Chapter 531 Celebration Banquet
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.
So the restaurant, which was originally 80% occupied, was instantly overcrowded.
And because customers in Hong Kong City have different preferences for Chinese food than European and American customers, they all 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 have even impatiently crowded in front of the serving table, begging to be served by the chef.
"Master Cheng, please take the dishes from our 'Huanqiu' first. I'm quick! They are all soup dishes..."
"I'm sorry, Master Jiang, the tables at the 'Kangle Department' are no longer available." If we wait any longer, those people seem to be starving and have little patience. How about ordering two noodles first..."
"Master Chang, are your rock sugar turtles and peach blossom pans ready? The customers of 'Qi Gu Tan' are anxious and really want to complain..."
"Master Ai, how long will it take for the roast ducks to be ready? Yes, my five are all 'Seventy-two Connected Rooms'. "Yes, okay, I'll prepare the food tray right away..."
Along with the names of various dishes, the various scenic spots in the Temple of Heaven Park were also mentioned 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 in charge of batching the dishes responded quickly.
"Not yet. There are a few orders in between. Brother Pan, you see we are very busy here, I'm afraid we have to wait a few more minutes..."
Pan Long ignored that and gave the order a bit domineeringly.
"No, it has to be done right away! Move the other orders to the back and give me the dishes in advance..."
A waiter must have been waiting for too long and was really a little anxious. .
They actually fought hard regardless of the gap between superiors and subordinates.
"Then what should I do? Manager Pan, my guest is also anxious..."
Pan Long refuted him without a doubt, and the reason for the extravagance was quite sufficient.
"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 I not wait for you? Isn't it the sign of our designated tourist spot? I don’t want it anymore...”
So neither the waiter waiting to take away the dishes nor the chef approving the dishes had anything to say.
A moment later, two large dishes and four stew bowls were freshly baked.
The chef responsible for batching the dishes shouted in a loud voice, "Crab meat and sea cucumber, it is like honey, the main dish of Huangqian Palace! Brother Pan..."
Pan Long didn't waste any time and immediately put the dishes on the table. On two large trays, one hand was raised high.
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 of "Huangqian Hall".
Waiting until the waiter guarding the door opened the bead curtain at the door, he walked in.
The atmosphere in the private room was completely different. It was 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 do it. It’s all about the location. Is it really appropriate to place it in the south of the city?”
“We have done thorough planning and research on the location. In order to change the lack of parks in the south of Beijing, and high-end restaurants have opened in Chongwen District this year, the number of tourists in Tiantan Park has also been significant, 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 in recent years is indeed quite good. It seems that this district government is very ambitious. I heard that the district is also planning a modern residential area. Judging from this, it may not be long before Chongwen can catch up with Dongcheng Xicheng. If location is not a problem, then how should these modern amusement equipment be solved? We can’t provide it domestically. How do you consider this?”
"Our initial idea was to cooperate with American companies to import. After all, the paradise 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 companies, we can save a lot of foreign exchange. At present, our bureau means the United States and Japan. It is best for us to visit them and conduct on-site inspections..."
< br>"Yes, yes, the United States and Japan each have their own advantages. We have to go to them both so that we can choose. Let's see whether Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck is suitable, or Astro Boy is more cost-effective. This We support this matter, absolutely. We can both bear the relevant expenses... Hey, the food is served, hurry up, everyone eats it while it's hot..."
Pan Long moved around the table with the tray. Another waiter in the private room brought the dishes on the tray to the 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.
Following him, he recognized his backer, Du Hui, the deputy administrative manager.
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'm just going to come over and have a look. Is there any problem with you? Are the leaders of the Tourism Bureau and Garden Bureau satisfied?"
“Fortunately, I really appreciate the food and taste. It’s just that I almost missed the main course just now. Today our restaurant is full for the first time, and the kitchen is too busy. Especially the two tables in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, It was purely a matter of sincerity that I delayed it for half an hour, just in time for the tourist group to arrive, otherwise the situation would 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 for 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 gun yourself..."
These words surprised Pan Long. He expressed a rather unhappy expression.
"Huh? 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 who are responsible for the loss in the first place? Me? Let him?"< br>
Du Hui said with a serious face, "Look, I knew you were confused. Don't you even think about it, why did Mr. Ning give the best private room over there? And also asked the kitchen to prepare ice sculptures? Manager Ning was not here today, so Manager Zhang went to receive him personally and even presented a bottle of real French champagne on behalf of Manager Ning. What does this mean? In Mr. Ning’s heart, why is it that we are not Mr. Ning’s? A close confidant needs to know his/her position clearly. It’s hard to do anything, but it’s useless even if you’re exhausted..."
