414: Responsible for customers

In fact, they didn't even need them; many people already knew the whole story.

It was clear that Feihuang Restaurant was being cyberbullied, and Qian Ziyong, the owner of Feihuang Restaurant, decisively shut it down.

How could this be allowed?

They couldn't do without Feihuang Restaurant!

Some people asked, "Isn't there still Qier Waimai Platform?"

Anyone with a brain knew that Qier Waimai Platform copied Feihuang Restaurant.

Now, competing with Phoenix Restaurant Takeout, Qier Waimai Platform was selling its food very cheaply.

Once Phoenix Restaurant Takeout closed, Qier Waimai Platform would have no competitors and would definitely raise its prices.

After that, the quality of the dishes would get worse and worse, until they were only slightly better than ordinary takeout.

It was like when takeout platforms used to compete with each other, offering high salaries to riders and various coupons, practically letting customers eat for free.

And now?

After losing their competitors, the platforms' commissions kept getting higher, and the delivery riders' wages kept getting lower.

To make money, those restaurants had to use cheaper ingredients and had to set their prices higher.

Feihuang Restaurant and Qier Waimai Platform were different.

When Feihuang Restaurant first started, it had no competitors, and their prices were already like this.

Even with competitors, their prices remained the same.

Even the two-hundred-yuan tableware fee had not changed.

Some people on the internet criticized Feihuang Restaurant for this and that, but no one ever accused President Qian of being heartless!

Because even the haters couldn't find a valid reason to accuse Qian Ziyong of being heartless!

...

The next morning, an event hall was packed with people.

Liu Gaoda knew many people would come, so he specifically chose an extra-large event hall, removed all the tables, and replaced them with chairs.

However, he didn't expect even more people than he had anticipated; the entire event hall was packed, and there were still many people outside.

Besides reporters and Feihuang Restaurant staff, most were customers of Phoenix Restaurant Takeout.

Xiang Yang brought a professional photographer to live stream for Liu Gaoda.

Liu Gaoda's live stream already had many viewers early on.

On the high stage, Liu Gaoda looked haggard.

"Everyone..." Liu Gaoda's voice choked, "Thank you for coming to our Feihuang Restaurant's apology and farewell conference!"

Ye Xiaoqin, beside him, was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Liu Gaoda handed her the microphone, and Ye Xiaoqin took it, tears streaming down her face as she said, "The scenes of the past are like yesterday."

"I still remember when President Qian asked me to come to Shen City to open Feihuang Restaurant."

"He said he wanted to provide the healthiest food in Shen City, said that the takeout in Shen City wasn't good, and that if we were going to do Feihuang, we would do it the best!"

"During Feihuang Restaurant's lowest point, we lost two hundred million a month."

"It was President Qian who told me to persevere; when I almost broke down several times because business was so bad, it was President Qian who encouraged me."

"Later, President Qian even invited President Liu to Feihuang Restaurant to open up procurement channels for Feihuang Restaurant."

The Feihuang Restaurant staff below the stage, recalling the past, many of them shed tears.

Feihuang Restaurant went from having no customers to having more and more, from quiet to bustling with customers, too busy to handle.

These were all things they had experienced firsthand.

They had all walked this path with Feihuang Restaurant.

But today, it was time to say goodbye.

Ye Xiaoqin's tears flowed uncontrollably: "As the general manager of Feihuang Restaurant, I am sorry to all the employees, and I am sorry for the trust our customers placed in me."

"The one I'm most sorry for is President Qian..."

As she spoke, Ye Xiaoqin could no longer speak; she covered her mouth, her eyes red, her emotions out of control, tears streaming down her face...

The viewers in the live stream were all silent.

They could understand how difficult it was to start Feihuang Restaurant.

Liu Gaoda took the microphone from Ye Xiaoqin's hand: "Everyone, Feihuang Restaurant is officially ceasing operations. Thank you all for your continuous support."

"Here, on behalf of all employees of Feihuang Restaurant, I apologize to everyone who has been harmed because of Feihuang Restaurant!"

"Please believe that Feihuang Restaurant entered Shen City with good intentions, to provide customers with the healthiest and most affordable food."

"The harm you experienced was something Feihuang Restaurant did not anticipate..."

Liu Gaoda bowed on the stage...

The Feihuang Restaurant employees below the stage also bowed to Liu Gaoda.

They had worked so many shifts, and Feihuang Restaurant was the only place where the higher-ups served as their drivers and worked as delivery riders in the store.

Liu Gaoda deserved respect, and they respected him from the bottom of their hearts.

The customers present fell silent.

There were countless people present, but at that moment, everyone could hear their own breathing.

Qian Ziyong, watching the video in his villa, fell silent when he saw this scene.

Was he being a bit selfish by closing Feihuang Restaurant for his own personal gain?

These Feihuang Restaurant employees didn't seem to want severance pay but truly recognized Feihuang Restaurant.

Qian Ziyong suddenly felt a sense of responsibility.

He wasn't alone now.

Or rather, he had never been alone.

He suddenly realized that, unknowingly, he had taken on responsibility on his shoulders.

If he caused losses and harmed the public's interests for the sake of losing money, wouldn't he be worse than a pig or a dog as a boss?

He already had enough money!

It had always been the employees helping him lose money.

The villa he was currently living in was where the employees had helped him lose money.

"Phew..." Qian Ziyong exhaled a cloudy breath.

For the first time, he realized he couldn't be willful; one decision of his could affect countless people.

Thousands of Feihuang Restaurant employees might lose their jobs because of him.

Many people in Shen City would eat unhealthy, greasy, and salty takeout because of him.

...

Qian Ziyong silently continued watching.

Liu Gaoda stood on the stage, remaining bowed for a long time.

Only when the employees below the stage straightened up did he straighten himself.

When Liu Gaoda straightened up, everyone saw that his face was covered in tears, and his chubby face was soaked.

He loved Feihuang Restaurant deeply!

"Feihuang Restaurant will not close down, will not cease operations!" Someone shouted loudly.

Countless customers raised their fists: "That's right! Why should Feihuang Restaurant cease operations?"

"Why should it cease operations?"

"If anyone should cease, it's those two takeout platforms!"

"That's cyberbullying, intentionally slandering Feihuang Restaurant!"

"Don't stop!"

"Don't stop!"

"Feihuang, don't stop!"

...

Countless customers shouted loudly.

The viewers in the live stream also uniformly said: "Don't stop!"

"Feihuang, don't stop!"

"Feihuang, don't stop!"

...

Countless viewers poured into the live stream, quickly surpassing three million.

One customer raised his hand, indicating he had something to say.

There was a microphone prepared for reporters at the scene, and Liu Gaoda motioned for a staff member to hand it over.

The customer said: "I've heard countless voices slandering Feihuang Restaurant, but I have always believed in Feihuang and supported Feihuang!"

"President Liu, I don't know about other things, like GDP, or the survival of other restaurants; I don't care about that."

"I only care if I can eat healthy food for the money I spend!"

"No matter who Feihuang Restaurant may have wronged, it has always been fair to its customers! Fair to countless customers!"

"I chose Feihuang Restaurant not because of good advertising or cheap prices, but because of health, and because of Feihuang Restaurant's responsible attitude toward its customers!"