarter than our customers. If you can treat customers as customers, the company is already satisfied.
Anyone who treats customers as their natural enemies or competes with them in a battle of wits and courage violates the spirit of Jiuwu Gangzi Noodles and is not suitable for our company."
This speech was very serious, and the restaurant was completely silent.
Fang Di said: "If you want me to say a few words of encouragement, I would like to say: Each of you here today is an entrepreneurial veteran of the company. If the company can develop as expected, the company will have a rapid expansion.
At that stage, the company’s biggest difficulty at that time was not funds, not technology, but the inability to dispatch cadres.” This sentence “It’s because it can’t dispatch cadres” was indeed encouraging, and everyone applauded warmly.
When a girl saw Fang Di taking her bag and leaving, she stood up and asked, "Mr. Fang, can I call you Sister Fang?" Fang Di smiled and said, "Yes, of course."
Another girl said: "Mr. Fang, can you take a photo with us before we open? How beautiful this restaurant is." Fang Di said: "Yes, no problem."
Fang Di waved goodbye to everyone, took his bag and left the restaurant.
Manager Shi saw Fang Di to the door, but before Fang Di got in the car, he said, "Mr. Fang, I have a question that I have been thinking about for many days, but I just don't know whether to ask it or not. I'm afraid you won't be happy if I ask it."
Fang Di just opened the car door, stopped, and said, "What's the matter? You tell me."
Manager Shi took out the photos that were used as reference for the decoration and said: "Mr. Fang has something to do, so there is no need to reply now. Doesn't the company require commanders to understand that there is no way to go? Our restaurant and door are almost copied from the photos.
These are all photos of the chairman’s father at that time. It’s been so long and they’re still from New York. Doesn’t it count as just copying them like this?”
Fang Di said: "I ask you to seek truth from facts, can you operate it?"
Manager Shi said: "I can talk, but I can't do it. When I do it, I think it is seeking truth from facts, but in hindsight, it is not the case."
Fang Di said: "Seeking truth from facts is too conceptual. Seeking truth from facts is to make it easier to understand. Seeking truth from facts is easier to understand. Of course, it is difficult to understand but seeking truth from facts is better than seeking truth from facts. After decades of exploration and improvement, Mianwangfu has also experienced
Through the aesthetic test of Chinese and Western cultures, it is proved that it is a dining environment that does not conflict with Bangzi noodles. Where is the best design? The chairman doesn’t know, and I don’t know even more. What I ask for at this time is not to be good, but not to make mistakes. Let’s talk
By the way, not following the path does not mean that you must be the same or different from others, but that you make choices based on the results and the needs of the conditions. It is not just experience and dogma, it is not negation, experience and dogma are also obtained from practice. Your expectations
If there are any requirements for conditions, just prepare these conditions and don't care whether the conditions are new or old, or the same or different. This is just not following the road ahead."
Manager Shi said: "Okay, I'll think about it again. I'm just a primary school teacher, and I still teach arithmetic. Don't mind, Mr. Fang."
Fang Di said: "It's easier said than done, but it's the same thing. I understand it gradually."
The sign of the production base has been hung up. Its full name is: Jiuwu Gangzi Noodles Co., Ltd. Production Base. The renovated gate looks much more formal than before. The gate pillars are covered with granite, and the gate is changed into a rail-type fence. The factory area and the gate are
The ground has been re-hardened, and gate posts have been set up at the gate. Passers-by can see the clean and tidy factory area through the fence gate.
There were two vans parked at the door, one middle and one small. One of the small vans belonged to a lathe processing workshop. Fang Di parked the car next to the small van, walked in through the door, and nodded and smiled at the gatekeeper.
Because the Gangzi noodle press makes noise when working, the noodle workshop is located in the south workshop far away from the office area, while the soup and stew workshop is very close to the door. The workshop has a completely new look and is divided into work areas for cleaning vegetables, preparing materials, and processing.
On the south wall is a long row of ceramic tile stoves, with six large stoves, four medium stoves and two small stoves. Along the north wall is the vegetable cleaning area, sink and chopping boards. In the middle is a long row of preparation tables.
All are made of stainless steel and have storage cabinets under the table.
An employee who is over 10 years old and wearing a white chef's uniform stands in front of the big stove, using a special large shovel to turn the braised meat in the large pot from time to time. The meat stew makes a "gurgling, gurgling" sound as it simmers over slow fire.
