"By the way, Boss Xiao Jiang, I heard that the private rooms on your second floor have already been renovated. Have you planned when to start operating?"

After chatting idly with Jiang Yu for a while, Liu Shurong suddenly brought up the topic of the private rooms.

Jiang Yu was stunned and then remembered that the renovation expenses for the second floor of the Seventh Dining Hall were actually sponsored by Liu Shurong's husband.

The logistics department had already used that fund to carry out the renovation on the second floor. Naturally, they would inform the sponsor afterward as a sign of respect.

It's not surprising at all that Liu Shurong knows about this.

Come to think of it, Jiang Yu and Liu Shurong have been in contact for so long, but they have never mentioned the 2 million sponsorship in their conversations.

Probably in Liu Shurong's view, 2 million is just pocket change and not worth mentioning at all.

Now that is a real wealthy family.

Totally different from those nouveau riche who have to take pictures to show off just for buying a luxury car; these people are not only rich but also have substance.

Thinking about this, Jiang Yu thought for a moment, then answered:

"The renovation on the second floor was completed a few days ago. I haven't decided when to start operating yet, maybe it will take some more time."

Liu Shurong smiled slightly, "You haven't decided on the menu prices, have you?"

"Uh, indeed, I haven't decided yet."

Jiang Yu nodded honestly and said with a smile,

"Ever since I started learning to cook, I've only worked in dining halls and haven't been involved in this kind of thing. I really don't know where to start for a while."

"I've been to quite a few high-end private kitchens over in Qiantang. Your second floor can totally be positioned according to the standards of a private kitchen."

When Liu Shurong talked about these things, she completely shed the weak, helpless demeanor she had as Lele's mother, and instead exuded an air of a strong woman. She continued,

"I've tried lots of dishes made by famous chefs, and your culinary skills are no less than theirs.

In those private kitchens, the average spend per person mostly starts at 200 yuan, so the standard for your second floor shouldn't be lower than theirs."

Jiang Yu was startled by what Liu Shurong said:

The average spend starts at 200 yuan per person?

Doesn't that mean for a table of ten guests, it would cost at least two thousand yuan to start?

This, this, this, this is way too expensive!

Jiang Yu wasn't unaware that some top private kitchens indeed have prices that are frighteningly high, but their environment is serene, and every dish is unique and exquisitely presented like a work of art.

But his place is different. Although the second floor has private rooms, downstairs is a student dining hall, bustling like a market, so the environment is far from good.

As for the dishes…

Honestly, his presentation is a weak point, definitely not on par with the top private kitchens.

Moreover, his culinary level isn't enough to support him in creating original recipes. Being able to prepare traditional dishes according to the system's given recipes is already quite good.

At the end of the day, Jiang Yu is still a student who hasn't left campus and is somewhat resistant to such high expenses.

After all, just half a year ago, he was washing dishes in a restaurant for a daily wage of over 100 yuan. Asking him to set a price of 200 yuan per person is indeed hard for him to accept.

Though it's others spending the money and him making it.

Still, he hopes to earn his money with a clear conscience.

Jiang Yu hesitated a bit, "Isn't this pricing too high?"

"It's really not. The dishes you make deserve this price."

Liu Shurong turned to look at the dining hall environment and said with a smile,

"If the private rooms weren't on the second floor of the student dining hall but by the small lake next to the Taoyuan Clubhouse, with a bit more privacy, not to mention a 200-yuan spend, even 2000 yuan would attract a lot of people."

That point, Jiang Yu could understand.

After all, many celebrities, stars, or big figures from political and business circles are also food enthusiasts, and they too often dine at high-end restaurants.

The greatest advantage of private kitchens is their secrecy, effectively protecting the privacy of these big shots.

Since private kitchens are not known to the general public, their clientele is limited to the high-end crowd, regular folks probably can't even find the door.

However, in Jiang Yu's heart, he's actually reluctant to make the second floor's private rooms so out of reach.

Making delicious food is all about letting more people taste it, isn't it?

If it only serves a select few, it loses the purpose of cooking.

They chatted for a while longer, with Liu Shurong sharing quite a bit about private kitchens, which Jiang Yu listened to carefully and found quite enlightening.

Of course, there were things he agreed with and others he didn't plan to adopt.

Like some of the dishes served in private kitchens, with portions only enough for a few bites, praised as individualized dining...

What's that about?

Huaxia cuisine is about a group of people sitting around a table enjoying large pieces of meat and taking big gulps of wine, isn't it?

This is the essence of a bustling life!

That scene of a family reunited and joyful, that's the most important part of Huaxia's culinary culture.

If you're worried about hygiene, can't you just use public chopsticks? Why make the portions so small...

If you invite others for a meal, they might even think you can't afford it!

