How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 458

458. Permanently Blacklisting Xin Rong Ji: What’s Wrong with a Ride-Hailing Driver Having Some Money?

Lin Yiren had accompanied Yang Chen to many high-end occasions and knew that paying more could get priority service.

Waiter: “If you two want expedited priority service from Mr. Marshall, you’ll need to pay a 5,000 yuan surcharge for queue jumping. Mr. Marshall will attend to you after he finishes his current service.”

Yang Chen: “Will the dishes he makes cost extra too?”

Waiter: “Compared to dishes made by ordinary chefs, they will definitely be more expensive. After all, he is a Michelin three-star chef. If you want to eat his dishes, you will definitely have to pay more.”

Damn!

This is too outrageous, right?

When you go to a hospital, at most the expert consultation fee is a bit more expensive, but the testing and medication costs are the same price.

They not only want a registration fee, but also want to increase the testing and medication fees. Their behavior is a bit too greedy.

Yang Chen is never afraid of spending money. His motto is that problems that can be solved with money are not problems, but he can’t accept being ripped off.

Yang Chen: “Who made this rule?”

Waiter: “It’s a rule jointly made by our store manager and Mr. Marshall.”

This is Xin Rong Ji, not Yang Chen’s Tang Pavilion.

The other party is clearly marking prices, and Yang Chen has no choice. He can either accept it or leave.

If Yang Chen makes a scene here, people will think he’s deliberately causing trouble.

Yang Chen: “Alright! Give him the 5,000 yuan registration fee. After he finishes his current service, have him come over to serve us immediately.”

Lin Yiren: “Forget it, let’s not eat here. Tang Pavilion doesn’t need a registration fee. This place is actually charging a registration fee. It’s too greedy.”

At this moment, the manager Zhao Kang, who was not far away, happened to hear Lin Yiren’s words and quickly walked over.

The waiter whispered the situation to Zhao Kang and then stood aside.

Zhao Kang said with a smile: “Please forgive us, you two. Mr. Marshall is a Michelin three-star chef who just came from France. There are many customers who want to enjoy his service, so we can only set some thresholds to ensure that truly discerning customers enjoy his service.”

These words are truly skillful. Here, “discerning” equals “rich.”

Lin Yiren: “Setting thresholds is understandable. I also told the waiter that I could pay more. But you can’t charge a registration fee first and then increase the price of testing and medicine. That’s a bit outrageous, too greedy. Tang Pavilion is also a Michelin three-star restaurant. Why don’t they charge a registration fee?”

Zhao Kang: “Haha… Beautiful lady, it’s not right to compare it that way. We are a Michelin three-star restaurant. Tang Pavilion is about to be downgraded to a two-star restaurant. Of course, it can’t be compared to us.”

Hmm?

Tang Pavilion is going to be downgraded?

Why didn’t Tan Hongkai report this to Yang Chen?

Yang Chen: “Who did you hear say that Tang Pavilion is going to be downgraded?”

Zhao Kang looked mysterious and said, “I can’t tell you two this. I can only tell you that Tang Pavilion will be downgraded soon. At the earliest tonight, at the latest tomorrow noon, the downgrade notice will be issued.”

Michelin ratings have a professional judging panel. Members will “hide their identities” and come to the target restaurant to enjoy the service in a low-key manner, score based on the service, and give a rating on the spot.

If all operations follow the standard process, before the rating results come out,

no one knows what rating a restaurant will get, and absolute fairness and impartiality can be guaranteed.

But Zhao Kang, as the manager of Xin Rong Ji, can know in advance that Tang Pavilion will be downgraded to a two-star restaurant. Isn’t this strange?

He certainly doesn’t have the ability to predict the future. The only explanation is that he and the reviewers have agreed to downgrade Tang Pavilion to a two-star restaurant.

In this way, Xin Rong Ji will become the only Michelin three-star restaurant in mainland China. In the future, those rich people will definitely give priority to spending here and rarely go to Tang Pavilion again.

