Branch Promotions

As Pei Qingwu emerged from the Marshal's mansion, a night breeze blew, and he realized that his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and his tightly clenched hands were also covered in sticky sweat.

Murong Chengen's face and his words lingered in her mind like a ghost.

That was not just a loss of five hundred strings of cash, but a clear signal that the peaceful days were probably really coming to an end.

The carriage traveled along the quiet street, its wheels making a monotonous rumbling sound as they rolled over the cobblestones.

The lights were still on in the shop; clearly, everyone was waiting for her.

Upon her return, Gu Heng, Yin Lan, Qian Tao, and the others immediately surrounded her, their faces filled with worry and questions.

"Boss, are you alright?"

"Sister, they didn't give you any trouble, did they?"

"So what exactly does Murong Chengen want to do?"

Looking at these familiar and concerned faces, Pei Qingwu felt a mix of emotions.

She took a deep breath, and instead of reporting only good news as usual, she gestured for everyone to be quiet, and then led them to the old plum tree in the backyard.

The moonlight was cool and clear, and the sparse shadows of the plum branches cast dappled shadows on the ground.

"Please sit down."

Everyone sat down around her as instructed. Even Tuanzi and Maomao seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere and quietly lay down at Nianci's feet, no longer playing around.

"Tonight, Murong Chengen is hosting a banquet, ostensibly to apologize, but in reality, it's to appease and, more importantly, to warn," Pei Qingwu said bluntly, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"He admitted that yesterday's forced collection of money to support the army was done by his men, but he also made it clear to us that it was a last resort to protect the territory and the people, and asked us to understand and work together with him."

Upon hearing this, Yin Lan couldn't help but spit out, "Pah! That's easy for you to say! You stole our money, and you expect us to be grateful?"

Even Nianci clenched her fists: "This is clearly what my teacher taught me: to have an army and act arrogantly!"

Pei Qingwu nodded and continued, "More importantly, his words implied that the court was powerless, the border was unstable, and even... he seemed to be expressing dissatisfaction with the court."

"He previously detained the angels, and now he is forcibly levying military funds. His ambitions probably extend beyond being a mere military governor."

These words were like a boulder thrown into calm water, creating huge ripples.

Although everyone was of commoner origin, they understood what "detaining the angel" and "targeting the imperial court" meant.

"Does the master mean... there's going to be a war?" Qian Tao's voice trembled.

Pei Qingwu remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I dare not say that a war is inevitable, but the risk of war is already very high... Murong Chengen is actively expanding his military and accumulating strength. Today's actions are just the tip of the iceberg. We need to be mentally prepared in advance."

The backyard fell into a deathly silence, with only the faint sound of the wind blowing through the plum branches.

For ordinary people, war means displacement, loss of family and home, collapse of order, and lives as worthless as grass.

"Then... what should we do?" Ji Fanghua asked timidly, her face pale.

"Panic won't help." Pei Qingwu forced himself to calm down, his voice regaining its usual composure; "Life must go on. Starting tomorrow, we need to be even more cautious."

"Yinlan, aside from necessary working capital, try to convert the cash in the account into something that is easier to carry and retains its value, such as gold and silver jewelry, or necessary medicines."

"Brother Dayong, you should make more contact with the grain and meat vendors you know in the shop, and keep an eye on the market prices of grain and meat. If possible, we should also quietly stock up on some rice and other grains that can be stored for a long time."

"Business in the shop can continue as usual, but we need to pay more attention to the customers coming and going, especially unfamiliar faces, and avoid discussing current events."

She gave instructions one by one, her thinking clear and taking all possibilities into account.

Hearing this, the crowd's panicked hearts seemed to find some solace, and they all nodded in agreement.

"In conclusion," Pei Qingwu concluded, "we cannot afford to lose our composure. We must take the necessary precautions, but life must go on as usual. As long as we remain united, we will always find a way out."

Even so, the atmosphere at dinner that evening remained somber.

The dinner table, which used to be filled with laughter, was now only filled with the soft clatter of bowls and chopsticks and the heavy sounds of chewing. Everyone seemed preoccupied, with even Nianci and Mingyi quietly picking at their food.

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways to clean up.

Pei Qingwu felt a tightness in his chest, so instead of going back to his room immediately, he went to the steps in the front yard and sat down.

Gu Heng silently followed her and sat down next to her.

As night deepened, a pale, cold moon hung in the sky, casting a hazy glow.

Nianci chased and played with Tuanzi and Maomao in the yard. The dogs' cheerful barking and the children's clear laughter temporarily dispelled some of the gloom that hung over the yard.

Gu Heng looked at Pei Qingwu's profile, which appeared somewhat thin and tired in the moonlight, and felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He quietly reached out and placed his hand on the cool back of her hand.

"Sister," he asked in a low voice, "that war you spoke of... will it last a long time?"

Pei Qingwu felt the warmth on the back of his hand, gently shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the person and two dogs playing in the yard, his voice as fleeting as a breeze: "I don't know... It could be as short as a few months, as long as a few years, or even more than ten years... In any case, it won't be a good thing."

Knowing part of one's destiny but being unable to change it is truly agonizing.

Gu Heng gripped her hand tightly, turned his head, and looked at her with unwavering eyes.

In those beautiful peach blossom eyes, there was no confusion or fear, only pure protectiveness.

"No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is," he said, each word uttered with utmost seriousness, "I will stay with my sister and protect her. As long as I am here, no one can hurt you."

The boy's vow sounded especially sincere and burning in the quiet night.

Pei Qingwu felt a warmth in his heart, and the lingering chill seemed to be dispelled somewhat.

She turned around, met his burning gaze, a smile appeared on her lips, and took his hand in hers, gently humming in agreement.

