Feng Yifan and his three apprentices went to the freight station to pick up the ingredients, which were a batch of overseas ingredients that had been specially ordered.
Among them are top-quality beef from abroad and some sea fish delivered through the cold chain.
Of course, some of them were river fish that Catherine, Hans and Tom had previously sent from a river fish breeding base they had found in China.
It can be said that such a batch of goods includes various very distinctive ingredients from home and abroad.
It's not just various meats, but also some fresh vegetables and some dried mushrooms.
While driving, Feng Yifan and Ma Xiaolong also briefly introduced this large amount of ingredients to Lin Ruifeng and Ning Cheng.
"I didn't order a lot at once because we are still unsure about how the business will be after the restaurant opens at night. This batch of ingredients should be enough for the restaurant to use for three to five days."
Ning Cheng asked curiously: "Master, if it can only be used for three to five days, isn't it too little?"
Ma Xiaolong immediately helped explain: "It's quite a lot. You have to understand that many of the ingredients cannot be stored for a long time, so three to five days is the limit. When we were in Perovence before, most of the ingredients were very fresh and there was a special cold chain supply every day."
Feng Yifan interrupted immediately: "Can you please stop mentioning Perovence all the time? You have to understand that we have left there now."
Ma Xiaolong quickly said, "Okay, Master."
Lin Ruifeng asked, "Master, do we also need to find a professional cold chain supplier?"
Feng Yifan shook his head and said, "Don't worry for now. We'll use this batch first. Next week I'll meet with several cold chain transportation companies and finally decide on one for our future supply."
Ma Xiaolong couldn't help but say, "Master, if you keep buying ingredients in small quantities like this, it might increase costs a lot."
Feng Yifan nodded and said, "I know this, so I've asked my senior sister to help contact and see if there are any restaurants in Shanghai or the provincial capital that need the same ingredients and are willing to share supply channels with us. This way, we can work together to reduce a lot of costs."
Ma Xiaolong thought for a moment and said, "Master, you can actually come forward and unite with Perovence."
Feng Yifan looked at Ma Xiaolong through the rearview mirror.
Facing his master's gaze, Ma Xiaolong had to lower his head immediately.
But Feng Yifan then said, "Well, this is also a solution. After our trial operation, I will talk to Rodney about this matter alone."
The supply of ingredients is often something that a high-end restaurant must pay attention to.
If there is no suitable supply channel, purchasing ingredients may become a difficulty for the restaurant, and the restaurant may even be unable to operate well because the purchased ingredients are too expensive.
As for domestic ingredients, Feng Yifan can obtain suitable channels through his parents and Lao Zhang in the market.
However, many ingredients in Western restaurants need to be purchased from abroad.
Those ingredients may not be able to find suitable substitutes domestically.
Therefore, a complete supply chain has been a headache for Feng Yifan recently.
In fact, the batch of food delivered this time was ordered directly from abroad by Feng Yifan through some foreign connections, and he found a cold chain transportation company to transport it to Huaicheng.
But from now on, it will be impossible for Feng Yifan’s Western restaurant to purchase in this way every time.
Originally, Feng Yifan planned to invite some foreign friends to the trial operation, including some foreign food suppliers, with whom he wanted to discuss purchasing matters.
But now, after listening to the advice given by Ma Xiaolong, Feng Yifan feels that bundling purchases with Perovence is a good choice.
However, success or not depends on the results of negotiations with Rodney and the manager of the Perovence restaurant.
The group arrived at the freight station. Although it was still early, the freight station was already very busy. All kinds of goods sent from all over the place were stored here and were being diverted to various districts and counties in the city for further delivery.
Feng Yifan and his team drove straight inside and came to a parking lot inside the freight station.
When seeing Feng Yifan's car, one person immediately waved.
After Lin Ruifeng, Ma Xiaolong and Ning Cheng saw the person clearly, they were all a little surprised.
The three people exclaimed in unison: "It's Zhang Qiang."
Feng Yifan smiled and said, "Yes, it was Zhang Qiang. He helped me find the cold chain truck this time. It's also a car of one of his friends. He happened to be transporting goods, so he brought our things over."
The three disciples were really surprised to hear this.
Zhang Qiang waited for Feng Yifan to park the car, then came over and said, "Brother, you guys are here quite early. I told you to wait a while, or if you don't have time, I'll just take you there."
Feng Yifan smiled and said, "I can't always ask you to deliver. Anyway, we're opening tomorrow, so today we're all busy with preparations."
