Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 210 Procurement (A long chapter of 7,000 words)

Although Chang Cheng had a vague idea of ​​Li Zhe's purpose in coming, he was still very happy to hear Li Zhe confirm it in person.

The reason is quite simple. Their Jianguo Hotel was the first Sino-foreign joint venture hotel, with a great reputation, and it handled many foreign-related reception matters.

However, with the completion of a new batch of hotels catering to foreign guests, the Jianguo Hotel now faces competition, such as the Great Wall Hotel. The latter is showing signs of overtaking the former.

A while ago, he found out that the Great Wall Hotel could supply fresh vegetables, which startled him. Why did the Great Wall Hotel have them, but their Jianguo Hotel didn't?
Could it be that in the eyes of the higher-ups, the Jianguo Hotel has already been classified as a second category?

This gave him a sense of crisis. He made a special inquiry about the matter and only breathed a sigh of relief after learning that the batch of vegetables was not supplied by the government.

But if the Great Wall Hotel has vegetables, the Jianguo Hotel should have them too! Otherwise, wouldn't it make him, the purchasing manager, look incompetent?
"Mr. Li, what kind of dishes do you have? I want them all. You can just tell me the prices. If the prices are within the hotel's expectations, we can sign a contract directly; if they exceed our expectations, I can apply to my superiors for approval on your behalf."

Li Zhe produced a list indicating the types of vegetables, their availability, and prices. The prices were slightly lower than the retail prices at 365 Vegetable Store, but not by much.

After all, the vegetables at 365 Vegetable Store are used to attract customers, and they are already in short supply. They are also subject to purchase restrictions, so Li Zhe has no reason to sell them to Jianguo Hotel at too low a price.

Chang Cheng had been to the 365 Vegetable Store before, knew about the store and the retail prices of vegetables, so he didn't ask for a high price from Li Zhe and immediately agreed.

Chang Cheng then took his leave to have someone draft a contract for purchasing vegetables. When he returned, the waiter had already served the dishes, along with a bottle of Moutai liquor.

This was the first time in Li Zhe's life that someone had ever treated him to Moutai. The feeling...

really not bad.

Li Zhe sampled a few more dishes. He wasn't sure if they were authentic, but they were all quite delicious. He put down his chopsticks and said, "Manager Chang, there's something I need to tell you. Our vegetable cooperative only has one truck, and we have to deliver vegetables to several places every morning, so it might be a little late when we arrive at your hotel."

Chang Cheng, who had been a purchasing manager for many years, knew very well that if the vegetables arrived too late, it might affect the kitchen's food preparation. He suggested, "Mr. Li, how about this? You can put our hotel's vegetables at 365 Vegetable Store, and I'll send someone there to pick them up every day. This way, it won't delay your delivery, and we can get the vegetables to the kitchen as early as possible."

"No problem, I'll talk to the vegetable shop later." Li Zhe nodded; that was a good idea. Otherwise, if there were more restaurants to supply in the future, and he didn't have enough vehicles, he really wouldn't be able to deliver them all.

Chang Cheng raised his glass: "Mr. Li, I'd like to toast you."

Li Zhe raised his glass: "Manager Chang, you're too kind. I should be thanking you for patronizing my business."

Regardless of who begged whom before, now that the deal is done, everyone will be there to support and elevate the business.

After downing a glass of wine, Chang Cheng gestured for him to try the braised lion's head meatballs that had just been served: "Mr. Li, this is our restaurant's signature dish. Please have a taste."

The braised lion's head meatballs weren't particularly large, and they were cut in half. Li Zhe picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, praising, "Fresh but not greasy, tender but not mushy. Delicious! The chef at your restaurant is truly excellent."

"Mr. Li, if you like to eat here, come often. I'll give you a card in a bit, so you can come anytime and there will always be a table available."

"Thank you so much," Li Zhe said politely, putting down his chopsticks. "Manager Chang, there's something else I'd like to ask you for help with."