The road ahead may be difficult, but having such people around gives me more courage.

As I said before, life goes on no matter what, especially at the West Market branch, which is thriving.

Wu Niang and Yu Yi are indeed promising girls.

They mastered the skills taught by Pei Qingwu very well, managed the branch store in an orderly manner, and the business became more and more prosperous.

That day, Fifth Sister returned to the main store excitedly carrying a food box, her face beaming with undisguised excitement and pride.

"Master! Master, please try this!"

Fifth Sister opened the food box as if presenting a treasure, revealing several uniquely shaped golden biscuits inside, exuding a rich aroma of milk and roasted nuts.

Pei Qingwu picked up a piece; it felt soft and crumbly to the touch. With a gentle snap, it broke easily, revealing fine layers and embedded nut fragments on the cross-section.

When you put it in your mouth, you first experience the extreme crispness of the outer layer, followed by the soft texture inside, which is a blend of milky, eggy, and honey-sweet flavors.

As you chew, the crunchy aroma of walnuts and almonds adds to the flavor, creating a rich texture that is sweet but not cloying.

"This is..." Pei Qingwu savored it carefully, his eyes revealing surprise: "You added honey and nuts to the milk pastry base? And you adjusted the ratio of oil and pastry?"

"Master, you're amazing! You could tell the difference in just one taste!" Wu Niang exclaimed excitedly. "I thought the original milk pastry was fragrant, but the texture was a bit monotonous, so I tried adding some roasted walnut and almond pieces, and I replaced some of the sugar with honey. I feel the flavor has become more layered! I've named it 'Golden Jade Abundance Pastry,' what do you think?"

"Golden Jade Abundance Pastry, what a wonderful name, and the meaning is also auspicious." Pei Qingwu praised without reservation, "The taste is also excellent! Fifth Sister, you have truly mastered the craft, and have even surpassed your teacher!"

Upon receiving her master's approval, Wu Niang smiled even more broadly, then rubbed her hands together somewhat shyly: "Master, there's something else... I was thinking, our 'Golden Jade Abundance Pastry' is a new product, and it tastes great. Could we hold a promotional event to celebrate and make everyone remember our branch?"

"Oh? What are your thoughts? Tell me about them," Pei Qingwu encouraged.

Fifth Sister was clearly well-prepared, and said while counting on her fingers, "I've thought of a three-day event. First, no matter how much the pastries a customer buys, they can exchange them for a 'Golden Jade Abundance Pastry' for just one more coin. Second, the second pastry purchased will be half price. Third, customers who spend 100 coins or more in a single transaction will receive a 10-coin discount."

"And... I want to do what you did with the 'lucky customer' program, Master. Every day before closing, I'll randomly select one person from the day's sales slips and waive all their snack purchases! Consider it a blessing from the God of Wealth!"

Pei Qingwu listened, his eyes filled with even greater admiration.

Although the promotional methods proposed by Wu Niang were not novel in her opinion, they were definitely marketing savvy in this era.

This girl not only has a skill, but also a business mind.

“Good! Excellent!” Pei Qingwu immediately made the decision: “Do it your way! Just tell me what you need the head office to cooperate with.”

"Thank you, Master!" Fifth Sister was so happy she almost jumped for joy. "Xiao Yi and I can handle it! We just came to let you know and ask you to try the new snacks!"

The next day, eye-catching colorful ribbons and notice boards were hung at the entrance of the Sushan Xiaoji West Market branch, with details of the "Grand Opening Special Offers, Triple Joy" event written in beautiful regular script.

"Make any purchase and add just one yuan to get the new 'Golden Jade Abundance Pastry'!"

"Buy one dessert and get it half price!"

"Spend over 100 coins, get 10 coins off!"

"One lucky winner every day, the entire meal is free!"

The novel event format immediately attracted a large number of customers.

The "add one article to exchange for a purchase" and "daily free orders" features, in particular, have sparked great interest and discussion.

"An extra penny for a new pastry? That's a great deal!"

"Buy one get one half price? Then I'll buy more!"

"The God of Wealth is on my side? Maybe it'll be me today!"

Long queues formed in front of the branch store, with crowds thronging the entrance and the atmosphere bustling with activity.

Wu Niang and Yu Yi were busy behind the counter, and Manager Zhou and his wife also cooperated fully, taking money, packing, and explaining the rules of the event. Their faces were full of busy and happy smiles.

The event lasted for three consecutive days, and the branch's reputation was thoroughly established. "Golden Jade Abundance Pastry" also became an instant hit, becoming another highly sought-after star product.

After three days, although the profit margin decreased, the huge sales volume and the resulting brand effect far outweighed the small discount.

After the event ended on the third day, Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng specially took a carriage over, firstly to help with the cleanup, and secondly to pick up the exhausted Wu Niang and Yu Yi to go back to the main store to celebrate.

Inside the carriage, Wu Niang, though exhausted, had bright, sparkling eyes as she excitedly reported the grand occasion of the past three days to Pei Qingwu: "Master, you didn't see it, there were so many people! The snacks we prepared were sold out before Shenshi (3-5 PM) every day! Many people came for the 'free meal,' and although there was only one lucky winner in the end, everyone was so enthusiastic! And quite a few people are asking when the next event will be held!"

Yu Yi smiled and nodded beside her.

Pei Qingwu looked at them, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The shadow of chaos hung over them like the Sword of Damocles, but life went on.

She smiled and patted Wu Niang's head: "You did a great job. You are all Master's pride."

Outside the car, the city of Qinzhou was just beginning to light up, still bustling with activity, as if the daytime hustle and bustle and the distant worries were irrelevant to it.