Sweet Flour
“Changzi,” Pan Yue said slowly, “Concerts and coffee are products of form, not the core. These are just means to evoke emotions in people.”
Pan Yue leaned forward: "Giving up concerts means changing the form of the product. Making product changes requires research data support."
His idea was simple: if the effects of the new changes were unpredictable, then he wouldn't waste the resources on them.
Lin Changren argued: "Why not just stop doing concerts and focus on coffee and food? Wouldn't that be just as good?"
"The marketing department had planned that to break even, we had to use skimmed pricing, but the final price was too high and not feasible."
Zhu Shiyi touched her nose. What's this about skimming pricing? Weight loss pricing? Is this even human language? She couldn't understand a word they said.
“You’re a professional, you’re right,” Lin Changren said sheepishly. “That’s what I was thinking. If we don’t do concerts, we can cut costs first, so that the campsite won’t keep going out of business.”
Zhu Shiyi accurately captured a word.
Campsite?
“Until a new plan is released, we should maintain the status quo,” Pan Yue said. “At least with reference data and experience, we can better control the concert.”
After Pan Yue finished speaking, Zhu Shiyi asked, "Was that coffee shop a campsite?"
Lin Changren explained, "Yes. We are a chain of campground brands."
"I see." This was the first time Zhu Shiyi had heard that campgrounds had chain brands.
"I thought camping was all about setting up a tent, having a barbecue and drinking beer together at night, and having a great atmosphere," she chuckled.
Pan Yue frowned. But he didn't say anything.
“The coffee shop here is newly acquired and hasn’t been renovated for a camping theme yet,” Lin Changren added.
"In the past few years, the tourism industry was in a slump due to the pandemic. There were fewer tourists and business was bad. The original owner of the coffee shop tried everything but couldn't make any money and ended up losing a lot of money."
"They finally made it to the end of the pandemic, but their income was unstable, so they sold it to us at a low price." Lin Changren shook his head.
"Why would a business owner go through all this trouble during a pandemic?" Zhu Shiyi found it counterintuitive. "Shouldn't they be cutting operating costs and avoiding even greater losses during an economic downturn?"
“During the pandemic, everyone was feeling down and wanted to find something to relax with. This kind of low-consumption economy, driven by emotional factors, actually has a larger market demand than usual,” Lin Changren explained.
Zhu Shiyi listened intently: "The lipstick effect?"
“Yeah,” Lin Changren said with a northern accent, grinning, “Looks like I’ve struck gold. I just happened to interview a professional.”
Zhu Shiyi gave a slightly stiff twitch of her lips, blinked twice, and felt inexplicably guilty: "No, no, I was a complete slacker in college. Apart from never failing a course, there's nothing else worth mentioning."
Actually, I've never failed a course, so there's not much to say about it.
Zhu Shiyi felt depressed.
Her university life was originally relaxed and free, without any pressure. Perhaps as graduation approached, the people around her gradually went from laughing and joking to being extremely stressed, and Zhu Shiyi became more and more anxious.
She had tried to find something to do, but firstly, she was lazy. She had participated in many activities in high school, and the activities were all well-organized, but the amount of work did affect her mood and grades. Secondly, she didn't understand the point of following the crowd and participating in competitions that she had no interest in.
During the summer between her sophomore and junior years of college, her parents urged her to find a job, more urgently than anything else.
Zhu Shiyi had many conflicts with them because of this. How could she know what to do? And why did she insist on doing something?
...
Later, her father used his connections to get her an internship during the summer vacation. It turned out to be a lousy job with no pay, and she even had to pay an extra 100 yuan every day. She refused to go.
Zhu Shiyi spent most of the summer vacation doing nothing. She basically stayed at home the whole time, never went out, and was scolded by her mother every day.
Most recently, Zhu Shiyi's mother, Liu Lu, played the "good cop" and said some really offensive things. Zhu Shiyi was so angry that he didn't speak to Liu Lu for the whole day.
That night, her father played the bad cop, and Zhu Shiyi became angrier the more she complained. In the end, her father told her to go out for a walk, and she took the opportunity to take some money and go on a trip, which led her to Qincheng.
...
A few noises came from the next table, and the uncle serving the dishes loudly announced the names of the dishes with great enthusiasm.
Zhu Shiyi gradually came to her senses. She glanced at Pan Yue, who was standing by the window. He remained silent, his eyes vacant, like an old monk in deep meditation.
Pan Yue seems to be a man who doesn't talk much except when he's working.
They are sparing with words.
Lin Changren was the complete opposite of him.
Will two people with very different personalities easily clash when they get along?
*
Mealtimes, camping, and other product categories.
Add to that the interviewee's suggestion—barbecue.
Qincheng barbecue is famous throughout the country, with a wide market demand, especially in autumn and winter. Autumn has now begun, and the weather in the north is getting colder.
...