For rich people, even if the dishes are the same, they are willing to spend more money to dine in a three-star restaurant and will not be willing to spend less money to dine in a two-star or even a non-starred restaurant.

This is not just a matter of eating, but also a matter of face.

It’s like some people would rather spend tens of thousands of yuan to buy an LV air vest than spend thousands of yuan to buy a proper down vest from an ordinary brand.

Yang Chen never thought of harming Xin Rong Ji and has always adhered to the principle of fair competition and managing based on his abilities. The competitor here wants to attack his Tang Pavilion.

Yang Chen said with a smile: “Okay, call the chef over to cook for us.”

Zhao Kang: “Okay, please wait a moment, you two. He’ll be right over.”

After Zhao Kang and the waiter left, Lin Yiren whispered, “Brother Chen, why are we still eating here?”

Yang Chen: “We’re already here, let’s eat first. I’m very curious how he knew in advance that Tang Pavilion would be downgraded. I’ll find a chance to ask later.”

Lin Yiren nodded and said, “Okay.”

Soon, the waiter brought over the new three-star chef, Marshall.

Marshall had specially learned Dragon Country language [Chinese], but it wasn’t very standard.

Marshall: “Two distinguished guests, if it’s convenient, let’s go to the private room. I can cook for you two in person.”

Yang Chen nodded, got up, and followed the waiter and Marshall to the private room with Lin Yiren in his arms.

Marshall is from France, and the dishes he knows are mainly French.

First, some smoked herring, oysters, and bread to whet the appetite, then the classic pan-fried foie gras, pan-fried flounder, and some black truffle steamed eggs.

Lin Yiren only ate half of each dish, and Yang Chen asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not to your taste?”

Lin Yiren smiled charmingly and whispered in Yang Chen’s ear, “It’s not that it’s not to my taste, I just feel like something is missing. Could it be that my endocrine system is out of balance, causing my taste to be insensitive?”

Yang Chen held back his laughter and said, “What should we do then? Do you need me to send you to the hospital to see a doctor?”

Lin Yiren: “No need to go to the hospital, just give me a few hundred injections [a euphemism for sexual intercourse].”

Yang Chen couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth and said, “That’s too much! Who are you looking down on? Can a few hundred injections do the trick? With your brother’s body, can it end without two thousand injections?”

Lin Yiren: “Hehe… Are you trying to murder me? I just want to treat my endocrine system, not die.”

After Marshall finished a set of meals, he saw that Lin Yiren had a lot left and quickly asked, “This beautiful lady, is my cooking not good enough? Why did you leave so much?”

Lin Yiren explained with a smile: “Maybe I just don’t have much appetite.”

Marshall: “Oh, that’s a pity, such good food is wasted.”

This foreigner really doesn’t know how to talk. How can he say in front of the guests that what they left is a waste?

Lin Yiren: “I’m sorry, I really can’t eat it. We will pay for all of these in full. The right to dispose of it is in our hands. Your restaurant doesn’t need to say anything about wasting or not, right?”

Marshall raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: “Oh? Then, madam, can you tell me why you can’t eat it? Can you comment on my cooking?”

Lin Yiren: “You bad guy, give him a comment.”

Yang Chen chuckled and said, “We are diners, not food critics. We don’t make comments. If you’re not going to eat, let’s go.”

Lin Yiren nodded, picked up her bag, and stood up.

Yang Chen called the waiter over, swiped his card, paid the bill, and left.

Marshall kept pestering Lin Yiren, wanting her to tell him what was wrong.

From his perspective, it can be understood that he cares about the guests’ feelings and strives for perfection in his cooking.

But from the guests’ perspective, his behavior is harassment.

Yang Chen: “Chef, isn’t it not good for you to pester the guests like this?”

Marshall: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just want to hear this beautiful lady tell me what’s wrong with my cooking. If she doesn’t tell me what’s wrong, I feel like ants are crawling in my heart.”

