Chapter 481: Chapter 481: The Dog Boss is Back
After finishing breakfast, Chen Jianhai walked out of the Lion Lake Castle and looked towards the direction of Emerald Lake.
The soft morning light spread over the emerald green lake surface, with white waterfowl skimming low over the water, landing on the carousel in the center of the lake.
From a distance, the carousel looked like a hexagonal golden honey jar, as if opening the lid would reveal a handful of sweet honey soft candies.
"I never thought mermaids would enjoy playing with this kind of thing," Chen Jianhai murmured to himself.
With the Lion Lake Castle Hotel officially entering its operational phase, the amusement park project smoothly opened, and the lake's water sprite carousel completed, the Lion Lake Castle Hotel in Zaomen had made a fairly good start. The rest could develop gradually.
Currently, there were three matters that Chen Jianhai was particularly concerned about.
The first was the issue of the island sanatorium.
Although Su Jie was now serving as the secretary-general of the Zaomen Shell Hotel Industry Association, he had been in charge of the sanatorium's move to Xiaomajia Island. Over the past year, he had been continuously following up on the matter.
According to their conversation a couple of days ago, the person in charge of the Huoxiang City Sanatorium would soon arrive in Nanjiang. Once the final inspection was passed, the sanatorium would formally sign a contract with the Jasmine Hotel to accommodate their recuperating patients.
The second matter was the operation of Feng Di's Summer Momo Café.
After more than half a year of operation, the large comprehensive shopping mall on the island had been completed, and the Summer Momo Café was officially up and running.
Although Xu Bo had been helping him steer the ship in the catering sector, and Ruikeya had been assisting on the island, Chen Jianhai still needed to personally oversee and inquire about the profitability, customer flow, after-sales service, and product satisfaction to feel assured.
After all, the Summer Momo Café was a new venture and brand he was trying to develop, and he didn't want to invest tens of thousands of points only to see no return.
The third matter was the co-branded rights experience with Little Fortune God Beer Industry.
Previously, to deepen their friendship and promote cooperation, Chen Jianhai and Huang Baichuan had initiated a co-branded rights experience.
Apart from sharing customer rights and points, all events such as beverage exchange seminars and beer technology competitions organized by Little Fortune God would be designated to be hosted at the Langai Hotel.
Just a few days ago, Huang Baichuan called Chen Jianhai.
At the beginning of next month, Little Fortune God planned to host a beverage industry exchange and discussion conference, lasting ten days, with the venue selection, dining, and accommodation all to be held at the Langai Hotel.
Upon hearing this news, Chen Jianhai felt more excitement than surprise.
Although he currently owned three hotels, apart from internal annual meetings, he had never undertaken such a large-scale event project.
He had no significant ideas about the conference process, venue setup, and catering needs, and most importantly, Huang Baichuan hadn't mentioned specific budget arrangements over the phone.
Therefore, Chen Jianhai had a hotel employee buy him a high-speed train ticket, and he directly returned to Nanjiang.
...
"Home really is the best!!"
As soon as he got off the train, Chen Jianhai felt the familiar sea breeze, and his whole body felt comfortable.
The local environment shapes the local people.
Having grown up by the sea, Chen Jianhai loved the feeling of the moist sea breeze mixed with waves hitting his skin.
Although Zaomen was economically developed and the city was growing rapidly, the climate was really too dry.
Every night, Chen Jianhai had to use a humidifier, or else his nose would become dry, itchy, and uncomfortable.
At the exit, Huang Baichuan had already driven to the underground parking lot pick-up area to wait for him.
"Boss Chen, it's been a while since I've seen you."
In the car, Huang Baichuan spoke while driving, "It seems like since your Zaomen Lion Lake Castle Hotel opened, I haven't seen you."
Chen Jianhai laughed, "Brother Huang, if you count it that way, it's been over two months since we last met."
Huang Baichuan was taken aback, "Only two months? It feels like half a year."
"Last time we danced together at the Joyful KTV was just after the New Year, and now it's almost late autumn. Time really flies!"
"How's your Zaomen hotel doing? I heard there's a haunted room?"
Chen Jianhai was furious, "Nonsense! Who dares to have ghosts these days? It's all just rumors."
