Chapter 121: Achieving First Place in a Single Day! The Most Pressing Concern!

Cai Yao received a message from the restaurant’s finance department, detailing the daily revenue. Upon seeing the figures, she smiled broadly and reported to Chu Lin, “President Chu, the restaurant just sent me the numbers from yesterday’s business.”

Judging by her expression, Chu Lin chuckled, “Looks like yesterday’s revenue was quite impressive.”

Cai Yao nodded. “The restaurant was fully booked yesterday. Excluding the sales from oysters and prawns, the average spend per table in the main hall was around two thousand yuan, totaling 142,600 yuan in revenue.”

“The private rooms were filled with big clients, mostly wealthy bosses who came for President Wu. They ordered expensive dishes too. Excluding oysters and prawns, their total spending reached 323,900 yuan. So, apart from oysters and prawns, the total revenue was 476,500 yuan.”

“Even for a high-end restaurant, costs are relatively high—labor, ingredients, taxes, utilities for heating and electricity, miscellaneous expenses, and alcohol. Our total costs yesterday were only about 303,400 yuan,” she added, referencing data from a certain upscale restaurant on a popular social platform.

“Because we don’t have to pay for rent or depreciation, excluding oysters and prawns, our daily profit was still 173,100 yuan.”

Cai Yao was quite pleased with these figures; such a net profit for a single day was impressive enough, especially considering the special seasoning wine they used, which would help sustain this profit level.

If they factored in the revenue from Chu’s oysters and prawns, the picture changed dramatically.

The sales from oysters and prawns alone amounted to 525,000 yuan. After taxes and deducting costs, the profit from that was still over 370,000 yuan.

In other words, yesterday’s total profit for the restaurant neared 550,000 yuan.

This was something no other restaurant could match because Chu’s oysters and prawns were unavailable elsewhere.

In a high-end restaurant, a single Atlantis oyster sold for 1,500 yuan, yielding much greater profit margins compared to mid-range or lower-end establishments.

Wealthy patrons frequenting such upscale places wouldn’t bat an eye at paying 1,500 yuan for an oyster with special qualities.

Cai Yao continued, “Including the revenue from prawns and oysters, our Linyao Restaurant’s daily turnover exceeded one million yuan, reaching 1,001,500 yuan, with profits around 500,000 yuan. Do you know what this means?”

“Not just in Min City, but nationwide, very few high-end restaurants can achieve this. And those that do have deep family legacies and secret recipes no one else possesses.”

“For example, the place in Xiangjiang, the one in Modu, the three in the capital city, and the medicinal cuisine restaurant—other high-end restaurants, even Yunhe, the top in Min City, could never come close.”

Chu Lin nodded in agreement, equally astonished.

When he decided to partner with Miss Cai on the restaurant, he had researched the industry and knew how rare it was for a restaurant to break the one million yuan mark in daily revenue.

In some short dramas, daily revenues reaching tens of millions or even billions are pure fantasy—only those few restaurants with legendary backgrounds could dream of that.

As for a profit of 550,000 yuan, with his 60% share, the restaurant would distribute 330,000 yuan to him in a single day.

Cai Yao saw the million-yuan turnover as a golden opportunity. Simply publicizing this achievement would shock the entire culinary scene of Min City.

Without hesitation, she posted the news on her social circle and instructed the restaurant staff to share it on the Min City Food Forum.

This would further cement Linyao Restaurant’s status.

Defeating Yunhe and breaking the million mark—these were accomplishments that could become a halo of prestige.

After sending the messages, Cai Yao kept her eyes on the food forum.

This forum was officially created by Min City authorities following the success of the Min City Food Festival, designed to support the event.

Over the years, it had become a popular place for locals to share food experiences.

There had already been many posts about how Yunhe had been used as a stepping stone by Linyao.

So once the news of Linyao’s million-yuan turnover went live, it caught immediate attention, sparking numerous comments:

“Is Linyao really that impressive? A million yuan in one day? Is this for real?”

“Don’t doubt it. Linyao’s oysters are amazing.”

“I’m just a passerby, but I tasted Linyao’s food yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve had such delicious dishes.”

“I tried some too, but near Yunhe’s entrance. Linyao’s food is indeed very tasty.”

Cai Yao read these compliments with satisfaction, knowing well that the special seasoning wine was responsible. Otherwise, how could Pan Yue and his team rival Yunhe’s three top chefs?

Suddenly, she turned to Chu Lin with a proposal. “President Chu, let’s visit your farm later to check on the special seasoning wine. I have some ideas I want to discuss with you.”

Though Linyao was thriving now, she harbored a concern. The last time she had seen Chu’s seasoning wine stock, it was only about a hundred pounds.

What if they ran out? This kind of seasoning must be difficult to replicate.

The special wine was the key to Linyao’s reputation, attracting new customers and retaining old ones.

If the supply ever dried up and the dishes’ quality fell, it could spell big trouble.

“Alright!” Chu Lin was more than happy to spend more time with Miss Cai at this moment.

“I’ll go change,” Cai Yao said before entering the room.

