bestfiction Chapter 107 The Emperor Takes Up His Pen, and the Ultimate Best Friend Hot Pot Restaurant Opens
Chapter 107 The Emperor Takes Up His Pen, and the Ultimate Best Friend Hot Pot Restaurant Opens
On this day, Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan arrived at the grand restaurant. Gu Liuli stood tall and straight, her gaze sweeping over the group of managers and staff. Her voice was clear and powerful: "From now on, besides me, you will have another leader in this restaurant, and that is the beautiful Jia Xiaoyan beside me."
These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion. Some shop assistants looked puzzled, whispering among themselves and speculating about Jia Xiaoyan's background and abilities; while some veteran shopkeepers frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in their eyes, seemingly holding reservations about the addition of this new leader.
Jia Xiaoyan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and smiled confidently: "Hello everyone, I'm Jia Xiaoyan. You may not be very familiar with me yet, but please believe me, I'm passionate about this business and confident that we can work together to make the restaurant even better. I hope you'll all support me in the days to come, and let's move forward hand in hand!" Her words were firm and resolute, and her eyes met the gazes of everyone with unwavering determination.
Despite some skeptical glances, Jia Xiaoyan did not back down. She immediately convened a short meeting with the restaurant managers, together with Gu Liuli, to inquire in detail about the restaurant's current operating status and the difficulties they faced. At the meeting, Jia Xiaoyan proposed some innovative business ideas, such as launching limited-time special offers to attract more diners and adjusting the menu according to different times of day. These ideas made the initially skeptical managers nod in approval and begin to look at their new leader with new respect.
In preparing for the hot pot restaurant, Jia Xiaoyan, relying on her modern memories, suggested innovating the flavor of the broth.
She personally participated in the research and development, cleverly blending the spicy and savory flavors of modern hot pot with local ingredients to create unique flavors such as Sichuan pepper chicken hot pot base and sour soup beef hot pot base. In order to find the most suitable spices, she traveled to markets large and small throughout the city, haggling with spice merchants and carefully selecting each ingredient.
Planning the beauty salon kept her incredibly busy. She used her system points to redeem some beauty and skincare knowledge and discussed designing beauty projects with Gu Liuli.
From facials to body spas, every step is meticulously considered. She even personally drew up the interior design sketches for the beauty salon, striving to create a warm, comfortable, and stylish environment. When recruiting employees, Jia Xiaoyan personally oversees the interviews, valuing not only their skills but also their service attitude and approachability.
In terms of advertising and promotion, Jia Xiaoyan racked her brains. She suggested making attractive flyers with pictures of the hot pot restaurant's signature dishes and the beauty salon's special offers, and hiring people to distribute them in high-traffic areas of the city.
At the same time, she also used her connections at the Crown Prince's residence to invite high-ranking officials and noble ladies from the city to participate in the trial operation activities, hoping to spread the word about the store and increase its popularity.
Xiao Han was filled with curiosity and a touch of surprise when he heard that his daughter-in-law and Jia Dafu's daughter had opened a hot pot restaurant together. He gently stroked his chin and glanced at Grandpa Fu beside him. "This is quite interesting. A hot pot restaurant? What kind of food is that?"
With a broad smile, Eunuch Fu bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, if you really want to know, why don't you ask the Crown Princess yourself? I've never heard of such a rich variety of names that the Crown Princess has chosen."
Xiao Han pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Very well, summon the Crown Princess to see me."
Before long, Gu Liuli arrived in a hurry. After bowing, she stood respectfully to the side. Xiao Han cut to the chase and asked, "I heard that you and Jia Dafu's daughter opened a hot pot restaurant. What kind of business is that?"
Gu Liuli remained calm and smiled, "Father, this hot pot restaurant offers a novel way of dining. Diners sit around a table with a large pot in the center, filled with a carefully prepared broth that comes in various flavors such as spicy and savory. Fresh ingredients like sliced meat, vegetables, and meatballs are then added to the pot to cook, and then dipped in a special sauce before eating. The unique flavor is very popular among the people."
A hint of interest flashed in Xiao Han's eyes: "Oh? Such a novel way of eating! Tell me in detail how this shop is run?"
Gu Liuli methodically recounted the shop's preparations, menu design, and promotional plans, also mentioning the crucial role Jia Xiaoyan played. Xiao Han listened attentively, nodding occasionally, gaining a new appreciation for his daughter-in-law's business acumen and decisiveness.
That evening, Gu Liuli and Xiaoyan took two kinds of hot pot bases: one a Chongqing spicy hot pot base they had made themselves and the other a non-spicy hot pot base for Little Fatty Beef. They also brought out some fresh vegetables from their space and went to the palace together.
Upon entering the hall, Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan bowed respectfully. The moment Xiao Han saw Jia Xiaoyan, he understood why the Crown Princess could befriend her; this woman was indeed intelligent!
"No need for formalities. Did you bring a hot pot with you today?" Xiao Han asked with a smile.
Gu Liuli nodded, signaling the palace maids to set out the ingredients and pots they had brought. Soon, a steaming hot pot was presented before them.
