This was Min Congda's first time visiting the VIP rooms at Staples Center. He found that the VIP rooms here were not very luxurious.
It's a little lower quality than the VIP rooms in domestic luxury bathing centers. I don't know if it's because it was built earlier.
However, the price of tickets here is definitely not cheap. The starting price of a VIP room for a Clippers game is US$1,200 - it was US$1,000 before the price increase, which is equivalent to the per capita income of some poor African countries for a year.
If it's a Lakers game, especially some focus games, the tickets here are even more expensive, heading towards five figures.
As the general manager of the team, Min Congda had never watched a game or discussed business in the VIP room, which was a bit shameful when he thought about it.
So when being led to the private room by Anschutz's bodyguard, Min Congda tried his best to hold his chest up and raise his head, without squinting, pretending to be there often.
But he was uneasy in his heart, not because he was afraid of Anschutz. Min Congda was not afraid of any of these big boss capitalists.
What he was afraid of was the good news that the big boss wanted to tell him. Min Congda had been hit continuously recently, and Min Congda couldn't bear it anymore.
On the way, I heard Ada say that Anschutz is a famous sports investor in the United States.
Several professional teams in Los Angeles, such as the Lakers, Kings, Dodgers, and Galaxy all have his share investments, and he is truly the King of Los Angeles Sports.
Min Congda is particularly worried that Anschutz wants to invest in the Clippers and provide funds for the Clippers.
That really made his bankruptcy even worse, making it even more difficult, and he couldn't survive.
However, Min Congda thought for a while and thought: "If Anschutz really wants to invest in the Clippers, he should not go to me, but to Sterling. After all, I am only the general manager in power. Trin is the boss.”
After thinking this way, he felt much calmer. When he came to the VIP room, he immediately smelled an alluring fragrance.
"Wow, it smells so good. This VIP room is great. You can watch the game in there and have a big meal at the same time."
After entering the door, Min Congda saw Anschutz and the pizza, sandwiches, and roast chicken placed in front of Anschutz's table.
They are all hot and exude a strong fragrance.
Philip Anschutz has gray hair neatly combed back.
His face was pale and calm, with neat teeth and a slightly tired look on his face.
It is said to be the faint emptiness that comes after all desires are fulfilled.
It's the kind of expression that only appears on the faces of big capitalists and chaebols.
Ordinary people are tired to death just to make ends meet. How can they possibly feel the emptiness after such ultimate satisfaction?
Anschutz gestured to Min Congda, motioning him to sit down, and said, "There are still two pieces of steak that haven't been served. You can try the pizza first."
Min Congda happened to be a little hungry. He was never polite to these big bosses, let alone coy.
I'll just eat it if you tell me to. Is eating people soft-spoken? It's impossible. Apart from my little brother, I, Min Congda, have the toughest mouth.
"Pizza with matsutake mushrooms? Not bad, Mr. Anschutz's pizza is tasteful... Is this black caviar?"
Min Congda picked up the pizza and took a bite, and found that the ingredients used in this pizza were really luxurious.
The fungi used are matsutake mushrooms, and the sauce used is high-quality caviar, which is probably expensive.
Min Congda thought to himself: "This rich man can eat and cook. It's a pity to eat a sesame seed cake with so many good ingredients."
But when I chewed it, I found the rich taste and the aroma in my mouth, it was really great.
Which pizza is this? It has something special. Why haven’t you tried it in Staples before?
Anschutz looked at Min Congda's satisfied expression and said with a smile: "The pizza here is really good, and it's better than the last time I ate it. I can be considered a person who has eaten all kinds of delicious food, but the pizza here, Makes me feel like home.”
Min Congda nodded. It was indeed delicious, but he didn't realize the feeling of home. Which family ate pizza when he was a kid?
Anschutz poured another glass of sparkling wine for Min Congda and said: "There will be steak later, let's try it too. What do you think? Do you think this restaurant can be bigger so that more people can taste it?" the taste of."
