"Of course, occasional interruptions are fine, they can even help improve our harmonious relationship." the system said seriously.
"Speak like a human." Mai Ge curled his lip, unmoved by its words.
"The Menu Section Change Package includes: 1 menu section change, 5 free additions of new dishes, and a lifetime warranty card for menu quality, which includes, but is not limited to, the sixteen menus currently available in the restaurant. The host can also check out the Menu Section Change VIP Package: 1. Permanent free additions of new dishes; 2. Free selection of menu sections; 3. The ability to add pictures to each dish! Only 1998 copper coins!" the system quickly replied.
"Add pictures?" Mai Ge's eyes lit up. That was a good suggestion. The dishes in the restaurant were quite different from those in this world. New customers would be completely confused just by looking at the names of the dishes. Pictures would make it much more intuitive and save a lot of trouble explaining, thus improving efficiency to some extent.
"System, isn't 1998 a bit too high? How about a 50% discount, 998?" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow.
"Host! This is already an incredibly low price! A blood-spitting clearance sale! How can you still bear to haggle?" The system's voice carried a hint of sorrow, and it raised its voice a few notches. "Besides, even with a 50% discount, it's still 999! How can it be 998? You've just wiped out a copper coin like that, it's simply too much!"
"I'm telling you, you're someone who makes hundreds of thousands a day selling vegetables, is it really necessary for you to get so excited about a single copper coin?" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow, sometimes still unable to comprehend the system's greed.
"Do you really think selling vegetables is that profitable? Host, let me tell you, the ones who suffer the most in this industry chain are us vegetable growers. Seed cultivation and selection are free? High-tech greenhouse construction is free? Undersea cages are free? Space transportation is free?
I sell you ten peas for ten copper coins, and I only earn one copper coin. But I cultivate these ten peas, from seed cultivation, planting, harvesting... it takes several months to complete one harvest, from which I select the highest quality peas to supply to the restaurant.
To ensure the freshest quality, I use extremely expensive spatial teleportation technology to transport the ingredients directly from their place of origin to the host's refrigerator. Every single copper coin is hard-earned! So please don't underestimate any copper coin! This is the blood and sweat of us vegetable farmers!" the system said righteously.
Hearing the system's somewhat excited voice, Mai Ge almost felt guilty, thinking he was a greedy merchant who exploited the farmers. But after thinking about it carefully, he said with a strange expression, "I say, system... although you grew the vegetables and raised the fish, shrimp, chickens and ducks, but what kind of farmer are you? You haven't lifted a finger, yet you're here complaining like crazy. I almost believed your nonsense."
"Cough cough cough..." The system coughed for a while before saying somewhat awkwardly, "Anyway, the VIP Package costs 1998 copper coins. It features carefully selected pictures, optimized zoning, and an upgraded menu that is more upscale and classy, improving the restaurant's quality and enhancing the dining experience for customers. With just one VIP Package, you'll be making a profit!"
"998, not a single copper coin more." Mai Ge said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
"999! That's the lowest I can go!" the system gritted its teeth, as if making a huge concession.
"998."
"999!" The system still refused to compromise, somewhat annoyed, and said, "Host, you earn over a million a day cooking, is it necessary for you to argue with me over a single copper coin? And do you know how much workload there is in the VIP Package? I handle everything from taking and selecting photos, layout, to adding menu pages, and you're still clinging to a single copper coin!"
"This is all hard-earned money. I didn't know how hard it was to make money in my previous life. Now that I'm earning money to support my family, I understand that this money can't be spent recklessly. So, 998, not a single copper coin more." Mai Ge said matter of factly.
The system remained silent for a while, then sighed and said softly, "Host, you win! 998, the Menu Section Change VIP Package, you can take it home!"
"Very good, system, you can begin your performance now." Mai Ge's face lit up with a happy smile. Although it was only one copper coin less, but it felt like he had earned a million.
"Don't be too sad, I should be able to raise enough money to buy the second set of physical fitness points by the end of tomorrow's business day. I'll upgrade the restaurant's level tomorrow." Mai Ge comforted the system in his heart.
"Host, you made a wise choice." The system's voice immediately became lively again.
"So, are you planning to include a Menu Section Change Package as a bonus?" Mai Ge asked with a smile.
"Ding! 998 copper coins successfully deducted. The Menu Section Change VIP Package has been shipped and is non-refundable!" The system notification immediately sounded.
Mai Ge shook his head helplessly. This system was definitely obsessed with money. Looking at the several menu templates that appeared in his mind, he flipped through them all and chose the simplest one: a small picture with a dish name and price, without any special effects or descriptions.
"Ding! Menu template selected successfully. Menu customization in progress. Delivery available in five minutes!" the system notification sounded.
"Okay." Mai Ge nodded and got up to begin setting up the meeting place for tonight.
Ideally, a roundtable discussion would be more sophisticated, but the system's rental price of 10,000 copper coins made Mai Ge lose interest immediately, the excessive cost went against his money-making philosophy.
After standing in the center of the restaurant for a while, Mai Ge arranged the tables into five groups, about two meters apart, with one table at the front for the meeting moderator.
The simple and practical arrangement ensures that each participant has a table, and sitting opposite each other is also very suitable for negotiations. The appropriate distance of two meters allows each person some space to calmly think. Other tables and chairs were moved to the corner by Mai Ge, and the overall space still looks very spacious and comfortable.
"That should be fine. Hopefully, their meeting will be conducted elegantly and won't cause any damage to the restaurant." Mai Ge clapped his hands, a little worried.
One side consists of giant dragons, the other of demons—neither of these are benevolent races. If they were to start fighting, the restaurant couldn't withstand their chaos.
After setting the table, Mai Ge went into the kitchen to prepare the ingredients needed for the evening's meeting.
Michael wasn't a capricious City Lord. His choice of Restaurant Mai Mi as the meeting place, and the fact that he agreed to so many conditions, wasn't solely due to the fact that his grilled fish had alleviated his daughter's illness, rather, it was because he believed Restaurant Mai Mi could facilitate the meeting.
And all Restaurant Mai Mi offered was delicious food, a fact Mai Ge knew very well.
…
As the sun set, a hundred meters long giant golden dragon slowly glided across the sky above Aden Square. The setting sun shone on it, reflecting a dazzling golden light, causing the people in Aden Square to look up and squint, their faces full of astonishment.