C99 – You Have to Give Me the Right!
“No need for that.”
Su Ming offered a light smile. “I’ll still opt for the most expensive dishes. But, you’ve got to guarantee the quality, boss.”
The boss chuckled heartily. “I’ve been running this restaurant for nearly thirty years. The quality of my dishes is always top-notch. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
The top-tier package was priced at 4888 yuan per table.
In a major city, that price would be considered quite standard.
But this was a small town, and despite the residents’ improved living standards, they still valued frugality.
Moreover, the spending power here was nowhere near that of the big cities, making this price quite steep for the locale.
The owner, with years of experience, seldom encountered customers who requested the priciest dishes.
Su Ming quickly estimated the headcount. Each table seated eight, so around twenty tables should suffice. To accommodate any unexpected guests, he reserved an additional ten tables.
After putting down a 20,000 yuan deposit and confirming the time for the next day’s feast, Su Ming was about to head out when a middle-aged man entered.
“Mr. Soong, will you have the usual set meal today?”
The shopkeeper greeted the newcomer with an eager smile.
“Yes.”
Mr. Soong nodded, adding, “There’s another reason for my visit today. You should be grateful; I’ve brought you a substantial order. Our school has chosen your hotel for tomorrow’s gathering. I’d like to reserve ten tables at the highest standard.”
The shop owner found himself in a bind upon hearing this.
Su Ming had already secured the venue for a banquet the following noon.
The owner would naturally prefer to honor Su Ming’s reservation, given the larger number of guests and the promise of greater profits.
He had encountered someone today who just didn’t get it.
“Fine, you’ll see!”
With those words, Mr. Soong stormed off in a huff.
The shopkeeper’s heart skipped a beat at this. What if he got dragged into this mess? What would happen to his grandson?
“Listen, young man, could you please just back down a bit? My grandson attends Central Primary School, and I can’t afford to cross Mr. Soong,” the shopkeeper pleaded with a heavy sigh.
“Trust me, boss, there won’t be any trouble,” Su Ming assured him with a smile, casually taking a seat.
The shopkeeper wavered, torn with indecision, and let out another sigh. Mr. Soong had been deeply affronted today, and he hadn’t stood up for him.
Surely Mr. Soong would pin the blame on him, making his grandson’s life at school miserable. He’d better figure out a way to transfer his grandson to another school quickly.
While the shopkeeper was lost in thought, footsteps approached the door once more.
The door swung open, and someone entered.
It was Principal Ding, followed by a still-seething Mr. Soong.
In the midst of the sweltering summer, the bright sunlight was overwhelming. Principal Ding, being on in years, felt a bit dazzled as he stepped inside. He could make out two figures—one standing, one sitting.
On closer inspection, he recognized the shopkeeper’s familiar silhouette. The seated figure had to be the young man.
Principal Ding’s brow furrowed as he approached. “Young man, you...”
He had barely begun to speak when he paused, sensing something familiar about the person before him. He blinked away his confusion.
Then, as his vision cleared, a joyful smile spread across Principal Ding’s face.
Wasn’t this Mr. Su?
“Principal, this is the guy,” Mr. Soong interjected from behind, his displeasure evident. Yet, upon facing the principal, his demeanor shifted to one of warm cordiality. “Principal, in this heat, I’m sorry to have you come out here. Really, I could have handled it myself.”