, the whole workshop is filled with braised incense.
When Fang Di saw that Lao Jiu was not here, he went to the noodle room. As soon as he entered the workshop, he saw Lao Jiu, Manager Zhao, two employees, Master Lei and an apprentice he brought. Everyone gathered in front of the noodle press. Manager Zhao was
While operating the machine, Lao Jiu and Master Lei were talking about something. The noodle room is equipped with noodle cutting machines, dough mixing machines, and dispensing stations, and is about to be put into production.
Fang Di stepped forward to greet Master Lei, shook hands and said, "Brother Lei is here."
Master Lei said: "I'll debug the machine, replace a pair of springs, and talk about the crankcase. I'll bring you a lighter by the way." Then he looked at his apprentice, who handed a small nylon bag to the master.
Fang Di said: "Hey, everything is done?"
Master Lei handed two lighters to Fang Di and said, "Take a look, are you satisfied?"
Fang Di held one in each hand. It was heavy, smooth and beautiful. She said happily: "Thank you, thank you so much."
Lao Jiu knew that Fang Di occasionally smoked, so it was not surprising that she liked lighters. He took one and looked at it, pushed open the top cover, and lit it as soon as he hit it. He said: "Not bad, good craftsmanship. This lighter looks familiar, but
There’s a piece missing from the front.”
Master Lei said: "There is one missing step. It is actually a one-piece whiteboard with a seal. You saw it from the pictorial, right? That is a famous machine. The entire lighter is made of pure gold. I made it according to the pictorial.
." Fang Di knew that Lao Jiu seldom smoked and had no hobby of lighters. He would not pay attention to the lighter pictures. Even if the pictures were placed in front of him, he would not pay attention to a lighter. So she asked: "Brother Jiu, what are you doing?
Have you seen that lighter?”
Lao Jiu said: "I've seen it before. It's really heavy. It's much heavier than this."
Master Lei said in surprise: "Oh, you are really lucky. There is only one of that type in the world." Fang Di knew that Zi Nong likes lighters, but he is not a luxurious person. If Lao Jiu met him in Berlin
That lighter, who has the financial resources and mood to give such an expensive thing to Ye Zi Nong? Fang Di knew without guessing that that person could only be Dai Mengyan. Fang Di put the lighter into his bag and asked: "Brother Ninth, what's your name?"
I have something to do”
Lao Jiu said: "I want to hear your opinion about the crankcase. Also, the seasonings in Chinatown are widely available, and the seasonings in Beijing are more from Sichuan. There is still a difference in taste. I tried a few pots in a small pot today.
I adjusted the recipe and tried the big pot. It has been cooking for more than 4 hours. You should also come and evaluate it."
Fang Di said: "Brother Ninth, it's up to you. How can I do it?"
Lao Jiu said: "You have been working in New York for 6 years, why can't you do it? I am a little unsure."
Fang Di said: "Then you might as well not talk about the appraisal. Eat it cold and I can eat it as soon as possible." Lao Jiu said: "Well, let's not talk about the appraisal. Let's talk about the crankcase. Master Lei, you can tell me."
Master Lei said: "It's like this. The machine can be finalized. The core component is the crankcase. Our car crankshaft is welded into a box and installed. The stroke is not wide. It is also difficult to find a suitable scrapped crankshaft. It is not easy to use a new crankshaft.
It's a good deal, but the processing is difficult, time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the stability is not good. This machine can only be operated with 4 principles. I contacted the manufacturer about the crankcase, and they couldn't make one or two crankcases. At least one, no.
I know what you mean. If it's too much, I won't make it. I'll use a car crankshaft for the next machine. If I can order one, I'd like two for a ride. You know my wife is a noodle maker and I want Juan to make it.
Let me plan it, come up with a brand and packaging, and see if we can put it in supermarkets."
Fang Di said: "Based on the current investment, if it fails, the loss of this crankcase can really be ignored."
Lao Jiu said: "That's what I mean too, then just one."
Master Lei said: "Okay, I'll go and do it. If you are busy, I will go back."
Lao Jiu said: "Don't go, the stew is done and the noodles will come out soon. You can also try it and give me some advice." Master Lei said: "Okay, okay then I will try Brother Jiu's craftsmanship, haha."