Chu Lin, having no clothes to change into, waited outside.

Soon, Miss Cai emerged wearing a sexy, off-shoulder, patchwork short dress.

It was evident she wore nipple covers, exposing her smooth, fair shoulders—both alluring and elegant.

“Do I look good?” she asked with a beaming smile.

Chu Lin grinned, “You look great. I’m talking about you.”

“Let’s go!” Cai Yao was pleased with his answer, giggling as she led the way.

At the same time, news of Linyao Restaurant’s million-yuan daily revenue rapidly spread through Min City’s culinary circles.

At Zhizhen’s flagship store, Cai Da looked more haggard than before, as he had personally taken charge of the entire chain’s management.

He had spent time reorganizing the flagship store’s operations and was now working hard on rectifications, hoping to reopen soon with less dismal results.

Behind him stood Cai Sen, the general manager, who was somewhat resentful since his father’s constant interference had stripped him of any authority.

Just then, a provocatively dressed secretary approached Cai Da. “Chairman, you asked me to keep an eye on Linyao Restaurant. The latest news is that their daily revenue surpassed one million yuan.”

“How much?” Cai Da asked in surprise.

“One million exactly,” the secretary replied.

“Ah,” Cai Da sighed deeply, regret washing over him.

If his daughter hadn’t left Zhizhen, or if Zhizhen had ventured into the high-end restaurant market, things might be different.

Cai Sen’s face showed astonishment. “Is this for real? A single restaurant making over one million in revenue daily? Dad, high-end restaurants are that profitable? Let’s get into that business too.”

Hearing this, Cai Da wanted to tell his useless son to get lost.

Is running a high-end restaurant that easy? If it were, he would have done it long ago—and so would Jinshan.

Just because someone sees others making money doesn’t mean their brains start working.

How could he have thought this guy was fit to inherit Zhizhen?

The secretary, noticing Cai Da’s disdain for his son, quickly flattered Cai Sen coquettishly. “Young Master Sen’s idea is brilliant. Opening a high-end restaurant can be so profitable. If only Zhizhen had sufficient funds now—Young Master Sen, do you have any ideas?”

Cai Sen, pleased with the praise, replied, “It’s no problem. We can just take a loan for Zhizhen. It’s not like we can’t get one. Dad, if you agree, I’ll apply right away.”

“Get lost!” Cai Da was utterly disappointed with his son. “And you’re off the general manager position. I’m going to find a professional manager.”

This restructuring had already severely drained Zhizhen’s vitality. Taking out loans to open a high-end restaurant now would only hasten Zhizhen’s collapse.

“Dad, why?” Cai Sen was dumbfounded.

The secretary smiled slyly.

Such matters are understandable for a woman with limited vision, but lacking insight as an heir is fatal.

She touched her belly, thinking this might be her chance to climb the social ladder.

…

At Yunhe Restaurant, Cheng Jian wore a miserable expression as his father scolded him harshly.

“Are you an idiot? I was away on a business trip for just two days, and look at the mess you caused! How many customers canceled their reservations today? How many only booked Yunhe because they couldn’t get a table at Linyao?”

“All you think about is expansion. Does running a high-end restaurant just need money? And you foolishly became a pawn for that Ma Zhen. Look, how much of Linyao’s million-yuan revenue was thanks to your help?”

Cheng Jian had no words to defend himself.

Breaking one million in revenue—how to achieve that?

Their highest single-day revenue at Yunhe was still far from that number.

And Linyao did it on their very first day.

Seeing these figures, Cheng Jian wanted to slap himself.

This kind of revenue was beyond what Yunhe could touch. The best strategy was to avoid clashing, keeping their menus distinct.

Now, they collided head-on—and got crushed.

…

Wu Cuo was in an excellent mood today.

After drinking the medicinal wine Mr. Chu gave him last night, his frequent urination and nighttime waking ceased, and he felt much better.

Coupled with the rare ambergris, he worked more efficiently.

He picked up the materials organized by his secretary and was also surprised by Linyao Restaurant’s million-yuan daily revenue.

He knew very few restaurants could reach this level; if they maintained it, booking a table would no longer be a matter of willingness but of pure luck—even wealth might not guarantee a seat.

He held 10% of the shares in Erbai, and Manager Cai had promised to reserve a private room for them anytime, which was a great status symbol.

Such status wasn’t about money but about comfort and exclusive added value.

…

At the farm, Cai Yao and Chu Lin returned.

They took a stroll by the bay to breathe in some fresh air.

Swimming was out of the question for now—she had just experienced her first intimate encounter the night before.

Then, without wasting time, she and Chu Lin went to the storage room containing the special seasoning wine.

Her primary concern was the supply of this wine, worried about running out.

Looking at the vat of wine, she asked anxiously, “President Chu, we need to seriously consider how long this stock can last. Just these hundred pounds won’t last long.”

“Isn’t such a miraculous secret seasoning wine difficult to make? I heard the ingredients are hard to find, and it takes a long time to brew.”

“If the restaurant runs out of this wine, it will cause trouble. Someone might use this against us.”

(End of chapter)