Yang Chen: “I won’t say anything else, but your black truffle steamed egg still has room for improvement. I’ve seen three-star chefs make black truffle steamed eggs without any air holes, not a single one. I just paid attention and saw that your black truffle steamed egg has a few small air holes. There is a difference in taste between having air holes and not having air holes. You should know this, right?”

Marshall: “Someone can make a black truffle steamed egg with absolutely no air holes?”

Yang Chen nodded.

Marshall: “Not a single air hole?”

Yang Chen nodded.

Yang Chen put his arm around Lin Yiren and went downstairs. Yu Shishi called him.

Yu Shishi: “Mr. Yang, a large envelope was just delivered by express. It says it’s from the Michelin Group.”

Yang Chen: “Oh, open it and see. It should be the equity transfer agreement and other information.”

Yu Shishi: “Ah? Mr. Yang, you acquired the Michelin Group again?”

Yang Chen: “Yes! I have nothing to do, so I’m acquiring a few more Fortune 500 companies to play with.”

Yu Shishi: “Mr. Yang, you are so amazing.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… I’m hanging up, I’m busy here.”

Yang Chen hung up the phone, and Lin Yiren quickly asked, “You acquired Michelin?”

Yang Chen: “Yes! In the future, whichever restaurant you like to eat at, we’ll make it three-star. If you want to eat the dishes made by a certain chef, we can also make him a three-star chef.”

“Hehe… Honey, you’re so great,” Lin Yiren said happily, and kissed Yang Chen on tiptoe.

Marshall was stunned for a few seconds and then chased after them again. He still wanted to hear Yang Chen talk about the shortcomings of his cooking.

At this time, Xin Rong Ji’s boss, Li Mao, and manager, Zhao Kang, were talking to a few people.

Seeing Marshall coming down, Zhao Kang quickly waved and greeted him: “Chef, come here quickly. The Michelin judging panel is here to rate our restaurant and you.”

As Yang Chen expected, the Michelin judging panel has a strange relationship with Xin Rong Ji.

They will now rate Xin Rong Ji as three-star, and go to Tang Pavilion tonight or tomorrow noon to rate it as two-star. In the future, Dragon Country [China] will only have one three-star restaurant, Xin Rong Ji.

Marshall quickly ran over to greet the people on the judging panel.

Boss Li Mao recognized Yang Chen, and a look of shock appeared on his face.

“Boss Yang, why are you here?” Li Mao asked.

Yang Chen: “I heard that President Li has a new three-star chef here, so my girlfriend and I came to try his skills.”

Zhao Kang: “President Li, who is this?”

Li Mao: “He is Tang Pavilion’s boss, Yang Chen.”

Zhao Kang was shocked and shook hands with Yang Chen with an awkward smile.

Yang Chen said with a smile: “Manager Zhao is too polite. You guys are busy, I’ll just watch the fun. Looking at President Li’s happy expression, Xin Rong Ji must have retained its three-star rating.”

Li Mao laughed and said, “Good luck, good luck. Thanks to Mr. Marshall’s arrival, our restaurant retained its three-star rating without any danger.”

The people on the judging panel immediately announced in public that Xin Rong Ji had obtained the next year’s three-star rating and issued a certificate.

It seems that they are well prepared, even carrying the certificate with them.

Li Mao happily raised the certificate and announced loudly: “I am very happy today. To celebrate Xin Rong Ji’s continued Michelin three-star rating, the entire venue is half price today at noon!”

The guests immediately applauded and cheered, congratulating Xin Rong Ji on its successful renewal.

The head of the judging panel, Leo Lubis, said to Yang Chen: “Mr. Yang, hello, I am the head of the Dragon Country [Chinese] judging panel. It’s very unfortunate to meet you today, it’s very unexpected. However, we still hope that Mr. Yang will pretend that he hasn’t seen us and not let Tang Pavilion deliberately put on a good show for us. We need to see the most authentic side of Tang Pavilion, not only the sanitary environment, but also the service of the waiters, the state of the guests, the chef’s skills, etc. If you notify them to prepare in advance to deal with our inspection, we will deduct points as appropriate. If this leads to Tang Pavilion not being able to obtain a high rating, the responsibility lies with you.”

