Chapter 16 Chapter two

Two weeks later, when I went to work in the morning, Mina asked me: "'Louie's takeaway ice cream is on sale, have you heard?" Mina said that she browsed the official website of "Louis" last night and found that the new product information column was updated. Mina took out a folded paper from the collar of her kimono: "I'll print out the information on the official website, do you want to read it?" I opened the paper, and a gorgeous title and image was reflected against a stylish dark brown background.There are several pieces of ice cream discs in cups, and there are illustrations detailing the flavors of ice cream on the side, which seems to be a rather novel design.

"There are several flavors of ice cream, and the surface of each ice cream is decorated with a disc shaped like a lid of chocolate. The chocolate is moderately thick and can be easily cut with a spoon. The filling is praline and caramel syrup. So everything will flow out.” There is also a layer of fruit puree inside the ice cream. The aroma and bitterness of chocolate, the sweetness of ice cream, and the sour taste of fruit puree are brewed to create the ultimate deliciousness. There are a variety of flavors to choose from, and the price of one is 350 yen, which is about the same as a cake. It seems that it should be their main product of the season.

"However, I am a little concerned about one thing." Mina looked at the second piece of paper and said, "The design on the surface of the chocolate..." At this moment, the employee-only door opened, and a female employee shouted towards the store: "Miss Ayabe, Mr. Kuga is looking for you, please go to the office." Because of my father, I am very close to Mr. Masafumi Kuga, the owner of the Kobe branch, and our two families even ate together when we were young.What is it that you are not looking for your father but for me?I returned the paper in my hand to Mina, and walked to the backcourt.

Mr. Kuga pointed to the sofa in the office and asked me to sit down.With a baby face, he looks very young, but in fact he is in his forties and the father of three children. Mr. Hisaga wanted to open the Kobe branch. "I want to open a store with a more stylish atmosphere than the main store." With this in mind, he decided not to open a store in Kyoto Prefecture after several discussions with the big boss, his father. Department stores set up counters in food courts, but chose to open a branch in Kobe. At the beginning, the owner of the main store had deep doubts about deliberately choosing Kobe, the birthplace of West Point, to open a branch, but when the former big boss said: "Young people want to do what they want, let them go!" Mr. Kuga is in charge.

Mr. Kuga likes to add some gorgeousness of foreign confectionery to the creativity of wagashi, but it is difficult to accept this trendy style in a century-old store that has been passed down from the Edo period.Moreover, the style of a century-old store will deter young customers, so opening a branch is the best choice.It should be said that someone has to take the lead.Recently, every time I see the idea of ​​combining wagashi with pastries, I feel that Mr. Kuga, who had such an idea 20 years ago, is really a forerunner. He was the one who promoted his father to be the workshop manager of the Kobe branch.

After I said hello, I sat on the sofa opposite, and Mr. Jiuhe brought me a cup of tea: "Miss Mingli, is it convenient for you to go out with me now? I was thinking, let's go to the underground food court of the department store in the morning. Then we talked over lunch." "But now Mina is the only one left to take care of the store..." "I will ask the people in the office to support me, because I want to discuss with you something about the store." This is the first time I have encountered such a thing since I worked in Fuyingtang.Perhaps seeing the doubts in my heart, Mr. Kuga smiled and said, "It may take some time, so let's chat slowly while having a delicious lunch!"

"I see. Then I'll go and change first." "Thank you for meeting me in front of the store later." I really don't understand why we have to go to the underground food court. When we arrived at the department store, their business personnel were already waiting there.From their conversation, it seems that Mr. Kuga intends to let Fukusakodo's wagashi enter the underground food court of the department store in Kobe. The place where the cabinet is set up is a special exhibition area where a famous store enters every week, and it is also the focus of the underground food street.

The special exhibition area seems to be popular with guests who like to pursue early adopters. It seems that the reason why Fuyingtang holds a new product design competition is probably for this reason. We also visited several other department stores. Mr. Kuga asked me about my impression of the various underground food streets, and asked me "Which kind of dessert is the most popular among young people nowadays?", "Who is the most popular chef recently?" ?” and the like.I said that Mr. Jiuga, who is an expert in this field, should know better than me. Unexpectedly, Mr. Jiuga said with a serious face that he wanted to hear the opinions of young people, and he also wanted to use creativity and fruits to make the name of Fukuodo No.