"You know me, I, Chen Jianhai, always do legitimate business."
Huang Baichuan rolled his eyes at Chen Jianhai, "I think you're the most illegitimate person!"
"What do you want to eat? I'm treating tonight."
Chen Jianhai said, "Then let's go to our usual spot, the Royal Court Elegance!"
After a hearty meal and some small talk, the two got down to business.
Although Huang Baichuan and Chen Jianhai had previously discussed cooperation, strictly speaking, the Langai Hotel wasn't very suitable for hosting such large conferences.
Typically, hotels that host such large conferences are mostly business hotels, while the Langai Hotel is a resort hotel.
In terms of style and atmosphere, it didn't quite fit the theme of the conference.
But among the five-star hotels in Nanjiang, only Chen Jianhai's Langai Hotel had the newest renovations and was a platinum-level five-star hotel, with a consistently good social reputation, hotel popularity, and image.
Although Huang Baichuan hadn't stayed at the Langai Hotel, the hotel's annual meeting had left a deep impression on him.
The hotel's internal facilities, professional conference equipment, venue size, comfort, and confidentiality were all very good.
In terms of dining, last year's Nanjiang City Hotel Industry Association Chef Competition was won by the Langai Hotel team, so the culinary skills were naturally top-notch.
After comprehensive consideration, Huang Baichuan still chose the Langai Hotel as the conference cooperation hotel, entrusting everything to the hotel's management and responsibility.
"Brother Huang, you can rest assured, your matters are my matters, I'll make sure everything is done beautifully," Chen Jianhai said very seriously.
From what Huang Baichuan said, this beverage industry exchange and discussion conference would not only include well-known domestic beer manufacturers and entrepreneurs but also representatives from some foreign beverage companies. If they could host this conference well, it would be a great opportunity to expand their reputation and enhance the hotel's influence.
"I have absolute confidence in your hotel, but there's something I need to discuss with you," Huang Baichuan said.
"What is it?" Chen Jianhai asked curiously.
"Souvenirs," Huang Baichuan said. "Such conferences usually give attendees souvenirs from the organizers."
"We've hosted several conferences before, and the company's souvenirs have been distributed in several batches, with too much repetition."
"This time, we want to create a new batch of souvenirs, preferably something representative, with local characteristics of Nanjiang."
"Boss Chen, do you have any ideas in this regard?"
Souvenirs...
Chen Jianhai's first thought was his hotel's souvenirs.
The Langai Hotel's crystal dolphin, the Jasmine Hotel's golden jellyfish, the Lion Lake Castle's lion plush toy, any of these would make good souvenirs.
But to have something with Nanjiang characteristics... that was a bit difficult.
Chen Jianhai frowned slightly, deep in thought, when suddenly he slapped his thigh:
"Yes!"
"I do know a souvenir that represents Nanjiang."
Huang Baichuan was pleasantly surprised, "What is it?"
"Fish baskets!"
...
Although the old saying goes, "Good wine needs no bush," the alley on Xiaomajia Island was really too deep.
Surrounded by the sea on all sides, encircling a small island, without promotion, not only would selling things be difficult, but people might not even know such a place existed.
Chen Jianhai had always been thinking about the small fish baskets from Xiaomajia Island.
After the development of the Golden Jellyfish Lake, he had told the shirtless old man to make 500 small fish baskets as a backup, and if they didn't sell, he would buy them all himself.
But just a few days after saying that, he got caught up with the affairs of the Zaomen Lion Lake Castle Hotel and hadn't been back since, so he still didn't know how the fish baskets were selling.
Taking advantage of the current situation, he decided to go to Xiaomajia Island to discuss the fish basket matter.
After briefly explaining the situation to Huang Baichuan, Chen Jianhai said, "So, in the next couple of days, I'll go to Xiaomajia Island and bring back a small fish basket for you to see. If you think it's good, we can discuss further."
Huang Baichuan nodded, "Alright!"
...
Back at the hotel, Chen Jianhai first made arrangements for the upcoming conference work, delegating some specific tasks, and then immediately set off by boat to Xiaomajia Island.
On the autumn island, the sky was a deep blue, stretching endlessly, merging with the ocean, making one's mood feel bright and open.