So, regarding this so-called globalization, Jiang Yu doesn't agree. Huaxia cuisine is the business of Huaxia people; it has nothing to do with those foreigners.

The dishes he makes are traditional Huaxia cuisine, naturally, he has to stick to the tradition of Huaxia cuisine, which means big bowls of food, large chunks of meat.

Eat it if you like, if not, there are plenty of others who will!

The two of them chatted for a while, and Liu Shurong finally said:

"Boss Xiao Jiang, I'll stay with Lele here for a few more days, but after that, I might have to return to Qiantang. I can't accompany him here forever.

Of course, before I leave, I'll find someone to take care of Lele, that's not a problem.

My only concern is about his meals, so I'll have to trouble you with that."

Liu Shurong had mentioned this matter before, and Jiang Yu nodded, saying nothing.

"You can probably guess that the reason Lele could come to Jiang University Affiliated Middle School for temporary studies is because someone helped out."

Liu Shurong smiled and continued,

"Therefore, before I go back, I'd like to set up a banquet here and invite those people to a meal, as a way to thank them.

I just wonder if Boss Xiao Jiang would be willing to open the private rooms on the second floor in advance?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu was slightly surprised.

He could roughly guess that inviting people to a meal was only part of Liu Shurong's intention.

The bigger possibility is that she plans to help Jiang Yu launch the private rooms on the second floor of the dining hall through this method.

She might even intend to use the level of spending on this meal to help make a relatively accurate positioning for the second floor of the dining hall.

This sort of thing was hard for Jiang Yu to refuse, after all, it counts as mutual assistance, where both parties can benefit.

Given this, Jiang Yu didn't bother with pleasantries and asked:

"Aunt Liu, when are you planning to have the gathering?"

"I'll probably linger here for a few more days, until Lele's babysitter arrives, then I'll head back to Qiantang."

Liu Shurong thought for a moment and then said,

"Today is February 11th, let's tentatively make it in four days, as I will need to arrange a time with those folks, how does that sound to you?"

On thinking about it, four days later, the school will have been in session for a few days, and by that time, the school's gate management will have been reinforced, making the first floor dining hall not as busy as it is today.

As the dining hall goes back to normal operation, the private rooms on the second floor can indeed be opened to the public, otherwise, wouldn't all the funds spent on renovation have been wasted?

"Alright, just let me know a day in advance, the second floor hasn't opened yet, so ingredients will have to be ordered last minute."

"Okay, let's settle on this for now, when I've confirmed the time for the gathering, I'll inform you at the first opportunity."

Liu Shurong nodded with a smile and said,

"Then I won't disturb Boss Xiao Jiang any longer, you go ahead with your work, Lele and I will head back to the clubhouse."

With that, she held Lele's hand and turned to leave the main entrance of the Seventh Dining Hall.

After seeing off Liu Shurong and her son, Jiang Yu returned to the kitchen.

The lunch service had ended, and a group of people were gathered around the counter, eating and chatting.

Seeing Jiang Yu come in, Ma Guoqiang happily said:

"Boss Xiao Jiang, seeing that you had things to attend to outside, we didn't wait for you to eat together.

Hurry up and get some food before it gets cold!"

"Oh, okay!"

Jiang Yu replied, going to the sink to wash his hands, then grabbing a clean set of bowl and chopsticks, he served himself rice and started eating.

Lu Shuwu ate quickly, shoveling the rice into his mouth in a few bites, then placing the bowl and chopsticks back on the counter, wiping his mouth with his hand, he asked:

"Boss, that woman came by again? What does she want this time?"

"Yeah, she arranged for her son to study temporarily at the Jiang University Affiliated Middle School next door, so he can come over here for meals every day."

Jiang Yu explained briefly as he ate,

"She'll be going back to Qiantang after a while, leaving her son here to study.

Yeah, before she takes off, she's planning to have a banquet here to treat some people."

"The private rooms on the second floor of the dining hall?"

"Mmhm."

"What great taste she has, inviting people to eat here, wouldn't the invitees be overjoyed? This food is something many would desire but can't get!"

Lu Shuwu said with a look of appreciation, then suddenly remembering something, he added,

"Oh right, Boss, I think we should come up with a new name for the second floor, always calling it the second-floor dining hall sounds so tasteless!"

"Right, right! How could there not be a name?"

Hu Zhihai, for once not contradicting Lu Shuwu, nodded in agreement, saying,

"With Lao Jiang's culinary skills, our second floor ought to have a grand and fancy name, something that sounds so exquisite people think they can't afford it!"

"..."

Jiang Yu was left speechless by this. Naming it so people feel they can't afford it, who would dare come in?

Are you trying to attract customers or drive them away?

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