When Min Congda heard this, he wanted to open a chain store? How can you, a sports giant and an oil giant, bother to engage in such a small trick as catering?
You have the entire Staples Center, and you're still thinking about building a big restaurant, just kidding.
However, Min Congda still said: "With Mr. Anschutz's financial resources, I think it will not be a problem to open another Pizza Hut."
Anschutz smiled and shook his head and said: "No, no, no, I'm not interested in Pizza Hut or anything like that. That's business, and food is not my field. I want to open a high-end restaurant, a...how should I say, with warmth, An approachable, fine-dining restaurant that feels like home.”
"You know, Smart, I have eaten a lot of delicious food and been to many high-end restaurants. Their food is great, exquisite, and even luxurious. But at the same time, it is cold, without temperature, without emotion. I feel It’s not like I’m eating, but I’m admiring exquisite handicrafts, which makes me lose my appetite.”
When Min Congda heard this, he said, "What? You want warmth and approachability?" You go eat Haidilao.
The waiters at Haidilao will let you feel what it means to feel at home and what warm service means.
Anschutz saw Min Congda's confused look on his face and thought, "Doesn't this Smart understand what I'm talking about?"
We are all high-end people and decent people, do you have to explain it clearly to me?
With Anschutz's wealth and status, it is true that he has lost his status as a caterer, but he has reasons for wanting to do it.
Seeing that Smart was silent, Anschutz didn't want to beat around the bush and said directly: "Smart, I'm very interested in the Red Head Boots restaurant that your Clippers invested in. I want to buy it at a premium. Of course, if If you don't want to sell, you can let me take a share, and I'm willing to provide the best resources to make this restaurant the most famous arena restaurant in Los Angeles."
Min Congda stopped chewing, looked at Anschutz blankly, and said, "What did you say? Red-headed boots? A restaurant invested by the Clippers? Do you want to buy it?"
Anschutz spread his hands and said, "Yes, what you are eating is the pizza from Red Head Boots. Can't you taste it? Or have you never eaten it?"
Anschutz couldn't believe that this kid spent the team's money to invest in a restaurant without trying the chef's skills.
Min Congda thought something was wrong. I had eaten it before, but it was obviously very unpalatable. It was salty and spicy, and it didn't taste like this at all.
Seeing that Anschutz didn't seem to be joking, Min Congda's heart felt like a blunt blow. The recent series of blows had made Min Congda's nerves extremely fragile.
What happened to this world? Why are you treating me like this? Why is it that even if I open a restaurant, it will be acquired?
Seeing my plans, from big to small, from the long term to the present, being shattered one by one.
This kind of pain is simply unbearable for most people, and Min Congda is about to collapse.
At this time, someone pushed in the door, bringing with them the smell of burnt beef.
Anschutz stood up from his chair and said, "Red-headed boots' signature pan-fried steak is here."
Min Congda turned around and looked. He thought it was Christopher, but it turned out that it was not, but an Italian woman with chestnut hair.
Judging from his appearance, he must be in his forties, but he has an outstanding appearance. He is wearing a white chef's uniform with his sleeves rolled up, which makes him very charming.
Anschutz personally stepped forward to take the steak plate from her hand, put it on the table, and said: "This is your Red Head Boots chef, Miss Linda. It is also the real reason why I am willing to invest in the Red Head Boots restaurant."
Linda? Min Congda seemed to have heard Ada mention it, as if she was her aunt. Seeing that Anschutz and her seemed a little intimate, what was going on?
Min Congda not only suffered a blow to his confidence, but also suffered a heavy blow to his outlook on life. What do you all want to do?
This series of storms swept across the wilderness of Min Congda's mind, destroying everything until not a single blade of grass could grow, leaving only a wilderness.
The famous quote from Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" came to Min Congda's mind:
"To be or not to be, that is a question." (To be or not to be, that is a question.)
(End of chapter)