Jia Xiaoyan stepped forward and skillfully placed vegetables and meat slices into the pot while introducing, "Your Majesty, this Chongqing spicy hot pot base has a rich and mellow flavor, spicy and fragrant, it's the most satisfying; this non-spicy beef hot pot base is fresh, fragrant and nourishing, suitable for those with a lighter palate."
As they spoke, the ingredients in the pot gradually cooked, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.
Xiao Han couldn't resist picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of the meat slices cooked in the spicy broth. He was instantly captivated by the unique flavor and exclaimed, "This taste is truly amazing! I've never tasted such delicious food before!"
Seeing that the Emperor liked it, Jia Xiaoyan smiled and recommended, "Your Majesty, there is another wonderful thing about this hot pot: you can adjust the sauce to your liking. Add some minced garlic, cilantro, and chopped green onions, and then drizzle a spoonful of hot oil on top, and it will have a unique flavor."
With the two men enthusiastically introducing the food, Xiao Han ate to his heart's content, and his love for the hot pot grew even stronger.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, the Empress and Empress Dowager came in, drawn by the aroma. "Oh, Your Majesty, what kind of delicacies have you been enjoying behind my and my mother's back!"
Just as they were enjoying their meal, the Empress and the Empress Dowager entered, drawn by the delicious aroma. The Empress chuckled and teased, "Oh, Your Majesty, what kind of delicacies have you been indulging in behind my and my mother's back?"
Xiao Han laughed heartily and waved his hand, "You've come at the perfect time! Come and try this novel dish—hot pot."
Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan quickly rose and bowed, then enthusiastically introduced the Empress and Empress Dowager to the way to eat hot pot and its special features. The Empress Dowager looked at the ingredients bubbling in the pot, her eyes full of curiosity: "This looks interesting, but is it tasty?"
Jia Xiaoyan smiled and ladled a bowl of vegetable soup from the non-spicy beef hot pot, handing it to the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, please try this delicious soup and these perfectly cooked vegetables. I guarantee you'll love it."
The Empress Dowager took a small sip, and her eyes immediately lit up: "Hmm, this tastes really delicious, even more special than the delicacies we usually have."
The Empress, however, was more interested in the spicy hot pot. She had just taken a bite of the hot pot meat when she frowned slightly from the spiciness, but she couldn't stop eating it: "This spicy flavor is really irresistible."
Everyone sat together, enjoying the hot pot amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, creating a lively atmosphere. This hot pot meal not only allowed the royal family members to taste a novel delicacy, but also showed Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan the popularity of hot pot in the palace, further strengthening their determination to expand and thrive their hot pot restaurant.
Seeing that the Empress and the others also enjoyed the food, Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan suggested to the Emperor, "Father, why don't you personally write the name of our hot pot restaurant on a signboard?"
Xiao Han smiled upon hearing this; this girl had been waiting for him here. But seeing everyone enjoying their meal, and considering that this hot pot was indeed unique, he nodded and replied, "Alright, it's rare that you all have this thoughtfulness; I will inscribe something for you."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xiaoyan was so excited she almost jumped for joy. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, that's wonderful! With your calligraphy, our hot pot restaurant will surely become famous!"
Immediately, Eunuch Fu hurriedly prepared the four treasures of the study. Xiao Han stood up, stretched his wrists, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and after a moment's thought, wrote the five characters "Yu Xiang Hot Pot Restaurant" with vigorous yet elegant strokes, drawing praise from everyone.
Gu Liuli and Jia Xiaoyan carefully put away the calligraphy and prepared to find the best craftsmen in the city to make a plaque using the finest wood.
A few days later, the plaque was completed and hung high in front of the hot pot restaurant. Passersby stopped to look at it, and upon learning that it was inscribed by the emperor himself, they were filled with curiosity and anticipation for the hot pot restaurant.
On opening day, the restaurant was packed with people, all eager to try the hot pot that even the emperor raved about. The restaurant's business boomed overnight.
To ensure that resources were used to their fullest potential, they meticulously planned a trial operation event.
On the day of the event, they laid out a red carpet and decorated it with colorful ribbons at the store entrance, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
The restaurant was meticulously decorated, with fragrant aromas and melodious music. Gu Liuli personally greeted the visiting court officials, leading them on a tour of the shop, explaining the characteristics of the dishes and the freshness of the ingredients, and inviting them to sample various specialty hot pot bases.
Jia Xiaoyan, on the other hand, focuses on entertaining young ladies from prominent families, leading them to experience some of the beauty salon's services, sharing her beauty and skincare tips, and letting them personally experience the beauty salon's attentive service.
After the event, they also prepared exquisite gifts for these distinguished guests, including coupons for the hot pot restaurant, trial cards for the beauty salon, and some special small gifts.
After enjoying the unique service, these VIPs shared their experiences in their respective social circles, praising the delicious hot pot restaurant and the comfortable beauty salon. Through word of mouth, they successfully attracted more attention, making the hot pot restaurant and beauty salon famous even before their official opening.