Chapter 86: A New Development Strategy
After sending off Bai Cheng and the four girls, Chen Jianhai stood up and looked out at the azure sea outside the window, thinking about his competitors in Nanjiang City. He let out a long sigh.
"Hopefully, they won't imitate to the point of bankruptcy..."
...
At this moment, at Nanjiang Glory Hotel, Liu Qinglu, dressed in professional attire, sat in front of the computer, staring at the calm webpage, lost in thought.
"Chen Jianhai, what is he thinking?"
It had been four days since she launched the Star Ocean Family Holiday Festival, with overwhelming promotion both online and in the market, utilizing her connections to create a buzz on the internet. Even people on 2G networks would know about the Star Ocean Family Holiday Festival by now. But why hadn't Lang Ai Hotel responded at all?
Liu Qinglu brushed her hair behind her ear, puzzled. Since the event announcement went online, she had been closely monitoring Lang Ai's response, hoping for them to lash out. That way, she could counterattack with a wave of public opinion, playing the victim, and further promoting Nanjiang Glory Hotel through the ensuing controversy.
If Chen Jianhai had any sense, he would seize this opportunity to increase his hotel's exposure and gain free publicity. But it seemed he lacked that acumen.
Liu Qinglu twirled her hair with her fingers, a mocking smile on her lips.
"Fun festival, wedding season... I just copied your fun festival, and now you have a wedding season event. How many more good ideas do you have for me to dig up, Boss Chen~"
With a smile, Liu Qinglu closed her computer, crossed her right leg over her left, and turned her chair to face the sea. The bright sunlight shone on her pale skin, making her look almost radiant. Her black hair accentuated her stunning beauty. She gently touched the gold name badge on her chest, which read "Assistant at Nanjiang Glory Hotel."
"Yue Mei, Lang Ai... one day you will know that letting me go was a huge mistake."
...
At Lang Ai Hotel, completely unaware that he had caught the attention of a scheming woman, Chen Jianhai was sitting foolishly on the exclusive lobby sofa, doing some calculations.
"206 times 303 equals... 62418."
"118 times 30 equals 3540... Tsk, there aren't many people who don't drink."
"62418 plus 3540 equals 65958, minus taxes and costs."
"Net income is... 26383.2!????"
"How could it be this little!!"
Chen Jianhai's excited expression froze. He stared in disbelief at the calculator. The carnival was an event he had poured his heart into; how could it make so little money?
"Impossible! My math must be wrong. I even miscounted the number of hotel rooms before; I must have made a mistake this time too!"
Unconvinced, Chen Jianhai reset the calculator and re-added the orders from last night, one by one...
Ten minutes later, Chen Jianhai silently looked at the calculator, took out a bottle of heart pills from his pocket, popped one into his mouth, and pinched his philtrum with his hand. He slumped on the sofa, not recovering for a long time.
...
The carnival's revenue was a complete flop... At this rate, even if the carnival was a hit, the monthly income would top out at just over 600,000 yuan, not even close to what a single wedding could make during the day!
But why?! Although Xiao Lang had hinted before that, given the cost of the meat, seafood, and craftsmanship he chose, it would be hard to make big money. However, he had inquired about Xiao Lang's BBQ shop's profitability, where a net profit of 200% daily was easily achievable. On good days, Xiao Lang would make up to 800% profit by buying cheap vegetables from the morning market.
Both were running BBQ events; why was his profit so dismal in comparison?
While Chen Jianhai was mourning his finances on the sofa, his phone suddenly rang. He checked the caller ID and immediately answered with enthusiasm, "President Xu! How come you have time to call me today?"
"Of course, I have time! The Royal Elegant Restaurant? I'll be right there!"
Putting down the phone, Chen Jianhai's spirits lifted! Xu Yong had mentioned good news after the wedding, and now he was finally reaching out! It was a perfect opportunity to discuss the hotel's seafood supply with Nanjiang Broad Aquatic Products Company.
"The Royal Elegant Restaurant... Xu Yong is quite generous!"
Raising an eyebrow, Chen Jianhai, feeling down, decided he would enjoy a good meal at Xu Yong's expense!
About an hour later, a car stopped at a corner in Nanjiang City. Chen Jianhai, dressed in formal wear, stepped out and looked up at the restaurant in front of him, feeling nostalgic.
The Royal Elegant Restaurant was an old establishment in Nanjiang, comparable in age to his Lang Ai Hotel. However, while the Royal Elegant Restaurant had grown bigger over the years, Lang Ai Hotel had almost fallen into ruin.
This contrasting fate was poignant. Although the Royal Elegant Restaurant had undergone multiple renovations and expansions over the years, it had retained its original core. Even now, Chen Jianhai could find the little yellow toy car he had once hidden in the green fence pipes.
For the elderly and newcomers in Nanjiang City alike, the familiar building evoked no sense of alienation. To the city, the restaurant was not just an eatery but a landmark and a repository of fond memories for a generation.
As Chen Jianhai quietly observed the restaurant where he had often dined as a child, a thought crossed his mind.
"It seems I've been going about things the wrong way... I've been focusing too much on renovating the hotel and keeping up with new trends to compete with newly opened hotels and inns, but I've neglected the hotel's most core competitive factor: its history."
Lowering his head in thought, Chen Jianhai seemed to grasp something he hadn't realized before.
"No matter how many new hotels open in Nanjiang, Lang Ai Hotel can always claim to be one of the earliest establishments. This kind of historical accumulation is something they can't replicate."
"I wonder if, when I meet the conditions to upgrade Lang Ai to a luxury hotel, it will also retain this sense of history..."