Yang Chen: “You don’t need to pretend, haven’t you already decided to downgrade Tang Pavilion?”

Leo Lubis had a really good attitude and asked with a smile without changing his expression: “Mr. Yang, what do you mean by this? I don’t understand? Are you questioning the fairness of our Michelin?”

Yang Chen: “Manager Zhao just told me that Tang Pavilion will be downgraded soon, and Xin Rong Ji will become the only Michelin three-star restaurant in mainland Dragon Country [China]. He even set the time, tonight or tomorrow noon, which coincides with what Mr. Leo Lubis just said.”

Zhao Kang was shocked and dodged his eyes, not daring to look at anyone.

Boss Li Mao glared at him angrily and blamed him: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Zhao Kang: “I… I didn’t know he was the boss of Tang Pavilion. I…”

Li Mao immediately interrupted: “Shut up! Get out!”

Zhao Kang quickly turned and walked away.

Yang Chen: “President Li, there’s no need to pretend at this time. I want to hear you say one thing, did you bribe them to deliberately downgrade my Tang Pavilion?”

Li Mao quickly denied: “That’s not true, President Yang, don’t talk nonsense.”

Yang Chen: “If you admit it frankly, I will admire you as a man. What kind of man are you if you dare to do it but don’t dare to admit it? You guys say, were you bribed by them? As long as you confess honestly, I will give you a chance to turn over a new leaf. If you are not honest, this only chance will be gone.”

Leo Lubis and others were afraid and did not dare to speak.

Li Mao continued to quibble: “President Yang, what you said is meaningless! Everyone is running their business based on their own abilities, why do you have to smear me? Our three-star rating was rated by the judging panel in strict accordance with the rules, why do you want to deprive us of it?”

Yang Chen: “If I acquire the Michelin Group, can I deprive you of your rating?”

“Haha…” Li Mao laughed.

The people around him also laughed.

The boss of Tang Pavilion must be very rich, everyone agrees on this.

But what kind of existence is the Michelin Group?

With a market value of 30 billion US dollars, it is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world. Ordinary people can’t bear to use expensive tires. No matter how many lifetimes a restaurant owner lives, it is impossible to acquire such a large group.

Leo Lubis: “Mr. Yang, you may not know our group very well. Our group, in addition to…”

Yang Chen immediately interrupted: “I don’t need you to give me popular science [a simplified explanation of a complex topic], just say whether you admit it or not.”

Leo Lubis: “How can I admit something I haven’t done?”

Yang Chen: “I only need what Zhao Kang said. As for whether I’m wronging you, I don’t care.”

After speaking, Yang Chen called Yu Shishi.

Yu Shishi: “Hello, Mr. Yang, what’s the matter?”

Yang Chen: “Call the Michelin Group and tell them to cancel the judging qualifications of Leo Lubis and his team and permanently blacklist Xin Rong Ji. Tang Pavilion doesn’t need to be reviewed in the future and will automatically receive a permanent three-star rating.”

Yu Shishi: “Okay, I’ll do it right away.”

Li Mao became nervous, looking like he wasn’t joking.

Could it be that he really acquired Michelin?

Leo Lubis and others also looked at each other, and they could clearly see panic in each other’s eyes.

Li Mao smiled and tentatively asked: “President Yang, are you not acting? Did you really acquire the Michelin Group?”

Yang Chen: “Just check the latest equity change announcement of the Michelin Group.”

Li Mao felt it made sense and quickly took out his phone to check.

Others also quickly took out their phones to check the latest equity change of the Michelin Group.

The Michelin Group just released an equity change announcement, and they quickly clicked to see it.

Many people don’t know French, and their Eagle language [English] is not very good, but they can see 67%, etc.

“The announcement says that a person from Dragon Country [China] named Yang Chen acquired 67% of the Michelin Group and became the controlling shareholder of the group.”