Seeing Zhang Qiang, Lin Ruifeng and the other two also greeted him.
Zhang Qiang was quite enthusiastic towards Lin Ruifeng, but he only responded indifferently to Ma Xiaolong and Ning Cheng.
This is completely different from his attitude towards Feng Yifan.
The three people didn't quite understand, but it was not convenient to ask them in person.
Zhang Qiang led Feng Yifan and the others inside and came directly to the back of the cold chain vehicle.
There are two people waiting here too.
Zhang Qiang introduced Feng Yifan: "Brother, these two are my friends, the brothers Niu Ling and Niu Feng."
The two brothers also took the initiative to shake hands and greet Feng Yifan.
"Hello, Chef Feng. We two brothers have heard of your great name for a long time."
Feng Yifan smiled and responded: "What a big name, it's just some empty name. I really want to thank you brothers for helping me get these things back."
Brother Niu Ling said: "You're welcome, we're on the way too."
Niu Feng said, "Chef Feng, my brother and I heard from Zhang Qiang that you may need a cold chain to transport ingredients in the future. If you really need it, we can sign an agreement with you to transport our car for you."
Feng Yifan immediately cheered after hearing this: "Great, it would be great if you two brothers could help."
Then Feng Yifan talked to the two brothers about the price issue.
The two brothers were quite straightforward and were willing to settle the payment for Feng Yifan's single transport.
Feng Yifan thought this was a good idea. "Well, that's good. After all, we are a small restaurant, so we can't transport too much at once. Once I have an agreement with the supplier, I will have them send all the goods to a freight distribution center. This way, you brothers can help me bring them back at once."
The Niu brothers immediately agreed: "No problem."
After finishing the discussion, the two Niu brothers opened the carriage. Feng Yifan called three apprentices to move all the things in the carriage and stacked them one by one in the back pocket of the carriage.
"Xiaolong, pay attention. The seafood and river fish are placed at the bottom, and the vegetables and meat are placed on top. Got it?"
Ma Xiaolong immediately agreed: "I know the master."
As Ning Cheng was moving things, he couldn't help but ask Ma Xiaolong: "Brother, why do you put seafood and river fish down there?"
Ma Xiaolong said: "It's very simple, because seafood and river fish are usually sealed to ensure freshness, and there will be a layer of ice, so there is no fear of being crushed when placed underneath. As long as they are neatly stacked, other things can be piled on top."
Lin Ruifeng also added: "Because they are all protected by the ice layer, fresh vegetables placed on top can also be kept fresh. Otherwise, in this kind of hot weather, if they are slightly exposed to the sun, the vegetables will not be fresh."
Ning Cheng also learned a few things from his two senior brothers.
After all the things were put away, Feng Yifan gave the money to the two Niu brothers.
Then he and Zhang Qiang drove away together.
On the way back, Zhang Qiang still shouted across the car: "Brother, when you sign the contract later, tell me so that I can ask the Niu brothers to give you a lower price."
Feng Yifan smiled and shouted, "No need, the price they offered is already very suitable. When the time comes, you can all come together and I will treat you to a meal at my restaurant as a thank you."
Zhang Qiang quickly said, "Brother, you don't have to be so polite."
Feng Yifan shouted, "I told you not to be polite, why are you still being polite to me?"
Zhang Qiang had no choice but to shout: "Okay, I will definitely go."
After separating from Zhang Qiang, Feng Yifan drove back to the ancient street with his apprentices.
Stopping at the intersection of the ancient street, Ma Xiaolong and Lin Ruifeng hurried back to get the cart, while Ning Cheng followed his master to unload the goods.
When Lin Ruifeng and Ma Xiaolong came back, everyone else followed, even the tiny figure of Feng Ruoruo.
Feng Ruoruo ran over and rushed straight in front of her father.
"Dad, look at my clothes, do they look good?"
Feng Yifan quickly put down what he was holding, then pulled his daughter aside and looked at her clothes carefully.
This dress was made by Shen Qingluo specifically for Feng Ruoruo. It matches the decoration of the soon-to-be-opened Su Ji very well. It is a traditional Chinese dress, and it has a bit of the feel of an ancient shopkeeper.
Feng Yifan looked at it and said with a smile: "Very good, our Ruoruo can already be the shopkeeper."
Feng Ruoruo smiled happily at first, and even turned around in front of her father.
But then, the little girl suddenly thought that she seemed to not understand what "shopkeeper" meant.
She immediately took her father's hand and asked, "Dad, what is a shopkeeper?"
