Chapter 433 - 368: Negotiating the Dam Banquet (3)

Chapter 433: Chapter 368: Negotiating the Dam Banquet (3)

Otherwise, it would affect the flavor of the final dishes and harm his reputation.

After all, the quality of the ingredients themselves was extremely important.

Li You said that preparing the ingredients himself was no problem. Both Xie Wanxiang and Luo Yunlin were delighted and asked Li You to calculate the cost per table.

Not just for the ingredients, but the total amount they would have to pay Li You per table.

Nowadays, hosting rural banquets was becoming easier and more relaxed for the families. They would just negotiate a price per table with the caterer and then wash their hands of the whole affair.

The caterer was responsible for everything; the hosts didn’t even have to wash a single bowl.

However, that wasn’t how Li You handled banquets. He was only responsible for the cooking and preparing the ingredients.

He didn’t have a catering team, nor did he plan on forming one. After all, he didn’t specialize in banquets; he just accepted a job from time to time.

So, by hiring Li You as the main chef, Xie Wanxiang would actually have to find other people to handle the rest of the work.

It was not only more of a hassle, but it would also cost a little more.

But in Xie Wanxiang’s opinion, none of that mattered. The flavor of the food was what was most important.

After a quick calculation, Li You said, "Is it alright if I use farmed soft-shelled turtles? Wild ones are expensive, for one, and hard to come by, for another."

Xie Wanxiang nodded. "No problem."

Li You nodded and continued, "In that case, it will be 980 per table. Is that acceptable?"

Looking at the number alone, the price was, frankly, on the high side.

In Changxi County, rural banquets usually cost around 700-something per table. A better spread would be 800-something, and it was rare to see one exceed 900.

Moreover, those were all-inclusive prices—the kind where the hosts didn’t have to lift a finger.

Of course, alcohol, drinks, cigarettes, and candy were extra. The hosts could also provide those items themselves.

Li You’s 980-per-table price was the same. It didn’t include alcohol, drinks, cigarettes, candy, or the like.

Although the price was high, the ingredients Li You used and the flavor of his dishes were certain to be far superior to those 700- or 800-per-table banquets.

The variety of the dishes was better, too.

Those 700- and 800-per-table banquets might seem to have a lot of dishes, but many of them were just low-cost side dishes.

So, at 980 per table, while the price was steep, it was an absolute bargain for what you got.

Xie Wanxiang and Luo Yunlin knew this as well, so they agreed immediately without the slightest hesitation.

Putting everything else aside, Chef Li You’s culinary skills alone were worth far more than 980 per table.

They both knew that if Li You wanted, people would agree without hesitation—not just to 980 per table, but even 9,800.

Of course, those wouldn’t be ordinary people.

With that, the matter was more or less settled. All that was left was to wait for the eighth of next month.

"By the way, Brother Li, what is this Wensi Tofu? What kind of dish is it?" Luo Yunlin asked.

When Li You had mentioned Wensi Tofu earlier, Luo Yunlin and Xie Wanxiang had only noticed that the price wasn’t expensive—just 25 for a serving—and thought it would be a good addition to the banquet menu.

But as for what the dish actually was, they had no idea.

Li You smiled. "If you’re staying for lunch before you head out, you might as well order a serving of Wensi Tofu. You’ll find out then."

Luo Yunlin nodded eagerly. "Great, great. We’ll order a Wensi Tofu for lunch, then. We’re definitely eating before we go."

Xie Wanxiang chimed in, "We’re definitely eating. Ever since I ate here last time, I’ve been constantly thinking about when I could come back for another meal. I finally got the chance today."

Li You laughed heartily and said, "You’re more than welcome."

Just then, a large group of people arrived in the parking lot at almost the same time: Jiang Caidong, Liang Heng, Liu Xu, Xiao Yue, Zhang Rui’Er, and others, as well as Wei Ping’s family.

Moreover, cars continued to stream into the parking lot, and more and more people kept getting out.

In no time, the parking lot was already a sea of people.

There must have been 200 people.

Luo Yunlin and Xie Wanxiang were both bewildered.

Luo Yunlin asked, "Brother Li, what’s going on?"

Li You replied, "It’s Saturday. These are all customers from the county seat."

’They’re all customers?’

’And they all came from the county seat?’

Luo Yunlin and Xie Wanxiang were both taken aback. They knew Li You’s business was good.

But for so many people to show up at once—and all from the county seat at that—wasn’t this a bit of an exaggeration?

’There must be 200 people here, right?’

’That’s at least twenty tables for a banquet.’

This kind of business could no longer be described with a simple word like "good."

Luo Yunlin and Xie Wanxiang both marveled at the sight.

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