“Could this be him?”

“Foreigners write names differently from our habits. They put the first name first and the last name last. According to their writing method, this boss’s Dragon Country [Chinese] name should be Yang Chen.”

“That must be him. He just called someone to contact Michelin, so it must be right.”

“Damn! The boss is the boss. In order to keep Tang Pavilion’s three-star rating, he actually spent more than 100 billion to acquire 67% of Michelin’s equity. Now he absolutely controls Michelin. His words are the imperial decree. He can decide what to do without consulting anyone.”

…

The diners cast envious and admiring glances at Yang Chen. The way rich people do things is too simple, so simple that it is shocking.

Li Mao slowly raised his head, looking at Yang Chen with a shocked + suspicious expression.

“You spent money to acquire 67% of Michelin’s equity in order to keep Tang Pavilion’s star rating?” Li Mao questioned.

Yang Chen: “Can’t I? It’s not very expensive. In the future, I can give whoever I want three stars, and I can also control the world’s second largest tire company. Isn’t that great?”

Li Mao: “It’s good, but how can you have so much money? My Xin Rong Ji opened many years earlier than Tang Pavilion, and I only have a few hundred million assets. How can you have more than 100 billion?”

Yang Chen: “You don’t need to know this.”

At this time, the Michelin Secretary of the Board called Leo Lubis.

Secretary: “Mr. Lubis, I am now formally notifying you that you and your team have been immediately suspended by the company due to work style issues. Please return to headquarters immediately for investigation without any delay. In addition, take back your three-star rating certificate for Xin Rong Ji and notify them that Xin Rong Ji has been permanently blacklisted by Michelin. Do you understand?”

Leo Lubis was stunned for a few seconds, then quickly asked: “Miss Secretary, can I ask why?”

Secretary: “The new controlling shareholder of the group, Mr. Yang’s secretary, personally issued the order. There is no need to have a reason. Just do what I said.”

Leo Lubis finally gave up. Yang Chen really acquired 67% of the Michelin Group’s equity.

“Okay, Miss Secretary, I know what to do,” Leo Lubis said decadently.

Hanging up the phone, Leo Lubis quickly bowed to Yang Chen and said: “Mr. Yang, I know I was wrong, please be more tolerant and give me a chance to turn over a new leaf. Please. Come, everyone, quickly return the money you received to President Li.”

After speaking, all the members of the judging panel took out the checks and stuffed them into Li Mao’s hands.

Good guy, this is a stolen goods and caught in the act, there is no way to quibble.

However, even if they take the initiative to return the stolen money and apologize and admit their mistakes, it is already too late.

Yang Chen gave them a chance just now, but they missed the only chance.

It’s too late to admit your mistakes and beg for mercy now!

Yang Chen: “I gave you a chance just now, but you didn’t want it. Do what the Secretary of the Board told you to do.”

After speaking, Yang Chen put his arm around Lin Yiren and left.

Leo Lubis bowed to Yang Chen again, and then said loudly to his companions: “Take back Xin Rong Ji’s three-star rating certificate and permanently blacklist Xin Rong Ji! Then follow me back to headquarters to report and accept the headquarters investigation.”

Li Mao panicked and quickly chased after Yang Chen.

“President Yang, President Yang, please stay, please stay. Let’s talk in my office. Please, please,” Li Mao said very humbly.

Yang Chen: “If you had admitted that you bribed them just now, I would have really given you a chance. After all, with your Xin Rong Ji as an opponent, Tang Pavilion can always have motivation. If even you can’t get a rating, in the future the entire continent [China] will only have Tang Pavilion as a three-star brand. We will have a feeling of loneliness, which is so boring. Unfortunately, you dare to do it but don’t dare to admit it, which is too disappointing for me.”

Li Mao: “It’s my fault, my fault. I apologize to President Yang, please be generous and give me another chance.”

Yang Chen ignored him and sent Lin Yiren to the car.