Chang Cheng said solemnly, "Mr. Li, please tell me, and I will definitely help if I can."

"Here's the thing, I'm thinking of opening a restaurant that specializes in a modified version of Sichuan cuisine. Of course, it'll just be a small restaurant, and it certainly can't compare to your esteemed establishment. My restaurant is currently short of a chef, so I was wondering if you have any connections in that area."

Li Zhe and Tan Jingya's restaurant, Shuxiangju, currently has two chefs. However, as the restaurant expands, two chefs will definitely not be enough, and they will need to hire another chef.

As the saying goes, one should not have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others. If all three chefs were hired by Tan Jingya, Li Zhe would definitely not feel at ease.

But if he were to find a chef himself, he wouldn't have many good connections. The job of a chef is different from other jobs; it has certain unique characteristics and a tradition of succession. Especially in this day and age, many jobs are filled through introductions from acquaintances, or even apprenticeships, which is different from hiring waiters.

Li Zhe suddenly realized today that the purchasing manager often deals with the chefs in the kitchen, so maybe he has some connections in this area.

"Mr. Li, what kind of chef are you looking for? What level? What cuisine? I'll go back and find out for you."

"Our restaurant mainly serves Sichuan cuisine and modified dishes. We don't really care about any particular level. Our restaurant is only a little over 200 square meters, and we plan to hire three chefs and five to six kitchen helpers. I doubt a head chef would even consider a small shop like ours. As long as the cooking skills are up to par and there are experienced cooks, that's fine." Although Li Zhe doesn't care about the level, chefs applying for jobs at restaurants will definitely have to be tested on their dishes. If the food isn't good, even the highest level is useless.

Chang Cheng readily agreed: "No problem! I'll go to the kitchen this afternoon and ask for you. Although the chefs in my kitchen can't go with you, they all have fellow apprentices. I'll call you once I've made the arrangements."

"Thank you so much." Li Zhe picked up his wine cup. "Manager Chang, I'll drink this first!"

……

Early the next morning.

After getting up and washing up, Li Zhe played with his dog Jinzi for a while.

Jinzi has been eating well lately and is growing fast, noticeably bigger than her other siblings.

Li Zhe's courtyard house is over 600 square meters, it's so big that if he didn't keep a dog, he wouldn't even know if a thief broke in at night.

Li Zhe even felt that one dog wasn't enough and wanted to get another one.

Li Zhe had arranged to go to Hongqiao Market with Tan Jingya today to look at restaurant tables, chairs, and tableware. He glanced at his watch and, feeling it was about time, went directly into the backyard through the hanging flower gate.

The backyard was empty and lacked liveliness. Jinzi followed her in and started running happily around the yard with her little steps.

Although there is a yard in the front, it is much smaller than the backyard, so Jinzi can't run around at all. When the weather gets warmer in a while, Li Zhe plans to buy a leash and take it for a walk in the alley.

The door to the west wing was still closed. Li Zhe didn't call Tan Jingya, but instead opened the door to the north room and went into the living room.

Before leaving, the Ji family sold almost all the furniture in the house. If they have time during their trip to the Hongqiao Market, they can take a look and buy anything suitable.

The north-facing house is the main house, with a living room in the middle. The east and west rooms are quite large, each with its own toilet and bathroom, making it much more comfortable to live in than the front yard.

Li Zhe plans to use the west room as a bedroom and the east room as a lounge and study. His parents can also stay in the east room when they come to visit.

Li Zhe memorized the general structure of the north room, and when he heard a noise outside, he went out.

I saw Tan Jingya squatting in the corner feeding the cat. Although she was wearing winter clothes, her graceful figure was still undeniable.

"Sister Tan, is this cat yours?" Li Zhe turned his gaze to the cat. It was a tabby cat, which looked up at Li Zhe for a moment before lowering its head to eat.