After visiting the underground food street, Mr. Kuga took me to a tofu restaurant on the Sannomiyahama side for lunch.The soup leaf boiled, tofu siu mai, soup tofu in this store are all delicious, as well as soy milk shabu-shabu pork.Delicious Japanese food makes me very satisfied. At first, Mr. Kuga didn't mention the matter he wanted to discuss with me, but asked me about my work situation and "do you want to stay in the future?" and other things while eating delicious food. When I first started working at Fuyingtang, I really had the mentality of riding a donkey to find a horse, but later I gradually liked this job, and I no longer had the idea of ​​changing jobs.

Of course, I don't have the determination to dedicate my life to a wagashi shop.When I answered that I gradually liked this job, Mr. Kuga said, "I hope Miss Mingli can stay forever." "But as far as the front-line store work is concerned, the customers will feel more fresh with a new face..." "Not everything is a good thing if it's a change. Both Miss Mingli and Mina are very suitable for wearing kimonos, and they are also very decent in dealing with advances and retreats. The masters also praise you very much. I feel that with you, the store will be more glorious."

Is that so?I don't feel it.I thought no one was paying attention, but in fact others were watching secretly.If this is the case, then you can't be sloppy when looking at the store... Mr. Kuga changed the subject when the dessert yuzu jelly was served. "By the way, I heard that you are very familiar with the staff of 'Louis Chocolate Workshop'." "It's not very familiar! It's just an acquaintance." "Then do you often talk about desserts? For example, our products, or their products." "I can't say no, but it's just a casual chat." I straightened my back and asked a little nervously, "Did something happen?" "I want you to look at this." Mr. Jiuga took out two folders from his briefcase. When he opened them, it turned out that they were pictures of wagashi, and they were all new products that had not yet been placed in the display cabinet. At a glance, he knew that they were entries displayed in the competition venue. "These are new summer products, and they are also the works of young masters. The new style is different from the old masters, which is refreshing, isn't it?" "I think it's okay to cut stuffing for Valentine's Day, but these works feel very good!" "Since we decided to change, of course we should make people feel refreshed! Finally decided to adopt this." Mr. Hisaga is not referring to Mr. Miyoshi's work, but the simple shape of the stuffing wrapped in a ribbon-shaped renki, and the elegant lavender color is impressive.The cut surface is engraved with twill and wavy, inlaid with gold and silver, a total of eight colors of particles, the degree of luxury is eye-catching. "Are these granules Kopeito?" "No, it's not that hard. The powdered sugar is first solidified and then colored, so it has a wonderful feeling of melting in the mouth. Not only will it not destroy the characteristics of the practice, but it can also show a rich taste. Although I don't know the customer Can you accept it, but this work is indeed innovative.” I tried to imagine the feeling of the powdered sugar granules rolling on my tongue, the sweet granules gradually melted together with the soft texture... "Just the description makes me want to eat it!" "That's right? It's a pleasure to create a work that is better than expected." The new product is named "Yehua", which means shining flower, and it is designed based on fireworks. It not only fits the theme of summer, but also is excellent in terms of design and overall impression.Since it can be recognized by the main store and branches, the taste must be impeccable. As I flipped through the folder, I asked, "Just one new product? I see other works as well." "Do you think so too? I also think that there are several works that can be commercialized, such as this." Mr. Hisaga is referring to Mr. Miyoshi's work "Moonman".Since Mr. Kuga can take a look at it, it seems that Chef Nagamine is also interested in this work.If this is the case, it shows that this work has an eye-catching charm. "However, there is a problem with this work." Mr. Kuga took out a stack of colored photocopied papers from the last page of the folder, picked out a few of them and handed them to me. There are several disc-shaped, dark-colored chocolate rings lined up on the paper, which should be a bitter chocolate mousse cake.Although there are several surface designs, only one of them is enlarged. The surface of this chocolate is painted with three light green wavy curves, and a yellow circle floats above it. The circle is inlaid with silver particles, like stars in the dark night sky. The chocolate is also decorated with a curved orange peel.Such a way of expressing chain washing can be seen at a glance as the work of a skilled pastry chef. Mr. Kuga looked at me. "Because the three-dimensional and two-dimensional images are different, it cannot be said to be the same product, but don't you think the design of this chocolate is very similar to 'Moonman'?" "Really?" I deliberately pretended to be stupid: "I think such