National Tide 1980

Gong Mingcheng and Director Luan teamed up to defeat him miserably.

According to Zhang Shihui, with their level and strength, it would be a foolish dream to want to fight Ning Weimin, like hitting a rock with an egg.

So Gong Mingcheng was extremely angry, and Director Luan was also in a state of panic. These were all inevitable results.

It's called overestimating one's own abilities.

But what about Ning Weimin?

In fact, his current state is characterized by being "busy". He has so many things to do that he has no time to savor the taste of revenge.

First of all, for him, the matter of Tangong Restaurant is not over yet.

Ning Weimin has to find a good place for everyone.

Otherwise, disappointing everyone would be a small matter. It would be too late to regret if all Ning Weimin’s previous efforts were ruined.

You know, the core competitiveness of Tan Palace Restaurant lies in the inheritance and restoration of palace culture, and the most core talents of any catering enterprise are the hall, the counter and the kitchen.

Ning Weimin built Tan Palace Restaurant from scratch. What he was most proud of was not just how much money he made, but the fact that he took advantage of the right time, place and people to win over a large number of famous chefs and put together a real palace menu.

On this basis, we have discovered high-end ingredients unique to China, as well as some palace specialties that were almost lost.

These are the most valuable intangible assets. They are the experience and knowledge accumulated by countless predecessors. They belong to the entire capital and the entire China.

If these things were lost again or even lost due to changes in equity, for Ning Weimin it would not be a matter of losing money.

Instead, it will make Ning Weimin unable to forgive his regret for the rest of his life.

It will make him feel that he is a sinner of the nation, far more sinful than those guys who resell cultural relics to foreigners.

Therefore, after Pierre Catton and the Temple of Heaven Park and Service Bureau reached an agreement on asset division, Ning Weimin still had to continue negotiating the matter with Zou Guodong.

This time, he planned to buy back the assets that Pierre Catton had obtained in his personal name.

His goal is to include the restaurants in Tokyo and Chengde in his list of private assets and complete privatization.

But to be honest, he is not really trying to make money from the restaurant for himself, but out of a sense of responsibility, he wants to do his best to help authentic Chinese food enter the world's high-end market.

“Come, come, come!”

Ning Weimin extended his hand and smiled at Zou Guodong, then had someone place a peach tree-like bonsai on the flower table in the corner of Zou Guodong's office.

"How is it? Look at the gift I gave you..."

"You are being so attentive for no reason. I doubt your motives."

Zou Guodong still had that indifferent look on his face. He was reading a document at his desk. He just looked up and ignored him, looking completely distant and as if he didn't want to bother with Ning Weimin.

In this atmosphere, even Zou Guodong's secretary felt inexplicably embarrassed.

He looked at Ning Weimin with some embarrassment, fearing that the third boss Ning Weimin would be annoyed by Zou Guodong's attitude.

However, Ning Weimin's thickness of skin was not comparable to that of ordinary people, and he was too familiar with Zou Guodong's cold personality and knew that this guy was always straightforward with him.

He did not take it as an offense at all, but instead asked Zou Guodong's secretary to make coffee for him.

He even moved closer, took a chair and sat down in front of Zou Guodong's desk. "Don't look at it anymore. Take a rest. Put the documents down and let's talk."

"What is there to talk about? About the magazine and the problem of the Tan Palace Restaurant. We have already talked about everything we need to talk about. What else do you want to talk about?"

Ning Weimin said with a smile, "The problem of the Tan Palace Restaurant is not that simple. Although the separation has been agreed upon, and there is still about half a year until the Spring Festival next year, we will still operate in a dominant position. But during this period, the ownership of personnel will still be the most important core issue. I have to say that the competition for talents has already begun. In order to make some excellent chefs and managers willingly give up their state-owned iron rice bowls and continue to work for me, I must not only offer them generous treatment, but also show them exciting enough prospects. If I don't talk about others, I will talk about Du Yang and Pan Long in Chengde. I can't let them go. So in order to stabilize them, I will give up the ownership of the Tan Palace headquarters in Beijing and choose the restaurant in Chengde. That's not all, I will also increase their performance bonus dividends. Otherwise, they will hesitate whether to have an iron rice bowl or work for me."

Zou Guodong obviously heard these words. Although he was still holding the documents in his hand, he stopped what he was doing unconsciously and looked out the window and thought intently for a while.

After a long while, he responded, "Talent is indeed a problem. You are right. How can a good restaurant be separated from excellent chefs and managers? Then tell me, what do you need the company to do for you? How can we support you? Do you want money or people?"

These are very thoughtful words, showing magnanimity and broad-mindedness.

However, because of this, Ning Weimin was a little stuck.

He didn't expect Zou Guodong to be so easy to talk to. He was stunned for a moment and felt a little embarrassed.

"I want to... buy the assets that the Tangong Restaurant gave to the company from the company... I'm willing to pay 15 million US dollars..."

"What? You have so much money!

"Zou Guodong was surprised at first, but then puzzled. "But why do you want to do this? Doesn't the company support you enough? You spend so much money just to make the restaurant your own? Have you ever thought about how much operating pressure you will have to bear? The situation in China is not as good as that outside. Private enterprises are not as good as foreign capital. They are simply a business without a father or a mother. Why can't you run it for the company like in the past? What's more, you are still a shareholder of the company. Even if you keep the status quo, you can still share the profits of the restaurant. Or... have you already decided to use this opportunity to leave the company..."

Zou Guodong's imagination became more and more wild, and finally he returned to the old problem that he cared about most.

Ning Weimin quickly denied it, "I have no intention of leaving the company. I am also very grateful for the company's continued support for me. I am more aware of the status of private enterprises in China."