Feng Yifan squatted down and explained to his daughter seriously: "Shopkeeper? He is the one who is responsible for calculating and collecting money. He is the person who manages the accounts in the restaurant."
Feng Ruoruo immediately said, "That's not right, mom is the shopkeeper."
Feng Yifan laughed: "Yes, mom is the shopkeeper, but how about this, mom is the big shopkeeper, and our Ruoruo is the small shopkeeper, okay?"
Feng Ruoruo nodded and said, "Okay, okay."
At this time, everyone had unloaded the things from the car and loaded them onto several carts that were specially pulled over.
Feng Ruoruo saw that there were a lot of things piled on those flatbed carts, so she pulled her father's hand and asked, "Dad, what are those?"
Feng Yifan pulled his daughter aside and said, "Those are for cooking."
Feng Ruoruo was a little surprised: "Wow, Dad, are you going to use so many things to cook?"
Feng Yifan said: "Yes, because the restaurant will open tomorrow, so we need to prepare a lot of things."
Feng Ruoruo asked again: "Dad, will anyone come to eat tomorrow?"
Feng Yifan replied: "Of course, my father invited many people to eat."
Feng Ruoruo asked curiously, "Dad, aren't we opening tomorrow? Why are you inviting people to dinner? Dad, won't you lose money if you invite people?"
Feng Yifan laughed: "Hahaha, you little money-grubber."
After laughing, Feng Yifan carried his daughter to the car and sat her down, then explained to her: "Tomorrow is the first time the restaurant will be open, so Dad wants to invite some close friends to come and try the food, such as your great grandfather, your two great grandfathers, and Yang Xiaoxi and Chen Yaofei, all of whom will come to eat."
Feng Ruoruo said: "Yes, we should invite Xixi and Feifei to come and eat."
Feng Yifan followed up by saying, "Yes, we should invite Xixi and Feifei, and everyone else to come and try Dad's food. If they think it's delicious, we can ask everyone to help promote Dad. This way, we can attract more customers to come and eat, right?"
Feng Ruoruo immediately said, "Dad, Ruoruo will also help you promote it."
Feng Yifan responded with a smile: "Okay, Dad thanks Ruoruo."
Feng Ruoruo smiled and said, "You're welcome."
The father and daughter chatted for a while, and almost all the goods were taken back to the restaurant in batches.
Then Feng Yifan asked Lin Ruifeng and Shen Qingluo to pack up their things. He planned to drive them to the station as they were going to Lin Ruifeng's sister's house today.
When Feng Ruoruo heard that her father was going to send Uncle Xiaolin and Sister Xiaoshen, she also clamored to go together.
Lin Ruifeng didn't want his master to send him off at first: "Master, Qing Luo and I can take a taxi."
Feng Yifan was very determined: "What's wrong? Are you still blaming Master for letting you go to your sister's house to celebrate the festival? Wouldn't it be more convenient for Master to send you there? Stop nagging, quickly load your things into the car, and let's go."
Feng Ruoruo was sitting in the car and yelled, "Uncle Xiaolin, hurry up, Sister Xiaoshen, get in the car, we'll sit together."
Lin Ruifeng had no choice but to agree to his master's request and put the luggage into the car.
After getting in the car, Shen Qingluo held Ruoruo in the back seat, and Lin Ruifeng sat in the front passenger seat.
On the way to send the two of them off, Feng Yifan also instructed his apprentice: "Since Xiao Shen has gone home with you, you must take good care of him and not bully him, understand?"
Lin Ruifeng agreed: "Master, I know."
Feng Ruoruo sat in Sister Shen's arms and asked, "Sister Shen, why do you want to celebrate the festival with Uncle Xiaolin? Why don't you stay and celebrate the festival with us?"
Before Shen Qingluo could speak, Feng Yifan said, "Because Sister Shen and Uncle Lin are in love, they are going to Uncle Lin's sister's house, which is your Aunt Yanmei's house, to celebrate the festival together."
Feng Ruoruo immediately understood: "Oh, Dad, is Sister Shen Uncle Xiaolin's wife?"
This sentence made everyone in the car laugh, and Shen Qingluo felt a little embarrassed.
Feng Yifan said: "Not yet, whether it will be in the future depends on how hard your uncle Xiaolin works."
Lin Ruifeng immediately turned around and said, "I will definitely work hard."
This made Shen Qingluo feel even more embarrassed, and he could only scold: "Don't talk nonsense, Ruoruo is still here."