Twenty years ago, Lou Xiao'e's father was called Lou Bancheng, and the No. 3 box in Fengze Garden had always been reserved for him. Before he returned to Fengze Garden, Lou Bancheng didn't have to queue up at all. He could go directly into the box to order food and drinks. It was a symbol of status.

Later, Lou Bancheng was not so high-profile anymore, and Fengzeyuan allowed other guests to use Box No. 3.

Wang Jianye followed Qin Huairu to the front box. On the way, Qin Huairu asked curiously, "Brother Wang, how is the decoration of your restaurant going?"

"In about two months, the restaurant will be renovated. Then I will apply for the business license and the restaurant can open."

At this point, Wang Jianye added to Qin Huairu, "By the way, don't forget to complete the resignation procedures in advance. When my restaurant opens, you can go directly there."

Qin Huairu nodded and said what she was thinking: "Don't worry, Brother Wang, I will definitely complete the resignation procedures in advance and ensure that I can work in your hotel as soon as possible. In addition, I plan to persuade a few waiters to resign and work with me in your hotel. They are more familiar with the work of waiters and can get started as soon as possible when they get there."

"You are thoughtful. I haven't planned to recruit any employees yet, but you are keeping an eye out for me. That's great. If they are reliable, you can take them with you."

Wang Jianye had no objection to Qin Huairu's idea. After all, she was a ready-made skilled employee with rich experience. She would be able to get started immediately when she got there and there would be no mistakes.

With Wang Jianye's support, Qin Huairu nodded happily: "Don't worry, Brother Wang, I will carefully select capable people and will never randomly select people to cause trouble for your restaurant."

As they were talking, they came to the door of Box No. 3.

Qin Huairu knocked on the door and walked in with Wang Jianye.

Hey, Lou Xiaoe?

Wang Jianye recognized the guest at the first sight. He had an oval face, big eyes, and wore glasses, which made him look more elegant and recognizable, just like the one he wore in the drama.

"Master Wang, do you still recognize me?" Lou Xiao'e adjusted her glasses with one hand, looked at Wang Jianye and asked with a happy tone.

Wang Jianye smiled and nodded: "I know you, your name is Lou Xiao'e, right?"

"Yes, it's me." Lou Xiao'e said with emotion: "I never thought that you would recognize me at first sight after we haven't seen each other for so many years."

Wang Jianye smiled and said, "The main reason is that you look the same as when you were a child, and your voice hasn't changed much either, so I was able to recognize you right away... After all these years, you're tasting my cooking again, how is it? The taste hasn't changed much, right?"

"Well, it's still as delicious as before, just like the taste I had when I was a kid." Lou Xiao'e continued seriously, "Master Wang, with your cooking skills, you are now the golden signboard of Fengze Garden. Many customers come to Fengze Garden just for you. It's totally fine for you to go out and work on your own now. Don't you want to have your own business?"

Wang Jianye said calmly: "Of course I have thought about it, so I have been preparing to open a restaurant recently."

"Oh? So, Master Wang, how far have you progressed in your preparations?"

Lou Xiao'e became interested. It was just right that Wang Jianye had this idea. If Wang Jianye did not have sufficient funds, he could use it as his first investment after returning to the old city.

Wang Jianye spoke truthfully: "The address for the hotel has been found, and the house above has been taken down. It is now being renovated. It will be completed in about two months."

"Is that so... Master Wang, what kind of restaurant are you planning to open?" Lou Xiao'e asked curiously. Wang Jianye answered truthfully, "A restaurant that serves all eight major cuisines. I've already thought of a name for it, Wang's All-cuisine Restaurant, and the chefs in the kitchen will basically be my apprentices."

"Ah? Master Wang, you want to cook the eight major cuisines? This is very demanding for a chef. Master Wang, are your apprentices good enough?"

Lou Xiao'e asked doubtfully.

In her opinion, Wang Jianye is an internationally renowned chef with excellent skills. A good teacher will produce excellent students, so his apprentices must be very good as well.

But the eight major cuisines have to be cooked very authentically, only then can a restaurant survive.

Otherwise, if customers find fault with your restaurant every now and then, saying that certain dishes are not authentic and not tasty, that would damage your reputation.

Wang Jianye smiled confidently: "My apprentices' skills are good enough, they are enough, there is no need to worry about this."

Seeing that Wang Jianye, the chef, thought there was no problem, Lou Xiaoe felt that there was no need to worry, and then she talked about the issue of funds:

"Master Wang, I came back to Sijiu City to invest in business. I wonder if your restaurant is short of funds? Is it enough for development? I have a sum of money that can be used. If you need it, I can invest in you. As for dividends and shares, we can discuss it."

Wang Jianye’s plan was that he would definitely own the majority of the shares in the restaurant he was going to open, and he would also have absolute control over the restaurant.

Although his family assets were more than enough to open a restaurant, Wang Jianye did not plan to be the only shareholder in the restaurant in the future and only want to earn dividends himself.

It is good to lean on a big tree for shade. After Wang Jianye opened the restaurant, when he needed more funds for further development, he planned to ask the bigwigs of the Chamber of Commerce in the old city to invest so that they could make money together and move towards glory.

But that is a matter for later. Wang Jianye’s restaurant hasn’t opened yet. He will consider investing after it opens.

This is what Wang Jianye told Lou Xiaoe.

After listening to Wang Jianye's words, Lou Xiao'e thought for a moment and made a request: "Master Wang, after your restaurant is opened, can you let me invest as well? Of course, I can ask for a smaller share of the dividends. We can discuss it. It's mainly to satisfy my wish."

Wang Jianye knows Lou Xiao'e quite well. In the play, with Lou Xiao'e's business personality, she cannot win over Sha Zhu's heart, but she is indeed a good business hand and understands management.

If possible... let her be a development consultant for our own hotel and provide advice on hotel management and development matters.

Wang Jianye expressed his idea, which was that he could invest, but he had to serve as a consultant.

Lou Xiao'e was delighted when she heard this. This was not just a condition, it was a double happiness, so she readily agreed.

It was agreed that after the hotel was built and reached a certain scale and urgently needed to expand outward, Lou Xiao'e would enter the management of the new hotel as an investor, offer suggestions and work hard for the management and development of the hotel.

Wang Jianye and Lou Xiaoe chatted for a while, purely about the hotel's development path and how to make it bigger and stronger. They had a very interesting conversation. (End of this chapter)