“I raised it. The courtyard of the siheyuan is big and there are many rooms, so it’s impossible to live without a cat. But Grandma Ji doesn’t like cats and always chases it away.”

It's been outside for so long that it's become a bit wild; sometimes it doesn't come back for days." Tan Jingya added some more water for the cat.
"Mr. Li, this house is yours now. If it comes back in the future, I hope you can take care of it. It's very good at catching mice."

Li Zhe leaned closer and asked, "It doesn't scratch, does it?"

"No, it's quite gentle and never attacks people. The fact that there are no rats in this courtyard is largely thanks to it."

"Don't worry, I'll feed it as soon as it comes back." He then turned to Jinzi and said, "Jinzi, this cat helps us catch mice, so don't bully it, understand?"

Whether Jinzi understood or not, she made a loud noise.

The tabby cat stopped eating, raised its head, and meowed at Jinzi.

The first encounter between the cat and the dog didn't seem very friendly.

Li Zhe said to Tan Jingya, who was standing next to him, "I'll take Jinzi back to the front yard first. When we have time later, we'll let the two of them get to know each other better. Let's meet outside in a bit."

"Okay, Mr. Li."

Li Zhe dragged Jinzi back to the front yard, closed the hanging flower gate, and fed it some more. Then, Li Zhe pushed his bicycle out the door.

Li Zhe and Tan Jingya met outside the door and rode their bicycles straight to Hongqiao Market.

Hongqiao Market is located near the Temple of Heaven, about two kilometers from Suzhou Hutong. It takes about ten minutes to get there by bicycle.

After the Hongqiao Market was renovated and upgraded in 86, the variety of products became much richer. In addition to all kinds of furniture, some small commodities were also added, such as plates, porcelain bowls, and chopsticks.

The two parked their bicycles. Tan Jingya asked, "Mr. Li, what should we buy first?"

This was Li Zhe's first time doing this, and he had no clue what to do: "Let's walk around the market one shop at a time. If we find something suitable, we'll decide on it first; if not, we'll keep looking."

Tan Jingya had been to Hongqiao Market before and was quite familiar with the area. Pointing to the shops ahead, she said, "Let's go from east to west. I remember there are places selling bowls and chopsticks on the east side, and the prices aren't too expensive."

“Okay.” The two walked along the street. Besides shops, there were also stalls along the roadside. Some were just a cloth spread out on the ground, selling all sorts of things.

"Take a look! Shanghai brand watches, genuine products guaranteed!"

"Only three Forever bicycles left! Special price!"

"Zhangqiu Sanhuan large iron pot, made of genuine materials, sturdy and durable, will not break for ten years!"

"The latest styles of jeans from Hong Kong, at the lowest price in Beijing!"

……

The stall owners each used their unique skills, and their calls to sell were constant.

The two first entered a shop selling bowls, chopsticks, and tableware called Big Fat Grocery Store. The owner looked quite wealthy, which showed that he had indeed made money.

The portly boss approached with a broad smile: "Gentlemen, what would you like? For home use or for work?"

"We want to open a restaurant and need to buy a lot of bowls and chopsticks. Can you give us a discount?"

"No problem! We've just received a new type of porcelain bowl. The manufacturer is having a promotion, so the price is quite favorable. Let me show you." The portly shopkeeper took a bowl from the shelf by the door and handed it to Li Zhe and Tan Jingya.

Li Zhe took the bowl and examined it. It was very light, and the workmanship looked decent. However, he had no experience running a restaurant and didn't know much about it. After looking at it, he handed it to Tan Jingya.

Tan Jingya pinched the bowl and tapped it with her slender fingers, making a "humming" sound: "No, this bowl is too thin. Not only will it break easily, but it will also be too hot to touch."

"You're an expert!" The chubby shopkeeper gave a thumbs up. "The porcelain of this bowl is indeed quite thin, but its advantage lies in its low price."