"
Lao Jiu said to an employee: "You can turn off the heat for the braised pork. Go boil the water and prepare to cook the noodles."
The mechanical parts below the chopping board of the Gangzi noodle press are covered with tin sheets, which not only looks good, but is also for safety. A chopping board is fixed on the track, with a stainless steel cylinder standing on both sides. The cylinder is covered with springs.
There is a wooden pole across the middle of the cylinder. There is a ball of hard dough on the chopping board. Manager Zhao controls the chopping board to move forward and backward, so that the pole presses where it should press every time, so that the dough is evenly and flexibly stressed, and the pole moves at a constant
The frequency is "bang, bang, bang".
After the dough is pressed, Manager Zhao uses a knife to divide the dough into large pieces of about a centimeter. He picks up one of the pieces and puts it on the roller of the noodle cutting machine. He starts the machine and passes it through two thin passes into the cutter to set the thickness and width.
The noodles came out. Manager Zhao picked up the noodles and "snapped" them skillfully, then placed them in a very regular shape on the end of the stainless steel tray.
Lao Jiu said: "Let's cook some noodles."
Everyone came to the soup and stew workshop. After a while, the water in the pot boiled. Lao Jiu put the noodles into the pot. Manager Zhao put a small pot of meat stew on the preparation table, chopped green onion, chili oil, and vegetable codes.
Okay. After the meal was ready, Lao Jiu took out a small bowl for everyone present, and mixed it with chopped green onion, chili oil, and vegetable code, and that was it.
Lao Jiu ate one and said nothing.
Fang Di took a bite, nodded and said, "Yes, it tastes like this."
Manager Zhao ate a few and said: "This one is delicious and fragrant. The sauce in the small pot in the morning was a bit strong."
After eating a few times, Master Lei said: "Oh... it's delicious, really delicious. The recipe of this noodle is better than my wife's. It definitely doesn't just add some salt and alkali, but also other things."
Fang Di smiled and said, "You can't communicate with Brother Lei about this."
Master Lei almost finished eating, put down the bowl and said, "Is it necessary to make such a big pot for the brine test?" Lao Jiu said, "No matter how you adjust the small pot, it will eventually go through the actual production volume test. There is no way.
This is necessary for experimentation. Eat some for yourself and throw away what you can’t finish.”
Master Lei said: "It's not that I want to take advantage. It's such a good stew. It would be a pity to throw it away. There are many people there, and each family will lose a share. If it is dumped, you can let me take it away. Don't waste it.
Something."
Lao Jiu said to Manager Zhao: "Put it in a sealed bucket and help Master Lei carry it away in the car."
Manager Zhao said: "Okay."
Master Lei said: "Leave enough for them first, and I will take away the rest."
Lao Jiu said: "No, in the past few days, we have to prepare beef stew and soup stew, enough for them to eat. If you don't mind, I will ask Manager Zhao to send them to you after the test."
Master Lei said: "What are these taboos? They are all good things. Just give Manager Zhao a call and I will drive over right away."
Manager Zhao and Master Lei went to prepare the meat stew, and there was no one else around Lao Jiu and Fang Di.
Lao Jiu said: "As soon as you said it was that smell, I felt relieved."
Fang Di said: "Brother Ninth, there is no one here right now, let me say something to make you sad."
Lao Jiu smiled and said, "You tell me."
Fang Di said: "This noodles tastes better and feels better than the noodles you rolled, but it's no better than I don't know."
Lao Jiu said: "I know. Machines are still more powerful than people, but I don't know how tired they are."
Fang Di said: "Looking at the progress, it will be open in August."
Lao Jiu said: "I don't care about time. You must be ready before you open the business. Manager Zhao is really a good person and has quality. I'm very happy today. You didn't celebrate your graduation. I asked Manager Zhao and we had a meal tonight."
Let’s eat.”
Fang Di said: "I haven't processed a bunch of documents, and I'm not in the mood. You have to ask Manager Zhao to go." Lao Jiu said: "I have passed the thesis defense, so I bought a bottle of wine to celebrate for you.
You’ve been busy and have no time.”
Fang Di smiled and said: "Then you can keep this bottle of wine first, I am not qualified to drink it now."
Lao Jiu was puzzled and asked: "Why are you not qualified?"
Fang Di said: "That's just talk on paper, it doesn't count. It won't count until the thing is done." (To be continued)