Then he explained apologetically, "But Pierre Catton is a foreign-funded enterprise after all. From the perspective of Chinese food culture inheritance and management, this may become a greater restriction and limitation for the restaurant I run in the future..."

“Greater restrictions and limitations?”

Zou Guodong repeated, having completely put down the document in his hand, his eyes looking at Ning Weimin's face.

That look is still an unsolved question mark.

Ning Weimin said, "What I mean is that every country and every nation has something that they are proud of. For us, Chinese food is something that shines in our culture and makes every Chinese proud. Although the current status of Chinese food is a bit embarrassing and cannot be recognized by the high-end class in the world, we all know that court cuisine and official banquets have this potential. Whether it is luxury, culture, ingredients, or cooking, they are no less than French cuisine. So under this premise, I think a Chinese food brand that makes Chinese people proud should belong to our people 100% and should not have any connection with foreigners. I cannot let people mistakenly think that we have achieved amazing results with the help of the French. I can't let people think that the Chinese food I run is not pure Chinese food at all, but has become outstanding due to the improvement of French food..."

Ning Weimin's words surprised Zou Guodong even more. He didn't expect that Ning Weimin was an employee of a foreign-funded enterprise.

No, it's the shareholder who actually cares about such formalities.

After a brief pause, he said quickly, "Are you being a little hypocritical? Whether in terms of affection or interests, Mr. Pierre Catton and the company have done nothing wrong to us. Especially as a member of Pierre Catton, we have the responsibility to safeguard the interests of the company. But as a shareholder, you actually think this way. I really don't know how to evaluate you. Do you really think this is necessary?"

"Of course." Ning Weimin said without hesitation, "I know that what I said is a bit inhumane. To put it nicely, it's like taking advantage of others. To put it bluntly, it's like wanting to be a whore and also want to be a saint. Maybe in the eyes of some people, people like us are no different from the foreign compradors in the past. It's good enough that they don't call us traitors. But the problem is that the essence of this matter is the issue of cultural ownership and cultural discourse power. Can you imagine that the Moulin Rouge in Paris was bought by a Chinese or a black person? Can you imagine that the famous French chef is not a Frenchman? In this kind of situation, sometimes you will only know what it feels like when it happens."

Zou Guodong frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "It doesn't sound like human language. I'm not afraid that you won't like it. I have a different view from you. Our nation always prides itself on being cultured, but does the nation also mean the world? Does culture really need to artificially create a sense of boundaries? You said you wanted to promote the development of Chinese food overseas, but if you do this, it's like you're guarding it tightly. How can you expect others to accept you? And I always feel that you sound a little stingy and timid..."

"I accept your criticism. I may be a little petty. But I am definitely not timid, and I don't have an inferiority complex."

Ning Weimin was not angry at all. Even though Zou Guodong himself felt that what he said was a bit harsh, he even continued to explain patiently, "There is something you don't know, and I have never told anyone else. Two years ago, when the Tokyo branch of Tan Palace Restaurant opened for a few months, it attracted a Michelin Japan reviewer because of its booming business and unique dishes. The Japanese man initially thought that we were a restaurant serving Japanese food, but later found out that we were a Chinese restaurant serving royal cuisine. He also took the initiative to propose to me that Tan Palace Restaurant should be included in the Michelin Red Guide, saying that based on the quality of our ingredients, cooking skills, innovation level, and the environment and service of the restaurant, we could be recommended with one star. Guess how I responded? I refused. Others may think it is an honor, but I feel it is a humiliation..."

"Is it because the Michelin inspectors only gave you one star?"

Zou Guodong couldn't help but interrupt. "Don't be too greedy. That's Michelin. If you are willing to accept it, then the Tokyo branch of Tangong will definitely do better business. Only those restaurants that perform well in all aspects can eventually get Michelin stars. I haven't heard of a Chinese restaurant being selected by Michelin."

Ning Weimin's eyes sparkled and he shook his head.

"No, you're wrong. Without Michelin, our business and reputation are still good. I refused, not because I was greedy and wanted more stars. But because the evaluation standards and discourse power of this kind of catering and food are now completely in the hands of the French. Even the Japanese can comment on us, which makes me sad. Yes, Michelin is an authority on French cuisine, there is no dispute about this. However, they don't know much about Chinese cuisine. So why should we Chinese food accept their evaluation standards? Why should we accept the praise and criticism of an outsider who doesn't even know the eight major cuisines and can't even distinguish between dishes and dim sum? Can you believe it? The favorite dishes of this reviewer are actually fried dumplings and spring rolls. If I ask him to list these two dishes on Michelin's Little Red Book, Tan Palace Restaurant will be a joke. No, Chinese cuisine is a self-contained system and should also have its own evaluation system. If not, then we can build it ourselves. This is what I want to achieve. Isn't it necessary?"

Cultural attributes are not subject to personal opinions.

Although Zou Guodong's words just now were very confident, contrary to Ning Weimin's opinion.

But after hearing these words, I was really touched.

After a brief pause, he said, "I understand this a little bit. However, this is not something I can decide. I can only try to apply for you. The specific result still needs to go through the process and see what Mr. Song thinks."

Ning Weimin was already very satisfied with this. He even added, "For the company, it's not a loss to take the money. Think about it, 15 million US dollars to buy two restaurants. Wouldn't it be good for the company to build a building in Shanghai after getting the money? And if the company sells the restaurants to me, I won't start my own business and make no contribution to the company. What do you think of this? When I return to Tokyo, I will open a branch of Maxim's restaurant. This will finally be worthy of you and Mr. Song, right?"

"You, stop trying to glamorize yourself."

Zou Guodong said, "You have always liked to take meat from the wolf's mouth. I have to advise you that you have to change your habit of poaching employees from the company, otherwise I will be angry with you sooner or later."