Tan Jingya said, "Boss, we own our own restaurant, so please don't try to fool us. If you recommend similar products again, we'll go somewhere else."

"Don't mind, I'll pick out another one for you with a thicker porcelain body, but it will be a little more expensive." The chubby shopkeeper took a white printed porcelain bowl from the shelf next to him and handed it to Tan Jingya.

Tan Jingya checked it again using the same method and asked, "Boss, how much is one of these bowls?" "The retail price of these bowls is 40 cents. If you want more, I'll give you a discount of 35 cents each."

Tan Jingya handed the bowl to Li Zhe next to her and asked, "Mr. Li, what do you think?"

Li Zhe took the bowl and examined it. He thought the quality was acceptable, but the price was a bit high. In later markets, a cheaper bowl would probably only cost around two or three yuan.

He said, "The bowl is alright, but the price is too high."

Tan Jingya nodded and said to the fat shop owner, "Boss, just give us the lowest price, so we don't have to haggle anymore."

The chubby shopkeeper held up three fingers: "30 cents each, that's the lowest price."

Tan Jingya leaned close to Li Zhe and whispered, "Mr. Li, I think this price is acceptable. What do you think?"

Li Zhe wasn't very clear about the prices of bowls and chopsticks in this era. He had previously thought they were expensive because the price of bowls hadn't increased much in later generations. But since Tan Jingya thought they weren't expensive, it meant that 3 mao (0.3 yuan) per bowl was in line with the price of this era.

That can only mean one thing: the future development of industrialization and transportation will reduce the cost of porcelain bowls, resulting in a relatively small increase in their price.

The bowl the boss just recommended is the most common one, probably used for holding rice. But running a restaurant requires many different types of bowls, such as small soup bowls, large soup bowls, noodle bowls, and condiment dishes, and you need to choose the right one for each.

There are many types of plates, such as flat plates, round plates, deep plates, and irregularly shaped plates. Each type of plate is used to hold different dishes.

For example, round plates are suitable for most dishes, flat plates are suitable for staple foods, deep plates are suitable for dishes with soup, and the most common irregular-shaped plate is oval, which is more suitable for fish.

Plates are more expensive than bowls. Besides practicality, aesthetics are also important.

Li Zhe chose a round plate with blue patterns. The design was simple and the color was elegant, but it wasn't too monotonous.

"Sister Tan, what do you think of this plate?" Round plates are the most frequently used and determine the main style of all tableware.

Tan Jingya picked up the plate, weighed it in her hand, tapped the bottom of the plate, and ran her fingers over the inside of the plate. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. "This plate is an overglaze decoration. These blue patterns are painted on the already fired white glaze with the materials. Although it was fired a second time, the materials are directly exposed on the surface of the tableware."

If the material quality is average, or the firing process is improper, the pattern will fade over time. Therefore, if you want to buy porcelain tableware with colored patterns, it's best to buy underglaze decoration.

Li Zhe had also heard of overglaze and underglaze decoration. However, bowls and plates rarely break even after ten or even several decades of use, so he had no actual purchasing experience and subconsciously asked, "How can I distinguish between overglaze and underglaze decoration?"

"First, look at the color. The colors of overglaze decoration are more vibrant and have a different luster compared to the surrounding porcelain surface."

Secondly, you can touch it. The underglaze pigments are covered by the glaze layer, and the surface is smooth and flat, feeling the same as other parts.

If it's overglaze decoration, because the pigment is on top of the glaze, you can feel the texture of the pattern by touch.

Li Zhe touched the disc he had just touched, and the area with the blue pattern was indeed rougher than the other parts.

Because they wanted to buy a variety of tableware, the two only purchased a portion from the large, well-stocked general store. They then browsed other shops. Their selection criteria were threefold: aesthetically pleasing, practical, and inexpensive.

After selecting the porcelain plates and bowls, I also bought spoons and chopsticks. The spoons were made of iron and porcelain, and the chopsticks were made of bamboo.

