Chapter 67: We Must Cooperate with Zhou Mujiao
Mr. Tang has witnessed the rapid development of Zhouyun Logistics Company, Jiaoyun Clothing Chain Store, and Hu Dasao Milk Tea Chain Store since their inception, which has further solidified his initial foresight.
This Zhou Mujiao is very capable. Even if we can't cooperate, we must not make enemies. He also instructed his subordinates to help Zhou Mujiao if necessary.
However, everyone Zhou Mujiao hired was extremely capable, leaving them no chance to interfere. Even the gang leader Ma Dalang, whom she had previously kept around as a henchman, was found to have strengths by Zhou Mujiao. Turning trash into treasure, in a short period of time, the logistics team that Ma Dalang had built had become the first choice for goods management in Taohua County and several surrounding counties.
That milk tea shop was even more outrageous. It was just a cup of sweet fruit tea, but it became a hit throughout the county as soon as it hit the streets. Within three months, branches were quickly opened in several surrounding counties. There was more than one milk tea shop in Peach Blossom County. Although a cup of milk tea was more expensive than a pot of tea, people of all ages in Peach Blossom County were willing to spend money to buy it. Every time Boss Tang passed by, the milk tea shop was packed with people.
Although Mr. Tang was well aware that the daily revenue of the milk tea shop could not compare to that of his two restaurants, the occupancy rate was enough to make him envious, and he couldn't wait to cooperate with Zhou Mujiao.
He also wanted to open his restaurants all over Daliang.
After hearing Mr. Tang's purpose, Zhou Mujiao took a sip of milk tea and said, "Mr. Tang, we know each other, so I won't beat around the bush. I'll just tell you the truth: I don't have any plans to get into the catering business at the moment."
Mr. Tang was somewhat surprised and raised an eyebrow: "In my opinion, this milk tea shop is already a restaurant."
Zhou Mujiao said without hesitation: "Milk tea shops are small businesses. They don't need to be big, they don't need many employees, they require little investment, and the production is simple. They are suitable for couples who want to start a business but don't have enough funds. The biggest advantage of this kind of family business is that as long as you have a good drink, you can attract customers. It is also relatively simple to develop new products. Customers' tastes are nothing more than more sugar, half sugar, less sugar, and no sugar."
From preparation to regional investigation, site selection, team building, decoration and move-in, and finally opening, a restaurant takes at least six months. It involves a large investment, slow capital recovery, and it is impossible to attract diners with just one dish – it may work in the short term, but not in the long term.
If market research is inadequate and there's a lack of understanding of local customs, traditions, and tastes, the business will decline steadily from day one until it closes down.
In ancient times, everything was slow. If you wanted to do a thorough and detailed preliminary work like market research and development, it would take at least three months. Moreover, discovering problems was not like modern times, where a plane can take you there in a few hours. If problems were not discovered in time, they would be postponed again and again. This was quite painful for Zhou Mujiao, a modern person who was used to fast-paced work.
Mr. Tang misunderstood that she was afraid to take risks: "Miss Zhou, you just need to join the franchise, and I will take care of everything else. Although what you said is true, I am ashamed to say that I really don't know what else I can do besides catering."
Zhou Mujiao laughed: "Mr. Tang, are you afraid that I will steal your business in other industries? You have dabbled in tea and porcelain, and you are even the largest salt merchant in Yuzhou Prefecture."
Mr. Tang laughed along, "What others would take at least three or four years to find, you figured out in just a few months. That's truly remarkable. Miss Zhou, you're so young yet so capable. I'm even more eager to cooperate with you now."
"Since Miss Zhou has revealed all my secrets, I'll be frank with you too. As long as it makes money, as long as it allows me to pave the entire beam, whatever Miss Zhou says, I, Tang, will do."
Zhou Mujiao put down her cup: "Boss Tang is a straightforward person, so I won't waste everyone's time. I do have a project that I'd like to work on, but whether we can successfully cooperate in the end is definitely not something that can be decided just by saying a few words today."
"Whatever Miss Zhou says, I will cooperate with. However, could you give me a heads-up beforehand so that I can prepare accordingly?"
“That’s natural, but it’s not easy for me to go out. So, five days from now, Mr. Tang will send someone to Peach Blossom Village to find me. I will write down the plan, and we can discuss it together then and decide on the direction first.”
Mr. Tang smiled and said, "Then it's settled."
The two toasted each other with tea instead of wine, reaching a preliminary agreement on cooperation.
Then, Boss Tang looked at Zhao Yunjing, who had remained silent, and kindly reminded him, "The calligraphy that Young Master Zhao wrote in the competition with the magistrate's son that day was later bought back by someone. I heard that he wants to find a time to meet you."
Boss Tang wouldn't have given a special reminder, but if he did, it certainly wouldn't be anything good. Zhao Yunjing clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I've got it. Thank you, Boss Tang."
“Young Master Zhao and Miss Zhou are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Although Miss Zhou is still young and it's not appropriate to marry now, no one would object to an engagement first. If you two trust me, I will handle the engagement. What do you say?”
This was meant to act as a mediator between them and the person who bought the painting.
Zhao Yunjing and Zhou Mujiao exchanged a glance. Zhou Mujiao cupped her hands in a gesture of respect and smiled slightly, saying, "I'll have to decline."
Boss Tang: ...
So you can politely decline like this?
I learned something.
Zhao Yunjing cleared his throat and said, "However, Ah Jiao and I do have plans to get engaged. The exact date is still undecided. Once it is, I will send an invitation to Mr. Tang. I hope Mr. Tang will take the time to attend."
Although they had already expressed their feelings for each other, Zhao Yunjing still felt a little embarrassed to talk about it in front of outsiders. But he was a man, and no matter how embarrassed he was, he had to speak up himself. If he didn't speak up, was Ajiao supposed to?
That doesn't make sense.
Mr. Tang's smile became even more genuine: "It is my honor."
Hu Da Sao and his wife had been peeking into the shop from time to time since Zhou Mujiao entered, clearly indicating that they had something to say. Therefore, once they finished talking, Boss Tang left.
"Miss Zhou!" Sister-in-law Hu came over excitedly. "Miss Zhou, you've finally arrived! Come on, let's go to the back and check the accounts. If you hadn't come, my husband and I would have gone all the way into the village to look for you."
Zhou Mujiao also wanted to know the daily revenue and profit of the two milk tea shops in Taohua County, so she agreed and said to Zhao Yunjing, "Brother Zhao, I need to check the accounts with Sister-in-law Hu and also talk about the new products. If you're bored, you can go look around elsewhere."
Zhao Yunjing also had an important matter to attend to today, and he didn't want Zhou Mujiao to know about it before he finished. Since Zhou Mujiao said so, he readily agreed.
After Zhou Mujiao entered the back room of the milk tea shop, he found Zhou Yunliu's people on the street, told them to keep an eye on the milk tea shop, and then headed straight for the southeast of the county town.
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