Ye Qiu and Liu Lingxiu chatted on the phone outside, while Ye Weidong and his wife, Ye Xue, and Li Qianqian went inside Qixia Temple to buy incense and pray for blessings.
When the four of them ca out, half an hour had already passed.
Ye Qiu and Liu Lingxiu chatted for a dozen minutes before hanging up.
Liu Lingxiu did want to join them, but she also knew that running into Li Qianqian could be quite awkward. She was just worried that Ye Qiu’s parents might like Li Qianqian more than her, since Li Qianqian was the mayor’s daughter, and her father might rise to a higher position in the future.
anwhile, her own parents were ordinary people, and it was Ye Qiu who helped them start that small supermarket.
Although Liu Lingxiu’s thoughts are simple, sotis she overthinks things.
However, Ye Qiu was clearly leaning towards her now, so Liu Lingxiu wasn’t too worried.
"Ye Qiu, mom prayed for you," Chen Fang said.
"Thanks, mom."
Ye Qiu replied.
Even though she knew Chen Fang wasn’t her biological mother, having inherited the body of her predecessor coupled with Chen Fang’s genuine care for her, Ye Qiu long considered Chen Fang as her own mother.
As Ye Qiu continued up Qixia Mountain, the higher she climbed, the more maple leaves she saw, realizing how stunningly beautiful they were.
"These maple leaves are really beautiful, all red," Li Qianqian said excitedly.
She pulled out her phone and snapped pictures relentlessly, then dragged Ye Qiu aside to take photos with him.
Ye Qiu didn’t refuse and wrapped his arm around her waist, standing there for the pictures.
Li Qianqian took photos with Ye Qiu and then with Ye Xue and the others.
After walking for more than an hour, fearing that Ye Weidong and his wife couldn’t climb much higher, they stopped, as they were surrounded by many maple leaves, with quite a few even fallen on the ground.
They could collect those fallen leaves as souvenirs.
After all, co winter, these maple leaves might all be gone.
Finding a spot to sit down, they realized they had walked such a long way, that the morning tea they drank had been fully digested.
...
At eleven thirty in the morning, Ye Qiu, his parents, sister, and Li Qianqian descended from Qixia Mountain, reached the entrance, got in the car, and drove back to the city.
Ye Qiu had visited several high-end buffet restaurants, with Zhao Ruxue sisters, Shen Xingru sisters, Liu Xia, Xiao Hong, and even Liu Lingxiu and the others.
The one Ye Qiu chose now was the one he went to with Shen Yueru. The environnt and everything else were quite nice.
Arriving at the parking lot below the buffet restaurant, Ye Qiu parked the car and got out with his parents, sister, and Li Qianqian.
Ye Qiu rembered that he hadn’t been there with his parents and sister, but had dined there with Li Qianqian.
"Ye Qiu, wait, is it free to eat?"
Ye Weidong asked.
He was worried that if it’s free to eat, he’d have to pay afterward, causing embarrassnt.
"Dad, it’s free to eat, just pick so you haven’t tried before," Ye Qiu said.
"How much per person?"
"About five hundred!"
Imdiately, both Ye Weidong and Chen Fang took a deep breath, thinking the Imperial Cuisine Restaurant was expensive with each dish costing over a hundred, but now one person costs five hundred, and for the five of them, it would be two thousand five.
Upon reaching the second floor of the hotel, Ye Qiu noticed there weren’t many people. Just as he was about to buy al vouchers, Li Qianqian had already gone ahead.
"Hello, five please."
Li Qianqian had already taken out her card, preparing to swipe for paynt.
After all, Li Qianqian didn’t bring much cash with her.
Li Qianqian was going to pay, but Ye Qiu didn’t say anything, whereas Ye Weidong and his wife felt a bit embarrassed as they still considered Li Qianqian their guest.
Once Li Qianqian bought five al vouchers and they went inside, they noticed it really wasn’t crowded.
Buffet dining is like grocery shopping; it’s best when there aren’t many people but a lot of options—only then it feels comfortable.
"Uncle, Aunt, what do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you!"
Li Qianqian said.
"Qianqian, we’ll take a look first, a lot we’ve never seen before."
They had only heard of things like sushi and salmon, not actually seen them.
Unexpectedly, inside was a long table full of them.
As for various seafood, they all looked very elegant, much of which would be expensive at an outdoor seafood market, yet here it was so cheap.
Ye Qiu had just dined with Su Luoluo yesterday, so he wasn’t particularly impressed; buffets were just like ordinary als to him.
A female server showed the five of them to a table fit for eight, providing so kitchenware, while the rest of the food was self-serve.
Ye Qiu first went to wash his hands, then sat down. Ye Xue and Li Qianqian went to get food, while Ye Weidong and his wife looked around, surprised by the enormity of the buffet restaurant. Besides seafood, there’s all sorts of ats, fruits, desserts, ice creams, and even a variety of wines and beverages.
After looking around, Ye Weidong and his wife were amazed, questioning how the restaurant could make money if each person cost five hundred and they could eat freely for two hours.
Wouldn’t the buffet restaurant go broke?
It puzzled Ye Weidong.
Thinking back to his days selling porridge and noodles for five, ten yuan a bowl, it took a long ti to earn five hundred yuan.
"Ye Qiu, what do you want to eat? Big sis will get it for you!"
Ye Xue said.
"Sis, just get so seafood then."
Ye Xue then went with Li Qianqian to get seafood.
When Li Qianqian and Ye Xue returned with food, Ye Weidong indeed picked only the expensive items to eat.
Once both Ye Weidong and Chen Fang had gotten plenty, Ye Qiu quietly said, "Mom and Dad, don’t take too much. If you can’t finish it, you’ll be charged extra."
Leftovers couldn’t be packed; it was considered wasteful and definitely charged at checkout.
Only then did Ye Weidong and Chen Fang understand there was such a rule. Thinking it over, they agreed; not knowing such a rule, they decided against taking more.
Despite wishing to sample everything, they both aid to recoup the five hundred yuan value.
"Ye Qiu, do you think buffets make for good business?"
Ye Weidong asked.
"Dad, are you interested in this too?"
"I’ve spent my life in the food industry, so of course I’m interested."
Though the Imperial Cuisine Restaurant has been doing well, if buffets can make a profit, Ye Weidong would be quite interested.
"Dad, to be honest, most buffets operate at a loss."
It mainly cos down to cost control, which many people fail to manage. So, compared to the Imperial Cuisine model, which is based on exclusive recipes and low costs, high-end buffets often face losses.
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