RPAGF Chapter 175: They were offered a 8% discount right off the bat.
Chapter 175: They were offered a 8% discount right off the bat.
A smile immediately appeared on her face as she took out a spicy braised pig's trotter and handed it to Manager Jiang.
"Alright, Manager Jiang, take this braised pig's trotter back and try it again. We'll come back tomorrow."
Lin Qingchuan was just disappointed, but when he heard that Manager Jiang had changed his mind and was willing to introduce them to the restaurant owner, his hope was instantly rekindled. He tried to suppress his excitement and quickly clasped his hands and bowed to Manager Jiang.
"Thank you, Manager Jiang. We will definitely come tomorrow. Please make sure your manager waits for us."
Manager Jiang had already tried it, but he didn't expect the father and daughter to give him another one. Now he's in for a treat! He can eat one and take another home. How wonderful!
The next day.
The father and daughter, along with Shui Sheng and Xiao Jiu, set off with a few braised pig's trotters. One carriage headed towards Dushui County, while the other headed towards Pingding County.
When they arrived in Pingding County, seeing that it was still early, they first went to the butcher shop to buy some raw pig trotters before going to Fuqing Restaurant to see the restaurant manager.
Unexpectedly, Manager Jiang was already waiting for them in the front hall of the restaurant.
As soon as Manager Jiang saw them, he grinned from ear to ear, a stark contrast to his attitude yesterday when he tried to trick them into giving him the formula. His attitude was much better than yesterday.
"Oh, brothers, you've finally arrived. Our manager has many things to take care of today, and I had to persuade him to stay and wait for you in the restaurant."
Lin Xiaotang carefully considered Manager Jiang's words and thought to herself that Manager Jiang was a smooth talker, shrewd and good at speaking. In just a few words, he praised their manager, saying that their manager was busy with his affairs and had to postpone his work to make time to see them. In addition, he portrayed himself as a good person and said a lot of nice things to help them keep their manager.
Regardless of their manager's character, Manager Jiang is far inferior to Manager Yao. As it stands, Manager Jiang is not someone to be trusted. However, judging Manager Jiang to be doomed after only two encounters is somewhat arbitrary.
Forget it, let's meet with their manager first and discuss the cooperation before we talk about anything else.
Although Lin Qingchuan had been in business for almost a year and had gained a lot of experience, he still couldn't tell whether Manager Jiang was genuinely enthusiastic or just pretending to be polite.
He said earnestly, "We really have troubled Manager Jiang and delayed your manager from going out on business. We are truly sorry."
Manager Jiang, with a smile, led the way to a private room on the second floor, lifting the hem of his coat.
"Brother, you're too kind. By the way, our manager's surname is Du. May I ask how I should address you?"
Lin Qingchuan said, "My surname is Lin and my given name is Qingchuan. Manager Jiang can just call me Qingchuan."
"Hmm, Qingchuan...a good name!"
During their conversation, they went to a private room on the second floor. Manager Du was sitting in the main seat of the room, leisurely sipping a cup of tea.
He saw Manager Jiang arrive with his men, but did not get up, displaying an arrogant and self-important demeanor.
Manager Jiang bowed to the shopkeeper and said, "Shopkeeper, I have brought the person to you. Let Brother Qingchuan talk to you directly."
Lin Qingchuan took out two braised pig's trotters wrapped in green leaves and handed them to Manager Jiang. Manager Jiang was very clever and naturally understood Lin Qingchuan's meaning. He helped put the green leaf package on the table next to the manager, opened the package, and immediately called the waiter to bring a pair of chopsticks for the manager to taste.
Manager Du looked to be in his forties, with a long beard and a serious expression. He seemed extremely difficult to get along with, a far cry from Manager Su's humble and gentle nature.
Lin Qingchuan suddenly felt uncertain again. He had been so confident when he came, but now he was so unsure.
But when he saw his daughter winking at him, he didn't dare say a word.
Lin Xiaotang carefully observed the changes in Manager Du's expression as he tasted the braised pig's trotters, but Manager Du's eyelids were drooping, and he couldn't see anything at all.
The managers and stewards of Fulai Restaurant are all like this; how can they possibly do business?
It can only be said that the reason why Manager Yao and Manager Su were able to agree to supply cooked food was because of my father's influence. My father had supplied eggs and tofu to Yunlai Restaurant for two years. Manager Yao knew my father's temperament. In addition, Yunlai Restaurant was in the town, so it was relatively easier to negotiate with them. Fuqing Restaurant was in the county, so it was much more upscale. Not to mention, it was normal for Manager Du not to be enthusiastic when strangers came to negotiate.
If they really couldn't reach an agreement, Uncle Shuisheng had already started supplying Xiao Jiu with the goods, so she and her father had no choice but to bite the bullet and set up a stall in Pingding County to sell their wares.
Manager Du took a bite of the spicy braised pig's trotters, then a bite of the five-spice braised pig's trotters. He secretly praised the braised pig's trotters, saying they were indeed well-made and that Manager Jiang was not exaggerating.
He put down his chopsticks, looked up at the plainly dressed father and daughter, and asked, "Did you really make this braised pig's trotter?"
Lin Qingchuan nodded and replied, "Yes, we made it ourselves."
"Manager Jiang said you've already supplied other restaurants, so you're not lying, are you?"
"No, no, this matter can all be verified. How could I lie to people? If Manager Du doesn't believe me, you can send someone to inquire. Yunlai Restaurant in Qinghe Town and Wanhe Restaurant in Dushui County are both supplied by us. Other restaurants also imitate and sell them, but these two restaurants sell the best braised pig's trotters."
Manager Du understood perfectly well; he definitely had to inquire. However, he had also heard that the braised pig's trotters were indeed selling very well at the Wanhe Restaurant in Dushui County.
If their restaurant could also sell this dish, it might actually help the restaurant make a profit.
He said, “Dushui County is built by the water, next to the ferry, and merchants gather here, so business is naturally good. Those travelers are starving and will buy anything to eat. But it’s different in Pingding County. There are fewer outsiders, and the restaurants rely entirely on repeat customers. They get tired of the same food. Your braised pig’s trotters are indeed unique, but if you want to supply our restaurant on a long-term basis, you can’t offer the same price as those two restaurants. If you offer 20% off, we can settle this. How about it?”
Offering them a 20% discount right off the bat is just taking advantage of honest people.
They're so familiar with Manager Su, yet neither of the two restaurants offered a discount, but they gave Fuqing Restaurant a 20% discount. How can they do business like that?
If Manager Su also gets a 20% discount, then all their hard work from dawn till dusk will only earn them about the same as before. What's the point of all this?
Lin Qingchuan hurriedly refused, saying, "Manager Du, the prices we offer to restaurants are all the same, whether they are in towns or counties. There is absolutely no bias. We really can't offer an 80% discount, but we can guarantee that no matter how many restaurants are in a town or county, we will only supply one restaurant. We will never allow several restaurants to compete for the same dishes."
Shopkeeper Du nodded slightly. He thought the man's later words were somewhat agreeable. The worst thing in business is to try to please everyone and make money from several different sellers with the same product.
"So how will you supply these braised pig's trotters?"
"The supply price is fifty coins per piece. As for the restaurant's pricing, that depends on how much profit you want to make. Payment will be settled monthly in cash."
Manager Jiang immediately widened his eyes and said, "How much? Fifty coins? That's too much! A single raw pig's trotter doesn't even cost ten coins. You're making thirty or forty coins just by braising this whole pot?"
Manager Du immediately chimed in, "Yes, fifty coins is indeed expensive."