Chapter 300: So Lenient Because You’re Afraid of Losing Out?
Chapter 300: Chapter 300: So Lenient Because You’re Afraid of Losing Out?
"Server, I’ll have the Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans, with sides of shredded potatoes and mapo tofu."
"Miss, I want the Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans too!"
"What’s so good about pork ribs? I’m still getting the Braised Pork Belly."
"Oh, is there a new dish today? Then I’ll have the new dish. The pork ribs look pretty good."
...
As soon as the doors opened, customers flooded in like a tide.
Some customers had seen Shen Lu’s marketing video for the new item. They marched right up to the serving window with a clear goal and ordered the Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans.
The fifty servings of Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans sold out in less than half an hour. Many latecomers who missed out on the ribs started clamoring for the kitchen to make more.
Shen Lu quickly went over to smooth things over.
"Everyone, please calm down. There will be more Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans tomorrow."
"Will it still be 30% off?"
"The special price is only for today. But please come to our restaurant often! We’ll be adding new dishes from time to time, and there will be a special price every time a new dish is released."
"Your restaurant releases new dishes too slowly, and you have so few menu items. Do you even know how to run a business? If you don’t, you might as well just close down!"
An inharmonious voice rang out. Shen Lu looked over and saw a man with a pockmarked face and a potbelly, shamelessly offering his unsolicited advice.
Shen Lu beamed. "My humble shop is a small business, so of course I can’t compare to the wealthy and influential Boss Zhuang. But since Boss Zhuang finds my menu too limited, why isn’t he eating at his own restaurant?"
Shen Lu had seen this man at an industry banquet hosted by President Pan, and she had also seen him post in the group chat.
His profile picture was a photo of himself, and his group chat name was Jiaoyao Garden Old Zhuang.
His posts were so vile that Shen Lu had a faint impression of him.
She never expected to see him in her own shop today.
Boss Zhuang didn’t expect Shen Lu to recognize him. After a moment of surprise, he gave a disdainful smile.
’He gets it now,’ he thought. ’This little girl must know who I am and wants to cozy up to me.’
"I just happened to have some business over here today, so I came to grab a quick bite."
"So, has Boss Zhuang ordered yet? Would you like me to make a recommendation?"
"Your shop only has a few dishes. What’s there to order? Just bring me one of everything." Boss Zhuang waved his hand dismissively, acting as if he owned the place.
"Indeed, our little shop has a small menu and isn’t fit to serve a distinguished guest like Boss Zhuang. Wang Daguo, come escort Boss Zhuang to the big restaurant up the street."
Shen Lu’s tone shifted. She stopped wasting words on Boss Zhuang and had him thrown out.
Before Boss Zhuang could even react, he had been carried by Wang Daguo to Hongchang Restaurant, a hundred meters away.
"You motherf..." Boss Zhuang started cursing, but Wang Daguo shot him a cold look and cracked the knuckles of his clay-pot-sized fists. Boss Zhuang flinched, swallowing the rest of his words.
Seeing that the man had been cowed, Wang Daguo shot him a contemptuous look and strode back to the restaurant.
After getting rid of Boss Zhuang, the rest of the customers all behaved themselves.
Those who had missed out on the discounted Steamed Pork Ribs with Fermented Black Beans stopped clamoring and quietly ordered other set meals.
After all, if they kept making a fuss, the seemingly easy-going Boss Xiao Shen would just throw them out without a moment’s hesitation.
Shen Lu checked the customer satisfaction rating. Surprisingly, it was still a stable three and a half stars and hadn’t dropped at all.
’And here I thought kicking someone out would cause a lot of backlash.’
Shen Lu rubbed her chin, wondering why that was.
Suddenly, Shen Lu overheard two girls talking quietly among themselves to kill time while waiting in line.
"The food at Little Deer Cuisine is still the best, delicious and affordable. Fragrant Sky not only raised its prices recently, but its food has gotten worse."
"Maybe it’s because Boss Xiao Shen has no experience since this is her first shop. Otherwise, she would definitely be raising prices this time of year."
"Yeah, I hope Boss Xiao Shen stays this clueless forever. If she raises the prices, I don’t think I’d want to come eat here anymore."
"I feel the same way. Besides, the weather is getting worse. On days when the sandstorms are bad, you can’t even leave the house, let alone come all this way just to eat."
"Why would Little Deer Cuisine choose to open a shop here? The location is so bad. There’s no cover in front, either. The sandstorms aren’t bad yet, but when the strong winds start, who’s going to come eat here?"
"It’s because she’s inexperienced, duh."
...
’So that’s how it is?’
’In the end, is it just because everyone is already getting a good deal, and they’re being extra tolerant because they’re afraid of losing it?’
Shen Lu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
However, their conversation also reminded Shen Lu of something else: what would she do about her business when the strong winds came?
Little Deer Cuisine’s location was indeed not great. It was by the city wall with no cover. Most customers had to walk the entire length of Gold Street to reach the shop at the very end.
Shen Lu picked at her eyebrow, unable to come up with a single idea.
The last piece of Li Zexing merchandise was drawn today. Shen Lu clicked her tongue inwardly. ’No more procrastinating. I have to go find Li Zexing and fleece him for more.’
Shen Lu found a spare moment to send Li Zexing a message.
Shen Lu: Superstar Li, have you been busy lately?
Li Zexing had just finished shooting a scene and was sitting in the rest area reading his script. When he saw Shen Lu’s message, he ignored it.
Shen Lu figured he was probably busy. After all, he had so many fans chattering away about him every day, and Shen Lu knew he was currently filming.
Bothering him any further would be impolite.
Shen Lu dejectedly turned off her Light Brain, wondering if she should go to his company and find his agent instead. After all, she didn’t necessarily need to go through Li Zexing to get more merchandise.
"Shen Lu."
Hearing someone call her name, Shen Lu looked up, completely surprised by the visitor.
"Researcher Li?!"
’What is Li Qin doing here? Aren’t researchers supposed to stay inside the research institute?’
Although Shen Lu was full of questions, she first invited Li Qin to take a seat in a booth.
It was already almost two-thirty. The daily tasks were long done, most of the food had been sold, and there weren’t many customers left. Shen Lu asked Wang Daguo to watch the front counter while she attended to Li Qin.
After pouring a cup of hot tea and serving some homemade almond thins, Shen Lu sat down across from Li Qin.
"I really didn’t expect you to come, Researcher Li."
Li Qin hadn’t originally planned on touching anything Shen Lu served. Having grown up in the lap of luxury, she was very picky about what she ate.
She had assumed there was nothing edible in the Lower City District, but when she smelled the warm aroma of the tea and the sweet scent of the almond thins, she suddenly felt a craving.
"I came to return the scallions." Li Qin resisted her craving, pushing a tote bag across the table. "Maybe I wasn’t taking care of them correctly. They aren’t doing so well..."
Li Qin was a little embarrassed.
She was the researcher, yet she couldn’t even take proper care of a pot of healthy scallions. After they came into her possession, they had visibly withered away.
Shen Lu let out a small, "Ah." "No way."
Opening the bag, Shen Lu took a peek. ’Hmm... aren’t they just dehydrated?’
Li Qin explained, "I did water them. When I saw they weren’t doing well, I even used the institute’s No. 1 nutrient solution, but the effect was very poor."
This was also why Li Qin was in such a hurry to bring the scallions back.