"Ah oh........." Chen Jianhai leaned on the cruise ship's railing, shouting into the sea breeze, but after just a couple of shouts, he choked on the sea breeze, coughing with a red face.
"Boss, have some water!" Seeing this, a cruise ship employee quickly handed over a glass of water.
Chen Jianhai gulped down a few mouthfuls, then pinched his earlobes, finally feeling the coughing fit pass.
"Boss, we'll be able to dock in about 10 minutes," the cruise ship employee said.
"Go tell the crew to drop me off at the island's small dock first, then you can go to the hotel's Bulb Dock," Chen Jianhai instructed.
It had been so long since he last returned, he missed the shirtless old man.
Today, he would give him a surprise, a meeting at the dock!
"Toot toot..." The cruise ship's horn sounded in the distance as the boat docked, and Chen Jianhai stepped off with lively steps.
"Eh? Where is everyone?"
Chen Jianhai looked around; the spot where the shirtless old man usually sat was empty, but the islanders on the dock, busy with their boats and cargo, excitedly rushed up:
"Gourd Boy, you're back!!"
"Brother Hai, have you eaten? If not, come to my place, my dad caught a boatload of fish this morning, fresh!"
"How long are you staying this time? Is Little Lang coming back with you?"
"Yeah, it's been a while since you last came, stay a few more days this time!"
"Hahaha, alright! Have your dad make me some fish soup!" Chen Jianhai said with a big smile.
"Sure! Don't forget to come over for dinner later!" The young islander happily took out his phone, seemingly telling his family to set an extra place, then hurried off to tend to his boat.
"By the way, where's the old man?" Chen Jianhai asked curiously.
"The island chief? He's at the Jellyfish Lake," an islander replied.
Jellyfish Lake?
Chen Jianhai looked towards the northern mountain range of Xiaomajia Island, waved goodbye to everyone, and then turned to walk towards Jellyfish Lake.
Counting the days, it had been almost half a year since Chen Jianhai last set foot on the island.
Now, suddenly returning, he was surprised to see how much the island had changed!
The once quiet and leisurely small island seemed to have awakened from a long slumber, developing with a new vitality.
Under the shady coconut trees, on the soft sandy beaches, on the blue waves near the shore, and on the long benches of the Starlight Coastal Road, tourists dressed in bright and cool clothes could be seen everywhere.
Although lively, it wasn't noisy.
What surprised Chen Jianhai even more was that he saw many tourists holding blue-green Summer Momo coffee cups!
And from the looks of it, they were enjoying them.
"Selling pretty well!"
Chen Jianhai watched a young couple approaching, each holding a Summer Momo, and felt a bit more at ease.
Walking around, Chen Jianhai didn't discover much else, but he indirectly conducted a market survey on Summer Momo coffee, and the results were quite pleasing!
Unconsciously, Chen Jianhai had already walked up the northern mountain range.
Passing through the stone steps, when he reached the three-meter-high mountain break ape path, Chen Jianhai was stunned.
Several muscular, tattooed experts were swiftly moving across the ape path, kicking left and right, occasionally performing a dyno dynamic jump!
The previously prepared safety measures were nowhere to be seen on these guys; from below, it looked like a bunch of agile big monkeys moving around.
Below the ape path, many tourists were taking photos, with quite a few eagerly waiting in line, ready to go up and play once these guys came down.
"Wow... isn't this just asking for trouble!!"
Even though the ape path was only three meters high, the rock wall was vertical, and below were rocks and cement. A slight misstep could lead to broken arms or legs, and if it were more serious, Chen Jianhai didn't even dare to think about it.
Chen Jianhai's eyelids twitched as he quickly rushed to the side of the ape path.
"Dog Boss, when did you get back!!!"
The islander in charge of managing the ape path saw Chen Jianhai and immediately showed a happy expression, blurting out "Dog Boss" without thinking.
"..." Chen Jianhai was speechless.
Those three simple words instantly brought him back to the passionate days of building the island.
The scariest part was that when Chen Jianhai heard those words, he felt an indescribable sense of familiarity and comfort, feeling completely at ease.
It was as if the setting sun was drunk, and so was he.