The barbecue stall is located in the outer courtyard, which not only sells to customers inside the camp but also to potential customers outside the camp. The smell also doesn't drift into the interior and doesn't affect the atmosphere of the café.
...
Pan Yue continued making business judgments, his brow slightly relaxed.
“Thank you for your suggestion,” Pan Yue nodded to Zhu Shiyi, then turned to Lin Changren, “We can consider the barbecue that Ms. Zhu mentioned.”
Zhu Shiyi was stunned: "Huh?"
Is that what she calls a suggestion?
Lin Changren's expression froze slightly, then he clapped his hands together, accidentally making a loud noise: "Oh right! The camping barbecue stand!"
The people eating at the next table subconsciously turned to the side and glanced at the commotion with strange looks.
Lin Changren immediately spread his hands, shrank his neck, and looked a little embarrassed.
*
"A coffee shop and barbecue?"
Zhu Shiyi imagined it for a moment and felt... wonderfully incongruous.
She then looked at Pan Yue, who had suggested that this was feasible.
He nodded in agreement, his eyes clear, as if he had finished thinking and was refocusing on reality.
Suddenly, he turned his head, his gaze fixed on the window, and remained as still as a mountain. Like a deity, he returned to the highest heavens.
In this secluded place, only Lin Changren and she joked, "Thanks to you, a professional, for brainstorming with us."
Zhu Shiyi grinned dryly.
What did she do? She just mentioned it casually.
Good heavens, she's become an expert?
Although Zhu Shiyi felt that her level of expertise was far from deserving the title of "expert," she couldn't help but feel secretly pleased when she helped others.
No wonder ancient emperors favored treacherous officials. Who wouldn't love to hear such flattery? Please say more.
...
A celestial being suddenly descended to earth. He withdrew his gaze, picked up his iPad, and silently began to record something.
"What are you doing?" Lin Changren asked curiously, craning his neck towards Pan Yue's direction before letting out a loud exclamation.
"You're amazing!" Lin Changren stared in disbelief. "Your efficiency is so good, you're practically handing over a service blueprint."
Pan Yue calmly replied, "First, confirm the regional policies."
Lin Chang-ren: "Aren't you going to do your favorite market research anymore?"
Pan Yue paused.
“…Yes,” he glanced at Lin Changren, “do it tomorrow.”
"I knew it." Lin Changren pouted and shrugged.
He grinned at Zhu Shiyi and said, "Thanks for your suggestion!"
Zhu Shiyi waved his hand and said politely, "It's nothing, I didn't do anything."
She didn't offer any advice; it was just something she said casually. I really don't deserve it.
Lin Changren's voice rose and fell, sounding extremely sincere: "Thanks to what you said, these are all user pain points, proving that you really have a good business mind, you will definitely achieve great things after graduation!"
Zhu Shiyi became more and more confused as he listened.
Mom, if you praise her like that, she'll really believe it!
Feeling great!
Putting everything else aside, Zhu Shiyi decided to indulge in self-admiration for a while.
No matter what, she's the best!
......
The concert issue has been temporarily resolved.
"Secondly, the calories in food," Pan Yue said.
“I know about food!” Lin Changren answered first.
"Make some low-calorie desserts, clearly label the calories, so that everyone can eat with more peace of mind." Lin Changren transformed into an expert.
Zhu Shiyi was intrigued; his eyes lit up.
Girls always want to lose weight, but they also crave food.
"They also have low-calorie desserts?"
"Yes," Lin Changren said, scratching his face with his mouth open, "Let me think about it..."
“Oil-free bagels, Americanos, tea, and fresh milk tea use erythritol as a sugar substitute and konjac products as toppings; these are all low-calorie foods,” Pan Yue added.
“Low-calorie foods may sacrifice some taste, but they are rare for people who need them,” Pan Yue said, reaching out to pull the iPad closer. “As for whether to add new items, we need to do research.”
Pan Yue had basically said everything he could, leaving Lin Changren speechless.
"Not bad, Lao Pan, you've got the manners of a fitness enthusiast, haven't you?" Lin Changren punched Pan Yue's upper arm muscles.
fitness?
Zhu Shiyi glanced at Pan Yue briefly.
The man was sitting, making it impossible to discern his body proportions. His clothes were also tight-fitting, with only the prominent veins on his forearms exuding a hormonal sexiness.
It's definitely something special.
Zhu Shiyi suddenly couldn't take his eyes off her.
Pan Yue moved slightly.
Zhu Shiyi looked up at the sky for a moment, casually smoothing his eyebrows, feeling somewhat guilty.
Was it her piercing gaze that was too intense, or her eager voice that was too noisy?
Zhu Shiyi secretly swallowed and took a big gulp of the iced coconut.
......
"The food is served!" the owner called out as he came over, carrying steaming hot specialty dishes.
Zhu Shiyi then heard his stomach growling again.
I'm definitely eating three big bowls tonight!