At this time, Marshall ran over and said: “President Yang, can I go to Tang Pavilion to work? I am a Michelin three-star chef, so naturally I have to work in a Michelin three-star restaurant. In addition, I would like to ask the master who can make black truffle steamed eggs without any air holes. I can make concessions in terms of salary, I only need half price, as long as President Yang is willing to take me in.”

Yang Chen: “You are actually pretty good, but your EQ [emotional intelligence] is a bit lacking. You have to cultivate your EQ well in the future. Okay, I’ll give you a chance. You can go directly to Tang Pavilion to report, and I will say hello there.”

Marshall: “Thank you, President Yang. Don’t worry, I will definitely not let you down and will definitely do well in Tang Pavilion.”

Yang Chen nodded with a smile and said, “Well, I’m optimistic about you. I’m leaving.”

After speaking, Yang Chen got into his car and drove away one after another with Lin Yiren.

Li Mao looked at the rear of Yang Chen’s car and sighed angrily.

“Mr. Marshall, our contract has not expired, how can you just leave?” Li Mao questioned.

Marshall: “Our contract is very clear, I work in the Michelin three-star restaurant Xin Rong Ji. Now Xin Rong Ji is not only not three-star, but also permanently blacklisted by Michelin, which means that your restaurant does not meet the contract conditions and you are the first to breach the contract. Why can’t I leave?”

Li Mao: “Damn! This also works? If you are so unreasonable, I will sue you.”

Marshall: “No problem, you can sue me, I will actively respond to the lawsuit. I’m leaving, bye bye. Oh, by the way, my salary should be paid to me on time, otherwise I will apply for arbitration, and if necessary, I will apply for the embassy to intervene and help.”

After speaking, Marshall went in to change clothes and left.

Li Mao gritted his teeth in anger and punched the pillar next to him with his fist.

At this time, the diners in the store also took action.

“It’s been permanently blacklisted by Michelin, isn’t it even worse than a one-star? Then what are we eating for? I’m not eating, I’m returning my card, and I won’t come again in the future!”

“Return the card! Return the card! This restaurant has no grade at all, who would want to come to eat?”

“You’re courting death, isn’t it good to compete properly? You have to play tricks. Now it’s good, you’re lifting a stone and hitting your own foot. A good three-star restaurant has withdrawn from the historical stage.”

“The boss is amazing, one phone call can determine the life and death of a high-end restaurant. I wish I had this ability, it’s hard to imagine how cool that would be.”

…

Watching the customers rush to the cashier to return their cards, Li Mao was so sad that he was about to cry.

You can’t have bad intentions, otherwise you will definitely suffer the consequences.

I originally wanted to make Xin Rong Ji the only one in the mainland Dragon Country [China], but I messed it up, and it was a mess.

However, after all, he is the owner of a three-star restaurant that has been in business for many years, and Li Mao is definitely unwilling to accept his fate like this.

He has accumulated some contacts and resources over the years of running a restaurant.

Now is the time to take them out and use them.

Li Mao quickly shouted loudly: “Dear guests, please be safe and don’t be impatient. Don’t panic, everyone. I guarantee you that Xin Rong Ji’s three-star rating will be successfully obtained. Give me a few days, and if I fail to fulfill my promise, it will not be too late for everyone to return their cards. Okay?”

The customers didn’t give him any face.

“Don’t lie to us! If we don’t return it today, you’ll run away overnight, who will we return it to?”

“Yes! If you can really get a three-star rating, we can come back later to apply for a card. Now you must give us a refund, otherwise we will call the police.”

“You have offended the boss of Tang Pavilion, and you still want to get a three-star rating smoothly? You spent money to bribe these people to deliberately downgrade Tang Pavilion, do you think people have no temper? Besides, people spent more than 100 billion to control Michelin, and they will definitely make good use of their privileges. Why should he reissue a three-star rating to Xin Rong Ji?”

“Don’t talk nonsense with him, return the card quickly! If he doesn’t return it, call the police directly! Why is there so much nonsense to say to him!”

…