Food Intelligence King

Chapter 195 Merchant Leaders
After a brief chat with Lao Meng about winter heating, Chen Zhou then invited:

"Let's have hot pot together sometime, Brother Meng. I just learned how to make a tomato soup base."

"Sure!" Old Meng readily agreed.

They also discussed the flavor effects of the three-ingredient oil in the tomato soup base.

Out of interest and a sense of responsibility, he has recently studied a lot of food-related theories.

It involves both professional evaluation and craftsmanship.

But he also increasingly felt that:

There is a huge gap between knowing and doing.

Brother Chen has the ability to combine theory with practice.

This is called professionalism.

Old Meng admired him greatly. He also felt very lucky to have such a restaurant-owning neighbor.

After Chen Zhou left, another neighbor came to the tobacco and liquor store. It was Tony, Meng Da's neighbor to the east.

"Hey, you've come at the perfect time," Old Meng said with a smile.

"It saves me the trouble of telling you all one by one. The property management company said they are responsible for maintaining the underfloor heating this year."

Tony was confused and, after hearing the news, became somewhat worried:
"Is this a sign that they're going to raise the property management fees? They seem like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken."

"Why don't I have such a unique perspective like you?" Old Meng quipped, though he also admired his neighbor.

But mainly because he had just spoken with Chen Zhou and knew the general outline of the matter.

Old Meng then explained the situation to Tony, telling him not to worry.

Simply put, after Chen Zhou met with the property manager, he expressed the concerns of the merchants about the heating system.

The property management was very accommodating and offered to help maintain the premises for the businesses.

After listening, Tony let out a long "Oh~~".

"I understand. Brother Chen is now the opinion leader of our local business owners. Just ask him if you need anything."

"I suppose so." That wasn't actually what Lao Meng meant. He felt that Brother Chen didn't mean it that way either.

But after Tony said that, he really thought that if the merchants were to elect a representative, it would be best if Brother Chen were to do it.

He is skilled in business management.

As for being a person, there's nothing to criticize.

Therefore, Lao Meng felt that Tony's words made sense.

Tony had no other thoughts besides spreading a few small rumors. He bought a bottle of coffee from the tobacco and liquor store to perk himself up.

When it was time to pay the bill, I heard Lao Meng say, "Give me a bottle too. Seeing you drink it makes me want some too."

People's behavior influences each other.

Tony threw a bottle to Lao Meng.

As he left the tobacco and liquor store and turned back to his barbershop, he happened to run into the female owner of the head massage parlor who was about to move in.

The two said hello.

Tony, the hairstylist, usually likes to take care of the women.

This also reminded the shop owner that the property management would be coming to maintain the pipes, and that she should remember to leave someone at the new shop.

But when it comes to Tony, things do tend to get a bit exaggerated.

If he were to repeat it, it would be even more exaggerated.

After hearing this, the female owner of the beauty salon looked at the empty storefront of the community canteen and thought to herself:
It seems that if I need anything at Sunshine City in the future, I can just ask Brother Chen.

I'll have to come over and pay my respects properly someday.

When she went to check on the beauty salon's renovation, she inevitably turned around and asked the other neighbors about it.

The circle of shop owners on the ground floor is small, so the rumors spread quickly.

Although the rumors may be somewhat exaggerated, it's still a good thing that the property management has improved its service level.

In the evening, at the home of the community canteen owner.

Chen Zhou was unaware of what was going on with the neighbors who owned shops on the ground floor.

He had just finished dinner with his wife and children. Chen Zhou wasn't in a hurry to use the tomato soup base for dinner that day.

She simply stir-fried two side dishes. Chen Taotao probably didn't mind eating tomatoes a couple more times; she wasn't tired of them yet.

But Chen Zhou has indeed had his fill of food these past few days.

As an immature product category, Chen Zhou tried many times, and of course, he tasted the seasonings many times as well.

He felt like he smelled a bit like a tomato.

But remembering that Chen Taotao really liked tomatoes, he also promised his daughter:
"Let's ask your Uncle Zhang to buy some more beef and mutton sometime, and then we can have hot pot at home. I'll make you a tomato-flavored one."

"You're so amazing, Dad," Chen Taotao praised enthusiastically.

She also thought of her peers, "Let's invite Sister Zhao to come along, I haven't seen her for many days."

Her junior sister had brought her some big pears a while ago, and Chen Taotao really missed this Sister Zhao.

The little girl naturally imitates how her father treats people.

Chen Zhou pulled his daughter to his side and whispered in her ear:
"If you invite Sister Zhao over for dinner, there might be one more person. Would you mind?"

The person Chen Zhou mentioned here refers to Comrade Wang Meng.

Although the young man and woman haven't officially become boyfriend and girlfriend, they've already become friends who frequently go out for meals and activities together.

Chen Zhou could occasionally piece together some of their experiences from Zhao Yilin or Wang Meng's words.

Team Leader Wang is still very busy lately. After being transferred from managing small vendors to writing documents for his superiors, he's now facing another job adjustment. He has to go out to meetings frequently.

As a result, the times when they come to the restaurant to eat have become irregular.

When Wang Meng learned that Chen Zhou had rented a new shop, he naturally sent a message on WeChat saying, "Master Chen, you're really something."

But he hadn't come over for a meal in a while, and his words revealed that he missed Chef Chen's cooking.

So Chen Zhou thought he might as well join in, since the two junior sisters often met anyway.

However, this time the host is Chen Taotao.

Chen Zhou asked his daughter, as a formality, if she would mind.

“I don’t mind,” Tao Tao quickly shook her head when she heard her father mention adding more people.

"I'd love for more of them; they'd be very welcome."

She's the type who loves to join in the fun. She didn't even care who was coming over.

But that would be a bit difficult for Sister Zhao.

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "Then I'll ask her for you tomorrow."

"No need, I'll call her." Chen Taotao still had a small watch, so she could already contact Sister Zhao privately.

"Then you can do it yourself." Chen Zhou gave the little girl full authority.

Ms. Lin stood to the side, simply smiling faintly. She had overheard the conversation between the father and son, and then picked up a shopping app on her phone.

We've already asked Brother Zhang to provide the most important ingredients for hot pot, beef and mutton.

But you also need the base ingredients, and then there are the dipping sauces: sesame paste, Daewoo seasoning, as well as fish balls, shrimp paste, glass noodles, and tofu.
I have a small electric cooker at home, but a divided pot might be more suitable for catering to the different tastes of multiple people.

Then there are vegetables, all kinds of vegetables; it's best to buy them at the farmers' market.
Chen Zhou saw his wife looking down at her phone.

Even without getting too close, I knew she was making concrete plans for the upcoming family hot pot dinner.

Chen Zhou reminded him, "We probably don't need to buy the soup base. I'll make a tomato soup base later."

"Hmm~" Ms. Lin nodded, "I heard it just now."

She often felt a warm feeling in her heart when her husband guessed what she was doing.

After Chen Taotao had an encrypted phone call with her sister Zhao, they finalized the plan to have hot pot together.

However, late at night, Chen Zhou received a call from the property management company.

It's Manager Xiao Gao.

The phone call mainly covered two things.

First, the property management company very much hoped that Chen Zhou could continue to operate his business in the Sunshine City community. After contacting the rental and sales center, they drafted a new long-term contract.

Secondly, Chen Zhou should also receive a discount on property management fees.

Chen Zhou was somewhat puzzled after hearing this.

(End of this chapter)