"Redecorate this place, hurry up! The flooring must meet the standards of a Western restaurant. No matter the cost, use solid wood!" On the first floor of an office building within the second ring road in the imperial capital, Qi Li was speaking with her assistant, gesturing toward the room that had yet to be renovated.
This time, Qi Li had invested a substantial amount of money and was determined to succeed in the catering industry.
After returning to the imperial capital, she utilized three real estate projects from the company and invested on her own to build a Western restaurant while also arranging to purchase beef from Jiang Hai. Of course, beef alone isn't enough for a Western restaurant.
Western chefs, side dishes, and other details are all complicated, but fortunately, as the president, Qi Li doesn't need to handle these small matters herself. She focuses mainly on these three stores and Jiang Hai's beef.
The locations of the three stores are arranged in the shape of the Chinese character "品," occupying the most prosperous areas in the imperial capital.
This arrangement reflects Qi Li's ambition. Each of these stores occupies a large area—assets the Qi family has painstakingly built over the years. If rented separately, each store could bring in tens of millions of rental income annually.
Just thinking about the value of three stores can be a bit distressing, but Qi Li doesn't mind. She took possession of them as soon as she returned.
After all, although Qi's family isn't her own, it's almost as if it is, so the senior figures in the company aren't overly concerned. Over the past year or so, they have been very pleased with the changes Qi Li has brought to the company.
As long as they still receive dividends, they are content to follow Qi Li's lead.
Currently, the only one opposing her within the company is her uncle.
However, even with his opposition, moving Qi Li's 47% and her second and third sisters' 10% equity is a fool's dream. This 57% share is already enough for her to hold the power. Even if others are considered, Qi Li still has the final say.
So, despite his strong objections, Qi Li carried on with her plans.
Looking over the layout, Qi Li clapped her hands softly. Finally, she was satisfied with the changes.
The aesthetic differences between East and West are naturally vast. In the West, high-end restaurants may not always be luxurious. On the contrary, many high-end Western restaurants are decorated in an antique style, often with a European medieval charm.
In Europe, many top-tier restaurants were once castles.
For Europeans, dining on Western food is not just about savoring the flavor but also about the experience.
But the Chinese are different. They don't understand the European dining culture as deeply. If Chinese people can savor some traditional dishes and get a sense of it, they're satisfied. As for steak and red wine, more than 70% don't truly understand it.
The reason they come to Western restaurants is probably to try something new and, secondly, to show off a little. They enjoy the attention they get. The actual taste might not be as good as they imagine, but the experience of Chinese food is rich in ways they can appreciate.
For this reason, Qi Li decorated her three Western restaurants with gold and grandeur.
As soon as you step inside, the décor is bathed in "nouveau riche" gold. There are also private compartments and boxes—this is a distinctly Chinese touch. These private spaces are crafted from mahogany. Although they may seem out of place, some people appreciate this style.
After noting down everything Qi Li had said, the assistant behind her hesitated and walked over. "Boss Qi, do you really think this is a good idea? Two thousand yuan for a plate of beef? Who would be crazy enough to pay that?"
Hearing her assistant's words, Qi Li chuckled. Indeed, the beef from Jiang Hai is quite expensive.
If no profit is made in the catering industry, then this restaurant could be a financial disaster.
But Qi Li wasn't worried. She had tasted the beef herself, and more importantly, she knew that what wealthy people in China now pursue above all else is one thing: status. Whether it's the value of land, one's personal worth, or anything else, it's all about price.
The nouveau riche in China love to compete with each other in everything. When Qi Li introduced Jiang Hai's beef—which had triumphed over top Japanese beef in a competition in the U.S.—people would eat it even at 3,000 yuan per plate, let alone 2,000 yuan.
"Don't worry. I'm doing business. Have you ever seen me lose money? Even if you don't trust Jiang Hai, don't you have some confidence in me?" Qi Li said, glancing at her assistant, a smile playing on her lips as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But..." The assistant still seemed worried, despite having tasted Jiang Hai's steak herself.
"Shh...someone's coming," Qi Li murmured, catching sight of a few figures walking toward them from a distance. She signaled for the assistant to remain quiet and returned to her ice-cold demeanor.
However, when she saw who it was, her previously cold expression turned downright frosty. The person who walked in was none other than her enemy, An Changwu, accompanied by her uncle's son, Qi Liangcai.
The moment An Changwu saw her, he immediately handed her a bouquet and said, "Qi Li, when did you return? You didn't even let me know. I brought you these flowers..."
"Do I know you well? Keep your flowers. And you, you know what I think of you, and you still dare to bring him here?" Qi Li narrowed her eyes at Qi Liangcai, standing behind An Changwu, and a flash of murderous intent flickered in her gaze.
"Hey, sister, you're so narrow-minded. I don't agree with most of what my father says, but there is one thing he's right about: it's easier to make enemies than to make allies. You want to enter the catering industry, but the An family is the leader of the imperial capital's food scene. Cooperation would be a win-win! You didn't go abroad and get tricked, so now you're trying to break into the capital's catering market with these three stores? You must know that different industries are like different mountains..." Qi Liangcai continued with a smirk, but Qi Li cut him off.
"Shut up!" Qi Li snapped.
"I'll say it again: this is my family's store, my territory. We don't welcome you. And as for you, Qi Liangcai, from now on, you hold no position in the Qi Group. You're fired."
In the past, Qi Li might have been cautious about her uncle's position in the company. But after her dealings with Jiang Hai, something about her had changed. Now, she dared to stand up to her cousin, saying, "You're fired" without hesitation. She'd wanted to say it for a long time.
"You... you're crazy!" An Changwu and Qi Liangcai's faces turned ashen. Qi Liangcai, though cunning, was now visibly shaken. He glared at Qi Li, his voice low but forceful.
"What qualifications do you have to fire me? I'm a corporate manager! If you want to fire me, you need the board of directors' approval..." He paused, taking a deep breath, before continuing, "I own 57% of Qi's shares. If I say you're fired, you're fired. Get out."
Qi Li didn't flinch and interrupted him again, "I own 57% of the shares. If I say you're fired, you're fired. Get out."
With that, she boldly walked past the stunned pair, her every step radiating confidence.
Seeing her assertiveness, her assistant subtly observed her, biting her lip as she followed after Qi Li.
Qi Li had a feeling that her newfound courage was linked to Jiang Hai...
At that moment, the other key player in this drama, with a large lobster and a host of pets in tow, slowly drove his four-wheeled motorcycle to the doorstep of his villa.
From a distance, Jiang Hai saw Cindy Clive sitting in front of Darlene and Marian. In his mind, this looked like a classroom setup.
After opening the door, he didn't greet them right away. Instead, he headed for the kitchen to clean the lobster in his hands.
"Jiang Hai, can you come here for a moment? I think I need an explanation." Cindy Clive turned toward him with a serious expression.
Hearing her words, Jiang Hai noted that the atmosphere in the room didn't seem as relaxed as before. It felt tense, as if they were holding back anger. His pets—Xiaobai, Xiaohuang, Jiujiu, and Banya—sensed the tension and wisely scampered off.
Darlene and Marian, unable to escape, sat there, their faces as swollen as ripe tomatoes.
"Uh, I'm not sure what explanation you need," Jiang Hai replied hesitantly. He had just returned from the sea and wasn't sure what was going on.
"Are you really confused or just pretending?" Cindy Clive narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully. "When did their voices get better?"