"Oh..." Pan Long opened his mouth, but his mind turned around. 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 do you have to hit back immediately when someone punches you? The future is long and you have to look at the long term. Besides, nepotism is the same everywhere. Otherwise Why do I have to transfer you here? The important thing is that you have to pay attention to methods and strategies in fighting. "I tell you, I used to be straightforward and just work hard, and I would suffer a lot, otherwise I would be in the service bureau." I haven’t been promoted to the first level in three years. If I hadn’t been lucky this time and got a job like "Tan Gong" that others regarded as a chore, I would never have had the chance to move 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, good or bad, don't look at it. It’s the only one in Nancheng, but it’s nothing.”
“In comparison, Beishen Kitchen is thousands of square meters long! If it opens there, we’ll have it in our hands. You don’t need to wear this gray coat, just change into a suit.”
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 , is another scene.
Two large round tables filled with hot and cold dishes were covered with the most gorgeous brocade tablecloths.
And there is a large 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 basin 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 kept smiling and served his relatives with wine and food.
Even Qu Xiao’s mother came to the model team’s table and was busy making arrangements, 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.
You can see how depressed she really is from the fact that she doesn't touch the chopsticks at all and doesn't pay much attention to anyone.
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 was not willing 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 of mutual acquaintance.
"Xiaoqu, everyone is here to celebrate you today. What's going on with you? I'm really afraid that you will cry on the spot, and that will make everyone embarrassed. . 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..."< br>
"Didn't I explain it to you? Weimin went to the head office for a meeting today. Mr. Pierre-Carton will return to China soon. As the big boss, he must have a lot of things to give orders. There is nothing we can do. He has to obey other people's bowls. Besides, he has been thinking about you. He specially prepared this room for you. You are the only one who can enjoy the ice sculptures and champagne 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 not come? How can she keep her word? She is angry with me, she no longer considers me a friend. If she had known, I would not participate in this competition..."
As he said this, Qu smiled with real circles in his eyes. It turned red, and tears began to gather in the 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 get the good results you have today. So I kept calling me 'Brother Zhang' and 'Brother Zhang' to you. I I have to give you some advice.”
“Girl, don’t say anything angry. In fact, who doesn’t want to win the championship? It’s your luck to become famous in one fell swoop. How many people want to be you. But there is only one champion, and if you hold it, others will naturally be jealous of you."
"In fact, many people will be jealous of you. 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 themselves to set off their excellence. But when you achieve results that greatly exceed them, they will be inspired by your excellence and growth. I have low self-esteem and started to stay away from you. "
"If you pay attention carefully, you will find that your life has changed a long time ago. Has anyone contacted you? Think about it again, how many of those old acquaintances are left when we joined the model team? This is the price of growing up!"
Zhang Shihui's words are very interesting! As a result, 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 me 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 to choose, as long as we It can be the same as before. I would rather give up the championship to Xiao Shitou, I won't be jealous of her anyway..."
Zhang Shihui was both amused and relieved by Qu Xiao's somewhat anxious defense.
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.
"Xiaoqu, you are a very simple 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 You are a champion, this cannot be changed. And you did not make any mistakes in this matter. There is no need to blame yourself for it.” It's normal to have different friends. If you can't understand this, then you can't go on this road. The same goes for Shi Kaili. If she can't accept the reality, she won't be able to go on, and she doesn't deserve it. Be your friend again.”
“Maybe you think my words are a bit cruel, but this is the adult world. Each of us has to constantly find our own position and adapt to the new situation as we grow and change. Instead of letting others and the environment adapt to our situation, you will find that it becomes more and more difficult to make true friends as you go up the level.”
"If you don't believe it, if you walk out of the 'Altar Palace' now and look across the road, you will find it. When your model friends are here to celebrate you, their boyfriends can only push their bicycles and wait outside pitifully. . In fact, they were waiting at the Gulou during the model training, but they rarely showed up."
"Isn't this kind of thing ridiculous? You obviously don't mind, right? All my friends are very concerned and don't want these men to show up. Why? Just because you models are on the fast track to fame and fortune, it is difficult for men to catch up with you. In fact, they are destined to be given up, but these men still don’t know it, or they know it, but they dare not face the reality.”
“If you still don’t believe it, just take a look. Wei Min and I. Even if we have always been in harmony, can our relationship remain the same? I am not afraid to tell you that I am not equal to him now. I can only follow his footsteps. Not to complain, but to be grateful. This is the main reason why he and I can continue to be friends."
"In other words, if Xiao Shitou really cherishes you. As a friend, after a while, she may adjust her mentality and be as proud of you as Weimin and I. You just need to wait quietly for her to make her choice.”
"Finally, I would like to advise you again, you have to think about your parents. For you to get to this point, 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, It turns out that you are like this. Is it difficult for them not to 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..."
That's it. , Qu Xiao finally changed from Lin Daiyu's same sadness and became a little more cheerful.
As for Zhang Shihui, who had spent a long time spitting, looking at Qu Xiao’s back, he was thinking:
This girl is not ready to step into Vanity Fair and face the utilitarian and snobbish people. Get ready.
If that boy Ning Weimin knew about it, I wonder if he would feel like he was trying to undermine his efforts?
Will he regret the things he did behind his back?
(End of this chapter)