Compared to wooden chopsticks, bamboo chopsticks have many advantages, such as being more moisture-resistant, having no burrs, and being cheaper.

The last things the two of them looked at were the tables and chairs in the private room, which were also the biggest items they bought this time.

When the two heard that they wanted to look at tables and chairs for the restaurant, the shop owner led them directly to a warehouse not far behind, where all kinds of tables and chairs were piled up, making the selection even more complete.

The two walked around the warehouse, giving a general overview of the table styles. Tan Jingya patted a round table and asked, "Boss lady, how much is this size table?"

"You have excellent taste! This table is made of elm wood, sturdy and durable, and the workmanship is exquisite. Just feel how smooth the tabletop is! We sell it for 100 on its own, but if you want more, I can give you a discount. How about 90?"

“No, this price is too high.” After saying that, Tan Jingya tugged at Li Zhe next to her, “Mr. Li, let’s go and look at other stores.”

Before Li Zhe could reply, the owner of the table and chair shop hurriedly said, "85 yuan! This is the lowest price. We're losing money just to attract customers."

Tan Jingya shook her head: "It's still too expensive."

"Why don't you take a look at the poplar and willow tables?" The proprietress pointed to the red table next to her. "These two tables are the same style and the same size, only the wood is different."

Tan Jingya asked, "How much? Just tell me the lowest price. I'm not one to haggle."

The proprietress gritted her teeth and said, "55! If you really want it, I'll sell it to you for 55!"

Tan Jingya looked at Li Zhe beside her and said, "Mr. Li, what do you think? I personally think elm wood is more durable."

Li Zhe touched the tabletop and asked, "Don't you have a rotating round table here?"

The proprietress was a little puzzled: "Comrade, the more stable the dining table, the better. I've never actually heard of a rotating table."

Li Zhe looked at Tan Jingya beside him: "Sister Tan, what do you think?"

Tan Jingya lowered her voice: "Mr. Li, I've never heard of a rotating round table either."

Li Zhe stroked his chin. Yesterday, he went to the Jianguo Hotel for dinner and saw the rotating round tables in the restaurant. Although they were manual, it was still better than standing up from a distance and sticking out his butt to pick up food.

Li Zhe explained simply, "The rotating table I'm referring to doesn't mean the whole table rotates. It means there's a round plate on the table, either a glass plate or a wooden plate. You put the dishes on the plate, and then you can rotate the plate to choose whichever dish you want to eat."

Li Zhe patted the traditional round table again, "Look how wide this round table is. If a group of people are eating, and I want to eat the dishes on the other side, it's difficult to reach them even if I stand up to pick them up."

Tan Jingya's eyes lit up: Li Zhe's idea of ​​a rotating round table is indeed more convenient for guests to pick up food! "Mr. Li, your idea is great, I really hadn't thought of that before."

Li Zhe asked the owner of the table and chair shop, "Comrade, can you order the kind of table I'm talking about?"

The proprietress shook her head: "I've never seen that table you're talking about before, and the manufacturer doesn't have it either."

"Alright, we'll think about it some more and come back if we need anything later." Beijing is so big, and there are many other markets besides this one. Just because it's not available here doesn't mean it's not available elsewhere.

After leaving the warehouse, Li Zhe said to Tan Jingya, "Sister Tan, I think the rotating round table would be more suitable for the private room. What do you think?"

“What you say sounds good, but I haven’t seen the actual items. How about we go check out other shops selling tables and chairs in the market?” Li Zhe glanced at the time. “It’s almost noon. Let’s grab some food first, and continue shopping this afternoon.”

The two grabbed a quick bite at a stall near the market and continued browsing furniture shops in the afternoon. They looked at several shops, but none had rotating wooden tables.

Afterwards, the two rode their bicycles to Chaowai Market.

After visiting several furniture stores, I finally found one that sold rotating round tables.