a design is quite common." "This is a product of 'Louis'. It should be the chocolate used in the ice cream that is scheduled to be released soon!" I tried my best to suppress the sound coming from the back of my throat.Could it be that Mina said, "I'm a little concerned about 'Louie's' ice cream." Is that what Mina was referring to?What exactly is going on?Could it be that Chef Changfeng copied Mr. Miyoshi's design?Not a random coincidence?My tone became cautious: "I don't think the chef of 'Louis' is the kind of villain who would copy someone else's work." "Even if the chef is not such a person, it may be done by another chef, and then the chef may refer to that person's proposal." "The idea of ​​the product should be done by Chef Changfeng himself." "Then how to explain this matter? It's like calculating the timing of our new product launch, rushing to launch this design first, isn't it? In this way, we will not be able to launch the 'Moonman'." "No one would compare wagashi with chocolate, not even the customers!" "But it can't be said that absolutely no one will do this. It's hard to predict what rumors and rumors will spread. After all, now that the Internet is developed, there are more people who post pictures on blogs and criticize them. Besides, our two stores are far apart. Not far away, it's hard to explain by chance." "I think it's impossible to do this because it's not far away, otherwise it would be easy to get caught, isn't it?" "Maybe it's a deliberate provocation! Want to hit us." My chest feels hot.Impossible, absolutely impossible, Chef Changfeng is not this kind of person.I tried my best to hold back my words, and asked, "If the design is really plagiarized, how can we remedy it? The other party is already preparing to launch this new product. Can we find any evidence of claim?" "I plan to investigate this matter. If the business opportunity is really leaked, the way of leaking must be completely blocked, otherwise the same thing will happen in the future. Miss Mingli, can I ask you to assist in the investigation?" "I'm not a detective." "It doesn't matter if you're not a detective. Not only do you need to understand desserts, but you also need to have some friendship with 'Louis' so that he won't be suspicious. Only Miss Mingli is the most suitable candidate, please." "That's why you invited me to dinner?" "Does my father know about this?" "I've already told him. But as the chief master, it's not easy to ask about this kind of thing. After all, it's sensitive." That being the case, I can't even say that Mr. Miyoshi asked Chef Changfeng to judge and supervise his works.What exactly was the deal between Mr. Miyoshi and Chef Nagamine when submitting the samples?What agreement?These are the parts that I don't know, so I have to check with Mr. Miyoshi in detail. When I got back to the store before 3:00 p.m., I first asked Mina about what I mentioned this morning, and sure enough, her doubts were the same as Mr. Hisaga's.That's it!what happened?Facing Mina who was frowning and puzzled, I could only respond perfunctorily. After a while, I walked around to the kitchen from the backcourt, waved at Mr. Miyoshi, and signaled him to come out.We walked out the back door together and showed him the photocopied paper in the shade of the building. "What's going on here?" Mr. Miyoshi didn't look surprised when he saw the picture on the paper, but just lowered his head and murmured, "There's nothing I can do about my work not being adopted." "I'm not asking you this, can you tell me the whole story? Mr. Nagaka of the branch store likes Mr. Miyoshi's works very much and wants to commercialize them, but when he sees the new product design of 'Louis', he thinks it is very similar to your work, so It cannot be released.” "Really?" Mr. Miyoshi stared in surprise, "I haven't heard of this." "This is just Mr. Jiuga's idea, and it hasn't been officially finalized yet. I think if this kind of thing didn't happen, he would definitely talk to you directly." Mr. Miyoshi bit his lip angrily. I took advantage of the victory and chased after him: "Please explain the whole story!" "I can't tell." "why?" "Because this is an agreement between me and Chef Changfeng. I'm sorry, if you want to know, just ask Chef Changfeng! Actually, I don't quite understand some things." It seems that there is an agreement between them that I don't know about.Asking Mr. Miyoshi to make more than 20 kinds of trial products, and asking him to keep his mouth shut, what is Chef Changfeng thinking? —Maybe I trust him too much.I suddenly thought so. Regarding Chef Changfeng’s character, his thoughts on desserts, and the philosophy of running a restaurant—I have never asked about these specific things, but I only occasionally consulted him about things, and he responded kindly, thinking that he is still a good person. That's all. "Louis Chocolate Factory" is different from Fuku Sakurado, regardless of customer base or turnover, these two points alone are completely different.If it works on the same principle, it will only end up as a tiger instead of an anti-dog.After all, the value of "Louis" may be negative for Fu Yingtang. Maybe I shouldn't have arranged for them to meet...