She Only Cares About Cultivation
Chapter 228: [227] Tasty and Pretty Fisherman 78 (Twenty-first Update)

Chapter 228: [227] Tasty and Pretty Fisherman 78 (Twenty-first Update)

Manager Zhang raised his eyebrows at her and sat down as she had asked. He didn’t ask any other questions and didn’t show any signs of impatience. It was more like, if you ask me to sit, I’ll sit, and he even appeared as though he was all ears. No matter what he was thinking internally, at least the way he appeared made her quite satisfied.

The waiter noticed that the two had settled in for an earnest chat, so he felt it wasn’t right for him to linger. He glanced at Yaya, who instinctively looked towards her sister, Xiao Yu, who then nodded at her.

"You and the waiter go downstairs and wait."

Yaya thought her sister wanted to sell seaweed, so she didn’t think much about it and obediently went downstairs.

Xiao Yu casually brewed a cup of tea for the manager and then smiled as she spoke to him.

"Firstly, let me introduce myself; my name is Shen Xiaoyu, I’m eighteen this year, and I live in Huagang Village."

The manager listened and his expression didn’t change much. He didn’t even hurry her along but just continued staring at her, signaling her to continue.

Even though Xiao Yu had met quite a few people, she couldn’t help but admire this manager for his composure.

"May I ask for your esteemed surname?"

"Oh, there is no need for formalities. My surname is Zhang, Zhang Quan," he replied succinctly.

"Manager Zhang, has the business at Yingbin Building always been like this, or was it once better and has now declined? That’s why the popularity has waned?"

The manager smiled at her and said, "Well, what brilliant idea do you have, miss? Regardless of how it was in the past, this is what you see now. Do you have any remedy?"

"You indeed are a straightforward person."

Manager Zhang chuckled, "Isn’t that the very reason you sought me out? Tell me, if what you say is good, today’s meal will be on the house. If it’s mediocre, then I’m sorry, you will have to pay the full amount, and not think of underpaying even by a single copper coin."

"Alright, since you’re so straightforward, I will also show you frankly and at the same time listen if my words are worth the price of this meal."

After saying that, she immediately asked, "I want to ask you, are there more locals or non-locals who come here to dine?"

Upon hearing this, the manager knew what she was about to suggest, but wisely, he didn’t interrupt her, instead he responded.

"Roughly half and half. This is a business passed down from our ancestors, and it has reached the third generation with me. Regrettably, under my management, the business has been worsening quite the opposite of when the older generations managed it. The chefs are still those inherited from the past, and I really do not understand why it has been on a downhill path!"

Xiao Yu nodded knowingly and then inquired while stroking her chin, "Then over these years, have you ever updated or refreshed the menu?"

The manager quickly retorted, "The chefs are family retainers passed down from generation to generation. While the overall direction hasn’t changed, they do make some adjustments based on their capabilities."

"So, the new dishes you can offer aren’t many, right?"

"That’s right, after all, seafood is abundant here. Ultimately, we can only specialize in signature dishes. Non-locals come here, they definitely want to try our local seafood specialties, and locals have been used to these flavors since they were young. They are accustomed to them and obviously wouldn’t easily take to other flavors."

However, Xiao Yu shook her head.

"That’s where you’re wrong. The problem lies exactly here. It’s true that outsiders come here looking for unique seafood, but if your seafood always tastes the same and they travel this route frequently, eventually finding the tastes quite similar, they won’t come back after a while. And as for the locals, if you never give them a chance to try new dishes, how will you know whether they would like them or not?"