"Thank you all for your hard work, let's eat first!" Lin Changren was the most enthusiastic about eating and invited everyone to eat together.
Pan Yue also put away his iPad, took out three pairs of chopsticks from the chopstick holder, and distributed them to the other two people at the table.
Lin Changren was eager to promote it, so he scooped up a whole bowl of sea cucumber rice as soon as he came up, and even grabbed her bowl to scoop some for her too.
"I felt really hungry when I was in the coffee shop, and the more sweet food I ate, the hungrier I got," Zhu Shiyi said, staring longingly at the bowl in Lin Changren's hand. "I really want to eat something salty to calm my hunger."
"Eating sweets can easily raise blood sugar, and high blood sugar makes you feel hungry more easily," Pan Yue explained.
“That’s right,” Lin Changren said, putting his knowledge to good use. “So when you’re eating at a buffet, if you want to eat more and get your money’s worth, you can start with something sweet to whet your appetite.”
"I've learned something!" Zhu Shiyi exclaimed happily.
"Old Pan, give me the bowl, Dad will serve you." Lin Changren stretched out his hand to Pan Yue.
"Let's start with carbs," Pan Yue teased Lin Changren, but his body language betrayed his intentions as he handed over a bowl. "Want some appetizers? Want to treat the whole table?"
Zhu Shiyi was slightly taken aback. Had Pan Yue been possessed by a ghost?
She felt inexplicably uncomfortable, like... a sense of déjà vu regarding human-machine intelligence.
The once-serious boss suddenly seemed to come alive.
Why does she seem to want to laugh so much?
"I'll eat. I finally get to come back to my hometown, and you won't even let me eat?" Lin Changren said casually, not caring at all.
Even the human and the machine can banter with each other.
Zhu Shiyi relaxed a bit: "Why are you controlling things when we're traveling? Grandpa Yuan cultivated hybrid rice, not so that we wouldn't go hungry."
Pan Yue lowered his eyes, his eyelids seemingly opening and closing, then suddenly curled his lips into a low laugh.
He smiled faintly, seemingly helplessly: "No."
"I'm building muscle, not losing fat. I need to eat more carbs, not less."
Zhu Shiyi is genuinely envious. Building muscle is so great, and you can eat more too. Unlike girls who are dieting and get so hungry at night that they're practically chewing on their beds.
Pan Yue took the bowl, picked up the spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and put it in his mouth.
"Isn't it delicious!" Lin Changren raised his eyebrows and then called to Zhu Shiyi, "Little sister, you should try some too!"
Zhu Shiyi looked at the bowl of rice in front of him, which was covered with soup.
Yuecheng is a coastal city in southern China. She grew up in Yuecheng, so she can at least be considered a coastal person.
But she really didn't know what a sea cucumber was; she just felt that it looked... kind of disgusting.
"Try it, it's my favorite!" Lin Changren said with anticipation.
"..." Looking at the unidentified creature, Zhu Shiyi hesitated for a moment, "This, a sea cucumber, what is it?"
Lin Changren waved his hand and said, "In short, it's a kind of seafood, crispy, and very delicious!"
"It's quite fresh. The addition of chives and eggs enhances the flavor, and there's no strange taste." Pan Yue alleviated her concerns.
"Mmm!" Lin Changren picked up the spoon impatiently.
Zhu Shiyi hesitated for two seconds, then made up his mind and faced death without fear.
......
Crisp and tender sea cucumbers, intertwined with rice soaked in broth, touch the tip of the tongue.
At this moment, countless taste buds awaken, marveling at the unique umami flavor nurtured by the sea.
Zhu Shiyi's eyes lit up, and he chewed quickly. The sea cucumber was smooth but not greasy, the chives were fragrant, and the rice was flavorful. The taste was rich and wonderful.
"Isn't it delicious!" Lin Changren had already taken a big bite.
"It's really delicious! So flavorful!" Zhu Shiyi took another bite.
Pan Yue picked up another dumpling, which was still steaming hot.
Lin Changren introduced, "Mackerel dumplings are a local specialty. Sea urchin dumplings are also very famous, but there are more if you go further north."
Having tried it once, Zhu Shiyi also picked up a piece, dipped it in vinegar, and put it in her mouth.
The dumpling wrappers are very chewy. Although the mackerel filling isn't very meaty, the addition of pork makes the filling both delicious and satisfying.
Zhu Shiyi nodded as he ate, giving a thumbs-up with his left hand.
After trying two more delicious dishes, Zhu Shiyi was a little thirsty. Looking at a yellowish dish that looked like soup in the corner, she pointed at it and asked, "What's that? I want to try it."
Lin Changren stood up and placed the entire bowl in front of Zhu Shiyi, saying, "Tianmo, have a taste."
Without further hesitation, Zhu Shiyi picked up the soup spoon, scooped a large mouthful into the bowl, and put it straight into his mouth, almost ascending to heaven.
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