On the brownish-red round table sits a small round plate of the same color, which can be rotated freely.

Tan Jingya placed the two plates on the round table and gently rotated the small round plate, causing the two plates to complete a full circle.

Tan Jingya's eyes lit up with joy; with this rotating round table, it was indeed much more convenient for guests to reach for food. However, considering the need to negotiate a lower price, she suppressed her delight and asked, "Mr. Li, what do you think?"

"The style is acceptable," Li Zhe replied, then asked the shopkeeper beside him, "What kind of wood is this, and how much does it cost?"

The owner was young, in his thirties, not very tall, and spoke with a slight Jizhou accent: "You have excellent taste. This is the latest high-end dining table, made entirely of elm wood, and it costs 140 yuan."

Li Zhe patted the table; the material was indeed excellent, and the workmanship was exquisite. "We need to order six round tables in total. How much of a discount can we get?"

The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "One hundred and twenty-five, that's the lowest price."

"Too expensive." Li Zhe felt that the other party was not sincere. He wanted six tables, but the other party only reduced the price by a dozen yuan. He walked straight out.

"Wait a minute, comrade, why don't you name a price?"

Li Zhe stopped in his tracks: "Ninety."

"Comrade, please stop teasing me. I can't even get in at this price. How about this, since this is our first time doing business, I'll give you the lowest possible price, one hundred and eleven, is that alright?"

Li Zhe gestured: "One hundred yuan, I can pay the deposit today."

The shopkeeper thought for a moment, and seeing that Li Zhe was about to leave again, he quickly agreed: "Comrade, to be honest with you, this price really doesn't make any money. How about this? I'll give you one table and ten chairs, for a total of one hundred and fifty yuan. Is that alright?"

Li Zhe didn't agree immediately, but looked at Tan Jingya beside him: "Sister Tan, what do you think?"

Tan Jingya nodded slightly and asked the shop owner, "Can you deliver to my door?"

The shop owner gave a wry smile: "Alright, if you add this one, I really won't make a single penny. I just want to gain popularity, make friends with you two, and hope you'll patronize my shop in the future."

The boss went to write the deposit contract. Tan Jingya asked softly, "Mr. Li, we have five private rooms on the second floor, why did you buy six large round tables?"

Li Zhe said, "I plan to put one in the courtyard house."

Tan Jingya nodded and said nothing more.

Li Zhe looked at her again and asked, "Sister Tan, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Tan Jingya countered, "I heard from the workers yesterday that after they finished sanding the first-floor floor today, we can't walk on it tomorrow, so we probably can't work in the restaurant. They're planning to let everyone rest for a day. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I'd like to treat everyone to a meal, or more precisely, I'd like to invite you to explore other restaurants and see how the better ones operate, what their unique dishes are, what their good services are, and what their shortcomings are."

"We can learn from the good points and prevent the bad ones in advance." Through today's purchasing, Li Zhe also noticed some things. Tan Jingya does have a certain understanding of the restaurant industry, but there are also shortcomings.

Since the reform and opening up, the times have developed rapidly, and people must keep pace with the times.

Tan Jingya asked, "Which restaurant would you like to go to? Is it just the two of us?"

Li Zhe said, "Let's invite the two chefs, Sister Lin, my cousin, and driver Liang. The more people there are, the better we can find problems from all angles. We're not just letting them eat for nothing. After the meal, everyone has to point out three strengths and three weaknesses of the restaurant. As I always say, we learn from the good points and take the bad points as a warning."

Tan Jingya thought to herself, "Isn't this just stealing their skills?" However, she also thought it was a good idea and said with a smile, "Then the restaurant will cover the cost of the restaurant's exploration. The two chefs are fine with it, but Qiaomei might not be able to go? She plans to go back to Daying Village today."

"Then call her again next time. As for which restaurant to choose, you and the two chefs can decide."

(End of this chapter)