Lu Fan had not expected Hua Rong Mansion to have any women. However, thinking of a group of centenarian, white-haired old women... that image seemed quite spectacular.
"Hua Thirty-Five! This is a Guben Pill. Those who have just reached the Transformation Realm have very unstable foundations. Taking this can stabilize your foundation and keep your strength in the best state. This thing is unique to Hua Rong Mansion and cannot be seen outside." At this moment, Hua Fifteen took out a small pill and offered it to Lu Fan with a fawning expression.
"Do I still need to stabilize my foundation? You keep this! By the way, I'm leaving things here to you. Take on any tasks for me. Unless it's a task you can't complete yourselves, don't disturb me." Lu Fan said and turned to leave.
Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen were instantly filled with misery. In the past, they could show off for a while by bringing in anyone, making the newcomer do everything. What was happening now? Was it retribution for their past misdeeds?
Lu Fan arrived at the entrance of the large courtyard and saw Hua Twenty-Three still drinking tea in the pavilion.
"Senior! May I go out?" Lu Fan greeted him.
"Little brother! You're amazing! You're the first person in a hundred years at Hua Rong Mansion who doesn't have to follow the rules. By the way, your car is outside." Hua Twenty-Three gave Lu Fan a thumbs-up.
"Then thank you, Senior!" Lu Fan pushed open the gate.
As soon as he stepped out, the outside world seemed to change instantly. Looking back, it was just an ordinary siheyuan, who would have thought that this place was the most powerful in all of Huaxia.
Hua Rong Mansion's tasks? Hmph! Who cares, nothing is more important than his own home. Lu Fan snorted coldly, got into his car, and drove away.
As soon as Lu Fan left, Hua Twenty-Three opened the courtyard gate and nodded slightly as he watched the car's taillights. This kid was the first person in a hundred years who dared to resist Hua Rong Mansion on the very first day he arrived, and succeeded.
Lu Fan left Hua Rong Mansion and went directly to a hotel in the capital. Bai Xuemei and Lin Fang were surprised by Lu Fan's sudden arrival and were delighted. They chattered around Lu Fan, sharing all sorts of news.
This hotel in the capital was larger and more upscale than the one in the provincial city, offering various cuisines and many renowned master chefs. However, few people knew about Lu Fan's medicinal cuisine, and it was difficult for them to accept it at first. Therefore, everyone seemed to be quite idle.
"Sister Xuemei! Have you encountered any difficulties since taking over the work here?" Lu Fan found it hard to believe. When they were in the provincial city, Bai Xuemei was incredibly busy. Now, managing such a large hotel, she seemed somewhat idle?
"It's alright! It's just that... those master chefs are very arrogant and have always controlled the management of the kitchen. They are somewhat resistant to me. But it's okay, give me some time, and I'll handle it," Bai Xuemei said, her eyes flickering.
"Hmph! We are the bosses, and yet we are rejected by the employees? That doesn't seem right," Lu Fan said with a slight frown.
"There's no other way, they are all very famous chefs and highly sought after! Moreover, they are very arrogant and look down on people like us from small places. They make their own decisions about everything and don't even bother to inform Sister Xuemei," Xinxin suddenly said indignantly from the side.
"So that's how it is!" Lu Fan immediately understood. There were no customers for medicinal cuisine here. Bai Xuemei and the others had little room to display their talents. No wonder they were so idle.
"There's also the matter that they don't use the wild vegetables sent from our village at all. They say this is a high-class hotel, and these things are trash that no one will eat," Yueyue also said softly from the side.
"How many people are in the kitchen?" Lu Fan asked, frowning.
"Each floor has five or six head chefs and one kitchen supervisor. There are many apprentices and others, about twenty people per floor," Bai Xuemei replied.
"Which floor has the weakest chefs?" Lu Fan suddenly asked again.
"The first floor! The customers here are mostly ordinary people, and the chefs' skill levels are relatively weaker," Bai Xuemei said.
"Provide all the ingredients to the chefs on the first floor, and additionally, increase their salaries by five hundred to a thousand yuan. Also, Lin Fang, appropriately help them enhance the deliciousness of the dishes," Lu Fan said suddenly.
"Master, I... I don't know how to cook! How..." Lin Fang was completely bewildered. How could she enhance the delicious taste of the dishes?
Lu Fan smiled slightly and sent a message to Lin Fang.
Lin Fang glanced at it and her face lit up with surprise.
"Sister Xuemei! Find a suitable opportunity to replace that most arrogant head chef!" Lu Fan said to Bai Xuemei again.
"He... he has a close relationship with Young Master Yan!" Bai Xuemei said with some apprehension.
"It's alright, I'll talk to Brother Yan later. Moreover, I won't be leaving these few days," Lu Fan said immediately.
"Okay!" Bai Xuemei nodded immediately. She had originally wanted to make an example of him, but considering that Yan Menghan also had shares in the hotel, and that all the staff in the hotel were previously Yan family members. Now that Lu Fan had said this, she was no longer afraid.
Outside the first-floor kitchen, there were several large fish tanks containing various fish and seafood. Lin Fang, Xinxin, Yueyue, Lin Miaomiao, and others looked like they had never seen the world before, gathering around to watch, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, Lin Fang took out a small bottle and dripped a few drops of a richly fragrant liquid into each large fish tank.
Swoosh... Many aquatic products in the fish tanks seemed to sense something and immediately all converged.
The chefs on the first floor had their salaries increased by a thousand yuan, with only one condition: to promote the wild vegetables and the northeastern specialty dish of stewed chicken with mushrooms.
Lu Fan once again verified the truth of the saying that things that can be solved with money are not problems. Hearing that their salaries were increased, the chefs on the first floor and all the kitchen staff were ecstatic. Whatever dishes the boss wanted them to promote, they would promote. As for whether the customers would eat them, it was none of their business.
However, things seemed to take an unexpected turn. For several consecutive days, the dishes on the first floor were surprisingly good. They were delicious, and after eating them, people felt invigorated. For a time, customers who originally went to the upper floors to find private rooms and elegant seats all went to the first floor to find seats. Subsequently, the first floor was almost fully booked every day.
"Xiao Fan! The dishes on the first floor have indeed improved significantly. How did you manage it? Now the customers on the first floor are more numerous than on other floors. However, why don't we directly promote medicinal cuisine?" Bai Xuemei said excitedly in the office.
"Medicinal cuisine is not yet an opportunity, let's wait," Lu Fan said, shaking his head.
Bang... Suddenly, the office door was pushed open, and a stout fellow with a thick neck, accompanied by three chefs, barged in.
"Boss Bai! Why did the chefs on the first floor get a thousand yuan raise, and our salaries didn't increase? If you don't give me a raise, we're quitting!" the fellow roared as soon as he entered.